Chapter 10! Chapter 10! Major battle! Uber importance! I hope I've written it well so that you understand all that's happening! Yay! A long chapter!

'I'm sorry you two, but this is serious,' apologised Remus.

Hermione and Fleur gave him looks of understanding. Hermione suddenly noticed that she had forgotten to put her bra back on and raced up stairs, cheeks ablaze. Fleur and Tonks giggled to themselves while Remus just gave them a bemused look.

Hermione walked downstairs slowly, rechecking herself, 'Right, sorry about that. Okay, any suggestions?'

'Perhaps we should just let him know that it's not like he's banned to see us ever again or anything. It's just; he can't be going out or marrying Fleur. That's his main problem right?' asked Tonks.

Fleur nodded, 'Oui. That does seem to be the thing. Thought I must say that 'is eyes seemed glazed over when 'e was 'ere.'

Hermione screwed up her brow thinking, 'Yeah, I saw that too. I wonder what it was…'

'Mon Dieu!' exclaimed Fleur, slapping her head.

'What is it!' asked Remus.

'Why could I not think? Why did I not realise!' muttered Fleur.

Tonks pat her on the shoulder, 'Fleur? What is it?'

Fleur turned to them, 'Je suis desolee. Ah… I believe my Veela nature 'as something to do with Bill's inability to let go.'

Hermione thought back to a book she had been browsing in the library back when she was in her 4th year. Intrigued by Fleur's nature, she had looked up Veelas.

'Your thrall, your control over other people,' stated Hermione quietly.

Fleur nodded, 'Oui, my thrall.'

She seemed to spit the last word; it was full of malice and anger.

'For some, it is not so strong, others; it is almost like being under the Imperious curse. And that we know to be devastating. Bill thankfully is somewhat in between, yet I can't 'elp feeling that 'is werewolf gene may be intervening with 'is thought processes,' mused Fleur.

'I had offered lessons to controlling his thoughts and urges, but Bill was quite adamant that he could control them. Perhaps I should offer my help again?' mentioned Remus.

Fleur nodded, 'Oui, that would be the best, 'elping 'im take control.'

'What if he doesn't want help?' asked Tonks timidly.

'Then he'd better start praying,' replied Hermione coldly.

Remus took a hold of Hermione, 'Now, it's most likely Bill is still in control enough to understand what is happening to him. Once we explain, I'm sure he'll become more Bill like again.'

'Well, I warn you now, if it doesn't come across clear to him, then I will be doing everything in my power to stop him from harming Fleur. And I mean everything Remus,' stated Hermione, her voice harsh and unforgiving.

Remus sighed; this was not going to be easy. He could tell that Fleur was fine with discussion but Hermione was itching for a fight. She may be a strong spell fighter, but werewolves, part or pure, fought with force and strength. Bill, himself, even without transforming, was formidable. Remus hoped with his entire being that it wouldn't come down to a fight. It shouldn't, tell were human beings, they could talk it out. It wasn't like they were in a movie. Tonks hugged him, pressing her cheek against his.

'Don't worry Remus. We'll make sure nothing goes wrong, after all, we're aurors!' she chirped.

Remus sighed, 'Yeah, I suppose. We can all take care of ourselves.'

'Oui, we can,' agreed Fleur, her eyes taking on a golden tinge.

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The night welcomed Bill with open arms. The gentle breeze caressed his limbs. He closed his eyes.

'Damned world. Taking what's mine. Hermione. You've taken from me and I'm not going to forget that,' he growled.

For now they were safe, for now he would not hunt them. In the meantime, he would embrace the darkness and howl to the moon.

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'Is there anything we can do to counter your thrall, Fleur?' inquired Tonks.

'I'm not really sure. It depends on the person. Displays of some sort, talking, beatings, there are all sorts of ways to persuade someone that they are no longer 'with' or 'in love' with a Veela,' replied Fleur.

Hermione shivered, 'Well, I'm certainly not ready to torture Bill, and talking hasn't worked…'

'Perhaps we should just go without a plan. I have a feeling that this will all turn out all right,' murmured Remus.

'Are you crazy? There's no knowing what he might do! For all we know, he could be sharpening his claws!' exclaimed Hermione.

Fleur placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and clutched Hermione in a hug from behind, 'I think that Remus is right. We may 'ave to go into his unprepared. 'e won't suspect anything that way.'

'I don't want you to get hurt!' sad Hermione, her eyes staring straight into Fleur's with an intensity that Fleur had to look away for a moment.

'I appreciate your concern, mon amour. Believe me, I can take care of myself,' she whispered, leaning down to capture Hermione's lips with a ferocity.

Tonks gulped at the heat radiating from the two lovers, Remus just took one last look at them and excused himself to the bathroom. As Fleur let go of her mouth, Hermione pulled away with a smile.

'Trust you to make me feel better,' she said.

'Of course! What good of a lover would I be, if I didn't?' jibed Fleur, playfully poking her stomach.

'Eh… Um, so, yeah. W-we'll be r-ready tomorrow, eh?' stumbled Tonks.

