"This is going to be so fun."Matilda said to Fleur as the pair watched Hermione make her way to the training ground.Fleur smoothed out her robes to make sure they were in place. She was wearing more formal dueling robes than she would use for practice but wanted to look good for Hermione.Hermione herself looked rather fetching in her outfit which consisted of green robes with silver accents over black pants, a black blouse, knee high black boots and a Gryffindor pin attached to the chain securing the robe together.In other worlds Fleur thought she looked dangerous.A fact that her inner Veela found very attractive.So attractive that she could feel feathers sprouting on the back of her neck.Fleur took deep breaths and tried to reason with her other half that claiming Hermione right then wasn't a good idea. She sighed in relief when the feathers retreated.
"Good Hermione is here now we can begin."Madame Maxine said.
Hermione bowed."It is an honor being allowed to join you this morning."
"I'm sure with your skill and that of my champions we will learn much from each other."Maxine told her.
"Hello Hermione."Fleur was having trouble trying to hide the smile that was forming at how much Madame Maxine was preening at Hermione's show of respect.
"Hello Fleur, hello Matilda."Hermione motioned to her 6 guards."They will not interfere unless they fear my life is in danger."
"That is acceptable."Madame Maxine agreed.
"So what exactly is the plan?"Hermione asked.
"We are going to start by pairing you with Fleur for a duel to see where you are at then we will work on each of your weaknesses."Marine Maxine explained."Fleur you go to one end of the practice space, Hermione you go to the other."
"Good luck."Hermione said to Fleur as she moved to her spot.
"You as well."Fleur may have appeared calm but on the inside she was beyond nervous.She didn't know anything about Hermione's skill and worried that she could actually hurt the girl.Nor that she would of course but there was always a chance if her mate wasn't able to duel well.
"Bow."Madame Maxine waited until the pair did so and then called out."Begin."
"Stupefy."Fleur called out eyes going wide in fear as Hermione didn't have her wand at the ready.Just as she was going to run towards her mate to make sure she was alright the spell bounced off a shield.Fleur was beyond confused as Hermione didn't speak or move her wand at all. She lifted her wand to send another spell towards the girl but Fleur found that her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth and before she could even think about how to counter the spell she was suddenly unable to see.Not able to hold back her panic she dropped her wand and stumbled backwards.When she put her hands behind herself to take the brunt of the fall she was surprised she fell onto what seemed like a cushion.
"Holy shit."Madame Maxine exclaimed.
Matilda felt that she should have been more affected by the curse coming from her headmistress but she was to preoccupied with what had just happened. She wasn't even sure what spells Hermione used because she never spoke out loud.Matilda was concerned by the fact Fleur was not moving."Fleur are you alright?"
"She's fine."Hermione said as she waved a hand towards Fleur.
"Fuck."Fleur exclaimed when she finally was released from the spells. She tried to ignore the smug expressions on Hermione's guards' faces.The whole situation was quite embarrassing and she was sure the Laasko matriarch was going to be very unimpressed with her being so easily beaten.
"You have some great skills .I'm very impressed.Who trained you?"Madame Maxine asked.
"Headmaster Dumbledore began training me when I first came to the castle.We still have sessions from time to time."Hermione told them.
"Dumbledore has been training you since you were five years old?!"Fleur hadn't stood a chance.If the most power wizard alive trained Hermione of course she would be skilled.
"I don't think I want to duel you."Matilda knew she didn't have the skill Fleur did and the fact her fellow Veela was so easily bested she wouldn't stand a chance.
"Would you be so kind to explain to us what spells you used?I saw that you used wordless and wand less magic but I'm not familiar with how you subdued Fleur."Madame Maxine said.
"Well first I used protego to stop her stupefy.Then I used one of my own creations.The purpose of the spell is to make it so your opponent can't talk by making their tongue stick to the top of their mouth.That way if they are unable to talk they won't be able to cast any spells verbally."Hermione explained.
"You created the spell yourself?"Fleur didn't know why that surprised her but it did.Maybe it was because all the things she learned from Hermione so far were harmless or dealt with healing.It seemed unthinkable to her that Hermione would ever need offensive spells.
Hermione nodded."I did.The spell I used after it is obscuro.That way if Fleur did know wordless magic she wouldn't be able to see me so she wouldn't know where to target her spells.After that I used a cushioning charm to soften her fall so she wouldn't get hurt."
"Thank you."Fleur was touched that Hermione went out of her way to make sure she didn't get hurt.Most of her spells although effective didn't cause any injuries.Knowing now that Hermione trained with Dumbledore she was sure her mate could have made the whole experience very painful.
