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The morning at Hogwarts was crisp and cool, the late-winter air filtering through the enchanted windows of the Great Hall as students finished their breakfast. Harry had just polished off the last of his toast and stood, stretching slightly before grabbing his bag.

He had just stepped into the corridor outside the Great Hall when he bumped into someone, nearly dropping his bag.

"Watch where you're—oh, it's you, Pott … Harry," a familiar voice said, her tone light with amusement.

Harry looked up to see Daphne, her cool blue eyes glinting with mirth as she crossed her arms. She smirked at him, tilting her head slightly.

"I hope you're ready for our Ancient Runes class coming up this week," she said smoothly. "I'd hate to have to carry the project on my own."

Harry chuckled, adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder. "I wouldn't dream of making you do all the work. Besides, I think I've done a fair bit of heavy lifting already."

Daphne arched an eyebrow, her smirk deepening. "Heavy lifting? You channeled a bit of magic into a mirror and nearly blew it up. That's not exactly what I'd call expert craftsmanship, Potter."

Harry rolled his eyes, but his grin remained. "I'd like to remind you that we did, in fact, see each other in the mirror for a few seconds before it overheated and shattered. That's progress."

Daphne tapped a finger against her chin as if considering his words. "Hmm, I suppose so. Still, if we ever do manage to get this mirror to work properly, we should figure out a way to sell it. We could make a fortune."

Harry laughed, shaking his head. "I wasn't really thinking about that."

"Of course you weren't," Daphne said with an exaggerated sigh. "No business sense whatsoever. But think about it—instant, portable, two-way communication with clear images? The Ministry, businesses, even families would pay ridiculous amounts of gold for something like that."

Harry shrugged. "I guess … but it's not like I have any connections in the wizarding business world. I wouldn't even know where to start."

Daphne's smirk faded slightly, her expression softening as she studied him. After a moment, she let out a quiet sigh and shook her head. "You know, Potter … there are plenty of people who would partner up with you just because you have the name Potter and that's without factoring in the whole 'Boy-Who-Lived' thing."

Harry frowned slightly, shifting on his feet. "Yeah … see, that's kind of the problem."

Daphne gave him a knowing look. "You don't want to be used."

"Exactly," Harry said firmly. "I'd rather work with someone who actually wants to work with me—not just someone looking to profit off my name."

Daphne was quiet for a second before nodding in approval. "Fair enough. Well we'll cross that bridge when we actually get this thing to work."

She then gave him a pointed look, her expression turning more serious. "Speaking of which … do you remember what you're in charge of this week?"

Harry smirked and nodded. "I'm going to look into potential runes that'll help with the clarity of the image and prevent that weird time delay we were getting last time."

Daphne narrowed her eyes slightly. "And you're actually going to do that?"

"Of course," Harry said confidently. "I've already got some ideas, and it'll definitely be ready for class."

Daphne gave him an appraising look before nodding. "Good. Glad to see you can actually remember things when you put your mind to it."

Harry chuckled. "I try."

They walked together for a few more moments, the chatter of students filling the halls as groups split off toward their respective classes.

As they reached the Grand Staircase, Harry turned to head up toward his next class, while Daphne took the steps down.

"Try not to break anything before our next meeting, Harry," she called over her shoulder.

Harry smirked. "No promises."

Daphne laughed softly, shaking her head before continuing down the staircase, disappearing into the crowd.

Harry adjusted his bag and continued on his way, a small smile lingering on his lips.

- HP - SC - HP - SC - HP - SC - HP - SC - HP -

The fourth-year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws sat in their usual spots in the Charms classroom, each student eager—or, in some cases, dreading—to see what Professor Flitwick had planned for today. The small but energetic Charms Master stood atop his stack of books at the front of the class, practically vibrating with enthusiasm as he prepared to introduce their lesson.

"Good morning, class!" Professor Flitwick chirped, beaming at his students. "Today, we will be covering a most useful charm—Tergeo!A simple yet effective cleaning spell. With the proper wand movement and intent, you can remove dust, grime, and even spills with ease!"

"As always, focus is key!" Flitwick continued, flourishing his wand. "Observe—Tergeo!"

A small ink spill on his desk immediately vanished as if it had never been there. The class murmured in approval, some students already pulling out their wands in anticipation.

"Now, the wand movement!" Flitwick demonstrated a quick but precise flourish, almost like a small, looping flick, before gesturing for the class to mimic it.

Before they could begin practicing, however, the heavy door to the classroom creaked open, and all heads turned toward the unexpected arrival.

