Hey guys, I am back with a new chapter! This one is sort of a build up to the next chapter, which I am excited to write, and once you read this, you will understand why. A lot of people are syaing that Hermione is in denial. Yes, yes, she is in super denial, but the fun part is her getting out of it ;) So, the usual, I hope you like it, please review, because I love those reviews... *Wink, wink*.

Now, please enjoy. ~ Joyful Trouble

This last week has consisted of two things: The First Task, and Fleur.

Everywhere I went, it seemed, people were talking about the beginning of the tournament. It was now commonly known that the first task is to be dragons. It was hard to hide the large dragons when they first came, since they're loud… and breathe fire. They weren't that discreet.

And then there was Fleur. I was having trouble concentrating in my classes, because my thoughts were filled with Fleur. I was constantly seeing her more and more in the hallways. I couldn't help but stare at her most of the time, especially during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Heck, even when I am dreaming, my subconscious can't help but think about Fleur. It was crazy. Now I understand why some people say it sucks to have a crush on someone, it is defiantly tiring.

Especially the homework. I usually, no, I always have my homework done early, so I don't need to stress over getting it done, I get more free time, and it is just easier that way.

Now, though, out of the two assignments I have gotten this week, I have been slacking on them. Slacking! All because I couldn't get a certain blue eyed beauty out of my head.

That is why I am now in the library, working on my potions assignment that is due tomorrow. Tomorrow! This is absurd. I need to get this done, and get everything back on track once again. I let out a breath, relaxing, and begin to write once more.

It was only a few minutes later that I was interrupted. Oh, my luck…

"'Ello." I heard above me. I look up to see a beautiful smile, and bright eyes staring at me. I couldn't even think about getting angry at the interruption, because, well, it was her that was interrupting. My heart beat sped rapidly, my mouth went dry, and I stared at the sight. Fleur (at what was probably an awkward few minutes) tilted her head in question, looking at me expectantly. My wolf started to act then, and was trying to bark commands for me to do something, anything really, instead of simply doing nothing. I was finding doing anything other than staring was rather difficult at the moment, but I managed a simple response,

"Hey." It was slightly breathless, but I couldn't help it.

Her smile was back, and she laughed. Now it was my turn to look at her questioningly. It was a good and logical response to say 'hey' after 'hello', was it not? Oh course it is! Wow, Fleur is making me question my intelligence; that was a first in my books.

"Oui, 'ello. Zo, may I?"

"May you what?" I asked, now more confused, and again questioning my intelligence. She simply laughed again at the response.

"May I zit down? Or iz this zeat taken?"

Oh,

"OH! Yeah, I mean, of course you can sit there. Not taken." She had asked me a question. Geez, Hermione, get a grip on yourself.

It seems since the big reveal of the whole mate thing, my actions towards Fleur have gotten worse, and so has my wolf. I am reading the signs, I am pretty sure I know who it is, can it just stop now?

Well of course not.

What was worse, was that it was never going to happen. The whole, mate and relationship and everything perfect. It wasn't going to happen. Because the person my wolf decided to pick as a mate was so far out of reach that even the thought of trying was absurd. It was the sad truth, but I wouldn't let that falter me; to hold me back, at least for now. Because right now there was beauty itself, talking to her of all people, and I would be stupid if I didn't accept her presence.

Fleur sat down, elegant as always.

"What are you doing?" Fleur asked, quickly looking at the parchment in front of me. I look down at my work, and remember why I was in the library in the first place, my stupid assignment. I scowl at my paper, and force down a growl that threatened to come forth as well.

"Working on my Potions assignment. We had to pick a potion and write a foot about it."

"What potion did you pick?"

I blushed, "Wolfsbane potion." As soon as the words left my mouth, I instantly regretted it. Not the words, the stupid idea of picking something so close to werewolves. How more obvious could I be?

"You really do 'ave a zing for werewolves, don't you?" Fleur asked, all smiles. I didn't even know I was capable of blushing even more, but I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks, and I swear my face must be beet red.

"I did not mean to 'mbarrass you," Fleur said, sounding completely honest, "I 'ave a strong obsession with 'ybrids. Probably because I am one myself, but zat is my excuse."

My excuse is that I am a werewolf, but I couldn't say that out loud. There were a lot of things I couldn't say out loud, and some I don't want to think of; ever. Like the whole werewolf mating business I learned about from her book. Oh yeah, the book!

"I just remembered," I said, holding up a finger to indicating to wait. I grabbed the green book from my bag and set it in front of Fleur, "I believe this is yours. You dropped it when we… bumped into each other." I explained, and she smiled with such radiance, my insides melted to goo. I completely forgot what was going on in that moment, just her smile, pale lips, white teeth…

"'Ermione? Are you okay?" That snapped me out of my thought quickly.

"OUI!" I exclaimed, causing a few heads to turn in our direction. "I mean, yes, which is what oui means. Which you already knew that, since you're French…" My sentence ended up a barely audible mumble. Fleur seemed to find it funny, luckily, and simply laughed at my outburst.

"Zank you for my book back." Fleur says, and that is the only acknowledgment of the book now in front of her.

"You're welcome, but if I may ask, why do you have the book in the first place?" The question seems to make Fleur falter a bit, a slight panic in her eyes, and I wonder if I overstepped any boundaries with it. Her smile is quickly back up though, almost as if that little moment never happened.

"Ze first task, I 'eard it haz dragons in it. Thought I might do zome research." Something didn't add up with her explanation, but I couldn't think of what it could be at the moment. So I just nodded in answer.

