Chapter Fifty Nine - Singing, Let's Get it On

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!

Chapter Fifty Nine - Singing, Let's Get it On

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

When the girls returned a little later, Fleur was dressed more... appropriately; she was wearing her unaligned Hogwarts uniform in readiness of her Sorting at dinner. This time when she sat, she sat next to Harry. Both other girls sat opposite.

Fleur's eyes sparkled when she smiled at him and took his closest hand in hers. "Thank you, 'Arry."

"I was happy to go along with that little... ceremony," he said. "But, what did it all really mean?"

"It means my magic recognises both of us have accepted my life debt to you. I'm now bonded to you through the debt," she explained.

"That was a bonding ritual?" he exclaimed.

"I was already bonded to you. This was more a ceremony than a ritual," she explained. "One that had a magical component."

He huffed and said, "A ritual, by any other name―"

"I understand," she said. "But, it was still necessary for me."

He sighed and frowned at both his other two girls. They now knew he was annoyed at them both, just as he knew they'd effectively pulled the wool over his eyes on this.

It would be something they'd discuss between them after dinner. And they both clearly knew that.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At dinner, the now eight sat together at the Hufflepuff table again. That House, at least, were being more accepting.

However, before dinner was served, Madam Marchbanks moved around to the front of the dais where the Sorting Hat already sat on it's Sorting stool.

Before she stopped to speak, she already had silence. Anyone with eyes could see that Fleur was currently wearing an unaligned Hogwarts uniform and knew what she and the Sorting Hat's 'attendance' meant.

"For those who have not already figured out what is going on," she began in a clear voice, "We have a Sorting to get through before we all eat."

"Sitting among you and currently at the Hufflepuff table is Miss Fleur Delacour, late of Beauxbatons Institute of Magic, but still the current Beauxbatons Champion for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Miss Delacour is here because of a unique magical event that developed between her and Lord Potter at the conclusion of the Second Task.

"In saving Miss Delacour's life, magic deemed Miss Delacour owed Lord Potter a life debt."

That had a few people gasping and immediately chatting with their seat mates.

Marchbanks firmly tapped her cane on the floor of the dais three times, causing loud bangs each time. It got her the silence she wanted.

"As I was saying," she snapped, before staring around the room. "Miss Delacour found herself owing Lord Potter a life debt. For one of Miss Delacour's heritage, it is literally a matter of life and death.

"Lord Potter's family, together with other members of the Potter-Longbottom Alliance, researched as much as possible for a way for Miss Delacour to be free of the debt without harm to her. They were unsuccessful.

"As a result, Lord Potter was not willing to allow Miss Delacour to perish, when he could do something to save her life. As such, he has accepted the life debt owed to him by accepting Miss Delacour in concubinage.

"Because Miss Delacour is now a concubine of Lord Potter, she has transferred to Hogwarts from Beauxbatons. However, as she only has a few months remaining of her Beauxbatons education, she will not be formally attending Hogwarts classes, other than to audit them. Instead, she will be studying with private tutors to complete her Beauxbatons education. She will also be sitting her NEWTs in France this summer.

"For the duration of her stay with us, Miss Delacour will be housed in Lord Potter's quarters in the Lords' Quarters wing. However, Hogwarts rules still require her to be Sorted into a House. That is the reason the Sorting Hat joins us, tonight."

She gave that a few moments before she gestured to Fleur. "Miss Delacour, please join me and be Sorted."

As Fleur rose and made her way to the dais, the noise of students quietly chatting about this development, rose.

Marchbanks moved slightly to her right and lifted the Hat from its stool in readiness.

Having it already explained how it happens by Harry, Hermione and Daphne, Fleur stepped up onto the dais in front of the stool, smoothly pivoted and sat. A moment later, Marchbanks lowered the Hat onto her head.

"Ahhh... mmm..." said the Hat. "Interesting..."

A few moments later it bellowed, "RAVENCLAW!"

And Marchbanks lifted the Hat back off as Fleur beamed in delight, looking back at Harry. The Ravenclaws were clapping in pleasure. However, so were the Heirs.

As she stood her robes, tie and under-uniform changed from unaligned to Ravenclaw colours.

"And now we represent all four Houses," said a grinning Harry to the others, just as Fleur returned to sit between Daphne and Hermione.

Both girls were quick to wrap her in a hug from each that turned into a three-way group hug.

No one could see the look of hate on Draco Malfoy's face as he was sitting with his back to them.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Back in the new apartment, after first making the mistake of returning to the first apartment, the group sat talking for a while before Tracey left for the Slytherin dorms and the three Longbottoms left for their own apartment. Again, as per his orders, a disillusioned Dobby followed Tracey.

With a curious expression on her face, Fleur asked Harry, "You 'ave your elf follow Miss Davis to make sure she safely gets back to 'er own dorms?"

"Yes," he firmly replied. "There are too many mini Death Eaters in this school for my comfort. That is, too many who are the children of known Death Eaters. I would not put it past any of them to ambush Tracey as a way of getting back at me.

