Charms and Curses

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Gradually, the world stopped spinning and Bill and Fleur opened their eyes. They were outside, sitting in the desert sand, and Cleopatra's Mausoleum was behind them. Faintly, the sound of falling sand filled their ears. The sun was setting in the sky.

They just sat there, catching their breath and looking at each other in silence. Grasped tightly in their hands, the artifacts that they had nearly died to retrieve gleamed in the red light of the setting sun. Finally, Fleur spoke weakly, "We did it!"

Bill smiled, then frowned, "You're hurt!" Carelessly setting down the crook, he waved his wand at his knapsack and yelled "Accio Potion set!" Quickly selecting a healing potion, he unsealed the crystal vial and poured the potion onto a clean handkerchief, then gently put the handkerchief up to Fleur's cut cheek, holding it there.

Fleur watched his face as he gently rubbed the potion into the cut on her cheek. Both of them looked frightful. His clothing was sand-stained, the dragonhide boots scuffed, his mussed red hair was coming out of its ponytail. She had transfigured her dress into more comfortable shorts, but in the circular room of the mausoleum, all spells had been broken, and now the formerly white dress was stained with sand, with frayed sleeves and a torn bottom hem. Her hair was wild, entirely out of its braid, and fell in an untidy golden shower around her. He gently removed the handkerchief, and she felt the pain in the cut disappear. But he frowned slightly, "That's strange. This is supposed to prevent scars."

Fleur's eyes widened, and she quickly summoned a mirror from her knapsack. True enough, marring the smooth blossom-petal skin of her cheek was a thin white scar about an inch long. Nothing grotesque or very noticeable, but an imperfection nonetheless. "Ze knife was an enchanted one." She said softly, "I am no longer beautiful."

All of the sudden, she found the crown in her hands falling to the ground as he crushed her tightly in his arms. Simply holding her for a few moments, he then pulled away to look at her, brown eyes gazing into blue. "You will always be beautiful to me, Fleur. Always." That said, he brushed his lips gently over the scar on her cheek, and kissed away the tear that slid down from her eye before covering her lips with his own.

The two of them just sat there, in this world of enchantment where no one existed but the two of them, weary and exhausted but triumphant, hearts pounding as they held each other close. When they finally parted, the moon had risen and it was nighttime. Fleur, face flushed, lips swollen, slowly removed her arms from around Bill's neck and gestured the artifacts on the ground. "Per'aps we should go and report to ze 'Eadmaster Dumblydorr, we are done wis ze mission after all." Bill nodded, and picked up the portkey box in his knapsack, opening it to reveal a rusty spoon. Together, the two touched the portkey, and vanished. The desert plain was now empty and peaceful once more, no sign that anyone had ever been there.

Appearing at Hogwarts, Bill knocked on the door. Moments later, a surprised Minerva McGonagall, clad in tartan robes, opened it up.

"Why, Bill Weasley, and Fleur Delacour! What are you two doing here at this hour?" Bill and Fleur held out the retrieved artifacts.

"We need to see Professor Dumbledore." Bill spoke without preamble. Professor McGonagall, eyes widening at the items the two held in their hands, quickly let them in and led them to the Headmaster's office.

"Ice Mice!" She called out to the gargoyle. Within moments, Bill and Fleur found themselves sitting in the office, in front of a beaming Dumbledore.

"You two made it! You really made it!" the old man exclaimed, "Words cannot describe how proud of you I am, that you two were able to complete such a dangerous mission so quickly and well!" He took the artifacts from Bill and Fleur, and set them down next to the Sorting Hat and Gryffindor's sword. "I have heard that the mausoleum is filled with different spells and enchantments, and that many people had perished trying to get the treasure that you have gotten. You two must have done something extraordinary to be able to retrieve the items. But I shall not ask you about this now. You two both look tired, I shall let the two of you rest, and tomorrow, we shall talk." Clapping his hands, he summoned a house elf.

"Dilly, please take Mister and Mrs. William Weasley to the Head Student quarters, and bring them some dinner." Dumbledore winked at the surprised couple. "I would be highly disappointed in you, Bill, if it were not the case. But I see that it is." He gestured the rings on their clasped hands. "The best of luck to you both, you deserve it. I will let you two sup and rest in the Head Student quarters. Mr. Weasley, of course, you remember them?"

