A Familiar BondVedrosChapter 19: The First TaskChapter TextThe morning of the first task found Harry with Valerie and Daphne as they walked toward the infirmary.
The castle was almost empty by now as most of the students and professors alike had already made their way over to the arena for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament.
However, they had something else to take care of first.
Professor Slughorn should have woken up days ago if Madam Pomfrey's diagnosis was to be believed. However, after they had left, the man had a sudden heart attack in the middle of the night. The Hogwarts matron had successfully prevented the worst from happening but she could not prevent the old wizard's condition from worsening.
The man had not woken up until this morning. Adhering to his request, Madam Pomfrey had made sure he had been informed about it and here he was with his girlfriends, all on their way to greet him.
"Think he'll be fine?" Valerie asked softly.
"Who knows?" Daphne replied in an equally quiet voice. "It got much more serious than either of us thought."
Harry had to agree with that sentiment. They had never imagined that Slughorn would react the way he had and it had frightened them all for his life. It was truly fortunate that Madam Pomfrey had mitigated everything successfully.
The Infirmary was also vacant apart from Madam Pomfrey and her solitary patient and as they got closer, they saw Slughorn lying on the cot with his eyes closed and his breathing even.
"He's awake. You may talk to him, but make sure you keep it down," Madam Pomfrey instructed as she stepped to the side.
Harry nodded and walked closer, standing beside the bed and gently clearing his throat.
Slughorn's eyes opened and they fixated on him instantly.
"Professor," Harry smiled gently and took the bouquet that Daphne handed him. He placed it alongside the mountain of gifts that already surrounded the man's cot.
Slughorn kept staring unblinkingly at him.
Slowly, Harry reached forward and took the man's hand, frowning when he felt the feeble grip tighten. He looked up and saw Slughorn staring at him with tearful eyes.
"I've held it close to my heart for years, feeling nothing but regret and shame," the man rasped out feebly. Harry could see how much effort it was taking for him to speak and he firmly clasped his hand with both of his.
"You don't have to say anything, Professor," Harry said reassuringly. He did not want the man's situation to worsen any more than it already had. "You never knew. You were simply doing your job as an exemplary educator. You are the last person who should feel guilty."
Slughorn merely closed his eyes as tears slid out of them. Harry squeezed his hand once again.
"Stop feeling the misplaced blame, Professor. You should instead be proud that you finally managed to successfully overcome this tremendous burden you'd been carrying for so many years," Harry reassured the man.
There was a long moment of silence in the infirmary as Slughorn wept in the agony of regret.
"Doesn't it feel liberating, sir?" Harry said encouragingly. "To finally be rid of this burden? To face the horrors of your past and come out on top? I know you are a very strong man, sir. Does it not feel good to know that everything will soon be alright?"
Slughorn opened his tearful eyes and regarded him for a long moment. Harry stared back reassuringly.
"You truly are your mother's son," the old man whispered with a nostalgic smile.
"Then as your favorite student's son, I'm telling you not to feel any regret. You have overcome your past and you should be proud of that," Harry said firmly. "And I promise you. Nothing will be in vain. Steps are already being taken to destroy all of them."
Slughorn's eyes widened slightly as he stared at him. Harry nodded resolutely.
"So that is why…" he whispered as he trailed off. "That was Dumbledore's true intention, wasn't it?"
Slughorn let out a mirthless chuckle that soon devolved into a cough. Once he'd brought himself under control, he looked at Harry tearfully.
"Tell truthfully, dear boy," he whispered. "Was any of it true or was it all just an act you put to carry out Albus' wishes?"
Harry's eyes softened in understanding and he smiled.
"It is true that my first instinct was to manipulate you into giving it up, but it did not feel right after we spent some time together. I want you to believe that I truly hold you in high regard, sir. I might have done a lot of things to get into your good graces but it was not always motivated by my hidden intentions."
Slughorn regarded him and consequently, Daphne and Valerie for a long while before he sighed. Smiling, he lay back on his cot and nodded.
"It is the first task today, hmm?" He said softly as he smiled. "Do Hogwarts proud."
Harry smiled.
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"Harry! There you are!"
Harry was slightly startled at the loud shout but he quickly schooled his features and gave the exuberant man a polite smile. He forced himself not to grimace when the man clapped him not too gently on the shoulder, smiling widely.
"Good to see you too, Mr. Bagman," he greeted courteously and looked over at the others inside the tent.
Mr. Crouch was standing by the side, a distasteful look on his face as he gazed at Ludo Bagman who was none the wiser. Harry had to suppress a snort at that. Krum was lounging in the corner with a look of intense focus on his face as the headmaster of his school stood beside him, looking around and glaring at everything.
'Does he think his precious champion will be attacked here in front of everyone?' Harry thought.
Madame Maxime was noticeable as always – a towering figure standing behind her prized pupil whom Harry gazed at and winked. He smiled when she winked back and smirked.
Fleur looked like those female warriors of old in her light blue combat attire. It had long sleeves that covered even her palms and the waist fanned out in a skirt. Her legs were also covered with blue trousers. Harry unabashedly ran his eyes over her figure, traveling over her front which was elegantly designed with golden bands running over her chest, emphasizing her sizeable assets.
Amused, Fleur let him admire her.
Harry walked into the tent and nodded at all those who caught his eyes. He expertly ignored the people from the press, particularly that vulture from the Prophet, and joined Dumbledore who gave him a placid smile.
Ludo Bagman was still following him exuberantly and had to be interrupted by Mr. Crouch, much to the amusement of almost everyone present.
"You can fawn over the lad in your personal time, Bagman. We have a task to get on with," Mr. Crouch grouched. His lips were curled in a sneer.
Bagman grimaced.
"Ah yes, the first task. Indeed, Barty," he smiled widely. "Champions, if you would please gather around."
As one, the three champions moved, standing side by side in a circle and looking at Bagman who brandished a moleskin pouch from the pocket of his flamboyant robes.
"One by one, you will pick out an item from this pouch here. It will tell you the challenge you will face. There are three… err… varieties, you see," Bagman informed.
No one showed any reaction apart from understanding. They all knew what the task entailed.
"Miss Delacour, if you please," Bagman smiled, holding out the pouch for her.
Fleur released a breath and nodded. She confidently reached inside and took out a miniature model of her dragon. Harry noted it was the Norwegian Ridgeback.
