A/N: Once more my thanks go out to my beta Peeves' Best Friend, helping me out while watching the World Cup was a great sacrifice and I love him for it.
Other thanks go out to xtonguetied, Hulksmashed and Phoebex13. Their company and support is not only appreciated, it also keeps pushing me into writing! I would also very much like to thank Jaely, with whom I've been having the most illuminating conversations. I'm sure her input will find a way into future chapters.
As always, I'm the most grateful to you. Please keep on reading and know I'm always open for feedback. Enjoy.
FLEUR DE LA MER
CHAPTER ELEVEN: The Yule Ball Part II
HERMIONE (Entrance Hall, The Yule Ball, 8.03 p.m.)
One look was all Hermione needed to understand why everyone was gazing at Fleur open-mouthedly. The girl was beautiful.
No. Beautiful wasn't the right word.
Fleur was already beautiful in everyday life. Fleur was beautiful when she was wearing her Beauxbatons uniform. Fleur was beautiful when she ran around in muggle clothing. Fleur was beautiful when she laughed at a joke, or grimaced at Hogwarts' food. Fleur was beautiful when she was covered in dust after fighting a dragon, or when she managed to get sauce on her skirt or when her hair was standing in every direction after she had wrestled her way through a thousand books in the library. Fleur was probably beautiful even if she had just gotten out of bed in the morning - when the rest of the world still looked like they had crawled out of a grave.
No, today, Fleur was breathtaking. She was elegant and exquisite and ravishing and Hermione couldn't help but stop doing everything when she saw the French witch - completely alone - entering the entrance hall. Just like anyone else, Hermione stopped and stared as Fleur made her way to her date.
But Hermione wasn't anyone else now was she?
Those elegant hands reaching for Davies' arm? She had held them.
That disarming smile sent towards the Ravenclaw boy? It had been aimed at her more times than she could count.
That - almost glowing - brightly blond hair? Her hands had been in there.
Those glossy, beautiful lips? She had kissed them.
Yet she was standing next to Viktor, and Fleur was standing next to Davies.
Hermione couldn't bring herself to stop staring at the French girl and she could hear the blood pounding furiously in her ears. Her eyes glossed over Fleur while the girl was talking to her date - whom quite frankly didn't look like he knew what he was doing - and while Hermione figured she had a nice dress, Fleur's was in a category on its own. Obviously extremely expensive and made from fine satin, the silver-gray robes complimented the girl perfectly, and Hermione just knew that if she got to see Fleur up close, her eyes would be so much brighter because of it.
Suddenly, Fleur looked right at her, and Hermione felt her heart jump up in her chest. Fleur's face didn't betray any emotions, Hermione swallowed. Time seemed to stand stile while Hermione just stared at Fleur.
"Hermy-own." A gentle voice said beside her.
Slowly - reluctant to part her eyes with Fleur - Hermione turned her head to see Viktor staring at her worriedly.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly. "You look like you are going to faint, vould you care for some vater?"
"Oh, ..." Hermione said, and looked back to the spot where Fleur had been mere seconds ago. "Oh. No." She shook her head, Fleur was gone. "I'm fine, really, it's just incredibly warm in here."
"I vill get you some vater." Viktor said again, but when he tried to walk away, Hermione grabbed his arm.
"Please, don't." Hermione said "I'm okay. It's fine. The Ball's about to start anyway."
"Vell, .." Viktor frowned unsurely, "If you are sure .."
"Yes." Hermione patted his arm. "I am."
She didn't notice the flash of anger in Fleur's eyes.
Once everyone was settled in the hall, Professor McGonagall gestured for the champions to come over, and as Viktor offered Hermione his arm again, the pairs walked in procession into the hall.
The moment the first couple entered - Diggory and Cho Chang - people stood up to applaud and cheer on the champions.
"So much for the dignified entrance." Viktor lightly leant over and whispered in her ear after the first whistles resounded throughout the Great Hall. Hermione smiled and slowly but surely they made their way to the champion's table at the front.
