I'm so conflicted now. A part of me just wants to stop writing this, go down to the kitchen and make you some crepes for when you'll finally wake up, but the other part is telling me it will be an empty gesture, because you won't remember it's your favorite food (or that you always say that you're not sure what's better, my crepes or an orgasm, only to make me give you one to set the record straight, resulting in you combining your favorite pass time activities, while I am left with cleaning the kitchen), and in the long run, staying here and writing this to you will prove more beneficial (Apolline, If you're reading this, forgive me, I'll try not to get into graphic details about your daughter's sex life).
Besides, I don't think I'll ever be able to get up from your bed side. I'm afraid my legs will fail me. And if not, say, if I'll manage to walk downstairs, hold Harry and Ron's hands and apparate from here, down another chase after the next horcrux to destroy, what will stop me from crumbling to pieces whenever I'll smell the sea after the rain (This is how you smell, at least to me), or to break down crying late at night cuddling into your jacket? (Oh, I'm taking your black corduroy jacket with the fur with me) Probably the boys. I have to be strong for them and they have to be strong for me.
Listen to me, only I'll manage to ramble in a letter and I've only covered our first conversation yet. Let's see, where was I?
Oh yes, I was starting to notice Fleur more and more. I noticed that she didn't eat anything at breakfast, and instead she was drinking from a white mug I have never seen before. I noticed that she almost didn't go anywhere without another Beauxbatons girl which I later found out named Sophie. I saw her talking to Victor Krum a few times, looking rather nice and polite, which only made me have more questions, after she said quite clearly that the Bulgarian champion would feel at ease sitting with the members of the house the dark lord had previously been in.
That was the worst part; before, when she was just another intruder to my school, I didn't give her the time of day, but then, after just one conversation, I couldn't stop looking for her in any room I walked into, and any new information I found out about her just raised my confusion that much more. For starters, I couldn't tell you (even if you had held my latest potions essay above a toilet) why I was so intrigued with her. Seriously, I had no bloody clue. Second, even after accepting fate and believing I was doomed to look up whenever someone walked into the room for the year to come, I still had all this questions I wanted answers to. All in all, I wasn't having the time of my life. So, when I spoke to Fleur for the second time, it was like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
It was around eight o'clock on a cold night in the midst of November, the first task mere week away. Hermione was sitting in her favorite armchair, enjoying the fire warmth. Out of character, the young brilliant witch wasn't reading, writing or preparing for the O. a year in advance, Hermione was looking at her two best friends sitting on opposite sides of the common room, each trying to deal with the foolish made-up assignment of writing a dream diary. Hermione wouldn't ever admit it, but she highly preferred that the two gits would sit together and annoy her for defiling the sanctity of the proper homework making, instead of this silly, silly fight.
Feeling bothered and restless she rose from her sit and sank next to Harry. The dark haired boy simply nodded his head in acknowledgement and continue to work. After several minutes of Harry trying to think about ways to die and Hermione simply half lying with her head leaning on Harry's arm not speaking, the boy snapped and threw his parchment on the table.
"All right?"
"Been better." She simply sighed.
"Come on." He replayed, getting to his feet.
Hermione straighten up on the couch and looked at him with questioning eyes. One can surely understand her - it seemed like Harry could only talk about the tournament lately, and now he was standing in front of her with a mischief spark in his eyes. "Come on." He repeated, "we have a bit of time before curfew, let's breath some fresh air."
Delighted that Harry seemed calmer, she quickly jumped to her feet as well and followed him out through the portrait hole, both missing Ron's longing stare.
"So I am going to see Hagrid tonight." Were the first words to come of Harry's mouth. "He insisted."
"But what about Sirius?" Hermione easily slipped into one of their familiar conversations.
"I'll just have to make do."
"Okay but -"
"Hermione." Harry interrupted her. "Come on, let's for tonight pretend my best friend is still my best friend, I'm not going to fight seventeen years old skilful wizards and witches" at that Hermione's stomach clenched a little. "and my godfather isn't running from the law as a big black dog."
"Shh.." She hissed at him. "pretending doesn't mean you can belt out crucial kept secrets." She shot him her death glare to make sure her point has come across.
Harry raised his hands in defeat and smirked at her. "Of course not."
Nearing the castle doors, the pair hid and quickly looked around, making sure neither Filch nor his cat Mrs. Norris were around, they were minutes away from curfew time.
"Why didn't you bring the map?"
"You don't approve of the map."
"I don't approve of you having it. I'm also not approving recklessness, and as you already have the Marauder's map, and are not planning of getting rid of it - let me circle back to my original question, why didn't you bring the map?" Asked Hermione in a loud whisper.
"I forgot." Said Harry looking apologetic, expression which quickly changed to annoyed after Hermione hit him on the arm "Oww, that hurts."
"Come on, I don't hear anything." Said the brunette and then ran out of the castle, feeling free and joyful. Harry was quick to follow and the two kept running and laughing like kids, heading towards Hagrid's cabin.
