Hermione spent the rest of the day in the Carriage. Her and Fleur did not speak any further on their earlier conversation, instead content to enjoy each others' company. She would have enjoyed her time more - if she didn't have to stop Fleur from making herself an only child. Claire and Alexander seemed to be egging the youngest Delacour on, which only made Hermione's job harder.
It seemed that every student in the Carriage was in some state of disarray on Boxing Day. A few of the students were lounging about the main room in dressing gowns, but the majority seemed to be hiding in their rooms.
Maxime had put a buffet out for the students in the main room, but otherwise hadn't been seen all day. Claire had explained, in between riling Fleur, that it wasn't overly concerning. Whilst there were times Maxime did sit in the Carriage with the students, she also had to run Beauxbatons from afar.
It was only when it came to dinner, did Hermione insist that she had to go to the castle to eat. Alexander looked ready to argue, but conceded when the Gryffindor pointed out she had friends outside the Carriage.
However, Hermione wished she hadn't been so insistent after dinner when the Beauxbaton students asked her to come back to the Carriage. Last night was the exception, Hermione had argued. As nice as it was - how safe she felt wrapped in Fleur's arms - it could not become the norm.
Of course, that was before Kaite and Amy caught her just around the corner from the Gryffindor Common Room. Amy, at least, had the decency to cast privacy charms around them before Katie launched into her tirade.
"What were you thinking," Katie started, arms crossed furiously in front of her. "No note! We haven't seen you all day! I told Delacour to have you back by eleven last night! Not eleven the day after!"
Hermione flushed under her glare, eying Amy hopefully to rescue her. Amy just chuckled and shook her head. "Nope, 'Mione, you got yourself into this, what were you even doing last night?"
"She best not have done anything Amy," Katie snapped, briefly turning her glare to the older Ravenclaw before swapping back. "You didn't, did you?"
"No," Hermione appeased the older Gryffindor quickly. "No no, of course not. They were having an afterparty, and as I am, apparently, an honorary student, I was required to attend."
Half the truth seemed to work. Hermione had indeed been called an honorary student, by the majority of the delegation. However, there was no requirement for her to stay. But, Hermione thought that the two older girls' didn't need to know that part.
"Where did you stay?" Katie urged, arms falling by her side.
"Well come on Katie," Amy drawled, nudging the older Gryffindor playfully. "It's pretty obvious isn't it? Hermione stayed with Fleur!"
"We didn't do anything," Hermione quickly interrupted, holding her hands up to placate Katie. "We just slept together. We were joined by Claire and Alexander, both very hungover, this morning!"
Amy sniggered into her hand, whilst Katie blanched, eyes widening comically. Hermione flushed once the words registered in her head, and tried desperately to backtrack. Amy's sniggers turned into a full out laugh in the middle of the corridor, clutching her sides.
"I don't think I want to know anything else 'Mione," Amy teased, her eyes watering. "Merlin the French are wild, aren't they?"
Hermione pouted, resisting the urge to stomp her foot like a child. "You know what I meant!"
"Aww, calm down, we're just teasing," Katie giggled, reaching to pinch Hermione's cheek.
"Yeah you're adorable when you're flushed," Amy added, pinching Hermione's other cheek.
Hermione groaned, this time actually stomping her foot, but there was a small grin on her face nevertheless. The younger girl slapped away the pinching fingers lightly, turning on her heel and stalking to the Common Room, blush painted brightly over her face.
The rest of the Christmas Break passed quickly. In an attempt to avoid her family's teasing, Hermione spent a lot of time with the Beauxbaton students. The delegation seemed happy to bring the Hogwarts student into their fold, after she had beaten a fair few of them at their drinking games after the Yule Ball. Hermione also caved into spending more nights staying over in Fleur's room, to the teasing of the others.
When not with the Beauxbaton students, Hermione had taken time to badger Harry about solving his egg. Ron, thankfully, did not bring up the Yule Ball, and Hermione was in no rush to remind him of it. However, the pair did tell Hermione of what they overheard on the night of the Ball, accidentally eavesdropping on Hagrid and Maxime. Hermione had just shrugged at the information, but had mentioned it to Fleur, who confirmed that Hagrid was right. Maxime is a half-giant, but despite the lesser prejudice in France, it's a lot simpler to claim "big-bones".
Once classes resumed, Hermione put her foot down regarding staying in the Carriage during the week. Fleur had begged, pouted, and even threatened to hold her hostage. Unsurprisingly, Gabrielle was especially vocal in that, joining her older sister in pouting. Hermione conceded with staying over on Saturday nights, moreso because Madame Maxime had agreed.
However, with the return of classes, Hermione was not looking forward to Care of Magical Creatures. The snow hadn't stopped falling all break, and now deep trenches were the only way to and from the class. It didn't seem that anyone was looking forward to the class, although Ron did joke that perhaps the Skrewts could warm the class up - either by chasing them, or setting Hagrid's hut on fire. Hermione still cast a warming charm on the trio, just in case.
