Chapter Three
As Harry made his way down the rickety stairs of The Burrow, he still couldn't believe what he'd seen early that very morning. He knew that witches and wizards could transform themselves into animals, but he'd never seen someone turn into a piece of furniture. But as he'd stood next to Dumbledore and watched as the chair's cushions pulled and rippled into the shape of a man, he had to admit that he may have just seen everything at that point.
Arriving at the kitchen he was surprised to find that it wasn't Molly that was stood at the stove cooking but a pretty blonde French girl he hadn't seen for a year, one that he never expected to see again. "Fleur? What are you doing here?" he asked as he moved closer to her, distracting her from her task.
Spinning around Fleur greeted him with a beaming smile before moving forward to wrap him in a tight hug. "'Arry! It iz so good to see you again! Gabrielle has not stopped talking about you all year, every time she writes, 'alf ze letter iz about you," she told him with a warm smile, before giving him an unhappy frown. "She said you 'av not written back to 'er for a while though. You 'av been getting 'er letters, 'aven't you?" she asked him, worry clearly shining in her eyes at her little sisters' friend.
Harry looked down at his shoes, embarrassed that he'd been so neglectful of his new friend. "It was just hard after Sirius died; I didn't want to talk to anyone. I was going to read them all and reply eventually," he told her quietly.
"She 'as been so worried about you," she told him as she guided him to sit down at the table with her. "She knows that she cannot relate to the loss that you 'av 'ad. But she wants to comfort you, you are 'er friend. And she 'urts for you. Please, read 'er letters and write to 'er, let 'er know that you are going to be okay," Fleur told him with a smile and quick squeeze of his hand. "'Appy Birthday by the way." She added, handing him a small neatly wrapped package and letter that he hadn't even noticed she had next to her.
Looking down at the parcel and letter he was just about to open them when he heard the thundering sound of feet coming down the stairs, so he quickly stashed them in his pocket, determined to find a quiet moment during the day when he could finally open up all the letters sent to him recently and hopefully he could start to write back. Unfortunately for Harry, Mrs Weasley kept everyone so busy during the day that it wasn't until he was back in bed that night, Ron snoring away in the room next to him that he finally got the chance to read his letter.
For the next hour Harry read all the letters that Gabrielle had sent him since the end of the school year. While the small enchanted paper dragon she'd sent him for his birthday wandered up and down his arm, he read all about Gabrielle's final exams; her favourite instructor; her additional subjects and how excited she was to start them in the new school year; how excited she was to be spending time in Italy again; how she'd finally figured out what Fleur was doing now she'd finished at Beauxbatons, though he suspected that she didn't know who she was seeing. He was looking forward to telling her about that in his next letter to her.
He had so much he wanted to tell her.
9th September
Bonjour Harry,
I hope that you managed to enjoy the remainder of your summer. I knew that Fleur was up to something I just could not for the life of me figure out what it was. She's still being suspiciously quiet about William though; I don't really understand why though. If I were with someone, I loved then I wouldn't stop talking about them.
Classes are going well here; they are certainly a challenge this year but I seem to have a natural talent for my photography classes; dancing is second nature to me now that I've done it so long. Is it wrong of me to admit that I'm finding philosophy particularly fascinating when I thought it would actually be a little dull? I suppose that teaches me not to judge things by there name only.
When you had your date last year with that girl what did you do for her? I've got my first date in a couple of weeks and want to be prepared. That sounds silly doesn't it? I think that because I don't have to worry about what I'm going to wear I'm worried about what Jacque has planned for us. That's his name by the way, he seems nice. He's in my culinary arts class.
Always your friend,
Gabrielle.
27th September
To Gabrielle,
I only took Cho to the local tea shop, it's the place that everyone goes on dates in Hogwarts. I wish that I'd done something different now, it might have stopped us from being so awkward. I don't think anyone has had such a disastrous date before, hopefully yours is nothing but a success.
We've got a new potions professor this year, it means that Snape has finally gotten his hands on the Defence Against the Dark Arts post. It doesn't make sense to me having him teach us when he'd just as quickly turn on us. Saying that though, he's not hiding or sugar-coating anything for us. At least we'll know what's coming for us which is a first.
Everyone else seems to be settling in and knuckling down so far. Malfoy is still up to something though; I just wish that I knew what it was. We still have no idea what it was that he bought in Knockturn Alley during the summer. It may just have to be a mystery for the ages. Somehow, I don't see him telling me anytime soon.
Your Friend,
Harry.
