Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

...

"I will not hear no for an answer," declared Fleur with a huff, dedicated with the answer she had given.

"Well, I mean I guess I can do it if you want me to," said Luna, somewhat coming to terms with what had been requested of her.

The topic in question revolved around what many of the female students had been gossiping about over the past couple of days. Fleur had, without hesitation, declined to be a part of such an event. She despised people ogling her normally. Stepping out on stage with the concept being that people would stare at those parading about was a sickening idea to her.

However that did not mean that she could not find her own way in celebrating the event.

Luna was, for all intents and purposes, a gorgeous young girl who would undoubtedly become a beautiful woman one day. Her mannerisms were...different, for lack of a better word but that was what helped make her unique. Fleur was incredibly confident that she would never find someone in France that would treat her with the level of friendship that Luna had given her during her stay here. Part of her wanted to kidnap her and take the first year student back to Beauxbatons with her but given the fallout of such an incident would cause it was better to leave that be for now.

Though she would try to convince her, via letters that may or may not have minor compulsion charms on them, to sign up for the following exchange program so that she could show her friend the better side of the Channel. Though even if she did enchant them chances were that Luna would recognize that she was being bewitched and think it nothing more than a playful joke. It was just the kind of adorable personality that she had.

Back to the upcoming pageant however, while Fleur was determined to stay as far away from the stage as possible she was going to play a part in it somehow. That somehow revolved around the young girl whom she shared companionship with throughout the musty halls.

She had already written home and had requested that her parents ship her some of her old dresses from when she was younger, along with copious amounts of makeup and shoes that would fit the young girl. Fleur would work her magic, and not in the typical sense, and make Luna shine brighter than any other girl who dared share the spotlight with her.

Speaking of people with the spotlight on them.

"Hello there Harry," said Luna, spotting someone nearby.

"Hey Luna," said Harry, coming to a stop. From Fleur's perspective it seemed as if the boy had been trying to clear his head and had just stumbled upon them. Given the topics which Luna discussed, conversing with her would undoubtedly make somebody change their thought process. "And you would be one of the wonderful French delegates that have graced our shores, Miss..."

"Delacour, Fleur Delacour," said Fleur, curious as to how the well known young wizard would behave in front of her. Sadly she feared that it would be similar to a vast deal of the male populace who stepped close to her presence.

"A pleasure," said Harry with a light bow.

"Is something the matter Harry?" asked Luna, tilting her head to the side. "Your eyes seem to lack their usual warmth."

"In the handful of times that we have spoken I feel mildly terrified you know how warm my eyes should be," said Harry with an almost forced smile. Now that Luna had brought it up, Fleur could see something as well. It was almost as if a morbid shadow hung over the poor boy, draining him of his happiness. However, if he was known as a cheerful student by those around them and didn't want them to worry then he was forcing himself to be happy on their behalf.

Something which could undoubtedly eat away at someone if they were not careful.

"Please, Monsieur Potter, if something ailes you do not feel that you are unable to discuss it with us," said Fleur in the best comforting tone she could muster.

"Well...it's a long story," said Harry sheepishly, rubbing at the back of his head. "Do either of you two believe that our lives are predetermined, that no matter how much we try to change our path it is already written for us?"

"You're talking about fate," clarified Luna. "In which case, your worries are nothing but make believe."

"How can you be so certain of that?" asked Harry.

"Because fate has already bent to your whim," said Luna with a light smile. "If you had not done so, my mother would not be waiting for me when I return home."

Fleur did her best to not look confused to what Luna was referring to but knew better than to pry into that topic of conversation. It definitely felt like something heavily personal. "What other things have you done because you choose to defy fate?" asked Luna.

"Well, I inadvertently got my Godfather released from prison," said Harry, raising his gaze in thought. "That only really came about because I ranted at the Minister of Magic while wearing a yellow sundress."

"Excuse me!" said Fleur in shock.

