Author: Lash_Larue
Title: "Palustris"
Pairing: Ginny/Hermione
Rating: Adult
Summary: Enemy action
Warnings: Character death, violence
Word Count: 2865
Disclaimer: These characters belong to JK Rowling
The Hunters Part 26
"Palustris"
"A bit better than last time, Arthur," Pye told him, "not so much increase. How's your strength holding up?"
"Quite well, thank you, although it might be all to the good to go to thrice daily on the strengthening solution, don't you think?"
"Nice try, old man, but no."
"Ah well, it was worth the chance…" Arthur said with a rueful grin.
xxxx
"Well?" Hermione asked when Fleur returned from her grandmother's.
"We have done it!" Fleur cried joyously. "You look upon the mother of a queen!"
After the excited hugs and kisses had been exchanged, Pansy stood and faced the group.
"Well, I guess you don't need me anymore. Thank you, Fleur, for everything. I can never repay you. I hope that you'll all drop by the club from time to time," she said.
"What the fuck, Pans?" Ginny demanded.
"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione snapped.
"Indeed," Fleur told her, "you shall never be rid of us, not me, nor Victoire, and certainly not this child whom you helped create. We are forever bound together."
"You just want the free baby-sitting, right?" Pansy asked with a grin.
"That too, Victoire loves you," admitted Fleur.
"Face it, Pansy;" Hermione told her, "you're stuck with us."
"I've faced worse," Pansy allowed.
"This really calls for a celebration," Ginny suggested.
"I could close the club for a private party," Pansy volunteered.
"Let's do it here, just us," Ginny countered, "Mum and Dad always love to have Victoire, and we can whip up some special goodies…"
"Yes to the here and just us," Pansy said, "but I'll have the kitchen cater. We can have a slumber party!"
"Mama!"
"Do check with your parents, Ginny my love," Fleur said as she turned towards the stairs, "I should hate to have to be discreet tonight. I did warn you of the last month, did I not?"
"Oh, right," Ginny replied.
"What about the last month?" Pansy asked.
"She's gonna be horny as hell," Hermione answered.
"Need any help?"
"I'd wager yes," Ginny told her, "and you did volunteer to rub potions on her swollen belly."
"So I did," Pansy affirmed, "just let me make a few firecalls regarding dinner. Any requests?"
"You know what we all like to eat, Pansy," Hermione said with a grin.
xxxx
"Right then Bill, you may rely on me to keep anything from happening while you're gone," Rigdon promised, "we'd all have been dead three times over without you, in any case. I don't think I'll have any trouble restraining the lads. Time for a bit of medical leave 'round about then, I reckon."
"Thanks Bob, I shan't forget it. I'll likely pack it in after this one, and I'll be putting you in for the job."
"You'll still be available for specials though, right?" Rigdon asked him
"If you need me, call," Bill promised. "But we still have to get through with this one first, and we don't dare rush it. It's not done 'till Umbridge sings, right?"
"Right."
xxxx
"Go beach please?" Victoire asked.
"Of course, Victoire," Fleur answered, "we shall have a nice stroll on the beach and then go and visit Grandmama and Grandpapa Weasley. Can the three of you get along without us for a while?" Fleur asked Ginny, Hermione, and Pansy.
"It will be difficult, but we'll try," Ginny promised, "'Mione has a little work to do, and Pansy and I will hang around to pick up the stuff from the club. Have a nice walk, see you later, Vicky."
Victoire waved vigorously to everyone and she and her mother left for the beach.
"I'd best finish up those reviews," Hermione said resignedly. "It's truly inspiring how hard people work the week of evaluations. Like I can't recall the rest of the year. Oh, well." She rose and headed for the stairs.
"Can I bring you anything when the stuff gets here?" Ginny asked her.
"I'll wait; this shouldn't take that long anyway. Have fun."
"Is there anything we need to do here to get ready?" Ginny asked.
"The steaks won't be cooked; I figure it's better to do that at the last minute. I guess we could mix up a couple pitchers of Margarita's though. I think everything's here."
"I knew there was a reason I loved you, Pans," Ginny said as she rose. Pansy followed, and wondered at the fluttery feeling Ginny's words gave her.
"Nah, not me," she told herself sternly.
"Have you ever had steaks cooked on a Muggle grill?" she asked Ginny.
"You mean cinders? Dad tried it a couple times, but then Mum got pissed at him for wasting meat, so not so much, no."
"You'll love them when they're done right," Pansy promised. "No girly food tonight, we are going to eat like animals!"
"Sounds good to me," Ginny agreed, but her mind was not on food. "I'm glad you started bringing liquor, I love Bill, but he's a cheap bastard when it comes to booze."
"Life is too short, to drink bad booze," Pansy proclaimed, "from what Fleur says, though, he'll be able to afford the good stuff after this job."
"Big galleons, potentially," Ginny agreed, "he offered to buy 'Mione and me a house when he gets back."
"Will you let him?" Pansy asked her.
"Nah, 'Mione and I aren't really looking past the baby yet. Who knows how things will shape up then? 'Mione might decide to dump me for Leslie."
