275Chapter 9.
Harry tossed his golden egg from hand to hand. There was a heavy thwack as he hit it hard with his palm on each catch.
Ron eyed it cautiously.
"Just don't let that thing fly open, mate," Ron warned, "I can't handle that screeching anymore."
"Yeah, yeah," Harry grumbled, tossing the egg even harder.
"Have you got any closer to working it out?" Hermione asked Harry.
She was sitting across from him on a squashy red couch in the Gryffindor Common Room. Hermione watched as Harry paled, his thick black eyebrows knitting together.
"Erm…" Harry halted his egg tossing, "They said the Second Task wouldn't be for ages yet. Remember? At the scoring?"
"Hermione wasn't at the scoring for the First Task," Ron commented, biting into a biscuit, "Where were you anyway, 'Mione? Couldn't wait for the scores before running off to study in the library?"
"Something like that," Hermione said awkwardly.
While she had confessed her research project and her crush to the boys, somehow it felt far worse admitting she had accidentally drugged the Beauxbatons Champion. She decided to twist the topic firmly back to the Second Task.
"Harry, surely you have at least tried to work out what the noise is," Hermione said bossily. Harry could be so lazy when it came to doing his schoolwork. Somehow, she had assumed that the threat of serious injury or death would have snapped that laziness out of him when it came to the Triwizard Tournament.
"Er…"
Harry's response said it all. Hermione felt her anxiety spike at her best's friend's lack of preparedness.
Hermione liked to do her assignments the day they were assigned.
Harry not even bothering to crack open a book after weeks of having the egg was enough to give Hermione a panic attack.
"Harry," Hermione chided. It was all she could manage to get out without audibly gasping.
Ron rolled his eyes.
"Hermione, he's got months," Ron pointed out, waving his biscuit for effect, "You always get your knickers in a twist over the smallest things when it comes to study."
"Study?!" Hermione retorted shrilly, "I wish this was just one of Snape's essays! Ronald, if Harry isn't prepared, he could die! How is he supposed to prepare if he hasn't even started working out the clue?!"
Hermione was so worked up she didn't notice Harry further paling, swallowing nervously.
"'Mione! You're freaking him out, mate!" Ron said, getting a little heated.
"I'm trying to help!" Hermione insisted, "Which, if I recall correctly, is more than you did for Harry before the First Task!"
"Oh so you're just going to hang that over my head for the rest of our lives then, are you?!" Ron shot back, standing up. He had all but forgotten his cup of tea and biscuits now.
"Guys," Harry interrupted, "Neither of you are helping right now. You're both stressing me out!"
Hermione and Ron halted their argument, both overcome with a sudden sense of guilt.
"Er, sorry mate," Ron muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, "Cup of tea?"
"No offense, but I think it'll take a bit more than a cup of tea to calm me down over this bloody Tournament," Harry replied, "I mean… Whoever put my name in is definitely trying to harm me, right?!"
"Er, not necessarily," Ron said reassuringly, patting Harry roughly on the shoulder with a large hand.
"Harry," Hermione said sympathetically, leaning forward in her seat, "What can I do to help?"
Harry sat forward in his seat, resting his head in his hands. He groaned.
"I just… Between not knowing how to figure out who put my name in, and not having the foggiest about this stupid egg clue, my head's a bit of a mess to be honest," Harry confessed.
Hermione felt a wave of sympathy for her friend. It wasn't his fault he ended up in mortal peril every single year.
"I'm sorry… I've been a little distracted this year," Hermione apologised, "But I promise you I'm there for you. I'm going to help you figure out this clue. Then as soon as I've done that, I promise we'll work out who put your name in the goblet."
Ron, for his part, promised to make Harry a cup of tea when he felt up to it.
Hermione couldn't judge him too hard for it though, the redhead had always been a bit clueless when it came to emotional support.
It was late, but Hermione headed straight down to the library, leaving Ron to cheer Harry up with a game of Exploding Snap.
Hermione yawned. She'd made her way through a large stack of books. She had compiled a list of no less than one hundred possible reasons for a scream erupting from an egg.
Yet… Somehow she felt further away from the answer than when she started. But at least she had put in an effort for Harry.
She felt like her attention had been split all year. It was beginning to really test her. She didn't want to let down her best mates because of her crush on Fleur.
She frowned, checking her wristwatch.
Eleven?!
It was well after curfew!
Usually Madam Pince went around and warned students when they were getting close to curfew.
The last thing she needed was to get caught by Mrs Norris and Filch. Hermione wasn't sure she could stomach another detention in Snape's bombsite of a potions cellar.
