Injury Time…

Bursting through the medical tent flaps, Hermione was horrified as she saw the now conscious French girl choking, blood flowing from her mouth, Madam Pomfrey bustling around her with her wand and flasks of potions.

"Miss Granger! You are not allowed inside!" Professor McGonagall appeared suddenly beside her, shooing her outside.

"Please Professor, let me stay!" pleaded Hermione. She felt like being here for the blue-eyed girl, she didn't want to leave.

"Just sit here. I have no time for this. I have to help Poppy," said McGonagall, hastily pointing at a chair at the corner of the tent before rushing back to attend to Fleur.

The helpless Gryffindor watched as Madam Pomfrey did an incantation with her wand to stop the blonde from choking then helped her drink a potion which she recognised as Blood Replenishment Potion, used to replace blood loss. Then McGonagall helped Fleur drink another potion which she also recognised as Skele-Gro, used to grow back or mend broken bones, which the blonde nearly spat out. She knew why as Harry had said it tasted awful and burned when swallowed.

After making sure that everything was under control, the Beauxbatons Captain was then transported to the Infirmary, during which she lost consciousness again. Her teammates had come to check up on her for a while before they left, leaving only the darker blonde girl that always sat next to Fleur in the Great Hall and also the pint-sized Fleur carbon copy. Hermione had tagged along when they had moved the injured seeker to the Hospital Wing and here she was sitting, flanking one side of the bed, Artemis perched on the bedside table, while the other side was flanked by the other two French girls.

The pint-sized Fleur hopped off her chair, going around the bed before stopping right in front of her.

"'Ello, I am Gabrielle Delacour, sister of zis z'ing 'ere" said the smaller blonde, pointing at the injured seeker, before extending her hand for a handshake.

Hermione arched her eyebrow at the words "this thing here" but shook the hand proffered.

"And I am Alexia Delacour, couzin of Fleur," the darker blonde introduced herself, shaking the hand of the Gryffindor over the bed.

"Nice meeting you both. I am Hermione Granger." Hermione answered back.

"Oh we know" said Gabrielle, nodding her head slowly while Alexia snickered which made Hermione confused.

"How?" Hermione asked, puzzled.

"Well, you see, zis z'ing 'ere" Gabrielle pointed at the unconscious Fleur, " 'as taken a 'uuge interest in you." Alexia roared in laughter.

Hermione blushed at the words. Before she could ask Gabrielle what she meant, she heard the lilting voice she could recognise anywhere.

"Uuuuuugh, Alexiaaaa… 'Ow can someone…. sleeeeeep wiz zissssss boucan [racket]!?" moaned Fleur, blinking in the effort to open her eyes.

"Fleur!" cried Hermione, standing up to lean over the injured girl, "How are you feeling?" she asked, concern laced in her voice.

"Ooooo, 'Ermiooone. Shhoooo pretty!" slurred Fleur. Looked like the drugs administered to her were making her tipsy. Hermione could feel her face getting hotter, feeling like it was going to catch fire at any minute. The laughter of the two French girls around her was so… not helping.

"Why you laugh?" asked Fleur, scrunching her face in confusion, trying to lift her head to look at her cousin and sister. Finally deciding that she couldn't, she looked back at Hermione and exclaimed, "She iz pretty! Why you red, 'Ermiooooone?!" lifting her wobbly arms to cup the flushed face.

"Ahahahaha" laughed Alexia, holding her stomach with tears in her eyes. Gabrielle was already on the floor, gasping out of breath. Finally being able to catch her breath, Alexia signalled to her cousin, "She…'pant'…seems…to be ok…phewww… Viens Gabrielle, laissons les deux tourtereaux ensemble." [Come Gabrielle, let's leave those two lovebirds together] Looking into Hermione's blushing face, she stifled a new wave of laughter and said, "Take care of her!" and grasped Gabrielle's hand before running out, dragging her along.

Hermione turned her head back to the blonde. She hadn't understood what Alexis had said, she only knew a few French words and she didn't exactly know what to say to the droopy girl holding her face. Underneath her, the blue eyes were glassy and the girl had a dopey smile on her face. If she wasn't so embarrassed, she would have smiled at such a cute face and childish behaviour herself.

It had taken only a few minutes, with Fleur getting drowsier and mumbling unintelligible words, for her to fall asleep. Hermione could only watch. Fleur needed rest anyway to recuperate. Taking a bludger to the chest had to hurt like hell, Hermione couldn't understand how the French girl had done it and even managed to catch the Snitch after that. The images of the girl choking on her blood flashed through her mind. Shaking her head furiously to get the images out her head, Hermione sighed as she was unsuccessful. She felt like the horrible images were going to stay in her mind for a while. Getting up, she squeezed the blonde's hand gently before whispering good night, then walked back to the Gryffindor Common Rooms.

