This is the translated version of the previous chapter. I DO NOT own anything, every recognisable character, event, action, incantation belong to J.K. Rowling. Updates may be irregular because of school, among other things. My first language is not English, so to you expert English writers and speakers, expect some mistakes here and there. I will do my best to correct them, though.

This story is rated M for a reason. You may be your own judge but there will be themes in the upcoming future chapters that are not suited for every audience. Consider this a warning.

Chapter 6 – Interlude at Fleur's

He wasn't himself. Not entirely. There was something inside of him that was tugging, nagging at him, as if trying to escape. No, escape was the wrong word, it felt more like it was trying to take him over from the inside. It wasn't just one single foreign presence either. One felt warm, fiery almost. The other felt cold and lethal. One was bright, the other was gloomy.

Tendrils of fog reached out within his mind, latching onto it and began to try to worm inside of it. His mind was fighting, hard. Submit to me, submit to me, submit to me, submit to me! The darker tendrils were whispered, almost as if they were hissing at him. Commit to me, commit to me, commit to me, commit to me! This voice sounded almost like the shrill cry of a bird. And then there was the third voice, this one was the voice of reason. The one that held the most power.

That voice was resisting fiercely to the raging battle of wills from within Harry's magic. And then pain started to kick in. The two other voices screeched and thrashed within Harry, flinging him sideways and almost throwing him over. The tendrils weren't trying to infiltrate his mind and magic subtly anymore. It was an onslaught, a frontal assault on his senses. He felt the burn from eternal flames of a bird of fire and the burn from the deadliest toxin in the world course through him. His blood was boiling now, the three mixtures were fighting for control over his body.

The greatest, the King of Serpents, Basilisk, crowned ruler of the serpentines, demanded he bow down and submit.

The elder flames from ancient beings, once rulers of the skies and suns, Phoenix, demanded retribution for his acceptance of an evil bodiless spirit such as the Basilisk.

And then there was his magic. Himself. The one that never bowed down to anyone because they were better. There was respect and power. No inferior, no superior.

"Thou shalt kneel before me! I, who hath vanquished thee, King of Serpents, with the noblest weapon of yore, the sword, a divine weapon wielded by valiant souls."

"Never shalt thou witness the King of Serpents kneel to the mortal soul of thine!"

"I've conquered thy soul once, twice would only be too trifling a job."

"Such… distasteful disrespect…"

A shrill cry echoed.

"Mine own life hath I sacrificed for thine, a deed deemed most noble. It would be but equitable for thy vessel to be assumed by me as mine own."

"Such unworthiness. A sacrifice deemed a veritable one is one where one expects but gratefulness in return. Yet thou greeds to claim my bodily existence as yours."

The shame of the two ancient creatures would have granted a valley to a mountain, such was its weight. One basked in the shame of its defeat of itself by a mortal soul, the other swam in the shame of its greed, a quality dissociated with beings alike phoenixes. In their moment of weakness, both entities lost their battle against the supreme willpower of a single wizard.

They were left with no choice but to bow and serve. But serve they did not. Harry's core absorbed them as his own. Instead of being ousted from his body, the Phoenix and the Basilisk's magic were absorbed into his own magic. Instead of one magical core, Harry possessed three of them. It was some 4 months later that he found out that the absorbed magic did not, in fact, make his own stronger, they served as cores of their own, cores he could alternate to and utilise in full.

It was like a human, functioning on three brains; one was active while the other two rested and any of the brains could be called into action at any time for any duration of time. Harry had been and still was a bit fearful of delving further into the darker depths of each of the cores. For now, he could pour out fire from his palms, the same flames that constituted the flaming wings of the bird of fire. He could darken places with the dark aura of the Basilisk. The Basilisk was one core he did not want to go into unsupervised, but nor did he want to do it while supervised. Who knew if he would instantaneously gain the killer gaze of the giant snake had he let the other abilities of the snake surface?

And that wasn't all, when he switched to either one of the two cores that weren't biologically - and magically - his own, he could feel his emotions and principles shifting. Whenever he used the Phoenix core, he felt aflame, free, burning. The burning sensation wasn't one that hurt, but rather one of comforting warmth, as if he could take flight at any time he wanted. There was a need for justice and freedom when he fought with that core.

The other core, that one, was much more frightening and dangerous. Harry had hesitated a lot before he even allowed himself to even switch to that core for a moment. The moment he had awakened the Basilisk core within him, it had almost completely taken over. He had felt dark, dangerous, lethal. He had practised a few spells with that core and none of the healing and mending charms he knew worked. It was a core suited for destruction and chaos. The core dotted him with the strength of rage, the burning desire to kill. Harry therefore rarely used that core. He had used it for a split second once, when he had killed that man, Rowle. Just a split second was enough to fuel him with enough rage - rage that translated to power - to completely obliterate anyone.

With great power came great responsibility, or so that was the saying. Harry already had enough responsibilities for now and extra power wasn't a burden he needed for now. Right now, his level of control was already plenty good enough for him and he had no desire to reinforce it even more to be able to control himself and use the Basilisk core for longer. The giant snake's core made him feel somewhat uneasy.

Harry stuck to the strict usage of his own core anyways. The satisfaction of achievement was greater that way. It felt a bit like cheating whenever he used his extra sets of abilities to best others. He had planned to start experimenting a bit more with the Phoenix core this year, so maybe early practice was all for the best.

"Why were you speaking like that antique poet of yours - Shakespeare, I think 'is name was? - to the Basilisk and the Phoenix?"

"I really don't know, Fleur. I think it's a bit… I don't know… cool, I guess?"

"Cool?"

"Yes?"

"I couldn't understand half of those phrases! Cool, I guess too," Fleur said.

"Out of all the questions you could be asking, you choose to make fun of how I chose to speak in a moment of haughtiness?" Harry asked her disbelievingly.

"Oui," Fleur replied. "I think it is very amusant to make fun of you."

"That's just mean, very not cool," Harry pouted.

Fleur grinned, very pleased with herself before she moved on.

"So, if I understood correctly, you did not gain more power from consuming the Phoenix and the Basilisk's core?" the Veela asked.

"That's correct. I merely got a few extra sets of abilities." Harry answered.

"Oh I see, Monsieur considers having thrice as much magical endurance than the common wizard to be 'just a few extra sets of abilities'," Fleur said, poking him in the ribs.

"It is true, but not entirely. My endurance is still that of my own core and I have to switch entirely to the other core to use it. So if I last three times longer than the average magical folk," Harry winked at Fleur, making her splutter. No matter how she tried, Fleur simply couldn't handle dirty jokes. "Then it is entirely because I've trained and practised more," Harry finished.

"You are going to make me choke to death on those pancakes, 'Arry," Fleur warned, pointing her fork in Harry's direction.

"That wouldn't do," Harry said.

"It would not," Fleur agreed.

