Fleur
Hermione was quietly laughing as a small bell sounded from above us as we walked into a small tea shop. Gabrielle had just finished telling the brunette about the time I had almost slipped down the staircase at our house, I was able to stop myself from falling by sliding my hand through the railing only for my arm to get stuck in between the wooden slats.
"She was really stuck there for three hours?" Hermione asked my sister, still chuckling at the tale.
I looked around at the tackily decorated shop while my sister continued her story, the place was filled with frills and bows and pinks and blues, the tables seemed to be almost too close together as the shop was filled with as many as could fit. I sighed as I looked around and noticed all the tables were occupied by what looked like happy couples out on a date and I couldn't help but wish that, even with the place being so flashy, that it was just Hermione and I here. A short, stout woman scurried towards us as we stood in the entrance, her black hair was up in a neat shiny bun.
"I am ever so sorry, but we have no empty seats at the moment my lovelies," The woman said, an apologetic smile gracing her features.
I smiled sweetly down at the woman, "That's okay, maybe we can come back later in the day," the woman blushed and averted her gaze slightly.
"That would be lovely," The woman said with a soft nod, "I would be glad for your patronage."
"So where to now?" I asked Hermione as we stepped back out into the cold of High Street.
Thankfully she and my sister had stopped bonding over embarrassing stories centred around me, and she quickly pointed down the street, "There is a small pub up this way, it's usually busy, but the owner is nice, and she brews the best Butterbeer I've ever tasted."
I smiled as I followed after the brunette, my sister walking beside me with an all too innocent look on her face, "I hope you're having fun," I said with mock annoyance in my voice.
"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm just bonding with my new friend," Gabrielle smirked and winked before skipping up to Hermione.
I laughed as I walked a little faster and came up beside my sister. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders as I noticed a slight shiver in her step. Gabrielle leaned into the embrace ever so slightly as she sought out the extra warmth I was providing, even if she would deny it tooth and nail should I point it out.
"So where are Harry and Ron today anyway?" I asked as we drew closer to the pub that Hermione was showing us to.
"Ron will probably be at the Three Broom Sticks, which is where we're headed now and Harry decided to stay back at Hogwarts, he said he needed some time alone. Probably nervous about the First Task," Hermione observed.
"I can imagine," I said as I bit down on my lip, my heart beating a little faster at the mention of the First Task, "But he should know that it'll be fine, I have been helping him train after all." I hid my nerves behind my bragging and bravado, just three more days and I would be facing the first in a line of hazardous challenges, and I just hoped that I was truly ready for such a task.
We grew into a semi-awkward silence for the remainder of the short distance to the pub Hermione was taking us to. I tightened my grip on my sister just a little more as I got into my head worrying about what lay ahead. I had put my name into the Goblet not really thinking I would be chosen but quietly hoping I would be so I could show off in front Hermione, but I had never thought about what might happen to me in the Tournament.
A blast of warm air hit my face, bringing me out of my thoughts, my ears filled with the sounds of happy patrons as they drank and chatted away happily. I quickly saw Ron sitting at the bar counter, a lonely look on his face as he sipped at a steaming tankard of Butterbeer.
"Hey, I think we should join Ron," I suggested as I pointed him out at the bar, an apparent empty circle had formed around him as people avoided getting close to the boy.
Hermione grumbled a little from beside me, "He should be lonely, he's being an idiot."
I smiled kindly at the young brunette, "I agree, but he needs someone, he hasn't been able to speak with his best friend for weeks after all."
Hermione begrudgingly accepted my suggestion and swiftly walked up to her friend and took a seat beside him, Gabrielle sat beside Hermione, and I stood behind my sister, a little worried for her safety amongst the many intoxicated patrons. The bartender quickly dropped three steaming glasses of Butterbeer in front of us. I quickly swiped the one that was placed in front of my younger sister and pushed it back to the bartender.
"I'm sorry, but she can't drink this," I said with a frown, "I know there isn't much alcohol content but she's still far too young to drink it."
