THE VEELA AND HER LION (Patreon)

Chapter 10- Dating and Dueling

“Hey?” The blonde young woman stopped walking as Harry stepped across her. “Hello, Potter.” Astoria smiled slightly. “How can I help you?”

Harry stared at the girl once more and his eyes narrowed. “You are having way too much fun for some reason.” At her shrug, he continued. “I would like to take you to the ball with me,” Harry said. “I decided to take you up on your offer.”

He was rewarded with a blinding smile from the young woman. “It would be my pleasure, Mr. Potter.” She answered. They continued walking for some time in silence. “What is your name by the way?” Harry asked.

He heard the girl gasp. “You asked a girl out on a date and you don’t know her name? That is not gentlemanly, Mr. Potter.” She replied. “Jokes apart, my name is Astoria Greengrass. I am a Slytherin third year and anything else will have to wait for the Hogsmeade weekend.” She replied.

He would have asked further if not for the sudden widening of the young woman’s eyes.

He whirled around, his wand sliding into his hand. He stopped short when he saw the silver phoenix floating in front of him.

“Dumbledore’s Patronus?” Harry lowered his wand arm.

“Harry? Can you join me on the seventh floor?” He wondered what that was all about. Did he find out anything regarding Tom’s Horcruxes? “Sorry about that….” He had to laugh at the surprised look on the girl’s face.

“You are on a first-name basis with Headmaster Dumbledore?” Harry couldn’t come up with a reply that might not seem too bragging. He resorted to just scratching his head awkwardly.

Astoria sighed softly. ‘Ginny was right. He is no braggart.’

“Well, I wouldn’t say first name basis. He addresses most of the students using their first name.” He tried to play it off but based on her unimpressed look, Harry knew that she didn’t buy it.

“I haven’t even spoken to the headmaster once in my life and you tell me that he would use my first name to speak to me.” She cracked a smile. “You are dumb at lying Potter. Keep yourselves truthful. It suits you better this way.”

“Now go. It must be something important if he has asked you to join him in the middle of the class hours.” She ushered him away. “Don’t forget this Hogsmeade weekend Potter. I would be most displeased if you kept me waiting.”

“Not at all, my lady,” Harry muttered, continuing to walk towards the room where they had destroyed the diadem.

The door was closed to the room and when he pushed it open, he saw the headmaster lost in…was that a book? Was it another one of Tom’s Horcruxes?

“Ah...Harry my boy.” The aged man greeted Harry, looking up from the book, a gentle smile decorating his face. Harry eyed the book and the Headmaster. Surely Dumbledore would not be foolish to interact with a Horcrux?

“Is something the matter, Harry?” Dumbledore frowned questioningly.

“I…I just assumed that it was a Horcrux.” He nodded to the diary. “Ah…yes. It is not.”

“I asked you to meet me here because I wanted to talk to you. Please sit down, my boy.” Harry obliged the older man’s request, curious about what it was.

“How much do you know about the previous war, Harry?” Dumbledore questioned, his palms joined together as he regarded the young man with interest.

"Brutal." And that particular word summed up the entire war. When Tom set his eyes on a family, they were dead. When his name was whispered, they wound up dead. When he heard something, not to his liking, they wound up dead.

"That was exactly what I would have said. The wizarding world saw many wars. But none were able to terrorize the world as he had. We have not been able to recover from the death toll from back then, Harry. Since that day, your batch was probably the highest we have seen enter Hogwarts." That Harry didn’t know. He had never stopped to think about the change in the population dynamics.

“Anybody who wanted to defy him, could not. He would not make it easy for them and they would wish for death rather than what came if he found out that they had defied him. I had always guessed that a few of them never wanted to be in his service, but once you are deep in cavort with his cause, you cannot walk away.” Dumbledore explained.

“Do you know the Dark Mark?” At Harry’s nod, he continued. “The Dark Mark, as you probably know, is his mark. The mark that terrorized Magical Britain for years. His way of scaring people and communicating with his followers.”

