Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since I posted. I've had a long, crappy year. Hope everyone has a good holiday season & may 2024 be better for us all.

And happy birthday to Pansy, at least my version of her :)

December 31st, 1997 Delacour Manor

Gabrielle Delacour was furious.

Her beloved Harry Potter had arrived with his wife Pansy, as was expected, but unfortunately, there was also a blonde on his other arm. A blonde that wasn't Gabrielle Delacour.

She had met this Luna Lovegood before at their wedding, but now, seeing her there in a sparkly silver dress while leaning against Harry and happily chatting away with the Potters- while Gabrielle was wearing her own silver cocktail dress! How dare she steal the look of the hostess!

As a Veela, she had the overwhelming desire to fight fire with fire.

"Don't look now, but I think someone wants to melt you with the hatred in her eyes," Pansy snickered while holding her glass of champagne in front of her face.

With a confused expression, Harry asked, "Who?"

"Not you," Luna sighed. "Me. Pansy's idea for me to protect you from an amorous Veela might be putting me into danger."

"Do I need to say something to her?" Harry wondered with a sigh.

"I doubt it will come to that," Pansy chuckled before taking a drink. "If Gabrielle does anything, I'll protect Luna from the cranky Veela."

Apolline Delacour was wandering through the guests and happened to come upon them at that moment. "Did I hear something about my youngest?"

"We're just wondering if I am in danger," Luna calmly answered.

"For showing up with Harry?" Apolline smiled for a second. "My daughter hopefully has some amount of control, but I will check on her before she makes a scene."

"Thank you," Harry said with a tight nod.

"It's not like we're going to have a threesome tonight or anything," Luna added with a small shrug.

"We're not?" Pansy asked with a smirk while Harry hid his face in his free hand.

"No, I am in something approaching a relationship," Luna replied.

"Vane would probably get off on it if we did do something together and then you told her about it," Pansy said with a snicker. Harry groaned at her in response.

"This sounds like an amusing story," Apolline perked up as she waited for more of the gossip.

"Luna's sort of girlfriend is one of Harry's fangirls," Pansy teased.

"Which did lead to our time together," Luna admitted. "But I have standards, even if things are somewhat questionable."

"I approve of you having standards," Apolline agreed. "And I wish you well with this potential relationship, Luna. If you'll excuse me, I shall make sure to speak with my angel before she does something foolish."

"Thanks," Harry said as she winked at him and walked off. He exhaled and shook his head. "Maybe we shouldn't have come here after all."

"None of that now," Pansy argued. "I need to find Fleur and talk to her."

"Why?"

"Because there should be an important announcement," she grinned.

"What type of announcement?" Harry wondered, raising his eyebrows and scanning around the room. "Don't you usually tell me all the interesting gossip you hear?"

"We girls have to have some secrets," Pansy snickered as she pulled the three of them through the crowd. They got several looks, especially Harry (as she could tell from a few muttered voices), but she was intent on finding the older of the Delacour sisters and thus ignored most of the people around them.

"Pansy!" Fleur smiled and quickly pulled her in for a hug, and then the very French 'faire la bise,' a kiss to the right and then left cheeks. "I am so glad you could make it."

"I wouldn't miss it," Pansy replied. "You remember Luna Lovegood, I hope."

After the two blondes greeted each other, Fleur then turned to Harry with a teasing expression. "And dear 'Arry, of course. I believe Gabrielle will require a turn on the dance floor, mon ami."

Harry's shoulders sagged and the girls all giggled at his pout. "Will she at least keep her hands above the waist?"

"It is far too public to do otherwise," Fleur answered with a wink. "But zat does not mean she won't try to tempt your hands to venture south."

"Great," he snorted.

"Where is that man of yours?" Pansy asked.

"Isaak was speaking with my father last I looked," Fleur said. "I will find him in a few minutes. But we must chat, in private for a moment please."

"Harry, why don't you take Luna for a spin on the dance floor?" Pansy suggested.

"Sounds fun," Luna grinned. "Come on, let's dance!"

She heard Harry's laughter as they stepped away, then Pansy turned back to Fleur. "So, did he really do it?"

"Indeed," Fleur smiled as she flashed her left hand, an engagement ring prominently displayed.

"I'm surprised other people haven't noticed it yet, or said something anyway."

"I used ze all too 'andy notice-me-not charm, cast upon ze ring," Fleur answered happily. "But since I wanted to show it to you-"

"Oh, I see," Pansy said with a grin.

