26 June 1995
Fleur had decided she hated Hogwarts. Nothing that had happened since they arrived in Scotland had been good. Harry and Lucy were miserable, Hermione was equivocating about her feelings and Fleur was conflicted. None of this had been a problem before they came here.
It didn't help Fleur's mood that the third task was in a dark and spooky maze. The high hedge walls raised the humidity making it stiflingly warm. Fleur shed her jacket and tied it around her waist. She tightened the grip on her wand and walked forward. Fleur had a point me spell to direct her deeper into the maze.
Fleur hated the stillness of the maze in between obstacles, it left her alone with her thoughts. She couldn't run away from her relationship problems here. Lucy's voice had been rattling around in her head for weeks. As much as she hated to admit it, Lucy had been right. Her attraction to Harry had been there for years. The pull towards him was undeniable, so why was she so scared?
As Fleur rounded a corner, she stopped short. In the middle of the path were Harry, Lucy, Hermione. The two girls had their arms around Harry and his around them. Fleur approached cautiously, raising her wand. "What are you?"
"Aren't you supposed to be smart? Oh, no, wait, this is another case of Fleur being unable to accept what's in front of her," Harry said mockingly.
"'Arry, why would you say that?"
"Ignore her, Harry. She doesn't respect us, why should we respect her?" Hermione asked, tugging at Harry's arm.
Fleur stared at Hermione aghast. "Of course, I respect you! I love you!" Fleur protested with tears in her eyes.
"If you loved me, you'd respect me enough to tell me how you really feel about Harry?!" Hermione bit back.
Fleur winced and looked away causing Hermione to huff and scowled. "Exactly. I'm done with you, Fleur."
"Hermione, please, I can explain!" Fleur replied.
"Don't bother Fleur. Why would you be honest with me when you can't be honest with yourself? I can't afford to spend the rest of my life waiting. Goodbye Fleur."
"How can we ever trust you? You lie about your feelings. How do we know you're not lying now?" Lucy asked.
"Shut up! You're not really them! You don't know anything!!" Fleur yelled angrily.
"You don't know anything," Lucy said.
"Shut up!" Fleur yelled again, her eyes darkening with rage. She took a breath and shut out the noise. She knew they weren't real, they couldn't be. Harry, Hermione, and Lucy were sitting in the stands. She'd seen them before entering the maze. So if they weren't her friends, what were they? Searching her memories Fleur's eyes snapped open and she smiled.
"You're a boggart, probably the same one we banished before. You enjoy scaring people and feeding off their deepest fear. I won't let you do it to me anymore. Begone," Fleur raised her wand and pointed it at them. " Riddikulus !"
The boggart transformed, causing Fleur to smile. "Ha!"
A whip crack later the Boggart was gone, leaving Fleur alone with her thoughts once again. Sheathing her wand Fleur let out a shuddered breath and wiped away her tears. She wanted to curl up into a ball and cry, but she still had a tournament to win.
Fleur stumbled back clutching the cramp in her side. She staggered away from the smoking acromantula corpse that was lying amongst a half collapsed hedge near the centre of the maze. " Mon dieu , a fucking acromantula… whose bright idea was that?"
Fleur straightened up and glanced around the centre of the maze. It was empty except for the acromantula and the cup on the plinth. As Fleur approached the plinth she heard movement behind her. "Bloody hell, Hagrid…"
Fleur spun around and brandished her wand as Cedric slowed to a walk. "Hey, whoa, I'm friendly, promise."
Fleur smiled and stowed her wand but continued walking to the plinth. "I'm glad you're ok."
"Same here. I guess I'm too late, huh?"
Fleur giggled. "Sorry, Cedric."
Cedric shrugged and grinned. "Well, if I have to lose, at least it's to a beautiful woman."
"You can't charm me into letting you win. It was a nice attempt though."
"Had to give it a try," Cedric replied with his most charming smile.
"Hm, I'll be sure to ask your girlfriend about that," Fleur said, sticking her tongue out. Reaching out she grabbed the handle of the cup and disappeared.
Seconds later Krum rounded the corner and stopped glancing between Cedric and the plinth. Cedric gave his fellow competitor a weary smile and a pat on the shoulder. "Sorry mate, game's over."
" Po dyavolite ," Krum said in Bulgarian.
