Okay, okay... I have other fics I should be writing... And a Playstation game that isn't gonna finish itself... But someone commented on one of my stories the other day that they would be interested in seeing a situation where Fleur is the inexperienced one compared to Hermione. It got in my head and I ended up thinking more and more about the scenario... And voila! New fic
Fleur and Bill had been drifting apart for some time. Currently, they were sleeping in separate beds in their little cottage. Fleur could see that they would have to inevitably discuss this, but figured that that conversation would be best left until after their visit to The Burrow.
Fleur was packing her bag when Bill walked into the room, slinging his own bag over his shoulder.
"Just about ready to go?" Bill asked noncommittally.
"Just about," Fleur replied, her eyes on her bag.
It wasn't even that Bill and her were fighting. If anything, it might be better if they were fighting… At least then there would be an ounce of passion left in their relationship. Right now it felt like they were two elderly companions just floating around the same house.
"Who else is going to be there?" Fleur asked, tucking a strand of her white-blonde hair behind her ear.
"Erm… Let me think…" Bill murmured, leaning against the wall and scratching his burgeoning beard.
Fleur sighed and turned to a small set of drawers in the room. She knew by now that she had to at least pack the horrible lumpy jumper that Molly Weasley had got her for Christmas, even if the woman so obviously hated her.
"Well, Ginny is coming home… So is Ron," Bill said slowly, "I don't think the twins will be there… Oh, Harry and Hermione will be coming with Ron…"
Bill continued to mull over which of his large family would be staying at The Burrow for Molly's birthday, not noticing the faint blush that rose in Fleur's cheeks.
Fleur had not seen Harry Potter or his two friends since she was at school, competing in the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts. She had been in a bad mood for most of that year, battling stress and confusion and loneliness. But she had still managed to leave things on a good note with Harry.
Ron, Bill's younger brother, had irked her a lot at first. He was easily affected by the thrall, even when she attempted to rein it in amongst the horribly drooling students of Hogwarts. But she had even left things on a good note with him, recognising that he was a close friend of Harry and had to be a decent guy behind the drooling.
Hermione, was a different matter altogether. The girl seemed to loathe her. Every time Fleur was in the vicinity the smile would drop off her face and she would scowl in her general direction. But the note they had left it on? Fleur was a little embarrassed. At the Yule Ball, Fleur had indulged a little heavily in the spiked punch, letting off steam and forgetting her stresses for one night. She had left to get some fresh air, witnessing Ron shouting something at Hermione which had left the girl in tears. Through sheer coincidence, Hermione had rushed outside at the same time Fleur was stepping out to get some air.
Fleur had gone to say something, unsure what she would say, when something had come over her. Hermione had looked so elegant in her ball gown and made up. Even with tears streaming down her face she looked beautiful. Without even thinking, Fleur had leant in and kissed Hermione—right on the lips. She had withdrawn immediately, apologising profusely before ducking away back inside.
Even though it was a long time ago now, Fleur was still embarrassed. What would Hermione think? She would probably think that Fleur liked women!
"Alright, I'm ready to go," Fleur said finally, pushing all memories of the tipsy kiss out of her mind.
Bill took her arm by the elbow and they apparated into the messy little garden of the Burrow. Fleur followed Bill to the door of the ramshackle house. Before he had even touched the door, it burst open and Molly Weasley threw her arms around her son, squealing with delight at seeing him. Fleur awkwardly hung back.
"Oh, and Fleur, how lovely to see you, dear," Molly said in the little clipped tone she reserved for Fleur.
"Nice to see you too," Fleur replied politely, stepping into The Burrow after Bill.
"Bill's here!" Ron's voice called out from deeper in the house.
"Did he bring Phlegm?" Fleur frowned as she heard Ginny's distant voice using that godawful nickname for her.
Bill's younger siblings soon appeared, Harry and Hermione behind them. Ginny and Ron hugged their brother before stepping back. Fleur looked at them. Ginny had grown taller, she looked like she had matured quite a bit as she had grown into her teen years. Ron was still tall and gawky, his hair longer than when Fleur had last seen him. Hermione though, had changed markedly. Her face had thinned, losing the roundness of youth that it had when Fleur had seen her at Hogwarts. She was wearing a leather jacket and had lost the uncertain look about her. Now she looked incredibly confident and self-assured.
"What's new with you guys?" Bill asked, grinning at them, "I feel like I haven't seen any of you for ages!"
"I might go put our bags in our room," Fleur interjected. She never felt welcome in The Burrow and liked to minimise the time she spent under Ginny or Molly's withering stares.
"Great idea," Ginny said with a small grin, clearly glad that Fleur was taking her leave. Fleur tried not to roll her eyes and took Bill's bag from him, climbing the stairs.
She put their things down in a corner of the room and sat down on the bed with a book. If she was going to survive the visit to The Burrow she would try to keep her head down and keep to herself as much as possible.
Bill came up about half an hour later, grinning away to himself.
"So how are they?" Fleur asked.
"Well, Ron's still much the same," Bill laughed, "But Hermione's become a bit of a ladykiller."