A loud gasp echoed around in the arena outside the tent as the spectators saw what the champions were truly up against on the giant suspended screen that telecasted everything around them.
"The Norwegian Ridgeback," Bagman announced with aplomb. "One of the few poisonous breeds of dragons around. Good luck, Miss Delacour."
Fleur nodded and stepped back, smiling when Harry squeezed her hand discreetly.
"Mr. Krum, if you please," Bagman smiled. The surly-faced Bulgarian nodded curtly and reached inside, pulling out the miniature model of a gray dragon.
"Ah, the Ukrainian Ironbelly!" Bagman announced dramatically. "A fierce dragon by all means, and one of the best when it comes to guarding something. Looks like a good challenge indeed, Mr. Krum."
Krum nodded, curled his fist around the model tightly enough to almost make it crack, and stepped back.
"And that leaves Mr. Potter," Bagman's eyes had a hint of pity to them. Harry scoffed to himself. "I wonder which dragon the champion of the host school shall face."
"You don't say," Harry muttered under his breath.
"Hm? What was that?"
"Nothing," Harry chuckled and reached inside the pouch, pulling out the miniature model of a snarling Horntail.
"The Hungarian Horntail," Bagman said in a voice that was much subdued from his previous two announcements. "A nasty piece of work indeed. I'd seriously advise you to come up with a sound strategy."
Harry nodded curtly and stepped back. He squeezed Fleur's hand when she held his and pulled away shortly.
"Now," Bagman smiled widely once again. "You know your challenge, but overcoming it is not your goal today. Each dragon shall be guarding a golden egg. Your task is to steal that golden egg by any means necessary. The first champion who steals their egg and crosses the exit line will be awarded forty points. The second champion will be awarded thirty points and the final will get twenty points. Ten points will be reserved for the judges to award based on the champions' performance during the task. I must explicitly state that all spells short of the Unforgivables are permitted."
The champions nodded in understanding.
"Very well then," Bagman clapped his hands. "We shall be underway in an hour. Please take this time to think your strategy. Remember that you can only carry your wand and the clothes you have on your person. Any other artifacts are forbidden, and that includes any family heirlooms as well. Good luck, champions!"
The champions watched as everyone walked out of the tent. They greeted their respective head professors respectfully and assumed their place around the tent.
The cameras monitoring the tent vanished to showcase the dragons in the Forbidden Forest, making the spectators gasp or look on in wonder.
Harry was surprised to see Bagman come back. He was even more surprised when the man made a beeline toward him.
"Ready, Harry? Think you've got this in the bag?"
Although slightly surprised, Harry nodded.
"Look, it's no shame to admit that you're feeling overwhelmed here. We all feel like that sometimes. Why, I believe I was this close to pissing my pants when I was making my professional debut," Bagman chuckled. "My coach helped me out a lot back then, oh yes."
"Don't worry, Mr. Bagman," Harry chuckled. "I think I can manage this just fine."
Bagman looked startled for a second before he grinned and patted him on the back once again.
"Attaboy. See you then. Good luck, Harry," the man said exuberantly and rushed out of the tent, leaving a chuckling Harry who rolled his eyes.
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"Think they've got everything under control?" Valerie asked, slightly nervous. She was with Daphne, Tracey, and Astoria near the front of the stands, looking on at the large screen as the dragon handlers dealt with the visibly irritated dragons.
"Don't kid me, Val," Daphne muttered. "They're dragons. I doubt even Dumbledore would have everything under full control. There's always a possibility of something going wrong."
"Be positive, Daph," Tracey remarked. "Your man will manage it all just fine."
Daphne sighed and nodded.
"Hopefully so," she replied.
"He better," Valerie said curtly. "Or it's the couch for him for as long as we feel like it."
Tracey looked at them and snorted.
"Yeah, as if you'd be able to hold on for so long," she replied mirthfully.
Valerie looked at the brunette and smirked.
"We got each other, dear Tracey," she replied, and Tracey watched with wide eyes as both Valerie and Daphne wrapped their arms around each other's waists. "I think we can hold on just fine. It's him who needs to worry."
Tracey averted her eyes in exasperation. Truth be told, she had no idea how this thing worked among those three, and if Daph was to be believed, they were looking to add Delacour into the mix as well.
'Well, whatever floats their boat, I guess,' she thought.
Meanwhile, inside the tent, Harry sat by himself on a chair as he contemplated how to go about the first task. He had the Horntail to face and he would prefer to get it done as soon as possible and without any injuries if he could help it.
It was a test of his abilities, as Dumbledore had told him – a way to judge how far he had come and what he needed to improve as a combat wizard.
Furthermore, he had an important meeting to attend after the task concluded.
The thought of the upcoming meeting brought his attention to the woman it concerned the most and he looked over toward Fleur who also sat in contemplation. As if feeling his eyes on her, she looked over and gave him a small smile. Harry nodded reassuringly at her.
Indeed, both of them needed to complete this task. Ever since they had discovered it was dragons they were facing, they had been devising several strategies to take down the ferocious creatures without severely injuring them. If he was being honest with himself, their task had been easier than they had thought since they did not need to subdue the creatures but only to get past them and steal the golden egg. It would be a challenge but one that was much easier than expected.
They saw Krum stand up and walk toward where the restrooms were and the moment the man was out of sight, they glided toward each other as one.
Arms wrapped around each other, they kissed passionately. Their breaths became one as their tongues entangled, lips moving sensuously.
Breathless, they pulled away and stared into each other's eyes.
"Let's get this done as soon as we can," Harry said firmly.
Fleur looked up at him with a smirk.
"Eager, are we?"
"To make you fully mine? More than you believe."
"You seem very confident that you'll both convince my Papa and tame the veela as well," Fleur replied. The hope in her voice was unmissable.
Harry smiled and pecked her lips softly once again.
"I have faith in myself and the ritual," he replied.
Fleur was already aware of the ritual he had undertaken with both Valerie and Daphne and she had also been filled with optimism when she'd heard how it worked. She only hoped her optimism wasn't false.
"Then you have my faith as well," she replied, smiling. "Papa is already in the stands with Maman."
"I saw them on my way here," Harry replied before his lips curled into a smirk. "Guess I better put on a show for my prospective in-laws then."
