Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for any spelling and grammatical errors

As much as I would love to write the hot and sexy French accent for Fleur… well suffice to say I suck at it and I am being very kind in my description. I apologize in advance but I think we all have the power of imagination to rectify this inherent flaw of mine.

Chapter 1: Mystery girl

Hermione is on summer break from school and on her way to the airport with her parents. Her family always went away during the summer; a way to reconnect after being away from each other for most of the year. Between her time at Hogwarts and at the Burrow, her parents saw very little of their daughter. This year's vacation destination is France.

Hermione had always loved the idea of France, so rich in history and traditions. Although she does not speak the language, Hermione had always wanted to learn French and now seemed as good a time as any. Hogwarts had kept her busy with her studies and the Burrow was too distracting. She loved the idea of exploring this uncharted country and learning as much as she can during the next two weeks. What she did not love was the mode of transportation. The flight was turbulent and had made her uneasy.

"Hermione dear, sit still and try reading. That will make the time pass by and you won't even notice the bumpy flight", her mother said.

"Look! Look! Look Sarah, we're descending! We're here!", John Granger exclaimed to his wife.

"Did you hear your father darling? We'll be deboarding in a short while".

All Hermione could do was manage a nod. She could not wait to leave the plane and be on solid land again.

"This is worse than riding on a broom while apparating", Hermione said under her breath.

Once the Grangers checked into their hotel and freshened up, Hermione grabbed the map of the city on the desk and started to plot out the places she wanted to explore. There were so many places and so little time. How on earth would she be able to visit all these beautiful places in the span of two weeks?

Being the methodical and logical student that she was, Hermione took the pen and writing pad on the desk and started making a list of all the places she wanted to go and the things she wanted to do. While she was furiously writing her list, a thought popped into her mind. She spared a moment to ponder, why does the magical world insist on using quills, inkwells, and scrolls? Hermione made a mental note to pack a few pens with her for the start of term.

"Three years at Hogwarts and now I think about using pens? Brightest witch of her age, my foot!", Hermione said to no one in particular.

John and Sarah were silently observing their daughter from the sofa. It feels as though each time they see their little girl, she has changed so much.

"John honey, have you ever noticed her mumbling to herself so much?"

"No dear, I haven't. Maybe school is getting to her. She doesn't like talking about her time at that magic school."

"Do you think something happened?"

"I hope not. Perhaps you can have a girls' talk later. See if you can get her to open up t… oh she's looking right at us"

Both John and Sarah looked at Hermione who was indeed staring at them. For a while, neither of them spoke.

Hermione was the one to break the silence first.

"Is that a yes or a no?" Hermione asked her parents.

"Uh-oh, were we so engrossed in our conversation that we missed what she asked?" Sarah whispered in a conspiratorial tone to her husband.

"I'm sorry princess, your mother and I were talking. Would you mind repeating the question?"

"Uh… sure. I wanted to know if I could explore this city a bit. We still have a few hours of daylight"

Her parents looked at one another and there was no indication from each other to object to this so Sarah said, "sure dear but be back for dinner. Maybe after dinner you'd like to go shopping. Your father is going to the bar to watch the game. We can also catch up."

"Sounds great mom, I'd love to" and with Hermione made her way onto the busy streets of Avignon.

A short while later Hermione is found muttering herself with her nose in the map.

"I turned left, then right, then veered to the right at the fork, and then …. Ok the cafe should be at the next left"

The next left led to a dead end in the road. Hermione looked at the end of the road, back to the map, and then back to the end of the road. She looked back at the map to see where she might have gone the wrong way or at the very least, to see where she was because she is not where she should be. As she was trying to simultaneously reverse her steps and read the map she collided into something or more accurately, into someone.

"I'm so terribly sorry. I was busy reading the map and trying to find out where I am. Are you hurt? Oh my gosh, you probably don't even understand me", Hermione rambled out in one breath.

"Are you lost? No, I'm not hurt and yes, I understand you", the mysterious girl replied.

Hermione finally looked at the girl. She looked into those beautiful blue orbs and thought she was drowning in a blue abyss. For a moment, Hermione forgot how to breathe.

