HARRY POTTER And the Veela girls

Healer

Chapter 24

The beginning

Hello everyone, I'm ALIVE! It's a miracle, I know, though the miracle here is that you guys are still here bearing with me, you are awesome, so thanks! I apologize for the delay in updating. Please allow me to offer you an explanation for my long absence, for this I blame my boss, he has me doing on my own what is supposed to be done by at least 5 people, I barely have days off and I'm starting to miss my life as a slave, errr, I mean, as a G.O.

Anyway, tomorrow, the 23rd is my birthday and since in Mexico, where I am from, it is illegal to work without double pay today, holy Friday, I decided to use my day off not to plan my party tomorrow, but to update. Hope you like it though…

OH, I would like to dedicate this chapter to my "velociraptor" reader. This one is for you Sqwiz.

Now, the standard disclaimers from previous chapters, still apply. This mean: * this is a femlash story, don't like, don't read. *Don't own Harry Potter or it's characters. I only own the idea of Hermione being a veela. *I also not own the veela bonding/courtship ritual, that was an idea from D. Geheimnis and Dreiser; I came upon their fics "Accune Defense pour toi" and "No Defense for you", I strongly recomend you read those fics. Fleur's line """patience in all things, patience in one thing""" in "Accune Defense pour toi" was what triggered this plot in my head.

So... on with the story

Chapter 24

The beginning

It was several minutes before Dumbledore spoke again.

"I must go downstairs," he said finally. "I must see to other matters. Harry - take the rest of your potion. I will see all of you later."

Harry slumped back against his pillows as Dumbledore disappeared. Hermione, Ron, and Mrs. Weasley were all looking at him. None of them spoke for a very long time.

"You've got to take the rest of your potion Harry," Mrs. Weasley said at last. Her hand nudged the sack of gold on his bedside cabinet as she reached for the bottle and the goblet. "You have a good long sleep. Try and think about something else for a while… think about what you're going to buy with your winnings!"

"I don't want that gold," said Harry in an expressionless voice. "You have it." He said looking to Hermione who was still snuggled next to Fleur who was sleeping. "I shouldn't have won it. It should've been Flur's."

The thing against which he had been fighting on and off ever since he had come out of the maze was threatening to overpower him. He could feel a burning, prickling feeling in the inner corners of his eyes. He blinked and stared up at the ceiling.

"It wasn't your fault. Harry," Hermione whispered.

"I told her to take the cup with me," said Harry.

Now the burning feeling was in his throat too. He wished Ron would look away. Mrs. Weasley set the potion down on the bedside cabinet, bent down, and put her arms around Harry. The full weight of everything he had seen that night seemed to fall in upon him as Mrs. Weasley held him to her.

"She doesn't blame you Harry. And Neither do I" Said Hermione "You didn't know and you did the best you could under the circumstances"

Then, for a few minutes Harry cried into Mrs. Weasley's arms. There was a loud slamming noise, and Mrs. Weasley and Harry broke apart. Hermione was standing by the window. She was holding something tight in her hand.

"Sorry," she whispered.

"Your potion, Harry," said Mrs. Weasley quickly, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand.

Harry drank it in one gulp. The effect was instantaneous. Heavy, irresistible waves of dreamless sleep broke over him; he fell back onto his pillows and thought no more.

In the following days, Hermione's parents were allowed to stay at Hogwarts until the end of term. They knew that things would change now, for good and for worse for their daughter. She was in a middle of a war, which she had no choice but to be part of. They trusted however that Professor Snape would aid her in every possible way and they knew for sure that Fleur would protect Hermione with her life.

When she looked back, Fleur found she had only scattered memories of everything that happened since arriving to the graveyard, to the moment she was dismissed from the Hospital Wing. It was as though she had been through too much to take in any more. The recollections she did have were very painful. The worst, perhaps, was the meeting with Harry when they both were awake and left alone at the hospital wing.

She did not blame him for what had happened; on the contrary, she thanked him for returning her to Hermione. Harry sobbed through most of the morning.

When they got to their feet, she looked down at Harry and said, "You look after yourzelf, now 'Arry. And keep looking after Mon Ange while zhe stays at 'Ogwarts"

Harry seized the sack of gold on the bedside table.

"You take this," he muttered to her. "It should've been yours, you got there first, you take it -" But she backed away from him.

