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HP472- You Can Leave
🕑 Added 2025-07-22 21:59:20 +0000 UTCThe rest of the engagement was lively enough to keep even the most reserved guests entertained. The hall brimmed with chatter, laughter, and music that drifted from corner to corner. Harry danced with nine girls in turn, not all at once, though from the way Susan and Tracey kept nudging each other, one might think they were daring him to try. It didn’t end there. Petunia then later Blaise’s mother, Elisabetta, who was, as always, far too flirty for comfort. She leaned in close, her perfume so strong it made his head swim as she purred something in Italian that he had no intention of repeating aloud. Across the room, Blaise caught his eye and winced, pinching the bridge of his nose in silent apology as if to say she is your problem now.
As the music slowed and the guests began to gather near the centre of the hall, “Everyone, if you’d please,” Augusta called, gesturing toward the open space. “It is time to conclude the evening properly.”
The crowd shifted and murmured, forming a loose circle around Neville and Fleur as Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel stepped up. “Come, my children,” Nicolas said warmly. “Step forward.”
Neville and Fleur joined hands, moving into the center of the circle. All eyes turned to the couple.
“This bond you enter today,” Nicolas began, “is not just of affection, but of shared purpose. It is a weaving of two magics into one thread.”
Neville’s jaw tightened slightly, but his eyes didn’t leave Fleur’s as he spoke.
“I, Neville Francis Longbottom, pledge my wand, name, and magic to stand with Fleur Isabelle Delacour.”
Fleur’s voice followed without hesitation.
“I, Fleur Isabelle Delacour, pledge my wand, name, and magic to stand with Neville Francis Longbottom.”
At Nicolas’s murmured incantation, a golden ribbon of light unfurled from his wand, spiraling around their joined hands. It pulsed faintly, warm and alive, then faded into their rings with a soft hum that seemed to settle over the room like a blessing.
Perenelle stepped forward, “May your magic grow stronger together than apart. May the threads of destiny bind you in harmony and shield you from malice.”
With a gentle flick of her wand, she cast a subtle charm, a Luck Ward. The air shimmered faintly around the couple, as though reality itself bent a little closer to bless them.
Augusta Longbottom and Apolline Delacour stepped forward next, each placing a hand on their respective child’s shoulder.
“We recognize this bond,” Augusta said firmly. “And grant our blessing.”
“We too grant our blessing,” Apolline added.
Nicolas raised his wand one final time, tracing a slow arc above the couple’s heads. Silver sparks cascaded down like falling stars, settling gently around Neville and Fleur before dissolving into the air.
“It is done,” Nicolas said with a smile.
The room erupted into applause, cheers echoing off the walls as the guests surged forward to offer congratulations.
Harry lingered at the edge of the circle, watching as Neville and Fleur were pulled into embraces, their hands squeezed, their cheeks kissed. Augusta was already thanking Nicolas and Perenelle for overseeing the ceremony, her voice loud enough to carry.
“I can’t think of anyone more fitting,” Augusta said crisply. “Your presence honors our family.”
Perenelle smiled faintly. “It is we who are honored to witness such a union.”
A small group stayed behind after the official engagement ceremony, lingering in the hall for what could only be called an impromptu after-party. They lounged in chairs and sprawled across sofas, trading sharp comments and teasing at Neville and Fleur’s expense. By the time sunlight properly lit the snow outside, even the most stubborn guests decided to call it a night. One by one, they disapparated to their respective homes, already making plans to meet back at the castle before the next term swallowed them whole.
Christmas ended almost too quickly, and the students reboarded the train for their return to the castle.
On the first of February, Hogwarts held its first Apparition class for students who were seventeen or would turn seventeen before August thirty-first. Most of the eligible students filed into the Great Hall with varying degrees of excitement and nerves. Harry wasn’t among them. He already had his license, so he planned to skip the lesson entirely.
At least, that was his intention until Snape cornered him outside the library.
“Potter.”
Harry glanced up from the parchment in his hand, “Professor.”
“Planning to skip Apparition, are we?” Snape asked.
Harry shrugged, “I got my license already."
“That’s precisely why you won’t have the luxury of idleness. Minister Bones, in her infinite wisdom, requested you instruct the Apparition class. Lucky us.”
Harry blinked, “Me?”
“There is no one else available,” Snape said shortly. “The Ministry instructor assigned to Hogwarts has been delayed, and I have no intention of letting a hall full of sixth-years attempt Splinching themselves without proper supervision. You are licensed, experienced in teaching, and, however irritating you may be, the only viable option.”
Harry smirked faintly. “Well, you certainly know how to butter someone up, Professor.”
Snape gave him a flat look. “Spare me the theatrics, Potter. You will do it.”
“Fine,” Harry said with a shrug, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. “When do I start terrifying the children?”
“In five minutes. They are waiting in the Great Hall.”
Harry arched an eyebrow. “Five minutes? And you’re only telling me now?”
“Consider this part of your training in crisis management."
Harry didn’t bother arguing. “Alright then,” he said easily. “Guess I will try not to let anyone leave an arm behind.”
He pushed open the Great Hall doors and stepped in. Most of them were buzzing with excitement, though a fair few looked pale and nervous. Every head turned toward him.
“Think he is here to take the class like the rest of us?” Wayne Hopkins muttered to Ernest Macmillan in the Hufflepuff row.
“Doubt it,” Marcus Belby said from the Ravenclaws. “He probably already passed with flying colors. Typical.”
Mandy Brocklehurst leaned closer to Amanda and Sue Li. “Did you hear about the bloke in Kent? Splinched himself clean in two. They say all that was left was his shoes.”
“That is not helping,” piped up Anthony Goldstein, clutching his wand a little too tightly.
In the back, Crabbe elbowed Pike. “Wonder if Potter is here to show off or to clean up the mess after we are all splinched.”
Millicent Bulstrode snorted. “You would better worry about yourself first, genius.”
Cormac McLaggen grinned, at the sight of Harry, “Here to take the class like the rest of us, Potter?” Cormac called, his tone dripping with smugness. “If I known, I would’ve prepared a red carpet.”
Many of the students rolled their eyes as Cormac McLaggen opened his mouth. Most remembered the start of term, when Cormac had made the mistake of trying to order Harry about, waving his Head Boy badge like it carried more weight than common sense. That hadn’t ended well for him. When his posturing failed, Cormac tried undermining Harry with petty gossip, but Cho, along with nearly all the other Prefects, shut that down fast. McLaggen hadn’t quite recovered from the embarrassment.
Harry chuckled, strolling toward the front of the hall as his eyes swept the group. “No need for a red carpet, McLaggen. Just get in line, and don’t speak out of turn.”
A few students snorted.
Cormac’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t your little Duelling Club, Potter. You don’t get to throw orders around here.”
Harry’s grin widened slightly. “Wrong. I am the instructor today, so you will listen when I speak.”
A ripple of surprise ran through the Great Hall. Several students gasped, their heads swiveling toward Harry.
“Wait, he is the instructor?”
“Does he even have his license?”
“When did he learn to Apparate? Wasn’t he just turning seventeen?”
Cormac’s face flushed crimson. “Twelve Galleons, Potter. I paid good money for this lesson, not to have some self-satisfied student parade as my instructor”
Harry didn’t miss a beat. He flicked his wrist, a small bag of coins landing neatly in his palm. “Here is twenty-four. You can leave.”