"Her friendship with me places her at higher risk. Therefore, I see it as my duty to ensure she is safe. I do the same with Daphne's younger sister, Astoria, also a Slytherin."

Daphne asked, "What do you know of the events that led to me becoming a concubine of Harry?"

"Very little," the old girl replied. "It is considered family business, so Papa never investigated further than to learn the overall effects of it."

Hermione frowned and asked, "Your father investigated it?"

"Oui," she replied. "Papa is the... in your terms 'ere... Deputy Minister for Magic for Wizarding France. It is part of 'is job to watch and know what is important in other nearby countries. The concubinage of Heiress Daphne Greengrass of the Noble and Ancient 'Ouse of Greengrass to Lord 'Arrison Potter of the Noble and Most Ancient 'Ouse of Potter and Heir Tertiary of the Noble and Most Ancient 'Ouse of Black is an important 'appening. Another, of course, was the earlier betrothal of the same Lord to a muggleborn witch named 'Ermione Granger."

Hermione sat back and said, "Hunh! That actually makes a lot of sense."

"When Papa and Maman first discovered the life debt, Papa investigated the public records of both the betrothal and the concubinage. 'E didn't do that earlier as it was not important then. 'E was able to get 'old of a copy of both documents and 'e said 'e was very impressed," she said before she gave a little giggle. "'E was even laughing at a couple of points."

"She turned to Hermione and asked, "Is it true you only need to make one small statement for the betrothal to be cancelled?"

"Yes," said Hermione. "The same applies for Harry."

"And similar are in the Concubine Bond Agreement between Harry and me," said Daphne.

"So the real purpose of both agreements is... what?" she asked.

"Protection," replied Hermione. "At least, that was its original intent. However, both Harry and I are of a different mindset now. We want this to work. As things stand, neither of us intends to utter those words. We will marry and I will bear the Potter children."

Daphne glanced at Harry and said, "Honesty time for me, too, I guess." Turning to look more at Harry, she said, "I know the reason for the Concubine Bond Agreement was conceived from the idea of the protection of me and my House.

"However, sooner or later I would still need a Concubine Bond contract or another very willing partner, who would be willing to risk not passing on their own line through us. I'm sorry, but I cannot see that happening. Therefore, the first option is the only way.

"If I was to look around and wonder who would make a good father... sperm donor, as Hermione put it... for any children I was to bear through a Concubine Bond contract, which I have already done many times, there is only one who I can see fulfilling that role and me remaining happy about it. That's you, Harry."

With an expression of self-deprecation, Harry gave a grunt and shook his head. "You're fifteen, Daphne. You have years before it would become an issue."

Daphne shook her head and said, "I don't think you recognise what a 'catch' you are, Harry. You're, without a doubt, one of the best looking boys in the school, now. That malnourished, undersized... waif... who wore hand-me-downs and poorly fitted glasses is gone.

"On top of that, you are easily the most magically powerful student in the school. Merlin, you're probably the most magically powerful student this school has seen in fifty years! That, alone, is an aphrodisiac for one such as I, who is looking to bear children to continue my House.

"And, on top of even that, you are kind, considerate, chivalrous, and a whole heap of other similar words too numerous to list out."

She gave a sigh and said, "My nightmares, until you and my father signed that agreement, consisted of things like... Ronald Weasley or Vincent Crabbe coming into a room where I'm lying naked on a bed. He leers at me, strips off and... cl- climbs on, you know?"

Starting to clearly become more upset, she continued, "Then, not even w-waiting until he knows I'm r-ready, he just... sticks his... in me.

"Wh-Once he's done... not even wo-worrying about how I felt about the whole thing, you know?... he just climbs off and gets dressed. Then, just before he walks back out the door, he looks at me and sa-says, 'Thanks for the fuck, Greengrass. Let me know if I need to come back and give you another one'."

By the time she was finished, she was sobbing. She curled up and rolled to her side on the sofa, clearly in emotional pain. Harry silently rose from where he was sitting, walked over, sat down beside her and wrapped her in his arms.

"That will never happen, Daphne," he firmly said. "As long as Hermione is alright with it..." he looked over and could see she was nodding, "... then I'll be the only man you'll need."

Gently moving her, he picked her up and placed her in his lap, as she remained in a ball and sobbed her heart out. He began to using soothing sounds and rocking her back and forth as he rubbed her back.

A few moments later, Betsy popped in with a small vial. Hermione accepted it and offered it to Daphne by way of placing the opened mouth of it directly onto her bottom lip. "Calming potion," she firmly said. "Drink!"

As Daphne allowed her mouth to open, Hermione upended it directly into her mouth.

Daphne wrinkled her nose for moment, gave a small shudder as she swallowed and almost immediately calmed.

'So much for telling these two off tonight for manipulating me,' thought Harry.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After getting Daphne calm, she very soon drifted off to sleep in Harry's arms.

Harry noticed and sighed, "Hermione, could you go in and turn Daphne's bed down for me?"

