Harry's P.O.V

4:25 p.m.

Fleur had been tense throughout the entire explanation they had given Professor Flitwick, who seemed completely oblivious to Fleur's edgy attitude. Harry was very worried about her, she seemed to be avoiding him for some reason. He assumed it had to do with how he had seen Fleur transform, but he thought he'd made it clear to her that he didn't care about what she looked like when she did.

Harry was currently in his Thursday potions with Professor Snape and the Hufflepuffs, thankfully it wasn't Friday when Ravenclaw had potions with Slytherin or Harry might have been even more emotional seeing Malfoy. He didn't think that right at this moment he would be able to keep himself from setting the boys stupid hair on fire if he was within Harry's eyesight.

"-the porcupine quills?"

"I'm sorry, what," Harry asked the Hufflepuff girl he was partnered with.

"I said could you pass the porcupine quills," she said a little irritated, apparently she had tried to get Harry's attention a few times now.

"Oh, sure here you go," Harry passed the girl a vial of what he assumed were porcupine quills as he himself added rat tails to his own potion.

"So, I hear you're dueling Draco Malfoy in about thirty minutes in the fountain courtyard."

Harry paused mid stir and stared into the nearly finished hair raising potion as it turned a shade of puce," well he insulted my friend, if he didn't want something like this he shouldn't have been daft enough to insult a Ravenclaw. Obviously I figured Malfoy for a weasel that would try using a trick to get out of the duel, so when I challenged him I did it in front of a crowd. He couldn't very well look like a coward in front of everyone could he? So really it's his own fault for insulting someone smarter than him."

Harry looked over at the Hufflepuff girl her vivid red hair caught his attention, he'd seen this girl at the sorting, if he recalled correctly her name is Susan Bones.

"You're kind of… intimidating," she said with an alarmed look at Harry.

This took Harry by surprise," w-what?"

"Well, when I first saw you you stuck around that older girl and you seemed more nervous than anything, but all of the teachers keep talking about how well you're already doing even though you just started. Now you're picking a fight with a well known heir to a pureblood family, and the teachers are fully sanctioning it cause the rumor is that you're going to be a co-captain to the new dueling club, and to top that off you're the boy who lived. You're pretty impressive you have to admit."

Harry was stunned, no one had ever called him impressive. All his life he was just scrawny unimportant Harry Potter, the unwanted burden on his 'relatives' and on some occasions he was his aunts victim. But he was never impressive.

"I don't know about that. I've just been doing the best I can in classes, and I couldn't let Malfoy insult my friend. I might be scared of a lot of things but people like Malfoy aren't one of them. Also it's barely been an hour since the dueling club was even proposed to Fleur and I how can people already know? "

Susan quirked an eyebrow,"Professor Flitwick kind of can't stop boasting that two of his Eagles are in charge of the club. Also you have a lot of qualities for the other houses like your Gryffindor bravery, your Hufflepuff loyalty, and not to be rude but that scheme to trick Malfoy was very Slytherin."

"Believe me I've heard enough nagging from my closest relative about me not getting into Slytherin. I swear he whines way to much for someone as old as he is," Harry said rubbing his face thinking about the moody portrait of Slytherin.

"I'm surprised your relative would want you to be in Slytherin, since that's where you-know-who was sorted into when he went to Hogwarts," Susan said turning back to her cauldron as Professor Snape made a swooping pass at the pair of them.

Harry for his part continued swirling his cauldrons contents before adding the final ingredients and pouring the concoction in a vial, staving off the professors glare at the two of them talking," well he's rather eccentric and between you and me kind of senile, if he asks though you didn't hear it from me."

"Potter," Professor Snape drawled his cloak billowing around him dramatically," I believe you have a prior engagement in nearly ten minutes, and if I am not mistaken it will take you that long to reach the fountain courtyard to uphold that appointment. Do not neglect your duties I expect to be carried out as any other student would in this class Potter, or you will not have an especially pleasant time, now be off."

"Of course, thank you Professor," Harry said nodding at him before turning back to Susan," I'm sorry, I have to go it was nice chatting with you."

"It's alright Harry, and it was nice talking to you too you're a lot nicer than I thought you'd be," Susan said with a beaming smile.

