5 July 1995
"That fucking bastard!" Lucy exclaimed angrily. It had been a few days since the group had returned home and they were sitting around the dining table eating breakfast.
"Lucy, language!" Hermione and Layla admonished, the two exchanging smiles a moment later.
"Uh, you ok?" Harry asked looking up from his breakfast.
"No, I'm not," Lucy replied slamming Le Monde, one of France's biggest newspapers down in the centre of the table. The paper was opened to the society pages. There was a full page announcement of an engagement party between Lucy and Sawarr Junelle.
"Wait, what?!" Harry said loudly. "Who the fuck is Sawarr Junelle?"
"He's the son of a minor French noble. He's considered rather boorish by his peers," Apolline explained.
"He's an ugly little troll who treats the women he pays for like objects and eats and drinks far too much. His family is heavily invested in companies Jude has long term interest in acquiring. I didn't think he'd sell out his only daughter to do it. Clearly I thought too highly of my ex-husband."
"What should we do? Can we just ignore it?" Hermione asked.
"No, I need to make my father understand that it's over. I won't let him control me," Lucy said.
"I'm going with you," Harry stated.
"Harry, I can take care of myself," Lucy assured him.
"I know you can. But I don't trust your dad. I'm worried he's going to pull something to get you to do what he wants."
A warmth spread through her chest. She could feel his love for her in his words. She wrapped her arms around Harry and rested her head on his chest. "Ok."
Hermione stood at the door of her bedroom watching as Harry and Lucy bid each other goodnight, with their tongues. She sighed and brushed her hair out of her face and the tears at the same time. She loved Fleur but she still pined for Harry. There was nothing lacking in her relationship with the stunning blonde, but she still wanted Harry.
Hermione felt guilty for lusting after someone else while in a relationship with one of her dearest and bestest friends. She had to confront this, she couldn't leave it hanging in the air any longer. Hermione resolved to talk to Fleur tomorrow. She knew either way she'd probably end up heartbroken.
Lucy rested her head on Harry's chest after sneaking into his room. It was a bit silly because they were all adults now, Harry even turned eighteen in a couple of weeks. But she enjoyed how sneaking around to sleep in her boyfriend's bed made her feel.
"Hermione was watching us, again," Lucy said.
"Yeah, I know," Harry replied. "Do you want me to talk to her?"
Lucy was quiet for a minute or two before responding. "I don't want to upset her. And she's not doing any harm…"
"But?"
Lucy let out a long breath out through her nose and trailed her hand down Harry's hairless torso. "But you're already taken and she has someone.
A few days later Harry, Lucy and Layla apparated from the Chateau to the Heartfilia house after breakfast. Layla used her key to enter the house and they walked to Jude's study. Said man looked up from some paperwork and frowned. "That boy is not welcome in my house."
"I don't care. Harry is my boyfriend, he's here because I want him here."
"Your engagement party…" Jude began.
"Isn't happening. You can't hand me over to someone in exchange for a concession in a business deal. I'm a human being!" Lucy spat.
"You are my daughter, you will do…" Jude began again.
"Jude, shut up," Layla spat. She turned to Harry and Lucy. "Leave us alone for a few minutes, please."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked, glaring at Jude, who glared back just as fiercely.
Layla smiled and nodded. "Yes, thank you, Harry."
Lucy nodded and dragged an irritated Harry out of the room. Layla waited until she heard the footsteps fade before turning to Jude. Layla sighed, running her hands through her hair. "I should have known you'd disregard Lucy's wishes, I hoped you'd prove me wrong for once, but no. You are a constant disappointment."
"I will not be disrespected in…"
"Shut up, you've already lost."
"What do you mean?" Jude asked.
Layla sat down crossing her legs and regarding Jude evenly. "If you keep trying to sell my daughter like a prostitute to one of your business associates I will tell the Bureau everything I know about your business dealings. All of them."
"You know nothing that could hurt me," Jude hissed.
