They arrived back to Hogwarts about an hour before dinner. The three went to the Beauxbatons carriage first, where Alain was waiting for them with some more information.
"Along with the invitation for dinner, the Headmaster also sent another letter, informing us that Hogwarts has a few apartments for married students. They have not been in use for almost a century so they may not be up to the other dormitories, but he is willing to let you use one for the remaining two nights of this term, if you want to."
Harry exchanged a quick glance with Hermione and then with Fleur. "I think we should rather not attract undue attention right now. Tonight and the next we shall sleep in the dormitories, as usual. We may consider a different arrangement next term."
Alain smiled. He was actually expecting that answer. "I still think you should give Fleur some time with you after dinner," he commented.
Harry blushed deeply. "I'll accompany her to the carriage and stay with her until curfew."
"That would be fine, I believe. Fleur should also leave with her school and then come back with me to King's Cross. We still need to meet your relatives."
Harry lost his smile. He wondered why he had even hoped to escape that hell-hole. He should have already known that his luck sucked!
Alain continued. "We must inform them that you're going to spend most of the summer in France, if you will – of course. Then, I believe the Grangers would also like to have you stay with them for a few days, at least."
That made a wider smile appear on Harry's face.
"I've spoken with my parents and they are eager to have both Harry and Fleur stay with them for a week or two, before they go on vacation."
"I'll send them an invitation to spend their vacation in France with us. I'm sure we can show them some very nice places which they had not seen yet."
"That would be wonderful!" She hardly refrained from hugging Alain in her enthusiasm. She hugged Harry instead.
Ron looked grumpy when they met him in the great hall. "You've left me alone this afternoon as well!" he said accusingly.
"I'm sorry, Ron, but I had some urgent business to settle at Gringotts. While there, I also gave Hermione her engagement ring."
"You what?!" Ron asked in alarm, spitting half the food he had stuffed in his mouth.
"This morning, I've asked Hermione if she would like to marry me once we're both old enough and she agreed. We're now engaged." There was some new pride in Harry's voice.
"You knew I had feelings for her!" Ron said, sounding betrayed.
Hermione didn't like the direction this was going. "Ron, you've never had a chance. I fell in love with Harry back in first year, when he jumped on the troll. You just have to accept this and move on. We would not have been able to stay in any kind of relationship, regardless. You know we're always quarreling and we need Harry to calm us down."
Ron huffed a bit more, turning to his full plate and returning to his previous occupation – trying for a world record in speed eating.
"It's not over yet," Harry told Hermione in a whisper.
"I know, but we shall handle this together."
As they finished dinner, Hermione turned to Ron. "Would you like to teach me how to play chess? My Dad tried to teach me when I was little but I wasn't interested. Maybe now I'll like it better."
Ron grumbled a bit before saying, "Alright."
"I'll catch with you later," Harry said. "I need to handle a few more things."
Hermione winked at him, mouthing silently, "Have fun!".
Harry waited until Ron and Hermione were out of the great hall and then looked at Fleur. She was already gazing at him. He gestured with his head towards the door before standing up and walking out of the great hall. Fleur arrived a few seconds later. He held her hand as they walked silently across the empty grounds.
"You don't have to do this for me," he finally said. "I can wait another year or two..."
Her laughter stopped him. "What's so funny?" he asked.
"I just can't wait to be with you. Had we been alone earlier I would have had my way with you already. It's not only my magic that demands I pay my debt, though. You are simply so adorable that I feel sure I'll like it very much."
Harry's face turned red. "I have never been with a girl... that way, I mean."
"I've never been that way with a boy either. My Veela heritage demands that I only have sex with the one my magic chooses. It has chosen now."
She tightened her hold on his hand and he responded in the same way, blushing even deeper. He was becoming extremely aware of the four years difference between them. He still had some growing to do, probably more than most boys his age, as he was still too much of "a little boy" due to the malnutrition he had suffered at the Dursley's, while she was already a fully grown and very desirable woman. He wondered if he even had a chance to give her what she clearly desired. He would do his best, of that he was sure.
Fleur led him directly to her room. "We each have our own private room here," she explained. "Quite convenient, don't you think?"
He had no time to think, really. Fleur started undressing, making it into a kind of sensuous dance, turning his mind into jelly. He was just gazing at her, his eyes open in admiration and disbelief. She was more beautiful now. Her eyes were shining with desire, her mouth was partly open, showing a bit of her perfectly white teeth behind her red lips, with the tip of her tongue peeking out. Her body looked perfect and more beautiful than he remembered her in the swimsuit she had worn for the second task. Once she was completely naked, he continued staring at her as if mesmerized.
"Don't you want to get undressed as well?" she asked him teasingly. While his mind had shut down, his body was certainly reacting to her nakedness, yet he seemed unable to move.
Fleur grabbed her wand, pointed it to her abdomen and whispered a quick charm, resulting in a bluish hallo which was quickly absorbed into her body. She then turned it towards Harry, and a flick later he was naked as well, his clothes on the floor at his feet.
"That's better," she said, closing the small distance between them and grabbing his head for a deep snog.
