A Beautiful Flower

26th of November, 1994.

Harry was strangely happy about the fact that he would be talking about his past with Fleur. It was almost like it would become more real once someone on Earth knew about it. Was he worried that she would think he was crazy? That was certainly a possibility. It was also possible that he would build a new friendship with someone closer to his own age, and he liked that idea. As much as he liked Hermione and Neville, they were children and he was not. Fleur was only two years younger than him. There were things that he could talk to her about that Hermione certainly was not ready for. His sexual escapades for one. He wasn't even sure he wanted to talk to Hermione about that at all. It felt almost a little icky.

Harry made it downstairs. He had packed a change of clothes just in case Fleur was okay with him taking a shower in the carriage. Otherwise, he would just run back up and do it.

"Bonjour 'Arry," Fleur called as she came walking up to meet him. She was dressed to the occasion in soft blue, and she looked like this wasn't her first run.

"Good morning," Harry said. "I usually go around the lake and then into the forest. Though I guess we could skip the forest and go across the grounds instead."

Fleur nodded. "Lead the way," she said. "Can we talk while we go?"

"Sure, shouldn't be too much of a problem. Do you know any spells against eavesdroppers?"

"Do I," Fleur said as she cast two spells that seemed to form a sort of bubble around them. "As long as we don't get too far from each other."

Harry nodded. "Hon Ni Fun Zulle," he whispered and the magic spread out around them. Hopefully, that would keep anyone from listening in. He started jogging and Fleur matched his pace.

"So big secret," Fleur said. "What 'appened?"

"The short story is that I aged very quickly for you and not so quickly for me, and I learnt a lot along the way," Harry said. "The long story will take more time." He started where it had all begun with the dragons that night when he had found out about them. It felt freeing to tell someone about all the strange things he had been through over the years. Fleur was a good listener.

Fleur herself felt almost like she had fallen into a fairy tale. The things he spoke about seemed unreal yet perfectly possible. "So wait," she said. "'ow long were you there?"

"Almost six years," Harry responded.

"You don't look six years older," Fleur pointed out.

"It is a very complicated glamour," Harry said.

"Could I see?" Fleur asked.

"In private sure," Harry said as they stopped in front of the castle.

"Let's 'ead to the carriage then," Fleur said. "We all 'ave on suite bathrooms you can use mine."

"Thank you," Harry said. He picked his bag up and followed Fleur. Several of her classmates glared at both Harry and Fleur as they walked through the carriage to her room. The carriage was another of those magical wonders that Harry quite liked. It was a decent size on the outside, but the inside was huge. Much bigger than you would think from looking at it.

"Ladies first," Harry said as they entered her room and he walked over to a window that he wasn't even sure if you could see from the outside.

Harry turned around as Fleur came back out of her bathroom and she motioned for him to head in. "I'll get something to eat," Fleur said.

"Sounds good," Harry responded before closing the bathroom door. He got out of his clothes and removed the glamour before stepping into the shower.

A small part of him was still a little worried this had been a bad idea, but he had clicked with Fleur in a way he recognised. Urzant had been similar. They didn't look the same at all, but there were similarities. He got dressed in pants and a shirt that would look out of place anywhere but on a medieval market. It was the only clothes he had that fit though.

Fleur sat by a small table filled with food when Harry walked back out of the bathroom. She was glad she had just swallowed her drink because the man that came out did not look like the boy that had walked into that room. "You really 'ave aged six years," she said.

Harry smiled. "It happens when six years pass by," he said. He sat down opposite her and spread jam on a croissant.

"You are very 'andsome," Fleur said.

"Thank you," Harry said. "You are quite the looker yourself."

Fleur laughed. "You were telling me about the College," she said.

"Ah, yes," Harry smiled. He picked up the story where he had left off.

"Oh, you loved 'er," Fleur said. "But then the goddess ripped you apart." Her eyes were tearing. "Such a sad story."

Harry smiled sadly. "I love her," he said.

Fleur nodded. It had been less than a week for him, and he had lost someone who mattered this much to him. Sure he probably loved his sister Katla and the other people too, but it wasn't quite the same. But to lose all of that in a single moment and know that you would never see them again was so sad. Fleur stood up and took his hand so she could drag him over to the loveseat she had in the room. She pushed him down and cuddled up to him. Everyone deserves a good cuddle when they are sad. "It's okay," she said softly as she felt how his body shook in silent tears. "It's okay." She didn't know what else to say. Rhavaniel wasn't dead. She was fine. Harry just knew they would probably never see each other again. That had to be hard for him. Fleur just hugged him harder. She had been right. He needed someone to talk to. Probably as much as she needed someone. His need was greater than hers because at least she could go home to her family and loved ones. He couldn't.

