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(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
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The fireplace flared again before she could respond, and Fleur stepped gracefully out, which he envied. She brightened immediately upon catching sight of her mother, and was in her arms before Harry could so much as blink. He felt a pang of jealousy – he wished his own mother was there for him to hug – but squashed it ruthlessly.
"Maman!" she gushed. "I am so 'appy to be 'ome!"
Arienne gave her daughter a lingering squeeze and then gently separated from her. "Dinner is waiting in ze dining room," she advised, and then she moved over to put her arm over Harry's shoulders, forcing him to restrain an impulse to flinch away from her. "Come, 'Arry," she said gently. "Let us get to know you."
Harry swallowed thickly in trepidation.
As Arienne guided him out of the room, he reflected that of all the things he had faced – and there were so many – this was the scariest! He was in a strange country, with a strange family, and he had to get to know them because he would be living here and marrying their daughter! He was desperately afraid that he would do something wrong!
They passed out of the room into a surprisingly open hall, with mostly doorless arches leading to various other parts of the home. It was designed with the perfect balance between privacy and openness, and Harry found that he rather liked it. He caught glimpses of other rooms as they walked, and noted that while they were impeccably decorated, many seemed well used and loved, unlike the entryway.
Arienne led them through a door at the end, and where he expected a grand ballroom, he instead found a small, intimate dining area. It contained a simple oaken table with comfortable looking seats surrounding it, and a small door led out the other side, presumably to the kitchen. At the table sat Sebastian, an older veela woman he didn't know, and–
"'ARRY!" squealed Gabrielle.
And she was off like a shot! He barely had time to extract himself from Arienne before she barreled into him, staggering him and knocking him back a few steps. He instinctively brought his arms around her to keep her from falling and hurting herself, and his shock shone on his face.
"Er, hi," he greeted faintly.
The girl pulled her head away from where she had buried it in his chest, and her curious blue eyes peered up at him, edged with admiration, from under long silver bangs. "Ai-je pour vous?" she asked hopefully.
Harry opened his mouth, but then closed it again, having absolutely no clue what she just said – but the startled laughter from Arienne and Fleur told him that he'd missed something. He looked up and met Fleur's amused gaze with a questioning look.
"She wants to know if she can keep you," she grinned at him, causing him to blush. And then her gaze shifted to Gabrielle and her grin turned evil. "Désolé, Gabrielle, il est à moi, mais je vous laisse lui emprunter de temps en temps si vous voulez."
Gabrielle pouted at her, her lower lip sticking out cutely.
Harry blinked. "Er, do I want to know?" he asked tentatively.
Fleur smiled toothily at him. "I told 'er zat you are mine, but zat I will let 'er borrow you from time to time."
Harry blushed beet red, and came very close to burying his face in Gabrielle's hair to avoid the extremely amused scrutiny of his apparent new family. He supposed that it was good that they were joking with him, but he couldn't quite bring himself to fully share in their amusement. He was far too nervous.
"Come, 'Arry," offered a still-grinning Arienne, finally taking pity on him. "'ave a seat. Zis is my muzzer, Catarine, Fleur's grandmuzzer."
Gabrielle scrambled down out of his arms as they made their way to the table, and Arienne took her by the shoulder to guide her to a seat on the other side. Harry was neutral on that: the little girl amused him, and he wouldn't have minded sitting next to her. Then again, as Arienne leaned down to say something to her in French, he figured she needed a translator for the evening.
"Bonjour, Grand-mère," smiled Fleur, drawing his attention back to the table and the older veela. "Do not worry, 'Arry, she is not as scary as she looks."
"Thank you zo much, Fleur," snorted the older woman sarcastically. "You make such ze impression for me."
"Er, hi," Harry greeted softly.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, 'Arry," she said with a genuine smile. "Although I must admit zat I am surprised. I zought zat Fleur would date an average boy before setting her sights so 'igh."
Harry turned an even deeper shade of red as he respectfully held Fleur's chair out for her like he'd seen so many boys do at the Yule Ball. It earned him a pleased smile as he took his own seat, which he returned only faintly. To say that he was overwhelmed would be putting it mildly!
And it wasn't over yet, for Sebastian was already responding to Catarine's barb. "Fleur does not do things by 'alf, Maman," he smirked, "as you will soon find out." Then, addressing the entire table, he added, "And let us speak in English tonight since 'Arry is not versed in our language. I will not 'ave 'im excluded from the conversation."
"Thank you, sir," said Harry quietly, genuinely appreciating the gesture; one of his greatest fears was that he would arrive here and not be able to understand anyone. He'd even gotten a book on French out of the library, for all the good it did to read about the language; he knew next to nothing!
"Please call me Sebastian, 'Arry," smiled the man. "We do not stand on ceremony 'ere."
Harry bobbed his head in understanding, though he doubted he could break that particular habit so easily, and then a soft noise caught his attention. He turned to see several House Elves entering with platters of food, and smiled warmly at them. It was easier to be around the subservient creatures than it was to be around humans, and ever since he freed Dobby, he'd been quite partial to them.
"Thank you," he offered one as it handed him a drink.
The elf smiled happily at him in return, obviously pleased.
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Enjoying the fanfic and hungry for more?
Dive deeper into the story with over 45+ chapters ahead! Your support on Patreon keeps the adventure alive. Visit my Patreon page to unlock exclusive content and support the continuation of this fanfic journey!
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(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
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