Rules of Engagement

Chapter Three: Running Scared (Part One)

The hotel exited to a three-way street, Ron opted to split up; the two wizards taking the lower paths as Hermione took the high towards the market. She moved through the crowded alleyway in discomfort; the aroma of coriander and curry invading her scenes as a rush of heat overwhelmed her. It had been unbearable outside but now surrounded by crowds of people, each pushing past her, it felt as though she were in an oven; each collision only driving the heat faster and hotter. Her wand glowed from inside her pocket; a very useful spell she had learned from Olivander the summer after the war. She could track other wands energy if they were close, the closer she got the brighter the light. Her steps abruptly stopped when the wand's light ebbed and then brightened again as she passed an alley way to her left. Steeling herself and her grip on her wand she slowly made her way down the new path.

Eventually the path emptied, the sound of bird's wings fluttering over her as her wand guided her further from market. It was darker on this side of the city, the buildings around her too tall to allow much sun. She faintly registered a slight chill, either from the lack of sunlight or her nerves; she was hoping it wasn't the latter. The glow grew ever brighter as she found an open door way into one of the clay structures. For the first time she didn't have a plan, merely following her instinct as she slowly made her way up the stairs. The sound of cracking glass made her turn sharply, a shadow fading further into the hall.

She followed with her wand out in front of her as her eyes darted back and forth to each corner; her breath becoming shallower as she neared the end of the hall. The window at the end was broken, glass resting on the outside of the sill. Her eyes rolled at the obvious insult of her intelligence.

"Come on…where are you? I know you're still here." She whispered as she circled the tip of her wand around the shards on the window sill. Her senses heightened then; side stepping quickly, merely escaping the grasp of a lithe arm reaching from the darkness. Her cloaked assailant struck at her swiftly, Hermione barely escaping each thrust of the skilled hand as her back hit the adjacent wall. She aimed her wand but it was knocked from her, the sharp swooshing sound ringing in her ears as she watched it fly out the window. Her body moved on its own accord, pulling away from the wall and blocking another blow as they continued down the dark hall. Whoever her cloaked attacker was they were good. Anticipating all of Hermione's counter attacks and blocking as she backed stepped further; almost tripping over the upturned rug at her feet.

Her stomach lurched as she felt herself starting to lose balance only to be pulled back up by the front of her shirt by her attacker. She faintly registered the sound of her blouse buttons colliding with the ground as she was thrown through the doorway of one of the apartments.

Her back collided hard against the door as it swung open, her body flying into the living room as her feet slipped and skidded across the concrete floor; all the while blocking and dodging the skilled hands as they tried to grasp and push her further into the house. She fell back against the kitchens island, her body reacting instinctively as she pushed her arms against the edge and used her feet to kick her attacker to the ground. The movement was swift and calculated as if expected; her attacker falling back on their hands and quickly kicking themselves back up, their hood pulling back slightly as blonde tendrils peaked through the top. They stood there, bodies heaving, Hermione's arms held up defensively as the sound of their breath filled the living room.

"I see ze Ministry 'as taught you 'and to 'and, surprisingly you are quite capable."

Hermione knew that voice, her eyes widened as her body instinctively moved forward, her fingers clasping the hood and pulling it back roughly.

"Fleur!"

She was greeted with an impish grin as the older witch crossed her arms and casually leaned against the doorway.

"Oiu, sorry for ze 'cloak and daggers' routine. It waz merely instinct till I realized 'oo you were."

"Yet you continued? Wait, you're the Auror from the French Ministry? You?" Hermione nearly screeched her hands clasping her torn blouse. She was offered another shrug, the blonde witch's gaze roaming around the apartment to the ground, the scuff marks from their bout still evident in the bits of sand scattered across the floor.

"I waz impressed, I wazn't actually trying to 'urt you. I'm sorry; I should have said something but… Mon dieu! You are quite ze spectacle on your feet. Besides if I had stopped you would 'ave 'exed me, wand or not; we both know zat." Fleur tutted, here finger moving back and forth in a punitive manner.

Hermione merely glared, her eyes shifting to the hall as Fleur followed her gaze. The blonde witch cleared her throat and nodded knowingly her hands moving into her robe pockets as she looked to her feet. "Oh and I also apologize for your wand. But you 'ad it practically shoved in my face what waz I supposed to do?"

"I don't know? Maybe not let me think I'm about to be murdered and this was a fight for my life? Maybe letting me know the git practically ruining my case was how do you say? Vous, instead of running scared."

Hermione's eyebrow arched as Fleur chuckled softly. The French Auror shaking her head as the muscle in her jaw flexed; obviously hitting a nerve.

"I waz not 'running zcared, 'as you say; an Auror does not run from conflict."

"Yet here we are, at least three kilometers from Boyko's place; and yes I know of your little plan to throw me off. Paying off my informant? Really, have the French decided to stoop so low?" She spat but instinctively backed up as Fleur kicked off the wall, instantly a few inches away from the younger witch in just a few strides; her eyes blazing.

"I waz only doing what my job required of me, you seem to forget exactly oo's case zis is 'Ermione Granger. You are zee one interfering not, Moi."

"I… this was my case first, you can't expect me to stand idly by…" Hermione replied stiffly as Fleur gently pushed her hands from her blouse, her fingertip tracing from hem to collar as pearl white buttons popped up in succession.

"Pleaze also take my apology for zis, you were falling I 'ad no'zing else to grab." Fleur whispered; her tone exasperated as she pulled away from Hermione's space.

"You….you still haven't answered me, why were you running from me?" She breathed, trying to pretend not to be impressed by the older witch's obvious grasp on wandless magic. Hermione's ears rang as Fleur's breathy laughter sang through the deserted apartment.

"Pleaze; I knew you weren't far behind me, I waz merely trying to even zee playing field. I wazn't running from you darling; I waz trying to get far enough from zem." Fleur nodded towards the window in the kitchen as she shrugged off her robes. The younger witch's brows furrowed as she looked to the window behind her. Three men were making their way across the adjacent roofs from all sides, their dark clothes harshly standing out from the local apparel as they reached the neighboring building; clearly out of breath. Hermione's jumped when she heard a loud crack and turned towards Fleur who had taken one of the homes brooms and kicked the bristled edge off to form a point.

"I would find zomething appropriate for zee occasion mademoiselle Granger, I too am without my wan-" The blonde witch began before being cut off as a swift blue bolt hit the wall next to her.

"Zou I cannot say ze same for zem."