A/N: Chapter eight took a bit longer than expected, but here it finally is. This "little" thing - it is officially the longest chapter to date - has given me quite the headaches. Nonetheless, I managed to get an okay feeling on this chapter. As usual I have to thank xtonguetied and Peeves' Best Friend for their beta'ing efforts. If it weren't for them I probably would have given up a long time ago.
Exams are about two weeks away and I haven't quite done anything yet. I'm currently struggling with 1/3 of chapter nine. It is completely planned out but writing some parts is proving to be rather difficult. I hope I can get it done before exams start but I think my updates will slow down for a little while, since you know, passing my finals is - weirdly enough - still a priority.
Once again, thank you for your continued interest. If you have any questions or remarks, you are always welcome to shoot me a PM, I'm always willing to discuss things.
FLEUR DE LA MER
CHAPTER EIGHT: On Eggs and House Elves
FLEUR (Transfiguration Class, November 26th, 10.33 a.m.)
"Obviously, we will not be practicing the full transformation of humans into animals. While I know for certain that this is still an active part of the curriculum at for instance the Durmstrang Institute, here at Hogwarts we stay safely in the theoretical. Miss Martin, what might be the reason for only studying the theory behind full human-to-animal Transfiguration?"
Professor McGonagall stood at the front of her packed classroom. Her usually very small 7th year class - few students went for a N.E.W.T. - had almost quadrupled in size when the foreign students had joined in. While only a quarter of the Beauxbatons students took the advanced Transfiguration class, every last one of the pupils from Durmstrang was for some reason required by their Headmaster to take the course. It had gotten so unmanageable that she now taught not one but two seventh year classes.
Her piercing eyes gazed over her glasses at the students in front of her, and focused on the head of the one French witch who had managed to doze off during her class.
"Inès." Fleur whispered intensely to her friend at her side. "Inès, she's talking to you."
The brown-haired witch looked up all confused, her eyes flying all over the place and, irked by her friend's disinterest in the class, Fleur sighed.
"Miss Martin, it would be much appreciated if you would bother to stay awake during my class." Professor McGonagall spoke ill-humoured, frowning disapprovingly. "Now who can tell me why we will not be transfiguring anyone into a ferret today?"
"A full transformation is an incredibly difficult undertaking." Fleur answered when everyone in the room stayed eerily quiet. "It takes a lot of practice and some'zing can go wrong at any given time."
Professor McGonagall nodded approvingly. "Correct. A full human-to-animal transformation - and beware, we are not even talking about Animagi here - is a very complicated and technical procedure. It can take months, sometimes even years, to completely master it. Even if you understood everything perfectly, the slightest flaw in movement or pronunciation could crush the insides of the person you are trying to transfigure."
Fleur listened intently to the professor explaining the dangers of human transfiguration, and quickly wrote down the famous examples of transfigurations gone wrong.
The professor was pacing up front, trying to explain the process to her pupils.
"Now, let's imagine for a second that you are able to perform the spell perfectly. Before you could start casting, it would still require intense research, as each person is unique, and hence requires a different approach. Taking all of that into consideration, it is impossible to simply transfigure someone into something else."
Professor McGonagall continued: "To keep it easy: most of the time - if you want to transfigure a human into an animal - you keep their personality in mind. In your head, you might link an incredibly nice and friendly person to, for instance, a rabbit. That would make it much easier to transfigure said person into a rabbit, than it would be if you tried to transform them into a snake."
Fleur watched as the professor glanced at her watch and closed her book, deciding to bring an end to the lesson.
"The theory of all this can be found on page 246 to 251 in your textbooks. As homework, I want you to read the entire chapter and write a piece of at least 2000 words on the basic principles of human transfiguration. Next class we will start practicing partial human-to-animal transformation as you all ought to grasp the basics behind the spellwork by now."
The students in the classroom closed their books and started packing their bags as Professor McGonagall sat down behind her desk. Suddenly, the room was filled with the sound of scraping chairs and talking people.
Fleur delicately put her books in her dark green bag and rolled up the parchment on which she had taken her notes. Shoving Inès - who had dozed off again - she glared at Gaillard as he walked arrogantly past her desk.
"Miss Delacour, could you stay for a moment please?" Professor McGonagall called right as Fleur was about leave the classroom. Indicating that Inès should go on ahead to the next class, Fleur stayed behind as the last student left.
