AN: I'm baaack with more insanity! :D haha I know a lot of you hate me (in a loving way lol) for the last chapter and I'm sorry I had to do that to you all D: I knew cutting our girls off would not bode will with many, but it was a necessary evil lol Now, as for this chapter, it isn't at all how I planned for it to go and I still don't know how I feel about it XD This was yet another chapter I had to cut in two. So many revelations were supposed to happen in this chapter, but that will have to wait for chapter 19. As for musical inspiration, I was listening to "Dusk Til Dawn" Conor Maynard mashup (i need to find some new artists haha) and for the second half I listened to Apocalypse from Dark Piano (so perfect for the setting) and Nihilist from Dark Piano as well. Anyways, here's the newest installment. Hope you guys enjoy :)
lipeviez: I should have just called the last chapter "this is going to hurt like a bitch" haha I know everyone was expecting the lack of response to be because of Apolline, but I thought Hermione needs to have her flaws too. It can't all be on Fleur, because it definitely took two to screw up the relationship this epically lol
JenDamn: Fleur is definitely a hot head in Cruel and in this continuation. She wants to do better, but damn, she doesn't know how to control that temper sometimes lol It's sad, because Angelique would be great for Hermione, but like you said, you can't choose who you love. They both have a lot they need to work on honestly, because neither one of them is 100% right or wrong. Hermione may need to go back to therapy with this whole unhealthy relationship stuff though haha
Pam C: Because I must make everyone suffer :3 haha You know how I love my angst and cliff hangers. I can't help myself! Maybe an intervention needs to be staged lol
kpop1392as: I totally stole the motorcycle ride from Aladdin haha I've made almost as many Aladdin references as Indiana Jones at this point XD I'm glad you're enjoying the journey! It's only going to get better from here on out :3
pappa: She does have a bit of a Harry complex in the last chapter, but can you blame her? lol she saw Fleur's head on a plate. The poor thing D: Still though, Hermione keeps way too much too close to the chest and she's going to have to open up soon if she wants a chance with Fleur.
LookingAtYouKid: Haha you're the second person to see the Harry complex Hermione has developed. I guess they're friends for a reason XD And be careful what you wish for :3 You know how evil I can be haha All I can say is Hermione will definitely be tortured. Everyone will definitely feel bad for Hermione by the end of all this. I have a lot of surprises up my sleeve which you will all finally see soon! You guys just have to wait for one or two more chapters and everything is going to start falling into place. I super swear! You guys are the real MVP's for sticking it out with this fic haha As for the Hogwarts dream . . . that would be amazing XD
Edge Maverick: Definitivamente vas a necesitar un rollo de papel de tamaño industrial para lo que he planeado jaja Sabes que tengo que seguir mejorando mi juego para que nadie intente reclamar mi trono jajaja ¡Estoy tan feliz de que hayas disfrutado el último capítulo! Fue divertido finalmente tenerlos en una escena de vapor muy necesaria, incluso si tuviera que cortarlos.
