Gosh! I loved writing this chapter. I hope you enjoy it too.
Hermione slept soundly, her dreams full of Fleur and herself dancing fast or slow and intimately. However, in her dreams, unlike that night, they were alone; free to dance however they wanted. She grinned in her sleep.
However a dark shadow loomed from behind, not prominent, but always there. It was near the end of her dream that the darkness suddenly became water and gushed into her dreams, practically drowning Fleur and herself. She screamed as she awoke, sweating and gasping in shock. She looked around violently, as if half expecting water to come rushing into the dorm room.
Calming down after a little while, she got dressed, as it was almost 7:00. Hermione decided to go for a walk.
Fleur woke lazily, though early, as she always did when she was in France. No one else was up and about. Fleur yawned mightily before slipping out of her bed and into her robe. She glanced outside her window, and froze when she saw Hermione strolling across the field. She smirked as she quickly changed into some comfy clothing. She apparated to the ground level and strolled out the door, careful not to make a sound. She glanced about her, trying to remember the direction that Hermione was headed.
She headed due north and spotted Hermione not far off, sitting on a log, looking out on the lake.
Fleur cast Wingardium Leviosa on herself and glided silently over behind Hermione.
Fleur had to suppress the imminent giggles as she clamped her hands over Hermione's eyes and purred into Hermione's ear,
'Guess who?'
Hermione was so startled that Fleur had to steady herself and Hermione so that they didn't tumble into the lake.
'Fleur! What are you doing out here?' exclaimed Hermione.
'The question is, what are YOU doing out here, non? I always wake up this early,' replied Fleur.
Hermione grinned and leap towards Fleur for a hug and Fleur leaned down and kissed Hermione gently.
'Luckily for you, I brushed my teeth,' mumbled Hermione, breathless from the kiss.
Fleur chuckled and turned to look at the treacherous waters; a few of the Giant Squid's tentacles reaching up and sliding down back in the water.
'Hmm, looks cold,' she murmured.
Hermione looked at her, then at the water and remembered her nightmare. She clutched at Fleur's arm and dragged her away,
'Come on, walk with me.'
Fleur was confused, but followed Hermione anyway. She felt Hermione's anxiety and put one arm around the younger girl as they walked through the fields. Hermione leaned her head against Fleur's lean body, glad to be warmed.
Fleur suddenly held Hermione at arms length, grinned and while still grasping Hermione's hand, she flew off.
Hermione was utterly surprised at the sudden exercise but laughed and raced alongside Fleur. Their hair billowed in the wind of their run, their light foot steps leaving no trace in the grass. Hermione's hair mingled with Fleur's as they ran closer together, imitating a three legged race, but soon slowed to a stop, Fleur pulling at Hermione to sit down in the grass.
'The grass is so long,' commented Hermione, breathless.
'Oui, it certainly is,' replied Fleur, looking at Hermione lovingly.
Hermione glanced back and smiled, she gently leaned against Fleur's strong and wiry torso. Fleur wrapped her arms around Hermione
Hermione 'mmed' in comfort and Fleur smiled to herself, stroking Hermione's hair, 'You sound like a cat, purring.'
Hermione laughed softly, 'Yes, well, I have a cat. Maybe I caught it off him. Crookshanks is his name; you ought to meet him one day.'
Fleur nodded, kissing Hermione's neck. Hermione raised her hands and felt around to caress Fleur's head, face and neck.
Fleur nuzzled Hermione's neck and kissed her again, turning her head towards her. Tongues tentatively emerged, slowly and surely making there way towards each other, touching slightly. Passion built up and soon, both were in the throes of a wild and lusty suck fest. Fleur growled as Hermione grazed her teeth across Fleur's shoulders.
'Ah, you are so... wild, ma chere,' murmured Fleur, gazing lovingly at Hermione, returning a kiss.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, 'Me, wild? You're the one who apparated in her sleep into my bed!'
Fleur chuckled and pulled Hermione into a deep and passionate kiss. They broke apart reluctantly to gain air, breathing heavily and glanced shyly at each other. Smirks formed and then they got up slowly.
'Damn, it's 9:00 already. We'd better get back to the hall for breakfast,' muttered Hermione.
Fleur rolled her eyes, 'It matters not, I will see you later and you will see me.'
Hermione nodded, wrapping an arm around Fleur's waist as they headed back to the castle.
Harry was making his way to breakfast when he heard a great sob from behind a statue. He crept around it and found Ron, pathetic looking and in absolute despair.
'Mate, let me help you get over it. This is gonna kill you,' said Harry quietly.
Ron looked up, like a deer caught in the headlights.
'Harry. I didn't mean what I said. I was just really shocked. Like REALLY REALLY shocked, man. Do you think she'll ever forgive me?' croaked Ron.
Harry shrugged,' I dunno about now, mate. But what I am sure is that she will eventually.'
Ron nodded dejectedly. He allowed Harry to hoist him up and into the nearest bathroom to get cleaned up.
Hermione and Fleur finished their breakfast; however, Fleur ate much less than normal. She still felt a little wary about the 2nd task. Not too sure what was going to happen. She knew they were going to take something from her, but what?
Before Hermione left to visit Dumbledore, she grabbed her wrist.
