A/N: Cards on the table... I actually don't like writing in the Half-Blood Prince era so have tried to speed it along a bit, especially because there were limited chances for Hermione to interact with Fleur.

This chapter is slightly less angsty, more setting the scene- plus I always thought Pansy and Hermione should party together sometime, ha.

Also, I am writing so many chapters so close together because I'm barely sleeping- so if I make any weird mistakes or annoying typos, just let me know so I can fix them. x

Chapter 10.

The break passed quickly. Hermione had hoped that Pig would return with a response from Fleur, but nothing came. To make matters worse, Ron was constantly at her side asking needling questions. By the time it was time to get back to Hogwarts, Hermione had a serious bout of cabin fever.

Getting on the Hogwarts Express, she tried not to think of Fleur as Ginny threw herself into Pansy's arms and kissed her passionately. A group of third year Hufflepuff boys wolf whistled and Hermione pushed past them to try and find an empty compartment.

Ron followed her, scratching his neck as she greeted various schoolmates on her way to a compartment. Finally, she found one and settled into it, Ron immediately sitting right beside her.

"So… I saw you say hi to Frankie Rome from Ravenclaw in the hallway just now," Ron commented, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, and?" Hermione said absently. She was really looking forward to being back at Hogwarts and having some more space between her and Ron. He was really suffocating her with all his boring chatter.

"Frankie with an F…" Ron said, looking at Hermione meaningfully.

"What are you getting at?" Hermione sighed, "She's in my Arithmancy class,"

Harry entered the compartment, followed by Ginny and Pansy.

"Oh, there you are, Ron," Harry commented, "Lavender is looking for you,"

"Great," Ron sighed darkly, leaning back in his seat.

"Magic fading that fast, is it?" Harry asked. Ron pulled his hood up and rubbed at his temples.

"Leave it, mate," Ron complained. Ginny and Pansy exchanged amused looks.

"Sorry, shall we go hit the food trolley?" Harry asked, pulling out his pouch of money. Ron nodded. Of course the only way to cheer him up would be to offer him food. The two boys got up and left the compartment again.

Ginny sat in Pansy's lap, smiling as Pansy looped her arms around her waist.

"Merlin, I missed you," Ginny murmured, kissing Pansy. Pansy smirked before looking up and noticing Hermione was still in the compartment.

"So did you smooth things over with Fleur?" Pansy asked. Hermione raised her eyebrows and Pansy smirked, "Yeah, Gin owled me all about it almost immediately."

"I should have known," Hermione sighed, "But yes, I sent her a letter. She still hasn't replied yet though… I don't know if she will."

Pansy looked sympathetic. "At least you tried," she reasoned.

Back at Hogwarts, Hermione was soothed by the normalcy of everything. Ron was back to sucking face with Lavender, Harry was back to obsessively checking the Marauder's Map to spy on Malfoy, Snape was back to being moody. It almost cheered her up from the depressing fact that Fleur clearly wasn't going to reply to her.

Every morning she looked up at the mail expectantly. But nothing ever came. She kept herself distracted, writing to Viktor and Tonks and keeping up her subscriptions so at least she would have something in the mail, even if it wasn't what she wanted.

Today she was filing through the envelopes dropped in front of her. Ron was watching her carefully.

"Expecting a letter from someone?" he asked. Hermione looked across the table at him. He was still acting so weirdly.

"Why do you always ask that?" Hermione asked. Ron shrugged and went back to his breakfast.

Hermione had a letter from Viktor and… she dropped the Daily Prophet in her other hand. She could recognize that looping lettering anywhere. Fleur.

Ripping open the small package, Hermione's heart sunk as she began to read the words.

"Hermione,

I had hoped more than anything that you would owl me immediately after Christmas Eve. Telling me something, anything that would explain what Ronald had said to you that night.

I have waited so many days and cried so many tears. But enough. If you can move on, so can I.

Enclosed in this package are the books that I had borrowed from you.

I hope that we can still someday be friends

All the best,

F."

Ginny was reading alongside her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I thought you said you sent her a letter…" Ginny said gently.

"I did," Hermione said, furrowing her brow. She looked up. Ron had already disappeared from the table. She got up, eyes narrowing and stalked out of the Great Hall. Ginny got up and followed her, concerned.

Hermione had stalked down the hallway before coming across Lavender pinning Ron against a wall, kissing him passionately and a hand running down his chest. Hermione's anger flared even more at the fact that this particular nook had once been used by her and Fleur to kiss discreetly.

"What the hell is your problem?!" Hermione shouted. Lavender leapt away from Ron.

"Oh, its just you," Lavender said, relaxing. Ron blushed.

"What do you want?" Ron asked, looking a little guilty.

"Why the fuck did you tell me that you sent that letter for me when you didn't?!" Hermione demanded.

