Chapter Two: Seasons
"Happy Anniversary!" shouted the chorus of voices as candles were blown out and the sounds of champagne corks flying could be heard shortly after.
"Thank you all for being here on this special day, family and friends." Said Bill with a glass in his hands towards the small group gathered by the tables outside of the burrow.
"Yes, thank you." Said Fleur with a warm smile that was welcomed by some and refused by others.
Shortly after the announcements and immediate celebrations various people had to leave and soon it was only Molly, Arthur, and Fred present.
"Amazing how fast time fly by once you hit 20 isn't it?" said Arthur Weasley with a small smile and a beer in hand.
"It's been quite a year." Said Bill with a grin as he began sharing various stories with his family while Fleur sat off to the side observing the various people around her. The war had its toll on everybody and even her even though she couldn't imagine the pain that these people went through.
Molly put on a brave face around her family and friends but sometimes when Fleur would visit she could still see the tear stains and tired eyes. It must be hard losing a child forever and have two more leave to some unknown place. She was such a brave woman willing to do anything to protect the ones she loved as seen by her now legendary duel with Bellatrix Lestrange.
Arthur was similar to Molly but Fleur could tell he wasn't the type of person to cry often. Instead he seemed to cope with his loss by throwing himself into work as he helped with efforts to restore the damage wrought from Voldemort's reign of terror. He's helped various families and rounded up several death eaters, he never seemed to refuse anything asked of him these days.
Fred seemed to have taken the loss of his twin brother the hardest as he had resorted to wearing all black yet tried to retain his joy and sense of humor. Sometimes it would border on the edge of insanity but he wouldn't harm anyone, just himself. Fleur remembered walking in on him one time kneeled over performing cutting curses on himself and healing it while mumbling about how it should have been him. At first Fred was mortified about being caught but Fleur reassured him that it would stay between them as long as he went to seek help. She had recommended for him to visit a muggle psychiatrist and it seemed to help. Fleur noticed he was wearing a white shirt inside his black jacket. They caught each others eye and Fred gave her a thankful smile, which she returned.
"Fleur dear, don't you remember that one night at Megara and Ryan's party?" came the distant voice of Bill returning Fleur to reality.
"Oh yes, she was livid when Ryan spilt that drink on the new carpet." Said Fleur putting on a small smile while Bill went back to his story.
She looked over at Bill as he turned his face to the side and the scar from where Fenrir had slashed him could be seen. She smiled to herself sadly as she recalled the night where she defended Bill and herself from the Weasley clan. She knew about the phlegm jokes and how everyone thought she was snotty and pompous. They were right but none of them saw her attempts at changing. That was part of the reason she came to Britain in the first place. She didn't need to work a day in her life. She didn't need to fight in a war she had no part in. She left everything that was easy and comfortable in hopes of bettering herself. The tournament helped her mature and humble her a lot. She quickly found out she wasn't the best both magic wise and as a person. If she were completely honest she would trace this desire to change back to a certain Harry James Potter and his string of selfless action and sacrifice. This led to her next thought, it's been a year and still nobody has seen or heard from Harry.
"Has anyone heard from Harry?' said Fleur without really meaning to say it aloud. Everyone at the table quickly silenced and all eyes were on her. She looked around a hint of sadness could be seen around everyone's eyes.
"No dear I'm afraid he is still missing." Said Molly sadly
"Well I wouldn't say missing, probably more like not wanting to be found." Mused Fred
"Well he could have at least wrote!" snapped Molly
"I'm sure Harry has his reasons, we're all coping in our own ways." Said Arthur sagely
"I'm sure he'll be back eventually, I've heard some rumors' of Harry being seen in Paris, Rome, and even London." Said Bill leaning in towards the group
"He'll come back. When he's ready I guess." Said Fleur with her arms folded lost in her own thoughts.
The warm summer nights quickly turned into a snowy December as the grounds of Hogwarts was once again covered in snow. Fleur Delacour would be seen working on warming droughts and healing frostbite for the various students in the hospital wing. She was almost done with her internship but found herself often questioning her choice of career in life. But those were thoughts for another day as she was soon finished up bottling the droughts when a voice echoed down the hospital wing.
