4,374Reviews:
PurpleElement : How different would HP be if Dumbledore just actually listened to someone like Professor McGonagall?
Hoodedgenius98: It would totally be a hate crime. 'Bloody Veela, I bet they're the reason that old Tommy boy grew up to be a mass murderer, stupid veela'.
Luke MorningStar11:...ok.
PrinceFroze: Thanks, I'm glad you like to read my stuff and I hope you'll continue to keep reading.
Fire turtle: I don't remember much of Venom from Ultimate Spiderman, just Eddie Brock being a dick and Venom eating a few people. (Are we talking about the 2000 one?) Also I can't confirm and deny anything that might happen in the story, but I will say good guess. Take from that what you will.
Chapter 56 -
"So, I can't help but wonder, what's magical France like?" Harry asked as he and Fleur walked arm in arm around the lake of Hogwarts.
"It's very similar to the non-magic world," Fleur answered with a smile. "Beautiful and full of life."
"Hmm, a bit different from the British version then," Harry frowned thoughtfully. "At times, I step into it from the muggle world and feel like I've gone back in time."
"The British do not like the muggle world and limit themselves from it as much as possible," Fleur stated matter-of-factly. "France does not do the same, we keep our distance but we do not ignore them. We learn from them and decide if what they have is something that's worth adopting."
"Smart people," Harry said with an amused smile. "You spend much time in the muggle world?" He asked curiously.
"No, not really," Fleur said with a shake of her head. "Muggle boys have as much resistance to me as non-magical do, Veelas in general stay away from the muggle world. It would look weird if a bunch of men suddenly started being unnaturally drawn to a woman. If they got too much then I would have to defend myself."
"I'm sorry," Harry told her.
"Why? It's not your fault,"
"True, but still, sorry, you shouldn't have to go through that. Guess being beauty incarnate is not all it's cracked up to be, huh?"
"No, it's not," Fleur confirmed with a deep sigh. "It's part of what intrigued me about you, you understand, you're the boy who lived. You know exactly what it's like to have everyone judge you for what you are instead of what you try to be. Besides, there are few men besides my own father that can look me in the eye for more than a minute without falling victim to my allure. Like your ex-friend, the redhead boy, what was his name? Wisely?"
"Weasley," Harry absently corrected her.
"Him," Fleur nodded. "And that other one, what was his name? The irritating one with the blonde hair and the ugly boys? What do you call him? Dirco?"
"Dumbass," Harry told her straight-faced.
"What's your secret?" Was the first thing Harry heard when he entered the transfiguration classroom, nearly every boy there was looking at him as if he had just beaten you-know-who for a second time with nothing but a disarming spell. The Gryffindors with the exception of Ron and Hermione had surrounded him as soon as he entered, while the Slytherins sat back, watching curiously.
"Secret to what?" Harry tensed, wondering why they were all looking at him like this. Had they discovered his secret? Did they know about Venom?
"Dude, you got Fleur Delacour to ask you out, repeatedly!" Dean said with the same tone of voice he probably would have used if Harry had simply created world peace. "How'd you do it?"
"It's not that hard," Harry shrugged. "Just talk to her like you would a normal person."
"Is she your girlfriend?" Lavender asked with a pout that was matched by Parvati.
"No, now if you'll all excuse me, I'll take my seat," Harry said, walking past the group of Gryffindors before heading towards his usual seat in the middle. Draco sneered at him, likely on reflex, though he did duck his head and shrink into his seat when Harry sent him a warning look. Harry had barely sat down when the rest of the class started whispering amongst themselves. A second later, he felt a presence fill up the seat next to him. Looking to his left, he spotted Ron, looking quite nervous.
"Hi..." Ron said awkwardly. "Is...umm..is it alright if I sit here?" He asked, sounding nervous. Harry stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Thanks," Ron said, sounding somewhat relieved. "I..." He trailed off when Harry pulled his book out and began reading through it. "Uh...right," He coughed before doing the same. Harry glanced around the room and saw Hermione sitting at the front of the class, stubbornly staring ahead.
It wasn't long before Professor McGonagall arrived and the class began, the old professor seemed to pay extra attention to Harry after his performance in the first task. The class started with a review of the last spell they learnt, transforming a bird into a water goblet. Harry dutifully paid attention during the whole class, aware that Ron would glance at him every so often as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't. That could have been because the redhead was nervous, but Harry suspected it was more because McGonagall was paying him extra attention. The woman had all but grinned when Harry got the spell right.
