Bill and Fleur's apartment, 1st of August, 2000

"What the fresh hell is this?" Bill's booming voice woke both Fleur and Hermione out of a deep sleep. Fleur pulled herself from Hermione's arms as she sat up. Blinking away grogginess, she looked over at her husband, standing in the doorway of their bedroom. "Fleur, what the fuck...Hermione?"

Hermione was already climbing out of the bed. Fleur was grateful they were both clothed, but the damage had already been done. Hermione started gathering her things from the bedroom. Fleur stood slowly and started to help Hermione under Bill's angry gaze.

Not a word was spoken between them until Hermione left. As she was leaving, she shot Fleur a regretful look, matched with a comforting smile. Hermione muttered a "Nice to see you, Bill" that made him bristle before leaving the bedroom, shutting the door behind her, and leaving Bill and Fleur behind…

The Being Division, 1st of August, 2000

As Hermione had shut the bedroom door that morning, she heard Bill's voice clear as he began speaking to Fleur. He was angry. He mentioned coming home early to spend their anniversary together. Hermione felt the guilt creeping up through her.

They had been so careful around each other. Careful to never cross any lines, push any boundaries, careful not to allow themselves to indulge fully in whatever wild fantasies they spent their work days thinking up. And when they slept together, they stayed fully clothed and never crossed the line.

Hermione wasn't sure why she had started staying at Fleur's, but after that first night it just felt comfortable. Her place was lonely, even with Crookshanks, and it was just nice to have a close female friend that just to her own. Ginny was great, but with her connection to Harry and Ron, Hermione felt like she was constantly in their shadow around her.

Fleur was all her own. Ever since she first arrived at Hogwarts for the tournament. Hermione had glanced back at the bedroom door as she left the apartment that morning. That wasn't quite true. Fleur wasn't hers at all…

Fleur was late that day, and Hermione found it nearly impossible to concentrate on the pile of notes she had to file away in their records. Most of the files were entirely mundane. That was the thing about working in the Being division, Beings were usually the most reasonable creatures to deal with.

It wasn't until after lunch that Fleur showed up to work. Hermione returned from her lunch break to find the French witch sitting at her desk, fiddling with some papers. Hesitating a moment, she looked Fleur over. Fleur looked tired, but not particularly upset. She wasn't wearing as much makeup as she usually did, but she looked just as stunning as always.

Hermione stood for a moment longer before she saw Fleur's eyes dart up to meet hers. Realizing that she was just standing there and staring, she started to make her way over to Fleur's desk. Fleur's face grew a slow smile as Hermione approached, her eyes already lighting up to combat her tired look.

"'Ermione, I am so very sorry for what happened this morning. I had no idea Bill would be back then, nor that he would get the wrong impression of us spending time together." Hermione frowned a bit at this, but tried to hide her disappointment. She and Fleur had kept it strictly platonic, but she didn't realize the kind of impression she wanted to give Bill til that moment.

Fleur must've seen Hermione's downcast look because she quickly grabbed Hermione's hands and stood up to face her properly. "But it's okay! Me and Bill spent some time talking this morning. For quite some time. I did not realize how badly we needed to talk until we started." Fleur looked around the office, and Hermione followed suit, noticing that they were starting to catch the eye of their coworkers.

Hermione cleared her throat and slowly, reluctantly, pulled her hands out of Fleur's warm and comforting grasp. "Maybe we should wait, Fleur. Speak after work? We could grab a drink…" Fleur nodded and leaned in to give Hermione a light kiss on each cheek, causing them to immediately flush. "After work then, 'Ermione"

The Brazen Monkey, 1st of August, 2000

Fleur had found it near impossible to get through work that day, especially considering she had to catch up from missing the morning. From the glances she kept sharing with Hermione all afternoon, she could tell Hermione was having the same issue. This talk could be one of the most important ones Fleur had ever had, if she handled it well. Just as important as the talk she and Bill had that morning.

Truth be told, Bill could always tell that Fleur was never completely devoted to him the way he was to her. That was probably why he leapt at taking his old job back, travelling the world without her. And Fleur didn't try to stop him. It was something they both kind of knew, but never really spoke about until that morning. They had been pushed together by the war and now that the war was over, they had nothing left for each other.