"I'll be here for you no matter what," Fleur said determinedly.

Harry laughed. His breath caught a few times, but he got it under control. "Thank you," he said. "You know you remind me of Urzant."

"The orc?" Fleur asked. She was looking at him like he was slightly insane.

"You are both very strong women who battle with your lot in life but try to make the best out of a bad situation. "I bled for Urzant you know. Orc weddings are nothing like ours." He went on to tell her exactly what had happened that day and Fleur grimaced. "You still 'ave a scar?" she asked.

"Sure, you are not allowed to heal those wounds with magic. It is considered dishonourable," Harry said. He moved her off him and stood up. He raised his shirt until she could see the big scar straight across his back.

Fleur stood up and touched it. "You 'ave a lot of scars," she said.

"I have been in a lot of fights," Harry said. He dropped his shirt back down. He sat back down next to her.

They sat there in silence for a good long while.

"This is nice," Harry said, breaking the silence. He looked over at Fleur and sat up straighter. She was almost sparkling with magic. "Did you drop your shields?" he asked.

Fleur nodded. "You are right," she said. "This is nice. There aren't that many people I can just fully relax and be myself with. Only one of them is a guy. Alistair 'e is gay so my allure does nothing to 'im. I thought that maybe you were too for a second there, but I wasn't getting quite that feedback."

Harry chuckled. "Well, by now you know I just don't care," he said.

Fleur giggled. "Oh, no they can be cat people and you are fine with it," she said.

Harry shrugged. He wasn't going to feel bad about sleeping with Tara.

They had lunch together and Harry noticed the hostility against Fleur even more. Her classmates did not like her. It bugged him. It wasn't her fault she had the allure.

After lunch, they spoke about less serious stuff. Fleur lived by the seaside and her house sounded amazing.

"You should come this summer," Fleur said.

"You sure? We only just met," Harry said.

"But we 'ave months to get to know each other better," Fleur said. "I'll ask again later and you better 'ave an answer."

Harry smiled. Considering he wouldn't go back to the Dursleys, he didn't have a place to stay for the summer. He guessed staying with Fleur might be a good idea. Unless they for some reason started hating each other.

"I should get back to the castle," Harry said.

"You will come see me again, non?" Fleur asked.

"Of course," Harry said. "Every other day on the weekend and I only have a single period after lunch on Tuesdays if that works for you."

Fleur walked over to her schedule and looked at it. "Mardi," she said. "Oui, that works for me. One day for…" She grasped for the word. "Devoirs…"

"Homework?" Harry asked.

"Oui," Fleur said. "That is perfect. Will make this stay less lonely."

"I also run every single morning just like today if you want to join me for that," Harry pointed out.

"Oh, that would be lovely," Fleur said.

"Tomorrow morning then," Harry said. "Have a good evening."

"Bonsoir," Fleur said.

Harry activated his glamour, grabbed his bag and headed back to the castle. His steps felt lighter and he was just all around happier with himself. Who knew talking would feel so good and that cry had been relieving.

"Where have you been all day?" Hermione asked as Harry sat down by the Gryffindor table in the great hall.

"I have been talking to Fleur," Harry said. He had considered being vague, but he didn't feel like lying and there was nothing wrong with him becoming friends with Fleur. She was a very nice person.

"Delacour?" Hermione asked, surprised. "The French champion."

"Do you know any other Fleur at Hogwarts right now?" Harry asked. "We got talking after the task, that's why I was so late back and then we agreed to meet up for today. She feels kind of lonely. Most of the other girls don't like her much because she's part Veela."

Hermione looked surprised, but she was fine with that she guessed.

"How can you be friends with her?" Ron asked and Neville grimaced at his tone. "I mean she's…"

"It doesn't affect me," Harry said. "That's kind of nice for her since I don't become an utter moron near her. She's quite intelligent and fun. She just acts like a hedgehog because it is hard for her to trust people. That is why she can come across as frigid."

Hermione wasn't sure what had happened to Harry, but he showed insight she would never have expected from him. Though she had to admit that Harry had always been better at things like that than Ron, and she bundled them up far too often.

"Up for some exploding snap after dinner?" Ron asked.

"Sure we can play a game or two. Then I really should get started on that homework for Care just so I have it over and done with," Harry said. "Neville, tomorrow could we take a look at that essay that Professor Sprout wanted? I'm having some issues with telling the difference between those two plants."

"Sure, that would be great," Neville said. "Could you help me finish up the essay for Professor Snape then because I don't think he will like it?"

