Aftermath
CH 8
MARCH
Just a few days after the events of the second task, the Champions, along with Hermione and Ron, came together.
Hermione had been surprised to receive the message, unsure if the “friendly wager” would continue after the commotion outside of the lake. She didn’t know what exactly happened underwater, but she knew it had changed things between the Champions.
She wanted to talk to Fleur about it but could never find the right moment. Not with her family deciding to stay for a while longer. Their presence greatly impeded Hermione’s ability to casually stop by or pull her away to talk during their free time.
Though Fleur’s sister Gabrielle was a delight and seemed to love her, Hermione got the sense that Fleur’s mother did not hold her in as high regard. The few times they did see each other, Hermione tried to be pleasant, but Mrs. Delacour was icy cold towards her. And to make matters worse, Fleur was completely reserved and very unlike her usual affectionate self. It felt like she did not want Hermione around at all.
Hermione was hurt but tried to empathize. She could see that Fleur was still reeling after the last task, and having her family around did not seem to help. She hoped the change was temporary, worried that after everything that had happened Fleur would revert, go back to avoiding her.
That would be very annoying as Hermione had not even had the chance to confront her about the Allure discovery she had made! She was certainly not going to forget. She would just have to patiently wait until her family was gone in order to have a serious conversation.
It wasn’t just about the Allure. Hermione missed her friend. She was eager to see her.
Despite the awkward energy in the empty classroom, Cedric greeted her with a big smile. Viktor stood beside him, scowling. His face softened when he saw Hermione arrive. She gave him an inquisitive look.
“Cedric forced me to send invitations,” he shrugged, casually adding, “I do not know if she is coming.”
As if on cue, Hermione felt a soft pull as Fleur quietly drifted in. She sat next to her with her arms and legs crossed, staring forward. Hermione tried to get her attention, but the girl was stubborn in her efforts to appear, rather unsuccessfully, neutral and unaffected.
The room was silent.
“You cannot actually be angry at me!” Viktor broke the silence as he directed his attention towards Fleur. “This is a competition!”
Fleur ignored him and gave Cedric an impatient glance, urging him to begin, meanwhile Harry and Ron stared awkwardly into their laps.
“Well… err, shall we get started then?” Cedric tried to be cheery. “Maybe Hermione can remind us of what we decided last time?”
“Right.” Hermione stood up and opened her notebook, happy to be given something to do.
She reminded them of the previous scores from the First Task (Fleur: 4, Harry: 3, Viktor: 2, Cedric: 1) and the two-part voting system for the second task, the first part being the discovery of the Egg and the second being the main event itself.
“The first to figure out the egg was Cedric, he gets 4 points, followed by Fleur who gets 3 points, Viktor 2 points, and Harry 1 point.”
She looked around again. Cedric looked pleased, Viktor grunted, and Harry and Ron were whispering quietly to each other. Fleur maintained her disinterested stare towards the wall.
“As for the actual task, we never actually decided the metrics since we didn’t know what the task would be –”
“Already done!” Cedric said joyfully, opening his hand and revealing a slip of paper to present to Hermione. “I added a ballot to the Champions’ invitations.”
Hermione looked at the slip. “Everyone seems to have voted. Here it is then. The results for the second part of the second task are as follows: Cedric 4, Harry 3, Fleur 2, Viktor 1.”
“I am last?” Viktor scoffed. “I vas just behind Cedric!”
“That was the vote!” Cedric shrugged. “Besides, Harry saved two people!”
“And Fleur fought off a pack of Grindylows,” Harry piped up.
“That puts the final numbers for the Second Task at Cedric 8, Fleur 5, Harry 4, and Viktor 3.”
“Vell Fleur, I guess you are second on this task. Are you happy now?”
“Do not patronize me,” she looked up at him. “I do not deserve any points at all.”
“Who even cares, this is not a real competition. This is a silly bet. I vill be victorious in the tournament that counts!”
“D’accord!” Fleur snapped back. “Zis is stupid!”
They both stormed off, each determined to be angrier than the other.
“Uhh…” Cedric chuckled nervously. “Should we tally up the totals until now then?”
Hermione looked towards the exit. She wanted to follow them out, but she still had a job to do. And perhaps it was better to let the two of them work it out.
“Right. So, the total tally up until now is Cedric 9, Fleur 9, Harry 8, Viktor 7.”
“Well, look at that,” Cedric grinned proudly. “From the bottom right to the top!”
“Should we tell Fleur she’s tied for first or will that make her mad?” Ron snorted. He looked around at the other Champions. “One more task to go. Have you two got any ideas yet?”
“Let us worry about that,” Cedric chuckled. “You should be more focused on your end of year exams!”
