Chapter 16: Point of Contemplation

There is an art within magic that is uniformly ignored by the populace of magicals. There is a degree of difficulty that precludes most of the would-be practitioners from ever moving beyond being a novice. Part of the reason for the rarity, of even moderate skill, is the lack of teachability. The instructions are poor and so few are stubborn enough to persevere. The general guideline for how to learn this sacred art is rather simple and I will lay it out, in doing so, it will explain what it is.

Magic has the four analogous pillars: intent, willpower, power and creativity that all blend together. The end goal is simple which is to be able to feel and discern that nature of magic around yourself.

It is possible to feel the intent of a spell, to tell whether it is meant to harm or heal. To feel the fortitude and willpower of the individual responsible for the magic, to sense how powerful it is and what kind of creative genius it took to be as it is. I am detailing the art of magical sensing.

The benefits of learning this ability are incomprehensible. The path to learning is rather simple. Try and then do. Try and feel the magic around you, try and discern its purpose, it's power, it's focus, and then differentiate it from everything else. Time, experience and relentless practice are all there is to it.

"Harry, I owe you an apology." Bill waited for his words to dawn on Harry's face before continuing, "I know a guy whose brother is married to a veela. He told me about how there are two types of veela. There are those who embrace what they are and those that exploit it." The two had stepped outside at Bill's request while dinner was being cleaned up. Harry had received a few odd looks, particularly from Fleur, but acquiesced the request.

"The latter type we saw as the mascot for the Bulgarian quidditch team. They exploit their looks and use it to get whatever they desire; they are selfish and shallow." He grimaced and Harry shuddered, remembering just how they had used their charms and the effects they had on those around them. Not that he was affected nor Bill now that he reflected on it.

"The former is more genuine. They understand their heritage, their differences, and embrace them." The smooth way he talked made Harry think he could be a good teacher if he desired.

Bill explained further, "My coworker's brother's wife was the ultra faithful type. He told me she had set her sights on his brother and that was it for her." Bill paused, coughing out a barely distinguishable 'lucky bastard' before failing to hide his smirk.

"I'm not sure if that is how it always is, but I was concerned tonight. I was worried Fleur was after you to gain power, fame, wealth or whatever." Bill paused and watched Harry, just the very thought of that clearly upset the younger man.

It wasn't really something Harry had considered much. He'd been focused on trustworthiness, motivations, and why a person associated with him. Here was Bill explaining who someone is and how they identify themselves as an incredibly important factor he'd overlooked.

"You thought she was shallow but now you think she's… genuine?" He asked with a creased forehead and tightly drawn lips.

"Honestly, I really have no idea." He sighed. "Mum will assume she has nefarious intentions due to her background, but that's because she reads tabloids. However, that is another discussion for another time." He grinned ruefully at the young boy "I came to apologize for being an arse. I was trying to push her and see how she responded. I thought she'd know who I was."

Bill had been an arse but he was less interested in that and far more piqued by his thoughts on Fleur and the Delacour family. He could be angry again later. Harry tilted his head and squinted his eyes. "Why would she know who you were?" He questioned.

Bill sported a grin at the question. "I've done some expeditions that were financed by the Delacour family. As the heiress, she should be somewhat aware of her family business ventures. I lead two that had substantial returns and met her father both times. He gave a nice bonus for our excellent work." His lips upturned a little more than Harry thought possible. "So when you were talking to Charlie, I made sure she was aware of that. Her father had even mentioned his daughter was quite accomplished for her age and might have interest in my field of work. I'm still not sure if he was hinting at her learning from me or if it was about planting an idea that we could be a romantic match. Given that, I questioned why she would be interested in you."

"At this point in time, not to sound arrogant, I am the more attractive option. I'm far more accomplished magically, I've proven myself financially and I've finished puberty." Bill laughed jointly at the thought of being pubescent again and the sour look on Harry's face.

With his laughter done, he completed his thought. "Look, I think of you as a little brother so that is why I pulled a test on her. If she was looking to take advantage of an independently wealthy and magically powerful male, that is fetching to look at, and more, then she'd have responded to me," he held up a hand to hold off Harry's retort, choosing to extinguish it before Harry's indignation could be stoked further.

"You are magically powerful for a fourteen-year-old. OWL results really don't mean much and you've only done well on a couple of them. You might be a powerhouse. I've graduated from Hogwarts as the Head Boy, I aced my NEWT exams, I completed years of rigorous training and am at the top of a difficult and dangerous profession. I've made more money on expeditions in the last two years than my parents have in their lifetime and I'm a proven commodity. You've done well on the first couple exams that begin to benchmark one's potential and you've taken control of your public persona. But beyond boyhood fame, you are just that, just potential ."

Harry's first reaction was outrage, but he didn't let his anger dictate his actions. Instead, he took the argument piece by piece and analyzed it within his head. As he thought it over, he realized Bill was right and he shouldn't get a big head over a couple of exams for teens. He had potential and it was up to him to realize it. As much as the perceived slight grated on his nerves, it was actually the blunt truth. Bill was being upfront with him and that is what he had been wanting.

