As Professor McGonagall led Harry away from Ron and Hermione he looked back at the pair worriedly, they in turn looked at Harry's retreating form and then back at each other.

"Where exactly are we going Professor," Harry asked, not knowing what to do with his fidgeting hands as he followed Professor McGonagall's surprisingly fast stride.

"If my memory serves Potter, we'll only need one stop and that is Charms class."

And just as the professor had said they were currently making their way up through the fountain courtyard and to the row of rooms that marked different classes two of which Harry knew, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms respectively. A few older students sat in the fountain courtyard looking inquisitively at Professor McGonagall, before they saw who was behind her, and abruptly started whispering about the boy who lived.

"Could we please hurry Professor," Harry asked very subduedly.

Professor McGonagall glanced down and behind herself at Harry before facing forward again," of course Potter."

Their pace quickened allowing them to clear the courtyard with the peacefully burbling fountain to end their short field trip at the old wooden chamber door that belonged to the Charms class.

Professor McGonagall knocked on the door causing a few loud voices to silence,"Professor Flitwick may I enter?"

"Of course Minerva," said the squeaky voice of Professor Flitwick.

"Please stick to decorum when classes are still in session Professor Flitwick," Professor McGonagall said, with annoyance as she entered the room with Harry on her heels.

"Oh yes, I forget sometimes! Now, how can I help you today Professor McGonagall?"

"I'm afraid I need to borrow both you and Ms. Delacour for a moment."

Harry looked at both Professors in confusion and then at Fleur who seemed just as confused as he himself felt. Professor Flitwick scrambled down from his perch at the center of the class and made his way with Fleur toward Harry and Professor McGonagall.

"Now class please do behave yourselves, Davies please keep the class in line," said Professor Flitwick in a jovial manor looking at the Quidditch captain for the Ravenclaw team Roger Davies.

"Of course Professor," he said nodding.

"Now, all of you step out with me please," Professor McGonagall ushered the three of them out of the room into the corridor, closing the door behind them.

"Now, whatever could this be about Minerva," Professor McGonagall gave the short man a gimlet stare," er I mean Professor McGonagall."

"Well, I have an exciting prospect for you Professor Flitwick knowing your history. I propose we reinstate the dueling club, I know you've been pestering Dumbledore about this for years since it was disbanded. But now I believe we have two of the perfect candidates to run the club standing in front of us," as the Professor said this she gestured toward both Harry and Fleur, both of whom were staring dumbfounded at her.

Professor Flitwick gave a squeak and nearly fell over himself looking at her with clear excitement sparkling in his eyes," oh my! I knew young mister Potter asked for lessons not to long into his first weeks here, but to think you'd recommend him for co-captain of the dueling club. I'm not surprised you would suggest Ms. Delacour, she has done nothing but excel when it comes to her charms and I've only heard good things about her from the other teachers. Of course Mr. Potter isn't to far behind her, he has been performing excellently but he is of course a first year. Why do you suggest he be put in charge of it along with Ms. Delacour?"

Nodding at what Professor Flitwick was saying Professor McGonagall gave nothing away as she calmly answered," not even nearly five minutes ago I just witnessed Mr. Potter cast a disarming charm on Mr. Malfoy as he sat on his broom, nearly thirty feet in the air. Normally with someone his age I would have expected Potter to send him flying off of his broom, but imagine my surprise when he accurately sent the charm at the remembrall in Mr. Malfoy's hand successfully disarming him. Not only that but he also managed to direct the remembrall to come back to his own hand."

"How delightful," Professor Flitwick said beaming at Harry," would I inconvenience the two of you to terribly much to think about bringing back the dueling club? I've wanted it reinstated for years now!"

Fluer gazed down at Harry her eyebrows raised and a bit of excitement shining behind her eyes. Harry knew that Fleur had a vested interest in the aspects of magical dueling, although not nearly as much as her interest in runes and enchantment.

Harry for his part had already found the aspects of dueling interesting, and over the months before entering Hogwarts he had enjoyed the spars he and Fleur had. Even if they were marred by his cynical thoughts on how Fleur could easily overpower him, just as he had been overpowered all of his life up to that point. But he knew that if he wanted to truly move forward he would need to overcome his fears he had held his entire life and strive to become stronger, and what better way than reintroducing the dueling club.

"I think we'd both like to help reinstate the dueling club Professor McGonagall," Harry said looking over at Fleur just to make sure.

