Clear Enough

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AN: Surprise! You should all be veeeeery happy with this chapter, I know I am! Read & Review, tell me how much you love me for this and I just might give you a little something, something in the next chapter ;)

With the sound of the cannon she bounds off the platform and dives deep into the Black lake and whatever creatures lie in her way of saving the thing she holds most dear. She should have known that she'd face any and all obstacles when she found her mate, but like a fool she hoped the rules wouldn't apply to her. Her foolhardy nature, and natural stubbornness, would be her downfall one day; she just hoped it wouldn't be her mate's as well.

Swimming through the freezing waters, Fleur had just one thing on her mind, one image that replayed itself on an endless loop. All she can see is how Hermione ran from her after bestowing a most beautiful kiss to Fleur's injured lips, a kiss Fleur now believed that she didn't deserve. Thankfully she had enough presence of mind to correctly cast the bubblehead charm or else the sensation of not being able to catch her breath might turn into a harsh reality.

'Focus.'

The ancient Siren blood within her sung as the water welcomed her back into it's fold. It'd help to keep her warm, and keep her moving as she cut through the water. She knew Viktor would be right behind her, intent on rescuing what belonged to her; the Cedric boy wouldn't be much of a problem, even if he did come in first, he wasn't a threat to her mate.

'Hermione.'

The thought that she'd lose the girl before ever really having her sickened Fleur, because she knew it'd be her own fault if she did. She should have told Hermione the second her precious Gryffindor offered to be her date, if not sooner. Hermione would have understood, even if she wasn't ready to be in a relationship with Fleur, she would have been okay with it. Now, Hermione might not ever know just how deeply Fleur feels for her.

If only Fleur had tried harder to seek Hermione out during the past week, but it seemed the girl was quite adept at hiding from Fleur. Her mother and Grandmere were especially disappointed in her actions, and Gabrielle refused to talk to her until she made things right with Hermione. The first few months after finding your mate were always a challenge for both the Veela and their chosen, but it made their foundation all the stronger. Fleur had done Hermione a dishonor by keeping secrets from her, now her mate was paying for it.

Somewhere in the murky waters lay Hermione, stolen from beneath her nose and waiting to be rescued. Fleur had failed already with Hermione and she would not fail her mate again. She could hear the Merpeople singing somewhere in the depths of seaweed and the coral rubble that made up their cities. Fleur keeps a trained eye as she swims through the seaweed forests, barely able to see but she can hear and feel the ripples in the water as they circle her...not the Merpeople, but their watchdogs.

'Grindylows.'

Fleur snarls at the creature as it pops it head out right in front of her. Her eyes flash to liquid silver, caines extending and sharpening as she bares her teeth in a growl. She tucks her wand into her thigh holster and grows her talons as more appear from the dark. They stand between Fleur and her mate, she will fight to destroy them if need be, but it'll slow her down and allow Viktor a chance at claiming Hermione for his own.

With a vicious roar she rushes forward and slashes through the demon barricade as fast as she can with the resistance of the icy waters pressing down upon her. When the water gets murkier with the Grindylows ashe colored blood, they retreat back into their kelp forests. A smug snarl leaves Fleur's lips as the partly transformed Veela pushes on and breaks free from the tanglement of seaweed and kelp.

Below her she sees the three captives chained to a coral archway and guarded by the Merpeople. A sense of relief passes through her, Hermione hasn't been subjected to the Grindylows claws or the abrasive suckers of their palms like she has. Hastily she dives down toward Hermione, her bushy hair floating around her drawing Fleur in.

A shadow passes over her before she can reach her mate and when she looks up, she finds Krum with a shark's head; obviously the boy failed to do a proper transfiguration spell. The dark empty eyes focus on her as the shark's teeth gleam at her from above. They standoff, eyes concentrating on one another before Krum moves his eyes to Hermione and Fleur takes off before Viktor can, heading straight for the helpless girl.

As she reaches Hermione, she's quick to slash through the rope that binds Hermione to the arch, as she throws the unconscious, but still breathing, girl over her shoulder her neck prickles with a sense of danger. Fleur turns just as Krum's shark head reaches within arms length of her. Without hesitation she digs her talons down over Krum's right eye down to the end of his jaw.

