Harry and Luna were walking towards the library, going through the inner courtyard just in case the girl was there. They found no one who fitted her description or even wore the Beauxbatons uniforms, so they proceeded towards their original destination, enjoying the comfortable silence. For the first time in the term, Harry was able to appreciate the changes to the library. The bookshelves were new, the seating places looked comfortable - unlike the previous ones - the floor was changed to dark walnut, and the walls were painted a soft cream. The most notable change, however, was that the size of the place had increased, along with the number of books. The boy approached the desk near the entrance, where the librarian was reading.

"Good evening, Madam Pince," the pair greeted the serious woman.

"Harry, dear, it's good to see you here. You barely visit any more. Good evening, Miss Lovegood," the woman greeted.

"It's hard to balance my schedules, but I will be visiting more."

"I know you're working hard, being the best student in the school isn't an easy feat to accomplish. So, what books do you need?" the woman asked kindly.

"Nothing in particular. We had free time today and decided to spend it in the library... Although, does the school have some information about Beauxbatons? So far I haven't had the chance to speak with any of the French students and I'm really curious about their school."

"I'm afraid that we only have general information about other schools, which is a shame if you ask me. However, you can ask Miss Delacour, such a polite sweetheart. She's in the Charms section if you wish to speak with her," Madam Pince suggested.

"Thank you for the information. We'll try to speak with her," Luna said with her most innocent smile, which made the strict librarian return the gesture.

"Get going, then. I have a book waiting for me," the woman shooed the pair.

Both teens waved at the woman and walked towards the place she had indicated. When they arrived, Harry saw the same girl that had captured his attention with her advanced illusions during the introduction feast. He debated with himself for a few seconds, deciding which would be the best way to approach the French student. Of course, Luna did not have the same qualms and advanced to the table with little jumps, startling the older girl. The boy sighed in exasperation and followed the unruly blonde, missing the times when she still looked for his guidance not so long ago.

SB

Fleur Delacour had been beyond beautiful ever since she remembered. When she was young, she did not understand why other children did not wish to play with her or why many parents looked at her with a mix of disapproval and resentment, with the extra sparkle of envy. As she grew up, she began to understand. Her fellow females glared at her and the males acted as idiots when she was around, all because of her beauty.

For many years, she had loathed the hypnotizing allure she possessed and craved normalcy. For a time, she had even hated her mother for being half-Veela. That stage had an abrupt end when her mother had almost crossed the gates of death while giving birth to her little sister. Fleur had never been so frightened and the possibility of losing half of her family had ensured she matured in those brief days, more than she would have in years. Since that event, she became a devoted daughter and loving sister, knowing that family was above anything else in the world.

Fleur Delacour started using her beauty as the powerful weapon it was, ensnaring people with her charm and gaining an enviable position in the school. However, jealousy and lust remained constant in her life. Never before did she have any friends, only sycophants who wished to be seen with the persona she had built. The sad part was that, even when she knew this, the loneliness was sometimes so suffocating that she accepted their shallow company in order to find some respite from her isolated life. She expected Hogwarts to be no different and she was proven right. From the first day, the girls eyed her with envy and the males with desire – nothing unexpected – but she still managed to get disappointed. The few students that had approached her possessed those feelings even when they were trying to conceal them, so she decided to take her usual approach – ignore everyone until she felt loneliness oppressing her.

That is why Fleur was so confused when a young girl with dirty-blonde hair approached her table. Her childish jumps and wide blue eyes made her look as innocent as Gabrielle. Following her was the only person in the castle that had managed to evoke her interest: Harry Potter. The boy, aside from his international fame, was the owner of devastating attractiveness. So striking were his looks that she would have believed he possessed Veela blood if someone were to tell her. If that was not enough, the boy seemed to be admired by the whole school and even had friends who seemed to adore him. While Fleur had once envied normalcy, now she envied the boy who seemed to possess the perfect life she had once craved.

