I have finally finished this chapter. You'd better enjoy it cause I've slaved away at it. I hope it has turned out right. Happy reading!
It had been over a week, as the TriWizard Tournament continued, the second task loomed. Fleur swallowed her breakfast nervously, fidgeting because she hadn't seen Hermione much, as she had been reading up on mermaids and other underwater creatures. Hermione had excused herself so that she could help Harry, claiming that Fleur needed no help.
Fleur agreed, but still would have enjoyed just having Hermione by her side. Sighing, Fleur finished her oatmeal porridge and hurried back into the library.
To her surprise, Hermione was there, alone.
'Well, this is a pleasant surprise, non?' whispered Fleur, coming up from behind.
Hermione turned sharply, startled, but smiled and greeted Fleur with a kiss.
'I have been busy and I believe you have been too,' Hermione replied.
'Indeed, but that does not mean that I haven't missed being in your company, Hermione,' purred Fleur, nuzzling Hermione's neck.
Hermione giggled, but scolded Fleur, 'Don't! This is the library! Madam Pince might come along!'
Fleur pouted but hugged Hermione, reading the book cover over Hermione's shoulders.
'Water plants And Their Uses?' asked Fleur.
'Yes, Neville said something about a plant that could aid you breathe in the water...' muttered Hermione.
'Hmm,' mused Fleur, remembering something, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.
'Well, in any case. Shall I see you later? At lunch? We can talk more then,' suggested Hermione.
Fleur nodded dejectedly, stealing a kiss before Hermione headed off to find Harry, and luckily for her, Ron was absent.
'Thanks Hermione. You have no idea how much I appreciate you helping me out. 'Specially when you could be helping Fleur...' started Harry.
Hermione bonked him on the head playfully.
'I know, but she IS a seventh year! You are only a 4th year! She doesn't need as much help as you do,' replied Hermione.
Harry shrugged and screwed his face into concentration, attempting again a spell that Hermione found to aid the person see in the water, lighting dark places, not needing to keep wands on with 'lumos'.
Hermione giggled involuntarily.
'What?' asked Harry hotly, after having his hair lit on fire.
'Mm, I think you should place your head into the tank first, and then try the spell. Especially since it's for underwater,' suggested Hermione.
Harry blinked then grinned sheepishly, 'Oh yeah. Heh heh. Thanks 'Mione.'
'No problem Harry,' replied Hermione with a smirk.
After a strenuous 2 hours of spelling and practicing defensive spells, it was finally time for lunch.
Harry barely had time to say goodbye to Hermione before she rushed off to the Great Hall.
'Ah... I'll see her later, I guess,' muttered Harry, rolling his eyes; watching his friend hurry off.
Hermione spotted Fleur just making her way to Ravenclaw table and plonked herself down beside her.
'Hermione!' exclaimed Fleur, wishing that they were alone.
Hermione gave her a hug and turned to listen as Dumbledore cleared his throat loudly.
'If I could have your attention please?' started Dumbledore, 'I would like to inform you that before the 2nd task, I had forgotten to mention that we'd be having the Yule ball. So please be ready, it will take place tonight.'
Most of the girls chattered excitedly while the majority of the boys moaned and groaned loudly.
Hermione flicked her head towards Fleur and felt troubled at the mischievous glint in her girlfriend's eye.
'Mm, my Hermione in a dress. A formal dress or maybe a dress that will show me something else... Something I know I will definitely like...' purred Fleur into Hermione's ear.
Hermione blushed beet red and squeaked in surprise.
'Oh dear!' mumbled Hermione, trying to cool herself off, by drinking lots of water and fanning herself with her napkin.
Fleur giggled and smirked at Cho.
'What did you say to make her so red!' asked Cho, shocked.
'If I told you that, you'd go insane,' Fleur murmured.
Cho looked at the both of them incredulously, 'Ok...'
Fleur rolled her eyes and turned back to Hermione, who had vanished from her seat. She looked around and was amazed at the speed of Hermione rushing out, probably to the bathroom. Fleur got up and glided after her.
Finally catching up to her, Fleur grabbed her shoulders, 'What is the matter, ma chere?'
Hermione faced Fleur shakily, 'Um, er uh... Well, Fleur. I don't think that... well, what I mean to say is... um. I don't really want to go to the Yule Ball.'
'What!' exclaimed Fleur.
'Can't we just go out in the moonlight like that other night, instead? By ourselves?' asked Hermione meekly.
