Back To Normal
It was finally the weekend. First Task was done and dusted. The party yesterday with Hermione had been great. The brunette had been amazingly attentive to Fleur, worried about her injuries. It was endearing.
Madam Pomfrey had allowed for her to go to the party but only if she promised to take it easy during the weekend which is why she is sitting in the infirmary at the moment, getting her check-up done and a new dosage of potions.
"Everything looks to be healing perfectly fine but you will still need a lot of bed rest so no strenuous activity, you hear," the nurse pointed out. "Keep the activity to the minimum, so you can go for a walk but no running, swordplay or even shooting practice like you Beauxbatons lot have been doing."
Fleur nodded as she redressed herself. Bidding goodbye to the nurse, she exited the Infirmary into the hallways. Just as she was about to walk to the Beauxbatons carriage, she heard her name being called out from behind.
"Fleur!" Hermione called out, quickening her steps to reach the blonde.
"'Ermione! I didn't expect to see you," Fleur turned and smiled at the brunette.
"I didn't see you at breakfast so I asked Gabrielle about your whereabouts. She said you were still sleeping and had a check-up with Madame Pomprey around now. Is everything ok?" she asked, concerned.
"Uh hmm, ze Madame says everything iz 'ealing nicely and zhat everything should be fine as long as I don't do any strenuous activities"
"Ah, that's great." Then Hermione started acting shy, "Uhmm,… since you missed breakfast, would you…maybe…care for a picnic at the lake?"
"Zhat iz a magnificent idea. I would love to."
"Great! I already had Dobby and the others pack all the things we need. I shrunk everything," she said as she patted her pocket, "We only need to walk to the lake."
"I see you 'ave come prepared, ma cherie. Lead ze way zhen."
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Hermione carefully helped Fleur to sit on the blanket she had spread out, mindful of her injuries before she pulled out a tiny picnic basket from her pocket and spelled it back to normal size. She passed on the food to Fleur before seating herself in front of the blonde.
"Zhank you for zhis," said Fleur as she took the sandwich handed to her.
"No problem. So how are you feeling?"
"I feel sore and it hurts a bit but ze potions zhat Madame Pomfrey gave me 'elp."
"I still don't understand why you had to go after the dragon. I mean you said you made a soul friend. Couldn't you have done that when it was back in its cage?"
"Ah but it doesn't work like zhat 'Ermione. Ze soul bond iz a mutual thing. I asked Vahrin for 'er soul friendship and dragons are proud creatures like Veela. Soul friendships are a big deal so she made me prove myself to 'er."
"And proving yourself meant fighting each other?" scowled Hermione at the explanation.
"It iz not always a fight. Ours was a demonstration of my strength for 'er to trust me to protect 'er."
"Ha! By beating her up. Like that makes any sense!"
Fleur shrugged, "Like I said, it iz not always a fight but when she refused my friendship by saying I'm not worth it and started attacking me, it was for me to prove my worth."
"What about the wings? I saw the likes of it in the books I've read but nothing did it justice," Hermione asked, taking a bite of the delicious sandwich that Dobby had prepared for her.
"Veelas have wings since zhey are born," grinned Fleur, reminiscing on some memories, "When Gabrielle was born at 'ome. She was a cute baby and maman gave her to me to 'old. I 'ad just been 'olding 'er for a few minutes when poof, she materialised 'er wings! They were all white and she looked like a cupid cherub. It 'appens to everyone. It is possible to seal ze wings until ze child grows older, but it is rare. Most Veela prefer to let zheir child grow along wiz them."
"Why do some seal it?" asked Hermione. She wished she was taking notes. It was all so fascinating.
"You know 'ow 'ard it iz to take care of a child, 'Ermione. Now imagine zhem wiz wings. Zhey can fly away if you take your eyes off zhem for even a second. Or worse, zhey do not know 'ow to fly well, so zhey could be flying for a minute and then hopla, on ze floor ze next. Veela spell out a barrier around zhem and a magical leash so zhey can fly and if zhey fall, ze barrier protects zhem and ze leash allows them to play around since it doesn't tangle wiz anything but doesn't allow zhem to go too far. It's like a baby in a balloon."
"Wow. I never thought of that. Does it hurt when you materialise your wings?"
"When you are a bébé, it doesn't 'urt at all since your body iz very adaptable to change when you are growing. When you grow older, it does 'urt a little bit but not so much. You get used to it."
"So by saying used to it, you mean that you have done that transformation for quite a few times."
"Oui. At 'ome, playing wiz Gabrielle, doing races with Alexia and my cousins and when we all go to Veleaniss, it iz even worse, we fly all ze time."
"Veleaniss?" Hermione had never heard that word before.
