A/N: Haven't been sleeping well lately so please forgive any typos slipping in. Thank you for the reviews, I love getting them x

The next morning Hermione awoke from the throes of a very graphic dream of Fleur, embarrassed to find the subject of her dream striding around the room.

"Sounded like a very enjoyable dream there, Hermione," Fleur smirked, "Perhaps you are not the prude I thought you were."

Hermione scowled before taking in her surroundings.

"Fleur, what on earth…?"

The room looked like a tornado had ripped through it. Clothes, makeup and various beauty products were strewn everywhere.

"I am trying to find something… Death Eater appealing for work today," Fleur explained dismissively, before trying on a heavy fur coat. She flipped her sheet of silver blonde hair over her shoulder and turned to pose for Hermione. "How do I look?"

"Like a Bond villain," Hermione laughed. Fleur frowned, not understanding the Muggle reference.

"As usual, you are no help," Fleur groaned, before taking off the coat and tossing it to the floor.

"Gods, Fleur, you are a horror to live with," Hermione retorted, noticing that there was even a small pile of clothes atop the blankets that covered her. She rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed. Fleur ignored her and continued trying on outfits. Hermione rolled her eyes and began pushing the clothes off her side of the bed. Her face reddened as she noticed a pair of lacy panties amongst the clothes.

Her mind turned to the previous evening. After dinner, neither of them had mentioned their completely mind-blowing kiss. Fleur had acted as if it hadn't happened at all. Hermione sighed. Eventually they were going to have to talk about the fact that they sometimes ended up snogging. When it came down to it, she was a Gryffindor, and she had to bite the bullet and deal with it head on.

"Fleur…?"

"Mn?" Fleur was holding up a jumper in front of herself, looking intently at her reflection in the mirror.

"Are we going to talk about what happened last night?"

Fleur didn't reply, but Hermione could swear that she could see a faint tinge of pink in the blonde witch's cheeks. Hermione sighed.

"Come on, Fleur, we have to talk about it sometime."

Fleur exhaled, before tossing the jumper on the floor and turning to face Hermione, a serious look on her face.

"Hermione. I know you are probably quite taken by me. But my head is a mess! This is all so confusing to me." Fleur threw her hands in the air. Hermione groaned and rolled her eyes.

"I don't even know where to start with that, Fleur…" Hermione said slowly, "Apart from being entirely unsurprised that you would assume everyone is infatuated with you."

Fleur frowned, tossing aside another jacket before coming to sit on the bed beside Hermione.

"So you don't like me?" she asked, confused. Hermione shook her head, confused.

"I mean, I'm attracted to you," Hermione confessed, "But I've also never met anyone that annoys me so much in my life. I… I like knowing things. I like certainty. But I'm just so confused about… whatever this is," she finished, gesturing vaguely.

"Mn, I can relate to that," Fleur agreed. She stood up and returned to trying on jackets over her outfit. Hermione stretched and got up, guessing that was as much as she was going to get out of the blonde on the matter for now. They might not have resolved anything, but at least they had talked a little about it.

"Fleur, have you seen my notes for auror training?" Hermione asked, picking through the mess around the room.

"Ahh, they were somewhere over there," Fleur replied dismissively, waving in a general direction. Hermione rolled her eyes and kept digging through the mess.

"Unbelievable!" Hermione shrieked, removing a silk shirt to reveal her nail polish encrusted notes, "What the hell Fleur?! You're so selfish!"

Fleur whirled around and cocked her head to one side, "Selfish? I look out for you everyday!"

"That's your job!" Hermione shouted.

"Its not a big deal, just use magic!" Fleur shouted back, crossing the room to wrench the papers out of Hermione's hand.

"That's not the point!"

"I just don't know how to deal with you sometimes," Fleur said irritably.

