Severus stood outside the door to Fleur Delacour's room, his arms crossed loosely over his chest. The hallway was quiet, save for the distant murmur of voices and the occasional sound of footsteps from the other side of the floor. His shift had ended an hour ago, leaving him with little excuse to avoid this meeting.
He wasn't exactly sure why he had hesitated for so long before coming here. Perhaps it was because the conversation that awaited him promised to be… complicated. He wasn't sure how Fleur would approach the subject, but he had a fairly good idea of where it would lead.
Taking a steadying breath, he raised his hand and knocked firmly on the door.
A few seconds passed before the door opened. It would be better to address the matter sooner rather than later. Letting it linger would only invite more questions—both from Miss Delacour and from others.
The door opened, and Fleur Delacour stood before him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Fleur Delacour stood on the other side, her silver-blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, her blue eyes widening slightly when she saw him. Her expression shifted almost instantly, softening into something more guarded, more careful.
"Ah… Monsieur Blackwood," she said, her accent lacing the words. Her gaze softened as she stepped aside. "Pleaze, come een."
Severus hesitated briefly before stepping over the threshold.
The room was exactly as he remembered it— bland. Whitewashed walls, clean but impersonal furniture. The only thing that stood out was the golden egg perched on the bedside table, glinting under the dim light.
Fleur closed the door behind him and crossed the room with easy grace. Despite the loose hospital gown and the tired shadows beneath her eyes, she moved with the same poise he had seen during the tournament—natural, confident.
Severus's gaze flicked toward the golden egg before returning to her. He slipped his hands into the pockets of his robes. "You requested to see me."
Fleur nodded, folding her hands in front of her. "Oui," she said. "I… I wanted to zank you perznally."
Severus's brow lifted slightly. His expression turned neutral. "There's no need for that. It was my duty." He firmly replied.
"I am… 'ow you say… grateful?" Fleur's gaze dropped for a moment. "You saved my life."
"I did my job," Severus replied evenly. The girl was clearly hesitant, and needed the push. Better to be rigid, till she gathered her courage.
"Per'aps," Fleur said softly. "But I 'ave been told zat it was… not ordinary magic you used."
Severus looked at her for a moment. Unfamiliar magic had been used in her recovery, she was bound to get curious. "It was healing magic."
"Zat you created yourzelf?" Fleur's head tilted slightly.
Severus didn't answer directly. He let the silence stretch out between them until Fleur sighed, brushing her hand through her hair in a restless gesture.
"Even so," she said quietly. "Zat means I owe you… a life debt."
Severus understood her hesitance now. Her fingers twisted together, her expression growing more uncertain. "You know what zis means… non?" Her gaze lifted toward him, her blue eyes wide and shadowed. "Oui," she breathed. "I owe you my life. Ze magic… it binds us, non?"
She wasn't wrong. In the wizarding world, life debts were not taken lightly. They created a magical tether—an ancient form of binding magic that could not be broken or dismissed through mere intention. It was rare, but not unheard of, for life debts to lead to involuntary acts of protection.
Or worse—exploitation.
Severus could already guess the direction of her thoughts. A life debt could be claimed in many forms—wealth, political favors, even personal… services. Magic had no moral compass; it would not differentiate between selfless and selfish demands.
Severus studied her carefully. Her shoulders were tense, her posture straight but not entirely relaxed. Despite her natural elegance, the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes betrayed her.
She was nervous.
Understandably so. She was vulnerable. And she knew it.
"I understand your concern," Severus said, his voice calm and measured.
Fleur's jaw tightened. "You could… demand anyzing," she said, her accent thickening as her words quickened. "Zat is 'ow zis works, non? You could ask for… money, or…" Her lips pressed together. "Favors."
Severus's eyes darkened slightly. "Favors," he repeated.
Fleur's cheeks flushed faintly. "I am not saying you would," she said hurriedly. "But ze magic… it does not care what you ask."
Severus's gaze hardened slightly at that.
It was true. Pettigrew's life debt to Harry Potter had ultimately led to his death. Pettigrew's own hesitation in harming Potter brat had been the result of the life debt, and the magic had turned on him.
The girl was not wrong to be wary.
"I have no interest in collecting on your life debt," Severus said, his tone sharp but controlled as he looked at her. "You are not beholden to me."
Fleur's brows furrowed. "You… you mean zat?"
"I do," Severus said simply.
Fleur's gaze searched his face, as though trying to uncover some hidden deception. Slowly, her expression softened.
"You… would let eet go?"
"Yes."
"But… why?"