At first she looked curious, then she clearly noticed and smirked at him. "Alright, Harry," she said, rising and walking to Daphne's room.

Standing up with a bit of difficulty, Daphne's mass upset his balance, Harry rose and followed.

Walking into the room he thought to himself, 'The first time in her room and I'm carrying her in, sleeping in my arms.'

Hermione already had the right side of the bed turned down for him to lay her on the bed with her head on the pillow. Gently lowering her down, he said, "When I leave, can you call Betsy to dress her properly for bed?"

"Of course, Harry," she softly said.

Harry walked out and returned to the sofa, which he collapsed upon with a sigh. Fleur hadn't moved. In all honesty, he'd somewhat forgotten she was there. She was sitting with one knee cocked up onto the seat, sitting slightly sideways and facing him and with an arm resting along the back.

"She needed to get that out," she quietly said.

Harry nodded. "Mmm."

"And you 'andled it quite well," she just as quietly added.

He was quiet for a few moments before he tried to explain his thinking. "I treat people how I would like to be treated if the situation was reversed. In that way, I hope I'm doing the right thing. If I treat someone the same way I want to be treated, then I believe it must be the right way."

"I think you're right," she said.

"There are only a few people I don't do that with," he replied. "At least, intentionally. And then it's only because they've proven to me they do not deserve to be treated well by me. For some, it's because they're being daft morons. For others, it's because they did not or do not treat me well in return.

"I... have trouble tolerating mindless fools. I think them no better than human-shaped sheep; someone's proverbial dinner, just marking time until they're devoured. I find most witches and wizards fill that category."

"Ouch," she said. "I take it you treated me 'arshly on first introduction because I called you a... 'leetle boi'?"

He gave a snort of amusement, smirked and replied, "Knowing me now, do you think you deserved it?"

She blushed a little, but firmly replied. "Yes; I did."

He looked to her and she was looking directly back. He explained, "It is your ability to recognise you did wrong, and then apologise for it, which first had me look to you as more than one of the sheep."

Hermione came back over and settled onto the sofa next to Harry where Daphne had sat. She sighed and leaned into him. "She's deeply asleep. She didn't even twitch when Betsy changed her into her sleep robes and covered her with her comforter."

Fleur said, "She will likely 'ave the most peaceful night's sleep she's 'ad in a long time. Getting that... burden of fear off 'er chest will give 'er peace."

Hermione said, "God, I don't know how she was able to stand that sort of pressure and fear for so long."

"It would have built up over time," explained Harry. "Ten years ago it would have been something to worry about in ten or fifteen years. Five years ago it would have started to become a concern, but not something she really needed to worry about yet. Two years ago is when the pressure started to really build up. And three months ago she was living in terrified fear and unable to find a way out of her... predicament.

"For her, it was like a pressure cooker, where the pressure is building and building. Then came the First Task."

"Then you reactivated the Potter-Longbottom Alliance," said Hermione. "That reactivated the Greengrass membership of that alliance. And Lord Greengrass felt he'd finally found a way to save his daughter and his House.

"You're approached, as you fully expected you would be. The agreement is made. You both sign."

"Yes, but even then it wasn't enough," said Harry. "I don't think it was until tonight she was ready to accept she was now safe. That was partly my fault, by including the escape clauses in the agreement. Unknowingly, I made it feel for her as if I'd rip the carpet out from under her feet at any moment."

"It was me," said Fleur. "'Arry being willing to accept me... life, body and soul... means 'is promise to 'er is real. It's 'onest. She no longer 'as to fear 'Arry will, as 'e puts it, rip that carpet out from under 'er feet."

Harry groaned and sat forward, "I am such a daft moron. I didn't even realise that. I should have, and didn't."

"No, Harry," said Hermione. "We all should have. You, me, everyone."

"I need to make it clear to her, that is not the case," he sighed.

"Unless you want to rewrite the agreement, or have sex with her, I don't think you can," she said.

He sat back and sighed. "No," he quietly said. "I'm―"

"You're not ready," said Fleur. "Besides, I believe 'Ermione is always going to be, as you put it, 'first'. You will be each other's first."

Hermione seemed to think for a while before she asked, "Do we have anything planned for next weekend?"

"No," he immediately replied, then added, "Other than cooking on Saturday night and completing assignments." Snapping his head around to look at Fleur, he asked, "Which reminds me; when will we see your tutors?"

"When Papa organises them and lets me know," she calmly replied.

Hermione asked, "You're not worried it's going to take time? You're in your final months of your final year."

"'Iring the best should take time, 'Ermione," she returned. "I can delay taking my NEWTs, if I need to."

That had Hermione thinking for a bit before she returned to why she was asking about the forthcoming weekend.

"I want you to keep this weekend as free as possible, Harry," she firmly said.

"Because, between now and then, I want you to consider the idea of having sex with me then," she replied.

He looked at her in shocked surprise.

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to be ready by then," she smiled. "I hope you will be, too."

