A/N: Just a quick blurb before you jump into the chapter. To fleurmione writers and anyone looking to create content for our favorite magical duo, Fleurmione Week 2020 will start Sept 3. Seven days of prompts and I'm hoping to do at least two of them. Use the #FleurmioneWeek2020 tag. More details at www tumblr com/blog/view/fleurmioneweek

Thanks!

Chapter 3

Hermione stopped her pacing, threw up her hands, and growled in frustration. She probably looked like a madwoman. A sexually frustrated madwoman. Glancing over at Fleur, she noticed how the Veela was biting the inside of her lower lip, trying to keep a straight face. Somehow the expression took the wind out of her sails. It was annoying, and cute, and did irritating things to her chest.

Ginny, you better be on the other side of the planet right now, she thought vengefully.

She huffed and sat down on the couch, making sure to be on the opposite end far from Fleur.

"'Ermione…" started Fleur.

"Please, not yet," interrupted Hermione, her voice small. "I just… need another moment."

Hermione closed her eyes and turned away from Fleur, that New Year's Eve party still invading her thoughts. She tried to push it away, as she'd done so many times before, but it was no use. Having Fleur here, feeling that inscrutable gaze again, she couldn't contain the memory fighting to be remembered.

"Mione! We're going to be late!"

Ron called to her from downstairs and Hermione rolled her eyes as she pulled on a black cardigan. Seven o'clock seemed a little early for the start of a New Year's Eve party but Molly liked it when her children arrived early. Hermione didn't really want to go to the Burrow, and had taken a longer time than she'd needed to pick out a white fitted t-shirt and faded blue jeans. The probability of a certain blonde being there was high and she was tired of pretending indifference whenever they were in each other's presence.

Maybe she could get out of going.

Walking downstairs, Ron was waiting for her at the door.

"Ron… what if I don't go? I'm sure you'll have much more fun without me there."

He sighed and replied, "Come on, love. You haven't been to the house the last several weekends. The family misses you and tonight will be great. I heard Luna will be there and she's always good for a laugh."

Hermione looked up at his pleading eyes and gave a half-hearted smile. They'd been having a good couple of weeks, only minor arguments here and there. And he'd finally agreed to see a muggle couple's counselor with her, one who was aware of the wizarding world so they wouldn't have to lie about who they were, and who they were set to see in the middle of January. To start a fight over a party would ruin this peace and be more trouble than it was worth.

They arrived at the party, hands clasped together as if there was nothing wrong between them at all. She happily greeted Harry and Ginny, received bone crushing hugs from Arthur and Molly, and did her best to be cheerful with every in-law and party-goer even as Ron hovered over her, smothering her with his need to show everyone that they were together and in marital bliss. Hermione could barely stomach the lie nowadays but she reminded herself that counseling awaited them and not to cause any trouble.

A couple of hours passed and she was sitting on a couch, navigating a conversation with Luna, trying to sound interested but mostly just trying to avoid Ron who didn't have any patience around the girl. It made Luna the perfect companion for the rest of the evening.

And then Bill and Fleur arrived. It had been a few months since she'd last seen the Veela, when they both acted as if they were strangers. They'd barely greeted each other over a family breakfast and ignored each other the rest of the time. Tonight, however, she couldn't keep her eyes off the blonde.

Hermione watched Fleur quickly walk over to the table with the punch bowl, leaving her husband behind without a word. It was very clear to Hermione that things were strained between the couple. She wondered how bad it really was. Not that she had any idea. Ginny mentioned it that one time in the dress shop and wouldn't answer any of her questions about it after that.

Fleur downed one drink and then poured herself another, downing that one as well. Ron and George had spiked it earlier and it was very strong. Hermione thought the Veela looked frayed around the edges, like she was on the brink of coming apart at any moment. She had never seen Fleur that way before and it was unsettling. Pouring one more, the Frenchwoman then raised her eyes to take in the room. When her eyes fell on Hermione, Fleur smiled. It had been so long since the woman had smiled at her like that and it was like the sun had broken through the storm clouds of Hermione's heart, warming her, filling her up with a happiness she hadn't felt in what seemed like forever. And if the thrall she felt was anything to judge by, Fleur was happy to see her, too.

