Alright, here we go again!


Cupid's Arrow


Summer sun was the greatest thing to ever be created in their tiny mediocre universe, according to Hermione and many of her 'siblings'. Well on her father's side. Of course her aunt would whole-heartedly argue that point and say the moon was in fact the greatest thing ever. Ever so slightly inclined to agree as the girl rather enjoyed her soft music playing at night more than day time, even if it brought about a whole new dynamic of trouble on her part…and Hermione needed no more trouble. She already was a demigod.

"Hermione! You coming?" brown eyes fell from their focus to the messy haired, green eyed fellow camper. Harry was always too excited for the start of the summer. It meant freedom, activities, being one's self without the judgement of the world. And for Demigods like them, Camp Half-blood was everything.

"Yeah" she replied with a grin, eyed tracing over the archway of which she had to only step through for their lives to go from mundane to the extraordinary. The sixteen year old loved her life despite the difficulties many of her kind had to endure just to reach a mature age of sixteen. Harry on his own has been through so many close calls in the past years, Hermione was sure he was a cat in his last life; with an extra few lucky breaks to save his scrawny neck.

Of course the brunette couldn't forget their remaining group members, all of whom practically lived in Camp the year round because they had nowhere else to go. The Weasley clan was one of the most memorable with their red hair and unyielding wills to persevere. Hermione also remembered the faces of the daughter of magic, Luna, the boisterous and loud, fire loving Seamus and of course the ever watchful pair Neville and Dean; a centaur and satyr respectfully.

Since Hermione was a young eleven year old girl she'd been attending camp each summer after the claiming of which the event was still topic of conversations today as one of the most mysterious and peculiar. Not that Hermione cared for gossip. Being a daughter of the god Apollo wasn't the mystical part, it was rather ordinary; oh that would've been easy if her father had actually done the right thing and payed attention that night during her first visit to the hide away location.

Soon as she stepped onto the covered dining area before dinner was to commence a symbol blazed above her head. A silver bow and arrow. Well that was unexpected. Turns out her aunt Artemis had claimed her before her own father could ever hope to lay eyes on the girl. Arriving at camp during night did give the Goddess the opportunity and it wasn't until the sun rose the following morning did another symbol appear. From then on, she was the source of many ludicrous discussions from who her real godly parent was, to the most outlandish explanations that could end in God vs Goddess; Brother vs Sister war.


Getting through the final obstruction to her view, the girl gladly stood on the border that was Camp Half-blood. She saw the endless number of teens strolling, sword fighting, chariot racing and much more. This was home.

"Hermione!" a grin set across her face before a body collided with her own, nearly knocking them both to the ground. Ginny Weasley, youngest of the lot and Hermes born girl whom was the brunette's best friend. The younger girl had, like the rest of her brothers, flaming red hair and freckles adorning every inch of skin; she was a fighter, a trickster and playfully spirited. How she got along with hard working, archer master and musically gifted Hermione was anyone's guess.

"It's great to see you again Ginny" Hermione replied after returning the hug. The duo continued the brunette's original path, not wanting to diverse to anywhere else but her cabin. Her uninhabited cabin.

"Ok so you'll never believe what the twins did this winter. It was ingenious really, they took all the shields they could find right, and put them together outside the…" Ginny stopped short unbeknown to Hermione who kept on walking. The brunette turned around last minute after noting the only footsteps sounding were her own.

"Ginny?"

"They're doing it again. Soon as the sun comes out they're there just…" the redhead pulled a face of annoyance. Retracing the three paces she took ahead Hermione came upon the sight that had Ginny so 'rattled'. The Aphrodite Cabin.

"Every summer they just…" the girl ground her teeth in annoyance before storming away. Hermione raised a brow in curiosity of her friend but shrugged it off while resuming her path. Such sights as common as satyrs running about, Ares kids picking fights and someone from the Hephaestus cabin blowing something up was the entire Aphrodite cabin sunbathing upon the rocks. Hermione wouldn't be surprised if a certain dark haired boy was the culprit for the last thought.

