Chapter 4
Hermione left her room in search of Harry, hoping that he had calmed Ron down as she didn't have the energy to do it right this minute.
As she walked down the stairs she heard Bill's voice coming from Percy's room. Not being able to help herself she stopped and listened to the conversation. Definitely picking up some of Harry's bad habits, she thought to herself.
"You can't take 'er back to Shell Cottage" said a voice that had to be Apolline's.
"She is my WIFE and if I decide that she will be better off there then it is no one's decision but my own," answered a seeming agitated Bill Weasley.
"But.."
"No! I don't understand why you are fighting me on this. I know about Veela's! I know that Fleur is driven by love, that she can needs her mate. I'm bloody not going anywhere I'm just taking her home!" Bill's voice rising almost to a yell.
"Bill," began the oldest Veela, "I know zat you want what iz best for Fleur, 'owever under ze circumstances…" as her voice trailed off.
"The circumstances?" Bill questioned, his voice softening.
"From what we 'ave 'eard about what 'appened it would zem zat-"
"I'm not her true love am I?" the pain clearly evident in his words.
"Bill, I cannot say. I 'ave never 'erd of anything like zis ever occurring," answered the eldest Veela.
"Then what is going on?" Asked an exasperated Bill. Hermione could emphasize with him, she hated being in the dark.
"Veela history and magic are not easy to explain, to understand, as it is often tied up with much older magic"
"Older magic?" Asked Bill. Hermione smiled, it was almost as if Bill was reading her mind and asking all the right questions.
And right at the moment George Weasley decided to come out of his room and run smack into Hermione.
"Hermione? What are you doing? Isn't eavesdropping more Harry's department?" chuckled George while simultaneously wiggling his eyebrows.
Any annoyance that Hermione was feeling at being interrupted when she was finally getting some answers was quickly erased by sound of George's laugh.
She giggled in spite of herself and latched on to George's arm and dragged him down the stairs and out of the burrow before they, well her, got caught eavesdropping. Once they got outside they looked at each other and then just burst out laughing.
Harry who was currently in the kitchen could hear the laughter through the window and walked outside to find George and Hermione doubled over in laughter, with George actually sitting on the ground clutching his sides.
And this laughter was contagious as Harry joined in with what started as a small chuckle that soon escalated into full-blown laughter. They must have stayed out there laughing for a good ten minutes or so before they finally stopped. As Hermione was wiping the tears from her eyes she looked over at George and Harry.
"What was that all about?" Asked Harry.
"Beats me," answered George. "I was just coming down to the kitchen to get some grub when I stumbled on good old Hermione here spying on Bill and Apolline"
"I was not spying!" Hermione stated quite indignantly. "I was simply..,"
"Gather valuable research information?" finished Harry.
"Exactly," Hermione agreed. "However before I could finish George decided to interrupt."
Harry realized that this was the first time he had really spoken to George since the Final Battle. For a moment he was at a loss for what to say.
"Listen George, I'm really sorry" started Harry.
"I know Harry, but its not your fault and Fred died fighting for us" George replied.
"I'm not going to lie and say that it has been easy, or that I don't miss him, but I want to get on with it all. For him, hell you think he'd want me to turn all dull on him now would ya?" George finished.
Hermione listened quietly as George started to unload. They stayed out there for a while just talking about Fred and the person he was. With George retelling stories of their numerous exploits. Laughing all the while. At some point Ron and Ginny joined them adding to the numerous stories.
As the afternoon progressed the entire Weasley family made it outside, even Apolline and the eldest Delacour made it out. Molly brought out sandwiches and set up an impromptu picnic. Everyone was sharing stories about Fred and laughter filled the air. Much needed laughter; a balm to soothe the family, the balm that Fred had brought the Weasley family in his life would be the same balm that would help begin the healing process.
"To Fred!" George said as he raised his glass.
"To Fred" everyone answered.
Molly started to tear up and George walked over to her and gave held her close. "Don't worry Mum, I'll make sure I double up on my schemes, I could walk even walk around with a mirror so you think there are two of me, although I must say I was always the better looking twin"
It was going to be ok. Hermione felt a little bit of the load on her shoulders lift at that moment and everything didn't seem to be as grim as it once was.
-o-o-
Later on in the afternoon Hermione was sitting outside on the swing set waiting for the evening to come. George had said that Fred wanted to be cremated, go out in a blaze of glory so to say.
Harry walked out and joined her.
"How is Ron?" she asked.
"Confused, hurt, but I think he is feeling better after lunch, we all needed that," answered Harry.
" 'Mione, what is going on with you. I wasn't there when it happened, when Fleur took out all of those death eaters. What happened?" asked Harry as he sat down next to her eyeing her out of the corner of his eye.
Hermione retold Harry the story of what had happened, every detail down to Fleur's eyes changing and the light blue feathers that had appeared on her skin.
"Your eyes changed too 'Mione!" exclaimed Harry. "You think that it's connected?"
"Possibly…" answered Hermione, but already in her mind she was trying to connect the dots and coming up with possible explanations. She then proceeded to tell Harry about the rest of her conversation with Apolline and what she had overheard outside of Percy's room.
Harry sat there and absorbed all of this information. It was times like this where he missed Sirius and wished he were here so he could have someone to bounce all of this off of.
" 'Mione? Do you love Ron?" asked Harry. And before Hermione could answer he knew, he knew just by looking at her that Ron and her were over.
"Thought as much," Harry said. At Hermione's silence he continued. "So then its Fleur you love?"
