Chapter 18

The biting cold stung Harry's cheeks as he made his way across the frost-covered grounds of Hogwarts. His breath came out in soft clouds, the freezing air making it visible with every exhale. The weak winter sun barely peeked through the thick, grey clouds, casting only a dim, silvery light over the landscape. The snow crunched softly underfoot as he walked, and he could feel the chill working its way into his bones despite his warming charm. He reapplied it quickly, pulling his cloak tighter around him for extra warmth.

The path to the Owlery seemed to stretch on endlessly in the cold. The bitter air made everything feel heavier and slower like the entire world was wrapped in a frozen silence. Harry's steps were steady, but he couldn't ignore the eerie quiet surrounding him. The towering trees, stripped bare of their leaves, stood like skeletal figures on either side of the path. Their branches swayed and creaked in the wind, the sound low and unsettling, as if they were whispering warnings to anyone passing by.

The sky, already dull and grey, was rapidly darkening as the day slipped into a wintry twilight. The fading light turned the grounds into a scene of deep blues and shadowy greys, making Hogwarts feel more isolated than usual. Each breath Harry took felt colder than the last, and the silence of the grounds only added to the sense that something was looming just out of sight, hidden in the shadows of the evening.

The steps leading up to the Owlery were frozen in ice, and he had to carefully measure his steps lest he slip and fall. It was getting late, and he did not expect anyone to be here at this hour. Yet, caution was warranted.

He made his way up the stairs when a gasp made him jerk. His eyes widened and he had only his reflexes to rely on as he reached out with both hands and grabbed her, steadying her as she barely caught her footing. Her dark hair, sleek and glowing even in the dim lighting, flowed behind her as she stopped, her rosy pink cheeks and her flushed face making her look more alluring than she usually did.

"Careful now," Harry chuckled as he steadied her, making her hold on to the front of his cloak tightly. She let out a shaky laugh, her breathing erratic.

"Merlin, thanks for the save, Harry," Cho Chang breathed out. "I would've been a goner if you weren't here."

"Saving damsels in my part-time job, if you didn't know already," Harry quipped teasingly, earning a giggle. Her laugh was truly musical.

"Haven't I heard enough of those tales," Cho smiled. "What are you doing here at this hour, by the way?"

"Got to send a letter," Harry replied. "Same with you, I assume?"

"My parents are leaving for China for a few weeks. Had to send them a letter, right?"

"Makes sense," Harry replied, smiling.

For a long moment, the pair kept staring at each other before both suddenly realized their predicament. Harry still held on to her tightly, and so did Cho. In the middle of the frozen staircase, they were practically in an embrace, and with an even more intense flush, the Asian beauty relaxed her hold on him.

Harry's eyes followed her lips and he watched how she bit on them gently in nervousness as he released her as well, and he slowly cleared his throat.

"Well then, it's getting late. Take care going down, alright? There won't be another damsel savior waiting for you," he joked.

"Very funny," Cho rolled her eyes. Blushing slightly, she gave him a small smile and Harry stepped to the side, allowing her to pass. He kept his eyes on her as she walked away, smiling at her when she looked over her shoulder.

"Eyes ahead, Cho," he called out teasingly, and the girl rolled her eyes once again. Waving at him, she turned around and walked away. Only when she had rounded the corner and was out of sight did Harry turn around and resumed his climb upstairs.

His precious Hedwig flew down from her perch immediately upon his arrival, and Harry smiled as he held his arm out, allowing her to land.

"Hey, girl," he greeted her affectionately, caressing her beak. He eyed the number of owls that had their beady eyes trained on her and chuckled. "Got quite a group of admirers, haven't you?"

Hedwig puffed her chest out proudly, making him chuckle. He pulled out the sealed letter from the pocket of his cloak and Hedwig's focused eyes immediately zeroed in on the envelope held out in front of her.

"You ready for another trip, girl? He must be waiting for my reply."

Hedwig nipped his finger affectionately as Harry allowed her to grasp the letter in her beak. Nuzzling the side of her head against his, she took off with a majestic push, soaring through the massive open window. The blanket of snow easily camouflaged her and in no time, she was out of sight.

It had been a few weeks since his meeting with Madam Bones, and although there had been no developments on Sirius' case, he had at least told his godfather how the Tonks family had been advocating for his innocence. Sirius was expectedly surprised, for he had believed everyone was convinced of his betrayal. However, Harry was quick to correct his beliefs in his next letter, even going so far as to urge him to reach out to his cousin Andromeda and her family. He was confident that they would love to help Sirius out, perhaps even agree to host him. His heartfelt conversation with Tonks had certainly painted that picture.

