As soon as her feet touched the ground, she made sure there wasn't any imminent threat before she delicately lowered Hermione on the deck. No one dared to move.
The Veela didn't move away from her mate, she moved her head frenetically as she made sure the Gryffindor was fine. Laetitia took a step towards her best friend. She froze as a snarl escaped the creature. She couldn't control it, the Veela was looking at her straight in the eyes, it was a challenge, her wolf didn't want to bow down, her eyes flashed yellow but nothing else. They stood extremely still until Marguerite stepped in. "Enough you two. Laetitia take a step back."
Laetitia didn't move, Fleur's grandmother added. "Laetitia. Fleur won't step back; she is keeping her mate safe."
Nothing changed. Ginny rolled her eyes not understanding what was going on. Why Laetitia wouldn't step back from Fleur who obviously wasn't really in control. She grabbed the raven-haired girl arm and pulled her back, farther away from the Veela and closer to her.
Laetitia wasn't about to bow down and because of the person who grabbed her she had pretty much forfeited. She felt a growl make its way up and stop in her throat as she saw who had dared to pull her away from this staring contest. She was left powerless as the red head kept on pulling until the lycan was slightly behind her.
Laetitia felt torn. Ginny standing in front of her, more than a head shorter. Laetitia was older, stronger…she was the one who was supposed to protect her. Yet it felt good to be protected by her mate, it made her felt special. Her wolf was crooning and she felt the strong urge to hug Ginny.
Marguerite knew Fleur recognized her as kin, but she wasn't about to overstep. Her granddaughter had to be under some serious duress for her to transform. She didn't move closer. "Hermione. Are you all right?"
The Gryffindor shivered. She was freezing, still wet in this February cold. "I'm good." She wrapped her arms around herself. The Veela being quite bigger put one leg on each side of her mate as she stepped closer, she squatted until she was sitting, wrapped her arms around the smaller girl until she was flushed against her body, then enveloped them with her wings.
Marguerite looked at her younger granddaughter. She would be the one the least likely to be seen as a threat. "Gabrielle, go grab the towels for the girls."
The tiny blonde's mouth dropped open. "Moi?"
"Yes you. You know you have nothing to fear from your sister."
Apolline reassured her husband quickly, she trusted her mother, before she handed the towel to Gabrielle.
The tiny blonde slowly approached the couple, her gaze was on her sister, even if she kept on glancing at the British girl from time to time.
Hermione took out her wand and shook it to get the last drop of water off it, before doing a complicated wave as she cast a hot-air charm. Streams of hot air shot out of the wands that was directed towards her soaked clothes, which began to steam as they dried out. Hermione was incased between Fleur's bust and her wings, she could feel the heat coming from the scales. Nonetheless, she shivered, she was dry but she was still freezing, she had this unpleasant feeling of being cold from the inside.
Gabrielle had the warm towel spread in front of her as she, step by step, got closer to the Veela. Once she was a little bit more than a foot away, the huge wings slowly moved. The youngest Delacour didn't take her eyes away from the Veela as Hermione took the towel and wrapped it tightly around herself. "Thank you so much."
Gabrielle nodded. She couldn't find the words, even less in a foreign language.
Hermione jumped as she felt something nip her hair. Fleur's beak backed away and the Veela froze for a second, watching the Gryffindor.
Hermione slowly raised her hand to the sharp beak. It was very smooth; she moved her hand up until she reached scales. The Veela had moved her head, making herself more accessible to her smaller mate, until her head was in the crook of her human's neck.
Hermione froze as a loud low sound came from behind her, but Fleur didn't act any different. The Gryffindor could feel the scale vibrate on her back as the Veela was bellowing. She didn't move, not knowing what it meant. "Hmm…Margo?" Fleur had told her to call her grandmother like that. Hermione was getting frustrated because she couldn't pronounce the name properly, and she didn't feel at ease with calling her grandmother, mamie or anything like that.
The older woman didn't move closer, she pretty much yelled. "Don't worry child. This is just the Veela call when she wants to mate. She is at the same time calling to you and warning off any possible competition."
Hermione blushed, she was fine with Fleur wanting to…mate, having someone shouting it out for all to hear was something else.
Laetitia sneakered and tried her best to not burst. She ducked behind the red head before her laugh resounded. Ginny's eyes grew wide before she turned around. "What are you doing?!"
The older girl barely managed a response between gasps. "Di…did you…see…her face?!"
While most were gawking at the fully transformed Veela, some were arguing. As soon as the amazing creature jumped out of the water carrying her hostage Karkaroff jumped off his seat. He wanted to disqualify the French girl; it wasn't fair to the others that she had capacities beyond a standard human being.
The Beauxbatons' Headmistress was very smug, she leaned back in her seat with a smile. Her pupil was the first one back. "Those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the Tournament" These words, so bitter to her before, when Harry Potter's name sprung out of the Goblet, tasted sweet at that moment.
Dumbeldore was sitting between them, like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"That! Is not…people!" He pointed at the champion. "That's not even human!"
Madame Maxime's jaw dropped for a moment before she suddenly stood up too, she walked up to the other man, making sure to be close enough so that she was towering above him. "How dare you say anything so despicable about one of my students?! A teenage girl!"
He had to look up at her, it aggravated him even more. "Veela are considered creatures, where I come from…"
The French woman cut him off. "Feel free to go back there anytime."
"The Triwizard Cup recognized Miss Delacour as a valid participant, its magic, old and powerful, is unbiased." Dumbeldore slowly stood up. "She surprised us all, this is a marvelous opportunity for us to embrace this change." Madame Maxime and Karkaroff were glaring at each over as Dumbeldore walked away, down to the brink of the lake.