"I..." he tried. "I... will give it much thought," he said.

"Thank you," she smiled.

Fleur just smiled as well. At a later time, she'd talk to Hermione during a 'girl talk' session about what potions could aid her on her 'night'.

It was not too much later that the three went to bed. It had been an emotional evening and classes restarted for a new week the next morning.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Fleur was not starting any classes or tutoring sessions, the next morning. However, she still dressed in her new Hogwarts Ravenclaw robes and joined them for breakfast.

Today, they decided to sit at the Gryffindor table to break their fasts.

Harry was very happy to see that Daphne had recovered from her breakdown of the previous evening and was actually showing, even now, she was both happy and relaxed. She was sitting on Harry's left with Fleur on his right and Hermione on Fleur's right as the four sat opposite the three Longbottoms and Tracey.

He was also very thankful no Gryffindor even batted an eye at how two Slytherin Fourth Years were sitting at 'their' table. He did not want that sort of bigotry in front of Fleur, just yet, if he could help it. She was, as with he and his, still new to their new dynamic and her new 'station' in life.

However, before he could breath a sigh of relief, one of the older Ravenclaw males approached. "Miss Delacar―" he said.

"It's Miss Delacour," she replied. "What can I do for you, Mister―"

"Miss Delacour," he said, with a slight bob of his head at the correction. "I am Roger Davies, the new Sixth Year Prefect for Ravenclaw. I have come over to inform you Ravenclaw students are expected to dine together for―"

Harry gave a loud snort of amusement.

Davies frowned at him and asked, "Something I said amuses you, Potter?"

Harry cocked an eyebrow at the boy, set down his cutlery and sat back before affixing the boy with a stare.

"Yes, dead man walking, you did say something that amused me; multiple somethings, actually," replied Harry. "Then you said something that pissed me off. Think about how you just addressed me with disrespect and you may just be in time to apologise and save yourself a very quick and probably unwilling trip to the Infirmary and medi-wizard Robinson's skilled care."

Davies frowned before Harry saw he got it and stood up with an almost sneer on his face. "I am a Prefect, Potter."

"And you're also an idiot," Harry shot straight back.

"What... is going on here?" asked Professor Sinistra in an annoyed voice. She had just come down to find out what was going on.

Davies whirled on her and replied, "I have come over to inform Miss Delacour that we Ravenclaws all dine together for meals, Professor."

"Keep going!" said Harry. "Tell her the rest of where you completely shoved your foot into your mouth."

Davies scowled at Harry a moment before returning to the Professor. He continued, "Potter seems to think something I said was amusing and, when I asked him to explain, threatened me."

Turning to Harry, she asked, "Mis... no, Lord Po... oh, crap," she said before she raised her off hand to pinch the bridge of her nose and sigh. It was a gesture very similar to the one Madam Bones often used.

"I see you've just recognised one of Mister Davies's errors and why I told him I was on the verge of creating a situation where he'd be in the Infirmary, with great alacrity and under medi-wizard Robinson's care, Professor.

"His first error was believing he had any right to practically order... my bonded... Miss Delacour, to sit at the Ravenclaw table for meals. His second error was to act in complete defiance of the school rules, where it states students are to be encouraged to dine at other tables to promote inter-house unity within the school. His third error was referring to himself as the Sixth Year Ravenclaw Prefect, when I must assume there is a second Sixth year Ravenclaw Prefect, one who is female. His addressing me simply as 'Potter' was his fourth, fifth and sixth errors. From that you can accept he's now done that three times in less than five minutes.

"Therefore, I have to ask, Professor," he continued. "Are all your new Prefects this stupid?"

She sighed, looked at Davies and said, "Answer my question only with a yes or no. Do not extrapolate. Keep you mouth otherwise shut... Is what Lord Potter just told me, true?"

Davies looked ready to shout and visibly reined in his temper before he gritted out, "Yes."

She just shook her head at him and sighed. Then she raised her off hand, palm out and flat, and said, "Badge. Now."

When he gaped at her in shock, she said, "Now; Mister Davies."

Clearly angry, Davies removed his Prefects' badge and almost slapped it into her hand.

"Right," she said, closing her fist around it. "It appears I now have to address the entire House, yet again, to let them know they most certainly are not required to sit at the Ravenclaw table for every meal, except the three feasts; and that it is, in fact, a breach of the school rules for anyone to tell them otherwise.

"Secondly, if you had bothered to open a book on the subject of life debts, as a true Ravenclaw would have done first, you would have learned that Miss Delacour is expected to sit with Lord Potter and that no one may interfere in that. It is the law, let alone also being a school rule.

"Thirdly, it is Lord Potter; not Potter. He is entitled to the address and you will use it when addressing him or referring to him. Right now, Lord Potter is fully within his right to hex you into next week. And there is nothing I, or the rest of the staff, can do to prevent him from doing that other than ask him not to. Only after he has finished punishing you can medi-wizard Robinson step in and set you to rights, if he can.