Nameless Reader: You know I love torturing you guys haha I'm more of a masochist, but I do also occasionally like torturing others XD I'm glad you understand the pain i had to inflict on you guys lol I needed them to finally open up and get a little closer, but no way would it be as easy as one conversation. Two years is a long time with a lot of resentment and miscommunication, well no communication haha It doesn't mean they're not still deeply in love with each other. They just need to work it out a bit and of course, it's going to be messy XD Thank you as always for your incredibly thoughtful reviews. I do so hope you like the new chapter :)
HachiRawr: ahahaha what else did you expect from Hermione? She has done such a fantastic job of fucking things up this entire fic and low-key, I love it XD She's a hot mess lol
Martazb: Yessss, I'm so glad you appreciated how complicated that interaction was :D It was so hard to write, because while they do know each other so well, they're still kind of unfamiliar with who the other one has become. It was difficult to portray that intimacy mixed wit the uncertainty. It's so much harder writing them in this continuation than it was in Cruel Intentions. While Cruel was messy, it really has nothing on how they are now lol Hermione definitely has sooooo much making up to do and you guys don't even know the half of it lol I seriously can't wait to finally reveal everything. Thank you so much for the review! I hope you enjoy the newest installment :)
ParaGlee: Hermione is doing what she does best in this fic . . . fucking everything up by overthinking hahaha She has revealed her true feelings once or twice in front of the worst effin people. She's basically clinging to the hope that she can somehow make up for the mistake of showing her emotions, but that may not be possible at this point. Everything will become so much clearer when I reveal things, but until then . . . Hermione stays in the dog house haha
trinitynix: Ahahahaha same! Did someone slapping else just do the trick for me? Maybe I should invest in a therapist . . . XD Yessss, it was such a tiny revelation, but I was so happy to finally be able to tie Hagrid into the motorcycle and the jacket she's always effin wearing. I couldn't leave our favorite half-giant out of the fic like I did in Cruel Intentions lol
zerodawn22: Frustrating and torturing my readers is what I do best :3 haha I was hoping to evoke an actual scream of frustration from you guys, but I'll settle for the almost scream :3
NaraTemariS2: Ahahahah yesssss! Let the hate flow through you :3 It would have been far too easy for Hermione to tell Fleur that lol Our Hermione has a bit of hero complex in this fic and is taking so much of this mission on herself instead of trusting in Fleur. I think she's just used to doing a lot of the work and overthinking way too much. Writing their interactions on the last one was so difficult for the simple fact that while they know each other, they're strangers at the same time. Two years is a long time and people change, but it isn't too long for them to change too much. I struggled for a long time with how much time would pass before they saw each other again and I figured two was the perfect number. Thank you as always for the review and I apologize for torturing you so much haha
wkgreen: Hermione is definitely overthinking things a lot lol She's holding on to the hope that she can correct her mistakes, but I think we all know it's too late. She revealed too much to some pretty horrible people. There is probably no correcting that, but try telling a know it all that lol
Guest: There were multiple guests so I can't reply to you all unfortunately, but I do appreciate every single person who took the time to leave a review, even if it was a flame haha
Chapter 18: The Shadow
'Well, that went horribly . . .' Hermione sighed to herself as she trudged up the stairs in the hotel.
The events from the night weighed heavy on her, settling on her shoulders and filling her feet with lead. She dragged her feet up each step, knowing there was yet another unpleasant conversation she would have to have tonight. She really didn't want to, but also knew it was inevitable.
'Might as well get it all over with now.' Hermione thought to herself with a grimace as she rapped her knuckles on the thick wood of the door in front of her.
A moment later, it creaked open to reveal a head of long blonde hair and bright brown eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"'Ermione?" Angelique frowned at the sight of the downtrodden brunette at her door looking down.
Hermione peered up, smiling glumly at her friend. "Mind if I come in?"
"Of course not." The veela stepped back to give the prodigy room to enter. "Come in."
Hermione quietly crossed the threshold, nervously fiddling with her hands as she looked around the room to see a half full glass of vodka on the rocks sitting on the desk. A pang of guilt ran through her when she realized the healer had been drinking on her own while she left to handle things with Fleur.
"I think we need to talk."
Angelique froze up in the small entryway, her posture stiffening as panic briefly coursed through her. She wasn't sure she was ready for this conversation and was hoping to put it off as long as she could. Now that Hermione was in her hotel room, it didn't seem like escape would be possible though.
"Oh?" She put on an uneasy smile. "About what?"
Hermione turned around to face the veela with that sad look that made Angelique want to run. The war hero hadn't said much yet and it already hurt. She knew where this was going and didn't know if she could stand to hear it.
"We don't-"
"Angelique, we have to." Hermione sighed as she took a seat on the edge of the bed, leaving enough room for the blonde to sit next to her, but Angelique decided on nursing her drink instead while she leaned against the desk.
"What ees zere to say?" Angelique muttered as she took a sip of the bitter liquid that helped calm her frazzled nerves a little.
Hermione looked up at her friend with those puppy dog eyes that made the veela want to crack. So many conflicting emotions swirled in those eyes before the brunette broke eye contact to look back down.
"I'm sorry."
The apology was quiet, but Angelique still heard it. "Zere ees nozing to be sorry about." She shrugged as she took a bigger drink this time to swallow the rock lodged in her throat. It was easier to try to brush the whole ordeal off than to deal with the gut-wrenching rejection. Her pride was still barely in-tact and she desperately wanted to keep it that way.
