A/N: Hi all, thanks for your reviews. I'm glad some of you enjoyed the little surprise romp in the last chapter.


Hermione strode into her room, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. Fleur was just buttoning up the last buttons of a linen shirt.

"So…"

"I thought I had told you that you were not a distraction," Fleur said abruptly.

"I know," Hermione replied.

"So what was with last night?" Fleur replied.

"I mean, you have to admit… It was pretty fun and hot," Hermione shrugged, "And I guess you can't call me a prude anymore."

"You're avoiding the question," Fleur said, putting a hand on her hip and cocking her head to one side.

"I don't know… I guess I got into my own head again… I was jealous of you and Tonks," Hermione finished.

"Tonks is my best friend," Fleur said defensively.

"Who wants you," Hermione retorted. Fleur scoffed.

"Tonks and I have always been candid about that," Fleur replied, "She finds me physically attractive but she genuinely only wants to be friends with me. Trust me, we have discussed it over the years a few times. As for me, I am yours."

"Why wouldn't she want to date you?" Hermione asked, stunned.

"Some people find me high-maintenance," Fleur said with a smirk. Hermione laughed.

"I'm sorry, Fleur. I didn't mean to second guess you," Hermione apologised. Fleur walked over and pulled Hermione into her arms.

"Not everybody is pretending to have different intentions like Blaise," Fleur said softly, "I am, and will always be, at your side no matter what."

Hermione nuzzled into Fleur's neck, relieved that Fleur was understanding.

"I'm sorry last night got a little… weird," Hermione said. She heard Fleur chuckle lightly.

"Ah, it is fine," Fleur replied, "Besides, you were right… It was pretty fun and hot."

"Well… how about a repeat with just the two of us?" Hermione asked before planting a kiss on Fleur's neck.


An hour later, Fleur and Hermione made their way down to breakfast. Lupin, Moody, Harry and Ron were sitting around the table eating breakfast. But Hermione and Fleur were surprised to see a showered and dressed Tonks sitting at the table.

"You're up," Fleur commented, surprised. Tonks grinned at them.

"Decided that it doesn't stop Zabini if I just mope in my room all day," Tonks replied.

"Where did you disappear to last night, 'Mione?" Harry asked, "You left me all alone with the last of the bourbon."

"Let me guess? The bourbon didn't survive?" Hermione smirked, "I went upstairs to, erm, hang out with Fleur and Tonks."

"Well whatever you and Fleur did sure seems to have cheered Tonks up," Lupin commented politely. Tonks choked on her coffee. Fleur suddenly became incredibly interested in inspecting the piece of toast on her plate and Hermione felt a light blush in her cheeks.

"Yep, certainly past the worst of it, I think," Tonks said, finally recovering.

"We were all worried about you for a while there," Lupin said, his brow furrowing with concern, "How did you two manage to snap her out of it?"

"Erm, we just took a hard line," Hermione said awkwardly, "Sometimes you need a bit of tough love, you know,"

"Oh," Lupin said, mildly surprised, "I hope you didn't lay into her too much,"

Tonks, who had finally felt safe enough to venture another sip of her coffee, choked on it again.

"Oh, clearly you've never met 'Mione," Ron joked, "She rides people hard. Can't even imagine how full on she'd be teamed up with Fleur."

Hermione's eyebrows raised as Fleur's eyes dropped to her plate again and Tonks appeared as if she might be about to pass out from awkwardness.

"That's true," Harry joined in, "I wouldn't be surprised if Tonks got barely any sleep last night by the time 'Mione was finished."

"Oh, hey, look! The Daily Prophet!" Tonks cut in, knocking over her glass of water as she awkwardly pointed to the front page of the paper in the middle of the table.

"Yeah, they did another wildly inaccurate article on the Golden Trio again," Harry groaned.

"Why do they call us that, anyway?" Ron asked from between a mouthful of toast, "I am so sick of the words golden and trio now. Surely there is something else they could call us? Like, I dunno, the Super…"

"Threesome?" Lupin suggested. Tonks dropped her fork.

"Okay, seriously, what do you know?" she asked suspiciously.

"Know about what?" Lupin asked genuinely.

"Tonks," Fleur warned.

"Nevermind," Tonks backtracked. Lupin shot a confused look at Harry and Ron.

"Hey, don't look at me, mate," Ron replied, raising his hands, "Girls are confusing at the best of times."

"So, about Zabini," Moody gruffly cut in, finally speaking after finishing his breakfast in silence, "We need you all to take turns searching for him. Tonks do you feel up to it?"

"Absolutely," Tonks said with resolution.

"Great," Moody grunted, "So first shift will be Harry, Ron and Lupin. You girls can go after them. After that I'll go with Ginny and Longbottom."

"Winning team gets shouted drinks by the others," Ron said enthusiastically. Moody shot him a withering stare. "Or, erm, you know, gets another bad guy off the streets," Ron finished awkwardly.


It was evening when Fleur, Hermione and Tonks took their turn to search for Blaise. Moody had asked them to start with staking out Blaise's house, which they were currently across the street from, out of sight.

They were only about twenty minutes into their shift but it was already feeling like hours, with an awkward silence between the three women.

"Okay, are we ever going to talk about the threesome elephant in the room?" Tonks said finally. Fleur looked away and Hermione shifted awkwardly.

"Do we have to?" Hermione said, "I thought you said we were never going to bring it up again."

"Yeah, that was before we all almost choked to death at the breakfast table from the awkwardness this morning," Tonks smirked. Fleur laughed.

"I believe it was you doing most of the choking with that coffee of yours," Fleur retorted with a smile, looking at the others again.

