CHAPTER 10
Disc: Well here I say my little piece about not owning the characters except Pierre. I wish i did, but if wishes were Ferraris, beggars would drive.
"Gabrielle Delacour! Fleur's sister? But how? I mean, I am sure Fleur would have said something. I meet her every time I go to Hogwarts to visit Hermione. We are pretty good friends."
"The Cheval's don't usually air their dirty linen in front of the world, even when the world is as friendly as you, Harry. Gabrielle is an embarrassment to the Cheval name, but it is something we prefer to downplay. You see, Harry, the Cheval family is one of the oldest and most honored French families. My name has a lot to do with the position I am in now. It wins trust. If word gets out that Gabrielle is a Death Eater, there will be chaos, maybe even riots. As Minister of Magic that is not a risk I am willing to take. That's why I need your help. You can infiltrate her cover without fear because you are a foreigner and you are Harry Potter. Will you help us?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, yes I will. I have met Gabrielle, you know. I have distinct memories of her from the Triwizard Tournament. I thought her to be a lovely child. I wonder what could have made her so different. I will do it."
"Thank you, Harry. Thank you from me and from France. This is another debt that the world owes to you."
Harry left Pierre Cheval's office and wandered down to the Tuliere Gardens. Once there, he sat down and seriously thought over the situation. He remembered Gabrielle Delacour vividly. She had been a charming child with innocent ways that were extremely appealing. He had never found her to be spoilt or arrogant, though she shared with her sister an unconscious pride, which he now understood better.
"What," he wondered aloud, "Could have possibly made her a death eater?"
"Perhaps I could answer that." came silvery tones.
"Fleur, oh my god, what are you doing here?"
"Hogwarts is on vacation, you know. And I am here to spend Christmas with my family. But never mind that now. Harry we need to talk and urgently. I must know what Pierre told you."
"Everything, Fleur. He told me about Gabrielle, and he told me that I must hunt her down. I remember her very well, Fleur, both from the Triwizard Tournament and from your wedding to Oliver. What, why…" Harry trailed off.
Fleur Wood took Harry by the hand and they apparated to Montmartre where they sat down at one of the smaller cafes looking on to the Sacre Coeur Cathedral. Once seated, Fleur fastened her huge dark violet eyes on Harry's face. "I will tell you today, Harry, what I have never spoken off to a single person. Even Oliver does not know about this. As you are aware, my grandmother was a Veela. When Voldemort was in full power, he sought out Veelas and used them for his nefarious purposes. You see, the Veela charm is very akin to the Imperius Curse. Under it, most men can be persuaded to do almost anything. It needs an extraordinarily strong willpower to resist it. You are one of the few men I've met who can successfully withstand me, and I am only quarter Veela. So I leave you to imagine the power wielded by full Veelas. Because of this heinous exploitation, Veelas, like werewolves and giants were shunned, they were hunted and brutally butchered. Unable to take this persecution, they fled. No one knows where they went. To all purposes, Veelas have vanished off the face of the earth. The only remaining Veelas are the mascots of the Bulgarian team and they are kept like animals. They are caged and fed surreptitiously. No living being should undergo such atrocities.
"However, when The Circle came on the scene, he found that the simplest way to get to the minds of men was through a Veela. Gabrielle and I are among the very few people with Veela blood in the world. He discovered this and approached me. This was about four or five years ago. I had just married Oliver. I was happy in my job as Charms Professor. All in all, I was content with my life. I refused. Then he approached Gabrielle. Gabrielle was only 14 then. She was going through a difficult time in school, our father had just died and she was susceptible. He showed her all that the dark side had to offer, and she found solace in it. We were all so involved in our own lives, we never noticed until it was too late. By then she was already an integral component of the Dark Side. You see, the Veela power runs truer in her than it does in me. She was only 16. Harry, she is only 19 now. She can't be a hardened criminal." Then pleadingly, "Can she?"
Harry covered Fleur's hand with his own sympathetically. He knew how much the older girl adored her younger sister. Under the flippant exterior, Fleur was a caring and passionate person, and for many years that love had been concentrated on Gabrielle, the motherless little sister. Though Oliver and their little daughter Yvonne had much of that affection now, Gabrielle still held a very special corner in her heart.
"What can I do to help, Fleur? Tell me and I will try. I promise."
Fleur drained her coffee and looked at Harry, wondering if she dared to tell him. Then she made up her mind. "Harry, ever since you rescued Gabrielle during the Tournament, she has had a crush on you, verging on a hero-worship. I remember when I invited her down for my wedding she kept on asking me if Harry Potter would be there. If anybody can draw her away from the Dark Side, it is you. If you can't help her, nobody can. Then I know my sister is truly lost."
Harry choked on his cappuccino. "Fleur, are you asking me to seduce her? Because I don't think I could do that."