"Hello, my name is Luna Lovegood and this is Harry Potter," the girl introduced herself and the handsome boy. "Can we sit with you?"

"There's enough space. My name is Fleur Delacour," the girl answered, confused at what these strangers wanted. The boy was not entranced with her beauty and the girl was wearing a wide smile, her visage contained no traces of the usual jealousy other females eyed her with.

"Thanks, and sorry to interrupt you. It's just that we needed a tranquil place to be. The school is filled with Harry's admirers and it's hard to find someone who won't overreact when he's close," Luna explained while she took the chair that was in front of her.

Harry watched as Luna approached the French student, wearing her innocent persona and, at the same time, showing her real personality. Although he did not understand what the young girl was planning while selling him out the way she was doing, Harry was sure she had a plan... A plan that he might not like, but was sure it would be effective, nonetheless.

"I hope that the students are treating you well. Are you enjoying classes?" Harry asked.

"They are polite," Fleur said with a heavy accent. "There are many good teachers; I especially enjoy Professor Kowalski and Professor Flitwick's classes. Although, today, the Sorting Hat gave the History class. It was interesting enough." When Harry heard the girl speak, he could understand how many would confuse her self-confidence with arrogance and her frankness with derision. However, he was not another person and these attributes enticed him more than beauty ever could.

"Have you tried Professor Munter's class? It's Martial Magic and he's an incredible teacher," Luna gushed, looking excited.

"Professor Kowalski suggested it, though I'm not so sure about it. Next week I'm already joining the Duelling club and if I get chosen as a champion, I fear I will not have enough time," the eldest girl explained.

"Perhaps, but what you learn in that class will be more useful than what you learn for a single task," Harry told the girl.

"Anyway, are you enjoying the food in the school?" Luna asked before the atmosphere could turn serious. "I really enjoy the traditional dishes, but Harry has strange tastes and is quite picky with food. He's always asking the school elves for different plates so, if you get bored with the food at your table, you can always join us," the young girl offered.

"Luna, dear, you do realize that I'm here and perhaps I may take offence at your harsh words," the boy questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"It's not my fault you have peculiar tastes. I would never have imagined missing a simple Yorkshire pudding with gravy after eating it for three years," the young girl sighed.

"And how's that my fault? You can get that somewhere in the hall."

"Yeah, but I would have to make an effort," the girl pouted, "Fleur, do you exercise?"

"I beg your pardon?" the confused foreigner asked. Was the girl suggesting she needed to lose weight? She did not know whether she should feel amused or offended.

"You see, Harry forces us all to exercise and I'm always sore because of it. So I avoid any kind of extra effort unless it's necessary. You're with me, right?" Luna asked, her big eyes almost begging Fleur to agree.

"The problem is that you act like a whimsical cat. Let's not forget that you would turn into one, given the opportunity," the boy retorted.

"Not true. I would turn into an owl," the girl stated with a superior smirk that seemed to exasperate the boy even further.

Fleur watched their banter with amusement. It was obvious they were close friends, but unlike any other interaction she had experienced before, they included her in their conversation with no apparent effort. The older girl wondered if this is how it felt to have real friends, people who treated her as an equal but made her feel special at the same time. Without her noticing, the pair had engaged her in an easy conversation that she enjoyed. They had asked her opinion on different matters and considered her answers. For the first time, she was treated as an intelligent woman instead of a shallow, pretty face.

"Harry, it's twenty to three," the dreamy girl announced.

"Time flies, indeed. I apologize for ending our conversation so abruptly, but we have Martial Magic classes," the boy explained.

"You can always join us, if you want to, of course," the girl offered.

Fleur was left perplexed by that simple proposal. Unlike many others who were interested in something she may have to offer, she possessed no special trait that they did not own already. Hope began blooming in her chest at the idea of them not being interested in her public persona, but the real person behind her pleasing looks. The fact that Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood had treated her in a way only her parents and fellow Veela had, with natural respect, made her feel at ease in their company. She did not know how to feel about the people in front of her but, for the first time in long years, Fleur decided she would try to give someone the opportunity to befriend her.