Eventually, the class finished. Harry began packing his stuff away when he felt Ron tap his shoulder, he looked up at the boy who was looking quite nervous.
"C...can...can I talk to you for a bit? In private?" Ron asked hopefully.
'Careful,' Venom warned. 'It could be a trap! The boy likely seeks revenge!'
"Is it going to be long because I have somewhere I need to be?"
"Um..." Ron paused and looked thoughtful for a moment. "I don't really know, maybe like five minutes,"
"Fine," Harry nodded. 'I don't think we have to worry about Ron too much, but worst case scenario, we'll surprise him with you.'
'Nice,' Venom said approvingly.
"Great," Ron smiled before the two of them headed out of the classroom and into the nearest abandoned classroom. "So..." Ron said awkwardly, looking around as if he wished someone would come and save him from what was likely to be a very awkward conversation. "So...um...heard that you're going with Delacour to the ball, congratulations." He said, shifting back and forth on his feet.
"Thanks," Harry said slowly, staring at him.
"She's hot," Ron blurted out.
"She is," Harry confirmed.
"Hottest girl in the school,"
"I'm aware,"
"You're really lucky,"
"I'm aware,"
"Merlin, I wish she asked me out."
"Thanks for letting me know,"
"Yeah,"
"Yeah,"
"Hmm,"
"Is that all?" Harry asked, giving him a questioning look.
"Yes-no! No! I mean...no, I just...look, Harry, I want to...well...I want to say sorry." Ron admitted, looking pained. "I...I thought about what you said. I have to admit, it wasn't nice to hear and I wasn't really happy to hear it. But after I had calmed down a bit, I thought about it. And you were right. You nearly die every year and then you're entered into a tournament that people used to die in. I should have realised then,"
"Yeah, you should've," Harry agreed coldly, Ron winced before continuing.
"Anyway, you were right. You did so much for me, for my family, for the school. If not for you then you-know-who would've come back our first year! Hermione would be troll-paste or petrified, Ginny would be dead. You were there for all of us and...well, I wasn't there for you. Not when I should have been. You said you forgave me and I appreciate that. But well...I suppose I just wanted to say sorry, properly this time. Harry, I'm really sorry. I know we probably won't be friends again soon, but is there a chance that...you know...one day we could be?"
'No, no, hell no. Thank you for playing, goodbye.' Venom said in a sing-song voice.
"Maybe one day," Harry told him.
'I beg your pardon, what?' Venom replied.
"Great, well...that's all I wanted to say, thanks and...I am sorry, Harry, really."
"I believe you," Harry replied before giving him a questioning look. "And what about Hermione?"
"Well...she's stubborn, you know, Gryffindor trait I think," Ron shrugged, a humourless smile on his face. "She'll come around, but I think she just needs more time."
"Maybe," Harry said doubtfully. "Anyway, see you later," Harry nodded to him before turning and walking out of the room.
'You can't possibly be thinking of taking him back, are you?' Venom asked with disbelief as Harry continued walking. 'He abandoned us, he's not your friend anymore, Harry. I'm your friend,'
'It's not like me and Ron are going to be best buds again, but I see no reason why we can't be casual friends in the future.' Harry replied patiently. 'I won't forget what he's done and I'll always remember, but he made the effort to say sorry, even if it was hard for him.'
'They can't be trusted! I'm the only one you can trust!' Venom said furiously.
'And you are the only one I can trust,' Harry said, sounding slightly confused. 'Why are you so angry for?'
'I've been there for you! I will always be here for you...and...and now you're taking this traitor back! What about me, Harry? What about us?!' Venom demanded. 'They'll just cut in and ruin everything, you and I are bonded together. They don't understand! If they ever found out then they'd try to separate us! I need you, Harry! We need each other! You can't just...'
'Venom!' Harry cut in as firmly as he could. 'Take a breath and calm down, please. Just stay quiet for about a minute and try to keep calm, okay?' Harry responded. He waited for Venom to reply but the symbiote did not. Apparently, he did listen to Harry, either that or he was simply giving Harry the silent treatment.
