Chapter 17: Potion Class

Hermione woke up this Monday morning feeling absolutely refreshed. Her weeks had been awesome. They had been fun and successful. They had cracked the egg, so to speak. Her mood soured a little when she remembered that Monday meant Potions in the morning which meant dealing with Snape. While the man was a lot less grating since that day Fleur put him in his place, he still sneered at them and annoyed them throughout class.

Well, there was no escaping this. Whether class was by Snape or Voldemort himself, Hermione was not going to be late! She quickly jumped off her bed and made a beeline for her bathroom.

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Breakfast was a usual affair, at least to Hermione but Fleur was more subdued. The brunette smiled and chatted with the blonde in hopes to get her out of her Monday funk and it worked, at least for a little bit.

It was only when they walked into the dungeon and Hermione saw the cauldron in front, containing a liquid with a mother of pearl sheen that Hermione remembered what today was about. She nearly facepalmed herself for being a fool. She had been so concerned about the egg and so relieved after they solved it that she had completely forgotten what today's lesson was going to be about. Amortentia. No wonder, Fleur was in a funk! How could she have forgotten that?!

Snape marched into the room, his cape billowing behind him, "Silence! I will not have any of you muttering in my class," he said as he got to his blackboard. Taking his chalk, he wrote Amortentia on the board, "Now, after having a look at your preparatory essay on this subject, I'm not surprised to say I am utterly unimpressed. I hope you all have it in yourselves to try and do better. Who here can tell me what Amortentia smells like?"

Hermione had quickly shot up.

Snape sneered at her, rolling his eyes before looking at her student seated beside her, "Miss Delacour?"

"It 'as a unique aroma to each person," said Fleur looking up from her book to look at the Potion Professor, "and it smells of ze things zhat zhey find ze most attractive," she replied, giving an inconspicuous glance at the brunette beside her, "even if ze person iz unaware of or disacknowledges zheir affinity for ze object of zheir affection."

Snape glared at her before turning back to his board, "One by one, you will come forward to experience the smell of the Amortentia, starting from the front right. Get up!"

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It didn't take long for it to be Fleur's turn. Catching Hermione's glance and small smile at her, she returned a tight smile and walked to the cauldron. The smell hit her as soon as she got close enough and it made her heart race. She took a deeper breath and smiled, closing her eyes to identify each individual aroma in the bouquet. Mangoes, her favourite fruit! But it was the other aromas that made her heart sing...Ink and parchment, like the smells of books in the library…. Sweetness of honey and the fragrance of fresh lavender, like in the Lavender fields she had visited in France. It's basically a bouquet of Hermione. She wondered if she could bottle the scent. Knowing that her turn was ending and dreading the brunette's turn next, she took one last whiff and walked back to her desk.

Hermione had seen the smile on the blonde's face as she smelled the Amortentia and was pretty sure Fleur was smelling her… though she wasn't sure what that meant, what she smelled like. She was nervous. What would happen if she didn't smell Fleur or didn't smell anything at all. What would she do if she smelled Ron?! She grimaced at the thought.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realise Fleur was done until the blonde slid back beside her, onto the bench. Getting up for her turn, she held her breath and nervously approached the cauldron, giving a quick look back to the blonde whose face was all tight and her eyes all dulled as if waiting for inevitable heartache. The mother of pearl sheen was beautiful up close and she exhaled.

Deciding to be brave and get it over and done with, Hermione took a deep sniff and smelled...new parchment and ink, her favourite things, writing on fresh paper with new ink always made her happy and...jasmine with a hint of morning dew... she blushed and her heart fluttered as she recognised Fleur's perfume...and mangoes… A smile grew on her face as the blender accident with the blonde replayed itself in her mind. There were no more doubts about it, she was attracted to Fleur. She felt surprisingly relieved and... giddy. Walking back to her desk, she saw Fleur looking at her worriedly with fear in her eyes. She looked at the blonde adoringly, hoping that her eyes conveyed everything. It must have since the blue eyes widened and the blonde started fidgeting in her seat. Hermione slipped back into her seat next to her but did nothing more. They needed to talk but it wasn't the place nor time to do so.

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Fleur has never wanted a class to end as badly as this one and that is to say something, if someone has ever sat in Professor Binns History Class. The man must have died listening to himself drone about history, it was the only explanation Fleur could think for him to be a ghost and still be a History teacher. She couldn't stop fidgeting. Hermione, on the other hand, looked as cool as a cucumber, scribbling Snape's notes in her notebook like nothing was amiss. Something was amiss though...despite the 'look' she had gotten from the brunette earlier, the girl hadn't spoken to her at all. Sure, they were in Snape's class but this was an emergency here! How was she to endure not one but two periods of Potions?!

