A/N: And I'm back!
Apologies for any errors in this chapter, I'm mega sleep deprived these days. This chapter advances the plot a little bit more but there is some Fleurmione cuddliness in there :)
By the way, I'm in a chill af Discord server where we chat about fics, share recommendations and chat about games we've been playing lately. It's for anyone over 18 who is into any F/F Harry Potter pairing. Here's the link if you're keen to join: discord. gg/ d 4wgtA5jrA (delete the spaces to make the link work, I gotta get around the auto delete of urls somehow!)
It was apparently Hermione's turn to have Ron in her unspoken shared friend custody with Harry. The floppy haired redhead flung himself into a chair next to Hermione, even though she was sitting at a desk directly in front of Moody's in Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"Lavender's turned me down," Ron grunted, "Says most of the Gryffindor girls already have partners to the Yule Ball. Dunno what I'm gonna do."
"Perhaps you could ask someone from another House?" Hermione suggested dismissively. She was trying not to stare down Moody too much. The grizzled ex-Auror was shuffling round at his desk, rooting around a stack of messy papers. Hermione had strategically taken this desk so she could keep an eye on the suspicious man. Just because the Second Task had been canned and replaced, didn't mean anyone was out of danger yet.
"Or you could just suck it up and go with me?" Ron sighed, pulling some ratty parchment out of his backpack along with his textbook.
"I can't, I'm already going with someone," Hermione replied, unable to hide a smug grin from her face.
"Who?!" Ron demanded, turning in his seat to look at Hermione suspiciously.
Hermione tried to hide her expression, but she couldn't stop smiling. The memories of chaste kisses and heated glances with Fleur in the library were still too fresh in her mind.
Ron's eyes instantly narrowed.
"Not— Not Delacour?!" Ron accused, leaning forward in his seat. Hermione swatted him.
"Shhh, class will be starting in a minute," Hermione interjected in an attempt to waylay Ron. But Ron wasn't having it.
"Hermione! I thought you'd struck out with her for life!" Ron replied excitedly, before his face fell, "But wait… This is just going to drive a wedge further between you and Harry."
Moody's false eye, which had until now been roaming the room wildly, suddenly swivelled to look at Ron.
"There's a lot between Harry and I right now," Hermione said defensively, "Fleur isn't the one that's been forcing him to take me for granted."
"'Mione," Ron sighed, "We've been mates for years! He needs you to get through this year. You can't just throw away a friendship like this."
"I'm… I'm not," Hermione said, rubbing her temples. She wished that Moody would just start the class already, she was tiring of this conversation with Ron. But Moody appeared to be stilled, reading a scrap of paper on his desk intently. "I'll sort things with Harry, I promise."
"Well, just try and chill it on the 'crushing on his competitors' front a bit, hey?" Ron advised, pulling out a rather bent quill, "I, for one, am bloody stoked for you mate, but Harry's still a bit sensitive about it all."
"All right class!" Moody interrupted suddenly, leaping to his feet, "Can someone tell me the quickest way to tell if an object has been cursed by Dark Magic?"
"You would think that Hogwarts had never heard of insulation," Fleur Delacour purred, unexpectedly slipping into a seat beside Hermione at the Gryffindor table.
Hermione jumped in surprise as the gorgeous blonde shuffled so she was sitting as close as possible beside her, their thighs flush against each other.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" Hermione stammered, startled at the sudden contact with her blonde crush, "Shouldn't you be having your lunch with the Ravenclaws and your schoolmates?"
Fleur shrugged lightly.
"This is the only table with delicious food," Fleur replied. She was in astoundingly good spirits for such a wintery day. The enchanted ceiling above them was snowing heavily.
As Fleur began to pick away at the food in front of her, Hermione realised why. Strawberries, olives, honey, a selection of nuts and fruit. It was practically a Veela smorgasbord.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. It wasn't the usual Hogwarts fare, even during the multicultural Triwizard Tournament. Looking around at the other tables, they were all littered with sausages, steaks, lasagnes… In fact, even the Gryffindor table had the same food. The strawberries, olives, honey and other Veela diet staples were only present right where Hermione was sitting— nowhere else on the table. Very strange. Why would the House Elves do that?
"What the…"
Hermione's curiosity was quickly sidelined as Fleur slipped a hand to rest on her thigh. Hermione felt her mind immediately turn to mush.
It was almost pathetic really. The Brightest Witch of her Age, reduced to a goofily smiling buffoon in the wake of a pretty girl. But her heart was pounding and her stomach was flipping, despite the realisation of how irrational it was.
"I… erm… I thought we were going to keep things low key?" Hermione asked, trying to ignore her wild hormones reacting to the hand on her thigh.