Bill had been amazing about it, to his credit, once he calmed down. Fleur explained the situation with Hermione in full, starting way back during the tournament. Bill listened, watching his wife carefully as she shared with him something she had never told anyone else. It was clear how much Fleur cared for Hermione, and once it was pointed out to him it was clear to Bill how much Hermione cared for Fleur. He would've been an idiot to try to argue otherwise.

So he didn't. He gave Fleur a huge hug, packed the few belongings he still had at the house, and left. He planned to visit with his family for some time, Fleur could only assume they would be ecstatic at the news, but not at her. Then, after that it was back to work and back on the road.

Now, Fleur was free. Finally free. Not swept up in some silly tournament, or wizarding war, or lonely marriage. She was unattached, available, and she finally felt free. And she could not wait to share this feeling with Hermione. Which is why she couldn't help but half jog to the bar where she had agreed to meet Hermione.

As she walked in, her eyes scoured the area for the witch. She saw Hermione tucked in a back corner, with a drink for each of them already ready. Fleur smiled warmly and made her way over to the small table. She had to stay at work a bit later than expected to catch up, but she was here now.

Sitting down, she took the drink Hermione offered her and took a long swig of it before putting the glass down and looking at Hermione. Hermione stared back at her, her brown eyes quizzical but warm. "So, Fleur...what happened this morning?"

"It's over." Fleur could not help but grin as she heard the words. "Me and Bill, we are through. We should have never gotten married. I think both of us knew that, but did not want to admit it to the other." Fleur took her drink again and broke Hermione's gaze to look down at it. "But now, we will file for divorce, which should not take long, and we will both return to work and live our lives separately." She looked back up at Hermione, her eyes shining with a near glee. "It's over."

Hermione smiled back at Fleur, quick to offer her support. "Well that's wonderful news, Fleur. I am so happy to hear that you finally have a chance to be happy now. It seemed like there was this filter over you when you were with Bill. Not that there was anything he did wrong, just that you weren't quite all I knew you could be." Now it was Hermione's turn to look down at her drink as she spoke. "So you're free now...and I...what exactly does this mean for us, Fleur?" Hermione dared to meet Fleur's eyes once more, with the same quizzical and warm look she had before, but now with a more personal investment.

Fleur reached across the table to grab Hermione's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "It means, 'Ermione, that I would absolutely love to take you out on a proper date. If that is something you might be interested in…" Hermione stared at Fleur and suddenly Fleur had flashes of them back in school, their secret rendezvous, always scared of being caught, no more ignoring their feelings for each other, no more hiding. All of that was no more, as soon as Hermione nodded.

5th of August, 2000

It was finally time for Fleur and Hermione's first date, and Hermione was buzzing from excitement. She had been excited nearly all week, ever since Fleur had asked her out. She could tell Fleur was just as excited by the way she would not stop smiling at Hermione all throughout their work day.

Hermione couldn't blame her, she could only assume she had the same stupid grin planted on her face. It didn't help that Fleur refused to tell her what their date was going to consist of. "Dress comfortably." was all she had been told, and Fleur had given no other hints throughout the week.

Now they were trampling along in some field after portkeying out of London, and Hermione was thanking the gods she had decided to go with comfortable shoes as well. They were both dressed simply, with jeans that hugged their bodies in different but flattering ways. Fleur wore a well fitted racerback tank top that was a light enough blue to make her eyes sparkle just the right way. Hermione had gone with a v neck black t shirt. The shirt itself was simple, but she knew the bra she paired with it would elicit a wonderful reaction from Fleur. And it had.

But now, they were trampling in a field, and Hermione felt entirely lost. "Is there where you've taken me to kill me, Fleur? Because I didn't survive Hogwarts under Dumbledore, the resurrection of a Dark Lord, and an entire wizarding war to get shanked in a field by a pretty girl…" Fleur laughed, and the musical sound instantly comforted Hermione. "Do not worry, we are almost there."