Hermione hid a slight smile as she heard the blonde shift in her seat for the umpteenth time in the last fifteen minutes. Right now, it made her heart flutter as she found the blonde's impatience and discomfort totally adorable. Unfortunately, Fleur will have to wait, she wanted them to have this conversation privately.

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FINALLY! Fleur's mind screamed as the class ended. She shoved all her things in her bag, she had barely taken notes for the whole two hours, doodling instead as her mind was elsewhere. She looked up to find Hermione looking at her in amusement.

"Come on," Hermione said, walking out of the dreary dungeon.

Fleur didn't wait, quickly following the brunette. Their walk through the crowd hallways was quiet until Hermione got them to a secluded spot. She was surprised to see the Room of Requirement materialise in front of them and followed the brunette inside.

"'Ermione?" She asked tentatively, as she watched the brunette forgo her usual plush armchair and instead, sit on the larger sofa.

Hermione looked up and smiled at the blonde, patting the seat beside her, "Come sit down, Fleur."

Fleur dropped her bag on the coffee table and hesitantly slid beside Hermione.

"Ask me what you want to ask me," said Hermione looking directly into the blonde's azure eyes.

Fleur hesitated. She had so much going on in her head but there was one question to be asked. "What did you smell from ze Amortentia?" she asked in a whisper, hopeful.

"Hmm...new parchment and ink..."

Fleur nodded at that, brows furrowing. It was basically Hermione's smell with the amount of time she spent writing away. "I did too…" she confessed.

Hermione flushed at the implication of it, before composing herself and continuing, "Mangoes…"

Her brows relaxed a bit. Her favourite fruit was mangoes...but that didn't mean anything...A lot of people liked mangoes. Hermione had definitely enjoyed the mango smoothie they made before...

"And...jasmine with a hint of morning dew…" said Hermione, eyeing the blonde carefully.

Fleur's breath hitched, stuck in her lungs as she recognised the description of her perfume. Heart thudding in her chest, she looked at Hermione in shock and awe.

Hermione smiled at Fleur, placing her hand on the shocked blonde's, "seems the feelings are mutual," she whispered blushing, suddenly shy.

Fleur turned her hand gently so she could hold Hermione's hand, shyly interlacing two fingers and pleasantly surprised when Hermione interlaced the rest. She held in firmly but gently, worried that if she let go, it would all be a dream. Seems that Hermione read her face as she received a squeeze of reassurance. "You don't know 'ow 'appy zis makes me…" she whispered, looking deep into Hermione's chocolate eyes, hoping to convey how much.

"It makes me happy too…" replied Hermione, looking back at the blonde with as much intensity.

Fleur lifted her hand and gently brushed a lock of Hermione's hair off the brunette's freckled face, tucking it in behind her ear. Gently cupping the soft cheek, she leaned forward slowly, hearing the Gryffindor's catch of breath. Keeping her eyes fixed on her mate, she waited for the brunette to stop her. When nothing came, she leaned further forward and deposited a gentle kiss on the brunette's cheek.

Hermione flushed at the feeling of Fleur's lips on her cheek. Fleur had given her countless 'kisses' since they started their friendship but this one was different… felt different... yet so innocent compared to the one at the corner of her lips that they had shared in Fleur's room. She wondered what it would feel like actually kissing Fleur. Her face flushed redder at the thought. She watched as Fleur pulled away shyly, a slight blush adorning her pale cheeks and her cerulean eyes shining like diamonds.

The bell ringing to announce the end of the break broke them from their staring contest and Hermione shyly got off the sofa and handed Fleur her bag.

"Merci [Thank you]," the blonde said, taking the aforementioned object. She was surprised to find Hermione keeping her hand proffered.

"Walk you to class?" Hermione asked cheekily since they had classes together.

Fleur grinned and slipped her hand in the brunette's, interlacing their fingers, "Avec plaisir [With pleasure]."

They walked out of the Room of Requirement, hand in hand.

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Fleur barely remembered much of her following classes. Her head had been in the clouds since Hermione had told her she smelled jasmine from the Amortentia. Her Hermione liked her! She could barely contain the giddy feelings bubbling in her chest. She felt like she would pop like a bottle of champagne! She had looked at her feet quite a few times just to check if she was floating.