Reaching her cabin, Hermione made herself at home as always in the farthest bunk from the door, by the large window and directly under the skylight. The Artemis cabin was normally home to her Hunters whenever they visited the camp, however when they did not take up residence, the place was Hermione's alone. Apollo daughter she may be but the brunette was claimed officially by the Goddess so rules being as they were, she stayed in her assigned cabin. Numerous times while stretching her bow before practise Hermione used to look toward the sun and envision what the godly twins would be doing above the clouds. Arguing as they normally did in tales past; over her she used to imagine before such thoughts became pointless. The possibilities of her father's distracted blindness at the exact moment she entered camp were endless even to Hermione. Her nightly dreams told tales of boundless hunts and before dawn she could almost feel her father's hand gently graze her eyes; giving but a touch of vision to her future.

Hermione had no gift for healing unlike her many 'brothers' and 'sisters'. She had her bow, she had her music and more often than not she enjoyed the quiet peace under the moonlit sky. It wasn't her fault that the harmonious sweet tunes brought about the wilds to her either; even the brunette couldn't deny the cuteness of the fluffy squirrels that ended up on her shoulder by night's end. But camp was not about reminiscing of the past; action, adventure and new memories to be made while the summer lasted was Hermione's core ambitions. Grabbing her perfectly balance bow from the hold and a full quiver the teen took off towards the archery grounds. She had to get back into it.

The range was always a challenging atmosphere. When it wasn't her fellow Apollo siblings, it was the occasional 'skilled' archer hoping for a chance to take on her brilliance but sadly they fell far short every time. As the girl pulled yet another arrow back she felt the multiple sets of eyes bearing onto her back, apart from the norm Hermione ignored the feeling for the moments long enough to let the arrow fly. Bullseye. Resting her arm the brunette was about to search for her newest audience when Ginny raced her way into the line-up grinning ear to ear.

"Ginny, what has you all excited?" the brunette politely asked while reaching for another arrow. The redhead stole it before her fingers could graze the thing.

"War Games!"

"So soon?" Hermione looked up surprised.

"It's starting tomorrow!" the two were beginning to get looks from the other concentrating archers so Hermione led her excited friend away. She directed them to the path along the water, with bow still in hand, Hermione listened to the younger girl go on about battle strategy and the possibilities of ambush or singular retrieval teams. The brown eyed girl just laughed and told her to leave the plans to the Athena kids; they knew what they were doing. Before the girls could take another step a beach ball bounced across their path soon followed by a bikini clad body or two. Groaning lightly, Hermione realised her first mistake, which was quickly followed by the second; never walk the water around lunch time and never get caught up in the 'game'. They had done both.

"What are you two doing here?" the tall, tanned, dark haired girl with ball in hand looked their way. In comparison her beauty was unmatched, her body; perfect, facial features symmetrical and clearly she knew it too.

"Just walking. Go back to your ditzy game or whatever. We've some real things to talk about" Ginny replied rather harshly. No love was lost between the Aphrodite girls and practically any other girl in camp; no matter the Godly parent, the embodiments of Love and Beauty herself held themselves above everyone else. It pissed the redhead off so much and every time Hermione asked why, Ginny couldn't form a logical answer.

"Now we don't need to talk like that" another walked upon the scene, this one a blonde and just like her 'sister', adorning a bikini. Did these girls wear anything proper?

"I agree. Come on Ginny, we'll leave them to their game. If they want their side to lose the Games, not our fault" Hermione tugged her boiling friend away from the confliction unaware that a third had taken up standing at their back.

"Why leave us so soon? Two lovely ladies willing to play against us; it truly is a shining day. A daughter of the Thief and…oh?! The Illuminated Huntress herself. What a chance indeed!" jaws tightened and fists clenched before either of the two mentioned demigods looked up to one of the most famous occupants of their camp's history. Like Hermione this girl was a living legend among their kind.

Fleur Isabelle Delacour. The modern ages living Eros. Literally. The tall, blonde daughter of Love was born with two large, very breath-taking white wings adorning her back. Hermione had only known of the girl for as long as she'd attended the summer getaway but the woman was a warrior unchallenged. Never had anyone seen an Aphrodite descendant wield a sword so masterfully, throw a javelin so precise nor race through a course, without leaving the earth's damp soil. Many cabins bother loved and loathed her for it. Especially the Ares cabin.