She packed her satchel up rapidly, stifling another yawn as she shouldered it and headed carefully out of the library.
The hallways were dark. The only light was from the spread out candles set into the stone walls of the corridors. Hermione shivered. Hogwarts had always held a bit of an unnerving edge to it since her Second Year with the Basilisk.
Hermione stepped out into the hallway quietly, pausing for a moment. She couldn't hear anyone. Couldn't see any sign of Mrs Norris. The coast seemed clear.
Hermione inwardly wished she had thought to borrow Harry's Invisibility Cloak or Marauder's Map. She should have known in her eagerness to help him she would accidentally stay too late in the library.
Hermione stepped through the shadowy hallway, heading in the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room. She willed herself not to remember the days of the Basilisk. There probably wasn't anything lurking in the shadows of Hogwarts that could hurt her…
There was a sudden scuffling right beside Hermione's elbow and she jumped, letting out a gasp. Her heart felt like it leapt into her mouth with fear.
"'Ermione?!"
Hermione's heart was still pounding, but her senses calmed as she recognised the voice.
"Gabrielle?!" Hermione hissed.
A small blonde figure clambered out from behind a suit of armour.
"'Ermione! I followed a tunnel all ze way from outside!" Gabrielle said proudly. Her platinum blonde hair was in a high ponytail, bouncing excitedly as she talked.
"Gabrielle!" Hermione exclaimed in a hushed tone, "You—Shouldn't – This is far too late for you to be out! Let alone wandering the grounds alone! What are you doing here?!"
Gabrielle pouted, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. She looked so much like her older sister when she was unhappy it was truly uncanny.
"I wanted to explore," Gabrielle explained sulkily, "My tutor barely lets me out of 'er sight, so I stayed up extra late to explore!"
Hermione sighed, opening her mouth to give Gabrielle a lecture on how unsafe it was when the sound of loud shoes on the stone floors of Hogwarts.
Hermione grabbed Gabrielle and dragged them both behind the suit of armour. It would just make matters worse if they both ended up with a detention.
Gabrielle seemed to take Hermione's lead, crouching beside her in the shadows of the suit of armour. Gabrielle linked a small arm through Hermione's arm, holding her tightly. Hermione rested a hand on top of Gabrielle's, trying to keep the small girl calm even though her own heart was pounding.
The footsteps were getting closer. Hermione noticed that they sounded a little unsteady. They also sounded quite distinctive. It sounded like the person walking towards them was wearing high heels.
Gabrielle suddenly released Hermione, wriggling out of her grasp and ducking out from their hiding place.
"Gabrielle, no—" Hermione started, jumping out to pull the small blonde child back.
"Gabrielle!" a female and slurred voice called out boisterously.
Hermione halted in her steps as Gabrielle beamed and turned back to look at her.
"'Ermione, it is just Julie!" Gabrielle giggled, relieved.
Hermione stepped forward warily, taking in the appearance of the tall dark-haired Frenchwoman. Fleur's friend (Hermione still very much remembered that they shared several more-than-friendly moments in their friendship) was looking oddly dishevelled.
Julie, as much as Hermione loathed to admit it, was a gorgeous girl who was always presented impeccably. Her long dark hair was always styled to perfection and her uniform was always freshly pressed and clean.
Now, however, Julie seemed off. She had a dark burgundy stain on the front of her uniform. Her dark hair was in soft curls but was messy and tousled. One of her eyes had smudged eyeshadow. Her eyes themselves seemed unfocussed.
What really caught Hermione's attention was the strong smell of wine emanating from the teen.
"Are you drunk?" Hermione hissed scandalously.
Julie giggled and shrugged.
"I was 'anging out wiz some Ravenclaws," Julie explained, wobbling a little in her high heels, "Zen some lovely redheaded twins from Gryffindor joined and brought some belle wine."
Fred and George. Of course.
Hermione made a mental note to tell off the twins later. For now, she had to deal with the situation at hand.
She was not only roaming the halls after curfew—a detention-inducing situation as it was—but she was in the company of a young girl who was not allowed to go anywhere alone and a very drunk teen.
Hermione briefly mulled over the option of simply leaving Julie to make her way back to the Beauxbatons Carriage with Gabrielle. It was hardly her problem.
But as Julie wobbled a little on her feet, Hermione felt her sense of Gryffindor duty kick in.
"Okay," Hermione sighed heavily, "How are we going to get you guys back to your Carriage without getting caught?"
"I don't want to go back to ze Carriage!" Gabrielle protested, putting her hands on her hips, "Zings are finally getting interesting around 'ere!"
"Gabrielle," Hermione sighed, trying to think of a way to convince the wayward child to get back to bed, "If you're caught, you're not going to be able to do anything fun."
