JK Rowling owns Harry Potter.

Sorry for the wait guys, I just got a new job that has more hours and my boyfriend and I split up so I haven't been in a very romantic mood. In this chapter Melody's character is developed a bit, but do not fear, Fleur will always win. I'm changing the Gringotts scene a little just so you know. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the chapter and review-Lark

Hermione's head swam as the air released it's strangle hold on her and she once again felt solid ground beneath her shoulders. "Merlin," She coughed, the movement sending pain from her neck to her toes. "Merlin indeed," Melody frowned, "You look like death warmed up."

"Something like that," Hermione whispered, her voice still raw from screaming. Panic was beginning to build up in her chest, she had no idea where she was, all she could really deduce was that she was inside because a cream coloured ceiling hung above her, directly contrasting Melody's claret hair.

A more pressing matter was the distress Hermione could feel, not her own, but Fleur's. It was like the tension was being radiated from the ring on her finger directly to Hermione's heart. "Fleur," Hermione rasped.

"Fleur, Fleur, Fleur," Melody tsked, "Is that all you think about?"

"She's in trouble," Hermione argued.

"No, she's distressed, because you aren't with her," Melody dismissed, "Don't you want to know how your friends are?" Guilt plagued her mind, she'd been so concerned about Fleur she hadn't spared a though for Harry. "Are they safe?"

"Yes, they are here also, however, it is my understanding an elf was killed trying to help them," Melody shrugged.

"Dobby," Hermione closed her eyes and allowed grief to floor her for a moment. Soft lips pressed to her forehead and she felt the ground fall away as she was lifted. "Hey," She protested weakly, raising a badly shaking hand. Melody just smirked and walked towards a handsome oak staircase. "I'm taking you to your room, sugar, you're not exactly in fabulous health," Melody chuckled, shifting her grip slightly. It was a little unnerving how strong she clearly was, Hermione had never truly believed how helpless a normal person was compared to a Veela but now she was starting to see it.

Melody took her to a small room whose rosy yellow light made it seem safe somehow. Melody set her down gently on the bed; even so Hermione winced as pain surged through her, as if she had grown extra nerve endings tailored specifically for pain. Melody sat beside her and gently swept the hair from Hermione's eyes. "You know, this isn't how I imagined taking you to bed," She laughed. "Stop it," Hermione murmured.

"I'll leave then, someone will be up to treat you soon," Melody shrugged, standing and sashaying towards the door. Hermione cast her gaze to the window as a shadow flicked across it and for a moment fear clutched her heart as she imagined it to be Bellatrix's coarse locks. "Wait, please," She gasped as Melody raised an eyebrow, "Don't leave me here alone."

Something in Melody's gaze softened as she closed the half open door, returning the Hermione's side. "She must have really messed you up to need me to stay, honey," Melody shook her head as she sat on the bed before lying back so they were side by side. "You're shaking like a leaf," Melody observed as Hermione shivered, she had a feeling she was going into shock; she had read about it somewhere. When something traumatic happens and your systems just shut down, she couldn't even think straight. Melody wrapped an arm around her waist and Hermione let her, imagining she was Fleur and that she was safe. Her eyes began to drift shut and the world began to fade. In the end she didn't know if it was sleep or unconsciousness, she didn't really care. The last thing she heard was a faint purring, like a cat and somehow that meant safety more than the bright lights.

With Fleur

She ripped free of her saviours and nearly made it to the door before she was caught again. "Fleur," Camille snapped, "She's fine, but the last things she would need is you flying in there like a summer storm."

"I am exactly what she needs," Fleur hissed, trying to free her self from the veelas, but they were the clear winners for strength. "She's fine, so are they others. We'll give them a few weeks to recover and then we'll move them all back up to the city," Skye shrugged.

"They will not go peaceably," Fleur shook her head.

"Its not like we can't control men," Camille chuckled.

"Elise would not want you to enthral the boy who lived," Fleur scowled.

"These things need to be done," Camille countered.

"We can discuss this later," Fleur dismissed, "Take me to Hermione."

"Your lover is fine, Melody is with her," Skye smiled, trying to placate the clearly agitated quarter Veela. "Take me to her," Fleur repeated, trying to free herself from Camille's grasp. "Let her go, she'll injure herself," Skye sighed; Camille shot her a glance before sighing and releasing Fleur.

"Down the hall, third on the right," She admitted. Fleur didn't wait to thank her.

She opened Hermione's door, the young witch's name on her lips, but she stopped when she saw the scene before her. Hermione was asleep, she looked so young and fragile, the cuts around her collarbone still shone red, though the blood had been wiped away. Melody sat by her head, slowly stroking Hermione's hair; she looked up as Fleur entered the room. "I haven't touched her," Melody sighed, guessing the question on Fleur's lips. Fleur crossed the room in two strides, kneeling down before Hermione, "God, she looks worse now than before," She murmured, brushing a thumb against Hermione's cheek. "Bellatrix did this, right?" Melody guessed.

