A/N: Hello and welcome back. I have some news, Perpetual Nonsense won't continue collaborating with this project because reasons, so I will take over. Do not fret as Strike a pose will be finished. Since it's my birthday, I decided on posting one of the two chapters I have already written and the next one will be posted in a week or two. This is my third gift for my readers as I decided to update it as a birthday gift from yours truly to all of you.
I am glad for all the support that you have shown to Strike and that's why I will get to see it to the end. I really enjoy writing this crazy idea I came up with a couple of years ago and is still going. This chapter will feature some of the situations you want solved, Fleur and her veela mess plus some small surprises along the way.
courtneynr15: Haha, we tried hard that last chapter so yeah, I think the angst will be reduced on some chaps and increased in others, I am drafting it that way, thanks for reading.
ThatGayNerd: Oh yes, that mask was my own last minute addition and I remember that nonsense was not that happy about it lol but I think it fitted Bellatrix like a glove. Yeah the first encounter had to be clumsy because there's so much baggage that they have to figure out first [fleur and her veela mostly] that the 'I see you, you're my mate let's marry' was not possible at all, so yeah, clumsy Hermione intensifies on this one lol.
magu181: Jajaja sorry por la large espera pero ahora queue escribo sola espero seguir publicando capitulos a la altura de lo queue veniamos escribiendo con nonsense. Tambien se van a reducir los tiempos entre capitulos [eso espero XD]. El encuantro Fleurmione fue accidentado, como la vida misma. Definitivamente no podria ser de otra manera. Gracias por leer.
ceMR: Well, the plan was to pack more than one punch in the last chapter, let's hope you like this one, as well. A lot of things happen in this chapter but it's less packed than the last one. About Fleur's veela, well you might like what happens on this, probs.
Shadow994: I am glad you liked it! More of your addiction over here.
Willow Rosemberg: Lol don't hate Fleur, she's just being selfish but this will end soon.
Guest#1: Lol we came up with the idea of an imperfect mate system this time which means that your veela can be confused as Hermione is certainly Fleur's mate but she silenced her veela so everything is a bit confusing but rest assured, this is a Fleurmione.
Guest#2: Thank you!
andrewpine: As I explained before, this is not a traditional mate system so mistakes can be possible, ergo Gabrielle and Hermione [which will be fixed soon]
Warning: Some mentions of abuse, despite not being explicit, you have been properly warned.
Enjoy!
9.- Cohesive
"What are all of these?" Fleur asked innocently when she entered Bellatrix's sex dungeon. Of course, she knew what all the kinks were, but she had to play the part perfectly if she wanted to trick the devious photographer and expose her evil practices.
"Oh, these are little toys that would help you loosen up," the dark-haired photographer waved dismissively "but that's for later when we loosen up" Fleur tried really hard not to gag at the creepiness of the situation. The infamous dungeon looked more like a torture chamber than a place for pleasure. Bellatrix grabbed a small camera and a flash blinded Fleur for a few seconds "candid pictures are interesting, don't you think?"
"Oui, they are" the blonde blinked a few times before snatching the camera from the dark-haired photographer that smiled with mirth "let's see your best angle, mademoiselle Bellatrix"
"Call me Bella" the dark-haired woman cackled before making an exaggerated pose that almost made Fleur roll her eyes.
This woman is an idiot.
"Let's get more comfortable, shall we?" Bellatrix asked while walking to the next room. It was her photo studio. To say that the place was beyond tacky was an understatement.
The walls were covered with faded burgundy velvet with hung pictures of different women in different states of dress, mostly naked, posing in tasteless positions. The faces were distorted, but if you were in the business, it would be very easy to know whom they belonged to. It was also easy thanks to their dull eyes, that most have been drugged.
So, this is how she got Cecile.
A white screen backdrop leaned against the farthest wall. Two softbox lights along with some hanging from the high ceiling made it look like a professional photo studio. In the back, there was a darkroom, as well.
"It's quite the place you have here, mademoiselle" Fleur slapped Bellatrix's arm playfully when the latter took the camera from her hands.
"Thank you, my doors are always open for new and gorgeous talents as yourself" Bellatrix grabbed Fleur's left hand and kissed it before placing the blonde's index finger in her mouth and teased it with her tongue. At this, Fleur turned red, but in anger and disgust.
