Special. A Not So Simple Search Pt 1

  Fleur was sitting quietly outside the Beauxbatons house. That was the name they gave to the carriage that now served as their home on the Hogwarts grounds.

  As always, several students were seated at the outdoor tables, chatting. Some were drinking tea; others were reading in silence. The atmosphere was calm. Elegant… perhaps even too elegant.

  Meanwhile, Fleur was simply there, taking a bit of fresh air to steady herself. For the past few days, she had been endlessly teased over the photos of Harry, and it was beginning to drive her insane.

  Especially the girls who shamelessly asked whether she was “investing long term” after seeing Harry’s adult appearance thanks to the potion. They claimed they certainly would if he were that handsome.

  Fleur rolled her eyes slightly at the memory.

  Her gaze wandered between the nearby Forbidden Forest and Hagrid’s hut not far away, until it paused when she saw Wanda walking calmly in her direction. She was carrying a baby in her arms.

  Fleur stood up at once when she recognized her and approached without hesitation.

  “Professor, what brings you here?” she asked with a genuinely warm smile.

  “Ta,” the baby in Wanda’s arms protested softly, sounding slightly offended at not being acknowledged first.

  Fleur smiled.

  “Hello to you as well. Tommy, did you get into trouble again?” she asked with a small grin, recognizing the baby in Wanda’s arms. Which, honestly, was no longer surprising. Even the Beauxbatons students had grown used to seeing him wandering about.

  “Ta,” Tommy replied with a proud little smile on his baby face.

  “And what brilliant things did you do this time?” Fleur asked, amused by his confident response.

  Wanda rolled her eyes at her son.

  “Mr. Swift decided it would be a brilliant idea to sneak out during class and run to the sweet shop in Hogsmeade to eat as much as he possibly could. He caused a sugar overload and then returned to Professor McGonagall’s class even more hyper than usual. But he mistook it for Potions, so he mixed a number of ingredients that exploded and covered the entire classroom in green slime. So I would not exactly call that intelligent,” Wanda said while gently poking her son’s belly.

  Tommy let out a small, delighted giggle.

  Fleur could not help but find Wanda’s methods of punishment entertaining. She herself had once ended up turned into a baby during one of the punishments aimed at Harry and his friends. In fact, her mother absolutely adored the photo Wanda had taken of all of them dressed as animals that day.

  “Well… what brings you here, Professor?” Fleur asked politely, returning to the original topic.

  “I am looking for Harry. Lately it has become somewhat difficult to track him using magic alone. He has grown quite skilled at hiding whenever he causes trouble. I thought he might be with Mr. Flamel,” Wanda said, looking slightly weary of her troublesome children. Though the smile on her lips made it clear she secretly enjoyed it.

  “Ah… I do not think so. Mr. Flamel said he was going to pick up a friend who would be arriving today. He left with Mrs. Flamel. I did not see Harry with them,” Fleur replied quickly.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “Hmm… I see. I wonder what he is plotting now,” Wanda murmured as she gently poked Tommy’s belly again, making him laugh happily.

  Suddenly, the baby’s gaze fixed intently on Fleur. He tilted his head slightly to one side.

  For a brief second, the gesture made Fleur think of the exact expression Harry always wore whenever he was plotting something suspicious.

  And as if Wanda had noticed that silent comparison, she could not help but form a faint smile.

  “Could you do me a favor?” Wanda asked suddenly.

  “Of course, Professor,” Fleur answered without hesitation.

  “Would you mind taking Tommy to Harry so he can watch him for a while? I still have classes to teach,” she said gently.

  “Eh? Of course. I do not mind at all,” Fleur replied.

  “Thank you,” Wanda said with a smile as she handed over the baby. Then she said her goodbyes, and Tommy waved his tiny hand enthusiastically.

  Fleur looked at the little one with a soft smile.

  “Well, it seems we have to go find your brother then.”

  “Ta,” Tommy said, raising one hand as if ready for an adventure.

  Fleur smiled slightly and stepped away from the borrowed Beauxbatons grounds, heading straight toward Hogwarts Castle.

  …

  Fleur walked through the corridors of Hogwarts. Even as she did, she could not help comparing the castle to her own at Beauxbatons. The difference between the two was striking. One seemed old and antiquated, with worn stone and echoes trailing through the hallways; the other displayed its wealth without the slightest shame. Well, when Nicolas Flamel is your sponsor, the difference tends to show.

  And yet, she could not deny that Hogwarts had its own magical charm. An ancient disorder that somehow worked. Paintings moving from place to place. Suits of armor sneezing without warning. Even the decorations seemed to hide some secret purpose.

  As she continued down the corridors, she inevitably drew the attention of Hogwarts students. Some were clearly captivated by her beauty. Others were more interested in why she was carrying a baby in her arms. But once they looked more closely and recognized him, they simply carried on as if it were perfectly normal. Even though he was usually a second-year student.

  “Where do you think your brother might be?” Fleur asked Tommy.

  The little one appeared to think for a moment. Then he raised his chubby hand and pointed confidently in one direction.

  Fleur followed his indication and soon arrived at what seemed to be one of the castle’s inner courtyards. A few students were sitting around a fountain, talking. Others were resting beneath a tree, relaxed.

  Fleur glanced around. Harry was not there. But someone clearly related to him was.

  Billy.

  He stood in a corner, positioned directly in front of the red dragon, Red, who appeared to be sitting before him as if in the middle of a very serious lesson.

  “Oh, perhaps we can ask your other brother for help,” Fleur said upon spotting Billy.

  Tommy nodded with a small “ta.”

  Fleur approached more carefully and realized that Billy seemed to be attempting to train Red, who was, apparently, listening with great attention.

  “Listen carefully. Red, you are supposed to be a dragon, correct? Dragons are proud, powerful creatures. They are meant to be impressive. You cannot go around stealing people’s food. Besides, you are not even supposed to need food. Harry should have taken you somewhere to be properly trained, so I will do it myself,” Billy declared with mild pride.

  And for some reason, Red puffed out his chest with pride as well.

  Meanwhile, Terra, the small fairy, floated nearby, holding a tiny snake that was clearly Dee.

  “Good. First, I will teach you how to greet properly. In exchange, I will give you a nutrition bar. They are actually delicious,” Billy explained as he pulled a bar from his pocket.

  But before he could even open it, Red leapt onto him, knocked him to the ground, and swallowed the bar in a single bite. Then he began sniffing aggressively through Billy’s clothes, while Billy flailed around trying to push him off.

  “Wait, Red!” he shouted, looking as though he was about to be stripped by the foolish dragon.

  Terra placed a hand on her forehead, as if she were already exhausted by all of them.

  Then Dee, with a cold and calculating look, seemed to use her power to paralyze Red. The dragon dropped stiffly onto Billy’s body, who let out a choked sound as the air was knocked out of him.

  “I think I should find another method…” Billy said, clearly worn out.

  Fleur and Tommy had frozen not far away. They exchanged a brief look.

  “Hmm… I do not think he will be much help when he is the one who needs it,” Fleur said softly.

  Tommy could only nod with a small “ta.”

  So Fleur left, carrying Tommy in her arms once more.

  She walked along another corridor, one that opened onto a bridge. She leaned slightly over the edge, scanning the figures crossing it.

  Not seeing Harry, she was about to turn away.

  But before she did, she noticed that Daphne was on the bridge… along with the Durmstrang champion.

  Viktor Krum.