THE HIGH PRICE CHAPTER 46: LAST CHRISTMAS, a harry potter fanfic

CHAPTER 46: LAST CHRISTMAS

The morning sunlight poured through the kitchen window, casting vibrant patterns of light and shadow that danced along the bottom of the sink. Fleur stood at the kitchen counter, her hands delicately poised above the warm water, feeling its soothing embrace.

Gabby, her younger sister, rushed down the stairs, cradling a pile of mugs still adorned with the remnants of last night's hot chocolate indulgence. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she approached Fleur.

"When is Harry coming, Fleur?" Gabby inquired, her voice tinged with eagerness.

Fleur's parents, Maman and Papa, shared a meaningful glance, their attention briefly diverted to the Daily Prophet resting on the kitchen table. Fleur's gaze remained fixed on the water in the sink, and a subtle ripple of heat emanated from her fingertips as she replied, "He'll be here soon."

Her mother's eyes darkened as she contemplated the news on the front page, and the water in the sink reacted with a bubbling froth, mirroring Fleur's inner turmoil. Fleur sensed the unspoken thoughts, and her patience began to wear thin.

"In about ten minutes," Maman eventually responded, her tone measured. "It will be good to have some quality time to talk with him. It's challenging to truly get to know someone in such a short period."

Fleur clenched her jaw, her fingers now generating a noticeable heat. The tension in the room was palpable, and it was clear that an important conversation was on the horizon. The anger simmered within her, and she couldn't help but think of Katie Bell.

With a sudden burst of emotion, Fleur's hands left the sink. The water around her hands steamed and hissed in response to the heightened intensity of her feelings. She muttered to herself, "In ten minutes."

Her parents exchanged glances that spoke volumes. Maman's eyes darkened further as she raised her chin, ready to address the matter that had been hanging over them.

Fleur felt the heat radiate from her palms, and with a hint of desperation in her voice, she warned, "Non, Maman! One more word, one more snide comment, one more jab, and I'll remind you who the better of us is!"

Papa intervened, snapping in frustration, "Fleur!"

But Fleur was unyielding. She turned her fiery gaze toward her father, flames dancing in her palms. "You are no different, Papa! And remember, you are not immune to my heat."

Both her parents stared at her, their expressions a mix of surprise, concern, and understanding. The kitchen was charged with tension, and Fleur's fiery power had made it abundantly clear that this Christmas was bound to be anything but ordinary.

"It's not hard for me to get to know someone," Gabby chirped, wielding hot chocolate powder, milk, cream, and a spoon to disastrous effect beside the sink, then scampered across the kitchen and pressed her cold mug of hot chocolate into Fleur's flame-wreathed hands. "Merci, Fleur!"

The heat melted from Fleur's blood. She could feel the warmth of her sister's touch, and she replied, "Gabby would be able to know a little about what he was like just from touching his magic." She let the flames linger until the hot chocolate steamed, then pushed it into Gabby's hands. "There you go, greedy little bird."

Maman drew herself up, her expression stern. "Gabrielle's empathetic magic is not something that should be used lightly, just as your stronger allure shouldn't be either. I don't want to hear of either of you using them on anyone who doesn't understand what it means and hasn't given permission."

"Harry's magic is really powerful," Gabby sighed. "His wand felt completely different to any of yours."

Maman's face twisted with curiosity. "What did it feel like?"

Papa held his breath, clearly anxious to hear the answer.

Gabby, however, was not willing to divulge the details just yet. She dunked her teaspoon into the mug and stirred the cream in, sending small waves of hot chocolate froth over the sides of the mug.

Fleur couldn't help but muse, "Maybe all that clafoutis helped after all."

Maman wasn't satisfied with Gabby's secrecy and continued to press. "Gabrielle, we just want some assurance that what the papers are saying about him is not true."

"And obviously my word wasn't enough," Fleur hissed, her frustration palpable.

"Harry is perfect for Fleur," Gabby chimed in mischievously, a glint in her eyes. "If she didn't love him so much, then I would steal him instead. He saved me from the lake. If he'd kissed me and woken me up, it would have been the perfect moment."

Fleur scowled at the thought. "Urgh. Nobody kisses Harry but me. Ever."