"That's not true." Hermione shook her head. "I didn't mean to, but I think I led you on and that's not right."
Angelique eyed the other girl for a second, scrutinizing that despondent look on her friend's face. She could see this pained Hermione too and although she was hurt, she couldn't blame Hermione for something she couldn't control. She was hurt, but it didn't mean she had to drag the brilliant witch down. Someone else had already done that.
"I led myself on." Angelique sighed as the last of her pride finally broke before she moved to sit next to the Gryffindor. "I knew better, but I just . . . 'ad to try." She grimaced as the memory of Hermione turning away from her burned itself into her mind.
"You're great, you know." Hermione tried to smile reassuringly at her friend. "Anyone would be lucky to have you."
"Anyone except you." The healer mumbled into her drink.
Hermione floundered for a response while Angelique downed the rest of the vodka in her glass, the liquor coursing through her veins and making her a little more reckless and exposed now. She shouldn't have said that and maybe it was the alcohol mixed with her insecurities speaking right now, but she couldn't help herself. They were apparently being completely open and transparent now so there was no point in hiding anything anymore.
"I guess I just don't understand." Angelique admitted softly as she looked down into her empty glass.
Hermione furrowed her brow, moving to sit closer to the healer to try to give some comfort. It was clear her friend was in conflict with herself and all she wanted to do was make things better, but she wasn't entirely sure how. "Understand what?"
"Why you still love 'er." Angelique murmured as she ran the tip of her index finger around the rim of her glass.
"I-I don't-" Hermione fumbled clumsily with her words as her cheeks lit up a bright red.
"Yes, you do." Angelique sighed as she carelessly discarded the glass onto the floor before she fell back on the bed with her legs dangling off the side as she gazed wistfully up at the dull white ceiling. "I just don't know why."
Hermione shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts of the French witch that had effectively taken them over in the short time they had started working together. The kiss they shared earlier, searing itself onto her skin, but she was supposed to be focusing on her friend right now, not Fleur.
"This isn't about Fleur."
Angelique groaned as she pulled up her hands to cover her face in exasperation. "It's always about 'er 'Ermione. Always."
Hermione frowned at the response, struggling to come up with a retort, but came up blank.
"I just . . ." Angelique sighed, but kept her face hidden while she admitted her little secret. She had boldly told Fleur her plans, but it was entirely different admitting them to the object of her affection. "I guess . . ."
'Better just rip off ze band-aid . . .'
"I 'ad eet een my 'ead zat you and I would end up togezer and eventually get married. We could lead ze clan togezer, elevate eet een ze process, and 'ave beautiful children. Zen Fleur came along and shattered zat dream. I got stuck on ze zought and eet's a 'ard one to let go."
Hermione's cheeks turned a deep crimson color at the admission. Her eyes just about bulging out of her head as the words married and children spun around her head like a merry-go-round. She didn't know Angelique's feelings ran that deep and that she had pretty much planned their future out. She didn't know what to do with that information. Sure, Angelique had joked about marriage, but she thought it was just that. A joke. At most, she thought it was just a crush or infatuation, not an actual life goal for the veela.
"Please say somezing." Angelique spoke up quietly, spreading her index and middle finger just enough to see through one eye.
"I uh . . ." Hermione licked her lips as she inwardly panicked. "I didn't know you felt that way."
"Because you can't see anyzing ozer zan Fleur." Angelique mumbled sadly, finally removing her hands from her face.
Hermione vehemently shook her head, refusing to accept the notion. "That's not true."
The healer raised a challenging eyebrow. "Isn't eet?"
"I already told you, this isn't about her." Hermione sighed as she decided to lay down next to the drunk witch and turned onto her side, propping her head up on her hand. "This is about us. I'm sorry I didn't see this and I don't want to lose your friendship."
'Friendship.'
There was that word again. Oh, how Angelique hated it, but she knew it's all she had at this point with the Gryffindor. It was obvious that Hermione had nothing left to give anyone when Fleur held her heart, even if Hermione wouldn't admit it. This was another battle with her rival she was going to have to lose, but she didn't have to completely lose Hermione in the process no matter how much it hurt.
