The Veela and the Lion

Do not Fear

A/N: For the first challenge of Harry Potter Writing competition. Dear gods I hope this is readable enough.

People often tell that Gryffindors are brave and faces challenges head-on. That they will not quit no matter what challenges they face. That their courage and chivalry are their greatest asset.

Students who were sorted in Gryffindor was possesses the characteristics of being bravery, chivalry and determination. Anyone should be proud to be sorted to the regal lion's house.

But why does fear engulf a certain Gryffindor as of the moment?

Why does a lone Gryffindor, the one called as the 'Brightest Witch of her age', fears of her secret being out? That out of all the adventures she had with Harry and Ron, a small secret is enough for her to hide in the library and hoped that no one will find her. Being the intellectual among the Golden Trio, she already know why she fears of her secret known by everyone. That no matter where she is, be it the Muggle world or the Wizarding world, she is still the oddity.

Such thing makes her wonders why she has to be different from everyone. From her bloodline to her intellect, she was always the unusual one among her peers. That wherever she goes, no one would understand her, or worse, ridicule her.

All of it was just because of a one-worded answer.

Hermione Jean Granger, the Golden Girl, fourth year in Hogwarts, is scared of being found out that she agreed to go to the Yule Ball with one of the champions. That going to the event with one of the guest of honors will put all eyes on her.

And Hermione fears being the center of attention if it is not regarding her grades.

It was when the arrival of the foreign students in Hogwarts to participate in the Triwizard tournament that she realized how much she fancies the female population than the male one. Sure she has a crush on a few men, one of them is Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, even if the professor is a phony. But when her chocolate brown eyes saw a pair of ocean blue ones, the owner being the Beaubaxton champion Fleur Delacour, she can't deny that she's more in to women than men.

It was supposed to be a secret. That she would just admire the sole female champion from afar and nothing but that. But as if the fates have cursed her, and blaming the muggles for the so-called 'gayday', the woman of her dreams noticed her from the sea of students. That her attempts of secretly glancing at the blonde would end up being a game of who glances at who. That the blonde who ensnared her attention enough to pull her focus away from books, already knew of her attraction.

It was after the first task that she first talked to Fleur. She was looking for a way to help Harry with his golden egg when she was approached by the Beaubaxton champion. She was busy searching for a way to decipher the egg that she didn't notice the blonde making a beeline to her and sitting in front of her. She grumbled at the rough task in hand and when she looked up, blue eyes were staring at her with a twinkle of amusement.

"Bonjour ma belle." Fleur said softly."'ow are you on 'zis fine day?"

Hearing the blonde's voice in close proximity sounded like a voice of an angel in Hermione's ears. She noticed how Fleur's lips curled up in a cute way; like a cat seeing an amusing shiny object. Those eyes that gaze at her as if analyzing her... The mere sight of the blonde, their minimal distance, left her star stuck.

"Ma belle?" the French witch said, amused expression slowly faltering.

Realizing that she looked like a gaping fish in front of the beautiful champion, Hermione snapped out of her trance and blushed. Collecting her thoughts, the brunette asked what Fleur was doing in the library.