AN: It's finally doooooooooooone! This is by far the longest chapter I have written and I suppose I could have cut it up into two, but there's no way I could do that to you guys :D This is the chapter I wanted to write for the last one, but it just didn't seem realistic at the time. I've actually had this chapter somewhat planned out since I wrote chapter two or three on here so I definitely poured a lot into this one. It has driven me mad, because nothing seems good enough, but oh well. Such is the life of a writer lol Anyways, I use the song All the boys from Panic! At the Disco in this one, but the song I promise I'm Trying by Cavetown totally inspired the last bit of this chapter, if you couldn't already tell by the title and the verse I put in the beginning from the song lol I highly suggest giving it a listen :D Thanks to everyone by the way for all of the amazing reviews and support :D You make sharing my work a real joy :D I'll stop bugging you guys now so you can get to the newest installment that hopefully you like :D
Aaron Leach: Thanks :D
veelabyte: I think laughing and feeling bad for Fleur are both totally acceptable responses to her epic failures haha I feel the same way XD I'm glad you're enjoying their interactions, because it can be a pain to write sometimes and I have to admit jealous Fleur is my favorite too :3 I'm super happy you're cool with the wait on revelations, because I feel like there's nothing worse than reading something that is obviously forced and out of place . Thanks for the continued support and awesome reviews :D Hope you like the interactions in this one :)
Ivy: I thought the cocky git part was a nice touch XD I couldn't resist lol
Pam C: The last chapter totally wasn't what I thought it was going to be either lol It also felt in a way necessary to slow their progression a bit, because I just can't see the two of them changing their minds or their antics so suddenly . I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter none the less :D There will be plenty of character progression coming soon. Thanks for the continued support and reviews :D Hopefully you'll like this chapter more seeing as it's the one I had intended to post for chapter 9, but just couldn't bring myself to do it yet lol
LS505956: Haha I'm glad someone could be confused with me XD I'm super happy you were stoked on the update, hopefully you'll like this one even more and will be a little less confused :3
supesaiyan: If you liked the last one then you're gonna looooove this one :3
Veela9190: Both Fleur and Hermione are absurdly stubborn which makes them both so difficult to write haha both of them are insanely intelligent, but also insanely stupid when it comes to their own feelings lol but I promise they will wise up eventually :3 I'm glad you enjoyed the last update and I hope you like this one even more :D Thanks for the continued support and awesome reviews :)
AkashiSeijuro-1A-4: I hate Veronique too lol I've received multiple requests to have her die a bloody death which I must admit I would very much enjoy writing. As much as I would love the idea of Hermione and Luna together it's gonna stay Fleurmione. I super promise that it will be worth the wait :D As for Odette, I already have plans for her :3 But I did briefly play with the idea of Hermione and Odette having a flirty thing go on, but I think Fleur would end up killing Odette haha Thanks for the review, I promise I'll try to do better with the Fleurmione :)
Aily: I'm so glad that there are still people that read Fleurmione fics adamantly like I do :D Thank you for your awesome review and I'm so happy you stumbled upon my story and like it :) The slow burn in this fic is definitely exciting and frustrating at the same time . As for the bet, it's more of a matter of pride for Fleur, not so much the money. As we've already seen Fleur's ego is a little out of control haha but good thing Hermione is practically an expert at knocking that ego down a few notches already :3 Anyways, I do so hope you enjoy the new chapter :)
a Fan: I'm glad the ball of paper hitting Snape amused you :D The idea honestly came out of nowhere as I was writing it and I wanted to see what would happen if Fleur got in trouble with Snape or at least almost got in trouble haha I'm glad you liked the chapter, hopefully you like the newest installment :D Thanks for your awesome reviews and continued support :)
NaraTemariS2: I myself enjoy their flirting too :D Cause it's not like the cutesy type, it's the tease each other type which I love :) And jealous Fleur is one of my faves and she may be smart, but she is incredibly thick when it comes to her feelings and I guess the same could be said about Hermione lol I'm glad you liked the scene with Snape. It was definitely a spur of the moment thing as I was writing it and I was like 'hmmmmm, now what if Fleur accidentally hit Snape?' haha Anyways, thank you for your reviews and support :D
Guest: As usual, there were multiple reviews as guests so I will address those as a whole. Thank you all for leaving your thoughts :) One of you was concerned with the quality of the writing going down and I do apologize if the quality has dropped. I would love to hear your ideas as to how to improve it so I don't get sloppy :) Anyways, thank you for your awesome reviews and continued support. You guys really keep me going when I feel frustrated and totally stuck haha
'I realize how hard on you this must seem
But trust me
When I say its far, far worse for me'
Chapter 10: I Promise I'm Trying
"Alright you lot, time to place your bets." Ginny spoke from her seat at the Gryffindor table. Today was the morning of the first task and the youngest Weasley was taking full advantage to fill her pockets.
"You're not seriously betting on the first task." Hermione glared over at the red head collecting money from her peers. "If Harry saw this he would be thoroughly upset."
"Only because the odds are stacked against him." Ginny replied with a shrug and a grin as she counted the money. "Not as bad as Delacour though."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" She looked over her shoulder to glimpse at the blonde eating a parfait, looking unfazed as usual. "What are the odds for Fleur?"
"6.5 to 1." Ginny spoke without looking up.
Fleur glanced up and when she caught the golden girl's eye she sent her a dazzling smile. "I'll put five hundred galleons on her." Hermione said as she turned around, a smug smile sliding across her face when Ginny looked up in shock. 'Let's see if she can live up to that ego of hers.'
"I'm going to skip over the part where Hermione Granger is actually partaking in gambling and go straight to the part where you're betting five hundred galleons . . . on Delacour." Ginny gaped at the smirking brunette. "Are you mad!?"
"Nope." Hermione smiled as she summoned her money and shoved it into Ginny's reluctant hands.
"You should eat more than that Fleur." Odette frowned when she saw her alpha picking at her parfait. "You're going to need your strength for the task."
"I don't want to eat too much." Fleur shrugged as she pushed her food away. "I don't want to be weighed down."
"You should listen to Odette." Came Gabrielle's calm voice as she took a seat at the table across from her sister.