"You've been moving goblin money through Silverthreads," Layla said, referring to the Gnome bank. "You know that's a violation of the international Goblin treaties. That qualifies you for hefty prison time. Unless they hand you over to the Goblins."
Jude paled, leaning back in his seat. "You would leave our daughter fatherless?"
Layla huffed a laugh. "You've never acted like a father to her. Don't pretend now, just because you suddenly have a sword dangling over your head."
"If I leave Lucy alone, you'll stay silent?"
"Yes. I let Lucy and Harry accompany me so they could vent their anger at you. I knew it would never work. The only kind of threat you understand is when it's about your life or your money. Which are the same things in your mind."
"I thought you might try to make more demands of me. Given you have all the leverage."
Layla grinned. "You're right, I could. But I don't want to. I'm looking forward to taking you to court. Goodbye Jude."
"Hmph."
Lucy dragged Harry out to the street where she wrapped her arms around Harry and kissed him. "I hate him so much."
"So do I…" Harry growled, he let out a breath and glanced down into Lucy's brown eyes. "Are you ok?"
Lucy smiled and nodded. "Yes, thank you. Are you?"
Harry nodded as they joined hands and walked down the street together. "The way he disrespects you makes me so angry."
"I could tell," Lucy replied she spotted a street vendor further down the path and tugged Harry towards it. "Let's get ice cream, I'll buy."
Harry smiled and nodded. "Sure."
"Thank you for being here with me," Lucy said as they approached the ice cream stand.
"Always."
Once they'd bought their ice creams the two found a bench. They sat quietly for a while before Lucy spoke. "So, what did the doctors say after a day of poking and prodding?"
"Their best theory is that I had a magical outburst. They think seeing Snape being murdered by the killing curse, made me flash back to Mum being killed by Voldemort."
"That explains why you lost control, it doesn't explain where all that extra magic came from."
"They think I tapped into my latent magic, I shouldn't be able to reach that level until magical maturity in my twenties. I was able to match Dumbledore because all the magic came out at once. They told me it's good I got knocked out, my core was on the verge of burning out."
"What happens if your core burns out?" Lucy asked but she already suspected the answer.
"If I don't die? I'd be a squib, like Dumbledore," Harry responded. "I would have had to walk away…"
Lucy snatched up Harry's hand and squeezed it. "No way, I wouldn't let that happen. Magic or no, you're my boyfriend and I love you."
Harry smiled. "I love you too."
Hermione knocked and then entered Fleur's room to find her lying on the bed reading. "Fleur, can we talk?"
"Of course," Fleur replied, she sat up and shuffled to the end of the bed as Hermione joined her.
"Fleur, be honest, and I mean really honest. How do you feel about Harry?"
Fleur pondered the question for a minute or two before replying. She could either lie or tell the truth. She knew either way Hermione would be hurt. "I… love him. Not in a goofy adopted brother way, but as a man."
Hermione nodded. "I thought as much."
"That doesn't mean I'm not happy with you…" Fleur added hurriedly.
Hermione smiled and nodded. "I know. But we need to be honest with each other about how we feel about Harry. I love him too. And I'm also attracted to Lucy… I want a way for all of us to be together."
Lucy wasn't Fleur's favourite person, but she didn't hate her. At least not anymore. Being around her so much had let the scales fall from Fleur's eyes and see the brilliant person Lucy is. She could understand Hermione falling for the buxom blonde without the baggage Fleur had carried around for years.
"We should talk to Lucy and Arry. We know he's conflicted about us. Maybe we'll find a way to resolve this together."
As Layla exited the house she smiled seeing Harry and Lucy sitting on a bench feeding each other ice cream. "I see, I'm left to do all the work while my daughter has ice cream with her boyfriend. I see how it is."
"Mum! How did it go?"
"I took care of everything. Your father will inform your fiancé that the wedding is off."
"What did you have to do to make him agree to that?" Lucy asked worriedly.
"Nothing you have to worry about. I took care of it," Layla assured her.
