THE VEELA AND HER LION (Patreon)

Hey guys. You might remember that I had conducted a poll a few days ago. Well, people asked me for a new fic and here I am. A Harry/Fleur fic and let me tell you, this is my absolute favourite when it comes to pairings. 

I was excited to get started on this fic and I know that I will do well. I won't keep you waiting much longer. Just jump in and enjoy. Don't forget to tell me how you feel..... And don't forget to give me ideas. If you see something you want to be added, I welcome that. We can make this fic better with your help too. Remeber that....Finally, Enjoy!!

Prologue

He looked around and scrambled for his wand. His pocket was empty. His blood ran cold. Professor Lupin had transformed into a werewolf and right at the time they had stepped out with a captured Peter Pettigrew. The man responsible for the death of Lily and James Potter, parents of Harry Potter, who cursed his fate at the position he found himself in.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry had snuck away on Hermione’s insistence to save Buckbeak, the hippogriff. Harry would certainly be the one to kill Draco Malfoy. The arrogant peacock was the one who was responsible for this farce.

“If I ever get out of this place, I would swear to god, I will rip apart your head from your shoulders, Malfoy.” Harry grumbled.

Remus Lupin was the defense teacher for the year and Harry quite honestly liked the man. He was knowledgeable and was a huge improvement from the two morons that had taught them the previous couple of years.

Learning that he was one of the closest friends of his parents put him in two minds. One part was happy that there was someone that might tell him more about his parents. Their legacy.

The other part, it was annoying that he had to learn it this way. The man had the entire year to tell him and all he did was throw paltry hints his way. He was livid that he was their best friend and yet, he had the gall to come here and speak to him after thirteen years. After thirteen long years and at Hogwarts and as a professor, not with his own will.

Sirius though was a whole different matter. For the whole year, he had been convinced that the man was responsible for his parent’s death. No matter how much Dumbledore, Mr. Weasley or Mrs. Weasley, McGonagall, Flitwick tried to hide the truth from him, he knew it. He fucking knew it. Fate wouldn’t be kind enough to leave him not linked to someone like Sirius Black. His previous two years had all but confirmed to him that he was fates lapdog.

You could say vengeance. You could say it was sadness. Anger. Disappointment. But every kind of emotion reared its ugly head when he got to know that this man was his Godfather.

His emotions turned to fury when he learnt that his parents were betrayed by someone who was his father figure. His father’s best friend. His cousin twice removed. And most painfully, his family.

Something changed in Harry’s head and his heart. He suddenly understood a very harsh truth in the world. Nobody and nobody in this world were good people. If his parent’s best friend, a man who was their most trusted, betrayed them, who else could be trusted.

When he heard that he might come after him, he wanted the bastard to come after him. He wanted him to try and kill him. He had some questions for him.

Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that Sirius Black was an Animagus, the huge black dog that had been cropping up at odd places in the castle or in front of him. Heck he had even seen the dog when he had run away from him relatives house. When this huge dog dragged away Ron in the dead of the night and then revealed himself to be Sirius Black.

FLASHBACK—-

“Harry Potter.” Sirius Black’s hoarse voice sounded behind him.

“Harry!” Hermione Granger screamed.

Harry stood straight, staring at the man. His skin was pale and gaunt, he was thin enough that one could make out the skeleton under his skin. Unkempt shoulder length hair and a  face that somehow held on to its handsome features despite its wielders current condition.

“Just like James.” He murmured almost affectionately, taking Harry slightly by surprise. He was not expecting that tone. Harry drew his wand from his sleeve not seen by anybody. Without a word, he stunned Hermione and Ron silently, his wand peeking from the side of his stomach.

“Silent magic?” Harry watched the expression of Black and was once again caught off guard by the genuine pride and surprise on his face. “A fourth year spell and silently at that. Excellent, son.” That did it. Harry’s temper broke. The control he had been keeping on his emotions broke and he lashed out.

Catching the older man by surprise, Harry sprang forward and punched the man in his face. A sickening crunch was heard and Harry nodded in satisfaction. He threw another punch on his face and another and another and another.

