Chapter 110 – Facing Fleur (2)
The pain Hermione felt was something she never wanted to experience ever again. It was worse than any migraine or anything she could have imagined. She couldn't tell how long it lasted, just that the moment it was gone, she blacked out. When she returned to reality, she was sitting on the couch, fanned by Elodie, and Brigitte gently stood over her, pressing a cold, wet sponge against her forehead.
"Hermione? You okay?" She whispered, seeing her open her eyes.
"No..." She groaned in answer, feeling she was about to cry.
"It will pass." Fleur commented from the side, setting up a portable Pensieve, pulling its pieces out from her holding bag. "I knew you were strong, Hermione, but you are even stronger than you think. When you feel ready, you can start remembering; now your thoughts should sort themselves out; you are no longer under their wretched spell!"
Although the others felt happy hearing it, they were all a bit taken aback by the harshness of Fleur's voice and actions. Following her advice, when Hermione tried thinking, a sharp pain shot through her mind, making her wince, forgoing the idea for now. It was still too much.
"I'm fine..." she whispered, smiling at her friends, taking over from Brigitte to hold the icepack to her head.
Glancing at Fleur, she was already immersed in her memories, examining them without waiting. It was then Hermione realized how anxious and impatient Fleur was. Looking at her trembling figure, this Fleur Delacour was not the elegant and dependable student she looked up to. This woman was not the same one she remembered. That Fleur was an exemplary leader of the girls within Beuxbatons Academy... this... impostor was not her.
"Good... they are here!" Fleur exclaimed, raising her head, her eyes glinting in a savage light. "You did meet them, Hermione; they don't even disguise themselves! Hah, the audacity! The only problem is that you were knocked out and don't remember where their cabin was. You also missed a lot when they brought you out; you were probably, once again, sent to sleep. How many cabins are here?"
"Twenty... I think." Elodie answered as for Hermione; even recalling the number made her head feel it would split. Thinking itself was hurting her.
"We need to be careful." Fleur continued, walking up and down before them, her arms crossed and her fingers constantly tapping. "If they realize we are onto them, they can slip away. We will strike them hard when they are not expecting it. I bet they think they are safe... this is our best chance."
"How are we going to find them? Go knocking at the doors?" Brigitte asked jokingly, but the stare she received from Fleur made her drop the smile and feel threatened.