"Fourthly; yes, you are no longer a Prefect. As Lord Potter incanted you are clearly too stupid to hold the position. I'll have to see if I can appoint another.

"Now, return to your breakfast and do not bother Lord Potter or his bonded again."

Davies stood there, at first, angry. However, as Professor Sinistra laid out what he'd done wrong, his anger abated and he became embarrassed. When she finally sent him on his way, he muttered, "Sorry, Professor." Turned tail and hurried away, back to his seat.

The Professor then turned to Harry and said in a clear voice, "Thank you, Lord Potter; for not just dealing with the idiot as you could have done. Five points to Gryffindor." Then she spun to stare at Davies, who had managed to get back to his seat and hunch over, "And ten points from Ravenclaw for your un-Ravenclaw behaviour, Mister Davies."

Then she spun away and walked back to her over-sized mug of black coffee she often sipped from each morning.

Harry had to give her credit for turning up for each and every breakfast, considering she was the Astronomy Professor and her classes went on late into the early hours of the morning. Harry guessed she'd sleep between breakfast and lunch, but not if she was drinking so much coffee.

Relaxing with a sigh, he took up his cutlery again and returned to his breakfast. As he did, Fleur gave him a nudge and smiled at him.

"He was one of the boys whom my allure turned into a dribbling idiot," she softly said.

"Not possible," he returned. "I'll give you the dribbling, but he was already an idiot."

She gave a light laugh back.

When the mail owls entered Harry was one of the first to receive the Daily Prophet. Hedwig delivered his.

Before he even opened it up, he could see the lead story was the 'discovery' of Fleur's life debt to Harry.

Reading through it, with Fleur leaning over his shoulder and also reading it, Harry could see Ted Tonks's hand in it. It was a near perfect copy of the press release Ted had HEEDed to Harry, with only a few additions.

Clearly, Ted had been in and dealt with the idiot Skeeter woman. He could no longer see her byline, or even a byline that had any anagram of her name including 'Kate Erister', her latest. He'd forgotten 'Teaske' had been outed, fined and, a short while later, fired.

The article again included the wizarding photograph of Harry rescuing Fleur from the lake, but included another of him helping in saving her on the stage and a third as he whisked the canvas flap of the tent aside as medi-wizard Robinson carried her into the tent and Harry following close behind. It was from that photo he saw when the auror was first stationed outside the tent. It was within two seconds of him following Robinson inside.

"Well, it's a fair article," he said. "It includes the truth and only lightly embellishes. Even then, it clearly states how that embellishment is guesswork with 'We believe...' and 'It appears...' used to show it isn't purported as straight fact."

"The Daily Prophet are afraid of you, aren't they?" asked Fleur, in a manner which suggested she knew it to be the truth.

He smirked and replied, "They're afraid of my Law-wizard of Record, Ted Tonks. He's very good at threatening Barnabus Cuffe, the current Editor, to get him to toe the line and not print lies and fabrications about me."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Because Fleur did not yet have her tutors at the school, she decided to join Harry for his classes that day. So, directly after breakfast, she joined him and the other Heirs, except for Daphne and Tracey, in the walk out to the greenhouses.

When she asked if she could join the class as an observer, Professor Sprout had no problem with it.

Neither did Professor Senkinhall in CoMC, Professor and Deputy Headmaster Goodstone in History of Magic after morning tea, or Professor Claystock in Muggle Studies before lunch.

For lunch the Heirs all sat at the Hufflepuff table. Then the Potters, now including Fleur, went to the Ancient Runes double period. Again, Fleur was not refused attending.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

That evening, after dinner, Harry sat his three ladies down and had a firm talking-to with them all.

He spoke to them about how they, Hermione and Daphne, had manipulated him into that bonding ritual with Fleur and how he really did not appreciate it.

"Yes, I know it was important," said Harry. "However, you led me to believe it was just a tradition... simple ceremony... and something Fleur wanted. That was a misdirection. That was very unfair of you pair.

"I thought I had made it very clear in the past how much I despised Albus Dumbledore for his manipulations and how I was very much relieved he could never try that again. And, now, you two have been doing it.

"Stop it!"

Both girls didn't argue as they'd done precisely that. Instead, Hermione said, "Sorry, Harry. But, I thought there was a slight risk you might have refused."

"And, is that not my choice?" he pressed. "Dumbledore kept taking away my choices because of his much self-vaunted greater good. Is that going to be your excuse; we did it because it was for the greater good?"

That had both girls wince.

"Have faith in me," he snapped. "I'm not an idiot. If it was explained to me in a logical fashion, I would have gone through with it. Haven't I already stated I was not prepared to let Fleur die?"

"Sorry Harry," both girls returned.

"And I apologise for not ensuring Hermione and Daphne told you," said Fleur. "I should have."

"No, you didn't know," he sighed.

"Anyways," he said. "What's done is done and I will not belabour the point. Just know you upset me doing that."

Both girls nodded.