Harry didn't know what else to say, so he nodded awkwardly and walked down the rows of tables and placed his vile of hair raising potion on Professor Snape's rack atop his desk.

As he approached the potions room door he could feel a prickling sensation on his back, almost definitely meaning more than a few of the students were staring at his back. Without turning around he opened the wooden door by the cold iron ring handle it made a low squeaky noise while it opened. When he stepped into the cold hallway of the dungeon and closed the door behind him he breathed a sigh of relief as the sensation of eyes on his back disappeared.

'That was certainly nerve wracking,' Harry thought to himself.

As he walked down the dungeon corridor he rolled his shoulder, stretched his arms, and made sure his shoes didn't slide needlessly. As he continued on Harry couldn't shake the feeling he was forgetting something,' I really wish I had a remembrall, like that boy Neville had. It would certainly tell me if I'm really forgetting something.'

Once he reached the top of the dungeon stairs he wound through the castle making his way to the fountain courtyard, the suits of armor along the walls cast shadows in flickering torch light putting him on edge for some reason.

Tap*

"AH," Harry exclaimed looking down at his leg where something had touched him, only to find a glaring kitten with green eyes looking up at him and letting out an irritated mewling noise.

'So that's what I forgot,' Harry thought as he lifted the kitten up by its armpits placing the small ball of fuzz on his shoulder.

Harry continued walking as the cat glared at the side of his head," hey it's not my fault you took so long to get back to me just from delivering a letter to Mr. Hagrid."

At that Cobalt's claws dug into Harry's shoulder making the boy wince. Hoping to alleviate the kittens ire he began petting its head, thankfully the cat conceded beginning to purr letting Harry continue walking.

"You've missed a lot I'm afraid," at this the cat laid across his shoulders cocking it's head in his direction," I've managed to become the co-captain of the dueling club and not only that I'm dueling Draco Malfoy because he insulted Fleur. That's where we're headed now."

Harry could've sworn Cobalts eyes conveyed the utter astonishment that could only mean," are you serious?"

"Don't look at me like that you glorified rodent. You like Fleur almost more than you like me, I guarantee you would've shredded that git's pant legs if you had been there."

Cobalt didn't give any other reply other than an irritated huff that blew air into Harry's ear, so quickening his stride Harry made his way to the end of the charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts hallway seeing a large crowd of students and a few teachers gathered with Malfoy already in the middle.

When Harry approached he saw Fleur glaring at Malfoy, who for his part looked extremely pale and without Crabbe or Goyle with him he didn't look quite as confident as he had earlier when mocking the girl. Harry could also see the smiling bearded face of Professor Dumbledore his long beard shaking as he talked jubilantly with Professor Flitwick who looked just as excited. Septima beamed at Harry giving him a thumbs up and a smile that nearly made him grin, despite the situation.

'No pressure, only the Headmaster, a Dueling champion, and the person who I see as an older sister to oversee a duel between school boys,' Harry grimaced.

When Harry's eyes roamed to gaze at Fleur he saw her eyes meet his as if drawn to his own, they soften when looking at him before she schooled her features into a practiced impassive gaze and she nodded at him.

"Now zat both participants 'ave arrived we will begin by listing ze rules," she said addressing the gathered students and odd assortment of teachers," first no spells above disarming charm level are to be used. Second whoever leaves or is knocked out of zis circle loses zat round. Third zere will be three rounds, all of which can only end in the aforementioned ring out or by the person being stunned. Do you both understand ze rules?"

Both boys nodded with widely different expression on their faces; Malfoy looked almost ready to puke and Harry had such an intense glare that seemed widely out of place for a boy his age.


Dumbledore's P.O.V

Dumbledore was rather shocked to hear young Mr. Potter had been doing so well in his classes since arriving at Hogwarts, and he had only been a part of the magical world for no less than a hand full of months. Of course he had expected Harry to be rather well informed with his last minute decision of allowing Professor Vector to be his first connection with the magical world. But he never could've imagined Harry would come this for in such a short amount of time.

If it had been left to Dumbledore, he would have preferred to have Harry sorted into his old house so that the boy could learn bravery. However, as he observed the young man the more he realized that it was a much more wise decision for the hat to place him in Ravenclaw. This way he could truly learn and grow more powerful, if he had been sorted into Gryffindor as Dumbledore expected he may have taken a path filled more with easy times and slacking off. Now that young Harry was walking the path of a Ravenclaw through wit and skill Dumbledore expects great things from Harry.

