Hey guys, I am back, and I hope you are still with me. This chapter and the next are linked, because it's the same scene, only with a different point of view. I know what you're thinking, 'She's actually changing the POV!' I know, I know. So the next two chapters after this one will be through the eyes of Fleur.

Enough with the chit-chat I know. So, thank you to all who continue to read my story, I love you guys. Please continue to review, it makes me happy ;) (And motivated!)

Now, without further ado, Please enjoy ~ JoyfulTrouble

I woke up on the day of the Yule Ball full of nerves. I felt disoriented, like as if I didn't get a good sleep, and because of it I can't properly concentrate on anything. As I sat up in my bed, I noticed my hands were shaking slightly, and they looked rather pale. Wow, I must really be nervous.

I was actually quite surprised, though. I had everything planned out for today. Last weekend Ron nearly dragged me out to Hogsmeade to get a dress for the dance. I was constantly bombarded by dresses thrown at me, with the explanation of "Oh, you must try this one!" from Ron. After the dresses was the shoes, which luckily he didn't throw at me. My outfit was complete, and I even had Ron's promise that he would do my hair. It should be a breeze. So why am I nervous? Well I guess as the muggle saying goes, 'If you're nervous, that means you care for what's to come'. Hopefully that's the only reason.

I get dress and head downstairs, trying to will my shaking hands to stop. But with little luck, I opted to keeping them hidden in my pockets.

Through breakfast I tried to join the conversation, but early on I found I couldn't concentrate on it. So I stuck to eating my bacon and eggs; eating it slowly enough that my hands were somewhat steady. Fleur every now and then tried to bring me into the conversation, but I just couldn't.

"'ow about you, 'Ermione? Excited about ze Ball?"

"Of course." And that was how long it lasted.

Throughout the morning classes, my nerves only seemed to have gotten worse. I couldn't stay still, either fiddling with my hands, or my legs constantly bopping up and down. I was having trouble paying attention in class, to the point where I got in trouble. I was also starting to break into a sweat. Was this still nerves? Or was this something different entirely? No, it can't be. I am just really nervous because my girlfriend and I are going to tell everybody we are dating. That's it, that's all.

At the end of Charms, I was so happy that the last class of the day was almost over. I could retreat to my dorm and hopefully take a nap to help with this stupid nervousness. I could take a nap for a couple hours, then get ready and downstairs by 6:30. It seemed like a perfect plan. But when the bell rang, I instantly had to cover my ears and shut my eyes. That bell was way louder than what I remembered it to be. After what seems like a lifetime, the sound stops, and I slowly open my eyes to a fuzzy, deserted room. What the hell is happening?

I get up slowly, and with trembling hands I pick up my books. I hold them tightly to my chest, to try and ignore the sudden urge to scratch at my skin. It wasn't just a small spot, but it seemed like by whole body was itchy; like I wasn't comfortable in my skin.

I walk out slowly, pausing a few times because of a dizzy spell. This is the worst time to be getting ill. I mean, couldn't it have waited until tomorrow?

I start to pick up my speed, which is only now my normal walking speed, and head towards the Gryffindor tower.

"'Ermione!" I hear from behind me. This is probably not going to end well. I knew instantly it was Fleur, and I stop. I don't look behind me though, I instead try and calm my ever growing nerves, hoping that Fleur will think nothing of them.

"'Ermione, are you okay?" How do I answer that? I don't want to say I'm not feeling well, because then Fleur might stop us from going to the ball, and I defiantly don't want that. I-

"'Ermion-"

"I am fine Fleur, nothing to worry about." I tried to stay it as strongly and reassuringly as I could, but it came out the complete opposite.

"'Ermoione, something iz wrong. I always meet you at ze end of Charms, and today you just walk right by me." Oh, right. I forgot. I was so worried about tonight, and trying to relax and act normal, that I forgot that Fleur always meets me after Charms.

"Oh, sorry, I must just be stuck in my head."

"No, somezing iz wrong, and we are not going anywhere until you tell me what iz bozering you." I flinch slightly at the tone. It wasn't that it was harsh, just loud. I take a deep breathe, and exhale. I raise my eyes to meet Fleur's, and all I could think of was her comfort. I needed the reassurance of her wrapping her arms around my back, holding me tightly.

Without any further thought, I launched forward and hugged Fleur as tightly as I could. Instantly Fleur wrapped her arms around me just how she always does, and out of all the unknown things happening right now, it was good to have something that was known.

"I'm sorry Fleur, I am just so nervous about tonight, I guess I just let it consume me and now I'm just a mess. I mean, it's a big night. You, me… everyone and- and-"

"Ma Cherie, stop." I stop, but I hold tighter. Was she upset? I knew she would take this the wrong way.

