A weird routine started from that day on. Strangely Fleur never joined her in the library when she was with Harry, only when she was alone.
She receive a quirked eyebrow when the blonde saw she was reading something about veela. She didn't dare ask anything about it, but Fleur was weird as she was reading that book, so she kept the veela study for when she was not with one.
After two weeks, Hermione started to feel like the other girl was kind of stalking. It felt like she could get a glimpse of her most of the time during their breaks. Or maybe it was because she was attracted to the champion, with whom she had no chance at all.
Even on their trip to Hogsmeade, on which she was convinced to look like a loon as she was talking to an invisible Harry. She had barely sat down and pulled out a notebook from to bag to look as if she was doing something and not just being a loner when the beautiful blonde appeared out of nowhere.
"Hermione? What a good surprise to see you in the Three Broomsticks alone"
Fleur didn't wait for an invitation to sit in front of the brunette.
"Hmm" As usual, Hermione was annoyed that she had no idea where Harry was. "I…wanted to get out of the castle for a while. Harry doesn't want to be seen in public and Ron…is acting like a stubborn idiot"
Fleur's face lit up "I'll get us some butterbeers"
As the blonde was getting back up Hermione felt someone elbow her in the ribs. She winced before calling back to the champion. "Could you take three?"
Fleur frowned "Are you expecting someone?"
"No. Everyone is already here"
The blonde shrugged as she disappeared in the crowd.
"Since when are you this friendly with Fleur Delacour?"
Hermione whispered back, as discreetly as she could "We met a few times in the library. That's it"
"Really? Just hanging out in the library. I don't think I've ever seen her smile, let alone like that. Is there something you'd like to share with me?"
"Don't be ridiculous. She is way out of my league" Huffed the brunette, she didn't give in the opportunity to respond and just cut right to it a little annoyed. "She is bringing a butterbeer for you, we'll have to tell her you are here"
"I think Moody looked right at me"
As soon as she heard her friend say this she turned to Hagrid and Professor Moody. They were making their way towards them.
"All right, Hermione?" Said Hagrid loudly.
"Hello" Said Hermione smiling back, just as Fleur came back, her usual cold mask in place as she took in the newcomers. "Bonjour" was all she said as she sat down in front of Hermione again.
Moody limped around the table and bent down, it seemed as if he was reading the notebook in front Hermione until he muttered "Nice Cloak, Potter"
Fleur eyes grew wide as she gave a questioning gaze to the Gryffindor who couldn't really speak at the moment. Hermione just nodded as she took a butterbeer and handed it to the boy next to her.
Fleur's eyes watched the beer disappear and straightened up, if it was even possible. She seemed annoyed at this new development. Hermione gave her the best apologizing expression she could.
They heard Harry's quiet voice question their Professor "Can your eye – I mean, can you…?"
"Yeah, it can see through Invisibility Cloaks. And it's come in useful at times, I can tell you" Said Moody discretely.
Hagrid was beaming down at them before he took bent down and said something to Harry no else heard before straightening up. He then said loudly "Nice to see you, Hermione".
He winked and left with Moody.
Once the teens were left alone, no one spoke for a moment, although they could hear Harry slurping his butterbeer to which Fleur made a face.
"I'm sorry Fleur. Harry didn't want to be bothered so he…" Hermione trailed off as she saw the blonde nod.
"I understand, I saw the Skeeter woman on the way here" Said the very stiff French girl.
There was another silent pause, until Hermione slapped Harry next to her.
"Stop poking me!" Hissed the brunette.
Fleur cleared her throat "I think I should leave"
"You don't have to" Weakly tried Hermione.
"No, really. I knew I couldn't stay long. With the first task soon, Madame Maxime wouldn't want me to stay out too long" Fleur was already starting to get up.
"I'll see you at our usual spot?" Questioned a worried Hermione as she got up.
Fleur gave her one of the soft smile the Gryffindor was used to and kissed her on the cheeks before leaving. Hermione swooned and Harry snickered. It only took as second for the brunette to rumble as she sat back down.
"Harry!"
"Sorry. I've just never seen you act like such a girl"
Hermione frowned a little offended, the boy who lived probably realized it and started to speak again, changing the subject.
"Why does Hagrid want me to meet him at midnight?"
