I hope you like this chapter also. To the person who didn't think much of my excuse for the apparating, have you no imagination? Come on, it was a fairly good excuse, don't you think? Well, anyways, critics are welcome.

Harry ruffled his hair as he walked down the stairs to the common room as Ron collided into him.

'Bloody hell Ron! Watch where you're going!' yelled Harry, grabbing Ron and hauling him upright.

Ron twitched nervously, 'Harry! Harry! You won't believe it!'

'What? I'm here aren't I? What is it Ron?' demanded Harry, annoyed at his best friend's tendency to take ages to tell him any news.

Ron grasped at his hands, 'Well, I was just down here, cause I actually woke up early this morning, cause Pig was squawking in my ear so that I'd feed him.'

Ron took a breath.

'And?' asked Harry expectantly.

'And I saw Fleur coming downstairs with Hermione!' exclaimed Ron.

Harry paled for a moment, not sure what to say.

'So? And how could it be Fleur? She's rooming with the Ravenclaws. Besides, what does it matter if Hermione came downstairs with someone? I come downstairs with either of you all the time,' replied Harry, hoping that Ron would forget about it.

Ron shook his head, 'Nah, it wasn't like that. They were holding hands!'

Harry shrugged, 'Lavender and Parvati hold hands all the time. It's what girls do, Ron.'

'But, but, but... Hermione doesn't do that! Hermione's not like other girls! It's weird!' exclaimed Ron.

The other Gryffindors were starting to assemble out. Harry, anxious to silence Ron growled at his best mate, 'If you don't shut up now, the others will hear and then Hermione will hear. And you KNOW how Hermione can get upset. And if I hear that she even cries one tear because of you and your nonsense, you can only guess what will happen.'

Ron shut up immediately, shocked at Harry's menace. Neville looked at Harry questioningly.

'You don't wanna know, Neville,' replied Harry gruffly.

Neville nodded and passed by quickly, shoving Seamus and Dean away from the fuming Harry. Ron was left in the common room, wondering what had just happened, but followed the remaining stragglers out to breakfast.

Hermione was enjoying her breakfast while chatting exuberantly to Fleur. She spotted Harry and waved him over.

'Harry! Good morning! Come sit down, Fleur is so very interesting; she was telling me all about Beauxbatons!' Hermione exclaimed.

Harry grinned weakly at Fleur and tugged on Hermione's sleeve, 'Can I talk to you for a moment?'

Hermione raised an eyebrow, but excused herself, Fleur nodded acknowledging.

'What is it Harry?' whispered Hermione, annoyed at being pulled away from her new found love.

'It's Ron! Is it true Fleur was in here last night and this morning? Please tell me he's fibbing,' Harry asked insistently.

Hermione was taken aback, 'Ron saw us? No, Harry, don't look at me like that. We didn't do anything. She just ended up in my bed this morning. NO! That came out wrong, nothing happened alright?' said Hermione, her voice rising little by little.

Harry nodded in defeat and retreated, 'Alright. I believe you. But you'd better set Ron straight before he goes and yaks about it.'

Hermione thanked Harry again for being understanding and went back to sit by Fleur.

'What was that all about?' inquired Fleur curiously.

'That darned Ron was actually up early this morning, he saw us leave Gryffindor Tower. Oh dear, he's such a horrid gossip. What do I do?' said Hermione in a quiet, but hysterical tone.

Fleur hushed her, 'What do WE do, you mean. I am involved too, ma chere.'

Hermione looked at her girlfriend with shining eyes, wet from soon to form tears and wiped them, she hugged Fleur with a ferocity, not caring what the others thought. Fleur inhaled the scent of Hermione's hair once again, nuzzling into the bushy mess.

'I thought you wanted to keep this under wraps,' commented Fleur, jokingly.

'No. I shouldn't, I suppose it would have gotten out sooner or later. Oh I don't know. As long as we are together right?' replied Hermione, reluctantly letting go.

'Oui, that is absolutely right,' agreed Fleur.

Though they had settled the matter, the remainder of breakfast was silent.

They parted, promising to meet each other after dinner, outside near the quidditch pitch.

Hermione sighed as the day rolled on too slowly for her liking. Ron had not even looked at her, while Harry tried overly jovially to strike up conversation, which resulted in him being cuffed by Professor Snape and admonished by Professor McGonagall.

