AN: part 2! This is taking an interesting turn after I did some research and my own spin on what happens when a Veela is heartbroken / or feels betrayed. Soooo I hope you guys enjoy and ignore my typos for now :D
Blue Christmas
Part Deux
Fleur groaned when the sun filtered through the crack in her curtains and cursed her laziness when closing them the previous night. She huffed softly as she sat up and her muscles froze and tensed from the exertion from carrying her body home. The Veela rolled her shoulders slowly, trying to loosen up the aches and knots in her body. Her blue eyes looked out the window and saw a soft flurry of snow swirling through the air. She finally swung her legs over the bed and stretched fully before standing, slowly, and walking to her bathroom.
The blonde flinched as she caught her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was disheveled and she looked gaunt in the face. A hand ran down over her eyes before turning the water on in the shower and leaning forward on the sink as she felt her body weaken. Ever since Hermione had left, the sickness had hit her hard with the sudden absence of her mate and then after the events of last night, her body had flared with strength enough for her to fly home.
Steam started to fill the small bathroom as the mirror fogged and when Fleur opened her eyes again, she gasped at the dark figure she saw behind her. A hand slammed into the mirror before it squeaked as her palm slid against it, swiping the fog that had condensed there. Her heart raced when she saw nothing, her hands shaky as she continued to stare into the mirror. Eyes that used to be so vibrant and deep blue, were fading, constantly shadowed and she winced when she saw flecks of silver surrounding her pupils.
Fleur was changing, slowly, but indefinitely becoming something she feared. A creature that couldn't control themselves, constantly burdened by sorrow and loss. In the Veela's eyes, she was betrayed, and because of that, she was turning into the creatures Veela all over the world told to frighten their children. The Harbinger of storms that could freeze one solid for the rest of eternity.
"I won't become that." She spat before shedding her clothes and stepping into the scorching spray of water, as if it would wash away the cold she felt in her bones. "I will not let myself become that demon." She didn't notice the air around her chill or the way her hands were splayed against the wall as she fell victim to the torrents of water cascading down her back. A frost built slowly on the tile as Fleur closed her eyes and tried to forget.
x-x
"Shame Fleur had to leave so early." Ron muttered before shoving another piece of toast in his mouth and chewed vigorously. Hermione still wasn't used to the sight and cringed at the crumbs that fell from his lips as he dipped another piece into his egg. "I mean, did any of ya get to even talk to her?" Harry, Ginny, and the twins all shook their heads as Luna nodded as did Hermione.
"Just for a moment." Luna sighed as she took a sip from her tea. "She seemed rather down, I don't think she was enjoying herself much, but she looked a bit ill also."
"Maybe that's why she left so soon." Harry pitched in as he rubbed the stubble on his chin. "She has been looking paler than normal as of late." Hermione frowned as every pair of eyes, other than Luna's, fell on her. "Have you talked to her about how she's doing, 'Mione?"
"Why does everyone assume I've talk to her?" The others at the table all looked away sheepishly, but Luna looked her dead in the eye with the kindest of smiles.
"Because you're her mate." Hermione wanted to flinch at the younger blonde's words, but right did she have? She was, in all technicalities of the word, Fleur's chosen mate. The only woman the Veela would ever love and longed to be with. But the words felt vile in Hermione's mouth the first time she'd spoke them. They were chains that held her down and a path she herself, had not chosen to walk.
Hermione knew that once a Veela found its mate, it was inevitable. They would be together forever, but Hermione Granger wasn't some ill-learned woman who fell for a pretty face and charming smile. Hell, it had taken her months, years of knowing Fleur before she'd even agreed to go on a date. Yet, here she was still in her dilemma. As much as she wanted to admit there wasn't a strong, overwhelming need to be close to Fleur, to know if she was all right and to see her as much as possible, Hermione fought it. She wasn't going to have her life controlled by, what could possibly be called a myth, no, she was in control of her life, who she fell in love with and how to handle it.
"Hermione?" The brunette shook from her thoughts as Harry called her gently and she frowned, shaking her head.
"She's..." Hermione wasn't quite sure how to finish her sentence. "She's weak, tired, I know she's been smoking." She hissed as her brown eyes narrowed and a burning irritation erupted in her chest. A indignant huff escaped her lungs as she stood from the table and pushed her chair back. "If she wants to further to deteriorate her own health, what can I do about it?"