Gabby giggled at her sister's possessiveness. "You're so possessive, Fleur. You don't need to worry, anyway. You sent one pleading look at Harry, and he went and saved me. He was coughing up blood from what I heard."

Fleur turned her nose up at Gabby. "Hush, Gabby."

Maman looked thoughtful, sensing there was more to the story. "Is that true?"

"What does it matter," Fleur snapped, her frustration boiling over. Heat coursed through her veins, and her transformation began. Feathers rippled along her skin, her eyes swelled to a deep, obsidian black, and her skull subtly shifted shape. "I chose him. That's the first and last statement you need on the subject. He doesn't need to have to bleed and suffer to prove anything to anyone else!"

Maman flinched, and Papa winced, the intensity of Fleur's emotions clearly affecting them.

Gabby shivered and took a cautious sip of her hot chocolate. 'Fleur,' she whispered, 'Easy.'

'Pardon.' Fleur closed her eyes and waited for the fiery rage to recede. 'I am sick of this. All this. Your stupid comments, him being far away, that insipid paper and those English imbeciles.' Fleur ground her teeth. 'And that Katie Bell,' she muttered. 'Cette pute, je la brûlerai avant de perdre contre elle.'

Gabby shuddered, alarmed by her sister's intensity. 'You wouldn't burn anyone, Fleur,' she murmured.

Fleur fixed her little sister with a penetrating look. 'I'd burn her,' she whispered fiercely. 'No shallow little girls are going to steal anything important from me ever again.'

Maman and Papa inched closer, their concern etched on their faces.

'We don't like you being with someone so dangerous,' Papa said with a heavy sigh. 'We've discussed this before. Whether the rumors are true or not doesn't matter. Either way, you'll be a target for someone who could hurt you.'

Fleur, unwavering and resolute, countered, 'I am a stronger and better dueler than either of you, Maman, Papa. If one of us is to judge, it ought to be me, no?'

Maman fidgeted, conflicted by the difficult situation. 'Better than the Death Eaters of Britain? Harry Potter is not the enemy of ordinary wizards.'

'Harry is not an ordinary wizard, and I am not an ordinary witch,' Fleur declared firmly.

Papa sighed, his concern etched in his features. 'Fleur–'

'I'm going to meet him,' Fleur declared resolutely, her resolve unwavering. With a clear image of the willow tree in her mind, she Apparated away with a loud crack.

Under the frost-kissed branches of the willow tree, Harry stood, dressed in muggle clothing. 'Fleur!' He stepped toward her, one hand outstretched, then froze. 'I'm sorry, it's not true, none of it's true, I swear. I will swear. Any vow, anything you ask.' He swallowed hard. 'I promise, Fleur. I would never. You're the one perfect wish that came true for me.'

Fleur closed the distance between them, sliding her fingers into Harry's messy, dark hair, and bringing his lips to hers. 'Idiot. I do not need you to swear.' She held his face an inch from hers. 'I'm tempted because then you'd always be mine, but no.'

Harry, relieved, leaned into her embrace. 'That's good.' A small, genuine smile graced his lips. 'I was scared.'

Fleur could see the shadow of that fear in his eyes, a deep, dark, vast thing looming over him. She tightened her hold on him. 'Scared I'd leave?' she wondered, her gaze filled with affection. 'I will never leave, not so long as you're mine.'

'I'd never do something like that to you,' Harry assured her, gently taking her hands from his hair and holding them. 'Even if I went completely mad and decided I wanted to leave you, I'd never betray you like that. Never. And if that does happen, just lock me in a padded cell somewhere until I snap out of it, ma princesse.'

Fleur smirked and freed one hand, coating it in blue flames. 'I would turn you to ashes if you ever did anything to hurt me like that.'

Harry grinned. 'As long as you bury me under our willow tree…'

Fleur's mood shifted, her insides growing cold, and the fire guttered out on her fingers. 'Don't say things like that. It's not at all funny.'

'What about your family?' Harry inquired. 'Do they believe anything about the article?'

'Gabby laughed,' Fleur replied, her expression turning sour. 'Maman and Papa are being difficult still. I yelled at them just now. I don't think they believe it; the articles are ridiculous, but they don't like other things.'