When they actually made their way down to Hagrid's cabin, they found a witch with closely cropped grey hair waiting for them. She barked at the trio when they came closer, still struggling through the deep snow.
"Where's Hagrid?" Ron asked, staring at her. "Who're you?"
"I am Professor Grubbly-Plank," she responded briskly. "I'm your temporary Care of Magical Creatures teacher."
"Where's Hagrid?" Harry repeated the question loudly.
"He's indisposed," came the short reply, the Professor already turning to face the rest of the class.
Behind them, soft and unpleasant laughter broke out. They turned to see the Slytherin students approaching, none of whom looked surprised to see the temporary teacher. Hermione cast a quick glance at Hagrid's cabin, noting that all the curtains were closed. She briefly wondered if he was sick, but quickly pushed the thought from her mind to pay attention to Professor Grubbly-Plank.
The professor was leading the class away from Hagrid's hut, and Hermione sighed softly when Harry raced to catch up with the teacher. "What's wrong with Hagrid?" He questioned her.
"Never you mind," Professor Grubbly-Plant replied shortly.
"I do mind though," Harry said hotly. "What's up with him?"
Hermione's eyes widened when they were led past the Beauxbatons paddock, noticing what was tethered against a tree on the edge of the Forest. Many of the other girls "ooohed" not a second later, as everyone saw the large unicorn.
"Where did she get it?" Hermione heard Lavender whisper to Parvati. "It's so beautiful, but they're meant to be hard to catch."
The unicorn was a bright white, standing out clearly from the snow surrounding it. However, it seemed to be nervous, pawing at the ground with golden hooves.
As Professor Grubbly-Plank called the girls forward, Hermione heard Malfoy start speaking to Harry and Ron. Part of her wanted to go back over and stop any potential fights, however, the Professor had started talking about the unicorn in great detail.
Once Care of Magical Creatures ended, Hermione caught up with Harry and Ron, who were already turning to walk back to the castle.
"I hope she stays that woman," Parvati said happily. "That's more what I thought Care of Magical Creatures would be like. Proper creatures like unicorns, not monsters."
"What about Hagrid?" Harry asked angrily, clutching at a paper in his fist.
Parvati levelled Harry with a measured look, before replying in a hard voice. "What about him? He can still be gamekeeper, can't he?"
"That was a really good lesson," Hermione agreed as they entered the Great Hall. Her eyes were already looking for tell-tale blonde hair. "I didn't know half the things Professor Grubbly-Plank told us about uni-"
"Look at this," Harry snarled, shoving the paper at her. Hermione glanced at the article from the Daily Prophet before reading more in depth.
DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE
Albus Dumbledore, eccentric Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has never been afraid to make controversial staff appointments, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent.
In September of this year, he hired Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, the notoriously jinx-happy ex-Auror, to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts, a decision that caused many raised eyebrows at the Ministry of Magic, given Moody's well-known habit of attacking anybody who makes a sudden movement in his presence.
Mad-Eye Moody, however, looks responsible and kindly when set beside the part-human Dumbledore employs to teach Care of Magical Creatures. Rubeus Hagrid, who admits to being expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, has enjoyed the position of Gamekeeper at the school ever since, a job secured for him by Dumbledore.
Last year, however, Hagrid used his mysterious influence over the headmaster to secure the additional post of Care of Magical Creatures teacher, over the heads of many better-qualified candidates. An alarming large and ferocious-looking man, Hagrid has been using his new-found authority to terrify the students in his care with a succession of horrific creatures.
While Dumbledore turns a blind eye, Hagrid has maimed several pupils during a series of lessons that many admit to being "very frightening." "I was attacked by a hippogriff, and my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite off a flobberworm," says Draco Malfoy, a fourth year student. "We all hate Hagrid, but we're just too scared to say anything." Hagrid has no intention of ceasing his campaign of intimidation, however.
In conversation with a Daily Prophet reporter last month, he admitted breeding creatures he has dubbed "Blast-Ended Skrewts," highly dangerous crosses between manticores and fire crabs. The creation of new breeds of magical creatures is, of course, an activity usually closely observed by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Hagrid, however, considers himself to be above such petty restrictions. "I was just having some fun," he says, before hastily changing the subject.
As if this were not enough, the Daily Prophet has now unearthed evidence that Hagrid is not - as he has always pretended - a pure-blood wizard. He is not, in fact, even pure human. His mother, we can exclusively reveal, is none other than the giantess Fridwulfa, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
Bloodthirsty and brutal, the giants brought themselves to the point of extinction by warring amongst themselves during the last century. The handful that remained joined the ranks of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and were responsible for some of the worst mass Muggle killings of his reign of terror. While many of the giants who served He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named were killed by Aurors working against the Dark Side, Fridwulfa was not among them. It is possible she escaped to one of the giant communities still existing in foreign mountain ranges.
