Saturday morning, when Harry woke up, he found himself feeling better than ever. He had energy buzzing through him, and he knew it had everything to do with a certain blonde beauty that he would see that evening.
When Sirius and Harry had arrived home from the ministry the day before, Sirius had sent a letter straight to Allard Delacour. Within a few hours, they had a reply. The Delacour’s would be joining them for dinner.
Harry had been extremely excited, once again had to contain himself from jumping up and down and had found himself with more energy than he knew what to do with. It had kept him from sleeping, but when he had finally managed to drift off that night, he had nothing but pleasant dreams and felt better rested than he had in weeks.
Around noon, Harry was in the library catching up on classes that he had missed the past few weeks. Hedwig had arrived not long after he woke up with detailed accounts from all his teachers on what he had missed. He thought it was best to get a jump start on his readings instead of waiting till Monday; it was also a distraction from watching the time tick by as he waited for Fleur and her family to arrive.
Harry had books spread out over the long table that sat in the library's centre and was flipping through a Charms textbook when he heard his father’s voice.
“Harry, can you come here please.”
Harry huffed and closed the book. His frustration was more to do with being interrupted mid hunt for the information he was after than his father calling him. Still, he made a mental check to try and relax.
He left the library and headed down the stairs when he spotted his father and the blonde beside him. His foot hit the bottom step, and his throat jumped to his throat. Fleur was standing beside his father; her long silver-blonde locks were shimmering under the sun that was glowing behind her. Her eyes were wide with excitement, and she was dressed in a very pretty dress that made her look almost angelic.
“Fleur.” Her name fell from his lips, and her face glowed.
“Hello, Harry.”
His feet rushed him across the hall, reaching for her. Harry wrapped his arms around her and lifted her into his arms, spinning her slightly as he buried his face into her neck and inhaled her scent. She was here; she was really in his arms.
Fleur squealed with delight as he grabbed her, wrapping her arms around him. When he settled her feet back on the ground, she laid her head on his shoulder and used one hand to run her fingers through his hair.
Harry sighed at the contact and squeezed her.
“I missed you,” said Harry.
“I missed you as well.” Fleur stroked his cheek.
“How come you came so early? I didn’t think I would see you until tonight?” he asked.
She smiled. “I could not wait that long.”
A beaming smile graced Harry’s face, and he found himself wanting to kiss her. But his typical father chose to pop their bubble by clearing his throat.
“Harry, can I trust you two to behave yourselves?” asked Sirius.
Harry frowned at him.
“I assure you, Mister Black, we will be on our best behaviour,” said Fleur.
Harry looked down at her. “Maybe.”
Sirius chuckled at his son. “I will leave you two be; a pleasure to meet you properly, Miss Delacour.”
“You as well, Mister Black.”
Harry kept hold of Fleur as his father walked away. Once he had disappeared, Harry cupped one of Fleur’s cheeks and looked at her lips. He wanted to kiss her, to taste her, but he didn’t know if he should.
Fleur smiled at him and said, “I have thought of nothing but you for so many weeks.”
“I think you are one of the few things that kept me going.” He stroked his thumb across her cheekbone. “I have wanted nothing but to be like this with you again.”
Fleur’s cheeks turned pink, and she wrapped both arms around his neck and pulled his head closer to hers.
Harry couldn’t stop himself, he leant down and kissed her. It was soft, sweet, a test of the waters between them. He had missed her but didn’t know if this was what she wanted. It made his heart flutter when Fleur deepened the kiss, squeezing her arms and pushing her body against his. One of her hands tangled in his hair, and she moaned against his lips.
Harry couldn’t help the groan she pulled from him as she ran her tongue across his lips before allowing her tongue to find his. He kept one hand on her cheek, caressing the skin, and used his other to slide around her waist.
When his lungs burned for air, he broke the kiss and smiled.
“I have wanted nothing more than to do that with you,” whispered Fleur. She kissed his brow.
“Fleur, I—” Harry struggled with his words. He didn’t know how to express his feelings for her; they were stronger than anything he had ever felt. He wanted her to know that she was everything to him, and no matter what, he wanted her as a part of his life.
