Unveiling Destiny: Harry Potter and the Triwizard Revelation

He had butterflies in his stomach. There really shouldn't be. He'd fought against a basilisk, acromantulas, and even Voldemort himself, twice even. Yet here he was, approaching the entrance to Fleur's room and he was nervous.

It wasn't meeting Fleur that was making his stomach flutter, not in the least, though she could make other parts of him do other things… No, no no, it's really best not to think about that right now. He'd only seem those glorious masterpieces of physical perfection once, the two handfuls of warmth that kept lingering in his thoughts and haunting his dreams, as much as he'd wanted to go and keep advancing that burgeoning aspect of their relationship.

No, that part was something that was practically plaguing him, in the very best of ways. What had his stomach full of flutters was visiting the Delacour family again. He'd been to visit them a few times now, at their home, but this was different. The betrothal negotiations were going well, he'd been told, with very few impediments, only good faith negotiations. The economic aspects were covered and the political points were well under control, the Potter and Delacour families had historically similar viewpoints, much of this already established with the close ties from recent generations.

This didn't feel like just another visit. This request to come felt more along the lines of a final size up of a suitor for their daughter, the heiress of a prestigious French family. Slughorn had confirmed as much, as the request hadn't come through Fleur, like usual, Patrice was the one who made the request, through Slughorn.

There was more to it than that, however. Horace and Cyrus knew they needed more allies, they needed more bodies on what they were terming to be the Council. Dumbledore had his Order of the Phoenix, like Alastor Moody, Voldemort had his Death Eaters and his Inner Circle ones, like Bellatrix Lestrange, and Harry's team needed to assemble their own. They couldn't prepare and wage a war with just the three of them. They needed to begin preparing.

The goal wasn't to raise an army. This wasn't a conventional war. They wouldn't be assembling arms, training forces and sending them out onto the battlefield. Terming this stage as a war was a misnomer. This really felt more like covert operations, economic and resource warfare. The type of actions done in Guerilla warfare or sabotage. The entire goal was to dismantle Tom Riddle's powerbase, should he return, and remove future threats.

Unfortunately, as great as each individual person was, Harry, Horace and Cyrus, they had the makings of a strong core group but it wasn't enough. They needed to recruit new members and ensure the quality of them was kept up.

They had a few candidates, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Patrice Delcaour, and Ivan Pavlov were amongst the ones which Harry knew were in consideration. Cyrus and Horace had candidates of their own that they were looking into. One of the plans for Harry, for tonight, was to assess and possibly bring the Delacour family into the know. They wouldn't learn everything, but, with the proper oaths, they may get to learn of Voldemort's survival and the need to begin combating a possible return in earnest.

Patrice, Apolline and Fleur were the easiest people on the list, and the most likely allies. While they had an agenda, by asking for Harry's attendance tonight, Harry had one as well, and his own plans would more than likely throw theirs off kilter.

One of the things Harry was adamant, refusing to ever consider giving ground on, was on secrecy and foolproof ways to ensure they could not be betrayed. It cost his parents their lives and they had magical ways to ensure it never could happen . If the Delacour family wanted to know what was really going on in Magical England than they'd be making the oath. It doesn't matter who the person was, no oath, no information. In fact, he was so paranoid about it he wouldn't let Horace or Cyrus bring anyone up to speed without his presence. He trusted his two advisors but why take the risk?

Harry's feet carried him Fleur's door and he knocked. Now, he was just waiting for her to answer and let him in. The door swung open and Harry was shocked by the sight before him.

It was Fleur. But not how he expected, not at all.

His eyes widened, his breathing stilled and his body froze at the sight of her. Shocked didn't feel like a strong enough word to describe his state of being.

Here was Harry, a red blooded fourteen year old, nervous and thinking about politics and relationship issues and he knocks on Fleur's door only to have the young part veela answer the door in a state of undress that should have had her blushing, have her covering herself, or letting out a screech for him seeing her in such a state of undress.

That wasn't what Fleur was doing. She was smirking at him!

Her smug look all but proclaiming that she'd gotten the response she wanted.

"Are you going to just stand there, 'arry? I thought you'd be excited to see me like this, non?"

Harry blinked, trying to get his senses working correctly. He did not just hear that correctly, did he?

Had Fleur Delacour, the seventeen year old drop dead, you might murder your buddy to see naked, just answered her room, in the Beauxbatons carriage with nothing but a skin tight pair of shorts, that stopped closer to her waist than her knees?

She giggled and covered her mouth, in a futile effort to stifle them.

Harry's jaw was lowered, whenever it had dropped he hadn't noticed, and he tried to form words to say but he was still speechless.

Fleur Delacour just answered the door without a stitch of clothing above her waist! And here she was giggling at his stupefied response, which was doing magical things to her chest, his eyes were mesmerized watching her breasts bounce .

Bloody.

Fucking.

Hell.

The whole exchange felt like it lasted for minutes, but, in reality, it was mere seconds, no more than a dozen.

Harry rapidly shook his head, shaking off his shock.

The agreed plan was for Harry to prepare himself then meet Fleur in her room, before the two would depart together. She had asked him to come early, cutting his self-study shorter than he would have liked.

"Aren't you worried someone will see you like this?" Through the whole exchange she'd been smug, sexy and then full of mirth, never worried about others seeing her.

"Non." She replied quickly, grabbing his hand and pulling him into the room.

"Why not?" Harry really wanted to know.

"Magic." She told him cheekily.

Fleur pulled him to the sitting area and then abruptly spun around facing Harry, advertently giving him a full look at her exposed chest.

There must be some sort of sorcery involved here. Every time he saw her tits bounce, his eyes refused to not follow the savory sight, much less blink, or blaspheme against all that is holy by looking away.

"I thought you'd like me to greet you like this. Perhaps I should put some more clothing on, non?"

Harry could hear her teasing tone, it had a strong undercurrent of supreme satisfaction. Harry was sure she loved throwing him off so much, with just her body.

Harry didn't give her the opportunity for that. He closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers, his left hand starting on her hip and working its way up her back while his right hand started on the same spot, just on the opposing side, and worked its way up the left front side of her body. His fingers tracing, skirting around the outside of her breast, teasing, tickling her. He felt vindicated with his deliberately frustrating movements when she pushed her chest forward, his hand palming her soft warm flesh and hardened nipple.

