A/N thanks for the reviews and faves. Hope you enjoy
A/N 2 Embarrassing spelling mistake corrected, my humble apologies to you all. My gratitude to those of you who had the grace to notice and not post it in the reviews!
Chapter 10 Relentless
Fleur's eyes shot open, something was wrong but it took her a moment to figure out that the fact that she was alone in the bed was the issue. She stifled a moan, not wanting Hermione to feel bad as this had been the 4th nightmare of the evening. She kept her movement slow and deliberate as she sat up and softly called out "'Ermione?" No response. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed as her own body protested from lack of sleep, she sat silently listening, she could here short shallow breaths coming from the corner of the room and focused all of her senses there. "Do not be alarmed, I am going to light a candle." Fleur told the young witch as she reached her wand and lit a candle that was by the bed, then replaced her wand on the table beside the bed as she let her eyes adjust to the dim light.
Fleur actually thought her heart broke a little as the figure in the corner came into focus. Hermione was huddled there her wand pointing at Fleur. She was sweating, shaking and out of breath. Fleur was aware of the wand pointed at her but did not let it deter her as she got to her feet and stepped very slowly towards Hermione. The young witch panicked and brandished the wand warningly like a sword as she watched Fleur approach. Fleur sat on her knees tucking her feet underneath her as she fully examined the witch before her, she had not said a word, but then that was not unusual, Fleur had noted that during these episodes the intelligent young witch did not just struggle to form sentences but often could not coax single words from her. Fleur forced her gaze to the other arm which Hermione was holding protectively against her, blood was seeping into her t-shirt where she held the arm. Trying not to panic she took in the rest of Hermione, hair dishevelled, shirt soaked with sweat skin pale and clammy and her eyes darting around the room as though searching for more pursuers.
"We are alone 'Ermione. Do you remember 'oo I am?" she asked in a very low quiet voice. The question, or perhaps it was the voice, seemed to set off some spark of recognition within Hermione as she forced her eyes to focus on the blonde witch. After a moment Hermione nodded and opened her mouth to speak, her mouth moved but no sound came out, this caused her to panic, tensing up further as she pulled her knees to her chest trying to make herself a smaller target, harder to break. Fleur took a deep breath, something was very wrong with this scene and she didn't just mean the amount of blood the witch was losing from her left arm.
All Fleur wanted to do was pull the young witch into her arms, sort out her hurts and chase her fears away. She knew better than to try that, Hermione was clearly terrified, and seemed to be acting on instinct which at the moment was screaming at her about self preservation and that was okay with Fleur. "I can see zat you are quite upset 'Ermione, so I am not going to touch you. I am just going to sit and talk to you, iz zat ok?" Fleur asked. She knew from previous experience that talking to Hermione always helped, she didn't know if it was her calm tone, her French accent or just hearing a friendly voice in general but then she didn't care either, so long as it helped. Hermione nodded in response and even lowered her wand a little, though did not put it down. Fleur would have relaxed a little but she was very concerned about the blood pooling in the floor under Hermione's arm.
"Zis was not a nightmare zat has frightened you zis way is it?" Fleur asked Hermione, and she was certain that she knew the answer. Fleur's body was attuned to Hermione's by now, trained to wake when the thrashing started, alerting her to the whimpers and the cries, quite frankly Fleur was astonished that Hermione had made it out of bed without her noticing, so she knew that it had not been a nightmare. Hermione opened her mouth to speak and again found that she could not, tears spilled over onto her pale cheeks, smearing them like a wet canvas as she shook her head over and over. Hermione was shaking all over and frantically tapping her throat with her wand clearly in full fledged panic mode, constantly moving her feet pressing herself into her corner but looking more and more like a squirrel caught in a trap. Fleur held her hands out in front of her, "calm down 'Ermione. 'Ow can I 'elp you?" Fleur asked as she felt the adrenaline pumping through her body pushing her own panic levels up. Hermione took a deep shuddering breath and wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her right hand, and tried to still herself then she pointed at her teeth.
Fleur thought about the gesture that Hermione had made for a moment then understanding sank through her, "Bellatrix?" she asked. The young witch nodded, had they been playing Pictionary they would have been a great team. Fleur scooted back and got to her feet and grabbed her wand off the bedside cabinet where she had left it, without thinking she flourished the wand in Hermione's direction and cast "finite incantatum!" Suddenly the room was filled with the sound of Hermione's screaming as she crab crawled towards the doorway that lead to the kitchen. Fleur instantly dropped her wand, "'Ermione wait, I won't 'urt you." It was enough to stop Hermione in her tracks, she huddled herself against the doorjamb. "'Ermione, listen to my voice. I am going to 'elp you, I will stand guard over you." Hermione shook her head at this, now that she had her voice she found she could not use it when it mattered. She looked down at her arm, bleeding and lifted a trembling hand to her face rubbing her eyes trying to clear her fuzzy mind. "She knows where we are," the young witch whispered, Fleur stiffened how could that be? This cabin had been in her family for generations and it had been a family secret, it was not possible that she knew where they were, she let her eyes drift to the terrified Hermione and she knew that she believed it.
