Chapter 280: Chapter 280: "Final Days Part -1"
The last week of term brought unusually pleasant weather to Hogwarts. Golden sunlight bathed the grounds, as if nature itself was trying to make these final days memorable. The aftermath of the third task and Voldemort's return still lingered in the air, but the warmth of early summer helped ease the tension.
For Harry and Fleur, each moment seemed more precious than the last. They had fallen into a comfortable routine, balancing their time between public appearances and private moments. Mornings were spent with their respective friends, maintaining the facade of normal school life. Afternoons often found them by the lake, sometimes studying, sometimes just talking, while evenings were reserved for quiet walks through the castle's less-traveled corridors.
Today, they had claimed their favorite spot under an ancient oak tree near the lake. A subtle cooling charm kept the heat at bay while providing privacy from curious onlookers. Fleur lay with her head in Harry's lap, her silver hair spread out like moonlight on water.
"Tell me again about your summer plans?" she asked, her blue eyes studying his face intently.
Harry's fingers absently played with her silver strands as he replied, "Lessons with Grandfather mostly. Though I expect it won't be particularly enjoyable given the focus on dark magic."
Concern flickered across Fleur's features. "Be careful with that, mon cœur. I have no experience since Papa forbade me from touching it. He said learning those arts puts a terrible strain on one's mental stability."
"I know," Harry assured her, his voice thoughtful yet firm. "But with things as they are, I need to understand what I might face in my fights against dark wizards. I can't afford to be caught off guard by something I don't know how to counter." He smiled slightly, trying to ease her concern. "Don't worry, though. I don't plan on using it—I doubt I have much of an affinity for that sort of magic anyway."
"Just be careful," Fleur insisted, reaching up to touch his cheek, her fingers cool against his skin. "I don't want you to change." She paused before asking, her voice dropping lower, "Any other plans? Like dealing with our newly resurrected dark lord?"coni
Harry's expression turned calculating. "He'll be in hiding for now, rebuilding his forces. No need to waste energy hunting him. I'll leave that to Dumbledore's Order."
"Order?" Fleur's brow furrowed in confusion.
"The Order of Phoenix," Harry explained. "Dumbledore's group from the last war. He'll likely restart it soon to monitor Voldemort's activities."
"So they will handle him?" Fleur sat up, hope brightening her features. "Deal with him before he rebuilds his forces? That way there won't be a war, and you won't need to get involved."
Harry's laugh was tinged with bitterness. "I wish. From what I know of their methods, they'll just watch and wait. That was their pattern in the last war - Death Eaters would attack, the Order would fight defensively, capture them, send them to Azkaban... and then Voldemort would free them. An endless cycle of pointless battles."
"Was it really like that?" Fleur's expression showed her disbelief. "In times of war, they didn't fight to kill?"
"Dumbledore's mind works in peculiar ways," Harry shrugged, though his eyes held a hardness that belied his casual tone. "He's obsessed with preserving the old families, even the evil ones. Always about second chances, third chances, endless chances. It never seems to occur to him that some people don't deserve or want redemption."
"But didn't many ancient families die out in the last war anyway?"
"Exactly. That's why many people consider him an old fool." Harry's voice carried a hint of frustrated amusement. "His methods cost more lives than they saved. Voldemort's forces were built in this very school, and had Dumbledore done something to stop it early or faced him directly, the war might never have gained momentum."
Fleur's fingers intertwined with his. "So you will have to fight the war yourself."
"The order has their uses," Harry mused. "They'll act in the open, draw attention, while I work in the shadows. It suits me well enough." He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Don't worry though - unless I'm certain of success, I won't act. I'll be gathering information for now, using the Order as my unwitting informants."
"It's good that you have everything planned," Fleur's voice softened. "What about us? Do you have plans for that too?"
Harry smiled, pulling her closer. "Those are my favorite plans. Borders won't be an issue - with my new abilities, I can travel between our homes in no time. You'll probably get sick of seeing me so often."
Fleur's eyes sparkled with interest. "Really? What new abilities-"
Before Harry could answer, their moment was interrupted by approaching footsteps. Roger Davies and Cedric Diggory appeared, both wearing identical grins and carrying broomsticks.
"Sorry to interrupt the lovebirds," Roger called out cheerfully, "but we're kidnapping Harry for a bit. Last Quidditch scrimmage before everyone leaves!"
Harry groaned dramatically. "Don't you two have your own dates to bother?"
"Cho's already at the pitch," Cedric replied, grinning. "You're the only one we're waiting for."
"Go," Fleur laughed, giving Harry a playful push. "Show this golden boy what to expect in next year's Quidditch cup."
Cedric's eyes widened. "Wait, what? Harry, are you seriously competing next year?"
