Hi everyone,
I hope you all have had a great NYE and have recovered from the resulting hangover by now. This one's a short chapter but as I said, I'm trying to move on to starting the school year. It doesn't mean nothing important is happening, though. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think in the reviews. I always enjoy reading them.
Chapter Thirteen
When they entered the living room, Apolline Delacour immediately put away the book with which she had kept herself occupied and came to greet Hermione. She smiled warmly at her and kissed her cheeks left and right.
Fleur didn't receive anything, apart from the death glare under which even Molly Weasley would have crumbled.
'Eet eez so good to finally meet you, 'ermione. You are just like Alain described you. Even prettier. I 'ope everyzing was to your zatisfaction upon your arrival,' Apolline said, leading Hermione further into the room towards the sofas. She motioned for her to sit down. Fleur sat down next to her girlfriend. Hermione couldn't remember having seen her this rigid before.
'You must tell me everyzing about you, 'ermione. I trust Pilou 'as told you that your parents will be picked up from the airport,' Apolline said, still ignoring her daughter.
'Yes, he was very helpful and thank you for being so accomodating and letting me and my parents stay here on such short notice,' Hermione thanked the woman.
'There is nozzing to zank me for. Eet iz a pleasure 'aving you 'ere and eet eez no trouble at all 'aving your parents 'ere too. I love visitors. My mozzer raised me properly and I don't forget my mannerz,' Apolline declared, not even looking at Fleur.
'Madame Delacour,…' Hermione said.
'Oh no! You must call me Apolline. You are part of ziz family, even though even though I 'ad to wait so long to 'ear of your existence,' interrupted Apolline not missing the opportunity at another jibe at her daughter.
'Alright, Apolline, it is. I would like to ask you not to judge Fleur too harshly for not informing you right away. It is in part my fault she never got a chance to write,' Hermione tried to get the elephant out of the room.
'Nonsense, 'ow can eet bee your fault. All eet would've taken was a short note. That takes only five minutes, n'est-ce pas?' Apolline went on.
'I forgot, Maman. Is that what you want to 'ear? I am truly sorry but we've 'ad other things on our minds,' Fleur interjected. Her mother was clearly shocked to see her daughter so pissy.
'Fleur, watch your tone! Eet eez bad enough zat you are making 'ermione defend your negligence. Don't push eet,' Apolline warned.
'Apolline! Are you giving Fleur a 'ard time? I though we 'ad talked about theez,' a male voice spoke. Fleur instantly lit up and ran towards the man that had just entered the room.
'Papa!' Fleur exclaimed happily as she hugged him close.
'Et qu'est-ce que c'est avec moi?' [And what about me?]
'Gabrielle!' Fleur said and embraced her sister.
Hermione was very touched to see Fleur so happy. It had definitely been the right choice to spend the rest of the summer here.
And so Hermione and Fleur spent their summer together with their families. Apolline had all but forgotten about Fleur's faux-pas on Veela etiquette as soon as she had seen how happy she was. The Grangers and Delacours got along famously and the French family even made plans to visit Hermione's parents in muggle London.
On occasion, Hermione would travel home to get some things organised with the new curriculum and the new muggle teachers, while Fleur spent as much time as she could in her families substantial library to finally find a cure for Hermione's still open wound.
They consulted with the healers at the local hospital but even they gave up after a day of trying everything they could come up with.
Fleur was getting more and more frustrated over the whole situation and Hermione tried to find some peace with the fact that there probably wasn't a solution for her problem, if not even the healers could get anywhere. It was a cursed wound and since nobody had any idea which curses had been on the dagger or had been muttered while the wound was inflicted, it was nigh impossible to do research on the matter.
Hermione was writing letters back and forth with Ginny telling her about their time on the run and about her wound and Fleur's frustration. In turn, Ginny informed her about her mother's stubborn attitude. She didn't seem to respond to pleading nor anger but Ginny assumed it was because of the grief. Occasionally, Ginny sent a copy of the Daily Prophet with her letters because Hermione didn't feel very informed about the status of things. The local French papers seemed to avoid any news on Britain.
