Balance Act: The Beauty of Becoming an Equal

by Writers Paralysis

Harry, after being almost kissed by the dementors, is a changed individual. A friend of his mother fills in a place in his heart. Together they will face not only there trauma but their legacy. A legacy both cannot run from and a legacy they will live up to. War comes and in the shadow of the Global Wizarding War many secrets lie. AU

7. Chapter 7: Wand and Veela

July 6th Wednesday

Harry was having a blast. It had been 3 days of non-stop fun. He got to enjoy good food. Explore the area, go to a new shop and then get to see some great dueling. The quarter finals were to be announced soon after a 2 day break. According to Sheda it meant a new round of tourists as the quarter finals and semifinals were more interesting than the group matches. Harry could agree.

The groups really were customary and more of a formality for the 16 recognized magical nations to send their best fighters for representation. There now only stood 8 and in his opinion the nations that had amazing talent. Magical Britain, Magical France, Magical Germany, Magical Russia, Magical Uganda, MACUSA, Magical China and Magical Japan. Magical Ireland had been kicked out by Magical Britain much to the anger of many Irish magical citizens who had to be restrained by ICW agents when pro English supporters started to antagonize them.

It was early morning and although his body still struggled to sleep; his mind had gotten used to waking up early. "So what do you want to do today Harry? I am thinking of taking a lazy day for myself. Don't let that hold you back though."

Harry nodded. "I was going to meet with the wand maker here and ask him about the wand I got. Apparently the goblin recommended it."

Sheda looked at the wand as he summoned it out of the holster and sighed internally at the relief that the wand had given her. She had asked him if the wand worked better than his old. His confirmation that it worked had given her much needed respite. She had been so relieved she almost couldn't sleep that night with how much relief she had. All her letters to her colleagues in America told her that if there had been no drastic personality change then something was wrong with the user's magic.

She had decided against taking him to a wand maker since they surely would catch the hint. She had been at a loss on what to do; with her only other solution was asking Harry for a list of the Potter wand makers they reportedly owned in America. Hoping to use a House Secret as a means to keep it hidden. "Okay. Just don't use your magic so much and the moment you feel something going wrong you head back okay? No need to force it. Having a wand respond to you 50 percent of the time is better than before and especially better than nothing."

Harry nodded feeling the same way. He grabbed his new mokeskin pouch he had purchased from a shop and headed out.

Break break break.

Harry arrived at the wand shop when he felt he was being watched. Turning around he saw no one looking at him. Just kids, families, and people all just walking around clearly getting items to enjoy the fun entertainment of magical beasts, broom racing, and a minor league quidditch match. His eyes did catch a golden blonde witch who seemed out of place, although her older sense of style showed some semblance of wealth. She seemed American with how she carried herself. It was always hard to gauge the age of wizards and witches; after a certain point they looked stuck in their 60s until they died. It was interesting to be exposed to so many different wizarding cultures of the world in his opinion.

Walking into the wand shop Harry didn't see the blonde hair witch smile at him and apparate away. An african witch took to waiting outside of the wand shop.

Harry heard some German be spoken from the back but didn't respond. Harry looked around and saw the shop looked slightly like ollivanders but clearly was different with all the jars on display. An older short man with graying hair came out of the back and seeing he didn't understand him spoke a heavily accented English. "First customer of the day and it's an English wizard. How can I help you young wizard?"

Harry looked up from a jar of a floating string in water. Kelpie hair if he remembered correctly but somehow more magically charged. "Hello, I was hoping to have some discretion and have you review my wand." The shopkeeper nodded and to the surprise of Harry; he locked the door with a wave of the wand and the curtains were pulled. "That is kelpie hair you were looking at. A tamed one gave it willingly. As a result, the hair is much more potent than usual. My name is Filibert, young wizard. In our part of the world we look to understand wand lore from a young age and as a result it is very private for us unlike in Magical Britain where you see a wand as a mere tool."

Harry was perplexed by the statement. "My name is Harry. Are you saying that a wand can be more than a tool?"

Filibert looked at him. "Well Harry. Wands are so many things and some parts of the world don't use them. Here we see them as an extension of the wizard or witch itself. Ollivanders, although of consistent quality and makes great wands, has mass produced them for a new era. Yet, it removes differences and it removes a true bond to form. Of course it is expected for mass production to become a thing after the magical population boom we have seen since the global wizarding war. Although your nation, unlike others, did suffer from another war. Olivanders' method still makes sense and your country still sees the influx of many muggleborns."

Harry looked on with some understanding. "I came here to check my bond with my wand. I had issues with my original wand, and found this one in my family vault although it also has some issues."

Filibert looked confused. "Issues with a wand at such a young age?"

Harry shrugged as he summoned the wand. "Unsure. Can you look?"

Filibert nodded as he reached for the wand. "My my Harry. A thestral hair? And buckthorn. Hmmm. Let us see you do a few charms."

Harry whispered a Leviosa, a Lumus and a shield charm. He could silently cast but it required a lot of magic and focus.

Filibert watched him. "Hmmmm. You almost have the ability to silently cast. Do you? Was this possible with your other wand?"

Harry shook his head. "It was never possible. Changes recently. I can silently cast but it takes a lot of focus and a lot of magic."

Filibert reached out again and casted a few spells and charms it seemed. "What were your previous wands materials? Something of ollivanders I suppose?"

Harry nodded. "Holly and a phoenix feather."

Filibert looked further confused but did not question it. "That would have probably felt cold and inert for you. Almost like you were holding just a stick no? It seems most curious how you came to have such a wand in the first place. The thestral hair is also curious. Not many people know of the beast or its properties in wand lore. Would you happen to know?"

Harry thought back to the magical beasts books. "They are misunderstood beasts and are affiliated with death. I don't know what it would mean for wand lore."

Filibert nodded as he walked to a workshop desk and sat down with the wand and started to seemingly unbind the wood from its core. "You are somewhat correct. A thestral core is usually for exceptional wizards that are fiercely loyal to their families. It is also for someone who has faced death and is comfortable with death. An acceptance of death as part of life if you will. To find it in one so young is interesting. The wand core is usually given to individuals who have suffered great familial loss later in life and have been able to continue."

Harry looked at what Filibert was doing as the man continued. "I see here an issue of both wand cores and wood choice. Although the core has chosen you, the wood has not and would not. We will have to find a new wood. I have further theories but we will see about them when we get there. There is a shelf there with magical wood. See what calls to you."

Harry looked at the common woods and felt nothing. As he continued to look he felt a call to a slightly white yellowish wood. He grabbed it and felt his magic accept it. He heard Filibert. "It would make sense for you to have Beech wood. I will say that it is rather expensive. We are going to be looking at around 500 galleons."

Harry was shocked at the number but nodded and gave the wood to him. "It is fine. Why is the wood so expensive?" Filibert began to work; sculpting and allowing magic to take him as he worked.

Filibert responded. "It is a prized wand wood with many hoping to be chosen by it. Many even go out of their way to ignore a wand maker and go find it themselves in hopes of making it into a wand. Beech wood is given to either a youth who is highly wise and beyond their years or an adult with great experience and wisdom. Its magical properties respond to any magic and it is extremely loyal. Many individuals with pride and ego believe they should be blessed with the wood. It is extremely common for an individual to never walk into a wand shop more than once. If an individual walks in twice it is likely because of an issue with their wand and beech is a good guess."

Harry nodded as he saw the wand stay at 12 inches and had beautiful wavy designs etched into it. "How do you know how to design it and mold it?"

Filibert looked at him and smiled. "Magic. It is a trade secret, but to put it simply I allow your magic to become the focus. With you sitting here your ambient magic is controlling my hands." Harry looked at the wand as Filibert finished the design and realized he had seen the design somewhere else. He pulled out his knife and saw the same branches, roses and thorns on the wand.

Filibert caught his movement and looked at the blade with some curiosity. "Hmmmm that complicates things further. You may be my hardest client yet. I do not think even my father had such a hard time and he helped Grindelwald look into wandlore."

Harry was shocked at the comment but kept it to himself. Everyone here clearly had ties to the dark lord. "How does my knife complicate things further?"

Filibert continued working with the now finished white and black wand which had the thestral core now infused with it and sat it down. "I see my design is the same as the blades. May I?" Harry hesitated unsure if he should say the next part regarding the blade and its infusion with Basilisk blood. A deeper part of him, to his surprise, could not let someone else touch it much less a man.

Harry did not understand where the last part came from. Catching his hesitation the man nodded. "It must have bonded with you for you to have such hesitation. I dear say it's because of the core I sense in that knife."

