A/N: Sorry this chapter is a little all over the place, I'm just trying to tie some stuff up before it progresses
/
The night dissolved into wines in the living room, the group scattered amongst the squashy couches and rickety chairs. All were discussing the big news of the evening, except for Mr Weasley, who was trying to explain the muggle concept of telephones to an exasperated Charlie.
Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Fleur were sitting in a corner. The news seemed to have momentarily snapped Ron out of his usual drooling at Fleur and he was gaping around at the group, sloshing his goblet.
"I mean, what next?" Ron continued, slopping wine on Harry's leg.
"We find out Malfoy's been snogging Ginny? That Harry's a house elf? That Hermione has a life outside the library?"
Hermione kicked Ron firmly in the shin. Fleur and Ginny giggled.
Hermione smiled at Fleur and Ginny. They seem to have found some common ground already, without the pressure of Ginny thinking Fleur was moving in on one of her brothers. Although, Ginny still rolled her eyes behind Fleur's back as she explained her lengthy exfoliation routine.
Ron got to his feet and lumbered off to refill his goblet. He was about three goblets ahead of everyone else, who were sipping quite leisurely. It appeared his appetite extended to drinking as well.
Harry shot a meaningful look at Hermione, and moved to the chair beside her. He glanced carefully over at Ginny and Fleur, who were deep in an argument about the best way to spend an afternoon. He slowly looked back at Hermione.
'Oh God…' Hermione was suddenly gripped with dread. Perhaps Harry had noticed the way she had been looking at Fleur. It wasn't her fault, finding out Fleur was both single and attracted to women had just made her that fraction more desirable.
Hermione shuffled awkwardly in her seat. She wasn't ready to tell Harry about her crushes on anyone, let alone the fact she was finding herself attracted to women.
"Listen," Harry began quietly, "What do you think about Ron's reaction to Lupin dating his brother?" Hermione furrowed her brow suspiciously. Was this a way of leading into asking her if she was gay too? She waited for Harry to continue.
"D'you… D'you think he would mind someone he knew asking out his sister?" he finished finally, still speaking quietly and glancing over at Ginny.
"I wouldn't! I don't even see her that way!" Hermione stammered.
Harry swatted her with a laugh. "Not you, obviously" he laughed, before becoming serious again. "I was thinking of… erm… well she's quite nice…" he trailed off, a light pink blush rising in his cheeks.
At that moment, Ron returned, sitting heavily down on the couch. Harry abruptly changed the subject.
/
The girls were readying themselves for bed in Ginny's room and Fleur glided out to the bathroom, to begin her nightly moisturising routine. Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione.
"She's okay," she admitted to Hermione, "But she's still bloody ridiculous."
Hermione laughed and sat down next to Ginny on the bed.
"Lupin though… what an arse" Ginny said suddenly. Hermione looked at her quizzically.
"He's not good enough for Bill," Ginny said, before looking upset.
"I can't believe Bill didn't tell me he way gay… maybe that was Lupin's influence"
Hermione suppressed a smile, suddenly Ginny's dislike of people became clear, she was a fiercely protective sister. She touched Ginny's arm.
"I'm sure he had his reasons, Gin,"
Ginny's brows knitted together heavily before she replied, "It's the kind of thing that people close to you are supposed to tell you!"
Hermione's hand retracted from Ginny's arm. She was overwhelmed with a sudden sense of guilt.
At that moment, Fleur swept back into the room, smelling freshly of vanilla and flowers. She settled herself on her mattress, carefully inserting her ear-plugs and pulling her eye-mask on. "Bon nuit!" she chirped before lying down.
Ginny threw herself down on her bed, sighing heavily. Hermione decided to drop the conversation and retreat to her own mattress.
It was a scorching hot night and the air was thick with the heat. Hermione could hear Ginny kicking off blankets and tossing around to get comfortable. Hermione tried sleeping on her back, then facing Ginny's bed, then turning to face Fleur as she struggled to settle.
It appeared Fleur was also struggling to get comfortable. She had no blankets over her and was wriggling frequently in discomfort at the heat. Hermione stared, hypnotised, watching Fleur's thighs and hips shift as she readjusted. She let her mind wander to the new knowledge that Fleur was attracted to women… it was women Fleur thought of when she was gripped by moments of desire…
"Hermione!" Ginny hissed.
Hermione snapped to attention, mortified at having been caught ogling Fleur.
Ginny threw a pillow at Hermione, "stop reading books and turn that bloody lamp off!" Ginny whined. Hermione smiled, relieved.
/
The next morning, when they awoke to shower and breakfast, Fleur was already up and gone. She had headed out with Bill and Remus for a long walk in the hills. Hermione hid her disappointment as she listened to the others plan their latest arrangement of teams for their day's Quidditch match. She honestly didn't understand how they could be so happy playing the same stupid game every day.
Hermione half heartedly promised that she might join in the game later in the day (lying), and selected a good book to read on the sidelines.
It was nearing lunchtime when Remus, Bill and Fleur returned and flopped down on the grass beside Hermione.
