On Teenagers & Love
a story by anamatics
Part Two
Chapter Six - On Veela
AN: Some notes on how I'm doing veela in this story. They are quite different from how I presented them in Golden Haze.
The marks of their encounter fade over the next week, but Hermione cannot stop thinking about the conversation that came after Fleur had finished her for the second time. Her mind is swirling with the thoughts of veela love, and how it differs from human love. She understands sensuality and creatures of a certain, well, type – but Fleur is different.
Fleur had draped her leather jacket over Hermione's shoulders and had explained everything that she knew about what it meant to be part veela. She had then proceeded to answer Hermione's questions and make bird jokes for the rest of their evening together.
Hermione had been decidedly not amused by said jokes.
Veela love is very different, Fleur had made this point very clear to Hermione. It is not like being in love with a human, it is more physical than that, and the bond is far stronger. Hermione had asked if she had ever even stood a chance against such love, and Fleur had told her that the physical attraction always came first for the veela, and the emotions were quick to follow.
"I cannot 'elp zat I love you," Fleur had explained. "It consumes me, fills me with a desire I cannot put into words."
Hermione, naturally curious, had asked her to try. Fleur had simply kissed her and asked how she felt about dating someone who could not love as a human did.
Even now, Hermione thought it was bloody awesome and had informed Fleur of that fact.
They had parted on a good note and Hermione had gone back to school with a happy grin on her face and a rather large hickey on her neck (according to Ginny, it really wasn't all that big).
The following morning they awoke to find a new Educational Decree nailed to the doors of the Great Hall officially banning all student groups and clubs. Hermione curses under her breath and grabs some toast and tea before setting off to the library. She has got to think of a place where they can practice without Umbridge finding out and a way to communicate meeting times.
She jams her hands into her pockets as Professor Umbridge walks by her and smiles politely at the woman, her hands clenching into fists around the coins she's put there to pay the Daily Prophet owl every morning. When Umbridge passes, Hermione relaxes and adjusts her bag, peering to look at the galleon and knut she's still got in her hand.
"That's it," she breathes, and doubles her pace to the library.
The charm is next to impossible, but after using a simple duplication charm, she manages to at least get the bases for their 'galleons' made. The goblins that run Gringotts have so many protections and guards against such actions with wizarding currency that Hermione knows she's making the most fake-looking galleons ever. That isn't the point though, and she knows it. They just have to pass muster enough to fool a cursory glance from Filtch or Umbridge or any other professor. Closer inspection and the members of their club can just say it's a good luck charm or something.
Hermione doesn't sleep for two days, but she gets the charm right and collapses into her bed after presenting Harry with the box of charmed and spectacularly fake-looking galleons.
"You need to get more rest," Lavender comments as Hermione begins to doze off. It's just after dinner and she's completely caught up on her schoolwork and has nothing to do. It feels amazing.
Hermione waves her hand dismissively, "I'll sleep when I'm dead."
Harry comes back from speaking to Dobby a few days later and has the most amazing idea – using a room no one knows about (until they find it) to house their club. Hermione has read Hogwarts: A History more times than she cares to admit and she's never head of this 'coming and going room'. She finds reference to a 'room of requirement' which could be the same thing, but it isn't until they get there that Hermione realizes just how truly brilliant it is.
The room is long and narrow, the sort that one would use for dueling – with padded mats on one end and plush cushions on the other, stacked up in case they should need them. There's a veritable library along one wall, full of books on defensive magic and information on the dark arts. Hermione could live forever here.
"Wicked," Ron breathes and Hermione nudges Harry. They all share a smile and begin to prepare for the others to arrive.
While it isn't much, Hermione is really grateful that Harry is doing this. She knows that she will be alright for her OWL, at least she hopes that she will be. She's written Fleur about this, and Fleur tells her that she's going to be fine, but she's still so worried. She's got to start revising soon, but Harry's lessons are actually teaching her things that are not being taught in class.
She likes this rule breaking thing, but she will never, ever admit it to anyone.
db
Their second Hogsmeade weekend is full of romance and tender kisses hidden behind lamp posts. Hermione is in heaven. She misses Fleur desperately when she is not there, but this is perfect.
Fleur is waiting for her at the gate and she waves goodbye to Harry and Luna and they go into the village together. There isn't really much that they haven't seen in town, but the brilliant foliage of the late October day leads them to a spot on the hillside near the Shrieking Shack. Hermione recounts the tale of how she first met Sirius Black to Fleur, who listens intently as they bask in what will probably be one of their last chances to truly enjoy being out of doors until springtime.