Fleur had come to the Tonks' house an hour earlier than she had initially planned. She had made Harry leave a note for Dora, Andi and Ted and had immediately whisked him away after. Harry had told her about his magical background, or what made his magic his, whichever terminology was correct. Fleur had asked Harry initially if he was some rare breed of male Veela that had an incorporated flame-thrower in their palms. Harry had laughed so hard Fleur had begun to feel self-conscious for having watched too many Muggle movies.

And then he had explained to her his perilous adventure in school from over three years ago. And how that made him who he was now. But having two extra magical cores did not make a Titan a Titan, that much was clear in the Ancient Veela Texts. Harry's own magic had to reach amazing levels for him to be qualified as a Titan.

"Fleur! Who's this?" a little voice yelled.

Fleur shot Harry an embarrassed look, at which he just grinned back. Next thing he saw, a flash of silver had barrelled into Fleur's lap.

"Fleur! Is he your boyfriend? Why does he have this strange energy around him? Can you introduce him to me? He's so handsome!"

Fleur was mortified. Harry spoke French. That was the first thing he had told her when they had stepped past the wards of her parents' house.

"Harry Potter, pleasure meeting you! What's your name, beautiful?"

"Gabrielle! Fleur is my big sister! Wait, you speak French?!" the little girl exclaimed, as if the thought of Harry speaking French was impossible to her. "But you're English, that's not normal! Fleur you're sure your boyfriend's alright?"

"'Arry speaks French, not everybody refuses to learn other languages like you, Gabby. And I am pretty sure 'Arry is fine."

Harry noted that Fleur hadn't corrected her sister on the fact he wasn't her boyfriend, as Gabrielle had put it. He felt oddly pleased about that fact. He didn't bother correcting little Gabrielle either.

Gabrielle jumped off Fleur's lap, stole her plate of pancakes and slid into the seat right next to Harry.

"What are you talking about?" she asked curiously.

"Gabby, please, be polite. You know not to be nosy about other people's business."

"But 'e eez telling you!"

"That's because he agreed to it!"

"'E can tell me too! I really want to know," Gabrielle insisted, munching on Fleur's pancakes.

"Maybe 'e doesn't wan-" Fleur was cut off by Harry.

"It's quite alright Fleur, I can tell Gabrielle too. The more sensitive stuff is already out of the way anyway."

"See? I told you that he would agree!" Gabrielle said triumphantly.

"Whatever," Fleur grumbled.

Harry chuckled.

"You don't have to be so grumpy about it, Fleur," he said.

"But of course I 'ave too! She's just gotten one up on me with you and she thinks you're my boyfriend! She's going to be hounding you for sweets and all that every time you come!" Fleur exclaimed.

"Oh?" Harry raised his eyebrows. "I am coming back?"

"Oui. I 'ave never brought anyone 'ome and I do not plan to. You, 'Arry, of course, will be the only exception to that rule. Unless you don't want to…"

"No, no! I'd love to come back, I like you too much to refuse- Ah shit… Just spilled my beans, didn't I?"

Fleur smiled toothily, but her eyes sparkled merrily with content and joy and just the tiniest bit of relief at Harry's unintentional admission.

"Oui, you just did. You will 'ave to tell me all about your romantic fantasies once the little gnome that stole my pancakes will be at her piano lesson," Fleur teased him.

Harry winced a little. He had essentially just told Fleur he liked her as in 'I fancied her'. Gabrielle was observing the shades of redness that her sister and her… friend sported. That would need further investigation in the future.

"Leave my pancakes, Gabby. Your piano lesson is in 20 minutes, I 'ave to drop you off," Fleur warned Gabrielle.

"But I still wanted to talk with 'Arry!" the little girl pouted.

"You can do that at a later time, it's not like 'Arry is just going to vanish," Fleur reassured her little sister. "Go wash up, we're leaving in 10 minutes."

Gabrielle nodded, somewhat disbelievingly. Still, she hopped off her seat, pushed the plate of Fleur's half-eaten pancakes back towards Fleur and ran to the washroom. Fleur sent Harry an apologetic look.

"I am really sorry about that, 'Arry," she whispered to him.

Harry shook his head. "It's nothing, I like her. She reminds me of my own sister, a bit over-energetic, but very lovable."

Fleur smiled, pleased, but also a bit afraid. "I am scared of what Gabrielle could get from you," she muttered.

Harry shrugged. "I don't understand how she hasn't gotten lots of things from you already. She's so damned adorable!"

Fleur snorted and shook her head at Harry. If he thought Gabrielle was adorable when the little girl wasn't even trying, then she was sorely sorry for him when Gabrielle would really be begging him for things.

The little girl waltzed back into the dining room while Harry and Fleur were just about finished with their breakfast. Fleur saw Gabrielle and carefully dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin before she stood.

"I'm ready!" Gabrielle exclaimed.

"Let's go then," Fleur said, ushering Gabrielle towards the fireplace. The younger Veela halted right in front of the fireplace and looked up at Fleur.

"Can 'Arry come with us too?" she asked shyly.

"I don't think tha-"

"It's fine," Harry interrupted Fleur. "I can go with you guys."

"Yeah!"

Fleur and Harry had dropped off Gabrielle at her piano lesson and were now back inside Fleur's parents' home. The two sat, cross legged, on the floor of the gymnasium in the basement. The small house had looked like any other house, strangely similar to the Tonks' place, but the entire thing was completely revamped with Expansion Charms. That was how a complete gymnasium had managed to be fitted in the Delacours' basement.

Harry and Fleur each had a notebook on their laps. Fleur leafed through Harry's notes, trying to comprehend the complex magic that was described on each page. Harry was doing the same with Fleur's notebook, her method was much more refined than his own. And much easier to preserve.

Fleur found Harry's notes on something named Fading.

"'Arry? What's this?" Fleur asked him, pointing at his messy diagrams. Harry was pulled out from trying to figure out how Fleur had managed to decompose a spell as volatile as the Explosive hex.

"Huh?" Harry asked, taking a peek at the hand drawn image Fleur was pointing at. "Oh! That! Yeah, remember my duel against Flitwick, the second one? The one you asked me how I was Apparating all over the arena with the wards up and I told you I'd tell you later?"

"Uh huh," Fleur nodded.

"It is an altered method of travel I've developed. You even tried it, after our dinner in Sweden."

Fleur blushed at the reminder of that little 'escapade' in Sweden. It was certainly going to serve her well as a power source for a Patronus. "I did and it felt really weird, it was as if I was completely gone from existence for a second."

"That is one of the side effects of Fading," Harry confirmed.

"So 'ow does it work?" Fleur questioned.

Instead of directly answering Fleur, Harry faded from his place on the floor and appeared on the other side of Fleur and wrapped an arm across her shoulders, hugging her sideways an instant before he released her shoulder.. The embrace caught Fleur off guard, but she never was going to complain. His arm over her shoulders had felt oddly comforting, it gave Fleur a feeling of peace, as if she had just found something she had long yearned for. But then Fleur realised that the wards of the home, the most powerful wards her Papa could afford, were still up.

