The sound of hard, rapid knocking echoed throughout her home suddenly. Frowning suspiciously Fleur quickly pulled Hermione's hand to her lips before placing it back at her side and getting up from her seat. Grabbing her wand from on top of her chest of drawers she slipped the thin wood up her sleeve before exiting the room.
Walking across the landing she came to the top of her stairs and looked down at her front door. She could make out a distorted figure through the glass in the door and her heart jumped in her chest. Folding her arms she walked down the stairs and calmed herself as she approached the front door. If it was a fight they were looking for then a fight she was certainly going to give them. She could hear male voices shouting for her to open the door and their incessant banging.
Before she could open the door it was forced open and before she could even blink a tight grip had forced itself around her throat and was pushing her into a wall. She glared into the deranged eyes of one of Voldemort's chief Death Eaters, Dolohov was his name if she remembered correctly, but this seemed to only amuse him more as he pressed his wand into her cheek.
"Hello love" his voice was sickly sweet as he ginned toothily at her, his rotted teeth out on display. With his foot he pushed the front door closed as he kept his eyes on her.
"Pretty young thing ain't ya?" he whispered as his dark eyes looked her up and down with a sick lust that made Fleur's stomach churn with disgust.
"What do you want?" her voice was straining against the pressure of his hand at her throat. He raised his eyebrows at her question before forcing his mouth into a thin line.
"I'm searching for a Mudblood that managed to escape from me. Sources tell me that she was travelling in this direction and well...I've been banging on every door searching for the Mudblood but I must say I think I'm gonna enjoy this visit much more than the others sweetheart" Fleur refused to show him her fear at his implications of what a man like him would enjoy and merely kept her eyes level with his.
"But before I have my fun I should follow protocol just so I can tell the Dark Lord that I have done his bidding..." releasing her throat but keeping his wand pressed against her the unhinged Death Eater produced a piece of parchment from within his tattered leather jacket.
"By any chance have you seen this Mudblood anywhere around here?" Fleur's blue eyes dropped to the yellowing parchment and immediately recognised a moving picture of Hermione. It had been taken at a time when things were so much simpler and she was smiling at the camera. Shaking her head Dolohov sighed before putting the parchment back into an inside pocket.
"Oh well no matter the nights still young and she won't get far with her injuries. I'm sure I can make time for you though gorgeous" Fleur couldn't help but twist her head to the side and grimace as the man leaned forward and began to press himself against her.
"I like it rough beautiful...hope you don't mind that" he whispered in amusement. Fear paralyzed the French Veela and her mind went blank. Oh God she couldn't let this happen to herself, she was stronger than this...she was...
"Imperio!" commanded a cold, steely voice from the stairs and Dolohov's body was ripped away from Fleur by and invisible force and pressed against the opposite wall. Snapping her head to the side a mixture of relief tinged with concern danced across her face as Hermione stalked across from the stairs to stand protectively in front of Fleur, her arm outstretched and her wand pointed at the disgusting Death Eater.
There was a horrid mixture of loathing and aggression on Hermione's features as she glared as Dolohov. She had woken to the sound of a voice that filled her with an unbridled rage suggesting sickening things to her Fleur which only incensed her further. Never had she felt such anger before but right now she was seriously fighting the urge to put an end to the scum in front of her.
And when Dolohov started laughing despite his predicament it nearly sent her over the edge. His laughter died as he watched the cold brown eyes darken horribly and a twinge of fear pulled at his heart at the sight. However, Hermione's shaking arm was hinting at her exhausted state while a thin sheen of sweat was beginning to form on her body from the sudden exertion of movement, using up what little energy she had left.
Fleur watched the muscles constrict and twitch underneath Hermione's pale skin with apprehension before her senses returned to her and she brandished her own wand and pointed it at Dolohov before muttering a stunning curse which collided with the man's chest. Hermione's arm fell to her side as she breathed sharply in and out. Closing her eyes briefly she struggled to fight against the pressing exhaustion and pain. Dolohov's body fell limply to the ground, his eyes wide open and unmoving.
"We need to get rid of him before more come" whispered Hermione as she opened her eyes and glared at the paralyzed Death Eater. At this point Fleur didn't care what they did, so long as he suffered and she could get Hermione back into bed to rest. Her body was on the verge of collapse as it was without the brunette straining herself more. Pointing her wand at the man Hermione muttered a powerful memory charm under her breath.
"Obliviate" she whispered and a jet of translucent power escaped from the tip of her wand and connected with Dolohov's forehead. After a few minutes Hermione lowered her wand as she finished the spell, faintly acknowledging the dazed expression on Dolohov's face and realizing how more disturbed it made the man look.
Her magical core drained Fleur quickly wrapped her arms around Hermione's waist as the brunette began to fall backwards into her.
"Thank you mon amour" whispered Fleur into her ear. Hermione made a noise in her throat in response as she closed her eyes and barely noticed Fleur lowering them onto the ground with her back pressed up against the Veela's chest.
She just wanted to sleep. Fleur was safe now. She had done her duty...
She was safe.