Bill and Fleur were, of course, the last to the meeting, slipping in silently and remaining in the back, it seemed that everyone who was anyone had been invited to this meeting. Granted Fleur still found herself questioning what exactly this meeting was over. She, however, seemed to be failing miserably at keeping her confusion from showing, the gruff goblin up front mumbling over something about a recently discovered vault. (Were there really "new" vaults at Gringott's? Didn't the goblins keep track of this stuff?)

Bill had secretly been observing her actions during the course of the meeting and pulled her aside as soon as it ended.

"What's going on Fleur? This isn't like you."

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Swamprat mentions a new vault with some mystery curse and you should be all over it but you're standing there like it's a waste of time for you."

Fleur rolled her eyes, letting out a tired sigh, "To be honest, I do not know what is going on, Hermione and Ron had I guess you would call it a fight last night? Over what, I am not sure, anyways, we talked afterwards, and I confessed her newly gained ability. I'm just concerned, it is much more pressing than this forgotten safe," she waved her hand to the side as though she was brushing it off.

"Very true," he tipped his head in concession, "but don't forget that if you act too strangely, the others will notice and they'll all question. You just have Ron wondering right now, but he's spent more time around you both than anyone else has since then. We all worry about you, Fleur, don't forget that."

A slow smile spread across her face, "Thank you, Bill."

He flashed his winning grin at her, "Now about that vault, wanna go check it out?" There was only one thing Bill loved more than finding someone to occupy his bed, and that was a puzzle, she supposed the second one was kind of part of the first, a puzzle and sometimes quite a challenge to get the guy or girl in the end.

The journey to the vault was filled with Bill babbling on about his last conquest, or rather the huge failure that it had been, he'd spent the evening in the bar, attempting to chat up a young woman (unfortunately, he didn't know how young) until close to closing when she mentioned she had to get back before the Prefects discovered her absence and how it had sent him into a traumatic flashback of his schooldays when he'd been caught in bed with another young lad and he couldn't get out of the bar fast enough for his liking. Now he'd have to avoid that place for some time out of hopes she wasn't there again, and it had normally been such good luck for him (at least up until then). And he really couldn't shake the feeling of being some sort of child molester due to her age.

Fleur had resisted the urge to chide him over his indiscretions but was sure he had learned his lesson at least, with this particular event. They walked up to the vault, joining the group of other curse-breakers and goblins surrounding it, all questioning its appearance and what its contents could possibly be. There was no record of it anywhere and they had records going all the way back to 1049. In fact, it had only been found when one of the goblins was taking another client to visit their vault and the brakes on their cart had somehow failed, they had continued on down into the depths of the cave until they coasted to a stop, conveniently right here.

She got out and left Bill behind, sipping his coffee casually, one hand shoved in the pocket of his khakis with his tie loosely tied around his neck. Fleur, wearing a dress and heels was quite out of place in the cave, but she never cared about that, it was comfortable enough and she was able to do her job. She deftly moved through the crowd and began to examine the door, never mis-stepping in the loose gravel of the cave floor.

There were some runes carved into the wall around the door forming an archway of some sort, but she couldn't make out the words, it was older than anything she'd ever studied, perhaps it was a lost language, she pondered and secretly made a note to ask Hermione about them, knowing the other witch would be as intrigued as she was. She began to sketch what the runes looked like, believing them to be the key to opening this vault. Though she also doubted that this was a different path than the other goblins had taken, preferring to work alone and not talk of their work. Several of those gathered had attempted to open it with words, speaking a language that she did not understand, and when that had failed, they had attempted to blasting into it with magic. Which also failed.

Fleur had looked back at Bill several times throughout the day, wondering why he wasn't more involved than he was, but he just stood there casually sipping his coffee (did that never run out?) and would wave at her, a smile on his face before she finally stood from her spot and returned to his side.

"Let's get out of here, I'm done for the day."

The trip back to the top was quiet, silence spreading between the two as Fleur was lost in thought, her mind turning over the possibilities for the runes, she had little to go off of, but she hoped that some of them were just fancier versions of some later, simpler runes that she was familiar with. And Bill was more than happy to leave her in her thoughts, knowing she would obsess over the problem until she was able to solve it, and he was grateful for the slight return of the Fleur he recognized as his friend, realizing in his observations today, just how much she had changed recently. He didn't allow himself to think on the reason for this change, or the possibility of what it meant, preferring instead, to tell himself that Hermione wasn't like that and wouldn't do such a thing.

The last thing she said to him before she disappeared for the day, still consumed by her thoughts was "It's ancient magic, no doubt there." And then a small pop was heard as she disapparated right from the middle of Gringott's. He was left standing there alone and shook his head with a small chuckle, that was definitely 'his' Fleur.

When she apparated home, she was greeted by the sounds of voices floating out from the kitchen. Two voices in particular, leaving an uneasy feeling in her stomach, they seemed not to notice her appearance, deep in conversations themselves. Fleur found herself listening in, hoping to have some idea what they were discussing. She knew it was wrong, but she was intrigued.

"She's different 'Mione, I can't put my finger on it, but she's been different ever since we all got drunk that night. I don't know what I missed, but something happened. But it was just you an' Harry left so if it was one of you two, well, it had ta be one of you two dinnit?"

"Different how Ron? She's the same as she's always been so unless you can be more specific, I'm not sure what you would be referring to."

"She seems protective of you, or maybe, it might sound crazy, but maybe it's jealousy? Is she jealous? Is that the issue?"

"Really Ron? That idea is just ridiculous, why would she be jealous?"

"I dunno 'Mione, but really, something's changed."

Unable to stand listening anymore and wishing to announce her presence, Fleur opened the front door and slammed it shut behind her, walking into the apartment like nothing had happened, she kicked her heels off just inside the door before stooping to pick them up and making her way to her room. She noted just how quickly the apartment had grown quiet with her "arrival".

She was in her room, taking her time in getting changed out of her work clothes (after all, she had been down in the cave, crouched in dirt all day, it was perfectly reasonable to wish for a shower and some clean clothes) but really she wanted to be left alone for a period. She had to process what she had just overheard and gather herself together.

Fleur felt renewed after her shower, and when she entered the sitting room, she spied Hermione sitting there, a book in her hands, no signs of there having been anyone else there, but not taking chances, she crossed the room and took her seat in the recliner, earning a stern look from the brunette.

"Now, pet," she'd clicked her tongue, a look of warning flashing in her hazel eyes, and Fleur gulped, sinking to the floor at Hermione's feet. "That's better," she scolded her, placing her hand upon the blonde's head and beginning to stroke her lightly.

"I have a surprise for you," she said after a moment of silence had passed and Fleur looked up at her, eyes wide. Hermione pulled out her wand, and a small brown package began floating through the apartment with a quick Accio.

Fleur hesitantly ripped through the paper, opening up the box with shaky hands. However, her heart bottomed out, tears stinging her eyes when she realized what the box contained. A thick black leather collar studded with clear gems was in her hand.

She looked up, cautiously meeting Hermione's eyes, tears still threatening to fall, panic filling her chest. Hermione reached out slowly, placing her hand upon Fleur's cheek, the action itself tender and loving, in stark contrast to how Fleur was sure she felt. "I want you to wear that now that you are mine. I put a spell on it so nobody can see it but us."

Fleur, her condition feeling more like a curse now than ever, slowly nodded, handing the collar over to Hermione, allowing the brunette to slip it around her neck and fasten it, the cool leather quickly warming to her skin. Her world crashed around her as Hermione began to kiss just below her ear and down her neck, seemingly oblivious to the repercussions of her actions.