They passed a scowling Malfoy in black velvet dress robes, some frowning Hufflepuffs all in very very bright yellow, Viktor's - at this point rather bitter – fan club, Neville in a botched bowtie and Ginny - who winked at her - wearing a rather explicit green dress; something they needed to have a chat about, Seamus - who stared at her with an open mouth - Fred and George grinning widely alongside their dates - while giving her a big thumbs up - and last but not least, Ron, who was currently staring incredulously at the ceiling like he had never ever seen it before. It seemed like he wasn't too happy finding out that - of all people - Krum was her date.
And all the way to the round table at the back end of the hall, her date beside her couldn't stop smiling. For the first time since he had arrived at Hogwarts, Viktor Krum seemed anything but sullen. Once they arrived, Viktor graciously pulled out a chair for her, and only sat down when she had taken a seat. Hermione smiled at him for the gesture, but after glancing back to Fleur her smile fell off her face. Davies, while looking all dazed, had done the same for Fleur.
Parvati turned out to be less lucky, and had to reach for her own chair. Harry - barely five minutes into the Ball - was already in distress. Hermione grinned once she realized he had been unable to deny Percy's request to sit together. While she had always gotten along with the third Weasley, she knew rather well that Harry and Ron did not like Percy. Although she had to admit that his recent obsession with cauldron bottoms was not very conversation stimulating, if not to say extremely dull.
Her focus switched back to Fleur, who was talking animatedly to Roger Davies. She could have just been speaking in French, for all he cared; Hermione thought; not like it made any difference to him.
For the life of her, she could not understand why - of all people - Fleur - lovely, funny, intelligent, charming, amazing Fleur - had picked Roger Davies. He was probably the dullest boy in the entire school. Yes, he was handsome, and he had his smile going for him, and well, he was a Ravenclaw so he couldn't be that stupid. But it didn't matter to her, Davies was boring, dull and simply annoying. He didn't even know how to hold a conversation with Fleur! All he did was repeating after her!
"Hermy-own?" Krum shook her out of thoughts. "Vhat do you think?"
"Hmm?" Hermione said and turned back to her date.
"Oh!" She realized quickly that he had been talking to her for a couple of minutes and she hadn't really been listening. "Oh Merlin, Viktor, I'm so sorry! I was lost in my own thoughts for a moment there." Hermione apologized embarrassedly to the Durmstrang Champion sitting next to her.
"Like vhen you ran into me in the library." Viktor grinned widely "This seems to be a habit of yours!"
"I guess so." Hermione laughed, glad that he wasn't making a big deal about her not paying much attention. "I'll try my best to be all yours for the rest of the evening."
"That is vhat I vant to hear." He chuckled "Now, do you know how ve can order our food? I see menu cards, but no house elf vaiters."
Frowning for a second at the mention of house elves, Hermione quickly remembered her promise to be good company, and instead neutralized her facial expression when she looked around the table. Viktor was not the only one who seemed completely clueless when it came to the food. Cho Chang was studying her menu upside down, Harry was using his menu as an excuse not to talk to Percy, Mr. Bagman was complaining loudly about 'who to talk to about getting a beer' because 'the menu was bloody useless' and Fleur was shaking her head while remarking in between all the 'putains' and 'merdes' to her headmistress - Madame Maxime - that Hogwarts was somewhat a disappointment when it came to organization. Hermione almost sighed in relief when Professor Dumbledore loudly asked his plate for pork chops - which promptly appeared.
"Vell." Viktor smiled widely "That solves it!"
He reached for the menu in her hands, took it, and with his brow frowning in concentration, read it thoroughly. Suddenly, his face lit up in surprise. "There is jaeger snitzel on here!"
"Which is?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Vild boar!" He grinned happily "My grandfather used to make it for me vhen I was little. It is basically meat vith mushrooms and potatoes."
"No veggies?" Hermione chuckled.
"Well, vhat vould be the point?" Viktor laughed again and leant closer to his plate. "Jaeger Schnitzel!" He said enthusiastically and rubbed his hands when the dish appeared on his plate. "I have not eaten this since I vas thirteen years old!"
Hermione quickly skimmed the menu and frowned at the many many options - she couldn't help but wonder what kind of work this meant for the poor house elves - she eventually chose something simple. When the pasta magically appeared on her plate, she reached for her fork. Since pretty much everyone was already eating, there was no reason for her to wait and she planned on digging right in. For all her nerves, she hadn't eaten anything all day except for one tiny bowl of muesli at breakfast.