"''Ow did you do that?" Fleur asked, amazed, getting a raised eyebrow from Harry.

"You are not afraid of the fact that I literally magically transported myself to another location within your wards?" he asked Fleur.

"Of course I am not! I told you, j'ai absolument confiance en toi! But what you just did is short of impossible and would earn you a mastery in runes, charms and enchanting instantly, should you present this in your thesis!"

Huh. That was true, Fleur had a point. A mastery in either three subjects would be well welcomed by almost anyone in the Wizarding World and Harry was no exception.

"Can you teach me?" Fleur asked hopefully.

Harry was debating internally. He had no problems with teaching Fleur how to Fade, heck, he'd have taught the Andi, Ted and Dora had they asked but they never did so Harry never proposed the idea of doing so. But he did know that Fading, while it required minimal amounts of power, it required precision and determination of will to an extreme amount. One failure could result in one being snapped out of existence and sent to the Other World; wherever that was. And so, Harry warned Fleur of the dangers of learning that method of travelling. Despite the potential danger though, Fleur still held firm the idea of Harry teaching her Fading.

"I will try, huge emphasis on try, to teach you to Fade, but you are not attempting it without my supervision," Harry announced firmly.

Fleur nodded. Harry had made the danger of snapping out of existence plenty clear and Fleur had no intention of not existing anymore.

"You've asked me plenty of questions now, I think it is only fair I ask you some in return," Harry said, to which Fleur nodded solemnly.

"How did you manage to study the Explosive hex to such precise extents? To my knowledge, that spell is impossible to maintain in space and time for more than a few seconds…"

Harry watched Fleur's eyes light up excitedly. Well they had done that for the past half hour or so. She really did love what they were discussing.

"So, you see, Maman works as an Enchantress. She 'as created this little thing she called a containment sphere. It is like the name suggests. I can show you if you would like?"

Harry nodded, interested. He could certainly make use of such an artefact, if it indeed acted like Fleur had described.

"Accio," Fleur muttered. An instant later, a transparent orb about the size of an adult's palm shot into the gymnasium.

Fleur grabbed the thing and proceeded to show Harry how it functioned. Harry was amazed by the creation. Such a small thing could contain almost unlimited amounts of power and it was far more proficient than the common wizard's shield. The translucent state of the container suggested to Harry that it was some kind of modified shielding spell. But no shield had held firm under a shield-breaker. One of his very own, even if it was wandless, had managed to crack Dora's Protego shield. Sure, a shield-breaker would be of no use against a Daybreaker Shield but Harry highly doubted that was what Fleur's mother had utilised. The Daybreaker Shield was his own creation after all.

Whatever Fleur's mother had done, it was something extremely well layered and powerful. There were some experiments Harry would've liked to conduct with the containment sphere but he didn't know if the sphere could contain the spell, nor did he know if Fleur would allow the casting of highly dangerous spells in her parents' home. So Harry settled for the next best thing.

"Do you know if the sphere can contain more obscure spells, Fleur?" Harry asked.

"Which spells would those be?" Fleur questioned back.

"Things like the Cruciatus, the Killing Curse, Fiendfyre, or even Dragon fire."

Instead of being horrified at the thought of casting those spells, Fleur merely looked pensive, as if she was really pondering casting such spells into the sphere.

"They are for research purposes, right 'Arry?" Fleur asked after a moment of thought.

"Yes," Harry answered truthfully. "Weapons are meant to be modified and transformed. Harmful things can be made into harmless things, just like peaceful spells can be used to create a warzone. But best not try it now, I don't think either of us are too comfortable with casting such things for now."

Fleur nodded, agreeing with Harry. She did not fancy casting a Torture Curse in her parents' training area. She did not even know if she had enough emotional fuel to cast that thing. Something else popped into Fleur's mind. She knew Harry was powerful, ridiculously so, the title of a magical Titan amongst Veela meant something at least. But what he had done during his duels were simply too ridiculous.

"When you were duelling Flitwick, that Spanish girl and the others, I saw you make coloured- balls? - in your left hand. Did you 'ave a second wand up that sleeve?"

"I don't think second wands were allowed, Fleur."

"Then 'ow did you do… whatever those balls were if you did not 'ave a wand?"

"Wandless magic?" Harry replied.

"But… but… 'ow much power…" Fleur stammered. "Not even Dumbledore…"

"You did say that - a magical Titan you said I was? - all magical Titans had their unique sets of abnormal powers, right?" Harry reminded Fleur.

Ahhh. That was true. It did make more sense. But that still did not explain the orbs. Spells, at least to Fleur's knowledge, were all under the form of beams of light of invisible, not coloured balls that you could throw around like Harry did.

"So that was wandless magic?" Fleur asked, just to confirm, to which Harry nodded. "But I've seen the Elder Veela do very rudimentary - compared to you - wandless magic and those were all beams and jets of light. Why are your spells… balls?"

Harry cracked a teasing grin at her, unable to help himself. Dora's humour had shaped his own into something akin to hers. "It's gonna make me sound like an arse, but I've made my wandless magic into looking like that partly to show off but mainly because I find it more practical."

"Of course you'd do that," Fleur muttered with a touch of humour.

"What?" Harry laughed, pretending to be offended. "What do you mean 'of course you'd do that'?"

Fleur shook her head and poked Harry in the ribs, deciding to let that part of the matter drop.

"How is making the spells into orbs more practical?" Fleur asked.

"Well it is more practical but also less practical. I can throw them around freely and I can wait a bit before throwing the spell, unlike with a wand where as soon as I cast, the spell flies off. But it is impractical in the sense that, well, the orb has limited range. It can only go as far as I can throw it, unlike with wands where the magic makes it so that the spells will never lose motion until they hit something." Harry explained.

"Okay, that makes sense, somewhat."

"I can show you if you want?"

Fleur held up a hand. "What about the spells that don't have jets of light? Like the Water-Summoning Charm?"

That one had indeed been somewhat of a problem for Harry. It was impossible for him to transform his palm or his fingers into water hoses that poured water freely. Instead, for the Aguamenti spell specifically, he could conjure an orb of water that mainly consisted of magical energy that would shift into water upon impact.

"I'll show you, here," Harry said, making a crystal blue orb appear in his left palm. "I hope the floor won't mind getting wet."

Harry stood and pulled Fleur to her feet as well before he threw the blue orb a few metres away. The sphere splashed into crystal clear water as soon as it touched the ground, a few droplets landed on Harry and Fleur's faces.

Fleur stared at the wet patch on the gymnasium's floor before she laughed. The image of Harry throwing conjured balls of water at Gabrielle in a game of water balloons was quite amusing to her. Fleur twirled her wand in her hand and dried the floor. Harry had made another sphere appear in his hand. This one was silver coloured and was slightly rotating in his palm.