Harry understood the rationale but was still annoyed at the man. "But why would you care? We barely know each other." His eyes darted back and forth watching the dragon fang earinged man closely, to try and glean anything from his expression and body language.

"You saved Ginny from the monster and she is our precious baby sister." Bill choked up with emotion and could not elaborate further.

Harry himself was perplexed, not be the admission nor the emotion on the man's face. The exact words Bill used were peculiar to Harry. The basilisk was a monster, but why be so unspecific? The man broke into tombs and investigated sites of magical history for a living.

Both of them were wrapped in their own thoughts for a time until Harry replied to Bill's previous sentiment. "Anyone would have." Harry softly said.

"That's not true. Apparently, only you and Ron were willing. It's why our family feels indebted to you. I know Dad, Charlie, Fred, and George all feel the same. You may not be a Weasley brother, but we'll always be there for you," he reverently told Harry.

"Did you ever face one?" This was his opportunity to probe more into the Chamber of Secrets.

"Face what?" Bill asked, puzzled, a frown forming on his face.

"What did your parents tell you about what happened to Ginny?"

"She was taken by a monster into its lair and you rescued her by defeating it," his reply was one steeped in careful adulation and a hint of befuddlement.

"That's all you know? All you wanted to find out?" Harry was careful here. He didn't want to make him defensive, just open and honest.

Bill slowly queried back. "No? Should I have?"

On the exterior, Harry did not show a response. He stood there, silently, for a few seconds, before responding. "No, I just was curious about what your parents told you, that's all."

Bill smiled. "Good, and like I said. We have your back anytime you need it, for Ginny."

Internally, Harry was puzzling over this new piece. A curse breaker who was not interested in finding out where his little sister was taken and what kind of monster it was? If he extrapolated that to Charlie, a dragon handler, a lover of a large XXXXX magical creature, who gave up quidditch for it, was not interested in finding out what kind of monster took his only sister? Something was not right.

"I don't like making myself into a pillock, but I've apologized to you and I'll tell Fleur myself too."

"Thanks, even if I didn't exactly enjoy it either," Harry admitted.

"I've not met this Natalia that you've escorted to balls but I've heard of the family. Worked for some expeditions that had their backing too. Be careful. From what I know of Patrice Delacour, he's a stand-up guy to work for and his daughter seems like quite a catch too." He winked and moved quickly out of the way of Harry's attempt to shove him. Bill laughed as he used the momentum to jog back towards the home with Harry following after him.

"What did you think?" Harry asked Fleur having walked out of the ward line of the home.

Fleur looked pensive while she walked beside him. "It was interesting…" She leisurely replied. "It was what I was expecting."

"In what ways?" He had the same thought on the evening with the Weasley family and with Fleur, herself, too.

"I knew of ze Weasleys. William Weasley has been to our home to meet wiz my father. I had not met him, but I was briefed on them. We had looked into the family too, so I was aware of what I was coming to. Seeing the Burrow in person is… different? The home is so small, yet so large. The family is big, yet not. They are so poor and so very rich. Like all though, they have their flaws as well." Watching her face morph through confusion, fondness and irritation, in the end, was as insightful as her words; she was not guarding her emotions from him.

"I know what you mean. Ginny too unsure of herself, lacking identity. Ron too jealous to step out of his brother's shadows. Fred and George too focused on pranks to see how they truly affect everyone. Percy can't see beyond his own ambition, Charlie beyond his dragons and Bill beyond his pride. Molly too controlling and smothering. Arthur too coddling and doesn't speak his mind enough even though he's the leader of the family, not the subordinate." Harry delivered the words that were shared by their joint understanding. Fleur was intuitive, and not just book smart. How she'd watched everyone's interactions closely, it was something he'd been learning to do. Understanding people, one the topics of his education. It had made Salazar great and he was trying to take in all the lessons he learned and apply them.

The two of them had wandered well past the ward line now. Fleur, as always, was right close to Harry, initiating body contact when she was able to. It irritated the Weasley matriarch to the nth degree. The idea Harry would join their family through matrimony was dead and buried with no chance for resurrection any time soon.

"William's apology was.. interesting. What did he say to you outside?" The calculating look in her eyes gave away how keenly interested she was in his response. He'd not failed to notice she was redirecting the conversation to where she wanted to lead it.

Inwardly, he smiled. She had an agenda and he was adding pieces together to figure it out. "He said he was testing you." He didn't allow any inflexion of emotion in his voice.

"Much like he told moi when he apologized." She said nodding responded.

"Were you or are you interested?" It wasn't jealousy per se. It was curiosity, he told himself.

Her body tensed and there was a momentary hitch in her stride. Her eyes narrowed, her chin turned to look at him, her shoulders opened up, and her head followed along with her jaw. "Why do you ask?"

Harry shrugged, working to keep his demeanour as nonchalant as possible. "I want your candid viewpoint. Bill outlined a good argument for why you should be more interested in him than me."