"I'll hand it to that kid, she's not shy. Say, does she remind you of anyone?" Pansy asked Ginny.
"Yeah, sort of, that whole in-your-face way she has, not aggressive at all, just says whatever the fuck comes into her head. Yeah, it does remind me of someone…"
"Luna Lovegood!" they cried in unison.
"You think they're related?" Ginny asked.
"Dunno, but I'm gonna find out her last name next time I see her. Ummm, does Fleur's mum do anything for you?" Pansy asked casually.
"She's a hot old gal, no doubt," Ginny agreed, "but the whole 'Mum' thing ices it for me. Anyway, she's not on the menu."
"She grabbed my ass when we danced," Pansy confided.
"HELP!" cried Fleur's voice from the muzzle of the silver afghan hound that burst into the room.
Pansy was out the door before Ginny had time to drop the lime she had been squeezing, but Ginny was outside before the screen door could swing closed.
Pansy was already out of sight, and Ginny mentally made a note to kick Bill's ass for not setting the wards to allow her to Apparate from anywhere other than the specified Apparition point. She put her head down and ran.
"Fuck, Pansy is fast, must be the dancing…"
"Hello? Ginny, Pansy, is something wrong?" Hermione called as she descended the stairs after hearing Fleur's voice crying out in a terrified tone. She saw the lime and the knife on the floor, and she too began to run.
"Shitshitshitshitshit," muttered Ginny as she ran. "How the fuck can Pansy be so much faster than I am? Fuck you Bill; I am kicking your ass for this, shitshitshit…"
Ginny hit the bottom of the path to the beach, and a look showed her something that terrified her, and urged the last bit of speed from her legs.
"Ohfuck," she thought as she ran.
Down the beach from her lay two crumpled forms, one with black hair, one with silver, and a positively enormous black feline was approaching Victoire.
"shitshitshitohfuckingshit," Ginny hissed as she drew her wand.
She did not dare cast a spell until she got closer, however, for the great cat was simply too close to Victoire, and any spell powerful enough to disable that monster would surely kill the child. Victoire reached her hand towards the cat.
"Shit..."
xxxx
"Shall we go for a walk along the shore, Min?" Xiomara asked.
"A splendid idea, especially since our holiday is nearly over. I suppose you want to look for sand angels?"
"I live in hope; maybe those girls will be frolicking in the sea again."
"Ever the optimist, aren't you, Madam Hooch?"
"A girl can dream, Minnie, a girl can dream."
xxxx
Hermione was running as fast as she could, but it wasn't her strong suit.
"Please let it be okay…" she prayed inwardly, just in case someone was listening.
Ginny came to a sudden halt, and raised her wand with the intent of levitating the animal clear of Victoire, but said child had her arms wrapped around the beast's neck and was laughing happily.
"Pansy pretty kitty," she told Ginny, "Mama sleep."
The air shimmered briefly and Pansy was looking up at Ginny from the sand.
"He stunned Fleur before I could reach him, he was going for Victoire. I did the only thing I had time for," she said, "you'd better check on Fleur, no need to bother with him."
A glance at the blood soaking into the sand convinced Ginny that Pansy was correct, and she hurried to Fleur's side.
"She's breathing okay, and her pulse is strong. I doubt being stunned is really good for the baby though," Ginny told Pansy.
"Ginny! Pansy! What's-" Hermione arrived out of breath, and she fell silent at the sight of the unconscious Fleur and the bloody-headed man. "What on earth is going on?"
"I think this git was trying to kidnap Victoire," Pansy replied.
"Oh, you're hurt too, Pansy, your face is all bloody!" Hermione gasped.
"Not mine," Pansy assured her, and she got up and waded into the water. Hermione took a closer look at the man and her face went white. "Did Pansy do that?"
"Yup, she's an Animagus, now get over here and take a look at Fleur, would you? She's been stunned. I'll check on Pansy. And keep Vic away from that guy, will you?"
Ginny waded out beside Pansy.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, first time I've done that, though, bit messy."
"What was that thing, you, I mean, I've never seen a cat like that."
"Panthera Onca Palustris, from South America, the Pantanal region of Brazil to be precise, it's the biggest subspecies of jaguar."
"I thought jaguars had spots?" Ginny asked.
"We do, even the melanistic ones, like me. I figured the black would be scarier in the daytime, and invisible at night."
"So what did you do to the guy?" Pansy shrugged.
"Bit through his skull, it was instinctual, I didn't have time to shift back and use my wand. Besides, he stunned Fleur, and so he might have beaten me too. I only wish he'd seen me before I took him down, I bet he would have shit himself," Pansy said with a grin.
"Are you sure you're okay? I know what it's like to kill someone… you know, the war and all."
"I'm okay, next time I'll try and remember to clean up before I shift back though, Midnight likes the taste better than I do."
"Nice name. How the hell did you learn to do that?"
"I taught her," answered a familiar voice, "Xio, do check on Fleur, please, while I speak with my pupil." Xio hurried over to Hermione, Fleur, and Victoire. "I assume that you had good cause for this, Miss Parkinson?"