As much as they were enjoying it, Hermione and Fleur knew their summer had to end some time. With only one week before school, all of their prep work was done. The only thing that remained was the shopping in Diagon Alley. Hermione dreaded the visit. She had only ventured as far as the Leaky Cauldron during her daytrips and she was loath to find out how bleak and destroyed everything was. She had heard that Ollivander's was still not open but would be just in time for the new school year. Apparently, Ollivander's son would uphold the family tradition.
Hermione braced herself by taking a big breath while Fleur touched the wall behind the Leaky Cauldron with her wand.
As Diagon Alley revealed itself, Hermione exhaled. It wasn't as bad as she had thought it might be but it wasn't exactly bright and cheerful either.
As they walked down the streets they saw Florean Fortescue's completely destroyed. There was maybe one wall left standing of the whole building. The Weasley's shop was still standing, relatively unscathed but it was closed. It would probably be a while before George would reopen it, if he would at all.
They stepped into Flourish & Blott's to retrieve Hermione's school books and were shocked to see that only the first few rows of the bookshelves were in order and stocked. Looking a bit further back into the shop, the shelves were clearly new, but empty and the books piled up on the ground waiting to be sorted and assessed for damage.
The new school books were set up in neat piles behind the counter and since they were doing their shopping early, they didn't have to wait very long.
'I don't think I've ever been in and out of here this fast,' Hermione commented solemnly. The two of them linked hands and strolled off to Madam Malkin's. It was one of the few shops that were lucky. The damage had been minimal and easy to repair.
Hermione felt like a first year again, being measured while standing on the little pedestal. Then, Madam Malkin vanished to the back of her shop and returned with a Gryffindor robe of the finest materials. She immediately offered Hermione a generous discount for her role in the war. Despite her efforts, Hermione wasn't able to shake the laurels and finally accepted the gift.
She was trying on neutral, black teacher's robes when the doorbell announced another customer.
Madam Malkin excused herself for a moment and left Hermione to inspect her new robes in the mirror.
'It looks good on you, Granger,' she heard a familiar voice speak and her blood ran cold. When she turned to see if her suspicions had been right, she found Fleur already nose to nose with Draco Malfoy.
A little closer to the entrance, Madam Malkin and Narcissa Malfoy noticed the change of atmosphere and quickly approached. Hermione went to join Fleur.
'I am sorry, I didn't mean to disturb your shopping. I was just trying to be polite,' Draco said and looked to his mother for help.
'Don't you think it's a little bit late for that?' Fleur seethed.
'Please, we are not looking for trouble. Like you, we are simply here to do our school shopping a bit earlier this year,' Narcissa tried to diffuse the tension. Hermione knew from Harry that it had been her that had lied for him, risking her own and her family's life. And comparing what she now saw before her with the mental image of her from Malfoy Manor, she could see the difference. Narcissa looked softer, relieved of a heavy weight. There was nothing left of the frightened, stoic and cold exterior. Hermione was willing to be civil but Fleur had a much harder time it seems.
'Trying to avoid the crowd? That's probably a smart move,' Fleur said but it was impossible not to hear the strain in her voice. It was clear that if one of the Malfoy's put even one foot out of line, Fleur would hex them into next week.
'Fleur, let's get our shopping done and let them do the same, please,' Hermione spoke calmly, putting one hand on her girlfriend's shoulder to show her that she was alright and that she could let it go.
Fleur stared at mother and son for moment longer and then turned around and walked back to where she had come from. Narcissa mouthed a thank you and pulled Draco with her to the Slytherin section.
Hermione went to change back into her own clothes before paying for her new school uniforms.
The two of them had only gotten as far as the next building when they heard someone catch up with them and turned around.
Draco was standing there, his mother catching up with him. Before Hermione could give him a piece of her mind for following her around, Draco spoke, 'Erm…I wanted to apologise. Properly. I know this is not making up for what I've done or rather haven't done. I don't expect you to forgive me, or anything. For what it is worth, I am sorry,' Draco spoke. Even Fleur could see the remorse. He really meant what he said.
