Muggles call it Fate.
"Headmistress Maxime was right; this place is an utter disaster." Fleur reflected out of disgust in her mother tongue.
It wasn't that the guest rooms didn't have finer accommodations or fluffier quilts and pillows. Fleur was used to boarding schools. She did attend Beauxbatons after all. And as much as Madame Maxime liked to brag about Beauxbatons' everything from the broad interior designs and decorations, to the minimum details of elaborate needle works on their fairy like pale blue uniforms. What was there is there for all to see, and as much as Fleur respected Madame Maxime, Beauxbatons had its strength and weaknesses too. Just like anything else in the world.
However, comparatively Fleur concluded. Madame Maxime's general statement about superiority of Beauxbatons has been proven true. And her fellow students agreed with Fleur by choosing to stay in their palominos drawn carriage.
It was rather the overall structure and the vibe Hogwarts emitted made her rather uncomfortable. An eerily damp castle that lacked vital fireplaces; what is it with the dim lighting in the Great Hall; must it feel like a funeral march every time I walk in there? Can't they afford more candles? Hogwarts was at least three times bigger than Beauxbatons but everything was so spread out and hostilely cold. Certain rooms are kept so secretive that no one knows about them. And no one had warned Fleur that certain segment of stairs move at their own will.
She flinched as she saw the ghost of the Grey lady chased by the Bloody Baron. The two spirits flew past her speedily with an unexpected swoosh the two disappeared into the other side of the wall. Ghosts that roamed freely are another unpleasant addition to the overall condition of Hogwarts, she added to her mental list of stuff that had bothered her as she descended down the staircases from the dorms.
Fleur gracefully made her way into the Great Hall. Ignoring the constant stares from the male population, she found her fellow Beauxbatons students sitting at the Ravenclaw table chatting away with other Ravenclaw students over breakfast. She had a slight panic after not seeing her baby Sister Gabrielle sitting with them. Where did she run off to this time? Her eyes quickly scanned the other tables and saw her sister was conversing with a red-haired girl from the Gryffindor table.
Gabrielle was sure a strange one, always doing something out of her spontaneous will or whatever that had come mind in the heat of the moment. If people wanted her to be one way, she would bend the other. But it cannot be helped. She was spoiled to the bones by her parents, being the youngest of the Delacour's; Gabrielle held a special privilege in the family, sometimes even more so than Fleur. Either way, being Gabrielle's older sister she tried her best to keep Gabrielle out of trouble.
In this case, Fleur sent Gabrielle the 'authoritative' big sister look, and Gabrielle skipped back to the Ravenclaw table grinning. Her parents had especially told her to keep an eye on Gabrielle whose curious and eccentric nature had caused problems in the past. Technically, it should be Madame Maxime's job but since Fleur was her sister…It was her job assigned by nature.
"Hogwarts is not Beauxbatons, be careful where you wander to," Fleur preached in French.
"But Fleur, I was just making friends, besides I'm a big girl now." Gabrielle replied elfishly. "Besides, Ginny is niceeee!" She turned her head at Ginny with a megawatt smile.
"Alright, alright, just try to keep your head out of trouble, okay?"
"You know you can trust me," Gabrielle replied.
Fleur didn't like the tone in which Gabrielle delivered the line. It was always like this, Gabrielle would do the best in her 'abilities', but at the end. Something…would happen. But what could she do? Tie her sister up?
She nodded and patted her sister.
During the course of breakfast, Fleur noticed a note stuffed loosely in Gabrielle's pockets. She was about to ask but Gabrielle announced that she was finished with breakfast and ran off, out of the Great Hall.
Fleur eyed the fading figure of her sister… Something told her Gabrielle was up to something; soon she excused herself and followed after her sister. But as soon as the elfish little girl ran through a few corridors Fleur lost her.
Not sure where her sister is off to. She decided to wander around the school, if she was lucky, Gabrielle would be safe and she would find her like she always did.
As she walked through the corridors of Hogwarts, Fleur noticed a few more things about the British Wizarding School and its general student population. Students only conversed with those wearing the same coloured robes with the same coloured crest on their chest. It seemed that Hogwarts itself was divided into four sub-sectional schools. The students themselves formed groups and cliques. Teachers encouraged this by sorting them into houses of their own. Unbelievable! Where is the unity of anything in there? People were dispersed like autumn leaves blowing in the wind. If she could rate Hogwarts on the O.W.L test scale, Hogwarts is far below acceptable; it was on the boarder between dreadful and troll.
