A/N: Hey all, changed my username FYI but it is still me x

Chapter 20.

Hermione unpacked the food that Bill had given them, passing it to Ron who was starting to cook up a storm in the kitchen. It seemed that his love of food had translated neatly into a love of cooking, helped in part by Molly's careful hen-pecking of her children.

Harry was eying her carefully across the kitchen table, making up a plunger of coffee for them all.

Hermione did feel a little guilty unpacking the resources Bill had so generously given them. She had just got off that morning with his wife's helping hand. She looked up, catching Harry's eye. He definitely knew what was going on.

Hermione couldn't help it. She was addicted. Even now, feeling bad for Bill, she couldn't help but crave Fleur's touch.

Fleur arrived in the room, preened and aloof, seating herself at the end of the table. Ron eyed her cautiously, still processing the news of his brother's breakup. He seemed torn by loyalty to Bill, but also not knowing whether there was even a side to take in the situation. Bill had been so vague in the reasons for their breakup after all.

Hermione knew Harry was watching her closely but she couldn't keep her eyes from drifting to Fleur. The blonde looked so beautiful in the morning light.

"Do you need a hand with breakfast, Ron?" Fleur offered. Ron, still looking unsure of Fleur, shook his head.

"Nah, it's fine," Ron grunted, playing with the old stove.

Grimmauld Place was very traditional and old-fashioned, but Hermione thought if it could only get a good deep clean, it would look quite elegant. The removal of the problematic portraits had already done much to improve the place. Hermione would have to ask Fleur to teach her the cleansing spell she had cast on her room last night.

Ron placed the food on the table as Harry poured out mugs of coffee.

"Thank God Bill gave us those supplies," Ron commented, sitting down heavily, "The only thing in those cupboards were some dusty cans of beans and a couple of mice."

"Mice?" Fleur shuddered and paled. It made Hermione smile widely. Fleur was so cute, if a bit girly and precious.

"That's a point," Harry said, "If we're going to be based here for a while, we should probably clean up a bit… As much as I hate to say it."

"Harry, mate, we're fugitives, not bloody housewives," Ron complained.

"Actually, Fleur has a fantastic spell for cleaning that she showed me last night that should mean it takes no time at all," Hermione said, before catching Harry's eye. He was definitely going to interrogate her later.

"Okay, so plan for the day," Harry said, taking leadership in the natural way he had, "We clean up this place, get settled in, and regroup to talk the way forward tonight after dinner."

"Sounds good to me," Hermione said.

Ron looked sulky, but nodded all the same.

Hermione was trying to fix a faulty latch on a window in the study. Because they only had the Azkaban guard's wand between all four of them, she was having to try and work it out the Muggle way. She was struggling with a screwdriver when she heard the door open. She knew without turning around who it would be.

"Hey 'Mione," Harry greeted.

Hermione gave up on the latch for the time being, turning around to face Harry with a smile.

"Doesn't this study look exactly like you would expect from an old pureblood family?" Hermione said, gesturing at the room around them.

There were two leather armchairs facing a fireplace. On the ground in front of a fireplace was a thick bearskin rug that was the entire opposite of Hermione's own style.

There was a giant mahogany desk and a bookshelf in the room too, but that didn't even interest Hermione. All the books seemed to be filled with twisted versions of history or hate-fuelled rhetoric. She would have to have a word with Harry about updating the reading at Grimmauld Place now it was his own property.

"It really does," Harry agreed, "But I'll make it my own eventually. You know that isn't what I came to talk to you about though,"

"I know," Hermione sighed.

She walked over and threw herself into one of the leather armchairs. Harry came and sat in the other one.

"So, what is going on with you and Fleur?" Harry asked, "Since when were you even into women?"

"Don't laugh," Hermione replied, "But… I kind of realised I was also interested in women while I was in prison the first time."

"Hermione, you know I'm the last person who will judge you," Harry said, "But how… Why… Fleur?! I never saw that coming."

"Me neither," Hermione admitted, "But when she was my lawyer… I don't know… She's bloody stunning, Harry."

Harry laughed.

"I think we all know that, Hermione," Harry said with a nod and a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Anyway, at some point I felt all the annoyances I had at her slipping away… All that was left was this huge attraction," Hermione continued, "Then when I realised she was attracted to me too… God, Harry, it was like it wasn't even in our own control. We were drawn together like magnets."

