"Are we sure she is going to actually show up?" Fleur asked as she, her mother and grandmother waited in the living room for Hermione to arrive. When Fleur had found out that Hermione had agreed to meet with them she had been ecstatic for a chance to see her mate again. That feeling had worn off quickly only to be replaced by nervousness and worry. It got so bad that the healer had been called in to give her a potion to help her sleep so that she would actually be rested for when Hermione showed up. The night's rest had been good for Fleur's body but Fleur's mind hadn't stopped running through different scenarios since she woke up. She wasn't sure what was going to happen but she wasn't feeling as confidant as the others that Hermione would actually accept that they were mates.
"She said she would be here. She is known as someone who keeps her word so I have no doubt she will come." Sabine may have been putting out an aura of calm but on the inside she was just as worried if not more so than Fleur. The fate of magical creatures depended on if they could not only get Hermione to help them against Bill but if they could convince Hermione to accept the mate bond with Fleur.
"You need to calm down Fleur." Appoline said as she watched Fleur walk another lap around the living room.
"I can't. There are just to many unknowns for me to be calm." Fleur replied as she continued her pacing.
"Well you need to try because I believe she has just arrived." Sabine said as she felt the wards on the estate being breached. She wondered how Hermione was able to get through them so easily without being granted entrance by one of the resistances of the house.
"She's here!" Fleur adjusted her shirt. "How do I look?"
Apolline smiled at her daughter. "You look beautiful."
"Are you sure? Maybe I have time to change." Fleur was now rethinking the outfit she chose for this meeting. She had changed her outfit numerous times before deciding on dressing in a relaxed manner by putting on jeans that showed off her lower body nicely and a short sleeved polo shirt that showed off her toned arms and was tight enough for anyone looking to see that she took care of herself. Now though she was wondering if she should have dressed up in something nicer.
"I'm sure." Apolline promised.
Falen a house elf suddenly appeared in the living room."Madame Delacour Hermione Granger is here to see you."
"Show her in Falen." After he left the room Sabine turned to her granddaughter. "I know your emotions have been running high but I need you to stay calm."
Fleur took a deep breath and released it slowly. "I will try."
"That's all I can ask." Sabine hoped that Fleur would be able keep herself from reacting when she saw Hermione once again but as the young witch entered the room and Sabine observed the feathers that began sprouting on Fleur's arms and the back of her neck, Sabine knew that hope was in vain.
As soon as Hermione stepped into the room her attention immediately went to Fleur. Looking into those blue eyes Hermione felt the overwhelming desire to take the blond in her arms and never let her go. Just being in Fleur's presence felt like coming home and Hermione wasn't sure what to do with those feelings. Reluctantly she pulled her gaze away from Fleur and looked to the older woman in the room who she suspected was Sabine. "I heard you were looking for me."
"Yes we were." Sabine had to hold back a sigh of relief when she saw the way Hermione reacted to Fleur. If she wasn't mistaken then Hermione had some kind of feelings for her granddaughter. Even if those feelings were just friendship they could work with that. "Thank you for coming to see us on such short notice."
"Your message was time sensitive so I didn't see the point in waiting." Hermione said.
"I think introductions are in order before we begin our talk. My name is Sabine Delacour the clan elder of the Delacour family." Sabine motion to Apolline. "This is my daughter Apolline next in line for clan elder and my granddaughter I'm told you know already."
Hermione smiled at Fleur. "Hello Fleur even though these aren't the best circumstances I am happy to see you again."
"It's good to see you to." Fleur didn't elaborate on how good it was to see Hermione. She was having the hardest time keeping her Veela side in check as not only was she sprouting feathers but her thrall was acting wildly. It was taking everything in Fleur from keeping it from wrapping around Hermione and surrounding her mate in all the love Fleur felt for her.
"Why don't we all have a seat. Would you like some tea?" Sabine moved to sit in the arm chair and noticed that Apolline took the other one leaving the couch open for Fleur and Hermione to sit on together.
"No I'm good thank you." Hermione's cheeks warmed with how close Fleur chose to sit next to her. She was surprised by how much she craved the contact from the Veela.
Fleur held back a smirk when she noticed Hermione's blush. She knew she was being a bit forward by sitting so close to her mate but she just couldn't help herself. Now that the effects of the potion were gone Fleur was overwhelmed with the feelings of the bond. She had heard stories from other Veela about what it felt like when you met your mate but hadn't imagined it felt like this. She was almost overwhelmed with the love and attraction she felt for Hermione and it was hard for her not to at least take the young witch's hand in her own.