'If only Harry didn't have such burdens placed on his shoulders. No young man should have to live with such shadows hanging over their head.'

If nothing else Dumbledore would appreciate the chance to gauge young Harry's skills as a duelist.


Harry's P.O.V

"Now, will both of you please face one another and zen take ten paces away before turning back around to commence ze duel, and zen after ze first round we will commence ze last two duels from ze positions you started ze first bout in," Fleur explained.

Both Harry and Malfoy nodded approaching each other, the burbling fountain a few feet beside them being the only source of noise in the entire courtyard aside from the few whispers in the still air.

"You can still forfeit Potter, you won't embarrass yourself any more if you do," Malfoy said in a shaky voice that didn't even seem to convince him.

Harry for his part just continued to stare at the boy before answering," we both know you don't believe what you're saying Malfoy, now just be quiet and fight."

As the two turned to walk the ten paces, the entire courtyard fell silent even the fountain seemed to grow still.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Harry allowed his wand to slide from his inner sleeve, smoothly gliding to his palm.

Seven

Eight

Nine

Harry began building up his magic allowing the distinct intent of a disarming charm to gather at the end of his wand, causing a faint red glow to gather.

Ten

Harry spun lashing his right arm in a line slashing down at Malfoy's hand as he yelled," Expelliarmus," to Harry's utter surprise, instead of dodging or even trying to cast his own spell Malfoy just pointed his wand at Harry and froze. Of course the only outcome could be…

"AHHHH," Malfoy screamed as he soared through the air landing outside of the circular concrete perimeter of the courtyard.

Harry had no idea what to think at this point. Was this normal? Do people normally freeze like Malfoy just did? Fleur certainly never had. Was this some kind of Slytherin-like strategy?

"One round goes to 'Arry," Fleur said trying to contain her laughter as Malfoy was helped to his feet by a teacher he had landed near.

As Malfoy made his way back over his face was beat red and he looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else other than across from Harry. The two of them faced one another taking starting positions again.

"Now, ze second round begins!"

This time Malfoy brought his wand up a second before Harry could, no doubt in desperation," expelliarmus," Malfoy cried in a sloppily wide and exaggerated wand motion. To his credit the spell was aimed at least well enough to head towards Harry.

As the spell roared toward Harry he fell to his right, into a roll that put him right next to the lip of the fountain. The red disarming charm whistled above his head mid roll splashing harmlessly on a stone window frame behind Harry.

Not wanting to waste time Harry raised his wand and cast a low powered dancing flame spell at Malfoy, putting more magic in the concussive force of the initial impact rather than the ignition power of the flames," Chorus Flamma!"

The bright orange of the flame spell spiraled out of Harry's wand streaking toward Malfoy's chest in an erratic arc that seemed to be the reason it was called a dancing flame. As the sputtering flame neared Malfoy the boy clearly thought Harry's spell had been a dud due to its small size, after all it looked barely like a few stray embers from a dying campfire. And then.

Bang *

All of the force that would normally be generated into the ignition of the spells flame, was turned into a compact blast that no doubt felt like a solid punch. To bad for Malfoy that force was centered right on his stomach and the boy was lifted off his feet and sent outside of the concrete circle yet again. Thankfully for him he was thrown quite as far as the first time, but that was of little comfort to him as he threw up his lunch from the blow he received to the stomach.

"Round two goes to 'Arry yet again," Fleur said, beaming at Harry's use of the dancing flame spell.

Malfoy was on his knees retching and heaving as he glared over at Fleur and Harry," you'll pay for that Potter."

"I rather don't think I will," Harry said looking disgustedly at the contents of Malfoy's stomach on the ground.

"Will both participants please return to starting positions for ze third and final round," Fleur said.

For the last time Malfoy and Harry regained their positions facing one another, Fleur took her position between them looking at each of them in turn.

"Begin," Fleur said backing up and moving off to Harry's right out of his line of sight. For some reason Malfoy followed her movements before moving toward to Harry's left with a controlled sprint causing Harry to run parallel to the boy not knowing what Malfoy was planning.

Surprisingly, the boy didn't cry out a spell he just thrust his wand out at Harry and a white light built up at the end shooting out, passing by Harry without him needing to dodge at all.

