Chapter 18: Viscaria
Hermione woke up with a little spring in her steps. She had slept wondrously after finally getting her mind to turn off, which had taken a while since it was re-looping the time spent with Fleur and their kisses relentlessly. Now that she was awake again, her mind was back at it. She didn't mind at this point though and was super excited to see the Veela at breakfast. She had a girlfriend...a GIRLFRIEND! Fleur Delacour was her girlfriend! She squealed as she bounced around on her bed. It was amazing, Fleur was amazing!
She quickly cleaned up, got dressed and went down the stairs. As she walked into the Great Hall, she looked for the blonde immediately who seemed to have noticed her entrance from the smile she was sending her. Hermione smiled back, redness creeping into her cheeks as she shyly walked to the Gryffindors table and took a seat facing the Ravenclaw table… just because… yeah ok, she wanted a good view of her girlfriend. Her heart did a somersault at the word 'girlfriend'.
Harry was already seated and Hermione was surprised to see Ron there. As she greeted them, Harry replied with a smile. Ron, on the other hand, just grunted.
"Where were you last night for dinner?" asked Harry.
"I was helping Fleur with something in the library," she couldn't help but notice Ron stiffen and frown at the words, "Don't worry, I grabbed some food from the kitchen," she replied. She retrospectively realised that she should have asked Harry for his Invisibility Cloak for the date. Maybe that would have helped her stay back longer. Her eyes drifted to the blonde, who was talking to Luna. Maybe next time… She would definitely like to spend a whole night stargazing among other things with her girlfriend.
As if sensing her eyes on her, Fleur's head turned, blue eyes meeting hers momentarily and Hermione tried to dampen the massive smile threatening to bloom on her face.
The Veela's attention was so focused on the Gryffindor that she didn't notice the boy approaching her until she was tapped on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, I am Roger Davies," he introduced himself with an air of self-importance.
Fleur quirked an eyebrow at the Ravenclaw.
Not getting an answer from the Beauxbatons Champion, he continued, "I am Ravenclaw's Quidditch Captain. We haven't had a match together yet but would you be my date to the ball? We can get acquainted," he asked confidently.
Hermione glared at the Ravenclaw boy as she heard his words. In fact, he was making sure that people were hearing him. Hermione's hand clenched at the thought of him making a spectacle out of Fleur like she was a trophy he was going to win. She was not liking the innuendo in his words and that blasted smirk on his face. Ever since the ball had been announced, countless boys had accosted the blonde to ask her to the ball and Hermione always felt her chest burn when it happened. She couldn't believe she had been so oblivious to her own feelings,
"Non." Fleur's nonchalant refusal rang through the hall.
"Wha-" Davies spluttered, "Why not?!" He asked, affronted.
Hermione watched as Fleur just shrugged, "I will be going wiz someone else." The words suddenly made her breakfast roil in her stomach. Had the blonde picked a partner already? She must have since it seemed the whole school was asking her to the dance. She must have already accepted someone. Who? She wondered, her chest constricting painfully at the thought of the blonde in someone else's arms.
"Who?!" Her question was echoed by Davies.
"Zhat iz none of your business. Please leave us," replied Fleur, going back to her breakfast.
Davies angrily stomped away under the snickering of the students in the hall.
Hermione placed her fork back down, suddenly not feeling hungry anymore.
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When breakfast was over, Hermione had tried to put the Davies incident in the hall at the back of her mind, the whole ball thing actually. It was fine that Fleur was going with someone else, totally fine. It wasn't the blonde's fault that she had taken forever to finally come to terms with the feelings she had for the Veela. She was the Beauxbatons Champion and supposed to open the dance. Of course, she would have secured someone competent in dancing, at the earliest! She walked with Harry and Ron to the Greenhouses for Herbology class, knowing full well that the Veela was following behind. She smiled slightly as she realised just how much classes have changed with Fleur's arrival. Usually, she was the third wheel, fitting on another desk next to Harry and Ron but now the blonde sat with her in every class they shared even with Fleur having Alexia around. The first time, the Delacour cousin had just winked at her and moved to sit with another Beauxbatons student and now, Hermione was eternally grateful. This was even easier in Herbology since they all just gathered around a large table.
Today was a practical class so they put on brown protective robes over their uniform, which basically acted as a lab coat. Hermione shuffled inside and took her usual spot beside Harry at the massive table with Fleur sliding beside her, greeting everyone just seconds later. While Harry greeted the Veela back, Ron once again, just grunted. She decided to not pay attention to the moody redhead and turned to Fleur, "Hey you.."