"Do you want to visit him?" Harry wondered why his friend who seem to enjoy being outside at the moment, wanted to be cramped up into Hagrid's already small quarters.
Hermione, knowing exactly what he meant slowed down. She turned to look at him, a little flushed from the run and the cold air, her hair running wild all over her face and the huge smile plastered on her face, Hermione looked more happy than she looked in a while. "Force of habit." She laughed. "Used to go in this direction, I'm not usually just going outside."
"Yeah, when you can stay inside your cozy little library." Said Harry triumphantly.
"It's not small." Hermione came to a complete halt "There are hundred thousand of books - " she stopped abruptly, shaking her head in amusement. "Stop distracting me." She said sternly, hands on her hips and her back arched backwards a little. "I was just trying to say that I am enjoying being here. If I you want to we can visit -"
"No, I think we can live on the dark side for a change." Harry concluded laughing.
Hermione, still in her earlier strict position, looked at him sternly, but watching Harry clenching his stomach and laughing let out a smile break her mask. This only made the boy laugh even more, and they found themselves laughing lightly while continue to walk aimlessly.
I'm sorry. I have to stop writing for a second. Harry is calling me - real life, seventeen years old, shaving Harry. I am just pointing this out in case he will say something worth mentioning here, and also, to explain why the sequence of the story will be harmed (If it actually will. I'll try my best to continue without additional glitches).
He came up here. He's looking at me funny, I'm stopping now.
I'm back, it was nothing important. I still have a few more hours. Okay, where was I? Harry and me, after curfew, walking. Got it.
Eventually, Harry and Hermione ended up near the black lake, leaning against a bolder. It was getting colder, and the two sat close together, shoulder to shoulder, trying to keep warm. Hermione placed her hand on the ground, gliding her hand in the damp grass, breathing in the smell. Her hand felt a rather large rock, and at the spur of the moment she decided to pick it up and throw it to the lake. Harry, startled when the rock hit the water, caught up rather fast and a moment later, they were throwing rocks like their lives depended on it.
"You throw like a girl."
"I am a girl - what's your excuse?" Hermione asked playfully.
suddenly, they heard light stomping sounds a bit further down the river. Horrorstruck, Hermione looked at Harry, both panicking. Hermione's breath became stagier. All she could think about was that if she would be caught, it will ruin any chance for her being a prefect next year. She scooted closer to Harry, taking his hand and dragging him further into the bolder, hopefully more out of sight. She raised her hand to her mouth, trying to calm her shaky breath down.
"Oh, relax 'ou two were so caught up in 'our little date, you didn't realize I waz sitting right zere." It was Fleur. She pointed to a smaller rock, closer to lake.
It was Fleur, standing above them. Hermione blushing furiously let go of Harry's hand. She looked over at the older girl, taking her appearance in. Fleur was still in her Beauxbatons robs, but she ditched the hat and let her hair fall freely on her shoulders. She was holding a small black leather book with no writing on it, front and back. Hermione guessed it was probably a journal or a notebook of sorts, she was wandering if the girl was keeping a diary, maybe she was one of those - "Oh!" Hermione let out after realizing neither Harry nor she had said anything since Fleur last spoke, a few good moments ago. "Hmm, no, we're not - Hmm, thank Merlin it's you, no, well, I mean - I'm glad you're not a teacher or a certain cat." She finished lamely. She looked over to Harry, who just nodded, saying nothing.
"A cat? asked Fleur, her brow frowned in confusion. "Do I remained 'ou of a cat?" She raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow in question.
"No!" It was Harry's turn to make a fool of himself apparently. "She meant Mrs. Norris, the caretaker's cat." When Fleur didn't answer he thought it would wise to further explain, "you've probably seen her around, she has weird yellow eyes -"
"I know ze cat. yez." She snapped. The French girl looked over at Hermione and saw how uncomfortable the younger witch seemed to be. She relaxed her features a bit, taking a deep breath, trying to urge Hermione with her deep blue eyes to look up at her. Fleur sighed in defeat, believing the brunette's hands were probably much more interesting than she was, she backed away, adding snarky "I'll leave you love birdz alone then."
"No." Finally brown locked with blue.
"No?" Harry and Fleur asked in unison.
"Hmm -" Hermione looked between her best friend and the girl who were keeping her up at night. And she reached a decision "no, don't go."
"What did 'ou had in mind mademoiselle Granger? Didn't think 'ou were kinky." Fleur smirked at her.
Even with the rather dark surroundings, it was clear that Hermione's neck and cheeks were dark red. "What? I don't want!" A deep breath. "I-I just have a few questions to ask, if it's possible, if you're not too tired of course."
Harry was intrigued and confused as hell. He didn't know that the French champion who had referred to him as 'little boy' and his best friend knew each other, let alone by last name. Hermione seemed to understand the state he was in, but what would she to say, 'I talked to her for five minutes two weeks ago, and ever since I've been dying to know more about her.' No, that wouldn't do it.
