Ezekiel had anticipated this moment, yet he still felt a sense of unease. Telling Fleur about the marriage contract was inevitable, but how she would react was another matter entirely.
He sat at his desk, quill in hand, staring at the letter he had just finished writing. The words were carefully chosen—diplomatic, yet honest. He didn't want to keep this from her, but he also didn't want to risk damaging their bond.
With a sigh, he folded the parchment, sealed it with his family crest, and called for an owl.
"Take this to Fleur Delacour."
The owl hooted before taking flight, disappearing into the evening sky.
---
At Delacour Manor, Fleur sat by her bedroom window, enjoying the cool evening breeze. Gabrielle played nearby, humming softly as she arranged her dolls.
A sharp tap at the window drew Fleur's attention. She turned to see a majestic eagle owl, its talons clutching a letter.
Recognizing the Ravenclaw sigil, Fleur's lips curled into a smile.
"It's from Ezekiel," she murmured, quickly unsealing the letter.
As her eyes scanned the parchment, her smile faded.
The words blurred together for a moment. She re-read the crucial part:
"A centuries-old marriage contract between the Ravenclaw and Greengrass families has been discovered… It is unbreakable. Daphne and I must marry before I turn seventeen."
Her grip on the letter tightened.
Gabrielle looked up, noticing her sister's expression. "Fleur? What is it?"
Fleur took a deep breath, forcing a calm expression. "Nothing, ma petite. Just some unexpected news."
But inside, she felt a storm brewing.
---
The next morning, Ezekiel sat in the Malverne estate's library, reading when an owl arrived.
He immediately recognized Fleur's handwriting.
Unsealing the parchment, his eyes moved over the words, his jaw tightening.
"So, you kept this from me?"
"I understand why you hesitated, but I would have preferred to hear it from you sooner."
"Tell me, Ezekiel… is this truly what you want? Or is it just duty?"
Ezekiel closed his eyes. He knew Fleur was rational, but the sharpness in her words told him that she was hurt.
He exhaled before pulling out a fresh sheet of parchment.
--
Days later, Ezekiel arrived in France, stepping through the Delacour estate's grand gates. The house-elf led him to the private gardens, where Fleur was already waiting.
She stood near a marble fountain, her arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Ezekiel approached, his footsteps deliberate. "Fleur."
Her blue eyes met his, a mix of emotions swirling within them. "Ezekiel."
A tense silence stretched between them before Fleur spoke. "So, it's true?"
He nodded. "Yes."
Fleur's gaze hardened. "And you had no idea?"
"None." He sighed. "I found out while reviewing Ravenclaw family records at Gringotts."
Fleur studied him carefully. "And Daphne?"
"She knows," Ezekiel admitted. "She's handling it well."
Fleur exhaled, looking away for a moment. "I should be happy for you," she said softly. "Daphne is intelligent, strong… a good match."
Ezekiel frowned. "That's not what this is about."
Her jaw clenched. "Then tell me, Ezekiel. If there was no contract… would you have ever considered marrying me?"
Ezekiel was stunned into silence.
Fleur shook her head, giving a bitter laugh. "You hesitate."
He quickly stepped closer. "It's not hesitation, Fleur."
"Then what is it?" she challenged. "Because I feel… something when I'm with you. And I know you feel it too."
Ezekiel exhaled. "I won't lie to you. There's a bond between us."
Fleur swallowed hard. "And yet, you're bound to someone else."
His hands curled into fists. "I didn't choose this."
"But it doesn't change the fact that it's real," she whispered.
Ezekiel sighed. "Fleur…"
She held up a hand. "Tell me one thing, Ezekiel. Do you regret meeting me?"
He stepped closer, his voice firm. "Never."
Fleur's eyes flickered with emotion before she turned away slightly. "Then what happens now?"
Ezekiel inhaled. "We figure it out. Together."
Fleur scoffed. "Together? When you're engaged to another?"
He didn't back down. "This isn't over, Fleur."
Fleur studied him for a long moment before sighing. "No… I suppose it isn't."
And for the first time, she allowed herself to admit—this wasn't just about the contract.
This was about them.
---