"Listen you blonde…" Ginny started her rant only to have Hermione slap a hand over her mouth and drag her off without another word to any of the girls. Starting their summer off picking fights wasn't in the brunette's best interest and she really didn't want her friends starting them either. Sometimes she wondered if Ginny belonged with the Ares kids more than her siblings.


War Games! Every Demigods living dream. Well for most of them.

"Hermione, you all good to handle the defence?" Harry spoke up at her side, his gleaming golden armour adorning his chest, matched to his helmet, shimmering shield and double bladed sword. The boy was a great warrior, managing to pull through even in the most difficult of times. Having a pack of Hermes kids by his side did help immensely too.

"Of course, we're ready. No one will be touching this flag. I guarantee it Harry" she replied while hoisting her favoured bow onto a shoulder. Hermione was the green eyed boy's general and while he led the attack on the battlefield, the brown eyed girl harnessed the skills of her familial archers to hold the line surrounding their fort. It was a very basic yet solid strategy. Part of each team was a band of Athena kids who were more than pleased to create on the spot plans any second should they need it. Hermione was confident they would be winning this game. With a final nod Harry led his army forwards onto the attack, the war horns sounding and battle cries echoing through the forest. Brown eyes caught several eye rolls from her fellow battle men but she let it slide. They weren't the ones getting into the heavy fighting so there was nothing for them to judge. Should any stray come crawling up to their peak, it was clearly stated they'd be sniped down before reaching the first rock hole.

The sounds of battle were in the distance, just out of site from her most skilled lookout but for Hermione their surroundings were becoming too calm. Already they had a handful returning for protection, a nasty gash to the leg or side being their cause for retreat. Any enemies that followed were quickly sent on their way with a well-placed shot. Hermione herself warding off an advancing group by taking out their leaders helmet from yard away. Their faces were a sight to see.

"Any new sightings Katrina?" the brunette asked the lookout she was walking upon. The girl tended to walk their perimeter constantly while in battle, Hermione wasn't paranoid by any measure but she was sure one day someone would penetrate their high walled defences and give them a load of grief.

"Nothing yet Cap"

"Ugh, I told you lot to stop calling me that" Hermione replied with a groan to which the base filled with chuckling. They loved teasing her about the command and every time she'd complain about it. To her they were all equal. No one was above another; your parenthood didn't matter.

"Wait" one of them said suddenly resulting in the entire defence force going quiet. Hermione awaited the following words but nothing sounded. In fact there was no noise at all.

"Oh no…" the girl quickly drew an arrow in time to see a handful of her lookouts disappear beyond the wall. They were being attacked. She assumed by a sneak attack of Hermes kids with backup from Ares. It was something predictable, foreseen and effective.

Hermione didn't have time to notch another arrow after the first hit an invader back over the wall when two sets of hands restrained her quickly but she did have time to assess they weren't in fact getting attacked by any of the warring groups. It was even more horrifying. A blindfold was quickly set over her eyes and things were getting out of hand fast.

"What's going on?! This isn't part of the Games!" but her words were left unanswered as the bewildered girl was taken from her fort, from her position and team into the woods by a very unlikely assailant. The Aphrodite Cabin.

Hermione felt like she'd been dragged around for ages, the sounds of the woods giving her the only indication they were still in the right area but soon all sounds of battle had ended. The Games complete and a team victorious. The brunette had a feeling it wasn't hers.

"Are you going to let me go yet? You've won" Hermione tried to commune to her captors but they never relented their strong hold. Since when had this cabin been so strong?

"That will be far enough boys. Thank you dearly" the girl growled lowly at the sound everyone knew well. The blindfold was gone with a tug and sure enough, standing before the sun child was the angel herself, Fleur.

"You know kidnapping is against the rules of War Games don't you Delacour?"

"But this isn't a kidnap at all is it?" she played off the accusation like nothing. Hermione wasn't believing a second of it.

"You're breaking rules and surprising as it is, shouldn't really be seen otherwise from your cabin" the girl didn't know what was happening but her mouth was running without her knowledge. Saying such things logically wouldn't get her released faster but Hermione just couldn't stop herself. "You always think yourselves are above the rules. Pleased to see you've accepted your godly spirit though. Joining in on the Games when you know you could lose a nail or worse a lock of hair" brown eyes caught that last insult got a rewarded action when a few of the girls standing round their leader tensed and scowled at her. If not for the stronger girl standing there, they'd have made a move for sure and Hermione, being as insightful and knowledgeable as she was, didn't know how Aphrodite girls fight. Yet.

