With the upcoming wedding between her brother, Bill, and her soon to be Phlem-in-law, Ginny finds herself trapped into participating in the expected tradition of the meeting of the mum's. So, like it or not, she's having lunch with the Delacours'. Oh, joy!
Written well before HD so this is very much AU now. No spoilers exist in this story.
The Moms Meet
The day was gloomy outside and yet the windows of the house were wide open as if to encourage a breeze. Ginny was sitting at the kitchen table slicing apples and pears for her mum, was feeling just as gloomy as the weather and her spirits were hardly any better. Today she would be the first time that she would be meeting Fleur's little sister, Gabrielle, and Mrs. Delacour, Fleur's mother. Spending a whole day with Phlegm is bad enough – since she has been coming around so much lately going over all her wedding details with Mum; but I also have to put up with a mini-Phlegm and a Mrs. Phlegm, as well!
Okay, Ginny wasn't sure what to think about all this pre-wedding stuff, however, a day the Delacours wasn't exactly what she wanted to do. Getting my hair pulled or ruffled by my brother's… Getting some creepy thing in my drinking glass… or getting a shower of spiders… or an escaping warbler when I open the cupboards, (Ron's feeble attempt at pranking her), or sprouting feathers, having warts, boils or my hair turning green or waking up with a bunny nose, (Fred and George's latest pranks on her), would be preferable to a whole afternoon with the Delacours!
Exactly why I have to be here with them is beyond me. Mum said it's just something we have to do. But if that's the case why don't any of my brothers have to do it too? Each and every one of her brothers lucked out by getting away with the lamest excuses. And my excuse was much better than theirs! Well, at lest far better than Ron's, but Mum said 'no' before I even finished it! 'Because you have to Ginny,' she said, 'that's final!' Augh!
Ginny remembered Gabrielle vaguely from the Triwizard Tournament her third year because Harry had rescued her from the lake, along with her brother, Ron. The memory brought back both the fear she had felt waiting for Harry to resurface, and the joy at seeing him when he finally did. It also brought back a bit of jealousy she'd felt seeing Harry with his arm around Gabrielle as he and Ron pulled the little girl from the lake.
Funny, I know that Harry wouldn't leave any of the hostages behind, but that made Harry take longer underwater than the hour the challenge was supposed to be. And Neville, who was standing next to Ginny watching and waiting, he'd been driving me nuts! Constantly saying how Gillyweed, which of course Harry used for the challenge, only lasted up to an hour at the most. He kept asking me if I knew where Harry got the stuff. Apparently, the fresher the Gillyweed is, the stronger it's potency – thus the longer its effect. At the time Ginny was worried enough about Harry drowning. Thanks to Neville's pacing and distress, Ginny had been near panic as the hour past; until with great relief she saw his head break the surface. Practically hugging the little French girl! Secretly Ginny had wished that she was the thing Harry 'would miss the most' and that she was the one being rescued by him.
At least Harry was given extra points for showing strong moral fiber and took second place. Ginny actually felt a fleeting wave of pride and happiness at the thought, and then her heart sank as she remembered their breakup. He broke up with me because of that very same 'moral fiber' he'd been exalted for. Harry was just too… what did Hermione call it? Oh, yeah – rationally irrational. He was just being noble, and overly protective, and trying to save me from getting hurt! Well, HE hurt me, that… dunderhead. And why? Because of Voldemort.
Just at that thought a car pulled up in front of the house.
Ginny rose from the table and looked out, careful to not let them see her, as a tall and fancy dressed woman stepped out of the car facing the house. She had an air of self-importance about her as she surveyed the house and yard. Even under the brim of the woman's hat, Ginny could see that her hair was cut in a fashionable way that Ginny was sure she had seen in a fashion magazine that some of the girls at school liked. As the woman looked at her house, Ginny recognized the unmistakable contemptuous grimace on the woman's face, before Mrs. Delacour turned back to the girls that were coming out of the car behind her.