Fleur let out a tinkling giggle and swatted his chest playfully.
Suddenly, they heard the rustle of fabric and saw Krum emerge from the restroom. He gazed at them for a second, arms still wrapped around each other, and with a bored gaze, he took his seat once again. Harry and Fleur exchanged an amused look as they pulled away, assuming their respective places once again.
The first task was still a little under fifteen minutes away.
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Antoine Delacour sat with his wife Apolline alongside the rest of the French dignitaries who had arrived for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. His countenance was one of distaste as he stared at the spectacle put forward.
Apolline glanced at her husband and sighed. He never liked violent displays of magic just for the sake of it. Her husband was indeed a martial man, having served in the French Auror Force for a couple of decades before assuming a permanent governmental post, but the pointless display of magical prowess in events such as tournaments just for the entertainment of a select few had never impressed him.
He had been firmly against his daughter competing in one but he did not try to dissuade her from it, nor did he ever try to exert his will upon her. His daughter was a grown woman and as such, she had the right to make her decisions, whatever they might be. He could only advise her, but it was her choice whether she listened or not. More often than not, she did. However, this time, she did not.
Antoine sighed as he thought about his daughter.
For years, she had been shunned by her peers for looking like a child, and then when she suddenly blossomed into his beautiful flower, she had been shunned for it. Fleur had never felt accepted by her peers, nor had she ever felt she had earned anyone's respect for being such a remarkable witch.
He knew she had chosen to participate in this tournament only because she wanted to prove her prowess as a witch. A part of him respected the sentiment. Alas, his principles did not fully align.
Nevertheless, he would stand firmly behind his daughter, supporting her until the end. He knew she was a capable witch, and as the only female competing against two males, she had an additional point to prove as well. He had to admit that he was looking forward to seeing how much she had learned.
He also could not help but recall the letter he had received from her a few days ago. She wanted him to meet someone with the possibility of forming an official alliance. He knew what she meant, and to think she had found an Englishman to spend her life with was surprising, to say the least. He was aware of his daughter's views on males from across the channel, so for her to find someone so soon after arriving filled him with both anticipation and apprehension.
There was only one possibility here – the veela had identified someone to be her mate, and Fleur had agreed. That meant he would have to take proper measure of the young man concerned.
They were supposed to meet in the evening after the task concluded. His wife had told him to keep an open mind about it and that was what he was going to do. However, it did not mean he would be a passive participant either. If this young man wanted his daughter, he would first need to prove himself, both as a wizard and as a person.
"Dear, it's starting."
Antoine smiled at his wife. It was indeed starting.
The arena morphed around them. Three massive walls made of the same stone that the ground was comprised of emerged. There was a loud whoosh as the arena lit up once again and three portkeys activated, transporting three massive cages filled with the dragons they had seen minutes prior on the large screen in each of the three segments.
The names of the champions appeared on the gate leading into each segment of the arena, corresponding to the dragon they had selected.
Antoine looked at the Ridgeback keenly. It looked slightly agitated which was saying a lot since they were regarded among the calmest of the species, even though they were not calm in the traditional sense.
The dragons looked well-fed, which was both a good and a bad thing. It meant they would not be overly aggressive due to hunger but they could fight and defend the treasures better.
He wondered how the champions, and his daughter in particular, would approach this task.
"You seem oddly interested in the task considering your views on spectacles like these," Apolline said, slightly amused.
Antoine chuckled.
"My girl is competing, dear. No wonder I am interested," he replied.
Apolline's reply was cut off as a loud siren echoed around the arena and they watched as the cages confining the dragons transformed into massive chains. She grimaced at the sight of the creatures as they craned their necks, trying to break their bindings, to no avail.
"This feels barbaric," she muttered in distaste. Antoine nodded in agreement.
"I still have no idea what madness made them reinstate this tournament. It was abolished for a reason."
"Money, dear," Antoine replied, glancing around at his fellow dignitaries who looked on gleefully.
The doors leading into the arena opened and Antoine smiled when he spotted his daughter standing ready at the entrance. She looked determined as she held her wand by her side. He glanced at the other two champions and nodded to himself. Both had a demeanor of utter seriousness.
This was going to be interesting.
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Harry and Fleur watched Krum go inside one of the tunnels that led to the arena before they turned to each other. Silently, they reached forward, clasping hands and kissing each other softly.
"See you soon," she said as she pulled away.
Harry smiled and nodded, watching as she walked into the tunnel. With a sigh, he schooled his features into a determined one and walked into the tunnel designated with his name.
The tunnel was mostly dark with lamps at every twenty yards or so. It was quite a long walk and he winced as the door leading to the arena opened on its own, blinding him with the bright sunlight.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament!" Ludo Bagman's voice boomed. The crowd roared deafeningly. Unfortunately, it resulted in agitating the dragons more than they already were.
Harry stepped inside the arena, crossing the barrier that kept the outsiders separate and saw the Horntail roar furiously as it noticed him. He could not help but grimace. This creature would be a nasty piece of work.
Taking a deep breath, he tuned out both the commentary and the roar of the crowd, focusing himself on the task at hand. His eyes closed momentarily and he exhaled, opening his eyes and staring at the dragon.
He reminded himself that his goal here was to test himself and he stepped forward once again, staring back in defiance when the Horntail roared in warning once again.
The creature must have not liked his response, or the lack thereof, as it reared its head. Harry saw the nasty blue glow of dragonfire and quickly whipped his wand out. He knew about flames, and blue was the hottest.
The dragonfire shot toward him at a breakneck pace and Harry whipped his wand, casting Protego roughly twenty yards in front of him. As expected, the dragonfire shattered the shield upon contact. Harry wasted no time and waved his wand around.
The crowd gasped as one when his shield shattered but many were left confused when he conjured another shield. However, several individuals stared, either disbelieving or impressed at the flawless demonstration of the Protego Maxima. They were left further awed when Harry cast the Fianto Duri and the Repello Imimicum in quick succession, marveling at how quickly the spells took effect.
All the while, Daphne, Valerie, and Dumbledore watched in visible pride.
The dragon stared, stupefied, as its flames failed to reach further. Snarling, the creature poured even more power and magic into its flames, and everyone watched how the blue glow seemed to encompass the entire center of the large screen. The rocky surface of the ground seemed to blur and wobble under the heat but no matter what the dragon did, Harry's protective barrier remained impregnable.