If his antics during Care of Magical Creatures lessons are any guide, however, Fridwulfa's son appears to have inherited her brutal nature. In a bizarre twist, Hagrid is reputed to have developed a close friendship with the boy who brought around You-Know-Who's fall from power - thereby driving Hagrid's own mother, like the rest of the Death Eaters, into hiding. Perhaps Harry Potter is unaware of this unpleasant truth about his large friend - but Albus Dumbledore surely has a duty to ensure that Harry Potter, along with his fellow students, is warned about the dangers of associating with half-giants.
Hermione's mouth fell open as she read through the article, barely acknowledging the other two Gryffindor's leading them onto a bench. "How did that horrible Skeeter woman find out about Hagrid? You don't reckon he actually told her?"
"No," Harry said, slumping in his seat. "He didn't even tell us, did he? I reckon she was so mad he didn't tell her anything horrible about me, so went ferreting around to get back at him."
Hermione hummed, quietly putting some food on her plate. "Was she in the gardens that night? You two did say he was talking quite openly with Madame Maxime."
"We'd have seen her in the garden," Ron said, piling his plate high. "Anyway, Hagrid told us Dumbledore banned her, she's not allowed on the grounds anymore."
"Maybe she got an invisibility cloak," Harry offered, his anger still clear by the shaking of his hands. "Sort of thing she'd do, isn't it? Hide in the bushes, listening to people."
Hermione was going to respond, but was distracted by Claire and Alexander swinging Gabrielle around, as they entered the Hall, Fleur on their heels. The Gryffindor gave the quartet a small smile as they adjusted their path to sit next to her. Fleur was about to lean in for a kiss, but Harry interrupted them sharply.
"You do want him back, right Hermione?"
Hermione tugged at her lip, ignoring the look the boy was giving her. "I - well, I'm not going to pretend it wasn't a nice change, having a proper Care of Magical Creatures lesson for once - but of course I want him back, I do!"
"W'at ees going on?" Claire asked, distracting the two English wizards just long enough for Fleur to give Hermione a chaste kiss.
"Here," Hermione said, allowing Fleur to tangle their hands together under the table. "That Skeeter woman wrote an article about him."
Claire and Alexander both quickly skimmed the paper handed over to them. They then passed it over to Fleur, who, once she had read it, handed it to Gabrielle. Hermione knew that was a pointless endeavor - whilst the eight year old had an excellent grasp on verbal English, her reading skills were still heavily lacking. However, Gabrielle made a great showing of pretending to read the paper, nodding dramatically.
"'Agrid ees your friend, non?" Fleur began airly. When the trio nodded, she continued. "W'at does eet matter w'at your papers write zen? Just go speak to 'im after dinner."
"They shouldn't be dragging him through the mud," Harry said, anger lacing his tone. Hermione amused herself with staring at Ron's purpling face, raising an eyebrow at him when they locked eyes.
"Z'ow 'im you are on 'is zide," Alexander added, playfully stealing a nugget from Gabrielle's plate, much to her outrage. "'E 'as not c'anged from ze man you knew, 'Arry."
"He should've told us!"
"People can 'ave zeir zecrets," Claire said lightly, although she was watching the wizard carefully. "Per'aps 'e did not know 'ow you would react, and was worried?"
Hermione was back to biting her lip, aware that Claire was unknowingly hitting at the same issue she had about telling the boys about her family. Fleur silently squeezed her hand, seeming to sense her distraction. The witch flashed her a grateful smile, pulling her attention back to the conversation around her.
"We're his friends," Harry stressed, looking at a still slightly purple Ron for support.
"Zen go talk to 'im," Claire said with an air of finality, resting her head on Alexander's shoulder. The French students seemed happy to be finished with that conversation, instead telling stories about their morning classes.
After they had eaten, Fleur and Hermione said their goodbyes, and walked out of the Great Hall together. They wandered to the Library, Hermione quickly leading them to her favourite secluded spot.
Hermione grinned eagerly as Fleur settled their chairs close together, legs entwining. Whilst the English witch still wasn't comfortable with public displays, she eagerly took comfort in Fleur when alone. Or in the Carriage, surrounded by students who just grin at them, and not pass along rumours.
Fleur seemed to amuse herself playing with strands of Hermione's hair, always intent to have some sort of physical contact with the younger girl.
"W'at 'ad you distracted earlier, mon amour?" Fleur asked gently, her free hand drawing patterns over Hermione's skirt.
Hermione sighed softly, leaning her head on Fleur's shoulder. "What Claire said hit a bit close to home, I suppose." At Fleur's questioning noise, Hermione continued. "I never told them about Ros and Maribel until the start of this year, even though they adopted me just after my first year. I guess I was scared of what they would say, and how everything would change."
"Did anyzing c'ange?"
The Gryffindor sighed again, closing her eyes. "That's the worst bit. Nothing changed. I mean, sure Ron wasn't overly happy at the start, but he got over it. I guess I thought Harry would react more, but he didn't seem to mind I hadn't told them."
"Eet ees okay to be worried, ma chérie," Fleur replied quietly. "Zey would not be your friends if zey could not 'andle zat."