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The next day, Hermione was thankful that it was Saturday, meaning no classes and she could visit Fleur as much as she wanted to. She had hurriedly eaten breakfast, wishing a short 'good morning' to her friends but not really bothering to have any conversation. As she finished and got up from the table, Ron stopped her.

"Where are you going, Hermione?" he asked curiously, "You disappeared after the match yesterday as well."

"Uhmm, I'm going to the library. Why?" lied Hermione. She didn't have time for Ron and she certainly didn't want to get into an argument with him, which would have been the case if she had said she was going to visit Fleur.

"What for? I was wondering if you would like to go to Hogsmeade" he asked, trying to ask for a date.

"Sorry Ron, I can't. It's such short notice. I have something really important scheduled today. Go have fun with Harry, ok? See you." Hermione bid him goodbye before turning on her heels and walking away, leaving a surprised Ron looking at her retreating back.

A few minutes later, she walked into the infirmary to find Fleur propped up onto her bed, a breakfast tray on her bed, munching on some croissant.

"Good morning, Fleur" she greeted with a smile.

"'Ermione!" exclaimed the blonde in surprise. "It iz so good to see you!"

Hermione pulled one of the chairs beside the bed and sat, "How are you feeling?"

"Better. Madame Pomfrey said zat ze Blood Replenishment Potion 'as already done its job and my ribs 'ave already started to mend. I will be discharged soon after breakfast. She said to take it easy till all my ribs are completely 'ealed. I do 'ave a 'Uuge bruize on ze chest zhough" she said, peering down her hospital slip in explanation.

"Obviously! You took a bludger to the chest!" scowled the Gryffindor.

"I caught the Snitch zhough, 'Ermione." Fleur whined in response.

Exasperated, Hermione could only shake her head, "Do you always have this childish behaviour when you are hurt?" she asked, amused at the faces the blonde was making.

"Non, what are you talking about?" pouted Fleur.

Stifling a smile, Hermione looked up to see Madam Pomfrey approaching.

"Miss Delacour, are you finished with your breakfast?" The Head Nurse asked. With a nod from the French girl, she waved her wand and the breakfast tray disappeared, "One last check-up and then you are discharged." Slowly passing her wand over the injured girl's chest, she nodded, "All good. No extreme activities for a week, you need your rest, ok? Any complication or bumps onto that chest and you come see me, right away," instructed Poppy, waiting for her patient to nod before walking away.

Sliding off the bed, Fleur took her folded uniforms from the bedside table and turned to Hermione, "I 'ave to go change. Wait for me?" she asked shyly, tilting her head to one side, indicating the change rooms.

"Sure. I'll be right here" said Hermione, finding the behaviour of the blonde adorable.

After having gone into the bathroom and changed into her usual clothes, Fleur came back out and the two girls exited the infirmary together.

"Uhh 'Ermione?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you have any plans today?" asked Fleur timidly.

"No, I don't. Why?"

"I waz wondering if maybe…you would like to go to ze lake wiz me?" she asked, blushing lightly.

"I would love to, Fleur but aren't you supposed to be resting?" asked Hermione concerned.

"I won't do anything tedious 'Ermione. We… can just sit… and talk?" Fleur replied as a question.

Seeing the brunette agree with a smile, Fleur returned the smile and the two girls walked towards the Black Lake, where the Durmstrang ship was anchored.

On their way there, Hermione remembered, "Oh, I forgot to tell you but I let Artemis fly away so she must have gone back to your carriage."

"It iz fine. My friends will take care of 'er" replied Fleur as she sat at her usual spot with Hermione quickly filling the spot next to her.

"While I am not happy that you got hurt, I congratulate you for your win. Slytherin is one of the hardest teams to beat here in Hogwarts."

"Thank you," Fleur grinned "It waz a good match. About ze getting 'urt part, I'm used to it."

"Really? Why is that? Is Beauxbatons' Quidditch harsher than this?" asked Hermione, troubled at the idea of the blonde getting hurt so much.

"Non, our Quidditch iz the same as 'Ogwarts. I 'ave just been injured a lot since I am Veela and we do a lot of dangerous trials," replied the blonde.

