Fourth Wizard
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
Author's Note: Many thanks to my Beta and all those who left reviews.
Chapter Eight
Harry was waiting for his dates in front of the doors along with Viktor and George, "Why do they make us wait?"
"I do not think they do this on purpose," Viktor said. "They just have more preparations to make."
Soon their dates came striding down the stairs. Hermione and Angelina in front and Luna and Fleur behind them.
"Wow," Harry said.
"Vhat he said," agreed Viktor.
Fred just nodded. Then the three couples went inside.
Once they had all entered but before they got to the champions table Professor Trelawney dropped her sherry glass and stood up. Her eyes rolled back to show only whites as she said in a voice unlike her normal tones, "Emerald eyes and ebony hair, Riddle defeated fair and square, Once he on honeydews hath fed, and drunk the nectar of Paradise." Then she sat back down and started drinking from the glass some house elf had brought in to replace hers like nothing had happened.
Everyone looked at Harry and he wanted to hide for a moment then Luna and Fleur each grabbed one of his hands and Luna said, "Well that's a lovely prophecy but I'm sure we won't solve it tonight."
Fleur nodded, "But yes, so everyone go back to what you were doing. We have dinner and a ball to enjoy!"
Harry was glad when he saw that everyone went back to eating and drinking. He found the name cards for all three of them at the champions table. Fleur was sitting next to Hermione with Harry between her and Luna who was next to Cedric. Next to him was Cho, of course, and next to her was Daphne. Daphne's date George was next followed by Fred then his date Angelina. Viktor was between Angelina and Hermione.
After dinner came the dancing but Harry had practiced enough to not feel totally out of his element. He danced once with Fleur then once with Luna then they sat out a dance while he brought them both punch.
"I hear they have grown a maze of hedges outside," Luna said. "With flowers all along to keep it nice and alcoves with warmth spells for strolling couples to stop and warm up and chat in privacy."
Fleur smiled, "That sounds nice. Shall we go for a stroll then?"
Harry smiled back, 'Sure, but the alcoves might not fit three."
Luna giggled and Fleur said, "I'm sure we will be able to squeeze in. And we can avoid reporters with a few charms to mask our alcove from outsiders."
"Yes, I like that idea," Luna said.
They left just before Ron started berating Hermione for 'fraternizing with an enemy'. Unaware of the drama he was missing, Harry walked with his dates and they chatted.
Fleur asked, "Have either of you been to France?"
"I have never been to France but I have been to Norway and Sweden," Luna said.
"I've never left Great Britain," Harry said. ``What were you doing in Norway and Sweden Luna?"
"Looking for unknown magical beasts to publish in our newspaper," Luna said. "That and Daddy says it's important to learn about other cultures."
"Maybe you can visit me this summer," Fleur said. "There is as good a chance of unknown beasts there as anywhere and you can stay with me at my parent's summer house on the Riviera and learn about French culture."
"That sounds lovely," Luna said.
"It does," Harry said. "If I can convince my guardians I will come as well if I am invited."
"But of course!" Fleur said. "Oh look, there's an alcove. Perhaps I can convince you to come visit me if we all spend a few minutes warming up in there?"
"I'm not that cold but sure," Harry said.
Luna smiled and said, "I'm in favor of this plan."
There wasn't room for three to sit side by side so Luna sat on Harry.
"It's only reasonable Harry," Luna said. "I'm the lightest. I'm not too heavy for you, am I? I guess I can sit on Fleur's lap instead."
"No," Harry said. "You're as light as a bird. You can sit on my lap any time."
"Thank you, Harry!" Luna said.
Fleur asked, "What about me? Am I welcome in your lap?"
"Of course!" Said Harry and Luna at the same time.
Fleur laughed, "Bon, that is good."
With Fleur's privacy charms up they did not overhear Hagrid and Olympe Maxime talking nearby. Those spells also kept out Rita Skeeter's animagus form but she saw them and hurried off to get her camera man. He took pictures of the three of them holding hands and talking. And so the scandal of the two large people being half giants didn't break. It was replaced by the scandal of the boy who lived bringing two dates to the ball and the fact that one was French.
When the paper showed up the next morning with the picture of the three of them on the cover Harry was drawn into a conversation with the other two.
"Have you seen this tripe?" Fleur asked.
"Very poor reporting," Luna said. "If we had done any of that I'm sure I would remember."
"Yes, I have seen it," Harry said. "But what can we do?"
"I will send word to my father and he will do what he can legally," Fleur said. "As to us personally, I think of two things we can do."
"I'm in," Luna said and Harry nodded.
"Bon!" Fleur said. "I think we should get our story out in our own words. Will your father publish a story if you write it, Luna?"
"Oh, yes," Luna said. "He has before."
