Chapter Seven: Rules Are Meant to Be Broken

September, 1996

"Goodbye, mon amor," I say as I let go of my most beloved Hermione. She is starting sixth year and is a wreck to be away from me for months at a time again. Little does she know that Dumbledore has big plans for me as a newly inducted Order member and our days will not be spent a channel away from each other, rather very close.

"How can you be so calm, Fleur?" Those gorgeous chocolate eyes ask through their tears.

"Because I know that you are my prize now and forever. This is only a moment in our many, many years together," I pull her into my embrace once again, stroking her hair.

"You're right, love," she says to me. She has only become comfortable with pet names in the last few months over summer. "I will be strong for you."

"Good," I pull back and give her a chaste kiss, as not to attract too much attention. There are still several purists who do not see our relationship as anything but an abomination against furthering the wizarding population. "Now go sit with your friends and I will hear from you soon, yes?"

"Of course! You know I will write as soon as the feast is over."

I help her onto the train, blowing a kiss after her as the engine begins to leave the station. With a great sigh I turn and head over to Severus Snape. The great potions master has escorted me to the station, unbeknownst to Hermione, to be guard until she departed.

"You still haven't told her?" Is all the austere man asks.

"Non. I thought it would be a wonderful surprise for her at the feast."

"I take it that there will be no little Veela this year? I would hate to lose the most brilliant student I ever taught to teenage pregnancy," he attempts to joke.

"Are you always this depressing?" I ask as I look into his dark eyes. He laughs- that's right, the great greasy bat of the dungeons laughs- at me.

"No. But I wouldn't be able to scare the living shit out of my student population if I didn't appear to be," he answers as he gives me the trademark smirk.

We make it to the apparition point and with a pop we are gone.

I land, next to Severus outside of the Hogwarts gates, as there is no apparition within the castle, unless you are Dumbledore.

"I will say to you what we have been saying to everyone for almost two years; we are waiting until Hermione is out of school to officially bond. Why no one believes me is completely outrageous."

"Your Uncle Henri was right about you," he chuckles again. Severus and my uncle had met at University where they were both studying under a great Parisian master; creating a strong friendship. However, my uncle did not agree with his joining Lord Voldermort the first time, but giving him a safe house if needed in his role as a spy for The Order.

"Por qua?" I question him, putting my hands on my hips and impeding his walk. "What did my 'great Uncle Henri' tell you about me?"

"Just that you are exactly like your grandmother," he made to move past me and I reached out stopped him with my hand to his shoulder. My Veela reflexes quicker than he had ever imagined. For the past few months my inner Veela has been making more of an appearance, its underlying desire to bond with my mate in the most carnal of ways, giving over to sharper senses and reflexes.

"And what is so bad about the woman who birthed him?"

"Nothing. But you are being reared to be the next matriarch, so your mannerisms are quite reminiscent of the great Jaqueline Delacour," he makes his way past me and towards the castle, but pauses after another step, looking over his shoulder he says: "There is something you must know Fleur: I am your soon to be master, as is Filius. You must make me appear to be the bastard all the students make me out to be if this is going to work. You are talented, smart, beautiful and cunning. However, your Veela nature can get in the way of this mission and put the Order in jeopardy if you do not learn how to separate and control the beauty that you are from the beast who resides within." With that he turned on his heel and stalked up to the castle, his harsh persona in place.

I took his warning with the grace that I was to be one of the few people who was privileged to see a side of Severus Snape not made apparent to the rest of the world. I followed him quickly, grateful to have that conversation out of the way and eager to ready my room. I was to be staying in a section of the castle that was reserved for the head boys and girls of each year. Every house had two rooms available, should both Head boy and Head girl come from the same house. Since there were no Ravenclaw students in either position this year I was to take the room reserved for a Ravenlcaw Head Girl, complete with its own private bath. The Head rooms were located on the second floor of the castle, placing me between the two masters I would be studying under.

Entering the room, I was taken aback from the sheer amount of light in the room. One whole wall was covered in windows and gorgeous French doors leading to a small balcony. On the wall opposite, a resplendent four poster bed of cheery wood covered in a navy blue comforter with heavy silver curtains around the four sides. On another wall, was a matching cheery wood armoire and vanity, with a door leading to my private bath, and on the wall opposite, a beautiful marble fireplace bug enough to floo from if need be. A small couch and chair, along with a coffee table in front of the fire place and small floor to ceiling bookshelf with a desk set perpendicular out of the wall beside it, opposite of the wall with the vanity. I saw the room as a kind of haven. One I could retreat to when the world became too much. My trunk had been deposited in front of my bed and I began to unpack. Using magic to hang my clothes and organize my personal things, including the small mountain of books I had collected in the past year getting ready for my apprenticeship, I chose to take a bath and freshen up for the feast.