Fleur grinned at the Gryffindor and replied, "'Ello 'Ermione."
Hermione blushed, wanting so badly to kiss her happy girlfriend. It was at that point that Professor Sprout walked in.
"Good morning everyone. Today I thought it would be a great idea to introduce you all to a very special flower. Since we have international students within our midst, it'll do us some good to learn a few things from them. Today, I'm introducing the 'Fleur des Ames', a plant only found in France that reacts quite peculiarly to Veelas," flicking her wand, revealing multiple potted flowers, with seven silvery petals and vine-like branches.
Fleur laughed at the sight.
Hermione was startled when the pots jumped, moving around the table to get closer to the few Veelas they had in class, each getting one.
"Salut toi," said Fleur as she tickled the flower under the petals gently, giggling when the plant wiggled before wrapping its vine arms around her arm.
"As you can see," continued Professor Sprout, "Fleur des Ames are sentient flowers, though they tend to be passive. But in the presence of Veelas, come to life. They are very attracted to Veela."
Hermione looked across the table to find that one had wrapped its vines around Alexia's waist like a child while the woman patted its petals.
"They are quite difficult to grow or find in the wild. These specimens have been lent to us by the Ministry of France so please be careful with them."
"Are they used for anything, Professor?" Neville Longbottom asked as he eyed the plants with curiosity.
"Indeed, the petals of a Fleur Des Ames have many medicinal properties though due to the rarity of the plant are only used when strictly necessary. While the petals can grow back, taking one by force will only give you a useless non-magical petal. To get the real deal, proper respect has to be given to the plants. Basically, you need to ask politely." Professor Sprout said, demonstrating by nearing the plant wrapped around Alexia and asking for a petal. The whole class watched as the flower turned to her and 'nodded', a petal loosening from its head and floating into Sprout's hand. Almost immediately, a smaller petal started to sprout where one had been removed.
"The new petal takes about 7 hours to grow fully. Please note that the petals have additional effects on Veelas which are not fully known but none of them harmful. Your assignment for the week is to socialise with the flower and get a petal. They only give a petal if they know you well enough. I also want three foot of parchment on their characteristics and behaviour with and without the presence of a Veela with a full detailed drawing. Please gather in groups and get started" and with that, Pomona went to sit at her desk, watching as Hogwarts students gathered around each Veela.
"It's amazing how it's taken to you," said Neville as he approached Fleur.
Fleur smiled at the boy. They have bumped quite a few times in the Greenhouses and become friends. After all, Fleur did have a particular interest in flowers. "It's a she, Neville. Fleur des Ames are always a she, reflecting on ze fact zhat all Veela are female."
"How does it reproduce then?" Harry asked, confused.
"Magic, my friend," Fleur replied teasingly, earning a laugh from Neville.
"You know Neville?" Hermione asked, surprised by the familiarity between the two. She hadn't seen them interact before.
Neville shrugged shyly, "We met in the Greenhouses once and got into a discussion about English and French plants. Fleur is quite knowledgeable. We have bumped into each other, in there, multiple times since."
Hermione turned to the Veela, "I didn't know you had an interest in Herbology."
"Zhere iz a lot you don't know about me, chérie," Fleur replied cheekily, "Plus, of course, I am interested in 'Erbologie, I'm a flower," she finished with a wink. She picked up the pot to her chest and the flower just wrapped its vines around Fleur's torso, settling its 'head' on the Veela's shoulder, like a baby going on a nap.
Hermione outright laughed. It was amazing how much more open the blonde was to her now that they were girlfriends, she was being even more teasing than usual. Hermione loved it.
"How do you zhink she got 'er name?" Alexia chimed in with a grin from across the table, "she 'as a knack wiz flowers as you British would say."
"I'd like to hear this story," replied Hermione grinning at her girlfriend.
"Maybe some ozher time," whispered Fleur, winking before turning back to Neville to answer a few more of his questions.
Hermione shook her head. This woman was an enigma yet she wanted to figure out everything about her. In time… She picked up her quill and parchment to write down everything Fleur was explaining about her flower.
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After class, Hermione found herself walking with Fleur through the courtyard for their break. Neville had stayed behind in the Greenhouse while Harry had dragged Ron somewhere else. She wasn't concerned though, caring much more about her alone time with her blonde girlfriend. Just as they rounded a corner, Hermione found herself pulled behind a secret passage through a wall, right into the Veela's arms, in a dead-end part of the courtyard, away from people's eyes.
