Chapter 13
He adjusted the robes as Harry looked at himself in the mirror, making sure that he looked decent before heading to the Beauxbatons carriage. Harry was a bit nervous about going with Fleur, after all, every male in Hogwarts seemed to want to go with the quarter-veela, but he knew that Fleur didn’t care. She got tired of people looking at her because of her allure. It was a strain on her magic to hold it in as well so she couldn’t just keep it on lockdown all the time.
In a way, Harry was glad to go with her, as he got to go with someone he generally enjoyed being in the company of, though he would have enjoyed Luna’s company just as much. Fleur would also have someone she wouldn’t have to worry about making a fool out of themselves because her allure was too much to be around.
Harry didn’t know why exactly he was immune to the allure, now that he thought about it. He should be affected just like everyone else right? Fleur probably knew why he wasn’t, so he supposed he could just ask her. Harry frowned a little, wondering if his friends at the mansion would be affected by the allure. For some reason, the thought of any of them under it rubbed him the wrong way, but then again he doubted they would want him under a magic spell either.
Harry broke out of his thoughts as he reached the carriage, knocking on the door. A moment later Carolyn, one of the girls he met the other day, opened the door and smiled at him. “ ‘Ello ‘Arry. You’ve come to pick up Fleur?” She asked, earning a smile and a nod from the raven-haired-boy.
The girl disappeared inside, when a moment later Fleur walked out, dressed elegantly in a dress that suited her well, showing off her curves but not revealing too much. Harry thought it looked quite nice and decided to voice this. “You look lovely Fleur. The queen of England herself wouldn’t be able to get anyone’s attention off of you with how much beauty is shining off you.” Harry spoke, hearing a few giggles from the girls inside still getting ready.
Fleur herself giggled, taking Harry’s arm as he led her inside the castle and to the great hall. “T’ank you ‘Arry. It iz nice to know that Elizabeth’z work did not go to waste.” Fleur replied with a gentle smile.
Harry chuckled as they walked. “I knew that I recognized that style from somewhere. Think I could convince her to make my little sister a dress? I’d pay her of course but I want to get Sally something since I’m not able to go home for Yule.” Harry asked, making Fleur smile more.
“She would probably enjoy it, I know she haz been wanting to try making little girl dresses,” Fleur replied as they stopped at the door to the great hall, being the first two there out of the champions.
“That’s good. I have a question, why is it that I’m not affected by your allure? Everyone else my age is so why does it seem to not affect me?” Harry asked her, making Fleur giggle.
“Well ‘Arry. My allure dozen’t affect those who enjoy the other gender.” Fleur replied, making Harry blink confused before realizing, going wide-eyed and sputtering a bit with his face bright red.
Cedric and Cho chose this time to come up, the Hufflepuff raising an eyebrow at Harry’s blushing face and Fleur’s amused one.
“What happened to turn the boy-who-lived into a blushing mess?” He asked, making Fleur turn towards him with a smirk.
“Just making ‘Arry ‘ere realize hiz preference in dating,” Fleur told him, making Harry blush more as Cho laughed and Cedric chuckled a bit.
“Honestly, not surprised. Sorry, Harry but you’ve never even given any girl who flirted with you a second glance. It made it seem obvious that you didn’t like girls.” Cedric told him, making Harry glare at the older male.
“I’m only fourteen! Of course, I didn’t care, not to mention every girl that has flirted with me wants either to be Lady Potter or wants to be known as the boy-who-lived’s girlfriend.” Harry muttered embarrassed, making the older students stare at him in amusement.
Victor showed up with Luna on his arm, the girl dressed in a silver gown that made her glow like her namesake. “Hello Harry, Finally dispersing the Feulahorns? They seemed to flow around you much lately, especially around your friends from home.” Luna spoke with a dreamy smile, making the older students crack up at Harry’s bright red face.
Harry huffed, muttering about all of them being traitors.
McGonagall showed up a few minutes later to lead them into the ballroom, where the three groups would dance the first dance before the rest of the attendees could. Harry couldn’t help the small smirk that appeared on his face as he saw both Hermione and Ron off to the side, glaring at him angrily, hatred evident in their eyes. Good, let them hate him. It only fueled him more.
They should hate him, after all, once he got the chance he would end their suffering.
Of course, Harry never let his thoughts appear on the surface. That wouldn’t do him any good. He was glad that Masky and Hoodie had taught him to not let his thoughts display on his face.
Harry turned his attention back to Fleur as they prepared to start, smiling at her as he led, glad that he practiced as much as he did between classes. Harry didn’t want to embarrass Fleur, after all, making sure not to step on her foot by accident as they danced.