'What was that,' Harry thought for a split second just before he heard a small voice cry out in pain behind him.

Turning, Harry looked behind himself and saw that Fleur was holding a hand to her face as her cheek swelled slightly with a red welt appearing where Malfoy's spell had hit her.

"Ha! Maybe that'll make her more attractive in that bird form for you Potter!"

Tears rose to Fleur's eyes threatening to spill down her delicate face causing her to wince as they rolled down the welt on her left cheek.

Slowly turning back to Malfoy, Harry gazed into the smirking face of the other boy a chilling cold sensation gripping his emotions turning them into jagged ice.

Despite his anger Harry knew he wouldn't get away with anything like Malfoy had, he had the excuse that Harry and he had been running so his aim had been off. Harry had no such excuse, as he was stopped in place looking at Malfoy so he settled for the next best thing. Winning.

"Stupefy," Harry said charging the spell well past what it should have been, causing it to leave his wand with enough force to make his arm jerk back.

"Wha-" before Malfoy could finish what he was about to say, he was hit with the full force of Harry's spell making him fall to the ground with as much grace as a puppet that had had its strings cut mid dance. No doubt the boy thought Harry would do something foolish after seeing Fluer hit with his spell and get himself disqualified.

Without throwing a single glance at Malfoy Harry trotted over to Fleur crouching next to her as she sat on the ground with her hand hovering over her cheek. Taking her hand Harry guided Fleur to sit over at the fountains edge to wet a cloth he had in his pocket and placed it on Fleur's cheek.

"Ce garçon stupide m'a pris au dépourvu," Fleur said slipping into French as she glared at Malfoy's stunned form that Professor Flitwick was attending to.

"That was a very exceptional display of dueling Harry," said a wizened voice behind him.

Turning Harry saw that Dumbledore was smiling at him in a grandfatherly sort of way with a twinkle in his eye," thank you sir, it went rather awry at the end as you saw."

"Indeed. I rather suspect Mr. Malfoy meant to harm Ms. Delacour on purpose. Alas, I do not posses sufficient evidence to definitively accuse him. I am sorry Ms. Delacour, perhaps a visit to Madam Pomfrey is in order to reduce the swelling. In addition I do believe reinstating the dueling club would be quite prudent, after watching such a brilliant display from you Harry I hope to witness Ms. Delacour's dueling prowess sometime soon. In the meantime please help yourselves to one of these," Professor Dumbledore said as he passed the two of them a yellow candy that upon closer inspection smelled strongly of sour lemons.

Harry and Fleur discreetly dropped the sweets in the fountain once Dombledore turned around, it appeared neither of them liked sour candy all that much.

"Zat was a rather interesting duel 'Arry," Fleur said wincing as she poked at her cheek.

Harry gingerly moved her hand aside and lightly glided his thumb over the wound, it felt familiar the way the skin raised from the welt. Harry was familiar with this sensation he had been burned multiple times when trying to familiarize himself with a stove top when he was younger and he began preparing meals for the Dursleys.

"It's not as bad as I thought a burn like this would be."

"It is because I am a Veela we 'ave natural resistance to fire. Although I believe 'is last spell was more effective because it was a stinging jynx not specifically a fire spell," Fleur explained as she watched Professor Flitwick renervate Malfoy.

"Well that's lucky, shall we make our way to the nurses office I don't really want to hear Malfoy whine as he wakes up."

"Of course," Fleur nodded rising to her feet and striding out of the courtyard with Harry on her heels.

Harry looked over at Fleur's cheek with a puzzled look.

"What is it 'Arry?"

"Why isn't your burn healing yet?"

"Quelle?"

"If I remember correctly that means what," Harry could see Fleur nod out of the corner of his eye," it's just that by now a wound like that would start healing on me."

Fleur stopped walking to look at Harry," zat is odd. I 'ave 'eard of people 'ealing rather quickly from injuries at a young age, but you are well past the age of accidental magic like zat."

"Really? I've always healed really fast even from pretty bad injuries. It kind of always made my Uncle really-" Harry stopped before he finished that sentence as he remembered he was talking to Fleur.

"Really what?"

"Mad. My relatives don't approve of magic or imaginative things, they are very devoutly ordinary."