Sirius was reluctant though. Supportive or not, he was still a wanted fugitive and he did not want to bring any danger or scrutiny on his cousin's family. Harry could understand his godfather's point of view, but that did not mean he liked it.

They had been exchanging letters as frequently as they could, which was not easy considering Sirius was somewhere down south where the weather was much sunnier. Harry believed it was some island in the Mediterranean, but he could not be sure. It took time to converse, and it was not as if Sirius could always manage to get his hands on some ignorant wizard's Floo so that they could talk through the fire.

It was also evident that Sirius liked it there. He seemed much more lighthearted in his letters, and it was one of the reasons why Harry did not push too hard for him to approach the Tonks family once his godfather declined. He deserved to have some sun after the hell he had endured in Azkaban.

Sighing, he turned around and leisurely made his way out of the Owlery, his wand lit up and held aloft in front of him. Now that the letter was sent, it was time to take care of the final agenda for the day. The twins had asked for a meeting away from prying eyes, and Harry believed he had an idea about what they might want to talk about. Knowing what geniuses those two were, he would be lying if he said he was not looking forward to what they would reveal.

-Break-

As Harry walked down the quiet, dimly lit corridor, his sharp green eyes stayed focused on the shadows ahead. The castle felt more imposing in the silence, its cold stone walls rising high around him. He had chosen this corridor for its hidden location—far from the busy parts of the castle where students and teachers often roamed. The narrow passage, with its many alcoves and turns, provided enough concealment should anyone unexpectedly pass by. The flickering torches lining the walls cast simple, uneven light, creating soft shadows that danced across the stone floor.

Right on time, two familiar figures appeared from the far end of the corridor. Fred and George Weasley emerged from the shadows with their usual casual confidence, their footsteps quiet but steady as they moved toward him. Even in the low light, Harry could clearly see their wide grins. The mischievous glint in their eyes was unmistakable, a sure sign they had reached a massive breakthrough. It made him wonder what they had cooked up, and he could not help but feel excited.

"Evening, gentlemen," Harry greeted them with a casual wave.

"Harry, my good man," Fred replied with a mock bow, his twin mimicking his movements.

"So good of you to make it in time for our little rendezvous," George added.

Harry smirked, "I trust you've got something worth freezing my arse off for?"

The twins shared a conspiratorial look, their eyes gleaming with excitement despite the biting cold that permeated even through the thick stone walls of Hogwarts.

"Oh, we've got something," Fred said, fishing into his pocket, his gloved hands fumbling slightly in the chill.

"Something that's going to knock your Gillyweed right out of the lake," George added with a wink.

Harry raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued now. He'd told them about Gillyweed following a conversation with Hagrid, and the twins had been expectedly intrigued by this plant. He could see their fascination in the little discussion they'd had, and Harry had conveyed his reservations regarding the transformation that he would probably undergo. It was uncharted territory but he had faith that if anyone could come up with a sure-fire way to get this done, it was these two.

That had led to this very meeting. If the twins had found a way to improve on Gillyweed, Harry knew it could be invaluable.

Fred pulled out a small, shimmering sphere, its surface glinting faintly in the dim light. Even under the torchlight, the object seemed to pulse with an inner glow, the opalescent hues shifting subtly.

"We call it the Aqua-Lung Lozenge," George announced proudly, his voice low but tinged with excitement.

"Real original, innit?" Fred rolled his eyes as he held it out.

Harry leaned in closer, his emerald eyes scrutinizing the little sphere closely. He took in the mysterious swirls inside the casing, and it certainly looked…

"Impressive. How does it work?" He asked as he leaned back and straightened.

Fred exchanged a knowing glance with George. Turning back to Harry, he asked, "Remember how you mentioned the limitations of Gillyweed?"

"The hour-long duration, the gills, the webbed fingers and toes…" George added, miming the transformation.

Harry nodded, recalling his discussion with Neville about the plant. It was a wonder that the boy knew more about it than even Hagrid, but perhaps that was more because Hagrid's expertise lay in creatures, not herbs.

"Useful, but not exactly ideal. I mean… it's bound to be uncomfortable. And I don't want any permanent side effects, however low the probability might be," he replied, paraphrasing Neville's words.

"Exactly!" the twins chorused.

Fred held the sphere up to the faint light, turning it over in his gloved hand. "This little marvel takes all the benefits of Gillyweed and improves them."