Hermione snorted, "Maribel told me that same thing, you know."
"Zee ees a clever woman indeed, ma chérie."
"I love you.
"Je t'aime aussie."
Hermione's afternoon classes passed quickly. All too soon, she was being dragged away from her Arithmancy class by an excited Gabrielle, who was babbling in French about the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend. However, once they passed into an otherwise empty corridor, Hermione paused.
"What's wrong 'Mi?" Gabrielle asked, still clinging to her hand.
Hermione had her eyes on a First-Year Slytherin, who had sniffed and quickly rubbed at his face when they rounded the corner. "You go ahead, Gabby, I just need a second, okay?"
The younger girl narrowed her eyes, but otherwise complied, skipping out of the corridor. Hermione approached the window where the Slytherin was sitting, holding her hands up in surrender when he quickly looked at her.
"You alright?" Hermione asked carefully, making a mental note of his bloodshot eyes.
"What does it matter to you?" the boy quickly said, going to gather his bag.
"I just want to make sure you're okay," Hermione said softly, crouching down on her heels to be eye level. She offered out her hand to shake. "I'm Hermione Granger."
"Malcolm Baddock," he replied, cautiously accepting the offered hand.
"Lovely to meet you, Malcolm," Hermione said, forcing her voice to be cheerful. "Now, you sure everything's okay?"
Malcolm sniffed again, quickly wiping at his face. Hermione conjured a tissue and handed it over silently. "It's nothing important." Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, but waited for him to continue. "Just struggling with some of the work."
Hermione knew that this wasn't the full truth, something in the way he responded made it certain that wasn't everything. However, she smiled softly at him, allowing the matter to rest. "Listen, if you want, I don't want to brag, but I'm top of my year. If you want I can help you with the work. We can do it privately in the Library, so others won't know?"
Malcolm eyed Hermione carefully, before nodding his head slowly. "I'd like that - if you don't mind?"
"I wouldn't offer if I didn't mind," Hermione replied quietly. "What do you struggle with the most?"
"Charms and Potions."
"Right," Hermione smiled brightly at Malcolm. "Well, when do you have them next?"
Malcolm thought about that for a minute, before replying. "Monday for both. Snape set an essay about the Forgetfulness Potion, and Flitwick wants us to revise the Lumos spell."
"Okay, so how about you try your hand at Snape's essay first, and on Sunday we'll go over it together, after lunch? If you've got time, make notes on Lumos, and we'll practise that as well." Hermione grinned when Malcolm nodded shakily.
"Thank you," he said, quiet enough that Hermione wasn't sure she heard him for a minute.
"It's no bother, truly. I don't mind, and I'm sure I've still got my notes from my first year. We can go over all your classes together, if that'll help?"
"Yeah, yeah that'll be great," Malcolm smiled at the older Gryffindor. Hermione conjured another few tissues for the Slytherin, smiling gently at him.
"Let me know if you have any issues before Sunday, though, won't you?" Hermione questioned, not letting her smile slip. Once the younger student nodded again, Hermione rocked back to her feet easily. "Well, we best go get some dinner, Malcolm. Remember to come and find me anytime, and if not, I'll see you Sunday?"
"Thank you, Hermione," the boy repeated, this time louder, before he walked out of the hallway. Hermione counted to ten in her head, before following the route to the Great Hall. She smiled as she slipped in next to Gabrielle and Fleur, noticing that Malcolm had gone to sit with some other first year Slytherins. After dinner, she hurriedly sent an owl to Ros asking for her first year notes, as both Ros and Maribel had returned home until the second task.
With the post on Saturday morning, came Hermione's notes, and she quickly went back to her dorm to drop them off. It had been a few days since she had spoken to Malcolm, but Hermione had seen him at meals, surrounded by other first years.
On the way back down to the Entrance Hall, she ran into Harry and Ron, both planning on using the day's visit to Hogsmeade, much to Hermione's surprise.
"I just thought you'd want to take advantage of the common room being quiet," Hermione said to Harry. "Really get to work on that egg?"
Harry gave her a guilty look, "I - oh I reckon I've got a pretty good idea what's it about now."
"Have you really? Well done," Hermione replied, giving the boy a proud look. Harry looked to say something further, when she felt her necklace heating up underneath her jumper. Hermione grinned broadly, turning to face Fleur. The Champion had Hermione's Gryffindor scarf wrapped tightly around her neck, her hands tucked into her pockets.
"Bonjour," Fleur said once she came closer, immediately reaching for Hermione's hand.
"Hi Fleur, managed to give Gabby to Claire and Alexander today?" Hermione teased.
Fleur sighed, and shook her head. "Non, just until we get to ze village, we 'ave to meet zem at ze pub."
"Right, we'll meet you two there?" Ron asked quietly. Hermione inwardly giggled at how he pointedly avoiding looking at Fleur for too long, her Thrall still having a strong effect on him.
"Alright, we'll get a table," Hermione nodded, watching as the two other Gryffindor's walked off.
