AN – Thanks for all the reviews, subs and faves.
Chapter 11 Shelter from all the Storms
Fleur winced as Molly carefully extracted a splinter of wood from her shoulder and laid it on the table as she began work on the next. Fleur's eyes widened as she examined the splinter. It was more like a shiv, 6 inches long at least with a sharp end covered in her blood. She grimaced again as Molly removed another, "What on earth happened to you two?" she asked in a hushed voice laced with concern, "There has to be 20 splinters in your shoulder and arm, and are these burns Fleur? What sort of danger are you two in?" her voice was raising in pitch the more she concerned she became. Fleur cast her eyes over at the still resting Hermione, her brow was creased and Fleur sighed, she had taken enough dreamless sleep potion to prevent the nightmares which meant that Bellatrix had to be attacking her. Fleur made eye contact with Ginny and then drew her eyes back to Hermione, Ginny nodded and went over and sat on the arm of the chair Hermione was resting in and rubbed her arm. Fleur knew that Hermione had been better able to fight off Bellatrix when she felt familiar contact and she could not provide that at the moment.
As though reminding Fleur that she was still there, Molly removed a particularly large, jagged splinter from her arm causing tears to spring to her eyes, Fleur had not even felt these little projectiles entering her skin, but oh boy she felt them now. Molly looked over at Hermione and Ginny, "Ginny dear she can't feel you, you know she will rest well for a few more hours you don't need to sit with her," she told her daughter, Fleur rolled her eyes at the all knowing Molly Weasley and bit back a scathing retort about how the dithering woman knew nothing of the sort. Ginny could see the internal battle written all over Fleur's face and before the tired witch could say anything however Ginny replied to her mother, "I know Mum, but it makes me feel better." Molly smiled at her daughter beaming with pride at the compassion and comforting soul that was shining through as Ginny tended to act more and more like her brothers and less like a daughter most of the time.
Fleur felt a tear slip out of her eye as Molly continued removing splinters, but was determined that he would not cry out, she would not give Bellatrix the satisfaction, besides she was Veela, and made of sterner stuff than that. Molly set another splinter on the table then grabbed the dittany and placed a few droplets over the wounds, "There now that's the first set done, only two more to go," she said in what Fleur recognised as Molly's most maternal tone, Molly continued, "Going to be some scars actually, but I'm certain Bill won't mind." Fleur's gaze dropped to her hand and the simple wedding band that she wore, she too was certain that Bill wouldn't mind. Molly was being very nice, Fleur began to wonder what Bill had told her about their 'separation,' though she was sure it was more along the lines of 'for her safety' or, 'order business' and nothing to do with the words she threw in his face at their last meeting: "We were young, foolish and filled with lust and desperation from the war Bill, anything but love for each other!" She winced as she remembered herself saying those words as her husband's face crumbled as their marriage had, around about him without him even realising.
She bit her lip and pulled herself back into the present, casting her eyes at Hermione she noted that Ginny was still stroking the sleeping witch's arm but her gaze was intensely on Fleur. Fleur offered her a grimace, trying to communicate that she knew things were a mess and that she needed to sort them out but now was not the time. She did not know whether Ginny got the message or not but her eyes seemed to soften somewhat towards Fleur. Molly set the her largest find as far as splinters were concerned on the table and Fleur paled, the size of a small knife and again covered in blood, "I've not heard a word from you Fleur, are you in shock? Should we contact St Mungo's?" Molly asked in her usual pushy way and as she did so she had stopped pulling out splinters and sat herself in front of Fleur, breaking her line of sight with Hermione. Fleur gave Molly a soft smile, "Non Molly, zat is not necessary, I apologise, I am just a little tired," she replied as she raised her hand to rub her eyes and noted for the first time that the skin on top of it was burned. How has she not realised that she had gotten these injuries? Molly smiled, "It's alright dear we will get you patched up. I sent an owl to Arthur, he and Bill are going to come home early then you can tell us all about it and we will see how we can help." She told her reassuringly.
