1996
It was a chilly, fog-filled morning in Scotland as the sun rose, shining dim sunlight onto the student filled streets of Hogsmeade. Today was Wednesday, February the fourteenth, a.k.a. Valentine's Day, and the students wanted to celebrate.
Harry was amongst them, but he was celebrating in a different way.
Harry was single, which if you asked him why, he'd tell you because he was busy. But… he'd be lying to you. Because for the past few months, Harry has been noticing a certain someone that he did not notice at first. But now that he had noticed, it was all he thought of.
The problem? She wasn't single.
They had met in the club they ran, and she only noticed him because she was the one who repaired his broken jaw after Seamus broke it.
"Wish I'd broke his jaw." Harry muttered to himself.
"What was that 'Arry?" Fleur Delacour asked him, looking across the tiny table at him with a curious face.
"Huh?" Harry asked immediately, lifting his head out of hands, before realizing he spoke aloud and that's what she heard. "Oh, nothing Fleur."
"Who's jaw do you wish to break?" Fleur whispered mysteriously, her voice heavy with her accent. She was currently sipping a cup of tea, opposite his hot chocolate, at the famous "Three Broomsticks".
Chuckling, Harry shook his head. Looking back up at her, Harry pointed his chin over her right shoulder, directly at the couple who sat in a booth a ways behind them. Turning her head to look in the direction, she laughed when she saw who her friend meant.
"I am telling you 'Arry, it will not last." Fleur dismissed, grabbing her cup of tea and sipping.
"Yeah? Well its lasted close to two months. Might as well just get married." He replied, sulking in the bench at the thought, causing Fleur to burst into a fit of giggles.
Now Harry didn't know much girls in his life, but Fleur was one he defiantly thought he was close too. Thinking back, he did send off that one letter to Sarah a few months ago…
"You englishmen and your dramatics, so ridiculous."
Giving her a small smile, Harry began a new conversation with her about her job, when suddenly his eyes widened.
"Fleur, i'm going to say a joke, and I need you to laugh really hard, okay?" Harry asked quickly, looking deep into her bright blue eyes.
Understanding instantly what he asked, Fleur nodded and took a deep breath. Ready.
Looking over her shoulder, Harry waited a moment before nodding to her.
"So a centaur walks in a bar…"
"HAHAHAHA!" Fleur cut in, somehow making a obnoxious laugh alluring, right as the couple walked over to them. Harry was laughing as well, hiding his face behind his hands, but stealthily looking through his fingers.
"Ah, 'Arry, you are too funny. I wish they were as funny as you at Gringotts." Fleur said, sounding out of breath. "Oh sorry, we did not see you there."
"Must've been a good joke, wish I heard it." Hermione said, but Harry noticed it seemed through clenched teeth.
"Yeah Harry, what was the joke?" Michael Corner asked smiling, eager to hear it.
But Harry only noticed his arm around Hermione's back.
"Oh, the joke, ah you wouldn't get it, sorry mate." Harry dismissed, a bit too harshly.
"So what can we 'elp you with?" Fleur asked, breaking through the tension. Hermione, happy to feel it dissipate, looked down at Fleur.
"Well we were about to go do some shopping, and I was wondering if Harry would need anything, since I usually help him with his shopping. But… you know that though, right?" Hermione asked Fleur in a weird tone.
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Fleur replied, "No, no I do not know."
"Hmm, interesting." Hermione said in a haughty voice, looking over at Harry.
Sensing his time to cut in, Harry shook his head with a smile. Motioning down to his steaming cup of hot chocolate, Harry looked back at the pair.
"We were actually planning some shopping of our own. Just want to finish our drinks, you know?" Harry replied with a smile, looking between Hermione and Fleur.
"Of course Harry, only wondering. Have fun." Hermione said, before grabbing Michael's hand and walking briskly out of the pub.
Watching the pair leave, Harry sunk in his seat, sighing.
"Well that went well." Harry muttered grimly.
Laughing, Fleur reached across the table, grabbing his hands into her own.
"It went exactly to plan, because now, even as she is dragging another boy across town into different stores, her mind will never leave you today." Fleur replied, showing him through her eyes to trust her.
Looking deep into her eyes, Harry nodded.