Fleur and Hermione waited a few moments before following the path, the older witch quickly performing warming charms on them. They walked in silence, Fleur pulling Hermione closer to her side. It was only when they passed the lake, watching as Victor Krum dove into the water did Fleur break the silence.
"I 'ate water."
Hermione gave her a teasing smile. "Well you are a bird, you know?"
Fleur rolled her eyes, knocking the younger girl's shoulder playfully. "Zat ees ze next task - water."
"Wait," Hermione stopped, jolting Fleur to turn around and face her. "What do you mean, water, Fleur?"
"Zey will take zomezing from ze champions, and we 'ave an 'our to retrieve eet. Ze egg, eet ees ze Murpeople zinging, zo I guess eet ees to do wiz water."
Hermione stared at the girl in silence, mouth agape. "When did you work it out?" She asked quietly.
Fleur gave her a lopsided grin, tugging the younger girl closer. "Not zat long after ze dragons. Murpeople and Veela are zomew'at related. As loud as eet ees, eet ees obviously ze Murpeople, zo ze first zing I did was put eet in water."
"Merlin," Hermione breathed out, "You've kept that one hidden."
"Zorry, 'Ermione, I did not want to worry you, and I 'ave a plan. Eet ees zo close now, and I am worried," Fleur sighed, resting her forehead against Hermiones.
"Well," Hermione tilted her head to kiss Fleur quickly. She tugged the older girl towards the village, wrapping their arms together. "What's your plan?"
"Bubble'ead charm. And warming," She replied simply. "I was zinking about transfiguration, as a back up."
Hermione hummed, nodding her head. She was already running through different underwater creatures that lived in the Lake. "What about the creatures? With the Bubblehead charm isn't it harder to cast verbally?"
"'Ermione," Fleur began teasingly, giving the girl a warm smile. "You forget, I am zree years a'ead, eet ees expected for me to cast non-verbally for ze past year."
The Gryffindor blushed, turning to examine the scenery as they walked. "I'm sorry, I foget sometimes."
"I forget zat you are young as well, mon amour, you act zo wise," Fleur pressed a kiss to the top of Hermione's head.
Hermione hummed, looking through the windows of shops as they walked down Hogsmeade's high street. Fleur held open the door to the Three Broomsticks, giving Hermione a mock bow as she entered.
"I wonder what Harry has planned for the second task," Hermione mused, allowing Fleur to lead the way to the counter.
"'E 'as not told you?" Fleur asked, leaning against the bar.
"No," Hermione sighed, shaking her head. "Harry's said he's got a good idea about it but -"
"You do not believe 'im?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I doubt he's started working on it at all, he's treating the Tournament like how he treats his homework - last minute. But I've learnt it's better not to push the issue, if he needs help he'll ask eventually."
Fleur ordered drinks for the pair, Hermione frowning slightly as the older girl paid for them both. "I won't tell him what it is, or that you've worked it out," Hermione eventually said, picking up the drinks and leading them to a table.
"You can, I do not mind," Fleur said quietly. Hermione, however, shot her an affronted look.
"No, Fleur, I won't. I'll help you both, but I'm not abusing your trust to tell him something," Hermione said forcefully. "You've told me that as your girlfriend."
"Merci, 'Ermione," Fleur said after a moment, pressing close to the younger girl. Hermione gave her a small grin, leaning in and placing a kiss on the corner of her mouth. Fleur's face lit up slightly, playfully knocking their glasses together before taking a sip.
Hermione let her eyes wander over the pub, narrowing at Ludo Bagman sitting in a corner with a group of Goblins. Her view of them was blocked, when an excitable blonde leapt into her vision.
"'Mi!" Gabrielle exclaimed, quickly climbing over the table to give her a hug. "This village is so cool!"
"Gabby," Claire said exasperatedly. She sunk into a seat opposite, waving Alexander to go to the bar. "Eenglish."
"Did you have a good morning?" Hermione asked, taking satisfaction in how exhausted the other witch looked.
"Zat leetle monster wanted to zee every ztore," Claire moaned, resting her head on the table dramatically. "Eet ees worse zan ze 'angover after ze Ball."
"I am not leetle monster," Gabby said, glaring at her escort.
"A leetle monster," Fleur corrected, rolling her eyes.
"W'o ees a monster? Gabrielle?" Alexander asked, sliding drinks to both Gabrielle and Claire. He shrugged, knocking back half his drink in one. "We all knew zat already. Is zat not ze reason your maman drinks, Fleur?"
"Non," Claire interrupted smoothly, a dangerous gleam in her eyes. "Fleur ees ze reason zee drinks. Gabrielle ees ze reason zeir papa drinks."
Hermione giggled, enjoying the faint blush that was decorating the Delacour sisters' cheeks. She quickly waved to Harry and Ron as they entered, nodding as they pointed to the bar.