"The class sounds interesting," the older girl agreed, and her response was rewarded by a bright smile from the young girl.

"Have you met Viktor? He's from Durmstrang," Luna said while they walked out of the place. "He's the only one in his delegation who has the balls to join the class; the others are wimps," the girl said in a singsong voice that contrasted with her words.

"Language," Harry chided the girl.

"I'm sorry," the small girl pouted. "You're right, they didn't have the ovaries to join," she corrected her phrasing with a bright smile. Fleur was unable to contain her laughter at the girl's bold declaration.

"You're spending far too much time with Daphne," the boy sighed. "See what I have to deal with? Promise you won't follow Daphne's example," he almost begged.

"I learnt that from Hwasa," Luna retorted, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Elizabeth is always with her," the boy groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Elizabeth is my little sister. It's annoying to see her grow."

"I also have a little sister. Her name is Gabrielle. She is still young, so I hope it takes her a long time to grow up," Fleur told them.

"Will she visit you during the tasks or will you be visiting your family during Yule?" the boy asked.

"She is coming over in January. Madam Maxime told us that we would spend Yule in Hogwarts to increase the 'international cooperation'," she mimicked in a high-pitched tone.

"Hogwarts is a boring place to stay in... Why don't you join us? I'm sure your family can stay for the holidays," Luna suggested and Fleur stopped walking. She glanced at the petite girl to know whether she was playing a joke but, much to her disconcertment, the girl looked eager to know her answer.

"Viktor is staying with us and Aunt Eleadora would kill me if I didn't introduce my new friends to her," the boy muttered and, once again, Fleur was left in shock at his casual declaration. "You don't have to decide now. If you want to join us, just tell me any time. It's not like my house won't be filled with people. Draco's parents, Neville's grandmother, and maybe Luna's father and Blaise's mother will be in my house. Also, my godfather will try to bring his girlfriend over and perhaps will try to bring all the Aurors once again... I almost forgot Remus; he'll also be present," the boy mumbled to himself.

"I am honoured by the offer," the older girl answered after a few moments, deciding to answer in a diplomatic way and think about the offer in the future.

"It's normal for us to spend time in Harry's house; it has turned into our meeting place. I'm sure you'll love Aunt Eleadora and the elves make the most delicious desserts!" the small girl confided. Harry groaned and started walking faster. "Don't worry. He's grumpy because we don't allow him to live in the library, as I'm sure he'd try to if we didn't force him out," she winked.

Fleur and Luna talked about multiple things on their way to their class. When the girls arrived, they saw Harry was already there, reading a book and ignoring their friends. A tall girl with almost golden hair walked towards them, a girl that possessed an astounding beauty to the point that even Fleur admitted admiring her. Beside her was a tall, handsome boy. The foreign girl wondered if it was requisite to have breath-taking looks to be Harry Potter's friend.

"So what did you do to him? Harry has been sulking since he arrived," the tall girl asked.

"I may have reminded him that the castle has turned into our reunion point... And perhaps reminded him of Aunt Eleadora. He's still sensitive about the idea of her teaching 'his little Elizabeth'," the girl said with an innocent smile. "Before I forget, this is Fleur Delacour."

"Daphne Greengrass. Thanks for making him sulk," she said with a pleased smirk.

"Well, I tried to do that for almost a month, so I officially concede defeat. Cedric Diggory," the boy introduced himself.

"Come with us. There are others that need to be introduced," Luna said, taking Fleur's hand and guiding the French girl towards a large group of people.

Fleur observed the students with interest. While most of them were Slytherins, there were also three Gryffindors and they seemed to be close, unlike the rumours she had heard about the rivalry between the two houses. She also recognized Viktor Krum, the famous Seeker that, somehow, was a member of this strange assortment of people.

