A/N: Hey folks, only 2 months since the last update! It's like no time has passed. Thank you to all of those messaging asking when the update would be. I've been in lockdown and recently moved countries, and honestly, COVID had me feeling a bit unmotivated. But having people ask where the story was at gave me that little push I needed. I'm happy with how this chapter turned out once I sat my ass down and wrote.

Every single chapter is set to ramp up from here. Like, big esculations in every area and I'm excited to write it all.

Also, send all your love in the direction of my friend Perpetual Nonsense. She's a tough cookie and her stories are bomb. We were in a bit of a competition about who could post faster but she's absolutely smoked me so I concede defeat. Go leave her a review about how much better she is than me.

Happy reading!

Hermione stifled a yawn as Snape's voice droned through her brain like an angry hornet. He was drawing a complex diagram of a werewolf on the blackboard, the scratching of the chalk the only sound breaking through his monotonous voice. She felt her eyes begin to unfocus.

Hermione blinked rapidly and glanced at Krum's watch for the umpteenth time as he scribbled notes next to her. She could swear it hadn't moved in ten minutes. This was the last class before the weekend and she could hardly wait. The past week had been chaotic.

The classroom was stuffy and a small trail of dull sunshine was the only thing that could peek through the closed curtains. Hermione saw Ron's head droop from his desk at the front of the class and quickly snap up again.

True to his word, Snape had kept her, Harry and Ron separated in Defence Against the Dark Arts all year, and the boys had suffered for it. Ron had achieved a "D" in his last exam without her help in class, and had all but given up since.

Krum had been a useful partner, though. He took good notes, though his handwriting was messy, and had helped Hermione quickly understand some trickier concepts since he was repeating his sixth year.

But he wasn't the person she wanted to talk to right now. She was itching to speak with Harry.

She glanced at his watch again as it struck 5pm, and Hermione was on her feet as soon as the bell rang.

She shoved her books into her bag, said a quick goodbye to an exasperated Krum, and walked quickly to the back where Harry sat with Ernie.

She opened her mouth but Ernie got in first.

"Hermione!" he said in his ever pompous manner. The rest of the class were noisily packing up, no one listening to Snape as he raised his voice to tell them how many feet their research papers on werewolves should be.

"Hello, Ernie," she replied smiling weakly. "Have a great weekend!"

She turned to Harry, but her obvious dismissal had sailed over Ernie's head.

"Of course, are you going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" he chirped as he carefully placed his quills back into their leather pouches.

"Yes, I am."

"Who with?"

"Um, Harry and Ron, I guess-"

"Oh, fantastic! Would you all like to join Hannah and I? We were thinking of walking to the Shrieking Shac-"

"Actually Ernie, I really need to speak to Harry," Hermione interrupted. "Alone," she added as Ernie made no attempt to move. His round cheeks reddened slightly as he muttered a quick goodbye and sped toward the door.

"That was a bit harsh," Harry quipped as he pulled his bag over his shoulders. They made their way toward the door where a grumpy Ron was glaring at Snape's back.

"Whatever," Hermione replied. "Come on, you have to tell me now!"

She was walking behind Harry, but could sense the mischievous grin on his face.

"What are you talking about?" he called over his shoulder as they reached Ron.

"You know perfectly well-"

"God, Snape's a prick," Ron interrupted as they exited the room together. The corridor was teeming with the happy chatter of students as everyone celebrated the start of the weekend. Many had already undone their ties and were running to the Entrance Hall, hoping to catch the last rays of the March sun as it slid over the grounds.

Hermione got caught behind some babbling third years that ducked in behind Harry and Ron. She felt like clipping them on the ears, but the dull remembrance that she was a Prefect kept her hands deep in her pockets instead.

"He told me I had to write a 7-foot essay on werewolves rather than a 5-foot one!" she heard Ron continue to whinge. "There goes my weekend in Hogsmeade! Said it was because I'm doing so badly, but I reckon it's because he thinks it was me who hit him with that spitball last class. Like yeah, I laughed when it happened, but it was those Durmstrang guys, not me! "

Harry and Ron continue to discuss their hatred of Snape, and Hermione lost her patience. There were more important topics they could be addressing.

She sidestepped the girls in front of her, squeezing into a gap that suddenly appeared, and accidentally trod on the foot of someone behind her trying to do the same thing.

"Ouch!" the girl exclaimed, and Hermione looked behind her to make eye contact with a rather pretty Ravenclaw girl she had never seen before.

"Sorry!" Hermione exclaimed over the clamour of voices. "There's no room in here!"

The girl's frown instantly disappeared once she realised who had trod on her foot.

"Oh, it's no problem," the girl breathed and, to Hermione's surprise, blushed slightly. "I shouldn't have tried to cut in front."

The crowd came to a standstill as students tried to squeeze through the small archway that led into the Entrance Hall.

The Ravenclaw girl was suddenly very close to Hermione, and she could feel her chest brushing slightly against her back. She forced her thoughts not to wander.

"You were really great in the second task, by the way," the girl continued, and Hermione felt a stupid smile grow on her face.

"Oh, you know, a lot of it was luck," she replied sheepishly. The girl was jostled by the crowd, and took a step closer, her chest now firmly pressed against Hermione's back.

"I know that's not true, I heard what you did down there, how you saved the Delacour's. Just thought you should know you have an admirer," the girl replied, licking her lips slightly.

Oh, ha ha, um, cool," Hermione babbled.

Blush inched up Hermione's neck as she realised how lame she sounded. Their faces were very close, and her brain had taken this moment to decide to stop working. She wasn't used to girls openly flirting with her like this, but it had been a trend in the past week.

Hermione quickly tried to make her smile seem less goofy and more cool, with the result being a kind of grimace.

A Slytherin girl suddenly appeared at the elbow of the Ravenclaw, her eyes glaring daggers as she forcefully threaded her fingers through the girls hand.

"Oh my God, are you serious, Steph?" the Slytherin hissed.

"What? I didn't do anything!" Steph replied defensively

"I knew the second you could speak to her you would-"

And they began to openly bicker.

Hermione was grateful that the crowd heaved forward and she was suddenly in the clear of the Entrance Hall. She quickly spotted Ron's red hair and darted toward the boys, glad to leave the arguing girls behind.

"-they're going to win the league this year mate," Harry was saying as she caught up. "I can feel it in my bones. The Harpie's have got it sealed."

"You're dreaming," Ron replied with a yawn as they entered the Great Hall for dinner. "Oh, hey Hermione. What's got you grinning like an idiot?"

"Oh nothing, just glad it's the weekend, you know?" she said a little too quickly.

They waved to Ginny as they took their usual seats at Gryffindor table. It was already loaded up with all kinds of food, and Hermione suddenly felt ravenous. Ginny was already wolfing into some roast potatoes and grinned at them through food in her teeth.

"So!?" Hermione asked Harry sharply, staring intently at him as he lazily scooped some lasagne onto his plate.

"So what?" Harry asked loftily, failing to hide the smirk on his face.

"Who were the flowers from!" Hermione replied a little too loudly. She saw Gryffindors glance at her out of the corner of her eye but ignored them. "What did the note say?"