"Definitely," Harry said.

Ron kept opening and closing his mouth. He wanted to say something but he wasn't sure what. Was he jealous because Harry was getting more friends? Maybe a little. He sighed to himself. A big part of him had hoped things would just get back to normal after he apologised. Now he was wondering if that would ever happen.

28th of November, 1994

On Monday Harry spent his first period looking into Ancient Runes while Hermione attended the very same class. She had pointed him in the right direction and now he was expanding. He was getting fairly certain he could just use Dragon Runes instead of these other languages. The more he looked at it the more he figured taking the actual class would probably just hinder him. He would self-study and that was fine.

The second period was Charms and Neville struggled. Harry didn't like that. Part of the problem was quite clearly the wand and that Harry felt was something he could fix. All those things he had brought with him could make wands. He knew he needed a new one himself, but he could have one made for Neville too. He just needed to figure out what materials were suitable.

They were revising the Carpe Retractum spell. It was a short-range summoning spell. Harry had managed just fine and now he was helping Neville. Neville was far from stupid it just didn't show that well because of his nerves. Neville was nervous and scared of messing up all the time except in herbology and with plants. That was one of the reasons that Harry was pushing for Neville to show his knowledge in that subject more.

Gildergreen.

Harry would use the branch from the Gildergreen for Neville. Now he just needed a core. As he sat there going through what things he had brought that would make good cores he wondered if it would help Neville if he was to cast a weak courage spell on him before potions. He would have to be very subtle about it. He was much more inclined to help Neville become less scared naturally, but sometimes people just needed a little push. That might work with Neville. He very carefully cast a Courage spell at Neville while Neville summoned the apple they were training with again. Neville's spell connected with the fruit and it moved towards him. He smiled brightly as he held the apple in his hands. "I did it," he said.

Harry smiled. "There you go. You can do it," he said. "Now let's try again and slower this time." He placed the apple back down.

Neville tried again and succeeded almost instantly this time. Building Neville's confidence wouldn't be that hard. All he needed was some help.

Ron both didn't like and respected Harry's new friendship with Neville. He struggled a lot with his own jealousy, and he knew that at least to a certain extent. If nothing else Ginny had let him know he was a jealous git several times over the past month. He sat down next to Hermione as Harry sat down next to Neville. It used to be the other way around.

Harry didn't notice Ron's struggles. He was fully occupied with making sure that Neville's hands weren't shaking as soon as Snape got close to them. The only problem with having Neville next to him was that both of Snape's favourite targets sat together. He passed by them quite a few times and spewed underhand insults. Harry almost started laughing. Snape was good, but he wasn't sure that Snape was better than Rashall or Rhavaniel at underhand comments. He hadn't realised until then that he had lived with two people that were quite a lot like Snape for years. He guessed that was part of the reason he cared so little about the insults now.

By the end of the class, Harry was proud of himself. Neville had not blown his cauldron up. He had even produced a passable potion. It could be done. That was all Harry needed to know. Now he just needed to figure out how to increase Neville's self-worth.

Snape, like always, asked for insane amounts of homework to be done before their next lesson.

"We need to start now if we are to have any chance of finishing this," Harry said as they left the classroom.

"We could head to the library now," Hermione said. "Get started and then keep going in the common room later."

"Sounds great," Harry said. "You coming too? Neville. Ron."

Neville nodded. He knew he wouldn't be of much help, but he could really use the help himself and the combination of Harry and Hermione was good if you wanted to learn something.

"Sure I guess," Ron said unenthusiastically. He wasn't that interested in homework, but he guessed he would have to do it.

They got to the library and they split up. Snape wanted an essay that reflected where the ingredients were from and how they interacted with each other. It was a tangle, but they would manage.

As they headed down to dinner, Neville told Harry about all the different plants that he had found that they could use for the essay. Harry just smiled as Neville went on. He wondered why he had never really tried to include Neville before. He noticed how Ron sat down by Seamus and Dean as they reached the table. Maybe that was it. He might have excluded Neville to keep Ron. He wasn't going to prioritize like that anymore. Neville deserved to have friends. Not that he would in any way push Ron away. They would manage, he was sure.

Neville went to bed happy that evening. He liked spending time with Harry and Hermione. The past week had been amazing. He wasn't sure what to think of Ron who seemed like he would rather be anywhere else, but he guessed that wasn't actually his problem as long as he was inclusive.

29th of November, 1994.

"Could I have a word with you, Professor?" Harry asked Professor McGonagall after Transfiguration.