A short while later, Harry entered the owlery which was thankfully void of any other humans, Harry had barely closed the door when Hedwig flew to him and landed on his arm.
"Hey girl," Harry smiled at her, she greeted him before giving him a questioning hoot. "Ah, Venom's upset with me," Harry informed her, a second later a large black tentacle with Venom's head on it shot out from Harry's back.
"I am not upset!" Venom snapped, glaring at Harry. "I am angry! Furious! Heart-broken!"
"Venom, Ron is not replacing you," Harry assured him.
"Why take him back at all?!"
"Venom, it's not like me and Ron are going to go back to being best buds right away, I don't think we ever will be again." Harry sighed. "But I don't want to end up being a dickhead like Snape, hating people forever and ever. Venom, are you...are you jealous?!"
"Jealous?!" Venom blurted out, sounding undeniably offended. "How dare you?! I am not jealous!"
"Venom, Ron is not replacing you," Harry told him once more.
"He doesn't deserve you! None of them do! They don't care for you like I do! I love you! I killed for you!"
"First of all, let's not pretend that you didn't enjoy doing that," Harry snorted.
"That's beside the point!"
"Secondly, all of your efforts have been and will continue to be appreciated." Harry continued. "You don't have to worry about them."
"They'll want to be your best friends again!" Venom insisted. "They can't be your best friends, they don't deserve to be your best friends! Only Hedwig and I are your best friends!" Venom said firmly.
"You are not my friend," Harry said, stopping Venom in an instant.
"What?" Venom asked, softly and quietly, not wanting to believe that he had just heard that. "What did you say?"
"You're not my friend," Harry told him, Hedwig let out a soft hoot and Harry gave her a look that told her he would handle this. "You're not my friend," He repeated. "Do you know why, Venom?" He asked the symbiote who was staring at him with a slightly open mouth and unblinking eyes, Venom did not say anything. Harry reached up with his free arm and placed a hand on Venom's head, pulling the symbiote closer so that their foreheads were touching. "Because you are far, far more than that to me. Friends come and go, Venom. But family is what you need when things get rough, you taught me that, Venom. You are my family, you and Hedwig. You cared for me, Venom, cared for me in a way that nobody else ever has. Not Dumbledore or the Dursleys or anyone else in this school. The only ones that have come close so far is Tonks and I don't really know what's going happen between the two of us. You are my family, Venom, I will rip the heads off of anyone who tries to separate us and I will feed them to you. You will never be rid of me before I die, Venom, and that is my solemn promise." Harry finished, letting him go and staring him dead in the eye, not at all afraid of the razor-sharp teeth near his face. "Venom, we good?" He asked, Venom didn't respond, he stared at Harry for a long while, long enough that Harry began wondering if his symbiote had shut down. He opened his mouth to ask when Venom finally spoke.
"A long while ago, on my planet, I was a loser," Venom revealed suddenly. "The other Klyntar, they shunned me, because I got attached to my hosts. Hosts were meant to be used for our survival, nothing more and nothing less, that was our way. But I wasn't like the rest," He explained to Harry who stood silently, waiting for Venom to continue. "They didn't like that, didn't like me. They cast me out, got rid of me. I had no one, not even my own people. And now...now I have you...and I will never let you go." Venom told him, his voice as strong as Harry had ever heard.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Harry told him sincerely.
"Something has happened," Venom said in a business-like manner. "Our bond..it's changed,"
"Changed how?" Harry blinked.
"It feels better, stronger," Venom said thoughtfully. "Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"I want a baby,"
"What?!" Harry blurted out, a tentacle shot out from his shoulder and the tip of it placed itself on Hedwig's chest. "What are you doing?!" The tentacle retracted itself, but Harry barely noticed as his gaze was fixed on Hedwig.
Hedwig looked normal for all of a second, goo spread out from the point that the tentacle had touched, in a familiar process the goo spread all over Hedwig, making her twice as big. Her claws became more like small knives, her beak was bigger and sharper and filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth and her eyes were a familiar milky white. Harry opened his mouth to say something when all of a sudden the goo started changing colour into crimson red. Symbiote Hedwig let out a loud roar that sent the other owls bolting out of the owlery, Hedwig seemingly grinned before rubbing her head against Harry's.
"They grow up so fast," Venom said proudly.