"Wow," Harry said, surprised. He had never heard Hermione talk about her feelings for anyone, let alone talk so intensely about someone, "So you've been sleeping with her this whole time?"

"No," Hermione replied, a blush beginning to form at her own cheeks, "What you heard the other night… That was the first time."

"Oh," Harry mumbled, looking a little overwhelmed, "What're you going to tell Ron? He's the one that arranged for her to be your lawyer in the first place. I'm guessing you're the reason Fleur and Bill broke up."

"Well… One of the reasons, yeah," Hermione said, dipping her head guiltily.

"He's gonna be upset," Harry predicted. They both knew Ron got bothered by small things easily, let alone something that had caused his family to hurt.

"I know," Hermione replied, shaking her head.

"I think…" Harry sighed with the difficulty of what he was about to say, "I think we should keep it from him until we have finished this nightmare with the Ministry. Otherwise he won't be able to concentrate and might derail the whole thing."

"I know…" Hermione said guiltily, "I promise I will tell him eventually though, Harry."

"I know you will," Harry responded.

A silence fell over the two.

"So this chemistry between you two… You think it could be serious? Like it could lead to something?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Hermione responded with a small smile, "I do know that I'm finding myself catching some feelings. I feel so protective of her… And like small things she does make me feel… I dunno."

Hermione blushed and looked away.

"I'm happy for you, 'Mione," Harry smiled genuinely, "Even if it might be the worst timing possible for this pairing."

Hermione laughed.

"Thanks Harry, it means a lot," Hermione replied, "I thought you were going to read me the riot act about this."

"Don't get me wrong," Harry responded, "This has to be the dumbest thing you have done ever, Hermione. But when it comes to feelings, I get that. We've all made mistakes over a girl. Ron will get that too, eventually."

"I meant to hold off!" Hermione defended herself, "I didn't want anything at all to happen before Bill and Fleur had properly broken up, if that was even what was going to happen. I just… God, Harry, you've seen her."

Harry laughed, throwing his head back with a lightness they hadn't shared since before the wizarding war.

"It's nice to know you are as imperfect as me and Ron, sometimes," Harry laughed, "It'll be okay. We all make mistakes. You and Fleur are both great people and I'm sure however things work out in the end, it will be for the best."

Hermione was relieved Harry was taking the news so well. Especially because it was so likely that Ron wouldn't take it well at all. It was good to have a friend in her corner.

Harry left later that afternoon to go and pull all the dust-sheets off furniture in the living room.

Hermione, her self-restraint low again, went in search of Fleur, finding her in one of the spare rooms, dealing with an infestation of sprites.

Hermione stood for a while watching Fleur work. It was interesting watching someone part-magical creature deal with magical creatures. Instead of using harsh spells or trying to exterminate the creatures, she was corralling them before setting them free out a nearby window. They were fluttering away in the early evening air, providing a pretty background to the blonde.

"Harry knows," Hermione finally said, breaking the silence.

Fleur jumped, having been oblivious to Hermione's quiet entry. She turned around immediately and walked over to Hermione.

"How?" Fleur asked, looking stricken.

"He heard us at your relative's cottage," Hermione mumbled, embarrassed. A look of mortification crossed Fleur's face before being carefully hidden again.

"Oh," Fleur said uncomfortably, "Is he… "

Fleur trailed off. Hermione sensed what the blonde was awkwardly trying to get at.

"He's not upset or mad or anything like that," Hermione explained, "He agrees it was terrible timing, but is otherwise supportive."

"He's a good man," Fleur said, smiling slightly.

"He is," Hermione concurred, "And a better friend. He agreed that we need to just keep this between us until there are less political things at play. There is a lot going on with the Justice Party and everyone needs to keep focussed."

"That is good to hear," Fleur said, nodding slowly. She was stepping slightly closer to Hermione now, playing with her hands. Hermione found herself smiling.

Sure enough, Fleur leaned in, kissing Hermione gently. Hermione's hands moved to Fleur's hips, holding the blonde close to her. She returned the kiss with passion, deepening it. She could feel Fleur's hands running up her back sensually, before getting lost in her brunette curls.

Hermione's hands ran slightly up under Fleur's shirt, resting on the soft skin of her toned waist. The kiss broke and they stared into each other's eyes, panting and smiling.

"This really is terrible timing," Fleur said in a strained voice, "But I can't help it."

