On the last day of the holidays Laetitia had enough, one evening she went up to see Fleur, and as usual with her best friend she didn't knock, she just barged in. Fleur had recently come out of the shower, she had a white towel wrapped around her body, barely reaching mid thighs and another one wrapped around her hair. She had her back towards the door and jumped, but relaxed, knowing it was the Lycan. She had realized recently that her senses seemed to have heightened.
"There you are. I feel like I didn't see you in days. You just disappear with your mate anytime Madame Maxime doesn't need you to train."
Fleur turned to face Laetitia, raising a hand to free her hair. "I'm sorry. I always criticized people who let their friendship fall on the wayside when they start dating someone new, and here I am, doing what I said I never would. Sorry."
Laetitia forgot for a second what they were speaking about as she took in the blonde's appearance. "What the…Fleur!"
The blonde looked down then she traced the marks with her fingertips. "Hermione's been more…eager recently."
"Fleur! It looks like you've been mauled!" The blonde rolled her eyes at her friend's exclamation.
"I …I like it?" Stated Fleur and Laetitia's eyebrows rose. They exchanged a look before Fleur sighed and sat down. "Can I ask you something?"
"You never asked that before, I'm a little worried." Teased Laetitia.
"Stop being so dramatic."
Laetitia sat on the bed next to her friend whose hand was still going over the many hickeys she had gained. "Fire away." Said the raven-haired girl.
"You know this strange line between your creature instinct and your human brain?" Laetitia nodded so her friend kept going. "When Hermione and I get physical, there are some things the Veela particularly reacts to."
Fleur looked at Laetitia, waiting for some kind of input. After a moment Laetitia asked with a grin. "Could I get more details?"
Fleur hit her on the arm with the back of her hand. "Come on!"
"First, do you like it too?" Fleur blushed, and Laetitia took that as a yes. "I can't be sure Fleur. It's never happened to me, I've never been really physical with my mate. My wolf doesn't seem to care much either way when it's not my intended. Although I can understand your Veela feeling better after being marked, it probably reassuring until you're fully bonded. You'll have to reassess later, if it's still your kink when you guys are bonded."
"It's not a kink!" Fleur could feel the heat speading on her cheeks.
"Sure." Drawled the other girl. "Whatever it is, you need to remember that the second task has to do with the lake. It's going to be very noticeable when you'll wear your swimming suit."
"Don't you know a spell to make them invisible for a while?"
"Nope." Grinned Laetitia. Fleur let her back drop on her bed.
And so the first day of the new term arrived with Fleur wearing pretty constantly a Gryffindor scarf wrapped around her neck. It was an inner struggle with her Veela but in the end she covered them, knowing it would embarrass Hermione and people would just gossip otherwise. Not that people didn't speak about whatever they could postulate.
It had become somewhat of a routine for them to eat breakfast together, this time they were interrupted by Laetitia who joined them a little later than usual, handing a newspaper to Hermione. "I think you should really read this. He is your friend, isn't he?"
The bushy haired Gryffindor frowned as the French girl was handing out to her reading material. She opened it and gasped. In big bold letters the title on the top if the page was: DUMBELDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE. The article was topped with a picture of Hagrid looking extremely shifty.
"Harry look!" She exclaimed. She read the article out loud, as soon as she finished, she looked up. Ron's mouth was hanging open and Harry looked mad.
"What kind of rubbish is that?! 'We all hate Hagrid'" Quoted Harry before complaining about Malfoy and the other Slytherins.
"How did she find out?" Whispered Ron.
"You don't think Hagrid told that horrible Skeeter woman?" Questioned Hermione after him.
"Of course not!" Replied a still furious Harry. "He never even told us, did he? I reckon she was mad he wouldn't give her loads of horrible stuff about me, she went ferreting around to get back at him."
Fleur rolled her eyes before exchanging a look with her best friend, maybe the boy who lived was a tad egocentric.
"Maybe she heard him telling Madame Maxime at the ball." Said Hermione quietly.
