Chapter 61

Ginny POV

Nearly two months had passed since the Gryffindor win over Slytherin, and Ginny, her brothers, and Harry were arriving at the Burrow for the Christmas holidays after a long, uneventful trip home on the Hogwarts Express.

"Welcome home, come in, come in!" Mrs. Weasley beckoned them in as they all piled in through the front door. Ginny grinned around at her brothers and Harry. Between the smell of fresh baked holiday goods and the vision of Christmas decorations haphazardly hung throughout the house, it felt so good to be home.

The group spent the evening catching Mr. and Mrs. Weasley up on how everything was going at Hogwarts. Percy and Charlie arrived late in the evening, surprising their parents who didn't know they'd be dropping in for the holidays.

"Bill will be here in a few days. He's uh – He's bringing a surprise," Charlie announced, with a somewhat mischievous grin.

"We're looking forward to it, Charlie, thank you for letting us know," Mrs. Weasley said, smiling at her second oldest son while Ginny exchanged puzzled looks with her other brothers, wondering what the surprise could possibly be.

After quite a few rounds of Exploding Snap, Ginny decided to call it a night. She walked up the stairs and opened the door to her familiar, cozy room. She looked at the bed, suddenly remembering that the last person to sleep in it was Hermione, and ran a hand through her hair. She knew her mum had changed the sheets, but still, it wasn't the greatest situation, but she had no other choice unless she wanted to sleep on the floor or the couch downstairs.

She changed into a pair of joggers and a Harpies jumper and slid gently into bed. Thankfully, there was nothing that reminded her of Hermione besides the memory of her sleeping there just a few months prior. It didn't take long before she found herself drifting off to sleep.

The next morning Ginny woke early, eager to go on a run up to Stoatshead Hill. It was definitely much colder than it was during the summer, so instead of shorts and a sports bra, she made sure to bundle up with a few different layers before she headed off on her run.

The cold immediately bit at her exposed face, but Ginny didn't care, it was refreshing to be out in the countryside again and the brisk air was part of it. As she ran, her lungs burned, as did her legs, but she pushed on until she got to the top of the hill. She didn't sit down because of the light dusting of snow that was on the ground, but she still took a break to look out over the village. She loved being home, it felt like a nice reset, and boy, did she need that.

After the very brief conversation Ginny had with Hermione in the Great Hall at the Halloween Feast, they hadn't spoken. It was frustrating and disappointing for sure, but Ginny didn't want to be the one to break the ice. After all, she was the one who had gotten up the courage to tell Hermione how she felt about her, and she responded by not talking to her for a week and inviting her girlfriend out for a visit. Katie reminded her on numerous occasions that she still wasn't sure of what had happened the night Juliette came to Hogwarts and that she should talk to Hermione, but what did she know? She was in a happy, easy relationship with Demelza, of course she'd look at anything and everything with rose colored glasses. As far as Ginny was concerned, the ball was still firmly in Hermione's court, and it was up to Hermione to talk to her, if she even wanted to. They could still be friends, after all, it's not like Ginny couldn't control herself around her or anything. Ginny shook her head at the thought, frustrated with the situation, then took off on her return trek to the Burrow.

The next few days were relaxing and fun for the most part, as Ginny truly did love being around her family. During the day she'd help her mom with cooking and chores, and especially enjoyed tending to the chickens who were mostly staying inside their relatively warm coop. They'd gotten in quite a few training sessions out in the orchard, and even Charlie joined in, which Ginny loved as he had so much Quidditch knowledge. Evenings were mostly spent playing games, telling stories, and of course one or two practical jokes on Percy before they'd go up to bed late. Ginny didn't mind that she wasn't getting that much sleep, as she didn't really enjoy sleeping in her bed anymore knowing that Hermione had slept in it so recently. Every night as she got into bed, she'd think of Hermione, and wonder what she was doing on her Christmas holiday, and Ginny found that inescapable routine to be incredibly irritating. She didn't want to think about the girl, but she couldn't help it. She found she'd wake up earlier and earlier each day to get her run in, just to get out of her bed sooner so she could stop thinking about the brunette that she clearly missed so much.

On Christmas Eve, Bill finally showed up, and he wasn't alone. With him was Fleur Delacour, the Beauxbatons Triwizard Tournament Champion.

"Bill! This is – Quite the surprise!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as her eldest son walked through the front door hand in hand with the beautiful blonde witch.

"Mum, Dad, this is Fleur Delacour. She started working at Gringotts this past year and, well, we're dating," Bill smiled broadly as he looked at his family. Ginny looked at Harry and Ron and only made eye contact with Harry, as Ron was staring blankly at Fleur. The twins exchanged grins, Charlie chuckled lightly, and Percy puffed up his chest as if to make himself look important.

"Lovely to meet you, Fleur," Mr. Weasley said with a warm smile as he stepped towards her with his hand extended.