"Well," Harry stood, brushing grass from his robes, "there is a Quidditch Cup missing from my list of achievements. Can't graduate without that, can I?"
"As captain of Ravenclaw," Roger declared grandly, "I wholeheartedly approve this plan!"
What started as a simple invitation for a friendly scrimmage quickly evolved into something far more significant. Word spread through the castle like wildfire, and soon students from all three schools were streaming toward the Quidditch pitch. With Beauxbatons and Durmstrang leaving tomorrow, everyone seized the chance for one last memorable experience together.
The impromptu match transformed into an international exhibition game - Hogwarts versus a combined team from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. The visiting team was heavily favored, with Viktor Krum as their Seeker, a fact that had several Hogwarts students already placing bets on the final outcome.
The Hogwarts team assembled quickly: Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Roger Davies as Chasers, their years of playing together evident in their seamless coordination as they discussed strategy. The Weasley twins took their positions as Beaters, their identical grins promising the kind of chaos only they could deliver. Cedric Diggory, despite his obvious reservations about facing Krum, stepped up as Seeker. Harry, to everyone's surprise and considerable skepticism, took the position of Keeper.
"Keeper? Really?" Roger asked, his eyebrows disappearing into his hairline. "Have never seen you play as a keeper. Are you sure about this? I can convince Cedric to let you be Seeker - everyone wants to see you and Krum go head to head."
Harry shook his head, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "No need. Cedric needs this experience more. Maybe he can pick up something that will help if he wants to play professionally."
Cedric joined their huddle, his face showing both gratitude and concern. "Thanks for this, Harry. But can you handle being goalkeeper? We want to win this match badly, and if that means you need to be Seeker, I can switch."
"How hard can being a goalkeeper be?" Harry replied with a casual confidence that made both his teammates exchange uncertain glances. "I just need to stop the Quaffle from going through the hoops, right? I can manage that."
Despite their doubts, something in Harry's tone convinced them. The team then turned their attention to strategy.
As the stands filled with excited spectators, Harry and his team mounted his broom. This would be more than just a friendly match - it would be a proper sendoff for their international guests.
Above them, the summer sky stretched endlessly blue, perfect conditions for what promised to be an unforgettable game of Quidditch.
Chapter 281: Chapter 281: "Final Days Part - 2"
The stands filled quickly, with students proudly displaying their school colors. Fleur, sitting with her Beauxbatons classmates, caught Harry's eye and blew him a kiss, even as she wore her school's colors in support of the opposition.
Lee Jordan, who couldn't resist the opportunity to commentate one last time, grabbed his magical megaphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first-ever Tri-School Exhibition Match! And what a lineup we have today!"
The game began with explosive intensity. The combined team's Chasers, led by a talented Durmstrang seventh-year, launched an immediate attack on the Hogwarts goals. They moved with impressive speed, the Quaffle a red blur between them.
But they hadn't counted on Harry's reflexes.
Their first shot, a clever reverse pass that would have scored against most Keepers, was plucked out of the air as if Harry had known exactly where it would be. Their second attempt, a powerful throw to the lowest hoop, met the same fate.
"Impossible save by Potter!" Lee shouted. "Did he just catch that one-handed while hanging upside down? Is that even legal?"
The Hogwarts Chasers quickly took full advantage of Harry's impressive defense. Realizing that he could handle the goal on his own, they focused entirely on scoring. Angelina, Alicia, and Roger executed plays they'd perfected over years of practice. Their formations were flawless, their passing precise, and their shooting deadly accurate.
"Johnson to Spinnet, Spinnet to Davies - SCORE! Another ten points to Hogwarts! That's 60-0, and we're only fifteen minutes in!"
Above the main action, Krum and Cedric circled like hawks. The Bulgarian Seeker was clearly toying with his less experienced opponent, occasionally feinting into spectacular dives that had the crowd gasping.
The Weasley twins, meanwhile, were putting on a show of their own. They'd bewitched their Bludgers to trail sparkles, turning each hit into a fireworks display. Even the opposing team's Beaters had to applaud some of their more creative shots.
"And there goes Fred - or is it George? - with another spectacular Bludger! Look at those colors! If professional Quidditch doesn't work out, they could have a future in magical pyrotechnics!"
As the game progressed, the skill gap between the teams became increasingly apparent, but not in the way most had expected. While Krum clearly outclassed Cedric in the Seeker position, the Hogwarts Chasers were putting on a masterclass in teamwork.
"And there's another brilliant interception by Johnson!" Lee's commentary echoed across the pitch. "Look at that formation - they're running the Hawkshead Attacking Formation, no wait, it's morphed into a Reverse Porskoff Ploy! SCORE! 110-0 to Hogwarts!"
The visiting team's frustration mounted with each failed attempt at scoring. Harry's keeping was beyond anything they'd expected, his style unlike traditional Keepers. He didn't just defend the hoops - he seemed to control the entire defensive zone.