"Why didn't you tell me you were seeing someone?!" Ron demanded back angrily.

"Because I thought you would act… Well like this! Irrationally!" Hermione shouted.

Lavender looked completely baffled. Ginny finally caught up to Hermione and pulled her away.

"He's an idiot, Hermione, just leave it," Ginny said firmly, "Once he promised he had handed in my permission slip for the under 10s quidditch club and he never did… Its just what he's like."

"Excuse me if I consider this to be a little more important than a kids' quidditch club!" Hermione shouted.

"Are you even going to tell me who is so important that you can't even tell me, your best friend, about it?!" Ron demanded.

"Yeah my best friend who ruined the Yule Ball for me when he found out that I went with Viktor?!" Hermione shouted.

"Let's get out of here, Hermione," Ginny insisted, dragging Hermione with her down the hall.

"I could throttle him," Hermione seethed as Ginny led her safely away from Ron.

"Maybe its not so bad," Ginny replied, dragging Hermione towards the Gryffindor common room, "I mean, you said yourself a million times that you didn't think long distance could possibly work with her. Better a little pain now than more in the long-run, right?"

Hermione didn't reply, frowning as they climbed through the portrait hole. She bumped into Ginny who had stopped in her tracks upon entering the common room.

"What?" Hermione asked crankily.

"Who died?" Ginny asked, looking around at the silent and deathly pale figures of the Gryffindors around her. Harry stepped forward, looking like he might be sick.

"I was walking back from Hagrid's hut and I ran into Katie Bell and her friend fighting over a package… It fell open and… Katie got hurt really bad by some pretty nasty dark magic," Harry said quietly, "She's been taken to St Mungo's."

"Jesus, who would do that?!" Hermione exclaimed, snapping out of her mood.

Harry pulled Hermione and Ginny to one side in the Common Room.

"I told McGonagall it was probably Malfoy… I mean he's up to something, right? But she just dismissed it." Harry said in a low mutter. Ginny and Hermione exchanged glances.

"But why would he try to hurt Katie?" Hermione asked, furrowing her brow.

"I dunno… Practice round maybe?" Harry said, scratching his neck, "There is definitely something going on though. Remember how after the Christmas Eve Order meeting Mr Weasley told me that Malfoy was really interested in a cabinet?"

"So you think he cursed Katie… So he could get her out of the way in the final stages of a cabinet auction?" Ginny asked, quirking into a smile.

"Its not funny, Gin," Harry growled, "He keeps disappearing off the Marauder's Map more and more often. I need to get to the bottom of this."

"I'm sure if Malfoy was ducking out of the school every five minutes to attend Death Eater meetings Pansy would have brought it up," Ginny said sardonically, crossing her arms.

"You so sure of that?" Harry challenged, crossing his arms too, "She is good friends with him."

"That doesn't mean she'd lie, Harry," Ginny scoffed, "I mean she kept the DA safe last year when she was still friends with them."

"Not the same," Harry said firmly, turning on his heel, picking up his potions textbook and storming to his dormitory.

"I feel like I'm the only one around this castle without an attitude problem these days," Ginny sighed, turning back to Hermione. "So what are you going to do? Owl Fleur and tell her what that prat Ron did?"

"I don't know… Maybe it is for the best," Hermione sighed, conflicted, "You're right, I did say so may times that long distance wouldn't work."

"If you decide that now, you're also deciding that you're okay with her moving on… are you sure about that?" Ginny asked gently. Hermione shook her head.

"I don't know, Gin," Hermione admitted, "I've never felt this way about anyone before… But I can't handle hurting her any more."

Ginny nodded, looking as if she wanted to say more but holding back.

The next day, Harry and Hermione walked to the Great Hall, noting a notice erected outside announcing apparation lessons for anyone over the age of seventeen.

"Finally," Hermione said darkly, thinking about how many times she would have been able to chase after Fleur if she had only been able to apparate.

"So, you and Ron not talking then?" Harry asked as they walked into the hall. Ron was already at the table with a scowl on his face, one arm slung possessively around Lavender at his side.

"I just don't get why he would do something like that to me," Hermione said bitterly. A strange look crossed Harry's face but he changed the subject instead.

"So the apparation classes are going to be held in the Great Hall… I'm sure Hogwarts: A History had something to say about that," Harry said, pulling a smile on his face. Hermione sighed exasperatedly.

"Yes, Harry, as I have told you about a million times since our First Year, Hogwarts has wards that prevent people from apparating in and out of the grounds. Only House Elves can apparate within the grounds. So I am assuming they will momentarily lift the wards for our practice," Hermione said. She was annoyed at Harry for asking her yet again about apparating in the grounds, but it did make her feel a little better to recite some facts from her favourite book. Harry was grinning as if that were his intention all along. Hermione rolled her eyes, he was annoying, but he was a great friend.