She walked up to the professor's desk, and stopped right in front of it. McGonagall took of her glasses and looked the Beauxbatons Champion in the eye.
"First of all, congratulations on your performance during the first task, it was quite astonishing to see you perform a perfect sleeping spell." Professor McGonagall smiled warmly at the blond girl.
"Now, I have to say, I was rather impressed with your recent essay on the Principle of Artificianimate Quasi-Dominance. Your descriptions were rather vivid which is why I wondered if you ever tried your hand at advanced conjuring? I cannot imagine you got all of these examples out of your textbook?" The grey-haired professor asked curiously.
Fleur blushed, the first time she had tried to conjure something, it had gone horribly wrong. And she had used that experience as an example in her essay.
"Oui." She answered politely. "Inanimate objects are quite easy, but 'ze moment I try to conjure up a living animal, 'zings go wrong. I 'ave 'ad quite the mutants 'opping around my living room.. 'Ze worst one was possibly when I tried to conjure an 'amster."
Fleur frowned deeply, remembering the incident vividly. "It came out as a fish wi'z fur."
"Ah yes." McGonagall smiled, "That can happen. The moment the mind wanders while conjuring, you have failed."
The professor folded her hands, "Anyway, I was glad to see you back in my class today. While I know that the champions don't actually have to follow lessons - which I find a ridiculous notion - I am pleased that you haven't missed a class except for the one before the Task. You have shown quite some promise in both Transfigurations and Charms. And I heard from Professor Moody that you are equally good at Defense Against the Dark Arts. So, if you need any extracurricular help with my subject, you are always welcome to come to me, I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have."
Fleur smiled happily at the Transfigurations Professor sitting behind her desk.
"Zank you." Fleur said gratefully. "I 'ave been working on perfecting my conjuring for a while now, when I stumble upon an issue I will be sure to ask for your aid."
"Yes, you do that." McGonagall nodded and then asked curiously: "May I enquire what your plans are after you finish Beauxbatons, Miss Delacour?"
Fleur raised an eyebrow, not expecting that question from a Hogwarts Professor. "Uhm - I don't know yet. I would love to find some work zat allows me to use my Charms to ze fullest. I mean.. I like Transfiguration, but my true passion is Charms.." Fleur paused, thinking about all the leaflets back at Beauxbatons.
"I 'ave been 'zinking of taking up a job as a curse-breaker." admitted Fleur.
"Ah yes, I might imagine that anything less exciting will not be an option for a former Triwizard Tournament Champion." Professor McGonagall chuckled. "Well, you sure have proven that you are up to the task, so to speak, thus I am sure you will be able to take any job you want."
Fleur smiled at the compliment, and quickly left the classroom as the professor dismissed her. Closing the door behind her, she started walking through the empty hallways. Supposedly, everyone was in class.
The sun shone on her face through the glass windows on the side, and staring outside, Fleur had to admit that her life had gotten a lot better after the first task. The aftermath of the article was finally behind her, as everyone who had believed it had come to accept that Fleur did not get into the Tournament because she had Veela'ed her way past the Goblet. Not that "to Veela" existed as a verb, but it hadn't been the weirdest thing she had heard over the last couple of days so Fleur had let it slide.
And even better, after she had shown that she could best a dragon, Gaillard had kept to himself. Most of the Beauxbatons students at Hogwarts had turned against him - he who had dared to insult their champion - and now he and his tiny fraction of followers had taken to sitting at the Slytherin table. Which - as Fleur figured - was where he belonged. He and his pureblood buddies could go to hell for all she cared. And to think this all started with him asking her out. She shuddered.
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be in class?" She heard someone say behind her and instantly she smiled. Hermione.
"Aren't you?" She turned around to face Hermione and grinned widely at the girl she had kissed two days ago.
Hermione smiled and waved the slip of parchment in front of the silvery-haired blonde's face. "Professor McGonagall wishes to speak with me."
"Oui? I wonder why, but zen again, 'oo wouldn't want to speak with you?" Fleur moved closer to Hermione, and after glancing to make sure that no one was around, she lightly brushed her lips over Hermione's. Leaning in deeper, she could vaguely taste the tea Hermione always drank for breakfast.
