A/N: Work is kicking my ass! Honestly the only thing keeping me sane is reading awesome fanfics and getting to indulge my own crazy ideas with fics. I am meaning to go back to some of my older stories and finish them off! I'm just at such a low energy level and struggling to find motivation throughout the week.

Thank you for your reviews, they make my day x

Chapter 3.

Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table with a stack of books in front of her. It was breakfast and Hermione had begrudgingly gone at Ginny's insistence. But she wasn't about to slack off on her study for Harry. She was terrified that if she didn't help him enough he would end up burnt to a crisp in front of her very eyes.

To her intense frustration, it seemed like all the books on dragons had been removed from the library prior to the Task. Hermione was kicking herself for not noticing their absence earlier. How could she not notice all the books on one subject disappearing from the shelves? She practically lived at the library!

She was currently making her way through a thick book on magical reptilians and another one on flammable magic. So far she hadn't found much that was useful. She hadn't even got to trying to find things on their claws and impenetrable hide yet.

She sighed, blowing a curly lock of hair off her face.

"He'll be fine," Ginny said to her reassuringly, "Where is Harry, anyway?"

"He couldn't stomach breakfast," Hermione replied with a frown.

The First Task was only a couple of days away and Harry's anxiety over it all was getting even worse. At least Hermione was still getting him to meet her for their practice sessions.

"Guess he would be finding it a bit easier if he had support from all his mates," Ginny commented, pointedly glaring down the table at Ron.

"Yeah, well, we both know you can't force Ron to stop being a prat," Hermione said distractedly, "He just has to get over it on his own."

Her brown eyes roamed the Great Hall, settling on the Ravenclaw table. She found herself smiling slightly as she saw Gabrielle was at the table. She was sitting beside Fleur and they were talking together rapidly, sharing some fruit.

The smile fell off Hermione's face again as she noticed Julie on Fleur's other side, sitting extremely close to her. She wondered if they had kissed that day. Just what kind of friendship did they have exactly? Hermione would never in a million years kiss Ron or Harry, let alone 'play around' with them.

"Merlin, what did Frenchie do to you?" Ginny exclaimed, bringing Hermione back to her senses.

"Huh? What was that?" Hermione asked, trying to regain her composure.

"You were glaring at that girl beside Delacour like you wanted to tear her limb from limb," Ginny replied, "What'd she do to you?"

"Oh," Hermione was surprised, "Was I really looking at her like that? She hasn't done anything to me. She's just one of Fleur's friends."

"You really were," Ginny replied, unconvinced, "Anyway—when did you get on a first name basis with Delacour?"

"The couple times she sat at the Gryffindor table for meals," Hermione shrugged, hoping Ginny wouldn't pry further.

She wasn't sure why, but she didn't feel like telling Ginny about rescuing Fleur the day her thrall was bad, or about studying in the library with her. She wanted to keep her budding friendship with Fleur to herself. It just felt special somehow. Hermione couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Weird," Ginny commented simply, thankfully seeming to drop the subject.

Hermione got up to leave. She was due to meet Harry in an empty classroom on the second floor. Hopefully she could get in a decent amount of time with Harry before the first classes of the day kicked off.

"'Ermione!"

Hermione was halfway to the door when Gabrielle scampered up to her, eyes big and full of wonder.

"Oh, good morning Gabrielle," Hermione greeted, "How are you?"

"Will you be at ze library tomorrow night?" Gabrielle asked, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. She was truly adorable.

"Yes," Hermione replied.

"At our usual table?" Gabrielle asked, grinning widely.

Hermione smiled at that. She had only sat at that table with Gabrielle and Fleur the one time. It was really sweet that Gabrielle was already calling it their usual table. To think Hermione once thought she was terrible with children.

Fleur glided up behind Gabrielle, her hand linked with Julie's by their little fingers again. Fleur put her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder.

"Gabrielle, your tutor is 'ere to take you to your classes in ze Carriage," Fleur smiled, nodding towards a matronly-like woman by the door to the Great Hall.

