Hermione had just left the apartment and Ginny was sprawled across the couch with Harry. They were lazily discussing what they would do with their evening when Ron finally surfaced from his room. His hair was all stuck up at the back and he was still in his pyjamas.
"Good… morning?" Ginny said to Ron, "Didn't you get home super early from the party last night?"
Ron grunted, rifling in a kitchen cupboard for a pain killing potion. He found one and downed it in one.
"Yeah, 'Mione was upset so I took her home. But then I had a few drinks when I went back to my room…"
Harry and Ginny exchanged looks. Ron winced at the bitterness of the pain potion and pulled out a beer. He popped it open with his wand and came to sit by Harry and Ginny.
"So… what're we up to tonight guys?"
Hermione stood outside the Italian bistro on the muggle street. She was ten minutes early but could see Fleur through the window, already sitting at a table near the back, looking uncharacteristically nervous. Hermione turned around and leaned against the window of the bistro, taking a deep breath before heading in.
As she approached the table, Fleur looked up and Hermione felt her stomach flip as Fleur noticeably lit up. Fleur stood up and came to Hermione, kissing her on both cheeks.
"You came, Hermione!" she said, smiling and returning to the table with Hermione. They sat down across from each other. A silence fell over them.
"Hermione… When I found out about Ron, I left Hogwarts immediately to return to London," Fleur said, looking sad, "I just wanted to forget about you and put the whole thing out of my head. But your name and photo were in every paper and magazine. Everywhere I looked there was a reminder of you…"
Hermione opened her mouth to speak, before closing it again.
"A few weeks ago Cho approached me at a party at Bill and Remus'. She was interested and I thought it might help take my mind off you. I only ever saw her a few times… and I had stopped replying to her messages after our date."
Hermione put up a hand to gesture Fleur to stop talking. She cleared her throat.
"Fleur, we have been cursed by bad timing since you first told me you liked me… I'm not about to let some drama over someone you saw before me get in the way of us now."
"Hermione, you mean that?"
"Yes. I was upset last night because it caught me off-guard. I hated the thought of you being with anyone other than me."
Fleur smiled, reaching across the table and taking Hermione's hand.
"Okay, so tell me about the book you're reading at the moment."
Hermione laughed, remembering their time together at The Burrow. So much had happened since then.
They had a happy and enjoyable meal, both relieved that finally they could just be together with no more outside pressures pulling them apart. As they walked home, Fleur slipped an arm around Hermione's waist, pulling her close.
"I still can't believe you tried to pay for the meal with £200," Hermione giggled.
"I'm a witch, how am I supposed to know what the conversion would be?" Fleur said, pouting.
"You work at a bank!" Hermione said, giggling even harder.
Fleur walked Hermione back to the door of her apartment building, leaning in to kiss her softly. Hermione took her hand.
"Come inside with me? I can show you where I live."
Fleur followed Hermione up the staircase and to an understated wooden door. Hermione did an elaborate movement with her wand and the door sprang open for them. As Hermione entered and walked down the hallway, she could see Harry and Ginny down in the open plan living, dining, kitchen area. They were sitting on a couch looking up at her cautiously. As soon as they saw Fleur following her, they burst into pleased smiles. Hermione was pretty sure she even saw Ginny fistpump.
"Hey guys, you remember Fleur…" Hermione said, suddenly shy in front of them with Fleur.
"Of course we remember Fleur! How was your evening?" Ginny blurted, wanting the gossip on the date.
"It was great," Hermione said, smiling and looking at Fleur.
There was a faint flushing noise and Ron emerged from a bathroom, zipping up his fly.
"Oh, hey 'Mione, whats Fleur doing here?" he slurred, clearly drunk.
"Are you drinking on a Sunday evening, Ronald?" Hermione said, disapproval evident in her voice.
"Yeah… but 's'okay," Ron said too loudly, "So, 'Mione, I was thinking we could have a talk? A heart to heart like the good old days?"
"Oh, sorry Ron, I'm just showing Fleur around the apartment," Hermione said dismissively, steering Fleur away to show her the rest of the apartment. As they finished their tour they entered Hermione's room, avoiding Ron.
"Ron is going to have a very rough morning at work tomorrow," Fleur commented while her eyes roamed around Hermione's room. It was everything she had imagined it would be. Several bookshelves bursting with thick volumes, a desk overflowing with parchment and books open at specific pages, a small wardrobe and set of drawers, a simple wooden frame queen sized bed with a plain wooden headboard, matching bedside tables on either side. Fleur noticed one bedside table had a little lamp for reading, and the other one had a framed picture of Hermione and an older couple. Fleur assumed it was her parents as it was an unmoving muggle picture.
Hermione sighed, "Yeah, Ron has been acting a bit weird ever since we got back from the war. Drinking is really just the tip of how odd he can act sometimes."
