A/N: This story will take place during Goblet of Fire and will mostly follow canon with small changes, which will increases as the story goes on. It will be Harry/Fleur. I've probably borrowed a bunch of ideas from different stories I've read so if certain aspects look familiar… sorry. I am combining all the things I've liked from other stories and getting rid of the things I don't. A large section of the first chapter is taken right from the book just because it is a lot of dialogue from Dumbledore explaining the tournament and that doesn't need to change. Past that I should have to rely less and less on the book. Also, as is obvious, I do NOT own anything to do with Harry Potter and am not making any profit from this story. It is purely for my own and anyone else's enjoyment. Bolded text is taken from the book and is not my own work.

As the sounds of the crackling fire slowly died away leaving only the faint howling of the wind in the distance, Harry Potter shivered. Though not from the cold, the remaining glowing coals still gave off ample warmth, but from the memories that were fighting their way to the forefront of his mind from earlier that day. It was like a nightmare from which he couldn't awaken. He wasn't safe anymore; he had no one to guide him, nothing to stand between him and his destiny. He shivered again at this thought. Suddenly he felt the person beside him shift slightly, snuggling deeper against his chest. Harry let out a shaky breath as he felt himself calm down. He couldn't help thinking that if someone had told him he would be here today at the beginning of the year he would have laughed at them. Sighing, he couldn't help thinking back to the first time he had laid eyes on the person in his arms and everything that led up to this moment changing his life forever…

**.**

As Harry entered the Great Hall for the beginning of term feast, he couldn't help but smile. He was home at last! Finally away from the Dursly's for the next 10 months! Glancing up at the charmed ceiling he noticed that clouds were beginning to gather in the sky partially obscuring the stars. He quickly found a seat near Ron and Hermione to eagerly await the appearance of food. Harry could hear lots of chatter at the table about the recent Quidditch World Cup and Viktor Krum's performance. Not wanting to dwell on the other horrifying events that took place that night, he tried to focus on what Hermione was saying about House Elf rights as a distraction while he ate.

When the puddings, too, had been demolished, and the last crumbs had faded off the plates, leaving them sparkling clean, Albus Dumbledore got to his feet again. The buzz of chatter filling the Hall ceased almost at once, so that only the howling wind and pounding rain could be heard.

"So!" said Dumbledore, smiling around at them all. "Now that we are all fed and watered. I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it."

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched.

He continued, "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the inter-house Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

"What?" Harry gasped. He looked around at Fred and George, his fellow members of the Quidditch team. They were mouthing soundlessly at Dumbledore, apparently too appalled to speak.

Dumbledore continued, "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy – but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts, we are to have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event which has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago, as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry – Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the Tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities – until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the Tournament was discontinued. The Heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Hallowe'en. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money.

"Eager though I know all of you will be wanting to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the Heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age – that is to say, seventeen years or older – will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration."

Dumbledore continued on for several minutes going over several more details about what was going to be happening this year, especially the new safety considerations from the ministry, and then dismissed us for the night. One thing was for sure, Harry couldn't wait for Halloween to see who would be chosen, and, for once sit back and watch everyone else in the spotlight for once.

**.**

The first two months passed in a blur of classes and lots homework, especially without the distraction of Quidditch to keep Harry busy. Apart from that he found it quite normal for once. Along with most other students, he was getting excited for the Halloween Feast when the students from the other schools were supposed to arrive.

The night of the feast they found themselves all gathered upon the lawns of the school eagerly wondering how the students would be travelling to Hogwarts. They scanned the darkening grounds excitedly, but nothing was moving; everything was still, silent and quite as usual. Harry was starting to feel cold. He wished they'd hurry up ... maybe the foreign students were preparing a dramatic entrance ... he remembered what Mr Weasley had said back on the campsite before the Quidditch World Cup – "Always the same, we can't resist showing off when we get together ..."

And then Dumbledore called out from the back row, where he stood with the other teachers – "Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"

A gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest, and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powder-blue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring towards them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant.

