Little Mouse

CH 9

MAY

Once again, Fleur and Hermione were inseparable.

But it was different this time around. Things felt more balanced. Stable.

If their friends noticed anything, they didn’t mention it. If anything, it would just appear that they were back on the “on” part of their on-again off-again best friendship.

They found the perfect social rhythm. They would have their meals together, opting between time with their friends at the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables, engaging in their own individual conversations, and seamlessly joining each other when appropriate.

They walked arm in arm around the lake after Hermione completed long study sessions in the library – one of their few independent activities. Fleur had tried to help her study for exams, but the younger girl would get much too distracted, either due to her insatiable curiosity that led to tangents of knowledge, or not-so-subtle flirting that completely derailed them.

For the first time ever, Hermione was pressed to get through her studying quickly so she could make better use of her time. She was particularly excited about having rediscovered the book of poetry she had found earlier in the year. The pair started taking it with them to the owlery, reading passages to each other and identifying which texts might be related to Veelas. It had become one of their favorite things to do together.

They did not practice being in the Mentis Consociatus. With only two months left together, it felt too risky. Instead, they connected in the traditional way.

They talked.

Not about their feelings or what they meant to each other, at least not directly. It was like an unspoken agreement after the night of Viktor’s attack. There was no need to discuss it further. There was too much going on and too little time left. It just wasn’t worth the risk.

Or so Hermione thought.

“I want to tell you about my family,” Fleur said one day. She was laying on Hermione’s lap in the owlery. The book of poetry had been set aside for the evening.

Hermione nodded curiously as she played with strands of silver blonde hair.

“As you may ‘ave gathered, appearances are very important to my family. Especially my mother. It is not because we think we are better than anyone…” she paused and let out a little laugh, “mostly at least.”

Hermione smiled at the comment as she continued to listen.

“It is because of how we are seen. How people perceive us. Does that make sense?”

“I think so. Tell me more.”

“My mother worked very hard to maintain a certain… image. She continues to do this to protect us. All of us. Me and my sister, my grandmother, and even my father. She had to deal with a lot as a child as ze daughter of a full blood Veela and a regular wizard.” Another pause. “Because of her, I ‘ave had a very different experience. I am lucky. And very grateful.”

“I can only imagine.”

“Her father,” Fleur continued. “My grandfather. He was cast away from his own family when she was born. He was welcomed amongst ze Veelas, but they made it clear that he would not be able to go back, not after being among them, learning secrets.”

“Oh,” Hermione was surprised to hear that. “That must have been difficult for him.”

“Non, he was fine with it!” Fleur chuckled. “Grand-père was a very comfortable man. He enjoyed leaving ze wizard world and being surrounded by Veelas who fawned over him!”

“I see,” Hermione smiled. “What about your father?”

“When my mother and father fell in love, they decided they would not allow anyone, Wizard or Veela to dictate how and where their family lived,” she stated proudly. “My mother and father, they ‘ave made a name for themselves. The Delacours are known and respected in both Wizard and Veela communities. We ‘ave made connections, built relationships, we are a legacy.”

“That’s incredible,” Hermione was impressed. “But…?”

“But…” Fleur sighed. “My mother knows what they think about us. What they say be’ind our backs. Ze assumptions. She does not let that hold us back. Still…”

“You have to make sure to keep appearances.”

“In a manner.” Fleur continued. “As you know, zaire is so much intolerance in ze Wizard community. Prejudice and judgment.  Despite our name and social standing, not everyone is accepting. We must always be conscious and aware of how we act and what we do. To protect ourselves. To protect our family.”

Hermione felt a lump begin to form in her throat, already feeling the pain of where she saw this conversation going. She wanted to stop Fleur, remind her that they had wordlessly decided not to talk about this. About their feelings, about the barriers to their relationship.

“My whole life…” Fleur’s voice began to break. She quickly put it back together. “I feel like no matter what I do, I always ‘ave this voice in my head, this worry… What will people say. What will they think about me. About my family. What will they do…”

“That sounds like a lot of pressure.”