"Oh no, it eez yours, I couldn't… you keep it. Besides, I already 'ave my zhare"

Fleur returned to her quarters the following evening. From what Hermione told her, Dumbledore had spoken to the school that morning at breakfast. He had merely requested that they leave Harry and Fleur alone, that nobody ask them questions or badger them to tell the story of what had happened in the maze. Most people, she noticed, were skirting in the corridors, avoiding her. Some whispered behind their hands as she passed. She found she didn't care very much. She liked it best when she was with Hermione and they were talking about other things, like planning their life now that Fleur was not going to be a student anymore. Fleur informed Hermione that she was going to accept the position offered to her by the goblins at Gringotts in order to be close to her. Hermione's parents had offered her a place to stay at their home while Hermione was at Hogwarts and only until she found a place of her own.

Hermione was surprised by that, her parents had not mentioned any of that before leaving Hogwarts. Not that she would complain. She could spend the whole summer with her Chosen and then she would come to visit her every Hogsmeade weekend once the school year started.

Hermione had also convinced Professor Dumbledore, to perform their wedding at Hogwarts at the end of term fest. Apoline was helping with the arrangements and the French Minister was going to be there for the Ceremony.

Hermione's parents accepted to assist to the ceremony, on the condition that they were her to have a proper 'non magical' ceremony at home.

Fleur was spending more and more time with Harry, bonding in silence over what had happened to them. The only time they touched upon the subject was when Ron told them about a meeting Mrs. Weasley had had with Dumbledore before going home.

"She went to ask him if you could come straight to us this summer," he said to Harry. "But he wants you to go back to the Dursleys, at least at first."

"Why?" said Harry.

"She said Dumbledore's got his reasons," said Ron, shaking his head darkly. "I suppose we've got to trust him, haven't we?"

They used the one on Thursday afternoon to go down and visit Hagrid in his cabin. It was a bright and sunny day; Fang bounded out of the open door as they approached, barking and wagging his tail madly.

"Who's that?" called Hagrid, coming to the door. "Harry!"

He strode out to meet them, pulled Harry into a one-armed hug, ruffled his hair, and said, "Good ter see yeh, mate. Good ter see yeh."

They saw two bucket-size cups and saucers on the wooden table in front of the fireplace when they entered Hagrid's cabin.

"Bin havin' a cuppa with Olympe," Hagrid said. "She's jus' left."

"Who?" said Ron curiously.

"Madame Maxime" said Fleur.

"You two made up, have you?" said Ron.

"Dunno what yeh're talkin' about," said Hagrid airily, fetching more cups from the dresser. When he had made tea and offered around a plate of doughy cookies, he leaned back in his chair and surveyed Harry and Fleur closely through his beetle-black eyes.

"You all righ'?" he said gruffly

"Yeah," said Harry. Fleur only nodded her head while taking Hermione's hand in hers.

"No, yeh're not," said Hagrid. "Course yeh're not. But yeh will be."

Hagrid raised his bushy eyebrows at the disbelieving expressions on their faces.

"No good sittin' worryin' abou' it," he said. "What's comin' will come, an we'll meet it when it does. Dumbledore told me wha' you did. Harry."

Hagrid's chest swelled as he looked at Harry.

"Yeh did as much as yer father would've done, an' I can' give yeh no higher praise than that."

"Yes, Harry did great." Said Hermione

Harry smiled back at them. It was the first time he'd smiled in days. "What's Dumbledore asked you to do, Hagrid?" he asked. "He sent Professor McGonagall to ask you and Madame Maxime to meet him - that night."

"Got a little job fer me over the summer," said Hagrid. "Secret, though. I'm not s'pposed ter talk abou' it, no, not even ter you lot. Olympe - Madame Maxime ter you - might be comin' with me. I think she will. Think I got her persuaded."

"Is it to do with Voldemort?"

Hagrid flinched at the sound of the name.

"Migh' be," he said evasively. "Now… who'd like ter come an' visit the las' skrewt with me? I was jokin' - jokin'!" he added hastily, seeing the looks on their faces.

It was with a heavy heart that Hermione packed her trunk up in the dormitory on the night before returning home, tonight was the night she had been preparing for a month and she was getting quite nervous. She was dreading the Leaving Feast, which was usually a cause for celebration, when the winner of the Inter-House Championship would be announced.

