"How did it go?"Natalie asked as Fleur shut the door after ushering her, Matilda, and Greta into her champion suite in the carriage.Fleur was impressed that the three girls had waited as long as they did to ask her about her day.She had spent most of it with Hermione at the hospital with Prof.Snape and Hermione's Veela guards.Fleur had separated from the group at dinner time as Hermione had some work to do to prepare for a project she was working on the next day.She had asked what the project was but was denied the answer by Prof.Snape who told her it wasn't any of her business.That irritated Fleur because she had a feeling that Hermione would have actually told her what it was she was working on.Hopefully she would get a chance to see the girl sometime the next day to ask her.If she was lucky Hermione might even include Fleur in the project.

"It started off bad because I was really late."Fleur was still kicking herself for that.

"Why were you late?"Greta asked.

"Because Madame Maxine kept us a lot longer for practice today than she did yesterday."Matilda told them.

"I thought it wouldn't be a big deal because it seemed like Hermione didn't have a set time she was leaving but when I got there Prof.Snape met me in the hall and warned me that the Laaskos had sent guards for Hermione and they were already there."Fleur said.

"You are saying that you not only let Hermione wait but members of the Laasko clan as well!!The very clan that we all are supposed to be impressing?!"Natalie couldn't believe Fleur could be so irresponsible.

Fleur held up her hands in defense."I know, you don't have to lecture me Prof Snape already did."

"Does that mean he is against you spending time with Hermione?"Matilda and the rest of the flock had noticed that Prof.Snape was often with Hermione when she was seen around the castle.It was obvious that he was one of her caretakers and it was because of that it was important Fleur make a good impression on the man.

"No not at all.As a matter of fact he said he knew that I had a romantic interest in Hermione and he approved.He was the one who let me know the guards were there so I wasn't surprised when I saw them."Although the man had been short with Fleur when it came to her asking Hermione questions Fleur could tell he supported her interest in Hermione.

"He is a good ally to have."Greta said.

"How did things go after you got there?"Natalie hoped that Fleur redeemed herself somewhat.

"Once we got the hospital things went great.I actually have some exciting news.I met one of the members of the new house.She is taking one of the ministry seats and has agreed to set up a meeting with the clan."Fleur told them.

"Fleur that's amazing!"Matilda exclaimed in excitement.

"Your grandmother is going to be very happy.Even if it's not the new head of household it still is an important member."Natalie knew that their clan elder would happy that Fleur was able to get the meeting and maybe she would ease up on the rest of them about finding out who the head was.

"How did you find them?"Greta asked.

"I met her and her daughter at the hospital.Hermione introduced us.One of the werewolves she cured was engaged to the woman's daughter."Fleur explained.

"So not only does Hermione have a link to the Laasko clan but one to the new house as well?"Matilda was beyond surprised to hear that.

"Yes and it was my mate who actually got us the meeting.When I inquired about getting a meeting with the head of household I was told no but then Hermione mention that the woman Andromeda was the going to take one of the seats and she could be someone that we could talk to.She easily agreed and said as soon as our clan reached out to her she would set up a meeting."Fleur explained.

"I have said it before but it's worth saying again your Veela picked out a very powerful mate.With all you have told us about Hermione and her connections with not only very powerful and influential wizarding families but magical creatures as well she will be a valuable asset to our flock."Natalie could already imagine how much more respect the Delacour clan would gain just by being able to claim Hermione.

Fleur swallowed down her discomfort at using Hermione in such a way.She couldn't show her hesitation in front of her future subjects even if they were her friends."I was going to see if she would introduce me to the heard of centaur that live in the forbidden forest."

"That's a good idea.Especially if the Laaskos already have a treaty with some of them."Greta said.

"Personally I want to meet one just to see what they are like.They are such private creatures and rarely interact with others.It makes me wonder how Hermione got them to talk to her."Natalie wanted the chance to ask the centaur some questions about their unique magic as it was something she had researched for a project in her magical creatures class.

"I think what I want to know the most about Hermione is how she got a unicorn to give her part of its horn.Not only that but an elder unicorn as well."Matilda said.

"I haven't gotten a chance to ask her about it.When we were at the hospital we were surrounded by people at all times and when I asked anything to personal Prof.Snape either told me it was none of my business or he quickly changed the subject."Fleur told them."Then again we were in public."

"If you really think about it it isn't surprising he stopped you from getting answers. We all know how protective of Hermione's background they are.I mean even our clan elder couldn't find out anything other than rumors."Natalie knew that if their clan elder couldn't find anything then Hermione was being protected by some very important people.

"I have found out a little of her background but I have a feeling that I haven't even scratched the surface of Hermione's life."Fleur knew that even though she was told about Hermione's parents that she didn't really know anything abut her family.

