Shoutout to DrewMarigold for helping me with this and capturing Fleur's voice! She is fluent in french, I'm barely fluent in English (that's a joke, I vaguely know what I'm doing)
Thank you so much for your help!
Another shoutout to Raxhas for giving me the inspo for this fic on Harry Potter is my Oxygen FB page! If you don't like us (I'm also an admin) PLS DO!
Fleur Delacour was a force to be reckoned with.
When she was chosen for the Triwizard Tournament, she was as ruthless as she could be without compromising herself.
When she met Bill Weasley, her hardened demeanor cracked. He was so handsome and kind to her.
His family, on the other hand, was not nearly as kind. She knew not why, just that they barely tolerated her.
But, that changed after Death Eaters attacked Hogwarts and Fleur defended herself against Molly Weasley.
"You thought that I would not weesh to marry him? Or per'aps you hoped? What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave!" Fleur barked at the Matriarch of the Weasley clan. It had taken all of her self control not to scream at Molly. But she kept as cool as she could, and then the dynamic between herself and the rest of the Weasley's changed.
And again, everything changed after the Golden Trio's skirmish at Malfoy Manor.
Hermione had been the worst injured of them all, and how Fleur fussed over her.
Hermione had come into Fleur's care completely unconscious, and Fleur nursed her back to health, becoming an accidental confidante.
"Fleur, I need to tell you something." Hermione said quietly, finally able to sit up after a full day resting in bed.
Fleur sat in the chair next to her bed and took Hermione's hands in hers. "'What is 'eet?"
Hermione squeezed Fleur's hands, "I just need to vent a bit. Back when I was at Hogwarts, I had a relationship with Draco Malfoy. And it was blissfully beautiful. Then, it came to an abrupt end. Watching him do nothing to help me, after all we had been through, after all the whispers of devotion to me, and love for me, he did nothing. And while the torture was hell, him not lifting a finger to assist me, it hurts more; I don't know how to process it. He told me he loved me."
Hermione started to sob.
Fleur took a deep breath and squeezed Hermione's hand before she started speaking slowly, "I theenk that Draco, he ees a coward who does not know how to face the bad things. He ees a, what do you call it? Un pion. Pawn? I theenk it ees." Hermione gave a small nod. "'E is a pawn in a big game of chess. 'E did not have many choices. While 'e did not know what to do, 'e might still love you, and you can still love 'im, but you do not have to forgive. 'Et ees, how do you say… fucked up? Big time fucked up."
Hermione nodded slowly, digesting Fleur's words. Being on opposite sides of the war had already been difficult for Hermione and Draco during their short and tragic relationship, and now, the fact that Draco was on the wrong side had reared its ugly head. Hermione had a lot to come to terms with: how she had loved - and still loved him - how she had slept with the enemy. She had so much to process, and no time to properly mourn or organize her feelings, because she would have to return to the quest as soon as she was back on her feet.
Hermione forced a smile, tears starting to brim her eyes again, "Thank you, Fleur. When did you get so wise?" Fleur huffed a sympathetic smile.
"If you need anything, please, let me know." Fleur squeezed Hermione's hands and then released them.
Hermione nodded. "I need some time to process, but I think - I hope - I'll be okay."
As Fleur let herself out of the bedroom, Hermione lay back down, lost in a sea of confusion and frustration. How could Draco have betrayed her like that? Could she forgive him? Did she even want to try?
The headline of the Daily Prophet screamed non-verbally at them all.
HERMIONE GRANGER CAUGHT CANOODLING WITH FORMER DEATH EATER DRACO MALFOY!
What does this mean for the Brains of the Golden Trio?
How could she?
Why?
Molly Weasley gripped the paper so hard that it crumpled.
Ron was at his flat when the prophet arrived, and he threw it on the ground and incinerated it with a flick of his wand.
Harry was at Grimmauld Place where he stared at the "scandalous" picture of Hermione and Draco - kissing, then jumping as the flash went off - as if he was puzzled by it.
Dawn was kissing the roof of Shell Cottage as Fleur smiled softly at the article. Then, her expression narrowed. It was time for battle.
