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An ABC of Love

"The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed. "
-Jiddu Krishnamurti


Depth

Fleur

Depth always comes after the initial movement of love. Of course, we, Hermione and I, haven't got that far yet. We are still in this shallow part of the sea in understanding each other and bearing each other. Well in shorter terms we are just, I hate to admit it, but we are merely just friends. Though, that is quite the improvement from the past few weeks that we have been together; from invisible ones, to most despised person, to acquaintances and now to friends. But then again it seems like we are moving towards that 'deeper' part of the relationship, as friends; the bonding, the loving and of course, the deeper understanding between each other which would eventually lead to or rather result to, obviously, being lovers.

Ah, I love that term. I wish I could call her my lover, mine, my darling and many other nicknames to compliment her. Hermione should of course agree to those before I officially give her a nickname. Really, that's a thought to laugh about happily. I smiled.

Hermione, who was trekking the path beside me, looked at me curiously. Her deep brown eyes that are so soft and full of some things that I do not understand began to grow more curious. There was confusion as her face made this mildly scrunched-up look. How adorable, she is rather very beautiful even if her tresses were not kept so well. Ah, well, maybe I should help her with her hair problems. I smiled again at the thought. That would be a great opportunity to deepen our relationship. Well, that is a slow thing for improvement but I'm sure that it'd be some bloody hell of an experience. I grinned.

"Are you alright? You keep smiling at nothing" Hermione glanced at me shortly and then looked back up to the track. Well, of course I'd be smiling, it's because of you mon chéri. Hm... Maybe I should say that to her. I snickered up in my head.

"Non, I am alright, I am smiling at somezing..." I grinned wider.

"And what is that something? Hm?" Her tone was a little amused. Curious.

"Oui, it is somezing, it 'as zis beautiful chocolate coloured eyes, zis cute nose, zis kissable lips, and not to mention, it 'as zis very amused look on its face right now"

"And this 'it' is?" She stopped walking. She stared back into my icy orbs. Her eyes were piercing me with persuasion, telling me to say it to her. Tell her what's on my mind. I sighed. Well she got me but she'd get her own embarrassment from this. I grinned.

"It is you, mon chéri" I chuckled when her face went seven shades of red.

"You're j-joking me" she huffed. Aw, she's so damn cute for her own good.

"Really now? I'm joking? I believe you are ze one who insisted on knowing ze reason behind my smiles, and ze reason is just simply you" I grinned wider. Her expression was priceless. I could die just by making her look like this. Forever and always, she'd look this happy just because of me, as I only hoped. I laughed. Soon her laughter harmonized with mine, tinkling the air with our joyous huffs and laughs. Ah, this beats an orchestra every day. I inwardly smiled to myself.

"Geez... Really Fleur, you're going way overboard with your teasing. They're very inappropriate!" Hermione soon came to a stop with her giggles, but her smile was wider than before.

"What? How can zey be inappropriate? Hm?" I raised a brow.

"They just are. I think you are up to something"

"Really Now? What kind of zings?"

"Just, things... "


Hogsmeade came into view. It was very different from what I had imagined. Really, I never knew that there would be a magnificent place like this. Though it was small, it was very comforting. The town was composed with many cottages, some of which were shops. Well that fooled me, I chuckled lightly.

Hermione caught my chuckle and turned to me. "Alright, why are you laughing now?"

"'ermione, you can't ask me about everyzing and every time on why I do zese zings" I shot her a look. She just raised a brow. What could she be thinking of? Well anyway, more of site-seeing and less thinking of nonsense now. Basically, I just shrugged the question off. We walked hand in hand around Hogsmeade. Of course we hadn't notice; well at least she hadn't notice that we were still holding hands. Though, this was comfortable; I'd rather not do it in public because there were just so many prying eyes. And we aren't ready to be discovered yet, well not really me, I kind of liked the idea of 'showing off' my girl, but Hermione; she has her own problems regarding our situation.