"Deez eez ze place?" Mrs. Delacour could be heard asking from outside the open window. Her voice was thick with her French accent, but still carried a haughty air about it. Ginny shivered at the thought of spending a whole afternoon with this woman.
"Muzzer, eet eezn't zat bad," Gabrielle said as she got out of the car from the rear seat.
Fleur stepped gracefully out of the car to stand next to her sister. From Ginny's point of view, Gabrielle appeared like a perfect, smaller version of Fleur. They even wear their hair the same way!
"Eet looks like ze 'ouse – eet just grew… right on ze spot 'ere! I theenk eet eez fun." Gabrielle looked up at the house with amazement written all over her face.
Watching her, Ginny felt that she might even be able to like this girl. She's younger than me by a few years but her posture and clothes make her seem older. Gabrielle looks like she's happy to be here at least. That's hopeful.
"Eet eez very interezteng home eez eet not?" Mrs. Delacour noted pretentiously. Mrs. Delacour obviously wasn't impressed with the Burrow, quite the contrary.
"Be nice. Zese are very nice people muzzer," Fleur responded, walking up to knock on the door. "Zis eez to be my new family. You like Bill – you will like 'is muzzer and 'is seester too."
Mrs. Weasley heard the car doors slam and turned away from the stove. "Ginny, let them in will you – don't just sit there. We have guests!"
"Ah, mum," said Ginny as she moved from where she had been watching them and went to open the door.
"Don't you start with me young lady! This will be fun," Mrs. Weasley admonished from the kitchen. "They are here so that we can meet them, Ginny, so be nice to her mother and sister. Promise me young lady!"
Ginny nodded with her fingers crossed in front of her so that Mrs. Weasley couldn't see them. "Yes mum," she answered, then opened the door to see Fleur standing on the stoop, smiling and talking softly to her sister Gabrielle, who was standing on the step behind her. Mrs. Delacour was still standing as if rooted on the front walkway, gazing at the house and garden, trying to conceal a slight scowl. "Ginny don't just stand there – welcomed them in," Mrs. Weasley said, coming up behind her, making Ginny step out onto the stoop to greet them.
Fleur immediately swept Ginny up into an embrace and kissed her on both cheeks in greeting. "Ginny! 'Ow good eet eez to see you!" She pulled the smaller version of herself in front of her. "Zis eez my seester Gabrielle. You are close in age I theenk?"
"I'm happy to meet you," Ginny replied, hoping her smile didn't look fake.
Gabrielle, who looked to Ginny to all of maybe thirteen or fourteen, moved slowly toward her. "Nice to meet you, coup manqué, Ginny, Mme. Weasley," Gabrielle said, making a little curtsey at them.
"Mrz. Weasley, Ginny, zis eez my muzzer, Madeleine Delacour," Fleur said, looking fondly at her mother.
Madeleine Delacour however, was still standing on the grass in front of the house, looking at a pair of chickens that were scratching the ground around the old Wellingtons next to the step. She looked up at hearing her name, giving both Ginny and her mum nothing more than a cursory glance before her gaze continued to travel across the house. "You 'ave a very interezteng 'ome, Mrz. Weasley," Mrs. Delacour said. "And your garden eet ez… ah…." She swept her hand to mean the garden by the house, obviously at a sudden loss of words. "Eet eez interezteng." Gabrielle stifled a laugh politely as she shook her head slightly at her mother.
Only Ginny seemed to have seen her, as everyone else was looking at Mrs. Delacour. Gabrielle looked at her mother, then back at Ginny and made a slight shrug, then jumped down the steps to her mother's side. Mrs. Delacour scowled at her daughter as she approached. "Gabrielle, regarder où vous marchez! Fait attention de vos souliers," she said in a tone that was clearly an admonishment, although what exactly she said was lost on Ginny.
"Oui la mère je ferai l'attention," Gabrielle said as she quickly checked her shoes. "Mes souliers sont beaux, la mère."