"Thanks for coming by the way, truth be told I didn't think you'd want too." Harry told her earnestly, rubbing his thumbs over the top of her hands. Smiling at him, she rolled her eyes.
"I am a sucker for romance, of course I would 'ave come. Silly boy." Fleur joked, flashing her eyebrows.
"I didn't invite you for that Fleur." Harry said, worried he'd rude about his intentions. He never wanted her to think he was just using her.
"I know 'Arry, I'm only messing with you. I would not 'ave come if I thought you were that type of boy." Fleur chided him, rolling her eyes again.
"Good. Thank you Fleur." Harry respond, relieved. Since the middle of summer, the two had been sending letters back and forth. Harry was happy to write because of how interesting her life and out-view on life was. She was extremely smart, driven, and had layers and layers of deep emotion that she hid from everyone except family. Harry was happy to be seeing bits of the revealed layers.
Fleur was happy to writing Harry because of his out-view and his life. Fleur rarely met a boy who would look past her physical appearance and actually want to know her for her. Ever since the last year when she'd been at Hogwarts for the tournament, she became very interested in Harry's life, and what would shape a boy like that with his history, into the man she saw today. So when he invited her out to hangout for the day, she eagerly responded back that she would.
She often thought of Harry, and what could have been. If only she had been a few years younger, or him older. But no matter what, she could tell. His heart was meant for another, specific person.
Finishing up with their drinks, Harry left some coins on the table to pay, then stood to leave. Smirking, he offered Fleur his arm, which she gratefully took with a wide smile, as they gracefully walked out of the pub, and onto the streets.
"I wish Ron was here." Harry said absentmindedly.
"Why isn't e'?" Fleur asked to the sudden statement.
"He sneezed into his and Neville's potion, melting their cauldron." Harry explained.
"Idiot." Fleur laughed.
"Yeah Snape wasn't happy." Harry joined in laughing.
Later
Harry was exhausted, and so was his wallet.
Fleur had decided that for her excellent work at making Hermione jealous, she deserved a reward. One which Harry currently was suffering through.
"Bloody hell woman how many chocolates do you want? I though you said you hate english sweets?" A bewildered Harry asked, after Fleur had filled her second basket to the brim.
Laughing, Fleur motioned for Harry to grab the loaded basket, as she walked them over to the till.
"You are correct, your english sweets are dreadful, but a close friend of mine at Gringotts loves them. They 'elped me when I first arrived, and has really 'elped me adjust to living 'ere. So I wish to gift these 'sweets' to them as a way saying thanks."
"Using my money."
"Exactly. You are getting smart."
"Yeah okay." Harry jest, bumping his left shoulder into hers. Paying the man behind the counter the correct amount. Harry then grabbed both bags of sweet and followed Fleur out of the store.
Walking out now, Harry and Fleur keep joking around as they made their way back to the Three Broomsticks. Fleur shrunk the two bags and snug them into her side bag, where a assortment of other bags from other shops were tucked in. The pay at Gringotts wasn't bad, but when someone offers to pay, Fleur would take them up on it.
Laughing, Harry opened the door for her when a sudden blood-curdling scream made the pair freeze.
Immediately feeling all of his hair stand on edge, Harry looked in the direction of the scream, praying that it was nothing. But when a burst of flame and more shouts came over the hill in that direction, Harry knew what it was.
Turning and looking into a fear-stricken Fleur's eyes, Harry eyes hardened and he grabbed her shoulders.
"Fleur, listen to me. Go inside and tell everyone to evacuate." Harry commanded, but she still looked over the hill. "FLEUR! GO INSIDE! NOW! EVACUATE THEM BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS!"
That caught her attention as she looked at Harry with a look of absolute dread.
"Is…is that…?" Fleur choked out, her voice layered in fear.
Harry nodded his head rapidly, needing her to focus.
"Fleur, go inside. Please. Make sure everyone gets out." Harry commanded her again, then thinking of something. "After you help inside here, find Hermione, and make sure she's okay. After that, send message to Dumbledore, or any professor. Get them here! Now!"
Fleur nodded her head, understanding what she needed to do, repeating it.
"Help inside, Find Hermione, get professors." Fleur repeated. Then she looked back at him.
"What are you going to do?" Fleur asked Harry, who was looking back towards the hill.