"I don't know why you're saying such hurtful words Hermione, we've done nothing wrong in securing our victory during times of war" Fleur replied with a soft voice.

"You kidnapped me!" she yelled back before silence followed, a silence that worked to clear way for the clearly advancing sound of new arrivals.

"…mione!"

"Hermione!"

"Harry?! Ginny! I'm here!" the girl quickly yelled back after the voices before her captives silenced her. Seconds passed before a large group of her team came over the ridge and found them. Her moment of relief however vanished when weapons came out at the sight of her.

"Release her!"

"Back off red, we won fair" a tall girl stepped up to halt Ginny in her path before she could reach the brunette.

"Ginny" Harry stepped forward to untie Hermione without issue but Fleur was now closer than she ever had been. "Delacour"

"Potter. I hope you have acknowledged your defeat"

"We have. The Games were declared finished when you produced our flag from the wall…but then we found out you kidnapped Hermione. That's against rules!"

"Actually it isn't Harry…" the hesitant voice of Neville came from behind them. He'd been instructed to fetch the directors only to be sent back unaided and with the final say. "The trainers told me, victory of forts entitles the warring party to take a prisoner. The Aphrodite cabin hasn't broken the rules and the victory remains with them" the young centaur was anxious on his feet and with a twitchy tail it was clear to everyone he hated being the barer of bad news.

"What does that mean for me Neville?" Hermione asked still in her grounded position at the feet of the enemy. The look on the boy's face said it all.


Three days had passed since their humiliating defeat against the Aphrodite cabin and still Hermione had to keep looking over her shoulder. She never felt safe in the camp anymore knowing the overzealous girls had something over her head. During dinner one evening Hermione was still listening to Ginny grumble and groan on about a problem that wasn't even hers!

"I can't believe there was an underlining rule like that! It just doesn't sit right with me! How could we possible know something like that?! There was so many times it could've been put into effect for our benefit! Not theirs!" the redhead was near shouting between mouthfuls of food. Hermione's brown eyes remained trained on her in a dead bored expression; wanting nothing more than walk away from the situation.

"I'm done"

"What? But you haven't eaten much" the redhead replied but Hermione was already standing and heading away from the dining area. The darkening scenery was peaceful and refreshing against the brunette's skin, her legs taking her for a loop around the cabins and towards the lake shore before it would eventually lead back to her bed. Hermione was so lost inside her head, she didn't realise a tune was escaping her lips. 'How had it come to this?' Asking their directors had resulted that the law was absolute. A 'Prisoner of War' was a warranted fact and because of her loss of base, the flag and effective capture; Hermione was upheld to do a single bidding of the victorious cabin upon request. That meant the girl had to do whatever the winged woman asked of her, so be that it didn't humiliate nor insult her godly heritage. Hermione still shivered at the possibilities.

"I seem to capture you upon these shores one too time a many young Huntress" Fleur landed upon the sand without a sound, her wings folding up to their usual stance behind her without hindrance. Hermione didn't falter in her trek.

"You have a stalking issue then. Everyone is allowed to walk here. Don't think yourself special because you catch me here every time" the girl replied but her tone didn't buffer the oncoming body of the older blonde cabin leader who appeared before you in a flash of speed.

"What if I want to take my claim now?"

"Then state it and be on your way!" Hermione glared, her anger coming to the surface faster than she could grab a hold on it. The girl wasn't sure what was going on with her, Fleur had done nothing to her personally to receive such treatment but the teen just couldn't stand her! Something was setting the young teen off!

"Very well" Hermione's breath caught in her throat, the next lashing of verbal abuse gone as the taller girl's voice held no annoyance, no dominance or weight. It was calm, collected and peaceful; something Hermione never thought she'd hear from another person. "When the time comes, I want you to pick me"

"What?"

"You heard me. When the time comes, you will choose me. That is my request. I need not say any more" Fleur repeated herself with a small smile. Hermione was left in confusion at what exactly the girl thought was going to happen but she wasn't left to dwell on it for the sound of hooves approaching sent the blonde back into the air and vanishing from sight. Hermione's brain tried to process and luckily the arrival of her four footed mystical creature friend who came to fetch her, led the teen away to the awaiting director who'd sent for her.

