Hermione's Plan
An Unexpected Friend and Ally
By Chem Prof
Chapter 9, An Unexpected Friend and Ally
The tale of their year-long adventure in Mexico finished, Harry and Hermione waited for Ron’s reaction. But for once their tall red-haired friend was at a loss for words. ‘Bloody Hell!’ just didn’t seem adequate this time. “That’s … Wow! … That’s incredible! That’s bloody amazing!” he finally managed. “You really learned to do all those spells? And wandlessly? And you’re animagi??”
Harry and Hermione grinned at each other. First Harry flicked his wand and a stone slab erupted from the ground just off to Ron’s right. While Ron was gaping at the rocky protuberance, Hermione made a small gesture with her hand and before he knew it a root had grown up around his leg. Once he had calmed down and she had released him the pair stood and before Ron could blink a jaguar stood before him and an owl flew up, circled, and landed on his shoulder. This time he fell back on his old standby.
“Bloody Hell!” In another second the owl had spread her wings and lifted up off his shoulder, only to transform right in front of him back into his best female friend, who promptly caught him up into a hug.
“Don’t ever change, Ron,” she said laughingly. Suddenly they were both staggered back by the paws of a six-foot jaguar who had jumped up on his hind legs to join in the hug. They all tumbled to the ground as Harry reappeared and the bundle of friends burst into laughter.
Once they had all regained their composure, Hermione resumed her seat in front of Harry and his arms automatically wrapped around her again as they inquired about what had happened in Britain while they were gone. Ron suddenly realized that it was late afternoon and they had been talking for nearly six hours. He also realized that he was hungry.
“Great Merlin!” I can’t believe we’ve been out here for so long. Everyone will be getting worried, wondering what happened to us!”
Harry looked inquiringly at Hermione who checked her watch. “We still have fifteen minutes,” she responded, then turned to Ron. “Relax Ron. You’re not really missing.” She smiled at the completely baffled look on his face and explained. “In fifteen minutes we’ll use the time turner and take you back to when we arrived. Just think, you’ll get a chance to eat a second lunch today,” she teased. Ron shook his head, still not yet used to the idea of how relaxed the limitations of time had become for his friends. “Now,” Hermione continued. “What’s new around here?”
“Well, nothing’s really happened with You-Know-Who. Dad and Remus say that he probably was surprised that his plot to kill Dumbledore worked so well and he wasn’t ready to exploit it. Sort of like in chess when you get an unexpected opening, but your pieces aren’t in the position you need them to be. You take your time, move them into place, then go for the kill.” Harry and Hermione both nodded grimly at the analogy.
“Most of what has been going on around here has been wedding preparation. I can’t believe how many times we’ve had to go into Madame Malkins for robes. First selection, then fitting, then more fitting. It’s much worse for Ginny though. It took them a whole week just to pick out a color that would look good on both her and Gabrielle. Something about their hair color.” Hermione stifled a laugh and shook her head. Men and fashion! Ron still didn’t have any idea how horribly his bright orange Chudley Cannons jumpers clashed with his red hair.
“Let’s see … oh, I passed my apparation test. And Ginny and the other fifth years took their OWL’s last week.” Hermione perked up at that information, then had to turn around and smack Harry on the shoulder when he snickered. His only response was to tighten his arms around her waist, which she didn’t mind a bit, and she smiled as she turned back to Ron while Harry congratulated him on the apparation news.
Then Ron lowered his voice and leaned forward. “I haven’t made any progress on the locket, though. I’m pretty certain it’s not in the house. I’m thinking now that Dung might have stolen it. But I had an idea. Why don’t you ask Kreacher to look for it? You know, like you ordered him to tail Malfoy for you. He has to obey you. And if you tell him the locket belonged to Regulus, he’ll probably even be enthusiastic about it.” As he finished this suggestion he looked nervously at Hermione. She hadn’t been too thrilled at Harry’s ordering the house elf to follow Malfoy during the previous school year. This Hermione, with a year’s added maturity, surprised him, however.
“That’s a great idea, Ron,” Harry said as Hermione nodded slowly, thinking it over. Kreacher probably would be happy to do something for his former master. She suspected, though, that he would strongly object when he discovered they wanted to destroy it.