The blond woman smiled sweetly from behind the counter, "Oh don't worry about that, since so many students visit this town, I brew a special Butterbeer that has zero alcohol in it."
"Oh, well thanks," I said a little sheepishly, the bartender nodding with a brilliant smile.
"Not a problem, that'll be six Sickles for all three."
I quickly fished the money out of my pocket and placed it in the woman's awaiting hand while Hermione reached for her own money.
"Don't worry Hermione, I've already handled it," I said with a smile as I placed my hand over Hermione's outstretched one, relishing the softness of the younger girl's skin.
Hermione smiled at me, "You didn't need to do that."
"I know, but I don't mind," I told the brunette wanting to say that it was my pleasure but deciding against it, worried it would come across as too flirty.
Once again, the group descended into an awkward silence, only now we were awkward because neither Ron nor Hermione had acknowledged each other since we sat down.
"Ron," I broke the silence, "How have you been going?" I asked as I haven't seen the boy for quite some time, when we got to a meal, he was either always leaving or sitting on the other side of the table.
Ron growled a little, "How do you think I've been," The redhead retorted in a huff.
Hermione rolled her eyes at the boy, "Don't be a dolt Ron. We're just here to have a good time, and Fleur is just trying to be nice."
Ron stood abruptly at that, "I don't need your bloody pity!" The rest of the pub quietened as every eye in the building turned to our small group. "Just leave me alone," Ron huffed as he turned to leave, he hesitated for a few moments before turning back, "Hagrid is looking for Harry, he needs to see Harry today."
Ron left the three of us at the pub staring after him, the other patrons of the pub turned back to their own drinks and conversations uttering quick remarks along the lines of 'This is why they shouldn't allow students in here.' I turned back to Hermione and Gabrielle, Hermione held a look of sorrow as she looked at the doorway that Ron had just disappeared through. A tight clenching pain flared in my heart as I looked on at the sorrowful look etched into my Mate's features.
Without thinking, I reached over to the brunette and bundled her into a tight embrace, "It's okay," I whispered. "He'll come around soon enough, you'll see."
Hermione hesitated but ultimately wrapped her arms around my waist, "It's just so frustrating, we've been friends for so long," the brunette shuddered in my arms. "And Harry really needs him, I just… Don't know what to do."
"I know, I know, but unfortunately all you can do is wait," I said as I pulled back, looking Hermione in her beautiful chocolate eyes, "He will come around, trust me, behind his flaws I can tell that Ron has a good heart. He is friends with both you and Harry after all, he can't be too bad if he accomplished that, now can he?"
Hermione shook her head as a small smile spread across her lovely pink lips, I ground my teeth as I pulled my hands, which had somehow gravitated towards her pale cheeks, back down to her arms and held them there for a few moments. I watched as Hermione's light cheeks flushed a pretty pink as the rest of the pub seemed to disappear from around us. My eyes flicked down to the brunette's lips for half a second before another patron bumped into me, bringing the rest of the world back into view, ruining the moment.
Hermione turned to her still steaming mug of Butterbeer and took a long swig, I decided to do the same, grumbling as I did so. As I turned away from Hermione, I noticed the slowly disappearing smile that was etched onto my sister's face.
"Yes?" I asked Gabrielle.
Gabrielle shook her head as she took another sip from her half-drunk tankard, "This is pretty good."
I took a sip from my own mug and mewled in delight as the extra sweet butterscotch flavour slid over my tongue, coating my mouth with the rich taste. I noticed the bartender smirking from behind the bar, a knowing look in her eyes before she walked down the bar to tend to another patron.
We finished our Butterbeer's rather quickly after that and soon found ourselves walking back down High Street. A young redhead was briskly walking up to our group, her eyes set intently on Hermione as a young blond trailed behind her.
"Hey Hermione!" The girl spoke excitedly as she embraced my Mate.
Thankfully over the last few weeks, I had been able to train myself not to growl over casual contact, or off the cuff comments about Hermione. Which I had noticed mostly seemed to be more on the offensive side as people complained about the girl's bossy tone or her intelligence, even her looks had received comments when she wasn't within earshot, which I just could not understand.