Gabrielle pouted, mulling over Hermione's words.
"Fine, but we get to take ze fun tunnel back to ze Carriage," Gabrielle insisted.
Hermione shut her eyes briefly, trying not to show her impatience. Gabrielle was adorable, but she was entirely naïve as to how dangerous Hogwarts could be. Taking a tunnel she had never scoped out before filled Hermione with a sense of dread. From Basilisks, to deadly giant chess games, to Devil's Snare, the building was positively brimming with dangerous secrets.
"Absolutely not," Hermione said finally.
"Why can we not take zis tunnel, it sounds fun, non?" Julie asked, leaning forward unsteadily and throwing an arm around Hermione's neck.
Hermione frowned.
"Because maybe taking unknown tunnels in the middle of the night, when nobody knows where we are, and one of us is extremely drunk, is a little unsafe?!" Hermione hissed.
Julie leaned further into her, giggling.
"'As anyone ever told you zat you need to loosen up?" Julie asked. Hermione frowned further.
She hardly needed Fleur's friend telling her how to act. Especially when she was saving her hide.
"Waow!"
Hermione froze, looking in the direction of the ugly meow.
Sure enough, in the dim light of the hallway candles, was Mrs Norris. The haggard looking cat was standing right in the centre of the hallway they needed to take.
"I don't like cats," Gabrielle stated boldly.
"I don't like this cat!" Hermione replied, stressed, "We need to get out of here right now. Where's that tunnel, Gabrielle?"
"Yes!" Gabrielle beamed excitedly, "Right 'ere be'ind zis suit of armour, 'Ermione!"
"'Ow exciting!" Julie giggled.
"Quiet, let's just get out of here!" Hermione urged the two girls.
Mrs Norris had already scampered off, no doubt to fetch Filch.
Gabrielle ducked behind the suit of armour, tapping excitedly on a big tile of stone set into the wall. It slowly shifted, creating a space just large enough to crawl through. Gabrielle disappeared through the hole immediately.
"Be careful, it is easy to stumble by ze wall 'ere," Gabrielle called out from inside the tunnel.
Hermione inwardly sighed at how excited Gabrielle sounded by the prospect. She had thought she had found a miniature Hermione when she had met Gabrielle. It seemed Gabrielle also had a streak of Harry and Ron within her too.
Hermione, waving at Julie to follow her, got to her hands and knees and wriggled through the gap in the stone wall.
It was dark and cold inside the tunnel, though she could see Gabrielle had lit her wand. Hermione inwardly thanked whatever person had taught the young girl a lumos spell so young.
The ground was uneven and rocky around the hole in the wall and Hermione relied heavily on the glow of Gabrielle's wand to get to her feet. She had just unsteadily got to her feet when Julie emerged behind her, leaping to her own feet too fast. She promptly lost her balance, pulling Hermione down with her.
"Oof!" Hermione fell heavily to the ground, landing on her stomach so hard that all the air rushed out of her lungs.
Julie landed on Hermione, cursing loudly right in Hermione's ear.
"Sorry," Julie apologised, though she made no move to get off Hermione.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, fuming at landing so hard on the craggy ground of the tunnel. Her ribs ached, her elbows were grazed. Not to mention, it was purely salt in the wound that she could feel just how incredibly Julie's body was against her.
The tall dark-haired girl was pressed hard against her. Hermione could feel Julie's full breasts against her back and the softness of her wine-laced breath against her neck. It annoyed her that she found Julie attractive. It just further rubbed in the fact that Julie had got a hell of a lot further with Fleur than Hermione would ever get.
"Get off me!" Hermione snapped.
Julie apologised again, but finally obliged, getting off Hermione and helping her to her feet. Hermione begrudgingly accepted the helping hand. But once she was back on her feet, she let go of Julie's hand instantly, rubbing her grazed elbows.
"I did not mean to 'urt you," Julie said earnestly.
Her words struck further than intended, Hermione still feeling wounded over Julie's closeness with Fleur.
"Whether you intended to or not, I'm hurt all the same," Hermione said waspishly. She turned her attentions to Gabrielle, "Gabrielle, are you okay?"
"Oui!" Gabrielle said proudly, puffing out her chest proudly, "I didn't stumble once!"
"A natural explorer, huh?" Hermione said, rubbing her elbows. She smiled slightly at how widely Gabrielle smiled at her words. She might be yet another trouble-magnet in Hermione's life, but she was truly adorable.
"Oui!" Gabrielle agreed, "Follow me!"
The small blonde turned on her heel, holding her wand heroically in front of her. Hermione sighed, following Gabrielle's lead.