Ginny was rolling her eyes while Laetitia was cackling. The Headmaster walked passed them, he didn't stop by the Delacour's family, he just kept on walking towards the Veela and her mate.
The bellowing stopped as the Veela straightened up as the man got too close. He could be a threat. Hermione was still in shock. Obviously, her presence was comforting for Fleur, she could feel it. Or was Fleur's presence comforting for her? She wasn't sure at that moment, maybe both.
She watched as she Professor Dumbeldore got closer, as Fleur removed her head from her neck she stiffened, feeling the tension rise as the Headmaster moved closer. The Veela's chest started to expand and a small noise was heard. A long low vibrating sound. The rumbling grew louder and louder, however the man didn't stop.
The Veela wrapped one hand around Hermione, bringing her closer to her body, the girl let out a squeal. The Veela raised her other arm to her side, a fireball appeared in the palm of her hand. It was when the wizard stopped.
Marguerite was grumbling in French as she joined Dumbeldore. "What do you think you are doing?"
He smiled down at her. "Congratulating the first champion back."
"Can't you see this might not be the best time?" Asked the eldest Delacour.
"On the contrary, I think it the best time." He made an obvious move as he looked around, their little group did the same. They had been so caught up in their bubble that they didn't realize how the rest of the crowd was looking at Fleur. Mostly amazement and fear.
The Headmaster looked back at his pupil. "If you would Miss Granger."
Hermione frowned, she was pinned against scales, not too hard but she couldn't really get away. She could barely move. "I'm not sure what you want me to do Professor."
"I've seen you anchor Miss Delacour more than once, you're the most suited to bring her back to her human form."
Hermione looked scared, there are many things she knew, and so she knew she could do, this one she wasn't sure. She wasn't sure she had that much of an influence on Fleur. Distracting her and speaking to her to calm her down was not the same as interacting with her Veela form.
"You can do this Hermione! No one wants her body more than you do!" Yelled Laetitia in support, and smirked when the bushy haired Gryffindor did her best to glare at her while the felt her cheek burn. It didn't help that Hermione had been thinking about it, not like she could just kiss Fleur to bring her back.
Ginny rolled her eyes before she scoffed at the girl by her side. "You never miss one, do you?"
"I'm giving her an incentive." Retorted the raven-haired girl.
Hermione glanced at the fireball; it had grown. "Professor could you please take a few steps back?" He smiled as he did so.
She took a few deep breaths before addressing the Veela. "Fleur? Fleur it's okay, we are safe now." Her hands that grasped the big scaly arm around her middle relaxed before she gently stroked it. She was surprised at how nice it felt under her fingertips, soft warm, slightly overlapping scales. It was like tracing over a familiar pattern.
Hermione's voice got softer, she felt better, slightly more relaxed. She hoped she was sharing that feeling with Fleur. "We are safe. I promise. We're out of harm's way. It was in the water remember?"
Hermione felt the Veela's grip loosen around her. Slowly she turned around her until she was facing the creature. She didn't see it but when she did so the Veela closed her hand, making the fireball disappear, a few seconds later big hands took place on her hips.
The Gryffindor smiled before raising her hand, putting it on the Veela's chest, above her heart. "Would you change back Fleur? There is no need for the scaly body armor anymore. Please Fleur…" Hermione stopped when suddenly the Veela seemed to shrink. She was still blinking, trying to grasp that in front of her stood Fleur once more. Blonde hair, light blue eyes, rosy lips, pale skin. Hermione's eyes grew wide it was a lot of skin, Fleur was naked in front of her, and her hand was still raised, resting on top of a nice round breast. Browned eyes were alternating between Fleur's eyes and her own hand which wasn't moving.
Hermione was brought back to reality when there was a flash. Immediately she took the towel off her shoulders before wrapping her girlfriend in it. As soon as she was sure everything was covered, she turned angrily around. "Colin Creevey! There'd better not be a picture of a naked Fleur on your Camera!"
The smaller blonde boy swallowed, if he was somewhat scared of a fully transformed Veela, he was terrified of a pissed off Hermione Granger. "That wasn't me!" He exclaimed.
She put her fists on her hips as she glared all around trying to find the culprit.
Fleur felt like she was waking up from a nightmare, it felt like she had just been at the bottom of the lake felling helpless and powerless to save her mate. And here she was just standing there, her back to her. She grabbed her shoulders and spun the younger girl around. "Are you hurt? Are okay?" Fleur was checking that Hermione was fine. She needed to make sure she was safe and sound. It didn't last long between Fleur's worry and Hermione surprise at the sudden move, they hugged, whispering in each over shoulder.
Dumbeldore didn't wait for them to part on their own terms. "Congratulation to Beauxbatons' champion, the first one back."
Fleur was annoyed at the interruption while Hermione felt embarrassed.
Madame Maxime appeared; she made a move to hug her student but froze.
"Is something wrong?" Asked Fleur.
Laetitia snorted. "Some people get uncomfortable when it comes to hugging barely clothed bodies." That didn't stop her she moved in to hug her friend and congratulate her but something kept her from getting closer. She looked over her shoulder, Ginny had grabbed unto the lapel of her coat at the back of her neck. The red head wasn't happy. "What do you think you are doing?"
"I was going to hug my best friend."
"She is naked!" Exclaimed Ginny.
Laetitia groaned. "She is wearying a towel." The tried again and Ginny pulled her back. "I don't think so." Laetitia turned to speak to Fleur and realized that Ginny wasn't the only one glaring at her. Hermione seemed murderous.
Marguerite laughed. "Not this time puppy."
Laetitia just huffed.