11 July 1995
"Hermione, can we talk to you?" Lucy asked as she stood in the doorway of Hermione's room with Harry.
"Of course."
"You and Fleur, please," Lucy asked.
"Ok."
The three collected Fleur and walked to Delacour family library. Once they were all seated Lucy spoke. "Are you two in love with Harry?"
"Yes," Hermione replied bluntly.
"Oui," Fleur added.
Lucy leaned back in her chair and chewed her lip. She glanced at the awkward looking Harry who was sitting at the head of the table flanked by the three girls on either side before letting out a sigh. "I'm in love with him too, and that's the problem. We all love him, but only one of us can have him."
Fleur frowned. "Says who? Who decided that just because we're all in love with Arry that it means two of us have to be on the outside looking in?"
"Aren't you happy with Hermione?" Lucy challenged.
Fleur scowled. "Of course I am! Being in love with Hermione doesn't preclude me from being in love with him as well."
Lucy nodded after a few seconds. "Ok."
"No one asked what I wanted…" Harry muttered quietly. The girls winced and looked suitably reproachful.
"Harry, what do you want?" Lucy asked quietly.
"I want everyone to be happy…." Harry paused. "I guess that's not a great answer. I love all three of you. What do the three of you want? I can't decide for you."
"Yeah," Hermione agreed quietly.
The four got up and walked out, a dark cloud hanging around their heads.
12 July 1995
Harry sat on the upper balcony of the Chateau, watching the sun set. Harry resisted the urge to flinch when Jean pressed a cold bottle of butter beer into Harry's shoulder.
"I would have given you something stronger, but I get the feeling you need a clear head right now," Jean commented as he sat down beside his adopted son.
"Yeah, you could say that," Harry replied.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Harry opened his mouth to speak but shook his head instead taking a pull of his butterbeer. "No, that's ok, you… you have a lot on your…"
"Never too much that you can't talk to me. I'm always available for you."
Harry smiled and nodded. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Arry. Now, what's going on with you and your girls?" Jean replied putting his arm around Harry.
Harry took a moment to enjoy a parental embrace. He knew it was silly but there was always a tiny voice in the back of his head that told him, it could always be ripped away and he'd end up back in that cupboard under the stairs. It had been the loudest in years right after the fight with Dumbledore. It was only Lucy's embrace that kept him from losing it. He did cry, but it would have been much worse if it weren't for Lucy.
Harry explained the situation with the three girls. "I love them, how can I choose only one?"
"Who says you have too, Arry?" Jean asked.
"You're suggesting polygamy?" Harry asked as a blush spread across his cheeks.
"I am. It may not be a conventional solution, but it's not impossible."
"What will people say though? I don't care what they think about me, people say stupid shit about me all the time. I'm worried about the girls and you and Apolline. You're essentially condoning incest in your own house."
"I'm letting two people who aren't related by blood and who love each other be together. It would certainly be different if you were actually brother and sister. But that's not the case. If people want to gossip and judge, let them. It's yours and Fleur's happiness that matters."
Harry nodded silently letting Jean's words wash over him. "Yeah."
Jean patted Harry on the shoulder. "I know you'll make the best decision you can. Whatever you decide, we'll support you."
"Thanks, Dad," Harry replied with a smile.
14 July 1995
Fleur, Hermione, and Lucy sat opposite their mothers in the library. The girls had gathered their mothers to discuss the girls' relationship problems with Harry. Hermione took the lead in explaining the situation and while Emma was slightly concerned about the optics of Harry dating Fleur she supported the idea of the four being together. She loved them and wanted them to be happy.
"What do the three of you want?" Apolline asked.
"Arry/Harry," the three girls replied in various volumes.
"Then what's stopping you from having him?" Layla inquired.
The girls gave each other furtive glances and the three women nodded understandingly. "How do you feel about each other?" Emma asked.
"I love Hermione," Fleur replied.
"And I love Fleur," Hermione agreed.
