Love Never Expected

Chapter 4: Attacker from the Past

Fleur just stood there staring at the path Legolas had taken to get back to the mansion, frozen with surprise. She had met with many people in her lifetime, but never had she met anyone who had truly understood what she was going through or felt.

Fleur looked down at the rose Legolas had given her before he had left for the mansion. Its petals were blood red, the color of her lips. How well she remembered all the comments she received from adoring fans.

'Your lips are red as the rose and your hair out shines even the brightest diamonds and stars.' All the boys at Beauxbatons and even at Hogwarts only saw her beauty and never really got to know the real her.

Now that she thought of it Legolas was the first man to be within five feet of her and not lose their senses or wit.

Fleur continued to stroll down the garden paths at a leisurely pace, reviewing what Legolas and she had talked about. It was true; she had never had any real friends, just admirers.

Her father was always busy with his work, so naturally he was never around, and her mother never had been a good listener. The only real friend she had ever had was her sister, Gabrielle, even though she was around ten years younger than her.

Fleur once again glanced at the rose Legolas had given her. She suddenly wished that Legolas hadn't left. It felt nice having someone who understood.

'Maybe life with Legolas won't be as bad as I thought it would be. At least I can talk to him and he'll listen to me. Though, I still hate the fact that that Père is making me get married to Legolas and didn't let me at least meet him before he told me about the engagement.'

Fleur kept on walking until she heard light footsteps behind her. She turned around expecting to see Legolas but instead found big, innocent, gray eyes staring back at her from below.

"Gabrielle, how did you know that I was out here?" Fleur asked her sister.

Gabrielle grinned, "When Legolas came into the house I asked him where you were and he told me that you were in the rose garden." She looked at the rose in Fleur's hand and smiled.

"So, do you at least like him, Fleur?" Gabrielle asked, joining Fleur in her stroll of the garden.

Fleur looked down at Gabrielle, "Actually, Gabrielle, I think he is very likable." Gabrielle just chuckled.

"Yeah, but do you like him?" Gabrielle asked once again.

Fleur grinned and turned to Gabrielle, "If you must know, Gabrielle, yes, I do like him. And by the way, I know Mamon told you to ask me this so just tell her that I do like him." Gabrielle blushed.

"How did you know Mamon asked me to ask you," Fleur sighed.

"Knowing how Mamon reacted after hearing about the engagement I knew she couldn't resist finding out how I felt about Legolas. So naturally she asked you to do the asking for her."

Fleur continued her walk while Gabrielle followed.

"Gabrielle?" Fleur asked.

Gabrielle turned to her older sister, "Yeah, Fleur?" Fleur turned to Gabrielle.

"Do you think Legolas likes me?" Fleur asked Gabrielle.

Gabrielle giggled, "Seeing the rose, Fleur, I know he likes you!" Fleur blushed and looked at the rose in her hand.

"So, Fleur, tell me why you why you like him. You've never liked any other boy you've been with," Gabrielle said with questioning eyes. Fleur gave her a small smile.

"Well, for one, he doesn't drool all over me..." Fleur was going to say more when Gabrielle cut in.

"Like all the other boys do to you?"

Fleur gave Gabrielle a suspicious look. "How do you know how the other boys react to me? You've never been with me at Beauxbatons."

Gabrielle gave Fleur a smile. "Non, but don't you remember when me and Mère went to Hogwarts to watch you in the third task?" Gabrielle asked Fleur.

"Of course I remember you there. You were the one who kept asking me if you would get to see Harry Potter since he was the one who had saved you from the lake in the second task."

Gabrielle blushed bright red and looked at her feet. Since she had learned that Harry Potter had saved her from the lake she had developed a crush on him.

"Well, while we were there I noticed a lot of boys staring at you and heard them talk about you." Fleur sighed in frustration.

"What did you hear them say about me?" Fleur asked. Gabrielle looked up at her sister again.

"I heard the boys saying how amazing it would be to, to, do "it" with you and how much they would love to be your boyfriend. And I heard the girls say that you were nothing but a bitch and a whore."

Gabrielle looked down and cursed herself for being so honest; she knew how Fleur could get when insulted by others.

She was surprised when she noticed that Fleur was standing still, almost as if she was frozen. What surprised Gabrielle even more was the look Fleur had on her face. Fleur was starring straight ahead and she looked as if she was frozen in fear.

Gabrielle turned to look in the direction Fleur was facing to see a tall, dark, hooded figure looming a few feet away from them. Gabrielle's eyes grew wide and she froze in her steps.

Fleur slowly grabbed Gabrielle's arm and started to push her back.

"Gabrielle, I want you to run back to the mansion when I tell you and tell everyone to rush to the gardens and bring their wands with them, it's an emergency," Fleur whispered to Gabrielle.

Suddenly the dark figure lunged at Gabrielle, taking her by the arm and pulling her away from Fleur who screamed.

"Gabrielle, no!" Fleur screamed.

She jumped at the figure, trying to get hold of Gabrielle but missed.

Suddenly the hooded figure snapped around and lashed out at Fleur with his arm and knocked her to the ground.

"Fleur! Help me!" Gabrielle screamed.

Fleur grabbed her wand and was about to stand up when the hooded figure pointed his wand at her and muttered, "Petrificus totalus!" Fleur instantly felt her body go stiff and straighten.

Then with horrifying realization Fleur knew she couldn't move her body.

The hooded figure stepped toward Fleur with Gabrielle in his left arm and his hand clamped over her mouth. A wide grin passed over what one could see of the hooded figure's mouth. He knelt down next to Fleur then. He reached into his coat and pulled out a long, wooden cane with a silver snakehead as the cane's handle.

He stood up and raised the cane high over his head, then swung. The silver handle hit Fleur directly on the right side of her head. Fleur's vision started to get blurry and she heard Gabrielle try to scream through the figure's hand, then everything went black.