“...It is tradition of the triwizard tournament to hold a yule ball before the holidays to celebrate our champions and promote a sense of companionship and comradery between our three schools,” McGonagall said to the assembled students.
“Now it is a formal affair so you are expected to bring formal robes fitting for the occasion. But more importantly it is… a dance,” she continued, “And so for the next week after your other classes are finished you will be coming here to learn how to not trip over yourselves and be embarrassed in front of everyone. It is highly recommended to bring a partner to the occasion, as it reflects poorly on the school to have many of you going alone.”
“Now,” McGonagall said, “Let’s begin. I will show you the steps for a few dances and the rest of you will follow.”
— — —
“...Mr. Potter?” McGonagall said as he went to leave after the lesson. Harry turned to look at her, raising his guard slightly. “It is tradition that triwizard champions open the night of the yule ball and take the first dance,” she continued, “I would highly suggest you get yourself a partner if you don’t want to embarrass yourself and the school.”
“Okay,” Harry said, relaxing a little. McGonagall dismissed him and he left to catch up to Hermione, Neville, and Ron.
— — —
Harry watched as over thirty boys asked Fleur to the ball over the next few days. Her friends fended most of them off, but it seems that she had not found someone that she wanted to go with.
“Harry, why are you staring at Fleur so much?” Hermione asked with a twinge of annoyance in her voice. Harry refocused on her.
“Sorry, Hermione. I was just thinking about how many people I saw ask her to the ball. It is quite a lot…”
“...And so I was saying…” Fleur said as she walked down the aisle between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables in the great hall. She had improved her English recently to the point that her accent was no longer so noticeable. Harry stopped speaking to Hermione as he noticed Ron’s eyes next to him go glassy as he heard Fleur's voice. Ron seemed even more vulnerable to her magic than most people. Neville at least had been able to resist a little with exposure, but Ron was completely hopeless.
Ron leapt up from his seat and before Harry could stop him he ran up to Fleur.
“Will you go to the ball with me, Fleur?” he asked, sounding slightly drunk as he did so, slurring his words.
Fleur looked at Ron like he was a particularly loathsome insect and literally tilted her head back to stare down her nose at Ron.
“Of course not,” she said before she and her glaring bodyguards walked past the devastated Ron. He trudged back to their seat and sat back down looking rather depressed as he put his head in his hands.
“What were you thinking, Ron?” Hermione scolded him, “Harry was just saying a lot of boys were asking her. Why did you think just running up to her like that would work?”
“Lay off of him, Hermione,” Neville said in Ron’s defense, “It was her magic that made him do it. I mean Harry, how many people have you heard asking her to the yule ball?”
“Thirty seven,” Harry replied.
“Right!” Ron said, his neck flushing crimson as several people pointed at him and laughed loudly, “She- She used magic on me,” he continued, “She just caught me in a weak moment… Merlin, that was so embarrassing.”
Hermione huffed before shaking her head briefly. They kept eating their food for a little while in silence after that as the muttering and gossip around them died down. What just happened was fairly expected by now so Ron wasn’t completely singled out.
Hermione took another bite of food and looked conflicted for a second before glancing at Harry.
“So, Harry. Who, uhm. Who are you thinking of taking to the Yule ball?” Hermione asked him.
Harry shrugged, “I’m not sure. They kept mentioning partners and dancing together. So should I ask one of you to go with me? You’re my friends right?”
Ron choked on his food and coughed roughly and Neville wasn’t much better. Harry offered Ron some water but he waved it off and after a few seconds recovered.
“Blimey, Harry!” Ron said, “Good one! Going with Neville or me, wow. You sounded so serious too.”
“You don’t have to be so rude about it,” Harry said, a little offended, “If you didn’t want to go with me then you could just say so.”
He turned to his remaining friend. “Would you go with me, Hermione? Please don’t laugh at me if you don’t want to do it.”
Hermione looked incredibly confused as she stared between Harry and Ron, looking like her brain was rebooting after hearing Harry’s words.
