*For the disclaimer see chapter 1.

Thank you to everyone who left a review after chapter 1. I really loved them.

As long as Harry and Hermione are in France they'll be speaking French. That's why Fleur has no accent here. When they're in England or talking to English characters I'll do my best to insert her accent correctly.

This chapter is a bit of a filler chapter in order to get too chapter 3, where for me the fun (writing wise at least) started. Still I wanted the friends to talk a few things out.

Chapter 2

It turned out to be a lovely week for Hermione and the witch was sad to see it end. With all the wedding guests gone and away from all the excitement the friends finally had a chance to relax. The young witch got to know her oldest friend like never before. Harry was relaxed and didn't seem able to stop smiling. He'd never done that with Ginny or, god forbid, with his one time crush Cho Chang.

No if his relationship with the slightly older Veela did this then Hermione was all for it. She supposed this week she finally got to see a glimpse of the person Harry would have been had he grown up with his parents. And if there hadn't been a you-know-who threat hanging over his head.

She had gotten to know Fleur a bit as well. In fact she was amazed at how quickly the two of them seemed to become close friends. Of course they'd known each other for a couple of years now. But Hermione hadn't taken much notice of Fleur during the Triwizard tournament. She'd been too occupied with helping Harry, dealing with Ron and getting to know Victor Krum. They'd occasionally seen each other at the Burrow of course but Hermione, probably influenced by Molly and Ginny hadn't exactly searched Fleur out there either. In fact the only 'quality' time the two witches had spent together had been at Shell's Cottage after she'd been tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange.

Fleur had immediately taken charge of her then and there. However Dobby's burial and planning to break into Gringotts hadn't helped them develop any sort of friendship.

During the weeks leading up to the wedding ceremony Hermione had finally gotten the chance to thank Fleur for her help and to apologise for any negative behaviour on her part. The older witch had readily accepted and told her not to worry about the past. One short but heartfelt hug had sealed their friendship.

Now their week together had reached its end. The next day the newly married couple would finally leave for their honeymoon and Hermione would join Luna for their Snorkack adventure.

Luna had enthusiastically responded after she'd owled the younger woman to let her know she'd be joining. In her reply she'd said that she believed that with Hermione along she was certain that not only would they find Snorkack's but surely the Heliopaths as well. They were rather illusive though, so Hermione shouldn't get her hopes up to high.

When Hermione had shared Luna's reply with her friends they'd all shared a laugh. Something they'd done frequently during the last few days. In fact the young witch was amazed how well she got on with Fleur. It was almost as if they had the golden trio back again. Only Fleur had replaced Ron and there wasn't any bickering between herself and the quarter Veela. It had been like a breath of fresh air. Hermione, with a touch of guilt, had realised she hadn't missed the redhead at all.

She sighed as she realised she wasn't looking forward to seeing Ron or any of the other Weasley's. The odds were higher then even that the family of redheads would demand an explanation of her. Well she amended to herself, Ginny and Molly would. They would demand to know why she'd gone to the wedding. She feared they would try to make her feel guilty about 'betraying' her friendship with them by coming here.

Again Hermione wondered if she wasn't being too hard on them. The family had been through a lot both during and after the war. With two broken relationships in one go the family had a right to be upset. But to ignore and blame Harry to this extend?

All in all Hermione had another reason to be grateful to Luna. It gave her a further Weasley reprieve. Though she felt guilty thinking this, all the same she was glad for it.

The three friends had just shared their last lunch at the Delacour estate. Lunch had taken the form of an impromptu pick-nick near a small lake that bordered the Veela family grounds. It resembled Hogwart's lake quite a bit though it lacked a Giant Squid.

After they'd eaten their fill and magically made any left over food disappear the three friends were relaxing. Each seemingly lost to his or her own thoughts. This is why Harry startled his oldest female friend rather fiercely by suddenly pulling her in for a bone crushing hug. Fleur had to laugh at Hermione's startled yelp but the younger witch hardly noticed that in her astonishment.

"I'm going to miss you." Harry said almost solemnly while loosening his hold somewhat but not letting go completely.

Still reeling from his unexpected move -Harry never initiated hugs, never!- Hermione replied. "Me too, I mean I'm going to miss you too. Both of you," she indicated Fleur with a nod of her head.