Fleur grumbled, pulling Hermione under her arm, as she glared at Claire. Hermione kept her attention, however, on Harry and Ron, the former of which had been dragged aside by Ludo Bagman. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Harry squirm, but just as she thought of going over there, Fred and George swooped in, chatting brightly to the Ministry Official. Ludo quickly said something to the three students, before hurrying out of the pub. The Goblins, Hermione noted, followed suit on his heels.
"Hello everyone," the two boys mumbled as they sat on their table, each cradling a glass.
"What did Ludo Bagman want, Harry?" Hermione asked, taking a small sip of her Butterbeer.
"He offered to help with my Egg," Harry mumbled, staring intently at his drink. Hermione felt Fleur stiffen next to her, and rubbed calming patterns on her thigh quickly.
"He shouldn't be doing that," Hermione said, very calmly. "He's one of the judges! Anyway, you've already worked it out, haven't you?"
"Er - nearly, yeah," Harry said, not moving his gaze from his drink. Fleur quickly tangled their hands together, giving Hermione a comforting squeeze.
"Well," Hermione's eyes narrowed again. "I don't think Dumbledore would like it if he knew Bagman was trying to persuade you to cheat."
"'E 'as not offered me any advice," Fleur said, rubbing Hermione's arm slowly. The French Champion tried to keep her voice calm. "And I doubt 'e 'as offered anyone else 'is advice."
"W'at about ze Goblins?" Alexander interrupted smoothly, an arm slung around Claire's shoulders.
Harry shrugged, finally looking up from his drink. "Looking for Crouch, according to Bagman. He's still ill, hasn't been into work much lately."
"Weird, they would normally deal with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures," Hermione mused, raising an eyebrow as both Alexander and Fleur snorted.
Fleur waved off Hermione's gaze, shaking her head slightly. The French witch then narrowed her own eyes, looking at something past Hermione's shoulder. Ron seemed to follow her gaze, if the muttered swearing was an indication.
Hermione turned, eyes quickly finding what the issue was. Rita Skeeter had just walked in, dressed in horribly banana-yellow robes, and pink painted nails.
"That woman's dress sense is worse than her writing," Claire sniffed, shuffling slightly to keep the reporter in her eyesight. She was twirling her wand around her fingers like a baton. "I never thought someone would think that yellow and neon pink match."
"Perhaps we could give her some fashion tips?" Alexander replied quietly, one finger circling the rim of his glass.
"In English," Gabrielle sang teasingly, adjusting herself to sit on her legs, appearing taller.
Rita Skeeter and the Photographer following were talking rather quickly, as they passed their table. Hermione managed to hear her say something about finding a story when Harry interrupted loudly.
"Trying to ruin someone else's life?"
Claire sighed quietly, shaking her head at Harry. Rita Skeeter turned around, her eyes widening comically as she locked onto Harry.
"Harry," the reporter said breathlessly, her smile wide. "How lovely, why don't you come and join -"
"I wouldn't come near you with a ten foot broomstick," Harry interrupted furiously. "What did you do that to Hagrid for, eh?"
Rita Skeeter raised an eyebrow at him, her smile turning more into a smirk. "Our readers have a right to know the truth, Harry, I'm merely doing my -"
"Who cares if he's a half-giant," Harry shouted, drawing more attention to the situation. Fleur had draped an arm over Hermione's shoulder, whilst Claire and Alexander moved closer to Gabrielle. "There's nothing wrong with him!"
By this point, the whole pub had gone quiet, all eyes focussed on the pair. Rita Skeeter moved closer, pulling out a notebook and Quick-Quotes Quill in one movement. "How about giving me an interview about the Hagrid you know, Harry? The man behind the muscles? Your unlikely friendship, and the reasons behind it? Would you call him a father substitute?"
Hermione knew, with that last sentence, that Rita had hit a nerve. Without thinking, she stood up angrily, glaring at the reporter. Fleur had risen with her, arm still over her shoulders.
"You're a horrible woman," Hermione spat out. "You don't care, do you? Anything for a story, and anyone will do, won't they? Even Ludo Bagman -"
"Sit down you silly little girl," Rita said coldly, eyeing the pair of standing witches. "I could tell you stories about Ludo that would curl even your hair - not that it needs it." Rita's eyes hardened as she took them in, glancing between Fleur and Harry, then back to Hermione. "How interesting, this little arrangement. The French Veela."
"Exactly w'at arrangement ees zat?" Fleur spat, her own eyes narrowing dangerously.
"I would 'old your tongue, if I were you," Claire warned, her eyes trained on Rita. She was still mindlessly twirling her wand around.
"She's not worth it, let's go," Hermione said angrily, placing a hand on Gabrielle to steer her away. Fleur kept her arm over her shoulders, keeping the Gryffindor from shaking obviously with rage.
The others followed them out, easily falling into step next to them.
"She'll be after you next, Hermione," Ron said quietly, his voice filled with warning.
"Oh just let her try," Hermione said shrilly, Fleur's arm doing nothing to quell her shaking. Anger laced her tone. "I'll show her! Silly little girl, am I? Oh I'll get her back, first Harry, now Hagrid."
