Hermione sat quietly in her private library, trying but failing to read a book she procured. For the past few months since the second task, Fleur and her had been enjoying being a couple, without the pressures of the tournament looming over them.
They had dates in hogsmeade, double dates with Harry and Luna. They shared tidbits about each other or simply enjoying being together in silence.. whether it came in the form of running in the mornings, sharing picnics near the black lake or studying together in the library. It was happiness in its purest form.
She couldn't forget the teary eyed smile she received from the French witch when she organized a Valentine's Day date for them. The atmosphere brought about a side to Fleur Hermione hadn't seen. The girl was usually confident, cocky at times, smart, brave, loving and brutally honest. But the tears she spilled that evening made Hermione see that Fleur just like many other girls wanted to be romanced, she wanted to be treated like a princess. Something the Gryffindor was happy to do. Fleur was her queen, and she'd be absolutely sure to show her just how much she meant to her. The Veela was a closet romantic and Hermione while amused fell more in love with her for it.
This happiness seemed unending but she knew their time together was rapidly coming to an end. Soon the third task would come and days after Fleur would return to France. A startling and unwelcome wake up call.
She hated that she needed to say goodbye, she hated that she would no longer see the French witch every day. She hated that as much as she wanted to keep Fleur with her, she couldn't, the French witch needed to leave, finish school and step into the world of adults. Soon their kisses would be tainted with bitter taste goodbyes, their hugs limited and their touching measured.
Hermione chewed her lip, she played around with the idea of transferring to Beauxbatons, she would do it in a heartbeat regardless of her dislike of Madame Maxine. But Harry. She couldn't leave him behind. And he wouldn't follow when Sirius was here. Her uncle had been obnoxiously interested in her relationship with the French witch. She didn't know how but he still hadn't seemed to realise she was his niece. She didn't see how, from the photos she saw of her mother and father she shared her fathers facial structure while her mothers softness. The old year books showed her just how much she resembled Regulus Black .
Either Sirius spent so long in Azkaban that it fried part of his brain that recognized family or he simply overlooked it. Either or she wasn't sure but the point was that Harry would be hesitant to leave the only other family they both had. So transferring was scrapped.
The only other choice was having Fleur come here, to work in England, she hated it. She tried to refuse many times but Fleur was insistent. Fleur insisted she couldn't bare leaving Hermione for three long years. So the decision was uneasily made, Hermione's reluctant acceptance of said decision brought on many arguments that often ended in hot make out sessions. And maybe just maybe Hermione liked the angry side of the Veela a bit too much, an angry Fleur was uninhibited, free and so damn hot. Just thinking of it had her lower extremities twitching in its confines.
"Is there any reason you've decided to pick up on Occumenlency Hermione?" Hermione's gaze shot up to Helena Ravenclaw or better known as 'the grey lady'. Ever since finding her heritage she had made it her mission to have mother and daughter reconcile as best as she could. Even though Helena ghosted Hogwarts she never made an attempt to fix her relationship with her mother. A sad thing to watch , even though Helena's death wasn't entirely Rowena's fault but she still sent the bloody baron to bring her daughter home.
"Is there any reason I shouldn't? I suppose with Legilimency, occumenlency is the next logical step isn't it?"
"Yes shielding the mind is a good tool to have." Hermione nodded in response she agreed. Occumenlency while not widely practiced was used by many famous witches and wizards. She knew Dumbledores mind was locked up tighter than Fort Knox, something she aspired too. The fact that she carried Veela secrets made it all the worth more learning.
"Yes and my mind is my most treasured weapon. I would keep as safe as I can. It could even protect your mind from being broken by the infamous Cruciatus curse." She said absently.
"Then I suppose I should leave you be, it's time for me to visit Myrtle"
Hermione chuckled but not at the woman but how she enjoyed Myrtles presence, when Helena turned to leave Hermione spoke again "Will you ever tell me where your mothers diadem is?"
"It is no use to anyone, it's tainted and carries darkness."
Hermione frowned "Yes but I don't wish to use it , I simply want to return it." She replied truthfully.
Helena turned to look at her, her face stuck in indecision but in end shook her head "It's better lost, for the good of everyone." leaving behind a confused Hermione.
"Tainted? Because of what she did? Or something else?"
••••••••••••••
June 2nd 1995 Hermione walked beside a shivering Fleur, she wrapped her arm around the French witch in an effort to help stave of the cold night. She had no idea why Ludo bagman waited until the evening to show them whatever it was he was about to show. She glared at the back of the man's head.
"Come now, this way"
"He really doesn't have an off switch does he?" She asked quietly.
Fleur chuckled, leaning more in Hermione enjoying the higher body temperature the younger witch had. "Perhaps not." She whispered in response.
Hermione had realized they were making their way to the quidditch field, well what used to be the quidditch field. Ludo stopped abruptly and waved over to hagrid.
"Can any of you tell me where we are?"
"The quidditch pitch" replied Hermione glancing at the growing hedges.
"Precisely but this will also be the venue for the third and final task for the Triwizard cup!" He clapped for emphasis and pointed to hagrid "Hagrid has been growing it and soon it will be fully grown, we reckon just in time for the final task isn't that right ?"
Krum frowned "What is it supposed to be?" He asked stoically, his expression barely changing. Hermione on the other hand paid attention to the way the hedges were being grown.