After breakfast they headed to a double Potions class with Slughorn on antidotes. Hermione's mood was further lifted when to Harry's dismay, the Half-Blood Prince had no advice other than a surly "shove a bezoar down their throats." For once they would be on an even playing field again.

"Wanna work on the antidotes essay after class today?" Pansy asked. Hermione nodded, helping her work through an appropriate antidote to concoct for the lesson.

"We could all work on it together?" Harry suggested, nudging Ron beside him. Ron scowled.

"Think I might be busy," Ron grunted, avoiding looking at Hermione.

As the class drew to a close, Hermione was unable to hide a wide grin from her face as Slughorn complimented the potion that her and Pansy had made. Hermione glanced over at Harry who had an entirely empty cauldron in front of him and Ron. This was going to be good.

"Ah, Harry my boy… Erm, where is your antidote?" Slughorn asked, scratching at his thinning hair. Harry held out his hand, offering a bezoar that he must have fished out from the supply closet. Slughorn laughed boisterously.

"Ah, top marks, top marks, Harry my boy," Slughorn chuckled, moving on to the next table. Harry hi-fived Ron and grinned down at his potions textbook, irritating Hermione again.

That night Harry met Pansy and Hermione in the library with a box of pumpkin cakes. Pansy reached to get one but Harry swatted her hand away.

"These are for Ron," Harry explained, "I promised he could have the lot if he came to study with us tonight."

"Paying people to be your friend, Potter," Pansy smirked, "Not desperate at all."

"Shut up," Harry replied, "They were a gift from that Colin Creevey kid, its hardly paying Ron to show up. Besides, I just want him and Hermione to make up already."

"Um, and what makes you think I want to make up with him?" Hermione said waspishly, "He was a total prat and ruined any chance I had at mending things with Fleur."

"Yeah, well, then you decided to leave it anyway, so its no real loss, is it?" Harry said dismissively, straightening the box of cakes on the table in his attempts to make peace amongst the friends.

Sure enough, Ron arrived and sat gloomily in the seat beside Harry, stomach growling. He didn't even greet any of them, instead sulkily pushing the box open and beginning to devour the pumpkin cakes greedily.

"Charming," Hermione said sarcastically, earning a grunt from Ron, "So shall we make a start on the essay planning? Its going to be 15% of our final grade. What are we thinking for starters?"

Ron suddenly dropped the cake he was halfway through eating with wide eyes. Hermione looked surprised.

"What? You actually have something to contribute, Ronald?" Hermione said irritably. Ron continued to gape at the others around the table.

"I think I'm in love with Colin Creevey," Ron stated dreamily.

"Yeah, very funny Weasley," Pansy said, rolling her eyes. She had enough of the weird gay jokes from some of the Slytherins.

"I'm serious, I think I really love him…" Ron said, looking around glassy eyed.

"What the…" Hermione's jaw dropped and she looked at a similarly shocked Harry.

"Where is this coming from, Ron?" Harry asked, "I don't think you've even talked to Colin before,"

"Yeah, but like that's love, right? Unpredictable… Working in its mysterious ways," Ron continued in his strange dreamy way, "I should go and find him and tell him I love him."

Harry grabbed Ron by the shoulder and firmly held him in his seat.

"Yeah, mate, I don't think that's a good idea right now," he said, looking at Hermione quizzically.

"Oh my God," Hermione said, suddenly clicking, "Colin gave you those pumpkin cakes, Harry,"

"Yeah… So?" Harry replied, still looking at Ron with a surprised expression.

"So he dosed them with a pretty potent love potion by the looks," Pansy said, watching amused as Ron begin to scrawl "Ronald Creevey" over his Potions textbook and surround it with hearts.

"Jesus Christ," Harry exclaimed, looking from the box of innocent looking pumpkin cakes to the dreamy Ron, "I guess that explains why he's always wanting to talk to me and take my picture."

"Come to think of it, I dunno why we never assumed earlier he was in love with you," Pansy smirked. Harry groaned.

"Right, Ron, we're going to take a visit to Professor Slughorn," Harry said, hoisting his bag on his shoulder and gripping Ron firmly by the arm.

"And he's going to take us to Colin?" Ron asked hopefully.

"Yeah, sure mate," Harry replied, pulling Ron out of the library with him.

"Well that was entertaining," Pansy laughed, reshuffling her papers. Ginny appeared in the library and came to sit with them.

"The weirdest thing just happened… I passed Harry and Ron on my way in here and Ron was babbling about being in love with that Creevey boy," Ginny commented.

Pansy and Hermione laughed and filled Ginny in on what had happened, removing the pumpkin cakes from the table in case another unsuspecting soul tried to eat one.