Hermione's eyes widened as she heard Fleur say she was Veela. She had heard murmurs from multiple people within the school and even some from Ron but she hadn't paid any attention to them. She knew so little of Veelas. "Oh you are a Veela! Really?! I do not know much about the Veela. Can you tell me more?"

"Zere iz little I can tell because we Veela are very secretive," replied Fleur apologetically.

"Oh…" replied Hermione, utterly disappointed.

"We would easily find some books on zem in ze library. Zhough zey 'old general information on the Veela. I told my grandmuzzer about you, 'ow you are known to be ze smartest witch of 'Ogwarts and 'ow you thirst knowledge. She said she will send some more detailed books for you."

"Really?!" exclaimed Hermione excitedly, eyes already gleaming at the prospect of getting such amazing books, "but…" she continued sceptically, "didn't you just say you can't give me more information because Veelas are secretive?"

"Zere are things people can know and zose are found in books in libraries, zere are things we are allowed to share wiz close people to us such as friends and ze rest can only be shared with our significant ozhers. Even zhen, for non-Veela significant ozhers, a group of things can only be experienced after ze 'Sanguin Ritus' iz done, as zhey gain Veelan characteristics through ze ritual which allows zhem to experience zhose things zhat cannot be read or learnt," explained Fleur, happy that the brunette was so interested in knowing her culture, her people and thus in default, her.

"What is the Sanguin Ritus'? Can I do it?" asked Hermione.

"Uhmm…" Fleur blushed, "It iz not possible 'Ermione… or maybe you could," she added the last few words in an inaudible whisper, before she continued, "Ze Sanguin Ritus…uhm, iz a ritual done between a Veela and 'er mate. Zey exchange zeir blood. Zat way, the non-Veela gets Veela blood but…uh…"

"But?"

"It iz a marriage ritual 'Ermione" replied Fleur embarrassed, looking on as Hermione's face erupt in a furious blush, "and ze blood exchange iz not completed until…" Fleur was getting even more flushed, "zemarriageizconsummated!" she rushed out.

Frowning for a few seconds, Hermione tried to decipher what exactly the blonde had just said. As soon as the words registered in her brain, her face nearly burst into flames. "Oh…" she whispered, not knowing what to say.

"It's fine. You didn't know" said Fleur, trying to dispel the awkward cloud that was looming over them. "Tell me more about yourself. I'm afraid, I did muggle studies for only a few years so I don't know a lot."

They spent hours talking about muggles, trading stories.

"So I 'eard you muggles fly in zose big things. Is it like flying in ze carriage we came in?" asked Fleur, intrigued.

"I don't think so. While I don't know how it feels to fly in the carriage you came in, planes are very different. You can't move in them much, you stay seated for most of the voyage and it's pretty uncomfortable," replied Hermione.

"Oh… Flying in ze carriage is very comfortable. You don't feel much of ze abrupt turns or movements the Abraxans make. Our teacher said that zose big things…uhm, what did you call zem? Ah, planes. Well, in French zey call zem 'avion'. I find them intriguing. Ze wings, zey do not flap like birds," said Fleur, face scrunching in confusion.

"While it flies and is in the shape of a bird, it's not exactly one," smiled Hermione, clearly pleased that Fleur could remember the things she learnt in muggle studies. She was about to continue her conversation when suddenly a loud grumbling sound was heard.

Looking at Fleur, Hermione realised that the blonde's face was turning crimson and grasped that the sound had come from the Veela's stomach. Laughing, she said, "You are hungry? You just had breakfast!"

"Oui…" replied Fleur shyly. Her stomach grumbled once again to answer the question as well.

Chuckling, Hermione took the hand of the blonde and helped her up, "Come on, I know where we can get some more food for you" Fleur smiled in gratitude as the pair dusted themselves before walking back to the castle.

After going through the stairs and hallways, Hermione reached the fruit bowl painting and tickled the pear, which giggled and revealed a doorknob. Opening the painting, she pulled Fleur into the Hogwarts kitchen. One by one, Hermione presented the house-elves to Fleur, who was very impressed that the Gryffindor was so close to them, she even knew all of their names!

"And this is Dobby. He is a very dear friend of mine and the boys, especially Harry," presented Hermione, hugging the small house-elf.

Fleur knelt down to shake his hand, "'Ello Dobby. Nice to meet you" greeted Fleur.

Hermione, having been pleasantly surprised by the French girl manners towards the elves, was even more pleased to see the way the girl made a bigger effort for Dobby.

"Hello, Miss Delacour. Dobby is happy to have you at Hogwarts" smiled the small elf, bowing.