"Now that you are here I think we should do explain exactly why we were searching for you." Sabine said.
"That would be nice. Although what happened to Fleur was horrible I don't know what I can personally do to help you." Hermione told them.
"What do you know of Veela mates?" Sabine decided to get right down to the matter at hand.
Hermione shrugged. "I don't know much about Veela as you are very secretive but I do know that they mate for life."
"It's a little more intense than that. When a Veela has reached maturity they become in touch with their thrall. Have you heard about our thralls?" Sabine asked.
"I know that your thralls can effect the emotions of others. Many believe your thralls force everyone around you to fall in love with you." Hermione remembered the way the boys and even some of the girls acted when Fleur and her delegation had been at Hogwarts. They acted like love sick idiots.
"It doesn't work exactly like that. Our thralls do make some people attracted to us but it doesn't make them fall in love." Sabine explained. "What you said about influencing emotions is not quite right either. We don't change someone's feelings we project our own onto them. So let's say I was angry I could let my thrall overwhelm you with the feeling of anger I was personally feeling. It wouldn't make you angry it would just let you know the strength of my feelings."
"I see." Hermione wondered what that meant about her feelings towards Fleur. She had always felt more than just friendship towards her but had thought it was an effect of the thrall. Now wasn't the time to try to dissect her feelings however. She could do that later when she was in private.
"What are you thinking?" Fleur blurted out before she could stop herself. Hermione looked so deep in thought that Fleur knew she wasn't just thinking about how the thrall effected people in general but how it effected her personally.
"Nothing important." Hermione told her. "So you were saying?"
"Yes, as I said when a Veela matures they have better understanding of their thralls. One of the aspect of the thrall is recognizing one's mate. You see the Veela mate for life because it is something that is predetermined for us. They are literally our soulmates. The one person fate has decided that we are meant to be with." Sabine gauged Hermione's reaction and was relieved that she was actually thinking about what she was being told not dismissing it outright.
"So Veela are like werewolves in that regard." Hermione mused.
"How do you mean?" Apolline asked.
"Werewolves have something they call imprinting. The person they imprint on is their perfect match. I have been told that once a werewolf locks eyes with their imprint it's like their entire being is suddenly devoted to that person on a level that others could never understand. The simplest way I can explain it is love at first sight but I'm told it's about much more than just love." Hermione explained.
"That's exactly it, except that it's our thrall that recognizes that person first. Once we look that person in the eye the bond locks into place for us." Sabine was happy that it seemed Hermione was already familiar with the concept and seemed to accept the truth of it and not think it was just a silly myth.
"So what does mating have to do with any of this?" Hermione asked.
"Well it's important to this because when Bill used the love potion on Fleur it made the feelings she had for her true mate dulled." Sabine said.
"So Fleur knows who her true mate is?" Hermione couldn't understand the feeling of disappointment that came over her. She didn't know why hearing that Fleur was already mated hurt her so much but it did.
"She does. Because of that it brings a new level of betrayal to this. Not only was Fleur forced to marry a man she didn't actually love she was forced to be away from her soulmate. Separating a Veela from their mate is one of the most despicable acts that can be done to a Veela. If Bill was held to our laws he would be eligible for death for what he did." Sabine told her.
"It's to bad he can't be." Hermione would be more than willing to be the one dole out that punishment herself.
"I agree." Apolline was thinking along the same lines as Hermione. She would love to be the one to kill the man.
"So since he isn't being held to your laws what exactly do you need from me?" Hermione was finding learning about the Veela fascinating but they still hadn't told her what they needed her for.
"We need an advocate." It had been decided that Fleur be the one who tell Hermione about the mate bond so Sabine withheld that for now. " You have a lot influence in our world. If you stood beside us while we were trying to get justice for Fleur many would listen."
"I have been gone a long time. I'm not sure people even remember me." Hermione at least hoped they didn't.
Fleur snorted. "You the one who singlehandedly won the war believes that you have been forgotten. I hate to tell you this but you are taught about in the schools. I heard that one college has an entire class that teaches about the various conflicts you were involved with in the war."
"Ugh." Hermione groaned. "I really wish you hadn't told me that."
"You should be proud of your accomplishments. You saved a lot of people's lives." Sabine found it endearing that Hermione wasn't out for fame but for what they needed Hermione for she needed to embrace her reputation.
"Anyone else in my position would do the same." Hermione said.