"Listen, everyone! This is Fleur Delacour. Okay, so the bleached blond is Draco Malfoy, the idiot trying to sleep is Theodore Nott and the other is Blaise Zabini. The redheaded morons are George Weasley and Fred Weasley, respectively, and the one they're corrupting is Viktor Krum. The midget bullying the idiot is Flora Carrow and the idiot is Adrian Pucey," Daphne introduced, earning many complaints.

"Be kinder," Cedric chided the girl. "This is Neville Longbottom and this is Hestia Carrow. Terrence is speaking with Professor Kowalski and will arrive in a bit."

"There's also Justin Finch-Fletchey, but he's in the intermediate level, so you'll meet him at dinner. We also have Marcus Travers, but he's graduated already. I'm sure you'll be able to meet him during one of our Hogsmeade visits... We also have Elizabeth, though she studies abroad, so you'll have to wait for the holidays to meet her," Daphne shrugged.

"I want to clarify that I'm not bleached; it's natural platinum blond," Draco complained, much to the French student's amusement.

"That's the entire group," Luna sighed in contentment, something that was not lost on the members close to her.

"Are you planning to visit Hogsmeade? Tomorrow will be the first visit of the year and you can always join us," the kind-looking boy named Neville offered.

"We'll take you to our favourite place, Dulcis Magicae. They have the best chocolate in the world," one of the redheads exclaimed.

Fleur had never felt so out of place and, at the same time, so included. Although it was obvious the group had been friends for a long time, they included her in their interactions as if she was an old friend, instead of someone they had met a few minutes ago. However, she felt comfortable. None of the boys stared at her intently and it was almost as if they were not even aware of her beauty, treating her as a normal person. The other girls engaged her in easy conversation, neither glaring at her nor showing signs of envy. The foreign student allowed herself to relax and enjoy their company until a boy with honey-brown hair came running to the class a few seconds before it started, and she assumed he was Terrence.

Even though Fleur admitted not having high expectations for the British school after it lost its place among the best schools in Europe more than a century ago, she had been surprised by the level of education it offered. The Hogwarts castle was almost rudimentary compared to Beauxbatons, however, it had a quaint charm that made it feel inviting. There were many professors that had proved to be better than the ones in her school and she enjoyed many of the classes. During her short stay in the school, Professor Kowalski's class had been the most enjoyable. Nevertheless, she considered the physical part of the class as a brutal, cruel, and unusual way of ingraining the lessons in the students. Fleur had considered Defence Against the Dark Arts the most painful and demanding class she had ever experienced.

Of course, that only lasted until she committed the terrible mistake of joining Martial Magic. Never before had she felt so exhausted, and that was considering she did not do half of what the others did because she lacked proper clothing. Fleur eyed with equal degrees of admiration and horror as Harry Potter and his group were the only ones able to finish the exercises and begin duelling when the other students were almost dragging themselves to try to complete the sets. She would have never considered herself unfit, but perhaps it was time to re-evaluate her opinions.

"They are nuts," Viktor hissed beside her and she was forced to agree.

"I believe that training with them will be harder than training for the tasks," she agreed.

"They wanted me to join their training schedule, but the trip did not sit well with me so I have been resting. I am not sure I want to join anymore," the tall male complained.

The large group was walking to the great hall after their classes with Professor Munter. Adrian was helping Viktor to walk in a steady line instead of the drunken steps the boy was making after the class. Terrence was helping Fleur to walk, almost carrying her because the girl looked ready to keel over. Cedric was leaning on Neville, who helped the boy without complaints. It seemed the class had been more demanding than they were used to. Draco took out the necessary vials of Navitas potions, a special creation by Fred and Flora, with a little (a lot) help from Eleadora, and forced their new members to have a vial each. It was a potion they designed to restore energy and stamina. The pair had worked hard to ensure it was highly effective and had no side effects. In a few words, it was perfect to renew your energy after a battle.

