Here it is. I must say I was quite disappointed with the lack of reviews. Did I do badly with my last chapter that only my regular readers reviewed it? I feel very sad if that is the case. I had hoped to achieve 100 reviews and post this chapter as the crowning moment, but I guess 95 is better than none. Well, read on, it is a really long chapter this one. It's not as well written as I had hoped, but it should do. Enjoy!
A sleepy Harry followed a determined Viktor Krum outside.
'What is it Krum? Why am I out here in the freezing cold morning?' inquired Harry.
Krum had his back turned, shifting his feet. He turned to look at Harry, 'I vos vondering. Haff you ever... Are you vith Herm own ninny?'
'What?' muttered Harry, the cogs turning slowly in his brain.
"Herm own ninny?"
'Oh! Hermione!' exclaimed Harry.
Krum nodded fervently.
'Um, I don't know if you have noticed, but she is so very not with me, cause she is with Fleur,' explained Harry.
Krum's face fell, 'Vith Fleur?'
'Yes, with Fleur,' replied Harry, shocked at Krum's apparent dullness.
'Thank you Harry,' murmured Krum dejectedly.
'Uh, no problem Viktor,' the use of Krum's first name rolling off his tongue strangely.
Suddenly Crouch appeared, grabbed Harry and babbled, 'Dumbledore! Dumbledore? Where is Dumbledore!'
Harry managed to convince Crouch to let go of him, yelling at Viktor to watch him till he returned from getting Dumbledore.
'Potter! Stop running around! What are you spouting rubbish about!' demanded Snape.
Dumbledore calmly placed a hand on Snape's shoulder and he followed Harry back to Krum and Crouch. They found Krum stunned.
'Enervate' uttered Dumbledore.
Krum awoke frantic, 'He attacked me! The crazy old man attacked me!'
Dumbledore managed to sooth him and stopped Karkaroff from making too much a fuss.
Harry was ushered away; he wandered back to Gryffindor Tower, utterly confused.
'I dunno Harry, I think you'd better be careful. You never know when the person who's after you will strike. First Crouch, you might be next,' commented Ron.
Harry bristled, 'But it doesn't make sense! Why not just kill me off then! It could have been an accident! Krum could have fought me because he thought I was going out with Hermione or something!'
'What?' asked Hermione.
'Um, I er...' began Harry.
'What? Krum's interested in 'Mione? Serious!' asked Ron.
Hermione glared at him but turned to Harry,' Well, I hope you set him straight, Harry.'
'Course I did. He was so disappointed, it was weird,' replied Harry.
'Thank you. But shouldn't he have realised during the Yule Ball?' mused Hermione.
Both Harry and Ron shrugged.
Hermione continued her tutoring of Harry of hexes and disarming spells. She was quite pleased with his progress.
'I'm quite sure that we've protected you the best we can and quite adequately for the third task, I mean it's not like they are going to make you fight anything more dangerous than a dragon, right?' said Hermione.
Harry nodded gratefully, 'Thanks again 'Mione. I just couldn't have done it without you!'
'Alright, alright, enough of the flattering. Just practice a little more and then you'll be ready! I'll see you both later, ok?' she said before racing off.
'Fleur, right? No, it's ok. I'm getting use to the idea now. But you know I think Hermione and Ginny have had a fight.' commented Ron.
Harry raised his brow,' Is it important, do you think?'
Ron shook his head, 'Nah. Couldn't be.'
Hermione glanced about, looking for Fleur. Fleur had been watching from above, amused at Hermione's frantic swishes of her hair.
Fleur lifted herself up and floated down to meet Hermione with a kiss from behind.
'Oh! I thought I had missed you!' exclaimed Hermione.
'I will always wait for you,' replied Fleur.
Hermione smiled at her and kissed her softly,' How are you? Are you ready for the third task?'
Fleur rolled her eyes, 'At least I'll be above water right?'
Hermione giggled nervously, 'Yeah, that's always a good thing.'
Fleur noticed Hermione's jumpy demeanour.
'Ma chere? Do not worry. It is only a school competition. I was utterly worried in the 2nd task, but I forgot that you have Dumbledore as a Headmaster. He would not let anything happen to any of his students. I am sure,' she whispered, stroking Hermione's hair and cheeks.
