Disclaimer – J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter

A/N – This was written for thematichp on LiveJournal. This is AU, in that I have Fenrir killed Bill at the end of HBP. This was written and posted on my LJ before Deathly Hallows was released. Thanks to my beta, Thoth for her help.

Prompt - Veela have much stronger powers of persuasion than anyone ever knew, and Fleur Delacour is more than happy to take advantage of that fact.

As she began to descend from the rainy street towards the Ministry of Magic, Fleur looked at her reflection in the glass of the telephone booth; sighing softly as a pair of tired eyes looked back at her. They will pay dearly for this.

That thing paid for taking my William from me.

These fools will learn that was nothing compared to this insult.

When Fenrir Greyback had killed her fiancé, Bill Weasley, during the Death Eater attack on Hogwarts five years ago, Fleur had been devastated. During the Final Battle, Fleur had made sure that that beast had repaid her threefold for her loss. She would always remember the smell of his fur as it burned and his screams of terror, or perhaps insanity, Fleur hadn't cared.

Like so many others, the war had changed her. No longer was she the naïve, slightly vapid, young woman she had been before the Tournament. That all had been replaced by a cold seriousness.

Transferring to the Gringotts branch in Paris, she simply wanted to try and live the rest of her life in peace, and just be left alone. Even five years later, Bill's loss was still painful. Is there even a way to completely get over having the love of your life ripped so violently away from yourself?

Unfortunately, fate had other ideas. Not even a few months after her arrival in Paris, she had received an Owl from Hogwarts Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall. She had been very tempted to simply throw it away, but something possessed her to open it. Professor McGonagall was asking a favor of her; apparently Harry had emerged from the Final Battle in worse shape than anyone had even imagined.

Fleur learned that somehow, upon defeating Voldemort, Harry had absorbed an even larger portion of his power and was struggling for control of his magic. She had remembered reading in the papers, that at some Ministry event, Harry had lost control and caused a great deal of damage and injuries to the crowd.

McGonagall was hoping Fleur would be able to help Harry at least gain a semblance of control over his strength. Being a half-breed, she had to learn something similar for her mostly human body to control her powerful Veela magic. With no intention of returning to Britain, she reluctantly agreed, but only on the condition he come to her in Paris.

She eventually learned that it seemed that his control fluctuated with his emotions. At the time, he was still exhausted and hadn't fully recovered physically, much less emotionally. The Ministry, of course, had always tried Harry's patience. To Fleur, it seemed the most obvious course of action was to get Harry to relaxed and calm. As the booth finished its descent, a small grin appeared for a moment on her lips. That first month, we spent more time arguing and posturing than any actual training.

It had taken a long while for either to completely trust the other, but after a two month holiday in Paris, which was what it was called in the Press, Harry seemed to be slightly less stressed and a bit more in control. Of course, once he returned home, the Ministry had come back hounding him again and the problems erupted all over. True to their flip-flop nature, the Ministry began to turn on him again, using the magical flare ups as an excuse to paint him as a possible new Dark Lord.

Remus had quickly taken Harry underground, and eventually to one of the houses the Black family owned in southern France. Officially, taking a vacation, Fleur quickly joined them. Unlike last time, when she had tried to get him to relax, this time, she used a more confrontational approach. They spent a lot of time dueling; the hope was that if Harry started to use the magic, he might gain more control over it. Similar to how a Muggle athlete trains.

Fleur had been an accomplished dueler in school, and while she could defeat Harry in a proper duel, she quickly learned that he was much stronger and more inventive in his attacks and counters.

Emerging in to the Ministry's lobby, Fleur continued to think about that summer. It was the first time in awhile that she had been anything close to happy, and for the first time, she began to think of Harry as a friend. It was funny to both how they originally saw each other and where they were now. For her, she only saw a little brat, playing a game way over his head. For him, a pretty face, but an empty bitch underneath.

Pulling herself from her daydreams, she slowly sauntered forward, smiling softly as her heels echoed on the tiles. Perfect. No one but the Watchman. Letting her rain coat open a little to reveal the short dress she was wearing, she approached the security checkpoint.

As the Auror turned to her upon hearing her approach, Fleur released a bit of her Veela attraction magic. "Excuse me," she said in a fake sugary voice, as she resisted the urge to tear the man's throat out as he eyed her up and down. "I was wondering if you could tell me whair ze detention cells are located."

Distracted for a moment, the Auror stumbled over his words. "Uh… The cells… are, umm… Level 5. I'll have to check your wand before you go, though." Not for a moment, did the wizard give much thought to why she was asking this, but simply gave her the answer.

As the Auror's eyes reached hers, Fleur's eyes were glowing a pale blue. "Zere's no need for zat," she said softly, and her smile widened as the wizard nodded dumbly. Her soft French accent wonderfully playing with her power for that extra effect. While she had a much better grasp on the language, often times it was to her benefit to continue using the accent.

"I really must be getting along, but you look awfully tired. You should go take a nap, you've been working far too hard." To complete the act, she giggled softly as the Auror nodded again. "Good boy."