By sunrise the next morning the entire camp had heard of the news. Hermione had received a quest from the Prophecy. The words were sketchy at best but word spreading rapidly was she had to lead a group across the waters and fight resurrected monsters. The true words of the prophecy didn't put Hermione in any high hopes nor did her actions that followed that morning. She had to choose her group. And with the words still clear in her mind she knew exactly whom to pick.


Heroes Quest with the aid of Four

Peril and Fate they must endure,

Moonlit Hunter falls before the Almighty,

To the Epiphany of Love and Beauty,

In hands of Thieves the key is placed,

Betrayal and Lie to see Death's face.

The total number of days were less than the ones she stayed at camp for that summer already. Their Quest was focused, methodical and executed with such precision it was almost idiotic how 'easy' it really was. Hermione, returned to her cabin was sitting on the porch finely tuning her bow. She was so lost in her head most sunny days Hermione denied many invitations for training or forest walks that her usual crew of demigods were starting to become concerned.

"Hermione Granger has been chosen for a quest. She must choose her fellow heroes to venture forth. Hermione, whom do you decide?"

"I choose, Ginny, Daughter of Hermes, Harry, Son of Zeus. I also choose the brothers Fred, George and Ron, Sons of Hermes. For the last choice; Fleur Delacour! Daughter of Aphrodite"

"Hermione! What are you?!"

"Miss Granger has made her choice! Good luck Heroes!"

"Hermione? Hermione!" Harry snapped his fingers in front of the girl's face hoping to catch her attention and not need to go for harsher methods. When brown eyes blinked frantically before focusing back on the world around her, the dark haired boy let out a sigh of relief.

"What is it Harry? It isn't like you to be here" she looked to her watch checking the time and realising normally they'd both be on the near side woods doing the obstacle course. "I'm sorry I completely forgot"

"Mione. You're not yourself. We're worried. I'm worried about you" he said before she could say more. The both of them knew it, Hermione didn't bother denying anything while the boy took a seat beside her. The Huntress put her bow aside.

"It's because of what happened…" she started softly.

The group were walking quickly through the forest, their direction west since they moved beyond the Camp borders. Hermione had her trusted bow strapped to her back along with a replenishing quiver, a backpack and medical kit she knew they'd need sooner or later. Behind her were the redheaded Weasley crew and one anxious hyper aware lightning demi-god.

"Are you going to talk to us some time Hermione or is this a silence Quest?" Ginny grumbled right behind her to which the brunette only rolled her eyes.

"It's unlike you to talk about someone in ear shot Ginny"

"She's in eye sight not ear shot" the redhead replied after catching the shadow of the blonde flying above them.

She didn't need to remind him of their quest. The two were very keen on remembering every second, every factor and each step that got them from the roadside all the way across state. The Fates. Hermione was sure none of them had summoned the mystical sisters intentionally but as always the trio appeared in the most unsuspected ways. Fellow travellers on a bus ride, random ladies sitting in the lounge space of a fancy hotel. Don't ask how the brunette and redheaded girl got into there because it wasn't a nice recollection.

"Still with me?"

"Yeah, sorry" Hermione snapped back to it. "It was after the hotel and when Ginny finally got hold of the key. That Fury wasn't giving it up easily. Ruined our get ups well enough trying. We'd gotten out of there after ditching the ugly thing in an alley but…Fleur broke her position coming to us early"

"She was clearly worried Hermione…" Harry replied softly. He too remembered after the first sounds of fighting Fleur took off into the sky hoping to find out the issue and the boys were left powerless to stop her.

"Fleur was reckless and could've cost us the Quest! More monsters could find us faster when she uses her wings and destroys the mist effecting her" Hermione rand a hand through her hair while Harry tried to calm her down. The past was done and gone. They had survived that day and the travel onwards. Their destination was in sight within hour but the girl still couldn't drop the feeling that Fleur wasn't in her right mind.

"It was actually lucky she wasn't thinking straight for once on the last one though…" the girl sent Harry an over the shoulder glare after his reply to which his lips twitched in humour.

