I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 7 – Alternative Universe: A Flower's Delight, Part 3
This starts during Harry's seventh year
Dedicated to: DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles
To say Fleur was happy would be a gross understatement.
The past two years have been wonderful. She grew as an educator and in her Charms work. Flitwick continued to challenge her in all sorts of ways. She learned so much from him and she said that her presence and efforts inspired him as well. They jointly wrote a few papers detailing new Charms applications as well as an in-depth analysis on an existing principle. Their work was published globally and they enjoyed speaking to other masters around the world.
She found herself truly enjoying teaching as well. In the past, while a student at Beauxbatons, she used to not like teaching the underclass students. In fact, she might have resented it when she was "volunteered" in tutoring them. Yet the students at Hogwarts were oddly fun to teach. Of course, more than a few were entranced by her allure but usually a simple wave or something broke them out of it. Most were respectful of her and the few that were not were easily cowed by her.
Then there was Harry.
She adored being near him. Sure, they were less amorous as she would have liked in public, just having him near was enough. They ate together when they could and on the weekends they could visit and spend time with each other. She got to know his friends even better and she came to consider them her own close friends. They had gotten used to them as a couple and while Tracy made more lewd comments that Fleur eagerly enjoyed exasperating, and Hermione huffed about Harry's priorities of snogging over studying, they had no problems.
Many times she would be grading coursework or doing her own mastery work while he did homework or Head Boy duties, just content working next to one another. They were careful to respect the guidelines they established for propriety's sake but now that he had his own private shared quarters, it was easier to visit and spend time together.
Their relationship was an open 'secret' to the school. Of course, there were those who tried to make jokes or veiled attempts and all were handily embarrassed by her. Flitwick gleefully made mentions of young love and pretending to be extra careful when he knocked on her office door or quarters' door. McGonagall had the unerring knack to happen upon the couple when they walked together, something the Deputy Headmistress seemed to find disquieting with the frequency it happened. However, she never accused them of being improper, simply making teasing remarks comparing Harry to his father.
Life, as far as Fleur was concerned, was wonderful.
-0-
Fleur set the newspaper down, trying to keep her anger in check. "Damn them," she huffed. "I should call them out for this!"
"Your English really has gotten better," Harry observed. He smiled at her look, patting her hand.
She shook her head, trying to remain angry against his soothing air. "But honestly! Saying I seduced you with a combination of love potions and my 'beastly charm' to entice you to abandoning England. Not to mention their so-called 'expert' tried to make our relationship as a reason to cut down on foreign trade!"
"It's just tripe," Harry said with a laugh.
"I'll make them eat their own tripe," Fleur swore.
"It is ridiculous," Luna said. "You didn't need to seduce Harry with your allure or love potions. He was already seduced by how loving you are." She turned the page, missing their smiles. "Not to mention he is already entranced by your pair of-"
"Luna!" Harry squawked.
"-eyes. Fleur has lovely eyes." Luna looked up with a raised eyebrow. "What did you think I was going to say?"
Harry shook his head, blushing while Fleur cackled. "I thought you were going to say something different."
"Fleur does have a lovely chest too," Luna said matter-of-factly.
Harry choked on his tea while Fleur cackled louder and Hermione went beet red. Daphne choked on her toast as well, forcing Tracy to pound their backs.
"Thank you, Luna," Fleur said. "I think so too but it's a bit vain to say outright."
"I'd say it outright if it were me," Luna said.
"Oh you'd be surprised what the right undergarment will do with a bit of posture and confidence. All of that is easily attained. I will take you shopping," Fleur said warmly.
Luna hugged her. "Thank you!" She looked at Harry with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Will you come with us?"
Harry slid beneath the table while the girls laughed uproariously.
-0-
"Harry, can I borrow your N.E.W.T.s guides?" Hermione asked as she walked into his bedroom. "You know, I'm still irritated that Alicia got you-oh my goodness." She stopped and stared, face furiously red.
Harry blinked and yawned. "Hmm? Hermione?"
"I, uh, was just asking if I could borrow your guide books," she stammered. "I didn't know you had company."
Fleur sat up, grumbling. "What time is it?"
Hermione looked away. "A little before eight."
"On a Saturday?" Why are you up so early?" Fleur groused.
"I need to study and, can you please put a top on or something?" Hermione pleaded.
Fleur summoned one of Harry's t-shirts to her, slipping it on. "Just for you," she yawned.
Harry dug out all the books from his trunk and handed them to Hermione. "Thanks!" she squeaked and ran out of his bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
"You're not going out to study now, are you?" Fleur asked.
"No, I want at least another hour of sleep," Harry said, climbing back into bed.
Fleur shucked the shirt off again and drew him to her. "Good. That girl needs to get her priorities in order."
