Despite Alain's offer to arrange some magical transportation, Hermione's parents preferred the regular means. They first considered taking a train from London to Paris and then to Bordeaux, where Fleur would be waiting, but that proved to take too long. Flying seemed to be a better and faster choice, and the cost difference wasn't significant. Harry insisted on paying for his and his wife's tickets, although they were still considered unattached in the Muggle world.
It was Harry's first flight in an airplane and he was very excited, yet the long queues at security, check-in and passport control made him lose some of the excitement. He enjoyed buying some presents for Hermione in the duty-free shops, and she also reminded him to buy something for Fleur and her family. It was then time to board the plane.
"It's huge! Almost as big as a dragon," Harry exclaimed, keeping his voice low, so as not to be overheard by strangers.
"It is, but it's a machine built by men, not a living creature," Hermione reminded him.
His excitement mounted again at takeoff, as he avidly watched every detail he could see. Then, as the flight reached cruising altitude and all he could see through the window was a white blanket of clouds, he lost his interest.
Two hours after boarding, when they finally arrived, he was already considering using a portkey for the way back, despite his reluctance at using it. Sitting for hours with nothing to do didn't seem like an attractive alternative.
Fleur was waiting for them when they exited the incoming flights' hall. She ran to them and hugged Harry and Hermione tightly, before welcoming the Granger parents more officially. "My parents are waiting for you at home. They thought we'd better not attract too much attention," she explained, as she led them to a waiting limousine. The chauffeur took their luggage and stowed it in the back before helping the ladies in.
"How long will it take?" Dave asked.
"Today seems to be a very busy day here, so it may take a bit to get out of the airport traffic, but once we get out, it will only take a few minutes to arrive," Fleur said.
"I didn't know you lived so close to the airport."
She smiled. "We live a few hundred kilometres away, but this is a magical car, so the distance is irrelevant."
"Oh," was all Dave was able to say.
It was a pleasant ride. They were so busy talking to each other that they didn't even notice the road and were quite surprised when the car stopped in front of a big manor house which looked quite like a small palace.
Dave looked appreciatively at the house. "Do all magicals live in such houses?" he asked.
Fleur laughed. "No, although most old families do have impressive houses. My Dad only bought this house shortly before I was born, as the house was on auction. It had previously belonged to a rich count who lost everything in gambling. We've added some wards and changed quite a lot since."
Her parents and Gabby were already waiting at the door. They welcomed their guests warmly and invited them in.
"Harry, there's somebody waiting for you inside," Fleur told him as she led him in.
Harry wasn't sure he wanted to meet anybody. He had enough of being "The Boy Who Lived" or "The Champion" as well as the less flattering titles some gave him. He didn't need anyone to treat him as a title rather than a person. Still, he was curious who that might be.
"Hello, Prongslet! I'm so happy to see you!" he heard a voice.
"Sirius?!" Harry uttered, turning his head towards the man who stood near the side wall.
"The one and only!" Sirius said, opening his arms for a hug, with Harry stepping into it.
"Sirius! How are you?" Hermione came running as well.
"I'm fine, Lady Potter, and extremely happy to be able to congratulate you two properly for getting together. I'd really like to know how it happened. Fleur didn't give me any details."
Hermione smiled mischievously. "You won't get any details from us either. Some things are better left private, don't you agree?"
"Indeed I do, Lady Potter, indeed I do."
"Oh, drop that Lady Potter. I like having that title, indicating that I'm Harry's wife, but I'm still the same Hermione that you've known before."
"Only a bit more mature and much happier," Sirius agreed.
"Yes, much happier, that's sure." Her beaming smile was proving her words.
Sirius let them settle in their rooms. The Potters got a large bedroom adjacent to Fleur's bedroom, with a connecting door between them. "No subtlety here," Hermione noted.
"Well, after visiting me at my aunt's house and at your parents' house, I don't see any reason to hide that relationship," Harry said. He then turned more serious. "I wonder how we shall cope in a few years, when we shall want some children, and I suppose Fleur will also want some, maybe even earlier."
Hermione gave it some consideration. "Harry, you have some other titles, besides Potter Lordship, don't you?"
Harry thought for a moment. "Yes. I remember they said I had Peverell Lordship and that I also got the Slytherin Lordship by right of conquest, since I defeated Voldemort when he tried to kill me as a baby. Some other names were also mentioned, but I'm not sure what they meant."
"Why don't you marry Fleur and give her one of the other titles? She could be Lady Peverell or even Lady Slytherin."
"Are you sure? I mean, wouldn't it affect your position?"
She smiled at him. "Harry, we are soul bound. Nothing can change that, but if you marry Fleur, it will give you a chance for a larger family and it would make her really happy. She loves you very much, you know."
"I think I also love her, but not as I love you."
"Then ask her. It will make her as happy as can be."
"What will your parents say?"
She gave the answer a bit of consideration. "They will not be happy about it, but they will appreciate your willingness to make your relations formal. They know that a girl, or a woman, needs to feel secure in her position. Marrying Fleur will give her the security she needs."
Harry sighed. "Fine, I'll propose to her, but only after you make sure your parents understand."
"You won't regret it," Hermione reassured him with a happy smile.
