Chapter 10:
Fleur walked into the bathroom at the end of the hall and got ready for the day ahead. Today was going to be a day of planning and decision making. Hopefully she would be able to talk some sense into Hermione and convince her that staying at home was the best option for her.
That 's when Fleur realized something, Hermione didn't have a home other then the Burrow. Hermione's parents didn't even know of her existence. Fleur's heart broke in two at this realization. Fleur hoped that maybe one day she could give Hermione a home, maybe.
Fleur walked downstairs to find breakfast waiting at the table with a note from Molly stating that her and Arthur would be out for the day tying up loose ends with the Order. Fleur sat down to blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon with a steaming cup of coffee. Fleur dug in and cleared her plate in near record time; she looked at her plate with a bit of sadness as she realized there was none left. From behind her she heard a soft laugh and turned her head to find a rather bemused Hermione coming up behind her.
"What iz it you find so amusing?" Fleur asked, a sight frown gracing her features.
"You Fleur, how is it humanly possible to eat that much and still be hungry?" asked an amused Hermione.
"I have a healthy appetite," replied Fleur a bit defensively while straightening in her chair and putting on an insulted look.
Hermione made to reach for her wand when all of a sudden Fleur's plate was refilled with a second helping. Hermione looked around a bit confused.
"What spell waz zat?" asked Fleur, "I 'ave to admit I 'ave not spent as much time as I probably should 'oning my 'omemaker skills," she finished a bit embarrassed at her admission.
"I…" Hermione trailed off seemingly at a loss for words.
"What is it?" asked a now concerned Fleur.
"I just… how did that…?"
"For someone 'oo is quite adept wiz their words you seem to be struggling a great deal."
"I just thought about the spell, I didn't even have to use my wand. That's the first time I have ever used wandless magic," stated Hermione, clearly still in a state of shock.
"Oh, I see," answered Fleur, "well as I said before you are as powerful as I am."
"So, I could stop time like you did?" asked a now excited Hermione.
"Oui, but please don't," Fleur seemingly pleaded, "It would take too much of a toll on you."
"Oh ya," replied Hermione, a little bit defeated, "I forgot about that."
Fleur could sense the sadness coming from the brunette witch and quickly moved to change the subject.
"Try ze pancakes, zey are delicious."
Hermione sat down and started eating the breakfast that was so graciously prepared earlier. Just then a half awake Ginny Weasley made it down the stairs.
"Morning Gin," Hermione greeted the red head looking up from her plate.
"Morning 'Mione," Ginny answered rubbing the remaining sleep out of her eyes as best she could.
Conveniently, much to conveniently, Harry walked down the stairs with his hair still a mess, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes while stifling a yawn.
"Morning, Fleur. Morning, 'Mione. Morning, Ginny," he said as he sat down at the table.
"You know, you two could make it a little less obvious you spent the night together," Hermione said in between bites.
"Jesus 'Mione how do you figure these things out?" asked a rather surprised Harry. He had thought he had been rather quiet while sneaking into Ginny's room last night, and its not like they walked down together to breakfast.
"I just guessed, but thanks for the confirmation," answered a now laughing Hermione.
Ginny shot Harry a look, that look. "Harry, must you be so daft?" asked Ginny trying her best to appear upset despite the grin that was slowly taking over her face.
"Your parents will be out for zey day taking care of some matters wiz ze order," Fleur informed Ginny.
"PARTY!" exclaimed George as he bounded down the stairs skipping out on the last two to come to a stop on the landing.
"Seriously George?" asked Hermione. "You know there are some chores that could be done around here," she exclaimed in a rather exasperated voice rolling her eyes at his antics.
"Hermione, must you always be such a buzz kill?" George joked, "Don't get in such a paddy," he finished as he walked over and gave her shoulders a squeeze.
" 'ow about we compromise, non? Seems fair," Fleur offered rather diplomatically. "We can do chores in ze morning and zen in ze afternoon we can let our 'air loose."
"Fine," agreed Hermione as she rolled her eyes and started eating her breakfast again.
The group ate there breakfast while making small talk as Hermione started making a list of the chores that needed to get done around the Burrow. As everyone was done eating Fleur got up and gathered the dishes and placed them in the sink. She came back to the table to a list of assigned chores. Fleur took the list in her hands as she raised her eyebrows, "Ze bathrooms?" Fleur said while looking rather incredulously at Hermione.
