Of Veela and Wolves - Part 9

Astoria had always been something of a bright spot in Slytherin. Where the others in her house were dour and worked secret deals, she was practically bubbly and could tell a blatant lie to your face, but you didn't care. His worry for her safety in Slytherin now that she was a werewolf was completely unfounded. If anything, she gained a following. She already had Hagrid wrapped around her finger and had charmed Mrs. Norris.

Daphne hadn't changed all that much. She was more confident and allowed herself to be freer with her emotions. It as amazing what being able to turn into a humanoid wolf did for self-worth. The fact that it had freed the both of them from unwanted marriage contracts was bonus too. No self-respecting Pureblood wanted a werewolf bride.

Like him, they could change at will rather than under the sway of the moon. They ran as a pack in the forest almost every night. A couple of naps through the evening were more than enough to keep them energized.

They had even started to join him during his 'training' with Tonks. The obstacle course helped them adjust to their wolf forms in ways that a run through the forest couldn't. Contained chaos and situational awareness combined with the added benefit of learning how to quickly shift from one form to another while in motion.

It wasn't just the obstacle course that Tonks did as part of her training. She worked on his spell knowledge, casting speed, improvisation, and incorporating both of his forms while in combat.

They still didn't know the details of the upcoming tasks, so he had other lessons as well. He worked with Professor Flitwick on advanced charms, somehow the wizard found time to help. Transfiguration was handled by a Ministry assigned instructor three times a week. They had worked together since the first of the year and he still knew next to nothing about the wizard. He traveled to Hogwarts via Floo, stayed for the allotted time, and then left without an extra word.

Potions work, thankfully, was handled by someone other than Snape. It was a familiar, and welcome, face that he found in the private lab.

"Mrs. Weasley?" Harry came to a sudden stop in the doorway.

"Mister Potter." She said with a fake scowl. "I am to be addressed as Potions Master Weasley, or Professor Weasley."

"You're a Potions Master?" Harry walked over to her in a daze.

"Did you think Arthur got paid enough to feed and clothe seven children on his own?" Molly chuckled. "I've been able to get back into the swing of things now that the kids are all in school." She smiled brightly at him. "Let's go, Mister Potter. No time to dilly or dally."

"Yes, ma'am." Harry smiled as he joined her in by a cauldron.

"From what I've heard, you were able to recognize a Polyjuice Potion by scent." Molly looked to him for an answer. He nodded. "Does that mean you know how to brew one?"

"No." Harry blushed as he shook his head. "I wasn't the one to brew it."

"Hermione." Molly giggled. "I should have known. I doubt it will be needed during the tournament, but you never know." She muttered something under her breath about the Ministry. "Let's start with alteration potions. We have to adjust the brewing to account for your new metabolism. Potions that would work fine on a human won't have a diminished effect on a werewolf."

"Wow." Harry whispered.

"Hm?" Molly raised her eyebrows in question.

"I didn't think that making potions was so…" He searched for the word. "Intricate."

"Herbology and Potions are close to what Muggles call Science." Molly explained. "Neither get the respect they deserve."

Harry stared at Molly for a long moment.

"Didn't expect me to know about muggles?" Molly laughed. "Arthur didn't marry me just for my cooking. We knew each other through the years but connected over Muggle Studies."

Harry learned more about Potions in a lesson than he had in the last few years with Snape. His studies over the summer helped him start at roughly an OWL benchmark. His increased senses made potions more layered than before. After a few lessons they had moved on to NEWT level potions. She didn't just teach him how to make a potion and leave it at that. Molly taught him ingredients interacted through the various preparations and how to calculate adjustments for non-human biology.

He also learned how to make a tasty consommé.

~§~§~

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Ludo Bagman yelled. "Welcome to the Weighing of the Wands."

Why he chose to yell when his voice was already magically modified was beyond Harry's reasoning. They had turned what had previously been a small presentation into a media event. The four champions waited on a raised stage before a few rows of chairs that were packed with reporters. Numerous quills floated in the air over parchment that glowed in various shades.

It gave him a headache. He was pretty sure that even without his enhanced senses it would have. The overpowering scent of too strong perfume, body odor, wet ink and old parchment had him breathing through his mouth. Only to find it did little to help. Quills scratched, cameras flashed, voices smashed over each other, and over it all, Ludo continued to yell.

Harry would have left if his presence wasn't required. He was so distracted that he jolted in shock as something touched his hand. The scent of honey, sunlight, and cinnamon washed over him as the heat from her skin pressed against his. In that moment it was only the two of them.

He could feel her allure, like hands running through his hair. It eased his tension.

"Thank you." He whispered.

Fleur smiled in reply.

Garrick Ollivander joined them on stage. The introduction took longer than the ceremony. Unfortunately, the champions were then presented to the press for questions.

"Mister Potter! Mister Potter!" A witch called. She wore a tight green dress that shimmered in the light. "Rita Skeeter with the Daily Prophet. How do you think your parents would feel about the tournament?"

"Next question." Harry spoke loud and firm. "Perhaps one directed at the chosen champions?"

The witch didn't seem to care about his annoyance and her floating quill moved far too much for his response.

"Miss Delacour!" Rita Skeeter moved on without pause. "What do you say to the claims that your Veela proclivities led to your selection?"

"What type of proclivities do you mean?" Fleur asked, her voice full of acid.

"Veela are known to use their whiles to ensnare and bewitch wizards." Skeeter ignored the tone directed at her.

"Next question." Cedric said before Fleur could speak. "Not Miss Skeeter."

They had a small break as the other reporters asked actual questions. Harry only answered when they were directed at all of the champions and directed the attention back to the others as much as he could.

"Mister Potter!" A voice that he had grown to hate called. "What about the reports that you're starting a harem of Pureblood witches by turning them into werewolves?"

The entire room froze at the question. It seemed like everyone in the room turned to look at the witch. The reporters around her instinctively moved away from her as their attention went back to Harry.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly, he let it out. The phrase 'huff and puff' ran through the back of his mind. He tried to fight it but failed miserably. Harry started to laugh. The random thought mixed with the absurdity of it all was too much. He laughed until his eyes watered, and his ribs hurt. Those around him looked at him with a mixture of concern and fear when he finally stopped.

"Miss Skeeter." Harry wiped the tears from his eyes. "Thank you. I needed a good laugh. Are you friends with Gilderoy Lockhart?"

"No." Rita replied, still unperturbed by it all. "Why do you ask?"

"I just thought that since you both write so much fiction, you'd know each other." Harry shrugged. "Same publisher maybe?"

That finally got a reaction from her.

"Thank you, Mister Potter." She said through gritted teeth.

"That's enough questions." Ludo cut in with a forced chuckle. "Thank you, champions for your time."

The four of them left the stage. It wasn't until they were outside that he realized that Fleur was still holding his hand. She gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Tu as bien fait mon grand méchant loup."She whispered.

"I have no idea what you just said." Harry smiled at her.

"I know." Fleur smiled brightly at him.

~~~
AN
Apologies to anyone who speaks French. I'm using Google Translate.
Next time I'm switching it from 'Part' to 'Chapter'