Fleur sighed in relief, 'Ah, Hermione, my love. Why? I want to see you! I want the world to see you!'
'That's exactly my point. Well, I have a dress, but I'd rather not go to the ball. I've had bad experiences with school dances,' cringed Hermione.
Fleur hugged her tightly, placing a kiss on Hermione's forehead.
'It will be wonderful! I will be there with you! And you will be beautiful without a doubt, because you are now!' gushed Fleur.
She decided to lift Hermione up and twirl her around. Hermione laughed in amusement.
'Alright! Alright! Fine have it your way! I'll go to your damn ball!' giggled Hermione, loving the rush.
Fleur pumped her fist up in victory, leading Hermione back to lunch.
Harry returned to the common room, only to bump into a flushed Hermione.
'Had a good time, did you?' he inquired, grinning.
'Yes, if you must know. And yes, I will be going to the ball and there is nothing anyone can do to stop me!' she exclaimed in a rather giggly girl tone.
As if cued by her happiness, Ron strolled in. Her glee immediately left her face.
'Happy about showing off your freakishness, huh?' scowled Ron.
Harry strode up to him and grabbed him by the scruff off his neck, 'No trouble wanted, Ron.'
Ron sneered and shook Harry off, storming off to his room.
Harry shook his head sadly and noticed Hermione had gone quiet.
'Don't worry bout him. He's probably in a foul mood cause his Mum sent him his dress robes, which are frilly. And he's just sore about not having a girlfriend. He's jealous of you,' said Harry, putting a comforting arm around Hermione.
She held him in a half hug, 'Really? And yet you aren't Harry.'
'Well, I guess I have more on my mind then he does, huh?' replied Harry.
Hermione nodded, 'I suppose that is true.'
'Well, then. Have you got a dress ready?' inquired Harry.
'Mm, but you don't get to see till tonight!' replied Hermione with a twinkle in her eye.
Harry laughed and nodded, 'Ok. I'll wait.'
Hermione hummed a tune to herself as she did her hair, though it was not as easy as she thought it would be.
Screaming from exasperation, she spelled and gelled her hair, disliking the bushiness of it all. She vowed to get it straightened one day. She managed to get her hair up in a bun, with the ends spilling out on to her shoulders.
'A lovely touch, if I don't say so myself!' murmured Hermione to herself, excitedly.
She had a flowing pink dress, with a silver trimming on her hem and sleeves, she twirled in the mirror.
She was absolutely gorgeous and still had her innocent air about her.
She winked at herself and stared at the door, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.
Harry knocked at Hermione's room door, 'Ya done yet, 'Mione?'
He tugged at his collar and undid the top button.
'No, not quite yet, Harry,' squeaked Hermione.
Harry quirked his eyebrow and knocked again, 'Do you need help with something?'
'No, no. I'm fine. You can go first if you want,' replied Hermione.
'Oh no. Don't you say that again. Is this what I think it is? What could you possibly have done Hermione?' asked Harry exasperatedly/
'I did nothing! How dare you think so!' said Hermione hotly.
'Alright, alright! Just making sure! But come on, 'Mione. I wanna see,' apologised Harry.
Hermione stepped out reluctantly and Harry gaped for a moment.
'Uh... um... You look really nice 'Mione. Like really, really nice,' Harry managed a sentence.
'Thanks Harry. Ok, I'm ok. I am going to the Yule Ball. It's just a dance,' breathed Hermione.
Hermione followed Harry out silently.
'You know, 'Mione. I can just tell Fleur that you didn't feel like coming if you really don't want to,' suggested Harry.
Hermione shook her head, 'No. I said I would go.'
Fleur was tapping her foot nervously. She had dolled up rather breath takingly. Each boy who passed her way lost their ability to speak for at least a good 5 minutes, annoying their partners to no end.
She had a dove white gown, with a light sky blue sheen to it. It hugged her figure snugly, accentuating her heavenly curves.
She wondered if it was too much, especially since a fair amount of her cleavage was showing, though it was all for one person.
And that lucky girl was Hermione. Fleur closed her eyes and tried to imagine Hermione right in front of her, but Fleur could not think. She was too excited. She flicked a strand of hair back up. Her hair was sculpted so perfectly that her normal ponytail had transformed into a bun with two smaller tails, which she had spelled to resemble miniature spidery wings.