Professor Dumbledore, in his usual resplendent robes of deep blue, strode inside, his hands loosely clasped behind his back and his twinkling blue eyes scanning the room. Flitwick's enthusiasm jumped up another notch as he turned toward the Headmaster, clearly delighted by the surprise visit.

"Headmaster!" Flitwick squeaked excitedly. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

Dumbledore merely smiled, shaking his head. "I've simply come to observe, my dear Filius. Please, do carry on."

Flitwick, if anything, seemed even more energized by the response. "Oh! Well, in that case, do take a seat, Headmaster! It's always a joy to have you in my classroom."

Dumbledore did not sit, but instead moved to the back of the room, standing quietly with his hands still folded, watching the students with mild amusement.

"Right, then! Back to it!" Flitwick clapped his hands, turning back to his eager class. "Pair up, and begin practicing! Remember, wand movement first, then incantation!"

The classroom filled with the soft hum of students whispering the spell under their breath, wands flicking in careful, practiced motions. Harry paired with Hermione, as usual, while Ron teamed up with Neville.

Harry raised his wand, focusing on a small ink stain that Flitwick had conjured on the corner of his desk. With a precise flick, he muttered, "Tergeo."

The ink vanished instantly.

He felt, rather than saw, the familiar gaze settle on him. Looking up briefly, he found Dumbledore watching him with a small, knowing smile.

Harry barely managed to suppress a smirk of his own.

Before Harry could dwell on it, Hermione, as expected, performed the charm flawlessly just a few moments after him. The ink stain on her desk disappeared with a neat flick of her wand.

"Excellent, Miss Granger!" Flitwick cheered, clapping his tiny hands together. "And Mr. Potter as well! Well done! 5 points to Gryffindor for the both of you."

Harry exchanged a grin with Hermione as the rest of the class continued practicing.

Ron took a few tries before he got it right, but when his ink stain finally disappeared, he gave a triumphant fist pump. "Ha! Got it!"

Even Neville, who often struggled with spellwork, managed to master Tergeoby the end of class. His relieved expression when Flitwick praised him was almost comical.

Professor Flitwick turned to Dumbledore, practically glowing with excitement. "You see, Headmaster? A most productive lesson! You should drop in more often, it is nice, but not often, for all of the students to manage to get the spell done perfectly within the class!"

Dumbledore chuckled, nodding approvingly. "I very much doubt I had anything to do with it, Filius, I have no doubt it was your instruction enough that was able to bring out the best in your students. I am simply an observer."

Flitwick beamed at the compliment before turning back to his class. "Now, before I dismiss you all, a small preview of what's to come next lesson!"

He flicked his wand at his throat, and said, "Sonorus!"And suddenly his voice magnified to an almost deafening level.

Some students winced at the unexpected volume within the enclosed space.

Then, with a small counter-wave, he whispered, "Quietus."

The sound level of his name returned to normal, and he smiled to the class. "Next time, we will be learning the Sonorusand Quietuscharms—most useful for public speaking or ensuring privacy when needed!"

The class murmured excitedly at the prospect.

"Right then! That will be all for today! Homework—practice Tergeoon safe, manageable messes, and be ready for next lesson where we will do a quick review to make sure you did indeed understand it."

With that, the students began packing up, still buzzing with energy from the successful class.

As Harry gathered his things and the classroom emptied, he lingered near his desk, feeling a prickling certainty that Dumbledore had been there for him. He cast a quick glance at his friends.

"I'll catch up with you later," he murmured to Ron and Hermione.

Ron, who was already heading off with Lavender, nodded absently. Hermione, however, raised a curious eyebrow, but she didn't press him. She simply gave him a lingering look before turning to leave.

Taking a deep breath, Harry stepped to the back of the room, where, unsurprisingly, Dumbledore was waiting for him. The Headmaster stood with an air of casual patience, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his deep blue robes. The twinkle in his eyes was as present as ever.

"Ah, Harry," Dumbledore greeted, waving him over. " You continue to impress, Harry, that was an impressive display in Charms today. Professor Flitwick seemed rather proud of his class, and you in particular."

Harry smiled, inclining his head. "Thank you, sir. I do my best, Professor."

Dumbledore nodded before looking back to Harry with a smile on his face. "From this point on, would it be fair to assume that the fourth-year boys' dormitory will be a pristine example of cleanliness?"

Harry laughed. "I wouldn't hold my breath on that."

Dumbledore placed a hand over his heart in mock despair. "A pity. Though, as a matter of principle, I do try to hold my breath when stepping into the boys' dormitories."

That did it—Harry burst into genuine laughter. "Can't say I blame you, sir."