Harry stood relaxed as his protective barrier held the dragonfire at bay flawlessly. He could see the dragon getting agitated beyond measure and he stayed prepared to move at a moment's notice should his barrier collapse. As of right then, there were no signs of that happening.
On the other side of the stone wall, Krum was flinging curse after curse at the Ironbelly. However, the creature seemed poised as it guarded its treasure, simply growling in warning every once in a while.
Meanwhile, Fleur had gone for the enchantment she had told them about. Her veela heritage came to her aid and she dedicated herself to ensnaring the Ridgeback from a close range, all the while shielding herself from the occasional flames the dragon would spew.
"Isn't she doing a brilliant job, dear?" Apolline remarked with a wide smile as she saw her daughter shield herself against another bout of dragonfire.
Antoine did not reply, prompting his wife to look over at him. He had a look of wonder on his face as he stared at the giant screen. Curious, Apolline looked over and her eyes widened.
Harry Potter stood in the middle of the arena while the Horntail shot glowing blue flames straight at him, only for it all to be repelled by an invisible barrier.
"He's not even trying," she whispered in shock.
"He is testing himself," Antoine replied confidently. "He has worked on his magic and is using this opportunity to see just how much stronger he's gotten. He cast Protego Horribilis and enhanced it with Fianto Duri and Repello Imimicum. Probably the ultimate defensively enchanted barrier one could create, and he did it in less than two seconds. Truly remarkable to use this tournament in such a manner."
Apolline was surprised to notice the admiration in her husband's voice and she looked back at the screen that showed Harry Potter.
"And now he goes on the offense," Antoine whispered.
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Harry had no idea how the other champions were faring but if the roar of the crowd was anything to go by, they were being thoroughly entertained. He scoffed to himself.
The dragon was relentless in spewing flames and Harry did not miss how the color had long changed from blue to white. The Horntail was getting tired and it showed in its flames. He kept his barrier up all the while, withstanding the assault of dragonfire and he observed with utmost satisfaction as it never bucked even once.
He knew his enchanted barrier was very powerful. Val, Daph, and Fleur had all taken to simultaneously and together cast as many offensive spells as they could and they could never manage to bring it down. Val had even theorized that the only spell that could pierce through his barrier apart from the Unforgivables was probably Fiendfyre. After this demonstration, Harry was inclined to agree.
The dragon was visibly struggling now, but more than that, it was getting more and more agitated as time went by and all its efforts resulted in failure. Alas, its agitation was not backed by the magic it had at its disposal as the white flames slowly turned to yellow and then orange.
Harry deemed it was enough of a test now. The dragon's flames were very weak now. Quickly, he took down his enchanted barrier none too gently.
A resounding explosion rocked the entire arena, deafening the entire crowd who looked over in shock. Nothing but black smog filled the center of the arena as the Horntail craned its neck around, trying to both spot and smell him.
Suddenly, a massive boulder collided with the dragon's snout, making the crowd gasp out loud. Chunks of sharp teeth clattered onto the rocky terrain as blood gushed out of the Horntail's muzzle.
The smog cleared slowly and they saw Harry's wand glowing a crystal white. Limbs made out of rock shot from the ground, wrapping around the Horntail's mouth, forcing it shut. Another pair of massive arms protruded out, trapping both the wings underneath while a final arm pinned the Horntail's spiky tail on the ground.
Fully immobilized, the Horntail stared at its captor with its glowing yellow eyes brimming with rage and hatred.
Harry stood to the side, his wand glowing and at the ready. He could feel the creature struggling against its bindings and he reinforced the hold. The dragon's defeated rumble echoed in the otherwise silent arena around him.
Students, professors, members of the press, and all the dignitaries stared at him as he gave the Horntail a final glance and strolled over to where the golden egg was. He lifted it up and without any further delay, he walked out of the arena.
The crowd remained silent before hushed whispers broke out as the dragon handlers came to take care of the Horntail. It was a performance beyond anything they had ever seen. While many were left impressed, there were several who stared, seething.
Dumbledore looked around in satisfaction as Harry finished the task first with such dominance. He had tested himself as he had expected and he displayed his magical superiority for the entire world to witness first-hand.
Meanwhile, Valerie and Daphne were hugging each other as they stared proudly at Harry's retreating figure. They also saw Fleur who successfully put her dragon to sleep and walked out with her golden egg. Tracey and Astoria looked at the two girls before they exchanged an exasperated smile.
"So… no couch time for him then?" the latter interjected, making Daphne look at her sister with a smirk. Valerie pulled back to smirk at the pair of brunettes as well.
"He better be ready with stamina potions 'cause he's gonna need them."
Both Tracey and Astoria deadpanned.
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Antoine and Apolline Delacour stared, visibly impressed with the show Harry Potter put on for everyone watching. To think that someone in their fourth year was so adept at spellcasting and so advanced was indeed a marvel.
"Looks like there's a lot more truth to the legend of Harry Potter than we'd believed," Apolline remarked.
She chuckled when her husband remained silent.
"Looks like someone left quite an impression on you, dear," she remarked.
Antoine could only nod with a disbelieving smile etched on his face.
"I'm being honest, dear. I never expected something like this from anyone in this tournament, much less from the youngest champion. That young man is indeed special."
"Careful, dear," Apolline warned mirthfully. "With the way you're talking about him, people might think he's your long-lost son or something."
Antoine chuckled.
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He should have seen this coming.
His wife had such an uncanny habit of predicting the unpredictable. He should have paid it more mind when she first uttered it.
However, as he stared at his daughter and the young man whose arm she was clinging to, he reminded himself to listen to his wife more.
For looking back at him was none other than Harry Potter – the young man he had been praising ever since the first task and also the young man whom his daughter had apparently chosen to be her life partner.
"Well, can't say I saw this coming."
Chapter 20: The DelacoursChapter TextThe arena was abuzz with frantic whispers and excited discussions concerning the first task as it ended once Krum managed to get the golden egg from the lair of the Ukrainian Ironbelly.
The dragon had kept a very calm demeanor throughout the task and in the end, an ingenuity from Krum had managed to get him the egg. Once he realized he could not get the massive dragon to budge from its spot around the egg, Krum decided to focus more on how he could get the egg to move. Since summoning was out of the question due to the enchantments placed around it, he had to resort to one skill he was arguably the best at.