"Bon appétit." She heard a musical voice say from across the table, right before she was about to take her first bite. Looking over, she could see Fleur on the brink of eating the exact same pasta. Hermione stared at Fleur, surprised that they chose the same thing, they were the only two people at the table eating the same dish.
Gazing at Hermione, the French girl's face seemed to say 'What are you going to about it?" Then Fleur lightly put a hand on Roger Davies arm sitting next to her, and in a delicate voice asked for some water. The boy almost choked on his food.
Hermione blinked and decided to focus her attention on her plate instead of the blond girl, but the pasta carbonara seemed less delicious than it had a few seconds ago. Instead, she poked and pushed the food around on her plate, taking only tiny bites when necessary. Looked like dinner was ruined.
"How good vas that!" Exclaimed Viktor after he had finished his Jaeger Schnitzel. "Your house elves truly can perform miracles! I vish ve had more elves like that at Durmstrang."
"You have house elves at Durmstrang?" Hermione instantly lowered her fork again, officially done with her meal, she wasn't that hungry anyways.
"Doesn't everyone?" Viktor shrugged "But ve have few and ours don't seem to focus on food. Mostly on keeping the castle varm. And even so, I think that the first spell every new student at Durmstrang masters, is charming your body to keep varm."
"Is it really that cold at Durmstrang?" Fascinated by the idea of other wizarding schools, Hermione couldn't help but ask. "Is it located that far north?"
"Vell, yes. It is alvays chilly at best in the castle. And I think using the vord castle is a bit of a stretch here. It's not nearly as large or beautiful as Hogwarts." Viktor grinned and waved at all the decorations. "Ve vould never have such grandeur. Our castle is more like a massive square block of stone, vith thick valls and icy halls vhere the elves struggle to keep the large fires going even if they are only lit for magical purposes."
Viktor shrugged and took a bite from Hermione's pasta, which she had barely touched. "Ve only have four floors, one of them is only dormitories and it is basically gray stone everyvhere. Not very charming, I tell you that."
"But the grounds.." He sighed. "The grounds are magnificent. They are much bigger than here at Hogvarts."
Viktor leant back in his chair and his voice changed into this dreamy whispering tone. "Even in vinter, vhen ve only have a few hours of light a day, the miles and miles of ice are astonishingly beautiful, and in summer, ve go fly every day. Over the lakes and the mountains.."
"Viktor, Viktor, .." Headmaster Karkaroff interrupted with a sly smile on his face. "Now don't go telling your date everything, otherwise she might be able to find us!"
"And what would be wrong wi'z zat exactly?" Fleur spoke up, taking her attention away from an attention craving Davies. "Everyone knows where to find Beauxbatons, and you don't 'ear us complaining."
"My girl, Durmstrang has a long and noble tradition." Karkaroff's eyes narrowed "Secrecy is a part of that."
"Fu." Fleur shrugged. "I find it a very silly notion for such an important school."
"Yes." Hermione snapped in annoyance, "But you find everything silly."
"Like your 'Ogwarts decorations." Fleur said dismissively "Viktor over 'ere might like zem - from what I ga'zer e is not used to much - but at Beauxbatons we do not 'ave zose ugly pieces of armour ruining ze halls, non, at Christmas, we 'ave ze most astounding ice sculptures spread around ze castle, and wood nymphs singing to us while we eat the superb food. And if zat poltergeist of yours tried to enter Beauxbatons, it would be expelled like zat"
Slapping her hand on the table to make her point, she stared into Hermione's eyes in defiance, only to be surprised by Davies, who like her slapped his hand loudly onto the table.
"Yes!" He exclaimed and slapped the table again. "Expelled like that!"
"Zat is right, Chéri." Fleur smiled at him and continued in a coy voice "You should come and visit me in France some day, I will show you its wonders."
Hermione paled instantly and without realizing it, jumped up from her chair. Refusing to look at Fleur's triumphant face, she turned to Viktor, who was frowning at her.
"Bathroom." She mumbled, not knowing what else to say. "Please excuse me."
"Yes." Viktor said and politely stood up for her to leave "Of course."
