Hello! Back again! This time Hermione's temper continues to rage. Tensions continue to grow between her and Fleur until they hit breaking point.

Chapter 8

Hermione went to bed late that evening. She had a fitful sleep, waking several times during the night. Every time she rose to use the bathroom or get a glass of water, she found Fleur huddled over the table, poring over books and papers. Yet if Hermione offered to help, Fleur would wave her away dismissively and insist that she get her rest.

On her fifth time rising, she paused and watched Fleur at the table for a moment. Fleur was twisting her wedding ring on her finger, staring blankly at a spot on the table.

"Sickle for your thoughts?" Hermione asked. Her voice was a little husky from her latest brief slumber.

Fleur jumped a little in her seat.

"Hermione," Fleur answered gently, raising her azure eyes to look at the younger witch through the shadows, "I thought I told you to sleep."

"You must be exhausted," Hermione ploughed on, ignoring Fleur's concern. Fleur smiled broadly, showing perfect white teeth. But Hermione could see the smile was counterfeit.

Hermione walked over to the table, reaching across and shutting the large book that lay in front of Fleur.

"I cannot rest, I need to keep working," Fleur insisted, although her voice betrayed her exhaustion.

"You need sleep," Hermione replied firmly.

"Non," Fleur retorted, trying to open the book again, "I cannot sleep well on the couch anyway." Hermione kept her hand on the book firmly, refusing to let Fleur open it.

"Well, then," Hermione responded, stepping round the table. She pulled Fleur out of her chair, ignoring the blonde's exclamations and hoisting her over her shoulder.

"Hermione!" Fleur exclaimed, "Put me down!"

"This an intervention," Hermione replied determinedly, carrying Fleur across the room and into the bedroom.

Fleur slapped Hermione's back, thoroughly put out at being swept away from her work in such a manner.

"Hermione, I'm serious—I need to work!"

Hermione finally slid Fleur off her shoulder and onto the bed. The blonde landed in a seated position, shooting Hermione a dark look.

"Don't look at me like that," Hermione said with a frown, "You're clearly running yourself ragged. Get some decent sleep."

Hermione turned to go take the couch in the living room.

"Non, Hermione," Fleur called out, her voice now gentle, "Don't take the couch on my account. We can share the bed. I don't mind if you don't."

Hermione, in a moment of weakness, felt all her attraction to Fleur rush back to her at once. She leant on the doorway, glad her back was to Fleur so she couldn't see the look on her face. Sharing a bed with Fleur Delacour-Weasley? Was Hermione a masochist? She knew, before even taking a step towards the bed, that it would drive her wild lying next to Fleur in bed after so many fantasies. But then… Hermione was exhausted and a part of her missed resting with someone else near her.

"Sure,"

Hermione turned off the lights and crossed the room, clambering into the bed. She rolled onto her back, staring up into the darkness and trying to ignore the blonde beauty shuffling near her.

Hermione wondered if she should say something.

She had been so moody with Fleur during this whole debacle. The worst part was she knew she was giving Fleur a raw deal. As unlikeable as Hermione had originally found Fleur, she had been nothing but caring and dedicated to Hermione and her case.

Hermione opened her mouth to say something appreciative when she heard Fleur begin to breathe sleepily.

Hermione, amused, turned to look at Fleur in the dim light of the room. Sure enough, the blonde was fast asleep.

"Merlin, you really were exhausted," Hermione said softly, smiling for the first time in a while. She shut her eyes, wriggling into a more comfortable position.

"No! No! No!"

Hermione awoke, drenched in cold sweat. She had been in a cell at Azkaban. Pansy had been torturing Lucius Malfoy in front of her, cutting off his fingers one by one.

Hermione wrenched herself to the side of the bed and dry retched before coughing. She could still hear the dripping of the blood in her ears.

"Hermione,"

"Stop," Hermione said roughly, still gripping the side of the mattress tightly. Hermione couldn't stop shaking.

Soft arms slid around Hermione's toned waist and Hermione felt breath on her ear. She tensed, squeezing her eyes shut against the memory of Pansy.

"Hermione, you are safe," a French accented voice lilted in her ear. Hermione felt herself beginning to relax.

"I… I had a bad dream," Hermione mumbled.

"Shhh… I know…" the French voice replied. Hermione felt nimble fingers run through her hair soothingly.

"Mmnn," Hermione rolled over, enveloping the Frenchwoman in her arms as she settled back into sleep.