"Parfaite!" Fleur said. "It is Saturday so we have no classes. Let us go now and make this story. I can send a copy to the lady from Le Monde Magique so we can get our story told in France."
"I can offer one to Maya from the Norwegian newspaper," Harry said. "She did a good job with the basilisk story."
Soon they found an empty classroom and Luna wrote the story with some help from the other two. Then she made copies and handed one to Fleur and one to Harry.
Fleur smiled, "And this way our version gets out to a wider audience." Then she sighed, "Of course some people will prefer the more scandalous version even if they know it can't be true but this will help."
"I'm off to send this copy to Father," Luna said. "Who is coming along?"
"I will," Harry said. "I will use a school owl to send my copy."
"I will send mine from the carriage," Fleur said. "I have an enchanted box to portkey letters home. Once my father reads the letter I will include, I'm sure he will forward this copy to the newspapers there."
The Quibbler posted Luna's story in the Sunday edition. The other two papers took a few more days but they also published the story.
On Monday at Breakfast Fleur said, "My father states that you English, at least you magical English have no libel laws so he cannot sue that putain for her article. He says that he is sure our version is the one that will get the most coverage on the continent. Oh, and he wants to meet you and Luna this summer."
"Wonderful!" Luna said.
"I'll try to make it," Harry said.
Soon it was January and time for the next Challenge.
Bagman lifted his enchanted microphone, "Welcome to the Earth Challenge! Before each of you is a large version of the puzzle you received from the Air challenge. Solve it before your competitors to win the most points and inside each is a clue to the next challenge."
Luna actually won the challenge with Fleur coming in second and Daphne Greengrass third. The clue inside the unlocked puzzles was a dragon figurine.
Bagman boomed, "After two even the current point scores for all seven contestants are as follows. Harry Potter has ten points, Luna Lovegood has ten points, Daphne Greengrass has five points, Cedric Diggory has zero points, Angelina Johnson has zero points, Viktor krum has five points, and Fleur Delacour has sixteen points from two second place wins putting her in overall lead. Let's hear it for all our competitors!"
After the applause died down Minerva McGonagall stood and announced, "Next month there will be a Valentine's Day dance on the second Saturday of the month. The weekend before there will be a Hogsmead weekend for those that wish to go shopping for the event. Thank you."
Harry looked at Luna then at Fleur, "will you ladies be my dates for this next dance?"
"I will Harry," Luna said.
"D'accord Harold," Fleur said.
"We can go to Hogsmead to get new dresses and perhaps you might wish to buy something yourself to match us," Luna said on February seventh.
Harry blinked, he was surprised that they needed new clothes again. He nodded though and said, "Sure." He made plans to buy them both chocolate as well.
When they got to Hogsmeade Harry saw the other champions in the clothing stores, "Hey Cedric! I guess you need new clothes too?"
"Yeah," Cedric said. "Apparently a fashionable girl can't wear the same dress to two different balls. Us guys have to coordinate with the new dress so that's why we are here."
"Oh," said Harry. "Makes sense."
"I'm glad you agree, Harold," Fleur said. "Now come give me your opinion." She led him and Luna off towards the lingerie.
Harry was surprised to see George Weasley sitting on a chair by the dressing room, "Hey George? What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for my date to finish trying things on," George said.
"I took so long because I kept expecting you to peek," Daphne said as she exited.
"I would never," George started.
"Evidently so," she interrupted. "You are turning out to be good boyfriend material."
"I don't mind if you peek, Harry," Luna said.
Harry blushed and Fleur laughed. When he looked at her Fleur said, "I won't say whether or not I will mind. I mind hex you or I might drag you in for l'amour. How brave are you feeling?"
"I think I'll sit next to George and wait," Harry said.
Fleur and Luna both grinned at him and went off to look at the lingerie.
Daphne laughed, "Come on, George. Let's go look at dresses."
George said, "Yes, dear. Good luck Harry."
"They make a good couple," Fleur said.
"I guess," Harry said.
The Valentine's Day Ball was decorated in shades of pink and red everywhere with little hearts and tiny winged cupids all over. Harry and the other champions had the center table again for the feast before the dance started. This time however the place settings were different. The plates were double sized in front of the other couples and triple sized in front of him, Luna, and Fleur. There was also a bottle of rose wine in front of each couple or trio.
"Are we supposed to order one thing for all of us?" Harry asked.
Luna said, "That sounds romantic."
Fleur said, "Let's see. I would like Beef Bourguignon." Their combined dish filled the meal she requested. "It seems so. I think you will both enjoy this. I just wish we had fresh bread as well." A fresh baguette appeared on a side dish. It was already sliced and still warm to the touch. "Marveilleuse!" she said.
After dinner Harry danced with each of his dates twice then said, "There's no hedge maze with alcoves but maybe you would like to walk outside with me?"
"Sure!" Luna said.
"Oui," Fleur agreed.