So far she has glided around Hogwarts aimlessly, through the corridor, she was now outside. She looked upon the sky as the sun hid itself shyly behind the clouds. Not sure if this had been the way Gabrielle has taken, she continued on anyways. The worst thing that could happen was getting lost, but that wasn't that bad. She could just ask her way, considering the amount of people that sneakily trailed behind her. She laughed inwardly; she could sense them without even looking. The sounds of gasping and the occasional sounds of careless avoidance of the crisp dry leaves on the ground could be heard by Fleur's sensitive ears.
She wasn't quite sure what was worse, getting lost or getting trampled over by the male population that followed at most three feet behind. She peered out from the corner of her eye, and saw the multicoloured scarves blowing in the soft breeze. More gasping sounds could be heard, but she could tell her little gesture had alarmed at least half of them.
Silently thinking what to do, she dismissed the thought of turning around and confronting those drooling boys. It was a waste of her time. She remembered a time when boys were intelligent creatures, who gladly played with her just like any other girls would. But something changed as soon as she returned to Beauxbatons from the summer after her 13th birthday. At first she thought someone had exchanged the boys with foolish mountain trolls. But then again, what is the purpose in that?
Only if this was Beauxbatons, then life would've been so much easier, well at least the food was more delicious and the guys stared less. Surely they were all beasts disguised as gentlemen, but still it was more pleasant to look at a gentleman than a hairy beast… But then again her mother had explained her lineage had something to do with it, but nothing more than that. Many thought she must be thrilled to have her Veela charms. But how was she ever going to find a husband if they can't even make it through the first date with a nice conversation?
She pondered about her past experiences with boys. It always ended in a way she hated. The boys would courteously take her out to a nice restaurant, and she would watch the boy drool for the remainder of the night. And at the end, if the particular individual had the nerves, he would try to kiss Fleur. Some even had tried to gone further than a gentle good night kiss, but Fleur never allowed that. She wasn't the girl they thought she was. Besides, all the boys she went out with never truly captured her heart. They had all been handsome, but there was no passion, not even by a flicker, or at least she hadn't felt any.
Life is full of contradictions and surprises.
She slowed her pace then halted in the garden. This is possibly the most she'll get out of her supposed sight seeing at Hogwarts. It looked, at least presentable. The reddening of the yellow leaves added an illusion of warmth to the scenery. The leaves themselves looked intensely gentle with the oiled exterior of ripe fruits. If leaves of fire had danced before her, the wind fuelled the leaves with enough strength orchestrating a rustling melody.
"Maybe it isn't all that bad here after all…"
She looked peeked over her shoulder again, and noticed the groups of onlookers have returned to their classes. "Finally, one thing less to worry about," Fleur thought,
She found herself alone in the garden, watching autumn leaves tangoing with the breeze to the tunes of nature. A mirage of tender emotions filled the leaves and the wind. It was as if the wind and leaves were lovers, each supported one another. Each different breeze told a different story of parting and longings. The wind gave the leaves the momentum to be free whereas the leaves gave wind the structure it needed to be seen by the naked eye.
They completed each other.
"Zis, iz rather romantic," Fleur found herself say
…
Just as she was about to crack her first smile at Hogwarts,
Out of nowhere
A sudden violent gust of fallen autumn leaves flew up and blew towards her like thousands of tiny dagger blades, interrupting her thoughts. Her reflex kicked in as she ducked the incoming blow, but the crisp leaves came with enough force and slice through a strand of hair that has managed fallen loose from her light blue uniform cap. Fleur was muted by shock. She looked over her shoulder in horror as the strand swirled and flew out almost playfully with the leaves. A ghastly pale look on her face as she saw the result of the sudden wind assault, the silk like silver strand landed on the stone ground soft like feathers.
"Mon dieu, zis iz 'orrible! Murderous leaves!" Fleur screamed.
Fleur frowned at the sight before her eyes. If this had happened to her years ago, she would have cried her eyes out. Sure, she could make anyone fall in love with her with her supernatural charms. Still, she was a girl and appearance was important to her. Sure she was 1/4 of a Veela but bodily insecurities still rose from the unpardonable 3/4 human lineage. To make things more stressful Fleur represented Beauxbatons, literally as the flower of the school. So naturally she needed to look her best in any situation.
She examined the scene thoroughly, this was no accident. She told herself. By the way the wind blew and the speed it was at. Someone had done this, using magic.
This Hogwarts place is cursed. Fleur thought about telling Madame Maxime and return to Beauxbatons right away. There was no way she was going to perform well, or even survive if these sorts of things keep on happening out of nowhere. It was all was against her. Then she dismissed the foolish idea all together. That was no action of a champion, they did not run. They faced whatever challenges they were presented with.
She looked down at the unfortunate strand of her hair, and clinched her jaw. An awful habit of Fleur's that only her mother knew about.
Fleur clicked her heels and stormed off, only to bump into something woolly and soft.
