La Fleur de la Vallée

The hall was noisier and more crowded than before when Percy and Fleur entered. They quickly located the table Alek, Ferris, Mark, and Daniel were seated at and made their way over. Shortly after they had settled themselves (Percy next to Alek, Fleur across from him between Ferris and Daniel), Remus called for attention from the table of directors.

“May I have your attention, please?” His magically magnified voice boomed through the hall. The enormous assembly went silent almost at once. “Thank you. First of all, allow me to welcome you all to the Ra Conference.”

He was interrupted by applause and waited patiently for it to die down.

“I’m sure most of you already have a pretty clear idea of why you are here, but permit me to give you a few more specifics about this gathering. Gathered here are exactly two-hundred witches and wizards from twenty different countries. Fortunately all of you have a good grasp of the English language, meaning I will only have to go through this explanation once and in a language I’m fluent in.”

Remus smiled cheerfully at the tense crowd. “You have all been selected to come here because of our--,” he gestured around his table, “--faith in your competence to help in the resistance against a dark power recently reborn.”

A low murmur swept through the hall. Remus nodded sadly at them. “Yes, what many of you suspect is true. This dark power is indeed Voldemort.”

Nearly everyone in the hall cringed and it was several minutes before Remus could restore order. When everyone had finally calmed down enough to listen, he continued.

“You are all free to leave at any moment. However, know that if you do choose to stay and help out the resistance in any way possible, you could help prevent many innocent deaths, destruction, and perhaps defeat Voldemort once and for all. I will not lie; you are all in danger here. But it will only be so long until you are in danger anywhere. But if you wish to leave, go now. There are Knight buses waiting outside.”

He waited a moment. No one left though several shifted uneasily. Remus smiled after a minute or so.

“I’m pleased that you have all decided to stay. Now listen carefully to the details of Voldemort’s fall and rise,” his smile faded and his tone became grave. The hall was so silent you could have heard a pin drop as Remus carefully explained everything from Pettigrew’s betrayal of the Potters, to the disappearance of Bertha Jorkins, to the third task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the graveyard incident (Fleur squeezed her eyes shut here), to recent attacks including the lindwurms that had attacked Fleur.

A long minute of respectful silence followed the account and most people had their heads bowed. Remus allowed them a few more moments of reverence before going on.

“This building is the Ra Headquarters. This will be the centre of all of our doings. Everything that has the slightest relevance to our cause will be reported here. All reports from those working with us will come here. Most of the more significant and important decisions concerning the Ra faction will be made here.” Remus emphasized his point by slapping his hand on the table at the end of each sentence. Sirius looked like he very much wanted to interrupt and tease Remus for it but knew better than to disrupt the speech.

“However, you will not all be required to stay here. We will need most of you to go back to your homes and work for the Ra sect from there. Some of you will be coming and going from here quite a bit as well. Those of you who we do wish to stay here will be allowed frequent visits back to their own homes.

“And now the question arises; just what will you each have to do? Well, to put it in the broadest terms, everyone will work either in Intelligence or in the Field, so to speak. I do think they are both self-explanatory. Each one of you will receive individual notes tonight, assigning you your job and first assignments. Further questions can be directed to either me or any of these other people you see sitting here,” he gestured around the table again. Most of the witches and wizards sitting there nodded cordially at the masses of people watching them intently. Sirius, however, waved jauntily. Remus rolled his eyes and turned back towards the crowd.

“I believe that is all for tonight. Good evening everyone and thank you for your time. Knight buses will be back tomorrow afternoon to take home most of you.”

The entire hall was quiet for a moment, everyone sitting in a stunned silence. Then, almost at once, a roar of chatter began as everyone spoke excitedly and began filing out.

Ferris nudged Percy before they separated in the crowd. “A few of us are meeting in Alek’s room as soon as we can fight through the masses. You two are welcome to come along,” he called as he began to get jostled away. “Room 503! See you there!”

******

Percy was in a sour mood as he and Fleur made their way up to the fifth floor. Yet another delay. He sighed and looked at Fleur from the corner of his eye. She was busily scanning the brass numbers on the doors along the corridor but turned to meet his gaze.