Harry's smile faded. 'They won't ever approve of me, will they? I'll either be a dangerous dark wizard, or Voldemort will be coming after me and anyone close to me.'

'They do not dislike you,' Fleur responded, her voice tinged with sadness. 'I'm sorry, mon Cœur. It's not personal.'

'It feels personal,' Harry said with a hint of bitterness. 'I had this faint hope that I could just step in at your side and find myself part of a family. I should know better by now, wishes like that don't come true.'

Fleur pouted and squeezed his fingers. 'No? Not even one of them.'

A small smile returned to his face. 'Maybe one.'

She laughed. 'There is no maybe. Now we must head inside and deal with the more important things, like what you bought Gabby for Christmas.'

'I think she will like it. I don't really know what anyone expects, so I tried to get something I felt fitted.'

'I wouldn't worry too much about your present for Gabby. She loves being given things. If you gave her pebbles from the river, she would hoard them just like she does everything else.' Fleur linked their arms. 'If anything, we should be more concerned about what she might have bought us.'

'Oh no,' Harry groaned. 'It's going to be something awful.'

Fleur laughed. 'Probably.' She whisked them both back into the entrance hall.

Harry surveyed the array of footwear. 'I finally understand all the shoes.'

'They're almost all Gabby's. She is incorrigible. Maman has given up trying to get rid of them; I think Gabby has bribed Binky to make sure they don't get thrown away.'

He chuckled. 'How sneaky.'

'Mon Cœur!' Gabby scampered down the hall and skidded to a halt. 'Nice girlfriend! She's almost as cute as me!'

Fleur shot a glare at Gabby, who was grinning mischievously. She thought to herself, Why do I even share things with you, you little rascal?

'Thanks, Gabby, I found her all by myself!' Harry responded playfully, slipping his arm around Fleur's waist. 'Now I can't get rid of her.' He glanced at the piles of shoes. 'Nice shoes.'

'They are all Fleur's,' Gabby giggled. 'Now come on, it's time for Christmas things again.'

Harry feigned shock. 'And you lied to me and told me that they all belonged to your innocent baby sister!'

'I wanted you to buy me more,' Fleur quipped, her tone playful. She sighed deeply and pulled out her wand. 'But I suppose it really is time I threw away all my old shoes.'

Gabby squeaked and darted in front of her shoes, clearly protective of them.

'You seem very attached to your sister's shoes,' Harry teased.

'You shouldn't just throw things away,' Gabby pouted. 'It's not right.'

'Come on, mon Cœur,' Fleur whispered in Harry's ear. 'Putting it off won't make it any better.'

Harry playfully nudged her in the stomach with his elbow and followed her into the lounge.

'Harry.' Fleur's parents greeted him with thin, polite smiles.

'How has your first term back at Hogwarts been?' Maman inquired.

A soft sigh escaped Harry. 'Not the best.'

Papa extended his hand. 'Yes, well, I'm sure there's no truth–'

'Are we giving gifts now?' Gabby, lounging on one of the more comfortable sofas, pushed her feet against the pale stonework of the wall. Her excitement was palpable.

'You already gave us your gifts,' Maman explained. 'You couldn't wait until lunch and Harry's arrival, so you pestered Fleur for an hour about her present for you.'

'Harry doesn't know any of the other people who gave us things,' Gabby pointed out. 'I still have my present for him and Fleur.' Mischief gleamed in her eyes.

Fleur couldn't help but think, It's definitely going to be something horribly embarrassing.

Harry chuckled. 'I'm looking forward to it, Gabby. Fleur will make her mortified face.'

Fleur huffed at him. 'You will turn red as a tomato.'

'I'll still get to see your embarrassed pout.' He leaned closer to her ear. 'It's almost as cute as those little gasps you make when–'

Fleur trod on his foot and fought the heat rushing to her face.

'Aww.' Gabby giggled. 'You've gone all pink, Fleur.'

Fleur rolled her eyes at her mischievous sister. 'Here.' She reached behind the nearest sofa and produced a small, thin wooden box. 'Try not to break this one.'

Gabby turned the box over in her hands before sliding off the lid. Inside, a sparkling white camellia, sculpted from ice, lay on dark velvet.

