Unknown to him because he was already focussed back on beating cake batter, she rolled her eyes at Hermione and walked out of the room. Hermione just grinned at Fleur. Fleur, however, was simply amazed at what Harry was doing and was watching him in action.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Dinner was as good as ever and Fleur was amazed at how wonderful all the food tasted. With Harry sitting at the head of the table, Hermione sat to his left while Fleur sat to his right. Daphne sat next to Hermione in the middle with Susan to her left. Neville sat at the foot with Hannah on his left and Tracey sat between Hannah and Fleur in the middle and opposite Daphne. With the slightly larger dining room they all had a bit more room and it was quite comfortable.
Of course, all the girls, especially Tracey and Neville's two, wanted to talk to Fleur and were just as willing as Hermione and Daphne to welcome the newest 'Potter' to their midst.
"Harry," said Neville, as he was savouring the taste of the roast beef, "You've outdone yourself again." Indicating the beef on his plate, he declared, "This is fantastic."
Harry grinned back. "Make sure you leave room for dessert."
"That's going to be a struggle," said Neville. "I don't want to stop eating this roast."
Fleur was looking at Hermione and Daphne in amazement. "This eez even bettair than our own 'ouse elfs preepare."
"We told you he was good," grinned Hermione.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The Potters were up reasonably early the next morning and went down to breakfast in the Great Hall. For that morning they all sat at the Hufflepuff table, as they knew the 'Puffs to be more accepting of unusual visitors. The Ravenclaws, though, still weren't completely accepting of how students could sit at any of the House tables except for the feasts. Apparently, it did not gel well with their sense of communal order.
Thankfully, as a weekend, students weren't dressed in school robes. The oddity of Fleur sitting among them would have been even more odd, if that was the case.
However, her attendance definitely wasn't missed.
For safety, she sat between Hermione and Daphne with Harry outside of Daphne and closest to the head table. Opposite sat the Longbottoms with Tracey next to Susan and closest to the head end of the table, opposite Harry. On the other side of Susan sat Neville, then Hannah. It might have looked as if the seating arrangement wasn't pre-arranged, but it was.
Sitting that way and in that order showed that Fleur was both considered part of their group and accepted by both Hermione and Daphne.
They did not know if the story of Fleur's Veela life debt would break in the Daily Prophet that morning, but the sitting arrangement would send a message if it did. They'd be sitting in a similar organisation the next day if it didn't and, instead, broke then.
They'd only been sitting and eating for a while when Malfoy finally couldn't restrain himself any longer and sauntered over.
"Potter," he sneered.
"Malfoy," said Harry. "Having a good weekend?"
"Why is the Beauxbatons Champion here?"
"Malfoy, that's rude," Harry firmly said. "Your question should be; 'Lord Potter, may one as humble as I enquire as to how Miss Delacour came to be our guest, this morning?' Try that. Until you do, I suggest you depart our presence until after you've reviewed your uncouth behaviour." Then waved him off and promptly ignored him.
Malfoy stood there for a moment, clearly unsure of what to do. Eventually, he over-obsequiously and smarmily asked, "Potter. How are you honoured by the presence of th- Miss... Delacour among us, this morning?"
Placing his cutlery down in a gentlemanly fashion, Harry took his time to wipe his mouth with his napkin before he looked to other boy and said, "Malfoy, it is a family matter - of the Potters, rather than the Blacks. However, as you are so curious, I will say that Miss Delacour is a transferee to Hogwarts for the remainder of the school year. You will learn more, tonight, at the evening meal; and again in tomorrow morning's Daily Prophet. I recommend to you that you read it. Will that be all?"
Knowing he'd just got slapped down, though exceedingly politely, and knowing he'd get slapped down even harder if he pushed, Malfoy just sneered back, spun about and walked away. That message of family business meant he couldn't request/demand more information, no matter how he worded it.
Daphne, with her head bowed a little, looked askance to Harry with a smirk and murmured, "Very nicely handled, Harry."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When the other girls found out Fleur needed to go into the Alley to buy a set of Hogwarts robes, they all begged to be allowed to go, too. Harry shrugged and said, "I'm not the one you need to ask. You'll need permission of your Heads of Houses. However, I'm not going.
"With the threat of Dumbledore out there, plus the girls should have some quality girl-time together to get comfortable with one another, I've already begged off. Hermione and Daphne will accompany Fleur to do her shopping. And both girls have access to plenty of funds to pay for it all."
Susan, Hannah and Tracey all looked to one another before turning puppy-dog eyes on Neville.
"If you can get permission to go," he said. "And Harry's ladies don't mind the company, you have my permission to join them"
That had the other three excited.
However, such would not come to pass. All three were refused by their Heads of Houses. Only Daphne and Hermione were allowed to accompany Fleur.
They left about an hour later, again via Marchbanks's floo.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When the girls returned to the apartment about fifteen minutes before the lunch period, they were empty handed. However, they were all happy and chatting like old friends or close sisters.
Harry frowned in confusion and asked, "Where's all your shopping?"
Hermione grinned and said, "Harry; house elves, remember?"
Harry immediately winced and groaned. "Oh, gods! I just had another daft moron moment, didn't I?"
She giggled at him, walked over and kissed him on the cheek. "You're allowed to have them, every now and again. You'd not be human, otherwise."
As she headed for her room, he called, "So what did you three end up buying, besides school robes for Fleur?"
Hermione grinned again and called, "Lay-dies! Fashion parade for Harry after lunch!" And, giggling, ran into her room.
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