“It is okay, mon amour.” Fleur pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I know.”
It took another few moments before Harry released Fleur enough for her to be able to walk. He took her on a tour of White Oak, showing her the main rooms; dining, sitting, and living rooms, the library, his potions lab, and finally, his bedroom.
As he opened the door and let her step in, he watched as she moved about the space. She stopped at his dresser and looked over the photos. One was of him with his parents, another of him and Carlisle, another of all his friends, and then a picture of him catching his first snitch. She smiled and reached out to run her finger of twelve-year-old Harry’s face.
“You were cute as a child,” she said.
Harry smiled. “And I no longer cute?”
She glanced over her shoulder at him and smirked. “Cute isn’t the right word. I would think handsome is better suited to you now.”
Harry said, “Careful, mon amour, you may give me a big head.”
She shrugged. “I don’t mind.”
Fleur moved about his room, looking over his books, stopping to stroke Hedwig, who was dozing on her perch by the window, before moving to sit on the edge of his bed. Harry let the door close behind him before moving to sit beside her. Their thighs touched as he sat, and he placed his hand on her knee, rubbing his thumb over the joint. She snuggled into his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his arm and placed her chin on his shoulder.
“How have you been?” she asked.
Harry nodded. “I’m okay. Every day I feel better.”
“That’s good. How is Harvey?” she asked.
Harry smiled. “Good, I think. I find myself surprised by him.”
“How so?”
“He is smarter than I realised; he picks things up quickly. And he is incredibly kind to me anyway.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I kind of expected there to be an awkward barrier that we would have to get through. But Harvey is so open, I just didn’t know what to expect.”
“It sounds like to me he is excited about getting to know you properly. Enjoy it while it lasts.” Fleur chuckled. “Soon, he will be an annoying little brother that you love but wish would stop talking.”
Harry chuckled. “Sounds like Gabriella has been chatting your ear off.”
“Has she ever. Mostly about you.”
“Me?”
She nodded.
“She hardly spoke to me; anytime she saw me, she would blush and run away.”
Fleur shrugged. “She claims that you are the best boyfriend I could ask for.”
“Boyfriend? Is that what I am?” he asked. His tone was mostly teasing, but he was hopeful that she would say he was.
She tightened her grip around his arm and brought their heads closer. “I was hoping I could call you that.”
Harry smiled. “I would love nothing more.” He closed the space, kissing her. Kissing his girlfriend.
The simple kiss deepened, both shifting to get themselves closer. Harry moved his arm from her knee to wrap it around her waist. Fleur lifted herself up and managed to place her knees on either side of his thighs, straddling him without breaking their kiss.
As she settled on his thighs, Harry found himself liking how close she was. Their chests rubbed against each other; he could slide his hands up her back, across her thighs; and he could easily slide his lips from her mouth to her throat. He wanted more, but he knew it was too soon. Their relationship was happening quickly, and while he was thrilled by her, wanting to touch and taste her, hold her in his arms, his feelings were a mess.
Their kisses slowed, and Fleur found herself smiling down at him, her hands on his cheeks. “What would happen if your father walked in on us?” she asked.
Harry shrugged. “He wouldn’t be too fussed. Are you worried he has concerns about you stealing my virtue?”
Fleur laughed and shook her head. “Your virtue?”
“Yes, my virtue.” Harry chuckled. “I am a very delicate person.”
Fleur, still laughing, kissed him softly. “Is it in my future to deflower my delicate boyfriend?”
Harry smiled. “I wish, but that ship has sailed.”
“Is it bad that I’m kind of glad? First times are always awkward and messy.” Fleur kissed him again.
Harry shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me. I do know that I will still probably be an awkward mess, just a forewarning.”
Fleur kissed him deeper this time, letting it linger. “I am all for you being an awkward mess.”
The two of them ended up tangled on his bed. Fleur was flipping through a potion’s books, one he had warned down the spine of, while she ran her fingers through his hair. Harry had his head resting against her chest, his arms around her waist, and listened to her hum. He didn’t know if she realised that tune that floated from her mouth, but it was relaxing.
