Late Lunch, Chapter 37

~o0o~

It was a long, nervous wait for them at the Burrow. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had left for the hospital, leaving Percy in charge, the latter of whom didn't do much but stride back and forth in front of the fire place.

"Percy, for everyone's sake, sit down," said Fred from his seat on the sofa. Next to him were Ron and George, both wearing the same, slightly stricken faces.

Hermione, who was on Fred's other side, laid a hand gently on his arm. "Your father said he'd call when he knew more. It'll be fine."

Fred nodded, but didn't do more than send her a fleeting smile. She knew he was trying to show her that he appreciated her efforts, but that half-smile nearly killed her. If Fred was sad he shouldn't force himself for her.

Without meaning to, her grip tightened, sending Fred's head looking up again. He threw a raised eyebrow at her to which she responded with a light shake of her head and removal of her hand. His oldest brother was in the hospital, he shouldn't have to worry about her too.

Percy's phone rang (the tone unsurprisingly sounding just like an old phone) and startled all of them to look up from their seats, and when he fiddled clumsily with removing it from his pocket, he prompted a frustrated chorus of shouts from his siblings.

"Bloody hell, Percy," said Ron and George when he finally managed to get hold of it.

"H-hello? Father?" Percy nodded along, making the rest of them all the more intrigued and impatient. "So he got into a—of course. But Bill, he—yes, I understand. Well, tell mother not to worry, it sounds like he'll make it through. All right. See you in a while."

"Well?" Ginny asked, her hands tightly wounded together. "What did they say? Is Bill all right?"

"Yes," Percy nodded, making everyone, including non-Weasleys like Hermione, Katie, Cho and Luna, sigh in relief. "It appears some brute named Greyback was causing a disturbance in the pub and when Bill and Charlie tried to stop him, Greyback swiped a broken bottle at Bill's face."

"Oh my god!" Hermione gasped, her hands flying to cover her mouth.

"His face?" Cho echoed, her eyes wide.

"Not to worry, Father said he's getting a few stiches, but that he's not severely injured."

"Not severely injured? Do you hear yourself, Percy?" said Ron. "You just told us he needed stitches!"

"Yes, and we should be thankful that's all it is!" For the first time, Percy looked like he was losing his temper. "Our brother had no business interfering with what should be police work, yet he did. We should all cheer he did not end up blind, or worse! He works in a museum for heavens' sake! How did he think he could . . ."

Ginny rose from her chair and gave Percy a hug. "Stupid people do stupid things, but the stupid one here was obviously that Greyback fellow."

"I . . .I recognize that name," Hermione said quietly to Fred. "I think he's supposed to have been in prison until recently."

Fred blinked. "Then we're really lucky nothing else happened. How'd you know?"

Hermione frowned. "James, Dad and Sirius, they arrested someone with that name a few years ago. I remember they celebrated. And it had to do with Remus . . . He's the one that gave Remus his scar!"

"Mr. Lupin has a scar?"

"Mhm," Hermione nodded, her memories of the story surrounding his scar returning. "A rather large one on the side of his stomach. He got it when he was little. Fenrir Greyback wanted to get back at Remus' father for sentencing him to community service, so he broke into the Lupins' house and one thing led to another . . ." She trailed off, remembering the embarrassed look on her favourite teacher's face, someone who she viewed as a dear adult friend in her mind, and the obvious fear he had her recoiling or being scared when her family went swimming with the Potters at his cottage for the first time. How he'd smiled when her thirteen year old self had said that it didn't make a difference to her, and that she'd still have him in her water polo team.

"Blimey," said Fred. "Then I guess Bill got lucky . . ."

Hermione didn't respond, but she took Fred's hand into her own and when he squeezed it back, she felt her heart soar. He knew. He knew she was there.

"I hope they put the bastard back in prison," said George. "Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear."

"Nothing to apologise for, I hope the same," said Hermione.

Suddenly, the door opened, but it wasn't a red head of hair that appeared. Instead, Fleur Delacour stormed inside into the living room, her silvery blonde locks plastered to her face and her cheeks red. She'd been rushing here as if her life depended on it. Although, since she loved Bill, then it would have.

"Where is he?" she gasped. "Where is Bill? Is he not here yet?"

"No," said Ginny, still standing next to Percy. "They're still on their way from the hospital."

"I can't believe this," grumbled Fleur, but it looked like it was mostly to herself. "I can't believe no one told me until now. I'm his fiancée!"

"We were a bit busy worrying about our brother to tell you," Ginny spat at her. "You know, since we're his family."

For a moment anger and hurt flashed in Fleur's deep-blue eyes. Then they averted and she strode away to wait outside.

"A bit harsh, Gin," said Katie, when the door was slammed shut.

"Yes, well." Ginny crossed her arms, staring stubbornly at the wall.

Ten minutes later, they heard a car pull in and park in front of the door.

"My brave, foolish boy," Mrs. Weasley was sobbing as she entered with a bandaged Bill into the hallway.

"Honestly, Mum, he can walk just fine, he just got a bit sliced up in the face is all," said Charlie behind her.

Mr. Weasley and Fleur trailed behind them, and it wasn't until Bill gently removed himself from his mother's embrace that Fleur had the chance to run up to him.

"I'm so sorry, the wedding pictures will make it look like you're marrying a mummy," Bill tried to joke.

"You always did love Egypt, and it's where we met, so it seems only appropriate," said Fleur, affectionately removing stray locks of red hair from his forehead as she did.

Mrs. Weasley looked up from her handkerchief. "Wait— so, there's still a wedding?"

Fleur and Bill stared at her. "Yes."

Mrs. Weasley grew red, but not from tears this time. "Oh, I—that's wonderful—"

"Why would you think we wouldn't be getting married anymore?" Fleur questioned, interrupting the other woman. "You think I'm so shallow that I'd let a few bandages and stitches stop me marrying him? These wounds only show that my future husband is brave."

"Well, of course, I didn't mean . . .I just thought that perhaps you'd prefer to at least wait until he was . . ." Mrs. Weasley lost her train of thought as she watched Fleur fuss over Bill's hair being in his eyes again. Then, when Fleur was done, she said, "Our Great Auntie Muriel has a tiara—silver—that has been passed down the family. It's rather beautiful. I might be able to persuade her to lend it to you, she always did like Bill. And it would go lovely with your hair."

"Thank you," said Fleur. "I'm sure it will be lovely."

And then, to everyone's bewilderment and surprise, the two women were embracing and sobbing. Whether from the long and exhausting tension dissipating between them or the adrenaline of tonight's events, Hermione wasn't sure. What she did know was that whatever problems had existed between the two women, they were no longer.

"Well, Ginny," said Katie quietly. "Your slumber parties are far from dull."

~o0o~

A/N: Hello again, dearies! (So soon? What? Does Prim have nothing else to do? Apparently not…when inspiration strikes, it strikes hard)

Yes, I kept this kinda close to the books, but you know what? The development between Fleur and Mrs. Weasley was a great thing in the books. Also, I love mah Fleur, she deserved to be accepted into the family.

Thank you for your reviews, mah loves!

Until next time!
/Primrue