Harry looked confused but was shocked at the comment. "The knife has a core?"

Filibert nodded as he got up and began to walk around the shop looking at his jars. Filibert stopped at what looked to be silver hair that glowed which he grabbed and brought over to the desk and placed it down. "Veela hair. Although the knife is not a wand, it is a magical artifact. The Veela hair was more than likely added during its creation to act as a conduit of magic or cultural significance. Tell me. Do you feel anything from this jar?" He gave the jar to Harry. Harry looked at the jar and moved his hand around the jar. He was called to it but each strand didn't accept him. They all seemed to fight him or reject him.

Filibert sighed. "Unfortunate. I expected as much. Veela cores are very temperamental and can only be freely given by a family member or spouse. It is a very significant custom in Veela culture I believe, my father mentioned as much. That one in your knife is more than likely not a match but close enough. I wonder if it bonded with you because of destiny or someone you know. Do you happen to know a Veela? Maybe young love?" Harry blushed knowing that Veela were extremely beautiful and coveted witches.

He shook his head. Filibert laughed. "Well keep your eyes out. Don't want to miss out on your opportunity. Don't believe all the stigma around them. Magical blood is magical blood. Especially Veela, horrible what some believe of them." Harry smiled at the joke and nodded at his comment. Clearly the man had a different opinion than most.

Filibert continued "As for how to move forward. It will be a better match then what it was before and it's a beautiful wand as is but the Veela hair is clearly the way moving forward. If you ever come across a Veela that chooses you or gives you a strand of her hair please do come back and I shall finish your wand. I do have a temporary solution to make sure the wand is stable. Would you mind giving me some of your blood to infuse with the wand? It should boost the bond until you are able to get a Veela hair." Harry nodded and Filibert guided his hand over the wand on the desk.

Using a small cutting curse, blood began to fall on the wand with precise and controlled drops. After 7 drops Filibert healed his hand. To Filiberto's surprise he saw the black and white wand with blank roses and thorns transform. The branches became snake like and captured light as if scaly while the hilt gained carved phoenix wings into it as if wrapped around. Lastly, the blood instead of infusing with the wand seemingly moved itself to the roses and filled them in. The most breathtaking wand he ever created and laid eyes on him now stood before him. "Harry never in my years has this occurred. I will have to say that I am thankful for the exposure to such a magnificent item. Please return when possible and you can take your wand. It will be very temperamental and will now violently reject anyone grabbing your wand even with dragon gloves. I also believe it may hurt and poison individuals if they do not have dragon gloves. I would not recommend anyone but yourself hold this wand okay?"

Harry nodded, marveling at it as he picked it up and it glowed. He missed the significance of the poison comment as the wand bonded to him once again. Black and white wrapping around itself, the deep carved phoenix wings, snake like branches, and finally the beautiful roses come to life. He put the wand in his holster and paid the man and gave his goodbyes.

Filibert stayed seated after being paid. Harry Potter had just come into his shop and had him create a wand. Not just any wand but a wand now infused with Basilisk venom and phoenix tears from the boy's blood. How did he come to have two of the most powerful substances in the magical world in his blood? He did not know. The boy who lived was very much a puzzle and he now fully understood the excitement and fascination around the boy. He would keep his confidence only in hopes of seeing the boy return with a Veela hair to finally complete the marvelous wand. His own father would be proud of his creation.

Break break break

Catching a glimpse at the town clock he saw it was only 11am and it meant the fun shops were starting to open. Harry looked to see what to eat for lunch but mused on how great it felt having a wand that seemingly responded like his old one. There was some distance and delay but it was more akin to a nano second then what it had been prior, which felt like whole seconds. As he walked around he decided to go into a candy shop. There he quickly caught the attention of what he thought were some young French girls possibly around 11 or 12. He figured they had figured out who he was. It had been happening more lately especially when he was on his own as people got more emboldened seeing him alone.

The whispers and pointing became rather annoying especially when he realized it was not only young witches that ogled him but also older witches. Ones even older than Sheda which grossed him out in many different ways. It got worse yesterday when the local newspaper had run a story that he was in town.

As he walked around the candy shop he looked to get some chocolates. He planned to walk around the international tents just to see if he could get an idea on how they worked. Unfortunately he quickly realized the French girls were not going to leave him alone as they giggled nearby. He turned to leave but out of nowhere he felt something tug at him. He very faintly remembered something similar but wasn't sure from where he had experienced this feeling before. As he looked around he noticed one of the French girls had sparkling silver hair, different yet at the same time not too different from Daphne's, just much brighter and looked to be glowing.

A Veela, he summarized very young and probably going through their maturity he figured. The allure being a common thing that came first as they got older based on what New Scamander had stated in his book. He quickly shook it off and chalked it up to the girl being not fully in control of it. He kept on walking much to the clear surprise of the little girl not only at him walking away but also at being caught. Harry, not expecting anything, made his way to the door when he felt the tug again. This time clearly much stronger and he now realized it was focused?

He turned around in frustration looking to ask the girl to stop when an older woman and man, who looked to be locals, walked up to the girl and started to yell in German. It was clear they had seen or understood what happened, but it was also clear they were allowing stereotypes to take hold since they did not realize the girl did not know German. Her friends seemingly abandoned her as they went running away as more and more people began to look at them. The girl had taken to looking down at her feet, frozen in place by her emotions.

Sighing, he decided to step in. "Excuse me. Can you leave the little girl alone? It's clear she doesn't understand any of you and it's just a girl who lost control of her allure."

The older German looked in frustration at him and responded in an extremely thick accent. "This is not a little girl, it is a creature who was looking to charm everyone in my shop, probably to obtain free candy and not have to pay. Creatures like her shouldn't be allowed to roam without supervision. Everyone here felt her allure as we were all charmed in the process."

People all were looking at the girl in anger and it was clear she understood some of what he now stated. Harry sighed with some frustration and anger. "No, it's a girl. Not a creature. A young magical girl like you or me so watch your tongue." He allowed his wand to come out of his holster and into his hand. "You are acting as if it's a bloody dragon in the candy shop. It's just a girl who got excited at seeing a celebrity and."

The shop owner laughed at the threat and cut him off and said. "A creature loving fool. Who do you think you are? Do you want to bed one of them? A young boy like you hasn't learned the world yet. There are betters in this world and it would be wise for you to learn that." Harry at this point was getting mad and his robe began to glow. The shop owner stepped back and brought his wand out not knowing what the robe was but the glow had unnerved him. A glow he could only see since he was so close in the bright shop.

Harry spoke up again. "Again it's a little girl. A magical girl like you and me and everyone else in here. Magical blood is precious so stop with all this talk about betters. It seems that the ones who should be considering if they are better are the adults in here who couldn't resist an 11 year olds Allure charm. Pretty weak wizards and witches, all of you."

The shop owner and many other customers were now angry and he cursed in German before stepping up. "Who do you think you are, boy? Get out of my shop."

Harry smiled with a smirk. "Gladly. Come?" He held his hand out and the little girl was surprised but quickly grabbed it and got to his side. "As for who I am? I am Lord Potter or Harry Potter, yes that one. I don't need to do anything to guarantee that this shop will be out of business by the end of this week. You ignorant arse."

People gasped and many tried to get a glimpse at his forehead. The shop owner paled. Realizing that he had seen the scar and not connected the dots of a young English male with the newspaper that stated he was here. The shop owner tried to respond. "I..I..I."

Harry looked at the man and hated three things. The first being that the rumor mill in the village will now be buzzing about him. Two his own use of his fame and status to threaten the man. And three the fact it will probably work and the man was actually threatened. He left an angry huff with the Veela girl holding onto his hand. They walked for a while as he headed towards an ice cream shop.

When he got there he asked for a scope of chocolate ice cream in a cup and asked the girl if she wanted anything. "Anything you want?"

The girl responded with a heavy accented English and clearly didn't know many words. "I don't have." She pointed to his galleon bag.

He nodded and responded. "I asked if you want anything, not if you have money. Do you want anything?" The girl blushed and she pointed at a lavender ice cream. He ordered it in a cup and sat in the outside seating area overlooking the fields and the international tents where people were moving around in excitement.

He ate in silence for a bit "So what's your name? How old are you? I know you know who I am."

The girl looked shyly at him putting down her ice cream. "Gabrielle Delacour but call Gabi I am-." She held up her hands to show she was 10.

Harry picked at his ice cream "10 year old Gabi it is. Don't know the last name. So you're a Veela of course. Always trying to use the allure on unsuspecting males with your friends?"