Fleur let's go slightly, and I release some of my hold on her hesitantly. She only pulls back enough so we can look into each other's eyes. In her eyes, I can always find a comfort that seems to stay there, waiting for whenever I need it. But now it's almost more. Like they know what's going on, maybe even more than I do, and they're there, ready to take some of the load off, because that's just Fleur. Before Fleur even speaks, I already feel tremendously better.

"'Ermione, it iz okay to feel zis way. Zis iz a big step in our relationship. You just came out of ze closet what? A month ago now, iz it? Not long ago. And now, in a few hours, you tell zose same people, zat you have a girlfriend. I understand you feeling nervous, I mean, it does feel like everyzing iz going super-fast. But zat doesn't matter, because your girlfriend, might I add, iz none ozer, zan me." She gave me a wink and I couldn't help but laugh. Gosh, I am so lucky to have her. I still find it hard to believe she picked me out of everybody. I think I will always somewhat question that.

"Now," Fleur continues, "How about you go to your dorm, I'll go to mine, and we'll get ready for our date, non? Because you said you had your eyes on someone, and I want to know who zat iz, can't have any competition." I laugh even harder, to the point where I hid my face into her shoulder to muffle my giggles.

"I only have eyes for you, Fleur." I whisper into her ear, before I walk off towards my dorm.

Breathe in, breathe out. In, out. In, out. That is the mantra going through my head as the clock tic slowly in the corner of the dorm. I sit on my bed, clad in only my undergarments. It was only about thirty minutes after I got back to the dorm, after I left Fleur that my worry started to pick up again, and it seems to be getting worse. My whole body seemed to be shivering, but in actuality I was quite warm, to the point of sweating.

I look up at the clock for the millionth time, seeing that in mere minutes Ron is supposed to come up here to fix my hair. Okay, Hermione, just act calmly, you'll see Fleur soon and all will be okay.

There's a light knock at the door right at five, and I walk up to get the door. A few of the girls who are also getting ready look slightly confused, and when I open the door to let Ron in they slightly freak out, until Ron straits the obvious.

"Don't worry, girls. I play for the other team," they all go back to what that were doing, "Hermione is the one you have to worry about." I role my eyes, and walk back to by bed.

"Okay, since you haven't done your make-up yet. You want me to do that too?"

"Sure, I don't do the whole… thing."

"We can all tell."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I say harshly, probably more harsh than I intended it to come out. Almost like a growl.

"Woah, calm down, I was just messing with ya" He replies, raising his hands in surrender, "Now, let's get you ready."

From seemingly out of nowhere, Ron pulls out a bag full of make-up and hair products (why he has these, I don't know). He then starts to begin to apply my make-up; some eye-liner, mascara, light blush. He said it was the 'natural look' and that my date was going to drool.

When he seemed satisfied, he then went to fix my hair. With only forty-five minutes left, somehow Ron manages to straighten my hair, and put it in a loose bun.

"Now, for the dress and everything will be complete."

"What about you?" I ask, look at Ron who is wearing a sweater and jeans.

"Oh, it takes no time for me to get ready, don't worry. Now, tell me, who is the special girl you are going with?" A smile appears on my face. At least my nerves have subsided for a bit.

"I'm not telling"

"Fine, I'm not telling either."

"Wait, what! That's not fair. You have to tell me who you're going with."

"Hermione, for the smartest of our grade, you should know that it is totally fair."

"Yeah, well I don't have to like it."

"I didn't say you had to." He smiles, "Okay, I am going to get ready for my own date, and you are too. I will see you on the dance floor!" With that, Ron walks out of the dorm, leaving me with my own thoughts.

I stand at the top of the stairs going down to the Grand Hall. I fidget mindlessly with my dress while I stare nervously at the people below. My dress was a blue colour, starting lightly at the top, and gradually got darker. It was one of the few dresses Ron threw at me that I actually liked, and in the end this is the one I got.

I got ready quickly after Ron had left, giving me time to rest and calm myself. I tried to tell myself that it was just a dance, and I didn't have anything to worry about, but it didn't see, to help. I was still shaking slightly, my skin itchy, and I felt weak. But none of these things will stop me from having my first date with Fleur. With that thought, I make my way slowly down the stairs.

The stairs were shaped in a sort of half-moon, so when I made it to the middle, I could see the bottom floor completely. At the bottom of the stairs, was Fleur. She was just, beautiful.

Her dress was long and form fitting, only flaring out at the bottom so the person wearing the dress could walk. The dress was a shiny grey, just like silver. She was truly beautiful. As always, her hair was up in a ponytail, only with a small, silver hair piece holding it together, instead of her usually elastic.