Instead of rushing through the Great Hall, for once Hermione took a left and entered the small hallway at the far end of the Hall, not far from the Champion's table. Everyone was too busy eating, so luckily, the hallways were clear, and the girl's bathroom was desolate. Turning on the tap, Hermione splashed water onto her face, glad that the make-up she had chosen was as magical as it could be - so no water damage.
Come on! She ushered herself. Get yourself together, Granger. You're here on a date with this wonderful person, and yet you let yourself get riled up by her.
Hermione stared at herself in the mirror. She couldn't believe Fleur was pushing it this far. Her hands were never not touching Davies, she was never not flirting with him and to push it even further she was still - even when Dumbledore of all people could hear her - insulting Hogwarts.
It was so obvious that Fleur was only doing this because of her.
"Hermione? Are you okay?"
Glancing over her shoulder, she could see Harry staring at her with a worried look in his eyes.
"Harry? What are you doing in here? These are the girl's bathrooms." Hermione answered in annoyance.
"Well, do you see any other girls but you?" He grinned slightly nervous "I wanted to know what was going on."
"What if I was going to the bathroom?" Hermione frowned.
He scratched his hand and sent her an apologetic smile "In that case I would have just left, I think."
"You perv." She teased, knowing full well he was anything but.
"Well, you know me." Harry chuckled but turned serious again "So, are you?"
"Am I what?" Hermione said, and turned off the still running tap.
"Are you okay?" Harry repeated.
"Of course I am." Hermione said dismissively. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You've been acting a little off lately," Harry hesitated "And now you left the table so abruptly, I thought something might be wrong."
"I'm fine, Harry." Hermione sighed. "But thank you for worrying."
Harry studied her face, obviously not believing her, then he reached out for her hand and held it. "You know you can always tell me anything, right?"
Shrugging him off, she didn't look at him when she weakly said "Not this time, Harry."
Hermione rushed back to the Great Hall, desperate to avoid Harry and his damned questions, back to Viktor, who was trying so hard to give her the evening she wanted.
"Hi." She said breathlessly as she fell back into her chair at the table. "I'm back."
"I can see that." He smiled. "Vant some desert?"
"No thanks." She shook her head and didn't even look at Fleur as the French girl started shifting closer to Davies. "Instead, why don't you tell me about your Quidditch career?"
Grinning widely, Viktor animatedly told her that he simply adored flying. He reminded her of Harry, talking about his craving for speed and the desperate need for agility up in the air. He talked about how he ended up getting selected for the U17 when he had just turned fourteen, and how it had been his grandfather that had convinced his mother it was okay for him to participate. He talked about the endless and endless amounts of Quidditch games he had won and lost and how each game pushed him to do better next time. He talked about the rush of catching the snitch, the adrenaline that engulfed him, how free he felt once he was up in the air.
And for the first time in her life, Hermione found herself captivated by Quidditch talk. It helped, to see how his eyes lit up when Viktor talked about flying through a merciless snowstorm, or how his face sparked in enthusiasm when talking about a difficult catch. Of course, so did Harry's face when he talked about Quidditch, but for some reason it seemed different with Viktor. It wasn't about winning for him, it wasn't about playing the game, it was because somehow, flying was his ultimate goal.
".. So then the bludger smashes into the tail of my broom, and the damn thing was suddenly unflyable." Viktor says with wide eyes "And vhen I say unflyable, I really mean unflyable." He grinned and reached for his cup of water. "So I basically plummet to the ground, and it's really unstoppable, and next thing I know, I crash into one of the goalposts about three feet above the ground!"
"And that's how I broke my nose, vith 5 000 people vatching." Viktor laughed. "I vish I could say that vas the last time I crashed into a goalpost, but alas."
Almost with tears in her eyes of laughter, Hermione asked him for some more Viktor-gone-wrong Quidditch stories - no way he only had three - but then Dumbledore rose to his feet. Boomingly, the old headmaster asked for everyone to stand up as well, and with one lazy wand movement, all tables zoomed back along the walls, leaving the floor clear and with another movement Dumbledore conjured up a stage on which the Weird Sisters - under thundering applause - trooped up.
Viktor - again all smiles - stood up from his chair and stretched out a hand to Hermione. "Hermy-own, vould you care to have this dance vith me?"
