A/N: Hi! This is a prompt based Fleurmione piece for my ff*net Divination Class. I haven't used prompts before this or had a deadline before, so the pace is vey quick; basically it's short with an extremely fluffy ending. :)
Fleur had a co-worker who paid attention to the little details about people and would prescribe strange solutions to their problems. One day a piece of paper was placed in Fleur's palm, followed by an unexpected squeeze of her hand; she had finally noticed Fleur.
"Do this hun, and don't wait too long," she said before she was off as quick as she came.
Fleur heard her talking again a few desks down. "No! Take two at night and one in the morning. Three weeks—no less, no more." Fleur couldn't hear the recipient's reply, but imagined the compliant nodding she witnessed others doing during similar reprimands.
When Fleur was alone, she opened the paper. Let someone with the sight help. Under the sentence was an address.
That night in bed she thought of how she used to share her room with Bill. She stared at the shells affixed to the plaster of the walls. Tonight their stasis made her sad; no longer would they slowly turn into sand, nor could they become a sea creature's home.
She knew her depression pushed him away. Like a wave, she had repeatedly curled into herself and away from him.
It took three days for Fleur to go to the address. The shop wasn't sinister like ones found in Knockturn Alley, but it didn't exactly have the mercantile qualities Fleur was accustom to. She stared at odd, decorative wall fabrics and shelves lined with books and brown-tinted jars as she waited in the not quite dingy, but obviously not above-board establishment.
Fleur wondered if she should make a run for it. But it was too late; an old, skinny woman was walking towards her. Tiny glasses rested on top of her curly, long, white hair. The purple dress she wore ran all the way to her sandals.
"You're already here, dear. Might as well make a go of it," the witch stated matter-of-fact, her smile stretching between two very rosy cheeks.
Fleur nodded and let herself be led to a table in the left corner of the room. On it Fleur saw tarot cards next to a white, cloudy crystal ball, colorful crystals, and a small collection of books that absolutely breathed magic. Once the woman sat, she closed her eyes and took long, deep breaths. When she next looked at Fleur, her stare was pointed.
"What you want is dangerous, Veela. Let me see if I can help."
Fleur felt the anxiety and shame of her want being exposed. She had never even spoken the wish aloud and was near breathless at the thought of its possibility.
"So, you can take it away?" Fleur asked, hopeful.
"That is beyond me and I'm not convinced it will solve your problem. I can give you perspective though. Will you accept my terms?"
"What terms?" Fleur asked, now wary.
"I'll let you know when they arrive. That's the deal." She leaned back to wait for Fleur's reply.
The old witch speaking of the terms as if they had their own modality of communication baffled Fleur. She knew that being the client of someone with the sight would make for an interesting visit. However, making a deal potentially bound by magic should not be taken lightly. But as Fleur pondered the risks, her want bubbled up inside of her; the part of her that would give almost anything for peace was there, pushing against her throat to say the words.
"Yes, I accept your terms."
Many things happened. First, the old witch rubbed her hands together and told Fleur to put her's on the table. Then the woman placed her hands on top of Fleur's. Immediately Fleur could feel thrumming and a calm warmth.
"Are you ready, dear?" the witch asked, her wide smile returning.
Fleur liked the feel of the woman's smile and her skinny, powerful hands. "Yes," she replied.
The witch let go of Fleur's hands to shuffle her tarot deck. After asking Fleur to cut the deck, she laid out three cards. Nodding, she pressed a long finger against the first card. "Ten of Wands. Saturn in Sagittarius. Repression, parting, isolation."
She then moved her finger to the next card. "The Tower. Mars. All must be destroyed to make room for the new. Nothing is saved in the act of healing, dear. You must let go."
She tapped the last card for a few seconds and squinted her eyes at the card and then at Fleur. Finally she said, "A woman. The Princess of Wands. The Sun. She is freed from fear. A new beginning."
"I will have a new beginning?" Fleur asked, suddenly pleased as she stared at the powerful woman on the card.
"I have no doubt that you will. But this isn't you. This is someone else." The woman cackled and raised her eyebrows. Fleur retained her composure and attempted not to show some complicated, once thought buried feelings.
The woman shook her head at Fleur. "You always hide what you want and it must be hard that most who see you cannot hide their wants from you. Yes?"
Fleur's downcast eyes swelled at the woman's unabashed perceptiveness. As her tears fell, she heard the clamor of crystals moving around.
"Here take this rose quartz. Put it on your heart every night."
"Yes," Fleur agreed as she took the crystal. It felt good in her hand.
"Now, let me—" The woman didn't complete her sentence before her eyes turned a cloudy white, similar to the crystal ball. In a voice that was not completely her own, she bellowed, "The Unspeakables will try and she will change." Then she snorted, and smiled. In her normal voice she continued, "Let me see. Let me see. Oh yes, I will give you a tea. Drink it daily before you use the crystal—and it wouldn't hurt to look at the images you see in the tea cup after. The universe leaves its own clues, dear. Yes?"
"Yes, it does." Fleur said, complying quickly. But her mind was still on the sentence about the Unspeakables. What would they have to do with her?
In quiet awe of just receiving a prophecy, Fleur watched the witch shuffle to her jars.
"May I ask now what your terms are?"
"Yes! Good timing. You are to follow all of my directions," she answered as she put her glasses on to read labels.
Fleur wanted to laugh. "Those are your terms?"
"Yes. I hate it when my clients don't do what I say." She complained grumpily.
"Am I bound by magic?" Fleur asked, concern rising again.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" She replied with a wink as she opened a jar lid.
Fleur stared and realized the woman looked familiar. "Are you by chance related to—"
"Yes! And I never get any peace for all the people she sends and advice she asks for! Nothing personal—I'm glad you came, but you must know I am past the age of retirement!"
Fleur smiled at the revelation about her co-worker. "Oh, I didn't realize. I hope you get to retire soon."
"Yes. Me too." She handed Fleur the bag of bulk tea. "Listen, dear, I sense that I lost a few seconds back there. It would do you well not to focus too much on what I said then."
Fleur nodded. "Thank you for everything."
"You're welcome. The bill is in the bag too." The woman smiled and it made Fleur smile too. As she walked out, the witch tapped on the Fleur's back. "You are too tense and too sad. Drink my tea."