We weren't official yet, I think, well let's just put it on the friendship basis. We weren't friends in public, yet and more so we weren't lovers. Sighing, I shook my head. Really, I'm thinking too much, besides she's just fourteen, who in any way had a little knowledge about being in a relationship. For the past few days I've been showing her the signs that I like her, as in like like but she just shrugs it off. It makes me wonder sometimes if I'm just not obvious enough or she is just dense as a thick bloody pillar. Sometimes, I catch her staring at me. Sometimes, her face would just blush if I said something romantic or complimenting towards her, I really do wonder if she feels the same way about me. I do hope, pray, she'd show signs she's interested with me too. I sighed; this would be a hopeless wait. Hermione, you'd be the death of me, really.

The time my head picked up the surroundings, we were at Honeydukes. Ah, the smell of sweets was somehow sickening at the same time they were mouth watering. Hermione was off on her own looking for something, how adorable, picking up some sweets here and there but not too many. I followed her movements with my pair of blue orbs; she was walking here and there, pointing to that and those and conversing with some of her fellow classmates, including Harry and Ron. Ginny, I think that was the name of the red haired girl next to Ron, was glaring right back at me. I wonder if she noticed that Hermione and I walked into Hogsmeade hand in hand. My head tilted to the right, I wondered when Hermione had let my hand go; my hand suddenly felt so cold now that I realized it just now. I miss her warmth. I sighed.

I watched her as she continued chatting with Harry, Ron and Ginny. Sometimes I think I heard my name popped into their conversation. Fleur this and Fleur that, hm, what could they be taking about. I hope it's not something embarrassing or whatsoever. Maybe, Hermione finally decided to tell her friends that it was me who brought her to the Hospital Wing last Thursday. My mind kept thinking of the possible topics she would bring up with me being the topic.

"Fleur..." My head perked up by the sound of her voice. Ah, that sweet voice, I wish to hear it say my name in different tones. Or rather moans; I blushed. Really, I'm having perverted fantasies of her already.

"Oui?" I replied as I turned to look at her properly. She was holding something; I think it was a pie or a cake. She held it just in front of my closed lips with her dainty little hands.

"Say Ah..." she said, her mouth motioning how she wanted me to do it. What is she thinking and what is that she's holding? I curiously looked at her eyes, her face to look for answers; she was blushing. How cute. I silently chuckled at her cuteness and her little acts are just so adorable. I opened my mouth with an 'ah' like how she exampled it and slowly ate what she gave me. As she was to put the piece of sweet on my mouth and withdraw her fingers, something tricky flashed in my head. I clamped her fingers within my mouth. Hm... This is delicious and a plus bonus her fingers as well. I closed my eyes trying to savour everything. The cake melted in my mouth, it's sweet and somewhat has this refreshing flavour. It's quite addicting I must say.

Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably as she was trying to withdraw her fingers from my mouth. Maybe I should let her go now. I let go of her thumb but kept sucking on the other two, god; she was more addicting than the cake. I grabbed her by the wrist to stop her from pulling her fingers out. My tongue curled at her fingers, they were soft, slender and were bittersweet. Maybe it was because of the cake. Hmm... I doubt it. I felt her fingers curled and scrapped my tongue. My God, that was an experience. I want more, not just her fingers, I want all of her.

"Fleur... please, could you let go now?" she whispered. I shook my head in reply.

"Come on Fleur, there are people coming!" she desperately said. Her tone was a little harsh than the previous one. I guess she's getting irritated already. I opened my mouth after one last suck and lick.

"zat tasted magnificent, 'ermione" I sheepishly smiled and she blushed.

"Really Fleur, why did you go that far? It's just a matter of time that I thought about hanging you to death because of what you did! Do you want to die a painful death, huh? " Her eyes narrowed at me. Hermione quickly snatched her hand away from my hold and cradled it on her chest. I followed her movements like it was in slow motion. She was taking heavy breaths and her eyes were wandering around uncontrollably. I know she liked it by the way her fingers moved inside my mouth but she was confused and overwhelmed by my gestures, I think. I sighed.

"Non. I do not wish to die yet but I'll be willingly die by your hands in ze mere future" I clasped her hand in mine. I smiled to her, this smile assuring her that I wasn't just playing her. I must admit it was fun to tease her and embarrass her, but hey, it's always something that could get the relationship to a new level. She frowned at me but eventually smiled back. Ah, her smile, so sweet and innocent. Maybe I should have brought a camera to remember this by.

"Fleur? Are you alright?" Her voice came up from my trance.

