Burdens and Bonds

Harry felt his feet were made of lead as he slowly walked toward Dumbledore's office. Every step was an effort. His mind was flooded with thoughts of Fleur and of Gabrielle. "Why did they do it?" He kept asking himself, "WHY!" Deep in his thoughts he didn't hear the sound of footsteps coming up from behind him.

"Harry!" "Harry!"

It wasn't until a hand was placed on his shoulder that Harry snapped out of his thoughts and saw his two best friends staring at him.

"Harry, how are you? We were so worried," Hermione asked. "And what is going on? There are all kinds of rumors going around."

"Yeah mate," Ron said. "They are saying you tried to kill that Veela's sister."

Harry shook his head, very tired again all of a sudden. It never failed. Anytime something happened in the castle, everyone presumed it was bad and blamed him for it. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. "What do you two think?"

"Well we know you would never do anything like that on purpose," Hermione said. "That's why we want to know."

"You know I wouldn't think…" Ron started then he looked away.

Harry looked at Ron incredulously, "Ron, you were all about me lying and cheating just a few months ago so don't tell me I would know anything about how you think."

"I.. I didn't mean it," Ron replied as his ears turned pink. "Look, I don't believe any of it really."

"So what did happen, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"I need to go see Dumbledore," Harry said and turned to continue his trek. The look on Hermione face made him stop. He motioned for them to follow. "Walk with me and we'll talk."

As Hermione and Ron fell in step at Harry's side he asked. "What did you see out at the lake?"

"Well, Viktor had already rescued me and we were on the platform waiting for you and Fleur to show up," Hermione asked. "Oh, before I forget, Neville wants to know if that was Gillyweed you used."

Harry stopped and looked at Hermione, "Neville knew about Gillyweed?"

"He said he read about it in a book this year," Hermione answered.

"Oh, the answer was in my dorm all this time and..." He stopped. He just couldn't get angry. "Yeah it was gillyweed," He went on to explain how Dobby had found him in the library and gave it to him. "Not sure if it was such a good thing now."

"But it worked!" Ron said. "After all the commotion died down and they got you and those two girls off to the hospital, Dumbledore had this weird meeting with the merpeople and then announced you and the Beauxbatons champion were the first to the hostages but you both stayed to make sure the others were safe. You both ended up with 45 points. That makes you tied for the lead mate."

Harry didn't feel like cheering. He just turned and continued to Dumbledore's office. He didn't see the look of concern his friends shared.

"I was really worried when the time limit was up and you still hadn't come back Harry," Hermione started again. "Then when Ron came up the surface without you, I... I was terrified," And at that she took Harry's hand. "And Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let us see you in the Hospital wing. I've tried several times."

"Mental she's been. Really. Every couple hours she's been up there to ask about you," Ron added. "She even skived History of Magic, can you believe it?"

"You skived?" Harry asked his bushy-haired friend.

Hermione looked embarrassed but nodded.

Harry felt her fingers collect around his and found himself thinking how soft her hand felt. For a brief moment he gazed at her and he remembered how she looked the night of the Yule Ball. Then he thought of the two ladies lying in a hospital bed who he would spend the rest of his life with.

"Yeah mate, what happened there?" Ron asked. "I came to in the middle of the lake freezing my arse off."

"Ron, language," Hermione snapped.

"I'll say arse if I want to say arse Hermione," Ron retorted.

"Will you two stop?" Harry asked quietly. He didn't have the energy to listen to them argue. "Fleur was having trouble and, I well I went back to help her."

"Helping the beautiful Veela Harry?" Ron said with a wink, "Well I don't mind you leaving me then."

"It wasn't like that Ron. Fleur's magic was greatly diminished in the water," Harry started. "Dumbledore explained it to me. Since her Veela powers are from fire, well let's just say under the water she couldn't draw upon it. So she had trouble defending herself when she got attacked by Grindylow and I went to help."

They had come to a set of steps and they walked slowly up them. They passed several people along the way and most of them were giving him a wide berth.

"You saved her?" Hermione asked. "But what happened to her sister?"

Harry explained what Dumbledore told him about Veela and the transformation, about how it had happened right at that time and how Gabrielle had awoken below the water.

"So you saved both of their lives?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah," Harry replied gloomily.

"So what's the problem? And why have you been unconscious for three days?" Ron asked.

"There are other issues," Harry said. "And it led to me being unconscious."

Harry felt Hermione's hand tighten on his. "Harry what happened? What aren't you telling us?"

"They're in love with me," He murmured very quietly.

"What Harry?"

Harry stopped and looked at his friends again. He was thinking. "Dumbledore didn't say I couldn't talk about it, but do I really want to discuss it yet."

"I said they are in love with me," Harry repeated and his whole faced turned red.

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