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Harry Potter's first semester of his initial year in the magical university post-Hogwarts turned out to be considerably more challenging than he had anticipated. Part of this was due to the fact that he had ambitiously overburdened himself with more courses than he was truly prepared for. Initially, Harry had harbored the hope of accelerating his studies and finishing a semester or two early. However, he now recognized the naivety in believing he could manage such a demanding load, especially considering he had often opted for the less rigorous elective courses during his time at Hogwarts. At the pace he was going, maintaining high grades seemed almost unattainable, even though he remained deeply committed to securing the title of an estate manager. This realization meant that he would likely need to drop at least one of his spring courses.
Making such a decision was undoubtedly tough. However, the silver lining was that he had the entirety of the winter break to mull it over and finalize his choice regarding which courses to defer. Deep down, Harry felt he shouldn't complain too much. He was fortunate enough to be attending a university outside of the UK, especially given Hogwarts' dwindling reputation in the final years of Dumbledore's leadership. And all this was made possible primarily due to some invaluable connections. Regrettably, even after securing all the financial aid he was entitled to and procuring a personal loan from the American branch of Gringotts, he was still short by almost ten thousand galleons. One downside of studying outside magical England was the exorbitant tuition fees.
Luckily for Harry, his twenty-one-year-old friend, Fleur, a local college student, had established a thriving business a few years ago. She creatively sold her uniquely designed artistic products, subtly enhanced with magic, to the Muggle market. It was impressive how she was profiting from something that, to a certain extent, anyone could attempt. As a result, not only did Fleur manage to cover most of her own tuition, but she also generously supported Harry, ensuring he could attend his dream university. She was, however, keen on keeping her financial success a secret from her parents, citing potential complications that might arise.
Fleur also acknowledged the unpredictable nature of Muggle online businesses. While she was flourishing now, her sales could abruptly plummet. The internet had this peculiar trait—while one could reach an extensive customer base, it was equally effortless to lose them.
But Harry was more than willing to respect her wish for discretion. He certainly had no intention of jeopardizing the generous financial gift she had offered. After all, ten thousand galleons was a substantial amount, and word had it that she had set aside another ten thousand for the following year.
Still, Harry began to seriously contemplate whether obtaining a degree from a more prestigious university was worth the hefty price, especially when compared to what he would have spent back in England. Moreover, he could achieve a business degree of a similar caliber virtually anywhere, provided the institution was accredited.
Furthermore, Fleur still resided at home—more specifically, in Harry's home. This arrangement came about after her parents relocated to Japan due to her father's job with the ministry. She moved in just before his final year at Hogwarts, shortly after Harry turned sixteen, and settled in as if she had been living there her entire life.
The situation was somewhat unorthodox, particularly considering that Harry Potter's mother was deeply religious. Typically, she and Harry's father wouldn't even contemplate allowing two unmarried adults to cohabitate under the same roof. To add to the complexity, Harry's father held a certain stature in specific circles, and any scandal within the household could significantly tarnish his reputation.
Harry and Fleur had always been just friends, a fact that Harry knew his parents banked on. Given their nearly fifteen-year history without a hint of romantic sparks, his parents assumed they would remain platonic. They viewed the pair as perfect little angels, adhering obediently to their guidelines, even if they craved romantic relationships. Furthermore, Fleur, consistently involved with someone else, never considered Harry, who was two years her junior, as a viable romantic option. Their strong bond persisted despite the age gap, partly due to the close ties between their families.
If Fleur ever harbored romantic feelings for Harry, she would not be living in his home now. She and her parents shared similar conservative views, which precluded such a scenario. Their alone time in the house was minimal, so Harry's parents probably didn't overthink the arrangement.
Fleur's decision to move in was a calculated one. Relocating with her parents would have disqualified her from domestic tuition rates in England, as residing in England typically demands a twelve-month period. She was already enrolled in university when they moved. Similarly, if Harry had chosen a university closer to home, he would have saved a substantial amount.
For now, Harry focused on the immediate surroundings. It was a late Friday evening, the autumn semester had officially concluded, and he had initially planned to head home Sunday night. However, a snowstorm was approaching, and visibility was already poor. Conditions were set to deteriorate further. After checking the weather forecast, Harry realized that if he didn't set out that evening, he might not make it home before Christmas, which was a week away. Ironically, the weather back home would be fine, but where he currently was, everything would likely shut down for a week, including Apparition points.
In the back of his mind, Harry also pondered how this would affect his parents' travel plans. They were celebrating their anniversary in Scandinavia, hoping to witness the Northern Lights—a dream they've had since they tied the knot twenty-two years prior. Fleur's parents accompanied them, spending over a week ahead of Christmas on this "parents-only" vacation, a tradition they had started the previous year, a few months after Fleur's family moved.
