"Harry! Delphi!" Bella brought the two into a crushing hug "Oh I missed you!"
"Really?" Harry drawled as he felt what he was sure was his ribs being crushed
"Oh look at you two!" Bellatrix cooed as she let go and looked between them "oh Delphi, your hair is brilliant, and you've become so cute!"
"Thank you mother" Delphi let out a small smile, as she was currently between embarrassed at the attention and happy her mother loved her so much
"And you Harry" Bellatrix looked him over "you're looking so handsome!"
"Are you drunk?" Harry blinked
"No, you've really gotten quite handsome" She replied
"Are you referring to just the one half of my face?" Harry pointed to the side of his face without the burn mark, it was the least damaged part of his face after all
"No, you're become really handsome" Bellatrix insisted "you have a nice 'hurt but strong' look on you"
"Okay, how lovely, we'll continue this conversation never, now what happened with Dumbledore? And how did you get all these parents to agree to marching down Hogwarts?"
"Oh I didn't" Bellatrix grinned "I just came here myself and met them outside, apparently we all had the same idea."
"And how did it go?" Delphi asked
"Brilliant. We all each spent a few minutes trying to break the headmaster's ear drums with our voices. Then after the old goat apologised for a few minutes and most of them pretty much told him that if a thing like this happened again then it would be the last time it happened."
"No hexing? No cursing? No spell fire?" Harry asked, a little disappointed
"No" Bellatrix sighed, also disappointed "it was close a few times...I got hopeful once or twice...but no"
"That's a shame, anyway I..."
"Lestrange" A voice called, the three turned to see an old woman wearing a green dress, holding a red handbag and had a weird hat with a vulture on top of it. Neville was standing next to her and both seemed to be glaring at Bellatrix "what exactly are you doing with Mr Potter?"
"Dowager Longbottom" Bellatrix said, doing her best to keep her voice normal "Mr Potter is a friend of my daughters"
"You're her daughter?!" Neville turned to Delphi with shock, as far as the rest of the school was concerned, Delphi was Delphi Riddle, the happy and cheery Ravenclaw, not a single student beyond those she told had learnt her mother's identity.
"Yeah" Delphi crossed her arms and nodded, not the least bit embarrassed or ashamed
"That's not a problem, is it Longbottom?" Harry took a step forward and everything from his voice to his face and body language was a warning and Neville had barely realised when he took a step back
"Ah, Mr Potter" Lady Longbottom, Neville's grandmother, looked towards him "oh, you poor soul" she tutted and her hand reached out and gently cupped the burnt part of his face "poor child" she added, quite sadly.
"Get...your hand...off of my face" Harry's voice was slow and dangerous, he as rather pissed off that this woman was touching him without permission and was treating him like a bloody puppy
"Poor child" She said once more before removing her hand "my dear, you may not know this but Neville's parents were great friends with your parents. Perhaps you and he can be friends someday"
"Okay, I'll think about it" Harry shrugged, hoping it would satisfy the old lady
"We'll have to work on your manners dear, you'll also have to learn proper etiquette " Lady Longbottom smiled "don't worry, we have plenty of time for that, I will be glad to teach you"
"Why would you teach me?" Harry was rather confused at this point
"Because I am going to become your new guardian soon" Lady Longbottom's smile grew bigger, as if she expected him to jump with joy
"What?" Was the one worded response from him
"Oh, didn't you know" She let out a small laugh "Dumbledore has informed us that he had just sent off some letter's today and soon there will be a court session to decide your guardianship. Naturally I am the best option for you so it's likely that you'll come and live with me and Neville, I'm sure it'll be wonderful. Unlike others..." Lady Longbottom glanced at Bellatrix before turning her attention back on Harry "I am good parental material"
"I don't want a guardian" Harry said, his hold on his temper slowly crumbling away
"Oh my" She let out another small laugh "my dear you are young, you don't know what's best for yourself"
"And you do? A woman I've never met before" Harry replied, fighting back the snarl that was trying to force it's way up
"You see, if you were raised by me then you'd be far more respectable" Lady Longbottom glared at Bellatrix "but I understand why, you're parental figures aren't exactly the better members of society."
"If you'll excuse us" Bellatrix put a hand on Harry's shoulder before he either verbally smacked her down beyond recovery or burnt that vulture hat "Harry, do you mind walking with me?" Lady Longbottom looked at Bellatrix with disgust and she clearly did not like Bellatrix putting her hand on Harry's shoulder
"I'm sure that young Harry would prefer to escort me around Hogwarts" Lady Longbottom said, she then turned to Harry "it would give us a good opportunity to get to know each other"
"I'd rather..."