Lucy quietly wrung her hands, considering what to say. She loved Harry and wouldn't walk away, she'd tried that once and he'd pulled her back in. But she hadn't struggled against the idea. Layla reached across the table and scooped up Lucy's hand. "What do you want darling?"
"I love Harry, I'm not going to walk away," Lucy looked over at Hermione and Fleur, reaching out for their hands. The two girls took her hand in theirs, both with beaming smiles.
"I guess that's decided," Apolline said to which the girls nodded.
"We should talk to Arry," Fleur said to Lucy and Hermione.
"Yes," The girls agreed.
Before they could get up from the table, one of the Chateau's Auror guards entered the room and walked over to Apolline. "Ma'am, we have a disturbance at the gate."
"What is it?"
"There is a man identifying himself as Sawarr Junelle, demanding Miss Heartfilia to be brought to the gate."
"What does that creepy bastard want? I thought Dad told him I'm not interested," Lucy spat angrily.
"Maybe he did and Mister Junelle didn't listen," Apolline offered.
"Or my bastard soon-to-be ex-husband didn't tell him at all," Layla theorized.
"Please send him away," Apolline ordered.
"Wait," Harry said as he entered the room. "Let me deal with it."
"Harry…" Lucy said warningly as she marched towards him.
"I'm just going to go say hi," Harry assured her, reaching up to brush the hair out of her face. She blushed, feeling his rough hand against her face.
"Sure…" Lucy replied disbelievingly.
The gates of the Delacour Estate opened and Harry walked out, waving off the security guards. When Harry stops he glared over at the very round man in a poorly fitting suit. His hair was slicked down to hide his bald spot. He looked at least fifteen to twenty years older than Harry but he wasn't sure whether Junelle was actually that much older or whether his lifestyle had taken its toll.
"Where is Lucy, I demanded Lucy!" Junelle demanded shrilly.
"Sorry, Lucy's occupied. She did want me to convey her utter contempt for you and her desire for you to fuck off."
"How dare you! Do you know who I am??"
"I don't give a fuck who you are. You're not wanted here, you're not marrying Lucy, or did Jude not tell you?"
"I don't care! I was promised Lucy, and I'll have her no matter what!" Junelle spat as he stormed up to Harry. "All I have to do is get rid of you!"
"Master Harry, look out!" One of the guards yelled as Junelle pulled a glass vial out of his jacket and threw the contents at Harry.
Harry got a shield up at the last second to block most of the acid but cried out as the acid hit his unshielded arm and shoulder. The guards wrestled Junelle to the ground as Harry collapsed in pain. The acid was eating through his skin to the muscles below. One of the guards knelt beside Harry, casting a sonorus. "Master Harry was attacked! I'm apparating him to the hospital!"
As the guard and Harry disappeared the gate was rendered into tiny pieces of shrapnel. The four most important women in Harry's life stalked shoulder to shoulder towards Junelle with rage in their eyes. He'd hurt Harry, he'd planned to hurt Lucy. It was time for him to pay.
Junelle scurried away trying to reach the discarded glass vial, in the vain hope there was some acid left with which he could defend himself. He'd never been a great wizard, or even a good one. He'd have flunked out of Beauxbatons if it weren't for the exorbitant amount of money his family had spent on tutors. Junelle knew there was no way he'd be able to fend off four powerfully fearsome women that were stalking towards him.
"S-stay away! D-don't make me, EEP!" Junelle yelled as the vial was destroyed by Lucy as the four stopped. There was now a strong smell of piss in the air as the four women looked down at him in disgust.
"Run away, Sawarr, run away before we castrate you. Don't make me say it again," Lucy hissed, the air was buzzing from the ambient magic around them. Junelle nodded hurriedly and apparated away.
Apolline turned to one of the security guards. "Please inform Jean that we've gone to the hospital."
"Yes, ma'am."
At the Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, the ladies were met by a beautiful and busty doctor who introduced herself as Cecile Nunes. "We're keeping Harry unconscious for now while we treat the acid damage. It's not serious but it is painful."