"Well, moving on," he said. "What's happening with the rest of our family? How are your parents coping with discovering I have a second concubine? I felt Wendell and Monica were holding back out of politeness on Saturday."

"They're fine with it, actually," replied Hermione, grateful for the change of topic. "And that actually surprises me. I was actually worried something was wrong and they were being very good at covering it up, but they weren't."

He gave a nod and turned to Daphne. "And what about Astoria and your parents, Daphne?"

"My parents were only worried about what Fleur's debt would have on my relationship with you. They're now happy it has had minimal effect," she replied. "As for Stori, she wants to meet Fleur, but won't come up unless she gets an invitation to do so."

"Then invite her," said Harry. "She's family; no matter how much of such an oddball family we're turning out to be."

"I will," she smiled.

"Now that I have all that off my chest - and thank you for listening and accepting - I guess we should make a start on the rest of today's assignments."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Later, after Harry had gone to bed, Fleur grabbed Hermione and dragged her into Daphne's room.

"What's going on?" asked the Slytherin.

"We need to talk," said Fleur, 'And I do not want to involve 'Arry in this. As far as 'e's concerned, it is 'girl talk'. Something it is clear 'Arry does not want to know about."

"Alright," said Daphne, sitting on the edge of her bed. "What is so important it could not wait until tomorrow?"

Fleur turned to Hermione and said, "'Arry was right about 'im not being informed prior to the bonding ceremony what it would mean. I 'ad thought either or both of you would 'ave explained it to 'im, first. Please, do not put me in that position, ever again."

"We won't," said Hermione and Daphne agreed. "He was right. It was wrong of us to do so."

Fleur gave a nod of acceptance and said, "From recent discussions it is also apparent you have both chosen to soon engage in sexual intercourse with 'Arry. Are you aware of certain potions that can make that first night easier for you?"

Hermione frowned in confusion and annoyance that she didn't know something, but Daphne appeared to know.

Noticing their expressions Fleur said to Daphne, "Which one's 'ave you been told about?"

Though a little uncomfortable, Daphne replied, "Maiden's Relief, Prima Nocte and... Witch's Pleasure. Oh... and, of course, Ne Gravidam."

Hermione said, "I'm on Ne Gravidam, already. Madam Pomfrey recommended all post-menses witches be on it, just in case. Healer Robinson is of the same opinion. I don't know what those others are."

Fleur nodded and said, "Ne Gravidam is, of course, the anti-pregnancy potion. Maiden's Relief is for that time of the month, to alleviate cramp―"

"Wait, what?" asked Hermione. "There's a potion that gets rid of the cramps?"

"Yes," replied Fleur. "See the school 'ealer about it. If your cramps are that bad you should be on the potion."

Hermione frowned and muttered under her breath about old biddy Heads of Houses keeping secrets.

"Prima Nocte is the one I wanted to talk to you two about," Fleur continued. "It is useful for reducing the amount of pain you may suffer as a result of... your first time. I recommend it to the both of you if you are soon to give your virginities and, especially, if you still have your... maidenheads.

"And, then there's the remaining one Daphne mentioned. I do not recommend you take it for your first time, or even at all, if you can get away with it. It is to enhance and promote... la petite mort... the little death... what you call an orgasm."

"Oh!" said Daphne. "Mother said I should consider it if... and I think her exact words were... 'If you found Lord Potter wanting'. I did not know until now and you explained it, what she meant by that."

Hermione said, "I don't think Harry is going to be the sort of wizard to hop-on-shag-and-hop-off. He's been reading... let's just say, a certain kind of book. One which talks about not just receiving pleasure, but also providing."

"You've made sure of this?" asked Fleur.

She nodded and replied, "His godfather, Lord Black, recently gave him the book to read. It's laughingly called a book on how to 'woo' your witch." Then she firmly nodded and said, "Oh, yes. And let's just say, I told him that if he finishes the book I'll be giving him a practical examination on what he read."

"In that case," said Fleur, grinning. "Don't even think of taking WP. If you do you might not end the night conscious, or un'ospitalised."

That had all three laughing.

Finally, Fleur said, "Tomorrow. After classes. Us three shall take a short excursion to the Infirmary to discuss matters with 'ealer Robinson.

"If 'e asks where we're going we'll just have to tell 'Arry the three of us need to see the 'ealer dealing with latent witches' 'ealth issues. It will be true and 'e should not press for details."

"He won't," said a confident Hermione. "Harry finds it very difficult to speak plainly about issues dealing with sex in general, other than the clinical biology of the act. If you try and press him, he's likely to run for the hills.

"When it comes your time, you're going to need to be careful with how you interact with him in the... lead up. He is very insecure about the subject and dealing with it in an intimate manner. And it's taken me months to get him to this point with me."

Both other girls nodded back and took the advice on-board.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

With Fleur now settled into the Potter household at the school, the rest of the week, to Harry, appeared to get slower and slower... and slower.

