Hi everyone,

I'm glad you liked the kiss :) It's been a stressful week and your reviews were wonderful little pieces of motivation in between. Thanks so much!

Now, as you probably can imagine we're now right at the battle of Hogwarts and I just wanted to say that even though this is a rather slow cooking story, I rushed a bit through the whole battle thing. I just saw no point in basically retelling everything that the wonderful Ms Rowling has already told so much better. I focused on the parts that I changed up to fit this plot.

But I don't want to spoiler you. Here's Chapter 7, have fun and please keep up the reviews. I'm a sucker for feedback :)

Chapter Seven

When Fleur, Bill, Luna and Dean arrived in the room of requirement it was empty except for a few members of the order.

Kingsley explained as soon as everyone had arrived.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had been seen leaving Gringotts bank today. On a dragon, flying north. Fleur's heart did somersaults. Hermione was safe, or at least alive.

Kingsley informed them that Harry had gone with the students to the Great Hall, concealed in the crowd. Hermione and Ron would report back here when it was their time to take part in the action.

He had barely finished his explanations, when Ron and Hermione stormed through the door.

'Let's go!' Ron shouted. Hermione had barely enough time to register Fleur standing right next to Bill. She looked so happy, almost relieved, and it broke Hermione's heart to see that apparently she had been a burden. She quickly turned around and reached the Great Hall with the others just in time. There was no time for heartache now, she told herself. Keeping her head was vital, quite literally. At least, Fleur was happy, that was what she wanted for her. She kept repeating it like a mantra, in hopes that it would sink in at some point.

They watched McGonagall drive out Snape in a hot rage and then everything happened at once. She and Ron ran off to find the basilisk and destroy the cup, and Harry went to find the diadem.

It lasted hours but it seemed like only minutes. They fought Death Eaters and battled spiders and giants and suddenly they found themselves back in the Great Hall. Hermione saw the Weasley's crouching over Fred's lifeless body. She noticed Remus and Tonks among the dead and bit back tears. She told herself that she would have time to cry later. Fleur stood a few steps away from the mourning family and looked Hermione. For all her cleverness, she couldn't figure out what that look said. Fleur came over to Hermione and hugged her. Hermione had almost shoved her away, just to avoid getting too close to bear. But being realistic, she knew she wasn't able to.

'You're alive,' Fleur said with that same look of relief.

'I can't believe it either,' Hermione responded, unsure what to make of Fleur's approach.

Before either of them could say anything else, the whole circus started over and they were battling again. Not much later, Hermione found herself hugging Harry as he walked away into certain death. She couldn't believe she had just let him go like that. For seven years she had helped and protected him and now helping him meant letting him die. Her brain refused to process the information. She latched onto the next person she could find and cried. Ron was surprised to say the least, but he held Hermione nonetheless. She had come to him for comfort, that was a good sign, wasn't it?

Hermione's worst dreams were realised when she saw Hagrid carrying a lifeless Harry in his arms. It was as if the wind had been knocked from her. Her knees were about to give in and she grabbed onto the nearest shoulder to keep upright. Only then she noticed, that it was Fleur right by her side. On her other side was Bill Weasley. Hermione took her hand off Fleur's shoulder as if she had burned herself. She didn't want Fleur to get into trouble with Bill because of her.

He clearly wanted to say something, but he was interrupted by a ruckus caused by Harry. Harry! Hermione was beyond herself. He wasn't dead! She saw Death Eaters apparating away in fear and Harry was fighting Voldemort. Hermione whipped out her wand and started shooting hexes left and right at the remaining Death Eaters. In all of the chaos she found herself back in the Great Hall where none other than Bellatrix Lestrange herself was firing spells at Ginny. The youngest Weasley could barely defend herself against the onslaught of hexes.

Hermione sprinted through the hall to help her best female friend and confidante. Together, they managed to at least hold up a steady protective shield and were even able to get a few offensive spells across, but none of them hit their target.