"Why is Harry now the one receiving gifts from your many admirers?" Ginny asked. Harry took a slow mouthful of food to delay his reply, relishing the moment a little too much.

"He's not," Hermione huffed. "And I haven't been sent that many gifts. I'd already left for Potions and Dobby came into the common room to drop off a bouquet of lilies for me. He gave them to Harry to deliver, which he then forgot to do, and he still hasn't told me what the note that came with them said. Oh come on, it doesn't take that long to chew!"

Harry swallowed his mouthful and pressed his napkin to his lips. He closed his eyes and raised his chin toward the ceiling.
"'Ermione," he suddenly said very throatilly, causing Ron and Ginny to howl with laughter. "I saw zees flowerz and zought zey were nearly az beautiful as you. I zink about you all ze time. I crave your soft lips like ze owl craves ze night, like ze hummingbird craves ze sweet nectar of ze flower, like ze worm craves ze dampness of a dirty hole…"

"Oh shut up," Hermione replied, forcing the smile to stay off of her face as Ginny and Ron doubled over in laughter. "It did not say that."

Harry opened his eyes and returned to his lasagne.

"It was something to that degree," he shrugged. "A love note from the one and only Fleur Delacour."

Hermione felt her heart skip a beat as she glanced to the Ravenclaw table where Fleur was seated. The setting sun was glowing down from the enchanted ceiling and glancing across her face as she spoke with another Beauxbatons student.

Hermione's body filled with warmth as she watched them. The bags under Fleur's eyes had disappeared, the gauntness on her face had filled in, and her eyes had regained their usual sparkle. The Fleur that had so confidently walked around the castle the first few weeks Hermione had met her was back, and Hermione's attraction to her had doubled down.

She had taken on Fleur's advice and tried to give herself space to clear her head and think about their relationship properly. It didn't help that whenever she spent time thinking about it, her mind tended to wander to the memory of them making out in Ron's shed. On top of that, she had been swamped with schoolwork, prefect duties, and, above all, girls. So many girls.

"Well, that was nice of her wasn't it?" Hermione finally replied, trying to remain cool. Harry snorted and scoped some more food into his mouth.

Hermione reached for the shepherd's pie and made eye contact with an Ilvermony girl walking past the table. The girl looked her up and down and smirked slightly, and Hermione quickly looked back at her plate.

"Why does her face look like that?" Ginny asked with her mouth full, nodding her head at what Hermione knew was another stupid smile that had stretched across her face. Ginny glanced toward the Ilvermorny girl who was still staring at Hermione as she sat at the Hufflepuff table.

"Excited for the weekend apparently," Harry replied. Ginny snorted.

"Yeah right, people only smile like that if they're getting laid, or they think they have the potential to get laid."

"You guys are ridiculous," Hermione replied lightly as she added some salad to her plate.

"You're like a kid in Honeydukes with a pocket full of galleons," Harry added, his eyes flicking to a passing Durmstrang girl who was unabashedly staring at Hermione as she ate. "Suddenly there's all this selection to choose from and you don't know where to start."

"More like Hermione is the sweets and every girl in this vicinity has diabetes," Ginny chimed in. "They're craving something that will ruin their life."

"You are both objectifying not only me, but all women with your stupid metaphors," Hermione replied as she passed the salad to Harry.

"You're in hoe season," Ginny countered with an evil grin, and Hermione smacked her on the shoulder.

"I swear if one more girl comes up to me to ask if you're single, I'm gonna lose my mind," Ron grunted as he stabbed his steak. "I can't believe I missed that you're gay."

"That," Ginny replied pompously, "is because you are an idiot."

Hermione had sat down with Ron and filled him in on everything the morning after her outburst. He was nursing a cruel hangover, and the information only added to his headache. When she told him the real history with her and Fleur, his mouth had dropped so far open that she thought his jaw may dislocate.

She still hadn't got used to the attention that her sudden announcement had brought.

Fleur had mentioned to her long ago that being gay wasn't something people cared about in the wizarding world. And she had been right, they didn't. But people knowing she was suddenly available to hit on? That was something many people had cared about.

The past week had been more chaotic than all of her past weeks at Hogwarts combined.

She had walked to breakfast with Harry and Ron, and Hermione couldn't help but notice the stares she was receiving from all directions. The girls looked at her curiously, the boys sadly, and when she entered the Great Hall it fell completely silent. That all but confirmed her secret was out.

A Durmstrang girl with a square jaw had immediately risen from her seat and walked toward the group. Hermione had shrunk toward Harry, hoping he would act as a shield between her and any venomous comments that were about to be spat toward her. Instead, the girl asked her out.

Before she had a chance to answer, the Great Hall had filled with buzzing. Girls all around her were laughing, some were gesturing angrily, some looked devastated. The boys looked bemused. It was like a group of vultures had suddenly had their prey snatched away.

Harry and Ron had quickly ushered her back out of the Great Hall, and Hermione caught a glimpse of Fleur on her way out. Her stare was fixed on the Durmstrang girl, her usually deep blue eyes looking like icicles. Hermione hoped she would never have that stare directed at her.

The rest of the week had followed a similar suit. The attention had been flattering at first, but now she had an idea that it had grown into a competition of who could score a date with Hermione Granger.

"I can't understand why you aren't making the most of it," Harry said, bringing Hermione back to reality. "I get it, the Fleur stuff is complicated, but you really rejected Susan Bones!?"

"She's not my type," she replied matter-of-factly, and the boys shook their heads in disgust.

"Hey look," Ginny said, nudging Hermione with her elbow, "Dumbeldore's up."

Hermione leant backwards to see Dumbledore standing, a gentle smile on his face, one hand raised. The usual chatter around the Great Hall died down as students looked at him, confused.

"Attention," his voice called. "I am terribly sorry to disrupt your feast on this fine Friday. A small announcement is needed."

Hermione glanced at Harry to see if he had noticed what she had. He wiggled his fingers, and she nodded.

The hand Dumbledore had by his side was blackened and dead looking, his attempt at covering it with the sleeve of his robe proving futile. Muttering swept through the students again as more and more noticed; many subconsciously touching their own hands as they stared.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, smiled more widely, and moved his blackened hand behind his back.

"A nasty burn from a particularly hostile Blast-Ended Skrewt," he said to the questioning eyes. "No need to worry. Back to the announcement. If any student is to see the Speropax on the Hogwarts grounds, I ask that you report it immediately to the closest teacher. This is of utmost importance. Now, onto dessert."

And with that, Dumbledore sat down and was immediately pulled into a conversation with Professor Fontaine.

Hermione's eyes, along with half of the students in the Hall, darted to where Fleur sat at the Ravenclaw table. She was staring intently at her bowl of soup. Her eyes flickered up to meet Hermione's, and a shadow of a smile crossed her lips.

"Well that was bizarre," Ron said as he gnawed on the bone of his steak, snapping Hermione's attention back to him. "Doesn't usually do announcements on regular days, does he? What do you reckon happened? The dog probably bit a student or something. It's Fleur's dog, right? She'll know."

Hermione shrugged and returned to her food, but her mind was racing.