Stepping into the bathroom was marvelous, to put it mildly. The floor was the same marble as the fireplace, which included the sink and the walls. The bath, however, was an antique claw-footed, porcelain bath, much like the one in my en suite at home. I sighed realizing that my mother, the great Appoline Delacour, must have placed a replica of the tub in my rooms, as she and my father had stopped by Hogwarts to visit with Dumbledore and to check over my personal accommodations. Nothing was too good for a Delacour girl.

Filling the tub with jasmine scented water and bubbles, I let myself relax and think over the next several months of my life. I had committed myself to a three year, double mastery, allowing me to study at Hogwarts for the rest of Hermione's career there, working with the Order to defeat Voldermort. I would not be teaching, but could be used to tutor or mentor students who had either a deficiency or an aptitude within potions or charms. It was the easiest way for another Order member to infiltrate the castle without Voldermort or his people being any the wiser. Lucky for me, there were two very talented masters of my chosen fields in the very school that once housed one the most infamous wizards of the century. I was honored to be a part of the Order and to be allowed to learn alongside my mate.

But my relationship would have to take a back seat to the cause. Killing the dark Lord was my top priority, though it killed me to be within an arms-reach of my mate without the ability to bond, or even be more intimate with her, as she was a student. Dumbledore had already given me strict rules about our courtship. We could be together, have the ability to see each other and spend time together, including Hogsmeade weekends and holidays, except for summer; I was to spend at least one month of the summer break with my masters in a more intense learning environment. Both Filius and Severus had assured me that I would be able to complete my mastery early, as I was only one student, but they would keep me the three years necessary until the Dark Lord was taken down.

I will admit that I was scared as to what being an apprentice, a mate and an Order member would mean. I did not want my relationship to suffer, but I believed in the words I had told Hermione on the platform: this was but a blink of an eye to the hundred and fifty years I knew we would enjoy together. Somewhere, deep within my soul, where the Veela and witch were united as one, there was no doubt we would come out together, stronger and ready to revolutionize the world. Sex could wait. Bonding could wait. Ensuring her safety, as well as my own, was the top priority for me and anyone who believed the maniac, who called himself Lord Voldermort, was right in his beliefs.

With my newfound strength, I climbed out of the tub, making my way into my new bedroom to prepare myself for the feast.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The Great Hall was as beautiful as I remembered it from two years ago, as I made my way to the head table. I was to sit for all my meals, for my entire apprenticeship, between the two professors who would be my own personal lords for the next three years.

"Fleur!" Called Flitwick as he came over to take his seat. I had a great respect for the little man, who was both brave and the most talented charms master I had ever met.

"Bonjour Flilius!" I greeted the man with a kiss to both his cheeks. He waited for me to sit before he took his seat.

"I am so excited to be working with you again," he pats my hand. "In fact, I have already mapped your entire course of study with Severus. We are looking at combining the two courses. If you are interested we both want to discover how much the two subjects influence the other. Severus has been developing many potions that need a proper charm or spell for them to work properly, such as the potion for the pregnancy test or for to seal deep wounds."

"It all sounds fascinating. I am intrigued at the idea of marrying potions with charms. May I take some time with Minerva to discuss the spells themselves? I think her expertise in transfiguration would be most helpful. All of the magical subjects seem to be so interconnected to each other, that you really cannot separate them from each other to make true magic happen."

"Ah. So I see our young apprentice has found the meaning of true magic," Severus had just made his way to sit next to me without either of us knowing he was there. The trait of a true spy.

"Severus!" Filius greeted his colleague with mirth as Severus both gave us a dour glare. "Try not to infect our young student with your eternal gloom! I want her as bright eyed at the end of this endeavor as she is today!"

"I will do my upmost, Filius," he gave a slight nod and then moved his head to speak to me privately. "Remember Fleur: the truth will out. Always." He took his nearly black eyes away from my bright blue and onto the students who were making their way into the hall.