“That’s still 4 months away!” Ron whined.
The boys continued talking but Hermione was only half listening.
4 months?
There were only 4 months left until their exams. Until the final task.
That meant only 4 months until the end of term.
4 months until Fleur was heading back to France. Done with school.
Done with Hogwarts.
Done with her.
Hermione would go back to London. She would go on holiday with her parents, likely spend some time at The Burrow with the Weasleys and Harry. She would prepare for her 5th year at Hogwarts.
It should be exciting.
Hermione would normally be thrilled just thinking about it! She loved preparing for a new school year. She loved buying new books and reading them before classes even started. She loved acquiring new school supplies to replace and replenish the ones used over the past year. She loved the novelties and curiosities that each new year in the wizarding world ushered into her life. Each year even more incredible than the one before! Albeit, more challenging and dangerous. She loved all of it. She loved being part of this world!
But it was hard to look forward to any of these things with the reminder that Fleur would not be there with her. It was hard to imagine Hogwarts without Fleur Delacour.
She would have to savor the next 4 months as much as she could.
“Fleur. Stop!”
“Leave me alone.”
“Please, stop!”
“Laisse-moi seule, Viktor!”
“I told them.”
“Told zem what?” she halted and turned in annoyance.
“About how I left you vith the Griny – Grindloy – the creatures, after you helped me fight them.”
“I did not ask you to do that.”
“But it is vat happened and…” he looked away and then back at her. “I vas feeling badly. I believe it is… guilt.”
“Good for you,” she snapped before turning away.
“Truly, Fleur.” He grabbed her arm. “I am sorry I left you.”
“I do not accept!” Fleur wrenched her arm away and was off.
“This is not how it vorks!” He called after her. “You are supposed to accept the apology! That is vat Roger said!”
He persisted behind her until she finally turned around again.
“Why is zis so important for you?” she fumed. “Like you said, it does not even matter!”
“Because…” he started quietly. “I could not believe you did that for me. I vas surprised.”
“You were right to be.” She shook her head with a sigh. “This is a competition. I should not ‘ave helped you. I should not ‘ave put either of us in that position.”
“But you did it because ve are friends,” Viktor grinned. “Da?”
Fleur rolled her eyes. “Something like that.”
“I realized after. That feeling. The guilt. It was because I am your friend, and you are my friend. I am not used to it. Real friendships. Not like I have made here.”
“This place is strange like that, isn’t it?” Fleur snorted. “What is it about ‘Ogwarts?”
“It is very annoying,” he grunted in agreement.
“Is that ‘ow they will beat us?” she chuckled. “Through ze power of friendship?”
“No vay!” he groaned. “Those two do not stand a chance. These first tasks are inconsequential,” he assured her. “It is only succeeding in the last task that vill matter.”
“Well, I can assure you that I will not help you when you get into trouble again!”
Viktor barked in laughter. “I promise I vill not help you either.”
“That ‘as been established!” she poked him in the shoulder. “Anyway, I am not angry with you for leaving me to ze Grindylows.”
“No?”
“Non… well, yes, I was upset. And maybe I should be angrier, but –”
“Mhm…?”
She wiped her eyes quickly, keeping any tears from escaping.
“I am angry because…” she shrugged and looked down at her feet, frustrated with herself.
“Vat?” He swatted a bug hovering between them as he approached her.
“Because…” she continued much too softly. Viktor had to lean in closer to hear her soft admission. “You are ze one who gets to save her.”
She looked back up at him waiting for a reaction. Waiting for him to taunt her.
“Oh…”
He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. “I am sorry, Fleur.”
“Ce n'est pas juste.” She shook her head.
Somehow, Fleur Delacour found herself pulled into a comforting hug by Viktor Krum.
Even more surprising, she allowed it.
Hermione’s fears about Fleur regressing did not come to pass.
They were certainly not spending loads of time together, but Fleur was making more of an effort than expected. She was not pulling Hermione away, as she had grown accustomed to, monopolizing all of her attention, but she still sat next to her at the Ravenclaw table.
She even joined her with Gryffindors at times, bringing Gabrielle along, which was very sweet. Hermione could tell that the little girl was excited to be sitting with older kids. She loved Hermione and she was especially giddy being around Harry who she had absolutely developed a crush on. Fleur was much more friendly towards him since he saved her little sister. Both him and Ron.
Fleur would still walk Hermione towards her next class. She would smile and bid her farewell but never made plans to meet up after. There were no daily walks around the lake or evening hangouts in one of the towers.
The Allure was still there, Hermione felt it, but the pull was distant, almost unnoticeable if she wasn’t already familiar with it.
