Written By Sada
AN: The characters Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour belong to J.K. Rowling. This story is set in a place inspired and influenced by her Harry Potter novels. This is the beginning of what promises to be a very long fanfic detailing the Veela culture. Beyond Fleur and Gabrielle, you will not recognize any of the characters unless you are up to speed on your Scandinavian mythology. (Well, we'll see if Bill makes an appearance ;) ) Special thanks to C.C.G.P. from SugarQuill.net for informing us that the Veela could possibly be a derivative from the mythological Vila, who in Slovenian folklore are "normally red-haired and bird-like, but they can become very attractive if they wish to influence young men." I basically took this concept and ran with it. I hope you enjoy it.
Tentatively rated PG-13 for future chapters.
Chapter One: Thirteen Years
Fleur Delacour knocked on the door of the handsome mansion hidden deeply in the forests of Reims. The heavy sound echoed and bounced between the trees, announcing their arrival for the evening. The trees stirred in anticipation. It was not an ordinary evening in the Reims, for the magic seemed thicker and more tangible than the moonlight.
"I remember this well," thought Fleur. "As it was for me, it will be for Gabrielle."
She turned around and regarded her sister. Gabrielle stood a few meters away, the lone other figure in front of the mansion. Her face was white and her usual chatty demeanor was silenced by nervousness. Fleur smiled sympathetically.
"It's alright Gabrielle. We all go through this. It's an honor. I promise," she said.
Gabrielle looked up at Fleur, her gray eyes unblinking.
"Then why can't you tell me what's going on?" she asked quietly.
"Because I cannot," replied Fleur simply.
Gabrielle looked sadly down at her feet. A gust of wind came along, disarraying her long, straight hair.
"Gabrielle," Fleur implored. "I told you to wear a hood."
Gabrielle's mouth opened in indignation.
"Yes, I know, there was no time," Fleur cut her off. "But Grandmother will be furious. Here, take mine."
Fleur unwound her silvery hood, her own hair slipping out to beyond her waist, and handed it to her sister. Gabrielle quickly fastened it over her own hair, having gone even paler at the prospect of infuriating Grandmother.
"Why doesn't someone answer the door?" she asked, her voice squeaking.
"They are gathering," replied Fleur. "It shouldn't be too much longer now. Yes, listen?"
Gabrielle listened hard. At first she heard nothing but the gusts of wind. Then slowly she began to make out a pecking noise. It was coming from deep within the Reims. It was soon joined by similar noises, which sounded much closer. Fleur smiled serenely and patiently waited, staring off into the forest.
The clouds seemed to thin, letting in more moonlight. It grew thicker and thicker until Gabrielle was positive the trees were glowing.
She blinked and looked more carefully. The trees were glowing. She took a step back to get closer to Fleur. As they waited the pecking sounds filled the air, rising to brilliant crescendo. Suddenly, the pecking stopped and beautiful singing surrounded them. The moonlight began to focus and hundreds of Veela materialized in the forest engulfing the mansion.
Fleur leaned over and whispered in Gabrielle's ear, "This is where you must stand on your own." She gracefully walked over to the group of Veela standing directly in front of them, which Gabrielle now recognized as including her mother and grandmother.
Her grandmother smiled elegantly and nodded her head at Fleur before turning her attention to Gabrielle. Gabrielle suddenly felt very young and awkward, very unsure of what was happening. Her mind raced, but was drawing complete blanks.
Grandmother stepped forward. Her lengthy silver hair grazed the ground as she walked. Her large gray eyes fixated on her youngest granddaughter.
"Gabrielle Haakon Delacour," she said melodically in a voice that carried over the softly singing Veela. "You will soon be thirteen."
Gabrielle would have nodded, but her face was still frozen in anticipation.
Her grandmother leaned in closely. "Then it is time," she continued, "that you learn about your magical duty as a Veela." She straightened once again. "In addition to your obligations, there are many rewards. Those that stand before you are rich with the magical knowledge of our kind. They would like to teach it to you, if you are willing." She eyed Gabrielle speculatively. "Are you willing, young granddaughter?"
Gabrielle blinked rapidly as some of her apprehension went away.
"Yes, I am willing," she answered.
Her grandmother smiled broadly. "Then let us begin!" she sang, clapping her hands. The other Veela joined in, their singing growing louder and more joyous as Iwona Haakon took her granddaughter by the hand and led her into the forest.
"Come, come!" she said excitingly to Gabrielle.