"She said yes by ze way!" Gabrielle informed Fleur happily, before bouncing off towards her tutor.

"Who said yes to what?" Julie asked Fleur, quirking an eyebrow.

Hermione watched them curiously. She hadn't realised that Fleur had put Gabrielle up to asking her. She wondered how Julie would react to that news.

"Nothing," Fleur replied dismissively, "Come, we still have time to go back to the Carriage before class."

Hermione, yet again, had a horrible feeling like she was a voyeur. Fleur looked at her, almost seeming like she wanted to say something.

"I will see you around, 'Ermione," Fleur said with a warm smile.

She glided off with Julie, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Hermione watched Julie and Fleur click out of the Great Hall in their high heels. They honestly looked like they could be models.

Hermione sighed, heading off to the Second Floor. She needed to push Fleur out of her mind for now. Harry needed her help.

Hermione was so intent on focussing that she walked right into Neville on the staircase. Neville stumbled, dropping the small plant he was carrying.

"Merlin! Sorry Neville!" Hermione gasped. She stooped to pick up Neville's plant and hand it back to him.

"Oh, thanks, Hermione," Neville replied, "It's no problem, really. I've got quite into Herbology lately. I was just taking this murtlap down to Professor Sprout before classes start."

"What's murtlap?" Hermione asked, her curiosity piqued. She hadn't heard of the plant before.

"It's an amazing little plant really," Neville explained, his eyes lighting up, "The leaves heal and soothe deep cuts. Great for first aid. You have to be careful where you plant it though, most Magical Creatures have weird reactions to it."

"Weird reactions…" Hermione said curiously. She had been feeling a little guilty about her research on Fleur lately. Partly because she needed to focus on Harry, partly because the blonde had turned out not to be as dreadful as Hermione had initially thought. But then her curiosity was so strong. She wanted to be the one to make a ground-breaking discovery and lead the frontlines of Magical academia.

"Would I be able to have some cuttings?" Hermione asked, "Er, I mean, you know how accident-prone Harry can be. You can never be too careful being his friend."

"Sure," Neville shrugged, "This plant is a bit small for that. But I'll get you some when I next go to Professor Sprout's outer greenhouses."

"Thanks, Neville," Hermione smiled, "I gotta dash—I'm meeting Harry. See you in classes later!"

With a friendly wave, Hermione hurried the rest of the way to the second floor. She was relieved to see that Harry was only just placing his backpack down in the empty classroom as she arrived.

Harry had always been wiry and thin, but lately he was looking quite gaunt. He clearly hadn't been sleeping and was getting run-down. Hermione was beginning to really worry about him.

"So… Found a spell that gets rid of a dragon?" Harry asked hollowly.

"No," Hermione replied, "But I think we can come up with a strategy with the spells we have gone over so far."

"I can't just throw up protegos the whole time," Harry retorted, "Presumably, at some point I have to actually beat the dragon."

"We don't know that," Hermione replied, "Maybe you just have to get past it. It is very difficult to stun a dragon, so I don't think they actually expect you to defeat it in a battle."

"Well, what do I do?" Harry asked helplessly, "How do I get past a bloody dragon? It's not like I can just fly past it on my broom."

"Well, technically you could," Hermione corrected him, slipping easily into her factual manner, "If you used that summoning spell I showed you."

"That accio one?" Harry asked. He went silent, tapping his chin with his long fingers.

"Harry, you're not thinking…" Hermione began in disbelief.

"I feel more confident on my broom," Harry replied stubbornly, "It's so easy to speed around and duck. I'll still practice those shield charms, of course! But I think I should practice summoning my wand."

Merlin, Hermione thought to herself, I'm going to need to look up some fire-proof charms for him.

"Waterproof! What bloody use is that?!" Hermione growled, tossing a thick tome down on the library table.

She had been scouring the library for hours and had no luck. It seemed just as the books on dragons had mysteriously disappeared, so too had the ones on fireproofing (if there even was such a thing).