Fleur frowned. "I don't know the reasons he told you, 'ow can I have a viewpoint on it?"

"Well, he explained how I had potential, but he was a proven commodity. He'd graduated Head Boy, been accepted into the Curse Breaker program and done exceptionally well since and even that he knew Patrice and wanted him to possibly take you on as an apprentice…"

She took in his words impassively and didn't answer. They reached the spot they had arrived at. She took the portkey and the two disappeared back to her family's home.

Upon arriving, she asked him to hold onto her and she apparated them to a reclusive part of their estate: the vineyard.

The pale moon was out, high in the sky.

"There is not much to answer, but… I think you are asking about something else," She paused and gave him a challengingly significant look, "Like why I would choose you over someone like him."

Harry didn't respond.

"Money, fame, or wealth? Why would I need this?" She huffed, air exhaling rapidly from her nose, a nose that was raised a little higher than normal as she did so.

Harry looked at her, concerned. He unconsciously took a half step back. She wasn't happy, nobody could miss the obvious tells.

"William could have been an option. There is some merit there." She visibly calmed, "But I've already decided to pursue you." She told him resolutely.

His eyebrows rose. "P- pursue me?" He couldn't keep the incredulity out of his voice.

"Oui." Fleur winked.

"Why?" He broke contact with her. When their eyes met, his eyes demanded a sincere answer.

"I told you I could feel you when we touch." Her words soft, hanging heavier than they were delivered.

Fleur moved her right foot forward, halfway between them, and stepped forward. Her right arm was brought up with just the index finger touching his sternum.

"I've touched you as much as I could every time we are together, since the first task."

Harry was nervous, though he didn't believe she would do anything to him that was crossing any form of line. She ran her finger down his chest with the interior of her whole hand being run down him by the time she reached his belly button. Her hand stopped when her pinky finger reached the top of his pants.

"You've never been perverted, not once."

Her hand moved back up his front with her palm stopping on his heart. Her hand moved around to the small of his back. The movement forcing her to get closer to him, there was only an inch between them.

"I am always a conquest, a prize or a toy ."

He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, her hand warming him.

"Even now you are nervous. You are unsure, worried, but you still trust me."

"Don't deny it, I know you are attracted to me." Harry's face reddened; there was no use trying to deny it.

"However, you don't lust after me. You like moi and respect me."

She moved her hand around behind him, stopping it on his back.

"You are kind-hearted and strong-willed."

She stepped forward, leaving only two inches between their bodies.

"It's your character, your drive, and your determination that attracts me. That compels my veela blood."

The space between them was gone; their faces a hair's breadth from touching.

He watched her closely, fearing the sudden change she was undergoing. The air between them seemed to shift. Gone was her casual elegance, the way she'd found a way to be ethereally beautiful in such simple clothes. She was a predator on the prowl now, with her prey before her.

"Do you not feel my breasts pressed into your chest?" Her words caused the exhaled air to tickle his face. He could feel the warmth of her breath on his face, the heat contrasting this cool wintery night under the moon.

"Don't you want to taste my lips? Feel them against your own?" Her sultry voice caused shivers to run down his spine.

"Don't you just want to snake your arms around me, lower them, and fondle my arse?" She wiggled her hips against his for effect.

Harry stood frozen, red-faced and delirious as the words worked through his mind.

She smiled at him. "Even now you control yourself, you fight my teasing. Any other guy would take advantage of this, would have fondled where I suggested." Fleur kissed him on the cheek and pulled back, standing beside him with her supple fingers keeping hold of his bicep.

Harry hadn't moved. He didn't know what was for sure going on with Natalia, but he knew he would feel guilty if he started anything with Fleur.

Fleur had always been tactile with him and it had never bothered him. He'd be careful of it if Natalia was around though. Harry couldn't feel her emotions or intentions, but he could see Fleur's respect for him. She'd never pushed if he'd given the impression he was uncomfortable. Even now, when she was purposefully teasing him, there was no hint she would kiss him, or touch anywhere inappropriate.

She was making her interest clear and he knew she would let him make his own decision, just like Patrice had.

"I'm only fourteen. I don't even know if I want to be in a serious relationship. I'm not even dating Natalia. Aren't you concerned I might change as I grow up and not pick you?" He asked.

His question hung in the air. Fleur was in no rush to answer and the two continued their late stroll through the vineyards while she stewed on his question.

"Non, you are 'arry Potter. You won't change who you are. You'll grow taller, maybe change your hairstyle, learn and experience many different things, but you'll always be 'arry Potter. A person whose overcome a rough upbringing, whose persevered through trouble and come through the crucible stronger and better for it."

"And you're not concerned I would date someone else? That even if I chose to date you now, not every relationship works out. I may not have dated before, but even I know that much." Harry was curious to hear her answer.

The look she gave him radiated with supreme confidence. It reminded him of the speech she'd given earlier at the Weasley home. "Why should I be? Politically, there is almost no better match. Economically, I'm the heiress of my family and you'd have a difficult time pursuing anyone that stands to have more wealth in their future. Beauty?"