Hermione, on the other hand, was just as giddy except she was spending more of her time watching the dazed Veela with amusement and fondness. To think that she had doubted feeling anything for the blonde. She could hit herself for being so oblivious and out of tune with her feelings! The blonde was adorable and just the thought of it now made her heart flutter. God, how blind she had been for it to literally take a love potion for her to see what was right in front of her!

They had finally finished the classes for the day and had some time before dinner.

"Care for a walk?" asked Fleur, holding Hermione's hand as they walked down the stairs.

"Yeah sure," replied Hermione, following the blonde outside.

They walked hand in hand, just enjoying the orange and blue mixing in the dusk sky. They didn't go too far from the castle, just enjoying the privacy they were getting with most people inside.

"Would you do me ze 'onour of going on a date wiz me, 'Ermione?" Fleur asked as she took her eyes off the beautiful sky to look at her mate.

Hermione was surprised at the request, not having expected it but nodded happily, she'd love nothing more.

"I don't think I can wait till ze weekend," the French witch said truthfully, "so would you skip dinner in ze Hall tomorrow and 'ave dinner wiz me by ze lake?"

"I'd love to, Fleur," replied Hermione sincerely.

Fleur smiled widely at the love of her life, she was getting everything she ever wanted.

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To say the next evening arrived quickly would be an understatement, thought Hermione as she stared into her wardrobe wrapped in only a towel. She had bid Fleur a quick goodbye after her last class and rushed back to her room to get ready. She took a quick shower and was now at a loss on what to wear for her date with Fleur. Just thinking about it made her feel like it was all a dream. She had a date...with Fleur Delacour!

Fishing through the clothes she owned, she picked a pair of grey slacks and paired it with a burgundy chemise. Picking her heavy coat, she wrapped herself in it and shuffled out of her room. Everyone should be at dinner by now so slipping out unnoticed shouldn't be that hard.

Indeed it wasn't that bad except her near encounter with Mrs Norris, Filch's cat but she managed to evade it. It wasn't a problem really, it wasn't curfew yet but Hermione didn't want to spend time explaining where she was going to the annoying man. She would like to be on time for her date, thank you very much!

The air had cooled down quite considerably and she pulled her coat tighter around her as she navigated the ground under the sparsely scattered lampposts. The moonlight was helping though, it was a beautiful clear night.

She reached their spot without issue and found Fleur patiently waiting for her, wrapped in a blue coat bearing the symbol of what she could recognise as the Delacour Crest. It fitted the blonde quite nicely, with shiny silvery buttons that gave a dashing look to the Veela. Hermione bit her lip, it was like having a Prince of her own, like in fairy tales.

"Ma belle," greeted Fleur, taking the brunette's hand, pulling her closer.

"Good evening, Fleur," whispered Hermione, gazing deep into the twinkling blues of the Beauxbatons student.

Fleur smiled, bestowing a kiss to the hand she was holding, "please follow me," she said, leading Hermione deeper into the clearing, just behind a few trees.

Hermione gasped at the sight. What used to be just a clearing now housed a tent, wide open, with warm fairy lights wrapped around it and the trees next to it. Flowers of all kinds blanketed the path to it and inside, she could spy a table, with blue tablecloth with dishes, cutlery and napkins on top. The inside seemed to be filled with fireflies. She took in every detail as Fleur led her inside.

Fleur took Hermione's coat and pulled out the brunette's chair, waiting until she was seated to push the chair in place and take a seat herself. She gave herself a pat on the back as Hermione took in all the decors.

On closer inspection, Hermione realised that the lights inside weren't fireflies but just small lights floating around. Magic, she mused. The wide-open front allowed them a beautiful view of the lake. The tent was surprisingly warm. She turned to the blonde and her breath hitched as she found the French girl looking at her with such emotion in her eyes. She noticed the blonde had removed her own coat, leaving her in a crisp tailored black shirt that shimmered every time the light hit it at a certain angle. She was certainly dashing.

"You are beautiful, 'Ermione," complimented Fleur, smiling as the Gryffindor blushed.

"Thank you, you are beautiful too," replied Hermione with a shy smile. She hadn't thought Fleur would go to these lengths for their date. The place looks amazing, "this is all amazing, Fleur."

Fleur smiled, happy that the brunette liked it, "It's ze least I could do for our first date, ma belle. Are you ready to eat?"

Hermione nodded, it was dinner time after all though there was no food on the table. Hermione watched as the blonde clicked her fingers and their plates filled up with what looked like Cottage Pie. Two glasses of juice appeared as well.