"We'd have seen her in the garden!" Argued Ron. "Anyway, she's not supposed to come into school any more, Hagrid said Dumbeldore banned her…"
"Maybe she's got an Invisibility Cloak." Suggested Harry, landing beans onto his plate and splashing it everywhere in his anger. "That's the sort of thing she'd do, isn't it, hide in the bushes listening to people."
"Like you and Ron tend to do, you mean." Said Hermione.
"We'd never! Eavesdropping for some idle gossip! We're not girls!" Ron exclaimed. And the girls surrounding him at the table looked at him. He lowered his eyes, put his elbows on the table, slouched and mumbled complaints. "The stupid git, talking about his giantess mother where anyone could have heard him!"
"Anyway. We have Care of Magical Creatures right after Herbology, we'll see him then." Stated Hermione.
Harry nodded. "I hope he is okay."
When they finally arrived at Hagrid's cabin however, they were disappointed and even more worried. There, in front of the door, stood an elderly witch with closely cropped grey hair and a very prominent chin.
"My name is Professor Grubbly-Plank." She introduced herself briskly. "I am your temporary Care of Magical Creature teacher."
Harry's anger grew as they could all hear the Slytherins' comments and gleeful laughter. Ron just stood next to his best friend, patted his back.
Hermione didn't want to say anything, even less as she could see the glares Harry was sending to Parvati as she kept on going about how great this woman was as a teacher. Which was true, Hermione didn't have such an interesting lesson about magical creatures in a long time, she actually learned new things about unicorn, the fact that they were beautiful animals and that their end never exploded was a plus. How Hagrid kept on coming up with rare creatures like Blast-Ended Skrewt was beyond her.
At lunch time everybody was talking about it, quite the scandal. The two French girls to joined the Gryffindor table. This time they cut in between the girls, Fleur next to Hermione, Laetitia lowered herself beside her best friend and the younger Weasley.
Fleur slapped the raven-haired girl's thigh; Laetitia rolled her eyes but shifted. "There, I have a good posture."
"I still don't get why it's so difficult for you to sit straight."
"I don't know, it just feels comfortable." This was not a new argument with them. Laetitia seemed to always end up with a leg in a strange position, one foot on the bench next to her, or under the other knee…Laetitia never understood why it annoyed Fleur, and she didn't want to get into it once more. "I heard your teacher friend disappeared after being slandered. Do you know if he is okay?"
Harry opened his mouth but someone else voice was heard, as a band of Slytherin passed by. "It's not really slander if it's the truth." "Yeah, we all knew he was a freak." They snickered as they walked away. Harry started getting up but was stopped by Hermione, she grabbed his robes and sat him back down as she told him. "They are not worth it."
"Says the one who punched Malfoy in the face. Just watching it made me feel better." Said Ron.
"What? "Asked the two French girls at the same time.
"It was different! I…he…he was gloating about killing an innocent creature, and we weren't in the middle of the Great Hall." Explained the bushy haired girl.
"Who wouldn't want to punch a Malfoy?" Ginny was very partial to that particular matter.
"I'm with Hermione, what's the point if you are going to get in trouble right after it. Sometimes you have to wait to get a proper revenge." Laetitia didn't understand why Hermione was looking at her like that, for once they agreed. Did they not?
"How very slytherin of you." Commented Ginny.
"I'm not sure how I'm supposed to take it, coming from a Gryffindor." Teased Laetitia with a small smile on her face.
"You so would have been a slytherin." Added Fleur. Laetitia gave the blonde a look as she snorted. "You and me both."
Hermione opened her mouth, appearing offended, but stopped when her girlfriend laughed. "Who knows. Good thing we are French, we might not have been friends had we been in different houses."
"I know she wouldn't have been a slytherin." Mumbled Hermione but loud enough to be heard.
"Why? Would that stop you from leaving hickeys all over her chest?" Asked Laetitia with a smirk, it didn't waver when Fleur hit her ribs with her elbow.
Ron spit out his pumpkin juice. Hermione's mouth dropped open as she felt eyes on her and heat rush to her cheeks. "What?!" Cried out the bushy haired girl.
