A/N: This one-shot fits into my niche-verse of writing. This one references A Mother's Rage and also Four Days Later. You don't have to read them to know what's going on.

A/N2: Standard disclaimer, usual legal rubbish since I don't have the funds that JK Rowling has to keep a solicitor on retainer for any reason. See store for details. No rainchecks given. - DG

Fleur watched her husband trudge up the rickety stairs at his childhood home. Melancholy days had passed since the fighting ended but Bill was still a wreck inside. Duty pulled at him as hard, if not harder, than the rest of the family. He did what was needed and expected, but there would come a time when he would collapse in anger and grief.

Fleur looked around the room to see only a few people remaining. Harry and Ginny retired earlier to the parlor to talk. In a house full of family, finding a quiet corner for private conversation was precious. Charlie and Percy were sitting in the den, drinking Firewhiskey, playing wizard chess and talking about George. Bill was with them earlier but had enough.

Fleur was, for once, not worried about Arthur and Molly. Hermione saw to them earlier, giving them sleeping draughts to help them rest tonight. As for Ron and Hemione, they left earlier for his room. If no one else noticed, she saw the change in their behavior today after the funeral.

Fred.

The men were so strong, at least in their appearances. Poor Ronald though – he was an overheated cauldron today. It was the first time she saw any of the Weasley men lose control of their magic. She watched him stalk off with Hermione chasing him. After the services finished, the family walked back to the house. Five feet from the door they hit a magical barrier. Each of the men tried lifting the enchantment but it wouldn't budge. Finally Bill stepped up and tried to breach the magic that sealed the house closed. He grumbled while trying to break the protective barrier to the house. "It's Hermione's work, I can tell. Ron's magic isn't this complicated."

Fleur heard a sob behind her and saw Arthur and Molly weeping. "Why did Hermione seal the house? What's happening? What's wrong with Ron?"

"Once Bill breaks the wards, I'll go up and investigate." Molly settled down once she heard her husband's statement.

"Got it," Bill yelled triumphantly. The house shook from the protective barrier falling down from the residence. "I hope the house holds up from this. We've done quite a bit of magic on it today."

Arthur walked up and laid a thin hand on his oldest son's shoulder. "Oh, it will. I've been reinforcing the beams for decades now. It'll hold."

Bill walked in first, followed by Molly and Fleur. Harry and Ginny brought up the last.

"I'll go up and see what's going on." Arthur said quietly while walking towards the stairs.

"I'll come with you," Harry chimed in. "I'm worried about Ron, too."

"Bill, will you help us with the food? Ginny, you and Fleur too."

Fleur watched Arthur and Harry start up the stairs to check on the others.

Fleur finished her cup of tea with the decision to join her husband in their borrowed bedroom. Their double bed at home was more comfortable but duty bade them to stay here, at least for now. His family needed her husband. They needed his strength and leadership.

She stepped into the den where Percy and Charlie were still drinking and had forgotten the chess board in front of them. Their laughter wasn't full of mirth but grief. Their jokes were gallow's humor, much like a soldier who gets to live another night, fight another day.

Percy saw her first and tried to stand from his seat on the ottoman. "Going to bed, Fleur?"

She stepped up and laid a chase kiss on his cheek. "I am. It's been a long day."

"I'm not getting up," Charlie slurred. "Drank too much Firewhiskey and I'm pissed."

She turned and kissed him top of his head. "You go right ahead. It's been a day for all of us."

"What about Mum and Dad?" Percy inquired from his seat, swaying a touch under the influence.

"Hermione gave them a sleeping draught earlier. Molly needed it. Hermione told me this afternoon that Molly fell apart while everyone else was outside." Fleur smiled gently at her brothers-in-law. "It's not like she would down a bottle of whiskey and get pissed."

Charlie chuckled and took another swig from the bottle. "That'd be a sight to see, Mum drinking directly from a bottle. Dunno if I've ever seen Mum drink anything harder than half a glass of elf-made wine."

The brothers chuckled.

"I'll check around the house before going upstairs," Fleur informed them.

Charlie tried to stand up.

