Hermione

"What's going on between you and Fleur?" Ginny asked, we had all been back at Hogwarts for almost a month and I had recently noticed that Fleur had been a little awkward.

"Nothing much," I choked out, looking around the Common Room to make sure no one was within earshot. We were sat beside a fire, sheltering from the cold of winter and, thankfully, we were two of the only five or so students still in the Common Room.

Ginny looked over at me with a worried expression, "Are you sure? Things have seemed… Different, between you two."

"Everything is fine," I responded, hoping to alleviate her fears, although they weren't unfounded. At first, I believed everything was fine but, over the last week or so I've noticed Fleur has seemed rather distant and more than a little awkward whenever we were together. I had watched her from afar a couple of times as she interacted with others and, whether it be with her sister, helping Harry or even chatting with random people in passing, she seemed perfectly fine. It was just when she spent time with me that things seemed to be hard for the blond.

"Come on, Hermione, everyone has noticed," Ginny lowered her voice a little, her gaze full of worry, "Fleur's been acting strangely around you, the rumours have been intriguing, to say the least."

I waved the comment off, "I don't care about those silly things. But…" I sighed in defeat, looking down at my lap, "I don't know what's going on," I confessed, "I didn't realize things had been different until just this last week and… I just don't know. Gabrielle seems fine though, so I'm sure it's got to be something else."

"It's got to be about you," Ginny stated firmly.

"I-I know," I stammered, taking a deep, steadying breath, "But I don't know why," I whined, tears building in the corners of my eyes. I pushed my face into my hands, "I mean, we were great friends, then we had an amazing time at the Ball, a fantastic holiday and some great kisses but," I looked back up at Ginny pleadingly, "What did I do wrong?"

Ginny leapt from her armchair, cradling my head in her arms as she rubbed my back, "You didn't do anything wrong, I'm sure of it."

"Then why?" I cried, "Was Ron, right? Was she just using me?"

Ginny growled a little at the thought before pushing me away from her body a little so she could look me in the eye, a small smile gracing her lips, "Ron is never right, there's got to be something else going on," She spoke softly but I could tell she wasn't so sure.

"Please, keep this between us," I requested with a shudder as Ginny pulled me back into her arms.

"Of course," Ginny whispered, "I may like to listen to gossip and rumours, but I'm not about to go spreading my best friend's business to the rest of the school."

It took a few long moments before I was able to pull myself away from my younger friend, she smiled comfortingly as I looked up at her, "Thanks Gin, I really needed that," I said, wiping the moisture from sore eyes and red cheeks. I chuckled a little, "Wow, I didn't even realize how much I was crying."

Ginny nodded slowly, a sad look on her face, "Yeah…" Her voice was strained, and we sat in an awkward silence for a few minutes, "Enough about love," Ginny spoke, unable to take the silence any longer. "What say we go find Harry and Ron?"

I scoffed a little, Ron had been much better since the end of the Christmas holidays and getting even better since, but if he heard even a whisper of my strained relationship with Fleur then I'm sure he'd be back at it again. Still, I climbed to my feet and followed Ginny out of the Common Room, so long as Ron hadn't heard anything, the boys would be a decent distraction from my current turmoil.

. . .

I found myself sitting at the Gryffindor table, poking at the breakfast that lay before me rather than eating it, things were still tough with Fleur and they had, in fact, gotten much worse as she was now eating with the rest of her school at the Ravenclaw's table. It had been a few days since Ginny and I had had our little chat in the Common Room and it was the verynext day that Fleur had started to eat away from the group. I glanced at her every now and again, catching her watching me from afar before she could quickly look away, which she always did when I noticed her. Pain flared in my chest every time she avoided my gaze, so I had stopped searching her out, hoping to glean some kind of explanation from looks alone.

Ginny sat across from me and seemed to always be glaring at the Ravenclaw table, I could guess as to who she was glaring at, but I didn't ask, nor did I intervene. Harry and Ron joined us in the Great Hall soon after, having risen later than us, and grabbing some food for themselves.

"Hey, why's Fleur always with the Ravenclaw's now?" Ron asked, causing me to flinch just a little, somehow the rumour mill hadn't reached Ron's ears yet and I was glad that I could be thankful for that, at the very least.

"She's spending time with her schoolmates for a couple of days," I lied, much to the chagrin of Ginny who had very quickly become hostile towards the platinum bond.