"You can't lie. I saw it. With the sheer number of them I'm surprised you didn't try to spell your name. You know something like, this bosom is the propriety of Hermione Granger."
"I…I…why was she…looking at your breasts? Again" Asked Hermione to the blonde, trying her best to ignore the annoying one.
Fleur raised an eyebrow but it was her best friend who spoke once more. "Why? 'Cause you own them now?" Laetitia made a circular motion with her hand in front of Fleur and Hermione slapped her hand away.
"Miss Granger." Hermione immediately straightened up, her face losing all colors. She clenched her eyes shut for a second. Why did it keep on happening to her? "Yes, Professor McGonagall?"
The austere teacher gave her a disapproving look. "Seeing as Professor Hagrid is…indisposed at the moment, you'll be serving you detention with Madame Pince."
"My detention will be in the library?"
"Yes. And I expect you to conduct yourself in a proper way and do as you are told."
"Of course Professor."
The Gryffindor Head gave her on last stern look before nodding and walking away.
Hermione was used to it by now and felt the need to conceal how she really felt about that news. She wasn't supposed to be happy for a detention. Ecstatic, well not completely, she would still be kept away from her girlfriend, but she'd be in the library!
"What's that face she's making?" Asked Laetitia.
Fleur was looking lovingly at the younger girl. "Her brain is happy and processing at high speed."
"Did she make that face the first time she saw…" Ginny knew how it was going to go down and she'd rather avoid it. She cut the raven-haired girl off. "Poor Hargrid. It must be serious if McGonagall had to reassign all his work."
It was Ron who responded to his sister. "It depends. Do you think Hagrid is hiding or are the pushing him out?"
"Dumbledore wouldn't do that." Argued Harry, angry as he had been since he read that article.
"You know he can't do just whatever he wants. Even more this year with the ministry so present because of the cup." Reasoned Ron.
"That's just stupid. That Skeeter woman should be reprimanded for outing someone like that. Who care about his parents, he is such a teddy bear. You guys don't have that many teachers who aren't too uptight." Laetitia liked this goofy big man; he had never been anything but nice to her. She didn't learn that much in his class but he was kind of funny.
"People will always fear the unknown." That was why education was so important. Hermione was back from her book induced fantasy. Kind of.
"True, but then most people are fools." Laetitia responded to Hermione's banality with one of her own. She couldn't help but be annoyed when people said that kind of things, it always felt like an excuse, a cop out. People had to be held accountable for their actions. As a Lycan it was always present within her mind, how would someone react to finding out about what she was? There was a limit to what one should forgive over ignorance, and cruelty was definitely not included.
"Fool doesn't feel like the right word to describe that Skeeter woman." Interjected Ron. Harry nodded next to him.
"She doesn't matter, our priority should be Hagrid." Stated Hermione.
"He is." Affirmed Harry. "We'll go check on him later."
Harry and Ron ended up going to Hagrid's cabin without Hermione who was stuck in the library for her first detention. They didn't get to see their friend, they pounded on that door for five long minutes, with Fang scratching and whining inside, but it didn't open. They didn't see Hagrid for weeks after that. Not on the grounds, not at the staff table, he had just vanished.
Time passed with still no sign of Hagrid. They saw Krum swimming the middle of the lake in late January, but it wasn't the weirdest thing that happened. Mr Bagman offered to help Harry, from one of the judges that was bad. Hermione was in one of hell of a mood, partly because of that, the fact that even on weekends, when she didn't have detention, she could barely see Fleur didn't help. The golden trio was still in the Three Broomstick when they encountered Rita Skeeter. Needless to say things got ugly, they caused a scene before storming off. Hermione first. "Come on, Harry, Ron. Let's go." People stared as they left, Rita Skeeter's Quick-Quotes Quill scratching furiously over a piece of parchment.
"She'll be after you next, Hermione." Said Ron, in a low worried voice as they walked quickly back up the street.