She giggled at the thought. "Beauty? I am a veela." She stopped and turned to face him fully. She ran a hand from the top of her head down as far as it could reach with her only slightly bending her knees, her movements reflecting someone showing off something elaborate on display.

"I would treat you well and I know how to treat a man. Ma mere educated me." She winked at him with a predacious look.

He smiled at her, not really sure what else to say. At his age, he had one courtship contract and a declaration of intent from another. Both girls were older and what he would have thought to be out of his league. If these were the kinds of problems he could look forward to, he'd gratefully accept them over facing a dark lord on an annual basis. Though with his luck, he'd be facing the dark lord and having these new problems added to it.

Harry didn't think he needed to respond verbally, he wasn't going to reciprocate and she'd spoken for herself and him. He didn't run away and she wasn't expecting him to suddenly swoon either. Instead, he did, what he'd been learning to do. He put one foot in front of the other and carried on forward.

This silence wasn't uncomfortable. They walked with her retaking his arm and saddling up beside him. They continued walking between rows of vines with moon providing pale light from above leaving just the path lit up as the vines shadowed the rest of the ground.

Harry half nudged her to get her attention before he asked a question he'd wondered about. "Do your empathic abilities extend beyond feeling what I feel?" Seeing her eyebrows trying to knot themselves in confusion he elaborated, "like can you feel magic too?"

Her eyes lit up in comprehension, in a way, Harry found appealing for some reason. "Oui and non. I've been told we are magical than a pureblooded witch or wizard and zat helps with it but it's just what I've been told." Fleur responded. "Why do you ask, 'arry?"

"I've just wondered if you can sense magic too; it would be really cool to be able to do that." He attempted to belay his real interest in the subject.

"I'm not very able at it, yet." He could see determination set in, the thought of being poor at something bothered her. "Curse Breakers are taught to sense magic as it can save their lives. I can only feel the very powerful wards at the ward lines so far."

"That's more than I can do. I don't think I've ever noticed strong wards before." The competitive part came out from within Harry. He didn't like not being able to do something, especially within an art that could be so useful and powerful.

She grinned and impulsively pulled him. "Come 'arry, I'll show you!" She dragged him along and ran through the dirt towards the edge of the property.

It wasn't far to the edge of the vineyard and she stopped five feet past the end of the row of vines and turned towards him.

"This is where I can always feel it, 'arry. We are within the wards but two steps more and we are beyond them. Close your eyes and focus on what you can feel ."

Harry closed his eyes and let his senses run wild. He could feel the dirt between his toes, the cool air kissing his skin, and the warmth of being at the Delacour property. He could feel Fleur's delicate fingers interlaced with his, he could feel the hammering of his heart and hear the blood pumping through his ears. He could sense a calmness, a protected sanctuary of natural nurture around them. He focused on feeling anything he could and awaited Fleur's instructions.

"Good, just breathe in, slow, and deliberate breaths." She detached herself from him, her physical touch would make it harder. Though Harry could not see it, he could hear Fleur move away from him, a couple of steps in front of him.

"Now, take a step toward me. You should be on the ward line. You should feel something . Once you feel something, take a step. ."

Harry complied and sedately stepped forward. He didn't notice a change at first but as his body caught up with his front foot there was something different. He wasn't feeling anything different yet; it was more the absence, or partial absence, of something. As his stride completed and his shoulders sat over top of his ankles, he felt something . Half of him was experiencing the same calm protectiveness as before and the other half, the lack of it. Where the two feelings felt there seemed to be an invisible line. Experiencing it was hard for his brain to articulate, even within his own mind. The best his inner monologue could come up with was that he was experiencing what it must feel like to be a television experiences when displaying static. Electromagnetic noise makes static and the ward line was creating magical noise.

He could definitely feel something so he stepped forward again. Harry focused on the noise as his body moved out of it and he could feel the difference on the other side of the ward lines. There was no thrum of magical noise within him, no sense of calm protectiveness. He was outside of that and no longer cloaked in protective magic. He lamented the loss of it.

He wondered if he'd experienced anything like this before. Had he subconsciously attuned the feel of magic, the feeling of being with powerful protective wards as a sense of being home, of being happy to have once again escaped the Dursley home? A feeling of loss leaving the castle at the end of the year strengthened by leaving the wards?

Fleur jostled him and he opened his eyes. "You can feel the difference, oui?" Her melodic voice attenuated the keen clarity of his senses now recognizing he was no longer being within the wards.

"Yes." He said a bit breathless. "Thanks for this." He smiled up at her genuinely.

Salazar's comments of 'try and do' now made more sense.

"My Papa did zis with me when I was little. I'm glad I could share it wiz you, 'arry."

Harry pulled her close and hugged her.

Fleur smiled happily.

