Half an hour later they were all having lunch, the Great Hall was overcrowded as it had been since Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrived, it was a blur of colors as many students didn't sit with their own House. The place was buzzing, most students were still speaking about the Second Task. Laetitia was brooding, still rubbing her ear from time to time. She couldn't believe Fleur's mother had actually pulled it. These were very sensitive.

Fleur was somewhat back to normal, though she didn't leave her mate's side, if anyone paid close attention to them, they would see that there were actually constantly touching; they were just too close, their arms grazed as they moved, Hermione sometimes would grab Fleur's hand or just link their pinkies together, Fleur's fingertips stoke Hermione's face to move a strand of hair… In the loud and crowded hall, they were still in their own bubble.

Harry, who was the actual champion was watching while Ron recounted his version of the event.

Ginny finally turned to the French girls at the Gryffindor table, she had been wondering about it for a while and just had to ask, so of course as it just got out, she knew she could have phrased it better. "What's up with puppy?"

Their little group froze, Laetitia was bringing her fork up and stopped mid move. She saw the pasta fall right off, back into her plate. She couldn't look at her friends, she felt herself heat up, and she was pretty sure her ears moved. She was so embarrassed.

"I mean…" Started Ginny, aware of the tension.

Fleur bit her lip hard while trying not to laugh

She cleared her throat. "Wh…Why does Fleur's grandmother called you puppy?" Ginny tried once more.

Fleur couldn't keep it in and laughed out loud. Hermione didn't really understand but she wasn't blind. She slightly slapped Fleur on the stomach. "You are embarrassing her!"

Before the blonde could reply Ron spoked to Hermione. "I thought you didn't like her?"

"I do, most of the time. Though it doesn't matter, being a decent human-being isn't about who you like or not." Argued Hermione.

Fleur was trying her best to reel in her giggles.

Ginny was a little amused by what she was witnessing. Laetitia was sitting next to her and so she grabbed her ear with a comment. "Her ears are so red; I've never seen it on a non-Weasley before." She passed her thumb on its helix.

Laetitia shuddered, her jaw went from tense to slack, her eyes partially shut as she tilted her head towards the younger girl.

Ginny kept on caressing the ear a few more seconds before letting go. "Nevermind, I can see why."

More than embarrassed, Laetitia was offended. "I'm not a puppy! I am a big bad…"

Immediately, Ginny grabbed her ear again. Laetitia obviously tried to resist, she frowned, she thought about moving away, but her body had a mind of its own, it didn't want to move. It didn't take long for her head to tilt, even more than before, as Ginny was firmer in her strokes. "Right." Drawled the red head before letting go.

Luna who had a dreamy look on her face reached around Ginny to give it a try, and touch the French girl's ear, it was probably some Wrackspurts.

Laetitia glared as she slapped her hand away, and growled. "Don't touch."

Luna shrugged before going back to her meal.

Their group was joined by the Weasley twins, George sat on Laetitia's left, it took a little longer for Fred push his sister so he could sit on the French girl's right. Laetitia raised her hands to protect her ears, the boys gave her a quizzical look. She acted as if everything was normal and slowly lowered them. "Oui?"

"We are finally ready." Stated Fred.

George moved Laetitia's plate to the side. "I wasn't finished." She complained, but didn't insist, her curiosity got the best of her when Fred put a small box in front of her. "What is it?"

The twins' eyes were kind of shinning when they both answered. "Open it."

It didn't reassure her; she had heard of the pranks they'd pulled. She doubted it would be safe for her to actually open that box. "I'm not touching that."

Fred rolled his eyes while George pulled the lid up; Laetitia tensed for a second as he did it then frowned. There were seven little coated candies, each shaped like a crescent moon but with different colors.

Laetitia open and closed her mouth before speaking. "Is it what I think it is?" Both red head nodded. "I have to say I do like the color scheme, a rainbow."

"We're not sure we'll keep them like that, that's why we are asking for your expertise. You are part of our consumer testing. These Ton-tongue toffees have different colors because they are different, each color represents a different size." Fred looked so proud as he explained it.