"A maze" she replied absently, ignoring the bright smile on Ludo's face because the longer she stared the more disturbed she became. The man was unbelievable jolly, she wondered whether he was on drugs , maybe he'd been smoking some of these trees.
"Right again Miss Black, this right here is a maze. The third task is simple. All you have to do is find the cup in the maze."
Fleur shivered as a wind blew by them, she noticed Hermione's tight expression, her own expression was confused. This seemed to good to be true. There was no way after facing dragons and merpeople that the third task would be so easy. "It cannot be so easy"
At Fleur's comment Ludo smiled impossibly wider "This is why you've been chosen as champions, you read between the lines. Brilliant, now as you say Miss Delacour." He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper "The maze will be filled with dangers .. one's you must overcome to reach the cup and return victorious "
Hermione's eyes fell to hagrid , the half giant mysteriously looked away from her and she cursed. With hagrids love for strange creatures and cross breeding she wouldn't put it past him to have Aragog hiding in there. Or another Norbert."
"That's all off you go, be ready the 24th of June is the day of the final task and depending on your determination and strength any of you could reign victorious."
Walking back to the castle or rather walking Fleur back to her carriage was made in silence. Each of them contemplated the next challenge and what it meant.
"A few more weeks and the tournament will be over." Hermione pursed her lips, biting back her response. She nodded instead, she squeezed Fleur's hand a bit tighter.
"I know"
Fleur opened her mouth to speak but Hermione pullled her behind her and pulled her wand from its holster .
"Hermione —""
"Quiet, can you hear that?" Hermione whispered lumos her wand light shining dispersing the darkness before them. She sighed in relief, perhaps her nerves was getting to her, she swore she heard something .
"I'm sorry , I thought I heard something, it was —"
"Help" Hermione's eyes widened a smidge when a bedraggled Barty crouch broke the forest line, his clothes were near shreds, his eyes unfocused , she kept Fleur behind her. With her wand pointing at the man.
"Mr crouch?" She asked tentatively, taking a step forward. The man stepped forward before dropping to his knees holding his head between his hands. He started speaking rapidly.
"I need Dumbledore, get Dumbledore. I must speak to him , it's urgent"
Hermione tried getting the man off her but he gripped tighter. "Okay, I'll find Dumbledore but I need you to release me Mr crouch" she said keeping her calm tone. She turned to Fleur who wore a wary expression her too holding her wand.
Crouch's eyes glazed over when he started talking about his son and his wife.
"Sir your wife and son have long passed" replied Hermione gently.
"My wife is waiting for me, we have plans"
"Sir" Hermione was finally able to get crouch off her, she glanced back at Fleur. Hesitating.
"Go; I'll stay." Hermione bit her lip, she glanced at crouch pacing the ground, he looked to be under the imperious curse. His mind and thoughts disjointed most likely having trouble associating reality with his memories it would explain why he suddenly spoke of his dead son and wife.
"Are you sure?" She asked quietly
Fleur nodded "I will be able to take of him, besides you are faster and can find Dumbledore much faster than I could." Hermione couldn't argue with that logic, so she tucked her wand away and dropped a kiss to Fleur's lips.
"Defend yourself by any means necessary" was her last words as she rushed towards the castle, she pumped her legs faster, she skidded to a halt stopping herself from running into filch.
"Oi!"
"Sorry" she screamed over her shoulder and headed straight to Dumbledores office. On her way she bumped into professor Snape and Moody.
"No running in the halls Miss Black" Hermione groaned.
"Of course sir but I'm in desperate need of professor Dumbledore. There's a situation that needs his attention." She said quickly , trying to pass the two professors but was halted by Snape.
"And why do you need to see the headmaster so urgently?"
Her gaze hardened as she stared at the man "A message meant for Dumbledores' ears only" she said through gritted teeth.
Snape arched a brow and gave her a look of indifference "Well then I'm sure it can wait till tomorrow, come it's past your curfew and you wouldn't want detention for roaming the halls after hours"
"I don't have till tomorrow professor, Barty crouch senior is on the school grounds and seems to be under the affects of the imperious curse so yes Professor" she emphasized "It's rather urgent, so if you could let me go before I remove you hand from me that would be lovely" sarcasm dripping from her tone.
"I'll take her to the headmaster go check her story Professor Moody" Hermione found her patience slipping, she glared hatefully at the Slytherin Head. She shrugged off his hand and followed beside him.
"Let's go then" she muttered angrily, keeping her eyes from flashing gold in his presence, forcefully stopping the growl in her chest. The torturous walk from the second floor to Dumbledore's office was silent. She ignored the man's searching look, she refused looking at him, she was too focused on not losing her temper with him. While he may not have wanted to kill Harry , she despised his blatant favoritism towards his house, she despised his indifference , even now she despised the fact that he was wasting time, she wanted to get back to Fleur. She left her mate with a man under the imperious curse, anything could happen to her. And Snape seemed in no hurry. When they finally reached Dumbledore's office she quickly jumped into an explanation of what occurred, the headmaster at least wasted no time believing her while Snape snorted.
She would deal with the snake later, she was practically pushing Dumbledore to move faster. When they exited the castle Hermione led them to the spot she left crouch and Fleur. Her heart beat picked up, pounding loudly like a drum, she drowned out everyone's voices when she saw a familiar figure lying on the ground. She broke into a dead sprint towards the figure.
"Fleur !"
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