"Let her try!" Shrilled Hermione, she was shaking with rage. "I'll show her! Silly little girl, am I? Oh, I'll get her back for this, first Harry, the Hagrid…"
"You don't want to go upsetting Rita Skeeter." Said Ron nervously. "I'm serious Hermione, she'll dig something up on you…"
"What will she do?! She can't scare me into hiding!" Her breathing was growing shallow because of the furious pace she had set. "And Hagrid isn't going to hide anymore! He should never have let that excuse for a human being upset him!" She was determined and striding fast.
She had barely set foot on the grounds, Harry and Ron trailing behind her, when Fleur appeared out of breath. "Hermione are you okay? What's going on?"
Hermione grabbed her kissed her hard on the mouth, teeth clashing a little before going around the blonde. "Later love. It's on!"
Fleur took a moment to recollect herself. She blinked when the boys were next to her. "What's going on? I've never…seen her so enraged. Was it you?!" She pointed her finger at the red head.
Harry explained when he walked past them, following Hermione. "We ran into Rita Skeeter at the Three Broomsticks."
Ron froze for a second and for the first time his eyes didn't glaze. "Word of advice when it comes to Hermione. Never, never treat her like an idiot or insult her intelligence." He shook his head from side to side as he took off running to keep up with his friends.
That didn't explain much. Fleur had left her training when she started to get too angry, Hermione's rage going through her veins. She got a kiss out of it but she wanted more, and she was curious. She reacted and went after them, however all she could do is watch as Dumbeldore closed the door behind the three Gryffindors. She huffed in frustration, but at least Hermione's rage had melted, then she felt some kind of mild embarrassment. Hermione was fine.
Time flew by, between the training, school and Hermione's detentions, it became complicated for Fleur to see her mate and it was driving her crazy. She had tried to distract herself with work. Her strongest subject had always been Charms and she loved it. It was only logical that she would use it in the competition.
The first thing she tackled was her need to be able to breath underwater; so she had mastered the Bubble-Head Charm. Then she found a warmth spell, the second task was to take place on February the 24th, the water would be freezing, she couldn't risk hypothermia or cramps.
What was left was improving her fighting skills, she didn't know what to expect but she knew she'd have to take something back from the Merpeople. She wondered what kind of object that would be, most likely something symbolic.
She was in a duel room, sparing with Laetitia. "Fleur you need to keep your head in the game."
"I'm doing my best!" Fleur protected herself from a curse, she ducked to the side as her eyes turned to slits when she attacked. "I just…I need to see Hermione."
"Right. You need your fix." Laetitia wasn't going to make the same mistake Anne did, telling Fleur she'd only be able to see her mate if she could beat her. Anne was still on bedrest in the infirmary.
"You are one to talk, you see Ginny every day."
"We are just friend."
"Then you won't care that she already received loads of propositions and letters for Valentine's day." Taunted Fleur, and it worked. Laetitia was distracted for her second, her wand lowered, just enough for the blonde the have her slammed against the opposite wall.
Fleur didn't lower her own wand; she knew how her best friend could be, but she still asked. "Are you okay?"
"Peachy." Groaned the raven-haired girl as she slowly got up. She dusted her blue uniform before glaring at her friend. "Low blow."
"I play to win."
"Yeah, well now that Hermione is stuck in the library Krum is there way more often."
Fleur eyes flashed golden and Laetitia responded with her own yellow eyes.
"I think we should take a break." Suggested Laetitia.
"Agreed." Nodded Fleur. They went in the corner, a table was there with refreshments, they both drank water quietly until Fleur asked. "Seriously. Are you okay with Valentine's day coming up?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Deflected the Lycan, which earned her a look from Fleur. She sighed. "We have an agreement, and I support my friends. Though we don't really speak about it, I know she has…suitors."
"What about you?"
"I…I'm not as interested as I was before. It's…not as entertaining as it was, it leaves me feeling empty. It feels… like it just exacerbates the need." Laetitia looked questioningly at her friend and Fleur nodded. "So no more sex and flimsy encounters?"
"I never said that. I just…need to adapt to this new situation. Want to go at it again? " Deflected Laetitia.
"Do I really have a choice?"