"Je suis si désolé," Fleur said quickly to Ginny and Mrs. Weasley, sounding slightly flustered before she turned quickly to face her mum and sister. "Muzzer, Gabrielle, s'il vous plaît parler dans l'anglais! They no speak French, s'il vous plait."
Ginny was completely amused watching the scene and looked up at her mum with a big smile, ready to burst out laughing. Oh Mum, wouldn't you really have preferred to be peeling Abyssinian shrivelfigs with Fred and George right about now? she though ruefully.
However, Mrs. Weasley took Ginny's smile to mean that she was finally enjoying herself. "Yes – well, Gabrielle's quite sweet isn't she?"
Ginny's eyes opened wide in surprise. You mean we are actually going through with this? We could go back inside… just tell Mrs. Delacour, 'it's been nice to meet you' and do – um… laundry! I'll even fold! Ginny wanted to suggest. Mrs. Wesley took a deep breath to compose herself, then smiled warmly and cheerfully at her guests. Mum's, I can face anyone face! Ginny thought amazed at her mum's ability to...
"Okay then, come along Ginny, we might as well say hello."She took Ginny's hand and guided her down the steps to join their guests.
Mrs. Delacour turned to face them as Ginny and her mum approached. "Eet eez very nice of you to 'ave us over," she said in a formally polite tone. Ginny suddenly wanted to stick out her tongue at this snobby woman, tell her she could go home, kick dirt clods, anything, but spend the rest of the day with her.
"Hello. Welcome. We are delighted to have you." Mrs. Weasley held out her hand to shake Mrs. Delacour's. Mrs. Delacour however, barley placed her fingers in her outstretched hand. "It is lovely to meet you. Please call me Molly," Mrs. Weasley said, not knowing exactly what to make of the weak handshake.
"Charmé, je suis sûr. Oh Me! I am sorry – charmed," Mrs. Delacour replied and immediately removed her fingers. Once her hand was released, Mrs. Weasley rubbed them on the apron she was still wearing. Ginny noticed her mum's discomfort and smiled, but Mrs. Delacour thankfully, wasn't watching Mrs. Weasley, but gazing intently at their garden again. Gabrielle however did notice and hid a smile behind her hand, blushing.
"Eet ez very nize to make your acquaintanze finally. Fleur 'as talked of nozeng elze all year except about your family and wonderful 'ome," Mrs. Delacour stated stiffly, rolling her hand in an offhanded manner toward the house. Mrs. Weasley blushed. "Your 'ome eet eez… unique I theenk."
Gabrielle let lout a sigh and looked at Ginny. "I theenk you 'ome eez…" she paused and looked up at the upper floors, examining the house's design.
The house 'design' is that Mum and Dad added rooms over the years, that were either stuck on – or stacked up onto the house as was needed, Ginny thought as she followed Gabrielle's gaze to examine her home from the girl's point of view.
"Eet looks fun to me," Gabrielle said as she turned with a bright smile to Mrs. Weasley.
Mrs. Weasley smiled back at the small girl, pleased. "Arthur, my husband, and I had to make several additions over the years as the family grew, but it was built with love," Mrs. Weasley said proudly.
Ginny saw the look on Fleur's face, after hearing her mother mumble a comment. She was sure it was said in French and too low for her to actually catch the words, but it sounded disdainful to Ginny. Mrs. Delacour noticed Ginny watching her and she made a small apologetic exclamation, that Ginny didn't quite hear, but Fleur did, rolling her eyes.
Ginny turned her head quickly and noticed that Gabrielle rolled her eyes too. Apparently, she heard her mother's remarks and made another little shrug of her shoulders back at Ginny, her expression apologetic, then laughed softly. This brought a suppressed giggle from Ginny, which was answered by another from Gabrielle.
