Time Keeps on Slipping - Chapter 5

Harry stepped out of the dressing room. He wore an entirely new outfit of a pair of expertly fit black slacks, oxfords, and a white dress shirt. Harry thought he looked like he was heading to a business meeting, but the clothes were surprisingly comfortable. On top of that, Fleur assured him that he was rather dashing. The clothes were charmed to adjust to the perfect fit, within reason. They would need to pick out something that was roughly the same size before the enchantment could do its work.

Vic waited for him outside. She held a stack of clothes that were a more casual style. He was close enough to her to see her eyes dilate when she caught his scent. A sly smile crossed her face as she looked over his shoulder to where her mother stood.

"My turn?" Vic purred.

"Victoire." Fleur chided. "We didn't bring Harry here to have our way with him."

"We didn't?" Vic asked, honestly confused.

"Vic." Harry felt his cheeks heat up. "I appreciate the interest, but I don't think I can have sex with someone just like that."

Vic motioned to her mother. "You smelled freshly fucked when back at Hermione's."

"Victoire." Fleur snapped. "Do not use such language."

The younger Veela rolled her eyes.

"Yes." Harry answered before they got distracted. "Ginny and I… had sex. It's not how fast things became physical, it's that I don't know you well enough. Ginny, Luna, and Fleur are women I know."

"Oh." Vic nodded, then she handed him the stack of clothes. "I think you'll like these. They're not as uptight as the stuff my mother or Dominique will pick."

"I heard that." Dominique called from the other side of the room.

"I wasn't trying to be quiet." Vic countered.

Dominique hurried over to get a look at what Harry wore. She clicked her tongue as she studied him.

"Excellent taste, maman." Dominique took her time as she looked him over. "You already chose everything I would have."

"Hurry along and try on the clothes." Fleur shook her head at her daughters. "Once you're done, we can have a late lunch."

Harry felt his stomach growl at the mention of food. The trio of Veela giggled at him. He fled to the dressing room and closed the door behind him. Vic had picked out clothes that were more his style. They were better quality clothing that he had ever owned. The jeans fit perfectly and the pockets were magically expanded to the extent where he could easily fit his arm up to his elbow inside. It felt like the denim had a bit of stretch to it as well. The shirts she picked out were solid colors that complimented his skin tone while not being too garish. His eyes were already catching, he didn't need any more attention brought to them. There were also a couple of Gryffindor shirts in the mix

He stepped out of the dressing room to model his outfit of choice. A red shirt, dark denim jeans, and a pair of new sneakers. The ladies, including Lavender, applauded.

"Give us a spin." Lavender suggested.

Harry chuckled but did as instructed. Lavender and Vic whistled at him. His cheeks were bright red when he turned back to face them.

"I wish I could do something about those glasses." Lavender tapped her chin as she studied him. "May I see them?"

Harry shrugged. He slipped them off and handed them to her. The world around him blurred slightly. He focused on a point at the far end of the store. Then he chose something closer.

"Hm." Harry said to himself.

"What's up?" Vic asked as she took a step closer to him.

"My vision isn't as blurry." Harry explained. "It's not perfect, but it's definitely better than it was."

"Odd." Vic whispered. "Make sure to tell Aunt Luna when you see her again."

"Aunt Luna?" Harry asked.

"She's amazing." Vic said with a bright smile.

"She is." Dominique nodded.

Harry smiled at the two.

"Here you go." Lavender held out his glasses.

"Thank you." Harry slid them back in place.

The ladies made noises of approval.

"Take a look." Lavender motioned to a nearby mirror.

He did. His glasses had been fixed, again, and altered. The thin frames were a bit thicker while they retained the circular shape. They felt lighter but more substantial at the same time.

"Nice." Harry smiled at Lavender.

"It's not my best work." Lavender sighed. "Give me a few days and I can make you an even better pair."

"They are wonderful, Lav." Harry hugged her. "Thank you."

Lavender held him close. She hadn't gotten much taller since the last time he had seen her. It was a fact that he was both thankful for as well as slightly annoyed with. Her large, cushy breasts settled on his upper chest when they hugged. If she were a bit taller then he would have had a face full of them.

"Are you going to have sex with her too?" Vic sounded a little annoyed.

"Victoire!" Dominique squeaked.

"What do you think, Harry?" Lavender wiggled against him.

