Fic: "The Hunters" Part 6 Ginny/Hermione Adult
Author: Lash_Larue
Title: Debates
Pairing: Ginny/Hermione
Rating:Adult
Summary: Options are considered all around
Warnings: discussion of infidelity or group relationship
Word Count: 3160
Disclaimer: These characters belong to JK Rowling
The Hunters Part Six
“Debates”
“Thank you for taking me to the club,” Fleur told Hermione and Ginny, “I had a wonderful time. I’ll see you tomorrow, but now I think I’ll go and wake Bill.” She blew them a kiss and ascended the stairs.
“Somehow I don’t think Bill will object,” Ginny allowed.
“Likely not. Gin, what do you really think about us being intimate with Fleur? Isn’t it a little creepy what with her being your sister, sort of, and Bill knowing about it and…” she faltered to a halt.
“Well, I damn sure wouldn’t even consider it if Bill didn’t know about it. I’ll try and catch him tomorrow before he goes to work and ask a few questions, I mean, if she really needs someone it might as well be someone she knows and trusts, who cares about her. I don’t know much about Veela, I guess I should try and learn now that there’s one in the family.”
“Nor do I, but I’ll start researching, although I suppose we could just ask Fleur, come to that,” Hermione decided.
“I guess we just have to decide if we’d be able to handle it emotionally. And of course whether or not we want to,” Ginny added.
“It might be a bit of a strain on our relationship, I mean, I’d hate for you to compare me to Fleur for goodness’ sakes,” Hermione admitted, “I can’t believe all this. A few days ago I hadn’t really admitted to myself that I was in love with a woman, although I now realize that I’ve been in love with you for years. And now I’m a voyeuristic, exhibitionist, lesbian tease contemplating a three-way.”
“Welcome to the human race love, and there is no comparison, I’ve loved you forever. Ready for bed?”
“Actually I’m not all that sleepy, fancy a walk on the beach?”
***
“Look Min, somebody’s been making sand angels,” Xiomara said as she pointed to the outline in the sand between two low dunes.
“Look again, there are knee and elbow prints on the angel’s skirts,” Minerva observed and reported.
“We need to start staying up later,” Xio declared.
“I think we need to make a sand angel,” countered Minerva.
***
“Got a minute Bill?” Ginny asked as Fleur and Hermione cleared the breakfast dishes.
“Just about three,” Bill answered.
“Great, come on.” Ginny led the way to the sitting room. “I’ll get to the point. Do you really want Hermione and me to have sex with Fleur?”
“If she does, and if you want to, yes,” Bill answered. “Veela are different, and this pregnancy is different even for Veela. This baby is to be Queen, and since you might be concerned in her development, I should also explain that she is not strictly speaking ‘my’ child.”
“You mean Fleur-“
“No, not that, Fleur hasn’t been with another man, this is a magically aided pregnancy using Fleur’s dna and that of a suitable Veela. This baby will be pure Veela if things go well, and making love with women at the right time is part of the magic that allows this. Fleur was intended to be Queen, but her mother did not have adequate support at the right point in Fleur’s development. By the traditional way of reckoning, Fleur should be a quarter Veela, but she is really nearly ninety percent. Her Mum is half. Grandmama is pure Veela, and she had planned to have a pure Veela child after Apolline to ascend the throne after her, but she never quickened again. It gets complicated, but the long and the short of it is that if an heir to her line is not born before she dies, the flock will scatter like a hive of bees when the queen dies. The whole flock is quite upset about the prospect, and this child may be their last chance.”
“What about Gabrielle?” Ginny asked.
“Gabby doesn’t have enough Veela in her, and there is not much time left. Grandmama is quite old, even for a Veela.”