“Uhm, no. I’m already going with someone who asked me. Sorry, Harry,” she replied after a long pause.
Harry slumped back in his seat as his mind went into overdrive, “Good for you, Hermione,” Harry answered her, “Do you guys know if Seamus Finnigan is available?” Harry continued, “He played some board games with me over the Christmas holiday in my first year. He didn’t gloat at all when he beat me in chess. I’m not that friendly with most other people at school, so I’m not really sure who else I could ask.”
Ron stopped laughing and stared at Harry in shock, “Wait, you’re serious mate? You thought it could be literally anyone?”
“Well, McGonagall said to bring a special someone,” Harry asked in confusion, “Is that not the same as saying someone that is your friend?” He had thought her instructions were rather clear. Was he missing something?
“Harry… she meant a romantic friend,” Hermione said, “Like a potential boyfriend or girlfriend.”
“Really?” Harry said, “Huh. I was wondering why nearly everyone’s partner seemed to be the opposite gender during the practice dances. How am I supposed to know who to choose? That only narrows it down to half of the school.”
Ron palmed his face at Harry’s response and Hermione still seemed to be reeling in shock at the situation.
“...I, just wow Harry. Wow,” Ron said, “Only you, mate. There’s not one girl that you are interested in? Like at all? I get you didn’t think it was like that before, but who would you want to go out with and have for a girlfriend in your best case?”
“Hmmm, besides Hermione?” Harry asked, causing Hermione to flush a little for some reason, “I don’t really know. I’ve never thought about it before.”
“Well you only have two weeks left,” Hermione said weakly, “Don’t want to leave it to the last minute. You’ll only have less options as time goes on.”
“That’s true,” Harry said thoughtfully, “This is really going to be harder than I thought it would be.”
— — —
Harry was still thoughtful for the next day as he considered who he should ask. He had seen how embarrassing it had been for the boys asking Fleur and being rejected. Everyone had laughed at them and mocked them afterwards at least for a day or two.
Especially Ron had gotten the worst of it since his proposal had been public and even more embarrassing than most of the others. Harry didn’t want to end up like that if he chose the wrong girl. People didn’t advertise if they were taken either, which made things extra confusing when he was planning who he should ask to go with him.
His friends were almost no help, only saying that he had to choose who it should be himself. They seemed to think he should instinctively know who he should be looking for. It was very frustrating when they couldn’t respond properly to Harry’s questions about what qualities an ideal girlfriend should have. Even Hermione as a girl seemed oddly flustered and evasive when he asked her about it.
Harry watched as Fleur rejected another magically enchanted boy who was literally tripping over himself to ask her.
Fleur, huh…
Harry thought about it. Despite her prior distaste, after he shared the riddle with the other champions she had no longer been so hostile to him.
He knew for a fact that she was available for the Yule Ball. If she was she taken then she would tell everyone about it so all those boys would stop bothering her, Harry was sure of it.
And most importantly, Harry was immune to her voice. He might be the only boy in the school who could dance with her and not profess his undying love for her or something equally as romantic and apparently unwelcomed by her afterward.
Making his decision, Harry diverted his course to approach Fleur in the hallway. People started whispering as they saw where he was heading.
“Excuse me, Fleur?” he asked as he drew close enough, “Can I talk to you in private for a second?”
She eyed him suspiciously for an instant as her bodyguard friends glared down at Harry.
“Hmmmm. Sure,” she said eventually after they all came to a stop. She raised her voice so everyone could hear her, “I am happy to discuss the next task with my fellow champion.”
“Okay, that too,” Harry agreed easily.
They went to a nearby abandoned classroom and went inside to the whispers of the crowd. Fleur's friends followed them inside.
Harry stared at them for a moment, before shrugging. He respected her being cautious with him.
“So?” Fleur asked impatiently, “What is it? Not to ask me to the Yule Ball I hope? I hear you are unable to find a girl to take you, hmmm?”
“Actually, that’s exactly what I want to do,” Harry replied.
Fleur's friends became instantly more hostile before Fleur turned to leave, her face twisted in distaste.