"We are planning for a big announcement later," Fleur added. "Before ze midnight countdown, I believe, although Isaak and my father took charge of zat little detail. Maman told me I should let zem 'ave something to do, after all."

Pansy giggled. "How was the proposal?"

Fleur blushed and sighed happily. "Isaak took me to Le Havre for a weekend getaway a couple of weeks ago. To do something to run away from ze holiday stress, Isaak claimed, but when we went to Mont Saint-Michel for dinner, and at sunset, 'e brought out such a ring- it was marvelous! Designed it 'imself even, although maman confessed zat she gave a bit of advice as well, for ze aesthetics. But ze enchantments upon it were all Isaak's work."

"It does have a very remarkable sparkle," Pansy said as she looked closer at the ring.

"I would want to wait for privacy before I explained everything about ze magic involved," Fleur added with a smirk.

"Now I really have to know," Pansy chuckled. She took Fleur's left arm and dragged her towards the balcony.

After dancing with Luna for a few songs, Harry had grabbed a couple of glasses of champagne and they sat down for a breather. He had seen Pansy and Fleur laughing as they headed outside, so he figured that it was probably a good time for a little break, especially before Gabrielle cornered him.

"Having fun?"

Luna smiled as she took a sip of her drink. "It's been great so far."

"What is your dad up to tonight?" Harry asked.

"He's just having a quiet night in," she replied. "There was a big article he finished yesterday, so the next issue of the Quibbler is all ready to go. So, daddy's just relaxing before getting back to work once the new year comes. It's not a good idea to have an issue come out right on a holiday- too many readers are busy, so the numbers slump from what he's said."

Harry nodded. "That makes sense."

"If you don't mind, I'd like to head back home before midnight," Luna said.

"You mean midnight here?" he asked.

"No, I mean back home," she corrected him. "We are an hour ahead, so we can stay through the big countdown and then I can get back home and the four of us could have a little drink together. Daddy had some mulled wine that he said we could share."

"I've never had that before."

"It's yummy, you'll like it."

"I'm not a big wine drinker," Harry said, unconvinced and frowning slightly.

"Trust me," Luna smiled. "The Lovegood family recipe is sweet and spicy."

"Fitting," he grinned as he reached around and tickled the left side of her tummy.

Luna giggled for a moment, then she pecked him on the cheek. "Are you saying I'm both sweet and spicy? Because I think that's a lovely compliment." She paused for a second and then put on an exaggerated pout. "I guess in some ways it's disappointing that I'm involved with Romilda. This would be a good opportunity to ravish you and Pansy once we leave here."

"In front of your dad?" Harry snorted out a laugh. "I'm not so sure of that."

"Well, I wouldn't want to drag the both of you away during this party," Luna shrugged. "I'm pretty sure that would set off Gabrielle's Harry obsession radar, and I don't think any of us want to see the fallout of an angry Veela."

"True." He looked around the party for a moment. "I'm surprised I don't see her right now. I would think she'd have appeared again once Pansy got busy gossiping with her sister."

"Don't jinx it," Luna said with a grin.

"Yeah, I guess," he exhaled. "I need to hit the loo."

Luna took his glass of champagne and finished the final sip. "I'll see you later then. I'm going to say hi to Hestia and Flora."

Harry nodded as he stood up and quickly made his way through the crowd and out into the hallway.

A few moments later, shortly after exiting the restroom, Gabrielle was waiting for him in the hallway while wearing a hopeful smile. "Is it my turn for a dance, 'Arry?"

Her voice came out practically in a purr and he held in a chuckle so he could respond. "I suppose I'm free for the moment."

She glomped onto his arm, grinning as she dragged him to the area of the ballroom set aside for dancing. Only a few couples were engaged there at the moment, and Harry still didn't see Pansy anywhere, so he had to assume she was still busy talking to Fleur. Unfortunately, Luna was off to one side chatting with the Carrow sisters and paying him no attention, so he hoped he wouldn't need to call for help.

The music was quite slow, and if Harry hadn't been distracted looking for the two girls he'd arrived with, he may have noticed that Gabrielle briefly flashed a triumphant expression. Before he could take her hands, she had already wrapped her arms around him and was leaning against his chest, swaying slowly.

The content little sigh was quite audible to him though.

Harry allowed her to have her way though as they began to dance. "Have you had a good holiday?"