"What's this one?" Fleur asked Harry.

"A Chameleon Charm, the same I used to mimic the Killing Curse's colour in my last duel. Completely harmless, by the way. Maybe you can manage to hold it too?"

Fleur curiously reached a hand out, palm upwards.

"Concentrate on the fact that you have to contain the spell in your palm," Harry instructed.

"It will not turn me green if I can't manage it, right?" Fleur asked, uncertainly.

"Non, this one is silver, not green. It will turn your hand silver, though, if you fail to contain it. It isn't too difficult. Just concentrate. Ready?"

At Fleur's nod, Harry turned his hand downwards and dropped the orb into Fleur's upturned hand. The orb dropped and dropped, until Fleur was certain she would be sporting a silvery hand for the rest of the day. She did do as Harry said though. She concentrated hard and just as the sphere was going to touch her skin, it stopped and hovered there, in her palm, without touching her skin.

Harry gave an impressed 'wow' and congratulated Fleur for her success. Fleur sighed happily. This felt like an unworldly achievement to her, yet it was simply holding a contained wandless charm in her hand. Fleur brought the sphere close to her face, inspecting it closely. The thing did not feel warm, nor did it feel cold. It was just there. And spinning slightly. In a moment of mischievousness, Fleur grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him closer to her. Harry shot her a confused look which quickly widened when Fleur brought the orb up and dropped it onto his head. More precisely, his hair. Fleur almost tumbled over in laughter. Harry now sported silver hair, disturbingly similar to her own hair. One could have mistaken him for some male Veela. Those did not exist unfortunately, or fortunately.

Fleur laughed even harder when Harry conjured a mirror in his hand and began grumbling after seeing his newly dyed hair.

"Stop laughing at me, Fleur. I wanna see what you've created! I've talked all morning about what I created, it's your turn now."

"That would only be fair, I suppose," Fleur said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I 'aven't done anything as amazing as what you 'ave done, though."

Harry simply waved her off. "Whatever you have, I am sure I will be more than impressed," he assured her.

Fleur showed Harry the most complex thing she had managed to make. It was a spell, a variation to the already existent Fire Whip. Fleur had made something that was electrical instead. Much more dangerous than fire, the electricity that coursed through the spell was enough to fry a three inch thick wooden pole instantly. For safety purposes, Fleur only showed Harry the spell with minimal power.

That spell was dangerous, very much so. With the correct settings, it could harm the caster as well as the enemy. But that was the only spell Fleur had created that was very dangerous. The rest of the things she showed Harry were much more peaceful things. Most served to help her with her apartment, when she did not have the time to clean, she had a spell for that. When she didn't have time to cook, there was a spell for that - the spell made her wand follow any recipe she had and it would then cast the necessary spells to put a dish together. Fleur had said her inspiration for that one was some futuristic looking cooking robot she had seen in a Muggle television show.

At half past noon, Fleur's stomach growled hungrily. Fleur covered her mouth with her hands, embarrassed. This was the first time her stomach had made any sound - that she recalled - and it just had to be in front of Harry. Harry didn't seem to think it any embarrassing though. Instead, he laughed and stood up and held a hand out to Fleur.

"I think someone's hungry, huh?" Harry grinned at Fleur.

Fleur nodded fervently.

"Would you allow me to treat you to dinner once more, Miss Delacour?"

Do not blush. Play it cool. You have to act cool. You're the Veela. Not Harry, even if it feels like he is.

Fleur let out a breath and took Harry's offered hand with her own. "You know where you're going?" she asked him somewhat sceptically.

Harry nodded his head. He did not know Paris - Fleur had told him where her parents' home was that morning - like he knew London, but he did know some of the good restaurants.

"How does Le Chardenoux sound?" Harry asked Fleur. Fleur's eyes grew as big as saucers. She had been there once in her life with her parents when she was still little and she had ever since bemoaned their desserts' selection. None of the other restaurants she had tried had desserts that compared to the ones at Le Chardenoux. Her face had gained a positively dreamy look.

"I take it this is a good sign?" Harry asked, wiggling his index in front of Fleur's nose.

"Oui. It is a very good sign. You 'ave good taste in the choosing of restaurants, 'Arry," Fleur complimented Harry.

"Alright. Let's go then, I called the reservations already."

Fleur was about to say something but before she could she felt darkness overtake her. A split second later, she regained her vision and she was now standing under the shining light of the sun in an empty street of Paris with her fingers threaded through Harry's. They never told each other but they both secretly enjoyed the feeling of the other's hand in theirs.

"'Ow did you know to call the reservation?" Fleur asked curiously.

"Well, ah, I kinda, you know, planned to take you out to dinner for the whole time," Harry said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Fleur felt a little daring. And it would help define the relationship she and Harry were set for. "Is that a date you are proposing to me, 'Arry?"

Harry pinked a little. "If you would like it to be, then sure, it can be. But normally, wouldn't I have to ask you beforehand for it to be a date?"

Fleur nodded. This was somewhat the answer she had been hoping for. It would allow her to clear some things out and progress from there. "Then it's a date. I do 'ave some things to tell you, though. As for asking beforehand, I am not really a traditionalist. Some things happen on the spur of the moment. But you've said it and so did I. This is now a date and you're not backing out from it."

"Never had the intention to back out," Harry smirked at Fleur. They walked into the restaurant, their hands intertwined.

The two were sat down at a table by a waiter and given menus that were printed in a fancy writing on an elegant card.

"So what was that you wanted to tell me about?" Harry asked her as they both leafed through the lists of dishes.

Fleur set her menu down and looked over at Harry. "You know I am a Veela, oui?" Fleur asked.

Harry nodded. He had certainly not missed the power of her Allure. Thankfully, the effects of it only reacted with the Magicals.

"There are some… complications, I guess, that the Veela of old were born with and those traits are still passed on 'til today. I, for a fact, am also a subject to such complications. Veela can only ever 'ave one special someone, if you catch my meaning. I 'ave therefore never allowed myself to be approached by anyone. But I was always told since I was little that once I had found my someone, I'd know it. And now, I am nearly certain that I did."

This was by no means a declaration of eternal love, not yet at least. Fleur was merely telling Harry how Veela were engineered - for the lack of a better word. Harry seemed to get the message and all the potential underlining Fleur hadn't mentioned.

"We've only made this a date a few minutes ago so there is absolutely no need to rush this and make any specifications straight away but I can assume we are together as of now, oui?" Fleur asked Harry.

"Yes we are," Harry said, grinning merrily. Fleur shot him a pleased smile as well.

"Well then, I will be sure to introduce you to my parents soon enough," Fleur said, an evil glint in her azure eyes. She was positively gleeful at the horrified look that etched itself on Harry's face.