Breaking away from the kiss, she looked into the girl's auburn eyes. Mesmerized by the tiny specks of gold, she asked softly. "Did you know zat depending on ze light, your eyes change colour from zis deep brown to a beautiful maroon?"
Hermione blushed, causing Fleur to chuckle.
"I should have known you were this cheesy romantic person." Hermione laughed and as a reaction Fleur flashed her teeth in a wide grin.
Hermione smiled and shuffled around nervously. "Look, I have to go, I'm already late for Professor McGonagall. Let's see each other tonight okay?"
And before Fleur could react, the brown-haired girl hesitantly pressed a short kiss on her lips and ran off.
As she watched Hermione disappear in the distance, Fleur sighed and decided to go to the carriage.
Hermione had been on her mind ever since she had gotten out of the compound, and after she had finally kissed the girl by the side of the lake, it had only gotten worse. Truly, she was glad that she had kissed Hermione, and even happier when the girl had kissed her back, but it was obvious that the girl was a little freaked out about everything, and too damn proud to talk to her about it. Nonetheless, it was hard to find a moment in which they were truly alone. But, it had only been two days, so, she didn't really have something to worry about now did she? Seriously though, they needed to have a conversation about where they stood. Right now, they were in the vague and grey zone where all undefined things resided.
Pushing open the door of her living room, she scowled as she saw the golden egg sitting on her coffee table. These days, if she wasn't thinking about Hermione, she was thinking about the egg and the egg was giving her headaches.
She had first opened the egg in the middle of the night, and consequently woken up the entire carriage. Inès and Isabella had stormed in, thinking she was getting murdered. It had been quite the awkward scene: Inès and Isabella - with hair in every direction and their wands drawn - ready to attack any perpetrator threatening their friend, and Fleur, standing in her pink pyjamas, holding a golden, screeching egg in her hands.
The pyjamas had been a gift from her grandmother, but they looked absolutely ridiculous, so it had been no surprise when Inès had burst into laughter.
Fleur had been slightly insulted when they had told her that they had thought Gaillard was attacking her. Did they think she couldn't handle herself or something? She had beaten a dragon after all, or - as Inès thought about it - put a dragon to bed.
Nevertheless, the egg gave her headaches. She couldn't help but recognize that screeching from somewhere, she just didn't know from where. Obviously stored somewhere at the far back of her head, she couldn't reach the information she wanted. She had had several moments where she had almost said it out loud - the information on the tip of her tongue - but then, right before she did, any clues she might have had vanished again. It was frustratingly annoying.
So for now all the egg did, was sit on her coffee table, mercifully quiet.
HERMIONE (Care of Magical Creatures, 3.46 p.m.)
"So remember how we thought Hagrid wasn't completely crazy when he brought us the Skrewts? I changed my mind!" Ron yelled repulsed as he dodged a sting by a hair.
Today's class had taken a turn for the worst when Hagrid decided they needed to place the Skrewts in comfortable boxes so they could hibernate. After a couple of tries though, it had gotten quite clear that the Skrewts weren't planning on hibernating any time soon. Instead, they had broken free and had started a rampage throughout Hagrid's tiny garden. Hermione could only thank Merlin for the fence that had been put up last year.
Most of the class - Malfoy and his goons up front - had taken a hiding in Hagrid's cabin and barred the door behind them. That left Hagrid with only a tiny amount of helpful students, and naturally all of them were Gryffindors.
"Don't frighten them!" Hagrid called out to his students who were desperately trying not to get killed by means of Skrewt.
"Yeah, we wouldn't want to do that!" Ron shouted angrily as he shot a stream of sparks out of his wand to fend off the menacingly close monster.
Of the ten Skrewts that were still alive and well - apparently they had no issues with murdering their own siblings - nine had been tied up at the cost of numerous burns, scratches and cuts. Only one creature was left, and of course it was the most aggressive one of all.
Holding her breath, Hermione saw how Ron and Harry got backed up to the wall by the furious animal. The sparks they kept shooting at the creature had lost all effect. Exhausted, she blasted a curse at the creature.
It missed.
Then, almost out of nowhere, Hagrid jumped on top of the Skrewt, flattening the beast. The Skrewt let out a final blast of fire, burning any remaining plant life in its vicinity, before it lost conscience. Hagrid looped a rope around the Skrewt, dragged it toward it siblings and tied it up.
