A/N This'll be another short bit since I updated Chapter 6. How do you think it's going so far?
Chapter 7: Set in Stone
Nearly a month had passed since Hermione's arrival. After the day she had shared a brief moment of intensity with Fleur, the French woman had yet to talk to her. Instead, the former Triwizard competitor sat with her back to her long time friend and confidant. Ginny was braiding her shiny platinum hair, listening to the melody the birds were creating.
"I feel awkward Gin, in my own home. I want to talk to you about this," Fleur never was one to beat around the bush, it just took her a while to find any words at all.
"You should be talking to Hermione," she finished up with the simple braid. "It may be obvious to no one but Dumbledore and me, but it's the right thing to do."
Fleur sat absolutely dumbfounded. Had she really been so transparent? Evidently, the answer was yes. "If you're so smart, why do you think I should talk to her? I've said hello many times. I've been polite at the weekend gatherings we've had. Just the other day we discussed a few spells she'd been working on," she raised an eyebrow, trying to point out that she wasn't exactly ignoring Hermione.
"Don't get uppity with me," she grinned and whapped Fleur's arm. "You know exactly what I'm getting at. I know you've exchanged words with her. That's a no-brainer. But come on! You two need to 'talk', there's a mighty big difference there." With that, Ginny got out a flamingo quill, magical glittering ink, and some parchment.
"What are you doing?" the beautiful witch was rather alarmed by this abrupt change of events.
"Oh nothing," her singsong voice made Fleur highly suspicious. "I'm just going to write a letter to the woman you're infatuated with. I'm going to tell her everything you've told me, and then some." An evil glint was in Ginny's eyes, making Fleur uncertain as to whether she was joking or not.
She jumped up with a pillow at the ready, bashing Ginny across the shoulder before the loaded quill even got close to the parchment. "I don't think so!" For the next ten minutes, a raging battle went on until the room was covered in feathers. Ginny and Fleur sat in a heap, panting slightly.
"Promise me you'll at least make an effort? Halloween's approaching fast; Harry and I could have a party here. What do you think? Fancy bringing along a bushy-haired date?" Ginny wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and Fleur couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, alright! I'll talk to her," she had finally given in to at least start up more than 'acquaintance conversation', "but don't expect me to be brining her flowers and candy so soon. Hermione is a special woman, I'd never want to be so by-the-book when pursuing her." Blushing deeply, Fleur resolved to become a closer friend to Hermione, and Ginny was pleased.
The timid morning rose up from the murky fog, slowly heating Big Hollow. The sun however, was not strong enough to lift the ground clouds completely. It was during these long, lazy hours that Hermione Granger sat on her side porch reading a thin black book. Moments after chuckling at an amusing paragraph, she was interrupted by a soft hand upon her shoulder. Her sleek book landed in a sloppy mess, and was forgotten. Hermione sat, paralyzed by that strange metallic blue.
Forgetting her manners, the younger Hogwarts graduate simply stared at the woman before her. The fact that her hand remained was not lost to the shy witch. Fleur smiled confidently, noticing the effect she was having. It was as if she was the secure hunter, stealthy and strong; while Hermione was the frightened prey, blundering and irresolute.
"I apologize for interrupting you," the tall blonde bent down, retrieving the book, "Will you be using your free time tonight to continue reading?" Hermione was puzzled by the sudden arrival of this beautiful witch, and by her odd question.
"Well... I should be finished with it long before tonight, but after that I'll probably pick up something else to read," she really was engrossed in the story, and wanted her book back.
Fleur ran her fingers over the cover, reading the title 'Fahrenheit 451 By: Ray Bradbury' "You have good taste in books, Hermione. But I am afraid that tonight you should not be reading." Her smile flashed mischievously as her confidence grew.
"Oh? Why's that?" she reached for the book, confused by Fleur's statement.
"Tonight there is a party being held at the Potter residence, and I'll be damned if I have to sit around with no intelligent conversation while the youngest Weasley drools all over me."
Smiling impishly, Hermione agreed to go. Her mind filled with questions on what she was going to wear. Fleur saying goodbye and walking away briefly interrupted her thoughts. The witch secretly hoped to impress Fleur with something sexy, but was seriously lacking ideas. Then another thought came to her, 'He's gay, but doesn't he always look rather nice, even though he's a bit on the poor side? I'll just have to recruit his help for tonight.' With that, she made up her mind to visit Lupin immediately.
Being pushed by her best friend, Fleur silently thanked Ginny. It had taken her nearly a week to figure out exactly how to get what she wanted, but her plan was now set. There would be no going back.