Pre-holiday rush

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***

After saying goodbye to Veselur and assuring him that he could count on my 100 per cent help in the Bromstein case, I hurried home. I hoped I'd be back before Fleur, so she wouldn't know about my busy day at the bank. I'd have to deal with the Dumbledore family's former solicitor; after all, that goblin had tried to kill me, and even Dark Lords don't get away with that sort of thing.

As I left the bank, I threw my hood over my face, though it was becoming less and less necessary every day, and apparated to the flat. Fleur wasn't there yet, so I poured myself a strong cup of tea and sat down in a chair, stretching my legs and thinking about the situation.

- Okay, Harry, let's get this straight," talking to myself was, as usual, a good way of putting things in perspective. - You've been found out by everyone, and everyone who's lazy will find out later. Dumbledore has decided that you are now a walking Riddle Horcrux, and I think he's going to share that discovery with Black and Snape again. I don't care about Sirius as much as I did before, but Snape is a different matter: if he tells the Lord that I'm a Horcrux, he won't think twice about killing me quickly, at least I hope he won't, and he'll decide to take me alive.

I don't know which option is preferable. In the past, Riddle could just find out the approximate location of my hidden dwelling and blow the place up. But no, that's not his method. You have to rant, looking into the eyes of the future victim, you have to be personally sure of her demise.... And now that killing me is contraindicated, the Lord himself may not be involved in the kidnapping, but just sit and wait for Harry Potter to be brought to him on a silver platter. There's also the possibility that when Riddle finds out about the unplanned Horcrux, he'll decide to check the safety of the others, which is clinically contraindicated for him. It would be better if he never found out about it before he died, of course, but you can't count on that. Well, first of all, I still need to figure out how to get to Lord and kill him. After that, a lot of questions will fall away, and I'll grab Fleur and leave England altogether. If Death allows it, of course.

My thoughts were interrupted by the door to the living room opening and Fleur appearing on the threshold. Strange, I hadn't even heard her come in. Whether I was so deep in thought or whether there are silent apparition courses for humans too. The Frenchwoman leaned against the doorjamb and looked at me with interest.

- So, what is it that death should let you do?

- I thought I'd meet her sometime later and ask for eternal life for you and me," I smiled, trying to hide the nervousness in my voice. Fleur seemed satisfied with that answer, and she smiled back and came over to me, sitting down next to me.

- Why do you and I need eternal life? - She asked slyly, putting one arm around me.

- Why? So that I can enjoy your beauty forever, of course," I hugged her back, pulling her closer. - Mages live an average of a hundred years, and that won't be enough for me.

Fleur smiled and wrapped her other arm around me, pulling me close and kissing me.

- What a flatterer you are, Lord Potter," she said, pulling away.

- Oh, my lady, what flattery? Only the truth.

- We'll consider the question of eternal life another time, if you don't mind, Harry. For now, what have you been doing while I've been away?

- Nothing much," I said, slowly tousling the golden curls in my hand. - I was thinking about the situation, planning my next steps.... - She doesn't need to know that I haven't figured out how to deal with Riddle. Though she might have a couple of good ideas, but I'll deal with that later. - And how did you spend your time? How are your parents, Gabriel?

- They're fine, they're inviting us round tomorrow, so you'll see for yourself. - Shit. I knew we'd be spending Christmas at Delacourt Manor, but I didn't think of the presents.

- Fleur, darling, I'm going to have to go away for a while, if that's all right with you.

She gave me a sneering look.

- Harry, like a true gentleman, thinks of presents at the last minute. - How does she get it right in the first place?

- Yeah, I admit it," I lowered my head dejectedly. - I only have a present for you, but I forgot about the others.

- You have a present for me? - Veela perked up. - What is it? What are you getting me, Harry?

I just laughed in response.

- Curious. Tomorrow, love. You'll find out tomorrow," I gave her one last kiss and stood up. - "Now, if you'll excuse me.

- Come back soon, Harry," the Frenchwoman said, saddened by the fact that I was leaving her alone again. - And be careful.

- I'll be fine, Fleur. I'll be quick. - Grabbing my jacket, I apparated back to Slanting Alley.

***

Oh, come on. I'm getting tired of this alley. I'd been here so often, but twice in one day was too much. I had no idea what to get my parents and Fleur's sister, so I just wandered slowly between the shops, looking at the displays. The gift for Gabrielle, however, came quickly when I came across a shop of magical animals.

- Well, Gabby," I muttered to myself, "I hope you're not allergic to cats.

Ten minutes later, I left the shop with a small grey kitten in my arms. I didn't want to put it in a cage, and the salesman couldn't offer me anything else, so I just tucked it under my jacket, hoping it wouldn't start clawing at me.

The gift for Sebastian came quickly, too: when I saw the gun shop, I knew that Fleur's father couldn't live without a metal stabbing object. Inside the shop, however, was a sad picture: even for me, a man with no knowledge of edged weapons, the merchandise on the counter did not inspire any confidence. However, the salesman, who was watching my movements, did not want to let the first customer of the day go so easily, so he decided to offer me something special. He pulled a dusty bundle from under the counter, carefully unwrapped it, and a small dagger stood out among the others in the shop. Assuring me that it was goblin work, the salesman charged me a substantial sum and handed it to me. I haggled, of course, but the toad inside me was still cursing with a very foul quack. Convincing myself that nothing would be spared for my future family, I set off in search of a gift for Appolyn.

On the way, however, I bought a couple more things to send with Hedwig. I hope Luna likes these lovely miniature figurines of vegetables that can dance at any time. And I had no doubt Lucius would love this peacock feather pen.