"What have you found out?"Matilda asked.

"Just that Hermione was orphaned at five years old and Dumbledore adopted after she used magic to save herself from a car accident that killed her parents and the ministry was alerted to the use of underage magic.She told me because her magic was so powerful that Dumbledore stepped in and along with Prof.McGonagall and Prof.Snape they raised Hermione in the castle."Fleur told them.

"That's sad.I had just thought she was a prodigy that stayed at the castle to learn not that her parents were dead."Greta said.

"What about the rest of her family?Surely she has people other than just her parents."Matilda figured Hermione at least had an aunt or uncle maybe some grandparents.

"She didn't mention any and I didn't want to push as the topic was sensitive.She did tell me that her parents weren't magical but I got the impression that didn't mean they were muggles."Fleur had thought the wording was too specific when Hermione had answered her question.

"So does that mean she isn't a muggle born?"Natalie asked.

"I don't know."Fleur hated that she didn't.

"Maybe she's a magical creature."Matilda suggested.

Fleur's first impulse was to disagree but as she thought about it it kind of made sense."You know you may be right.It would explain her relationship with so many other magical creatures.The problem I see though is if she was wouldn't she be claimed by her own kind.I mean she is really talented.By claiming her any magical creature community would gain a lot of respect."

"That is a good point.We have said it many times that Hermione would be a great asset to our own flock and she is just your mate.If she were actually a Veela then she would be paraded around and bragged about by her clan for being such a powerful creature."Natalie knew that even though she wasn't Veela that Hermione would be a figurehead for the Delacours because of her many achievements and relationships.If she were actually Veela she would be most likely in the running to be future clan elder.

"Unless she was some rare kind of magical creature that is under Dumbledore's protection."Greta suggested.

"I doubt that.She told me that when she was 12 she went on a trip alone to the Black Forest to meet up with a heard of Centaur.If she was under protection then she wouldn't be allowed to go on the trip by herself. She sure as heck wouldn't have been allowed to travel with the Laasko heir to meet with her mother."Fleur reasoned.

"She definitely wouldn't have been adopted by the clan."Natalie agreed.

"So what does everyone think?"Matilda asked.

"Let's go over the facts.Hermione was brought to Hogwarts at five years old as an orphan.She wasn't placed with family and hasn't mentioned having any.She is a prodigy who is extremely smart and has powerful allies.Phyliss Debolt made her her heir after Hermione lived with the woman studying under her.She has many relationships with different magical creatures.The ones that we know of are Veela, centaur, goblins, unicorns and house elves.Wr can all agree that she is probably linked to others as well."The other three nodded in agreement so Fleur continued."She made her own wand and although it can't be confirmed I was led to believe that she is the favorite child of Aart Laasko. The elder being so taken with Hermione that she adopted her in a blood ceremony.Hermione not only cured the werewolf curse but one of her patients had a link to the new house and she is close friends with the woman taking one of the ministry seats.What did I leave out?"

The room was silent for a minute as all four girls thought over the was said.It was Greta who spoke first."I think the only thing that was left out was the fact that someone other than herself put her name in the cup."

"I forgot about that."Fleur said.

"That leads me to believe that someone does know her background and is targeting her for a reason."Matilda didn't think Hermione was randomly picked by someone to just mess with the cup.There had to be a purpose.

"Has anyone figured out who did it?"Natalie asked.

"I don't know.It hasn't been discussed.I was to focused on finding out things for my grandmother that I didn't think to bring it up."Fleur was mad at herself for not putting in more effort to find out about the threat against her mate.Even the Laaskos had taken steps to protect Hermione."I'm a bad mate.I didn't even offer Hermione protection when we first found out."

"You're not a bad mate.You are just under a lot of stress.If this was a simple courtship you wouldn't have to worry about such things but with Hermione being who she is has made it so your grandmother is directing how your interactions have been.If it was left up to you I'm sure you would have been planning dates and romantic dinners.The problem is it isn't up to you because your grandmother is more focused on the flock instead of focused on the fact that you have begun a courtship."Greta told her.

Fleur hated that her friend was right.If it was up to Fleur she would have been asking Hermione to take walks and have private outings.Then she would talk to Hermione about her favorite books and what she wanted to do in the future. She would have started off asking about the small things like favorite colors and if she liked the snow.Instead she was skipping the important steps and spending her time interrogating Hermione being extremely forward with her questions."I need to step back and reevaluate how my courtship will go."

