A/N: Hi all, fiiiiinally decided to update this one. In this chapter you will see there is trouble on the horizon for Pansy and Ginny. Hermione is also struggling with her anger towards Bellatrix and trying to keep the impending danger of Bellatrix's revenge from Fleur (out of some sort of protectiveness).
If you have any ideas or recommendations for things you want to see in the story, let me know! I am always open to suggestions :)
Chapter 21.
Hermione awoke to sun shining through the windows. Fleur was already awake and looking at her. Hermione smiled widely at how beautiful Fleur looked in the morning light.
"You are so stunning," Hermione murmured. Fleur ran a hand up Hermione's side, biting her lip nervously.
"Hermione… I want to… I want to make love to you," Fleur said gently. Hermione swallowed. It would be the first time they had gone that far since the horrors of Romania.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked hoarsely.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," Fleur said with her old confident smirk back.
Hermione finally emerged from her room an hour later, feeling exhilarated. Fleur followed behind her, looking similarly content.
Pansy and Draco were sitting at the table eating breakfast and greeted them.
"Morning you two, you look in high spirits," Pansy said with a little smirk. Hermione eyes her cautiously… Surely she didn't know what her and Fleur had just been up to.
"Where's Ginny?" Fleur asked, changing the subject fluidly.
"She's just getting ready to go out," Pansy replied, pouring Hermione and Fleur some coffee, "She's off to hang out with Harry today."
"Oh? Maybe I'll stop in to say hi before she heads out," Hermione said as Fleur cast her a curious look.
Hermione left the others at the table and walked into Ginny's room. Ginny was checking her reflection in a mirror as she put in some earrings.
"You don't usually wear earrings," Hermione commented, coming to sit on Ginny's bed. Ginny turned to face Hermione.
"I felt like a change," Ginny said slowly. Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"So… Hanging out with Harry today?" Hermione asked, watching her redheaded friend carefully.
"Yeah… Why are you being so weird, 'Mione?" Ginny asked, cocking her head to one side.
"Gin, is your crush on Harry back?" Hermione asked, cutting to the chase. Ginny took a step back dramatically.
"Hermione! I'm with Pansy," Ginny retorted.
"That's not what I asked, Ginny," Hermione said sternly. Ginny shook her head.
"I don't have time for this, 'Mione," Ginny said defensively, folding her arms.
"Ginny—"
"I'm heading out, I'll see you later," Ginny huffed, rushing out the door.
Hermione sighed, heading back to the table to rejoin the others.
"Gin left in a hurry," Pansy commented, "She didn't even say bye. I swear something's up with her at the moment."
"Really?" Draco asked, pausing in his breakfast. He looked genuinely concerned.
"She just seems… Kind of distant," Pansy shrugged, "I dunno… Things haven't really been the same since I woke up."
"I guess we all changed after the war," Draco prompted. Pansy nodded, seemingly appeased, but Hermione made a mental note to talk to the raven haired girl later.
Fleur and Draco headed to work and Hermione decided to take Pansy out for a boozy lunch. The two of them hadn't had one on one time to catch up in some time.
"So how are things with Fleur?" Pansy asked, "You had that look on your face like you had just had some action,"
"Pansy!" Hermione spluttered, choking on her drink, "I don't have a face like that!"
Pansy laughed heartily.
"Maybe not everyone can read it, but you definitely do," Pansy laughed. Hermione took a long sip from her drink awkwardly before answering.
"Well… Yeah… We… We finally… You know… for the first time since Romania," Hermione said, feeling incredibly uncomfortable. Pansy clapped her hands together.
"I knew it!" Pansy crowed triumphantly, "That's awesome news that you two are finally at the point where you're back to having sex."
"Yeah… I was worried we would never get there but it seems like we are past the worst of it," Hermione replied, smiling.
"So does this mean you're definitely sticking to your word of not going after Bellatrix?" Pansy asked. Hermione exhaled.
"Don't get me wrong… I would love nothing more than to make Bellatrix pay for what she has done… But I would rather focus on enjoying life with Fleur than risk what we have any more," Hermione replied, sighing.