"'Ogwarts does 'ave a lot of secrets," grinned Fleur as she looked at the brunette wrapped tightly in her arms.
Hermione blushed at the blonde's boldness, "it seems you do too," she replied coyly, playing with the older girl's collar.
"Oui…" Fleur chirped, "I 'ave to be mysterious, non? Or you might find me boring."
Hermione looked at the Veela seriously, "You could never be boring," and with that, in a bold move of her own, pulled Fleur down by the collar and captured her lips.
Fleur moaned. Her petite lionne was so cutely courageous sometimes. It made her heart race.
They snogged in the secret courtyard corner until the bell rang for their next class. Pulling away, Hermione was about to drag them back out of their hiding place but Fleur pulled her back. She turned back around to look at the blonde in confusion, only to find her holding out a small violet flower to her with a smile.
"Wha-"
"Anozher flower for you since I am already yours," teased Fleur, watching the red bloom on Hermione's cheeks at her words, before going back to serious, "Zis iz a Viscaria."
Hermione was surprised at the change of tone in Fleur's voice, hearing the seriousness and hesitation within.
"In ze language of flowers," the Veela continued, "it asks, 'Will you dance wiz me?' 'Ermione, would you like to go to ze ball wiz me?" she asked hesitantly.
Hermione looked at the blonde in shock. They hadn't talked about the ball since last time. Fleur wanted to go with her? Was she the one the Veela had referred to at breakfast?! Remembering the fiery burn she had felt at imagining her girlfriend going with someone else and the stomach roil from the Davies debacle, she berated herself inwardly as she realised just how hot and fast her jealousy was. Oh, how blind she had been to not realise her feelings for the blonde sooner!
"'Ermione?" Fleur called out hesitantly, feeling more and more nervous as time went by without an answer.
"Didn't you say to Davies you are going with someone else? I thought you already had a partner," Hermione grumbled, eyeing the floor.
Fleur looked at her incredulously, "As if it would be anyone but you," she lifted the brunette's chin so she could look into her eyes, "Mon amour, you are ze only one I want in my arms."
Hermione flushed and buried her face into the blonde's chest, "Sorry…" she mumbled, "I got jealous... " she gripped the blonde's shirt tightly.
Fleur grinned, the vibrations of Hermione speaking into her chest being a bit ticklish but it was her words that made her heart sing. Her mate was jealous. She ducked her head until her lips reached Hermione's red ear and pressed a featherlight kiss to it, watching a shiver course through the brunette. "I'm all yours..." she whispered.
Hermione couldn't stop the large grin blooming on her face and reluctantly pulled away from the blonde's comfy chest. "Yes then" she replied as she gently took the flower from the blonde's fingers. "Yes, I would love to go to the ball with you."
Fleur laughed in joy, grabbing her girlfriend into a tight twirling hug, causing the brunette to squeal before pulling the Gryffindor into another kiss.
Hermione giggled, kissing back just as eagerly. For the first time in her life, she didn't care about getting to class late.
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Hermione was on cloud nine for the rest of the day. She had put a spell on her Viscaria so she could press it in her book without damaging it. It made the flower flatten when the book was closed but pop right back to shape when it was opened. So instead of actually paying attention to the text in her book, all she was doing was caressing the flower between her pages gently with her fingers. What? It is currently the last class of the day and she was missing the blonde! She didn't have this class with Fleur. Where she had picked Ancient Runes, Fleur had picked Care of Magical Creatures. She wondered what the Veela was currently up to in Hagrid's class.
At Hagrid's Hut…
Fleur dived out of the way of a fireball that came out of one of Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewt. She had already been scratched and stung, trying to help Hagrid round them up as class ended. Her arm was already bleeding so she had no interest in adding burns to her list of wounds.
"Sorry!" said Hagrid as he lifted the beast into a box and closed it.
Fleur took a breath of relief. Thank Merlin! It was the last of them.
"Yeh ought to geh tha' looked at," he said, pointing at her bleeding arm apologetically. "Pomfrey made a new concoction that works wonders."
Fleur nodded, bidding him a quick goodbye as she made her way back to the castle to get treated. What she hadn't expected was to run into the Head Girl herself on the way there.