"When will he wake up?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"In a few hours. You're welcome to wait," Cecile offered.
As Cecile walked away the three girls glared at her back. "I don't trust her…" Hermione muttered, Apolline rolled her eyes as they walked to Harry's room.
Harry woke up stiff and sore, but not in excruciating pain. Opening his eyes he found the three girls sleeping around his bed. "They worried themselves into exhaustion, even though they'd been assured you were fine. I think four years of Quidditch injuries will do that," Apolline said pointedly as Harry looked away sheepishly.
"Those girls love you, you know," Apolline said.
"I know, I love them too," Harry said before lifting his arm slowly to examine the scars only to realize his arm and neck was covered in Veela salve.
Apolline smiled when she saw the girl's lips tug upwards after Harry's declaration. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore and stiff, otherwise fine. What happened to Junelle?"
"He's in a holding cell awaiting a bail hearing. His family employs a fleet of lawyers, but the legend of the boy-who-lived reaches across the sea. They'll have to balance protecting their son with the risk to their reputation. Sawarr is a long term embarrassment, they finally walk away this time."
Harry nodded as the wheels turned in his head. Apolline cocked her head to one side knowing the look on Harry's face. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing…" Harry said innocently as Apolline stared at him disbelievingly.
"Arry…?" Apolline said warningly, Harry flinched knowing she only ever used that tone when Harry was in trouble.
"I was wondering if Jude knew this would happen? If this was his intention after Layla told him to fuck off."
Apolline paused looking pensive. "I… hadn't considered that. We haven't interviewed him yet. I'll be sure pass that on."
"Will you tell me what his answer is?"
"I'll consider it."
21 July 1995
Jude Heartfilia dived behind his desk as the door to his office was blown off its hinges. Shrapnel and debris went flying everywhere as Harry walked inside. Recovering his seat, Jude glared at the younger man. "How dare you barge in…" Jude began before he was cut off and began clawing at his neck and gasping for air.
Harry's magic filled the room as his eyes glowed malevolently. "Shut up old man. I'm going to talk and you're going to listen. Sawarr Junelle came to the Delacour Estate one week ago and demanded to see Lucy. Did you know about that?"
Jude shook his head vigorously. Harry stopped at the desk, glaring down at him. "Tell me the truth, now !"
The shelves rattled causing Jude's books and knick-knacks to fall to the floor. Harry had wanted to have a calm conversation with Jude Heartfilia, but seeing the man had triggered his anger. It was only the knowledge that killing him would upset Lucy that stopped Harry from hurting him. But Jude didn't know that.
"Answer me," Harry quietly demanded as the wood sizzled under his palms as he placed his hands on the desk.
"Yes… I knew," Jude hissed out, still pinned to the back of his chair. "He'd done it before."
"You intended to let him ruin Lucy's face? That woman is your daughter!" Harry yelled.
"She's no daughter of mine," Jude hissed again.
Harry took several deep breaths while letting his magic settle. The old man slumped in his chair after being released from Harry's hold.
"You are scum. Stay the fuck away from my family, or there will be permanent consequences," Harry said as he walked to the door of the office.
Jude sat up in his chair, a thunderous look on his face. "You halfblood bastard, you think you can threaten me?! You son of a mudblood whore! I am Jude…"
Harry turned around and the bookshelves in the room collapsed as his magic flared out around once again. This time it was Harry who looked thunderous. He took two steps before the windows behind Jude shattered, showering the garden outside with glass.
"Albus Dumbledore was the most beloved wizard in the world before I entered his life. Now he's a disgraced squib locked away forever in Azkaban. What do you think will happen to you? No one would care if you disappeared."
"Are you threatening me, boy ?"
Harry grinned. "Try me and find out."
Jude leaned back in his chair, trying not to let the fear show on his face. "Get out."
Harry flipped Jude the bird and walked out, leaving the old man's office and life in shambles. A few days later Jude Heartfilia would leave Paris and never return. His body would wash up on a beach in Morocco many years later. His cause of death would never be determined. The only note from the examiner would be that he had a look of fear, frozen on his face in death.