"Hey Gin, how is it going?" Hermione asked as she returned the embrace.
"Pretty good, although Ron's moaning and depression have really been getting on my nerves."
"Depression?" Hermione asked as she released the young girl, causing the redhead in front of her to quickly cover her mouth with her hands.
"I… Wasn't meant to say that, please don't tell him you know… He'll kill me if he finds out I let it slip."
Hermione nodded as she waved a hand towards Gabrielle and myself, "I'm sure you've heard of Fleur, but this is her sister, Gabrielle."
Ginny's face hardened a little as she looked at me but softened almost instantly as she turned to my little sister, "Hi Gabrielle and Fleur, this is Luna," Ginny motioned to the blond standing beside her who looked like she was busy daydreaming.
"Hello," The blond spoke in an airy voice as she looked at something that didn't seem to be there.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you," I said with a small nod.
"Hi," Gabrielle grinned as she looked at the two other girls.
"Ginny, we're going to be late," Luna said as she started to wander off down the street.
"Yeah… I'll see you in the Common Room later, Hermione," Ginny said with a meaningful look in her eye.
"Yes, I'll see you there," Hermione said as we bid the two farewell.
"We should get to the tea shop before it's too late," I said as Ginny and Luna disappeared into a sweet shop down the road.
"Ron's depressed?" Hermione asked as we set off back down the street once again.
"I'm not really surprised," Gabrielle said, earning a confused look from Hermione.
"He probably feels a lot like Harry is feeling right now," I explained for my sister as she didn't start to explain herself.
"How?" Hermione asked.
"Well he can't speak to his friends, I'd feel the same if I was stuck here without my sister," Gabrielle said.
Hermione smiled down at my little sister, "I'm sure that's exactly it," Hermione praised my sister, patting her head as she did so.
Gabrielle grinned, and I couldn't help but smile myself at the small exchange between my sister and Mate. I opened the door to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop once again, the bell jingling once again from above me. I smiled as Madam Puddifoot came into view from behind her counter, a brilliant smile gracing her features.
"I am so glad the three of you came back," The older woman said with a slight nod of her head, "We have a free table for you just over here.
Madam Puddifoot showed us to a small table in the corner of the shop, the other patrons glanced at us as we walked past their tables before they returned to their attention back to the people they were with. As we sat, we each ordered a piece of vanilla sponge cake and a cup of sweet tea.
"This place is a bit hectic, is it like the date spot?" I asked as I turned to Hermione.
The brunette shrugged her shoulders, "Not that I've heard of, but it certainly seems that way. I don't really get it though, if I were on a date with someone, I'd want to be somewhere quiet and with not so many people…" Hermione looked around the Tea Shop and shuddered a little.
We quickly left the Tea Shop after we finished our food and tea, I made sure to personally thank Madam Puddifoot for the food before we headed back out onto High Street.
"We should go to one more place," Hermione said happily as she led us down the road once again.
As we walked out of the Village, the number of Hogwarts students seemed to grow little by little some were walking ahead or behind us walking in the same direction while others were headed back to the village. I could overhear bits and pieces of conversations where the students were discussing horror and ghost stories involving a place labelled 'The Shrieking Shack.'
I refrained from asking about it as I was sure that it was 'The Shrieking Shack' that we were on our way to see. Not to mention Hermione was once again happily chatting away about her schoolwork and the various subjects that she found the most interesting.
I listened intently as Hermione talked about some kind of 'Science' from the 'Muggle World' that she had once thought of as magic herself. The brunette laughed at her younger self, "I've always been curious about Muggles and their 'Science,'" I said as Hermione stopped laughing. "In so many ways, Muggles have advanced so much further than the Wizarding world."
"Well maybe you could come to visit me over the Christmas holidays or something," I could hear a note of hope in Hermione's voice as she spoke, "Then you could be immersed in Muggle culture completely."
"I would like that," I said with an almost flirty lilt in my voice, Hermione smiled, but I was sure my meaning was misconstrued at least a little.
