Charms and Curses

Chapter 7! Whee!! Be glad, be very very glad....

Standard Disclaimers apply.

Reviews greatly appreciated!!!

*    *    *

For the next month, they walked through the sandy Egyptian landscape, continuing in the direction towards Alexandria. They passed towns here and there along the way, staying at whichever town they reached by nightfall. This day, they set out once more. For a long time, they were surrounded by nothing but the landscape. No buildings of any type, no other people. The sun blazed in the sky, and Fleur waved her wand around the two of them, muttering a basic cooling charm under her breath. Immediately, there was a refreshing breeze, slightly scented like mint and roses, swirling around them. Bill glanced at her, somewhat amused.

"Most cooling charms don't come scented, how did you do that?"

"Well, I just 'ave a special wand, zat's all." Fleur said lightly, "My wand 'as a core made of Veela 'air, from ze 'ead of my grandmuzzer Angelique, an' zat makes for vairy interesting properties. Ze 'air is attuned to my feelings. When I am feeling 'appy and peaceful and content, zat will give nice sings like ze scent to ze cooling charm, but if I am feeling angry and wrasful, zen...let's just say zat it would not be wise to duel someone wis such a wand...it might emit flames as well as curzes. Eef, for instance, 'ad I been in a fury zat day when we were at zat inn, I would not 'ave attempted to make ze room pretty, because I might 'ave made it 'orrible and grotesque instead."

"Well, isn't that inconvenient, though? I mean, if you were angry, wouldn't that just make your spells go awry and not go the way you want them to?" Bill asked, confused.

"Well," Fleur gave a sharp smile, "eef I was ZAT enraged at someone, I sink zat it would not trouble me at all eef my wand was srowing fire at zem. Besides, eet is not often zat I will be zat angry. I just sink of ze veela 'air as somesing that gives my wand more power, just like anysing else zat might made a core."

Bill nodded, "I see. Well, I suppose that it's convenient to be part-veela, I mean, just look how people will listen to you, obey you, get charmed by you. And it also gives you some extra powers in your spell-casting, from what I hear."

Fleur sighed, "Oui, zat is what I used to sink, as well."

"Oh?"

Fleur gave him a long look. "Tell me 'onestly, what do you sink of me?"

Bill was startled. What did this have anything to do with what they were talking about? Besides, what was he supposed to say, without offending her?

As if she had read his thoughts, Fleur spoke, "Just tell me ze trus. I will not be angry."

Bill paused for a moment, then replied, "Well, the first thing that ran through my head when I first saw you was that you were a very beautiful woman." Before he could say more, Fleur interrupted him.

"You see? Zat is what everyone sinks of me. I'm ze prettiest face in ze crowd. Ze men want to sleep wis me, ze women hate me but want to be me. It gets razzer tiresome after a while, no one evair sinks zat you are any more zan an ornament, and no one takes you seriously..." Bill cut her off.

"I wasn't finished though. Yes, you're beautiful. But I've learned all my life that there's more to things than just what meets the eye. Like, my work here. I can go into a pyramid and see huge heaps of opulent treasure, but I would know better than to start piling it into a sack and lugging it out. Most of it is cursed, and if I just treated it lightly and carelessly, it would go very badly for me, no matter how harmless it might appear. So, same with you, you're more than just a pretty face. And people should be able to see that. Although I don't really know you well enough yet, I know enough to see that you're smart and resourceful," he grinned, and decided to tease her a bit to bring her out of her moodiness, "and, you're a great kisser. I look forward to continuing and furthering our acquaintance."

"You---you---'ow entirely rude!" she blushed and smacked him on the arm, but couldn't stifle a little laugh. "An' I sink zat you are an 'orrible man!" the smile that she tried vainly to supress belied the indignant words.

They continued onwards. Finally, at about one in the afternoon, the two of them reached a small town. Grateful for a place to rest and get some food, they walked in. Bill gave a surreptitious glance to the map and whispered to Fleur, "Muggle town." She nodded, and tucked her wand out of sight, though not out of reach.

Soon, the two of them saw, before their eyes, a bustling marketplace. Bazaar stalls selling everything imaginable were set up in rows, and there were people all over the place. Bill bought two rolls of freshly baked brown bread and two roast chicken legs, then handed half of the food to Fleur. She took them, slightly bemused, "Do zese people give you silverware wis ze food?" she asked Bill quietly. He chuckled.

"You don't need silverware to eat these." To demonstrate, he lifted the drumstick to his mouth and took a big bite. Fleur looked at him, then at the drumstick in her hand, shrugged, and mimicked him. Then, she smiled.

"You know, zis is not bad, especially after a long walk. I did not even realize 'ow 'ungry I 'ad become." she took another bite, "Zis is good. Sank you."

"You're welcome." Bill answered warmly. Together, they walked at a leisurely pace through the town, exploring the marketplace, stopping by various bazaar stalls and looking at the wares. Some of the things Fleur had never seen before, and Bill would answer her many questions. In this new and interesting environment, she was almost like a child, curious and full of enthusiasm. She ran up to a stall selling headwear, quickly picked out the gaudiest, most luridly colored and ornately patterned fez, and made Bill put it on. It managed to clash horribly with not only his hair, but every article of clothing he wore, and she laughed so hard that she nearly fell over, and had to lean against him for support. He retaliated by picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder, carrying her through the marketplace. She was hitting his shoulders at every step and telling him to put her down, and that she wanted to walk like a dignified person and he was making the both of them look like fools.

All of the sudden, they heard the soft but unmistakable sound of a child crying, close by. Bill set Fleur back down on her feet, and the two of them took off in the direction of the sound.

*    *    *

Okay! Review!!