She had purposefully not told her friends that Fleur was an animagus. Fleur had mentioned it was a family secret, and Hermione didn't think it was her place to divulge it. But she also didn't expect Fleur to report such a closely held family secret to Dumbledore, even though it was obviously done to watch out for Amandine.

She's really serious about stopping her sister, Hermione thought as she helped herself to a chocolate eclair.

They spent the next fifteen minutes discussing what the Speropax could have possibly done, with Hermione only joining in half-heartedly. She continued to glance at Fleur, who was being hounded by the Beauxbatons students talking at her. She was wearily shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders. Hermione wanted to give her a hug.

Dumbledore left the teachers table at that moment, his long purple robes sweeping behind him as he walked. Hermione tried to glimpse at his hand again, but it was buried deep in his pocket.

To her surprise, he stopped behind Harry.

"Harry," he said quietly as students around them peered curiously. "I apologise for asking for your time on a Saturday, but would you be so kind as to be in my office at 9am tomorrow?"

"O-of course," Harry stammered.

"It is humbly appreciated," Dumbledore replied with a small bow, and he exited the Great Hall.

"I wonder what's up?" Ron asked as he, Harry, Ginny and Hermione all stood. Hermione glanced to where Fleur was sitting, but she was locked into a conversation with another Beauxbatons girl.

"No idea," Harry replied, "but there goes my weekend in Hogsmeade."

"Looks like you'll be on your own then, Hermione," Ron said as they left the Great Hall and joined the crowd of students heading to the seventh floor.

An excited group was gathered around a notice board on the far side of the Entrance Hall. A large scroll of parchment was crammed with names, and many students were trying to squeeze there's into any remaining space.

"Glad we signed up for the duelling tournament early," Ron said, nodding toward the parchment. "Entries close tonight. Looks like half of Hogwarts has entered."

"I for one can't wait to hex Millicant Bullstrode in her big stupid face," Ginny replied, rubbing her hands together. "I hope we get matched up in the first round."

"I forgot it was even happening," Hermione added. "Dumbledore mentioned it when I was made a champion and I haven't heard about it since."

"That's 'cos you've had the tournament to focus on," Harry said as he stepped quickly to the side to avoid walking through the Bloody Baron. "Everyone else has been talking about it for months. I dunno how they're going to fit everyone in next weekend though. There must be hundreds of duals to get through."

"Seamus is running the betting," Ginny said, dropping her voice as they walked past Professor Flitwick. "All the champions are hot favourites to win. That Ilvermorny girl Tess has good odds, as does Harry, of course. I'm gonna put my money on Alicia Spinnett, though. She's been in the duelling club for years."

"I'm putting mine on Fleur," Neville piped up from behind them, causing the four of them to turn around. "After seeing the way she's performed in the tasks, she'll be a beast at duelling."

Hermione looked down to hide the smile on her face.

"Well, I don't care who wins," Ron said darkly. "As long as I get a chance to duel Justin Finch-Fletchley. That git dropping out of Potions meant I have no one to cheat off of now."

"How very sympathetic of you," Ginny replied.

The crowd thinned out as they reached the fourth floor and the group could now walk side-by-side. Harry turned to Hermione.

"I can ask around the Gryffindor's tonight," he said. "See if you can tag along with Dean or someone to help protect you from your ever-growing fanbase while you're in Hogsmeade?"

Hermione shrugged. She was looking forward to the time alone after the week she'd had.

o-o-o-o-o-o

Hermione woke early the next morning, dressed quickly, and headed down to the Entrance Hall. She wanted to miss the crowd heading into Hogsmeade, not fancying the idea of more people gawking at her.

She didn't pass many students on her way downstairs, and was soon walking across the cool grounds.

The first hints of Spring were starting to show. The sunshine was slightly warmer, the usual winter bite was out of the air, and small flower bulbs had started to sprout on the trees. Hermione waved at Hagrid as he raked his cabbage patch.

She took in a deep breath, letting the fresh air flow through her and fill her lungs. She was looking forward to spending some time by herself today. She had seen a beautiful peacock feathered quill last time she'd been in Hogsmeade that she wanted to buy, and there was word that Madame Rosemerta had recently imported a new kind of mead from Norway that she could try.

Some time for herself was overdue, and it gave her the time to think about the situation with Fleur more clearly. Her heart was craving the touch of the French girl, and she was having a hard time separating logic from feeling.

Hermione glanced toward the Beauxbaton carriage as she crossed the grounds. It sat still, with the only movement coming from the horses snorting as they ate from a bucket filled with a golden liquid.

Hermione had been tempted to ask Fleur if she was going to Hogsmeade but ultimately decided against it. She needed more time to think about her decision first. She couldn't wait to-

"Hey, Hermione!"

Hermione felt like crying as she slowly turned around to see Katie Bell running toward her. Her Gryffindor scarf was flapping as she ran, a large grin plastered across her tan face.

"Want some company?" Katie asked as she fell into step next to Hermione. "You're all on your lonesome."

"Oh, it's okay, really," Hermione said, trying to keep the annoyance out of her voice. "I was just going to wander around. I don't want to intrude on any plans you made-"

"I have no plans," Katie replied quickly. "Alicia got detention with McGonagall, so I don't have anyone to go with either. But now it's all worked out!"

"Yeah," Hermione replied half-heartedly as they stepped onto the path that led to Hogsmeade.

Katie continued to chatter away as they walked down the cobbled path together, the slanted roofs of the village soon coming into view. She asked numerous questions about the tournament, reacting in awe whenever Hermione answered in any kind of detail.

"Have you been watching the League?" Katie asked.

"What's the League?" Hermione replied, peering into the shop's windows as they passed. It was becoming painfully obvious that they didn't have much in common outside of being Gryffindors.

"You know, the European Quidditch League?"

"Oh, no. I don't watch it."

Hermione stopped to look at a display of wand handles. A fine looking Mahogany handle glinted at her through the window.

"I'm going to go in here," Hermione interrupted as Katie opened her mouth. "Might be awhile, I've been looking for a new wand handle for ages. It'll be really boring, feel free to keep shopping if you want."

"That's okay," Katie chirped. "I could use a new one too."

They entered the shop, and a weedy shop assistant immediately swooped over to engage them. Hermione spent a solid twenty minutes trying out different fittings on her wand in the hope that Katie would lose interest. But the older girl continued to happily chatter away, giving her opinion on each handle and offering alternative suggestions.

Hermione began to grow slightly agitated. She really did want to be alone, and the constant chatter was giving her a headache. None of the wand handles suited her taste, and she was about to leave when the shop assistant piped up.

"I think I've got just the thing to satisfy your quirky taste," he said in a high pitched voice, before disappearing down a hallway out the back.

Katie wandered slowly around the shop, her hands behind her back, as she looked at a handle that was carved out of bone.

I'll just tell her I want to be alone, Hermione thought, as Katie glanced toward her and pointed with her nose scrunched at a handle that looked like it was covered in moss. She's just doing this to get into my pants anyway.

She opened her mouth as the shop assistant reappeared holding a glossy black case.