By the time Friday came around, he was so distracted in Potions he'd nearly made a terrible mistake with a brew that would have had severe consequences. The Professor, Potions Mistress Grimsfield, yelled at him for a good two minutes about inattention, before throwing him from the room 'with a T for the day' a good twenty minutes before class should have finished.

The mark didn't bother him, as it was irrelevant to his OWLs. He was just thankful neither Daphne, who was working with him, nor Hermione and Neville, who were working at the station in front of them, were injured due to him causing a potion to explode due to inattention.

It was actually having Hermione sitting in front of him, knowing what either that night or the next would bring, that had him so badly distracted.

At lunch and as the Potions lesson was a combined Gryffindor/Slytherin one, only the two 'Puffs and Fleur, the latter of whom had been attending various Seventh Year lessons for the last three days, were unaware of Harry's distracted state in Potions.

However, it seemed Fleur already knew from her abilities as a Veela, as she just smiled at him in an expression that reflected understanding. Neville also knew Harry was distracted, but would not ask. He knew he'd be told why in due course, if Harry felt he should know.

Harry was just thankful that the final class for the day was a double of Muggle Studies. He'd breeze through that.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After classes, Harry hurried back to the apartment, again almost going into the wrong one, 'Apartment 9', he was that distracted; and set about changing into wizarding casual before pulling out his assignments. The extra one, the one on the importance of paying attention in the potions lab, he set aside for now. He didn't need more reason to not pay attention than an assignment on paying attention.

He'd only just made a start when his three girls walked in together.

"Good afternoon, Harry," they each said, before making their ways to their rooms to change.

'Aaaaand... there goes my concentration again,' he mutter-sighed.

When Hermione came out a little while later, she smiled at Harry and sat next to him, pulling out her own assignments and homework. The other two joined them less than a minute later.

The first thing Harry noticed about Fleur was that she was wearing the pink choker.

"Fleur," he said. "Thank you for wearing it; but, when we're in here and alone, you do not need to wear the choker if you do not want to."

She looked at him in surprise. "'Arry, we really need you to read the book my Maman provided on Veela. I will not be removing the debt ribbon... for that is what it is called... ever."

"Y-you have to wear it all the time?" he exclaimed, a little horrified.

"Yes," she simply replied. "It is our way."

Scrunching his face up and closing his eyes in frustration, he then gave a sigh and said, "Yes, I do need to read that book."

The assignments proved to be a struggle and Harry had nowhere near accomplished as much as his usual. However, he thought it understandable, considering.

Finally, as the time for dinner approached, he pushed what he was working on further into the middle of the coffee table in a neat and organised stack and sat back with a sigh. "Can't seem to concentrate," he muttered, staring down at the work before him.

He didn't see the three girls all smirk at one another before Hermione said, "Then, set it aside."

"Well, I have to do something," he grumped.

"Go shower, get clean, put on some nice clothes, then go up to the Room of Requirement," she instructed. "I think you and I can have dinner together in there, if you can think of a nice setting for it."

The way she said it was quite casual, but it made Harry perk up.

He stared at her for a few moments, before a grin slowly spread over his face. She wasn't looking back.

Then he shot to his feet and ran for his bedroom door. "Okay!" he yelled back.

The three girls all waited until his bedroom door slammed shut and a moment beyond before all three burst into laughter.

"Eager, isn't 'e?" said Fleur.

Hermione turned serious and said, "Just... don't let on you know what's going on, please."

"We won't, Hermione," said Daphne. "We understand."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

When Harry came out a little while later, he saw that all three girls were missing. He 'snuck' over closer to Hermione's door to see if they were all in there. He could hear all three chatting, so returned to the sofas. He didn't want to intrude on what they were talking about. That would be rude.

When they came out about thirty minutes later, Hermione was carrying a small shoulder bag. But, she was also dressed quite well. Harry recognised it as a dress he'd seen her try on in the past. It really did suit her.

When he saw her, he only had eyes for her in that moment. "I like your idea of having dinner in the Room of Requirement. I've been wracking my brains trying to come up with a good setting. I think I have it."

She smiled back and said, "Shall we go then?"

When he appeared a little worried about the other two, Daphne said, "Don't worry about it, Harry. You should have an intimate dinner with your betrothed, every now and then at least. Fleur and I will be joining the Longbottoms and heading down to the Great Hall."

A little worried, he said, "Call for and send Dobby or Betsy if there's any trouble, alright?"

Both other ladies nodded and smiled back. Fleur said, "We'll be fine, 'Arry. Go enjoy your dinner and do not worry about us. Besides, we'll 'ave Neville and the others with us."

Instead of walking through the school, Harry called Dobby to pop them to directly outside the Room of Requirement.

Once there, Harry walked the requisite three times before the section of wall where the doors would appear. After his third pass, they were there.

Hermione frowned at it and said, "That looks familiar."

Harry just grinned and opened the double doors, gesturing her within.

As soon as she stepped inside, Hermione stopped in shock.

"Pottermore!" she exclaimed, looking about.