George cleared his throat, making his brother look up at him, then he moved his head slightly to point at the bushy haired girl on the other side of the table who was staring intently at them.

"This is an honest business transaction, between willing and responsible…people." Fred didn't want to say adults, they were not seventeen yet.

Hermione opened her mouth for a second before speaking. "I didn't say anything."

"We are used to your judgmental glares and the lectures." Argued Fred.

"I…I didn't say anything." Hermione wanted to hit her head on the table as all she managed to do was repeat herself, her cheeks rosed up.

A huge smile appeared on George's face. "Fred." Instantly his brother echoed. "George."

"If it wasn't disapproval, that might be…interest." They shared a look.

All the people seating close by, all those who knew what they were talking about, turned their eyes towards the usually so stern and uptight Miss Granger.

Hermione's face was bright red as her shoulder rose and she lowered her face. She was mortified. Fleur wrapped her arm around her girlfriend's shoulders, bringing her closer against her. Hermione hid her face in the crook of her neck.

It didn't deter the Weasley twins, if anything it was the opposite. Fred stood and pulled out another box from his robes. He leaned over the table as he handed it out to Hermione. "Don't worry, we made more than on test batch."

Hermione partially left the safety of her girlfriend's heat as she turned but didn't move completely away to look at this offering. Fred was patient, he didn't move as he waited for Hermione to make her move. George wasn't as sensitive, after a few seconds later he said. "Maybe you should give it to Fleur."

It was when Hermione snatched it. "Thank you."

Fred made a sign to George, next to a snickering Laetitia.

"She was defending you not five minutes ago, stop laughing." Said Fleur.

"Easier said than done." She cleared her throat to try and stop laughing. "Sorry." She managed it for a few seconds before tittering. "Sorry."

George stood up, him and Fred had other things to do, before leaving he told the girls. "Once you've finished, hit the box three times with your wand and say 'Tasting managed'." He stopped for a second as they looked at Harry who had chocked on his food and was drinking to help it pass. Once he was sure Harry was fine, he resumed. "The box will transform into a parchment, it's a survey. I trust Hermione to be very thorough, as usual." He winked before leaving with Fred.

It all made Laetitia laugh louder, she started wheezing under her best friend's glare, she followed the Weasley twins with her eyes as they made their way to the Hufflepuff table, as she turned her face back to her table, she intended to finish her meal, her eyes landed on Ginny and she stopped laughing, she stopped breathing.

Ginny was glaring at Laetitia and the tiny box in front of her, when her gazed fell upon Laetitia's wary eyes she turned back to her plate and stabbed her steak with her fork.

"See Harry! Tell me she doesn't look like mum?" Asked Ron, which earned him a glare too.

Ginny slammed her hands on the table before leaving the great hall.

Laetitia was trembling because she was torn between following the Gryffindor and staying. She wanted to make things better, but what could she say? She desperately looked at Fleur who sighed before getting up and following the girl.

Hermione didn't stay long either, as she could feel all these eyes on her, even if they were not looking, she just felt like it. She couldn't stand it. Laetitia followed her.

Fleur caught on with Ginny while she was climbing the main stairs. "Ginny!"

The younger girl obviously wiped her face before turning around. "What?"

"Are you…okay?"

Fleur slowly climbed the stairs while Ginny gulped before she answered, voice wobbling. "I'm fine."

The blonde stopped a little bit more than a foot away from Ginny. "Is it a I'm fine that means: I don't want to talk about it? or I don't know how to talk about it?"

At first, Fleur had rubbed Ginny the wrong way. Ginny didn't really like the way she spoke, walked, her attitude…she was so… French. She started to befriend Hermione and she had her doubts, then they became an item. Ginny still wasn't so fond of Fleur, but she seemed to be good to Hermione. Laetitia was her best friend so obviously the blonde was surrounded by good people and it was usually a good tell on people's character.

Unfortunately, Ginny was hurt as well as angry.

"It's a: it's none of your business, I'm fine."