"Only if you stop calling me Hermy-own." Hermione chuckled, an reached for his hand. "Try this: Her-my-oh-nee"
"Herm-own-ninny?" He frowned but she could see the teasing smile in his eyes as he pulled her on her feet.
"Well now you are just pushing it." Hermione huffed.
"Ah, yes." Viktor grinned again. "But only because you make it so much fun."
The lights on the tables dimmed, and only the dance floor was still lit, as Viktor Krum lead Hermione to it. He smiled at her as he placed a hand on her waist. When the Weird Sisters started playing a soft tune, Hermione was stunned to discover he was an excellent dancer. Twirling through the music, she found herself caught in the moment, and she could only focus on him as he led her through the dance.
She didn't notice Ron's eyes on her, she didn't notice how Harry stumbled over his own feet, desperately trying to keep up with Parvati, and for the first time during the evening, she didn't notice Fleur's glances - the entire time as the girl was dancing with Davies - back to her. Instead, all her attention was placed on Viktor as they darted throughout the hall.
The longer the music went on, the more people joined them on the dance floor, and before Hermione even realized it, the special moment was over. Yet, it was undeniable, she was having the most fun she had had all week.
"So tell me," Viktor whispered softly in her ear when the rhythm calmed down, "how long have you and Fleur been going out?"
Completely stunned, Hermione instantly stopped dancing. She let go of Viktor Krum, and instead just stared at him, baffled, in shock and slightly terrified at what might come next.
"H - How do you know?" She whispered barely audibly.
Viktor gave her an encouraging smile and gently forced her to start dancing again, stopping in the middle of the dance floor wasn't exactly inconspicuous.
"It is quite obvious if you pay attention to it, I guess." He shrugged and in sync with the rhythm of the next song, he sped up the pace. "The two of you have been longingly glancing at each other all evening."
"In the beginning I vas hoping I vas vrong, I quite like you, you know." Viktor grimaced when he continued and didn't quite meet her eyes. "But the longer the evening vent on, the more obvious it got to me. You like her."
"Viktor." Hermione hesitated "I'm so sorry."
"It is okay." He shrugged and smiled. "I only vish I had found the nerve to ask you earlier. Maybe then I vould have stood a chance. But Fleur seems like a marvellous person - that is to say; if she isn't acting out of vhat I guess has been you."
"You don't mind?" Hermione asked in a tiny voice.
"Herm-o-ninny" Viktor said sternly "I von't insult you by saying I am not disappointed, - I have asked you out after all - but I guess vhat you are really asking is if I mind that you like a girl."
When Hermione didn't answer, he continued softly. "No. I don't mind that. I understand why you vould be vorried but you don't have to fear my reaction. My teammate Volkov, the Beater, he is currently living vith a very nice wizard from Kiev, he vould kill me if I vould object to that." Viktor grinned. "Besides, they seem very happy together. I vill just have to accept reality."
The Weird Sisters started up a much more up-beat song, and as the atmosphere got more and more intense party-wise, Viktor led Hermione off the dance floor towards an empty table at the side. He took off his jacket and sat down next to Hermione.
"So tell me." Viktor said as he took her hand. "Why aren't you here with Fleur?"
Hermione sighed. "Let me start at the beginning.."
FLEUR (The Yule Ball, 10.17 p.m.)
Of course he can't dance. It would have been too damn easy if he could dance. And if this night is anything, it is not easy, Fleur thought as she dodged Roger's feet again. The boy had an affinity for stepping on her toes and only her years of practice in ballet could save her now. With all the grace she could muster, and a fake smile plastered on her face, she kept sliding through the first dance.
He had been pushing her patience all evening, unable to build sentences, practically unable to eat food without getting it all over his dress robes, drooling left and right, repeating what she said, but all that wasn't as worrisome as his continued touching of her legs.
To make things worse, Hermione was having a good time.
Yes, she had succeeded in making the girl feel uncomfortable for most of dinner - as had been the plan - and the situation had reached its climax with the bushy haired girl running off to wherever. It had been clear for anyone at the table that something was wrong, and Harry Potter had grasped at the chance to escape his annoying redhead dinner companion at the table and had gone after Hermione.
