With a pop, Hermione and Fleur arrived outside a familiar building. Grimmauld Place.

"If anything was to happen with the safehouses, we were all to meet here." Fleur explained shortly, before scanning their surroundings carefully as they approached the door.

Inside Grimmauld Place they came across Harry, Moody and several members of the Order. Molly Weasley pushed through the others in the house to look frantically behind Hermione.

"Ron?! Where's my Ronald?" she inquired shrilly, wringing her hands. Fleur silently breezed past Molly, leaving Hermione to comfort her, as she went to speak quietly with Moody.

Molly embraced Hermione with a sob.

"I knew it was too dangerous to have you all walking about and going to work," she sobbed. Harry thankfully interrupted Molly before she crushed Hermione with her vice-like embrace, pulling his friend aside to talk.

"You okay, 'Mione?" he asked, voice laced with concern, "Moody got me out before anyone reached me, but we heard they found out all three locations of the safehouses."

"A nasty cruciatus courtesy of Narcissa Malfoy," Hermione said darkly, "But thankfully no more than that."

Harry hugged Hermione with relief, but Hermione was looking over his shoulder at the blonde witch who had saved her, who was now engaged in a serious conversation with McGonagall and Moody.

All of a sudden, the door slammed open, causing the occupants to collectively jump and snap their heads to the doorway. There, a panting Tonks, almost doubled over, lurched in the door with Ron thrown over her shoulder. She stumbled in the door before collapsing.

Harry and Hermione immediately started forward before being held back by Molly and McGonagall.

"Stop! I can help!" Hermione shouted, wrestling against McGonagall's surprisingly vice-like grip.

In a moment, Fleur was in front of her, placing a hand on her shoulder and looking seriously into her eyes.

"Hermione, healing is a part of auror training, we will take care of them."

There was something about Fleur's certainty and tone that assured Hermione nobody was going to die. But equally, her calmness and confidence infuriated her.

"You bitch, I can help!" Hermione seethed, again trying to wrestle free of McGonagall. Did Fleur not understand that this was her best friend?!

Fleur smiled tightly and turned to assist Moody, levitating Tonks and Ron's unconscious bodies into the main Order meeting room, where the doors shut tightly behind them.

McGonagall finally released her.

"Ms Granger, Mr Potter," she said solemnly, "There is nothing more you can do except wait. I assure you Mr Weasley and Nymphadora are in good hands."

With that, McGonagall turned on her heel and headed in to join the others in the Order meeting room. Molly turned to the two.

"Come on, you two," she said, sounding somewhat exhausted with worry, "I want nothing else than to be in there now too, but we just have to stay out of the way. I'll show you your rooms."

It appeared in the years since they had last been at Grimmauld Place, the Order had continued their cleaning regime. Hermione was pleasantly surprised to find that the rooms had been cleaned enough that they would each have their own quarters. It also appeared that someone had already dashed back to her former safe-house to gather her personal effects, as they were already neatly placed at the end of her four poster bed.

Across the hall and down slightly was Harry's room. Identical to Hermione's, except for a number of cloth covered portraits in a corner of the room.

"Merlin, I hope they don't wake me up in the night talking," Harry said darkly, eying the corner. They both remembered well the bigoted portraits from their last stay at Grimmauld.

"Still better company than Fleur," Hermione said darkly. Harry raised his eyebrows.

"'Mione, she just saved you," he said in surprise, scratching the back of his neck as he sat on the edge of his bed. Hermione fell heavily into the old armchair beside his bed.

"She did her job, Harry," Hermione said curtly, "It doesn't mean I have to like her."

"D'ya think maybe…" Harry trailed off and shook his head. He changed the subject, "At least we'll all be living together instead of in those miserable solo safe-houses."

Hermione nodded, her mind now turning to their new situation.

"Do you think we really won't be able to go to work anymore?" she asked, frowning. Harry sighed and kicked his feet off the side of the bed.

"I really hope they don't decide that," Harry said glumly, "Then we'll really start to know how Sirius felt when he was cooped up here."

The two sat like that for most of the morning, until around midday Molly came to see them.

"Good news, Ron and Tonks are going to be just fine," she said brightly, "They will be on bed-rest for a day or two, but other than that, have pulled through fine!"

Harry and Hermione exchanged relieved grins.

"Anyway, come downstairs now, its lunchtime," Molly said in a motherly tone, ushering the two out of the room and down the stairs.

Moody and Fleur were already seated at the table, it appeared other members of the Order had left again. Once they had taken their seats Molly levitated bowls of soup in front of them all.

"So, ah, as you've probably surmised, you're going to have to stay here for the foreseeable future," Moody grunted, dipping a soup spoon suspiciously into his bowl to poke around. Satisfied, he then turned his attentions to inspecting the crusty bread on the side.

"Unfortunately, this will come with some restrictions…" He continued, prodding a thick slice of bread.

Harry and Hermione let out long, exasperated sighs. Once upon a time they had been on the front lines of this war, now it felt more and more like they were being caged and kept away from helping.