Fleur's expression didn't change, she just looked aloof. "Alas, it is. Laetitia is my very best friend; I never want to see her unhappy. And upsetting you hurts her, which is why I'm trying to be nice by talking to you."

"This isn't fair."

"Oh, I know, I'd rather be with Hermione." In response Ginny pointedly glared at the blonde, Fleur smiled before speaking again. "Life is not fair. You just do your best with what you are given."

Ginny raised her hand to the middle of her chest, putting all her fingertips together pointing upwards as she pressed it closer. "I put myself on the line and got rejected. She said it's because I'm too young, we can try when I'm older…what if it's not? It doesn't look like she is going to wait."

"Believe me she didn't reject you, she just...postponed this thing between you. Your body is still developing for Morgana' sake, liking you make her feel like some kind of pedophile."

"I'm just three years younger than she is!"

"You are not together, yet you are jealous about a hypothetical relationship she could have because your brothers gave her sweets." Said Fleur.

"I can't help how I feel." Argued Ginny.

"I'm not…" Fleur paused to breathe, she knew she wasn't really good with people and didn't want to mess this up, more than it was. "The way you feel is valid, that's how you feel. I'm just saying emotions aren't rational, whether it's from you or anyone else. Laetitia didn't reject you; she just wants to wait until you are older, I promise. Does that mean she will remain celibate until then?" Fleur shrugged. "Will you?"

"Of course." Immediately answered the red head, she didn't need to even think about it.

"Are you sure? You agreed to wait three years, it's a long time at our age, I can see many boys giving you looks and a few girls too." Ginny frowned. "Maybe you and Laetitia should talk about it so you can avoid…all this." Fleur gestured at the two of them.

"Yeah, let's not spend more time together than we need to."

Fleur looked offended. "That's not what I meant." There was a heavy pause before Fleur took a step back. "Well… I guess I'll go find Hermione and Laetitia now."

Ginny frowned. "They might not be together."

"Oh, they are, I tend to feel like I have an annoying itch whenever Hermione is alone with Laetitia." Fleur's head moved to the side. "Most of the time anyway."

Laetitia quickly caught up with Hermione who was stepping on the grounds.

"Do you have a reason to be following me?" Inquired the bushy haired girl.

"How pretentious! Maybe we are just going in the same direction."

Hermione's left eyebrow twitched. "Are you?"

"No."

Hermione rolled her eyes and kept on walking, in silence, until Laetitia finally caught her attention. "So, did you already go down on Fleur or was it wishful thinking?"

Hermione feet collided, making her trip and fall. She let out a squeak before she hit the ground. She groaned while Laetitia let out a puff sound, before laughing really loud. It was not something she could contain. A little out of breath the French girl sat down next to Hemione on the grass.

"Why? Why are you like this?" Hermione asked without raising her head.

"I'm just me. I…listen I feel like we've bonded over this, maybe bonded isn't the right word." Laetitia cleared her throat. "Anyway, I was surprised that you wanted the Ton-tongue Toffee, I didn't know your relationship with Fleur had gone that far."

Hermione finally rolled over. "Not that it's any of your business."

Laetitia sighed as she wrapped her arms around her legs, grabbing her left wrist with her right hand. "Fleur and I, we're really close and I would like to think that she'd talk to me about something that big happening in her life." She saw the look on the younger girl's face. "Not in explicit details, but you know." She made a hand gesture.

The Gryffindor sat up as she spoke. "Thinking she wouldn't have told you about it hurt you." And made you more annoying, though Hermione didn't add that last part.

Laetitia shrugged once more as she looked away. Hermione stood up, dusting her robes as she straightened up. There was a pause until she said. "Nothing of the kind happened between Fleur and I." Without looking at the French girl.

"Then what do you need the magical sweets for?"

Hermione blushed. "I'm just curious."

"You know you can talk to me about these things, what are you curious about? I mean personally I'd advise mastering your own tongue before making it one foot longer to go down on a girl."