"Remind me next time we jump into a life threatening adventure down a rocky chasm, hoping to find a tyrannical monster wanting to open a door of death, it isn't the biggest hole in the world" Ginny grumbled for what felt like the hundredth time and by then, no one was listening.

"Next time we do this, we're leaving you behind" George replied, getting a firm grip on a rock to help his twin across a break in the cliff face path. Harry and Hermione were in the lead and were navigating their way down into the dark depths of the unknown lair.

"This Quest better be worth it…" Ron finally spoke up after hours of silence.

"Just be thankful you were chosen for a quest Ron" his sister replied also heaving herself across the hole.

"All of you, shhh. We're tired, hungry and want to go home but we can't until this is done so shut up or jump. Your choice" Hermione glared at each of them before turning her attention back to the path. A sudden quake in the ground cut through the cliff-side and the path began to crumble under their feet. Hermione jumped forward towards Harry's outstretched hand but the distance was too great and she started falling.

"Hermione!"

"Do you know what it's like being carried like that Harry?" the brunette mumbled while her face turned red at the memory. Without hesitance or fear the blonde teen dived from the ledge with her wings outstretched. In seconds she'd had the Huntress safely in her arms and was gliding downwards into the dark pit. Hermione was left with nothing but to hang on tight.

"I would assume rather pleasant by your expression" the boy snickered before coughing to cover it up quickly and straightening his features. It was obvious his friend wasn't putting the pieces together quickly enough. But her actions lately were evidence that part of her brain was aware of exactly what was going on. "You like her"

"I do not!"

"You do. Ah, you don't get to argue until you hear the facts" he said sternly so Hermione wouldn't interrupt before he was finished. "She managed to sneak her way into the group was the first point"

"She blackmailed me"

"The second was her eagerness to jump in at the first signs of trouble"

"We all jump in, it's our Godly blood" Hermione rebutted without much enthusiasm.

"She saved you from the fall" he stated with a raised brow.

"Yeah well…she kinda had to. Couldn't let a party member just die. Would ruin her reputation or…something"

"She also took a blow for you from that last attack"

"I didn't need saving from that" Hermione's reply came now in just a whisper, eyes searching her hands for the answers she didn't have. The child of Zeus was right, during the battle with the monster Hermione would've been taken out completely if not for the blonde warrior seeing it early and knocking the brunette aside.

"Do I have to mention the ride back?" by now the dark haired boy figured she'd gotten the pieces together and finally accepted the truth the rest of them figured out from the beginning. "Fleur likes you"

"She can't. She's a daughter of Aphrodite. The modern day Eros of camp and the most beautiful girl here…don't give me that look you think so too" Hermione kept her gaze away from his smug face. "She can't have feelings for me. It's meant to work the other way round; her beauty and unworldly like features are to draw you in and…"

"Aren't they working then?"

"Why do you have to be so logical?!"

"Why aren't you being logical?!" Harry snapped back at her and grabbed Hermione's arms to get them face to face. "Hermione, you see it, we see it. Hell I'm sure the entire camp know it. Why can't you just accept it?"

"Because I'm scared that if I do…I'll wake up tomorrow to a future I didn't foresee with a broken heart. Because that's what happens when you fall for an Aphrodite child" tears were starting to building behind her eyes. "Doomed Love is what those girls live for"

"Then we'll have to prove it's real" the boy nodded firmly before standing, causing Hermione to look at him in confusion. "We'll make her confess to you before you confess to her"

"And how are we expected to do that?" the girl wiped her eyes.

"By making her kiss you" Harry grinned.

"You're an idiot"

"After what I have planned, you'll be calling me a genius"


Hermione was sure there was no way this was going to work. None. Zero. End. Good night and goodbye. But she couldn't back out now because every single one of her friends had put in their part to make it happen. Even Ginny. Which was saying a lot. The brunette sighed to herself while walking along one of her usual midnight trek routes that eventually led to her cabin; it gave an extra half hour to the time and always was soothing for the brunette. Gods forbid she pulled out her flute and started swarming the creatures out from their burrows now but… Dark eyes caught sight of the cabin that held all her problems; their windows still ablaze with light and by the soft flow of chatter, the girls were still awake. It was her only chance. Slowly raising the small wooden instrument to her lips the wind picked up…

Sitting alone at her corner of the cabin Fleur gently brushed her long golden hair piece by piece. The action was more subconscious and lacking its usual vibe as the teen's mind was far beyond the realms of mortal man. Her few sisters still awake were glancing at her every so often wondering what had their cabin head so…distracted. But then again the Ladies of Love knew a thing of two.