The only one-on-one time they spent together now was in the library. Fleur would ask Hermione if she could sit with her, and the two would do homework and study for about an hour before Fleur would excuse herself to get back to her family. It became routine.
On this particular day, Fleur arrived in a noticeably aggravated mood.
“What is it?” Hermione immediately stood up to meet her.
“My mother is not ‘appy about ze latest from that Skeeter bitch.” She tossed the Daily Prophet onto the table.
“Love Triangle Continues?” Hermione scoffed as she read the article. “The ongoing rivalry between a muggle-born bookworm and a mad Veela?” She looked up at Fleur. “A bit tacky, isn’t it?”
“What shall we expect from our dear Rita? Please continue.”
“Viktor Krum saves his damsel – ugh – leaving Beauxbâtons Champion, confirmed Veela, Fleur Delacour in the dust, fuming with jealousy – Oh no…”
She stared at the photo of a drenched Fleur shouting at Viktor after the second task.
It was not her best look.
“Sources say they witnessed a single feather pop out of her neck before the Beauxbâtons Headmistress hurriedly swept her away, not to be seen again for days. Sources report Madame Maxime was protecting the student population from the wrath of a fully transformed Veela – But that’s not true! You were out and about the very next day!”
“Keep reading.”
“Days later – Oh, bollocks – Days later, the quidditch star was seen comforting the Veela, just moments after another heated argument between the two. Sources say the Veela used her Allure to manipulate the situation to become the winner of this romantic competition, after all – Oh Fleur…”
“Keep going.”
“…after all, she has been utterly unsuccessful in the one she was actually brought here to win.”
She dropped the paper and looked up at Fleur. “This is awful!”
“Tabloids,” Fleur shrugged. Hermione could tell she was much more bothered than she wanted to appear.
“Should I… Should I explain to your mother?”
“Explain what?” Fleur snapped. She exhaled and sank into her seat. “I do not even understand ‘ow she got this picture. We were in private!”
Hermione looked at the photo of Viktor and Fleur hugging again. It was actually very sweet. She had no idea the reconciliation had even happened.
“I could just –”
“’Ermione, Non.”
“Fine.” Hermione reluctantly agreed, sitting down across from her. She would not get involved with Fleur’s family, but she promised herself she would get to the bottom of this nasty Rita Skeeter business. It was the least she could do.
“Anyway,” Fleur softened as she reached her hand across the table towards her. “Are you okay? You are also impacted by this.”
“Oh, I’ve had much worse thrown at me.” She squeezed Fleur’s hand, thrilled at the bit of affection between them and the realization that Fleur was checking on her.
“Well, I am here if you want to talk about it.”
“Thank you,” Hermione smiled. “Actually, there IS something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. How much longer is your family here again?”
APRIL
As soon as her family left, Fleur’s demeanor instantly changed. She seemed more free and confident. Hermione noticed the difference in the way that she spoke and in her body language. She also noticed another shift in the Allure. It was still controlled, but not as constricted. No longer muted.
She sensed the return of the familiar energy barreling towards her as Fleur approached one morning, grasping Hermione’s arm as she invited her on a walk around the lake, casually noting that her roommate would be away, and that her carriage would be empty.
“My family departed this morning.”
“You must be so sad!”
“Ah…oui. I will miss them,” Fleur admitted with a smirk. “But I am also quite relieved.”
Hermione could understand that. She missed her own parents very much, but having them around would considerably hinder Hermione’s abilities to fully be herself at Hogwarts, not to mention how difficult it would be for her to get into any of the hijinks she would normally be involved in. How utterly boring! Not that her parents would last long in the wizarding world.
“So, you will come? Later tonight?”
Hermione could feel Fleur’s excitement and anticipation wrapping around her in the form of the Allure. She wasn’t sure just how aware the older girl was about the transparency of her feelings anymore. Either way, Hermione was looking forward to some answers.
“I have to ask you something,” Hermione prepared herself as they sat together on Fleur’s bed after their walk. “Don’t get mad. It’s about your Allure.”
“You still feel it.” Fleur nodded apologetically. “I am sorry I ‘ave tried to restrain it, but I may ‘ave eased too much after my family left.”
“So, you ARE controlling it!” Hermione accused.
“I am trying to!” Fleur responded defensively.
“Why didn’t you tell me!?”
“What do you mean?”
“All this time!” Hermione jumped up, indignant. “You’ve been gaslighting me!”
“Non! I am not – I ‘ave been trying to moderate, but I am not operating zis thing!”
“When did you know?” Hermione crossed her arms and waited for a response. “When did you know that this was happening?”
“I… We talked about zis!” Fleur responded in frustration.
