The weeks following Harry's declaration was a rampage of rumors and whispers. Pretty much the norm for the life of Harry. Though these were not primarily because of Harry's declaration but also the fact Dumbledore had run out of the hall like he had just seen the second coming of Merlin. Not to mention the metal debris that was found in the courtyard the next day, the students and staff suspected perhaps a Weasley prank gone wrong. There was however one person who wished to speak to Harry but because of how confused they were. She did not suspect something like this would ever happen in her life.
Fleur Delacour sat on her bed cross legged as she looked at the castle through the window. Her thoughts stuck on not only the First Task but also the events at the wand weighing ceremony with the little….no…Harry. The way her allure seemed to hit her back had caused her much confusion and much fear at the same time. Her mother had written back that there is not one single record in all of history of a male having the allure or anything similar to it. It also wasn't the first time it had happened.
Everytime she had gazed across the ravenclaw table curious of the young man she felt it again. Luckily since the first time it happened she was able to focus her occlumency shields better to the point she no longer became a stammer mess like the boys did with her. The thoughts drifted back to her to the point she sighed in pure exacerbation throwing herself back on her bed with her long silver hair spread out around her. Why is it always me? She thought to herself due to how her life at Beauxbatons. Her hardship as a Veela excluded herself from so much. In all forms of real connections. From simple acquaintances to even the perception of romance. And not just with the male population but also the female. In Fact she would say it was worse from the female half. Then there was the fact that she was not a pureblood and in many ways she was considered worse than that of a muggleborn witch. A creature. Something to be taught in the Magical Creatures classes.
"What am I thinking?!" Fleur scolded herself as she sat herself up in annoyance. "I am Fleur Isabelle Delacour! Vella! One of the best students at Beauxbatons! I should just go confront this boy-er male.." She had thrown herself up and to her door almost as if on air flowing to it and ripping it open.
Then she froze. She stood in the doorway and froze. What was this feeling that prevented her from rushing to the unknown, and Harry Potter was indeed the unknown, and why did she let it prevail? Fear. The idea that someone with almost nothing known about him could cause so much strange magic terrified her. But it also excited her to learn how. It was as if her Veela nature could sense the power and was intrigued. But was that all that was causing her to go and be so concerned with the male? She let out a breath of hot air, litteratly, and felt her shoulders slumped. She needed to figure things out. And so she walked. She let her body guide her as her mind was preoccupied. Straight out the carriage and towards the trees, the green, sometimes gray, eyed raven haired male in her mind. It was after a moment she stopped and looked around noticing she was in a nice open space and saw a girl in a blue shroud on her white clothing gazing out as if she was looking at something and throwing fruit and meat to it.
"Bonjour?" Fleur spoke and the girl turned and smiled.
"Greetings Fleur Delacour, the star that is reversed." Fleur raised an eyebrow at that as she got closer.
"Star that is reversed?" Fleur asked, confused as the girl giggled.
"Forgive me, I speak in weird ways, I'm told. My name is Luna. Luna Lovegood. You sit at my table in the hall."Ah that was why she seemed slightly familiar. She recalled the young girl who was seen at times at the table where Harry and his friends had started congregating at meals. "Your mind is troubled and you seek enlightenment but fear grips you of the possibilities of the unknown and more importantly your safety of venturing the unknown."
Fleur gaped at the little girl. "How…..who…"
"Don't be so scared. Let the fire of your nature glow bright once again and let it push you to discovery." She turned and gave a soft smile. "If you don't, your life shall be colder. And although you may gain contentment, happiness would never truly be yours. But do not fear you shall have the opportunity. To set things right and to discover when Yule comes around."
Fleur stood awestruck at the woman who clearly knew things that probably should not be privy to. Matters of the mind and heart. It was too late when she noticed she was already walking away when the question came to her.
"Wait what comes at Yule?!" As her feet carried her after the young lady.
"The Yule Ball," McGonagall started,"is approaching! It is a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball- '' She was cut off slightly by Filch messing with a big gramophone which she scolded him, "Will be open to fourth years and above, although you may invite a younger student if you so wish. Dress robes will be worn!" Her voice curt and to the point as always. " It will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day and finish at midnight in the Great Hall." She smiled slightly though as she saw the excitement in her students.