“Now, I have received information from Professor Snape that the Dark Mark on his arm has become more prominent.” Harry went rigid at those words. Snape was a Death Eater?

"I know what you are thinking, Harry. But hear me out." Dumbledore interrupted, calming the young man's fraying temper.

Harry respected the man's request. He held himself from reacting to the news that Dumbledore had broken.

"Severus fell into the wrong company at Hogwarts, my boy. He was a half-blood in Slytherin and that is not easy. He had to mingle with the people that he could find over there. Those times were just that bad. A Slytherin could never be friends with a Gryffindor. They would never be left alone after such an incident. Severus lost a valuable friend due to those boundaries."

Harry wanted to avoid where this was going.

"He lost his best friend Lily. Your mother."

And he was right. He didn't like that.

"Lily and Severus grew up together, in the same muggle neighborhood. He was the one who introduced your mother to the world beyond what she had known all the while." Dumbledore continued.

"They had not expected the barriers after they were sorted. Not your mother anyway. Slowly, they began drifting apart."

"Lily, bless her soul, tried hard. She tried to be the friend she always was to Severus. She tried despite all the barriers. She didn't give up despite the harsh words of the Slytherin, but the same was not true for Severus. He couldn't fight the peer pressure."

"Why do I feel you are not being completely honest with me, Headmaster?" Harry questioned. He knew when people were not completely honest. It was one of his superpowers.

"Those are not my stories to say, Harry. All I wanted to say is that Severus switched from the wrong side of the war." Dumbledore explained.

"That's it?!" Harry questioned incredulously. "He was pardoned just like that and you even have him teaching here?" He questioned, his eyes glaring holes into the old man's face.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Again, it is not my story to tell so, I have no authority to tell you what he told me. But he has honestly turned over a new leaf.”

“You expect me to believe that?” Harry questioned. “A man who hates the entire school, despises students, and is always a foul piece of crap? I am sorry, Professor. I don’t know what made you forgive him and employ him of all things, but just remember that he will cause problems. Remember my words.” The two remained silent for some time staring at each other.

“You called me out here, Headmaster. What did you need?” Harry questioned, breaking the silence. Dumbledore pushed the book that he was reading. Harry picked the book up and observed it closely. The book was very well used based on the number of wrinkles on the book and the cover. It was worn down and almost seemed like it would tear if you sneezed.

“I and a friend of mine, had a weird obsession to research several spells, and anything rare that came up, we recorded in that book. I thought that I could give that to you. An early Christmas gift if you will.”

Harry opened the book and he could see the neat writings on the page accompanied by various scratches and small notes. Every inch of the book was covered and there was not a page to put a dot into.

“I have everything that I need from that book and all the spells from your vast library back home aside, I guessed that you would appreciate something like this.” Harry chuckled.

“This is amazing. Thank you, Headmaster, but are you sure that your friend doesn’t mind?”

He noticed the faraway look in the man’s eyes as he seemed to be reminiscing something.

“I am sure he wouldn’t mind.” The man became serious. “Your future is not easy, my boy. You have to face Tom again and in Severus’s opinion, he would be back very soon. I want you to be ready. I want you to be prepared.” Dumbledore stood up and the room slowly cleared up, leaving the two of them standing face to face.

Harry pocketed the book and waited for the man to proceed. “Anyway, there was just a handful of men that faced down Voldemort and lived to tell the tale.” As Harry continued to stare at the man, his eyebrows raised, Dumbledore sighed.

“Very well. There are only three of them who have lived to tell the tale. Me, Alastor, and you.”

“What? Me? Since when? The other time was a fluke, Headmaster. You of all people should know that. There is no need to be modest with me.” He chuckled exasperatedly.

“Kids these days. Don’t know when they would be hurt or for what. I couldn’t just tell you that you did nothing and certainly not to your face.” The older man couldn’t stop smiling.

“Anyway…” The elder man continued after the two had shared another bout of laughter.