"Would you be willing to teach us the spells you used?"Madame Maxine asked.
"I would be more than happy to teach you."Hermione didn't mind helping others learn new magic.She helped train her clan's guards on occasion so teaching the trio with her wouldn't be that hard.
"Great."Fleur was somewhat surprised that the headmistress included herself as well but if being able to learn new unknown magic was an option she wouldn't care how young the person was who taught it either.Fleur followed Hermione to the targets lined up against the wall and for the next hour and a half was taught new spells by her mate.Madame Maxine was involved as well and Fleur had never seen the woman so animated.When time came for them to stop for the day Fleur noticed that she wasn't the only one disappointed.
"That was wonderful, thank you for the help Hermione."Madame Maxine said with a bright smile on her face.
"It was my pleasure Madame."Hermione had a good time teaching as the three of them as they were happy to learn and didn't question her methods.
"Maybe you can join us again sometime."Matilda really wanted to have some more time with Hermione.She had learned so much in the little time they had together and knew that if she kept practicing with Hermione then she would improve her skills ten fold.
"I'll have to check my schedule but I would like that."Hermione told her.
"Well you are welcome any time."Madame Maxine motioned towards the carriage."You two need get changed if you want to make it to breakfast."
"Are you going to be dining in the hall?"Fleur wanted a chance to spend more time with her mate.
Hermione shook her head."I have an appointment I can't miss."
"What are you going to be doing?"Fleur ignored the hissing coming from a few of Hermione's guards.She knew they didn't like her but Fleur wanted to know more about her mate.
"It's just a meeting about an investment deal I made."That was as truthful as Hermione was going to be about the topic as she not only didn't want anybody to know about her head of the house title but she wanted to preserve Narcissa's privacy.
"I see."Fleur didn't but she couldn't make Hermione tell her things if the girl didn't want to.Knowing this would probably be the only chance she would get and even though she preferred they talk privately she asked."What happened with the man who put your name in the cup?"
"We found out that I wasn't the target.He was after someone I knew so you don't have to worry about being in danger.The tournament and the champions are all perfectly safe."Hermione told her.
"Who was he really after if not you?"Fleur had already realized that Hermione would have a target on her back for having powerful allies and now that her fear had come true she worried that someone would come after Hermione again.
"It's not my place to say as the issue is not mine and the person involved would like their privacy."Hermione wasn't going to give Fleur more information than that as anyone who knew what was talked about could not only be in danger but could cause chaos if it was known the Dark Lord was back.
Fleur quickly hid a scowl."Are you at least safe?"
"Perfectly safe.The guards are more than likely going to be permanent however."Hermione knew her mother wasn't going to let her go off on her own with the threats against her.
"I will gladly offer my clan's guards as well if you would like."Fleur once again ignored the hissing and growling coming from Hermione's guards.
"I appreciate the offer but my mother has it covered."Hermione knew that Aart would be highly offended if anyone outside of the Laasko flock was involved in her security.
"If you change your mind let me know."Fleur had figured that the offer would be declined but wanted it to be said that she was interested in her mate's safety.
"I will."Hermione looked at her watch."I need to get going or I'm going to be late."
"Are you going to be at lunch or dinner?"Fleur wanted a chance to spend some time with Hermione as the families were coming the next day.She knew if she screwed up her chance with the Laasko matriarch then it would be a long time before she would be able to see Hermione let alone have private time with her.Fleur wanted to get as much time together as she could just in case.
"No, I won't be back in time for lunch and I have plans for dinner."Hermione had the meeting in Dumbledore's office and wanted to have some time to herself after meeting with Narcissa and before dealing with a bunch of people she didn't know.
"Well then I will see you tomorrow morning for the family reception."Fleur tried to keep her disappointment from showing but it was hard.
"Yes, I am hoping that I will have a chance to speak with your mother about her genealogy work."Hermione said.
"I'm looking foreword to meeting your mother as well."Fleur flinched at the snort of laughter she heard coming from one of the guards.Apparently she was being too obvious in her nervousness.
"I'll see you tomorrow."Hermione said as she walked away surrounded by her guards.
"Bye."Fleur called out after she made her way back to the carriage.She was sad that she wasn't going to see Hermione until the next day and although she was looking forward to seeing her family she was beyond scared to meet Hermione's.Thinking of the conversation she had with her friends about who would show up for Hermione had been keeping her stomach in knots.She tried to tell herself that it wouldn't matter who showed up because she was more than able to charm anyone she met but it wasn't working.Hopefully her grandmother had written her back with the plan for the next day so she wasn't going in unprepared.The last thing she and the entire Delacour clan needed was for Fleur to screw up her chance with such a prestigious flock.