Helloooo, everyone! I wish you all a fond welcome back to your favorite Harry/Fleur fic! (I hope. :P) Prepare for a long-winded author's note! Anywhoozles, it has been a very, very long time, hasn't it? I've updated some of the chapters and changed them from present tense to past tense. I don't know what I was thinking. Blech. Made me queasy. I will also continue updating chapters as I write, so bear with me until they're all eventually fixed. A lot else has happened, too. I started updating again because my mother unfortunately passed away at the end of June. It was very sudden, and shocked my entire family. We all called her Eema, which means "mother" in Hebrew. Everyone called her Eema, even our building manager of almost a decade called her Miss Eema. She was an amazing woman who touched the heart of everyone she met, and honestly my biggest inspiration in writing this. I'm so sad she never got to see this story come to an end, but I'm going to finish it for her. She believed in me, in this story, and the friends I've made from writing this story. Thank you all so much for being here and being patient while I was able to start writing again. One last thing. Since I last updated, this story broke a million views, and it's sitting at 1.4 million at the time of writing this author's note. Thank you all so much for all your support. It means more than you know. Now, sit back, relax, and after almost three years, enjoy chapter 36!

Chapter 36

Harry had been called to the Headmaster's office. He couldn't exactly threaten his fellow students with evil-looking magic tentacles and expect to get away with it. It had gone fairly well, all things considered. He got off with a stern warning and a couple of detentions with Flitwick. All in all, a successful life threatening, if he did say so himself! Luna's demeanor around him had changed in the following weeks. She followed Harry around for a few days, peeking out around corners and disappearing with a squeak when Harry spotted her. It brought a smile to his face whenever he thought about it.

After about a week of humoring her, Harry waited until he detected her peering at him around the corner. He whispered something to Hermione and Fleur before disappearing with a smirk. He appeared behind the small blonde witch silently before lightly tapping her shoulder and whispering; "Boo!" Luna jumped in place with a high-pitched squeal before turning around and looking up at the boy who saved her.

"You scared me, Harry Potter," Luna said, placing her hand on her chest. "That was quite rude, you know."

"No more rude than stalking someone, I'd say." He countered with a smirk.

"I'm not stalking you," Luna emphasized. "I'm merely doing reconnaissance on the wizard who saved me!"

"Oh, sure," he chuckled. "Spying is MUCH better than stalking."

"I knew you'd understand, Harry Potter!" Luna exclaimed with a bright smile, drawing a chuckle from Harry.

"You're quite adorable, you know that?"

Luna tilted her head and stared at him in curiosity for a moment before smiling; "Thank you, Harry Potter. I think you have a nice butt." A pin dropping could be heard as the wizard stared in shock at the exclamation from the girl in front of him before the two witches who were listening burst into laughter. After a moment, Luna peered around Harry and stared at Hermione and Fleur, who were leaning on the wall to catch their breath from their laughing fit. "I think they like your butt, too."

Their laughing fit began anew, Fleur rolling around the floor in peals of uncontrollable laughter. AFter another few moments, Fleur managed to pick herself up, a few giggles still escaping from between her lips. "That was one of the funniest things I 'ave ever 'eard," Fleur said with another giggle, walking up to the pair. "I think we'll keep 'er, non?"

"Absolutely," Hermione giggled, wiping a tear from her eye. "Anyone who can make HArry blush like that belongs around us."

"I agree," Fleur said, tucking a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "She's staying with us from now on."

"Well, let's ask her before we kidnap the poor girl," Hermione chuckled. "Would you like to be our friend and sit with us for lunch and the like, Luna?"

Luna stared at the two witches in front of her critically, not speaking for several moments before speaking with a bright smile; "I'll do it for Harry's butt."

"I'm going to go jump in the lake," Harry muttered over the new fit of laughter his partner and best friend burst into. "Maybe he'll finish me off this time."

"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," Fleur said, wrapping her arm around Luna's shoulders.

"I agree," Hermione mirrored Fleur's earlier statement, holding her books to her chest and walking with the other two witches.

"Do I get a say in this?" Harry asked, already knowing the answer.

All three witches responded simultaneously; "No!"

Crossing his arms, Harry walked behind them and grumbled; "Bloody witches are gonna be the death of me."

