"You can do this."Fleur mumbled to herself as she doublechecked her robes to make sure she looked presentable when she saw Hermione and her guards walking towards towards her.Fleur was excited that she was going to be spending time with Hermione but nervous about how it would go now that Hermione knew she had a romantic interest in her.She was also nervous because Hermione had a dozen guards with her instead of the usual six. Fleur wondered why that was and hoped it wasn't because Hermione was in more dangerous than she usually was in.
"Hello Fleur."Hermione greeted.
"Hello Hermione, thank you for agreeing to meet with me."Fleur wanted to give Hermione a hug in greeting but didn't think the guards would allow it.
"I was pleased by the invitation."Hermione said.
"I'm glad."Fleur motioned to the lake."Shall we."
"Of course."Hermione waited until her guards got into place before standing by Fleur.She knew that they had a plan to protect her so she didn't want to interfere with them doing their jobs.
Fleur held back a scowl when the guards took their places close to them.She had hoped that they would at least give them the illusion of privacy but that seemed like it wouldn't be happening.Then again they were in the beginning stages of a courtship so they wouldn't be getting to much privacy."So how was your day?"
"Busy.I spent most of it at St.Mugos working on a new case."Hermione told her.
"What it the case?"Fleur asked.
"I am trying to see if I can find a way to reverse the affects of long exposure to a powerful curcio curse."Hermione said.
"You are trying to reverse the effects of one of the unforgivables?"Fleur was very surprised to hear that.
Hermione nodded."A woman came to me and asked that I look over the cases of her son and daughter in law.The pair were attacked during the first war by death eaters.The healers they have seen all claim the pair are mentally insane and nothing can be done for them.The woman doesn't believe that however and after hearing about some of my achievements asked me to look over the case to see if there is something I could do."
"What do you think?"Fleur asked.
"I think that the woman is right and the pair aren't insane.However there is damage to their brains.What that damage is I don't know and until I do I won't be able to know how to treat them."Hermione was sure she could do something whether it was something that could cure them or not that wasn't clear.
"How are you going to find out what the damage was?"Fleur wondered what Hermione was going to do that the healers hadn't already done.
"Actually that was something I wished to speak to you about.I plan on taking them to a muggle hospital to do some brain imaging.We are supposed to get together Saturday to work on the blood malediction but I need to go take them on Saturday.I was wondering if you wouldn't mind switching our meeting until Sunday?"Hermione didn't like having to cancel already made plans but it was the only day she would be able to get access to the equipment.
"Do you think I can come with you?"Fleur had never been to a muggle hospital before and was curious to see Hermione work as a muggle healer.
"I don't mind if you come but you would have to get permission from you headmistress."Hermione liked spending time with Fleur and hated the idea of not being able to see her until Sunday.
"I'm sure my mothers with happily agree to let me go."Fleur knew that her mothers would more than willing to allow her to get more time with her mate.
"Good."Hermione said.
"So what is your favorite book?"Fleur wanted to get away from the topic of work.Now that she didn't have her grandmother's influence she could finally take the chance to get to know Hermione without the pressure of helping her flock.
"Oh that is a very hard question.I honestly don't think I could narrow it down."Hermione wouldn't be able to even have a top ten.
"Ok how about what is you like to read to relax?"Fleur asked.
"Well when I read for the sake of reading I like to read science fiction."Hermione said.
"Why science fiction?"Fleur didn't know much about the genre.
"I like it because it's about ideas that haven't been realized yet.Every story has an invention or things that would considered magic that hasn't been invented in the real world.Some of the stories I have even gotten ideas for my work."Hermione explained.
"I hadn't really thought of it like that."Fleur wouldn't have really thought that fiction stories would have inspired Hermione."Maybe you could recommend a few for me to read."
"I'll let you borrow a few from my personal library."Hermione would happily share her books with someone who had genuine interest."What types of books do you like?"
"I'm afraid my interest are very cliche in that they are a typical French and Veela interest.I like to read poetry."Fleur wasn't embarrassed by her interest but wished she had something that could impress her mate.
"I don't think there is anything cliche about poetry.I have learned a great deal about human emotions from reading poetry."Hermione told her.
