Note: yes you see right another update my mind is honestly in a real world place right now, a little darker than its ever been and writing this is so therapeutic. So I hope you enjoy it. This chapter sees our girl interact with her cousin for the first time since she found out about who she was, our favourite French witch grows board of waiting and decides to take matters into her own hands regarding Hermione and our brown haired girl finally learns just what the consequences of the family curse could be for her while getting to blow of some steam.
I hope you are all keeping safe.
All my love Nell xoxo
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~ Location: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ~
~ April 5th 1996 ~
~ Hermione's POV ~
Pulling her wild mane of brown hair that just wouldn't tame back into a messy bun, Hermione grimaced as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Studying the details of her face that she now could see resembled both her mothers. Her chin was elegantly angular like her mama's, her nose a delicate fixation on the centre of her face like her mother. Her rosy complexion also a gift from her blonde mother and her eyes, dark chocolate brown was solely her mama. Her hair colour a middle ground between Bellatrix's untameable midnight black curls and Marlene's silky blonde curls. Her height she clearly got from her mama, as she stood at four foot nine. Though both her mothers were taller, mama only slightly, while she barely reached her mothers shoulders when they stood together.
Her body was something she had never took any notice of before but now as she stared she could see the curves inherited from Bellatrix. Their stature and figure eerily similar if you knew them both enough to compare. It frightened her a little to know that despite her intelligence she hadn't ever questioned how dissimilar she was to her muggle parents. Not sharing an ounce of them on her person in the slightest. She had assumed she got her intelligence from Jean, her common sense from John but it was startling to see that it was neither.
Her mama, her real mama that is, was also the brightest witch of her age, intelligent, quick on her feet and possessing expert control of her considerable magical ability. Her mother the more thoughtful one, she had seen in their nightly visits how Marlene used logic and her understanding of situations to plan each move she made. She had sat in a cell for sixteen years to see the fruition of her plan to escape. Keeping what information she had gleamed from Albus from the awful man the whole time. It was impressive.
Both her parents were impressive and there in lay the problem. Her entire life had been the construction of someone else's plans. Everything she had achieved, every step she had taken to this point had been under the watchful eyes of forces she had been far to innocent and young to know existed, let alone fight against. Her entire life planned by an old fool and his henchmen. It was the embodiment of a cheesy muggle Disney film, like the ones her muggle peers had grown up with. Like the ones her muggle parents had insisted she had to like yet she had hated. Always despising the way their princesses were so helpless, sitting wallowing in their elegant castles waiting for some Prince to rescue them. She despised it, rebelled against the idea of sitting pretty and waiting for her handsome charming to notice her.
She had always felt more drawn to the villains. Hating how they were portrayed as such for simply going against the grain. Refusing to bow down to those who claimed the moral high ground. The evil Queen for example, forced into a loveless marriage after having the one she loved murdered by her own mother right in front of her was labelled a villain, an outcast, thrown away by society the moment she took back control of her life, demanding the respect she deserved. Maleficent who demanded retribution when she was betrayed by those who claimed to love her, labelled a monster by the very same people who had harmed her so greatly.
Funny or not so much now that she found herself feeling like the villains of those stories did. Desperately wanting to take that control back, and she would. Oh she would.
Just as soon as she could have a proper conversation with her mama and get out from the infuriating scrutiny of Albus Dumbledore. The goat of a man had returned to Hogwarts now that it had been proven the dark lord was truly back during the ministry battle. Umbridge however was also still there.
It made her feel edgy, terrified to even think about her mothers in any way around either and again she felt forced to play a roll. Her mama had told her not to draw attention to herself, to give nothing away about what she knew and she would do as her mama had asked. Only because more than anything all she wished for was to be with them. To be able to share her hopes, her dreams, her achievements with people that were truly hers, that loved her because she was theirs not because someone else had told them too.
She shook her head trying to clear her head as she grimaced at the bags under her eyes. Dark and heavy, a testament to just how awful her ability to switch off had been lately. Stepping away from the mirror and back through to her room to gather her books for her study plans. She would briefly stop in the great hall to have breakfast with her 'friends' and if she could she would escape them at the earliest opportunity. Not at all interested in spending any real time with Harry or Ron. Both of whom had only got worse in their behaviour towards her. Often giving her impossible deadlines to help them with their work. Taunting her about being harmed by her own mother at the ministry. Not that they knew the truth. Nor would she tell them. Better to let them make their own assumptions than know she had actually passed on information to her mama. Information that would label her a traitor to the light should they know she had done so.