"And these are ze same relatives who are not kind to you," Fleur asked as she continued at a sedate pace.

Harry just nodded knowing she could see him out of the corner of her eye, he didn't particularly want to think of the Dursleys right at this moment. Fleur may have been jinxed by Malfoy but he had also just won his first "real" duel it was exciting.

Sighing at Harry's lack of answer Fleur turned her gaze back forward scanning the hallway no doubt trying to remember which way the hospital was.

"It's a left and then a right at the end of the next hall," Harry had almost memorized the layout of the ground floor of the castle and he was slowly working his way up to memorize the rest.

"Merci," Fleur said turning to walk down a short hall," how are your classes going 'Arry?"

"Pretty well, I'm especially good at Charms and Transfiguration but honestly we haven't covered much practically since the first day in Charms. Apparently Professor Flitwick let us have one active class for the levitating charm, rather than starting right off with theory he wanted to see who had the most aptitude for the subject. I think he was planning to bring back the dueling club from the start and he was gauging future applicants skills."

"From ze way 'e acts you wouldn't expect 'im to 'ave such foresight. But 'e is surprisingly fastidious," Fleur turned right down the hallway and almost immediately turned left to enter the Hospital wing, which a woman who Harry assumed was Madam Pomfrey was bustling through before turning and gazing at them both very hawkishly.

"It has only been two weeks into the school year and I already have two patience, I swear this castle needs more safe guards. Now dears what ails you both," asked Madam Pomfrey wiping her hands on her nurses apron.

"I am sorry to bother you Madam Pomfrey but I 'ave been 'it by a stinging jinx it appears," Fleur said pointing at her slightly swollen cheek.

The nurse bustled over to Fleur waving her wand over the area muttering a spell under her breath causing a few words to hover in front of her face that only she seemed able to understand.

"Yes, it does appear to be a stinging jinx and it looks like your… heritage has lessened the effects it might have on another person. Be that as it may I have just the thing to solve the issue," as she said it Madam Pomfrey swiftly turned around striding toward a cabinet that she opened and fished out a circular jar that she promptly brought over to Fleur," now dear all you need to do is let me cast a simple counter jinx that will reduce the swelling and then use that ointment on the affected area for no more than two days. Normally I would say a week but your resistance to some spells like this will aid in the healing."

Fleur paused for only a second after letting Madam Pomfrey cast the counter jinx on the area before tenderly dabbing the ointment on her face and sighing in contentment," thank you very much Madam Pomfrey."

"Of course dear, now back to classes with you if you have them or wherever you might be needed."

Harry and Fleur left the nurses office walking along side by side, neither of them had any classes that needed there attention and the lopped at a stilted pace not knowing where to go. As Harry walked he felt something stir in his robes.

Cobalt scrambled up his shoulder blades from the hood he had apparently been sleeping in, his claws dug unnecessarily into Harry's back making Harry wince," ouch!"

Cobalt had dug an especially mean claw into Harry's shoulders as he walked along them to jump onto Fleur's instead. He licked at her cheek before hacking and spitting at the taste of the ointment in his mouth he had just tasted.

"Serves you right you traitor," Harry said rubbing his shoulders and back.

"We'll if 'e 'as been in your robes zis entire time you were rolling around wiz 'im while you were dueling zat hateful little boy. It is no wonder 'e is not amused wiz you."

"Ah, yes. I think that would explain it," Harry said as he looking apologetically at Cobalt holding out his hand to pet the kitten," sorry about that."

Cobalt however, didn't seem to want to forgive Harry so soon and just stared at his outstretched hand as if it were an especially large cockroach that the cat found disgusting.

Fleur let out a dainty laugh and scratched the kitten behind the ears causing it to purr," I suppose 'e will be sleeping wiz me again tonight."

"Again?! I thought he was sneaking around the castle hunting for mice when I couldn't ever find him!"

"Well I can say 'e as most definitely snuck to sleep in my bed more zan three times in ze past week. 'e seems especially fond of sleeping on my chest," she smiled absently scratching under the cats chin.

"I bet he does," Harry mumbled looking at Cobalt with more annoyance.

"Feel jealous 'Arry? I seem to remember you telling me ze most interesting story earlier today involving sleeping," Fleur teased.

