When the others got home, they had all heard about Hermione's takedown of Umbridge.

"Did not think you had it in you, 'Mione!" Tonks said happily, clapping Hermione on the back.

"Oh Merlin it is so good," Ron said gleefully, "Shacklebolt is stepping in and taking a 'clean house' approach with the department. Heads are rolling, starting with Umbridge's."

"Of course, there is an undercurrent of prats that were fans of Umbridge's approach," Harry added, "But that's to be expected with so many Death Eaters and Voldemort sympathisers crawling around the place."

"You're a bloody hero, 'Mione!" Ron exclaimed, "And Skeeter too, who'd have thought?"

They were all in high spirits. Ginny had stayed for dinner for the occasion and was proudly recounting how Hermione had calmly handed her the paper with the take down.

Moody grunted his approval, having wolfed down his meal, before getting up from the table and heading back upstairs.

"At the risk of facing the wrath of Moody again… Would anyone like to celebrate?" Tonks grinned, pulling a bottle of wine up from under the table. Ron whooped.

"To Hermione's epic ending of Umbridge's career… for the second time!" Ron chortled as they clinked their glasses.

The drinks flowed freely as they relaxed around each other, sharing insults and jokes at Umbridge's expense. Fleur seemed particularly joyful that she wouldn't have to ensure monitoring at Umbridge's expense. Hermione felt vindicated. It had been a tough call to make, but she had definitely made the right call, even if she probably didn't have a job anymore.

She excused herself from the table and went upstairs to use the bathroom. As she left and walked down the hallway back to the staircase, she saw Fleur in their room pulling on a jumper. She stepped inside, drawn to the blonde.

"So I guess I don't have a job anymore," Hermione said. Fleur turned around to face her.

"Mn, but as a member of the Golden Trio, you could probably get any job you wanted," Fleur commented, "Except for maybe an auror, you have to be tough for that," Fleur added with a smirk.

Hermione knew that Fleur was just teasing her but it irked her all the same.

"I am tough," Hermione countered, "I am just as tough as you are. And unlike you, I wouldn't have to stop every 5 minutes to fix my hair."

"Perhaps," Fleur smirked, moving closer to Hermione until they were almost pressed against each other, "But at least I have the bravery to do the right thing immediately, instead of waiting months to make my move. That is what would make me a better auror than you."

"Fucking hell, Fleur," Hermione spat, "There is no pleasing you."

"Maybe if you had acted instead of thinking for once," Fleur retorted, "Then it never would have taken so long for this to happen."

Hermione and Fleur stared each other down for a moment, fire in their eyes, before Hermione lost control.

She hooked a hand behind Fleur's neck, pulling her in for a searing kiss. Unlike the first kiss, Fleur did not make a surprised noise, and instead returned the kiss with fervour. Hermione bit down on Fleur's lip, relishing the quiet gasp it elicited from Fleur, and slipped her tongue into her mouth. Fleur's tongue felt incredible, coming to meet hers in her mouth. Hermione felt arousal course through her body before fully comprehending what she was doing and pulling away from Fleur abruptly.

"Fuck," Hermione gasped. Fleur looked just as thrown as Hermione, taking a step back from her and touching her lips.

"I…" Fleur started, before trailing off. An awkwardness was replacing the tension between them.

"I still don't think you would make a good auror…" Fleur finally said, as if she had just wanted some way to fill in the awkward silence.

"God, you are so annoying!" Hermione said, throwing her hands in the air and storming out of their room.

She strode through the open doorway and almost ran into Ginny who was standing in the hallway.

"'Mione?" Ginny asked, looking worriedly at Hermione's face.

"How long have you been here?" Hermione asked, startled. Ginny looked uncomfortable.

"I, uh, just arrived," Ginny said, and Hermione visibly relaxed, "Are you ok, 'Mione?"

"Yeah," Hermione murmured, "Just another stupid fight with Fleur. Lets go back downstairs for some more wine."

Ginny nodded and followed her back downstairs. The others had moved into the living room since Hermione had been upstairs. Since she had been upstairs making out with Fleur. She felt a shiver run through her at the memory. It had felt so incredible. She had no idea that someone who could make her so angry could make her feel so good.