"Yeah, it had pink flowers on the hem and everything," said Harry in recollection. "All that really only came about because I decided to make a friend outside of Gryffindor, something which seems to be a really strange concept for some weird reason. You know what Luna, yeah, fate is my bitch."

"I'm glad to be of service," said Luna with a light curtsey.

"Can we please get back to the fact that you wore a sundress while addressing England's governing head of magic," said Fleur, desperate to get to the bottom of this story.

"What, I'm a child who likes to mess around and who better to mess with than the Minister of Magic," said Harry with a cheeky grin on his face, the light Luna had been talking about suddenly lighting up his features. "I do believe I asked him and his accomplice about whether or not it made my butt look big."

Understandably, Fleur was trying her best to get her head around this recent development. Harry Potter, arguably the most well known young wizard in the world, had deliberately worn a dress in front of politically powerful adults and seemingly hadn't cared about the outrage it could have caused. Nobody should ever have dreamed about such an event occurring, let alone doing so in front of the man who could pass laws whenever he saw fit.

Understandably, this was not the person whom she thought Harry Potter would be.

It did however give her the most sinister of ideas. "Monsieur Potter, it seems that you are not afraid in speaking your mind or proving whichever point it is you wish to make. Therefore I have a proposition for you if you are so interested."

"Alright, I'm intrigued," said Harry, crossing his arms and arching an eyebrow.

"But first, I must know, how well do you believe you would fare in heels?"

After all, nowhere on the pamphlet for the fashion show did it say that the participants have to be female.

"Before you answer that Harry, I should let you know that your package arrived," said Luna.

"Really, I didn't see anything get delivered today," said Harry, perking up something fierce.

"It arrived several days ago," explained Luna.

"...And it's just been sitting in your bedroom?" asked Harry, uncertainty clearly obvious.

"No, I left it in the common room," said Luna.

"You left it in the common room," repeated Harry. "And you didn't fear that somebody would just pick it up?"

"Not when it keeps moving the way it does."

"Yeah, that would do it," said Harry with a nod.

"It also has my name on it."

"Nah, it's definitely the fact that it's moving,"

"Could someone please explain what it is you have in your common room?" asked Fleur, wondering just what it was that the two of them were discussing.

"A Boggart," said Harry casually.

"Oh of course, why didn't I think of that?" said Fleur sarcastically, wanting to rub at her temples. Because every sane person wished to order themselves a creature which took the shape of your greatest fear.

That was of course all under the pretense that the people one was talking with were sane to begin with, something which she was starting to question.

...

Harry had, through the help of Luna, suddenly found some more perk in his step. What she had said had been unorthodox, but given that it was Luna that was nothing surprising. Still though, her pep talk had done wonders for him.

So much had already changed since he had returned and regardless of whether it was good or bad, the fact remained that it had inevitably changed. Sirius was out of Azkaban, nobody had been petrified, Ginny wasn't possessed, everyone in the school seemed to be having more fun, Luna's mother was alive!

He had come to realize that the timeline he was so focused on changing, had already done so. Little things he had altered had already had vast consequences and there was no guarantee that anything in the future would now happen the way that it had once before. With Sirius not being a wanted criminal, there was a chance that Remus wouldn't come to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts next year. With nobody being petrified, there was a good chance that Lockhart wouldn't create the duelling club. With Dumbledore not being sent away from the school, then there was a chance that Lucious wouldn't...

Oh shit.

Harry came to an abrupt pause as he came to the sudden realization that if Lucious had no reason to kick Dumbledore out of the school, however temporary, then he had no reason to come to the school at the end of year. If he didn't come, then Harry didn't have a means to rescue Dobby from his predicament and he had already made the declaration that he would free Dobby this school year.

This created a conundrum.

This was not something he could contemplate doing in a matter of moments. Something of this calibre would take an extensive list of things which he could or could not do in his effort to free his friend. Time was still on his side but it was not an infinite resource. Who knew what Lucious would do once he discovered that Ginny wasn't opening the Chamber of Secrets. Who knew what he would do to Dobby once he learnt of this mishap in his plans.