She was dressed on her Hogwarts uniform, and Fleur was dressed on her Beuxbatons Academy uniform when they entered the Hall. At his moment, they saw at once that the usual decorations were missing. The Great Hall was normally decorated with the winning House's colors for the Leaving Feast. Tonight, however, there were white drapes on the wall behind the teachers' table. Fleur was stunned, she read "Hogwarts, a History" and knew that this was no normal decoration. She looked down to Hermione who had tightened the grip on her hand. Hermione only smiled at her and motioned with her head to the staff table, where she realized was standing the French minister of magic on the left side of Professor Dumbledore.

The real Mad-Eye Moody was at the staff table now, his wooden leg and his magical eye back in place. He was extremely twitchy, jumping every time someone spoke to him. Professor Karkaroff s chair was empty.

Madame Maxime was still there. She was sitting next to Hagrid. They were talking quietly together. Further along the table, sitting next to Professor McGonagall, was Snape. His eyes lingered on Fleur for a moment as she looked at him. His expression was difficult to read. He looked as sour and unpleasant as ever. Fleur continued to watch him, long after Snape had looked away.

Hermione noticed this and started to wonder what was it that Snape had done on Dumbledores orders, the night that Voldemort had returned? Was he to become a spy again? Was that the job he had taken up again? Had he made contact with the Death Eaters, perhaps? Pretended that he had never really gone over to Dumbledore, that he had been, like Voldemort himself, biding his time?

Hermione lead Fleur to sit on the Gryffindor table, forcing her musing to an end, when Professor Dumbledore stood up at the staff table. The Great Hall, which in any case had been less noisy than it usually was at the Leaving Feast, became very quiet.

"The end," said Dumbledore, looking around at them all, "of another year." He paused, and his eyes fell upon Fleur and Hermione.

"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but I must first acknowledge life, of every one sitting here," he gestured toward the great Hall in general, "enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to the joy of being alive."

They did it, all of them; the benches scraped as everyone in the Hall stood, and raised their goblets, and echoed, in one loud, low, rumbling voice, "To the joy of being alive."

Harry caught a glimpse of Hermione. There were tears pouring silently down her face. He looked down at the table as they all sat down again.

"Life, is something that one never must take as granted," Dumbledore continued. "Several lives, were almost lost this year. This has affected you all, whether you knew it or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about."

Harry raised his head and stared at Dumbledore.

"Fleur Delacour was tortured by Lord Voldemort."

A panicked whisper swept the Great Hall, and everybody's attention turned to the Gryffindor table. Some people were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief, in horror. He looked perfectly calm as he watched them mutter themselves into silence.

"The British Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore continued, "does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so - either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that this did not happened, is an insult to Miss Delacour."

Stunned and frightened, every face in the Hall was turned toward Dumbledore now… or almost every face. Over at the Slytherin table Hermione saw Draco Malfoy muttering something to Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione felt a hot, sick swoop of anger in her stomach, so she forced herself to look back at Dumbledore.

"There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Miss Delacour's situation," Dumbledore went on. "I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter."

A kind of ripple crossed the Great Hall as a few heads turned in Harry's direction before flicking back to face Dumbledore.

"Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort," said Dumbledore. "He risked his own life to return Fleur's unconscious body to Hogwarts. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honor him."

Dumbledore turned gravely to Harry and raised his goblet once more. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall followed suit, Fleur and Hermione being the first ones. They murmured his name, and drank to him. But through a gap in the standing figures.

Harry saw that Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and many of the other Slytherins had remained defiantly in their seats, their goblets untouched. Dumbledore, who after all possessed no magical eye, did not see them.

When everyone had once again resumed their seats, Dumbledore continued, "The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened - of Lord Voldemorts return - such ties are more important than ever before."

Dumbledore looked from Madame Maxime and Hagrid, to Fleur Delacour and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at the Slytherin table. Krum, Hermione saw, looked wary, almost frightened, as though he expected Dumbledore to say something harsh.

"Every guest in this Hall," said Dumbledore, and his eyes lingered upon the Durmstrang students, "will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again - in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemorts gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.

"It is my belief - and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder.

"Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened, because if we forget, then he has already won.

"On the lights of what has happened, it was brought to my attention a request to let a Hogwarts student to share a moment of joy and happiness with all of us. Tonight Miss Granger is, if she is accepted, getting married." He said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Fleur looked at Hermione, stunned by Professor Dumbledore's words.

"So, will you have me?" asked Hermione

Fleur was speechless so she did what her heart requested her to do. She leaned and kissed her Chosen.

