Chapter 15: Baby Steps
Hermione smiled as she saw Fleur enter the Muggle studies classroom and slipped in the seat next to her. "Hey," she greeted, shuffling a big on the bench to make space for the blonde.
"Hello 'Ermione," Fleur greeted back, shuffling closer to the brunette as soon as she was seated.
"Morning class!" Professor Burbage called out. "As usual, wands away unless for clean ups" With a flick of her wand, she conjured the topic of the day on every table.
Fleur eyed the spread in front of her, curiously. There was a fruit and vegetable basket with strawberries, peeled oranges, apples, mangoes, spinach and what not. There was even kale! There was a bottle of honey, a jug of milk, a bucket of ice, a few glasses and a weird contraption next to it. She also noticed a weird rectangular box with a switch and three holes in them.
"The machine you have in front of you, is what is called a Blender by the Muggles," said the Professor, "As the name suggests, it is used to blend things, mostly fruits and vegetables to make concoctions that the muggles consume. You have a few things in front of you, try your own combinations and see what you come up with. Again, it needs to be powered by electricity so check your book on how to get started." And with that, she sat at her desk.
Fleur opened her book, looking for the chapter on electricity. While she knew Hermione already knew the answer, she didn't want to make it as if she was relying on her to get all the answers. Plus Hermione was a muggle, she wanted to learn more about her mate. Aha! She found the correct page. So basically you had to plug the three prong cord into the three hole rectangular box. Easy! She did just that and flicked the switch on.
Hermione looked at the satisfied face that Fleur was making and stifled her urge to chuckle. The blonde was too cute sometimes. "That was good, Fleur," she said watching as the blonde preened under the compliment.
"Have you ever had one of zhese concoctions, 'Ermione?" asked Fleur, picking through the fruit basket. She eyed the kale in distaste.
Hermione nodded, "I have. The ones with fruits and vegetables, we call them smoothies. My mum used to make mango ones for us. I also like making milkshakes in these, you use milk, ice-cream and ice," she explained.
Fleur watched as the brunette opened up an assembly manual for her and demonstrated putting it together.
She pulled it apart again and pushed the pieces towards her, "Here, you try. Be careful, the blade is sharp," she warned. She watched the blonde nod and get to work, her tongue poking out of her lips slightly as she concentrated on her task. She smiled at her adorably.
Fleur took a lot longer to put it together but in the end she managed it and looked at Hermione with pride, eyes full of glee. If Hermione didn't know her, she would consider her to be such a child. "Now what?" She asked excitedly.
"Now we blend," said Hermione, throwing her ingredients, milk, honey, a banana, strawberries and ice in the blender jar under the watchful eyes of the blonde. Securing the lid properly, she turned it on. Wrooooommmm, the racket startled everyone as they turned to look at her. Shrugging, she kept blending.
"Why does it make so much noise, 'Ermione?!" Fleur shouted over the racket.
"The motors are working to blend, it's bound to make some noise," replied Hermione, continuing her blending until the mixture was of the right consistency. "It's better if your fruits are frozen," she said as she finished and poured the mixture in a glass and handed it to Fleur, looking at her expectantly.
Fleur eyed the pink drink and carefully brought it to her nose for a sniff. It smelled like strawberries… Taking a tentative sip, she hummed. It was good! "This is delicious, 'Ermione!"
Hermione blushed. For some reason, feeding the blonde always made her feel weird. "Thanks!" Taking out her wand, she cleaned up everything and pushed the machine towards the blonde, "Your turn."
Fleur took another healthy sip of her beverage. "Okay," she replied, eyeing her choice of fruits. What shall she choose… Hmmm, decisions, decisions.
Hermione took her eyes off the deciding Veela and watched her classmates. Some were still leafing through the instruction manual while others had managed to get blending but every time the noise started, they would scutter away. She'd cackle at the ridiculousness of it if she wasn't in class.
Wrrrroooom-SPLAT!
