Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter… I, Psionic Knight, would be much more British. Sadly, I'm not even of British descent, but I can drink and fight quite well. (It's an Irish/Scottish joke)

Authors Note: Well, I gave myself a maximum limit of 36 hours effectively, and here's what I've produced. It's my longest chapter so far, and, well, yeah… just read the damn thing lol.

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Speaking entirely in French"

Narrative

At A Glance

Chapter 6: Girlfriends at a glance

The week and three days passed slowly… very, VERY slowly. Hermione could barely stand it on Christmas Eve. She wished that she could just sleep the day away and let tomorrow come, but that didn't seem a feasible option given biological needs such as food, water, and… well, take a bloody guess what the last one is. Luckily, she was exempt from too many Christmas presents, given by her at least, due to the fact that she didn't have too terribly much money.

Christmas day was relatively slow as well. Presents and morning celebrations seemed slow, and Hermione noted that there was no present from Fleur for her. However, if it was anything like the present Hermione had for her, then they'd be giving them to each other later. The period after opening presents and breakfast was utterly taxing on Hermione's patience; there was nothing to do, and she was one simple mistake away from snapping. Finally, around midday, there was a snowball fight amongst the entire Gryffindor house. This particular event was enough to distract Hermione from that evening, and allowed her to show off her spell skills by serving as one of the few 'untouchables' in the game. It wasn't too hard to do really; a few shield spells, some fire spells, and nothing could touch her. Then add in magical manipulation of hordes of snowballs and she proved quite the one-woman-army.

However, the time came for her, and Ginny likewise, to go prepare for the evening's events, and they had to leave the snowball fight early. The reason Ginny left early, though she did not need so much time to get ready, was to help Hermione with a very specific potion for use with her hair. Sleakeazy's Hair Potion was used in amounts most people would not consider to tame Hermione's naturally unruly hair, though, to Hermione's relief, the makeup was not too different from muggle makeup that she knew how to apply properly. Then there was the dress which she needed Ginny's help in modifying ever so slightly.

By the time Hermione had finally finished, she was damn near unrecognizable as, well, herself. Her hair, now straight and controlled, was done up in an elegant knot that added a high-class image to the rest of her. Makeup accented her facial features, most notably the lipstick that provided Hermione with a slightly brighter, yet natural looking, lip color. The dress was a winter blue tone, complimentary to Fleur's silver dress, and relatively reminiscent of Ravenclaw's house colors. The dress itself was relatively fancy with two thin straps that left most of her shoulders bare, while the bottom half was flared enough to not be disturbed too much when she walked. The rest of the upper half showed off curves and a bust that even Hermione didn't know she had. Hermione, for one of the few times in her life, was able to look in the mirror and see that she was-

"Beautiful!" Ginny exclaimed as she came in to see Hermione in her new dress "Hermione, it's like you're a totally different person!"

"Thanks Gin." Hermione said, positively beaming "I didn't know that, well, I hadn't tried to look good in so long…"

"You should do that more often. Imagine if Fleur saw you now!" Ginny suggested ecstatically "We'd have to knock her out or blind her to keep her from staring!"

"You think so?"

"I know so!"

Smiling confidently and standing up a bit straighter, Hermione couldn't help but feel a bit more self-confident in herself.

"Gin?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Now I'll need your opinion on a few things, if you don't mind having to stare at me in a pretty dress like yours for a while, that is." Ginny replied, adding a slight tease to her request.

Hermione blushed a bit at that, not quite expecting Ginny to bring that up. She did smile a as well, though; at least Ginny wasn't dancing around that subject all the time, and a bit of friendly teasing was a good sign in a way.