"I've got a winner for you!" he exclaimed, placing the case gently on the counter and beckoning the girls over. "Now, this one will cost you, but it's worth every Galleon. I sourced the material myself, and let me tell you, it was an absolute nightmare trying to get this skin."

Hermione's stomach dropped as he carefully removed the lid from the case.

Cushioned in purple velvet was a sleek handle that glinted with all the colours of the rainbow. Tiny scales interconnected to create a rough surface, with the skin wrapped tightly around the solid handle.

"The handle is made from the jaw of a Merperson," the man gloated. "And the skin is stripped from one of their tails and bound with unicorn hair. It'll last you a lifetime, and you'll be the envy of your friends! Look at the colour, have you ever seen anything so magnificent?"

Hermione's blood began to boil as he held it out his hand for her wand. Before she could speak, a menacing voice spoke from next to her.

"That's disgusting," Katie spat, and the man's small eyes darted toward her. "You sourced it yourself? What, you killed a Merperson?"

"No, no," he replied quickly, sensing the hostility of his audience. "I brought it from a chap who found a dead one washed up on the shore. Perfectly reasonable."

"No," Katie seethed. "It's not. Merpeople hold week long ceremonies when one of them dies. They give the body back to the water. You have no right to interfere in something like that."

"It's a dead fish," the man replied bluntly as he snapped the lid of the case shut. "If they wanted it so badly, why let it wash up on shore?"

"Because it was probably killed by someone like you! Or a boat, or a fishing net, or something else that shouldn't be in their territory. How can you think it's okay to sell something as precious as this?"

"Galleons," the man snapped.

Hermione watched the exchange as the two glared daggers at each other. She had been waiting to jump in and tear the man to shreds, but Katie had said all her arguments for her. The man turned to her.

"Well, are you interested or not?" he snapped.

"My friend here has echoed my thoughts," Hermione replied coolly. She thought he may try to argue with her, but his eyes glanced to the jewelry on her wrist, and he plastered a fake grin back on his face.

"Well," he said slowly. "Maybe we can take another look at the Yew handle? It fit in your hand beautifully, and at only seven Galleons it really is a bargain-"

"No, I think we'll be going," Katie interrupted. She grabbed Hermione's hand and led her out of the shop, the door banging loudly behind them.

The main street was now teeming with students from all four schools, and the sun shone bright overhead. Hermione saw a few curious glances directed at her and Katie, and she quickly let go of Katie's hand.

"The audacity of that guy!" Katie exclaimed as they joined in with the crowd. "Imagine thinking it's okay to sell Merpeople skin!? I have half a mind to report him to the Ministry."

"They wouldn't do anything," Hermione replied glumly. "Trust me, when it comes to magical creatures, they couldn't care less. I've been trying to get them to look at Elfish Welfare for two years now, and have never got an owl back."

"Oh yeah, I remember when you asked us all to write to the Ministry back in your fourth year."

"I'm not a saleswoman," Hermione said, and blushed slightly. "I don't think anyone did it."

"I did," Katie said simply, and Hermione's eyebrows shot up. "They never replied to me either."

"I didn't know that…"

"Well, I did it because I agreed with you, not because I was trying to impress you. I should have taken action on it sooner to be honest. Owning a house elf should be illegal."

"Yeah," Hermione said, slightly taken aback.

They continued to weave through the crowd as it swelled even bigger. It looked like every student in the school was out enjoying the last scheduled trip to Hogsmeade of the year.

Hermione's agitation had decreased, and she snuck a side glance at Katie.

She walked with her shoulders back and used every inch of her height to walk tall among the crowd. Her light brown hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, and her tanned skin gleamed like bronze in the sunlight. Her narrow jaw accentuated her high cheekbones, and her full lips were the envy of every girl at Hogwarts.

Hermione had heard the stories about the Gryffindor captain, of course. There was a new girl every week weeping over being dumped by Katie Bell, and her reputation as a player preceded her. Whenever anyone approached her about it in the common room, Katie would playfully shrug it off, her ever present group of friends chuckling as they continued their game of Gobstones like nobody had spoken.

Hermione didn't respect the behaviour, and hadn't had much to do with Katie for those reasons. The only time they had hung out before now was after Quidditch matches, when Harry would invite her and Ron to the post-match celebrations. Though now she felt slightly ashamed for judging Katie as a dumb jock, the player tag was well-earnt.

She knew the reason why Katie was really hanging out with her. She wasn't about to become another notch on her bedpost.

"Where did you want to go next?" Katie asked. "Alicia told me that Honeydukes just got another shipment of Sherbet Lemons in, they've been sold out for months. Or we could check out Zonko's, I'm running a bit low on Caterwauling Cartwheels-"

"Katie," Hermione interrupted, and they stopped in the middle of the road. "I appreciate you offering to keep me company, but it's just not going to happen."
Katie tilted her head slightly.

"Like, you don't want to go to those shops?" she replied, confused.

"No, as in this."

Hermione pointed between the two of them.

"Ever since everyone found out I'm gay, everyones tried what you're trying," she continued, interrupting Katie before she could reply. "I don't know whether it's a game or it's genuine, but it's exhausting."

"Hermione, I-"

"Look, it's flattering, but I'm just not interested in dating around at the moment. So, I don't want to waste your time."

"That's not-"

"No, really. You're not going to get anything from me, so you might as well find your other friends-"

"Hermione!" Katie said louder, failing to suppress a grin. "I didn't ask to hang out with you because I'm trying to sleep with you."

"Yeah, okay-"

"Harry asked me to keep you company. He said you'd been getting hassled all week, and that you wanted a relaxing time in Hogsmeade. He said if I went with you then people would be more likely to leave you alone."

'Oh…"

Hermione felt her face grow extremely hot as Katie's grin grew wider.

"Well, yes, that's very um…" Hermione trailed off. She felt her ego deflate as quickly as air out of a balloon.

"Come on," Katie replied, and nodded her head toward The Three Broomsticks. "Let's go get a drink." She flashed a smile as she began to walk toward the bar. "You arrogant ass."

Hermione laughed meekly and followed.

A line snaked from the entrance of the bar and down the busy street. Katie walked straight up to the bouncer and raised two fingers. He jerked his head toward the door.

"Come on," Katie said, and grabbed Hermione's hand again. The waiting crowd exclaimed loudly as the girls cut the line and walked in. A Durmstrang boy began to walk toward the bouncer with a frown on his face, but shrunk back quickly at the scowl he received in return.

The Three Broomsticks was so full that the girls had to shuffle awkwardly to maneuver around everyone. Hermione accidentally elbowed a wizard holding a jug of Butterbeer and it slopped down the front of his robes. She said a hasty apology as Katie pulled her toward a room in the back.

Tables were crammed together in here and it was slightly less busy, though just as loud. Two Beauxbatons boys vacated a booth in the corner as they walked in, and they quickly took the free seats.

"It's madness in here!' Hermione exclaimed, raising her voice to be heard over the noise.

"Last Hogsmeade trip of the term, so it makes sense," Katie replied. A waiter took their order and returned with two foaming Butterbeers.