"Sit down before you hurt yourself. You're too drunk to hold a wand, much less do anything else. I'll check." Fleur leaned down and kissed Charlie on top of his head. "I'll take care of tonight."

Charlie leered at her before turning back to his bottle. "Bill lucked out, I reckon."

"Why?" Fleur stopped in the doorway and looked back at the men by the fire.

"What my lecherous brother is trying to say," Percy said drunkenly, "is that you are intelligent, courageous, and caring. I'm glad our brother married you, too."

Fleur threw her hair back and laughed. She had more people to check on before retiring for the night.

She stepped into the darkness of the parlor and saw the faint movement of hair from the far couch. She stepped out of the light into the dark corner of the room and watched Harry and Ginny. They were sitting on the couch, well past the point of talking. She was concerned for both of them. Harry she saw for most of the past month. He had been manic some days, silent and brooding the next. But what she saw was hopeful. They kept snogging while being oblivious to their audience. Fleur watched for a few moments more, waiting to make sure that was all they would do, at least tonight.

Satisfied that they weren't going to make Molly a grandmother, she quietly left the parlor and the occupants to their private time. She still had others in the house to check on.

Up the stairs to the first landing and she saw that the door to Molly and Arthur's room was closed. Fleur pulled her wand from her pocket and silenced the hinges and the handle. She opened the door a crack and saw her in-laws resting comfortably in their bed.

They need it, after the day they had.

She closed it gently and made her way up the rickety stairs to the second landing. Percy's door was open and no one was present in that room. She turned to George's room and tried the handle. It was locked. She pulled her wand again, silencing the hinges and unlocking the door. She poked her head into the room and saw George passed out on the floor by the window, an empty bottle of Ogden's Finest in his hand. She silently sobered him up and left him to sleep on the floor. It wouldn't help him tomorrow but it might tonight.

She finished checking on George and closed the door behind her.

Fleur walked up the stairs past the third landing. Charlie's room, along with her own, would be last. But there was one more that needed to be checked on. She made it to the last landing and heard snoring behind the last door. Once last flick of her wand and she gently opened the door to Ron's room. Ron's snores were echoing around the small room. The couple was in his bed, fast asleep.

Fleur smiled. Earlier in the day, she saw how their relationship had changed. Few others might have noticed. Their touches were more intimate. The kiss given once Ron came outside to the gathering was more passionate. The look on his face when Hermione went into the house to look after Molly was loving and tender.

Seeing them asleep made sense now. That's why the house was sealed by Magic, courtesy of Hermione. They needed time to make love, on such a bittersweet day. Maybe later I can speak with Hermione.

Fleur saw the scar on her neck, along with the bruise underneath it. The scorch mark on her chest wasn't angry now, weeks after it was inflicted. She absently touched the side of her neck. Fleur received her share of love bites, courtesy of her husband. Ron was voracious, at least eating. It would probably translate to his love for the fragile witch in his arms.

Ron continued to snore while cradling Hermione to his body. She was snuggled deep in his arms and nestled into his chest. They slept peacefully, unlike last night.

Cherish it, ma soeur.

She closed the door and locked it again. They didn't need anyone disturbing their sleep tonight. They earned their respite from the harassment of the family, at least tonight.

Fleur walked down the stairs to her own room. The light was still on. Whether her husband was still awake remained to be seen. She'd seen him fall asleep in his robes many nights after he would return from a mission for the Order. She'd also see him dead on his feet on those nights when he couldn't sleep from worry. Fleur would step in and give him whatever he needed so he could rest. Whether it was Firewhiskey, tea and listening half the night, or her body – it didn't matter.

She unlocked her door and slipped into the room. Bill was reclining on their bed. She locked the door and his eyes snapped to her. "You've been gone a while."

"I wanted to check on everyone before I came up."

"Everyone?"

"Oui. Mum and Dad are asleep. George is passed out in his room. Charlie and Percy are downstairs drinking and Ron and Hermione are asleep upstairs."

"And Ginny?"

Fleur gave him a small smile. "She's not doing anything that she shouldn't, with Harry, if that's what you're asking."

"Fleur, don't play. What are they doing?"

"They're snogging on the couch in the parlor. When I left them, the only thing missing were their trainers."