In her sessions between classes and meals, Harry had begun to get the hang of the summoning charm. He had gone from being able to summon a quill from the other side of the classroom, to summoning a roll of parchment from the Gryffindor Common Room to the empty classroom.

It was quick progress for someone so young learning such a complex spell, but progress that was alarmingly slow considering the First Task was the very next day.

As such, Hermione had entirely skipped her dinner in order to find something to fireproof Harry—or at least his clothes—should he end up fending off a dragon without even a broom to help.

But it had been hours now and she had found nothing.

Hermione furrowed her brows, heading off to the section that had held information on shielding spells. Surely a temporary spell shield was along the same lines enough that there might be useful book or two?

To her intense distaste, the table beside the shelf was occupied with a cluster of Slytherins, her least favourite among them. Pansy Parkinson, Draco Malfoy, Millicent Bullstrode, Crabbe and Goyle sat around a large piece of parchment on which they were presumably sketching out plans for a class group project.

Malfoy's face lit up immediately when Hermione approached the bookshelf.

"Hey, Granger," Malfoy greeted with sickening sweetness, "Looking forward to watching Potty get absolutely annihilated tomorrow? We're going to head down early. Got to get a front row seat to see all the gore."

"Shut up, Malfoy," Hermione snapped.

"I heard even the Weasel has abandoned him now," Malfoy continued, "Guess that makes you his only friend. But you're an expert on having no friends too, right?"

"Is zis boy bozzering you?"

Hermione's scowl all but melted off her face. Fleur had glided into the area, standing by a nearby shelf. Gabrielle was standing by her side, watching the scene with wide-eyed curiosity.

"Making friends with animals now?" Malfoy sneered, looking from Fleur to Hermione, "First Hagrid, now her? Is it because no real humans would be friends with you apart from Potty and the Weasel?"

"Do not speak to 'er zat way," Fleur interrupted coldly.

"It's okay, Fleur," Hermione said, gesturing her head for the Delacours to leave. She could handle herself and didn't want them getting caught up with the Slytherins and their infuriating jibes.

Crabbe and Goyle had begun to stare at Fleur. At Gabrielle too. It was unnerving Hermione. She felt strangely protective of the sisters.

"I suppose a Veela would make a better pet than a toad or an owl," Pansy said, tapping a finger on her chin mockingly, "But then, they don't send messages for you. Or do they? Granger—do you send your Veela over here to deliver notes around the school for you?"

"Veela are no pets," Fleur hissed, her eyes narrowing. It seemed like the Slytherins had hit a nerve. Bullstrode was sniggering and Malfoy and Parkinson were practically crowing.

Pansy stood up, slowly walking over to Fleur and Gabrielle. She sashayed as she walked, hamming it up for her audience of Slytherins.

"Yeah?" Parkinson sneered. She took out her wand and began twirling it in one hand. "Because my father and Draco's father work in the lawmaking part of the Ministry. Just one owl to daddy and I'm sure you'd end up collared and housebroken."

Fleur's eyes flared with anger. Hermione stepped in, grabbing Parkinson by the shoulder and wrenching her away from the Delacours.

"If you so much as look at them the wrong way, I'll hex you every way to Sunday," Hermione threatened.

"As if!" Malfoy snorted, "You're too much of a goody-two-shoes."

"Was I when I punched you in the face, Draco?" Hermione asked, looking at the sneering blonde boy, "You all know how good I am at spellwork. Don't tempt me into practising my hexes on you."

Draco actually looked concerned at the reminder of the punch to the face. He paled a little. But soon he crossed his arms petulantly, scowling at Hermione.

"M-My father will hear about this!" Draco stuttered angrily.

"Mine too!" Parkinson agreed.

"Great," Hermione replied sarcastically.

Not wanting to tempt any further altercations, Hermione grabbed both Fleur and Gabrielle by a hand. She led them away, not releasing them until they had reached the far corner of the library where she spent her time.

"Zey were awful!" Gabrielle exclaimed. Her little face looked thunderous. If it were any other situation, Hermione might have laughed at how cute Gabrielle looked when furious.

