'One of my housemates parents, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore's followers, was killed guarding something in the Department of Mysteries,' he told her grimly. 'Voldemort is after the prophecy too, and Dumbledore is willing to let people die protecting it rather than actually acting.'
'You're going to get it,' Fleur realised, a cold chill tracing its way down her spine. 'You're going to break into one of the most heavily guarded departments of your ministry, that is guarded by this Order, and being watched by Voldemort.'
'I have to,' he shrugged helplessly. 'I need to know, and the longer I wait, the more likely Riddle will get it, and the more people will die needlessly defending it.'
'You have a plan?' 'I always have a plan,' Harry grinned. 'I can get Dumbledore thrown out of the school, then I can remove Umbridge, who will undoubtedly take his place, and my godfather should be able to get me in to the department just like the Order are doing.'
'No,' Fleur shook her head. 'You're not glossing over the details and missing things out, tell me everything. I'm not sitting around here in France waiting for you if I don't know exactly what you're doing and the risks entailed.'
Harry frowned and pinched the brow of his nose. 'If I tell you, then you have to promise that you'll stay here and act as normal. Please, Fleur.'
'Fine,' she scowled, not at all happy with having to let him go on his own. 'I promise, but you better tell me everything.' 'The British Ministry is under the delusion that Dumbledore is trying to usurp their power,' Harry began. Fleur got the impression this was a long story, and her scowl deepened. He had been keeping this to himself for a while. 'There is an illicit group at Hogwarts, one which Umbridge is currently still searching for, and when it is discovered its name will lead to Dumbledore being ousted from his position as headmaster.'
'Why?' Fleur demanded, sensing he was leaving something out.
'I indirectly suggested the group name itself Dumbledore's Army, the Ministry won't waste the opportunity. I will make sure the group is discovered, so the headmaster can't check the school wards to see if I'm away.' He paused in his telling to consider something. 'I can't leave Umbridge as headmistress, not knowing what she's capable of, so I have to get rid of her as well.' 'That sounds a lot more permanent than the way you referred to ousting Dumbledore,' Fleur noted quietly.
'Sorry,' he murmured, looking worried, but not guilty.
'I don't care,' she reminded him. 'That woman deserves worse from what you have told me, and if removing her means you see this prophecy and makes it more likely that you survive Voldemort then I will get rid of her myself if I have to.'
'You would?' Harry's eyes widened.
'I may live in a chateau, but I am not a princess,' Fleur warned him. 'When she is dead, what then?'
Harry blinked, taken aback by her bluntness, but continued eventually. 'Umbridge is the sort to take any chance to further themselves, she'll leap at the chance of being the one to deliver conclusive proof against Dumbledore and will take my bait without thinking twice. My map, the one that you helped me create, will lead her to a particularly deadly area of the Forbidden Forest. I need to talk to my godfather about actually getting into the department, but getting to the door itself will be easy with my cloak.'
'And once you're inside?'
'Find the prophecy, hear it, then break it so Voldemort can't see it and so Dumbledore's followers don't have to die defending it.'
'I don't like the idea of you in the Ministry alone,' Fleur decided. It was a gross understatement, the image of him alone and vulnerable surrounded by hostile wizards and dangerous artefacts was all but pushing her to shift.
'I can try and convince Sirius to accompany me, if that will make you feel better?'
'How do you know he won't just tell Dumbledore?' Fleur demanded. His godfather was part of the Order of the Phoenix and might just tell Dumbledore.
'He disagrees with Dumbledore's approach, but as long as he tells him after we're done it doesn't matter, the majority of my scheme cannot be traced back to me.'
'I would still rather you freed me of my promise and let me come with you.' She swallowed her pride. 'I will beg if it will make you reconsider it.'
'I can't.' He shook his head almost desperately. 'I can't let you come with me. I need to know that you're safe and waiting for me. I'm sorry, I know you must hate it, I would if I were in your place.'
'When are you going to try and sneak in to the department?' Fleur asked, feigning innocent curiosity.
'I haven't decided, ' Harry told her, smiling faintly, 'and I won't tell you when I have, I know that you will try to come with me.'
'If I keep my promise then I want one from you,' Fleur pressed, determined to stop this from happening again. She did not like not knowing what he was doing, and she hated being left behind to hope he came back even more.
'Name it,' Harry responded instantly.
'No more secrets from me,' she told him fiercely. 'There is nothing you can do that would make me change my mind about you, Harry Potter. Blood magic, rituals,' she steeled herself for what she was about to say, hoping he would not judge her, 'murder, even torture, as long as you remain mine, I will not care.'
'What would stop me from being yours?' Harry asked, an odd light in his eyes.
'Nothing,' Fleur replied firmly. 'You told me you would do anything to achieve your dream, and I believe you. I already know how far you are prepared to go to get what you want, and the only thing I object to is not being able to come with you!'
'It seems I am stuck with you,' Harry grinned.
'You look so unhappy about it,' she replied archly, trailing her fingertips along his jaw and teasingly down his chest. 'But you didn't promise.' Her fingers came to rest on his abdomen.
'I
promise,' he shivered, 'no
more secrets, everything I do I will share with you... Except for Christmas presents, birthday presents and happy surprises,' he amended, capturing her hand and kissing her hard. His eyes were smouldering from her teasing.
'Then is there anything else you would like to tell me?' Fleur whispered into his lips.
'Yes,' he smiled, 'but not here, and not now.'
'Where, then? And when?' Fleur demanded.
'Soon, somewhere very appropriate for sharing secrets,' he smiled wryly. 'I'm going to take you to meet my only real family.'
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