"Does he?" Hermione was startled "I wonder he's up to? I don't know whether you should go Harry…" She looked nervously around and hissed "It might make you late for Sirius"
They stayed a little longer in the Three Broomsticks, until Hermione felt way too uncomfortable being seen talking alone. She spoke with Harry but as usual he was stubborn, he was going to see Hagrid and risk being late, so of course she was going to help her friend.
She was supposed to open their common room portrait from the outside at half passed eleven.
Plenty of time for her to take care of what was on her mind. Find Fleur and make sure they were still friends.
She didn't expect to build such a relationship with the haughty French girl, but she turned out to be smart, sweet and respectful. Hermione found herself looking forward her time in the library for something other than a good reading.
Finally she reached the huge blue carriage. She stood there for a minute, shifting her weight from one leg to another while she was looking around hoping to see a Beauxbatons student making his or her way back.
She had no other choice but to know knock. She waited more, until the door was finally opened by a dark haired boy who looked down at her.
"Foreigners are not allowed in"
"I…I'm looking for Fleur Delacour" Managed to say a nervous Gryffindor.
He looked at her from head to toe and sneered before slamming the door in her face.
She opened her mouth but knew it was useless. She groaned, annoyed.
She wasn't sure if she should knock again or… She sighed before looking back up at the door one more time. It was useless. She started to turn when she heard the heavy door move again.
"Hermione? Is something wrong?"
"No. No. I just wanted to make sure we were okay. I mean you left in a hurry and I worried"
Fleur stepped completely out, closing the door behind her she walked up to the smaller girl and whispered "Is Monsieur Potter still with you?"
"No. He went back to our tower, he is probably polishing his broomstick again"
Fleur gave her a strange look which Hermione didn't understand but felt the need to develop.
"He is a little disappointed that the quidditch cup was canceled and it makes him feel better"
"Oh. I was surprised, it's all"
"Are you sure? I mean, I can pay you back for the butterbeers" Offered Hermione.
"Don't be ridiculous. I have no problem with buying you and Monsieur Potter a drink. I was just caught off guard. I swear"
"Then I think you should start by calling him Harry then" Stated the brunette.
"Fine" Grumbled the blonde.
"I wondered if I could make it up to you, would like to walk around the grounds with me?"
Hermione had heard the blonde complain many time about the castle, the weather, although never to her. There was a good chance Fleur would rather just stay in her probably cozy and beautiful carriage. She was already getting to tell her it was fine that she didn't want to go for a walk with her.
A smiling Fleur surprised her. "I'd love to. I've actually never took the opportunity to really explore this place"
Hermione wasn't sure why but she could feel the heat rush to her cheeks as she nodded and stepped aside so the champion would join her.
They started to walk side by side in a comfortable silence. It was the first time Hermione found herself very conscious of her hands as she walked, they even brushed the other girl's hand once. Should she put them in her pockets?
"Do you think you are ready for the first task?" Finally voice Hermione. It was so random she wanted to hit herself.
"I'd like to say yes. I'm as prepared as I can be without actually knowing what I'll have to do" Sighed the blonde.
Hermione just nodded scared to say something stupid again. She could see Fleur smile at her from the corner of her eye.
"While we are visiting Hogwarts, could I ask you a few questions about?"
"Sure. I could lend you a copy of Hogwarts a History too if you want" Replied obviously the brunette.
Fleur's smile got bigger as she added "I'd rather hear it from you"
"Alright then. Ask away" Agreed the smaller girl.
"Why is this place so gloomy?"
That caused Hermione to stop walking and glare at the French.
"I mean no offense. It's just…so medieval"
Seeing her little friend glare harder Fleur tried to find a way out "Maybe it's just the cloudy weather…You know what, just forget I said anything"
They started to walk again but Hermione couldn't let that go.
"It's not gloomy! It's a beautiful castle built in 993, which explains the architecture. Built and standing thanks to magic. Powerful and everlasting magic"
"I know it's old and very British. I just wonder why they never gave it a makeover"
"To us, it's perfect" Stated Hermione with a very affirmative tone being curious about the French school. "How is Beauxbatons?"
"Breathtaking. It's build in the south of France so we have a lot of sun and beautiful light, which is why there are many windows. The grounds seems more like a giant garden, with flowers and fountains. We don't have armors like you do but sculptures, made of marble with sometimes layers of gold, copper or even ice. The magical ice statues never melt but shine, I wish you could see an ice statue shine during the summer, if hit by the sun they sometimes create rainbows. You'd love to sit in the garden under a tree with a book"
Hermione realize she had lost Fleur for a second, she couldn't help but smile at her friend who obviously missed it, which could be why Hogwarts might seem like such a bad place for Fleur.