"Ah, please call me Fleur," said Fleur to which Dobby replied, "As you wish, Miss Fleur."

"Dobby? Fleur is a bit hungry, do you think she could get something to eat?" asked Hermione politely.

"Of course! What would Miss Fleur desire to eat?" asked Dobby, eager to please.

"No need to worry about it Dobby, a sandwich would be fine."

"Oh Miss Fleur, Dobby can find whatever you want to eat, just order. Unless it is just a sandwich that you want."

Pondering, Fleur murmured, "I do miss French cuisine."

"Then Dobby will find whatever Miss Fleur desires," reaffirmed Dobby.

"Alright, iz it ok to have Coq Au Vin? Wiz Baguettes? I've been missing it terribly." Asked Fleur sheepishly.

Dobby ushered them to one of the tables in the kitchen corner and seated them, bringing some pumpkin juice while they waited for the food.

"So you are missing home food?" asked Hermione, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.

"Terribly. We only had bouillabaisse ze first day and I 'ad to come to get more from your table! It was so good. Since zhen only English food!" wailed Fleur, "I only managed to get some croissants and café for breakfast today because Madame Pomfrey asked me what I wanted to eat."

After a few minutes of conversation and drinking, Dobby apparated in front of them with a steaming cooking pot in hand which he placed on the table before snapping his fingers making a basket full of fresh French sliced baguette appear on the table. The smell was wafting all around and Fleur's mouth was salivating as she inhaled it deeply.

"Oh Dobby, it smells so good! Zhank you!" Fleur said, already putting food onto her plate.

"No problem, Miss Fleur." He refilled their goblets before going back to his chores.

Fleur sliced off a big piece of bread from the basket before breaking it into pieces in her plate. On her first mouthful, she moaned, "Zhis iz so good!" before going back to munching on her food.

"What is it exactly?" asked Hermione, peering into the blonde's plate.

"'Ere," spearing a piece of bread, soaked in the sauce with a piece of chicken, Fleur blew on it before bringing the fork to the brunette's mouth.

Blushing, Hermione hesitantly pulled her hair behind her ear and opened her mouth, taking the forkful. She then chewed gently, trying to savour the flavour of the dish.

Fleur watched in awe as the mouth in front of her opened, revealing a pink tongue, before engulfing the food she held. Pink lips closed onto the fork and she could only gulp, mouth suddenly dry, as she gently pulled onto the fork, watching it slide so sensuously between those beautiful lips.

Keeping her eyes on the beautiful brunette, she reached for her pumpkin juice, taking a big gulp from the goblet to relieve her parched throat. She had never thought watching Hermione eat could have such an effect on her.

"Hmm, it's delicious!" smiled Hermione as she finished swallowing. Fleur nodded dumbly before shaking her head to regroup herself.

"Oui, it iz. Let me fix you a plate." She replied shakily, putting some of the Coq au Vin on a plate before passing it to the Gryffindor with some slices of bread.

They ate with pleasant banter, Hermione occasionally commenting on the French food or asking questions about the ingredients and French cuisine, in general. All during the conversation, Fleur was sending secret glances towards the mouth of the brunette while she bit, chewed and talked. She also took a very big interest watching the sexy movement of the Gryffindor's throat as she swallowed and Mon Dieu, she felt faint every time Hermione licked her lips. That tongue peeking out, slowly swiping the pink lips, giving her shivers and then retreating back into the hot mouth, leaving the lips moist and glistering. She will be ze death of me! Thought the blonde, trying hard not to start squirming in her chair. She was feeling ashamed that her heightened Veela emotions were making her feel like a pubescent boy!

By the time it was really lunch, they were fed and full so they didn't bother to go into the Great Hall.

"What do you want to do now?" asked Hermione, having fun with the French and not wanting to stop now.

"Well, we could do whatever you want, 'Ermione," replied Fleur.

"Well, you got me interested in Veelas and I now want to know more. Do you mind coming with me to the library so that I can get some books about it? Maybe you could help me decide which books to get?" offered Hermione, already excited to start reading about the Veelas.

"Sure. I am a bit knowledgeable on some of the generic titles about Veelas. Let's 'ope 'Ogwarts 'as them in its library," replied Fleur, trying to remember all the titles of the books she had read when she had been learning about her race, "ze general books are not always right zhough, a lot are also incomplete. I learn most about Veelas from my family and also from my training at ze village."

"Well, could I maybe ask you some questions after I read about it? Then if something is wrong or incomplete, you can correct it?"