"Harry, look! It's Fleur!" Hermione exclaimed, getting out of her seat and rushing down the steps and onto the Quidditch pitch.
Harry and Lucy rushed down the stairs behind Hermione and crossed the pitch to the stage Fleur had landed on. The two had to hold Hermione back from rushing the stage before the ceremony was finished.
Two days later Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were saying farewell to their new friends and preparing to leave Hogwarts. They weren't leaving . Dumbledore walked from his office to the entrance hall. He spotted Harry standing with a group of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs chatting happily. "Young Harry, may I speak with you?"
Harry frowned as the Hogwarts students stared in awe of their headmaster. "It depends on where you want to have this conversation, headmaster?"
"We can talk here if you wish," Dumbledore said genially.
"I do," Harry confirmed.
"I was hoping I could implore you to stay in England for a little while longer. You've been gone for so long, it's time to come home."
"Professor, I am going home; to France. As I said to Lord Weasley, my family, friends and future are in France. Nothing you can say could convince me to stay. Have a good day, headmaster."
Dumbledore watched despairingly as Harry marched out of the school and made his way towards the carriage. He worried it might be the last time he ever saw the Potter boy. And without Potter or the looming threat of Tom returning, the question once again played in Dumbledore's head, did Great Britain need a champion of light?
Dumbledore stared into the dying embers of the fireplace in his office. After watching Harry leave the entrance hall earlier that day he'd secluded himself in his office with a large bottle of Firewhiskey. It was late at night now and the bottle was empty. Dumbledore sat slumped in a drunken stupor.
Dumbledore scowled, throwing the screw cap from the bottle of firewhiskey across the room. He was aiming at the fireplace, but fell far short. Like many of his plans in the last seventeen years. It all traced back to Potter. The stupid brat couldn't just do what he was told.
If Potter had stayed at the Dursley's he would have been ready to embrace Dumbledore as his mentor. He would have guided Potter to his destiny, dying at the hands of Riddle allowing Dumbledore to step in and save the wizarding world once again. Dumbledore's legacy would have been set, he would have been equated with Merlin. All it would cost would be the life of one orphan. An insignificant sacrifice to save the wizarding world.
The boy had to pay for the disrespect he'd shown Dumbledore. And by punishing Potter it would allow him to tie up some loose ends before he was exiled from the school.
It was the final day before the Beauxbatons and Durmstrung students returned to their respective schools for the end of the school year. An owl fluttered down and landed on the windowsill of his room. It held out its leg and Harry took the piece of parchment that was offered. It was a note from the Hogwarts librarian asking him to return a book he'd borrowed.
Harry was puzzled, he'd never borrowed a book from the Hogwarts library. He could have sent a note but he felt compelled to go and sort it out in person.
Stuffing the parchment in his jacket Harry hurried out of the carriage and into Hogwarts. Thankfully it was early enough that even if the librarian wanted to argue he'd have time to make it back to the carriage before it left.
Then suddenly Harry stopped thinking as Dumbledore emerged into the empty corridor. A cruel smile crossed his lips as he walked ahead of Harry. "Come along, Mister Potter."
Neville stood at the far end of the corridor from where Dumbledore was standing. He watched as Dumbledore imperioused Harry. Disillusioning himself he silenced his shoes and followed the old man and the Beauxbatons student. He hadn't decided whether he'd get involved yet, it would depend on what Dumbledore intended. Given Dumbledore had already used an unforgivable, Neville assumed he wasn't up to anything good.
Dumbledore led Harry through the barren corridors up to the prefect's bathroom. "Stand over there my boy," Dumbledore said, indicating to a vague space in front of the sinks.
The two waited quietly for several minutes before Dumbledore heard footsteps approaching. Dumbledore disillusioned himself and exited the bathroom. He returned moments later with a petrified Severus Snape, floating him over to stand between two sinks.
Dumbledore sighed, cleaning his glasses on his robes. "I apologise for this, Severus. I do wish there was another way, but you know a bit too much about what I've been doing over the years. Be assured I'll make this quick." Dumbledore said as he peered out the door again. "Ah, our final guest has arrived." He said exiting the bathroom again.
Seconds later Ron entered the bathroom and stood beside Snape. Dumbledore nodded to himself, he reached into Snape's robe and took out the man's wand. Casting several blasting curses in Harry's direction the sinks and wall around the Boy-Who-Lived, spraying water and debris over the four men.