"I heard that!" Hermione shouted.
"Stop listening!" Fleur shouted back with a laugh.
About an hour later, Harry wandered out of his bedroom and went to the kitchen, starting to make breakfast. He brought it out to the table that Hermione spread all her books and notes on. She shuffled things to make space. Fleur came out as things were ready, hair tied loosely and still looking very sleepy.
Fleur drank deeply of her coffee, noticing Hermione's pink cheeks. "Really Hermione, you only have yourself to blame."
"I know I should have knocked first," Hermione blustered.
"It is not like we were doing anything aside from sleeping," Fleur said prosaically.
"I just wasn't expecting it. For some reason, it doesn't seem right since he's still a student and you're an assistant professor."
"He is of age and I do not teach him officially," Fleur said as she bit into her toast. "Do not rat us out. I would freeze to death overnight and you would not have that on your conscience."
"I could get you a proper bedwarmer," Hermione smiled.
"I prefer the improper one I have now," Fleur replied, leaning on Harry. "He is much more comfortable."
"Ha, see? I'm comfortable and improper," Harry said smugly and they laughed at his pride.
-0-
One year later
Fleur wrapped her arms around him, kissing him sweetly on the lips. "Congratulations!" she cried with joy.
The final game of the season just finished and Harry caught the Snitch, leading Pride of Portree to an overall finish of Second in the League. Puddlemere United just barely beat them to take the League Cup for the year and the Tutshill Tornadoes were tucked right behind Portree to score Third. Harry ended his rookie year with incredible stats, having only missed the Snitch twice out of eight games.
"Thanks!" He kissed her back. "I have to say, you look good in anything but I think you look really good in that jersey."
Fleur spun in place, gleefully showing off her royal purple jersey with gold trim and the big gold star in the middle of the chest. Potter was written in large golden letters across the back with his number beneath, seven. "I wear it with pride," she said smugly.
"How did your family and the girls like the game?" he asked as they linked arms.
"Loved it, of course. Aimee says you are one of the best Seekers she's ever seen and Gabrielle desperately wants you to teach her how to play. Do not teach her any of your tricks however. I can barely stand to watch you risk your neck."
He chuckled. "I'll do my best. Did they leave for Grimmauld?"
"Yes. Do you wish to go there while I run to Hogwarts? I need to pick something up from my quarters that I forgot earlier."
"I'll go to Hogwarts with you. There's something I want to do there actually."
"Good," she said happily. They walked to the team Floos and took it to her quarters at the castle. McGonagall had allowed the connection since Harry returned often for his Transfiguration mastery with her during the week and it really let Harry and Fleur see each other often and more easily.
They walked out of the Floo, one after the other. Fleur gathered up a few things and slipped them into her bag. "There, now what did you need to do?" She turned at his silence. "Harry?" She stopped, looking at him kneeling before her, a box in his hand.
He smiled shyly. "Since the first time we met was here at Hogwarts, I really wanted to do this here. It felt right to me to do it here. I still remember the first time we met. I was so intimidated by you and I almost didn't offer to help because you looked like someone that didn't need help. But I'm glad I did and I'm glad you accepted because otherwise I wouldn't have met an incredible and wonderful person. We've been together for years and yet you still somehow sometimes make me feel like a shy kid with just how amazing you are."
He opened the box revealing a silver band. A single diamond sat in the middle with four sapphires arranged around it at the corners of the diamond. Wings were etched into the metal, giving the illusion of the diamond in flight. The sunlight reflected off the inner facets, sending rays of light around.
"You came to Hogwarts for me, because you wanted me. You know my past, my fears, my dreams. Despite all that, you still want me. I want you too. I want to have a family with you. It is my dream to have a family I can call my own and I can't think of anyone else I want more than I want you." He took a deep breath. "Fleur Isabelle Delacour, veux-tu m'epouser?"
She stood there, one hand to her heart and the other to her mouth. She nodded several times, her tears glinting like diamonds as they ran down her cheeks. "Harry James Potter yes! YES!" She held her hand out, trembling from nerves and excitement. Her aura filled the room and he blinked at how wild it felt to him, how it coiled and wrapped around him. He smiled as he slipped the ring on her finger. She sighed lovingly as it warmed, fitting her perfectly.
"It is perfect," she breathed as she admired it. "You are perfect," she whispered as she pulled him to her, kissing him on the lips.
"I'll remind you that you said that," he teased.
She laughed brightly and the room filled with warmth and light. "I may remember sometimes." Her eyes sparkled. "Oh! Does my family know?"
"Your father has an idea. I did ask for his blessing and he was happy to give it. I did wait for them to come today so they can celebrate with us."
"You wonderful, beautiful, kind, man." She kissed him between every word. Her lips traveled down his neck and she began to undo his shirt.