Later…

Hermione made her way through the halls alone with relatively nobody seeing her as she went to find Fleur. During the trip, Hermione couldn't help but feel her nerves rise and her stomach tighten. It felt a bit like walking to the headmaster's office to admit that you're the one who pulled the fire alarm when nobody would have been the wiser. She was about to announce to the entire school that she, Hermione Jean Granger, was a lesbian… through her actions and choice of partner anyway. Even if it was only a couple students at the dance, which she knew to not be the case, the word would spread faster than fiendfyre and quite literally everyone would know by tomorrow. It was a decision that she could not go back on, and with each step her doubt was growing.

She was clearly nervous by the time she came to the ballroom to meet Fleur, which was something she had been somewhat expecting. Looking around, she only saw teachers and a few students. The students, a total of six, were all sitting at a table waiting patiently for the ball to begin, and only three of them were Champions. Fleur was nowhere to be found, but Hermione did find herself… panicking, that is.

"Miss Granger." a very familiar voice sounded from behind Hermione, and she nearly leapt out of her skin as she turned to face the Headmaster, who was dressed in dress robes of a blue much brighter than her own, with gold trim along it's seams and edges.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione said out of surprise, not sure what else to say at the moment.

"My, you look absolutely stunning tonight my dear." Albus complimented with that twinkle in his eyes that only he alone could pull off "I'm sure Miss Delacour will be quite impressed."

Hermione felt her heart race as her cheeks heated up.

"How did you-?"

"My dear, just call it a sixth sense." Dumbledore said with a wink "Now, unless I'm mistaken-"

"Hermione?"

A second voice that Hermione recognized sounded from behind Dumbledore as he smiled all the wider.

"-she should be here now." Dumbledore finished as he turned to the side to reveal-

"Oh… my… lord…" Hermione said, her eyes wide and mouth gaping afterwards.

Fleur's platinum hair, which was lighter than her dress, was also done up in a knot of sorts, though the style was more complex than what Hermione's was. Fleur, as was normal for her, did not have makeup on. Hell, she didn't even need it to look like she had it! As for the rest of her… the silver dress was rather accentuating to her curves, and conformed very nicely to her figure. It was a simple dress, with very thin straps and was, most likely, backless. It also revealed a rather decent amount of absolutely flawless skin, which was in great contrast to earlier that day when she wore covering from head to toe due to how cold it was in the castle and outside. Needless to say, it would probably be a tough decision to try and decide which of the two girls was the better dressed.

Hermione couldn't help it a she continued to stare, only broken from her distinct lack of thoughts when she felt a soft kiss on each of her cheeks. Blinking a couple times, Hermione found herself staring into the eyes of one Miss Delacour, who was smirking playfully.

"I take it you approve, mon amie?" she asked softly, having not yet moved back.

Hermione didn't think she could articulate anything at the moment, so she simply nodded.

"That is good, I did not want to be the only one dancing with an absolutely gorgeous woman tonight." Fleur continued, clearly referring to Hermione as she slipped one of the younger girl's arms around her own "You are ready to go non?"

"Gorgeous… " Hermione replied absentmindedly before she finally shook herself free of her thoughts "Yes, I think… it's now or never."

"Well then, Miss Granger and Miss Delacour, I shall be happy to lead the two of you to your seat." Dumbledore said happily, with a smile that said more than even his words did "I'd offer to 'escort' you, but it appears, Miss Granger, that your date insists on doing that instead."

Hermione seemed confused for a moment before remembering how her arm and Fleur's were intertwined and smiled a moment later.

"Well, shall we then?" Dumbledore asked with a short, pleasant laugh as he began to head in the direction of the other three Champions and their dates.

Fleur seemed to lead Hermione as well, which didn't surprise Hermione in the slightest. The older girl happened to be the more confident and assertive of the two after all. Plus, Hermione wasn't sure how far she would have made it, given that, mere moments after they stepped into the room, she could feel multiple sets of eyes on her from teachers, Champions, and students alike. She didn't want to lose her nerve, so she tried to focus her hardest on a single spot of gold on the back of Dumbledore's dress robes.