Harry really hadn't expected he'd be getting his hand to such an amazing place again today. It had only happened once and he wondered if she'd allow it to progress that far again, anytime soon. It might have just been a way to drive out the dark thoughts that the Maginot Line memory had put into his mind but, obviously and thankfully, he'd been wrong about that.

Instead of backsliding, their physical relationship, had, apparently, opened the door wide open to the next stage.

But Harry wasn't thinking about what this could mean. His right hand kept massaging her and his left continued to work up and down the back of her body. It freely roamed from her hair all the way down to her derrière.

They kept at it, lips moving together, tongues battling and Harry using his hands to explore and massage her body. The moans, gasps and soft bites were ecstasy, turning up the dial on his excitement.

Suddenly Fleur groaned, longer and deeper than she had been, and pulled away, her eyes full of lust and desire, breathing heavily and her chest heaved after she sucked in, then held, a deep breath.

In a single fluid motion, she shoved him back, both hands pushing his shoulders, forcing him to fall back onto the couch, into an uneven, slouched position.

Harry gazed up at her, his body feeling the loss of her body heat, his hormone addled mind wondered what she was doing, what she wanted by pushing him onto the couch.

He was momentarily worried that his blatant groping had pushed things too far, not that he would have understood that, when Fleur had answered the door half naked, but the fleeting thought had no merit.

Fleur closed the distance between them and she fell forward onto the couch, one knee to either side of him and her hands on the back of the couch, on either side of him, she straddled him.

"Mon dieu, juste comme ça 'arry" The panted words escaped her luscious lips. Her hands were switching between massaging his scalp, running through his hair and pulling it. That she had switched to her native language, well that didn't do anything but make his anatomy twitch, the only word he understood was her heavily accented calling exclamation of his name.

How long they continued for, Harry wouldn't be able to tell. He was in a euphoric bliss, with almost complete access to Fleur's body and her tacit, vocal, approval of his hands-on appreciation of her wondrous body. In the meantime, Fleur had ground her body down against him, moaning and enjoying it as much, maybe more, as he was.

At the end, Fleur had collapsed forward onto him and mumbled her love for what they had done. Harry wasn't complaining, having her on him.

"We 'ave to stop, 'arry." Fleur whispered, aghast at the words leaving her mouth. "I wouldn't be able to stop soon… we should stop…" She rested her head against him again.

Harry ran his hands up and down her back, gently caressing her, going nowhere near anything that might be considered sexual, just soothing, calming motions.

"Is this how I should expect to be greeted everytime I come to the carriage?" Harry teased her, his voice soft and playful, a grin stretching across his face as he looked down, his chin tucked as he buried his nose in her silky smooth silver hair.

"Did you not like it, enjoy it?"

"I did… I really did…"

"I do not know…?" She said it in such a way that it was somewhat of a question. "Veela are tactile, touchy-feely. I love to be in contact with you, I like to feel your body against mine, I love to feel your emotions when we are…" She hummed in thought, "'ow do you say? Passionné?"

"Impassioned? When our hormones are running wild, the blood is pumping and all I want is more of you?" Harry summed up the feelings she had tried to express.

"Mmm," She took a long breath in and exhaled slowly, "oui…"

"So you're saying, because you are part veela, that you want to show off your incredible figure and feel me react to physical affection, that we'll be doing a whole lot more of this?" Harry tried to gesture to her naked upper body, and their intimate position, but with his hands behind her back it was a futile endeavor.

"Oui."

Harry already considered himself bloody lucky to have snogged Fleur, getting to grope her was the fulfillment of an adolescent dream, but hearing this…. He really was a lucky bastard. Well, if you considered the Dark Lord murdering his parents and still being after him… maybe things were starting to pile up on the positive side, trying to even out the metric fuck-ton of shit he'd had to deal with his whole life.

"Are you sure it's fine to answer the door sans shirt?" Harry asked, he was still bothered by that, anyone could have seen! It was her body but his preference was definitely that he was the luckiest guy at Hogwarts, not one of them.

Fleur giggled softly, "French, really, 'arry?"

Harry tried to shrug but it wasn't very effectual with Fleur resting on him still, restricting his shoulder movement.

"Are you worried someone else will see, are you jealous someone else may see, 'arry?" Harry could tell she was poking fun at him, with her questions, there was no worry or nervousness.

Harry frowned, trying to come up with a reason for that. Fleur had never dressed in a slutty or super provocative way, that he could recall.

"There is an Aversion Charm on the door." Fleur told him, simply, as if it explained everything.

Harry looked down at her blankly. He wasn't really sure what it meant. He knew the meaning of 'aversion' but that didn't give him a clear understanding of the charm. Did it make people have a strong disinclination to the door?

Fleur pushed herself up and was pouting at him, her bottom lip protruded. She looked so cute and sexy, her body exposed and open to his eyes again.

Harry forgot that he was talking with Fleur for a moment, until Fleur covered her chest with her arms. "Will you listen now, 'arry?" The wry smile indicating she wasn't upset he was distracted by her body once more.

Harry blushed lightly and nodded.

"The charm is the predecessor and basis for the Fidelius Charm. While the successor 'ides a location, the Aversion Charm makes people strongly not wish to be in, nor take notice of, an area. I put one on my room, I've 'ad to 'ave one on my door since I started at Beauxbatons," she added this little note, looking away from him.

"Is it a well known charm?" Harry hadn't heard of it and was curious, wanting to study up on it.

"Non. Like the Fidelius, it is notorioutely difficult."

Harry used a small cough to hide his laugh at her mispronouncing the word. "Notoriously." He gently corrected. Really, she had a rather impressive vocabulary and she wasn't bothered by making mistakes, in short order she'd be fluent and sound more like a native speaker, Harry figured, she only had a minor accent already.

Fleur wrinkled her nose, and her eyes narrowed, before her lips broke into a small smile. "The downside is the person who casts the spell is the only one that can bring or allow you to look past it. You 'ave to be present to guide them though and you can take precautions to get past them, when you are looking for someone, or some place."