"We're here," Hermione announced as she looked back to the road ahead of her, A large grouping of Hogwarts students were standing on the edge of the path looking out at an imposing black structure that stood out in the white snow of the area. Most of the students stood back behind the wooden posts and looked on from a distance while others stood at various intervals on the narrow pathway that led to the house.
"What is it?" Gabrielle asked as we walked closer to the house.
"It's called the Shrieking Shack, the people in Hogsmeade believe the house is haunted," Hermione explained. "They say that years ago the sounds of screams could be heard coming from the house late at night, but whenever anyone went to inspect the house, there was no way to enter and no one seemed to be inside."
"What do you mean there was no way to enter? There is always a way inside a house, even if you have to make an entrance yourself," Gabrielle asked as she looked on sceptically.
"Well the townsfolk were never brave enough to enter the house themselves, but all of the doors and windows were, and still are, boarded up, so no one could get in there anyway. Which is why they believe it's haunted."
I started up the pathway to the Shrieking Shack, "Shall we check it out a little closer?" I asked, not bothering to look back at Hermione or Gabrielle. I knew Gabrielle would be right with me, she never was one to shy away from pretty much anything, and by Hermione's tone, I assumed she didn't much believe what the people from Hogsmeade thought was true.
"Let's go," Hermione said as walked up beside me, her head held high as she walked forward with confidence, the slight falter in her voice the only sign that gave away her fear.
A few of the other students surrounding us began whispering as they watched us head up the path, their whispers quickly evaporating into nothing as we got further away from them and closer to the more adventurous teens that had started up the trail. The number of students in front of us quickly dwindled to one small group that was standing right at the base of the Shrieking Shack.
I heard Hermione growl softly as the small group came into view, they were all wearing Slytherin robes and were joking about finding a way to throw other people into the Shrieking Shack to terrify them.
"Is something wrong, Hermione?" I asked as the Slytherin's turned around to face us.
"Hey, it's the mudblood!" A blonde boy called out, "I'm surprised you'd be brave enough to even look at this stupid old house, let alone get close to it."
"Let's just leave," Hermione mumbled as she turned away, I felt my blood boil with anger as I glared at the boy that had just insulted my Mate.
"What did you just call her?" I asked rhetorically.
A black-haired girl standing beside the blond whispered something into the blond's ear, and his face fell for an instant. But his bravado seemed to comeback almost instantly as he walked closer to us, "I'm a Malfoy, I'm not afraid of some French girl, even if she is a Triwizard Champion. I mean Harry's name was picked, so how good a witch could she really be?"
I rolled my eyes at that comment as I fished my wand out of my pocket, "You want to find out?" I asked as I pointed my wand at the boy threateningly.
The blond pulled his own wand out, and I disarmed him immediately, grinning as the boy watched his wand fly through the air and land in the snow metres away from where he was standing. I took a step back and grit my teeth as I forced myself to calm down, it would do me no good to be kicked out of the school for harming a young boy just trying to show off in front of his friends.
"Pathetic," I said with a laugh, deciding instead to wound the boy with words as I started to back away from the small group, "Next time you should try and move, I find that helps," I told the boy in a mocking tone. "Or at least move faster than a bloody slug!"
"You bloody idiot!" The black-haired girl barked at the blond before she stalked off, walking briskly passed me, flashing an apologetic look in my direction.
"Well at least someone understands where she sits on the food chain," I said with a grin as I re-joined Hermione and Gabrielle who had backed off a little.
"That was… A lot quicker than I expected," Hermione said, "I thought you were going to really attack him."
I waved a hand dismissively in the boy's direction, "He's not worth it," I said, hiding the fact that I had almost gone off the deep end.
"I would disagree," Gabrielle said as she sneered in the boy's direction, "You should have turned him into a ferret!"
Hermione and I laughed at the image, "Come on, let's get out of here, head back to Hogwarts. We need to tell Harry that Hagrid is looking for him after all," Hermione said, and we all left together, heading straight back to Hogwarts castle.