Fleur gave him a smile. "Sure you could, Mr. Most Charming Wizard."
Harry frowned. "I swear if one more person throws that in my face. Look, Fleur I may be a jet setting playboy, but this I can't do. You are asking too much from me."
"Look, I'm not asking you to seduce you her per se. All I want you to do is use your influence over her to win her to the Light Side. Also, as I believe I mentioned before, you are one of those rare men who are impervious to our Veela charms, so she can't work her wiles on you."
Harry nodded reluctantly. "All right. I'll try for your sake and because Pierre has asked me to. But I can't promise results."
Fleur looked at him. "Nobody expects you to promise results. Just promise attempts. That is usually good enough." Then she glanced at her watch. "Oh dear, I have to leave. It's Yvonne's bedtime. I'll see you around, Harry. I'll probably come for the match. You know how Oliver is about Quidditch!" She drained her coffee and got up to leave. Harry rose with her and gallantly kissed her goodbye. She returned to the kiss and went off with the smooth sliding gait that was so characteristic of her.
Harry sat down again and ordered some croissants. He was nibbling on them when suddenly he heard a piping note in his ear. He closed his eyes. It was a Phoenix song. Something he had only heard in the direst situations - in his second year when he faced the Basilisk, in his fourth year when Voldemort had been resurrected and in his seventh year during his final battle with the Dark Lord. He immediately asked, "What is it, Fawkes?"
The Phoenix replied, "Run Harry Potter. I feel danger coming. I sense it. Flee."
"I can't just run. What danger? Where is it coming from?"
"No time to tell you Harry Potter. Just go. Go now."
Harry decided not to tempt fate. He turned around and ran for dear life. As he skidded around the pavement he stopped short to see dark figures advance on him.
Whee, Cliffhanger. Enjoy it people.
Now will you guys review? I mean 9 chapters and 19 reviews. It is depressing.
Thanks to
Desiree : Don't worry it isn't going to be H/h. I am giving serious thought to the romantic situation. I just haven't gotten enough feedback yet.
R-Rok : Thanks for the review
Tess: Here is all you want to know about Gabrielle and lots about Fleur
Water Warrior: Thanks again. Keep reviewing and I'll keep mentioning
Magicalmischeifmaker: Here is more Delacour for you. And trust me, there will be loads more.
Fiona: Thanks for the boost. I need it.
Disc: Well here I say my little piece about not owning the characters except Pierre. I wish i did, but if wishes were Ferraris, beggars would drive.
"Gabrielle Delacour! Fleur's sister? But how? I mean, I am sure Fleur would have said something. I meet her every time I go to Hogwarts to visit Hermione. We are pretty good friends."
"The Cheval's don't usually air their dirty linen in front of the world, even when the world is as friendly as you, Harry. Gabrielle is an embarrassment to the Cheval name, but it is something we prefer to downplay. You see, Harry, the Cheval family is one of the oldest and most honored French families. My name has a lot to do with the position I am in now. It wins trust. If word gets out that Gabrielle is a Death Eater, there will be chaos, maybe even riots. As Minister of Magic that is not a risk I am willing to take. That's why I need your help. You can infiltrate her cover without fear because you are a foreigner and you are Harry Potter. Will you help us?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, yes I will. I have met Gabrielle, you know. I have distinct memories of her from the Triwizard Tournament. I thought her to be a lovely child. I wonder what could have made her so different. I will do it."
"Thank you, Harry. Thank you from me and from France. This is another debt that the world owes to you."
Harry left Pierre Cheval's office and wandered down to the Tuliere Gardens. Once there, he sat down and seriously thought over the situation. He remembered Gabrielle Delacour vividly. She had been a charming child with innocent ways that were extremely appealing. He had never found her to be spoilt or arrogant, though she shared with her sister an unconscious pride, which he now understood better.
"What," he wondered aloud, "Could have possibly made her a death eater?"
"Perhaps I could answer that." came silvery tones.
"Fleur, oh my god, what are you doing here?"
"Hogwarts is on vacation, you know. And I am here to spend Christmas with my family. But never mind that now. Harry we need to talk and urgently. I must know what Pierre told you."
"Everything, Fleur. He told me about Gabrielle, and he told me that I must hunt her down. I remember her very well, Fleur, both from the Triwizard Tournament and from your wedding to Oliver. What, why…" Harry trailed off.