"I would love to. Zhough, zhere are some specific things I won't be able to tell you. Some parts of ze Veela heritage are very secret, like ritual specifics and so on and can only be told to a Veela or mate," explained Fleur, apologetically, "My grandmuzzer's books will 'elp you even more than any books you find in ze library."

Hermione perked up, "Thank you!" she squealed, throwing herself at the blonde who caught her perfectly. Fleur was loving those Hermione Hugs. The brunette really loved her books.

Pulling back, Hermione smiled at the blonde and both resumed their walk to the library.

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Care and Love of Magical Creatures

Entering the library, Hermione took Fleur's hand and was pulling her to the "Magical Creatures" Section when she heard her name being called out with heavy footsteps rushing from behind her. Turning, she came face to face with Ron.

"Ron? What are you doing here?" asked Hermione, annoyed that the boy had bumped into her when she was with Fleur. What was he doing in the library anyway? He never comes to the library on his own. Wasn't he supposed to be at Hogsmeade with Harry?

"Hermione. I was looking for you. You said you were going to be in the library," complained the redhead, his eyes totally focused on Fleur.

"Well, I went out for some fresh air for a while. I never said I was going to stay in here all day," objected the brunette. She didn't have to explain herself and she was getting pissed at the way Ron was looking at the blonde.

"Well, are you going to present me to your friend?" he prompted, his eyes never leaving the Veela, not even realising that his request was stupid since he had already been presented to Fleur.

"Monsieur Weazley, perhaps you forgot zat we were introduced on my first day here." Fleur took over.

"Oh yeah! Haha sorry. So what are you girls doing here?" he asked, trying to get into their group.

"We are in the library Ron so obviously it has something to do with books," Hermione muttered, turning and dragging the blonde towards the intended sections.

"Oh great! I can help," said Ron, not wanting to leave. His eyes strayed to Fleur's backside as he followed them.

Stepping in the "Magical Creatures" aisle, Hermione turned to him, "It is not necessary Ron. We can manage, I know you hate the library. What exactly are you doing in the library anyway? Why are you not with Harry?"

"Oh I insist Hermione, it is the duty of a gentleman to help the ladies," he said, with a 'charming' smile that Hermione didn't find charming at all. "Harry is at Hogsmeade with Ginny. I decided not to go after breakfast, didn't feel like it," he shrugged, "so what is it that you guys are looking for?"

Hermione felt suspicious as to why he was here. He always went to Hogsmeade with Harry. Plus the fact that he was in the library was a warning bell in itself. Finding that there was nothing she could do about it at the moment, she said "We are looking for books about unicorns," keeping her face neutral as she saw Fleur raise her eyebrow at her from the corner of her eyes.

"Alright! Fleur, Hermione knows this library like the back of her hand. Sometimes I feel like she would sleep here if she could," he laughed at his joke, "Since you are not from Hogwarts, you might get lost in here. Why don't I show you around while she looks for those books? She will find them in a jiffy."

Hermione couldn't believe him. Didn't he say it was 'gentlemanly' to help and now he wants to leave it all to her while he goes flirting with Fleur? No way in hell. "Ronald, she has already been into the library countless times. She is not like you. She actually reads."

Ron huffed in annoyance, "Come on Hermione, go look for the books. I'm just giving her a tour like a nice friend."

Nice friend, my arse. Not finding anything she could say, Hermione looked up at Fleur.

"Ah, Monsieur Weazley, it iz best to leave it for anozer day. I really need ze books on the unicorns," said Fleur. Who was this nuisance to take her away from her 'Ermione?

"Alright," Ron complied, disappointed.

They spent the next half an hour looking at books about unicorns with Ron following Fleur all around the aisles, trying to start a conversation with her. Hermione thought it was pathetic. He spent twenty minutes whispering pickup lines, thinking Hermione wouldn't hear, which Fleur expertly deflected before trying a normal conversation which he failed at because none of the topics he talked about interested Fleur. It was only at the end of the half hour that he got to the topic of Quidditch which was something Fleur could actually talk about. So here she was, spotting the Veela books she was interested in from the corner of her eyes, discreetly stacking them into a pile on one of the tables while listening to Fleur politely reply to Ron's questions. He was getting on her nerves.

Fleur, on the other hand, was not faring any better. The redhead had tried to strike conversation on a multitude of topics which she could fake that she didn't know much about but then he had a stroke of genius and started talking about Quidditch. Being the Quidditch Captain and seeker of Beauxbatons, she couldn't get out of the conversation and now she was stuck.