"Well, aren't they magnificent." A female voice said from the other side of the garden fence.
Turning around, Hermione's eyes narrowed as she saw Rita Skeeter looking out over the quite effectively destroyed garden. Ever since that woman had written that article on Fleur - and Harry! Merlin, she almost forgot about Harry! - Hermione had been looking for a means to get Skeeter off the grounds. Which she thought hadn't been necessary anymore since Professor Dumbledore had banned the reporter after the first task. Yet, here she was, and she could almost smell the trouble Skeeter brought in her wake.
"Who're you?" Hagrid frowned as he knocked the dirt off of his large brown coat.
"Rita Skeeter, reporter for the Daily Prophet." Skeeter beamed, she was wearing a thick magenta coat and her fingers were - as always - clutching her crocodile leather handbag.
"What is she doing here?" Hermione hissed to Ron, who was standing next to her and staring perplexed at the reporter. She watched as Harry shuffled nervously a couple of feet further. Like her, he didn't trust the reporter for one bit.
"What are these fascinating creatures called?" Skeeter asked interestedly, but Hermione's eyes narrowed even further as she heard the hint of slyness in the woman's voice.
"Blast-Ended Skrewts." Hagrid grunted and he scratched his beard.
"Really? Even though I have never heard of them, they seem really interesting. Where do they come from?" Skeeter said, apparently full of lively interest as she opened - without asking for permission - the gate to enter Hagrid's little patch of land.
Instantly seeing the danger - where did Hagrid get the Skrewts anyway? - Hermione decided it was time to intervene.
"Yes! They are quite interesting!" Hermione quickly walked up next to Hagrid, desperately trying to make sure nothing would get said that could get back to the large bearded man. "Aren't they, Harry?"
"Ah, yeah." Harry said, getting the message. "They are."
"Harry!" Skeeter beamed loudly, completely ignoring Hermione "You're here too? Do you like Care Of Magical Creatures?"
Seeing as the ground was still burning in certain places, Hermione had no other option than to perceive the question as ironic. Luckily though, Harry stoutly answered that he did. But then, before she could put an end to the disaster happening in front of her, Hagrid had already agreed to an interview.
"Oh lord." Hermione said under her breath when Skeeter flounced back to wherever she had come from. "She'll twist everything he says!"
Miserably she shook her head, intensely hoping that Hagrid had not imported the Skrewts illegally. Unfortunately, that was exactly the kind of thing Hagrid would do. She grabbed her bag of the ground and started walking towards the castle, the boys following her a few seconds later. As she passed the Beauxbatons Carriage, she glanced sideways, and could see the figure of silvery-blonde by the side of the lake. Fleur - dressed up a thick coat and a green scarf - was reading a book by the shoreline. The cold weather didn't seem to bother her.
Gripping her bag a little tighter, she picked up her pace.
Fleur was confusing her. She was making her mind run in circles, she was making her head hurt. Was this what it meant to like someone? She had always thought she had a little crush on Ron, but truly, what she had felt for him was nothing compared to the feelings Fleur gave her.
Not that she wasn't happy about the whole situation. No, she had never been so overjoyed as when Fleur had kissed her that night. It wasn't as if fireworks had gone off, but as far as first kisses went, Hermione considered it a good one. One that she couldn't stop thinking about. But when she laid in bed at night, she didn't know what was happening to her. Did she like girls? Or did she only like Fleur?
Hermione sighed and dropped on a bench in study hall. Ginny had been right, she did feel instantly better whenever she saw Fleur. She liked talking to Fleur, she liked it when Fleur made her laugh. She liked it when they could discuss for hours on topics that were far above Harry and Ron's heads. She liked it when Fleur looked for her amongst the hundreds of people at Hogwarts. She liked it when Fleur hugged her and she really liked it when Fleur had kissed her.
Merlin, she thought as she rested her forehead on the table, I'm gay.
"Hermione?" Ron asked hesitantly next to her, "You okay?"
"I'm perfectly fine, Ronald, thank you for asking." Hermione said, not bothering to lift her head off the table.
"You know you could tell us if something was wrong, right?" Harry spoke softly.