As she stepped out from behind the painting of the fat lady that guarded the entrance to the Gryffindor common room and dorms, the brunette couldn't stifle the groan that escaped her lips when she spotted the blonde goddess that had literally been following her around for the past week since she got out of the infirmary.
Fleur Delacour had hovered, like a shadow that constantly followed you around and Hermione had done everything she could to avoid the woman. She had even had to hide behind statues to try and shake free from the Vela's presence. How undignified that had been but the truth of the matter is Fleur scared her, she didn't know how to deal with the many different feelings the blonde invoked in her.
From arousal, safety to a deep yearning to be close. She had never felt like that for anyone. Like her magic called out for the blondes, thrumming wildly, often angrily, only content when Fleurs magic caressed hers. She hadn't spoken to her mother about it yet, a little scared to have her suspicions confirmed about what it all meant, what the blonde meant to her.
It hadn't been like this the year previous, the triwizard tournament had Hermione avoiding the blonde at all costs purely because she was the reason Hermione had started to question everything. She had been the catalyst that started this all. Had her delving into her own thoughts and questioning everything she should have always questioned but hadn't because it wasn't what was expected of her. Merlin knew the blonde drew attention to her everywhere she walked, but she hadn't shown interest in anyone. Anyone except Hermione. She had seemed to take pleasure in hunting the brunette down, flustering her but never pushing her too far, never invading her space, letting Hermione run when she needed to, which was pretty much every time she noticed the blonde or tried to interact with her.
The Vela's eyes had always been on her last year, just as they were again this year and Hermione, the brightest witch of her age, known for her intelligence, had no bloody clue how to deal with it, so she did the only thing she could, ignored it, hid, avoided the blonde. With everything else going on in her life, that was something she just couldn't deal with, not yet anyway.
Especially when the blonde was only on Hogwarts grounds because Dumbledore was paranoid that if she wasn't watched she would figure out what he had done, turn against the boys and tare apart his carefully constructed chess game. She wasn't naive, they had been told Auror Delacour was there to offer all three protection and assistance if needed, the old fool wasn't aware that Hermione had heard the real reason the day she woke properly in the infirmary.
Though why Fleur hadn't told Albus she had known Hermione was awake and listening she didn't know. Yet Hermione refused to dwell on it, she simply had too much on her mind to deal with right now. Fleur Delacour could wait.
On her way to the great hall, rounding the corner on the bottom floor her arm was grabbed from nowhere and she suddenly found herself in a secluded alcove. Turning around swiftly to confront whoever dared touch her, Hermione brought her knee up full force, catching whoever it was in their core without apology.
The idiot groaning in pain as her eyes blinked a few times, startled at whom she saw standing, or should she say standing doubled over, clutching their prick. Draco Malfoy looked up to meet her eye, tears pooling in his blue orbs as he tried to smile at her. A wince quickly replacing the look.
"Deserved that" he grunted, breathing deeply a few times before he slowly brought himself upright. Offering her an apologetic smile so unlike anything he had ever offered her before it startled her. Though she refused to speak yet, wanting him to speak first so she knew why he was there.
"I shouldn't have grabbed you while you were unaware, I do apologise cousin" he said sincerely, offering her his hand in greeting and apology, the look of regret on his face convincing Hermione that it was more than just grabbing her he was apologising for.
"You are right, you shouldn't have baby cousin" she replied flippantly, accepting his hand. Willing to look past the years of torment she had experienced at his hand. He clearly didn't think badly of her if he was so willing to apologise now he knew the truth of her identity.
"We don't have long before someone gets suspicious but mother owned me this morning, had it delivered by house elf to my room. Auntie Bella says you've to meet her next Saturday during the Hogsmead visit at ten am in the shrieking shack. You've to go alone." He to her swiftly as he straightened his robes but Hermione could still see the pain in his eyes and it made her feel a minor twinge of regret. After all he was her family and she had acted rather rashly without knowing who had grabbed her. She nodded, smiling at the thought of seeing her mama again even if it felt like her mama didn't care all that much for her. She loved her mama, had loved her the moment she knew she was her mama and she was proud of that, proud to be her mama's child and determined to prove herself to the older witch.
She turned, not sure what to say now that they had exchanged what needed to be said but a light grip to her arm had her pausing, turning back to the blonde Slytherin who she had despised up until recently.