"Fleur~ you're doing the same spot a dozen times too many" one the dark haired girls giggled softly which caught on faster than wild fire as the Eros double quickly brought her attention to the strands.

"Very funny girls. I thought you were all going out for a late swim…" she replied with a tone, refusing to look at them.

"We're actually going to settle a score with those 'charming' Hermes kids. They challenged us to a volleyball game. Can you believe it?" another round of laughter broke through the cabin and this time Fleur did join in, only slightly.

"Then I wish you all the best. Bring back a victory for us, yes?" Eye contact said all that was needed before a handful of the still awake Aphrodite cabin left for the lake side; Fleur remained.

Standing from her bed, the only one without a covering overhead as the massive protruding wings made her everyday life, while delightful and unique, challenging too. They were neatly preened, every feather cleaned, brushed and feeling fantastic to the mortal but she was still not herself after the quest. Fleur was disheartened at their return to camp for it meant she and Hermione would no longer be close together.

"What is that…?" the young woman stood up to glance out her window, hoping to catch whatever was making that sweet sound. It sounded like music but it was too earthy, too natural and alluring to be anything from a mere instrument. Unable to see anything Fleur exited the building and found the soothing chime like tune coming from the woods. Should she follow? There was no real answer to the question as her legs were already moving on their own accord. Surely if the winged woman was in the air her body would listen to reason…wouldn't it? While the questioning doubts circled her mind, the blonde still moved onwards down the dark forest path. She could hear the light scurrying of paws and hooves making their way through the thin grass alongside her. The sweet sounding music wasn't only calling her it seemed.

That's when Fleur finally realised what exactly she was being summoned toward. The beauty, the softness, alluring pull that couldn't be described; it was like discovering the newest silk dress to an Aphrodite child or creating the newest strong sword in the Hephaestus forge. Fleur came upon the destination she didn't know existed, a small alcove in their little hide away forest and there sitting upon a fall log, surrounded by creatures, critters and birds was the younger brunette Huntress. In her hands, being played so delicately was a wooden flute, the music the entrancing sound that brought her there.

"I'm glad you came" was what the girl said after she lowered her instrument, eyes downcast to the animals. "I didn't know what I was going to do if this didn't work…"

"Not only blessed with your father's hands of archery but his musical talents that could dare to rival the gods" Fleur replied taking a few steps closer, charming smile adorning her lips.

"I'm sure Artemis will plague your cabin for claiming such words Fleur…" Hermione finally lifted her gaze to meet such deep soulful eyes. "…She claims bow skills for her own"

"And if I wanted to claim you for my own?" Fleur was now so close to Hermione, the brunette didn't realised she'd dropped her flute and the animals had long scurried away. "Would you…"

"NO, Fleur. I didn't bring you here so you could use your godly parents influence on me" Hermione interrupted the blonde before she could go off on another of the world famous seductions speeches. "I called you here because I want to talk to you, forget about our parents, the cabins and this Camp rivalry that's made us choose sides…"

"You think I am using…?" Fleur was almost shocked by the accusation but at the same time she saw that indeed for Hermione to react in such a way, it had its desired effect. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but despite the gift of flight my wings do not make me the modern Eros Hermione"

"I know that Fleur…I didn't mean…" she nearly scoffed when a delicate finger was placed across her lips.

"The daughter of Love I may be, but even I cannot force feelings and emotions onto you that you already do not possess. Whatever you are feeling…it is real" the girl captured those deep brown eyes so easily.

"But that doesn't mean that you…"

"That I want to do this?" the blonde leant forward to place the softest of touches upon the other girl's lips. It was but for a few seconds, however it felt an eternity to the two souls standing alone in the forest. Hermione didn't realise she'd closed her eyes until she had to force them back open.

"Since…when…" she tried to speak but her voice was fading with her resolve to try and logically explain what just happened. Her poor brain was worked to the limit; something Fleur could easily read.