She looked shocked at his casual admission knowing she was going to be punished by her mother and father. Yet, she couldn't stop her blush and what she thought was a cute boy giving her attention. And looked shly down, slowly munching on her cream. After a bit she responded. "I don't friends and I want to impress in front of."

Harry understood what she meant with her broken English. "No friends and just wanted to look cool and impress the ones you were with?" Gabi nodded sadly, her blush all gone and just shame. She played with the ice cream.

Harry caught it and decided to change the subject. "I would think it's pretty cool to be a Veela in my opinion. Silver hair. I think it would look good on me, don't you think?"

He pulled out his wand and did a color changing charm that made his hair silver like Gabrielle. She giggled at his antics. "You would be handsome Veela."

He beamed at her joke. "So here with your family?"

Gabrielle nodded. "I am here with family. Sister, father, and mother."

Harry asked. "They know you were out running around?"

"I am not to go out. Too bad and risk. Always have to be with family. I sneak out to be with girls from class." Gabrielle finished looking very sad.

Harry sorta understood the issues as Veela; it was much too risky. People who hated her kind and people who liked their kind a little too much. There was no way for her to be safe. "Can't go out and you snuck out so you could spend time with girls that aren't your friends. Pretty bold. Hmmmm. I understand it. Next time try not to use your allure on an unsuspecting dashing Male Veela okay?" Harry smiled at his joke as he removed the charm from his hair. Gabrielle giggled as she finished her ice cream. Seeing her finish; he threw his ice cream away. "Let's go see if we can find your family huh Gabi?" Gabrielle nodded as they began walking around the village looking for a way to make it to the tent area as she stated they had a tent in the French area.

As they passed the candy shop again Harry saw a teen girl around 5'10 compared to his current 5'7 height with his boots on. His eyes were caught by the silver hair. He stopped. "Gabi, is that your sister?"

Gabi looked up and smiled "Yes, Fleur, and my mother and Father."

At the same time Fleur had seen them outside and called her parents as she raced outside. Their parents looked to be in an argument with the shop owner. Fleur quickly came up to Gabi and tapped her down while speaking in quick french. (French) "Gabi are you okay? Nothing bad happened?" Gabi smiled at her sister's antics. "Non nothing happened. He made sure of it."

Harry noticed she was older than him based on his involuntary look at her body. Fleur wore light purple robes and her hair was long with the same silver. The fairest skin he had seen without one blemish. Her hair was parted to one end. It glowed, but to a smaller degree than Gabi. "She must be controlling her Allure." He summarized in a whisper to himself.

He saw she wore heeled boots and had form fitting jeans. He also realized he was checking her out and pulled himself away as what looked to be their father and mother walked up to him. He did like what he saw. He banished the thoughts, did not need them right now as the older man spoke to him.

"Hello. I am Sebastian Delacour and this is my wife Apolline Delacour." Sebastian reached out to shake his hand. Harry shaked his hand and shaked Apolline's hand.

"I am Harry Potter. I am guessing the shop owner told you that. Ignorant fool." Harry tried to take a glance but didn't catch the man. In that he missed the surprised looks of all three of the Delacours and them glancing at his scar.

Sebastian caught himself first. "Yes he did mention your name. I assumed he was confused. He was rather off putting and devastated when he realized that I am the Head Auror of the French ministry of magic. He was rather confused about his luck. Something about his business being done and having to close up shop because of Lord Potter."

Harry smirked but looked conflicted. "I may have threatened him with having his shop closed because of how he acted towards Gabi. He called her some unpleasant things that I didn't like all the while belittling her as if she isn't some 10 year old girl."

Sebastian was surprised not many would defend a Veela much less care to go out of their way to threaten. The same surprise was on Apolline's face and Fleur's. Sebastian coughed at Fleur as she had not introduced herself.

Fleur bristled at the non verbal order biting her lip, but stepped up with. "I am Fleur Delacour, thank you for defending my sister. She means a lot to me." She extended her hand and Harry shook it very briefly to her surprise and tad frustration. He should have kissed it, she argued internally. She decided to suppress the emotion as he had looked to help her sister.

She looked at him. Although she was taller than him she did see he was growing. His style was also interesting for a young teen. He was wearing what looked to be an expensive magical robe and had quality clothes under also. Almost like a little lord. She then remembered who she was talking to. He was a Lord in every sense of the way. The last of his great House; Lord Potter. A title well known in mainland Europe and very respected and feared by some. As for his physical appearance he had some noble features and striking green eyes. Almost unnatural ones. Lean but not thin. His hair was a mess though but she liked it. Liked it? She shook the thought as Harry responded.

Harry noticed her biting her lip. He was surprised by the lack of thick accent, but figured she had been studying English. It was slightly present, but not overtly so. He figured she needed too if her father was head Auror, but who knew. He responded to her.

"Harry Potter. The one and only. It's no problem. She lost control of her allure when she saw me. I took her to get some ice cream to calm down, chit chat and we were just headed to the French section of the tent. Can't have a little girl as beautiful as this running around without a knight in shining armor to protect her." Gabi blushed and giggled. Sebastian and Apoline were surprised by the comments and response.

Fleur smiled seeing he was trying to make Gabi comfortable especially as some passersby glared at them. Clearly some of them had been charmed but were holding their tongue based on the people around her, if they even knew. "Ohhhh. A knight? Gabi, you can't be serious."

Harry caught the joking tone. "I will have you know she said I would make a handsome Veela."

He quickly turned his hair silver and smiled as if to prove his point. Fleur leaned down to Gabi and acted as if she was whispering "I think you were being too kind to him." Gabi was losing control of her giggling at this point. The parents were shocked. For whatever reason Fleur had joked with Harry, something they had never seen her do.

Sebastian spoke up "Well Lord Potter. I must say I am grateful. Not only for standing up for my daughter but also looking out for her."

Harry waved it off. "It is nothing. I just happen to be there at the right time."

He canceled the charm on him but he caught his reflection. He sighed and spoke to himself. "Darn my hair. The charm must have messed it up. Sheda is going to have my head." He tried to fix it to no avail.

Apolline spoke up. "I insist we treat you to dinner at a restaurant in Vienna, we are also going to explore the magical square. The restaurant is rather high end so it will be an extra formal event. We can bring you along, but as long as it's okay with your guardian."

Sebastian looked at his wife with an appreciative eyes. It was a good idea. "I am unable to meet currently with your guardian, but I believe Fleur can make introductions for my family and confirm the dinner." Fleur bit her lip and looked conflicted by what he could tell or annoyed by having to do this.

Harry knew he wasn't getting out of this somehow. Even if he mentioned it to Sheda afterwards he knew she would tell him it was rude to deny a formal invitation especially after doing such a service. Something about not befitting the name of House Potter etc.

"Alright Fleur, I shall lead the way. I am in the other part of the village. Thank you for the invitation and I shall see you later tonight more than likely." Harry gestured a good bye as both Apolline and Sebastian bid him farewell. As Fleur was about to leave with him. He saw her mom whisper to her. Thinking nothing of it. He waited until she came to his side.

Break break break

They walked for a bit without saying anything before Fleur broke the silence. "I just wanted to say thank you again Lord Potter. I know my kind are not respected in many areas. So I wanted to thank you from my family to yours."

Harry raised an eyebrow he could tell the girl was prideful. Her looks were a part of it of course. Really carrying herself with someone that deserved respect, but he could tell she was a conflicted witch. She bit her lip a lot before she would say statements or anything regarding him.

A tick, as Sheda put it. People had them when dealing with emotions. He had emotional outbursts, but those only came after ticks. He had to figure out his ticks if he had any. Fleur clearly had one with lip biting. So she was conflicted or thinking. As if she was being pulled in directions she didn't like.

Harry responded. "It was no problem. Gabi is nice. Although she tried to do it because she has no friends. I understand why she did it. No title please. I am just Harry." Fleur looked further conflicted and bit her lip again.

Harry could tell she was not enjoying the conversation. "You know I don't bite." He responded.

Fleur sighed. "Qui I know. I am just not used to this."

Harry looked confusingly at her. "What? Talking to people?"

Fleur continued walking. "I don't want to talk about this." She left him alone and then realized he had stopped walking and waited for him. Harry shook his head confused but started walking again and caught up.

They continued to walk in silence when she spoke up. "You mentioned that Gabi tried to 'do it' because she has no friends. What do you mean by that?"

Harry walked for a bit and then responded when he could tell she was annoyed at waiting. "I sensed her focusing her allure on me. I caught her the first time but figured she was a Veela just learning to control her allure. When I looked to leave, frustrated with the girls giggling and following me, she focused it on me again. I think the result of her pushing her magic also led to the whole shop being blasted by it. The candy shop owner then verbally attacked her. She told me she was trying to impress the girls she was with cause she had no friends."