By the time they reached the Champions' table, they had attracted everyone's attention. Dumbledore was courteous enough to pull out both of their chairs for them and made sure they were situated before heading off to attend to, well, whatever important matters required him. Hermione was sitting at the far end of the table, with Fleur in the chair to her right. Glancing down along the length of the table, Hermione saw four sets of eyes locked on the two of them, though Harry of course was not surprised by this, nor was Krum's date, a Beauxbatons seventh year.

"I was wondering when you'd get here Hermione." Harry said with a smile "I almost didn't recognize you for a moment though."

"Oh, this is the girl you planned on bringing?" Krum's date asked with a grin and an approving nod "She is quite the looker; you were lucky to find her."

"Wait, Hermione?! As in, Hermione Granger?!" Parvati said from Harry's side, staring Hermione in the eyes for a moment before rounding on Harry "This is her 'surprise date'? A girl?!"

"Oui, I am her date, and quite obviously a girl." Fleur said with a somewhat twisted grin as she glared down the Indian girl "Is that a problem?"

"No! Of course not!" Parvati replied hastily, realizing how she must have sounded "I just, well, I hadn't really expected Hermione to swing that way."

"Well I'll be damned… congratulations you two!" Cedric said with a smile, ever the friendly Hufflepuff student "Not many girls would have the guts to come out like you are!"

Hermione simply responded with a smile, not knowing what to say exactly. That, and she was a little nervous given the responses she had received. Three supporting, though two were due to previous knowledge of the event, one surprised, one wary and nervous response from Cho, and one look of forced indifference from Krum. Realistically, it looked about 50/50, which was better than it could have been, and there was no outright animosity to her after all. Still, with a glance at the various heads of the schools not too far off, Hermione noted that Karkaroff seemed to be glaring at her with the utmost hatred. Whether it was because she was a well-known muggleborn, or whether she was with a girl, Hermione was not certain.

Light conversation ensued, though no mention of Fleur's and Hermione's situation came up again. Parvati and Cho both seemed to loosen up a bit during the conversation, which moved on to quidditch eventually and helped lighten Krum's apparently dreary mood. It wasn't too terribly long though before the rest of the school began to show up, well, the one's with dates and who were old enough, anyway. As they filed in, Hermione could feel more and more gazes landing on her end of the table, and what's more is that she could see them all. It was a rather nerve-racking scenario, which would explain why she felt Fleur's hand slide into hers, gripping it slightly, which proved a rather comforting gesture.

After everyone had filed in, of which Hermione could spot Ron a mile away in his horrendously ancient dress robes, Dumbledore stood to make a few announcements, which Hermione would not hear due to the nerves accumulating from having become the evening's spectacle alongside Fleur. Afterwards, she was not sure what was happening as Fleur made to stand, along with the rest of the Champions and their dates. Then it hit Hermione: she was in the first dance of the night! Swallowing hard, and already straining her nerves at being stared at where she was, Hermione accepted the hand up from Fleur and slowly made her way to the dance floor via Fleur's lead.

Whispers mounted to a low roar as the gaze of the others continued to focus on her and her date. A sideways glance at Fleur and she noticed that she was not even fazed by it; in fact, she even stood up prouder and more confidently than before, as if serving as the pillar of strength that Hermione might end up needing. With a slightly revitalized level of confidence, Hermione managed to smile and quell a bit of the anxiety as she took her spot in front of Fleur in one corner of the dance floor. Then there came a moment of confusion for Hermione when she realized something regarding the dance and her situation.

"Um… who's leading?" Hermione asked in a low whisper.

"I'll lead." Fleur replied just as softly "Put your arms around me like you would normally."

Hermione complied, placing her right hand into Fleur's left, and wrapping her left arm over Fleur's shoulder and placing her hand gently on the bare skin of Fleur's upper back. Fleur's grip on Hermione's right tightened a bit, and her other hand slid around to mid back, just as gently as Hermione's hand was. The two girls were smiling as they looked at one another, waiting for the music to begin. Once it did, Fleur held true to her word and began to lead in the slow, formal dance.

