AN:2.6.13: Moving this into the Trust Vault.
The Prince's Bride
AN: Okay, so this was inspired by MagnificentChaos the other day. She thought a HP/PB crossover would be hilarious. And I am willingly obliging, because I obviously have nothing else to write...(shifty eyes)...Any who, she was laughing because the characters work so well! And they do! But, as you know me, I only write yaoi...so Wesley's character is now gay. I'm so sorry Buttercup, but you'll just have to suffer. (evil cackles).
Enjoy!
AN2: Character list at the end! And sorry for the typo's. I wanted to get this up so I apologize for the mistakes my tired eyes have left after reading my own written work. I don't think I caught everything.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything! And I make no money off of this!
Warning: m/m pairings, future smut, future possible character death...some language...
Ch 1: First Encounters
Fleur was raised on a small farm in the country of Florin. Her favorite pastimes were riding her horse and tormenting the farm boy that worked there. His name was Harry. But, she never called him that (Isn't that a wonderful beginning?). Nothing gave Fleur as much pleasure as ordering young Harry around.
"Farm Boy! Polish my horse's saddle, I want to see my face shining in it by morning," Her pale blue eyes batted coyly.
"As you wish," The raven haired youth her father had saved from abusive relatives nodded, his gem-like green eyes winking. She twirled, her fair blonde hair whirling behind her, and trotted back to her house.
'As you wish' was all he ever said to her.
"Farm Boy, fill these with water." She set down two heavy buckets by the log where he chopped firewood. "Please," She looked up at him, noticing the gleam in his eye that made him seem almost beautiful (Because he was too feminine to be called handsome).
"As you wish," He replied lightly.
That day she was amazed to discover that when he was saying 'As you wish' what he meant was 'Thank you'. And even more amazing was the day she realized that she thought of him as her little brother.
"Farm Boy," Fleur stopped him from leaving. He turned to look at her, a question in his smiling green eyes. "Fetch me that pitcher,"
"As you wish," He said softly, a light smile hooking the ends of his lips. She smiled at him, her little brother.
On Harry's twelfth birthday he received a letter from his deceased parent's lawyer that explained his origins and rights to title and land in a far off country. So he packed his few belongings and left the farm to seek his fortune across the sea. It was a very emotional time for Fleur, who loved her little brother with all her protective heart.
"I fear I'll never see you again," She whispered hoarsely, clutching him to her in a tight embrace.
"Of course you will,"
"But, what if something happens to you?" Fleur had heard awful stories of pirates and monsters and brigands.
"Hear this, now, I will always come for you," He pulled away and stared at her with his deep green eyes.
"But, how can you be sure?" He looked so vulnerable.
"We're siblings, you think I'll give up when I know you're waiting for me?" His eyes lit with a small passionate fire. He coaxed a small smile from her with his own and kissed her tenderly on the forehead, before grabbing his bag and leaving.
Harry didn't reach his destination. His ship was attacked by the Dread Pirate Regulus Black, who never left captives alive. When Fleur got the news that Harry was murdered, she went into her room and shut the door. And for days she neither slept nor ate.
"I will never love again," She told herself as she stared bleakly out the window.
8
Five years later the main square of Florin City was filled as never before, to hear the announcement of the great Prince Krum's bride to be. Jester's played for coin, children ran with festive glee, there were sweet meats and candies and laughter that filled the air with boisterous joy. Trumpets blared as the Prince himself stepped upon his balcony to address the people.
"My people," He said in a deep, throaty voice. "A month from now, our country will have it's five-hundredth anniversary! On that sundown, I shall marry a lady who was once a commoner like yourselves. But perhaps, you will not find her common now." All eyes gazed up at the Prince, standing beside his elderly parents who were both pleased with his bride. Also by him was his famed adviser. Lord Voldemort, a man revered and feared by all who knew him. "Would you like to meet her?"
A unified cheer of 'Yes' sprung from the waiting crowd.
"My people," Krum smiled victoriously, "The Princess, Fleur!" He held out a hand to her.