Hermione leant against Fleur, 'I just don't want you to get hurt again. I felt so broken when I saw you injured.'
Fleur kissed Hermione again, gently and surely, lightly tugging on her lower lip. Hermione reciprocated and sighed.
'You mean the world to Fleur Delacour,' stated Hermione.
Fleur beamed and hugged her tightly.
'Come on, we'd best get to lunch, hmm?' said Fleur, Hermione followed her.
'Harry! That Rita Skeeter woman is just absolutely unbelievable! She's writing such rubbish!' exclaimed Hermione angrily.
'Yeah, I guess she doesn't really fancy me anymore,' replied Harry dryly.
'That's creepy. How could she have known about your scar hurting? She's not still in Hogwarts is she?' asked Ron.
'No, I don't think so,' replied Hermione.
'Personally I think this is a good thing, that means she'll stop pestering me!' added Harry lightly.
'But, people are going to think you're crazy,' interjected Hermione.
'And since when did you care what others think?' asked Ron wryly.
Hermione gave him a small smile, to which he returned an encouraging one, though he had a rather guilty look in his eyes.
He shifted on his feet nervously, 'You know Hermione, I never really properly apologised. You know? I'm sorry. I was a jerk. I hope we can go back to the way we were?'
Hermione looked at him sadly, 'I don't know if I want it back the way it was Ron.'
Ron looked down at his feet, feeling absolutely horrid.
'But,' started Hermione, 'I think we can do better, don't you?'
Ron glanced at her and grinned sheepishly,' Yeah, I reckon we can.'
Harry rolled his eyes and laughed, 'Well, are we all happy families again?'
'Yeah,' replied Ron and Hermione together.
Then they all laughed as Neville walked into the room and tripped on the uplifted carpet corner.
Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes as she helped the confused Neville up back onto his feet.
'Bugger,' muttered Neville, annoyed at being so clumsy.
'Bug...' said Hermione, she looked as though she was in a trance.
'Hermione? Earth to Hermione Granger! Are you okay?' demanded Ron, waving his hand in front of her face.
'What? Oh, sorry. OH! She couldn't! Oh, but that is the only thing that... but its ILLEGAL! I'll have her! I'll be right back!' exclaimed Hermione, rushing to the library.
'Oh, not Rita Skeeter again! I reckon 'Mione might have another obsession running here!' exclaimed Ron, Harry nodded in agreement.
Neville on the other hand just looked at them blankly and limped to his room.
'Harry! Come on! Their waiting for you!' called Cedric, grabbing his arm and dragging Harry into a room.
'What is it Cedric? Who's waiting?' asked Harry.
'Family!' replied Cedric.
Harry screwed his brow. No way, the Dursleys were so very very unlikely to be there. There was no way in hell that they would ever come here.
Harry looked around the room and spotted a very excited Mrs Weasley and Bill.
'Harry! We've come to watch!' greeted Mrs Weasley, hugging him tightly.
Bill grasped Harry's hand and exclaimed, 'Charlie said that you whipped that Hungarian Horntail mate! Good going! I wish I was there to have seen it!'
Harry beamed and noticed Fleur staring curiously at Bill. What? Surely not. Harry decided that she was only looking in interest because Harry was with his 'family' both of which were obviously not blood related.
Bill scowled when Amos Diggory came and jibed Harry, ecstatic that Cedric was tying with Harry. Mrs Weasley had given him a rather angry lecture, but was soon calmed as Ron and Hermione joined them. She glanced at Hermione with an odd look on her face.
Harry sensed the latent hostility.
'Um, Mrs Weasley, you don't happen to read Witch Weekly, do you? It's such rubbish, all that stuff that Rita Skeeter writes! All those lies about me and about Hermione. Rubbish! Absolute slander!' exclaimed Harry, wiping a tear from his eye.
Mrs Weasley gasped and patted him on the back, 'Of course not Harry dear!'
She grasped him in another warm hug; Harry turned his head and winked at Hermione, who shot him an appreciative smile.
They all left to the Great Hall for the final feast before the 3rd task.
'Fleur! Don't go yet!' exclaimed Hermione, leaping into Fleur's arms.