'Well, well, Muddy. We meet again. I must say you are a lot more resilient than I gave you credit for. But don't worry, we have enough time to play,' Bellatrix taunted, but quickly changed her tune when a spell shot past her. A little too close for her comfort apparently. Ginny didn't understand why Hermione seemed to have a history with this lunatic, but she understood very well that she wouldn't ever find out if they didn't get help soon.

Hermione didn't dare turn her eyes away from the deranged woman in front of her, so she had no chance of knowing who had fired the spell or maybe it was a stray spell? But when another spell shot past the Death Eater, she knew that whoever it was, they were helping them. Another spell. Bellatrix deflected it easily. It must've come from too far away. Bellatrix looked but it seemed she couldn't make out the source yet.

Spell after spell came from behind Ginny and Hermione and judging by Bellatrix face, she had a harder and harder time keeping up a duel with three opponents. Even a skilled and creative duellist like her had her limits.

Suddenly, Hermione felt a cool hand on her shoulder and knew who had helped them.

'Get behind me,' Fleur said, but wisely didn't wait for an answer and simply pushed them back. She stood tall before them and deflected Bellatrix' every spell. It was rather remarkable. Even Bellatrix must've been impressed, judging by the look of frustration. Ginny was endlessly grateful but wondered why Fleur had so selflessly stepped in front of her and Hermione. They could've formed a line or something, instead.

'And who is this, Muddy? Don't you want to introduce us?' Bellatrix taunted.

'My name is Fleur Isabelle Delacour. And you better remember that, because mine will be the last face you see,' Fleur answered for Hermione while deflecting more spells.

'Oh, you got yourself a protector, Muddy. Clever, but useless. Don't you think?' Bellatrix said and managed to slice open Fleur's arm with a spell. The French witch didn't even flinch, ignoring the blood running down her arm. Hermione wanted to immediately get Fleur to safety but Ginny held her back. It was then, that the penny dropped. Something must've happened. Something big, or why would Fleur step between them and Bellatrix. Ginny pushed the thought aside in favour of helping out with protective spells.

'Is that all you 'ave? A measley cutting 'ex?' Fleur egged Bellatrix on. She knew it was risky to rile her up, but an emotional Bellatrix was probably a more inattentive Bellatrix.

'You want more? You only had to ask, you know,' Bellatrix cackled. Without warning she caught Hermione in a brief Crucio. The Death Eater knew she had only time for a short burst before Fleur would switch from defence to offence if she left herself open like that but it was long enough to drop Hermione to the ground, screaming.

Fleur didn't have to look to know Bellatrix had aimed true. Her blood ran cold at Hermione's scream. She wanted to wipe that smug grin off this woman's face. It made Fleur furious to know she hadn't been fast enough to deflect that spell for Hermione. Ginny was with Hermione as fast as possible and helped the bright witch up again.

'She's ok, Fleur. She's fine,' Ginny reassured the French witch to let her know she didn't have to risk turning around.

'J'ai juré de te tuer, Bellatrix. Et je ne casse pas des promesses,' Fleur seethed. She didn't care if her opponent spoke French. Her tone would convey the message just fine.

'My, my, Mademoiselle Fleur Isabelle Delacour. Aren't you quite something? Engarde!' Bellatrix bellowed and fired spell after spell at breakneck speed. Fleur, Ginny and Hermione had their hands full to keep up.

Hermione could see Fleur getting tired, but she could also see the determination to finish what she had started. Fleur's patience had reached its limit.

'This is for the three broken ribs,' Fleur said and shot off an offensive spell between her deflections. It missed.

'This is for the stab wound in 'er side,' she continued with another offensive spell, never forgetting to keep up her protections.

'This is for the damage you did to 'er nerves,' Fleur hissed dangerously, while firing off a whole volley of spells. Ginny wondered again what had happened there. It was clear that Fleur was doing this for Hermione to get back at Bellatrix for whatever she'd done to her friend. There was a lot more to it than she had originally thought. But she filed it away to ask later.

'This is for all the cuts and bruises that took forever to 'eal. Curse you and your knife!' Fleur went on, firing spell after spell.

