Part 7

FLEUR

She woke up in an unfamiliar bed. She quickly recognized the familiar scent of her mate and child. She stretched out her arms and hugged the girl, who was lost in a magical sleep. Victoire was breathing evenly. Fleur began to cry, remembering the horror of the last few days. The door to the room opened and Hermione stood there, alert, wand in hand, watching for danger. "Oh." She mumbled, seeing Fleur crying and the blonde saw pain and despair in her eyes. However, they quickly disappeared. Veela could have drowned in the brunette's honey eyes, now shining in the glow of the rising sun outside the window. "I thought you were in danger. I'm sorry." She said, turning to leave. "Stay." Fleur said immediately. She wanted to feel Hermione's presence. She felt lost, lonely. The brunette nodded, sitting gently on the bed on the other side and looking at Victoire with concern. "We have to leave soon. You can't stay in England and Victoire needs to be on the reservation. I'm sure Cecile can heal her. For now, I've put a sleeping spell on her." Hermione explained, looking with slight concern at Fleur, who suddenly grabbed her wrist, squeezing it lightly. "What about Bill?" She asked quietly. Hermione grimaced. "What about him? You're the one they kept shackled even though he's the dangerous one here! And you're asking about him? How could you let our daughter live under the same roof with a werewolf who has no control over himself and claimed the bite was ineffective!" Hermione exploded, yanking her hand away and rising from the bed. She brushed her hair off her forehead. "I left a towel and clothes in the bathroom. Get ready to go."

Fleur sat still for a moment. She was torn between going to the bathroom and following Hermione and apologizing to her, begging for forgiveness and to just hug her. She looked at her daughter and barely held back a sob thinking about that night when Bill transformed during the full moon and attacked the little one, as if only just recognizing that it wasn't his child. She had read about it once. Werewolves don't attack their offspring. And he immediately attacked the girl with murder in his eyes. If Fleur hadn't transformed into Veela, she would have had the blood of her child on her hands. For allowing it, for being too much of a coward to leave Bill earlier, too much of a coward to mark Hermione as her mate. Too much of a coward to just admit who she really was - Veela. Casting a last glance at Victoire, she went to the bathroom. It took her a long time to get herself in order. She had broken nails, bruised ribs, and a large bruise on her back from when Bill had pushed her against the dresser. There were handcuff marks on her wrists. She felt like crying again, but she forced herself to take a bath. Freshened up and dressed in the clothes Hermione had left behind, which were clearly new and fitted Fleur's figure, she went to the kitchen, glancing briefly at Victoire. "Do you want something to eat?" she heard Hermione ask from the couch. The woman was staring out the window overlooking London. "No. I'm not hungry." "You need strength so we can Apparate with Victoire." "And you? Have you slept at all?" Fleur asked quietly, looking at the woman who looked more tired than she was. "We don't have time. I packed us. If you're not eating, I think we're good to go." Fleur nodded, only just realizing that she would soon be returning to her family. She was afraid of how her mother would receive her.

Hermione insisted that she would be the one to hold Victoire in her arms. They spent the journey in silence, exchanging only the most necessary information. Fleur could feel that Hermione was still angry with her, and in addition, she could feel the uncertainty and fear radiating from the brunette. Maybe she would have tried to explore the reasons for these feelings if it weren't for her own fears, which were tightening around her heart with every step closer to the reserve. She felt drops of cold sweat running down her back. "Maman." She choked out when she saw Apolline waiting for them on the threshold. Behind her stood her grandmother, Cecile. "Fleur!" Apolline said with relief and moved to embrace her daughter, who fell apart in her arms, sobbing loudly, she snuggled up to her mother, clenching her hands into fists on her back. "It's okay, my love, my little flower, it's okay." And Fleur felt relief that her mother was hugging her again, that maybe everything would be okay after all. Apolline pushed her away and looked at her with clear anger in her eyes as she noticed her hands and the bruise on her face. "You will never let anyone treat you like this again, daughter. You are a Veela, a predator. We do not allow ourselves to be treated like this." She said coldly, slowly moving her gaze to the brunette. "Hermione, thank you." She said sweetly, the girl nodded and with Victoire on her shoulders she moved towards Cecile. Apolline looked after them with longing. "I have missed so much in this little one's life. I hope that we will be given new moments." "I'm sorry, mother." Fleur whispered, once again feeling the tension and fear rising in her. "There will be time for that too. Now come. You need to be sorted out, little flower. Your father is already waiting for you." "And Gabrielle?"

"You know her. She will come when she is ready." Apolline said as she gently watched her elder daughter and reasuringly placing her hand on her shoulder, she led her through the reserve gate, along the familiar paths towards home.