Hermione ran her fingers through Fleur’s hair, hoping to offer some comfort and support. She knew what it was like to be different and judged for it. She was lucky that it was only herself she had to worry about. Her family wasn’t affected by any of Hermione’s actions in the Wizard world.

Fleur nodded quietly against her lap before sitting up to look at her. There was a serious expression on her face. 

"I... I get it," Hermione said with a sad smile. She placed a reassuring hand on Fleur’s cheek. "I understand what that means. That we –”

"'Ermione." Fleur interrupted, placing a hand over the one caressing her.

"What?"

 Hermione felt how nervous she was. She felt it in the way the Allure was swirling anxiously around them and in the way Fleur's hand was trembling over hers. 

"May I kiss you?"

Hermione was taken aback. She was fully expecting another rejection. One that made complete sense given what Fleur had shared, one she would have to accept despite any feelings they might have for one another. She was not expecting this.

She didn’t let herself think too much more about it as she quickly nodded her consent.

Fleur smiled, closing her eyes as she rested her forehead against the younger witch's. 

"I am so tired of holding myself back," she whispered. Their breaths mingled as she leaned in closer. She lingered for a moment before gently pressing their lips together. 

Hermione nearly melted into the feeling of Fleur’s warm, soft lips against hers. She wrapped her hands around her neck, weaving her fingers into the hair at her nape while Fleur cupped her cheeks and guided their mouths.

This kiss was slow and intentional. Different than in the Mentis Consociatus. It felt real.

While in the dreamlike state, their heated activities had felt very nice, but it truly was like a dream, hazy and uncontrolled. There had been a feeling of urgency, a neediness almost forcing them to act on repressed feelings.

Here and now, the Allure’s warmth wrapped around them in a comfortable, secure embrace. No longer fighting to be recognized. They could take their time without restraint or compulsion.

Fleur was purring as she grazed and nipped between Hermione’s top and bottom lips, exploring at a languid pace, her tongue peeking out curiously to lightly lick and taste.

Hermione followed her lead. The slow and deliberate pace was almost painful as she experienced every little touch between them like a tiny jolt of electricity, sending vibrations throughout the rest of her body.

Fleur ran one of her hands down, rubbing and squeezing over her neck, her shoulders, and across her chest, stopping to grip Hermione’s shirt right above her breasts before gently pushing herself back, separating their lips while keeping her hand firmly in place.

She bit her bottom lip and looked at Hermione, waiting for a reaction.

“Wow,” Hermione exhaled. “That was…”

Hermione tried to think of how to describe what she was feeling but her head was completely devoid of any rational thought, which was a first. She started to giggle instead.

“C'était bon?” Fleur asked anxiously, pulling her hands back to herself. “Zat was okay?”

Hermione nodded rapidly. She let out a sigh as she released the last of her giggles and reached for Fleur, pulling her back in for one more slow, brief kiss before wrapping her arms tightly around her, holding her close.

“That was so very, very bon,” she breathed against her ear.

“For me too.”

They held each other for a while until the owls started waking up, one of them immediately noticing their presence and pecking at their fingers.

“Ow, Cornelius! Arrête!” Fleur laughed as she pulled out of the hug.

She casually reached her hand into Hermione’s robes, dragging her hand across her sides, searching her inner pockets before finding a handful of candy corn for the owl. “Here you go, chouette impatiente!”

“What?” She grinned innocently at Hermione who was reeling from the unexpected touch along her body.

Hermione shook her head at her as she let herself fall back against the wall.

“Now what?”

“Now…” Fleur positioned herself against the wall next to her and held her hand. “You tell me about your family.”

Hermione was delighted by how curious Fleur was in her boring life and her boring parents.

“So, they look inside other people’s mouths for a living?”

“To ensure good dental hygiene!”

“And muggles, they do not ensure this on zaire own? They need someone to do it for them?”

“Well, we don’t have all the magical tools and spells at our disposal!”

“Hm,” Fleur thought about it.

“What are you thinking?”

“When Veela turn, they lose zaire teeth and grow a beak.”