The crowd was treated to the star seeker's flying skills as he maneuvered around the massive dragon and after trying for quite a while, he finally succeeded. Even though it took him more time than his two competitors, the crowd was in no mood to complain considering they were treated to a spectacle they usually got to see only during the best of professional Quidditch matches.
Albus Dumbledore sat with the other four judges in the stands, all visibly enthralled by the display of magic and ingenuity the three champions had displayed for the entire wizarding world to see. He was particularly impressed by Harry's display in the task. The boy was far beyond his age in both magical skill and power, and the ease with which he had accomplished his objective in the first task spoke volumes about his ability as a wizard.
Dumbledore was not delusional enough to believe that Harry was already capable enough to defeat Tom when he made his eventual return, but considering the pace at which he was improving, there was certainly potential within him.
"They were all impressive in their own right," he started.
"Don't act all humble, Albus. What Potter did was more advanced and impressive than the other two," the curt voice of Bartemius Crouch earned a foul look from Igor Karkaroff. Madame Maxime simply nodded even though she did not like it.
"To use protective enchantments with such expertise and zen displaying such advanced transfiguration is certainly deserving of ze highest points," the tall woman added, earning a nod from both Crouch and Bagman.
Karkaroff clenched his teeth but said nothing. His champion had finished the task in the last place so he was already trailing by ten points. By finishing first, Potter was already the favorite.
"We all have two points each," Bagman began. "Let's begin with Mr. Potter."
There was a chorus of twos from the former beater, Dumbledore, Madame Maxime, and Barty Crouch.
"One," Karkaroff said with gritted teeth.
"Miss Delacour next," Bagman intoned with a sideways glance toward Karkaroff whose face remained sour.
"I believe she was brilliant with her enchantment as well. Truly a magnificent display. I believe she deserves a two as well, Ludo," Dumbledore said calmly. Bagman nodded and followed suit, accompanied by Madame Maxime.
Barty Crouch frowned.
"Awarding her two points would be akin to equating her performance with Potter, which, I believe, would be unfair. A one-and-a-half would have been fair. Alas, we cannot award part points so it is a two from me as well."
"One," Karkaroff repeated.
"Thirty-nine points for Miss Delacour then. Finally, Mr. Krum."
"Considering the display of flying skills and what he was facing, I believe Mr. Krum overcame his adverse surroundings. I have no qualms about awarding him two points either."
"I couldn't agree more," Karkaroff was quick to interject, earning an eyeroll from both Bagman and Madame Maxime.
Five minutes later, the champions were summoned back into the arena for the announcement. They stood amidst the cheering crowd and stared up at the judges' section of the stands where Dumbledore stood with the heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang beside him. Bagman stood beside Madame Maxime while Barty Crouch and Igor Karkaroff stood side-by-side, their postures rigid and their faces contorted into glares.
Harry took one look at them and chuckled. There was no love lost between the two and it was apparent for all to see.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to announce the current standings in the prestigious Triwizard Tournament!" Ludo Bagman announced to a chorus of cheering from the crowd. The man grinned widely, basking in the applause. "In third place, we have Mr. Viktor Krum from Durmstrang with twenty-eight points. In second place, we find Miss Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons with a respectable thirty-nine points. Finally, in first place is Hogwarts' own Harry Potter with a remarkable forty-nine points! Let's applaud these exceptional witch and wizards for their outstanding display in the first task!"
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"I'll meet you at the carriage at five," Harry smiled. Fleur nodded and leaned up to peck him softly.
He left the tent with his golden egg tucked under his arm, smiling when Valerie and Daphne approached him together with Astoria and Tracey.
"You were brilliant," Valerie said as she kissed him.
"Without a doubt the best out there," Daphne grinned, kissing him once Valerie pulled away.
Harry wrapped an arm around each and looked at Astoria and Tracey who stared back, unknowing of how to react. They had never interacted before, after all.
"That was truly something, Potter. Congrats on securing first place," Astoria greeted him politely, earning a smile from him.
"Yeah. We had no idea you were so ahead of the rest of us. Congratulations," Tracey smiled.
"Thank you, you two," he nodded graciously. However, before they could say anything, he felt the two young women tugging on his arms.
"You must be tired after that task," Valerie remarked, caressing his upper arm gently.
"A bath should relax you," Daphne continued, caressing his other arm.
Harry glanced amusedly from the blonde to the brunette while the other two girls sweatdropped.
"We'll talk to you later then," Astoria said before she quickly grabbed Tracey's hand and rushed off.
"Come, dear husband," Daphne whispered in that promising voice of hers that never failed to work on him.
"You are due for a very well-earned reward," Valerie mimicked her sister-wife's actions.
Harry was all too happy to oblige and he adjusted the egg under his arm, letting them drag him toward the castle where he knew he would be having a very relaxing time indeed.
XXXXX
Daphne cried out in pleasure as her lover emptied his load inside her, keeping her trapped between the wall of the massive hot bath and his body. She immediately felt her lips seized by a pair of familiar ones and she eagerly met her sister-wife's tongue with hers.
She could've never imagined that she would ever have a sister wife or that she would share her man with someone else, but after becoming familiar with this new dynamic that her life was, she discovered she would not have it any other way. She loved Harry, but after living the other woman's memories as well, she loved Val as well. The same was true for Valerie who eagerly made out with Daphne. Shared memories meant she had seen Daphne's life as well and it brought her all the more closer to the younger blonde.
While the two young women kissed, Harry helped himself to the copious amounts of skin he had for both his lips and his hands to feast on. He caressed their delectable assets, tweaking their sensitive skin with his fingers and squeezing them while his lips trailed sinfully over their alluring bodies. Both young women welcomed his touch and all his ministrations, eagerly submitting themselves to his loving caresses. Both had been brought to multiple climaxes in the past hour but they had coaxed even more out of him. Yet, all wanted more from each other. It was never enough.
"We've got to leave soon," Daphne, the voice of reason as usual, spoke up with a sharp gasp as she felt Harry's teeth nibbling on her nipple. "Mmmhh Harry… ohh love…"
"Just enjoy this for a few more minutes, dear," Valerie whispered against the blonde's lips, smiling sensuously through half-lidded eyes. Daphne merely acquiesced as her lover entered her once again, making her moan aloud.