"So, because they are obscure, and nobody is looking for Aversion Charms, they work well?"

Fleur shifted her head side to side and pinched her lips, "Oui".

She stood up and took a half step back. "I need to get ready, I don't think you wish for me to show up like this you in front of Papa, Maman and Gabrielle, non?"

Fleur sauntered off toward her bedroom, sashaying away, with her hips having exaggerated movement to give her shapely derrière a magnetic sway. Just before she turned the corner, heading out of his line of sight, she looked back at him, over her shoulder, and gave him a sultry wink.

Harry grinned, it was good to be him sometimes, those shorts didn't leave much to the imagination.

"Welcome Harry." Patrice held out his hand, a strong handshake ensued. Harry smiled at the man and then looked at the other two.

Apolline was a vision of beauty, just as she always was. Seeing her, a woman who'd had two children and could still easily fulfill the fixture of teenage wet dreams. Elegance and beauty personified in a single package, a warm and loving mother, a woman who Harry couldn't help but like and enjoy his time when around her, she just simply cared for his well being, no more, no less.

"'Arry!" Apolline embraced him next, kissing his cheek before wrapping him up in a warm hug.

"Are you going to say hello to 'arry, Gabrielle?" Apolline asked her youngest, who was standing there, her knees touching, with her right one bent and a little in front of her left, her hands, and arms, pressed against her body, her fingers locked together and wriggling. Gabrielle had her eyes looking down at the bottom of her dress, or possibly her stocking clad feet.

Harry exchanged a glance to Fleur, her sister hadn't come and greeted either of them, she'd stood demurely, frozen to the spot she occupied. Fleur shot him a tight smile, one that didn't reach her eyes, eyes that betrayed the worry for her adorable little sister.

Harry bent down to one knee, lowering himself to be the same level as the shy little girl in front of him. "Gabrielle," he said, keeping his voice soft and light, "I have someone very special that I'd like you to meet." His words drew her attention, her eyes lifting up from her feet for the first time since he arrived, "Her name is Cuddles and I know she'll love you."

Harry heard Fleur drew in a sharp breath. Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement, her hand flying to her mouth, covering it. Harry ignored the curious, questioning glances of the elder Delacours, keeping his attention on the little girl in front of him, one that was far less rambunctious, energetic and outgoing than before.

The youngest silver-blonde haired female didn't verbally respond but Harry could see a hopeful expression on her face, even if she was still rather guarded to his presence.

He slowly moved his arm and reached into his pocket. HIs hand grasped his familiar and he slowly withdrew her, Cuddle's appearance eliciting gasps from the little girl's parents.

"Now, I must tell you she loves to cuddle and be pet. Do you think you'd like to do that?" Harry asked gently and with a sprinkling of excitement.

He got a series of short nods, excitement danced in her eyes and her hands came apart, her palms up and open, reaching forward a tiny bit, toward the little dragon.

Harry lowered Cuddles to the ground and let the dragon walk the distance between the two. As she got close Harry saw Gabrielle begin to recoil away from the dragon and he moved closer, just a foot away from her and within easy reach of his familiar.

"She likes to be pet like this." Harry ran the back of his fingers along her head, down her neck and over her body, repeating the motion.

Cuddles almost melted but kept moving toward the little girl. When she got to her destination Gabrielle hand her open hand down her neck and giggled. Whatever excited words that she said in french were lost on him but the overall situation wasn't. Gabrielle sported a huge grin and she moved closer and then glomped his poor dragon, she squealed as she hugged his small familiar.

Harry felt Fleur's hand on his shoulder, he stood up and looked at her. Fleur hugged herself to him and her eyes were full of emotion as she clung to his arm. "Merci 'arry, merci." Her voice was thick as she watched a gleeful Gabrielle chatter excitedly to her mother, she was holding Cuddles and looked like she was in heaven.

"She's been…" Fleur started out before trailing off. She swallowed and continued, her voice not much more than a gentle whisper, "she's 'ad a rough time recovering."

Harry nodded, he could will imagine how difficult the Second Task would have been on the poor girl. To be captured by giant man-eating spiders, wrapped up and kept a prisoner for hours… That would be psychological torturing a small, innocent child. It may have been good for the organizers to have lost their lives, he doubted they'd want to be alive when the family extracted vengeance for what they'd put their little angel through.

"She's safe?" Apolline asked lowly, her eyes affixed to her youngest, "with zis.. Cuddles?"

"Yes. She's my familiar. The only thing unsafe would by anyone trying to harm your daughter. They'd be in for a world of hurt. She's still a dragon and will be ferocious when the situation calls for it but she loves affection and she loves to play. They should have a great time together.

Already Harry could see a whole day of gaiety for them. Cuddles had taken off and was flying around a screaming Gabrielle, the little princess' arms were waving and trying to capture the elusive dragon.

Fleur still had her two hands clenched around his arm and her head dropped onto his shoulder as she watched her sister and Harry's familiar play together. Harry saw a tears leak from her eyes.

"Merci." Patrice said to him as well. "This is the first time I've seen her so lively, so happy and carefree. Merci young man, merci, you have our gratitude."

Harry didn't think it was such a big deal. He knew if he was a little boy, again, he'd love to play with a tiny dragon. He assumed Gabrielle would react similarly, to what he would have, and let his familiar out to have some fun. Plus, openly revealing his familiar to them was a calculated move. Seeing proof of her existence was a power move. Harry had control of a dragon, one that could be sweet and cuddly or vicious and frightening, with the capability of destroying an acromantula colony single handedly. Her appearance was a part of the multi-tiered plan Slughorn, Greengrass and him and come up with.

"Fleur, would you mind supervising your sister? I'm sure you'd love to spend more time with her." Gabrielle was almost out of the entry room and she was running away, shrieking in delight as Cuddles flew after her.

"Of course Papa." She kissed Harry on the cheek and swiftly made her way after her sister.

Apolline used the absence of Fleur to move forward and wrap Harry up in another hug. "Merci." Patrice grabbed his wife's hand and pulled her toward him, wrapping an arm around her back. "Come Harry, we'll explain this a little better."