“What happens to the teeth?”

“Je ne sais pas.” She shrugged. “They go away. And return afterwards. Simple.”

Hermione waited for the rest of the thought.

“Your parents would not ‘ave secure jobs in our world.”

“No,” Hermione laughed. “I supposed they wouldn’t.”

“And how do they feel about your being here?”

Hermione took a breath, unsure of how to answer the unexpected question.

She didn’t talk about her parents very often. She was good at nipping any conversation about them with her friends, not that they ever pushed her much. The parents topic was a sensitive one for too many of them anyway.

It was different with Fleur. She had shared so much with Hermione. Not that she felt like she had to do the same, but she actually wanted to open up to her as well.

So, she did.

She shared things she hadn’t even shared with Harry and Ron. She told her about her parents’ initial reservations, the back and forth she’d had with her mom.

Hermione had always felt too big for her life, even at a young age. Her parents knew that she was special. Despite matriculating her in various school programs and academic extracurriculars, it was never enough. Something was always missing.

When she started showing signs of “special” abilities, they knew there was more to it than just brains and they were soon visited by magical authorities who explained the situation. That was one of the most pivotal moments of Hermione’s young life. Learning about her magic felt like the puzzle was coming together, like things were starting to make sense.

She devoured book after book that their source brought to her. Even before receiving her letter from Hogwarts, she was sure she would be going there. Nothing would keep her.

Her mother had not been as excited for her little girl to leave them to go to some strange magical world in some undisclosed hidden castle. Hermione knew it hurt them when she left.

“I think she would have wanted a different relationship with me,” Hermione shared. “A closer mother-daughter type thing. But we are just so different. I don’t think she completely understood me, neither of them did. But I couldn’t help being myself.”

“That is what drew me to you from ze start,” Fleur gave her hand a squeeze. “You are unapologetically yourself. No matter what anyone has to say.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Hermione felt the need to defend her parents. “I love them both very much and we have gotten closer since. It’s just hard being an anomaly in my own family.”

“I can only imagine what that is like.”

“I really am grateful,” Hermione continued. “Even if they didn’t always understand me, they always tried. They gave me every opportunity to find myself. They never held me back.”

 “They sound very kind.”

“They are.” Hermione grinned. “They would really like you too.”

Fleur blushed at the thought before sitting back up with interest.

“Do you miss them?”

“Quite a bit.”

Fleur squeezed Hermione’s hands together and brought them up to her lips, placing a soft kiss into her palms.

“Now tell me more muggle things.”

Fleur seemed to really enjoy hearing about the muggle world, revealing that she did not know many muggles herself, though she very much enjoyed sightseeing and taking trips to muggle cities, especially Paris.

“I imagine we’ve been there at the same time,” Hermione mused. “My parents love spending holidays in France.”

“Per’aps,” Fleur winked. “But I would remember if I ‘ad seen a face like yours.”

“I’m going to miss you when you’re gone.”

The words abruptly slipped out of Hermione’s mouth.

“I am going to miss you too, petite souris,” Fleur replied. “Trop.”

JUNE  

They should have talked about it more. What it meant. What they were.

But they were both too afraid of the answer. There was too much going on and too little time left. They just wanted to enjoy as much of each other’s company as they could.

It wasn’t just the two of them. After Viktor’s attack, the whole group began spending much more time together. They were at Hogsmeade nearly every weekend.

Harry and Ron would hang out a while on their way to secretly meet with Sirius. Cedric began to bring Cho around more often. Though she had her own busy social calendar, she began to fit in much better than she had initially. Hermione was glad about that, as it seemed she and Cedric really cared a great deal for each other. It was sweet.

Harry even stopped behaving so awkwardly around Cho, allowing the two of them and Ron to develop an amusing friend trio, engaged in heated conversations about strategies for Quidditch and Wizards Chess.

The ringleaders of all their excursions were Viktor and Roger, whose friendship had continued to flourish, especially after the incident. The meetups were a great way to distract them all from the pressure building up inside.