Fleur had somehow gotten paler and had to collect herself at what he said. "I am so sorry she did that, Lord Potter. Please take my sincere apologies from House Delcour to your House. My father will have a conversation with you. I will make sure to mention it to him"

Harry waved it off. "No harm no foul. She is young, I didn't even feel it. And drop it with all the formal House stuff." Fleur looked at him in anger and glared at him for the rest of the walk.

They finally reached his accommodations and saw Sheda outside who was sipping on a tea reading a letter. She caught the witch next to him and raised an eyebrow. "Hi Harry. Who is your friend?"

Harry shrugged. "Fleur Delacour, meet my current guardian Sheda. Sheda, this is Fleur Delacour. I saved her sister from an ignorant shop owner. I have now been invited by their parents to dinner in Vienna as a thank you. They have sent her to confirm if it's okay with you." Sheda could tell he was annoyed at the girl and she could tell the girl was also annoyed but unsure why.

Sheda began to talk. "Your father wouldn't happen to be the New Head Auror of the French Ministry of Magic?"

Fleur was surprised that someone from Magical Britain would know but nodded. "Yes. My father was just promoted 3 months ago. It has been a great honor and we have been blessed as well." She finished a tad more bitter than expected, but didn't expect anyone to understand why. Sheda and Harry looked at each other. Harry shrugged and Sheda figured she would talk with him after.

She switched to French. "Well I see no problem with him going. I am not really his guardian, but I am in charge of him while here. Just make sure you watch over him. Trouble tends to find him. Make sure he stays out of it. Can you do that for me?"

Fleur was shocked by the fluent French and responded. "My parents will have no issue. We will be in Vienna from 4pm and plan to be back by 10pm. We had planned to explore the magical square of Vienna."

Sheda nodded and she stood up. "Okay. Harry. Walk her back to her tent. And you come back so we can talk." She quickly casted a charm at Harry's head and sighed when it did mostly nothing.

Fleur looked to protest but caught herself and resigned to walking with the little lord.

Break break break

Their walk back was nothing but the same. Silence and clear frustration from the older teen. Harry spoke up hoping to bridge a gap between them. "You do know I didn't grow up with all that House etiquette stuff right?"

Fleur looked at him surprised. Harry nodded, catching her surprise. "I grew up with muggles. Kinda only playing the looking part currently. Sheda is going to give me some lessons as a part of my responsibility to know how to act when I become Lord Potter-Black. Reading some books on it."

Fleur blanched at his statements and hyper focused on it. "Lord Potter and Lord Black? "

"I caught your bitterness. At the end of your comment to Sheda. I figure you hate House etiquette. I don't mind you using my normal name. I would prefer it." Harry said matter of factly.

The last part made Fleur more mad, but also the realization that she had failed to hide her feelings. Fleur, knowing the jig was up, began to curse in French as she stomped off to a bench and sat down. "So frustrating I hate doing this. I can't, I am Fleur Delacour. I am a Veela with all the beauty. I shouldn't have to grovel and act like there are betters than me. Basic women and men should do it."

Harry walked up and sat down as well. "Sorry if I made you mad. Didn't think it would cause such a reaction."

Fleur sighed with frustration. "It is not your fault Lord Potter-Black. I have just slipped up in proper manners."

Harry waved her off, but there was some clear frustration that Fleur caught. "I am not Lord Potter-Black. Not yet anyway. It's Harry. And honestly calling me Lord Potter is more insulting. What do I have to do to get you to understand that?"

Fleur snapped at him, feeling the last couple of months crashing around her. "Why can't I call you Lord Potter-Black?! Is it because of the "creature" I am?! I will have you know my Father got to his position out of hard work and dedication! And not using my mom—-"

Her rant went to French which Harry could not understand except for a few words regarding Lord and betters. He looked at her hair as it began to glow. The parted hair looked beautiful like a sea of silver strands and he felt the same pull again. It felt pleasant. Almost as if releasing a part of him that was holding him back. He could not enjoy it for long as he saw that some men and women had stopped in their tracks and were looking at them. One even seemed to be walking towards them.

Harry cut her off and grabbed her hand and whispered strongly to her. "Enough! Stop it. You're allowing your allure to go off. Some people are being caught in it. Come on." He quickly pulled her along into the fields where all the tents were before people could notice what had caused the charm in the plaza. They still had to walk awhile but he could see the French section.

Fleur looked ashamed and embarrassed, not at the effect of the allure, she did not care about that. She liked men and women falling over for her. It was the fact she did not control it and continued to not be able to control it. Her hair was now freely glowing. She was extremely conflicted at this point also, biting her lip. She had gone off a rant about her current misgivings and instead of being offended he had looked out for her. He had pulled her away from causing a scene that would further see her family embarrassed.

Furthermore, he was immune to the allure by what she could tell as they walked. A young teen with that ability was rare. She was going to respond but remembered what he said about the title and decided to actually listen to him."Thank you for noticing arry. I am sorry for allowing it to get that bad and also for ranting to you about my current issues."

Harry stayed silent for a while much to the worry of Fleur. He sighed. "It's no problem. It's my bad also. I realize now that our conversations have been on the wrong foot from the beginning. I don't think you are creature Fleur who has no right to use my proper title. I defended your sister from that very statement of creature. I know it is hard to be considered something but a normal human with emotions."

Harry stayed silent for a bit as he figured out what to say next. Take your time in response Sheda told him. There is no rush to convey anything. "My fame kinda has the same effect on people as your allure. I even used my title to make that man feel threatened. I honestly didn't like it either, but I hated how he treated Gabi as if she was some sort of monster beneath him. I guess the idea was to show him he was beneath me in some way?"

Harry sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. His own confusion getting to him of using his titles and hating it. " I don't know. I just am learning about my proper titles and I really don't like using them or the connotation they have because I do not see myself as being up to the standards of the men who had it before me. I am not my father who gave his life defending his wife and son. I am not my grandfather who led individuals to war and was reportedly as skilled as Dumbledore and Grindelwald."

Harry stopped and looked at the castle in the far distance. "No. I am not great yet. How about this? If one day you think I live up to all those standards you can call me Lord Potter all you want. Until then it's Harry and we are equals. How does that sound?"

Fleur genuinely smiled at him, catching Harry in his tracks. For the first time in his life Harry knew he had a crush on a girl. It was the way she smiled that melted a part of him. "Qui. Arry. There is my tent. I shall see you later in the afternoon."

Harry nodded, feeling conflicted. Having a slight crush for an older Veela of all things. "Sheda is going to have a field day with this one."

Break break break

Sheda and Harry were currently shopping for new robes for Harry. Sheda told him that he needed some finer dress robes of archcumental silk "So care to tell me how you came across the prideful Veela or are you going to sulk until you have to leave?"

Harry glared at Sheda. "I am not sulking. I am just annoyed."

Sheda smiled."Is there a difference?" Harry looked at her with a glare as he told her what happened. The candy shop, the owner, Gabi, and what happened during and after.

They had only been in the shop for a short while when Harry decided on red and gold and headed out. "How am I going to even wear these? It will look bulky with the robe." Harry asked as they walked back to their hotel.

Sheda smiled at his clear emotional frustration. "I am going to make the runes I did on the day it first happened. Do you expect an emotional night? Just make sure to not overload the runes. Either way you can still take your old robe. Put it in the bottomless bag you just bought." Harry grumbled about his own stupidity and hormones.

As they made it back to the hotel they sat outside enjoying the afternoon with some small refreshments. "So I see your new wand. It's beautiful. Went well?" Harry grumbled still in his emotions about having a crush on a Veela and pulled it out.

"Beech wood and Thestral hair with my blood added. It is still not a full match. Another core is needed, but it hasn't presented itself it seems. Destiny may show it." Harry stammered trying to come up with an excuse as he blushed realizing he met a Veela, just when he needed Veela hair for his wand.

Sheda looked curiously at the design and his statement on the blood. "So that would be why you have the snake-like vines and the phoenix wings." Harry looked bewildered not catching her point. Sheda sighed clearly the boy was in his emotions but not in the usual way. "How did you survive the Basilisk venom in your second year? The tears, no? Based on what you told me it would make sense your blood kept both in your system. Yet for it to react with your wand is curious."

Harry looked at her as if she had grown a second head and then realized what she meant and what he had learned from Myrtle. "My blood still has the venom and tears in it, kinda like a ritual? It has the properties?"