"What happened to you?!" Hermione asked in alarm as she rushed to the blonde. She had escorted a first-year Hufflepuff, who had tripped on the moving staircases and scraped her knee, to the Infirmary and Madame Pomfrey had tended to it in a jiffy. She had been making her way to the Great Hall for dinner, not expecting to bump into Fleur in such a state.
Fleur smiled, "Monsieur 'Agrid 'as some interesting creatures in Care of Magical Creatures. Zhey definitely took care of me!" she chuckled at her joke.
Hermione frowned and dragged her girlfriend with her, "Let's get you looked at, you seem to always be injured."
Fleur pouted, "Are you saying I am accident-prone, 'Ermione?"
Hermione side-eyed the blonde and restrained herself from kissing that pout away. She continued to drag her to the Infirmary and called out for the Head Nurse.
It seems that Hagrid had been right. The nurse quickly applied a special salve to her arm and wrapped it in a bandage. "It'll be healed by tomorrow afternoon. Why Hagrid would even think of cross-breeding Manticores and Fire crabs is beyond me!" the woman said in annoyance.
Fleur chuckled, thanking the nurse before walking out of the place with Hermione. She allowed the Head Girl to lead her through the hallways of Hogwarts and was quite surprised when Hermione copied her previous move and pulled her, this time, in a secret passageway behind a portrait.
Fleur grinned as she found herself backed against a wall. Her lioness was getting bolder by the hour!
"How is it that you get hurt every time?" whispered Hermione as she eyed her girlfriend suspiciously.
"It must be a talent of mine," grinned Fleur, wrapping her arms around the Gryffindor's waist and pulling her closer.
Hermione leaned forward until her lips were just a breath away from Fleur's, "Well, Miss Delacour," she husked, "I would like you to get rid of this talent of yours. As you mentioned earlier... You are my flower. I would very much like you to stay in one piece."
Fleur leaned the rest of the way, watching as Hermione's eyes fluttered shut, only to flip the Head Girl around. She nipped the brunette's bottom lip. "What would you do about it?" she husked back.
Hermione felt a shiver course through her as her back hit the cold wall and stifled the moan trying to escape her throat when Fleur nipped at her bottom lip. This woman was going to be the death of her! Her hands got a life of their own as they threaded into the blonde's hair. Her breathing turned shallow as she felt the Veela's lips travel to her cheek then down to her chin, nipping along the way until she started lavishing the same attention to her neck, making Hermione's legs tremble. She felt hot all over. Fisting the silvery locks, she pulled her up, capturing the Veela's lips in a deep hungry kiss.
Fleur groaned and reciprocated eagerly, plundering the Gryffindor's mouth with her tongue as she pressed her body hard against her mate. Her body was burning, wanting more of the brunette. It was only her presence of mind that made her pull away after some time. She didn't want things to happen like this.
Hermione panted as Fleur pulled away from her, trying to catch her breath.
"We should calm ourselves," said Fleur mournfully despite it being the last thing she wanted to do.
Hermione nodded, feeling grateful for the blonde applying the brakes. Things had escalated too quickly. She pecked the Veela gently on the nose in thanks, wanting to show her gratitude but trying not to start anything again because she wasn't sure she could stop a second time. "Let's go get dinner," she suggested, taking Fleur's hand.
Fleur smiled, nodding as she followed the brunette out.
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The next day, Hermione was enjoying the crisp air as she walked back to the castle after meeting Fleur at the lake. She had checked on her, finding that her wounds had healed nicely and that the blonde had gotten rid of the bandages. Hermione was happy about that. Seeing the Beauxbatons Champion hurt made her feel sick in the stomach and always filled her with worry.
So far, Hermione had told none of her friends that she was dating Fleur Delacour. It wasn't because she was ashamed of the blonde or anything, she just wanted to keep her girlfriend to herself for a bit. Every minute spent with the French girl was amazing and Hermione still felt like it wasn't enough. She had never wanted to spend time with someone 24/7 before but with Fleur, she never got tired of the French girl. In fact, Fleur made her feel like there weren't enough hours in the day. She laughed at that, remembering the time she had felt the same about her classes and McGonagall had given her a Time-Turner. If she had a Time-Turner now, she would probably use it to spend time with her girlfriend! The blasphemy!
She spotted Krum on her way back to the castle and shivered as his black beady eyes stared at her, face permanently stuck in a scowl. What was wrong with that boy?! She hurried inside, not wanting any sort of confrontation.