6th October
Bonjour Harry,
We may not have visited a tea room but my date wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Though it was hardly something to write home about, it wasn't a disaster. He's certainly not immune to the allure though, I had to suppress and shield all afternoon. I was entirely too happy to return to my room so that I could relax at the end of the day.
There are rumours coming from Paris that someone from the ministére has gone missing. That people in the magical districts have been vanishing. We've been told my Madame Maxime that there's nothing to worry about but I don't think anyone can help but worry. Didn't you say that this was how it started during your last war?
Please be safe my friend,
Gabrielle.
28th October
To Gabrielle,
I'm sorry to hear that your date wasn't everything you expected. I'm sure that you'll find someone that you won't have to work at just to be in the same room as them.
I've been given extra lessons with Dumbledore. We meet up whenever he is free and he's been telling me about Voldemort's history, where he started and why he might be the way he is. I'm surprised by how he grew up, its horrifyingly familiar. If things were different, I might even have felt sorry for him, that's something I can't quite wrap my head around.
We've had an instance in school, Katie was attacked and cursed while we were at Hogsmeade. She's going to be okay but its scary that it took place so close to the school. It makes you wonder what else can be done, even inside the walls of the school. I can't help but worry that they're going to come after the people that I care about. I've already lost Sirius; I don't know what I'd do if I lost anyone else.
Please be careful my friend,
Harry.
15th November
Bonjour Harry,
I hope that your friend Katie is recovering well, it must have been so scary for her to go through that. And for all her friends and family to see her so hurt. I hope that you are being careful and not rushing into danger. I would hate to hear that you'd been hurt.
There is a small group of us now that are learning how to control our Veela powers and traits. I never realised just how much we have the potential to do. We can summon animals to us; have an affinity with unicorns (though I doubt I'd ever meet one); transform when we are angry of course. I think the most exciting thing we will learn though is how to conjure butterflies! Apparently, each are unique to the person that conjures them. I think that they are similar to what I've read a Patronus is, a manifestation of our magical core.
We aren't going anywhere for the holidays this year. I don't even think that I'm going home this year, I think mamma and papa want me to stay at Beauxbatons. I don't think I've even stayed here for the holidays before. I suppose it would allow me to practice for my dance exam in peace and quiet. Most of the students go home for holidays. Do you think I should be worried that they want me to stay here?
Your friend,
Gabrielle.
4th December
To Gabrielle,
It's a shame that you're not going anywhere for the holidays, I know how much you look forward to it every year. It's no consolation I know, but try and find some little moment of happiness while you stay at Beauxbatons. Even if it's just improving your dancing skills. Maybe one day I'll be lucky enough to see you perform.
Hermione and I have been invited to attend the Slug Club Christmas Party. Apparently, Professor Slughorn likes to 'collect' students that are extraordinary, so of course I've been invited. Who knew surviving a familicide would make me so special? My mother was one of his special students, at least I have that in common with her. It's a little sad isn't it that that's the only thing I know I have in common with my mother? That we're both 'collectables'. I've asked Luna to go with me, hopefully if I've got some good company then the whole experience won't be that bad, and Luna's a sweet girl, I know that she'll find some joy in it.
There is another reason that I've asked Luna to go with me. Turns out that there are some girls in fifth year that have been trying to sneak love potions into my food. I've got no idea how true it is or not, Hermione is the one that told me, she'd overheard some of the girls discussing it. I don't think that I've been spiked yet, I've not suddenly become infatuated with anyone anyway. I think I'll just have to be a little more careful for the time being.
Merry Christmas my friend,
Harry.
1st January
Dear Harry,
Happy New Year.
Your friend sounds so … fascinating. To be able to find happiness in the dark is quite the gift to possess. You must make sure that she holds onto if for a long as possible. And you never know, while you are seeing her, she might be able to show you how to find the light yourself.
Christmas and New Years are rather dull here when one is suck in school. I took your advice and rehearsed my dance for my exam, Madame Darcy is allowing me to take it early I've been in the studio so much. It'll be nice to have some free time back once I've completed it, some days I start to feel dead on my feet I'm so exhausted. It's a shame you cannot see my final dance, it's a wonderful number and I feel ever so beautiful when I'm lost in the performance.
I had another date, though with a different boy this time. I think I may have to put courting on hold for a while, the dates always start well enough, but I find that I just can't stay focused when I'm with them. I keep thinking of how forced the conversation is, nothing seems to flow between us. I almost considered leaving him in the village, returning to my dorm and writing him a letter. I seem to speak more from my heart and my soul when I write.