"Yes, sir." Bill replied, "Thank you."

"There has not been a new password yet, but that can be remedied right now." Dumbledore continued, "Would the two of you be so kind as to think of one for me?"

Bill and Fleur glanced at each other, then smiled. "Charms and Curses!" the two of them spoke in unison. Dumbledore nodded, and spoke a spell as he pointed his wand at a map of the building.

With that, the two of them followed Dilly the house elf out of Dumbledore's office, up one flight of stairs and to a portrait of an elven archer dressed in green. The archer smiled when he saw Bill, as if in welcome.

"Hello there, Lexiel." Bill greeted him cordially, "It's been a long time, has it not?"

"Welcome back, William Weasley." The archer said in a modulated, harmonious voice. "It has been many years since you have occupied these quarters. And your lady I have never met."

His lady! Bill grinned wider, "This is Fleur." The archer bowed deeply.

"An honor to meet you, fair one. Goodwill to you both." Fleur thanked him, and Bill called out the password. The portrait swung open, and Bill suddenly swung the lovely young woman next to him into his arms, carrying her in amid her light laughter.

When they entered, an elaborate supper had been set out for them on a low cherry-wood table, and to their surprise, there was a big bouquet of red roses as well. The two of them took turns to shower and change into clean clothing, then ate their supper.

After she had eaten her fill, Fleur got to her feet. "So zis is where you stayed when you were 'Ead Boy. 'Oo was ze 'Ead Girl?"

Bill thought back, "The Head Girl was a Ravenclaw named Maya Warrington. I think she has a younger brother who either is in his 7th year or has just graduated here, in Slytherin House. Both play Quidditch, she was a seeker, and if I recall correctly, her brother plays chaser." He grinned. "My brother Charlie had a mad crush on her for awhile. Despite their being on rival teams. It was all quite amusing, him finding all sorts of reasons to talk to me here in order to catch a glimpse of her."

And so, the rest of the evening, the two of them sat together on the brocade-covered couch in front of the fire and Fleur, her head comfortably nestled in Bill's lap, listened to him relate anecdotes from his Hogwarts days. After a while, Fleur stretched languidly, and stood. "So, where did you sleep?"

"Here." Bill gestured to the two staircases, one on the left and one on the right, and walked towards the one on the right. "Up here." He led Fleur up the stairs to a luxuriously appointed room with a desk, a wardrobe, mirror, a bookshelf and a large, canopied four-poster bed covered with snow-white satin sheets, down and velvet quilts, and comfortable-looking pillows. Fleur looked around the room with interest, then flopped down onto the bed, golden hair fanning out onto the white pillows. Closing her eyes briefly in contentment, she smiled.

"Zis is a vairy comfortable bed."

"Yes, yes it is." Bill said, now a trifle nervous. She was lying down in the middle of the bed, and did not seem to have any intention of moving. His mouth became dry. "Er, would you like to go to the Head Girl room?"

Fleur lazily opened her eyes and quirked an elegant eyebrow at him. "'Ow vairy rude. Is it a custom for an Englishman to kick 'is wife out of 'is room on zeir wedding night?"

Bill blushed, and stammered, "W-well, it's not th-that...I didn't know if...I mean...er..." He stopped at the sound of her tinkling laughter, and mock-scowled, "You're laughing at my expense, aren't you?"

"Oui, of course!" she said saucily back at him, merry blue eyes looking up into his brown ones. He growled.

"C'mere, you..." he pulled her up and spun her around in his arms until she was dizzy, her shrieking with laughter the entire time. Finally, he set her back down on her feet, although he did not let her go. She put her hands gently on his shoulders, and her eyes grew serious.

"Bill, eef I 'ad forgotten to tell you before, I want you to know zat I love you." Fleur said softly.

He smiled down at her, forehead resting against hers, one hand coming up to caress her soft cheek...the thin little scar... "I love you too, Fleur. Always. You are the most beautiful woman, both inside and out, that I have ever, and will ever know." He said softly, before meeting her lips with his own in a deep kiss. She moaned slightly and wound her arms around his neck.

She did not get kicked out of the room on her wedding night, after all.