It was then that she looked up from the annoying guy and saw Alexia walking into the library. Escape route! She cut off Ron gushing about the Chuddly Cannons and waved at her cousin, "Alexia, viens me sauver de cette conversation, s'te plait. It ne me laisse pas tranquille. Mais fais le doucement, c'est l'ami d'Ermione." [Alexia, come save me from this conversation, please. He is not leaving me alone. But be gentle, he is Hermione's friend.]

Hearing Fleur speaking French, Hermione looked up from the books to the blonde and her name in the conversation made her more intrigued. She watched as Alexia walked to Fleur.

"Fleur! I've been looking for you!" Alexia said, looking at Ron, "Sorry to interrupt but our headmistress is asking for Fleur."

Hearing the words, Hermione was disappointed. She had planned to talk a bit more to Fleur but Ron had gotten in the way.

"Oh, it's fine. I…we shall talk again, Fleur?" He asked, scratching his neck.

Fleur only nodded before walking to Hermione and whispered in code "By the fallen tree" knowing that Ron was close enough that he might hear her despite whispering. She winked at Hermione then turned around, following Alexia out of the library.

Understanding lit up in Hermione's eyes and she smiled.

"What did she say to you?" asked Ron, intrigued.

Rolling her eyes internally, Hermione replied, "She was telling me the title of a book"

"A book? What type of book would be called "by the fallen tree?" puzzled Ron.

"I have no idea. I guess I'll have to look for it to know," shrugged Hermione, reigning in her irritation at the boy. She turned from the table to go back to the aisles.

"You are staying at the library?" he asked with a grimace.

"Yes, I have more research to do," Hermione replied without sparing him a glance.

"Well, I'm out of here," the redhead replied before walking out of the library, happy of his progress with Fleur.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Hermione walked back to the table as soon as she saw Ron exit the place and carried the five books on Veelas she had deemed interesting to Madam Pince to check out. Finally signing out all the books for loan, she put them in her magically extendable bag and rushed out into the corridors and out of the castle.

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Within twenty minutes, she was back onto the path towards Black Lake. Easily slipping between the large trees, she could faintly see the silhouette of Fleur sitting at their usual place. Finally reaching the blonde, she sat and scouted closer, rummaging through her bag to take out the books.

"Fleur! I loaned out these books!" she said, showing them to the French girl, "I am so sorry for Ron's behaviour." She apologised sincerely.

"Ah, no need to worry, 'Ermione" Fleur replied, taking a look at the books the brunette had brought. "It is ze annoying effect of my thrall on people."

"Oh, I heard about the thrall that Veelas have! It totally slipped out of my mind. Does it affect everyone? because I don't feel affected," asked Hermione, now understanding why all the boys drool or go stupid when they are in the vicinity of the blonde.

"No, some boys and girls are very affected by it and start drooling and make lewd comments. After a while, zhey stop behaving like dogs and try to woo me which is annoying because zhey sometimes do not take no for an answer. Ozhers get jealous and are mean, it iz mostly people not attracted to girls zhat feel zat way. If I make friends wiz someone, it takes a while but after sometime, ze thrall doezn't affect zem as much even if zhey still feel it. People zhat already like someone else feel my thrall at a minimum," explained Fleur, omitting the part about mates.

"Oh so it means that if I don't feel it, it means that it is either because of our friendship or I fancy someone?"

"Oui... but 'Ermione, did you feel ze effect of my thrall before becoming my friend? Because you didn't like me before. Maybe it was my thrall making you jealous?" asked Fleur, even though she already knew the answer.

"Jealous of what exactly?!" exclaimed Hermione, immediately going defensive. She wasn't jealous!

"Of nozing, 'Ermione. My thrall doezn't need you to have a reason to be jealous of me. I make people that do not fancy girls feel jealousy, no matter what."

"Oh so you mean that the girls that actually drool over you are girls that at least fancy girls and the girls that feel jealousy are girls that are strictly straight."

"Oui... Now answer my question. Were you jealous? Because you hated me and were mean at ze start."

Feeling guilty once again, Hermione apologised, "I'm sorry for being mean at the start. I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't hate you." Seeing Fleur nod, Hermione continued, "but no, I didn't feel jealous at all."

"So it means you like someone zen?" prompted Fleur, hoping that it would send the girl into thoughts and maybe they would pinpoint at her. Fleur knew that even if Hermione didn't like anyone, she would still not feel her thrall for she was her mate.