Ron nodded at my explanation, "Well she helped me with the Egg," Harry piped up happily, "Just hold it underwater… How could anyone have guessed that?"

I shrugged my shoulders, trying to ease my quaking heart, "You going to eat, 'Mione?" Ron asked, looking at the plate in front of me that still held most of the fruits I had grabbed.

I shook my head, pushing the food away, "You haven't eaten in days," Harry said worriedly, "Is something wrong?"

The question was enough to push me over the edge and I started to sob in my chair, attracting attention from anyone and everyone that sat close to me, which gathered the interest of the rest of the students, almost like a wave. Within an instant, multiple arms were wrapped around me as my friends tried to comfort me but, while the thought was nice, they didn't help in the slightest.

"What the fuck do you want?" Ginny's voice sounded above the whispers after a few moments. I couldn't see who she was talking to as I was hunched over at the table and surrounded by the half a dozen other people that were trying to comfort me.

"Please, let me through…" A familiar French voice wafted into my ears, causing my body to shiver, it had been days since I heard the voice and, even with the increased pain I now felt from hearing it, I still couldn't help but love the sound, "She needs me."

Ginny growled loudly, "What she needs, is someone that isn't going to act distant and then leave her alone for no reason!" Ginny was almost screaming at the older witch.

"Gin, calm down!" Ron tried to ease his sister.

"I will not," Ginny seethed, "How can you not see what's really going on, Ron!? Are you that daft!?"

"Ginny," Fleur began again, "Please… I need to help her."

A loud slap echoed throughout the Great Hall, silencing every student in the room immediately as they stared at the irate redhead. My sobs, unfortunately, could not be silenced and the arguing soon continued, only now others started to take sides, even students that I didn't really know were choosing sides in the fight.

A small hand on my back brought my attention to my left, everyone had seemingly forgotten about me in the middle of the brewing fight other than those that had started it and my close friends. But beside me stood a young Beauxbaton's student, she stared at me with a familiar, if a little worried, smile.

"Gabi," I croaked, my hands shooting around the younger Delacour and pulling her into a tight hug, sobbing into her blue, silk uniform. Gabrielle hugged me back for a few moments before she pulled away, jerking her head in the direction of the exit. I followed after her, my hand clutching hers as she led me out into the hallway and out into the cold courtyard. I didn't know if the students around us had allowed us to leave or if they just didn't notice, too distracted by the argument that was going on. Gabrielle led me to a bench, wiped off the snow with her delicate hand, and we sat close together, I wrapped my arms around her, soaking up not only the comfort she offered but also her warmth.

"Why'd you bring me out here?" I asked with a sniffle, the walk outside and cool air helping to soothe the pain.

"We're less likely to be followed out into this cold," Gabrielle explained.

"Huh… Smart," Was the only reply my occupied mind could come up with as I enjoyed her warmth.

"So…" She started hesitantly, "What… What's wrong? And why is everyone fighting? Wh-What's going on with Ginny?" She asked in a small voice, seemingly worried that I would break if she asked any louder.

"Your sister," I said simply, Gabrielle looked up at me with questioning eyes, "She's avoiding me and I don't know why," I explained.

Gabrielle watched me curiously, "She is?" the girl asked innocently, "She said that you wanted space."

I frowned at the revelation, "She lied… To you?" I asked incredulously.

"Well… Unless you are lying to me…" Gabrielle spoke as she thought for a few moments, "But I doubt that."

I shook my head, anger starting to bubble in the pit of my stomach, "The hell does she think she is? Playing with my emotions, lying to her own sister? What is going on!?" I asked in frustration.

"I don't know," Gabrielle spoke quickly, "But she must have a reason. Fleur wouldn't be like this unless something was seriously wrong."

As Gabrielle stopped speaking, the doors to the castle burst open and a worried Parvati ran out into the cold, "I saw you guys come out here but, Hermione, you need to come back, now," The Indian girl practically begged.

I jumped up from the bench, fuelled more by rage than anything else, "What's going on?" I asked the girl as I walked to the door, Gabrielle following quietly behind us.

"It's Ginny, she's got her wand out and is pointing it towards Fleur, the teachers are trying to get in to break it up but multiple other fights have started around the room and they have their hands full," Parvati explained.