Sooner or later, this entire debacle would be over and Hermione could get back to her own bed. The sooner she could be rid of the drunk Julie, the better.
As if on cue, Julie fell into step beside Hermione.
"Do you 'ave a problem wiz me?" Julie asked.
Hermione ignored her, keeping her gaze steadily on Gabrielle, who was bounding ahead a little ahead of them.
"Is zis because of Fleur?" Julie asked.
Hermione shot her a sidelong glance.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Hermione said defensively.
"Fleur didn't tell me about it," Julie explained, "I 'eard from ze ozzer students about what 'appened on your 'Ogsmeade trip."
"She didn't tell you?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow, "Aren't you quite close with her?"
Hermione had tried her best to keep the bitterness out of her voice, but a little may have slipped through. She hoped Julie was too drunk to notice.
"Ah, when she rejected moving our friendship to a relationship, she just said she liked someone else," Julie said, a pained look on her face, "It was quite obvious after 'earing what 'appened zat it was you she was talking about."
"You must be glad I screwed things up," Hermione said darkly.
"Why?" Julie asked quizzically, "It doesn't change Fleur's feelings for me. Now we are all sad, non?"
"All of us?" Hermione asked.
Julie nodded.
"Of course," Julie replied, "Fleur doesn't like me ze way I want, Fleur 'ad her trust broken, Fleur won't talk to you. We are all un'appy, non?"
Hermione was interested now. She wasn't sure what thread to pull at first.
"I thought… I thought you guys were together?" Hermione said, her mouth feeling a little dry.
Julie shook her head emphatically, her curls bouncing.
"Our friendship is still close," Julie said sadly, "But… We 'ave 'ad to put in some boundaries. At least until I get over my feelings for 'er."
That inwardly cheered Hermione up a little. Since seeing Fleur and Julie walking around with interlinked pinkies again, she had assumed they were back to kissing and whatever else they did together. Perhaps that explained Fleur shrugging off Julie's embrace in the courtyard. She didn't want to lead her on.
"And she told you she won't talk to me?" Hermione asked, "That her trust was broken?"
"Ah, zat she did not tell me outright," Julie replied, a grim smile, "She just said zat she would no longer be spending time wiz you and to ensure I did not let Gabrielle talk to you. After I 'eard what 'ad 'appened from ze Ravenclaws, it was quite obvious, non?"
"Right," Hermione said glumly.
"She can be quite private," Julie explained, "We are close, oui, but she keeps a lot to 'erself. Fleur does not trust readily."
That made Hermione's heart sink a little more.
"I am sorry, 'Ermione," Julie replied, "Yes, we are somewhat in ze same boat, but at least it is easier for me to move on, knowing zat Fleur does not feel ze same way. I imagine it makes it 'arder knowing zat Fleur liked you back."
"Yeah," Hermione replied, her stomach feeling heavy.
At the very least, Julie hadn't tried to tell her off or have a go at her for the entire research project situation. She had merely calmly presented how things were. Hermione appreciated that.
"'Ere we are!" Gabrielle called out from ahead of them.
Thankfully, the way out was a lot larger than their way in. They didn't need to crawl or struggle, simply open a door that was disguised as wall of ivy and slip out.
Julie was still quite drunk, but Hermione took her elbow to keep her steady as they slipped across the Hogwarts grounds towards the Beauxbatons Carriage.
The Abraxans shuffled slightly as they approached, but thankfully did not fuss. Gabrielle fished out a small Beauxbatons seal from her pocket, pressing it to the door. There was a small clunking noise as the door unlocked and Gabrielle swung it open. The small blonde disappeared inside in a blur of powder-blue and blonde.
Julie attempted to clamber in, but struggled.
Hermione sighed, realising she had to help the dark-haired witch further. She took Julie's arm again, helping her inside the Carriage.
"Where is your room?" Hermione asked Julie quietly.
Julie gestured down a long hard-wood hallway, gently lit by candelabras. Hermione helped the taller girl down the hallway, inwardly cringing at how loudly her heels clicked on the hall. She just hoped it wouldn't wake Madame Maxime.
Hermione wondered where Gabrielle had disappeared to so quickly. It was unlike the small blonde not to say goodbye—but perhaps it was understandable given how far past her bedtime it was.
Julie stopped outside a door, fumbling as she pulled out a Beauxbatons seal from her own pocket.
"Julie," a soft, velvety French-accented voice murmured.
Hermione and Julie turned, both equally startled to find Fleur standing before them, Gabrielle at her side.