'Ermione! You are flushed! What is the matter?' inquired Fleur.
'Why were you talking to Bill?' asked Hermione, just a bit disappointed that she had to ask Fleur to confirm her own internal arguments.
'What do you mean?' asked Fleur, innocently.
'Come of it! I saw you talking to him and playing with his earrings!' said Hermione angrily.
Fleur looked at Hermione with amusement and sighed. So that was what was bothering her love.
'Ermione, I was simply asking him to tell me where he bought his earrings! They are so meticulously designed!' replied Fleur.
'Oh,' was all Hermione could muster, her face turning beet red.
'I'm sorry, I thought...' she started.
Fleur shushed her, 'It's ok. I understand where you are coming from. But remember, I love you and you only.'
Hermione nodded and kissed Fleur's cheek.
'I'm sorry for overreacting,' apologised Hermione.
'That's ok. Now, seat yourself safely with Ron and his family okay? I want to make sure you are safe while I'm in the maze. I can't watch you if I have to watch my own back,' commanded Fleur.
Hermione was taken aback, 'What makes you think I need protecting? I can spell a great shield charm thanks!'
'Ah, I'm sorry ma chere, I did not mean to insult you. But please, I just have a terrible feeling,' pleaded Fleur.
Hermione quirked her brow, 'Alright. Of course I'll sit with them. YOU be careful in there, okay?'
Fleur nodded and said goodbye with a deep kiss.
Fleur waited till the whistle and glanced back to the place where Hermione was sitting and smile in her direction before heading off into the forbidding hedges. The massive plants with spidery roots made Fleur shiver, the thought of them coming alive scared her. She gripped her wand, glancing around nervously.
'Lumos,' she whispered, the atmosphere sure wouldn't let her speak in a normal tone.
She scanned the few metres ahead of her, making sure there was nothing to trip her up.
She gasped at a mangled body, in front of her. It was Hermione's. She ran forward, tears forming.
As she reached it, it twitched. She frowned and said, 'Riddikulus!'
The body disappeared; she growled at herself angrily, how could she let such a simple trick fool her?
She grumbled at herself in disgust. The silence of the maze unnerved her; she hummed to herself in a bid to make it more comfortable. She saw a glow appear in front of her, perhaps the goal was moving around the maze.
She raced forward and stopped in her tracks when she came face to face with several mischievous looking imps.
'Oh seriously?' muttered Fleur, annoyed at the simple task of walking past them.
However she was pushed over, falling flat on her face. Fleur growled in anger. She whipped her wand at them, but they had disappeared.
She glared around before heading off again, but was yet again tripped.
'Do that again and you may leave this world in pain and anguish,' spat Fleur, shooting a few stun spells into the bushes.
A few squeaks indicated that she had a hit some. She heard the rest scuttle away with angry yelps and screams as she spelled the bushes to shake violently.
Fleur dusted herself off, examining her hand that was throbbing from falling on it, at least she had not done anything to seriously injure it.
'What on earth?' she exclaimed as a determined Viktor Krum came at her, he had a blank expression on his face.
She backed away, hoping to avoid any conflict, but he seemed to follow her. She sped up her pace, Krum followed suit and soon he was chasing her at a dangerous pace for such a confined area. She wasn't completely worried until he attempted to hex her.
'What the HELL are you doing?' she screamed at him.
He didn't reply so she shot a shield spell, blocking any more hexes. She then ran around the up coming corner and pointed her wand at him trying to stun him. Unfortunately, his Quidditch reflexes proved helpful and he dodged most. She screamed as he tried to send a Cruciatus curse at her.
She frantically ran around in circles, hoping to confuse him, and then in a stroke of brilliance, she stood still. Clamping her hand over her mouth to avoid detection by her heavy breathing. He walked past her, not noticing her slim figure pressed up against the hedges. The moment before he turned the corner, she stunned him.
'Sorry Viktor. I don't know what you were thinking, but the cup can't mean that much to you,' she commented to the unconscious Durmstrang, sending up red sparks and ran off.
She ran back in a moment of madness and shot ropes out of her wand to wrap Krum up before turning to leave.
