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Over the next couple of weeks, I can't help but notice that my day to day tasks are changing at work. I've been assigned to the World Cup Security team, and since the next world cup is in Spain next year, I've been asked to negotiate the placement of our agents in the Medici banks. Being a personal friend of Katherine, I merely sent her an owl letting her know I knew of three highly qualified translators who were looking for placement in banks in Spain. I'm not sure she realized that I work in England for the English Ministry, but she was more than happy to accommodate. The placements were taken care of in a matter of hours and I managed temporary housing for them as well. Not too shabby.
On the personal side of things, I'm falling in love with Bill Weasley. He's not just handsome, and brilliant, and kind. He's so much more. He listens to me, and cares about my opinions, and is funny, and not afraid to laugh at me (which I found out the morning he caught me tripping over a plant in the hallway at work). I'm enjoying getting to know him, although I feel frustrated that he's keeping something back. I don't know what it is, but some nights he's not available for floo calls or owls, and mysteriously busy. Sometimes he gets secretive owls that don't have the ministry seal on them but he refuses to let me know who they are from.
I'm only a little worried he might be seeing someone else. I mean, he spends so much time with me, and we have dinner together at least three times a week. I've yet to stay over or take our relationship to the next level, but we've had some pretty heated make out sessions. A man who kisses a girl like he does can't possibly have someone else on the side.
The thing I'm most nervous about is the fact that we're still hiding our relationship from everyone at the ministry. We decided early on that we needed to be discreet so that people like Ferris don't see the additional responsibilities I've taken on as a sign of favoritism since we are dating. Ferris hasn't been too excited about all the meetings I've been going to for the committee because it means she has to do more of her own paperwork. I'm secretly hoping that I'll be promoted at my next performance review and that's one of my new secrets from Bill. Obviously I can't let him know that I'm hoping for a promotion considering he's in charge of it. Sometimes in the middle of a meeting I'll start fantasizing about Bill, and when I start paying attention again, it's all I can do to stop blushing and thanking Merlin no one in the meeting is a legimens.
As family day dawns, I admit to myself that I'm a little nervous. Bill's bringing his mum and his dad who works in another department. He said he would like to introduce me as a friend, and I'm very nervous. I decided against inviting mum and dad, considering what would happen if I did. Jean would find a way to show up and ruin everything.
Besides, I still haven't apologized for what happened at Dad's birthday. I don't actually plan on doing that until… maybe Christmas... maybe never. I was completely justified in my actions.
I dress especially nice for family day. Applying my make up with care and wearing my very favorite blue work robes and a smart skirt and blouse; plus my favorite matching set of underwear for confidence. This could be my future in law's first impression of me and I want it to be a good one.
The ministry is holding the family day picnic at a park in London. Muggles can't see the park, it looks like a big construction site to them, but it's quite lovely with many quidditch pitches, picnic grounds, and playground areas. There is a large food tent and everyone is milling about when I arrive. The October weather is holding nicely, warm but not hot, and luckily not a threat of rain. Unusual for England in my opinion.
Ferris corners me almost immediately and introduces me to her parents as her assistant. She gives them a look as if to say 'the one I told you about.' They give me fake smiles and I pretend not to be offended by their obvious disdain for me. I hurry along and run into Robert and his brood. I ask his daughter Rachel about her new pigmy puff, who has been given the dubious honor of being called Sheldon. By the time I spot Bill and his parents, who both have shockingly bright red hair for their age, I've already eaten with Robert's family. I've managed to get some salad dressing on my skirt, which I then tried to magic out, making the stain worse. I'm also pretty sure my bum has a grass stain from sitting in the grass to eat. I know I really should have eaten with the adults at the table, but Robert's children were being so sweet.
"Mum, dad, this is Fleur Delacour, one of the best young minds in my department," says Bill as he brings them over for introductions. "Fleur, my mum and dad, Molly and Arthur." I try to smooth my robes while simultaneously wiping my sweaty hands dry.