"Yes Fleur, I have equally divided the chores in terms of labor, time, and effort," Hermione stated.
"But did you 'appen to take into account ze, 'ow do you say, gross factor into your calculations?" Fleur pouted.
Hermione just shot Fleur a scowl that effectively ended any further protest from the French witch. George, Ginny, and Harry tried their best to keep their chuckling off the radar of the two witches.
As the rest of the group went about their chores Fleur stealthy grabbed a hold of the list Hermione had in her hands. As she surveyed the list she found what she was looking for.
" 'Ermione, why don't you just sit outside while I change ze linens on the beds," Fleur suggested.
"No way, I'm not swapping chores with you Fleur, your on bathroom duty get over it," Hermione defiantly stated.
"Oiu, 'owever I shall do your chores as well, it iz better if you just rest, especially after your episode last night," replied the blond witch.
"Fleur, I'm not an invalid that you have to coddle. I don't need you around me watching my every move," said Hermione rather briskly. Immediately after the words came out of her mouth and she caught the look on Fleur's face Hermione wished she could take back what she said.
"Fleur," Hermione sighed, "I just, I mean you saved my life for Merlin's sake. And who knows what is going to happen with this whole trying to figure out a way to make it so this… this" Hermione was at a loss for what exactly to call her current predicament, "...thing that is going on not kill me. I already owe you my life, I'm sure I can do my own chores. Hell I should be doing yours not the other way around."
Fleur knew that Hermione was a proud witch, and more then capable of completing a simple task such as changing bed linens, but she was worried about what was to come. How much energy would Hermione have, what would even drain her? Simple tasks, or just tasks that involved magic, or just powerful magic?
"Oui, you are right," Fleur apologized, not wanting Hermione to feel worse. "I am being a bit overbearing non?" Fleur put on her best smile to assuage Hermione and not cause her any further worry and went on her way to clean the bathrooms, leaving Hermione to her own chores.
-o-o-
After the group had finished their chores they were ready for some much deserved lunch.
"Picnic!" exclaimed a very excited George. It was after all a beautiful day out, a little bit brisk but not cold enough that the sunlight would not be able provide ample warmth, spending it inside would just be a waste.
"Harry, stop being a lazy git and give me a hand getting the food together," George said, "Let's give these lovely ladies a break."
"Cooking another one of your many hidden talents George?" asked a rather bemused Hermione.
"Oh can it," George replied while sticking his tongue out at her.
The girls went outside and walked a little ways until they came to a small grassy hill that overlooked the surrounding area. They had brought a couple picnic blankets and set them down while waiting for the boys to come out with lunch. Or at least with something they all hoped that it would be edible.
"Ginny, where is Ron?" asked Hermione who had just realized that he was missing all morning. At the mention of Ron's name she could see Fleur's body get tense.
"Oh, well George told me that he had gone off to spend time with Bill," Ginny said as she looked down at the ground, clearly finding the ant crawling across the picnic basket to be rather fascinating at this point in time.
"Hmm," said Hermione and with that let the topic drop.
"So Ginny, what are your plans for next year? Do you think zat 'Ogwarts will be open in time for ze next school year?" asked Fleur attempting to change the subject away from Ron and Bill.
"Well I have been giving it some thought, and I think that I want to go play for the B team of the Holyhead Harpies," Ginny said while fidgeting with the picnic blanket.
"That's a great idea if Hogwarts will be closed for the next year," Hermione agreed.
"I was thinking I was going to go play with them even if Hogwart's did open up. Now wait before you go on having a cow 'Mione, I think that it would be good for me to take a year off and get my head on straight before finishing up with school." Ginny said, hoping that Hermione wouldn't start giving her grief about her decision.
"I guess I can see that making sense, I mean you would go back and finish right?" asked a concerned Hermione who was trying her best to be supportive of her best friend.
"Ya, definitely, and I mean its just the B team, it's a great opportunity to play for top squad after I'm done with school," confirmed Ginny, happy that Hermione seemed to be supporting her decision.
"I think zat iz a good idea Ginny," Fleur said throwing in her support which earned her a smile from the red head.
The three girls turned their heads at the sound of George and Harry trudging up the hill each with picnic baskets in tow. The girls all put on mock faces of horror, all of them wondering what George would classify as edible.