Hermione had a dreamless sleep after the last night terror, finally sleeping through until the sun was beaming through the windows. Hermione yawned, her arms tightening around the warm and toned body in her arms.

"Wha…?" Hermione opened her eyes, confused.

Azure eyes met hers. Hermione blinked as she remembered that she had carried Fleur to bed the previous night to force her to get some rest. But how…? Her arms were wrapped tightly around the blonde. The intoxication of having Fleur pressed against her was not helping her figure out what was going on.

"You had a nightmare," Fleur explained slowly, looking a little unsettled. Hermione nodded slowly as she remembered vaguely waking from a horrible dream of Pansy and Lucius.

"And how did we…" Hermione began slowly, realising one of her hands was resting on Fleur's toned ass. She pulled it away as quickly as she could, releasing the blonde and scooting further away in the bed.

Fleur looked down and took a small breath. Hermione wondered if she was imagining the shakiness in the blonde's breath.

"You, uh… you seemed to want some comfort," Fleur said awkwardly, not meeting Hermione's eyes, "You… Er… Got cuddly,"

"Cuddly?" Hermione echoed, feeling slightly awkward.

"You… held me tight the rest of the night," Fleur replied, a light pink on her cheeks.

"Oh… Well…" Hermione cleared her throat, "Sorry."

"Its fine," Fleur replied, still not looking up.

Hermione stretched and got out of bed, deciding the best course of action was to give Fleur some space.

God, I can't believe I bloody SNUGGLED her, Hermione thought to herself, running a hand down her face as she slunk out of the room, So beyond inappropriate.

Hermione filled up the kettle and put it on. She shut her eyes as it began boiling. Her mind turned back to the feeling of having Fleur tightly in her arms, Fleur's breath tickling her neck, Hermione's hand on Fleur's perfectly shaped…

Hermione opened her eyes, shaking her head.

"Beyond inappropriate," Hermione muttered.

"What's that?" Fleur asked, strolling into the room. She had regained composure, no longer looking entirely uncomfortable.

"Nothing," Hermione said briskly, "Tea?"

"Coffee if you're offering," Fleur replied in a clipped tone, sitting down to the table and opening one of the books in front of her.

Hermione quietly set to making their hot drinks before bringing them over to the table. Fleur was twisting her wedding ring again.

"Missing Bill?" Hermione asked, glancing at Fleur's ring. An indiscernible look skittered across Fleur's face and she looked up at Hermione. She bit her lip.

"Would it be bad if I said no?" Fleur whispered. Hermione leaned forward, interested by this turn of events.

Not that it makes her any more available, Hermione reminded herself inwardly. She sighed and pushed the mug of coffee towards Fleur before taking a sip of her own cup of tea.

"I don't think it would be bad," Hermione said neutrally, keeping her composure. She wasn't going to say anything inappropriate… But it wasn't that bad to be a little honest, was it?

Fleur sighed, flipping a page of the book in front of her.

"So… I'm going to bring charges against Pansy," Fleur said, abruptly changing the subject. Hermione felt her blood begin to boil at the very mention of the former Slytherin.

"What, so she can just enjoy more time ruling the roost in Azkaban?" Hermione said, her tone growing tense. She began to bounce one knee up and down in an agitated fashion.

"So she can pay for betraying you," Fleur replied patiently, flipping through the large tome in front of her.

"With more time?" Hermione scoffed. She got up from the table suddenly. Her tea and her confused feelings for Fleur were now long forgotten.

"Hermione, I'm doing what I can," Fleur said tersely, looking up from her pages. Hermione frowned, before stalking towards the bedroom.

"Yeah? Well, maybe that's not enough."

Hermione had calmed down considerably after working out a little and taking a long shower. Now she was freshly changed, she almost felt bad for losing her temper at Fleur as she re-entered the living area of the small apartment.

To her surprise, Fleur was dressed and leaning against a windowsill, twirling a strand of platinum blonde hair distractedly as she stared into space.

"You okay?" Hermione asked cautiously.

Fleur looked up, smiling briefly as she pushed herself off the windowsill to stand in front of Hermione.

"I think you are going a little stir crazy," Fleur said carefully. Hermione went to retort but Fleur held up a hand to silence her.

"You've been cooped up for too long," Fleur continued, "I think you should come with me to do the grocery shopping. Some fresh air could do you good."

"But I—" Hermione started to interrupt.