He didn’t notice it, but tears streamed down his face as he put forth all his frustrations, his pain in every single blow. “They trusted you. They trusted you and this is how you rewarded them?” He snarled as he grabbed the man by his collar. His face was messy and bleeding.

“Listen to me Harry.” Sirius begged. “They trusted you and you killed them?!” He questioned the man. “Please listen to me, Harry.” Sirius begged.

“It wasn’t me.” He said. Harry faltered. “I didn’t betray James and Lily, Harry.” He said and Harry couldn’t help but snort coldly.

“Don’t lie to me Black. I am not a fool.” His voice was soft and chilling.

“I swear, Harry. I didn’t betray James and Lily. I could never.” The older man’s grey eyes teared up and Harry was definitely surprised now.

“James and Lily were not just my friends, Harry. They were my life. Everything that decorated my poor excuse of a life.” He explained. “A brother that I lost in my own, I found in your father. A sister that I had never had, a wonderful woman, your mother was. The only woman other than your grandmother that could put a stop on anything that your father and I would get up to with just her glare.” He laughed softly, his eyes gaining a faraway look.

“And then, you came along.” His eyes became softer still and gained a fonder look.

“My Godson. My own son.” He explained.

“Since the day you were born, you were mine as much as you were James and Lily’s son, Prongslet.” He whispered.

“You were the reason that I felt no regret in remaining a bachelor all my life.”

His expression went somber all of a sudden. “Then came that damn prophecy and your parents had to go into hiding as Dumbledore suggested. James was never one to back down from a fight, but for the sake of his wife and child, he agreed. Your family went into hiding. It was then that Dumbledore suggested a Fidelius Charm.” He said. “You do know what it is right? A very complic…” Harry cut him off.

“I know what it is. Just continue…” Harry growled. Sirius was more than surprised by that.

“You know about the Fidelius?” Harry’s stare was enough to cower the older man.

“Right. Sorry.”

“Lily suggested that she would perform the spell. A dab hand at charms, your mother.” He chuckled.

“And accordingly, Lily did perform the spell. Your parents had decided that I would be the secret keeper.” His eyes dimmed considerably and Harry felt the guilt rolling of the man.

“I thought of a plan. We decided to use Peter Pettigrew as the secret keeper. A perfect ploy.” He said. “None would have suspected Peter as the secret keeper. Everyone automatically assumed that I was the Secret Keeper. A decoy, if you would prefer.” Sirius finished.

“I didn’t know that it would be the worst decision I had ever taken in all my foolishness.” He said.

“We had been informed that there was a traitor amongst our midst. But, the bad thing was that we had no idea regarding the person’s identity. We couldn’t trust anybody. Not even our own allies. Those were dark times, Harry. Very dark.” Sirius explained.

“What we never guessed was Peter being a traitor. He was weaker than the rest of us. None expected him to have the nerve to do something like this. And in our own slacking nature, we didn’t see the signs that were as clear as daylight.”

“That night, I arrived at your family cottage. I was feeling uneasy. Very uneasy. And there was my world, destroyed. Ripped apart. The house was a mess. There was neither a sound nor a whisper. I went in and saw my best friend dead on the ground. In all my life, I had never seen James’s eyes without any emotion. Dead. Blank and dead.” Sirius wiped the tears flowing.

“I went upstairs. I hoped against all hope that Lily was alive. That you were alive. The moment I watched the lifeless eyes of Lily, I felt myself feeling detached from this world. If not for you, I would have gone insane.” He said.

“You were alive, Harry. My Godson was still alive. I had to live. I had to be alive for your sake.” He said. “I wanted to take you away, but at that moment, Hagrid arrived. He was adamant that we must let you go and Dumbledore was taking you in.” Sirius sighed.

“Blinded by rage and revenge, I wasn’t thinking straight and I wanted Peter. I wanted to nail that bastard down and put a hole in his head. I handed you over and went in search of him.” The man was silent for some time.

“I found him two days later.” He continued. "I cornered him, but the bastard surprised me with what he did. He screamed into the night sky. He screamed that I killed Lily and James and how could I do that? And just like that, he used a blasting curse to a nearby gas line and the resulting explosion helped him escape, with me standing there, stunned by what he had pulled off. I couldn't help but laugh. Laugh in shock and sadness." His face contorted in shame.

