Consolation Prize
...
Fleur had been distraught when she had realized that it had been Gabrielle that had been taken by the mermaids. So distraught she almost forgot to be angry at Madame Maxime for having allowed it to happen. Almost but not quite. Gabrielle was the youngest to have been abducted not to mention that she was all that much more delicate than those Hogwarts students that had been taken.
"How could you have let them, how could you?" She confronted her headmistress in rapid French after the points had been announced and the two of them were alone. Gabrielle was for the moment with nurse who was busily fussing over the cute little girl that had fallen into her care.
"It is not my fault that you adore your sister so very much, Fleur. Besides, she was never in any real danger." Madame Maxime responded, she herself not switching back to their native tongue and instead speaking in her heavily accented English. Apparently she didn't care if all of Hogwarts heard them.
"But how did they know? How did they know that Gabrielle was most important to me? Shouldn't they have taken that Hogwarts' boy… Roger-some-such?" She waved her hand alluding to the boy whose name she couldn't quite remember. "I went to the ball with him."
Now the half-giantess laughed. "Mon dear, dear, Fleur… anyone could tell you could not have cared any less for that boy. Nonetheless, it was not my choice to decide who it was you were to rescue. A spell was used to reveal who was to be used for the challenge not who you spent the most time with at the ball. Of course we were surprised…"
Madame Maxime's voice dropped, "We were surprised at the intensity with which you cared for little Gabrielle. It was by far much more intense than any of the other champion's feelings for their loved ones." Finally, Madame Maxime had reverted to their language as though only now was she taking the conversation seriously.
Fleur's face that was already pale from the earlier scare blanched. "We are sisters, blood… it should not be surprising our bond is stronger than some silly boys and their crushes."
The headmistress nodded as though accepting this answer. "Very well," Her tone however spoke differently and her eyes seemed to be watching Fleur intensely as though trying to read her thoughts. "I expect that you will be eager to rejoin your sister. Since she is here, I have given her permission to stay and watch the rest of the tournament rather than send her back to school. Go see to her then." Once again Madame Maxime had effortlessly changed one language for another and Fleur found herself dismissed.
Fleur hurried over to the healer's tent, her mind flustered at what Madame Maxime had revealed. What on earth had been the spell they used? She was greeted suddenly with a warm hug from an enthusiastic girl as soon as she entered the tent and her usually cool features softened and warmed as she hugged Gabrielle back.
"I'm sorry I was not able to rescue you." She apologized.
The younger girl shook her head. "It's alright, soeur aînée…" she giggled in her older sister's embrace. "I know you'll make it up to me."