~MFMAMT~

Harry, Luna, Fleur, and Hermione all sat at the Ravenclaw table, going over some homework for Luna before next period. Fleur sat across the table from the other three, watching with a smile as Harry and Hermione helped Luna.

"You're going to be a great father to our children one day 'Arry," Fleur said suddenly.

"Thanks, Fleur," Harry said, not turning to her. "So, like I was saying, just slashing your wand and saying the incantation isn't gonna cut it, Luna. The Draconifers spell requires a lot of- Wait, what did you say, Fleur?"

"I was wondering how long it would take him to notice," Hermione said with a smirk. "If he didn't want to be an Auror, I think he'd be an amazing teacher."

"I agree, Hermione," Luna concurred. It had taken a few days of insisting Luna should call them all by just their first name. Harry could have sworn that Luna was talking with Sirius in secret, because she spent the first three days saying 'Just Harry' or 'Just Hermione.' After much groaning by Harry and even more tickling by Fleur and Hermione, Luna started calling them by their first names. "Harry is a joy to listen to when he's teaching a subject. He's interested in it and makes harder things really easy to understand."

"Can we go back a second?" Harry asks, holding up a timeout sign with his. "Did Fleur just say I'd make a great dad?"

"I thought it would be obvious, Harry," Hermione said. "Of course you'll be a great father. Besides, Aunties Hermione and Luna will be there when little Delacour feet patter around Potter Manor."

"Wait, I thought Fleur was supposed to take my name."

All three witches once again simultaneously responded; "No."

"I can't tell what's creepier," Harry said with a chuckle. "When you three do that or when Gred and Forge do it."

"Of course it's creepier when we do it," Fred began.

"Harry, old chap, old friend, old pal!" George finished for him.

"Behave, you two," Hermione warned playfully.

"So what are we-" George started.

"Doing to annoy-" Fred continued.

"Dear old Harry this time?" They finished together. Hermione reached up behind her and grabbed both boys by the ears and yanked down in a huff, much to their loud and pained complaints.

Fleur covered her mouth and giggled. "We were just commenting on how good a father 'Arry will be to our children."

"Still hard to believe she wants kids with me," Harry muttered with a small blush.

"Why wouldn't she want kids with you, Harry?" Fred asked.

"Yeah! You're a stud like us!" George added, the pair of them flexing and posing exaggeratedly.

"I honestly never really thought I'd have kids," Harry said quietly. "I always thought the Dursley's would kill me first."

"Oh, Harry…" Hermione put her arms around her best friend, followed by Luna, the twins, and Fleur once she'd walked around the table. They stayed like that for a few moments, just sitting there hugging Harry.

"Is this a private party or can anyone join?" Katie said, walking up behind the group and adding her arms to the hug pile. "Not that I'm complaining, but why are we hugging the twerp?"

"Hey, you're only a year older than me!" Harry yelled indignantly from within the pile.

"Irrelevant," Katie dismissed him playfully. The cuddle pile dissipated and Katie stood there with her hands on her hips. "You're still a twerp. Now, would someone answer my question?"

"Just another reason to wish Fleur had finished the Dursley's off," Hermione practically growled out.

"Who are the Dursley's?" Luna asked, looking around at everyone.

"The Dursley's are people who hurt Harry very badly, Luna," Hermione began. "They're Harry's relatives."

"They hurt you?" Luna whispered, staring up at the wizard who had very quickly become one of the most important people in her life. Harry merely nodded before Luna moved under his arm and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I won't let them hurt you again, Harry."

"Don't worry, Luna," Katie said, rubbing Luna's back. "They're in the deepest part of Azkaban, and they can never hurt Harry again."

"Good," the young blonde witch humphed with finality. "No one is allowed to hurt our Harry."

"Um, wouldn't he be Fleur's Harry?" Katie asked, her and everyone else smiling at Luna.

"Nope!" Luna exclaimed with a smile. "Fleur doesn't mind sharing him. Besides, he's too much for her to handle alone."

Gred and Forge chose the wrong time to be drinking pumpkin juice, because Luna's declaration caused the pair of them to spray their juice from their respective noses. The group burst into laughter, aside from Harry, who was blushing furiously, and Luna, who was simply confused. Liuna looked up at Harry with a tilted head and asked; "Harry, why are they laughing?"