Tensions running high, in an instant, they both felt the same compulsion and instantly wrapped their arms around each other, passionately kissing. They stumbled backwards until the back of Hermione's legs hit the edge of the bed. They fell backwards onto the bed, still kissing. Fleur nipped at Hermione's bottom lip, eliciting a light moan from the younger woman. Fleur pulled away with a smirk for a moment, which was quickly wiped from her face as Hermione flipped them both over so that she was now on top and pinning Fleur to the bed. Hermione immediately set to kissing down the smooth expanse of Fleur's neck. Fleur wriggled, Hermione still holding her down by her wrists, before letting out a throaty moan.

"Mm… that's more like it," Hermione smirked into Fleur's neck, "and do you know what I'm going to do now?"

She drew away, still pinning a very frustrated and flustered Fleur to the bed.

"Merde… what?" Fleur said breathlessly, her pupils dilated with her arousal.

"Go to work," Hermione smirked, releasing Fleur and sliding smoothly off her. She laughed at the look of pure outrage on Fleur's face.

"And that's what happens when you ruin my notes," she added, moving around the room to get ready for the day.

"You are a horrible woman," Fleur said sulkily, sitting up on the bed. Hermione couldn't help but keep laughing. She might not know exactly what was going on between her and Fleur, but it definitely added a far more enjoyable way to annoy Fleur.

Finally, they both made it downstairs where the others were all seated at the breakfast table.

"Did I hear shouting earlier?" Lupin asked, raising eyebrows. Ginny, Ron, Harry, Moody and Tonks looked up from their breakfasts to greet the two as they joined the table.

"Oui, Hermione had a rather extreme reaction to me moving her notes," Fleur said airily, selecting some food and a plate.

"Moving?! You painted them!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Forget I brought it up again," Lupin said diplomatically, putting up a hand to stop them arguing, "Merlin, you two are always laying into each other."

Tonks choked on her coffee at the double meaning, causing Hermione and Fleur to blush. Ginny scowled.

"Shouldn't we be heading off to the Ministry soon?" Ginny asked waspishly. Lupin looked at his watch.

"Er, not for a while yet, Ginny," he replied, "But we will have to head home a bit earlier since there's the Order meeting tonight."

Ron groaned, "But today I was supposed to work late on the Quidditch World Cup project!"

Lupin smiled, "Minerva has let me in on some items on the agenda, and I assure you, you will enjoy this meeting."

The others at the table looked suitably intrigued.


The day of auror training was even better than the last, with Hermione feeling buoyed after her stand-off with Hammond. Harry was similarly enthused, even going as far as suggesting him and Hermione should try out for the fast-track programme Ginny had taken.

"Think about it, 'Mione, more complex training, more prestige," Harry gushed over their lunches. Hermione laughed.

"I swear, I cannot get used to this new study-hungry Harry," Hermione smiled. Ginny and Blaise laughed.

"What about Ron deciding to work through his lunch break?" Ginny laughed, "Never thought I'd see the day."

"Quidditch World Cup would be a great project to be on though, has he told you about their broom requirements?" Harry responded, Ginny's face lit up and she started talking excitedly about it.

"Aaand we've lost them," Hermione laughed, turning to Blaise.

"Honestly, I'm just relieved the subject of Quidditch doesn't come up more often than it already does. Although, Malfoy used to be much the same."

"How is it… you know?" Hermione asked rather awkwardly.

"Having most of my old schoolmates be into all that Death Eater stuff?" Blaise asked.

"Erm… Yeah… I mean, you're not…?"

"No, I'm not interested in becoming a Death Eater," Blaise laughed, "I actually wanted to join Dumbledore's Army back at school but wasn't sure a Slytherin would be welcome."

Hermione laughed, "It certainly would have raised eyebrows, but you would have been more than welcome. I've seen your spell-work in class too, you would have made a great asset."

"Coming from Hermione Granger, I take that as high praise indeed!" Blaise laughed.

"Try not to let it go to your head," Hermione joked, "Um, about the other day… I'm sorry for biting off your head about Fleur. She just… bothers me, I guess."

Blaise waved a hand, "Don't even worry about it, Hermione. We've all had snappy moments."