Harry followed the couple into the family sitting area and wasn't surprised to see a selection of drinks arrayed on the table, it had been prepared ahead of time.

Harry politely requested a tea, when prompted, and sipped at it while he awaited his hosts to get their preferred drinks in hand. When the couple sat together on the love seat, Patrice began to explain what had happened to Gabrielle.

"After coming out of the paralysis, Gabrielle was totally withdrawn. She didn't eat, didn't play, talk, or really do anything. The experience she had been through, it caused her to totally almost shut down, to cave in on herself. She was almost catatonic." He shook his head and drank his specialized coffee, Harry had missed whatever it was that he had his elf procure for him.

"We brought her home but she wasn't improving. She clung to us and barely responded to stimuli… we had to do something."

Apolline continued where her husband had let off. "It is not an easy thing to recover from. We sought to 'ave 'er memories removed but zis is almost impossible. The experience was too long, too dramatic, and too ingrained in her psyche. If it had just been a day, or a short trauma, like a kidnapping attempt, it could be wiped from her mind with little issue. But zis… not this 'orrid ordeal." Apolline glass was shaking, Harry could see the barely controlled anger within her.

Patrice rubbed her arm and took back over. "We hired the top specialist healers we could find. In the end they couldn't remove the incident. Instead they blunted it, they lessened its impact on our Gabrielle. Already, we have begun tutoring her in the mind arts, the best method for dealing with emotional trauma but it is not such an easy thing. She is young, too young to learn this. But, we do what we must."

"Gabrielle's tutors 'ave gone into her mind and done the best they can but it 'asn't been enough. She's been better, slowly recovering but she's not been 'erself."

"Our worry is for the long-term. Part veela already have issues at a magical school and our girl doesn't need any other issues to make it more difficult when she attends Beauxbatons."

Harry listened quietly and hadn't felt the need to interject any of his own words into the conversation yet.

"Zat was until just now." Apolline was smiling at him, her face full of emotion. "What you've done 'as given us 'ope 'arry. Hope our daughter can fully recover. It's the first time we've seen 'er back to normal." Though he could see unshed tears, her disposition was one of hopeful joy, Harry could see how the plight of their young daughter was taking a toll on the family.

"If nothing else, your presence here has been immensely helpful to my daughter." Patrice said and Harry could hear the transitory nature of the sentence, they were about to get into it.

"I had asked you here for a purpose today. Our families have been allies for about half a century and I wanted to clarify some of what your advisors have been discussing with me. While I do not doubt their words, it can be reassuring to hear them directly. I do not take the marrying off of my eldest lightly."

Harry inclined his head and could appreciate the sentiment. Horace had already explained the purpose of this visit. The negotiations were going well and having Harry spend time with them was expected, to ensure they personally approve of him and for the family to get a good measure of Harry, the young man that would be set to marry their heiress.

"I do not believe we will need to discuss the economic portions of the talks, nor the monetary compensation. What I'm more interested in is your viewpoint on matters of a more political and social nature."

Again, Harry acknowledged his words but carefully sipped at his tea rather than answering directly. He'd not been asked a question and was fully composed, showing a relaxed state for discussions that could be onerous and worrisome for a person in his position.

"Firstly, we've heard from Fleur of your more… enlightened… position on veela. Your closeness with my family would indicate it as well but I'd like to hear directly from you as to your position as you've spent time with Natalia Pavlova and her family is a part of the ICW bloc that pushes to render veela as creatures, not as beings that hold full rights as wizards and witches."

This was an expected question, it was fine for Horace to have relayed his position, it was well and good that he'd talked about this with Fleur but him having kept in contact with the Pavlov family allows for a seed of doubt that would have to be dealt with right now.

"All magical beings should have basic rights protected. I'm not well versed enough in the magical and political history to comment on every sentient magical species and the rights they currently hold, or do not hold." His starting disclaimer and not taking a stance wasn't going well, he could see the slightly tightening grip on Apolline's cup, he could see the tightening of the corners of Patrice' mouth. Without the Gabrielle situation unbalancing them he didn't think he'd have seen any sort of reaction but off balance was what he'd aimed for when they'd discussed revealing Cuddles right at the start.

"Having said that, I do not have such an issue with the legal status of Veela. As the Head of House Potter and Regent of House Black, I would be more than willing to support the House Delacour position of Veela's being a magical species with the same rights as Wizards and Witches, including sponsoring bills in the Wizengamot and the ICW, if either is necessary."

Harry could see this is exactly what they had hoped for, Horace had explained exactly what this would mean politically, for him, in both the ICW and Wizengamot. The reversal of House Black's position would be newsworthy and against everything the previous generation had stood for. Even Arcturus Black had been prejudiced and would not have been liable to approve a union with a creature of half-breed, according to Cyrus and Horace. As it was, it would be better for him to have Fleur be Lady Delacour-Potter than Lady Delacour-Black.

The real win for the Delacour family, here, was the position of House Potter. Charlus Potter was a well respected individual and the weight his name carried, internationally, had not yet fully waned. But that wasn't the real coup that they had gained.

Harry Potter was an international celebrity. There were few names as well known as his. Even though it was a domestic conflict, well mostly, the story of the Boy-Who-Lived was known by all. Surviving a curse that nobody had ever survived and doing so when no academic could recreate the incident, was beyond noteworthy.

With the extensive coverage of the Triwizard Tournament, across the magical world, his fame and renown were building, he wasn't just the Boy-Who-Lived, he was Harry Potter, a young man who could be the next magical powerhouse who held the ability to shape a nation.

This was a trifecta coup for them. With Harry publicly supporting their position their support would be bolstered and it may even be possible that their equal-rights status might be ratified across all ICW member nations, assuming this all came together, that is.

"We are so pleased to 'ear that, merci 'arry." Apolline was beaming at him, her look filling him with warmth, he couldn't help but return the happy look.

Harry kept focused and awaited the next issue that he needed to handle correctly, he knew of one more major issue that might come up and he had a plan to turn it around on them, provided they swore the oath his lawyer, Arvid Ackerly, had approved.

"Before we broach the next topic, I wanted to give you some background on our family history on this, so you have a broader perspective." Patrice began, setting his finished drink down, he carefully poured more into his glass before sitting back and returning to the conversation.

