Hey guys, hopefully I haven't kept you waiting for too long. Thanks for what seemed like dozens of reviews, I really appreciate it. :)
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The First Task was getting nearer and the atmosphere at the school was getting more nervous every day. Probably the only one who wasn't being too nervous about all of it was Hermione. She had been feeling rather numb for at least a week. She had been avoiding Fleur in any possible ways, if she saw her walking in the corridors; Hermione took the closest short cut and disappeared before Fleur could even notice her. She knew the short cuts of the castle like the back of her hand; like most of the students of Hogwarts did. The only things she could concentrate on were the lessons. Before the First Task, Harry asked her to help him with Summoning Charms. She was emotionally tired, but did her best to help Harry.
She felt rather guilty the morning she was walking towards the arena so she headed her steps towards the tent where the champions were getting prepared. She wished Harry the best luck and gave him a hug, Rita Skeeter came in the same minute to cause some chaos and get juicy news. Wiggling out of the situation Hermione was half out of the tent when she heard someone say her name. The minute she cursed out loud, for not remembering who was also going to be in that tent.
"'Ermione, could you please listen to me for a second?" Fleur asked. Hermione took a deep breath and turned around.
"I think I've heard enough," she said, grinding her teeth and feeling remotely angry at herself for not remembering something so obvious.
"But…" Fleur managed to say before Hermione cut her off.
"I don't ever want to hear anything from you, so stay away from me!" She exclaimed and ran out of the tent.
Hermione found Ron from the audience and quietly sat next to him.
"I was holding you a seat, where have you been?" Ron asked.
"None of your business," Hermione was squeezing her fists, last thing she needed right now was Ron to cause her a nervous breakdown.
"No need to take it out on me! Could you just loosen it up for a change?"
"Well, if you're such an unemotional prick, why don't you tell me how to "loosen it up", huh?"
"Merlin! What's your problem! Did you fight with Harry too? Talking of Harry, I wonder which dragon he has to battle. I hope Fleur gets the smallest one though, being the only girl in this tournament and all, it's just not fair…"
Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She threw herself backwards and closed her eyes, because even the sight of anyone at that moment made her feel so nauseated.
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A week after the First Task, Hermione was feeling a little bit better. She didn't feel like a messenger between Harry and Ron anymore. And she had also apologized to the boys for her latest behaviour. Fleur apparently felt angry too; she didn't talk or even glimpse at Hermione's direction. Hermione didn't mind, though she occasionally wondered what Fleur had to say to her before the First Task and understood why Fleur was also mad at her for not giving her any chance to explain.
Hermione and the boys were sitting in the common room, homework spread before them. It was pouring rain outside and all of the students were packed inside, most of them hanging around in the common room doing homework, playing games or chatting with friends. Some still came to Harry to congratulate him; some first years came to ask for an autograph and left with sour faces when they didn't get any. Harry and Ron were still working on their star charts for astronomy and asked Hermione to check the charts for mistakes. Staring at the star chart brought back memories from the late night star-gazing sessions she had with Fleur. She then turned her focus quickly back to Ron's paper. She started to correct the wrong stars. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"Exactly HOW thick can you get, Ron! You have mixed up Cassiopeia and Pegasus, I ask you again, Ron, how thick can you get? One of these days, I wouldn't be surprised if you lost the location of your own---" Hermione was cut off by Ron.
"Alright, I get it. I'm a thick-head and you're a genius, now just correct the rest of them, please."
Hermione was about to open her mouth to say something when she realized something. She couldn't believe she had missed such a detail. Must have been her charms though, to get me so distracted, she thought. She felt a strange boiling feeling in her stomach and without saying a word, she ran out again. She ran straight to the Beauxbatons carriage filled with rage and started banging on the door. A girl dressed in blue robes came to open the door.
"May I speak to Miss Delacour, please?" Hermione asked, trying to keep her voice calm. The girl nodded and went back inside. Fleur appeared on the doorstep few moments later.
"What is it now, Mademoiselle Granger?"
"Could you step outside, the whole carriage doesn't need to hear this," Hermione said, doing her best not to bellow or else lose control. Fleur stepped out and closed the door; many curious faces appeared in the windows. Hermione jerked her head towards the windows. Fleur nodded in silence and they found more private place for their talk. By the time they reached a place far enough from the stares and the hearing ears, Hermione was clenching her teeth again. She was sure if her insides were made of wood, she'd been burn into ashes already. When they stopped, she lifted her gaze to meet an icy stare. She couldn't help but laugh sarcastically at herself, how she never noticed this before.
"I've known this all along in the back of my head and for some reason, we both know what I'm talking about, I didn't notice one detail before this evening. I never paid any attention to it, normally I probably would have but you gave me no chance to notice anything," Hermione stated, still able to keep her voice quite calm.
"I 'ave no idea what you are talking about, zis detail you mentioned or "for some reason" something, again, I ask you, what are you talking about?"
"That detail, just happens to be something my sub-consciousness has tried to warn me about, or rather, I made that choice subconsciously so that I would maybe notice it later. Do you remember when I named a certain star after you?" Hermione was getting rather anxious, starting to sound quite accusing.
"Oui, of course I do. Why?"
"It just happens to be fake; it's a planet, not a star. And that obviously means that my sub-consciousness has been trying to tell me that you're a fake too!"
"And zat is what you believe zen? Your crazy mind, zat 'as obviously lost any remaining 'int of sanity, non?" Fleur almost shouted, "And what right do you 'ave to call me a fake? I 'ave never told you a single lie."
"What right do you have to call me crazy then? You just told me another lie; by saying you're never told any lies. You've told me nothing but lies. I only ask you to answer honestly for once, why me? When you could have fooled any other girl or a boy from here, older and better looking one, why did you choose me?"
"If you are referring to my Veela relations, I must disappoint you, and crush your silly theories about me, but I did not choose you, or anyone else," Fleur said with the coldest tone she could muster.
"Oh, I see, I just happened to be the first fool to be on your way. I think I've heard enough," Hermione said and started to walk away. Fleur reached and grabbed her arm.
"I couldn't 'ave charmed you with ze Veela-part of me, even if I wanted to, just so zat you know," she stated, still staring coldly at Hermione who had turned her head to hear what Fleur had to say. She let go of Hermione's arm and started to walk off to a totally different direction. Hermione felt like shouting something after her but decided it was enough for one evening and headed back to the Gryffindor Tower.
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They won't be fighting forever, I promise ;) I just want to ask you, what you think. Should I keep the story to fit the PG-13 rating and leave the rest to your imagination (in later chapters) or change the style a bit, only a bit and it'd be NC-17 after that?
And I do not promise any sexual content yet in the next chapter in case if you voted for the last option. But I'd just like to know what you think.
(Just another way to squeeze the reviews out of you guys, I'm evil :D)
No, seriously, I wanna know :)
Anyhow, R&R even if you don't own an opinion about my question. Thanks guys for reviewing, this story wouldn't continue without your support. :)
And I want to also remind that constructive criticism is still very welcomed, if you feel like the story isn't working in any/some ways just let me know. I won't cry, I promise. :D