"Never better," she whispered. With the heels she was wearing, Gabrielle was almost as tall as him, so he could easily hear her even over the din of the crowd, nestled as close as she was.

"I'm glad," he continued. "How was school this past term?"

"It was alright," she murmured. "There were some funny moments. Many of the boys were always so quick to stare, and more than once I saw someone stumble or walk into something while they couldn't take their eyes off of me. But there were times when it was lonely too."

"I'm sorry," Harry replied.

"Maman had warned me that things would change once I got older," Gabrielle said. "Some girls can get so jealous. But I tried not to let it bother me. My friend Jacqueline shares many of my classes, and she hasn't turned on me yet. Of course, she hasn't really hit puberty either, so perhaps it is just a matter of time. I have a second cousin named Aimee, and even though she's a year ahead of me, we spend some time together. She's had similar issues with the girls in her year."

Harry shook his head slightly. "I'm glad I didn't deal with too much of that sort of thing. I was too busy trying to stay alive to deal with too much melodrama- or just spending most of my time with Pansy, I guess. Might've been easier in some ways, I suppose. But I've never really had a normal life, so I can't miss it too much."

"Some people are just meant for greatness," she said, looking up with a twinkle in her eyes. "And I think you are quite remarkable, 'Arry."

"Thank you," he answered softly, breaking his gaze away from her. Something felt a little off for some reason.

"You are more than welcome, 'Arry." Gabrielle closed her eyes and curled her head against his throat.

Harry stayed silent for several seconds while he thought, the answer finally coming to him as he noticed the perfume she was wearing. "Are you trying to use your allure against me?"

"Maybe I can't control myself with you," she murmured happily.

That was exactly what she was doing- so Harry stopped dancing and pulled her off of him. Even as she was caught, Gabrielle was still smiling. "Can you blame me?"

"Yes, I can."

Gabrielle grabbed onto his arm as he started to walk away. "Don't leave so-"

Harry pulled her through the crowd and then turned to look at her once they had some slight measure of privacy. "That was rude."

"Oh, don't be that way, 'Arry, it was-"

"I'm not finished," he cut her off. "Between Apolline and Fleur, I'm well aware of how you might not have complete control yet, but that was not the excuse for what you were doing, and we both know it."

She pouted at him. "I'm sorry."

"I hope so," Harry muttered, letting out a sigh and seeing Apolline on her way over to them. "Look, Gabrielle, I think you're a sweet girl. But I am married- very happily married- and you are too young for me anyway. Besides, you need to be careful about this sort of thing, especially once you're back at Beauxbatons. It could cause you more problems, and for your sake, I don't want you to be lonely there because of how people react to you."

"Well said, Harry," Apolline added as she shot her youngest a disappointed look. "What have I told you, my angel?"

Gabrielle grumbled something very loosely resembling a response.

"Give me a moment to speak with our guest," Apolline ordered, her daughter pouting as she walked off. "I'm sorry about that, Harry."

"Don't worry about it," he said with a shrug. "I hope this won't upset you, but I really hope she gets a boyfriend one of these days."

Apolline snickered. "Just don't let my husband hear of such a thing! We wouldn't want him to have a heart attack."

Harry felt a hand go around his waist, and he turned to find Pansy had sneaked up on him. She was grinning as she began to speak. "Are we gossiping about Gabrielle over here in this dark corner?"

"She tried to affect Harry with her allure," Apolline replied.

Pansy giggled and shook her head. "That girl- she'll never learn."

"She had better learn or I will ground her all next summer."

"Well, I'll just have to keep my husband busy so she won't be tempted to do anything else this evening," Pansy suggested before she quickly led Harry towards the doorway heading out into the hallway.

"Where are we going?" he asked a moment later.

"I'm feeling frisky," she whispered with a smirk on her face as she pulled open a bathroom door. "You know, we've only christened a couple of guest rooms here."

Harry snickered. "Well, it's not our home, you know?"

Pansy just kept on grinning. "That can explain why we're so far behind Apolline. She told me she had made sure to hit every single room."

"Even her daughters' rooms?" he wondered with a frown.

"Before they were born," Pansy explained before locking the door and then setting up a privacy charm. "We'll never catch up, but I can make Apolline laugh by telling her that we're still working on it. Fleur too, actually. I'm not sure how many she's managed with Isaak."

Harry smiled as he slid one hand up her thigh. "Fair enough then."