As I went down the stairs, I didn't take my eyes off of her once. She looked to beautiful, and knowing that she was my date, the she chose me was still overwhelming.

As I neared the final steps, that was when Fleur finally looked up and met my eyes. It was quite humorous the way Fleur's eyes went wide, and her lips hung apart. Fleur's posture even slumped slightly, and by the time I made it to Fleur, I couldn't help but be laughing.

"What's zo funny?" Fleur's ask after she comes back to reality.

"You, you look like you have just seen something impossible."

"I 'ave."

"How so?"

"I zought I would never be able to call you my girlfriend, or date, or whatever, and 'ere you are, exactly zat. It, it felt impossible. Seeing you 'ere now, in a beautiful dress, makes it all ze more real. I am ze luckiest person in zis room." I look up at Fleur once again, and smile. I take a small step forward, getting into Fleur's cozy bubble. Instantly Fleur's arms wrap around my waist automatically.

"Who knew you could be such a romantic… and cheesy, defiantly cheesy."

"Did you ever doubt me?" We both giggled lightly, and as I was leaning upwards to give her a kiss, I hear someone's conversation that makes me stop.

"Oi, I knew it. Now you owe me three sickles." I turn around to see Harry and Ron looking in our direction. Harry had a happy look on his face, while Ron looked slightly disappointed as he handed Harry three sickles.

"What are you guys talking about?" I ask, as they walk up – looking slightly ashamed – towards us.

"Well, when you guys first told us that you had dates, we made a bet as to who it was."

"And I guessed it right." Harry said happily.

"So you guys bet on us?" I ask, slightly surprised.

"Well, yeah, and you did'n-"

"Ron?" A voice from behind interrupted his speech. We all turn to see none other than Charlie Otterborn, Huffelpuff's keeper and Ron's huge crush. "Sorry to interrupt, but-"

"Oh, don't worry about it. Come here, let me introduce you to my friends." Charlie walks up to Ron, and Ron puts his arm around his waist. His waist.

"Charlie, this is Harry, Fleur, and Hermione." He introduced in order, "Guys, this is my date, Charlie." Both Harry and I were shocked. Fleur on the other hand, only smiled and shook his hand.

"It iz a pleasure, Charlie. I 'ave 'eard much about you. But 'Arry, now you owe me four sickles."

"What?" Both Ron and I exclaim, looking between both Harry and Fleur as Harry gives her four sickles.

"'Arry made a bet zat Ron would not 'ave the guts to ask Charlie out, I said otherwise." Fleur said while smiling wide. Of course they all made bets on one another. Except Harry's date.

"And what bet is happening with your date life?" I ask, directing the question to Harry.

"None. I already had my date before either of the two could put up bets. Speaking of my date, I really should go to her now, she's been waiting. See you guys later." With that, Harry walks towards the Grand Hall, where Cho Chang is their waiting for him.

"Hmm, we better be going too, ma belle. No doubt zey'll be calling for ze champions soon for ze first dance." I agreed, and we left Ron and Charlie together to head towards the Grand Hall, hand-in-hand.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, how about we get the dancing going, hmm?" Every claps in agreement. "Good, good. Now, may we have the three champions and their dates on the floor so they can have the first dance?"

Everyone clapped as Cedric along with Pavarti walked onto the dance floor. Victor was next, and walked onto the dance floor with his date, Luna? That was an interesting couple.

Now it was our turn to head onto the floor, and everything suddenly went quite. My heartbeat sped up tremendously, and the shaking that I managed to get rid of earlier was suddenly back. Why was I nervous of this? I mean, all these people have probably already seen Fleur and I together, we've been holding hand this entire time.

I look up towards Fleur, and she is staring right back at me. It felt like we were silently communicating to each other, what with those emotional eyes. Those eyes that seem to be like novels, full of emotion and stories and feelings. I gave her a small nod, knowing I wanted to do this, but I needed the extra push I knew Fleur could provide.

Without a seconds thought, Fleur gave me a sweet, feather-like kiss onto my lips. So small, so light, but was heavy and strong. After we broke apart, I had a new sense of strength, and we walked to the dance floor. I couldn't hear anything that was going on around me, I was too focused on everything that was Fleur. The way she looked at me, how she had her hand placed on the middle of my back, arm wrapped securely around my waist, the other holding my hand. How she leaned in closer, and I could feel her warmth; smell her vanilla perfume. How she looked, pale blonde locks of her ponytail falling over her shoulder, her body painted with silver silk. She consumed all my senses, and I let her. I let myself, get lost in everything that was Fleur.

I barley even noticed that we had started to move, let alone the music that had started to play. I just looked into Fleur's eyes as she guided us around the ballroom.

"You are truly astounding, you know?" She whispers after a while. I don't answer simply just blush. "You are, and stunning, and lovely and beautiful, and exquisite."