"If I didn't know any better, I would think you're worried about our dear Fleur." Veronique smirked at the younger girl.
Gabrielle briefly paused while loading her plate to glance at her sister; to anyone else it would seem as if Fleur was feeling confident, but she could tell by how little Fleur ate, how she slightly shifted in her seat every couple of seconds, and discreetly fidgeted with the hem of her dress that she was in fact nervous. She may strongly dislike her older sibling at the moment, but in no way did she want her to faulter and get hurt. "There's nothing to worry about. Fleur will come out on top as usual." Gabrielle shrugged, giving Fleur a subtle confidence boost.
Veronique scoffed at the youngest Delacour's cool demeanor. "Looks like that big ego runs in the family."
Fleur just looked at her little sister, shocked at her confidence that she would come out unscathed and was slightly touched that it seemed Gabrielle still looked up to her in a way. She was sure Gabrielle would have some smart remark to say to her to put her down before the task; she had made it clear that she thought very little of Fleur so to hear something that may seem so casual come out of her mouth was surprising to say the least.
"That ego runs in the family for good reason." Fleur recovered and quickly hid her shock with a confident grin. "If you'll excuse me, I have a competition to win."
"I'd wish you luck, but apparently you don't need it." Odette smiled up at her alpha who was standing just a little straighter. She knew Fleur was a confident girl and had been so up to this day; it was one thing to talk about going against a dragon, but actually doing it was another thing entirely. She had felt Fleur's emotions again all morning and she was sure Gabrielle did too. She was still shocked sometimes by how good Fleur was at covering up her nerves and emotions and it made it almost impossible to give the girl reassurance without making her feel weak so she was beyond happy Gabrielle gave her alpha the confidence boost she needed.
"Who needs luck when you have plenty of skill." Fleur replied with a wink before she turned and left to go to the champion's tent.
/
"Did you see Harry this morning?" Hermione frowned as she walked with Ron and Ginny towards the stadium. "I wanted to wish him good luck before the task."
"Yeah, he left really early." Ron shrugged. "He drove me bloody crazy last night, tossing and turning. I barely got any sleep."
"Poor you." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Probably his nerves getting the best of him." Hermione chewed on her lower lip. Sitting in the dining hall, talking, and betting on the task had been all fun and games, but now as they approached the stadium reality hit and she felt her heart sink to her stomach. She knew Harry was very capable of taking care of himself and they had trained extensively the last couple of days to prepare him, but she still worried about him. He had become like a brother to her and she hated the idea of him being in danger once more; she thought they had finally got past that chapter in their lives. "Hey guys . . ." Her eyes drifted over to the champions tent as they were about to enter the stadium and she stopped in her steps. "I'll catch up with you in a minute. Save me a seat yeah?"
Ron gave her a funny look over his shoulder, scrutinizing her for a moment before he shrugged his shoulders. "Okay." Ron said as he continued on with his sister; he knew by now that when Hermione got an idea in her head, there was no changing her mind.
/
The air was thick with anticipation in the champions tent as Fleur sat on a seat, filing her nails while, much to her annoyance, Krum did push-ups ten feet away from her, and Harry paced back and forth with wide eyes. She had to admit she felt slightly bad for the anxious boy who lived; she had half a mind to get up and reassure him, but she was stuck in her own head at the moment with her own concerns. She knew what she had to do and had practiced it many times in the days before the tournament, but it didn't stop her veela from jumping around anxiously inside of her.
"Psst." Fleur's eyes shifted to the side when she heard someone outside of the tent. "Psst."
Harry snapped his head to the side and walked over the flap, pushing his head against the fabric with heavy breaths. "Hermione?" Harry asked softly, making the blonde's ears perk at the name.
"Harry . . . how are you feeling?" Hermione asked nervously. "Okay?"
"I'm feeling. . . Alright." Harry replied, even though he felt anything but alright.
Hermione nodded her head even though she knew her friend couldn't see her. "The key is to concentrate . . . after that you just have to-"
"Battle a dragon." Harry replied and much to his surprise Hermione quickly pushed the flap aside and threw herself into him, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly as she buried her head in his chest.
Fleur and Krum watched as Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist, both having a similar look cross their features. Fleur's veela stirred uncomfortably at the sight, that awful feeling settling into her stomach as they held each other. She briefly wondered what it would be like to have Hermione give her the same dedication and affection she showed to her . . . friend? 'I did not realize zat zey are zat close . . .' She pushed the thought aside, trying to avert her gaze only to have a flash go off in the tent that nearly blinded her.
"Young love." Came Rita Skeeter's voice as she stood next to her photographer. "How . . . stirring." She smiled behind a thick layer of red lipstick. "Who knew the Golden trio was so close."
Fleur immediately bristled at the comment from the nosey reporter. 'Zey aren't togezer.' She wanted to say, but kept her mouth firmly shut as she glared daggers at the other blonde in the room.
"If anything goes unfortunately today, you two might make the front page." Her smile widened as the two separated and crossed their arms, glowering at her.
"You have no business here." Viktor jumped in with his thick accent as he stood up. "This tent is for champions . . . and friends." His dark eyes drifted over to the bookworm, causing a blush to spread across her cheeks which did not go unnoticed by a silently fuming veela.
"No matter." Rita brushed off the angry Bulgarian. "We've got what we wanted." She smiled once more as the feather on her quill swept across Viktor's cheek and her camera man took one more quick shot of the champions before they slithered out of the tent.
"Great." Hermione sighed irritably as she swept her eyes over the tent, her eye briefly catching Fleur's who was sporting blue running shorts with a white stripe up the side and a blue tank top with her hair up in a ponytail. 'She's going against a dragon and she's wearing that? Does she want to get burned alive?' Hermione thought to herself, but her cheeks heated up once more when she took a second to take in Fleur's long legs and lean figure. Their eyes met again and this time Fleur had a smirk on her face as she raised an eyebrow at the young Gryffindor; apparently she had been caught staring. 'Cocky git.' Hermione thought to herself as she rolled her eyes at Fleur's smug look.