“Barely!” Hermione scoffed. “And you hardly acknowledged the affect it’s had on me.”
“I… I do not know what to say,” Fleur stammered. “I only just –”
“And the dreams? You’re going to say you don’t know anything about that either?”
“Ze dreams?” Fleur’s face changed from dejection to confusion. “What do you –?”
“Oh, come ON!” Hermione huffed. “It’s been enough times. I’ve connected the dots.”
“What?” Fleur looked genuinely puzzled as she tried to understand. “I do not –”
“Please, Fleur.” Hermione urged. “We’ve obviously been sharing a certain… kind of dream. One that is quite certainly tied to the Allure you’ve apparently been able to control, though not very well!”
“But I –”
“I’ve been trying to figure it out on my own, but I need more information!” She continued. “I assume you were there when I was with Viktor by the lake, weren’t you? You saw us?”
“I was not trying to!” Fleur’s eyes widened as if she had been caught. “I was just walking back to ze – I was not trying to –”
“How did you get there?” Hermione was much more interested in figuring out the logistics of the shared dreams, not so much about whether or not Fleur was spying.
“I do not know. It was…” she thought about it for a moment. “It was as if I was being guided to you.”
“And then what happened?”
“I…” Fleur blushed. “I do not recall exactly. I was a little drunk.”
“What do you remember next, Fleur?”
“I was with you,” she confessed.
Hermione couldn’t help but smile at the confirmation. “I remember that as well.”
“And zen I woke up in my bed!”
“Same. AND you were kissing me by the way. You left that part out.”
“You kissed me!”
“You kissed me back!”
“It was a dream!” Fleur persisted. “Et comme est-ce – ce n'est pas possible!”
“Exactly!” Hermione grinned, talking through her thought process. “I retraced my steps and realized that we couldn’t have been together. I was with Viktor and then I went straight to my dormitory. Lavender confirmed that. But the fact remains that we WERE together. Somehow. Dream or otherwise.”
“We were drinking.” Fleur tried to wave it off once more. “We ‘ad fought, and we were confused. I do not know!”
“I did take that into account,” Hermione explained as if this was just another arithmetic problem. “The drinking only made things more confusing in that moment, but we weren’t inebriated any of the other times.”
“Ze other times?” Fleur groaned, connecting her own dots and not wanting to accept where they led.
“Oh, come off it,” Hermione rolled her eyes. “This last one was just a few weeks ago!”
“It was?”
“Yes, it was! And when I woke up you were doing a whole possessed eye rolled back thing.”
“Hein!? Qu’est ce que –”
“I haven’t been able to talk to you about it until now –”
“I ‘ave not been possessed! Why would –”
“Which has been very frustrating by the way –”
“I really do not know what –”
“It feels like some sort of –”
“Mentis consociatus!!”
Fleur jumped up in surprise.
“Mind…” Hermione translated out loud.
“Grand-mère!?”
“Connection?”
“Correct! Désolée mes chéries!” Fleur’s grandmother bustled in. “I was not trying to pry. I only returned because I misplaced somezing and ze conversation was too good to disrupt!” She searched the room as she spoke, moving things around and looking behind furniture. “Ah! I found it!” she exclaimed as she retrieved a small purse. “Fleur, my dear, you must be better at keeping your room organized.”
Hermione brought herself back from brainstorming mode, realizing who she was in the presence of. She was not doing a good job impressing the Delacour matriarchs. She looked to Fleur, hoping for some guidance, but her friend seemed to have slipped into some sort of freeze state.
Her grandmother noticed as well. “Manières, Fleur!”
“Euh…”
“Will you introduce me to your friend or not?”
“Ah… ah, oui… Grand-mère, c’est mon amie –”
“Ermione! Such a pleasure!” The older woman wrapped her into a warm hug before pulling back to scold her. “I am offended zat you nevair came to visit me young lady!”
“Oh! Oh no, I am truly sorry!” Hermione placed a hand over her chest and looked to Fleur again. “I didn’t know you were expecting –”
“Euh…”
“You did not tell me about ze rêves Fleur!” her grandmother tsked.
“Je… Je ne comprends rien –”
“But it sounds like your petite amie ‘as begun to put things togezaire. Tell me, what else ‘ave you uncovaired?”
Hermione explained her theory, she had come to the realization that they must be at a certain proximity to each other and perhaps already be in some sort of sleeplike state prior to the dream sharing. Fleur’s grandmother agreed with her logic.
“While a state of vulnerability makes it easier to access ze subconscious, it does not ‘ave to be zat way. It appears my granddaughtair’s gift were unintentionally awoken when she was snooping while you were both under ze influence. And I must say, I do not approve of such reckless be’avior and I ‘ope zis is not commonplace at ‘Ogwarts!”