"Oh well, at least this might distract Harry from his Malfoy obsession for now," Ginny sighed, settling into her chair, "I mean he has this crazy theory that Draco is somehow getting out of the grounds and back in again."

"Really," Pansy said noncommittally, flipping through the pages of her Potions textbook. Hermione looked from Ginny to Pansy. Something was going on.

"I mean as if you wouldn't tell me if you knew something," Ginny pressed.

"Ahuh," Pansy still didn't look up from her textbook, instead focusing extremely hard on a particular paragraph, squinting at the text.

"Pansy… Do you know something that you aren't telling me?" Ginny finally said. Hermione held her breath as she watched Pansy sigh and shut her textbook.

"Its not really important," Pansy began, "But yeah… Sometimes Draco goes away somewhere in the grounds and when he comes back he has things from elsewhere, like an ice-cream from Florean Fortescue's or some baking from his mum."

"What the hell, Pansy?!" Ginny shrieked. Several heads turned to look at their table and Madam Pince came bustling over to them. Pansy looked sheepish.

"Girls…" Madam Pince began threateningly.

"Don't worry," Ginny said fiercely, "I'm leaving, anyway,"

She slung her bag on her shoulder and stalked out of the library without another word, leaving Hermione and Pansy to be scolded by Pince. When Pince finally relented and returned to her desk, Pansy turned to Hermione.

"I honestly didn't think it was a big deal, just like some stupid super-fast owl trick or something," Pansy explained, "I'd better go chase down Gin and explain."

She left Hermione sitting at the table, gathering her things clumsily and hurrying out of the library.

The next day Hermione was greeted with a letter from Tonks. Tearing it open, she smiled as she read about Tonks' hilarious antics in the city and how she was getting on. Nearing the end, however, Hermione felt like she had been punched in the stomach. She re-read the sentence several times.

"I know this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but I know you would want to know. Bill told me last night that he has gone on a couple of dates with Fleur recently."

Hermione rubbed her forehead and shut her eyes, trying to block out the waves of jealousy that were crashing over her.

"You okay?" Ginny asked next to her. Hermione scrunched up the letter in her hand and forced a smile.

"Great," she replied, "Just have a headache is all,"

Ginny looked at her curiously for a moment.

"Will you be coming to the game tonight?" Ginny asked. Hermione nodded.

Later that day after classes, the quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor was beginning. Hermione met Pansy on her way down to the stands. She looked miserable.

"Gin hasn't forgiven you then?" Hermione surmised. Pansy nodded sulkily.

"We should get out of here for a weekend," Pansy suggested, "Take our minds off girl troubles."

"I don't have girl troubles," Hermione said defensively.

"Please, as if you haven't been moping around ever since things ended with Delacour," Pansy scoffed, "Come on, we just need permission from our heads of house and from our parents. My parents have an apartment in London and we could go shopping and forget about all the drama happening here."

"I suppose that would be a nice change," Hermione mused, thinking of how unpleasant it had been putting up with Ron in the midst of their fight. It had only been calm today because Ron was still in the hospital wing after getting poisoned by a bottle of mead in Slughorn's office. "I could go and visit Tonks too," Hermione added.

"Great, lets owl our parents tonight for permission," Pansy grinned, "It'll be a great idea."

She looped her arm in Hermione's and they found a seat amongst the Gryffindor supporters as the match kicked off. Pansy's eyes were predictably on Ginny the whole time, who if anything, was performing even more fiercely as a chaser than usual. Hermione noted with distaste that Cormac McLaggen was filling in for Ron as the keeper.

Harry seemed to be flying more indecisively than usual, Hermione noted. As the match drew on, it became clearer to Hermione that Harry's mind was elsewhere. Near the end of the match, Hermione noticed Harry fully stationery on his broom, looking out of the boundary of the pitch. Hermione followed his gaze and saw Draco walking off with a couple of younger girls. As she looked back, she let out a scream, but it was too late. Harry was knocked forcefully from his broom by a bludger to the head.

"So, permission from my parents and from Snape," Pansy smirked, waving a slip in front of Hermione's face, "And my parents even arranged a portkey to get us to London. Snape thinks they'll be there supervising us so don't mention anything different, okay?"

"Sure," Hermione agreed, "My parents agreed too and McGonagall signed off on it. I suppose with you and Ginny fighting and Harry and Ron in the hospital wing there isn't much to do around here this weekend anyway."

"Exactly," Pansy smirked, "Now have you owled that friend of yours about coming to visit?"

"Not yet," Hermione replied, her stomach dropping uncomfortably as she thought about that awful line in Tonks' last letter, "But I will."