Harry could hear screaming, curses flying, and buildings being destroyed. He knew it would only be a matter of time, but today of all days was cruel.
"I'm going join the war. Show these assholes they can bleed too."
Immediately After
Every step Harry took towards the screams in the distance, he couldn't help but feeling his body shutter.
For months now, he has trained for this exact thing. Himself versus a group of death eaters. Hours upon hours of training drills and punishments for failure.
He would not fail today.
Sprinting to the top of hill, Harry finally saw the carnage ahead of him.
His instincts were correct, as he could make out a group of six figures, cloaked in darkness and silver masks, as they cast spells left and right into various shops. Destroying them. It seems the first people the group encountered in the village was a group of younger students. Reminding Harry of the summer before his fourth year as the death eaters repeated their actions and floated the group of students into the air. Walking with them as they cause chaos.
The death eaters must've handled the students quickly, and without deadly spells since Harry could tell the students in the air were hurling insults down at the men, clearly angry at being captured.
As the shops burned, students and adults together ran out and fled, adding to the chaos.
Knowing that the longer this went on, the more likely someone will get seriously hurt, since the death eaters weren't focused on killing just yet. Harry knew he had to step in soon.
Digging into his book bag, Harry withdrew his mirror, calling Remus. Staring into his reflection for a few moments, Harry was slightly surprised to see a small smile on his face. Just then the face of a smirking Remus Lupin appeared on the mirror.
"How's the date with Fleur loverboy?" Remus joked, wagging his eyebrows.
In response, Harry flipped the mirror to show Remus the burning shops and death eaters. Flipping it back to himself, Harry stared into the shocked face of Remus.
"Contact the aurors Moony, or anyone who can help. We need witnesses. HURRY. BUT DO NOT LET SIRIUS SHOW UP! They will catch him, and I can handle this." Harry responded in a commanding voice, silencing his shocked uncle.
"But…"
Harry swiped over the mirror, canceling the call before Remus could say anymore. He knew Sirius would not be able to stay away, but Harry hoped for his own sake that he would. There was still much to do before Sirius could be free.
Looking back over to the carnage, Harry made his move.
Casting his own featherweight charm onto the floating students, Harry made sure they would not fall the few meters to the ground when the death eaters lost their focus. Now, racing over the group, Harry quickly cast a disillusionment charm on himself to blend in as he made his way into the center of the group.
As the group yelled insults and curses around, Harry couldn't help but wonder why they were not firing harmful curses. Shrugging his shoulders, Harry figured that he'd return the favor.
In a instant Harry cast two stunners at the men in front of him, dropping them. Immediately flipping to face backwards, Harry cast two more at men behind him. One connected, but the other was quick enough to raise a shield, not knowing the power behind Harry's stunner. Unfortunately for him, the spell bashed through the surprised death eaters shield and hit him in the chest, knocking him out. Leaving only Harry and the two last death eaters, who stood on either side of him.
"Potter? Always the hero eh?" The one on his left asked, his voice sounding hoarse, but familiar. His silver mask only having a eye slot for the right eye.
"Harry Potter. The dark lord has plans for you boy. Said we can't kill you, but he aint say nothin about hurting ya." The other said, chuckling at his own humor.
'Hilarious.' Harry thought.
"So whats the plan? Burn the village down? Warn everyone that the loser Voldemorts back?" The pair of death eaters visibly shook at the mention of his name, causing Harry to smirk.
"Sorry boys, but this is as far as you go." Harry finished, quickly raising his wand to cast a spell, but the two were quick. Both raising their wands and firing at Harry in the middle. Instinctively ducking, Harry watched as both curse's flew over his head, and directly into the opposing death eater, blowing them backwards into the buildings behind them.
"Huh." Harry said, surprised at the outcome.
"FUCKING IDIOTS!" One of the students above Harry yelled out, causing Harry to chuckle.
'This is easy.' Harry thought to himself.
Twenty Minutes Later
Harry walked through the village exhausted. Not magically exhausted, just mentally tired. As soon as the death eaters were dealt with, the authorities arrived, as usual. Then the professors.
Professor Umbridge was the last to show up, but the first to march over to him and demand his wand, shouting over to a group of aurors to come over and arrest him.