“Is that a lullaby?” he asked.
Fleur paused. “Um…my mother used to sing it to me when I was little. If I ever had a nightmare, it helped calm me down. She sings it for Gabrielle too.”
Harry smiled. “Can you sing it for me?”
She blushed and closed the book. “I suppose.” She ran her fingers through his hair and started to sing. The words were sweet, those that would be spoken between a mother and child. Harry let the sound of Fleur’s voice flow over him, and it gently rocked him to sleep.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6PpbP15LR
*
*
*
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWJ26idh9F
Harry awoke later that afternoon, alone on his bed. The sheets were still warm beside him, which meant Fleur hadn’t left too long ago. He sat up and glanced around his room before moving towards the door.
As he stepped into the hall, he heard Fleur’s laughter echo from downstairs. He followed the noise and found Fleur sitting in the main sitting room with his father; Sirius had a photo album on his lap open.
“He was always very determined as a child,” said Sirius.
“I don’t believe that has changed,” said Fleur.
“What are you two doing?” asked Harry. His voice was still croaky from sleep.
They both turned to look at him. Sirius said, “Since you decided to take a nap and leave your lady friend alone—bad form, my boy, I thought I taught you better—I decided she needed to see what she was getting herself into.” He pointed to the other two albums stacked on the table.
Harry groaned.
Fleur laughed and said, “Your father has been telling me all about the trouble you and your cousin Carlisle caused.”
Harry sighed and sat down beside her, laying his arm behind her on the couch. “I didn’t do anything; it was all Carlisle.”
“Harry, we both know that while Carlisle is the troublemaker, you did nothing to stop him,” said Sirius.
Harry shrugged. “It is what it is; now put those away.” He reached to take the album, but Fleur grabbed his hand.
“No, I like seeing pictures of you as a kid.” She held his hand against her chest. “You were adorable.”
He relented and leant his head on his shoulder. “As long as you don’t let him show your parents.”
Fleur giggled. “No promises, mon amour.”
They sat on the couch, flipping through photos. Harry provided his own commentary as Sirius seemed to explain elaborate tales, which were highly over-exaggerated. Sirius did end up getting pulled away from them after he received a letter and left them alone.
Harry was pressing gentle kisses to her shoulder, and Fleur asked, “Can we go for a walk outside? I’ve never seen England before.”
He nodded. “Of course, you won’t see much other than fields; we are isolated out here.”
He led her out the room and towards the back entrance. He didn’t spend much time out in the gardens unless he was collecting potion ingredients, but it had been a place he had visited often as a child.
Stepping out the back door, they stopped on the patio as Fleur looked around. She smiled as she took in the well-manicured garden. Harry led her from the patio past the greenhouse to the back pastures. They walked along the edge of the fence through the green grass.
“Did your family keep horses?” asked Fleur.
He didn’t know if any Black before them had kept any animals, but their home did have stables. “Possibly, I’m unsure. White Oak was left empty for a few generations.”
“Why was that?” she asked.
“Our family brought properties closer to London; White Oak was kept more secluded so that it could remain a safe house for any Black family members,” explained Harry.
“Is that why the wards are so strong?”
“Are they uncomfortable?” Harry knew that sometimes the White Oak wards could be difficult to deal with, especially for people who stayed under them for extended periods. Normally guests never noticed because they weren’t around for longer than a few hours.
“Not uncomfortable, just heavy.” Fleur smiled. “You don’t mind them, though?”
He shook his head. “I hardly notice it. I’ve grown up with them; it's more comforting to feel them.”
“Sounds like White Oak Manor is your safe place.”
Harry nodded. “It is. Nothing bad ever happened here. And my father brought me here for the whole purpose of keeping me safe.”
“Did something happen when you were younger?” she asked.
It took Harry a moment to realise that she didn’t know. She had probably heard of Harvey Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, but she didn’t know that his brother Harvey was the same person. “I didn’t realise I hadn’t told you.”
She gave him a curious look.