"I am only teasing," Fleur reassured him. "It is way too early for that. But I do 'ave to warn you, with you being labelled as a magical Titan and me being Veela, we will be summoned soon enough by the enclave. In the Old days, the Veela enclave was on very good terms with Titans and they were most often allies in great conflicts. I think that the Elder Veela will want to reinstate such an alliance."

Harry nodded. Having allies and connections in foreign countries was certainly good for him.

"I think that is all I 'ave to say for now about my origins and how being a Veela will affect our relationship," Fleur concluded.

"If there is anything else, you can just tell me," Harry promised. "How about we play a little game?"

"Oh? What game would that be?" Fleur asked curiously.

"Ever heard of the game called the interviewer's interview?" Harry asked.

Fleur frowned, confused. "No?"

Harry grinned at her. "That would be normal because I just made it up."

Fleur rolled her eyes at him, though her smile betrayed her real feelings. "And how do we play this game?" she asked.

"Simple. You start by asking me a question and I am obliged to answer truthfully. If I lie, you get to ask me another question. We go by turns. Ladies first," Harry explained.

"'Ow would I know if you are lying or not?" Fleur questioned.

"You have my word."

Fleur raised a sceptical eyebrow at Harry and levelled a playful glare at him. Nevertheless, she accepted his word and asked her first question.

"'Ow is it that my Allure 'as so little effect on you?"

"Straight to the point, I see," Harry answered. "Well I have been trained in Occlumency for more than 7 years now and my shields are very strong. But that wouldn't work against the Allure. That kind of, er, charm isn't meant to be fought against. The more you struggle, the stronger it fights. And then there are those that simply submit to it - which is most people. I simply let it wrap around me without however letting it take control of me."

"Wow! You sure you 'aven't dealt with Veela before, 'Arry?" Fleur laughed.

"Ah, ah, Miss Delacour. Not so fast. The game has just started and you are already breaking the rules. I have been truthful in my answer. You aren't allowed to ask another question just yet."

Fleur pouted. She hadn't even realised she had asked a second question. It was then that the waiter decided to slide into the mix.

"Are you ready to order?" the man asked.

"Oui. I'll have the chef's boeuf bourguignon," Harry said to the waiter.

"Boeuf bourguignon for mister," the waiter repeated, writing Harry's order down on his notepad. "And for mademoiselle?"

"The cassoulet," Fleur ordered.

"Cassoulet for mademoiselle," the waiter said and marked it down. "And to drink?"

"The Grand Vin de Château Latour, I think," Fleur said. "What do you think, 'Arry?"

"Works for me."

"Noted. I shall be back in a few moments with your wine. Your dishes will be ready soon."

With that, the waiter left Fleur and Harry back to their little game.

"So, what exactly do you see in me?" Harry asked. This wasn't an easy question, he was well aware. And it was probably not something you would ask your date on your first date. But he really wanted to know.

Fleur pondered the question for a bit of time. There were so many things she liked about Harry that she didn't know which ones were relevant and unbiased.

"Well, I can get the super cliché things out of the way first, but I like your personality, a lot. But what I really see in you is from the small things you do that I noticed here and there. I can't exactly say, because I don't know how, but it's the gestures that- mon Dieu this is gênant," Fleur stumbled in her speech. "I like you because I do!"

Harry laughed slightly, making Fleur more at ease. "I am sorry for asking such a question right now, Fleur. I should've just stuck to the more simple questions."

"Oui, you should 'ave. It doesn't do to embarrass a lady like that on her very first date no less," Fleur huffed.

"I am truly sorry," Harry said solemnly. "How can I make it up to my fair lady for embarrassing her?"

"You can start by stop acting like an idiot, 'Arry. And then you can pay for dinner," Fleur teased.

"Well I was going to pay for dinner anyway. And I am offended you think I act like an idiot. How can you be so cruel as to say such things to me?" Harry complained.

Fleur raised a perfect eyebrow at Harry. "Is that you also breaking the rules of our game, Monsieur Potter?"

"Got me there," Harry grumbled. "Your turn, I suppose."

"What does this make of us, what does it make of our status?"

"We can be boyfriend and girlfriend that are just getting to know each other for now, or we can just not put any labels on us, if that's what you want?" Harry answered.

"Mh, boyfriend and girlfriend getting to know each other sounds nice," Fleur hummed.

"Here, for you, sir, beef bourguignon in the chef's style. And here, for you, Mademoiselle, the homemade cassoulet, also in the chef's style," the waiter announced, placing a steaming pot in front of Harry and Fleur each."And your wine, Le Grand Vin de Château Latour. Bon appétit!"

"Mmmh! It smells so good!" Fleur commented. "And I believe it was your turn, 'Arry."

"Ah. So, at what time do we have to go pick Gabrielle up? Piano lessons don't normally last for a whole day, do they?" Harry asked.

"You are right, they don't, but apart from learning piano, Gabrielle spends the day learning about 'er heritage and 'ow to control it before she grows into 'er teenage years as well. Normally, when Papa and Maman are working on weekends, I go pick 'er up at 7 so she will understand if you wish to leave before."

"I'll stay, if that's alright with you, we can go pick her up together. I've always wanted to see Paris at night."

"Maybe I could show you around, if you would like?" Fleur asked somewhat shyly. But the broad grin that emerged on Harry's face made her heart flutter.

"I'd like that very much."

Their little back and forth questions game was quickly put aside as the two began eating their respective dishes. Harry, who had only eaten French cooking once or twice in his life, was quite happy with being reunited with the delicacies the French cooked. And the wine, it tasted so much better than Andi's tea - or any tea for that matter. And judging by the periodical sighs of contentment that Fleur emitted, she enjoyed the food just as much.

"I could've paid too, you know? I was the one to order the expensive wine!" Fleur said somewhat heatedly. She wasn't angry with Harry, well not really, for paying for the whole bill. But she felt bad for making Harry spend while she paid for nothing.

"Money matters little to me, Fleur, and you have to think about this logically. You said all the things you bought were funded by your scholarship. That scholarship allows you to live comfortably during your seven years at Beauxbatons but it probably isn't made for frivolous expenses like this. I can pay for things like this easily, so don't worry yourself, alright?"

Fleur still didn't look too convinced but she still nodded. "I just don't want you to think I can't take care of myself, you know?"

"I know, and I understand. But let me take care of you where I can, okay?"

"Only if you let me take care of you too."

"I think that's what unites couples, no? I take care of you and you take care of me?"

"Oui."

"So does this settle the matter?"

"Kinda."

Harry drew Fleur close, giving her a sideways hug as they walked down the street towards the place where Gabrielle had spent the day which happened to be quite close to Le Chardenoux. The sun setting summer sun gave the horizon an orange hue, tinting the city of the same colour.

"You know, 'Arry, not three days ago, I was telling myself I'd settle for us being just friends for now," Fleur said quietly, looking up into Harry's eyes from her place on his side.

"And look at us now," Harry chuckled.