“There is a reason that Tom was able to hold down his ideology and his followers. His extraordinary display of prowess. Tom was probably the most powerful and brilliant student I have ever taught in my life. He had the drive to become the best and he did become the best. The many times I have dueled the man, it was me who was scrambling to match him and not the other way around and I have been practicing magic for a century and a quarter.”

“Some might call out that I was old and sure enough, I was, but he matched me. Spell to spell. Such was the ability of the man and had he not stepped in the path that he did….” Dumbledore paused.

“What I would like to do, is put an end to it. I would have if I could, but it cannot be me. It has to be you.” Dumbledore stared Harry in the eye. “It was written in the stars.”

Harry watched the man summon his wand into his hand.

“It’s time to begin preparations, my boy. It is time that you be ready for what is coming.” He raised his wand and Harry’s eyes widened as a green beam sailed toward him.

—-&&&-----

“Remind me again,” Gabrielle began as she watched her sister pace back and forth. It was a miracle that the floor had not worn out by now. This had become a common occurrence ever since they arrived at Hogwarts. It was getting on her nerves.

“Why did you agree to go out with that pig?” Fleur glared at her sister, but her anger was directed toward Roger Davies.

“It was to make him jealous. I thought that I could make him see what he was missing out on. I know he did get jealous, but why is he not doing anything?” She ranted.

“And that disgusting pig…” Her temper flared slightly and she seemed ready to go all avian.

“He is prancing around the school spreading false stories about me.” She would have remained oblivious to that if the boy was stronger when it came to her allure, and one minute by her side,  he had spilled everything that he had been telling his friends and to her disgust, he went as far as to tell them that she was fucking him in a broom cupboard of all things.

“I am a veela and most of the school already considers me a slut, and now this?” She sighed as she sat down.

“I did a huge mistake. Everything I did, regarding him, was a mistake. Just what is wrong with me?” She questioned no one in particular.

She feared his reaction. She knew that he was not one to listen to stupid rumors, but things like these are no joke. If he hears the things that idiot boy has been spouting and if he does come to the same conclusion…the very thought of that was unbearable.

“Why don’t you just talk to him?” Gabrielle piped up. Fleur groaned into her hands.

“Not helping Gabby.”

“Listen to me.” The older girl looked up at her sister. “Go and talk to him. He will understand. You don’t want to miss out on him, you have to work hard and after the mess, you have put yourself into, you need to start sorting it out.” She explained.

“Just clarify these rumors to him. If he did have a wrong impression, talking will solve that for you.”

Fleur couldn't fault her logic. Why did Gabrielle of all people be logical? She huffed at the look on her sister's face and stood up.

"I go to go and work on that clue."

She hastened to pick up the Golden Egg from the first task and rushed out of her room.

Gabrielle would have laughed if not for the floo in their room lighting up. She guessed it would be her mother and she jumped away from her bed and went up to the fireplace. Being the Minister's daughter had certain privileges.

They were provided with a room with a built-in floo, though that was only to speak to her parents. They could not use it to travel.

She smiled when she was faced with a blonde-haired smiling face greeting her back. Apolline Delacour was a woman of unparalleled beauty. All three Delacour women shared striking resemblances.

"Gabrielle…how are you, my dear?"

"I am fine, Maman. How are you and Papa doing?"

"We are doing fine, my angel." Gabrielle couldn't help but smile at the new voice and a new face popped up next to her mother‘s. “And where is my Flower?” The blonde-haired man questioned trying to look around the limited area that he could see from the floo.

Gabrielle dissolved into a fit of giggles as she remembered how quickly her sister had fled from the room. “What happened?” Sebastian Delacour, the Minister of Magic of France questioned with a frown. “Nothing, Papa. Just Fleur and everything she has been getting into since coming here.”

“Where is she? Not every day, we get to be called the parents of the girl who managed to charm a dragon into falling asleep.” Sebastian’s voice was filled with pride.

Sebastian was the husband to a powerful wife and father to two very powerful daughters. Gabrielle will get there one day, but he knew firsthand what his wife was capable of.