'I can only agree with my son. I don't think we can ever make up for what happened. I don't know if you have heard. My husband was convicted two weeks ago. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, far from it. We were lucky and got off because of Draco being forced into taking the dark mark and me helping Harry by lying to the Dar…Tom Riddle. Because the law deems us not guilty doesn't mean that we don't have anything to make up for and I believe an apology is the first step. I am sorry,' Narcissa apologised. Before either Hermione or Fleur could say something, she spoke again.
'It isn't enough to make us even but I would like to offer my help with a wound that I am quite certain you still carry around with you. My sister has told me what would happen if she inflicted a wound with the dagger and spoke the right curses. Please forgive me my boldness, but have you found a way to stop the bleeding and has the aching increased already?' Narcissa asked and her look travelled to Hermione's shirt sleeve that hid the bandages.
''ow dare…' Fleur started off but quickly curbed her temper when Hermione cut her off with a hand to her arm.
'I accept both of your apologies. It doesn't mean I forgive you. I am not sure if I have it in me to ever do that. And I'd rather you stay out of my business. My wounds, bleeding or otherwise, didn't concern you in my darkest hour, lying on the floor and begging your sister to kill me. I suggest you don't pretend to care now. I'm not your personal redemption project,' Hermione answered, trying to keep the snide out of her voice but not quite succeeding. She could see the new Narcissa falter, but she couldn't help but remember her stoney face and her inaction, then.
'I am simply offering, it is your choice but please consider this: There is nobody alive who knew my sister better than I did. I have been at her side all my life, except for the years she spent in Azkaban. You might already be talking to Andromeda, but be aware she only knew her before that. She never saw the deranged woman Bella had become. So who better than me to figure out which curses she used? If you ever reconsider, don't hesitate to contact either Draco or myself.'
Hermione nodded sternly before turning around and leaving the Malfoy's to whatever business they had here. She took Fleur's hand and pulled her with her, deciding to simply forget the incident ever happened.
Their way led them past Gringotts Bank and at the sight of Hermione, the goblin guards immediately blocked the entrance and glared at her.
'Good to know,' she assessed, 'I'm just glad I dissolved my account before I destroyed the bank.'
Fleur chuckled softly before speaking loud enough for the goblins to hear, 'Don't worry, chérie. They don't 'old a monopoly. We'll get you a bank account elsewhere, in a more secure bank, that won't be robbed by three teenagers.'
The sour look on the goblins faces was priceless.
Back home at Shell Cottage, the two witches were having dinner, when Fleur abruptly put down her fork and solemnly looked at Hermione.
'What's up, hun?' Hermione asked, softly stroking Fleur's hand with her own.
'What did Narcissa mean when she asked if the aching 'ad increased?' Fleur asked.
'Oh Fleur, please don't concern yourself with what she said. Yes, it hurts a little more but I'm used to it by now. I want this wound to go away more than anything but for now, I have to live with it and as soon as we have the Hogwarts library at our disposal we'll figure it out. I trust your word, you'll find a way,' Hermione said, using her soothing voice.
''ermione! You need to tell me these things! We could at least have put some pain salve on it,' Fleur scolded Hermione as she took her wrist and began to carefully undo the bandage.
'I've tried that. It doesn't work. I've even tried muggle medicine,' Hermione said silently.
When Fleur had finally unravelled the wound she gasped at the sight.
'Is that why you told me that you can take care of it yourself? Because you didn't want me to see that it's getting worse? 'ermione, you can't keep that sort of information from me. 'ow am I supposed to 'elp if you don't even tell me what's going on?' Fleur complained.
'What would you have done if I had told you? I can see how much you want to find a cure and how frustrated you are because you haven't yet. I didn't want you to get even more obsessed with healing this. I'm alive. I'm in love and happy. That is what counts for me, not stupid scratch on my arm,' Hermione defended herself. Fleur was about to respond, Hermione could see her temper flare but at the last moment, she took a deep breath and reigned herself in.
'I'll finish my dinner now, then I will go pack and we're going to 'ogwarts tomorrow. That's final.' Fleur said and gave Hermione a cross look. She didn't argue.
'And I love you too,' the French which added quietly, because she didn't want Hermione to think that she was actually mad at her.