It was half an hour later when the threesome emerged from the hot bath. Helping each other dry and dress up, they walked out of the Room of Requirement, arm in arm.
"How're you feeling?" Daphne asked softly as they walked down the stairs. They had long since decided there was no need to keep their relationships private considering Harry and Valerie were already together in the eyes of the public even though they were magically man and wives. Daphne had further assured them that she had more than enough power to take care of herself in Slytherin, not that any would dare to challenge her after the display she had put in front of them with Malfoy, and once they met her mother, their betrothal would be official.
Harry knew Daphne's assurance to have even more weight now that she had access to all the knowledge he and Valerie had amassed over the years. All three had had a lot to teach each other via their memories and their spell repertoire had broadened massively. Even though each had an area of expertise that they were the best at, the knowledge at their disposal was going to be immensely helpful.
He pondered upon Daphne's question. Truth be told, he was slightly anxious despite all the confidence he was feeling. They all knew that Fleur wanted to be with them, and she had told them that the veela wanted Harry and no one else. Those two facts were enough for him to believe that the ritual would be easier than either of them had expected. Yet, there were always chances for something to go awry. The veela was an unpredictable entity who might act up, possibly detecting the presence of two other women in his mind. She might outright reject him for influencing her in such an insidious manner. There were several unknown variables in question here and all filled him with slight apprehension.
Yet, his belief in himself and the pure feelings he had felt surrounded with whenever he was with Fleur made him confident enough to believe that things would turn out perfectly fine.
"At ease," he replied.
"Good. We all need to keep calm. And Harry, if her father or her mother act out, don't copy them as well. We need to portray a relaxed front and convince them. Remember, they're to be family," Daphne intoned softly.
"Our polite pureblood heiress is hard at work again," Valerie teased.
"It's the lady of a pureblood house speaking right now, my dear," Daphne replied with a smirk.
"Yeah, yeah, Lady Daphne of House Black. The mighty one indeed."
"You know, I'll be happy to take on the Potter one. You can be the Lady Black," Daphne intoned again.
This had been a topic of discussion among them for a few days now. Since Valerie had married Harry before he became the heir to the House of Black, she had automatically been called the lady of House Potter. However, nothing official had taken place yet and the two women had discussed the matter between themselves before they approached Harry.
"You know I have no issues either way," Harry responded, smiling. A few students stared at them as they walked downstairs, whispering amongst themselves. The threesome paid them no heed and kept descending.
"Tell you what," Valerie mused. "Why don't we wait until our third wife joins in as well. Then all three of us can discuss this matter and choose whichever house we'd like to be the ladies of."
"Sounds good to me," Daphne nodded.
They walked out of the castle together and started to make their way toward the Beauxbatons carriage where they would be joining Fleur.
XXXXX
"You seem eager, dear," Antoine Delacour remarked from his seat near the fireplace as he stared at his eldest. For her part, Fleur was pacing near the door, often glancing out of the window. Her mother simply chuckled as she sat with her youngest who was happily munching on her favorite parfait.
"He must be something for you to be so be so excited," Apolline intoned, smiling.
"He is," she replied.
"Ha! Can't be better than 'Arry Potter!" Gabrielle butted in quickly. "When can I meet him, Fleur? You promised you'll try!"
Fleur kept her expressions in check and looked over at her sister who was staring back at her with wide, puppy-dog eyes, the same shade as hers and her mother's, unblinking.
"You might've these two wrapped around your fingers with that look but it won't work on me, you little missy," she rolled her eyes. Gabrielle pouted at her sister.
Fleur chuckled and looked outside the window. Her eyes widened slightly as she spotted Harry walking toward the carriage with Valerie and Daphne right beside him.
'Direct as always,' she thought to herself, sighing fondly.
"I'll be back soon," she announced quickly and before her parents could speak, she was out of her room with the door slamming shut behind her.
"She's our Fleur, right?" Antoine asked in a not-too-joking voice.
"That's love, dear," Apolline replied. "I can't explain how relieved I am that she's found someone she's accepted so wholeheartedly."
Antoine nodded distractedly. His thoughts ran amok in his mind. It was apparent that Fleur was besotted with this young man and the veela had wholeheartedly accepted him. He believed that this young man was worthy enough of his daughter if she had chosen him, but the father inside him wanted to ensure everything was perfect. However, he hoped it would work out. The last thing he wanted was to upset his daughter.
The sound of the doorknob twisting alerted them and they looked over.
Antoine's eyes widened in shock as he saw who entered with his daughter. He barely registered his wife's little gasp as she stood up, joining him.
"Well, can't say I saw this coming," Antoine Delacour muttered softly so that only his wife could hear. Apolline Delacour could only nod as she stared at none other than Harry Potter and how her daughter was clutching his arm, her expression one of absolute bliss.
"It's 'Arry Potter!"
The sudden shout tore them out of their thoughts. Apolline and Antoine stared, shocked, as their youngest daughter tore off toward the young man who was surprised for only a moment as he gained his composure quickly and smiled at the young veela who had begun rambling in French that was impossible for him to keep up with.
"Gabby, let him breathe," Fleur chastised her sister lightly, cupping her cheek. That seemed to shake Apolline completely out of her stupor and she strode forward, taking her youngest's arm and gently pulling her away from the young man.
"I'm sorry for her, Mr. Potter. She's a bit too cheerful sometimes."
Harry chuckled.
"It's fine, Mrs. Delacour," he replied. Apolline smiled.
Antoine cleared his throat, looking at his eldest expectantly.
"Papa, Maman, 'Arry Potter, Valerie Swann, and Daphne Greengrass. 'Arry, Valerie, Daphne, my Papa, Antoine Delacour, and my Maman, Apolline Delacour. And the little miss you met just now is my little sister Gabrielle," Fleur introduced everyone.
Daphne and Valerie curtseyed as befitting their station, earning a polite nod from Antoine who shook Harry's hand firmly. Harry smiled at the man before greeting Apolline with a featherlight kiss to the back of her hand, spotting Antoine greeting Valerie and Daphne similarly out of the corner of his eye. Smiling at the woman, he looked down at Gabrielle who beamed up at him. He chuckled, patting the young girl on the head.