"I will take you to a market not frequented by Hogwarts alumni, I promise," Fleur soothed, "There will be no risk of you breaking the conditions of your bail."

Hermione considered this for a moment. She was desperate to leave the house. Hermione nodded eagerly.

Fleur, looking quietly pleased with herself, went to the kitchen and produced some cloth bags which she pushed into Hermione's hands.

"You can carry the groceries for me," Fleur said, a hint of a smirk in her voice. Hermione scowled, even though she really didn't mind. Inwardly, she found Fleur's spoilt behaviour a little cute.

They apparated directly from the apartment, so as not to risk the chance of even passing a former Hogwarts associate in a hallway. They both knew that Umbridge would love nothing more than to send Hermione right back to Azkaban over the slightest indiscretion.

They arrived in a small square nestled between large red brick buildings. It looked somewhat like a state housing area, which surprised Hermione. She assumed that Fleur would be a snob when it came to areas she frequented.

Large tables and stalls were set up under brightly coloured makeshift awnings. Hermione could see a large array of the usual fare: vegetables, fruit, cheeses, as well as clearly magical ingredients. But what struck Hermione was the appearance of those bustling around the stalls.

"Fleur, is everyone here…"

"Magical or part-magical creature? Oui," Fleur replied dismissively, weaving between a small gaggle of goblins to pluck a lettuce from a stall.

"I… I didn't know that there was anything like this," Hermione admitted, watching an enormous, obviously part-giant woman apologise to some more goblins for blocking a stall.

Fleur turned her attention from the tomatoes she was inspecting to Hermione, a slight smile on her lips.

"The general population here can be a little… Discriminatory," Fleur replied as a man near her wolfed back a whole raw fish in one go.

"Right," Hermione replied, still looking around with interest. Fleur scarcely mentioned her Veela heritage. Hermione had almost assumed that Fleur chose to shun that side of her. She supposed it was a little naïve to assume that Fleur never spent any time around others with magical creature heritage just because she never spoke of it.

"Hermione," Fleur's curt voice brought Hermione back to Earth as she pushed a large armful of vegetables into her arms.

"Oh, erm, right," Hermione replied, stowing the vegetables in the cloth bags Fleur had provided her with. She had barely got everything bagged when Fleur had strode off again.

Hermione weaved through the crowd, following the swaying of Fleur's silvery-platinum blonde hair as she wandered through the ramshackle stalls as gracefully as if it were a catwalk.

I suppose there is a lot I don't know about her, Hermione mused, allowing herself to watch Fleur freely. She really was painfully beautiful. Hermione finally caught up with Fleur as she was passing some coins over to pay for a selection of cheeses.

"Merci," Fleur graciously thanked the elderly man running the stall.

"I feel bad for assuming this, but I kind of thought most magical creatures never mixed with each other," Hermione said to Fleur, "I mean, for example, the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest kept to themselves a lot."

"Mnn, but that is the same as any community, non?" Fleur replied, "Some would rather keep to themselves, but others welcome diversity. There are centaurs that come here from time to time."

Hermione nodded, enjoying learning about magical communities outside the wizarding one. Fleur and her moved at the last moment to avoid bowling over some short house elves that were purchasing what appeared to look like gillyweed. Hermione took Fleur's elbow instinctively as they veered, keeping the blonde steady in her heels. Fleur shot Hermione a look that once again, Hermione could not decipher. But it seemed the blonde was not annoyed, as she leant into Hermione's arm.

"Oi, Delacour!" a voice called out.

Fleur scarcely had time to turn before she was unceremoniously shoved by a messy haired young man. She almost lost her balance as she righted herself. She affixed a cool look to her face, staring down the young man that had approached her.

"I do not take kindly to being manhandled," Fleur said, her voice calm but dangerous.

The man hunched up his shoulders, bringing fists up in front of him.

"Its your fault my old man is in prison!" the man bellowed, "You're 'sposed to be a protector of part creatures like us! Werewolves are already assumed guilty!"

"That is true," Fleur replied calmly, "But in this instance your father was exploiting vulnerable centaurs. I could not in good conscience represent a man like that."

"A man like that?! You bitch!" the young man repeated, purpling with anger. He lunged forward at Fleur.

Without even thinking, Hermione dropped the bags she was carrying and intercepted the young man, shoving him roughly against a nearby stand and clutching him by the throat.

"Don't you dare touch her," Hermione hissed, applying just enough pressure on the man's throat to make him struggle.