A quick, "I'm sorry" came from the apparent person Fleur bumped into.
"At least this one had some manners," Fleur thought.
She examined the person that was now walking away from her. The girl had messy, most likely uncombed bushy brown hair that hid most of her Gryffindor scarf inside. It was terrible enough that it resembled a male lion's mane. She was in need of some serious beautification charms, Fleur noted as her eyes quickly the girl in sweaters, grey skirt and simple black robes.
Then Fleur saw it, the readied wand in the girl's hands.
Without any hesitation she grabbed the girl by the wrist and pulled her around forcefully.
The girl looked up with her chocolate brown eyes in confusion.
"Did you do zat?" Fleur pointed to the pool of leaves on the stone ground.
The gazed had said it all.
"I don't suppose there is a rule using magic on fallen leaves," The girl replied uncaringly, not even making eye contact with Fleur, which further confirmed the identity of her attacker.
Fleur tried to hold her anger back but the uncaring and utterly insincere apology was ticking her off.
"But look vat you 'ave done!" Fleur pointed to the strand of hair resting on top of the pile of dry leaves. "If I 'and't gotten away in time, I vould be dead! My neck would've been …" Fleur made a snapping sound.
"Look, I said I was sorry, besides it'll grow back," Hermione didn't even pay attention as she said it. Her mind was too focused on perfecting the new charm she was introduced to in class today. But the result, as seen with the leaves swooshed off in every direction. This had only meant she didn't master the spell and that aggravated her to her core. Hermione's mind nudged her to get back to work, so she turned, and walked away.
"What's her problem anyways?" Hermione thought, it is only a piece of hair! She freaked out like she lost her mind. Better get back to practicing on my spell.
"'ow dare you turn your back on moi!" Fleur's mind raced with rage as she drew her wand.
"Accio!"
Hermione felt the scarf around her loosening and unfastening itself from her neck. It fell off as she turned back. She tried to catch the warm fabric but it was already in the hands of the girl with silvery blond hair.
"Give it back!" She spat, but the blond just shrugged.
"What a …" Hermione filtered her mind.
"You take somet'ing from moi, and I take somet'ing from you. It iz only fair zat vay, non?"
"Bollocks," Hermione spat as she upped her wand dangerously so now it pointed straight at Fleur.
The two witches exchanged icy cold glances.
"Alright, if zis iz ze vay you vant to play it out," Fleur raised her wand in response respectively. She eyed the girl dangerously from head to toe. It was rather interesting that she felt like she had seen this girl somewhere, maybe at the welcoming ceremony. Was this girl in the crowd as their carriage landed? Or was it somewhere else… She just looked so familiar in a sense. The memory was like a message in the bottle floating somewhere out in the open ocean. Either way, Fleur focused on the girl with her wand, ready to block any hexes coming her way.
They posed there like two copper statues, both unmoving. It was as if a wrong move from either one, she would end up six feet under. Hermione's eyes narrowed as she obscured any other external distractions and focused herself completely on Fleur. Both Fleur and Hermione was far too engaged in the unexpected duel, neither of them noticed the person that stepped behind them.
"Hermione Granger what do you think you are doing?" The voice trailed from behind.
Hermione's head jerked up as she heard a familiar, discerningly cold voice called out to her. She quickly turned to meet narrow accusing eyes. Few sweat drops formed as her heart raced at top speed. She was in deep trouble.
"Professor Snape…"She mouthed in utter petrifaction unable to move or do anything. Surely this was in school, and magic was permitted on campus but not in between classes. Her charms class had ended about an hour ago, and she used the time in between to practice her newly acquired knowledge. That's why she came to somewhere so remotely desolate. She had not expected the girl or anyone to be there.
But, the thing on hand was the way they both had their wands up looked like more of a duel than friendly magic usage. A duel was forbidden without the supervision of at least professor or someone of authority. And even if that was the case, they are only allowed in the Duelling Chamber, where students practiced. And besides…this unknown person in strange light blue uniform could be anyone…
Anyone… Hermione thought again, and then it crossed her mind, -
- "A minion of the Dark Lord…."
Snape eyed both of them suspiciously. Seeing that their wands are still out and pointed at each other, in a way only explainable if the two were going to fight to death Snape squinted, his mind going through the list of punishments. His mind was thousands of miles away when Fleur opened her mouth.
Hermione's mind racing, "Oh shit…She's going to report me… She must be a death eater." Her eyes burnt with utter hatred.
"Professor, I vas jeust… teac'ing 'Ermione ze vay ve duel in Beauxbatons, per'aps it vas rash of me," Fleur said as she lowered her wand also. The girl's name escaped through her lips in a rich throaty tune. Hermione…that name sounds familiar too. There was a hazy image in Fleur's mind which refused to clear itself. But even if did, Fleur still wasn't sure if she could really put her finger on who this girl is, and where they had met before.