“Euh… Je…”
“No, of course not Madame!” Hermione shook her head frantically. “It was the first time I’ve ever done something like that here! Or anywhere! It was just a party – A celebration, really, after the Yule Ball. It is NOT the kind of behavior I tend to partake in at all! My preferred evening is wrapped up in a good book or at the library studying, sometimes I like to sit in the owlery –”
“I believe you, my dear,” the older woman chuckled. “Those are some of Fleur’s favorite things to do as well. I imagine this is why you are… such good friends.”
“Right,” Hermione smiled, her anxiety easing and escalating all at once. She pulled herself together. This was her opportunity to get some answers. “So, Veela can get into other people’s subconscious?”
“Not exactly. Not all Veela can do it. And there must be willingness from ze other party as well,” her grandmother’s eyes twinkled. “A Veela must be allowed entrance. It is a rare and very useful gift, used throughout generations for lovers to communicate with each other when it was not possible –”
“Grand-mère!” Fleur snapped out of her daze and was fully red with mortification. Hermione had never seen her this way. “S’il vous plaît!”
“Désolée!” Her grandmother rolled her eyes. “I supposed it does not ‘ave to be a lover. A friend with a very close and… intimate connection could do.”
“I was not myself!” Fleur defended once again. “I was feeling possessive, and zey were kissing, and you know I get vairy jealous, so zat is just where my mind went!”
“Mhm…” her grandmother nodded thoughtfully. “I see ‘ow zat could be platonic.”
Hermione chose not to share that the other dreams were even less platonic than the first one, but Fleur seemed embarrassed enough as it was. She herself was feeling quite uncomfortable with her romantic activities being broadcast in front of the older woman.
“I did not even know we were both ‘aving ze same experiences!”
“It wasn’t until the last one that I realized it,” Hermione treaded lightly. “When I woke up, I felt a shift in your Allure. You had been holding back, hadn’t you?” she didn’t wait for a response as Fleur silently processed. “I felt it much more powerfully as soon as I woke up. And when I looked at you, you were in some sort of trance. Is that normal?” she looked to the older Veela, realizing she had just confessed to having slept in the same bed together.
“You ‘ave been noticing ze shifts in ze Allure?” she asked, impressed.
“Yes. It took some time, but I’ve gotten quite used to it now and can even recognize variations of feelings I think, not just the attrac– the pull that I had initially felt. At the time of course, I had no idea what was happening. Unfortunately, I offended Fleur when I brought it up, which made it difficult to discuss further."
“You accused me of seducing you!”
“I did, and I am sorry for that, but you also took no accountability!” Hermione argued back. “The more I researched and with the bits of information you gave me, I realized that there was at least a part of our connection influenced by you being part Veela.”
“Fleur ‘as been denying it?”
“Non!”
“Not completely,” Hermione shrugged. “But it took a while.”
“It was new to me too!” Fleur took a breath before continuing more calmly, “I did not know what was ‘appening.”
“You could have told me that,” Hermione said softly, resisting the urge to take her hands into her own.
“I was embarrassed,” she admitted. “I did not want to… je ne sais pas...”
Fleur’s grandmother looked between them with an enormous grin on her face.
“Well now that you do know, you have to be honest with me, Fleur. And promise not to pull me into that mind thing without my knowledge.” Hermione gave her a serious look. She didn’t like the idea of her subconscious being played with. Not that she thought Fleur would deliberately manipulate her into such an intimate situation without consent, but she had to make sure they were being completely transparent with each other.
“Of course!” Fleur rushed to Hermione, placing her hands over her cheeks. “I am so sorry, ‘Ermione. I would nevair ‘ave done such a thing knowingly! Please know that.”
“I know,” Hermione smiled, eased by the warmth of Fleur’s hands on her skin. She had missed this connection between them. The pleased sensation circling her told her that Fleur had to.
“I will assist you, Fleur!”
Fleur quickly dropped her hands back to her sides as her grandmother looped an arm around each of them, disrupting the moment. “Now zat I also know ze complete truth, your lessons will be much more effective!”
Hermione turned to Fleur’s grandmother; she still had another question.
“Are the things that happen in these – the mentis consociatus, are these… Are they true feelings, or is it the Allure acting on its own accord?”
Fleur’s grandmother smiled knowingly.
“When ze Allure latches onto someone it is quite persistent in its desire, but it is not an autonomous entity acting on its own. In truth, it only strengthens –”
“What is already there.” Hermione recalled a previous conversation with Fleur. “Right. Which means I have some say in it as well. I supposed I could take some responsibility.”