Fleur swooped down and picked up her wand, if Bellatrix was on her way she would need the wand. Hermione kept her eyes on Fleur's wand as she tried to prize herself out of the doorway, she stepped towards Fleur but was very uncertain, then she looked up and her whole body tensed again, she locked eyes with Fleur and ran to her, "she's coming!" Fleur raised her wand but was not sure where to point it, she put an arm around to Hermione protectively and stood very still listening. All Fleur could hear was Hermione's breathing, she gently rubbed Hermione's shoulder as the younger girl clung desperately to her.
Fleur forced her body to relax, taking long deep breaths and lowered her wand hand, as she did so there was a deafening crunch as a dark streak tore through the wall behind them and a loud cackle followed swiftly after as Bellatrix Lestrange appeared before them. Fleur spun around pushing Hermione behind her shielding her from Bellatrix, "You are not welcome 'ere, leave NOW!" Fleur instructed Bellatrix threw her head back and cackled, before she had brought her head back down she was already casting, "Crucio" in their direction but Fleur was expecting it and expertly cast a shield charm, the curse bounced off the shield and back towards Bellatrix. The Death Eater was distracted enough for Fleur to push herself and Hermione back towards the fireplace. There was another crash and 2 more black streaks tore through the roof of the cabin. Fleur raised her arm in attempt to protect the two witches from the falling debris. Bits of broken wood rained down on them and Fleur tightened her grip on both Hermione and her wand as the ood struck the two of them.
When everything settled there were more figures in the room, Fleur focused on them and realised that they were standing watching them, she identified them as Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Fleur was aware that Hermione had gone catatonic as she fell into a defensive stance, "Please, leave!"
Lucius gave her a thin pale smile. "Believe me, we shan't be here any longer than is necessary. Once we have retrieved Bellatrix's little Mudblood Pet we shall be on our way." He sounded entirely board as though the entire task was beneath him. Fleur winced at the derogatory term he had used but Hermione was starting to let out a keen wail as the fear took a hold of her. "Silencio!" Bellatrix cast in their direction and this time she had managed to take Fleur by surprise and the curse shot past her and hit its target, silencing Hermione's fear.
The Veela within her pushed its way to the surface and she hurled hex's at the three Death Eaters, who each deflected the curses thrown at her. Fleur knew she was outnumbered and outmatched desperately trying to come up with a plan to get them out of there. She cast "Protego" as curses hurled at her from all three Death Eaters, when the air was filled with some loud 'Pops' and suddenly the room was filled with the Delacour family. Fleur locked eyes with her Maman who was enraged but still found time to send her a reassuring nod before her mother, father and sister relentlessly attacked the three Death Eaters invading their holiday home and threatening their Fleur.
In the confusion of curses flying back and forth in the room Fleur noticed that the Death Eaters were being pushed back. There was a shrill cry that resonated through the room which Fleur recognised as the Veela within her mother calling out. The Veela within Fleur responded as did the Veela within Gabrielle and for a moment nothing else could be heard. Suddenly more Veela poured into the cabin and pressed towards the Death Eaters, pushing the three back, Fleur watched them as their forms dissolved into wisps of black smoke and shot away, first Lucius, then Narcissa and finally Bellatrix the latter casting "Incendio" as she made her escape.
The cabin was engulfed in flame. Heat was licking against Fleur's skin as the tongues of flame grew bigger and nearer. She glanced behind her to see that Hermione was now there clutching her looking terrified. A piercing shriek filled the air and Fleur smiled before her body spun as she and Hermione Disapperated away.
Their landing was rough, Fleur stumbled to her knees as she caught Hermione, who promptly vomited on the grass by them. Fleur sat the young witch down and cast her patronus, a silvery blue panther emerged from her wand and bound towards the shack where the red headed family was already pouring out the back door at the breach of their wards. Her patronus had warned Ginny to keep everyone back but to be on their guard, Fleur needed time to think. She was sore from the battle, there were some pretty big splinters of wood sticking out of her arm, exhausted and worried about Hermione. Fleur could hear Ginny screaming at her brothers to stay back and smiled at the fiery redhead bossing the family about, but Molly was not so easily managed and had already begun her approach on the two witches. Fleur turned to Hermione resting half in her lap, and swept the hair out of her face examining her for injuries , she seemed to have a couple of shards of wood in her shoulder, and her arm was still bleeding. She gently held Hermione's wrist and pulled the arm so she could inspect it and found that her 'Mudblood' scar had been reopened. She cursed Bellatrix and tore the sleeve off of the shirt she had been sleeping in and wrapped it around the bleeding arm as she turned towards the footsteps of the approaching Weasley women.