“My brother Harvey, his surname is Potter.”
Her eyes widened. “Harvey Potter, as in the one who survived that dark wizard?”
Harry nodded. “He wasn’t the only one.”
“You?”
“The details are a little blurry; I don’t remember much, just pieces. I remember waking up, and my stomach hurt; I remember hearing Harvey fussing in his crib, so I went to check on him; I remember my mum screaming; and a flash of green light.”
Fleur wrapped her arm around his waist and leant into him.
“From what Dad has told me, he showed up after it happened, and somehow we were all okay. Harvey had a scar on his forehead and was dubbed the Boy-Who-Lived, the one who survived the Killing Curse. After that, Dad moved us here, determined to keep me safe, worried about retaliation from Voldemort’s followers.”
Fleur paused. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say his name.”
“He’s dead, nothing to fear about a name,” said Harry.
He had always found it ridiculous that everyone was scared to say his name; there had been a time when it had been dangerous to say it, for fear that his followers would find you. Still, he had been dead for eleven years; there was no need to fear him.
“Why did he come after your brother?” asked Fleur as they continued their walk.
“Some sort of prophecy, I don’t know a lot of the details. But this prophecy was spoken, somehow it got back to Voldemort, and he got it in his head that it was talking about Harvey, their circumstances fit the prophecy, so he went after them.”
“Wow.” Fleur frowned. “What kind of horrible person attacks children?”
Harry shrugged. “A dark wizard.”
“I’m glad you both are okay.” She stopped them and turned to face Harry. “After all, I wouldn’t have met you if you didn’t survive.”
“That is very true; you would have missed out on all this.” Harry gestured to himself, giving her a playful smile.
Fleur laughed, and her face seemed to glow. “I think your ego needs to be taken down a notch.” She nudged his chest.
Harry pulled her into his arms, his hands clasping her waist and her arms wrapped around his neck. Being with Fleur opened a different side to him; her beaming smile was what he wanted to see on her face every second. He liked making her laugh and seeing the blush across her cheeks; he liked how she teased him.
“I like this side of you,” she said.
“Me too.” He pressed a kiss to her head. “I think I’ve talked enough about me; tell me about your childhood. Do you have traumatic events that have left you emotionally scarred and damaged, or is that just me?”
Fleur let out a small snicker but placed her hands on his cheeks. “You may have some scars, but I don’t think you’re damaged.” She kissed him softly. “I think you just have some wounds that need to heal, and I am here to help them do just that.”
Harry smiled. “You’re the best medicine I could ask for.”
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkrfUgroE1
*
*
*
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG731P5UDb
Dinner was to be served at seven. Fleur and Harry had returned to the house not long before six and headed upstairs to get ready. It turned out that Fleur had bought a dress with her for dinner, and his father had placed it in a spare room for her to get ready. She left Harry with a sweet kiss before stepping inside.
Harry readied himself in his room, dressing as he had been raised. He dressed in a black suit, with a dark navy-blue button-up and a black tie. He combed his finger through his hair and slid on a pair of black boots. As he looked in the mirror, he could see the ‘Black’ glaring back at him. He felt like he should push his emotions in, put up the mask he remembered, and be the young man he had once been. But he couldn’t do that; he wouldn’t risk Fleur.
With a deep breath, he left his room and found his father waiting near the entrance. Fleur’s family were due to arrive shortly, and Sirius was straightening his jacket as Harry reached him.
“You ready for a dinner with the family?” asked Sirius.
Harry nodded. “I am. Just don’t embarrass yourself, and it will be fine.”
Sirius smirked. “If I embarrass anyone, it will be you.”
Harry smirked back. “You tell yourself that, old man.”
Sirius clapped him on the shoulder as a click of heels caught their ears.
Harry turned towards the stairs and saw Fleur standing at the top of them. She was dressed in a lavender dress that fell just past her knees. It had delicate lace detailing along the hem and across the bodice, and Harry noticed the tasteful amount of cleavage that she was showing.
He had to remember how to breathe before he approached the bottom of the stairs and took her hand. He kissed her palm and said, “My love, you look ravishing.”