'You always ask me to make them for you, so I thought you might want a more permanent one, little chick.'

'It's so pretty,' Gabby chirped, taking the ice flower out of the box and twirling it in the light. 'It really won't melt?'

'Not for a long time,' Fleur assured her. 'And never as long as one of us keeps replacing the enchantments on it.'

'Thank you, Fleur,' Gabby said gratefully, placing the flower back in the box before turning to Harry. 'Is it tasty? It better be tasty. Your girlfriend's sister is the first person you need to make like you…'

Harry laughed and pulled a handful of tiny presents from his pocket. A faint glimmer of light emanated from his sleeve as he put them on the arm of the sofa, and then they swelled to normal size.

Fleur examined the gifts, noticing two books among them, and wasn't quite sure about the others. She couldn't help but think, Not sure about those two.

'This one is yours, Gabby.' Harry picked up one of the odd-shaped packages and passed it across to her.

Gabby beamed and eagerly began unwrapping the shining red and gold paper. Harry waited with an expectant smile on his face.

Fleur couldn't help but notice Harry's nervousness, and she gave his fingers a gentle squeeze, silently reassuring him.

Gabby squealed with delight and pulled a colorful, bright china mug overflowing with sugar quills. 'It is tasty!'

Fleur chuckled. Cherry flavor, too...

'You said I owed you one,' Harry grinned. 'The mug's enchanted to be unbreakable, to keep your drink warm, and the colors will disappear if something suspicious finds its way into your drink.'

'It's perfect.' Gabby pocketed the sweets before Maman could intervene. 'Merci, Harry. If Fleur decides she doesn't want you, I'll keep you instead.'

'Thanks.' Harry chuckled. 'Hopefully you won't have to stick to that.'

Gabby shrugged. 'It'd be okay.' She giggled. 'Fleur would be so cross. She'd hurl fire at me again.'

Fleur playfully swatted Gabby with a cushion. 'You find your own. This one is mine. And I don't share.'

'No.' Gabby sulked. 'You are terrible at sharing, especially tasty sweet things.'

'These are for you, Monsieur Delacour, Madam Delacour.' Harry passed the two gifts that resembled books over to her parents' sofa. 'I thought you might appreciate them.'

Papa unwrapped his gift, peeking behind the cover of a weathered, aged tome. 'I can't read the date, but there's a good chance this is one of the oldest books on wizarding genealogy I've ever had the privilege of touching. This isn't something to give away lightly, Harry; there can't be more than a handful of copies of this left in existence.'

Harry blinked. 'I know you like history, heraldry, and the like. It caught my eye, and the owner was willing to part with it.'

'I shudder to think what the price was,' Papa muttered, flipping through the pages. 'This is a thousand years old or more if I'm not mistaken, and a lot of these families were wiped out by the Normans.'

'That was a terrible present, Harry,' Gabby piped up. 'We're not going to see Papa for weeks now. He'll lock himself in his study with your book and won't come out for anything but meals.'

'I'm sure Binky wouldn't mind bringing my food to my study.' Papa traced his fingers over the old pages. 'This is quite fascinating.'

Gabby scowled, clearly unimpressed with the prospect of her father's prolonged absence.

Maman hid her smile behind her hand, then tugged the string loose from her present. 'I'm not going to open this and find some incredibly rare potions ingredient, am I?'

Harry shifted. 'Would you have preferred something like that?'

Another book slid out of the paper. A battered, scarred cover enclosed thick, yellow pages.

That's as old as the other book.

'Obscure Potions and Unique Ingredients. I've never heard of it.' Maman read through the first page, then gasped. 'Do you know who this was written by?'

'Helga Hufflepuff.' A faint smile crossed Harry's face. 'I don't think it's the original, but it's handwritten and autographed. I wouldn't suggest trying anything you find toward the very end of the book; the magical trees you'll grow are very violent and quite dangerous.'

Papa glanced up. 'Your idea of normal Christmas presents are two virtually priceless books… Where did you find them? Once might be a coincidence, but to find two rare books so well suited for us can't be.'

'I stumbled across a collection, actually.' A small smile played on Harry's lips. 'I chose two that I thought you would appreciate, and I doubt I will ever value them as highly as you will, so they're better off here.'