"Quite right," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling. "Now, if you have a moment, shall we take a walk?"

Harry tilted his head, sensing that there was more to this than casual conversation. Still, he nodded. "Sure."

Dumbledore set a leisurely pace, his gaze flicking over passing students with quiet amusement. At first, the conversation was light. He asked Harry about his classes, to which Harry replied honestly.

"They're going well," Harry said. "I've been keeping up with the coursework and managing to practice my magic in the room I had shown you. And some classes are certainly more interesting than others, but nothing I can't handle."

"Splendid," Dumbledore said with a small smile. Then, after a thoughtful pause, he looked to Harry a serious expression on his face, "Would you be interested in going on an excursion tonight, after your classes are finished?"

Harry turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "An excursion?"

Dumbledore's lips twitched as he gave an almost imperceptible nod. "I had promised I wouldn't leave you behind."

Harry's lips curled into a grin. "Of course."

As they continued walking, Harry suddenly became aware of their surroundings. He raised as eyebrows as he looked between the upcoming door and the headmaster.

"The library?" he asked, turning to Dumbledore with a questioning look.

Dumbledore merely smiled. "Even I, on occasion, must retrieve a book from the library."

Harry chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair enough."

Deciding not to waste the opportunity, he figured he might as well get some work done. He still had his Ancient Runesproject to finish, and he wasn't keen on facing Daphne's inevitable disappointment—or, worse, her reproach—if he showed up unprepared.

The heavy wooden doors of the library creaked softly as Harry stepped inside, right behind Dumbledore. The Headmaster, moving with his usual graceful ease, strode purposefully toward the Restricted Section, his robes flowing behind him.

Harry, however, barely made it past the entrance before freezing in place. His eyes widened slightly as he spotted Hermione and Fleur sitting very close together at a nearby table whispering to each other.

What?

That was not a pairing he had expected to see.

Fleur, noticing him first, lifted a delicate hand and waved, her silver-blonde hair gleaming under the warm glow of the enchanted lamps. Hermione, sitting beside her, blushed slightly before looking up at him with a small smile.

Well, this was unexpected.

Shaking off his initial surprise, Harry walked over, feeling Fleur's gaze settle on him with a mix of amusement and something else—something playful.

As he reached them, Fleur smiled in that effortlessly enchanting way of hers. "Ah, 'Arry, you 'ave arrived. I was just thinking that the only thing that could improve my day would have been you joining us."

Harry coughed lightly, caught off guard by the casual flirtation, but quickly recovered. He pulled out a chair and sat down. "Nice to see you both," he said, giving Hermione a quick glance. She still looked a little pink but didn't seem annoyed, which was a good sign.

Before he could ask what the two of them were doing together, Hermione's eyes flickered toward the Restricted Section, where Dumbledore had disappeared. She looked back to Harry with a curious expression.

"What did Dumbledore want?" she asked.

Harry leaned back slightly. "Nothing big. He just asked to meet up later."

Fleur, resting her chin lightly on her hand, let out a soft, melodic laugh. "I 'ope 'e is not secretly providing you with training for the Tournament," she teased, her blue eyes gleaming mischievously.

Harry laughed, shaking his head. "No, it's … other stuff." He said with a shrug as he looked at her. "Besides, Dumbledore wouldn't break the rules. He hasn't offered me any help—and I'm pretty sure he hasn't helped Cedric either."

He paused, then grinned. "I do wonder if that's the case for all the Headmasters, though."

Fleur had the decency to look away for a moment before glancing back at him with a small, knowing smile. She merely shrugged, her expression revealing nothing.

Harry chuckled at that but didn't push further. If Fleur's Headmistress, Madame Maxime, had offered her some assistance, he couldn't exactly blame her for taking it. After all, the Tournament was dangerous, and Hogwarts certainly hadn't done much to protect them from being thrown into it.

For a while, the three of them talked quietly, their conversation shifting between light topics and casual banter. Fleur had a sharp wit, and she and Hermione—while clearly very different personalities—seemed to be getting along well.

Eventually, the time came to head off to History of Magic, a class that Harry had absolutely no enthusiasm for. He groaned, making Fleur look at him curiously.

"What is wrong?" she asked.

Harry sighed. "History of Magic. It's easily the most boring class in existence."

Fleur blinked, looking genuinely puzzled. She turned to Hermione, as if for confirmation.

Hermione hesitated. After a few seconds, she conceded, "It … could be better."