She took his hand and shook it, "It is lovely to meet you too. I am not sure if Bill 'ad told you I was coming with 'im, but I am so very zankful for you to be opening up your 'ome to me," Fleur said as she smiled sweetly at the group. Ron's ears burned red and Harry seemed to begin to lose focus, and Ginny rolled her eyes until she felt Fleur's eyes land on her. She looked into the woman's light eyes and felt… Something… Ginny shook her head quickly, and excused herself. She felt like she needed some air, so she headed out to tend to the chickens.

What was that feeling? Why was it familiar?

As she climbed into the coop and began moving some of the hay around to make sure the coop was well-insulated, she heard Bill and Fleur talking just outside the coop.

"Fleur, we already discussed this. You can't do that around my family. My youngest brother, his best friend, and even my little sister were affected."

"I am sorry, I am just wanting zem to like me. I will not do it again, I promise."

"Thank you. I know it's part of you, but I want my family to like you for who you are, not for the Veela part of you, alright?" Bill requested kindly.

"You are so very sweet to me, my Bill, my handsome man," Fleur gushed.

Ginny, however, could barely process how sickly-sweet Fleur's response was because all she could fixate on was a word she heard come out of her brother's mouth: Veela. Even though it was freezing outside, Ginny began to sweat.

Fleur was a Veela? But she's French, not Bulgarian? Can French witches be Veela too? Does this mean…

Ginny thought back to all of the interactions she had with Juliette that made her blush, that made her breath catch in her chest. This girl had so much control over her, even when she didn't like her. Yes, Juliette was fit, but it always felt like something else…

Was Juliette a Veela too?

Ginny stayed inside the coop until she knew the couple had gone back inside. She didn't know what to do, or who to tell, or even if she should say anything to anyone at all.

Is Hermione dating a Veela?

Christmas came and went, and for the most part it was quite lovely. Presents were exchanged, hearty home-cooked meals were consumed, and the overall feeling around the Burrow was one of happiness and gratitude, which made Ginny very content. Fleur seemed to have listened to Bill's request, as she did not enchant anyone else the rest of the time they were there. However, Ginny felt like Fleur kept looking at her. Every time she'd look her way though, the woman's eyes would suddenly be on Bill, but Ginny swore she could feel those light eyes on her.

A few days after Christmas, Ginny was playing a game of Wizard's Chess with Bill while Fleur watched, when Bill excused himself to go to the bathroom, leaving Ginny alone with Fleur. Ginny didn't want to look at the woman, but also didn't want to be rude and risk hurting her feelings and by extension Bill's feelings, so Ginny reluctantly looked up into the light eyes that were already staring right at her.

"You know 'Ermione Granger, yes?" Fleur asked, suddenly.

Ginny was taken aback by this seemingly random question, but responded, "Yes… Why..?"

"According to my little sister, she is somezing of a legend at Beauxbatons."

Ginny furrowed her brow in confusion, "Why is that?"

"She is ze only one to 'ave ever been able to tame Juliette Marat," Fleur declared.

Ginny stared at the beautiful woman, not wanting to say anything that might come across as rude, though she really wanted to ask the French witch to politely shut it.

"Well, to tame and break Juliette Marat…" Fleur continued.

This time, Ginny didn't know what to say.

Break?

"My sister says zat Juliette 'as been broken for months. Apparently, she 'as completely shut down and 'as only focused on Quidditch. She is a completely different person, withdrawn and antisocial. Rumor 'as it zat ze girl from 'Ogwarts broke 'er 'eart… Do you know zis to be true?"

Ginny stared into Fleur's beautiful light eyes, completely stunned.

Juliette's heart is broken? For months? Does that mean…

"I – I don't know. I haven't spoken to Hermione about her relationship with Juliette in a long time…"

"Well, zere is not much of anyzing to speak of now…" Fleur said dismissively, "Do you zink your bruzzer would 'ave any information, or 'is friend, 'Arry?"

Ginny felt like her brain was going to explode, her heart was pounding hard against her ribs, and she couldn't quite catch her breath.

"Let me go ask…" she managed to get out before forcing herself to stand up and walk out of the room, leaving the beautiful blonde behind.

Ginny took what felt like forever to climb the many, many flights of stairs up to Ron's bedroom, but she kept her legs moving. She opened the door without knocking to find the boys playing a game of Exploding Snap on Ron's messy floor.

"Shut the door, you'll wake Mum and Dad!" Ron whispered harshly.

Ginny shut the door softly, then leaned up against it.

"What's up with you?" Ron asked, taking in Ginny's expression.

"Did… Did Hermione break up with Juliette?"

Both boys looked up at her confused.

"She hasn't said anything… Why do you think that?" Harry asked slowly.