Fleur was at her side in a moment, a hand on Hermione's shoulder attempting to pull her away.

"Hermione, this is unnecessary, I can look after myself," Fleur was saying quietly.

"No! He can't talk to you like that," Hermione growled, shoving the man again so his head knocked against the stall he was pinned against.

"I… I'm s-sorry…" the man squeezed out, his airflow quite restricted. He had a fearful look in his eyes but Hermione just didn't care. She was sick of all the injustice around her.

"Hermione—stop—this isn't you," Fleur was pleading, pulling harder at her shoulder.

With a heavy sigh, Hermione finally released the man, who slid to the ground, gulping in air and rubbing at his throat.

Hermione turned back to Fleur, who was picking up the groceries. Thankfully the throngs of people around them were continuing to bustle around the stalls, seemingly oblivious to the scuffle that had broken out. It occurred to Hermione that she may have come close to breaking her bail conditions by getting into an almost-fight.

"Let's go home," Fleur said, returning to Hermione and pushing the bags of groceries into her arms.

Hermione nodded numbly and followed Fleur to the fringes of the market where they disapparated.

Back at the apartment, Hermione began to pace, agitated, as Fleur put away the groceries. Fleur was obviously upset, cursing in French and slamming cupboards before she finally came out to face Hermione.

"Do you know how close you came to breaking your bail conditions?" Fleur angrily confronted Hermione, "You think that was the first angry confrontation I have faced like that?! I can look after myself!"

"I don't care!" Hermione shouted at her. The anger was all boiling up again and Hermione couldn't push it down any longer.

"You don't care?!" Fleur retorted, "Do you know how hard I worked to get you out of there?! Do you know how much we all worried about you?! How much sleep we all lost?!"

"You didn't have to!" Hermione shot back, "Nobody forced you to take my case! I don't know why you don't just drop it if its that much of an inconvenience on your life!"

"Because I can't!" Fleur replied back, her azure eyes swirling with anger and other nameless emotions, "I care about you Hermione. It would kill me if you were locked up over something you didn't do."

Hermione snorted.

"Wake up Fleur, the world isn't fair." Hermione replied darkly, "Innocent people jailed, good people kidnapped, facts twisted in the media… Nothing is ever going to change."

"Nothing is going to change?" Fleur replied incredulously, "That doesn't sound like the Hermione I met during the Triwizard Tournament… The one who had set up S.P.E.W."

Hermione was silenced for a moment. She had assumed Fleur had barely noticed her that year at Hogwarts. And she had remembered S.P.E.W… Not just that, but she had called it by its acronym instead of "spew."

The wind was knocked out of Hermione's sails a little.

"Yeah, well, maybe that Hermione is gone," Hermione said dejectedly, "There is only so much torture and injustice a person can take."

"Hermione," Fleur said softly, moving to her and cupping her cheek, "Do not speak like that. You are so strong… And I'm not just saying that because of the way you dealt with that thug at the market. You have always had such a mental strength about you."

Hermione met Fleur's eyes which were shining with such a sincerity and intensity that Hermione almost couldn't help what happened next.

Hermione leaned in, closing the gap between them, and pressed her lips gently against Fleur's. A chaste kiss by any means, but startling all the same.

Hermione drew back instantly, cursing.

"Argh, I'm so sorry, Fleur," Hermione apologised quickly.

Fleur, her eyes wide, drew back from Hermione, her slender fingers touching at her pink lips.

Fleur didn't reply.

"Shit, Fleur, I never meant to make you uncomfortable," Hermione doubled down on the apology, hoping that it could in some way take back the kiss.

Fleur's wedding ring was glimmering in the light as Fleur continued to touch her lips in shock. It was as if the damned ring was mocking Hermione.

"Fleur… I know you're married… And straight… And my lawyer… And Ron's brother's wife… Ah, God, I've really messed this up, haven't I?"

Fleur took a step backwards again, her hand finally falling from her lips. Her eyes were still wide as she took a deep breath, her eyes not meeting Hermione's.

"I… I think I need to go out for a bit," Fleur finally replied, in a voice that didn't quite sound like hers.

"Fleur, I'm sorry," Hermione repeated, feeling beyond awful over what had transpired. She didn't mean to jump the woman in her own home.

"I'll be back later," Fleur said in a distant voice, as she turned and headed out the door of the apartment.

Hermione sighed heavily, falling onto the couch with a conflicted mind.