"Well, um… You see, Luna, uh… A little help here?" Harry hissed at his laughing friends and girlfriend.

"What you said has more than one meaning, Luna," Hermione giggled, recovering from her throes of laughter after a few moments. "It's called a double entendre."

"Oh, I see," Luna said, tapping her chin in thought. "You thought I meant Harry had a very big–"

"And we're done talking!" Harry exclaimed, covering Luna's mouth before getting up and walking out of the Great Hall as fast as he could.

"I don't understand," Luna said, turning back towards the others. "All I was going to say was he had a big ego."

"Oh, yeah. We're keeping her," Katie said, patting Luna on the head.

~MFMAMT~

Harry stormed into the Potions classroom early, grumbling and blushing the whole time about "bloody embarrassing witches." Sitting down at his seat, Harry pulled out his potions book from his satchel and slammed it on the table.

"Five points from Gryffindor, Potter," Snape said with a small smirk. "Now, would you like to tell me why you're so angry?"

"I'm not angry, Professor," Harry mumbled, not looking up at the Potions Master. "It's just the witches in my life are bloody insane."

"Another point for your language," Snape chuckled. "Let me guess. THey were embarrassing you with rather risque comments?"

"Yeah, they were," Harry said, looking up at his professor. "How'd you know?"

"Your mother used to love making me blush," He chuckled. "She used to make it her mission in life to make me blush, smile, and laugh. She was an amazing friend, and I see a lot of her in you when you interact with your friends, as well as the way you interact with Miss Delacour."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Your mother was a very passionate woman," Snape smiled. "Everything she did was with passion, especially matters of love. I was a very petty person, Harry, but even I could see that your mother and father belonged together."

"'Was'?"

"I will make you scrub every cauldron in this castle, brat," Snape said, trying in vain to hide his smirk. "In any case, let's discuss this later, Potter. Class is about to begin."

"I'll hold you to that, Professor," Harry said, smiling up at his teacher. After a minute or so, students began entering the classroom and sitting at their usual tables, partnering up with their usual groups. Hermione walked in a few moments later and sat down next to Harry.

"Harry, are you alright?" She whispered in his ear. "You do know we were only teasing you, right?"

"I know, Hermione," Harry smiled at her. "I'm not upset, I was just a little embarrassed, is all."

"Good afternoon, class," Snape began, waving his wand at the board. Instructions wrote themselves on the board as students took out their books and supplies. "Today we will be diverting from the lesson plan. Madame Pomfrey has asked me to have my fourth year and above classes to make more Skele-Gro. Her supply has begun to run low, and since it might be several weeks before her new order can be filled, we are going to be making some for her. Everyone who manages to create Skele-Gro of high enough quality to store in the infirmary will earn five points for their house and extra credit on their final grade.

"Now, this isn't a particularly volatile or dangerous potion, but that doesn't mean we don't need to be cautious," Snape said, looking around at the students. "Any potion can be dangerous if prepared incorrectly. Simply ask Mr. Finnegan."

The entire class chuckled, even Seamus, despite blushing at the good-natured barb. "Now, if you'd please take out your pewter cauldrons and your silver knives. Yes, MIster Finnigan?"

"Sir, I was wondering why we needed the silver knives instead of our usual steel ones," he began hesitantly. "I know we needed silver knives starting this year, but I don't know why we can't use the steel ones instead."

"Good question, MIster Finnigan," Snape said with a small smile. "It has to do with the purity of the material in the knife. Steel is an alloy, which means it's not a natural metal. Silver, on the other hand, is very much a natural metal. This potion, along with several others you will learn about, do not react well when unnatural ingredients are added. The incredibly small pieces of the metal from the knife could easily be accidentally added in along with the ingredients you cut. So, we use silver in order to avoid that. Any other questions?"

The hands in the class remained down, so Snape nodded and pointed to the board behind him. "Now, please coarsely chop up one half of a Chomping Cabbage and add it into the cauldron. No pieces more than an inch long. If you aren't sure whether or not it's small enough, give it another chop just to be safe." Snape said as he began to walk around the classroom, making small adjustments and giving helpful tips here and there. Stopping in front of Neville, Snape looks down at the cabbage on Neville's cutting board. He looks up at the professor nervously before Snape smiles. "Incredible work, Mr. Longbottom. I can see why Professor Sprout praises your skills. This is some of the finest chopping I've seen. Take five points."