The students from Beauxbatons exited their carriage quickly followed what was the largest woman Harry had ever seen, largest person too, second only to Hagrid. Harry noticed his peers must have reached the same conclusion as well when he saw many of them gaping, looking between her and Hagrid who was already rushing forward to care for the flying horses attached to the carriage.

The students hurried to the side standing in line, all garbed in the same light blue colour, while the large woman went to speak to Dumbledore. They spoke together in quiet voices causing the Hogwarts students to soon lose interest as they began to peer closely at their Beauxbatons counterparts. Harry noted that they seemed to be shivering slightly which he found easy to believe once he remarked that their clothing seemed to be mostly made of fine silk. One of these students seemed to stand out from the rest, almost exuding some kind of aura causing people's eyes to be drawn towards her. It was obvious to Harry that she was quite beautiful, with silvery blond hair tied back behind her head. Many of the boys around him were staring. He noticed her glancing around surveilling them all when she met his eyes. He noticed her piercing blue eyes which seemed hard when paired with the completely blank expression she wore. She continued scanning the crowd around Harry, finally reaching the edge where she turned her nose up and her mask finally broke showing a slight look of disgust. Before Harry could ponder this further his attention was again brought elsewhere when he heard the gasps of his schoolmates. He turned towards the lake only to notice a magnificent ship slowly raising out of the water, glistening in the moonlight. It had a strangely skeletal look about it, as though it was a resurrected wreck, and the dim, misty lights shimmering at its portholes looked like ghostly eyes. Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide towards the bank. A few moments later, they heard the splash of an anchor being thrown down in the shallows, and the thud of a plank being lowered onto the bank.

The students that lumbered off the ship seemed the exact opposite of those from Beauxbatons. While they had been graceful and light, wearing their silk robes, the students from Durmstrang seemed to radiate power and strength. They were dressed in heavy furs which he noticed several students shrugging off as if hot. An older man, who Harry assumed was their headmaster, was leading their procession as they exited the ship. He left his students after a moment joining Dumbledore and the other woman, who Harry had overheard someone call Madame Maxime, further confirming his suspicions. They continued their silent conversation with the new man for a few moments before leading the students from all three schools back up towards the castle.

As they entered the great hall, Harry continued to watch the other students, some of whom were staring around in wonder, other in distaste, at the decorations and the enchanted ceiling. He had just begun questioning where they were to sit as he noticed the Beauxbatons students being ushered to the Ravenclaw table, while Durmstrang joined the Slytherins. Ron had been harping incessantly in his ear about something for several moments. Forcing himself to pay attention to what he was saying he found not only Ron, but many people nearby, all muttering something about Viktor Krum, the famous seeker he had seen at the Quidditch World Cup. Glancing around the hall again, he saw the person in question in Durmstrang robes sitting next to none other than Draco Malfoy. Malfoy had a huge smirk on his face and seemed to be talking loudly to all those around him, especially focused on Krum. Harry could almost hear his voice in his head going on and on about his father and family stature. He couldn't help but chuckle when he noticed the look of utter distaste for his current dinner companions on Krum's face.

"Can't believe he has to sit with the Slytherins!" Ron finally announced with a scowl. Harry merely shrugged in response as they seated themselves near the middle of the Gryffindor bench.

Dumbledore, as per usual, got up and said a few words when everyone settled in, spending a few extra minutes introducing and welcoming the new additions to the Great Hall. Food arrived on the tables shortly after allowing everyone to dig in.

"What's that?" said Ron, pointing at a large dish of some sort of shellfish stew just as Harry was also noticing some of the unfamiliar foods being served.

"Bouillabaisse," said Hermione.

"Bless you," said Ron.

"It's French," said Hermione. "I had it on holiday, summer before last, it's very nice."

"I'll take your word for it," said Ron, helping himself to black pudding.