They were all nervous as the final task approached. None of the Champions or their respective friends could sleep very well or focus much outside of preparing and spending time together. It was as if they were all feeling the pressure of time ticking against them.

They prepared as much as they could, sometimes together, sometimes on their own if they had strategies they wanted to keep secret. Regardless, the bond between them had grown too deep for them to not be supportive of each other.

After weeks of studying for exams and preparation for the task, everyone was completely drained and burnt out. They were physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. Yet somehow, they all managed to find the energy to get dressed and sneak out when their individually crafted origami animals came to find them.

Hermione and Fleur were cuddling in Fleur’s carriage when their respective paper animals, a cat and a dragon, flew in through the window and glided in circles over them.

Fleur plucked hers out first and opened the message.

Hog’s Head. One last dinner together.

- V.K.

“Ze name is not very appealing…”

“Hog’s Head?” Hermione grumbled. “Why not the Three Broomsticks?”

“What kind of establishment is this?”

“A pub. A dingy. Grimy. Pub.”

“DRIIIINK UP!”

Roger and Viktor dropped fresh pints onto the table while everyone cheered.

“This round on me!” Viktor proclaimed proudly.

“Aren’t they all on you?” Ron grinned; his cheeks flushed.

“Looks like they might be on YOU!” Hermione giggled, as Ron spilled butterbeer onto his shirt.

“Bollocks!”

“Fleur! Have I told you just HOW much I love your tenacity?” Cedric slurred, sliding into the booth next to the girls. “You too Hermione, you are always so…. So… Responsible! Oh – Cho!” He jumped up and launched into his girlfriend’s arms. “You’re back, my sweet!”

“I was just in the loo!” Cho laughed, rolling her eyes as she hugged him back lovingly.

“Hé!” Fleur tapped Hermione’s shoulder. “Qu'est-ce que c'est? Where did you go?”

“Hm?” Hermione was still stuck on Cedric’s comment, not sure how she felt about it.

“You look concerned, souris.”

Hermione pouted, looking ashamed as she addressed Fleur.

“I told your grandmother I do not engage in these types of shenanigans!”

“Shenanigans?” Fleur snorted. “What is zis word?”

“All of this!” Hermione pointed around her. “All of these shenanigans!”

She made a dramatic gesture with her arms, pointing to their friends. Harry and Ron all over the annoyed food merchant picking out much too many bites and snacks, guaranteeing they would have a stomachache the next day. Viktor and Roger, making sure everyone had a drink, using their natural charm to sway the bartender to turn a blind eye to the underage wizards in attendance. And of course, Cedric, who seemed to have started before the rest of them arrived. He was incredibly happy, hugging everyone and relaying all the things he appreciated about each of them. He wrapped Cho in his arms and kissed her, eliciting claps from the group as she blushed, definitely enjoying the attention.

“Shenanigans!” Hermione repeated.

Fleur giggled and pulled Hermione back against her in the booth, holding her around the waist and pressing a quick kiss to the side of her neck, neither of them worried about what their friends would think. As much as they hadn’t proclaimed any update in the status of their relationship, nothing had really changed between them. At least not publicly. They had been affectionate with each other before; it was just a little more now. Particularly around their small group.

Either way, nobody asked them anything, so they didn’t say anything. Though Hermione did sometimes catch Viktor smirking at them or sending a knowing wink towards Fleur. 

“And I’ve drank way too much!” Hermione shook her head in disappointment and pushed her butter beer away. “What would grand-mere say!?”

“Grand-mere?” Fleur teased. “She would probably say, you are a light weight, ma cherie! You ‘ave only had two biers!”

“I’m supposed to be the responsible one!” Hermione continued her self-condemnation as she buried her face into Fleur’s chest.

“’Ermione…” Fleur coaxed the younger witch’s attention back to her, a serious look on her face now. “If you are worried about… me. You should know zat I ‘ave been practicing.”

Hermione knew that was true. She could always feel the Allure around her, never too overwhelming but also not muted like she had noticed in the past when Fleur had first been working on controlling it. She knew that Fleur was handling her Allure extremely well.

