A/N: Hello! I can't stop writing Fleurmione!

This story plays with the Order of the Phoenix year. Some parts of the story are obviously AU, some are the same, and some are tweaked- so don't worry if some events are slightly out of order.

Chapter 1.

Hermione's hand glided across the fresh parchment, scrawling her essay neatly and quickly. There was a light thud and she looked to see Harry and Ron throwing balled up bits of paper at each other and stifling giggles. Hermione rolled her eyes, although she was relieved that Harry was smiling again after his disastrous detention with Umbridge. Although he did always seem happier the day after talking to Sirius.

"You two can't avoid doing this essay forever," Hermione said curtly. Ron frowned.

"As if Umbridge even cares whether we learn anything in her class at all," Ron said grumpily, balling up another scrap of parchment.

"Oh, that's right," Harry chirped, "So last night when I talked to Sirius he said that Dumbledore is stepping in with this Umbridge stuff. Apparently she's planning on bringing in some Ministry auditor to rake through all the financials of Hogwarts."

"Oh for heaven's sake! Not another Umbridge" Hermione exclaimed. Ron pulled a face.

"Great that they're finally stepping in though," Ron reasoned, cocking his head to one side, "But I dunno how they can stop the Ministry."

Harry looked at his watch.

"Time to get to class," Harry groaned. The others groaned too.

"Great, time to read the Defence Against the Dark Arts theory book for a tenth time," Hermione said, rolling her eyes as she packed her things back into her bag.

Hermione looked at Harry scratching at the back of his hand, pulling his sleeve down again quickly. She was sitting between the boys at the Gryffindor dining table. Ron was loudly grumbling at the lack of food on the table. It was strange that the house elves were holding back on serving dinner though.

"Hem hem," a sickly voice interrupted. The trio looked up at the professor's table. Umbridge was so short it didn't even appear like she was standing. But chatter was dying down around the room.

"I have an update straight from the Ministry for you all," Umbridge drawled in her sickly sweet voice, "As I mentioned at the start of the year, we have entered a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practises that ought to be prohibited. By doing this, the Minister has decided it would be best if we took Hogwarts through a more thorough audit process."

At this, Umbridge paused and shot a sidelong gaze at Dumbledore, positively dripping with dissatisfaction.

"Headmaster Dumbledore has helpfully sourced an auditor from the Gringotts Wizarding Bank,"

"Nothing more unbiased than a third party auditor," Dumbledore cut in with a small smile, "Gringotts has the most highly ranked auditing department amongst its vast business collective."

"Yes, well, so you have helpfully explained to us, Professor," Umbridge interrupted with another sickly sweet smile, "So keep your eyes out for the latest Educational Decree informing you of this new arrangement."

With that, Umbridge sat down and the dinner appeared on the dining tables of the Four Houses. Ron immediately set to grabbing food greedily with both hands, but Harry laughed and nudged Hermione.

"Guess Dumbledore did find a way to stop them bringing in another Ministry crony after all," he smirked. Hermione returned the laugh.

Sure enough, Filch was nailing up Educational Decree Number Five as they were walking out of breakfast the next morning.

"Merlin, she is really getting into making those isn't she?" Ron commented, eying up the Decree warily. Harry rubbed the sore back of his hand, frowning.

"Power tripping little-"

"Mr Potter," Professor McGonagall interrupted as she glided over to the trio, robes billowing.

"Erm, hello Professor," Harry said, swiftly changing the subject.

"I understand you have been receiving quite a number of detentions from Professor Umbridge," Professor McGonagall said severely, peering over her spectacles. Harry tugged at his sleeve, pulling it further over his hand.

"Er, yes Professor," Harry said awkwardly, before being buoyed by his annoyance, "But her class is rubbish! Its not going to teach us anything!"

"Mr Potter, it would be best if you kept your nose clean. That goes for the lot of you," McGonagall replied, crossing her arms, "I suggest you get to your class with her now, you don't want to give her any more reason to dish out detentions. Not today of all days."

And McGonagall swiftly strode off, leaving the three to hurry off to class.

"What dya think she meant by 'not today of all days'?" Ron asked, trying to pull his loose tie into a slightly tidier knot as they reached the classroom door. The others shrugged and hurried into the classroom to find seats together. The only table left with three seats together was directly up the front. Shooting each other looks of defeat, the trio shuffled in to sit down.

