Bonded chapter 76 -

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"There seems to be a noticeable increase in his performance since his second year according to the other teachers," Snape said, struggling to stay standing and not just fall onto the floor and curl into a ball. "He and Dumbledore's relationship has also soured somewhat, though Dumbledore still firmly believes that the boy is on his side."

"Dumbledore is a fool," Voldemort snarled. "One who has no idea what he is messing with."

(.)

Chapter 76 -

"I can't honestly tell which of us they're staring at," Fleur said in an amused voice. "It's rather fun guessing, I must admit."

The Great Hall was typically filled with chatter and laughter, especially since there were two extra schools this year, but now it was dead silent as Harry and Fleur entered. Every student pretty much stared at them; even the teachers at the teacher's table stared at them. Between the drop-dead stunning French veela and the boy who lived to proclaim that Voldemort came back, they were both quite noticeable.

"Eh," Harry shrugged before the two continued walking forward. "Let them stare. I got more pressing concerns than caring about attention from a bunch of people that have nothing better to do with their lives than to stare at me," He said, not bothering to lower his volume as they walked to the Gryffindor table. He hadn't shouted the words out or even raised his voice; he just simply hadn't lowered it, letting people know that he honestly didn't care. His words seemed to do the trick, though, as people suddenly remembered that it wasn't really polite to stare and looked away.

"Harry," Ron said immediately when he and Fleur sat down. "Are you alright?" He asked in a concerned voice. "That's...well...okay, it's a stupid question, but still...are you alright?"

"Peachy," Harry said in a bland voice as he placed some food on his plate. "Barely got out of the hospital wing before I had to meet up with Dumbledore."

"You were meeting with Dumbledore?" Lavender Brown asked from a little way down. It seemed like all of the Gryffindors near him were actively listening to him. Even some of the other tables were trying with various degrees of subtely. "What did he want?"

"He deemed it important to let me know that the person that tried to kill me is dangerous," Harry said in an annoyed voice. "While also implying that I only survived because I got lucky, which is exactly what I wanted to hear, of course."

"So...he's really...he's really back?" Seamus asked with a deep frown.

"Of course he's back, you tosspot!" Ron said heatedly. "Why would Harry lie about something like that?!" Harry couldn't help but smile at Ron; the two definitely weren't best friends anymore, but it was kind of nice to be reminded why they had been friends in the first place. Ron (with the exception of earlier this year) had always been a loyal friend.

"Thanks," Harry told Ron genuinely before turning to Seamus. "Seamus, I swear to you on my parent's graves, Voldemort is back." He said, staring the boy right in the eye. Seamus opened his mouth to say something but then closed it, looking like he had swallowed something horrible.

"What do you think the aurors are going to do about it?" Dean couldn't help but ask. "Do you think they can catch him?"

"Not likely," The Weasley twins said together from a little way away. "Most of them are too scared to even say his name."

"They're not even going to try," Harry snorted. "The Minister basically called me crazy and said I was talking bull."

"Even though you came back with two dead bodies," Fleur said in an angry voice. "The pathetic man wouldn't even listen to Harry."

"Tonks ended up getting fired," Harry told the group suddenly. "Because she insisted that Voldemort was back. The fucker's back, believe me or don't, that's up to you guys."

"What are you going to do?" A voice piped up suddenly. Harry's gaze turned to Hermione, who was staring at him. He and she had not spoken a single word to each other in months. She wouldn't even look at him when they were in the same room, so it was surprising for him that she was speaking to him now.

"Train, prepare and then do my best. Do what I always do when my back's against the wall. What else can I do?" He asked, meeting her gaze head on.

"You've always done what you thought was right," She said, her face and voice softening as she stared at him with an apologetic look. "Even if...others don't realise that." She said. The two continued staring at each other, Harry couldn't help but smile slightly. He had known Hermione for years, he knew that this was her attempt to apologise. If he knew her as well as he thought, then she'd likely send him a proper apology letter via letter or corner him and say it face to face.