“What was it that you needed to say before?” She asked, her eyes looking up directly in his. Percy broke their eye contact and gazed over her shoulder. Room 503. Right there across the hall.

He glanced from Fleur to the door a couple times before finally settling his gaze on her. Now’s as good a time as any, he thought.

“Er, well… You see… I…” Percy began to pace a little, searching for words more profound than ‘er’. Fleur watched him with some confusion.

“Yes?” she prompted, not knowing quite what to expect. Percy stilled then, looking down into her face with such intensity that she grew uneasy.

“Fleur, would you allow me the pleasure of a date?”

Fleur’s eyes widened in shock. Whatever she had been expecting, it was certainly not that! Now she was at a loss for words. “I..”

Percy’s faces turned a scarlet colour and he began talking very fast. “I’d-understand-perfectly-if--”

“Oui.” Fleur smiled up at him. Her first impulse had been to say she wished to remain just friends but then she thought to herself, Why not? He’s the most intelligent and respectful person to ever ask me out. And he’s even handsome in a bookish way.

Percy stopped bewilderedly in mid-sentence. “We what?”

Fleur couldn’t help but laugh lightly. “Oui. Yes, I mean. I would love a date. And another after that.”

Percy’s face broke into a grin. “Really?”

Fleur beamed and nodded. However, before either them could say another word, the door to room 503 opened and an attractive woman in her mid-thirties poked her head out.

“I thought I heard voices out here. Are you two looking for this room?”

She opened the door wider to allow them room to walk in. Both still grinning, they walked into the room together, as close together as they could possibly get without actually touching.

The woman closed the door behind them and resumed her position leaning against the wall. Fleur glanced around the room and saw about ten people gathered within it. Alek had evidently conjured a few extra chairs; the room was crowded with them. Daniel and Mark occupied two near the door, Ferris in another on the other side of the door, and Alek himself was sitting on the chair that seemed to be in the center of all the others. Not surprisingly, Xanthus was not present.

“Percy, Fleur,” Alek nodded at them as they walked in and gestured toward the tiny sofa near his bed. When they had seated, Alek introduced the others in the room. Most the names blurred in Fleur’s mind but she did manage to pick out the name of the woman who had opened the door. Fleur shifted a bit uneasily as she noticed Rose Rocc staring at her and scooted closer to Percy.

“Just what are we here to discuss?” Percy asked Alek.

“Oh, just whatever. The meeting, why we’re here in Egypt… anything that anyone wishes to speak about. I just thought everyone would be more comfortable waiting for their assignments in a group rather than alone in their rooms.”

Over the next half-hour Percy and Fleur nearly forgot that they were more than just friends now, being so wrapped up in their own conversations. Percy had engaged Alek, Ferris, Mark, and Daniel in a discussion speculating what sort of assignments they would receive as Rose Rocc spoke with Fleur

“Hello, dear, I don’t believe I caught your name before,” the woman said.

“Fleur Delacour. Pleasure to meet you,” Fleur responded politely.

Rose grinned. “A French accent, how delightful! Though yours doesn’t seem to be as pronounced as other French women I’ve met.”

Fleur shrugged, wishing to be somewhere else. This woman made her uncomfortable and she wasn’t sure why. There was just something about her attitude…

“You’re such an attractive young woman; do you happen to have a boyfriend?”

Fleur restrained from raising her eyebrows but answered, “Yes, in fact, I do.”

“Oh.” Rose looked faintly disappointed. Before she could say another word there was a knock at the door. A moment later one of the conference’s directors barged into the room with three house elves trailing her. She was quite tall, looked to be of Asian descent, and probably in her late thirties, early forties.

“Hello, I am Yesmine Kelly,” the woman announced. “I believe I have everyone’s assignments here, but if I and the elves manage to skip you over, please let me know.”

She and the elves began passing out thick envelopes with the recipient’s name scrolled across the front. The envelopes were all either dark purple or turquoise. Yesmine handed both Percy and Fleur turquoise envelopes.