"Yes, has someone seen her, given her any potions?" Fleur frowned.

"Not yet," Melody shrugged.

"Than go find someone," Fleur demanded.

"I'm staying here."

"Why?" Fleur growled.

"You are not the only person invested in her well being," Melody snapped.

"She is not yours," Fleur stressed.

"She could be," Melody smiled, leaning down to place a light kiss on Hermione's hair. "Why are you doing this?" Fleur demanded.

"Has it occurred to you that you are not the motivation behind everything I do?" Melody demanded. Hermione stirred slightly in her sleep and the two older women stopped talking. The door clicked open and a witch with a medicine bag entered. "Stay away from her," Fleur hissed as they both stood so Hermione could be reached. "I hardly think you are in a position to threaten," Melody shrugged. Hermione let out a gasp of pain as the medic witch poured potion onto her cuts. "This isn't over," Fleur growled.

"No, it really isn't," Melody beamed.

With Hermione

It had taken three days for the shaking in her hands to stop, a week for her to be able to stand in a dark room, alone or with someone and a fortnight of constant potions before she felt normal, physically at least. During those two weeks Fleur had never let her out of her sight, her watchful blue eyes tracing her every second of the day. In between being treated they were planning, Harry believed that the next Horcrux was in Bellatrix's vault at Gringotts.

Fleur sat in on their planning meetings with Griphook, an expression of distaste on her face the entire time, one hand on Hermione's. Her grip was always tight enough to leave fingernail marks and her thrall was particularly strong during the meetings, which belayed her distress. Melody was also usually within sight and although she didn't know about the plan she seemed to sense something was being concocted.

They were ready to make the finale adjustments to the plan when Camille came bursting into the room, her raven hair flying on invisible wind. "A man is at the gate, Ronald Weasley," She scowled.

"Let him through," Harry demanded.

"Fleur?" Camille asked.

"Let him in," Fleur nodded after a moments hesitation, her grip on Hermione tightening slightly. They fell silent until they heard footsteps on the landing and both Harry and Hermione flew out of the room. Hermione collided with him first, catching him off guard, "Ron, you're an idiot," She breathed.

"I'm so sorry," He gulped, raising his eyes from hers to meet Harry's.

"Who's the street walker?" A proud voice sneered and Hermione flicked her eyes over to Melody. She remembered Fleur's warning about a Veela's jealousy.

"Ron," Harry nodded, he had this habit of not looking at the Veela, at least not directly, as if that could stop the thrall.

"Why is he here?" She demanded.

"Because I'm an idiot and I left when my friends needed me," Ron murmured, his voice catching as if there was a knot in his throat. "These two?" Melody smiled viciously, indicating Hermione and Harry. "Fleur, stop her," Hermione murmured, she could sense where this was going and it wasn't to peace and safety.

"Melody, enough," Fleur murmured, glaring at the full blood.

"Ron, come on," Harry suggested, grabbing his friend's arm and pulling him into their planning room. "Come on Fleur," Hermione murmured, taking Fleur's hand and leading her in after them. Hermione closed the door with a snap and cast a spell to soundproof it. "We have to leave tomorrow morning," Hermione sighed.

"What?" Harry and Ron blinked.

"They'll take us back to the city if we don't," Hermione murmured as Fleur placed her chin on Hermione's shoulder. "Maybe that is not a bad thing, mon mignon," She whispered.

"Tomorrow it is," Harry nodded, "I'll fill Ron in if you two need to talk."

"Thanks Harry," Hermione nodded and took Fleur's hand, who followed her out of the room silently.

Fleur remained silent until they made it to the balcony at which point she swung Hermione around to look at her. "Don't go, even with me there I might not be able to keep you safe," Fleur murmured.

"They can't do it without us, Fleur and we'll never be safe with You Know Who is charge, I'll never be safe as long as I'm a mud blood," Hermione sighed.

"You promised me you wouldn't call yourself that," Fleur scowled.

"Its who I am, Fleur," Hermione shrugged.

"No, its not," Fleur snapped, "You are Hermione Jean Granger, the most intelligent person I know and the most beautiful and you mean more than the world to me," Fleur murmured, holding her forehead against Hermione's.

"I love you," Hermione smiled.

"I love you to ma chaton," Fleur smiled sweetly and leant down so there breath mingled, "Fine, we'll go, promise me you won't put yourself in danger, not even for Ron or Harry."

"I can't-"

"For me 'ermione," Fleur begged, gripping Hermione's shoulders tightly.

"Fleur-"

"Promise me," Fleur rasped.

"For you," Hermione breathed, Fleur half smiled and pulled Hermione close by the waist and sealed their lips together, sharing their breath as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "We'll survive this and then we'll have the rest of our lives together," Fleur vowed.

"I want with all my heart to believe that Fleur," Hermione murmured.

"Then do, you'd be surprised how much a little faith can do."

