I know it has been a while since I last posted but I'm definitely still writing.
The word whether should be spelled correctly from now on and you'll be spared further doctor Phil jokes as it was correctly pointed out to me that in England dentists aren't doctors. A bit of a weird concept to me but there you go.
A warning for this chapter might be in order. This chapter deals with some of Fleur's past experiences with Ruven as well as Hermione's at the hand of Bellatrix Lestrange.
Disclaimer: I own nothing Harry Potter related and I'm most certainly not making money out of this.
A big thanks to Sillimaure for betaing this story and thank you for all your reviews.
Chapter 11
Hermione stared at the letter in her hand with mixed feelings. Even though it had been a long time since she'd last seen it she had immediately recognised Ginny Weasley's handwriting. Though she harboured no ill will towards the youngest Weasley she was of two minds reading it. Ginny was a little prone to drama and Hermione had enough of that going on in her own life.
Letting out a sigh she started to unfold the parchment. She knew she would read the letter sooner rather than later if only because her curiosity would get the better of her. So she might as well read it now. The contents surprised her.
Dear Hermione,
I do not doubt you must be surprised at receiving this letter. If you were expecting anything from me it would probably have been a howler and you'll never know how close you were to receiving one. However something happened which opened my eyes.
I know very well that after the war a lot of people thought I only fell in love with the Boy-Who-Lived, or the Man-Who-Conquered. It did not matter to me though. I knew better and I was finally together with the guy I'd loved for such a long time. I had the pleasure of seeing Harry for who he was. To see him lose his cares in a game of Quidditch and enjoying a walk in the woods behind the Burrow with him made me happier then I'd ever imagined I could be. I loved him and quite frankly I still do.
I do not think you can imagine how I felt when Harry and Fleur bonded the Veela way. Merlin be damned but it hurt! My world fell apart and I did not know how to cope. Instead of dealing or acknowledging my feelings I focused on my anger which in turn I focused on Fleur. She took Harry away from me. I've held on to this anger for a long time and until recently I was unable to look beyond it.
I don't think you know but recently I've joined the healer trainee programme at St. Mungo's. I joined for all the wrong reasons—a part of me was bored while another part of me felt like becoming a healer was a prestigious position to obtain. Ginny Weasley would show the world what she was capable of. Things went slightly different. As a mandatory part of the initial training programme, we must volunteer one afternoon a week at the hospital. Somehow I wound up at the terminally ill ward. Not even the most impressive magic or potions can help the patients there.
There was a seventeen-year-old girl there—seventeen! One time her mother was asleep in the chair beside her bed and even though Rowy, that's her name, did not want to wake her she did not want to be alone. So she asked me to stay in such a way that I could not refuse. She immediately started to talk about all the things she still wanted to do but would never have the chance. It wasn't long before she caught me completely off guard and asked me why I seemed so angry. She said she'd noticed it on every visit I had made to the ward so far. She told me that even though I probably had a long life ahead of me but if I spent all that time being angry I would never get to enjoy it. I'd be dead inside before I realised it. It was as though I was doused by ice cold water.
Yes, I hurt and being angry has helped me get through a very rough spot but I've been a fool to let it run my life as I've done. In doing so I've closed myself of to all the good things in life and I have to change before it's too late. I haven't got all the answers yet, of course, but I now know I have to let go of Harry. I know I do not have to ask you to take care of him. You always have and I know you'll continue to do so now you've entered the bond with both him and Fleur.
You're probably still wondering why I've written all this to you. I've tried writing Harry a billion times by now. I've tried to tell him that I will always love him but that he need not worry about me any further because I'm letting him go. I've tried but I can't manage it. I freeze up. But I need the closure that knowing Harry is aware of this will bring me.
So please tell him from me Hermione and also tell him that I hope the three of you will be happy together.
With all my thanks.