Thanks, Merlin I still have my mask on.
"So, shall we take some pictures?" Bellatrix asked smugly.
"Oui"
An uncomfortable blonde shifted in her seat at the sight of her upset mate. Since Fleur left with Bellatrix, Hermione hadn't stopped drinking. Even Tonks, that knew how much the brunette was able to handle looked worried.
"Easy there, tiger" the photographer's assistant patted Hermione's back and the latter waved to a passing waiter for a refill "what's making you this tense?"
"Did you see how lecherous she was?" Hermione drank a big gulp of her refilled drink "the-the nerve of that horrible woman."
"I don't understand why you are so upset about this; it's just a person that you just met," Tonks said with a raised eyebrow.
"Thank you, that's what I've been saying" Gabrielle added with a roll of her eyes.
Damn Fleur, always ruining things for me.
Something that caught Gabrielle's off guard was the fact that Hermione was paying too much attention to her sister. That really struck a chord in her because that had been the issue among them all the time since they were children. Gabrielle had to look for attention all the time because Fleur was the one getting it all.
Every broken vase, destroyed parchment or torn book was automatically her fault which made her a gigantic troublemaker in her family's eyes. All the rivalry started when they were children, just before Gabrielle started taking classes with Fleur's tutor.
The younger blonde was only ten and Fleur tried everything within her reach to make Gabrielle skip the classes. She hid her sister's shoes, charmed her room's door, and even cast sleeping spells so Gabrielle missed classes; it worked until Camille caught her oldest daughter throwing her sister's clothes out of the window when the latter was bathing.
Little Gabrielle never knew that Fleur was protecting her from the abuse she suffered under her tutor and that she was starting to recall. The young heiress had been with the same instructor for two years and endured so many unspeakable things that Gabrielle still didn't know. It was a family secret that only the clan's heads and their mothers knew, look for little Gabrielle her sister just wanted to mess with her.
There was also an anecdote about their childhood that Gabrielle really liked to forget. When they were in their teens Fleur stole a torch with the sacred fire of the family because she wanted to visit on her own the cave that led to the family cabins by the lake and throw a party. She knew that the sacred fire of the family was the one that wasn't going to be extinguished with water, so she took it, and Gabrielle followed her without Fleur knowing.
The heiress had never been a good swimmer, but Gabrielle was. Despite all the warnings, Fleur took off by herself and jumped into the darkness of the cave. Unbeknown to her Gabriel did the same. Seeing a shadow following her made Fleur panic and almost drowned if it weren't for Gabrielle that saved her and even rescued the sacred fire that Fleur had taken.
When their grandmothers noticed, they started searching for them until they found Fleur with blue lips and Gabrielle trying to make her breathe. Of course, Fleur blamed Gabrielle of everything, and the rivalry grew stronger.
They normally fought a lot while growing up, but nothing compared to the moment Gabrielle found her mate. After this happened, Fleur became utterly obnoxious picking fights all the time they saw each other especially right before the younger sibling left for a date with Hermione. Every single time there was an excuse, an argument, something that made them scream at each other; the situation was utterly out of control.
And now, instead of enjoying the masquerade, Gabrielle Delacour was annoyed because her mate was irritated due to her sister instead of paying attention to her. it was as if Fleur wanted to steal Hermione away from her.
After finishing her drink, Gabrielle ordered something is stronger as the wine she was having was not strong enough anymore. She was not a heavy drinker, but she knew how to handle her liquor, and something within her told her that she would be taking care of Hermione tonight instead. The veela within her was upset, as well. She really wanted to have fun today in a very sexual way, but it looked like Hermione wasn't in the mood at all.
"If you excuse me, I will need to use the restroom," Gabrielle stood and left leaving her mate with her assistant; the blonde also needed to take a breather or she would snap at her mate for directing all her attention to her sister.
"What the bloody hell, Tonks?" Hermione rubbed the back of her head that her assistant just hit.
"That's what I am asking myself, mamba" Tonks glared at her boss and snatched her drink "you are neglecting your date for worrying about someone you just barely spoke two words to."
