Harry Potter: Magic and Guns

Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:

patreon.com/Draco_

******

"Gabrielle, isn't Disneyland amazing?"

Monsieur Delacour had his youngest daughter perched on his lap, holding a colorful Disneyland guidebook of unknown origin. He enthusiastically introduced Gabrielle to the various exciting attractions. Though she had never seen Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, the adorable cartoon mascots in the book made her eyes sparkle with delight.

"Mhm, mhm!"

"Would you like to go there with Mommy and Daddy?"

"Yes!" Gabrielle cheered, then paused suddenly. "What about Sister? Won't she come with us?"

"Your sister has more important things to do. Gabrielle, you wouldn't want her to end up all alone, still unmarried at seventy or eighty, would you?"

Smack! 

A soft, bouncy piece of water chestnut cake landed squarely on Monsieur Delacour's forehead. From over ten meters away, Fleur—who was enjoying a hearty breakfast—pretended as if nothing had happened. She had wrapped herself up tightly again, leaving only her eyes visible.

Seemingly unfazed by the cake attack, Monsieur Delacour plucked it from his forehead with a cheerful smile and popped it into his mouth. Its sweetness and perfectly balanced texture—soft, smooth, springy, and firm—left him thoroughly impressed. It was his first time tasting something so delightful, and to think it had traveled such a distance without breaking apart! Clearly, Fleur had honed her throwing skills through diligent practice.

Despite her young age, Gabrielle was already quite perceptive. Her wide eyes darted between her father and sister before realization dawned. She bit her finger thoughtfully, then nodded obediently.

"Then later, Mommy can take you to buy a princess dress. Our adorable little Gabrielle will surely be the most popular princess of all."

"Daddy, you're the best~!"

Monsieur Delacour beamed with happiness as his youngest daughter snuggled into his arms. His heart brimmed with contentment.

With a little one to dote on, he had no qualms about leaving the eldest to her own devices. After breakfast, the three of them cheerfully bid everyone farewell before vanishing from the tent.

Meanwhile, Uncle Vernon, still suffering from last night's overindulgence, remained in a groggy state of hangover. Dudley, eager to escape his father's clutches, rushed out the door right after breakfast. He had signed up for a proper skiing lesson with a certified instructor and was confident he'd master skiing today, unlike yesterday's countless falls that left his backside numb.

Aunt Petunia, surprised to learn that Harry and Fleur planned to explore on their own, discreetly handed Harry a wad of pocket money with a knowing, affectionate smile.

After packing up the tent, checking out of the hotel, and leaving behind some refined energy potions for his aunt and uncle, Harry cheerfully grabbed Fleur's hand. With their dragonhide bag slung over his shoulder and ski boards in tow, they zipped straight to the summit of Jungfrau.

As skilled skiers and no ordinary individuals, their first stop for this Christmas holiday had to be the thrilling slopes of Jungfrau for an exhilarating wild ski descent.

Interestingly, the two shared a remarkable compatibility in certain hobbies. Harry enjoyed extreme sports for the adrenaline rush, while Fleur reveled in the freedom of not having to bundle herself up in remote wilderness settings.

Her silver hair danced freely in the wind once they left the crowds behind. The biting cold didn't bother them at all. Clad in lightweight summer outfits, the pair sped down the steep, challenging slopes, carving through the snow with wild abandon. The unbridled joy of the moment brought them even closer together.

From the heights of Jungfrau, they leaped into the undeveloped alpine hot springs of Leukerbad. In the blink of an eye, they were strolling through the Vatican City, listening to priests bless newlywed couples. They left their footprints by the ancient pillars of the Acropolis, still standing tall after millennia. When they grew weary of winter landscapes, they found themselves on a golden sandy island. A sandcastle adorned the shore, where Fleur lounged on a chair, more radiant than the sun, while Harry emerged from the sea, proudly showing off a freshly caught tuna.

Time flies when you're having fun, and before they knew it, the seemingly endless Christmas holiday had reached its end.

Beauxbatons' holiday was one day longer than Hogwarts', giving them a bit more time. On the final day, they returned to England, where a small campfire flickered on the shores of the unfrozen Loch Ness. Under the canopy of starlight, it felt as if they were reliving the night they first met.

"I'll come visit you during summer break," Harry said softly.

"Shall we go to Hawaii for the holiday?"

"A summer trip to the beach?" Fleur cast a sidelong glance at Harry. "How do you think my swimsuit looks?"

"I just want to help you apply sunscreen, nothing else," Harry replied with a grin.

A small inflatable hammer bought from a roadside stall landed on Harry's head. "Boys really are shameless," Fleur huffed.

"No, no, I'm different! I believe in love at first sight, though admittedly, I fell for you head over heels. Now I doubt I'll ever see anyone else but you," Harry joked, turning to her with a bright smile. "You'll have to take responsibility for me!"

"Love at first sight?" Fleur's small hammer landed repeatedly on Harry's head with loud thwaps.

"The point is love! Not just attraction!"

Dodging nimbly, Harry avoided every hit, much to Fleur's annoyance. She lunged at him, pinning him down and exacting her revenge with a perfect critical hit.

"Hogwarts is starting an exchange program this year," Harry said quickly, trying to change the subject as Fleur continued her assault. "Only fourth-year students can apply, but I'll be in third year next year. Skipping a grade should work."