Papa laughed. 'We might have to improve the wards on the chateau if someone finds out about this. This is the sort of indisputable evidence of blood relations that some wizarding families would do a great deal to own.'

'It's not too much, is it?' Harry's clammy fingers shifted beneath Fleur's. 'I've never really done this before.'

Fleur squeezed his hand. 'They're good presents, mon Cœur.'

Gabby smirked. 'If that's what he bought for you, I can't imagine what he bought Fleur.'

Fleur's heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Oh merde. What if Harry's gift to her surpasses what she had prepared for him? She bit her lip, feeling a sudden rush of insecurity.

"I think I'll give you my present first," she said with a soft smile, trying to conceal her apprehension.

"It's a little more than we expected," Maman murmured, her voice filled with sincerity. "It makes our present for you seem very inadequate." She passed Harry a soft, elegantly wrapped package. "Fleur mentioned that you don't actually own any dress robes, so we took the liberty of choosing some suitably stylish ones. She said that black, dark greens or blues, and silver suited you, so I hope you like them."

Harry raised an eyebrow, surprised by the thoughtful gift.

She laughed lightly, her veela heritage giving her a unique insight. "I am veela. I can feel magic, not as well as Gabby, but I know when you're wearing transfigured clothing, it's saturated with your magic." Fleur reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, delicate cloth bag. "Here, this is my gift for you."

Harry dipped his fingers into the bag and pulled out a slender piece of wood. "A ring?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"I made it from one of the branches of the willow tree," Fleur explained, her hair cascading over her shoulder. "It is the prettiest thing you own, and you will wear it where everyone can see it."

But especially Katie Bell, a thought that lingered in Fleur's mind, though she didn't voice it.

"Fleur!" Gabby, her younger sister, stood on her tiptoes and craned her neck over Harry's shoulder, an expression of playful scolding on her face. "It's too early for you to get engaged, and Harry's meant to be the one who proposes to you."

Fleur flushed with embarrassment but thought, I will toast Gabby later.

Harry, however, broke the tension with his warm smile. "It's perfect, as always."

Her heart danced with joy. "Wear it on your wand hand. I tried to imbue it with the desire to protect you, so while you're wearing it, the magic I put into the ring will protect you." She cupped his chin tenderly. "I don't want you to ever use it."

"Thank you," he murmured, slipping the ring onto his right forefinger, touched by her thoughtfulness.

"My turn!" Gabby, eager to join in the exchange of gifts, pulled her wand out and waved it at the far wall. "Ta da!"

Harry's sudden, unexpected gesture left everyone in the room in various states of surprise. Harry choked, and a small, unintentional squeak escaped Fleur's lips. Maman's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her fringe, and Papa's book slipped shut, all attention captured by the artwork that had just been unveiled.

Within the light wood frame, the willow and the river shone beneath the autumn sun on canvas. In the painting, Harry tenderly kissed Fleur beneath the willow leaves, his fingers woven through her silver hair and gently cradling her waist. It was a moment so intimate and beautiful that Fleur couldn't help but blink away the liquid heat from her lashes, her heart racing with emotion.

"I'm sure you weren't invited to that particular rendezvous, Gabby, but thank you. C'est parfait," Fleur managed to say, her voice filled with appreciation, despite her initial shock.

Gabby beamed, clearly proud of her surprise. "I snuck down after you one day and sent the memory to a portrait maker in Paris. Do you like it, Harry?"

Harry tore his eyes away from the painting and nodded with genuine admiration. "Yes."

With a sly grin, Gabby sidled around Fleur. "Want to make another one with me instead of Fleur?"

Fleur sighed in playful exasperation. "You are the worst, Gabby."

Harry joined in the lighthearted banter. "What would you do if I actually said yes?"

"Panic," Gabby giggled. "Fleur would murder me."

"And me, too," Harry added. "We'll have to run away together before she realizes."

"Flouting all social conventions for the sake of the heart," Gabby exclaimed dramatically, pressing her hands to her chest. "So romantic."

Fleur couldn't help but pout, pointing her finger first at Gabby and then at Harry. "You, you need to stop reading Maman's books. And you…" She playfully swiveled around to face Harry. "You stop encouraging Gabby just because you like to make me pout."