I stopped thinking. God, Fleur you are one perverted old man. I knew Hermione giving me something that sweet was good to be true, let alone let me eat her hand; it was so good that it ended up being a daydream.

"Hey, are you alright? You seem to be in a kind of daze?" I didn't say anything; I was hoping that this would lead to something fun. "Are you alright? Are you feeling sick! God, you can't be feeling sick, are you? Oh no! I'm sorry, it's my entire fault, and I shouldn't have let you take care of me when I had that bloody fever-" She's overreacting, she's so worried, she's so caring. Ah, Hermione, always to care for others before herself. That was amusing. I chuckled when she stopped her frantic reaction.

"Alright, 'ermione, I'm not sick, I was just zinking. Oui, I was zinking hard that I didn't notice you come back here"

"I'm really sorry, Fleur, I was just so caught up with the conversation that I totally forgot what I was doing..." She held up her left hand in front of me. Hermione held up a plastic of chocolates. "Here, these are Chocoballs" She let me get one piece of the chocolates; I popped it into my mouth, "this is good" I hummed in response to the taste.

"And these are..." she held up her right hand which was holding two quills "Sugar Quills, they're like lollipops but it looks like a quill. the perfect candy to eat when you're bored in class too. Here, this one is for you" she handed one of the sugar quills to me.

"Merci beaucoup" I said as I licked the quill. Hm, this is delicious too.

"There's this deluxe version of that candy but it'd last too long until you get tired of it. So?"

"It is sweet, it's just the way I would prefer it" I smiled. With that she blushed almost at that instant. Well, look here, she's blushing again. I felt my smile grow to a grin. "Are we done here?" I asked and she nodded.

"Come on. You said zis is a date and we're going to make it ze most romantic first date ever" I chuckled. I really want this to be the most unforgettable experience for her.

"What? This is not a date! I never said anything about a date! This is just something I did as a 'thank you gift' for you because of your kindness and care, while I was sick!"

"Still, zere are no difference! Come on. We 'ave lots to do and I 'ad a lot in mind"


The trek back to Hogwarts was kept in a comforting silence. It was three in the afternoon when Hermione and I decided that we had enough fun in Hogsmeade and that we had enough butter beer from the Three Broomsticks with Harry, Ron and Ginny.

The revelation about Hermione's conversation with the three was brought up in the conversation at the pub. Hermione had told the others that we are friends, yes; we're still friends. That went to dates. How ironic isn't it? But everything, even the lies were worth it. We had fun.

Sometime along the conversations, Christmas break came up. Of course being a champion of the Tri Wizard Tournament, I was to stay for the vacation in the castle with the other Beauxbaton students and of course with the Drumstrang students, well at least in my part I'd have some fun and I hope for a wonderful Christmas. I plan to spend half of it with Hermione, and the other half with Gabrielle. Well, I'm starting to tip to the side where I want to spend every day of Christmas break with Hermione and Hermione alone. But that would make me look like a horrible sister for not spending time with her sister, right? So, I'll just stick with the first idea.

Speaking of Christmas, they've also brought up the topic about the Christmas Ball or rather, the Yule Ball. It suddenly came to me that the Yule ball was going to be held in two weeks after exams and everything. God, now that I think about it, I wasted a lot of time on making Hermione fall for me, with so little progress. Really, Fleur, can't you get even more stupid? Closing my eyes, I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed dejectedly.

"Are you alright?"

"Of Course, I'm fine mon chéri, I was zinking about zings"

"What kind of things? And don't tell me it's me or nothing... I have had enough jokes for today" She said.

"Alright, alright" Chuckling, I raised my arms like I was caught red handed by a police or something, well at this point it was a very beautiful policewoman.

"So?"

"It came to me earlier, when we were talking about Christmas break, zat ze next task would be coming after two months, and I wondered about ze exams and about ze ball..." I paused to look at her. Her eyes were wondering where the conversation was heading off to.

"Really, it's all about ze ball and ze dates" I intentionally stressed the word dates, just in case she would get the point.

"Hermione!" a voice from afar called out. My head shot to look at the voice that called and was greeted with a snow ball in the face. Ugh, really, someone just had to ruin the moment I ask about the dates to Yule ball.