Sheda had also come to the same realization. "Can't really test it besides giving someone your blood. Could it kill them but also heal them at the same time? Who knows, but your blood may be one of the most powerful curse breaking—-" Sheda stopped. her eyes got wide open. She got up and ran inside.

Harry, seeing her get excited, quickly paid for their food and followed behind her. As he went up the stairs and ran into her room he saw she had letters that she was going through.

She quickly pulled her wand out and threw privacy charms at the door. "Curse Breaking. That could be it, Harry. That could be what is happening. Finally a second lead!" She pulled a letter out and held it up as she looked for more. "Here is a letter from a colleague in the department of mystery in the MACUSA. He was curious about what I was exploring but we both had studied Obscurials and unstable magic. So he didn't ask many questions. A theory he had on curing obscurial was the use of curse breaking techniques. The careful removal of curse's requires artimancy and magical artifacts. I asked if he got far and he told me no."

Sheda finally collecting all the letters continued as she reread them as she spoke. " The obscurius they had, had not responded to any of their curse breaking techniques of understanding its magic. That is the point of curse breaking techniques. The idea being that you detect the magic and slowly use artimancy to understand the magic and remove it from the object. The other options are dipping an item into magical blood to cleanse it if the blood is strong enough. You can also use runes to cleanse an object but it requires you to do a similar ritual to what was first done or something akin to it."

Harry understood somewhat of what she said. "So how does it play into my issues?"

Sheda smiled. "His original theory argued that the obscure is tied to the body of the host, like a physical parasite. Makes sense, no? His theory currently has not worked. It shows that the obscurus doesn't grab onto a person physically and that is further reinforced with your Basilisk blood and tears."

Sheda stopped as Harry saw her pull out a purple book with a crest on the front. He could only see the letter R. "Runes?" He whispered.

Harry let it be as Sheda continued. "Which tells me two things. One an obscurial could be connected to something else, not your physical body. Two it could not even be an obscurial and it's something your body is fighting. The Basilisk venom and tears could be working together looking to eject something. Like a cursed item being dipped into magical blood to lift a curse. The two powerful substances could be changing you which could explain why your wand stopped working. YES."

Sheda stopped and stared at her book writing some more ideas. The book magically glowed pulling information that felt it was relevant. She noted the sources and it all still pointed to one thing and she sighed. "But the question is what changed? Why is your magic becoming more erratic and maybe now unstable? The blood shouldn't affect your magic. Unless it does, but why and how? Is the concoction so strong it creates a magical field? Almost like muggle radiation hurting and damaging everything? Obscurial is still the most likely option I think." Harry could see Sheda felt defeated but let her be. It was a problem he knew he couldn't help with. At least in the capacity of researching; it was clear the witch was on a completely different level then every adult he knew.

Sheda looked at her pocket watch pulling her gaze from her book and saw it was 2:00. "Shite. I need to make runes so you can get ready for your date. " Harry blushed but didn't say anything.

Sheda caught it. "Got you. So you like her?" Harry looked shocked and realized his reaction and struggled to find a response. Sheda already had pulled her new knife out and began magically sewing runes into the robe as she sat at the desk.

Harry admitted defeat. "Yes. Who wouldn't? She is beautiful. I like her but it's nothing really. A small crush? I think her pride may be a problem. But overall she just caught me with her smile and besides it's clear she is older."

Sheda joked at his comment. "Clear? Not a very gentlemanly action for you." Harry ignored the comment but did blush. Sheda made no further comment allowing him to continue, there was a time and place for teasing. It was clear he was becoming uncomfortable.

Harry tried to understand her issues. "I figured out she hates formal House stuff hence her bitter tone which you caught also. She got mad at me for my continued refusal of her using my Lord title. I know you told me to accept it and start dressing and eventually acting like one. I currently do not like it. She got mad thinking I was telling her she was not worthy to use it as a 'creature.' Her allure blasted the plaza we were at, but I think I am immune to it. I pulled her away and admitted to her the misunderstanding and told her where I am coming from. We left on good terms at least until tonight I think."

Sheda took a deep breath as she worked. "Her family is not like mine, much less yours. My uncle married into the family and took the last name of Babbling because of…. Ummm. For personal reasons. I became a Babbling when he adopted me. My aunt blessed me to use it." Sheda finished clearly uncomfortable at the possible slip up. Harry noted it, but decided to leave it. Sheda could open up in time like he did. At least he hoped she did.

Sheda collected herself and continued. "Reportedly there is a student at the Russian school of Magic sponsored by the ICW deep in Serbia that has a claim on the house, I think he is a part of an off branch. Not even directly related to my Aunt. Leo Whelan. Young about your age."

Sheda stopped working as she checked on her first 2 runes and then started again. "Either way. I am a Lady and everywhere I go. Yet, in Magical Britain and other nations there are family dynasties that have more power and I am expected to fall in line based on my used name. Certain families have influence outside their nations and are respected even more so in their hailing nation and outside as well. In magical Britain those families are called the Most Noble and Most Ancient house of etc. Some other countries follow the same idea like France and others just add dynasty at the end of their family name. The Delacours are only a magical House. Meaning they have existed for a while in France and have magical heritage going back for a while, yet they are only really known in France and even there they may be considered politically, financially, and for some people culturally weak."

Harry sat down on Sheda's trunk as he looked at her. A lesson. A lesson she told him he needed to know and respect. Sheda continued. "Sabastian Delacour has changed that for his family by bringing them to the national stage with his recent placement to Head Auror. It means the family has to act differently. Some would say grovel."

Harry looked displeased. "So her actions are because she's afraid of what I can do with my family name?"

Sheda nodded but shook her head to highlight uncertainty as she continued to work. "In a way yes, but also no. You threatened the man in the candy shop, no? Let me tell you that is not a good example of the power you have. With your fame as the boy who lived, the Potter name, and the Black name you could probably ask for the ousting of a minister in a nation. Hell you could probably do that now and lead a revolution at 17 when everyone fully recognizes you as an adult. Also, regarding the sister, Gabi, what did she do? Lose her allure or focus it on you?"

Harry shrugged. "Why does it matter? I am immune."

Sheda looked serious, but sighed. She knew he hated customs, tradition, and rules. "It matters. A lot. Especially in House etiquette for Veela, which is not common as it is. So you can imagine the restrictions or consequences. So it was focused?"

Harry nodded. "Twice."

Sheda massaged her forehead as she stopped what she was doing and turned to look at him. "Let me tell you. You are not like other families and most don't even come close to acting like House Potter does. Most families would force the head of a family to pay up for what Gabi did. I am not saying what you should do, that is up for you to decide. I believe House Potter would be noble and declare it a non issue. House Black depending on the Lord, would have declared a blood feud or requested such a large payment guaranteeing the slavery of the Delacour magical House. What Gabi did is considered a form of line theft by the magical community."

Sheda didn't want to make it sound like a lecture but she figured it was better than nothing. It was clear he had never been exposed to any of this. A failure on Hogwarts, but also a failure on Dumbledore to properly prepare him. "Although magic does not see it that way, the magical community treats a focused Veela allure like a love potion, which magic does recognize as line theft. A violation of your free will and ability to love properly. In certain countries like Here, Magical Britain, and Magical Russia they see any possible relationship with a Veela as the male not being fully in control, even if the Veela is just allowing the Allure to flow freely. Again you decide how you want to handle it. It is your family and House. I only tell you because of how they may act."

Harry nodded and was in thought. Harry didn't really know what to do. It was an overwhelming amount of information. "How would you handle it?"

Sheda smiled at him knowing he would ask. "Harry. I can't make that choice. I can only give you the information. I am not your ancestral family, and although I am someone you trust. You have to make the choice, think of this as your first opportunity to really think like a Lord? Anything you choose I will support okay? Even the more extreme. Although I think I shouldn't be worried about a blood feud being declared? I personally don't want to get my robes dirty."

She smiled at Harry's laugh and turned back to work on the runes. "So do you now realize how scary that all is? Not only are you powerful politically, financially, but you may have something as drastic as a blood feud over there head?"

Harry then realized she was right. It didn't even fully include his fame either. Furthermore, seeing how the shop owner had looked terrified after he introduced himself further showed that. He was more afraid of his name than his wand. He accepted the idea begrudgingly. "Yeah I suppose it is pretty scary to meet someone like that."

Sheda looked at her third rune as she finished it. "The Delacour family is being exposed to many high level individuals. I wouldn't be surprised out of an abundance of caution Fleur's father is instilling proper House etiquette into her and even the English language. I am guessing you wouldn't know someone who is having a hard time with that also."