Fleur Wood took Harry by the hand and they apparated to Montmartre where they sat down at one of the smaller cafes looking on to the Sacre Coeur Cathedral. Once seated, Fleur fastened her huge dark violet eyes on Harry's face. "I will tell you today, Harry, what I have never spoken off to a single person. Even Oliver does not know about this. As you are aware, my grandmother was a Veela. When Voldemort was in full power, he sought out Veelas and used them for his nefarious purposes. You see, the Veela charm is very akin to the Imperius Curse. Under it, most men can be persuaded to do almost anything. It needs an extraordinarily strong willpower to resist it. You are one of the few men I've met who can successfully withstand me, and I am only quarter Veela. So I leave you to imagine the power wielded by full Veelas. Because of this heinous exploitation, Veelas, like werewolves and giants were shunned, they were hunted and brutally butchered. Unable to take this persecution, they fled. No one knows where they went. To all purposes, Veelas have vanished off the face of the earth. The only remaining Veelas are the mascots of the Bulgarian team and they are kept like animals. They are caged and fed surreptitiously. No living being should undergo such atrocities.
"However, when The Circle came on the scene, he found that the simplest way to get to the minds of men was through a Veela. Gabrielle and I are among the very few people with Veela blood in the world. He discovered this and approached me. This was about four or five years ago. I had just married Oliver. I was happy in my job as Charms Professor. All in all, I was content with my life. I refused. Then he approached Gabrielle. Gabrielle was only 14 then. She was going through a difficult time in school, our father had just died and she was susceptible. He showed her all that the dark side had to offer, and she found solace in it. We were all so involved in our own lives, we never noticed until it was too late. By then she was already an integral component of the Dark Side. You see, the Veela power runs truer in her than it does in me. She was only 16. Harry, she is only 19 now. She can't be a hardened criminal." Then pleadingly, "Can she?"
Harry covered Fleur's hand with his own sympathetically. He knew how much the older girl adored her younger sister. Under the flippant exterior, Fleur was a caring and passionate person, and for many years that love had been concentrated on Gabrielle, the motherless little sister. Though Oliver and their little daughter Yvonne had much of that affection now, Gabrielle still held a very special corner in her heart.
"What can I do to help, Fleur? Tell me and I will try. I promise."
Fleur drained her coffee and looked at Harry, wondering if she dared to tell him. Then she made up her mind. "Harry, ever since you rescued Gabrielle during the Tournament, she has had a crush on you, verging on a hero-worship. I remember when I invited her down for my wedding she kept on asking me if Harry Potter would be there. If anybody can draw her away from the Dark Side, it is you. If you can't help her, nobody can. Then I know my sister is truly lost."
Harry choked on his cappuccino. "Fleur, are you asking me to seduce her? Because I don't think I could do that."
Fleur gave him a smile. "Sure you could, Mr. Most Charming Wizard."
Harry frowned. "I swear if one more person throws that in my face. Look, Fleur I may be a jet setting playboy, but this I can't do. You are asking too much from me."
"Look, I'm not asking you to seduce you her per se. All I want you to do is use your influence over her to win her to the Light Side. Also, as I believe I mentioned before, you are one of those rare men who are impervious to our Veela charms, so she can't work her wiles on you."
Harry nodded reluctantly. "All right. I'll try for your sake and because Pierre has asked me to. But I can't promise results."
Fleur looked at him. "Nobody expects you to promise results. Just promise attempts. That is usually good enough." Then she glanced at her watch. "Oh dear, I have to leave. It's Yvonne's bedtime. I'll see you around, Harry. I'll probably come for the match. You know how Oliver is about Quidditch!" She drained her coffee and got up to leave. Harry rose with her and gallantly kissed her goodbye. She returned to the kiss and went off with the smooth sliding gait that was so characteristic of her.
Harry sat down again and ordered some croissants. He was nibbling on them when suddenly he heard a piping note in his ear. He closed his eyes. It was a Phoenix song. Something he had only heard in the direst situations - in his second year when he faced the Basilisk, in his fourth year when Voldemort had been resurrected and in his seventh year during his final battle with the Dark Lord. He immediately asked, "What is it, Fawkes?"
The Phoenix replied, "Run Harry Potter. I feel danger coming. I sense it. Flee."
"I can't just run. What danger? Where is it coming from?"
"No time to tell you Harry Potter. Just go. Go now."
Harry decided not to tempt fate. He turned around and ran for dear life. As he skidded around the pavement he stopped short to see dark figures advance on him.
Whee, Cliffhanger. Enjoy it people.
Now will you guys review? I mean 9 chapters and 19 reviews. It is depressing.
Thanks to
Desiree : Don't worry it isn't going to be H/h. I am giving serious thought to the romantic situation. I just haven't gotten enough feedback yet.
R-Rok : Thanks for the review
Tess: Here is all you want to know about Gabrielle and lots about Fleur
Water Warrior: Thanks again. Keep reviewing and I'll keep mentioning
Magicalmischeifmaker: Here is more Delacour for you. And trust me, there will be loads more.
Fiona: Thanks for the boost. I need it.