"Now, Harry," Dumbledore said, walking across the room to stand behind Harry. "Use the Killing Curse to kill Professor Snape."
Harry dutifully drew his wand, but as he raised his wand he paused. Awareness returned to his eyes and his arm fell slightly. Why would he kill Snape, the man had never done anything to him. It made no sense to comply. Harry's arm dropped to its side as Dumbledore felt his control over him shatter.
"What?!" Dumbledore exclaimed he spun around and barely blocked a stunning spell with a shield. "Potter!"
"You bastard! What the hell are you thinking?!" Harry demanded.
"Do not question me boy! I am Albus Dumbledore!" Dumbledore roared as he shot off several blasting curses.
"I don't give a fuck!" Harry yelled, blocking Dumbledore's spells with a shield of his own. "What was your plan, old man? Frame me for murdering Snape and Weasley?!"
"Of course," Dumbledore stated as he easily deflected Harry's spells. "Mister Weasley has been pursuing your girlfriend since you arrived. You demanded satisfaction and Mister Weasley brought you here for a duel. But you went too far and he died."
"Before you could escape Professor Snape found you looming over the body, and in a fit of panic you killed him too. You would have gotten away with it if I hadn't been passing by. I will heroically take you down and be hailed a hero for stopping another Voldemort before he could start gathering followers."
"So you're both insane and an asshole. That's good, because it means I don't have to feel bad kicking your ass!"
Dumbledore laughed. "I am Albus Dumbledore, you have no chance against me!"
Dumbledore fired a blasting curse at the floor smashing Harry through a row of sink, crumpling to the floor. Dumbledore chuckled to himself as he sauntered up to Harry and nudged him with his foot. "Foolish boy."
Dumbledore scooped Harry's wand off the floor and stalked towards Snape and Ron. "Now, to… what?!"
At the last moment Dumbledore spun around and threw up a shield to block the gouging spell that was shot at him from the door. "Mister Longbottom, what are you doing?" Dumbledore said, trying to sound calm as he shook with anger.
"You won't kill anyone today," Neville said as he threw back his hood and approached the old man. He put himself between Dumbledore and the two petrified men. "I won't let you."
"You hate them, why would you stop me?" Dumbledore demanded.
Neville's face darkened. "You're right, but Weasley's done nothing that deserves getting murdered for. And Snape should be tried and locked up in Azkaban, not summarily murdered by a deluded old bastard with a bruised ego."
"Very well, now you'll all die and it'll be on Potter's head!"
"Not today!" Harry yelled rolling onto his back. He grit his teeth and tried ignoring the pain as he held out his hand. "Expelliarmus!"
Harry's wand shot out of Dumbledore's hand. Harry caught it as he scrambled to his feet. Harry threw up a shield that barely deflected Dumbledore's stunners. As Harry returned fire his spells were joined by three others. Neville had released Snape and Weasley from their bondage and joined Harry in opposition to Dumbledore.
"I am Albus Dumbledore…!"
"No one cares anymore!" Harry yelled.
"You're wrong!" Dumbledore screamed. Harry could see the fear in his eyes. He could see the old man's grip on reality slipping away.
"Die!" Dumbledore screamed, firing a killing curse at Harry. From point blank range, Harry didn't have time to put a wall between them.
"No!" Snape yelled as he flung himself between Harry and the killing curse.
Snape's dead body collapsed into Harry's arms, the older man's vacant eyes stared up at Harry. He let Snape's body slide off him as his eyes filled with rage.
"DUMBLEDORE!!" Harry screamed as spider cracks spread around him climbing the walls and through the ceiling. Harry launched himself at the old man, punching him in the jaw and sending Dumbledore skidding across the floor and into the pool.
Dumbledore dropped to the ground as the water parted and rose into walls around them. Harry slowly approached the weakened old man as he scrambled away, only stopped by the back wall of the pool.
"Harry, please… I'm begging you…" Dumbledore pleaded.
"No."
Harry reached forward and pressed his hand against Dumbledore's chest and drew it back holding a ball of energy. Dumbledore's eyes widened. "No, please, stop!"