"Great," Hermione remarked with uncharacteristic sarcasm. She was reaching her breaking point with this war.

"You will be unable to return to your jobs, as it is too unsafe," Fleur said, glancing at Moody who was increasingly preoccupied with investigating his bread.

"Oh, you bloody love that, don't you?!" Hermione exclaimed in a sudden outburst.

"Quoi?" Fleur asked, cocking her head to one side.

"You hated my job and you hated watching me succeed at it!" Hermione snapped.

"That is ridiculous," Fleur scoffed, "Lack of respect does not equal hate."

"See?!" Hermione exclaimed, gesturing wildly around the table, "She never liked it. This is what she wanted."

"Girls," Molly said soothingly, "I know tempers are high right now, but lets not turn on each other. Fleur, dear, be nice to Hermione. Hermione, sweetie, this Death Eater situation is not Fleur's fault. Its unfortunate that you can't return to work, but that has nothing to do with Fleur."

Hermione huffed and crossed her arms, glaring across the table at Fleur. Fleur smiled mock-sweetly at Hermione, clearly trying to get a rise out of her, before turning her attentions to her soup.

"This whole situation is a bit shit though, isn't it?" Harry commented, and though Molly admonished him for his language, she couldn't help but agree.

"It wont be forever," Molly said, a phrase the Golden Trio had heard countless times throughout the years.

Harry exhaled loudly and resigned himself to his lunch. The rest of the meal went by relatively quietly, with Molly maintaining the peace and continuing light conversation.

After lunch, Harry and Hermione were allowed to see Ron. Ron was resting in bed in a room similar to Harry and Hermione's, asleep and deathly pale, but otherwise looking fine. They clambered onto the bed to sit beside their unconscious friend.

"I hate this," Hermione said angrily. Harry nodded at her, his hands balled into fists.

"We have to get back out there," he agreed, "Its different now, we aren't kids! I have some auror training now for Merlin's sake."

Hermione nodded, deep in thought.


In the latter part of the afternoon, when Harry curled up beside Ron with a book to read, Hermione went to visit Tonks. The metamorphmagus today had raven black hair, similar to Harry's but shoulder length. She was awake and reading a copy of The Daily Prophet. Hermione set herself in the chair beside Tonks' bed.

"I'm starting to think the Death Eaters have infiltrated the media now, too," Tonks sighed, flipping through the pages without looking up.

"You feeling okay?" Hermione asked, kicking her heels into the old rug on the floor.

"Bit battered up, but otherwise not bad," Tonks chirped, putting her paper flat on her bed in front of her, "How about you? You and Har' going mad at not being able to get out there yourself?" Tonk's eyes twinkled and she had a knowing smile.

Hermione sighed.

"Why did Ron get you and I got landed with Fleur?" Hermione sighed. Tonks clucked her tongue.

"Ah, this again…" Tonks sighed, "Fleur is a really good auror, Hermione, you're lucky to have her."

Hermione snorted, "When she isn't filing her nails or playing with her hair."

Tonks rolled her eyes, "I know you don't really think that. You know as well as I do that she was a Triwizard Champion, got the highest mark in our auror class… the girl is talented."

"You just don't find her irritating because you have a giant crush on her!" Hermione scoffed. Tonks smirked before raising an eyebrow.

"Am I the one that is talking about her all the time?" Tonks said slyly, "You sound pretty obsessed with her yourself, Granger."

Hermione made a choking noise and blushed, "Don't be ridiculous! She is the most infuriating person I have ever had the misfortune of meeting!"

Tonks' eyes moved to look at the doorway behind Hermione and she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, refusing to respond. Hermione clenched her teeth, cringing, and turned to see Fleur herself leaning in the doorway.

"Its dinnertime," Fleur said softly, before turning and gliding out of the room without another word.

"Great, now she's going to be even more insufferable," Hermione groaned. Tonks flashed her a smile.

"You know you two argue like an old married couple, right?"

Hermione shot a glare at Tonks, unamused with this line of teasing, and filed out to dinner.

Dinner was tense, with Molly informing them that she would be leaving the next day. From now on it was going to be the Golden Trio and their respective aurors, apart from when Grimmauld Place hosted Order meetings. Hermione glared at Fleur across the table who just rolled her eyes. Fleur looked tired, exhausted even. As Hermione looked at her and the equally tired features of Moody, it occurred to her that they had minimal breaks from their jobs.

After dinner, Fleur accompanied her to her room, where she inspected the windows and small spaces.

"You don't have to do this, you know," Hermione said, irritated.

"You think I am moving into this place to spend time with you 24/7 because I want to?" Fleur drawled, "Its my job, Hermione."

"If you hate me so much, you could always ask to exchange with one of the other aurors," Hermione said petulantly. Fleur stopped her inspection and turned to Hermione coldly.

"Hate?" Fleur echoed, in a cold but quiet tone. She strode over to Hermione, "I don't hate you. I protect you."

"I never asked you to," Hermione countered, squaring her shoulders as she stood face to face with Fleur. They were so close now they were almost touching, and Hermione could see a fire in Fleur's sapphire eyes.