She was about to leap up the Gryffindor stairs when she spotted Harry, looking rather worried. She held her breath.
She gasped in relief when a gorgeous, but almost frightened Hermione followed him.
Hermione glanced down, hoping that no one else was there. She then locked eyes with Fleur who smiled at her with such warmth and love that she immediately did not feel encumbered nor uncomfortable any longer. She said good bye to Harry, who had met up with Parvati, and leapt into Fleur's embrace. Fleur kissed her forehead gently and then her lips.
'Ma chere. I thought that perhaps, oh I don't know what I was thinking,' muttered Fleur, looking into Hermione's eyes.
Hermione glanced shyly at her.
'You are so beautiful! Even more so. I am so glad you decided to come!' gushed Fleur.
'I think that you are extremely pretty also, Fleur. You're my angel,' said Hermione, only loud enough for Fleur to just catch.
Fleur smiled with mystery and lead Hermione into the hall.
Sounds of gasps and murmurs were extracted as Fleur and Hermione entered the hall. Fleur glared at many, silencing them.
Professor McGonagall swept up to them. Her expression of shock did not remain for long, instead a warm smile was elicited.
Hermione smile back, 'Hello Professor.'
'My dear girls. You both look dazzling. Ah, I see Albus was not pulling my leg. Ah! Excuse me! I'm sorry. Please make your way onto the dance floor. The champions and their partners will start the night with the traditional dance. Enjoy your night,' she bid them farewell.
'What! I can't dance! I don't know the other part!' protested Hermione with a rough whisper.
'It is alright Hermione. You just dance the part you know. I will take care of the rest,' replied Fleur, giving her a dazzling smile and twirled her into place.
Hermione and Fleur began dancing simultaneously with the others. However, Fleur managed to accentuate their graceful movements, so that she and Hermione stood out the most. Fleur had combined the male and female dance steps for herself, making their dance even more beautiful than the original. After a couple of minutes and a few more twirls, the dance finished with a flourish of the band.
The band struck up a livelier tune and the other students joined in excitedly, whooping and cheering.
Fleur then pulled Hermione into another breath taking dance except now mostly they were joining the others by jumping up and down.
Thanks to Fleur, Hermione was enjoying her night, not thinking about any of her troubles. She hugged Fleur tightly again and Fleur lifted her up, swirling her around and around, making other couples grumble at having more fun than them. Harry watched from afar, not in the mood to leap about. Parvati had already asked him if she could dance with a fellow from Durmstrang.
He grinned at Hermione's ecstatic expression and at Fleur's loving eyes. He envied them, depressed with the fact that Cho was with Cedric. However, he could not help but notice Victor Krum's curious eyes, almost always directed at Hermione and Fleur, or maybe just Hermione. He wasn't sure what to make of that, so he decided to keep watch for the time being. He had not sighted Ron either, not sure if he wanted to or not.
Hermione came running to Harry and dragged him onto the dance floor with Fleur and herself. Harry chuckled and followed suit, jumping to the beat with them. Hermione had the time of her life, being with her girlfriend and best friend.
'Thank you for joining us, Harry. It's been a wonderful night,' said Fleur, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
Hermione hugged him tightly,' Thanks Harry. I appreciate your support and all,' she whispered in his ear.
He bid them farewell, deciding bed was a welcome to a exhausting night with those two.
'Well. Did you enjoy that as much as I did?' inquired Fleur.
Hermione blasted a bright smile at her and leapt into her arms yet again, 'It was wonderful! I enjoyed every minute with you.'
'Great,' breathed Fleur, standing close to Hermione, leaning down to kiss her fully.
Hermione accepted the kiss gratefully and glad that no one else was about to gawk. She put her hand around Fleur's head.
'Mm, you know. I just love your hair ornament, it's so delicate though,' mused Hermione.
Fleur extracted it from her hair, 'Then you have it. Go on, I want you to have it.'
Hermione tried to place it back in Fleur's hair, but the curious ornament surprised Hermione by coming alive and crawled spider-like into her hair.
Fleur laughed, 'See! It has found a new owner!'
Hermione was horrified, 'Is that a really spider?'
'No, it's just enchanted, nothing to worry about, ma chere,' explained Fleur.
'Thank you, it's beautiful,' replied Hermione, kissing Fleur again.
Fleur walked her to her dorm and left with a light heart.
Aren't you lucky? I gave you an longer chapter to read. Reviews please!