Chapter 10
Fleur grabbed her shovel again through laughter and took a step back from Wood. Wood stopped and held a lasting grin on his lips. He looked Fleur in the eyes and was surprised by what he saw. Those glassy eyes that usually seemed lonesome, just for one moment were flashing light. Her laughter was real and natural.
"Ve should get back to vork, ve are going to catch a cold ztaying out here for zo long." Fleur concluded and began to slam her shovel into the sopping earth again.
"Alright, but this war is far from over." Wood said with a laugh.
"You only agree because I vas beating you and you know it!" Fleur exclaimed.
"You wish." Wood said with his head facing the ground.
"Oh yeah?" Fleur suddenly asked with a mischievous grin.
Wood raised an eyebrow and lifted his head back up. Fleur held a handful of mud and threw it right against his cheek. Wood chuckled and wiped the mud from his face.
"Alright, fine, I give up!" Wood hollered laughing and holding up his hands.
Ron still watched from above with his nose pressed against the tinted glass. His aqua eyes were large and he held a small grimace on his pouty lips.
"I wish I was down there, I would shove the whole lot of mud in his mouth." Ron spoke up.
"Oh Ron, don't be so childish." Percy replied adjusting his glasses.
"I'm not childish; I'm just interested in their intentions."
"There aren't any intentions, just…"
Ron looked at Percy and crossed his arms across his chest. Percy glanced nonchalantly out the window and then his smug face dropped.
"I'm going to have a talk with Wood."
"Oh yes, you are secure in your assumptions Perc." Ron chortled.
Fleur and Wood entered the castle dripping. Fleur rolled the bottom of her shirt up only a bit and wrung out the dirty water, before entering all the way through the oak doors. Wood waltzed right in and looked back confusedly at Fleur.
"What are you doing?"
"I don't vant to make a huge mess of everything inside." Fleur defended her actions.
"Hey, Filtch cleans up, and it's not like he's the nicest person. Oh and Peeves will probably venture out soon enough to attack first years with water balloons."
At that exact moment Peeves came gliding down on his little puffy cloud. His stern diminutive face soon turned into a contorted grin. Fleur watched Peeves in amazement and hid slightly behind Wood as she shut the door behind her. Peeves noticed them standing there and quickly bounced over.
"Who is this?" Peeves asked with delight in his tiny eyes.
"Leave us alone Peeves." Wood shot at him.
"No need to get fussy with me, I'm just curious is all. What a lovely face you have my dear." Peeves observed and swirled around Fleur.
"Uh…zank you?" Fleur spoke uncomfortably.
"Oh and she's French, very beautiful. What is your name oh fairest of them all?" Peeves asked teasingly.
"Fleur Delacour."
"Oh yes the French student….the courageous Miss Delacour. I have heard many stories through the walls of this school, but none ever of such a brave soul such as you."
"Vhat do you mean?" Fleur asked.
"Oh I know what lies ahead for you, heard it from Dumbledore I did."
"What Peeves?" Wood intervened.
"You'll see, but for now…why don't we play a little game?" Peeves riddled them.
"No, go away Peeves; your games are never as fun for us as they are for you." Wood answered placing his hand on Fleur's shoulder and steering her away.
"Oh fine, there's a group of Hufflepuffs that are just asking for it over there." Peeves grinned and flew away.
"Don't worry about him; just make sure to look around every corner." Wood said as he and Fleur entered the dungeon.
"I vill remember that." Fleur added with a smile.
Snape sat at his desk scribbling away on parchment, no doubt correcting many potions assignments. Snape had a giddy expression, which was particularly alarming to Fleur. She couldn't understand how someone got so much pleasure from torturing children. Wood then cleared his throat and Snape's head shot up like a bullet.
"Well looks like you two had a time of it. Now hand over those shovels and you can go. But don't let me catch you doing anything against school rules again, or we might have another meeting such as this." Snape spoke curling his lips into a smirk.
"Yes Sir." They replied in unison.
The two then turned and hurriedly walked out of the office. Then they made their way up to the Gryffindor Common Room. Ron, Percy, and Lee Jordan all sat around the fire reading and looked up at the two soaked wizards.
"Enjoy your detention much?" Lee asked.
"Actually, it was more fun than I've had in quite a while…even if it was with Snape." Wood answered.
"Swashing around in mud doesn't sound like so much fun." Percy included with a frown.
"Fleur, you…you even look beautiful in mud…" Ron stuttered.
"Ron you flatter me too much." Fleur said with a smile.
Fleur walked towards Ron and gave him a small kiss on the cheek leaving a small imprint of dirt. Ron turned as red as a radish and just watched Fleur in a dreamy state as she came to the bottom of the stone steps.
"Goodnight everyone."
"Goodnight Fleur, sleep well." Percy replied with an encouraging smile.
"Oh and Oliver, if you vant I can help you vith charms vhenever you vant."
Wood smiled and nodded as Fleur started to climb the stairs. Percy glared at Wood and grasped his book tighter.
"Oh did you hear that Wood, the so called "French Princess" is willing to help you out man." Lee spoke up with a laugh.
"Oh she isn't that bad. You should have seen the way she acted tonight; she looked different to me somehow." Wood responded thoughtfully.
"Maybe you ought to leave her alone." Percy now broke in the conversation.
"Oh Percy, don't worry I'm not going to be a jerk to her any longer. No need to get all defensive now."
"That's what I was afraid you'd say." Percy grumbled underneath his breath.
"She kissed me…" Ron said suddenly.
Everyone turned and faced Ron, who seemed to still be in shock. Lee started to chuckle with amusement as Percy gave a demeaning look. Lee got up from his seat and gave Ron a firm pat on the back and then waved goodnight and headed to bed. Ron still sat with his mouth slightly open with a smile. Percy rolled his eyes and got up as well. He shook his head at his brother then left the room. Wood took Percy's seat and peeled off some dry mud from his neck.
"She kissed me…" Ron spoke again.
"Yeah mate, she did. Geez, looks like someone just told you that you won the World Quidditch Cup or something."
"I imagine the Quidditch World Cup doesn't hold a candle to a real kiss from her."
"Now that's just crazy."
Ron shrugged and got up and bade goodnight. Wood sat alone in the common room for a bit, mulling over all that had happened today. Through one day he had become accustomed to having Fleur around now. To Wood she was no Quidditch cup, but he looked at her differently now. She wasn't snotty or unhelpful; she was very much the opposite. Wood leaned back in the chair and ruffled his hair; maybe this year would be better after all.