When they arrived at the hall, their three members looked more composed, but their legs were still too weak to walk without help. All of them plopped into their seats, where Justin was already sitting and eyeing them with amusement. Before he could tease them, food appeared in the middle of the table and they began serving it onto their plates.

Fleur was the heir of an old family and the daughter of an important politician. Thus, she had been raised as such. She possessed impeccable table manners and a grace that spoke of years of practice. All her teaching went down the gutter when she saw the delicious food in front of her. After such a tiring day and gruelling torture, her normally absent appetite had morphed into a ravenous hunger she had never experienced. She was French, so she had seen her fair share of strange food and her family enjoyed travelling, especially in the Slavic regions and South America, thus bizarre-looking food was not uncommon. So the unknown but delicious-looking food was nothing compared to the strange things she had been forced to taste. The only thing stopping her from giving in and devouring like a savage were the utensils. The chopsticks and large spoon disconcerted her.

"Justin, this is Fleur," Luna explained, filling her plate.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I see you enjoyed Munter's class," he teased.

"It was not what I was expecting. I have a question: What kind of food is this?" the confused girl said to no one in particular, deciding she would skip the embarrassment of asking how to eat it.

"I'm sorry, we forgot. After training, we eat these kinds of things, otherwise, we get hungry soon after the feast is over," Daphne explained. "That's ginger rice, quinoa, garlic salmon, Miso soup, tofu, salad, and green juice."

"Don't try the green juice. It's made of vegetables. Only a few like it," Theo muttered, grimacing at the glasses.

"It's really tasty, but the idiot is afraid of anything related to broccoli," Daphne told the girl.

"The food is good, don't worry," Viktor reassured her. "Although we tend to have tastier food, except Harry. He always eats the same things."

"I don't," the boy muttered, defending himself.

"You do, most of the time, at least," Theo retorted.

Luna helped Fleur to fill her plate with the basics and handed the girl the typical Eastern utensils. The French student took a careful bite and, after noticing the food was delicious, she began eating at a pace that satisfied her hunger. After she was done, she decided to try a sip of the green concoction in her glass. It was unlike anything she had tasted before, having a slightly sour and sweet taste, but it was so refreshing that she continued drinking. Perhaps the girl did not notice or preferred to ignore the astounded looks she was receiving from a few members of the Guild.

"She drank it..." a perturbed Blaise muttered.

"Harry already corrupted her," Theo mumbled, looking at the girl.

"Did you enjoy the food?" Harry asked their new member.

"It was different, but it was good. I especially enjoyed the soup," Fleur answered.

"I'm glad. If I'm honest, the Miso is one of my favourites," the boy commented.

The empty food trays disappeared, being replaced by many small plates of different desserts. Fleur could recognize the different ice-cream flavours and the enticing puddings. Without further encouragement, she chose a ramekin filled with chocolate pudding and ate it with gusto. It seemed the day had been filled with new experiences for the French girl, from socializing with a large group of strangers to eating like a starved beast. However, not for a single second did she regret her decision to join this group that made the harrowing loneliness disappear.

"We still have time before curfew. Do you want to come with us? We have a room to ourselves," the mocha-skinned boy named Blaise confided. This time she did not hesitate to accept the offer.

The large group walked out of the great hall, dividing themselves into no apparent order and engaging in conversation. For a moment, she panicked because she felt like a stranger, and even an intruder, but those feelings disappeared when the tall boy named Neville approached her. Fleur noticed, with slight amusement, how the boy was still in the awkward stages of puberty. However, his sharp features spoke of a handsome visage and his school uniform was unable to hide his muscular build.

"Did you enjoy Mister Munter's class?" the boy asked in a gentle tone.

"It was tiring. I did not imagine I could feel so exhausted," she explained, struggling a little with the language she had begun learning a few months ago.