A shock of icy liquid hit her face. She spluttered, tasting mangoes as she turned to Fleur, the blonde just as much in shock as her, covered from head to chest in milk and chunks of mango and ice. Hermione knew she looked just as bad, maybe slightly less because she was on the side but couldn't stop herself from bursting into laughter.
Fleur pouted as the brunette laughed at her. She had made a mess… She crossed her arms to her chest, wincing when it came into contact with the mixture splattered all over her clothes.
Hermione breathed in hard, eyes tearing up in mirth. She took one more look at the blonde and burst out laughing again.
Fleur pouted even harder. Hmff, it wasn't even funny!
Taking pity on the soaked Fleur, Hermione cast a quick Scourgify on both of them and their workbench to clean up the mess, "You are supposed to close the lid, Fleur," she said, chuckling and handed the aforementioned piece of equipment to the still pouting blonde.
"I knew zhat," grumbled Fleur, starting all over again. It wasn't her fault Muggles made things so complicated!
This time, Hermione kept her eyes on her class partner, watching in amusement as the blonde went through the motions grumpily, a slight blush adorning her pale cheeks. It was adorable. God, what was she going to do with this Veela…
Kiss her? resonated in her brain and Hermione blushed at the thought and concentrated back on the blonde to avoid any more mishaps.
Fleur smiled as she walked back to the carriage. She had had fun with Hermione in class, despite the one mess. The mango smoothie tasted great! She was proud. They did more variations, Hermione even getting Fleur to try her kale blend. It hadn't been that bad, the taste masked by other ingredients but Fleur still liked the ones without it better. They had been allowed to take some away so Hermione had made more for her. Fleur now had a chilled mason jar of mango smoothie in her bag.
"Get out of my vay, beast," she heard behind her before she was shouldered violently, her years of training and sport, the only thing that helped her keep her balance and not fall face first on the floor. She scowled and turned to look at the annoying Bulgarian.
"Touch me again and I'll curse you all the way back to Bulgarie!" She growled.
Krum sneered, "I wouldn't touch you vith a ten-foot pole, no idea vat sort of creature disease you have!"
"Mais quelle est ton probleme, bordel?! What is your fucking problem?!" shouted Fleur, exasperated at the boy.
"You, you are the problem. Don't think I didn't see you viz Herm-own-ninny at the village. Stay away from her," he growled, taking a few steps towards her to look more menacing.
Fleur glared at him, "What iz your business wiz 'Ermione?"
Krum's face split into an eerie grin that sent shivers down Fleur's spine, not the good kind, "She vill be my intended. She vill make a good wife to me, Victor Krum, Son of Andrei Borislav Krum, the Butcher of Bulgaria."
Fleur's eyes widened in recognition, flaring in fury and disgust. His father, the 'Butcher' had earned his name from the amount of creatures he had hunted and slain, for sport and bigotry. Krum wasn't that unique of a name for Bulgarians so she hadn't put two and two together. For this boy to even think about Hermione, she was ready to claw his eyes out.
"I vill be a Butcher too, one day" he said proudly, "And vill proudly mount you and your flock's heads on my wall."
Fleur didn't even notice herself drawing her wand and would have blasted him off had Dumbledore not appeared by their side, "Champions," his voice was calm but Fleur noticed a tightness in his eyes, "please, head back to drop your bags. Dinner will start shortly and we wouldn't want you all to be late."
Krum sneered at the interruption and turned around,stomping back to his ship.
Fleur nodded at the Hogwarts Headmaster before making her way towards the carriage. She really didn't want the brute of a Bulgarian bothering her but his words worried her. She had already been wary of him, but now knowing about his father and his fixation with Hermione made her apprehensive. She knew that Hermione would never be interested in a man like him. He went against everything that Hermione stood for such as equality for creatures. No, he was just a hunter, a murderer, who cared little about the beings of their world. It was one thing to kill for food. Fleur would never begrudge her dragon for hunting animals to eat… but hunting for trophies, it was despicable, inhumane. She berated herself for not knowing the Butcher's son was amongst them, so close to her flock. She didn't even know the Butcher had a son. She had to keep an eye on him, and inform the others. A letter to the Clan was also necessary.