They kept on walking, talking about their respective schools, it was starting to get dark.
"We should probably make our way back now before we can't see where we are going anymore" Said Hermione.
"Don't worry. I have a pretty good eyesight in the dark" Responded the champion.
"We should still get back to the castle, we could eat and when it's completely dark we could go to the astronomy tower. I mean…if you want to that is" Hermione was babbling at the end.
Fleur just looked at her and a big smile appeared on her face as she nodded.
Something kept nagging Hermione in the back of her mind. She was thinking about the stranger at the quidditch world cup. Fleur reminded her of the figure she had seen that night.
The darker it got the more Hermione was doubting her own mind.
She kept on glancing at the blonde by her side. She jumped as she felt a war hand grab her own cold one.
"I'm sorry" Said Fleur as she was letting go "It's getting darker, I wanted to be sure you wouldn't fall on something you didn't see"
Hermione frowned and looked up at the champion who was obviously adverting her eyes.
The brunette took back the French girl's hand, but didn't dare to pull her closer like a little voice was telling her to do in her mind. She was warm and…
Fleur looked right at her when their hands clasped. Hermione gasped at the sight of electric bright blue eyes.
"Your eyes?!" Exclaimed the Gryffindor.
Fleur looked down before looking away again.
"I…Veela can see in the dark, our eyes seem to glow" She seemed a little down as she explained.
Missing completely to point the brunette had so many questions.
"How does it work? Is it part of their…your magical abilities?"
"I…I don't think you could see it like that. Even when a Veela is in her human form, the bottom of her eyes are not red like the average human, there is like a silvery surface reflecting the light. With barely any light we can see just like during the day"
"Oh! Just like cats!"
"Except Veelas are bird like beings" Fleur's tone was playful.
"I knew that!" Exclaimed Hermione and the blonde laughed.
They kept on walking.
"How come I couldn't find anything about that in the library?"
"Very little facts are published about Veelas" Was Fleur evasive response, before asking. "Why were you looking about Veela facts?"
Hermione cleared her throat, she didn't feel like telling the other girl she was looking for any kind of information she could find on Veelas because of her.
"A Veela helped me and probably saved my life at the Quidditch world cup"
"I know" Said Fleur so quietly that Hemione barely heard it. Shocked, she stumbled.
The blonde was very quick, instantly she grabbed her.
The Gryffindor was looking at her with wide eyes. "It was you!"
Fleur only offered a weak smile and an annoyed Hermione slapped her shoulder as she yelled.
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"What could I have said? Hey, nice to see you again in a safer environment, at least for you"
Hermione slapped both her shoulders this time.
"Stop manhandling me!" They both froze. Fleur had never raised her voice in front of Hermione. They looked at each other for a second before Hermione moved and hugged Fleur like her life depended on it.
"Thank you. Thank you"
When she pulled back Hermione wasn't sure how to act "You know. For saving my life and all that"
She saw the blonde shiver just as she took a step back and offered her scarf.
"I can't take it Hermione. Your hand are already cold, I don't want you to get sick"
"Fleur. We'll be in the castle in a minute. Take it. I have other scarfs don't worry"
The blonde nodded as she took it and put it around her neck. "Thank you"
Hermione felt herself blush again. Her mind was playing tricks on her again. She could have sworn Fleur had smelled it once it was in place.
Before they walked into the entrance hall Fleur stopped them.
"Where do you want to meet so we can go to the Astronomy tower?"
Hermione hid her disappointment the best she could, but she realized it wasn't good enough as Fleur added.
"People are already going to gossip enough with my brand new scarf"
Hermione nodded even if she didn't like it. It would have been nice to eat with the blonde, someone she could have a real conversation with as opposed to the usual quidditch obsessed people at her table, or Ron…maybe it wasn't such a good idea for Fleur to join them anyway.
"Meet me at the hospital wing. It's close enough and it will be discreet"
Fleur nodded and they shared an awkward moment. Like neither of them was sure how to proceed.
Finally Fleur took a step back and walked away.
Hermione couldn't help but feel a weight on her stomach. Regret. She should have hugged her, or kissed her! On the cheeks, like the French girl did all the time of course.
Here is the second chapter. I hope you liked it. Feel free to drop a line to let me know what you think.