Harry leaned in closer to Fleur, his lips brushing against her earlobe. A shiver of desire rippled through her as he whispered, "It's a very cute pout."

Fleur reciprocated in a hushed tone, "Careful, mon Cœur. I still owe you more than just kisses."

The memory of their intimate moment beneath the willow tree flooded her thoughts. She fought to suppress a blush and added, "And if I have my way, you'll be doing it again later."

Gabby, ever the curious one, flopped back onto the sofa. "What did you get Fleur, Harry?"

Harry smiled and reached for a small package. "I couldn't think of anything that I could make that would be anywhere near as good as something you could make yourself," he began, his voice filled with sincerity. "So I thought I'd give you these instead. I'm told they're useful for holding all sorts of things."

The present Harry placed in Fleur's hands gave a gentle clink, creating an air of anticipation. Fleur carefully slid away the paper wrapping, revealing a dark wooden box adorned with intricately carved vine leaves. As she lifted the lid, she discovered a handful of small crystal bottles, each sealed with tiny rune-engraved corks, and filled with swirling silver mist.

"Those are memories…" Fleur glanced at Harry, her eyes curious. "Yours?"

"They're very nice vials, but I wanted to put something important inside," Harry explained, a warm smile on his face.

Moved by his thoughtful gift, Fleur kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

"It's my perspective," he murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of playfulness. "I won't tell you what they're of, though, that would spoil the surprise." He shot her a mischievous grin. "Though I was very tempted to make one of them me winning the Triwizard Tournament."

Fleur playfully accused him of cheating. "Cheat. You cheated."

Harry chuckled, recalling past events. "I seem to remember you stalking all your rivals and knowing an awful lot about that dragon task before you were supposed to."

Defiant, Fleur declared, "I will win next time when we do some duelling. You'll see."

Gabby, ever eager for excitement, pleaded to see the memories. Fleur, however, was protective of this unique gift. "No," she firmly closed the lid and crossed her arms over the box. "They're mine."

Gabby pouted in response. "Why're you such a rubbish sharer, Fleur?"

Fleur retorted with a teasing smile, "Greedy little bird, you've got enough sugar quills for a small school, you should be happy with those alone."

Maman, noticing the exchange, intervened. "Lunch will be in an hour, ma cherie. If you want to go watch the memories together, we'll keep Gabrielle from mischief."

Fleur couldn't resist the opportunity to tease her sister. She shot Gabby a broad smirk and then stood, leading Harry towards the basement. "I'm going to beat him at duelling. See if you're so happy about being the Triwizard Champion then, mon Cœur."

Harry, perhaps bewildered by the choice of location, glanced around the small room and out through the door at the racks of wine. He noted, "This seems an odd choice of place. There aren't an abundance of seats."

"I'm not going to watch the memories now, I have you here already."

Harry looked at Fleur with curiosity. "So what are we up to?"

Fleur's smirk revealed her mischievous intentions. "I'm going to duel you. And beat you."

Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, ma princesse," he conceded, his smile holding a hint of competitiveness. "You can try."

Fleur's playful demeanor shifted as she brought up a topic that had been on her mind. "First, where did you really get those books from? I know you didn't realize how rare they were."

Harry's response was casual. "I stumbled across them at Hogwarts. I had three copies of the one I gave your mother and five of the book I gave your father."

Fleur scowled, stepping closer to him. "You stumbled across them. You're keeping secrets from me, mon Cœur."

He spoke softly, his tone tinged with mystery. "I have a few left, not many, though."

Fleur's stomach tightened with a mix of curiosity and frustration. "I want you to tell me," she declared. "And I want you to want to tell me."

Harry teased her with a grin. "You're so wanty. Such a demanding veela."

Fleur's lips brushed against his as she whispered, "Whose fault is that? I think you like making me ask, no? You did before…"

Heat crept onto Harry's face. "Maybe a little," he admitted. "But I think you liked asking, too."

Fleur playfully stepped back, a knowing smirk on her lips. "Alas, lunch is only a short time away, mon Cœur."

Harry's tone turned dry as he responded, "Alas. So if you didn't lead me down into your dungeon to have your way with me, ma princesse, what did you want?"