"I-" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows in concentration. She knew that Tonks was right, but there was something about that blonde woman that made her feel a mixture of uneasiness and ludicrous magnetic attraction "I just don't know what's wrong"
Heck, even her mamba was going insane when the two of them were chatting which made the photographer even more nervous. The mischievous snake slithered all over her and grew warm the moment the blonde left with the disgusting Bellatrix Lestrange. If her mamba would talk, Hermione would be having her ear chewed off the whole night; instead, the golden snake had been restlessly squeezing and burning her here and there.
"What do you mean?" Tonks tilted her head confused before having a sip of the drink she stole from her boss.
"It's just that there's something about that blonde" Hermione snatched the drink back and finished it in two big gulps "that makes me feel funny inside"
"Funny inside?" Tonks repeated and couldn't help but snort "Are you twelve and back in Hogwarts all of a sudden?"
"I am being serious"
"I am sorry, but you just sounded like a teenager!" the assistant chuckled amused at her boss' scowl "funny inside, for Merlin; I am just too sober for this"
"I don't know what it was, but I felt something, okay?" Hermione snapped. The whole situation was making her confused and that annoyed her.
"As in feelings?" Tonks almost spit her drink when her boss nodded with pale pink cheeks "bloody hell, mamba"
"I-"
"I am sorry for the wait, but the line for the restroom was too long" Gabrielle interrupted them, and Hermione hid her blush behind her drink "you should stop drinking, mon amour"
"I think you are right" the photographer nodded and finished her last drink for the night before turning to her assistant "Could you get me a glass of water, please Tonks?"
"Sure thing" Tonks raised from her seat and fled as she sensed the mood shifting among her boss and her companion, and she didn't feel like getting trapped in the eye of the storm, again.
"I can't wait to get you out of that dress" Gabrielle whispered by Hermione's ear and the latter felt uneasy. There was something that didn't feel right about hearing those words coming from the blonde's mouth. It was as if she was not the same as the Ravenclaw photographed that time in Norway.
Maybe she's not the fairy.
"Oh no, mum always told me to never sleep around when I am drunk" Hermione slurred between giggles while trying to stand to trip and almost fall on the table if it weren't for Gabrielle's quick reaction that stood and held her by the arm.
"But you will be only sleeping with me" the blonde insisted pushed by the veela within her that felt the need to claim Hermione again.
"You want to abuse of a drunk, shame on you" the photographer slurred louder this time which made several people turn to observe the scene. Seeing the golden mamba attending one of these events was pretty rare, but a drunk photographer was quite a surprise as she had a reputation of being professional all the time.
"Okay you two, how about you take this to somewhere more private?" Tonks gave Hermione the glass of water she just brought and turned to look at Gabrielle with a scowl "you are making a scene and she hates scenes"
"I am not-"
"Maybe not, but she's in no condition for whatever your horny mind is planning" Tonks whispered while holding Hermione by the other arm while the latter wanted to finish her water without spilling it all over her dress. She was quite successful until her assistant dragged her out of the venue with an annoyed Gabrielle in tow.
"She can't apparate like that, she will get splinched," the blonde pointed out.
"I know genius, it ain't my first rodeo with a drunk mamba" Tonks deadpanned while trying to hold her dizzy and chuckling boss "although I should ask for a raise"
"Five percent and not a sickle more!" Hermione tapped Tonks' nose before bursting into a fit of giggles that made the assistant snort and even Gabrielle smiled.
"I am so glad that I called a driver" Tonks added when a horn honked, and the assistant turned to look at the shiny black car "you brought the Shelby? She's gonna kill you, Ron"
"You sent me a Patronus to bring a car to take her home, you didn't tell me that I couldn't take this beauty" the redhead shrugged.
"Yeah, but of all her six cars, you know that the Shelby is the one she treasures the most" Tonks said while opening the passenger's door before turning to a puzzled Gabrielle "her father restored it with her before passing away."
"Oh," the blonde whispered softly.
"I am driving my baby Shelby home, gimme the keys" the photographer slurred and failed to snatch the keys from a chuckling Luna.
"Oh no, you are not" Tonks glared at her drunk boss before pointing at the passenger's seat "now, get in the bloody car."