Mrs. Delacour watched both girls a moment, pursing her lips, then surveyed the garden as she spoke, rather than look up at Mrs. Weasley. "You 'ave so many… vegtablez and flowerz in ez garden. You do like… 'Ow do you say?" She looked at Fleur quickly, then back at Mrs. Weasley, "Daizy's and rozes? I find zat ze Daizy's, zey make me sneeze. We do not grow zem at our garden at 'ome," she stated imperiously. "What eez zes flower, ze tall ones 'ere?" Both Ginny and Gabrielle rolled their eye upward at Mrs. Delacour's statement. Seeing that they both had the same reaction, both girls began to giggle slightly, which, at the reaction of the other, made them break out in giggles all together.
"Oh, yes, they are Dahlia's," Mrs. Weasley said, brightening up. "They came up very nicely this year. The Belladonna and Hollyhocks did too. They are in the back, along the vines on the fence there. The roses aren't blooming as nicely this summer… must be the gnomes."
Mrs. Delacour looked startled. "You 'ave gnomes? I neever allow gnomes in our garden!"
"Well, yes. I had the boys de-gnome the garden yesterday, but Arthur, my husband, thinks that they are funny. So they do always keep coming back," Mrs. Weasley explained.
Gabrielle rolled her eyes at her mother's exclamation, and then looked at Ginny. "We 'ave zem too, but muzzer 'as someone come to git rid of 'em," she said quietly and winked. "She would not 'ave us do zis in ze garden ourselves. We would git our 'ands dirty." She mimicked a look of indignation, placing the fingertips of one hand on her chest, and then made a mock surprised look, to which Ginny had to stifle a laugh.
Gabrielle's funny, Ginny thought to herself, and she obviously is a fun girl to be around.
"But our garden at 'ome eez not big as zis garden, and eet eez in a wall off… jardin de terrasse…" Gabrielle paused a moment, making a few circles with her finger. "I do not know 'ow you say… off the ze back of ze 'ouse – terrasse… like zis?"
Ginny watched her confused, and then took a guess. "Do you mean a garden area off the back of the house?" Gabrielle nodded, looking expectant. "We just call it a back garden, or if it's to the side of the house a side garden," Ginny explained.
She watched Gabrielle mouth the phrase and smile. "Merci, Ginny."
Fleur turned to Mrs. Weasley. "I 'ave always liked being 'ere. I theenk your garden ez very nice Mrs. Weasley. Maybe zey come 'ere because your garden eez out in ze open?"
"'Our 'ouses eez are… ah… connecté… attaché – attached on our… rue – boulevard, I theenk," Gabrielle said softly to Ginny. "Our back garden 'as a fountain and a 'igh brick wall all around eet. Eet eez nice to sit out zere in ze summer."
"I would never theenk to allow garden gnomes in ze garden at 'ome," Mrs. Delacour stated proudly. "We 'ave an attendant who getz rid of any pezt."
Gabrielle pressed her lips very thin as she looked at Ginny, trying very hard not to laugh. "We 'ave a frog an' a turtle zat live in ze fountain, and I theenk we 'ave a – ah… la fée et un lutin… a fairy and a pixie … zat live in ze roses," she whispered. "'e 'as not gotten rid of zem. I like to play with zem."
Ginny smiled at her remembering how her mum had personally inspected the garden yesterday to make sure that the twins had successfully de-gnome her garden for today's visit. "Mum had Bill and I help her pull every weed she could find. The garden has never looked so well tended in ages," Ginny confessed. "But every time my brothers come home, Mum makes them de-gnome the garden. They hate it."
Yet, as everyone watched, two small, muddy gnomes popped their heads out from under a rose bush, and then ducked back for cover. Ginny let out a slight chuckle, which was echoed by Gabrielle, who looked up at Ginny. This brought both girls to giggle again, which at the reaction of the other, made them break out in laughter altogether.
"Oh, what is so funny?" Mrs. Weasley asked, as Mrs. Delacour echoed "Gabrielle! Whot eez so funny?" in chorus.
"Nozeng," "Nothing," both girls replied together, causing silent giggles to re-erupt into laughter all over.
Mrs. Delacour turned from the girls, shaking her head in disapproval. "Fleur tells me zat you 'ave chickenz and ducks?" she asked, as a couple of chickens ran off. "You do not keep you chickenz in ze coup?"