Whether that was meant to make him uncomfortable, to unsettle him, or just interesting timing on needing a refill of his drink, Harry didn't know. He had been well coached and following the script had made things go well so far, Slughorn being a political mastermind and Cyrus was no slouch, either. There had been some heated debate, between the three of them, but Harry had laid down his position and told them he wouldn't budge on it. They could convince him of many things but changing this wasn't one.

Harry had insisted that the Delacour family be in the know before any marriage contract was completed, the Pavlov family for that matter too, if that was ever explored, that is. His two advisors had tried to point out the naivety of that. France hadn't wanted to get involved in the last war, the Delacour family hadn't given overt support to the Potter family in the last war either, not that any of them were aware of, anyways.

He could have asked Sirius or Remus, but Harry thought they would have mentioned it when he brought up the family previously. Further, Harry didn't want to tip Sirius and Remus off, he had no idea if they'd approve of a marriage contract situation, especially given his age. It was sad that his father's closest friends were not ones he would trust to help him handle this, he didn't trust their opinions, for them to be pragmatic and to discard their emotional responses to the events.

It led to them not knowing for sure if the Potter family had received support from them. The Greengrass family had kept out of the war and Horace Slughorn had kept his head down and out of it the best he could. This led to them voicing that the Delacour family could simply choose to avoid future conflict. They thought the Delacour family had a lot more to lose, potentially involving themselves heavily in a foreign conflict, than staying out and finding a different match for Fleur. There was a lot to gain with Harry, even if war came and he won it, but it was a gamble they simply did not need to take.

They believed showing cards that they could keep hidden was the better route to take. Whereas Harry thought differently. There was no doubt in Harry's mind that there was going to be conflict, him having faced Voldemort twice already, since returning to the magical world, and the recent outing of a deceased Death Eater posing as Mad-Eye Moody. Not letting them know and then having it inevitably come out was not a situation he wanted to face. Causing a rift, or split, in Harry's inner circle wasn't going to be a good thing when shit hit the fan.

If they backed out on him now, they would be dead to him. There wasn't a three strike rule in effect here. In his mind, they'd already burned their sole chance, they hadn't found a way to contact nor assist him prior to this year. Now that they'd been in contact, they hadn't made a single misstep, in fact he'd love to think of them as family one day but their reaction today was going to make or break it.

"The Delacour family used to be much larger. Prior to the Grindelwald conflict, we were closer to having inheritance disputes than only two possible heirs remaining, after myself, of course. My siblings were lost, and any future progeny with them."

Harry heard how it still pained him and waited for him to get to the point.

"In the end I married Apolline, for love." He added the last part and gave his wife a long loving look.

Harry had been amused by it, that it had to be said. In the muggle world it was a given, while this one had to be clarified.

"There was some worry that I would have difficulty getting it approved. My parents had nothing against veela. It was that I am the sole surviving line of our family. Marrying Apolline meant we'd only ever have two daughters. Rebuilding our numbers was a priority, just as it is for you." Patrice said, tying their situation together, somewhat.

"My parents were hesitant but would not deny me; they knew I loved Apolline and accepted, though I know they'd hoped for more children, especially male children." He shared a strained smile with his wife before continuing.

"There was a benefit, of course, one Fleur has shared with you." Harry had the distinct impression that this sharing had been one that had been instructed or approved of, perhaps not something that was brought up naturally. "While I am no slouch magically, Fleur, as you are aware, is very strong magically. She has talent with magic that few of my ancestors could have matched. I believe this was a part of why my family approved of the match. We didn't get the numbers, nor the preferred gender, but the two girls our union has brought, both are impressive, magically."

Harry understood what the point was and waited for Patrice to make it.

"Fleur will be stronger than me soon, she is already far more talented than I ever was. The proven ability for part-veela to breed powerful offspring is a benefit that swayed my parents, along with not wishing to deny me a match made for love." Patrice was explaining this delicately and hinting that sacrificing quantity for quality had merit, that his family believed it to be the correct choice, along with a match made for love, much like what Fleur would have told her parents.

"This leads me to the last sticking point in the negotiations. Fleur can only have three children, a male and two females. While our hope had always been for our daughters to marry men and have all six of their children bear the Dealcour name, we understand your position." Patrice's voice was neutral and his body language was tightly controlled.

"You 'ave the Black and Potter families to look out for. While we are so very pleased you two are finding love, we still 'ave a concern, one Monsieurs Slughorn et Greengrass were not willing to define." Apolline's eyes were far more guarded and the warmth she had radiated toward him was missing. "I 'ope Fleur is your only wife, we are aware you are able to 'ave more zan one and, as 'er famille we want 'er marriage to be a good one." Her eyes were narrowed and she was carefully scrutinizing him, Harry could feel her piercing gaze watching him.

"What my beautiful wife is trying to say is that we hope to have Fleur marry for love. In doing so, we are willing to agree to two children being heirs for your two families and only one would be required to be the next heiress of the Delacour family. It is not our preference but much like your father, who married for love, we are willing to sacrifice potential financial and political gain for Fleur, and yourself, to have a loving future together."

Harry was internally pleased they'd laid it all out there though he was amused that they were unaware Lily Evans hadn't married for love, though it had ended up that way. This was the pivotal part of the conversation and one he had to handle delicately.

Harry straightened his posture in his chair and finished the last of his second cup of tea before leaning forward and placing the empty cup and saucer down on the table. He folded his hands together and rested them on his lap, bringing his eyes up, off of them, and focusing back on the conversation. He'd wanted to collect his thoughts and rehearse what he was going to go with before responding.

"I believe Fleur and I have the makings of a loving and long lasting relationship. We get along well, are attracted to one another, and are well matched." That was the easy part, admitting that he really liked their daughter. Next came the delicate part.

"While I understand your points, that there is reason for quality over quantity, and joy to be found in marrying for love, rather than what is most advantageous to the family position, I believe you are operating from a mistaken viewpoint."

Harry didn't miss the way Apolline tensed when he said his last sentence.

"A mistaken viewpoint?" Harry assumed Patrice meant to query in a neutral fashion but there was a small growl in his words.