Hermione whimpered and looked up at Fleur as her name was called out. What came out of the French girl's mouth has surprised her. But what surprised her more was the sudden reorganization of her name being called out in distinctive French pronunciations, but then again, it could've been just a generic reorganization. It wasn't the first time Hermione had heard someone speak her name with a heavy French accent.
But… Hermione's mind paused.
She tried hard to think but where she had heard it the first time. But it was a faded memory locked buried some deep within the ungodly amount of books. And it seems she had lost the key.
Snape glared at the French witch noticing for the first time that she was not a student of Hogwarts. "Well, Ms…"
"Delacour, Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons" She added for him cordially and extended her hand.
Snape kept his arms crossed in font of his chest. "Well, Ms. Delacour, there are rules to be respected. You are welcomed at Hogwarts but limits still apply, and as for you Miss Granger" He stressed on Hermione's last name. "Should've told you that any use of magic between classes is prohibited, and Duelling without supervision is especially prohibited. And you shall be punish…"
"Non, she 'as told me, but I didn't listeen, I inzizted," Fleur cut in and quickly glanced at Hermione who was now more relaxed.
"I am truly sorry Professor Snape, it was my fault too because I was too fascinated by…Fleur's…" Hermione looked at the girl who stood before her. She had hoped that her brain had picked up something off of the girl so she could use to describe what she was fascinated by. As she had managed out the first part of her explanations out fine, but as soon as she looked at Fleur something changed.
She is so beautiful
She couldn't choose which part of Fleur she had found fascinating. The girl was breathtaking, with her icy blue eyes and silvery blond hair, which now had a loose strand hanging out. Hermione felt guilty. She felt as if she had defaced a masterpiece of a portrait by carelessly spilling paint over it or adding an extra stroke.
"I vas showing 'Ermione my vand," Fleur quickly added after seeing Hermione had faltered on her sentence.
"Yes, She was showing me my wand…I mean her wand," Hermione mumbled, her face flushed with a mixed combination of joy, fear, anger, and anticipation.
Snape looked convinced enough. "Very well," He fidgeted, "But no duelling. Have a good day," Before walking away, Snape even managed too loosen up his frown and send a creepy smile at Fleur, which made the French witch cringe.
The two young witches stood there and waited for the sounds of Snape's footsteps to fade into the distance.
"Phew…that was close…" Hermione let out a breath of relief. She was overtaken by joy to see Fleur as that unreasonable person she had met about ten minutes ago. While her heart still raced like a speeding arrow, she wasn't sure why she was still nervous, Snape was gone and she was alone…with…Fleur…
"Do you have any idea what could've happened there if…if you didn't save me." She carried out excitedly trying to override the apparent anxiety with a few jumps.
Fleur smiled when she saw Hermione hopping around with happiness. "It vas no problem, 'Ermione, it vas a pleazure," Fleur replied sounding equally delighted. And eyed the girl with some curiosity, her heart told her she had know this girl who stood before her. She looked into those soft brown eyes for the answer to the twisted riddle but it offered her no insight except…
She looks so cute when she's nervous.
They stared at each other; paradoxically both knew what they wanted to say, but neither knew how to ask.
"'Ave ve met before?"- "Have we met before?"
They asked and laughed in unison.
"'Ermione…"
All of a sudden the wind picked up again and the strand of unevenly cut hair blew into Fleur's sight. The other part that hung loose reminded Fleur of what the girl had done and how stubborn she was to put out even a simple sincere apology. Fleur's gaze became icy again. How dare she? No one had ever been excuse for acting rude in front of her and she wasn't about to make an exception. If she had positive opinions of this girl before that was a mistake.
Even if she's…
Fleur stopped herself from thinking too far and began once more, "'Ermione,"
"I only intendid on zaving moi, so don't be too flattered." Fleur stated dispassionately as she turned to leave.
The joyous look on Hermione's face faded. She watched as the other girl took off, Leaving her alone in the empty garden. She didn't feel anger, only a sense of disappointment. She frowned. This had been her fault from the beginning, if she hadn't been so…eager perfecting the new spell she learnt she wouldn't be in this mess. She really wished she could start all over…and besides Fleur did save her from getting into trouble.
"But how am I going to see her again if she hates my guts?! And I still think she is overreacting about the hair…Shut up Hermione, this was your fault to begin with…"
As she realised she'll probably never talk or see Fleur again, her heart went limp against her ribcage.
"zis isn't over, 'Ermione,"
Hermione heard the bellowing wind and grinned.