"Great, I'm already making a list of shops I want to check out… I'm supposing you will insist on at least one bookshop?" Pansy asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"You know me too well," Hermione smirked.

"I honestly think these apparation lessons are going really well," Pansy commented, looking around the Great Hall, "I reckon we'll be ready to pass the test in no time."

"I'm still not crazy about the sensation of apparating," Hermione said with a frown. It felt like she were being compressed into a tube.

"Heck, who cares when we can go anywhere we want whenever we want?" Pansy grinned.

The class abruptly ended as Seamus Finnegan managed to splinch his arm slightly, wailing in pain.

Hermione slung her bag over her shoulder and headed off to the library to write to Tonks. Hopefully Tonks would have some good ideas for cheering her up.

The next day Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table with Ginny, sipping at a pumpkin juice. Harry and Ron were still in the hospital wing so it was strangely quiet at the table.

"Better watch out this weekend, Pansy might just unexpectedly bring Malfoy along," Ginny said bitterly.

"You still mad at her then?" Hermione asked.

"Of course! We've been thinking Harry is totally mental while she knew the whole time that Malfoy was actually up to something," Ginny seethed.

"Well, to be fair, an ice-cream and some baking is hardly a smoking gun," Hermione scoffed, "And Pansy did honestly think it wasn't anything worth mentioning."

"Well don't bring her back until she's ready to apologise," Ginny sniffed. Hermione laughed, disguising it as a cough. It was kind of cute watching Ginny argue with her girlfriend.

The screech of owls above signaled the morning mail. Hermione's morning paper and a couple of letters dropped in front of her. She recognized Tonks' writing on one immediately.

"That was fast!" Hermione commented, opening the letter.

"Hi Hermione,

So glad to hear you're coming up to London! I have the perfect way for you and your friend to take your mind off girl drama. I myself am trying to take my mind off my relationship troubles with Remus and was planning on throwing a party this weekend. You have to stop by! I've drawn a map of how to get to my place on the back of this letter.

See you this weekend!

Tonks"

"That actually does sound more fun than spending the weekend at Hogwarts," Ginny moaned.

"Nothing is stopping you from contacting your mum to see if you can join," Hermione said.

"Yeah, except for Pansy," Ginny said darkly.

"God, I can't wait until this fight between you two dies down," Hermione commented.

The weekend came by soon enough, although it felt like an age to Hermione. Not having Harry or Ron around and Ginny and Pansy being in a fight made the school feel a whole lot more lonely. It wasn't particularly conducive to keeping Fleur off her mind.

As Hermione finished off breakfast in the Great Hall on Saturday morning before meeting Pansy out on the grounds. Pansy was holding a small box.

"Ready?" she grinned, opening the box up. Inside was a small keyring.

"So ready for a mini-break," Hermione sighed as they both reached in to touch the keyring. Feeling an all too familiar jerk behind her navel, Hermione felt darkness fall around her. Soon, they arrived in the atrium of a swanky apartment building.

"I never thought I would hear Hermione Granger long for a break instead of a weekend in the library," Pansy smirked, walking over to an elevator.

"Woah… Pansy… I didn't realize you were…"

"The daughter of two filthy rich former Death Eaters?" Pansy asked, raising a brow, "It has its silver lining sometimes."

"Your parents really were Death Eaters?" Hermione asked, following Pansy into the lift.

"Lets just say when I told them about Ginny they said at least she was a pureblood," Pansy said, scrunching her nose up with distaste. Hermione shot her a sympathetic look.

"Sorry, Pans," Hermione said as they reached the penthouse. Hermione looked around at the luxurious décor of the apartment as they stepped in.

"Okay, so guest room is down there, I'll be in this room," Pansy said, disappearing into a room to drop her bag off before appearing again, "Now pleaaaase tell me we can go shopping? I've been looking forward to it all week!"

"Fine," Hermione sighed, dropping her bag. She was hardly a shopaholic but if Pansy thought it was a good way to take her mind off girl problems, then she may as well give it a go.

Hours later, slightly regretting her underestimation of Pansy's stamina for shopping, Hermione headed back to the apartment with Pansy and a couple of shopping bags each.

"Boy am I glad you are the master of this bag-expanding charm," Pansy sighed, rustling one of her bags.

"If only I had a charm for aching feet," Hermione groaned. Pansy smirked.

"Hey, now, we're off to your friend's house as soon as we drop these bags off and have some dinner," Pansy laughed, "I hope you can rally."

Hermione sighed as they arrived back in the apartment and Pansy set about making dinner.

"Foot ache aside, this has been a pretty good way of taking my mind off Fleur," Hermione said, sitting down and slipping off her shoes.

"And a pretty good way of cooling down from my fight with Ginny," Pansy said, twirling her wand as she cooked the food. Satisfied that the spell had worked, she plated the food and brought it over to Hermione.