Red tints the water as Viktor cowers back, thrashing the monstrous head back and forth trying to rid himself of the pain. When he stops enough to focus back on Fleur, she snarls and bares her sharp teeth at him. "Hermione is not yours to rescue! Take what is yours." She gestures harshly to the floating boy in Durmstrang robes.

She takes off to the surface just as Cedric joins the party and races to bring Hermione to safety. The bubble around her airways pop when she breaks the surface and she breathes deep as she hears Hermione start to cough and sputter for air as well. She doesn't give Hermione a chance to take in her surroundings as she swims for her platform, her schoolmates helping her to pull Hermione up first before she lifts her own body up.

Warm towels are draped over them and potions forced down their throats before Pomfrey sets about warming the other contestants. Fleur takes her robe and drapes it over Hermione in attempt to warm her up quicker, pulling the shivering girl between her legs and rubbing her hands up and down Hermione's arms. "N-No, Fleu-r! You'll f-freeze." Hermione complains.

Fleur gives a shaky laugh as her teeth too start to chatter. "Non, Hermione. We must get you warm first, ma belle, then we will worry for me." Fleur smiles dashingly as she cups Hermione jaw as gently as she can.

Hermione frowns as she takes in the cuts and sucker marks around Fleur's arms and legs, even some around her neck. "Grindylows…" She mumbles, tracing the circular marks on Fleur's throat. "Fleur…" She winces and looks into the partly transformed Veela.

Fleur just shakes her head and moves her hands to rest upon Hermione's back. "Shh ma belle, this is nothing. I would have faced much more dangerous things to reach you, the Grindylows were nothing." She whispers with a kiss to Hermione's forehead.

"Fleur." Hermione sighs, her cold hands reaching up to cup Fleur around the neck. They lock eyes for the first time in a week, and Fleur feels her chest expand, the pressure finally rising off her chest.

"You! Look what you've done to my champion!" Karkaroff hiss as he drags a bloodied Krum over by his arm. Viktor is holding the right side of his face, but everyone can clearly see the claw marks extending from the top of his right eye down to his jaw; Hermione gasps at the sight. "She should be disqualified!"

"No way!" Cedric steps between the irate man and the two girls huddled together. The Hufflepuff steps toe to toe with the Headmaster. "Krum attacked first! I saw it and so did the Merpeople! He was trying to hurt Fleur so that he could take Hermione!"

Krum pushes past his Headmaster and sneers with bloody teeth. "SHE IS MY PRIZE!" He belows.

A ferocious roar shakes the crowd as Fleur bounds to her feet, taking Cedric's place and grasping Krum's shirt with her talons. "She is not your prize, you filthy scum. She is my chosen. My mate. She will never be yours." She growls out slowly, smirking as Krum's eyes darken in anger. Gently arms wrap around her waist and she's tugged back into a warmed body.

'Hermione.'

She doesn't listen as Dumbledore calls a stop to the argueing and brings up the leader of the Merpeople to ask about what happened in the lake. She doesn't hear the heated debate behind her, all she can focus on is the small, frightened, smile on Hermione's lips as Fleur peers down at her. "So…" Hermione drawls. "I'm your mate huh?"

Fleur blushes, even as her body slowly starts to transform back to human as she relaxes and detects no further danger to her mate. "Qui." She admits, looking down to the wooden dock beneath her feet.

"Thank heavens." Hermione whispers quietly as she attaches her lips to Fleur for the second time. Fleur gasps against her lips, even as Hermione pulls away she is breathless with just a simple kiss. She doesn't pull her face away from Hermione's and she grins as Hermione doesn't pull away either. Not like last time.

"For outstanding courage and formidable loyalty, Fleur Delacour wins 20 extra points upon her score of 100 points for completing the task first, keeping her in first place with a total of 220 points. Cedric Diggory is placed second with a solid 180 points and lastly Viktor Krum, for not following the rules and endangering his fellow competitors with his foolish actions has been penalized with a deduction of 100 points, leaving him in last place with -50 points." The crowds erupt around Dumbledore's announcement.

Hermione grins up at Fleur, her eyes bright and twinkling even as she shivers against the cold seeping past the heating charms. "You won." She whispers with awe.

Fleur smirks, and nudges her nose against her mate's. "Then I deserve an award, non?" Hermione throws her head back with a laugh and as she focuses back onto Fleur, she shakes her head, and kisses her with nothing holding her back.