How to love like Fleur Delacour

Fleur Delacour teaches us 5 ways to triumph in love

Contains spoilers, please avoid until you've completed the books.

We first meet Fleur Delacour - Fleur is French for 'flower of the court' - in Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire. A student of "l'académie de magie de Beauxbâtons", she is visiting to try out for the prestigious Tri-wizard tournament.

Fleur Delacour, Harry noticed, was eyeing Bill with great interest over her mother’s shoulder. Harry could tell she had no objection whatsoever to long hair or earrings with fangs on them.
The Third Task, the Goblet of fire
Fleur Delacour smiles at Bill Weasley
And so the romance begins
 
‘Remember old Fleur Delacour?’ said George. ‘She’s got a job at Gringotts to eemprove ’er Eeenglish –’ ‘And Bill’s been giving her a lot of private lessons,’ sniggered Fred
Number 12 Grimmauld Place, the Order of the Phoenix

If you want somebody to fall in love with you then being available helps. Fleur would have a rough old time, her would be in laws hate her.

Skinny red head Ginny Weasley piggy backs on Harry Potter [Ginny] swung her long red hair around in a very good imitation of Fleur and pranced across the room with her arms held aloft like a ballerina.
An excess of phlegm, the Half Blood Prince

Feisty Quidditch star Ginny has nicknamed high maintenance Fleur, 'Phlegm', and it's caught on with the Weasley siblings. Poor Phlegm.

How to manage a confounded future mother in law?

She gave Lupin an annoyed look, as though it was all his fault she was getting Fleur for a daughter-in-law instead of Tonks, but Harry, glancing across at Fleur, who was now feeding Bill bits of turkey off her own fork, thought that Mrs Weasley was fighting a long-lost battle.
A very frosty Christmas, the Half Blood Prince

Dote on your fiancee and ignore, they just have to come to terms with it. At least they can see you’re loving and caring.

Modesty, humility, Fleur explodes with all the vital virtues

Fleur takes polyjuice potion and transforms into a decoy Harry

‘Bah,’ said Fleur, checking herself in the microwave door, ‘Bill, don’t look at me – I’m ’ideous.’
The seven Potters, the Deathly Hallows

The chosen one is feeling right special now.
But why why why is she 'ideous?
Bah! 'arry's 'ead is too teeny.
Fleur Delacour - highest self-esteemed Witch of her age.

Fleur's love is diamond hard

‘You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per’aps, you ’oped?’ said Fleur, her nostrils flaring. ‘What do I care how ’e looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave! And I shall do zat!’ she added fiercely, pushing Mrs Weasley aside and snatching the ointment from her.
The Phoenix Lament, the Half Blood Prince

Oh my God how much do I love Rowling’s writing? Fleur's big hearted and big headed at the same time!

“in sickness and in health, until death do us part”
Fleur flows into the mould of a loving dutiful partner. Fleur will win acceptance through devotion.

Fleur Delacour nurses wounded Bill Weasley

Responding to life's misfortunes

Racing to Dumbledore's defence Bill has been attacked by werewolf Fenrir greyback:

All that appeared to have changed was that he now had a great liking for very rare steaks. ‘… so eet ees lucky ’e is marrying me,’ said Fleur happily, plumping up Bill’s pillows, ‘because ze British overcook their meat, I ’ave always said this.’
The White Tomb, the Half Blood Prince

Her fiance could be construed as spoiled goods, Fleur just embraces the situation as making him all the more eligible for her. Her devotion is hilarious and warms my cold heart.

How to show devotion like Fleur 1. Miserable thing X happens to you partner.
2. What’s the consequence?
3. ‘So eeet ees lucky…’ How does this situation make you even more qualified to be their partner?

Connecting people

Fred and George had long since disappeared into the darkness with a pair of Fleur’s cousins
The Wedding, the Deathly Hallows

Finally Fleur becomes an asset to the Weasley family, enabling them to make connections.

Many people have difficulty with their in laws, JK Rowling writes wonderful characters who soar off the page. A few months after reading I barely remember Bill, he's that Pyramid raiding Gringotts Weasley right? But Fleur’s unstoppable devotion is immortal. Bill - husband of Fleur Delacour.

Let her loyalty and devotion
be a lesson to us all

Check out my other, less good, instructional how to deal with bullies like Harry Potter.
Or my improving: what can we learn from the life of Albus Dumbledore?

Art Credits

Fleur Delacour meets Bill Weasley from Gotta chase pigeons
Ginny piggy backing on Harry by Lila Selle
Devoted Fleur Delacour nurses Bill Weasley by Ms Auditore

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