"For what it is worth I am glad they found you Hermione and I am glad I no longer have to force myself to despise you. You are an excellent witch and a beautiful soul, I should have been kinder. There is no pressure but if you would like to I want to get to know you better" he spoke softly, his eyes a mixture of hope, guilt and lingering pain. Sincerity shining in his eyes. It made her smile, a large genuine one, aimed at him directly. For the first time.
She pulled him in to a brief hug, kissing his cheek and ruffling his hair playfully hoping to convey that all was forgiven.
"I would like that little ferret" she said simply, spinning to exit, giggling slightly at the scoff of indignation she heard behind her. Not sparing her new found cousin a second glance she hurried on her way.
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"Will you be quiet, I am trying to study and if you want my help in competing the potions essay then you need to let me finish this or all three of us will fail it" the brunette snapped, her cheeks red with anger, her fists clenched.
All bloody day she had tried to slip away from the idiotic duo and their ever present shadow, simply wanting her own space but the two had persisted in following her to the library, settling either side of her. Suffocating her with their awful quidditch talk, Ron moaning about Lavender Brown getting with Seamus, Harry ranting about Draco Malfoy being a death eater but just needing proof.
She gathered her books together quickly, feeling her magic jump in fury as she struggled to contain it. Pushing her chair back and standing without another word, needing to get away from them before she said or did something she would regret. Not that at this stage she would regret harming them but she would regret revealing the darkness that was growing within her before she was ready too.
"Do not follow me or I'll hex you both" she hissed as the boys made to gather their books too, stilling them in their tracks. She didn't care, the brief flash of fear on both boys faces actually making he rip twitch in satisfaction, not that she would let them see that. She turned, storming out of the library and rushing up towards the dorms, so intent on getting to the privacy of her own bed that she didn't hear the footsteps behind her, following her closely as they ascended the stairs.
She didn't hear the woman get closer nor see the predatory look in her eyes as she followed, Hunted more like. It wasn't until a wand pressed into the small of her back, an arm coming up to wrap around her waist tightly that she realised something other than her own anger was wrong. Warm breath ghosting across her ear and cheek.
She wanted to be afraid, wanted to pull out of those arms and scream but by the way her magic pulsed and coiled around her attackers she knew exactly who had grabbed her and it only increased her anger. Making her try and pull away, thrashing in Fleurs grip even as the blondes arm tightened around her and Hermione found herself hoisted of her feet slightly.
"You're coming with me, we need to talk" the veela whispered in her ear, her voice far too calm compared to the wild fury that pulsed in Hermione's magic. Despite knowing there was no point fighting a veela who she knew to be so much stronger than her both because the blonde was taller and mire muscular but she knew that as someone who was a creature Fleur would always win in a physical fight against someone like her. Especially seeing as she couldn't reach her wand that was tucked into her wand holder at her ankle.
With no choice but to either keep struggling futilely or let herself be led, Hermione stilled. Letting the French which half lead half carry her up to the 7th floor. Yet despite the fact that she had given up the physical fight Hermione still fumed. Her magic sparking through her body. She could feel it pulsing looking for an outlet. The feeling was one that had become quite common for the brown haired girl.
Since her sixteenth birthday, since the curse she inherited from her mama came into play and from what her mother described about her mama and her relationship, their magic's reacted with one another much the same as hers did with Fleur's. Her mothers acting as the tether, keeping her mama balanced.
She could feel it now. The way the blondes magic encased her own, not constricting in any way, simply blanketing her, providing the stabiliser her to feel but not lose control. It was grounding but Morgana knew she was far too angry right now to let it soothe her.
As soon as they got to the seventh floor, fleur paced in front of the room of requirement. Or the wall where the door to the room would appear, the room transforming itself and appearing based on whatever the witch needed it to be. When the door appeared Fleur wasted no time in opening it, releasing Hermione as the door slammed behind them, disappearing. Effectively trapping the brunette in the room with the blonde. Making Hermione feel even angrier.
"What the fuck Delacour!!" She hissed angrily, whirling round to glare at the beautiful... no infuriating woman. Though she didn't go for her wand despite the way she felt her magic fizz at her fingertips.
"It is time you stopped running my mate" the blonde replied evenly, her French accent and botched attempt at pronouncing English words disappearing from her sentence as she spoke, standing with her arms crossed casually in front of her chest, but Hermione could see the barely restrained desire and dare she say it love, glinting in the Vela's eyes as her own widened comically. The witch in front of her smirked, raising an elegant eyebrow in challenge.