"Me three," Fleur interjected with the age old joke while pushing Harry aside in order to copy her husband. "You must join us again soon, yes?"

"I'd love too." Hermione replied while hugging the woman who'd so unexpectedly become her friend.

"Before you go, I," looking briefly at her husband of nearly one week Fleur corrected herself, "we'd like to thank you."

"For what?"

It was Harry who answered Hermione's question. "For being there for me and my wife."

The wizard looked slightly ashamed before he continued. "Fleur and I were talking yesterday and.. Hermione I don't think I've ever thanked you have I?"

The witch in question started to smile, "Harry, you don't need to..."

He didn't let her finish. "Oh, but I do. You've always been there for me from our first year on. There were times you were the only one who stuck by me. I know we've had our arguments too but when push came to shove you stuck by me. Not Ron, Ginny or even Remus. You. Just like you immediately supported me and Fleur when we bonded.

Merlin, I don't think I even thanked you when you saved my life in Godric's Hollow. I only thought to yell at you for breaking my wand…"

Hermione started to feel uncomfortable. She didn't want to conclude her lovely stay in France with a guilty feeling Harry.

Fleur seemed to pick up on something as she put a comforting arm around her husband she interjected before the English witch could. "Please, let him have his say Hermione. It's important to him, to us."

For a moment Hermione felt like objecting but then she thought better of it and simply nodded.

Harry continued. "There is a lot I could, and probably should, say Hermione. You've done so much for me and I'm sorry I've never showed you how much I appreciated it and well... Thank you. Thank you for being my friend and I promise that I'll never take you for granted again."

Again he pulled her into a hug, gentler then the previous one but no less heartfelt.

Hermione couldn't help herself and tears gathered in her eyes. She gladly returned the embrace and tried to reply. This was made just a bit difficult because of her constricted throat.

Finally she found her voice again. "Thank you Harry. You don't know how good it is to hear you say that even though you really didn't have to. Merlin Harry! You were the only one who looked beyond my bossy bookworm exterior. You're the only one during the first few years who bothered to get to know me. You've been a great friend and I'll always be grateful for our friendship."

"You two should talk in private." Fleur suddenly said. "I'll be at the manor when you're done."

"You don't have to go." Hermione protested.

"Yes, I do." Fleur smiled. "Don't worry about it Hermione. I get to have Harry completely to myself for the next two weeks. You two talk."

She quickly kissed Harry and then apparated away.

"Is this wise?" Hermione asked her oldest friend.

"You and me together?"

Hermione couldn't help but laugh as she noticed Harry's confusion.

"No silly. You and Fleur apart. The last time you two separated for a bit of time you became rather edgy."

Harry chuckled. "Aye, not an experience I care to repeat any time soon." A short pause and then he continued.

"Look Hermione, I…"

Hermione noticed his hesitation and jumped in before things became awkward.

"Harry, I'm sure there are things both of us would have liked to have done differently. Especially sixth year but we were teenagers for Merlin's sake. According to my books that is the most intense time of any person's life and we did it with Voldemort hanging over our heads. We've been through so much together and look where we are now?

Voldemort is gone. You and Fleur are together. Our futures are big unwritten books. Let's focus on a happy future. Besides I like to think we learn from our mistakes and won't repeat our teenage follies."

"Aye, we're all grown up and responsible now eh?" Harry chuckled. Neither of them had reached their twentieth birthday yet. Technically they were still considered teens but he agreed. "You're right of course." Harry agreed and that was the last that either of them said about if for now.

The green eyed wizard stretched before asking. "Feel for a bit of a walk?"

"Sure."

The two magical people walked down the edge of the lake in contemplative silence for a good few minutes. They were lost to their own thoughts until Harry asked the question he'd been curious about for quite a while now. "How come you and Ron broke up? You were so upset when he walked out on us and I saw you two snogging each other's brain out after the battle."

"Harry, I'd seen you get killed and return to life. We'd survived a battle for our lives, for our very existence. After all that we needed an outlet for our nerves…

As to why Ron and I broke up. I walked in on him and Lavender kissing."

"Ouch." Harry said.