Fleur turned to look at her, her eyes bright with happiness and content. She popped an almond into her mouth with manicured fingers.
"Hermione, you are very cute, but I am here for the food," Fleur giggled, before turning back to the large bowl of strawberries in front of her.
Hermione took a deep and steadying breath.
She glanced over at the Ravenclaw table once more. Indeed, there was no sign of Veela-tempting food there. She did see Julie, looking at Fleur like a hurt puppy. Hermione felt a slight pang of guilt.
But was it her fault? She wasn't the one who had told the House Elves to stack Veela attracting food around her seat at lunch. Veela were naturally physical creatures. She couldn't help that Fleur wanted to sit so close to her and touch her.
Turning her mind back to it… it was very strange that all the Veela's favourite foods were right in front of Hermione but nowhere else along any of the long Hogwarts tables.
Hermione's eyes roamed the tables again, noticing some of the Hufflepuffs were staring at Fleur.
"Do not mind them, I simply told a boy there that if he insisted on placing his hand on other people's bodies without their consent, he may very well lose that hand," Fleur chimed in, as if reading Hermione's mind.
"Really?!" Hermione replied, incredulous, "A Hufflepuff boy?"
"I'll never understand the sweeping generalisations that come with the school houses here," Fleur said, shaking her head.
"I don't know, I think it encourages students to bond with those with common strengths," Hermione replied, trying not to hyper fixate on the hand on her thigh.
Fleur arched an eyebrow.
"You don't think you can be ambitious like a Slytherin? Clever like a Ravenclaw?" Fleur challenged, "Loyal like a Hufflepuff?"
Hermione's eyes flicked down the Hogwarts table to look at Harry. His hair was messier than usual and he looked awfully pale. As if sensing Hermione's gaze, Harry's green eyes raised to look back at Hermione. His expression soured as he looked at Fleur beside her.
Hermione exhaled heavily.
It was such a stupid argument. Harry hadn't even had a problem with Fleur before. He was simply stressed about the tournament and frustrated that Hermione wasn't giving him her sole attention. If he were rational, he would be happy for Hermione. It was a shame, really. The tournament was supposed to be about bringing people together. But with Julie's broken heart and Harry's anger, it seemed to be tearing people apart more than ever.
Hermione had only ever been in arguments this bad with Ron. Or seen arguments this bad between Ron and Harry. Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for her to swallow her pride and reach out to Harry…
Fleur ran long fingers through her hair, instantly relaxing Hermione. Fleur leaned in close to her, full lips ghosting her neck before brushing against her ear.
"You need to relax, Hermione," Fleur murmured.
Hermione fought the urge to let her eyes flicker shut.
Students began to shuffle and depart for the afternoon classes. Fleur reluctantly removed herself from Hermione, though she did swipe a handful of almonds. Hermione saw Harry quickly getting up from the Gryffindor table and her mind swiftly returned to mending her friendship.
"Harry!" Hermione called out, standing up from the Hogwarts table.
Harry shot a brief glance back at Hermione, frowning before hurrying off into the crowd of departing students. Hermione sighed.
"Hermione, the stress of the tournament is getting to everyone," Fleur said beside her, looping her arm through hers.
"I, uh, yeah, I guess," Hermione said, blushing at Fleur leaning into her. People were giving them curious looks already. Fleur never cosied up with anyone other than her friends from her own school. Hermione could even see Moody watching them with interest from the staff table.
Fleur continued to walk arm in arm with her as they left the Great Hall. Hermione certainly wasn't complaining, but it was quite unusual for Fleur to be so affectionate with her when she had highlighted numerous times that she wanted to be discreet for the sake of Julie's feelings.
After walking Hermione almost halfway to Ancient Runes, Fleur seemed to remember this herself. She blinked, appearing a little confused, before gently removing herself from Hermione. Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Are you okay, Fleur?" Hermione asked, "You seem a little… off."
"Au contraire," Fleur replied absently, "I have been feeling absolutely spectacular… I just… Feel a little drained all of a sudden. I am sorry for being a little… cuddly this afternoon. I am not sure what came over me— you are just so adorable I suppose it is hard to resist."
Hermione blushed hotly at the compliment.
"Well, erm, you're quite cute yourself," Hermione replied, rubbing the back of her neck bashfully, "But we should probably stick to being a bit more discreet. It really seems to rub Harry the wrong way and hurt Julie's feelings."
"Oui oui," Fleur nodded, "Ah, speaking of, I should be heading off… I have Herbology with Julie and I've been walking in entirely the wrong direction!"
"Are you sure you're okay?" Hermione asked, a little surprised. Fleur wasn't usually so absent minded.
