Chapter 1: Seeing her

I stared into the mirror desperately trying to convince myself that I was making the right decision. 'Bill would be the perfect husband' I chanted in my head as if daring myself to disagree. But deep down I knew it was wrong, whilst he might be perfect, he wouldn't be mine. There was still that one person out there who would be everything I have been dreaming of since I was a little girl.

I had grown up to my grandmother telling me stories about the Veela mating ritual and the strong bond that is formed between two mates. They would be drawn to each other and would have the urge to be close at all times. Mates hardly ever rejected their Veela because the mates are so perfect for each other that there is no way they could imagine being with anyone else. But in rare cases, the mate has rejected their Veela, but I didn't want to think about that, as grandmother had told me rejection would be the most painful thing and no Veela could hope to survive it. This was because Veela are very sexual creatures who crave physical contact and once a Veela mates they crave only the touch of their mate. So much so that they cannot bear the thought of being with anybody else.

I had tirelessly searched for my mate since I was a teenager with no luck. Though I still longed for a mate I had forced myself to believe mine did not exist, as no quarter-Veela had ever mated before. So, I had done the one thing my younger self had promised to never do. I had settled.

Bill was the easy choice, he was attractive and we loved each other. So why was I doubting marrying him? I knew it was because I felt like I was betraying my younger self and that marrying Bill was so final. I was agreeing to spend my life with this man, so what would happen if I ended up finding my mate? I knew I wouldn't want to cheat on Bill, but I knew I would not be able to resist the pull of my mate. I shook my head forcefully, there was no point worrying, it would never happen anyway and it was normal for every bride to have doubts. But, I knew these doubts were anything but normal.

I cleared my head of those thoughts by splashing cold water over my face, taking several deep breaths and donning my façade of elegance and collectiveness, when inside I was a wreck. I wrenched open the bathroom door and headed for the stairs, passing Ginny on the landing, who scowled at me menacingly as if daring me to talk to her. I ignored her and calmly descended the stairs, but deep down I wondered why she hated me so much when I had been nothing but kind to her. I decided not to let her get to me as I was already an emotional wreck and that might be the problem that reduced me to a sobbing mess.

When I entered the kitchen Bill immediately stood up from the table, where he was devouring his breakfast, and planted a kiss on my cheek.

'Good morneeng' I smiled back at him, as he took my hand and led me to the chair next to his.

'This is fine' I told myself as he piled my plate with toast, bacon and eggs. I didn't have much of an appetite, my stomach still rolling from this morning's thoughts, but I graciously accepted the plate before addressing Mrs Weasley.

'Zank you Mrs Weasley, zis looks delicious' I said as I began nibbling on a piece of my toast, trying to force myself to at least eat some of my food, even though eating was the last thing on my mind right now.

'You're welcome dear and please call me Molly' she replied, smiling fondly at me.

Ever since I had remained at Bill's side following Greyback's attack, she had been adamant that I call her Molly. Don't get me wrong, I was happy she was finally accepting me into the family after her wanting nothing to do with me for the first year Bill and I had been dating. But I couldn't help but feel bad about getting close to the Weasleys when I was having doubts about me and Bill getting married.

I was pulled from my thoughts by Ron as he flew down the stairs and threw himself into a chair, before helping himself to a large portion of everything and digging in enthusiastically.

'Ron were you raised in a barn, use your cutlery for Merlin's sake!' Mrs Weasley exclaimed, forcing the knife and fork into his hands.

He swallowed slowly before apologising to his mum. The rest of the Weasleys who were sat at the table looked at each other before George piped up, 'He can't help it, mum, he's just so excited to see Hermione again, aren't you Ronniekins?', him and Fred making kissing noises at Ron.

Ron didn't reply but we all watched as he turned red and mumbled under his breath before continuing to eat his breakfast, this time with his knife and fork.

'Yes well that's no excuse for behaving like an animal', Mrs Weasley added, before telling everyone to continue eating their breakfast and stop making fun of Ron.