"Maybe another time?" Harry offered.

"I'll hold you to that." Lavender whispered in his ear.

He shivered from the way her lips brushed against his skin.

"Are you ready for lunch?" Fleur asked. "There is a nice place nearby."

"The Abbey?" Lavender inquired.

Fleur nodded.

"Good choice." Lavender nodded. "I will package all these up and send them on to Hermione's place."

"How did you know?" Harry asked.

Lavender laughed and shook her head.

"This way." Fleur motioned for him to follow.

The trio of Veela led him through a side door rather than back to the Floo. They stepped out into the streets of Hogsmeade. It took Harry a moment to figure out where they were. The village had grown considerably. A few sections of older homes made from wood and stone had been replaced by brick buildings with three or four floors each.

"Are those apartments?" Harry asked with a slight daze in his voice.

"Yes." Vic nodded. "Hermione has made some major changes that even the Purebloods couldn't deny. There is a smaller University on the opposite edge of town for students who want to continue their education beyond Hogwarts. It allows interested Masters to take on a group of apprentices rather than one at a time. The Ministry has grants arranged to cover the cost of classes. Students still have to find their own room and board, but an apprenticeship makes it worth it after a couple of years."

"You are finished with Hogwarts, right?" Harry asked.

She nodded.

"Are you continuing on?" He asked.

"No." Vic scoffed. "I've had more than enough school to last for a long time."

"What are your plans?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Victoire." Fleur sounded a little too casual. "What are your plans?"

"Thank you for asking Harry." Vic rolled her eyes. "I'm not sure yet. I wasn't serious enough about Quidditch to look try for the pros."

"What position did you play?" Harry asked.

"Keeper." She replied with a shrug.

"Balls flying at her face was nothing new to her." Dominique sniped.

"Dominique!" Fleur snapped.

Vic slapped the back of her sister's head so fast her hand moved at a blur.

"Girls." Fleur yelled. "That is enough."

Harry focused his will on not laughing. The look Fleur gave him told him that he was not successful. Vic didn't see it as she was distracted by glaring at her sister. After a moment, she turned back to face him.

"Honestly, I was hoping to convince Uncle Fred and George to let me tinker around in their developmental department." Vic continued.

"Charms and enchantments?" Harry asked. "That sounds pretty sweet."

"Thank you." Vic beamed. "They told me I need to come up with a workable idea. Once I've got something that tickles their interest, we'll make a prototype. If it works, then they will see if it's worth producing. They have to weigh the cost of construction, time, marketability, and pricing."

"Any ideas?" He asked.

"Not a blasted one." Vic let out a humorless laugh. "My mind just goes blank when I start."

"That sucks." Harry gave her a hand a squeeze.

"I'm going to continue on." Dominique interjected.

"How Ravenclaw of you." Vic sighed.

"Thank you." Dominique preened. "I'm aiming for a Potions apprentice, with a focus on creation and theory. That field of study mixes Arithmancy, Chemistry, and Alchemy. It's so awesome."

"I didn't have the best experience with Potions." Harry rubbed the back of his neck.

"I could tutor you." Dominique offered as she slid up against his side.

"I might take you up on that." Harry said with a nod.

Dominique shot Vic a smug look. The older girl motioned to where Harry still held her hand. Dominique huffed. She pressed herself against his side and took his hand. Harry gave her a curious look but didn't say anything.

"What do you do for fun?" Harry asked Dominique.

"I like to paint." She replied with a shy glance away.

"Oh, wow." Harry chuckled to himself.

Her face went crimson.

"I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you." Harry squeezed her hand gently. "It's just that I kind of forgot about normal hobbies."

Dominique mumbled something that he didn't catch.

"Maybe you could show me some of your paintings?" Harry offered.

That earned a loud squeak. She shook her head and buried her face on his shoulder.

"She doesn't let anyone see them." Vic clarified.

"Here we are." Fleur announced.

Harry turned his attention to the building before them. It looked like a cross between a monastery and a café. There was an enclosed patio area with opaque windows. Vibrant vines and ivy draped along the stonework. When they stepped through the doors, he found that the patio area was actually a garden. There was a small produce cart beside the true entry to the restaurant.

"I see why it's called The Abbey." Harry stated.

"It is also a play on the owners name." Fleur added.