“Wait, I’m not interested in you romantically,” Harry said, and Fleur stopped to stare back at him and raised one of her eyebrows.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, “I’ve never had a boy try this one before.”
She turned fully back around and crossed her arms across her chest looking skeptical as she met his gaze.
“Fine,” she said, “This is different at least. I am eighteen, but I have had boys even younger than you ask me to the ball this year. It is so bothersome. But let’s hear it. However, if you don’t convince me, then me and my friends,” she smirked and gestured towards her bodyguards who had drawn their wands, “Will hex you harshly.”
Harry nodded, “That sounds fair,” he said, “You already know that I am immune to your magically infused voice, right?”
Fleur huffed but nodded slightly, “Hmmm. Yes, you do seem unmoved,” she said noncommittedly.
“Oh, by the way. Sorry for saying you are half-Veela before,” Harry said, getting a little distracted, “I didn’t realize that some people thought that was an insult. I heard a song by some full blooded Veelas at the Quidditch world cup and thought the magical effects were similar. I shouldn’t have said anything about it, and I didn’t know any of the cultural aspects behind it.”
Fleur’s arms loosened slightly and she looked conflicted for a moment before controlling her expression, “Hmmm. I can forgive you, I suppose. You seem a rather simple boy for all that people call you a genius.”
Harry shrugged, “I was raised by muggles, so I don’t know many things people here seem to take for granted. But I assume the reason you haven’t taken a partner for the Yule ball yet is because whoever you take might do something embarrassing or seek more romance than you are willing to have?”
“I… Yes, that is correct,” Fleur said, “And how will taking you help?”
“I am immune to your voice,” Harry said, “And I was not lying when I said I am not interested in you. I actually don’t feel romantically about anyone right now, I think. Maybe that will come when I get older? I don’t know. But we can do the first dance, then split up. Then you don’t have to worry about me for the rest of the night.”
Fleur paused and seemed to actually consider his words. Her friends now looked much less hostile and were glancing at each other uncertainly.
Suddenly Fleur rushed forward and leaned in so she was standing inches away from him. She leaned in and whispered in his ear, her hot breath washing over him, “You really feel nothing? Not even a little?”
Harry took a step back, a little uncomfortable by the intensity in her voice. Was she interested in him romantically? Why else would she suddenly get so close to him?. Hopefully that wasn't what she was doing, that would make everything so much more complicated. “No,” Harry said as flatly as he could, deciding to look directly downwards just to be safe.
Fleur stood there for a moment seemingly briefly stunned at his response before she recovered and straightened after taking a step back.
“Fine, Harry Potter. You make a good point,” she said, “A good business transaction and nothing more, most of these other boys would definitely be a hassle… I’ll let you know. Give me a few days to think about it.”
Harry nodded and they stood there for a moment just staring at each other.
“Can I leave now? Am I still getting hexed?” Harry asked.
That spurred the girls into motion and they left with Harry following close behind, The other students gossiping furiously in their absence.
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— — —
“You asked WHO?!” Ron shouted before shrinking down as everyone’s eyes in the common room turned to him.
“I asked Fleur,” Harry said, “I should be getting her response in a few days.”
“Why did you ask Fleur?” Hermione asked, her voice wavering slightly as she asked the question. Harry wondered if she was alright. Whenever they discussed the Yule Ball she seemed distressed, but she just said she was fine when he asked her about it later when they were alone reading in the library. Strange.
Harry outlined his reasons to the group and Hermione seemed to calm down a bit as he recounted exactly what had happened. Hermione seemed to sink deep into thought as he spoke, and after he finished she looked like she was feeling much better than before.
“By Merlin, Harry,” Ron said, “Who knew all I had to do to go to the dance with her was play it cool? You make it sound so cold and logical for her to do it. That last part was her testing you. If she got all close to me and whispered in my ear then I don’t think I could have just not reacted at all! We’re not all golems like you, Harry.”
“I am NOT a golem!” Harry said hotly to Ron’s surprise.
