Hermione held Fleur in her arms as they laid on the bed while Fleur processed what Hermione had just told her about the search for Voldemort's Horcruxes. Hermione had explained to her that two of them had already been destroyed, the ring and the book, and that when she had left they were searching for a specific locket that belonged to one of the founders of Hogwarts, Salazar Slytherin. Fleur was annoyed at Dumbledore for placing such responsibility on Harry and his friends to find these magical items; they were children for Merlin's sake.

"'Ow did zis 'appen?" whispered Fleur as she brushed her fingers delicately across the gauze taped around Hermione. The brunette glanced down briefly at her side before sighing to herself.

"We managed to get information out of Mundungus about the whereabouts of the next Horcrux. A woman called Dolores Umbridge bought it off of Mundungus a while back; the only problem was she works inside the Ministry itself. We had taken polyjuice potion and snuck into the Ministry to get it..." Hermione winced as she remembered the statue located in the centre of the Ministry and a familiar anger bubbled within her at the notion that Muggles were beneath Wizards.

"'Ermione?" the brunette pushed down her anger and offered Fleur a small smile before continuing with her explanation.

"...under the disguise of Ministry employees we found ourselves inside the Wizengamot with Umbridge questioning a Muggle-born Ministry employee, the locket was around her neck. Harry stunned Dolores and I stole the locket from her before we ran back to the exit..." Just thinking about the next part to her story made Hermione's side ache.

"...The only problem was that we were being chased by Death Eaters. Spells were flying at us from all directions but before I could follow Harry and Ron back to Grimmauld Dolohov had grabbed a hold of me. I couldn't lead him to Harry and Ron so I chose to go to a forest my parents took me to once in Suffolk..." breathing deeply Hermione watched Fleur's reaction, carefully judging whether or not to tell her the whole truth or to leave out a few bits that would worry her. Thinking better of it Hermione opted to tell Fleur the truth.

"...We duelled until Dolohov managed to hit me with the Sectumsempra curse. I was lucky. If I hadn't summoned a deflective shield then...anyway the curse caught my side because I wasn't quick enough. Out of desperation I apparated here thinking it was empty...the rest you know"

Fleur was silent for a few moments as Hermione waited for her to say something. The Veela inside Fleur was demanding that she defend her mate and kill the wretched man that was Dolohov, it bayed for his blood.

Hermione was surprised when Fleur's soft lips pressed against her own. Slowly the French Veela pushed Hermione onto her back, never once breaking the kiss as she came to hover above the brunette. Closing her eyes Hermione returned the kiss. To her disappointment Fleur pulled away first leaving Hermione to look up at her in confusion.

"You are not to leave me again 'Ermione Granger ozerwise ze Death Eaters will be ze least of your problems" Hermione smiled up at Fleur sincerely.

"I'm not going anywhere" she promised before pulling Fleur back down onto her soft lips. Unfortunately, fate was very cruel to them as a knocking sound echoed through the wooden door. Hermione stifled a giggle as Fleur growled under her breath in annoyance.

"Oui?" called out Fleur, not bothering to hide her annoyance at the interruption.

"Tonks and Remus are here to interrogate Dolohov. We need you there as a precaution" Bill's voice informed the French witch. Hermione watched in amusement as Fleur frowned in aggravation before reluctantly moving away from Hermione. The brunette struggled to lift herself as her side throbbed painfully.

"I'll be done in a moment" stated Fleur as she sat back on the side of the bed and watched Hermione with concern.

"Don't suppose you could find me a shirt Fleur?" asked Hermione as she tried to keep her face void of any pain her side was causing her. The French Veela looked up at a wardrobe nearest to them before getting up from the bed. While Fleur's back was turned Hermione grasped onto her side as she pushed herself to sit on the edge of the bed.

Fleur turned around with a long sleeved top in her hands. She looked at Hermione and frowned at seeing her in pain but she decided that it was better not to point out that Hermione was doing a poor job of hiding how much pain she was in. Personally, Fleur wished that Hermione would stay in bed and rest but when Hermione was determined there was no stopping her. Until it got to a point where she was doing far more harm than good Fleur resigned herself to simply waiting.

Sitting down next to her, Fleur handed Hermione the top and leaned forward to brush her lips against Hermione's cheek. It made her heart flutter in her chest when Hermione caught Fleur's lips with her own. Smiling as she pulled away, Hermione slowly put the top on, being ever mindful of her side.

"Come on we should go" stated Hermione as she stood up and offered Fleur her hand. Fleur took her hand as she stood up but refused to release it as they travelled down to the others until they entered the kitchen area.

"Hermione?" gasped Tonks in shock as she recognised the familiar bushy brown hair. It was the only thing that could possibly link the young woman in front of her to the intelligent Gryffindor she had met nearly two years ago. Her concern peaked to new levels as she observed the teen in front of her, she looked ill.

Remus smiled at the two young women from where he stood in front of Dolohov with his wand pointed at the Death Eater who was currently trapped in an Incarcerous spell. He was certainly less obvious about his concern for Hermione's drastic change of health than his wife.

"We've slipped Verictaserum down his throat so now he'll sing like a canary" explained Bill from where he was perched against one of the kitchen's counters with his wand at the ready. Hermione and Fleur nodded in understanding.

"What is the Dark Lord planning Dolohov? What's his next move?" demanded Remus coldly. Dolohov glared angrily up at Remus from where he was bound to a simply kitchen chair. Frighteningly, the anger evaporated from him and was replaced with an amused expression.

"The others are going to attack the Hogwarts Express when it leaves with all of the blood traitor's children and muggle borns. They're going to kill them all to teach their parents a lesson and give those Mudbloods what they deserve" the atmosphere dropped at least ten degrees with this bit of information.

"Shit Remus the train leaves in a few hours! Ginny's gonna be on it" cried out Bill in a panic as he stood to attention. Remus looked at Bill before glaring at Dolohov.

"How many Death Eaters will be there?" demanded Remus hotly. Dolohov merely smiled in a deranged manner at him.

"Seven" he answered.

"Who?" Dolohov looked thoughtful for a moment before he answered Remus.

"Bellatrix, Rudolphus, Rabastan, Greyback, Yaxley and the Carrows"

Shit.