Today had been a good day. A day of resetting. Establishing of things back to the norm. He was back to his full workout and education schedule today. It had felt so disjointed recently. Event after event had stacked up. All the time with dancing, Natalia, Fleur, the Delacour's, the Balls, the press, the bank, Madame Bones, Dumbledore, Sirius, Weasleys… The list just kept growing for things he was bogged down with over this break. As great and refreshing as it was to patch up some of those relations, and establish new ones, there really were things he had to focus on.

Voldemort had directly, or indirectly, tried to kill him every single year since he rejoined the magical world. He seriously doubted this year would break the routine and, oddly enough, it was the DADA professor who tried to kill him. He'd need to watch out for Mad-Eye.

Not to mention, the tournament was a multiple-event opportunity to go after his life. His close calls with death were not annual at Hogwarts, they were far more frequent. He had to be wary of multiple attempts this year and more than likely ever-increasing in difficulty and complexion. The dragon in the first task could certainly be counted as one attempt. He'd totally screwed up that plan, though it was luck to go fourth. This second task… maybe he'd have to find a way to disrupt it and simultaneously plan well for. It wouldn't take a genius to see the third task was going to be the major event that leads to an attempt on his life.

He'd prepare and be ready for the next two tasks. It wasn't that he had wasted this holiday season, by attending events and visiting with people. In fact, the connections he was creating could become rather important later. This wasn't a one-on-one deathmatch scenario with Voldemort versus Harry Potter in a cage match until one of them died. It was more like a magical civil war. His side having wealth, connections and a small army to call upon.

There was a whole list of things he had best work on first.

Topics to investigate:

Tom Riddle - Why kill an infant? Why wipeout Potter family?

Invisibility Cloak - Soul Magic, Invisibility cloaks

Chamber of Secrets - How does it adapt? How does it enforce its secret?

Potter Accounts and History - Meet Bloodfang after emancipation.

House Elves - History and abilities

Triwizard Tournament - Second Task & Third Task

Parseltongue

Cuddles

Lawyer

Tom Riddle, who would know about him growing up? Certainly, Dumbledore did. However, would he give up precious information? Doubtful, at best. His socializing had brought about one more significant lead that could be of help here: Horace Slughorn. The man had offered to spend more time with him.

Dear Horace Slughorn,

It was lovely to have made your acquaintance at the Yule Ball and just as disappointing we were unable to spend more of the evening together. You had generously offered to spend an evening together going out for dinner.

I don't know anyone that was remotely close to my mother and I've always wanted to learn more about her. As a favourite student of yours, I was hoping you would be able to tell me about her.

I'm writing this letter to take you up on your offer, assuming it still stands. My schedule is rather flexible with studying taking up most of my time. If you had a recommendation on where to meet that would be helpful as my experience with wizarding cuisine is rather limited and I'd presume one such as yourself would be rather knowledgeable on the subject.

Looking forward to our evening together,

Harry Potter

That was icky and unpleasant to write. The man had seemed to have a soft spot for his mom and Harry could leverage that.

Invisibility cloak… no progress. Shockingly, not even someone like Lacroix had dropped a random tidbit of information that lead to a groundbreaking revelation. Sad, but not all these mysteries would solve themselves.

Chamber of Secrets, that was one he'd made headway on but yet not. Bill should have been all over it. He's a curse breaker. There is no way the man would hear about the fabled Chamber of Secrets and not be dying to know more about it. Charlie was a man who worked with fire breathing reptiles! He loved monsters to death and the man should be demanding to know everything about the basilisk that almost abetted his sister's murder.

What could be so strong that it could affect the minds of wizards for centuries after its creator's death? A compulsion? Charms were inherently shorter term. Runes were made for long-term self-sustaining magic, not charms. Could it be a ritual, a ward, or some other magic? All of those lead down a path of having to do more research.

It was more than likely beyond his comprehension right now. He needed to gain knowledge and ability as quickly as possible to be able to sort these things out. Dumbledore would have been ideal as he was an incredibly accomplished academic, but he didn't trust the man. The more Harry thought about it the more he considered he should ask different people about different topics. Targeting people who would be unlikely to divulge information to each other would be good too.

Bill would be a good candidate to find out more about wards or magical manipulation. How a historical site could keep itself from being discovered and methods to analyze them. Slughorn could be the key to looking into a young Tom Riddle. He already had Madame Bones doing work, but that left him with a few issues he had no leads on.

His invisibility cloak, parseltongue, politics, the tournament… He first considered Sirius and Remus for researching his cloak but both were aware of James having it and never remarked beyond that. Remus was probably a better candidate to help out with parseltongue and just exactly what it was. With the Black library, they might be able to dig something up.

Politics in general, he had Fleur and Natalia's parents for aid. Locally, Andromeda might be useful, but the fact Dumbledore recommended her kind of put him off. He wanted to separate himself from the man's camp.

The tournament was probably best to handle himself. With Bones looking into it and him probably needing to do something illegal or unethical to disrupt it, if he found a way to, it would be best not to have anyone aware of those activities.