The rumours from a couple of months ago have proven to be true. The Minister for Public Affairs has gone missing and no one knows where he is. I've met him once, when Fleur and I would visit the Ministére with papa, he seemed like such a polite, quiet man. It almost feels as though the war in Britain is slowly creeping across the sea to us.
Please, please Harry be careful. Don d'ennemi c'est malencontreux! You are so very precious to me; I would hate to think something bad had happened to you.
Your dear friend,
Gabrielle.
3rd February.
Dear Gabrielle,
Lessons with Dumbledore are taken a pause for a while. He's tasked me with getting a memory from Slughorn, the one that he gave to Dumbledore was tampered with. I think he was ashamed or scared about what he'd done, I won't know until I get the memory though. I have been wracking my brains on how to get it and can't think of anything that I can do to make him trust me enough to share the real memory.
I know that Malfoy is up to something as well, I just don't know what. He's been acting so strangely all year he has to be. He's not handing homework in; he's not hanging around his little minions; he's not playing quidditch and he's stopped fighting and harassing Hermione and other muggle-borns. What ever it is that he's up to, it's seriously got him distracted.
We're starting to learn Apparation now. I don't think I appreciated just how much concentration it requires if I'm honest. I makes' me think of the times you've told me about having to really concentrate on suppressing your allure and how tiring it can be. I seriously admire your stamina, It's certainly something that doesn't come naturally to me, or a lot of my classmates' I think.
I'm sorry that your date didn't go well. Maybe you just need to find someone that you already connect to so that when you do date there's no awkward silences and uncomfortable pauses. That was you hopefully won't feel the need to retreat to your dorm or to want to write letters to get you voice heard.
Your friend,
Harry
11th March
Bonjour Harry,
I don't think it has anything to do with trust as being the reason Slughorn won't give you the memory, I do think that he's ashamed by what he told Voldemort all those years ago. What ever it is that he told him clearly had an impact if it's something that Dumbledore thinks will help you in your fight. You'll have to just keep working on him and hopefully one day luck will be on your side. Hopefully you'll also be able to find out what this Malfoy boy is up to too.
I'm rather jealous that you are learning to Apparate, it will make life and travel so much easier once you've mastered it. It's a shame that I've still got to wait 2 more years before I can even start lessons. Its nice to hear someone actually appreciates the trouble and strain I go through to in order to live my life day to day. You'll quickly build up your magical reserves so that it won't tire you out as quickly and Apparating will soon become second nature. Just make sure you concentrate on your destination; I would hate to see you again and find that you've lost your nose because you splinched yourself. Plus, I think your glasses might struggle to stay on without it, though it would allow your eyes to shine a little brighter, I think.
The Minister I told you about in my last letter, the one that went missing. He's back. He won't tell anyone where it is, he's been for the last 4 months but at least he's alive so I suppose that's a positive. Though Papa says that he's different somehow since he's been back, perhaps that might be expected if he's not been gone of his own violation. I rather scary to think about actually, that he might be back in order to cause havoc in the French Ministére.
All my luck with your tasks my friend,
Gabrielle.
2nd April
Dear Gabrielle,
I hope that your father is being careful when he's with this minister that has returned. During the last war and even with this war, there were stories of members of the ministry returning under the Imperius Curse, pushing the propaganda of Voldemort and furthering their cause in a lawful manner. He should be cautious; I wouldn't want him to be hurt or put in danger.
I ran into Tonks while I was in Hogsmeade recently. When I saw her last summer, she seemed really muted and sad. I thought it was because Sirius had been killed but I know now that it was because she's got feelings for Remus and he's being pretty thick-headed about returning them. I do feel some sympathy with him, it's naïve not to realise that he is dangerous during the full moon and the fear of hurting the ones you love is quite a powerful thing, I should know. But that's only one day a month, the rest of the time he's as dangerous as the average wizard or witch, there's no reason for him to be alone. Hopefully Tonks can talk some sense into him, he's suffered by himself for such a long time, he deserves happiness.
Apparation lessons are going a smoothly as they can be, some people are picking it up quicker than others. Hermione has nearly mastered it unsurprisingly. I imagine she'll be able to take her test and pass it with flying colours soon, hopefully I'll still be able to take my test in August once I turn 17. It'll be an incredible useful thing to have, I could have the freedom to go anywhere, anytime. I've never had that before, it's a heady thought.