The brunette didn't wait for an answer as she left her friends, staring dumbfounded at one another, and stormed her way up the rickety stairs to the room she was sharing with Ginny. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as her head dropped in her hands and fingers combed roughly through her hair. There as a harsh stinging in her chest that resonated through her arms to the palms of her hands. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she missed Fleur horribly.
Hermione wasn't sure what made her go back to Viktor after she'd left Fleur last year, but the lumbering man offer some comfort for her. Sure there was some lingering feelings there, more so with Viktor than Hermione, but the brunette thought that she might as well give it a try for her own sake. Viktor was a kind man, always attentive to Hermione and never forceful in any way, but he wasn't Fleur Delacour.
He didn't make Hermione's heart race with just a glance like Fleur could or leave her breathless with the slightest touch. Just thinking about the blonde made her long for the Veela's presence. A long breath was released as Hermione tried to steel herself, convince herself she would be all right without Fleur and vice versa.
"How can I be in love without making my own decision?" She asked herself as she sat up straight and stared out the window at the heavy dark clouds that hung overhead in the distance, a promise of a storm.
"Hermione?" Ginny's muffled voice sounded through the door as she knocked and Hermione sighed before answering.
"Come in." The red head entered apprehensively before peeking her head in to see her friend staring out the window.
"Are you all right, Hermione?" The youngest Weasley queried as she shut the door and sat down on her bed. "You seem a little...well, sad."
"Sad?" Hermione blinked a few times before turning to face her young friend with an expression of shock. "I'm not sad."
"You are, 'Mione." Ginny ran her hand through her ginger hair and sighed. "You may not notice, or you think it's some other emotion, but the look on your face doesn't lie. You miss Fleur, don't you." Hermione flinched slightly, turning away with a furrowed brow as Ginny rolled her eyes and moved closer. "You don't have to be embarrassed or ashamed of missing someone you love, it's natural."
"Except the way I found out." The brunette bit sardonically as she scoffed. "Other people, normal couples fall into love over time, Fleur and I, we just...she expected me to be in love when the relationship started!" Hermione stood and folded her arms over her chest, facing the window to see the black storm cloud brooding in the sky. "I can't, I'm not like that, Ginny. Everything for me takes time. Everything. There was no time with Fleur, there are rituals to go through for mating. Binding ceremonies and all this has to happen within a year of the mate's accepting that they are forever bound to the Veela!"
Hermione rolled her neck, trying to ease the tension in her muscles before closing her eyes and letting out a heavy breath. She loved Fleur, she couldn't deny that, couldn't say that there was no way in Hell she wouldn't be with her for the long run if things had been different. If she hadn't been a Veela, but that wasn't Hermione's place to say, because she knew if Fleur Delacour wasn't part-Veela, she wouldn't be Fleur Delacour.
"Sounds like you know a lot about what's going on." Ginny quirked an eyebrow as Hermione shook her head again. "If you're so against becoming Fleur's destined mate, why did you do such extensive research?"
"I wanted to know if it was a farce." The older witch answered firmly, without skipping a beat. She was a person of knowledge, after all. "I needed to learn what I could, I thought that would ease the shock, but it didn't. If anything, the few books I could find on Veela culture were lacking at best. They made it seem so dramatic and dangerous."
"You got scared."
"I'm still scared." Hermione finally turned to face the red head. "Fleur could die, Ginny. She could die from this...this 'sickness' that could manifest in her blood if I don't bond with her." Ginny offered a questioning expression as Hermione sighed, ready to explain. "Veela's have one mate, for the rest of their lives and once they find them, there will never be another in their eyes. But this mate isn't always willing." I'm a good example. Hermione thought sarcastically. "If a Veela's mate doesn't reciprocate their feelings, essentially, the Veela will become ill."
"How ill?" The Weasley asked curiously. "And from what?"
"No one really knows except for a Veela." The brunette answered in an exasperated tone. "All I know is, is that a Veela's ultimate goal in their life is to find their true mate." Hermione sat down on the bed again, dropping her head in her hands and feeling suddenly guilty. Remembering the paler than normal skin on the blonde and her thing features. "It would almost have been better if Fleur and I had never met. Then maybe she wouldn't be getting sick."
