A/N This fic takes place during Hermione's 6th year at Hogwarts, Fleur's 7th (Fleur is only 1 year older in this fic, I wanted it to take place after the tournament, but while Fleur was still in school). Please review :)
Ch.1 Who is she..
"Fleur! The train leaves at exactly 11 O'clock, you're going to miss it!". Fleur rolled her eyes at her mother's bantar. As if she would miss the train.. Fleur was never late and she rarely made mistakes. "Everything thing will be fine Maman."
As they arrived to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, Fleur kissed her mother on both cheeks and briskly said her good-byes. Fleur wasn't really one for too much physical contact or the emotions behind them for that matter. "Good bye sweetheart, be safe..", Apolline called after her eldest daughter as she disappeared into the brick wall.
Fleur emerged on the other side of the barrier. Everything around her was a bit too hectic for her liking. Parents hugging their children bye and offering last minute advice, nervous first years sprinting about in fear that they would miss the train, other students trying to locate friends.. Fleur smirked and rolled her eyes, then calmly made her way onto the train.
"Delacour, a pleasure to see you again" said Draco Malfoy, taking Fleur's hand and placing a light kiss on the top of it. "Draco", replied Fleur retracting her hand rather quickly, "how uhm.. lovely to see you. Did you have a nice summer?" "Oh yeah, it was nice. Spent most of it at my father's estate in Greece..." Fleur pretended to be interested as Draco went on about his ever so regal summer activities.
Their fathers both pulled a lot of weight at the ministry, and her father insisted they stayed on the Malfoy's good-side. Fleur did what she could to listen to her father, but Draco really was insufferable sometimes. "Oh well that sounds lovely Draco, I really would love to hear more about it, but I really must be getting to my friends" "Friends? You call those fil-" Draco paused when he caught Fleur's icy stare. "Those, erm, people friends? Someone with a family stature like yours should really associate with.. higher class people. I mean, what would your father say if he kne-" "I will associate with whoever I like." Fleur interjected, her bright blue eyes icy with animus. Draco attempted to save the conversation, but Fleur stomped off past him.
"What a prat.." Fleur murmured to herself as she made her way to the Ravenclaw section of the train. Being a Slytherin, Fleur got a lot of not-so-friendly looks and confused stares when she was seen with non-Slytherin students, but she couldn't care less what people thought of her.
"Oh hello Fleur!" said the always bubbly Luna Lovegood as Fleur entered her compartment. She jumped up from her seat and crashed into Fleur with a hug. "Haha, hi Luna. Have a nice summer?" said Fleur, trying to escape from the blonde's hold as swiftly as she could. "It was wonderful, I got bit by 3 gnomes. Their saliva is known to be very beneficial you know."
"Oh is that so?" Fleur replied with a huge smile. She loved listening to Luna talk, her airy personality and lack of concern of what other people thought of her was so refreshing. Being around someone who wasn't so serious was exactly what Fleur needed after spending a whole summer around her father, who was nothing but serious..
Luna was Fleur's best friend. She had been ever since last year... Luna was in the forbidden forest, feeding the thestrals, when she heard a loud scream, followed by several more. She rushed off as fast as her bare feet would take her towards the blood chilling sounds.
"AHhh someone help me.. please.." It was dark, they were surrounded by trees (very much like Harry and Ron were during their 2nd year encounter with the spiders). Luna looked hard and made out a girl on her hands and knees, fists clenched, breathing as if she had just ran a marathon. Luna cautiously walked closer to the girl, approaching her she realized it was Fleur Delacour.
"Fleur? Are you alright?" Luna felt stupid for asking such an obvious question, but she wasn't sure what else she could say to the poor girl. "I don't know what's wrong with me.." breathed Fleur.
Suddenly Fleur eyes turned red and talons shot from her fingertips. She screamed in pain as two large, blue wings erupted from her back and her teeth lengthened and sharpened. Luna stepped back, not in fear but as a precaution. "Fleur I know what's wrong with you.. You must calm down". Fleur, or the bird-like creature that was Fleur, shot a piercing stare at the blonde girl before her. Luna swallowed hard, "Calm down Fleur, you'll be okay I promise."
The creature's piercing glance softened, and the talons started reducing back into normal fingernails. Her teeth shrank and her eyes returned back to crystal blue. She fell to her knees and her wings sunk back into her. Fleur looked up at Luna with tears in her eyes..
"What's wrong with me?" she asked the younger girl. "Well from my understanding, you must be part Veela." Luna explained to Fleur everything she knew about the magical beings.
"Surely your parents have told you about this before? Why would they keep something so important from you?"
"Yeah.. why would they."
Remembering the incident that brought them so close, Fleur smiled and looked at her, still rambling about gnome saliva, best friend with love. What would she do without her? "I believe we're getting close! Better change into our robes." Fleur drew the curtains and the two girls changed into their Hogwarts uniforms. Fleur took her hair out of the tight ponytail it was usually in, and she let it fall on her shoulders. She touched up her make up a bit and checked to make sure her teeth were sparkling, and they were. "How do I look?" asked Fleur. "Exceptionally unordinary." replied Luna with soft smile.
They exited the train upon arrival, and made their way to the carriages. "You know, the carriages are pulled by these invisible creatures called thestrals. Well, only invisible to those who haven't seen dea-" "Yeah sure thing Loony" said a 4th year Hufflepuff. Enraged Fleur grabbed the ignorant girl by the robes and brought her to her eye level. "If you were more educated you would know that LUNA, is absolutely right. Now about you go read a god damn book and mind your attitude." The girl nodded furiously and Fleur released her. The moment her feet were back on the ground she took off as fast as she could. "I swear people are so-"
"Fleur, your eyes are looking a big scarlet.." whispered Luna. "Oh, sorry.." said Fleur rubbing her eyes until they returned to blue. "I really do appreciate you defending me, but don't get so worked up about it, it's really no bother to me at all." Fleur smiled and nodded. They got onto the carriage and went on to the castle.
The first years were sorted and Dumbledore preceded to give his always inciteful, beginning of the year speech. However this year was a bit different. After about one sentence he was interrupted by a mousy woman dressed in all pink.
"Thank you Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome.." Fleur rolled her eyes so hard it made her eye balls hurts.. How could someone have SUCH an annoying voice. She wandlessly performed a silencing charm so she wouldn't have to listen to any more of it.
While Professor Umbridge was talking, Fleur looked around the great hall.. her eyes fell on one person. She was sitting at the Gryffindor table, looking extremely annoyed with what was being said. Fleur couldn't help but smile at her; her scowl was oddly adorable... Fleur noticed she was sitting next to Harry Potter, the boy she competed against in the Triwizard Tournament.
She suddenly remembered where she had seen this girl before! She was Victor Krum's date at the Yule Ball. She was devastating jealous of him for some reason.. And after the second task, when Harry saved her sister she went over to Harry to thank him, and upon leaving she ran right into this girl.. but she didn't catch her name. She furrowed her eyebrow and desperately tried to figure out who this girl was. She had to know..
The girl looked up and Fleur blushed hard, awkwardly smiling as she looked away. The bushy haired Gryffindor smiled and looked back to the front of the great hall. Wow, get caught gawking at her, real smooth Delacour. Fleur shook her head at herself. Through the rest of dinner she stole glances towards the beautiful Gryffindor, and couldn't help but beam when she caught her stealing a couple glances as well. Who is she...