"Do you like toads?" Ginny asked Gabrielle.
Mrs. Weasley laughed as she answered Mrs. Delacour. "We pen them up at night, but I let them out in the mornings. They keep the bugs out of the vegetables."
Gabrielle nodded to Ginny, with a smile and leaned in close to her. "I play with ze frog in our garden, yes. Mum doez not like eet when I do. I 'ave a cat, Touffu. Do you 'ave a pet?"
"I have a pigmy puff I named, Arnold, in my room. My brother, Ron, had a frog in his room once. Mum and Dad let us keep any pet we like as long as we take care of it," Ginny said. "We get salamanders, frogs and ducks in the pond on the other side of the house. I like to playing with them, too."
Gabrielle looked up at Ginny amazed and was about to ask her something before Mrs. Weasley cut her off. "Oh, let's go inside shall we?" she said, shaking her head at the girls, turned and walked into the house. Mrs. Delacour motioned for her girls to follow her, entering the house as if royal.
Mrs. Weasley, wanting to make a good impression on Fleur's mother, had prepared a light soup she remembered Fleur liked very much during one of the times she had stayed here. She had made an assortment of sandwiches also, all cut into little squares, and a fruit salad. It was very light fare considering what was usually served at the Burrow.
Ginny watched as Mrs. Delacour as she examined the table. The table had been set for five with all the best plates and glasses that they had. All the ones without any chips were carefully arranged, so that the plates with different patterns looked intentional. At least all the glasses match, Ginny sighed, because Dad quickly repairs any that fall or brake, before Mum notices.
Ginny had also collected roses, dahlias and daisies from the garden that morning and mixed them with wildflowers she had gathered from the meadow near by. She arranged them carefully in her mum's two prettiest vases to decorate the kitchen table. "Oh, Mrs. Weasley! Ze table lookz so lovely!" Fleur exclaimed as she sat down.
"You 'ave ze flowers of you garden!" Gabrielle said as she quickly took the seat next to Ginny. "Ze are soo beautiful! You did zis for us?"
Great! Now Mrs. Phlegm will complain about the flowers. Well at lest Fleur and Gabrielle like them. "Yes. I hope your mother doesn't start to sneeze?" Ginny asked, leaning close to Gabrielle so that Mrs. Delacour wouldn't overhear her. The bouquets made Mum really happy though, and that's what really matters.
"Do not worry, coup manqué, Ginny," Gabrielle said with a wink. "She will not. Zey are very beautiful and look nice on you table."
"Thanks," Ginny said, beaming. She told Gabrielle about collecting the flowers that morning and pointed out her favorites from the meadow.
"What a charmeng little 'ouze you 'ave," Mrs. Delacour said, after listening briefly as the girls talked. She looked around the house, appraising the décor with a critical eye. "Verry 'ow you zay, rustic," she announced as she sat down in one of the chairs, still looking around at the contents of the home. "Verry, ah… eclectic I theenk."
Ginny was surprised that this woman was being so… critical. But then Ginny remembered how the Beauxbatons students had reacted toward Hogwarts her third year. Only a few of them had spoken favorably about things at the castle: the meals… the decorations… even the weather. Some, like Fleur, had complained – frequently… and about almost everything.
Mrs. Weasley set the fruit salad on the table next to the plate of sandwiches. "Thank you," she said simply, but Ginny noticed her mum clench her fist when she stepped away to get the soup, hidden in the folds of her skirt.
Mum is definitely trying to hold on to her temper, Ginny thought as she watched her mum, admiring the fact that her mum never lost her warm, friendly smile, not for one moment. The ever-warm Weasley welcome is really being tested today! Mum is amazing; she can entertain anyone with such patience.
"What may I get for you to drink?" Mrs. Weasley asked, returning with the soup in her soup tureen. It was actually a large mixing bowl transfigured into a soup tureen, she had copied from a picture in a Muggle department store add.