"Thanks," Harry said, giving her a small nod. The message was a clear 'apology accepted', much like Ron he had no intention of being best friends with her, but he had enough people he disliked, he didn't want to keep his former friends on the list. He turned his attention back to Fleur. "So, you're going back to France." He said, and it was not a question as she had to go back to her own country since the school year was coming to an end.

"Yes," She confirmed. "I must stay there for a while as well, but I hope I will be back soon. You're too delicious for me to keep away," She stated matter-of-factly.

"A good kisser, is he?" Parvati asked with a giggle.

"The best," Fleur said in the same tone as before, earning herself and Harry many looks with varying degrees of jealousy from both boys and girls. "Alas, I must leave for a while." She said before turning to Harry. "I talked with a certain girl, you know which one. I hope you are with her by the time I come back."

"I beg your pardon?" Harry asked in a confused voice.

"I feel the two of you would make a good couple," Fleur shrugged. "Plus, I'm sure I can convince her to share you." She said before turning her attention back to her food. Ignoring the conversations around, most of which included a few 'lucky bastard' by various boys. Harry let out a mental groan when Venom started laughing in his hand. He was convinced that his alien best friend was somehow at least partly responsible for this. He decided that if he wanted to stay sane, he should probably focus on something else and started eating.

"Maybe I can have him? I'm happy to share," One older girl said hopefully.

"Nope, I already have someone in mind," Fleur said without looking away from her food.

"I'm sorry, you've actually chosen a girlfriend out for him?" Ron asked slowly, staring between the two.

"Apparently/yes," The two said at the same time. Ron let out a very deep sigh.

"Harry, you've got the best and worst luck of all time," Ron told him. It was hard to wrap his head around. Sometimes, Harry would fight basilisks and dark lords; other times he was getting set up with other girls by his hot, foreign, veela girlfriend. At times like this, Ron couldn't decide if he wanted to be Harry or if he should simply be happy that he wasn't. Taking a moment to consider it, he realised that he was likely to have already been killed if he had been in the same situation as Harry. With that realisation, he was suddenly very happy to be Ronald Weasley instead.

"I wasn't kidding," Fleur whispered to Harry before she went back to eating.

'I, too, think it was a good idea,' Venom couldn't help but comment.

'I bet you do,' Harry said with a mental snort before he also went back to eating.

After several minutes of chatter and eating, the hall eventually quiet once more when Dumbledore arrived and stood at the front of the hall in front of his podium.

"Greetings all," Dumbledore said, his voice echoing across the great hall. "This has been an extraordinary year for many of us, in many ways. Friendships have been made, relationships have improved, and we've discovered and learnt many things about not just each other but also ourselves. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a wonderful year has now been tarnished by an ever-growing darkness. One student, a boy that many of you should know, Harry James Potter, had been entered into the Triwizard tournament against his will. I've come to the realisation that it was due to the interference of one person, the same person who had attempted to take his life at the end of the tournament." All of the people gathered looked between Harry and Dumbledore. "I am, of course, referring to the dark wizard known as Lord Voldemort," He continued, ignoring the flinches and cries from many of the student population. "The Minister of Magic has ignored my advice and insists that I am now telling you all falsehoods. I will let you decide amongst yourselves if you believe him. As of right now, I have no solid proof for you all besides my word. I ask you all to think back on what you know of me. Do any of you truly believe in your hearts that I am spreading false truths about a situation as serious as this? Do any of you truly believe in your hearts that young Harry returned so long after the tournament ended with two dead bodies simply because? I assure you, this news is not pleasant for me either. It had been my hope that I would be able to enjoy the last years of my life in relative peace. I have already lived through two wars; I don't wish to live through a third." He said solemnly.

'His help is not needed.' Venom spoke in Harry's head as Dumbledore droned on. 'He doesn't have what it takes to end Voldemort, we do. We will.'

'Agreed,' Harry said instantly. 'But we got to keep an eye on him. For now, he's just annoying and bothersome, if he ever discovers what you are -"

'Then he'll likely give us an excuse to end him,' Venom cut in. 'Enough of that old fool; I have something I wish to tell you.'

