Harry Potter Veela's Embrace

As he landed back in Dumbledore's office, Harry grabbed Gabrielle before she stumbled and then turned to Dumbledore. "I'm sorry sir. I saw the thing and wondered if it was my memories…and then I saw.."

"I quite understand Harry," The Headmaster replied. "Curiosity is very strong in the young, but you should exercise caution with your curiosity. Remember that excellent muggle saying…it goes something like curiosity killed the cat. Now I do believe there was something you want to speak to me about before becoming lost in my thoughts."

"Uh…yes sir," Harry replied and looked at Gabrielle who suddenly looked pale as she remembered what had happened. "Draco Malfoy attempted to attack Gabrielle as she was going to Herbology."

"Attacked? In what manner Miss Delacour?"

"E grabbed me and tried to grope…'e tried to touch my breast sir and called me…" She had started crying again.

"He called her a whore sir. And later said it was all she would be good for."

"I see," Dumbledore said studying the two of them with his piercing gaze. "There must be something else as well or you would have taken this to Professor McGonagall I'm sure."

"Yes sir," Harry replied. "Gabrielle defended herself by transforming sir."

"Ah…yes that will have Lucius here shortly I am sure," Dumbledore said then softly to Gabrielle. "I must ask Miss Delacour, did you hurt him? Burn him? Scratch him?"

"No sir," She replied as she sniffled. Dumbledore conjured a handkerchief and handed it to her. "Merci. When I…well ze two others…."

"Others?"

"Crabbe and Goyle sir."

"Yes of course, please continue."

"The others ran away and…and Malfoy fell down."

"Sir I think that was when I got there. Malfoy was on the ground and Gabrielle was standing over him with those flames the Veela have in her hand but she never threw it. I yelled and that distracted her. Malfoy ran away at that time," Harry hesitated before saying the last part. "I think he had wet himself sir."

"That is also very understandable," Dumbledore replied with a twinkle appearing in his eyes. "I appreciate you bringing this to my attention. I am sure Lucius will arrive within the next few days."

"What will he do sir?"

"Eventually? Nothing of any consequence legally, but you can probably guess there will be an article in the Prophet soon about the attack and it will not be factual by any means. He will also try to push legislation requiring Veela to register with the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

"Like an animal, like Buckbeak?" Harry asked as his eyes narrowed.

"More like werewolves, but as I said he will try but fail. The ICW has fully recognized Veela as having full rights and after the World Cup, Cornelius cannot deal with another problem with the ICW especially since I am the Supreme Mugwump and," Dumbledore looked over his half-moon glasses at Gabrielle, "also as to whom your father is."

"Merci."

"You're welcome Miss Delacour. I am sorry this happened and I will speak to Professor Snape about an appropriate punishment. Now if there isn't anything else?" The question hung for a second before Harry asked something he had been thinking of.

"Sir in the memory, the Longbottoms, were they…they Neville's parents?"

Dumbledore gave Harry a very sharp look. "Has Neville never told you why he has been brought up by his grandmother?" he said.

Harry shook his head, wondering, as he did so, how he could have failed to ask Neville this, in almost four years of knowing him.

"Yes, they were talking about Neville's parents," said Dumbledore. "His father, Frank, was an Auror just like Professor Moody. He and his wife were tortured for information about Voldemort's whereabouts after he lost his powers, as you heard."

"So they're dead?" asked Harry quietly.

"No," said Dumbledore, his voice full of bitterness Harry had never heard there before. "They are insane. They are both in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. I believe Neville visits them, with his grandmother, during the holidays. They do not recognize him."

Harry looked at Gabrielle as a wave of sorrow and horror overcame him. He'd lived in the same dorm with Neville for almost four years and never bothered to find out.

Another issue came to his mind and he had to ask. "Sir, Professor Snape. He was a Death Eater?"

"In a different time he was Harry."

"Why do you think he has stopped supporting Voldemort sir?"

Dumbledore's blue eyes locked on Harry's eyes for several seconds before he answered. "That is a matter between Professor Snape and myself Harry," With those words Harry knew the interview was over. He took Gabrielle's hand and they walked toward the door. As he touched the knob Dumbledore made one final request. "Please do not speak of Neville's parents to anybody else. I know Miss Granger and Miss Delacour's sister will find out, but no one else. He has the right to let people know when he's ready."

"Yes sir."

"And Harry."

"Yes sir?"

"Good luck on the third task."

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