Chapter 14: Hedgehog

Fleur stood up and took his hand so she could drag him over to the loveseat she had in the room. She pushed him down and cuddled up to him. Everyone deserves a good cuddle when they are sad.

"It's okay," she said softly as she felt how his body shook in silent tears. "It's okay." She didn't know what else to say. Rhavaniel wasn't dead.

She was fine. Harry just knew they would probably never see each other again. That had to be hard for him. Fleur just hugged him harder. She had been right. He needed someone to talk to.

Probably as much as she needed someone. His need was greater than hers because at least she could go home to her family and loved ones. He couldn't.

"I'll be here for you no matter what," Fleur said determinedly.

Harry laughed. His breath caught a few times, but he got it under control. "Thank you," he said. "You know you remind me of Urzant."

"The orc?" Fleur asked. She was looking at him like he was slightly insane.

"You are both very strong women who battle with your lot in life but try to make the best out of a bad situation. "I bled for Urzant you know.

Orc weddings are nothing like ours." He went on to tell her exactly what had happened that day and Fleur grimaced. "You still 'ave a scar?" she asked.

"Sure, you are not allowed to heal those wounds with magic. It is considered dishonourable," Harry said. He moved her off him and stood up. He raised his shirt until she could see the big scar straight across his back.

Fleur stood up and touched it. "You 'ave a lot of scars," she said.

"I have been in a lot of fights," Harry said. He dropped his shirt back down. He sat back down next to her.

They sat there in silence for a good long while.

"This is nice," Harry said, breaking the silence. He looked over at Fleur and sat up straighter. She was almost sparkling with magic. "Did you drop your shields?" he asked.

Fleur nodded. "You are right," she said. "This is nice. There aren't that many people I can just fully relax and be myself with. Only one of them is a guy.

Alistair 'e is gay so my allure does nothing to 'im. I thought that maybe you were too for a second there, but I wasn't getting quite that feedback."

Harry chuckled. "Well, by now you know I just don't care," he said.

Fleur giggled. "Oh, no they can be cat people and you are fine with it," she said.

Harry shrugged. He wasn't going to feel bad about sleeping with Tara.

They had lunch together and Harry noticed the hostility against Fleur even more. Her classmates did not like her. It bugged him. It wasn't her fault she had the allure.

After lunch, they spoke about less serious stuff. Fleur lived by the seaside and her house sounded amazing.

"You should come this summer," Fleur said.

"You sure? We only just met," Harry said.

"But we 'ave months to get to know each other better," Fleur said. "I'll ask again later and you better 'ave an answer."

Harry smiled. Considering he wouldn't go back to the Dursleys, he didn't have a place to stay for the summer.

He guessed staying with Fleur might be a good idea. Unless they for some reason started hating each other.

"I should get back to the castle," Harry said.

"You will come see me again, non?" Fleur asked.

"Of course," Harry said. "Every other day on the weekend and I only have a single period after lunch on Tuesdays if that works for you."

Fleur walked over to her schedule and looked at it. "Mardi," she said. "Oui, that works for me. One day for…" She grasped for the word. "Devoirs…"

"Homework?" Harry asked.

"Oui," Fleur said. "That is perfect. Will make this stay less lonely."

"I also run every single morning just like today if you want to join me for that," Harry pointed out.

"Oh, that would be lovely," Fleur said.

"Tomorrow morning then," Harry said. "Have a good evening."

"Bonsoir," Fleur said.

Harry activated his glamour, grabbed his bag and headed back to the castle. His steps felt lighter and he was just all around happier with himself. Who knew talking would feel so good and that cry had been relieving.

"Where have you been all day?" Hermione asked as Harry sat down by the Gryffindor table in the great hall.

"I have been talking to Fleur," Harry said. He had considered being vague, but he didn't feel like lying and there was nothing wrong with him becoming friends with Fleur. She was a very nice person.

"Delacour?" Hermione asked, surprised. "The French champion."

"Do you know any other Fleur at Hogwarts right now?" Harry asked. "We got talking after the task, that's why I was so late back and then we agreed to meet up for today.

She feels kind of lonely. Most of the other girls don't like her much because she's part Veela."

Hermione looked surprised, but she was fine with that she guessed.

"How can you be friends with her?" Ron asked and Neville grimaced at his tone. "I mean she's…"

"It doesn't affect me," Harry said. "That's kind of nice for her since I don't become an utter moron near her.

She's quite intelligent and fun. She just acts like a hedgehog because it is hard for her to trust people. That is why she can come across as frigid."

Hermione wasn't sure what had happened to Harry, but he showed insight she would never have expected from him.

Though she had to admit that Harry had always been better at things like that than Ron, and she bundled them up far too often.

"Up for some exploding snap after dinner?" Ron asked.

"Sure we can play a game or two.