Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I make no money out of this. Don't sue me!
Of Dog And Men
Harry stood outside the doors of Hogwarts, fidgeting with his robes as he waited for Fleur. He knew this was not a 'date', but that didn't stop the butterflies from fluttering in his stomach. The crisp autumn air nipped at his cheeks as he glanced around nervously.
He saw Fleur approaching him. She looked radiant, her silvery-blonde hair cascading down her back like moonlight and her bright blue eyes sparkling. She wore an elegant, long periwinkle robe that swirled around her legs as she walked, making her seem almost ethereal.
"Hi, Harry," Fleur greeted him with a warm smile, her French accent lilting through the words.
"Hi, Fleur," Harry replied, trying to sound casual despite the nervous energy coursing through him. "Ready to head to Hogsmeade?"
"Yes, let's go," she agreed, and they made their way towards the carriages.
As they waited for a carriage, Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang appeared, clearly headed to Hogsmeade as well. "Ah, Potter, off to show your lovely companion the many wonders of Hogsmeade, are you?" Cedric teased with a grin.
"Something like that," Harry retorted, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. He could feel Fleur tensing ever so slightly next to him, and he wondered what she thought of Cedric's teasing.
"Visiting Madam Puddifoot's, Harry?" Cedric added with a wink, drawing laughter from Cho.
"Very funny, Diggory," Harry shot back, his cheeks reddening. He could feel Fleur's curious gaze on him, but he stubbornly refused to meet her eyes. "Cho, you could do so much better. If you want to run now, I'll hold him back."
Cho chuckled and Cedric looked at Harry feinting hurt, "You wound me, Harry," he said, "Fleur, I honestly don't know what you are doing going out with this bum."
Fleur chuckled, slightly shaking her head, "I don't know, Cedric, he didn't look like a bum when he was duelling you the other day."
"Ah," Cedric replied with a hint of awkwardness "A lucky bum, then."
The four wizards laughed at that. Cedric looked like he wanted to add another quip, but the arrival of the carriage interrupted him. "Should we share this one?" He asked.
"Sure," Harry replied. He opened the carriage's door and offered Fleur a hand to help her get in. Fleur gave Harry a smile and accepted the offered appendage.
The four of them sat in the carriage, the air filled with infectious laughter that seemed to chase away any lingering awkwardness. Cedric, always one for a good joke, had taken it upon himself to regale them with some of his favourite Hogwarts tales, drawing chuckles and groans alike from Harry, Fleur, and Cho.
"Alright, alright," Cedric said, wiping a tear from his eye as their laughter subsided. "I've got one more for you – did you hear about the time Peeves filled the Great Hall with–"
"Wait!" Cho interrupted, feigning indignation. "Are we really going to let him tell another one? I swear, if I have to endure one more bad pun–" She broke off with a grin, unable to keep a straight face any longer.
"Fine," Cedric conceded, chuckling. "But you're missing out on a truly fantastic story."
Harry rolled his eyes, stealing a glance at Fleur, who was suppressing a smile, her blue eyes twinkling. For a brief moment, their gazes locked, and Harry felt his heart skip a beat before quickly looking away, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks.
"Ah, we've arrived," Cedric announced cheerfully as the carriage came to a stop in front of the entrance to Hogsmeade. They all climbed out, taking a moment to stretch their legs after the bumpy ride.
"Well, Potter," Cedric said, clapping Harry on the back. "Good luck on your... outing." He smirked, adding a strange emphasis on the last word.
"Thanks, Diggory," Harry replied, trying to keep his voice steady. Fleur seemed to be blushing slightly, but she remained silent, her gaze fixed on her shoes.
"Come on, Cedric," Cho said, linking her arm with his. "Let's go, you owe me a butterbeer." She gave Harry and Fleur a knowing smile before leading Cedric away.
"Good luck!" Cedric called over his shoulder, laughter in his voice.
As they disappeared into the crowd, Fleur finally looked up at Harry, her cheeks still flushed. "Well," she said, trying to sound casual. "Shall we explore Hogsmeade now?"
"Uh, yeah," Harry stammered, his mind racing. Was this a date? No, he decided firmly. It was just a friendly outing – that's all.
"Let's go," Fleur said, offering him a small smile as they set off down the street.