Severus's gaze remained steady as he looked at her. "Because I don't believe in holding power over others."
Fleur's lips parted slightly in surprise.
"I have no wish to collect on this debt," Severus repeated. "You owe me nothing."
Fleur exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "You are… different," she murmured.
Severus's brow lifted. "Am I?"
Fleur smiled faintly. "Oui."
A silence settled between them, soft, but not uncomfortable. Fleur's gaze lingered on him with quiet curiosity.
"Zank you," she said at last.
"You've already thanked me."
"Non," Fleur said, shaking her head. "I mean… for zis. "I… I am not used to zhis," she admitted. "In my family… debts are sacred. Zhey are reepaid."
Severus inclined his head. "Then you are welcome."
Her gaze drifted toward the golden egg on the table. "It is… difficult," she said quietly. "Zis tournament."
Severus inclined his head. Indeed the Triwizard tournament was difficult for Mediocre wizards. Perhaps, if he would have been a champion in his Seventh or Sixth year, he would have probably aced the Tournament, considering his skills then. He was far better than the newer generation brats. Even in his final years, everyone knew of his proficiency with a wand and how wicked he could be.
There was a brief pause before Fleur's gaze flicked toward the golden egg on the table. "Do you… do you zink you could 'elp me with zhat?"
Severus's eyes narrowed slightly. He looked at her and then at the egg. Cheating had always been a part of the tournament. Besides, since he wasn't a Hogwarts Professor this time. He owed no loyalty to the school. "Perhaps."
Fleur smiled—a small, uncertain smile, but genuine. "Zen… per'aps you would stay for a while?"
Severus hesitated.
Then, with a quiet sigh, he moved toward the chair beside her bed and sat down.
"I suppose I have a few minutes," he said.
Fleur's smile widened. "Bon."
Severus allowed himself the faintest trace of a smile in return. The girl was clearly eager to learn. It was one of the rare positive things, he liked about her. Her surface thoughts revealed that she wanted to learn some of magic from him as she had formed quite an opinion of him. Apparently, she believed him to be prodigious and special from the reports in Daily Prophet. Since, she learned that he handled a dragon in one spell and then revived her from death, and the mentions of dark magic, ancient spells, necromancy and all. It had ignited a spark inside her to make use of such an opportunity and learn from him.
He leaned back slightly in his chair, studying the golden egg perched on the bedside table. Its metallic surface caught the light from the lamp, gleaming faintly as if it were alive. Fleur was watching him closely from her spot on the bed, her hands resting on her knees, her silver-blonde hair falling over one shoulder.
"So," Severus said, his tone measured as he looked at her, "all you could hear was screaming?"
Fleur nodded, her delicate brows pulling together in frustration. "Oui. Just… screeming."
"Like your sister mentioned?"
"Oui." Fleur sighed, brushing her hair back from her face. "zt was awful—like a banzhee screemeng een my earz. I could 'ardly stand eet."
Severus's gaze flicked back to the egg. He considered it for a moment, his long fingers tapping lightly against the armrest of the chair. Then his lips curled into a faint smile.
"Perhaps," he said slowly, "your perception of the egg is wrong."
Fleur's eyes narrowed slightly.
Severus leaned forward. "There are certain species—magical creatures—that speak in ways humans cannot normally comprehend. Take merpeople, for example."
Fleur's expression flickered with confusion.
Severus's smile deepened. "Merpeople sing beautifully," he explained. "But only when you're beneath the water. On land, their voices sound like…"
Fleur's eyes widened. "Like screaming," she breathed. She immediately recognised about them as she had read about it in her books.
"Exactly."
Her gaze shot toward the egg, realization dawning in her expression. "Could eet be…?"
Severus's smirk widened. "Well, Hogwarts does have a lake, doesn't it? And from what I've heard, it's not empty. Squids… merpeople…" His voice trailed off suggestively.
Fleur shot to her feet, her excitement practically radiating off her in waves. Her allure getting stronger with her excitement. "Attendez!" She snatched up the egg with both hands, her eyes gleaming with sudden purpose. "I 'ave to try eet!"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Try what, exactly?"
Fleur shot him a confident look, her natural Veela arrogance slipping through the cracks. "If eet really ees merpeople… zen I should be able to 'ear eet properly underwater, non?"
Severus gave a small shrug. "That would be logical."
Fleur flashed him a quick, dazzling smile before striding toward the bathroom door. "Un moment," she said over her shoulder.
Severus watched in mild amusement as the door closed behind her with a sharp click. He heard the rush of water a moment later and shook his head faintly. Fleur was certainly determined when she put her mind to something. He allowed himself the rarest hint of a smile as he leaned back against the chair.