"You won't." Angelique smiled sadly at the brunette. "Eet ees just kind of painful right now."
"I wish it wasn't." Hermione dropped her head onto the mattress with a wistful look on her face. She didn't want to hurt her friend, she didn't want to hurt anyone, yet here she was. She just needed a sign that what Angelique said was true so she hesitantly reached her hand forward and rested it between their two bodies.
Angelique noticed the small gesture and on instinct, she rolled onto her side and reached out the rest of the way to interlock their fingers with a soft smile. Even with everything going on, it felt like the natural thing to do. "Eet won't always be."
"I don't deserve you anyways."
The statement evoked a laugh from the veela that shook the mattress and plastered a grin on the war hero's face.
"Non, you do not." Angelique agreed.
"So, you were really going to use me to elevate your clan?" Hermione asked with a raised eyebrow.
The question earned the prodigy a hard shove to her shoulder that made her burst into another fit of giggles.
"You know me better zan zat, you jerk." Angelique grumbled. "Eet would 'ave just been a nice perk." She added cheekily.
"Who is the jerk now?" Hermione scoffed, moving to push her friend back, but her wrist was snatched by Angelique's free hand before it could make contact with the heiress.
The air shifted around them as a serious look overtook Angelique's countenance, her brown eyes looking down to that delicate hand in her grasp before flicking back to unsure amber. They could pretend and joke all they wanted, but having Hermione this close in her bed was still excruciating. She still wanted the war hero so badly and she was so close, but ironically, so far out of her reach.
"I could make you 'appy, you know . . ." She whispered.
Hermione looked pained by the sincerity of the statement, conflict raging in her orbs while her tongue tied itself into knots. What could she possibly say to that? She was sure Angelique could, they always got along so well and she was always there for her whenever she needed her. One fact remained though. No matter how much she wished it, the feelings just weren't there.
"But . . ." Angelique continued forlornly before Hermione could say anything else that would crush her further. A forlorn smile overtook her face as she let go of Hermione's hand and tucked a stray strand of brown hair behind the Gryffindor's ear. The lump returned to her throat with a vengeance as she choked on the words she knew she would hate saying. "Not 'as 'appy as she could."
"Angelique." Hermione frowned when Angelique stood up from the bed and turned her back to her. She went to follow her friend, but a quick shake of the healer's head let her know not to approach.
"Non. Like I said, eet's fine." Angelique let out a deep breath while she tried to steady her bleeding heart. "I just need time."
Hermione gulped before nodding her head. "Okay."
"Would you mind eef I was alone for a while?"
Hermione's shoulders slumped at the question. "No, I understand." She mumbled before walking to the door. She paused when her fingertips touched the handle, looking back one last time before she departed. "I'm here if you want to talk."
"Merci." Angelique quietly replied before Hermione slipped out of the room to head to her own.
/
When Hermione reached her room, she finally felt the full gravity of everything that had happened that night. She not only epically screwed things up with Angelique, but with Fleur as well. She didn't know what to do.
She ran a hand through her hair as she paced her room. How did everything get so messed up? None of this was supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to ever see Fleur again, it was a possibility that had been struck from her so long ago.
The second she saw her ex, she was immediately bombarded with feelings that had been carefully locked away for her own good. She could hardly help the draw she felt to the girl who took her virginity. She was her first and not just with sexual experiences. She was the first person she had ever truly fallen in love with and if she was honest with herself, she hadn't felt the same way about anyone after.
She tried so hard to find that connection with others, but it always felt hollow and empty in the end. Now, Angelique had become one of those casualties. Someone who had been there for her when she was at her lowest. She wished she could reciprocate the feelings, because she was sure the healer could in fact make her happy, but in the end, it would be just as hollow as all of her other experiences. The kiss from Fleur hours before was enough to prove it.
Fleur Delacour had effectively ruined her for anyone else and she suffered every day because of it. It was tearing apart one of her most cherished friendships now. All she could really do was give Angelique time and hope this wouldn't ruin everything they had built.
As for Fleur, that was an even more complicated puzzle she had to decipher. What she had to do was focus on the things she could fix. To start, she would have to make a call.
/
"Feel free to rough him up a bit when you grab him." Hermione growled into the receiver of her phone before slamming it onto her pillow.