Little did Molly Weasley know that of all the thing likely to create a panic within Fleur, this one was top of the list, she could actually feel her heart rate increase as the adrenaline began to work its way through her body. Molly had taken her hand in her own so that she could tend to the burn on it and noticed Fleur trembling, "je suis désolé" Fleur said and shook her head realising she was so tired she had slipped back into speaking French, "I am sorry Molly, I am exhausted." She told her as she patched her hand up by way of explanation. "That's quite alright dear, perfectly understandable, I will finish this off then you can rest until Arthur comes back," Molly replied with a smile and then go up to remove the rest of the splinters from her arm and apply the dittany. Fleur closed her eyes and let Molly work, she was enjoying the peace for a moment, the security of knowing that the twins and Charlie were outside on watch in case the Death Eaters decided to attempt another attack gave her some peace. She let her mind wander back to the attack and then suddenly remembered her parents and sister had been there fighting too, what if one of them was hurt? She needed to contact them as soon as possible, but then that was another idea that she did not relish as she could imagine there would be explanations demanded there too. If only she could take Hermione and run off somewhere, so they could be together. Fleur immediately shoved that thought right out of her mind, even if Hermione felt the same things as she did, and that was highly doubtful since right up until she found her in the boathouse she was very clear that she had barely tolerated Fleur never mind liked her. Perhaps events since then would have changed Hermione's opinion of her but not to the extent that Fleur would hope, and besides Hermione had this mission that she was hell bent on fulfilling, which made it even less likely.
Fleur sighed as Molly put the stopper back in the dittany and got up to put the bottle away then used a spell to sweep the splinters off the table and into the rubbish bin before casting a quick 'scourgify' on the table. Fleur picked up her coffee and was about to take a sip of it when the mug was whipped right out of her hand and the contents poured down the sink, "You need rest dear and that stuff is not going to help, now you've a couple of hours before Arthur gets back, why don't you go on through and rest on the couch until then?" Molly told her. Fleur got up and went over to Hermione, she did not want to sleep in the other room apart from her but did not know what else to do so she leant down and place a chaste kiss on Hermione's forehead, as she did Ginny whispered, "I'll get you out of her," Fleur smiled at her and gave an almost imperceptible nod, before heading through to the living room. "That's it dear, now I will pop upstairs and get you a pillow and a blanket," Molly said quite pleased with herself as she headed off up the stairs.
Before Fleur could even process what was happening Ginny was beside her levitating Hermione's sleeping body into her arms, she grabbed a handful of floo powder then pulled Fleur, who was now struggling with Hermione and stepped into the fireplace, "12 Grimmauld Place" she said. Seconds later Fleur stumbled form a fireplace, trying to think quickly how to protect Hermione from the fall, she need not have worried though because Ginny was right there supporting Hermione as the three witch's sank to their knees. Once she was sure that Hermione was secure, Ginny spun around and shut the floo, anyone trying to follow them through would be bounced back to where they started. Ginny then scooted backwards on the floor and leaned against the couch for a moment, "Bloody hell"" she exclaimed between pants, "Mum's gonna kill me when she gets a hold of me!" Fleur raised an eyebrow at Ginny then the two burst out laughing, though neither of them were sure why as the situation was far from funny nor was Molly Weasley's temper!
Fleur pulled out her wand and cast 'levicorpus' at Hermione's sleeping form, it gently rose off of her and hovered just in front of her. Fleur cast a questioning glance at Ginny who stepped towards the doorway of the room, "you tow should take the master bedroom, it has an en suite and is on a floor by itself, I will take Hermione and mine old room, we will get together again once you have had some rest, yes?" Fleur nodded then headed towards the stairs, she paused for a moment and turned back to Ginny about to ask a question. Ginny raised her hands to stop her, "I've blocked the floo and the front door requires a password which I changed when the deeds were turned over to me when Harry...when I inherited the house. We are not having any visitors any time soon, I give you my word." Fleur nodded her thanks for the explanation and continued on upstairs with Hermione.