'What is it?' Harry asked. In response, an image flashed into his head. Harry was no longer sitting in the great hall, he was now sitting in some dusty grey room. A man was sat on the bed in front of him, a man that Harry would never fail to recognise. It was Dumbledore, though he was noticeably younger than he was now, not young but still younger. Just behind Dumbledore was a small wardrobe that seemed to be on fire. Before Harry could question what was going on, he found himself back in the Great Hall. A hand on his shoulder made him look back to see Fleur looking at him with concern. "It's 'V,'" he mouthed to her before turning his head back towards Dumbledore, who was still talking. 'What was that?' He asked Venom.

'A memory, but not yours.' Venom replied.

'Not mine, but then whose memory would- oh shit!' It took great effort for Harry to keep himself from physically reacting as realisation hit him hard and fast. 'It's a memory from Voldemort?'

'Yes,' Venom confirmed. 'They came suddenly, but now I have access to his memories. Perhaps all of them until he was vanquished by your parents. I will look through them all and report to you anything of importance.'

'Meeting you was the best thing that had ever happened to me,' Harry thought sincerely.

(...)

"Don't you dare forget to write to me," Fleur said warningly as she and Harry stood outside of the Beauxbaton carriage.

"I won't," Harry assured her. "But are you sure you'll be okay? At home with your father, I mean."

"He needs my help," Fleur said with a small sigh. "Not just him, but my sister too. I have always done my best to spare her from the worst of my mother, but my father, he sees her not for the monster that she is, just the face that she wore. She humiliated him, Harry. For longer than I can remember, he's unknowingly slept in a bed that she shared with so many lovers behind his back. I know that she likely found it amusing, the most influential wizard in the country not knowing what his wife was doing behind his back. I wouldn't be surprised if she even bothered to change the covers after one of her affairs; she probably thought it was amusing for my father to sleep in those same covers. Right now, he still doesn't know what she had done to him, and I don't believe that he is likely to believe it either. I need to spend some time with him as he grieves. Perhaps I can open his eyes to what she truly was, it is my hope that I can make him strong enough to look after my sister. If not, I'll have to take her with me."

"Whatever you choose, we'll support you," Harry said, taking her hands in his.

"We'll support you," She repeated in an amused voice. "I must say, Harry, I never in a million years imagined I'd be with a boy like you."

"I never ever imagined that I could even be allowed to touch a girl like yourself," He responded with a small smile. "Beautiful, smart, kind, and just so perfectly humble."

"I am quite humble," She agreed, inclining her head slightly. "I meant what I said earlier, Harry. You have my full permission to find another girl while I'm away."

"I...I can't help but feel like that's a betrayal," Harry said with a small sigh. "We...I, care for you. I don't think I want to live my life without you."

"And you won't," She assured him, bringing his hands up so she could plant a kiss on them, all the while staring into his eyes. "My mother wished to have affairs behind my father's back. I cannot and will not live in a relationship like that. Not even once. I trust that if hundreds of veela asked for your hand, you'd reject them all for me. However, I know that whilst you love me, you also love her. I know that if you'd spend your whole life with me, you'd be faithful to the end, but I also know you'd also wonder, eventually, about what could have been. At first, I struggled with he idea. But then I had a chat with Venom once when you were sleeping."

'I fucking knew it!' Harry mentally yelled. Venom laughed loudly.

"My family has...it has not been the best," Fleur admitted. "But it's the family that we choose that matters the most, and if there's more people in that family, then that's just more love to be spread around. And Harry, I think we both could do with some more love in our lives. I think Tonks would be good for you, she's proven willing to sacrifice her own dream and career for you. I can accept her. But only her, even I have my limits, and I don't think I would be happy if I came back and discovered a hundred girls with you."

"A hundred is too much work," Harry said matter-of-factly. "You'd be spending more time organising time together than you actually would enjoying time together."

"True," She said in a thoughtful voice before leaning forward and kissing his forehead. "You, my brilliant wizard, are mine so long as you are willing to be."

"For the rest of my life," Harry said instantly, smiling at her.

"Is that a proposal?" She asked in a teasing voice.

"If you don't get sick of me after we spend some more time together, then I'll propose properly." He said warmly.