“Kreacher!” Harry called out, letting go of her and rising to his feet. Within seconds the withered old house elf appeared, grumbling under his breath as usual. “Kreacher,” Harry said in a stern voice. “I need you to do something for me. Have you ever seen a locket like this in your master’s house?” Harry had withdrawn the fake horcrux from his pocket. None of them were prepared for Kreacher’s response.
“Master’s locket!” he cried, springing forward with more energy than they had ever seen him exhibit. “He stole it! That nasty thief stole it. Not this one though, but one like it. It belonged to Master Regulus but now it’s mine.” His voice was hissing now, and an insane gleam seemed to appear in his eyes. “It was a present, yes it was. And that nasty thief stole it. It was mine but he stole it. Nasty thief.” He would have continued going on and on like this had Harry not broken in.
“Okay, we know he stole it. Now I want you to see if you can find it and get it back. Can you do that?” Kreacher stopped his hissing and shot a startled look at Harry.
“New Master wants Kreacher to find Former Master’s locket and get it back from nasty thief?”
“Yes. But you aren’t allowed to talk to anyone or let anyone know what you’re doing or why or who you’re doing it for. And when you find it, take it back to the house and put it back in the cabinet where it was,” Harry added.
“Yes. Kreacher can do that. Kreacher will find nasty thief and get his locket back. Kreacher will find his locket. It will be Kreacher’s locket again. His present …” Kreacher disappeared with a pop, still hissing and muttering.
Hermione, who had been watching this tableau in slack jawed amazement, finally found her voice. “Harry, have you ever read The Hobbit?” Harry shook his head at her, puzzled. “I think you should. I’ll let you borrow my copy when we get back home.” Harry said nothing, but merely nodded. She knew that he trusted her judgement enough that he would figure that if she thought it was important for him to do, he probably should.
Once the encounter with Kreacher had been dealt with, Hermione looked at her watch again. “Time for us to be going back,” she announced, approaching Ron. He looked at her in apprehension as she pulled the chain with the time turner on it out from her bag and looped it around both their heads. “Disillusion us please,” she said to Harry, and she saw him grin at her as he pulled out his wand and gave two quick swishes. She was aware of the cause of his amusement – Ron had been distinctly uncomfortable when she pressed up against him and reached her arms up to put the chain around his neck. She knew Harry well enough to guess that he was thinking about Ron’s reaction to what had been revealed by her bikini top when they first arrived. She shook her head in exasperation. Boys! After checking the dial to make sure it was set correctly, she grabbed Ron’s arm, flipped the device once and they disappeared.
The two of them found themselves behind some bushes in front of the Burrow. Fortunately, Ron refrained whatever exclamation he was about to make and she didn’t have to silence him. Putting a finger to her lips she beckoned to him to listen carefully, and they could just make out the conversation of Harry and their earlier selves as they disappeared around the back of the house. When the coast was clear, Hermione removed the chain of the time turner from Ron’s neck and they emerged from the bushes. Hermione decided that it was time to get something straight.
“Ron, I know that things are going to be different now that Harry and I are together, but my relationship with you hasn’t changed,” she insisted. “I don’t want you to be acting awkward around me, and I assure you that I’m going to keep hugging you like I always have.” He gave her a sheepish grin in response, then nodded his agreement. To prove her point she promptly gave him a hug.
“Now,” she continued, “you need to relax, go back inside, get something to eat, and tell everyone that Harry and I won’t arrive until suppertime. Just make sure everyone stays away from the shed.”
“But Hermione,” Ron worried, “how do you know no one will find us?”
Hermione smiled. “Because no one did.”
She left him frowning in puzzlement at the front door and walked back down the path, going around the house in the opposite direction that they had the first time. She disillusioned herself again before she rounded the precariously balanced structure and walked quietly to a tree a safe distance away from where their earlier selves were sitting in conversation, where she could keep them in sight, pulled a book out of her bag, and began to read.