"Lovely to meet you both," I say using my best mum charming voice, giving them both kisses on the cheek in greeting. Mr. Weasley looks a little dazed, but Mrs. Weasley is frowning so I give her an extra smile. She's wearing an awful sweater set that looks like she might have made it for herself with leftover yarn. There's a few strips that match one of Bill's favorite sweater's exactly. I can't bring myself to give her a compliment on it, so I focus on lovely red curls that she clearly passed on to Percy.
"It's easy to see where Percy gets his curls from," I tell her, brushing a plump curl. "Your hair is such a lovely color and texture!"
"Weren't you in the tournament with Harry last year?" asks Mrs. Weasley, looking a little suspicious at the compliment. She also has a look of hurt in her eyes and I vaguely remember she and Percy are not on speaking terms.
"Yes, I graduated from Bauxabatons Academy in the spring and have been working at the Ministry ever since."
"Why did you decide to move to England, and where is your family today?" asks Mrs. Weasley pointedly.
"Now Molly," says Mr. Weasley. "I'm sure a trip across the Channel is a bit much for Ministry Family day."
"Actually, I thought Fleur could spend the rest of the day with us," interjects Bill. "Since she didn't invite her family because she finally told off her step-cousin for sexually harassing her at her dad's birthday party."
"WILLIAM?!" his mum and I exclaim together before giving each other a look as we realize we both are scolding him the same way.
"I mean, they couldn't come…" he says looking shocked by what just came out of his mouth. There's a painfully awkward pause and I can feel a blush over my entire body... and I do mean all of it.
"So did you like school in France?" asks Mrs. Weasley finally breaking the silence. "What were your best subjects?"
"She didn't get an E in transfiguration," says Bill suddenly. "She faked that grade on her CV."
I think I'm going to pass out. My claws are coming out and I'm seriously contemplating throwing a fireball at my boyfriend and boss. Mrs. Weasley's eyes are narrowing and her mouth which had originally dropped in shock is now set in a tight little line.
Mr. Weasley tries to shrug off Bill's lapse in discretion by addressing me with a question, "So do you like to play quidditch?" He gestures toward the pitches where there are pick up games in progress prior to the tournament scheduled for later in the day.
"I…" I honestly start to answer before Bill interrupts me with more of his word vomit.
"Fleur hates flying, even the idea of it, but she likes watching quidditch. She's a Cannon's fan with her dad. She also loves the world cup, although when she lost her virginity after the last one, she said that wasn't all that exciting. Her ex works in the department of games and sports, but he's a moron. That Andrew Kirke who always wants to play wizards chess at work between meetings."
"BILL!" I shriek, completely mortified and feeling a blush spread across my entire body. "Tell them every single one of my secrets!" Mr. and Mrs. Weasley are looking at me with looks of shock and disgust. I've never been so embarrassed.
"I didn't tell them how you killed your parents owl," he says stupidly, causing me to totally lose it, forgetting that I'm trying to impress his parents.
"I didn't kill Razo!" I protest, growing irritated with my boyfriend, putting my hands on my hips and giving him a lethal glare. "I just forgot to let him out to hunt for two weeks! I told you it was an accident!"
"I'm still leery letting you near my owl," he says teasingly, the light in his eyes showing that he's finding my anger stimulating.
"Fine, I don't like that bloody bird anyways. He's always pecking me when I'm trying to reply to your letters," I snap back, growing irritated that he's turning this into a huge joke.
"He probably senses you killed Razo."
"Merlin, for the last time, I didn't KILL MY PARENTS OWL!" I can practically feel a fireball at my fingertips, but I'm a mature adult, and not a three year old throwing a temper tantrum because this infernal meeting his parents didn't go well.