After breakfast everyone was put to work with preparations for the wedding tomorrow, with me, Ginny and my sister Gabrielle joining Mrs Weasley upstairs for our final fittings. After trying on my dress for the last time and avoiding Ginny's glares through the mirror, Mrs Weasley sent us all back downstairs and Gabi and I headed outside to join the others. However, as I passed through the living room to reach the back door, I was surprised to see Hermione curled up in an armchair with her nose inside a thick book. She was too caught up in her book to notice me, so I breezed past her and out the back door, noticing that she smelled amazing. Gabi rushing to catch up with me as I walked down the steps that led to the garden.

I found Bill outside with Harry, Mr Weasley and the rest of his brothers using their wands to levitate the huge white tent for the wedding. Gabi raised onto her tiptoes to lean up to my ear and whispered firmly 'What was zat about?'.

I had no idea what she was talking about, so I merely shrugged in response and pulled her down with me as I sat on the grass. Gabi sighed as she rested her head on my shoulder.

'What eez wrong?', I asked her as I raised my hand up to stroke her hair.

'Mozzer and fazzer are still angry and I feel like I'm caught in zee middle' she whispered back, her voice cracking as I knew she was holding back tears.

'I'm zorry Gabi, I hate zat I am doing zees to you'

'Zen don't do eet, zey don't want you to and you know 'e eezn't your mate. I love you zo much Fleur and I just want to zee you 'appy'

I continued to stroke her hair but didn't reply. We never fought, but this was the one thing Gabi and I had fought over on multiple occasions. My family were upset about my relationship with Bill, because they were all still determined that I would find my mate, so they couldn't understand why I was settling with someone that wasn't my chosen. They wanted me to call off the wedding and give myself more time, but I was certain there was no one out there who was mine, so I didn't want to wait any longer. I loved Bill and he loved me, so what was the point in waiting?

I didn't want to fight with Gabi anymore so I remained silent, she realized this, so dropped the subject entirely. That was what I loved about her, despite the age gap her and I were incredibly close, we knew each other so well that she could tell that I didn't want to talk, so we stayed silent, just enjoying the British sunshine.

I woke up late the next day with a start, today was the day I would become Mrs Fleur Weasley. I lay in bed imagining what life would be like if Bill were my mate, I was certain I would have no doubts towards marrying him if I knew we were already mated. I let myself indulge in what-ifs for the last time as I remembered how we spent last night walking around Ottery St Catchpole, talking about the wedding and what our married life would be like. Then we went out for dinner in the village returning way after everyone else in the house had gone to bed. Bill and I parted at the bottom of the stairs to spend our last night apart, but I didn't feel sad to be sleeping in Ginny's room tonight and that scared me. Shouldn't we be desperate to spend time together and reluctant to be parted? I didn't feel any of that.

I crept quietly into Ginny's room where she and Hermione were already sleeping. I found myself staring longingly at Hermione and I didn't know why. I had the urge to caress her soft skin and tuck the hair that had fallen over her face behind her ear. Luckily her rolling over in her sleep broke me from my trance and I hurriedly changed before getting into bed.

I fell asleep quickly but slept fitfully with my dreams plagued with Hermione and Bill. I didn't know what my recent fascination was with Hermione, as I had known her for almost 3 years and had never had much interest in her before today.

Eventually, I got up when Gabi came into Ginny's room and hurried me along in getting ready as she claimed that everyone else had been awake for hours and had already eaten breakfast without me. I smiled indulgently at my little sister as I let her push me into the bathroom whilst demanding that I not take too long.

After I got washed my sister led me back to Ginny's room where Mrs Weasley and my mother were waiting to get me ready. My mother had only arrived this morning and I had yet to see her, so she swept me up in a hug as she cried out that I was so grown up and that she couldn't believe I was becoming a woman. I rolled my eyes at this but was grateful that even though she didn't agree with my decision, she was supporting me in marrying Bill and wasn't bringing up our disagreement on my big day. I squeezed her back tightly as I did miss her, with her living in France and I in England we didn't get to see each other face to face that often.