"Please have a seat, everyone," Apolline smiled, walking over to take a seat beside her husband with Gabrielle. Fleur sat by herself in an armchair in the middle while Harry sat opposite the other couple with Daphne and Valerie on either side of him. Antoine and Apolline both looked at the two women curiously but did not probe.
"Allow me to first congratulate you on a splendid performance in the first task, Mr. Potter. Your display would've been astounding for someone twice your age, let alone yourself," Antoine praised.
"Truly. I have seen very few with the ability to cast those protective enchantments with such swiftness and maintain them against something as magically potent as dragonfire," Apolline continued.
"Thank you," Harry replied graciously.
"It is surprising though," Antoine continued. "To have someone your age with such prodigious magical abilities. I'm not exaggerating when I say that you are the best wizard of your age I have ever seen. In the future, if you ever find your mind wandering, do know that Magical France will wholeheartedly welcome someone with your prowess."
"I'll keep that in mind," Harry chuckled. Antoine and Apolline did not miss how the two young women on either side of him and their daughter all smiled proudly. They were surprised, to say the least.
This was supposed to be a meeting to discuss an alliance between the houses of Potter and Delacour, which meant anything they talked about needed to be strictly private. For the young man in front of them to arrive with two other women who seemed to carry themselves with the poise of perfect pureblood heiresses filled them with confusion. They glanced toward their daughter who should for all intents and purposes feel offended but they found to their immense surprise nothing but a content smile on her face.
The couple exchanged a look with each other, a silent conversation occurring between them. As expected, both were perplexed as to who these young women where and why Harry Potter had brought them to this meeting. Even more perplexing was why their daughter seemed perfectly at ease with it all.
"I believe we should begin the discussions which we have truly arranged this meeting for, Mr. Delacour," Harry took charge of the proceedings and as Antoine looked over, he saw nothing but an individual who was fully confident in himself and his abilities. Recalling how he had conducted himself since this tournament started, beginning with that press conference to his performance in the first task, he had to admit that Harry Potter was a formidable wizard with all the ability to back up the fame and accolades he had garnered from the wizarding society.
Schooling his features into a more neutral one, Antoine nodded and looked over at his wife who stood up with her youngest and took her outside the room. She returned momentarily, shutting the door behind her.
With a flick of his wand, the privacy wards around the room activated and he settled in place, regarding the young man sitting right opposite him.
"My daughter wrote to us about a proposal, Mr. Potter. She was very explicit in what she wants. I would like to hear it from your side, if you please."
Harry nodded.
"Certainly. Fleur and I talked for the first time during the opening ceremony of the tournament and you can say we immediately felt a connection between us. As time passed, we felt this connection strengthening. It didn't take long for us to realize we had developed feelings for each other and that was when we confessed to each other. Fleur expressed how the veela inside her had become interested in me during our first meeting and how both she and the veela inside her had already accepted me."
"That quickly?" Apolline asked in a disbelieving tone. Her eyes bored into her daughter's, searching for any hint of a doubt or insincerity but she could find nothing. "The veela has wholeheartedly accepted him?"
Fleur nodded with a bright smile on her beautiful face and Antoine could not have doubted her even if he tried. It seemed his daughter had indeed found the perfect partner for both herself and the veela.
"I can see that you are entirely unaffected by my allure as well," Apolline remarked.
"Perhaps I am naturally resistant," Harry replied.
"Or you have perfect control over your emotions that are powerful enough to prevent you from devolving into a drooling simpleton," she observed keenly. "You are in love, Harry Potter. A veela's eyes never miss when it comes to powerful emotions."
Harry simply smiled at the woman as the three women beamed at him. Antoine did not miss this little detail and neither did Apolline. It did not take long for an inkling of doubt to creep up in their minds and for the first time, they felt they were getting some clue as to why these women might have come with him.
Given the way their daughter looked perfectly content with everything, they believed they had the complete picture of the situation at hand.
"Mr. Potter," Antoine said in a curt voice. "I would like you to be completely honest with us here."
Harry was not an idiot. He was aware that they were curious about Daph and Val and knew perfectly well how he needed to conduct himself here. With a glance toward Fleur who gave him a supportive nod, Harry took a deep breath and stared Antoine Delacour right in the eyes.
"I have three lordships. Daphne and Valerie are to be two of the three wives I am required to take in order to keep the family lines separate, and I am proposing for Fleur to be the lady of the third house," Harry said succinctly.
Antoine closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn't even register how big a deal it was to have three lordships. His first and only instinct was to lash out at this person for daring to treat his daughter in such an abhorrent manner but his wife's calming allure washed over him. He relented, allowing his wife to steer this conversation, knowing the intricacy of the nature of a veela was her area of expertise.
"Fleur," Apolline said firmly. "You have consented to this, I presume?"
"Oui, Maman," Fleur replied, her tone filled with absolute resolve.
Antoine gazed at his daughter who nodded when she caught his eye.
"What about the veela, Fleur?" Apolline continued. "You know how things are with us. How can you say that you have consented to this when the veela is not in agreement?"
Fleur sat with perfect poise and stared at her mother.
"You are right, Maman," she began. "Even though the veela has accepted Harry as her mate, she is not content with the prospect of sharing him. In fact, even now I feel her rage simmering beneath the surface when I see Daph and Val with him. I can feel her selfishness of wanting him for herself."
Apolline nodded, agreeing with her daughter's sentiment. It was perfectly in line with how she knew it should be. No veela liked to share her mate and there had been cases when the veela had forced herself to the surface, several times resulting in the deaths of everyone involved. The last thing she wanted was for the situation to devolve so much.
"But you have to understand that the veela has recognized Harry as her one true mate," Fleur continued, prompting her mother to grimace slightly.
"You don't need to explain that to me," Apolline sighed. At her husband's concerned look, she sighed. "Dear… this is so unfortunate… you know what happens when the veela fixates on someone and recognizes this person as her one true mate."
Antoine pursed his lips and nodded. There was no possibility for his daughter to find true love and happiness with someone other than Harry Potter. She would forever long for him if she could not be his and he could not be hers. However, his daughter had admitted mere moments ago that the veela was discontent with their arrangement, so he was at a loss for what could be done. His daughter could not be with this young man since that would keep the veela enraged, and she could not be happy without him either.
"I don't like this one bit," he stated plainly.