"T-Thank you, Professor Snape," Neville stuttered out in shock.

"Nothing to thank me for. Now, go right ahead and pour your Chomping Cabbage into your cauldrons, then add a small amount of water. Not too much. You want some of it to be above the water line," He waited a few moments as everyone followed his instructions before continuing. "We're going to bring that to a simmer, which means we are going to cover our cauldrons and let it sit for about five minutes. Please do so now."

The rest of the lesson went smoothly, Snape explaining every step clearly and carefully. Harry looked up at his professor as he was helping another student and smiled. 'Mom would be so proud of how he's changed,' he thought with a smile.

"Alright, everyone," Snape said to the class. "Now that our potions have had a chance to cool, we will strain them. If brewed properly, your cauldron should have a viscous, deep yellow potion inside. When poured, it should smoke. Raise your hand if your potion is yellow."

THe majority of the hands in the class went up, with the exception of Ron and Lavender's hands, the latter of which Ron began hanging out with after his final fallout with Harry. Snape walked over to the pair of them and looked into the cauldron for a moment before nodding. "Mr. Weasley, Miss Brown," Snape said, gesturing to their pale yellow potion. "Would you like to guess what went wrong with your potion?"

"Um, we didn't add in enough Chomping Cabbage?" Lavender asked.

"No, that's not it. Your cabbage was the proper amount," He said before turning to Ron. "Mr. Weasley, would you care to take a guess?"

"We… Didn't add enough cabbage?"

"That's correct, Mr. Weasley," He said with a small smile. "Take a point. Now, everything else was done fairly well. This potion will still work, just not as well. As such, you will both still be passing with full marks, as will everyone else in the class. Well done, everyone. Five points to everyone for such a well made batch of Skele-Gro, and an additional ten points to both houses for everyone being able to complete the potion. Now please begin straining your potions and leave the bottles on your desk. You may leave as soon as that is done. No homework today as another special treat for everyone completing the potion."

The entire class cheered at that, causing Snape's lips to curl into a small smile. Waving his hand at the class, they began to bottle up the potions, each one smoking as they were strained and bottled. The students began trickling out of the class after bottling the potions, several of them waving or smiling at Professor Snape on their way out. Harry and Hermione were the last ones to leave, with the witch smiling brightly at the Professor. "Mr. Potter, a moment please?"

"See you in a minute, Harry," Hermione said, walking out of the classroom.

"Is everything okay, Professor?" Harry asked.

"Not at all, Mr. Potter," Snape said, waving his hand dismissively. "I just wanted to ask if you knew who invented Skele-Gro."

"I'm afraid not, sir," he said. "Should I know?"

"The inventor's name was Linfred of Stinchcombe, also known as 'The Potterer'."

"The Po- Wait, are you saying my ancestor invented Skele-Gro?!" Harry asked incredulously.

"As well as the Pepper-Up Potion, yes," Snape said with a smile. "Potion making is in your blood, and it makes me very happy to finally see you taking potions seriously."

"So am I, sir," He said. "Anyway, I promised Fleur Hermione and I would study with her for free period, so do you mind if I go?"

"Of course, Harry. Have a great rest of your week."

"You as well, Professor," the young wizard said before turning and walking to the door. He stopped in the door frame with a smirk. "You know, Potions are much easier for me now."

"Why is that?"

"The previous teacher was a huge ass," He said before ducking under the Stinging Hex sent his way and running off in peals of maniacal laughter.

Snape shook his head with a mirthful smile before sighing nostalgically and muttering; "He gets more like his mother every day."

Spotting Hermione waiting for him, Harry slowed to a jog and stopped in front of his best friend with a smile and grinning like a loon.

"What did you do, Harry?" Hermione asked with an exasperated sigh. Harry gasped and held his hands to his chest in mock horror.

"Hermione! You wound me, my dear friend!" he said, placing a hand to his forehead dramatically. "Why would you assume I've done anything? I'm innocent, I tell you!"