That left his cloak. His gut feeling was to talk to Fleur about it or Natalia. He felt he could probably trust Fleur more than Natalia at this point.

Harry shook his head as a pulsing light drew his attention. Natalia had written him a message.

He grabbed the book and opened it to read its content.

Free to hang out today?

Was he free? Yes, but he couldn't keep spending all his days with friends. His very life was in jeopardy.

Not really. Got a lot to do today.

Things like unravel secrets, train, learn, prepare for rituals…

Oh… I'd just hoped to see you again. I've really missed you.

She'd really missed him? Unseen to anyone, but Cuddles, Harry shrugged. It was nice to think she did though he wondered if it was more that he'd spent a day with Fleur.

A walk late tonight?

Harry wrote back. He couldn't train all day since his body needed rest and he couldn't study all night either, his mind needed rest. A walk would be nice to loosen up his body and the fresh air to refresh his mind.

Okay. 9 PM?

Harry confirmed the time she suggested would be fine.

Invisibility Cloak - Was it just a cloak or was there more to it? From what he knew, Fleur's charm should have revealed his presence, after he bumped into her. Should he get her and her family to help? Could, and should, he trust the Delacour's? If he asked Sirius or Remus, they would probably talk to Dumbledore or solicit his opinion. The man had kept it for a decade and probably had puzzled out secrets.

It would have been far more simple if he had grown up as the Delacour's said he should have. Taking vacations in the summers, exchanging cards and growing up with a pseudo aunt and uncle. Still, it bothered him, Fleur's excuse for not coming to meet with him right away seemed flimsy.

He'd leave it in the past, not forget it, but also not let it colour their current relations. They'd been far more upfront than the Pavlov family.

Natalia had been manipulative from the get-go. Was Lacroix in on it?

Harry shook his head. Focus, stop getting sidetracked.

He wouldn't decide today, but Harry was leaning towards getting Fleur to help him.

House Elves - Dobby was amazing. He kept him fed, clothed, and took care of errands.

Triwizard Tournament - He was well aware it was a retrieval task. The tournament was very traditional. There were always three tasks and only the first two actually varied. Either a retrieval type task or objective-based combat with a magical creature. Only the order changed meaning this left him with retrieval. If the retrieval was the first task, they'd take something from him. For the Second Task, it was always someone . He doubted the Committee would change this now. He'd gotten the clue from his egg and surmised it would be fetching someone from the merman settlement.

He was thinking of trying to disrupt the task again for two reasons. First, it would heighten awareness for more sabotaging of the tournament for the Third Task, the moment he assumed would bring the highest chance for the attempt on his life. Secondly, if there was a plan to kill him in the second task it would make it go awry.

It could backfire. He could be caught and in serious trouble for screwing with an international event. It could lead to suspicions on him having a role in the dragon's death too, which he had escaped the scrutiny of.

It wasn't January yet and the task was late February. He still had an ample amount of time to decide.

Parseltongue and Cuddles - both were related. He had to spend time working on just what he could and could not do with Cuddles. He would experiment and explore with her and he could see if Remus and Sirius could help him with Parseltongue.

All that really left was a game plan for legal representation for himself and getting Sirius free. He had some leads on a lawyer but wanted to consider them further, probably meet Andromeda Tonks first before he considered deciding at all. That just left Gringotts and finding out more about the Black family.

Well, he mused, no time like the present.

"I always think 'why are we going there again?' when we decide to go for a walk here." She sighed contentedly and shifted closer to Harry, "But then we get here… I like this place, just the two of us… it kind of feels like our thing, you know." Natalia spoke softly as they walked through the park together.

"Mhmm." Harry agreed.

The air was familiar, the path the same and in short order, they found themselves on the bench they both thought as theirs.

Nervous anticipation was between them. She'd not wanted him to spend so much time with Fleur and her parents had wanted a courtship contract. The two weighed heavily on his mind and the air between them wasn't what it was the last time they were here. It was heavy and perturbed.

He had no experience with how to handle this. There was nothing wrong between them, but something was keeping it from being as it was before.

"Did you have fun with yesterday? Was it nice to see your friends?" Harry heard the polite inquiry and also what was not said: 'Did you have fun with Fleur?'

He turned his head and gave her a strained look. "Yes and no."

Frowning, she prompted him for more. "Why's that?"

"I dunno." He half shrugged, the corners of his mouth pinching together further. "It was good to see some of them and yet everything didn't go like I thought it would."

A half-smile grew on his face, "It was nice to see my dad's friends. Then, Fleur took to the Weasley home just fine, but some of them didn't really like her if that's what you really wanted to know," he smirked at her, and it grew when he saw her small blush.

"Fleur is interested in me," he stated bluntly.

"I know." She said in a small, resigned voice.

"There's not anything for you to be overly worried about. She's not trying to seduce me in the way you would expect. She didn't try and kiss me or do anything other than state her interest and be a friend."

He watched his words sink in. He thought he saw some relief, jealousy, and some incredulity with her face resting in a sustained frown.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked, the frustration in her features leaking into her words so they came out with a low growl.