Looking up, she could see her two friends staring concernedly at her. Sighing, she said "Yes. I know. But nothing is wrong, I'm just breaking my head over something. Don't you two have Divination?" She frowned, changing the topic to something less dangerously personal.
The boys looked at each other and quickly got up, clearly, they had once again forgotten about their least favourite class.
"Thanks 'Mione!" Ron called out as they sprinted out of the study hall. "Don't know what we would do without you!"
Shaking her head, she too got up from her place. There was no possible way that she was able to focus on her studies right now. Instead, she decided to check up on the tip Fred and George had given her. The house elves had lived in slavery for far too long while she had been distracted by this enchantingly beautiful witch.
Turning left at the bottom of the large marble staircase in the entrance hall, she walked through a door at the far back behind the stairs, opening it and walking down another flight of stone steps. At the end, she found herself in a broad stone corridor, its walls aligned with paintings of food. She walked slowly, carefully watching each painting as she passed them.
Finally she stopped in front of a large painting portraying a silver fruit bowl. Smiling widely, she stretched her hand out and started to tickle the large green pear in the painting. Hermione took a step back when the pear started to squirm and chuckle and suddenly the pear turned into a green door handle. Grasping the door handle, she pushed open the stone door and stepped through the opening.
In awe, Hermione walked slowly through the gigantic kitchen. It was equal in size to the Great Hall and she guessed from its location that she was right underneath said hall. Four long tables, equal to the ones a floor higher, stood next to each other, filled with dozens and dozens of pots, pans, plates, cups and silverware. The entire hall was filled with the delicious smell of freshly cooked wares.
At the far back, there was an enormous fireplace. Hundreds of house elves were busily running through the kitchens - dinner only a few hours away - and the room was filled with an almost exhilarating activity.
"Miss," She heard a tiny voice say behind her "Can I help you, miss?"
"Well yes," Hermione smiled kindly at the tiny house elf dressed up in a tea towel with the crest of Hogwarts stamped on it. "I'm here to talk to you about your rights."
"Would you like some tea, miss?" The house elf smiled and bowed, and two other elves rushed forward, carrying a silver tray with a sole teacup, a teapot, a tiny jug of milk and a plate of biscuits.
"Well.." Hermione said, baffled at the almost instantaneous appearance of the tea tray that was currently being held before her. "Thank you, but .. no thank you."
Almost as rapidly as they appeared, the house elves disappeared again with the tray. Confused, Hermione shook her head and returned her attention to the still politely smiling elf in front of her.
"I was wondering if I could represent you in front of Professor Dumbledore." Hermione started, "I'm sure that I can get you elves some vacation days and a decent pay."
The house elf stopped smiling and instead frowned at Hermione. "I'm sorry miss, but we house elves aren't really interested in money. House elves love to work for our masters, it would be an insult to take money for our work." The house elf waved a new set of house elves closer and they brought another tray to Hermione, this time filled with a mountain of cupcakes. "Would you like some cupcakes?" The elf smiled again, insisting Hermione took some.
Hermione once again refused to take anything and the house elves ran off with the tray.
"Look, I started this organization called S.P.E.W." Hermione spoke, "The Society of Promotion for Elfish Welfare, and it is my goal to help you get a better life."
The elf smiled. "House elves already have a good life, miss, but thank you for taking an interest in us. Now, would the miss like some left-over pumpkin pie?"
Before the house elf could once more wave over a tray, Hermione stopped her. "I'm sorry, I'm really not interested in any food right now."
Stunned the elf asked. "Then why is the miss here?"
"I told you, I'm here to help you." Hermione said again, but before she could say more, she watched as a strangely dressed house elf was carrying a cauldron of soup across the kitchen. "Is that.. Dobby?"
The house elf turned around, watching the elf wearing two different coloured socks, a children's football shorts, a weird looking tie and a tea cosy as a hat, push the cauldron onto a table. "Yes miss, that is Dobby."
"Oh. Wow. Just.. Wait here one second." Storming out of the kitchens, she ran as fast as she could for Harry.
Hours later, Hermione was bristling through the Hogwarts hallways as she could not believe what had just happened. She had been there, trying to help them, and Ron had undercut her by pretty much taking everything they offered. Didn't he see what she was trying to do? The obvious indoctrination of the house elves wasn't much help either. At least Harry seemed happy that he got to see the elf he freed again, even if - as Harry had mumbled on their way back to the common room - that elf had almost gotten him killed.
