The first Date
Hermione made her way up to the seventh floor just before eight that evening. She wanted to get to the Room of Requirement (also known as the RoR) before Fleur so that she could get the room to look the way she wanted it too for her first date with her soulmate.
In all honestly despite Ron's earlier adverse reaction, Hermione was way more than excited to spend time with Fleur. She felt as if she had already missed out on valuable time with her witch and did not wish to waste any more. She felt as if she needed to solidify her position in Fleurs life because she really did not want anyone, especially Ron, taking the older witch away from her. She already felt strongly for the veela, she knew that was due to the bond between them but still. This Veela was her witch and she would not risk her for anything.
Pacing back and forth infront of what would be the entrance to the RoR, Hermione thought of what she wanted.
'I need a cosy, quiet space to relax in' she thought, smiling brightly when a door appeared infront of her. When she walked in she was amazed at just how cosy the room was. A fire burned brightly in the centre of the back wall, surrounded by various chairs, sofas and beanbags. In the corner behind the seating area was a large book shelf filled from top to bottom with various books on magic of all kinds. A small table also sat beside the book case with a stack of games on it, most of which Hermione had never heard of before. She assumed it meant they were magical as she knew most muggle board games.
Beside the fire was a small coffee table with a fresh mug of tea and two cups on it. Along with a tray of biscuits and a small note.
Picking the note up Hermione smiled again as she saw it was from her Grandmother.
'Hermione,
I hope you and your witch enjoy the evening. Here is a light snack for you both to enjoy together. Forget your worries for the night and make sure you make it back to my chambers tonight. I'm still not entirely okay with you being out of my sight after this morning.
Love your Grandmother,
M. McGonagall
--
At exactly eight there was a quiet knock on the door. Fleur appearing just inside the room as Hermione stood to face her, smiling softly at the look of awe on the Veelas delicate features.
"I wanted somewhere we could talk comfortably, away from prying eyes and ears" Hermione said softly. Fleur smiled brightly at her before quickly crossing the room and gathering Hermione into her arms, she held her tightly, burying her head in the younger witches neck, she inhaled deeply, slowly relaxing herself as she took in the scent of her young mate.
"I'm sorry I am being zo forward ma petite but ever since I 'eard today what that ginger headed fool did to you ma instincts have been going a little 'aywire. I just need un moment to calm my inner Veela, reassure her if you like zat you are alright" Fleur murmured as she continued to hold onto the brunette.
"It's alright Fleur, I don't mind" Hermione whispered bringing her hands up to rest at the top of Fleurs back, moving one up to the blondes head to hold her closely. "If I am entirely honest I've needed this all day, ever since the fool started" she explained, sighing in contentment as Fleur tightened her hold around her in response.
Five minutes later Fleur finally began to pull away from her soulmate. Glancing back around at the room. "This room is amazing mon amour" she said as she moved to sit on one of the beanbags by the fire.
"This is the Room of Requirement. Not many people know about it but it takes the shape of whatever the user needs it to be. I wanted cosy and quiet, this was the rooms response. I discovered it in my second year. It has been somewhat of a sanctum to me over the last two years. I came here to practice more advanced magic than my current years level as fourth year stuff doesn't challenge me at all but I can't really let others know that" Hermione explained. Unsure of just why she was being so honest with Fleur. Soulmate or not she barely knew the witch so it spooked her slightly that she was able to talk so candidly.
"Why can't you let otherz know you find ze fourth year material easy hmm?" Fleur enquired a slight teasing quality to her voice.
"They probably wouldn't react all that well. I am already the top of all my classes I fear if I was to demonstrate my full capabilities I'd show more than one professor up" She answered honestly. "Before I even started Hogwarts I had mastered all the first year spells, wandlessly and wordlessly along with being able to do wandless and wordless transfiguration before I even knew of magic. Minerva said she had never met a child let alone a muggle-born child who was so advanced at the age of 11 as I was. My power and skill has only grown since then. But no one apart from you knows that. They all just think I'm the top of my classes. They have no idea I could probably take on Minerva or Albus and hold my own" she glanced over at Fleur as she too sat down on the beanbag opposite her soulmate, trying to gage her reaction.
"Morgan ma amour, that iz rather impressive. Though I am slightly how do you say puzzled? Oui puzzled. Why do you feel the need to conceal yourself so. You are powerful oui but you are a good witch" Fleur asked curiously, leaning forward slightly.