Almost immediately after they had sat down and got their textbooks out, loud clacking announced the arrival of Umbridge on her pink heels, matching the rest of her all-pink ensemble.

Hermione tried to suppress an eye-roll as Umbridge began speaking, outlining the chapter that they would be forced to read in silence this lesson. She stared at the cover of the textbook in front of her, almost taunting her that she would have to read it all over again instead of doing some actual reading. Ron looked like he was already suppressing a yawn.

Another clacking of heels punctuated the speech Umbridge was giving. The toad-like Professor stopped, alarmed, looking as the door swung open.

Hermione felt a familiar warmth tickling the air around her. She looked up to see her suspicions confirmed. Fleur Delacour stepped lightly into the classroom, dressed in a pencil skirt and a light blue blouse, a brown leather folder under her arm.

Umbridge stared at her, looking affronted at her very presence in the classroom.

"Oh, you continue, Madame Umbridge," Fleur drawled in her usual aloof manner, "I am merely 'ere to observe,"

"And you are?" Umbridge replied, arching an eyebrow.

Hermione swore she could almost feel the entire classroom holding their breath as they watched this exchange. Fleur extended a perfectly manicured hand. Umbridge pointedly ignored the extended hand.

"Fleur Delacour, Gringotts," she said with a smooth smile, showing perfect teeth, "I am at 'Ogwarts to conduct an audit of ze financial 'istory and future spend."

"And why do you think this gives you the right to sit in on classes?" Umbridge asked, her voice becoming even more sickly sweet, "Shouldn't you be away in an office looking through ledgers?"

"Bien sûr," Fleur replied with another dazzling smile, flipping her platinum blonde hair over her shoulder, "But I am very zorough. I am also observing classes and ozzer procedures at 'Ogwarts to ensure zat resources are being effectively used."

"Aren't you a little young to be an auditor?" Umbridge asked. Fleur clicked her heels as she walked over to a table across the aisle from Hermione, sitting down fluidly. She waved her hand dismissively at Umbridge.

"I graduated ze top of my class at Beauxbatons Academy," Fleur said proudly, "Proceed wiz your lesson, Madame."

Umbridge pursed her lips, but with a tiny little shake of her head that shook the pink bow on the top of her hair, she returned to the class. She cleared her throat in her trademark way, returning to the lesson.

And soon they were reading quietly, yet again. Hermione's eyes glazed over as she looked at the chapter she had already read countless times. Why couldn't Umbridge at least let her read other books in class? She stole a glance at Fleur, who was writing carefully across the aisle from her. Her blonde hair was tumbling down her shoulders and the light from the windows was hitting it in a way that made it shimmer. Hermione bit her lip and moved her gaze elsewhere in the room. Umbridge was watching Fleur warily from her perch at her desk. Hermione looked around at her classmates. Many of them were openly gazing out the window or fidgeting. Some were also stealing looks at Fleur.

But soon the class was over and they were filing out to head to their next class of the day.

"How bloody brilliant was it that Fleur actually audited Umbridge herself?" Harry chuckled as they headed towards the dungeons.

"So good," Ron laughed, "Also how great is it that Fleur is the auditor from Gringotts?"

"Because now we have another Order member on campus to keep Umbridge in check?" Harry replied. Ron reddened a little.

"Er, well, that too I suppose," Ron said, and Harry elbowed him.

"As long as you don't try to ask her out again," Harry joked.

"Hey, well, Hermione dated Krum!" Ron said defensively, shoving Harry playfully.

"That's different, Hermione actually dated him! She didn't shout at him to go to the ball with her," Harry cackled and Hermione laughed too, but a little hollowly.

The truth was, Krum and her had never actually dated. But Hermione had never quite found a way to tell Harry or Ron. Especially after Ron's rather nasty outburst about it all at the Yule Ball. That year had been absolutely awful, with Harry and Ron's constant bickering, Hermione had been quite lonely. She had spent most of her time either to-ing and fro-ing between the two boys or squirrelled away in the library.

In the library she had met Viktor, who had become a close friend and confidante. Surprisingly, the burly quidditch celebrity had been a better listener than Harry and Ron were. Unlike them, he was as academically minded as Hermione. Although it was no wonder, given he was a Triwizard Champion and incredibly astute.