"Good day champions!" Dumbledore smiled as he burst through the tent, startling the four students. "Gather round please." He waved them over and they obediently obliged as the other headmasters joined them.
Fleur watched Hermione with an amused twinkle in her eye as she was pushed in with the group and the golden girl shifted nervously; it was obvious Dumbledore was unaware of her presence and she was definitely not supposed to be in the tent.
"Now you've waited, you've wondered, and at last the moment has arrived." He spoke as he looked around at the students. "A moment that only the four of you could appreciate."
"Four?" Madame Maxime frowned.
Dumbledore faltered for a moment as he took another look at the group, his eyes filling with confusion when he saw Hermione shrink in on herself. "Miss Granger, what are you doing here?"
Fleur had to stop herself from laughing at the embarrassment written all over Hermione's features.
"S-sorry. I'll just . . . " Hermione blushed furiously as she stepped away slowly. "Go." She gave Harry's hand one last reassuring squeeze and smiled at him before shifting her gaze to a very amused veela and serious Krum. 'Good luck.' She mouthed in Fleur and Krums direction, leaving both champions confused as to who she was talking to.
The blonde and the seeker looked at each other out of the corner of their eye with a scowl, crossing their arms as the tension returned tenfold to the tent and Dumbledore went on with his speech.
/
"Pay up Gin." Hermione grinned as she held out her hand to the grumbling red head.
"That was bloody rigged." Ginny scowled as she counted out what she owed her friend.
"How could that have possibly been rigged?" Hermione laughed. Fleur had performed brilliantly and it turned out the young champion did have good reason to be cocky. She had strutted out into the arena and the second the dragon even started to stand up she put it to sleep with a flick of her wand, calmly walked up, grabbed the golden egg, and walked right back out in the span of three minutes. Viktor on the other hand got thrashed around a bit, earning him a cozy stay in the infirmary, before he was able to subdue his own dragon while Harry all but destroyed Hogwarts when his dragon broke free. He had ruined his broom when the dragon set it on fire, but he still got the egg, and made it out relatively unscathed. Needless to say Fleur finished first, Viktor second, and Harry third. Harry might have finished second if the headmasters weren't so irked about the damage caused that they were surely going to have to fix.
"I don't know." Ginny replied grumpily as she handed Hermione her winnings. "All I know is that drinks are on you tonight . . . and for the rest of the year for that matter."
"I suppose I might be feeling charitable tonight." Hermione said with a wink as she stuffed the money into her robes.
/
The Beuxbatons carriage was filled with excitement and young students popping champagne as they celebrated their champions victory. Fleur stood surrounded by her peers fawning over her even more than they usually do and she couldn't help but smile as she drank in the attention. She had to admit she liked the recognition she was getting for her skills as a witch and not just her looks for once.
She briefly excused herself for a moment and headed to her room to change out of her shorts and tank top in her room. As she was just finishing slipping into her tight white dress that stopped mid-thigh and fluffing her hair in the mirror she heard a bit of a commotion outside. Curious as to what was going on she walked to her window and looked out to see a big group of Hogwarts students hooting and hollering as they walked past the carriage. 'I wonder what zey are up to.' She thought to herself as she was about to go back to her friends, but paused when she saw Hermione's bright smile directed at Harry, her arm slung over his shoulder with the other one around Ron as they talked cheerfully and headed down with the rest of the students. She raised an eyebrow as she took note of the brunette's cute outfit which consisted of a gray and red cardigan sweater, a white shirt, and slightly darker gray shorts that showed off her nice legs she liked to look at whenever she was given the chance.
It took only a moment for Fleur to decide she was far too curious to not follow them. She hastily threw on a pair of her favorite white heels, checking herself in the mirror once more to make sure she was presentable before she hurried out of her room and back to the common area where everyone was waiting for her. "Grab your things." She said to Veronique and Odette with an excited grin on her face. "We're going out."
/
"You should have seen the look on McGonagall's face when Harry passed her in the hallway after the task." Ron laughed loudly over the music pumping in The Three Broomsticks, surrounded by Harry, Hermione, and Ginny while the other students mingled and danced as they got plied with fire whiskey and beer. "She's right pissed about the state of Hogwarts."
"You know you probably would have gotten second if you hadn't done that." Hermione grinned over at Harry who was blushing furiously, whether it was from embarrassment or the multiple shots of firewhiskey he took, she wasn't sure.
"It's not like I did it on purpose." Harry whined as he slouched back in his seat. "That bloody thing was going to eat me alive."
"At least you're not staying in the hospital wing tonight." Ron smiled as he nudged his friend. "I would take third place over that any day."
"I'll drink to that." Harry grinned as he poured everyone another shot.
Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled as she picked up her glass with everyone and downed it in one gulp. They had only been there for ten minutes and were already three shots deep when the door the pub opened and a group of gorgeous girls strolled in.
"Guess the celebration is over. First place is here." Ginny smiled cheekily at Harry while Hermione looked up in the direction of the newcomers.
Fleur glided into the pub, immediately catching everyone's attention, looking as flawless as ever. Hermione couldn't help but stare at the veela's attire, looking down at her white heels up to her long legs to the short dress that clung to her curves in all of the right ways. The bright white dress made Fleur's skin look even tanner than it was and showed a generous amount of her cleavage. Bright blue eyes met amber and a small smile spread across Fleur's delicate features as she waved over at the young Gryffindor.
"Bloody Hell." Came a deep voice and a low whistle of appreciation next to Hermione's head. "They don't make them like that here."
"Bill!?" Ron turned and his face split into a wide grin when he saw his two brothers Bill and Charlie leaning over their seats to get a better look at the young champion. "What are you doing here?"
Hermione slightly bristled at the comment, but instead of chiding the older Weasley she decided on filling her glass once more and taking another shot while the boys conversed.
"I came to help Charlie with the dragons." Bill tore his eyes away from the veela to give his brother his full attention. "One damn near bit my arm off." He laughed.
"He was just being playful." Charlie grinned as he bumped his brother.
"Well if that's them being playful, I don't want to see them angry." Bill grimaced.