HERMIONE

Hermione paced anxiously around the cottage, watching Cecile's every move as she maneuvered her hands over Victoire's motionless body. Finally, Veela stopped and approached the table where she began rubbing herbs. "Usually, Veela can effectively defend herself against a werewolf, but she's only a child. She'll need about two weeks to heal." "But you'll heal her, right?" "Yes, I'll need your and Fleur's blood, blood magic will speed up the healing process." Hermione nodded immediately, rolling up her sleeve. "Not like that." Cecile sighed. "You have to stand under the sacred tree and perform the union ritual." "What? Does that mean...?" "Marriage, yes. Only in this way will your blood unite and be magically strong enough to heal your daughter. The ritual also means that you acknowledge the child as yours." "Of course she's mine!" Hermione was offended, then stopped. Only now did the meaning of Cecile's words sink in. "Is there another way? I doubt Fleur would agree. She rejected me for so many years." She said quietly. "Are those your only objections?" "I don't understand..."

"And Aurelie? Would you still consciously choose Fleur, or is it just concern for the child and feelings related to your bond?"

Hermione looked at the older woman thoughtfully. She was furious at Fleur for what had happened, for allowing it, but she was also worried about the blonde's condition. She looked so lost... and every bruise on her body aroused uncontrollable anger and the desire to hit something in the young Gryffindor. And then there was Aurelie... kind, wise, empathetic Aurelie, who accepted Hermione without hesitation. "Is there another way to heal my child?" She quietly repeated the question.

"Kill the werewolf that scratched her." Cecile said grimly. "Then his venom will stop seeping into her." Hermione gasped, leaning heavily against the table, covering her tired eyes with her hands. "I feel like hurting him after what he did, but not killing... Even as a Golden Girl no one would let me get away with it, I would spend the rest of my life in Azkaban..."

"You can always do it without anyone catching you." Cecile said quietly. "I'm not a murderer." Hermione replied strongly. "Me neither, but she's my great-granddaughter, and this creature... it's hard to call him human... my Veela is out for blood..."

Hermione looked at the glint in the older woman's eye and sighed. "So I have two options, either marry Fleur or murder Bill..." The woman looked at Victoire. "I think I need to get some sleep... and talk to Fleur."

When Hermione left the cottage, she only noticed the setting sun. She directed her tired feet towards the Delacour estate. "I heard your conversation." A familiar voice reached her. Soon Aurelie caught up with her, gently sliding her hand into the brunette's, who flinched slightly, but soon shook the offered hand. "If you heard, you know that I don't have many options." Aurelie looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry. You shouldn't have made such a choice. If only Fleur..." "Enough... I don't want to be angry anymore. I just want my daughter to get better." Hermione sighed. "I can help you kill the werewolf. All you have to do is ask... I will..." Aurelie said quietly, squeezing the brunette's hand tighter. Hermione stopped suddenly, turning to her.

"If anything, I would never ask someone to do that. Besides, what kind of idea is that?" Hermione ran her fingers through her hair. "It's my child, my responsibility. I can't just kill my best friend's brother!" "So it's better to marry Fleur and condemn yourself to misery?" Aurelie asked with a twinkle in her eye. "We are predators. And a werewolf is a creature similar to us." "I am not Veela. As long as my child is healthy, I can be miserable for the rest of my life." Hermione said with force. "You've already made up your mind..." Aurelie let go of her hand, pulling away a bit. "You didn't even give us a chance." "Oh, Aurelie..." Hermione had tears in her eyes. "In different circumstances, if Victoire wasn't there, if Fleur and I had only that cursed bond... then we would have had a chance." The blonde shook her head. "I doubt it... you've always wanted her and you always will. You admire her, you want to protect her... she's like a jewel to you, regardless of her deeds." The woman scoffed. "I'm sorry." That was the only thing Hermione could think of. "Don't be... but... if you let me... can I kiss you? Just once." Aurelie asked, glancing uncertainly at Hermione, who before she could react, felt warm, soft lips on hers. Feeling Veela wrap her arms around her waist, Hermione allowed herself to lose herself in the kiss. It had been so long since she had felt close to anyone... The kiss lasted a few wonderful moments, before they both had to take a breath, resting their foreheads against each other. "Time to walk you home." The blonde said, gently guiding Hermione towards the nearby mansion. The lights were on in the upper rooms and on the veranda. Hermione nodded to her companion in farewell and went through the glass doors. The dining room was empty, she noticed a plate with dinner on the table and, suspecting it was for her, she quickly ate a portion and climbed the stairs to her room. When she was going to bed after a shower, she touched her lips with her fingers, smiling sadly.