“I guess that explains why her thrall is so strong, huh?” Ginny asked, going a bit distant with memories
“It does, blood will tell, and of course, Fleur is still Fleur,” Bill said with the smile of a man who knows his good fortune. “So you see this is quite important to a lot of people. And I don’t say that to pressure you, but to explain why I am so willing. Frankly, Ginny, I can’t think of two women in the world that would be better for this than you and Hermione. Your love for each other will make the magic stronger. Now I really have to go. Talk to Fleur, she’ll answer all of your questions, but believe me when I say that not only do I not mind, I’d be honored to have you and Hermione help her.”
Bill kissed Ginny and flooed to work. Ginny went back to the kitchen where Fleur and Hermione were lingering over a cup of tea and watching Victoire play on a blanket on the floor as the dishes washed themselves.
“Tea?” Fleur offered.
“And conversation,” Ginny replied.
***
“I don’t need to go to St. Mungo’s!” shouted Arthur Weasley.
“Yes, you do,” said Molly calmly, “and you are going, Arthur.”
“I am NOT going to hospital and getting poked and prodded simply because our daughter turned out to have the same sick desires that you had! Now keep shut about it or-“
“Stupefy,” said Molly sadly, and Arthur crumpled to the floor. She levitated him to the fireplace and threw in a bit of floo powder, “St. Mungo’s,” she said clearly as she pulled her husband into the green flames.
***
“Some night, huh Pans?” Millicent said as she greeted her business partner at their club.
“Sure was, is there any booze left?”
“Not a lot, we’ll need a delivery before we open. They’re good for business, those three, but if they come often people are gonna start dying for real,” Millie speculated.
“There are worse ways to die. I’m thinking that it will be best if they just show up randomly, that way people will come in often just in case, what do you think?” Pansy asked.
“Makes sense, if they were here every night people would get used to them.”
“Not Fleur they wouldn’t,” Pansy countered.
“Maybe not, she can sure dance,” Millicent allowed.
“Uh-huh,” whispered Pansy with a faraway look on her face.
“You’ve got it bad, huh Pans?” Millicent asked her with a grin on her face.
“Yeah, I do,” sighed Pansy, “and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it but try and enjoy whatever comes my way.”
“You’ve always got me,” Millie assured her, “not an adequate substitute, I admit.”
“You’re aces, Mill. A girl never had a better friend. No sense in mooning over somebody else’s nookie though, let’s get an order ready, right?”
“Right, and we need to call the cleaners, the office is a little…”
Pansy just grinned and nodded.
***
“I suppose that you have questions?” Fleur asked.
“Just a couple, let me bring Hermione up to speed first though. ‘Mione Fleur is carrying the future Queen of her flock,” Ginny began.
“She told me that last night,” confirmed Hermione.
“Great, this is a magically aided pregnancy, and the magic requires the sexual love of women at some point for it to work,” Ginny explained.
“Why is that?” Hermione asked Fleur.
“You know of course that a Veela’s power is bound to her womanhood, yes?” They nodded. “Because this child must be flesh of my flesh, part of me has to be in her, but I am not of sufficient Veela blood to be queen, do you see?” Fleur asked. Ginny spoke up.
“Bill said that your Mum attempted this, but she didn’t get enough support at the proper time, I guess that means her women weren’t up to the job?”
“Something like that, Maman did not respond sufficiently to them, she did not yield completely to them, give herself to them without holding back, and so the magic failed,” Fleur explained. “You see the non-Veela part of me has to surrender completely to the Veela, the woman, for this to work. That is why the choice of partners is so important.”
“And you want to use us?” Hermione asked. “I mean, Ginny I can see, but-“
“ ‘Mione, I thought we were past that,” Ginny interrupted her.
“Well said, Ginny. But sexual attraction is only a part of it, for this magic there must be true feeling, and I already love the two of you,” Fleur told them both.
“You’re in love with us?” Hermione asked in confusion.
“Not the way that you are in love with each other,” Fleur said, “but love is love, the type of love does not matter so much as the quality of the love. We have shared much; do not the two of you love me?”
“I know I do, I’ve loved you ever since you took care of Bill,” Ginny told her, “I used to be jealous of you though, and at first I thought you were a bit stuck up.”