“Er… um, sure Harry. Just a figure of speech, ya’know… ” Ron said.
“Sorry,” Harry replied, calming himself quickly as he kept speaking, “At my old school they used to call me a robot, basically the same thing as a golem. It was… unpleasant. I shouldn’t have yelled.”
“Nah, sorry mate. Didn’t mean to touch a nerve…” Ron said before awkwardly trailing off.
“I think you are doing a very kind thing, Harry,” Hermione said out of the blue and the three boys turned to her. She blushed a little in embarrassment but continued, “For Fleur, I mean. I never thought about what it must be like for her. Whenever she speaks all the boys practically throw themselves at her. Her friends have to literally fight them off sometimes. That must be terrible to deal with constantly, I’m sure she’ll be happy to be able to not worry about someone like Ron slobbering over her while they are dancing.”
“It’s the magic, I’m telling you!” Ron said in annoyance, “It’s not fair, I’m just less resistant than everyone else! I only drooled two, mayyyybe three times when I saw her.”
“Once was enough,” Hermione replied primly before turning back to Harry, “Do you have any backups if she turns you down? She is almost eighteen, she might turn you down just because of the age difference. You're only fourteen.”
Harry nodded, “I have about five girls I think are available and that I don't think will mock me too much when they refuse…”
Harry discussed his other options with Hermione who finally was opening up and helping him with gossip and rumors regarding whether the girls already had partners to the ball or not. Ron looked a little put on the spot as it was revealed that Neville had found a partner. Luna Lovegood, one of the Ravenclaws. Harry thought she seemed rather shy and always had a far off look in her eyes whenever Harry saw her in the great hall. But Neville seemed happy that he was going with her.
Ron had still not found anyone to go with, and began listening closely to the options Harry and Hermione were discussing. She seemed oddly engaged in the task. Harry had expected her to be disinterested.
Finally the next day, Fleur's reply came. One of her friends walked up to Harry between classes.
“She agrees,” the girl said, “Arrive at the base of the Ravenclaw tower an hour before the ball. Make sure to dress your best, don’t embarrass her.”
“Thank you for the message,” Harry said nodding, “I won't.”
Then the girl wandered off again.
— — —
Harry had ordered some fancy dress robes over mail order with Hermione’s help. Despite all of Harry’s progress over the years, he still scared away the owls. So he couldn’t personally send mail. Even his weekly letters to Alice and Frank had to be sent along by Neville.
Ron’s robes were frilly and extremely old fashioned, apparently it was a hand me down that his mother had sent him. It looked awful and uncomfortable on him. He didn’t end up getting a date, so he would be going alone to the ball. Ron was a little down that he had failed, but didn’t seem too broken up about it.
Harry walked to the base of the Ravenclaw tower and waited an hour and ten minutes ahead of time, dressed in the fancy robes. He had combed his hair and even used some special spell that his Godfather Sirius had suggested he use to make sure his hair would stay in place no matter what. He had sent a special letter to ask the man about it. He had said that Harry could send him one if he wanted some advice.
Fleur came down the stairs in a sparkling blue dress that flared out on the bottom. It left her shoulders and most of her back exposed. The dress looked almost like it was scaled in a way with darker and brighter blues rising in and out of the fabric even as she moved. She stared at Harry with an almost accusing look as he stared at the hypnotic patterns on the dress.
“Well?” she said, “How do I look? You are… acceptable when you have cleaned yourself up.”
“You look good,” Harry said, “I like the pattern on your dress. Is it a spell or a trick of the light?”
“Hmph, trade secret,” she said as she reached the bottom of the stairs, her expression softening a little as she glanced down at herself briefly.
“But why can it not be both?” she finished saying as she looked back up at him.
“Interesting…” Harry said.
“Then shall we go?” Fleur said and Harry nodded. They made their way to the great hall where the preparations were being made.
A harried looking McGonagall noticed their arrival. She nodded at them before continuing to direct the workers who were currently wheeling in various… ice sculptures? They were positioned carefully around the room.