"It iz a secret. I can't say much. Most people don't know about it. "Veleaniss iz ze main capital of ze Veela Nation, amongst ze ozher territories zhat we 'ave. It iz found in France. That's all I can say." Fleur looked at the disappointed brunette, apologetically.
"It's fine," murmured Hermione. She really wanted to know more, "What about the magic that you did during the task to slow time? Time magic iz very difficult, I've never heard of any witch or wizard able to do that."
"Ah, it iz not time magic," Fleur grinned as Hermione's face changed to confusion.
"You are joking?! You slowed the dragon, even the dust around it moved at slow motion. If that is not time slowing magic, I don't know what it is," huffed the Gryffindor.
"Like you said, time magic iz very complex. Zhat spell iz more of a resistance spell zhan a time slowing spell. It increases ze resistance in ze fluid, ze air, in which Vaahrin was moving. It increases ze resistance so much, it feels like swimming in mud or even something denser, depending on ze strength of ze spell. Of course, it iz difficult to spell only a specific volume of fluid because if you spell everything, you slow down too. Get it?"
"Oh my god, that makes complete sense. I've never heard of such a spell."
"Zhat iz because it requires a lot of magical energy and it was created by Veela priestesses. Only we know it," Fleur laughed, "Now, you can't use it to steal things or do other crazy things because like a person swimming in mud, while zhey are slow, zhey still have zheir full faculties so zhey know what iz 'appening around zhem. It slows only zheir motion, not zheir brain."
"Why do I feel like there's a story behind this?" Hermione smiled at Fleur's innocent face.
"Well, I may 'ave used it before, not knowing zhat tidbit of information."
"Tell me!" smiled Hermione at the mischievous glint in the blue eyes in front of her. "I want to know!"
"Well, I was trying to steal ze wine from ze cabinet à la maison. My maman was sitting in ze room and was not going to move anytime soon. I did ze spell on 'er, grabbed three bottles of wine and dashed to my room." Fleur mumbled, embarrassed, "I spelled the room closed and I was already 'alf way through one of ze bottles when my spell wore off and maman came and cast the door unlocked! She hexed me and I was grounded for months!"
Hermione laughed at the blushing embarrassed Fleur, "Three bottles?!" she spluttered, "You stole three bottles of wine!"
"Well, yeah…" Fleur kept mumbling under her breath as Hermione kept on laughing. The blonde was happy she had made the girl laugh. It was music to her ears.
The girls spent quite a while just lounging in the sun until Hermione saw Fleur was getting sleepy. With that, she accompanied the blonde back to her carriage and wished her a good rest, in case she didn't see her for dinner. True to her guess, Fleur slept through dinner. Good thing that Alexia fixed a plate for her and brought it back to the carriage. With a belly full of food and her dosage of potions, Fleur went back to bed again, dreaming of soulful brown eyes and messy brown tresses. Sunday was spent similarly, Fleur loved to spend the weekend in Hermione's company. It was the best thing she could ask for.
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Hermione walked into her first class (Potions, ugh) on Monday, not at all wanting to sit in Snape's class for two full periods.
"'Ermione!"
She spun around to see Fleur walking towards her, "Good morning, Fleur! How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling better, thank you," smiled Fleur, "do you 'ave a partner for Potions?" she asked. She has always seen the brunette get shuffled around.
"Not really, we work in pairs so Harry and Ron paired up early at the start of the year and since there is an odd number of students in my class, I usually form a trio with different pairs every week."
"Hmm, I wonder 'ow zhat works since you said Monsieur Weazley iz not speaking to 'Arry at ze moment."
"True but they have to put their quarrel aside for Potions. Snape is not an understanding man."
"Zhat iz true. He iz a very vile man. I do not like him," Fleur grimaced at the thought of the Potion Master.
"That doesn't surprise me," laughed Hermione.
"Sooo… since you do not 'ave a partner 'Ermione, why don't you join Alexia and I permanently?" asked Fleur, cautiously.
"Really? Alexia wouldn't mind?" Hermione asked.
"Absolutely not," was heard from behind and Hermione turned to find Alexia walking towards them.
"Then, I happily accept," Hermione was touched at having people who actually wanted to partner up with her. It never happened before. The boys only enjoyed her joining their group because that meant they could sit back and let her do everything.
"Splendide!" replied Fleur, "let's go sit zhen," she pointed at their usual spot, two rows behind. They were just getting settled when a voice rang from behind.
"Oh looky looky what we have here, boys." The grating voice of Draco Malfoy echoed in the dungeon, making the girls turn around. As usual, the slimy Slytherin was flanked by his minions, Crabbe and Goyle, "Well, I preferred it much more when I didn't have to see your face during class, Miss Know-It-All. Not sitting with your master, the Scarface, over there?" He said, pointing out at Harry, who was seated next to a still pissed off Ron.