Fleur’s grandmother nodded and winked at Fleur. “Tres intelligente ta copine.”
“Oui, trop intelligente – N’est pas ma copine, grand-mère!”
Well,” Hermione looked as the two of them engaged in side conversation. “This has been enlightening. I have a lot to think about.”
“I imagine,” the older woman nodded. “My granddaughter ‘as been vairy rude to keep us away from each other. Gabrielle got to ‘ave all ze fun!”
“Yes, I do wish we had had more time to converse. It was such a pleasure meeting you!”
“Alors! Everyone against me?” Fleur grumbled.
“In my granddaughter’s defense, Fleur’s mother can be… A little intimidating. And Fleur tends to be more… Rigid when she is around.”
“Grand-mère!”
Hermione smiled at the interaction. She was enjoying seeing the different sides of Fleur. These more vulnerable parts. It made her feel closer to her. She headed back to the castle, deep in thought. A lot had been clarified, which was helpful, but it also made other things much more confusing.
“Merveilleuse!” Fleur’s grandmother smiled widely as Hermione exited the carriage. “J’aime ta copine!”
“Oui, elle est vraiment – Elle n’est pas ma copine!”
In the following weeks, Fleur spent much of her time in her carriage, doing classwork, preparing for the next task, and taking lessons from her grandmother. She wanted to spend more time with Hermione, but she knew it was important to focus on her responsibilities.
That is what she told herself. In truth, it was the younger girl who had become quite busy recently. Taking care of personal matters, she had said.
Homework likely, Fleur repeatedly reminded herself, and studying for end of year exams, and handholding Ronald and Harry, of course. The younger Champion certainly needed Hermione’s help to get through the tournament. And Ronald was his own special project.
Those were surely all things that would keep Hermione too busy to spend time with her. Even if these were the last few months of the school year.
That is what Fleur had to tell herself to convince her mind that she had not scared her off. That Hermione did not see her as a temptress and a seductress with wicked powers. That she was not disgusted by her, a lying, manipulative Veela, taking advantage of her.
“She is just busy,” she reminded herself for the umpteenth time as she closed her eyes, trying to focus on her meditation.
The knock on the door surprised her.
She was even more surprised when the busy girl that was just on her mind stood outside the carriage waiting to be let in.
“Show me what you’ve learned so far?”
They sat across from each other on the bed.
Fleur was nervous. There had been no follow-up conversation after the humiliating interactions with her grandmother where so much was revealed. They had not talked about what it all meant, or how Hermione felt about it. And Fleur had not had the chance to properly explain herself. To explain how she felt. Though she was still figuring that out herself.
She had anxiously waited for Hermione to schedule one of their serious conversations to further discuss the matter. But when that did not happen, it made Fleur even more anxious.
“Let’s see then?” Hermione nudged.
“I do not know how to –” Fleur felt uneasy about what she was being asked to do. “In ze past, it just ‘appened. I never intended –”
“I know,” Hermione smiled kindly at her. That gave her some reassurance.
“You must be open to each ozzer!” Her grandmother called out from the compact mirror sitting on Fleur’s desk. “Vulnerable and willing, remember?”
“D’accord.” Fleur sighed.
Her grandmother had been guiding her in an exercise when Hermione showed up. Instead of taking Fleur’s hints to end their session, grand-mere took her presence as a wonderful opportunity for a practice run with an added element! The added element being Hermione.
Fleur had been working on navigating inside her own subconscious, recognizing her Allure and existing alongside it, taking control of it. To attempt this with Hermione here, the main object of her – Of the Allure’s affection, would be a bit more difficult. It was hard enough to hold back while she was her fully conscious self, Fleur worried she would have no say at all if she let herself vulnerable in this situation.
“Just try,” Hermione said softly. “I am giving you permission.”
“Okay.” She took a breath and closed her eyes. “Do as I do.”
She heard Hermione take a breath as she concentrated, tracking the Allure as it led her deeper inside of her mind.
“Physical touch will make it easier!” her grandmother’s voice croaked, disrupting her focus. "Stay present!"
“D’accord!”
Fleur's irritation eased when she felt Hermione take hold of her hands. Her heart began to beat faster. She braced herself as she recognized the Allure’s excitement.
She had practiced this before, allowing more while maintaining control. So, she knew she should show much more restraint at this moment. But it was hard with Hermione here. This amazing girl whose attention she had been missing. Who she had been pining over. As much as she had tried to repress her feelings at first, she could no longer deny it.