"No! I mean… I don't think so. Harry this has all happened so fast. I don't know what to make of it, of anything anymore" Hermione said as tears started streaming down her face.
"Its ok 'Mione, I think Ron will take it hard, but he will be ok. Just maybe hold off until this all dies down" stated Harry as he leaned over and pulled Hermione into a hug.
"I know Harry, this is dreadful timing" Hermione agreed.
"What's dreadful timing?" Asked George as he made his way outside.
"Erm.." both Harry and Hermione looked down at their feet not sure what to say.
"Oh get off it you gits, I wasn't born yesterday. I know that Hermione has the hots for Fleur," George said all while suggestively wiggling his eyebrows.
"I do not!" Hermione said as she indignantly stomped her foot on the ground and sent George a scowl.
"Do to!"
"Do not!"
"Alright cut it out" interjected Harry.
"Listen Hermione, maybe you don't love Fleur, maybe you do. But Fleur definitely loves you" said George.
"How can you be so sure?" asked Hermione who was starting to get overwhelmed. Love? Fleur? But Fleur in love with her, it was all a little bit too much.
At this George pulled out familiar looking ear and grinned, "Because a little birdie told me so."
"You little sneak!" yelled Hermione, although she clearly wasn't upset at the twins'… well twin now, tactics. She was more upset that she didn't think to bug Percy's room to get the answers she so desperately wanted.
"Well go on and spill it then," demanded Harry.
"SOO…" as George launched into retelling what he had overheard after lunch.
-o-o-
Bill was sitting at Fleur's bedside when Apolline walked in.
"Where is Fleur's grandmother?" asked Bill.
"She went back to France, to try and contact ze elder Veela's," answered Apolline.
"So now what do I do? Just sit here and wait until she wakes up?"
"I am afraid zat is all you can do."
"What is going on with her, if it's not Veela related then what is it? What is this old magic you spoke of? I thought Fleur told me everything." The pain clearly apparent in his voice.
"Oui she did, everyzing she knew about being Veela she told you"
"So again, what do you mean by older magic"
"I am afraid I do not know, Fleur's grandmother left it at zat when I asked 'er about it further, saying zat she 'ad to go do more research to place ze pieces togezer."
You could hear Bill groan in frustration.
"All she said is zat even the act of Fleur sacrificing 'erself for 'Ermione would require a love so deep, and even zen…"
"Even then what?"
"Even zen, she should 'ave died. 'Ermione would have been protected, but Fleur should 'ave died."
"So my wife… my Fleur… is in love with Hermione Granger?"
"So it would seem, non?"
-o-o-
"So that's it then?" asked Harry.
"That its? Harry start putting the pieces together. I thought Ron was the daft one out of you three" answered George.
"George, old magic?..." Hermione started as the gears started turning in her head.
"Oh so Love is the old magic!" Exclaimed Harry, proud at having figured it out.
"Something like that mate," answered George. "When your mum gave herself up for you that was the ultimate act of love, of selflessness and love was the power behind that magic."
"Ok so then what happened with Fleur?" asked Harry.
"Well that's the tricky part, she should have died, but-" George started to say.
"She is Veela, Veelas originally derived their magical power from..." Hermione trailed off.
"Love!" Shouted Harry, again quite proud of himself for being quick on the uptake.
"I knew you were the bright one for a reason" George said rolling his eyes at Harry.
"Ok, but what does all of this mean George?" asked Hermione, never one to be satisfied with incomplete answers.
"George, I don't mean to sound like a prat but how do you know about all of this? No offense mate, but you never struck me as the scholarly type" said Harry.
"He has a point George, how do you know about all of this?" Hermione was now curious too.
"When you three went off looking for old Moldymort's horcruxes Fred and me hit the library and found a rather old copy of The Tales of Beetle the Bard and got to reading" George started. "Which then that lead us to older texts dealing with magic" he continued.
"You. And. Fred. Reading. A. Book?" Harry was at a loss.
"Yes mate, contrary to popular belief Fred and me liked figuring stuff out, it just so happened that none of that stuff was to be learned during our 7th year at Hogwarts" George retorted.
"Anyways, yes we got to reading and realized that old magic, the very basic of magic can be boiled down to a few basics" George said, "Love and Hate, Good and Bad, everything else seemingly falls into categories underneath it."
"So Fleur...," started Harry.
"Somehow managed to...," continued Hermione.
"Tap into one of the strongest sources of magic...," Harry picked up.
"Known to the wizarding world," George finished. "But, the somehow has already been answered mate."
Again Harry looked as if though his brain was seemingly on fire, Hermione could have sworn there was smoke coming out of his ears. Hermione knew what George was going to say next. Something she already knew deep down inside, something she knew the instant Fleur embraced her in the Great Hall.
"Hermione," answered George. "Fleur Delacour is in love with Hermione."
She couldn't ignore it any longer; George had come to her with evidence. Facts. Facts from books nonetheless. The same books that Hermione had found comfort in, the books that she had gone to when seemingly backed into a corner with now way out had all of a suddenly turned on her.
For a moment Harry, George, and Hermione all looked at each other at a loss for words. Hermione got up without saying another word and walked back into the house.
"She took that rather well," said George as he looked at Harry while shrugging his shoulders.
"You think?" replied Harry.
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed it! I got a lot of story alerts (even some favorite stories!) so if you reading I'd love to hear what you think about how the story is going so far, I hope you all are liking!