Too well! She had been for a while. She was incredibly good at pacing and keeping them from going too far during their heated kissing sessions, despite the Allure and Hermione wanting more.

“I'm not worried about you,” Hermione said softly, lowering her gaze.

“Ah…” Fleur sat up and moved her own drink away before reaching for Hermione’s chin, lifting it up to look her into her eyes. “I am not worried about you either.”

Hermione stared into her mesmerizing blue eyes. She found herself wishing that Fleur had in fact not been practicing. That they were not being responsible and pacing themselves. That they would let their inhibitions go and accidentally slip into the Mentis Consociatus while in an emotional, vulnerable state.

“’Ermione…” Fleur’s breath hitched while she cradled Hermione’s cheeks, as if she knew her thoughts.

“We gotta GO!” Roger all but landed onto them as he laughed. “Owner is on the way back!”

Fleur grabbed Hermione’s hand, laughing as she swiftly pulled her out of the booth while the boys frantically downed the rest of the drinks left on the table. The unruly group burst out of the doors, cackling and falling over each other before they could get kicked out.

They somehow managed to get back to the school grounds, the group of them hugging and giggling and shushing each other the whole way. Viktor and Fleur followed the Hogwarts students inside the castle to drop them off before making their way back to their own housing situations.

“Petite Souris,” Fleur tugged Hermione away as they neared the Gryffindor tower.

“Mhm?” Hermione let herself be cornered behind a statue, a sly smile on her face as she placed her hands around the taller girl’s waist.

“I think we should end the night now and go back to our own dormitories.”

“Oh…” Hermione sulked, dropping her hands in disappointment. “Okay…”

They had gotten into the habit of sneaking off into one of the towers most evenings, as their roommate situations didn’t make it easy to have alone time. They had a blanket stashed in a corner so they could snuggle together to talk and kiss. It had surpassed reading by the fire on Hermione’s list of evening activities.

“Do not make that sad face,” Fleur cooed as she pressed a kiss to Hermione’s lips. “Will you spend the night with me later this week? The night before the final task?”

Hermione nodded excitedly, seemingly assuaged by the kiss.

“But no… shenanigans!” Fleur winked.  “Only to sleep.”

“Assuming I don’t get taken captive again,” Hermione said matter of factly.

“Please do not,” Fleur pleaded, worry flashing over her face at the memory of the last task. “I was a mess zat night and ze whole morning before getting to ze Black Lake.”

“You were?”

“Yes!” she exclaimed as if it had been obvious. “Not only did I not know where you were, I could not even sense you! I did not feel your presence anywhere! It was so disorienting.”

“You can feel me too?”

“Yes. Not in ze same way. But I'm a way.”

“Oh.”

“So, practice is going well?”

“It is going very well,” Fleur responded as she pulled back sheets on her bed for them.

Hermione had tried to convince Fleur, unsuccessfully, that they should practice going into the MentisConsociatus together, citing her need to practice with her. Fleur had quickly turned her down, explaining that she still had much to learn about her own Veela magic.

“Grand-mere says zaire are many more lessons and training to do when I – When I get back to France.”

She turned away as she said those last words. Both of them did. Any reminder of the end of their time together was too hard to think about.

They got into the bed and lay silently, unsure of what to do.

They had both been excited about spending the night together, but now that they were here, there was a sense of sadness and worry. As much as everyone had prepared for the next task, they had not idea what they would be up against.

Hermione could sense Fleur’s stress.

“How about a massage?” Hermione offered. “No shenanigans!” she added with a laugh when Fleur gave her a suspicious look.

“D’accord.” Fleur agreed and lay on her stomach, allowing herself to relax under her touch.

Hermione sat beside her, careful not to take things in an inappropriate direction. She truly did want to help Fleur relax.

She started on her head, thumbing circles against her temples, then down to her neck and shoulders, rubbing and squeezing her hands against tight knots. 

Fleur groaned as Hermione jabbed her fingers into a particularly sensitive spot.

“You’re really tense,” she said softly as she eased her pressure, working slowly to loosen the tender muscle.

