Vestiges of Normalcy

Chapter 14

The gathering for breakfast at the Room of Requirement was much more joyful after the conclusion of the Second Task. With the temporary reprieve from potential injury, maiming, drowning, or death, Harry and his friends were allowed to let their hair down until the arrival of the Third Task.

There was much discussion, chatter and laughter in the room as breakfast was consumed, especially about a certain bumbling (and now beardless) headmaster.

"...and he had an extremely weak chin," Harry recounted as he sat comfortably on Viktor's lap, held in place by his boyfriend's arms, "I think that fireball Delacour threw at him destroyed the only thing that maintained his wise, grandfatherly image. Now he just looks like a stupid arsehole with a wrinkled, sagging face."

More laughs.

"I don't think I can take Dumberdore seriously after this," Fred wheezed.

"Since when have we been taking him seriously?" George countered and starting another round of laughter.

Once everyone had settled down and taken another bite of food, Nicolae noticed something missing, "Say, where's Luna?"

"Hey, you're right," Anastazja noted, "Shouldn't she be here by now?"

"Maybe she overslept?" Klaus put forward.

At that same moment, the door to the room opened.

"...Wrackspurts tend to be really annoying creatures, Fleur. Adding to the fact that they are invisible and almost impossible to scope out, it is easy for them to infest someone's brain, leading to bouts of confusion, dizziness, and episodes of negative thinking towards others."

Luna stepped into the room, leading Fleur and her sister Gabrielle inside. The occupants all stood up, raising eyebrows at the French champion's entrance, and how Luna got involved.

Fleur seemed to be surprised by the existence of the room, "Mon dieu! We don't have anyzing like theese in Beauxbatons."

"C'est très beau! (1)" Gabrielle agreed.

Luna turned to the staring group, "Oh, good morning everyone! My apologies for the late arrival, but Fleur Delacour and her sister were looking for you, Harry, so I brought them here. I would have come a little faster, but I was just explaining about Wrackspurts to them, and Gabrielle doesn't know much English yet, so Fleur had to translate for her."

Seeing her saviour, Gabrielle brightened, "Monsieur Potter!"

The little girl sprinted away from her sister's side, barrelled into the surprises teen, hugging him tightly.

"Um...what...?"

Viktor shared his boyfriend's confusion, overshadowing the slight growl threatening to escape his throat at the sight of a stranger hugging Harry.

Luna gently nudged Fleur, who approached Harry with just a hint of trepidation.

"Ms. Delacour, is there something you need of me?" Harry asked politely, maintaining a neutral tone.

"My behaviour towards you at ze start of ze tournament was unacceptable, Monsieur Potter," Fleur got straight to the point, "Eet was wrong of me to assume you were nothzing but a leetle boy who wanted fame and glory. You are truly a capable weezard, and one weeth a noble heart who weel not hesitate to save ozzers. Eet was my mistake to see you otherwise, and I want to give you my sincerest apologies for ze slight against your character, and I beseech your forgiveness for my error."

The French champion bowed respectfully, waiting for Harry's response.

Everyone was watching the raven-haired teen now, wondering if he would forgive Fleur as he had done for McGonagall, or snub her in righteous vengeance.