Prologue - A Free Woman
The forest was immersed in nocturnal serenity, with moonlight timidly filtering through the treetops. Shadows danced to the rhythm of the wind, and the sounds of nature created a soft melody. Among the trees, a young woman ran with great speed, wearing a heavy blue winter dress, a matching woolen cape and leather boots. With each step, the hood of the cape fell back, revealing Fleur Delacour and her cascade of platinum hair that floated around her.
Beside her, she carried a wicker basket, inside there was a cub with a lush coat. A shining grid, magical in appearance, kept the cub trapped in the basket, preventing it from escaping. As Fleur quickened her pace, the cub let out small whimpers, shaken by the speed of her run.
Suddenly, a pack of wolves began to surround her, advancing from all sides with alarming ferocity. One of the wolves leaped at her, teeth bared, but Fleur, with a graceful movement of her wand, made nature act in her defense. Tree roots erupted from the ground, forming barriers that deflected the attacks. Another wolf tried to attack from behind, but vines quickly intertwined, creating nets that trapped it in mid-air.
As she ran, Fleur continued to manipulate the flora around her. Low branches bent, pushing the wolves away, and dense bushes sprang up to block their path. The wolves charged with renewed determination, but the young woman, in perfect harmony with nature, dodged each attack with precision and elegance, without harming any of the creatures.
The wolves, however, were persistent. They leaped over the root barriers and tore through the vine nets with their sharp claws. The young woman ran tirelessly, conjuring new defenses with each step, but the wolves were determined.
Finally, she reached a clearing and found a massive wolf, clearly the alpha of the pack. She stopped, placed the basket on the ground, and raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, holding her wand firmly.
"Calm down, it's me. I promised to bring your cub back safely, and here he is," said the young woman, her voice gentle.
With a delicate movement of her wand, she released the cub from the light grid. "There, go to your mom!" she said to the puppy, which struggled to get out of the basket. The wolf approached, sniffing the cub carefully. The young woman smiled, a mix of relief and embarrassment. "I had to give him a bath" she said, watching the wolf intently.
The wolf growled, as if it understood and disapproved the bath. Her eyes fixed on the young woman, showing a glimmer of displeasure.
Fleur continued, trying to explain better: "He needed to sleep with me to recover, and he smelled really bad. I'm sorry!" she said, her voice almost pleading, hoping the wolf would understand her intentions.
The wolf sniffed the cub again, her nostrils flaring as she absorbed the new clean scent. Fleur could see the alpha relax a bit, but there was still a perceptible tension in her body. The look the wolf gave Fleur seemed to say that, while she understood the necessity, she did not fully approve the human interference.
The young woman took a step back, giving more privacy to the mother and cub. With a final wave of her wand, she said, "Finite Incantatem" undoing the enchantments around her.
The wolves began to run around the alpha, forming a protective circle. The wolf looked at them and gave an authoritative growl, ordering them not to attack the young woman. The wolves sat down, watching her attentively.
Fleur, in a sincere and gentle tone, said, "I'm sorry for everything that happened. I hope you and your cub will be very happy."
The wolf, seeming to understand and accept her apologies, remained firm and vigilant but did not attack. Her eyes shone with a mixture of acceptance and caution.
The young woman, now more at ease, observed the scene with a smile. The tension that permeated the forest seemed to dissipate, replaced by a renewed peace. Fleur felt the warmth of reconciliation envelop the environment, making the night less threatening and more welcoming.
…
As she walked along the winding trail, the sounds of the nocturnal forest accompanied her. The distant chirping of crickets and the whisper of leaves in the wind created a soft, almost hypnotic melody. The stone path glowed with the last remnants of daylight, gently guiding her toward her destination.
Finally, the clearing opened to reveal a charming and cozy stone house. It was twilight, and the golden light of the sunset tinted the scene with warm tones. Smoke rose from the chimney, suggesting a cozy and inviting atmosphere inside the house. The windows glowed with soft lights, promising warmth and safety. Fleur knew that within that house, she would find the serenity she sought.
She smiled at the sight of the house, feeling immediate relief. She walked to the small fence that surrounded the property and, upon opening the gate, felt something coil around her right leg. Looking down, she saw an enormous snake slithering around her. The snake's head was the size of a human head.
Fleur was not at all frightened. Instead, her lips curled into a gentle smile as she petted the head of the enormous snake. "I've just cleaned up your mess, Zaino," she said in a lightly scolding tone. "You should be ashamed. Imagine a snake of your size attacking a little cub."
She gently ran her hand over Zaino's cold scales, feeling the rough texture under her fingers. The scales were hard and resilient, reflecting the twilight light with an almost metallic sheen. Fleur could feel the latent strength beneath the creature's skin, a contained energy that impressed but did not scare her.
"You should find someone your own size, you know?" she continued, her voice filled with a mix of affection and disappointment. The maternal tone in her words was clear; she spoke to Zaino as a mother reprimanding a mischievous child.
However, instead of responding to Fleur's caress and scolding, Zaino tightened his grip on her leg. Fleur frowned, feeling the pressure increase with each passing second. "Zaino, stop that, you're hurting me," she said, trying to stay calm.
Zaino's grip did not loosen. On the contrary, his strength almost crushed her leg, making Fleur let out a groan of pain. She tried to look at him over his head, trying to understand what was happening. That was when she noticed something alarming: Zaino's eyelids were open, something he never did near her.
Fleur's heart raced. The gaze of a basilisk was deadly, and even though Zaino was just a young one, the opening of his eyes meant imminent danger. Quickly, she closed her eyes to avoid the basilisk's lethal gaze, panic now evident on her face. She could feel the scales tightening even more against her legs, making the situation increasingly desperate.