"Phew, it's a scorcher today!" Bill exclaimed, wiping sweat from his face and leaning into Remus. Remus smiled, enjoying being open with Bill, and put an arm around his shoulders.
"How did things go with your mum last night?" Hermione asked, putting her book down.
Bill frowned slightly "She's struggling with it… I mean she loves Remus of course but its just a shock for her." Remus kissed Bill's forehead.
"The upside of course is that at least Fleur is out of her bad books," Bill chuckled "Now its Remus that has led me astray…" Remus raised his eyebrows, not looking forward to Molly's heaping of chores on him.
Hermione looked at Fleur settling in on the grass. She certainly looked a lot happier now she wasn't the Weasley's public enemy number one. She turned to the others and smiled.
"Its ze perfect day for sunbathing!" she exclaimed, unbuttoning her shirt to reveal a bikini top. Hermione fumbled with the book in her hands.
"'Ermione, I picked up zis muggle potion for sun protection," she said, brandishing a bottle of sunscreen, "would you be so kind as to apply it to me?" She whipped off her shirt before lying on her stomach beside Hermione.
Hermione blushed bright red, her face not the only place the heat was rising in her. She caught Remus and Bill looking at her, surprised, before exchanging glances. Hermione cleared her throat and busied herself on applying the sunscreen to Fleur's back. She closed her eyes and tried to ignore how good Fleur's soft skin and toned back felt against her hands.
She finished and Fleur flipped over. Hermione looked at Fleur's chest and toned stomach and reddened further. She saw Remus whispering in Bill's ear and they both chuckled.
"Merci, I can take over from here," Fleur smiled, taking the sunscreen from Hermione and starting on her front. Hermione sighed with relief and collapsed back on the grass, pulling her book up to hide how red her face was.
"Tell me about today's book you are reading, 'Ermione" Fleur smiled, as she started on her legs with the sunscreen.
Hermione sighed, grateful for a change in conversation that could take her mind off the Frenchwoman's body in front of her.
/
That night at dinner, Fleur was even more relaxed and conversational. She sat between Fred and George and even joined in on their jokes at Ron's expense.
In contrast, Remus was not at the dinner table. Hermione looked around, and noticed Bill wasn't there either.
In any case, everyone at the table was in high spirits. Harry was sitting next to Ginny and having an actual full conversation. Hermione flashed him some encouraging smiles across the table. It was so hot inside, that Harry's nervous sweat wasn't noticeable amongst everyone fanning themselves.
Eventually dinner came to an end and everyone made their way out to the garden to get some fresh air from the stuffy heat.
The garden was lit by thousands of flying bright orbs, and in the middle of the garden were an enormous amount of flowers in bouquets. The group stopped in confusion and the buzz of conversation fell to silence.
Standing amongst the flowers were Bill and Remus, holding hands.
"…its been so many years with you and now, being open in front of our family and friends, I feel like we can finally take the next step…"
Remus dropped to one knee.
Ginny gasped.
"William Arthur Weasley… will you marry me?"
Mrs Weasley burst into tears.
/
"I'm happy for Bill," Ginny said, clambering into bed that night, "I just feel bad that mum is still weird about it."
Hermione nodded.
"I mean at the end of the day, we love Bill, what does it matter who he likes?" Ginny said.
Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but couldn't summon the words.
She was rescued from the situation by Fleur, who had just finished her nightly moisturising routine (Ginny had rolled her eyes at it again). She looked triumphant.
"Ginny, 'Ermione, we will not be baking tonight!" she exclaimed, flicking her wand at the ceiling. A miniature tornado appeared and started roaming around on the ceiling, blasting cool air through the room like a fan.
Ginny slapped her palm on her forehead, "Of course! Magic!"
They all settled back on their respective beds, relishing the cool air of the ceiling tornado.
"I am envious of Bill," Fleur said, closing her eyes with relaxation, "I would not mind meeting my 'Remus.'"
Ginny looked at the ceiling tornado thoughtfully "I feel like maybe I have met my 'Remus'… I just don't know if he feels the same way…"
"What about you 'Ermione?" Fleur asked, stretching on her bed.
"Yeah she has," Ginny said suddenly, "books!" Ginny laughed at her own joke.
The others groaned and turned off the lamp.
It was much easier to fall asleep with the little ceiling tornado. Hermione felt her eyes getting heavier and heavier before she drifted off.
Sometime in the small hours of the morning Hermione woke up briefly. She was immersed in the intoxicating smell of vanilla and flowers. She became vaguely aware that her face was nuzzling into some silver-blonde hair and she was pressed against a toned back, and arm thrown around a petite waist in front of her. Before she could process that she was spooning Fleur, her eyelids became heavy again and she fell back asleep.
The next morning, Hermione woke up and Fleur was gone again. Hermione blushed at her sleepy memory, wondering if it was real. She was right at the edge of her own mattress by Fleur's, so it was possible.
As her and Ginny went downstairs, Fleur, Mr Weasley, Remus and Bill were talking in excited tones.
"What's up?" Ginny yawned.
Mr Weasley turned around, "we're planning the engagement party!"