The next morning, Fleur stopped off at a tea shop and picked up two pastries. When she got to her desk, she smiled down at the hot cup of coffee that was waiting for her there. She shook her head and made her way to his room. When she opened the door, he was not there, but a cup of coffee was left on the table. So, she left the pastry there for him, in hopes that he would find it.

Bill had thought that maybe what had occurred the night before had been some kind of sick joke. But, when he saw the beautiful croissant waiting for him in his studio, he froze. Had he won some strange lottery that he couldn't remember entering? Win a beautiful French woman! No, most certainly not. Women didn't like him, that was his score and he rather liked it that way.

But as he bit into the pastry, he sighed. It was soft and rich and sweet and he placed a hand over his eyes, if she had asked him to lay in a muddy puddle to walk safely, he would do it gladly. He was sinking, quick.

He worked all morning, attempting to free his mind from the whimsy of his crush. But, once lunch rolled around, he left his quarters and found her at her desk.
"Cheese sandwich today?" He asked, his voice shaking slightly. She smiled up at him, shaking her head.
"I didn't cook." She told him and he was unsure if assembling a cheese sandwich was considered cooking, but let it go.

Fleur waited for him to say something.
"Come and eat with me." He ordered more than asked and she smoothed her dress as she stood and joined him. The pub was small and quaint. Bill asked for them to be sat in the corner, to get some privacy. He sat and watched Fleur as she perused the menu. She was glorious, like an angel come to life. He couldn't quite believe that she was gracing him with her presence.

They ordered and then she turned her attention to him.
"Tell me about yourself, Bill Weasley." She insisted and it was as if everything he knew about himself went out the window.
"Well, you know my brothers: Ron, George and Fred. I also went to Hogwarts, also a gryffendor." He began and she listened with such intent that he thought his information was not worthy of such a reaction.
"I've been in Egypt for the longest time, breaking curses." He told her and she nodded.
"Why did you come back?" She asked and he averted his gaze, down the to table.
"Bad things are coming. I want to be here to help." He didn't have to say it, Fleur understood well. She had been there when Harry Potter had returned with poor Cedric's body. She had been the first one to spot that he was lifeless.

Fleur thought it was honourable that he returned for his family.
"Are you married?" She asked and he shook his head immediately.
"No no no no no." He told her and she sent him a small smile.
"That is good."

Bill felt his cheeks blush a deep hue.
"How did you become a curse breaker?" She asked him and he thought it was an interesting question, one he had never been asked before.
"Well, I found this book at Hogwarts, it was old and dusty, but I dunno I wanted to keep it for some reason." He began, she leant forward to listen with more intent and he felt the back of his neck begin to sweat.
"I didn't tell anyone, I just kept it to myself. I couldn't let it go, not for anything and then Dumbledore found me with it. He told me of the curse that had been laid upon it, and I had two choices, I could either let it eat me up inside and slowly drain me of my power, or I could learn how to neutralise it." He retold the story and she smiled in a genuine kind of way.
"So you learnt how." She noted and he nodded.
"Dumbledore showed me and I've been doing it ever since." He explained and she nodded in deep thought.

He looked at her unabashedly. He thought that she must have men staring at her often, what would be another added to the list? But in fact, his eyes had rather an effect on her. He had thought about what she had said the night before - she thought he was handsome? He couldn't imagine it. Sure he was a good-looking chap, but handsome to her standards? He was unsure.

They ate in silence, until they sat sipping butter beers after the meal.
"I hoped I would find you." She told him and he scoffed on his beer, choking on it gently. Once he got himself together again, he asked her why.
"When I saw you, when you visited Harry, I didn't get a chance to say hello and you were gone so quick and then everything happened-" She paused for a moment and looked down at her hands.
"I wanted to see you, but I had no idea who you were or where you were from, or how to meet you again." She told him and he felt his mouth fall agape.
"So it is so nice to be able to be friends." She concluded and he picked his jaw up from the ground.
"Blasted Harry, taking up all of my time in the tent." He mumbled and she smiled into her cup of butter beer.

They made their way back to work and she looked down at his shoes.
"Where did you get the boots?" She asked and he also looked down at them.
"Ah, my brother Charlie works with dragons, like the ones you fought last year." He told her and she was still a little confused.
"When a dragon dies, they use all of the parts. I am one of the few lucky owners of such boots." He explained and she nodded.
"They are very special." She told him and he smiled.
"Yes, I think so."

She sat back behind her desk and he went back to his charming but all she wanted to do was be around him. It was as if he gave off this energy, a radiating heat that she craved in the cool British summer. It was strange, she had thought of him from the moment she had seen him and yet, he had still exceeded her expectations.

The day flew by quickly and Fleur almost forgot that she had dinner plans with her old school friend. She smoothed her hair as Bill came sashaying down the hall, pulling on a velvet jacket.
"Off somewhere?" He asked and she nodded.
"I am meeting with a friend." She told him and he cocked his head to the side.
"A female friend?" He enquired and she sent him a knowing grin.
"I went to an all-girl's school, what do you expect?" She asked and he sent her some suggestive eyebrows.
"I dunno, Krum seemed pretty manly to me." He told her and she shuddered.
"No no, not my type." She said before thinking and he stuck his hands deep into his pockets.
"And what type would that be?" He asked and she felt her confidence peak as she placed her leather satchel over her shoulder.
"The few lucky owners of dragon hide boots." She told him as she past him, leaving him stood alone.