At the little break of conversation, I finally noticed how many people were staring at them. Out of the about twenty students, half were looking at us. Some with jealously, others anger, probably because of their jealousy. But jealous of what? Why would they be jealous? And when I looked back at Fleur, her straight blonde locks, eyes that looked like the sea lived within them, I instantly knew. They were jealous of me, because I was getting all of Fleur's attention. Why was I getting Fleur's attention?

"Fleur, may I ask you another question?"

"Other than ze one you just did? Of course." She smiled, and so did I.

"Why are you talking to me?"

"Am I not allowed to talk to you?" Fleur responded without hesitation.

"You are. It's just, why me? I don't see you talking to any other Hogwarts students but me, why is that?"

Fleur seems to contemplate her answer, her tongue sticking out slightly, and her eyes going off into space. This lasted for a minute, until she finally spoke.

"A few reasons, I guess. Zome I cannot zay, yet. Zough, let's just zay, I zimply wish to be friends." I look at her in awe. Not because of the mysterious answer at the beginning. No, it was the fact that Fleur Delacour, wanted to be friends with her!

"You want to be friends with me?" Fleur nods, "Why?"

"Well, you are one of ze first people who 'aven't tried to get in my pants. And you zeem very nice. More nice zen other people in zis school." Fleur replied, and I blushed once more. I couldn't get the 'get in my pants' out of my head. "But to be 'onest, do I need a reason?"

"Well, no-"

"Now, it iz my turn to question, non?" Fleur says with a smile, and mine falters a bit, what is she going to ask me? "Why are you always in ze library?"

I instantly let out the breath I didn't even know I was holding. That question I could answer.

"This is my happy place. The smells and the quite; the calm atmosphere, it is just… relaxing." I say, relaxing as I taking in the smells of ink and paper, as well as Fleur's smell of lemon and vanilla. Fleur smiled at the answer. "I also love to read, which helps."

Fleur then looked around the library, as if inspecting to see if it was acceptable. She looked back at me with a small smile, obviously the library was okay.

"Zo, what iz your favorite colour?" Fleur asked, with now a slight, nervous sound laced I her voice.

I was slightly taken aback by the random question, but answered, "Ah, Blue. Why do you want to know?"

"Isn't that what friends do? Know everyzing about each other?" Fleur was now looking down at her lap, and even without my wolf senses, I knew that something was wrong. That this somehow, for some reason, was a touchy subject. She looked like such a child in that moment. Fleur always had such a dominating, strong persona that she put on, and in that moment, even though how sad it was, I was glad to see a part of Fleur that I believe not many get to see.

"Will you tell me later?" I asked, and her eyes shot up from her lap, and stared right into mine. Her eyes were full of sadness, but also relief. Fleur understood what I meant, nodding and mumbling a quick 'maybe'.

"Now, what is your favorite colour?" Fleur's eyes showed more relief, glad for the change. She was back to herself again, lacing her fingers together and resting them on the table in front of her.

"Yellow. But not just ordinary yellow, more of an amber. It reminds me of fire, zo beautiful and zo powerful, all at once." Fleur smiled, once again, and I couldn't help but smile back. Her smiles were contagious, and I was glad that she chose me to be her friend. I felt pretty happy with myself, especially knowing the number of Hogwarts students that are jealous of me because of this. Me, friends with none other than Fleur Delacour, a triwaizard champion, and out of the few minutes, I was already loving it. Even if I know we can't be anything more, it is still amazing.

"Hey, I got an idea," I say, excited with the idea, "Next weekend the school is going to Hogsmead. Do you want to come with me?" I ask, my voice sounding confident, but on the inside I was a nervous wreck. Why? I don't know, all it was, was a simple question.

Fleur looked at me with confused features on her face. "Why?" She asked, seriously, and I knew the same touchy subject from early was being stirred up again. I want to know what was troubling her, but I don't want to push her.

"Well, friends usually hang out, and why not hang out at a place that has amazing shops? There is The Three Broomsticks, and they have the best Butterbeer you'll ever taste."

Fleur didn't reply, she just gave a shy smile and looked down at her entwined hands. She looked so small and adorable. It was a beautiful sight, and my wolf was agreeing.

"Come on, it will be fun. Also, it's just before the first task, so it will relive you of some of the stress I know you're feeling, and you can't deny it." Fleur still had a shy smile on her face, but she looked up from her hands to look at me, to search my eyes. In that small moment I felt so completely open. Like an open book, with pages full of my deepest secrets, and Fleur was reading them all. It was such an intense moment, that I almost missed the quite 'Sure' that came from Fleur. I smiled at her, and her warmth filled smile was back, and I knew whatever was troubling her was gone for now.

"It does zound like fun." She replied, "Now, I must go. I have a competition to study for, non? And I believe it will be better to do zo in a place wiz less people staring." And sure enough, a few of the guys in the library were openly staring at Fleur, the others were stealing glances rather constantly. Fleur grabbed her bag, her book, and stood up.

"Well, I will see you on Saturday. Meet in the main hall?" I asked.

"Oui, I will zee you zen." Fleur left, elegantly as always, perfect as always. I looked around the library and noticed everyone went back to their work, obviously no longer distracted by Fleur. I wonder why that was happening to so many people, and made a mental note to look that up later. I looked down at my potions homework, and forced myself to continue to work on it. But I couldn't help but think, maybe this wasn't such a bad week after all.

It wasn't until she left, and after a little bit of working, that I finally understood why Fleur's explanation, towards why she had the book, didn't make any sense. When Fleur dropped the book, and I picked it up, it was days before anyone knew when the first task was going to be. Let alone there would be dragons. But Fleur had said the book was for research on the dragons. So that means that Fleur had lied.

But why?

So the next chapter is going to be them at Hogsmead, I haven't started to write it yet, but I have a feeling it is going to be a long chapter, which is always a good thing. And we will learn a little bit about our good 'ol Fleur. See you next chapter.