'And this, this is for the scar she will have on her arm for the rest of her life,' Fleur finished and shot another wordless spell towards Bellatrix. Hermione didn't have to hear the incantation it to know what the green jet of light meant. Bellatrix had left Fleur a small opening and only realised it when the spell hit her.

Bellatrix Lestrange slumpted to the ground. Lifeless.

Fleur turned around to see if Hermione was ok and had barely time to see that she was, when another couple of Death Eaters attacked. They were separated yet again.

After everything was over. After all the fighting had seized, Fleur sat in the Great Hall and could not believe that she was still alive. The Weasley family had gathered a few steps from her and Ginny was looking at her as if she were a puzzle to solve. She was about to ask what she was thinking about, when people stirred and grew louder. She craned her neck and saw what had caught their attention.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had entered the Great Hall.

Hagrid immediately hugged Harry. Ron ran over to be with his family and Hermione was intercepted by Fleur in the middle of the hall.

'I survived,' she said as if she hadn't quite grasped the meaning of it. Then she remembered what would now have to happen now and a grim look appeared on her face. This was goodbye. She knew that she would have to let Fleur go now for good, but she didn't know yet how to do that. Despair spread out through her body. Her hands turned numb and cold.

'Indeed, we survived. 'ermione, I…' Fleur began to speak but Hermione interrupted her. She felt she needed to get through this as fast as she could. Rip the plaster off quickly, so to speak.

'You don't need to say anything. I understand. You made your position clear last week. You are married to Bill and I wish for you…I…I wish for you to be happy. I just came to say thank you. What you did there with Bellatrix. It was…you were great. I'm in your debt again. Thank you,' Hermione said and was about to leave when Fleur caught her wrist and spun her back around. Hermione was caught between being confused and angry. Couldn't Fleur see that this was killing her? Why did she keep torturing her?

'You're not listening. I spoke to Bill. I told 'im about us. I wouldn't exactly say that 'e is 'appy about it, but 'e understands. We will get a divorce as soon as the Ministry is equipped to deal with such things again,' Fleur said, holding Hermione's hands to her heart.

Hermione was dumbfounded. Fleur had left Bill. For her. Fleur Delacour, the Fleur Delacour had left her husband for her. Fleur didn't say anything and let the news set in.

'If this is a joke, I'll kill you. I don't care how many times you've saved my life,' Hermione threatened and there was no doubt in Fleur that Hermione meant it. She'd do the same were she in her shoes. But Fleur just shook her head. This wasn't a joke.

When it finally had set in, Hermione had the biggest grin on her face that she'd ever had. Fleur had chosen her! She not only got to live, she got a chance at being with the most magnificent witch there was. Hermione couldn't believe her luck.

Then she smirked mischievously and stepped closer to Fleur.

'So that means,' she said, dropping her voice a bit lower, 'if I wanted to,' Hermione continued and pulled Fleur closer to her by the beltloops of her jeans, 'I could finally just,' she went on and put one hand behind Fleur's neck, making the French witch's heart flutter, 'pull you in real close and do this?'

Hermione put her lips on Fleur's. They didn't know if it was because they had just won a battle or because they weren't sneaking behind somebody's back, but both of them couldn't believe how good it felt. Their tongues were dancing with each other until Fleur noticed the silence. She slowed down the kiss and eventually ended it, looking deep into Hermione's eyes.

'Have you noticed?' Hermione whispered, not daring to look away.

'The silence?' Fleur asked unnecessarily.

'I think everyone is staring at us.'

'Do you mind?' Fleur asked, a little concerned, since they hadn't even had time to talk, and now suddenly everyone knew they were was something going on.

Hermione chose to answer with another kiss, much shorter, but enough to let Fleur know her opinion. Hermione had never thought that she would be so carefree and untroubled about the airing of her private life. However, what she felt for Fleur was settled so deep inside her that she couldn't imagine it would ever go away. She had no logical explanation for it, but she was so sure of this connection with Fleur, that she just didn't care what anyone else thought.