"Are you just listing off complimentary words?"

"Well, I did zay zem for a reason."

"Fine," I start, and I move in closer to Fleur. Now it seems we are more so hugging and swaying more than anything else. I position my lips to her ear, and give her a light kiss there. "You are marvelous, sexy, enchanting, ravishing, and all-in-all perfect." The words come out deeper than expected.

I relished in the fact that Fleur's breath hitched at the words. What was surprising, but not at all repulsing, was the small amount of arousal that I could smell coming from Fleur. Before I know it, an involuntary growl escapes my lips.

As soon as I realized what happened, I reeled back, making space between me and the blonde. I was still in her arms, but I was far enough to clear my head. What the hell was that?

"I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"Don't worry about it, what you should know is that everyone 'as stopped dancing." With her words, I whip my head around to look at our surroundings, and sure enough, we were the only ones still dancing. There were people on the dance floor, but they were chatting and waiting for the next song to start.

"Oh." was the only thing I could say at the moment.

"Yeah, zo would you like to find a place to sit? Or would you like to continue to dance?"

"Oh, ah, a place to sit sounds good." So then Fleur took my hand and lead me to an empty table. Adorably so, Fleur held the chair out for me, and pushed it in lightly.

"You know I can sit myself, right?" I ask, as she goes and sits in the chair opposite of me.

She smiles, "Oui, but chivalry isn't dead, non?" She winks, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"So, Fleur, tell me about yourself."

"Pardon?" She asks, slightly confused.

"Well, this is our first date, usually people learn about one another. Keep it traditional, right?" Fleur lets out a small giggle

"Well of course. Let's see… I 'ave a sister, did you know?"

I fake a gasp, "What? No, I didn't." Fleur just continues to giggle.

"Oui, she is right over zere, with 'er date."

"Date?" I look over, and sure enough, there was Gabrielle slow dancing with a women, her head resting on the girl's chest. "So I am guessing charms run in the family?" Fleur laughed, and looked back towards me.

"Zo, now you tell me something about yourself, Hailey"

"Forgot my name already?"

"Zat iz not your name? Oh, mon dieu! I am zorry." She looks at me with a grin on her face, "Heather?"

"Nope."

"Harper?"

"No."

"Zen it must be Hannah." I didn't respond, I just burst out into laughter, and Fleur followed. Some people who were sitting near us gave us an unamused look, but I couldn't find myself to care.

"Do you treat all your dates like this?" I manage to choke out, after my laughter subsided a bit.

"Only on a good date."

"So you would classify this as a good date?"

"Well, of course, why wouldn't I?"

It was then, that everything went wrong. It didn't progressively get worse, it came full force. All troops straight ahead, with no survivors. My skin instantly started to itch, like an invisible rash started to spread my body. It burned, growing hotter and hotter, to the point I swear I was on fire. A searing headache shot threw my head, hitting every nerve, and effecting every sense. My body quickly became a jumbled mess of pain, confusion and fear.

With another searing pain shooting up my spine, a single thought; a single answer, made it through my blurry mind. But this couldn't be happening, not here, not now.

I jumped up from my seat on shaky legs, swaying and barley staying upwards. I shook my head, trying to focus, trying to get some sense of something. I make out the slight contour of the table, and quickly go to grab onto it, because I knew if I didn't, I would surly fall in a heap on the ground.

I can't breathe. I can't see. I can't think. I just can't. My mind is raging rapids, moving left to right so quickly I can't keep my baring's. I manage to hear a voice, calling my name, but it seemed so distant. So far away, like another world, another place, so far, it doesn't even exist. It's just a faint shout, echoed, Hermione, Hermione.

Hermione.

"Hermione!" I hear Fleur's voice yell, right in my ear. I wince, crumpling into a ball, wishing this could all go away, and all be over with. Please, oh, god, please.

Wait. Fleur.

I quickly shoot up, a new panic arisen in me. Fleur! I have to get out of here, I have to leave, I need to leave. I turn my head, albeit painfully, in the direction of the exit. Instead of the exit, I was met with Fleur's worried, panicked gaze. It wasn't long, It was only a second, before I found enough will power, with the mantra going through my head of 'run, leave, save Fleur, run, leave, protect Fleur, run-'. I run, pushing past Fleur and moving to the exit, to the outdoors. I go as fast as I could, as fast as my two human legs can move back and forth in a repeated motion of getting away, of escaping.

I run, and I run. I don't stop, I don't look back. Even with the agonizing pain going through my whole body, telling me; begging me to stop. I don't. I tell myself I can't, because Fleur is too close, and I have to get away, away from everything. I go, I run, and I can't believe I forgot.

I forgot tonight was the full moon.

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