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Hermione smiled as she snuggled deeper into the warm and soft body behind her. The last two weeks have been amazing... Being with Fleur has been amazing. She was seeing a different side of the blonde and was learning so much about her girlfriend. They were currently in their free study periods and were sitting at their usual secluded spot near the lake. Fleur's back was against a tree, while she was settled between the Veela's legs, her back to the blonde's chest with a book open in her lap. The French girl's arms were wrapped around her waist and her chin rested on Hermione's shoulder as she peered down the pages.
"So you are saying zhat applying ze theory of Antuur wiz ze law of Halvin, ze metamorphosis can be achieved?"
Hermione hummed, nodding, "yes, because the Transfiguration path is halved."
"Hmm," Fleur thought about it, "I will definitely 'ave to try it." She was just about to say something more when her eyes started burning like someone poked burning coals in them. She yelped in pain and brought her hands to her eyes, pressing the heel of her palms into them to try to stem off the pain.
Hearing Fleur's scream in pain, Hermione scrambled off the blonde and turned to her, "Fleur! What is it? What's happening?!" She dared not touch the Veela for fear of hurting her more. She looked around to check if someone had cursed her but there was no one in sight. She looked on helplessly as Fleur pressed her hands harder into her eyes and whimpered.
Fleur rolled to her side and curled into a ball, breathing deeply, feeling the pain starting to subside. It took a few minutes before she felt she could say something again. "Ugh, merde," she groaned. Her eyes were still tingling.
Hermione gently touched the blonde's hands, wrapping her fingers around her wrists and pulling her hands away from her face. The Veela had her eyes tightly scrunched close and tear tracks could be clearly visible, "Fleur?" she asked, not able to keep the fear and worry out of her voice. She watched as Fleur slowly blinked her eyes open and gasped loudly at the sight. "Fleur!?" she said, alarmed, "you have silver rings around your irises!"
Fleur pushed herself up from the ground and settled herself back against the tree. After the tingling sensation was gone, she blinked slowly and looked at the stricken brunette, pulling her into a reassuring hug, "I'm ok," she replied, "sorry to 'ave worried you."
"What happened? What happened to your eyes?" Hermione hugged Fleur back, her ear pressed against the blonde's chest. She could hear the Veela's heart beating fast and was still very much worried despite her girlfriend's reassurance.
"It's my Veela changes," replied Fleur. She felt Hermione pull away to look at her eyes more closely, "I knew zhey would 'urt but was just not expecting it to 'appen so suddenly."
"Does it still hurt?" asked Hermione, gently cupping the Veela's cheeks, her thumbs wiping away the tear tracks. She hated seeing the blonde in pain.
Fleur shook her head, "Non, ze pain iz gone. It was only for a short time."
"Do you see any differently?" Hermione asked shyly, always curious.
Fleur smiled, "Oui. I am still getting used to it," she said as she blinked a few times, "I should 'ave ze ability to control it, zhough I 'aven't figured that out yet," She blinks some more. "I can see more details, can see further. I should also be able to see in ze dark a bit. Do I look weird?" She asked hesitantly, under Hermione's intense gaze.
Hermione heard the little hint of insecurity in the blonde's voice and leaned forward, pressed two gentle kisses on the Veela's eyelids before capturing her lips into a loving kiss. "They are beautiful…" she murmured against Fleur's lips.
"'Ow lucky I am to 'ave found you, my 'Ermione," whispered Fleur, returning the kiss with added fervour.
Hermione smiled against the blonde's eager lips and just allowed herself to be swept away by everything Fleur.
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Response to reviewers:
pclauink: Yes finally! It took us a while to get here!
jax-was-here: Thank you! I'm really happy I managed to convey the right emotions!
Aaron Leach: Thank you :)
Guest: Thank you! I'm happy you enjoyed it so much you read it three times!
PhorographerDP: Thank you! I'm happy you loved it :D
xxDark Angel Babyxx: Haha, it was a nice date, wasn't it? Tell me how you feel about the new chapter!
lipeviez: Thank you lips! :) Happy you liked it.
Npsouls1: Yay! :D
wkgreen: Thank you! Let me know how you find the update :)
Bug juice: Haha, yes it has been a while. It's good to have you back reading it again! :) Thank you.
Unknown: Hi! There will be bits and pieces of Veela culture throughout this story but not in-depth. I might flesh it out more in the future. How did you find the Veela bits? The Fleur des Âmes, Fleur's eyes changing?
Flying high 93: We finally have made progress after so so long! There is a lot more to come and I've put some of that in this chapter, their relationship together. How did you find it?
despitethedesperation: Thank you