Hermione sat down at the table of the coffee shop where she was meeting Ron. She had got out fifteen minutes late from therapy, but Ron was still not here. She rolled her eyes. Typical.
Her mind turned to the previous night. It had probably been the most mind blowing night of her life. She never believed she ever would have ended up in bed with someone like Fleur. It wasn't just that she was surprised at her attraction to a woman. Fleur was so poised and intelligent and perfect. She genuinely cared about people. She had natural style, shown with her impeccable fashion and her frequent redecorating of her apartment.
Hermione placed her head in her hands, massaging her temples. She felt terrible for giving in last night. She knew Fleur had feelings for her. She should have been more firm with the "just friends" thing. Fleur didn't deserve to be fooled around with by a mess like her. She felt like she had hurt Fleur enough with the times she had physically given in to her. The truth was, Hermione couldn't deny her growing feelings back for Fleur and it was getting harder to fight. It was getting harder to remember why she was fighting it.
There was a thump and Hermione looked up to see Ron sitting across from her at the table, two pints in front of him. He wiped the back of one hand across his stubbly face.
"Jesus, Ron, how did you get beer at a coffee shop? In the morning?" she said.
Ron just shrugged and picked up his glass, taking a heavy gulp, "don't know why you bothered taking Harry's advice about therapy instead of meeting me earlier," he growled.
Hermione propped her head up on one hand, dragging a folded newspaper crossword towards her with the other hand.
"Do you think I self-sabotage, Ron?" she asked, scrawling lazily across the paper. Ron sighed heavily, taking another swig of his beer. He tired of deep conversations with Hermione.
"'Mione, you and me are the same," he said with a frown, "damaged goods."
"Ron, you know I hate when you say that," Hermione snapped. Ron shrugged again and continued sipping his beer.
"If we're damaged goods, then how come Harry isn't as unhappy as us?" Hermione said, looking up at Ron, "How come he hasn't let himself become a shitty person?"
Ron groaned, scratching his stubbly chin, "'Mione, we aren't shitty people."
"But we are unhappy?" Hermione countered. Ron considered this for a moment before having another sip.
"Well, I told you we should get back together," Ron said, smiling a little.
"Oh my god, Ron. We are terrible for each other." Hermione said. She leaned back in her chair, taking in the scene she had found herself in. She was sitting in a coffee shop with her dishevelled awful ex-boyfriend, a pint of beer in front of them both despite the fact it was only 10.30am. She did self-sabotage. She had been one step away from getting back with Ron and going back to wasting her time feeling bad and drinking all the time. She exhaled slowly, thinking about her other friends pushing her towards positive things. Harry encouraging her into therapy, Fleur actually willing to discuss her books and studies with her. Fleur gazing at her like she meant the world.
Hermione pushed her chair back, standing up. "I need to get out of this awful mindset," she said, pushing her untouched pint towards Ron, "I don't like who I am."
Ron snorted, rolling his eyes, "Awright, good luck with that 'Mione."
Hermione strode out of the coffee shop, turning to watch Ron greedily pull her pint towards himself.
Hermione spent the rest of the morning trying to reconnect with herself. She went for a long brisk walk. She visited the most decadent book shops in the city. She scooped up books that spiked her interest before stopping in to treat herself to some new parchment and quills and inks.
"Hermione Granger," the witch at the till said beaming. Hermione inwardly groaned, bracing herself for the inevitable grilling about the war and what she had seen.
"You were the smartest witch your year at Hogwarts!" the witch chirped, placing the parchment and supplies in a neat paper bag. Hermione smiled. Yes, she was. She collected the bag and walked back out to the street. She was feeling buoyed. She was Hermione Granger. Smartest witch from her year at Hogwarts. Star researcher at the Ministry. Why didn't she deserve to be happy?
She smiled and stopped in at another bookshop, selecting a novel she thought Fleur would like. She then swept into a shop, picking up some bright flowers and a danish. Why shouldn't she give in to her feelings and ask Fleur out on a date? It was what she wanted. It was what Fleur wanted. The only thing that had been stopping her was the self doubt that she would mess it up or Fleur would realise after her veela instincts had calmed that she didn't actually like her.
Hermione arrived home, her arms brimming with her purchases. Fleur was leaning against the kitchen bench drinking a glass of water.
"Fleur!" Hermione chirped happily, putting her paper bags and the flowers down on the dining table.
"Hermione," Fleur said, smiling slightly, "I think you are right about us being better as friends. I went on that date this morning and it went quite well."
The smile dropped off Hermione's face. Fleur finished her glass of water and then turned and rummaged in the cupboard behind her. She retrieved a vase and then walked over to Hermione.
"I am assuming those are for your room? Here, you can use this," she said coolly, before handing the case to Hermione and walking into her room. She shut the door behind her.
Hermione swallowed heavily, her stomach sinking as she realised she had completely fumbled her chance with an absolute goddess of a woman. But Hermione Granger never quit on anything she was interested in. She took a few deep breaths, trying to plan how to negotiate herself out of this mess she had created. She wiped her sweaty hands on her pant legs and slowly walked to Fleur's door. She paused and knocked.
The door opened halfway and Fleur smoothly emerged to lean against the doorway, folding her hands across her chest.
"Yes, Hermione?" Fleur asked coolly.
"They're for you," Hermione awkwardly blurted.
"Huh?" Fleur seemed surprised.
"The flowers. They're not for me, they're for you."
"I'm not going to sleep with you again," Fleur said, her voice tinged with sadness and a little bitterness.
"I don't want that. I mean, I do. But…" Hermione was fumbling over her words now. She had actually never asked someone out before.
Fleur arched a perfectly groomed eyebrow, moving from leaning on the doorway to standing. It seemed as if she was deciding whether or not to shut the door.
"I've been a dick," Hermione said suddenly, worried that Fleur would shut the door, "I've been all over the place and I know it can't have felt great for you."
Fleur smiled slightly, appreciative for the apology at least.
"B-but I don't want to be friends," Hermione stuttered.
Fleur raised both her eyebrows now, and reached her arm out, placing a hand on the door handle. Hermione panicked and put a hand on the door.
"I mean, I like you. I think about you all the time, Fleur," Hermione said nervously, "I just… I understand if I've messed you around too much… or if you liked the girl on your date a lot… or if you've lost your feelings towards me…"
Fleur's face was a look of shock and suspicion.
"I'm not going to sleep with you, Hermione…" she repeated slowly, suspiciously.
"No, I understand that," Hermione said, rubbing the back of her neck, "But let me take you on one date…"
Fleur was silent for a while, looking at Hermione carefully. Eventually she slowly nodded.
"Fine, one date," Fleur said, looking surprised as Hermione's face broke into a wide smile.
"Okay! Well I have some planning to do," Hermione said excitedly, turning to walk back to the table. Fleur stood in her doorway, still surprised.
"In the meantime, I thought you would like these," Hermione said smiling, returning to Fleur with the danish in one hand and the book she had got her in another, "I figured you probably get homesick sometimes so thought you might enjoy a book written in French."
Fleur smiled despite herself and accepted the gifts.
"Please don't let this be too good to be true, Hermione," she said with a hint of sadness, before returning into her room and closing the door again.
Hermione beamed, clasping her hands together, happy for the first time in a very long time.