He ignored the question in favour of continuing to bring the issue to head. "I'm going to spend time with her and her family. She's the heiress to the Delacour family. A family that is tied to mine and one it would be a brutal error to alienate them."

The intent hadn't been to make her upset and yet he could see the effects they were having. They were like a sucker punch to her gut. He could see she was taking them differently from his intention. Her complexion had paled, her breathing was shallow, and her grip on his arm had slackened. He could almost hear the protruding wrinkles on her furrowed forehead.

"Did our time together mean so little?" she whispered in despair, whether it was to herself or meant for him to hear he wasn't sure. Regardless, he'd head this off before he made it worse.

"I wanted your help," his words brought an immediate reaction, hope was shining in her eyes again. "You said that you wanted to help me, and I'm asking for advice because I don't know what the right course of action is. I don't want to mislead you or set expectations that will never work." His measured words and the calmness of his voice soothed her fears.

He continued calmly, "Your family wants me to sign a courting contract for you. I know what those are. Legally, they are breakable, but the second it is announced, it's tantamount to saying we are married."

"I was going to tell you tonight," she said abruptly, panic poorly veiled in her response. "I swear it! I know how you'd take that- that it would break the trust we've built and you might not forgive me for it," her words coming rapidly.

Harry waited, letting things settle before he responded. He did not want to be dealing with a frantic girl. He wanted her in a proper state of mind. He wasn't planning on ending things between them, but he also was less sure she was trustworthy.

He gave her a side-armed hug. "Just breathe," he told her quietly.

Her chest heaved against him. She'd been unsettled by his less than tactful words. He really sucked at this. He could feel the deceleration of her breathing, her bosom not pressing into his ribcage as much… With her calmer, he disengaged.

They were only six feet from their usual bench now, Harry directed them towards it and waited until they were seated before continuing. She sat close to him, closer than normal, like the allowance for any space between them could be perceived as a gap in their relationship.

"I'm fourteen. Famous, talented and coming into some political and economic power. I've been kind of dating the daughter of a powerful foreign family that isn't within the historic expectations for friends of my family." He stared at her for a few seconds ensuring she was fully listening and not just hearing his words.

"Then friends of my family come out of nowhere and want to take me under their wing, to guide, protect, and maybe even be a loving family to me. Their eldest, the heiress, is attracted to me." He shook his head, "And just my luck, the two families don't get on."

She shifted allowing her hand free reign to gently stroke his outer thigh in a comforting manner. She snuggled into him further.

"That's not even the worst of it. The family of the girl I do like wants me to declare marriage for her after just a couple weeks of knowing each other. I've not told the Delacour family, but I imagine they'd have no or limited issues with the same arrangement for Fleur."

It was everything on his mind about the two girls that liked him. Both were being unfair to him. One with the family expectations, not to mention manipulations from her, and the other putting him in an untenable position. Neither girl had malicious intent and yet here he was having to deal with all this garbage, all this drama.

"I'm only 14 for Merlin's sake!" Harry exclaimed with great frustration. "Tell me, what am I supposed to do? I don't even know what I'm going to do with my life!" The words flew out of his mouth.

Nothing was said for a couple of minutes. They sat content in the silence.

It was Harry that broke the silence. "Well? What advice can you suggest?"

This was always going to be biased advice, but Harry had thoughts on that. If you can understand their bias and view the advice from that prism, it could become useful advice. Further, asking the same questions of multiple parties with different biases can help him formulate a more neutral standpoint.

"You can't ditch the Delacour family," she said, painfully, like they were the very last words she wanted to come out of her mouth.

Harry was somewhat surprised. There was no way she wanted to say that, to admit he should still spend time around Fleur, even if she didn't mention her specifically.

"And your family?" he asked, smirking inwardly. He was enjoying just how uncomfortable this was now for her, if he was going to be annoyed with this he could spread around the misery.

"I didn't expect it at all, yet." Her eyebrows were raised and nostrils flared as she said that to him.

"Yet?" He questioned; if she'd expected it would come why had she hid it?

She sighed, "Yes, yet." she didn't appear to be too pleased with this admission. "England is too far out of our normal realm of influence economically and politically. The real benefit of gaining a match with you, for the family, is for our reputation. Switching sides didn't do us any kindness with both sides of the Grindelwald war. Neither side trusts us and, although that goes away as each generation passes, having you accept the Pavlov family would soothe a lot of that with the lighter side of things."

"Did your siblings use a courting contract or a marriage contract?" As much as Harry had learned, he still had many gaps in knowledge of the wizarding culture or things he would have known had he grown up in a magical household.

She shook her head and her eyebrows pinched together, her lips thinning as she thought about the answer. "No… well, yes, but probably not how you're asking."

Harry looked at her questioningly, awaiting the answer.

"None of them used a courting contract; they are pretty rare. Only like little kids get put in them really. All of my siblings have marriage contracts but they are more like a prenuptial agreement in the muggle world. Just outlining wealth, businesses, what they can inherit, etcetera. Those are really normal for the wealthy." She informed him.