"Certainly Mr Potter," McGonagall said. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I would like to know if it is possible for me to drop out of Divination?" Harry asked. "To be frank I simply don't feel like the subject is giving me anything. I'm no seer and I never will be. I would like to focus that time on something more worthwhile like any of my other subjects."

Minerva McGonagall watched her student for a moment. She had noticed a clear improvement in his work over the past week or so. Would it be a bad idea to give him a pass from Divination? She certainly didn't feel that way. She found the subject to be utter rubbish, though she would never say that out loud. It was still fairly well-known how she felt about it. "If I do this," she said. "I want to see even more improvement in your work and I want to hear the same from the other professors."

Harry nodded. "That sounds reasonable," he said. "I will do my best."

Minerva gave him a rare smile. "Then I will inform Professor Trelawney that you will no longer be taking her class," she said. "Have a good day Mr Potter.

"And a good day to you too Professor McGonagall," Harry said. He headed out of her classroom and caught up with Hermione and Neville.

"What did she say?" Hermione asked.

"She said I can go right ahead and stop going to Divination, but she wanted to see a continued improvement in my other subjects," Harry said.

"That is great," Hermione said.

After charms, Hermione headed to Ancient Runes while Neville and Harry went outside. Neville was going to help Professor Sprout with something, and Harry was going to see Fleur. He knocked on the door to the carriage and a young man opened it. He spoke French and Harry did not understand one bit of it.

"I'm sorry I don't speak French," Harry said. "I'm here to see Mademoiselle Delacour."

The young man walked back into the carriage and closed the door. Harry wondered if he would have to break in when the door opened again and it was Fleur.

"Bonjour 'Arry," she said as she stepped aside so he could come in.

"Good afternoon, Fleur," Harry responded.

"Oh, Fleur why are you taking that little boy with you to your room again? One could get the impression that you like them young," a woman told Fleur in French so Harry didn't understand.

Fleur turned to the young woman that had spoken. "What we do is none of your business," she responded. "You are the one with your mind in the gutter if that is all you can think about."

Harry sat down in Fleur's loveseat after he'd entered her room.

"Lucille needs to learn to mind 'er own business," Fleur said as she joined him.

"If she bugs you then don't listen to her," Harry said.

"I wish it was that easy," Fleur said. "Our mères are friends. We 'ave known each other for ages. She is envious because I am Veela and she is not."

"A rather foolish thing to be envious of," Harry said. "It's not like you can help it."

Fleur nodded. "You and I understand that but many others choose not to," she said. "The allure is tough to control. I worry for my little sister Gabrielle. She is just eight and 'as all of that ahead of 'er. I wish there was something I could do to 'elp 'er."

Harry nodded slowly. He didn't have any family as such, but he was trying his hardest to help Neville right now so he guessed he understood her a little at least.

"At least she will have you," Harry said.

"But I cannot be there to 'elp her in school when this 'appens," Fleur said. "Just like you cannot tell when puberty will start, you cannot tell when the allure will begin to run wild." She sighed. "I 'ad a rough time and that was despite the teachers knowing that I was part Veela."

Harry wasn't sure what to say. If he could help her, then he would certainly try. He didn't know how though.

"Why don't you drop the glamour?" Fleur asked. "Not that I mind, but I figure it would be more comfortable for you."

"I don't have any clothes that fit me without the glamour," Harry said. He realised just after he had spoken that he should probably just have kept his mouth shut.

"Quoi! We need to do something about that," Fleur said.

"This weekend, but we need to go to Diagon Alley because I need to go to the bank," Harry said. "I just don't know how to get there."

"I can apparate us," Fleur said.

"You have been there?" Harry asked.

"Oui, once. I'll go by myself during the week to make sure. Otherwise, I'll ask someone for 'elp," Fleur said.

Harry smiled. "That sounds great," he said. He tapped the silver-grey armrest of the loveseat with his fingers. "I don't care about this tournament you know," he said. "I don't want to win. I don't need it."

"I can understand why," Fleur said.

"I should let the others know," Harry said.

"Oui, we should talk with them," Fleur said.

"After we have figured out what the egg wants with us," Harry said. "Even if they haven't figured it out. I just want to know before we meet."

"We should just let them know we want to meet up once everyone 'as figured it out," Fleur said.

"Makes sense," Harry said.

Fleur left to get them dinner and Harry lay staring up at the ceiling. "Are you up for teaching me French?" he asked when Fleur returned.

"Sure," Fleur said. "It would be better if you were to come over this summer. Then people won't be able to talk behind your back."

Harry chuckled. They agreed to speak French on Tuesday afternoons and English on the weekend so Fleur could improve too.

Harry roped Hermione into it as well. She didn't mind. She wanted to improve her French.