"He's quite strict about the physical part of the training, though he has solid reasons. Most of the class would be unable to run fast or long enough to save their lives. In comparison, you did quite well. Is there any kind of sport you enjoy?"

"I like Quidditch, but I haven't really played it in a long time. The teams at Beauxbatons are quite... selective," she muttered looking around to avoid the boy's gaze. She noticed they were taking the stairs that descended towards the dungeons and patted her wrist to check that her wand was in place.

"I see," the boy said, somehow understanding the real reason she had not been allowed to join. "Why don't you try to join a team here? Fred, Terrence, Adrian, George and Cedric are trying to form a team. I am sure you're better than any of the others who want to join. Besides, they already trust you, so it makes the teamwork easier," Neville informed her, indicating the Quidditch players.

"I am not sure. I came to participate in the Tournament after all."

"I know, but don't forget it will be your last year at school. Enjoy it as much as you can," the boy said, giving her a gentle smile.

It was good that they arrived at a door that was opened by someone in the front, because she had no idea how to answer the earnest boy who, despite being younger, possessed a maturity that was far beyond his years. Fleur looked around the room and her eyes widened in surprise. The room was beyond anything Beauxbatons possessed, outshining it in decor and exquisite elegance. There were many different areas that she ignored in favour of the sitting area, which contained ornate furniture, and the rich colours enhanced the minuscule details.

She followed the example of the other people in the room, taking a seat in a single couch and waiting to see what would happen. Much to her surprise, one of the young girls, whose name she was unable to remember, and one of the redhead twins headed to a place with glass walls that seemed to contain enough potions equipment and ingredients that would turn Flamel himself green with envy. At least half of the group walked towards a rocky place that seemed to be taken out of a professional duelling circuit, something Fleur knew that no student should have free access to during school.

"How do you find the energy to keep training?" the boy named Cedric asked.

"Unlike a few lazy sacks of bones, we enjoy it... as long as Aunt Eleadora and Professor Flitwick aren't against us," Daphne muttered the last part with obvious reluctance.

"Professor Flitwick is a fearsome man," Viktor agreed, looking solemn. It seemed that the Bulgarian had already been witness to one of his lessons for the Guild.

"So what will we do about the Quidditch team? The ones who want to join are more interested in being part of the Guild than in playing," Terrence told the group. Neville, instead of divulging what she had said to him, looked at her in silent encouragement.

"I can join," Viktor offered.

"We already have a Seeker, sorry," the other redhead twin commented. That simple dismissal surprised the French girl because they had just rejected a professional Quidditch player with no hesitation as one of them already occupied that position. Such disinterested loyalties awoke her interest in joining and perhaps finding a way of belonging.

"I can go for another position... I never really liked being a Seeker. It is boring most of the game because you have to search for the blasted ball instead of helping your team," the Bulgarian student commented and seemed to brighten at his revelation, especially because no one judged him.

"I know, and I also hate it. I was the Seeker for Hufflepuff. I'm glad that I'll be Chaser at last," Cedric said looking quite animated. "What position do you prefer? That is if you like the game," he shrugged, implying no one would judge him if that was the case.

"Keeper. I have always enjoyed that position," Viktor confessed.

"I would like to try for Chaser," Fleur announced. Her heart was beating fast and she regretted that brief moment of impulsive courage.

"That's great! Though we still need to try you both, I'm sure that, if you two pass, we'll be the best team in school!" George exclaimed, high-fiving the Hufflepuff prefect.

"We have the Quidditch room installed already. Someone would not stop bothering me until it was done," Harry sighed, eyeing the dreamy blonde girl.

"Do you want to give it a shot now?" Terrence asked.

"Don't be insensitive. They've just had their first class with Professor Munter," Neville chided the older boy with a soft tone that managed to convey his seriousness.