The fire she felt moments before almost immediately extinguished once she was off the phone. She let out a sigh, attempting to alleviate some of the built-up tension from the stressful situation she found herself in while Midas watched her curiously. It was obvious the little critter could see how distraught and lost its newfound master was, but didn't have the capacity to understand why.
Hermione gave the niffler a gentle pat on the head to show him she was alright before she plopped down onto the bed and put her head in her hands. Tonight hadn't gone at all how she thought it would. Angelique was hurt and Fleur was livid with her. Again.
She couldn't blame the veela for her anger. She knew the blonde probably felt like she was toying with her, but she wasn't. At least, not on purpose. She was equally confused by everything and there was just so much going on. She had been holding it together as best as she could, but she was starting to fall apart at the seams.
Everything was starting to weigh heavy on her shoulders and all she wanted to do was go to Fleur's room and make everything right, but how could she? She couldn't tell Fleur anything or give her a reasonable explanation. It wasn't that easy, but oh, how she wished it was.
Her ex's safety was the top of her priority list, along with the small task of saving the entire wizarding world from certain destruction. It was a lot for one person to take. She felt like a fake, as if she was deceiving the veela. She desperately wanted to tell the heiress everything and why she had to be this way. She wanted to set the record straight and she would . . . eventually. When this was all over. That is, if Fleur was willing to talk to her. She only hoped Fleur would stick around long enough to hear her out.
A gentle nudge on her hand pulled Hermione from the furthest recesses in her mind and to the creature crawling into her lap to try to comfort her.
"Sorry." Hermione smiled sadly down at Midas she started to pet his head and petite body. "I just had a rough night little guy."
She laid back on the bed while her companion crawled onto her chest while her fingertips absentmindedly stroked his fur and she gazed at the ceiling. "It's just all a big bloody mess, isn't it?" She groaned, earning her a confused look from beady black eyes. "Want to switch places?" She grinned while Midas tilted his head cutely. "I suppose not." She shook her head. "I don't want to be me either . . ." She mumbled as she got lost in thought.
'Show her who you really are.'
Hermione's blank look turned into a scowl, glaring at the ceiling as the death eater's haunting voice invaded her thoughts for the second time that night.
'That isn't me.' She firmly retorted in her head as if Phantasm could hear her.
She knew what he had been implying, who he thought she was. What she was afraid she was. It had been a while since she felt that dark impulse almost take over. The last time she felt that was when she was standing over Veronique with her wand in her hand, but that couldn't be her. It just couldn't, because if it was then how could she possibly show that to anyone?
How could she explain to Fleur how badly she wanted to hurt Veronique when they fought? How could she tell her about her interaction with Phantasm? She so badly wanted to end the evil wizard and might have done so if she had been given more time. She felt as if she was at odds with herself, fighting this dark impulse and was unsure of where it came from. How could her ex possibly accept that?
It wasn't a conversation she wanted to ever have, especially with Fleur, but once the mission was over, she would probably have to confide in the heiress. She deserved to know everything, even if it terrified Hermione. Fleur could make up her own mind about what she thought of Hermione once all of the facts were laid out and Hermione would have to accept her decision. She wouldn't fault her for any which way she went.
'I just have to wait a little longer . . .'
With that last thought flittering through Hermione's head, she finally drifted off into a fitful sleep.
/
The librarian's eyelashes slowly fluttered open when something soft landing on her cheek woke her from her slumber. A bright light flooded the room before fading into a darker hue once her eyes adjusted to the new scenery while something that looked akin to snow floated down from the ceiling.
She furrowed her brow as she brought her hand up to her face to touch the flake that had landed on her only to find it wasn't snow on her finger. It was ashes.
She cautiously disentangled herself from the sheets of the unfamiliar bed and got up to observe her surroundings. The place was foreign, but she didn't sense danger, yet there was something ominous hanging in the air.
She found herself standing in a room with white marble floors decorated with intricate gold swirls that matched the walls. Her hand rested on one of the white pillars decorating the place while a reddish yellow hue drifted into the room with a light fog.
