It was one week before the first task and with each passing day Hermione grew more nervous as they had yet to figure out what the task was. As they walked from Herbology towards Care of Magical Creatures she made up her mind. She looked at Ginny and Luna, smiled, and then looked off towards Hagrid's. She knew they were going to be upset...but if she was very careful, Hagrid need never know what she had done.
They were still dealing with the Skrewts, however today, they were again preparing food for them. Hagrid walked up to the table where Hermione, Luna, Ginny and Harry worked together. Hermione looked up and smiled at Hagrid, forcing herself not to swear out loud when she heard him think; "How're the' goin' to get past thos' dragons," he sighed, shook his head, and walked on to the next table.
Hermione immediately went into planning mode. Her first challenge: find a way to explain to Harry and Viktor how she knew. She sighed and thought to herself, "Well, they're already going to be pissed…" She looked over to Hagrid and sent him a subtle suggestion that he take Harry to see the dragons. She knew it had worked when, as they went to make their way back to the castle, Hagrid held Harry back.
She took Ginny's hand and kissed her temple.
"What?" Luna asked.
"What what?" Hermione asked back.
"You're feeling really guilty about something…" Luna explained.
"What did you just do?" Ginny asked her as she pulled her to a stop.
"I left myself open to anything Hagrid might want us to know...I know what the first task is…" she replied after she had looked around to see no one was listening.
"Yeah...and why exactly did Hagrid hold Harry back?" Luna asked.
"I subtly suggested he show them to Harry when they get here…" Hermione whispered as Harry caught up to them.
Ginny frowned and let Hermione's hand go, turned on her heel and walked off towards the castle.
"You knew we'd be angry and you did it anyway," Luna said sadly, shaking her head she also turned and walked off behind Ginny.
"Would you have rather we walk into an unknown task next week?" she thought to them.
"Not fair...we'll talk later…" came Luna's reply.
Hermione shook her head as tears sprung to her eyes-for the first time since she and Ginny had admitted how they felt about each other, they had shut her out.
"Hermione?" Harry said quietly as he noticed her tears, "What's wrong?"
"They're angry at me," she replied quietly as she wiped her face. "What did Hagrid want?"
"He wants me to go down to his place Saturday night at midnight," he replied quietly.
"Any idea why?" she asked him innocently.
"No...but he told me to bring you as well if I wanted...and to wear the Invisibility cloak," he paused, leaned over and whispered; "Reckon it has something to do with the first task?"
"More than likely...' she replied.
"Why are they angry with you?" he asked as they entered the Entrance Hall.
"They're worried I'm not taking the tournament seriously," she sighed. As much as she hated lying to Harry it was close to the truth.
"Well...it's not like we can prepare for something when we don't have any idea what it is," he replied reasonably.
"I know…" Hermione shook her head as they entered the Great Hall. Luna and Fleur were sitting at the Ravenclaw table and Ginny sat across from Viktor and Morgan.
Hermione sat down next to Ginny and reached for for her hand.
She leaned over and whispered into Ginny's ear, "I'm sorry."
"No...you don't get off that easy on this one," Ginny thought to her. "And you have to just let us walk away sometimes…"
Hermione looked down at the table.
"I know why you did it love, but you should have talked to us about it first," Ginny thought to her.
"I'm sorry love, really I am...I was getting desperate…" she said quietly in french.
"It didn't even occur to you that, had you talked to us about it...we might have been okay with it?" Ginny thought to her.
"I didn't want to have to do it, love…"
"But you were getting desperate?"
Hermione nodded and finally looked over to Ginny and searched her eyes.
"You need to eat, love," Ginny said quietly as she broke eye contact and started filling a plate for Hermione, thinking to her as she did so; "I'm sorry for getting angry...you need to stop keeping things from us…even if you think we'll try to talk you out of it…"
Hermione leaned over then whispered in her ear; "Sometimes it shocks me...how well you know me…" she kissed Ginny's cheek and then turned to her plate...she had spent the first almost twelve years of her life operating alone and trusting no one. Then she came to Hogwarts and eventually became friends with Harry and Ron...and then Ginny and Luna came into her life. Since then her life had changed so dramatically that sometimes she found herself staring at herself in the mirror-wondering who she was and what had happened to the eleven year old girl who had sat nervously on a stool in the Great Hall, waiting for the Sorting Hat to tell her who she'd be spending the next seven years with.
"Knut for your thoughts...' Morgan said quietly.
Hermione looked up and smiled at him.
"You okay?" he asked.
Hermione looked to Ginny and took her hand, "We okay?"
