A/N: Page break shows where it shifts from Hermione's POV to Fleur's POV. Also, apologies, but the Weasleys are dicks in this chapter. x
Hermione had just finished her second therapy session when she exited out onto the bustling street into the pouring rain. It had been intense. Right now all Hermione wanted was to be surrounded by friends. She cast a quick reflective spell to repel the rain beating down on her and weaved through the throng of post-work wizards and witches. Eventually she came to a small pub where she ducked in.
She smiled as she recognised the familiar slouch of Neville standing beside Luna at the bar. Harry ambled up to her, two jugs of beer in his hands.
"Golden trio drink for free here, 'Mione!" he said enthusiastically sloshing a jug into her hand. She laughed and followed him to a corner where Dean Thomas, a couple of aurors and Fleur were sitting at a table. She felt her stomach pull tightly as Fleur visibly lit up to see her.
Fleur felt a happy warmth fall over her as Hermione came and joined their table in the pub. Hermione sat right next to her, as if she could read Fleur's thoughts.
"How was it?" Fleur asked the brunette.
"Intense," Hermione sighed, "But I suppose cathartic." She poured herself a tall glass from the jug of beer and took a long swig, savouring the cold liquid.
Fleur could sense she wanted to change the subject, so started telling her about her theory that Mallarick was seeing one of the young accounting witches.
Drinks flowed freely all evening and the group settled in to an easy atmosphere with each other. Unlike their lives outside of their group of friends at the table, nobody was pestering them for details about the war or dredging up painful memories.
Hermione was intermittently teasing Fleur by asking her to do mundane tasks like get the next round of drinks from the bar or refill her drink. Fleur felt the familiar warm forceful twist of her inner veela and would have to submit. She squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, Hermione smiling at her. It was like their private inside joke.
Fleur knew that Hermione was her friend, and eager to help her meet a proper 'mate,' but despite herself still found herself smitten with the brunette. It wasn't just the now-familiar invisible draw to her now, or the arousal Fleur felt when she observed the younger witch's body. She was hanging on Hermione's every word, wondering what the brunette witch thought about one thing or another. She was attracted to Hermione, all of her. Fleur was doing her best to hide her growing feelings from her friend. She was reluctant to have another uncomfortable discussion, even if Hermione already knew she liked her.
She watched as Hermione's head suddenly snapped up at a familiar voice. Ron and Ginny had just ambled into the pub and were approaching the table. Harry only had time to flash an apologetic look down the table before they descended. Ginny swiftly sat in Harry's lap, giving him a possessive kiss. Ron nodded his head at the table before reaching forward to slap the boys' hands while grunting, "Alright, lads?"
Fleur felt Hermione noticeably stiffen beside her. This was perhaps the first time she had seen Ron since the breakup. Ron didn't look great. He looked as if he hadn't slept well for some time and had a bristle of ginger stubble over his face. His once full bowl of ginger hair was starting to thin at the hairline above his forehead. The only improvement to Ron's appearance was that he appeared to have bulked up, thick limbs filling out his knitted sweater where before he had been relatively scrawny. He messily poured himself a beer from a nearby jug and sloshed it back, beer spilling out of the glass and over his face. He put down the glass again heavily, wiping his face with the back of his hand.
Ginny had slid off Harry's lap and seated herself beside him. Her hair was longer than when Fleur had last seen her, and unlike Ron, was looking healthy. As Ginny's eyes roamed around the table, they narrowed as they reached Fleur.
"Phlegm?" Ginny said, a cold look taking over her friendly features, "Harry said he had been spending time with you… You know they don't serve frogs legs here, right?"
Fleur frowned, assuming this was some kind of clumsy French-directed insult. Ginny's eyes then fell on Hermione.
"Ah, of course you're friends with Phlegm now, Hermione," Ginny said bitterly, "Bonding over fucking over the Weasleys?"
The colour drained from Hermione's face. Ginny and Ron had obviously arrived drunk, but her words still stung.
Ron waved a ham-hock of a hand. "Gin, leave her be, she's a fuckin' mess," he said thickly, swigging a fresh glass of beer, "damaged goods."
Fleur watched a flurry of anger and sadness wash over Hermione's face as she stood up. "It was nice seeing you all, but I might call it an evening now…" she said, keeping her voice carefully neutral. The Weasleys snorted into their drinks. Hermione frowned and moved towards the door. Fleur rose and followed her.
As soon as they got out to the rain drenched street, they apparated back to their apartment. As they walked in the door, Hermione sighed heavily, walking over to the kitchen and pouring herself a glass of wine.
"Of course the Weasleys would ruin a perfectly good evening," she said, frowning. Fleur followed her and poured a glass of wine for herself. She put an arm comfortingly around Hermione's shoulders as they drank in silence.