“When first we met, I was a bit stuck up, I like to think that I have matured somewhat,” Fleur admitted with a twinkle in her eyes.
“I kind of have a crush on you,” Hermione confessed, “will that mess things up?”
“Non, but it might make the experience more palatable for you,” Fleur suggested. Hermione blushed.
“I can’t hold that against you ‘Mione, if you’d shot me down, and she and Bill weren’t married, I’d be after her myself,” Ginny stated.
“And under those circumstances,” Fleur said throatily, “you would most likely catch me.” Ginny felt a little tingle.
“Have we already started this, then?” Ginny asked.
***
“Percy, I’m so glad you’re here, did you get everything arranged?” Molly asked as she emerged from the fireplace at St. Mungo’s.
“Yes, once I showed the Magistrate our memories he realized that we were telling the truth. It’s a good job he knows father though, otherwise he might not have realized the change in him. Healer Pye is waiting for us,” Percy told her.
“Oh, he’s not still experimenting with muggle medicine is he?”
“I can’t say, but he’s the best healer for the job, and he knows Father well, let’s get him in there,” Percy said as he took over the levitation.
“Drastic change in behaviour, you say?” asked healer Pye.
“Yes,” confirmed Molly, “he has been remarkably rude, cruel almost, and I - I think he’s nearly resorted to violence.”
“Well that surely isn’t the Arthur Weasley that I know,” said Pye. “Did anything happen to trigger this that you can think of?”
“My sister told us that she’s in love with a woman,” Percy supplied.
“I see, well many people aren’t comfortable with that, does that seem different for him? Had he ever expressed an opinion on the subject before?” Pye inquired.
“Well, I knew he wasn’t exactly comfortable with the idea,” Molly said hesitantly.
“But you don’t think that it is simply the fact that it is concerning his daughter that accounts for his ahhh-“
“Viciousness,” Percy filled in, “and no I don’t. The woman in question has been a daughter to Mum and Dad for years, he knows what a fine person she is. I simply cannot see my father behaving like that towards either her or my sister. Something is wrong,” Percy said flatly.
“Any other unusual goings on with Arthur?” Pye asked.
“He has been complaining of severe headaches of late,” Molly told him, “the usual potions haven’t been very effective for him either.” Pye’s brow knitted at that.
“Very well, let’s have a look then.” Pye wheeled over what looked like a huge magnifying glass and positioned it over Arthur Weasley’s head. “This apparatus allows us to look inside the body, it’s our version of the muggle’s MRI. You may be surprised to know that their machine is more effective than ours, but this usually does well enough to - hello!”
“Hello what?” Molly asked fearfully. “What is it? Is it bad?”
“Well it isn’t good, I’m afraid. Do you see this mass here? That dark shadow amongst the gray?”
“Yes,” said Percy, Molly was too afraid to speak.
“Well it doesn’t belong there. Arthur has a tumor in his brain, and in this location it is pressing on the amygdala, which is the part of the brain controlling fear and aggression,” Pye explained.
“Then that’s why he’s been thinking these horrible things?” Molly asked him.
“Well, no, the thoughts are his own, but it does explain why he reacted so violently. He can’t control his fear or anger.”
“Well get it out of him before he drives all of our children away then! Vanish it!” ordered Molly. Healer Pye turned to her with a somber expression.
“If the growth were anywhere but in his brain, I would do just that. Unfortunately the brain’s functions are electrical in nature.”
“Dad would love that,” Percy injected.
“Quite, but for the same reason that muggle technology doesn’t work in the presence of high concentrations of magic, we can’t use magic on the brain. It completely disrupts the workings of it and is usually fatal.”
“What are the alternatives?” Percy asked.
“There are potions that are sometimes effective, however…” Pye hesitated.
“Go on,” Molly told him, gathering her strength.
“Well, these potions are highly toxic, and even under ideal circumstances it is merely a contest to see whether the tumor dies before the patient does. However in Arthur’s case, that snakebite he received makes it unlikely that he could tolerate the treatment at all. That was a potent magical venom, and rather than build any sort of tolerance to poisons it did quite the opposite I’m afraid.”