She was snapped from her thoughts by Ginny pushing a glass of wine heavily into her hands.

"Easy," Hermione warned, not wanting the wine to spill on her from the force that Ginny had pushed it at her with.

"Speaking of," Ginny said snidely, as Fleur entered the room again. Fleur came and collected a glass of wine, smiling at Tonks before retreating to a far corner of the room, away from the rest of the group. Tonks got up and followed her, settling in to speak to her in hushed tones.

Hermione felt her stomach twist uncomfortably, and she turned to look at Ginny.

"You still hate her too, right?" Ginny added, looking at Hermione suspiciously.

"Course," Hermione said, nodding, "She is so annoying."

"And I mean, remember how she used her thrall on you at the Order meeting?" Ginny prompted, "She's the kind of person you could probably never trust to get close to."

Hermione nodded, "I suppose."

"You suppose?" Ginny repeated, "Hermione, she's the worst, we've always agreed on that."

"Yeah, I know…" Hermione said absently, as she turned to watch Tonks and Fleur in the corner. Tonks was leaning in close as Fleur was whispering something in her ear. Hermione felt the familiar annoyance surge through her. She really was jealous. She took a long shaky breath.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" Ginny asked. Hermione nodded.

"Y-yeah, I think I just need a glass of water from the kitchen," Hermione stuttered, as she got to her feet. Ginny frowned, but turned to join in the Quidditch conversation that Harry and Ron were immersed in.

Hermione walked into the kitchen, shutting the door behind her. She leant on her hands on the countertop in front of the sink, shaking her head.

"Sickle for your thoughts?" a voice behind her said, and Hermione turned to face Tonks.

"What do you want?" Hermione said darkly.

"Ah, in another one of your Hermione Moods I see…" Tonks remarked, reaching around Hermione to grab a glass and pour herself a water.

"Shouldn't you be cosying up to Fleur in the corner?" Hermione said, irritated. Tonks smirked.

"Still jealous, then," she commented. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I am not jealous of you and Fleur," Hermione said, exasperatedly.

"Says the woman who was just upstairs making out with Fleur," Tonks smirked. Hermione looked alarmed and glanced quickly at the door over Tonks's shoulder to make sure nobody had heard. She cast a quick locking charm and silencing charm.

"She TOLD you about that?!" she exclaimed, "Fucking Fleur."

"I think 'fucking Fleur' is exactly what's on your mind, darling," Tonks laughed, and Hermione glared at her.

"Shut up, Tonks," she snapped, "I cannot believe she told you about that."

"Its not like you two are in any state to talk about it," Tonks said airily, "Always at each others throats… Or I guess lips in this case."

"Its not my fault she's always trying to wind me up," Hermione retorted, folding her arms.

"You're just as bad as her, Hermione," Tonks sighed, "And you know that."

"What… what did she say about it exactly?" Hermione asked, curiousity getting the better of her. Tonks smiled.

"I think you two should be asking each other that," she replied, "If you can stop bickering for long enough."

"And there's still not anything going on between you two?" Hermione asked suspiciously. Tonks smirked.

"She's a beautiful woman, Hermione, inside and out," Tonks said slyly, "If not me, then someone else will get in there before you unless you just admit how you feel."

With that, she turned around, flicking her wand to undo Hermione's charms with ease. Hermione sighed and leaned back against the countertop before following Tonks back into the room.

A small sneak-o-scope was whirling and lighting up on the coffee table.

"Quick!" Tonks hissed, "Moody is coming, get rid of the wine!"

Harry panicked and quickly transfigured the wine bottles and glasses into orange juice and plain glasses.

Moody limped into the room.

"Orange juice?" he asked suspiciously.

"Yep," Ron replied, "Gotta keep that Vitamin C up to beat the Dark Lord."

Moody looked unconvinced but turned his attentions to Tonks and Fleur.

"There's been some… disturbances… following the ejection of Umbridge from the Ministry," he growled, "They need some extra aurors on the ground to clean up some Death Eaters. Care for some overtime?"

Tonks and Fleur looked at each other before nodding.

"Grea', I'll stay here and make sure these lot don't over-indulge in… orange juice," he said pointedly and Ron shot a look at Harry. Harry shrugged. It was better than being caught red-handed.