"We will be," she smiled and then kissed Hermione briefly. "We'll talk tonight," she added in thought.
"I should go talk to Luna…" Hermione said quietly and went to stand.
"No love...they get so little time alone...it can wait…" Ginny replied as she stopped Hermione from going.
"You shouldn't wait until Saturday to tell Viktor and Harry...they need the most time to prepare…" Ginny thought to her.
"We'll talk about it tonight, the four of us, figure out a way to tell them without having to tell them how we know…" Hermione thought back as she ate.
Ginny nodded and looked over to Viktor and Morgan.
"So you guys are coming to Hogsmeade, right?" she asked them.
"He got here a couple of days ago...so yes, definitely," Morgan replied for the blushing Viktor.
"I may have a way for you guys to spend more time together…" Hermione said then smiled at the look of hope of Viktor's face. "Meet us at the usual place tomorrow after dinner...I'll explain."
They both smiled and nodded.
"You too, Harry…" Ginny added to him in an undertone.
Harry didn't get a chance to respond as Ron had just walked up behind him.
"Ready for Divination?" Ron asked.
"Not usually, no, but…" Harry joked as he stood. "You guys should have taken it...it's gotten quite amusing...it's quite the performance…"
"As much fun as that sounds," Hermione replied dryly, "I'd rather use my time for something a little more useful…"
"It would be more entertaining than Muggle Studies…" Ginny joked.
…
The four girls had walked up to Rowena's Room in silence after dinner. The truth was, Luna and Ginny weren't in the least bit mad at Hermione. They had actually been sort of impressed she had waited so long to try something. What Hermione had said at lunch was true, Ginny did know her very well-but so did Luna. They hadn't tried to confirm their suspicions because they had wanted to give her the chance to tell them what she had planned. Luna had thought Hermione would talk to them whereas Ginny had known she wouldn't.
The moment they entered Fleur turned to Hermione and said: "Out with it...what are we facing?"
"Dragons," Hermione replied quietly and, although she expected the looks of shock and fear, she was surprised when Fleur began shaking her head and laughing. "What?" Hermione asked her.
"I am just starting to wonder how many times history will repeat itself…" Fleur replied as she went to sit on one of the couches, Luna joining her and cuddling up beside her.
"The Sisters fought dragons?" Ginny asked, absolutely awed as she and Hermione sat down across from them.
"They didn't fight them," Fleur smiled; "They saved them…two of them…" Fleur shook her head, "All the stories I've told you so far...what one thing do they have common?"
"They helped…"
"Just like you have...time and again…" Fleur replied. "Have you never wondered how so many different magical beings came to live at Hogwarts?"
"I know the Sisters brought the Fae here…I assumed the rest were drawn to the magic of the place." Hermione said slowly.
"No they were brought here by them…the Centaurs, the giant squid, the Merpeople…"
"Merpeople?"
"They live in the Black Lake...the Sisters brought them all here for their safety...and so that they could protect the magic that is natural in this place," she smiled. "the Centaurs you met this summer?"
The three younger girls nodded.
"That is the real reason Xenon lowered his bow...what happened that night? They know the story of how of how three human girls once helped one of their kind...from what you told me? The things you said to him? Were almost word for word…" Fleur shook her head. "Every day that I get to know the three of you...I'm amazed at how similar you are to them...and yet, you're so far ahead of where they were…"
"Because we met earlier?" Ginny asked as she took Hermione's hand.
"We actually have a new theory," Hermione replied as she looked at Fleur. "We think we're stronger because we got together before you and Luna bonded more physically…" Hermione paused and looked over to Fleur and Luna, "And that's why I think Fleur should be your first…"
"What about keeping the same order?" Luna asked surprised.
"I agree with Hermione," Fleur told her quietly.
"Really?" Luna asked surprised, then added; "But why?"
"It used to be Luna, that you were sharing mine and Ginny's energy...we were siphoning off all our extra into you," Hermione smiled; "But ever since Fleur joined us? You've been giving us as much energy as you've been taking...you're both getting stronger...we're all getting stronger because we're with our soulmates…"
"How it happened the first time? It happened that way because of circumstances…" Fleur added.
"But this time we can control it...make ourselves even stronger…" Hermione continued.
"No...it's more than that...I wasn't drawn here just because of Luna...I was drawn here by the love the three of you share for each other...we are like our ancestors and may even repeat some things...but we are not them and we can do better than they did…"
"Because we have to…" Hermione added softly.
"What more are you not telling us Fleur?" Ginny asked quietly.