"I'll take that as a yes" said Hermione through their link

"Oui" said Fleur when they parted.

They were approached by the French Minister of Magic. Who requested them to stand facing each other, if they were ready. Once standing, Fleur looked around the Great Hall and noticed a few surprised faces, others were sad, others, mainly Griffyndors, were smiling, and a few others, the Slytherins, were snickering. She however, didn't care, since she set her eyes on her Chosen again, and saw her beaming.

"We are gazered 'ere today in order to celebrate ze union between Fleur Delacour and 'Ermione Granger" started the Minister. "Madmoiselle Delacour are you 'ere on your own accord, not pressed by any external influence, ozer zan your love for zis person?"

"Oui" said Fleur

"Madmoiselle Granger," continued the Minister "are you 'ere on your own accord, not pressed by any external influence, ozer zan your love for zis person?"

"Yes" replied Hermione, beaming at Fleur

"Who is 'ere today to present Fleur Delacour?"

"We are" Said Nikos. "Nikos and Apoline Delacour, as 'er parents"

"I am too" said Fleur's little sister. "Gabrielle Delacour, as 'er sister"

"Olympe Maxime" started Madame Maxime. "As 'er 'Eadmistress and mentor"

The Minister nodded and a swirl of magic gathered around Fleur, accepting the truth in the words just spoken.

"Who is 'ere today to present 'Ermione Granger?" asked the Minister then.

"We are" said Eric Granger "Eric and Jane Granger, as her parents and legal guardians"

"I am" Said Harry standing up "Harry James Potter, as her best friend" he said smiling to them.

"We are" said one of the twins "Fred,

"and George"

"Weasley" said the both of them at the same time. "as her loyal friends and confidents" they said.

"I am too" said Professor McGonogall "Minerva McGonagall, as her head of House"

"I would have to say, that I am too" said Professor Dumbledore "As her Headmaster, and representative of her biological family" He said.

Hermione looked up to the staff table, and saw Professor Snape nodding slightly.

The French Minister nodded, amazed by the a swirl of magic gathered around Hermione, he had never seen so many people presenting a witch or wizard to their wedding, and never all them being as strong and honest as this ones.

"Now it eez up to you" He said gesturing the veelas

Hermione nodded and decided to speak first "I was told, that loving someone is giving them the ability to break your heart, but trusting they won't. Will you keep my heart?" She asked Fleur while giving her a golden ring.

"I'll do" said Fleur looking her Chosen in the eye, while letting her put on the ring on her ring finger.

After a minute, Fleur composed herself and looked for the right words to say. "My family says zat when you are afraid of somezing, you want to make it go away. 'Owever, zey 'ave it wrong, I was afraid of you, of what you make me feel. I decided to overcome zat fear and approach you. I am glad I did. I can not give you my 'eart Mon Ange, since you already 'ave it. 'Owever, I would like you to 'ave also my soul and body." She said smiling sheepishly to her Chosen. "Will you 'ave me?"

Hermione had tears on her eyes, and she nodded vigorously "I'll have you as long as want me in your life" she managed to say while Fleur put her on the ring that Nikos had approached to give her.

"Now, you are spouses" said the French Minister. "And it eez your duty to look after each ozer"

Harry started to clap to the newlyweds and soon he was followed by the entire Great Hall.

"I told you we would marry before leaving Hogwarts" said Hermione to Fleur, who could not wipe the grin off her face.

After the feast was over, Hermione's parents were taken by Professor McGonagall back to London, while the Delacours and the French Minister, were leaded to a floo network in order to head back to France.

Hermione's trunk was packed; Crookshanks was now in his cage on top of it. She, Ron, and Harry were waiting in the crowded entrance hall with the rest of the fourth years for the carriages that would take them back to Hogsmeade station. It was another beautiful summer's day.

"'Ermione!"

She looked around. Fleur Delacour was hurrying up the stone steps into the castle. Beyond her, far across the grounds Hermione could see Hagrid helping Madame Maxime to back two of the giant horses into their harness. The Beauxbatons carriage was about to take off.

"I will see you in a few days again," said Fleur as she reached her, "I 'ave to take care of certain matterz in France before being able to 'ead 'ome to you."

"It's okay, just be careful," said Hermione smiling to her.

"Good-bye, 'Arry, and zank you" said Fleur, turning to go. "It 'az been a pleasure meeting you!"