"Mr. Delacour, I might have a solution to this little problem," Harry spoke calmly. Both Antoine and Apolline gazed at him evenly, their eyes devoid of any emotion other than one of curiosity.
Harry began speaking. He told them how he had performed the familiar ritual on Valerie who had been a cat at the time, unaware of the fact that she was one. He explained how they had seen each other's memories before discovering that it was akin to a bonding ritual that usually took place during weddings. The couple's eyes widened as they listened to Harry describing how they were married in the eyes of magic and how it was even recognized by the ancient family magics as evident when their union was reflected on a family tapestry.
Soon, Valerie and Daphne joined in the explanation, and the Delacours listened to it all from their perspective. They explained how they both were in perfect harmony in this shared matrimony and how they were involved with each other as well – something that earned them dubious looks. They remained unfazed though, patiently explaining the changes that had occurred among all of them after they had performed the ritual and how it seemed to ensure there were no grievances amongst the three.
By the time they were done with their explanations, Antoine's mind was reeling at the complexity of it all while Apolline sat with a thoughtful look on her face. Her mind was working at a furious pace, trying to spot any hidden lies or holes in their explanations but for the life of her, she could not find anything.
Once she was certain that they were indeed telling the truth, she began pondering on how it could affect Fleur, the veela inside her, and how much possibility there was for what Harry Potter was proposing to succeed. Truth be told, she believed there was a fifty percent chance of it succeeding, and she expressed as much to them.
Harry sighed.
"I've not known your daughter for too long, but I've come to care for her. I like her, and I believe she feels the same. Both Daph and Val have also accepted her already, and if I have your permission, I would like to try this. I know you have your concerns and I understand, but I request you to put your faith in us. We will find a way to make this work."
Antoine and Apolline stared at the resolute expression on the young man's face. He still looked confident in his ability to make this work. They took a glance at their daughter who stared back with a confident expression on her face.
"Are you really sure, Fleur?" Apolline asked gently.
"Oui, Maman. I have faith in 'Arry and myself. We'll convince the veela and make it work. I know we will," she replied firmly.
Antoine sighed. He was in a truly rock and hard place. His daughter was choosing to take a leap of faith, being entirely confident of her success. He could understand why she would be eager to take this path. The other path would doom her to a loveless and unhappy life, and if there was even the slightest chance that she could succeed, she wanted to take it. It was the same thought process that was making him lean toward allowing them to go ahead with this prospect.
He had wanted to see two things in the young man his daughter was going to introduce them to – his ability as a wizard and his worth compared to his daughter. There was no doubt in his mind that Harry Potter satisfied both those requirements of his. He had seen his conduct over the past month or so and his performance in the first task spoke volumes of his ability as a wizard.
However, the father in him was firmly against the notion of letting his daughter be a part of a harem, because that was what it was.
Antoine had always held a slight disdain toward traditional pureblood culture and one of the reasons was its tolerance for polygamy. He believed a man and a woman belonged to each other and no one else, and what his daughter was willing to be a part of went firmly against that principle of his.
However, his daughter was a grown woman and as such, she had the right to make her decisions. He could only advise her and whatever decision she took, he would stand behind her in support. That had been his mantra since the beginning and he was not going to turn his back on it now.
Sighing, Antoine Delacour exchanged a look with his wife who gave him an understanding smile. He nodded.
"Alright," he said, fixing the young man with a firm stare. "You have our permission to proceed with this ritual. Considering what you all have explained about it to us, there seems to be a possibility. I truly hope you two succeed."
"I'll make sure we do," Harry replied with determination shining through in his eyes. Antoine kept his eyes on the young man for a few more seconds before he gave him a final nod.
"A word of warning though," Apolline interjected, making everyone look at her. She kept her eyes fixated on her daughter before looking over toward Harry. "This is going to be unpredictable. When you performed this ritual the last two times, you only exchanged your memories. You did not encounter a third entity. However, what you need to keep in mind is that you will be dealing with the veela inside her, perhaps even face opposition from her. Veela are sensual creatures and they have no qualms when it comes to being with other women, but to make this work the way you want, you will have to convince her to acknowledge your other wives as her mate as well, which will not be easy. It might become taxing and it is possible that things might turn violent."
"What are you proposing, Maman?" Fleur asked softly.
Apolline glanced at her daughter and sighed.
"The entity inside you is the daughter of the entity that resides inside me, Fleur. As such, I would like for you two to perform the ritual in my presence. Should something go awry, perhaps I might be able to calm things down."
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment before he nodded.
"I assume you'll be using your allure?"
Apolline nodded.
"In that case, you'll need to use it while we would be doing the ritual. Once it begins, time stops outside our respective minds. You can say it all happens in an instant. If you don't, then the ritual would be over before you'd be able to do anything."
"I understand," Apolline replied.
"You shouldn't do the ritual here in this room," Daphne interjected. "If there are any violent bursts of magic, the carriage might be destroyed."
"Even if it doesn't, it would surely attract attention from everyone," Valerie nodded. "The last thing we want is for this to become known to any outsiders."
"We could use the room then," Fleur shrugged.
"What room?" Antoine asked sharply.
Apolline rolled her eyes as she glanced at her husband before looking on expectantly.
"There's this secret room in the castle where we usually meet. I don't think anyone knows about it so it's a perfect place if you want privacy," Harry replied. He pointedly stared away from Antoine, knowing the man's steely eyes were fixated on him.
"The room would be able to withstand any magical release. We've tried all sorts of spells inside and nothing's ever happened," Valerie intoned with a small smile. She rolled her eyes when Fleur winked at her and mouthed the words 'magical release'. The veela had a dirty mind, but that was what she liked a lot about the woman. She exchanged a mirthful look with Daphne who rolled her eyes, having caught what Fleur had mouthed as well. They both could barely wait until they got her in their bed. The wait had been a long one.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Antoine and Apolline had not missed their daughter's antics or how the others had reacted. Antoine's lips pursed even more while Apolline silently chuckled to herself. She exchanged another look with Harry who nodded firmly.
Well, he certainly looked confident. She could only hope his confidence came clutch. It was apparent to her that her daughter was very happy with the arrangement, and she prayed to whichever deity existed for the ritual to succeed. After all, it was the only way to ensure her daughter found love and happiness in her life.