"So that is why you wanted to go out." Veronique spoke to Fleur who was leaning over the bar, ordering her drink while she kept a careful eye on the bookworm.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Fleur smiled over at the raven-haired girl who promptly rolled her eyes.
"You're incorrigible." Odette agreed for once with Veronique as she took a sip of her drink.
"I think that blonde is giving me the eye." Bill grinned as he looked back up at the veela who kept glancing in their direction.
"Fleur?" Ginny scoffed. "Nah mate, there's probably just a mirror right behind you."
"Lay off Gin." Hermione glared over at the red-head downing another shot.
"You're just defending her, because she got you a boat ton of money." Ginny shot back.
"How so?" Harry raised an eyebrow at Hermione who was now sinking into her seat, avoiding his gaze.
"She bet against you." Ginny grinned and Harry looked at Hermione, putting a hand to his chest, pretending to be wounded.
"Don't say it like that!" Hermione glared over at the red-head. "I simply placed my money on someone else."
"Hermione, how could you." Harry said exasperatedly.
"Oh, come off it." Hermione laughed as she pushed her friend. "You know I love you."
"Sooooo . . ." Charlie jumped in with a grin. "This means drinks are on Hermione all night right?"
"If that will make everyone feel better, then yes."
"Oi!" Charlie yelled, catching everyone's attention in the bar. "Drinks are on Granger!"
"Charlie!" Hermione hissed at the laughing red-head as everyone in the bar cheered loudly.
"You agreed." Ron smiled as he shrugged.
Hermione let out a sigh as the bartender looked at her from across the room with a questioning look on his face to which Hermione just nodded her head. Money was hardly an issue to her, she just didn't like to flaunt it. After the defeat of Voldemort the ministry saw it fit to fill the golden trio's vault with more money than they knew what to do with.
Her eyes shifted slightly to the side to see Fleur looking at her with an amused twinkle in her eyes as she raised her glass to the bookworm. Hermione lifted her barely touched mug of butterbeer with a roll of her eyes before taking a swig out of it and when she placed it back down said blonde headed their way.
"I suppose I should be zanking you for ze drinks?" Fleur grinned at the brunette.
"Actually, she should be thanking you." Harry laughed, earning a hard shove from Hermione.
Fleur raised an eyebrow at the group. "Oh?"
"Shut up Harry." Hermione warned the now completely inebriated seeker.
"She bet on you getting first." Harry continued on, his grin growing wider when Hermione shrunk in her seat.
"No loyalty." Ron shook his head, trying his best to look disapproving, but the smile tugging at his lips told a different story.
"Oh, piss off." Hermione grumbled.
"I would have done the same." Bill cut in and Fleur's eyes flickered over the older red head, who was handsome enough, leaning across the seat to jump into the conversation. "You were bloody amazing."
"Zank you." Fleur replied curtly, shifting her eyes back to Hermione who had stiffened up.
"Bill Weasley." He jumped in again, putting on his best charming smile as he pushed his arm past Hermione and Harry to hold his hand out to the veela.
"Fleur." She replied as she shook the offered hand politely.
"That's a beautiful name." His smile widened and Hermione grew even more tense. "Is it French?"
"Oui." Fleur said dryly as she retracted her hand and smiled. "What gave eet away?"
Hermione didn't know why she felt this horrible feeling starting to bubble underneath the surface of her skin as she listened to the two converse. 'Is he seriously trying to flirt with her? She clearly isn't interested. How thick can he be?'
"I know Charlie here volunteered Hermione to pay for everyone's drinks, but I'd be more than happy to pay for your next round. It looks like you're almost empty." Bill continued on, earning him an eye roll from all of his siblings.
"Non." Fleur shrugged off his advances. "I zink 'Ermione owes it to me seeing as I did all ze work and she is reaping all ze benefits." Fleur looked back to the brunette, sending her a wink.
Hermione had to hide her smile behind her butterbeer, feeling slightly smug at the fact Bill got turned down, which seldom happened.
"Congratulations by the way." Harry smiled up drunkenly at the confident veela while Bill slunk back into his seat.
"Merci 'Arry." Fleur finally turned her attention to someone other than Hermione. "I 'ear you put on quite ze show."
"Damn near destroyed Hogwarts." Ron grinned.
"It was quite entertaining though." Charlie jumped in.
"That's one way to put it." Ginny said as she sipped on her butterbeer, earning her a playful glare from Harry.
"What ees zis beverage you are drinking?" Fleur eyed the group curiously as they all sipped from their big mugs.
"Butterbeer mostly." Harry replied as he put his mug down. "With a few shots of firewhiskey thrown in every now and again." He laughed.
"Only a few?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at the clearly drunk boy who lived, but if she was honest she would be following close behind him with how many shots she had taken. She could already feel the alcohol warming her body and filling her with a bubbly feeling.
"Well maybe more than a few." Harry grinned over at Hermione.
"Do you want to try some?" Ron piped in, obviously eager to please the veela.
"Oui." Fleur smiled, but instead of taking a fresh mug she reached to the middle of the table and took Hermione's from in front of her.
Hermione could only try to hide her blush and avert her eyes after she got a quick glimpse down Fleur's dress. 'She bloody did that on purpose.' She grumbled to herself, but found she wasn't as displeased as she normally would have been. She blamed it on the booze coursing through her veins, loosening her up, and lowering her inhibitions.
"Délicieux." Fleur's voice brought Hermione's eyes back to her as she licked her lips and placed the mug back in front of the blushing brunette.
"I bet." Ginny mumbled with a roll of her eyes as she took a drink from her own mug, earning her a warning look from the bookworm.
"Fleur." Veronique strolled up to the table, placing her hand on the blonde's forearm, catching Hermione's eye. "Odette is insisting you go and dance with her."
Fleur looked over her shoulder to see the other veela dancing in the middle of the Hogwarts students, waving her over.
"It seems my presence 'as been requested." Fleur turned back to the group and smiled. "Merci for ze 'ospitality." And with that Fleur was gone, heading to join her friend on the dance floor while Veronique swept away to the bar without giving the group so much as a second glance.
"I don't know what people see in that bloody veela." Ginny grumbled as Hermione sipped her butterbeer, trying to shake off the weird feeling the darker haired girl gave her. "You best throw out that butterbeer by the way. She probably poisoned it."