Unfortunately, whatever he had said to Hermione had done the trick, because when she came back, it was suddenly all laughs with mister Viktor - the superstar - Krum. Since when did Hermione care for Quidditch? As far as she knew, the girl found it a useless sport. In fact, Hermione had laughed when Fleur had mentioned being a chaser at Beauxbatons. Apparently, Fleur playing Quidditch was an amusing thought, but not as amusing as Krum, because he almost made Hermione snort the pumpkin juice through her nose. If the situation wasn't so damn depressing, Fleur would probably have found it adorable.
As she led Roger past a twirling Krum and Hermione - of course Fleur was leading - she couldn't help but glance at Hermione. Her face was lit up in excitement as Krum lifted her up in the air as part of this intricate dance that Fleur wasn't going to bother trying with Davies. Well, at least Hermione was having a good time.
Merde.
All that lovey-dovey nonsense between Hermione and Krum was nauseating and instead of continuing to dance when the Weird Sisters started a new song, Fleur let go of Roger and walked away from the dance floor. Naturally, he came running after her like the annoying little puppy he was. If she'd known that he was going to behave like this in advance, she wouldn't have asked him.
Oh who was she kidding, she had asked exactly because she knew that he was going to behave like this. It's what made him dump his first date for her.
"Why don't you go talk wi'z your friends for a while?" Fleur asked sweetly as he caught up with her.
"Oh but I wouldn't want to leave you alone.." He stumbled over his own words and Fleur sighed.
"I need to talk to Inès for while." She reached for his arm. "I'll catch you later, oui?"
"Of course." He smiled, happy at the prospect of seeing her again.
Fleur let go of his arm and made her way towards the bar. The place was crowded, but people quickly stepped aside whenever she was near, effectively creating an opening for her to walk through. She had to admit, every once in a while her being quarter-Veela worked to her advantage. With her thrall probably flashing in every direction, everyone deemed it safer to stay out of her way.
"What can I get you?" A bartender asked Fleur once she reached the counter of the bar.
She played with her blond hair as she looked at the older wizard. Like all the bartenders, he was wearing white dressrobes, and he didn't bother hiding that he was admiring her body.
"Let me guess, you are not allowed to serve wine to students, oui?" She asked in a bored voice. "O'zerwise zis would not be 'Ogwarts."
"That's right." He nodded. "I can get you some pumpkinjuice though."
"Always wi'z ze pumpkinjuice." Fleur sighed in annoyance "What is it wi'z zis school and pumpkins? Can't you people just drink orange juice like ze rest of ze world?"
"One orange juice coming up." The bartender grinned.
Rolling her eyes, Fleur leant with her back against the counter, gazing at the dance floor, where Krum and Hermione were still dancing like there was no tomorrow.
"Last time I saw you this happy, Beauxbatons' pool mysteriously dried up."
Hearing French amongst all that English, was like coming up to breathe. And a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she answered Inès.
"No one can prove that I did that."
"You can't prove that you didn't either." Inès smiled. "I think I told you to calm down back then as well. Yet no one was able to refill that pool with water for months."
Fleur scowled, "You haven't told me to calm down tonight."
"I'm doing it now." Inès patted her friend on the shoulder. "Trust me. You need to calm down."
"I don't need to do anything." Fleur shrugged and watched how Hermione suddenly stopped dancing. She frowned as she watched how the girl stared at Krum in horror. What was going on?
"Don't." Inès whispered
"Don't what?" Fleur frowned deeply.
"Leave them alone." spoke Inès softly. "You're not her date."
Contemptuously, Fleur reached for the glass of orange juice the bartender had left on the counter for her. The glass was cold in her hands and woke her up from her trance. Inès was right. She was not Hermione's date.
Krum and Hermione had started dancing again and the colour that had drained from Hermione's face before, was slowly returning as Krum whispered in her ear. He was putting her at ease where Fleur could not. She watched how he eventually lead Hermione off the dance floor and how they sat infuriatingly close together at an empty table. When he reached for her hand, and she let him hold it, Fleur aggressively placed the glass back on the counter. She was lucky it didn't break.
Refusing to listen to Inès' rapid protests, she stormed towards the group of young Ravenclaws a couple of feet further and took Roger Davies by the hand, dragging him along with her as she left the Great Hall.