On their way back upstairs for the afternoon training session, Ginny pulled Hermione aside.

"I saw you getting quite friendly with Blaise at lunch," she said with a smirk.

"I'm surprised you noticed anything when the subject of Quidditch was on the table," Hermione commented. Ginny snorted.

"Fair comment, Hermione. But what do you think?" she asked with a gleam in her eye.

"What do I think about what, Ginny?" Hermione asked, becoming a little irritated at not knowing what Ginny was getting at.

"Blaise!" Ginny said, a hint of exasperation in her voice, "Come on, Hermione. You must have noticed he's about the hottest guy in the building."

"Are you interested in him?" Hermione asked, still confused.

"No!" Ginny said, throwing her hands up in frustration, "I'm trying to ask if you are. You would make a cute couple."

"Oh," Hermione said, a little uncomfortably, "I've never thought about it I suppose."

Ginny sighed, "Hermione you've never had a love-life. Please don't tell me we're living in the middle of a war where the world might end any day and you're going to let your closest chance at action be the time you kissed Phlegm drunk?"

"Er, we're going to be late, Gin," Hermione interrupted, successfully silencing Ginny. They walked into the training room.


"Wonder what's so special about this meeting that Lupin reckons we'll be happy?" Ron asked Harry and Hermione as they trailed behind the aurors on their way out of the Ministry.

"Hopefully not more restrictions," Harry muttered darkly, "Hermione and I just put in our applications for the fast-track auror training."

"One, more restrictions could hardly be described as 'happy' news," Hermione said tersely, "And secondly, I've barely caught up on the training I missed this whole time, I doubt they'll consider me for that fast-track option."

"Blimey! Caught up already?!" Ron exclaimed, "Classic Hermione."

The trio exchanged grins as they lined up to Floo.

Within minutes, they were filing into the Order Meeting room where most of the attendees already were. There were a bunch of seats next to Tonks and Fleur, and Hermione ended up seated between Ginny and Fleur.

McGonagall cleared her throat and opened the meeting, summarising the intelligence they had received from Order members in the field since the last meeting.

"So it appears that attentions have now moved from the Golden Trio back to Dumbledore and where he is currently on his travels. That, combined with the outstanding show from Ms Granger and Mr Potter in the Ministry the other evening, means that we can finally loosen the restrictions on the trio."

Ron let out a loud whoop and hi-fived Harry. Tonks leaned over Fleur to mouth, "You can thank me later," with a wink to the trio.

"Of course, we would prefer it if you remain living at Grimmauld Place with the aurors here but otherwise we can now free up your daily auror guard and find some tasks for you three to help with too. It's a relief considering how light on resources we were getting."

Hermione hated to admit it, but a part of her was thrilled that she would still be spending her evenings with Fleur.

McGonagall spent the second half of the meeting outlining current tasks and assigning new ones. Hermione and Harry were tasked with researching potential Death Eater connections in their spare time. Ron was given the task of following claims that Death Eater involvement was going on behind the scenes with the Quidditch World Cup.

"Not on my watch," Ron had said proudly, puffing out his chest at the thought of defending the Quidditch World Cup.

Finally, the meeting was dismissed and chatter erupted around the table.

"Lupin was right, that was great news!" Ginny exclaimed, "No offense, Hermione."

"None taken!" Hermione answered, "I'm relieved we're finally going to be able to chip in with the Order and not have to constantly look out for Death Eater kidnappers."

"You know what this means though, right?" Ginny said with a sly grin.

"No?" Hermione replied, confused.

"You can ask Blaise out on a date!" Ginny exclaimed. This drew the attention of Fleur, who turned her head to look at Hermione and Ginny.

"Ginny, I'm not gonna ask him out," Hermione said, frustrated.

"No, I get ya, it's a little awkward just asking someone out," Ginny said swiftly, changing tack, "How about I set up a double date with him and a guy for me?"

"Who is this Blaise?" Fleur interrupted, narrowing her eyes. Hermione couldn't help but smirk.