"You don't want to go upsetting Rita Skeeter," Ron continued nervously. "I'm serious, she'll dig something up on you -"
"I don't care, Ron," Hermione interrupted, her strides lengthening. "Let her! There isn't anything for her to dig up, she can't scare me into hiding!"
"Ma chérie," Fleur started sweetly, running her hands over Hermione's arms. "Take a moment to breaze, and calm down."
"No, we need to go see Hagrid," Hermione said furiously. "He isn't hiding anymore, he should never have let that disgrace of a human upset him!"
"'Ermione," Claire tried, glancing at the others for support. "You will not get anyw'ere by going to 'im upset."
"'Ow about 'Arry and Ron go zee 'Agrid," Alexander offered, throwing a pointed look to the two boys. "And you and Fleur can put zis energy to good use, oui?"
"Zis ees not ze time for zat," Fleur spat, glaring at Alexander.
"I meant a duel, Fleur," Alexander grinned at her. "You have such a dirty mind, you pervert."
"Yeah, Hermione," Harry stepped in, glancing nervously around the older students. "We'll go speak to Hagrid."
Hermione spun around, surprising Gabrielle who almost walked straight into her. "No. I'm going to go speak to him, and get him out of his hut and back to teaching."
Before anyone could react, Hermione had spun back around, and broke into a run. Alexander sighed, offering Gabrielle his back to go on, before the rest of them began running to catch up.
"The last time she was this mad," Harry explained to the Beauxbaton students, "she punched Draco Malfoy in the face."
"I knew zere was a reason I liked 'er," Claire said with a grin, slowing down as they caught up to Hermione outside Hagrid's hut. They could hear Fang barking as they approached.
"Hagrid!" Hermione shouted, a fist pounding on his door. "Hargrids, that's enough! We know you're in there! Nobody cares if you mum was a giantess! You can't let that foul Skeeter woman do this to you! Hagrid get out here, you're being -"
The door opened suddenly, Hermione just about staying on her feet. "About t-" She said harshly, before stopping very suddenly, and turning slightly pink.
Instead of Hagrid, she found herself face to face with Dumbledore, her fist still raised in the air. His eyes twinkled as he glanced over the amassed students, giving them a smile.
"Good afternoon," he said pleasantly.
"We," Hermione said nervously, "we wanted to see Hagrid."
"Yes, I summarised as much," Dumbledore said, a smile playing on his lips. "Why don't you all come in."
"We will go back to ze Carriage," Fleur said, nodding at Hermione. "Let me know w'en you are all finished?"
Hermione nodded back, giving the students a small wave, before heading into the hut.
It was several hours later when the trio left Hagrid. Hermione immediately left the other two, heading towards the Carriage. The door opened for her, Maxime having allowed Hermione to come and go as she pleases before the Yule Ball. Hermione said her hellos to the students milling about the main room, quickly making her way towards Fleur's room.
"Did everyzing work out?" Fleur asked, as soon as Hermione stepped into the room. Gabrielle was writing on a piece of parchment, Claire sitting on top of the desk next to her. Alexander was throwing his wand in the air and catching it, laying on the floor. Fleur had sat up in bed, a book balanced on her thighs.
"Yeah," Hermione replied, placing her bag down in the corner of the room. "Hagrid will be back to teaching Monday, thankfully."
"Zat ees good zen," Claire said, smiling at the English witch.
Hermione nodded, walking over to Fleur and throwing herself down next to her. Fleur immediately pulled Hermione in for a lingering kiss, smiling lopsidedly when they broke apart.
"We 'ave zomezing else to talk about," Alexander said, conjuring sparks from his wand. "A certain reporter you shouted at."
Hermione glanced over at Alexander, shaking her head slightly. "What's there to deal with? She can write whatever she wants about me."
"'Ermione," Fleur said softly. "Zere ees zings you can do to ztop 'er dragging your name around."
"Like what?" Hermione asked, before shaking her head again. "There isn't anything, let her write her stupid little articles.
"'Ermione, you know we all love you but," Claire started, her tone harsher than the other two. "Ztop zinking like a muggleborn."
"I am a muggleborn," Hermione refuted, "what's that got to do with anything?"
"Eet means, you need to deal wiz zis like a pureblood," Claire argued, making an effort to soften her voice.
"How exactly do you deal with this like a pureblood?" Hermione asked, and Claire straightened up, smiling widely.
"You tell Ros and Maribel, obviously," she said, opening her arms wide, and ruffled Gabrielle's hair. "Zey can deal wiz zat woman."
"Absolutely not," Hermione sank back into Fleur's embrace. "I'm not getting them involved, I'm not using them."
"Eet ees not using zem, you are all a family, non?" Alexander said, shrugging his shoulders. "Claire ees a pureblood, eef any papers write anyzing negative, 'er parents get eet shut down, or ze story ees turned around into zomezing positive."
Claire nodded, leaning forward from her perch. "Exactly my point, zey can put a ztop to anyzing zat woman writes, before eet even gets approved."