Lost in her book, she didn’t realize how late it was until she felt Harry’s presence approaching. Looking up at him with a smile, she watched him give his wand a double swish and felt the familiar sensation of warm water flowing down her body as she reappeared.
“How did you know where I was?” she asked with a grin, although she already knew the answer.
He shrugged. “I just felt you. I could tell when you first walked back here and sat down.” He held out his hand and pulled her to her feet, continuing the motion into a hug and a small kiss. Hermione remembered to recast the concealment charm on her ring and they took each other’s hands as they walked up to the Burrow’s back door. Suddenly Harry looked around as if something had just occurred to him.
“Hermione? Shouldn’t this place be more fixed up than this? I mean, isn’t there going to be a wedding here in three days?”
Hermione tried to hold back her laughter but couldn’t, especially after seeing the adorable perplexed expression on his face. “Harry, the wedding’s not here. It’s in France. You know. Where Fleur’s from? Weddings are always held in the bride’s home town.”
Harry’s cute sheepish grin found its way to his face. She couldn’t resist reaching up and kissing it. “I bet I’m not the only one who made that mistake,” he protested. “Lots of people probably thought it was going to be at the Burrow.”
Hermione gave him an exaggerated eye-roll. “Right Harry. Honestly, I can’t imagine that there are very many people out there who are so ignorant about wedding customs.”
By this time they were at the house and received a typically boisterous Weasley welcome – with the exception that it was an exclusively male one. The only ones home besides Ron were Fred and George and Mr. Weasley. They quickly explained what had apparently not occurred to Ron to mention earlier – Bill, Fleur, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley were already at the Delacour’s. Charlie would be traveling there directly from Romania. Percy had not been heard from.
“Yeah, it’s been a real drag the past few days, having to eat meals that we bring home from the Leaky Cauldron,” Fred moaned. Hermione was all at once aware that all four Weasley males were looking hopefully at her. Before her annoyance could grow enough that she would start lecturing them on the role of women in society Harry stepped up.
“Hermione and I would be glad to cook dinner,” he offered with a perfectly straight face. The four hopeful faces changed to bafflement.
“Uh, look Harry, you don’t have to do that,” George protested. “Don’t you want to catch up with Ron?” I’m sure Hermione can …”
“Yeah, we can go flying for a bit,” Ron said eagerly. “I know you must have missed it, during all that time …”
Harry broke in before his girlfriend did something that might render some Weasley males incapable of fathering children. “No, no, that’s okay. Your family has always been so good to us, putting us up so often during the summer, it’s a way for us to show our appreciation.” The boys continued to protest, but he shooed them out of the kitchen, somewhat forcefully at the end. Arthur, who had been looking at Hermione during the exchange and had seen the glare that so often intimidated his youngest son, swallowed hard and decided he had something to attend to in his study.
Next Harry pulled Hermione into the other end of the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her waist, facing her with the most disarming grin he could manage.
It worked. Hermione’s glare softened and amusement took over as she inquired, “We are going to cook dinner?”
“Well, how about I cook and you help?” The grin was still firmly in place.
“And what kind of help are you thinking of?” Harry’s infectious grin had now spread to Hermione’s face.
“Hmm, how about entertaining the cook?”
She smacked him on the arm in mock offense. “And just what kind of entertainment did you have in mind, Mr. Potter?”
“Just having you be in the same room is enjoyment enough for me.”
“Oooh, smooth Potter. I think someone is going to get lucky tonight for that one.” She reached up to capture his lips and give him an indication of what he could look forward to.
“Harry, I put … whoops!” Ron burst into the kitchen and skidded to a halt, while his best friends quickly jumped away from each other. “Uh … I, uh, put your bag in Ginny’s room, Hermione, and you’re in Percy’s old room Harry.” He looked back and forth between the pair for a few seconds, then smirked. But I’m guessing that only one of those rooms will actually be used tonight.” An awkward silence settled over the kitchen as Harry and Hermione shifted about nervously before Harry nodded to Ron.
“Um, guys,” Ron began. “Are you planning to keep this secret? Because, you know …” he gestured to the rest of the house and its unseen occupants.