Hermione
After arriving back at Hogwarts, Fleur and Gabrielle were quickly approached by Madam Maxime who needed to discuss the First Task of the Tournament with Fleur, so we said our goodbyes and I was left to find Harry myself. I had checked the Library, down by the Great Lake and the Great Hall to no avail. My next destination was the Gryffindor Common room which I was currently on my wat towards.
"Hey Hermione," Ginny greeted me as she ran up the stairs to the Common Room two at a time, "Can we talk?"
I looked to the youngest Weasley, her eyes and tone of voice pleading with me to say yes, "Possibly, I need to tell Harry something really quickly, and I'm actually hoping he's sitting in the Common room, right now, I've checked a bunch of other places, and he wasn't there."
Ginny didn't say anything as she followed me into the Common room and, just my luck, Harry was sitting by one of the fireplaces with a book in his hands. I wasn't surprised to find that he was merely sitting there with it open to try and ward off anyone that approached him.
"Hey Harry, Ron told me that Hagrid was looking for you," I said, not giving the boy a chance to tell me to go away, although the look on his face was definitely telling me that.
Harry smiled as he climbed out of the soft red chair, "I'll go see him now then," Harry said happily, the boy was always happy to speak with half-giant.
I watched him go, a little annoyed that he didn't thank me or even say 'Hi' to me or anything, I shook my head before sitting in the seat he had just vacated, Ginny quickly sat in the opposite chair and looked at me intently.
"What is it, Gin?"
"It's about Harry… And Fleur."
I looked at the girl, curiously, "What about them?" I asked my pulse quickening a little.
"Well, they've been spending a lot of time together recently, it's pretty much whenever I see one of them the other isn't far behind," Ginny explained with a worried look on her face.
"So?" I asked a little hotly.
"Well, when two people spend so much time together, they can… Well, you know?"
"I think I understand what you're saying, but I've also been spending just as much time with Fleur, in fact, I'm pretty sure I've been spending more time with Fleur than Harry has, it doesn't mean anything."
"Well sure, but you're a girl, and so is Fleur so," Ginny started, and I felt a pain flare in my chest.
"So what?" I asked.
"So, you two are just friends-"
"Yeah, just like Harry and Fleur. Or me and Harry. Or me and Ron. Or even Draco and Pansy. It doesn't change anything."
Ginny recoiled a little at my biting tone, "What's wrong? Why are you getting so upset?"
Why am I getting so upset? I asked myself, was it because Ginny only thought that a boy and girl could be together? Or was it more directed at the fact that she didn't think I could be with Fleur? Whichever it was I wasn't sure.
"I'm just frustrated with everything happening between Ron and Harry," I sighed as I reached over and grabbed Ginny's hand comfortingly. "But seriously, nothing's happening between Fleur and Harry, Fleur and I have been getting closer recently, and I'm sure I would have noticed something by now if anything was happening. And you know I would tell you right?"
Ginny nodded her head, "I know, it's just hard when the person you like barely knows you exist."
"You could change that you know, all you have to do is start talking to him."
Ginny shook her head, her face turning red as the thought played in her mind, I laughed at the girl's reaction, as I released her hand, it was starting to get to be time for Dinner, and I was getting hungry.
"Hey, why don't you join us during dinner? You can get to know Fleur a little and see that there really is nothing going on between her and Harry," I suggested. Ginny gave a non-committal grunt as answer as she too rose from her chair, "Come on Ginny, Fleur's a great girl, and her sister loves to torment her which can get quite funny at times… Please?"
"Alright," Ginny sighed dramatically, "But just because you want me too," I smiled and shook my head as Ginny left the Common room ahead of me, before following after her. The two of us walked down to the Great Hall together were many students had already started to gather, Gabrielle, Fleur, and Harry were already sitting together.
I sat beside Fleur, which had somehow seemed to become 'my spot' and Ginny sat on the other side of the table next to Gabrielle. Ginny smiled at Harry, who was too busy looking down the table at Ron, who was quite obviously ignoring the dark-haired boy.