"Sure, and I'm Professor McGonagall's long lost twin sister," She said with a roll of her eyes.

"Nothing, Hermione, I promise," He said with a chuckle. "Now come on. We're gonna be late to hang out with Fleur and Luna."

Harry practically dragged Hermione towards the library with a skip in his step, but was intercepted by the two blonde witches on the way. Running up to the two fourth years, Luna launched herself at HArry and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Hello there, Luna Lovegood," Harry rubbed her head with a chuckle. "How was class?"

"It was fine, Harry," Luna beamed up at him. "Can we go take a walk to the Forest instead of going to the library?"

"If it's okay with Fleur and Hermione."

"I don't have any problem with it," Hermione said with a smile.

"Neither do I," Fleur agreed, walking up to Harry and taking one of his hands. "It should be a nice time. The weather is beautiful right now."

"Not as beautiful as you," Harry said, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"What about me?" Luna pouted up at her favorite wizard.

"Of course you're beautiful, Luna," Harry said quickly.

"Does that mean you've forgotten your best friend, Harry?" Hermione said with a fake pout. "I thought I was important to you."

"I can't win with you bleeding witches, can I?" Harry deadpanned.

"Look at that!" Hermione declared happily. "He can be taught!"

"Bite me, Hermione."

"That Fleur's job."

"I'll do it!" Luna declared before chomping down on Harry's shoulder.

"Bloody buggering hell, woman!" Harry screamed, moving away from the young blonde witch's painful bite.

"Language, Harry," All three witches chimed in simultaneously. Harry merely glared at the three of them, causing the witches to burst into giggles at his attempt to look scary.

"Come on, let's go to the Forest!" Luna exclaimed happily, grabbing Harry and Hermione's hands and dragging the group towards the Forest. As they passed by Hagrid's hut, Harry tensed and stopped, letting go of both of the hands grabbing his. He looked around critically before rushing over to Hagrid's garden. He raised his hand in front of him and closed his eyes, reaching out with his magic.

'Something doesn't feel right,' he thought, spreading his magic across the entirety of Hagrid's garden. 'Something feels wrong.'

"'Arry, what is it?" Fleur asked, the group walking up to him. "Is everything alright?"

"I don't know," He answered, furrowing his brow in focus as he tried to let his magic zero in on the source of the uneasy feeling. "I feel… Something under Hagrid's garden. Something off."

"What do you mean by 'off,' Harry?" Hermione asked concernedly.

"'Ello there, you four!" A booming voice greeted them from the front door of the hut. "What're you lot doing here? Come to pay me a visit?"

"Hagrid, was anything buried here recently?" Harry asked, getting closer to finding the source of the disturbance in his magic.

"Not that I know of, 'Arry," Hagrid said, scratching his beard in thought. "Fang might've buried a bone or something, though."

Harry's eyes snapped open. "There!" He exclaimed, dashing towards the garden. He hopped the fence and ran towards the back end of the garden. "Hagrid, there's something… Wrong buried here under your garden. I can't explain it, but it's not supposed to be there. May I please dig it up?"

"There's nothing buried there right now, so go for it," He said, waving his hand in approval. Nodding at his half-giant friend, Harry waved his hand and the dirt lifted from the ground to reveal an abnormally white bone caked under the dirt. "Ah, see? Just a big ol' bone. Told ya it was Fang."

"That's not a bone…" Harry said quietly. Waving his hand over the bone, it transformed into a body. Gasps sound out from the group as Fleur grabs Luna and pulls her close, hiding the body from view.

"Blimey!" Hagrid exclaimed. "It's Barty Crouch!"

"Fleur, take Luna and Hermione back to the castle and go get Professor Dumbledore," Harry said. "Make sure you contact the Aurors, as well. This is gonna be a long evening."

That was chapter 36, everyone! I am so glad I was able to write this! I've missed this story so much, and I'm so glad to be back in action! Thank you so much for bearing with me again, and I can't wait to keep writing. Keep a lookout for each of the old chapters being updated. At the time of posting this, only up to chapter seven has been updated. I'll try to update one or two a week at the very least, but I can't make any promises. I hope you all understand, and I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I'll see you all next time. After almost three years, this is Mystery Critic, signing off.