AN: Please review thanks
Chapter 25 A Role Reversal
Hermione stepped into the living room and glass crunched under her feet. Ginny was sitting on the floor at the other end of the room, swigging from a bottle of fire whiskey. She grabbed an ornament off a nearby shelf and hurled it in Hermione's direction. With a casual flick of her wand Hermione sent the ornament crashing into a wall away from both of them.
"I am not really sure but I think maybe you are upset." Hermione said tensely trying to use humour to lighten the mood. Ginny grabbed another ornament and hurled it at her; Hermione flicked her wand again and sent it off in the same direction as the previous one. Hermione risked a glance back and then edged back towards the door, she stepped out the door and raised an eyebrow in Luna's direction.
Luna shook her head "I got the same response from her," she explained not unapologetically.
Fleur pushed between the two and took the stairs down to the kitchen two at a time. Moments later Fleur reappeared with a second bottle of fire whiskey and two glasses.
"Are you nuts?" Hermione asked incredulously, "You can't take more alcohol or glass in there!" She stood in front of the door blocking Fleur's path as she protested.
Fleur smiled at her, "She needs ze glass and ze fire whiskey iz for me!" Fleur told her matter of factly before reaching behind Hermione and pushing the door open, waiting for Hermione to get out of the way. Fleur held the glasses out and Luna took them from her, holding them so that Fleur could pour. Fleur took the glasses off of Luna and raised an eyebrow in Hermione's direction expectantly.
Hermione sighed and stepped aside but not without protest, "I really think that this is the bad idea."
Fleur flashed a grin at Hermione, then stepped into the living room, she walked over to where Ginny was sitting and waved one of the glasses in front of her. Ginny snatched the glass from Fleur who smirked at Ginny then sat down next to her.
Hermione shook her head and stared at Luna in a amazement, Luna smiled and pulled the door closed, "I think Fleur can sort this one out by herself," she said as she winked at Hermione and headed to her room. Hermione stood in the hallway for a moment staring after Luna then looked to the door that Ginny and Fleur were behind. Shaking her head, Hermione went down the stairs to the kitchen, brewed some coffee and waited.
Hermione sat bolt upright as she was jerked awake, by a strange sensation on the back of her neck. She turned around to see a very drunk Ginny and an equally drunk Fleur, each brandishing an empty fire whiskey bottle. Hermione wiped her face and realised that she must have fallen asleep sitting at the kitchen table, the sensation that had woke her up was Fleur, stroking her finger up her neck.
"We 'ave run out of ze fire whiskey," Fleur slurred grinning.
Hermione turned and looked at Ginny, she was a mess. Hermione raised an eyebrow in Ginny's direction, "Are we done throwing things?" she asked her red haired friend.
Ginny slumped down at the table, "Piss off." She muttered in Hermione's direction as Fleur stumbled into the countertop. Hermione got to her feet went over to the sink and drew three glasses of water, walking over to the table, and placed a glass loudly in front of Ginny, and one in front of Fleur.
Hermione sat back down, "DRINK! Both of you will thank me in the morning." She told them in the best maternal voice she could muster then pointing at Fleur, "Sit down Fleur." The blonde complied instantly and both inebriated witches grabbed their glasses of water and started to drink. Hermione stayed silent until both of them had drank their full glasses and then she got up and refilled them, "Again," she instructed and again both of them complied.
"Right Ginerva, today was hard, you got a nasty shock which is why your behaviour this evening will be excused. As a one off, but I swear on Dumbledore's beard beads, I will kick your ass if you do this again." Hermione had maintained her maternal tone as she lectured.
Ginny looked up at Hermione through her lashes and Hermione instantly put her hands up, "Ginerva Molly Weasley, those eyes do not work on me," Hermione said sternly and Ginny blinked, certain that her mother's voice had just come out of her best friend's mouth.
"Sorry Hermione." Ginny apologised as she fidgeted with her fingers. Hermione's tone and the water had the sobering affect that Hermione had hoped for. She nodded at her friend signalling that she accepted the apology.
Hermione reached over and grabbed Ginny's hands, "We will rescue Harry," she told her best friend. She studied Ginny's face, the red head was staring at her fingers which she was fidgeting with. Hermione reached over and raised Ginny's chin up forcing her to make eye contact, "Ginny, I swear it. We will get him back, I have a plan."
Ginny smiled at Hermione, "At least you stopped calling me Ginerva," she remarked. Hermione couldn't help but laugh, Ginny never did like it when her full name was used.