When all the envelopes had been handed out, Yesmine nodded and marched out the door, the elves following. Many of the people who were waiting in the room followed her and went back to their own rooms. Rose Rocc winked conspiratorially at Fleur before she swept out the door.

Soon only those who had travelled on King’s bus remained in the room. When Alek shut the door, Ferris turned to Fleur and raised an eyebrow.

“What’s the matter with you? You look unnerved.”

Fleur shrugged. “That woman made me nervous. If I didn’t know any better-- never mind.”

Alek laughed as he sat down. “Miss Rocc was most likely hitting you, Fleur. She’s bi-sexual.”

Fleur gaped in surprise and the others snickered, including Percy. Fleur turned and gazed harshly at Percy. “Oh, shut it or I will go date ‘er, instead.”

Percy stopped laughing but his mouth still formed an amused grin. The others in the room looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

“Anything you’d like to share?” Mark asked them innocently.

Percy blushed but Fleur smiled. “Percy ‘as asked me out on a date,” she announced. Percy’s blush spread to his ears. Alek smiled and shot Ferris a knowing glance.

“Er… shouldn’t we all take a look at our assignments now?” Percy said hastily, his face still glowing slightly. Fleur suppressed a small smile; never before had she dated someone so… well, like Percy. In fact, this was the first time she had accepted a date with someone who wasn’t a Quidditch player or something similar.

Ferris didn’t bother hiding his grin. “Well, if you insist. Ladies first.” He nodded towards Fleur who obligingly slit open her envelope with one fingernail.

“I’m staying ‘ere,” Fleur said, not looking up from her assignment. She suddenly felt a surge of panic and it was a moment before she could put her finger on why. What if Percy got sent back to England? The possibility of being separated from her friend, partner, and new date hadn’t occurred to her before. She hadn’t realized until now how much she depended on Percy’s company, even when they were just friends.

“Wonder what that star means?” Daniel commented, looking over Fleur’s shoulder. She glanced at the star next to her name and shrugged.

“Just a symbol for suspect records, I suppose,” she said. Alek’s brow furrowed but he said nothing.

“Now that the lady has gone, the rest of us may follow her example,” Daniel said, stroking his goatee. Fleur noticed that his envelope was dark purple; everyone else had turquoise.

Percy carefully opened his envelope and extracted the parchment inside. Fleur leaned in closer to look, unconsciously holding her breath.

Percy’s chest swelled proudly. “Look at this, Fleur, I’ll practically be your boss!”

Fleur scowled though she felt relieved. “Good to see it’s not going to you ‘ead, Percy.”

“I’m staying here, too,” Alek said, folding his assignment and tucking it into his shirt pocket.

“The rest of us are leaving on the next bus to London,” Mark announced. “Though Daniel and I are working for different divisions.”

Mark looked slightly disappointed though Daniel’s eyes sparked with adventure as he read over his field assignment again.

“What are you doing?” Percy asked.

“Raids. When I get information on locations of possible Death Eaters, I and some others will go in and collect evidence against them. Aurors will then finish the job, I assume.”

The discussion of their various assignments went on until Alek kicked them out of his room in his usual polite manner. “I’m an old man, I need sleep,” he said as they left.

“Want to go for a walk in the oasis?” Percy asked as he and Fleur walked down the corridor.

“Oui,” she responded. They walked in silence until they reached the grassy area that marked the edge of the oasis; neither could think of a single thing to say to the other.

“Awkward silence,” Percy observed at last as they walked past a couple trees. Fleur laughed, relieved that the silence was broken.

“Odd, usually you can’t keep your mouth shut,” she replied smiling.

Percy gave her an amused look from the corner of his eye. “And to think, I was just about to say the same of you.”

They both laughed a bit nervously, the tension still hanging. When they had finished laughing, Percy paused for a moment and then boldly grabbed Fleur’s hand. He stole a look at her from the corner of his eye and felt relieved to see her smile. She lightly stroked the top of his hand with her thumb as they walked along.