Still though, like with Peter, there was nothing he could do at this moment in time. He could plot, he could plan and eventually he would prevail. Now was not that moment however.

Now he had to figure out how best to ambush the current Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher with a Boggart for maximum effect. All because, as entertaining as it sounded, he couldn't keep it living in the Ravenclaw common room, for the safety and sanity of the students. So how best to go about this?

...

It seemed the direct way was the best way after all!

"Professor," said Harry with a level of uncertainty, coming into his class late.

"Ah, Harry my boy, fear not, you have not missed much," declared Lockhart at the front of the students. "I was just explaining my heroics regarding my battle against Grizelda, the Hag of Hungary."

"Well Professor, I need your help," said Harry, causing the attention to dwindle on him a little longer and more importantly the box that he was carrying.

"Of course," boasted Lockhart. "If this is about what we discussed the other day you will need to wait until the end of the class."

If Harry had a spare hand he would have slapped at his own forehead. "No Professor, I need help with this," said Harry, almost thrusting the box forward.

"Well, can it not wait until the end of the class?" asked Lockhart, seemingly only just noticing what it was that Harry was holding.

"Harry, what is that?" asked Hermione, realizing that whatever it was that Harry was holding was potentially dangerous.

"It's a Boggart," announced Harry. "And since Professor Lockhart taught us the spell for getting rid of Boggarts I thought it only fitting that he deal with it."

"I did? Funny, I can't quite recall," said Lockhart, visibly starting to sweat at the thought of tackling whatever it was a Boggart was. "I feel that such a dangerous creature however should not be released in the presence of youngstars, for I fear that as grand as I am, I might not be able to protect..."

Harry didn't allow Lockhart to finish as he deliberately tripped over his own feet once he was close enough, dropping/throwing the box at Lockhart's feet and watched as it burst open, unleashing the creature within. There seemed to be an audible gasp echoing throughout the room while Harry pondered just what it was the Boggart would take shape as.

Ever since he had come up with this idea, Harry had contemplated just what shape the Boggart would take. Knowing his love of himself, he was almost certain that it would be him, however with missing teeth and balding hair. Or Harry had theorized it would take the shape of fan girls, turning their back on him.

In hindsight, he very much should have seen this coming.

"LOCKHART YOU FRAUD!" bellowed the person the Boggart had shifted into.

"You, no, you can't be here," stammered Lockhart as he tried to comprehend just what was happening right now.

"I can and I am Gilderoy!" they bellowed, taking slow steady steps towards the visibly quivering Lockhart. "I remember it all Gilderoy, every last bit of it. You thought you had taken it from me but I remember and now I'm going to reveal you for who you are you imposter!"

Gilderoy whipped his wand out, acted on sheer instinct and calling upon the one spell he was proficient at. "Obliviate!" he cast, striking the Boggart with the memory erasing charm.

"You think that will work again! You utter fool!" barked the Boggart, unphased by the spell. "I remember Gildery! I remember how I was the one who defeated the Ghouls which you took credit for! I know you never once defeated any of the monsters you claim to, you stole those victories and robbed people of their livelihood, all so you could get the fame you so desperately desired!"

"No, I mean, I...I...I..."

"ADMIT IT YOU FRAUD!"

"I...I..."

"Riddikulus," cast Harry at the back of the Boggart, the creature reacting instantly by dancing on the spot, it's legs moving in all sorts of weird and wacky ways. Harry quickly set to work, enlarging the box that he had held the Boggart in before floating it over the creature and dropping it over it's form, obscuring it from view.

Seconds ticked by as Harry carefully watched Lockhart and tried to prepare for what the man was going to do. The man had just had his greatest fear reveal itself in front of them, showing him to be the fake that he was. There was no real guarantee as to what the man would do now that he was cornered.

