Chapter 2: Better the Veela You Know
As Hermione took a bite of the piece of shortbread she had selected from the biscuit tin Professor McGonagall had offered, the room began to glow green as the flames in the fireplace changed from burning orange to a shimmering emerald.
Hermione and the Professor turned their attention to the fireplace as a tall willowy form appeared to glide gracefully out of the flames. For a second Hermione's eyes widened as she examined the appearance of this third person into the study, a slender young woman with long golden blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, who appeared to be taking in her surroundings with some disdain.
Professor McGonagall rose swiftly from her seat and offered a hand to the figure whose appearance almost seemed to brighten the room, "Miss Delacour, Thank you for joining us at such short notice" she said crisply.
"Eet is no problem. Bill has explained to me the situation in part, I am 'appy to 'elp." Fleur replied in much improved (although still rather choppy) English.
Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath "Of course. Phlegm arrives by Flu." She was already putting pieces of the puzzle together and knew that whatever this mission was she would no doubt have to work alongside the blunt spoken French woman. She did not relish the thought. Hermione blushed as Professor McGonagall threw her a sideways glance that had all the subtle warning of a fist to the face. Perhaps her comment had been a little louder than she had intended, although the French woman had luckily not heard.
Fleur perched on the edge of a seat next to Hermione and the Professor waved a biscuit tin at her "Have a biscuit, Miss Delacour," she offered. Fleur, looking very much like she would rather eat a live flobberworm, peered into the box with distaste and reluctantly selected a small broken piece of shortbread.
Professor McGonagall poured 3 glasses of Firewhiskey and placed one in front of each of the young women sitting at her desk. Picking up her own glass, which was a little more than three fingers, she took a delicate sip, surveyed the room and then appearing to think better of her previous action, downed the remainder of the contents of her glass in one gulp.
Hermione, somewhat startled at this display, placed her own glass of firewhiskey on the desk and cleared her throat. "Professor McGonagall, can you tell us a little bit about the mission now?" she asked tentatively.
The Professor wore a thin smile which did not reach her eyes. "Miss Granger, Miss Delacour, these are dark times, dark times indeed. I am sure that you do not need me to tell you that Mr Potter is working with Professor Dumbledore on a delicate mission to defeat he-who-shall-not-be-named once and for all. Unfortunately Professor Dumbledore has come upon a...wrinkle that, if not attended to will mean that Mr Potter's efforts will all be for nought. Now I know I don't need to tell you the importance of discretion, ladies, but I must remind you of the seriousness of the matters at hand and how damaging it could be if details were to be released. Therefore I must impress upon you that nothing in relation to this meeting and subsequent mission can be shared with anyone outside of this room without my express permission. Is that clear?" The air of authority in the Professor's voice sent shivers down Hermione's spine as she glanced at the French woman beside her and they both responded to her words in unison, "Of course, Professor."
Professor McGonagall studied both of them over the rim of her glasses and continued the briefing. "To be clear, Miss Granger, that means keeping this a secret from Mr Potter and Mr Weasley. Goodness knows those two have enough on their plate already!" she clarified and Hermione nodded in response as she sipped from her glass, searching for the same sort of mysterious comfort that Professor McGonagall had seemed to receive from hers. The Professor continued. "And Miss Delacour, you may not share these details - not even with William Weasley - as much as you may wish to do so." Fleur wrinkled her face at this before nodding her agreement to the wise old witch in front of her.
Professor McGonagall seemed satisfied with the responses and poured herself another generous helping of firewhiskey as she thought how little she relished the task ahead for them. "In short, ladies, you both must set aside your differences and prejudices and find a way to get along. In the very near future you will be dependent on only each other at times, if for nothing else then for support and understanding."
The Professor began by explaining to Fleur about the Horcruxes that Harry and Professor Dumbledore were hunting while Hermione sat quietly, fighting her racing mind to stay present in the conversation.