"That's probably why they didn't come to family day then," interjects Ferris, apparently having overheard the last bit of my outburst. Looking over, she and her parents are looking on with amusement, contrasting with the looks of horror on the Weasley's faces. Their prim little smirks are probably what sets me over the edge. I redirect my anger toward Ferris in her prissy pink sweater set. She probably thinks I'm about to be fired after observing this little argument with my boss, since she clearly is too stupid to realize this argument is of a personal nature between me and my boyfriend.
"You don't even know what you're talking about you bloody cow," I snap, turning on her in a veela rage. "Razo's death was an accident, but I killed your stupid desk plant intentionally, and I'm not sorry in the least. And stop telling everyone I'm your assistant, you lazy witch!" Spinning on my heel I storm out, pushing past Audrey and Percy when they try to stop me at the gate.
"Fleur!" I hear Bill calling out after me, but I disapparate instead of facing his parents after that. He told them how I lost my virginity! He told them I killed my parents owl! His mother will never like me now.
Hours later, I'm still curled up under my covers when Perpetua, that traitor, finally lets Bill into the apartment. He's been at the door, begging to be let into the apartment for hours. I cast a silencing charm so I didn't have to listen to him after about twenty minutes, but I knew he was still there. I pretend to ignore him as he comes in my room and sits on my bed.
"I'm sorry, luv," he says quietly. His voice is a little hoarse, and I wonder if he was yelling the entire time to be let inside. "I was really nervous, and somehow I managed to blurt out several things you probably never wanted me repeating. I have never introduced my parents to a girl before, and all I could think of was your lips moving on the plane as you spilled out all the intimate details of your life. How you looked like an angel but everything you said made you sound decidedly human with real human problems and insecurities. I think I wanted to show them how sweet and vulnerable you really are, but somehow I just managed to convince my mum I'm insane."
"Don't you mean you convinced her I'm some sort of sadistic owl murderess who is also a skanky liar?" I can't help but reply, unable to keep the hurt out of my voice.
"Well…" he pauses, and I can almost hear him running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Don't try to deny it."
"Well… she thinks I'm crazy since I also told her I was seeing you, and had no plans to change that fact."
"She can't be happy to think we're together," I moan. "She's going to hate me forever." If Bill and I work out together, his mother will never accept me. She knows too much about me to ever forgive me for stealing her son's heart. I saw a possessive light in her eyes, and even if I was the perfect girl, she wouldn't think I was good enough for her precious son. Now I never will be in her eyes.
"She'll love you as much as I love you soon enough," he says, pulling back my covers to reveal my puffy tear stained face. I immediately try and hide in my pillow. I know I look like a total mess.
"She'll hate me forever," I start to protest feeling the burn of more tears behind my eyelids before I realize what he's said.
"I'm so sorry Fleur, but I was nervous and embarrassed you today. My only excuse is I love you, and also maybe my brothers slipped a combination of a blabbering truth potion in my drink this morning. The word vomit was…. Inexcusable and I'll murder them straight away, if you want me to."
He's blabbering again.
"I love you too," I say interrupting him with a hard kiss. "Which is why I wanted to make such a good impression on your mum!" I'm near tears again, but he's kissing them away and honestly… all I want is a little comfort from the wizard I love. William Weasley loves me… William Arthur Weasley loves me, Fleur Delacour. Despite my tears, and everything else that's happened today, I can't help but feel like the luckiest witch in the world. When we make love, it's everything that I think the world should get excited about. It's magical and perfect. And I feel like I just won the world cup afterwards.
Thanks for reading! Please leave a review/favorite/follow! I adore hearing from fans and love feedback. This chapter was the hardest to write, because since Bill knows all of her secrets, he has to spill them somehow. It was really hard to figure out a natural way for that to happen. I hope you liked this chapter. Next post should be sometime next week. Also, if you like my writing, I suggest you check out my other stories, especially my latest fic, a Katie Bell/ Oliver Wood story that I just started posting. Thanks again for all your support as I resume writing after such a long hiatus. My excuse is I was working on getting that Dr. in front of my name ;)
~E.A.