“Mhmm….” Fleur could only moan as she continued.

Hermione moved down her arms, squeezing all the way down her hands and fingertips, paying special attention to her wand hand. Then back up to her shoulders. Back and forth.

As she approached her midback, Hermione had to stop herself from swinging her legs over her body for a better angle. She did the best she could from her position sitting by her side, focusing on Fleur’s reactions to know where she needed to apply more intensity and pressure. By the time she got to her lower back, she noticed just how relaxed Fleur was.

“Doing alright there?” she giggled as she rubbed across her back, moving up to safer territory.

“I ‘ave melted into ze bed,” Fleur replied, her eyes closed and smile on her face.

“I see that.”

“Hmm…” Fleur turned onto her back and looked at Hermione affectionately. “Zat was vairy nice, ma petite souris. Another skill to add to your list of impressive talents.” 

“I am to please.”

“And you do.”

Her eyes were a deep blue, piercing into her dangerously. Hermione could feel the Allure throbbing around them. Fleur maintained her composure somehow.

“Viens.” Fleur gestured towards her. She didn’t move from her laying position. “Come.”

Hermione approached slowly, careful not to cross any lines, but Fleur wrapped a hand around her waist and tugged, forcing her to straddle her as they were brought face to face.

"Zat is better,” she smiled against her surprised expression.

Hermione took a breath as she moved strands of hair away from the Veela’s face and kissed her forehead tenderly.  She was suddenly filled with emotion as she looked into her eyes. She felt nervous about the final task. Worried about the dangers she would face.

“Be careful, okay?” she said quietly, taking her time kissing her all over her face – forehead, temples, cheeks, jaw.

“You are worried about me?”

“Of course, I am!” Hermione said as she continued to stroke her hair around her face. “I know you take offense to that, but it’s not that I question your abilities or skills, I just can’t bear the thought of you being hurt! That doesn’t’ mean that I –”

Fleur calmed her with a soft kiss to her lips. She paused to kiss the palms of her hands before pulling her into a longer, more passionate one.

Hermione tightened her thighs around Fleur’s waist and let her body descend against Fleur’s. She felt their bodies move up and down against each other, felt their hearts pounding in tempo together, felt the desire swirling around them. She felt Fleur’s hands squeeze her waist, both in want and in hesitation.

“Thank you for worrying about me,” Fleur whispered as she nuzzled into her neck. “For caring.”

“I…” Hermione started to say how she truly felt about her before thinking better of it. “Of course.”

 “I should sleep now.” Fleur sighed. Hermione felt her lips against her neck as she spoke and rolled them both onto their sides.

“Yes,” Hermione nodded in agreement. It was getting late, and the Champion would need her energy tomorrow. “You probably should.”

They cuddled for a little while longer, stealing brief, sweet kisses onto jaws and necks and lips, until Fleur turned over and pulled Hermione’s arm around her. Hermione pressed a reassuring kiss against her back and held her the rest of the night.

Hermione was standing anxiously in the stands next to Ron. They were both incredibly nervous.

She couldn’t get Fleur’s words out of her head. See you soon, petite souris. That was all she had said as they said goodbye at the Champions tent.

The Champions had gone into the maze forever ago. There was some excitement here and there at the start, light beams and spells going off inside, updates from the announcer, but there had been nothing for well over an hour.

“Something’s wrong,” she said suddenly, turning to Ron in desperation.

“How do you know?”

She shook her head. She wasn’t sure how to explain it.

“Where are you going Hermione!?”

“Something’s wrong!” she said again as she ran down the stands, Ron following behind her this time.

She could feel it. Fleur was in trouble.

They had talked about it beforehand. What it might be like if the Allure could reach her. Fleur had told her not to panic if she felt strong emotions. She expected dangerous situations ahead. Tournament stress and adrenaline would be normal.

Hermione understood that. This feeling she was getting now though, was different. For the first time, she felt something closer to terror in the Allure’s pull. Terror and despair, a deep sorrow, fear, loss. Fear for herself or someone else, she wasn’t sure.