As Hermione’s thumbs reassuringly caressed her skin, Fleur felt herself melt under the touch. She did not want to fight it. Not anymore. All she wanted was to be completely unrestrained. She felt the Allure asking for control. Demanding it. And with Fleur’s heart and mind wide open, it was easy to give it. To let herself go.
“This place is beautiful,” Hermione smiled as she looked around.
“You are beautiful,” Fleur responded, staring into her bright brown eyes. She had no interest in looking at anything other than the magnificence sitting in front of her.
Hermione bit her lip and scooted closer to her. The action titillated her.
“Look around, Fleur,” she whispered. “Be present.”
“Okay,” she couldn’t say no to her. She peeked away from Hermione for just a moment. The edges of her periphery were blurry. “It is bright.”
“What else do you notice?”
“Your hair is shiny. Your waves are perfection.”
“I meant around you,” Hermione giggled, scooting closer still. “Not me.”
“What else is zaire but you?” she brought Hermione’s hands up to her lips, kissing her palms softly, satisfied at the hum her actions elicited from the girl. “And what do you see?”
“You’re glowing.” Hermione traced her fingers across Fleur’s face. “Your skin, your hair, your smile.”
“You also glow,” Fleur leaned closer, allowing Hermione to reach around her shoulders.
Hermione smiled warmly, staring back at her. Both captivated with each other.
“Where are we again?”
“I do not know.”
They inched closer as they spoke.
“Why are we here again?”
“I do not care.”
Fleur felt Hermione’s grip tighten around her neck, her breath against her smile. She licked her lips as she waited for her to close the miniscule gap between them.
“Wait,” Hermione pulled back thoughtfully. “I think there’s something we’re supposed to –”
Fleur stopped her, eagerly pressing her lips against her neck. Hermione responded without hesitation, ignoring the initial doubt and pulling their bodies closer.
Fleur could feel both of them yearning for each other, wanting more. Both needing more.
“I’ve never done this before,” Hermione whispered over her ear as she tightened her hold.
Fleur hummed at the sensation. “Me neither.”
The thought made Fleur pause.
What are we doing? Not like this.
It took everything out of her to bring herself back to focus as Hermione nipped at her neck.
“’Ermione.” She put her arms around the girl’s waist and gently pushed her back. She needed to think. It was hard to think in this position.
"What is it?"
“Slow down.”
“Oh… oh no!” Hermione pulled herself away. “I did it again, didn’t I? I misread.”
“No, No!” Fleur shook her head. “You did not –”
“I had no self-control whatsoever. Oh, I am so embarrassed!”
“You did not –”
Fleur’s eyes opened.
She was back in her room sitting across from Hermione.
“Well?” She heard her grandmother’s voice from the dresser. “’Ow did it go?”
They looked at each other silently, their breaths heavy.
“I –” Hermione stammered. “I have to go!”
“Merde…” Fleur groaned.
She looked towards the door Hermione had just run out of. The cycle between them was playing out all over again. She could not bear to have Hermione upset with her again, could not have them avoiding each other again. She ignored the questions coming from the compact on her dresser and jumped off her bed.
“Je dois y aller, grand-mere!” she shouted as she ran out of the carriage.
“Arrêt! ‘Ermione!”
Fleur panted as she caught up to her. “Please. Do not run away from me.”
Hermione turned around with tears in her eyes. “I just –” she shook her head. “I just can’t win with you. No matter what I do, I end up feeling like a fool. I’m so out of my depth here. I don’t even know what’s real between us.”
“You are not a fool!” Fleur grabbed her hands. “I am sorry I ever made you feel that way. I –”
“Fleur!”
“Zut Alors!! Not now!” Fleur growled as she turned towards the disruption.
“Sorry to interrupt!” Viktor smiled at them, quickly averting his eyes away from Hermione when he noticed her state. “Uh… I am sorry, but Ludo Bagman is on his vay to discuss the final task. I ran ahead. Just in case…” He looked back towards Hermione. “Everything is okay. Hermyninny?”
Fleur scoffed at the continued protectiveness over Hermione.
“Yes, Viktor, thank you,” Hermione forced a smile, her eyes and cheeks still showing signs of distress she tried to wipe away. “Thank you for the heads up.”
Fleur did not have a chance to say anything more before Ludo Bagman appeared, prompting Hermione to make a quick escape back to the castle.
Hermione sat in the courtyard waiting. She wasn’t sure what she was waiting for. She just couldn’t get herself to go back to her dormitory. Not yet.
Fleur had wanted to talk to her. Even after Hermione had run away. Again. Fleur had chased after her.
That felt important. It made Hermione hopeful. And also nervous.
Despite her doubts and insecurities, Hermione knew Fleur felt something for her. She had felt it. She had seen it. All she wanted was to hear her say it.