"Ginny." Harry sighed as he shook his head.
"This butterbeer?" Hermione pulled the beverage away from herself, looking at it with mock surprise on her face. "I didn't even think about that Gin!"
"Yeah-" Ginny started, but Hermione continued on.
"You're totally right! I best throw it out!" Hermione stood up and promptly dumped the liquid over Ginny's shocked head.
"Hermione!" Ginny cried out as she looked up, liquor dripping off her hair and chin as her friends burst into a fit of laughter.
Harry grinned at the pouting chaser. "Serves you right."
"Looks like I'm empty." Hermione smiled as she looked at her glass, ignoring the glare she received from the soaked Weasley. "I best go refill it."
"Does this mean we're even!?" Ginny yelled out after Hermione walking to the bar who proceeded to turn around with a grin and a shrug before going back on track.
It wasn't until Hermione reached the bar that she realized how inebriated she had become. She was more than capable of standing and handling her own, but she could feel the liquor flowing through her, pleasantly buzzing in her system. She leaned forward with a drunk smile, ushering the bartender over to her as she ordered another round.
As he walked to go fill her order Hermione stayed leaning on the bar and looked over to the right to see Fleur dancing with a big smile on her face. She listened to the muggle music filling the pub and watched how the blonde danced in time.
She don't leave makeup
After her kiss
All the boys at night
Think that she's theirs
Hermione couldn't help but notice Fleur was brimming with confidence and pure joy, which she had every right to after that victory. She watched, entranced, as Fleur's golden hair whipped from left to right, but it still looked perfect as it did so.
All the secrets that you keep
Might get spoken while you sleep
Her eyes drifted lower to how Fleur's hips swayed to the beat and how the muscles in her legs flexed as she moved. Her eyes moved back up to the veela's grinning face only to be caught staring by Fleur Delacour herself.
And all the boys and I
All the boys and I
Love her madly
Fleur's grin widened when she caught Hermione's gaze and she continued dancing. Hermione knew she should tear her gaze away from the cocky blonde, but couldn't bring herself to do so when she saw something she thought she would never see; the well reserved Fleur Delacour was being silly.
All the boys and I
All the girls and I, too
(Oh, oh!)
Picture girls we want so badly
Isn't she a dream come true?
'Moi?' Fleur mouthed at Hermione and pointed to herself in reference to the song making Hermione roll her eyes and look away with a smile as the bartender handed her her drink.
'Why does she have to be so bloody cute?' Hermione thought to herself as she glanced back at the blonde jumping and dancing while she moved her head from left to right. She had imagined the veela would be more of a sensual dancer, but seeing her jump around with the red head, spinning around, and twirling her friend made her think that this suited her much more.
Hermione tried to shake these thoughts from her head as she rejoined her friends who had drank even more firewhiskey in her absence. She tried to listen to them as they talked, she really did, but she constantly felt her gaze being pulled back to the veela everyone was staring at, a dopey smile forming on her face as she watched Fleur dance as if no one was really watching her.
"What do you think 'Mione?" Harry turned with a drunken smile to his friend, making her snap out of her stupor.
"I uh. . . what?" She looked back at her friends and a blush heated up her cheeks when a knowing smile spread across Harry's face.
Ginny raised an eyebrow at the clearly flustered brunette. "Too busy giving Delacour goo goo eyes to listen to your friends?"
"I was doing no such thing Ginny." Hermione hissed back.
"Yeah, neither was I." Charlie grinned as he nudged Bill.
"I wasn't." Hermione grumbled as she slouched back in her seat, her eyes briefly flicking back up to Fleur before she turned her attention back to her friends.
/
"That has to be the hundredth bloke to try to talk to that Delacour girl." Charlie laughed as he watched yet another patron get rejected with a simple wave from the blonde veela.
"Yeah, that happens a lot." Hermione said with a slight slur, her eyes a little glassy from the hours of drinking. It was now one am and she had been sneaking glances at the Beuxbatons champion all night.
"Say Hermione." Charlie grinned as he jumped over the barrier between them and wedged himself between Ron and the brunette eyeing him suspiciously. "Why don't you give it a go?"
Hermione just scoffed into her butterbeer as Harry grinned from ear to ear.
"That's what I've been saying mate."
"Please don't start this again." Hermione sighed.
Ginny looked absolutely shocked by Harry and Charlie's statements. "You don't seriously think Hermione should give it a go with Fleur do you Harry?"
"Why not?" He shrugged with a sloppy smile. "She's bloody brilliant."
Hermione just rolled her eyes as Ginny and Harry got into a mini argument and turned her attention back to the blonde who was starting to seem annoyed by the constant barrage of people pestering her. She watched curiously as Fleur walked out of the pub with her head held high and couldn't help but feel a pull in her chest.
She brought her attention back to her friends who were going back and forth on the same subject of Fleur Delacour, arguing about what Hermione should do. She tried to bite her tongue, but the liquor in her had other plans. "Stop talking about my love life as if its your own." She stood up with a growl, glaring at Harry and Ginny. "I'm perfectly capable of making my own decisions."
"We didn't mean it like that 'Mione." Harry frowned.
"We're just looking out for your best interest." Ginny replied, looking sheepish.
"Well don't." Hermione picked up one more shot of firewhiskey, downed it, and slammed the now empty glass onto the table before she decided she would go outside herself.
"Where are you going?" Ron yelled after the brunette heading towards the door.
"None of your business." Hermione shot back as she pushed open the door only to see Fleur Delacour leaning against the wall with a cigarette between her lips.
"Mademoiselle Granger." Fleur's velvety voice filled Hermione's ears. "What brings you out 'ere?"
"It's a free country isn't it?" Hermione scoffed as she crossed her arms and leaned on the wall next to the blonde, relishing in the cool air against her warm skin.
"I suppose." Fleur replied with a small smile as she took a drag and blew out the smoke, looking up at the sky.
"They drive me bloody insane sometimes." Hermione broke of her own accord, the liquor making her lips loosen.
"Who?" Fleur looked back at the brunette avoiding her gaze.