"I asked Monsieur Dobby for help to prepare one of your favourite dishes," said Fleur, "but if you would like something else, please let me know."

"Oh no no, this is amazing," assure Hermione, placing her hand on Fleur's which was on the table and giving it a grateful squeeze, "you cooked this with him? For me?" She asked as she pulled her hand away to pick up her cutlery.

Fleur nodded, picking her knife and fork, "Oui, I wanted to cook you dinner but since zhis iz an English dish, I asked for 'is 'elp. I didn't want to mess it up."

Hermione took the first bite of her food and moaned. It was really good! "This is amazing, Fleur!"

Fleur breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm glad you like it," she replied, finally relaxing and digging into her own food.

The pair relaxed and chatted as they enjoyed their dinner and sipped on their drinks. Hermione was having a really good time. The blonde had even thought of dessert, which was also her favourite; warm sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice-cream.

Hermione had never been on a first date, her short near-relationship with Ron not even getting to that point and to be honest, she didn't regret it. The redhead would have never done all this. Everything was beautiful and the little floating lights and the moonlight from outside were just setting an amazing mood. She observed the blonde under it all, her skin and hair taking a golden hue from the lights but what captivated her the most were the blonde's eyes, darker blue with the lights reflecting into it like golden stars. It made Hermione feel like she had flown higher in the midnight blue sky, closer to the stars, to the point where they were bigger, brighter...almost like she could touch them. Fleur's eyes always captivated her like nothing else. She was taken out of her reverie when Fleur extended her hand. She looked at the proffered hand in confusion. Had she missed something while daydreaming?

Fleur smiled at the confused witch and just repeated her question, "would you go stargazing wiz me, 'Ermione?"

Hermione blushed at her inattention and took Fleur's hand, allowing her to lead her outside. She felt the chill of the air as she left the warm tent without her coat but trusted Fleur as she was led to the side of the tent where a blanket was laid out with pillows and a duvet. They approached and took off their shoes and slipped in, Hermione's eyes closing in delight and she hummed as warmth settled over her again. The blanket turned out to be more like a thin mattress that felt heavenly. It was like she was in bed. Opening her eyes again, she could notice that the fairy light outside had dimmed and the stars were clearly visible in the clear night sky.

Fleur and Hermione both launched into pointing out and tracing every constellation they could find and telling the stories behind them as the stars moved slowly in the night sky. They laughed at some of the names and pointed out discrepancies between lore and mythology of different regions.

"Zhere are some interesting ones I would like to see from ze Southern 'emisphere, like ze Vela," she said cheekily, laughing, "and ze Southern Cross."

"What is your favourite constellation?" Hermione asked, shifting to her side to look at the blonde.

"Ze Orion. Ze zhree stars in 'is belt 'as always been my favourite," said Fleur, lifting her hand and tracing the belt with her finger. It was an easy constellation to find but despite that, it was her favourite. "What about you?"

"Surprisingly, I also like the Orion belt," smiled Hermione, "the three stars are easy to spot and I would always pick them out of the sky when I was a child, stargazing with my dad." She turned her gaze back to the sky, "it's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Oui..."

The softness of the answer made Hermione turn back to the blonde and she found Fleur looking at her. Hermione blushed as she realised the Veela was talking about her. She boldly shuffled closer to the blonde and buried her head in her older woman's shoulder, smiling as Fleur immediately wrapped her arm around her waist, "you are beautiful too, Fleur" she whispered, enjoying the heavier aroma of jasmine to her nose.

"Ma belle," Fleur sighed at the warmth of the brunette's body against hers. She could feel Hermione's warm breath against her neck and tightened her arm around the bushy-haired girl, bringing her closer into her body, leaving no space between their chests.

Hermione pulled away from the blonde's shoulder to look up at her, her hands splayed on the woman's torso. If she had been captivated before, it held no candle to how mesmerised she was right now. Fleur's blue orbs were shining with intensity. Hermione wondered why she was so taken by them, she was sure she had seen them up close before...but tonight, they looked free, exuding happiness, freedom and... love. It was beautiful…. It was amazing and scary to know that she was the cause of it, that she held so much power over the blonde's emotions, that she meant so much to the blonde...

Fleur, on the other hand, was wondering if the stars were even that beautiful when she was a lot more interested in the stars on Hermione's skin. She wanted to count every freckle on the brunette's face and understand each constellation and the story behind her mate. She wanted to find them all, every little one on the witch's body and trace them with her fingers, memorising them.