Hearing that Fleur was reminded of the conversation she overheard of Hermione speaking to Prof. Snape."Do you have problems understanding human emotions?"
"Unfortunately I do.It's been that way my whole life.Minerva and Severus think that I'm a savant but I have never been interested in being tested.It really doesn't matter to me or any of my friends and family.My parents always told me it was normal people who had it harder than me because they would never achieve half of what I was destine to achieve."Hermione told her.
Fleur didn't know what it meant to be a savant but she would research the condition so she would be able to interact with her mate better."I think your parents are right."
"Although they were only a small part of my life most of the things they told me I find as the years pass they were right about."Hermione said.
"They sound like good people."Fleur said.
"They were."Hermione agreed."When they died it took me some time to come to terms with my life changing so drastically."
"What was it like before you got to the castle?"Fleur asked.
"I spent most of my time with my parents as they didn't believe in leaving me to be raised by nannies.They were muggle doctors and would sometimes bring their work home.It was after they caught me reading the files that they began teaching me about their specialties. My father was a dentist.That is a doctor that focusses on teeth and my mother was a heart surgeon.My father would actually take me to watch her operate when they had a place for viewing.I was so in awe of the way she was able to use her hands to repair such a delicate organ."Hermione had fond memories of days spent watching her parents work.
"Your parents were muggle doctors?"Fleur wasn't sure what to think about that.She had assumed that Hermione's parents were much more important.It also disproved her and friends' theory that Hermione was a royal unless her parents were allowed to have jobs even thought they were royals.
Hermione nodded."I actually got my degree from the same school as my mother."
"You are muggle doctor?"Fleur knew that Hermione worked with muggle techniques but didn't think she went to school for it.
"Yes I finished medical school when I was 15.My mentor helped me fast track due my advanced knowledge."Hermione said.
"I thought you lived at Hogwarts to study for your masteries?"Fleur hadn't heard anything about Hermione living off campus.
"I worked on my masteries at the same time."Hermione told her.
"But it takes years to achieve a mastery.How did you accomplish achieving so many in so little time?"That's what Fleur didn't understand.
"I worked on more than one at a time.You have to remember I wasn't a student at time nor did I have a job.I had already graduated when I was seven so I had nothing else to do but study.I am just lucky that learning is my favorite thing to do.If it wasn't I have no doubt that Minerva, Severus and Albus would have allowed me to do something else."Hermione knew that if she didn't want to continue her studies they would have supported her interested in anything else."Minerva has tried many times to get me interested in different hobbies as she doesn't like that I spend most of my time working but nothing ever sticks."
"That's incredible."Fleur murmured.
Hermione shrugged."It is what it is."
"When you finish your time at Hogwarts what do you have planned for the future?"Fleur asked.
"I am going to be renting some space to start trials for the potions and the cremes that I used on the werewolves and the cosmetic potion.That and working on the curcio curse and the blood malediction are my immediate plans.As for long term I am going to be building a space to not only have a production plant but an area for research and development, muggle medical equipment and a place to run trials.That way I can break free of having to depend on anyone else to work on my projects."Hermione told her.
"That's an ambitious goal.Do you need investors?"Fleur thought if she gave gold in support of Hermione's business then the goblins would respect her for investing in Hermione's ambitions.
"You would have to talk to my uncle about it.He is in charge of setting up the financial plan.Most of my family is investing though so I'm sure he will let you if you are truly interested."Hermione would be involved but her uncle was the expert on how to work out a budget and write up the contracts needed.
"I'll bring it up to him when I have my meeting with your grandparents and him to give them the dowry."Fleur was still working on her plan for how she was going to support herself and knew she had to work it out soon.
"I'm surprised you agreed to give up your heir status."When Hermione's family had told her the terms for Fleur to court her she was surprised by the conditions.
"I would give up anything for the chance to be with you."Fleur would lay down her life for Hermione giving up a silly title was nothing in the grand scheme of things.
"I'm flattered."Hermione wasn't sure how to deal with such a proclamation but it made her feel special and cared for.Not in the same way her family and friends did though.What she felt around Fleur was happiness and a need to know everything there was about the girl.Hermione even wanted Fleur to know everything about her.Then there was the fluttering in her stomach any time she was around Fleur.Hermione would have to speak to Pandora about why that was.She the most likely to not tease her for being so silly.