When Fleur entered the room she levitated Hermione very gently onto the bed then took in her surroundings, she was pleasantly surprised. When she had last visited the house it was still living in the past with a coating of dust on everything, however it appeared to Hermione as though someone had spent a lot of time cleaning the place, there was not a spec of dust in sight, the bed linens looked as though they were fresh there were even clean curtains hanging in the bay window. Fleur walked over to the window and drew the curtains closed, it was late, or early depending on how you looked at it and she did not want the sunshine disturbing any rest she might get. Just as she was about to head over to the bed there was a soft 'tap' on the door, Fleur went over and opened it and was greeted with the surly faced ancient and grubby form of Kreacher.
The house elf was holding out a pile of towels and clothes, "Mistress Weasley says kreacher must not apparate into room, Mistress Weasley says you will be needing these. Kreacher will see to your needs," he thrust the pile at Fleur as he said this, she took them from him and he turned and began his slow hobble down the stairs, "Thank you Kreacher," she called out after him but he was either going deaf in his old age or he was ignoring her, Fleur decided that she was okay with it whichever one it was and quietly closed the door. She walked over to the dressing room and when she opened the door she saw that it too had been given a bit of a clean and modern touch, she set the pile of clothing and towels on the dresser and turned to check on Hermione to find that the young witch was laying on the bed silently watching her. Fleur gave Hermione a smile and walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed, "I'm sorry Ma Petite, did I wake you?" Hermione stared at Fleur and shook her head, "No more than being levitated, travelling through the floo network or carried in your arms did," the young witch replied and though there was a hint of sarcasm in her voice there was also a playful tone.
"Oui et has been quite the adventurers evening has it not?" Fleur replied giggling a little before asking, "'ow long 'ave you been awake?" sweeping a stray strand of hair out of Hermione's face as she did so. Hermione continued to stare at Fleur, as though if she could just focus on one solid thing then all the aches, pains and memories could go to hell, she swallowed before answering quietly, "Long enough to know that you are avoiding your husband." Fleur had the grace to blush at the statement but did not know what to say, so she opted for silence, though the fact that she could not hold eye contact with Hermione probably spoke volumes on its own. Hermione reached out and took Fleur's hand, "When you are ready to talk, I am here if you want." Fleur nodded and smiled her thanks at Hermione, then she got up and grabbed a towel, "I am going to take a shower, I am covered in soot and debris." She told Hermione. The young girls face lit up at the prospect and she swung her legs over the edge of the bed before standing on some very wobbly legs, "Can I...I was going to say can I join you but then I realised how that sounds, once you are done would you mind helping me shower?" Hermione asked a little nervously.
Fleur stared at the young witch for a moment, fruitlessly willing herself not to blush as she nodded her head. She knew that there was nothing to read into, Hermione's shoulder hurt, her entire body in fact was still weak from her ordeal. The last bath the younger witch had had, was the one that Fleur had given her, she must feel terrible. In a moment of bravery Fleur smiled and said, "Come it will save time and effort if we go together," and then she grabbed the other towel and headed through the dressing room, Hermione in tow.
Fleur stepped out of her clothes without giving Hermione a second look, the two of them were not unaccustomed to undressing in view of others as both had had dorm mates throughout school. Though it was certainly not the first time Fleur would have seen Hermione in a state of undress she did not want to make her feel uncomfortable about it. She reached in and turned the water on, holding her hand underneath the spray until it was warm before stepping through the curtain, silently saying a prayer of thanks to Circe for the fact that the modernisation of 12 Grimmauld Place had included the addition of a reasonably decent power shower. She stood under the spray and let the hot steamy water wash the dust and debris from the attack away. As she was soaking her hair under the spray a gush of cold air on her backside told her that Hermione had opened the shower curtain but was yet to step inside. Fighting the urge to turn and look at the beautiful young witch she said to the tiles in front of her, "you are letting ze steam out." Hermione stepped into the shower and closed the curtain.