Their faces were so close that all it would take was one small movement for Fleur to get a taste. She shifted closer just a bit, her breathing shallow as she searched deeply into the amber eyes for any hesitance or doubt but the brunette's eyelids just fluttered shut and her chin lifted up in offering. Fleur bit her lip as her heart sung in joy before lowering her head and capturing Hermione's lips.

Hermione's breath caught as she felt the gentle pressure on her lips. The blonde's lips were so soft and pliant, moving just slightly over hers and the feeling was mind-melting. She pushed herself harder against the French's mouth, wanting more. One hand got a mind of its own, drifting upwards and tangling into Fleur's hair as she splayed her fingers over the blonde's scalp to pull her head down into hers.

Fleur felt Hermione's pull and kissed her harder. She ran her tongue over the brunette's bottom lip, tentatively introducing it into Hermione's mouth when the brunette gasped.

Hermione gasped and moaned quietly as she felt Fleur's tongue in her mouth and boldly sucked it into her mouth. The answering groan from the blonde made her flush but she continued her efforts. They stayed like this, for Merlin knows how long, exploring each other's mouths until Hermione pulled away for air. She blushed and looked at the blonde shyly, loving the red tint on the Veela's cheeks.

"'Ermione…," Fleur whispered breathlessly. She raised one hand and cupped the brunette's cheek, pulling her in again and peppering little kisses which Hermione reciprocated eagerly, making the blonde smile against the younger witch's mouth. Hermione was exquisite and her lips were just as exquisite.

Hermione hummed against every kiss, enjoying it fully. She never knew kissing could feel so good! She further berated herself for being so scared and doubtful of her feelings. She could have been doing this months ago! She had to make up for the lost time.

Fleur then pulled away abruptly and looked at her as if meaning to ask something. "What is it?" Hermione asked worriedly, her brows furrowing. Had she done something wrong? Had she kissed the blonde wrong? Sorry! It was her first, she is willing to learn how to be bett-

"I…" Fleur fidgetted as she debated whether to ask what she wanted to ask or not.

"You can tell me anything…" whispered Hermione, as she read the nervousness in the blue eyes, hoping to reassure the blonde and make it easy for her to open up.

Fleur sighed, "I know it iz our first date. I do not want to make it seem like I am pressuring you," she hastened to add, "You can say you are not ready…" she rambled on, looking anywhere but at the brunette.

"Fleur," Hermione lifted her hand to cup the blonde's cheek, bringing her eyes back to her, hoping that her eyes conveyed what she had just said. It seemed like it did because the older woman stopped fidgeting.

"I was wondering if you would like to be my girlfriend…" replied Fleur, her voice soft and infinitesimally hopeful.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat at the question. Now that she was more aware of her feelings, she could recognise the feeling in her chest as elation. They had already waited long enough because of her obliviousness. There was no need to wait anymore. She wanted this, needed this, in fact. She pulled Fleur back into a kiss, whispering a 'yes' against the blonde's warm pliant lips.

Fleur smiled widely against the brunette's soft lips as warmth bloomed throughout her whole body. Her mate was her girlfriend!

They kissed for another half an hour, each of them getting acquainted with each other's mouths. It was indeed the best date Hermione could have ever imagined.

It was a little bell ringing gently that broke their embrace. Fleur explained that she had put an alarm so Hermione could get back to the castle before the curfew. Reluctantly bidding the blonde goodbye, Hermione marched back to the castle, feeling guilty for leaving the clean up to Fleur after all her efforts but the blonde had reminded her that they were witches and shooed her away with a few pecks to keep her warm on her trek back. She sighed as she thought about it...her lips were still tingling…

She had a girlfriend...Fleur Delacour was her girlfriend… Merlin!

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xxDark Angel Babyxx: Thank you! How did you find this one, eh? I'm sure you have been waiting for this for a while xD

Unknown: I love your review telling me the bits you enjoyed the most! Big progress in this update, let me know how you find it!

Flying high93: I thank you for reread this fic so many times and coming back to it! We had major progress between the two in this chapter, let me know what you think of it.

pclauink: They haven't decided what they are doing for the ball yet but things have changed so we'll see ;)

evattude: Thank you!

lipeviez: Thank you lips! Things will start to move forward from here.

wkgreen: Haha, it's a smart dragon. Let me know how you found this update! :D

ladygoddess8: ;) we'll see. They are still figuring things out but we have progress!

Guest: You asked and I delivered :D