'I love you. Be careful,' she whispered.
Hermione looked back at her with an exasperated expression, 'He's my headmaster, and he won't let anything happen to me. Besides, we don't know what he wants; maybe it's just about exams.'
Fleur kissed a briefly and let her go. She felt a tug in her chest as Hermione disappeared from sight.
Fleur was petrified as she stood upon the platform with the other champions. She shivered, it was quite windy.
However, she kept her expression blank. Stoically, she scanned the crowd, hoping to spot her loved ones.
After a minute of searching, she came upon Gabrielle. She sighed in relief. The young girl locked eyes with her older sister and waved with enthusiasm. However, after a frantic and scrutinised search she was unable to locate Hermione. She shook slightly.
Surely not, surely they wouldn't. No, Fleur could not, would not and just wouldn't accept the idea. She whipped her head around to Madame Maxime, who deftly avoided her gaze. NO!
Fleur trembled with anger and horror. Her Hermione was down there, in the dark, grimy depths of the accursed lake.
'Hermione!' gasped Fleur, who dived in immediately as soon as Dumbledore blew the whistle.
She then gasped in shock as she had forgotten to cast the bubblehead charm, which she did in an instant then returned to kicking her legs hard, towards the bottom and muttered 'point me'. Her wand spun around and pointed her towards a murky and horrifying looking forest of seaweed that reminded Fleur of the hair of old ragged women who lived on the street.
She screwed up her courage as she thought of Hermione and torpedoed through the seaweed. She dodged the attacking miniature sharks and stunned the numerous grindylows that tried to claw her with their spindly fingers. She growled in frustration as she grappled with the Giant Squid's wandering tentacle which developed an interest in her wand. She managed to retrieve her wand and made her way into a clearing.
She saw four floating bodies held down by ropes. She screamed bubbles as she raced towards Hermione's prone form, her legs aching terribly. She grasped at the rope holding her lover down; she growled in exasperation and blasted the rope to pieces with a close and well placed incendio spell. Hermione started drifting off, her face deathly white. Fleur glanced at the other prone bodies; Cho, a girl she didn't know and surprisingly, Ron. Harry had just made it to the clearing as she was leaving.
She supposed that even as a complete idiot, he meant something to both Harry and Hermione.
She cleared her mind and grasped Hermione's waist, hoisting her higher and higher. Fleur kicked furiously, angry at her professors and Madame Maxime for such a task. What if the champions could not find their way? What then? Their loved ones drowned
to death? She refused to think anymore and stared towards the surface. Suddenly, Hermione got heavier. Fleur lost her grip with a violent tug. Grindylows!
"NO!" screamed Fleur, which resulted in bubbles blasting out of her mouth.
She dove back down, clutching Hermione tighter. She didn't have time for this. They were so close to the surface.
She whipped her wand out from her ankle strap and blasted as many as she could, forcing them to release their grip. However, they persisted, more angered by the pain.
Above the surface, onlookers watched with horror. Many could watch. Gabrielle looked on distressed; she noticed Fleur flailing and leapt up. She couldn't take it anymore, before Madame Maxime could reach her, Gabrielle made a mad dash to the edge and plunged into the horrendous waters. She reached Fleur and screamed as the grindylows took interest in her also.
Fleur watched in horror as the grindylows scratched at her little sister.
'Gabrielle! What are you doing here!' screamed Fleur, nearly breaking her bubble. She hastily cast the bubblehead charm on her sister and dragged Hermione with her, and grasped Gabrielle with her other hand. One last massive stun spell dispersed the grindylows for the moment. And Fleur took the opportunity to fly through the water with the last of her might, breaking the surface, gasping and feeling extremely fatigued. Hermione awoke immediately at the cold, harsh air hitting her lungs.
She gasped as she found Fleur half-concious next to her in the water, and a frantic younger girl, who she assumed from the likeness to be Fleur's sister. She and Gabrielle swam frantically, aiding Fleur who was slipping in and out of consciousness. They reached the platform, the helpers hauling them out of the water and wrapped them in towels and blankets.
Hermione crawled over to Fleur and clutched at her prone form, great wracking sobs coming from her. Gabrielle had also positioned herself on the other side of her sister. She mumbled comforting and worried phrases of French, burying her head in Fleur's shoulder. Hermione placed a hand on Gabrielle's back, gently rubbing it. The healers dragged them away to tend to Fleur.
Fleur managed to wake for a moment, giving them both a wink, promptly falling into another blackout.
Gabrielle was being taken care of by other Beauxbatons. Hermione was warming up gradually as she watched the other champions emerge with their prizes. Harry came last of all. She smiled slightly to herself as he and Ron were blasted from the water, landing roughly on the platform. She squealed in shock as she felt how cold they were, immediately wrapping them
in her towel and grabbed another off a by standing healer. She hugged them both tightly.
Ron looked at her sheepishly and apologised quietly for being a fool.
'It's ok Ron. It doesn't matter anymore. I forgive you,' murmured Hermione.
Harry sighed in relief and let the healers tend to him. He and Ron were carried to the Infirmary. Hermione hurried there herself to visit Fleur.
I feel so mean, poor Fleur and Hermione. I need to give Fleur a reward. Or rather, Hermione does…. ;)