She moaned happily as he reached her knickers. "It will have to be a quickie though. I don't want to miss midnight."

"We've got plenty of time left," he murmured as he began to kiss the side of her neck. Pansy spun around and leaned forward over the sink, and Harry smiled as he watched her grow flush and begin to moan. Knowing exactly what she wanted, he began to kneel behind her, sliding her dress up and then pulling her soaked thong down. "What's got you so excited so quickly?"

"Maybe it's how hot my husband is in his suit?"

"I think there must be something else," he answered as he raised himself back up while undoing his belt. "What were you and Fleur talking about for so long?"

Pansy giggled. "Maybe we were talking about naughty things."

Harry used his left hand to grab the hair near the nape of her neck while he rubbed himself against her slit. Chuckling slightly, he asked, "Is that all?"

"Maybe she was telling me about some new spells we could learn," she replied. "Fun new spells for things like this."

Sliding inside her, he pushed her to continue. "And?"

"And, maybe she gave me a little taste?" Harry began to move with her then. Pansy sighed happily. "I love the Delacours."

She was squeezing him and he couldn't help but agree. "Me too."

Pansy turned to him, kissing him and then smirking. "Even Gabrielle?"

"That girl's going to get herself in so much trouble someday."

"I think that's what she's hoping for," Pansy snickered.

In response, Harry just started fucking her harder. He wasn't in the mood to think about the pushy little Veela.

Harry spent the next half hour or more firmly in the company of Pansy and Luna while avoiding any other trouble. Well, after cleaning themselves up a bit from their adventure in the loo.

Shortly before midnight, the music stopped for a moment and Pansy's excitement started to bubble up while she pulled him over towards a slightly raised area where the band had been playing. Apolline was standing in front of Fleur and her boyfriend.

He was once again thankful for translation spells as most of the crowd was French, which was what their hostess used as she began to speak.

"I thank all of you, my dear friends, for joining us tonight as we celebrate the turning of another year," Apolline said, smiling at her audience. "But before this year ends, my eldest daughter and her beau have an announcement to make."

Fleur had Isaak on her right side, and Pansy started to almost bounce in place next to Harry as they watched them take a step forward. Isaak cleared his throat briefly. "I am most grateful to the Delacours for hosting us tonight, and I would like to happily invite you all to a wedding next summer."

As Fleur lifted up her left hand to reveal the engagement ring, Pansy let out a squeal of joy as she squeezed Harry's arm. While the crowd cheered and started offering their congratulations, he asked his wife, "So, I suppose we've got another reason to visit France yet again?"

She giggled and hugged him. "You know you love it here, and you know that I love a good wedding."

"Very true."

"Now, come on," Pansy said as she pulled him towards the happy couple. "We've got to congratulate our engaged friends."

"Was she telling you the secret earlier?" he asked.

"Maybe," Pansy grinned.

Several hours later, while the Potters went to Times Square to celebrate the New Year once again, a meeting was taking place in an office.

"Potter was definitely spotted coming out of his hotel room about ninety minutes ago," one man said to his boss. "And we also have confirmation that he was in France earlier in the day. The cross ocean apparition is definitely true."

"Excellent." He looked down at his paperwork, flipping through a folder and tapping his fingers. "We could use someone with his skills."

"Yes, sir," the first man agreed.

"Perhaps we should test him though?"

"What do you mean?"

"Make sure Potter is up to the task," the boss said. "With distance like that, he could rescue hostages, assets or the like, much more easily than most."

"Or even agents that get over their heads."

"Exfiltration, hmm?" The boss looked at the missions and agents currently operating in the various problematic regions all over the world. "I suppose we could even set something up, if need be. Now we just have to decide who we'll use to approach the target."

"Someone friendly?"

"Probably not too friendly."

"Young and married, so no seductions, I suppose," the first man said.

"Agreed." The boss steepled his fingers for a moment and considered the options. "I think we'll try using Winters first. He had a positive outcome with first contact, so we'll see if he can butter up Potter again."

"Should I set up a meeting with him?"

"Make it the first of next week," the boss replied. "I'll have to look over our funds again."

"Not a standard contract?"

"Potter's already rich." He exhaled and stood up, heading for the small selection of alcohol he kept for troubling days. Pouring a small amount of bourbon, he took a sip and turned back to his underling. "But he's simply too useful for us not to try to get him on our side."