Fleur walked forward in her white dress, feeling awkward, uncomfortable and miserable. She watched as people she knew to be her equal knelt in her presence. This was not what she wanted. She wanted her Harry. The only joy and light she'd ever known. She turned to look up at her Prince, who held such glee she did not deserve.
Her emptiness consumed her. And, though the law of the land gave Krum the right to choose his bride, she did not love him.
Despite Krum's reassurance that she would grow to love him, or perhaps find a consort, the only joy she found was in her daily ride. It was on her ride that she happened upon two strange men and a bitchy young woman. She paused, her soft red dress billowing about her at the abrupt stop.
"A word, my Lady," The young woman asked, her dark eyes looking up pleadingly. The woman's face was foreign, a traveler, Fleur assumed, of Asian decent if she had to guess. Her long dark hair fell prettily around her face. Beside her was a well built young man with tawny brown hair cut handsomely to his face and deep grey eyes. Beside him was a large, burly man with thick locks of black hair that flowed into and merged with his well established beard. "We are but poor lost circus performers. Is there a village nearby?"
"There is nothing nearby, not for miles," Fleur shook her head softly her eyes resting on the tawny haired man whom she knew Harry would have liked instantly.
"Then there will be no one to hear you scream," The woman hissed with a devilish grin. The tall burly man walked forward with a slight grimace on his lips and pinched her neck just as she began to squeal.
8
Cedric Diggory, the tawny haired young man who accompanied Cho Chang and Rubeus Hagrid looked glumly at their charge. She was pretty, and he guessed that was why the Prince had deigned to marry her. Though he suspected that it had more to do with Krum's ailing parents who wanted grandchildren before the good King passed and his son took over. Though there had been rumors of Krum taking in a young consort before the announcement of the engagement. And Cedric couldn't help but wonder if she had been it or if the man had kept his lover and her separated.
"What is that you are ripping?" He asked Cho, watching the cunning woman as she tore off the patch of a red coat.
"It's fabric from the uniform of an Army officer of Gilder," She replied sharply.
"Who's Gilder?" Hagrid asked, still holding the unconscious form of the lady Princess.
"The country across the sea. The sworn enemy of Florin," Cho looked at Hagrid sharply, her black eyes telling any who looked how stupid she thought her companions were. "Go," She smacked the hind leg of Princess Fleur's horse and walked onto the ship. "Once the horse reaches the castle the fabric will make the Prince suspect that the Gildarians have abducted his love," She smiled smugly to herself. "When he finds her body, dead, on the Gilder frontier his suspicions will be totally confirmed,"
"You never said anything about killing anyone," Hagrid took a step forward, murder never settled right with him.
"I've hired you to help me start a war!" Cho stared him down, "It's a prestigious line of work with a long and glorious tradition."
"I just don't think it's right, killing an innocent girl," Hagrid replied gruffly.
"Am I going mad?" Cho asked herself, stepping angrily towards the half-giant. "Or did the word 'think' escape your lips? You were not hired for your brains, you hippocratic land mass!"
"I agree with Hagrid!" Cedric finally spoke up, hopping over the ship's rail now that he had successfully un-moared the thing. His sense of fairness was deeply rooted, after all, it was instilled by his beloved father.
"Oh, the sob has spoken!" Cho whirled on him, anger flashing, she marched toward him. "What happens to her is not truly your concern! I will kill her! And remember this," She hissed and cornered him. "NEVER forget this! When I found you, you were so slobbering drunk you couldn't buy brandy!" Her sharp nail dug into his chest as she prodded him with her finger. That stung his pride a bit. Yes, he drank. And he may have had a bit too much and indulged in some heavier liquor because his memories were coming in a bit too sharply that evening...and the last three weeks...but, she didn't need to shove it in his face and smear it in!
"And you!" She turned back to Hagrid in full tirade. "Friendless, Brainless, Helpless, Hopeless! Do you want me to send you back to where you were? Unemployed! In Greenland!"
