*** July 4th 1995***
Gabrielle was the first to awaken the next morning and found herself beside her bondmate. He was lying on his back while she had her head on his shoulder with her arm draped over his chest possessively. As she laid there breathing in the musky smell of the man she loved, she couldn't help but let her mind take her back to her childhood fantasies that were still only a few months in the past. Though she clearly knew the Harry she was in love with wasn't the boy she had read and dreamed about for all of those years, the fantasies themselves just moved themselves to the real Harry Potter. As she thought of a life with this man she couldn't help but smile and hold him a bit tighter. Soon she felt him stir and his arms encircled her as well.
"Zis I could get used to very quickly," Gabrielle said softly.
"So could I Gabi," Harry replied as he brought his lips to hers. "And hopefully this summer we'll wake up like this many times."
After a few more minutes of holding each other they finally climbed out of bed and dressed for the day. They found Fleur and Hermione already awake and sitting at the table drinking coffee. Fleur had the Daily Prophet unfurled and reading it. She looked up to see her little sister with a very large smile on her face.
"Did you sleep well ma soeur?"
"Oui, very much so," Gabrielle replied as she sat down. Dobby put a cup of coffee in front of her as well. "Merci beaucoup," Gabrielle said to the elf as she poured a bit of cream into her cup.
Dobby looked confused as he tried to figure out if one of his mistresses asked for something.
"She was saying thank you Dobby," Hermione said.
"Misses Gabrielle is welcome." Dobby replied.
"Our 'ouse-elves will help you with French if you wants zem to Dobby," Fleur said.
"Dobby would like that very much," Dobby said in a relieved voice.
Harry sat down between Fleur and Hermione which put him directly across from Gabrielle. Dobby put a cup of tea in front of him.
"Skeeter's article on you," Fleur said as she pushed the Daily Prophet toward Harry.
Harry was looked at the paper and saw a large picture of himself looking back at him. The article itself was a teaser as it highlighted the various articles to come in the next few weeks that would have more details about the Boy-Who-Lived-Twice. Harry only skimmed the article as he knew Fleur and Hermione would have already checked it for any inaccuracies. "Milking it aren't they?"
"Oui, but it is a business," Fleur replied. "And so far zey are keeping it fairly accurate," She then held up a letter. "Papa sent zis. 'E mentioned who he is going to teach us zis summer."
"Who? Anyone I know?"
"Non, but his name is Marlon Pelletier," Fleur started. "E..." She looked down for a few seconds before she continued. "Do you remember when Papa was suggesting zat an Auror career might not be ze best?"
"Yeah."
"Eet was mostly Marl 'e was probably thinking of." Fleur explained. "E was a good friend of Papa when zey were growing up. After school Papa went more to ze political side, while Marl became an Auror. I don't know ze whole story, but I know zat Marl met an American witch and fell in love with 'er. 'E ended up moving to America and joining zeir Aurors."
"What's wrong with that?" Harry asked.
"Nothing, but it was a couple of years after 'e moved zere zat 'e arrested a young wizard who 'e saw threatening 'is girlfriend in public. Marl found numerous bruises 'idden by glamor charms on 'er," Fleur looked around at everyone who was now listening intently. "E convinced ze young lady to press formal charges but because ze man came from an influential family 'e was never convicted."
"So what happened?" Hermione asked.
"Several days later ze body of ze young woman was found. She'd been beaten, raped, and obviously tortured," Fleur continued. "Marl felt guilty and became obsessed with nailing ze bâtard."
"I can understand," Harry said. "I'd do the same thing."
"Non, I 'ope not. It possessed 'im. 'E lost 'is job when he broke laws to try to get evidence. 'Is wife left 'im finally when 'e stopped spending any time with 'er. 'E ended up losing everything."
"Did he ever catch the guy?"
Fleur shrugged. "Ze wizard's body was found one day two years or so after ze woman was found. 'E'd been tortured and violated in ze same fashion as zat young witch 'ad been."
"This Marl did it?" Hermione asked wondering exactly what kind of person Mr. Delacour had set them up to be trained by.
"Who did it was never determined," Fleur replied. "Zough as you can imagine, Marl was suspected of doing it."
"What happened to him?" Harry asked.
"Zey never found any evidence to Marl being ze culprit and somehow a couple of years later 'e rejoined ze American Auror department. 'E made a name for 'imself by always going after ze worst wizards," Fleur said. "Papa thinks 'e didn't really care about living anymore."
"How do you know all of this?" Hermione asked.
"E came and visited Papa two years ago. My father told me ze story so I'd not ask certain questions zat Marl would not want to answer."
"Why him? Harry asked.
"Maybe because 'e's still alive? I know zat Papa trusts 'im."
Harry nodded. "He's not been wrong yet so we'll see what happens."
"Papa said Marl will be contacting us sometime soon."
Dobby put a plate of hot eggs and sausages in front of Harry while giving Fleur, Hermione and Gabrielle a pastry that seeped chocolate from its center.
Hermione bit into hers and her eyes rolled up into her head as she savored the delicious chocolate taste surrounded by the flaky dough. "Dobby this is wonderful," She said finally.
The elf beamed in pride. "Dobby is glad misses likes it."
"So what are our plans for today?" Harry asked as he finished his first couple of bites of eggs.
"I don't know about today, but tonight I want to dance with you," Fleur said. "I 'oped we could have our own ball 'ere in ze tent."
"Dance?" Harry asked nervously.
"No one else around," Fleur said. "Just three witches who want to spend time with you. No pressures, if you don't enjoy eet, we'll stop."
Harry looked at each of his bondmates. Each had a hopeful look. "Okay," He replied finally. "Though don't expect much."
"Will you be 'olding me?" Fleur asked. "Without drooling?"
"I think I can manage that," Harry laughed.
"Zen we will already be better zan ze Yule Ball."
They all turned toward the window when they heard the backdoor open. They could see a stern looking Vernon Dursley walking toward them.
....
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