"You could come to Beauxbatons?!" Fleur's face lit up instantly. She tossed the hammer aside and sat cross-legged on Harry's stomach. Ever since Harry had brought back a horse-headed fish monster for dinner with his bare hands, Fleur no longer worried about crushing him.

"I'll probably go to Durmstrang instead," Harry admitted, winking at her. "I promised Professor Grindelwald I'd transfer. This time, I'm just going to check it out. They have a magical forest even bigger than Hogwarts' Forbidden Forest. I'm planning to build a cabin by a waterfall there."

"And then?" Fleur, a bit disappointed that Harry wouldn't join Beauxbatons, couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

"Then I'll have a perfect spot to hide a special girl and live happily ever—ow! Why are you biting me?!"

"I'm mad, and you can't fix it this time," Fleur pouted, turning her back to Harry dramatically.

"I could always hide you in that cabin," Harry said softly.

"Madame Maxime would catch you and have you dragged around Beauxbatons a hundred times by a rune-marked horse," Fleur teased.

Despite the intimidating words, her "I'm really mad this time" attitude quickly melted as she lay back down. Harry, ever attentive, grabbed a pillow and gently tucked it under her head.

"Not to worry. By then, Madame Maxime will be too busy with her own affairs. I'll set her up with someone so she can get caught up in romance herself," Harry quipped with a cheeky grin.

"Your friend... Hagrid?" Fleur asked, recalling Harry's frequent mentions of the half-giant, whom he admired both as a mentor and a formidable individual.

"If there's a prince among half-giants, it's Hagrid," Harry declared with mock solemnity.

"But don't mention that term—'half-giant'—in front of Madame Maxime. She doesn't like it. I've only told you this in confidence," Fleur warned, her tone sincere.

"I'll make sure Hagrid knows. He can be a bit clumsy with words. Thanks for the heads-up," Harry said, his gratitude evident.

Fleur smirked. "Hmph, you owe me for this one."

After a brief silence, Harry spoke again, his tone thoughtful. "Once I'm back at school, I'll talk to Madame Maxime. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have exchange programs too, you know. Many magical schools maintain connections, not just Hogwarts. If it weren't for certain inconveniences, I'd love to visit Koldovstoretz. I hear their auroras are stunning."

"That's why I say staying at Hogwarts is limiting. If it weren't for Professor Grindelwald teaching at Hogwarts for a year, I wouldn't have known what the wider magical world really looks like," Harry lamented.

The restrictive nature of the English wizarding community often left Harry frustrated. The lack of exposure to the broader magical world made him realize how much he had missed out on.

"The English Ministry of Magic is hopeless. It can't collapse soon enough," he added with a sigh.

Fleur turned over, resting her head on Harry's chest. Her voice was soft and wistful. "You're leaving tomorrow. The next time we meet, it'll be half a year later."

"I'll write to you. If only Hogwarts had a magical network—or even England had one—we could at least have video calls," Harry said, half-joking.

"Are you going to miss me?" Fleur teased.

"I'm just tired of always wearing a hat and mask," Fleur admitted, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "Here, with you, I can finally take them off and relax."

"Who knows? Maybe in a couple of years, you'll master controlling your abilities," Harry said optimistically, playfully running his hand through the magical aura that radiated faintly from her.

Fleur's aura was far more potent than that of an average witch, creating a natural suppression effect akin to that of magical creatures. Even weaker anti-Apparition spells couldn't contain her, as though she belonged to a superior magical species.

"Madame Maxime thinks I might gain control when I turn seventeen. But for now, it's only growing stronger," Fleur confessed. "Meeting you has been a blessing. Otherwise, I'd spend four or five years unable to talk to anyone normally. That would've been unbearable."

"Then let's not dwell on the tough stuff," Harry said, stroking her silky hair. "Come on, let's head back. It's nearly midnight. A hot bath and some rest sound good. Tomorrow, I'll treat you to the darkest cuisine England has to offer—Stargazy Pie. A local specialty."

"Stargazy Pie? That sounds delightful!" Fleur said, intrigued.

"It's a pastry dish with fish heads staring up at you. Unforgettable, I promise," Harry teased.

"What?!" Fleur's expression shifted to one of mild horror as Harry led her, hand in hand, to the luxurious second-floor bathroom of their tent. The air was filled with floating, spinning, multicolored bubbles.

"Who said I'm sharing a bath with you? I'll bathe alone, thank you very much!" Fleur huffed, feigning indignation.

"Bathing in a swimsuit—where's your conscience?" Harry teased, laughing.

"It's right here," Fleur shot back, pointing to herself with mock defiance.

"Can I have a look at it?"

"Keep dreaming, you big kid! Pew-pew-pew!" Fleur pulled out a toy water gun, spraying Harry with a mischievous laugh.

"Wow, you're so childish! When did you even get that? Let me try!" Harry exclaimed, dodging the water spray.

"No way! Eight-year-old boys like you don't stand a chance! Pew-pew!" Fleur giggled as she chased Harry around the bathroom, water splashing everywhere.

And so, their playful laughter filled the night, echoing in the cozy warmth of their little world.

(End of Chapter)