They left before the sun rose, sneaking of the property unnoticed thanks to Fleur's knowledge of Veela magic. It seemed they had been counting on Fleur's desire to keep Hermione safe to stop her from telling the trio how to leave. Once they passed the gates the second wave of nerves began to his Hermione. These were heightened when Harry handed her the polyjuice potion. "Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yep," She nodded, a quick jerking movement.

"Bottoms up," Run smiled, flinching slightly when Fleur hissed at him. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and took the potion like a shot. It tasted like decay and cold earth, like something impossibly old and entirely evil.

The potion gripped her insides like hellfire and began to contort her body, bubbling skin and stretching bones. She was aware she was gasping, tears streaming from her eyes, cool hands held hers as the potion wreaked havoc. She was left panting as her skin cooled and she ran a hand back through coarse black hair. "Oh my god," She gasped.

"It's ok Hermione, it's the potion," Harry assured her as Griphook scoffed.

"Lets move," Hermione stuttered as they all joined hands. She tried her best to ignore the fact she was wearing the skin of her nightmare.

Hermione was jittery as she walked Diagon Alley with a disguised Ron at her side. She knew Harry and Griphook were there beneath the cloak on her left and Fleur was beside her wearing a disillusionment charm. It didn't make her feel any safer, even though she was probably the most frightening thing on the street.

"Bellatrix!" A cheery voice called.

"That's Yaxley," Harry murmured and she nodded slightly to show she had heard.

"Yaxley," Hermione nodded, fixing a scowl on her face when Fleur pinched her arm. "I heard you were on lock down," He smiled.

"The Dark Lord needs his most faithful out here to control the filth," Hermione scoffed. "Of course," Yaxley shrugged, "So why are you here?"

"I need to get into my vault," Hermione shrugged.

"Ah, as do I, shall we," He swept his hand towards Gringotts. Hermione fell into step beside him as they approached the bank.

Hermione's heart rate sped as they approached the men with the secrecy sensors. She was beginning to panic when she heard Harry mutter a spell. "You already searched me," She informed the guard impetuously, squaring her shoulders.

"Oh, sorry ma'am," He stuttered, moving aside for her to enter. Once inside Yaxley went to find a goblin and Hermione stepped up to a goblin. "I need to access my vault," Hermione informed him.

"I'll need you wand as identification," He countered, eyes narrowed. Fleur's hand gripped her tightly; they knew the wand was stolen. She wouldn't refuse though so she handed the wand over. She felt a spell rush past her shoulder as the goblin's gaze misted over. "Ah a new wand, very nice," He nodded.

She frowned, what had Harry hit him with? "Yes, so, as to my vault?"

"Of course, right this way Miss Lestrange," He smiled and trotted out from behind the desk. They followed the goblin out of the hall and to the carts. As soon as they were out of sight Harry removed the cloak and Fleur her charm. The goblin showed no sign of surprise. "What did you hit him with?" Ron frowned.

"The imperius curse," Harry muttered. Hermione shivered but said nothing, Fleur took her hand but Hermione pulled away. She couldn't stand the thought of being close to Fleur under the influence of the potion.

"Everyone in the cart," Griphook ordered, "Keep him, we'll need him, I lost my authorisation." They piled in, sitting precariously and finding handholds for the roller coaster to come. The cart rattled down the tracks just as the door opened again to allow Yaxley to enter. Before he could blink they were gone and Hermione could only hope that he hadn't seen them. They took the turns precariously and Hermione gripped Fleur as they hurtled deep into the dark. "What's that?" Harry shouted as a thundering reached their ears. "Thief's downfall, they suspect!" Griphook yelled back. "The track just ends up there," Ron panicked.

"Hold on!" Harry yelled as the wall of water hit them and the cart spiralled off the track. Hermione pointed her wand at the ground and a purple jet of light hit the ground before them and they bounced off the stone like it was made of rubber. "Cushioning charm," Hermione coughed, sweeping a hand back through her hair.

"The enchantments are gone," Fleur gasped, seeing Hermione once again before her. "We need him," Griphook snapped, indicating the goblin who had awoken form his daze. "Imperio," Fleur snapped, capturing him again.

"What now?" Ron frowned.

"We made it down here," Hermione shrugged, "We keep moving."

"How to we get out?" He frowned.

"We'll think of something,' Harry shrugged, "Come on."

They walked deeper into the cavern but Fleur caught Hermione's hand. "Remember your promise," Fleur murmured.

"I know," Hermione nodded, stepping into the circle of Fleur's arms.

"Then remember, you mean the world to me, ma chaton," Fleur smiled, "And no matter what I will put you first."

"We'll get through this," Hermione nodded, "We will."

"If you keep saying it, we will," Fleur kissed her nose lightly and lead her quickly through the cavern to catch the others.

Sorry this chapter took so long guys, it was going to include the battle, but instead I'll extend it so there's two chapters left. The next will be the battle and the one after that a kind of epilogue. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and please review.