Hermione felt… odd. It was strange how peaceful she felt now, staring into Fleur's eyes as they stepped, rotated, and effectively danced about to the beat. Fleur had the 'man's part' of the dance down pat, but she brought a feminine grace to it as the two of them whirled about in a fluid, beautiful dance. The stares only continued to grow, and even some of the Champions and their dates missed a beat or two as they watched the two women who were utterly entranced with each other during their dance.

When the dance finally ended, there was a very loud applause that broke both girl's out of their trances. Glancing around, Hermione saw that most of the onlookers, including teachers and several of the Champions, were clapping for them. She was smiling wider than she had all night, nearly in tears at how well things had turned out for her. Following Fleur's lead, Hermione curtsied for the onlookers, eliciting more cheering before the music began to kick up again, in which Fleur held a hand out to Hermione in a questioning gesture.

"Would you care for another dance, my friend?" She asked with a smile as wide as Hermione's.

"Do you need an answer?" Hermione responded as she accepted Fleur's hand "I'd love to."

A bit later, with Ron and Harry…

Harry, having finally managed to irritate Parvati enough that she went to speak to one of the boys from Beauxbatons, was left to sit beside Ron and watch the dance. Ron too had managed to irritate his date into leaving, so now neither one of them was on good terms with the Patil twins. Still, aside from Harry's depression at seeing Cho with Cedric, he found a small bit of joy watching Fleur and Hermione dance so elegantly. They appeared to be made for each other, in Harry's opinion anyway, and it was utterly amazing to see the two dance so beautifully together.

"Hey Harry, can you believe it?" Ron said, his eyes still locked on the two girls before him "Fleur's dancing with a girl, and they're staring at each other like they're the only one's here."

Ron leaned back with a sigh.

"I guess I never stood a chance when I asked her, did I?"

"Hey, don't beat yourself up over it. Besides, you should be happy for Hermione instead." Harry said with a smile "She's finally found someone she cares for."

"What?!" Ron asked, clearly shocked at what he heard "Who's she dating? Come to think of it, where the bloody hell is she?"

Harry was utterly dumbstruck.

"You're kidding me, right?" Harry asked in disbelief "Please tell me you're kidding me."

"What do you mean? Who the bloody hell is she dating?!" Ron reiterated, a bit irritated now.

'Oh bloody hell… why do I get stuck with this?' Harry said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Ron, Hermione was in the first dance with me." Harry explained "You've been watching her dance for the last quarter hour."

"What are you talking about? I've been watching Fleur and-" Ron began, but froze mid sentence before staring out at the girl Fleur was dancing with "That's Hermione?! What the bloody hell is she doing dancing with another girl?!"

"You're absolutely clueless, aren't you?" Harry said, becoming irritated at one of his best mates rather quickly "Hermione and Fleur have been seeing each other for nearly four weeks now!"

Ron looked at Harry as if he had a second head, then slowly turned his head to watch Fleur and Hermione dancing so eloquently together. However, his previous pleasure in watching Fleur was replaced with anger rather quickly. Harry simply pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to will away the seemingly inevitable future headache.

A bit later as well, with Fleur and Hermione…

After dancing for lord knows how long, Fleur and Hermione decided to call it quits. As soon as they stepped off the dance floor, they were hounded, more or less, by countless people. Fleur's friends from Beauxbatons wanted to congratulate Fleur and speak to Hermione, various Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students that Hermione knew wanted so show their support for her and offer the same congratulations, and even a couple of Ravenclaw students wanted to congratulate the two. Even Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore came to compliment them, and also show their support. However, the problem was that they all came en masse, which made things a bit hectic. So, this time by Hermione's lead, she and Fleur fled from the ballroom to the gardens nearby.

"Finally!" Hermione exclaimed as she and Fleur finally entered the gardens "Peace and quiet at last!"