"Why did you stay so quiet about Malfoy acting weird?" Hermione asked. Pansy looked up from her plate.

"Genuinely, I didn't think it was a big deal," Pansy answered, "And I guess I just try to avoid talking about the Slytherins in general in front of her. Its tough trying to stay friends with them when I know you guys hate them."

"So why didn't you just apologise?" Hermione asked. Pansy laughed.

"Same reason you and Fleur had that stalemate after Hogsmeade I suppose… Pride," Pansy said. They chatted idly some more over dinner before changing into some of their new clothes and heading off to Tonks'.

Tonks looked overjoyed to see Hermione, engulfing her in a hug as soon as she opened the door.

"'Mione! Welcome!" Tonks said cheerily, "I'm so glad you decided to take me up on the offer of a visit!"

She released Hermione from her hug and eyed Pansy curiously.

"Pansy Parkinson," Pansy said with her trademark smirk.

"Oh, so you're the one that has swept the youngest Weasley off her feet?" Tonks said with a grin before waving them inside, "Come on, there's plenty of people here already."

Hermione and Pansy entered, meeting a colourful collection of Tonks' friends. Some had met her through her auror work, some were local artists and performers, some were old friends from when she was back at Hogwarts. The music playing in the background was even from one of Tonks' friends' bands.

"This is so cool," Pansy said, sitting down on a couch beside Hermione and passing her a beer. Hermione took a sip. It reminded her of trying her dad's beer at home while watching the rugby or cricket together. Tonks came and sat at her other side.

"Sorry its so crowded," Tonks apologized, "I was hoping we would have some space to dish on our respective love-lives,"

"Its okay," Hermione smiled, sipping at her beer, "How're things with Remus?"

"Terrible," Tonks groaned, "We haven't seen each other in two weeks and the last time I saw him we had a huge fight. I feel like its never going to go back to how it was when we first got together,"

"Probably doesn't help that when he is away he's around some pretty dark stuff," Hermione commented, referring to Fenrir Greyback's werewolf friends. Tonks nodded and they continued to chat about Remus, describing him to Pansy, before one of Tonks' friends came up to interrupt.

"Hey, Tonks, your mate Bill just got here," the witch with a buzzcut and several facial piercings told Tonks.

"Oh, cheers," Tonks said, before turning back to Hermione and Pansy.

"Oh, Merlin," Pansy murmured, opening another beer. Hermione turned to see Bill pushing through the crowd and waving at Tonks. He was pulling Fleur behind him by the hand. Hermione choked on her beer.

Fleur was in a tight short denim skirt with a sleeveless button-up. Her hair was loose and she was looking so beautiful it was painful. Fleur's smile fell from her face when she spotted Hermione beside Tonks on the couch.

"Hey, Tonks! Decided to stop by after all!" Bill greeted, oblivious to the tension, "Hey 'Mione, didn't expect you to be here. You remember Fleur, right?"

"Yeah," Hermione said hollowly through a dry mouth. Pansy shot her a look before abruptly standing up and offering her hand to Bill.

"Pansy Parkinson, I date your sister," Pansy said with such seriousness Hermione almost laughed. Bill looked thrown before taking her hand and shaking it.

"Charmed, I've heard a lot about you but wasn't sure I would ever get the chance to meet you," he said with a smile.

Fleur released Bill's hand wordlessly and turned on her heel before slipping back through the crowd. Hermione felt like she had been stabbed in the chest repeatedly.

"Oh, she probably went to go get us drinks," Bill said, noticing Fleur leave, "I'll go join her, but we should all catch up later… yeah?"

He ambled off through the crowd after Fleur like a lovesick puppy.

"I… am so sorry, Hermione," Tonks said finally, breaking the silence, "He told me earlier in the week that he couldn't make it… And I didn't think if he did show he would bring her,"

"Its okay," Hermione said emptily, waving a hand and plastering a fake smile on her face. Pansy patted her on the shoulder.

"Yeah, we're here to have a good time, right?" Pansy laughed. A smile quirked at Tonks' lips.

"Well how about instead of moping over girls and boys, we have a good time then?" Tonks grinned, "Provided you don't tell Molly Weasley of course,"

"I'm in," Pansy said immediately. Hermione eyed Tonks warily.

"What is it…?" she asked suspiciously.

"Let me teach you the greatest Muggle sport of all…" Tonks said grandly, standing up and beginning to lead them through the crowd, "Beer pong."

Hermione, to everyone's surprise—including her own, turned out to be incredibly talented at beer pong, beating both Pansy and Tonks several times until she found herself only slightly tipsy amongst a pair of drunk friends.

"I tell ya what," Pansy slurred, "That Ginny… she's just so good,"

Hermione couldn't help but smile at how cute Pansy was being about Ginny. Tonks slung an arm around Pansy.