Fleur turned to face Tonks, 'Oui, je suis desole Tonks. I did not mean to be so forward in front of you.'

Tonks just blushed, 'Yea, well, doesn't matter.'

She toddled out sheepishly. Remus grabbed her by the arm and pulled her against the wall, 'See! Don't drag me outside their room again! I really won't be able to stay conscious from now on!'

Tonks nodded, eyes still glazed over, 'Sorry. Wow… I had no idea it would be like that… Listening in and imagining it is different to actually seeing it….'

'Nymphadora! Will you please get a hold of yourself!' hissed Remus, shaking Tonks by the shoulders.

Little to their knowledge, Fleur and Hermione were both still in earshot. Fleur merely giggled and Hermione groaned.

'Are you telling me, we haven't actually been by ourselves, alone, at all!' asked Hermione, borderline hysterical.

'It does seem so,' replied Fleur, a smirk appearing.

'I thought they were just joking! I didn't think they'd actually been outside the door!' hissed Hermione.

Fleur kissed her softly, 'It is all right, ma chere. It does not matter, I'd rather let them listen then they turn their backs on us.'

Hermione nodded sadly, 'Yes. That's true. I'm sorry for overreacting again.'

'Je t'aime. I love you 'Ermione Granger,' whispered Fleur.

Hermione gave her a great smile, 'Really? Cause I just can't get enough of you!'

Fleur chuckled and brought her lips back down to meet Hermione's open ones.

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The morning came with a strong gale blowing. The ominous clouds overhead bore no good news. A crack of lighting shocked Hermione awake. She had many experiences with a whip, namely a certain witch who welded one so lovingly to snap dangerously close to Hermione's face then mercilessly lash into her with pleasure. That deranged being was Bellatrix Lestrange. Yes, her name, her features, her dastardly and horrible laugh, it was still fresh in Hermione's mind after a dark nightmare. They had been occurring less as her time with Fleur increased. However, the trouble will Bill had brought it back. Any sort of loud noise similar to the crack of a whip would send uncontrollable shivers down Hermione's spine.

'Ermione! Why are you so sweaty?' asked Fleur in alarm, placing her cool hand over Hermione's brow.

Hermione leaned into her touch but shook her head, 'It's nothing. Just a dream.'

'Nightmare more like, dreams fill me with 'appiness, they are not meant to leave you in a sweat,' replied Fleur.

Hermione shrugged her shoulders, 'Don't worry about it, it's not real, it can't harm me.'

Fleur nodded but placed an arm around Hermione all the same, 'Then, 'ave a little snooze without nightmares, before we really must get up.'

Hermione snuggled into Fleur's side, resting her face on Fleur's ample chest. Fleur breathed steadily, making sure she could watch Hermione's features as Hermione fell back asleep. Thankfully, Hermione was able to gain some peace in her rest.

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'Morning,' Remus greeted them as they entered the kitchen; Tonks managed a muffled 'Wotcher' from her breakfast.

Fleur nodded to the two already sitting at the table.

'Gnn,' mumbled Hermione, sleepily waving to Remus and Tonks.

Hermione made a beeline to the steaming pot of porridge that Remus had concocted carefully under Tonks' watchful eye. She ladled herself and Fleur generous portions, placed them on the table and sat down heavily. Fleur sat down next to her, passing Hermione the cream and honey, as she knew her girlfriend would soon ask for.

'Thanks,' said Hermione, surprised at the pre-emptive action.

'No problem, 'Ermione,' Fleur smiled at her.

'Damn, I'm getting predictable,' chuckled Hermione.

'Only in some ways,' Fleur had leaned over to whisper in her ear.

Hermione blushed and stared straight into her porridge, attacking it with a new found hunger. Fleur giggled to herself and began eating.

It wasn't long after a few mouthfuls that all felt a massive vibration hit the mansion. A bright red light slammed into the kitchen window, shattering it. They jumped up, wands out and ready. There out by the gate of the back fence they spotted Bill. He had his wand grasped awkwardly in his half transformed paw. He pointed it at the door, which flew open.

'Now that I have your attention,' growled Bill, dropping his wand, he finished his transformation and ran full speed towards the open door.

Fleur watched in horror, Bill was an extremely ugly werewolf, even more so than Remus. The saliva flecked from his wide-open jaws to land disgustingly on his paws or chest. Instead of letting him ruin the mansion, the four made a quick decision and decided to meet him outside. Fleur froze, never had she ever seen Bill like this. Hermione realised the danger and ran in front of Fleur, brandishing her wand, sending a well-aimed stun spell at Bill. He only narrowly dodged it and kept running. A thunderstorm began to pour heavily.

'Bill! Stop it! Old boy, you agreed that we'd talk this out!' shouted Remus.

'NRFGH! GRR! EURGH!' replied Bill in savage snaps.

Tonks managed to leap onto him and grab him in a headlock. Bill stopped momentarily and proceeded to claw at his back to dislodge Tonks. He managed only after her snapped at her with his massive jaws. She shrieked and was hurled off, slamming into the fence.