After several moments eating, Harry noticed many of his house mates falling silent around him. He suddenly felt a familiar pull urging him to turn around. Harry began to turn, his thoughts going slightly foggy. He quickly shook it off to look at the person standing behind him. It was the girl he had noticed by the Beauxbatons Carriage earlier. To his surprise her earlier blank expression was gone, replaced by one of slight shock. He also couldn't help but notice how her pale blonde hair was now loose falling into sheet, almost reaching her waist. Calling on his Gryffindor courage, he looked up into her eyes, which were a deeper blue than he had originally noticed, and attempted to give a small smile, wondering what she needed.

**.**

So far Fleur's time at Hogwarts had been less than ideal. Growing up as a Veela had always been a challenge, especially when she had hit puberty. She was always the recipient of unwanted stares and she had to learn quickly how to control her Allure as to not render every male within a 10 foot radius to a blubbering mess. Veelas, though not prominent, were not uncommon to be in attendance at Beauxbatons Academy therefore most students could function, for the most part, normally as long she kept a tight leash on her Allure. Though, from what she had heard from her father before leaving France, Veelas were very uncommon at Hogwarts leaving most of the students inexperienced. He had explained this was mostly due to the different laws in England based on their views on what they considered dark creatures and half-breeds.

She had noticed that the Hogwarts students were gaping at her as if she were on display at a muggle zoo, even with her iron clad control over her Allure. Fleur was also not a fan of the damp English climate that the stone walls of Hogwarts seemed to do so little to keep out, causing her to already begin to miss home back in France. Choosing to settle for some comfort food, she began searching the table for something familiar. Failing at the task initially but not giving up she began searching the other tables with her eyes before she finally came upon what she was looking for on the table against the far wall.

She quickly got up and began to traverse the length of the hall towards her destination. As she walked by she noticed the students become quiet and watch her but as per usual she kept her face set in a mask of indifference. As she approached the far table, she noticed a red haired boy on the other side of the table, who seemed more effected then the others. When he noticed her he went completely wide eyed, staring at her as if in a daze, his mouth falling open in the process. Trying to ignore him as much as possible she looked to the person closest to what she wanted. The boy in question was facing away from her and she came to stop behind him, she saw him stiffen slightly. Beginning to turn around before she said anything, she saw him shaking his head slightly as if trying to clear it. As he looked up towards her, she was expecting the normal dazed expression but was shocked when she looked into the startlingly green and clear eyes of the boy she had noticed outside earlier because he had seemed more coherent then his peers. He gave a small friendly smile.

"Excuse me, are you wanting ze bouillabaisse?" Fleur asked.

"Yeah, have it," said the boy, pushing the dish towards her.

"You 'ave finished wiz it?"

"Yeah," he said while nodding the affirmative.

"Yeah," the red haired boy said breathlessly echoing his friend. He still looked very dazed. "Yeah, it was excellent."

She grabbed the bowl and began heading back to her table when she realized that she had let her mask drop in her surprise. Reaching her table she began serving herself when she was assaulted by several of her classmates with questions in her native tongue.

"I can't believe that you actually went over and talked to him?" One asked.

"What was he like?" Another one quickly interjected.

"Who?" She asked.

"Harry Potter!" They replied in unison.

Fleur turned and glanced over her shoulder at the table she had just left and the raven haired boy sitting there. At that moment he also turned and glanced at her. Meeting her eyes he instantly blushed and ran his hand through his hair nervously, uncovering the lightning shaped scar that Fleur had previously not noticed, before he turned back towards his own table. She had of course heard the tales of the Boy Who lived, even in France, and several other rumors over the past few years about his adventures here at Hogwarts though for some reason she had never expected to meet him. His apparent resistance, if not immunity, to her Allure also gave her pause as that was a very rare trait. Fleur decided she would have to keep her eye on the interesting young man sitting across the hall.

A/N: I've only started ready Fan Fiction in the last couple months and eventually found my way into the Harry Potter section of the site. I've always been such a huge Harry Potter fan but now am able to read so many different versions of the story! Its been great! I have been and always will be a huge Harry/Ginny shipper but after reading a whole bunch of stories I have started reading several other pairings as well until I came across Harry/Fleur. It is probably my second favorite pairing but I was dismayed to find there are not very many good stories out there so I decided to create my own. Please review and let me know how I've done and leave any constructive criticism.