The screeching of a chair across floorboards echoed throughout the room, one of the students in the back of the room deciding to make a bolt towards the exit, likely to get another professor there immediately. Harry didn't know who it was but knew they were in danger as Lockhart whipped his wand up, likely operating on a survival basis.

"Expelliarmus!" cast Harry, removing Lockhart of his wand before the man had the chance to strike the student.

"Petrificus Totalus," shouted Hermione, striking Lockhart in the chest with the Full Body Bind Curse. Immediately his limbs went stiff, locking against one another before he crashed to the ground, unable to move or speak.

Harry found himself releasing a breath he didn't know he had been holding. That had not turned out the way he thought it would.

...

"Potter, a word," stated Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin student having done his best to track down the celebrity.

"To what do I owe the pleasure Malfoy?" asked Harry, carefully watching the two lads who flanked the blond haired boy.

"If word around the halls is anything to go by, you are the one responsible for having our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher removed from his position," said Malfoy, arms crossed over his chest.

If anything, Harry had to admit that while what Malfoy was saying was correct, it was a bit of an understatement. Within mere minutes of entrapping Gilderoy on the ground, the room had become swarmed with Professors and even Dumbledore who demanded to know what had happened.

The truth had swiftly been given and when he had become released of his curse, Lockhart had done his best to try and talk his way out of the situation. Needless to say it had not gone down nearly as well as he would have liked.

It didn't take long for a squad of Aurors to arrive and escort Lockhart off the presence, all while he was going on about how they couldn't treat him in such a way. His words fell on deaf ears.

"I might have had something to do with it," said Harry.

"For once it seems as if you have done something worthwhile to this school," said Draco. "His incompetence as a teacher was unfit from the moment he stepped foot here."

"On that, we agree," said Harry. "You'd think that perhaps our next teacher will be of a higher standard. I imagine with your father being on the board that he will have a say in who may be replacing Lockhart, if they are capable of finding someone on such short notice."

Draco wasn't quite sure why Harry seemed to be indulging in more conversation than necessary but found himself playing along for the moment. "My father will ensure that only the highest calibre of teacher will be brought into the school."

"Of course, although speaking of your father, there is something of a favour I need from you," said Harry, his mind hard at work.

...

While Crabbe and Goyle may have been standing by Draco's side, Hermione and Tracy were watching from a small distance away. They had been talking with themselves but had dismissed their topic of conversation as soon as Harry and Draco had started communing with one another. The Slytherin girl had approached Hermione in the hopes of getting some advice for their latest Charms assignment but that was nowhere near as important as what was going on now.

While many of their peers had gotten far closer to something akin to friendships despite house differences, there were still those who seemed somewhat rooted in the ways of years past. Draco was one such example and to find him talking with Harry seemed peculiar to say the least.

The two of them could still recall the time when Harry had struck the boy with a clean fist to the face, even though Tracy had not bore witness to the event itself and only seen the aftermath in the Slytherin common room. As such, to see them talking seemed somewhat tender, the two of them waiting for something to go wrong at a moment's notice.

"What do you think they're talking about?" asked Tracy.

"I honestly don't know," said Hermione.

"Well should we go over there?"

"I feel like if we go over there now we'll change whatever the topic is," said Hermione. "If Draco leaves because we arrived..."

Hermione's train of thought was cut off as Harry walked away from Draco, their chat seemingly over. He did spot the two of them and made his way to where they were standing. "What are you two gossiping about?" he asked.

"Nothing," said Tracy playfully.

"Of course, because we all like to discuss nothing now don't we," said Harry sarcastically.

"What were you and Draco talking about?" asked Hermione, wanting to get straight to the point.

"Other than our, now retired, Defence Professor, I needed to get a favor from him," said Harry.

"A favour...from Draco," said Tracy cautiously. "What kind of favour do you need from him?"

"I need to set up a meeting with his father regarding information about a rat."

Both girls did not quite know just how serious Harry was.

...

Hope you enjoyed.