"Cheers to you coming out," Katie smirked and they clinked their glasses. It still felt slightly surreal to Hermione that this was now a subject she could talk about so openly. She was so used to guarding this secret that she felt slightly exposed.

"Why did you think I was purely hanging out with you today to try and get with you?" Katie asked, wiping her mouth as she set the glass back down.

"Well, you have a bit of a reputation," Hermione replied sheepishly. "I've seen the amount of girls who leave in tears after interacting with you."

"I told them what we were doing was casual, and then when they caught feelings I ended it. How am I in the wrong there?"

"Mhmmm"

"You're Harry's best friend, I wouldn't do that to you. I'd be an idiot to do that to someone like you."

"Someone like me?" Hermione asked. She took another sip of Butterbeer and she felt herself become slightly warmer after each swallow.

"I mean, yeah. You're pretty good real estate," Katie quipped back, and Hermione scrunched up her face.

"What happened to not taking me out because you're trying to sleep with me?"

"That's still true. I'm just saying if I had a chance with someone like you, I wouldn't keep it casual."

Hermione avoided Katie's eye as she chose to look around the room instead. It was filled with students from all four schools and, by the looks of it, many had been in the pub since early morning. She noticed Lavender and Parvarti watching her and Katie with interest and quickly looked away.

"Sorry, was that too far?" Katie asked, drawing Hermione's attention back.

"No, it's fine. It's just… I honestly don't understand why so many people are suddenly interested in me," she sighed, drawing patterns on the table with the condensation that had dripped down her glass.

"Are you trying to fish for compliments from me now?" Katie replied, taking a sip of her drink. "Because I find it hard to believe that you don't understand why people are so interested in you."

"No," Hermione replied quickly."It's just… they probably have this vision of what I would be like when in reality I don't have any… experience."

Hermione flushed and took a large gulp of her drink, thankful that Katie didn't crack a smile.

"That's the kind of thing that you learn with someone," she replied gently.

"Yeah, but what girl wants to sleep with someone with no experience," Hermione muttered. She was glad the pub was so loud that they couldn't be overheard.

"Hermione, people aren't interested in you because they think you're some kind of sex God," Katie said bluntly. "I mean, come on. You were a legend before you became Triwizard Champion. Most people don't do what you've done in their lifetime, let alone before they're 17."

Hermione didn't reply as she wiped her hand on her jeans.

"Whatever girl is lucky enough to get you would take her time with that stuff," Katie continued. "If it was me, that's what I'd do."

"I guess so," Hermione said, deliberately avoiding acknowledging the last sentence.

The girls sat in silence. The room was now full to bursting and several people bumped Hermione's shoulder as they tried to squeeze through gaps. A group of Ilvermorny students burst into song in the far corner, the patrons around them jamming their fingers into their ears and glaring at the drunk students.

"That statement surprised me," Katie said, breaking the lapse in conversation.

"What statement?" Hermione replied, distracted by the sight of Cedric standing on a table with his tie knotted like a headband, howling the chorus of "The Banshee who Broke my Heart".

Both girls leant forward so they could hear each other more clearly.

"I always thought you and Fleur…"

Katie trailed off. Hermione knew she was fishing for information.

"And why would you think that?"

"Come on, I have eyes. A few months ago, any time you two were in the room together your energy was impossible to miss. It made me feel like I was intruding on something."

"Yeah well, it was complicated."

"Why should it be?"

Hermione frowned.

"What do you mean?" she said.

"Why should loving someone ever be complicated?" Katie answered. "If you're constantly fighting and getting back together, isn't that a sign that it doesn't work? The early stages of a relationship should be as easy as breathing."

"There's more to it than that," Hermione replied defensively. "It was never a case of whether we liked each other or not. I was dealing with my coming out and she didn't want to have a secret relationship."

"She couldn't even try?" Kate countered. "She couldn't do it for a few months while you slowly came to terms with things?"

"I told her not to wait," Hermione bristled. "And then she told me that she wanted to wait but, well…"

"What?"

"I accused her of stealing my spells and manipulating me into helping her with the first task."

Hermione knew how bad that sounded as soon as she said it. Katie raised an eyebrow.

"But it turns out I was wrong!" she added quickly.

"So then you kissed and made up?"

"Well, no. Then I saw her kissing someone else at the after party so we had another fight…"

Hermione trailed off as Katie took a thoughtful swig of her drink.

"So what I'm hearing, and correct me if I'm wrong," Katie said slowly. "Is that you thought she was capable of manipulating you to a point where you accused her of using you to make her way through the tournament. Then when you got mad about it and you had an argument, her first reaction was to go and hook up with someone else?

"It's- you don't get the context," Hermione stammered, knowing how lame her reply sounded. "All that stuff was before either of us had really admitted how we felt and it was all just a mess."

"The first task was months ago," Katie replied. "You two have been cosy again since then."

"Well, yeah. But then her sister came back into the picture and-"

Hermione stopped her sentence abruptly at the look at Katie's face.

"There seems to be a lot of obstacles doesn't there?" Katie said as she signalled the waiter to bring them more drinks.

"Look, I'm making it sound bad, okay?" Hermione sighed as she withdrew some coins from her bag. "It hasn't been the easiest road, and we've had big obstacles to fight."

"If that's what the start of your relationship looked like, can you imagine what it would be like after a few years?"

"How can I even start to imagine what the future looks like?" Hermione replied as she handed the waitress a couple of Sickles. "I have the duelling competition and the third task to get through, I need to come out to my parents at some point and have no idea if they're going to kick me out onto the street, I have to figure out who I am as a gay woman, Voldemorts back and killing people at the drop of a hat, Harry will no doubt be set on a mission to find him and I'm sure as hell not leaving him alone to do that. I can't think about tomorrow let alone the future."

Katie looked like she was about to argue back for a moment, but instead opted to place a sympathetic hand on Hermione's arm.

"Maybe it's time you consulted Professor Trelawney," she said softly and Hemrione snorted into her drink, glad that the tone had lightened again.

The girls continued to talk and drink as the bar impossibly stretched to fit even more people in it. Cedric had the attention of most of the room, now re-enacting his face being set on fire by the dragon in the first task. The patrons around him howled and banged their glasses against the tables at the display, and Cedric did a sweeping bow. After his recent success in the second task, he was now the first one to poke fun at himself about the first.

Hermione and Katie had started on their fifth drink and were leaning so close that their faces were only inches apart in order to hear each other. Hermione made sure to keep her eyes down whenever Katie spoke, not wanting the drunken fog of her brain to tempt her into something stupid. She was feeling rather light headed and knew she'd pay for this tomorrow, but her muddled brain was a welcome relief from it's usual chaos.

Conversation with Katie had moved to discussing the recent romance between Seamus and Hannah Abott, when Hermione felt someone squeeze into the booth next to her.

She turned slowly to tell the person the seat was taken, when her eyes locked with a familiar blue. Her stomach did multiple flips as Fleur scooted close to her, their faces now incredibly close as their outer legs pressed against each other. The expression on Fleur's face was unreadable, though her eyes burned with a blue fire.

"It's quite crowded in here," Fleur said loudly enough for Katie to hear, while never breaking eye contact with Hermione. "Do you mind if I take this seat?"