"Fleur just said that her sister who still attends Beauxbatons said Juliette is broken… Has been for months… That she's completely withdrawn from everything and just focuses on Quidditch… Does that sound like Juliette to you…?" Ginny asked, not fully processing what she was saying.

"No… It doesn't…" Harry said.

"Right…? Is it possible that they broke up? Wouldn't she tell you two if they had?" Ginny asked.

"She said…" Harry started before stopping, staring up at Ginny.

"What?"

Harry was silent.

"Harry, what did she say?" Ginny asked, her voice rising.

"She said… Well… Right before her birthday, I know she was possibly considering breaking up with her…" Harry admitted reluctantly.

"Why? Juliette's well fit!" Ron exclaimed, earning a glare from both Harry and Ginny. "Well, she is!"

"Harry…" Ginny said threateningly.

"Look, I haven't spoken to her about this in months! She's pretty much only spending her time studying, attending classes, and fulfilling her Prefect duties. You know that!" Harry exclaimed, looking at Ginny.

"I barely know it, we haven't spoken since the Halloween Feast, and even then, it wasn't really a conversation…" Ginny muttered. "Why was she considering breaking up with Juliette back then? What, the distance? I know about that."

Harry looked deeply troubled, like he wanted to tell her the truth, but just couldn't.

"Do you think they've really broken up?" Harry asked.

Ginny nodded, "I mean if Juliette's walking around Beauxbatons broken, what else could that be?"

Harry swallowed hard, then shook his head.

"What?" Ginny pushed, "Out with it!"

Harry looked at Ron, then at Ginny, "She was considering breaking up with Juliette because she couldn't fight her feelings for you. Couldn't, or wouldn't. To me, it seemed like she didn't want to fight the feelings she had for you…"

Ginny stared at Harry, letting what he just said wash over her, before she responded in a harsh whisper.

"Why wouldn't she just say that? I told her… On her birthday… I – I told her…" Ginny rambled, the boys staring at her. "On her birthday she tried to kiss me, and I told her that I fancied her. A week goes by, nothing, then Juliette shows up. Then nothing for nearly a month, until we exchange a few words on Halloween, then nothing since then! Why? Why would she do this if she fancied me? Which I knew, by the way! I knew it! I knew from how she'd been looking at me, and then when she tried to kiss me on her birthday, I knew it for sure! Why? I told her I fancied her, why would she do all of that to just disappear when I tell her what I assume she wanted to hear from me?" Ginny slid down the door and put her head in her hands.

She felt the boys each get up and pad softly across the floor, before they both sat down, one on either side of her.

"Why is she doing this to me?" Ginny said softly, her voice breaking. "Does she just fancy me and not want to be with me or something?"

She felt Ron wrap his arm around her shoulders and Harry pulled her hands from her face.

"There must be a reason… Ginny, honestly, I'm not sure there's been a time since the Quidditch World Cup that she hasn't had some sort of feelings for you… Even when she was with Juliette, the feelings were still there… She struggled with it a lot… She might still be struggling with it… Maybe, when we get back to Hogwarts, talk to her…?" Harry suggested lightly.

"No! Why do I have to be the one? I told her I fancied her, and she disappeared on me!" Ginny said, trying desperately to keep her voice down.

"Do you want her or not, Gin?" Ron asked, squeezing her shoulders.

Ginny looked up at her older brother, who was looking down at her with an uncharacteristically serious look.

"I do…" Ginny said softly.

"Then go to her. You be the one to talk to her. Hermione can sometimes think too much for her own good. She may have overthought and convinced herself into thinking she shouldn't be with you. Now, not that I really approve of one of my best friends getting together with my baby sister…" Ginny gave Ron a look, but he continued, "But I think the two of you would actually be pretty great together, and great for each other," Ron said, ending with a smile. "Sometimes all a relationship needs is some communication," he shrugged.

Both Harry and Ginny gave him a look at this.

"Well, not really my relationship… Lav does most of the talking, if we're talking…" he grinned sheepishly.

Ginny rolled her eyes and playfully shoved her brother off of her, "Gross!"

"Hey, I told you! The ladies find it hard to resist the Weasley charm!"

Both Harry and Ginny shook their heads and laughed at this.

"Thanks guys… I really appreciate you talking this through with me. I do want to be with her, I just… I feel like I need time to process this… Can we all keep this to ourselves?" Ginny asked.

"Of course, Gin, consider it forgotten," Ron grinned. Harry nodded in agreement.

"Alright, goodnight," Ginny said as she got to her feet.

"Goodnight!"

"Goodnight, Gin!"

The two boys rose to their feet too and moved away from the door, allowing Ginny to exit Ron's room. As she descended the stairs, she felt her legs get heavier and heavier. She finally got to her room, opened the door, closed it softly and moved slowly to the bed. She gently climbed under the covers, settled in, and lay still in the silence surrounding her.

Hermione's single… And she fancies me…