"Fleur?"
She gave a small smile as she turned around to find her husband standing by the doorway. With a couple quick strides she was right in front of him and embraced in his arms.
"I've missed you." Whispered Fleur
"I missed you too, but I think what I'm about to say is going to miss you more." Said Bill nervously
"Why? What happened?" said Fleur separating herself from Bill and looking him in the eyes.
"Well, Megara and I, we found this text that may contain the cure to lycanthropy in a tomb off in Romania. It's a major discovery and this could change the lives of everyone!" exclaimed Bill
"That sounds great! But, what's the catch?" said Fleur
"Well, with excavation time and various wards needing to be broken it would be about a year." Said Bill looking away fearful of the ensuing wrath.
"Well can't I just come?" asked Fleur
"No, you need to stay and finish your internship, and it's located in a lycan village so only those who have it are allowed to be near the site." Said Bill
Ignoring the first statement, Fleur sighed, "Well, go then. I know this means a lot to you and thousands of others. I'll be fine."
"You're the best dear!" said Bill with a smile as he kissed her on the head and began to head out the door.
With another sigh Fleur walked back into the hospital wing dejected that she was about to spend Christmas alone.
"Well there are worse things in life." Thought Fleur with a sad smile and looked out towards the windows.
"I miss Paris."
"Harry wake up! You're about to be late for class." Came a muffled voice that came from downstairs.
"Jus… Just a minute." Muttered a voice after an audible groan.
"Harry! Come on!" said Hermione who was now at the door fully dressed with two backpacks in her hand.
"Alright, alright." Said Harry
"Some Privacy?"
"Right." Said Hermione awkwardly "I'll just be.. Yeah."
With a slight chuckle Harry quickly got dressed in a pair of black jeans and an Oxford hoodie.
"All right Hermione, lets go!" said Harry as he ran out the door dragging Hermione in tow.
"Honestly Harry!"
Once again the grounds went from being blanketed in snow to a field of blooming flowers and fresh cut grass. Students lounged on the grass as they studied for finals and soon enough everyone was gone. The leaves began to fall as people old and new returned for a new year. Time passed and winter was soon approaching.
"I'll be right there!" a soft voice could be heard from the kitchen belonging to a certain Fleur Delacour as she quickly rushed over to open the door.
"Bill!" exclaimed Fleur happily as she jumped into her husband's arms craving his warm embrace. It wasn't there. The return was stiff and cold.
"What's wrong dear?" asked Fleur looking up at Bill who seemed to look very distant. She looked around and could see a female figure standing off to the sides by the gate. She had fiery red hair and piercing golden eyes. She wore jeans and a leather jacket that hugged her athletic yet slender build perfectly. The women gave Fleur a wink and a small wave but quickly returned to checking her phone.
Without a word Fleur drew back and slapped Bill across the face before turning away with her arms folded.
"Damn it Fleur!" grunted Bill in pain as he held his cheek. "You're like a freaking mindreader." Muttered Bill
"How long?" said Fleur softly
"Six Months." Said Bill
"I waited for you for 12." Said Fleur
"I know, I know, It's just we were never meant to be. I mean we have nothing in common and we basically just hooked up cause we were attracted by each other and we happened to both turn out to be good people. If it wasn't for the war who knows how long we would have lasted I mean everyone was just marrying and having children left and right." Said Bill as he tried to justify the situation.
The words stung and Fleur could feel tears welling up inside her eyes.
"Keep it." Said Fleur as she grabbed her wand and apparated leaving a stunned Bill and an amused Megara.
Appoline Delacour was having a relaxing evening curled up in her chair by the fireplace reading one of her many fashion books when suddenly she felt the wards go off. With a sigh she put her book off to the side and grabbed her wand heading towards the entrance. To her shock her oldest daughter was standing there seemingly frozen.
"Oh Ma Chérie." Whispered Appoline as she embraced her daughter, she could feel the drips of water on her shirt as Fleur's sobs slowly became louder and louder as she fell to the floor with her mother still holding on tightly trying to comfort her daughter from life's many cruelties.
"How could he."
Authors Note: Here's Chapter Two, it sets the story a little more than the first. Let me know what you guys think!