“So what happens if we do nothing,” Percy asked him.
“The symptoms will grow more and more severe, and then he will die,” Pye told them calmly. “From the size of this mass I estimate that it would only be a matter of a few months.” Molly threw herself into Percy’s arms and wept.
“Is there nothing that can be done?” Percy asked as he held his mother.
“There is a chance,” Pye told him, “but I don’t think your Mum will like it…”
***
“We are in the beginnings of our relationship, yes,” Fleur answered Ginny. “Perhaps the two of you should go somewhere away from me to talk things over so that my presence will not influence you. And do not feel obligated to do this; you owe this sort of love to no one. If you have any more questions I will be happy to answer them as best I can.”
“How far along are you?” Hermione asked.
“I am in my fourth month, Veela pregnancies are a full year long.”
“You aren’t showing at all,” Ginny told her.
“Non, and that is encouraging, it means that the initial magics were done correctly. If they had not been, my body would be changing like any other human woman’s,” Fleur replied.
“How long until we need to -“ Hermione fell silent.
“Have sex?” Fleur asked, and Hermione nodded. “There is no great rush on that, at least three months, but the courtship should start soon. I must get used to thinking of you as romantic partners, and I think that would be better for you as well. I must tell you that I am already attracted to you both, and likely I have been for some time. I know you and respect you, and of course I already love you too.”
Hermione and Ginny both felt a little quiver at the words.
“If we do this,” Hermione began slowly, although several parts of her body were screaming ’YES!’ very loudly, “what happens with us after the baby is born? Is the relationship over?”
“That would be largely up to you two. I will not neglect Bill, nor can you replace him in my heart, but as far as Bill and I are concerned the relationship could continue. We would just all have to respect each others feelings, and bear in mind the primary relationships, Bill and me, and you and Ginny.”
“And if one of us starts to love you more than we love each other, or you start to love one of us more than you do Bill?” Ginny asked.
“Then we shall all be hurt badly,” Fleur said plainly, “this is not without risks to all of those involved. Shall I go to my mother’s for a while so that you can think about it without me around?”
“I don’t know,” Hermione said, “it’s not fair to throw you out of your own house like that, if we need the distance we could go to my folks, we have to cross that bridge sooner or later anyway. Right now I think I’d like to go for a walk with Ginny though.”
“As you wish, and please do not do this if you do not want to. It is not your problem, and it was selfish of me to ask,” Fleur told them sincerely.
“Nothing wrong with asking,” Hermione said as she touched Fleur’s cheek. “Walk on the beach, Gin?”
“Want beach!” said Victoire.
“You take her, ‘Mione and I will stay here,” Ginny suggested.
“D’accord, come Victoire, we shall go to the beach.” Victoire toddled over and Fleur lifted her, smiled at Ginny and Hermione, and took the path to the beach.
“Well?” Ginny asked.
“Can we handle this? Do we dare take the chance? I don’t want to lose you, Ginny.”
“I feel the same way about you, and it’s a little scary. I mean aside from the whole weird thing with Bill and all, thank God he’s not part of the deal. I couldn’t do that.” Ginny shuddered.
“Glad to hear it, but can you imagine not falling in love with her under these circumstances?”
“Not really, but I don’t see why that would make us stop loving each other. It seems to me that the more love you give, the more you have left over,” Ginny told her.
“That’s beautiful Ginny, and I think you’re right. And this really is important, our problem or not, this matters to many people.”
“It does. I’m mostly worried about Bill to tell you the truth. He’s dad’s son, after all, suppose that comes out in him once this really begins?”
“I guess we could all talk about this under veritaserum,” Hermione said, only half joking.
“If we need to do that, we shouldn’t do it at all. We’re going to have to trust each other, all of us, if this is going to have a chance to work. But right now it’s just the two of us, and I’m not going to worry about anybody else right now. Are we going to do this?”