"Oops! Sorry! That wasn't meant for yah" called Ginny, she's snickering as she ran off to catch up with Ron. I bet she did intend to hit me right in the face. Wiping the snow of my face with my sleeves, I heard giggles just right beside me. It was Hermione, who else would laugh at my embarrassment? My eyes narrowed at her, then something fun came up to my head.

"T-that was nice!" she said in between her laughs, yes, her giggles burst into laughter.

I bent down and gather enough snow, compressing them to make a ball. I went back to my standing position, just right in front of her. She still wasn't stopping.

"Ah, oui, zat was ra'zer nice of Ginny to zrow me a snow ball, but, zis would be so much nicer..." I grinned. By the looks of her face she got the idea and started scampering off ahead of me.

"Fleur! Don't you dare!" she shouted back at me. I ignored her and threw a snow ball square at her face. Ah, revenge is so sweeter than candy. I laughed. I looked at her and she was gone, well not really gone but she was scooping up snow balls with her hands. Oh great, this trek back to Hogwarts turned up to be a snow ball war. I ran for my sake.

We threw snow balls at each other, ran around after each other and laughed with each other. Our previous conversation forgotten, our worries left behind. But with the last snow ball that had hit me at the back of my head, made a door for the present and time was moving again. She was laughing, when I noticed that time in the clock's hand had moved. I caught a glimpse of her as she dashes farther away from me.

"Really, 'ermione! I said 'truce' already!" I huffed.

"Well, Fleur, we weren't even yet. You threw more balls at me than I did to you! And that snow ball made us even!" she said. Oh well, of course life wasn't that fair but it was worth the fun. I chased after her.

Everything was in slow motion when I finally reached her. Her hair was slowly moving sideways as she ran. Her red and gold scarf has waving in front of me and our footsteps grew fainter and fainter, our laughter slowly diluted into the background of silence. We stumbled to the ground. And, the next thing we knew, we were face to face with each other. A little inch more, I could taste her lips. Her heavy breaths and my heavy breaths was all I'm hearing, our covered chest so close to each other. Legs entwined.

I looked at her eyes, those deep brown eyes that I love so dearly. I felt that she was staring right back at me with the same understanding, that same understanding that I've been waiting all this time for her to show me. Should I take this opportunity to tell her? To pour my heart out to her? I pondered more on this.

I saw her bit her lips. Her teeth were chattering a little from the cold. We were drenched with snow that melted and it was so cold.

"I'm sorry" I shook my head as I said those words. I knew this was good to be true and this wasn't the right time. What if this was just a passing phase? I'd hurt me and her as well. I can't hurt her, I just can't. I felt my heart pounding; her heart was pounding the same way as well. I closed my eyes. I just wished to hear it, to feel it, to savour it.

"Fleur..." I felt something warm touch my cheeks, then my eyes, then my nose and sliding down my lips, it lingered there, her touch lingered there. I opened my eyes, greeted by her curious eyes, I bent down. So close to her that I could feel her breath on my lips. I looked at her one more time as if I was asking for her permission to do so; she just closed her eyes as well as that little gap between our lips. This was heaven, this was something too good to be true, but it was the truth. I think, we had reached that entrance to the depth of this thing so-called love.


Dear Fleur,

I hope you read this letter before you receive your Papa's. He is outraged by the events that followed you in Hogwarts. He wishes for you to be normal and loving a girl, nonetheless a young girl of fourteen, does not suit his taste. I am very sorry my darling, but you would have to abide by his wishes for now. You know how your Papa gets when outraged? You would not believe what he had done after he had read your letter. But do not worry, everything will, eventually, go well.

Fleur, regarding how your lover is acting... I must say that she's quite a fighter, a feisty one at that fact. She is somehow affected by the thrall that is pulsing outside her barriers, but it does not affect her entirely. She is just merely irritated by it and somehow that causes her mood towards you, angered, irritated and somewhat between loathing and despising. Do not worry; it is just a light problem for... now. She'd eventually get use to the idea of something trying to enter her barrier and until then you shan't worry about it. Her mind and heart works well and is not affected by the thrall itself. But for you, my darling, everything would be a little hard. I must say we do only find one or two of our supposed love for eternity, it is what we Veelas believe in. Our soul mate completes our other half; they contain and rein our Veela nature and eventually keep our happiness intact throughout our life time. You know that, right? We may love others but it's not that so special if it wasn't the one. It's like when before I met your Papa, I did love the man but it wasn't something as special as loving your father. Ah, the memories of love so young. Now, Fleur, my darling, I know that you have a lot of questions but I cannot answer them all, you shall eventually learn about it, experience it and live it. I'll have to cut this short as I'm hearing your father's arrival.