As if there had been no time apart at all, she went over to Hermione and reached out her hand, pulling her away from Luna. She stood up without a word but then remembered herself.

Turning to Luna, she opened her mouth but Luna beat her to it and said, "See? They do have a way of coming back to us. I think I'll go find Ginny now. Good to see you both."

Hermione stared after her as she walked away but her focus was pulled back to Fleur by a tug on her hand.

She remained by Fleur's side as they chatted with each other and with different party guests. They didn't speak about why she had been distant or why she was being so friendly now but Hermione didn't care. She had Fleur's attention again and she didn't want to waste it on arguing.

At one point, Ron tried to insert himself between the two.

"Fleur, I think your husband was looking for you."

Hermione winced, not liking the smell of firewhisky on his breath or the tone of his voice. Why did he always have to be so possessive?

The blonde laughed, and there was a hard edge to it that Hermione inwardly questioned. She could feel Fleur's thrall roil in cold waves. Annoyance? Undoubtedly. But there was something else, some part of the thrall that almost felt like it was pulling Hermione closer to her.

It got stronger when Fleur spoke to him. "Your brother will 'ave to wait. I am catching up with my friend tonight. Come 'Ermione."

Fleur grabbed her arm, flipped her hair, and pulled her away. Hermione felt bad at the rudeness to Ron but at the same time, Fleur had just said she was her friend and it sparked hope in her chest. The brunette wanted things to go back to the way they were more than anything. The older woman guided them to the punch bowl and poured three drinks.

"That punch is strong, Fleur. You've already had quite a bit and I don't think I should have any," argued Hermione as Fleur pushed a cup in her hand.

"Vraiment, 'Ermione, c'est ridicule," tutted Fleur. "My tolerance is incredibly 'igh and you need to catch up. One should do it for you."

Hermione giggled. "Are you saying I'm a lightweight?"

Feeling challenged, Hermione slowly drank all of her punch in one go.

"Not 'aving 'ad the pleasure of 'olding you up against a wall, I cannot say for sure," replied Fleur quietly with a sly smile.

They maintained eye contact as the blush burned up Hermione's neck. The moment ended when Angelina Johnson and her friends needed to get to the punch bowl.

Fleur quickly drank her two drinks, then grabbed Hermione's hand and dragged her through the crowded room. The Veela looked put out, shaking her head and muttering to herself. Worried, Hermione tightened her grip on her hand and pulled her in a different direction.

When they reached a quiet corner, Hermione asked, "Fleur, is everything all right? You seem out of sorts."

The Veela tilted her head and smiled, having slipped her mask back on once more. "So serious, ma chérie. It's a party, non?"

Hermione opened her mouth, knowing she should push Fleur to share what was on her mind, but then the blonde pressed a finger to her lips and stepped closer.

"Please, 'Ermione," begged Fleur, her carefree expression now serious and pained. "I know I 'ave no right to ask, especially not to you. I just want a good night for once."

Fleur softly dragged her finger down, slightly tugging Hermione's lower lip with her fingernail before pulling her hand away, which made Hermione's stomach flip. The feeling was disconcerting and new and scary. It was like a previously unknown, invisible wall in front of her eyes had begun to flutter like a veil or curtain, moving as wildly as her pulse, the edge of it in reach.

What would she see if she pulled it away?

The blonde swallowed and stepped back, looking like she was about to bolt, and Hermione began to panic. Was Fleur going to leave?

Hermione stepped forward and reached for Fleur's hands, pulling her back.

"Okay! A good night," hurried Hermione in agreement.