They walked back to the center of the room. Fleur stood straight, turned sideways, her right foot forward, perpendicular to her left foot back. She put her left fist behind her, clenched on top of her lower back while her right hand was raised, wand towards her opponent.
Laetitia was more relaxed, feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bended, right leg a little in front of the other. Her arms were at her sides, wand in her left hand slightly behind her.
Valentine's day came and Hermione had organized a day in Hogsmeade for them.
The Gryffindor wiped her hands on her pants. They had agreed on casual, she just hoped she wasn't too casual. Dark boots, black pants, a thick white wool sweater with a jean vest on top of it.
Fleur emerged from the magical carriage, blonde hair moving with the small wind. She stepped out in suede shoes, high waist slightly wide trousers, button down baby blue shirt and a long off-white coat with a belt and big black buttons.
Hermione swallowed and felt the need to wipe her hands again, she was sweating. She shouldn't be surprised that Fleur would look classy. They stood in front of the other, enjoying the view before they kissed.
"Bonjour." Fleur smiled. "After you Mademoiselle."
Hermione grinned liked a fool, it was strange but Fleur speaking French to her felt nice.
They walked slowly towards Hogsmeade, Fleur locked her arm with Hermione's. The Gryffindor showed her around, the good shops, so of course the bookstore was one of them. They stopped in Honeydukes and left with more sweets than expected. Had Butterbeers in the Three Broomsticks…
They strolled all day in their own little bubble until the sun started to set and it was time to go back. They arrived a little bit before dinner. They sat as close as they could, Fleur playing with Hermione's fingers while they talked. Then the others joined them. Harry's hair was damp. "What did you guys do today?" Asked Hermione.
"The usual." Said Ron, as he looked around, hoping for food he was starving.
"So nothing." Stated Hermione.
"We played quidditch most of the afternoon." Shared Harry.
"Where is Laetitia?" Fleur thought she would spend the day with them if they weren't going on dates.
"Probably on a date. We didn't see her today." Ginny moped.
"No, she doesn't really like Valentine's day. She always says that love should be sacred and not commercialized, and that if you truly love someone you don't need an appointed day to let them know or make gestures. Though she never, never, refuses chocolates." Explained the blonde.
Hermione eyebrows rose. "That's surprisingly romantic of her."
"Don't let her hit and run routine fools you. She loves fiercely and deeply, when she does." Added Fleur.
"Then where could she be?" Ginny had grown curious.
Fleur had a delicate hand moving slowly up her thigh and Hermione's breath on her ear as she whispered about maybe skipping the Great Hall for a more intimate dinner. She didn't think before she spoke. "She's probably running… wild… somewhere…." Ginny frowned, what was that supposed to mean. She didn't have time to ask before Fleur followed Hermione out, Ron made some kind of puking sound as the couple passed by.
Laetitia wasn't really tutoring Ginny anymore, but they had formed a habit out of it, studying together every day. They spent a lot of time together but avoided a few personal subjects. That day they were in the library, Ginny had an essay due. One of the Gryffindor's friend had joined them. Luna Lovegood. Laetitia like her, she was wise and very eccentric. She was accepting and sweet too. Big bonus it was always entertaining to see her interact with Hermione, it was like here mere presence rubbed the bushy haired girl the wrong way.
That day Hermione was in the library too, like most days, whether it was for her pleasure or punishment. Although Ron thought it wasn't fair, most of the time he ended up scrubbing cauldrons with Snape, but she got detention in the library, was she really getting punished?
Laetitia had been sitting for too long, her left leg was going restless, going up and down. She had tried to start a conversation with the red head next to her but she really needed to finish her homework, while Luna seemed to be in her own little world.
She looked around and saw Hermione in a corner, her back to the wall. She had a book upright on her table, she could barely see the top of her head from her eyes and up. Her eyes were wider than usual. From time to time she raised her head to look around her; it was when Laetitia saw her flushed cheeks. She read the book's title: House-Elves & Self-Hatred.
What could make Hermione act like that?
Laetitia excused herself as she got up. She made her way as discreetly as she could across the room, until she was right next to the other witch. She snatched that book from Hermione's hands before she could realize she wasn't alone anymore.