Deciding not to let the man sour her good mood, she put her things in her room and made her way back to the castle Great Hall for dinner. She walked in and immediately spotted Hermione seated at the Gryffindor table. Making a beeline for the brunette, she was warmly greeted as Hermione shuffled sideways to make space on the bench for her.
"Hello everyone," she greeted, smiling as Harry and Ginny greeted her back. She was happy to notice the absence of Ronald.
"Hey, are you ok?" asked Hermione worried, the blonde had a shadow on her face.
"Yes, I'm fine," replied Fleur giving a smile of reassurance to the brunette.
Hermione wasn't convinced but let it go. She took her plate and served herself some hot piping food and also picked Fleur's plate, asking her what she would like.
Fleur looked adoringly at the brunette and just pointed out what she wanted, watching as the Gryffindor served her the laden plate with a smile.
Cutting into her stuffed chicken breast, Fleur asked Harry, "Any luck wiz your egg?"
Harry shook his head, "None. I've hit it with multiple spells, dropped it from a height, flown with it on my broom, played music to it and even screamed back at it, nothing," he replied, frustrated.
Fleur laughed in amusement at his words, "I 'ave kicked it down the hills, set fire to it, frozen it, thrown it off a 'igh tree, buried it and screamed back at it as well," she replied, grinning.
Harry grinned back like a mad scientist, "what should we try next?"
Hermione huffed, "instead of you two doing all these crazy things and possibly breaking it, we should go to the library to see if we can find out anything."
"That thing is indestructible," argued Harry, watching as Fleur munched on her chicken and nodded at his statement.
"Uhuh, totally unbreakable," added Fleur after she swallowed her food, "I'm tempted to sit on it like a chicken to see if it hatches," she mulled at that idea.
Hermione snorted at the image that appeared in her head, looking at the blonde incredulously.
"What?!" asked Fleur, indignantly, "it's an egg!" She argued.
"And you are a bird, you Veela," laughed Hermione.
Fleur shrugged, they were sorta birds but not exactly. They definitely didn't lay eggs though.
Harry grimaced to the thought of having to sit on his egg, "I hope that is not it."
"We'll figure it out, 'Arry," Fleur reassured the green-eyed boy. They would figure it, they had to.
It was Saturday and Fleur was in an awesome mood. She had plans with Hermione all day long. What more could a girl ask for? They would have breakfast together then catch up with their homework in the library then go to the lake to relax and chat. Then, at the end of the day, they would have dinner together. She quickly got dressed and made her way to the castle. The snow was still heavily packed on the ground making her trek to the castle a bit more difficult but nothing would dampen her mood, not the cold (that she despises- what? She got cold easily!), not the hard trek, not even the annoying face of Victor Krum glaring at her from the Slytherin table as she approached the Gryffindor one, not even that! She was still keeping an eye on him though and had already owled the Clan.
She smiled as she slipped next to the brunette, "Good morning 'Ermione!" She said cheerfully, delighted at the brilliant smile she got back, "where is everyone else?" She asked, looking at the empty spots around the Gryffindor.
"Good morning, Fleur," replied Hermione, "they are all probably sleeping in."
"Oh," Fleur didn't mind at all, she had Hermione all to herself! Pouring herself a big mug of hot chocolate, she sipped at it and sighed, loving as it warmed her right to her toes.
Hermione looked on with amusement, "Fan of chocolate, huh?" She teased.
"Who isn't?" Fleur teased back, "It's ze best thing to drink on such a cold dreary day. I don't like ze cold," she said pouting.
"You've come to the wrong place," said Hermione, laughing.
"Nhhuh, you are in ze wrong place, 'Ermione."
"Don't you mean Hogwarts is in the wrong place?" Hermione asked, perplexed.
