Hermione had only been home for about thirty seconds when Harry raced out of his room excitedly.
"Hermione, I've been on the case since our chat the other day… and I have her address!" he said, tripping over a lone shoe in the hallway.
"Her address?"
"To owl her!" Harry explained, pulling out some parchment and a quill.
They moved into the living area and sat down at the table together. Hermione put her face in her hands.
"I don't even know what I would write, Harry. You didn't see how cold she was in the auror break room."
There was a knock at the door and Hermione fell silent.
"Well its not Ron, 'Mione, he has a key and he's out with Neville and Luna tonight."
Hermione still looked hesitant, so Harry rose from the table and went to the door.
"Gin!" Harry exclaimed, opening the door to a petite redhead, who promptly threw her arms around Harry and kissed him.
They walked into the living area where Hermione was still sitting staring at the blank parchment, whirling the quill around in her hands.
"Hey, 'Mione, what're you guys up to?" Ginny said cheerily.
Harry smiled at Hermione, "Erm…"
"Ginny, I have feelings for Fleur and I think I've fucked it all up," Hermione blurted. Harry looked surprised but proud of his friend.
"Fleur?!" Ginny exclaimed, "As in Fleur Delacour?"
Hermione smiled sadly and nodded.
"Jesus," Ginny said, sitting at a chair at the table, scratching the back of her head, "We all thought you were into that idiot, Ron."
Hermione filled Ginny in, bringing her up to date with Harry's plan to send Fleur an owl.
"Oh, well thank Merlin I'm here," Ginny said, pulling the parchment towards her, as the others looked at her curiously.
"Well, 'Mione, you're great at academics, but you've gotta admit you're a bit shit when it comes to your feelings," Ginny laughed, "And Harry, well, you're lucky I love you…"
They all laughed and Harry went and got them all a round of beers to drink while spit-balling what Hermione should send. The discussion centred around what would be too much and what would be too subtle. In the end, Hermione settled on the following:
"Fleur,
I miss you. I never stopped missing you.
Please meet me and let me explain everything.
Yours,
Hermione."
Harry took Hedwig out of her cage and let Hermione fasten the message to her leg. Ginny opened the window and Hedwig swooped out into the evening air.
Hermione let out a long shaky breath and Harry slapped her on the back, ushering her over to the couches. They sat down and Ginny came to join them with another round of beers.
"You didn't have sex with her in my bed did you…?" said Ginny, suddenly thinking of the summer at The Burrow. Hermione threw her bottle cap at her, laughing.
They leaned back and began to idly talk.
"I mean, I feel like everyone was convinced you were into Ron this whole time, 'Mione," Ginny said, "I mean you even slept with him after he said he liked you."
Hermione groaned and covered her eyes.
"I mean, I never told Ronald I was interested in him," she said from behind her hands, "…but I guess I never told him I wasn't interested in him either… We just never talked about it after he tried to kiss me at Shell Cottage."
"Its true, Gin," Harry took a swig from his beer, "They never even talked about it the morning after sleeping together. They just talked about…" he giggled "…what kind of animagus they would be if they had to choose…"
Hermione swatted Harry irritatedly.
They were interrupted by a tapping at the window. Hedwig was back.
"Blimey, its only been like half an hour," Ginny said, "That's gotta be a good sign, 'Mione,"
Harry opened the window and Hedwig flapped in before hopping over to Hermione. She took the note off Hedwig's leg and unfurled it.
"Hermione,
It did surprise me seeing you at the Ministry the other day.
Bill and Remus will be having a party at their apartment on Saturday night. They have said that you, Harry and the other Weasleys are welcome to come.
I suppose if I see you there we may have the opportunity to talk.
Fleur"
The paper had the faint aroma of vanilla and flowers and Hermione felt her heart ache.
Ginny snatched the note from her and read it with Harry.
"Right," Ginny said, "So we're going to the party tomorrow night. Now we just have to plan what you're going to wear."
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The following night, Hermione had tried on about seven different outfits before finally deciding on one to wear.
They were standing around the kitchen island drinking some gin and tonics to help Hermione take the harshness off her nerves. Although, Ron didn't know that. He was happily slurping at his drink and looking forward to going to his older brother's party with his friends.
Ginny insisted they wait a while before arriving, to ensure they weren't the first ones there. In the end, they apparated over as the party was well underway.
The apartment was incredible, with a balcony looking over the wizarding area of London. It was already very crowded and the group had to jostle to get through before they met a very drunk Remus and a mildly less drunk Bill. They hugged each of them. As Bill hugged Hermione, his beard scratched her ear and he whispered, "don't you hurt her," before pulling away and dragging Ron into a hug.
Ron pulled Harry off to eagerly find some drinks for them in the kitchen. Ginny took Hermione's arm.
"Right, Hermione, now to find your girl."
They had only pushed through a little more of the crowd when they noticed the tell-tale turning of heads that signalled Fleur was probably nearby. Ginny pulled Hermione past a trio of drooling boys and they saw her.
Fleur was standing haughtily in sky high heels and a devastatingly revealing dress. It had an open back, showing her toned back, and a plunging neckline. While the dress was not unusually short, it was certainly short, and clung to her body in all the right places. Her Veela thrall appeared to be present in abundance, as half of the room was openly gaping at her.