There was immense chatter as all of the students from the last year filed into the hall. It took mere moments for Hermione's eyes to meet mine. Her sad face broke into a huge grin and I could sense through our connection she wanted to run into my arms, but she was a Prefect, so she just proceeded to grin at me until Harry and Ron caught on, greeting me with big waves. I waved back, smiling and sending my beloved a message with my eyes. She must have gotten it because she blushed prettily averting her gaze, only to get caught up in the conversation with her fellow Gryffindors.

"Ah… young love," Albus said coming in through the professor's entrance at the side of the dais, and approaching my chair from behind, causing a few of the professors in hearing range to chuckle. "You remember that feeling don't you, Severus?" he clapped the dark man on the back, causing him to sputter over his drink, causing even more laughter form the Head Table, causing a few Slytherins and Hufflepuffs to look up, as their tables were closest to our grouping.

"I have no idea of what you speak, Headmaster," Severus, commented, cleaning his mess with a quick spell. "I was never young."

"Touche," Dumbledore replied with a twinkle in his eye, taking his seat at the center, while we waited for McConagall to enter with the new first years.

XXXXXXXXXXX

The year progressed quickly; I was quickly knee deep in my studies as was Hermione, but she was also aiding Harry in his search to defeat Voldermort. We didn't see as much of each other as either of would have liked, but we knew we both had very important tasks to accomplish: Hermione in helping Harry, who was still reeling over the death of his Godfather, Sirius Black; and I with my double apprenticeship- quickly becoming a triple internship- and being a deliberate plant in the castle for the Order of the Phoenix. Before either of us knew it, we were in November, in the lull between midterms and finals on a Hogsmeade weekend with our usual group of friends. Bill and Viktor were even meeting us for lunch that day to discuss something with Harry that he found extremely important.

After escorting my lovely lady to Flourish and Blotts for a few new books and quills, we wove our way around to The Three Broomsticks for a traditional English lunch of bangers and mash, with tricle for desert. We were joined by Viktor and Bill, along with Harry, Luna, Ron and Neville, as we dug into our meal and discussed various aspects of our lives.

"So my good mate," Bill began after ordering another round of butterbeers. "What news do you have for us?"

"Well, it seems that I can see more of what You Know Who can see. He is searching for something he's lost. That's why Dumbledore wanted me in Slughorn's class; apparently the fame chaser is hiding something very important."

"What do you think it is Harry?" I asked, tightening my grip on Hermione, who was snuggled up on my side. Now that the press knew about I could care less about what other people thought.

"I believe it is something very precious to him, but I am unsure as to what. Or how Slughorn could be invlovled. I was hoping you guys could help me?" He looked around the table. "I didn't want to say anything to you all yet, but now I think I should."

The table was silent for a moment. Then Luna perked up from Harry's side.

"Slughorn taught at Hogwarts for a very long time. Is he in Hogwarts: A History, Hermione?"

Hermione contemplated for a moment, closing her eyes and thinking back to the tome, which she had read several times over. We had learned she had a near perfect photographic memory, and with being a naturally skilled Legilimens, she was learning how to categorize what she had read or saw into neat compartments in her memory. She could then locate what she was looking for, like looking through a library filing system.

"Yes! He is! He began teaching in 1930 and went retired in 1981, I believe," Hermione said opening those perfect chocolate eyes. "He disappeared not long after that, before Dumbledore brought him back. Does that help?"

"Yes!" Harry clapped his hand over Hermione's and beamed at her. "Have I ever told you how absolutely brilliant you are?" He them looked to me and chuckled. "Don't look so smug Fleur."

"Pardon?" I asked, taken aback.

"You're just as proud of her as I am," harry replied clapping me on the shoulder.

"Yes, Fleur, you do look quite smug," Hermione quietly laughed, flashing her bright smile.

"I am proud that you are mine, mon cher," I told her back giving her a quick kiss, garnering a few hoots and cat calls from the boys.

"Get a room you two!" Bill joked, Viktor tightening his grip on his lover, and the two sharing a look.

"But why is that important, mate?" Ron asked gulping down his drink, interrupting our laughter.

"Oh! Right! Because You-Know-Who graduated from Hogwarts in 1945. I have to gain Slughorn's trust and get into his memories."

"You really think he'll give them to you, Harry?" Hermione wasn't convinced. "I have it on good authority that you are not the most skilled Legimens."