Harry nodded, accepting her words and greater expertise on the subject.

He didn't really want to do this next part but it had to be done. His stomach was unsettled and tight. His face was marred by the unpleasant thoughts going through his head but he was going to do this now.

"I'll be straight with you. I don't trust your family and, frankly, I can't read you. At times, I think you are genuine and you've been honest with me. Then other events make me think otherwise. I don't want to judge you because of who your family is but it's hard to not colour you with that brush." He didn't look directly into her eyes, she'd hidden her face away from him as she silently listened to him.

"I don't know what to do about it. I used to trust blindly and my eyes have been opened. I don't know how to fix this. Your parents asking for a courtship contract kind of put the nail in the coffin. With me being in a deadly tournament, I don't think I can pursue a relationship with you right now." He squeezed his eyes shut as he finished. He'd wanted her to be perfect for him like she had seemed when he saw her dance for the first time, but real life isn't a fairytale.

Harry withheld chuckles. It was like he was breaking up with her. He hadn't intended that but as the words tumbled out they just progressed there naturally. How could he be in a relationship with someone he couldn't trust? He couldn't be, it was that simple.

He could see silent tears leaking down her face and he felt awful for causing them. However, it wasn't his fault he reminded himself.

"I- is… Is there something I- I c- could do?" The desperation in her voice was palpable. There was no faking those tears, the hurt displayed all over her face.

"What is there that you could do?" Harry asked, having no idea how to proceed in that direction. "How do you magically create trust?" He asked rhetorically.

She clung closer to him. "I- I've," She wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. "I can admit I've done those things, but, and I really mean it, I've never, not once, done it for anything that wasn't beneficial for you."

Harry twisted his body so he could see her a little better, turning towards her, wanting to be able to look into her eyes, directly, as they spoke. "How would I know? I question Lacroix as well."

"She did it for you!" Natalia was vehement with her words. "She pushed you, she made you confident, and she guided you. She hoped we would get on, but it wasn't for some nefarious purpose! She thought we could help each other! And we have!" An inner fury had awoken when Harry said something negative about her dance instructor, the woman had gone to bat for her too many times to idly sit by when she was criticized.

"How did I help you?" He questioned her words, glad to see her unhinged, she might not filter her words as she does when she's composed.

"We are good together! We worked the Yule Ball and Delacour Ball. My parents were deeply impressed by you! You dance so well for being so new at it and you really cared to make sure you were good and could keep up with me." She exhaled deeply out her nostrils, trying to visibly reign in her emotions, her narrowed eyes widening and her depressed eyebrows relaxing as she sat back, away from him.

"You didn't know who Natalia Pavlova was; you just saw Natalia the ballet dancer. You saw me… and you like me for me," her voice was small as she brought her feet up onto the seat of the bench, her knees drawn together and chin hidden behind the tops of her knees. Her arms had found their way around her legs and she was working to control her shuddering breaths, not all that well.

"I did like you, but I don't know what was real, I don't know your true intentions and without trust, how could we ever work together?" Harry was far more composed now than he was. He kept his words measured and hoped they didn't twist the dagger.

Natalia vacantly stared straight ahead of herself. "This can't be the end. It can't end like this." She was almost incoherent as she was whispering, out loud, to herself, either heedless or apathetic to Harry overhearing her.

Harry was tired of dealing with this drama. All he wanted was to get back to the chamber. He quickly enacted a plan and spoke. "We can still be friends," he ended with a shrug.

It was like a light went off in her head, like an engine was fired up and roaring after being idle for too long. A fire churned behind her eyes and she dropped her legs back to the ground and twisted back towards him. She gave him a blinding smile, "You just need to be able to trust me, to learn the truth of things! We can do that!" She'd done a total 180-degree turn about. From down and depressed to bouncing with energy on the bench beside him.

"How would we do that?" Harry asked, sceptically.

"Veritaserum," she stated matter of factly. "We can both take it and then take turns asking questions like we did before!" She was practically vibrating beside him in her seat, her eyes pleading for him to accept the idea.

"I've heard of it, but I won't take it and risk giving up all my secrets." Harry was firm on that, no way would he allow himself into a position where he would have to give up Salazar Slytherin as his deceased mentor or have to explain Cuddles and his rituals.

"Oh, you probably don't know. The common Veritaserum is a truth potion combined with a Babbling potion. When you are asked a question, the Babbling potion forces you to say something and the Veritaserum forces that something to be the truth. We can just take the normal stuff! You can only answer with the truth, but you're not compelled to answer if you don't want to. It works really well."

"Oh." Harry had never heard of anything like that. Snape had threatened he'd dose him and make him spill his secrets.

"We can try but I'm not making any promises," he told her stoically.

He may as well have promised her the moon as she lunged forward and hugged him for all he was worth. She was confident they could still work out, happy she still had a chance, and that things weren't over, for now, at least.