"Speaking of the dowry.When do you want to not only draw my blood but spend the night in the forest?"Fleur wasn't looking forward to either of those things but she was telling the truth she do anything to be with Hermione.
"We can do the blood draw tomorrow if you want.I'm going to be spending all day in the castle researching brain injuries and it would be easy to take a break."Hermione knew she was going to forced to anyway so she might as well help Fleur.
"If you aren't busy tomorrow would you be willing to come to dueling practice with us in the morning?"Not only did Fleur want to learn more spells from Hermione but she wanted the chance to spend as much time together as they could.
"My mother did mention she wanted me to duel with the guards but I wouldn't mind training with you.Will your headmistress mind?"Hermione asked.
"She would be more than happy to have you practice with us."Fleur knew that Maxine wouldn't object as she had mentioned to Fleur about asking Hermione to join them.
"Perfect."Hermione said.
"How about the forest?"Fleur asked.
"I would say Saturday night however we have the first task on Wednesday and we would both need to be in top shape for that.I recommend we get through that and then make plans."Hermione suggested.
"That's a good idea."Fleur agreed."Have you figured out what the first task is yet?"
Hermione shook her head."Even though I am close to Albus he hasn't mentioned anything to me.Not that I expect him to.It would be against the rules and I don't want him or I to get in trouble.How about you?"
"We haven't been able to either."Fleur didn't think they would because if Hermione didn't know then it would be impossible for anyone else to.
"If I find out anything I'll make sure to tell you."Hermione said.
"Thank you Hermione."Fleur was happy that Hermione offered as she suspected that Hermione would find out before they would.
"So I know you enjoy quidditch and poetry but what else do you like to do for fun?"Hermione asked.
"I like to ride horses.I have my horse named Daisy.Before you ask my sister named her."Fleur said.
"You have a sister?"Fleur hadn't mentioned having a sister.
"Yes, her name is Gabriele and she's a little terror but she's my favorite little terror so I put up with her.There is a large age difference between us but we are still very close.I wanted her to come for family day but she was forbidden because my grandmother was going to be involved in courtship talks.When they come for the first task I will introduce you."Fleur would just have to have her mothers keep a close eye on her because her sister was known to cause chaos.
"I would like that.Some of my extended family is coming as well so I'll make sure you are introduced."Hermione said.
Fleur stumbled a step hearing that."Your extended family like who?"
"Well there is members of my goblin tribe, Veela clan, people from my coven and of course some of the centaur,Andromeda, Nymphadora, Narcissa, Pandora, and Phyllis."Hermione listed."Maybe some others but I haven't gotten any letters telling me who."
"I look forward to meeting them."Fleur lied.Now she was even more nervous for the first task.Not only did she have to survive it but she would have to impress members from Hermione's family while she did it.
"Who will be showing up for you?"Hermione asked.
"Well my mothers and sister of course.Also my grandmother and my aunt who is next in line for clan elder.I'm sure there are going to be other members of the flock as well because not only am I competing but Matilda as well."Fleur was happy her aunt was coming because she and mothers would make sure her grandmother behaved.
"It sounds like you will have a lot of support."Hermione said.
"Hermione it's getting late."One of the Veela guards told them.
Hermione looked at her watch."I didn't realize."
"I didn't either."Fleur was sad their time together was ending but was happy with how the night had gone.
"I will see you tomorrow."Hermione said."Good night."
"Good night."Fleur went to give Hermione a hug but stopped when the guard glared at her.Taking the hint she watched Hermione walk away excited for the next day.Not only would she get a chance to practice with Hermione in the morning but they had plans for the afternoon as well.Plus she was going to go to the muggle hospital with her on Saturday and they were going to spend time together on Sunday.Fleur had to pinch herself to make sure this was real.If someone told her the night before the families came they would have such plans Fleur would have called them crazy as she was expecting to be denied the opportunity to begin a courtship.She wasn't sure how she got so lucky but she was going to enjoy it.