Of Veela and Wolves - Chapter 16

Harry had expected them to attack him once they were in the water. Instead, he luxuriated in the bath with Daphne and Astoria. What had started out as a desperate drive to claim his attention had turned into the three of them in a tangle of limbs. They rested on a built-in bench in the tub that allowed them to rest without sinking deeper than comfortable. His fingers lightly drifted along Astoria's back while his other hand drew circles on Daphne's thigh. Astoria had wrapped her legs around one of his and locked her ankles to stay attached to him. Daphne had done something similar, only with his arm. Her head rested on his shoulder while one hand rested on his chest. Astoria was content with running her fingers through his hair. He could get used to this.

At one point he was pretty sure he saw Myrtle float through the water. She moved fast enough that he didn't get a good look, which was rather impressive. At least she hadn't been screaming. It did make him wonder if she spied on the room often. He wasn't sure how he felt about that.

He found that the water stayed hot longer than it should have. Magic was amazing.

"We need to talk about Fleur." He broke the calm silence.

The Greengrass sisters tensed.

"What is there to talk about?" Daphne spoke through gritted teeth.

"For one." Harry sighed. "This rivalry between the three of you has to stop. She's the French champion. I don't know how we haven't already started an international incident."

"She started it." Astoria muttered.

"She wants to steal you from us." Daphne still hadn't relaxed.

"You are my pack." He pulled them closer against his body. "She can't steal me away."

He paused.

"But." He waited another moment to see if they would protect. "She wants to join us."

Astoria gasped. Daphne glared at him. He met her eyes and didn't back down.

"She just wants you." Daphne kept her voice calm. "She wants you to be just another trophy. Harry Potter, the Great Wolf, her little lapdog."

"The Great Wolf?" He raised his eyebrows at the title; it was better than The Boy Who Lived.

"Don't distract me." Daphne furrowed her brow. "You can't let her get to you. She's using her allure to tempt you away."

"It doesn’t work on me." Harry replied. "She said that most Werewolves chase Veela like animals in heat. The fact that I don't, and that her allure doesn't seem to do anything, was what drew her attention."

"All the better to break you." Daphne muttered.

"That could be why I want to rip her throat out all the time." Astoria commented.

"Stori!" Daphne snapped.

"You're telling me you don't?" The younger witch countered.

Daphne didn't have a reply to that.

"Tomorrow." Harry cut in before they could get too far off topic. "The four of us are going to have a talk. I don't want you constantly on edge around each other. She obviously is interested in me. We have to get this settled. If I'm just something shiny that caught her attention then we can put up with it until the tournament is over. And. If she is actually interested in me, then she would have to agree to join our pack, not try to destroy it."

Daphne let out low growl at the mention of her joining the pack. Astoria stared at the ceiling, quiet in her thoughts. The trio settled into silence as each continued down their own train of thought.

"So." Astoria broke the silence. "That means you're ready to expand the pack?"

Harry stared at her in shock. She had an innocent smile on her face that he didn’t believe at all.

"What?" Harry asked.

"If you want Fleur to join the pack, then it should be fine to add more." Astoria stated. "Witches, of course, I don't think you'd like other guys around."

Harry opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and then looked to Daphne for support. She met his desperate search with a cheshire grin.

"Wonderful idea, Stori." Daphne purred. "I have a couple of suggestions. You as well?"

Astoria nodded. "There are a few other Slytherin girls that would love to break their marriage contracts."

"Are they really that big of a problem?" Harry asked with genuine curiosity.

"They aren't as bad as they used to be." Astoria shrugged. "But they still focus on the benefits to the wizard with little thought given to the witches. Most don't use magically binding contracts anymore, but some older families do. A witch can't break the contract without serious consequences."

Harry let the thought sink in.

"Who did you have in mind?" Astoria asked her sister.

"Tracey." Daphne said it like it was the most obvious answer. "She's a half-blood. The protection she used to have being my friend isn't doing much now that I'm a werewolf. It would be best if she was turned. I would have said Parkinson, but with your contract with Malfoy now void it is likely she'll get her chance."

"Who was she set to marry before?" Harry asked.

"No clue." Astoria shrugged. "It's possible she didn't have one."

"Which means her father was planning on using her as a bargaining chip once she finished her OWLS." Daphne added. "If Malfoy doesn't take her then she's most likely going to be married off to some random pureblood that's old enough to be her grandfather."

"Yikes." Harry muttered.

"Millie." Astoria stated.

"Milicent Bulstrode?" Harry gave the younger Greengrass a wide-eyed stare.

"She's sweet." Astoria gave him a small nod. "She's also set to marry Flint."

Harry paused. He wouldn't wish that on anyone. Now that he thought about it, he didn't really know anything about her. She didn't talk much to other Slytherin let alone those in other houses. From what he could remember, she was tall and had brown hair.

"The Carrows." Daphne added. "Morgana knows they need to be rescued."

"I would need to talk to them first." Harry said after a moment. "Any non-Slytherin witches?"

Both girls rolled their eyes at his question.

"I can think of a couple." Astoria sighed.

"How many total are you planning?" Harry asked.

Both girls shared a wicked smile but didn't say anything more.

"No." Harry shook his head. "None of that. What's going on?"

"You're no fun." Astoria sighed. "Fine, you're a lot more receptive of this."

"I'm asking you to try getting along with Fleur." Harry shrugged. "Why wouldn't I do the same?"

"You're a strange one, Potter." Daphne shook her head.

"I can't argue with that." Harry chuckled.

"Let's get out of the bath." Astoria offered. "I'm getting all pruny."

"You're a cute little prune." Harry nuzzled the side of her head.

Astoria giggled.

"Come on." Daphne rolled her eyes. "You're making my teeth hurt."

AN:
This felt a lot longer when I wrote it.