Veela were powerful magical by birth. Added with the power of fire and the power of going avian, they were a force to be reckoned with. There was a reason why Veela was not someone who must be trifled with. If they take offense, the offenders would not live to see daylight. Such was their strength.

Singularly, they were just like any other witch and human being, but with the added factor of their allure. It is this allure that is the reason that they were called whores and so on.

The world would ostracize a veela when she is alone, but when in their coven or their group, none would dare.

They were misunderstood. People always misunderstood them. He chalked it up to their insecurity. Either they hate them due to their beauty. Unparalleled beauty. Or they are afraid of them because of their ability to go avian. He didn’t care.

He was lucky to land a woman like Apolline. She was everything he wanted in life and even though many of his friends said otherwise, he had listened to his heart and followed his love. To this day, he never regretted it.

He shook his head and focused back on his daughter who was trying very hard to contain her giggles. “Gabby? What happened?” He prodded the girl once again.

“Fleur is in love, Papa.”

Ok, now that brought him short. Love? Fleur was in love? With who?

“Calm down, Papa.” Gabrielle distracted the man from his thoughts. “Don’t tell her that I said that. She will kill me and bury me in Hogwarts.” She joked.

“I meant that she has set her eyes on a boy here.” She explained.

“And who is this boy?” Apolline questioned all too eagerly. “You would never believe me. It will certainly shock you to your core.” She pointed out, piquing the interest of the Delacour couple.

“Who is it?” Her father questioned impatiently after a bout of silence.

“Harry Potter.” She was satisfied by the widening of their eyes. “Yes. The Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived.”

“Gabby. This is no laughing matter.” Her father chastised her seriously. “Isn’t he like fourteen or something?” The girl nodded. “Yes. He is in his fourth year.”

Her father frowned in concentration as he was deep in thought. “That boy is dangerous.” He replied after a while. “What he did on the thirty-first was astonishing. Is it real? Or is the British Ministry resorting to these dirty tactics to gain some attention?”

“Nope.” Gabrielle shook her head, the ‘p’ leaving her mouth with a pop. “He cut off the head of a…is that a Death Eater?” Sebastian nodded in affirmation.

“Yes. But the dead man was impersonating an auror and he was the one who entered the name of Harry Potter in the goblet.” She reasoned.

“How is he, this Harry Potter?” Apolline questioned, beating her husband who looked like having the same line of questioning.

“He is a sweet guy.” Gabrielle began. “He is kind and understanding and is a very patient guy. He is very handsome, and from what little I have heard around here, he is very rich.” The elders nodded. The Potters were by no means poor. They knew that very well.

“But he is brilliant. He is so good with his wand and he has this air of confidence around him.”

“But he is not bad, Papa. Please don’t believe all the rumors.” She begged. Gabrielle could understand it very well. How can he be bad? That is impossible.

The father and mother decided to agree to placate the young girl. They put their doubts to rest. Surely somebody like Dumbledore would not allow a sociopath to study in a school full of children.

“What did happen between Flower and that boy?” Apolline questioned, forgetting the depressing issues they had been discussing. Gabrielle beamed as she began explaining the interactions between the young man and Fleur.

If they were honest, the tale was hilarious. “That is so cute….” Apolline cooed happily as she chuckled at her daughter’s antics. Honestly, for such an excellent judge of character and emotions, Fleur was pretty dense. She could not blame the young man. Men were dense in general.

Sebastian could not help but smile too. This was his Fleur alright.

“She escaped just a few seconds before you called, telling me that she was going to work on the next task.” The man nodded. “Let her. We just called to tell you that we would be coming to the third task. I have cleared some room in my schedule. I will be there.”

The three Delacours continued talking well into the hour. “We have to go. I have work to do, Gabby. Keep yourself out of trouble.” The man warned sternly, failing spectacularly at the pout on his daughter’s face.

“Bye Papa. Bye Maman.” Gabrielle waved and the floo went out. She was about to get back to her books when Fleur walked back into the room.

“Fleur. You just missed Papa and Maman.” Gabrielle announced as soon as she had placed her egg down. Fleur brightened up considerably.