I couldn't think of a good gift for Fleur's mother, so I just went to the jewellery store and looked for a beautiful pendant. I wasn't sure she'd wear it, but I'd done my part.

When I returned home with my purchases, I found a familiar sight: Fleur in her dressing gown, asleep in a chair. Someday we will fall asleep together, perhaps it will be tomorrow. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day, though it's the only one I have here.

***

- So, you ready to meet my parents? - Fleur thinks she caught me, and I chuckled quietly to myself. Sebastian and Appolin didn't let me down by not giving anything away to their daughter, and now she's in for a huge surprise tonight. Perhaps I think too highly of my own engagement proposal, but I hope it will surprise and delight her at least a little.

- Do you think they'll eat me? - I parried nonchalantly. - I think they're lovely people, just like me. We'll get along.

Fleur stared at me open-mouthed for a few seconds, realising she'd lost.

- Where'd that modest boy who'd only blushed and stammered in my presence go? - She muttered brokenly to herself, turning away from the cooker.

I'd had a good night's sleep today, and no one had woken me up. Now we were in the kitchen, where Fleur had moved Dobby over and was making breakfast herself. The houseboy took offence at this insolence and went back to the Shell, leaving us alone.

- Serious times call for serious changes," I said, making my words more solemn by waving my fork. - Modest boys are not in honour these days. Not in my situation, anyway.

- Yeah, you're probably right," Fleur agreed. - I'd like to say it upsets me, but I can't. I like your new style, though I don't know where you got it," she waved her hand uncertainly in the air.

- You know, I feel like it's always been in there somewhere. It's just that I can finally be myself. Not a little freak from the closet, not a hero or a conqueror of dark wizards. Here, next to you, I'm just Harry, feeling better than I ever have in my life.

I think I overdid it with the pity talk. Fleur silently walked over to me and hugged me tightly. I noticed her eyes moisten.

- Come on, darling, let's stop being sentimental. Let's get ready, we should probably be leaving soon.

Fleur nodded silently, squeezed me in her arms once more, and went off to get ready for the party. I wondered what to do for the next couple of hours. I decided to put all the military stuff on hold and concentrated on more important things. Seriously, what I'm going to do tonight scares me a lot more than some Dark Lord.

Thinking about the people close and relatively close to me somehow made me forget about the creatures close to me, and after all, they probably want a present from old Harry too. I didn't want to go back to Slanting Alley - it would cause uncontrollable gagging - so I decided to just go downstairs and look for something for Dobby and Merrylour in the nearby shops.

In fact, I just wanted to take a leisurely stroll without worrying about being recognised and trying to do any harm. It had been less than a week since I'd arrived in this world, and there was already a lot going on. I can't keep up this pace for long, so I need to make the most of every moment of peace.

***

When we arrived at Delacourt Manor, Fleur and I saw that the housekeeper was waiting for us. He bowed courteously and invited us inside. Fleur looked me over nervously from head to toe and adjusted the tie she'd made me wear for the thirtieth time.

How we chose what she thought was such an important accessory was a separate story. I'd only shopped once before, right after Azkaban, and no ties were on my shopping list. But Fleur, when she found out about this terrible omission, decided to mock me and called Dobby, who, though still offended, quickly agreed to go to the shop. I won't go into detail, but I can now wear ties for at least a year, changing them every day and never wearing the same one twice.

- Do you remember everything? My dad's name is Sebastian and my mum's name is Apolline. Gabriel you know. Behave yourself, no more of your stupid jokes.

I realised that it was really important to Fleur that her parents liked me, but I couldn't say that we already knew each other, it was too soon. So all I could do was nod and agree with everything she said.

- And none of my jokes are stupid," I said in a hurt voice.

Fleur wanted to say something sarcastic, but she didn't have time, as we reached the entrance to the main hall and went inside.

- Fleur! - A little angel in a light-coloured dress ran up to us and hugged my companion. I involuntarily sympathised with this attitude between the sisters. They had only seen each other recently, and they already missed each other.

- Ga... Harry? - When it was my turn, the angel was no longer so sure of his actions. Even though a little less than a year ago I became for Gabrielle something like a knight, but since then she must have heard about me not the most pleasant news. I had changed considerably in appearance, and now she didn't know whether to hug me, like her sister, or give me a more formal greeting.

- Gaby! - I decided to ease her moral distress and smiled broadly, spreading my arms out to the sides.

- Harry! - She immediately jumped on top of me, hanging around my neck.

- Hello, princess. - I hugged her back and kissed her cheek. - How are you doing?

- I'm doing fine! Come quickly, we're just waiting for you! - She took me by the hand and led me into the living room, where I realised the party was to be held. Fleur, who had not expected such insolence from her sister, frowned at me, and then came to my other side and took me under her arm.

- I thought I was your princess," she mumbled in my ear, pretending to be deeply offended.

- Of course you are, silly," I released my hand and pulled Fleur close to me. - And then there's Gaby!

She tried to slap me, but I stopped her from doing so, pulling her tighter. The sound of laughter on the other side of me made it clear that the subject of our argument had heard everything.

- Look, darling, he's only just turned up, and already he wants to take my other daughter! - Sebastian, who was greeting us, pretended to be indignant. Apolline only smiled at this statement.

Our trio approached the parents of the girls, and then the traditional greetings began.

- Sebastian! - I boldly stepped forward and extended my hand to the man. Fleur was clearly taken aback by the familiarity, but before she could do anything about it, her father returned the handshake, smiling openly.

- Hello, Harry!

Game on.