Harrys spirits couldn't help but lift slightly as he watched Fleur hurry back across the lawns to Madame Maxime, her silvery hair rippling in the sunlight.

"Wonder how the Durmstrang students are getting back," said Ron. "D' you reckon they can steer that ship without Karkaroff?"

"Karkaroff did not steer," said a gruff voice. "He stayed in his cabin and let us do the vork."

Krum had come to say good-bye too. "Could I have a vord?" he asked Hermione.

"Oh… yes… all right," said Hermione, looking slightly flustered, and following Krum through the crowd and out of sight.

"You'd better hurry up!" Ron called loudly after her. "The carriages'll be here in a minute!"

Fleur noticed this while climbing into the carriage, but even when knew that she could trust her Chosen, she still did not like the Bulgarian seeker oogling over her spouse. In the distance, she saw Krum nod and lean in to give a brief hug to Hermione, who smiled up to him. Then they headed back to Harry and Ron, that's when she finally entered the carriage.

Krum and Hermione returned quite soon, Harry noted. Ron stared at Hermione, but her face was quite impassive.

"Have you got a new headmaster yet?" asked Harry

Krum shrugged. He held out his hand, shook Harry's hand, and then Ron's. Ron looked as though he was suffering some sort of painful internal struggle. Krum had already started walking away when Ron burst out, "Can I have your autograph?"

Hermione turned away, smiling at the horseless carriages that were now trundling toward them up the drive, as Krum, looking surprised but gratified, signed a fragment of parchment for Ron.

The weather could not have been more different on the journey back to King's Cross than it had been on their way to Hogwarts the previous September. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had managed to get a compartment to themselves. Pigwidgeon was once again hidden under Rons dress robes to stop him from hooting continually; Hedwig was dozing, her head under her wing, and Crookshanks was curled up in a spare seat like a large, furry ginger cushion. Harry, Ron, and Hermione talked more fully and freely than they had all week as the train sped them southward. Harry felt as though Dumbledore's speech at the Leaving Feast had unblocked him, somehow. It was less painful to discuss what had happened now. They broke off their conversation about what action Dumbledore might be taking, even now, to stop Voldemort only when the lunch trolley arrived.

When Hermione returned from the trolley and put her money back into her schoolbag, she dislodged a copy of the Daily Prophet that she had been carrying in there. Harry looked at it, unsure whether he really wanted to know what it might say, but Hermione, seeing him looking at it, said calmly, "There's nothing in there. You can look for yourself, but there's nothing at all. I've been checking every day. Just a small piece the day after the third task saying you won the tournament. They didn't even mention Fleur. Nothing about any of it. If you ask me Fudge is forcing them to keep quiet."

"He'll never keep Rita quiet," said Harry. "Not on a story like this."

"Oh, Rita hasn't written anything at all since the third task," said Hermione in an oddly constrained voice. "As a matter of fact," she added, her voice now trembling slightly, "Rita Skeeter isn't going to be writing anything at all for a while. Not unless she wants me to spill the beans on her."

"What are you talking about?" said Ron.

"I found out how she was listening in on private conversations when she wasn't supposed to be coming onto the grounds," said Hermione in a rush.

Harry had the impression that Hermione had been dying to tell them this for days, but that she had restrained herself in light of everything else that had happened.

"How was she doing it?" said Harry at once.

"How did you find out?" said Ron, staring at her.

"Well, it was you, really, who gave me the idea Harry," she said.

"Did I?" said Harry, perplexed. "How?"

"Bugging," said Hermione happily.

"But you said they didn't work …"

"Oh not electronic bugs," said Hermione. "No, you see… Rita Skeeter" Hermione's voice trembled with quiet triumph - "is an unregistered Animagus. She can turn…" Hermione pulled a small sealed glass jar out other bag. "into a beetle."

"You're kidding," said Ron. "You haven't… she's not…"

"Oh yes she is," said Hermione happily, brandishing the jar at them. Inside were a few twigs and leaves and one large, fat beetle.

"That's never… you're kidding -" Ron whispered, lifting the jar to his eyes.

"No, I'm not," said Hermione, beaming. "I caught her on the windowsill in the hospital wing. Look very closely, and you'll notice the markings around her antennae are exactly like those foul glasses she wears."

Harry looked and saw that she was quite right. He also remembered something.

"There was a beetle on the statue the night we heard Hagrid telling Madame Maxime about his mum!"

