Chapter Four: Je Meurs

But not since you left have the waves come
the bar is dead and the rocket's rain is

Keeping you wet in your deathbed
so high on the waves you made for us
and not since you left have the waves come

... Have the waves come...

-Deftones 'Anniversary Of An Uninteresting Event"

"Right this way Mrs. Weasley"

"Delacour" she replied automatically.

"Ah…right, Ms. Delacour" he said, correcting himself with a bit of confusion he escorted them towards their living quarters.

"Maman? Y at-il quelque chose de l'affaire?"

"Je vais bien ma chèri" Nothing was wrong, everything would be fine, and she'd make sure of that. The war effected all of them, some more than others. Some died, some changed for better or for worse. But everyone is hiding behind a mask of lies trying to get past each day, trying to leave it in the past. Everyone was living for someone else.

Fleur was living for her daughter, Victoire, the only thing in her life that didn't make her feel like time was tearing her apart from the inside. Bill had died not long after Hermione had died on their couch, not long after Bill had become unstable from his lycanthropy.

It happened such a long time ago, but everything was moving too quickly for Fleur to keep up. No one stopped to breathe anymore, because even breathing was too painful.

"Harry? We'll be alright won't we?" he turned to face his red-headed friend, who mirrored his solemn expression with ease. It felt odd to both of them being here in Hogwarts yet again, but this time not being in the presence of a bushy haired girl who had her nose stuck in some old dusty book or other.

"Of course we will, I mean yeah, it's going to be tough but I doubt 'Mione would want us moping about"

"Yeah, she'd probably jump up from her grave and give us a good beating if she found out we're slacking off school" they both shared a weak laugh, unaware of the fact that the person in question was not far behind. They continued walking in silence, both reminiscing the times they didn't want to let go of. If only she could see them now they thought.

"Peeves?! PEEVES?! Where has the confounded midget gotten to?"

Hermione was not having a good day, one reason as to why would be the absence of a certain mischief maker. Then she heard a laugh, a laugh which resembled that of a hyena's, following that laughter she found herself in an unfamiliar room.

"My god, almost everything in here is black, how depressing" to Hermione it seemed like the perfect quarters for Snape if he still lived.

"Qui vous êtes?" a tiny voice asked her, Hermione stiffened and turned around to come face to face with a familiar pair of piercing blue eyes. If Hermione wasn't dead already and if look could kill….well. Go figure.

But it wasn't her and a part of the once proud Gryffindor felt disappointed but relieved at the same time. She also wasn't surprised that the child could see her, children tended to be more open-minded than adults. Certain fairies could only be seen by children too.

"Salut, pouvez-vous parler anglais?" Hermione asked as she smiled gently down at the miniature carbon copy of Fleur. It almost unnerved her how shockingly alike in physical appearance they were; even their presence was all too similar.

The little girl nodded eagerly, "Oui, but not very well" and just like that the child went back to frowning up at her. "But you still 'ave not answered my question, who are you?"

Hermione gave it some thought before answering, because even she didn't know who she was anymore, she was no longer Hermione Granger, she was merely the memory of her. A ghost in every way. A mockery of what Hermione could have been.

"I'm an old friend of your mothers" she said after much thought. The girl looked skeptical and unsatisfied with her answer. She wanted to know more, but before she could question any further her mother called.

"Victoire, où vous êtes?"

"Je suis là maman"

This should have been a signal for her to leave, but the thought of seeing Fleur again made her unable to move, it made her feel excited, alive.

"There you are mon trèsor" Her (practically non-existent) breath was caught in her throat when Fleur entered the room and seemed to be staring right at her and only let go of it when she thought that it wasn't her that the blonde beauty was looking at.

"Maman?"

"Yes my love?"

"Did you know 'Ermione Granger?"

So many thoughts were running through Hermione's head at that moment and not one of them made sense to her. But her guts told her she should leave, no, they were screaming at her.

Fleur visibly stiffened at the mention of the brunette's name, but relaxed moments after before answering in hushed tones.

"Oui...but that was a very long time ago"

Right now that that chapter's over and done with onto the drama!!! (Hopefully) much thanks to your reviews!