With a face radiating heat Harry looked away from her, but not before noticing the light blush across Fleur's own cheeks," I have no comment at this time."

Fleur nodded smiling smugly with her eyes closed," of course not."

"Harry? Is that you," said a gruff deep voice from Harry and Fleur's right. Looking Harry saw that it was the form of the immense game keeper, Hagrid standing at the entrance of the great hall," I almos' thought ya'd forgotten!"

Harry stared at Hagrid with wide wondering eyes for one solid second before remembering the note he had attached to Cobalt," oh! Right, don't worry Mr. Hagrid I didn't forget about having tea this afternoon. See, I even brought Fleur," Harry said gesturing to the girl as she gazed up at Hagrid's large frame.

"Ya can jus call me Hagrid, none o' this Mister stuff," Hagrid said smiling down at the pair," now let's get down ter me house, I bet Fangs getting lonely."

"Lead the way Mr- er I mean Hagrid. And who's Fang?"

"He's me Boarhound, but don' be scared o' him he's a real sweetheart. Him and yer kitten there got along nicely you wouldn't have thought they'd jus' met."

As they exited the entrance hall to the castle it struck Harry again that this was his first day outside of the castle in two weeks. The September air washed over Harry's face feeling slightly warmer than the castles cool interior, but not by much.

Hagrids long strides outpaced Harry and Fleur's normal speed, so they both had to slightly jog to keep up with him.

"Ya don' know how good it is ter finally be able ter talk to ya. Dumbledore wanted me ter get ya to buy all yer school supplies, but he changed his mind. Said I'd only intimidate the Dursleys needlessly," Hagrid said beaming down at Harry who was nearly out of breath jogging beside the large man.

"That's no surprise," Harry wheezed," Uncle Vernon once looked exceptionally scared when a nearly seven foot tall man with long green hair and black clothes asked him for directions in the park near our house. I'd love to see how much you'd scare all of them."

"Yer not scared o' me though, are ya Harry?"

"Of course not. Why would I be scared of you," Harry asked confused.

Hagrid grinned down at Harry through his considerable beard as he slowed his walk to trudge down a slope that would lead them to a wooden hut on the edge of the forbidden forest," it's jus' that people tend ter be scared o' me cause me height and all."

"Zat is rather rude of zem. Do not worry 'Agrid I am not scared of you either, my Headmistress Madam Maxime at Beauxbatons is even taller zan you!"

"Blimey, I think I'd like ter meet her some time. Anyway here we are this is me house," Hagrid said gesturing to the hut Harry had spied. Up close he saw that it had a small vegetable patch with a wooden fence surrounding it.

Harry looked over to Fleur who looked quiet horrified at the hut. If Harry was being honest he could never picture a girl like Fleur even looking at a hut like Hagrids, let alone setting foot in it. And by the look on her face she was of the same mind as Harry.

"It is… nice 'Agrid," apparently her manners won out over her revulsion at the dirty hut.

Harry had to forcefully stop himself from laughing at the expression on her face," I like it too Hagrid, especially the garden I always had to tend to Aunt Petunia's garden cause she was to lazy to do it herself."

"S'not right how them Dursleys treat ya Harry, Professor Dumbledore told me they make ya do everythin' around that house and don' even show any gratitude. It's not right," Hagrid fumed looking off over his garden as if he'd like nothing more than to throttle one of the cabbages growing in it.

"It's fine Hagrid, let's just go inside, yeah?"

Almost reluctantly Hagrid gripped the door handle opening it and holding the door open, letting Harry and Fleur enter before himself.

Inside the hut there was only one room it appeared that the kitchen was off in the left corner, a fireplace with a table in front of it on the far wall straight across from Harry and Fleur, and then a bed in the right corner. And standing directly in front of Harry was a large black Boarhound with short fur and a droopy face, Harry had never seen a Boarhound but Fang certainly lived up to the name. If there was any dog Harry could ever picture taking down a wild boar, it was this behemoth of a dog in front of him.

"Er, Hagrid you're sure Fang won't bite," Harry asked nervously looking at the unblinking dog as it gazed at Harry and Fleur.

"O' course! Fangs' a sweetheart," Hagrid laughed as he bustled over to his table picking up a tray of what looked like rocks," have one o' me rock cakes, it's me dads old recipe I always used to love em."