After ten minutes or so, Cedric Diggory arrived alongside an Asian Ravenclaw, Cho Chang. She appeared to be nervous as they stood there awkwardly. Most everyone else was told to arrive thirty minutes ahead, so the majority of people would be trickling in a few minutes from now. The champions obviously would be coming earlier.
Five minutes later Viktor Krum arrived… with his arm linked with Hermione. Viktor was wearing a reddish shirt with golden cuffs that almost looked like an old military uniform. Hermione was in a pink dress and had her hair pinned up to her head. Harry had never seen her ever dress like this or even wear her hair like that before. He had to mentally double check that it was really her when he saw the two at the distance.
The two of them approached and joined the group,
“I didn’t know that you knew Viktor Krum, Hermione,” Harry said.
“Yes, well. I met him in the library when I was studying alone,” Hermione said, “I thought I’d keep it as a surprise. I saw you! Your eyes widened and you did a double take! I knew it was worth it.”
Harry smiled slightly, “Yes, you look way different than usual. I’ve never seen you dressed this fancy before. It was quite the surprise.”
Krum looked vaguely annoyed that Hermione was talking to Harry so much, “Hermvinny, how avout…”
McGonagall rushed over and looked rather harried and stared at the group of champions.
“Ah, Champions,” she said slightly out of breath, “Everyone has their partners? Wait, Mr. Potter, Fleur Delaceur. Who are you each going with?”
Harry shared a look with Fleur and she spoke up.
“I am going with Harry Potter, Madame McGonagall,” she said.
McGonagall’s eyebrows rose so far they almost disappeared as she stared between the two of them.
“Truly?” she said looking at Harry.
“Yes, Headmistress,” he replied.
“Well, ah. Most unusual,” McGonagall said, “But I suppose we’re all here then. Just stay right here, I’ll come back when they are ready to receive you,” McGonagall glanced again between Harry and Fleur, “Better not forget your dancing lessons, Mr. Potter,” she added in a lower tone directed at him.
“I won’t,” Harry replied back in his own whisper.
— — —
It was time for them to enter. It was decided that Harry and Fleur would enter first. Fleur held out her arm and Harry linked his arm with hers, like Hermione had been doing to Viktor earlier.
The doors opened and Harry and Fleur marched in with the other students lining either side of the room. There was a large round of gasps as everyone saw the pair that was leading the front of the procession. Fleur did a strange walk that made her seem to glide across the floor as she held her head high and eyes ahead to the open dance floor in front of them.
Harry made sure to not look around and keep his attention forward as they slowly walked towards the dance floor.
“And this year's Triwizard Champions!” McGonagall said from the stage that had been set up at the far end of the great hall. The ice sculptures and white decorations and streamers covered the room. Behind the stage of McGonagall was a famous wizarding band all set up to play their music.
The three couples spread out and took three points of a triangle on the central dance floor.
“And the first dance goes to the champions. May they foster a sense of unity and cooperation between our three great schools,” McGonagall finished while eyeing Harry and Fleur.
The music started with a slow dance. Harry put his left arm on Fleur’s hip and held her right arm out as they interlaced their fingers. He stepped forward so they were almost touching and started the steps that he had learned. Fleur moved to follow. They moved together through the dance, and Harry made sure to maintain eye contact with Fleur the whole time even as they moved. McGonagall had said that eye contact was essential to a proper dance. Fleur seemed to agree, matching his gaze the whole time.
Fleur’s looked uncomfortable by Harry’s eye contact by the time they broke apart at the end of the song. Was he doing it wrong somehow?
“Now, let any other couples that wish to dance come onto the floor,” McGonagall said, “Let the true festivities begin!”
Harry and Fleur moved to the side and sat down at one of the empty tables. Fleur seemed nervous for some reason and oddly angry at herself for something.
“Are you alright, Fleur?” Harry asked, “I can go away now that we’ve done that first dance. I thought I did well on the steps.”
“Yes, yes you did,” Fleur answered him, “Errrrr. It wouldn’t do for you to run off after one dance. What will the others think? Perhaps we should dance some… more? You are surprisingly good for only learning a little while ago. I spent years getting to this level of skill.”