Bill shook his head. "I can't worry about her tonight. I can only hope that Harry knows better."

Fleur stepped closer to the bed and removed the jacket she wore today. Her bare arms and shoulders showed from the modest robes. "What are you worried about, mon cher?"

Bill ran his hand across his head and rubbed the back of his neck. Fleur stood waiting for his answer. "I'm worried about all of them, in one way or another. Mum and Dad, mostly. I'm angry, mostly at myself that they had to fight this week. Merlin! Mum killed someone, Dad probably too. There's not a bloody thing I can do to help them, anymore than what we're already doing. I'm barmy that there's not a damn thing I can do for George. I have to trust that Percy and Charlie can keep him alive, trust that they can keep him from drinking himself to death. I'm angry that Ginny fought against one of the worst witches every to live and was nearly killed for it, and there wasn't a bloody thing I could do about it. I won't even recount how she's not a child anymore, but a young woman who is madly in love and I don't dare step in to tell her to wait, not after what's happened this week. And don't even get me talking about Ron. I can't be mad at him for getting his head out of his arse and on straight, but blimey! Shagging his girlfriend under our roof? Mum and Dad would go barmy if they knew what happened today."

"Who said they're shagging?"

Bill snorted. "Even I'm not that oblivious."

Fleur slid out of her dress shoes and sat down on the edge of the bed. "And if they are? It's not like we were innocent when we got married. You've had your share of lovers, just like I have."

"It's what Mum will do once she finds out."

Fleur slid her hand across her husband's scarred face. "For tonight, let them have some peace. It's not like they don't love one another. Hermione pined for him for years. Ron too, from what you've told me."

Bill leaned into her touch. "I need you."

"I'm here, my love. How can I make you better?"

Bill pulled her close, falling onto his prone form. He ran his hand through her platinum blonde hair. "Enchant me, at least tonight."

Fleur sat up on his body, straddling his burgeoning lap, and pulled her wand from the pocket inside her dress. She performed the locking and silencing charm on the door. She turned back to her husband below her on the bed. "Are you sure, my love? I promised not to use magic on you."

Bill threaded his hand into hers. "Oui, mon amour. S'il vous plait! Help me forget, at least for a little while."

Fleur wove her wand in a complicated incantation and removed the dulling glamour charm from her features. Where her eyes were a blue-green under the charm, the glamour melted from her face and her iceburg blue eyes shined. Her hair also lightened further, looking like the finest spun gold. She laid her Veela wand on the pillow not in use.

Fleur watched as her husband's face turned slack and his eyes glossed over. "My love, ask and I shall give," Bill moaned under her gaze.

"Make love to me, my beautiful husband." She leaned over further into his face and crushed his lips to hers. "Mon valliant époux," she whispered in his ear. Strong hands pulled the straps of her dress down her shoulders and arms, leaving her in a scrap of lace and satin. A quick movement on his part and the scrap of material known as her brassiere fell from her torso. "So fuckin' gorgeous!" he growled.

She shifted back where he could sit up and take her breasts into his hands. Her head fell back under his ministrations. Long fingers traced every contour and curve of her chest. Bill's teeth closed over one distended nipple and she moaned in delight.

Fleur picked up her wand once again and banished their clothes. She then laid her wand on the mattress between the pillows, offering her breasts to Bill's waiting mouth. He lavished attention on her bare chest while she dropped tender kisses along the marred lines of his face. She traced them, from chin to temple and worked her way back to the side of his head. She shifted and blew in his ear first, then pulled a lobe between her lips. She gently tugged on it with her teeth.

She felt the growl in his chest before he moved. He shifted his hips to roll his wife onto her back. He snarled but she smiled in reply. His eyes were still glazed over, still enraptured by her latent magic. Fleur opened her body to him. "I'm yours," she crooned. "Take me, mon amour."

One hand pulled her leg above his arm while her other wrapped around his hip. He moved and she felt every inch of him. He growled again before claiming her lips. Fleur begged, coarse requests only they would understand. He complied by dragging his teeth across her body. She responded by dragging her nails across his back. No matter what he did, he never slacked off his movements. Each moment helped build the bliss she felt.

