SEDUCED BY A VEELA
CHAPTER SIX: THE FIRST HURDLE
Without waiting for a reply, Fleur turned around and went in the direction of her room.
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Hermione's head dropped in shame as Harry watched Fleur walk away.
"What is going on with you two?"
"Nothing, Harry. Let me go talk to her for a minute and then we'll be able to go."
"Are you sure? It feels like I'm interrupting something."
Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose and tried to relax. It was hard knowing she had overreacted and she had to fix it quickly.
"You're not interrupting. There is something going on, but I can't talk to you about it right now. I need to fix it with her first."
"But we talk about everything," Harry insisted. "Maybe I can help."
Hermione cupped his cheek. "Not this time. I have to fix this myself. I will tell you what's going on soon, but let me talk to Fleur before this gets out of hand. Please, Harry," she pleaded.
"Do you want me to go?"
"No. I want you to sit here and wait a few minutes."
"Okay, 'Mione."
"Thank you."
Hermione patted his cheek lovingly and went after Fleur. She knocked on the door before opening it, feeling thankful that Fleur hadn't locked it. Fleur was standing by the window looking out.
"Can we talk?" Hermione asked softly after she closed the door quietly behind her.
"What is 'zere to talk about? I am obviously daft."
Hermione's face burned with shame. "I was the daft one to have said something like that to you. I'm so very sorry I lost my cool, darling, but it really upset me that you would think so little of me. There is nothing going on between Harry and me. I've told you that before. I love him and he is going to be a part of my life for as long as I live, but he is just my best friend. Whoever wants to be with me needs to understand that."
Fleur turned around and faced her. "I am sorry, 'Ermione, but first I saw you 'olding 'ands and 'zen 'e was touching your leg. I was consumed with jealousy and I did not 'zink before I spoke. I 'ave waited too long to be with you and I do not want anyone to get in 'ze way of 'zat. Is 'zat so 'ard to understand?"
Hermione walked up to her and took both of her hands, squeezing them gently. "I do understand, darling, and that is why I'm apologizing. But there is nothing to be jealous about. I don't want to fight with you over silly things. Today was supposed to be a great day. I even hid my bag between the sofa cushions because I planned to stay here all along. I still want to stay."
Fleur smiled a little. "You do?"
"Of course I do! I want to get lunch over with just so we can come back here and spend quality time together. Alone."
"I do, too."
"Darling, I'm really sorry for calling you daft. That was completely uncalled for."
"And I am sorry for not trusting you. I should know better."
"Is this our first official fight?" Hermione asked smiling at her.
"I 'zink it is, mon amour. I cannot wait to make up!"
"How about we do a little making up right now?" Hermione suggested, moving closer.
Fleur's answer was to capture Hermione's mouth in a fiery kiss. Knowing they were pressed for time, they wasted no time deepening the kiss. At the feel of Fleur's tongue rubbing against her own, Hermione moaned. Fleur slowly lowered her hands until they were around Hermione's waist and pulled her even closer. The kiss was passionate and desperate, but it was over too soon for their liking.
"I think we need to walk out of this room right now, Fleur. I won't want to stop if you kiss me like that again."
"What are you saying?"
Hermione looked into her eyes. "I'm saying that I want you, Fleur."
Fleur was clearly shaken by her words and just nodded. She hadn't expected to hear those words for a while and was more than happy to hear them now. Hermione took her hand and led her out of the room.
Harry got up from the sofa as soon as he saw them coming his way. He also noticed their flushed faces and their clasped hands. He lifted an eyebrow at Hermione and she looked back at him as if pleading with him to wait.
"Is everything okay now? Because I'm really hungry," he said, letting Hermione know he wouldn't press it for the moment.
"Yes, everything is fine now. We can go and eat."
"Brilliant. Do we know where we're going?" he asked.
"That new bistro that opened by the office sounds good," Hermione suggested. "I seem to have gained a new appreciation for French things as of late."
Harry raised his eyebrow for a second time when Hermione looked over at Fleur yet again. Fleur blushed prettily and Harry was surprised to see the look in Hermione's eyes. If he wasn't mistaken, it was adoration and Fleur was looking back at her the same way. Could it be? he wondered. Were his friends falling for one another? Had he just witnessed a lover's spat before? He decided to watch them and find out. After all, if there was someone that could read Hermione Granger well, it was him.
He cleared his throat to get their attention back. "I'm going to go with or without you, ladies. I'm starving!"
"Sorry, 'Arry. We can leave now."
"Finally," he said, throwing up his hands, making them laugh.
They held hands and Dissaparated to the bistro Hermione had suggested. Since all of them were hungry, they wasted no time ordering. Throughout the meal, Harry kept watching them with interest. Every now and then, they would touch each other. It was done so subtly that to the passerby it wouldn't be noticeable. However, since he was watching their every move, he noticed every caress and every look that they exchanged. He never would have thought they'd be interested in one another, but watching them together, he realized they complimented each other perfectly. Besides, it was sexy as hell to watch.
