Thank you slightly so! I'm glad you are enjoying my story! I'm quite surprised that this pair isn't famous at all.
A low rumbling noise was heard miles away from where Tonks stood, causing a slight earthquake that shook the lands surrounding Hogwarts and Hogsmead . The tall trees swayed back and forth as many small creatures scampered through the Echanted Forest, trying to hide from whatever was causing the frightening sound.
Tonks left a crying Fleur inside the Great Hall, deciding to worry about the girl later, the Metamorphmagus strolled quickly from the Great Hall and into the main entrance. As she walked beside the Death Eaters, Tonks glared at them with a nod of her pink-haired head and stepped outside into the stone steps that lead to a long dirt path.
Fleur's gone mental, Tonks thought with a shake of her wild hair, it's not right…she still hasn't forgotten Bill…
Raising her tired eyes to the dark sky above her, Tonks noticed a black blurry form hovering a few feet away from the Enchanted Forest; frowning, Tonks jumped down a couple of steps, trying to get a better look. The blurry form appeared to be a flock of birds, batting their wings wildly and circling an area of the forest from the sky.
BROOOMMM! Tonks's legs wobbled as she tried to stay balanced on the higher steps, her eyes widened and her mouth opened in surprise, as the stones beneath her feet rumbled violently.
"The ground shook" she muttered to herself and looked behind at the few members of the Order who had followed her outside, Hermione and Ron were standing side by side, and apparently holding hands, with uncertainty etched in their faces as they too stared at the flock of birds.
"It's an army…" Hermione whispered with despair, her eyes were red and glassy, "of giants…there is nothing else that can make the earth move like this". Ron looked down at her and swallowed hard, his hand tightening around Hermione's in a reassuring way. "Don't worry…we'll take them down" he said with a dry voice, as his breathing began to quicken.
Tonks blinked as Hermione's words sunk in, her hands had started to tremble as well as her legs. No, it can't be, she thought, we can't defeat an army of giants.
Her eyes stared at the forest, waiting for the creatures that had made the earth shake; she was afraid of giants ever since an encounter in which a fellow Auror had fallen prisoner of a tribe, they never saw him again, but his screams had flooded Tonks's nightmares.
It had only been an investigation trip…but they attacked us…
"Go inside" Tonks whispered at the others behind her as she took a step back "we have to be ready for when they come".
Hermione, Ron and the others ran back inside the castle quickly, their wands tightly clutched in shaky hands as their faces expressed anxiety and concern.
Tonks continued to stare ahead, her chest was having a hard time rising as her breath had caught somewhere between her ribs and neck; taking a step back, Tonks bumped into another body, smaller and more delicate. It wasn't long after Fleur's voice filled the scary silence "Come back eenzide". It was all she said, her words were emotionless and short as she touched Tonks's shoulder, earning a soft gasp of pain from the Metamorphmagus.
Sighing loudly, Tonks turned around and found Fleur's eyes at level with her own,( the French girl was, after all, stepping on higher ground than the pink-haired girl), with a soft motion of her hand, Fleur stroked Tonks's wild hair with similar care as if she were petting her favorite doll.
Breathing sharply, Tonks blinked with surprise at the younger girl's actions, not that she was feeling odd, but it had been a very long time since Fleur had had any kind of friendly contact with her, not since Bill's death.
Tonks needed the girl to know that she was here for her, that she would do anything to have the old Fleur back, the once who, at times, drove all of them crazy with her sweeter than sugar attitude.
But, Tonks couldn't, she needed to make sure they would be able to protect themselves from the upcoming army, there was no time to have heart-to-heart sessions. She was about to pull away from Fleur, when the blonde threw her white arms around Tonks's shoulders in a tight hug.
Tonks grimaced at the girl's touch, and her eyes began to fill with tears as she held Fleur back, Oh, God. "Fleur" Tonks whispered as she wiped the tears from her reddened eyes, "we have to go inside, it's too dangerous here".
Fleur's eyes were closed as she rested her head on Tonks's shoulders, unaware of the cuts that decorated the Metamorphmagus's skin; she felt so peaceful, hugging Tonks like she had never done before; it was as if their cruel and terrifying reality had paused for a few minutes.
Hearing Tonks's whisper, Fleur nodded slowly and opened her eyes with a blink of her tired eyelids; she stepped back from Tonks and trailed her hands down the girl's arms resting finally on the pink-haired girl's hands. Fleur held them with care as she continued to look into Tonks's confused eyes; she gave the older girl a smile and leaned forward into Tonks's face.
Why am I doing this?
Fleur kept her eyes open as she slowly brought her face closer to Tonks's, trying to decipher the emotions on the Metamorphmagus's wide eyes.
Is she…?
It seemed like forever to Fleur, when she finally closed the gap between and she kissed Tonks slowly, her lips pressing softly. Her eyes closed, Fleur's heart was beating incredibly fast as she continued to hold Tonks's hands. Fleur's mind was swimming in something warm and sweet as she felt the girl kiss her back; it was soft and kind as they stood their ground and entwined their fingers.
Fleur opened her eyes as Tonks pulled away with a sudden move; the Metamorphmagus had a weird look in her eyes, as if she were afraid of Fleur. After looking at the blonde for a few seconds, Tonks turned around and shook her head; she was clearly confused about what had happened between them.
"Tonks…" Fleur said with a low voice, and took a step towards the taller girl, "I'm sorry if I 'ave scared you".
"No", Tonks voice was higher than usual as she stood unmoving, looking at the dark forest. "No, Fleur…you didn't scare me".
"Then, what eez it? Why did you stop?"
"Because this isn't right, you're only doing because of…" Tonks's voice trailed off as she was about to say Bill's name.
"You're wrong, Tonks" Fleur blurted with an icy touch to her words, "it 'as nothing to do with zhat".
"Look, Fleur, I know you're still hurting…you're confused, Bill's death has been hard on us all, and I can't imagine how you've managed to pull through"
Why are you doing this?
Fleur opened her mouth to answer and her eyes narrowed in disbelief, she couldn't understand Tonks; didn't she feel the same towards the blonde girl as Fleur felt towards Tonks?
"I think I'm going back inside…" Fleur whispered sadly, as her eyes left a troubled Tonks. She walked back inside the main entrance and looked back at the slim figure of the Metamorphmagus pacing, her head hanging low as Tonks's muttered to herself.
Oh, please…since when has Fleur acted this strange? She's just confused…and beautiful. Stop that, you git!
Tonks was shaking her head frantically, trying to forget what had just happened a few minutes earlier. Tonks's hands were deep inside her pockets as her long legs continued to stroll back and forth.
It was only a friendly kiss, I'm sure it meant nothing…to her.
Another rumble stopped Tonks from pacing as she raised her head and gasped in horror, she had just seen a head poking from the tallest leaves of the trees that surrounded the outer perimeter of forest.
After sending her silvery Patronus into the night sky, Tonks jumped quickly up the stone steps and ran into the Great Hall, her eyes made out the remaining members of the Order, they were only teenagers…a young and confused Auror, a determined French girl and a band of Hogwarts students was all that was left inside the first floors of the castle…this did not look good.
"They're coming…"