Percy thought of how strange it was that things seemed so awkward now when just that morning she had practically been asleep in his arms and he had thought nothing of it. He shook his head as they came to a sparkling pool of water in the centre of the oasis, feeling a slight longing to have her that close again.

“It’s beautiful,” Fleur murmured. Percy looked down at the shining, blue surface and saw their reflection, wavering in the water. Tiny ripples distorted their images but he found himself gazing at Fleur’s reflection anyway.

“Yes, it is,” he replied. “One of the most beautiful things out here in the middle of the desert.”

He raised his eyes from the water and looked at Fleur. She had turned to him and was staring up at him with unreadable eyes. Their eyes met and a for a long moment they just stayed liked that, holding hands and looking at each other. The odd thing was that they seemed more like they were trying to figure each other out than like a couple gazing romantically into each other’s eyes.

“Er… shall we continue?” Percy broke eye contact first and tugged at Fleur’s hand as he began walking away from the pool. The hot desert was stifling but Percy wasn’t sure whether it was heat or Fleur’s close presence that made the beads of perspiration gather on his forehead. Things were so much easier when he had denied liking her as anything more than a friend.

“It’s too ‘ot out ‘ere,” Fleur complained after they had walked in silence for nearly twenty more minutes. Percy nodded in agreement.

“Quite. Back to the cool building then?”

Fleur nodded and turned to start walking back to the old hotel. In a burst of inspiration she grinned and reclaimed her hand from Percy. “Race you back!”

She took off running before she even finished her sentence. Percy stared dumbfounded after her.

“Fleur! Wait! This is completely juvenile and undignified!” He called after her, half-jogging, half-walking a few paces. “Come on, think of what all those people will think of us!”

Fleur’s only response was to look over he shoulder briefly and smile smugly.

“Fleur! Wait… this isn’t fair!”

All dignity forgotten Percy raced after her. His legs were much longer than hers and he soon caught up. Exerting a new spurt of energy, he sprinted past her and tagged the door to the hotel.

“See what you get for cheating?” He said in a superior tone, folding his arms and leaning against the wall

Fleur simply smiled as she opened the door. “Minor detail; the winner is the one ‘oo steps inside first.”

She disappeared into the building and Percy jerked the door open again. “Cheater!”

Fleur was waiting for him just inside the door and she smiled innocently at him. “Rules are rules,” she sang out, doing her best to imitate the look Percy got on his face whenever he informed someone of a rule at the Ministry. He scowled at her.

“Oh, you’re real funny. Bloody hilarious,” he retorted as they began up the stairs. Fleur swatted him playfully in the arm.

“You are just mad because you lost,” she said. “But I’m a generous person--” she ignored Percy’s snort and continued. “I’m willing to allow a rematch. To our rooms!”

She sprinted up the stairs but Percy was ready this time. He dashed up after her and grabbed her around the waist just as she started down the corridor of their floor. He picked her up easily with his arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her about a foot above the ground. She struggled (though laughing along with Percy) as he carried her down the hallway like that.

“And I win,” Percy said brightly he reached their rooms and turned to walk into his backwards. “I made it in first.”

“Now oo’s cheating?” Fleur said, tossing her hair over her shoulder and straightening her robes as he released her. Percy simply smiled at her and after a moment she grinned back.

And like all good moments, it was quickly ended. A house-elf who, had to be Reggy judging by the sour look on her face, appeared.

“Nine o’clock! Miss and Mister must be gettin’s to beds!” she hissed. Fleur sighed.

“I was just about to go there,” she said sulkily. Reggy glared suspiciously at her before disappearing.

“Nine already?” Percy consulted his watch. “We walked longer than I thought.”

Fleur shrugged. “Maybe. I better go before she comes back.”

Percy nodded and followed her to the door that adjoined their rooms. “Er, goodnight.” He leaned down and pecked her quickly on the cheek. Fleur smiled.

“Goodnight.” She stood up on tiptoes and kissed him gently on the lips. It was just a swift brush of a kiss but Percy’s heartbeat quickened momentarily. A moment later she was gone, the door clicking softly as it shut. Percy stared at the door for a long moment as though he could still see her standing there.