She kissed Fleur again to make sure she understood.

'Does anyone care to explain what is going on here?' Ron said very loudly, breaking the silence and pulling everyone out of their stupor. Suddenly, people began muttering and whispering and they became very busy. The Great Hall went back to whatever they were doing before they got distracted.

Neither Hermione nor Fleur were particularly in favour of dealing with Ron when he was in this state, but they made their way over to the Weasleys nonetheless.

'Ron, don't embarrass yourself,' Bill said and took his brother by the shoulder.

'What? Your wife just kissed my gir…friend. My friend. And you look like nothing's happened! She's done it before. I saw it when we left Shell Cottage,' Ron exclaimed loudly.

Bill lifted an eyebrow and looked at Fleur, 'I thought you said it happened only once. Last week, that is?' Fleur recognised the tone of his voice and knew he was only pretending to be upset.

'It must 'ave slipped my mind. I was probably too busy fearing for 'ermione's life, you know,' Fleur pretended to justify herself but never let go of Hermione's hand. She didn't want her to think that there was actual trouble.

'I knew it! I knew there was something wrong about you. You were too…too…too French from the beginning!' Ron attacked Fleur, who just gave him an amused look. Bill was doing the same, but Ron couldn't see that.

'What has Mum told you about things you don't understand, Ron?' Bill said and Ron faltered before muttering, 'That I shouldn't speak about them, but ask politely for an explanation…I guess, that didn't really work out. Sorry.'

'It's alright. And if you haven't figured it out yet, my wife just kissed your friend because they're in love. Fleur and I will get a divorce,' Bill explained and Ron knew that those were the final words of this discussion. Now he knew why Harry had said to back off and leave Hermione be. It all made sense now. Bloody hell, Hermione and Fleur were lesbians! It would take a while for Ron to wrap his head around it, but he could see that they were happy and he knew that in the end that was what counted. There had been too much death and there still was too much heartbreak to fault someone for being in love. Even he understood that.

Ginny had heard everything from a few steps away and came over to the group, staring at them in disbelief. She had come up with the wildest theories on the two of them after Fleur's duel with Bellatrix. This hadn't been one of them.

'You and…and Phlegm?' she said, still dumbstruck.

'Ginny!' Hermione, Bill and even Ron reprimanded her.

'I'm sorry, ok, sorry. I didn't mean it. I was just too stunned. Fleur, I apologise. Please believe me, when I say that I have changed my opinion about you quite a while ago,' Ginny said, throwing up her hands in a defensive gesture.

'It's ok. Don't get yourself all worked up. I know you're not the insecure little girl you once were,' Fleur said with a smirk and Ginny stuck out her tongue at her, making everyone laugh. It felt good to laugh.

'So what happens now?' Ginny asked, looking around at the hall that was gradually becoming empty. People were leaving to to go home or take care of the dead or simply to one of the dorms to sleep.

'We should probably help with the clean up,' Hermione suggested.

That was when they heard someone tutting behind them.

Minerva McGonagall had appeared, looking worse for the wear but generally unscathed.

'Miss Granger, I think you have done enough already for a lifetime. If you insist you can help clean up tomorrow but I can tell that there was a lot of brainpower in all of your adventures, and let's be honest, neither Ron nor Harry have the capacity,' she remarked.

'Hey,' Ron protested for show. He knew she was right but didn't want to take the insult lying down.

'But, there is so much to do and it wouldn't be fair to…' Hermione started off.

'I believe your old bed is still empty, Miss Granger,' McGonagall cut her off and Hermione instantly shut up.

'Come, let's get you to bed,' Fleur said and ignored the blush that appeared on Hermione's face. She couldn't believe Fleur had said that right in front of McGonagall.

But the future headmistress just winked at her and moved on to talk to another group.

Hermione just groaned in embarrassment and let herself be led to the dorms. She was too exhausted to argue anymore.

French translations:

I have sworn to kill you, Bellatrix. And I don't break my promises.