"He attacked Fleur, and I think he was trying to kidnap Victoire, good enough?"
"One hundred points to Slytherin, I think," Minnie told her, and with a flick of her wand something silver sped off. "I've just sent for the proper authorities, oh, Pansy dear, you missed a spot," McGonagall pointed to her chin, and then she joined the group around Fleur, who was now sitting upright.
Ginny looked over at the fallen assailant, and then back at Pansy, who met her gaze levelly.
"Do you have any idea how hot for you I am right now? That cat is the most gorgeous, the most powerful thing I've ever seen, and without you – I can't even think about it."
"Wait 'till you feel that tongue," Pansy said with a grin, "ohgod!" Pansy turned and was rather messily sick, but the sea handled it well enough.
"Come on, Pans," Ginny said softly as she put her arm around her.
A loud crack announced an arrival, and several wands pointed towards the sound.
"Steady on there! I was sent for!"
"Harry?" Hermione said in wonder.
"He seemed the one to call," McGonagall explained.
"Give me the short version for now," Harry said as he approached the body. Pansy filled him in, starting with the appearance of Fleur's patronus in the kitchen and finishing with her thoughts on the man's intentions.
"Right then, let's have a look at this git," Harry said, and he rolled the man over and looked at his face. "Well, well," he said, and he stunned everyone by delivering a kick to the man's ribs. "Okay Mawdsley, that's the only way you could have gotten away from me. I wonder how he got through the wards?"
"The beach isn't warded, just muggle-shielded, Bill and Fleur don't own it, so he didn't think he had the right to ward it," Ginny explained.
"I do," Harry said as he produced his wand. With a steady muttering under his breath, he wove an intricate pattern in the air with his wand. All of those present could feel a crackle as the wards took hold. "No one not here present will be able to come on this beach until I say differently," Harry assured them, "I've tied it into the wards on Shell Cottage, so the protection is continuous, though I did not modify what Bill had done."
"I'll be having a word about that with brother Bill on his return," Ginny promised him.
"How is Fleur?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine," Fleur promised, "just a little dizzy."
"Right," Harry said, "take her to St. Mungo's."
"Really…" Fleur began to protest.
"I wasn't asking," Harry cut in, and something in his bearing and tone stifled further argument.
"It might be better for her midwife and her Grandmother to see her," Hermione suggested.
"Fine, but get her qualified attention right away. Tell them as much as you can about what happened to Fleur, but don't mention this bastard's name. Mawdsley didn't come up with this on his own, and I want whoever was paying him. I'll handle this, everyone but Pansy should go now."
"Harry?" Ginny said tentatively.
"Trust me please, Gin. Take care of Fleur, and don't worry about Pansy."
Completely at sea, Ginny decided that she simply had to trust Harry, and she picked Victoire up in one arm and took Fleur's arm with the other. With Hermione on the other side they headed back to the cottage.
"Astonishing work with the warding, Mr. Potter," McGonagall complimented him, "I see you paid attention to Filius after all."
"Yes, Professor, and I would greatly appreciate it if you and Madam Hooch would stick close to these women until I sort this out," Harry requested.
"I expect we can stand to do that," Hooch allowed with a smile.
"Shameless," Minerva muttered, but she was smiling as she took Hooch by the hand and followed the others to the cottage.
"Pansy," Harry said, "how do you want this handled?"
"Exactly what is it that you do at the Min, Harry, what's your job?" Harry looked at her carefully for a moment.
"What I do, never happens," Harry told her, "and my job simply does not exist. You know where some bodies are buried, right Pansy?" Pansy nodded slowly.
"Well, I bury the bodies. And make them on occasion, although you saved me the trouble here. I would have liked to talk with him, but you did the right thing. He was a vicious son-of-a-bitch of a paid assassin, among other things, and if you'd tried to duel with him it might have gone ill with you," Harry said grimly.
And then he smiled, and the green eyes sparkled.
"You really bit his head?"
"Take a look," Pansy suggested, and he did.
"I thought the great cats went for the throat, or the base of the skull?"
"Not Palustris, straight for the old brain box," Pansy told him.
"I'll look it up, and I'd really like to see your Animagus form sometime. Any road, there's a reward for this lad, where shall I send it?"
"Set up a trust for Victoire with it," Pansy told him, "I assume you know my solicitors, since you seem to know everything else about me?" Harry smiled again.
"Consider it done, and I'll make sure the cause of death doesn't mention great pussycats with huge fangs."
"You know Harry, you and I ought to try going straight together sometime, just for the Hell of it."
"Tempting, but I don't think our patronuses would get along," he replied. "Now why do you suppose that someone would have wanted to kidnap Victoire? Bill's good, but curse breakers aren't rich."
"Bill is going to be," Pansy told him, and she explained about the work that he was doing.
"I didn't know about that," Harry admitted, "and so not many did. Thanks Pansy, that gives me a start, come on, I'll walk you back to Shell Cottage."