"I'll want a nice ring," She informed him. "And there had better be flowers."

"Venom says he wants to be the best man," He replied. "Also, the pair of us both want to petition for Hedwig to be your flower girl."

"Why Hedwig?" She couldn't help but ask. Harry's eyes widened slightly.

"Oh yeah, we didn't tell you." He frowned. "She has her own 'special friend', if you catch my drift."

"I'm sorry, what?" Fleur asked quickly.

"Her one is called 'Carnage'; she's quite lovely actually," Harry insisted at Fleur's look.

"I'll take your word for it," Fleur said slowly before shaking her head. "My life was so much more simple before I met you. I hope you know that."

"In my defence, I actually did know that," Harry nodded.

"Good," She said in a satisfied manner before grabbing him by the head. Harry showed no resistance as she pulled him to her, the two engaged in a passionate kiss, ignoring the wolf whistling coming from some of the students that were on the carriage. Once they were done, they both separated and stared at each other. "I'll miss you," She confessed. "Both of you."

"Same," Harry replied, with Venom's voice echoing after him, just loud enough for Fleur to hear.

"Try not to kill any dark lords until I get back. I want to help." She smiled brightly, kissing him once more before separating and walking to the carriage. Looking back over her shoulder, she gave him another smile and a small wave before she was out of sight.

"Man," Harry sighed wistfully. "I hate to watch her leave, but I love watching her go."

'If I viewed her through human standards, then I'd probably say 'fair, '" Venom replied. 'I'm still looking through Voldemort's memories, I'm examining each and every one.'

'We must have gotten them from the destroyed horcrux,' Harry replied.

'Most likely,' Venom agreed. 'Knowledge of one's enemy is the most valuable tool one can have in a war.'

'Once we sort out what we know of his past, we'll need a way to find out more about his future and present.'

'One problem at a time,' Venom told him. 'For now, you should rest.'

'I'm fine,' Harry lightly protested.

'Physically, yes,' Venom said with a mental nod. 'But you are still human, and you've had a long year. Take a week or two to relax your mind. Unfortunately, this war isn't going to go away for a long time. You'll have plenty of time to jump back in and join me in ridding the world of those vermin.'

'I suppose a short rest wouldn't hurt much,' Harry said grudgingly. Venom did make a lot of sense, even if he didn't always want to admit it. Besides, although he wasn't a fan of doing nothing, he had to admit that he wouldn't mind a small rest. A few days with no trouble wasn't too much to ask for, was it? He could use that time to get to know Sirius better. Maybe he could spend some of it with the Tonks family. He knew that since Fleur had given her consent, Venom would be most insistent that they spend more time with Tonks.

'And we need to prioritize our tasks. We need to use this time to seduce Tonks into becoming ours.' Venom said enthusiastically.

'And there it is!'

(.)

A.N: Hi guys, hope you like the chapter. Just wanted to say a few things:

1) Fourth year has finally finished, this story will finish around early sixth year but I plan for Harry's fifth year to be relatively shorter than the others as most of the drama of that year was just Umbridge being several words I probably shouldn't say in front of my family.

2) I don't how well I am writing this three way relationship. I think I'm doing decently but one thing that I've always thought was difficult was to write multi-relationships in a meaningful way. The easiest thing to do is just do what other writers do and have girls basically go 'hey, you're the main character, I want to get with you'.

3) I hope I've managed to turn around opinion on Tonks, as I know some people were upset with her choice earlier to not get in a relationship with someone who was thirteen at the time but I've shown through previous chapters that not only does she genuinely regrets it, she was doing it because she believed it was the best for Harry. But now he's slightly older (just a year shy of legal age in Britain, which could work in a magical society where you can have a slightly younger age) and she has basically sacrificed her dream job and a very well paying career for him.

4) Dumbledore's age when meeting Voldy the first time appears to be in his sixties if you look at the movies, while my own research shows him to be in his forties, so I decided not to actually list his age.

5) Eid Mubarak to anyone who celebrated it (I know it's late, but still).

Anyway, thanks for reading, feel free to leave a review.