Hermione blushed hard as she looked around. She could see a few students but they were at a good distance from them, not able to hear what they were saying. "Could you get up? People are going to wonder what we are doing."

"Who cares?" Laetitia leaned back right as she finished saying that.

"I care. Please get up."

Laetitia sighed as she slowly stood up. "There. I'm conforming."

"Don't be so dramatic." Said Hermione as she started walking, Laetitia by her side. "Don't be so uptight." After that they walked silently for a minute.

"Do you want to try them together?" Asked Laetitia. Hermione immediately stopped and turned towards her, looking scandalized. "What?!"

Laetitia rolled her eyes. "Not like that. You know, you can be somewhat of a…you seem to think a lot about sex. I'm surprised your grades didn't drop since you met Fleur, I mean reading pornography in the library." The French girl had a small grin on her lips while Hermione looked like she was on the verge of exploding.

"I do not! I did not! You gave it to me! You…"

Laetitia didn't seem bothered at all, she resumed their walk, slowly moving away from a baffled Gryffindor, who after a few seconds followed. Laetitia spoke to her as soon as she was by her side again. "Anyway, I don't feel like using these Toffees with a partner at the moment, but I'd still like to give a review to the twins. You are obviously curious about it, why not give it a go, without the sex of course. I just thought…you are not going to try them on Fleur anytime soon, what would be the point of you doing it alone, so…? Interested?"

"That sounds reasonable." Hermione looked at the raven-haired girl suspiciously. "What do you get from it?"

"I can try them, see how that look and make fun of you while you struggle with a giant tongue."

"What makes you think I'd struggle?"

Laetitia gave her a look.

"There you are!" Finally Fleur had found them. In the kitchen. Laetitia and Hermione were facing each other, sitting crossed legs on the floor. Different containers in front of them, including one she recognized, a unicorn on the lid, the Ton-tongue toffees box. "Do I want to know?" Enquired Fleur as she raised her left eyebrow.

Hermione cleared her throat, her back straightened as she tried to look as dignified as she could. "It was a platonic learning experience."

"You have melted ice cream on your nose." Teased Laetitia.

Hermione instantly rubbed her nose as she blushed.

As they entered March they were back to their routine. Harry, Ron and Hermione were going to the final lesson of the afternoon, double Potions, descending the steps to the dungeons.

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were standing in a huddle outside the classroom door with Pansy Parkinson's gang of Slytherin girls. All of them were looking at something between them and sniggering heartily. Pansy's pug-like face peered excitedly around Goyle's broad back as they approached.

"There they are!" She giggled and the knot of slytherins broke apart. Pansy had Witch Weekly in her hands. "You might find something to interest you in there, Granger!" Pansy said loudly, and she threw the magazine at Hermione, who caught it, startled. Wondered if it was a good reflex to grab whatever Parkinson was throwing at her.

At that moment, the dungeon's door opened, and Professor Snape beckoned them all inside.

Hermione, Harry and Ron headed for a table at the back of the room as usual. Once Snape had turned his back on them to write up the ingredients for that day's potion on the blackboard, Hermione hastily riffled through the magazine under the desk. At last in the center pages, Hermione found what they were looking for. Harry and Ron leaned in closer.

A colour photograph of Harry headed a short piece entitled HARRY POTTER'S SECRET HEARTACHE. Another article written by Rita Skeeter.

Harry groaned; Hermione glanced at him before reading.

A boy like no other, perhaps – yet a boy suffering all the usual pangs of adolescence. Deprived of love since the tragic demise of his parents, fourteen-year-old Harry Potter thought he had found solace in his steady girlfriend at Hogwarts, Muggle-born Hermione Granger. Little did he know that he would shortly be suffering yet another emotional blow in a life already littered with personal loss.

Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl, seems to have a taste for famous wizards that Harry alone cannot satisfy.

Since the arrival at Hogwarts of Viktor Krum, Bulgaria Seeker and hero of the last World Quidditch Cup, Miss Granger has been toying with both boy's affections. Krum who is openly smitten with the devious Miss Granger, charming her though their regular dates in the library and insist that he has 'never felt this way about any other girl'.