It was late, but still before curfew, and for once Hermione wasn't planning on sneaking out of the castle. She didn't want it to become some sort of habit. Besides, there were plenty of remote hallways in Hogwarts to meet up with Fleur. Like the one she was in now, on the third floor. She almost had to chuckle thinking about her first year at the school. Back then, this hallway was still off limits. Right now, she was using it to meet Fleur.
"Bonsoir."
Two warm arms suddenly hugged her out of nowhere and a delicious soft smell of apples filled Hermione's nose. She leaned into the hug, enjoying Fleur's warmth.
"Hi."
Breaking away, she smiled at Fleur.
"You let your hair down." Hermione said surprised and pushed a string of unruly hair behind Fleur's left ear. Shyly, she spoke. "I like it better this way."
Grinning, Fleur took her hand and together they sat down on the stone bench underneath the window. Still holding Fleur's hand, Hermione tried to swallow away her nervousness.
"Fleur?" She started, "What is it that we are now? Are we.. like.. dating?"
"If you want to, oui." Fleur spoke, squeezing Hermione's hand lightly in order for her to relax. "I know 'zat I want to.."
"I've been thinking," Hermione said pensively. "Quite a lot of thinking actually, and I know that I want to be with you, but.. I just.. I don't want anyone to know."
"Zat is okay." Fleur said reassuringly, "It is no one's business who we like to be wi'z."
Hermione visibly let out the breath she was holding. Frankly, she had been afraid. She really didn't want people to know. Fleur was right, it was no one's business who she wanted to be with. But the fact that Fleur was a girl truly complicated some matters. She had never, not once, seen a same-sex couple at Hogwarts. She didn't know if this was because there simply were none, or because wizards didn't approve of the matter. The latter was a possibility, after all, they were known to be quite traditional, otherwise Hogwarts would have had electricity a long time ago. No, she was sure of it. For the time being, this had to stay a secret.
"Have you done this before?" She asked curiously, as Fleur was shuffling a little closer to her.
"You mean, wi'z a girl?" Fleur asked teasingly, as she pressed a kiss to Hermione's cheek.
"Yes." Hermione said, blushing ferociously.
"'Ave you?" Fleur chuckled lightly, obviously knowing the answer already.
"Don't dodge the question!" Hermione spoke, amazed at Fleur's talent of returning questions with questions.
Fleur laughed cheerfully. "Oui, I 'ave, once, but it was never serious."
"Fleur Delacour, not serious?" Hermione teased. "I didn't see that coming."
"Ah, you know me too well already." grinned Fleur.
"Are you serious now?" asked Hermione shyly.
Fleur looked into Hermione's maroon eyes. "Are you?"
"I asked first."
"I like you, I want to be wi'z you. Right now, zat is all zat matters." Fleur said seriously, and after a short hesitation, pressed her lips against Hermione's.
Kissing Fleur back, Hermione lost herself for the third time in two days in the strikingly beautiful witch. She surprised herself by slipping her arms around Fleur's waist. Smelling apples everywhere, she was slightly disappointed when Fleur broke away from the kiss. Resting her head on Fleur's shoulder, she asked. "So what did you do today?"
"I went dutifully to classes. After zat I decided to ignore my egg a little more. What did you do?"
Chuckling - Harry too had been ignoring his egg - Hermione said: "I almost got killed by Hagrid's Skrewts, and then tried to free some house elves, which they for some reason didn't want me to do. I don't get it, all I want to do is help them."
Fleur raised an eyebrow. "Well, did you consider ze fact zat zey do not want to be helped?"
"But that is only because they have been so indoctrinated over the centuries! Like everyone else, they have the right to free speech, a decent pay and some days off." Hermione complained fervently.
Suddenly, Hermione jumped at the sound of nearing footsteps and talking voices. Instinctively, she shuffled away from Fleur. Freaked out, she grabbed her bag and stood up.
"Ermione.." Fleur said softly. "People know we are friends."
"Yes, but friends don't meet up in remote and shady hallways. We are keeping this a secret, remember?" Hermione said disturbed.
Seeing that the students weren't near enough, she quickly pressed a kiss against Fleur's cheek. "We'll see each other later, okay?"