"Go on," Harry urged, nodding.

"For starters," George said, stepping closer, "it lasts as long as you need—up to twelve hours."

"No more worrying about turning back into a pumpkin after sixty minutes," Fred quipped.

Harry's eyes widened, impressed. "And the side effects?"

"Gone," George said with a grin. "No more gills, no more webbed feet. You stay perfectly intact—handsome as ever."

"How…?" Harry asked, genuinely curious.

Fred puffed out his chest, pride evident in his demeanor. Harry could see that they knew it was their best work ever. "A bit of Bubble-Head Charm theory, a dash of transfiguration, and, of course, Gillyweed essence. Loads of it. We've refined it."

"But that's not all," George added, his grin widening. "This baby gives you more than just breathing underwater. You'll be faster, more agile, and—get this—perfect eyesight underwater."

"And," Fred said, leaning in conspiratorially, "it's activated at will. Pop it in your mouth, think 'aqua', and you're set. Want to surface? Think 'aero', and you're back to normal. Can do it as many times as you want for those 12 hours."

Harry whistled low under his breath, utterly impressed. "You've really outdone yourselves."

The twins beamed; their pride evident in their posture.

"We aim to please," Fred said, giving a playful wink.

"And to innovate," George added with mock grandeur.

Harry took the sphere, turning it over in his own hands. The smooth, cold surface seemed alive, humming with magical energy. He brought it close to his face and tentatively smelled it, his eyes widening at the fruity fragrance.

"Yep! Flavored it too," Fred smirked.

"Have you tested it?" Harry asked.

"Oh, extensively," Fred replied. "We've been sneaking out to the Black Lake for a while now."

"Nearly gave the giant squid a heart attack," George chuckled, rubbing his hands together for warmth.

"Must tell you though, you have made us a lot with that little tip."

"Don't let your Mum find out about all that betting, you two," Harry chuckled.

"Oh Merlin no! We'd be dead if she found out."

Harry chuckled as he brought his attention back to the candy, already formulating plans in his mind. This new invention of the twins could prove invaluable, not just for the looming tasks ahead but for countless future endeavors. He met the twins' gazes, his green eyes sharp and calculating.

"Well, you've certainly upheld your end of the deal," Harry said, his voice laced with admiration. "This is far beyond anything I could have imagined."

Fred and George exchanged pleased glances, their matching grins growing wider.

"But I think we should start thinking bigger, boys," Harry continued.

"Whaddya mean?"

"The market, boys," Harry smirked.

Fred and George exchanged a curious glance as Harry watched them in amusement. He certainly had big plans with the twins going forward, and knowing as much as he did about them, he was certain that it would be a very profitable partnership indeed.

"So," Fred began, his tone playful.

"About that favor you promised…" George trailed off with a grin.

Harry held up a hand, smirking. "Before we get to that, I have a few questions about the future of this little candy. I have a feeling we're going to need more of these sooner than we think. Right after the task even, I believe. And that brings us to the real future of this entire endeavor as well."

The twins' playful demeanor shifted slightly, Harry's plan dawning on them. There was respect in their eyes and no small amount of hesitation as they gazed at him searchingly.

"You really mean it?" Fred said, his tone serious.

"I do," Harry replied, nodding. "I know how much all this means to you, and I want to help you guys. Or rather, I want to be a part of it. I know you don't want charity, so this is how we're going to do it. You two will oversee everything and I'll be a silent partner. 80:20 split."

"Equal," George interrupted firmly, taking Harry by surprise.

"Sorry?"

"It will be one-third each way. No more, no less. If you agree to that, then we can talk further."

"Come on, guys," Harry chuckled. "I'm only financing you, and in a short time, you won't even need my financing. You'll be making more than enough to make the business self-sustaining. 80:20 is more than fair."

"Stop underselling it, Harry. You might be 'only' financing this, but you have no idea how important it would be," Fred shook his head.

"You've already helped finance this one," George continued. "The only reason we could even do it is because you gave us that Gillyweed you got. How much was it for, if I may ask?"

Harry let out a small sigh.

"Exactly. We couldn't have even thought of this if not for you. It might be our work, but you have as much role in this," Fred smiled.

"Guys, come on"

"One-third each, or no deal."

Harry pursed his lips, and as he gazed at the twins, he knew they would not budge.

"All right, fine! Merlin, you two can be fucking stubborn sometimes."

The twins chuckled.

"You couldn't tell until now?"

"How else would we have continued doing this with our dear mother barking at us every chance she gets? Stubbornness is a virtue, my man."