Fleur shrugged, "zat too. Definitely should have been in a warmer spot, but I meant you…"
"Why is that?" Hermione was having a hard time following.
A cheeky smile erupted on the blonde's face as she replied, "I go where you go, my 'Ermione."
Hermione flushed at the words, especially when she realised it wasn't just one of Fleur's jokes but there was some actual truth to it. Mock-scowling at the blonde, she gently punched her on the shoulder, "Stop you! she growled, trying to keep the smile threatening to erupt on her face. For some reason, Fleur calling her my 'Ermione caused a fluttering in her belly.
Fleur gasped and held her shoulder jokingly, "you wound me, my 'Ermione," she whined, pouting at the brunette but her eyes were shining with mirth.
Hermione picked a croissant and shoved it into the blonde's hand, "Eat! At least you will stop speaking nonsense with your mouth occupied!"
Fleur looked at the brunette with amusement because really? That was given to her on a silver platter. "My 'Ermione, zhere are so many better ways to, as you suggested, keep my mouth occupied," she said grinning widely.
Hermione blushed so hard, she was sure steam was coming out of her ears. She gaped at the blonde's forwardness.
Fleur laughed, deciding to give her mate a reprieve and munched on her croissant, still grinning like a maniac.
Hermione's ears roared. This woman was going to be the death of her!
With breakfast finished, the pair made their way to their little corner in the library.
"What have you left to work on?" asked Hermione as she pulled her parchments, quills and ink out of her bag.
"Hmm, potions and Muggle studies," replied Fleur.
Hermione nodded, "I have Charms and Potions," she informed.
"Why don't we start wiz Potions?" asked Fleur.
"I'm okay with that," and with that, they started on the three feet of parchment pre-essay that Snape had requested on Amortentia, which was the new potion they were going to have a look at in the next class.
Half an hour into it, Fleur put her quill down to stretch her fingers. She observed Hermione, fully concentrated in her work as she scratched on her parchment, ink stain on her fingers and smiled. The brunette was beautiful. Her thoughts went back to her essay, drawing similarities to the potion with what her bond felt with her mate.
"What?" asked Hermione, eyes still fixed on her essay but she had felt the blonde's gaze on her and realised that the Veela had stopped writing from the absence of scratching sounds from across the table.
"Nozhing, I'm just thinking," replied Fleur.
Deciding to take a break, Hermione put her quill down and looked up, "About what?"
"About ze similarities and differences of ze Amortentia to a Veela's bond wiz zheir mate"
Now fully intrigued, Hermione couldn't wait to ask, "and what are they?"
"Dissimilar in ze sense zhat Amortentia makes people lose zheir sense while ze bond feels like finally, everything iz starting to make sense," replied Fleur, smiling shyly at her mate, "Ze scent though iz intriguing. I am excited to know what ze Amortentia will smell to me, despite feeling like I already know."
Hermione blushed slightly, wondering what aroma the blonde would smell... like, would she smell her? Is that a good thing? Hermione wasn't sure what she smelled like. What if she smelled bad? Like, of old moldy books or something. She started worrying as she thought about it.
"I wonder…" Fleur's gentle voice broke her out of her rumination, "what you would smell," she said hesitantly.
Hermione thought about it and realised why the blonde looked so hesitant. She was worried Hermione wouldn't smell her. She stayed quiet though, knowing that nothing she could say would change anything. They would have to wait for the day to find out.
They finished their homework, with Hermione giving a cursory look to Fleur's Muggle studies essay and leaving a few comments. Reading the blonde's writing was quite intriguing, it gave her a different perspective and an insider's look on how the Veela experienced muggle things...with childlike curiosity, from what it seems.
They had lunch in the kitchens, giving a quick visit to the elves and made their way to the lake with some goodies Dobby had packed for them. They arrived at their spot and Fleur started clearing up the snow to spread their blanket down next to a large tree. Warming spells and a few jarred blue fires after, they were ready and got settled together on the blanket, a second one wrapped around their shoulders.