"Not at all," Hermione breathed. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Katie shuffle slightly.

Hermione didn't know whether it was the influence of alcohol or the absence of seeing Fleur for the past week, but she realised that she been staring at her without blinking since she sat down.

Fleur's hair was straightened and the soft candlelight made the silvery strands throw colour around the room. She had put on some light makeup that accentuated her sharp cheekbones, and the familiar perfume of jasmine and vanilla washed over Hermione in waves. Her heart began to ache as she subconsciously bit her lower lip slightly. She all but forgot that Katie was sitting with them.

A distressed looking waitress bought Fleur a glass of red wine before disappearing into the playful crowd. Fleur raised the glass toward the both of them and Hermione fumbled for her own glass, raising it to her lips, watching Fleur's hair fall away from her neck as she drank, feeling a desperate need to pull Fleur in close and bite down on the soft, pale flesh.

Merlin, pull it together, Hermione thought as she shook her head slightly and took a large pull of her drink. We're in the middle of a bar.

"Did I interrupt something?" Fleur asked as she placed her drink back down, slowly tracing the rim of the glass with her finger. Hermione forced herself not to watch.

"No, we've just been here for the past few hours," Katie replied once she realised Hermione wasn't about to turn the new arrival away.

"So I have seen," Fleur said.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, I came to Hogsmeade with Cedric a few hours ago, and we joined in with that group." She indicated the group of students who were halfway through a sculling contest. "They became a little to, uh, rambunctious for me, so I thought I would have a change of scenery."

"And there was no one else in the bar to do that with?"

Both girls were using polite tones of voices, but the air between them couldn't have been frostier.

"Sure," Fleur replied. "But I wanted to speak to Hermione, so you know, it just made sense."

"Of course it did," Katie countered. "We'll, I'm having quite a good time speaking to her too."

"Lots to talk about?"

"Heaps actually," Katie said, plastering a fake smile onto her face. "Haven't we, Hermione?"

Hermione was snapped out of her trance.

"I mean, sure," she forced out. "Just talking about the tournament, Quidditch, the duelling competition coming up…"

"And all the attention she's been getting in the past week," Katie added. Fleur smiled at this comment, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Have you noticed that too, Fleur?

Hermione didn't know what was happening. She felt like she was standing between two lions about to attack each other, not knowing how to stop it. She was trying to find the words to placate both girls so they could all have a friendly conversation, but she didn't think they existed.

"It is quite hard to miss," Fleur said simply.

Hermione jumped slightly as Fleur's hand suddenly slid onto the top of her thigh. Hermione glanced at Fleur, but she was still staring determinedly at Katie, who hadn't noticed the subtle movement.

Hermione's hands were cupped tightly around her glass as she tried to focus on the conversation, but her entire attention was drawn to the soft weight of Fleur's hand.

"I was just telling Hermione here how it didn't surprise me with how extraordinary she is," Katie continued. "Let her know that she would have her pick of students."

"I don't think that's true," Hermione said quickly.

"Of course it is," Fleur replied. "Anyone would be lucky to have you. You deserve only the best."

Fleur looked Katie up and down and smirked slightly, the air between them turning as thick as syrup. She turned back to Hermione to lock her back into her fiery gaze.

Oh, she's jealous, Hermione thought, but her brain quickly froze.

Fleur's fingers had inched forward and began to stroke the inside of Hermione's thigh. Hermione felt like hot coals had tumbled into her stomach as Fleur's fingers slid slowly from side to side.

"Are you going to enter the duelling competition?" Katie asked abruptly, scowling at the look Hermione had given Fleur.

"I will be, yes," Fleur answered, tearing her eyes from Hermione. She put light pressure on the inside of Hermione's thigh, and Hermione opened her legs slightly wider. Fleur moved her hand further down her inner thigh, and Hermione bit the inside of her cheeks to stop herself from gasping. Fleur's fingers were only inches away from where her body was pleading for them to be.

"So am I," Katie replied, remaining oblivious to the show happening in front of her. "I think I have a pretty good chance, I've been in the duelling club since my first year."

"How fantastic for you," Fleur retorted.

"You any good at it?"

"Historically, no. But I have been practicing quite a lot since Christmas."

"In preparation for the competition?"

"Sure."

Katie ran her tongue along her teeth and looked slightly questioningly at Hermione. She quickly realised she hadn't spoken in awhile. Fleur's teasing fingers were grabbing all attention from her mind as they began to stroke her inner thigh more firmly.

"Y-yep me too," Hermione stammered. Katie frowned.

"What? You've been practicing too?" she queried.

"Oh, yes, um, I mean, no. I'm, um, I'm entering too."

"You will have a great chance at winning," Fleur replied, glancing at Hermione's lips. "You are a fantastic dueller."

Hermione could barely stand the teasing any longer. Her whole body had grown extremely hot and it took all the energy she possessed not to grab Fleur's shirt and tug her on top of her.

"She sure does," Katie replied and Hermione gulped deeply as she forced herself to refocus. "Everyone's excited to see what she can do. Especially since she's not being forced into a dual because of anyone putting her in a dangerous situation."

Fleur's fingers paused for a moment.

"I am assuming you mean her adventures with Harry?' she said, her tone turning icy.

"We both know that's not what I mean," Katie replied evenly, her eyes squinting slightly.

"Assumptions can be dangerous," Fleur retorted, glaring at Katie. "And a person would be a fool to think they understood someone else's life completely without asking them about it."

"What about if everyone else has already told me? What if it's all over the media?"

Fleur removed her hand from Hermone's thigh and flicked it in a dismissive manner.

"What if I told you that the media tend to lie?" Fleur scoffed. "You do not know a thing."

"I know the stories about you," Katie snapped. "I can't believe Hermione gives you the time of day."

"You know nothing about Hermione and I's relationship!"

"Anyone who really cared for Hermione would never deliberately put her in danger just because they wanted to be with her. That's not love, that's being selfish."

"You do not know what you are talking about!

"I know that it's not official, there's still time for her to snap out of the Veela charm you've put on her."

"I would never do-"

"EXCUSE ME!" Hermione interrupted loudly as the two girls looked ready to launch themselves across the table and throttle each other. She couldn't believe how quickly the situation had escalated and looked incredulously at the both of them. "How about we let Hermione decide what Hermione wants!"

Katie and Fleur both turned to her, slightly taken aback.

"You're both sitting there telling each other what I deserve, when I'm sitting right here and can tell you if you asked!"

"That's not what I was trying to say," Katie muttered.

"Me neither," Fleur added quickly.

Hermione shook her head at them. Being both annoyed and horny was not serving her well right now.

"Look, I appreciate you both looking out for me, but this is my decision to make," Hermione continued. "I'm a big girl, I know how to weigh the pro's and con's of a situation and I'm the only one who gets to say what I do and don't deserve! And instead of asking me, you two are too busy looking at each other!"

Hermione threw back the rest of her drink as the two girls stared at her.

"And!" she added, coughing slightly at the liquid that caught in her throat, "You both need to chill out!"

"Chill out?" Fleur replied.