"For what madam? He defended the village." One of the aurors asked, walking over to the pair. Him and his men were currently watching over the six arrested death eaters, as the terrorists sat in a circle, hatefully staring at Harry.
Madam Umbridge only looked down, reading his name tag.
"Auror Brutus Campbell." She looked up at him. "I'm sure me and the minister will have a lovely chat about you next time I see him about your refusal to arrest criminals."
The aurors face turned pale, as his eyes shined bright with fear.
"R..right you are Madam. My apologies." He then turned to look at a very annoyed Harry. "Harry Potter, you are under arrest…."
"MAY I ASK WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO MY STUDENT MR. CAMPBELL?!" Professor Mcgonagall shouted as she raced over after seeing Harry being turned around and about to be cuffed. A very angry Remus Lupin also marched over, seeing the commotion.
"Professor Mcgonagall, it is my duty to arrest those responsible for crimes and I am led to believe…"
"Auror Campbell?" A new voice asked, startling the auror, who turned around quickly.
"Madam Bones?" Simon Campbell asked, fear leaking from his voice.
"Get the fuck out of here. Leave your badge on my desk." She replied, looking over at Harry, who winked at her.
"But…"
"Now."
Looking over to Umbridge for help, he was saddened to see she was facing Madam Bones, not acknowledging him. With a whimper, he took his hat off and walked glumly over to the apparition point, wondering how he'd pay rent now.
Hermione, who was off to the side with Fleur and their other schoolmates, ran over to Harry to demand what was happening to him.
"Shut it Ms. Granger, let the adults speak you…" Professor Umbridge was cut off by a furious Amelia Bones, who moved her hands from being crossed over her chest, to resting on her hips, where her wand happened to be.
The two older women then began having a war of words, with Professor Mcgonagall telling Harry to join his friends, before entering the war herself.
Remus rested his hand on Harry's shoulder, motioning his head over to his friend group. Harry then grabbed Hermione's hand and quickly walked off, wanting to be as far as possible from a upset Mcgonagall. Joining his friends, Harry shook a few hands of people he knew and people he didn't as they came over to thank him.
Even Seamus came over, offering Harry his hand. Taking it with a smile, Harry nodded at the irishman, happy to have him back on his side.
But even then Harry only wanted one thing. To be back at Grimmauld Place. He needed to tell Sirius about how well he handled himself. About how all of his training made him unstoppable against the new age of death eaters.
"How'd you do it Harry?" One witch asked, as she shook Harry's hand rapidly.
Shaking his head, Harry could only think of one answer. "They were cowards, and cowards go do easily."
During all of this, as Harry was swamped by people trying to thank him, and the officers and professors being swept up into a screaming match, no one noticed as a man appeared from behind a store, his face hidden by a silver mask.
Before anyone could notice, the man raised his wand and silently cast a unlocking charm towards one of the arrested death eaters, freeing him. The masked man then quickly threw a wand at the feet of the freed man before turning and disappearing behind the store wall.
After awhile the crowd had finally made their way away from Harry, eager to return to the safety of the castle. Breathing a sigh of relief, Harry looked over at Hermione and smiled, happy to be done.
"You did amazing Harry, truly." Hermione softly said, moving forward slightly and hugging him, almost trying to burrow her way inside of his chest.
Laughing lightly, Harry tried to quickly respond with something, eager to keep the moment alive.
"You would have done better, quicker maybe." Harry replied.
He could feel her shake her head 'no' into his chest, causing him to smile. Harry then thought of asking her something else, but remembered something.
"So…where's Michael?" Harry asked, trying to make the question sound joyful.
At the question, Hermione pulled back, but still held onto him. Looking deep into his eyes, Harry was surprised to see her eyes filled with tears. Something he never wanted to see again.
"Harry, I need to tell you something. Its been on my mind for awhile, and the attack today showed me that I cant wait anymore. I need to tell you." Hermione rambled quickly, her eyes shifting from his to his chest and then to his hair.
'She's nervous.' Harry thought, noticing her tells with a bright smile. But just then, Harry noticed something moving behind her. A man. Then the familiar shade of green as it lit the front of the man's wand.
Pointing directly at Hermione's back.
"Harry… I love y…."
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"