Laetitia had the heavy book in hand when she heard a thud. She watched as another book fell on the table. It happened really fast; Hermione shrieked as she hurried to closed that other book, but not before Laetitia could see a drawing of two naked women intertwined in a very intimate position. Hermione had her hand on top of the book but it was familiar enough to the French girl. She recognized her Christmas gift. "Hermione! I'd never!"
Hermione shushed her as she took back her book from the raven-haired girl's hands, put it right on top of Sapphistry, hiding it.
Laetitia smirked, her eyebrows going up and down, as she sat down next to Hermione. "So…? Learned anything interesting?"
The Gryffindor was bright red as she looked intensely at her fidgety finger.
"You decided to read it, good for you. I'm surprise you didn't finish it earlier; I've seen how fast you can read." Tried again Laetitia. It was possible for Hermione to blush harder, and she did. The raven-haired girl laughed. "That's not the first time you're reading it, is it? Hermione look at me."
She waited until the younger girl raised her head. "There is nothing wrong with reading that book. It's good that you want to learn. I'm sure Fleur is going to love it."
"Don't tell her!" Pleaded Hermione.
"I didn't mean it that way, but don't worry I won't tell her what you read."
He younger girl breathed out. "Thank you."
"If you have any question you can ask me. Fleur and I talk sometimes, and I might see things in the future, like the hickeys."
"I'm not allowed to leave a mark anymore. Thank you." Drawled Hermione.
"Wow, this has nothing to do with me. The second task is pretty soon and she doesn't need to add that kind of attention to her when she'll be wearing her swimming suit."
Hermione opened her mouth to ask about the second task but she connected the dots with Viktor swimming in the lake, instead she stated. "The second task takes place in the lake."
Laetitia gave her a questioning look. "You didn't know?"
"Fleur and I agreed not to speak about the tournament, we don't want to exacerbate that kind of rivalry in our relationship, with us coming from different schools and me being friend with Harry."
"And Harry didn't tell you?"
"I…well…no." She frowned, she sure hoped he wasn't stringing her along. He told her everything was fine.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine."
Laetitia didn't say that it was obviously a lie. She talked about something else. "About books, what do you want next, Vibrating With Your Wand or Transcendence: A Transfigurations To Orgasm Guide?"
Hermione's mouth dropped opened. "That can't be real. You are making these up?"
"Would you be willing to bet on it?" Asked Laetitia. They looked into each other eyes for a second before Hermione sighed. "No."
"If you don't have any question for me, I have one. You are obviously embarrassed, why are you reading Sapphistry here. Why not on your bed with your drapes closed?"
"Don't laugh. I…just…I like to revise." Whispered Hermione.
Laetitia managed to keep it in and just smile. "Revise? Really?"
"If I know my topic perfectly, I don't really have to overthink it anymore when I do it."
"You overthink that? How… I mean…"
"Does she like it. If I'm in that position, where do I put my hands, my legs...? Which body parts can I straddle? How much weight can I put on…"
"Slow down. First, you can straddle pretty much any body parts, including her face." Hermione's eyes grew comically wide. "Knowing you, I can understand that you can't shut your brain off quite easily. Just…take a deep breath and trust your instinct."
"It doesn't feel like I have any instinct. Awkwardness sure, instinct no."
"So you take a deep breath and follow the instructions? You know there is no manual for Fleur, not that I'm aware. Don't you enjoy discovering the dos and the don'ts with Fleur?"
"I do. I do. I just feel…less nervous if I have all the basics down."
"I'm so buying you other books"
Hermione rolled her eyes at the other's girl obvious glee, then her brain made a full stop and she spoke. "Actually, I…do you think there are any good books about Veelas?"
"In general? Or…?"
"Both. There are many reactions I don't really understand. For example, you talked to me about the eye colour thing, they change sometimes when we…could the Veela take over at that moment?"
Laetitia got serious and frowned. "I don't think so, but if you want specific information you should ask Fleur." Hermione winced and Laetitia added. "If it's too awkward for you now, you could ask for books. I'm sure they have books about it in their inner circle, but you wouldn't' t be able to share any information with someone who isn't in said circle."