It was this astuteness that had led Viktor to discovering Hermione's most closely guarded secret. Viktor had been studying across the table from Hermione for weeks when he had first brought up the way she looked at Fleur. She had been frantic, embarrassed, defensive. She had told Viktor that everyone looked at Fleur like that. Tried to convince him that he was imagining it. But Viktor, sweet Viktor, had simply taken her hands in his and said he would help her through it and wouldn't push her into admitting anything until she was ready.

Hermione snapped back to present-day reality at Snape deducting points from Gryffindor. Somehow, in the mere five minutes they had been in the class, Ron had already managed to piss off Snape. Hermione sighed.

"So what happened there?" Ron asked as Snape swept to the other side of the room to help a struggling Neville set up his equipment. 'Help' being a loose term, as he mainly berated poor Neville until he started dropping flasks.

"What happened where?" Hermione asked, distracted as she watched Neville crack under the stern gaze of Snape.

"With Krum," Ron repeated for her, "Did you guys break up at the end of the year or?"

"Yeah, decided long distance would be a disaster," Hermione answered, before swiftly changing the subject to the setting up of their own equipment.

After classes finished for the day, Hermione made her way to the library. Predictably, Harry and Ron insisted that they had to go sharpen up on their quidditch skills. But that was fine, Hermione had a letter to write that she would rather keep private.

She sat down at a quiet desk at the far end of the library and began to write.

"Dear Viktor,

I hope you are well. I am sorry I haven't written to you since getting back to school. It has been quite hectic, I'm glad you didn't have to endure Hogwarts while Professor Umbridge was teaching here.

I've been thinking a lot about our conversations in the library while you were here for the Tournament. I was thinking maybe its time to bring up that topic I was always avoiding at the time.

Viktor, how does the wizarding world feel about homosexuality?

That's about as much as I'm ready to say for now. I miss your company. I hope you have had luck with convincing your manager to let you take time off quidditch training to look at some post graduate education.

Love always,

H"

Satisfied with her eighth draft, Hermione packed up her belongings and began heading to the Owlery, letter clutched firmly in her hand.

Hermione leapt up the stairs two at a time before rounding the corner swiftly. She had to send the letter with its carefully sandwiched question as quick as she could before she lost her nerve. But as she rounded the corner, she collided into someone and fell to the ground.

"Je suis désolé," lilted a silky voice, and Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat. She could feel Fleur's subtle thrall playing at her, taunting her.

"I—erm—uh—sorry, no, I should've been looking at where I was going," Hermione stuttered, gathering the scattered papers that had tumbled from Fleur's arms.

"Tu es ami avec… Ah… You are friends wiz 'Arry, oui?" Fleur said, smiling a light little smile that made Hermione feel weak at the knees.

"Er, yes, I'm Hermione Granger, I-I'm not sure if we were ever properly introduced," Hermione inwardly cursed at how she stumbled over her words.

"Fleur Delacour," Fleur said, with her same proud smile. She straightened up and smoothed down her skirt. Hermione straightened up too, holding out Fleur's books and papers for her.

"I-I know," Hermione answered. Fleur took her things back from Hermione, her fingers lightly brushing Hermione's, erupting butterflies in the younger girl's stomach.

"'Ermione, zis is yours, non?" Fleur held out her letter. Horrified, Hermione felt a blush travel up her neck and cheeks. She snatched the letter rather unceremoniously from Fleur's hand.

"Ah, yes, erm, excuse me," Hermione rushed off, leaving a slightly surprised looking Fleur Delacour in her wake. As she ran the rest of the way to the Owlery, she couldn't help but let her mind linger on how maddeningly attractive it had been to hear her name roll off Fleur's tongue.

Later in the week, Hermione was having breakfast with Ginny in the Great Hall when she saw Fleur again. Fleur glided into the hall and sat down at the end of the Ravenclaw table. As she wasn't a staff member, she either took her meals in her quarters or sat at one of the student tables.

"As much as I love that she is annoying Umbridge, I was looking forward to not having to deal with Beauxbatons snobs this year," Ginny said, arching an eyebrow and noting the number of heads that had turned to openly stare at Fleur.

"Well, technically she's with Gringotts now," Hermione said, avoiding looking over at Fleur.

"You know what I mean though, she's still just as arrogant," Ginny said between bites of her toast.