"You're no fun" Hermione rolled her eyes and got in the backseat. The moment Gabrielle sat next to her, the photographer placed her head on her shoulder and drifted off.
After taking several pictures where Fleur let Bellatrix direct her, the latter took a break and offered a drink to the blonde that accepted with a smile.
"Are you feeling adventurous?" Bellatrix asked while waving her wand. From the right wall of the photo studio a bar popped up and the dark-haired woman walked towards it.
"Always" Fleur smiled confidently. She knew what was coming and that made her feel satisfied. The last thing that Cecile remembered from her time with Bellatrix was being asked that same question which meant that the dark-haired photographer didn't suspect of her and believed that she was just another woman to bed and ruin.
"Then, you are in for a special treat" Bellatrix added while withdrawing several objects and from the bar's cabinets "this is a very special drink distilled by goblins that have been banned but I was able to get a few bottles before they were destroyed for good" the photographer placed a bottle that contained a glowing green liquid and Fleur swallowed hard.
That's goblins blood alcohol.
"You see, the process behind the distillation is quite interesting" Bellatrix placed two crystal absinthe glasses, poured some of the liquor, and placed a slotted spoon on top of each glass.
"Each bottle is made with a mixture of magical and muggle rare herbs and the blood of ten virgin goblins, hence the color" on top of the spoons, Bellatrix placed a sugar cube and started pouring water that mixed with the sweet treat and dropped into the liquor making it sparkle. Soon the water diluting the spirit made the liquid react and it turned milky white with small thundering clouds "funnily enough, it tastes and looks like a thunderstorm." Fleur approached and stared at the white liquid.
"Do you want to be even more adventurous, mademoiselle Lestrange?" Fleur asked with a sweet smile while withdrawing a small tin box from her purse.
"Are those-" Bellatrix's eyes widened in surprise.
"Angel tears, oui" Fleur calmly removed the lid of the tin box and two teardrop-shaped iridescent pills gleamed in the light "the banned pills of hallucination that sent so many to the mental wing of St. Mungo's." The blonde quickly took the one on the left and offered the other to the photographer that took it and placed it between her teeth.
"À ta santé" Fleur grabbed the cloudy drinks and handed one to Bellatrix.
"Cheers" the dark-haired photographer added and both drank and swallowed the pills. "bloody hell" Bellatrix exclaimed when she felt her limbs go numb before feeling as if engulfed by warmth while adrenaline lit her veins "you got some good stuff, Frenchie"
"I have a girl that gives me only the very best" Fleur grabbed a bottle of chilled wine from Bellatrix bar.
After being satisfied by the information on the label, the blonde model uncorked it and poured a generous amount in a glass before turning to look at the overly excited photographer that stared at everything with wonder as colors gleamed brighter and shapes blurred. She even heard a horse galloping from her front door all the way to her room and dodged the hallucination that almost crushed her with its hooves.
"Any minute now" Fleur whispered to herself before taking a sip of the wine she just served and sat on a plushy armchair and crossed her left leg on top of her right one. The blonde model tilted her head and brushed her right hand's fingertips against the fluffy garment of her mask.
Fleur observed with amusement how Bellatrix chased imaginary ghosts thanks to the drug she gave the photographer. Unbeknown to the dark-haired woman, the heiress just swallowed a candy, therefore her lack of reaction. She had a plan and would stick to it to the end, and it didn't include her getting under the effects of drugs.
She also modified that pill Bellatrix swallowed, and included a strong sedative. Fleur Delacour was not only looks, she also had the brains to show off; that's why she considered herself the ultimate whole package.
A loud thud indicating that Bellatrix just passed out thanks to her concoction made her smile. Fleur finished her drink and dropped the glass that shattered the moment it met the floor.
After approaching the unconscious photographer, the blonde accioed her wand from her purse and tried to use legilimency to find and extract some of Bellatrix's memories. Fleur didn't expect that the photographer's mind was so well guarded that her attempts to breach failed.
"Merde, this is not good." The blonde knew that she had to work fast as the effect of the sedative infused angel drop wouldn't last long.