Fleur blushed but smiled brightly. “You look very handsome yourself.” She moved to lean into him.
Harry slid his arm around her waist and escorted her towards his father.
“You look beautiful, Miss Delacour,” said Sirius.
“Thank you, Mister Black.”
“Are you two really going to keep up the surname thing?” asked Harry. He had listened to them chat comfortably in the sitting room earlier.
Fleur smiled. “It’s called being polite.”
Harry squeezed her hip. “My father is anything but.”
Sirius frowned. “Hey, that’s rude.”
Fleur and Harry laughed as the sound of the Floo activating echoed. Sirius stepped forward, and they waited. The Delacour stepped out into the hall with a house-elf just in front of them.
“Sirius!” cried Allard. He walked forward and shook Sirius’ hand enthusiastically. “Good to see you again.”
Sirius said, “You as well, Allard.”
Allard turned to his family. “You remember my wife, Apolline, and my other daughter, Gabrielle.”
Sirius took Apolline’s hand and pressed a kiss to it. “Yes, of course. Apolline, you look wonderful this evening.”
Apolline smiled. “Thank you, Sirius. You do clean up nice yourself.”
“I do try.”
Gabrielle stepped up beside her mother and twirled her pink dress. She asked, “Fleur picked out my dress for me. Do you like it, Mister Black?”
Sirius smiled down at her and nodded. “I do, Miss Gabrielle, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She blushed.
Allard stepped toward Harry and held out his hand. “Harrison, you look well.”
Harry smiled at the man and took his hand. “I am, thank you. Things have certainly improved since our rather unusual introduction.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Allard released his hand and stepped forward to press a kiss to Fleur’s cheek. “Fleur, I hope you behaved yourself today.”
Fleur frowned at him. “Papa, please. Don’t start.”
“Why are you getting the lecture?” asked Harry. He had expected to be interrogated on his intentions for Fleur.
Allard chuckled. “Fleur was a little over-excited to see you; I just hope that you both will be responsible with whatever decisions you make.”
“Papa!” yelled Fleur.
“Allard!” Apolline smacked her shoulder’s arm.
Allard shrugged. “What? They are teenagers. I remember what you were like at her age.”
“This is not a conversation to have with company,” said Apolline.
Allard rolled his eyes. “Women.”
Feeling Fleur’s annoyance, Harry said, “Father, why don’t we move to the dining room?”
“Of course, follow me.”
Sirius led them all to the dining room. Fleur was tense, but Harry gave her hand a squeeze and tried to keep his laughter in. Allard wasn’t shy about anything, and while it was clear Fleur was embarrassed, Harry was just glad that Allard trusted him with her.
They took their seats, Sirius at the head of the table, Allard to his left, with Apolline beside him. Harry sat to his right with Fleur beside him and Gabrielle next to her. The house-elf brought out entrees first.
The adults had quickly fallen into a political conversation, and Harry had no interest in trying to keep up. Instead, he took Fleur’s hand and drew his thumb across her palm as they ate. He noticed the small frown on her face.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
She nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
Gabrielle looked at them. “French please, I’m not got with English yet.”
Harry smiled at her. “My apologise, Gabrielle. I was merely making sure your sister was alright.”
Gabrielle smiled. “It’s normal. Papa often upsets Fleur. Mama told me that it’s because he embarrasses her, but I don’t understand why.”
Fleur sighed. “You will one day, little sister.”
“Harrison, how have your studies? You mentioned your apprenticeship during our last conversation,” said Allard.
Harry nodded. “My school studies were temporarily put on hold, but they will resume on Monday. As for my apprenticeship, it is going well. My mentor, Severus Snape, is doing his job in making sure I’m challenged at every turn.”
“And you enjoy the challenge?” asked Apolline.
Harry smiled. “Very much. If education isn’t challenging, then I find that I grow bored very quickly.”
Apolline smiled. “Fleur is the same with her studies. She is very bright and tends to aggravate her teachers.”
“Mama, please.” Fleur frowned. “I thought Papa was the only parent I had to be concerned about.”