Fleur's eyes flicked from Julie to Hermione, the deep blue appearing more intense than usual. She was still in her uniform, her hair impeccable and tumbling down her shoulders. Her eyes quickly flicked back to Julie.
"Er, Fleur," Julie cringed, "I… Zis isn't what it looks like,"
Hermione blushed as Julie gestured between them. She suddenly felt mortified at the thought that Fleur might have assumed Julie and her were sneaking into her room to hook up.
"I know," Fleur said gently, "Gabrielle told me what 'appened."
Hermione looked at the small blonde at Fleur's side. She was looking sleepy now the excitement of her adventure was over.
Julie was averting her eyes from Fleur, playing with the Beauxbatons seal in her hands.
"Why were you drinking with the Ravenclaws on a Tuesday night?" Fleur asked Julie, switching to French, presumably for Julie's sake.
"I don't know," Julie said dismissively, ducking her head.
"I'm worried about you," Fleur said gently, "I don't like the thought that I've hurt you. I don't like thinking that our friendship hurts you."
"Your friendship doesn't hurt me," Julie replied bitterly, "My stupid feelings hurt me. I want us to keep being friends like we've always been, but… It's hard."
Hermione felt terribly like she was eavesdropping again. It was obvious they didn't know she could speak French.
"I'm sorry," Fleur said quietly, "But I don't want you behaving in a self-destructive way. Promise me you will look after yourself. I might not like you the way that you want, but I care so much about you."
Fleur stepped forward, pulling the taller girl into a tight embrace.
Hermione looked away politely as Julie sniffled a little. Julie wiped her eyes, nodding. Julie looked a little embarrassed at the situation, ducking her head. She made a quick excuse to disappear into her room, bidding goodnight to them all.
Despite the absolute clusterfuck of an evening, Hermione had at least grown a sense of sympathy for the tall Frenchwoman. She felt like she understood Julie a lot more now.
"Well… I'd better head off," Hermione said awkwardly, beginning to sidle down the hallway.
"Non," Fleur said abruptly.
Hermione halted.
Being in Fleur's presence made her stomach feel like it was doing jumping jacks. She wasn't sure whether Fleur was going to shout at her or give her an icy lecture. She wasn't sure she wanted to stick around to find out.
"Gabrielle, go to bed," Fleur instructed her younger sister, "We will talk tomorrow about your wandering."
"Fleur!" Gabrielle whined, though she yawned widely.
"Now," Fleur insisted.
Gabrielle pouted, rebelling enough to step forward and hug Hermione, before disappearing down the polished wooden hallway.
"Er, I didn't put either of them up to it," Hermione said, feeling even more nervous. This was the first time she had been alone with Fleur since detention, when Fleur had accused her of being the one that had toyed with their thralls.
"I know," Fleur replied.
Her face was painfully neutral. The dim light of the hallway was playing prettily at her elegant features, highlighting her high cheekbones and full lips. Her azure eyes glittered in the light.
Hermione swallowed heavily.
"I know you think I can't be trusted—" Hermione began.
"I don't know what to zink," Fleur interrupted. Her tone was firm, but lacked the venom of previous encounters.
"Oh…" Hermione replied dumbly. She wasn't sure what to say to Fleur. For some reason her infamous intelligence fled from her body when it came to the pretty blonde in front of her.
A silence extended between them. Hermione felt the strongest pull to step forward and wrap her arms around the blonde, but she resisted.
"Zank you for looking after my friend," Fleur said finally, "And zank you for looking after Gabrielle. I 'ad noticed neizer of zem made it back by bedtime and I was very worried."
"Oh, well, no problem," Hermione said, shuffling awkwardly on her feet. Fleur's gaze was so intense, it made all attempts at eloquence go out the window.
Fleur stepped forward suddenly, right into Hermione's personal space. Hermione felt a shiver run down her spine. Not a shiver of cold, but an electricity of sorts at the close proximity to Fleur.
Fleur leaned in, kissing Hermione first on one cheek and then on the other. It was slow and chaste, an entirely platonic cultural custom- But the softness of Fleur's full lips on Hermione's skin sent her pulse racing.
She found herself smiling goofily despite herself.
"Erm," Hermione was a little lost for words.
"Goodnight, 'Ermione," Fleur said, stepping back.
"Ah, goodnight, Fleur," Hermione replied.
Fleur's face was still infuriatingly neutral as she nodded politely. She turned on her heel, gliding off down the hallway of the Carriage.
Hermione released a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding, making her way to the exit of the Beauxbatons Carriage.
She still had to sneak all the way back to the Gryffindor Common Room, but that was the least of her worries right now. Her head was full of jumbled thoughts, more confused about Fleur than ever.