"Chill out!" Hermione exclaimed. Her drunk brain swirled slightly as she tried to remember where she was going with this.

"I am chill," Katie muttered, crossing her arms and slouching in her seat.

"She is provoking me," Fleur said, a slight whine in her voice as she reached for Hermione's hand again.

"Then de-escalate!" Hermione replied and got to her feet. "Whenever other people bring up your sister, you don't react like that."

"Because she's using it to make me sound bad to get to you!" Fleur replied, also getting to her feet. Her face had softened as she tried to pacify the situation. Hermione wasn't having a bar of it.

"And you know me enough to know that stuff doesn't work," Hermione continued, her speech slurring slightly. "All I wanted was a nice quiet weekend in Hogsmeade to think, and instead I'm in a noisy bar, sitting between two girls shouting over what I should do with my life."

Hermione frowned.

"And my glass is empty," she concluded.

"You're right," Katie interjected. "That was a stupid arguement. I'm sorry. Look, I'll get the next round."

"No, I will get the next round," Fleur said quickly. Both girls felt around hurriedly in their pockets.

Hermione let her head fall back and closed her eyes. A dull headache began to thud in her temples and the noise of the bar was ringing through her ears. She wished her and Fleur could go somewhere secluded and finish what had started underneath the table, but she was starting to feel slightly sick. She needed fresh air.

"I'm going outside," Hermione said abruptly as the waitress brought over three full drinks. "Alone," she added as Fleur moved with her.

She shimmied past Fleur, ignoring the awkward look the two other girls gave each other.

Let them fight with each other while I'm not there, Hermione thought as she weaved her way through the crowd.

A loud BANG erupted around the room and the crowd howled with laughter. Cedric stood on the table, his face smeared with ash, holding what was left of a packet of exploding snap.

Her feet were trod on multiple times by heavy feet as she squeezed past the drunk patrons. She stumbled on a bearded wizard's cane and grabbed the robes of the person in front of her to steady herself.

"Easy there!" a familiar voice said, and Hermione looked up into Harry's green eyes. "You alright?"

"Harry, what are you doing here?" she shouted. The crowd had started singing again and she could barely hear his reply.

"Finished up with Dumbledore," he shouted back, leaning down slightly to speak directly into her ear. "He showed me a bunch of Voldemort's old memories of when he was a teenager."

"Why?" Hermione asked. Harry shrugged.

"No idea, but he said it's important for me to know. Can we go somewhere to talk about it?"

"I'm just going out to get some fresh air. Katie and Fleur are sitting at a table over there. Go sit with them until I get back, then we can leave together."

"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt," Harry replied hastily, but Hermione shook her head.

"You didn't, they were getting into a stupid fight over me so I just need to take a break for a second. Great choice asking Katie to look after me by the way, it doesn't help that she wants to get into my pants too."

Harry pushed his glasses back on his nose and smiled sheepishly.

"She said she wouldn't try anything," he replied.

"She didn't. I just need some air. See you soon."

Hermione squeezed Harry on the arm and pushed her way toward the exit.

She took a deep breath as she stepped outside, the fresh air cooling her face. The light had dimmed substantially and she realised she must have been sitting in the stuffy pub for hours. Her head began to spin less and her stomach settled as she leant against the wall of the pub. This hadn't exactly been the most relaxing day.

Shopkeepers had begun to light the braziers outside their stores as students left with their arms full of newly purchased goods. The crowd on the main street had drastically thinned, and many shops were starting to prop up their closed signs. In the distance, the trail back to Hogwarts was dotted with students.

Hermione welcomed the stillness for a few minutes, letting the wind breeze gently through her hair. She took another deep breath and, knowing she had three people waiting for her, turned to head back into the bar.

But the burly bouncer raised a hand to stop her.

"Back of the line," he grunted.

"I was just inside!" she exclaimed.

"And now you're outside. Back of the line."

The line snaked even longer than it had earlier and she knew she had no way of getting back in. Hermione scowled at the bouncer and began to slowly walk, waving half-heartedly at the Hogwarts students that shouted out to her as she passed them.

She had no intention of joining the line and had half a mind to keep walking back to the castle, when a silver shape caught her eye.

The Speropax was sitting in an alleyway next to Zonko's. It was shrouded in shadow, and was trying to look like a stray as it poked its nose into an empty box of merchandise, though it's eyes were on high alert. It looked at Hermione and froze.

Hermione sighed. She hadn't even noticed Fleur leaving the bar.

She walked to where the Speropax stood incredibly still, entering the alleyway and sitting down gingerly on the damp ground. The alleyway was filled with rubbish bags, old boxes, and worn down crates and had a faint smell of wet stone. Her vision was slightly blurry as she tried to focus on the silver dog. It still hadn't moved.

"Bold of you to walk around as the Speropax after what Dumbledore said last night," Hermione yawned. A gentle wind rustled the bulging rubbish bags that were scattered next to her. "Nearly as bold as what you were doing to me under the table in the pub."

The dog walked slowly toward her. The hair on the back of Hermione's neck suddenly pricked. Something about the Speropax seemed slightly off but she couldn't put her finger on it. It's torso seemed longer than she remembered and the shape of its eyes were more oval.

That makes no sense, Hermione thought to herself. I'm too drunk to even remember what Fleur looks like in her Animagus form.

She took a deep breath and let her head fall back with a soft thud against the concrete wall behind her.

"I meant what I said in there," she continued. "You can't let people wind you up about your sister so easily. You're doing everything you can to stop her and people will see that eventually. I mean, I couldn't believe that you told Dumbledore that she can turn into the Speropax too. That must have been hard for you to break the silence on your family's secret."

A dull thump told her that the Speropax had jumped onto a nearby crate.

"I've been thinking about what we talked about all week," Hermione sighed. "I've been so busy that I don't have an answer yet. I've really missed you though."

Hermione opened her eyes. The Speropax was perched on the crate across from her, it's eyes staring so intently that she felt like it could see into her soul.

"Can you turn back into a human please so we can talk?" Hermione said, the alcohol she'd consumed heightening her confidence to a level it never usually sat. "Or atleast so I can kiss you?"

The Speropax jumped off the crate and sat next to her. Hermione reached forward and stroked the side of it's face with her thumb.

Her brain rocked slightly as the dog began to transform. She clenched her eyes shut as watching the arms retract and then extend back in human form was making her feel sick again. They stayed closed until her thumb was now resting against a warm face.

"Is that better?" a voice said.

Hermione frowned slightly. That wasn't Fleur's voice. This voice was deeper, and there was sarcasm laced through every word.

Hermione opened her eyes and began to yell as she jerked her arm away, but Amandine clamped one hand over her mouth, the other holding her wand steady directly between Hermione's eyes.

"Well that would explain why I was chased off of the grounds this morning," Amandine muttered.

Hermione had never seen a picture of Amandine before, but she knew this was her. She resembled Fleur so closely, but in the places where Fleur was soft, Amandine was sharp.

Her eyes were icier, her stare was harsh, and her arms looked solid with muscle.

She was kneeling next to Hermione so closely that she could smell her perfume. It was a musky scent that she could taste at the back of her throat.