Hermione leaned in, kissing the smooth expanse of Fleur's neck as lightly as she could.

"Stay with me again tonight?" Hermione murmured between feather-light kisses.

Fleur made a small moan, leaning further into Hermione's arms.

They were interrupted by the boys calling up into the house from downstairs.

"Dinner is ready!"

Hermione frowned, she had something far more delectable in her arms after all. She stole another deep kiss from Fleur.

Fleur broke the kiss, smirking.

"Now, now," Fleur chided gently, "We need to keep our energy up for the challenges ahead. Enough misbehaving."

She carefully removed Hermione's hands from her waist before gliding her way out of the room. Hermione's eyes followed her hungrily before reluctantly following.

'Merlin, I feel like a teenager going through puberty,' Hermione inwardly reprimanded herself. Her sex drive, which had been entirely dormant for her years at Hogwarts, was suddenly in overdrive these days. Of course it had to coincide with the latest threat to society.

She tried to refocus, following Fleur down the stairs.

The boys were sitting in front of some bleak looking meals. Green beans, carrots and some potatoes.

"Yeah, sorry," Ron apologised, "The cans in the cupboards had holes in so the contents were ruined. I wasn't sure what I could make with these three ingredients, so this is it."

"It's fine, thank you Ronald," Fleur said graciously, sitting down at the table.

"Yeah, Harry agreed, "I managed to get a pigeon to send out a request for supplies today so it should be better soon. Unconventional birds are harder than they sound, dunno how Sirius did it when he was on the run."

"Good, coz I'm gonna be starving tonight," Ron said, diving into his vegetables, "If only we hadn't banked on using cans of food here."

It didn't take long to eat their paltry meals, Hermione not feeling satisfied in the slightest. Fleur got up and offered to help Ron with the dishes. The redhead still looked wary, but nodded, rolling up his sleeves to get to work.

"Can't wait til we have more than one wand between us so we don't need to do everything the Muggle way," Ron grumbled.

Harry turned to Hermione.

"Shall we set up for planning?" Harry suggested. Hermione nodded. She wiped down the table and turned to the cupboards.

For a good night of planning, she figured she would prepare a hot teapot for them all. She carefully made it up and gathered some mugs, turning back to the table.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed.

He had set up the table messily. He had planted a number of wine bottles in the centre of the table and a wine glass and notebook at each place setting with a quill and inkwell.

"What? We probably need some inspiration," Harry shrugged.

"Don't you think that is a little irresponsible?" Hermione said bossily, setting down the teapot and mugs.

"Not at all," Ron answered on Harry's behalf, returning to the table and beginning to uncork a bottle of wine.

Fleur came over, smiling at Hermione encouragingly. Hermione suddenly forgot what she was annoyed about and sat down beside the blonde.

As it turned out, relatively empty stomachs and wine did not make for a productive planning session.

Ron's head kept nodding as he started to fall asleep, his head propped up with one hand and his eyes only half open.

Harry seemed to think he was right on track, scribbling down what looked like unintelligible scrawls in his notebook.

Hermione was nodding along with what Harry was saying but barely paying attention. Her attentions were firmly on the blonde beside her, glasses of wine dissolving what was left of her small self-control. Her hand had already travelled up the inside of Fleur's thigh underneath the table. Fleur was sitting there seriously, pretending not to notice Hermione's caresses as she listened to Harry talk.

"What if we framed them for a murder and bank robbery?" Harry slurred, dabbing his quill on his tongue before scribbling some more gibberish on his page.

Hermione nodded, edging her hand even further up Fleur's thigh. Her pinky finger brushed the crotch of Fleur's panties and the blonde blushed, almost dropping her glass of wine.

"I think that is enough brain storming for the night," Fleur said in an unsteady voice, "I am going to go to bed."

Hermione felt disappointment wash over her as Fleur got up and left the room. Harry nudged Ron whose head fell off his hand, crashing him to the table and waking him up.

"Huuunnnh? Bed? Yeah…" Ron mumbled sleepily.

"Yeah, let's call it a night," Hermione agreed, getting up and clearing away the glasses. She was feeling heady with wine as she washed up and went upstairs.

She headed into her room, obliviously stripping off before she noticed she wasn't alone.

"Fleur!" Hermione gasped.