"Hey," Ginny cooed as she place a gentle hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Don't say that, I'm sure Fleur would rath-" There was a sudden, and heavy, pounding on the door as both girls looked up and saw Ron burst through. "RONALD WEASLEY!" Ginny roared as she stood up and seethed in the man's direction. "Could you not wait a moment?! What if Hermione or I would've been changing?!"
"Sorry!" Ron blurted as he blushed softly and then shook his head. Even at twenty-one, he was still, essentially, a teenage boy that didn't think things through. "But, it's snowing in London right now and Harry, the twins and I all wanna head there to see it!"
"Snowing?" Hermione's brow furrowed softly as she shook her head and looked out the window, in the direction London would be. "That's what that giant cloud is? But, it's too early for it to be snowing there."
"Who cares?" The man mused with a goofy grin. "Just grab the heaviest coat ya got and let's go already!" Both girls looked at each other as Ron dashed out of the room like a giddy child
x-x
Aren't you cold? Fleur flinched when she heard the airy voice. She'd been sitting on her couch, knees bent up and arms encircling them with her head huddled down. She'd been too tired to do anything lately. Her blue eyes glanced up at the clock and she groaned when it was almost one o'clock in the afternoon already. Where had the time gone? She'd just gotten out of the shower it seemed. A breath left her lungs and turned to mist as she closed her eyes once more and rested her forehead against her knees. You should be taking revenge.
"For what?" Fleur asked out loud, not even bothering to lift her head to see if anyone was actually in her presence. "What has revenge ever accomplished?"
You've been betrayed, lied to. Heartbroken. The voice was right in her ear, so close, but she felt no warmth from another body or anything indicating there was anyone in the same room. Revenge would help you feel better, make you stronger.
"I don't desire strength." The Veela sighed as she held her legs tighter and clenched her jaw as a sharp sting stabbed her heart. "I just desire Hermione."
She hurt you, left you for that man. The voice was right. Hermione had left Fleur, had told her she loved her and then left her to be alone and suffer with this illness. But had she really betrayed Fleur? She's the betrayer. You need to accept that. Accept and embrace it. Feed off it. Let the anger and pain make you stronger. Let it make you cold.
Fleur's eyes snapped open as she lifted her head and looked around the room frantically. It was abnormally cold in her flat, the air was sharp and stinging as she breathed in and exhaled fog. This wasn't normal. She narrowed her cerulean eyes and shook her head vigorously before clenching her hands into fists.
"I know what you are, demon." She hissed out loud as she looked for a shadow, a movement that let her know she wasn't going insane. "I know what you've come for and I won't let you. My heart belongs to Hermione and I'd rather die than let you have it!" There was a soft cackling in Fleur's mind as she looked around again to find nothing. Her heart was racing and she swallowed hard when she saw the faint glint of ice crystals hanging in the air.
Oh my little Veela. The voice crooned as Fleur stood and moved to the thermostat to turn up the heat. You're already broken. It won't take much longer for you to mull on how your mate lied to you, left you. She's the betrayer and you're the reckoning. Embrace it. Embrace the cold and the pain.
"No." Fleur groaned as she felt her body get heavier. "No...she didn't betray me."
Stop lying to yourself, little bird. Fleur growled as her hands moved to her ears to try and block out the offending voice. Broken Veelas are mine, they always have been, they always will be. In the long run, you'll thank me for making you strong, empty.
"No!" The Veela released an agonizing cry as she looked down through teary eyes and saw ice forming at her feet. "I don't want to become one of you!" Sparks flickered around the witch's hand as she aimed down and a blast of fire engulfed the floor around her. "I won't let you have my heart!" The inferno seemed to bounce back as the ice continued to crystallize around her legs. Fleur was losing strength. The cold washing over her body like a tidal wave and her magic was waning.
Deep down, The airy words were almost sad as the spoke and Fleur shuddered as the ice reached her waist. You've already accepted that your lover betrayed you.
"No..." The tears were streaming down Fleur's cheeks as she shook her head and gritted her teeth. The ice capturing her in a crystal prison.
If you hadn't accepted it, Fleur cried out and tried to break the ice away with her hands. You wouldn't be changing.
"NO!" Fleur's final cry was choked off as the ice finally encased her neck and head. Her eyes squeezed shut as the tears froze against her cheeks and her voice was stifled into silence.
I'm you, Fleur. The voice mused in her head as Fleur's mind finally started to fade as the cold enveloped her senses. I'm all you'll have for the rest of eternity.