"Not all of us have a brain like the Great Hermione Granger, but I think I can find a way to try and get them. He likes fame, and being associated with famous people," Harry took a sip of his drink, obviously attempting to think.

"Maybe I can be of some service here," Viktor replied.

"His Christmas party is coming up soon. I'll get you an invite, which I bet I can gain me some inside information. Hermione you'll be there, and I'm sure I can get Padma to take Ron as a date!" He gave Hermione and Ron a mischievous look.

"I love a good recon mission!" My lovely's eyes lit up and she rubbed her hands together.

"And you know I am always up for a good adventure!" Ron chimed in.

"Oh great, the three of you planning is never a good thing," I huffed and Luna gave me a smile.

"Welcome to my world," she said with a sympathetic pat to my hand.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"I'm worried about Harry," my love sad whilst sitting between my thighs, her head resting against my chest.

"Why?" I asked, planting a kiss to the top of her head, her long curly hair fanned out over my chest. We were taking a break from studying in my room with hot coco and some chocolate biscuits.

"It's his potions book, he's obsessed with who this "Half-blood Prince" is. He's outshining me in NEWT level potions when he barely had a leg to stand on for the past five years without me. He won't let me see the book. That scares me, Fleur," she sat up and looked into my eyes. Her own chocolate orbs even brighter with worry and the amber flecks within her iris's standing out even more than usual.

"If you would like I can talk to him, mon Cherie," I drew her close, our mouths almost touching, but I was still able to look into her eyes.

"Would you? He looks up to you. And it would give me a piece of mind, love," she closed the gap between our mouths, giving me a soft kiss.

"Is he still sure Draco is up to something?" I asked after we pulled apart slightly.

"Yes, I think so-" she was interrupted by a knock at my door.

"Fleur!" Another knock, more of a pounding. "It's Severus! Open up!"

I was on my feet in a flash, Hermione following close behind me. I made it to the door calling out for him to stop. Throwing the door open, I saw him sloppily dressed in his usual black, only a bit of white peeking out of his collar.

"Fleur! You must come quickly-" He paused when he saw Hermione peeking out from behind my shoulder. Even though she had grown an inch or two since we first became a couple, I was still five inches taller. Blame the Veela genetics for tall females. "I'm sorry," he continued straightening his cravat and righting his voice. "If I had known Miss Granger was with you, I would have sent my patronus instead."

"Severus, it is alright. You are my master. What is it you need from me?"

He gave me a very sly smirk. "I would be careful of your French phrasing of the English language Fleur. If I was not a gentleman I would have several offhanded comments about what you just said. But time is of the essence. I need you to come to the hospital wing. Miss Granger, your presence would be welcome also."

"What has happened Professor?" Hermione's worry was back in her voice.

"It is Mr. Weasley. He has been poisoned."

"What?!" Hermione cried and I immediately placed my arms around her.

"I really have wasted too much time. Fleur I need your assistance," he began to walk away and Hermione was hot on his trail and I followed, feeling the wards to my room rest as I passed through. Severus continued speaking as we quickly flew the few floors up to the wing. "Mr. Potter is with him. He reacted quickly and shoved a beazor into his mouth as soon as he knew what was going on."

"But where would he get poison from?!" Hermione was frantic. She thought of Ron like a brother, as both she and Harry were considered another child to the Weasley family.

"That is what I am also confused on, Miss Granger. Mr. Potter informed me that he and Mr. Weasley were with Professor Slughorn, after Mr. Weasley had accidentally eaten some chocolates, laced with a love potion meant for Mr. Potter. They went to the Professor for a remedy and somehow they are here," he gestured as we entered the wing.

Harry rushed over and embraced Hermione. I could see his red eyes; he was struggling so hard to be brave. It nearly broke my heart. The two of them began to speak as I approached Ron, looking even paler, if that was possible and small lying in the bed. He wasn't conscious and tossed fitfully as the love potion and the poison battled it out in his system.

"What can I do for him, Madame Pomfrey?" I asked the aging Mediwitch, who was carefully tending to the young wizard.

"You are to go with Severus into the lab and work out an antidote. His family is already been informed and is on the way," she touched my arm with a gentle smile. "I will inform you of any changes and when the Weasley's arrive, dear."

"Of course, thank you," I smiled back and went to join my Master in the back of the infirmary.