"So, it sounds like my little sister has decided ultimately to ignore the fright she got at Christmas," Amandine continued. "She always has been particularly stubborn."

Hermione's eyes darted to the side of the alleyway where people were walking by, but they were too far in to be seen. Her wand was pressing hard against the outside of her leg. She knew she had no chance of getting it without drawing attention.

"I've been waiting all day to see her, but she's become very good at alluding me. It's quite annoying as I need to pass on a message. If I take my hand off of your mouth, do you promise not to yell?"

Hermione's eyes darted back to Amandine's. Her heart felt like it was trying to escape from her chest and the brain fog from the alcohol had completely cleared. She hadn't expected that. She had expected to be taken straight to Bellatrix Lestrange.

Slowly, Hermione nodded her head.

Amandine let her hand drop. She waited a moment before reaching into Hermione's pocket and taking her wand, twirling it between her fingers as she stood up and pocketed it.

"Precautions," Amandine said simply. She walked backwards, her own wand still pointed low at Hermione, before perching on the edge of the crate. She leant back on one arm in the exact same way that Fleur would.

Hermione found her voice.

"What do you want?" she said sourly, sounding braver than she felt. Amandine arched an eyebrow.

"Feisty," she replied. "No wonder my sister likes you. How long have you two been together?"

"We aren't together," Hermione said quickly. "We're just friends."

Amandine scoffed.

""Can you turn back into a human so I can atleast kiss you?"" Amandine mimicked in a high voice, and Hermione felt herself redden. "Don't take me for a fool. If you won't tell me then I'll get it out of you with Legilimency."

"Go for it."

Amandine smirked slightly. She held her gaze and Hermione felt the familiar feeling of scratching at the insides of her brain. She tightened her gaze, determined to block out the intrusive magic and show she was an equal match in this fight. The magic was persistent as it searched for cracks in her walls, but Hermione's training in Occlumency held strong.

"Impressive," Amandine finally said, and Hermione's brain felt like it was released from a vice grip.

Hermione straightened herself up against the wall and Amandine's finger twitched on her wand.

"I'm sure my sister has passed on all sorts of information to you," Amandine continued. "Including the warning I gave to her at Christmas. It's come to a point where I think my words are falling on deaf ears, though."

Hermione couldn't help but feel intimidated by the woman in front of her. She exuded power and Hermione knew that with a flick of her wand she could call half of the Death Eaters. But she refused to be walked over.

"Why do you even care?" Hermione retorted. "Why do you care who your sister dates? It doesn't affect you in any way."

"I don't care who she dates, as long as it isn't you."

Hermione bristled with anger at that comment. They were on the blood status train again.

"You might be pure blood, but you still couldn't get past my Muggle Born Occlumency," Hermione snapped, taking satisfaction from the slight narrowing of Amandine's eyes.

"People like you can't be involved with people like us," Amandine retorted. "The Veela have some of the most sought after magical blood in the world. We belong with others of the same status or we will die out."

"And yet it's Fleur's choice, not yours, on who she ends up with. You have no stake in this."

"I have a stake in whether my sister gets to live or die."

Hermione felt ice strike her stomach at the words. Amandine was watching her carefully for any reaction.

"And," Amandine continued, "As much as I detest those that steal our magic, the reason she can't be with you is because you are Harry Potter's friend. She is putting herself in danger."

"No, YOU are putting her in danger," Hermione spat. She got to her feet and Amandine raised her wand. Fury was flowing through her veins though, and all feelings of intimidation evaporated.

"You stand there all high and mighty telling Fleur what to do to protect her, when actually the only reasons she's in danger is because of the choices YOU have made."

"You have no idea what choices I've made," Amandine retorted, rising to her feet and striding forward so her wand was an inch from Hermione's forehead. Her face remained stoney but Hermione noted how quick she was to anger. "Sometimes there is no choice."

"You had a choice when you tortured those girls when you were at Durmstrang!" Hermione replied. "You had a choice when you murdered one of them!"

"I didn't kill anyone," Amandine hissed. "I was part of a group of people who I thought were my friends and I got in too deep."

"Bullshit! Everyone knows you did it!"

"We all knew I was the only one who was going to get off with a lesser charge, so I took the fall for all the crimes."

"You're a liar and you should've been locked away in Azkaban!"

"Believe what you like, but I did my time."

Hermione laughed coldly.

"Your time? You went under home arrest in your mansion in France and now you're running around with Death Eaters! Don't try to manipulate me into thinking you've suddenly changed your ways because you aren't that good of a liar!"

A large frown line creased Amandine's forehead and she set her jaw tightly.

"Don't you think the best way to protect those who you love is to be able to know exactly what the enemy is doing!" Amandine spat, her composure breaking for the first time. Her knuckles were white as they tightened on her wand, and her eyes had grown icier. Hermione knew she was pushing it but she didn't care. She had wanted to scream these words at Amandine the moment Fleur had shown her the memory.

"Don't pretend like that's the reason you're trying to join them," Hermione shouted. "I saw the memory from Christmas. The way you used the Cruciatus curse on your own sister. You're out of control and your moral compass doesn't exist. I saw the way you interacted with the Death Eater's, the way you didn't tell them about Fleur and I when you could've. You have no loyalty to anyone. You just want to cause chaos! It looks to me like you're nothing but a lackey!"

Hermione gasped as Amandine's open palm slapped her hard across the side of the face, her wand hooked under her thumb so the wood crunched against her teeth. The sound of the slap echoed down the alleyway.

Hermione stumbled backwards and landed against the wall, holding her stinging cheek. Tears automatically sprung to her eyes as Amandine breathed heavily in front of her.

"You are a stupid little girl," Amandine hissed. "And you know nothing, nothing, about me. You want to know where my loyalty is?"

Amandine wrenched up the sleeve of her blouse. The thick black lines of the Dark Mark took up most of the space on the inside of her pale forearm. It glinted, even though Amandine stood in the shadows.

"They are where my loyalty will be until I die," Amandine continued, her voice sounding strained. "I know Fleur has made her decision to be with you regardless of my countless warnings. So be it. She is willingly putting herself into mortal danger and I'm done with trying to convince her to come to me. Just know that by going along with this, you are having a hand in her death."

Amandine let her sleeve fall back down as she stalked toward the entrance of the alleyway. Hermione felt a bruise already starting to form on her cheek as she leant against the concrete wall with one hand.

"I'm not going to bring Fleur to you," Hermione replied weakly, staring at her feet. "Whatever you say to try to convince me you have her best interests at heart, I'll never tell her to trust you again."

"You will be the exact reason why Fleur comes running to me," Amandine replied without looking back. "You just don't realise how yet."

Amandine reached into her pocket, dropping Hermione's wand onto the cobblestones as she reached the entrance of the alleyway. It clattered loudly and rolled into the gutter.

"You have both chosen the losing side, and time is running out for you to switch," she called over her shoulder. "You can pass the message on for me. Tell Fleur to stop following Mikhail if she knows what's good for her. That's the last warning I'll give. Next time I see her may be the last."

The reply died in Hermione's throat as Amandine disapperated, leaving her staring at the darkening street of Hogsmeade in front of her.