Fleur soaped up her hair then rinsed it off then quickly did the same for her body, wanting to finish as fast as she could so that she could help Hermione before the frail witch caught a chill. It was then, quite a surprise when she felt a soapy sponge softly running circles on her back, she stood very still and enjoyed the feeling of her back being washed, trying to ignore the fact that the sponge was periodically skimming the top of her arse. When the washing stopped she turned to see the sponge being handed to her and wordlessly she turned and did the same action got Hermione. She was very slow, soft and methodical as she did so and could not help herself from reaching out with her other hand and running her fingers across the battlefield of scars on Hermione's back. "Are they ugly?" the young witch asked with a bit of a shaky voice. Fleur looked at the back of her head and it tore her apart to think that this beautiful young witch could think any part of her was ugly, "Non, zey are striking and unique, zey tell an ugly story but zey do not make you ugly. Zey tell me zat you are strong, wilful and fierce, all very attractive qualities." Fleur replied thankful that the steam in the shower hid her blush, little did she know Hermione was equally as thankful for her own blush being hidden from view.
Fleur finished off by lathering a soap up in Hermione's hair and then standing her under the spray to rinse it off before repeating with conditioner. She then stepped out and let Hermione enjoy being under the spray for a while. Fleur towelled off then slipped into the night clothes that Kreacher had sent up for her; a baggy t-shirt, a new pair of underwear and a pair of shorts. She was brushing her hair with a brush that she had found in the dressing room when she heard Hermione turn off the water, she set the brush down grabbed the clean towel and handed it to Hermione as she stepped out of the shower. Hermione took the towel from Fleur, "thanks," she told her but the French witch did not hear, she was captivated by the sight before her. Hermione smiled a little then wrapped the towel around herself as she inspected the clothes that Fleur laid out for her. The young witch dressed herself slowly and Fleur went back to brushing her hair, her eyes closed so that she could engrave the sight in her mind and never forget it.
Hermione took a seat beside Fleur, in front of them was a mirror and she examined her face in it, she still did not recognise the face that looked back. Still pale, even though just out of a very hot shower. Still drawn in, even though she had started eating well again. Stall tired looking, even though she could barely remember doing anything other than sleeping. Hermione found herself wondering how long it was going to take before she could look in the mirror and see herself looking back, not this strangers face with these dull eyes. She reasoned with herself that she was a different person now, she had certainly learned a lot having been at Bellatrix's mercy for so long, but then it had not been Bellatrix's actions that had taught her anything. Most of her learning's had come from Narcissa's cruelty. Bellarix was crazy and Hermione expected most of the stuff that she had done to her, but Narcissa was a mother and a woman, stupidly Hermione had expected her to have compassion, to go easy on her or even to help her. Narcissa did none of these things, she stood idly by while Bellatrix tortured her unmercifully, laughed when she begged and literally poured salt in her wounds to wake her up. Hermione absentmindedly run her fingertips over the scar on her arm, it was almost as though she could feel the salt being rubbed in as she remembered the act.
She was startled from her thoughts by Fleur, taking her hand and raising her wrist up to her lips, tenderly kissing the scar, "Did Bellatrix do zis?" she asked tentatively. Hermione nodded as a tear escaped from her eye, "She carved that into my arm the moment we got there, so I could remember my place, remember that I will never be good enough," Hermione replied before continuing, "I passed out it was so painful, that was before I got used to...her. I woke up to Narcissa rubbing salt in the cuts she wanted them to burn, she wanted me to feel the disgrace of being a..." Hermione couldn't finish the sentence. Fleur kissed the wrist again then reached up and wiped the tear that was marking its slow trail down Hermione's cheek away, "You are smart and beautiful and nothing short of perfection, do not let zese deranged women make you believe anyzing else." Fleur told her with a fierceness that she genuinely felt from the bottom of her heart. Hermione smiled, she did not know why, but she knew that Fleur meant what she had said and it made her heart do the tiniest of flips. Fleur began to gently brush Hermione's hair and the more she did it the more Hermione shoulders relaxed, Fleur hoped that the action had put her at ease a little.