"She is, but…" Hermione's thought was interrupted by the morning mail arriving. Her copy of the Daily Prophet and a letter dropped in front of her. She immediately recognized the neat printed letters on the front of the letter.

"Viktor…" she murmured, touching the careful letting of her name.

"Is that back on?" Ginny positively squealed, "Yes, Hermione's Love Life is still in existence!"

"Hey!" Hermione swatted Ginny.

"You have to admit, you are awfully secretive about your love life…" Ginny said, "I had almost convinced myself that you didn't have those feelings at all for anyone."

"We don't all want to wear a necklace of hickeys to class, Gin," Hermione retorted, gesturing at three large love-bites that Ginny was sporting courtesy of Dean Thomas.

"No, not unless they're from Vicky, right?" Ginny teased and Hermione swatted her again, tucking the letter carefully into her robes.

"I've got to go to class, Gin, I suggest you learn a glamour charm for that neck of yours before going to Transfiguration."

The two headed out of the Hall together, running into Filch nailing another Educational Decree up on the wall.

"High Inquisitor? What's that bullshit?" Ginny frowned, looking at the Decree.

"I don't know, but I have a horrible feeling its her retaliation for Dumbledore's Gringotts move…" Hermione said warily as they resumed their walk to class.

Hermione was tucked up in the library later when she finally had the solitude to read Viktor's letter. She read through the first page, which was catching her up on how things had been with him. For a man of few words in person, Viktor was prone to writing long letters.

"…

I am glad you are finally ready to talk a little on this subject, Hermione.

Homosexuality in the wizarding world is not without controversy. Similar to blood status, there are large factions of the community that are firmly against it. You may find that is why nobody ever speaks openly about Dumbledore's personal life. But of course, there are also large parts of the community that are completely fine with it and accepting.

Perhaps this is too soon to ask, but does this mean there is a new person gaining your attention in the halls?

…"

Hermione folded the letter abruptly. She wasn't sure why she was being so hesitant and scared about this. But Viktor's warning that she would weather similar treatment to how she did already for her blood status hardly made her feel encouraged to open up.

She sighed, tucking the letter into her Defence Against the Dark Arts textbook to continue later. For now she had a potions essay to complete. After Neville had inadvertently set Snape's robes on fire in the last lesson, Hermione was determined not to give Snape any more reason for deducting points from Gryffindor. She had just finished her first sentence when she felt a familiar warmth fall over her.

"Bonsoir,"

Hermione's head snapped up to see Fleur Delacour in all her radiance standing at the edge of her table.

"Ah—hi, hello, good evening," Hermione babbled, before gritting her teeth. Fleur laughed lightly. She sat down at the table opposite Hermione.

"'Ermione, oui?" Fleur said in her melodic voice, "Do you mind if I sit 'ere to complete some work? Ze ozzer areas of ze library are too crowded,"

"S-sure," Hermione swallowed heavily, "This is the most secluded part of the library, I like studying here because its quiet,"

"And nobody can stare," Fleur added with a small smile, before taking out some papers. Hermione looked up at her. It was stupid, but she had always kind of assumed that Fleur had somehow enjoyed the constant attention and turning heads that she had whenever she entered a room.

She tried to turn back to her potions essay, but the warm tickling of Fleur's thrall was distracting. She wanted to ask Fleur if she could control it, but she didn't know enough about Veelas to know whether it only affected those attracted to women, or everyone. She looked up at Fleur again. She could see how long and dark her eyelashes were as she looked down at her papers. Her silver-blonde hair was tied in a loose plait that hung over one shoulder. Her pink soft lips were pouted as she looked at a particular ledger. There was a small ink stain on one of her fingers. Really, her beauty was not fair. Hermione might have been able to bury her feelings for women if she didn't have a literal Aphrodite sitting in front of her.

Suddenly dark cerulean eyes met her own and she felt her breath catch in her throat again.

"Would I be able to borrow your Defence textbook?" Fleur asked, cocking her head to one side lightly.

"Always—erm, I mean of course," Hermione stuttered, blushing and pushing her textbook across the table.

"Merci," Fleur smiled, "I want to look zrough ze chapters and see 'ow Madame Umbridge 'as structured ze course."

"She's structured it badly," Hermione said, "I've read that textbook easily twenty times, and will probably read it hundreds of times before the year is out."