Three minutes passed as Severus waited for her. He thought about Miss Delacour's passion though. Clearly, she was very passionate which shone through her excitement.
The door creaked open, and Fleur stepped back into the room, water dripping from her hair and trailing down her face. Her hospital robe was damp around the neckline, and the egg was clutched tightly in her hands. Severus had to admit. She was beautiful. But then again, she was part veela. Everything about her body will be better than other women. They were blessed physically and magically, afterall.
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Well?"
"You were right!" Fleur said breathlessly, her cheeks flushed. "Eet was merpeople. Zhey… zhey sang!"
Severus's expression didn't change, but he felt the satisfaction of being proven right settle in his chest.
Fleur rushed toward the bed, setting the egg down on the table with a triumphant clink. "Eet said… eet said zat something I 'old dear would be taken from me. I would 'ave one hour to find eet, or it would be gone forever."
Severus's gaze sharpened. "Interesting."
Fleur ran a hand through her wet hair, her expression shifting toward unease. "What does eet mean?"
Severus steepled his fingers thoughtfully. "It means," he said carefully, "that you're going to have to work harder than you did in the first task."
Fleur's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
Severus's lips curled into a thin smile. "Because you're at a disadvantage."
Fleur's frown deepened. "What do you mean?"
Severus's dark eyes gleamed faintly. "Think about it. The second task will take place underwater, which means the terrain alone will be working against you. And you, Fleur…" He paused. "You're part Veela."
Fleur's expression sharpened. "Oui."
"Veela," Severus continued, "are creatures of fire and air. Your nature isn't suited to water. The pressure alone will be an obstacle, not to mention the cold. And the merpeople…" His eyes darkened. "If they recognize your creature blood, they may not react kindly."
Fleur's breath hitched. "Why?"
"Creatures are territorial by nature," Severus said calmly. "If they sense that you are something… other, they might treat you as a threat."
Fleur's mouth tightened. "Zhis ees… not good."
"No," Severus agreed. "It's not."
Fleur sank down onto the edge of the bed, her hands pressed against her thighs. "Zhis… zhis ees unfair."
Severus's lips twitched faintly. "Life often is."
Fleur shot him a sharp look. "Zhis ees not funny."
"On the contrary," Severus said dryly, "I think it's fascinating."
Fleur scowled. "Of course you do."
Severus's gaze drifted back toward the egg. His mind was already working through the possibilities—the spells that might help her breathe underwater, the charms to resist the pressure and cold. He didn't say any of it aloud, though. Fleur was proud, and if he offered too much help, it would only bruise her pride.
After a moment, Fleur sighed and looked toward the window. "So… what do you zink I should do?"
Severus regarded her thoughtfully. "You'll need to prepare," he said. "If the task involves merpeople, you'll need a way to breathe underwater."
Fleur nodded. "Bubble-'ead charm?"
"Possibly," Severus allowed. "But you'd be better off finding something more natural. The bubble-head charm requires constant concentration. A more permanent solution would give you an edge."
Fleur considered that. She nodded immediately to show her consideration on the matter.
"Potentially." Severus's gaze sharpened. "But you'll also need to work on your resistance to cold and pressure. And… you should learn about merpeople. Their habits. Their laws. Their weaknesses."
Fleur's mouth pressed into a thin line. "You 'ave zhought about zhis a lot."
Severus's smirk deepened. "I'm a thorough man, Miss Delacour. When I do something, I go deep and down on it."
Fleur studied him for a moment, then smiled faintly. "I see why zhey say you are dangerous."
Severus's was amused now. He had a reputation now. Wow! "Do they?"
Fleur's smile widened. "Oui. Can you… show mee?"
Severus was surprised by her request.
"I mean… your mageeq." Fleur's voice softened. "You… you did zhis before. Zhe magic you used… eet was powerful. Help mee?"
Severus studied her carefully. He could sense the vulnerability beneath her composed exterior, the quiet desperation in her request. It would be easy to say no. Easier still to walk away. However, she was intrigued and wanted to desperately learn magic from him. Her surface thoughts showed that she believed him to be powerful. Considering, she had felt his magic. She wanted to milk this chance, for what it was worth.
But his mind was already calculating the advantages. If Fleur succeeded in the tournament, it would reflect well on him. And if she became a member of the Order, she could serve as a valuable connection.
And, if he was honest with himself. He found her determination refreshing. It would certainly help to gauge things better. He couldn't risk connections.