Still not managed to get the memory from Slughorn, I think that I've got a plan to get it though. I think luck will definitely be on my side when I get the opportunity to next ask him. Dumbledore has a theory too as to how I can defeat Voldemort. He thinks that love will play a deciding part in our final battle, both his inability to love and my ability to. If I'm honest I think it's probably more complicated than he's making it sound, it is a nice thought though.
Your dear friend,
Harry.
29th April
Bonjour my dear Harry,
I have some good news. I took my final dance exam for this year and have passed with flying colours! I'm so happy, I practiced every moment that I had spare; sometimes I even had to practice in the middle of the night much to my house mates' annoyance I'm sure. All the hard work paid off though and I got an Outstanding for my performance. I wish you could have seen it, it felt beautiful so I hope it was as beautiful to look at.
I can understand why your friend is cautious over who he loves, but I have to side with Tonks over the issue. Vivre sans aimer n'est pas proprement vivre. To live without love is to not really live. He deserves his love and his happiness and certainly should not deny himself in these dark and uncertain times, who knows what is just around the corner. We should all take a leap of faith and tell the people we love how much they mean to us. There is something tragic about unrequited love, especially when it can be easily avoided.
Your dear friend, always.
Gabrielle.
7th May
Gabrielle,
It was a mistake. A horrible, terrifying accident.
I attacked Malfoy. There was a spell written in the old potions book that I've been using. It said it was for 'enemies' but I didn't think it would do what it did. He was drenched in blood, there was so much. And his face, he's pale as it is, but he turned white Gabrielle. I thought he was going to die and it would have been my fault. If it wasn't for Snape passing and knowing the counter-curse Malfoy would be dead now and it would have been all my fault.
I wish I could take it back, have a time-turner and go back to before I uttered those words and caused so much pain. I never wanted to be that person, that could cause so much hurt and pain to another person. But I am. I'm that person now and I don't know what to do. What do it do? How do I redeem myself after this? How do I stop myself from doing worse, from actually killing someone when I'm about to go to war?
How can I stop myself from becoming like them while fighting for my life and the life of those that I love?
How can I stay me?
Harry.
12th May
My Dearest Harry,
It was a mistake.
Everyone is allowed to make mistakes, even soldiers who are fighting for their lives and the lives of their loved one. And you feel remorse for what you've done. That is what is going to keep you from becoming like your enemy. The thing that is going to keep you, you, is love. It's one of the most powerful types of magic and you are swimming in it, even if you don't know it. Your parents loved you; your godfather loved you; your friends love and I love you. All of that is what's going to keep you grounded and give you strength in the darkest of times. Even when you can't see the light, they will be your guide.
Stay strong my dearest friend,
Gabrielle.
Making her way down towards the dinning hall, Gabrielle couldn't help but wonder how Harry was doing. After he'd told her about the incident with Malfoy he'd not written to her again, though she suspected it was because he had been severely punished. After all, one didn't nearly kill a fellow student without there being some repercussions. Still, as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she couldn't help but check the mailbox to see if he'd managed to write to her. Still nothing. Surely his punishment would allow him to write the occasional letter, it had been nearly two months since the incident. She wanted to know how he was after her letter, hoping that the words she'd written him had brought him some comfort. She truly hoped he knew that he wasn't a bad person.
Trying not to dwell on the lack of contact from her friend, Gabrielle joined the rest of her school mates in the hall for a quick breakfast before classes started for the day. She was just gathering up her favourite pastries when Monsieur Theroux burst through the doors, a newspaper gripped in his shaking hand.
"Dumbledore," he shouted, panting as he tried to catch his breath. "'e is dead. Dumbledore is dead!" he announced to the school, all the students immediately falling silent as the news sank in. Arguably one of the greatest wizards to have ever lived, the man touted to be the only person Voldemort was afraid of, was dead.
As hurried whispers broke out throughout the hall as people talked and gossiped about how the great wizard had met his end, Gabrielle sat still in silence, a single tear falling from her eyes. Yet it wasn't Dumbledore that she wept for. It was for Harry. She knew he'd put a lot of stock in the old wizard being around to help him with his battle; that he cared for the man that helped him prepare for his fate; taught him what he needed to know to fight.
As the whispers grew louder as newspapers started to flood the hall, bringing news they'd already been told, Gabrielle hoped he'd been taught enough not just to fight, but to live.
Well, that was chapter three. I hope you enjoyed and thank you to everyone that has favourited/followed the story, it means the world. Be on the look out for chapter four.