"Yeah, what you have with her is pretty amazing," Pansy concurred.
"What about you and Gin?" Hermione prompted. Pansy bit her lip.
"We've been going through a rough patch," Pansy admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.
"See… I thought that this morning," Hermione said slowly, "But I'm confused… You guys have barely been able to keep your hands off each other. You were in bed together the second you came home from St Mungo's even!"
"Yeah…" Pansy said, looking down, "But that's about all we've been doing. Its like every time there has been a chance to talk about everything that's gone on we just end up having sex instead."
"Is that you or her that is avoiding talking?" Hermione asked. Pansy frowned.
"Both," Pansy said, shaking her head, "I don't know what it is… Its just so hard to talk about… About what happened with my parents… Being in that coma. Its fucked up."
"Everything's fucked up," Hermione said with a tone of bitterness, before taking another swig of her drink, "But… At the risk of sounding like you talking to me about Fleur at Hogwarts… Aren't you worried that not talking is going to push you apart?"
"Yeah… I just… I dunno," Pansy said, shrugging awkwardly, "Anyway, why don't you tell me more about you and Fleur having sex again? What is she like in bed? I've always wondered but you've never told me."
Hermione swatted her, "Pansy... for Merlin's sake!"
Hermione and Pansy, in considerably better spirits, giggled as they made their way to the bar to settle their tab.
"Oh, Ms Granger," the bartender said with a smile, "A woman stopped by and left a note for you."
"Really?" Hermione asked, wondering who it could possibly be. Ginny? Fleur? If it were either of them, surely they just would have joined her and Pansy.
Pansy paid the bill as Hermione accepted the slip of parchment and read the violently scrawled message.
"Does your Veela ever call out my name in the throes of passion?
Hoping to see you soon, Mudblood.
B.L."
Hermione's hands shook as she read the note. Without even thinking she furiously tore it into tiny pieces. Pansy and the bartender stopped their conversation to look at Hermione curiously.
"You okay, Granger?" Pansy asked, concerned.
"I… Its her…" Hermione said, almost panting with the shock of it all. Pansy took Hermione by the arm and escorted her out of the bar, finding a quiet alleyway for them to disappear into.
"Bellatrix?" Pansy asked, her eyes wide. Hermione nodded, unsure if she was going to cry or scream with rage.
"She's fucking taunting me, Pansy," Hermione growled. Pansy held her by the shoulders tightly.
"Hermione… Stay with me… Don't go down this rage spiral again," Pansy insisted.
"She knew where we were!" Hermione protested, "She could have been watching us all that time for all we know!"
"It doesn't matter," Pansy said, although she had paled, "We just have to focus on keeping safe. She's not going to be stupid enough to try anything in the open. She doesn't want to go back to Azkaban."
Hermione began shaking and Pansy took her in her arms, hugging her tightly.
"I don't know what I'll do if Fleur gets hurt again," Hermione said with a small sob.
"Shh… It'll be okay," Pansy soothed.
Pansy and Hermione walked around media free areas for a while before returning home, far more sober than before. Hermione had finally calmed down after the note from Bellatrix, but was still feeling shaken.
Hermione walked past Draco, who had just arrived home from work, and went straight to her room. She shut the door behind her and sighed heavily before realizing Fleur was there.
Fleur was partway through undressing, unsnapping her bra and revealing her bare back. Hermione smiled despite her stresses, appreciating the beauty of her girlfriend.
"Hermione?" Fleur asked, turning around. Hermione's breath caught in her throat.
"God… you are so beautiful Fleur," Hermione murmured.
Fleur smiled, coming to embrace Hermione and kiss her on the cheek.
"So are you, mon amour," Fleur purred, "How was your day?"
"It was…" Hermione began, nuzzling into Fleur's neck, "It was fine."
"I am glad," Fleur said with a smile, "I missed you today… Especially after this morning's fun."
Hermione smiled, forcibly pushing Bellatrix to the back of her mind. She wanted to be present, she wanted everything to be fine for Fleur.
"I love you," Hermione said.