Harry squeezed his hand into a fist causing the ball to shatter. The explosion knocked Harry to the floor unconscious. Neville and Ron stood staring at the two as water from the pool rained down on them.
"What the fuck just happened…?" Weasley asked no one in particular.
"No idea… come on," Neville replied, running down into the pool that was slowly refilling with water.
"What are you doing?" Ron demanded.
"I'm stopping Potter from drowning, you grab Dumbledore," Neville ordered as he picked up Harry and dragged him onto the floor beside the pool.
"Fine," Ron agreed reluctantly.
As the two fell back on their asses, exhausted the door burst open. McGonagall, Flitwick and other members of staff filtered in, they stopped short gazing around the ruined prefect's bathroom. McGonagall ran over to Harry, rolling him onto his back and checking his breathing. "Mister Weasley! What happened here??"
"Excuse me, Professor, Weasley isn't responsible for what happened. He's a victim here."
"Minerva…"
McGonagall turned around to see Flitwick knelt beside a bundle of robes near a broken wall. "Filius, what's wrong?"
"Severus is dead," Flitwick stated as he rolled Snape onto his back.
"Who did this?!" McGonagall demanded.
"Dumbledore!"
"Ah, dammit…" Harry muttered as he grasped his head in pain.
"Harry?" Lucy asked as she gently pulled his hand back and rested it on her leg.
"Luce… what, what happened?" Harry asked, he finally opened his eyes to gaze upon his beautiful girlfriend.
"You don't remember?"
"No… I… the last thing I remember is Professor Snape throwing himself in front of me… and then everything gets hazy."
"Professor Snape died, Dumbledore killed him," Lucy explained.
"Oh…" Harry said.
"You ok?"
"Yeah, it's awful that he died, but I didn't know him. I feel bad for his family and friends."
"From what I heard he didn't have much of either. But you're right," Lucy agreed.
Harry slowly moved up the bed into a sitting position putting his glasses on. "Where are we?"
"The Hogwarts medical wing. The matron was insistent about seeing you up and around before she would discharge you," Lucy explained.
"I see. What happened to Dumbledore?"
"Uh, you… you pulled his magical core out of his body and destroyed it…"
"I WHAT ?!?" Harry exclaimed.
"Mister Potter, please use your indoor voice. This is a medical wing," The matron said scoldingly as she emerged from her office.
"Y-yeah, sorry… but, I mean… how ?" Harry asked, stunned by what Lucy told him.
Lucy shrugged. "I don't know… I think the professors were hoping you'd be able to tell them."
Harry shook his head. "I have no idea what I did or how I did it. Most of what happened is a blur."
"It's ok, Harry. It doesn't matter now, I'm just glad you're ok," Lucy said tearfully as she embraced him.
Harry smiled, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend. "Me too."
"Kindly take your hands off my daughter," A commanding but irritated voice demanded from the entrance to the medical wing.
The two teens turned to see Jude Heartfilia standing at the door. they could see the anger in his eyes, despite his best efforts to school his features.
"Can I help you?" Harry asked flatly.
"I came to find my daughter, she was not present when the carriage landed at Parc naturel forestier de la Croix des Gardes last week. I was not surprised to learn you're the reason."
"It's been a week?" Harry asked incredulously.
"The way the other two tell it, you expended a lot of magic to take down Dumbledore. You were magically exhausted by the end of it."
"Wow…"
"That doesn't matter now, I didn't authorise you staying here beyond the end of the school year. You have no reason to…" Jude protested.
"My reason is right here!" Lucy argued, grabbing Harry's hand tightly.
"Lucy, I am…" Jude began but stopped when Harry got off the bed and stormed up to him.
"If you're really going to trot out the same line you tried on us in December, you can shove it. Lucy is a person, not property."
Jude got in Harry's face, his nose millimetres from the younger man's. "And what are you going to do, if I want to drag my daughter out of this building, boy ?"
Harry grinned as his magic flared out around him. "Please do it, I so want you to try it. I just ripped Dumbledore's magical core out of his body. I bet the Hogwarts professors would be happy to witness another demonstration."
Jude backed up several steps as drops of sweat ran down his head. He knew a lost cause when he saw one, so he straightened his suit and tie and glared at the pair. "This isn't over…"
Harry watched the old man as he left, scowling. "Keep thinking that, old man."
