Bill took one last inhale that morning of the fading flowery scent that breezed over the hillside. He turned to look at Hermione who leaned against the doorway with a smile on her face. The sun was warmer on his skin than when he first came here. It felt good. He smiled back at her before turning on his heel and disapparating back home.
Fleur didn't greet him at the door, he had to knock. He stood outside feeling a little silly, and the sunlight here was hidden behind some grey clouds. No rain though, the scent of freshly falling raindrops didn't exist yet.
With a soft click, the door handle turned and Fleur's beautiful face peered at him through the crack in the door. When she met his eyes though, she looked surprised. Bill knew she saw the change in him and he beamed at her.
"Hello, darling." He said, the word sounded strange to him. But he missed her, the rush of affection he felt when he saw her surprised him. She stepped aside to let him pass.
"William." She said in her French accent. Bill's heart skipped a little. He was intrigued.
"Fleur, I'm sorry." Bill said in a rush, taking a quick step toward her. He dropped his bags. "I was a fool, I acted selfishly. I'm sorry I let the marriage suffer like this."
"Well, are you better?" Fleur said eyeing him cautiously. "You've stopped sleeping wiz everyone?"
"I'm better. I think. I need to earn your forgiveness, and talk to you." Bill said, he almost took another step toward her but thought better of it. Fleur's arms were wrapped around herself in a hug. She was retreating from him to within herself. She wasn't as happy to see him as he felt seeing her.
"'Ow are you better?" Fleur asked.
"I figured out what the problem was, and I talked about it and figured it out. And I'm still trying to manage the emotions." Bill said, he was conscious of his hands that were gesticulating before him as he explained. He felt strange. Like he was speaking to someone he didn't know.
"What was ze problem?" Fleur said. She looked at him steadily and Bill felt a little relief. She was warming up to him.
"The war, I hadn't processed it. I'm processing it now. I wasn't feeling anything because I didn't want to have to deal with the pain." Bill said. "Of losing Fred, and all the violence. And facing the possibility of almost losing everyone, and possibly you."
Fleur tutted. "I'm glad you've figured it out. Is zat why you've come back?"
"I got your letter. You said you'll see me when I was better. Do you still want me?" Bill said, the last question slipping out before he knew what he was asking.
Fleur looked at him steadily, her eyes were a little glassy. "Of course I still want you. You're my 'usband."
"I was scared of losing you in the war and here we are so many years later, and I was letting you slip away with my stupidity." Bill said. He couldn't stop the words pouring out of him now. "I'm sorry, Fleur. I was so stupid. I don't want to feel nothing anymore. And I want to be with you."
Fleur took her first step toward him and he couldn't move. She wrapped her arms delicately around him before resting her head on his chest and breathing him in. "I'm 'appy to see you, William."
And Bill hugged her back, burying his nose into her silvery crown of hair and inhaling the scent of lavender. His body felt relaxed. Fleur looked at him. She touched his cheek that had a stubble growing and smiled at him.
Bill looked at her and for a flash he saw brown eyes instead of Fleur's blue and then he tensed. Should I tell her about Hermione? Bill thought.
"Fleur, I want us to be okay again." Bill said. He couldn't believe how beautiful she looked. "I think I should be honest with you. So we start clean. You deserve that. To know who I am if we're going to move forward."
Fleur looked at him curiously, her eyebrows drew together forming a faint line. Maybe I shouldn't tell her, he thought.
"Do you mean how many women you've bedded?" Fleur asked softly. She sounded afraid of the question.
"Does it matter?" Bill asked. He was thinking of a way to backtrack.
"I know it is a lot." Fleur said. She saw regret in his eyes. "What is eet? Were you wiz someone ze entire time you were not 'ere?"
"I-" Bill started. Fleur was pulling out of his arms.
"Well?" Fleur asked. She didn't sound angry or demanding, but she was sounding dangerous.
"I was with someone, yes." Bill said, defeated.
"Ze entire time?" she asked.
"Yes. I'm sorry. They helped me, okay? It was me getting better!" Bill said. He heard the words that came out of his mouth and instantly regretted it.
"'Oo was it?" Fleur said. It was quick, the question sounded like one word.
"I-" Bill said, his face was red. His gut felt winded. He didn't want to do this. "I can't say."
"Is it someone I know zen?" Fleur asked, the danger in her voice bridging into anger.
"Fleur, please." Bill begged.
"'Oo is it, Bill?" Fleur demanded.
"Her-" Bill said then flinched as Fleur growled in anger.
"'Ermione?!" Fleur cried. She inhaled sharply in a vehement hiss. Her veela anger reared it's ugly head. "Leave."
"Fleur, please." Bill begged again, everything hurt. He couldn't breathe. Why did I have to tell her?
"Leave!" Fleur said in a screech, and the angry ugly flash of the veela distorted her features. Bill grasped his bags and disapparated once he was outside the door. The sunshine at Hermione's cottage no longer felt happy when he returned.
Bill dropped his bags where he stood and crumpled to the floor. His eyes burned and his throat tightened. He felt like he got hit with a stunning charm to the chest, the wind was refusing to go into his lungs. He felt arms lift him to his feet and guide him into the cooler indoors.
He smelled the parchment and ink as it enveloped him and it calmed him a little. He stood still in the shower, his vision out of focus as Hermione hugged him gently. The cool water shocked his system into breathing normally again. And his sobs, was I sobbing? He thought, evened into shuddering breaths.
Hermione said nothing, asked him nothing. She simply took care of him. She held no pity on her face whenever Bill could muster the strength to look at her. He was grateful for that.
Dinner was quiet, and Hermione poured Bill a glass of whiskey. Bill took a sip, and it cleared a blockage in his throat. He felt like he could speak now. He tried and his voice broke. He cleared his throat and tried again.
"Hermione." He said. It was a quiet and hoarse voice, but she heard him. She was looking at him. "She knows."
Hermione gripped the book in her hand until her knuckles were white.
"She what?" she asked in a steady voice.
"I told her. She knows." Bill said. He felt pain riddle through him again.
"Fuck." Hermione said under her breath. She moved to him and hugged him. She took a deep breath. "Okay. It's alright."
They had a restless sleep that night, and Hermione sent an owl in for a sick day.