Meanwhile, Hermione was clutching at her water bottle, wondering what on earth Fleur was doing, let alone Harry. She was feeling so anxious. Ron tried to make stupid jokes to calm her down, but gave up when she nearly snapped his head off.
'I'm sorry Ron. I'm just really jumpy right now,' apologised Hermione.
Ron nodded and replied, 'It's ok 'Mione. Look, both of them know how to take care of themselves. Like you said, Fleur is a seventh year and well, Harry had help from you! What more could either need?'
Hermione smiled at his kind words and gave him a hug.
'Ah, I need to go to the bathroom. Ron, don't let anyone take my seat!' she warned, before leaving the stands.
Ron rolled his eyes and nodded, shoving another mouthful of popcorn into his mouth.
Hermione gasped as a hand clamped over her mouth and dragged her away from the stands.
Harry flicked his head at the sound of Fleur's scream.
'Fleur! Are you ok?' he yelled.
There was no answer. He shrugged; maybe she saw a spider, or maybe even Aragog. He hit himself mentally, as if Dumbledore would let Aragog be put in the maze. As if Aragog himself would let himself be put in the maze.
However, he felt wary and kept his wand up just in case. So far he had only encountered a Dementor posing Boggart. After several uses of the Four Point Spell, Harry managed to set himself back on the right direction.
Suddenly, a massive Blast Ended Skrewt lunged at him, he leaped away and lashed his wand at it, 'STUPEFY!'
The spell rebounded, narrowly missing his ear.
'Shit!' muttered Harry, climbing back to his feet, remembering that Skrewts had armour.
Harry aimed his wand at the little patch of bare skin and shouted, 'IMPEDIMENTA!'
The Skrewt froze and over turned as it fell. Harry whooped in victory, but didn't stay long, knowing the Skrewt would soon recover.
He dashed away to safety, a good several hundred metres away.
Fleur ran past Harry, nearly blasting him with a stun spell.
'Arry! Be careful! Krum came after and tried to use the Cruciatus curse on me!' exclaimed Fleur.
Harry screwed upo his brow in anger, 'WHAT! Surely Karkaroff didn't tell him to use that! Are you okay!'
'I'm fine. I don't know about Krum. Just be careful, I don't know your friend Cedric,' she warned before running off again.
Harry scratched his head, he had seen Cedric not long ago, Cedric had warned him of Hagrid's Skrewts.
Fleur felt a sudden relief; at least Hermione's best friend was okay. He did not seem to want to hurt people for the cup.
She cursed in French as she noticed the Hermione standing at the end of her hedge row.
'Another Boggart? How many did they capture?' wondered Fleur aloud.
As she got closer, Hermione walked towards her and lunged at her.
'Fleur, let's get out of here, what do you say?' asked Hermione very seductively, sliding a finger up Fleur's leg.
Fleur growled and pushed Hermione away from her, pointing her wand and said 'Riddikulus!'
However, Hermione did not go away, she did not change form and disappear. Fleur looked at her in confusion.
Hermione pouted,' I'm not a Boggart. Why do you want me to go away?'
She pressed herself against Fleur, who backed away, letting Hermione trip slightly. Hermione jumped up and pushed Fleur against the hedge.
'What's the matter, Hon? Scared?' whispered Hermione in Fleur's ear, licking the lobe and jabbed her wand in Fleur's gut.
'Cru...' began Hermione.
Fleur gasped and yelled, 'Petrificus Totalus!'
Hermione flew backwards and was still.
Fleur gasped a few sobs, clutching at her chest, why was Hermione doing this? Then she stared into Hermione's furious eyes, they were glazed over, whited over the pupils. She was under the Imperius curse.
'Oh, 'Ermione. Who did this to you?' sobbed Fleur, cradling the prone form of her girlfriend.
She flicked her head up angrily, eyes flaring red; her hair took on a greenish tinge.
'You will pay!' she screamed, sending up red sparks, hoping that the teacher's would come quickly.
McGonagall came into view and gasped soundly, 'Miss Granger! Miss Delacour, what happened?'
Fleur blinked away a few tears and reverted to human form, 'There is something very wrong going on, Professor. Viktor Krum tried to hurt me also earlier. That is why I sent up the red sparks.'
McGonagall looked at her questioningly Fleur handed Hermione over to her.