The quaint village of Hogsmeade stretched before them, its cobblestone streets lined with charming storefronts. Despite the chill in the air, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Harry couldn't help but glance at Fleur every now and then, hoping she was enjoying herself even though he knew there wasn't much to see.
"Is there something particular you'd like to do or see while we're here?" Harry asked.
Fleur looked around, her eyes taking in the sights with curiosity. "I must admit, I was simply intrigued by the idea of visiting an all-wizard village," she confessed, a sheepish smile playing on her lips. "Back in France, we have nothing like this."
"Ah, well," Harry said, scratching the back of his head. "There isn't much to it, really." He started pointing out different shops as they walked, each one bringing back memories of past visits. "That's Honeydukes, the best sweets shop around. And over there is The Three Broomsticks, where everyone goes for butterbeer."
Just then, Harry spotted a familiar black dog lurking near the outskirts of the village. His heart raced as he recognized his godfather. A fleeting thought crossed his mind. It was a risky move, considering how Fleur might react, but the prankster in him found the idea too tempting to resist.
"Actually," Harry began, his voice betraying his excitement, "there's something I'd like to show you. I think you'll find it interesting."
"Really?" Fleur perked up, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Lead the way, Harry."
As they walked towards the edge of the village, Harry kept his gaze locked on the black dog, making sure Sirius followed them. An anxious thrill bubbled in his chest, as he wondered if this wasn't the worst idea he ever had.
The wind picked up as Harry led Fleur along a narrow path. The black dog trailed behind them, blending seamlessly between the trees that encompassed the trail. "Not much farther now," Harry assured her.
"Where are we going?" Fleur asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Ah, well," Harry chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's sort of... a surprise." As they approached the Shrieking Shack, he couldn't help but wonder if this had been a good idea after all.
The Shrieking Shack appeared as they came to the end of the path. Its dilapidated walls held up by crumbling bricks. The roof sagged at odd angles and the windows were boarded up, giving off an eerie and abandoned vibe. Ivy and moss crawled up the sides of the structure, adding to its haunted appearance.
"What is this place?" Fleur asked as Harry stopped at the gate leading to the crumbling building.
"This is the Shrieking Shack," Harry explained, "The most haunted place in Britain."
Fleur looked at the building and then at Harry with a raised eyebrow, "It's… Charming?"
Harry laughed at that, "The place is a dump, that's not what I wanted to show you," he said, "There's someone I want you to meet, but now I'm thinking it may not be a good idea."
"Who is it?" Fleur inquired, her eyes searching Harry's face for clues.
"Uh, well..." Harry stammered, struggling to find the right words. He took a long breath and looked into Fleur's blue eyes, "Do you trust me?"
Fleur hesitated for a moment, her gaze softening as she looked back into his eyes. Then, surprising even herself, she nodded. "Yes, Harry, I trust you."
"Great!" He grinned, trying to mask his relief. "Just, don't freak out, please."
Fleur looked to be regretting what she said, but Harry grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards the shack before she could change her mind.
As they moved forward, he glanced back towards the forest and called out, "Padfoot! Come on!"
As they stepped inside the Shrieking Shack, a large black dog appeared, slipping past them to enter first. Fleur jumped, her grip on Harry's hand tightening. "What was that?" she asked, her eyes wide with apprehension.
"You'll see," Harry assured her, guiding her further into the dimly lit shack. "Padfoot!" he called out, raising his voice. "I hope you're presentable because I'd like to introduce you to someone."
A door further down the hallway creaked open, and Sirius Black stepped past it. Sirius looked remarkably healthier than when he had escaped Azkaban. His shoulder-length black hair framed his face, and a styled beard graced his jawline. He wore old-looking but high-quality robes that seemed to have been cared for despite their age.
Despite his healthy appearance, Harry could still see the hunted look in his godfather's grey eyes, a reminder of the ghost of Azkaban still inside him.
"Ah, Harry," Sirius said, looking as if he had been expecting visits. "Don't worry, I'm always at my best." His gaze shifted to Fleur, curiosity sparking in his eyes.
"Right," Harry muttered, suddenly feeling like he was standing on thin ice. "So, Fleur, this is my godfather, Sirius Black."
Fleur blinked, trying to process the situation as she looked from Harry to Sirius and back again. Behind her confusion, Harry detected a flicker of intrigue, and he hoped that it would be enough to help her accept the truth about his godfather.