"Leave us be, Malfoy"
"You don't tell me what to do, Mudblood." He sneered at the brunette. He suddenly jumped at the clattering of a falling chair. He found himself looking at the end of Fleur's wand.
"You dare say zhat to 'Ermione…" hissed Fleur, her eyes changing colours to silver.
"Oh so the Mudblood found a half-breed to protect her." He didn't get the chance to utter anything else for he was sent flying back onto the desks.
Just then, the door slammed open and Snape walked in, his robes billowing.
"What is going on here?!" He shouted, approaching the groaning Malfoy lying on the floor, "What is the meaning of this, Miss Delacour?"
"He insulted 'Ermione," Fleur hissed, her rage shining in her eyes.
"I knew it had something to do with you, Miss Granger, as always. 100 points from Gryffindor." He half sneered, half smirked, "Goyle, take Malfoy to the Infirmary"
This awoke Hermione from her shock at seeing Draco flying off, "What? I didn't do anything!"
"Detention as well, for both of you. I'll see you in my office on Saturday at nine," sneered Snape.
"Vous savez bien que vous accusez la mauvaise personne, n'est ce pas, Monsieur Snape?" hissed Fleur, venom in her voice as her eyes shimmered. ["You know well that you are accusing the wrong person, isn't it, Mr Snape?"]
Snape clenched his jaw, anger in his eyes.
"Vous devriez redonner à 'Ermione, les points que vous lui avez retiré et annuler la retenue ce weekend." ["You should give back the points you have taken from Hermione and cancel the detention this weekend."] Fleur's voice left room for no discussion.
"You do not tell me how to conduct my class, Miss Delacour," growled Snape.
"Un de vos élèves, Serpentard en plus, insulte la delegation de Beauxbatons, insulte une Velane. Et non pas, n'importe quelle Velane, il insulte une des Delacours. Ne m'obliger pas a pousser cette affaire. [ "One of your students, a Slytherin on top, insults the Beauxbatons delegation, insults a Veela. And not any Veela, he insults one of the Delacours. Don't make me push this issue."] You as ze Head of House, one would expect your Slytherins to be more intelligent zhan zhat, isn't it, Monsieur Snape. Not zhat it surprises me, from someone who didn't even know how to bow to a Hippogriff."
Snape gritted his teeth, before hissing, "Fine. I shall deal with it."
"It seems we understand each other. Please continue wiz your class." Fleur said with a tone of finality, seating herself.
"What are you all looking at?!" The professor barked as he walked to his desk, "back to your cauldrons! I want this draught to be done by the end of class!"
"I'm sorry that you got insulted due to being with me. I should have known that Malfoy wouldn't miss the opportunity. Now, because of me, you have detention as well," Hermione apologised, as she gathered the ingredients for the potion, "What did you say to him? I didn't know that Snape knew French."
"It was not your fault. While I do not like to be insulted, it iz ze fact zhat he insulted you zhat pissed me off," murmured the blonde, starting to chop the Allspice root into thin slices. "As for detention, we do not 'ave it. He cancelled it and will give you your points back…later."
Not getting a response from the brunette, Fleur glanced at Hermione, only to find her looking at her owlishly, eyes full of shock.
"What? Do I 'ave something on my face?" Fleur frowned.
"How did you get Snape to not only cancel detention but give me back the points as well? It's the end of the world!" Hermione stated.
Fleur and Alexia had to muffle themselves to stop themselves from laughing out loud. "Don't worry about it. Let's do zhis draught before he finds something else to take points or give detention for." Fleur said after she composed herself and with that, they concentrated on their potion. Hermione was pleasantly surprised at how efficiently they all worked and how knowledgeable the two French women were. With that, they finished first with a perfect draught much to the aggravation of Snape.
After class, they gathered their things and walked out, they had Muggle studies next. Alexia parted from the pair as she took a different subject.
"Hey, Fleur! Hermione…" the sound of rushing footsteps echoed behind them and they were suddenly found in the presence of Ron Weasley.
"Hey girls," he tried to smile charmingly, "Where are you all off to?"
Huffing in irritation, Hermione replied, "To class, Ronald."
"Ah yes. Mind if I walk you guys to class?"
"We have Muggle studies Ron, which is not one of your subjects. You have divination, remember? And it is on the other side of the castle."
"Oh yeah," he replied, scratching the back of his head. It was hard for him to know what class he had next now that he was not speaking to Harry.
"Well, you should leave now if you want to get to your class in time, Ron. I need to go, I don't want to be late. Come on, Fleur." She said, grasping the blonde's hand and pulling her along, leaving a confused redhead in the hallway.
"I find it amazing zhat you take Muggle studies, 'Ermione since you are a muggle-born," commented Fleur as they walked into their class with both girls taking their seats next to each other.
