"Ermione, are you awake?" a sleepy sounding Fleur asked her friend, receiving an even more tired sounding mumble in response. "Yeah, couldn't manage to doze off, I've just been thinking all night really"
"Oh? Do tell mon ami, what is going on in that beautiful brain of yours?"
"Oh nothing, just silly things really." replied Hermione.
"Well, I will let you be, you can always talk to me though 'ermione"
"I know, thank you Fleur"
But Hermione knew she couldn't confide in her friend. Having spent an agonising night fully aware of each intake of breath made by her beautiful friend, each inhale causing the tiniest movement of the blonde's arm against her midsection, the minute skin on skin contact was painfully delicious to her hyper-aware body. Although Fleur was no stranger to sapphic interactions, she almost certainly wouldn't appreciate an innocent sleepover being manipulated by her sex-starved compatriot. Not that she'd willingly felt the things she was feeling. It was incredibly confusing. Sure, Fleur was beautiful, and yes she'd admired a number of other beautiful witches at Hogwarts, but she'd never entertained the notion that she might be interested in the fairer sex in anything more than a platonic fashion. She really just needed to get laid. Unfortunately though, being a shining star of the wizarding world had its disadvantages, she could hardly waltz into a wizarding club to meet men without being bombarded with the attentions of the paparazzi. No, she would have to employ a different tactic entirely.
Eventually the two young witches decided to leave the comfort of Hermione's silk bedspread and made their way groggily towards food. She settled Fleur into the living room with a cup of tea and a hangover potion, then drank a potion herself before busying herself making breakfast for herself and her guest. Egg sandwiches made, they settled in to watch Saturday morning cartoons, a tradition they'd had in the past. Fleur, despite not being muggle born, was a witch who enjoyed Hermione's muggle contraptions, finding the differences between the two worlds to be intriguing rather than unworthy of her attention.
"So, Fleur, how are you going to meet these witches?" Hermione asked once they'd both eaten, a playful lilt in her voice.
"I am not sure that I should, it 'as been a long time, and I would be worried about being seen by people I knew." replied Fleur. "Witches and wizards in your country are not nearly as open minded as they are in mine"
"What about if we avoided the wizarding world? Had a night out in regular London?" Asked Hermione, the beginning of a plan forming. In muggle London, she would be away from the prying eyes of the media and she was confident that Fleur would be easily able to meet somebody in a muggle bar. The wizarding world lagged behind the muggle one in many ways, views on homosexuality were much more tolerant by the non-magic users. Explaining her theory to Fleur, she also hinted shyly at the possibility of meeting a man herself, blushing as her blonde friend perked up, eager to help her friend get back on the dating scene. Convinced, Fleur insisted that as they had nothing planned for the day, they were going to head to Diagon Alley in the hope of procuring some new clothing for their foray into muggle nightlife, before making their expedition that very night. "After all," she reasoned, "we do not want either of us to lose our courage".
After dressing themselves (Fleur borrowing an old set of trousers and a blouse which in Hermione's view somehow magically managed to show off Fleur's enticing form better than she could have possibly imagined) they apparated into Diagon Alley. They quickly withdrew some gold from Gringots, Fleur exchanging pleasantries with some of her fellow staff, before heading over to Madame Malkin's shop. The women quickly busied themselves, Fleur immediately falling in love with a striking cobalt dress, one designed to hug her figure and accentuate her curves. She left to try it on, and Hermione was astounded with her reaction. Fleur looked incredibly attractive in the dress, so much so that she felt her heart rate increase dramatically, much to her chagrin. She nodded in appreciation, earning a wide smile from her friend who decided to buy it. Hermione however, was having far greater difficulty in selecting something to buy to wear that evening. Seeing her friend's dilemma, Fleur eventually ascertained that it was a simple lack of confidence in her appearance that was thwarting her friend, and decided to select a racy, deep red dress for her. Hermione spluttered in defiance, but the Frenchwoman insisted and eventually the younger witch capitulated. Sighing petulantly, she made her way into the fitting room with the dress, all the while insisting that it was far too "revealing", drawing soft laughter from her companion.
"Um, Fleur?
"Yes mon ami?
"I need help with the zip, it's one of these dresses that you simply cannot do up yourself. Also, I'm sure there's supposed to be more material, this thing barely covers..."
"Nonsense, you have a beautiful figure and deserve to show it off 'ermione. I will come and help you with the zip."
Reeling from the unexpected compliment, Hermione blushed lightly before allowing her friend entrance into the fitting room. Turning around, she felt her heart race as the blonde gently moved her hair out of the way of the zip, delicate fingers gently grazing her collar bone as they did so. Task complete, Fleur insisted Hermione turn around and show her the dress so she could see it on properly.
"Wow" she said, seemingly at a loss for words. "If I did not know that you were only interested in males.." before taking one last appreciative look at the brunette's figure, incredibly full breasts supported by long, toned legs. Winking at her friend, she strode out of the fitting room and went to pay. Hermione sat down hard, not trusting the strength of the aforementioned legs to support her. "I am in so much trouble" she said to herself quietly.