She didn't want to resort to her heritage, but she had no choice if she wanted to make the evil photographer pay for what she did to her cousin Cecile and so many other ruined models that were forced to be photographed by her alone until she got bored and dropped them for a new victim.
"I have no choice" Fleur whispered before taking a deep breath and close her eyes. Then, she felt the whispered words of her veela and headed towards the deepest part of her mind.
Once there, she could not help but shiver at the freezing breeze that engulfed her. It had been months since she saw her creature transformed but it was the first time the sight made her feel uneasy. She had not only silenced but frozen her veela.
Her normally soft and gorgeous feathers were now sharp and frozen; they were bluish in color now from her hairline down to her neck. Her wrists were chained by crystal binds, same as her ankles.
Her frozen wings were stuck to her back and punctured the delicate skin tinting the polished ground with frozen drops of blood. Even the feathers covering her breasts looked more of an ice armor than soft plumage. Her hands had a bluish tint while her feet turned into talons, were completely covered by thick layers of ice.
Fleur felt remorse; she had no idea that the silencing spell she had cast was more a freezing curse that might kill the creature within her instead of keeping her quiet.
I hope you are happy.
"I didn't know the silencing curse was like this" Fleur winced at the icy tone of her creature.
You did, I know you did. Lies are futile.
"I knew that it would silence you through the ice but not burying you alive" Fleur admitted.
She had casually found the silencing curse on an old veela book from her family's restricted section while looking for forgotten spells for a report she had to write for her ancient spells and curses class; she never thought she would use it but the moment the veela within her found her mate, Fleur panicked and her stubborn side found an easy and temporary way to deal with the inevitability of meeting her mate. It was just a matter of when than who now.
Do you know the reason why I had awoken earlier?
Why you are seeing flashes of situations that you don't place?
"I don't-"
You come here to ask for help without even apologizing?
The nerve you have.
You are a worthless heiress.
"I didn't choose to be the heiress!" Fleur screamed angrily "I want to be free; I don't want to be chained to this damn curse of being paired with someone I don't know"
And still, you are the alpha, so act like one!
The last phrase did catch Fleur off guard. She knew that her creature was right; she needed to stop her selfish games and grow up. She only had a few months left in London before she had to go back to France and become the head of the Delacour family, and one of the main members of the veela council.
Even if she refused to meet her mate; that woman was the one destined for her whether she liked It or not. Fleur Delacour was meant to meet whoever was the one for her, and no silencing or freezing curse would be able to stop that fact.
"I am sorry for the curse" Fleur stated softly; she finally apologized. "but I also came to borrow our power."
Of course, you did.
"Hear me out before you start insulting me" Fleur pleaded.
The nerve you-
"It's about Cecile and what happened to her with that horrible Bellatrix woman" the French blonde interrupted and her veela closed her mouth for her host to continue "I will steal her memories and expose her, but her mind is well protected and legilimency couldn't break her."
So, you need me to use a veela spell, huh. Fleur nodded.
Are you willing to set me free to help even if there's a risk that I show you your mate?
"I want to give Cecile some peace of mind and closure" the heiress insisted "it's the least I can do, please."
Fine, I accept.
Under two conditions.
"Anything" Fleur worriedly added, "we don't have much time."
First, you will face your demons.
Second, you will give your mate a chance; she is in pain, too.
If you accept both, I will take over and collect the memories on your behalf.
"I-" Fleur knew that what her veela was asking was fair but risky.
There was something about those flashes that scared her to no end, so the possibility of seeing the whole picture terrified her. The heiress was not dumb. She had heard her mothers and grandmothers talking about the incident.
Even if they didn't mention her name, she knew it was related to something that had happened to her when she was about to hit puberty. There was this void in her memories and she then realized that the only able to lock some of her memories was the veela within her under the orders of the reigning alphas, her grandmothers.
On the other hand, she would take over and collect the evidence Fleur needed; there was a risk of her veela trying to block her attempts to take over since she was incensed with the heiress, but despite popular belief, Fleur Delacour had never stopped strengthening her magical core, so she should be able to make the creature within her submit.
And the heiress wasn't even thinking about what her veela said about her mate; that was something that she knew would happen sooner or later and she couldn't continue avoiding it. Her only choice was to reach a compromise or her veela would not only rat her out with her family, but expose all the things she had done, including that forbidden silencing spell that would get her in serious trouble.