His friend chuckled. "Hardly, I was a bit angry yes, but really, we never declared our love for or intentions for each other. Of course when my biggest emotion was one of relief I could tell how late it was. I think whatever feelings I may have had for Ron died the moment he walked out on us in the forest."

"No, one big happy Weasley family for us now, eh?"

"Nope."

"Do you miss Ginny at all?"

"In a sense I do." Harry nodded. "She was my first real girlfriend and my mate's little sister. She's been a part of my life for a long time now and that means something. I really hope we can resolve things and remain close. She'll have to accept Fleur though."

"And if she won't?"

He shrugged. "Then we can't. Fleur comes first."

"It is good to see you so happy, Harry." Hermione smiled at the green eyed wizard.

"Fleur's an amazing person Mione."

Harry smiled broadly as he did whenever he talked about his beloved. Another big difference from when he'd been with Ginny, Hermione absently noted.

"It isn't just the Veela bond thing either. It's her personality, what she does. It's... well… everything…" Harry couldn't seem to find the words he needed to describe his wife.

"Gods, you have it bad." Hermione said feigning disgust.

Harry's only reply to that was a happy, "Yep."

"Can I ask you a question? You don't have to answer of course..." Hermione suddenly felt nervous asking but her curiosity had finally gotten the better of her.

"Just ask. You know I'll answer."

"The Veela bond. Fleur and you know each other's every feeling. That you have to be near her all the time. Unlike every other couple you can literally not spent much time apart and you told me that even when you're separated your magic continuously searches for hers… Doesn't it drive you nuts? You don't get any personal space what so ever."

"Trust you to see past the romantic views associated with this bond." Harry murmured. "Actually it isn't as restrictive as you seem to think it is. Yes, it's overwhelming, especially at first but you can learn to ignore the normal emotions rather quick. And we can do our own things even if we are together. Of course we spent a lot of time getting to know each other really well."

At that last bit Harry wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"That good eh?" Hermione replied dryly. While mentally jotting down another change she noticed in him.

"Well, I haven't really got anything to compare it with, but yes." Harry replied, both smug and happily at which both friends had to laugh.

It was a strange afternoon. Both serious and relaxing and it wasn't over yet as they continued their trek along the lake shore.

"Hermione, How come I haven't once heard you mention what you're going to do now good old Tom is gone? I expected you to have tons of plans and to be in the process of initiating them. At the very least I'd expected you to be at Hogwart's right now."

"That's because I haven't got any plans." was Hermione's simple answer.

Harry blinked in surprise. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with my friend?"

"Funny Harry," the young witch rolled her eyes.

He laughed before he continued, "Seriously though. You didn't return to Hogwarts for your last year. You didn't take Kingsley up on his offer. You could literally pick your own job. I would have thought you'd jump on the opportunity."

It took a while before Hermione answered. "Minerva told me I can take my Newts with the current seventh years if I want to. I don't have to follow any of the classes. The headmistress seems to believe I can take the Newts in my sleep anyhow…"

"Wow, I never thought I'd hear you say you'd skip school." Harry said, rather surprised.

"You aren't the only one who has changed Harry." A tired sigh escaped her throat. "I'm tired of always being at the front of the battleground. Be it for sentient rights, fighting Voldemort or getting you boys to do your homework. I'm tired. Is it wrong of me to take a year off? Too do things for myself? Have some fun and no responsibilities."

Harry winced at Hermione's tone. With all the upheaval in his own life he hadn't realised his friend felt this way, at all. The war had as big an effect on Hermione as it had on him and everybody else.

"Oh no you bloody don't Potter! We covered this earlier. Focusing on the future remember?" The witch purposely allowed a bit of the bossy-know-it-all to resurface and it had the desired effect.

Harry snapped, semi-seriously, to attention. "Yes ma'am."

A few moments later Harry asked another question that was bothering him. "Do you think the Weasley's will talk to me again?"

Hermione easily detected the wishful note in his voice. Putting aside her irritations with the Weasley family as a whole she tried to give an honest answer. "I think they will. Of course I think George would talk to you now and Ron will soon follow his usual modus operandi."

"His usual modus operandi?" Harry asked in confusion.