"We can try. We are rested and the potion really helped," Fleur commented, her inner Quidditch enthusiast taking control.

"It's the door at the back, the only one with a Q," Harry commented, taking out a book and proceeding to ignore his surroundings.

The potential Quidditch team walked to the signalled door after retrieving the players that were engaged in other activities. The redhead twin that was working with the young girl on some sort of potion had to be physically dragged away from his work because he refused to leave the room. His resistance lasted until he was informed about the impromptu Quidditch trial, but Fleur still considered his reaction humorous.

The moment they opened the door, her amusement vanished. The room was gigantic and it was so well equipped that she was sure a professional arena would pale in comparison. The ceiling resembled a bright, clouded sky, perfect for a match, and, instead of the usual bleachers, there were two large boxes to watch the game from. There was an area that seemed to be for the players to rest and, even though she could not make out all the details from this distance, she could have betted that it was as comfortable and elegant as the sitting room. Beside the entrance, she could see an assortment of brooms, equipment, and protective gear that, judging by the quality and brands, it would be easy to conclude that it was worth a small fortune. It seemed that she was not the only one left speechless because Viktor was eyeing the room with his mouth wide open, appreciating every detail. Fleur concluded that her guess on the room being better than a professional arena was not wrong at all.

"The changing rooms and showers are behind that door," Luna informed the group and started walking towards the stairs that led to the boxes, dragging Justin with her.

The next hours were spent in a 'light' practice, where she managed to show enough talent to be accepted into the team. Much to her surprise, an impromptu match began with the other members that were practising their duelling skills – using facilities Fleur believed would be appropriate for Auror training than student workout. Somehow, they still managed to have enough energy to play. The French student admitted not having so much fun in a long time. The game was fast-paced and not even for a single second did any boy give her any kind of advantage, instead, treating her as an equal. In the end, no one knew how the game ended, being too tired to even wonder who had won.

When the whole group returned to the main room's seating area, most collapsed on the couches.

"Did you enjoy the game?" Harry asked wearing an amused grin.

"The team is complete," Adrian announced.

"Neville's a good Keeper, far too good," Cedric complained.

"Our Daphne is as cruel as she is beautiful," Fred sighed in a theatrical way.

"I think it's time to go to bed," Justin said, pointing with his chin at the sleepy Luna.

"Considering that the only thing she did was watch the game and be a sarcastic commentator, one would think that she wouldn't be the first one to fall asleep, for once," Blaise muttered, his soft eyes betraying his amusement.

"We can walk you to your tower. It's on the way," Neville offered Fleur, and the only response she could manage was a weak nod.

After many waves, the small group left the room. The French girl noticed, with relief, that the halls were as warm as the room was. That lasted until they somehow arrived at the Ravenclaw Tower after walking up a single flight of stairs. She did not know whether she should be confused by the sudden drop in temperature or because they had managed to go up more than seven floors in a few minutes... Maybe she was just tired and did not notice when they had walked through the castle. While she was lost in her musings, she did not notice as the Ravenclaw door opened without requesting the usual answer to its riddle.

"Sleep well," one of the redhead twins said as a farewell.

"If you want, you can join us tomorrow. We'll be going to Hogsmeade for breakfast with Marcus," the other offered.

"I will, thank you," Fleur answered, giving them the first honest smile in a long time.

"Please, force Luna to go to bed, otherwise, she'll end up sleeping on a couch," Neville requested, looking with fondness at the small girl beside her. "We'll stop bothering you now. Goodnight."

Fleur believed she would wake up because the experience felt surreal. Spending most of her day with people that did not discriminate against her because of her heritage was a strange sensation that she tried to enjoy for as long as possible. In a few hours, her life had changed and she had fallen asleep almost the moment she laid on her bed. Only her fear of everything disappearing in the morning stopped her from surrendering to her exhaustion... Of course, sometimes not even a strong will is able to stop a person giving in and the girl was unconscious after a few minutes.