Realizing they were making Hermione uncomfortable Sabine changed the subject. "Regardless we need your help. Out status as magical creatures limits what rights we have. I fear that without your help the case won't even make it to court at all."
"I hate that you're right." Hermione sighed. "I don't like the idea of getting involved with politics but I don't like the idea of Bill getting away with what he did even more."
"So then you will help us?" Fleur asked.
Hermione nodded. "I'll help anyway I can."
"Thank you." Fleur pulled Hermione into her arms and hugged her tightly before she could stop herself.
Although surprised by the hug Hermione didn't fight it. She actually allowed herself to sink into it and enjoy it for a minute until thoughts of Fleur's mate made her stiffen. She didn't need her feelings for Fleur to get in the way of what she needed to do. Pulling away from the hug Hermione smiled. "It's the right thing to do."
"Still thank you." Fleur wondered what had bothered Hermione so much about hugging her. It seemed like she enjoyed the hug initially but the sudden stiffening and pulling away concerned her. Did that mean Hermione didn't want Fleur touching her. If that was the case then what hope did Fleur have to convince Hermione they were mates.
"So what's the plan?" Hermione asked.
"We hadn't really made one because we were waiting to see if we could find you." Sabine admitted.
"I see. Well as I don't know much about the legal system when it comes to what Bill did I don't know what I can do going forward. Luna would be better to offer you advice." Hermione said.
"We have a lawyer already working on our case. Now that we know we have your help we will consult with her how you will be the most help. I know that one of the suggestions was for you and Fleur to do a joint interview where the topic of what Bill did was discussed with you expressing your opinion on the matter." Sabine wanted them to wait for that to happen until Fleur told Hermione of the mate bond as it would be better for their case to have their connection revealed.
Hermione really didn't want to do that but could see the reason it would help them. "If we decide to do that I will only speak to Xenophilius Lovegood. Not only is he a friend but he would only publish the article after we personally approved it."
"That is fine." Sabine easily agreed. Having a reporter who would be willing to let them pick what they wanted the message to be would be beneficial. It being Xenophilius who was the only reporter that Hermione ever talked to would bring plenty of attention to the article.
"I'll mention it to him when I get home." Hermione knew Xeno would be happy to help her.
"You live with Xenophilius?" Fleur asked.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, I live with him and Luna as well."
"I see." Fleur struggled to maintain her composure learning that Hermione lived with Luna. It was just the confirmation she needed that Hermione and Luna were in a relationship. A very serious one if they shared not only a vault but living arrangements as well.
"Well if you could bring it up to him that would be good." Sabine could see that Fleur was close to breaking down. Learning that her mate lived with Luna was probably a sharp blow to her but Sabine wasn't that worried. The mate bond overcame any other feelings one would have for someone else. Sabine believed that fate wouldn't match the two together if they weren't meant to be.
"I guess I'll leave you all to the rest of your day." Hermione said standing up. She figured that the Delacour's had plenty of things to do and she didn't want to keep them.
"Actually I was wondering if you would want to stay for lunch?" Fleur didn't want Hermione to leave. Now that she had seen Hermione again she never wanted to be away from her.
"I would love to." Hermione would always take the chance to hang out with Fleur. Even if Fleur was already mated it didn't mean that they couldn't be friends.
"Excellent."Apolline hoped this would give Fleur and Hermione a chance to bond. The only way that Hermione would accept being Fleur's mate was if they spent time together. "Mother and I are busy so why don't you eat in the garden?"
"Good idea." Fleur liked the idea of having lunch with Hermione in such a romantic setting.
"It is a beautiful day." Hermione said.
"Then it's settled. You two go enjoy lunch and we will reach out to you if we have any new information for you Hermione." Sabine told her.
"Thank you." Hermione replied.
"No thank you." Sabine was suddenly feeling very optimistic. Not only was Hermione willing to help them but she was willing to spend time with Fleur alone. If things worked out the way she wanted them to the pair would be fully bonded very soon.
"Let's go." Fleur boldly grabbed Hermione's hand and led her through the house to the gardens pleased that Hermione didn't pull away. Now she just had to figure out how she was going to get Hermione to give her a chance. Hermione may be in a relationship with someone else but Fleur reminder herself of who she was. She was Fleur Delacour third in line to be clan elder of the Delacour flock. Even though Bill had hurt her self esteem she wouldn't allow herself to give Hermione up without a fight. It would be an insult to her clan if she did.
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