"Do all 'Ogwarts students zink such zings?" Fleur asked, her eyes still narrowed.

"A lot of Slytherins seem to," Hermione sighed, "They give me a hard time about being Muggle-born and Ron a hard time about being poor. Don't even get me started on how they treat Harry. Bigoted slimeballs, the lot of them."

Fleur shook her head.

"Merde," Fleur cursed quietly, "But no matter. I will not let zem ruin my evening. I 'ave a Task to prepare for and I was looking forward to spending time wiz you."

"Er, you were?" Hermione asked, blushing a little.

"Oui," Fleur smiled. She shivered a little as she took her satchel off her shoulder.

"Er, are you cold?" Hermione asked, feeling like an idiot for stating the obvious.

"Oui," Fleur groaned, "Madame Maxime insisted zat we only pack our summer uniforms. She zought zey would look better in ze media. I do not like ze cold at ze best of times, but it 'as been unbearable in zis uniform."

"You could have changed after dinner," Hermione said, eying said uniform. It really clung to Fleur's body sinfully well. Hermione felt her stomach flutter a little bit as she let her eyes roam a little.

"Well, I didn't want to waste time I could be spending wiz you," Fleur smiled charmingly.

"Oh," Hermione replied, startled.

"Per'aps I could just sit closely to you?" Fleur asked, arching an eyebrow, "You do seem to be quite… ah, 'ot?"

Hermione blushed at that, heavily.

"You mean I have a high body temperature?" Hermione half-squeaked. Fleur smiled broadly, before nodding her assent.

"English, it is difficult," Fleur apologised, smiling wide enough to show perfect white teeth. It made Hermione feel incredibly self-conscious of her own slightly buck teeth.

Hermione opened her bag and rummaged. Partly to distract herself from how flustered she was becoming, partly to help the friendly blonde.

"Er, here," Hermione said awkwardly, producing a gold and scarlet scarf, "Take this. You can keep it—I have loads."

"Really?" Fleur asked, her eyes widening slightly. Hermione wondered briefly if giving a Veela a piece of clothing somehow carried more significance than giving it to a human—like with House Elves. She would have to check her book after the First Task.

"Yeah," Hermione replied. She noticed Fleur shiver again, "Here, let me put it on you."

She looped the scarf around Fleur's neck carefully. She looked into Fleur's eyes, checking she was not crossing a line. The blonde beauty beamed at her, seeming happy at her actions. Hermione flipped Fleur's hair out and over the scarf before fastening it. She tugged it snugly against Fleur's elegant throat. Her eyes drifted back to meet bright blue.

"You know… It is considered insulting to touch a Veela's 'air if you 'ave not asked for 'er consent first—unless you are close wiz 'er," Fleur said softly.

"Oh, shit—sorry! I should have known!" Hermione babbled, going to remove her hands from the scarf. Fleur placed her hands on top of Hermione's, holding them in place on the scarf at her neck.

"You are lucky I consider you close," Fleur said, her full lips smiling widely, "Wait… 'Ow should you 'ave known?"

"Oh!" Hermione gasped. This time she really did yank her hands away from Fleur. She had almost revealed she had been studying up on Veela—dangerously close to revealing her research project, "No reason. Just basic consent, you know?"

Fleur regarded her curiously for a moment, before nodding slowly.

"'Ermione, I am 'ungry," Gabrielle whined from across the table. Hermione inwardly thanked the small child from breaking the awkward moment between her and her elder sister.

"Well, I have some honey-coated peanuts," Hermione said with a smile, fishing around in her bag again.

"Mmn, I love 'oney!" Fleur purred happily, sitting down at the table.

Truthfully, Hermione had intentionally picked up the peanuts from the kitchen knowing she would see the Delacours. She'd asked Dobby for some honey snacks and he had provided her with a small bag of the nuts.