Sincerely,
Ginny
Hermione leaned back in her chair considering Ginny's words. She knew both Harry and Fleur would have opposing opinions to the letter. Fleur would probably scoff at the words telling her it was yet another trick on Ginny's part, while Harry would feel relieved about the fact that his former girlfriend had finally moved on. Hermione herself was uncertain what to think. With Ginny you just never knew. Or was she selling the girl short? The letter certainly seemed sincere. Maybe she should give the girl the benefit of the doubt.
Two hands on her shoulders caused Hermione to jump up, startled.
"Harry!" she exclaimed turning around. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
Harry's left eyebrow climbed up in question, yet his eyes clearly showed his amusement. "You must have been miles away if you did not sense my approach. Where were you?"
"Ginny," was her one word answer before simply handing Harry the letter.
Harry frowned a little but simply started to read, while Hermione patiently waited for him to finish. Even through the bond she could not really tell what he felt, but she was still willing to bet good money on the fact that her earlier estimate would be correct.
"What do you think?" she asked when he put the letter down.
"I'm glad she's finally moving on. I know Fleur did not think much of her, but she's been a big part of my life. I want her to be happy."
"I think Ginny's feelings about Fleur were reciprocated. It makes me wonder whether Ginny on some level actually felt that Fleur would be a threat to her." Hermione said this in jest and Harry nodded wryly.
"It would not surprise me. I wonder why she never saw you as such then." Without thinking about it Harry pulled his best friend to him and she snuggled happily into his embrace.
"Actually I've been wondering about that a lot lately," he continued. "Ginny was good for me, but in hindsight I doubt we would have lasted. We wanted very different things out of life. You and I, on the other hand, have always been on the same page. It seems rather obvious now that we are good together. So why did it take a bloody Veela bond to show me that?"
Hermione shrugged in his arms. "It is remarkable how one can condition oneself not to think of certain things. You and I were comfortable with each other. It grew over the years. I never stopped to think about the whys or the hows—you were my best friend and I treasured that... beyond that... all I can think of is that age old explanation. We were teenagers, one rarely sees things clearly then."
Harry was not quite satisfied with that explanation but for now he went with it. "At least our eyes are open now and I get to do this." Pulling his girl even closer to him and meeting no resistance whatsoever, as he turned around to give her a good old fashioned snog. Unfortunately, their lips did not quite get to meet. At that exact moment both felt a burst of anger emanating from their third and without a word being said both rushed to her.
Through their bond they easily found Fleur. To their mutual surprise they found her angrily facing her parents in the family's favourite sitting room. Not even Harry had ever seen his wife angry at her parents. Without conscious thought both newcomers positioned themselves at Fleur's side, Harry on her left and Hermione on her right, where she grabbed Fleur's hand before demanding, "What is going on?"
It did not escape her notice that both elder Delacours looked quite taken aback. Whether this was because of Hermione's or their daughter's behaviour she could not tell.
"It seems Ruven complained to his father about my 'assault' on him last week during the festival. Mr. Vervier then called my dad to demand an apology from me. Ugh! Can you believe that? That... that..." It was testament to her anger that the normally eloquent Fleur could not come up with a fitting description for Ruven Vervier.
It did not escape her parents how outraged both Harry and Hermione immediately looked after hearing this. It was easy for them to draw the conclusion that Ruven had been the culprit of whatever happened.
"Sit down you three," Alain ordered them, determined to get to the bottom of this. "Tell us what happened Fleur."
After they complied and sat down, it did not take long for Fleur to explain what had happened. By the time she finished her explanation both her parents were visibly upset, while their daughter had calmed a bit.
"It seems Mr. Vervier has some explaining to do." Alain uttered angrily. "If Stefan is expecting an apology I think he's in for a rude surprise. Knowing his son I suspected something off, but this takes the cake. What the hell was he thinking?"
"I don't think he's capable of that—at least not of thinking like a normal person," was Fleur's reply. She hesitated briefly before she continued. "Mum, dad, I know you and the Verviers meet regularly but if he's living at his parent's again, keep an eye out for Gabrielle, especially if he joins them at one of your barbeques."
Apolline easily noticed how carefully, even reluctant, Fleur said this, and it worried her. It didn't help her when Harry put his arm around her daughter and Fleur herself grabbed her other partner's hand. It worried her quite a bit. "Fleur what exactly aren't you telling us?"