“Actually, we think it would be best to wait until after the wedding,” Hermione responded. “We think there might be some unpleasantness and we don’t want to take the attention away from Bill and Fleur.”
Ron snorted. “Some unpleasantness? That’s an understatement.” But all three of them quickly agreed on the necessity of keeping the couple’s relationship under wraps for the time being.
During dinner they all discussed the plan for the next day. Harry and Hermione mentioned that they had to pick up their dress robes at Madame Malkins. They didn’t add that they had ordered them before they left but now they needed alterations due to the physical changes both had undergone during the past year. Ron, of course, had noticed the changes, and Fred and George had as well, but said nothing, merely raising their eyebrows at Harry’s larger size and obviously increased strength when he had pushed them out of the kitchen, as well as casting appreciative glances at Hermione’s more mature figure. Mr. Weasley hadn’t seen Hermione since the previous summer or Harry since Christmas, with the exception of that chaotic time in the Hospital wing after Bill’s injuries, so would have been inclined to ascribe their physical changes to normal growth. Everyone had commented on their tans, Hermione’s lighter hair color, and Harry’s lack of glasses when they had first arrived and the couple was satisfied to leave it at that.
They had also ordered dragonhide body armor that morning when they had stopped at Diagon Alley before coming to the Burrow, and wanted to pick it up as well. When the trio returned the next morning an additional set would be ordered for Ron. It was decided that the twins would accompany the three of them to Diagon Alley first thing in the morning, stop briefly at their shop, and be back at the Burrow so that everyone could take a portkey to France at noon.
They turned in early that evening pleading exhaustion from their travels, but in fact Hermione and Ron were six hours ahead of everyone else, so that 8:00 PM seemed like 2:00 AM. Percy’s room ended up being the choice for the night, as Harry decided it would be just too weird to sleep with Hermione in Ginny’s bed.
-ooOoo-
“’Arry! ’Ermione! I’m so glad you could make eet!” Fleur ran out to meet them, looking more beautiful than ever, Hermione thought, while gritting her teeth as the French part-Veela gave Harry a hug and a kiss on each cheek. Her tension eased as she noted that Harry had no reaction to Fleur at all; in fact, both Harry and Fleur had puzzled looks on their faces. Fleur pulled back then and looked from Harry to Hermione, her eyes widening in understanding. She then came over to Hermione and repeated the hug and kisses she had given Harry. But along with the kiss she whispered, “we must talk later” into Hermione’s ear before pulling back and greeting the others. Ron, of course, had the normal dazed look that he got whenever he was around Fleur after she gave him his hug.
Molly Weasley was next with the hugs, although Hermione noticed that the one she received was quite a bit less enthusiastic than Harry’s. She suspected that it had something to do with Harry having just spent two weeks on holiday with her and her parents. Ron had tipped them off that Molly had not been at all happy when she had heard about that. She, of course, was of the opinion that Harry should have spent those two weeks with the Weasley family.
“Harry, you’re sharing with Ron, of course, and Hermione, you’re in with Ginny,” she announced. Ron cleared his throat and pulled his mother aside.
“Um, Mum, Hermione and Ginny aren’t exactly on the best terms right now. That might not be such a good idea.” Before the shocked Molly could respond, Fleur burst into the conversation.
“Oh, zat won’t be necessary. ’Ermione can stay weeth me,” she declared. Eet will only be for two nights, and zen she can ’ave ze room to ’erself after ze wedding.” One of the perks of being the bride was that people tended to go along with what you wanted, (and it was her home, after all) so Molly gave in without too much protest.
Next, two more pretty young girls came hurrying out. Ginny and Gabrielle had apparently been engaged in some bridesmaid activities which delayed their greetings, but the young French girl made up for it with her enthusiasm. Sprinting across the front lawn with her long silvery hair flying, she hurled herself into Harry’s arms, gushing about how much she had been looking forward to seeing once more the brave man who had saved her. She also emulated her older sister by giving him a kiss on each cheek – somewhat longer kisses than a normal greeting called for, Hermione noted.