Part 7 - http://lash-larue.livejournal.com/117275.html#cutid1
Title: Debates
Pairing: Ginny/Hermione
Rating:Adult
Summary: Options are considered all around
Warnings: discussion of infidelity or group relationship
Word Count: 3160
Disclaimer: These characters belong to JK Rowling
The Hunters Part Six
“Debates”
“Thank you for taking me to the club,” Fleur told Hermione and Ginny, “I had a wonderful time. I’ll see you tomorrow, but now I think I’ll go and wake Bill.” She blew them a kiss and ascended the stairs.
“Somehow I don’t think Bill will object,” Ginny allowed.
“Likely not. Gin, what do you really think about us being intimate with Fleur? Isn’t it a little creepy what with her being your sister, sort of, and Bill knowing about it and…” she faltered to a halt.
“Well, I damn sure wouldn’t even consider it if Bill didn’t know about it. I’ll try and catch him tomorrow before he goes to work and ask a few questions, I mean, if she really needs someone it might as well be someone she knows and trusts, who cares about her. I don’t know much about Veela, I guess I should try and learn now that there’s one in the family.”
“Nor do I, but I’ll start researching, although I suppose we could just ask Fleur, come to that,” Hermione decided.
“I guess we just have to decide if we’d be able to handle it emotionally. And of course whether or not we want to,” Ginny added.
“It might be a bit of a strain on our relationship, I mean, I’d hate for you to compare me to Fleur for goodness’ sakes,” Hermione admitted, “I can’t believe all this. A few days ago I hadn’t really admitted to myself that I was in love with a woman, although I now realize that I’ve been in love with you for years. And now I’m a voyeuristic, exhibitionist, lesbian tease contemplating a three-way.”
“Welcome to the human race love, and there is no comparison, I’ve loved you forever. Ready for bed?”
“Actually I’m not all that sleepy, fancy a walk on the beach?”
***
“Look Min, somebody’s been making sand angels,” Xiomara said as she pointed to the outline in the sand between two low dunes.
“Look again, there are knee and elbow prints on the angel’s skirts,” Minerva observed and reported.
“We need to start staying up later,” Xio declared.
“I think we need to make a sand angel,” countered Minerva.
***
“Got a minute Bill?” Ginny asked as Fleur and Hermione cleared the breakfast dishes.
“Just about three,” Bill answered.
“Great, come on.” Ginny led the way to the sitting room. “I’ll get to the point. Do you really want Hermione and me to have sex with Fleur?”
“If she does, and if you want to, yes,” Bill answered. “Veela are different, and this pregnancy is different even for Veela. This baby is to be Queen, and since you might be concerned in her development, I should also explain that she is not strictly speaking ‘my’ child.”
“You mean Fleur-“
“No, not that, Fleur hasn’t been with another man, this is a magically aided pregnancy using Fleur’s dna and that of a suitable Veela. This baby will be pure Veela if things go well, and making love with women at the right time is part of the magic that allows this. Fleur was intended to be Queen, but her mother did not have adequate support at the right point in Fleur’s development. By the traditional way of reckoning, Fleur should be a quarter Veela, but she is really nearly ninety percent. Her Mum is half. Grandmama is pure Veela, and she had planned to have a pure Veela child after Apolline to ascend the throne after her, but she never quickened again. It gets complicated, but the long and the short of it is that if an heir to her line is not born before she dies, the flock will scatter like a hive of bees when the queen dies. The whole flock is quite upset about the prospect, and this child may be their last chance.”
“What about Gabrielle?” Ginny asked.
“Gabby doesn’t have enough Veela in her, and there is not much time left. Grandmama is quite old, even for a Veela.”
“I guess that explains why her thrall is so strong, huh?” Ginny asked, going a bit distant with memories
“It does, blood will tell, and of course, Fleur is still Fleur,” Bill said with the smile of a man who knows his good fortune. “So you see this is quite important to a lot of people. And I don’t say that to pressure you, but to explain why I am so willing. Frankly, Ginny, I can’t think of two women in the world that would be better for this than you and Hermione. Your love for each other will make the magic stronger. Now I really have to go. Talk to Fleur, she’ll answer all of your questions, but believe me when I say that not only do I not mind, I’d be honored to have you and Hermione help her.”