"Thank you for taking care of me, Madam Pomfrey," Harry said as he prepared to leave a few days later.
"It was a pleasure, Harry. You're far more polite than your father ever was," Pomfrey replied with a smile.
"You knew my dad?" Harry asked.
"And your mother too. They were wonderful people, the world is poorer without them in it," Pomfrey said.
Harry nodded. "Yeah…"
"Goodbye, mister Potter, I've sent your file to your regular physician, she will take on your regular check-ups. I urge you to attend the appointments you have scheduled."
"Don't worry, he will," Lucy replied.
"Thank you, Miss Heartfilia, glad to hear it," Pomfrey said with a smile.
"It sounds like you don't trust me…" Harry grumbled.
"To take care of yourself? No, I don't. Need I remind you of the time you broke your arm and didn't tell anyone??" Lucy said, poking him accusingly.
Harry flinched, recalling the time he fell off his broom, landing on his arm and trying to pretend after the match that he was fine, after wrapping up his arm and wearing a long shirt. Only to have Hermione, Lucy, and Fleur dragging him to the Beauxbatons infirmary in the middle of the night. The worst was when he received an admonishing letter from Apolline. It made him feel very guilty. "N-no dear…"
From Hogwarts the pair apparated to the French Embassy and from there portkeyed to France. Harry was almost knocked off his feet by Hermione wrapping herself around him. "You had me so damn worried, you jerk!"
Harry smiled, gently stroking her head. "Sorry, Mione, the old bastard was very determined to get me."
"Hmph, well he ended up in Azkaban. Serves him right…" Hermione muttered.
"Yeah," Harry agreed, looking from Hermione to Fleur. "No hug?"
Fleur pouted and punched Harry in the shoulder. "You made Hermione worry."
"Just Hermione?" Harry asked with a smile.
"Shut up…" Fleur muttered as she hugged him.
Once Fleur was pryed off Harry the next stunning blonde rushed forward to wrap Harry in her arms. "Jean wouldn't let me raze that castle to the ground… those bastards deserved it for hurting my son."
Harry blushed and smiled, hugging his adoptive mother. "I'm fine," Harry assured her, pulling back so she could look him up and down. "I'm whole and I'm healthy… maybe a bit hungry."
Apolline rolled her eyes. "You're always hungry."
"I'm a growing boy," Harry replied with a grin.
"Overgrown in some places…" Lucy muttered.
"What was that Lucy?" Hermione asked, the pink tinge on her cheeks told Lucy she heard exactly what she said.
"Nothing…" Lucy responded innocently.
After hugging Jean the five entered the house, where Layla Heartfilia was waiting. "I see how it is, my beautiful daughter falls madly in love with a dashing Englishman and she forgets all about her poor mother. Is this how you feel Apolline, your daughter is equally ensorceled by a ravishing Englishwoman. Does she forget her poor mother too?"
Lucy rolled her eyes as she walked over to embrace Layla. "You're being ridiculous."
"Me? Never," Layla replied winking at Harry as she kissed him on each cheek.
"How are you, Layla?" Harry asked.
"Tired. Jude is being an absolute bastard…"
"So his usual self," Harry observed sarcastically, earning him a poke in the ribs from Lucy.
"Yes," Layla replied with a grin. "My lawyers came with the highest recommendation. However Jude has money and time to bleed me dry. I don't want to give him an inch, but I fear I may have too."
Harry stood thinking for a few seconds. "Apolline, Jean, Hermione, Fleur, can you excuse us for a few minutes?"
"Do you want to use my office?" Jean asked.
"No, that's ok. Here's good."
The four left, leaving Lucy and Layla alone with Harry. The two women looked puzzled and confused, until Harry spoke. "Layla, would you let me pay your legal fees?"
"No, Harry, I can't…" Layla protested looking embarrassed.
Harry walked over to one of the chairs and sat down. "Why not? I don't want that bastard to get anything he's not entitled to. You're my girlfriend's mother, I hope one day you'll be my mother-in-law," Harry said with a wide smile as he reached out for Lucy and took her hand. "Besides, I have more money than I'll ever be able to spend. Nothing your lawyers could reasonably charge for will make the slightest dent. So please, let me help you take every Knut that bastard is worth."
Layla let out a happy sigh. "Your boyfriend has a magic tongue, Lucy."
"You have no idea…"