"For the longest time. I have sat in these tall trees gazing upon you in the range; the way you hold a bow and the light that seems to radiate from your being" Fleur's fingertips sent tingling sensations over every inch of skin she touched. Namely Hermione's face and jaw. "Strength of stance, the power behind your arrow and then your eyes… you look so beautiful after seeing the point land dead centre of the target every time. Such dedication to give to everything you do. Your time and energy towards your peers; even those so different from yourself. If I were to speak every language I cannot say all the words that wish to describe the ways I see you. You are immortal to me Hermione"

"You're honey coated words still work…" the brunette replied with some reluctance even when her cheeks were stained red. The blue eyed girl just grinned bringing their foreheads together.

"You mean they have worked before?"

"Fleur…"

"I love you Hermione" Fleur said with certainty. "I may be the child of Aphrodite but declaring it to one's heart desire is still as difficult as it were to your friends or that poor centaur who we know wants that girl from Hecate's cabin…"

"Leave them be. They're working it out their own way" Hermione rebutted kindly.

"Slowly is the accurate word…"

"You took this long so say it to me Fleur, I doubt you have any say. We've been at this camp for years and it took that plus a quest for you to admit it" the gigantic wings adorning the blonde's back fluttered ever so slightly.

"My mother is the only one who adores tragic love. I wanted to be sure before I said anything…" Fleur replied ever so softly, leaning back to straighten herself in an almost defensive manner. Hermione could tell but took no offense to the action.

"And our quest did that for you?" she smiled softly.

"Only Demigods can feel love for one another under the pressure of battle. The intensity, the fire and adrenaline; how we live for such things. Of course none so as when your friend betrayed us all" Fleur smirked as her finger traced the jawline of her love. The brunette looked away.

"It worked didn't it?"

"The plan to trick the monster? Oh yes it worked very well my love. So much so that we didn't even defeat it ourselves"

"Hey!" Hermione cried out. "It's gone! That is a victory for us! The end justifies the means if only for this one case. Ron was doing what he thought was right…and it turned out good…for once"

"Heroes quest; that would be yourself, the Zeus boy Potter and I. The redheaded family couldn't be mistaken for anything but the Four" Fleur giggled delicately while Hermione just rolled her eyes.

"Peril and Fate they must endure; because that only happens in our own quest" the girl folded her arms not understanding why the older teen wanted to define every piece of prophecy. "The next part wasn't even relevant"

"I would say it was. You did fall did you not? And if I hadn't caught you, neither of us would have accepted our feelings" the winged demi-god was happy to admit that as by the shift of her feathered limbs while pulling Hermione closer "But I must commend your friends on their fast thinking actions. To steal and hinder the monster from attempting the lock"

"In hands of Thieves the key is placed; they are their father's children of course" Hermione smiled as her hands came up to play with a few strands of blonde hair settled over the taller girl's shoulder. Her face soon saddened. "Then Ron played his part too well and near everything was lost. The doors were opened as there wasn't anything we could do…"

"Betrayal and Lie to see Death's face. Death is a scary Goddess" Fleur replied while holding the girl against her chest, wanting nothing more than to encase her in warmth and security. "She doesn't appreciate her portal being opened so unexpectedly. The creature fulfilled their fate so now it burns in Tartarus and we are here, free, alive to enjoy the summer days as we wish" Fleur was bringing their faces closer together surely for another kiss.

"All you do is laze on the lakeside during the day Fleur" Hermione's blunt reply paused the action.

"We enjoy our summer days differently"

"At least I practise and hone my skills. Is flying all you do to stay active?" she giggled at the girl's reaction.

"Well if I found myself a worthy instructor, perhaps I will be like my predecessor and take up the bow. Eros may have himself a vacation soon" brown eyes rolled dramatically at that idea knowing Fleur was joking but at the small chance she wasn't…

"You are not touching my bow Fleur. And you are most certainly not SHOOTING anyone"


Before anyone asks, YES I know Cupid is the Roman name for Eros but everyone knows the saying as that rather than 'Eros' Arrow' so just let it go please. XD. Anyway I hope you all enjoyed. This was my piece to hopefully get my mind back onto my other long story, we'll find out if it worked or not.

As always let me know what you think. Writing Fleur without her accent is very weird for me, I apologize for spelling and grammar as always. I have no Beta...still.

Reviews, Fav's and Follows all appreciated!

Midmoon Kitsune out!