“Thank you,” Harry answered, “Dancing was rather fun. But do you want to get some food first? I ate ahead of time so I don’t clean the place out. The stuff on the table over there looks rather good, so I'd like to taste a few if I could. Would you like to go with me?”
“Ah, yes. The food, it does look rather fancy,” Fleur said before they both stood and went over. After sampling some of the snacks, they went back onto the dance floor. The song was more energetic and it was one of the ones where you frequently switched partners in the dancing sequence.
Somehow at the end Fleur always ended up dancing with Harry again. Huh, maybe she didn’t hate him all that much? She seemed to view it as a competition of sorts where she would dance a pattern and Harry tried to match it. Then the reverse. She was clearly better than him, but Harry wasn’t completely destroyed in the competition either.
Harry and Fleur danced hard until both of them were rather tired. Ron was sulking in the corner alone, appearing to be in a bad mood as he stared at Hermione and Viktor dancing together. They looked rather comfortable just chatting quietly as they danced through the steps.
As Fleur went to get some more snacks and check in on her friends, Harry went and said hello to Hermione and Viktor briefly. Wandering farther afield, he also encountered Neville and Luna Lovegood together. Luna was wrapped around Neville’s arm like it was a life raft in the ocean as they walked through the crowd together. Neville looked pleased although a little nervous as he saw Harry coming towards him.
“Neville. Luna Lovegood,” Harry said as he drew close enough, “Nice to meet you…”
“Your date is rapidly approaching…” Luna said dreamily as she stared over Harry’s shoulder. He turned around and saw that Fleur was indeed walking straight towards him. Many a jealous gaze from the others in the room was sent his way as they saw her walking towards him.
Harry turned back around, “Well, have fun guys. I think she wants to get back to dancing,” he said to Neville and Luna, “It’s great exercise. And we have a competition going on between us right now. I’m losing, but not by a lot. See you later.”
“I love dancing with you Neville…” Harry heard Luna say dreamily behind him as he walked away back towards Fleur.
Fleur indeed wanted to dance again. Harry thought it was a fun party and by the time it ended he was almost completely exhausted. Fleur was breathing hard as well, they had both been dancing the most out of almost anyone else on the dance floor. Between the dances, Fleur told Harry about various fashion trends she followed while he mostly listened.
Occasionally he would tell her about a particularly interesting spell he had learned or book he had read. As an older year she knew many spells, but she was surprised by some of the more obscure ones Harry told her about. Many a jealous guy and even girl were muttering and shooting Harry dirty looks as he and Fleur finally left the great hall together at the end of the night.
They walked to the foot of the Ravenclaw tower, where Harry was supposed to drop her off according to what she had told him a few minutes ago. Fleur hesitated at the base of the stairs and turned back around.
“That was fun, Harry Potter. Thank you,” she said.
“Yes, it was a lot of fun. You are a very good dancer,” Harry replied, “It was hard to keep up with you and your steps.”
“Ah, I suppose we did have a little contest going there,” she said with a slight smile, “I suppose it is a tie in the end. I lost track of the score.”
“I suppose so,” Harry agreed.
“Harry…” Fleur said with a deep breath, “Are you truly not interested in me like that? Not even a little bit? I am unused to such a thing. In truth, I only agreed to go with you tonight because you are fourteen and I am nearly eighteen. Only buffoons would believe that I would actually date you.”
Harry stared at her and considered his response for a full minute as she stood there watching him.
“No. I don’t think I feel any different in that way towards you,” He eventually replied, “But I do like you a lot more now. I don’t really care that you only agreed to go with me to scare off other guys so they wouldn’t bother you. It does sound rather irritating for you. But you could have left after that first dance, and you didn't. You kept dancing with me even when you only had to do one. Perhaps... Perhaps we could be friends? Would you want that?”
“Friends… Yes, let's be friends,” She replied, “It was… relaxing to talk to a boy and not worry about holding my voice back for once. Even one as young as you. Good night, Harry.”
