Next morning, after a quick breakfast, they said their goodbyes just outside the front door as they prepared to leave for work. Fleur worried how Hermione would fare, having had another episode after just one day back. She gave her a concerned look that wasn't too well hidden. Hermione smiled at her tiredly, already anticipating her question.

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Did you mean it? The things you said last night?" She asked

"Every word."

"I wanted to say, the same is true for me. I just-" she said after a bit of silence, but her attempt to apologise was cut short.

"You don't have to make excuses, chérie. You need a little time, and we have time. I can see you care about me in the way you look at me, the way you act around me. I don't need a date to tell me that." She said with a kind smile.

"Really?"

"I mean, it would be nice-" she said as she put her arms around Hermione loosely, leaning in close "-but good things are worth waiting for. You are worth waiting for."

Hermione's eyes searched her face, darting this way and that, pausing on her lips before settling on her eyes.

"I'm almost there." She breathed, shy and uncertain.

Fleur embraced her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head before letting her go and stepping back.

"Do you want me to come over tonight, regardless?"

"Would you still? I hate to run, but I have to hop home to put on some actual clothes before work."

Fleur chuckled as she gave Hermione a once over. She was clad in her pajamas still, which clashed badly with the designer coat Fleur lent her for the way home.

"See you tonight, then."

"See you tonight, Fleur" Hermione said, and stepped closer. She adjusted the lapels of Fleur's coat to sit nicely in line with those of her work robe, and leaned in to give her a soft kiss on the cheek. "And thanks again, for everything."

They exchanged a glance, both of their gazes filled with a myriad of indiscernible emotions. Hermione stepped back, and apparated on the spot. With a heavy sigh, Fleur gave her own attire a last once over, and after she found everything in place, she did the same.

She froze in place as she pushed the door to her office open. Inside stood someone who she never anticipated to meet again her entire life.

"Hello, Fleur." Greeted Bill Weasley, as he abandoned looking at things on her desk and turned around to face her.

"Bill?" She croaked. She hated appearing uncomposed, but she sure looked a strange sight, her hand grasping the door handle for dear life, with one foot inside the room. She shook herself, and stepped inside fully, closing the door behind her. Her hand trembled slightly as she let the door handle go.

"Don't look so happy to see me." He said, and chuckled at his own joke. "I didn't mean to disturb you, I only had one question."

Fleur felt her heart hammering in her throat.

Please, don't ask me to… I can't do this twice, She thought

"How did you do it?"

"Pardon?"

"As one professional to another. How did you break our bond?"

Fleur let out a sigh of relief. She felt life and warmth return to her limbs, and her heart quieted.

"I… I don't rightly know. I didn't do any magic. I brought you back your things, I… well, I burned a picture from our wedding." She admitted reluctantly, as if afraid to appear childish. "Unless you did something else, I don't think that was enough…"

Bill appeared to be deep in thought before he spoke.

"But why now? What made you do it?"

Fleur felt her cheeks grow warm, and she hesitated. She didn't know how to describe what Hermione and she were doing together, but she decided very quickly that she'd refuse to feel self conscious about any of it. However new it was, however many setbacks they'd have to face, it felt right.

"Hermione and I… we decided to stop resisting. We're giving… this a try, as I'm sure you know by now."

"Ah yes, she came to visit me. Sorry, my memory of the last few… years is blotchy at best." Bill jumped to add, not commenting on the new status quo. "I may have said something to her. I'm sorry to say I don't recall, but she left rather quickly."

"We'll never know, then. But you feel okay? Back to yourself?"

"Seems like it."

"Bill, I want you to know that-" She started her apology, but was cut short by Bill.

"I don't blame either of you. You told me a thousand times over, and I understand. I'm just glad to be back at it. I really only just came by to ask how you managed to do it."

"D'accord"

Bill stuffed his hands into his pockets and sighed. He looked like he had something else to say, so Fleur waited patiently for him to say it. She realised then that this meeting was more for his benefit than hers.

"Look, I know how long you held on, and I know it mustn't have been easy - but I also know we're done. I didn't come here to stir up your feelings. I just wanted to let you know I'll be okay, and… I wanted to see if you were doing okay before I went back to Egypt."