Gabrielle smiled and eagerly followed. "She doesn't look nervous now," observed Fleur, smiling to herself. "I remember this as one of my fondest memories. Her head will be reeling before this is over. So much to learn! So many to meet!"
Fleur and the others followed Iwona and Gabrielle to a small clearing in the forest. As they approached, two trees swung down until they were parallel with the ground, forming a makeshift couch. Iwona sat upon it and gestured for Gabrielle to join her. The rest of the Veela formed a spiral line around them. Gabrielle and Fleur's mother, Lisbeth, stood closest to her daughter.
Lisbeth reached over and kissed her daughter.
"Once upon a time, centuries ago, magical nature created the Veela," Lisbeth started. "Veela possessed the beauty of the moon, the grace of the water, the stealth of the shadow, and the cunning of nature itself. All creatures wished to possess them, to be near them. This is how you began."
Lisbeth took a seat on the other side of Gabrielle. Fleur stepped forward, giving Gabrielle a hug.
"Time went on and Veela did not change, though the world did," Fleur continued the tale. "Beauty, grace, stealth, and cunning served them well, as they allowed themselves to be served."
Fleur stood aside and made room for her Aunt Darda, who fixated her unblinking eyes on Gabrielle.
"But through it all, Veela were misunderstood," she intoned. "Those not chosen to share a Veela's company grew jealous. They tried to cast the Veela out."
Darda made way for her eldest daughter Brenev.
"But the Veela grew strong," said Brenev, a cruel smile on her lovely face. "The more Veela were hated, the more precious Veela became."
Brenev's younger sister, Rusa, was next.
"Veela magic did not falter," said Rusa, an identical cruel smile on her face. "This," she hissed, "is how it works."
One by one the Veela went through the line, explaining to Gabrielle that her magic lie in her very body - the curve of her hips and the pout of her lips, and that this magic worked best on men who were already in love. A fully trained Veela could transfer those emotions onto herself. They gave Gabrielle pointers and suggestions, tips and closely guarded secrets.
Gabrielle discovered that Veela had a long history, and that there were different kinds! Most Veela, like herself, had fair hair and could turn into birds. Others had red hair and turned into swans and serpents. These red-haired Veela were almost extinct, for a reason Gabrielle did not learn.
They explained that her hair must be prized above all else, and never cut, for it held an intense magic all its own. When strands were transferred to wands or arrows, the results were astonishing. Like Fleur, Gabrielle's wand held a strand of Veela hair from their grandmother. But she did not know that strands were routinely put into the arrows of the Veela's special friends, and that to be scratched by one meant instant death.
And she learned about these special friends! Called Metai, they were a companion race to Veela. It was only with Metai that Veela could mate and have full-blooded Veela daughters. She also learned that the Veela never had sons!
She learned that Veela were especially susceptible to drowning, and preferred to spend their time among the trees, which provided natural habitats to Veela in their bird-state. Gabrielle felt guilty learning this, as she remembered Fleur's dismal performance "rescuing" her from the merpeople in the Tri-Wizard Tournament a few years back. She had often wondered how her sister, such an amazing witch the rest of the time, had managed to get thwarted by something as silly as a grindylow.
Gabrielle was also assured that being one-fourth Veela was enough to use the magic, although she couldn't turn into a bird without first learning transfiguration, which was purely a witch trait. Again, Gabrielle thought of Fleur and how Fleur transfigured into the most beautiful bird she had ever seen - much more attractive than the normal Veela. Being part human obviously had its perks!
She was introduced to short glimpses of new dances and singing techniques, with promises that they could be practiced later during the gathering, when they left the woods to celebrate in the mansion.
Gabrielle's head was whirling. She had never imagined there was so much involved in being part Veela.
"Mere," she said to her mother as the line finally ended. "What happens now?"
Her grandmother answered. "Now, we go to my mansion and really start to celebrate."
"Oui," agreed Lisbeth. "The hard part is over. Now we have fun!"
Gabrielle looked around for her sister. The Veela had broken any semblance of order and were milling about eagerly anticipating the party.
"Come, come," said her grandmother. "Fleur will be there. But you are the guest of honor! We cannot keep out guests waiting."
With her mother on one arm and her grandmother on the other, Gabrielle started off towards the mansion.
End Chapter One
AN: This was mainly an introductory chapter designed to introduce certain characters and the history of the Veela. The plot will start moving in Chapter Two, when we discover that Fleur is not all that beloved within her family. The main bad guy shows up too! If you stay tuned, I promise you murder, mayhem, romance, intrigue, betrayal, and a lot of coming of age - for both Gabrielle and Fleur.
Any and all suggestions are welcome!