Unfortunately, timing was never on their side.
She thought maybe Fleur would come looking for her after Ludo Bagman shared whatever he had to give them about the final task. Hermione didn’t like the reminder that they were nearing the end. She wished she had spent more time with Fleur instead of investigating her side project. Fruitful as it seemed, she had still not caught Rita in the act, and she wondered if she was even on the right path.
“HELP!”
“DUMBLEDORE!”
“EMERGENCY!”
“Harry!?” She jumped up at the sound of the familiar voice, looking around for her friend who was nowhere to be seen.
“What the – Oh!”
She chased the series of origami animals parading into the castle on a search for the headmaster. She managed to pluck one out of the floating lineup and quickly read the message, pulling out her wand and running straight towards the Forbidden Forest.
Her wand lit the way as she ran through the dark of night. She ran through the grounds, past the lake, past the Beauxbatons carriages. She did not stop until she saw people standing outside the entrance of the Forest.
“Harry!” she called out to her friend, pulling him into an embrace. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine… I…” His voice was shaking. He was sweating.
“What happened?”
“We were… Barty Sr… he was… he said…”
“It is Viktor.”
Hermione turned, immediately finding herself in Fleur’s arms. “He was attacked.”
“Are you okay?” she tightened her arms around her. She felt Fleur nod against her cheek.
“I was on my way back to ze carriages when I heard calls for help.”
Dumbledore appeared within an instant, along with Hagrid and Igor Karkaroff, the Durmstrang Headmaster.
Harry, Fleur, and Hermione stood together as the adults argued, Karkaroff being a nuisance as per usual, pushing them out of the way and threatening everybody while Dumbledore worked on Viktor.
“Everyone back to your dormitories, please.” Dumbledore instructed. “Mr. Krum will be fine but he requires rest.”
“But Professor –!”
“He will be safe and sound! … Under Madame Pomfrey’s care in the Hospital Wing,” he added with a wink.
The three of them raced back to the castle. Cedric and Ron caught up to them on the way, holding Hermione’s repurposed origami messenger.
They waited outside the Hospital Wing until Roger arrived and continued pestering Madame Pomfrey until she finally gave up and let them all in.
Hermione and Fleur were the first ones at his bedside, hugging Viktor from both sides.
“Ladies, ladies!” he laughed weakly. “Vat vill the boys think, huh?”
“We’re just happy you’re okay, Viktor,” Hermione squeezed his arm.
“Do not scare us like zat again!” Fleur reprimanded.
“Give him some room!” Roger shooed them away. “He doesn’t like being smothered.”
“Good thing Rita Skeeter isn’t here to see this,” Ron snickered.
“I imagine she has this whole place bugged.” Harry groaned.
“BUG!” Hermione yelled excitedly.
*SLAM*
“GOTCHA!”
“Bloody hell, Hermione!” Ron spoke for all of them. “What was that?”
“Nothing, uh…” Hermione smiled, pressing a glass jar against Viktor’s side table.
“Are you okay?” Fleur rushed to her side, pressing the back of her hand against her forehead and eyeing her with worry.
“What a coincidence!” Hermione smiled as she held the jar down. “I’ve been looking for this particular type of beetle for a project I’m working on.”
“It has been a long day, ma cherie,” Fleur smiled kindly. “Shall I take you… and your bug, back to ze dormitory, hm?”
Hermione found herself yawning as she nodded her head. It had been a long day.
They said their goodbyes and she let Fleur take her unoccupied hand and walk her to Gryffindor tower.
It was a quiet walk. Hermione welcomed the silence. She was too emotionally exhausted to get into anything now. Fleur squeezed her hand reassuringly as they stopped in front of the Fat Lady.
“’Ermione I –”
“Hold that thought!” Hermione stopped her. She dropped her bag by the entrance and pulled out her wand, pointing it at the sealed jar. “Muffliato.”
Fleur gave her a curious look but didn't ask any questions as Hermione raced back, reuniting their hands. “Please continue.”
“I was only going to say,” she lifted Hermione’s hand up to her lips and kissed her palm. “You are not a fool.”
Hermione couldn’t hold back the smile that formed on her face. She let her hand linger over Fleur’s jaw, delicately caressing her cheek with her fingertips.
“Ahem!” The fat lady interrupted, jolting them back. “Are you going to stand there all night?”
“Sorry, I was just, uh –” Hermione looked back at the portrait.
“Please state the Passw - WHAT IS THAT!?” the Fat Lady screeched, pointing in disgust. “DO NOT BRRRING THAT CREEPY CRAWLY CREATURE INTO MY DORMITORY!”