Tonks and Fleur immediately headed upstairs to get ready. Ginny seemed strangely relieved that the two aurors would be out for the night.

"Gives you a well-deserved break from Phlegm," Ginny commented, elbowing Hermione.

"Great," Hermione replied, although her stomach sunk a little bit at the thought of Tonks and Fleur facing danger because of a problem she had sparked.

"I suppose I should head home," Ginny said, stretching, "But I'll be here again in the morning."

"Gin, I don't have a job anymore," Hermione commented, looking at Ginny with surprise.

"Yeah, but I do," Ginny replied, "And mine is watching you whether you have a job or not."

Hermione nodded. Ginny looked as if she had more to say but nodded back instead before getting up. She waved goodbye to Harry and kicked Ron playfully in the leg.

"Catch you guys later!" she chirped, before heading to the fireplace to Floo home.

Unsurprisingly, after Moody came to sit with them in the living room, the Trio didn't stay socialising for long and instead opted for retiring early for the night.


Hermione had been asleep for some time before she awoke to thumping around in her room.

She sat up in bed, heart beating so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest.

"Of course the one time Fleur doesn't do her stupid night check of the room is the night that someone breaks in," she thought, fumbling for her wand in the dark.

She flicked her wand and the lights in the room lit up.

"Fucking HELL, Fleur," Hermione exclaimed, as she saw that the source of the noise was Fleur tripping over a chair. Fleur was on her hands and knees with her head down, breathing heavily. She straightened up and stood up, causing Hermione to gasp.

Her face was deathly pale and the clothes on her torso were black-red with blood.

"Merlin!" Hermione exclaimed, leaping out of bed. She grabbed Fleur by the shoulders and moved her to the bed, laying her down.

"Hermione…" Fleur murmured, "We need to talk about tonight."

"Fuck, Fleur," Hermione exclaimed, trying to find the source of the blood frantically, "You literally ALWAYS have the WORST timing!"

Fleur smirked faintly, "You are always so easily annoyed, Hermione,"

Finally, Hermione found the deep gashes that had cut across Fleur's ribs and stomach. She moved swiftly to a trunk in the corner of the room and fished out some dittany. She returned to Fleur and started healing frantically, cursing frequently under her breath.

"I don't think I have even heard half of these English curse words," Fleur remarked.

"Is Tonks okay? Was she hurt too?" Hermione asked, worried that her last conversation with Tonks would have been an argument over Fleur.

"Oui, she is fine," Fleur responded, "We apparated away as they were throwing the last of their spells. We were heading to bed and I had just walked in here when I realised I had been hurt."

"The adrenaline in your system probably stopped you from feeling it," Hermione commented, calming now that she could see the bleeding had definitely stopped and the wounds had closed. Hermione exhaled, relieved. Fleur was still deathly pale, probably weak from the loss of blood.

Hermione cast a quick cleaning spell on the bed and Fleur's clothes, to get rid of the alarming amount of blood. She then carefully undid Fleur's shoes and removed them, before removing her pants too. She helped Fleur into a sitting position and then removed her tattered shirt.

She blushed horrifically at seeing that Fleur wasn't wearing a bra under her shirt.

"Y-you didn't wear a bra when you went out to fight Death Eaters?!" she exclaimed. Fleur smiled weakly.

"I knew you were a prude," she smirked.

"Shut up," Hermione said, embarrassed, quickly gathering an oversized tee to put on Fleur. She then turned her back to her and returned to the trunk and rummaged to find a blood replenishing potion.

"This should work overnight," Hermione told Fleur quietly, feeding her the potion. Fleur smiled weakly.

"If I didn't know better, I would think you didn't hate me after all," Fleur said with a smile.

Hermione climbed back into bed, turning off the lights again.

"I'm sorry for riling up the Death Eaters with the Umbridge stuff. Its all my fault." She said softly. She felt Fleur move closer to her.

"Death Eaters will get riled up over anything, Hermione, I wouldn't flatter yourself that it was your fault."

This time, Hermione snorted at Fleur's teasing instead of getting annoyed. She put her arms around Fleur protectively and fell asleep.