She ran down and out as far as she could before she was stopped by some ministry official.

“Stay back please, it’s dangerous in there!”

“They are in trouble!”

“Yes, well that is part of the game after all,” he laughed at her distress. “They must get themselves out of trouble.”

“No, you don’t understand!”

“Listen little girl, I –”

He turned as the crowd gasped and pointed into the arena. Hermione and Ron took the distraction as an opportunity to rush onto the field.

Krum appeared first, swaying across the field with confusion in his eyes.

“Viktor!” They ran to him. “Are you okay?”

“I… vat happen?”

Then came Fleur. She was panting on the ground, looking tattered and frightened.

“Fleur!”

She looked up as Hermione ran towards her, struggling to stand up to meet her.

“Oh, ‘Ermione!” She pulled her into her arms. “Ma Souris.”

“Are you okay? What happened?”

“I am not sure,” she shook her head, looking back at Viktor with suspicion.

“What happened?” Hermione pulled back to look at her. “Where is Harry? Cedric?”

“I…” she looked back at Viktor who shrugged helplessly as Ron helped him stand upright. “I do not know. Something is wrong.”

“I vas battling a spider and then… Nothing. And now I am here,” he looked back at Fleur. “Vat did I do?” he asked desperately. “I do not remember!”

“Viktor you…” she sighed as she observed his confusion. “You were not yourself. I think you were being controlled. You attacked me.”

“Vat do you mean?” He pulled away from Ron and went to her. “Did I hurt you, Fleur?”

Fleur shook her head in relief as she hugged him. “I knew it could not be you!”

“I was at ze cup. I was close,” Fleur continued explaining. “Viktor caught up to me. We fought. I stunned him and shot sparks for assistance. I tried to run back to ze cup, but I was injured and slow. I saw ‘Arry and Cedric. Zey both were reaching for ze cup. And zen… Poof!… Both disappeared.”

“What do you mean… Poof?” Ron stared at her skeptically.

“LOOK!” someone called from the stands. The crowd was roaring with excitement.

Everyone’s attention turned back towards the maze, just a few feet away from them.

Harry and Cedric appeared suddenly, landing roughly on the ground, Triwizard Cup held between them. Hermione stopped in her tracks, Viktor pausing next to her, as Ron and Fleur rushed to the aid of the Hogwarts Champions.

“Cedric…?” she heard Viktor whisper.

There was a crowd of people around them suddenly, pushing their way ahead of them. Professors and faculty, ministry officials. Hermione could no longer see what was going on.

“Non!”

The shriek pulled them back to the moment. Viktor shoved through the crowd, Hermione following behind him. When she reached them, she froze at the scene. The four Champions were on the ground. Viktor held Harry and Fleur as they huddled around a limp bodied Cedric. Fleur was crying onto his chest.  The Triwizard cup lay on the ground, forgotten.

“My boy! MY BOY!”

 She heard the wailing as Cedric’s father rushed in and fell onto his son.

“Is he…” Ron gaped from his kneeling position on the ground.

“He is dead,” Viktor answered as he looked up at them. “Dead. He is dead…”

“Cho…” Ron said to himself. “Where is – I have to find her. I have to…” He ran off in search of Cedric’s girlfriend. “Have to find her…”

“Dead… dead… He is…”

Hermione kneeled next to Viktor and pulled him in. Rubbing his back as he wrapped his arms around her and continued repeating himself. “Dead… dead…”

She felt another arm around her. And then another. Fleur’s energy radiated with terror and despair and anger. Hermione tugged her and Harry closer.

“It was Voldemort,” Harry stated suddenly from within their huddle. “He’s back.”

“What did you say?” someone asked from above them.

“I said Voldemort is back!” Harry said louder. “He did this! VOLDEMORT is back! He killed Cedric!”

 It was chaos after that.

Hermione was having a hard time understanding what was going on. The Champions were all being pulled away suddenly, to be cared for or questioned or interrogated. Harry was being pulled in one direction by Mad Eye Moody, Viktor and Fleur by their respective School Heads.