"Sirius Black?" Fleur whispered, fearfully stepping behind Harry as her wand appeared in her hand.
"Ah," Sirius chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I can see you are aware of my infamy. But I promise you, I wouldn't hurt a fly."
Harry laughed, breaking the tension. "That's not entirely true, but he's definitely innocent of the charges you're thinking of." He stepped forward, embracing his godfather in a warm hug. "It's so good to see you again, Padfoot."
Sirius looked momentarily taken aback by the affectionate gesture but quickly recovered and returned the embrace. "It's really good to see you too, pup," he said sincerely.
Pulling away from the hug, Harry glanced back at Fleur and tried to put her at ease. "Sirius was never my parents' secret keeper. He was set up by the real traitor—Peter Pettigrew."
A flash of anger crossed Sirius's face at the mention of Wormtail. Sensing the dark turn his godfather's thoughts were taking, Harry quickly changed the subject. "Padfoot, this is my friend, Fleur Delacour."
"Friend, huh?" Sirius said, his expression shifting to a playful smirk. He held out his hand to Fleur, who hesitantly accepted it. With a flourish, Sirius bowed and introduced himself in perfect French. "Enchanté, Fleur."
Fleur's eyes widened in surprise, her apprehension visibly fading. She replied in kind, also in French, and the two engaged in a brief conversation. Harry couldn't understand anything that was being said, but he caught Sirius making a comment about his godson, which brought forth laughter from Fleur, who glanced at Harry with amusement.
"Hey!" Harry protested in mock offence. "Don't believe a word he says, Fleur. He's just trying to embarrass me."
"Me? Never," Sirius feigned innocence as his twinkling eyes betrayed him.
As they stood in the dimly lit room, Sirius looked around and sighed. "I apologize for the state of this place. It's not really prepared for guests."
"Always leaving the work to me, eh, Padfoot?" Harry teased, shaking his head. He moved into one of the less damaged rooms and raised his wand. The wand started dancing in his hand, leaving a bright trail of golden light in its wake.
The room came alive under his spellwork. A warm light sparked from the candelabra overhead, casting a golden glow upon the surroundings. The walls were soon adorned with exquisite Gryffindor-coloured wallpaper, and the broken furniture transformed into modest yet comfortable versions of those found in their common room.
The warm light of the candelabra reflected off Fleur's eyes as she admired the magically restored room. Sirius clapped Harry on the back, a proud smile playing on his lips. "I could have done that if I wanted."
"Sure," Harry chuckled, "Where would you be without me, Padfoot?"
"Probably inside a Dementor," Sirius admitted with a chuckle. Their laughter filled the room, but Fleur's expression soon turned quizzical.
"What do you mean, inside a Dementor?" she asked.
Sirius and Harry exchanged glances before deciding it was best to explain. They settled into the armchairs, with Fleur perching gracefully on the edge of her seat. Harry waved his wand again, conjuring tea and finger sandwiches for them to enjoy.
"Alright," Harry began, taking a deep breath. "In my third year here at Hogwarts, I learned that Sirius was my godfather, and that he had been falsely accused of betraying my parents and causing the deaths of many people during Voldemort's rise to power. He'd been imprisoned in Azkaban, until he had the fantastic idea of becoming the first wizard to ever escape the prison."
Harry and Sirius then launched into the convoluted story that was Harry's third year at Hogwarts. Fleur listened intently as the dark-haired wizards detailed the events that unfolded, including the revelation that Ron's pet rat Scabbers was actually Peter Pettigrew, the true secret keeper and traitor, in disguise. He explained how they had exposed Pettigrew, only to lose him after Remus Lupin had turned into a werewolf, and had to use a time-turner to save his godfather for a hoard of Dementors.
Fleur's eyes were wide with disbelief at Harry's tale. "One hundred Dementors?" she asked, cutting in for the first time since the story started, her voice a mix of awe and concern.
"Give or take," Harry replied, attempting to sound nonchalant. "I didn't exactly have time to count them all. It was mostly luck, though."