Not even waiting for an answer, Hermione quickly marched off to the Gryffindor Common Room, leaving Fleur sitting on the cold stone bench.
She didn't want anyone to know.
The closer she got to the common room, the more distressed she got. Did the people in the hallway see her kiss Fleur? What if the world found out? What would people think? Gossip spread faster than wildfire in this castle.
Ginny (Gryffindor Common Room, 10.03 p.m.)
Seeing as it was a Thursday, the common room was almost empty and people had gone off to their dormitories. Only a few people were still talking quietly or desperately cramming some last pieces of information. Generally though, it had been a quiet evening.
Ginny was reading the latest Quidditch Report on the Hollyhead Harpies at the far end of the common room, when Hermione came storming through the portrait. Well, storming might not be the right word, raging, that was far more fitting. Closing her Quidditch Report she stopped a distressed Hermione right as she was about to run up to the dormitories.
Blocking Hermione's path, she said: "Well hello, why don't you sit down and take a breath before you wake up the entire tower with that loud stomping."
Bewildered, Hermione looked at Ginny, then at the stairs and back to Ginny again. She then took a deep breath and sat down in an armchair a few feet further.
"Okay, what's got your knickers in a twist?" Ginny asked curiously, it wasn't often that she got to see Hermione completely off balance.
Sighing, Hermione buried her head in her hands.
Hesitating shortly, Ginny continued: "Is this about Fleur?"
She remembered how freaked out Hermione had been when she had informed her friend that Fleur was flirting with her. Frankly, when it came to matters of the heart, Hermione was as oblivious as a mountain troll. So when no answer came, she kneeled in front of her friend and said: "If it was, it wouldn't matter to me, I admit I was wrong to doubt her after Skeeter's article, so, you can tell me if you want to."
She was almost able to see the thoughts flying around at light speed inside Hermione's head, and when the bushy-haired fourth year looked up, she noticed the immense doubt in her eyes.
"Look, Hermione, I can keep a secret, just tell me." Ginny insisted worriedly.
Wringing her hands together, Hermione's eyes flew all over the common room, trying to figure out if someone could hear them, before they settled on Ginny again.
"We kissed." Hermione whispered quietly and Ginny almost thought she didn't hear it right. But she had, and she almost laughed relieved and loudly that it was just that. Swallowing away her fears that it had been something horrible, she thought on how her mother was going to react if she ever found out about this. Her mum was an amazing cook, but she already freaked when it came to Bill's earring, witches and wizards weren't quite as progressive as they all thought they were.
"That's fine, I've heard the French are excellent kissers." Ginny joked, trying to relieve the tension. "Besides, Fleur Delacour? It's almost a given that she is. So tell me.. is she?"
"Ginevra!" Hermione said shocked but a tiny smile appeared on her face and Ginny knew she had succeeded in cheering Hermione up a little. "But yes, she is."
Looking curiously at Ginny, Hermione asked nervously: "So .. You don't mind?"
"That you like a girl? Or that said girl is Fleur - miss perfect champion - Delacour?" Ginny raised an eyebrow. "No, I don't mind. What is there to mind anyways? Remember how I wrote you this summer that the captain of the Hollyhead Harpies got replaced because the Daily Prophet had found out she was living with a woman? Merlin, she was the best we had had in years! And now she's gone! Damn those close minded gits!" Ginny bristled angrily, they had lost the champion's game thanks to that bloody decision. "I had pretty much figured it out about you and Fleur already. You know, I am smarter than I look." She grinned.
Hermione chuckled. "Yes, yes you are." Pausing for a second she took a deep breath. "I don't want people to know. I can't have people knowing. Not until I'm ready."
"Yeah, not to get you worried, but that might be a good idea, you know how wizards can be." Ginny frowned, once again thinking about her mother and Bill's hair and earring but then quickly changed tone. "But hey, I think this is great! She seems like a great person."
"Thank you, Ginny." Hermione smiled and hugged her friend.
"So does this mean you'll stop commenting on the Beauxbatons Princesses? Because that would be a shame." asked Ginny worriedly.
"I couldn't if I tried, they make it too easy." Hermione grinned.
They talked until deep in the night and it wasn't until one of the prefects came down to the Common Room, yelling that it was three in the morning, that the girls finally went to bed. By then, Hermione had more or less calmed down.