"Potter's not just stopping goals," Lee observed excitedly, "he's directing the entire defense! Look how he's positioning himself to force the Chasers into the twins' firing range!"
The score mounted: 120-0, then 140-0. Krum, realizing their only chance lay in catching the Snitch quickly, stopped toying with Cedric and began hunting in earnest.
"Krum's spotted something!" Lee shouted. "He's diving - and this time it's no feint! Diggory's trying to catch up, but that Firebolt's in a league of its own!"
The crowd rose to their feet as Krum streaked downward, Cedric trailing hopelessly behind. The Snitch gleamed just above the grass, and there was never any doubt about the outcome. Krum's fingers closed around the golden ball with typical flourish.
"KRUM CATCHES THE SNITCH! 150 POINTS TO THE COMBINED TEAM!" Lee announced. "But wait... what's the final score? Ladies and gentlemen, despite Krum's spectacular catch, Hogwarts wins 160-150! The power of teamwork prevails!"
The teams descended amid thunderous applause. Even Krum looked impressed as he shook hands with the Hogwarts players.
"You fly well," he told Harry gruffly. "Should haff been Seeker."
Harry smiled. "It was a friendly game. Sometimes it's more fun to help others score than to grab all the glory yourself."
The post-match celebrations carried on through dinner, momentarily pushing aside the darker events of the past week. Students from all three schools mingled freely, exchanging addresses and promises to keep in touch.
As evening fell, Harry found himself alone with Fleur in their usual spot on the Astronomy Tower. The castle glowed softly in the twilight, its windows twinkling like earthbound stars.
"You know," Fleur said softly, breaking their comfortable silence on the Astronomy Tower, "you promised to show me something special in ze castle. A special secret room, you said?"
Harry raised an eyebrow, though his eyes twinkled with mischief. "Did I?"
"Oui. You said it was... 'ow did you put it? Magical even for Hogwarts?" She leaned against him, her silver hair catching the moonlight. "Tonight is my last night here, and I don't think I will ever return. I don't want to miss ze chance to see this special room."
"Well then," Harry stood, offering his hand with an elegant bow, "shall we explore one last Hogwarts secret?"
They made their way through the quiet corridors, their footsteps echoing softly against ancient stone. Moonlight streamed through high windows, casting their shadows in elongated patterns across the floor. The castle seemed to hold its breath, as if aware of the significance of this final night.
Reaching the seventh floor, Harry led them to the blank wall opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. "Watch carefully," he instructed, beginning his three passes.
Fleur gasped softly as an ornate door materialized from the stone. The dark wood was intricately carved with patterns that seemed to shift in the dim light.
"After you," Harry gestured, and Fleur stepped through - only to freeze in wonderment.
The room had transformed into an exact replica of the French dueling arena where they'd first met. Every detail was perfect, from the marble columns to the gilded observation galleries. Even the lighting was identical, warm golden rays streaming through high windows that couldn't possibly exist within Hogwarts.
"This brings back memories," Fleur said softly, running her hand along a familiar railing. "Ze place where I was defeated so thoroughly."
"Where I taught an overconfident witch who relied too much on her allure a valuable lesson," Harry teased, though his tone was gentle.
"I was not overconfident!" Fleur protested, then laughed. "Well, perhaps a little. But let's not dwell on my old self. I like to think I've grown since then." She turned in a slow circle, taking in the perfect recreation. "This room can become anything?"
Harry demonstrated by summoning training dummies and conjuring ancient tomes. "It becomes whatever you need," he explained. "Though it can't create food or break Gamp's Laws. And anything conjured here must stay here."
"Ze room provides whatever you need?" Fleur's eyes sparkled with growing understanding, a mischievous smile playing at her lips.
"Would you like to try?" Harry asked, moving toward the door.
"Oui," Fleur's voice held a note that made Harry's heart skip. "Wait outside?"
Raising an eyebrow, Harry complied. The door vanished behind him, and he watched as Fleur paced deliberately, her expression concentrated. When the door reappeared, it was different - darker wood, with intricate carvings of roses and vines.
Harry's breath caught as he followed her inside. The room had transformed into an elegant bedroom that somehow combined both French and magical aesthetics. Floating candles cast a warm glow over midnight blue silk hangings. A trail of rose petals led toward a massive four-poster bed, its dark wood matching the door's carvings.
"Fleur..." Harry began, but found himself silenced by her finger against his lips.
"Non," she whispered, her blue eyes dark with emotion. "No more words, 'Arry. Just us."
As their lips met, the floating candles dimmed of their own accord. The Room of Requirement, understanding perfectly what they needed, ensured their privacy, sealing them in their own private world for one last magical night at Hogwarts.
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