The ashes drifting through the air were accompanied by the smell of a sea breeze. She followed the scent to see an open balcony with long translucent white drapes flowing in the wind. Beyond the open archway she could see a vast expanse of sand dunes that lead to clear waves brushing the shore underneath the orange sky.
Her eyelids fluttered shut as she felt the warm breeze tickle her skin, inhaling deeply, but the air was so thick with fog it was hardly a comforting breath.
"'Ermione Granger . . ."
Golden eyes shot open when she heard that familiar French accent purring into her ear. The voice echoed hollowly in her head as if it was surrounding her while she looked around to find the source.
Her brow furrowed as she tried to find where Fleur was when she felt soft fingertips ghosting over the back of her shoulder blades.
She snapped her head to the side to see the woman that had been plaguing her thoughts dressed in an almost see through white dress that flowed around her body. The neckline plunged down the heiress' chest, not leaving much to the imagination, with a golden sash tied around her waist to keep the garment somewhat attached to her sinful curves.
The veela looked like the embodiment of Aphrodite herself as a mysterious smile tugged at the corner of her full pink lips, her crystal blue eyes shining mischievously behind a thick Greek golden mask that covered her nose up to her forehead. Her blonde locks flowed in the breeze as she walked around Hermione in circles, her fingertips brushing pieces of exposed skin occasionally while her bare feet soundlessly moved across the floor.
"Fleur, what is-"
"'Ermione Granger." Fleur spoke in that otherworldly voice again, ignoring the confused looks the prodigy was giving her while she circled her. "Ze brightest witch of 'er age . . ." She mumbled as she absentmindedly ran her hand down Hermione's arm. "Ze golden girl. Bringer of peace." She moved to stand in front of the war hero, her eyes zeroing in on the golden tattoo exposed on the Gryffindor's chest.
Fleur moved her hand with purpose to the brunette's chest, her fingertips slowly outlining the shape of the deathly hallows symbol with that peculiar look shining in her eyes. "Conqueror of deaz."
Hermione felt a chill in her bones at the words, shivering under the French witch's touch. A lump found its way into her throat that she attempted to dislodge with an uneasy swallow before she spoke. "Fleur." Those arctic eyes snapped up at the mention of her name, leaving Hermione to shift to her other foot uncomfortably. "Where are we? Why are you wearing-"
"A mask?" Fleur asked with that knowing smirk. "Like ze one you wear?"
"I-I . . ." Hermione stumbled over her words nervously. "I don't-"
"Of course, you do." Fleur smiled benevolently. "You know what 'ides be'ind mine, but . . ." She tilted her head to the side and moved her hand to cup the brunette's chin and ran a thumb over the war hero's sharp jawline. Her gaze zeroed in Hermione's fearful one as if she was solving a puzzle or was unlocking a hidden door. "What lies be'ind yours?"
Hermione could feel her heart pounding in her chest as those bright blue eyes peered into her while she desperately attempted to look away. The way Fleur was staring at her was unnerving. She was looking at her as if she could see right through her, as if she already knew the answers to the questions she was asking. It was beyond terrifying and all she wanted to do was escape.
Hermione licked her suddenly dry lips as she tensed up under that curious gaze. "I don't think I know what-"
Fleur tsked, shaking her head in a way that made her long hair move from shoulder to shoulder. "You are lying to me 'Ermione. I know zat much, but ze question ees. . ." Fleur trailed off as her eyes drifted lower and her thumb ran over Hermione's lower lip. "What are you 'iding?"
"I'm not hiding anything." Hermione replied stubbornly, causing a smirk to form on those velvety lips.
"Always ze difficult one." Fleur mumbled. "But you can't lie to me. I 'ave seen a glimpse of ze shadow."
Hermione knit her brow at the term. "The shadow?"
"We 'ave two selves." Fleur sighed wistfully as she went back to walking around the Gryffindor, eyeing her in a way that unsettled Hermione. "Ze one we show ze world. Ze one zat ze world needs us to be and zen zere ees . . ." Fleur stopped behind Hermione, resting her wandering hands on her shoulders. "Ze shadow. Ze part we keep to ourselves and 'ide under a mask, but eet ees who we really are."
"I don't think I follow." Hermione replied timidly, her shoulders tensing as she felt those fingertips tighten ever so slightly.