She also noted something else with no small amount of apprehension. Gabrielle, according to Fleur, who was still standing next to Hermione, had just finished her first year at Beauxbatons and was now twelve years old. But she was the most physically developed twelve-year-old Hermione had ever seen. Apparently Veela developed earlier than other girls. She was shorter than Fleur, but every bit as pretty, and she had a petite but clearly mature figure. In fact, except for the hair color, she strongly resembled a fifteen year old Cho Chang – or the fifteen year old Ginny Weasley who had followed her out the door, fuming at the vivacious younger girl. As both of those stunningly attractive witches had once captivated Harry Potter, this girl was quite clearly exactly his type.
The apprehension was gone in a second, but not before Fleur noticed it. Hermione relaxed as she saw Harry return Gabrielle’s hug. She knew Harry’s body language intimately, and he was hugging her just like he would a friend’s annoying younger sister. Gabrielle obviously picked up on this also, for she pulled back from Harry and gave him the most adorable pout Hermione had ever seen. Unfortunately for the poor starstruck girl, it had no effect on her raven-haired idol either. It did have the effect of generating a glare from Ginny that should have melted stone.
Given that she was now technically dating someone else, Ginny’s own greeting of Harry was by necessity more subdued, but she made sure to tell him how great he looked, and managed to rub her hands over his newly acquired muscles by way of illustration. Her greeting of Hermione was just barely polite. She had also resented the fact that the older girl had spirited her former boyfriend off to another part of the world for two weeks. After all, how was Harry supposed to get jealous of her and Colin being together if he wasn’t around to see them?
Finally all the hugs were concluded and all the appropriate introductions made, and the elder Delacours had thoroughly thanked Harry for saving their younger daughter, and everyone had marveled at how much Gabrielle had grown up and also how different Harry looked with a tan and without his glasses, etc. etc. etc., and they all made their way into the Delacour chateau.
Hermione was entranced with the ancestral home that had been in the Delacour family for at least twenty generations. It had a grand entrance hall, with stairways spiraling up into six separate towers from the upper floors. The lower level of the entrance hall led to a ballroom and an expansive formal dining room to the right, with a series of living spaces, studies, parlors, and a library to the left. Fleur led Hermione up into one of the towers, while Bill took Fred, George, Ron, and Harry into another. Hermione was relieved to see that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were in a third tower. As they climbed the winding stairs Hermione was reminded of the chateau in the movie Cinderella. She wouldn’t have been at all surprised to see two mice come out and start talking to her blonde companion. Finally, near the top of her tower, Fleur opened a door into a room that was easily larger than the entire sixth year Gryffindor girls’ dorm.
“Now, you must tell me what ees ’appening between you and ’Arry,” Fleur insisted, as she helped Hermione unpack her trunk and hang her robes in one of the closets. “But first …” she raised her wand and cast an imperturble charm on the door. “Ze walls ’ave ears,” she explained with a shrug. Hermione couldn’t help the smile that came to her face as she recalled the Extendible Ears of the Weasley twins.
“You’re right, we’re together now,” she replied, deciding that denial was pointless, since the part-Veela had picked it up right away. “But how did you know?”
“I can sense eet,” was the answer. “And eet ees more than just ‘togezzer’. You are bonded by love. Veela are always aware of zeese feelings. When I greeted ’Arry I could tell zat my Veela charm ’ad no effect on ’im. While eet ees true zat ’e can usually control ’is reactions to me, zis time zere was nozzing. Same weeth Gabrielle. ’E ees clearly een love. And you are ze one ’e ’as been weeth for ze last two weeks.” Fleur paused and took a close look at Hermione. “And eet ’as been much more zan two weeks, no?”
Hermione confirmed that things were not as they seemed, and Fleur accepted that she could not share the details of their journey. Then Hermione canceled the concealment charm and showed off her ring. Fleur squealed in a most gratifying manner, and agreed with Hermione that it reminded her of Harry’s eyes. “I am very ’appy for you,” the older witch pronounced. “Ze two of you are very much … ’ow should I say … right for each ozzer. You complete each ozzer. You share your souls.” She turned her head and nodded at the door. “Somezing zat could not be said of my new sister-in-law, I theenk. I do not believe zat ’e ever shared ze theengs with ’er zat ’e does with you. N’est-ces pas?”