Fleur's lips formed a pout. "You know what I want."

Harry decided to engage in a little playful exchange. "Secrets," he said with a sly smile. "Okay. I'll give you two, but…" A gleam of mischief danced in his eyes. "You have to ask."

Fleur tilted her head, her fingers absently twirling a strand of hair. "Oh, now he wants to play games. Let me think."

She contemplated what she wanted to know most. Was it something about Katie Bell? The mysterious collection of invaluable books? Or perhaps it was related to whatever Harry was involved in back in England?

Fleur, her curiosity piqued, decided to start with her first question. "What're you up to in England?"

Harry hesitated for a moment, a slight wince in his expression. "Can I answer that one last?" he requested.

Fleur crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on him. "Fine. Where did you really get those books?"

Harry's eyes sparkled with amusement. "A secret chamber. I will take you there to meet what's left of my family soon, I promise. Is that enough?"

She leaned in closer, her arms resting over his shoulders. "Promise?"

Harry nodded earnestly. "I do."

Fleur's heart raced at the thought of sharing this secret journey with him. "Careful with that line, mon Cœur," she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of playfulness and affection. "Put that ring somewhere else, and I'll never let you go again."

Harry swallowed, his eyes reflecting a hint of vulnerability. "Right. Aren't I supposed to get some say in it, though?"

Fleur smiled, her hands slipping into his hair. "As if you'd disagree. Now, you owe me another secret."

Harry's demeanor shifted, and the humor vanished from his eyes. "Do you remember the prophecy I mentioned?"

"Of course," Fleur replied.

Harry began to explain his intricate plan. "I did some digging about the Department of Mysteries and I tried to get people to realize Voldemort's back by casting the Dark Mark over where my parents died – I might have to do that again, since it didn't work too well. Anyway, Dumbledore's followers are guarding something in the Department of Mysteries. Voldemort's are trying to get in. One of my friend's parents died trying to stop them a few days ago…"

Fleur's heart sank as she grasped the gravity of his mission. "So you're going to kill two birds with one stone. You're going to try and break in."

Harry's expression hardened. "I have to oust Dumbledore first, then my godfather will help me. And I need to get rid of that malevolent worm, Umbridge," he said, his voice filled with determination. "Once she's gone, I can find the prophecy and learn whatever it says, then destroy or steal whatever people are dying over in the Department of Mysteries, too."

Fleur understood the urgency of his quest, but she also saw the weight of the choices he was making. "Gone?" she whispered, her mind racing with the implications of his actions. "Images of Harry flanked by aurors, wandless and shackled, swarmed through Fleur's thoughts, and her voice shook.

Harry froze, tension gripping every muscle in his body. "I think you know," he replied, his voice strained.

Fleur took a deep breath, pushing aside her concerns and speaking with unwavering determination. "Do not get caught. Do not get caught throwing out Dumbledore. Do not get caught killing this horrible witch. Do not get caught breaking into the Ministry. And do not get caught afterward."

She tightened her grip on his hair, her forehead resting against his. "You are mine. Heart, mind, body, and soul. I'm not sharing any of those with anything or anyone, let alone one of those terrible creatures in Azkaban."

Harry's response reflected the gravity of the situation. "I'd really rather not spend any time with them, either."

Fleur couldn't help but huff in response. "In fact, I don't trust you not to do something stupid. I am coming with you."

A sense of panic crept into Harry's voice. "No. You can't."

Fleur, however, remained firm in her resolve. "I can and I will."

Desperation colored Harry's whispered plea. "Please, Fleur. I need to know you're safe and waiting. I need it."

She let go of him and crossed her arms. "I will be safe and waiting and with you."

The emptiness in Harry's eyes was haunting. "Please, Fleur. I can't lose you. I can't even risk losing you. Never. There's nothing else I have if you're gone."

Fleur felt a twist of guilt pierce through her. "Ah, of course. You would see it like that, wouldn't you, mon Cœur? One perfect wish for a boy who never got anything else."

She finally relented, her voice softening. "Fine. I understand. I don't like it, but I will wait. And you, you will come back."

Fleur swallowed back her emotions, her words revealing her own vulnerability. "Because it is not so different for me, either."

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