Cedric watched as she stormed off to do...whatever it was she actually did, since the running of the ship was left to him and Hagrid. He traipsed over to Hagrid with a soft friendly smile on his face.
"Cho, she can fas,"
"Fas? Fas...Think she'd like to swim, alas!" Hagrid beamed.
"Probably, she means no harm,"
"She's running very short on charm!"
"You've a great gift for rhyme!" Cedrid threw him a warm smile.
"Yes, yes, some of the time,"
"Enough of that!" Cho shrieked.
"Hagrid! Are their rocks ahead?" Cedric asked.
"If there are, we all be dead!"
"No more rhymes now! I mean it!" Cho's voice was shrill as they pulled away from shore.
"Anybody want a peanut?" Hagrid chuckled lightly.
Cho screamed in furry. Men! She growled under her breath.
8
The night wind carried them well across the shimmery water, a full pale moon gracing the sky. Cedric turned to look behind them every once in awhile, there was another ship following them. He knew it. He could see it there just a mile or so behind them.
"We'll reach the cliffs by dawn," Cho sounded proud of herself. But she was also a bit aggravated. "Why do you keep doing that?" She hissed at Cedric.
"Making sure no one is following us," Cedric asked, knowing she'd probably explode when he said it. She surprised him.
"That would be inconceivable," She waved it off without a second thought.
"Despite what you think, you will be caught," Fleur spoke up for the first time. "And when you are the Prince will see you all hanged!"
"Of all the necks on this boat, Highness, the one you should be worrying about is your own," Cho sniffed at her contemptuously. Cedric turned to look at the ship again.
"Stop doing that!" Cho growled. "We can all relax, it's almost over!"
"You are sure no one is following us?" Cedric asked hesitantly.
"As I told you!" Cho smiled at him with a look that made her thoughts on his IQ level obvious, "It would be absolutely, totally, and in all other ways inconceivable! No one in Gilder knows what we've done! And no one in Florin could have gotten here so fast!" She crossed her arms looking like a self appointed goddess among men, her head leaning back, eyes shut. "Out of curiosity, why do you ask?" She slid her eyes open to glare at him.
"I just -" Cedric shrugged, "I just happened to look behind us and something is there," He shrugged again, flipping his hand as if to erase the words as he said them.
"What?" Cho's voice was a slight whisper as she got up to join him. Her sharp eyes locating the white flag on the horizon behind them. "Probably some...local fisherman out for a pleasure cruise, at night, through...eel infested waters..." She sounded uncertain and a bit hysterical. A splash sounded behind them and they wheeled to find the source. The Princess had dived in.
"Go in! Get after her!" Cho shouted.
"I don't swim," Cedric shrugged, helplessly. Correction, he didn't swim for self appointed bitchy twats. Cho turned to Hagrid.
"I only dog paddle," Hagrid shook his head. Cho shrieked helplessly and fought the urge to kill them.
"Veer left!" She yelled to her stupid crew. "Left. Left!"
The eery shrieks that filled the air sent shivers down Cedric's spine. They were like wraiths, the sound of those shrieks, rising through the night from the depths of the sea.
"Do you know what that sound is, Highness?" Cho asked, "Those are the shrieking eels! If you don't believe me, just wait! They always grow louder when they're about to feed on human flesh!" Something seemed to swim by her face. "If you swim back now, I promise, no harm will come to you, I doubt you'll get such an offer from the eels." Cho's voice was as harsh as winter hail. All the time the eels got closer and closer to Fleur, until one finally charged. Hagrid smashed his fist on the thing's slimy head, not waiting to see if the foul creature was out before hauling the soggy Princess from the water.
"Put her down. Just put her down," Cho said roughly. Cedric took another look behind them, now that that excitement was done for the evening.
"I think he's getting closer," He finally said, judging the distance between their two ships.
"He's no concern of ours," Cho commented flippantly, "Sail on!" She turned back to the Princess. "I suppose you think you're brave, don't you?"