Fleur looked amused. "Ah, that is too bad. At Beauxbatons, 'istory of Magic is one of the most fascinating classes. Our professor makes sure we learn the real stories, the drama, the betrayals, the great magical conflicts." She sighed wistfully. "It is one of my favorite subjects."

Harry exchanged a look with Hermione, then shook his head. "Maybe if I went to Beauxbatons, I'd actually be able to pay attention in class."

Fleur smirked slightly. "Perhaps. Although …" She tilted her head, studying him. "You might 'ave been equally … distracted."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Distracted?"

Fleur's smirk grew, and she casually flipped her long hair over her shoulder. "Let's just say … more than one boy at Beauxbatons 'as claimed that I am something of a distraction."

Harry chuckled. "I can imagine." Without pausing he reached for Hermione's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, "but I've currently got my eye on another girl."

Hermione, who had been watching the conversation unfold, squeezed his hand and smiled at him. Fleur, meanwhile, glanced between the two of them before a warm smile spread across her face.

"Ah," she said, looking pleased. "Hermione 'as told me about you two. But I think you are even more adorable than she let on."

Harry turned to Hermione, who was now looking between him and Fleur, her cheeks slightly pink. He gave her a small, affectionate smile. "I think we are, too."

Hermione's expression softened, and she squeezed his hand back.

Fleur, watching them, chuckled. "You two are sweet," she said lightly. Then, after a beat, she turned to Hermione. "Would you like to eat together sometime?"

Hermione blinked before nodding. "That sounds nice. Would you, Harry?"

Fleur turned to him, waiting for his answer.

Harry shrugged, offering a grin. "Of course."

Fleur's eyes lit up, and before either of them could react, she leaned forward and pulled both of them into a warm, quick hug.

"I would like that very much," she said brightly.

Harry exchanged a bemused look with Hermione as Fleur pulled away, clearly pleased with herself.

With a final smile, Fleur waved them off as they stood to leave for History of Magic.

As they walked side by side, Hermione still holding his hand, Harry couldn't help but grin. Maybe today wasn't such a bad day after all.

- HP - SC - HP - SC - HP - SC - HP - SC - HP -

The Great Hall was already buzzing with lively chatter and the clinking of cutlery by the time Harry and Hermione arrived for lunch. As they made their way to their usual seats, Harry spotted Ron and Lavender already sitting across from where he and Hermione would be. Ron was piling his plate with food, while Lavender was giggling at something he had just said.

As Harry sat down beside Hermione, he leaned forward slightly, catching Ron's attention.

"Oi, Ron," Harry began casually, reaching for a pumpkin juice. "We were talking to Fleur earlier and invited her to sit with us. That cool with you?"

Ron, who had just taken a large bite of chicken, froze mid-chew. His eyes widened slightly, and he nodded far too eagerly, causing Hermione to sigh and Lavender to raise an eyebrow.

Lavender coughed pointedly, and Ron suddenly looked guilty, swallowing quickly. He turned to her and, after a brief hesitation, said, "Er—sorry, I mean … yeah, that's fine with me, but I—uh, I do know that you're my girlfriend."

Lavender's expression softened immediately, her lips curving into a smile. "You know, that's the first time you've called me that."

Hermione, who had been sipping her pumpkin juice, smiled knowingly. "Congratulations, Lavender."

Ron turned a little red, but before he could say anything else, Lavender leaned in and kissed him softly on the cheek, causing his ears to go even redder.

Harry, amused, grinned at his best friend. "Blimey, Ron, you two are getting way too mushy. Should I start writing poetry about it … or better yet tell the twins about it?"

Ron rolled his eyes and threw a piece of bread at Harry, who caught it mid-air with a laugh. Lavender, however, was still smiling at Ron.

Lavender then turned to Hermione and Harry. "I don't mind Fleur joining us, but I reserve the right to smack Ron if he starts acting like an idiot."

They all laughed, and Ron chuckled sheepishly. "That sounds fair."

Just then, the doors to the Great Hall opened again, and Fleur entered, her silver-blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, her every movement as effortless and graceful as ever.

Hermione immediately waved her over, and Fleur, spotting them, smiled brightly before making her way to the table.

She took the empty seat beside Harry, setting down her plate. "Ah, 'Arry, 'Ermione … and I believe … Ron, Lavender," she greeted them in turn, her accent lilting beautifully. "This is nice, thank you for inviting me."

As lunch went on, the conversation flowed surprisingly well. Fleur was engaging, telling stories about Beauxbatons, her home in France, and her experiences so far at Hogwarts.

To everyone's surprise, Ron actually managed to contribute to the conversation without embarrassing himself too much. He still looked starstruck by Fleur occasionally, but each time Lavender nudged him pointedly, he quickly snapped out of it.