Fleur rummaged through Dobby's given basket, pulling out a box of chocolates and mini pastries. She placed them on her legs, within reach of both of them and settled her back against the tree, left shoulder and arm touching Hermione's right.
"I'm surprised to have you agree to sit here with how much you said you dislike the cold, " said Hermione as she opened her book. It was nothing connected to schoolwork, just something for light reading.
Fleur turned to look at her and smiled, "I zhink we 'ave enough warmth 'ere," she said, talking about the warming spells, jarred fires but mostly Hermione's body warmth radiating within their little blanket cocoon.
Hermione nodded, pleased that the blonde wasn't feeling cold and uncomfortable. She watched as the Veela pulled out a pencil and sketchbook and started putting smooth curves on the blank page. She turned back to her reading.
They chatted about random things for about a quarter of an hour before Hermione voiced out, "Fleur, what does the bond feel like?"
Fleur looked up, gazing thoughtfully at the lake, "Hmmm, like the sun shining down on your skin on a beautiful summer day, I feel a warmth spread through me wiz you near," she replied honestly, "my senses are more attuned to you, I can sense your presence when you are near, I can pick out your footsteps out of everyone's, I would recognise your voice in a crowd."
Hermione was stunned at the reply.
While she had read the books that Fleur had given her, they had explained the initiation of the bond, how it happens, the requirements for growing and completing the bond. The effects and feel of the bond had been touched on minimally. So all this was news to her.
"It's interesting, I think. It took me some time to differentiate between ze things zhat were happening to me because of my Veela maturity change and ze things that were because of what I feel for you," mused Fleur, watching the waves crash on the sandy shore.
"Do you ever feel like it's too much? Or that you would have liked to have the option to choose your mate?" Hermione asked hesitantly, already feeling bad for asking when she saw Fleur wince at her words.
"No," replied Fleur resolutely. "Veela's mates and zheir bond can never be too much. It's everything we want and need and more zhan zhat. As for choosing our person, we do. Ze bond just recognises ze person for you but nothing starts until you choose zhem. People don't realise zhat because ze choice is instantaneous for most of us. I didn't 'ave to choose you but I did because I wanted to, I needed you, be it as a friend or more..." She played with a few blades of grass by her side, twirling them around her fingers as she avoided Hermione's gaze.
Hermione touched the blonde's arm to get her to look at her, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend."
Fleur just shrugged. Maybe Hermione was trying to tell her something, that the brunette didn't like the idea of mates and didn't want to choose her. The thought sent a searing pain through her chest but she didn't let it show, schooling her features and picking up her sketchbook again. The incomplete outline of Hermione's face taunted her. Flipping the page, she started anew.
Hermione bit her lip, noticing the change in the mood and the slight slump in Fleur's shoulders and wished she hadn't asked the question. She picked at her book dejectedly, feeling bad for hurting the blonde.
The silence stretched on for half an hour, only the scratch of Fleur's pencil reminding Hermione that the blonde was still sitting next to her. The silence felt weird and awkward because they rarely stayed quiet with each other, always having something to say despite having already shared so much. Fleur was someone who didn't mind Hermione rambling about her books and she enjoyed Fleur's discussions as well. Closing her book, she turned to the blonde, "Why choose me?"
Fleur looked up from her drawing of an Abraxan to look at the brunette in surprise. "Why not?" she asked.
Hermione shrugged, "I don't know. I'm sure you have met a lot of people. Why me? Why not someone in France or another Veela."
"I… You are amazing, 'Ermione, I don't zhink anyone else would be ze right choice."
The blonde said it with such conviction that it took Hermione's breath away. "I'm sorry for my question earlier. I didn't mean to hurt you… I ignorantly thought it wasn't a choice. I just wasn't sure you would choose me if you could have one."
Fleur smiled at the brunette, looking deep into her chocolate eyes, "I'd choose you every single time, 'Ermione."
The warmth that filled her chest left Hermione utterly confused.
Thank you everyone for the follows/favourites/reviews! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well! :)
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