"What you don't think I would know what I am to you, what you are to me?" Though the arrogant proud tone made Hermione bristle internally, not pleased with not being the one to control this conversation she still couldn't form the words necessary to voice any sort of response let alone her displeasure. Her facial expression though told all her words needed too as her glare intensified, her magic surging and her hands clenching at her sides.
"I am a veela Hermione, we too have what you call soulmates. You are mine as I am yours but you know that don't you?" The blonde continued, stepping forward predatory, the smirk never leaving her face and Hermione knew it was because the older witch knew she didn't know how to respond. Suddenly a passage from a book she had read years ago on Veela filtered into her mind, reminding her that despite being a rather secretive group Veela were known for their possessive nature's, known to do anything and everything to find and keep their mates safe from harm and like a fly caught in a spiders web she had unknowingly fallen into the Vela's trap, given her the ground to catch her off guard and lay down her claim on Hermione. Not that the brunette would have minded had she not been so bloody pissed at the world.
"Child of Bellatrix Black, only Heir to the Black name, inheriting the family curse, yes I know all about it mate of mine, I am the next leader of the Veela, we know more about the pureblood families and their history than most pureblood families so don't act all surprised. Though you've run from me all week, it stops now. I won't have my mate flee from me" Fleur continued her tone firming as she took another calculated step forward, one that Hermione mirrored as she stepped back. Her mind reeling as she struggled to make sense of the world through her anger.
"I can do as I please. Mate or not you do not have the right to do as you just did" Hermione spat, her tone dark as she finally found her voice. Continuing to step back as the veela advanced, anger sparking in the blondes eyes at her words.
"You do not own me, you do not control where I go or who I choose to ignore" the brunette continued, flexing her hands as her back finally met the wall behind her and she internally cursed for not thinking her actions through enough, having missed the fact that she would end up backed into a corner. Something that Fleur wasted no time taking advantage of as she quickly eradicated the space between them, pushing her body against hers and pinning the brunettes arms above her head with one hand when Hermione tried to push her away.
"Oh my silly, beautiful girl you are right I do not own you, nor do I control you but you are mine and I will not sit idly by as you tare yourself apart trying to go it alone surrounded by those who see you as a weapon they can exploit" and Hermione couldn't find the will to retort angrily to that as Fleurs voice dripped honey and understanding. Effectively proving to Hermione e that the witch had worked out more of what was happening than she had ever let on.
"Now my mate, you're angry, your magic needs an outlet and then we need to talk, properly so you will duel me, you may be the most powerful witch alive right now but I can promise you, you cannot harm me, our bond won't allow it, so do not hold back. Let your magic out, because holding it in the way you are is dangerous, I'll be right here afterwards to ground you" and with that Hermione was freed. The older witch stepping back and drawing her own wand. The action the only permission Hermione needed to take her own wand in hand, hurtling the first spell that came to mind before she had even stood back up properly.
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Hermione stood panting, hands on knees. Her forehead sweaty and her hair a dishevelled mess atop her head. She wasn't sure how long they had fuelled for, Fleur as promised taking each and every spell sent her way and returning it with just as much force. They had gone back and forth, neither losing nor gaining ground and it had been exhilarating. It was the first time she had ever allowed her magic such free reign. The air had been heavy with the strength of their magic's, the room around them stood in ruins though no spell had damaged the exterior walls.
She had felt her magic pulse and twist in her veins, joyous and consuming as they had fought. Allowing her to release near enough a weeks worth of pent up anger without truly destroying anything nor losing herself to the madness. She had felt it, felt the call of the insanity her family were cursed with but the feel of her mate all around her had kept it at bay, allowing her to truly feel her magic, let it out without restraining her power and still stay on this side of the real world. When learning about the curse she had been terrified at the prospect of having to fight tooth and nail to stave of the madness, never had she dreamed she'd find her balance, her mate so quickly and never had she imagined it would feel so incredible to feel so connected to her magical core and know her mate was right there, would never let her slip into the darkness. Would hold her, tether her in the here and now.
She giggled, feeling much lighter than she had when she first entered the room. A little bit of peace finally slipping into her soul for the first time in so long. She laughed louder, freely flopping herself backwards to lay on the ground that suddenly turned from the stone she had duelled upon to soft blankets as she landed. It felt good to not feel like her anger would consume her. It felt heavenly to feel grounded once again.