Something seemed to click in her mother and Fleur instinctively knew what she was going to ask next. At that moment she was rather grateful for the support which both her mates gave her, not so much because of what had happened but because of how her parents were going to react. Regardless of the fact that she'd effectively handled the Vervier git, her parents would not take it well.
"Fleur." Her mother's tone of voice urged her to answer.
Fleur sighed and gave in. "Do you remember the summer before my sixth year when Ruven was leaving for college in the states and his parents threw him that big farewell party?"
Her mother's terse nod was her only reply.
I was not feeling very well that day and I was kind of lingering in front of the bathroom for a few minutes. You know, to get a bit of a breather, before having to join the crowd again. It was my bad luck Ruven showed up at that exact moment. I think he was pretty drunk. He started to tell me how beautiful he thought I was and how he admired me. Nonsense like that. and didn't I want to give him a… farewell… present… since he was leaving. By that time he was kind of fondling me, though through my clothes."
Fleur noticed how Alain turned red with fury while her mother looked considerably pale. Though her attention was focused more on her parents she felt similar emotions from her bond mates through their bond, both of whom were already aware of the situation. Hurriedly she continued.
"Don't worry, at that point I wasn't even thinking. I just responded. I always was rather proficient at wandless magic as you might recall." She tried to pull it off as a joke but clearly no one was amused. "I kinda cursed him really good. I doubt he could pee or wank pain free -and I'm not talking a little or small ache here- for quite a few months... bastard was drunk enough he probably figured I kneed him really effectively."
Silence reigned a few moments after she finished talking. It was Apolline who broke it. "Fleur, honey, why did you not tell us this? We're your parents."
Fleur shrugged uncomfortably. She did not like seeing her mother like this. "Like I said, I'd dealt with him. But now he's back and Gabby coming home for the summer…"
She did not know what else she could say.
Her mother seemed to have the same affliction. "Still..." Then another thing seemed to occur to Mrs. Delacour who looked her daughter directly in the eye, sadness clearly evident. "That was when you started to loose your faith in the Goddess too..."
Fleur blinked. What did that have to do with anything? "I think that was already well in progress mum. Heck I was in the middle of my teens, boys were fighting over me, girls were jealous of me—it felt like nobody saw the person that was Fleur anymore. It didn't help either that I saw many of my cousins who'd had similar problems find their mates. They had at least one person they knew was a perfect match for them. However since I'm only a quarter Veela I thought that wasn't in the cards for me. I think I've blamed a lot of my unhappiness back then on my Veela heritage."
Her father nodded, if only to himself, as so many things suddenly became clearer to him. "You changed in that period Fleur. My happy open girl became rather closed and aloof."
His little girl concurred. "I know that. I think, in hindsight, one reason why I entered the Tri Wizard tournament was to prove to everyone there was more to me than my looks or my heritage."
Apolline nodded in understanding. Another change in her daughter in that timeframe had been that Fleur had developed a drive for perfection, as though she had to prove to everyone she was the best. It hurt her to think that their girl -her daughter- had gone through all that she had and her mother had only had the vaguest of inclinations. Of course she'd been away at Beauxbatons nearly ten months out of the year and Fleur had become rather reclusive in her later teenage years but she have suspected... should have done... something.
"Harry, Hermione, I know you are Fleur's mates and I know you don't want to leave her side right now but could you please? I'd like to talk to my daughter."
Instead of complying with the older witch's request both Brits looked at the blonde sitting between them. Fleur laughed softly at the reluctance she saw in both of them. "Go on guys—this is probably long overdue anyway.
"Well, ok, if you're sure…" Hermione still hesitated and did not stand before giving Fleur a hug. Harry did the same before adding. "We'll be right back if we feel you need us."
A warm smile graced Fleur's face. "I know."
Alain stood as well. "I'd better go have a chat with Stefan. He'll be crushed when he learns what his son tried to do."