Harry picked up one of the cakes, it certainly had the weight of a rock and… yes upon trying to bite into it Harry found it was quite solid.

'I think I nearly chipped a tooth,' Harry thought in astonishment.

Looking over at Fleur discreetly he saw that she had nearly made the same mistake as himself, she was rubbing her jaw with no small amount of pain on her face.

"Zis is an… interesting recipe 'Agrid," she said trying to put a smile on her face that seemed more than a little forced.

Harry could see a minuscule amount of pink under Hagrid's bushy beard at Fleur's compliment," thank ya Fleur, I'm glad ya like em I'll be sure ter make more for ya both next time. Anyway how's school been fer both o' ya?"

"It 'as been interesting ze classes are slightly different from Beauxbatons, ze main problem I 'ave is translation problems on my end. But I can only improve zat problem by speaking and studying English more."

"And I haven't had any problems either, most of the theory on most spell work is easy to understand. I've never had a problem visualizing how a spell should work and when I try it, it usually works the first or second time," at this both Fleur and Hagrid looked at Harry in utter astonishment," what? Is there rock cake in my teeth?"

"C'est impossible," Fleur muttered," 'Arry most people 'ave to try dozens of times just to get even a little effect matching ze description of a spell, let alone it working properly on ze first try. One time I tried casting a summoning charm on a 'airbrush and it shot past me embedding itself in ze wall. Oh how Maman laughed," she said embarrassedly.

"She's right Harry, why when I was learning the Incendio spell I set me sleeves on fire more times than I care to remember," Hagrid was now staring at Harry with newfound respect that personally made him feel quite uncomfortable.

"Let's just chalk it up to me being good at studying alright?"

Fleur looked at him with and odd expression before turning back to Hagrid," what about a you 'Agrid? 'Ave you been busy lately?"

"Me? Oh no, it's been real quiet like. 'Cept fer when Dumbledore sent me to Gringotts on the 31st ter get-" Hagrid momentarily looked shocked for a moment after cutting himself off.

"To get what," Harry asked.

"Never ya mind, I shouldn't have said that. The only person who needs ter know about that is Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid warned looking at Harry sternly.

Harry out of instinct beaten into him by the Dursleys dropped the subject," Oh, but 'Agrid you can tell us," Fleur didn't seem to be bothered that she might get told off for pushing the subject, in fact Harry could see Hagrid's eyes go a bit glassy at Fleur's words.

"Well, I mean… I can't just tell ya both what I got fer Dumbledore, but I can tell ya both to stay away from the third floor corridor just like Dumbledore told yer lot on the first day o' term."

Riding on Fleur's own curiosity, Harry tried looking at Hagrid with the most pleading eyes he could muster," come on Hagrid you can tell us a little more, can't you? Telling us something we've already been told by Dumbledore isn't much."

"Yes, please 'Agrid tell us at least a little bit," Fleur begged adding to Harry's pleads.

"Alright, alright already. Jus' stop lookin at me like that yer both makin me uncomfortable," Hagrid groused scratching af his thick beard, causing Harry and Fleur to grin at one another," Now let me think… do either of you know who Nicolas Flamel is?"

Harry looked at Hagrid very blankly having no earthly idea who Nicolas Flamel was, but at that same moment Fleur let out an excited yelp that did not suit her.

"You mean ze famous French wizard and alchemist who created ze philosophers stone? Zat Nicolas Flamel?"

"Yeah, that'd be the one," Hagrid nodded," well all I can say is Dumbledore's keepin somethin safe fer him cause they're old friends and ol' Nic has had a few mishaps recently. He needs Dumbledore to keep somethin safe fer him and I was sent to get it fer Dumbledore. There are ya both happy now? Can we please move on ter somethin else?"

"You're right. Sorry about that Mr. Hagrid we were just really curious that's all."

"I told ya Harry none o' this mister stuff, ya can just call me Hagrid," he mumbled.

"Right right sorry, Hagrid," Harry smiled," anyway badgering you about secret assignments, you said you wanted to talk to me about my parents right?"

"O' course! I didn't get ter talk to ya like I woulda liked before school started cause of how busy I was. I'm sure Professor Vector told ya a lot about yer parents, but I knew em both when they was in school and I thought yad like ter hear about em."