"Plus" Lady Longbottom cut off Harry "it would help with you and Neville to get to know each other"
"Well I..." As Harry spoke Shadow appeared and landed on his shoulder, Shadow rubbed his head against Harry's, hoping to calm him down, preferably before he commits murder
"And what is that?" Lady Longbottom eyed Shadow with barely concealed dislike
"That's Harry's familiar, his name is Shadow" Delphi said
"Quiet girl!" Lady Longbottom barked "I did not ask you"
"Do not talk to my daughter like that" Bellatrix warned, tempted to just stop acting nice and hex the woman in front of her
"Like mother like daughter" Lady Longbottom scoffed before turning to Harry "the sooner you are away from these two the better, as for that bird of yours...well I'm sure we can get you a better one"
"I beg your pardon?" Harry's head tilted sideways slightly, his voice calm and slow, not betraying the emotions that he was feeling
"A raven is hardly an ideal familiar, perhaps we can find you an owl, they are much better. Ah well, it's a problem we can fix later."
"Uh...Harry" Delphi said as Harry looked like he was trying to decide how to murder Lady Longbottom "we should go now, I mean it's time to show mum around and we have homework to do"
"Right" Harry nodded, rather stiffly "let's go"
"Um...Harry" Delphi said, hoping to defuse the situation before Harry started throwing fireballs "we still need to do our homework and take mum on a walk...so maybe we should hurry up"
"Probably best" Harry nodded stiffly, he looked like it pained him not to do anything to woman in front of him "let's go Del, Bellatrix. Busy day ahead" Harry turned and walked with Bella and Delphi following him, once they were a sufficient distance away Harry turned to Bellatrix "alright, I have a few questions. First of all, what in the name of sanity was on her head?"
"She's always worn that" Bella shrugged in a 'don't ask me' way
"Fine, second of all what's her problem?"
"Remember, the Lestranges tortured her son and daughter-in-law into vegetables" Bellatrix let out a heavy sigh "they had brought me with them, I didn't do anything to either of them. I just searched the house. I tried to explain to them a hundred times that I didn't want to do anything, that Alice was even one of my friends at school"
"Alice? That's Neville's mother?" Delphi asked
"Yeah, she was always so nice" Bellatrix had a small smile on her face, though it disappeared a second later "anyway, I tried explaining that I was forced because I was under potions, spells plus that magical contract but they don't believe me."
"I'm sorry" Harry said sincerely "but what about the guardian bullshit she was on about?"
"Dumbledore did mention that" Bellatrix nodded "from what I understand, he's found some nice 'light' families that are willing to take you in"
"I guess that you're still not allowed" Delphi said knowingly
"Yep" Bellatrix replied, popping the 'p' "as if they'd let the former death eater look after the boy-who-lived, never mind that she was forced to become one against her will" Bellatrix added that part a bit bitterly
"You're still the closest thing I have to a mother...and I'm glad for that" Harry smiled at her, showing a rare bit of emotion
"Thank you Harry" Bellatrix gave him a genuine smile and kissed his forehead
"So?" Abella, a brunette girl in Fleur's class and Fleur's best friend, asked Fleur as Fleur sat in her seat at dinner "who is he?"
"Who?" Fleur blinked
"The boy you're interested in" Abella grinned and ten nearby boys suddenly stopped eating and looked at Fleur with hopeful eyes
"I'm not entirely sure what you're suggesting" Fleur said as she tried her best to hide any emotion she felt
"I'm entirely sure that you're entirely sure about what I'm suggesting" Abella responded "you and him have been going back and forth with letters, on Valentine's day I saw you send one to him and I heard you crying with joy later, which I assume happened because he had sent you one."
"I did not cry"
"Okay, squeal, scream, whichever you prefer"
"I did not do those either" Fleur sniffed
"Sure you didn't, so who is it?"
"Abella" Fleur sighed while others looked on for various reasons, the girls because they were hoping that Fleur having a boyfriend will make their love lives easier and some of the boys because of jealousy
"You know I'll get it out of you eventually" Abella smirked "So who is he? Is he in our year?"
"No, he is not" Fleur sighed again
"Is he older?"
"No"
"Younger"
"..."
"Fleur"
"Fine, he's younger"
"How much younger?"
"Three years, and can't you just leave it?"
"No, now what's his hair colour? Blonde?"
"Black hair"
"Eye colour?"
"Green"
"Green?" Abella blinked "that's unusual, is it attractive?"
"I get lost in them" Fleur's eyes widened as the words popped out her mouth before she could stop herself
"Whoa, you have it bad" Abella said, and Fleur bit her tongue, such shame that she couldn't share the truth about Veela mates to anyone besides veelas and her mate "what's he like?"
"Well...he's smart, very smart" Fleur said, pride growing as she began complimenting her mate "he even taught me some English. His hair is also so messy, I just want to run my hands through it. From what I've heard, he is magically talented. He's a bit quiet too"
"Is he good looking?" Abella asked, feasting on Fleur's words like a vampire wood on blood
"Not in a traditional way" Fleur answered "his hair and everything about him brings the attention to his eyes, and his eyes are just so powerful and beautiful." Fleur smiled, not noticing that one boy nearby had made a note that said 'get better eyes'
"Oh look, the newspaper arrived" Abella said as the newspaper was dropped in front of her by an owl, she picked it up and read the headline "oh look, apparently Harry Potter is in the paper"
"What?" Fleur's head snapped towards Abella
"You know, the boy-who-lived" Abella rolled her eyes, she then read the headlines and her eyes widened "whoa! His had a busy week."