“Good night, Fleur. Sleep well.”
And then Fleur walked up the stairs of Ravenclaw tower and Harry watched her leave. A new friend… who would ever have thought that it would be her? Certainly not him.
— — —
Harry was returning to the Gryffindor common room when he heard two angry voices in one of the side corridors. It was Hermione and Ron. Before he knew what he was doing, he diverted his course and stumbled into a full blown argument between the two. Hermione was standing with her back to an empty stairwell while Ron stood in front of her. Hermione looked hurt and withdrawn and Ron was angry and annoyed.
“...Sleeping with the enemy!” Ron shouted, “He’s the competition!”
“The enemy?” Hermione said sharply even if her voice was a bit watery, “Who was all Viktor Krum’s greatest fan this summer? Greatest seeker of the century? This- this triwizard tournament is supposed to be about cooperation between our schools. Viktor is sweet and kind, and has been nothing but a gentleman to me!”
“He’s from Durmstrang, I’m sure he’s learned all sorts of dark magic. I bet he’s cursed you somehow,” Ron replied.
Hermione stamped her foot, “Viktor did not curse me! How- You think I’m not good enough, is that it? That someone like Viktor can- could never be interested in-”
Harry stepped forward and cleared his throat. Both Hermione and Ron jumped like someone had hit them with a stinging jinx.
“What are you doing here, Harry?” Ron asked harshly, “Having fun with Fleur? You danced with her a lot for someone that claims to not be interested. What is it with you two? Hermione and now you, Harry? Harry, you could win it all! The triwizarding cup, eternal glory! Why would you help the competition? Don’t let her use her beauty to throw you off your game. She’ll throw you away as soon as she gets what she wants, just like all those Veela do! Just look at their history…”
“I don’t care about winning,” Harry said, “And Fleur’s my friend now. Don’t insult her like that. It's degrading to her, and I don’t appreciate it.”
Ron stared between the two of them and saw that he wasn’t convincing either threw up his hands in frustration.
“Fine!” He said, “I’ll just go. I see they’ve seduced you both already.”
With that Ron left, stomping all the way. Harry looked after him with a hint of confusion. What in the world had that been about?
Hermione sat down on the stairs behind her and started crying.
“Are you okay, Hermione?” Harry said sitting down next to her, “Ron was rather horrible just now, wasn’t he?”
“Ye-Yeah. I can’t believe him,” she sobbed, “I just felt so good, tonight was perfect. Why did Ron have to ruin it?”
Harry put his arm around Hermione and she leaned against him for comfort and got all her snot and tears into his fancy robes as he sat there. She continued crying onto his robes, if a little less than before as time passed.
After an unknown amount of time of Harry remained silent thinking on the steps while Hermione gradually calmed down. Now she was only sniffling a little.
Ron had hurt Hermione. Ron was his friend. Ron had insulted and degraded Fleur. Fleur was Harry’s friend. But Ron was Harry’s friend. Harry only had three, now four friends in this world after tonight. Harry looked down at the still sniffling Hermione and decided he would give Ron a chance to apologize. If he didn’t then… he would go from there.
Hermione sat up, “Ha-Harry, I got things all over your robes, I-I’m sorry, I’ll clean it up…”
Harry shook his head, “It’s fine, Hermione. For once I get to support you emotionally. Usually it is you helping me. Are you feeling better now?”
“A- a little. I’m- I’m mostly just so mad at Ron after all of that,” she replied shakily.
Harry nodded, “We’ll sort out Ron tomorrow. How about we just go back and get some sleep for tonight? I’ll yell at him for the both of us when we’re all well rested. If I can’t put enough emotion in it, I’ll make it up in pure volume.”
“O-Okay,” she replied, wiping her eyes with her sleeve as she stood and smiled slightly at Harry’s partial joke.
“Thanks, Harry. You- Just thanks,” she said as they walked back to their dorms.
“You are welcome,” He replied, “You’re my best friend, Hermione. I don’t want to see you hurt. Ever.”