Work Text:
Tango
A/N: A one-shot separate from the "Rescued" universe and the "Mon Chevalier" Universe. AU 4th Year.
Disclaimer: Do not own Harry and Fleur and all related characters and properties. They are owned by JKR.
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Tango
Harry Potter was alone. Rejected by every girl he had asked, even by his best friend, Hermione Granger. She sadly told Harry that if he had asked sooner, she might have gone with him as friends. Harry had also asked Cho Chang but she told him she was seeing Cedric Diggory.
The last girl he asked; Daphne Greengrass, rejected him soundly, saying that she wanted nothing to do with reckless Gryffindor idiots. Standing at the shore of the Black Lake, he failed to notice the silver-haired beauty who walked up and stood beside him.
After the First Task, Harry and Fleur began to develop a close friendship. They found that they had many things in common. Harry and Fleur often spent most of their time together, much to the chagrin of Ron and Hermione. Even the girls who had rejected Harry began to take notice of Harry's ease around the beautiful Veela. Harry's fellow Gryffindors also wondered how he was able to hook up with the most beautiful girl in the school.
Fleur Delacour noticed the hunched shoulders of her new friend standing at the shore of the lake. She knew what must have troubled him as she heard some of the laughter from some of the Hogwarts girls that Harry couldn't find a date. These were also some of the same people who refused to believe that Harry didn't enter himself into the Tri-Wizard.
"This just isn't my year is it?" Harry said as he angrily kicked a rock into the Black Lake. "I get sucked into a Tournament with fucking dragons, one of my best friends stops talking to me, and to top it all off I need to go to a dance with a girl when every girl has already got a date! I've been friend-zoned by my other best friend who knows me better than anyone else. And even if I did get a date, I wouldn't know the first thing about dancing."
"'Arry?" Fleur quietly called out as she gently took one of his hands in hers.
"Fleur?! Don't sneak up on me like that," Harry said with a chuckle. "You must think I'm off my rocker. First sign of madness: I'm talking to myself."
Harry's shoulders slumped as he asked, "They're laughing at me, aren't they? The great Harry Potter can't even find a date to the Yule. They didn't even believe be when I told them I never entered into this stupid Tournament."
"Oh, 'Arry. We will make it work out," Fleur said as she tried to sooth her friend. "Zhey will regret not getting to know you."
"But who would even want to go with me?"
"'Arry, I would go whiz you," Fleur said earnestly.
"You -- you would?!" Asked a shocked Harry. "But I don't even know how to dance."
"Zhat eez not a problem, I could teach you some basics. We still have plenty of time before zhe Ball. I can even ask my Grand-mere Elena to teach us zhe Tango. I bet zhat would cause quite a reaction," Fleur said with a laugh.
Harry looked at Fleur before he; too, started laughing. "I bet it would," Harry said. "Okay, this should be fun."
Several days later, Harry Potter was introduced to Fleur's grandmother, a lively woman that enjoyed teasing Harry with her flirtatious attitude. However; Elena was a formidable taskmaster when it came to dancing, especially when it came to the Tango. Elena taught them several different styles. One she thought fitting for them was done to the beat of La Cumparsita .
During this time, Harry and Fleur began to grow closer, something which Elena had begun to notice. She encouraged Harry to get physically closer to Fleur during their lessons which often caused both of them to blush, much to Elena's amusement.
Soon, it was almost time for the Yule. Fleur was extremely excited as Harry's dancing progress had improved considerably. He no longer stepped on her toes and he proved surprisingly graceful on the dance floor. Fleur decided to take Harry shopping in the Quartier Magique de Paris , the French equivalent to Diagon Alley.
Apolline Delacour; Fleur's mother, took great delight in taking her daughter and her new friend shopping for new outfits. After trying several, Apolline and Fleur helped Harry pick out a robe that was black in color with green highlights that matched his eyes. Underneath the robes, Harry chose to wear a white long-sleeved shirt and a black pair of pants. Fleur chose a sleeveless black dress with a slit down one side that showed off her legs.
Meanwhile, Harry had sent a letter to Professor McGonagall about his and Fleur's intentions for the Yule. Intrigued, the professor asked for a demonstration and was left breathless by what she saw. McGonagall quickly went to Albus Dumbledore and got his approval, as well.
In his office, the Headmaster shared a glass of firewhiskey with Minerva. "This Yule will be quite exciting. Don't you think, Minerva?" The Headmaster asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
Minerva nodded in agreement with the Headmaster and replied, "Harry deserves some happiness after everything that he's been through."
"Those two are going to own that dance floor," Professor Dumbledore added with a wry grin.
The Yule Ball
Finally, the time had come for the Yule. Many of the students were busy waiting for their own dates and failed to notice Harry as he came down the stairs from Gryffindor Tower. Those that did see him were stunned by what they saw: Harry was dressed in the black and green robes that he and Fleur had chosen. Harry's normally unmanageable hair was surprisingly decent and made him look ruggedly handsome.
Tracy Davis nudged her friend, Daphne, and asked, "You said 'no' to that ?!" Daphne could only stare at Harry as he waited for his own date.