"You know who else is good?" Tonks said back in a too-loud voice, "Remus. Sweet little puppydog Remus."

"Okay guys, I might get us a round of water," Hermione laughed. She pushed through the crowd, realizing too late that she had neglected to ask Tonks what direction the kitchen was in. Giving up, Hermione decided to go to the bathroom and find out on her way back.

The bathroom was locked so Hermione leant against the wall in the hallway outside, enjoying the break from the loud revelry that was happening elsewhere in the place. She heard a clicking of heels coming towards her and sighed.

"Yes, there's a line, and no—you can't cut in," Hermione sighed.

"'Ermione?" a familiar voice lilted. Hermione felt the hair stand up on her neck and she turned around to find a very drunk Fleur leaning against the wall.

"Oh, s-sorry, I didn't realize it was you," Hermione said awkwardly.

"Why didn't you ever owl me?" Fleur asked, running a hand through her silver-blonde hair. Her breath smelt of wine and Hermione was transfixed by the small peek of toned midriff she saw as Fleur's shirt momentarily lifted.

"I… I didn't think there was much point," Hermione said, opting not to get into the whole Ron debacle, "Long distance was too difficult."

"But I missed you," Fleur whined. Hermione wondered if Fleur would feel embarrassed about this when she sobered up in the morning.

"I missed you too," Hermione said, barely above a whisper, "But you're dating Bill now,"

Fleur stepped towards her, slightly unsteady, before throwing her arms around Hermione's neck and pressing her against the wall. Hermione hadn't felt Fleur's body against her like this in so long… Her hands slipped gently around Fleur's waist, as if they belonged there. Fleur's lips were brushing Hermione's ear.

"I still think about you," Fleur said quietly, "I think about you every day,"

She leaned back so that their faces were almost touching. Hermione could feel the same electricity that had always existed between them. But as she looked into Fleur's eyes and registered again how drunk the blonde was, she gently pushed Fleur off her. She couldn't. If she were ever to get back with Fleur, it shouldn't be like this.

The bathroom door opened and a pale Pansy walked out. Obliviously, she walked over and looped an arm around Hermione's waist.

"I just threw up…" Pansy said sheepishly, "Can we go back to mine now?"

"Erm," Hermione began, but Fleur had already left, quickly ducking through the crowd again.

"Sorry, did I ruin a romantic reunion?" Pansy slurred. Hermione shook her head.

"No… It was… I dunno what it was," Hermione admitted, "Let's head home then."

They pushed through the crowd again to seek out Tonks, bidding her goodnight. Tonks kissed them both sloppily on the cheek, only releasing them once she had secured a promise that she could visit them for brunch the next morning.

Arriving back at the penthouse, Hermione put Pansy to bed with a bucket beside her bed and a large glass of water. She would thank her in the morning, no doubt.

Hermione herself then took herself to the guest room, slowly getting ready for bed before hopping under the covers. By now, she had entirely sobered up and was feeling quite awake. She rummaged in her bag beside the bed before producing a battered book. Her heart panged painfully as she recognized it was one of Fleur's. Slamming the book on the bedside table and stubbornly turning off the light, Hermione couldn't keep the thoughts of Fleur from her mind as she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Hermione blearily awoke to a knocking at the door. She rubbed her eyes and rolled over to look at the clock on the wall. 7am.

"Bloody hell, Tonks," Hermione grumbled loudly as she stormed to the front door, "This is a bit early for brunch, isn't it?"

Swinging the door open, any further complaint froze in her throat. Standing in the doorway was Fleur Delacour, looking radiant. She was wearing a simple dress but still looked as if she had walked in off a runway.

"I… Erm… How?" Hermione stammered, suddenly self conscious of her fluffy red dressing gown and stripey pyjamas. Her hair was probably extra wild as well, she thought gloomily.

"I, uh, I got your address from Tonks," Fleur explained, "I wanted to apologise about last night,"

"Oh, its okay, you were fine," Hermione said awkwardly. She wondered if Fleur was going to take back everything she had said.

"Its difficult being around you," Fleur admitted, "I miss being able to talk to you."

"Yeah, its hard," Hermione agreed. Fleur seemed uncharacteristically nervous, playing with the ends of her hair. It was increasing Hermione's anxiety over what she was going to say next.

"So I was thinking, we should…" Fleur began.

"Be friends again?" Hermione pushed in abruptly. Fleur looked surprised but then smiled her dazzling smile that Hermione had missed so much.

"I would love that," Fleur said with a smile, "Anyway, I should stop ruining your sleep in,"

She leaned forward, kissing Hermione on each cheek before turning to leave.