"There are many journals...I don't remember all of them...but I admit, since history seems to be repeating itself...I'm not sure if I should influence your decisions…"
"This is all well and good but...I still think we shouldn't go to the Yule Ball together…" Luna said quietly.
"Because you're worried what people are going to say?" Hermione asked and when Luna nodded slowly she turned to Fleur and asked; "Did you hear back from him?" Fleur nodded. "Then maybe you should go ahead?"
Fleur smiled, reached for her bag and then took out two rolled parchments and a small box which she hid in her pocket. She handed Luna one of the parchments and asked her to read it.
Luna looked up when she reached the end of letter, looked up and searched Fleur's eyes.
Fleur handed her the second parchment, which was addressed to her in her father's writing.
Luna opened it with slightly shaking fingers and read it quickly-when she looked up again she saw that Fleur had dropped to one knee and held out a small box to her.
"Luna...will you marry me?" Fleur asked quietly.
"Of course, love...but I don't see how this helps…" Luna replied quietly.
"These are special Veela engagement rings," Fleur smiled. "In the last couple hundred years more and more Veela have been finding their true mates among humans...Veela age slower than humans, sometimes when they find their true mate they are much younger...in order to help human parents understand and accept their eventual union they created these rings...it is my promise to you and your family that I will wait until your reach the age of consent to consummate our relationship and then wait until you're of legal age to marry. They will combine with our promise rings and together they will help us even more."
"So what's the age of consent?" Luna asked.
"In Britain, for witches and wizards...fifteen," responded Hermione.
Fleur, who was still on one knee waiting to place the ring on Luna's finger, cleared her throat and took her hand again, "Will you marry me?"
"Yes, love...of course…" Luna replied smiling. "But I still don't understand how this helps…"
"Did you not read your father's letter?" Fleur asked quietly as she slipped the ring on Luna's finger and they watched it meld with her Promise Ring.
Luna handed Fleur her father's letter and she read it quickly.
"He forgot to mention-as soon as I let him know you've accepted, he and my parents will placing an announcement in the Daily Prophet…" Fleur remarked smiling as she went to sit next to Luna again.
"So no more hiding?" Luna asked quietly as she reached for the second engagement ring. Fleur shook her head as she watched Luna kneel in front of her. "Do we still have to wait until I'm seventeen to make love?"
Fleur smiled and shook her head.
"The new rings have changed the date the charm breaks...my nineteenth birthday…" Fleur replied.
"So the same day they…?" Luna asked as she looked to Ginny and Hermione in surprise.
"Exactly my love...it's going to be a very good day…" Fleur replied blushing and smiling.
"Fleur?" Luna said softly; "A few weeks ago I didn't know you existed, I didn't think I could feel so much for one person...I love you Fleur Delacour...will you marry me?"
"Yes, my beautiful girl, yes…" Fleur replied.
Luna slipped the ring on her finger and then Fleur pulled her up for a long and deep kiss.
"So...where's my ring?" Ginny joked.
"I will ask you to marry some day, my love...but I want to do it when the time is right…" Hermione replied as she kissed her.
"And not because you don't want to have to defend your relationship to ignorant outsiders?" Luna asked, a little defensively.
Fleur got Luna's attention.
"It's not their fault they don't have the same obstacles we do...I would have asked you to marry me sooner or later...but love? I will always do what I can to make your life better…" Fleur smiled and kissed her again. "We will still have to appear somewhat innocent in public but at least now we can hold hands and I can kiss you…" and she did before she finished; "in public...not even Rita Skeeter can touch us now…"
"So Fleur...how did the Sisters deal with the dragons last time?" Hermione asked.
Fleur held out her hand to Hermione; "Take a look," she said.
Hermione looked at the memory of Fleur reading the passages involving the dragons and started laughing.
"What?" asked Ginny.
"I've used a version of one of the spells this summer...I found it in a really old spell book…"
"You found it!?" Fleur asked shocked.
"Found what?" Hermione asked.
"The Sisters' Spellbook…" Fleur said awed, "Did you bring it with you?"
"It's in our quarters," Hermione replied, nodding as she stood.
Ginny went to hug Luna.
"Congratulations Luna…" she said. "I know the timing is weird...but it's for the best…"
"No, I'm happy about it…" Luna replied as she looked at her new ring.
"It's just weird to be engaged before you even turn fourteen?" Ginny teased as they left Rowena's room.
"A few weeks ago I thought I was destined to be with someone else…" she smiled as she watched Fleur walking ahead of them, "But now?" she shook her head, smiling; "I can't imagine my life without her…"
They walked Fleur to the Beauxbatons carriage and then all but ran to their respective dorms so the could meet up back in their quarters and look at this spellbook.