Harry smiled at Hagrid, his eyes misting over a bit but he quashed the impulse," thanks a lot Hagrid I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."

For the next hour Hagrid told Harry and Fleur all of the stories he could remember involving Harry's parents, from mundane conversations he'd had in passing with them, to the time Hagrid had caught James Potter and a boy named Sirius Black both hanging upside down in the bows of the Whomping Willows branches half naked and slinging insults at two boys named Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin who both stood by very concerned and laughing hysterically respectively.

"A-and then James said 'Quit starin Wormtail and make Moony cut us down, or I swear I'm gonna throw you in a room full of feral cats!' I swear I've never laughed so hard in me life," Hagrid roared laughing even now just remembering it," I still have no idea why threatenin him with feral cats worked on Peter but I'd never seen that boy scramble faster in his life."

Harry and Fleur were leaning heavily on one another laughing almost as hard as Hagrid was, neither could properly catch there breath. Fleur because every time she looked at Harry she imagined him hanging upside down and swearing at someone, because his dad looked almost identical to Harry. And Harry couldn't stop because of the face Fleur was making as she tried to suppress her laughs and failed.

As they all sat laughing among themselves for various reasons Fang bounding between them in excitement greatly annoying Cobalt who was already annoyed greatly as he laid on Hagrid's bed.

"A-alright I think it's gettin late enough. If I keep the two of ya any longer you'll miss dinner," Hagrid said visibly holding his laughter as he began to rise from his chair in front of the pair.

"Thank you Hagrid. It was nice hearing about my parents, I haven't heard much and it's nice to know stuff about them." While Harry was happy to hear about his mom, a lot of the stories about his dad were colored with a dislike born from the mistreatment he had suffered from Aunt Petunia and her odd fixation on James Potter. Although they were still very funny from an objective standpoint. You

"Yes, It's nice knowing about 'Arry's parents 'e 'as met my mother and I expect 'e will meet my papa soon so it's nice at least 'earing about 'is," Fleur smiled helping Harry to his feet as they all excited Hagrid's hut.

Harry was surprised how dark it had gotten as Hagrid related various stories to them, Harry couldn't help but marvel at the imposing sight of the castle up the hill from Hagrid's hut. He could see torches lit in their brackets flickering in the windows, lighting up portions of the castle with their supposedly magically magnified light. The entrance had two roaring flames in braziers whose light nearly reached the trio as they approached the castle.

"I will admit. It is not quite as 'ideous as I might 'ave thought at first," Fleur begrudgingly said to Harry," ze inner decor is still dreadful though."

" I've always thought it was brilliant. Inside and out," Harry grinned.

"I'm with Harry," Hagrid nodded beside the pair," I've always loved Hogwarts, jus' the walk from me hut up to the castle is a little annoyin but it's nothin I can't handle."

Once they all reached the entrance, brazier light flickering around them, they all strode up the short stairs into the open dining hall filled with chattering students. A few glances were shot their way from various students, but none lingered long before turning back to eat.

Hagrid walked up to the staff table waving at both Harry and Fleur, the pair sat down in their usual spots at the Ravenclaw table getting greetings from Lisa Turpin and, to Harry's surprise, the Gray Lady who rarely showed up when everyone was eating.

Harry began to converse with Lisa as Fleur talked interestedly to the Gray Lady, it struck him how different he felt from when he had first arrived just a few weeks prior. He definitely didn't dislike that fact but it felt odd to have people to talk to other than a couple spiders in a cupboard.

Today hadn't been a bad day at all, even if it had gotten to an odd start. He couldn't wait to see how classes, dueling club, and making friends would go.

"Could you pass that," Harry pointed at a dish he couldn't readily identify but looked meat based.

"Sure, but what is it," Lisa asked.

"No idea! Looks interesting though."

A/N:

Okay everyone I'm assuming that most who have made it this far are long term readers or people who have read chapters prior to me making authors notes. Now for people questioning the opening rape scene for the story refer back to chapter one which has been updated with a starting chapter note explaining why I included it.

And now the other reason for this note is to let you all know the initial chapter dump was because Iported over the story from my main medium of upload Archive of our Own, so if you want the most immediate updates possible go over there to get chapters sooner. I use the same name here as over there and I have a few (not many) other stories not in the Harry Potter universe.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and will continue enjoying future chapters!!!