If Fleur had bothered looking around, she would have seen Hermione's shoulders slump as she watched the French girl leave with Davies in her wake. Instead, Hermione's gaze only burned an imaginary hole into Fleur's back. One that was - unfortunately - not felt.
"I'm done talking." Fleur gave as an explanation once they were outside, not that Roger needed one. He just seemed happy to be around her again.
"Why don't we take a walk, hmm?"
He snuck an arm around her waist as they walked through the rose garden that had been specially installed for the occasion. Fairy lights illuminated the place, twinkling and winking as Davies led her towards a stone bench in an obscure shadowy corner of the garden. His arm felt rigid around her waist with his sweaty hand resting on her hip, and if Krum hadn't been holding Hermione's hand, Fleur would have run away as hard and as fast as she could by now. But Krum had been holding Hermione's hand.
"Isn't this nice." Davies mumbled as they sat down on the bench. "Real romantic, isn't it perfect?"
"Oui." Fleur muttered uncomfortably under her breath. "Real nice."
"I've had a great time tonight." Roger mumbled again, staring into her blue eyes and Fleur wished she could break away the stare. "I'm so glad you asked me to be your date."
"Ouai.." Fleur hesitated briefly and then decided against shuffling away from him. Was this what she wanted?
He smiled confidently at her as he moved closer. His nose was almost touching hers when he waited a second before moving in for the kiss. His wet lips pressed against hers and she could almost taste the spare ribs he ate for dinner.
Then she pushed him away.
Fleur could see the confusion in his eyes before he tried to kiss her again but this time Fleur jumped up and his lips kissed nothing but air.
"Je suis desolée." She stammered as she stared with wide eyes at Roger "I can't do this.. I'm sorry.."
She quickly turned around and ran off as fast as she could. She could hear him call after her, but instead of listening, she paced towards the entrance of the castle. This was all one big mistake. It didn't matter who started this messed up situation between her and Hermione, she was ending it.
Walking as fast as her dress would allow it, she made her way through the entrance hall and instantly stopped as she entered the Great Hall. Fleur realized she had just walked into a blazing row between Hermione and Ronald Weasley.
"Don't call him Vicky!" Hermione yelled at Weasley "And I'm not fraternizing with the enemy!"
"Are you even listening to yourself?!" Weasley laughed bitterly "He's competing against Hogwarts, against Harry! And you just go out with him?"
Hermione's mouth fell open.
"How could you be so naive?" Weasley spat at her "First Fleur Delacour and now Krum? You think they seek out your company because they like you? They just want information on Harry."
"No.. That's not true." Hermione fought back tears.
"I guess you aren't the smartest witch of your generation after all." Weasley sneered "If you believe that."
For a second there, it looked like Hermione was going to slap Ronald Weasley right in the face, but instead, the girl turned around and stormed out of the hall. She didn't even see Fleur staring at Ron with her face twisted in disgust.
It took all of Fleur's self control to not walk up to the boy and growl at him until he would burst into tears. All of her self control and the thought that Hermione was all alone right now. So with one last cold glance back at Weasley, she made her way out of the castle.
Once standing outside of its gigantic doors, Fleur found herself wishing she hadn't lost time debating on whether or not to kick Weasley's ass as she didn't know where Hermione had gone. It hadn't been up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room - she didn't know why, but she was sure of it - and it didn't seem like Hermione to go and hang out in the rose garden - currently swamped with couples - so the only logical way she would have gone, was towards the only desolate place left outside of Hogwarts but close to the castle. Once again going as fast as her dress would allow, Fleur started running.
She finally caught up with Hermione at the greenhouses. It was dark around them, the only light coming from the sliver of moon and the fairy lights dancing in the distance. Fleur stopped and they both stared at each other awkwardly for a few seconds, before Fleur just swallowed away whatever grudges she held and engulfed Hermione in a tight hug. Without hesitation, the girl flung her arms around Fleur's neck.
"I'm so sorry." Hermione sniffed and clung desperately at Fleur. "This is all my fault."
Fleur held Hermione even tighter, right now, letting go was the last thing she wanted. "Zis is bo'z our faults."