"The Yule Ball is, of course, a chance for all of us to-er- let our hair down…as they say. But that does not mean We will be lax on the expectations on the standards of behavior of Hogwarts students." Her eyes darkened and Harry could swear he saw them slit slightly, perhaps from her animagus form coming through. " I will be most displeased if any Gryffindor student embarrasses the school. In. Any. Way." Her threat was as clear as day."
Her eyes slowly relaxed as she saw the understanding, and some faces turning white from the threat, settled into her lions. "Now essentially the Ball is…a dinner and a dance for those who have never attended one. The House of Godric Gryffindor has been a beacon in the wizarding world for nearly ten centuries! I will not have you besmirching it in a single night by acting like babbling, bumbling, band of baboons!"
George and Fred smirk as they look at each other. "Say that five times fast." As they attempted quietly
"Inside every girl, a secret swan slumbers, longing to burst forth and take flight."
Harry slightly caught the movement as Ron leaned over and whispered to Sheamus. "Something's about to burst from Eloise Midgen, but-Ow!" His brothers slapped him in the back of the head with a glare. Sure they were pranksters and wanted to have fun here and there but Forge and Gred would not embarrass their family like it had been recently.
"Within every boy, a lordly lion prepared to prance…Mr Weasley would you care to join me in a practice dance?" McGonagall looked straight at Ron before Harry stood.
"I'll do it Professor." Harry heard the catcalls and whistles as he approached with his new cane and robes. He spun before he got close to her and his hair pulled back and tied itself out of his face as his eyes were a mixed gray in the center with emerald green around it. His robes and cloak shortening and extending where need be before he stopped and was fixing emerald cufflinks on his wrists standing before McGonagall in a three part black suit, complete with storm gray vest with green designs, and a white button down shirt , black dress pants and shoes and a emerald green tie to finished it together. He only stopped looking at her for a moment when he heard a body hit the floor and they looked to see Romilda Vane collapse before she sat back up.
"I'm good." She whispered her face redder than a Weasley in ... .well ever.
Harry nodded and flicked his hand to pop a chunk of stone into a chair for her to sit and catch her breath before turning to McGonagall who looked similarly stunned. Not at Harry's looks but at the transfiguration magic he had done right before her eyes and seemingly wandless, and wordless.
"Professor McGonagall." Harry bowed and offered his hand to her first. This shook her from her stupor and she reached out and took his hand gently.
"Lord Potter-Black." She curtsied to her student before watching as the magic flowed over her and onto her clothes changing her everyday robes into a beautiful gown someone of nobility may have worn even her hair managed to regain some color. As she stood back up she put a hand on his shoulder and firmly his own took its position on her hip. With a quick nod to Filch the music began and she opened her mouth to begin counting when Harry took the lead and began to waltz with her with perfect grace and elegance even taking her up in the air a few times. As the song came to a close however Harry spun her out slowly and ended with a bow of his own to her as she curtsied. Her clothes began to turn back into her normal attire she had been wearing as the entire room had dropped jaws and unpronounceable faces of awestruck.
"V-Very good Lord Potter-Black." Professor McGonagall was stunned at the skill the boy had presented to their dance. "Everybody come together now. Boys, on your feet!" The girls stood up almost instantly, stepping forward but from the boy's side only Neville swallowed his Gryffindor Courage deep into himself and rose to approach the girls.
"Come now Forge I do believe we should show these boys how to be."
"I quite agree, Gred." George smiled at his brother as they approached the girls as well. George walked up and offered his hand to Angelina. "My lady."
Fred smiled and walked up to Alicia as well offering his hand as well. "My lady." Both girls smiled at the twins' natures and took them before placing both pairs wandered off to dance. Neville stood nervously before Ginny walked up and smiled shyly at him which allowed Neville to once again swallow his pride and took his place with her as well.
Meanwhile Harry looked at all the girls before slowly walking forward and offering his hand to Katie Bell, his fellow quidditch mate, as he saw the pairings for the quidditch team.
"Might as well complete the trio eh Katie?" Harry smirked softly as she snickered.
