Fleur is incredibly gentle with Hermione. While she does have to be harsh at times when it comes to dealing with other issues such as clan matters, she can never be harsh with Hermione. As the brunette is the one who holds her by the heart.

Hermione hasn't seen the blonde ever since she has gone on the horcrux hunt with Harry and Ron. It was too risky for her to be able to contact her and so she has just been hoping and praying that the blonde was okay. That she was safe and out of harm's way.

When they got to Shell's cottage, a small house overlooking a cliff which belonged to the Weasley family, Hermione was not expecting anyone else but Ron's older brother. Charlie had been living there ever since the Death eaters had been looking for supposed 'blood traitors' like the Weasleys, and so Charlie has been hiding out at the Shell cottage and housed Ron when they left the group a while ago. Ron said that they would be safe there and so the cottage became a safehouse for the trio. At least for now.

They were all limping towards the house, Ron calling out for Charlie and making their presence known. Hermione just expected to see Charlie looking out to the three teenagers, but she was massively surprised when she saw the person she had been yearning to see this whole time. The silver hair was unmistakable, and she felt her heart lurch when she heard her name leaving the lips of Fleur Delacour.

She felt tears prick at her eyes and she let out a sob as she watched the blonde vault over the small fence of the house and running towards them faster than a golden snitch. Hermione gasped out Fleur's name as the blonde scooped her up into her arms, holding her in her embrace so tightly and securely while Hermione clung to her. Her tears fell and she could feel the blonde trembling as her hands rubbed all over Hermione's body, reacquainting themselves with her and making sure that she was in fact there.

"Mon amour…mon amour." Fleur whispered, her hands gently travelling up to the brunette's face and cupping her cheeks, pulling her face away so that she was gazing into her honey eyes.

Hermione could see the tears misting over the blue orbs she has missed so much, but she could also make out the sheer tenderness that Fleur had in her eyes. Fleur is a naturally very proud creature, but not being able to see the brunette for so long, not knowing if she was alive or dead, just killed her. Her touch was so gentle, almost afraid that she may break if she added too much pressure.

Fleur's eyes were tender, filled with relief and concern, and when she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Hermione's in a kiss, it was the gentlest action Hermione has received in months. She felt drops hit her cheek during the kiss and Hermione knew it was Fleur's tears finally escaping but she did not care. She was just happy that Fleur was okay, just as Fleur was with Hermione.

Charlie had joined them and helped Harry and Ron to the cottage, sharing a silent conversation with Ron as he helped his brother onto the couch. Fleur had taken Hermione away separately, guiding her in what seemed to be a spare room. The blonde hadn't let her go and Hermione didn't want her too, feeling like she was losing air if she was separated from her for even a second. Fleur was whispering in her ear, pressing soft kisses to her face as she used magic to gather the supplies that she needed, too afraid to leave the brunnette.

She magically ran a bath for her, and she helped guide Hermione to the bathroom, er eyes never leaving her as she gently and carefully began to take off the brunette's clothes. Hermione was dirty and in so much pain, her forearm throbbing so badly. She shut her eyes tight when her sleeve ran over the bloodied slur and was finally exposed to the air.

It hurt. It hurt so much.

She knows that fleur saw it. She knows that she saw the very name that she detested the most. She felt the blonde touch her out forearm, her fingers slightly flexing as she tilted her arm up so to inspect the wound more clearly. Her heart was pounding loudly, and she felt her breathing getting shakier and shakier until she then felt lips on her forehead, a kiss getting pressed to her skin while she heard Fleur's voice slightly hitched.

"Let's get you cleaned up."

Neither of them said anything else as Fleur then guided Hermione into the bath, holding her arms as the brunette stepped into the tub and then lowered herself. She kept her arms on the rims of the tub as Fleur began to wash her, taking the sponge and gently running it over Hermione's skin, the dirty coming off her in tides.

Hermione couldn't help but flinch as Fleur gently took a hold of her arm. It was still so painful and just the sight of her scar was terrifying and humiliating. Mudblood, the slur which was the most degrading thing in the world to muggleborns like Hermione. Hermione couldn't help but hiss as she felt Fleur's run the sponge along her forearm and over the carved letters and at the first sound of it, Fleur stopped. She looked into Hermione's eyes tenderly, the question clear in her eyes as she asked if she may continue. And without saying a word, Hermione just nodded.

The whole time Fleur was gentle, once finishing cleaning her, she helped her out the bath and covered her in a towel before guiding her into the room. She summoned some clothes which were in the cupboard and she dressed the brunette in them before laying her on the bed. She then sat down beside her and gently took the scarred arm in her hands and pulled out her wand.

The veela heir then began to heal the injuries which the brunette had sustained, trying her best with the one on her forearm. Hermione sustained a lot from the manor and just remembering the eldest black sister's face as she carved into her skin with the knife just made her want to hide in fright. It was all so much. She has suffered so much. Just why did this all have to happen. Just what was the point of this war? Something like blood purity is so idiotic. So…barbaric. Just why did they generation have to be ruined by something like this.

Hermione didn't realise she was crying until she felt hands wiping away her tears. Fleur was looking down on her with such soft eyes, sympathy shining in them as she shifted herself so that she was now laying beside the brunette and was pulling her into a soft embrace, one hand on her neck to keep Hermione's face in her neck while the other wrapped around her waist.

"Mon amour, you have done so much. Just let it out."

And she did. Hermione just broke down. Sobs wracked out of her throat and tears were endless. And Fleur held her through it all. She didn't stop holding her and she just hugged the brunette closer as she cried. She was not going to let her go through this alone. Not anymore. She has gone through so many hardships. She was taking care of so many people. She has been so hurt.

It is now time for someone to take care of her.

Fleur was gentle with her the whole time. She never left the brunette alone. Even when they had recovered from their injuries, Hermione and Fleur were inseparable. Because the gentle touch of Fleur was the only thing keep Hermione sane at the moment. With all her suffering, she needed a soft touch. And Fleur was more than happy to give that to her.