Fleur sprang into Hermione’s arms once more, grasping tightly before Madame Maxime tugged her away again, saying something about treating her injuries.

Hermione stood alone, waiting for what would come next.

“What’s happened?” Roger was huffing behind her. “They wouldn’t let me through!”

One Week Later

“What did Karkaroff say?”

“He says ve must not get involved and that ve cannot talk about this,” Krum grunted. “But I know vat happened.”

“That’s right,” Roger nodded as he patted his friend’s shoulder. He had not left Viktor’s side since they found each other after the task.

The group of them, Ron and Harry, Roger and Viktor, Fleur and Hermione, sat outside by the lake. They still had some time before the visiting students would have to head back to their respective vessels to head back home.

“I thought we should…” Hermione pulled her notebook out of her pocket. “Read Cedric’s wager terms?”

“That’s a brilliant idea, Hermione,” Ron said. “What do you think Harry?”

Harry looked up at silently. He was still shell shocked from his traumatizing encounter fighting the dark lord, and then the fake Mad Eye Moody. Ron put his arm around him.

Hermione looked towards the other Champions.

Krum smiled softly at her. “He did vin after all.”

Fleur squeezed her hand reassuringly.

Hermione read out loud.

“In the event of my very likely victory, my terms are that all of us must… stay friends,” she continued with tears in her eyes. “We will meet up once a year on the anniversary of… of…” she stopped reading and began to cry.

Fleur wrapped her in her arms, tears shedding down her own face.  

Viktor gently took the paper from Hermione’s hand and continued reading.

“…on the anniversary of the end… of the tournament. This tournament that, as mentioned, I have beaten all of you in.” He choked at the words. “Additionally, you must all celebrate me and my victory each time. Signed, Cedric Diggory, Vinner of the Trivizard Tournament.”

Viktor looked around at them. “Ve all vill do this,” he said. “For Cedric.”

They all nodded in agreement.

“I’ve been wondering…” Harry spoke up suddenly. He had been quiet all this time, as if in a daze. They all immediately looked towards him encouragingly. “What happened to Rita Skeeter? She hasn’t written anything about us in a while.”

“Oh, bollocks!” Hermione exclaimed, remembering the beetle living in the jar in her room. “I’ll be back.”

Hermione stood outside of the carriages waiting for Fleur.

“Petite Souris.” The veela smiled. “I was wondering where you ‘ad gone.”

“I brought your book back.” She handed the Beauxbâtons book to Fleur.

“Oh…” she took it quietly, seemingly disappointed.

“I know it was quite special to you,” Hermione clarified. “I didn’t want you to forget it.”

“Merci…” Fleur smiled as she took Hermione’s hands and kissed the palms before placing the book back in them. “You keep it.”

“What? But I thought –”

“For now,” she said. “Will you keep it for me?”

Hermione beamed. She had not been sure what to expect during this goodbye. Part of her expected Fleur to wish her well and be out of her life forever. A fling. She had to prepare herself for that possibility.

Instead, Fleur gave her something to hold onto, a part of herself. A symbol that they were going to continue being in each other’s lives.

“I expect you to be an expert ze next time I see you!”

“Oh, but I’ve already heard all about the wonderful marble and superior architecture!” Hermione teased, “And the advanced coursework, and extracurriculars, and magical creatures, etcetera, etcetera… etcetera.”

“You are bad, petit souris!” Fleur grinned.

“I told you.”

“Will you write to me?”

“Yes,” she responded without missing a beat.

“I will see you again soon. I promise.”

She cradled Hermione’s face and leaned in slowly, placing a soft lingering kiss on one cheek and then the other before stepping back and holding her hands.

Beauxbâtons students began arriving and were loading into the carriages.

It was time to go.

“Au revoir, ‘Ermione.”

“Fleur…” Hermione pulled her into a firm embrace.

Fleur sighed into the hug and returned the intensity. They held each other, neither wanting to let go as students made their ways around them.

“Everything’s going to change now, isn’t it?” Hermione asked, still holding on.

“Yes,” Fleur confirmed, tightening her hold. “He is back.”