"Oui— maybe just stress of the tournament," Fleur said, smiling quickly, "I will see you later."
Fleur pecked Hermione on the cheek before hastily gliding off through the hallways. Hermione remained rooted to the spot, stunned at the kiss from Fleur. She really should be more used to it by now.
"Awww wittle virginal Gryffindor overwhelmed by a kiss from a Veela?" Draco Malfoy called out.
Hermione snapped back to attention, blushing hotly and glaring at the small group of Slytherins pushing past her to get to Ancient Runes. Malfoy was sniggering, flanked by Blaise Zabini and Daphne Greengrass. His usual cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, couldn't quite keep up with Ancient Runes so Malfoy stuck with alternatives. At least Zabini and Greengrass were less likely to join in with mocking Hermione.
"Shut it, Malfoy," Hermione shot back, following them begrudgingly to class.
"Don't you think you're taking too much of a hands on approach to Care of Magical Creatures?" Malfoy retorted, this time earning a cackle from the Slytherins around him.
"Bigoted twat," Hermione muttered, slowing her pace so she could have some space between herself and the Slytherins.
"You need to get a thicker skin," Pansy Parkinson chimed in, falling in to step beside Hermione. Hermione groaned.
"No offense, Pansy," Hermione replied, "But I'm really not in the mood for more ribbing from Slytherins."
"Just in the mood for flaunting your Veela to the school to show off to everyone and piss off Potter?" Pansy replied. Hermione could swear she detected a tone of bitterness in Pansy's voice.
"That's not what I'm doing at all," Hermione replied, "Fleur was… Well, she just gets cuddly sometimes. She's sensitive to the cold."
"Yeah, I'm sure she really warmed up her lips on your cheek," Pansy drawled, returning to her usual tone of appearing almost bored by the conversation. She shoved past a First Year Hufflepuff roughly, ignoring the noise of protest Hermione made.
"Look, I don't know what got into Fleur today but it's certainly none of your business," Hermione replied snappily, "It's not a big deal and it certainly wasn't flaunting anything. Besides, as if you care about whether or not Harry is upset!"
"Yeah, well, maybe you should," Pansy replied, turning suddenly to glare at Hermione. Hermione stopped, turning to face off against Pansy.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione challenged.
Pansy's eyes were burning with intensity. She looked angry, she looked jealous. More alarmingly, she looked a little… Worried.
Pansy glanced around quickly at the students trailing to classes. The flow of students had ebbed significantly as they had slowed their pace.
"I mean maybe without his brainiac friend helping him, Potter is so scared he's tempted to turn to the wrong people for help," Pansy said, dropping her voice.
"Ron?" Hermione asked, furrowing her brow.
Pansy let out a loud peal of laughter.
"God, and you're supposed to be the Brightest Witch of our age… Merlin help us all," Pansy retorted. She turned on her hall and marched off, leaving a very confused Hermione behind.
Fleur was walking back to the carriage after classes. Julie was beside her, awfully quiet. The brunette had been quiet for much of their classes that afternoon, only speaking to Fleur about the subject matter of their lessons.
Now they were finally alone, though. The Beauxbatons students had spread out as they walked from the castle through the snow. Fleur was wearing Hermione's scarf tightly around her neck as well as a thick woollen cloak over her robes but she still felt freezing. She wondered if it would get even colder before winter was out.
Fleur cleared her throat, determined to break the silence that had hung between her and Julie since History of Magic.
"I'm not a fool, Fleur," Julie said, beating Fleur to speak, "I have eyes. I know there is something between you and Hermione. It is fine, really."
Fleur bit her bottom lip thoughtfully, considering her next words carefully.
"It doesn't feel fine, Julie," Fleur replied finally, "I don't like this space between us. We're best friends."
"I know we are," Julie replied, pointedly looking at the snow instead of at Fleur, "And I want to be happy for you. I don't want you to have to hide things from me. I guess… I guess I was just caught off guard at lunchtime."
"I'm sorry," Fleur replied truthfully.
In fact, Fleur was a little mystified at how foggy the lunch hour had been for herself. She had felt herself drawn to the Gryffindor table. When she discovered the delectable items to eat in front of Hermione, she had only been too happy to sit down beside the brunette. She'd felt so awash with contentedness, so warm and happy… Yet, the lunch had been a bit of a blur. She hadn't even been aware of being affectionate with Hermione in the moment. She had only felt clear headed again when she had found herself halfway to Hermione's class with her.
"It's okay, Fleur, really," Julie insisted, "I'm your best friend. I should be happy for you. I suppose I just need a little time to get used to it."