She whirled on him with a look of both pleased surprise and a little awe. "Harry! It's perfect!"

He was mightily pleased he'd guessed right.

After he closed the door he said, "Dobby is putting up an elvish disillusionment charm over the wall outside, so no one can walk by, see it and come inside, wondering what it was."

Her smiled widened into a full grin. "Even better!" she said. "I was worried about just that happening."

"Let's go and have dinner, shall we?" he said, gesturing towards the formal dining room. "By now, Betsy should have also gone and gotten the other Pottermore elves and they'll be hard at work on cooking and preparing us a dinner fit for royalty."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

During their very well cooked and prepared meal, both teens refused to visit the elephant in the room and spoke about other matters. The closest they got was wondering if Neville had been intimate with either of his girls yet.

"I don't think so," he replied, when Hermione voiced it. "The way they interact has not changed all that much since within the first few days.

"Anyway, it's not something we should discuss. It's something private between them. You'd not like it if they were talking about us the same way, would you?"

She smiled back and said, "You're right; I wouldn't."

However, she knew the 'Longbottom' girls did exactly that. And that neither had yet slept with Neville.

Once dinner was finished and the bottle of non-alcoholic wine they were drinking was polished off, Hermione moved to stand up and said, "See what you can do to occupy yourself for about fifteen minutes. Then I expect to see you up in the Lord's private rooms."

Without waiting for a response, other than for Harry to stand as she did like the gentleman he always tried to be, she kissed him on the cheek and walked out.

What felt like to Harry about six and a half hours later, but was really the demanded fifteen minutes exactly, Harry nervously walked into the master bedroom.

He'd opened the door and taken one step within before he froze on the spot.

Hermione was lying on the king-sized bed, with the comforter pulled down and folded at the foot of it. She was also wearing a very sheer translucent baby blue nightgown. It hid nothing.

"Come in, Harry, and shut the door," she softly said. "I've been waiting for you... and for this... for what has felt like a very long time."

He kicked the door shut.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Quite some time later they were lying on the bed, with Harry flat on his back in the middle and with Hermione laying on her side, against him. She had her head on his chest and one leg curled up and resting on his thighs. And was using one hand to play with the small patch of chest hair upon his breastbone.

They were both naked and covered in a very light sheen of drying sweat. The comforter had not yet been pulled up.

"Wow!" he softly said in a voice filled with amazement. "Just... wow!"

Hermione giggled. "If I was to say this was the practical exam for a class, Lord Potter; I'd say you earned an 'O plus'."

They both laid there for a little while longer before Harry said, "If you wouldn't mind, Professor Granger; I'd like to try for bonus points."

She lifted her head and looked him in the eyes with a happy grin. "Really?"

He smirked back and rolled her off him onto her own back as he rolled onto his side to face her. "Really," he firmly said, moving in to kiss her again.

What noise they were making went unheard, as Betsy and Dobby had erected silencing charms within ten minutes of Harry entering the suite.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Later still, Hermione was laying on her tummy on the bed while Harry laid on his side facing her. He was on the other side of her, this time.

She said, "Now that you've been so kind as to give me your virginity―"

"And me, yours," he was quick to add.

She continued, "... you need to give consideration to meeting Fleur's needs."

He sighed and said, "I don't know, Love. It still feels as if this is not something she'd willingly want. Therefore, it gives me the sense I would be, in effect, raping her."

Hermione rolled to her side before sitting up and sitting with one leg out flat and the other cocked beneath her. Harry watched her move. Actually, he watched her breasts move.

The time to do so gave her time to think.

"Look at me, Harry," she firmly said.

He finally lifted his eyes to look at her face, but to do so he had to roll onto his back.

"Let's say... in the muggle world you were suffering from an inflamed appendix. It was in imminent danger of bursting. If it burst, you'd soon die."

He thought about it and nodded.

"So," she said. "You'd be rushed into hospital and very quickly rushed into surgery. They would have to cut you open and excise that appendix.

"Now, this is not something you would willingly do, or even want, given the choice. So, would the surgeons, considering you were cut open and a part of you was removed, have committed grievous assault upon you?"

"No," he frowned. "It would have been necessary to save my life."

"Exactly," she firmly said. "For Fleur, this is somewhat like that. However, magic is also making it so that this is something she also wants and not just needs.

"As a surgeon, would you have refused to operate to remove that appendix if you knew it was something that patient did not want, even though they needed it?"

He thought about it for a long moment before he sighed and quietly said, "No."

"Would you, if you were the patient, hold him to blame for it?"

"No," he quietly replied again.

"Then you need to think that Fleur currently has an inflamed... magic... and you are the only surgeon, wizard, who can save her life."

He again sighed and said, "I understand."

"Good," she said, before then moving and throwing her leg over his waist.

As she moved to sit on his hips, she grinned down at him and said, "Now, I need Doctor Potter's scalpel to do some surgery of it's own, right now. Think you're up to it?"

He grinned back, grabbed her gently by her breasts and replied, "With enough incentive, I might be."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