Quickly, walking through the checkpoint, she knew the man was watching her walk away. Swine.

Turning a corner, she let out a long breath. Excellent, it works.

Veelas, even half-Veelas, had the ability to charm and attract the opposite sex, but Fleur's ability it seemed had gone far beyond that. She believed that all of her work with Harry had been beneficial to herself as well. Everything she had him do, she did along side. In this particular case, she had refined the attraction magic to something more; for a short period of time, she could almost control someone. The person would appear to enter a drunken stupor and be highly open to suggestions.

Quickly entering an elevator, she headed towards Level 5 and the Auror detention cells.

It hadn't been long since that summer that Harry had moved permanently to the Black Estate in France. Growing tired of everything, he too just wanted to be left alone. Knowing pretty much no one else in the entire country, and with Fleur having no desire herself to spend time with anyone else, the two began to spend more of their free time together. The two casual friends began to grow closer, and now, now they were on the cusp of something. Neither really sure what it was.

It was something that Fleur had intended to discuss with Harry when he had returned from his visit to Britain for Hermione's 23rd birthday. She hadn't been thrilled with the idea of his return as certain members of the Ministry had intensified their efforts against Harry, but she couldn't deny him the chance to see his friends again after being away for two years.

That uneasy feeling she had, turned out to be true as the Aurors launched a surprise raid on Harry's hotel room. While he could've easily dispatched them, she knew he was too noble for his own good and wouldn't kill them or risk another flare up, and injuring others. He was arrested without resistance and taken to the detention cells two days ago.

It hadn't taken long for the news to reach her, and, after calming from her murderous frenzy, she set in motion her plan to release Harry, whether or not he wanted to be rescued. Only two other people had been insane enough to successfully infiltrate the Ministry. One was now dead, killed by the other, and that other was the man she was after. Luck, she hoped, was on her side.

Walking out on to Level 5, Two male Aurors at the end of the hall. Probably need one of them to get through that gate. Arthur was right, they do cut back on their security during meal times. In the highest breach of security, Arthur had supplied Fleur with the Auror security schedule, the when and where each Auror was scheduled to be. In a stroke of fate, at the time of weakest security, was also the time when it was all male Aurors that Fleur should encounter on her planned route. On the off chance, she met up with a female Auror, she be forced to improvise.

As she approached the two Aurors stiffened. Replaying what she did before, "Messieurs, I was hoping one of you could guide me to 'Arry Potter's cell."

While these two weren't as weak minded as the previous, she was still successful, it just took a bit more effort. As one of the Aurors remained at the gate, slack jawed and staring after her, the other happily lead her through the hallways of the detention cells.

While walking, Fleur kept her influence on him, and soon felt a sharp pain shooting through the back of her head. Just a bit longer. Until we reach Harry.

"Here it is," the Auror said with a flourish as they stopped in front of a solid metal door. "Mr. Harry Potter is locked behind this door. But don't you worry your pretty little head, I'll protect you."

Fighting through the pain to keep her influence upon him, "Why, zank you," she said with a flirtatious smile and giggle. "Would you be a dear and unlock it for me."

Without even thinking about what she asked him to do, he quickly drew his wand, and placing it on the door, traced an intricate pattern. As Fleur heard the door unlock and the door open slightly, her power finally gave out.

As the Auror blinked a few times, trying to figure out where he was as his head cleared, Fleur quickly grabbed the back of his head, and using her Veela power, violently slammed his head into the metal door. Ignoring the sickening thud that his head made as it collided with the metal, Fleur watched the wizard slump to the floor. "Thank you," she said while wincing as her own head throbbed.

Pulling the door opened, she knew she had little time. "'Arry!" she snapped into the dark room, this time her accent coming out of excitement.

"Fleur?" came the rough voice from inside.

"Yes!" Fleur stepped back as Harry emerged from the darkness. Before Harry could ask anything, Fleur had wrapped him in tight embrace.

"How?"

With an honest smile, this time, from his amazement, "I'll tell you later." She quickly found herself pulled tightly against Harry as she heard a spell wiz by, inches from her back. Roughly taking his hand, she pulled a ribbon from her hair and stuffed it into his grip. "There is a lot we need to talk about."

"Apparently."

Quickly grabbing his face, she crushed her lips in to his for a fiery kiss. As more spells fired around them, she released him and whispered the activation word for the Portkey that her hair ribbon had actually been.

Knowing Harry would be safely delivered to the Twins waiting hands, Fleur prepared herself for battle. "Now messieurs," she growled as she drew her wand in one hand, her English becoming very much improved and accent denounced.

As Fleur focused enough energy into her other hand, a fireball began to appear. She slowly began to turn towards her gathering attackers. "You have annoyed me enough these past few days to last a life time. I do not have time for your pathetic little games, especially with a handsome young man, eagerly awaiting my return." Her eyes glowing again, except this time with a deep crimson color, she fell into an attacking posture with wand in one hand and Veela fireball in the other, "Now, how would you like to die!"