"That's brilliant. Let me help you up", Hermione managed to say when she realized she was staring like a fool and the poor girl was still on the ground.

"Maybe I can help you find your way. Where were you going?"

"I was going to the cafe and usually I am good at following directions but somewhere between the hotel and here I seemed to have lost my way, even though I followed the map precisely", Hermione said.

The girl leaned over and looked at the map in Hermione's hand. Her breath ghosting over Hermione's neck sent a shiver down her back. Goodness, she smells so good; Hermione thought to herself.

"I see the problem. This is an old map. The cafe closed down a few months ago".

"That's just rotten luck. According to the advertisement this booklet, it's suppose to have the best pastries in town", Hermione said disappointingly.

"Well it's a good thing I know where it opened up it's new shop", the girl said with a smirk.

"Follow me, I'll show you where it is. It's actually not far from here. It's just ten minutes from here."

As they were walking down the streets Hermione noticed that all the men looking at her companion. They were not subtle about it, some of them were blatantly staring. Hermione could not help feeling self conscious.

When they finally arrived, Hermione breathed a sigh of relief from those prying eyes. She always hated being the centre of attention. Hermione did not mind living in the shadow; never one to like being in the limelight.

"This is the cafe you are looking for?"

Hermione looked up at the sign and replied, "Yes, it is. Thank you so much for helping me find it. If you don't mind, you could join me. Sort of my way of repaying you for knocking you over and bringing me here".

"Thank you, I would love to join you", the smiled at Hermione in such a way that made Hermione go weak at the knees.

Hermione just stood there with a goofy smile on her face.

"Shall we go in?", the girl asked and Hermione snapped out of her trance.

They made their way to a quiet table near the windows and were greeted by a young girl.

"Welcome to Cafe du Delacour, how may I serve you today?"

"I am new to this town, well actually new to this country too. What do you suggest?", Hermione replied.

"How about the croissant du chocolat with our private house blend of coffee?", the waitress asked.

"That sounds lovely, yes I'd love to try that", and the waitress was off.

"Wait you…..", Hermione tried to tell the waitress that she did not finish taking orders but the girl was already gone.

"I'm sorry, let me go and get her. You didn't even order yet. That seems a bit rude", Hermione said while standing up.

A feather light touch on her hand had Hermione frozen. All the different sensations and feelings coursing through her from just a simple gesture.

"Please, sit down, she will be back shortly", Hermione was trying to calm her racing pulse and erratic heart beats, and slow down her breathing.

Sure enough the waitress returned with a tray of food and drinks. She placed a cup of coffee and a plate of chocolate croissants in front of Hermione and a cup of coffee and a plate of eclairs in front of her companion.

"Please enjoy", and the waitress was off again.

"How does she know what like here? Are you a regular?"

"Sort of. I guess you can say I am a regular here", and there it was again. That angelic smile and those blue beautiful eyes, and Hermione was lost again.

"Let me escort you back to your hotel. I wouldn't want you to get lost and bump into another person", the girl said teasingly.

Hermione turned beet red and stammered, "I, I, not my fault, the restaurant, moved, lost…."

"You're adorable when you get flustered. Come I will take you back", the girl said while standing up to leave.

"Wait I need to pay first. I don't want to add prison to my list of places I've visited in France"

Hermione walked up to the cashier but the girl waved her off saying that the meal was "on the house" and it was direct orders from the management.

Hermione wondered by the management would waive the fee unless it had something to do with…. And all thought vanished as the girl laced their fingers and led them back onto the streets. Hermione registered that girl had asked something and she was sure she replied with some sort of sounds. Before she knew it, they stood at the front of the hotel. Hermione was disappointed that the walk was so short. She loved the feel of this girl's hand in hers. She knew she would miss that the most.

"Thank you for your company. It was my pleasure to have you bump into me today", she removed her hands from Hermione's and kissed her on both sides of her cheeks and left.

Correction, make that the second thing she would miss the most. The goodbye kiss was definitely on the top of the list.

"Wait, I didn't catch your name. Will I see you again?", but the girl was already out of earshot and now lost in the crowd.