"He'll realise he's treating you unfairly and come to you with his tail between his legs. He'll admit he's being a git, apologise to you in his own bumbling way and tell you he wants to be your best mate again. You know just like in fourth year and after he rejoined us on the Horcrux hunt. You two will be each other's best mate again in no time. He just needs some time to process everything."

As she continued Hermione didn't notice the small frown that briefly appeared on the green eyed wizard's face.

"Knowing Ginny and Mrs. Weasley and their opinion of Fleur it will take a long time before they can forgive and or forget, Harry. No matter what you've done for them in the past and Mr. Weasley will take his cues from his wife. I don't know Bill well enough to make an educated guess about him."

"That is pretty much what I've been thinking about the Weasley's. You know we never meant to hurt them right? I really liked Ginny and Fleur loved Bill. It all just pales in comparison to what we have now." Harry looked at Hermione almost beseechingly. He wanted her to believe him.

"I know that Harry. Everybody does." She reassured him. "But if anybody does claim differently just send them to me. I'll sort them out." At those last words she winked at him.

It seemed these words earned her another hug as Harry flung his right arm around her shoulder and briefly pulled her towards him. This one only startled her a bit.

Harry had one more thing to say on the matter before he could let it drop. "You're wrong about one thing though."

"About what?"

"At the risk of sounding like we're in primary school but Ron and I won't be best friends again. That's you and me."

Deciding he'd enough of all the serious heart to heart for now Harry decided to change the subject before his friend had a change to reply. Though he did notice how touched she was by what he'd said.

"So what made you take up a Snorkack hunting invite from Luna?"

"Hey, I'm certain it was my turn to ask a question not yours." Hermione protested.

Harry grinned. "You need to be faster Granger."

Hermione grinned back. "Twat."

Harry and Fleur were ready to leave for their honeymoon. Surprisingly, at least to their friend, they'd elected to spend it at a small family run hotel on the Belgian coast. However, first they'd see their friend off.

Harry and his best friend –and by now not even Ron could in any way claim that spot- first said their goodbyes. Promising each other to be in touch at the earliest opportunity. Mr. and Mrs. Delacour, Fleur's parents had also come to see them off. After wishing Hermione a safe journey they stayed back, waiting for their daughter and son in law to leave as well.

While saying their own goodbyes Fleur had surprised Hermione as the two women hugged in farewell, by whispering. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of our man."

Hermione had already known Fleur knew how close she and Harry were but by that statement she –re-affirmed she approved and accepted this. Not that the younger witch had, by now, any doubt of this. Fleur had more then proved this to her during the past few months.

Hermione couldn't honestly say she'd have behaved the same if the situation had been reversed. She simply felt grateful Fleur felt this way.

So she answered Fleur with a thankful expression on her face and by saying, "I know you will."

Somehow she knew Fleur understood the sentiment behind those words.

Hermione watched as Fleur produced a small white handkerchief which would serve as her Portkey. As an employee of Gringotts Fleur had a special privilege to use the bank's Portkey station. For a small fee associates of Gringotts employees could use this facility too.

It gave them the opportunity to travel too and from the UK without the hassles of customs. The Ministry of Magic allowed this because Goblin security wards and spells were better then their own. In addition to this if someone got caught trying to smuggle something through the Goblin bank the consequences for the perpetrator were much harsher too. This was saying something.

Another benefit for Hermione was that from Gringotts she would be in immediate apparating distance from her home. After an international Portkey journey the less travel she had to do the magical way the better.

"Ready?" Fleur asked as she handed the handkerchief over.

As she took the small piece of cloth Hermione nodded in affirmation.

Fleur took out her wand and touched the Portkey with its tip and clearly stated the incantation "Portus."

Immediately the world around Hermione disappeared and she spun around in a greenish void.

After just a few moments she was, roughly, thrown out of the void. Dazed from the rather harsh landing it took her a while to realise she was lying on top of someone she'd just left.

If she'd been able to think a bit more clearly at that moment she'd realise her expression would completely mirror Fleur's. Confusion and consternation was written plainly over both their faces. She was hardly aware of being helped to her feet by Harry and Apolline and her husband. Still slightly dazed from her failed Portkey journey all Hermione could think of saying was, "I don't think that went right."

A/n. Next chapter: of mythical creatures and honeymooning.