Fleur smiled, a strange mix of sadness and relief mixing in her.

"You never did like working at the bank. What did Molly say?"

"She took it as well as you can imagine. I think she liked it a bit too much that I stayed at home for the last few years, however out of it I was mostly. I've been back to myself for a few weeks now, getting my things in order, so it's not like I just up and left, but you know how it is…"

"When do you leave?"

"Next week, actually."

Fleur nodded, and they stood there awkwardly for a few moments before she realised she needed to ask him about one last thing.

"What do you want to do about Shell Cottage? It's yours, after all."

"Ours. But if you truly want nothing to do with it, you can give it back. I will probably be gone for the better part of the next few years, so it's no use to me yet. You have time to decide."

"You're too kind."

"It's just the truth. Look, Fleur, I think we both know there's too much pain, too much history between us for this to grow into anything again, so I don't expect we'll see each other all that much anymore. If you have anything to say, anything but an apology, this is the time to say it."

Fleur nodded, agreeing with him, but also stalling for time, thinking about what to say.

"I hope you will find the happiness I couldn't give you. Take care of yourself, and… just, good luck." She finished dumbly, lacking the choice words in English to make her wish sound more profound. This would have to do. It wasn't easy to bring closure to a decade old drama, after all.

"For what it's worth, I… I wish you the same. Good luck with everything. You can leave the keys with Mum when you move out."

"D'accord. Goodbye, Bill."

"Goodbye." Bill told her, and made his way to the door. He stopped for a second in the doorway and turned back. Fleur looked on curiously.

"And Fleur? You're a phenomenal curse breaker from what I've heard. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

With that, he was out the door, leaving a dumbstruck Fleur standing in the middle of her office. The same preoccupied air remained around her for the rest of the workday as she handled an expired protection charm, a damaged rune array, and a throng of difficult vault owners. Days like these, she wished the bank still had its dragon, so she could call upon it to deal with her clients - permanently.

By the time she got home, she was dead on her feet, but she knew that she couldn't succumb to the calling of her bed. She didn't even take her coat or shoes off, just Accio-ed a few necessities to put into her purse before she apparated away again.

She stopped at a quaint little confectionery on her way to Hermione's to pick up some cake. After the morning she'd had, she needed a treat, and she was sure Hermione wouldn't turn it down either after the night she had previously. With two slices of cake neatly packed in a takeaway box, she made her way to Hermione's building and rang her on the intercom.

"Hello?"

"C'est moi! And I have cake!"

The door buzzed, and Fleur quickly made her way up to Hermione's door. Hermione was already standing there with a small smile on her face. Fleur kissed her cheek in greeting, and received one in return.

"What's with the cake?"

"I thought it would be nice to have a treat after yesterday, non?" Fleur asked, deciding to tell Hermione about her day later.

"Hmm, you do have a point." Hermione said, and took the box from Fleur to peer inside. "Is it chocolate?"

"It is." Fleur said, and sidestepped her to get into the apartment to take her coat off and kick her shoes off. She wiggled her toes on the floor for a bit, reveling in them being freed, then went into the kitchen to collect plates and cutlery. By the time Hermione made her way into the kitchen, she'd had the settings laid out.

"You spoil me." Hermione said softly, and sunk into a chair.

"I try. How was your day?"

"Gethsemane is breathing down my neck about some of the contacts I proposed as civil consultants for my plans. I've been back one day, and she'd already had background checks run on every one of them, and wanted to discuss her findings. I need to get my research speed back up to par." Hermione said, and took her first bite of cake. She made a noise of approval while chewing, which delighted Fleur.

"Did she find something on one of them?"

"Oh, she can find something on anyone. I'm not worried, I'd just have liked to know before she asks about it. I'll manage, don't worry."

Placated that Hermione wasn't feeling swamped, Fleur let the issue go. She didn't want to smother Hermione with her worry - she was confident she could handle most things, but at the same time, she wanted to be there to fall back on.

"How was your day?" Hermione asked before taking another bite of cake. Fleur waited pointedly for her to swallow before she started.

"You wouldn't believe who I met today."

"Who?" Hermione said, and put down her fork for good measure.

"Bill Weasley came to my office. He was waiting there when I arrived at work."