"Yes well, I am still mad at this nonsense, but you will hear more about it in the morning, when it will have a little bit more of an impact." Hermione told her.
Ginny stumbled to her feet, "You have a plan? I mean we will get him back." She asked suspiciously.
Hermione nodded, "I swear it." She reassured her friend, "Now go up to bed, Luna is going to watch over you." She instructed, Ginny smiled and then headed out the door.
Hermione turned to Fleur, whose head was resting on her arms on the table top, she studied her for a moment then decided a course of action. She got to her feet, "You and I have a living room to clean," Fleur groaned and forced herself to her feet and trailed behind Hermione, who turned to check on her, "You will want the water," she called back to Fleur as she led the way up to the living room. Fleur turned and grabbed the glass of water and followed Hermione.
Hermione stood and surveyed the damage that her best friend had done to the living room all in all, with its array of broken things, clutter and general unruly Mess it greatly resembled the room of requirement, though only a fraction of the size. Hermione, who had been cleaning up after Ginny and her destructive rampages of rage for 5 years now, knew that with a simple flick of her wand and a fairly basic incantation she could have the room right itself in a matter of mere moments, but there would be no fun in that. She tossed a towel at Fleur and it landed across her face, temporarily disorienting her, when she removed the towel she could see that Hermione was indicating a puddle of fire whiskey and Fleur got down on her knees and began to mop up the spillage.
Hermione smiled to herself and decided that she did not want to push her luck too much so while Fleur was cleaning up the mess she had made with the Fire Whiskey Hermione made a quick flick of her wand and the rest of the room righted itself. She sat on the couch with a satisfied smile and giggled to herself as she admired Fleur's rear end. Upon hearing the giggling, Fleur turned to look at Hermione, Fleur's eyes had that slight glazed look that a person gets when they have had one or two too many but s devilish grin spread across her face as she crawled over to Hermione and joined her on the couch.
In what Hermione was certain Fleur thought was a very suave move, Fleur launched herself at Hermione, frantically trying to remove the stunned witch's shirt as she thrust her tongue between Hermione's barely parted lips. Sighing, Hermione delicately held Fleur's hands and pulled her lips away from the veela's. On the one hand it was thrilling for Hermione to have Fleur literally throw herself at her, but on the other hand there was something about it that just didn't feel right. It had been a very long and difficult day for both of them and Fleur was not only under the influence of a large quantity of Fire Whiskey, but also a great deal of emotional strain. Hermione was terrified that Fleur had been simply 'caught up in the moment' or had transferred her feelings for Bill onto her out of some sort of desperation. Mostly though she was terrified that Fleur would wake up tomorrow morning and regret the entire sorry day, including the kiss the two had shared.
"'Ermione, I want you lips 'ere." Fleur said in a sing song voice that told of exactly how much Fleur had drank. She was seductively gesturing to her own lips and it was all Hermione could do to hold herself back, but she was determined that she would do the right thing in this situation.
Silently Hermione got to her feet and held her hand out to Fleur, the blonde smirked, then winked at Hermione as she slipped her hand into the offered one and playfully giggled as she followed Hermione up to their room. Hermione silently turned down the blankets on the bed and then turned to Fleur. As she turned she was flung back onto the bed and suddenly Fleur was on top of her, kissing her passionately. Hermione stayed there for a long time, enjoying the attentions of the woman she had secretly loved, enjoying the electricity that passed between the two witches as their lips wordlessly expressed their feelings for them.
Hermione groaned a little and her eyes fluttered shut as Fleur moved her lips from Hermione's mouth down her neck, she raised her hands and laced her fingers between beautiful strands of golden hair as Fleur ground her pelvis into Hermione's and nibbled at her neck driving Hermione's hormones wild. Fleur reached down with her own hands and started to unbutton Hermione's jeans, as Fleur's hand slid down Hermione's stomach and into the waistband of her pants Hermione's closed eyes shot open. Hermione leaned forward and kissed Fleur tenderly on the cheek and she gently removed the hand from her pants. Getting up from the bed she felt, rather than heard, Fleur groan of discontent as she pulled away from her, however before Hermione could addressing the obvious unhappiness Fleur let out a snore, having passed out face down on the bed in a sort of starfish style.