Harry looked slightly sheepish, Sheda continued shaking her head. "Either way Veela are naturally very prideful. It must make her extremely conflicted to have to do what amounts to groveling to her. I wouldn't be surprised if she is becoming bitter, especially if she has to grovel towards individuals that see her as less than just because of lineage. Honestly, the French are also proud of their culture. I wouldn't be surprised if she tried bastardizing our language for petty issues as well. If what you say about her pride issues is true. It was good you explained the misunderstanding. Proud of you. Yet, I will tell you a lot of the world works like that and why I tell you that you need to learn it."

Harry saw her complete the final runes. Looking at the time he saw it was 2:30. He had some time but better early then late. He decided to get ready and meet Delacours at their tent.

Break break break. (Spoken in French unless stated otherwise)

Fleur was conflicted back at her family's tent. She laid in her "area" staring at the ceiling. Her mother and sister were nowhere to be found, but she figured her Mother took Gabi on a walk around the valley. This was supposed to be the family's first public outing as the family of the new French Head Auror. A major milestone for the family and not even within 3 hours of being there had Gabi gone and embarrassed the family.

She had decided to run off with some of her upcoming classmates and not only did she get abandoned by those same girls, she had let her Allure charm random people. With that she was verbally attacked by the people around her. She had to be saved by none other than the English mega celebrity arry Potter. He had not only saved her and took her to calm down but threatened retribution to the shop for his disgusting comments.

Her fathers instance to introduce herself had also gotten to her, she hated how she had to introduce herself to everyone. Her anger of not getting a kiss on the hand had made her bitter even if she fought it. She was a Veela. Men should be thankful to be around her, much less be able to kiss any part of her. That had only happened once before and it was when Father had a rather unpleasant family in their home. The French branch of the Lestrange family had come to her home to congratulate and clearly court favor with her father. They had insulted her home and refused to acknowledge her and her mom throughout the whole visit. She had felt so much anger at their actions, but she was told by her mother to ignore it. She was able to suppress those feelings because he had taken care of Gabi and maybe she had misunderstood.

She did misunderstand him but not in the way she suspected. She had continued to let her own prideful anger at the treatment of others ignore that the boy himself did not care for titles and had just wanted to introduce himself as equals to her. An idea she did not realize until after her angry outburst in which he admitted his own misunderstanding and explained his feelings on being called Lord Potter. He felt inadequate to his father and grandfather. A semblance of trust he had given her. A way to show he wanted to be equals.

"Equals?" Fleur snorted as she stood up and continued thinking as she looked to get ready for dinner. Extra formal attire her mother had told her when she pulled her aside. She had also told her to control her temper and pride and admit the prestige of the boy. That it would be good practice. Equals? She was a Veela. The most beautiful women. Her body was one everyone envied. She had no equal in that regard. How was he, a boy, so bold as to consider himself an equal?

She closed her eyes as her thoughts turned to bitterness on who the boy actually was. The boy may not care but he was the top of the food chain he was THE upcoming Lord to watch. Like Natalia Pavlova or Viktor Krum. Young influential members of their families who were to get their headship and have entire nations at their beck and call. She was none of that, but her pride made her feel like she was.

Yet, when she realized what Gabi had actually done and that Lord Potter was to also be Lord Black? She had been terrified. The man was not just going to be powerful; he could do whatever he wanted. The money, prestige, fame, and the women on his arm could add to it if he so pleased. She imagined if Natalia Pavlova got her hands onto him. She was the same age as him. She shivered at the power they could have. Magical Russia and Magical Britain in total control by two 17 years old. They could march on Europe and no one would care. Many would open their arms to them. If only she could be that, she was more beautiful and deserved a spot like that.

She couldn't and would never have it. Her Veela nature would one day humble her as it didn't matter how beautiful she would be. One day. After school and all these weak willed boys stopped being around her she would enter the jungle and have to work like everyone else. Men and Women who could control their emotions would be a common thing around her. She would be required to submit as the creature she was to them. She could still be proud but she would have to fall in line. School was a shelter for now, where she could have fun with boys but one more year and it was over. She had thought it would be easy when her dad told her that their lives would change when he got his new position.

She would finally get the respect she deserved as a Veela, but in actuality it was worse. People glared at her, at her sister, her mom and even her dad. This was supposed to be the most educated people of society, the strongest magically, the richest, and they smirked at her as if she was low class. The boys at school groveled and the girls who had been her friends looked on with jealousy. These people, this world, looked at her with disgust as the creature she was to them. Below even the lowest possible rung she had come to realize. Not even France's progressive values could save her.

She decided to stop for today in the melancholy truth that she had begun to realize when her father got the position he did. Her bitterness of being considered less than was getting to her. It was tearing apart at her pride and actually making her feel less and less confident. Maybe if their family kept on going the path they were on, it could see her descendants finally be respected. She could hope anyway.

She looked at the red evening maxi dress that was floor length with no leg cut and sleeves. She loved getting new dresses and part of her fathers new position was the perk of having to get new ones for events. Yet, to never share them with anyone who respected her and looked at her with admiration. She sighed again and let the thought go and just looked to get ready.

Break break break.

Fleur had decided to keep her hair in the same style but touch it up and make a tad grandeur with defined curls. She had not been blind when she saw arry look at her hair when she was getting mad. It actually fueled her anger until she realized he was immune. A part of her liked still being able to catch his eye. Maybe a tad too much since he was one so near to her age.

She stopped as her mother and sister came into her part of the tent. "Hello Fleur, did it go well with Lord Potter's guardian? Will he be joining us?" Fleur hesitated and her mother caught it. "Do not tell me you let your issues of pride get in the way?"

Fleur responded. "I did have issues, but arry and I worked them out. He will be joining us." Apolline raised an eyebrow and looked to reprimand her on casual name usage but Fleur cut her off.

"He told me to use his name. He was actually getting mad and he told me I was insulting him. He gave me his reasons and they are noble. I just reacted badly and he told me in confidence I believe as a result. It's not something many Lords and Lady's would say to family members much less a relative nobody."

Apolline glared at her. "So if I ask him tonight he would agree with you?"

Fleur hesitated. Maybe he was playing her? No. He wouldn't. He was very adamant he hated it. "Yes he would. He probably wouldn't ask you to do such a thing. He said he wanted to treat me like an equal." Fleur said with a tad more venom and emotion than she thought it needed.

Apolline looked sadly at her daughter. "Fleur I know it's been hard for you. I just want you to know that the world may never see you as an equal so I ask you to keep public appearances. Lord Potter at all times, tell him and he will understand. Okay?"

Fleur looked angry at the statement and replied with some venom. "I am an equal, for I am a Veela. More beautiful than any witch. And I won't call him by the title which includes Black. I don't want to make him mad. He already could have our heads if he wanted because of what Gabi did."

Gabi was shocked. "He told you?" Fleur nodded angrily, but not at Gabi.

Apolline narrowed her eyes at the statement of being an equal. Fleur's pride was becoming an issue in the family. She needed humbling that was for sure. Yet, sensing that Fleur knew something, she decided to hear what she said. She dismissed Gabi to get change, who stomped away outside Fleurs' area knowing she would not be allowed to give her side of it.

Her mother then came up behind her. "Fleur. Take control of your pride. I will not have you spouting equality nonsense. It will be your downfall and I do not want to see my daughter part of the hate crime reports in France. You will never be seen as an equal by the likes of them. Do you understand? You have to know this before you enter the real world. The boys at school are not what you will see. These are men and women who-"

Fleur cut her off in a screech "Do you think I do not know that? I am very aware of what life will be after school. You have been clear in treating me like that."

Apolline sighed. A contentious point between the two. Fleur had a tendency to not care about her Allure in school, relishing that the boys fell at her feet. Her resentment of how some of the girls treated her fuelled her nature. Although not an issue, as they lived in France where Veela were more accepted, Apolline had been forced to show up at the school to discipline her earlier this year in January. Mainly as older boys began flexing their coming lordships, tired of being humiliated, and calling for Fleur to stop allowing her Allure flow freely and to control it. A fact that made Fleur very angry at her. According to Fleur, the remainder of the 6th year was characterized with Fleur having to control her Allure at the smirks of the boys having 'tamed' her.

Apolline sighed internally. Fleur would have to learn the hard way and she hoped it wasn't at Hogwarts. The Triwizard Tournament called to her daughter as a way out and to prove herself. Magical Britain though was the worst regarding Veela. There they were called Half-Breeds and roped in with their magical creature classifications. A contentious issue but one Magical Britain shared with other nations.