"Fleur!" he laughed. "They're waiting for us."
She pushed him onto her bed. "Let them wait," she said huskily.
-0-
They returned to Grimmauld not too much later and looking slightly more disheveled than one might expect. Colette and Tonks might have mentioned something if they were not immediately distracted by the ring and the good news. The ancient house rang with cheers and laughter at the announcement, though Gabrielle was rather upset she would not be the one marrying Harry. She finally accepted him being her brother would be almost as good.
Later that night, Harry's first team came when he asked them to. Though he had played on several different teams throughout the years, he only ever considered one version as 'his' team. Katie had come over from France with the Delacours to visit for the weekend so she was there to celebrate with the happy couple.
"I didn't think Sir Harry would beat you two," Oliver snorted at the twins.
"Don't give them ideas," Fred and George hissed together, giving Angelina and Katie side looks.
"We're not holding our breaths," Katie said and Angelina nodded.
"I don't know if I should feel good or bad about that," Fred said.
"It sorta is a lose/lose situation huh?" George said.
"I'm not surprised. Rabbit is a romantic," Angelina said, ruffling his hair.
"Very romantic," Fleur agreed. Her eyes sparkled. "Though his timing is a bit off. He could have waited for me to be dressed more appropriately before proposing."
"I just thought it was a nice touch at the time," Harry said sheepishly while everyone laughed.
"Oh I have no problem. Young Fleur is rather indignant. Then again, she would have never willingly worn a Quidditch jersey so I suppose she is in for much disappointment," Fleur snickered.
"That's not fair. How am I supposed to make it up to young Fleur?"
"By spoiling me now," Fleur said, curling around him.
"Oh don't I already do that?" Harry smiled back.
"I hope you're paying attention," Alicia said severely to Oliver.
"Dammit Sir Harry! Stop making us look bad!"
-0-
Several years later
"Hi Professor Potter!"
Fleur looked up and smiled at two of her favorite students. "Hello Penny, Leah," she said warmly. After living in Britain all these years, her accent was mostly gone. She still kept a hint of it to preserve her national dignity as she liked to call it, and she deliberately thickened it when she wanted to for dramatic or comedic effect. Or when she was truly upset.
After completing her mastery program, she stayed at Hogwarts to be a Charms Professor. Flitwick had taken the Deputy Headmaster role after McGonagall took the Headmistress position, and Flitwick split his time between the Deputy duties and teaching. Fleur took the majority of the classes but Flitwick was always happy to do tutoring sessions and lecture at all the years when he could.
Fleur had grown into the educator role and she enjoyed being a professor. Sometimes she marveled at how different things ended up how she imagined it from when she was younger. She thought she would be doing some kind of research or something with enchanting and artificing. She never thought she would move to Britain to teach.
Then again, she never thought she would find love and thankfully that was proven considerably wrong.
While normally Fleur loved to spend the time with her students, she was feeling a little antsy. However, she refused to rush them and took the time in helping them with their work, going over the movements and lecturing about the similarities between spells and how their wand movements were also similar.
The third time someone knocked on her office door however, she grew especially irate and finally lost a little patience. "I am not seeing any more visitors today!" she yelled out. "You may wait until Monday to sign up for my office hours!" She rubbed her temples and smiled wearily at a giggling Penny. "Would you please go to the door and make sure they heard me?"
Penny nodded and scampered to the door. She opened it briefly and her jaw dropped open. "Uh, Professor? You might want to let them in."
Fleur frowned. "And why is that?"
Penny was overcome with giggles. "I think she's saying you don't love her anymore and she only loves her papa now."
Fleur gasped and vaulted over the desk, shocking Penny and Leah. "No no no!" Fleur yelled. Penny opened the door and Harry walked in, holding a very upset little girl with long silver-blonde hair and startling green eyes in his arms. "My beautiful baby! Maman loves you!"
"No!" Marguerite Fleur Potter yelled. "You don't love me anymore! I only love Papa now!"
Harry chuckled as Fleur took the little girl from his arms, cooing and kissing her face while the little one squirmed. "Don't be rude to your mother, little flower. See, she loves you dearly." He winked at the delighted students. "Sorry to interrupt your tutoring session. We were only stopping by to tell Professor Potter that she could take her time but well," he gestured at his daughter, "she's a bit dramatic as you see."
"No problem, Sir!" Penny gushed. "She's super cute."
"She sure is." He walked over to the desk and peered down at the text. "Having some trouble with the Summoning Charm? I can help you with that, I've gotten good at it. Do you mind, love?" he asked his wife.
Still kissing their daughter, Fleur gave an absent-minded thumbs-up.
Harry laughed. "Do you two mind?"
"Not at all!" Leah squealed.
He walked them through the Charm and they were delighted when they were able to summon their quills and rolls of parchment. "You're a great teacher!" Penny said.