Fleur stood straighter and flashed a bright smile. A little too bright. It was another red flag that Hermione chose to overlook that night for the promise of closeness with a friend she didn't want to lose.

For the next two hours, they held hands, linked arms, frequently touched each other and placed soft hands on each other's lower backs as they passed and caught up with different people. Fleur would lean in to whisper a funny observation about the party, her lips brushing against Hermione's ear and sending shivers down her spine. Fleur flirted, harmlessly of course, because how could it be anything else? She was married. They both were. But Hermione surprised herself by responding in kind.

It was perfect.

When it was close to midnight, they were outside, alone, looking up at the stars and saying nothing but also seeming to say everything. Hermione felt dusted off and made new. Like the person she was meant to be. Where she'd previously been drawn into herself, tight and hidden, now she was unfolded, stiff and out of practice at being seen in such a way but it was still liberating, and so very intoxicating. More so than that spiked punch inside the house. More than anything else had been able to make her feel in her whole life.

She didn't want it to end.

Tears filled Hermione's eyes. She turned her head slightly to watch Fleur who was still gazing up at the stars. She turned back to the sky, unsure whether now was the time to break the comfortable silence, this agreement to ignore the last two years. But she had so many questions, so many things she needed to know.

Why now? Where have you been? Why did you leave me and let me forget what this felt like?

Hermione felt the thrall begin to unwrap itself from around her. Still there but guarded, as if Fleur had sensed her conflicted thoughts.

When Hermione looked again, she saw how fragile the blonde looked, like she knew what she had done. And how could she not know? Fleur had ripped herself out of Hermione's life without warning or explanation.

The clock struck twelve.

Instead of speaking, Fleur pulled her to the side of the house, out of sight of party stragglers who wandered out the front door, boisterously yelling and shooting off fireworks into the air with their wands.

Hermione tried to speak but Fleur silenced her with a tight embrace. She was surrounded by the other woman's scent, her thrall offering solace and an apology. Part of her wanted to accept without upsetting the delicate friendship that they had hopefully rebuilt tonight. The other part of her still wanted answers.

"'Appy New Year, mon coeur. I've missed you so much," Fleur whispered as she squeezed her arms more tightly around her.

"I've missed you, too, Fleur. You have no idea how much… how much I've needed you," whispered Hermione, her nose buried in Fleur's neck.

Fleur pulled back, brushing a strand of hair over Hermione's ear. Hermione's heart was beating so fast but time seemed to slow as her eyes darted towards Fleur's lips. And Fleur's did the same to hers.

It was midnight. She could lean forward and ring in the new year in the way so many other friends do. But that would be a lie. The curtain was finally pulled back and Hermione saw everything. What her friendship with Fleur had meant to her, what she had felt and still felt for her, and what she didn't feel for Ron. If she leaned forward, it would not be an innocent celebratory act.

But before she could do anything, a stricken Fleur pulled out of her arms. Hermione opened her mouth to speak but then she heard Ron's voice. Turning to the house, she heard him drunkenly calling out for his wife so they could kiss like they were supposed to. She grimaced and turned back to Fleur but she wasn't there. The brunette hurried to the front of the house and she glimpsed blonde hair disappearing inside. Suddenly worried, she ran after her. Unfortunately, as soon as she entered the house Ron grabbed her and planted a long kiss on her mouth. Hermione struggled to pull away without making it seem like she was rejecting him. That would only lead to a fight later. When she finally got away from him, she couldn't find Fleur anywhere. She'd left.

That had been the last time she'd seen Fleur.

Until tonight.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading. I promise the next chapter will have an actual conversation between them. :)

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zerodawn22: i love me a good cliffhanger

Shadow994: Cliffhangers are my bread and butter

avd121: Thank you, glad you like it so far

Phooenicis: Thanks! As for comedy of errors, I do plan on keeping it in mind but I think it's on the backburner for now. Just too many ideas landing in the explore-these-now pile. Thanks for reading.

Guest: Thanks!