Pulling Hermione closer to her she spoke to Ginny and Molly, "Please do not come any closer," she tenderly stroked Hermione's head and whispered tenderly to her. The whispers were full of promises of companionship, safety and the her Guardian would not leave her. "Fleur, what has happened, you look terrible dear and is that Hermione with you?" Molly asked unable to contain herself any longer. "We were attacked in our safe 'ouse, it is possible zat ze death eaters can track us 'ere, I am sorry I did not know where else to go." Molly turned back to the boys and yelled at them to strengthen the wards and get a message to their father. Ginny was holding her mother's arm in anticipation of her next move, and she was not wrong, Molly took a step towards the two witches.
Hermione sensed the approach of someone and tensed up starting to sob, Fleur considered this an improvement to catatonia, but not much as she rocked Hermione and filled her ear with reassurances. "Mum, please Fleur asked us to stay back." Ginny begged her mother to listen and respect Fleur's request, this was almost too much for Molly, "Ginerva Molly Weasley, they are hurt and I can help, besides you don't tell me what to do young lady." Ginny did something that was talked about at family gatherings for years to come, (though granted it was only when Molly was out of earshot), she stepped ahead of the Weasley Matriarch and put a hand on each of her arms, "Mother stop! You are scaring Hermione!" Molly was absolutely shocked and looked from Ginny's unyielding face to Hermione's terrified eyes before taking a step back.
"I am terribly sorry Hermione dear, you are safe here no one will harm you," Molly said in a very comforting motherly tone and Hermione seemed to relax in Fleur's arms. "Tell me what you need Fleur," Ginny asked in a calm quiet voice, taking a leaf from her mother's book. Fleur continued stroking Hermione's head as she spoke, knowing that Hermione was listening, "We need to get 'er inside and cleaned up and zen we could both use some rest, but as I said zere is no guarantee zat we 'ave not brought ze danger wiz us," Fleur answered. Ginny looked to her mother who nodded and headed back towards the house to shoo her brother's into the house, though no conversation had taken place, Ginny knew that her mother had just declared the downstairs of the house a 'no go zone' for the next hour. Ginny cautiously approached and took in the soot and splinter covered condition of Fleur, not missing the dark circles below her eyes that seemed to have darkened since the just other day. The young girl got down on her knees beside Hermione, sizing her up, she knew she couldn't carry her and would be surprised if Fleur could. "Hermione, can you walk?" she asked her friend, Hermione stared at her not answering, Ginny looked to Fleur. "Come Ma Petite, let us see if zere is some coffee we can brew I am in desperate need of a cup." Fleur told her and as she did so she helped Hermione sit up.
Hermione took the cue and, with the help of Fleur and Ginny got to her feet. Fleur slipped an arm around her waist to support her and Ginny walked beside them as they slowly made their way to the kitchen. They sat Hermione in a chair and Fleur started tend to her wounds while Ginny took out her mother's supplies, passing her the dittany for the cuts. Fleur shook her head knowing that it would not work and asked for bandages instead. Ginny looked through the tin of potions and found a bottle of dreamless sleep, she handed it to Fleur who examined it and then flicked her eyes to the exhausted young witch before her. "'Ermione, I zink you would benefit from a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, non?" Hermione's hand shot out and grabbed Fleur's while she cast her eyes between Ginny and Fleur. But Ginny took her cue and poured a dose of the potion, "Hermione, Fleur and I will be with you the entire time I swear to you." Hermione focused on Ginny for a moment studying her face, "Safe." She told them, then took the potion from her friend and gulped it down. She curled up in the chair and was asleep moments later to the sounds of Fleur making coffee and Ginny quietly nagging the French witch about getting her own wounds. The very smell of the coffee, even if it was instant, seemed to relax Fleur, well that and the sight of Hermione sleeping soundly feet away from her. "Zank you Ginny, why don't you tell your mother that she can come down, but warn 'er that 'Ermione is sleeping. We both know she will be 'aving kittens wondering what is going on." Fleur told the youngest Weasley who grinned and nodded as she headed for the stairs to get her mother, if for no other reason then at least she would make Fleur get her wounds tended to, as she reached the stairs Fleur called out her name and she turned, "Ronald?" the one name a question. Fleur was startled to see a dark look spread across her face, "He knows better than to turn up around here, Mum would kill him." She answered and with that she turned and headed up the stairs to get her mother.
Fleur winced, Ginny had obviously told her mother what Ron had done, that could not have been a fun conversation. She took a sip of her coffee, savouring it and tried to figure out her next move. There was no way that they could stay there, it was ok as a stop gap measure but Fleur had seen the Weasley house at breakfast, it was like Kings Cross Station on the morning of the 1st of September. She knew that the Weasley's would not like it but Hermione and herself would need to leave before morning. Specifically before Bill got home from his patrols.