This is a continuation of the 'Don't ditch the game seeker's prompt.

Hogwarts' hallways were far more gloomy than Beauxbatons at night.

Daé had sneaked out after lunch for a run, that had turned into a flight. The building energy in his chest had needed to be let out. And that was without even considering his harpy side.

After the disaster match against Gryffindor, Daé had tried to keep to his room only leaving when absolutely necessary. His first meeting with his mate hadn't went the way he had hoped, at all.

"Can we do something for you?"

Daé dragged his gaze from his mate to the tallest of the siblings. He needed to speak, now.

"What's your name?"

"Bill."

That, did not help and was not the answer he was trying to get.

Before Daé could further embarrass himself Fleur dragged him towards the changing rooms.

"Don't mind my friend, strangers overwhelm him sometimes."

Though Fleur was younger than Daé she had better control over her magic being more in tune with it as opposed to a full Veela.

The pain in his shoulders when she backs him up against a wall is more irritating than surprising.

"What were you thinking?!"

Nothing, wasn't that clear.

"They have never seen a quarter-Veela before let alone a full. Did you miss the way everyone looked at me and Gabrielle? You can't just approach your mate without plan, they'll freak out!"

"I'm sorry, it overwhelmed me alright."

"No need to apologize, just have a plan ready before you start courting him."

Daé still didn't have a plan and had thus avoided the red-head with unknown vigor. Fleur was a force to be reckoned with, especially when you knew she was right.

The soft swishing of robes alerted Daé he wasn't alone in the hallway. A quick detour and sidestep towards an alcove hid him from view.

Technically he didn't have curfew, but the horror stories of students being caught outside the common room made him careful.

"Remind me again what I asked you not to do this year."

The deep voice sent shivers down Daé's spine, this was certainly one of the more strict teachers.

"To not visit you at school, but I had reasons my dear."

The two men, at least Daé assumed there were only two, were now walking towards his hiding spot.

"And were those reasons by any chance you being melodramatic?"

"Maybe, but you didn't really seemed to mind my visit a few moments ago."

The two men seemed to pause in their walk mere feet from Daé

"A momentary lack of judgement on my part, I admit."

"Interested in another one?"

Daé might have been innocent in certain ways, that didn't mean he didn't notice the hidden meaning. Though the man certainly was more subtle than some of his year mates.

"Not in the hallways, those dunderheads who like to call themselves students might be walking around. We are already risking too much and now that they have seen Veelas we won't be able to fool the smarter ones anymore."

"They won't find out, don't worry."

"One of us has to, it's a liability. The war may be over but there are enough fanatics on both sides who wouldn't think twice about extorting it."

Luckily the men continued walking and rounded the corner, their now muffled voices no longer intelligible.

Daé breathed out in relieve. That was way too close.

He raced back to his room and barely caught himself before slamming the door behind him. The room was illuminated by the unobstructed light of the moon.

"Hadn't I left the curtains closed this morning?"

"Yes you did. I opened them."

Daé jumped into the air when hearing Fleur's voice. How couldn't he have seen her sitting on his bed. The moonlight giving her an almost angelic aura.

"Bloody hell Fleur! You almost gave me a hearth attack, warn a person before appearing somewhere."

She merely shrugs at his accusation and gracefully stands up from his bed.

"I needed to talk to you before breakfast, you missed the announcement during dinner."

"Well."

It is that Fleur is raised in higher society than I, because that is the only thing stopping her from rolling her eyes at me.

"They want us to fight for our spot in the Triwizard Tournament."

-

Breakfast at Hogwarts was certainly not as impressive as at Beauxbatons. But his appetite may have been destroyed by his conversation with Fleur last night.

They would have to fight for their spot.

Ridiculous.

No one of his school even wanted to participate, they would have if their name had been drawn. It was an honor, but not something they actually wanted to fight their friends for. It would create conflict between families, whereas a draw was simple a matter of luck. Or lack thereof depending on your view of the matter.

Daé and Fleur both had the biggest chance to survive the Tournament, apart from the fact that neither would let one of the others risk their lives. She had this already discussed with the others and they had agreed with her reasoning.

Those Veela genes were at least good for something, others would more easily accept their need to protect their family.

Now was only the problem if he or Fleur would compete. They could of course have a real battle, but that didn't feel right for either of them. Having a rational discussion was a far beter option.

Fleur had wanted to go as her family had more connections than Daé's. That was a very nice way too say he had none. His pure blood mother had married her muggle mate, which had resulted in her being kicked out of her family. The only connections who could help were other Veelas, like Fleur's family.

It was an excellent argument on her part, one Daé couldn't ignore. But he was still several years older and more in tune with his Veela side. Apart from that he would never forgive himself if something would happen to her or Gabrielle. With the rest of the tribe back in France he was the leader and responsible for their well being.

She hadn't agreed yet, but Daé was sure in the end she would. Otherwise he would have to use Gabrielle against her. Something neither sister would like.

Daé turned towards Fleur, she may know who had almost caught him sneaking around last night. Another Veela could after all greatly influence their time spend here.

"Do you know any Veelas who could be present at Hogwarts?"

"There are no Veelas in Britain and if there were any they would not show themselves to wizards. The laws here aren't in their favor at all. Why you're asking."

"Last night-"

"When you had sneaked out?"

"Yes, I was almost caught by two men, they said that now the students had seen Veelas they would no longer be fooled about their relationship. It sounded as a Veela with his mate, probably one of the professors here."

Before Fleur could articulate an answer a commotion at the other side of the Great Hall caught their attention.

"Potter! My father will hear about this!"

A fourth year in Slytherin clothes was screaming at a scrawny kid in Gryffindor red. Who Daé belatedly recognized as Harry Potter, but he was not the one who kept his attention. The other kid had a haughty air around him and very pale, almost white hair.

"I didn't do anything Malfoy, your own cronies were the ones who tripped you!"

"The Malfoy's are from France and have famously blond hair and grey eyes. If I didn't know better I would say they're Veelas, but considering what you heard maybe they actually are."

Daé nodded along with Fleur's assessment, more Veelas ment trouble.

"I'm going in, we need you able to investigate if something happens during the Tournament."

-

Viktor Krum had won his battle and would participate for Durmstrang. A formidable opponent.

The Hogwarts battle was now raging on, in a few minutes Daé would have to step in the ring. He wasn't looking forwards to it.

A cheer went up from the crowd with yellow clothes, as the last person was defeated.

"Cedric Diggory!"

The boy who was still standing was a seventh year Hufflepuff seeker. Daé's last opponent in the upcoming Tournament.

"And now for Beauxbatons, who is willing to fight for the glory of participating in the Triwizard Tournament?!"

The battle was being held in the Quidditch stadium with the announcer being the same Gryffindor boy as during the game.

During the previous battles dozens of people had stepped forward. Now it was only Daé.

The stadium held his breath in anticipation who else would come forward.

No one moved.

The students from Beauxbatons looked as Daé stood alone in the center of the court.

"I will participate for Beauxbatons."

-

November 16, 2022