"There you are," he called over his shoulder. "Slughorn should be up in a minute and he is bringing the bottle of wine they drank from. With your help we will be able to isolate the poison from the wine, which will help us to form an antidote. Your brewing skills are going stronger, but I need your charms expertise."

I nodded and we began to work, once the bumbling, fame seeking and lecherous old man made his way into the lab. He was quite aware that Hermione and I were a couple, but he looked at me like a fresh piece of meat; even with my Thrall for Hermione's being only. Pureblood prejudice wouldn't allow him to accept we were two women together. After safely isolating the poison, I left the two men to go check on Ron. I heard the familiar voices of the Weasley's, including Bill and Viktor. I was embraced by the eldest of the Weasley children and Viktor, who were living together in London during Viktor's off season.

The family had taken well to Bill's choice of a life partner. Molly hoped that they would marry soon and begin producing babies, as she was want for grandchildren. Bill wanted to enjoy their lives together before they had children. Viktor wanted to retire from Quidditch before they expanded their family. That did not stop Molly from cooing about how beautiful their children would be.

"How is he?" I asked.

"He will pull through with Severus and you on the case," Bill patted my back as I was passed onto Molly.

"Oh Fleur! You are such a dear to help Ron," She hugged me tightly.

"Of course I would help! He is my friend and like a brother to my mate. And I am only happy if she is happy."

"Well, now you are one of us! We would love for the two of you to spend some of your Christmas break at the Burrow," she squeezed me again. "I was thinking of inviting your parents also and possibly Hermione's for Christmas Eve. I think that we all need to stick together with the war upon us." She sighed and looked at her son, who was recovering from another seizure.

"I couldn't agree with you more," I replied giving her another squeeze and heading toward Hermione, who was still speaking with Harry.

"Love," I broke into their quiet conversation.

"Yes?"

"Hi, Fleur," Harry greeted with a smile.

"Harry, what happened?"

"When we went to Slughorn for the antidote to the love potion he gave it willingly. Then after Ron was returning to normal, he opened a bottle of wine to give Ron and I a glass, but he couldn't remember where it was from. We had just toasted and Ron collapsed, shaking and foaming at the mouth. I grabbed the beazor and shoved it down his throat while Slughorn just stood there," he rubbed his neck.

"It's a good thing you were there, mon ami," I told him with a hand on his arm. "But it is late. Severus assures me that once they give Ron the antidote, he will sleep the rest off. Severus has suggested that we all go to bed," I reached out to take Hermione's hand but she was reticent to take it.

"When will they give him the antidote?" she questioned, looking even more worried than earlier.

Just then Severus and Slughorn left the lab with Dumbledore, who had joined us only moments after I had arrived. Hermione watched as they coaxed Ron into taking the potion, his mother holding his hand, while his father and Bill held him up. He immediately fell into an even deeper sleep that was less fitful. Dumbledore then addressed the room.

"He should be in the clear now. Unless you are his parents or an adult sibling, I will ask that you all return to bed," his eyes were kind but his tone of voice meant business.

"Can I at least say goodbye, Headmaster?" Hermione asked.

"Of course my dear," he replied. She then took my hand and we walked over to the sleeping boy, who looked completely at peace. Quietly she reached down and stroked his hair off his forehead, placing a gentle kiss there.

"You're sure he'll be alright?" She looked to Madam Pomfrey, then Severus and finally Dumbledore.

"Yes, Miss Granger," Severus addressed her kindly. "I think you should thank your mate for her expertise and retire. It is quite late and you have an exam in the morning."

"You're right Professor," she sighed and squeezed my hand tighter. "Goodnight, everyone," she waved to the group.

"Bonne nuit," I waved to the group, gaining a side hug from Fred and George as we left.

"We'll see the two of you at Christmas dears!" called Molly softly. "Don't forget!"

We made it to my room so that Hermione could gather her things. Thinking about Ron and how close he came to death made me reluctant let her go back to her room. My inner Veela was calling out to hold its mate, to ensure she was safe. Hermione had almost made it to my door when I reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Stay with me tonight?" I barely managed to ask.

"Fluer?" those eyes answered me back with shock. We had never slept in the same bed before. It was something I wasn't sure about. There were several things we hadn't done as a couple in a physical manner, and I did not want to go anywhere she wasn't comfortable, but I needed to feel her. To hold her close.

"Please. I won't break any vows or push you in any way, but I need to hold you. Need to know you're safe."

