Tell Me Your Secrets
Author: Ladyfun
Rating: M. Why? Because.
Summary: Hermione and Fleur, in the post-war world, find themselves in the unsettling role of colleagues with more than a bit of lingering and forbidden attraction towards one another, despite their obligations to others. One fateful evening, courtesy of the firewhiskey, they admit their repressed secrets and darkest desires, to one another. Problem is, one can't unring a bell, once rung...nor the actions that follow. Angsty Fleurmione!
Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its merchandising- all of this is in wholesome, non-profit fun. Ownership belongs to JK Rowling as everyone in the free world is aware. Will have some kinks in later chapters, disclaimers forthcoming as needed...
Chapter 5. Liar Liar.
The advantages of being put in such an isolating environment as Hogwarts is that there were minimal distractions from the outside world.
It was such a relief for both women.
It allowed Fleur, for the first time, to think of her own aspirations, without the influence of her overbearing family, their influence, and their legacy to consider. For Hermione, it gave the introvert a chance to reflect, peacefully, without the world's enormous expectations on her. More importantly, it silenced the cacophony of the Weasley's loud voices (or, Mrs. Weasley's voice, to be specific) and their laments about 'expanding the dynasty'.
Without their external obligations, families, and (oh yes...that) their husbands, they took immediately to each other like a fish to water.
I surprised them, initially, because Fleur and Hermione were both astonished that their was someone else they could spend peaceful reflection with...they hadn't ever really had that, before. They could spend long bouts of shared and utter silence together, without the need to fill it. They had been surrounded by so much noise, for lack of a better word, in the outside world; that the solitude that Hogwarts provided them was ... therapeutic. And it was astonishing to both that they could be in each others' company and still find that peace.
It allowed them to observe the other, without distraction.
It was impossible to miss the fact they had become inseparable immediately, right after their very first faculty meeting with Headmistress McGonnigall prior to the start of school. That was when Hermione first realized that Fleur wasn't quite as "put together" as she had originally imagined her to be; Fleur caused them to be 25 minutes late to that day, to their first meeting. Surprisingly, the normally task-minded former Auror didn't mind; making allowance for Fleur seem infinitely easier than it was for, say, Ron, or Harry.
It was rather charming to Hermione, how Fleur was almost clumsy around Hermione; which was so out of character for her. Certanly, no one who knew of Fleur would ever associate that adjective with her. It was almost their own private joke. It put the younger witch at ease, realizing that the blonde wasn't the flawless Goddess she always imagined her to be-inexplicably, and just around Hermione.
She liked it.
Additionally, they both hated the attention they received when the students finally arrived, to begin the school term. It was hard to have a school without students, of course, but it brought a whole new level of curiosity and fascination aimed at the two new Hogwarts celebrities, which they despised. It simply drove them closer together. Boys, girls, parents...even some of the facility gawked at the two new additions, all the time. While not as bad as when they lived in the wizarding world at large in London, a world not bound by the school code and Minerva McGonnigall's stern eye, it was still like being in a gilded fishbowl, nonetheless.
It didn't take the two clever women long to devise secret hideouts, ones that would be discovered by the history-obsessed Hermione and subsequently warded off by Fleur with her extensive curse-breaking and curse-making skills. Fleur swore her to secrecy, as some of the spells were ones she had invented on her own; ones that she would prefer the Goblins wouldn't decide to 'claim ownership of', later.
That's how they found some privacy, One sunny October afternoon, as they sat on a hill of clover, completely hidden away from the prying eyes of the Hogwarts masses. Feeling content, Finally, Hermione revealed one of her own proprietary secrets to her new bestie. Fleur sat, in rapt attention, as the bruniette unveiled her recently discovered ability to "double" time - she could create a vortex, granted, only a for short period; but a vortex in which one hour would only cost them 30 minutes in "the real world."
It allowed them the luxury of time.
"Mon Dieu...you do realize, my dear 'ermione, what an amazing discovery zis is?"
"I do." She grimaced. "And I know the potential for abuse, of what I've found, Fleur. So this secret discovery will remain that...a secret."
Fleur thought on that for a moment, then nodded solemnly, realizing how real the potential for abuse of Hermione's discovery could be, by unscrupulous wizards and their greed...they lived through it, after all.
"Mmm...oui. 'ave you told anyone...shown anyone...?"
"No, Fleur...just you."
The blond felt her cheeks flush and her heart soared, a little bit in that moment. The Veela was itching to get out, but she pushed it down. Instead, she chocked out a rather inelegant, "Oh? Really? Why iz zat?"
Hermione let out a rather weary laugh. "Well, I guess, until this moment, the idea of being forced to spend extra time, with anyone I knew, on some levels...sounded just about as heinous as my time with Bellatrix, I guess." She diverted her glance away from the intense stare of her friend, and picked at the clover around them.