Every now and then, Ron would glance at her with a small smile, lean in, and whisper something that made Lavender giggle softly. It was … weird. But in a good way. Ron actually seemed happy, and despite how much he'd always gone on about fancying Fleur, he was clearly able to focus on someone else even in close proximity.

The only time Lavender had to smack Ron playfully on the arm was when he nearly choked on his pumpkin juice after Fleur absentmindedly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

As they finished eating, Fleur leaned back in her seat, looking content. She turned to Harry and Hermione, her blue eyes bright.

"This was … most enjoyable," she said sincerely. "I 'ave not 'ad many meals like this since arriving 'ere."

Harry smiled. "Glad you liked it."

Fleur tilted her head slightly, then added, "I would enjoy 'anging out more in the future, if you would not mind?"

Hermione nodded immediately. "Of course, Fleur. You're welcome to join us anytime."

Fleur beamed. "Then I shall. Merci, 'Ermione."

She moved to stand up, but instead of just offering a simple farewell, she turned to Harry with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Before he could react, Fleur leaned in and kissed him once on each cheek, the soft press of her lips sending a sudden wave of heat rushing up his neck.

Harry coughed slightly, caught completely off guard as a faint pink tint crept onto his face. He hadn't been expecting that.

Fleur, noticing his reaction, laughed lightly, her voice rich with amusement. "Mon Dieu, 'Arry, you are too cute."

Still feeling his cheeks warm, Harry opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, Fleur leaned in closer—her lips just beside his ear, her breath warm against his skin.

In a soft, teasing whisper, she said, "It is just a French thing, you know … besides, I do not remember you blushing this much the last time you 'ad both cheeks kissed. Perhaps you need 'Ermione to stand up as well?"

Harry's eyes shot open in surprise, his mind short-circuiting.

Before he could so much as form a response, Fleur straightened gracefully, flashed him a knowing smile, and turned on her heel, walking towards the exit with the effortless elegance only she seemed to possess.

Harry stood there for a moment, completely still, his face still slightly red as Hermione, Ron, and Lavender all stared at him—each with varying expressions of amusement and curiosity.

Ron, who had been mid-sip of pumpkin juice, nearly choked. "Blimey, Harry," he said, grinning widely. "Did you just—?"

Harry groaned, dropping his head into his hands, while Lavender burst into giggles.

One thing was for sure—Fleur Delacour certainly knew how to make an exit.

Kind Regards,

FavoriteAuthor

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Story Note 1 – Looks like Harry and Dumbledore are off on an excursion! Wonder where and what they might be up to? Should be a fun trip … as long as everything goes well!

Story Note 2 – Ooo and looks like a nice little lunch meal. Of which the obvious highlight is … Ron managing to hold a conversation. Congrats to him!

Thanks to those of you out to those of you who enjoy my stories, I promise to keep updating the stories as long as you enjoy them, and a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to leave feedback or reach out to me directly.

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DarkRavie, Wdean2023 - Thanks so much for taking the time to leave the feedback and I hope you continue to enjoy the story as it progresses!

Monkey D. Conan - Veritaserum was a good guess! Harry was right with his assumption as were you! And that is such a good catch and I hope Harry catches that as well! It is one thing to plant a false trail but it is important to remember that you planted a fake story!

ThunderSphinx - There will be a chapter every week on Sunday (unless something big comes up) and there are now 69 chapters posted. Not sure why there is difficulties accessing them.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - I really agree although on the other hand I don't think that real Moody would be about dosing a student with Veritaserum. And I think the best part of the interaction was that for the most part he was skirting the truth and saying things that would certainly be possible and would not normally be shared under normal circumstances. Haha that made me laugh as I was reading it I literally was like I don't think Moody would ever turn his back but I imagine if he did he'd have countermeasures that would prevent Harry from being able to pull a fast one on him. Definitely saw this post whether it was your third or seventh attempt.

SunPho3n1x - Really apprecaite feedback like this. I try to avoid writing stories that contain a Mary/Gary Stu just cause its harder to relate to super OP individual that is just able to sweep every challenge especially in the case of Harry where for the most part he is posed against adults which more experience or magical beasts that literally can kill you by looking at you. But I do believe that by being smart its possible to overcome those odds (aka Batman haha).

magocrat777 - Hopefully the chapter delivered! Although clearly fake moody is starting to get a little suspicious and will try to keep tabs on Harry a little bit more especially if something suspicious happens ...

Guest - While he is keeping a low profile he will certainly be changing things!