"I guess I just want Hermione to know that I'm not, like, after her woman or something," Tonks said. Fleur laughed again.

"Yeah, I know that now," Hermione said, "I was just a little jealous before, as immature as that sounds."

"Its not immature, its normal," Tonks said with a smile, "Plus, not that I enjoy your pain, but it was pretty fun helping you guys work through your issues."

"It was pretty fun," Fleur admitted. Hermione smirked.

"Well, next time Fleur spills nail polish or ruins the laundry, you know where to find me to help you through the fight," Tonks laughed.

"Hey, who says Hermione won't be in the wrong?" Fleur pouted.

"Guys," Hermione suddenly interrupted, pointing across the street. Blaise was standing on the doorstep of his house, unlocking it before entering.

"That fucking bastard," Tonks hissed, her face suddenly marred with anger.

"Tonks, you promised you were ready to return to work," Fleur said firmly, "Are you going to be able to control yourself?"

"I'm not gonna murder him," Tonks said darkly, "Even if that is what he deserves."

Hermione nodded, before crossing the street carefully and unlocking the front door. She turned to look at Fleur and Tonks, her hand on the doorhandle.

"We're ready," Fleur said softly, wand raised. They entered the house.

Inside was spacious and lavishly decorated. Hermione rolled her eyes at a marble bust of Blaise in the entranceway.

"Split up?" Tonks suggested. Hermione nodded. Tonks went up a set of stairs, Fleur went through a doorway to the left, and Hermione went through the remaining doorway. It led her to a large living room. Hermione rolled her eyes again when she saw a portrait of Blaise hanging on the wall.

"What do you think you are doing in my house?" the portrait asked Hermione arrogantly.

"Cleaning," Hermione lied quickly.

"You're not the regular cleaner," the portrait replied loudly. Hermione gritted her teeth. This vanity art piece was going to blow her cover.

A scream pierced the air, turning Hermione's blood cold. She recognised who it was. Fleur.

Running back the way she had come, she ran in the direction that Fleur had gone. She ran into a kitchen, where Fleur was writhing on the ground, still screaming. Blaise was standing above her, smirking, his wand at the ready.

"You really think you can sneak up on me?" Blaise laughed, "I know you all. You're all so predictable. Expelliarmus."

Hermione's wand flew from her hand and she raised her hands.

"Blaise, you don't have to do this," Hermione said carefully.

"Maybe, but I want to," Blaise sneered.

"Why, Blaise?" Hermione asked, "You had such a good opportunity to be on the right side."

"The right side is the winning side," Blaise replied, "And from where I'm standing, I'm on the right side."

"Blaise—"

"Shut up, Hermione," Blaise interrupted, "You've always been such a fucking know it all. I'm just as smart as you. I just don't feel the need to broadcast it all the time."

Clang!

The smile faded from Blaise's face as he fell to the floor, revealing Tonks standing behind him holding a heavy pan.

"How's that for fucking predictable?" Tonks said to the unconscious Blaise.

Hermione rushed to Fleur's side. Fleur had a light sweat on her forehead and was pale. She was sitting up with a wince.

"Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the Cruciatus Curse?" Fleur said with a groan. Hermione kissed her, relieved.

"So now what?" Tonks asked, nudging Blaise with the toe of her boot.

"Now we use this arrogant prick to end this war once and for all," Hermione said determinedly.


Blaise opened his eyes groggily to find himself in a small room, bound to a chair by some strong magical binds. Fleur was sitting across a table from him, legs crossed and filing her nails.

"I don't know what people see in you," Blaise said distastefully, "Half-breed."

"Now, now, Monsieur Zabini," Fleur drawled, "Jealousy does not suit you well."

"When the Dark Lord is rightfully made the leader of the wizarding world, your kind won't even be allowed to sit in the same room as my kind, let alone address me like that," Blaise spat.

"You make the assumption that I am easily offended," Fleur said in a bored tone.

"When the Dark Lord is in power your kind will be nothing more than a pet," Blaise continued, dark eyes glittering as he tried to rile her, "Who knows, maybe you'll be lucky enough for Pansy to purchase you? She does seem to have a soft spot for you."

Fleur yawned and stretched out her hand to observe her nails.

"Yes, Pansy's pet whore," Blaise said, clucking his tongue, "Fitting, that is the only thing your kind are good for."

Fleur continued to ignore him, returning to filing her nails.

"Lord knows why people see the sexual appeal in Veela. I personally wouldn't even consider you worthy enough to suck—"

The door slammed open and Hermione whirled into the room, striding across the room to slap Blaise hard across the face.

"Sorry, Fleur, I know I said I would stay outside but I could hear every vile thing he was saying," Hermione said, earning a smirk from Fleur, "He can't talk to you like that."

"Granger," Blaise sneered, "I knew you wouldn't have it in you to kill me."

"Why would I kill you when we could use you to catch the significant Death Eaters and Voldemort himself?" Hermione said with a smirk.

"Good luck with that," Blaise scoffed, "I am highly skilled in Occlumency and there is no way you could convince me to help you."

"Yeah, you might not help me," Hermione conceded, "But Blaise Zabini might."

"What on Earth are you talking about?" Blaise said suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.

In through the doorway walked the spitting image of Blaise himself. Blaise gaped at his replica before it morphed into Tonks.

"Yeah, while you were out cold I studied your features to get the most accurate depiction of you," Tonks said, "You might not lead us to the Death Eaters but I'm sure if you stop showing up to meetings they'll seek you out themselves. And, hey, if I can make you look like an ass while I impersonate you, all the better."

"You wouldn't fucking dare," Blaise said, although he was already paling.