When everyone was out of bed, Amos, Amanda, Cedric, Harry, Viktor, and Fleur all sat down together at the kitchen table for Christmas breakfast.

They all looked down at their plates to see that Amanda had made green pancakes topped with cream cheese icing, green whipped cream, and red candy hearts. They would be washing them down with apple juice.

"Wow, Amanda," beamed Harry, "You went all out to give these pancakes a Christmassy feel."

"We have Amanda's Christmas pancakes for Christmas breakfast every year at Diggory Manor," said Amos happily, "They are her best work of the year."

"And my proudest," smiled Amanda, "Christmas is worth putting extra effort into."

"You'll all be blown away by your first bite," Cedric promised Harry, Viktor, and Fleur.

The way that Harry's, Viktor's, and Fleur's faces all lit up upon their first bites proved Cedric to be right.

"YUMMY!' chroused Harry, Viktor , and Fleur, their smiles bright and wide.

As they continued to eat their pancakes and drink their Budweisers, Harry delivered the big news that Dobby had brought him.

"So," explained Harry to Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur, "We have the judges and organizers good and cornered. If they break wizarding law, then our magical contracts will be automatically magically terminated. We are going to tell them to their faces that we will resign as Triwizard Champions if the contents of the Second Task are not changed."

"It's either change the task or no more tournament," declared Viktor fiercely, "There's no loophole left for the organizers now."

"The question now," piped up Fleur, "Is when are we going to confront the judges and organizers?"

"The day before the new semester at Hogwarts starts," smirked Cedric, "I admit to feeling a sort of savage pleasure at dumping this on them the day before the new semester starts."

"I like the way you think Cedric," grinned Harry.

"I don't," snarled Amos, "If Ced had more backbone he'd realize that the three of you are his enemies and you wouldn't be here. I was so proud of Ced when I learned that his name came out of the Goblet of Fire. Now, I'm really disappointed in Ced for fraternalizing with the enemy."

"Dad," interjected an embarrassed looking Cedric, "Harry, Viktor, and Fleur are NOT my enemies. They are my competitors."

"Triwizard Champions shouldn't be nicety nicety with each other any more than Dallas Cowboys players and Philadelphia Eagles players should be," snapped Amos.

Cedric, Harry, Viktor, and Fleur all had a strong urge to run off to abandon breakfast to make a statement to Amos about his attitude. However, out of respect for Amanda, her cooking, and her effort, they remained seated and kept eating their pancakes until every last crumb was gone.

"Thank you, Amanda, " said Harry sincerely as they were all leaving the breakfast table, "I really appreciate the effort you put into making these Christmas pancakes for us. You did a wonderful job. O+ at N.E.W.T. level."

"Ten out of ten," agreed Viktor simply,

"They tasted fine," admitted Fleur, "But they were a bit on the heavy side. I am going to gain too much weight between Hogwarts food and here."

Harry suddenly remembered overhearing Fleur complaining at Hogwarts about the food being too heavy. He made a mental note to talk to Fleur later about being a rude houseguest. Fleur seemed to be a decent enough person to Harry but did not seem to understand the concept of sometimes just keeping unfavorable thoughts and opinions on certain things to oneself, especially in the environment of being a houseguest.

When breakfast was over, they all went into the living room where the Diggory's' artifical Christmas tree was decorated and plugged in.

It had a three color set of Christmas lights composed of red, green, and yellow and the decorations on the tree were mostly Christmas balls of the same colors. It was meant to have a Christmas-Hufflepuff combo feel. There were various decorations around the room: snowmen, Santas, reindeer, etc. and there were stockings hung on the wall.

"Nice Christmas decorations you've got here, especially the tree," complimented Harry.

"This is nothing," said Fleur dismissively, "At Beauxbatons, we have these massive ice sculptures at Christmastime. They do not melt of course."

"The Christmas decorations here are wonderful," said Viktor warmly.

There was a stack of presents under the tree, but before they got around to opening any, Harry asked, "Fleur, may I please have a word with you in private?"

"One on one?" asked Fleur.

"Yes," replied Harry simply.

"Okay," agreed Fleur.

"Just come to my room," requested Harry.

Fleur followed Harry into Harry's room and Harry closed the door and locked it. Harry then retrieved his wand from his right hand pocket with his right hand and performed Privacy Charms on the door so that no sound could leave the room.

"So," Fleur, " explained Harry, "I don't want to demean you or your character because I do think you are a good person at heart."

"I know I didn't get off to the best start with you," acknowledged Fleur, "Calling you "little boy-"

"Don't worry, that's water under the bridge," Harry assured her, "However, I have made some concerning observations about your behavior. I don't want to embarrass you in front of everyone, but I do want to try to make your aware of said behavior and help you to understand why it is wrong."

"I'm listening," promised Fleur.

"While we were still at Hogwarts," began Harry, "I overheard you complaining about the Hogwarts food. This morning you complained about the food at breakfast. Then, you criticized the Diggory's Christmas decorations and compared them unfavorably to those at Beauxbatons."

Fleur said nothing in response to this so Harry continued, "You are coming across at times as a rude houseguest, both here and at Hogwarts. To put in perspective why you are in the wrong and how you are coming across as unlikable at times, I want you to imagine something."

"What is that?' asked Fleur.

"Imagine that a guest came to Beauxbatons or the Delacour household. Imagine that this guest started criticizing and complaining about the food. How would that make you feel? Now imagine that this guest came at Christmastime. Imagine that this guest started criticizing and complaining about the Christmas decorations. How would that make you feel? Finally, imagine how you would feel if this guest compared the food and decorations unfavorably to their own food and decorations?"

Fleur stood silently for a few minutes and a few nanoseconds. The look on her face was becoming more and more uncomfortable with each passing nanosecond.

Finally, Fleur spoke up, "I have been a bitch at times, haven't I?"

"I wouldn't go as far as bitch," said Harry fairly, "But, you have been a brat at times."

"My sister would be ashamed of how I've behaved," said Fleur throatily.

"The whole point of this talk," said Harry calmly, "Is to make your aware of why your behavior has been wrong so that you can correct it. Sometimes the best option is just keeping your mouth shut. I know you can be a person that your sister can be proud of and know that I will welcome the opportunity to meet her if it ever presents itself. "

"Thank you, Harry, " said Fleur gratefully, "You just did me a big favor by bringing this behavior to my attention and making me see why I need to nip it in the bud before it becomes habitual. And thank you for not doing it in front of everyone and handling it in a private one on one meeting. I look forward to the day that you meet my sister."

"Nipping it in the bud is exactly the point," confirmed Harry, "I didn't want to embarrass you, but I just wanted to help you nip this issue in the bud. Now, let's go back to the living room and open our presents."

Harry and Fleur walked back to the living room.

Cedric, Viktor, Amos, and Amanda were there waiting for them.

Amanda suspected that Harry had done exactly what he had done and gave him a smile.

Fleur smiled at Harry herself, feeling an inexpressible sense of gratitude to Harry for bringing the issue to her attention and having the tact to do it in private so that she wouldn't be embarrassed in front of everyone.

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Much love from Arizona for all the support. Love you all -Michael :)