A/N: I've been super busy lately, and this chapter is a tad short, but it's sort of a transition chapter into a big event. So look forward to that. :c)
What had just happened? Hermione wondered as she lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Ginny was not in the room with her, and although she had been acting very strange lately, Hermione hardly noticed because of her preoccupation with her own drama.
A soft, barely audible knock came from the door.
"Come in," Hermione said, sitting up. She hoped it was Fleur, but to her disappointment, Ginny walked in the door. Hermione had never seen Ginny look so horrible; her hair was disheveled and her face was red, as if she had been crying. The girl had made up some far-fetched story when she came in late earlier that day, so Hermione knew something was astray. She knew it was now time to step in and be a good friend.
Wordlessly, Hermione sprung up from the bed and embraced her friend in a tight hug. She felt Ginny stiffen in her arms.
"Ginny…please tell me what is wrong. You haven't been yourself lately," Hermione said, now genuinely and extremely concerned.
"It's nothing, I…please let me go," Ginny whispered this last part with a pain in her voice.
"Tell me what is wrong, Ginny. I want to help you." Hermione pulled the other girl in tighter, turning her head and pressing her nose against Ginny's cheek. "I want to see the happy Ginny again," Hermione whispered softly and caringly, the breeze from her voice caressing Ginny's neck.
"Hermione…I'm just…I'm just feeling a little down is all," she finished in an unconvincing tone. But Hermione, whose mind was on other things, believed it.
"We all get those days," she said understandingly, gently stroking Ginny's hair. She gave Ginny one last squeeze and pulled away a little. "How about we just sit and reminisce about the old days?" Hermione said, smiling. "That always gets my spirits up."
"What 'old days'?" Ginny said, a smile now starting to form on her own face. "I'm not even seventeen yet!" The girls giggled and sat down on Hermione's bed, Ginny's spirits already starting to rise.
Meanwhile, Fleur paced back and forth in her room. Bill was not there, he was outside with Mr. Weasley planting more onions. Things between them were still rocky, but Fleur knew it would soon all be over. These feelings for Hermione were a passing fancy…once they were sated. Once she had taken care of all this Hermione-business, she and Bill could return to their normal lives and Fleur could finally forget about the younger girl. Then she could become truly happy and completely faithful to Bill. Then.
Now, all Fleur wanted to do at the moment was to be touching Hermione. Hermione plagued her mind. There were on and off dreams about her after the Triwizard Tournament, but now that Fleur could see Hermione in the flesh, the girl was the only thing that was ever on her mind. She had to be tactful to get Hermione to go along with her plan; and it had worked. It was harmless enough, anyway. It wasn't like either of them had feelings for the other, it was just an arrangement. Just an agreement. It was just business, really, when it came down to it.
"Ginnnnyyy!" Mrs. Weasely called from downstairs, just as the girls had right about finished talking.
"Well, at least her timing is good," Ginny said, grinning, and happy for the first time in days. "I'm coming, mum!" she yelled back down.
As Ginny closed the door, Hermione lay back down on her bed. They had had a good conversation and Ginny had brightened considerably, but to tell the truth, Hermione's mind had been somewhere else the whole time. She had never felt anything like she had felt in the forest. And she wanted to feel that again.
Another knock on the door, this time louder.
"Ginny, you don't have to knock – this is your room, you know," Hermione giggled, sitting up.
The door opened, but it wasn't Ginny. It was Fleur.
"Is it alright if I come in?"
"Oh, yes of course Fleur," Hermione was aware of a slight quiver in her voice, and hoped Fleur hadn't noticed.
"I just wanted to say…thank you, 'ermione. Thank you for agreeing to do this. You 'ave no idea how much it means to me, and I know it may seem…ah…strange, but I truly do appreciate it." Fleur's face flushed in embarrassment. She walked into the room further and closed the door. "You must understand…and I am sure you already do, as clever as you are…you must not tell anyone of this arrangement. Please."
Hermione swallowed, staring at Fleur unblinkingly. "I would never dream of it…"
"Good," Fleur said, more confidently now. She sat down next to Hermione on her bed and delicately brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "We wouldn't want anything bad to 'appen." She leaned in and softly kissed Hermione, one hand cupping the side of her face. Hermione's lashes fluttered closed as she returned the kiss, her own hand finding a resting spot on Fleur's knee.
Fleur pulled apart and gave the faintest of a smile. Hermione looked dazed, as if in a dream. "Well….Mrs. Weasely will probably be starting dinner now," Fleur said, getting up. "I think I shall 'elp." And with that she turned and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her. Hermione stared at the door for a few moments and then laid back down, exhaling in a large sigh.