"What?" Hermione asked, disbelief plain in her voice.

"I don't think I ever told you, but I returned the last of his things to him right after we agreed to try this. Just some bits and bobs I missed last time. Supposedly, I figure, it had some symbolic meaning and… he was set free."

"Huh. What did he want?" Hermione asked with a defensive huff. Fleur looked at her quizzically, and saw her eyes shining with uncertainty. She decided to tread very carefully, especially after last night.

"He genuinely just wanted to know how I did it. He said he knew him and I were over, and that he wasn't mad at either of us. Also, he's going back to Egypt. I didn't get to say much, he just said his piece and left. Honestly, I'm mostly relieved. I've considered it to be over for quite some time, and I'm glad it finally is for real. There was too much lingering pain, and now I can let it go and not live in the shadow of it, knowing he'd moved on, too."

Hermione's expression calmed and softened as she listened to what Fleur had to say. Fleur saw the worry melt out of her shoulders, and felt immense relief that this won't be an issue.

"I'm glad he's okay, too. I hated being responsible for his state i any way. It must have been hard for you, though. To see him. Are you okay?"

Hermione reached out a hand and took Fleur's hand in hers. Fleur squeezed back lightly before she spoke.

"I was just afraid of what he had to say. Whether he wanted to chew me out, or beg me to take him back. I didn't want him to hurt me, and I didn't want to hurt him further. We've done enough. It was a welcome surprise that he did neither, but knowing him, well… he was always very insightful. It really wasn't surprising after all."

"He was always very grown up, at least judging from what I'd seen of him. I'm glad you two could get closure."

"Thank you for being understanding. I suspect this was in the back of your mind, too?"

"Guilty as charged. But… I'm trying to internalise what you said yesterday, and this morning."

"It's still true. I hope you know it wouldn't have mattered what he said, what he asked or begged of me - what I told you would still remain true. I wouldn't have changed my mind."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Fleur reassured her

"I don't deserve you." Hermione said, suddenly shy

"You deserve everything." Fleur told her in a kind voice, full of conviction.

The week passed with Hermione's mood slowly improving. Her easy smiles appeared more and more, and she joked and teased Fleur more often. She appeared to be back to her normal self by next week, though Fleur tread very carefully around her, and made sure she was okay at every turn. Hermione seemed to need a lot of reassurance and patience, and she was determined to give it. It seemed to be paying off, as something that she couldn't quite put into words shifted into place between them.

Hermione must have sensed it, too. One evening, they were finishing up dinner at Shell Cottage in good spirits when she cleared her throat to indicate that she had something to say.

"So… there's this restaurant I've been meaning to try. Would you want to come with me, say, Friday after work? It's a nicer place than we usually go, though, so we'd have to doll ourselves up a bit."

Fleur's heart skipped a beat. Was Hermione asking what she thought she was? She smiled despite herself, and gave her a coy little look - she made sure Hermione saw she was onto her, but she didn't want to ruin the game. Now wasn't the time to ask if she was ready.

"Depends… is the food supposed to be good?" She asked, attempting and failing admirably to appear indifferent.

"Oh, I've only heard good things. It came highly recommended."

"Then I simply must accompany you! But pray tell, where are we going?"

"It's in the recently established wizarding district in Ipswich. Did you know there's a college for witches there?"

"Ah, non, I can't say I knew. But it will be nice to experience something else than Diagon Alley for a change."

"I could pick you up around seven? That sound good?"

Fleur mentally calculated how much time she really needed to "doll herself up" properly, as Hermione put it, and found that she'd have to be quick about it with that time frame. Lucky for her, magic could hurry a lot of things along. She smiled widely, and nodded.

"Parfait."

Friday evening saw Hermione regretting that she never paid any mind to Lavender and Parvati's makeup advice, but just like with the Yule Ball, she made do on her own, although not with a practised ease she hoped she'd just acquire as a woman one day. She managed to put her hair up in a bun with the help of about a thousand hairpins, and meticulously selected the best curls to frame her face.

She dug through her wardrobe for the best outfit to wear, and paired together a long, high waisted skirt with a turtleneck top and blazer to match. She looked at herself in the mirror thoroughly, and gave an approving nod. She pulled on a pair of high heeled boots and threw a small purse around her shoulder quickly, before she left, not wanting to second guess herself. This would have to do.