It seemed to be their way of staying connected. However, with the impending weather, their holiday might get extended. While their home wouldn't face any significant issues, the ministry would likely suspend travel if the weather predictions held true. Harsh weather conditions severely disrupted long-range magical transport.
In the worst-case scenario, Harry could only celebrate Christmas with Fleur or wait until his parents returned if she decided to spend the holidays with her boyfriend. The main drawback was that Fleur might not get to see her parents for the holidays as originally planned. They were supposed to fly in with Harry's mom and dad, spend a few days with their only daughter, and then return to their new home. Now, whether they would continue to visit depended on how quickly Fleur's dad would have to go back to work.
Harry Potter had already sent a message to his mom to inform her of his early return home, without worrying about sharing the news with Fleur, as he could let himself in. Fortunately, a year ago, he had convinced Harry's parents to embrace Muggle technology and get themselves cell phones, so he didn't have to bother owls with transatlantic flights. It was a Friday evening, and he doubted he'd be home anyway. He knew that Fleur spent most of her free time at her boyfriend's dorm whenever she could.
To be honest, the thought of what Fleur might be doing with her boyfriend made Harry feel a bit uncomfortable, but he knew he had no right to feel that way. Fleur was undeniably attractive with her blonde hair, light blue eyes, slender figure, and an impressive Double-D bust - her bra size was 36-DD. Her blonde hair and blue eyes came from her mom, while the ample chest came from her dad's side of the family, as her mom wasn't naturally well-endowed, starting with a B cup before getting the enhancement potion nine years ago. Harry remembered how small Fleur's mom used to be when he was around ten years old, which made it quite strange when Fleur "outgrew" her mother's artificial enhancements a few years later.
Harry admitted that he had fantasized about Fleur a few times, especially during their time at Hogwarts when they lived next to each other. He suspected that his suppressed jealousy stemmed from those fantasies, but he knew those feelings would never be reciprocated, so he had to move on. Harry realized that he also needed to start dating, and the main reason he hadn't done so yet was a lack of time due to a heavy workload. Hogwarts didn't offer many suitable options, as no one really matched his type.
However, now that he was in college, there were a few attractive women who seemed interested in him, though it was difficult to tell. It helped that both their families were physically active, and his dad had introduced him to cardiovascular and strength training for Quidditch at the age of fifteen to gain mass during his hormonal growth and better adapt to longer matches. Unfortunately, Harry wasn't familiar enough with the dating game to distinguish between flirting and friendship. This meant that at the age of nineteen, he was still a virgin.
Nevertheless, Harry hoped that in the next semester, he would be able to take some risks, especially after dropping one or two classes.
Taking a deep breath, Harry felt relief as the snowstorm began to abate. He knew he had managed to avoid the worst of it by Apparating far enough away from the point of destination. Although it was snowing heavily at his home, it shouldn't be so severe that they couldn't leave the house if they wanted to.
Just after two in the morning, when Harry landed on the street in their exclusive neighborhood, the streets were not too treacherous. Only a light dusting of snow covered the ground. The scene was peaceful at this late hour, creating the perfect Christmas atmosphere, especially with the beautifully decorated streets.
However, Harry's house remained dark because his dad wanted to save on electricity bills during their absence. Despite their spacious five-thousand-square-foot home, people might assume they were rich, but Harry knew his parents had invested more in the house and cars than anything else.
As Harry walked up the driveway, he noticed Fleur's blue car parked there, making him wonder if she was really home or if her boyfriend had dropped her off. He considered sending her a message to find out but decided against it, not wanting to risk waking her if she was already asleep.
Fleur's personality always amused Harry. Despite her generosity towards him, she could often be quite mean, talking to him and belittling him in a way he perceived as sharp teasing, which she never seemed to outgrow. Her snarky demeanor was just part of her personality, and she was not one to put up with anyone's nonsense, including his. However, beneath her rough exterior, he knew she cared about him. They had many civil conversations, even if her tone often carried a mocking note when she thought he was being naive or foolish. She could be as sarcastic as hell, but Harry had grown up with her behavior, so it felt normal, even comforting.
Their love-hate relationship had always been part of their dynamic. At the end of the day, it was clear that she still cared about him, even if it seemed like she was constantly annoyed by him.
Harry quietly opened the front door with his key, spotting Fleur's black leather handbag on the hallway table, confirming that she was home. All the lights were off, and he assumed she was sleeping in her own bed. To avoid waking her up, he left his luggage by the front door, making sure not to make any noise while carrying it up the stairs.
To his right, he saw one of the entrances to the dining room, where a long mahogany table sat beneath an ornate chandelier. The other entrance led to the kitchen. On the left was the living room, which his parents used as a home office, and straight ahead were the stairs leading to the bedrooms.
Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are already on Pa tr eon
If you would like to read the next chapters faster, see exclusive content, or support my work, please visit
Pat re on. c om(slash)wickedbunny(delete spaces)