"I find it fascinating to study it from a wizarding point of view."
"Hmm, I see ze point. It's like me when zhey talk about Veelas in Magical Creatures Class."
"Alright class," called out Professor Charity Burbage, trying to get the attention of her students, "Today, we are going to start working on a new muggle contraption, It is found in the 'Muggle Entertainment Chapter on page 73."
"Muggles have different things that they do for entertainment. Some of it consists in the use of certain devices" With a swoosh of her wand, items appeared on everyone's desk, a black rectangle block and a book. Hermione had to stop herself from laughing out loud. "The device in front of you is called a Nintendo DS, you each have one. There is already one pre-installed game called The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass in it. You will work as a pair and will need to clear the Temple of Fire level as next week's assignment. Now open your book and work it out. There are also some new books in the library that will help tremendously. Also, you will read that these devices have limited battery. Not to worry about that, they have been magically modified to have unlimited battery."
Fleur reached out and picked up the black device. "What is it?" she asked, feeling around it, "How does it work?"
"Ah, it is a game console," explained Hermione with a smile. She had been doing Muggle studies for a while now and it fascinated her each time she saw her classmates' reactions to things but she didn't know why Fleur's reaction fascinated her the most. At Fleur's blank reaction, she elaborated. "It is a device you play games with."
"Games? Like what, chess?"
'Well, yes, you can play chess. I don't think the game is installed on it though. As the Professor said, there is only one Zelda game on it."
The confusion on Fleur's face was amusing and Hermione couldn't stop her laugh. "I'll show you how to start it up."
Fleur passed Hermione her own device and watched in fascination as she flipped it open, revealing some kind of tiny black windows and some buttons.
"So you push this button to turn it on" Hermione pressed the ON button and watched as Fleur was amazed at what showed up on the screen and the start-up sounds it makes.
"It makes music. Is it a music box?" asked Fleur as she turned on her own device, smiling as it chimed the same melody.
Hermione smiled, "Not really but you can also play music on it. Now you take the stylus out. This is the stylus", Fleur noticed her pulling a short stick out, "The bottom screen is a touch-screen, meaning you use the stylus on it." She demonstrated by clicking on the game, "The top screen is not a touch-screen, it's only for visual so you cannot use the stylus on it." She launched the Zelda game, "Now, I'll write my name, H-e-r-m-i-o-n-e to create a profile so we can save our progress. We also select which hand we hold the stylus in. There we go. Now watch."
Together, they watched the cut-scenes, Fleur even more confused at the tiny colourful creatures that were in the box. She had never seen anything like it, "That's the most bizarre pictures I have seen and I 'ave watched muggle moving pictures, what do zhey call it…hmm, videos! What type of creatures are zhose, 'Ermione?"
"It's not real creatures, they are drawings, all fiction. Now see here, you are playing this game as this tiny guy here, named Link. All these texts are dialogue. To go to the next part of the dialogue, just tap the screen with the stylus. Now all these dialogue and videos show you how to play or give you hints on what to do. Now try it, I'll help you if you get stuck."
Fleur created her own profile, amazed at how the screen would not react to her fingers but only to the stylus, "It's like a wand! It does magic on the screen." She said excitedly, sending Hermione into another bout of laughter. Fleur was pleasantly surprised to find the video and dialogues to be all in French.
"Wow, yours is in French. Why is that? You don't have any issues with English."
"I don't. Zhis iz so zhat I cover ze class in both languages so I'll know ze equivalent French terms when I go back to France. It iz a requirement for our classes. Didn't you see my ingredient list in Potions both in English and French?"
"No, I didn't notice. It's amazing. Come on, let's continue to play, I'll help you when you get stuck."
They spend the rest of the class with Fleur trying out the Nintendo DS and Hermione giving instructions. An hour into it and Fleur had pretty much gotten the hang of it.
"Don't forget to go to the menu and save." Hermione demonstrated, "or all the progress you have made could be lost."
"Alright everyone," The voice of Professor Burbage broke the students' concentration, "That's the end of the class. Again, remember for next week, you'll need to clear the Temple of Fire level, you will also document your progress and write me a scroll on the story of the game, how you use the device to play it and how entertaining it was to you personally. You are now dismissed."
"And this is how you turn it off when you are not using it." Turning the device off, Hermione passed it back to Fleur before putting her unused one in her bag.
"Zhat was fun!" said Fleur, eyes shining with childish glee, "I love zhis game. The people in it look funny. Zhough why does he 'ave to break ze pots to find money. Nobody put zheir money in pots. Zhat doesn't make any sense, 'Ermione. And ze people weren't angry when I broke ze pots in zheir 'ouses" Fleur mentioned, face scrunched in confusion.
Hermione just couldn't stop laughing.