"Of course we would love to 'elp bring ze dueling club back. 'Arry and I 'ave sparred regularly over ze months before coming to 'Ogwarts."

Both professors looked at one another as Fleur said this," of course under Professor Vectors supervision when she visited me of course," Harry said quickly.

"Oh yes, we made certain to only duel under ze strictest supervision," Flue floundered as she remembered underaged witches and wizards weren't allowed to do magic outside of school.

Nodding Professor McGonagall looked at the two imperiously and turned to the more diminutive Professor Flitwick," please let Ms. Delacour and Mr. Potter know the responsibilities and requirements for them both to commence and maintain dueling club activities. I assume you would like to be the teacher in charge of the club?"

Professor Flitwick seemed to be making an effort not to bounce in place with excitement," of course, of course Minerva I would love to be the head teacher for the club," Professor McGonagall looked much more tired than when she had brought Harry to the Charms classroom," I mean Professor McGonagall."


Outside of Professor Flitwick's Office

Harry's P.O.V

1:00 p.m.

It had taken nearly two full hours for Harry and Fleur to finish signing forms for Professor Flitwick to official ask Professor Dumbledore to reinstate the dueling club with Fleur and Harry as it's captain and co-captain respectively. They were both understandably and profoundly tired, not to mention how bad their hands were cramping from signing the school forms.

"I am rather annoyed," Fleur said irritably as she rolled her wrist," my 'and 'urts zis will no doubt affect my wand work."

"At least we're bringing back an extracurricular activity that wasn't available before that we're both interested in," Harry consoled Fleur, as he rolled his wrist just as she was.

Harry could see Fleur nod out of the corner of his eye as she subtly turned her head to gaze at him," is now a good time to ask why you did not 'ave shoes during breakfast? After all both professors 'ave forgotten to escort us to our classes."

"Well I don't know when would be a uh…. good time to talk about what happened," Harry said fidgeting as the two of them slowly walked to the fountain courtyard to sit down. Harry took a seat on the lip of the fountain his back facing the softly burbling spring, the stone of the fountain was oddly cool underneath him despite the granite being directly in the path of the sunlight overhead.

"To bad, you did promise me and I'm determined to prove I can be trusted as your friend," Fleur huffed as she sat uncomfortably close to Harry, her right thigh brushing against his left making him nervous and very conscious of the way the sunlight caught in her silver locks, it danced with warm golden radiance making it look as if her hair were an inferno.

His face red with the embarrassing thoughts going through his head and the uncomfortable reaction his body had been conditioned to make, he shuffled away from her slightly and coughed covering himself," you don't have to prove you're my friend after we talked this morning. But, it's a little embarrassing and very odd what happened after I woke up."

"Embarrassing? Odd? What could 'ave possibly 'appened?"

" Well, um, when I woke up on the couch you were sort of *ehem* underneath me," this caused Fleur to blush just as if not more deeply than Harry was," then uh when I was trying to get off of you and head down to breakfast, you sort of pulled me back down and pinned me underneath you with my back to the couch. When I was silently freaking out and silently wishing I could do the thing Ms. Septima and your mom can do, you sort of….. said something about a sandwich, bit my neck, and I disappeared and reappeared near the Great Hall."

Fleur's face seemed to grow in heat to fast for her to manage. It seemed to radiate through her body making the top of her head smoke, and feathers began growing at the corners of her jaw slowly climbing up the sides of her face which also began to adopt an almost beak like appearance.

Harry had momentarily forgotten his embarrassment, the slight changes began to appear on Fleur as her own embarrassment made her forget to actively hold back her Veela appearance. For the first time since meeting Fleur he felt a tugging at his senses, drawing his attention to Fleur's sharp features made all the sharper by her Veela traits becoming more pronounced. This was the first time Harry had seen concrete proof Fleur was not entirely human, even if he knew it on a fundamental level because of her abilities, it was a completely different thing to see the proof in person. If he was being honest her form, even half changed, was just as beautiful as her normal beauty just more in an exotic and captivating way.

Coughing, Harry turned his head away from Fleur not knowing if she would find his staring rude," you're sort of transforming Fleur."

"Merde, I am sorry 'Arry you must find zis repulsive and terrifying," she cursed, pulling her school robe's hood over her head. Harry could see feathers falling from the opening of the hood as Fleur gazed down and away from him her shoulders hunched and shaking slightly.

