The next week without Fleur is much harder than I ever could have expected. The desire to eat has completely left me. I wouldn't be shocked if I've lost at least ten pounds in the six days she's been gone. Her phone does work on grounds though so I've at least been able to talk to her. Crookshanks is confused by my mood. I've at least managed to remember to feed the poor thing. He senses my distress and stays close to me at all times. The next morning cannot come soon enough.
A small smile graces my features as I arrive at King's Cross Station the next morning. Crookshanks meows irritated at me from the confines of his carrier. I tell him to shush because I'll let him out in the car we end up in. I board the train and pick a car near the back so as to avoid people if I can. No such luck, however, as Ginny and Luna find me. Ginny smiles at me as she drops into the seat across from me. Either Molly is keeping her sheltered from everything or she just doesn't care.
"Hey, Hermione! I'm so glad you're coming back this year," Ginny exclaims excitedly. I try to smile a bit more, but it's close to impossible.
"The bond has really taken a toll on you this last week, hmm," Luna asks in that aloof voice of hers. My eyes widen at her question and she gives me a small smile in return.
"Mum has done nothing but talk about what a harlot Fleur is and how she's so disappointed in you this summer. Luna spent more time at the burrow this year so she was subject to the ranting. And let's just face the fact that Luna will always know our secrets no matter how hard we try to hide them," Ginny says with a small smile.
I can't believe Ginny knows and she's still talking to me. She's usually as hot headed as Ron.
"I'm a little surprised you're talking to me, Gin. Your family must hate me," I murmur as I scratch Crookshanks behind his ears.
Ginny looks slightly taken aback before her eyes soften. Ginny always has been the more emotional one of the Weasleys. Maybe it's simply because she's the only girl in the family.
"Hermione, what my family feels about you has no influence over me. You've been a great friend to me over the years and I'm not going to stop talking to you just because you've found the person you're destined to be with. You have no control over that and neither does Fleur, although mum and Ron think different. If anything, I'm extremely happy for you and I can't wait to get to actually know Fleur. She may have been married to my brother, but she wasn't around much since mum didn't like her."
I smile as much as possible at Ginny. "That really means a lot, Ginny. And to answer your question, Luna, this week has been living hell. I've lost somewhere around ten pounds, which probably isn't healthy since I lost so much during the war, and I've been sleeping like shit."
Luna gives me a sympathetic smile and pats my hand. "Well then I guess it's a good thing it never takes long to get to Hogwarts. Have you thought about how you're going to work around the 'no relationships between students and professors' policy yet?"
I nod in response as I stare out the window. "Fleur was supposed to talk to McGonagall about it. I don't know if she has or not. I'm just hoping she'll approve because I don't sleep well without Fleur and it's physically painful to be away from her," I mumble.
Ginny and Luna both nod in response before leaving me alone. This has got to be the longest train ride to Hogwarts ever.
My heart doesn't feel as empty when the train finally comes to a stop at the front gates of Hogwarts. The thestrals pull restlessly at their reins as we all begin to get into the carriages. This is Ginny and mine's first time seeing them. Luna's been seeing them since she was younger. The creatures are beautiful in their own dark way. My fingers tap my leg impatiently as we draw closer to the castle. I can feel the pull in my chest and a genuine smile crosses my features. Ginny and Luna smile at my obvious happiness.
When the carriages come to a stop, I all but run to the front doors of Hogwarts. Ginny and Luna keep pace with me to make it seem like I'm less crazy. McGonagall smiles as I walk in the front doors.
"Miss Granger, I'm glad you've come back. Do you mind if I have a quick word with you?"
I bite my bottom lip but nod. McGonagall has always been my favorite professor and she appears to be rather fond of me. She leads me off out of the way of my peers so we can talk without being overheard.
"Miss Delacour has informed me of your situation. Under normal circumstances, I would continue to prohibit a relationship between a professor and a student. However, these are far from normal circumstances. I have decided to let you share a quarters with Miss Delacour under the agreement that you try to not make your relationship with her extremely obvious. Am I clear, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall asks in her Scottish brogue.
I nod excitedly and smile brightly at her. She smiles back before giving me a small hug. "I truly am happy for you, Miss Granger. It so rare for a young lady your age to find the one person she will spend her entire life with. Not to mention, Miss Delacour is a much better choice than Mr. Weasley," she adds with a wink.
I smile and thank her one last time before turning towards the Great Hall. The love of my life, whom I've been separated from for a week, is on the other side of these doors.
Fleur's eyes connect with mine the minute I walk through the doors. That smirk I've missed so much crosses her beautiful face. I smile back in return as I walk to the Gryffindor table. Ginny grins at me as she notices my line of sight.
"Calm yourself down, Mione. You'll get her soon enough," Ginny teases. I turn and stick my tongue out at Ginny.
"You'll understand one day, Gin," I murmur with a smile on my face.
The First Year ceremony is unbearably long. My leg bounces impatiently throughout that entire ordeal along with dinner. When we're finally dismissed to our dorms and quarters, I can barely contain myself. I say bye to Ginny and Luna before rushing out of the doors of the Great Hall. McGonagall had told me where my shared quarters with Fleur were located earlier. I practically run the entire way there, dodging between other people or pushing them out of my way. I finally reach the statue that hides our quarters and whisper the password. The statue moves quickly out of the way, allowing me access to the living quarters. Strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me into a familiar body. I breathe in Fleur's scent and melt against her body.
"I 'ave missed you so much, 'Ermione," Fleur whispers into my hair. I tuck my head into the crook of her neck. God, I've missed her.
"I've missed you too, Fleur. Nothing you said even remotely prepared me for what I endured this last week. Promise me that we'll never be away from each other again. I don't think I could take it," I mumble pathetically into her neck.
Fleur's grip on my waist tightens and she pulls back slightly to look at me. "I promise, ma chêrie," she whispers against my skin. I don't know who leans in first, but we're suddenly connected at the lips. The kiss is full of a week's worth of passion and missed opportunities. My life has finally come back together in this moment, right here, in the arms of Fleur Delacour.