"I know it wouldn't be good to go against your grandmother but Fleur from the way you have been talking you haven't been trying to form a romantic relationship with your mate, you are trying to form a political alliance.I know it's ingrained in you to put the clan first but this is your soul's other half.The one person that fate chose for you.You need to ask yourself what you want your relationship to be based on.Do you want to have a relationship based on love or one based on politics."Natalie knew that it was hard for Fleur but she didn't want her friend to regret how she treated Hermione when all was said and done.

"She's right Fleur."Matilda agreed."Yes, it's great that Hermione can help the flock so much but this is your mate we are talking about.You need to be selfish."

"I just don't want to let the clan down."Fleur admitted.

"Choosing to focus on your courtship with your mate could never let the clan down. We all want you to be happy.Right now we can tell you aren't because instead of annoying all of us with all your excess gushing about how wonderful your mate is all you have been telling us is what your grandmother wants from her and how you plan on getting the information.I bet you haven't even gotten her a gift yet."Natalie said.

Fleur felt herself blush."I haven't and she even gave me flowers."

"Plus she enchanted all of our robes."Greta reminded her.

"And got you a meeting with the woman taking the ministry seat and if you think about it she got your grandmother an introduction to the Laasko elder.Something she has been trying to do for decades."Matilda added.

"And I have given her nothing in return."Fleur hated that her friends were right."She even gave her VIP box for the World Cup."

"She what?"Greta asked.

"I didn't get to tell you guys because we all went to bed after the party.Hermione offered me the VIP box she got in an investment deal to the quidditch World Cup.I have it for the whole week."Fleur told them.

"Oh my god!That is amazing."Matilda squealed in excitement.

"Doesn't the box come with lodging?"Natalie asked.

Fleur nodded."Yes, each box gets their own cabin to stay at so they don't have to camp out with everyone else."

"And she just gave it you?"Greta couldn't believe it.A VIP box was extremely valuable.

"We were talking about hobbies and I brought up our quidditch league and she asked if I liked to watch the games.I told her yes and she mentioned that she had bought an estate that included the VIP box and bunch of other tickets and boxes to different leagues.I didn't ask for them but she offered any I wanted saying that if I didn't take them they would go to waste.She is getting me a list of what she has so I can pick which games to go to."Fleur told them.

"Jesus Fleur!You need to do something for the girl."Natalie couldn't believe Fleur had been so passive.Hermione was doing and offering more than she should have without getting anything in return.

"I know. I just don't know what to do."That was the problem Fleur was had never had to court someone before.

"What does Hermione like to do?"Matilda asked.

"She spends most of her time working but she did mention she likes to read."Fleur said.

"Maybe you could give her a book then."Greta suggested.

"I could send a letter to my mother asking her to send something from our personal library."Fleur knew her mother would pick out something appropriate."Maybe something about our flock's history."

"What are you going to do other than the book?"Natalie didn't think just a book would be enough for Fleur to win Hermione's affection.

"I can't really ask her out on a date before I get permission from the Laasko elder."Fleur's hands were somewhat tied with Hermione having guards with her as she knew any interaction she had with her mate would be relayed back to the Laasko matriarch.

"That doesn't mean you can't ask her to spend time with you as a friend."Greta said.

"I'll have to think about different things we could.She is coming to training on Tuesday morning for dueling practice."Fleur was excited to see Hermione's skill.

"I'm both terrified and excited by the prospect of training with her."Matilda knew that Hermione was going to be a challenging opponent and looked forward to learning from the girl.

"I wish Madame Maxine would let us join you."Natalie would love the chance to learn from Hermione.She knew the girl was probably very skilled.

"Speaking of Madame Maxine I need to go to bed.I have an early morning ahead of us."Fleur said.

"Ugh."Matilda groaned."Don't remind me."

"We'll see you at breakfast."Greta waved over her shoulder as she followed the pair out of the room.

"Goodnight."Fleur called out before the door shut.Taking her time to change into her bedclothes Fleur thought about the day.It was nice spending time with Hermione even if they weren't alone.Seeing a werewolf cured in person was extraordinary and watching as the man sobbed like a child as he hugged Hermione in thanks after the potion finished working made Fleur proud knowing it was her mate that made it possible.Thinking of Hermione's achievements brought her thoughts to the conversation she just had with her friends.She knew they were right and she hadn't been treating Hermione as a mate but as a political ally.The problem she had was how to go about letting her grandmother know that she wasn't going to push Hermione into giving help to the flock.She had already done quite a bit and the Delacours had given nothing in return.It was somewhat embarrassing to Fleur that Hermione wasn't even being treated with the same respect an ally of the clan usually got.Her grandmother just treated it as if Hermione was obligated to help them because she was Fleur's mate.That would have to change.Fleur wasn't going to put up with her mate being used by her own flock.How to go about telling her grandmother that was a problem but Fleur hoped that her mothers would help if not then Fleur wasn't sure what would happen.