Allard chuckled. “Fleur, we are having dinner with a boy that has every intention of courting you; if the way he looks at you tells me anything, of course, we are going to warn him.”
Sirius let out a laugh, as did Apolline. Fleur glared at her father, but it turned to Harry when he couldn’t hold in his own laughter.
“You are just mean,” said Fleur.
Harry bit his lip before leaning forward and kissing the side of your head. “Forgive me, my love.”
Fleur rolled her eyes. She didn’t say that he was forgiven, but she squeezed his hand.
Dinner continued in the same manner. The adults talked about several topics, most of which Harry and Fleur stayed silent and spoke quietly to each other, making sure to include Gabrielle. There were a few times that Fleur’s frown returned, but Allard was only teasing her. When the teasing was turned on Harry, he took it in good stride as Allard and Sirius enjoyed themselves, roaring with laughter over the silliest things.
By the time dessert was placed on the table, Fleur held one Harry’s hand in both of hers in her lap. Allard was speaking to Sirius about Quidditch which had caught up Harry’s attention.
“Harry plays quidditch at Hogwarts; he is the seeker on his team,” said Sirius.
Allard asked, “Wonderful, I would love to see you play, my boy. When is your next match?”
“In a few weeks,” said Harry.
“Fantastic. Apolline, did you want to come too?”
“Can I, Papa?” asked Gabrielle.
“Of course.”
Fleur said, “I shall have to miss it; school is keeping me busy.”
“Nonsense, I’m sure I can convince your headmistress to release you for the day.”
“Papa, it’s not necessary,” insisted Fleur.
Allard frowned. “Fleur, you have always enjoyed Quidditch.”
“What’s wrong?” asked Harry.
Fleur shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
Allard sighed. “Alright, fine. You can miss out. But we shall be there, cheering you on.”
Harry nodded. “I appreciate that, sir.”
It was subtle, but Fleur’s mood shifted. She seemed to poke at her dessert but not really eat it. Harry squeezed her hand before saying, “Would you mind if Fleur and I left you?”
Sirius nodded. “Of course.”
Allard said the same.
Fleur gave him a look but didn’t say anything. Harry just led her from the dining room, down the hall and into the sitting room. Instead of sitting on the sofa, he took her out onto the balcony and wrapped his arms around her as she shivered at the cool air.
“It’s beautiful up here,” she said.
Harry smiled and said, “Doesn’t compare to you, mon amour.”
“Very smooth,” she teased.
Harry kissed her neck. “I thought so.”
Fleur leaned into him and started to hum the same melody from earlier. Her body seemed to relax, and he closed his eyes and listened for a moment longer. He knew that something had affected her as they had sat at the table; it seemed to happen around the mention of Quidditch.
“Do you not like Quidditch?” he asked.
Fleur shook her head. “No, I enjoy the game. It is fun.”
He kissed her shoulder. “Then why did you become tense when your father mentioned coming to watch me play.”
Her shoulders tensed.
“Like they just did.”
Fleur sighed and turned to look at him. “It’s stupid.”
“I don’t think so. If it bothers, you then it matters.” Harry tried to offer her a comforting smile.
“I didn’t want to watch you play because I don’t want to see you get hurt,” she said.
“Why would that be stupid?” he asked.
Fleur shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“I can assure you that I will be fine. I’ve played Quidditch for many years and have never fallen off my broom. In fact, the Seeker is the one position I’m less likely to get injured in,” said Harry.
“I know, I’m just being stupid. I’m sorry.” Fleur tried to bury her face in her hands.
He stopped her and cupped her cheeks. “I told you you're not being stupid. I think it's sweet that you care. But if you did come to my game, it would mean we could steal a few private moments.” A smile flooded Harry’s cheeks as he pictured stealing her away in a quiet corner and kissing her. “More moments like this.” His words dropped to a whisper, and he pressed their lips together.
Fleur moaned into the kiss, her hands holding onto Harry.
As he pulled back, she said, “I think that sounds perfect.” She pulled him back for another kiss.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
