A/N: Hey, I'm back! Thanks for the reviews; need to clear a few things with some of you though.
Davaca:: Don't worry; you will find a brief explanation of Darcelle's character right in this chappie. Let's just say she's another French bitch (no pun intended); not a Veela though. And Fleur does not play for Gryffindor; she's a Ravenclaw. My bad if I wasn't clear about that. Oliver is just giving her Quidditch tips; why would he do that? He's Oliver, he's horribly naïve!
Quietlylurking: Thanks for your review. Yes, Sirius is a live in every single one fof my fics. I think the reason to why Hermione freaked is her insecurity; sorry the scene wasn't totally described, but we women tend to exaggerate things a bit sometimes. And Ron is going to be low-key. Sorry!
Fledge: Sorry about Darcelle's name; it was the only one that came to mind, since I'm not French myself, sorry! I don't think Hermione is out of character in that scene, because like I said to Quietlylurking, women tend to exaggerate things a bit and Hermione is a bit too insecure, specially when it comes to Harry; the answer to figuring him out is not in a book and I wouldn't say he thinks of him as her true love, because he just kissed her the day before the dance. She hasn't got a stable relationship to lean back on and she isn't totally secure about what he wants, so she will always think the worst. I think she was mostly angry at Ginny though, but took it out on Harry (although he deserves some of the `blame' too.)
akjennymay9 - That's okay, I don't like Ginny as well. I share the same opinion you do. So, you like Oliver? Or is it Sean Biggerstaff? Hee,hee. Don't worry, more Oliver in this chapter!
The rest of you, thank you soo much for your welcoming response. And now, back to the story!
Chapter 10: Darcelle de Heinz
Hermione got up early in the morning, her usual wake up time, as she wasn't exactly known as a late riser. She put on the robes that Fleur had brought her and made her way to her own dorm.
Once there, Hermione showered and put on her uniform robes, making her way to the Great Hall immediately afterwards. She helped herself to a glass of milk and opted for a simple piece of toast for breakfast.
Not long after she had seated, Hedwig came flying over her head, and dropped off a delivery for her. It was a single red rose, with a note attached to it. The parchment only had two words on it:
"Forgive me?"
Hermione automatically tore the note to pieces without a single moment of hesitation and stormed out of the Great Hall.
On her way, she ran into Harry, who, while unable to manage a word, looked at her with pleading eyes. But Hermione had her own three little words to say:
"Bite me, Potter."
After that incidental encounter, Hermione went through a regular day of class, but couldn't concentrate in a single one. She even kept her hand down in Potions, not questioning Snape in a single procedure. Naturally, Snape was far too happy with this to give a second of concern to Hermione's strange behavior.
Finally, afternoon came, and with it, a free period. Hermione would have opted for the library, but figured that Harry would probably be waiting for her there, as he had been trying to persuade her to talk to him all day. If not him, Ron would be there instead, or some other student for that matter, waiting to talk to her about a troublesome assignment, or, even worse, about Harry. Hermione simply wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. Hell, she hadn't even seen Fleur all day and that was saying something. So, she opted to head for the school's heated pool.
Hermione changed into a blue bikini and dived into the cold water, or rather, onto someone.
"Watch it! Oh." Fleur smiled as she emerged, sighting Hermione.
"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. Fleur?"
" `I `Erm, `ow are you `olding up?" Fleur's happy look shifted to a concerned one.
Hermione sighed in frustration.
"How do you think? I even said `bite me' to Harry, not that he didn't deserved it though," she pointed out.
" `Zat bad huh? Kind of noticeable. Is irregular enough `zat you kept quiet in all your classes, much less `ang out `ere instead of `ze library. " `Erm, you've known `Arry most of your life. You know `e would never intentionally `urt you." Fleur put her hand on Hermione's shoulder, who shrugged. She looked as if she would start crying any minute.
"I…"
Hermione stammered as Fleur's eyes opened wide. She nearly drowned at the sight before her.
"Fleur, oh my God, are you all right?" Hermione asked the coughing part-Veela.
"I'll be all right later."
Fleur got out of the water in a flash. She took Hermione's towel and put it around her waist, covering the lower part of her passion red bikini. Hermione would've said something, but it was pointless since Fleur was now at a considerable distance from her and was making her way towards Oliver, who was talking with…Actually she didn't know who he was talking to, but apparently Fleur did, since her face resembled that of an angry Veela.
"Oliver!" Fleur called her boyfriend as happily as she could, trying in vain to steady her temper. Oliver, however, didn't notice her mood, for he was too busy admiring her physique.
"Wow! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" he complimented her.
Fleur smiled, but Darcelle, Oliver's companion, seemed rather upset.
"Careful, you'll catch a cold," she said in sarcasm.
"Oh, and I zink you would like `zat, wouldn't you, Darcy? So you could bed my…"
"So honey, I didn't know French girls were so interested in Quidditch." Fleur was surprised by Oliver's interruption. They were?
"We're n…"
"Darcelle just got appointed Seeker of the Slytherin team, since Blaise apparently had a nasty accident. Anyway, allow me to remind you, practice today at three," Oliver reminded her, a little too enthusiastically.
"I'll be `zere," said Fleur as Oliver approached her side.
"We'll have our very own little flying lesson right after practice is finished," he whispered.
Fleur put her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, as she knew that her `friend' was watching.
"Walk me to my room?" Fleur pleaded. Oliver was only too happy to grant her request.
"Certainly." He took her hand as he said farewell to his previous company and strolled off.
Hermione had seen enough. She hadn't actually heard the argument, but by the looks of Fleur's face, it had been thoroughly unpleasant. She got out of the pool and went looking for her, while Darcelle, cursing under breath, hit Hermione on the shoulder as she made her own way to the Slytherin common room.
Hermione decided not to pay attention to the little accident and went directly to Fleur's dorm.
She found her throwing things around the room. Oliver was clearly gone. She carefully crossed over to her, avoiding Fleur's little vanity mirror by inches.
"What's wrong, Fleur?" Hermione's voice was a mere whisper, while Fleur's voice was a hideous shriek.
" `Zat De Heinz bitch! I know what she wants, and damn it I swear I'll kill her before she getz it!"
"You're referring to the French girl talking to you by the pool, aren't you?"
"Talking? `Ardly," Fleur scoffed.
"Friend of yours?"
" `Er name is Darcelle De Heinz."
"De Heinz? What, her dad invented Muggle ketchup or something?" Hermione laughed, but Fleur didn't even blink.
" She despises me, because all `ze guys she liked, preferred me over `er. I mean, can I really be blamed?" Fleur's confident air was back and Hermione gave her that peculiar look of hers, just to make sure her friend stayed on earth. "Okay fine! `Zey were `ot! Anyway, she obviously wants to get back at me and she wants Oliver, I just know it."
"Fleur, you can't jump to conclusions before…" Hermione tried to reason with her, in vane, because Fleur burst out with another shriek.
" She just signed up for `ze Slyzerin Quidditch team! `Erm, in Beauxbatons we don't even `ave a Quidditch team!"
"Maybe so, but you know Oliver loves you."
" `Zat's exactly what `Arry told you, wasn't it?"