"I will let you take over, and I accept your conditions, but" Fleur locked her baby blue with her creature's golden orbs "do not intervene when I meet my mate, and I will give her a chance. That means no enhancing my feelings and no leading me towards her, I want to be able to meet her on my own and see if she is worth my time."
This is a stupid idea, even coming from you. The creature scoffed and Fleur rolled her eyes.
You know what? I won't tell you who it is.
"Thank you" the heiress gave her a grateful smile.
The only thing I will tell you is that she is near you, the rest is for you to figure out, and for me to have fun watching. At this, Fleur raised an eyebrow but kept quiet.
I will take over now, Fleur.
Now bear with the consequences of your selfish choices.
The ice holding the veela captive started cracking when the heiress touched the frozen ground and infused it with her magie. It didn't take long for the creature to be free and take off. Not a second later, Fleur's eyes rolled back, and everything turned black.
"Stop struggling, ma belle" Gabrielle sighed.
"Stop trying to defile me" Hermione giggled and threw a pillow at the blonde. She missed by a few meters.
"I am just 'elping you change into somezing more comfortable" The French woman deadpanned, and the photographer giggled even more before raising her right leg and her stiletto flew towards Gabrielle that just dodged it; when the second high heel escaped Hermione's left foot, the blonde sighed relieved when if softly landed by its owner.
"You promise you won't abuse of poor ol' me?" Hermione pouted and Gabrielle giggled, the photographer looked so adorable.
"I promise" the blonde approached slowly and raised her hands "I will 'elp you with ze zipper of ze dress and leave you to change, is zat okay?" even if she wanted to do more, an angry-looking Tonks was just on the other side of the door, so the young blonde had no choice but control her libido.
"Fine" Hermione sat on the bed once more and turned her back to the blonde. The more the metal teeth of the zipper let Hermione's skin exposed, the more Gabrielle swallowed.
She knew how soft the photographer's skin felt and her fingertips twitched; she really wanted to explore her with her lips and leave no place untouched, but she also was respectful and her mate was in no state to be loved tonight.
"There, all done" the blonde whispered before placing a dark blue t-shirt with Ravenclaw written in faded silver letters and a pair of flannel shorts "change into these while I freshen up, if you need me, I will be in ze bathroom."
The Ravenclaw clumsily changed into the pajamas and threw the dress that landed on a nearby armchair. Feeling suddenly warm, Hermione opened her balcony's doors and the chilly breeze that engulfed her made her shiver.
There was something about how things evolved this particular night that made her smile and frown at almost the same time. Despite her drunken state, Hermione was able to discern that a certain mysterious blonde caused a crazy first impression on her and just the thought of her clumsy replies made her chuckle in embarrassment.
Then, she remembered who the gorgeous blonde left with and her hands held the metal rails with all the strength she was able to muster in her drunken state. She normally didn't care about Bellatrix and her affairs much until tonight when she left with the blonde that made Hermione experience long-forgotten feelings.
That damn gross woman.
The sudden drop in the temperature made the Ravenclaw shiver. The chilly breeze was stronger than before and made her feel uneasy. The feeling of something happening somewhere to someone, in particular, invaded her and the only thoughts in her mind revolved around a certain blonde she knew nothing about, but that she felt, somehow, that her life would never be the same after meeting her.
I hope you are okay, Juliette.
I want to see you again.
When Fleur opened her eyes, she was standing in front of the door of her grandmothers' studio. The heiress took a deep breath and turned the knob to enter the room. Once inside, the familiar smell of parchment and lilacs, grand-mère Josephine's favorite flower, invaded her nostrils.
The place looked the same as usual but, at the same time, completely different as if it belonged to a different time. Neither hers nor Gabrielle's Beauxbatons diplomas were hung by the fireplace, not even their quidditch awards were there.
This is weird.
Soon, the door slammed open and a younger version of herself entered the studio followed by her grandmothers and a man with gray hair that looked oddly familiar. Her grandmothers instructed her younger self to obey the tutor they brought for her so she could have a great start at Beauxbatons next year.