"Yeah, that's enough of your philosophical bullshit," Harry rolled his eyes. "I'll take this out to test myself in the Black Lake tomorrow. How much stock do you have?"

"After all our tests, we have two remaining. You have one. Here's the other."

Harry nodded and pocketed the second candy.

"That one's for the task then," he intoned. "You should get it patented as soon as you can, by the way. Preferably before the task. People would be looking heavily into it once I use it in the task so that they can profit from this invention."

"Good point," Fred nodded.

"Now then," Harry smirked, gazing at the twins with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "About this prank that I promised… what do you have in mind?"

The twins exchanged a conspiratorial smirk as they turned to Harry.

"Let's walk as we talk, Harrykins," Fred slung an arm over his shoulder, his twin mimicking him on the other side.

"I'm sure you'll love it as well."

Chuckling, Harry allowed himself to be led away. He was most certainly interested in what the twins had in mind.

-Break-

The Room of Requirement was dimly lit, the enchanted runes manipulating the temperature to reverse the effects of the chill February air. A soft glow from the embers in the fireplace illuminated the outlines of the bed where a naked pair lay entwined in a passionate embrace.

The warmth of the blankets wrapped around them felt like a shield from the biting cold outside, creating a comfortable setting. The faintest sound of their breathing mixed with the distant crackling of the fireplace as they savored their intimacy after bringing one another to their climaxes.

Harry turned slightly, his arm draped lazily over Fleur's waist, and his fingers brushing the smooth skin of her back. She was pressed flush against him, her face nuzzled into the crook of his neck, and her silvery-blonde hair cascading over his chest like a shimmering waterfall.

She had been the one to insist on coming to his bed tonight, and Harry had no reason to decline. There was a connection between them which they both felt, having grown closer in the few months that had passed since the First Task than any could have imagined. Fleur reasoned that it was because of their shared compatibility with one another as well as Harry's role in saving her from the dragon, which he was inclined to agree with, but there was something else at play here as well. Theirs was a connection forged not just from attraction but from mutual respect, trust, and something unspoken but powerful.

None of them were in any hurry to put labels on what they shared, which Harry believed was a trait he shared with Katie, Daphne, and Tracey as well. All the girls knew he was not and would never be exclusive with them, but none seemed to care. It was something as mysterious as magic itself, although Harry was inclined to think that he was just born with both a massive curse in the form of his history with Voldemort and an immense fortune given the relationships he shared with all these brilliant girls.

Harry was absently caressing the bare curve of her perky rear when Fleur sighed softly, her fingers tracing idle patterns over Harry's collarbone. "Ze second task will be soon," she murmured, a hint of her French accent slipping through in her sleepy voice.

Harry hummed in agreement, his thumb absently stroking her hip. "Yeah, it's been on my mind too." His tone was light, but his brow furrowed slightly, and Fleur, always perceptive, noticed.

"Something is troubling you, non?" Fleur asked, her voice taking on a more serious note. She shifted slightly, propping herself up on one elbow to look down at him, her sleep momentarily forgotten. Her blue eyes, luminous even in the dim light, searched his face.

Harry met her gaze and chewed on his bottom lip momentarily before sighing. "It's the Black Lake," he said finally, the words spilling out almost reluctantly.

Fleur raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Is it? I know you have been practicing for the task there. Did you find something?"

Harry nodded, his expression darkening. "Yeah, I've been trying to get a feel for it. But something's off."

Fleur's fingers paused, her brows knitting together in concern. "Off? How do you mean?"

Harry shifted, sitting up slightly. He leaned against the backrest, the covers pooling around his waist. "The Grindylows. They're… different. More aggressive than they should be. I hoped it was an anomaly the first time I dove in the lake, but that's been the case every time I have gone there."

Fleur tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Grindylows are always vicious," she mused, "but if you say they are worse…"

"They are," Harry interrupted, his voice firm. "You must've read about them as well. They're territorial, yes, but also cowardly. They rarely attack first, and never head-on. But whenever I've tried to explore the lake... it's like they were lying in wait. As if they'd already been provoked. And I'm starting to think the organizers had something to do with it."

Fleur's eyes widened slightly. "You think the tournament organizers would manipulate the creatures in the lake? To make the task harder?"

Harry ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "I don't know. But something's not right. The way they were acting—it is too coordinated. And it wasn't just the Grindylows. The whole lake feels… off. There's something going on down there."