"Oh get off it you three," said George as he set down his basket, "We just gathered up some of the leftovers Mum left."
"Then what took you so long?"
George wiggled his eyebrows, "Dad set up some pretty trick charms on the booze cabinet," he said as he pulled out a bottle of firewiskey.
"Aren't you old enough to just buy that stuff anyway, " asked an annoyed Hermione. Rule breaking just wasn't her style; well rule breaking that didn't involving saving the known wizarding world.
"Ya, but it takes away from the fun of it " said George as he uncorked the bottle and poured everyone a shot. "Bottoms up then" he said has he held up his glass.
Hermione scrunched up her nose at the offered shot glass but took it anyways knowing full well that George wouldn't give up until she had a shot.
"So what are we toasting to?" asked Harry, unlike Hermione he quite liked to bend the rules more often then not.
"Eh, nothing in particular, just cause we can seems like as good a reason as any," answered George as he made to raise his glass.
Hermione was pretty confident that the topmost layer of cells covering the back of her throat had just been burned off by the firewhiskey shot she just partook in. Harry just laughed at the face Hermione made.
" 'Ermione, 'ave you never 'ad fire whiskey before," asked Fleur.
"I just came of age less then a year ago, besides I was a little bit busy this year," Hermione quickly defended her lack of alcohol consumption since she became of age.
Fleur didn't say anything in reply and just smiled as she nodded her head, just another quality of Hermione that she found irresistible.
"Alright then chaps, lets get to eating," said Harry as he began unpacking the picnic baskets and setting out plates and various utensils for everyone. Soon the group was eating while talking about nothing in particular at all. As the afternoon progressed the wind picked up just enough to put a little chill in the air. Hermione let out a small shiver as she subconsciously moved closer to Fleur's side, for warmth of course. It wasn't Hermione's fault that Fleur seemed to a natural incubator of warmth. George gave Harry a not so discrete nudge as he wiggled his eyebrows in Fleur and Hermione's direction. Hermione was completely oblivious to the rather large grins present on Harry and George's faces, most likely due to the second shot of firewiskey George convinced her to take. Fleur however caught the boys grinning like fools and couldn't help but return the expression, fully aware of the fact that Hermione was rather close to her.
"So then Fleur, what now?" asked George.
Fleur sighed, knowing that this conversation was going to come up, knowing that it might be impossible to keep Hermione safely out of harms way. She didn't know what would be ahead, but she would rather not risk anything when it came to Hermione and her safety.
"Well, it would seem zat I need to go find ze elders to figure out what can be done about 'Ermione's 'condition'," stated Fleur trying to avoid looking over at Hermione.
"So when do we leave then?" asked an eager Harry.
"I zink zat it would be best if I went alone, veelas are a very private race, I do not know 'ow zey will take to non-veelas. I don't even know 'ow zey will feel about my inquiries as I am not even full veela. And to make matters worse I do not even know where to find zem." Fleur stated, hoping that she had made a strong case.
"Fleur, you can't honestly expect us to just sit by and do nothing!" Hermione exclaimed as she looked to face Fleur straight in the eyes, the firewhiskey no longer dulling her senses.
" 'Ermione, you can't 'onestly expect me to let you travel around France when I myself do not even know what I will encounter," Fleur countered as she turned to meet Hermione's eyes.
"Let me?" asked Hermione, clearly up in arms her fist becoming clenched and a scowl gracing her features.
Fleur's mind was on overdrive trying to figure out how to diffuse the bomb that was Hermione Granger from going off, she was worried about Hermione having another 'episode' and losing control.
"Hermione, it makes sense when you think about," said Ginny, hoping that her quick thinking could avoid any further conflict between Fleur and Hermione.
"Just hear me out," Ginny continued as she dismissed the protest forming on Hermione's lips. "What if Fleur isn't successful in finding the Elders, then we need a back up plan in order to get to the bottom of this, right?"
Hermione unballed her fists and slightly nodded her head motioning Ginny to continue while still keeping her eyes locked on Fleur's. Fleur breathed a sigh of relief, as did everyone else in the group as they all feared what could happen if Hermione lost it again.