"Exactly," said Hermione. "And Viktor pulled a beetle out of my hair after we'd had our conversation by the lake. And unless I'm very much mistaken, Rita was perched on the windowsill of the Divination class the day your scar hurt. She's been buzzing around for stories all year."

"When we saw Malfoy under that tree…" said Ron slowly.

"He was talking to her, in his hand," said Hermione. "He knew, of course. That's how she's been getting all those nice little interviews with the Slytherins. They wouldn't care that she was doing something illegal, as long as they were giving her horrible stuff about us and Hagrid."

Hermione took the glass jar back from Ron and smiled at the beetle, which buzzed angrily against the glass.

"I've told her I'll let her out when we get back to London," said Hermione. "I've put an Unbreakable Charm on the jar, you see, so she can't transform. And I've told her she's to keep her quill to herself for a whole year. See if she can't break the habit of writing horrible lies about people."

Smiling serenely, Hermione placed the beetle back inside her schoolbag. The door of the compartment slid open.

"Very clever Granger," said Draco Malfoy.

Crabbe and Goyle were standing behind him. All three of them looked more pleased with themselves, more arrogant and more menacing, than Harry had ever seen them.

"It's Delacour now, Malfoy" said Hermione calmly

"So? You are still a mudblud" said Malfoy slowly, advancing slightly into the compartment and looking slowly around at them, a smirk quivering on his lips. "You caught some pathetic reporter, Potter's Dumbledore's favorite boy again, and you managed to trick a magical creature into marrying you. Big deal."

His smirk widened. Crabbe and Goyle leered.

"Trying not to think about it, are we?" said Malfoy softly, looking around at all three of them. "Trying to pretend it hasn't happened?"

"Get out," said Harry.

"You've picked the losing side, Potter! I warned you! I told you, you ought to choose your company more carefully, remember? When we met on the train, first day at Hogwarts? I told you not to hang around with riffraff like this!" He jerked his head at Ron and Hermione. "Too late now Potter! They'll be the first to go, now the Dark Lord's back! Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers first! Well… second, the veela will be the f…"

It was as though someone had exploded a box of fireworks within the compartment. Blinded by the blaze of the spells that had blasted from every direction, deafened by a series of bangs, Harry blinked and looked down at the floor.

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were all lying unconscious in the doorway. He, Ron, and Hermione were on their feet, all three of them having used a different hex. Nor were they the only ones to have done so.

"Thought we'd see what those three were up to," said Fred matter-of-factly, stepping onto Goyle and into the compartment. He had his wand out, and so did George, who was careful to tread on Malfoy as he followed Fred inside.

"Interesting effect," said George, looking down at Crabbe. "Who used the Furnunculus Curse?"

"Me," said Harry.

"Odd," said George lightly. "I used Jelly-Legs. Looks as though those two shouldn't be mixed. He seems to have sprouted little tentacles all over his face. Well, let's not leave them here, they don't add much to the decor."

Ron, Harry, and George kicked, rolled, and pushed the unconscious Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle - each of whom looked distinctly the worse for the jumble of jinxes with which they had been hit - out into the corridor, then came back into the compartment and rolled the door shut.

"Exploding Snap, anyone?" said Fred, pulling out a pack of cards.

They were halfway through their fifth game when Harry decided to ask them.

"You going to tell us, then?" he said to George. "Who you were blackmailing?"

"Oh," said George darkly. "That."

"It doesn't matter," said Fred, shaking his head impatiently. "It wasn't anything important. Not now, anyway."

"We've given up," said George, shrugging.

But Harry, Ron, and Hermione kept on asking, and finally, Fred said, "All right, all right, if you really want to know… it was Ludo Bagman."

"Bagman?" said Harry sharply. "Are you saying he was involved in -"

"Nah," said George gloomily. "Nothing like that. Stupid git. He wouldn't have the brains."

"Well, what, then?" said Ron.

Fred hesitated, then said, "You remember that bet we had with him at the Quidditch World Cup? About how Ireland would win, but Krum would get the Snitch?"

"Yeah," said Harry and Ron slowly.

"Well, the git paid us in leprechaun gold he'd caught from the Irish mascots."

"So?"

"So," said Fred impatiently, "it vanished, didn't it? By next morning, it had gone!"

"But… it must've been an accident, mustn't it?" said Hermione.

George laughed very bitterly.