"Come on 'Ermione." Fleur leaned in so her breasts were pushed against the prodigy's back and her full lips were pressed to her ear. "Show me."
"S-show you?"
Fleur abruptly turned the librarian around so they were face to face again, but only a breath away as those arctic eyes started to glow beneath her mask. "Show me who you really are."
Hermione stuttered on her response, dread that felt like ice water filling her veins at the quiet demand. All she wanted to do was cave in even though she knew that she couldn't.
She struggled to come up with a reply, something to alleviate the tension that was building more and more the longer Fleur stared at her. She was so close, Hermione could feel the body heat radiating off of the veela in waves, almost coaxing her to tell the truth. Was this the thrall Fleur had showed her at Hogwarts?
Those glowing eyes glimmered as another mysterious smirk took over the veela's countenance when she saw those cogs furiously spinning in the prodigy's head. Hermione was close to breaking, in fact, she could tell she wanted to, but there was something holding her back. It was an interesting revelation to say the least.
They stood there for a moment before Fleur's penetrating gaze drifted to the side, out the balcony, and to the ominous sky as something else seemed to grab her attention.
"Pluto ees bright tonight . . ."
It was an odd, unexpected statement to make, but then again, everything about this interaction was off.
Hermione followed the heiress' gaze out to the balcony to see what she was talking about, temporarily relieved at the change of subject, until she took in all nine planets hovering in the distance in the foggy orange sky. The entire scenario felt apocalyptic and horrifying even though it was hauntingly beautiful in its own right.
She could just make out a small white and gold planet shining brighter than the others with a smear of red running across the surface. The sight inexplicably evoked a feeling that was worse than dread.
Hermione couldn't readily identify the emotion, but it took over her entire being all the same. The planet and the atmosphere surrounding her was stifling and foreboding. She couldn't bare to keep looking at it, so she turned back to the French witch in front of her now staring at her with bright red eyes.
"What-" Hermione jumped away, startled as Fleur's form started to shift.
Her beautiful blonde hair transformed into long black dreads, her skin darkened, and her canines elongated slightly until she took the shape of Papa Legba.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione growled when she finally regained her bearings. Irritation and rage replaced the despair that had taken place in the pit of her stomach. Was this just another dirty trick, but at the hands of the Voodoo God?
"Sorry to interrupt." The deep Haitian voice echoed off the walls as a smile took over the god's countenance.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, clenching her hands into fists at her sides. "I don't appreciate being tricked."
"I did not trick you chérie." Legba's voice reverberated. "I 'ave just arrived. I assure you."
"Yeah." Hermione mumbled as she ran shaky fingers through her hair. "Real assuring."
A chuckle rumbled from deep in the man's chest. "I must apologize for impeding on such an . . ." His blood red eyes drifted to the bed behind him then back to the frazzled Gryffindor. "Intimate dream."
A blush lit up the librarian's cheeks at the implication. "It wasn't intimate. Why are you here?"
"Eef you say so." He smiled to himself before taking a more serious tone. "I'm 'ere for business."
Hermione raised an eyebrow in response. "Business?"
"Oui." The eerie god nodded his head with that skin crawling grin. "I am afraid I left out an important detail on my terms for 'elping you."
"How convenient for you to have left something out." Hermione sneered as she crossed her arms. "I already told you, I'm not giving you my soul."
"And I already told you, eet is not your soul I am interested in." He shook his head while golden eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Eet is someone else's I want."
Hermione frowned, not liking where this might be going. "That's not my problem. I am not here to collect souls for you."
"Ah, but zat ees where you are wrong." Legba tsked as he waved a finger. "I zink you will find eet ees a common interest and a more zan fair arrangement." He grinned as he leaned his shoulder against the wall. "I did give you my 'enchman after all"
Hermione tensed as he spoke. There was the catch. There was always a catch when dealing with beings such as himself. She had never encountered one before, but she knew enough to have been more careful.
She shouldn't have asked for that man's name. She shouldn't have struck a deal with pretty much the devil in desperation and thought she would get away without giving something in return. It was foolish and now she was going to have to pay a price.
Ruby eyes turned back to the prodigy watching him apprehensively, evoking a creepy laugh to echo off the walls. "I am not asking for much."