"Of all the times for this to happen it just had to be when there were fewer Professors around," I complained as we entered the Castle, walking brusquely towards the entrance to the Great Hall.

We were stopped by an anxious-looking Hagrid, "Hold up ladies," He spoke with his usual broken English, "Professor Dumbledore, Karkaroff and Madame Maxime will handle this."

Knowing that we couldn't argue with the Professor, we walked back to the wall and waited for the students to leave the Hall. They were let out only a few at a time and we quickly learned that the Professor's were grilling and questioning each student that participated in what was now being called a riot. Parvati left with a hurried apology as her sister came out of the Great Hall, I, of course, told her that it was fine and continued to wait with Gabrielle.

The two of us sat for hours, watching the doors as more and more students were let out, after some time, Harry and Ron left the Great Hall, smiling and greeting Hagrid happily upon seeing the newly outed half-giant. Hagrid grinned, his face lighting upon seeing Harry and he laughed joyfully as they had a quick chat. Hagrid soon motioned in my direction and, with a hurried goodbye, the boys made their way over to me.

"That got a little crazy," Ron said as he joined Gabrielle and myself.

"Mate, your sister got super angry," Harry said.

"That's the Weasley temper right there," Ron shrugged.

"What. Happened?" I asked with a voice that brooked no argument.

Harry and Ron looked at each other for a moment, "Well, after you left with Fleur's sister," Ron started, "Ginny started to scream more and more at Fleur who was trying to walk past and, I think, follow after you."

"Ginny wouldn't let her though, yelling about how much Fleur had hurt you and calling the girl every bad name in the book. And I mean every bad name," Harry continued.

"Yeah, which led to more names being thrown around by other students which started more fights that were completely unrelated to what was happening between you and Fleur," Ron said. "Truthfully, I think most of them used your fight as an excuse to unload on each other."

Harry nodded in agreement, "We're going to head up… Well, we were instructed to head up to the Common Room, you coming?"

I shook my head, "I'll wait right here."

The boys left after a quick goodbye, leaving Gabrielle and me to sit and wait for another hour at least until Ginny left the Great Hall, an exhausted, worried look on her face. I jumped up and hugged the youngest Weasley, squeezing her extra tightly, surprised when she didn't return the embrace.

"What happened?" I asked, releasing the girl and looking over her shoulder, wondering where Fleur was.

"I…" Ginny looked to the floor sheepishly, "I kind of lost control of myself…" She spoke softly, "Things just got so hyped up with everyone joining in and-and people were egging me on and-"

I shushed the girl, wrapping my arms around her once more, "It's okay, just relax."

Ginny shook her head vigorously, "They said that it wasn't my fault, that things just got crazy," Ginny finally looked at me, her face was red, her eyes and cheeks slick with old and fresh tears. "I hurt her," Ginny sobbed as the words left her mouth, Gabrielle behind us gasping at the revelation.

I levelled my gaze on Ginny, my anger flaring, despite the pain Fleur's absence was causing me, this was far too extreme, "What did you do?" I asked hotly.

Ginny looked at me with fear, "I hexed and jinxed her… Multiple times, I didn't… I didn't think it was that serious but then… Then."

"Ms Delacour," Professor Dumbledore's soft voice shocked us out of our conversation, "Please follow me to the Hospital Wing." I balled my hands into fists, "Ms Weasley, you were told to head straight to the Common Room, like the rest of the students." Ginny looked down in shame before she ran down the hall. Dumbledore then looked at me, "You should come with us as well, Ms Granger."

"What happened to my sister?" Gabrielle asked after a few minutes of following Dumbledore silently, her voice filled with worry.

"Your sister is fine, Ms Delacour," Professor Dumbledore spoke, "At least, as fine as someone in her condition could be."

"What do you mean? Wh-What did Ginny do to her?" I asked an air of urgency in my words.

"Nothing serious," Professor Dumbledore assured us, "Fleur's suffering stems from something much deeper than a few simple spells."

My mind began to run away with the information, "Like, some kind of disease? Is she… Is she going to d-die?"

"No," The answer was short, to the point, and final as we reached the wooden door separating us from the Hospital Wing. Professor Dumbledore stood to one side, allowing Gabrielle and me to enter the large room, "When you go in there just… Don't worry too much, we're taking good care of her. I'll be here for ten minutes, just come out if it's too much for you, okay?"