Soon, other couples were allowed to join in the dancing, making Harry laugh as he and Cedric shared a look, passing by each other and trading partners, making him catch a laughing Cho as Fleur was swept away by Cedric.
“Fancy of you to spin on by.” Harry joked with a grin, making Cho laugh and shake her head, smiling.
“Just couldn’t help but be thrown in your arms it seemed there Harry.” Cho joked back, earning a bigger grin from the boy.
The night went like that for a large portion of it, the champions and their dates occasionally dancing with each other. Harry ended up dancing with Luna twice, Victor, and Cedric soon after, the six enjoying their time before the dinners started, where they all sat and relaxed, joking and chatting about random things as they whatever was served.
Later that night, Harry returned Fleur to the carriage with a wave and a small chat with Elizabeth, who happily agreed on making a dress for Sally and him telling her he would get the measurements for her. He was content as he walked back to his dorm, determined to take a shower and sleep, knowing that tomorrow, EJ and Ben would be there for the second task. He would also get to enjoy some of Christmas with them, which he couldn’t help but be excited about, even though he wanted to see everyone. Next year, however, he would be going home to the mansion and nothing or no one was going to stop him from doing so.
Harry opened up his door, yawning tiredly as he pulled off his outer robe and shirt, heading towards the bathroom. His senses went on high alert however when a wolf whistle sounded, making Harry snap his head towards the sound. Ben and Ej both stood there, grinning at Harry.
“We convinced Slender to let us come early to surprise you and I’m really glad we did. Don’t stop the show now Harry, please do continue.” Ben told him with a grin, making Harry’s blush burn all the way down to his chest.
“You're such a prat Ben,” Harry told him with an eye roll. “You two make yourself comfortable than while I get a shower, I’m sweaty and my feet hurt.” With that, Harry walked into the bathroom and shut the door, ignoring the laughter that followed as he rubbed his redding face.
“Those idiots,” Harry muttered to himself as he started the shower, undressing the rest of the way as he stepped under the heated water.
After making sure that he was thoroughly cleaned, Harry got out, grabbing a towel and drying off, only to realize he forgot clothes. Meaning, he was going to have to go out there and see them, naked with just a towel.
Harry’s face burned at the thought of them seeing him naked. He hadn’t ever had even his shirt off around anyone ever. Not even at the mansion had he let anyone see the scars that littered his skin from the abuse he suffered for years. If he walked out there now, they would see just how damaged and broken he truly was.
Harry sighed, smacking himself lightly. Jack had already seen his scars or at least some of them, Ben wouldn’t care about them either. Why was he so nervous about them seeing the scars then?
With a deep breath, Harry wrapped the towel around his waist tightly to make it not fall, slipping his pendant over his head before walking out. He could see the two of them sitting on the couch, chatting as they waited for him. The two creepypastas looked up as soon as they heard the door open as Harry looked away, self-conscious.
“I forgot to grab clothes. Give me a moment.” Harry mumbled, heading towards his room, not wanting to endure their stares.
Ben suddenly appeared in front of him, making Harry yelp in alarm, barely able to make sure the towel didn’t fall, surprised at the sudden appearance. “Don’t you think we’ll let you run like that. Come on scarboy.” Ben told him, dragging him over to the couch, making Harry blush as he was pulled, surprised by the amount of strength the digital ghost was using.
“Uhm can I get dressed first?!” Harry asked blushing, only to be pushed roughly onto the couch.
“Not right now. We need to talk and you aren’t moving until we do.” Ben told him, making Harry blush more, wishing to at least have a pair of pants on for whatever conversation was about to happen.
Jack sat beside him, in medical mode as he carefully examined a few of the scars littering Harry’s body. Harry shifted uncomfortably under the gazes of them both as the two carefully searched them over. He could feel their gazes lingering on his body, shivering a little when Ej carefully traced a scar, especially if one was sensitive to the touch.
“Harry, we get it, you hate your scars, you feel like we would hate you because of them. Trust us, Toby was the same way when he first got to the mansion. “ Eyeless told him, checking over the scars, seemingly memorizing every single one of them.
Harry looked at them both, surprised but comforted by their words. He didn’t even know why he knew they didn’t care. They all had their past scars.
Hearing it though, hearing it made it so much better.
Harry nodded, smiling at them. “I know, I guess hearing it though just confirmed it for me.” He told them, making the other two smile.
“Good. Now get dressed. As much as I enjoy the view, you’ll probably get sick.” Ben said with a grin, making Harry blush scarlet as he held the towel, rushing to his room as the two laughed.
After he finally had clothes on, the three spent the rest of the night, laughing and catching up, the air definitely lighter than before.