"What happened?" Fleur asked with a little bit of worry
"Well, do you know Lockhart?"
"That buffoon that had wrote those stories" Fleur answered, restraining herself from just snatching the damn paper
"Yeah, well apparently he tried to rape Harry Potter"
"What?!" Fleur burst out, shocking her friend and everyone nearby "He was raped?!" Her voice was brimming with anger
"No!" Abella squeaked, suddenly felt herself suffering from a large dose of fear "He just tried to"
"And?!" Fleur's glare shifted between Abella and the paper itself, like the situation was somehow their faults
"Well..." Abella quickly skimmed through it quickly, having an angry veela next to you was very helpful when it came to speed reading
"Abella" Fleur's voice was warning
"Just a sec...oh here, apparently Harry Potter had escaped...and defeated Lockhart in a duel and...oh, he hurt him really bad. The man had been sent to hospital"
"Good" Fleur sniffed. Though internally she was bouncing with joy, her mate was unharmed. Not only that, but her mate was able to defeat an older man in a duel. She filed up with pride, her mate was such a strong wizard. "Anything else?"
"Um...well there is the fact that Harry Potter is uninjured..."
"Good" Fleur commented, definitely pleased with than information
"Um...Lockhart will be sent straight to trial after they get him out of hospital"
"Good" Personally Fleur thought that the man should be hung, drawn and quartered for daring to try and harm her mate "what exactly did 'arry do to him?" Fleur still referred to Harry as 'Arry, she knew that Harry was rather fond or at least amused at the way she pronounced his name
"Um just give me a sec" Abella scanned the newspaper "okay, that's...whoa."
"What is it?"
"Well...the boy was quite vicious"
"What does that mean?"
"Well, he had burnt Lockhart's feet, broke one of the bones in his leg, broke several bones in the man's face, including his nose, and he had..." Abella trailed off and her eyes widened
"What?" Fleur asked impatiently, a few other nearby were also listening in and wondering what exactly Harry Potter had done
"Um...apparently Harry Potter had broken the man's...balls"
"What?" Fleur blinked
"Apparently he had broken the man's balls" Abella repeated and the girls nearby widened their eyes with shock while the boys winced and crossed their legs "even more impressive when you consider the fact that he is only twelve"
"Good" Fleur smiled, though internally she was laughing to high heaven. Her mate was dangerous. 'I shouldn't like that' Fleur thought 'kind of do though'. "May I have that newspaper?"
"Yeah...I'll just take Adrien's" Abella handed Fleur the newspaper before taking a newspaper from a nearby boy
"Hey!" The boy complained
"Thank you" Fleur said, she was about to stand up when the sound of wings was heard and Shadow landed on the table with a letter in his hand "Ah, Shadow" She smiled, very approving of Harry's choice in familiar, such a lovely bird. "How are you?" Fleur stroked him, Shadow puffed up at the attention from the pretty witch before he extended his leg, showing Fleur the letter that was attached to him "ah, thank you" She took the letter then she handed Shadow some food
"A raven?" Abella asked "that's...unique"
"The owner is unique" Fleur shrugged
"Hold on!" A nearby boy said "why does that letter say 'Potter' on it?"
"Potter?!" Abella blinked as she looked at the letter "That's the boy you're interested in?!" She blurted out with shock evident in her voice
"Is that a problem?" Fleur narrowed her eyes
"No!" Abella quickly backpedalled "Just surprising"
"Potter" Another boy scoffed as he looked at picture of Harry Potter on the newspaper "why on earth would you be interested in him? I bet he's probably just a spoilt and rich brat, also look at his face, he's hideous"
"Are you really one to talk about looks when you have a face that could disgust a pig?!" Fleur's words combined with a glare that could melt ice had caused the boy to shrink into his seat and look anywhere but at her "That's what I thought, you filthy stain" Fleur stood up and walked off, Shadow flied off after her and landed on her shoulder
"Potter!" A different boy hissed "We can't do anything about Potter" Nearly all the boys in school had been after Fleur's attention, whenever one got farther then the others would stop him, it was a constant competition and no boy was going to let any other get ahead "he's in another country, plus he's British!"
"Do you really want to?" Abella asked
"What do you mean?" One boy asked curiously
"Well if you interfere then Fleur is likely to kill you, as for Mr Potter, he sent a grown man to hospital after breaking his balls despite the fact that he's only twelve" The boys winced once again "just saying chose your enemies and fights wisely" Abella stood up and walked off