"Ah, but it wasn't luck, Harry," Sirius interjected, wagging a finger in mock reprimand. "You're a strong and virile wizard – don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
"Sirius!" Harry's face reddened as he shot his godfather a disapproving glare, the tips of his ears practically glowing. Fleur couldn't help but laugh at their antics, her silvery giggle filling the cosy space.
"Hey now, it's the job of a good godfather to talk up his nephew in front of beautiful witches." Sirius winked at Fleur before casting an approving gaze at his godson.
"I'm sorry about him," Harry told Fleur, clearly embarrassed by the exchange. "He doesn't go out much, for obvious reasons."
Harry laughed at his godfather's mock-hurt reaction as he glanced out the window, noticing the sky had darkened significantly. "We should probably get going, Fleur. It's getting late."
"Yes, you are right." Fleur agreed, rising gracefully from her seat. She turned to Sirius, a genuine smile on her face. "It has been a very pleasurable afternoon, Monsieur Black. Thank you for sharing your story with me."
"Think nothing of it, my dear," Sirius replied, his voice warm and gracious. "Next time, I'll bring some baby Harry pictures to show you. I'm sure you'll find those particularly entertaining."
"Sirius!" Harry groaned, shooting his godfather a murderous glare. Internally, though, he felt a surge of happiness at being able to spend this time with his godfather. It was moments like this that made him realise how much he'd miss him.
"Come on, let's go," Harry said to Fleur, taking her hand and leading her towards the door. "If you're lucky, you'll never have to see this bag of fleas again."
"Hey!" Sirius feigned offence, but his eyes sparkled as he laughed. "I love you too, kiddo."
The winter breeze danced through the trees as Harry and Fleur left the Shrieking Shack behind. For a while, they walked in silence, their footsteps crunching softly over the light layer of snow that covered the ground. The quiet was not uncomfortable, but rather, appropriate, as the wizards pondered the afternoon's events.
Finally, Harry broke the silence, his voice tinged with a hint of awkwardness. "I'm sorry if this wasn't what you expected we'd be doing today."
Fleur glanced at him curiously, her blue eyes reflecting the fading light of the evening sky. "Actually," she said, a gentle smile playing on her lips, "it was better than what I imagined our afternoon would be like."
"Really?" Harry asked, surprise evident in his voice.
"I thought we would just visit some places in the village," Fleur explained, her gaze meeting his. "But instead, I got to see a part of your life. I liked that."
A warm feeling spread through Harry's chest at her words, and he couldn't help but smile back at her. The remainder of their walk to the carriage was spent in companionable silence.
As they climbed into the carriage for the return journey to Hogwarts, the silence continued. Harry found himself reflecting on the afternoon, feeling an odd mixture of happiness and surprise at how well things had gone. He was glad Fleur had gotten a glimpse into his life, and he felt a stronger connection to her now than ever before.
He glanced over at Fleur, who also appeared to be deep in thought. Their eyes met, and for a moment, they shared a knowing smile, both of their cheeks flushing with the slightest hint of pink.
The Hogwarts castle loomed before them, its ancient spires casting long shadows in the fading light as their carriage pulled up to the entrance. Harry and Fleur stepped out, the chill evening air causing them both to shiver involuntarily.
"I had fun today, Harry," Fleur said. She seemed uncertain, but after a moment she said, "I should return to the Beauxbatons' carriage before Madam Maxime starts looking for me."
"Right," Harry agreed, feeling a pang of disappointment as he realized their time together was coming to an end. He opened his mouth to say goodbye when Fleur suddenly wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a warm embrace.
Surprised, Harry hesitated for a moment before returning the hug, enjoying the closeness they shared. They stood like that for a moment, their breath mingling in the air between them, reluctant to let go. Eventually, Fleur broke away, her hands lingering on Harry's shoulders as she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"This was a fantastic date," she whispered, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Harry's heart raced at her words, and he found himself momentarily unable to respond.
Fleur smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling ever so slightly, before turning away and striding towards the Beauxbatons' carriage. Harry watched her go, transfixed.
A broad grin spread across Harry's face, filling him with a warmth that seemed to chase away the cold. With newfound energy, he headed back to the Gryffindor Tower, his steps lighter than they'd been in a long time.
Lost in thought, Harry missed the curious glances of his fellow students as he passed them in the corridors. They whispered amongst themselves, no doubt wondering about the extra bounce in his step and the grin that seemed permanently etched onto his face.