Hermione found herself more impressed with this woman than she had ever been before. She hoped that her discretion matched her perceptiveness, because she had to trust her to keep their secret. But she was not prepared for the next question.
“Do you want to sleep togezzer?” Hermione’s jaw dropped, but she eventually managed a slight nod. “Bill and I ’ave rooms een ze village where we ’ave been staying – we are only pretending to stay ’ere for Molly’s sake. Charlie ’as been covering for ’im. Een fact, I believe zat Charlie ’as a lady friend of ’is own who shares ’is room here.”
Hermione finally found her voice. “But … what about the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride on the day of the wedding?” She winced at the lameness of this objection, considering everything else that had just been revealed in the room.
Fleur waved her hand in dismissal. “Why would I want to give up sleeping weeth ze man I love because of some silly tradition?” Hermione had no answer for this. “Now, will Ron cover for ’Arry?”
“I … I think so,” Hermione thought, then decided. “Yes, I’m sure he will.”
“Good. zen zere ees no problem. We will just ’ave ’im apparate een ’ere each night after everyone goes to bed, and no one will be ze wiser.” She perked up as she seemed to sense something outside the room, and Hermione suddenly felt it too. Fleur canceled her spell as she turned back to Hermione and smiled. “I theenk our loved ones are ’ere to check up on us.”
Bill and Harry were indeed outside the door, and the four of them took some time to discuss a few things. Hermione blushed brightly as Fleur matter-of-factly filled Bill in on the plan the two women had just devised. Harry hastily changed the subject by asking Bill about the possibility of finding someone with curse-breaking skills. Bill and Fleur immediately vowed to do whatever they could to help Harry out. The word had quietly spread among the Weasley brothers that Harry was up to something vital in the battle against the dark lord, and they had all agreed to assist him in any way they could, with no questions asked.
-ooOoo-
That night, while waiting for Bill and Harry to arrive, Hermione was to discover much more about Fleur, as the two grew even closer.
“’Ermione, feel free to change eento your nightgown eef you like,” Fleur suggested. Hermione turned a fetching shade of pink as she revealed that she didn’t wear a nightgown when she slept with Harry. “Ohhh, so maybe ze saying ees true,” Fleur teased. In response to the question on Hermione’s face she explained. “At Beauxbatons eet ees widely believed zat ze studious girls are ze most knowledgeable and adventurous lovers.” Seeing that Hermione was too embarrassed to answer immediately, she went on. “Per’aps you noticed when we visited ’ogwarts for ze tournament zat our boys tended to spend ze most time weeth ze Ravenclaw girls. I am sure some would ’ave turned zere attention to you when your intellectual prowess became known, but everyone assumed zat you were weeth ’Arry after zat newspaper story appeared. We were most surprised when you attended ze Yule Ball with Veektor.”
Hermione finally recovered. “We … well actually it’s not like that,” she said uncomfortably. “We’re waiting until we’re married before we, um, have sex.”
“Why?” There was no hint of criticism in Fleur’s question, just curiosity.
“I guess it just seems like the right thing to do.”
“Ah. And of course ’Arry Potter and ’Ermione Granger would certainly be ones who would do what ees right instead of what ees easy.” Fleur smiled at the look of surprise that flitted across Hermione’s face before one of realization settled in. “Yes. As you will recall, I was zere een your Great Hall ze day your ’eadmaster made zat declaration. ’Is words, along weeth Cedric’s death changed everytheeng for me zat day. It was zen zat I resolved to stop spending all of my time flirting and only worrying about finding a mate and get serious about making a contribution weeth my life. I decided to stay een England to do what I could to ’elp out. But,” she beamed happily, “as eet turned out, I met Bill and found my mate after all.” She grinned at the amazed expression on the younger witch’s face. It was not very often that anyone surprised Hermione Granger with something that had not occurred to her. “And as for ze decision you and ’Arry ’ave made – I agree weeth you. I will make love to Bill for ze first time on our wedding night, and I ’ave ’ad no ozzer.”