"Feeling better?" The soft amused voice of the blonde cut her off mid laugh and Hermione lifted her head to look at her. Blushing as she took in just how gorgeous Fleur looked. Even sweaty, sporting a few cuts and bruises with her hair in disarray, she looked gorgeous. Though the bruised cheek and cut eyebrow cursed Hermione to wince a little knowing she was responsible and she looked away sheepishly before answering.
"Much, thank you" she whispered softly, laying her head back down.
"I'm glad you do my girl, their is no need for your guilt" the blonde reassured, sitting against the pillows that had appeared beside the blankets and Hermione couldn't help but let the blonde pull her up off the floor into her lap, letting the blonde guide her so she was laid back in the vela's arms, her head directed to her blondes shoulder as they settled.
"As I said before Hermione, I know about the curse placed upon all Heirs of the Noble House of Black. I know its affects, I know how to deal with the darkness and I am not sorry for what just happened. You are my mate and your safety both physical and mental will always come first. If you ever need to release your magic again I will do as I have today. I won't let it consume you" the blonde spoke softly, her cheek resting against Hermione's sweaty forehead and Hermione couldn't help but bring her hands up to grip tightly to her mates shirt, the Vela's words and her uncertainty surrounding how to deal with just how terrified she was to believe this was real making her feel vulnerable, exposed and painfully raw.
"I will always be here to ground you my mate, you aren't alone anymore. Because I know it's why you hid from me, I can feel how scared you are of this, of me, of us but I will not abandon you, control you or fail you as everyone else has. I see you and I already love you more than life. I will never leave, I will always do everything I can to make sure you feel loved, cherished and needed" the blonde continued, pressing a tender kiss to her head as the first tears slipped down her cheeks quietly, spilling onto her mates shirt beneath her head.
"Thank you Fleur" she whispered, pressing closer, silently asking her mate to hold her tighter, scared she would float away or wake up and have this all be a cruel dream. She hadn't fully processed all the information she had been told about the family curse, hadn't realised just how much she had relied on her mate today, it would have been so easy to let the curse consume her, the madness, the insanity and it brought a whole new appreciation for her mama. Her mama who had been forced to live the past sixteen years without her anchor and she knew it was only because her mama had been unable to use her magic for fourteen of those years that she hadn't been lost in the madness. She dreaded to think what would have become of the powerful witch had she not been locked up, free to use magic to vent her emotions whenever she pleased. It was a scary thought and one that infuriated her. Albus Dumbledore had a lot to answer for.
This whole time since finding out who she truly was, the truth about her kidnapping and the curse she had been mad and disgusted with the man but it was only now as she felt just how much more stable she felt swaddled in her mates warmth and magic that she realised the true magnitude of what that man had done to her family, to her mothers, to her mama in particular and the thought alone sent a pang of pain and guilt straight to her heart, her magic pulsing in response, catching the attention of the ever attentive blonde she clung to.
"What is it my girl?" Fleur whispered, clearly as unwilling as Hermione was to pull apart from her.
"Just thinking about my mother's and Albus, about how much he truly has to pay for everything he has done" she answered and at the gentle nudge from the blonde she continued, explaining everything she knew, the truths she had learnt starting with the triwizard tournament and the feelings of another she had always felt. She could feel her mates anger rising the longer she spoke and by the end the blonde goddess was visibly seething. Her eyes dark and dangerous as she hissed in fury.
"I see now why you struggle to keep cool so much" was her only response as the blonde pulled her tightly against her body, burying her nose in Hermione's neck.
"I am going to join my mother's, as soon as I can Fleur, I cannot side with the people who caused them and I so much harm nor can I side with those so willing to see the destruction of hundreds of years of tradition. It's vile. They have us preparing for a war that they've twisted into something its not, to rally us, to convince us to fight for their cause. Yet all this time Albus Dumbledore has kept us blinded to the real reasoning the dark lord and the death eaters fight so hard" the brunette murmured, hoping her mate wouldn't judge her too harshly.
Though the soft kiss pressed to her neck reassured her that she had not.
"I am with you my mate, now it is well beyond curfew, how about we conjure a bed and get some rest hmm? We can talk more tomorrow" Fleur replied standing up, effortlessly hauling the brunette up with her, still in her arms as if the young witch weighed nothing. Hermione hummed, agreeing. Suddenly feeling far to emotionally tired to move or offer much in the way of protest. It had been an excruciatingly long day after all.