"Only compared to some," Fleur replied coolly holding the woman's angry gaze.
8
The dawn was a welcome sight to Cedric, who was now able to see more accurately where he was sailing. He chanced another look at their pursuer.
"Look! He's right on top of us!" Cedric supplied for the irritated Cho. "I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using..." He mused to himself.
"Who ever he is, he's too late!" Cho crowed gleefully, "See!" She pointed a bit too enthusiastically at the sheer cliffs ahead. "The Cliffs of Insanity! Hurry up! Move the thing, and that other thing!" She was obviously no sailor. "Move it!"
They docked alongside a small shore.
"We're safe," Cho preened, "Only Hagrid is strong enough to go up our way. He'll have to sail around for hours 'till he finds a harbor!" Cedric helped Hagrid into the leather jerkin that held straps for three people to sit on as he climbed. Then he helped the Princess into hers, trying to convey with his eyes his apology that needed to be said but couldn't be spoken aloud. Cho's way wasn't playing fair, and Cedric was a firm believer in fair play. He situated himself into his strap and clung to Hagrid's side as the half-giant began to climb. After several minutes he looked down to see their pursuer climbing quickly up after them.
"He's climbing the rope," Cedric said nonchalantly to inform his companions. "And he's gaining on us,"
"Inconceivable," Cho muttered as if dazed. "Faster!" She turned vicious all of a sudden. Cedric blocked out the pursuing argument that followed Hagrid's explanation. Cho was insatiable.
Cedric heaved himself over the side of the cliff awkwardly, helping to pull the Princess and Cho up after he made it over. Cho immediately began to cut through the thick rope with her short knife. Cedric watched, a bit agonized as the rope slid across the ground and disappeared over the edge. He really didn't want to look at the grim mess that waited over the edge of that cliff, but he had to know. He peeked over, and inwardly sighed when he saw the man clinging to the side of the cliffs.
"He's got very good arms," Hagrid said appreciatively from his side.
"He didn't fall?" Cho joined them, shrieking. "Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word," Cedric mused, turning to look at her. "I do not think it means what you think it means," He turned back to look at the man and almost gasped. "My god, he's climbing!"
"Who ever he is, he's obviously seen us with the Princess and must therefore die." Cho said, "You," She turned to Hagrid, "Carry her," Turning back to Cedric she plotted. "We'll head straight for the Gilder frontier, catch up when he's dead. If he falls, fine, if not, the sword," She hissed, before turning away to leave.
"I'm going to duel him left handed," Cedric confessed.
"You know what a hurry we're in!" Cho growled.
"It's the only way I can be satisfied! If I use my right, it's over too quickly," Cedric shrugged.
"Oh, have it you're way," Cho sighed in frustration and waved him away, stalking off.
Cedric went back to the ledge to watch the man's ascent. Hagrid's hand landed lightly on his shoulder.
"You be careful," Hagrid warned, "People in masks cannot be trusted," Cedric nodded and looked back at the stranger.
"I'm waiting!" Cho growled, annoyance wringing out of her words.
Cedric turned to watch Hagrid, the Princess and Cho leave. He practiced with an invisible sword in his left hand for a moment and then went back to the ledge.
"Hello there!" He called down, watching as the man looked up at him, "Slow going?"
"Look," The masked stranger said wearily, "I don't mean to be rude, but this is not as easy as it looks. So I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't distract me."
"Sorry," Cedric apologized.
"Thank you," The man replied.
Cedric went back and pulled out his rapier, practicing some basic perries and thrusts. But he quickly became bored and went back to the ledge.
"I don't suppose you could speed things up?" He called.
"If you're in such a hurry you could lower a rope or a tree branch or find something useful to do,"
"I can do that!" Cedric brightened, "I've still got some rope up here. But I do not think you would accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you."
"That does put a damper on our relationship," The stranger replied. Cedric couldn't help it when his heart seemed to stop the moment he saw those green eyes winking up at him through the mask of the man that was close enough to see.
"But, I promise I will not kill you until you reach the top," Cedric breathed out.