"When the aurors arrived, twelve muggles were dead and I was at the center, laughing like a deranged man and muttering that I killed them, again and again to myself. The Aurors, hearing that arrested me and the next thing I knew, I was in Azkaban."

"I gave up. Lost in my own guilt, I knew that I won't be getting out of this mess. But for some reason, the Dementors stayed away from me. It might be because I was innocent and I knew it." Be explained.

"Fudge decided to conduct a security check this year and he had a newspaper in his hand and that was where I saw him. In his rat form and in your friends…" he nodded towards Ron, "care." He finished.

"It was difficult to turn into my animagus form, but I succeeded. The dementors couldn't feed on a dog's emotions and I could escape." He finished.

For a few minutes, neither spoke a thing. The two just stared at each other, a myriad of emotions going through the younger man and desperation and hope for the older man.

"Swear it." Harry whispered, his voice was steely. Sirius felt chills spread through his spine.

"What?" He croaked.

"Swear on your magic. Swear on your magic that every word you spoke is the truth. Swear that and I will believe you."

Sirius nodded hastily. If that is what it takes to gain the trust of his Godson, that is what he would do. He had no fear. He was speaking the truth.

Just when he was about to retrieve his wand, he was hit with a disarmer. He then turned around and was met with a sight he would rather forget.

"Well…well. If it isn't the arrogant toe rag, Sirius Black?" Severus Snape, the potions master, drawled lazily as he twirled his wand between his fingers.

His face contorted into a sneer. "Couldn't keep out of mischief, could you?" He drawled, his eyes filled with malice. “How did you get into Hogwarts, Black? I did inform the Headmaster that you might have received some kind of inside help.” He had yet to notice Harry behind him.

“Snivellus. Still the greasy and nosey git I see.” Sirius smirked. Snape’s eyes had a murderous glint in his eyes. Harry chose that moment to snort.

“Snivellous does make a very good name.” Harry muttered. That was when Snape noticed Harry standing behind Sirius. The rage in Snape’s eyes increased a hundredfold the moment their eyes met.

“Potter.” His voice carried more venom than his look. “A Potter and a Black. Uncouth bastards. No wonder you two are here. How long has this been going on? This meet and greet between the two of you?”

A full-blown smirk made its way to Snape’s face. “I would be the headlines of tomorrow, you know. ‘Brave professor captures notorious mass murderer’.” Harry wanted to gag at the expression that was seen on Snape’s face.

"The dementors seem hungry today, Black. Very hungry indeed."

"What are you doing here, Snape?"

"I was conducting a nightly patrol when I came across a window through which I noticed your Godson sneaking off somewhere."

"When they crept under the Whomping Willow, I knew where he was going and who he was meeting. Remember the last time I was here, Black?" He sneered.

"Where you almost sent me to my death."

Snape laughed coldly. "All those years. All those pranks you pulled at my expense, all those humiliations and now, I have you exactly where I want." He explained.

"Tell me, Potter. What shall we do with him?"

The door of the shrieking shack burst open and a disarmer hit Snape's arm. The wand was caught by, Harry could see Remus Lupin.

Snape was surprised by a second before his face twisted into a scowl.

“Potter, Black and Lupin.” He spat. “It is just like the old days. This time though, I think that I am in control.”

“The Board of Governors would be pleased by my actions today. A werewolf and a mass murderer caught. Not that I care about the popularity, but the satisfaction that I receive after I am done destroying the two of you…..” He didn’t see the red beam of light strike him from his side.

“I was getting tired of his yapping.” Harry grumbled. Sirius chuckled, but he yelped when the ground next to him exploded, catching him by surprise.

“Did you forget something?” Sirius gulped. He hastily retrieved his wand from the ground next to Snape. He raised his wand high in the air.

“I, Sirius Black…Swear upon my life and magic that everything I said to Harry is the truth and nothing but the truth. So I swear. So mote it be." A blue flash surrounded Sirius and sealed the vow.

Sirius raised his wand once more and took a deep breath. "Expecto Patronum." Harry watched as a grim, just like the man's animagus form stood in front of him.