Harry suppressed his natural response, which was to wince. Mistaken viewpoint was not a tactful wording, he'd buggered the delicate part up a bit. Regardless, he'd soldier on and get from the delicate part to the pivotal one.

"A poor word choice, perhaps." Harry didn't mind admitting that, he wanted them in an amenable mood, not in a combative one. "Operating with incomplete information might've been a better way to say that." Harry didn't wait for them to respond, he wanted to get onto the final part.

"There is pertinent information that less than a handful of people are aware of. Although there are arguments that are valid, I, however, do not wish to make an agreement without the knowledge being offered to you. I believe in being open and honest with my allies and will afford you the opportunity to be in the know."

Harry could see their curiosity was peaked, that, again, he'd unsettled them, that they hadn't expected this. It made Harry inordinately happy to be able to keep doing this, it must be a part of the Marauder's legacy, his enjoyment of seeing people's reactions to surprising circumstances.

"Who are among this… handful?" Patrice had put his hand back on Apolline's forearm, right before she was about to speak, her lips were just parting when he'd done that.

"Myself, my advisors and I believe Albus Dumbledore is aware of most of it, though that is not from our sharing of information. If he has told anyone, I am unaware." Harry could see the list of names had caught their attention too.

The two Delacours exchanged a look and Patrice removed his hand from her forearm. "And zis information is vital to our negotiations?"

Harry shrugged, "I believe so. If I were in your position, I'd want to know and would find it vital information, though I think my lawyer could successfully argue it is not." Ackerly would probably love the challenge, at the rate he charged it should keep him happy.

Harry withdrew the parchment that had the wording for the oath on it that Ackerly had approved of. He passed it to Patrice. "Before I could tell you anything you'd have to swear and Unbreakable Vow with those precise words. Without your agreement I will not disclose anything."

It wasn't much of a risk that knowledge of this would be dangerous to Harry. Their negotiations were covered by a magical contract, so this conversation was privileged to a degree. The way Harry presented it was also misleading. The natural assumption would be that Harry already had an agreement in place for the Black family, one they were unaware of. It could be conditional or have conditions that are not yet met but would be in imminent future.

Cyrus had explained that there were many such agreements that would only betroth two individuals after they reached a certain age. For instance, he could have a signed marriage contract that would only become in effect once both named parties reached their majority. Further, he could have an agreement in principle already. These would be the scenarios that the Delacour family would conclude was the case. Horace believed the demand for an Unbreakable Vow would lead them to believe it was not the case. It would be virtually unheard of to make such a demand to protect another marriage arrangement.

"This is necessary?"

"Unbreakable Vows aren't sworn lightly, never for marriage negotiations." Apolline added, her face looking a little green while her husband was sporting a calculating look to him.

"It is. You can choose to not agree… it is your choice." He tried to make it clear, he would respect their decision to not take it. What Harry was requesting was something most wizards never even contemplated during their lifetime. To swear on your very life was not something done idly.

"I'd also recommend Fleur is brought in for this. I know it is not standard for her to be a part of this stage of negotiations but what I will tell you is something she should be aware of as well." If they didn't let Fleur in, he'd bring her to his business office and update her there, if she was jumping into a life with him, Fleur deserved to know just what she was getting into.

"I-" Patrice paused and glanced at his wife, some form of silent communication exchanging between them, "I don't believe we are willing to consider the vow unless we know more." The Delacour Patriarch was frowning, openly displeased with where things had turned to. What specifically was making him visibly upset, Harry was unaware of for sure. He thought it was either his request or that Harry deemed it necessary and thus it was a critical element that he was being blindsided with.

Apolline added onto her husband's last statement, "It's not our lack trust in you, 'arry. What you ask for… zat is totally extrême."

Harry shrugged, he knew that and was kind somewhat apathetic to it. "Horace and Cyrus did and no one will be in the know that hasn't. Information security is too important."

"You would continue without telling us more?" Apolline asked, not impressed with the prospect.

"Yes." Harry said earnestly. "I've made you aware and given you an opportunity to find out more. I'm even offering you this opportunity before I give my father's best friends the chance to learn what you do." And Harry felt bad about that. Sirius, his godfather, he felt should have been given the opportunity first. But, it hadn't worked out that way. He didn't want even a hint of what the knew to get back to Dumbledore before they were ready to talk with him.

"Would you mind getting Fleur?" Patrice asked him. "We'll discuss it while you fetch her, if that's okay."

"Sure," Harry agreed easily, "I should check on Cuddles too, can't have Gabrielle stealing my familiar." He grinned as he said it and stood.

Patrice called an elf and Harry followed it through the impressive home until he found Gabrielle and Fleur. The scene was something he should have expected to find. Cuddles was in Gabrielle's lap as the little girl was happily petting his dragon, she was chattering away in french, a mile a minute, and looked to be the happiest little girl alive.

Harry leaned into the doorway and just watched the scene. Fleur adored her little sister, she looked so happy as she brushed Gabrielle's long hair, her right hand expertly working the brush and her left hand parting her little sister's hair.

It was such a cute scene. He was sorry he had to interrupt it.

He didn't want to, he was just enjoying watching, the siblings were something he wished he'd had the opportunity to experience something like this. He could easily imagine himself where Fleur was, his hand sliding through his little sister's hair, his other hand brushing out all the knots and tangles, a nightly ritual that helped keep them as close as family could be.

But this was the real world, not what he imagined it should be.

Harry cleared his throat, even if he was reticent to do it.

Fleur looked towards the noise, even as she kept both of her hands in motion and her lips replying to whatever her and Gabrielle were talking about.

Harry waited for her to stop speaking, for when the two sisters both turned their attention to him. "We need your presence, Fleur."

Gabrielle's eyes fixated on him and she practically leaped up and bounded to him in a single step, Cuddle was thrown unceremoniously out of her lap and into the air, where the dragon took flight and shrieked its displeasure at the abrupt turn of events.

Harry quickly found himself being hugged by the cute silver-blonde chatter-box.

"She's telling you all about how much fun she 'ad with your familiar. They played and chased each other, tiring each other out." Fleur was simply glowing as she explained while Gabrielle was clutched onto him, with no end to it forthcoming.