Harry frowned at Fleur's behavior, he had never seen the confident and smart girl so timid and browbeaten, it was bizarre to see.

Against his better judgment he slowly slid next to the girl and put his arm around her shoulders," it's okay Fleur, don't forget I get gawked at all the time so I'm just as used to it. And you've been here for me so much I wouldn't be a very good friend if I wasn't here for you too."

After a few strange sounding sniffles and taloned hands wiping carefully at a hidden face, Harry could hear Fleur's slightly screechy voice from under her hood," I am still sorry 'Arry, I vas never as good as Maman at controlling my Veela transformation. She thinks it is because of 'ow much more adept I am wiz my Veela powers than she is. Veela are naturally emotionally driven creatures and it is much 'arder for younger Veela to control zere forms."

"I promise it's alright Fleur. C-could I see?"

"Quelle?!"

Harry winced at the shrill panicked word that he didn't know," huh?"

"It means 'what' which is a fair question since why would you want to see me like zis," Fleur frantically tugged the hood even further over her head, which was slightly hampered as her now taloned fingers tore through the top of the fabric allowing her silver hair to flow through the tears of fabric. What was strange about this was that her hair seemed to rise through the fabric as if on an invisible yet gentle updraft.

Harry calmly placed his hand over Fleur's scaly one making her almost flinch away, but surprisingly she slowly began to relax and lean slightly toward Harry. The air around the girl had begun to heat up, nearly stifling Harry in the almost waning heat of early September.

"Please, Fleur."

Sighing she lowered her hands from her head bringing her hood down over her shoulders with them, allowing the silver strands to rise in an unseen current that Harry realized was actually her hair turning to a literal silver fire midway through. This, while interesting, wasn't the most shocking change his friend had underwent. Fleur's already sharp features were made predatory by a razor beak that had taken the place of her petite nose and mouth, here ears had been almost engulfed entirely by the crown of feathers that sprouted from the edges of her face, her dainty and graceful hands had been replaced with scaly hooked talons that seemed like they could sever limbs with ease, and the most stunning change was her normally impassive or soft gaze had been replaced with the severe scowl of a bird of prey only heightened by the flowing blue fire that now made up her irises.

'Freak,' said the ever present and hateful voice that was always whispering in Harry's ear.

'Shut up', Harry thought furiously.

Slowly raising his shaking hand, Harry placed it on Fleur's feathered cheek feeling the velvet like feathers beneath his fingers. Her face was warmer than his had ever felt, it was nearly to hot to touch, but he had the strange feeling Fleur was lowering her temperature so she wouldn't hurt him.

Harry didn't have the same stabbing pain that most physical contact racked him with while touching Fleur's face, all he felt was the soft plume of feathers and her gentle tremble. For once in his life he could touch someone without feeling the dull pain of pin pricks on his skin. It said more about him that it took an inhumanly beautiful bird woman who could sense emotion and throw fire to accomplish this, but who cares Harry was just finally able to touch another person with no reserve for once. His hands glides along her cheek smoothing feathers along her neck in their path as he strained Fleur's plumage.

"Zat feels funny 'Arry," Fleur giggled in a squawky voice as her feathers poofed out along the trail his fingers made.

"Can I uh, touch your beak?"

Making a strange crooning noise Fleur looked at Harry her predatory gaze looking far to much like a scared doe somehow," of course you don't have to let me that's completely, fine I was just curious how it felt."

"It is okay, just don't be rough it may be made of bone and keratin but it is still sensitive after a transformation."

As Harry lowered his hand from Fleur's feathers, he brought it back up to feel the smooth looking surface of her beak wondering what sort of texture it might have. And just as his hand came within inches of touching the surface…

"Oh Potter, are you having a wonderful date with your parakeet," a mocking and oily voice said from the direction of the entrance that led to the flying training field.

The sudden voice caused Fleur to raise her hood in a flash back over her head and slump even further than she had before, this time away from Harry.

'Why did Malfoy have to show up now of all time,' Harry thought, his mood darkening and his hands clenching at his sides as he gazed at Fleur shaking beside him.

"Leave now Malfoy, or I won't be as forgiving as I was while you were on your broom."

"Tough talk from a coward who wouldn't even mount his to have a fair fight."

"Tough talk from someone who doesn't go anywhere without his boyfriends Crabbe and Goyle to accompany him," Harry snarked turning to see he had been right that Crabbe and Goyle now stood beside Malfoy. All of the years of putting up with Dudley in silence had made him rather adept at insulting people on the spot in his head, now he could do it out loud.