It took a shocking turn when even the unnatural beauty that is Fleur Delacour, Beauxbatons champion, notorious half breed Veela, joined the mix. The two girls being overly affectionate on Hogwarts grounds, with no one from the school intervening. Miss Delarour already invited her to visit her family estate in France over the summer holidays.

One can wonder if the Delacour vast fortune helped direct the venal Miss Granger towards such proclivity.

However, it might not be Miss Granger's doubtful natural charms which have captured these unfortunate boys' interest.

'She's really ugly', says Pansy Parkinson, a pretty and vivacious fourth-year student, 'but she'd be well up to making a Love Potion, she's quite brainy. I think that's how she's doing it.

Love Potions are of course banned at Hogwarts, and nodoubt Albus Dumbeldore will want to investigate these claims. In the meantime, Harry Potter's well wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows his heart upon a worthier candidate.

"I told you!" Hissed Ron at Hermione, as she stared down at the article. "I told you not to annoy Rita Skeeter! She's made you out to be some sort of…of…"

"Scarlet Woman? Isn't that what you called me before?" Ron's face decomposed, who a second before was offended for her. Hermione's attention went back to the article, it was ridiculous, and offensive. She hoped Fleur wouldn't take it too much to heart.

"If that's the best Rita can do, she's losing her touch." Said Hermione as she threw Witch Weekly onto the empty chair beside her. "What a pile of old rubbish."

She looked over at the Slytherins, who were all watching her and Harry closely across the room to see if they had been upset by the article. Hermione gave them a sarcastic smile and a wave, before she, Harry and Ron started unpacking the ingredients they would need for their Wit-Sharpening Potion.

"There is something strange though." Said Hermione ten minutes later, holding her pestle suspended over a bowl of scarab beetles. "How could Rita Skeeter have known…?"

"Known what?" Asked Ron quickly. "You haven't been mixing up Love Potions, have you?"

"Don't be stupid!" Hermione snapped, starting to pound up the beetles again. "No, it's just…how did she know Viktor…" She cleared her throat. "I mean, how could she have known Fleur invited me for the Summer?" Hermione blushed scarlet as she said this, and determinedly kept her eyes fixed on what she was doing.

"And what did you say?" Inquired Ron, who had piked up his pestle and was grinding it on the desk, a good six inches form his bowl, because he was looking at Hermione.

"They both talked to me after the second task." Hermione frowned as she thought. "But how could Rita Skeeter haver heard them? She wasn't there…or was she? Maybe she has got an invisibility cloak, maybe she sneaked into the grounds to watch the second task…"

"And what did you say?" Ron Repeated, pounding his pestle down so hard that it dented the desk.

"Well I was too busy seeing whether you and Harry were OK, and Fleur was still…"

Fascination though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger," said an icy voice behind them, "I must ask you not to discuss it in my class. Ten points from Gryffindor."

Snape had glided to their desk while they had been talking. The whole class was looking around at the; Malfoy took the opportunity to flash POTTER STINKS across the dungeon at Harry.

"Ah…reading magazines under the table as well?" Snape added, snatching up the copy of Witch Weekly. "A further ten points from Gryffindor…oh but of course…" Snape's black eyes glittered as they fell on Rita Skeeter's article. "Potter has to keep up with his press cuttings…"

The dungeon rang with the Slytherins' laughter, and an unpleasant smile curled Snape's thin mouth. Harry was obviously furious next to Hermione as Snape began to read the article aloud.

Snape was pausing at the end of every sentence to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh. Harry was shaking, his face bright red. The article sounded ten times worse when read by Snape.

"How very touching." Sneered Snape as he finished reading, he rolled up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from Slytherins. "Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so you can keep your minds on your potions rather than on your tangled love lives. Weasley, you stay here. Miss Granger, over there, beside Miss Parkinson. Potter, that table in front of my desk. Move. Now."