Fleur was quiet for a moment, her eyes narrowing in thought. "You may be right," she said slowly. "They do want to make each task more dangerous than the last. That would be what's best for business, right? The barriers gave away in the First Task. It makes sense that they would try to make the Second Task hard as well. But to tamper with creatures like that to put us in that kind of danger…"

Harry leaned back against the headboard, pulling Fleur closer so she rested against his chest. His fingers absentmindedly played with the strands of her hair, but his mind was clearly elsewhere, churning with the implications of what he'd discovered.

"We agreed, 'Arry," Fleur said after a pause, her voice quiet but firm. "No sharing strategies. No pointers. We can't help each other, not directly. It wouldn't be fair."

Harry nodded as the veela sat with her cheek pressed against his chest, her fingers tracing the faint outlines of his toned muscles. "I know," he muttered. "But this is different. This is not strategy, this is… survival."

Fleur let out a low hum, conflicted, as she gazed up at him.

"I don't want to break our promise. We both need to win this on our own terms." He paused, his hand resting on her back now, his thumb moving in small, comforting circles. "But at the same time, I can't let you go in there blind if there's something dangerous—something more dangerous than we were prepared for. Especially considering your natural disadvantage underwater…"

Fleur shifted slightly, her hand sliding down to his abdomen, her touch gentle but grounding. "Just like I would not want you to go unprepared either," she murmured, her lips brushing against his skin as she spoke. "We are in this together, even if we must compete separately."

Harry closed his eyes for a moment, taking in the warmth of her touch, the steady rhythm of her breath. He could feel the rise and fall of her chest against his, the closeness of their bodies a stark contrast to the cold, calculated nature of the tournament they were part of.

"You're right," Harry finally said, his voice soft. "This isn't just about the competition anymore. If something's wrong with the lake, we need to act accordingly."

Fleur smiled faintly, her lips curving against his skin. "I am glad you agree," she whispered, her hand sliding further down, causing Harry to shiver slightly, though not from the cold. "We are stronger together, oui?"

Harry chuckled, his hand moving to her waist, pulling her closer. "Yeah. We are."

For a moment, the conversation was forgotten as they gave in to the comfort of each other's presence. Fleur's lips found his, soft and warm, and Harry responded in kind, his fingers threading through her hair as their kiss deepened. There was a tenderness to their ministrations, a silent understanding between them that, despite the dangers they faced, this—whatever this was—was theirs, something no tournament could take away.

Their tongues moved in perfect harmony, darting forward and teasing as they caressed each other. Harry's hands reached up and found her tits, squeezing and fondling lovingly as they kissed, and he felt Fleur's hand wrap around his member, slowly starting to stroke it to full hardness. His thumbs brushed over her hard nipples, puffy and sensitive, and he rolled them around, loving how her tits felt in his palms.

Their breathing grew labored as they got each other worked up, their eyes closed and all the different senses guiding them expertly. Harry stifled a hiss when Fleur began to roll her thumb over the tip of his length, rubbing the precum all over the head of his prick, and he kissed her harder, feeling her return his kiss with equal fervor.

Suddenly, Fleur shifted again, straddling Harry. He felt her warm lower lips slide along the underside of his erection and he let out a soft groan, making her smirk. Her hands rested on his shoulders now as she looked down at him, her gaze both playful and serious. "We'll take care of whatever those organizers have planned," she said, her voice a low murmur as she leaned in to kiss him again, her lips brushing against his with a teasing slowness. "We will not let them get one over us, no matter how much they might want to try."

Harry smirked, his hands sliding to her waist, holding her firmly. "They won't. Not a chance."

Returning his smirk, Fleur leaned down and pressed herself flush against him, mashing her large tits against his chest as their lips met again in an intense kiss. For a few minutes, they lost themselves in each other, the outside world slipping away as their kisses grew more insistent, more urgent. Fleur's movement grew desperate, more wanton, as she reached behind her and grasped his length, aligning him with her eagerly awaiting entrance. Harry held his breath as she straightened, gently popping the head in, and a soft groan escaped her lips as she threw her head back.

Harry could never get tired of this alluring sight. Fleur Delacour – the girl almost every male around them wanted to warm his bed – was wholeheartedly his, and he relished the sight of his hot veela goddess as he slowly pushed her hip back, making his length slide further inside her. Her back was ramrod straight, her silvery tresses falling behind her like a waterfall as she slid down with agonizing slowness, taking the time to make them both savor the feeling of his length finding its place inside her hot, damp walls once again.