Fleur smiled wryly, "I 'ope zat does not bode badly for ze ozzer classes at 'Ogwarts,"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know what ze appointment of a 'Igh Inquisitor means?" Fleur asked. Hermione shook her head.

"It means I am not ze only auditor," Fleur smiled, showing those perfect teeth, "She will be surveying all ze classes at 'Ogwarts to ensure zey are covering 'appropriate content,'"

Hermione groaned, "You're kidding... censoring them all?"

"Zat woman…" Fleur shook her head and descended into French before smiling at Hermione. Hermione felt her stomach flip uncomfortably and a blush rose in her cheeks again. Fuck potions.

"I-erm—I have to go, uh, feed my cat," Hermione stammered, clumsily gathering her things and shoving them into her bag. She tried to ignore the deep blue of the eyes surveying her over the table. In her supreme awkwardness, she didn't even manage to get out a goodbye before hurrying out of the library.

By the time she had got to the Gryffindor common room and sat down beside Ginny, her blush had subsided and she had cleared her mind of the confusing attraction towards Fleur.

"So, 'Mione," Ginny said, sipping at a mug of tea, her legs tucked underneath her on the couch, "What did Vicky say in his letter to you?"

In that moment, Hermione felt her stomach drop so violently she thought she might be sick. Viktor's letter was still tucked into the cover of the very textbook she had so willingly lent Fleur.

It was about a week before Hermione saw Fleur again. During this time Umbridge had launched her disastrous review of teachers at Hogwarts.

Sirius had done his background research and filled in Harry one night on Umbridge's extreme views on those with Magical Creature blood. It made the trio fear for Hagrid's job as the Care of Magical Creatures professor… especially as it was incredibly unpredictable as to what creature he would bring for their next class.

The Educational Decrees were coming fast as well, with an additional ten being mounted in the week that had passed.

Students were no longer longer allowed to study non-approved materials at school and Umbridge had appointed a squad of Slytherins to go through the library—to the horror of Madam Pince—and remove inappropriate books.

Hermione was in the library arguing with Pansy Parkinson over this very Decree.

"How are books on centaurs 'inappropriate' Parkinson?! We have a centaur teaching astrology here for Merlin's sake!" Hermione tried to snatch the book out of Parkinson's hands but she dodged and placed it in the crate she had on a table beside her.

"We'll see how long we have half-breeds teaching classes," Pansy sneered. Hermione felt a familiar warmth fall over her and Fleur appeared from behind a bookshelf.

"'Alf-breeds?" Fleur echoed in a cold voice, her blue eyes were flashing.

"What's it to you, Delacour? You're here for Gringotts, none of this effects you," Pansy said defensively, crossing her arms. Fleur just stared intensely at Pansy, who looked increasingly uncomfortable.

"Whatever, I'll do this later," Pansy finally said, slamming another book in the crate before picking it up and heading out of the library.

"S-sorry about that," Hermione said, turning to Fleur, cursing herself for being flustered again.

"I 'aven't seen you around for a while," Fleur said lazily, leaning against a bookshelf, "You 'aven't been avoiding me, 'ave you?"

"Erm—no of course not! I—uh—"

"I am joking," Fleur laughed, and Hermione's stomach flipped at the sound of her laugh, "Oh, zat reminds me, I 'ave somezing of yours to return," she fished around in her leather satchel before producing Hermione's textbook and holding it out to her.

Hermione turned bright red and snatched it back quickly.

"D-did you… Did you see…" Hermione was impossibly embarrassed and could not bring herself to ask the question she wanted to.

"Ze letter from Viktor? Oui," Fleur replied, taking her time re-fastening her leather satchel buckles.

"D-did you… erm… read it?" Hermione asked cautiously. She couldn't get rid of the tremble in her voice and it bothered her. Fleur smiled serenely and didn't answer.

"Bonsoir, 'Ermione," Fleur said with her coy smile, before slipping her satchel back on her shoulder and heading out of the library.

Hermione wanted desperately to call after her. To ask her again if she had. To curse her for being so goddamn mysterious all the time. To tell her how frustrating it is to leave a question like that hanging. But her Gryffindor courage was nowhere to be seen. Convenient that it always abandoned her in matters of her sexuality.

When Fleur had been at Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament, Hermione had disliked her. Been attracted to her, definitely, but disliked her. She had always been in gaggles of Beauxbatons girls, gossiping and sneering and flipping her hair like a vapid ice princess.