"Just spit it out then." Hermione jutted out her chin, trying to put on a brave face. "What do you want?"
"Zere is a particular soul I am interested in." He smiled as he toyed with his cane in his right hand. "Eet ees somewhat . . . 'ow you mortals might say . . ." He mumbled as he twirled his cane around in his hand while he searched for the right word. "Personal."
Hermione crinkled her brow in confusion. "Personal?"
"Oui." He nodded his head as his canines shined under the orange hue hanging in the room. "Eet ees somezing I am owed."
'What he's owed?' Hermione thought to herself, her mind racing with all of the possibilities of what he was asking of her. She didn't understand. What did he need her for? If it was so personal, why couldn't he do something about it himself? He is an all-powerful god and she is just a witch. How could she possibly help him?
"I can't do eet myself, because I can not interfere in the affairs of mortals . . ." The god spoke as if he could hear the thoughts racing through the war hero's mind. "Too much." He added with a cheeky wink that made Hermione shudder.
"I don't understand." Hermione shook her head as she tried to make sense of everything. "What do you want from me?"
"Vhen ze time comes . . ." Legba pushed off the wall and slowly approached the war hero. "And you vill know vhen . . ." He smiled to himself, answering the question he already knew the witch was going to ask. "I vant you to kill zem."
The brunette paled, her stomach dropping when he revealed his true intentions and what he wanted of her. He wanted her to kill. Something she had done once, but never wanted to do in the first place. It was something that followed her and haunted her to this day. How could he ask her to do such a thing? Being a god, he had to know how she felt about such matters, but then again, it probably hardly mattered to him.
"W-what?" Hermione trembled as she took a step back from the dark figure. "I can't."
"Do not look so distraught chérie." He cooed as he gently gripped the Gryffindor's chin with his sharp fingernails. "You vill not feel zis way vhen ze time comes."
Hermione was too shell-shocked to yank her chin out of his grip, a far-off look appearing in her amber eyes as the word 'kill' echoed in her head. "Who?"
"Zat, I can't tell you." He smirked as he took a step back. "But you vill know vhen ze time comes. Of zat, I am certain."
Hermione furrowed her brow at his cryptic response. She desperately searched her mind for who he could be talking about. Was it Baby? Or Phantasm? He had entered the underworld and if this was personal, that would mean he did so without Legba's permission. Something that wouldn't go unanswered from a God, but even so . . . killing someone wasn't a part of her plan, even though she had been so close in their first encounter.
In her defense, he did present her with Fleur's head on a plate. If it came down to it though, she didn't think she would be able to follow through or maybe she was more afraid that she would. The instinct was there, but she didn't want to act on it. She couldn't. She would be no better than the people she was facing if she did something so horrendous.
"I don't think I can-"
"Ze deal 'as already been struck." He snapped irritably. There was clearly no room to argue anymore. "You got vhat you vant and I expect ze same. You do not vant to see vhat 'appens vhen I am denied."
Hermione floundered while Legba took a moment to recollect himself before looking out to the sky. "You know . . ." A small eerie smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Your friend vas right."
The librarian felt a new tremor pulse through her body at the god's tone while he stared at the small planet with a glimmer in his crimson eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Pluto really ees bright and beautiful tonight." He mumbled to himself before he disappeared in a cloud of smoke, leaving Hermione to gaze out at the apocalyptic scene before she was abruptly yanked out of her dream.
She took in a deep breath as she sprung up in bed, her heart pounding in her chest, and the sheets clinging to her sweaty body.
"Fuck . . ." She mumbled as she fell back down onto the mattress with a heaving chest. Dread filled every fiber of her being as she looked at the blank ceiling, replaying the dream and Legba's demands over and over again in her head.
'What have I done?'
AN: Welp, that was definitely a rough chapter to write haha I knew I had to throw in the conversation with Angelique and I couldn't bring myself to keep it brief. As for that dream . . . it got dark real quick lol The whole part with Fleur was entirely inspired by Spartacus and I have been wanting to throw it in here for a while. I personally like cryptic Fleur :3 As always, I would love to hear your guys' thoughts on the ramblings of a mad woman XD Part two to this chapter (the part I REALLY wanted to write) should hopefully be coming soon :)