'She was under the Imperius curse. Please, look after her,' said Fleur, desperately.
'You must come with me also. I don't you ought to continue,' stated McGonagall quietly.
Fleur nodded and followed her through a hole in the maze.
It was absolute silence in the graveyard. Harry glanced around nervously.
'Cedric, I think we ought to get out of here,' whispered Harry desperately.
Cedric squinted at a lone figure coming towards them, holding a bundle, 'Who's there? Have we won?'
'Kill the spare,' came a horrid sounding reply.
'Avada Kedavra!' came another voice, a bright green flash blinded Harry.
He stared with horror at Cedric's lifeless body, sprawled on the dirt.
'Cedric! No!' Harry turned to face the figure behind him, 'YOU!'
Wormtail grimaced at Harry's murderous expression, and spelled ropes to tie him to a grave.
'Let me go! I let you live! Scumbag!' roared Harry.
'Squirm all you like Harry Potter, it'll do you no good,' came the chilling voice again, the bundle wriggled violently.
Harry suddenly felt sick with dread.
Fleur held back her tears as Madam Pomfrey tended to Hermione. There was a hush over the crowd, craning to see what was going on. Suddenly, Harry appeared, clutching Cedric's body and the TriWizard Cup.
As the crowd roared with victory, Fleur screamed, she had noticed the lifeless limbs and eyes of Cedric Diggory. Then the crowd became quiet again, the only sound being Harry's furious sobs and the professors trying to pry him from Cedric's body.
'NO! NO!' yelled Harry, his voice tainted by wracking sobs.
Dumbledore and Moody managed to pry Harry's strong fingers from Cedric's robes and Moody lead him away from the mess.
Fleur watched on in horror as Cedric Diggory's father wailed in pain.
A weak Hermione made a cry of pain, Fleur ran to her side.
'Ermione! Are you alright! I'm sorry I hexed you, I didn't know what else to do? Jeis su desole!' babbled Fleur, tears falling freely.
Hermione lifted an arm and caressed Fleur's cheek.
'It's ok. I'm fine, just a bit tired. What's happening?' she asked calmly.
Fleur it to her straight, knowing Hermione was strong enough. Hermione's expression became pained.
'Harry! Is he alright?' Hermione asked suddenly.
'Oui, Professor Moody is looking after him right now,' replied Fleur, kissing Hermione's forehead.
Hermione sat up violently, 'NO! Professor Moody attacked me! He was the one who put me under the Imperius curse to distract you!'
At this fact, Fleur got up and raced over to Dumbledore and told him what Hermione said.
Dumbledore thanked her quickly and raced up to Moody's office, with several other professors.
In the Infirmary, Hermione and Fleur held each other as they waited for Harry to fall asleep, along with Ron and Mrs Weasley.
Mrs Weasley hugged Ron tightly, placing a loving kiss on the top of his head. She had been somewhat wary of Fleur and Hermione together, but under the circumstances, was being quite normal.
Fleur rubbed Hermione's back. Hermione stood up abruptly and slammed her hand down on the window sill. Harry woke suddenly, Mrs Weasley frowned.
'Sorry Harry. Sleep well,' she apologised.
Harry nodded at her and did fall back asleep after another swig of dreamless potion.
Fleur looked at her questioningly. Hermione asked her for a tube. She found one and handed it to Hermione.
'What is it?' asked Fleur as she watched Hermione pluck something from her palm and dropped it into the tube, slamming a cork into the opening.
'The bane of my frustrations,' replied Hermione.
'What! Rita Skeeter!' exclaimed Ron, coming over to them.
Hermione nodded though motioned for him to be quiet as Mrs Weasley looked at them with curiosity.
Fleur chuckled, 'Ah, I knew she was fighting with the wrong girl.'
Hermione beamed then lifted the cork so that she could whisper into it, 'Now that I have you, you and I must have a little chat.'
With that, she left the Infirmary, followed by Fleur.
Ron shrugged and helped himself to a piece of chocolate from his mother.
Well? Please review, I love them! My inbox was so empty for the last week. Well, that's it, but there will be one more chapter to finish 'Impulses'. It will be a songfic final chapter. I am considering a sequel, but first I'll see what the response is to my finished 'Impulses'.