It still took a few days for Hermione to find some time to talk to her parents. The Delacour family made sure to give its guests a lot of fun activities, taking them on tours throughout southern France and spending some time at the pool or at the beach. With Sirius also spending as much time as possible with Harry and Hermione and Fleur asking for her share every day, everybody was too busy to have much time for that kind of conversation.
Hermione was cuddling into Harry after their "Goodnight" sex when she said, "I've spoken with my parents earlier, when Fleur kept you busy. It took them a bit to understand, but they agreed that marrying Fleur would be the best way to keep her happy as well as strengthen our relations with each other."
Harry hugged her tighter. "I'll propose to her tomorrow, then. I now understand why you wanted me to buy a nice ring for Fleur, yet held me from giving it right away."
"Yes, that ring is very handy now, I believe."
The next day was another busy day, with the morning spent at a clothes-free beach, which Sirius loved, yet Hermione accepted quite reluctantly, followed by lunch at a restaurant in Paris and then a visit to the Louvre museum. When they returned to the Delacour manor, after visiting the opera, they were all quite tired. Fleur wouldn't give up, though, and she asked to sleep in Harry's and Hermione's bed, sharing the sex session as well. Harry had no chance to propose, before both young women made him lose any coherent thought.
When he woke up the next morning, sandwiched between the two sleeping beauties, he finally made up his mind. Waking up this way each morning was something he would really like.
The three enjoyed themselves in bed some more. They showered and got dressed, and then Harry knelt in front of Fleur, holding the ring. "Mademoiselle Fleur Delacour, will you give me the honour of becoming my wife, bearing the title of Lady Peverell?"
Fleur seemed stunned for a moment. "Do you really mean that? Does Hermione agree?" She then noticed the smile and the expectant look on Hermione. "Yes, Harry. I'll be honoured to become your wife, regardless of which title you give me." She took Harry's hand in hers and made him stand up, kissing him for all her worth. Only later could Harry give her the ring. She was too excited to pay it any attention, though, even after she let him put the ring on her finger.
Her parents noticed the ring as soon as the youngsters joined them for breakfast. "A new ring, dear?" her mother asked.
Fleur showed the ring proudly. "Harry proposed. He has some other titles, besides the Potter one, and wants me to take one as his wife. Isn't that wonderful?"
Her mother smiled delightedly. "That's really wonderful. Congratulations, dear." Her gaze moved to Harry. "May I assume that your wife agrees?"
Harry smiled gladly. "It was her initiative, although I agreed immediately. We both like Fleur and feel like she's part of the family. It's just natural to make it formal."
"When do you plan to have the wedding?"
Harry shrugged. "We've not discussed it yet. Whenever Fleur wants, it's alright with me."
Fleur looked enthusiastic. "How about next week? That will leave us enough time to get some nice clothes for the event and invite some close family and friends."
The vacation plans were changed now. Harry went with Alain to a tailor shop to buy a nice tuxedo for the occasion. It took them two hours to return with the finished garment. It took the ladies several days to achieve the same, concerning their dresses at the wedding, yet they seemed to enjoy it.
Alain also reminded Harry, "You should write to your school and request lodging suitable for your new position and your family. It would be politer than requesting it after you come for the beginning of the term."
Both Hermione and Fleur agreed, so Harry sent a letter to his head-of-house, informing her of the changes in his life and the needed lodging.
The wedding ceremony was held in a small church, not far from the Delacour mansion. It was a Muggle ceremony, actually, although the vicar was a wizard who had decided to use his abilities for the benefit of those lacking them. Except for the residents of the mansion, only Fleur's grandparents, uncles and aunts from both sides were present, all dressed appropriately. "Do you, Lord Harry James Peverell, take Mademoiselle Fleur Isabelle Delacour as your wife, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?" the vicar asked.
"I do!" Harry answered loudly.
Fleur replied similarly when her turn came, and didn't even wait for the vicar's approval to engulf Harry in a big hug and kiss him for all her worth. The photographer had a lot of fun with the young couple, especially when Hermione joined the hugs and the kisses.
\/\/\/
"There's a Mister Dumbledore waiting for you. I let him stay in the waiting room," the house elf informed Harry as soon as they came back from the wedding.
Harry frowned, Hermione and Fleur grabbed his hands and walked with him to meet the headmaster.
"Good day, Headmaster. To what do I owe this visit?"
Dumbledore stood up. "I've just been informed of your change of status, Lord Potter, and I thought we should discuss this before the start of term." He glanced at Fleur, still clad in her white wedding dress. "Have I come at an inappropriate time?"
"You've come just in time for joining the wedding celebration, Monsieur Dumbledore, as Lord Peverell has just made me his Lady."
Dumbledore frowned a bit. "I thought you already had a bond with Hermione – Lady Potter."
Harry smiled at the old man's confusion. "I have, but I also wanted to make my relations with Fleur formal, giving her the reassurance every woman needs."
"Is that smart? I mean, having two wives while..." He seemed to reconsider his words, especially as Alain and Sirius were also coming into the room.
"Is there any problem, Headmaster?" Sirius asked.
Dumbledore sighed. "There may be. Yet maybe this is not the time to talk about it. Better let the newly married couple enjoy the day. This can wait for another time."
Harry nodded. "See you later, headmaster." He took his wives' hands and left the room.