“How are they? What did they say?” She questioned.

“They are fine.” Gabrielle nodded, before her smile turned mischievous, much to Fleur’s horror.

“As to what they said, they were busy talking about your boyfriend.” She darted out of the room before she heard any sort of reaction.

Sure enough, she heard her sister call her out, cursing her name as well. It was a good thing that she ran away as quickly as possible. She smiled softly. The entire day was hilarious in her opinion.

—&&&----

“Bloody old man.” He collapsed onto the ground panting from fatigue. “Bloody old man,” Harry grumbled as he stared at the tired man opposite him. He and Dumbledore had been dueling each other for the past two hours and the aged Headmaster was a very tough taskmaster.

“Wonderful. You managed a full two hours. That is very impressive my boy. You did very well.” Dumbledore praised who was on the ground as well.

The room was a mess and had been torn apart by the two men. Dumbledore had surprised Harry. Whatever he was expecting, the man flinging spells at him left and right.

Harry had briefly caught a glimpse of why this man was widely renowned and respected. His spells were impeccable. He shuddered to think of those who were on the receiving end of those spells.

Contrary to popular belief, he was not a goody two shoes. Some of his spells, had it hit him, would have done some serious damage.

"I might seem to be bragging, but not many could fight me to a draw, my boy." Harry nodded. Of course not. He is Dumbledore for God's sake.

"You do understand that I went easy on you?" He pointed out.

'Ouch!' Harry chuckled bitterly, but not outward. He would not have expected anything less.

Dumbledore who seemed to be searching for something on his face nodded slightly. He stood up and waved his wand over himself, freshening himself from the duel and Harry followed suit.

“I should not be holding back in a few more duels and you must be winning against me in a few more duels,” Dumbledore instructed as he sat down once more on a sofa that the room provided.

Harry stepped back. “I will see you again, Headmaster,” Harry said as he began walking out of the room. Dumbledore watched the boy go. He had been lying when he said that he was holding back. He was not. Sure, he did go a bit easy at the beginning, but as the dueling progressed, he was astounded by the progress that the young man had made. He had not expected him to go toe to toe with him at fourteen.

He could understand how hardworking young Harry was. He has been making very good use of the resource at his disposal. His spells were very good. Better than his were and at such a young age. He would be able to take on Tom very soon. He had to. The fate of the entire world depended on it.

‘And either must die at the hands of the other for neither can live while the other survives….’

“You are on the right track, Harry. Forgive me for forcing you to do this, but I have no choice. The fate of the world is on your shoulders. I cannot let the world be torn apart. If it was up to me, I would have died trying to finish him off, but sadly, it is not. Stay strong, my boy. The road ahead is just not easy.” Dumbledore whispered staring at the place the young man disappeared from.

BREAK

“Shall we?” Harry extended his arm so that Astoria could take it. The girl smiled slightly as she linked her arm with his. They began their walk towards the village. It was the Hogsmeade weekend and just like Astoria had asked, Harry was escorting the girl to the village.

“Where do you like to begin?” Harry asked. The village was busy today. That had always been the case when it comes to this place. Students get very few chances to come out of Hogwarts and almost everybody takes it.

Today’s crowd was bigger than usual and it was understandable. The Yule Ball would be held in three days and people were out to buy everything they required for the event. The other schools had joined in on the shopping spree and every shop was filled with customers.

Astoria didn’t stop walking at any of the stops. “Where are we going?” Harry questioned when she didn’t stop at any of the shops. “My family runs a small store here. Mother wrote to me and told me that she had left my dress with John. He supervises the shop.” She added noting his confusion.

“What store?” Astoria led him to a decent-sized store that was not overly crowded. He had his answer. The Greengrass family owned a store that specialized in plants. He could see a large variety of plants stored in many rows.

“Nevermind,” Harry muttered.

“Welcome to the Greengrass family business place,” Astoria announced brightly waving towards the shop. “We have a shop back at Diagon Alley that is the main of many smaller ones. We supply many clients and almost all of the plants in Hogwarts too.”

