Wendell chuckled and said, "Somehow, from my limited understanding of magic, I do not think trying to fake your intent would have worked."
Harry gave a slight shrug and said, "I still think it is unfair for Fleur to be forced into this... arrangement."
"And what about you being forced into this arrangement?" asked Wendell.
"I'm not," Harry replied with a firm shake of his head. "It will not harm me if I do not go ahead with this."
"But it will harm her if you don't, right?"
"Yes," he sighed. "I'm told it will slowly start to drive her mad, before it finally kills her."
"And that means you are forced into this arrangement," said Wendell. "You would never allow that to happen when you could prevent it; such as this case, right here. As I said, it's in your nature."
That had Harry thinking over the man's words. It didn't take him very long at all to figure out he was right. He did nothing wrong and, even if he'd known about Veela life debts, he'd have still done everything exactly the same. He couldn't not.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Once the Greengrasses arrived escorting the Delacours; with Fleur also, surprisingly, in attendance; they sat down at the table. No one, though, really knew where to start.
Harry looked to a very nervous Fleur and said, "Fleur, I'm really sorry this has happened."
Surprised, Fleur shook her head and replied, "Not your fault, 'Arry. It is... magic... taking its due."
"It's still very unfair on you," he quietly said.
"For Veela, this 'as always been a... risk," she replied. "I do not... begrudge that."
He nodded and turned to Sirius. "Sirius. Find anything?"
"A lot, but nothing that will get Miss Delacour out of this with her life," replied Sirius. "And that includes the library at Pottermore."
When Harry turned to Samuel, the man replied, "Same as Lord Black, I'm sorry to say."
Harry sat back and carded his fingers through his hair. Finally he sighed and said, "I cannot... will not... just sit back and let you die, Fleur. I just can't.
"What do we... I... need to do to make this work?"
There was a very slight pause before Fleur immediately broke down, sobbing. Her mother, sitting to her left, immediately wrapped the girl in her arms.
Her father, sitting to her right, slumped slightly and looked at Harry with gratitude. Clearly heartfelt, he said, "Merci, Lord Potier. Merci. Thank you for my daughtair's life."
Trying to make light of how the older man's words made him a little uncomfortable with his clear gratitude, Harry said, "Well, I couldn't just let her die when I went to so much trouble to save her from the lake, could I?"
The comment at least earned him a couple of smiles, albeit weak ones.
Sirius spoke up. "Though it's kind of pointless," he said. "I'll contact Ted Tonks, Law wizard of Record for the House of Potter, so he can draw up a set of concubine contract documents. At least, that way, no one from outside this group can question it."
Harry nodded to him and said, "Thank you, Sirius. That would be appreciated." Then was lost in thought, for a few moments.
"Something has been bugging me," he said. "How is it that medi-wizard Robinson wasn't also, or either, the individual targeted by the life debt?"
"Becuz it wuz 'is duty, as a... medi-'ealer, to werk 'ard to safe my... Fleur's life," replied Apolline. "'Is oath-sworn duty... exempted 'im."
"Whereas, I had no such obligation," nodded Harry. "Thank you. I understand better now."
Looking around, he asked, "Is there anyone who has a problem with this? Now's the time to speak up. If you want to speak privately, we can do that too."
All he got back were head shakes in the negative; though there were a few sad faces.
Looking back to Jean-Paul first, he then turned to Apolline and asked, "When will Fleur... I mean... how soon―"
"The soonair zee bettair," she replied. "'Owevair, eet weel need to be within zee next couple of weeks. In zee meantime, eet would be best eef she wuz to move een weeth you, 'Er-my-onee and Daph-nee as zoon as eez possible.
"Zee closair she ees to you, zee more she weel be able to control zee... urge."
"It's just that... ummm―" he tried before his blushing got away from him.
"You are not ready for... zat," said Fleur, who had managed to get herself under control again. "I know."
When he gave her a curious look, she gave a watery smile and said, "It is part of being Veela, 'Arry. We can tell when we are... physically close."
He smiled back.
"Nice to know," muttered Wendell.
Harry knew to what he was really referring; he and Hermione.
"What about schooling?" asked Hermione. "You're in seventh year, right?"
"Eighth," she replied. "However, it is zee same as your seventh year. It is my final year."
"Yes," nodded Hermione. "Surely, it is far too late to consider switching schools. I, for one, don't want you to miss completing your education."
"Neither do I," agreed Harry.
"I will arrange for French tutors for 'er," smiled Jean-Paul. "I do not believe your 'eadmistress, unlike Dumbledore, would refuse."
"No, I don't think she will," agreed Harry.
Sirius said, "I'll ask Griselda... Headmistress Lady Marchbanks... to move these three into a four bedroom apartment in the Lords' Quarters, where they're currently in a three bedroom apartment. It won't take her long to achieve."
"Then that just leaves a date," said Harry.
"It can be today, Lord Potier," said Jean-Paul. "We already haf Fleur's... effects with us. Anything elz she might need, can be zent. I would not like to see my daughtair in pain for one day longair."
"Wow; okay," said Harry. Turning to Sirius he said, "Can you contact Headmistress Lady Marchbanks now?"
Sirius gave a nod, rose and said, "On it," before he walked from the room.
Harry then turned to Hermione and Daphne to see how both of them were handling it. By the expressions on their faces, a lot better than he was.
When he turned back to Fleur he said, "I'll tell you the same thing I told Daphne and Hermione already knew. Believe me when I tell you, this does not mean you have to say goodbye to your family. If anything, it means your family just got a great deal bigger.
"I expect you to remain in contact with them to let them know how you're doing. If you don't and I get letters of worry from them, I shall be cross with you. I also expect them to remain in regular contact with you.
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