Harry reached down and picked up the little girl by her armpits, quickly lifting her and she promptly wrapped him up in a proper hug. She was still rapidly talking at him but he still couldn't understand her.

Harry's attention was pulled by his speedily approaching familiar, tufts of flame escaping her nostrils as she descended down upon him. Cuddles' sudden appearance drawing more shrieks of delight from the young part veela, as she landed on Harry's shoulder and pushed herself against the young witch.

"Maman and Papa need my attendance?" Fleur asked, bringing things back to why Harry was here in the first place.

"Yes."

Fleur raised her delicate eyebrow at that but didn't comment. She moved to Harry and whispered into his ear "I'll just get Gabby settled then meet you, we can go together."

Harry nodded and let Fleur remove Gabrielle from him, she left and then returned a minute late, Cuddles had stayed with Gabrielle.

Fleur hugged him tightly. "She's so much better today, 'arry! Gabby was just like 'erself, so carefree and 'appy! Merci! Merci! Merci! Merci! Merci!" Between each thanks she quickly pecked him on the lips before the final 'merci' led to a hard passionate kiss.

"I was so worried for 'er. But now… now I know she will be okay." Her eyes were glistening as she stared at Harry, her body an arms length from him now, her hands holding onto his shoulders. "I zink she recognized Cuddles and your magic within 'er."

Harry quirked his head to the side in silent askanance of what that meant.

Fleur dropper her arms and grabbed his hands, gently giving his a tug to get him to walk along with her, hand-in-hand.

"When Gabrielle was paralyzed, in the sac, it was you that saved 'er." She immediately put up a hand, stopping Harry from rebuttal. "When she needed a sauveur, it was your voice she 'eard. Now that she's seen you she 'as gotten better."

Harry thought about it and it made sense to some degree. To the mind of a child, it must have made sense. "But how does that relate to Cuddles?"

Fleur looked at him like he should already know the answer. "Gabby is a veela, she can feel your emotions, she's sensitive to magic. When she 'olds Cuddles she can feel your magic. Wiz that playful little dragon, she feels safe and secure. She has her chevalier and 'is dragon."

Harry looked at Fleur to see if she was teasing him or serious and got the impression that it was serious though her word play may have been teasing.

Their short conversation ended as they had reached the family sitting room. Harry disengaged his hand, from Fleur's, and made to resume sitting where he had been, in a single armchair. He only got a step away from Fleur before she grabbed his arm and redirected him to sit on the couch with her, the one opposite the love seat her parents were in. Harry sat in the corner, directly across from Patrice and Fleur sat down beside him, keeping a strong hold on his arm and directing his hand to rest on her knee.

Fleur's intentional seating arrangement was a message to her parents, she was with Harry and wasn't afraid to show how close they were, or at least, or that is what Harry thought. Harry wasn't going to fight against this, if anything, it helped his positioning in these talks, Fleur was defying her parents, even if it was in a minor way.

"Welcome, daughter." Patrice said and Harry instantly knew his supposition was correct, Patrice was reminding Fleur that he held authority over her.

Fleur's eyes flashed and she reposted her father's comment, "I just love spending time being close to 'arry." She leaned in and cuddled closer to him.

"And we are glad for that, my flower." Apolline was playing the role of peacemaker between a headstrong daughter and a husband who didn't want to weaken their position.

Harry thought it was a good time to kickstart things. "I asked for your presence here Fleur, as I believe your family should be aware of things before committing to anything. I informed your parents an Unbreakable Vow is required before I discuss anything about what you need to know." Harry went to reach forward but Apolline had guessed what he would do and had her hand on the parchment already, extending her arm she held it out for Fleur to take.

The Beauxbatons Champion quickly scanned the paper. "Who will act as the binder?" Fleur asked, no thought given to not being willing to undertake the potentially lethal commitment.

"You would swear it on your life so easily, my daughter?" Patrice questioned sharply, his body language making it clear he was not pleased with this turn of events.

"Oui Papa. 'Arry would not ask this unless it was necessary. I already know of one secret that I'd willingly agree to to this vow for." She indicated to the wording prepared by Ackerly.

Bringing in Fleur was a stroke of genius. Any concessions they may have asked for, or conditions of their own were pretty well mute now.

It didn't take long for them all to agree and for Harry to ensure they all swore the Unbreakable Vow. Although they were within the Delacour home, he added a whole slew of privacy spells, the vow didn't stop them from being overheard.

With Harry's requirements fulfilled, the room took on a solemn mood. Whatever Harry was going to reveal was going to be of the utmost importance.

"I'll just come out and say it, though you may not believe me." Harry took a deep breath, he hoped this went well, he could really use more allies that were all in with him.

"You-Know-Who is not as dead as everyone believes. He's alive, in the form of a spirit." Harry interjected all the believability that he had into that. One thing Harry had already found out was that the Death Eaters were still tracking the jinx on the Dark Lord's name. They were still trying to identify those that dared to say it. Continuing to use the name 'Voldemort' was no longer prudent. It was proven to, at the very least, that they could track it to the location.

The gasps from Apolline and Fleur were expected. Patrice's reaction was the one he watched for. Harry would characterize his visual response as guarded incredulity.

"You have some sort of proof for us?" The elder man asked shortly.

"In my first year he inhabited the body of Professor Quirrel in an attempt to steal the Philosopher's Stone. After his failure, the Flamel's decided to destroy the stone." Since they were an incredibly important French family, Harry assumed the Delacours would be aware of their passing, back in Harry's third year of Hogwarts, he'd had Horace confirm it for him.

"Circumstantial." Patrice commented, not willing to conded anything on just Harry's word alone.

"The biggest break came in my second year. There were attacks in the school, students were petrified." Understanding that his comment could be mistaken he quickly continued. "It was then that I came across what we have figured out is a horcrux."

Patrice paled the second he heard the final word Harry said.

"Non, ce n'est pas possible." The horrified whisper escaped from Patrice's lips. He was shaking his head, back and forth, and looked ill.

"'Arry, Papa? What is a 'orcrux?" Fleur asked the question that was on Apolline's lips, Harry could see neither of them comprehended the weight of what Harry had just dropped on their laps.