"What's wrong Hermione? A bit overwhelmed by your many friends, oui?" Fleur said with a chuckle "It was better than expected, non?"

"Of course it was… oh dear lord was it better than expected." Hermione said with a wide smile "I honestly didn't think they'd be this supportive; I expected them to absolutely loathe me…"

"Why would you think that, mon amie?" Fleur asked out of curiosity as she moved to rest against a railing "Did someone say something to you?"

"No, it's just that, well…" Hermione considered what to say next "…I guess I was just assuming the worst… not everyone is so… accepting."

"Hm… but, 'the worst' was not the case." Fleur continued with a smile a she stepped back from the railing "Now, everyone knows about you and I, if they hadn't already, and they are aware of each of our interests in women."

Stepping closer to Hermione, Fleur's gaze seemed a bit more like how she had looked during the dancing, and it made Hermione blush a bit.

"Now, I was wondering, mon amie: as it technically is Christmas, would you care for your present?" Fleur asked with a suggestive smirk, having moved closer to Hermione than they had even been during the dancing earlier.

"Present?" Hermione asked, feeling her cheeks brighten up a bit more as she felt Fleur's breath tingling her skin.

"Is that a yes?" Fleur teased, moving even closer, her lips mere centimeters from Hermione's own.

Hermione didn't even bother to respond, instead taking the initiative and closing what little distance there was between the two of them. If her heart hadn't been racing already, then it certainly was now as her lips were pressed against the soft, warm, pleasurable lips of a girl who had captured her heart the first time she had seen her. Fleur, though initially surprised by Hermione's taking charge, quickly fell into a rhythm, wrapping her arms around Hermione's waist as her eyes closed. Hermione's own hands wrapped around Fleur's neck as their kiss deepened, neither of them thinking as they relished in the pleasurable sensations that were surging through them.

In the midst of their kiss, they somehow managed to move backwards towards the walls of Hogwarts. Despite being lost in their passionate embrace, Hermione was harshly brought to reality by the cold stone wall she eventually found herself pressed against.

"Ah!" she reacted from the sudden cold, and in the process, she managed to lurch forward a bit, forcibly breaking the kiss and throwing Fleur off balance.

"Merde!" Fleur exclaimed, vainly attempting to hold onto Hermione to keep from falling.

Unfortunately, Hermione was in no position to balance herself, and Fleur only succeeded in dragging her down on top of her. Pain and embarrassment ensued, as Fleur and Hermione ended up on the ground, Hermione laying on top of Fleur. Quicker than she'd have expected, Hermione shot to her feet, her face flushed a burning red as she offered Fleur a hand up, which the older girl accepted graciously.

"I'm so sorry! I completely screwed up! Are you alright?!" Hermione spouted rapidly, trying to mask her embarrassment by speaking and apologizing ASAP.

"Oui, I am fine, mon cheri." Fleur said, rubbing a sore spot on he rear "Do not be too harsh on yourself; you did quite well for your first… why are you staring at me?"

"…doesn't 'mon cheri' mean 'my darling'?" Hermione asked, still holding the hand that she had helped Fleur up with.

"Oh, you caught that?" Fleur said with a smile "But oui, that is a proper translation. You did not mind, did you?"

"Actually… I kind of like it." Hermione said with a grin "I think I would want my girlfriend to call me that."

Fleur couldn't help but smirk at the hint there.

"Well then, mon cheri, I think that's a reasonable request." Fleur said softly as she tugged Hermione a bit closer with the hand she still held.

This time, Fleur started the kiss, slowly and intentionally moving Hermione so she was pressed against the wall, the two of them once more losing themselves in a surge of pleasure that passed throughout them both. This time, there was no accident, and nothing but a few bugs would disturb them.

Authors Note: Alright, 'tis done, and ON TIME! Well, the last part might seem a bit rushed, as I was hurrying to get this in before I had to go to my job… as they called me in unexpectedly. Anyway, you know the drill: reviews, criticisms, and suggestions are always welcome.