Fleur spreads her cloak out on the ground and they lie back, resting on their elbows. Hermione is warm under her sweater and Fleur's intense gaze and as they kiss, she feels safe and content. Suddenly, there is no fear of what the future might hold, about how she's suggested breaking so many rules to Harry in such a short period of time. She can't even force herself to worry about her defense OWL and how she's possibly going to be prepared with the way that Umbridge is teaching the class.
There is just Fleur, just this moment, just this tender kiss and Fleur's hand cupping her cheek. And it is perfect.
They pull apart slightly at the sounds of footsteps coming up the path. This way is usually left alone by the students, who go up High Street if they want to see the Shrieking Shack. Only couples who want to spend some time alone even know that this hillside exists. It is set back and idyllic and the view is truly spectacular.
"Hem Hem," Hermione freezes and Fleur's eyes widen at the tremor of fear that flickers across Hermione's face. Well, there is one thing that could ruin her perfect day, and naturally, she's chaperoning the Hogsmeade weekend.
Naturally.
"'oo is zat?" Fleur whispers into Hermione's ear. They're still pressed together, Hermione looking up at the sky, Fleur holding her close, her nose buried in Hermione's hair. Hermione does not like the idea of being caught with Fleur by any professor. Snape and McGonagall know already and that's two too many professors for her taste.
Her peers know, and sometimes the mocking comments from the Slytherin table at mealtimes can be unpleasant, but they do not seem to care nearly as much as Hermione thinks that they should. Fleur explains that those in the wizarding world do not think it all that strange, and Hermione tells her that it is truly bizarre to hear of something so progressive coming out of a place so backwards. Fleur just smiles and shakes her head and Hermione tells her about SPEW and Fleur seems very amused by the whole thing.
But Umbridge finding out?
She's going to lose her prefect's badge.
She doesn't much care.
"Professor Umbridge," Hermione says quietly, glancing down the path and seeing the awful woman continue to slowly make her way up the path towards her. She does not want that evil toad of a woman to hear her Hermione say her name. It's almost like an admission of guilt.
"She does not seem so terrible," Fleur says, eyeing the woman through the curtain of Hermione's hair.
Hermione gives Fleur a look, very aware of the footsteps that are crunching their way ever closer up the hill. "She's ghastly."
Fleur's hands tangle in her hair and Hermione can almost see the impending doom settle in around her. Fleur is going to kiss her, right here, right now. Fleur Delacour has nerves of steel.
"HEM HEM," Fleur's hands pull away from Hermione and they both sit up very suddenly. Umbridge is standing right in front of them, the toes of her disgustingly pink (Hermione would say peptol bismal-colored, but Fleur does not know much about muggle over the counter drugs) shoes just at the edge of the careful boundary of Fleur's cloak.
Hermione raises her hand, shielding her eyes from the evil woman (as well as the sun). "Yes, professor?" she asks, her voice innocent. She sits up, leaning on her elbows. "Is there something that you needed?"
Umbridge eyes her from behind her all-too-proper attire and toad-like eyes. Hermione can see her mind working, she can see the disbelief blossoming across her face at the fact that Hermione, who has never given her any trouble, is very clearly enjoying a romantic afternoon with another woman. She seems to prepare herself, inhaling deeply, before asking, "Miss Granger, you are a prefect this year are you not?"
Hermione nods, her prefect badge is pinned to her jacket despite the fact that she is off-duty this weekend. "Yes ma'am I am."
"Then why are you setting a bad example for the students by … engaging in such unnatural activities?"
She can't think of anything to say. She opens and closes her mouth several times before starting, "I…"
"Zat is none of 'our concern, Madame." Fleur retorts, her arm protectively around Hermione's shoulder. There is a fierceness in Fleur's eyes that Hermione has seen a few times before, always when Fleur is defending her against the evils of their day to day life. Now, when faced down by true evil, Hermione is overjoyed to see Fleur's protectiveness flare to even greater heights.
She's read how veela protect their mates, but Fleur is not fully veela, Hermione does not understand how that translates with Fleur's diluted blood. They don't really ever talk about it, she gets the sense that Fleur doesn't much like it.
Umbridge's toad like face curls up into a wicked smile, "Oh, but you will see that it is."
Hermione will not be surprised if there is an educational decree banning homosexual relationships – or relationships in general - between students before the day is out.