It was more than two hours later, after he had studied all the details of her exquisite body, just as she had studied his, that a very tired and fully sated Harry left the carriage, dragging himself to the Gryffindor tower. He barely noticed the Delacour couple, returning from a visit with the Headmaster. He certainly didn't notice the smirks of both his parents-in-law when they saw his state of tiredness.
Ron was no longer in the common room when he arrived. He only found Hermione, looking contemplatively at the chess board. "Did he beat you?" he asked.
"Only once. Then, after I beat him three times in a row he said he was too tired and went to his room." She turned her gaze at Harry, looking him over scrutinizingly. "How was your evening?"
Harry plopped down on the sofa. "I really can't tell. I don't know the right words for it. It was wonderful, fabulous, exciting... All of them and much, much more."
"Tiring as well, I believe," she said, smirking.
"Yes, it was also tiring. I wish it was you, though. I would have felt even better."
For the next few minutes he couldn't talk at all, as his mouth was occupied by a long and passionate snog with Hermione. When they finally stopped, needing to breathe, Harry looked as if Christmas came early. He had a wide grin on his face and his eyes looked dreamy. Hermione cuddled at his side and they both fell asleep there.
"Hey! What has happened to you two?"
Harry opened his eyes. He saw a blurry image of a person with red hair. Judging by the voice, it must have been Ron. A pleasant weight was pressed onto his right side, some strands of hair tickling his chin. He knew that smell – it was Hermione! He fumbled around with his free hand, found his glasses and put them on. The world became clearer. He saw that he was half-sitting, half-lying on the sofa in the common room, with Hermione cuddling into him. It could have been much nicer if he didn't see half the Gryffindor tower population staring at them curiously.
"I think I fell asleep," he said meekly.
"No kidding," Ron replied sarcastically.
"Well, I came back quite late. Hermione was waiting for me. And then... you woke me up!"
"What kept you out so late?" Ron seemed to be very insistent.
"Just some Potter family business."
Ron snorted. "You're the whole family. What..."
"Ron, that's enough!" Hermione intervened. "Don't you think Harry deserves some privacy?"
It was her glare that actually stopped him, not her words. "Alright, alright. Don't you two lovebirds want some breakfast?
Hermione glanced at her wrinkled robes. "I think I need to change and Harry needs that as well. Save us seats near you. We'll come as soon as we can."
Ron seemed not to like the "we", but nodded and left hurriedly.
Neville approached Harry as he headed for the stairs. "Is everything alright, Harry? After the third task... I'm a bit worried for you."
Harry patted his shoulder. "Much better than just alright. I'll tell you as soon as I can."
Neville smiled and left as well.
The great hall was unusually quiet when they arrived, a few minutes later. Almost everybody seemed to stare at Harry as he came in, letting go of Hermione's hand on the other side of the doors. "What is it?" he asked, taking his place at the table.
"You were right, mate. It's all over the paper," Ron said, while Lavender, who was sitting opposite them, handed him The Daily Prophet.
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named returned and then killed" was the main headline. Below it was a sombre photo of the carnage at the cemetery in Little Hangelton. There was clearly a tall body in the middle, whose head was partly blown apart, but what remained of it was enough to easily identify the snake-like features of Voldemort. Around it, roughly in a circle, were the bodies of his followers. All had their masks removed and their arms bared, clearly showing the dark mark. Harry identified Malfoy, Crabble, Goyle and Pettigrew easily.
The accompanying text was quite clear. "During the last task of the Triwizard tournament, two of the champions, who took the trophy together, were transported to the cemetery of Little Hangelton, where one of them, Cedric Diggory, was immediately killed, while the other – Harry Potter – was forced into giving some blood for resurrecting the Dark Lord whose real name is Tom Marvollo Riddle, a half-blood wizard, born to Merope Gaunt and Thomas Riddle, a muggle. The Dark Lord summoned his followers and wanted to kill Mr. Potter in their presence, making a show out of it. Against all odds, Mr. Potter was able to fight the dark lord and escaped with the body of Mr. Diggory back to Hogwarts. Mr. Potter gave a full testimony of what had happened, yet our esteemed Minister of Magic decided not to believe any of it. Luckily, it looks like somebody was of a different opinion. The investigation, still in its first steps, already shows that whatever happened at the cemetery took place about half an hour after the showdown between Potter and Riddle. Most of those killed there are those who escaped prison by claiming being imperiused into the service of the dark lord. One may only wonder what excuses they would have given this time."
There was a list of names on the second page. Harry didn't need to read it, really. He only looked at the Slytherin table, noticing quite a few students missing. He glanced at the Ravenclaw table, where Fleur was sitting. She looked a bit tired. Harry suppressed a smirk. He was glad that he was not the only one affected by their activity.
"Oh, Harry! Madam Bones had canceled the Minister's order about Sirius Black and she calls for him to turn himself in and prove his innocence, now that Pettigrew was found among the Death Eaters," Hermione pointed to a smaller headline.
"That's really good news," he smiled at her. "I hope it will be quick and Sirius will be able to return to normal life, although I no longer need him as my guardian."