"What?!" Fleur was surprised by this revelation.
"Yeah, apparently she realised she was into girls ages ago after some encounter with a mystery woman at a school dance. Ever since she's been breaking girls' hearts!" Bill exclaimed, "Who woulda thought, huh? Ole quiet Hermione would become a little Casanova!"
Bill kept talking but Fleur was absorbed in what he had first said. An encounter with someone at a school dance? That had to be her, right?
"Fleur? Fleur?" Bill asked, waving a hand in front of her face. Fleur shook her head, snapping out of her reverie.
"Sorry, what was that?" Fleur asked vaguely.
"I said mum wanted us to come down soon because dinner is almost ready," Bill repeated patiently, "So we should head down about now,"
Fleur smiled tightly, inwardly cursing that her alone time was already over.
They made their way down the uneven stairs and sat at the long dinner table beside each other. Ron immediately sat next to Fleur (predictably) and began to gaze at her. Harry, Hermione and Ginny were across the table from them. The Golden Trio began to chat amongst themselves as they waited for Arthur, Molly and the other siblings to arrive. Bill and Fleur sat in their usual comfortable silence. Fleur played with the edge of the tablecloth and Bill scratched at his facial hair again.
"Ron, don't do that," Hermione groaned, as Ron tried to discreetly clean out his ear.
"Why not?" Ron said petulantly.
"We're at the dinner table, for one," Hermione said disapprovingly "Its not a good look."
"Pfft, what would you know about looks," Ron snorted, "Your hair is always tangled with those dumb curls."
"He's just jealous that Hermione gets way more girls than him," Ginny smirked, nudging Harry who laughed.
"Harry!" Ron exclaimed with faux outrage, "You're supposed to be on my side!"
Harry shrugged.
"Its true though, she gets more girls than both of us put together," Harry said good naturedly, changing the subject as Molly and Arthur walked in. They were tailed by Charlie and Percy who were carrying heaping platters of food.
The conversation flowed into far more parent appropriate avenues as the meal went on. Fleur remained quiet. Nobody really tried to talk to her. Not even Ron, who alternated between stuffing his face with food and gaping at her silently.
"Seconds, Fleur?" Molly offered, the first conversation directed at her all night. Molly was offering a platter of lasagne.
"Oh, no, merci!" Fleur said, waving her hand, "The food is very delicious but heavier than I am used to. I could not eat any more!"
A look of irritation flashed across Molly's face and Fleur instantly regretted her wording. She averted her eyes from Molly just in time to catch Ginny and Hermione exchanging eye rolls. Fleur was surprised at how wounded she felt. She was very used to looks of disdain and eye rolls at The Burrow. She shouldn't feel this bothered by Ginny and Hermione criticising her.
Thankfully, the awkward silence following her refusal of Molly did not last long and soon the conversation was flowing at the table again. The rest of the meal was uneventful. Although Fleur found herself sneaking furtive glances at Ginny and Hermione to see if they were making fun of her.
After dinner, Fleur excused herself to get some air. Bill, seemingly glad to have his own space too, nodded and headed upstairs to their room while she headed outside.
Fleur roamed around the outside of The Burrow in the crisp evening air, watching the cloud of her warm breath in the coldness. She leaned against the wall of the house, sighing to herself. How had she ended up in this place in her life? On paper, everything was great… She had a handsome boyfriend, a good job, a nice house. But she just wasn't happy.
"Hello, Fleur," a voice pulled Fleur from her thoughts. Hermione had appeared as if from nowhere, leaning against the wall next to her. Seeing her closer, Fleur could tell that she was more tanned and the sharp angles of her cheekbones were more prominent. She had definitely improved with age.
"Oh… Hello," Fleur greeted, unsure of how to read Hermione. After all the girl had been rolling her eyes at her just now at the dinner table.
"How are things?" Hermione asked, kicking at some loose soil on the ground absently.
"Fine," Fleur replied, in a neutral tone. Hermione smirked.
"I know enough to know 'fine' is code for boring or crap," Hermione said, laughing suddenly in the darkness. Fleur found herself getting defensive at Hermione's tone. She was in no mood to be needled by the confident girl in front of her.
"Bill is the only man I have ever been with and we are great together," Fleur replied firmly, "We have a lovely cottage together and great jobs."
She found herself straightening her back and lifting her chin, her old Delacour pride shining through. Hermione snorted.
"To think I used to think you were so experienced," Hermione said. She turned to lean on her shoulder against the wall so she could face Fleur better. Fleur ignored her, staring straight ahead into the darkening garden.
"Have you ever kissed a girl other than me?" Hermione asked, a coy smile playing at her lips.
Fleur frowned, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Vous êtes inapproprié," Fleur said, momentarily lapsing into her native tongue in her kneejerk reaction to tell Hermione she was being inappropriate.
"I'll take that as a no," Hermione smirked. She leaned back on her back against the wall, smiling to herself for a moment.
"You can't tell anyone about that Yule Ball thing," Fleur said, a slight blush rising in her cheeks.
"So predictable," Hermione sighed, launching herself off the wall before ambling away into the evening.