"An abomination, a desecration of magic, an unspeakable evil." Patrice said, just thinking about the topic was wrenching his normally pleasant features into a sour nauseated disposition. "He did it? You know this for certain?"

Harry nodded. "Two have been destroyed. Of this I am certain." Harry's eyes never left the Delacour Patriarch's.

"Ce n'est pas possible! Deux?! Non, je n'y crois pas!" Patrice furiously whispered.

"When a diary possesses a student and could take tangible form you can be pretty sure, especially when it was basilisk venom that destroyed it, and when a locket is positively identifying as having a human soul, there really isn't any other possibility. The fact we had an account of what it was, from an eye witness…"

"A 'uman soul in a locket? It's not possible." Fleur stated with certainty. While she had not understood it, it was clear Apolline was on the uptake. Her hand had flown to her mouth and now she sat back looking between Patrice and Harry as if all she wanted was to hear a denial of what she was understanding.

"You-Know-Who split his soul. He put a portion of it in his diary and another in Salazar Slytherin's long lost locket. Until all his horcruxes are destroyed, his spirit will be anchored to this world." Harry informed the young part veela of the knowledge she was unaware of.

"It is a most vile magic." Patrice informed his daughter, his voice's usual strength returned to it.

He shifted his gaze to Harry. "Please tell me they are the only ones."

Harry closed his eyes and shook his head.

"How- how many?" He stumbled asking Harry the question.

"Seven. Six horcruxes and himself."

Patrice stood up and pulled out his wand. The liquor cabinet opened, under the silent direction of his wand, and a bottle came out. He didn't even bother with a glass, the cork was magically removed and he brought it up to his lips, taking a heavy drink direct from the bottle.

Apolline leaned forward and took it from his grasp. Instead of admonishing her husband, she drank from it herself before wordlessly offering it back to him. Patrice gestured an offer for either of them to have some but Harry declined. Fleur tucked her head into Harry's chest and clung to him instead.

Harry assumed before the meeting that he would not discuss this further; instead, he'd drop the worst of it on them directly and leave it there. He reached into his pocket and withdrew more parchment. "This doesn't leave my line of sight and no copies are permitted." He handed it to Patrice.

The man sat down and Apolline leaned into him, so she could read it with him.

Harry had given them the deposition of Walden Macnair that Ivan Pavlov had procured.

"What is it?" Fleur asked, her head not coming off his chest.

"Walden Macnair, a Death Eater, was killed in retaliation for the Second Task. The reason I brought it, is that Macnair confirms the Dark Lord's powerbase isn't defunct. Most of his loyal followers are still out there and never stopped spreading their influence. If the man ever regains his body, he'll be in as good of a position as he'd left it, possibly even in a better one."

"'Ow bad is it?" Fleur asked, just asking for the basic understanding.

"Bad." Harry stated, summing up the position in a single succinct word.

Horace and Cyrus had explained it rather simply. The Light side had lost the last war. Only a miracle had saved them from the jaws of defeat. Instead of using their advantage, they'd capitulated and looked to rejoice in their victory. Riddle's forces were not destroyed, his financial backers had increased their estates and their advantageous numbers had swelled. Unless Bones is able to work a miracle within the Ministry, they have more holes than swiss cheese with as much resolve and strength as a flobber worm.

"The Dark Lord was on the cusp of victory. France was preparing for conflict, Fleur. While his forces have maintained or strengthened their positions, his opposition has weakened."

The room fell silent, the couple opposite Harry was still scrutinizing the papers they were given and Fleur was deep in thought. Harry let them think it over, it was a lot to drop on anyone.

"This is why you are training so hard?"

Harry gave him a grim smile. "I'm training my arse off, preparing for combat. Horace and Cyrus are doing what they can on the political and economic fronts."

Patrice took in his words, Harry saw he was processing everything. "The negotiations make more sense now. Some of the asks were perplexing, if one didn't know the other side was preparing for a conflict. Now I understand why Cyrus was bent on setting up imports of goods from France." Harry acknowledged the point with the dip of his chin.

Cyrus wanted to be able to start stockpiling supplies. Regular purchases from their own domestic economy would be found out. Importing them, discreetly, would allow them to keep it quiet. There were many terms of the agreement set with assisting the war effort in mind.

"Are these the major points?" The Delacour matriarch asked.

"Yes. If you are willing to participate, we can arrange a time to get together with Horace and Cyrus and answer questions." Harry stated, he doubted the hopeful undertone, that they'd not back away from him now, was kept out of it.

Fleur sat up, her eyes burned with an intensity that brought him back to the Forbidden Forest, the macabre sight of her that was permanently etched into his memory. "I won't abandon you 'arry. I'll be at your side through it all."

Harry blinked heavily, the air was hard to breathe, his throat was constricting on him. He couldn't respond to her declaration.

She would be there, she'd stood tall in the forest, a vehement veela refusing to be overwhelmed by her enemies. She was so glorious. Why did she ever chose him?

The moment between them was broken by Patrice and Apolline Delacour. The two were standing.

"While we need time to process this, you can rest assured that House Delacour will stand with House Potter. Your grandfather stood with us in the time of our greatest peril and we will be with you through yours, marriage contract or no marriage contract."

While her parents were speaking, Fleur had pulled Harry to his feet. Apolline had stepped around the table that had been separating them, while her husband spoke, and wrapped the two of them in a hug.

Patrice, when he finished speaking, came over and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "We'll be 'ere for you 'arry, supporting you through this."

Harry heard Apolline's words but his throat was choked up and his eyes were silently leaking. He'd hoped for this, longed for this, and he hadn't even allowed his dreams to expect this type of response. This overwhelmed him, a weight coming off his shoulders, his burdens being carried by others as well.

He couldn't help but feel a major victory had been won tonight, a devastating blow delivered to their enemy. The Dealcours were in the know and would be joining his cause.

The realization, this whole scene, unraveled him but he couldn't be happier. Fleur was pressed against him, Apolline hugged them both, and he could feel Patrice's strong grip on his shoulder. Maybe this is what family was supposed to feel like. If it was, it was the greatest feeling he could think of. Unconditional support and a loving embrace.