If Hermione had been surprised before, she was positively astonished now. “Ah, you are surprised, I see. Just as everyone else, you assume zat Veela are promiscuous.” This time the color creeping onto Hermione’s face was from shame, not embarrassment. “Just because we can ’ave any man we want, people assume zat we do.” Hermione began an apology, but Fleur waved her off. “Not everyone of course. Zere are some who treat us as normal people, weeth ze same respect zey ’ave for anyone else. Zose are ze ones who can become true friends.”
“Like Harry,” Hermione said meekly. Ever since the conclusion of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Harry had considered Fleur to be a fellow champion, and had been friendly toward her. Something, to her shame, that she could not say for herself. She had only seen Fleur as a flirt who was stealing her boys’ attention away from her. She had even snapped at Harry last summer for defending the beautiful blonde.
“And like Bill,” Fleur added. “Zey both ’ave a certain nobility, a strength of mind. Do you know zat Bill can throw off an Imperius curse?”
“So can Harry.” Hermione was beginning to see what Fleur was getting at.
Fleur nodded. “I am not surprised. Bill ’ad to work very ’ard at eet. ’E says eet took ’im months of practice.”
“Oh.” Hermione’s pride for her beloved wouldn’t let her resist bragging a bit. “Harry was able to resist it the first time he tried. It was by the fake Professor Moody. And then in the graveyard he completely threw off an Imperius from Voldemort himself.” Fleur just shook her head with a rueful laugh, realizing she shouldn’t be surprised by anything about Harry Potter by now.
“But my point ees zat men like zat are rare,” she continued. “Theenk about how a Veela must go about choosing a mate. Eet ees very difficult to find a man who we can even ’ave a co’erent conversation weeth. Do you remember what eet was like during ze tournament? I naturally sought out ze most accomplished boy I could find, as zey are ze most promising.” Hermione nodded as she recalled how Ravenclaw quidditch captain Roger Davies had been Fleur’s escort to the Yule Ball, and had sat there staring at her in a daze for the whole meal. “Een fact, eef ’Arry ’ad been older, and ’ad not been one of ze ozzer champions, I am sure I would ’ave chosen ’im. Alzough,” she teased, “I am not sure I would ’ave won ’im away from you. I ’ave no doubt who ’e would ’ave picked eef asked to make a choice between ze two of us.” Hermione started to protest that Harry didn’t think about her that way back then, but then remembered Harry making a similar choice during his short-lived relationship with Cho Chang.
Fleur’s eyes fell for the first time that evening. “I am sorry to say zat I insulted ’im ze first time I met ’im,” she revealed, in a small, guilty voice. “Eet was not until ze end of ze year and all of ze tasks zat we developed a mutual respect for each ozzer.” She shook off the reminiscence and her former demeanor returned.
“Now, I am not saying zat Veela do not enjoy flirting and kissing and all ze ozzer theengs zat make men such enjoyable creatures,” she continued with a gleam in her eyes. “We enjoy eet very much. But eet ees so much more enjoyable when you know zat your man ’as real feelings for you, and not just because ’e is enthralled by ze Veela charm.” Hermione nodded in understanding. This was something she had never thought about, not ever having been in the position to have to fight off infatuated suitors, but she supposed it was true for other dazzlingly beautiful women as well.
“As for lovemaking,” Fleur continued. “Zere ees also a practical reason for waiting. Ze marriage ritual ees a very magical one. A Veela’s first time weeth a man, a witch’s too, to a lesser extent, also involves ze sharing of magic. Eef a bond is formed at ze same time, eet will be zat much more powerful.” Her face glowed as she continued. “Not only magically, but also physically, emotionally, and spiritually.” A dreamy, faraway look played across her beautiful features. “I know zat eet will be ze most incredible experience of my life.”
Hermione pondered this information. Except for the magical part, these were much the same things her mum had told her during their talks on the subject. She had never pegged Fleur to be one for such a serious, thoughtful conversation. There had been a lot of wisdom in what she had said. Somewhat abashedly, she recalled that Fleur had naturally gravitated to the Ravenclaw house table during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. And that she had been a Tri-Wizard Champion, after all. To have been worthy of that honor she must have been one of the most magically accomplished students in her school. There was definitely more to the part-Veela than just an incredible figure and a pretty face. Turning her thoughts back to the topic of their conversation, she allowed herself to get lost in daydreaming of what it would be like to make love to Harry.