Fleur was sitting up in Hermione's bed, waiting for her under the covers. The blankets were tucked under her arms, but Hermione could tell from the bare shoulders that Fleur wasn't wearing anything.

"You did ask me to stay with you tonight," Fleur reminded her.

Hermione nodded dumbly. She supposed she didn't need to find her pyjamas now, walking over to the bed. She was loving the way that Fleur was watching her. Fleur's eyes were glued to her bare body, not even bothering to hide her desire.

Hermione climbed under the covers, drawing close to Fleur. Fleur's hands immediately ran over Hermione's body as she pulled the brunette closer to her.

"I've been thinking about this since this morning," Hermione murmured, kissing Fleur's neck. Hermione loved Fleur's wandering hands, cupping and caressing her all over.

Hermione rolled partway on top of Fleur, her lips capturing the blonde's as she grinded on her. She felt her arousal spike even more as she slid a knee between Fleur's legs and discovered how wet she was. Fleur gasped and began to grind on Hermione's thigh.

"God, you're so sexy," Fleur gasped. Hermione smirked and nipped Fleur's neck. She took the lobe of Fleur's ear in her front teeth and tugged lightly before sucking on it, earning an appreciative moan from Fleur.

"You must be worked up after this morning," Hermione teased in Fleur's ear. The blonde whimpered and grinded on Hermione's thigh harder.

"Oui," Fleur gasped.

"You want me to help you with that?" Hermione purred into Fleur's neck, dropping kisses on the sensitive skin.

"Oui," Fleur moaned, her hips jerking as she kept grinding desperately.

"Ask me for it, then," Hermione teased, licking up the delicate column of Fleur's neck. Fleur groaned, frustrated.

"Please, Hermione," Fleur finally whimpered, letting her infamous pride fall in her desire for the brunette.

Hermione smirked, kissing up her neck and then along Fleur's jawline. She slid her hand between Fleur's legs, finally giving the blonde some relief. She rubbed at the blonde's clit and kissed back down her neck. She kissed her chest next as she slipped two fingers inside the blonde. Fleur groaned and arched her back. Hermione took the opportunity to lick and nip at Fleur's nipples, enjoying the chance to play as she pleasured the blonde.

Fleur's hands fisted the sheets of the bed, throwing her head back as Hermione thrust deeper and faster. She called out Hermione's name, and Hermione felt her own arousal spike at the sound.

"Tell me you're mine," Hermione hissed into Fleur's ear, drunk on the desire.

"I-I'm yours," Fleur whimpered, finally reaching her climax and shuddering. Hermione held her tightly as the blonde rode her high before going limp in Hermione's arms.

Fleur panted and kissed Hermione as a wide smile grew on her face.

"That was amazing," Fleur whispered.

"That was incredible," Hermione concurred, "You drive me crazy."

"Do I?" Fleur said coyly, sitting up and playfully pushing Hermione down on the bed. She straddled the brunette.

Hermione moaned, her hands running up Fleur's thighs and to her hips.

"You really do, Fleur," Hermione said, "I've never wanted anyone like this before. I can't fight it."

"Well… Let me drive you crazier," Fleur purred in her accented voice. She slid down Hermione's body, her hands running down her.

Hermione was trembling with want. It only intensified as Fleur kissed at her toned stomach, her soft mane of blonde hair brushing Hermione's abs as she kissed lower and lower.

Fleur's lips brushed the inside of Hermione's thighs and the brunette shuddered and gasped.

"Fleur," Hermione uttered hoarsely.

Fleur moved her kissing to Hermione's centre, where it quickly escalated to licking and sucking. Hermione's eyes fluttered as Fleur's skilled tongue set to work, pleasuring her. This was better than any daydream. Hermione let a hand brush through Fleur's silky soft mane of platinum blonde hair, uttering obscenities at the sheer bliss overtaking her.

"Fleur… God…" Hermione groaned as Fleur took her to the edge. The pleasure was so intense, so sweet, so powerful, Hermione was having trouble keeping her wits about her.

She lost it entirely as she exclaimed Fleur's name, hips quivering and head thrown back. As she finished, she felt Fleur kiss her gently down there before rising up and running a hand through her now unruly hair.

"Come here," Hermione asked in a rough voice.

Fleur complied, falling into Hermione's arms. Hermione held her tight.

As they held each other in contented silence, Hermione wondered what on Earth she would do without Fleur in her life. She was catching feelings. She knew it for sure now.