Harry arced an eyebrow at that. His question was answered before he could ask. Hannah Abbot bustled about the dining area greeting guests. Harry's mouth dropped. He remembered the shy girl. She was friends with Susan Bones and kind of got pushed into the shadow of the redhead. They both were quiet, but Susan was a bombshell. Time had done Hannah a wonder. While Susan had the bigger breasts, Hannah had a great ass. Now, she was the full package. She looked like she belonged painted on the side of a plane.

"Hannah?" Harry asked.

The woman looked up as the group entered the restaurant proper. Her practiced smile dropped as her gaze met his own. She blinked, shook her head, and blinked again.

"Harry?" She asked tentatively.

He nodded. She opened her mouth, closed it, and then tried again. No words came out. After another moment of silence, she shrugged. Thankfully, the seating was arranged for each table to have a private area rather than an open concept. Otherwise, he was sure that coming here would have been an issue. Fleur, of course, knew a place where privacy was excellent. Being a Veela came with a lot of extra considerations that were on par with his unwanted fame.

"Her too?" Vic rolled her eyes.

"Stop it." Dominique chided.

Hannah finally registered who he had arrived with. She shifted her attention to Fleur. A genuinely warm smile crossed her face.

"Your usual spot?" Hannah asked.

"Merci." Fleur returned the smile.

"May I join you once you're settled?" Hannah asked as she led them to a side room.

"Of course." Fleur gave a little laugh. "I'm sure you have some questions."

Hannah nodded as she shot Harry another look.

"That's not Teddy, right?" Hannah asked in a low whisper.

"Non." Fleur giggled. "He could never get it good enough. There is only so much you can learn from a photograph."

Harry pulled the seats out for each lady then took his own seat. The table was a large round one that could have comfortably fit a couple more people. He took the initiative to sit between Vic and Dominique to avoid any conflict. The fact that they were spaced out enough that it neither could snuggle up to him did not escape them.

Fleur sat across from Harry with an amused smile on her face. He thought the table was wide enough to prevent her from trying anything. Hopefully. He was too hungry to think about fooling around right now.

"The usual, please." Fleur said to Hannah.

The woman gave a single nod before she left. Much to her credit, she only snuck a small look at Harry on her way out.

"How did you and Bill meet?" Harry asked.

"The Order." Fleur replied with a small sigh. "We both worked at Gringotts, but our paths did not cross until my first Order meeting. This was when you were still alive, before the dementors. He could resist my allure and he told his adventures so very well. We were married the summer after you disappeared. It was a bright spot in a dark time." She chuckled. "It was the first of many weddings where the bride was pregnant.'

"Moooom." Vic grumbled. "We don't need to know that."

Fleur giggled completely without shame.

"Molly said that the goblins work him ragged." Harry said. "Is he out on a job now?"

"He was in Egypt last month." Fleur shrugged. "I don't recall now."

"The Carpathian Mountains." Vic offered. "They've branched out more lately. There has been too much competition for Egyptian sites."

Harry noticed that Dominique didn't join in on the topic. He took that as a sign to change things up.

"Are you the only Veela at Hogwarts?" Harry asked the younger girl.

"Yes." Dominique sighed. "Maman won't let me transfer to Beauxbatons."

"The attitude toward Veela has improved greatly in the years since the war." Fleur offered. "Hermione worked to push for equal rights for 'non-human' citizens throughout her career."

"Non-human?" Harry asked.

"Veela aren't human." Vic laughed. "We're magical creatures. Everyone knows we're just sirens on land come to steal the hearts of good men."

"Really?" Harry shook his head.

"There has been some pushback." Fleur said with a sigh. "Most of the focus was directed toward Werewolves, half-folk, and House Elves."

"She finally freed the house elves?" Harry asked with a chuckle.

"No." Dominique spoke up. "She put laws in place for a level of care. House Elves are bound to a family magic. Freeing them would cut off the connection and kill them."

"I did not know that." Harry leaned back in his chair.

"Hermione thought the best way to gain support was to make the facts known." Fleur chuckled.

"Enough about all that." Vic said. "The food will be here soon."

"What is 'the usual' anyway?" Harry asked.

"A selection of dishes." Fleur locked eyes with him, there was a hunger that lingered in her gaze. "Don't you trust me?"

"Of course." Harry managed to reply.