Friendship Tested

"I would do anything for Harry, Professors, but he has to want me too," Hermione said. "Can you bring him here or let me go there and talk to him?"

"I think we should pay a visit to the hospital Albus," Rachelle suggested.

"I would like to examine Harry if he is awake and I can talk to your nurse at the same time. I think it would be prudent to verify the time left anyway. If possible, we can bring Harry back here if he is better since this is where the pensieve is. I also suggest we leave the young women here together. Give them a chance to talk among themselves. A familiarity between them now will help in the bondimage."

"Certainly," Professor Dumbledore said. "Mr. and Mrs. Delacour, do you want to join us or maybe have a quick bite to eat in the Great Hall?"

The elder Delacours didn't look like they wanted to leave their daughters, but after a few seconds of staring between them and Professor Berceau they relented, and decided they would head for the Great Hall. Professors' Dumbledore and Berceau left shortly after them headed for the Hospital wing."

It was awkward for Hermione once everyone had left. She sat beside Fleur and Gabrielle for two minutes but none of them spoke. Finally Fleur broke the silence. "I…I want you to know zat I do love 'Arry Miss Granger and zat I am truly sorry. I know 'e is your friend."

"Please call me Hermione. I am glad for Harry. Well glad isn't the word I don't suppose. Just I...I really hope it all works out," Hermione said. "If Harry wants my help, I will do everything I can."

"E spoke about you a lot last night," Gabrielle offered. "E told us you 'ad saved 'is life. You kept 'im safe from ze Devil's snare and zen 'e said zat 'ad you not figured out about ze Basilisk 'e would not 'ave known what was in store for 'im and probably would 'ave died in ze Chamber."

"If I had told someone about what I thought it was before getting petrified he might never have had to go into the Chamber," Hermione responded. "Did he tell you about the Troll he saved me from in the first year? How he jumped on the back of it and his wand got shoved up its nose?"

For the next few minutes they exchanged stories about what Harry had said happened and what Hermione's versions were. Hermione started realizing the blonde-haired Fleur she had detested earlier in the year was not the same woman who sat nervously near her.

"It's not surprising," Fleur told her when Hermione mentioned it. "Eet is frustrating when men constantly stare at me for my beauty. I want to believe I am more zan zat. But zey don't care what I am like in 'ere," she put her hand to her chest, "only what my rear or my face looks like. Women tend to not like me because of ze effects I 'ave on zeir boyfriends. So I just usually keep to myself and it appears rude sometimes, but to my friends, I think I am a much better person."

"I guess I can understand that, though I'll never have that problem," Hermione replied.

"I think you do not give yourself enough credit 'Ermione. You are very lovely, and many many young men were staring at you because of how beautiful you were at ze Yule Ball."

"They were just surprised about my hair," Hermione replied disregarding the compliment. "Normally it's like this," She indicated the bushy display of hair on her head.

"Non, zat was not it. Maybe I should 'ave traded partners with you zough. Davies drool was getting to me," Fleur said with a little laugh. "Zough why didn't 'Arry ask you?"

Hermione explained about Harry's crush on Cho Chang and his attempt to ask her and then not asking anyone until the last minute.

"Ermione," Fleur said gently, "I think you need to know something," Fleur sighed but continued. "Zis is difficult because of what is going to 'appen, but I want to be entirely truthful wiz you. It might even make you not want to 'elp and...and we'll understand if zat is so."

"What?" Hermione asked.

"It's something that can be verified in ze bondimage," Fleur explained as she took Hermione's hand in hers. "Arry might 'ave 'ad a crush on someone else, but 'e is in love wiz you."

It took a few seconds for Fleur's word to register. All of the thoughts from the night before last came back. "What...How do you know? Are you sure?" She asked.

"I didn't notice it when it was 'appening but Professor Berceau and your 'eadmaster were discussing it earlier," Fleur explained. "You are in 'Arry's 'eart in bondimage and zat can only means 'e loves you. 'As 'e never told you?"

"Uh…no. I...I don't know what to say," Hermione replied in astonishment. "He…we...uh…no. We have just been friends."

Gabrielle remembered her conversation with Harry from that morning. "I don't think 'e knows. 'E told me zis morning zat 'e doesn't know what love is."

Hermione looked at the younger of the two sisters as she thought of her friend. She knew some things about his relatives and his home life. "How could I not think of that?" She thought to herself. "I...I should have thought of that, what kind of friend am I?"

"A very good one, I think. Zough I'm sorry if I upset you," Fleur said. "I just thought you should know."

"Thank you," Hermione replied still trying to comprehend the revelation. Then she saw Fleur looking questioningly at her and knew what she wanted. "I'll still help. I..." She swallowed as she stopped what she was about to say. "But how do you feel about it? He's going to be your bondmate. Is it going to be a problem if I'm his friend?"

"Ermione," Fleur started as tightened her grip on the younger witch's hand, "I want 'Arry to be 'appy. I've seen ze pain and suffering 'e's endured in 'is life," Fleur paused as a look of sadness crossed her face, "If I could undo ze bond I would and let 'im be 'appy with you. Gabrielle and I could choose not to complete ze bond, but I think 'Arry would never forgive 'imself if we did zat. So don't even think for a second zat Gabrielle or I would ever stop you two from being friends. I just 'ope someday you can call me a friend as well."

"Me too 'Ermione," Gabrielle added.

"Even if I were to tell you that I realized I was in love with Harry as well?" Hermione asked wanting to completely clear the issue between them.

"Even zen," Fleur said. "Just please don't be jealous of us when we are bonded wiz 'Arry."

"I'll try not to be," Hermione replied honestly but then wondered if it was even going to be an issue. "So have you and Harry discussed where you'll be living?"

"Ere of course," Gabrielle replied. "Arry is giving us our lives by agreeing to ze bond, ze least we can do is not take 'is life away."

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