Hermione blasted him with a stun spell, which this time hit his shoulder. It was evident through his sudden loss of use of his right forelimb. He fell heavily and growled. Scrabbling to stand up, he hobbled angrily at Hermione.

Remus became enraged, how could Bill do this, he was far from human right now. Remus quickly checked Tonks, spelling her head in a bandage and summoned a bottle of water to place next to her. He levitated her into the shelter of the garden shed. He then began to rip his clothes off, if he couldn't deal with Bill through talking, he would have to deal with him in his own language. Defeat. Remus stood a fair way from Tonks in case his painful transformation caused him to hit her accidentally.

Normally, Remus would never consider voluntarily transforming, but after many disciplinary lessons and hard-core meditation, Remus had mastered the way to transform while keeping his mind. It angered him that Bill had declined the offer to gain this experience and knowledge. Now he could utilize it and teach Bill who was the better werewolf and man.

He lunged at Bill, who had regained feeling in his forelimb, halting his attack on Hermione's shield charm. Fleur had come round in time to flick her wand to send a barrage of ropes to capture Bill. It hadn't worked, he had merely snapped at them with his terrible jaws and was free once more. She then tried the body bind, but Bill's rage wore it off much more quickly.

Remus roared a challenge, he clawed Bill's muzzle and attempted to pin him to the ground, leaving time for the women to escape to a better position

'Ermione! Get over 'ere!' screamed Fleur.

Hermione was dangerously close to the sharp teeth and vicious blows being exchanged by the two werewolves. The tussle was taking a turn for the worse. Bill was obviously winning now. He was at his prime, healthy and had a lot more brute strength behind him, his anger intensifying it. Remus was a lot older than Bill, though he was healthy now; he still hadn't regained all his muscle from his intensive training. With more solid land under his paws, Bill pushed Remus backwards. Finally in a large and devastating blow, Bill body slammed Remus into the massive oak tree. Remus gasped and fell unconscious, face first into the mud puddles.

Fleur screamed as Hermione was pinned beneath Remus' limp form. He was breathing heavily and Hermione gasped as she realised that he was bleeding from his side. Bill had managed to slash him as Remus had tried to manoeuvre the fight away from the women.

'Remus! Wake up! Please wake up!' pleaded Hermione, shaking Remus' shaggy form.

'Ermione! Please! No!' sobbed Fleur, racing over to shield Hermione.

Bill had taken this moment to rest. Now that he realised that his quarry was conveniently not going anywhere, he circled them. Enjoying the smell of the fear radiating off the two hysterical women. Fleur turned to face Bill, tears flowing down her face, 'Bill! PLEASE! Do not do this! You are not yourself.'

'No? Earg… Yugh.. You..d-did theesss to mae,' hissed Bill, prowling forward, his muzzle caked in mud.

'Please! Bill! Leave her alone! It's not her fault! It's the Veela thrall! You need to fight it!' yelled Hermione.

The little of Bill's conscious understanding made him halt. Breathing heavily, he pointed his blazing eyes at Hermione.

'Yeah, I knew you could understand me. It's not you and it's not Fleur. This is all just old magic! Just believe and think about how wonderful it is to be human,' shouted Hermione, glad that he had not come any closer.

Fleur, frightened for her life and Hermione's, transformed; the movement snapped Bill out of his thought. He growled and lunged at her.

'NOOOOOOO!' screamed Hermione.

Fleur rolled away, a gash trickling blood down her arm. Fleur had sprouted wings and scaly claws. Her face was speckled with blue green scales and her eyes were golden. Her hair had a wild look to it, almost seeming alive. She leapt up and clawed at him, shrieking horribly. Hermione cried out as Bill head-butted Fleur painfully in the stomach. Agitated by Hermione's shrill cry, he back pawed her and her head snapped back. Fleur shrieked in horror and flung herself across Hermione's torso. Bill swiped at Fleur, who returned the attack, but she was too concerned for Hermione and Remus' prone forms to truly battle Bill properly.

Hermione strained to whisper into Fleur's ear, 'Run! Please! Run for me!'

Fleur shook her head gallantly, rasping, 'Non, never in a million years.'

Believing that her time had come, Fleur reformed into human form, grasped Hermione in a hug and placed a chaste but loving kiss on Hermione's lips.

Bill saw this and he slumped to the muddy ground, his eyes still transfixed to the couple. Suddenly he started heaving and howling. It wasn't until he transformed back that they realised that he was crying. Bill wailed with remorse. That one act of human love was all he needed to remember his race.

Fleur managed to wrench Remus off Hermione. Remus came round and coughed, he had been mildly winded, but other than that, no broken bones, just massive bruises and a splitting headache.

'Thank goodness,' he sighed.

Ha ha! That is the end of chapter 10, but not of this fic! Loving Fleur Delacour has one more UBER event to occur before it finishes! It's a showdown between……

No, you can just find out yourself! Anyways, did you like that? Review!