Without thinking about it Hermione and Harry had wandered to the lake, unconsciously in need of the peace and tranquillity it offered. They found a peaceful spot and sat down together under the gentle sun.
"Ugh, I could seriously curse that bastard," Hermione grumbled. "I wish I'd done more than elbow that bastard."
"Join the club," was Harry's reply. "I was ready to fly to the States and castrate him when she told me about him last year. In fact I was having a pity party at the time. Going on how I was treated at the Dursleys and how she could not possibly understand how it felt with always having been perfect. Made me feel like a real git when she told me her own problems. Especially since she's done everything she could to help me with mine. She never once even hinted at her own experiences."
Hermione nodded in understanding but was caught by surprise when Harry continued with a gentle expression on his face. "She's like you in that regard. And in others to, for that matter."
"How do you figure that?" the British witch asked, curiosity piqued.
"Well, you've always put Harry first and I can't recall you ever mentioned anything about your family life, or your life before Hogwarts. At least not much beyond the fact that your parents were both dentists."
Hermione knew Harry was right in what he said, but could not help but point out, "Harry, with all you went through at Hogwarts and then the war, of course I tried to help you as much as I could."
"Now you're doing it again," Harry chided gently. "We've been through this before. You went through nearly everything I did during those years. Don't downplay your own feelings and experiences. Its no use anyhow, you know. What you feel I tend to feel too, something which will only grow in time. You do realise that, right?"
"Of course," she confirmed, inexplicably touched by his words. Harry really had come a long way from the eleven year old she'd met on the Express so many years ago.
"So you'll let me help you when you need it and you won't try to marginalise your own emotions?"
It occurred to Hermione that Harry was going somewhere very specific with his reasoning, though she was clueless as to where he was leading the conversation. Wryly she answered, "I've got a feeling no won't be an option."
A smirk briefly grazed Harry's face. "You've got that right."
He quickly turned serious again. "Last night might be a good place to start."
Her confusion must have shown on her face for Harry immediately clarified. "Your nightmare woke me up too, love. I experienced your fears and hurt trough our bond."
"Oh." Hermione wanted very much to point out that with Fleur's revelations this probably was not the time to go into her feelings but after Harry's earlier words she knew that would not wash.
"Talk to me, Mione."
Hermione's thoughts went back to her nightmare. Bellatrix with a knife, scarring her throat. The pain of cruciatus after cruciatus thrown at her, with a barrage of the word Mudblood, Mudblood, filthy Mudblood thrown in, echoing through her dream, accompanied by Lestrange's insane cackling.
Unbidden tears started to fall down her face as Harry firmly turned her attention on the subject she tried so hard to forget.
Harry's arms wrapped themselves firmly around her as he repeated his words. "Talk to me, Hermione. It is not healthy to keep it all locked up inside. Let it out."
The tears were coming quicker now as she asked in a strangled voice, "What do you want me to say Harry? How I was wishing to die when I couldn't take the pain anymore? That the more I begged for her to stop the more joy she got out of torturing me?"
Wrapped in her memories as she was, she did not notice that Harry was fighting a losing battle to keep his tears from falling too. It hurt him to see his best friend and bond mate in such pain, and this was on top of feeling her emotions so very clearly.
"I still feel it sometimes, Harry. People say you can't remember pain but I swear I still feel it." Her sobbing increased and she clung to Harry almost painfully, but he didn't care.
"I know. That isn't your imagination Mione. Madam Pomfrey told me after the third task, it was a lasting side effect of being exposed to that particular unforgivable. It happened to me too. It will lessen though, I promise."
The green eyed wizard wondered if Hermione had ever been seen by a professional healer after the war. He doubted it, but now was not the time to bring this up. He would soon though—regretfully Hermione was stuck with the side effects of the cruciatus curse but there were ways to limit its intensity.
Neither said much beyond this point and neither were surprised when shortly after a third pair of arms wrapped themselves around them, hugging tightly.
A/n. I'm a bit ambivalent about Ginny. Not sure if this was the last I've used her character and then whether her letter was sincere or not. Will have to see about that.
Next chapter Ron and co visit.
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