"My friends." Hermione grumbled.
"They wouldn't be your friends eef zey didn't drive you crazy sometimes zough." Fleur replied with a shrug.
"I suppose you're right." Hermione sighed, her eyes shifting over to the blonde looking back up at the sky glistening with stars. She forgot all of her frustration as she was stricken once more by how beautiful Fleur Delacour really is, especially under the moonlight. "You uh . . ." Hermione cleared her throat when Fleur's bright eyes focused back on her. "You couldn't seem to catch a break tonight huh?"
Fleur just laughed as she blew out more smoke. "Non. Zat ees why I snuck out. Well zat and . . ." She held up her hand with the cigarette between her fingers.
"That's a disgusting habit."
Fleur had half a mind to flick the cigarette away to please the young Gryffindor, but before she got the chance Hermione snatched the cigarette from her hand. Fleur's brows rose high up on her head as the bookworm took a long drag and slowly blew out the smoke. 'You are just full of surprises 'Ermione Granger.'
"Do you want to get out of here?" Hermione's question surprised the veela who was already watching her in awe.
"Oui." Fleur's response was automatic, causing a small smile to tug at Hermione's lips as she flicked the cigarette away.
"Follow me then."
/
"'ermione, where are you taking me?" Fleur frowned as they approached the forbidden forest.
"It's a surprise." Hermione replied with a shrug as she crossed the threshold of the forest and Fleur paused with wide eyes.
"I zought zis forest ees forbidden."
"It is." Hermione turned around and had to stop herself from laughing at the look on Fleur's face. "Don't tell me that Fleur Delacour, conqueror of dragons, is afraid of a little dark forest."
"I'm not afraid." Fleur huffed as she moved forward and stepped over the root of a tree sticking out of the ground. "I am just not een ze proper attire for a stroll zrough ze woods."
"It's not my fault you came over-dressed to a pub." Hermione grinned at the inebriated veela trying to walk through the soft dirt in her high heels. "Oh Merlin, just take off your bloody heels."
"Non." Fleur put her nose up, trying to look as dignified as possible as she passed the brunette.
"Suit yourself." Hermione shrugged, holding back her grin as she watched Fleur's legs wobble every now and then when her heels dipped in a little too low.
/
"'Ow much furzer ees zis place?" Fleur grumbled; after twenty minutes of walking her feet were starting to ache despite her drunken state.
"Not much further princess." Hermione rolled her eyes playfully at the veela.
"I prefer your majesty." Fleur replied and promptly stuck her tongue out at Hermione when she turned to look at her, causing the brunette to burst into a fit of giggles.
"You're lucky you're funny." Hermione shot back. "Otherwise I might leave you for the spiders."
"Spiders?" Fleur's face visibly paled.
"Oui." Hermione replied with a coy smile on her face.
"Surely you are kidding." Fleur looked over her shoulder as she rubbed her arms.
"Oh, I'm definitely not." Hermione laughed. "Ron and Harry had a nasty run in with them our second year, but don't worry, they're huge so they won't really be able to sneak up on you."
"Good to know." Fleur spoke quietly as she discreetly picked up her pace to bring herself closer to the golden girl.
Fleur spent the rest of the walk looking over her shoulder so much that she didn't notice Hermione stop and ran right into her back. "Ees eet a spider?" She asked as she quickly pulled out her wand.
"Relax Fleur." Hermione sighed at the tightly wound blonde. "We're here."
Fleur slowly lowered her wand and took a step forward as they entered a clearing with a lake that was filled with different colors from red to blue to purple. "What ees zis place?" She asked with wonder in her voice and she stepped towards the edge of the water.
"I'm still not quite sure." Hermione shrugged as she took off her gray and red cardigan sweater.
Fleur opened her mouth to say something more, but her mouth hung open as she watched Hermione Granger grab the bottom of her white shirt and pull it over her head slowly. 'Ees zis a dream?' Fleur thought to herself as the material hit the ground, exposing the tan, glowing skin of her back.
Hermione leaned down as she slowly pulled down her gray shorts, leaving Fleur to gape at the young Gryffindor clad in only her red lingerie, giving Fleur a perfect view of Hermione's shapely butt and long slender legs. She stood up straight at the edge of the lake and Fleur couldn't help but think of how much the golden girl resembled a mystical water nymph at the moment.
"Well?" Hermione raised an eyebrow and looked at the blushing blonde over her shoulder.
"Are you sure eet's safe?" Was the only stupid question Fleur could think to ask.
Fleur could only watch with a glazed look in her eyes as Hermione rolled her eyes with a smile before she walked over to a rock hanging over the lake. She stood at the edge for a moment while Fleur raked her eyes up Hermione's slender figure, taking in the sight of her surprisingly toned stomached, dainty shoulders, medium bust, and a pink mark in the middle of Hermione's chest that caught the veela's sharp gaze, but before she could evaluate the mark Hermione dove straight into the water.
The second Hermione's body disappeared under the water a red hue surrounded the area she had entered, leaving Fleur's drunken brain to scramble to figure out what happened. "'Ermione!?" She called out as she walked closer to the edge. 'Did she 'it 'er 'ead on a rock?'
Before Fleur could worry too much Hermione popped right back up with a smile on her face, treading water, without a gash or open wound.
"Why ees eet red around you?" Fleur frowned.
"Come in and see for yourself." Hermione shrugged. "Or are you too afraid?" She raised an eyebrow as she dipped her head lower in the water so only her amused amber eyes were visible.
"Don't be ridiculous." Fleur huffed as she carefully took off her heals and reached back to unzip her dress.
Hermione's golden eyes darkened slightly and was very happy her mouth was hidden under the water so Fleur couldn't see her mouth hanging open as she slowly slid out of her dress, showing off that delicious body clad in matching blue lingerie Hermione remembered from the prefects bathroom.
Fleur felt her cheeks redden at the Gryffindor's stare. Usually, she wore her skin like armor, and was eager to show it off, but for some reason, having Hermione watch her so closely made her feel oddly exposed. She tried to shake off the unfamiliar feeling as she shimmied out of her dress and hung it over a nearby tree before she slowly walked into the water; she would not blindly jump into terrain she was unsure about.