"Oui. I told myself we were going to take this slow, try being friends first."

"And how did that work out?"

Fleur flicked Harry's side. "You can see for yourself. I couldn't stop myself and here you are now, mine."

"And you're mine, my girlfriend."

Fleur nodded, before she gave a contented sigh and she snuggled into Harry's side as the two turned left.

"'Arry…" she started quietly.

"Yes Fleur?" Harry said, looking down to Fleur.

"I know it is too early for either of us to say that we love each other, but there is something I really, really want to say- or do."

"Tell m-" Harry was cut off by Fleur.

Fleur's arms went around Harry's neck and she pulled him down to her. And their lips met. Harry's arms acted on their own accord, snaking down and around Fleur's slim waist, holding her to him. Fleur's lips, silky soft, felt like nothing Harry had felt before. Their first kiss fuelled a fire sufficient to set off fireworks.

Harry felt Fleur's Allure go wild, running rampant against his mind, conveying desire, happiness, a feeling of being complete. Their inexperience mattered not. What mattered was the feeling of the other's lips against theirs.

Fleur gently sucked on Harry's lower lip. She heard him growl. She felt his hands tentatively explore her back, one combed into her hair, while the other came to rest teasingly, just above her rear. If he would've gone lower, Fleur was pretty sure she wouldn't have stopped him.

Harry and Fleur both pulled apart eventually, both gasping for breath. Fleur looked at Harry a bit shyly. Harry, for his part, was faring that much better. He desperately wanted to peek into Fleur's eyes, see her soul, read her emotions, but he didn't dare. The first romance was never the easiest, except that for Fleur, there would be no second romances. And Harry would rather forfeit life than break Fleur's trust and heart.

They may have known each other for a little less than two weeks and became an official couple only a few hours, but deep down, Harry knew, Fleur already held his heart. His mind wasn't that much farther behind.

I've found him. Fleur was internally screaming, crying, dancing, anything, of happiness. This was it. The next step of her life had started, just like her mother's had started all those years ago. Fleur couldn't be happier about it. She had seen enough of Harry to know that she would fall in love with him. How quickly, she knew not, but the certainty was there. One day, she would love Harry Potter.

Harry settled down his swirling emotions enough for now and took a look at his watch. Shit.

"Fleur, we've got to hurry, it's already 6:50!"

"Shit! We have to hurry!" Fleur exclaimed. Gabrielle should be more than done by now. Fleur took Harry's hand and the two sprinted down the street to the Veela establishment where Gabrielle was.

The two ran all the way up the stairs of the building and were met at the top steps by a confused small Veela.

"What have you two done? Why do you two look all out of breath?" Gabrielle questioned.

"Don't ask questions, Gabby," Fleur said firmly.

The smaller Veela shrugged before she hugged her sister and Harry as well. When she hugged Harry, though, she frowned.

"Why do you smell like Fleur?" Gabrielle asked, confused. She was even more confused when Harry and Fleur both turned a little red.

"Erm…"

"Come on Gabrielle, Maman and Papa are waiting for us at home," Fleur interrupted.

Harry shot her a grateful look. Fleur smiled back.

"We 'ave to go now," Fleur said. "Go now, to the Floo, Gabby."

"Do you think we did it too fast?" Fleur asked.

Harry was sitting on a small field of grass, backed up against a tree. Fleur was sitting right next to Harry, her head was resting against his shoulder and she had an arm across Harry's chest. Harry had an arm around Fleur's waist. The Eiffel tower was shining not too far away, casting its feeble light on the park where Fleur and Harry were.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"Normally, two people are friends for a while before they decide to date, non? Don't you think we dived in too quickly?"

Harry shook his head.

"There is the norm, and the aberrations. Those who follow the trend, and those who create the trend. Would you have preferred we stayed friends for a few more months?"

It was Fleur's turn to shake her head. "I would've been dying on the inside to feel your lips and know you are mine, with no others in the way. If we were still friends, and I knew that I had feelings for you, then I would've been a jealous wreck every time some other girl got close to you. Now, though, I can - Fleur kissed Harry - do this."

Harry chuckled. Fleur was showing him her possessiveness and it made Harry's insides flutter. Harry swept Fleur's legs up and sat her across his lap. Both his arms encircled her waist and he brought her close. Fleur wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and brought him close to her as well. She kissed his nose.

"You know," Harry started. "The moment you stepped into that box at the World Cup I knew you would be someone special."

"You did?" Fleur asked, surprised.

"I did. You walked in, looking like some copycat deity of Aphrodite. And then we talked and I found someone I genuinely, for the first time, could romance with."

"You've never had anything going on with those girls of yours at Hogwarts?" Fleur asked, truthfully surprised. Harry had the looks that could make almost any girl throw themselves at him.

"I was and never will be one for one night stands."

"And those two girls that were with you when we met? What about them?"

"I've told you Dora is my sister in all but name. And Katie doesn't like guys that way, I think. She said she prefers girls, at least that's what I understood."

"Good. I've got you all to myself then," Fleur whispered.

"You smell so… enthralling," Harry said suddenly.

"Hein?"

"I meant what I said. You smell heavenly. Your perfume, your, I don't know what you're wearing, but it makes you smell like, well, you," Harry said awkwardly.

"I don't wear perfume," Fleur informed Harry. "I am Veela."

"Mmh, Veela or not, I like you," Harry murmured, nipping at Fleur's neck. Harry gently sucked on Fleur's pulse point, eliciting a gasp from her.

"Mhh, 'Arry, ahh, you're not making, uhh, sense," Fleur managed to say in between small moans of approval at Harry's mistrations.

"That's because of the things you do to me," Harry whispered in Fleur's ear, making her shiver. Harry gently bit Fleur's earlobe and then went back to sucking softly on her neck. Harry, it seemed, was set on leaving hickeys all over Fleur's neck.

Fleur pushed Harry away from her neck softly and she squirmed a bit from her seat in his lap.

"My turn now," Fleur whispered huskily. She kissed Harry, thrusting her tongue past his lips and into his mouth. Fleur ran her hands over Harry's front, feeling his body up. She didn't dare dip her hands beneath his shirt. That would be moving way too fast, even for them. But she did get a good feel of his muscular torso and abdominals through his shirt.

Fleur pushed Harry down until he was shifted aside from the tree trunk and now lying on the grass. Fleur crawled up to Harry, draping herself over him. She went to suck on his neck, like he had done for her, equally set on giving him a set of hickeys for him to sport tomorrow.

Harry was lying on the grass, Fleur's breasts flattened on his chest as she sucked on the pulse point of his neck. The feeling of her draped all over him made his blood flow downwards. If Fleur noticed the sudden extra hardness down below, she made no indication that she minded. If only, it made her redouble her mistrations. From his neck, she went to his jaw and his lips.