"Fleur, wait," Hermione said in a strangled tone, blushing at the traditional French custom. Fleur turned around and for a millisecond, Hermione thought she imagined that the blonde looked hopeful.

"You were so drunk last night, how do you look so well rested so early?" Hermione finished lamely. Fleur laughed, causing Hermione's stomach to erupt with butterflies.

"The Veela blood," Fleur laughed, before turning with another wave, "Au revoir!"

Hermione shut the door behind her with a final snap. She turned her back to it and leaned back, covering her face with her hands.

"Fuck."

After a more appropriately timed brunch with Tonks and a very hungover Pansy, Hermione and Pansy used another portkey to head back to the Hogwarts grounds. Arriving near Hagrid's hut, Pansy doubled over.

"Yeah, its really not a smart idea to use a portkey hungover," Pansy said, paling. Hermione laughed and they headed towards the castle.

"I wonder what we missed," Hermione wondered aloud. Pansy laughed.

"Probably nothing," she replied, "Anyway, do you really think you can be just friends with Delacour?"

"I don't know," Hermione groaned, "But its better than not having her in my life at all… which is what I was afraid she would say."

"You're not really as daring as Potter, are you?" Pansy asked with a smirk. Hermione swatted her.

"Better than trying to snog her and getting my heart shredded even more with an inevitable rejection," Hermione retorted.

They parted ways and Hermione headed to the Common Room, looking overjoyed to see a healed Harry, and was even happy to see Ron unharmed.

"Did I miss anything?" Hermione asked with a smile. Harry and Ron went to speak at once before Harry gestured for Ron to go first.

"I broke up with Lavender," he informed her. Harry gave him a nudge in the ribs and he continued, "And… I'm sorry for being a prat. I had a long time to talk to Harry about it in the hospital wing."

"That's okay," Hermione said, more relieved to have one of her best friends back, "As long as you don't do anything like that again."

"Promise," Ron said firmly, "So Harry?"

"Okay, so I got out Saturday," Harry began, "Drank the felix felicis I had won in Potions and decided to get that memory from Slughorn…"

He then launched into an incredible story about ancient relics and soul splitting and Horcruxes, finally ending with the revelation that Dumbledore had been taking leave from the school to search for Horcruxes.

"Woah…" Hermione said, her mind thoroughly blown, "I don't even know what to say about that,"

"There's more," Harry said, explaining that he would soon be leaving for a horcrux mission with Dumbledore himself.

"Isn't that incredibly dangerous?!" Hermione exclaimed. Harry shook his head.

"Its not like there's a choice," Harry said, setting his jaw, "Anyway, I need you two to watch Snape and Malfoy while I'm gone. I'm still convinced that there's something going on with Malfoy and that Snape knows about it. You can always use the DA coins to summon backup."

"When are you going?" Hermione asked, surprised by the flurry of developments. To think Pansy thought they would have missed nothing.

"Tonight," Harry said, paling. He suddenly started rummaging in his pockets before handing Ron the Marauder's Map and Hermione the vial with the remaining Felix Felicis. "You might need these."

"D'you really think its gonna suddenly just kick off the moment Dumbledore and you step outside the school?" Ron asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I think after everything we've been through, its better to be prepared," Harry reasoned. Hermione couldn't argue with that logic.

Hermione and Ron sat down in the Common Room in silence as Harry left, processing all he had said. An hour or so passed in relative silence.

"So… Did anything life changing happen during your weekend too?" Ron asked finally.

"I partied with Pansy," Hermione replied. Ron burst into laughter.

"If you had told me that would happen in First Year, I never would have believed it would be possible," Ron finally managed between giggles. Hermione snorted and got up, walking to the window. Her laughter died on her lips.

"I think Harry might be giving Trelawney a run for her money…" Hermione finally managed to say.

"Why's that?" Ron asked, standing up from his seat.

"Because I think we might be needing the Marauder's Map and Felix Felicis after all," Hermione said seriously, stepping aside so Ron could see out the window.

There, glowing against the sky, was the unmistakeable sign of the Dark Mark.

"'Mione, 'Mione, what are you doing?" Ginny shrieked amongst the blind panic in the girls' dormitories. Hermione was rummaging frantically through her trunk. Finally, she pulled out what she was looking for, her DA coin.

"Found it!"

"How's that going to help us against a pack of Death Eaters arriving any minute?" Ginny said agitatedly.

"Because there's one person in possession of a coin who is also an Order member," Hermione stated, fumbling with the coin to send a message, "If Fleur still has hers, we can alert the Order immediately."

Finally managing to send a message, Hermione straightened up and turned to Ginny with a determined smile.

"So now can we find somewhere safe?" Ginny asked, wringing her hands.

Before Hermione could answer, the deafening sound of explosions began to break out in the distance in the castle.