"You think?!" asked the Gryffindor, scrunched her eyebrows in concentration. "Maybe Ron. He has fancied me for a while really. Maybe I'm just waiting on him to make a move?"

The news was like a blow to the stomach to Fleur and her knuckles turned white as she felt her nails digging into the flesh of her palm. She already didn't like the redhead because of the way he was annoying and set on trying to seduce her but now she was starting to hate the ginger top. Not only was he her rival for Hermione's affections but he behaved and spoke disrespectfully to the brunette, even daring to pursue another woman right in front of her eyes. Hermione deserved love, loyalty, respect and all the effort one could put in courting her.

"Do…do you love him?" asked Fleur hesitantly. She hadn't wanted to ask that question, fearing the answer but she had to know… I 'ave to know if I 'ave ze chance.

"I…I…." Say no please, Fleur pleaded in her heart as she watched Hermione stammer, "I don't know…" huffed Hermione, annoyed at not knowing, "He is one of my best friends. Sometimes he is fine but he is annoying most of the time. Despite fancying me for so long, he hasn't made a move to ask me out. He makes me…makes me feel like I'm not good enough, that I'm just an average looking, boring bookworm and that I should consider myself lucky that he is around, like he is, kind of, doing me a favour." Hermione said, revealing her frustration at the redhead, eyes full of hurt.

"Oh 'Ermione", was all Fleur could manage as she wrapped her arms around her upset brown-eyed wonder. She was going to kill that redhead. If he had still been in front of her, she would have hexed him all the way to Antarctica! Looking down at the Gryffindor who had her face buried in her neck, she brought her hand up and cupped the delicate chin, pulling to get the brunette to look at her. "You are not zhat at all. You are a very beautiful girl and you are not a boring bookworm, it makes you more attractive as you 'ave a beautiful mind as well." Fleur whispered sincerely.

Gazing into the cerulean eyes over her, Hermione searched into the endless orbs, trying to find if the blonde was making fun of her but all she saw was sincerity, awe and something else…something she couldn't define. "If you think I'm such a beautiful girl, why has no one at school ever been interested in me?"

Sighing, Fleur kept her eyes locked onto the molten chocolate ones of her love, "Most boys want easy girls zhat give in to zheir demands and are not bright enough to know better. Zhey want girls zhat do not demand much from zhem, becauze zose boys don't 'ave time for zhat, zhey don't do feelings and romance, 'Ermione and you are not ze type of girl zhat zhey seek."

"What you just said makes sense…" murmured Hermione, deep in thought.

"Ze reality iz zhat you deserve better, 'Ermione. Not someone seemingly interested in you with no qualms to flirt after someone else."

"He was coming on to you, wasn't he?" frowned Hermione, remembering how Ron had tried to hide it by whispering to the blonde.

"Oui and didn't I just tell you zat people who really like someone else do not feel my thrall too much but he iz obviously very affected by it a lot."

"So" Hermione's eyes widened at the implication, "so… it means he doesn't even like me for real…" voiced out the Gryffindor sadly.

Fleur was feeling bad to have made the brunette sad but she had to say the truth. Keeping it to herself would have hurt the girl more in the long run. That redhead git would have kept hurting her chocolate eyed wonder. "I'm sorry 'Ermione, I didn't want to make you sad…"

"No, no. Don't apologise. It is good that you are making me realise these issues before things progressed and got worse. Now that I think about it, I don't know why I think I like him. Maybe it is because he is one of my best friends and was the first one to fancy me?" pondered Hermione, trying to find the reason behind it all. "I should tell him that this is never going to work," said Hermione, "but I feel like he is not going to understand", she wrung her hands in frustration.

"Do what you think is right for you, 'Ermione..."

"You are right. I'll talk to him soon" and with that, the two girls shifted their conversations to the Veela books Hermione had taken from the library.

The rest of the weekend was spent in a similar fashion, with the pair meeting up at the lake, Fleur already correcting a few things from the books that Hermione was reading. They separated only during lunch and dinner time, where Fleur sat at the Ravenclaw table, giving at least some of her time to Gabrielle, Alexia and the rest of the flock who explained to her that they didn't mind as they understood that Fleur was in her 'courting' period which sent the tall blonde into a blush.

ᴥ

Monday was a very exciting day to the whole population at Hogwarts for it was the day where they would announce the champions of the Triwizard Tournament at dinner. Hermione didn't really get the chance to talk to Ron because he was so excited about the Tournament, he kept on babbling about how he might be chosen as the Champion of Hogwarts and speculating on what the three tasks could be.

