Chapter 41: chapter:41
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Minerva sighed and nodded. "I taught him when he was a student in Hogwarts. He is not a very accomplished wizard... Imagine my surprise when years later he is suddenly famous for writing his journeys in a series of best-selling books."
After a moment of thinking, the transfiguration professor searched her robes for a quill. "Do you have a quill Harry? I will write you another book list for Defense against the dark arts that can help you for independent study of the subject."
"Here Professor." Harry handed a long blue peacock quill.
The door to Griphook's office opened and the Headmaster of Hogwarts looked up as the Lord of the ancient house of Delacour entered, with a few goblins wearing the Gringgots branch seal of Paris following behind him. Not Good.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Monsieur Delacour." Albus stood up and offered his hand.
"The pleasure is mine." Julian Delacour replied. He sat down on the other vacant chair while his vault manager from the Gringotts branch in Paris greeted Griphook in Gobbledook.
"I heard you are contesting the custody of my daughter's betrothed?" Julian asked.
"Not contesting Monsieur Delacour... I am merely looking out for young Harry's interests." Albus replied.
"So am I. Harry Potter will wed my eldest daughter Heiress." Julian said. "I am confident that I can provide him a suitable environment to live."
"Then if you will sign this documents Lord Delacour, custody of Harry James Potter will be turned to you." Griphook pushed a stack of Papers towards the French nobleman.
"I must protest." Albus said, his voice a little louder. "Harry was distraught when he learned of his betrothal to your daughter. I doubt the young boy would enjoy living in an unfamiliar environment."
Julian Delacour struggled not to smile as he continued to maintain his Occlumency shields. On the contrary, young Harry enjoyed staying at the Delacour mansion, following his daughter Fleur and trying to get a rise out of her. If he wasn't doing that, the young boy was usually sleeping under a tree in Apolline's garden, enjoying the gentle breeze.
"The head of the house of Potter and I had an agreement." Julian replied as he accepted the blood quill from Griphook. "Harry Potter's betrothal to my daughter stands, and I will accept him as my ward. Our home is a comfortable one, and I am sure Harry will learn to adjust in this new environment."
"I protest." Albus said when he saw Julian was about to sign the stack of papers.
"Your protests and objections have been noted, Chief Warlock." Griphook said. "But Lord Delacour has accepted the guardianship of Harry Potter."
Albus sighed, but he was not giving up. He had another tool, and he was going to use it. "Very well... but as Headmaster of Hogwarts, I cannot allow Harry Potter to transfer to Beauxbatons Academy of Magic."
Julian Delacour regarded the powerful wizard for a moment. He would have liked to have Harry with Fleur in Beauxbatons, but he knew Albus would never agree to have the Boy-Who-Lived transferred to a foreign school. Hogwarts would lose face, and so will its Ministry of Magic.
"I would have liked Harry to study at Beauxbatons with Fleur, but it seems I have no choice." Julian Delacour replied after he finished signing the documents. "Now where is Harry?"
"He is with his transfiguration professor at Diagon Alley, shopping for books." Albus said. He was able to salvage the situation after all. Harry was still in Hogwarts, and he would ask the minister to help him in gaining back custody of The-Boy-Who-Lived.
"Very well. I will collect my ward." Julian Delacour said. He turned to Griphook and bowed. "I thank you for your help, Master Goblin."
"It is our pleasure to be of service to the house of Delacour." Griphook replied as he bowed back in respect.
"I would like to offer my services to increase the protection of your home, Lord Delacour." Albus offered.
"I appreciate the offer, but it is not needed." Julian Delacour said as he glanced back at the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Are you still mad?" Julian asked nervously as they appeared at the reception area of the Delacour mansion.
"Yep." Harry said as he looked up at his new guardian. "You tricked me."
"But it worked out in the end, didn't it?" Julian argued. "If I hadn't offered you a betrothal to Fleur, you would now be under the control of Albus Dumbledore."
"That's true." Harry replied. "But I'll have to get even."
"Excuse me?" Julian stopped walking and looked at his new ward.
"Do you know how to play spot what's missing?" Harry asked as he smiled. There were many, many shiny things in the Delacour home and he hadn't played that game in a long while.
"I haven't heard of that game before." The patriarch of the house of Delacour confessed.
"Oh you'll have fun with it. Just ask the old man." Harry said sweetly.
"There you are!" Apolline said, spotting the two wizards. "How did it go?"
"Harry's our new ward." Julian smiled.
"That's wonderful news!" Apolline said as she kneeled down and hugged her 'son'.
"That's not all." Julian added.
"What is?" Fleur asked as she entered the room, drawn in by her mum's earlier outburst.
"Harry here knows what betrothal means." Julian said as he patted his future son in law's shoulder.
The young boy immediately stared at his toes, embarrassed and unsure of what to do with Fleur. He didn't want to get married, but as long as he was still engaged to Fleur, he was free of the old coot's influence.
The older girl immediately spotted the change in her future husband's demeanor and an evil smile crossed her face. "Oh look mama, dear Harry is embarrassed!"
The young boy glared at the older girl and stuffed his hands on his pockets. "I'm not embarrassed."
"Oh yes you are." Fleur said as she stood beside Harry, enjoying the change of roles. She hooked her hand on his elbow and flipped her long silver hair.
"Would you like to play with my hair Harry?" Fleur asked teasing the young boy.
"No." Harry replied as his eyes tracked the wisps of silvery hair flying as they were lifted up by a faint breeze. He suddenly tensed when the older girl planted a chaste kiss on his cheek and he pulled away, shocked with the unexpected act of affection. Without wasting another second the young thief faded leaving an amused quarter veela witch behind.
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