Bill kissed Ginny and flooed to work. Ginny went back to the kitchen where Fleur and Hermione were lingering over a cup of tea and watching Victoire play on a blanket on the floor as the dishes washed themselves.
“Tea?” Fleur offered.
“And conversation,” Ginny replied.
***
“I don’t need to go to St. Mungo’s!” shouted Arthur Weasley.
“Yes, you do,” said Molly calmly, “and you are going, Arthur.”
“I am NOT going to hospital and getting poked and prodded simply because our daughter turned out to have the same sick desires that you had! Now keep shut about it or-“
“Stupefy,” said Molly sadly, and Arthur crumpled to the floor. She levitated him to the fireplace and threw in a bit of floo powder, “St. Mungo’s,” she said clearly as she pulled her husband into the green flames.
***
“Some night, huh Pans?” Millicent said as she greeted her business partner at their club.
“Sure was, is there any booze left?”
“Not a lot, we’ll need a delivery before we open. They’re good for business, those three, but if they come often people are gonna start dying for real,” Millie speculated.
“There are worse ways to die. I’m thinking that it will be best if they just show up randomly, that way people will come in often just in case, what do you think?” Pansy asked.
“Makes sense, if they were here every night people would get used to them.”
“Not Fleur they wouldn’t,” Pansy countered.
“Maybe not, she can sure dance,” Millicent allowed.
“Uh-huh,” whispered Pansy with a faraway look on her face.
“You’ve got it bad, huh Pans?” Millicent asked her with a grin on her face.
“Yeah, I do,” sighed Pansy, “and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it but try and enjoy whatever comes my way.”
“You’ve always got me,” Millie assured her, “not an adequate substitute, I admit.”
“You’re aces, Mill. A girl never had a better friend. No sense in mooning over somebody else’s nookie though, let’s get an order ready, right?”
“Right, and we need to call the cleaners, the office is a little…”
Pansy just grinned and nodded.
***
“I suppose that you have questions?” Fleur asked.
“Just a couple, let me bring Hermione up to speed first though. ‘Mione Fleur is carrying the future Queen of her flock,” Ginny began.
“She told me that last night,” confirmed Hermione.
“Great, this is a magically aided pregnancy, and the magic requires the sexual love of women at some point for it to work,” Ginny explained.
“Why is that?” Hermione asked Fleur.
“You know of course that a Veela’s power is bound to her womanhood, yes?” They nodded. “Because this child must be flesh of my flesh, part of me has to be in her, but I am not of sufficient Veela blood to be queen, do you see?” Fleur asked. Ginny spoke up.
“Bill said that your Mum attempted this, but she didn’t get enough support at the proper time, I guess that means her women weren’t up to the job?”
“Something like that, Maman did not respond sufficiently to them, she did not yield completely to them, give herself to them without holding back, and so the magic failed,” Fleur explained. “You see the non-Veela part of me has to surrender completely to the Veela, the woman, for this to work. That is why the choice of partners is so important.”
“And you want to use us?” Hermione asked. “I mean, Ginny I can see, but-“
“ ‘Mione, I thought we were past that,” Ginny interrupted her.
“Well said, Ginny. But sexual attraction is only a part of it, for this magic there must be true feeling, and I already love the two of you,” Fleur told them both.
“You’re in love with us?” Hermione asked in confusion.
“Not the way that you are in love with each other,” Fleur said, “but love is love, the type of love does not matter so much as the quality of the love. We have shared much; do not the two of you love me?”
“I know I do, I’ve loved you ever since you took care of Bill,” Ginny told her, “I used to be jealous of you though, and at first I thought you were a bit stuck up.”
“When first we met, I was a bit stuck up, I like to think that I have matured somewhat,” Fleur admitted with a twinkle in her eyes.