Harry exited the Heartfilia house to find the girls, Layla and Apolline waiting for him. Lucy rushed up to him with a look of worry in her eyes. "Did it go ok?"
"I think I got the message across," Harry assured her with a smile.
Harry flopped back on his bed, he felt spent after flaring his magic in front of Jude Heartfilia. His magic was much stronger now than before his fight with Dumbledore but he hadn't yet reached magical maturity. Expending that much magic was always going to exhaust him.
A knock at the door drew his attention, lifting himself up onto his elbows he saw the three girls standing at the entrance to his room. "Hi."
"Harry, can we talk?"
"Do I have to stand up?" Harry asked.
"No," Hermione assured him.
"Ok," Harry replied, shuffling to sit on the end of the bed.
Hermione, Fleur, and Lucy entered with the two blondes sitting either side of Harry and Hermione sat on a chair in front of them. "The three of us have come to a decision. We all love you and we don't want any of us to miss out. So, we want to know how you feel?"
Harry took a deep breath and thought for a few moments before speaking. "I can't imagine my life without any of you. I love all three of you, so yes, if the three of you want it, I do too."
Hermione squealed as she dived into his arm, kissing Harry on the lips. She rested her forehead against his draping her arms over his shoulders. "I love you."
Harry smiled. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that. I love you," He said before turning his head and capturing Fleur's lips. "I love you too."
"I love you, Arry," Fleur replied softly.
Lucy smiled laviously tugging Harry up the bed. "No more words, Harry. It's time for you to show us how much you love us."
Fleur and Hermione grinned crawling up the bed with them. "Oui, we've had years of listening to Lucy's screams. It's time for you to show us what causes all those screams."
Harry grinned. "Oh boy."
Jean looked up from his breakfast the next morning as a very smug Harry entered the dining room. A beaming Lucy followed behind with Hermione and Fleur dragging themselves to the table. The two looked exhausted and sore, but very satisfied.
"Were you four up late last night?" Jean asked innocently. He knew exactly what they'd been doing, but he wasn't ready to acknowledge that Fleur was a fully grown woman. To him she'd always be his little girl.
Harry grinned intertwining his fingers with Hermione and Fleur's as Fleur held Lucy's hand. "Something like that," Harry replied.
Five years later
Harry let the ocean wash over his feet as he stood on the Delacour's private beach in southern France. He tore his eyes away from the horizon to look down at his golden wedding band. It had been a few days but he was still letting it sink in.
He'd proposed to all three girls at once during a dinner at the Chateau, he'd almost been surprised when all three said yes. It was a beautiful wedding at the beach house they were now spending their honeymoon at.
Harry had waited until they'd graduated university before proposing. The last few weeks before graduation had been crazy, particularly for Hermione who'd been deep in her government studies courses. Hermione was planning on joining the French ministry.
Harry and Fleur meanwhile were intent on joining Lucy as she started her fashion company. Something that was a hobby for her growing up, evolving into a career after studying fashion design. Harry and Fleur had studied marketing and accounting respectively.
Lucy expected both of them and Hermione to model for her. Which had met with different levels of enthusiasm from the three. Hermione was particularly reticent given she still felt, even now, that she wasn't as good looking as Lucy or Fleur. A notion Harry heavily disputed.
Harry smiled as he felt a pair of soft arms wrap around him. Lucy rested her head on his shoulder, standing on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. "It's time for lunch."
Harry grinned and turned around, resting his hands on her hips. "I bet."
Lucy rolled her eyes. "You're such a letch…"
"I can't help it with such beautiful wives."
"Come on, otherwise Hermione will get cross."
Harry let himself be dragged over to the picnic blanket where Hermione and Fleur were setting up lunch. He sat down and snuggled into Lucy as she loaded up his plate with food. Harry smiled at Hermione and blew her a kiss. "I love you."
"We love you too, Harry."