Susan Bones quickly elbowed Hannah Abott and whispered, "He looks absolutely yummy ." Hannah nodded in agreement and quietly wolf whistled at Harry, who looked back at her and winked, causing Hannah to blush.
While Harry stood waiting, Draco Malfoy sauntered up to him with Pansy Parkinson at his side. Draco smirked and said "What's the matter, Scar-Head? Still can't find a date?"
"Poor Potty will be all by his lonesome. Are you going to cry, Potty?" Asked Pansy, with a baby-like voice.
"Oh, you're in for a nice surprise, she'll be along soon," Harry said, with a smirk of his own. "Too bad, Pansy, you actually cleaned up rather nicely."
Pansy's jaw actually dropped and she blushed at the compliment, which caused Draco's face to turn red with anger. "Wait 'till my Father hears about this, Potter!" Draco grabbed a still-blushing Pansy and led her away.
Suddenly, the room went dead silent and Harry knew his date arrived. Sure enough, Fleur walked confidently towards him, dressed in the black dress that she had chosen for this occasion. Harry noticed that Fleur had tied her hair in a bun with a red ribbon that he had given her as a gift. More jaws dropped when she walked up to Harry and she did a curtsy. Harry gave her a formal bow and took her hand in his.
"Are you ready, mon chéri ?" Fleur asked, with a hint of a smile.
Harry could only nod as he stared at the beauty in front of him.
Professor McGonagall smirked at the blushing Harry and motioned for everyone besides the Champions and their dates to go in first. Now, McGonagall led the Champions to their tables and they all sat down for dinner.
At their table, Harry picked up a menu and was confused for a moment before he saw Professor Dumbledore say, "Pork Chops" and his meal appeared in front of him. "Oh, that's how you do it," Harry whispered to Fleur.
Harry looked around and saw Hermione taking a look at him and he winked at her, causing her to blush as she quickly looked down at her own menu. Viktor saw Harry and shook his head, with a smirk of his own. Laughing quietly to himself, Harry decided on a "Steak, medium rare with potatoes" whilst Fleur chose a "Steak au Poivre".
Dinner was soon over and; now, it was time for the Champions to open the dance. Professor McGonagall motioned for them to move to the dance floor and a traditional waltz began to play.
Harry looked at Fleur, offered her his arm and asked "Care to dance, Milady?"
Fleur performed a curtsy and linked her arm with Harry's and replied, "It will be my pleasure, mon chéri. "
All eyes were on Harry and Fleur as he led her to the dance floor and the couple began to move to the rhythm of the beat of the waltz. Harry's eyes met Fleur's and they focused on each other while they moved slowly and assuredly along with the music. Many of the onlookers were surprised at the grace with which Harry moved with Fleur and wished to be in her or his shoes. Finally, the waltz was over and there was a huge round of applause from the spectators.
As the opening dances wound down, Fleur decided that it was time for their little "surprise". Fleur glanced at Professor McGonagall, who spoke quickly to Dumbledore. Dumbledore smiled and waved his wand.
Fleur led Harry to the middle of the dance floor and the lights slowly dimmed until it seemed as if only a single spotlight was focused on the pair. Many in the Hall began to wonder what was going on when Fleur positioned herself behind Harry and wrapped her arms around him.
Soon, a Latin beat began to play that some of the Muggleborn and Half-Bloods recognized as a Tango known as La Cumparsita. Fleur slowly unclasped Harry's robes in a sensual manner. When she was finished, she tossed the robes away in such a dramatic manner that the robes happened to land in front of Daphne Greengrass.
Dressed in his white long-sleeved shirt and black pants, Harry struck a handsome appearance. As the Tango began in earnest, Harry and Fleur moved with a grace and sensuality many of them had never seen before.
The girls soon got up and began to surround the dance floor, watching in awe of the spectacle in front of them. Their dates also stood up and joined them in watching the couple on the dance floor.
That was when Fleur decided to let go. She dropped all of the stress and pain of the last few months of the Tri-Wizard and focused on the boy; no, the man, in front of her. Nothing else mattered as she let Harry take her wherever he wanted on the dance floor.
Harry guided Fleur across the dance floor and; in turn, the role reversed and she guided him. The two barely even noticed the spectators as they had eyes only for each other. As the beat of the Tango continued, Harry and Fleur became one with the music and with themselves.
As the Tango began to close, Harry and Fleur drew closer to each other and they embraced as the song finally ended, in the same position where they started from. The Hall roared with applause and cheers as the music slowly stopped.
Harry turned around and faced the beautiful young woman in front of him. Realization struck him at that moment. He was in love with her. Not caring in the least, Harry cupped Fleur's face in his hands and placed his forehead against hers. "I love you," he said.
Fleur looked into his eyes and knew; with certainty, that his words were true. Smiling, she spoke, "I love you, too, mon amour."
Uncaring that others were watching, Harry kissed Fleur with passion, a passion which Fleur happily returned.
Amongst the spectators, many of the girls who had rejected Harry shared one thought: "That could have been me."