Hermione had been tensed ever since that one hell of a last lesson. Harry didn't help when he revealed Karkaroff most definitely had a Death Eater Mark, and was comfortable enough to talk about it with Snape. Hermione couldn't say Harry was just being paranoid, since he usually tended to be right about these things.

She was sitting anxiously at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, looking up every time someone walked in. She was worried about Fleur, and how hurt she might be at being called a half breed. Maybe she'd be lucky for once and Fleur wouldn't know. How probable was is that her French girlfriend read English magazines.

As it turned out, very. Fleur walked in a step behind Laetitia was had a copy of Witch Weekly rolled in her right hand. They separated and walked along on different side of the table. That smirk on Laetitia's face was always annoying to Hermione. She watched her take a seat opposite to her while Fleur gave her her usual small kiss on the lips before sitting down next to her.

"Do I need to be worried about a Love Potion being poured into my drink?" Asked Laetitia with a teasing voice.

"You should be more worried about a laxative." Said Hermione, before turning back to Fleur.

"How do you feel about that…I want to say article, but that's garbage so, you know…?"

"I'm a little upset with the way you are portrayed. And I have to admit, something else really bothered me. I want to start by saying I know, I am being jealous, I'm not accusing you of anything, but are you really meeting up regularly with Krum in the library?"

"I guess. You know we are friends."

Fleur sighed. "I know, I just don't like him. Did he really say he never felt this way about any other girl to you?"

"Yes." Answered Hermione. "It was after the second task we were all tired, and overly emotional. I'm not sure he meant it. You were pretty out of it too, asking me to come to France. Anyway, as I said, he is my friend, nothing more. He knows that. You know that."

Fleur frowned. "I kept on wondering when, I barely left you side."

"When Madame Pomfrey separated us on the way to the infirmary. I was more worried about how she portrayed you. The way she mentioned your heritage."

"Yes, someone ought to tell her I'm a quarter Veela, not Half. I just think she is jealous because I'm way more beautiful than she is. And French."

"I was more interested in knowing how she came to know these things. Did you see her at the second task?" Asked Hermione.

"No."

"Laetitia? Ginny?"

"Nope." "No idea." They answered respectively.

"I have a question too." It was rare for Ron to talk directly to Fleur. "Are you really rich?"

"My family has money." Said Fleur. Laetitia snicked, which earned her a glare.

"Okay, but more or less than Malfoy?"

"Ron!" Scolded Hermione. "It's not something you ask. It's inappropriate."

"The Malfoys are well off and we Delacours are…" Laetitia cut off her friend." Filthy rich. I mean if I was her, I'd never work a day in my life."

"You are in your position and I'm not sure you'll work a day in your life." Said Fleur.

"Hey! Raising a litter is hard work. I'm fine with my partner bringing in the money." She discreetly glanced at Ginny. "I mean…"

"Litter?" Of course Hermione had noticed her vocabulary.

"Isn't it how you say it in English, you know when you have a few kids." Laetitia played the foreigner card as much as she could, she even emphasized her accent, then changed subject. "What about you? What kind of work do you want to do? If you decide to work once you're married to Fleur. Ouch!" Laetitia filched as Fleur kicked her shin under the table.

Hermione looked surprised, and a little uncomfortable. "I…I'm not sure. I know I want to help, make a difference, so maybe I'd become a public servant, join the government."

"With Hermione, it probably means she'll be Minister of Magic." Commented Ron.

Hermione jaw dropped. "That's not…"

"Agreed." Said Ginny.

"Any idea what you want to do Ginny?" Asked Fleur, she wanted to take the spot off Hermione, even if she too thought it was in the realm of possibilities for her mate to become the British Minister of Magic. She'd need to mention the French government too, who knows.

"Best case scenario, I'd like to be a professional Quidditch player. Otherwise maybe Mediwitch." Answered Ginny.

"And I want to be an Auror!" Offered proudly Ron. "Like Harry." He put his hand on his best friend shoulder, but Harry was brooding. Long day. He was still upset with Snape, and was trying to think about Sirius, he'd been able to see him soon. His Godfather always made him feel better.