"Thanks! Professor Potter is much better than me at Charms though. I lead through her example."
"Is it true that you're taking over the Transfiguration position?" Leah asked eagerly.
"I think the Headmistress says that every year in the hopes I'll cave to public pressure," Harry laughed. "Not right now, but it's looking a little more tempting every year. Quidditch is starting to really wear on me."
"My brother and sister would be so sad to see you leave," Leah said. She looked intensely shy. "Could you sign something for me please? They'd love it."
"Sure, anything for my wife's favorite students. She talks about you two a lot at home." He blinked when they blushed and ran out of the office. "I thought they wanted me to sign something."
"They are probably running to get your posters and pictures from their dorms," Fleur said as she walked over with a no longer protesting Marguerite. "They have confessed to me that they have those."
"That's a little weird," Harry laughed.
"Is it? You are a popular Seeker after all." She sat in his lap and Marguerite squirmed until she was safely cradled in one arm with his other wrapped around Fleur.
"With all the new blood in the League?"
Fleur snorted. "All that new blood you routinely beat. You haven't missed a Snitch in two seasons."
"Well someone's gotta do it I suppose," he chuckled.
He happily signed the posters and pictures Leah and Penny brought back and spent some time wandering the castle with Marguerite while waiting for Fleur. He showed her his favorite spots and visited a little with Neville and Hagrid who doted on his daughter.
Fleur eventually found the pair in the Infirmary. Pomfrey had called for McGonagall and the two older witches were playing with Marguerite, telling the little girl fanciful tales about her father who watched with a deeply red face.
"Now you tell your father that he has to be the Transfiguration professor in six years," McGonagall said to the little girl on her lap. "That way, when you come to school, your mother and father will be here with you."
"That's low, even for you McGonagaMum," Harry laughed.
"Do not listen to your father being mean to your honorary grandmother," McGonagall continued. "He's ignored me for years but I know with your help we can finally get him here."
The walls rang from their laughter as Harry hefted his daughter up. Bidding farewell to the Matron and the Headmistress, Harry walked out of the castle with Marguerite snuggled in his left arm and his right around Fleur's waist. They walked and chatted, taking their time to Hogsmeade. The couple had gotten a home there together when Fleur accepted the Professor position and it suited them perfectly.
Later that night they sat together in the garden, Marguerite slumbering in her bed with Hedwig watching over her. Fleur sighed happily, snuggled in his arms as they listened to the outdoor fire crackle and watched the moon drift lazily in the night's sky.
"Feeling good?" he asked.
"Feeling wonderful," she replied softly. "Thank you for stopping by, I desperately needed to see you two. Though I wish I knew beforehand to avoid what will be many days of making things up to our chick."
He laughed, the sound sending pleasantly vibrations up and down her back. "I thought it would be a pleasant surprise but well, Marguerite took offense."
"She's as prickly as I was at that age apparently, or so Maman likes to tell me. I asked her if it was a Veela thing since Gabrielle was like that too."
"Let me guess, it's a Delacour thing."
Fleur giggled. "That is what Maman says but grand-mere says it's an our family line thing. They actually say Marguerite is much better behaved than we were. Must be due to you."
"Really? I feel like I spoil her too much as it is."
"Not really. But she does not act super spoiled. She likes to fuss but you only need to ask her to behave and she will as long as you cuddle her." Her eyes smoldered. "Much like her mother I suppose."
"I wasn't going to say it," Harry grinned. "I'm certainly not complaining though."
"You better not." Fleur straddled him and pulled his shirt off before pulling hers off. "Ah, you are so warm," she purred as she laid back down on him. Her lips sought and found his.
He felt breathless when she backed off, enjoying the feeling of her skin against his. "What's the laugh for," he asked as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"I was just thinking. Even after all this time, you are still the thing I would sorely miss," she said huskily.
He brought her face to his and it was her turn to be breathless. "Thank you for rescuing me," he whispered into her neck.
She shivered with delight. "Thank you for loving me," she whispered. "Say it again, please."
"Je t'aime," he whispered.
"Moi, aussi," she whispered back.
-0-0-0-
Urgwaew - I thought that would be the most elegant way to have her spend more time around him realistically and glad you liked it too. I thought things would work 'naturally' from Apolline's perspective because Fleur is older than him and Apolline trusted Fleur to a greater extent, not to mention her having a good idea of his character from their brief interactions at Hogwarts during the Tournament. Hope you're doing well.
alix33 - Mugs are the best.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - He wouldn't have been able to handle himself around two angry Veela. Hope you like the conclusion.
Canuto-90 - This is the last chapter of this AU. I do have an idea for another AU set of chapters. Not so much requested but I kind of want to do it since this one was well received. Thank you.