"Yeah, that's what we thought, at first. We thought if we just wrote to him, and told him he'd made a mistake, he'd cough up. But nothing doing. Ignored our letter. We kept trying to talk to him about it at Hogwarts, but he was always making some excuse to get away from us."

"In the end, he turned pretty nasty," said Fred. "Told us we were too young to gamble, and he wasn't giving us anything."

"So we asked for our money back," said George glowering.

"He didn't refuse!" gasped Hermione.

"Right in one," said Fred.

"But that was all your savings!" said Ron.

"Tell me about it," said George. "'Course, we found out what was going on in the end. Lee Jordan's dad had had a bit of trouble getting money off Bagman as well. Turns out he's in big trouble with the goblins. Borrowed loads of gold off them. A gang of them cornered him in the woods after the World Cup and took all the gold he had, and it still wasn't enough to cover all his debts. They followed him all the way to Hogwarts to keep an eye on him. He's lost everything gambling. Hasn't got two Galleons to rub together. And you know how the idiot tried to pay the goblins back?"

"How?" said Harry.

"He put a bet on you, mate," said Fred. "Put a big bet on you to win the tournament. Bet against the goblins."

"So that's why he kept trying to help me win!" said Harry. "Well… I did win, didn't I? So he can pay you your gold!"

"Nope," said George, shaking his head. "The goblins play as dirty as him. They say you drew with Fleur, and Bagman was betting you'd win outright. So Bagman had to run for it. He did run for it right after the third task."

George sighed deeply and started dealing out the cards again.

The rest of the journey passed pleasantly enough; the usual confusion and noise filled the corridors as the students began to disembark. Ron and Harry struggled out past Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, carrying their trunks. Hermione, however, stayed put.

"Fred… George… wait a moment."

The twins turned. Hermione pulled open his trunk and drew out Felur's Triwizard winnings.

"Take it," she said, thrusting the sack into George's hands.

"What?" said Fred, looking flabbergasted.

"Take it," Hermione repeated firmly. "Fleur and I spoke about it. We do not want it."

"You're mental," said George, trying to push it back at Hermione.

"No, I'm not," said Hermione. "You take it, and get inventing. It's for your future. You are as intelligent as everybody says I am, you just don't' thrive to stand out, but to help people laugh. Fleur and I discussed this, and we agreed that with what is to come, more people will be in need of a good laugh. It's for the joke shop."

"Both of you are mental," Fred said in an almost awed voice.

"Listen," said Hermione firmly. "If you don't take it, I'm throwing it down the drain. We don't want it and we don't need it. But we could do with a few laughs. We could all do with a few laughs. I've got a feeling we're going to need them more than usual before long. Besides, you've been amazing friends. Is the least we could do"

"Hermione," said George weakly, weighing the money bag in his hands, "there's got to be a thousand Galleons in here."

"Yeah," said Hermione, grinning. "Think how many Canary Creams that is." The twins stared at her.

"Who are you and what you've done to Hermione?" asked George

"Yeah, it is impossible that she has turned into the dark side" said Fred

"Ok, then look at it as an investment on Fleur's part…we are investing in you"

"Mione," Fred began, but Harry pulled out his wand.

"Look," she said flatly, "take it, or I'll hex you. I know some good ones now."

She left the compartment before they could say another word, stepping over Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were still lying on the floor, covered in hex marks.

Her parents were waiting beyond the barrier. Mrs. Weasley was close by them. She hugged Harry very tightly when she saw him and whispered in his ear.

"See you. Harry," said Ron, clapping him on the back.

"'Bye, Harry!" said Hermione, and she did something she had never done before, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Mione… thanks," George muttered, while Fred nodded fervently at his side.

Hermione winked at them, turned to her parents, and followed them from the station. Talking about all the plans she had for the summer once Her Chosen arrived home. Her mother going on how beautiful the ceremony had been, but that still wanted a non magical one before she even considered moving out.

Not once the subject of the war was touched. Hermione was glad by that, agreeing with what Hagrid had said, what would come, would come… and they would have to meet it when it did.

A/N: So, I did not know this morning when I started, that this would be the end of this fic. I am a little unsure if I like it or not. However, well, I know now there has to be a sequel, the bad news is I do not know when I will post it, or even start it.

In the meantime, thank you all for your amazing reviews and the support, all of them were nourishing my imagination.

Thanks for embarking in the story with me.

HEALER