Hermione nodded. "Okay. I'll…do that. Just one more... the purring thing…" The Gryffindor was cut off mid-sentence.
"Fleur purrs?!" Exclaimed Laetitia, looking like it was Christmas all over again, while Hermione winced, obviously the rave haired girl didn't know. There is no way you're going to forget what I just said?"
Laetitia grinned. "What kind of purr is it? Discreet like a cat or louder?"
Hermione groaned as she dropped her head on her books.
That night Hermione tried to talk to Harry but never found him. The conversation she wanted to have with him had to wait the next day, and it happened during Charms Class.
"You said you'd already worked out that egg clue!" Hermione was indignant.
"Keep your voice down!" Said Harry crossly. "I just need to…sort of fine-tune it, all right?"
She really tried to talk about it, but Harry kept on coming back to what he saw on the map. The mystery of Mr Crouch and the suspect meeting between Snape and Moody. Hermione felt like their third year was in a way repeating itself, and she remembered how that year turned out, it could have been worse though.
After another argument about who was the bad guy that year, Hermione did what she did best. Hit the books. She spent pretty much all her time in the library looking for a spell that might enable a human to survive without oxygen, or breathe under water. Harry even managed to get a note from Professor McGonagall to be allowed to use the Restricted Section. He was even desperate enough to ask the irritable, vulture like librarian Madame Pince, as he liked to describe her, for help. Hermione refused to do it for him.
"There must be something" Hermione muttered, moving a candle closer to her. Her eyes were so tired she was poring over the tiny print of Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charms with her nose about an ich from the page, and still sometimes the lines blurred. "There's a way of doing it!" Hermione said crossly. "It has to be somewhere!"
The library had never failed her before, it couldn't do it to her then, when she needed it so much. She couldn't be let down by her books.
"Can't we find something to transfigure you into a submarine or something." Hermione felt like she was going bloody mad.
"Yeah, I don't fancy walking around with a periscope sticking out of my head" Said Harry. "I suppose I could always attack someone in front of Moody, he might do it for me…"
"I don't think he'd let you choose what you wanted to be turned into though" Said Hermione seriously. "No, I think your best chance is some sort of charm."
Harry looked out the window as the moon slowly rose with a sense of doom, only a few hours left. " I know what I should have done." Said Harry, resting his face down, on Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts. "I should've learnt to be an Animagus like Sirius."
"Yeah, you could have turned into a goldfish any time you wanted!" Said Ron as he stretched his arms above his head.
"Or a frog." Yawned Harry, exhausted.
"It takes years to become an Animagus" Said Hermione vaguely. Harry exchanged a look with Ron as his second attempt to lighten the mood with humour fell flat with Hermione.
"Hermione, I was joking." Explained Harry wearily.
Hermione heard him speak but didn't really register what he said. She was tired, cranky and hadn't seen Fleur in days. They were supposed to meet later that night, even for a few minutes before the second task, it might not even be possible if Harry's plan was still to see if he could hold his breath long enough.
"Oh, this is no use." She snapped as she slammed her book shut. "Who on earth wants to make their nose hair grow into ringlets?"
"I wouldn't mind." Said Fred Weasley's voice. "Be a talking point wouldn't it?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked up. Fred and George had just emerged from behind some bookshelves. "What are you doing here?" Ron asked.
"Looking for you." Said George. "McGonagall wants you, Ron. And you, Hermione."
"Why?" Enquired Hermione, that was unexpected. She was nearly done with long punishment. She wondered and hoped that she hadn't warranted something that could prolong it. She really wanted to be able to spend more time with her girlfriend. And she never thought it would happen but she really needed to not be in the library for a while. Two months is too long.
"Dunno…she was looking a bit grim, though." Answered Fred.
"We are supposed to take you down to her office." Said George.
Ron and Hermione looked at Harry before they got up. "We'll meet you back in the common room. Bring as many of these books as you can, OK?" Said Hermione, she hoped she didn't look as anxious as she felt.