"Unsurprising," Fleur remarked, sitting primly on the edge of the bed, "Since the war everyone seems a little different. Remus and Bill have been holding parties every weekend… Before the war they were so antisocial they barely saw anyone outside of their very close friends and immediate family."
Hermione came and sat beside Fleur, taking her hand in hers. "I suppose I never asked how you are after the war…" Hermione murmured.
"Oh, I am jumpier than I used to be," Fleur said quietly, "But on the whole I feel I was far luckier than many other people. But are you okay, Hermione?"
Hermione looked at her lap, "I still get quite bad nightmares… about Malfoy Manor… or about the Battle of Hogwarts but everyone dies…" It sounded stupid to her to say it out loud, but Fleur wrapped her arms around her and Hermione found herself choking back tears. She allowed herself to sink into Fleur's arms, crying freely, feeling simultaneously safe and scared by admitting her night terrors to Fleur. Eventually, when she was all cried out, she pulled away from Fleur, mortified to see a wet patch on Fleur's shoulder from where she had been crying.
"Hermione, I can stay here tonight with you if you want…" Fleur said with concern.
Hermione suddenly made a choking noise and blushed, "I mean, obviously I've thought about that a lot since Shell Cottage, and more since getting to kiss you again lately, but I just cried all over you! And I have a big day at work tomorrow!"
"Merde, Hermione, I meant just staying over to help you feel safe!" Fleur chuckled, "Although I am pleased you have been thinking about other things to do with me in bed…"
Hermione swatted Fleur with her hand, embarrassed.
"Well I'm not sure Fleur, if I recall your evening moisturising routine, I'll probably be waking up for work by the time you're ready for bed."
Fleur laughed and nudged her back, "Okay Granger, I'll need to borrow some clothes of yours to sleep in."
Hermione got up from the bed and pulled open one of her drawers, tossing a t-shirt and some boxers at Fleur before selecting some for herself. To her mild disappointment, Fleur had already changed by the time she turned around.
By the time they were climbing into bed, Hermione was feeling sleepiness wash over her. Her eyes were getting heavier and heavier. She barely had the energy to flick the lights off with her wand before nestling into Fleur's familiar arms and falling straight to sleep.
[Bellatrix stood over Hermione's body as she writhed in pain. "You really thought you could escape, Mudblood?"
Hermione tried to speak, but no words would come out. Bellatrix laughed at her and then reached into her robes, pulling out a small but sharp looking dagger.
"You're going to enjoy what I have in store for you…"]
Hermione woke with a muffled yelp, sitting straight up in bed, drenched in cold sweat. Another nightmare. She was still shaking as she felt Fleur's arms wrap around her and smelled the aroma of vanilla and flowers.
"Its okay, Hermione, I'm here… you're safe…"
Hermione relaxed as she felt Fleur stroking her hair, her melodic voice almost hypnotic with its calming effect. Before long her eyes were getting heavy again.
The next morning, Hermione woke to a sleepy Fleur spooning her. She rolled over and kissed the French witch all over her face before Fleur pouted and reluctantly opened her eyes.
"Its too early, Hermione…" Fleur whined.
"Fleur, I like to get to work early so I can do some background reading on what I will be working on that day!"
Fleur smiled, "If it were anyone else I would find that incredibly irritating instead of adorable."
Hermione laughed and then leaned in to kiss Fleur. She had meant for it to be a quick kiss but the softness of Fleur's lips was so intoxicating she pressed harder against Fleur until she opened her mouth. Their tongues glided against each other and Hermione felt a pang of arousal as she began to run her hands over Fleur's body. She pulled away and saw that Fleur's eyes were dark with desire.
"Okay, I really do have to start getting ready for work…" Hermione said reluctantly. Fleur sighed with frustration and rolled onto her back on the bed.
"But I can see you again tonight, Fleur?" Hermione added hesitantly.
"Yes!" Fleur said, brightening, "Come to mine and I will cook for you?"
"Sounds perfect," Hermione smiled. She suddenly sat up and picked up her wand. "I just remembered only Harry, Ginny, Ron and I can apparate directly into this apartment, I just need to alter the spell so you don't need to walk outside to apparate back to yours."
"Saving me the walk of shame?" Fleur smirked.
Hermione elbowed her and then wordlessly motioned for several minutes before she had completed the alteration.
Fleur stretched sleepily and then climbed out of bed. She turned her back to Hermione and stripped off her t-shirt and boxers. Hermione gazed in awe at Fleur's naked back and ass. It had been a long time since she had last got to see Fleur naked and it did not disappoint. Fleur deftly changed into her clothes from the previous night before turning around to face Hermione.
"Well, I know better than to stand in between Hermione Granger and her books," she smirked, "So I will be off to bed at my own place before getting up for work at a reasonable hour."
She leaned in and kissed Hermione quickly, "I'll see you tonight."
And with a loud pop she was gone.