"No." Hermione shook her head in denial. "It's mine.. And.. "
But before she could continue Fleur had already reached for Hermione's lips. Hungrily, Hermione kissed her back. They clung to each other and lost themselves in the softness of the other's lips. Slowly, the kiss turned gentler, with Fleur just nipping at Hermione, until they broke away and stared at each other in slight disbelief. To think that only a few minutes ago, they weren't even talking.
Fleur smiled gently - glad she had ran after Hermione - and hugged her again. It felt so good to simply hold her in her arms. Truth be told, it was loads better than to be held by Roger bloody Davies. With a smile tugging at her mouth - she wondered if Davies was still sitting on that bench; she sort of hoped that he did - she happily buried her nose into Hermione's hair, and frowned when she couldn't smell Hermione's usual shampoo. Her quarter dropped.
"Ermione.." She raised an eyebrow and looked at the girl. "What ave you done wi'z you 'air?"
"That's what you want to talk about?" Hermione chuckled lightly as she swept away a string out of her face. "My hair?"
"Well, oui?" Fleur grinned, she let go of Hermione and sat down on the grass. The ground was cold, but at least it wasn't freezing outside, and as long as she was with Hermione she didn't mind being cold. Neither did Hermione care apparently, because she quickly sat down beside Fleur. The girl crawled up next to her, nuzzling against Fleur's side, and Fleur slipped an arm around the girl's waist.
"I missed you.." Fleur murmured "I'm so sorry for 'ow I've been acting ze last week, I was just so.. "
"Hurt." Hermione finished for her. "Because of me."
Fleur nodded in agreement. "Oui. I was hurt. But zat is no excuse for acting like zat."
"It wasn't your fault." Hermione said softly and she stared at the moon. "If I hadn't been so uptight, none of this would have happened."
Shaking her head, Fleur drew Hermione closer. "It doesn't matter anymore anyway."
She meant it. It didn't matter anymore because Hermione was here now, and things could only get better from this point on.
"I like you." Hermione moved closer and softly kissed Fleur on the corner of her mouth. "And I really am sorry."
Fleur smiled and turned her head, leaning her forehead against Hermione's and she breathed the girl in.
"Ermione." Fleur spoke hesitantly, eyes closed. " I can't do zis in secrecy."
She swallowed away her fears and took Hermione's hand in hers. "If you don't want me to kiss you or 'old your 'and in public, zat's fine. I'm not one for making out in public ei'zer." Fleur smirked at the thought of her kissing Hermione in the Great Hall. Eyes would fly open.
"But I need to be able to sit wi'z you, I need to be able to talk to you." She whispered but then she found herself staring into Hermione's brown eyes. They were smiling at her.
"I like you." Hermione repeated gently and gave Fleur a long kiss. "And you are right."
"I don't like it when people know stuff about me. I need my privacy." Hermione murmured. "But I sort of also need you."
"So we are going to do zis?" Fleur asked.
"As you would say: oui." Hermione joked, and Fleur started laughing, they needed to work on the girl's French.
"We'll keep it on ze down low for now." Fleur spoke seriously, thinking about the future. "And eventually we will tell people. On our time. 'Ow does zat sound?"
"Perfect." Hermione smiled again. "You're perfect."
They sat together for some time, enjoying each other's company. They talked softly about everything else that had happened in the past days. Fleur grimaced as she told Hermione about the Grindylows, but made the girl laugh at Fleur's almost comically depressing endeavours with Davies. She had to smile when Hermione talked about Viktor, how he had guessed and reacted. Fleur mused on the Quidditch star turned Triwizard champion, maybe he wasn't so bad after all. Hermione seemed happy to have found a new friend, maybe she should give him a chance as well. They talked and talked and talked. About everything and nothing. About nothing and everything. Just the way Fleur thought it was supposed to be.
When the fairy lights slowly started dimming, signalling the nearing end of the ball, Fleur pulled Hermione on her feet. Hand in hand, they walked to a side entrance of the castle where Fleur smilingly kissed Hermione goodnight. When the Gryffindor girl had disappeared through the doors, Fleur turned around and made her way towards the carriage. She briefly wondered how she was going to get the grass stains out of her dress, but honestly she no longer cared. She had kissed Hermione goodnight, wasn't that what mattered?
Unfortunately, neither of them had noticed the cold set of eyes observing them from the shadows.
A/N: Estimated upload time: 2 weeks, with some luck only one week.