Apolline changed the subject. "What do you mean Lord Potter-Black and what do mean could have our heads?"

Fleur turned around to face her mirror, a glare thrown at her mother as she put on her earrings. Simple platinum diamond studs. Her mother was standing behind her. "He has the Black title. Not just the Potter title. He told me as an offhand comment of having to learn House rules as he got older so he could take the mantle properly. He got even more frustrated when I started using the full title."

Apolline gasped. "Two lordships. That is unheard of. We must impress tonight. What is this about Gabi? She told me she just lost control of her Allure."

Fleur scoffed at the comment of impressing as she turned to get up and looked to put on the dress she had hanged on the coat hanger. Slipping into it. The dress hugged all her curves perfectly. And pooled just slightly at her feet, her red painted fingernails and toes complementing the dress. "Gabi lied. She didn't lose control. She focused it on him, twice."

Apolline was so shocked she sat on Fleur's chair and sat there trying to figure out what to do. Fleur continued. "She was trying to impress her future classmates. The second time was when she put too much power behind it and it charmed the whole shop. I didn't ask for any details. I was shocked as well. Based on what we saw many people didn't treat it that way. We both know it could have been very bad." Apolline nodded and had tears in her eyes out of the new frustration and emotional draining revelation.

To the surprise of Fleur her mothers Allure began to flare. Apolline tried to control her emotions and looked at her pocket watch showing 3:00pm. She got up and looked to get ready. "I will talk to your father. We can't let Lord Potter-Black reveal that. It will ruin us. In any way he sees fit." Fleur nodded knowing that. Seeing her mother leave her area of the tent and into her parents' area.

She went to get her heels which were in the main living area. Simple heels in her opinion, red and only 4 inches and they matched her dress. She put them on and was surprised to hear the tent charm tell her someone was outside. Her father was not due until after meeting the ICW French agents at 3:20. But she walked to the entrance and opened the flap. She had not expected to see Arry.

Harry's caught his breath. He did not expect to see Fleur in such a dress much less somehow look more stunning than before. "Hello Fleur, sorry I am early. I just figured we had time before just unsure of how much." Fleur had also been surprised at his choice of robes. They would have cost more than her entire outfit. He had the money, so why was she surprised?

Very trimmed black robes with red and gold accents. She saw a blade hooked to his belt and he was still wearing boots that gave him some height. He may have looked like a little lord before but now he just looked like a teenage lord with wealth. A step down but one she felt suited him much better. She gestured for him to come in. "It's no problem, arry. I just realized that I never gave you a time to meet with us. My father will be back around 3:30 and the portkey shall take us around 4:00." She moved aside as he ducked in and he looked at the tent.

A living area was in the middle with three separated areas. Probably one for each daughter and their parents he summarized. He quickly saw the runes of the tent were built on the internal wood beam support in the middle. He started staring at them and then felt as Fleur walked up next to him; noting she was not holding her allure back. She was still taller than him by a few inches but his boots helped in giving him a height boost, her heels pushed her up more. He liked how her hair was parted and loved the curls she had made. The glow amplified the look and each curl. "Do you like runes?"

Harry caught himself and hoped he had not been staring too much. "I do. I actually learned about it just a month ago. I am slated to take my owl next year."

Fleur did the math in her head and didn't understand. "You started to do runes last month and you now have time to take your owls? Did you not study it in your 3rd and 4th year?"

Harry smiled. "I am actually going into my 4th year this year, late birthday, July 31st. I am taking my OWL exam for it one year ahead of time. How old are you?" Fleur was shocked. In 1 month he had been introduced to runes and he was now skipping a whole year? "I am 16. I turn 17 in August, a late birthday like you. Are you saying that you learned 2 years of Runes in one month and now think you can take the OWL?"

Harry pulled his gaze from the pole and looked at her. "Not really learned 2 years of runes. I will still be doing some intense studying in the school year. I know it's hard to believe. It's honestly more due to my affinity to Runes. I can read the magic of runes and as a result do not need to know the language to know what I am looking at. I am unsure how I missed such an ability in my first two years." Harry remembered what Luna told him about his magic. Finally allowed to grow. He wondered if that is what this was.

He responded. He would think about it later. "I did some intense studying to learn the Nordic language quickly, but considering a huge part of rune making and understanding is learning how to feel the magic of the runes." Harry shrugged as if it was given. "Of course, the other part is also being able to understand carver differences I suppose. Overall, it's kinda easy for me to catch up, but I will probably hit a roadblock soon once I get to ward making, curse breaking etc."

Fleur was surprised. "So carving also comes easier since you automatically know if your rune is working as intended."

Harry snapped his fingers. "Exactly."

Fleur smiled. "I like enchanting items, curse breaking and ward breaking. I study Arithmancy of course but also runes."

Harry could tell she liked a wide field. "Undecided on a profession? One of those is not like the others."

She was surprised he picked up on enchanting being different. "You are not wrong. Enchanting is a lot of trial and error and you really spend a lot of time with yourself. If you don't have a sponsor or are just rich you can't really do it. I hope to get into curse breaking or ward making and in my free time I will work on enchanting."

Harry looked at her in thought and had an idea forming. He needed to dig. "So enchanting? Anything in particular or just general exploration." Fleur beamed at his interest, she was always considered a pretty face, but he was interested in her academics?

Fleur responded. "I like to do a combination of runes and enchantment. This tent would be a good example, but I want to focus on smaller items. Useful items I suppose. I am pretty good. I have been given the opportunity to apply for my mastery already, that means I would be able to start right after I complete my newts."

Fleur looked excited and Harry saw a spark in her eyes. Just as he saw it the spark went away just as quickly. "I also am looking for a cursebreaker or ward making position to intern in, the mastery is a time commitment and there is no guarantee I get a sponsorship. So best to have some job experience before I throw myself at the hope of enchanting. So if that comes first. I will take it. I want to enchant for day to day items so I should be allowed to work, theorize and experiment during my time off. Although I have not come up with any good ideas except one." Harry raised an eyebrow.

Catching his facial expression Fleur walked to her area. Harry tried not to look at her figure, but it was difficult. He decided to look around as she came back. What looked to be a throw blanket made of cotton was in her hands, she handed it to him. Harry caught the deep scent of lavender. "I made this. It's enchanted to always be the right temperature for your body. It also has a calming effect. It reaches out and calms the body. I was also able to add some rejuvenating runes, but a very low powered one. As a result-"

Harry finished her sentence. "You wake up refreshed. Why haven't you made more? This is a great idea for students feeling homesick or even just hospitals."

Fleur actually beamed at the praise and slightly blushed much to her horror. She was Fleur, she didn't blush. And then she realized, no one ever complimented her smarts, her parents didn't either. It was sorta expected. She had only shown Gabi as she was the only one interested it seemed. "It was rather expensive. I used all my allowance in trial and error to finally get this one. I also didn't fully get what I wanted. The enchantment kept failing or wouldn't last long. The fur is basic cotton but there are about 150 strands of unicorn horn spread out. I wanted to use another fabric but cost again"

Harry looked confused. "Wouldn't that make it a magical artifact and not an enchantment?"

Fleur was again surprised by the merits of his question; he clearly was very educated or exposed to the ideas. "Not fully. A magical artifact is determined by how much and potential of the magical creature, ambient magic, and its unique properties. Unicorn hair, although a good focus of magic, is underpowered. I believe in wand lore, it is supported by its wood. I choose it because it doesn't have a lot of magic in it. Trade secrets okay so don't tell anyone?"

Fleur said with a joke, deciding maybe his company wasn't all that bad. "In my experience using underpowered magical items allows for enchanted items to last longer. I haven't tested it but I think the blanket could work in a non magical place for some time."

Harry looked at it and just marveled how soft it was and looking at the runes he felt only the one. "What didn't work and kept failing?" She looked at him wondering why he was so curious again. Did he really care? No one cared. Mother expected control and good grades. Father expected the same and refinement. Arry seemed to not care for any of it or if he was just humoring her. Most never shared interest. Fleur decided to tell him and then remembered why it was a touchy subject.

She kept her head held up high but her voice gave away the emotion behind the idea, she hoped he didn't catch on and laugh. "I tried mimicking a warm touch and making it release a scent of your choosing."

Harry nodded and realized what it meant. It was supposed to mimic a hug and more than likely the magical scent of someone. He was going to mention it but noticed the quiver in her voice. Very slightly at the end, it was a touchy subject. He decided to drop it and continued with his train of thought. "It's great Fleur. I think it has merit. I can see what you mean expensive and needing an outside sponsor. Why can't your dad support you?"