"I wanted to," Fleur replied bitterly, "Believe it or not I wanted to be paired with the 'brightest witch of her age,' the 'champion of magical creature rights…' How wrong I was about you."

Hermione gritted her teeth, staring down Fleur, refusing to grace her with a reply. Fleur stared back at her with a fantastic intensity, one that Hermione had yet to experience. She found herself admiring Fleur's beauty channelled into this fierceness. Her eyes roamed over her high cheekbones, her long dark eyelashes and down to her plump pink lips. She realised what she was doing and blushed slightly, stepping back from Fleur.

Fleur looked confused, before setting her face to a look of cold disdain again.

"Anyway, your room is clear. I will be in the adjoining room next if you need anything," Fleur said with practised neutrality, gesturing towards a door across the room from Hermione's bed.

Before Hermione could reply, Fleur whipped around and breezed out of the room quickly.

Hermione exhaled the breath she didn't know she was holding and began to prepare herself for bed. Her mind was swirling full of thoughts of Fleur.

Fleur had wanted to be paired to her, perhaps even requested it. This was new information. Hermione could not imagine any scenario where Fleur would actually respect her and want to be assigned to her. Her mind turned to Fleur's harsh criticisms of her. Its true, she was letting down her own internal morals by following Hammond's orders… but it was tough to challenge a whole department when she was just a low level rookie. She was sure if she just kept her head down and moved her way up the ranks she would be able to return to her principles.

Her mind turned to the fierce intensity Fleur had exhibited. It had taken Hermione's breath away. Fleur looked so… elegant, so passionate, facing off against her like that. It made Hermione's stomach twist unusually. She pushed it to the back of her mind and reminded herself that Fleur had just criticised her intelligence and morals.

As Hermione fell asleep, she was satisfied with her usual irritation with the French witch.

The next morning, Hermione woke early, getting changed before deciding to head downstairs for an early breakfast. She padded slowly across her room, eager not to wake anyone else in the house, and creaked her door open.

"Merde!" exclaimed Fleur, jumping at Hermione's door opening. She was clad only in a towel and her long silver-blonde hair was wet and loose.

"Keep it down," Hermione hissed, gesturing towards Harry's door. Merlin knows they all needed more sleep.

"Excusez-moi for being startled at the sight of you being awake early for once," Fleur retorted. Hermione went to reply but then noticed that Fleur's towel had slipped slightly and she could see all the way up Fleur's toned thigh through a gap in the towel. She opened her mouth and no words came out. Fleur smirked at the lack of come-back and continued her way to her room, snapping the door tightly behind her.

Hermione shook her head. What was going on with her?

As she padded down the stairs, she was pleased to see Ron and Tonks sitting at the breakfast table.

"You're up early," Hermione commented, sitting beside Ron and reaching for some cereal.

"Amazing what a day of dozing in bed will do for your sleeping patterns," Tonks grinned, chomping on a piece of toast. Ron nodded, his mouth too full of toast to reply.

"Feeling better?" Hermione asked. Tonks nodded.

"Loads," Ron answered, swallowing heavily, "Still feel a bit like I got hit by a train though,"

"Ah, my Veela!" Tonks grinned, as Fleur entered the kitchen and joined them at the table. She sat next to Tonks who quickly levitated over a black coffee for Fleur as the Frenchwoman eyed up the options for food on the table.

"Bonjour, how are you?" Fleur chirped, flashing a dazzling smile at Tonks. Tonks hooked an arm easily around Fleur as the blonde began to sip at her coffee, sighing at the enjoyment of her first hit of caffeine for the day. Hermione glared at Tonks as the metamorphmagus began twirling some of Fleur's silver-blonde hair. There was something incredibly irritating about seeing Tonks fawn over Fleur.

"I'm great, Delacour, how are you? How are things with whats-his-name?" Tonks asked cheerily. Today Tonks' hair was a fiery red, as if she was Ron's sibling rather than his assigned auror.

Fleur sighed, "Oh, it didn't work out. Probably for the best." She reached for a piece of toast and began to butter it.

"Oh that's no good," Tonks replied, continuing to play with Fleur's hair, "A gorgeous girl like you will have no problem finding someone new, though."

"Keep it in your pants, Tonks," Hermione snapped abruptly. The two women across the table from her raised their eyebrows.

"Not a morning person?" Tonks joked.

"She is not a morning person at allll, Tonks," Fleur replied, "You should have seen her the mornings I had to come collect her for work."

The two women laughed, irritating Hermione even more. She picked up her plate and stormed out of the kitchen and into the living room, throwing herself onto a couch to eat the last of her toast.

Ron ambled out and came to sit by her.

"What's up with you?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow. Hermione shook her head.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," she retorted. Ron continued to look at her quizzically.

"You were acting…" Ron pulled a face, trying to think of the right words, "I dunno… Jealous."

"Jealous?!" Hermione snapped, causing Ron to jump a little, "For the last time, I can't stand her!"

She set her plate down and stormed back upstairs and to her room, her appetite now well and truly lost.