"At first I wasn't sure why I felt the need to hide how powerful I am but felt it necessary, like a voice at the back of my subconscious was urging me to not let on. Then at the beginning of this year I found out a few things about myself and my parents that made it clear that hiding myself was for the best. It still is. I cannot tell you anymore unless you take the unbreakable vow Fleur because as much as I trust you, I do not trust others" The young brunette explained softly. Hoping that her soulmate wouldn't push the conversation any further.
"Oui I understand mon cour, but it iz like this, you are mine oui? Therefore I want to, non I must know about theze things because we are a team. You need to be honest with me as I will be with you so if I need to take ze unbreakable vow for you to be honest zen that is what I will do" Fleur stated firmly, her eyes momentarily flashing gold as she stood and approached the younger witch infront of her.
"Ze one thing you will have to learn quickly mon amour iz that ze veela part of me is rather possessive and quite dominant. Every urge within me is to protect, defend and keep you amd to do zat there can be no secrets do you understand zat ma petite?" Fleur asked softly as she knelt down infront of Hermione and grasped her hands.
Hermione could do nothing but nod in agreement as she gazed at her soulmate in wonder. Never before hado she felt quite so safe yet vulnerable. She understand her urge to submit to the infront of her but she did not mind. Her logical brain knew it was to do with the bond and she knew that the older witch would not lie to her. She was merely warning her of what was to come being the soulmate of a Veela.
As curfew drew closure for the young witches, they were curled up on Hermione's beanbag. Fleur holding her little witch tightly. Hermione had told her all about her adoptive family, how they had been arrested for abusing her and sent to Azkaban to await trial, how her real parents were in Azkaban already for crimes they never committed because they were working undercover for Albus Dumbledore in the dark lords inner circle. How they had to give her up amd hide her in the muggle world because of some prophecy that came about shortly before her birth and how she had to contact her aunt Andromeda to find the answers she seeks. She told Fleur how scared she was for her borth parents safety. How she was terrified for her aunt Narcissa who had no clue she was still alive or that she was going to do everything to ensure that her family made it out of this war alive. She told her about how she hoped her adoptive family weren't anywhere near her birth parents in the prison because she knew that if Bellatrix and Rudulphus got wind of why the muggles where there and just who they had harmed they would not live long enough to stand trial. She also told her about Minerva, how it was Minerva who had noticed something was wrong and stood by her through the meeting with the ministry, who had gained guardianship over her and had done nothing but protect and guide her from the moment they had met. Fleur found it rather hilarious that The Professor Minerva McGonagall did not realise who Hermione was sooner, especially considering the bond she shared with Hermione's birth mother. It was only logical at the end of the day. Bellatrix is Minerva's bond-daughter. Hermione her bond-grand-daughter. It was rather simple to work out.
They laughed together about that, Hermione's head resting against Fleurs chest as they enjoyed the closeness of one another. It was in no way a fancy evening but to both witches it could not have been more perfect for their first date and they vowed to continue meeting here every second evening.
"Zose friends of yours seem like a funny bunch" Fleur giggled some time later. They had been discussing the many mishaps Hermione had gotten herself into as the best friend of Harry Potter and part of the golden trio, she had just told Fleur about the time Ginny, Ron, Harry, Neville and Luna tried to confiscate the letter Fleur had sent her and Minerva had summonsed it so they couldn't get it.
"They're a great bunch Fleur, you should join us tomorrow for breakfast. Bring your little sister and some of your clan. We would love to meet them. Really Harry would probably appreciate the comradrie between you and him. I know he's terrified for the tournament. He didn't put his name in the goblet. Someone's trying to put him in harms way" Hermione replied, frowning slightly.
"Its alright Mia, we will get him through it i promise you" the blonde murmured quietly as she kissed Hermione's forehead.
"Now i think it iz time for me to get you back to your grandmaman now, before she thinks I am leading you astray" she laughed standing up and dragging the young brunette with her, offering the younger witch her hand as she led her out of the RoR and down the corridors.
Hermione smiled shyly as she turned to face Fleur when she reached the entrance to her grandmothers chambers. "Thank you for tonight" she whispered, entirely unsure how she was meant to proceed in saying goodnight to her soulmate.
