Author's Note: I hope you all are enjoying this story, and I have decided to make the next step up to my audience. I want all of you to decide whether you would like Fleur to be with Ron or Oliver, as the author I'm torn because I love both the characters so I'm leaving the decision up to all of you. Please drop it in a review or e-mail to me, enjoy!

Chapter 18

          Dumbledore smiled at the young woman he saw in front of him. He had been observing Fleur for some time now, ever since he had met her. It wasn't that he didn't place trust in her, if was the fact that she had seemed so scared and confused when she met him. Dumbledore had complete faith that Fleur was a decent person, but the pain on her face right now worried him.

          "Fleur, what's wrong dear?" Dumbledore asked concerned.

          "Nothing Sir…I vas just going back to my room, I'm quite tired from zis day." Fleur quickly stated.

          "Is there nothing that I can possibly do to help you? You seemed troubled." Dumbledore kindly spoke.

          "No, I am fine, I appreciate your concern…but I am fine."

          "All right, but just know that I will be here if you ever change your mind my dear." Dumbledore commented with a warm grin.

          "Zank you very much." Fleur spoke whipping the last of her tears away from her eyes.

          Dumbledore took one last look at Fleur's tear-stained face and gave her a comforting look. He hesitated to leave her in the state she was in, but he was never one to push. He walked off slowly down the corridor, passing Ron on his way.

          Ron was running to try and catch up with Fleur. He wasn't going to let Fleur run away without an explanation. This wasn't some little crush he had anymore. He knew it had to be more, because he felt her flowing through his veins every time he saw her. He slowed as Fleur came into his view. She was hunched over a bit, with her arms hugging her shoulders.

          "Fleur?" Ron said quietly.

          Fleur turned around a bit startled. She tried to bring her cool exterior back to the surface; she straightened herself up and took a deep breath. Ron wasn't buying it though, he saw how shaken up she still was.

          "Fleur please talk to me, if you don't want to talk to me after what just happened between us just forget it happened. Just think of me as your friend, I want to hear what is going on from you." Ron spoke gently.

          "All right…it'z time I zaid zomething to zomeone…zomeone I trust."

          Ron nodded and took her hand, leading her to the Gryffindor Common Room. As Ron spoke the password and the painting lifted, four people toppled out. Ron raised an eyebrow as he laid eyes on George, Fred, Hermione, and Harry all sprawled out on the floor.

          "Uh…we were just…" George stuttered.

          "Trying to spy on us perhaps?" Ron asked.

          "Of course not, what do you take us for? Honestly Ron, Harry and I are your friends." Hermione spoke, dusting herself off.

          Fleur let a small laugh escape from herself. Just watching the four of them squirm around all guiltily, made her want to forget everything bad that was going on. She had people who obviously cared about her, they were nosey…but they cared. Fleur had never had friends want to help her so much.

          "If you excuse us, Fleur and I are going to have a chat." Ron condescendingly spoke to them.

          They all smiled and waved them ahead with expressions that made them look like escaped convicts. After Fleur and Ron had left their earshot, Fred and George immediately started to plan their next mission.

          "So where do you think that we'll get the best view of them?" Fred asked.

          Harry threw a piece of taffy at his head.

          "Oh leave them alone." Harry spoke, still sitting on the floor.

          Ron and Fleur sat back in the corner of the Common Room where little light was able to creep in. Fleur took a seat on the velvet red cushions of a chair. Ron grabbed at wooden stool and sat opposite of her.

          "Now tell me everything, I have all night." Ron spoke sincerely.

          "Well vhere to start? I guess the beginning would a good a place as any. Vhat you need to understand is my life in Paris vas not as perfect az it zeems. I have a little zizter named Gabrielle, she meanz everything to me. In fact she iz the reason I am here.  Oh Ron you have to underztand, I didn't want to hurt any of you. You are going to hate me when I tell you why exactly I am here." Fleur said with tears brimming in her sapphire eyes.

          "No, I won't…I could never hate you."

          "Ron my headmistress Madam Maxime zent me here on a zort of mission I zink you vill not like. I vaz zent here to find out information about your school, and to report any newz on the Tri-Wizard tournament that will happen next year… right here at Hogwartz."

          "The Tri-Wizard tournament? That hasn't happen in forever." Ron exclaimed.

          "I know but it will next year and I am zupposed to gather information in order to gain the upper-hand. Madam Maxime wantz to zabotage any chances Hogwartz vill have of vinning." Fleur explained.

          "Fleur you didn't…" Ron started.

          "No I have not given her any information; I sent her a letter tonight saying I don't know enough yet. I don't know what to do though, she iz threatening to take my zizter'z chance at school away. I cannot have zat happen you don't know how my family iz. My mother iz very clazz oriented. She will dizown my zizter, I cannot zee it happen."

          "Fleur what can I do to help?"

          "I don't know vhat anyone could do to help me, I am torn between helping my zizter and protecting my friendz here. I mean I actually have friendz; I have never had anyone that has looked at me they way all of you do. Most people zink that I am nothing but a pretty face. Oliver personified zat vhen I first met him."

          "Wood, I'll kick his ass if he does anything to you." Ron suddenly fired up.

          "No Ron, he haz become zomeone I care about very much." Fleur defended him in his absence.

          "Fleur I think we should go to Dumbledore, he will know what to do."

          "No, I vant to figure it out on my own. Pleaze keep zis a zecret, I vill tell you vhat I am going to do vhen I figure it out. Ron I trust you." Fleur spoke and Ron couldn't help seeing her bottom crimson lip trembling.

          "Fine, I will agree to this, but just promise I can be there to help you along the way."

          "Yes, Ron you don't even know how much I appreciate you." Fleur spoke and grasped his hand in her own.

          Ron looked deeply into her eyes and raised his hand to tuck back a piece of her hair from her face. She closed her eyes and felt the smooth caress of his touch. Ron's eyes scanned her complexion and he soon found himself kissing her forehead softly. He trailed down her nose and she didn't fight him. He came to her lips and brushed his own against hers.

          Fleur couldn't figure out what she was doing. She was kissing Ron, this boy she cared so much for, but at the same time Oliver was in the back of her mind. Was it possible that she was in love with two people?