"I'm not going to use them," Hermione said stubbornly. "There's nothing she can drag up! And even if she did, I'm not going to go into hiding about it - everything she's written so far is trash."
Fleur sighed, running her fingers through Hermione's hair. "Eet would not 'urt, eef you just told zem, zey do not 'ave to do anyzing."
Claire looked ready to argue this point, narrowing her eyes, but Alexander leaned over and placed a calming hand on her knee.
"I'll think about it," Hermione sighed, slumping further.
"Zat Malfoy boy," Claire said softly, shaking her head at Alexander. "Eef zis paper would write zomezing bad about 'im, would 'is parents get it ztopped?"
"That's different," Hermione replied.
"'Ow zo? Zink like a pureblood, 'Ermione," Claire pushed, "wiz pureblood connections. Eet ees not using zem, zey are your family!"
"Claire 'as a point, mon amour," Fleur soothed, wrapping her arms around the younger girl. "At least tell zem. Zey love you, and will protect you from anyzing zee writes."
Hermione merely hummed, letting the conversation drop away.
The Gryffindor's Sunday passed quickly. Malcolm Baddock's study session went without incident. Hermione had easily pointed out small changes to make to his Potions essay, to make it flow a little better. Whilst she was hesitant to practise brewing, they went over common mistakes. His notes on the Lumos charm were detailed, and he managed to produce a small light after half an hour of revising.
Hermione organised to see him a few times a week, to go over his work and help tutor him. She had made a point not to ask anything personal, and the first year did not offer any further information.
Her only issue was with Harry. They sat at the back of their Charms Class, pretending to practise the Banishing charm, but were using the time to talk privately.
"You said," Hermione stressed, "you worked that clue out ages ago!"
"Keep your voice down," Harry hissed, quickly glancing around the room. "I just - sort of need to fine tune it, okay?"
Hermione flicked her wand, banishing her cushion to the box effortlessly. She glanced up as Professor Flitwick went flying across the room, due to Neville's poor aim.
"Just forget about the egg for a minute," Harry hissed again, waving his wand and making his cushion do a small flip on the table. "I'm trying to tell you about Snape and Moody."
Hermione sighed, tuning out their conversation. Shaking her head, she focused on sending her pile of cushions to the box. By the time class was over, she had managed to convince Ron that Snape did not put Harry's name in the Goblet, as a trusted friend of Dumbledore. Of course, the next issue was finding a way for Harry to survive the next task.
They had gone through as many books as they could in the next few weeks. Hermione point blank refused to offer any information about Fleur's tactic, but thankfully, neither boy had asked. She had also kept her tutoring with Malcolm secret from the other two, knowing that Ron, at least, would argue about "helping a snake". However, Malcolm had been joined by another first year Slytherin - an Emma Dobbs. She came over with Malcolm, and Hermione had not even blinked, merely making a copy of her notes with a wave of her wand. Both Slytherins looked extremely relieved at that.
All too soon, it was the evening before the Second Task. Hermione had made apologies to Fleur at dinner. Whilst she wanted to go and spend the night with the French witch, Harry was still not prepared for the Task. Fleur had given her a grin, kissed her rather soundly in an empty hallway, and made her promise to meet up in the morning.
Hermione sighed as she put another spell book back. She had briefly considered the Bubblehead Charm, but that wouldn't necessarily help the issue of swimming. Harry had confided in the pair that the Dursleys had never bothered with swimming lessons. This meant that he needed a swimming assistant, as well as a way to breathe.
"There's no way it can be done," Ron muttered, pushing away his book. "There's absolutely nothing that can be done."
Hermione moved her head closer to her next book, eyes rapidly flicking through Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes.
"Maybe they've set an impossible task," Harry offered, copying Ron's movements of pushing away a book.
"They have," Ron agreed quickly, "Harry, just go down to the Lake tomorrow, stick your head in, yell at the Murpeople to give back whatever they've taken, and see if they chuck it out. Best way of doing it."
Hermione sighed again, tuning out their conversation to start her next book. Eventually, she snapped that one shut too. "Oh this is pointless, who on Earth wants to make their nose hairs grow into ringlets?"
"I wouldn't mind," came Fred's voice from behind her.
"It'll be a talking point," George finished, leaning against each other.
"What are you two doing here?" Ron asked.
"Looking for you," George answered.
"And you, Hermione," Fred continued. "McGonagall wants to see you both."
"Why?" Hermione asked, surprise clear on her face. Both twins shrugged at her.
"Dunno, she looked right grim though," Fred said.
"We need to take you both to her office."
"Right," Hermione said uneasily, picking up her bag. "Harry, we'll meet you in the Common Room. Bring as many books back as you can."
Harry nodded, watching as the four walked out of the Library. As the twins led the way to McGonagall's office, Hermione's stomach was turning, her brain reeling. Was this because of how much they had helped Harry prepare, she asked herself. Just as they entered the room, Hermione's eyes widened, coming to a horrible conclusion.
Right as Hermione locked eyes with McGonagall, her world turned black.