Hermione smiled, finding the whole absurd scenario more than a little amusing, she leaned over and used all of her remaining energy to slide Fleur over the bed a little. Hermione then slid off her jeans and climbed into the bed. Though in a deep, Fire Whiskey induced sleep, Fleur seemed to sense Hermione climbing into the bed and instantly turned over, possessively throwing an arm and a leg over Hermione's body and then pulling her closer to her, as though it were a pillow she was hugging as opposed to a person. Hermione was even more amused by this as Fleur's head found her shoulder and, now that she had found comfort she settled into a steady sleep.
Hermione reached an arm around and lightly stroked the arm Fleur had slung across her as she pondered the evening, by all accounts she imagined that had anyone else got drunk with an angry friend and helped them trash a room of the house that she would have been enraged. As it was Hermione was delighted with the situation, as she fell asleep her cheek resting against the top of Fleur's head, safely ensconced in Fleur's arms, Hermione silently thanked whichever merciful God it was that had given her the patience and love that she had for Fleur.
When Hermione awoke the next morning the first thing that she noticed was that Fleur was not in the bed with her. She took a moment to fully wake up and then got up from the bed, Hermione noticed that the door to the en suite was slightly ajar and wandered over to listen, something in her gut was telling her that something was wrong. As she edged over to the door Hermione could hear the shower running, but over the top of the running water there was something else, sobbing?
Hermione slipped into the bathroom and saw through the frosted glass that Fleur was in fact sobbing in the shower. Hermione sighed then sat down on the lid of the toilet, she was uncertain how Fleur would take this intrusion on her private moment.
Hermione cleared her throat, "Fleur?" she called out tentatively, when she got no response she considered the situation, taking her attraction out of the matter they were close friend who had not only seen each other naked before but had showered together, her friend, who she cared about deeply, was in the shower upset, logic dictated that she go in the shower and offer some comfort. Hermione rolled her eyes at the way she manipulated logic in order to make it 'ok' for her to get into the shower with Fleur, then began peeling her clothes off.
"Fleur?" she called out again as she opened the shower door and slipped in behind the upset witch. Fleur turned to her and Hermione saw that she must have been crying for some time, her face was puffy and red, her eyes red rimmed and bloodshot, though Hermione was certain that last night's dabble with Fire Whiskey might have been a contributing factor to this as well. Fleur looked mournful through the spray of steaming hot water and Hermione thought that her own heart might break at the sight. She cupped Fleur's face in her hands and forced her to look at her, in Fleur's eyes Hermione could see the turmoil her friend was in. The two stood there letting the water wash over them, Hermione holding Fleur's face for a long time.
Fleur took a deep breath, "Forgive me 'Ermione," she asked as the last tear slipped from her right eye.
"Whatever for Fleur?" Hermione replied, genuinely not knowing why Fleur was apologising.
Fleur sighed, "I am normally much more in control of my emotions zan zis," she began explaining, "I am stronger zan zis. Yesterday made me feel wretched, I love Bill I never wanted to 'urt 'im and now 'e must zink I am a terrible person." The emotion behind the words continued to break Hermione's heart as they two women stood in the shower talking. "I 'ave gone from asking my 'usband for a divorce to throwing myself at you in ze space of a day, You must zink I am a wretch!" she finished her emotion giving way to frustration.
Hermione smiled, "You did not throw yourself at me, WE kissed," she told her knowing that Fleur did not mean the moment in the living room but the kiss instead, "and I loved every moment of it. You are the most beautiful person I have ever met with the kindest heart and the strongest resolve. So you have had a couple of weak moments over the last 24 hours but understandably so. You tried to make it work with Bill but now you are following your heart and I am so proud of you for that, be true to yourself Fleur, and the rest will fall into place." As she finished Hermione leaned up and gently kissed her cheek.
Fleur smiled at her, "You zink I am beautiful?" she asked.
"Merlin yes," Hermione answered almost automatically then continued, "How could you not, you have this amazing hair, beautiful blue eyes that go on like the ocean and your figure..." Hermione started to blush as Fleur smiled at her.
"Oui? Tell me about my figure?" Fleur asked teasingly, Hermione burst out laughing and opened the shower door.
"Oh by the way," Hermione turned back to Fleur as she stepped out of the shower, "You do remember actually throwing yourself at me last night right?" she quipped as she cast a quick drying spell on herself. Fleur stared after her in confusion as she tried to get her brain to work and remember the events of the previous night. Hermione smiled at the confusion and shut the shower door satisfied to get the reaction she had.
Hermione left Fleur to shower and went down to the kitchen, smiling as she passed Ginny and Luna's room and heard Ginny's snores, she went down to the kitchen and began to brew a hangover potion as she knew that Ginny would need it and didn't think it would do Fleur any harm either.