Her face morphed into frustration to Harry's surprise. She sighed, grabbing the blanket from him and folded it. "An enchanter like me would not be considered one unless they have a workshop sponsored by a family. If my father sponsored me it would come to question my talent and whether what I created was actually good. Only families with long histories of enchanting could have their own personal labs. "

Fleur finished clearly not wanting to talk about it anymore. She walked away leaving him to his thoughts. She came back out "Any other ideas then Fleur?" She came back to stand by him and was clearly in thought thinking of the ideas she had. Nothing major came to mind. Harry had an idea though and seemingly made up his mind if it came down to it. "How good are you at reverse engineering?"

Fleur was caught by his question again. "I never have gotten the opportunity to do something complicated. I have always wanted to try it though. Not a lot of items are up to my curiosity and many aren't that hard. My interest in wards is a direct response to a lack of real interesting enchantments to reverse engineer. How do you know about reverse engineering? It's a 6th year Artimancy concept. Don't tell me you're gifted at enchanting as well?"

He laughed. "No no. I know about it somewhat from ward making. I created a custom ward for my 3rd year exam. You will probably see an academic paper published on it by summer's end if Sheda has it her way." Fleur was further surprised.

The boy was an oddity for sure, a part of her a tad jealous. Fame, Power, Wealth AND magically gifted. She decided to bury it for now and responded. "A ward in 3rd year, but a custom one? Wow." She then started to talk about the concepts of reverse engineering and how it fueled her want of enchanting. How pulling magic away from an item and understanding its action truly made her feel one with magic. The same could be said for enchanting. The layering, focus, and finesse all made her love magic. Ward breaking and making also did the same thing for her but not to the same degree.

Harry though, at some point, stopped listening. He just looked at her, and realized he really did like how she carried herself when not under House etiquette and when talking about her interests. She carried herself with pride, a tad overwhelmingly. She probably saw it as such, but he didn't care. Maybe Sheda and Daphne had changed that in him. A woman who was confident in herself and took nothing from no one. He kept looking at her hair until he was brought back by her question regarding his ward and what it did.

Harry stammered a response as he knew she caught him. She kept the fact silent, but he could swear he saw a small smile as she sat down in the seating area, her lithe body pressing against her dress, a sight that made Harry even more nervous. She changed the subject much to his relief as to not hold him to the staring.

She crossed her legs "By the way my mother does not like the usage of your proper name. My father has also not been updated on our conversation. I believe he will pull you aside to talk."

Harry shrugged." I figured. I will still hold you to what I said. I don't want you to use the title. I will get that taken care of anyway. Again equals."

Fleur smiled sadly. For once after talking with him and knowing her mother was right, she decided to follow her mothers lead and clear that up. Swallowing her pride had been a hard thing in the recent months and it would only get harder but it needed to be done according to her mom. Hogwarts could see her truly become a hate crime statistic and she needed to learn. "Arry."

She was going to tell him that she was not an equal and that he was the lord of Two Houses, with fame and money. Although she was a Veela. She was still only a teenage girl from France with some money, but that in public they should really keep appearances. Her treatment of him in such an informal way would see her ridiculed and belittled especially when she went to Hogwarts next year. The idea was cut off by her Father walking into the tent. "Fleur you are ready, good. What did- Ohhh Lord Potter. Sorry I didn't expect to see you here. Has my daughter offered any refreshments? Of course you can take it to your liking. Fleur, your Allure, it is not fully under your control. Control it now. We have guests."

Fleur had forgotten to pull it in when Arry had arrived. Hearing the firm command at the end with no room for argument. She controlled her frustration and was going to pull her Allure but was cut off in her action by Arry waving at her 'no' and he got up and shook Father's hand.

"Mr. Delacour. No, it's fine. Fleur has been a great hostess while we wait and although I felt the Allure when I arrived I did not want to impose myself as a guest, as it does not affect me." Fleur actually looked surprised at the fact he defended her. His admission of feeling it when arriving further astonished her. It also made sense why he was looking at her hair. He must like the glow. She smiled as she heard him talk.

A part of her realized he was standing over her as he talked to her Father. Not overbearingly but a need as he was on the other side of the sitting area and he had reached over to shake her Father's hand. It gave her a better look at his green eyes. Her eyes caught a glowing something written in his robes. A rune. A magic absorption rune by what she could see. Curious. That rune would make him exhausted or was there something else at play. She tried to catch if there were other runes but she couldn't see anything. Arry was curious. Pretty eyes, but curious.

Harry continued. "I personally feel I am being a good guest allowing your daughter to not have to worry about such things. I got here early since it slipped my mind to ask about our departure time even though Fleur gave me our time in Vienna. I hear we are going to a magical square in Vienna. I hope you don't mind if I stop at a bookshop? A friend of mine is hoping I can pick something up."

Sebastian smiled surprised at the allure immunity and comment of making his host comfortable, the boy was something else. "It's no issue, dinner is at 7pm so there is plenty of time to explore the square. Fleur can of course take you around. We have been there but it's been years." Harry, seeing that Fleur was looking to stand up, reached out to Fleur and held his hand out.

She was slightly surprised at curtsy, but took it so she could stand. "Thank you Arry." Sebastian looked slightly surprised at the use of the name, but looked to respond. "I am sorry Lord Potter for the slight disrespect."

Harry shook his head. "It is fine, Mr. Delacour. I do not like someone of my age group regardless of standing using my proper title. Please take the liberty of not using my title as a personal compliment of mine to your family. I do not expect you to follow, but please allow your daughters the liberty. If anyone questions you can pass them to me." Sheda and Harry had rehearsed the lines he would say after he asked her what was the best way to have Gabi and Fleur not use his title. Fleur to his surprise had kept holding hands after he started talking, he was surprised by the slight squeeze and she let go as he finished.

Fleur kept a straight face but internally she was very confused who he was and why was he acting like this. Older boys with less power, fame, and wealth had gone out of there way to force her into submission with not only her Allure, but to use proper titles in France as they finished their 6th year. A fact that she bitterly felt her mother easily yielded to. No other girl used titles in school, but she now had to when conversing with them. The supposed disrespect of her allure needed her to know her place it seemed. A note that made her happy to be leaving them all behind this 7th year, as she had begun to be a laughing stock. Mainly as the boys consistently forcefully interacted with her to get her to use the titles.

Sebastian looked torn. It was clear he had been arm wrestled into this point. It would be rude to reject the compliment, but he felt others would find it ruder if his daughters were seen talking to him as if normal. Especially as Veela. His musings were cut off by his wife exiting their tent area. "Hello Lord Potter-Black. I heard you were out here but please forgive a woman's time to get ready." Sebastian was startled at hearing the other title.

Harry smiled. "It is no problem. Mrs. Delacour. " Apolline quickly made eye contact with Sebastian and he understood he needed to follow her. "Excuse me. Lord Potter-Black. I shall be back."

Harry and Fleur stayed standing as her parents walked in their area. To Harry's surprise he was swatted by Fleur in the arm. "You brat. That was very cunning. I am surprised you came up with that. Or was it your guardian?"

Harry smirked. "A woman's opinion is very valuable don't you think?" Fleur laughed at his comment. She felt so at ease with him that she wanted to hate it. She actually had not noticed she held his hand while he talked to her father. She had only realized when he moved his hand and she squeezed in surprise. She held it for a tad longer but let go.

All the boys at school liked flirting with her, ogling her, and once they didn't get what they wanted they would curse her out or call her a creature. The boys she did enjoy her time with always looked for more, and she found it funny when she would deny them. Keeping them frustrated and strung along. Arry did not seem to care that she let go of his hand and if anything continued as if nothing. A thing of frustration and to her surprise, admiration.

As he turned to look at her."I am guessing your mom is telling him about my other title and what happened with Gabi."

Fleur bopped her head in afirmation. "He will be shocked. And feel even more panic. He will probably want to talk when we arrive in Vienna."

Harry internally wondered if he was doing the right thing regarding his plans but he would muse about them until he actually talked to Sebastian. "Can you join me in the conversation when I call you over? I am thinking of a way to smooth the issues out. If you want, of course."

Fleur was surprised that he asked her to be there. What could he want? "It is no problem. We will probably stay by. Thank you for asking me beforehand." They continued to chit chat about random things including what she did for fun. She of course read for fun, but he was surprised to hear that she was actually the one who liked to duel enough to come here. She had been bummed out to miss the group stages, mainly because it made her feel good about herself. He laughed at her joke and unknown to the two the laugh was captured by Gabi taking a picture. Two teens with widely different issues, social status and upbringings in the world genuinely enjoying their time together.