Fleur and Luna arrived first, Fleur taking Luna in her arms immediately and kissing her again.
"Why does this feel different now?" Luna asked quietly.
"The Promise Rings were helping…" Fleur replied with a smile as she stroked Luna's cheek; "But I'm pretty sure we would have eventually broken the charm...and we would not have been able to resist each other...our engagement rings are especially for Veela...they work better," she said as she showed Luna her engagement ring.
"Are you saying that our combined desire could have broken the charm on the Promise Rings?"
"Pure Veela...they are beings of desire…" Fleur smiled and blushed deeply before she continued; "Why do you think I leave so early every morning?"
Luna shook her head.
"Because, every night that we've spent together I've woken several hours before you...to have you so close and not be able to show you how I feel...I lay there and imagine all things I want to do to you someday and then I have to go so I can…" Fleur trailed off, too embarrassed to admit that she had had to pleasure herself every morning since they began sharing a bed. Fleur leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "I'm really looking forward to your birthday...'
"Me too," Luna sighed as Fleur kissed her neck; "And for the record...that's the same reason I take a shower every morning…"
"I know, love...that you are far older than you look...I asked you to marry me, not because I have a problem with your age, but because I'm already tired of hiding how I feel for you…" she kissed Luna's forehead. "And in case you're wondering...I've already spoken to my parents-they are making arrangements for me to move to London after I graduate this spring...and if London isn't close enough I will find a place in Hogsmeade."
Hermione and Ginny had just arrived and come to join their hug.
"And you are all invited to my home in France for the start of the summer," Fleur smiled. "I need help packing…" Fleur looked to Hermione; "So let's see that Spellbook…"
Hermione went to her trunk and took out the spellbook she had borrowed from Minerva's library.
"Huh," she said quietly as she walked over to them, "I never noticed that before…"
"What?" asked Ginny.
"Four handprints…" she replied as she laid it on the table.
The four girls stood around the book.
"They wouldn't have been there before…" Fleur remarked and then explained at their questioning looks; "The Sisters knew this was going happen...that someday we would be reunited...I think, if Minerva had looked for this book before you went to the cottage she would not have found it for it was hidden and waiting for you to find it…"
"Wait...are you saying the Sisters…"
"Minerva's cottage...it's in a valley that leads to ocean, right?" Fleur asked and when the girls had nodded she explained further; "That valley was their sanctuary...they would travel for years but always return to that valley...they made this spellbook and hid it in case the journals ever went missing...they wanted to help their future selves to succeed where they had failed."
"So...shall we find out what happens when we place our hands on the handprints?" Ginny asked as she reached forward and did just that.
"And now you Luna, then Hermione and then me last," Fleur advised.
When Fleur placed her hand onto the last handprint they gasped as the book began to glow and then grow to three times it's size. As they took their hands from the cover the book opened by itself to reveal a letter written by Elise;
"Dearest Sisters...if you are reading this then we have succeeded. Fania and Fabiana are already gone and I will soon be joining them. Only Fleur remains to protect our legacy. This is more than a book of spells, it is a guide book...as you grow older and more powerful more spells will appear unless you need them before then. Fania...I am yours forever and I look forward to the day when we are reunited. With all my love always, Elise."
"We're not flying blind anymore…" Hermione said, awed as she began flipping through the pages to find the spells she and Fleur would need to face the dragons.
Ginny was looking at the first spell when Hermione started to laugh.
"I thought I had invented that…" she said as she pointed to a second spell.
"What does it do?" asked Luna.
"It's like the impervious charm for water only this one works against fire...damn…" Hermione said, laughing again, "I was so close…"
"Do you both think you can pull off these charms?" Luna asked as they turned to the second dragon subduing charm.
"Well...since Hermione has already done a version of the first and Fabiana performed the second one...yes," Fleur replied as she placed a kiss on Luna's temple; "Though I may need you to send me some calm so I can channel it into my charm…"
"This book...it's incredible…" Hermione said as she flipped through the pages and then laughed again; "Our map...I knew how to add our abilities because we'd done it before…"
"So how are you going to explain to Harry and Viktor how you know about the dragons?" Ginny asked as she went to sit on the couch, Hermione closing the book and going to join her.
"I'm not overly worried about Harry-he's gotten into the habit of understanding that I can't tell him everything," Hermione smiled. "I'm just hoping Viktor will be able to accept the same explanation…"
A/N: I've been trying to keep up to my one chapter a day but life keeps getting in the way...also, some things have happened in this story that weren't planned and so now I have to a bunch of new plans to come up with...enjoy!