She pushed the door open and she was greeted by a portly elderly man, with greying bald hair. He seemed to be in his mid-fifties. “Hello, John.” Astoria greeted approaching the counter smiling at the older man, whose eyes lit up at seeing her.

“Ah…Young Astoria. How are you, my dear?” He questioned jovially. “Oh and Mr. Potter. A pleasure to meet you, sir.” The man extended his hand to shake Harry’s hand to which he obliged.

“I assume that you are here for the package?” He picked up a package from under the counter and placed it above the counter. “Here you are, young miss.”

“Thank you, John.” Astoria picked up the package and shrunk it. “You have been a great help.”

“Not at all, my dear. It was not a bother. Have a good Yule.” Astoria and Harry left the shop and began their way back to the school.

“Do you have everything you need?” Harry questioned as he glanced at the shops towards their side. Astoria shook her head.

“I have everything I need. I just needed my robes for the evening and I had Mother send them to me.” She shrugged.

“How about some butterbeer?” Harry asked. “We can go to the Three Broomsticks.” Astoria pondered his words and nodded slowly. The two of them stepped into the crowded establishment and searched for a table for two.

“Harry Potter.” Harry smiled as Rosmerta, the owner of the establishment arrived at the table. She smiled at Harry. “Decided to finally grace your presence in my humble establishment at last?”

“Come now, Rosie. When have I ever left Hogsmeade without coming here?” Harry chuckled.

“What can I get you and your date here?” She asked, winking at the young couple.

“Two butter beers?” Harry turned to Astoria and received a nod. “Coming right up.” She walked away from their table leaving a bemused Harry and Astoria behind.

“You seem very friendly with her?” Astoria caught Harry’s attention. “Nothing like that. My father and his friends used to cook up a lot of mischief in this place much to her exasperation. She sits down and talks about them and I listen. For that, I am grateful to her. We have developed some kind of friendship.”

“You are strange, Harry Potter.” Astoria chuckled as the bar keep placed two glasses of butter beers on their table. “So…” Astoria spoke after a while. “Tell me about Harry Potter.” She shifted comfortably on her seat. Harry frowned at the question he was posed.

“Not much.” The girl chuckled heartily at that. “What?”

“You are in no position to say that as your answer, Harry. If anything is interesting in Hogwarts, it is either Albus Dumbledore or Harry Potter.” Astoria’s praise only served to embarrass Harry.

“Isn’t that a bit too much?” Harry questioned, embarrassment visible on his face.

“Nope. Now start talking.” She ordered.

Then began the tale of Harry Potter and Astoria listened with rapt attention. Harry felt uncomfortable sharing this with Astoria. But he continued to do so on her insistence.

“Wow!” Astoria laughed, her expression still contorted in disbelief. “Your life is not simple. Not by any stretch. Amidst all the events that took place in your life, your name coming out of the Goblet was not surprising.” Harry agreed with her. In hindsight, he should have seen that happening.

The noise in the pub decreased significantly. “Look who walked in.” Harry looked to where Astoria nodded and his breath caught in his chest as he gazed upon Fleur Delacour.

Damn, she was pretty. She wore a sweater. And even though it was a downgrade from her uniform, this girl can make a blanket look attractive on her.

His eyes tracked her movement and she glided to a seat away from the line of sight of the other students. That was for naught as she was being gazed upon like a piece of meat. Her face was flushed, but that was more to the anger at being stared at rather than the cold. Her eyes conveyed the message needed.

His expression soured as Roger Davies joined Fleur at her table. Harry’s eyes twitched as the boy let his hand slide onto her crossed thigh. His blood boiled as he watched him squeeze her thigh.

Astoria, who had been watching the entire scene, observed Harry’s face and his hand. His knuckles whitened and his jaw tightened. She had to hide a smile. He was smitten. Ginny was right. He was attracted to the girl very deeply. She remembered her talk with Ginny.

Either it would be very entertaining or it would end very badly.

TBC—---