Fleur's world darkened as her eyes remained closed, and she tried to focus on her breathing, seeking a solution.
"Grand-mère, Zaino is acting very strangely! Help me! My wand is under him, I can't defend myself." said Fleur.
The response came slowly, as if testing Fleur's courage and resourcefulness. "You are a veela, Fleur. The wand only limits your power. Command him to stop."
Fleur, still with her eyes closed, felt a wave of panic. "But, Grand-mère, his eyes are open. I can't give him a voice command," she replied, her voice trembling and hesitant.
"Fleur! Our magic doesn't act only through the eyes. Use other ways to enforce your will. Use your voice and the electricity of your body," insisted her grandmother, each word filled with firmness and urgency.
"But, Grand-mère..." Fleur murmured, the fear growing inside her like a storm. Her heart pounded erratically, and the fear almost paralyzed her.
"Trust in yourself," her grandmother's voice said with firmness and tenderness, a safe harbor amid the chaos.
Fleur took a deep breath, feeling the electricity coursing through her body, each fiber of her being charged with energy. Her hands trembled, but she knew she had to act. With a voice that started timidly but gained strength, she said, "Zaino! Close your eyes and let go of me!"
She felt the energy inside her intensify, her hair starting to float around her head as if moved by an invisible breeze. The electricity running through her fingers radiated outward, and her voice took on a hypnotic tone, charged with power.
Zaino immediately obeyed. Sensing Fleur's power, he let her go instantly. The pressure on her legs eased immediately, and she felt the creature loosen its grip. Fleur did not open her eyes, but the change was abrupt and clear. Zaino shook his head, closed his eyelids, completely dominated by the irresistible command, and quickly slithered away, releasing her completely.
Fleur panted, feeling victorious but still unable to open her eyes. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to control her breathing. The electricity that ran through her body began to dissipate slowly, and her hair fell back into place. Even with the threat gone, the fear still pulsed within her.
"You can open your eyes, look at Zaino," said her grandmother, standing at the doorframe, watching the scene with approval.
Fleur opened her eyes slowly and saw Zaino with his eyes closed, in respect and submission. She could barely contain her smile and looked at her grandmother. The old lady was an impressive figure: bronzed skin and platinum hair impeccably brushed. A large number of necklaces adorned her neck, each one shining with a unique energy. She leaned on a cane, which, although it aided her movements, did nothing to diminish her imposing and vibrant presence.
"Without a wand, without using eye contact, you gave a command only with the energy of your own body," her grandmother said proudly.
She touched the area around Fleur, sensing the magical aura, and commented, "I can still feel the magic in you; it was very strong."
Her grandmother nodded, her eyes shining with pride. "You could have made an adult basilisk close its eyes, I have no doubt."
Fleur felt a wave of confidence and gratitude, knowing she had managed to dominate a difficult situation using only her inner power.
"Thank you, Grand-mère, I owe everything to you."
"You're still trembling. Come, let's have some tea," said her grandmother, her voice soft and welcoming. "Today, you took a great step in mastering your powers. I am immensely proud of your progress, but I must say that two years is enough time for you to spend with an old woman like me."
Fleur touched her grandmother's leg, her eyes radiating affection. "Grand-mère, I love our training. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
Her grandmother frowned, shaking her head. "You can't be sure of that, dear. You've spent so much time away from everything that you don't even know what you might be missing."
Fleur straightened in her chair, determined. "That doesn't make sense, Grand-mère. I remember exactly why I chose to take refuge here."
Her grandmother, with a wise look, replied, "A broken marriage is not the end of the world."
Fleur shook her head, sadness in her eyes. "It's not about the marriage, Grand-mère. It's about the betrayed trust. I was already used to being underestimated, having my ancestry disparaged, but I thought he, of all people, would respect me and honor my trust. But he laughed at me behind my back, telling his friends that I was a child dabbling in dangerous things. He never truly believed in me."
Her grandmother looked at her with sadness. "That is something a veela must also face. Our legacy is not understood, my dear. They will always see us as something charming, but when it comes to important decisions, we are just a distraction."
Fleur sighed, absorbing her grandmother's words.
"That's why we can't afford to stay locked up in isolated forests," her grandmother continued. The basilisk lifted its head, eyes closed, in a silent protest.
"No matter how good the company you have here," she continued, "we must occupy spaces, make ourselves present, disturb with our existence those who feel disturbed. We need to show the world that we are more than we appear. And that can only be done by facing the world, not hiding from it."
"I'm starting to think about returning gradually," said Fleur, with a touch of hesitation in her voice. "Maybe I could go to my parents' upcoming wedding anniversary. They will be happy."
Her grandmother shook her head, an ironic smile on her lips. "Oh, Fleur, your parents' party. It's not exactly a big step to regain your freedom."
Fleur frowned, the insecurity clear in her eyes. "Then, what do you suggest?"
Her grandmother, with renewed energy, responded enthusiastically. "Go to my vault at Gringotts and get the silver tray your mother always admired. Let's give it as a present."
Fleur looked at her grandmother, the uncertainty deepening in her gaze. "Do you think it's a good idea?"
"Yes, of course!" exclaimed her grandmother, her eyes shining with determination. "It's decided: go right now! Oh, no, by Gaia!" She stopped, laughing at herself, clearly excited. "It's already night, but go tomorrow, okay? It's time for you to live new adventures."
Fleur still seemed reluctant, but the firmness and vigor in her grandmother's words began to give her courage. She preferred to stay in the safety of the cabin, but she couldn't say no when her grandmother asked for something with such enthusiasm. She wished one day to have the old lady's firmness of will. With a deep sigh, she nodded, still full of doubts and fears. Tomorrow, she would face the world again, even if her heart was still tied to the shadows of the forest.