My mother set to work on my hair and make-up, while Mrs Weasley got Gabi and Ginny, my bridesmaids, ready in Percy's room alongside Hermione. She managed to hold back the tears long enough to get me ready before I put on my dress and looked at myself in the mirror. I had to admit that I did look beautiful and looked how any bride would dream of looking on their big day, but I didn't look happy. The smile I was wearing didn't reach my eyes and I couldn't help thinking that my family were right and I was making a mistake.

Before I could dwell on those thoughts my mother was in tears again at the sight of me in my dress and she reached out to hug me for the second time that morning. Gabi and Ginny entered the room, with Gabi rushing towards me.

'You look beautiful' she cried as she joined in on our hug and I was surprised that when I looked over Gabi's head even Ginny was smiling at me. Then we were ushered downstairs by my soon to be mother in law before it finally sunk in that I was getting married in a few moments and I started hyperventilating.

My mother and sister were quick to my side as they eased me into one of the many worn armchairs in the living room. 'What am I zeenking I cannot marry Bill 'e is not my intended!' I whispered to them, not missing the confused and slightly sceptical looks being passed between Mrs Weasley and her daughter as they caught on to what I had said.

All my fears that had previously been running through my head were coming out of my mouth and my vision went blurry as I struggled to draw breath.

My mother calmed me with an arm around my shoulders, 'Do you love 'eem?' she gently prompted.

I nodded my head almost automatically because I did love Bill, more than I could tell her. She sighed before saying 'Follow your 'eart sweetheart, we're always weeth you'.

That was all I needed to start breathing properly. I was marrying Bill and it was going to be the happiest day of my life and nothing could change that. I got to my feet and nodded to my mother letting her know that I was ready to marry the love of my life. She, in turn, nodded to Mrs Weasley who ushered us all out the door and towards the entrance of the white tent that had been set up the day before.

My father was waiting by the entrance and upon seeing me for the first time in months quickly pulled me into a hug and told me how beautiful I looked and how lucky Bill was. I kissed him on the cheek, I had always been a daddy's girl and I loved my father more than anything.

The bridesmaids were soon told to walk down the aisle and as I began to hear the first notes of the wedding march I knew it was my turn. As per tradition, my father took my arm and our short walk towards my fiancé started.

Initially, my eyes found Bill, he looked so handsome in his robes and he was beaming up at me, clearly in awe. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, which I was used to thanks to my thrall, but what I wasn't used to was the pull I felt that drew my eyes away from Bill and into the sea of faces on my left-hand side.

As we continued to walk, I continued to scan the faces on my left, following the pull, determined to find out who was causing it. I let out a gasp when my eyes eventually reached the root of the pull. My feet stopped moving as I was lost in deep pools of chocolate that I could have drowned in forever.

I finally took in the person that those eyes belonged to and was surprised to find Hermione was the owner. Her beauty blinded me, she was wearing a red dress which made her skin look so creamy and smooth and her hazel hair framed her face. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

The music had stopped and people were chattering wondering what was going on. But my mother, sister and father all smiled knowingly. Bill reached out towards me but I didn't spare him a glance as I refused to take my eyes from the beauty on my left. I was frozen.

That was until Ron rested his hand on Hermione's shoulder. Then I saw red. I roughly pulled out of my father's grip and raced towards Hermione and I didn't stop until she was wrapped safely in my arms.

'Mine' I snarled out at Ron.

Hi guys, this is my first ever time writing, but there are so few Fleurmione fics out there that I thought I would give it a go. Let me know how I've done and any tips on improving for next time by reviewing. Your reviews will help to to decide whether I should even continue with this story. I hope you guys enjoy this, lots of love bellabechloepotter.