Standing up with a bit of difficulty, Daphne's mass upset his balance, Harry rose and followed.
Walking into the room he thought to himself, 'The first time in her room and I'm carrying her in, sleeping in my arms.'
Hermione already had the right side of the bed turned down for him to lay her on the bed with her head on the pillow. Gently lowering her down, he said, "When I leave, can you call Betsy to dress her properly for bed?"
"Of course, Harry," she softly said.
Harry walked out and returned to the sofa, which he collapsed upon with a sigh. Fleur hadn't moved. In all honesty, he'd somewhat forgotten she was there. She was sitting with one knee cocked up onto the seat, sitting slightly sideways and facing him and with an arm resting along the back.
"She needed to get that out," she quietly said.
Harry nodded. "Mmm."
"And you 'andled it quite well," she just as quietly added.
He was quiet for a few moments before he tried to explain his thinking. "I treat people how I would like to be treated if the situation was reversed. In that way, I hope I'm doing the right thing. If I treat someone the same way I want to be treated, then I believe it must be the right way."
"I think you're right," she said.
"There are only a few people I don't do that with," he replied. "At least, intentionally. And then it's only because they've proven to me they do not deserve to be treated well by me. For some, it's because they're being daft morons. For others, it's because they did not or do not treat me well in return.
"I... have trouble tolerating mindless fools. I think them no better than human-shaped sheep; someone's proverbial dinner, just marking time until they're devoured. I find most witches and wizards fill that category."
"Ouch," she said. "I take it you treated me 'arshly on first introduction because I called you a... 'leetle boi'?"
He gave a snort of amusement, smirked and replied, "Knowing me now, do you think you deserved it?"
She blushed a little, but firmly replied. "Yes; I did."
He looked to her and she was looking directly back. He explained, "It is your ability to recognise you did wrong, and then apologise for it, which first had me look to you as more than one of the sheep."
Hermione came back over and settled onto the sofa next to Harry where Daphne had sat. She sighed and leaned into him. "She's deeply asleep. She didn't even twitch when Betsy changed her into her sleep robes and covered her with her comforter."
Fleur said, "She will likely 'ave the most peaceful night's sleep she's 'ad in a long time. Getting that... burden of fear off 'er chest will give 'er peace."
Hermione said, "God, I don't know how she was able to stand that sort of pressure and fear for so long."
"It would have built up over time," explained Harry. "Ten years ago it would have been something to worry about in ten or fifteen years. Five years ago it would have started to become a concern, but not something she really needed to worry about yet. Two years ago is when the pressure started to really build up. And three months ago she was living in terrified fear and unable to find a way out of her... predicament.
"For her, it was like a pressure cooker, where the pressure is building and building. Then came the First Task."
"Then you reactivated the Potter-Longbottom Alliance," said Hermione. "That reactivated the Greengrass membership of that alliance. And Lord Greengrass felt he'd finally found a way to save his daughter and his House.
"You're approached, as you fully expected you would be. The agreement is made. You both sign."
"Yes, but even then it wasn't enough," said Harry. "I don't think it was until tonight she was ready to accept she was now safe. That was partly my fault, by including the escape clauses in the agreement. Unknowingly, I made it feel for her as if I'd rip the carpet out from under her feet at any moment."
"It was me," said Fleur. "'Arry being willing to accept me... life, body and soul... means 'is promise to 'er is real. It's 'onest. She no longer 'as to fear 'Arry will, as 'e puts it, rip that carpet out from under 'er feet."
Harry groaned and sat forward, "I am such a daft moron. I didn't even realise that. I should have, and didn't."
"No, Harry," said Hermione. "We all should have. You, me, everyone."
"I need to make it clear to her, that is not the case," he sighed.
"Unless you want to rewrite the agreement, or have sex with her, I don't think you can," she said.
He sat back and sighed. "No," he quietly said. "I'm―"
"You're not ready," said Fleur. "Besides, I believe 'Ermione is always going to be, as you put it, 'first'. You will be each other's first."
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