"Maybe I should call it a night," Hermione said suddenly, "It is quite late." She drained her glass of wine in two big gulps and placed the empty glass on the kitchen counter. She turned to face Fleur, "finish that wine, Fleur."
Fleur felt the warm rush of her veela pushing her to submit and obediently gulped her wine glass down quickly. She could feel Hermione's eyes on her.
"Stay with me tonight, Fleur," Hermione said softly, turning to walk towards her room. Fleur helplessly followed, willing herself not to blush.
Hermione slowly got changed into a loose tee and some underwear in her room. Fleur didn't want to look, but found herself hungrily raking in the sight of Hermione's toned, bare back as she changed. By the time Hermione turned to face her, she was definitely blushing.
"Fleur, you should get out of that dress, you can't sleep in that" Hermione commented, looking at Fleur's flowing emerald dress. Fleur's inner veela swarmed within her, excited at the prospect of being in Hermione's bedroom, willing her to obey. Fleur blushed darker and slowly removed her dress, leaving her standing in front of Hermione in her lingerie. Fleur felt herself start to get aroused as Hermione looked at her body in appreciation.
"Wow, Fleur," Hermione murmured, "You look great."
Hermione climbed into bed and waved for Fleur to join her. They settled in under the covers.
"Sorry, Fleur," Hermione said softly, "I just feel a little lonely sometimes." Fleur nodded silently, not wanting to say anything that could ruin the friendship. Hermione reached out and took Fleur's hand, looking at the tanline where her wedding ring had been.
"You must have been so unhappy," Hermione whispered, "Not being free to be yourself."
Fleur gave a sad smile, "It was my own doing, trying to be someone that I was not."
Hermione nodded and grabbed her wand from the side table, flicking the lamps in the room out. Fleur heard the wand clatter on the bedside table in the dark as Hermione returned it before edging closer to Fleur in bed.
Fleur bit her bottom lip painfully as Hermione's hands wandered over her body. She was painfully aroused now, but would never cross a line and pounce on Hermione. She wondered if Hermione knew how much she was torturing her with her roaming hands. Hermione's face nestled beside Fleur's, her lips brushing Fleur's ear softly.
"You know how hot it is having you submit to me?" Hermione whispered quietly in Fleur's ear. Fleur felt a shock of arousal course through her with a painful throb.
"Don't move" Hermione whispered and Fleur was pushed heavily onto her back. She felt Hermione climb on top of her and her lips returned to Fleur's ear.
"Do you want me, Fleur?" Hermione said teasingly.
Fleur bit her lip again before sighing. "Yes."
Hermione started kissing Fleur's neck, nipping occasionally with her teeth. Her hands wandered over Fleur's breasts and her hips grinded against Fleur's. Fleur's breath hitched in her throat and she let out an involuntary moan. She felt Hermione smile against her neck before kissing down to her collarbones, then trailing kisses down her chest to her stomach. Fleur writhed as Hermione began to place gentle kisses along her hips, tugging at the waistband of her underwear. She let out another moan.
Hermione paused what she was doing and Fleur could feel her smiling against her skin again.
"Of course, I can't do that, or I won't get to enjoy the fun of you submitting to me anymore…"
Fleur let out a long and shaking breath, "Merde… zis is torture, 'Ermione," her accent becoming more pronounced with her frustration. Hermione moved her way back up Fleur's body, running her hands over her along the way. She pressed her lips softly against Fleur's, before rolling over. Eventually they both fell into a deep sleep.
When Fleur awoke the next morning, she wondered if it had been a dream. But there she was, in her lingerie, in Hermione's bed. Hermione wasn't there. Fleur got up and walked into the living room, doing a quick accio of her dressing gown to cover herself. She saw Hermione sitting in one of the chairs on their small balcony. She padded out to join her.
"Hermione, I didn't know you smoked…" Fleur said, sitting in the other chair. Hermione smiled and took another drag of the cigarette in her hand.
"Last night was crazy," Hermione said, her voice dismissive, "Can't believe those fucking Weasleys. Was good to see the others though."
Fleur furrowed her brows, leaning back in her chair. Was Hermione just not going to bring up what happened when they got home? Why would Hermione have done something like that if she wasn't attracted to Fleur, too?
Hermione stubbed out the cigarette before standing. "Shall I make us some coffees, bud?" she said cheerfully, lightly punching Fleur on the shoulder before heading back inside. Fleur remained in the seat on the balcony, confused. Her thoughts ran wild with all the mixed messages she was getting. Hermione returned to the balcony quickly, not looking at Fleur.
"Erm, by the way, I think I'll have a catch up drink with Ron," she said awkwardly, "You know, smooth things over so the Weasleys aren't being such prats."