Hermione found herself summoned to the Burrow by the Matriarch of the Weasley family. The moment Hermione emerged from the floo, Molly attacked.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Molly screeched, startling and embarrassing Hermione in front of the entire Weasley clan (sans Charlie, who was still in Romania and thankfully removed from the situation). The only people missing from the England Weasleys were Fleur and Bill, who had been running late to the "crisis."
Ron chimed in next. "SERIOUSLY HERMIONE! He is THE ENEMY! He LET you get tortured ALMOST TO DEATH at his house! And you've been with him for HOW LONG NOW?"
Hermione sniffled, "About six months, if you must know."
"SIX BLOODY MONTHS?" Ron screamed at her, red-faced. "It's fourth year all over again! Consorting with the enemy. Again!"
Hermione burst into tears. Tears slipped down Hermione's cheeks, as she tried to speak. Molly cut her off again, "You've betrayed everything you've ever stood for!"
The front door then slammed open. A furious Fleur Delacour-Weasley marched in. Her back was ramrod straight, her eyes had a determined look in them, and a scowl was on her face.
"'OW DARE YOU, MOLLY WEASLEY! 'AVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING?" Fleur screamed. Her usual cool in bad situations was gone.
Over the years, Fleur and Hermione had bonded, with Hermione confiding in Fleur about her rekindled relationship with Draco. And Fleur was there for all of it.
Molly was taken aback by her usually mild-mannered daughter-in-law full-on screaming at her.
Fleur went off, her venom increasing, and her accent slipping. "Hermione has done NOTHING wrong! She loves a man, 'oo loves 'er back, and you DARE stand before 'er and make 'er feel small? She is 'ealing our world by showing zat we can forgive one anozer. 'OW DARE YOU! Years ago, you belittled me for vanity, and now you belittle a woman whom you 'ave treated like a daughter. And why? Because she sees zat people change, and you do not? 'Ow very small-minded of you. Why do you think Hermione 'as kept quiet? Why did she not tell you before? Because she KNEW dis would 'appen! She knew you would speak without thought, you would judge without facts. She knew you would assume ze worst, and dat you would scream! You 'ave NO! RIGHT! Hermione is a grown woman, who is loving a man changed. 'E has apologized, and 'e ees remorseful! You 'ave not stood in Hermione's shoes, zerefore, I expect nothing but support! Did you even let her speak?" Molly's mouth closed with a snap, as she stood, blinking at Fleur.
"AND YOU, RONALD WEASLEY!" Fleur swung her full attention to her brother-in-law, smirking cruelly as he paled in the face of her wrath, "You are just bitter that Hermione saw through your shallowness and chose someone else! Your excuse is what? Zat Draco was a bully! Bah! So were you! Hermione is my friend! She told me 'ow you 'ave treated her for years! You will be silent, now! Hermione has chosen to remain your friend, even after all you 'ave put 'er through, and zis is 'ow you repay 'er? 'Oo needs enemies with a friend such as you? Shame!"
Ron seemed to deflate, the anger seeping out of him.
Fleur was red in the face, and taking deep breaths at the end of her monologue. Hermione nodded at her gratefully, wiping at her tears. Bill went and put his arm around his wife's waist.
"Mum, I love you, but I'm standing with my wife on this one. She's made many good points. Your shaming of Hermione is unacceptable, and childish, and ridiculous. You can't go off like a howler every time you hear something you don't like. Knock it off."
Molly turned bright red, as embarrassment and shame came over her.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I don't understand, but I will try to." Molly said quietly.
"Shit. I'm a complete arse." Ron followed, "I'm sorry, 'Mione. I don't know what you see in the ferret, but if he hurts you, I kill him."
Hermione gave a forced, watery smile, "Language, Ronald," she chided, then sighed, "He won't hurt me worse than he already has; we have a complicated relationship, but we're working through it. I think that if you get to know each other, you might just get along Just, try. Please."
Ron snorted and rolled his eyes, but balked at Fleur's expression.
"Oh, 'e will try. Or, I will hex zis entire family!" Fleur barked.
Bill wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders. "Sounds good, dear."
So, once again, Fleur stood triumphantly. Her voice had been heard, and her opinion had been accepted. She was, after all, a force to be reckoned with.
Pls Review, Comment, and Favorite y'all!