She arrived at Shell Cottage at seven on the dot, and knocked on the front door. She could hear Fleur call out and approach from within the house, and within moments, she was opening the door and stepping out.

Hermione forgot to breathe for a second as she took Fleur in. She wore a black leather jacket over a long, royal blue dress with a slit on one side. Hermione followed the line of the slit from Fleur's silver heels up to where it ended in line with her thigh. She swallowed hard. She liked Fleur just fine in her leisure clothes, her Gringotts uniform, or the more casual outfits she wore to their outings, but the general appreciation of her appearance turned into something else, low in her belly, as she found herself attracted to her beyond reason. It didn't help that she knew Fleur put this on for her - she didn't have any illusions about Fleur not knowing that this was a date, despite them not saying it out loud.

"Bonsoir à toi aussi." Fleur remarked with a chuckle as she stepped closer to greet her. Hermione felt the tip of her ears burning as she snapped her eyes up to her face, embarrassed at being caught staring. Fleur leaned in to embrace her, and breathed a feather light kiss onto her cheek in greeting. Hermione felt positively on fire at the contact.

"You look simply magnifique, Hermione." She whispered in her ear, and Hermione felt a shiver run through her as Fleur's warm breath tickled her skin. The fragrance of her perfume permeated the air, intoxicatingly sweet and inviting. Hermione took hold of the front of Fleur's jacket, and they exchanged a loaded glance. She tore her eyes away in favor of looking at Fleur's lips after a few seconds - she found the deep burgundy velvet of them all too inviting. For a split second, she wondered how that lipstick would look, smeared against her skin. She realised she'd have to cool off if she wanted to live through this evening.

"Good evening" She answered with a sheepish grin, and placed a soft, lingering kiss on Fleur's cheek. "You look quite dashing, yourself." She drew back, and took hold of one of Fleur's hands. When she looked back up at her, she saw a positively hungry look settle in her eyes.

Yes - she thought to herself with a fluttering, smoldering feeling in her chest - Fleur definitely knows this is a date.

"Shall we?"

"Lead the way" Fleur said, and took hold of Hermione's arm with both hands to stand a bit closer to her.

They side-alonged to the apparition point in the magical district of Ipswich, and went on to explore the main street hand in hand. The buildings were more modern, and the people wore more casual clothes, but it was essentially very similar to Diagon Alley. Hermione Granger, elusive war hero, on the arm of a quarter-veela drew some curious looks even here. It dawned quickly on Hermione that an entire generation of witches and wizards grew up in the decade she was gone from the public eye in England. Most of them probably read her name in books or magazines, heard it spoken on the street, and learned about her in school to some degree. Not as much as Harry, but apparently enough to draw looks.

Fleur must have sensed her growing unease, for she squeezed her hand lightly and leaned closer to whisper in her ear.

"Let them look. We look quite good together, non?"

"Just as long as they don't come over to bother us. All I want to focus on tonight, is you."

"You're too sweet." Fleur said, and kissed her lightly on the cheek. As if by magic, Hermione's mind went blissfully blank for the minute it took them to reach the restaurant's entrance.

"Good evening!" A man dressed in fine wizarding clothes greeted them at the reception desk. "Do you have a reservation?"

"Good evening. Granger, party of two."

The man didn't hesitate a second upon hearing her name, and Hermione relaxed a little. After scanning the book briefly, he led them to a table in the restaurant's garden, and left them to settle. The air was comfortably warm despite the crisp night, and Hermione suspected some Warming Charms to be in play. There wasn't a cloud in sight, and a myriad of stars twinkled above them, giving a silvery glow to everything outside the light of the lanterns hanging in mid-air.

Dinner went smoothly. Their server was polite and helpful, but made himself scarce between meals, giving them ample room to get comfortable. The food was delicious, and they conversed lightheartedly between bites of food. Hermione caught Fleur giving her longing, flirtatious looks over the rim of her wine glass on more than one occasion, and emboldened by her attention, she gave as good as she got.