She looked at me, her eyes softening. After a moment, in which I knew she worked out all the possible issues this could bring in her head, she dropped her bag. She wrapped her arms around my neck and looked into my eyes. My heart swelled at the love she was pouring out to me in those eyes. In only ten months we would be allowed to mate. I had a calendar in my mind that I was slowly ticking off the days, and looking forward to a life with her, without all the hardship of attempting to save the wizarding world.

I leaned forward and kissed her. Slow and soft and taking all the passion from her she could muster, while giving back all I could. She pressed closer to me, and I could feel her body through the layers of jumpers and jeans we were both wearing. She had lovely curves, her hips and breasts finally ripening into womanhood, yet I had never seen them in less than a swim suit, which always covered more of her than I liked. Slowly, I ran my hands over her waist, down to her hips and then up her back and around to her breasts, running my hands over them lightly. She moaned into my mouth, her eyes fluttering shut as we continued to kiss, my tongue making its way into her mouth, she tasted like the chocolate we had from earlier and her hair smelled of lilacs and rainwater, two of my favorite smells.

I opened her jumper and slid it off her shoulders, running my hands over her smooth arms, as she pulled me free of mine, running her hands over the bare skin of my stomach. I couldn't help but moan with delight and desire as she ran her hands up my back to my bra, undoing the clasp. I pulled away from her, surprised by the forward gesture. We had never touched each other's skin under clothes, deciding that we would explore those parts of each other the closer we were to bonding. But tonight, after the incident with Ron I think we were both on the same page of wanting to know each other further. Testing our limits, so to speak.

"Let me see you," she whispered, lifting my shirt up and over my head, I complied as she slipped my bra from my shoulders. Holding me at arms-length, she sighed, her smile growing wide. "You are so beautiful," she sighed again as she ran a hand from my neck to my right breast, cupping it gently in her hand; running her thumb over my nipple. I shivered as the Veela in me charged forward, and I grabbed her close, nearly ripping her blouse from her body. Once it was gone, I unclasped her bra, which was attached at the front, revealing full breast; bigger than mine, as she was curvy and I more angular and athletic in nature.

"Mon dieu," I whispered thanking whatever Veela goddess granted such an enticing mate and quickly blazed a path of kisses down her neck to her right breast greedily taking her nipple in my mouth. It was as if heaven opened up when I did that and all the pretty little cherub angels were singing songs of praise as she grabbed onto my head and breathed my name in a way that screamed a strong lust for me to touch her to be inside her body. The Veela was pushing even further forward, to just take my mate, to make her mine in all the ways possible. I continued to kiss across her chest to the other breast, taking the nipple in my mouth, and somehow it was sweeter than the other. She keened and pressed herself into me as much as possible.

I looked her in the eye and backed her up to the bed. She didn't protest but allowed me to lay her down on the bed, and unzip her jeans, pulling them over her hips, revealing luscious hips and creamy olive undertone skin. I ran my hands over every inch, followed my lips, listening to the gasps and moans coming from those lips, swollen from kissing. I pulled off my own jeans and laying down beside her, running my hands over her skin, watching little goosebumps appear.

"Je te aime," I breathed looking into her eyes.

"I love you too," she reached over and kissed me softly, but passionately.

"You have a gorgeous body, my darling mate," I replied pulling her close and wandlessly summoning a thick blanket to cover us against the cold December night.

"So do you," she murmured settling onto my shoulder, snaking an arm around my waist and a leg between mine. Her skin against mine did so much for my Veela. She was screaming to get out. It was almost too much, but I kept her at bay. I ran my hand up and down her back, and nestled in her hair, breathing in the scent of lilacs and everything distinctly Hermione.

"We should sleep, you have an exam and I have to deal with all three of my masters."

"I'm glad I chose to stay," she sighed, kissing the bare skin of my chest.

"Me too," I wrapped my other arm around her, snuggling even closer. I don't know how many times I walked into my parent's room and had seen them entwined like this in their sleep, and how content they both always seemed. "There's going to be a war soon."

"I know," those big chocolate eyes looked into my own. "So let's spend every night together, I don't care about the rules."

"Hermione Jean granger, not caring about the rules?!" I feigned shock.

"Oh stop," she giggled sleepily, nestling further into me. "With what we are all going to be called on to do, the rules don't matter anymore. You-Know-Who doesn't play by any, so why should we? I don't want to lose a moment with you."

"Me either, mon cher. Me either."