Author's Note: Thanks to my TWO reviewers… Doesn't sound so uplifting, does it? Hahaha… Well, anyway… I've decided to continue with the fic… Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter… duh…
Chapter 2: In Pointless Pursuit
"Damn it!" Fleur Delacour cried as the walls of the maze rearranged themselves once again. Without wasting another moment, she dashed forward.
When the walls had finally stopped moving, Fleur stopped and spun around in her spot. There were three different paths to choose from.
Once again, Fleur was forced to take another difficult decision. And once again, she began to feel suffocated. Ever since the day the students of Beauxbatons set foot on Hogwarts soil, there had been so much expected from her.
Madame Maxime wanted her to win that stupid TriWizard Tournament; what was the point anyway? She was already behind in the points, and it wasn't like winning the maze was going to help!
Before the First Task started, Fleur's parents had given her the We're-So-Proud-Of-You Speech but it definitely sounded more like a We-Really-Want-You-To-Win Speech. Fleur had been greatly disappointed by that for quite some time.
But there was one person who Fleur found could truly understand her the most. It was all so sudden really, and she hadn't expected to find someone like him, especially during this competition!
He was the one person who had ever made her feel like she belonged there. He was the only person who ever gave her a promise of friendship that she could keep. Even through the positions they were in and the sides they were on, they refused to let it get the better of their bond.
He was the one man who told Fleur that decisions weren't burdens, they were challenges. Challenges that made you stronger, which ever one you chose. It only depends on how you take them.
He was Viktor Krum.
And with that final thought, Fleur straightened her back and smiled. She felt strong and determined and she knew that whichever path she was going to take, there were no mistakes.
She took a step forward and slowly walked straight ahead into the path between the others. She could feel it in her body. She could feel Viktor urging her to take that leap of faith that could lead her to victory one way or another.
A few minutes into the path, Fleur turned a few times, letting her heart lead the way.
Soon, she felt… empty.
The path was taking her nowhere! Maybe she should've taken the other one… Or the third path! Suddenly, Fleur felt suffocated again. She stopped in her tracks and leaned on the thorny wall on her right. She didn't care that the bushes were burying deep into her soft sensitive skin, through her blue tracksuit. She was too tired to care.
Her legs were aching and her arms felt like rock, she didn't feel so confident anymore. Fleur sank to the ground and took out her wand in case something came across her path. Twisting the wand in her palms, she decided to rest for a little bit longer.
Fleur closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall. For a few moments, there was only silence…
Snap.
Fleur's eyes flashed open and she jumped to her feet waving her ignited wand frantically around her. At first, she saw nothing at each end of the deserted path, but was taken by surprise when she came face to face with a gigantic Blast Ended Skrewt!
It lifted it's long sluggish body up and let out some sort of weird howl. Fleur took the chance and yelled, "Stupefy!"
Not even bothering to check if the spell had hit the Skrewt, Fleur darted across the path away from it. The thing let out its weird howl again and Fleur felt it punch the ground heavily before coming after Fleur itself.
Sweat running down her forehead, Fleur didn't stop running, though her legs were begging her to just slow down a bit. She didn't know why, but she was suddenly very afraid.
She found herself standing before a fork. Following her instincts and taking the left path, she darted forward.
Then the walls of the maze started to move again. They were closing in on her, except now they were trying to block her path.
Speeding up even more now, Fleur took one huge leap and felt sharp twigs scratch her face as she barely made the small crack in the walls before they finally closed. She stopped and rested her hands on her knees, sobbing freely now.
She had never been so afraid in her life. She didn't know why, but there was something unnatural happening around her. Wiping her tears from her face, she continued on with the maze.
The fog seemed to have gotten thicker and heavier. It swirled around her, trapping Fleur in a thick layer of white warm fog.
Fleur stopped walking and for a moment, she let the fog constrict around her like a snake trapping its prey… She was so tired… It was so tempting to just give up…
Heavy breathing…
Behind her… something was getting closer…
She didn't bother to run away or even look behind her… She didn't care… She was much too tired to care about anything…
A heavy rough hand clasped itself over Fleur's right shoulder.
Screaming in surprise, Fleur grabbed her wand and turned around to face her attacker.
But when she saw who it was, she shook her head and sighed in relief.
"Merlin… I thought it was someone else…" Fleur looked up at Viktor Krum, expecting to see a smile. But when her eyes met his…
"Oh no…"
Viktor stepped forward and Fleur took a step back.
"Viktor… What's happened to you?"
The man standing before her was not the same man she had talked with the night before. He was not the same man who had held her tightly in his strong protective arms and whispered words of love in her ear. No… it was a completely different man… A man she didn't recognize…
Fleur swore she saw a tear rolling down his cheek before Viktor took another step forward and… completely gave in to this madness.
A/N: This part is now in Viktor Krum's POV…
There she was… She was just standing there… So calm… So sweet… So… beautiful…
Even with dirt smeared across her rosy cheeks and blood trickling from her forehead, she was still as stunning as ever.
Viktor felt embarrassed to be in her presence. His body was stiff and still… He just wanted to stand there and forget everything around him.
He wanted to just stand there and look at the monument of beauty and grace standing before him.
"…move…"
Viktor inhaled sharply as a sudden pain stabbed at his leg and he stepped forward.
No. I don't want to move!
"I said… move…"
But I don't want to!
"Move!"
Viktor's legs thrust themselves forward, as he felt tears welling up inside his eyes. He knew where this was going. He knew what was going to happen next…
"Stop."
He stopped in his tracks and stared at the back of a beautiful golden head before him. Please… Don't go any farther…
Fight back, Viktor… Fight back…
It was as if she was talking to him… Connecting with him through her mind… But she didn't even know he was behind her…
Come on, Viktor… You're stronger than that… You can do this…
But I'm so tired… I can't take this anymore… Make it stop… Please…
"Viktor, remember our deal…"
I don't care about that stupid deal, anymore! It was wrong to agree in the first place!
"Do it, Viktor… Remember… Eternal Glory…"
I don't want eternal glory! I don't want it if this is what I have to do to get it!
"Do it, Viktor… Now…"
No… I can't… This is too much for me…
"Viktor, do it… Or I will…"
No… You're on your own… I will not hurt the one person I love…
"Is that so… Well…"
There was another stabbing pain in his back and Viktor found his heavy hand lifting itself and resting upon Fleur's right shoulder.
She screamed and turned around, with her wand straight at his face.
Fleur… She was so beautiful…
"Merlin… I thought it was someone else…"
Viktor watched as she lifted a delicate hand to wipe her cheeks.
"Viktor… Do it now…"
No. No, I won't! I won't do it!
"You were asking for it, fool… And now you're going to get it…"
Viktor felt his body stiffen as the curse enveloped him in complete madness. He was completely under the curse now… He could not fight back…
Fleur looked up at him, and Viktor's heart sank as he watched her expression change.
Fleur!
Viktor's mind was racing. He tried to say something. But he couldn't find his voice…
Fleur, please! You have to know something… Fleur, please… Please understand me… please…
"Oh, no… Viktor… What's happened to you?"
Fleur… This isn't me… Please… Please, understand…
Viktor looked at his lover one last time and let a tear roll down his cheek in sadness.
Fleur… I'm sorry… Please forgive me…
"That's right, Viktor… No one can resist… No man is strong enough to fight off the Dark Lord's power…"
There was a shrill scream! And then… once again… silence…
A/N: Hope you liked it… Thanks for reading and please review after… XD