The veela opened her eyes and held his gaze for a moment, and as he nodded, she smiled tenderly and closed the final remaining distance between them. Harry sighed in pleasure as he bottomed out inside her, and Fleur let out a loud moan of pleasure as she buried his entire length inside her dripping pussy.

In no time, the alluring veela was bouncing on top of him and Harry was treated to the heavenly sight of Fleur with her head thrown back in sheer pleasure once again as she rocked, her large, gravity-defying tits bouncing and slapping against each other as she fucked herself eagerly on his cock. He needed to do nothing, not that he even wanted to. He surrendered himself to this seductive beauty and her ministrations, allowing her to dictate the pace, intensity, and ferocity of their lovemaking. All he devoted himself to was enjoying the sight and the feeling of her impossible heat and tightness around him as they made love.

Harry slowly reached up and grabbed hold of her bouncing melons, squeezing them gently, and Fleur's eyes opened, hungrily gazing into his intense emeralds. Her lips quirked in a grin as she bent forward, and Harry eagerly leaned up, burying his face in her massive cleavage. He feasted on her tits, nibbling and kissing all over her tits before his lips found her hard nipple. Fleur moaned aloud at the sensation as Harry began to alternately suck and bite her sensitive puffy nubs, his tongue darting out and rolling around as he held her tits in a firm yet gentle grasp, squeezing and fondling softly.

She could feel herself approaching her second climax of the night, having already had one before they'd even had this conversation about the Black Lake, and she pushed all those thoughts out of her mind. She grabbed his shoulders and gently pushed him on his back, hovering over him for a moment before she went with him, pressing herself flush against his equally sweaty skin. She loved how they felt together, slick with their combined bodily fluids as they gazed deeply into each other's eyes.

Leaning down, she whispered in his ear breathlessly, "Fuck me."

That was all the incentive Harry needed, and Fleur let out a surprised yelp when he wrapped his arms around her back and rolled them over. Wide-eyed yet grinning excitedly, Fleur had only a moment to brace herself when a loud cry escaped her as Harry began to furiously hammer away inside her. The bed rocked and creaked as they fucked relentlessly, kissing furiously, and Fleur wrapped her legs around his waist, locking them together over his back as she clutched onto him, loving how he was taking her like she was his.

She truly was, and she let him know. Judging from the way his thrusts intensified, she knew he must've loved it. Her breathing was growing labored, a coiling brewing in her lower belly as her toes curled.

"Almost there," she gasped, and to her sheer shock, Harry intensified the ferocity of his fucking even more.

With a loud wail, Fleur came around his cock, her body shivering as she spasmed. Harry held her tightly to himself, feeling how she was clutching onto him, as he kept drilling into her, fucking her through her orgasm. His climax was far away, but he found himself in no hurry, happy to bring so much pleasure to this beauty who he adored so much.

Eventually, Fleur's orgasm subsided and Harry pulled back, only for the veela to drape herself over him and bury her face in the crook of his neck. She kissed him tenderly, her breathing heavy, as Harry held her close.

"We will be fine," she whispered, her voice soft but determined. "And whatever the organizers have planned… we will be ready."

Harry cupped her cheek and pulled her up, planting a soft kiss on her lips. Fleur smiled as she closed her eyes, kissing him back. As he pulled away, she opened her eyes and saw him nod, his thumb brushing along her jawline. "I know you can handle this, but I'm also thankful that you're not taking this otherwise. It's just… I'm a bit worried considering the environment we'd be in."

"Shh…" Fleur said softly, kissing him. "I know, and to be honest, it feels good to see how much you care for me."

"How can't I?" Harry smiled tenderly, and Fleur's eyes softened. She rested her forehead against his as he held her close.

"Together, Fleur. At least for some peace of mind."

Fleur nodded against him and smiled as she pulled back, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "But not too close," she teased, her fingers playfully trailing down his chest again. "We must not make the others jealous."

Harry laughed softly, his hands resting on her hips. "As if either of us care."

"True that," Fleur chuckled, and Harry was surprised when she began to trail a line of kisses down his jaw and chest, slowly venturing down his abdomen. At his enquiring look, she smirked, "You didn't really think I'll let you go to sleep without it, did you?"

Harry chuckled and reached out, threading his fingers through her lustrous locks as Fleur hovered over his hard length. Winking at him seductively, she leaned over and wrapped her lips around it, and Harry leaned back with a groan, feeling her hot mouth descend lower.

The Black Lake, with its hidden dangers, awaited them both. And though they had agreed not to share strategies, the connection they shared would ensure they faced whatever came next together.

TBC.

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