As she got in further her eyes widened as a bright blue hue filled the water surrounding her. "Why ees eet doing zis?"
"Honestly, I'm not quite sure yet." Hermione found her voice despite the beautiful imagine of Fleur Delacour in just her lingerie entering the water. "I have a theory though."
"Oh?" Fleur raised an eyebrow as she got further in and started treading water.
"I hate to say this, because it makes me sound like Luna, but I think it's your aura."
"My aura?" Fleur looked confused as she looked back down at the bright blue and as she got closer she noticed Hermione's red and her blue mixing into a light magenta.
"Yeah, normally its viewed as a more spiritual thing, but I guess this lake manifests it into a physical form."
Fleur looked back up to Hermione, her arctic eyes brimming with curiosity, but once again light pink caught Fleur's attention. Right in the middle of Hermione's chest there was a small line about three inches long marring her perfect skin. Fleur quickly looked away, feeling rude for staring at the mark, but couldn't stop her mind from wandering. 'Ow een ze world did she come upon zat scar?'
"'Ow did you come upon zis place?" Fleur asked instead of the question burning inside of her foggy head.
"I just came upon it one day when I was taking a stroll." Hermione moved to float on her back, looking up at the bright night sky littered with stars.
"So you wander dark forests often?" Fleur raised an eyebrow, making a grin spread across Hermione's face.
"Often enough."
'You are an odd one 'Ermione Granger.' Fleur thought to herself as she followed suit and floated on her back in the warm water. She felt her veela purr contentedly as her arctic eyes took in the clearly visible milky way and twinkling lights. "Eet ees quite beautiful 'ere."
Hermione just hummed her agreement as her drunken body relaxed and let the water take it where ever it wanted to. Her amber eyes flickered to the right and in her drunken haze she saw Fleur looking just as content as she felt. "I like to come here when the pressure from . . everything becomes too much. I figured you could use it too."
"I am surprised you would show me zis place." Fleur's arctic eyes shifted to lock with Hermione's golden ones. "I zought you-"
"You zought wrong Mademoiselle Delacour." Hermione cut Fleur off, mocking her French accent with a smirk.
"Is zat supposed to be moi?" Fleur asked with a grin.
"Oui." Hermione smiled as she nodded her head. "What gave eet away?"
"Bloody 'ell."
Hermione burst into a fit of laughter when Fleur failed horribly at a British accent. "And that's me?"
"Oui." Fleur smiled. "Eet ees what you sound like."
"Yeah, it was dead on." Hermione replied mockingly as she started treading water again and Fleur followed suit. They were only ten feet away from each other as Fleur watched the young prodigy curiously. She was beyond surprised that they were talking so easily to each other just like they had weeks before. "So, tell me Mademoiselle Delacour, are you as bad as they say? I'm dying to know."
Hermione's blunt question completely threw the veela off guard and she shifted her eyes to the right before she looked back to Hermione. "Are you?"
"I asked first." Hermione swam just a little bit closer making the veela in Fleur stir. The atmosphere seemed to shift and Fleur could tell their game of cat and mouse had reversed on her as blue and red started to slowly merge.
"People say many zings, eet does not mean zey are true." Fleur danced around the question. "I do as I please and some don't approve of zat."
"Like your sister?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"What ees zis? Some British game?" Fleur huffed.
"Perhaps." Hermione grinned. "Answer the question."
"Only eef you answer mine first." Fleur shot Hermione a challenging look to which Hermione shrugged.
"Go ahead."
"Where did you get zat scar?" Fleur frowned, her eyes drifting down to Hermione's chest before looking back to Hermione's eyes. For a brief second, amber glazed over and Hermione seemed to go somewhere else entirely just like they did at the lake, but she quickly shook it off.
"I tripped while running with scissors." Hermione replied, trying to hold back her smile when she saw Fleur roll her eyes at her answer.
"You're not going to give me a straight forward answer are you?" Fleur didn't sound upset, just curious by the brunette's behavior.
"No." Hermione replied with a small smile.
"Zat 'ardly seems fair."
"Well . . ." Hermione spoke as she swam forward, slowly decreasing the space between the two. "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours."
Fleur felt her cheeks heat up at the double meaning of what Hermione just said. "Ees eet zat bad?" Fleur somehow found her voice which had gotten caught in her throat at the proximity between the two now that they were a mere foot away from each other and blue and red completely merged into magenta surrounding them.
"Worse." Hermione spoke softly and as they locked eyes Fleur's arctic blues started to glow that bright neon color as her veela became excited. "Why did your sister say those awful things about you?"
Fleur's eyes flickered down to Hermione's lips that asked such a difficult and painful question she didn't want to even think about. "We used to be close." Fleur licked her lips as her glowing eyes shifted back up to Hermione's. "I grew up and we grew apart. Eets zat simple."
"You're a bad liar." The side of Hermione's mouth quirked up into a half smile.
"Eet ees not a lie."
"But it's not the whole truth either." Hermione shot back with a raised eyebrow as the two hovered around each other. "Is telling the truth that bad?"
Fleur's eyes stayed firmly on Hermione's own probing gaze as she replied just as quietly as Hermione had. "Worse."
"Hmmmm." Hermione hummed as she eyed the veela carefully in her drunken stupor. "I like it better when you're being genuine."
"Oh?" Fleur asked as Hermione got even closer to the point that there was barely any space between them and their legs brushed between kicks to keep them afloat, nearly driving the veela insane.
"And the way your eyes glow." Hermione spoke as she seemed to stare deep into Fleur's soul through her bright orbs. "Why do they do that?"
"It's the veela . . ." Fleur replied honestly for once. "Eet's um . . ." 'Excited.' Fleur licked her lips as her eyes flickered back down to Hermione's cherry red lips that looked so enticing that she was finding it difficult to focus. "Eet's intrigued."
"Is it now?"