Fleur seemed relaxed and happy and Harry hadn't seen her that way in a very long time. Hermione seemed a bit nervous and unsure, but there was also determination in her eyes. If he was reading the situation correctly, it seemed like Fleur had fancied his friend for a while and Hermione had just found out. He could only imagine what was going through her mind at the moment. Hermione would be worried about what her family and friends would think and that was probably the reason behind her apprehension.
He made a mental note to take her to lunch during the coming week to make sure she was okay. After everything that they had gone through in their short lives, they deserved nothing but happiness. Hermione had been at his side from the moment they had met, not once turning her back on him, even if she didn't agree with him all of the time. She was a true friend and he wanted her happiness above all. If that happiness came in the form of a woman, then so be it. He would be behind her one hundred percent.
By the time the meal was over and they had finished dessert, they had decided to Apparate back to Fleur's house. Harry was determined to have a quick word with Hermione; just to assure her that he was okay with whatever it was that was going on between them. He knew she would worry otherwise.
When they reached the apartment, Fleur excuse herself to go to the loo and Harry knew it was his chance. He sat on the sofa and looked at his dear friend.
"Come here," he said, patting the seat next to him.
Hermione looked at him cautiously as she sat. "Yes?"
"I'm not entirely sure what's going on between you and Fleur, but it seems to suit you both. I want you to know I'm okay with it and I'm here to listen anytime you want to tell me about it. I love you and I'm always going to be here for you, no matter what."
Hermione threw herself at him, almost knocking him backwards. "Thank you, Harry! That means more than you know."
"I do know, and that's why I'm letting you know. This is obviously fairly recent, so I'm going to go now to give you time alone. I don't want to intrude on your privacy even more."
"You're not intruding at all," Hermione reassured him.
"Still, I'm going to go."
Fleur came back at that point and smiled at them. "You are leaving already?"
"Yes. I know you want to spend time alone with Hermione and I don't blame you, Fleur. Being in her company can get addicting at times. All I'm going to ask is that you take care of each other."
"I would not dare otherwise," Fleur said as Harry got up from the sofa and walked over to her.
"I'm sure I don't have to ask you to treat her right. She deserves only the best life has to offer. I'm also sure I don't have to tell you that whoever hurts her has to deal with me."
"Harry!" Hermione cried out while standing up. "Enough of the macho display. She's going to change her mind about it if you keep this up."
Fleur laughed and came to stand by her side. She grabbed Hermione's hand and smiled at Harry. "I 'ave wanted to be with 'er for longer 'zan any of you know, 'Arry. If I am lucky and she gives me a chance, I would not dream of messing it up. She is much too precious for me to play with 'er feelings. You 'ave nothing to worry about."
"Then all I can say is good luck, congratulations and enjoy each other. You both deserve it."
Hermione hugged him once again. "I love you," she whispered in his ear.
"And I you, love."
He kissed her and then he hugged and kissed Fleur as well. A moment later, he was gone.
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"Well, that was interesting. He sure picked up on that quick, didn't he, darling?" Hermione said as she went to sit back down.
"Is 'zat okay with you?" Fleur asked.
"Come here," Hermione said, patting the sofa as Harry had done earlier.
Fleur came and sat sideways, tucking one leg under her. "What is it?"
"I'm not going to lie and say I'm completely comfortable with people finding out just yet. I'm not ashamed of liking you or wanting to be with you. I'm just a very private person and I don't like my personal affairs to be the topic of conversation at work or anywhere else."
"I already told you, belle; no one needs to know."
"Oh, eventually they will. But it will be because we chose to tell them. In the mean time, I want to get to know you better as a woman, because I think we're already very good friends."
"So you will not mind people finding out we are a couple?"
"Is that what we are?" Hermione asked.
"Maybe not now, but 'zat is what I want out of 'zis. I 'ave no intentions of playing with you or leading you on, 'Ermione. My feelings for you run deep and I want to make you 'appy."
Hermione smiled at her words. "That sounds wonderful, darling. I'd like to make you happy, too."
"You already have, chéri. Just by accepting to give me a chance, you 'ave made me very 'appy indeed."
"There is only one thing I'm going to ask of you."
"What is it?"
"I want to wait a little before we make love," Hermione said in a low voice, watching Fleur the entire time to see her reaction.
"Can I ask why?" Fleur asked calmly, her face giving nothing away.
"I don't take making love lightly. I never have before and I never will. I have to care deeply for the person before I take that step. I'm hoping that you will accept that because I very much want to be with you."
"You said earlier 'zat you wanted me. Was it true?"
"Yes, it was. I still do. When I said I wanted to wait, I also said a little. Something tells me with you I won't be able to hold out for long."
"I do not plan on pressuring you. I 'zink, I 'ave proven 'zat already. Believe me, it is not easy 'aving you 'alf naked in my arms and not acting on it. I never knew I 'ad so much self-control!"
Hermione chuckled at her words. "You're priceless, Fleur, did you know that?"
"No one ever said it before, but 'zank you for 'zinking so."
"Is it okay then? Can we wait just a bit longer before taking that step?"
"It all depends."
"On what?"
"On your answer to my next question."
"Which is?"
"'Ow far will you let me go tonight?"
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