For once, Hermione wished she could just up and sit next to Fleur instead. They could have at least had an intelligent conversation on their class subject instead of just hearing Harry and Ron talk about everything that is not related to what they were studying. The day dragged on... Hermione hadn't been able to talk to Fleur at all. She had seen the blonde during lunch and had only managed a smile and nod in greeting which were promptly returned to her and now the blonde was seated quite a few desks away from her. She couldn't even catch her after class with Ron around.

Dinner time was finally here and Hermione couldn't be happier about it. She wanted to see Fleur again, maybe try to talk to her before going back to her Common Rooms after their meal. She was also anxious because she knew that the Champions would be announced and Fleur had put her name into the Goblet of Fire. It would seem that the nervousness was spread out in the Great Hall. Some people were near to the point of bursting in excitement, some were playing with their food, stomachs too unsettled, some were stuffing themselves, trying to get dinner over soon so they could proceed to the verdict. Hermione was one of those with an upset stomach.

Fleur, on the other side, was only slightly nervous. She was eating at her own pace, giving short looks at the brunette at the Gryffindor table who was playing with her food. Giving a smile to the girl when their eyes met, she frowned when the other girl returned a tight smile.

Soon dinner was cleared and Dumbledore stepped forward, gathering the attention of all students immediately.,"Students, the time has come for the Goblet of Fire to reveal to us the chosen Champions for the Triwizard Tournament." Flicking his wand at the Goblet, the students watched as the blue flame turned scarlet before spitting out a piece of parchment, which was switfly caught by Dumbledore.

"The Champion of Durmstrang is Victor Krum!" Cheers erupted all around as the man puffed up in pride.

"I knew it! I mean who else can be better than him at Durmstrang!" voiced out Ron, ecstatic that his idol had been chosen.

Another parchment was spat out of the flames. "The Champion of Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!"

More cheers erupted and Fleur felt her sister and cousin hugging her and patting her on her back. She graciously accepted the congratulations she was getting from her schoolmates and the Ravenclaws around her. Her gaze looked up to find the reaction of her Gryffindor but all she found was the brunette looking at her with a blank stare.

Hermione was shocked. She hadn't wanted Fleur to put her name for the barbaric competition, she didn't know exactly why but she knew that she hadn't wanted the blonde anywhere near the blasted Goblet and the Tournament itself and now her fear had turned into reality, the blonde was one of the Chosen Triwizard Champions.

The last parchment erupted from the reddish fire, "The Champion of Hogwarts is Harry Potter!"

The name of her friend snapped her out of her daze. Didn't Harry say that he wasn't interested in the Tournament? She had clearly seen him refuse to put his name on the day Ron had submitted his. Turning to look at the reaction of his friend, she saw his face only reflecting shock.

"Hmm Harry, didn't you say that you weren't going to submit your name?" asked Hermione, contemplating on the stunned face of his friend.

"Mione, I didn'…" Harry started to explain.

"What?!" spewed Ron viciously, cutting Harry's speech, "You told me you didn't put your name in! Why would you do it behind my back!? We could have easily done it together! Unless…" Ron's face went contemplative "unless you found a way to make the cup choose you! That's it, right? That's why you didn't say anything to anyone!"

"Ron…" Harry tried to explain, shocked at the reaction of his best friend only to be interrupted again.

"Now that the Goblet has decided its Champions, I would like to ask for those chosen to please follow Professor McGonagall here for further details and instructions pertaining to the Tournament itself," instructed Dumbledore, pointing at the Transfiguration Professor.

Harry wanted so badly to explain to his friends that he hadn't submitted his name but McGonagall was already standing at the door leading to the adjoining chamber. He could see that Krum and Fleur had already stood up and were making their way towards the Head of his House. Looking pleadingly at Hermione, he found the brunette nodding in understanding and mouthing 'later'. Thankful, he gave a last glance at his fuming best friend before walking to the door as well.

Hermione watched as the three champions disappeared behind the door with Professor McGonagall, not without Fleur sending her a last look, giving her a smile. After the door closed behind them, Hermione sighed. She had decided to talk to Ron after the announcement of the Champions but in the state the redhead was right now, it wasn't an option. She watched as Ron got up from his seat and stormed out of the Great Hall. She had also planned to talk to the French girl after her discussion with Ron but it looked like that plan as well was down the drain. The blonde was busy with the Tournament.

Getting up from the table, she walked back to her dorm, disappointed in the day, confused about what exactly she was feeling now that not one but two important persons to her had been chosen for the deadly competition. Her heart sat heavily in her chest all night.