"A very attractive auror who is very much interested in Hermione," Ginny replied smugly. Fleur looked quite put out.

"Tonks, do you feel like getting a cup of tea in the kitchen?" Fleur said stiffly. Tonks nodded and the two rose and filed out of the room.

"Jealous, she is," Ginny commented with a smirk. Hermione smiled, feeling her stomach flip a little at the thought.

"You really think?" Hermione said with a grin.

"Absolutely," Ginny confirmed, "Reckon its killing her that she hasn't snagged him."

Hermione smiled and nodded, inwardly gleeful that Fleur was likely jealous at the thought of Blaise snagging her, not the other way around.


"So you're jealous?" Hermione smirked as they shut the door in their room later that evening.

"Hardly," drawled Fleur, her back to Hermione as she rummaged in her trunk.

"Well, I guess I'll book it in then," Hermione said, still smirking. She loved this new way of getting under Fleur's skin. The blonde's shoulders noticeably tensed.

"Sorry, Fleur… is this bothering you?" Hermione laughed. Fleur cleared her throat and stopped rummaging in her trunk, straightening up for a moment. Hermione's next jab caught in her throat as Fleur swiftly removed her dress, letting it fall to the floor. Fleur was clad only in a lacy pair of panties, her back entirely bare.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Hermione asked, her throat dry.

"Merely getting dressed for bed," Fleur said silkily, the sound of a smirk in her voice.

"I… uh…" Hermione murmured nervously. Fleur turned her head to peek seductively over one shoulder.

"Sorry, you were saying something, Hermione?" she said with feigned innocence.

"I… erm…"

Fleur laughed, a beautiful melodic laugh Hermione noted irritably, and turned back to her trunk before fishing out a nightdress that she pulled on.

"You are loathsome, Fleur," Hermione said darkly.

"Merely returning the favour from this morning," Fleur smirked, turning to face Hermione.

She walked over to Hermione, who played with the sleeve of her shirt.

"I know this is… confusing… and we don't really like each other," Fleur started, and Hermione looked up at her. They were close enough to kiss.

"But is that any reason not to just…give in?" Fleur's eyes roamed down Hermione's figure and Hermione felt a warm surge of arousal.

"Wouldn't that be irresponsible?" Hermione said quietly, her eyes firmly fixed on Fleur's lips and how pink and soft they looked this evening.

The door burst open and ruined any chance of an answer as Ginny strode in.

"Oh great, you're still awake," Ginny started, oblivious to the smouldering tension between the two.

"And you're still here…" Fleur muttered snappily, turning away and busying herself with picking up some of her clothes from the floor.

"What is it, Gin?" Hermione asked, taking a deep breath and trying to keep her voice steady.

"So I've just borrowed Harry's owl and sent a quick message to Blaise asking him to set up a double date with him and one of his friends."

"You what?" Hermione asked, aghast.

"What? You sounded keen for it," Ginny said defensively, "Anyway, I thought you'd be glad to have a break from Fleur's usual barbs about being prudish."

"You conveniently left out the barbs she throws my way," Fleur commented from the other side of the room. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, he's already replied and he's interested. We're going out for drinks after work tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!" Hermione echoed, horrified.

"Yeah," Ginny replied, a little taken aback at Hermione's reaction, "Hermione, its no big deal, its just one date. It'll be good for you to go out for once."

"I suppose…" Hermione said slowly, her mind turning to Fleur's comment just before Ginny had entered about the fact that they did not like each other.

"Great," Ginny said with a grin, "I promise you'll have a good time, 'Mione,"

With that, the redhead exited the room again. Fleur exhaled heavily.

"I suppose it will be good after all," Hermione mused, "He is quite easy to get along with."

"Unlike me," Fleur commented and Hermione frowned.

"Yes, well you don't find me easy to get along with either," Hermione retorted. Fleur just nodded and turned back to her cleaning.

Later that night, the two women climbed into bed, neither commenting that after the Order's meeting they probably no longer needed to share a room.