'Mr Potter! If you cannot stay silent, I shall have to ask you to leave the room for the moment!' exclaimed Professor McGonagall, her patience wearing thin.

'Sorry Professor,' apologised Harry, turning red.

Hermione glanced over at Harry and shook her head, 'Don't worry about it Harry.'

Harry shrugged apologetically, 'Sorry Mione, guess he is a stubborn pig headed idiot after all.'

Hermione nodded in assent and turned back to finish her explanation on transfiguration of body parts and the risks.

Ron proved her third point as he stupidly tried to copy the textbook's explanation of turning an arm into a tentacle instead of the intended tree branch. She rolled her eyes exasperatedly as Professor McGonagall hurriedly stopped Ron from harming anyone else. Class finished at last for lunch.

Ron stared at Hermione and finally uttered, 'You don't look any different.'

Hermione rounded on Ron, 'Ronald Weasley! What is your problem! Do you enjoy annoying me? What is it about me being around other girls do you find so fascinating!'

Ron blinked, 'Well, you are normally always with us, me n' Harry,'

Hermione gritted her teeth, 'Did it ever occur to you that perhaps I do have OTHER friends?'

Ron shook his head,' You aren't friends with Lavender or Parvati, or Susan, nor any of the other girls.'

'What about Ginny?' asked Hermione exasperatedly.

'She's my sister, she doesn't count,' replied Ron stoically.

Hermione let out a cry of anger, 'Why does it bother you so? And what do you mean I don't look any different? Why would I be looking different?'

'Cause you're a lesbian. Lesbians are different,' replied Ron, studying Hermione's face.

Hermione was at a loss for words. She was about to pound some sense into Ron as Fleur floated towards them.

'Is there a problem, ma chere?' she inquired.

Ron turned sharply to Fleur, a strange expression on his face, 'It's you. You've made her like that. You freak... Is she good in the sack?'

Hermione slapped him clear across the room, Fleur was shocked, she cradled Hermione gently, cooing sweet comforts in the younger girl's ear.

Ron clutched his cheek, shouting, 'You've never hit me like that before, she's made you all crazy! You bitch! You've changed Hermione into a freak!'

Harry and Neville heard the commotion and came rushing to the scene. Harry groaned as he spotted Ron spouting curses and shouts of 'freak'.

Neville seemed to get the gist of what was going on as he spotted Fleur supporting a crying Hermione and Ron against the wall, shouting his obscenities. He aided Harry in carrying Hermione away to the dorms.

Fleur stayed and decided to lay into Ron.

'Why do you make her cry? Why do you make my girlfriend cry? It pleases you, non? She does not belong to you,' spat Fleur.

Ron sneered at her, 'You're a freak. Hermione is a girl, girls are meant to like boys. You're unnatural. I thought you were beautiful, but instead you are unnatural. Veela and a lesbian.'

Fleur glowered at the unfortunate boy, she nearly cursed him with an Unforgivable Curse, but decided to play nice and curse him with a slug vomiting spell, which she had been told by Hermione that it'd happened to him in their previous years.

Ron felt a familiar tug at the back of his throat, a familiar taste, he gagged and moaned, 'Oh no... BLARGH!'

Fleur watched him throw up few large ones before turning away in disgust.

'Oh, and by the way Ronald, that spell doesn't wear off for at least another few hours,' she added sweetly.

She left him bent over a waste paper basket.

Fleur ran to the Gryffindor Tower, hoping to catch the others before they put Hermione up in her room. Luckily, they were still hobbling along, with Neville just about to carry Hermione in first.

'Wait!' exclaimed Fleur, hurrying to them.

Harry halted, 'Maybe you ought to come in to, I guess. Since you're with Hermione and all.'

Fleur thanked him silently, and glanced cautiously over to Neville, to her surprise who was not staring as Ron had been at either girl, but watching Hermione, concerned.

'That Ron, always causin' trouble. Poor Hermione,' commented Neville.

Fleur nodded sadly, hoping that Hermione would not be in too much pain when she came round.

Neville and Harry left Fleur alone with the snoozing Hermione. Fleur felt a tug at her heart as Hermione's face became contorted with a fearful expression. To which Fleur stroked Hermione's locks lovingly, kneeling to lay her face near Hermione's, as if hoping her own calm breathing would synchronise Hermione's.

Review! Lucky you! I wrote a whole chapter in a night! Sporadic chapter writings and posting occurring throughout my school week.