29. Beach Encounter
Madam Bones joined them the next day. As previously agreed, James had a bungalow reserved for her near them. Harry was quite surprised seeing her when she arrived, clothed in a loose dress and wearing sunglasses. She seemed very different than the strict head of the DMLE. It became even more evident when she joined them at the pool, wearing only sun lotion. He found her to be almost as nice to look at as Liz and Jean, who were probably much younger.
"Your aunt is quite nice," he told Susan.
"Are you referring to her personality or her body?" she teased him.
"Both, I think. She's been raising you with love since the war, so she must be a nice person, and I can certainly admire her looks."
Susan smiled fondly. "Yes, Aunty is really a nice person. I only hope she proves it even when she calls Neville for a chat."
"Why should she?" Harry wondered.
"She knew what I had in mind when I asked to join you along with Neville. I'm sure she'll ask me about it as soon as she finds the opportunity."
"What was that? I don't understand." Evidently, Harry had no clue.
Susan blushed, and then shrugged it off. "I wanted to become Neville's in every possible way, and I did."
Harry blushed at the implications and didn't ask any more. He only wondered if he should initiate deepening his relations with Hermione, or wait for her to take the initiative. They were already sleeping naked together each night, cuddling and caressing, yet not taking the last step. He was still unsure about doing that.
They dined at the resort. Although the food was marginally less tasty, nobody seemed inclined to wear clothes and drive to a restaurant. The teens joined some others for the meal, enjoying the company of people they would not normally meet. Harry noticed that Neville was much more relaxed now, not minding even when a girl touched him or a tit brushed on his skin. Actually, Neville seemed to attract the attention of some of the girls, if only due to him being much better endowed than most of the boys, yet he seemed oblivious to them, only paying attention to Susan. Harry chuckled at that, not noticing that his good looks were attracting some girls as well. He only cared about Hermione, who seemed to enjoy herself, talking with youngsters from different countries.
Like every night, Hermione cast the contraceptive charm on herself before going to bed, yet this time she didn't just cuddle with Harry. Once he came to bed, she started caressing him and kissing him, making her intentions very clear. Despite being unsure about his ability, Harry found it impossible not to cooperate. Their first time was a bit painful and quick, yet it held a certain promise, and both seemed eager to make that promise come true. After three more orgasms, each better than the previous one, they finally fell asleep.
Hermione found her muscles a bit sore in the morning. Not wanting to attract the attention Susan had been unable to evade, she cast a few numbing spells on herself. They showered together, making it into another session of love, yet by the time they left their room, nobody could suspect anything, judging by the way they behaved.
A few days later, Susan asked Hermione, "How come you're sleeping together, and still nothing happens? I was sure you'd shag the first night you shared bed, not go slow like Neville and I, who needed to first become comfortable with each other."
"Why do you think nothing happens?"
"Well, you've told me you were still a virgin before we went on this vacation. I was barely able to walk after my first time with Neville, while you..."
"Didn't you think of using numbing charms? There's no problem with us casting spells while in France, as I've already told you."
Susan blushed. "I forgot. I probably gave you quite a show then."
Hermione smiled. "You did, although nobody commented on that. I didn't want to advertise our deed, so I used those charms. You did cast the contraceptive charm, I hope."
Susan blushed some more. "I wasn't sure if it was allowed, so I took the potion instead."
"As long as you keep taking it, you should be protected." She then glanced at Susan some more. Unlike Hermione, Susan didn't tan well. Instead, most of her skin turned various shades of red. "I don't think you should stay in the sun much. It's not good for your complexion. Doesn't your aunt know how to prevent this redness?"
Susan shook her head. "Auntie tans quite well, almost like you, despite being a redhead. I don't think she knows such a spell, but I'll ask her."
Although it seemed as if nothing had changed in the relationship between Harry and Hermione, both teens felt a profound change. They felt as if they were now a real couple, although none could pinpoint the difference. It wasn't the way they behaved with each other, as they had been extremely close even before, despite trying to deny it, at times. It was more the way they felt, as if they had passed a major obstacle on their way and were now more comfortable with each other, feeling much closer, and not only physically.
Both Jean and Liz noticed the subtle change and welcomed it, although each had different reasons. Jean thought that Hermione had shown great restraint not doing it almost a year earlier. Remembering her own experience, she was glad that her daughter didn't have to suffer the awkwardness of getting undressed in front of a boy for the first time, the fear of rejection and the heartbreak when that rejection came true. Although she didn't know of the magical betrothal, she felt that the relationship between Harry and Hermione was meaningful enough for neither to look out of it. Liz was just happy to see her son maturing and getting adult responsibilities without losing his teen fun. She was looking forward to the time Hermione would officially become her daughter-in-law.
\/\/\/
While the local beach at the resort was nice, the families wanted to visit some other beaches, with less pebbles and more sand, as well as more people. A well known nudist beach was located about an hour's drive from the resort, and it was natural for them to try it. The boys helped the men erect their beach-tent while the girls and the women took a plunge in the water. Once the tent was set, Harry looked around to find Hermione.
"Monsieur Potter?" he heard a voice nearby.
Turning around, he saw a young, very shapely woman, whose blue eyes were looking questioningly at him. "I'm Harry Potter," he admitted. "Do I know you?"
She smiled, as if relieved to have correctly identified him. "Not really. I'm Fleur Delacour, the Beauxbatons champion, before it all turned into a fiasco."
"Nice to meet you," he said politely, trying not to stare too openly. Although he still liked Hermione best, this young woman was almost as enticing. "I'm here with family and friends," he added.