Hermione sat down at the table, smiling as the Delacours happily tucked into the snacks she had provided. Gabrielle had pulled out her little princess book for the evening. Fleur, on the other hand, had a thick book that seemed to be in a language neither French nor English. Hermione wondered if it was written in some kind of Veela language.

She wanted to consult the book on Veela about it, but she was beginning to feel more and more guilty about her research. Gabrielle and Fleur really seemed to be taking a liking to her. It was easier to take a purely academic view when she thought Fleur was nothing but a cruel ice queen. But now Hermione knew her to be warm, friendly and cute, it was an entirely different story. The guilt was creeping into her mind more and more.

Hermione tried to use her God-given ability to compartmentalise her thoughts and feelings, staring down intently at the book in front of her. It didn't have anything on fireproofing, but it did have defensive spells in it. Maybe something in there could help Harry.

Hermione read the entire book cover to cover.

Nothing.

Her jaw was stiff from tensing so hard in stress. She hadn't even noticed that Fleur had crept her chair close enough to her to lean into her once more, Gabrielle cuddled in on her other side.

"Godammit," Hermione sighed, shutting the cover.

"'Arry will be fine against ze dragons," Fleur murmured softly into Hermione's air.

Hermione jolted a little.

"How do you—"

"Maxime was wiz 'Agrid zat night. Ze night 'Arry presumably found out?" Fleur said, her eyes sparkling.

"Nothing gets past you," Hermione grumbled, "I don't know why you are so chipper about dragons."

"Zey are creatures, non?" Fleur said with a charming smile, "People always make creatures out to be far more dangerous zan zey are."

That actually brought Hermione some relief and she smiled.

Gabrielle yawned.

"Well, I 'ave to take zis one back to ze Carriage for bedtime," Fleur said, looking a little reluctant.

"Non, I want to stay and 'ang out wiz 'Ermione," Gabrielle protested sleepily, "You 'ogged 'er all night."

To Hermione's surprise, Fleur blushed prettily.

Hermione stretched, feeling her back click satisfyingly after poring over books for hours. She was feeling certain there was nothing more she could find for Harry.

"Well, I'll walk you two out then," Hermione offered, "I think I'm about done here anyway."

"Bon," Fleur smiled widely.

As Fleur moved away from Hermione to pack up, Hermione was suddenly struck by how much she missed the sensation of the blonde leaning into her. She found her eyes glued to the pretty part-Veela. Fleur packed up her own things gracefully, before helping Gabrielle with her little backpack. Hermione felt her heart swell with how patient and caring Fleur was with her young sister.

They walked to the library exit together, Gabrielle practically dragging her feet with sleepiness. Despite her obvious tiredness, she was still adorably insistent that she could carry on hanging out with Hermione if only Fleur let her.

As they reached the corridor where they would have to part ways, Fleur turned to Hermione, smiling shyly.

"Are you sure it is okay if I keep ze scarf?" Fleur asked softly.

Gabrielle was hanging back a little way behind her, playing with the buckle on her backpack that had seemed to have gotten twisted.

"Of course," Hermione replied, smiling at the blonde.

"'Ermione…" Fleur said slowly, "Don't treat me badly, promise?"

Hermione was stunned. It seemed to have come from nowhere. Fleur had said the request with such sadness and her eyes had looked so stormy that Hermione wondered if she had said or done something to concern the blonde.

"Er… Have I missed something?" Hermione asked cautiously.

Fleur didn't have an opportunity to respond as a loud yelp caused both girls to turn to Gabrielle.

Gabrielle's backpack had been wrenched from her hands and tossed on the stone floor. Crabbe and Goyle were standing either side of her, each holding a fistful of hair. Gabrielle had begun to cry.

"The fuck?!" Hermione swore, whipping out her wand.

Hermione was fast, but Fleur was faster. Hermione didn't hear what the hex was, but both boys immediately let go of Gabrielle's hair with loud wails. As Hermione watched, angry red boils rose on their forearms and hands.

Draco and Pansy Parkinson whipped around a corner, Millicent Bullstrode close behind.