"Zere iz no need to thank me ma petite, it iz entirely my pleasure to spend time with you" Fleur replied, smirking at Hermione's sudden shyness.
"Do not go getting all tongue tied on me again mon amour" she teased, pulling Hermione into a hug.
"Never" Hermione giggled quietly.
Fleur pulled back to look at her young soulmate. "We still have so much to talk about but for tonight I will bid you a goodnight. I will see you in ze morning" she told her quietly, placing a lingering kiss on her witches cheek.
"Goodnight Fleur" Hermione whispered, smiling softly.
"Goodnight my love" Fleur whispered back before walking off towards the castle entrance.
Hermione watched her leave, resting herself against the wall outside her grandmothers Chambers, she brought her hand up to her cheek. Still able to feel where the older witch had kissed her.
Merlin, she thought to herself, that witch surely would be her downfall.
---
Upon entering her grandmothers rooms she found Minerva sitting infront of the fire with a mug of tea, reading.
"Evening dearheart" Minerva called quietly, smiling at the little witch infront of her. "Did you have a good evening?" She enquired.
Hermione beamed and threw herself down into the sofa beside her grandmother, laying her head on Minerva's lap.
"It was amazing Grandmama, she's... Merlin she's everything" she gushed. "She took the unbreakable vow, without a moments hesitation, I told her everything. Her only reply was that she would always stand by me and we would figure it out together. Honestly grandmama, she's so smart and kind and funny and Morganna only knows how she ended up bonded to me but I couldnt be happier.." she ranted as Minerva began running her hands through the brunettes hair.
"Well it does sound like you had a good time then. Im glad Hermione, you deserve all the happiness in the world little love" Minerva whispered sincerely.
"I got a couple of letters today. One from the ministry, one from Andromeda. The one from the ministry was our court summons. We are both to appear on the 15th of December, for your adoptive families trial" her grandmother told her, before summoning the letter from Hermione's aunt and handing it to her.
"This is from Andromeda" the young brunette took it wearily, opening it in anticipation as her stomach curled tightly. She hoped whatever was in the letter would be positive, she did not think she would cope if her maternal aunt rejected her. She couldn't help the tears that trickled slowly from her eyes as she read the letter written by her aunt
My dear niece,
You have no idea just how long I have awaited this day. How many nights I have spent worrying over your wearabouts, your happiness. You mean so much to us even though we never got the chance to hold you.
Your mother was right, I have the answers you seek however for me to reveal them we have to do this in person. Not only because your safety is too important to risk our correspondence being intercepted but also because I am entirely impatient to meet you my darling. There is entirely so much you do not know yet but I promise I will tell you everything I know.
I am aware the thought of meeting me may be entirely daunting for you my girl so I'd like to extend an offer to you. Come to me whenever you are ready, you can bring anyone with you that you want but they must be prepared to take the unbreakable vow. I will tell you everything and support you in any way I can.
Please know that you are so loved Hermione, even though we could not bring you up with your family around you does not mean that your mother, father, me, your aunt cissa and your cousins do not love you entirely because we do. I am truly sorry that it has had to be this way but hopefully once you have the information I do you will understand the dire need for your disappearance.
When you are ready let Minerva know, she knows how to find my home well enough. Until then dear girl, ease stay safe.
Your loving aunt
Andromeda
---
She felt her heart warm at her aunts words. As much as she knew her parents abandoning her was to protect her it still hurt her deep to know that she had been without her family her entire life and her aunts words meant more to her than she could articulate.
"Its alright nighean òg, it's alright" Minerva soothed as she pulled her granddaughter into her arms.
"How's it possible for me to miss someone I have never met so badly it hurts grandmama, my heart aches for them" Hermione sobbed, burying her head in Minerva's neck, clinging tightly to the woman who had become her rock.
"You will not be parted forever little witch" Minerva murmured, rocking the teen gently. "We will survive what is to come and you will all be united once again I promise" she vowed as she held her grandchild tightly.
Minerva's eyes glistened with tears she would not let fall infront of Hermione. The little witch needed her and she would stand firm for her. No matter what happened Minerva McGonagall was determined to stick by her promise. She would help Hermione survive what was to come and she would ensure that she put her family back together for the sake of her sobbing granddaughter.
That night, both witches fell asleep where they lay on the sofa infront of the fire, clinging to each other tightly. Both more determined than ever to do all they could to ensure their family survived.