"Naturalment! I'm with my family as well. Actually, ma petite soeur wants to meet you. Can you come?"
Harry was more eager to find Hermione. "I first need to find my friends, but if you show me where your family is, I'll come around later."
"Ooh, that's easy," Fleur said, turning around and moving at his side, a bit too close, as Harry thought. She pointed at a large sky-blue tent, a bit farther along. "The blue tent is where we are. Do come. My sister would be enchanted!"
He felt like she did something else to entice him, although he couldn't think what, as she barely moved. "I'll visit you shortly," he promised.
Fleur kissed his cheek happily and moved away. He could still not see Hermione among the many naked bodies on the beach, but he saw James and Dave near the tent, both seemed to be recuperating from a dream. "What happened to you?" he asked.
James looked at him with some apprehension. "Who is that young woman?"
"She's Fleur Delacour, who was supposed to be the French champion. She wants me to meet her young sister."
James seemed doubtful. "Is that really all she wants? She blasted the whole area with her allure."
Harry shrugged. "I didn't feel it. Where are the others?"
James pointed at the shore, and Harry was glad to see Hermione approaching. He welcomed her with a tight hug.
"Who was that blonde who kissed your cheek?" Hermione asked with evident concern.
"Fleur Delacour, the French champion. You remember her, don't you? She said her little sister would like to meet me, but I wanted to find you first."
"She also blasted him with her allure, yet he wasn't affected at all," James said. He thought a bit and then added, "Maybe it's time to renew some of our connections. The Delacour had been our allies on the continent for many generations. Mind if I come along with you?"
Harry was hugging Hermione sideways, by then. He shrugged. "Whatever you want. She's quite nice to look at, that's sure."
Hermione looked at him with some concern, yet his hug stayed just as tight. She hugged him back and relaxed a bit.
They reached the blue tent a few minutes later. Harry noticed two women, a man and a smaller girl relaxing under its shade. The younger woman saw him and stood up, not before letting him get a brief flash of her genitals. "Oh, thank you for coming. I'd like to introduce my family first. These are Alain and Appolline Delacour, my parents, and my little sister, Gabrielle, also called Gabi."
Harry smiled at the two adults and the girl. "These are my best friend and much more, Miss Hermione Granger, and my father, Lord James Potter. I'm Harry."
Harry chuckled internally, as the introductions were spoken very formally, yet the lack of clothes made them lose most of that formality. Indeed, Alain motioned James to join him on the sand while Gabi, encouraged by both her sister and her mother came forward and shook hands with Harry, blushing furiously.
"She's just turned nine and she loves all those books about The Boy Who Lived, although she's smart enough to know they are rubbish," Fleur explained, as they all got comfortable on the sand. Harry noticed her exposed crotch, but it was natural when sitting this way.
"Indeed they are. I wasn't much aware of these books, or I would have asked my parents to stop them."
Fleur turned serious. "Are they really your parents? Biologically, I mean."
"My birth mother was killed when I was a year old. Dad managed to escape, but he kept it secret, as he suspects some to not be as trustworthy as people believe. You shouldn't talk about that either."
"I won't." Fleur lifted her hand in a gesture of swearing.
Gabi seemed to loosen as they talked. She came closer and sat at his side, on the opposite side of Hermione, trying to hug him just the same. Harry was startled as her small hand touched his back. "Why are you hugging me?" he asked.
"I want you to marry me when I'm old enough," the girl said boldly.
Harry shook his head. "Sorry, dear, but I'm already betrothed. You'll have to find somebody else."
Gabi pouted, but didn't take her hand back.
"You two are really very close," Fleur noted. "I can see your halos merge. You're probably soul mates."
"You can see halos?" Hermione asked, just the same time as Harry asked, "What are soul mates?"
Fleur smiled. "As you probably know, I'm a Veela, and all Veela can see halos. Even Gabi can, if she concentrates a bit. Both your halos are wide and bright, and once you're close together, they merge into one brighter halo, surrounding you both. That normally means that your souls are complementing each other, seeking to become one."
She then smiled sadly. "Your halo attracted me even before I recognized you, and yet you didn't even respond to my allure at its fullest setting, although you seemed to admire my body. That means you're deeply in love."
"He wasn't affected even last summer, during the Quidditch world cup," Hermione said proudly.
Fleur turned to Gabi. "You see? That's why I told you that you had no chance at all."
Gabi sighed and let go of Harry. "Can we still be friends?" she asked, unsure of herself.
"I'd like you to be our friend," Harry answered, making it clearer that he and Hermione were together.
"Friends!" Gabi agreed. She then giggled and ran away, to join a group of younger children.
"She's quite an adorable child," Harry commented.
"Yes, she is, but one needs the patience of an angel to deal with her, at times," Fleur said, love and frustration mixed in her voice. She then chuckled. "Well, my parents say I was no better at that age..."
They soon returned to their place, to spend the time with Neville and Susan. James returned a bit later, telling them that they were all invited for dinner with the Delacour.
They spent the rest of the vacation about the same, each couple enjoying togetherness, and all of them enjoying the beach, the pool and the occasional visits with the Delacour. Susan was very glad to find that Neville was also unaffected by the allure, despite blushing quite hard at the sight of the two naked adult Veela.
Even Madam Bones managed to find some company to her liking, hosting a few men in her bed and finally feeling alive again. She seemed the most reluctant to go back when the time came.
Too soon, they all had to repack, get clothed and return to the cloudy and rainy English weather, yet both teen couples felt secure, looking forward to a long life together.
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