"What the bloody hell have you lot done to Crabbe and Goyle?!" Malfoy demanded, narrowing his eyes at Hermione and Fleur.

"Maybe they should keep their goddamn hands to themselves!" Hermione shot back, furious.

"It's her fucking fault, luring us in!" Goyle grunted, glaring at Gabrielle.

"We only wanted to know what her hair felt like!" Crabbe wailed, looking at his hands in disbelief.

"Do you realise how creepy that is?!" Hermione bellowed, "She's a child!"

Hermione advanced, her wand raised. Fleur had run forward and knelt by Gabrielle, attempting to console the terrified girl.

"Back off, Granger," Malfoy growled, as he and Pansy stepped in front of the pitiful figures of Crabbe and Goyle.

"You really have their backs for creeping on a child?!" Hermione asked shrilly, stunned at Malfoy and Parkinson's commitment to Slytherin.

"Back. Off." Parkinson repeated slowly, echoing Malfoy's sentiment. Both of them had drawn their wands.

Fleur stood suddenly, startling the Slytherins. As quick as a flash, Malfoy and Parkinson shot off spells. Not even thinking, Hermione leapt in front of the Delacours. She cast a quick protego and threw a bat bogey hex, getting Parkinson right in the face.

Unfortunately for her, the shielding charm—cast in a haphazard rush—only deflected Parkinson's spell. Malfoy's wand beam hit Hermione.

At first she didn't even know whether it had even had any effect. Then, with a lurch of horror, Hermione realised her front teeth were slowly elongating.

"'Ermione, are you okay?" Fleur asked, rushing to her side with Gabrielle.

The Slytherins scattered as footsteps indicated someone walking towards them with purpose. They disappeared, nursing the effects of their hexes. Hermione half-heartedly gestured for Fleur and Gabrielle to leave too. They shouldn't get in trouble because of her tendency to be hot-headed.

The Slytherins needn't have scattered, as it turned out. Snape appeared in the hallway, robes billowing menacingly.

"Professor!" Fleur called out, "Some Slytherins attacked 'Ermione!"

Snape didn't bother to hide his eye-roll, sauntering up to the group of girls.

"And what exactly did they do?" Snape asked drily.

Hermione's front teeth were now past her chin and still steadily growing. Fleur gestured to Hermione's mouth impatiently.

"See for yourself!" Fleur snapped.

"I see no difference," Snape sneered.

Hermione broke then. It was too much. All her carefully compartmentalised fears and anxieties suddenly burst forth all at once. Snape's mocking was just the straw that broke the camel's back. She burst into tears.

"Pig!" Fleur cursed at Snape as he turned on his heel, sauntering away and ignoring Hermione's tears.

Hermione's body wracked with sobs. Everything was suddenly swirling around her mind in clear focus.

Harry could die tomorrow.

She was quite clearly attracted to women.

People at school were always going to give her a hard time.

Hermione had tried to stand up for the Delacours and ended up looking like a rat-toothed freak in front of them.

Fleur… Fleur was a nice girl and Hermione cared how she felt. She should never have started this research project on her. It made her no better than the Slytherins who treated Gabrielle so selfishly and objectively. But could she really stop when she had made such ground-breaking findings?

She was terrified and humiliated.

"'Ermione,"

The Delacour sisters were calling her name, trying to pull her to her feet.

"Are you okay?" Gabrielle asked, seeming to forget her own tears.

"We can take you to get ze teeth fixed," Fleur soothed, rubbing a hand on Hermione's back.

It just made her feel worse.

"No," Hermione managed to choke out between sobs.

Fleur didn't listen, pulling Hermione to her feet with surprising strength. Hermione covered her face with her hands, though the teeth were already beginning to extend past them.

Fleur looped her arm through Hermione's, pulling her forcefully down the hallway in the direction of the Hospital Wing. Gabrielle tugged at Hermione's sleeve to assist.

Hermione, lost in her rarely loose emotions, was helpless as the Delacour sisters dragged her off to the aid of Madam Pomfrey.