Harry stared at the man for a while. He could see the almost hopeful expression on the man's face. He nodded slowly. “Good.”

“Didn’t you get a trial?” Sirius chuckled humorously. “I am a Black, Harry. They have a common misconception that we all are traitors and dark wizards. Barty Crouch was too eager to throw me in prison. After Bellatrix, mine was an easier affair. They didn’t give me a trial.”

“Did you hear everything?” Harry asked Remus and the man nodded. “I was outside the door and was about to get in when I felt Severus coming up.” He explained. “I hid. I knew he would do something in his rage and I had to wait.”

Remus looked apologetic towards his friend. “I am sorry, Sirius. I should have known that you wouldn’t betray us.” Sirius looked like he wanted to say something. He sighed.

“It’s fine, Moony. It really is fine.” He assured his friend.

“But…” Sirius held up his hand. “We will talk later, Moony. Not here and certainly not now.”

“The rat. The rat…where is he?” Harry’s voice was just a whisper. The two older men looked at each other and gulped. “It would be better if we….”

“Please. Just please tell me.” He didn’t seem to be begging even though for an untrained and naive eye, it seemed to be that. Sirius gulped as he retrieved a rat from behind him.

Harry's eyes zeroed in on the rat. A myriad of emotions raced through him in a second before his eyes became blank once more.

He held out his hand. Sirius hesitated, but finally relented. He dropped the rat in the boy's hands. Harry threw the rat on the floor and swiftly cast a revealing charm.

"Hey Pettigrew…" he slapped the man on his face. As the man woke up, he looked around before realizing where he was.

His eyes fell on Sirius and Remus.

"Sirius…Remus…." He croaked, a fake smile plastered on his face. "My friends…"

Sirius growled.

"You bastard. You fucking bastard!" He roared.

Pettigrew cowered on the ground before he saw Harry. "Harry…Just like James…"

He trailed off when he noticed the scary glow in his eyes.

"Why?" He questioned softly. "You were a friend, weren't you? What wrong did they do to deserve that?" He questioned.

"Instead of killing them, couldn't you have just handed me over to him or killed me yourself and be done with it?" Harry questioned.

"People say that they had just started their life together." He whispered and a few drops of tears rolled from his eyes. “Why did they do to deserve this?” He asked.

“They trusted you, yet you went behind their backs and got them killed.”

His wand was up and rolling as he threw several cutting curses at the downed man. He caught him across all his various body parts, drawing blood. He made sure that the gashes were as deep as possible, but not deep enough to kill him, all the while making it as painful as possible.

“Mark my words, Pettigrew. You are going to rue the day when you decided to mess with my family.” Harry snarled and with his wand conjured a stream of boiling water. Boiling water shot from his wand. The moment the hot water impacted Pettigrew’s injuries, his wounds burned and Harry watched as the man screamed loud into the air.

He did not budge. Many might have felt this was a touch slightly cruel for a kid. None would understand. Nobody knew how he grew up. Nobody knew how much he suffered because of this man. He lost everything before he even knew he had it.

The ways he wanted to torture the man would have put him Azkaban without a doubt, not that he cared. The fact that a friend betrayed his parents was a bitter pill to swallow.

“I would have killed you for what you did to my family, Pettigrew. Boiling water should have been the least of your concerns if anything.” He growled, his eyes glowing with hatred.

“But you have a mistake to correct. You have a confession to make.” He eyed Sirius.

He stunned and bound the man and kicked his face and smirked as he heard a crunch.

“Let us take him. We can get a trial for you.” Harry spoke directly to Sirius.

Sirius nodded, his eyes tearing up thankfully.

“Thank you.” He whispered. Harry nodded, his eyes going soft.

“It’s fine.” He turned away from the two older men.

“Just like his parents,” Remus muttered. Sirius nodded. “Yes. But truthfully, I see his grandmother and grandfather in him. Unwavering and kind.” He smiled at the memory of Harry’s grandparents.

They were about to leave with the rat when they came across an unconscious Snape. It was then that Harry remembered his friends. In all this mess, he had no idea that he had left them behind. He was about to move back and revive his friends when he heard a scream from behind him. He quickly turned around, his wand flicking back to his hand, but froze.