Though over the course of the Triwizard Tournament, Hermione had seen glimpses of another side of Fleur. A fiercely intelligent, powerful witch. A strongly loyal sister, a brave woman. And as the tournament had progressed, what had begun as a begrudging attraction, flourished into an honest to god crush.

"Keep staring at her and you might burn a hole into the back of her head," Ginny remarked, bringing Hermione's attention back to the table of her friends. She had been staring at the back of Fleur's head as she leant over some papers at a nearby table in the library.

"Can't blame anyone for staring at her, have you seen her?" Ron joked, before biting into a sandwich. Harry pulled the sandwich out of his hands.

"Stop it, Pince said if she catches us leaving crumbs in here anymore then we're gonna get banned. Snape'll kill us if we don't get this essay done," Harry remarked darkly.

"Well if you could concentrate for more than five minutes you could have finished it already like I have," Hermione cut in. Ron groaned and slammed his textbook shut.

"That's it, I need a break. Quidditch pitch anyone?" Ron looked around hopefully. Ginny and Harry immediately shut their textbooks too.

"Oh come on! You've all barely written anything!" Hermione exclaimed. The two Weasleys and Harry grinned cheekily back at her.

"Probably because we need a break, 'Mione," Ginny smirked. They packed up their things.

"Fine, just… don't expect me to do your essays for you again!" Hermione said sulkily. But soon they were gone and she was alone with her books again. She sighed and turned back to the Arithmancy problems she had to work through.

She had been working quietly for hours when she saw that it had got quite late and the library was empty. She yawned and stretched, looking up at the table where Fleur had been earlier. It was strange, she could still feel the warmth of her thrall as if she were near. Hermione suddenly turned around and saw Fleur at a bookshelf behind her, putting a book away.

"You are 'ere late, 'Ermione," Fleur said, noticing the younger girl looking at her. She came and sat at the table with her, "Is everyzing okay?"

"Y-yeah," Hermione stuttered. Fleur cocked her head to one side and looked at Hermione.

"I used to see you 'ere alone a lot when I was 'ere for ze Triwizard Tournament," Fleur commented.

"Yeah… It was a lonely year at times I suppose," Hermione said, rubbing the back of her neck.

"I know 'ow zat feels," Fleur said, smiling lightly. Hermione was surprised.

"What? E-every time I saw you, you were surrounded with so many friends," Hermione replied. Fleur laughed.

"I suppose I was," Fleur replied, "But I meant zis year, it is quite difficult adjusting to moving to a new country and being on an assignment away from my ozzer workmates."

Hermione felt a wave of sympathy for Fleur, she had always kind of thought of Fleur as incapable of vulnerabilities such as loneliness.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked, trying not to get lost in Fleur's deep blue eyes again. Stupid crush. Fleur smiled, showing her perfect teeth again.

"Oui, alzough it is much better 'aving someone to talk to. Most of ze students seem to stare at me and ze teachers seem wary of me."

"You did have a lot of criticisms to make of the school the last time you were here," Hermione said, smiling despite herself. Fleur laughed again.

"Ah, oui, it was not a good year for me," her expression darkened, "Alzough at least I survived ze tournament."

"Yeah…" Hermione wasn't all that sure what to say to that.

"Je suis désolé," Fleur said shaking her head, "Is 'Arry okay after everyzing zat 'appened?"

"Yeah… Yeah he is… It was a rough summer for him though… Then with the Dementor attack and everything," Hermione said, although it felt strange to open up to Fleur of all people, it felt easy.

"I 'eard about zat," Fleur said softly, "I 'ave joined ze Order you know,"

"Fl-Fleur, but you're only eighteen! Isn't that dangerous?" Hermione exclaimed. Fleur smiled a little.

"What about me so far indicates zat I do not like danger?" Fleur grinned. Hermione thought about it. She had gone to another country to compete in a competition where previous competitors had died. Where a competitor did die.

"I don't know, I don't really know you," Hermione answered truthfully. She had only ever admired Fleur from afar. She had never really expected to ever actually hold a proper conversation with her. Fleur flashed her trademark dazzling smile.

"Zat could change, would you care for a cup of tea before retiring for ze evening?" Fleur asked, twirling one of Hermione's spare quills in her hand. Hermione felt the butterflies in her stomach again. But her head was already nodding before her brain could engage.