When Fleur said nothing, and just waited, Hermione finished. "I guess I didn't really wish to extend time with anyone before...until now, Fleur."
Fleur couldn't help it. The look of absolute happiness that escaped her was infectious, and Hermione couldn't help but smile back, her first genuine smile of the day.
And so they got to know each other, on their secret afternoons. Each would always amaze the other, with their skill sets. They both couldn't help but notice how well they complemented one another in their little escapades.
Fleur solidified what she already suspected about her younger companion. Hermione was wise beyond her years; serious, intelligent, but surprisingly naive, as well- which always amused the Frenchwoman to an unspoken degree. Furthermore, she had an absolutely wicked sense of humor, once you got to know her; Fleur spent hours with tears rolling down her face, giggling hysterically. But above all, she was kind: Hermione demonstrated endless patience with Fleur and her struggles with English as a second language and the strange idioms of the British. She would always review Fleur's lesson plans before they were published, regardless of the hour.
What she didn't expect, however, was how stunning Hermione truly was, up close.
Fleur would catch herself staring, and force herself to stop. Worse, the Veela within her would start its typical nonsense, when Hermione was around, and looking particularly desirable to her inner Veela. It was getting harder and harder to suppress her animal urges, of late.
For her part, Hermione already knew that Fleur was gorgeous, sophisticated, well-read, and stylish; one hardly had to pull of the highest scores in history on the N.E.W.T.s, which she had so many years prior.
No, what was much more difficult to observe in Fleur, was that which resided below her beautiful veneer...Hermione was able to make observations that few people were privy to make, regarding Fleur Delacour. Hermione did note, superficially, that it was impossible for Fleur to ever look bad under any circumstance; but she didn't want attention for it...ever. She learned that Fleur was actually quite competitive, over everything. She was also well-read, very athletic, and Hermione was beginning to suspect she wasn't the straightest arrow in the drawer, so to speak.
What she was most surprised about, however, and most disappointed to learn, was that her friend hadn't quite come to terms with the Veela aspect of her life and being. It was almost as though she was ashamed of being part... creature.
For someone like Hermione, who had devoted their adult life towards the equality of all, the learned disenfranchisement of Fleur Delacour upset Hermione, on many levels...
XOXOXOXXXOXOXOXO
Flashback: 4 Years Prior
It had been nerve racking, working on such a grizzly crime, one that always left Hermione with a bitter taste in her mouth. The only thing that distinguished this particular one was the international flavor it carried.
An international sex ring that enslaved and involved citizens from five different nations, invoving six Ministries (or equivalent) of Magic or worked tirelessly around the clock, with their best agents. For Britian, that meant Agent Hermione Granger was tasked out personally by Minister Shacklebolt, to France; she was assigned to work with "The Closer."
That gruesome case brought out of semi-retirement the storied Agent Apollene Delacour, the legend from the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Magic Extérieure, as the case involved a dead Veela that had been lured away from her clan, the largest in Europe.
Unbeknownst to Fleur, Hermione worked side by side with her mother for two months, and been allowed insights into Veela life that few humans had been privileged to hear, from one of the world's most powerful Veela alive - Fleur's mother.
That was Fleur's legacy, Hermione realized. How daunting it must be...
Once concluded, it was time to tie up "loose ends." The Veela are a very private culture, after all. Surprisingly, Apollene had obliviated everyone else's memory of the case in the British and French agencies once the case concluded; all save Hermione. The British auror watched with amusement, as multiple agents came-to with confused expressions on their faces, as they regained consciousness, around her.
She looked into the dark eyes of her intimidating counterpart.
"Am I next, Apollene?"
"The Closer" from France merely shrugged. "Non." She continued to pack her files into her briefcase, ignoring Hermione's confused look regarding her notable exclusion. After she was done packing, to her satisfaction, Apollene snapped her briefcase shut, and she finally looked at the baffled younger witch. It was only then that Apollene merely grinned, then shrugged mysteriously.
Walking away, she offered her British counterpart a cryptic "Ca suffit, Golden Girl. I zink 'ou may need zis knowledge, someday. It may save your life, 'ermione Granger! Besides...ze Veela clan... we trust you." Throwing her a glance over she shoulder as she walked away, regarding the girl behind her. "I trust you. Be well, dear girl..."
She blew Hermione a kiss, and with a crack!, apparated back to her home in Versailles.
XXOXOXOXOXOXXO
It was one of their lazy afternoons, in mid October.