The Professor's words rang in my ears like a gong and I wondered just what it was that I was about to see. I wanted to turn around, to run away and hide until the school year ended so I didn't have to see whatever it was I was about to see. But I took a step forward, followed by another and another, entering the Hospital minutes after Gabrielle had rushed in, until I was standing beside Fleur's hospital bed. Gabrielle had already taken a seat and was clutching at her sister's hand, her face buried in the bedsheets as her shoulders shook with silent sobs.

I looked down at Fleur, my breath caught in my throat as I stared at the girl, her skin now a sickly pale, rather than the porcelain perfection that it once was, large dark rings surrounded her eyes and there was a clear reduction in her body mass. I swallowed dryly as I walked around to the side of the bed that Gabrielle hadn't occupied and sat in a chair beside the bed. I leant back in the chair, my eyes never leaving the girl in front of me, the girl I had danced with for hours on Christmas, the girl I had spent a week with on the Holidays. That girl and the girl I was looking at now, they just couldn't be the same, how could someone's body deteriorate so quickly… And what was wrong with her.

I looked to the door leading out to the Hallway and nodded at a patiently waiting Dumbledore who, with a sad smile, let the door close, leaving us alone, presumably with Madam Pomfrey somewhere in her office. Slowly, Gabrielle started to calm down and was able to sit up, not bothering with wiping her face as she looked my way.

"What happened to her?" She asked wearily.

"I don't know," I replied sadly, "But Dumbledore said that she was going to be okay, that means she's going to be okay."

"But look at her," Gabrielle whined as she looked back at her sister, "How is she fine? She looks like… Like…" Gabrielle's eyes teared up once again and she buried her face in the sheets again.

I tried to speak, to comfort her in some way, but she was right, Fleur looked like she was on the brink of death, the only indication that she was even alive was the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Before long, Gabrielle had cried herself to sleep, her hand still rested in Fleur's as she breathed slowly, her breathing almost perfectly synced with her older sister.

I used the time alone to lean over the bed and really look at Fleur, "What happened to you?" I whispered sadly as I took Fleur's free hand into my own, "Why didn't you come to me?" I asked, gazing at Fleur's closed eyes. With her hand in mine once again, I realized just how different it felt, I furrowed my brow before lifting my free hand and placing it on the older girl's stomach. I gasped at the lack of almost anything that lay beneath the sheet as I started to run my hand over the girl's lithe body, gasping as I felt bones that I hadn't felt before on the older girl.

"Where…. What…" I stumbled over my words, I hadn't eaten much over the past three days but… From what it felt like, Fleur hadn't eaten in a few weeks at least. I moved back in my chair as far as I could without releasing Fleur's hand and pulled the furniture closer with my now free hand, unable to release the older girl.

"Do you want to know what's wrong with her?" Madam Pomfrey asked from the foot of Fleur's bed, causing me to jump as I hadn't noticed her presence. I quickly nodded in desperation, "I couldn't comment on the cause," The nurse spoke, her tone full of worry and sadness, "But it seems she hasn't eaten in quite a while… But I guess you gathered that already. Not only that but she hasn't slept in days and, if I had to guess, I'd say the weeks leading up to this insomnia have been plagued with very poor-quality sleep… I hate to ask but, do you know of any reason she would be treating herself like this." I shook my head, "Are you sure? Anything, anything that was odd, even the slightest, simplest thing."

I bit down on my lip, "Well… I don't know if it means anything… But things between us have been strained since we came back from our holidays, and then three days ago she stopped eating with me. But I have no idea what could have caused that."

Madam Pomfrey stood by Fleur's bed, deep in thought, "Perhaps something happened at home?" She wondered aloud.

"No, she was with my family during the holidays, not hers."

"Still, an owl with bad news could be just as bad, if not worse, than being present for the event," Madam Pomfrey hypothesized. "But we won't know until she wakes… I won't make you leave, but I gave her a powerful sleeping potion, she won't wake for quite a while."

"Thank you, but I'm not leaving until she wakes," I said firmly.

"Ok, just be sure to get some rest, I don't need another one like this."

I nodded, waving as Madam Pomfrey went back to her office. I turned back to Fleur, watching her face intently, my eyes flicking from her face to her chest every so often to make sure she was breathing, still not convinced that she was going to be okay.