"What did Hagrid want?" I asked Harry, hoping to bring his attention away from his best friend.
"Not sure, he asked me to meet him tonight…" Harry moved in closer as he began to whisper, "Late tonight, and with my invisibility cloak."
Gabrielle gasped from her spot, "You have an invisibility cloak?"
Harry nodded his head as he raised a finger to his lips, shushing the younger Delacour, "I got it from my father, it's been passed down through my family for generations…"
"That's so cool," Gabrielle gushed.
The rest of dinner passed smoothly with Ginny interacting with both Harry and the Delacour's easily and comfortably. Harry ended up leaving the earliest so he could prepare to meet Hagrid, at least that was his excuse, Ginny went soon afterward leaving me with Fleur and Gabrielle.
Gabrielle was leaning on her folded arms, her eyes closed, "Is she asleep?" I whispered, leaning a little closer to Fleur.
"Possibly, either that or she's subtly signalling that she wants to go to bed," Fleur said with a shrug of the shoulders.
"Well, maybe we should head off too then," I suggested, a little disappointedly.
"Yeah we should," Fleur said as she reached across the table to shake her sister, "Gabi~ Wake up~" The French girl cooed. Gabrielle grumbled, burying her head deep into her arms as she did so, Fleur turned to me and smiled, "Guess I'm carrying some to bed."
I smiled back at the older girl, "I certainly used to love it when my parents would carry me to bed."
Fleur nodded her head in agreement as she pulled her wand from her robes and levitated the girl across the table and into her own arms. Gabrielle immediately wrapped her arms around her older sister and snuggled into the crook of the blond's neck. I smiled at the sweet interaction while feeling a slight pang of jealousy in my gut.
We headed out of the Great Hall and down the hallway in a comfortable silence, all too quickly we arrived at the hall to the Grand Staircase and where we would be saying our goodbyes for the night. I walked slightly into the hallway before turning back to the two Delacour's.
"Well… Goodnight," Fleur said, a look of some kind of emotion I couldn't quite place set deeply in her eyes. It was a look that I had seen in her eyes often, but only when she looked at me and I couldn't help but be curious as to what it was.
"Yeah, goodnight," I said quietly, Fleur turned to leave and, without thinking, I reached out and grabbed her elbow, pulling her back around. My mouth flapped uselessly like a dying fish as I tried to come up with a reason as to why I had just done that, Fleur just waited patiently, almost expectantly in front of me.
A thought came to mind which I grasped immediately, "I just wanted to say thank you, for earlier… For sticking up for me to Malfoy."
"Oh, that," I thought I could hear an edge of disappointment in Fleur's voice, but I put it aside as she continued speaking. "You don't need to thank me for that, I'll always protect you."
"Which is why I should thank you," I said quickly, "We haven't known each other all that long, yet you say things like that, you're helping Harry deal with the Tournament, and you comforted me when Ron got angry earlier… Why?" I asked, needing to know the answer.
Fleur just stood there for a few moments as something seemed to swim in the older girls' eyes, an emotion I knew but just couldn't seem to put a name to. But as always, she smiled at me with her same brilliant smile, "Why wouldn't I? It all started when your Headmaster asked me to help Harry because of his age, but I've really grown to like the two of you, you're my friends, and I always help my friends."
I felt a little disappointed by the older girl's explanation, although I wasn't sure why, or maybe I was and just didn't want to accept it, either way, I ignored the feeling and grinned gratefully at the blond. "Well then I'm so glad that we're friends, I've had a little trouble with my friends recently," I joked.
Fleur laughed softly, "Don't worry, one day, you'll all look back on this time and laugh and joke about it."
I hope you'll be there too, I thought to myself as I raised my right hand and waved, "Well, goodnight again, I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow."
Fleur nodded, "I'll see you them."
We parted ways, and I quickly found myself collapsing into my bed as the exhaustion of the day caught up to me. A smile settled on my face as the image of a laughing Gabrielle and Fleur filled my imagination, I focused on the image of Fleur as I slowly drifted off to sleep.