This was their intimate moment, one of many to come, hopefully. Harry rolled them over, with Fleur now lying on the grass and Harry pressed up against her in between her parted legs. They were both thankful for the darkness of the night; their little slightly public display of intimacy would've gotten them arrested for public indecency had it been shown in broad daylight.

Harry pinned Fleur's wrists above her head with one of his hands. With his other hand, he teasingly ran his fingertips along Fleur's lower waist. His lips found Fleur's once more. She tasted of an indescribable flavour of sweetness. Fleur rolled her hips, grinding herself against Harry.

Harry had to fight hard against himself and the lethal grasp of desire and temptation. The soft moans Fleur was emitting didn't help his situation at all. Harry's tongue fought against Fleur's. Feeling daring, Harry gently sucked on Fleur's tongue.

"Ahhh, mmmh, 'Arry, 'Arry," Fleur panted. "We 'ave to stop now, or I won't be able to let you go 'ome and we'd end up doing something too early."

Fleur, despite having said what she said, still ground her hips against Harry's own, squeezing out what little sparks of pleasure she could.

"I wouldn't have been able to stop myself if we went for a couple more minutes," Harry agreed.

Reluctantly, he let go of his pin on Fleur's wrists and he pulled her up.

"I'll take you back to your parents' place, alright?"

"Okay," Fleur murmured.

Harry took her hand and Faded both of them away. The two reappeared in front of the Delacour home. Fleur pushed Harry back until he was pressed against the front door of the house and her lips found his once more.

She cupped Harry's face with her delicate hands as she moved her lips against his. A small, involuntary moan escaped her. Harry let the kiss last for a few more moments before he gently pulled away from Fleur.

"I won't let you go if we continue, Fleur," he whispered in her ear.

"What if I don't want you to go? What if I wanted you to spend the night?"

"That would be moving too fast and I really doubt your parents would approve."

"Maman would understand, we are both Veela," Fleur murmured.

"As much as I want to take you up on your offer, we can't. Not now at least. Maybe in a few weeks, but not now," Harry said quietly.

"J'attendrai ce jour avec impatience alors," Fleur said.

"Good night, beautiful," Harry stole one last kiss from Fleur.

"Good night, my darling," Fleur whispered back when Harry pulled away from her lips.

With a huge effort Harry managed to pull away from Fleur's embrace and Fade back home to England.

"Maman, I'm home!"

"Oh là là, have you seen what time it is?" Apollinereprimanded her eldest daughter.

Fleur glanced at the clock and she was genuinely surprised when she saw it was half past eleven in the evening. Her first making out session with Harry had been so enjoyable Fleur completely forgot about the time.

"Sorry," Fleur apologised, blushing lightly, a reaction that did not go unnoticed by her mother.

"You told me you just going to go watch the stars with someone!"

"That's what we did…" Fleur tried but she couldn't even convince herself with her lie.

And judging by Apolline's critical stare, she wasn't convinced either.

"This someone, it was a boy, wasn't it? And you did everything except watch the stars, yes?"

"How do you know?" Fleur asked, mortified at being seen right through by her mother.

"Well let's see, your hair is all messy, your lips are slightly puffy and you have hickeys and love bites on the side of your neck. So tell me, you were with boy, weren't you?"

Fleur was blushing profusely by now. But what did she have to lose? Nothing! She had found her one, so she might as well announce it to her mother.

"Yes."

Apolline stared at her daughter expectantly.

"So? Was he good? Who excatly was it?" Apolline asked excitedly.

"Maman, aren't you supposed to be questioning my choices? Aren't you worried about the fact that I will be with 'Arry for the rest of my life?" Fleur shot back warily.

"No I am not worried. If you, as a Veela, have decided to be with someone, then it is because he is the one. At least that is was Andrea's books said. So you said his name was 'Arry?"

"Oui."

"In that case, he is English?"

"Yes. But he speaks French perfectly. He doesn't even have an accent! If I hadn't heard him speak Englsih first, I would've thought he was French!"

Apolline seemed pensive for a moment.

"And that boy at the World Cup? You seemed to be quite interested in him too."

"Exactly Maman, that was 'Arry!"

"Ah! He was so handsome!" Apolline sighed with a disturbingly dreaming underlying to her tone.

"Maman," Fleur warned. "That's my boyfriend. Hands off!"

"Alright, fine," Apolline pouted. "Wait, but that would mean that your boyfriend, he's the one that radiated that wave of energy two weeks ago!"

Fleur nodded. "'E is the new magical Titan, if that is what you mean, Maman."

"You know what that means, yes?" Apolline asked, making Fleur winced. She did indeed know what she and Harry being together entailed.

"Yes. You and all the other Veela at the enclave, you are all going to harass us to reinstate the alliances."

Apolline nodded. "I know it is almost midnight," the woman said, dragging Fleur to the sitting room. "But you have to tell me everything. Is 'Arry a good kisser?"

Fleur groaned. Her mother was acting like a teenager and it honestly scared her a little. This was going to be a long night.

It was two in the morning. Fleur laid in her bed, eyes open, weighing the fast progression of her relationship. That wasn't just simple kissing they had done in that park. And Fleur was pretty much certain that her magic had already started linking her emotions to Harry. She was already past the point of no return.

Fleur thought back to the wishes and hopes she had a few weeks back. Fate had a funny way of getting back to you, sometimes it could be a real bitch, sometimes, though, it could be a blessing. Fleur shed a smile. Let the people judge her for getting into a relationship fast. She would get to know Harry - not she didn't already know him well enough - while also being able to enjoy his kisses.

Just thinking about the last hour she had spent with Harry made her insides flutter. She couldn't wait for the next time she saw him.

"Alright, spit. What the hell were you doing in France that took so much time that you returned home at 11 in the night?"

"I, uh, I was showing Fleur some of the, uh, spells, in my notebook."

"And that made you return home at this hour?"

"Is that so hard to believe?"

"Well yeah, it is!" Dora exclaimed. "And I didn't know you created any spells that had the consequence of giving you bite marks on your neck. So, tell me, what did you do?"

Harry groaned. Since when was Dora this nosy? Since always, of course. "Fine, fine, I am no longer single. Happy?"

"For you? Extremely," Tonks nodded. "And you didn't just talk did you? Those marks are proof of some activities that do not involve talking at all."

"I ain't telling. Stop being nosy."

Dora pouted. This wasn't a lot of details but it was enough gossip for when Hestia would drop by once more.

The next morning, an owl flew into the dining room of the Tonks house. The bird carried a thick envelope and it dropped it onto Harry's toast. The envelope bore the Hogwarts seal.

"Back to school supplies' list?" Andi asked Harry, who nodded the affirmative.

"Yep, and they made me Head Boy," Harry added.

"WHAT!" Dora yelled. "But you've got absolutely no sense of discipline at all! How are they expecting you to order the other prefects around when all you are going to do is watch them unleash chaos and laugh?"

Harry laughed. Nym did have a point. He had no interest in being a figure of authority, but the private quarters that were mentioned in the accompanying letter did sound very nice.