Bill moved her legs to his torso, putting her feet on his shoulders. She felt the tightening in her core and tried to hold on. Bill ploughed on even harder. He pulled her hips flush to his, hitting another spot that drove her to moan in pleasure. Fleur grabbed the rails of the wrought-iron headboard for support. She arched her back and he pulled her body even harder. "Plus forte!"

He changed the angle of his hips and she felt the spring break. She screamed in bliss but he didn't let up. The noise from the bed should have echoed through the entire residence, from kitchen to the attic. She heard him panting over her heavy breathing but she needed more. He need more from her.

"Plus rapide," she begged.

"Wench," he growled and did as she requested. He moved again and pressed his body into hers. She was folded almost in half and yet the coil was tightening even more. Bill moved his hand from the bed and touched her bundle of nerves. Her core vibrated from the delicate touch and she came undone under his ministrations. He felt her and growled in response.

"Ma chere," Fleur heard whispering in her ear. She opened her eyes to see the beautiful blue ones looking at her on the bed next to her. "You're amazing, you know that, right?"

"I passed out, didn't I?"

"You did. It wasn't long, maybe a minute. All I know is that I felt the magic break and I had you bent in half, growling like an animal. Merlin, I don't think we've had a night like this!"

She reached out and ran her fingers along the scars on his face. "How are you? Better now?"

"I am. I could sleep all night, now."

"Good. I'm glad I could give that to you."

Fleur sat up in the bed and ran her fingers through her hair. "You insatiable witch. You'd think I could keep you passed out from that. "

She looked back at her husband who was fighting sleep already. "You know I can't sleep yet. I'll be back shortly." She leaned over his prone form and left one last kiss.

When she pulled back from the kiss he was asleep. She muttered in French about a man's stamina. Fleur found her wand under the edge of his pillow. She performed the incantation once again, dimming her magic to tolerable levels. Charlie and Percy were fine with how she looked without the concealing charm but poor Ron was still susceptible to her appearance.

I wonder if he would act this way, now that he's sharing a bed with Hermione. Maybe we can try it later this year and see. I should ask Hermione first.

Fleur found her housecoat over the chair in the corner and draped it on her body. It wouldn't do to walk through her in-law's home only in her skin. She couldn't risk running into any of the other men in the house. Charlie and Percy might be gentlemen for the most part, but with George deep in his drink and Ron still learning to control himself, she couldn't take a chance. She tightened the sash of the robe and put her wand in the pocket. She could use a trip to the loo to freshen up and a cup of tea.

Fleur unlocked and unsealed the door to their room and slipped out. In front of her was the younger witch walking gently on the landing in front of her. Hermione turned slowly and Fleur wanted to smile at the radiance of the blush on her cheeks.

Hermione's eyes went wide and she stole a glance at the older witch's body. Fleur knew she was a right sight. Anyone who used their eyes would know what happened earlier. It's not like she had to hide at one in the morning.

"Ma petit soeur, q'est que c'est?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd grab a hot bath and try to relax. I don't want to wake everyone up tonight like last night."

Fleur looked at her and softly smiled. "How is Ronald? Is he better? I saw so little of him today."

"He fell asleep earlier this evening, and I did too. I didn't mean to, but he's had such a terrible day. I couldn't leave him alone."

Fleur reached over and touched the bruise on Hermione's neck. It had grown in the last twelve hours. If she guessed, there would be other marks on her body. At least there would be if Ron was like his older brother. But it wasn't her place to pry into her younger sibling's love life.

"What happened here?"

"It was an accident. Ron was trying to destroy his room, and I got in the way of him throwing a chair."

Hermione wouldn't look at Fleur. She knew there was more to the story. Hermione looked up, and Fleur chuckled. "Ce n'est pas."

"You're right," Hermione blushed. "I don't want anyone to bother Ron right now. He's had too much to cope with."

"C'est vrai." Fleur smiled. "Come. I'll make tea and we'll talk. There are some things I should discuss with you. There's things that a man can't understand, but they are things you should know."

Hermione smiled further. "That's true."

Fleur took the younger woman under her arm, and they descended the stairs for the kitchen.

For Pettybureaucrat, who writes adorably. Happy Boxing Day! - DG