They explained that the man had great knowledge about the new subjects that they would start including next year since the current curriculum was under review. The man introduced himself as Rodolphus Lestrange, and he had credentials that supported his knowledge so her grandmothers trusted the man and left her young version with him.
Fleur saw memories of several classes and yawned bored. She didn't quite understand why her veela was keeping these memories from her until the room darkened and she witnessed something no child should be exposed to.
Now she understood the flashes of gray hair, those scary dark eyes, the pressure of a body on top of her own, those hands roaming her younger, and unconscious self, and that hollow laughter that would chase her in her dreams for months.
Fleur covered her head with her trembling hands and started to sob when the horrible abuse repeated in different flashes that played in front of her eyes. The heiress felt how her skin was invaded by goosebumps and her eyes filled with never-ending tears.
Her limbs trembled so much that Fleur fell on her knees at the sight of new abuse. She tried to stop her memories, but they turned into smoke. Now she finally understood when her veela told her about facing her demons. The flow of memories didn't stop, and Fleur felt how the fine line of her sanity was slowly vanishing.
This is too much, make it stop.
Stop, please!
Fleur hugged her knees and rocked back and forth, and her tears never stopped but poured even more. She felt empty, devastated, and broken.
I don't want to watch nor feel this anymore!
The dark memories came to a halt and a new one appeared in front of her. This time was of an older version of herself along with a young Gabrielle. Her sister was one year away to start her own private classes and the tutor was back to teach both siblings.
Don't hurt my sister!
The heiress heard her younger version yell at the sight of the man trying to touch an unconscious Gabrielle. Sensing imminent danger, the creature within Fleur awakened before her time to protect her younger sibling. The man threw hex after hex, but the transformed Fleur was stronger and deflected all the curses with a wave of her hand and took a hold of his wand and broke it.
Golden eyes glared at terrified ebony when the man's back hit a bookshelf; he had nowhere to go now. Fleur's left hand transformed into a talon that closed around the tutor's neck asphyxiating him. She didn't care about his pleas for mercy and squeezed harder.
"You tampered with my memories, so I didn't say anything" young Fleur spat angrily in her mother tongue "but everything is clear in my head now and you will never lay a finger on Gabrielle."
Just when young Fleur was about to close her left talon and decapitate the horrible tutor, a stunning spell from her mémère Antoinette hit her between her wings and made her release the man.
Josephine restrained Rodolphus, and Apolline took her younger daughter in her arms and left the room while her wife Camille pointed her wand at the tutor. A furious Fleur turned and yelled at them in their creature language what the man had done to her and demanded the alpha to take a look at her memories.
Josephine transformed and placed her hand on top of Fleur's feather-covered head. After accessing her memories, the clan's head eyes watered. In fact, what her granddaughter was yelling at them was true, she had suffered years of abuse in the hands of her tutor, Rodolphus Lestrange, and the moment he tried to do the same to her sister, the veela awakened to defend her.
The last memory Fleur saw was when her mémère Antoinette pointed her wand at the kneeling man and the door of her grandmother's studio closed. She even observed how a green light reflected on the marble floor and a thud was heard before she was taken to the clan's outer temple by Josephine so both veela agreed to lock her memories.
I did my part and the memories are secured and you are back home.
And you finally faced your demons. The veela within her whispered and Fleur looked up with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I didn't know" the heiress whispered, and new tears threatened to fall "I-"
This was the pain I was keeping from you.
"I am so sorry for silencing you" Fleur sobbed and her veela held her tight "I am such an idiot"
You are.
"Hey" Fleur giggled between tears "you are supposed to console me"
And you are supposed to be nice to me.
"Touché" the heiress giggled and the warmth of her veela engulfed her. They were finally becoming one again.
Remember your promise, the creature within the model whispered and turned into golden dust.
"I will" Fleur whispered with a smile before closing her eyes.
When the heiress opened her baby blue orbs once more, she observed the familiar ceiling of her room. The blonde promptly left the bed and headed to her walk-in closet to switch her outfit; she changed into something more casual and sent a Patronus to the one journalist brave and credible enough to publish the story with short notice, her friend Rita Skeeter.
A/N: Things are moving forward now. Several surprises on future chaps, as usual, let me know what you think in a review.