Hermione watched every move Fleur made in the mirror and Fleur was delighted to see a mile on the young witches face when she put the brush down. She then yawned into her hand and it was Hermione's turn to raise an eyebrow, "Bedtime for you?" she asked Fleur playfully, liking that the roles had been reversed a little. Fleur smiled and nodded, "Will you lay wiz me? I 'ave gotten used to you being zere" Fleur asked and though she felt a little silly asking, she was not beyond using a little blackmail to get her friend to take some rest. Hermione nodded, slowly leading Fleur to the bed and pulling back the covers to let her get in. Fleur crawled into the bed and lay on her side, Hermione climber in and nestled in with her pulling the covers over both of them and feeling completely relaxed until Bellatrix popped into her head.
"Night night Muddy, don't let the bed bugs bite!" The evil witch cackled and she cast 'Crucio' Hermione writhed with pain in Fleur's arms, then she felt Fleur within her mind surrounding her, protecting her and just like in the cabin, Fleur's shield protected her mind and the pain disappeared. 'You should mind your business HALFBREED' Bellatrix shrieked at Fleur. Fleur smiled because she knew that she was somehow thwarting Bellatrix's plans, but did not know how far she would be able to go with this, 'You made it my business and the rest of my family's business when you trespassed on our property, the Delacours will not zank you for zat, but it is not zat you need to worry about Madame Lestrange, because you 'ave bigger problems. Now zat you 'ave attacked me, my Veela sisters will 'unt you down, and wen zey catch you zey will bring you to me for retribution, zat mademoiselle is somezing you should be concerned about. For I will punish you for your attack on me, but I will destroy you for what you 'ave done to 'Ermione! Now be gone!" as she finished her threats echoed through Hermione's mind like a tsunami, and that same wave pushed Bellatrix out of her mind.
Hermione turned to face Fleur, "How did you do that?" she asked. Fleur was as astonished as Hermione, "I do not know, it just felt like ze right zing to do," she replied but she vowed that once the awoke and ate, she would be going into the library to see what she could make of it. Hermione snuggled closer to Fleur, "I wish we could go to the library and find out," Hermione told Fleur. The older witch smiled, "We can, Ginny 'as allowed us the use of ze library 'ere, zere are some books we can look at zat we would not find in 'Ogwarts library. You can 'elp if you like," she told her young friend who seemed to get instantly excited but Fleur held her in her arms and cut her off before she could speak, "IF you rest wiz me and eat wen we get up, zen you can 'elp me in ze library." Hermione huffed at the conditions but they made sense and she nodded her head in agreement as she settled down to sleep.
Fleur lay in the darkness, Hermione in her arms, and willed herself to sleep. She was exhausted and it had been a very long day but no matter how hard she tried she could not sleep. Hermione's breathing had slowed some time ago, telling Fleur that the young witch had fallen asleep, instead of getting to sleep herself however Fleur found herself going over the days events, critically analysing them. She decided to focus on one, Hermione had seemed much more herself since she had awoken here in Grimmauld place. Fleur had worried that the attack would set her back but it seemed to have made her friend more determined than ever to pull herself together and get through this. Something had happened in the last few hours that had made her want to heal, want to fight, want to get through this. Fleur searched her mind but could not find a happier thought than this. She leaned down and kissed Hermione's head, a kiss full of pride and happiness directed towards the her beautiful young friend. Content with this thought Fleur's body finally relented and slowly drifeted off to sleep.