Lupin was writhing in front of him and Harry watched with shock as the man's visage changed and his eyes turned yellow. His face shifted and suddenly, with a blood-curdling scream, a Werewolf stood in front of Harry.

"Shit!" Sirius exclaimed. "The full moon. He has left behind his potion." Harry knew it would be difficult to take on a Werewolf, on a full moon. Their senses would be extra powerful, more than the ordinary and they were vicious beasts.

His blood ran cold as he remembered that Ron and Hermione were inside.

"What do we do?" Harry asked, taking a step back. Sirius cursed softly.

"There is a way. I will lead him out. I will use my Animagus form and lead him out and you get your friends and run back to the castle." Harry nodded. He was about to follow Sirius’s instruction when he noticed Peter gaining consciousness.

“Shit!” Harry cursed. He wouldn’t let the bastard escape. Not now. Not after everything.

“Harry let it be…” Sirius screamed, but Harry had run into the night as the damn rat scurried away.

FLASHBACK ENDS

“Harry?” He was startled from his thoughts from the boulder he sat on. He noticed Sirius near the side. “Over here.” He said, loud enough to make sure he caught the man’s attention. Sirius plopped down on the space next to him.

“Why are you sitting here?”

Harry sighed. “He got away.” Sirius remained silent for a while, but laughed. “He really is a rat. Don’t worry, mate.” Sirius reassured him. “Sooner or later, he will end up being caught.”

Another volley of silence. “What will you do?” Harry questioned. Sirius shrugged.

“Ah. I will think of something. There are a lot of places that I can just blend into. Don’t worry about me.” He assured.

“What about Professor Lupin?”

“It's almost morning, Harry. The moon has passed. I sent him back to the hospital wing.”

“Huh!” Harry looked around. It was true. The night had passed. “Guess time flies, right?” Sirius hummed. “Sorry about that.” He pointed to the older man’s cheek. Sirius waved it off.

“Nah…I will be fine. That was a solid punch there. You don’t seem so, but you are very scary, Harry.” Sirius pointed out, rubbing his cheek unconsciously.

“I try.” Harry shrugged.

Sirius looked back at Harry and gave the boy a once over. He frowned when he noticed something missing.

“Where is your ring?” He asked. Harry’s face took on a confused expression.

“Ring?” He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Your heir ring. The Potter and Black family heir ring.” Sirius explained. At his confused expression, Sirius continued.

“Have you never been to Gringotts?” Harry nodded. “I have. In my first year, Hagrid took me from Aunt Petunia’s.”

Harry watched as Sirius’s entire demeanor changed. “You…..you stayed with that woman all these years?” Harry nodded. “Did they….did they take care of you?”

Harry’s visage became cold and guarded all of a sudden and Sirius knew what his answer would be. He understood at that moment what were the consequences of his poor decision all those years ago.

“Oh Merlin.” Sirius muttered and a very cold chill ran through his back. Sirius at first didn’t understand, but then, he noticed the cloaked beasts around them. The dementors had reached the two of them.

Sirius pulled Harry to his side, his wand in the air. “Expecto Patronum.” He shouted, his voice carrying around the area, but nothing happened apart from a small sliver of light. Sirius tried again and again, but the guilt of leaving Harry at that place and having him suffer was too much for him to take. His vision began to swim and darkness began taking control.

"Ha..Harry…run.." Was all he could muster before he lost all thought process.

Harry looked around powerless as the Dementors glided towards them slowly and overwhelmingly. His wand was missing and he dreaded what to do. He cannot run from a Dementor. That is just not possible. They will come for him.

His vision began swimming once more. He suddenly felt himself seeing a now familiar vision.

“Not Harry….” Her sweet voice was filled with desperation and fear. She clutched him tight to herself, her cheeks now flowing with tears.

“Take me…kill me….just let my son be. Please…not Harry.” She begged.

The cruel laughter was chilling. “Step aside, silly girl. I will let you live.”

“No..please. just please let my son be….take me….take me instead…kill me….”

“As you wish…” and a green light struck her right on her chest and she collapsed.