Fleur's heart started pounding in her chest as Hermione face subtly grew closer. The apex predator in her was screaming for her to lean in the rest of the way and capture Hermione's sweet lips; to claim her as her own. The golden girl was hers for the taking, it would be so easy to push her against the rock and take her the way she wanted to, but the smell of whiskey on Hermione's breath invaded Fleur's senses and in that moment she knew that it would be wrong. It wouldn't be an actual conquest or consensual. It was painfully obvious now that Hermione Granger was completely smashed and would probably not remember a single moment from tonight, so much to the veela inside of hers annoyance, Fleur drew back.
"Eet ees quite late 'Ermione." Fleur looked off to the side when she saw the disappointed look cross Hermione's face. "Per'aps I should get you back to ze castle."
"And get me detention with Snape?" Hermione bounced back quickly. "No way. I'll just stay here."
"Zis ees no place to sleep Mademoiselle Granger."
"Fine." Hermione waved Fleur off as she just about stumbled out of the water to throw her clothes back on while Fleur reluctantly followed suit. "I'll just stay with you."
"Moi?" Fleur almost fell over as she was putting her heals back on. She looked over at the drunken girl, shock written all over her face as Hermione casually threw her cardigan sweater back on.
"Will that be a problem?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at the blushing champion.
"N-non." Fleur shook her head, trying to seem as collected as possible.
"Good." Hermione huffed as she marched back towards the carriage. "And don't get any funny ideas." She sent Fleur a warning look who was struggling to keep up with her.
"S'il vous plaît." Fleur rolled her eyes. 'I guess we are back to ze usual banter.' "I am not some deviant Mademoiselle Granger."
/
It took a little longer than expected for them to find their way out of the forest than it did to find their way in seeing as the alcohol had hit Hermione a little later than expected, but eventually they made it to the carriage.
Fleur frantically tried to hush the inebriated Gryffindor who was completely enamored by the elegant set up of the carriage as they made their way inside. "Bloody hell . . ." Hermione whistled as she looked up in wonder at the giant crystal chandelier hanging above them. "You guys definitely don't spare any expenses on your décor."
"'Ermione." Fleur whispered, hoping the golden girl might get the que to lower her voice.
"It's a bit over the top don't you think?" Hermione turned back to Fleur.
"Oui." Fleur nodded as they walked down the hallway. "But you must remember to keep your voice down 'Ermione. You do not want to deal wiz Madame Maxine at zree een ze morning. Eet ees not pleasant."
"You've had some experience with that eh?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at the blonde looking left and right for anyone lingering in the hallway. "Do you sneak people into your room late at night very often?"
"I am going to pretend you didn't just ask me zat Mademoiselle Granger." Fleur shot the pouting girl a warning look as they finally reached her room.
"I'll take that as a yes." Hermione frowned as they entered Fleur's immaculate room filled with books and art all over the wall.
"Take eet any way you want." Fleur rolled her eyes. "We need to get you out of zose wet clothes."
"I thought I told you not to-"
Fleur simply grabbed a tank top and shorts and shoved them into Hermione's hands before she could finish her sentence. "I will go change in ze bazroom. Let me know when you are done." And with that Fleur swept away before Hermione could protest.
She quickly changed in the bathroom and brushed out her hair, sighing as she looked in the mirror. The veela in her was thoroughly upset with her for skipping such a perfect opportunity to take advantage of Hermione Granger, but Fleur refused to cross that line. She may be many things, but she did not take advantage of someone when they were not in their right mind.
She stood there for a few more moments, trying to grasp what had transpired that evening, waiting for Hermione to call out to her, but frowned when the drunken girl said nothing. When the long silence grew too suspicious Fleur hesitantly opened the door, peaking her head out only to see Hermione Granger in her red lingerie lying face down, completely passed out in her bed with the clothes she had given her on the floor.
"Stubborn girl." Fleur shook her head as she tossed her clothes on the dresser and climbed into bed herself.
She tried to close her eye to go to sleep, but she found the task difficult when her bright orbs opened and fixed themselves on the slumbering form of Hermione. Her wet hair was sprawled out on her pillow, gripping the sheet tightly in her fist, and her brow was furrowed as if she was upset even in her sleep.
Before Fleur could question what she was doing she carefully reached forward and ran her thumb along the crease of Hermione's forehead, making the golden girl's face and body relax almost immediately.
A small smile crossed Fleur's face as Hermione loosened her hold on the sheet and let out a soft sigh. 'Why must she be so cute even een 'er sleep?'
Fleur blushed at her own thought, inwardly scolding herself for being even slightly sentimental. She closed her eyes tightly, desperately trying to block out those unwanted thoughts when she felt the bed shift and a weight press itself on her shoulder.
Her arctic eyes popped open to see Hermione Granger resting her head on her shoulder with a dreamy smile on her face as she threw her arm and leg over the shocked veela. She panicked on the inside, unsure of what to do in such a situation. She was in no way used to 'cuddling' with people and this was a huge offense, but in that moment something strange took over the blonde.
Instead of the usual urge to conquer, a more primal urge came forth to shelter and protect as she slowly lifted her arms, and wrapped them around the inebriated girl. She had never felt more confused in her life; she didn't know why she felt so comforted by the feeling of Hermione's soft warm skin pressed against her own. It made no sense why, when she lifted up her shaking hand and ran her fingers through brown locks and Hermione let out a content sigh, she all but swooned.
Her body felt as if it was relaxing for the first time and her eyelids started growing heavier and heavier by the second. She tried to fight the feeling, but it seemed the harder she fought, the quicker she started to nod off. 'What een ze world are you doing to me 'Ermione Granger?' Was the last thought that drifted through Fleur's mind as she finally caved in and slipped into a deep sleep.
AN: Yaaaaay, finally some Fleurmione cuteness :D I thoroughly apologize if there were any mistakes in grammar or the flow was off in this chapter. I practically pulled my hair out writing it. Nothing I wrote felt good enough, but I couldn't bear to look at it any longer and feared I would just make it worse if I kept messing with it lol I had planned on revealing some things about Hermione and her past in this chapter, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt it was too soon for her to open up to Fleur, even if she was completely smashed, but I was happy to show that maybe Hermione isn't as good as she seems and Fleur isn't as bad as you think either :) Anyways, I really hope you guys liked the new chapter and I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts on the pair and how their relationship is developing :)