"I will make sure that the school rules are obeyed," Harry said firmly. The mocking snickers that came from the three other occupants of the table told him lengths of what they thought of that affirmation. It wasn't that he had no authority over others, it was more like he didn't care what others did. Rules were set for those who wanted to obey them and those who didn't obey them got punished. But Harry wasn't one to care for what rules were broken, as long as he wasn't affected.

He pulled the bundles of parchment out of the envelope. First, he read the letter that gave him the information about being nominated Head Boy.

Distinguished student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,

Mr. Harry James Potter,

I am pleased to inform you of your unanimous nomination for the position of Head Boy by all of our staff and personnel. You have been granted a role most prestigious of our esteemed school. We believe you are sufficiently mature and knowledgeable to be able to handle significant tasks and responsibilities, which is why we have appointed you as Head Boy for the term of 1994-1995. Your badge has been provided within this same envelope. It does not need to be worn on all occasions, but it must be present on your person should you exercise acts of authority.

You hold much more leniency and authority than the normal prefect. Whereas prefects are only allowed to remove a maximum of ten house points per person per day, you are, as Head Boy, allowed to remove up to one hundred house points. Moreover, prefects are only allowed to hand out detention hours after consulting a member of staff. You are, however, allowed to distribute detentions as you see fit, with a maximum of 20 hours of detention to be handed out by you per week.

You are required to supervise and plan the patrols of other prefects, along with your colleague, the Head Girl. For your personal information, the Head Girl of the term of 1994-1995 has been nominated, Head Girl Katie Bell, of Gryffindor.

As Heads, you are both allowed individual quarters with sleeping arrangements (which are directly connected to your respective house's common rooms), assorted bathrooms and daycare accessories, a personal lounging area, and other privileges other students do not have access to.

Should you prove to be unfitting of this leniency, your privileges are to be revoked at any time by the Headmaster or his Deputy.

You are also required to hold a meeting with all the appointed prefects of each year on the first day at the front carriage of the Hogwarts Express. A list of the names of all the other prefects has been provided to you on a separate parchment. For extra information on your duties, refer to the Head Boy handbook provided to you in this envelope. Further questions may be answered via owl or in person, once the term starts.

Wishing you well in your endeavours and coming responsibilities,

Deputy Headmistress,

Minerva McGonagall

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

From the envelope, Harry retrieved a small booklet and a list of names, just like the letter mentioned. A small golden badge fell out of the envelope. Harry caught the small pin mid-air.

"Great," he muttered, "I'm going to look like a pompous arse for the rest of the school year because of one stupid pin."

"It doesn't look too bad, Harry," Ted reasoned. "It's got a nice gold shine to it."

"Yeah well that's kind of my point, it feels like I'm wearing a gold medal at all times! A bloody medal that basically says 'Hah, guess who's better than you?' That's what I feel like it does."

Ted could only shrug. A lynx materialised on the table of the sitting room. The lynx began speaking in a slow, deep voice.

"Senior Auror Tonks, your presence is required for an emergency last minute meeting for an extremely delicate matter, concerning what is going to happen this year. I am expecting you to be present in 5 minutes."

Andi frowned at the lynx. "What does Kingsley want?" she asked her daughter.

Tonks shrugged, not really knowing what that was about either.

"Duty calls. I guess my vacation ends here," she sighed. She drank the last of her coffee - which she only drank because Harry did (and it tasted quite good if you added other things to it) - and got up, hugged her mother, kissed her father's cheek and hugged Harry even tighter than she hugged her mother. "See you guys!"

And she rushed out of the house and with a crack, she was gone. 'Wonder what's gonna happen this year,' Harry mused.

Harry finished his breakfast and collected the empty plates from Andi and Ted who remained at the table. With a flick of his hand, the dishes were piled in the sink who began cleaning the plates by itself.

"I'm going to go see if Katie wants to go grab the supplies for school, Mum, Dad!" Harry said loudly as he was stepping into the basement where the fireplace was.

"Be careful Harry!" Andromeda yelled.

"Will do!" Harry shouted back.

Harry stuck his head into the green flames of the fireplace and, grabbing a pinch of Floo powder, he intoned Katie's address.

"Bells' retreat!"

Katie was sipping on a cup of tea when Harry's head appeared in the fireplace of her parents' house. She had a letter in her empty hand and she was reading it with a growing pleased smile.

"Hey Kate!" Harry's head called.

"Harry!" Katie exclaimed, setting the letter down.

"You got your letter right?" Harry asked.

"I did," Katie responded with a pleased smile.

"We made Head Boy and Head Girl!"

"I know!" Katie gushed.

"So, wanna go grab our books and stuff?"

"Yep! Meet you at Diagon in three."

"I'll be waiting for you!"

And with that, Harry's head disappeared. Katie rushed to finish her modest Sunday morning breakfast.

Harry stood at the top of Diagon Alley, right behind the brick wall in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Hey."

"Morning, Katherine. You got your list with you?" Harry asked.

"Yup!"

"So, what's first?"

"Can we do books first? Those can be shrunk and not a bother to carry around."

"Let's go then."

Harry and Katie walked down Diagon Alley toward Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore that sold the academical tomes.

"Is it safe for me to assume that the idiot in white at the World Cup incident was you?" Katie said suddenly.

"Well I'll have you know that I am not an idiot," Harry quipped.

"So it was you, you big idiot."

"It was me, yes, but it wasn't an idiot."

"Only you would think going against Death Eaters head on is something not idiotic."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

They had just walked into the bookstore.

"Harry?"

"Hm?"

"I think you can be my shopping cart for the day," Katie stated, deadpan.

"Wha- Why?!"

"'Cause I said so?" Katie said.

"Urgh, fine. You're paying for my lunch then."

Katie shrugged. "A couple Galleons spared for your lunch is worth not carrying bags and potions supplies for a whole day."

Their shopping took up a good part of the day, mostly because Katie insisted on checking out all the new releases and brand new looks at Madam Malkin's robes shop. In Harry's opinion, holding all his and Katie's purchases was far worse than giving his opinion on all the robes and clothes she tried. Living with Andromeda and Nymphadora had gotten him used to that task fairly early in his life.

With their shopping done and Harry holding all the bags, of course, they walked out of Diagon Alley. And that was when Katie noticed.

"Harry, what's that on your neck?"

Harry blanched and froze in place. Not again! And this time it was Katie. Harry sighed. It looked like he would be missing dinner.

"Not you too…" Harry muttered.

"Is it what I think it is?" Katie said, her eyes suddenly lighting up in excitement, all the fatigue from shopping the whole day all but gone in an instant.

Harry, deciding that withholding information from Katie would likely result in him not even making it home tonight. Katie would ask him questions and questions until he gave her the gossip she wanted.

"My girlfriend, you've met her at the World Cup, even if we weren't dating back then…"