Another vision swam into place as soon as the green flash covered his senses.

“Harry…”Lily Potter placed a loving kiss on his forehead. “Mummy loves you. Dada loves you.” She assured him. “You are so loved…Harry.” She assured once more.

A vision of his father and mother laughing in delight replaced the scene with him in their arms.

His eyes snapped open and had anybody noticed, they would see his eyes burning a brilliant emerald. It would have been visible from yards out. He swore he saw something black being sucked out by the dementor hovering above him and he noticed this black substance formed a face and into a screaming one at that.

He felt something revitalizing in his body. A new source of energy. He shakily raised his hand and muttered the only thing that could help him.

“Expecto Patronum.” Harry felt like a fool, but to his surprise, a silver mist started to pour out of his hand slowly and Harry felt something in him flare and simultaneously, the silver grew in size and brightness.

Harry heard a snort. Not one of somebody laughing, but of some beast. The silver subsided and Harry laid his eyes upon a large silver horse like animal. He knew that it was not a horse. No, this was much larger and fiercer looking than a horse. Almost skeletal like.

The silver animal snorted once more and started to run circles around him, driving away the dementors who shrieked as they ran away. Harry watched with no small amount of awe as the huge animal patronus drove them away. He looked back down to his hand, stunned by what he had done. He felt lethargic and sleepy, but he felt extremely relieved. Like he had been set free.

He swaggered onto his feet but fell down on one knee as exhaustion overtook him. He felt something bright ahead and sure enough, his patronus was staring at him. Harry could feel something pleasant rolling off the thing.

He slowly reached out towards the Patronus. The patronus felt almost solid like. Like a live animal. The beast bumped his hand with its head.

“Thank you.” Harry whispered.

The patronus snorted once more and nodded.

Harry heard a groan and he realized that Sirius was waking up. His face was almost as white as a ghost and Harry sensed that the man was too weak for now. He himself was struggling to stay on his feet.

Sirius sat up slowly and blinked. “Harry..?”

“Here.” Harry muttered. “Are you alright?” Sirius groaned softly. “Y..yeah…I guess.” He whispered. He opened his eyes fully and took in the surroundings. His eyes fell on the bright silver light and his jaw dropped in shock.

“What the hell?” He screamed, and Harry for the first time that night chuckled.

“Is that a Patronus?” Sirius questioned, still in awe. “Yes. My patronus.” Harry whispered.

Sirius continued to gape at the fantastic beast. “You don’t bloody do things in a small way, do you?” He questioned. “Fitting. That is the sigil of your family.” Harry’s face took on a confused expression once more. Sirius cursed inwardly.

Harry chanced a glance towards the castle and he knew that someone was coming.

“You should leave, Sirius. We will work out something to get your name cleared.” Harry said and Sirius nodded. “Quick…leave.” Sirius was about to say something, but he noticed somebody walking in his direction.

“Go to Gringotts. Get to Gringotts somehow and ask for Bearclaw and Grimclaw.” He said and before Harry could ask anything, he was trotting away in his animagus form.

“Mr Potter..?” He turned around and he was faced with his professors, Mcgonagall, Flitwick, Dumbledore and Sprout. “What are you….” Dumbledore trailed off when he noticed Harry’s patronus for the first time.

“My word!” He exclaimed, his eyes wide and twinkling brilliantly. Gasps of surprise were heard as the other members of the group noticed the Patronus.

“Is that….” Sprout whispered but Flitwick interrupted. “A patronus…yes. Holy Merlin…this is anything like I have seen. It’s…almost alive…” Flitwick squeaked, his voice not able to hide the awe at seeing this.

“Filius is right. I have never seen a Patronus this powerful and… alive.”

“Mr Potter. What are you doing here…at this time?” Mcgonagall questioned, her eyes shining with pride at the fact that her lion had managed to produce a Patronus.

“Dementors.”…He gasped as the fatigue took over. “I couldn’t sleep and decided to take a walk.”

“Mr Potter. I think you should make haste and see Poppy.” Dumbledore instructed.

By the time an answer could be given, Harry felt darkness encroaching his vision.

TBC—---