"That's very comforting," The man replied sarcastically, "But, I'm afraid you'll just have to wait,"
"I hate waiting." Cedric muttered, and he heard the other chuckle lightly as he walked away. The turned back. "I could give you my word, as an Englishman!"
"No!" The man grunted, "No good, I've known too many English,"
"Is there anyway you'd trust me?"
"Nothing comes to mind,"
"I swear, on the soul of my father, Amos Diggory, you will reach the top alive."
"Throw me the rope," The man said.
Cedric grabbed a good length of the rope and tossed it over to the man. Helping pull the length up as the man climbed the rest of the way up the cliffs.
"Thank you," The man sighed, stumbling forward and drawing his sword from his back.
"W – we – We'll wait until you are ready," Cedric stopped him.
"Again, thank you," The man nodded and ambled over to a rock to sit. Cedric sat across from him, waiting patiently as the man pulled off his boots and dumped out large stones from inside them.
"I do not mean to pry," Cedric hesitated momentarily, "But, you don't, by any chance, happen to have six fingers on your right hand?"
"Do you always begin conversations this way?" Those deep green eyes looked up to stare at him again.
"My father was slaughtered by a six fingered man," Cedric said quietly. The stranger looked at him as if he'd just been slapped in the face and then held up his right hand to show only five digits. Cedric nodded, a bit sad at not finding the man, again.
"He was a great sword maker, my father," Cedric said lightly. "When the six fingered man appeared and request a special sword, my father took the job." Cedric pulled the blade from his hip and showed it to the man, who held it reverently.
"I've never seen it's equal," The stranger said, handing it back.
"Six fingered man returned and demanded it. But, at one tenth his promised price. My father refused. Without a word the six fingered man slashed him through the heart. I loved my father. So naturally I challenged his murderer to a duel. I failed. The six fingered man left me alive. But, he gave me these," Cedric turned his face slightly to show the man the two scars on his left face. One that followed his cheekbone down his face, the other a slash over his throat.
"How old were you?"
"I was eleven years old. When I was strong enough, I dedicated my life to the study of fencing. So the next time we meet, I will not fight. I will go up to the six fingered man and say;" Cedric got a far off gleam in his eye, "Hello, my name is Cedric Diggory, you killed my father. Prepare to die."
"You've done nothing but study sword play?"
"More pursue than a study, lately. You see, I cannot find him. It has been twenty years and I have started to lose confidence. I just work for Cho to pay the bills, there's not a lot of money in revenge," Cedric shrugged.
"Well, I – I certainly hope you find him, one day," the stranger said, standing and drawing his sword. Cedric followed eagerly.
"You are ready then?"
"Whether I am or not, you've been more than fair," The stranger smiled at him from under his mask, it was a dazzling sight.
"You seem a decent fellow," Cedric smiled back at him, feeling his heart race at the sight of that smile. "I hate to kill you,"
"You seem a decent fellow," The man replied, his smile dimming to a sly grin. "I hate to die,"
"Begin,"
And with that Cedric started the duel. A duel that took his breath away, made him gasp at surprises he wasn't expecting and respect a man he'd only just barely met whose name he didn't even know. A duel that left him aching and sore. A duel that left him nursing a pounding headache, a wounded pride, and a very unrequited crush on a mysterious young man in a mask.
8
Ending AN: Alright, leaving it there for now. My arms hurt from typing, I don't know about you but, when I type I use my shoulders, and they are hurting now. Hehe, I love Cedry, and MC totally agrees with this pairing for this story, she's so awesome!
Buttercup – Fleur Delacour
Humperdink – Viktor Krum
Wesley – Harry Potter
Inego – Cedric Diggory
Fesic – Rubeus Hagrid
Vicini – Cho Chang
Miracle Max – Neville Longbottom
Max's wife – Luna Lovegood
Humperdink's Guard (*cough*Lover*cough*) – Ronald Weasley
Six Fingered Man – Voldemort
Albino – Draco Malfoy