How are you and Gabrielle? Are you doing fine? I do hope you would receive this before you read your father's letter. I am very sorry that I do not know how he had written in his reply. I wish you well.

-Love, Mama.


The darkness of the room was swallowing me up, after I had read or rather heard Papa's response to my letter, a bloody Howler, really he'd go that far to tell me I was a disappointment to his family. I was shrinking into a corner, the world suddenly felt cold, colder than the winter mist in England. I haven't heard from Maman since I sent her a letter, maybe someone intercepted it or the owl dropped it upon delivering or rather she was just so dumbfounded by what I have told her and agreed to Papa.

This isn't happening, this really wasn't happening, I hoped. I felt something sled down my cheeks. Ugh, tears, these bitter tears are a shame. I roughly wiped them off as I heard the door creaked open.

"Fleur? Are you alright? What did Papa say?" Gabrielle walked into my room.

"It's nothing important Gabby; he was just saying that he's happy that I was safe after the dragon incident in the tournament..." I lied.

"Don't lie to me Fleur; I know he didn't say something like that! I heard from the other side of the door! He sent you a howler, didn't he? From the looks of that shredded red envelop on the floor, I was sure that it was something horrible! Now, come on tell me what he said!" she's pressing her voice harder. Blood was starting to course through my head. I can't let her hear what father had said to me and that mother agreed to him about my situation. Really, why does he care if I have a female for a lover? Huh? That is full of rubbish! He can't talk about my love life like that! And he certainly cannot call Hermione, in front of me, that she's a worthless girl and disrespect to his family. Gritting my teeth, I screamed in frustration.

Gabby was startled for sure but she was such a dear sister and watched me through how I deal with this frustration.

"Fleur, you have to calm down! You can't turn into a Veela right now! It's too dangerous, please Fleur..." Her voice was slightly wavering from her braveness. Really, if she would enter Hogwarts, I'll be sure she'd end up in Gryffindor just like Hermione. Hermione... Hermione...

I looked up at Gabrielle and saw her face; she was scared and had some stain of tears in her cheeks. "I'm so sorry Gabby" I muttered and calmed down after my fits. "Papa isn't considering the risk, Gabby. He just isn't! He's too thick-headed and proud to deal with me now. He refuses to give my heart to some girl, he said. He said that I should straighten up my life and stop seeing her. I can't stop seeing Hermione! I'd die if I don't see her! My heart will die Gabby! I love her, I'm so in love with her right now after what happened today, that I can't leave her be! I can't leave her now that I know she feels the same way about me now!" I cried. I cried to her, to my dear little sister. It was so hard to deal with Papa, every little time that I be a disappointment he'd throw a fit at us.

"What else did he say?"

"That if I don't stop seeing her... He'd get to the bottom of this and make me leave her, f-forcefully if he has too...And" I paused. "he would pull me out of the tournament by the end of the break if that calls for measures"

"But he can't pull you out of the tournament! It binds you to it with that special contract! He can't do that, which would mean you'd have until the end of term to have Hermione"

"I know Gabby, I know, but what if it comes to the point that he knew I was still seeing Hermione? I can't let that happen, I can't let him hurt her!"

"You'll be hurting her just by ignoring her, Fleur! I know how the development is going, and she loves you just as much. But she is so ignorant about it... You have to make her love you more; with much more depth...You have to show her you love her like death is just knocking by the door everyday. I can't see you so weak and hopeless Fleur... I can't see you so sad and dull. She makes you so happy and I wish it to be that way, to hell with Papa!"

I chuckled "Thank you...Gabby, I'll consider the risk" my sister smiled back at me.

Gabrielle, really is the best sister I could ever wish for. The very best. I do hope this doesn't turn out to be the worst decision me and Gabby will make. I really do hope so.


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