Her reverie was interrupted when Fleur took her by the hand and pulled her over to the closet. “Now,” the older witch announced, “let us prepare a special treat tonight for our strong willed, noble men.” While Hermione watched uncertainly, she pulled two fine silk negligées out of the closet, a powder blue one for Hermione and a dark red one for herself. The garments were almost, but not quite, transparent, strongly hinting at what lay beneath. Following Fleur’s example, Hermione hesitantly removed everything except her knickers and donned the luxurious garment.
The sensation was incredible. The feel of the soft, smooth fabric sent tingles racing all over her skin. The sensuous material clung to her body like magic (which she supposed it was) and caressed her curves, falling to mid-thigh. Looking into the mirror, Hermione was immediately struck by two things. Her upper body was pointedly proclaiming that there was nothing under the sexy, barely-there garment but her. And she was standing next to a woman with the most perfect body in the world.
Fleur noticed the self-doubt of her newfound friend. “’Ermione,” she asked softly, “what do you see when you look een ze mirror?”
“A living goddess and a plain Jane,” came the dejected answer.
“And what do you suppose ’Arry will see when ’e gets ’ere?”
“The same thing?” Hermione offered, hoping otherwise.
“What ’e will see ees a beautiful woman standing next to ze woman ’e loves. And alzough ’e will appreciate my beauty, ’e will be captivated by yours.” Seeing a faint blush appear on Hermione’s face as her message took hold, she added. “And Bill will ’ave ze same reaction, only weeth ze identities reversed.” As Hermione turned hopeful eyes to her, seeking confirmation of that declaration, she gave the younger witch’s arm a squeeze and smiled. “Trust me, zat ees ze way love works.”
After stepping back and studying Hermione for a few seconds, Fleur said, “You are not ’appy weeth your ’air, are you?” Hermione shook her head.
“The only thing that’s ever helped is Sleakeasy’s, but it took almost a whole bottle,” she admitted. Fleur smiled and murmured a complicated charm. The results caused Hermione to gasp, as her unmanageable hair turned into waves of lovely, flowing curls. She squealed in delight, throwing her arms around the neck of her benefactor.
“I can’t believe it! Thank you so much! You have to teach me that charm!” Fleur responded that it was Veela magic, but that she knew of a potion that would produce the same results, and promised to get Hermione some.
Fleur’s prediction about the men’s behavior was put to the test very shortly thereafter, as Bill and Harry appeared in the room with a pair of soft pops. And, as usual in matters of the heart, the part-Veela was spot on. After looking back and forth in awe between the two visions in blue and red before him, Harry could not take his eyes off of Hermione, not even noticing when Fleur and Bill disappeared. Hermione, however, heard Fleur’s parting words, which caused her to blush furiously at the double entendre. “I imagine eet will be ’ard tonight, but I am certain zat you will continue to do ze right theeng.”
Before she knew it, Harry was before her with his hands on her waist, his face revealing his thoughts – that he couldn’t believe how fortunate he was to be standing here holding onto this incredible woman.
“So, do you like it?” she teased. He could only nod, still not having rediscovered the ability to speak. “Do you want me to leave it on?”
Harry still said nothing, but his hands began to move, first down to the hem of the negligée, then under it. She shuddered as her skin screamed out its delight when they moved up, along her hips, past her waist, and up to the beginning of the swell of her breasts, where they stopped as his thumbs ventured further, causing her to moan in pleasure. Finally he spoke.
“No.”
-xox-XOX-XOX-xox-
Author's Daughter's Note: ...Heh. It's a good thing I'm an insomniac, otherwise this chapter wouldn't have been posted. Oh well, better late than never. For the record, I find Fleur's accent to be very amusing. Also for the record, since it was asked, I believe it was Other Daughter who voted for the H/G ending on another story, but I must confess I'm a H/G fan too. (*gasp* heresy!) Shipping discussions can get pretty interesting at our house.