"I zuppose I can spare a few minutes." Fleur answered, her face a complete mask of indifference.
"Hmm, okay, I'll go then?" The boy half told half asked no one in particular.
Not one to argue with the possibility of picking Fleur's brain uninterruptedly, Hermione didn't stop him. She smiled and nodded at him with as much reassurance in her eyes as she could mastered.
They were left alone. Fleur, feeling rather interested, sat down where Harry had previously sat, a few inches to the left though. The girls weren't touching, but both could feel the heat radiating back and forth between their bodies.
"Let'z hear it." Fleur said almost sweetly, her face less strict, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Just like that?" Hermione felt much bolder after Fleur opt to sit next to her instead of staying literally and metaphorically above her.
"Qui."
"Why have I never seen your face like this since the last time we were alone?" The question shot out of Hermione so fast, she gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth.
Fleur seemed unfazed. "personal question, okay." She nodded. "You alwayz with people who annoy me I guess."
"And I don't? - Annoy you."
"Non, 'ou don't."
"Okay, hmm.." Hermione tried to think what she wanted to ask next.
"Non, mon chéri, if 'ou zust want to azk questions 'ou can write zhem and give to me. We are, 'aving, what you call it - a conversation." Fleur smirked at Hermione's baffled stare. "I ask you now." She tried to simplify it to the young girl.
"Oh." Hermione was dumbstruck, she couldn't rap her head around why the blonde was interested in her. "Hmm, okay." She whispered softly.
"What'z 'our favorite color?"
A sudden laugh escaped Hermione's lips at the odd question. "Grey."
And so it went. Hermione found out that the white mug Fleur drank from in the mornings was filled with coffee. She told Hermione that she was so used to start her mornings with coffee, she had to find the kitchen and ask the house-elves to help her out. This, obviously began a long discussion about S.P.E.W, which Hermione had to admit, Fleur had some good opinions about. She also learned about Sophie, Fleur's best friend since they were babies, and how Sophie is the only person that mocks Fleur (constantly I later found out), and not feeling scared of her icy stare. She told Hermione about her sister and family, and in return Hermione shared tales about her quirk-stubborn muggle parents, a few adventures Harry, Ron and her had (not going into too much details, still remembering Fleur's comment about not liking them) and some downright strange facts about herself Fleur seemed interested about, such as how she eats her scones, which class is her favorite, is she ever wears her hair up and so on. This questions of course made Hermione curios about what Fleur's answers to them would be, and so they kept talking for the better part of the night.
At midnight, Hermione finally looked down at her watch. She had to look two more times to be sure. Midnight? That means the two girls were talking for two and a half hours. Hermione smiled at how natural it felt.
"'ou happy with little sleep?" Fleur asked after noticing Hermione's smile.
"We should go to bed now, shouldn't we?" She said, but made zero effort to move.
Chuckling lightly, Fleur rose gracefully and offered Hermione's her hand. Hesitant, she took her hand, feeling tingly and warm everywhere Fleur was touching her. With surprisingly strong grip, the older girl brought Hermione to her feet, not hurrying to let her go. They stood rather close, looking intensely into each other eyes. With her free hand, Fleur tacked a stray curl behind Hermione's ear, lingering for a moment more, lightly grazing her cheek. Suddenly breathing heavily, Hermione quickly drew back trying to calm herself down.
"See 'ou around, Oui?"
"Defiantly." Hermione answered all too eager, in a shakier voice than she planned, drawing another heartfelt laugh from the French woman.
"Maybe tomorrow?" Asked Fleur confidently. "We can do homework in zhe library." She suggested.
"I'd love that." Hermione smiled so big her face hurt. "Seven?" Fleur nodded slightly.
Hermione retracted back towards the castle with a final wave, forcing herself not to turn around or to trip awkwardly, though Fleur was probably gone, so it most likely didn't matter. Nevertheless, the tired girl made it a point to look at the ground to avoid stones or branches all the way to the castle doors, not knowing Fleur stood there looking at her until the small brunette was safely back in the castle.
The blonde shook her head in disbelief at the events of the evening she just had before turning elegantly towards her warm room at the second floor of the blue carriage.
So yes, this is how Fleur and me became friends. Well, not friends per se, more like friendly with a twist.
I didn't know why I ended up on Fleur's good terms when most of Hogwarts' students were the recipients of her cold and arrogant demeanor, but far be it from me to doubt it. I simply ignored the un-friendly, tingly, warm thoughts I got whenever she was around and was just glad to have her, any way she'd let me.
-End of chapter two-
Wow. This were a lot of words. Seriously guys, I wasn't sure where to take it, but I was touched by your reviews, so I gave it a go.
Will try to think about what I want to do for the next chapter...
Hope you like it.
Oh, if you have anything you want to ask, review it and I'll answer it in the next chapter.