"Why LAHRD Potter Black." She over exaggerated the Lord part following through. "I'd be honored." As they walked Harry decided to twirl Katie around until she stopped in front of him and looked down at her new clothing. Her clothing had changed just like with McGonagall where her hair had fallen free of the hair tie she had as the dress turned a very nice red flowing all the way to the floor before spreading out. It held tightly to her figure as no straps were present on her new dress and she secretly thanked Harry that her shoes had turned into flats and not heels.
Similarly to his dance with McGonagall Harry held her firmly but loose enough that if she wanted she could leave his reach but in fact Katie smiled happily up at him and let him guide her through the dance moves. She smiled softly as she stepped a little closer as they danced and Harry smiled down at her not moving his eyes from her. She felt the blush in her cheeks slightly and looked down slightly to hide it until the music ended and Harry separated from her and bowed his head kissing her hand before walking away. She stared at him and hadn't noticed her dress had not only turned back to normal but a copy now sat in her hands.
As he stepped his robes returned to how they were and from the shadow of his cloak his walking stick jutted itself from the floor back into his hand and the thudding could be heard as he walked away.
"Damn."
"Come now Avery, Don't you believe they would find out it was you?" His voice was silk as silver to his compatriots ears. They were so weak but yet in that weakness there was a strange sense of strength that flowed into himself. Perhaps it was simply the slight amusement he got. He tilted his head as he saw his words have an effect on them. "And you Lestrange. A bright and amazing man like yourself can surely see how beneficial it would be. Afterall my blood runs the most pure with ties directly to Salazar ... .or would you like another sign?"
"No…No Tom." Lestrange stuttered out some.
"Good. Now my friends, I think we should do something to show our union. Our friendship." His smile is grand but no teeth are shown. No sincerity. He took his wand out and sighed. "You trust me, yes?"
He smirked as he pressed his wand to Lestrange's arm and began to speak slowly and roughly until the form of a Skull appeared and a snake twisting and curling out of the mouth. It moved under the skin as if alive.
"It'll let me know if you ever need me or if I need you two…..we have each other yes? My friends?" Tom whispered but saw the smile on their faces as they patted Tom on the shoulder. Their bond growing as the years shall grow forming the beginnings of the most intimidating force ever known.
The Death Eaters.
But of course… As the years go by it's something to acknowledge. Something of a rule that is as ancient as it is true. Names have power in them….and some names should be forgotten. Erased from History."
"Ah Tom, Avery, welcome to Lestrange Manor."
Tom smiled and patted his friend on the shoulder before he pulled out his wand and tapped his chin.
"Are you well?"
"Why yes my friend. How else could I be when my wife has given birth to strong Heirs…Just like your own right Avery?"
"Yes. Now all we need is to get Tom with someone now." They laughed together and the noise grates on the mind. Like nails scraping across cardboard. "Come let us drink." They still are present in this area even though they acknowledge they live so close to the…..mmmmuggles." He snarled in his mouth a bit before he took the drink happily.
"Thank you my close friend…now you must know something….Both of you." This got his oldest ... .friends attention.
"Well don't keep us in suspense Tom." He closed his eyes when hearing the name again.
"Yeah what he said."
"It has come to my conclusion that you both are unsafe with your near home from the muggles. They could do something to you….it worries me."
"Oh pish posh Tom." One…. "No Muggle can get even close to my manor with my wards….i'm free of their filth."
"Exactly. Avery Manor is the same Tom." Two….
He smiled sadly at them. "I'm afraid I can feel it. Your muggle wards are not as strong as they should be."
"What should we do Tom?!" Lestrange jumped up from his chair. Three….
"Know your families shall aid me in ridding the vermin of the world." He stood from his seat smiling at them.
"As we have always Promised To-" A loud bang, a flash of light, and the smell of gunpowder filled the air as the first body hit the floor..
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO-" A second loud bang, a second flash of light, and the growth in the smell of gunpowder filled the room as the second body hit the floor. The heated metal object was slid back into his robe.
"It is ...Lord…..Voldemort….."That's when Harry woke with a gasp of air and his eyes moving around and a question lodged in his mind.
Would he do the same thing to his own friends?