"No, it isn't okay," Fleur sighed, "I have been avoiding confusing you with any excessive physical touch. I was intent on avoiding hurting you with being affectionate towards Hermione in public. I am sorry for my lapse in judgment."
Julie laughed bitterly.
"That is so you— You pretend to be so cold and aloof but really you are such a sweetheart, Fleur," Julie said as they finally reached the Beauxbatons carriage and clambered in.
Fleur bristled a little.
"I am not cold and aloof— or a sweetheart," Fleur said proudly, causing Julie to giggle before suddenly looking mournful.
They stopped walking as they got to Julie's door. Julie turned to look at Fleur, reaching forward gently, almost as if she were afraid of breaking the part-Veela. Fleur stayed still as Julie ran a hand slowly through her silky white-blonde hair.
"You're cute, you know that, right?" Julie said sadly, "I just wish I didn't find you quite as cute as I do."
"Julie—"
Julie pulled away suddenly, disappearing into her room quickly. Fleur heard the door lock behind her.
The snow had whipped itself up into quite a blizzard by the time the last stragglers from dinner headed back to the Gryffindor Tower. Ron looked out the window, pitch black except for the wild flurry of snowflakes illuminated by the warm light of the common room.
Ron had spent most of dinner interrogating Hermione about Fleur Delacour, with little to no success.
Ron was often a jealous man, but he was quite proud of himself in this moment. During his Second and Third Years, Ron had harboured quite a crush on Hermione. Ever since Beauxbatons had arrived, Ron had been quite enchanted by Fleur Delacour.
Ron was quietly pleased with himself for taking the news so well that Hermione, his former crush, and Fleur, his very recent crush, were actually into each other.
In fact, the more Ron thought about it, it was quite hot. The bossy, tanned bookworm seducing the beautiful ice queen? It was like something straight out of the magazines Ron had swiped from under Percy's bed that time.
So, Ron had tried in earnest over dinnertime to try and establish just how far Hermione had managed to get with Fleur.
To his frustration, Hermione had been nettled by his questions. He had just been trying to show an interest after all! Hermione, after finally admitting she was going to the Ball with Fleur— but not admitting to anything else— had eventually got sick of Ron's questions and stormed out of dinner early.
Ron, content to sit alone and eat his fill, had stayed on until the food at the tables failed to keep appearing.
Now the tall redhead was hankering for a cup of tea. It would really polish off the large dinner well. Maybe a few biscuits too…
When Ron had finished demolishing several biscuits and a large cup of tea, Ron finally turned his attentions to the rest of the Common Room. It was very quiet. Only Harry was there, sitting quietly by the fireplace.
"Hey mate," Ron grunted, grabbing a couple of chocolate chip biscuits before ambling over to his best mate.
"Hey," Harry said dully, staring into the fireplace.
Harry hadn't looked well since being pulled into the Triwizard Tournament. He was looking marginally better than he did before the Second Task was cancelled, but still had a haunted look about him.
"You okay, mate?" Ron ventured, "I… I've heard you waking you know. In the night. Shouting and the like. You having your nightmares again?"
"Yeah," Harry replied in a deadpan, still staring into the fire.
"You can talk to Hermione and I about it, y'know," Ron tried. He knew Harry didn't really like talking about his nightmares, but the guy looked like a lot was weighing on him.
"Ha! Hermione," Harry retorted, "What's she going to do? Tell her girlfriend about it? She's made it pretty clear she resents helping me."
"Mate, you know it isn't like that," Ron replied, "Maybe she could research something about nightmares? And… I could ask my mum?"
"I don't need anybody's help," Harry snapped, "I can get by on my own. I'm not some sick animal you two need to nurse back to health. I'm not a charity case. Besides, I've found a professor who reckons he can help me with my nightmares and preparing for the tournament."
"Not ole git Snapey," Ron retorted, a lop-sided smile on his face as he tried to lighten the mood.
"No," Harry replied darkly, "Moody."
"Mad-Eye Moody!" Ron replied in surprise, "But Hermione reckons he's shady and up to no good with the tournament!"
"By trying to help me," Harry replied in a deadpan tone.
"I mean, Hermione doesn't exactly pull theories out of her arse, does she?" Ron replied, "She usually has good reasons for her opinions."
"Your family have known him for years," Harry replied, "You said he was a war-hero,"
"Yeah, but—"
"But, what? You expect me to rely on you and Hermione to save me?!" Harry replied, his voice raising, "At least Moody wants me to stand on my own two feet!"
"Mate, you're getting the wrong end of the stick," Ron said, raising his hands defensively, "We just wanna help."
"Yeah?! Well, try helping by being bloody supportive!" Harry shot back, getting up from his seat and storming off.