“I kind of have a crush on you,” Hermione confessed, “will that mess things up?”
“Non, but it might make the experience more palatable for you,” Fleur suggested. Hermione blushed.
“I can’t hold that against you ‘Mione, if you’d shot me down, and she and Bill weren’t married, I’d be after her myself,” Ginny stated.
“And under those circumstances,” Fleur said throatily, “you would most likely catch me.” Ginny felt a little tingle.
“Have we already started this, then?” Ginny asked.
***
“Percy, I’m so glad you’re here, did you get everything arranged?” Molly asked as she emerged from the fireplace at St. Mungo’s.
“Yes, once I showed the Magistrate our memories he realized that we were telling the truth. It’s a good job he knows father though, otherwise he might not have realized the change in him. Healer Pye is waiting for us,” Percy told her.
“Oh, he’s not still experimenting with muggle medicine is he?”
“I can’t say, but he’s the best healer for the job, and he knows Father well, let’s get him in there,” Percy said as he took over the levitation.
“Drastic change in behaviour, you say?” asked healer Pye.
“Yes,” confirmed Molly, “he has been remarkably rude, cruel almost, and I - I think he’s nearly resorted to violence.”
“Well that surely isn’t the Arthur Weasley that I know,” said Pye. “Did anything happen to trigger this that you can think of?”
“My sister told us that she’s in love with a woman,” Percy supplied.
“I see, well many people aren’t comfortable with that, does that seem different for him? Had he ever expressed an opinion on the subject before?” Pye inquired.
“Well, I knew he wasn’t exactly comfortable with the idea,” Molly said hesitantly.
“But you don’t think that it is simply the fact that it is concerning his daughter that accounts for his ahhh-“
“Viciousness,” Percy filled in, “and no I don’t. The woman in question has been a daughter to Mum and Dad for years, he knows what a fine person she is. I simply cannot see my father behaving like that towards either her or my sister. Something is wrong,” Percy said flatly.
“Any other unusual goings on with Arthur?” Pye asked.
“He has been complaining of severe headaches of late,” Molly told him, “the usual potions haven’t been very effective for him either.” Pye’s brow knitted at that.
“Very well, let’s have a look then.” Pye wheeled over what looked like a huge magnifying glass and positioned it over Arthur Weasley’s head. “This apparatus allows us to look inside the body, it’s our version of the muggle’s MRI. You may be surprised to know that their machine is more effective than ours, but this usually does well enough to - hello!”
“Hello what?” Molly asked fearfully. “What is it? Is it bad?”
“Well it isn’t good, I’m afraid. Do you see this mass here? That dark shadow amongst the gray?”
“Yes,” said Percy, Molly was too afraid to speak.
“Well it doesn’t belong there. Arthur has a tumor in his brain, and in this location it is pressing on the amygdala, which is the part of the brain controlling fear and aggression,” Pye explained.
“Then that’s why he’s been thinking these horrible things?” Molly asked him.
“Well, no, the thoughts are his own, but it does explain why he reacted so violently. He can’t control his fear or anger.”
“Well get it out of him before he drives all of our children away then! Vanish it!” ordered Molly. Healer Pye turned to her with a somber expression.
“If the growth were anywhere but in his brain, I would do just that. Unfortunately the brain’s functions are electrical in nature.”
“Dad would love that,” Percy injected.
“Quite, but for the same reason that muggle technology doesn’t work in the presence of high concentrations of magic, we can’t use magic on the brain. It completely disrupts the workings of it and is usually fatal.”
“What are the alternatives?” Percy asked.
“There are potions that are sometimes effective, however…” Pye hesitated.
“Go on,” Molly told him, gathering her strength.
“Well, these potions are highly toxic, and even under ideal circumstances it is merely a contest to see whether the tumor dies before the patient does. However in Arthur’s case, that snakebite he received makes it unlikely that he could tolerate the treatment at all. That was a potent magical venom, and rather than build any sort of tolerance to poisons it did quite the opposite I’m afraid.”
