Summary
The romance between Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour has always been an unusual part of theHarry Potterfranchise. Fans have often regarded the couple as an unlikely match, making the pair’s relationship an intriguing topic. Bill is the eldest of the Weasley children and spent many of his adult years traveling around the world. As Ron’s older brother, Bill has always had a presence in theHarry Potterfranchise, despite not appearing on the screen untilHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. As fans will remember, Fleur Delacour was introduced inHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fireas a participant inthe Triwizard Tournament. Fleur attended Beauxbatons Academy - a Wizarding School based in France, leaving fans to question how Bill and Fleur actually met.
Despite being a prominent part ofGoblet of Fire, Fleur did not return to theHarry Potterfilms untilDeathly Hallows: Part 1, which captured her and Bill’s dramatic wedding. Bill and Fleur’s relationship is largely obscured from the films, leaving fans with an abundance of questions. However, the books offer more information about the pair’s unexpected romance, revealing how they met and their fate after the Second Wizarding War.
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When Did Bill and Fleur First Meet?
Bill and Fleur’s first meeting occurs both off the screen and off the page, but the meeting is briefly mentioned inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’sbook. During a conversation between Harry and the Weasley Twins, George mentions that Bill has got a new job atGringotts Wizarding Bank. In response to this news, Harry asks the twins whether Bill misses his old job in Egypt, but Fred humorously informs Harry that Bill’s new job comes with certain “compensations”. The pair then start sniggering together, prompting Harry to ask what the twins are talking about. George then explains that Fleur has also started a new job at Gringotts to improve her English, and Fred humorously adds:
Bill’s been giving her a lot of private lessons.
While audiences never witness Bill and Fleur’s first meeting, it’s clear that their romance began during their time working at Gringotts. Throughout the remainder ofOrder of the Phoenix, there’s no further mention of the pair’s romance, butHarry Potter andthe Half-Blood Princedemonstrates that Bill and Fleur’s relationship is moving faster than expected.
During Harry’s stay at the Weasleys, Fleur suddenly announces that she and Bill are getting married next summer. Judging by the Weasleys’ reactions, it’s evident that they are not over the moon about the pair’s engagement and Harry couldn’t help but notice that “Mrs Weasley, Hermione and Ginny were all determinedly avoiding each other’s gaze”. After Fleur leaves the room, Ginny abruptly tells Harry thatMrs Weasleyhates Bill’s new fiancée, prompting Mrs Weasley to respond with:
‘I do not hate her!’ said Mrs Weasley in a cross whisper. ‘I just think they’ve hurried into this engagement, that’s all!’
It’s clear that the Weasley family are displeased at the pair’s sudden engagement, but Ron defends his brother and explains to Mrs Weasley that they have known each other for a year. However, Mrs Weasley goes a step further and argues that the couple have nothing in common. Sadly, it’s obvious that Mrs Weasley hasn’t welcomed Fleur into the family. EvenGinny goes out of her wayto mock her future sister-in-law, and cruelly refers to her as “Phlegm”.
Throughout the remainder ofHalf-Blood Prince, the Weasley family continues to stand in the way of Bill and Fleur’s relationship. In a cruel ploy, Mrs Weasley attempts to inviteNymphadora Tonksover for dinner during the festive period, hopeful that Bill will fall in love with Tonks. Unbeknownst to Mrs Weasley, Tonks is already in a relationship with Remus Lupin at this point, and they are soon to be wed. Despite the Weasley family’s attempts to tear Bill and Fleur apart, their relationship comes out stronger than ever, causing Harry to dub Mrs Weasley’s attempts to separate the couple as “a lost-long battle”.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Beauxbatons Academy
Part-Veela
Towards the end of the novel, Bill is tragically attacked bythe villainous Fenrir Greyback, causing him to be hospitalized. Due to the severity of Bill’s injuries, Mrs Weasley assumes that the pair’s wedding will be called off, causing Fleur to finally stand up to Mrs Weasley. In an outrage, Fleur declares:
You thought that I would not weesh to marry him? Or per’aps you hoped? What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave!
This exchange proves that Fleur’s love for Bill is undisputable, causing Mrs Weasley and Fleur to put their differences aside. Before long, Fleur and Bill tie the knot, but their wedding is far more dramatic than anyone could have anticipated.
When Did Bill and Fleur Get Married?
Bill and Fleur’s wedding took place during Harry’s final year at Hogwarts amid the Second Wizarding War. The event was a memorable part of boththeDeathly Hallowsbook and the film, but it proved to be the center of attention for all the wrong reasons.
During the reception, Bill and Fleur’s wedding is abruptly disrupted by a devastating announcement.Deathly Hallows: Part 1depicts the devastation as a flash of blue light appears and the voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt announces:
The Ministry has fallen. The Minister of Magic is dead. They are coming. They are coming.
This shocking announcement reveals that Voldemort has taken overthe Ministry of Magicand issues a warning that the Death Eaters are on their way. However, before the guests have the chance to flee, Death Eaters crash into the reception. Guests are then forced to defend themselves and narrowly avoid the Death Eaters’ deadly curses. The reception quickly turns into a disaster with guests being forced to desperately flee for their lives.
With the help of Remus Lupin, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are able to escape from the carnage just in time, marking the beginning of their quest to track down Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Sadly, the Death Eaters’ disruption meant that Bill and Fleur’s wedding ended in disaster. Fortunately, the couple were able to escape from the Death Eaters unharmed. In order to avoid further attacks, Bill and Fleur took refuge at Shell Cottage, which the pair utilized as a safe house forthe Order of the Phoenix. Shell Cottage demonstrates Bill and Fleur’s courageous participation in the Second Wizarding War, but fans have often wondered what happened to the couple after Lord Voldemort’s defeat.
What Happened to Bill and Fleur After the War?
Fortunately, both Bill and Fleur survived the Second Wizarding War, and the couple’s fate is explored in the infamous ‘Nineteen Years Later’ epilogue of Deathly Hallows. It’s revealed that Bill and Fleur had three children together: Victoire, Dominique, and Louis. The pair’s eldest daughter, Victoire, gets a humorous mention in the epilogue. Whilst at King’s Cross Station,Harry and Ginny’s eldest son, James, spots Victoire with Teddy Lupin. He then tells Harry and Ginny the news, announcing:
‘Teddy’s back there’, he said breathlessly, pointing back over his shoulder into the billowing clouds of steam. “Just seen him! And guess what he’s doing? Snogging Victoire!’
Both Harry and Ginny are nonchalant at this announcement, but James continues to express his disapproval at the pair’s romance, declaring: “Our Teddy! Teddy Lupin! Snogging our Victoire! Our cousin!”.
From this exchange, it’s clear that Bill and Fleur are still in close contact with the Potter family. Despite Bill and Fleur’s many ups and downs, it’s clear that the couple finally got their long-awaited happy ending. Although the pair initially seemed like a strange match, Bill and Fleur’s romance certainly stood the test of time, making them one ofthe most iconic couplesin theHarry Potterfranchise.
Harry Potter
When Harry Potter learns that he is a wizard, he enters a world beyond belief. Aside from continuing his studies at Hogwarts with best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry must also face Voldemort and his dark wizarding forces. The Harry Potter franchise is a worldwide phenomenon, spanning seven books, eight movies, three spinoff movies, a stage play, and numerous video games.