Hermione sat, back against a tree, reading; Fleur laid with her head in Hermione's lap, also reading. The crispness of the air was invigorating; and Hermione's hand slipped from her book, and into the waves of golden blond hair, and she began to gently stroke the soft mane in her lap. As she continued to stroke Fleur's hair, falling into a near caress of her scalp, Fleur couldn't help the contented Veela purr that escaped from deep within.
Hermione giggled.
"Oh...I...um." Fleur's face was crimson. "I..er... didn't mean to do zat... quite so loudly."
Hermione looked down, gently, at the beautiful face laying in her lap. As she continued to tangle her fingers in the mane of blonde hair spread out below her, she continued to stroke Fleur's hair, gently. "Do what?" Hermione asked, softly.
"Er...Make zat noise." Fleur cleared her throat.
Hermione looked at her quizzically. "What noise?"
"Uh...nothing. Nevermind."
Hermione looked at Fleur, again, clearly perplexed. "What? Do you mean ...your Veela purring thing? "
Fleur looked shocked. "Zat sound...zat I made?"
Hermione's face demonstrated no malice or teasing, whatsoever. The Golden Girl continued, in a matter-of-fact tone, "Oh, Fleur...that's just your Veela, expressing content! I know that, I've heard it before, from other Veela. As explained to me, it seems it always purrs when it's happy, or content...it's not weird, or anything."
Fleur had an odd look on her face. "Hmmm. Iz zat so? You are now ze...what, ze Veela expert?"
Hermione's face put on a serious facade, recognizing that Fleur was getting defensive, rapidly.
"Of course not, silly! No, I worked with one...once, and I had to put up with that purring a lot. It was a Veela that loved to read, even more than I, if you can believe that. As explained to me...All Veela purr, I guess."
"Zat iz not true. I have not."
Hermione was silent. She chose her next words carefully. "Perhaps, um...and I'm no Veela expert, and I'm certainly not a Fleur Delacour expert by any means!" She gave a wan smile to the blonde, who was now sitting upright, arms folded across her chest, clearly getting more defensive by the minute.
Hermione ploughed onward. "But...is it possible, Fleur, that you have not had an occasion to...um, well..."
"Purr?" She finished, harshly.
Now it was Hermione's turn to flush. "Well, yes, I guess..."
The defensive Veela stared at Hermione, stone faced. Hermione sighed, not wanting a fight. So she touched her, stroking her arm to soothe her.
It seemed to work. As Fleur relaxed, a little, Hermione continued. "It's kinda counterintuitive, really; I mean, if its a natural instinct...explain to me why a member of the Avian species, granted very distantly, would have an instinct to purr? I find that odd."
Fleur arched her eyebrows, regarding Hermione. "You are implying, like un chatte? A ... feline?"
"Exactly. I think it odd, rather."
Fleur turned her head away, mumbling, "Je n'est de-pas, 'ermione...perhaps, it iz to..." It was a challenge to catch what the French woman was saying; she was speaking softly, and was almost faced completely opposite of the English woman. Hermione leaned forward, straining to hear the mumbled words.
"Qu'elle ce chose, comme ca..." Fleur turned suddenly, her eyes on fire, with her laser focus on Hermione. It startled her, and in that split second, Hermione gulped...
Fleur pounced!
"...to hunt, 'ermione!" Fleur articulated, clearly, leaning over the hapless witch trapped underneath the French woman. She slithered over Hermione, forcing her wrists to the ground. Hermione could not move an inch, even if she wanted to. She looked upwards, startled, at the oddly alert Potitions teacher. "It iz to ...catch our prey."
Hermione was unclear-totally- on what just changed in the dynamics between them in that nanosecond. All she knew is that one minute she was trying to reassure the insecure Veela, who clearly had some intimacy issues in the past, and then all of a sudden...she was pinned underneath Fleur, moulded against her, curve for curve!
What the bloody hell happened?
Fleur showed no signs of stopping, either. The witch was pressing her weight against her in a very ...intimate manner. Hermione's breathing caught, as she felt the weight of the beautiful woman, pressing urgently against her, hands roaming but using the rest of her body to keep the younger witch pinned down.
"I...um..." She was starting a thought, but completely lost it, as it was now Fleur running her fingers through Hermione's hair. Her lips ghosted across the curve of her neck, and Hermione forgot anything she was going to say, at all.
She closed her eyes, and swallowed, arching slightly into Fleur's embrace and hold. Her body was completely ignoring her mind, at this point. She felt Fleur's hot breath move up her neck, as she nuzzled closer towards her right ear. Hermione trembled. When Hermione thought she couldn't take the anticipation one second longer, Fleur let out a warm breath near her ear, then murmured directly into the aroused younger witch's ear.
In a voice, almost resembling a growl, Fleur said deliberately, "Let me 'ear you, 'ermione...why don't you purr, now, for me?"
TBC.