"Why you arrogant, smarmy, little orphan! No wonder you hang around outcasts, your parents didn't want you so you cling to the freaks of the world like Weasley, Granger, and that whore of a dodo," Fleur sobbed under her hood at that last comment.

At this Harry's vision nearly turned red gazing at Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle laughed like a pair of half witted Trolls at his side. Harry's hands shook with such rage he could only recall one spell that would hopefully see a swift end to Malfoy's smirk he now wore.

'Do it! I showed you the wand movement, it will silence these fools undoubtedly! Remember the words.'

Oh Harry remembered the words the voice hissed in his ears not long ago," Avada Kedavra," Harry whispered tasting the words on his lips. They had a bitter taste that brought an almost forgotten memory to his mind.

A woman screamed in panic so close to Harry his ears rang with her pleads," no not Harry please, don't kill Harry! Me, kill me instead please!"

As the woman screamed in Harry's memory he could hear a high cold voice laugh with malicious glee," move aside girl, I only need the boy! Move aside or you will die with him!"

"No please! Not Harry!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

And as the memory resounded in his head a green flash crossed Harry's eyes his mind filled with horror. He had just partially remembered the night Voldemort killed his mother and father. Not only that he had used the very spell Harry was just contemplating using on Malfoy. Now he wasn't to inclined to test out the spell on Malfoy no matter how much of a prat he was.

Harry's roaring anger had been replaced with a cool tempered river of icy impassivity, and his gaze roamed over the three Slytherin boys in front of him. Harry had just the thing in mind to humiliate Malfoy and the group of all of the other house students coming into the courtyard would only serve to help Harry.

"After that comment Malfoy, I won't let you get weasel your way out of what you have coming. Listen up everyone," Harry yelled to the people Malfoy hadn't noticed walking up behind him," I challenge Draco Malfoy to a formal duel in this courtyard at 5 'o clock."

"Ha! You must be stupid Potter we have classes today at five."

"Actually Malfoy, under the formal rules of the school while dueling club is formally managed and resuming its activities students are allowed to formally challenge another student to a duel as long as the match is overseen by the captain of the dueling club or the co-captain and a teacher then the duel can be scheduled at anytime during the school day as long as it is not past midnight. Luck for you Malfoy, Fleur is the captain of the dueling club and I am co-captain and I'm sure Professor Flitwick would love to oversee the first duel of the newly established dueling club. It will be a great advertisement for the club."

As Harry continued explaining, Malfoy grew paler and paler at Harry's steady unblinking gaze," I n-need a s-second for the duel."

"No, you won't Malfoy. This isn't a real wizards duel and it only over complicates the rules. How about this, we duel disarming spells only the first person to be either disarmed or thrown from the ring three times loses, it's that simple. Even Crabbe or Goyle could understand that."

"I will ask Professor Flitwick to 'elp me officiate the duel," Fleur said with an icy voice her Veela form gone and an equally icy stare pointed at Malfoy as she turned to walk back to Professor Flitwick's office.

"You can't run from this Malfoy. Don't forget I gave you an out by just disarming you in the flying training field, I don't care if you insult me Malfoy but the minute you insulted my friend I won't show you mercy. And If you don't show up Malfoy everyone here, including your lackeys, will know you're a coward. Now get out of my face," Harry said turning to follow Fleur to help her explain the situation to Professor Flitwick.

Harry hadn't noticed, but just after he had heard Malfoy insult Fleur his eyes had turned to red malicious slits. And a coiled ethereal snake smiled from its place rapped around Harry's magic core.

'Soon. Very soon.'


Fleur's P.O.V

While no one had noticed Harry's eyes change for just a split second, Fleur had felt Harry's aura and seen his core change to a poisonous green with black spiderwebs throughout its surface. The feeling Harry gave off for just that split second had terrified Fleur. The entire world had been engulfed in a black shroud of hate and malicious glee that didn't suit Harry one bit.

Fleur had the sneaking suspicion it had to do with that odd aura that seemed to circle Harry's magic core almost constantly. She had ignored the strange aberration for some time now, but if this outburst had anything to do with what had just happened Fleur needed to talk to Harry about this as soon as possible. But now that Harry had challenged Malfoy, and on her behalf no less, she knew they would be busy for a while with dueling club activities once Harry soundly beat that insufferable blonde idiot.