"Well I was thinking that maybe you guys could go do some research at Hogwarts. Think about it, Hogwarts has one of the most expansive libraries in the entire wizarding world. Not to mention that McGonagall could probably use all the extra help she can get to put the school back in order." Ginny admitted to herself that her intentions weren't solely driven by keeping Hermione out of danger, but also on keeping Harry out of danger too, he seemed to have a bad knack for getting himself into tricky situations.
Fleur looked at Hermione her eyes softening, almost pleading to get Hermione to agree with Ginny's logic, who was Hermione to resist those now soft baby blue eye's of Fleur's. Eyes that were more blue then the sky above them, Hermione could see little specks of silver in those eyes. Fleur had such beautiful eyes.
"Fine," Hermione acquiesced as she then slowly shook her head trying to regain her bearings. 'Must be the fire whiskey' Hermione reasoned with herself.
"So it's all settled then, Fleur will be going to France to try and find the Elders," Ginny confirmed giving a slight nod to Fleur, "and the three of you will be going to Hogwarts to hit the books."
Harry groaned in protest, he had hoped that he had already spent his required number of days in the Hogwart's library under Madame Pince's close watch.
"Well," started George, "since I do have a business to run, I don't know if I can really accompany you two on your fact finding expedition," who had an even larger aversion to the library then Harry.
"Oh, stop being such a prat" Ginny said as she not so lightly smacked George on the arm.
"Fine, fine," George conceded, "I'll go, but I can't promise I will be there 100% of the time. I'll probably stay in Hogsmeade tending to business," he said trying his best to get out of the long nights in the library that lay ahead of them.
"Business?" asked Harry giving him a rather incredulous look.
"Yes, Harry I'm thinking about buying Zonko's, figure once Hogwarts opens back up should be quite the local," George answered. He then realized that Ginny said the three of them.
"So your sitting this one out then Gin? I figure once school starts again if we are still puddling around in the library you can come lend a hand," George said as he turned to his sister.
"Oh, well about that," Ginny started, looking around the group.
"Ginny 'as decided to take an academic sabbatical and go play wiz ze Harpies," said Fleur, trying to come to Ginny's rescue.
"Well, how did mum take that?" George asked.
"I haven't told her yet, but Dad knows we talked about it the other day." Ginny said.
"So Harry how does it feel to find out your going to be dating a big time Quidditch player," George teased.
"Well she will be on the B team, not that that isn't amazing in of it self Ginny, but I'm ok with it, in fact I'm quite proud of her," said Harry shooting Ginny a small smile filled with adoration as he reached for her hand.
"You already knew mate?" asked George, mildly hurt that Harry knew before he did about his sister's future plans.
"I am her boyfriend," Harry said as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, I'm right proud of you Gin, school is overrated anyways," George said as he shot her a wink.
"I plan on going back," Ginny replied.
"Where is the fun in that," George joked.
The group sat in a comfortable silence for a while longer, each lost in their own thoughts. Harry was wondering what would lie ahead, and even though they were embarking on this adventure because Hermione's life was in danger, he was still glad to be going on it. He knew he wanted to be an Auror, but at this very moment everything was still so fresh, so raw, having a little bit more time without having to worry about Voldemort was greatly welcomed. George was just happy to be off doing something, that and he could see how much Fleur and Hermione were meant for each other and he was going to try his best to get them together. Losing Fred had put a lot in perspective. Ginny was looking forward to playing Quidditch again; she loved being out on the pitch. The pitch was her place, a place where she had found peace over the years, where she could let everything fall to the way side if only just for a few hours. Fleur was thankful for everything that she had, for the friendships that were deepening between herself Harry, George, and even Ginny who had come to her rescue earlier. Fleur was also relieved that Hermione would be safe and sound in the confines of the Hogwarts library, Fleur suppressed a chuckle at the thought of Hermione in her 'natural habitat' among the dusty books. Hermione, well Hermione was worried about Fleur going off on her own, she also wondered how long they would be apart, she reasoned that Fleur shouldn't be off by herself for so long away from everyone. Fleur could get lonely with her, them.
A/N: apologize for ne goofs in fleur's accent (i try n make sure i change it all when i go thru n edit it)... n more importantly apologize for the long delay (playin catch up in lab after finals week) lemme kno wha u guys think (how the story is progressin, its kinda tricky writing it in pieces) .. reviews make me happy :D