Ginny and Hermione stopped in their tracks. Hermione looked at Ginny who, to her surprise, was even looking Fleur up and down.
"Jesus, 'Mione…" Ginny said, before regaining her composure and pushing Hermione in the small of her back. "Go on, you've wasted enough time not talking to her…"
Hermione stumbled forward, walking awkwardly towards Fleur. She wasn't sure if she could recall a moment this nerve-wracking before.
As she approached Fleur, she locked eyes with Fleur's ice-blue ones. Fleur fixed her with a cold smile.
"Ah, you came, Hermione," she said, nodding at her. Hermione swallowed heavily and tried to manage a smile.
"Fleur… about the Ron thing…" Hermione began, her mouth dry.
She was interrupted by Cho Chang brushing past her to talk to Fleur.
"Hi, erm, Fleur, could I get you a drink?" Cho asked, a blush rising on her face.
Fleur looked icily at Hermione before looking Cho up and down very slowly. Cho blushed harder and Hermione felt her heart ache.
"Oui, you may," Fleur said with a cold smile. Cho made an awkward gurgling noise and rushed off to get the drinks.
"What were you saying, Hermione?" Fleur said, returning her gaze to Hermione and quirking a perfect eyebrow. Hermione's stomach twisted painfully as she tried to keep her resolve.
"Fleur, it only happened because I was so bitterly lonely without you," Hermione said earnestly, "I was just so upset and drank too much because I was missing you."
Fleur raised an eyebrow again, "So you're saying its my fault you slept with Bill's brother? If I recall it was you that left me at Shell Cottage…"
Hermione opened her mouth to reply but Cho had pushed through the crowd again, almost sloshing the two drinks she was excitedly carrying. Fleur smiled sweetly at Cho.
"Shall we go and enjoy these drinks somewhere more private?" Fleur asked Cho.
Cho made a mild choking noise and nodded, ecstatically putting an arm around Fleur and leading her out to the balcony.
Ginny came to stand beside Hermione.
"Fucking Cho Chang," Ginny muttered, "How typical." Ginny was obviously recalling Harry's school crush on Cho. She looked at Hermione sympathetically.
"Well, you talked, 'Mione?" she said consolingly, "That's a start? Lets go get a drink."
The two rejoined Harry and Ron and fell into some comfortingly mindless drinking and socialising. It was all Hermione could do to stop thinking about Fleur and Cho. She felt the jealously burning up inside her. Eventually it was so deafening she told the others that she needed to get some air. Harry nodded and said he would come too.
The large balcony was less crowded than inside, but still busy. Nevertheless, Hermione and Harry found an area where they could hang over the side and look over the city and breathe in the fresh night air.
"Harry, I just don't know what to do," Hermione said miserably.
Harry stood thoughtfully, looking out over the city before finally replying.
"If it was me, I would keep trying," he said, "If it was Ginny, I would stop at nothing to make things right again."
They turned around and leaned their backs against the balcony. Hermione let out an unhappy groan as they saw Cho and Fleur across the balcony. Cho was whispering in Fleur's ear and her hand was roaming down Fleur's back.
Harry squeezed Hermione's hand comfortingly, "Don't look, 'Mione,"
But Hermione was transfixed as Cho's hand made its way to grab Fleur's ass. Cho started to lean in, moving in for a kiss with Fleur, when Hermione snapped. She wrenched her hand out of Harry's and stormed over to Cho, grabbing her by the shoulder and pulling her off Fleur.
Cho's face contorted into a mix of shock and irritation. Fleur looked surprised and confused.
"Fleur, I'm crazy about you," Hermione said breathlessly, "Please give me another chance."
It felt like an age that Hermione was standing in front of Fleur, waiting for a chance. Eventually Fleur smiled and replied.
"Maybe."
Cho shoved Hermione hard. Hermione stumbled and Cho pushed her again.
"What the hell, Granger?!" Cho said, irritated. But by the time Harry pulled them apart, Fleur had already breezed off and disappeared into the crowd.
Hermione couldn't keep the smile off her face, going back inside with Harry after he had placated Cho. She leaned in to Ginny's ear and excitedly told her what had happened, Ginny gave a drunken whoop and hi-fived Hermione heavily, "Yeah! Fuck Cho!"
Suddenly the party seemed a lot more fun. The group ended up staying quite late, and thankfully, Bill seemed to have lightened up towards Hermione. Many drinks and laughs were had as the night progressed into the small hours of the morning.
They were all starting to yawn when Ron decided it was time for them to head back and go to bed. There was only a small group left at Remus and Bill's place, including Fleur. As the others were hugging Remus and Bill goodbye, Hermione approached Fleur, feeling far braver now she had a few drinks under her belt.
"Fleur…" she said, her stomach flipping as Fleur turned around to face her, "Will you… would you go on a date with me?"
"Oui, Hermione," she said, smiling, before adding, "But you should probably know I have accepted a date with Cho also."
"Jesus, Fleur," Hermione said, the last three drinks having eliminated her filter, "You're not going to make it easy for me are you?"
Fleur smirked as Hermione joined the others and apparated back home.