Suddenly, Hermione started hearing voices and started looking around. She noticed various people, clearly wizards, coming in from different sections of the field and congregating at one end. The end they were walking towards. As the wizards reached the end, they disappeared. Hermione was baffled until she and Fleur reached the end themselves. She gave Fleur a questioning look, and Fleur just took her hand, pulling Hermione after her.

All at once, the dark field turned into a brightly lit area, and a roaring crowd could be heard instantly, nearly deafening them. Before them stood a gigantic stadium, almost as big as the one Hermione had gone to for the World Cup. She looked at Fleur and furrowed her brow. "You took me to a quidditch match?"

Fleur gestured for Hermione to look around more, and suddenly Hermione saw the teams colors and banners. She broke into a knowing grin and began nodding. "You took me to a Bulgarian match...We're going to see Krum!"

Fleur grabbed Hermione's hand again and started bringing her to the stadium, towards what was clearly a VIP entrance. "Of course I would never take you to any old Quidditch match, 'Ermione. But I thought this might be a bit more fun. You can experience the Veela again, and we can both see a good friend."

Hermione could not stop grinning as they made their way up to a nicely decorated and furnished box area. Clearly, being personal friends with the famous Seeker had it's benefits. Benefits they would happily take advantage of. They took their seats and soon the match was under way.

The Veela were enthralling, as usual, but Hermione had found a new appreciation for them due to her relationship were Fleur. It certainly helped that Fleur was sitting right next to her, explaining the lure and magic of the Veela as they performed. It was then that Hermione took Fleur's hand, holding it casually in public for the first time.

It was always incredible seeing Viktor fly. Hermione had almost zero interest in Quidditch. Lord knows she had heard enough from Harry and Ron and even Ginny to last her a lifetime. But it was always a spectacle to see someone with a talent like Viktor to be in his element. Bulgaria was not doing to great, but Krum was flying his best. It was after the first half that Hermione could see him beginning to get discouraged.

She started yelling along with the crowd, trying to boost him up. They still had a chance of winning if he caught the snitch soon, but her yells were completely lost in the chaos. Fleur noticed this and stood up next to her date. She placed a hand on Hermione's stomach and told her to inhale deeply before trying again. Hermione felt a surge of energy coursing through her, radiating from Fleur's hand, and she opened her mouth once more, shouting the first thing she could think of, "YOU'RE A WANKER, VIKTOR KRUM!"

Her voice echoed throughout the stadium, and just about everyone turned to look towards their box. Fleur dissolved into a fit of giggles, and Hermione flushed as scarlet as the Bulgarians' robes as Viktor himself turned to look at them. Seeing the two familiar faces, he gave a big grin towards them and a wave, before shooting back off on his broomstick.

It did not take him long to catch the snitch after that, and the game was over with a Bulgarian win. As Fleur and Hermione made their way down to the locker room areas to meet with Krum, Hermione looked over at Fleur and squinted her eyes. "How did you do that with just your hand? Have you been practicing wandless magic?" Fleur's eyes glimmered with mischief before she reached into her pocket, revealing she had been holding her wand with the other hand. Hermione just shook her head and laughed.

They met with Krum, and after an appropriate amount of hugging, he managed to convince them to join the team for the post game celebrations. After a long and rowdy party that lasted well into the night, Hermione and Fleur grabbed their small portkey one last time and were swept away back to London.

Hermione walked with Fleur back to her apartment, just tipsy enough to wonder if the ethereal glow Fleur had was her Veela nature, the alcohol in her system, or just the foggy London streetlights. When they reached Fleur's door, Fleur hesitated. ""Ermione, I don't want you to feel like you are obligat-" Hermione lunged forward and kissed Fleur hungrily, letting years of held back passion and desire flow through both of them. That was all Fleur needed from Hermione.

They fell into Fleur's apartment and were quick to strip off each others' clothes as they made their way to the bedroom. Control switched between both girls, neither one willing to succumb completely until they fell into the bed together. There, they let themselves go completely, determined to take as much of the other as they could until they were an exhausted and sweaty heap in the bed. After their lovemaking, Hermione curled up in Fleur's arms and quickly fell asleep as Fleur buried her face in Hermione's hair to do the same...