“So what happens if we do nothing,” Percy asked him.
“The symptoms will grow more and more severe, and then he will die,” Pye told them calmly. “From the size of this mass I estimate that it would only be a matter of a few months.” Molly threw herself into Percy’s arms and wept.
“Is there nothing that can be done?” Percy asked as he held his mother.
“There is a chance,” Pye told him, “but I don’t think your Mum will like it…”
***
“We are in the beginnings of our relationship, yes,” Fleur answered Ginny. “Perhaps the two of you should go somewhere away from me to talk things over so that my presence will not influence you. And do not feel obligated to do this; you owe this sort of love to no one. If you have any more questions I will be happy to answer them as best I can.”
“How far along are you?” Hermione asked.
“I am in my fourth month, Veela pregnancies are a full year long.”
“You aren’t showing at all,” Ginny told her.
“Non, and that is encouraging, it means that the initial magics were done correctly. If they had not been, my body would be changing like any other human woman’s,” Fleur replied.
“How long until we need to -“ Hermione fell silent.
“Have sex?” Fleur asked, and Hermione nodded. “There is no great rush on that, at least three months, but the courtship should start soon. I must get used to thinking of you as romantic partners, and I think that would be better for you as well. I must tell you that I am already attracted to you both, and likely I have been for some time. I know you and respect you, and of course I already love you too.”
Hermione and Ginny both felt a little quiver at the words.
“If we do this,” Hermione began slowly, although several parts of her body were screaming ’YES!’ very loudly, “what happens with us after the baby is born? Is the relationship over?”
“That would be largely up to you two. I will not neglect Bill, nor can you replace him in my heart, but as far as Bill and I are concerned the relationship could continue. We would just all have to respect each others feelings, and bear in mind the primary relationships, Bill and me, and you and Ginny.”
“And if one of us starts to love you more than we love each other, or you start to love one of us more than you do Bill?” Ginny asked.
“Then we shall all be hurt badly,” Fleur said plainly, “this is not without risks to all of those involved. Shall I go to my mother’s for a while so that you can think about it without me around?”
“I don’t know,” Hermione said, “it’s not fair to throw you out of your own house like that, if we need the distance we could go to my folks, we have to cross that bridge sooner or later anyway. Right now I think I’d like to go for a walk with Ginny though.”
“As you wish, and please do not do this if you do not want to. It is not your problem, and it was selfish of me to ask,” Fleur told them sincerely.
“Nothing wrong with asking,” Hermione said as she touched Fleur’s cheek. “Walk on the beach, Gin?”
“Want beach!” said Victoire.
“You take her, ‘Mione and I will stay here,” Ginny suggested.
“D’accord, come Victoire, we shall go to the beach.” Victoire toddled over and Fleur lifted her, smiled at Ginny and Hermione, and took the path to the beach.
“Well?” Ginny asked.
“Can we handle this? Do we dare take the chance? I don’t want to lose you, Ginny.”
“I feel the same way about you, and it’s a little scary. I mean aside from the whole weird thing with Bill and all, thank God he’s not part of the deal. I couldn’t do that.” Ginny shuddered.
“Glad to hear it, but can you imagine not falling in love with her under these circumstances?”
“Not really, but I don’t see why that would make us stop loving each other. It seems to me that the more love you give, the more you have left over,” Ginny told her.
“That’s beautiful Ginny, and I think you’re right. And this really is important, our problem or not, this matters to many people.”
“It does. I’m mostly worried about Bill to tell you the truth. He’s dad’s son, after all, suppose that comes out in him once this really begins?”
“I guess we could all talk about this under veritaserum,” Hermione said, only half joking.
“If we need to do that, we shouldn’t do it at all. We’re going to have to trust each other, all of us, if this is going to have a chance to work. But right now it’s just the two of us, and I’m not going to worry about anybody else right now. Are we going to do this?”
Part 7 - http://lash-larue.livejournal.com/117275.html#cutid1