Fleur reached for one of two pitchers that sat on the table, one with cool water and one with Bilberry and apple juice. "Zis ez verry nice Mrs. Weasley, zank you," Fleur said, pouring her mother a glass of cold water and helping herself too. Mrs. Weasley silently thanked Fleur and sat down.
All through lunch Mrs. Delacour and Fluer discussed details of the wedding with Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Delacour was apparently having a slight problem with the caterer Fleur had chosen… And the florist… And the photographer… And of course, with the stationary. The only thing she seemed to agree on was Fleur's color scheme.
Ginny, mean while, was having a nice talk with Gabrielle about school, and comparing Beauxbatons to Hogwarts, and the types of classes each girl was taking. Gabrielle, who's English was at times difficult to understand, often blushed at her mistakes, but over all Ginny was surprised to find out just how much they had in common.
Unlike her sister, Gabrielle wasn't as hung up on her looks. "Me seester ez ze pretty one of uz," Gabrielle stated softly. "She waz so popular in ze school. Many of me teachers zey tell me juzt how good she waz in everything – all ez time."
"I have six brothers who are all older than I am, and I get it all the time too. It's hard to be compared to you brothers by everyone," Ginny nodded.
"But you are a girl! Surely you do not 'ave, 'ow you say, comparer – compare, to zem all ze time?" Gabrielle asked, surprised.
"Well, not all the time. Just when I don't get something right off. Or when I do something well, or when I make mistakes. Or when I try out for something one of my brothers did, like Quidditch, Gobstones matches, Charms Club…" Ginny added smiling. "So – frequently enough."
"So, are you lookeng forward to comeng to Paris for ze weddeng?" Gabrielle asked. "I am lookeng forward do eet. Eet sound like eet will be so pretty."
"Oh, yes! I've never been to any part of France, and I am looking forward to seeing Paris," Ginny answered. Having gotten to know you, I actually am looking forward to this. She 's right, it might be fun afterall.
"Now that was a very interesting lunch, wouldn't you say?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she stood watching the Delacour women leave.
"No, actually, that was a lot of fun!" Ginny exclaimed. Mrs. Weasley shot her daughter a surprised look. "I think Gabrielle and I could easily be friends. That would be neat, having a friend I could write to in Paris," she said as she watched Fleur, her mother and sister being driven away. "Gabrielle is very nice isn't she?"
"Yes, Gabrielle is a very sweet girl," Mrs. Weasley said, turning back into the house. "Going down to Paris will be quite an adventure won't it?" she asked.
"The way Mrs. Delacour looked over the house and garden you'd think that Fleur was having the wedding changed to here instead!" Ginny giggled at the thought. "Maybe we should have Fred and George catch some of the garden gnomes and paint them all gold for the occasion. We could slip them into the decorations!"
"Ginny! Where did you get that idea? I shudder to think what she'd have to say about gold gnomes though. Do you think Fred and George could – would…? Well, yes, they would – wouldn't they?" Mrs. Weasley asked, and then laughed heartedly. "Imagine having gold garden gnomes as decorations for her daughter's wedding! I'd hate to think what her reaction would be to that! But it would be a hoot, though, wouldn't it?"
Ginny laughed and shook her head at her mum as she followed her back into the house. Oh, I might just have to mention it to them, won't I?
Author's note: For everyone who did not take French in school – like me, I used an online English to French translation site (and the cut and paste functions) for the following:
'regarder où vous marchez. Fait attention de vos souliers,' in English is: 'watch where you step. Be careful of your shoes'
'Oui la mère je ferai l'attention,' in English is: 'yes mother I will pay attention'
'Mes souliers sont beaux, la mere.' in English is: 'My shoes are fine, mother.'
'Je suis si désolé,' in English is: 'I am sorry,'
's'il vous plaît parler dans l'anglais' in English is: 'please speak in English.'
'charmé, je suis sûr, in English is: 'charmed I'm sure,'
There are other single French words used – but I think those can either be figured out easily enough or assumed.
For everyone who does read French: If I made a mistake or if the translation is off – I'm sorry! I tried!