By the time they got their desserts, she couldn't decide if she wanted to stall for time to prolong the moment, or hurry it up so they could get somewhere private. She didn't quite know what she'd do once she got Fleur on her own, but as she looked across the table and witnessed her take a bite of her chocolate mousse cake and give a - supposedly - entirely innocent little moan as she savoured it, Hermione's mind zeroed in on her new desire.

She wanted to make her repeat that sound. Hermione felt the tips of her ears burning at the thought, but found she wasn't scared to want it. She just hoped Fleur was of the same mind.

"Everything okay, 'Ermione?" Fleur asked her with an entirely too innocent air "You haven't touched your dessert yet."

This woman will be the death of me - Hermione thought, and smiled.

"Oh, yes, just lost in thought."

"Nothing bad, I hope?"

There was a hint of genuine concern in Fleur's eyes, and Hermione felt bad for a second for making her worried before she remembered that she's been a terrible tease all evening.

"Quite the contrary, actually." she said with a flirtatious smile as she dug into her own dessert.

Hermione didn't hesitate to flag down their server right after they finished their last bite. The man came over to inquire about their experience, and she complimented the food and the service wholeheartedly while she paid, leaving a nice tip. They left in good spirits, although Fleur made a joke that she should have been the one to take care of the bill.

"-After all, going on a date was my idea first." She stated matter of factly

"So you agree that this is a date?" Hermione asked, smiling widely, and used that moment to slip her hand into Fleur's and interlock their fingers.

"I was hoping it was." Fleur admitted, and squeezed her hand

"Don't worry, you can get the tab next time." Hermione said, and felt instantly giddy at the prospect of another night out with Fleur. As she glanced at her from the corner of her eye, she saw a goofy smile on her face that made her think that Fleur was in the same shoes.

After a short stroll along the main street, they arrived back at the apparition point. Hermione hesitated for a second on how to proceed. She didn't want to sound presumptuous and invite herself over, or take Fleur over to her place on the off chance that she didn't want to stay the night immediately after their first date for some reason. She took a deep breath, and went with the safest option.

"I invited you out, so I should be the one to return you home. What do you say?"

"How chivalrous of you, chérie." Fleur purred "Very well. Take us away."

Hermione looked Fleur in the eyes before they apparated away, and saw a flirtatious, longing look that made her pulse quicken. She concentrated with all her might on their Destination, and hoped her Determination and Deliberation were not too over the place and would land them at home despite her distracted state of mind.

They landed on the porch of Shell Cottage with a soft pop. Fleur didn't hurry to step away from her, and she wasn't in any hurry to move, either. She looked at Fleur, marveling at the sight of her moonlit figure, bathed in silver light. She found herself stepping closer to her and enveloping her in a loose embrace. She felt Fleur slide her hands up her arms and settle them on her shoulders as she stepped closer, too. Their faces were only inches apart, and a fluttering feeling rose in Hermione's chest as she caught sight of Fleur's lips, the lipstick still impeccably applied. She still wanted to know…

"If you keep looking at me like that, Hermione, you'll make me think you want to kiss me." Fleur commented in a low, sultry tone, ripping her out of her thoughts. Her eyes flicked up to look Fleur in the eyes, and saw that her pupils were dilated like a cat's that was locked on its prey.

"Can I? Kiss you, that is." She asked, and leaned in, impossibly closer, only leaving a hair's breadth between them.

"Don't worry, my lipstick won't smudge" Fleur whispered against Hermione's lips

Too bad, that - Hermione thought as she leaned forward, and captured Fleur's lips with her own. The kiss was slow and tentative at first, but as Fleur's hands found their way into her hair, she deepened it eagerly. Her own hands slid along Fleur's sides and back, and she pulled her closer. Their legs tangled together in their fumbling, and in an attempt to right themselves, they backed up against the wall of the house. Hermione gave a soft oof as her back hit the cold stone, and chuckled against Fleur's lips, who drew back a bit to let her breathe.

"Do you want to come in for a cup of coffee?" Fleur asked her a bit breathlessly. Her accompanying smile was brilliant, and her eyes had a longing look to them, with a silent promise of more to come.

All her life, Hermione never understood why people kept having coffee after a date in romantic movies, but suddenly, it made sense. She didn't want this night to ever end.

"Yes-" She answered her readily, already pushing herself away from the wall "Lead the way."