On Teenagers & Love

a story by anamatics

part three - the fog

Chapter Four - On The Many Uses of Hay Stacks


Fleur comes to collect Hermione the evening before Harry's sixteenth birthday. She stays for dinner with her parents and Hermione ignores her mother's rather pointed looks towards her necklace. She's heard back from the master smith that Ron had forwarded her letter to (and has told Ron off in response to the not-at-all-funny note he'd sent in return) and is going to pick up her order whenever she goes to Diagon Alley to purchase her school things. Her parents have given her more than enough money to buy her books and new robes for the year.

It's strange, to say goodbye to her parents at the end of July and to tell them when the Hogwarts Express leaves. She feels oddly grown up, watching as Fleur shakes her father's hand awkwardly and lets Hermione's mother hug her and press a kiss to her cheek. It's like she's actually dating someone with lasting potential and not at all like she's sixteen years old with what feels like the weight of the world crashing down on her shoulders.

And they should be getting their O.W.L. results soon, the thought bubbles to the surface like an ill-advised panic. Hermione is terrified to see her Arithmancy mark and has been fretting about whether or not she should drop Astronomy no matter her mark. She doesn't think it's a particularly effective subject for anything she wants to go into and she does need more time for the Arithmancy practical that's probably going to be added into the N.E.W.T.-level classes.

After Hermione's trunk is effectively shrunk and charmed feather-light, Fleur's fingers' tangle in her own and Hermione feels the familiar tug of side-along apparation. They land in a clearing just outside the Burrow, Hermione lurching into Fleur and the pair of them stumbling awkwardly a few steps to the left before Fleur's fingers tangle in Hermione's newly-trimmed hair. She holds Hermione until she's steady on her feet and then Fleur kisses her, long and slow and pointed.

Hermione feels a swell of need surge up within her body and she wraps her arms around Fleur's neck, kissing her under a waning moon in the shadow of the Burrow. Fleur is soft and the night air is cool against Hermione's skin as she kisses Fleur without a care in the world. It's dangerous to be out in the open like this at night, and they both know it, but to go inside means that they won't be able to do this. Mrs. Weasley still doesn't particularly approve of their relationship. Hermione supposes that she'll probably have her hands full with Bill's apparently ghastly girlfriend, but Hermione's finding that she doesn't much care as Fleur pulls her closer and deepens the kiss.

The moon hangs low overhead and despite its waning shape, it still is bright enough to nearly block out the stars. Hermione stares up at it when Fleur finally steps back with an impish smile. Her lips are swollen and she looks a little ruffled, far from the perfect veela girl that Hermione had hated on principle when Fleur had first come to the school at the beginning of fourth year.

"You're beautiful in the moonlight," Hermione says, taking Fleur in as she's silhouetted in the moonlight. Her white-blonde hair seems go glow and Hermione finds herself absently smoothing it flat where her fingers have mussed it up as Fleur presses a kiss to her forehead.

"Merci, 'ermione," Fleur says and Hermione grins at her. They share another moment then, Fleur's fingers tangling in Hermione's hair and Hermione resting her cheek against Fleur's shoulder. They both look dead exhausted, but Hermione feels happier than she's felt in a long time. She knows that it's probably because of the necklace and the weight that the promise carries. The veela book had said that much at least, but Hermione thinks that there might be more to it.

Fleur stares at her for a long time then, her eyes looking almost black in the moonlight. Hermione's just about to open her mouth to say something about going inside, when Fleur says it for her, "Allons-y, ils nous attendent."

The kitchen of the Burrow is bright and cheerful despite the late hour. The light streams out from the windows and Hermione moves around the old wellington boots and rusty cauldrons as Fleur knocks on the door. Mrs. Weasley's voice calls from inside, "Who is it?"

"C'est Fleur et 'ermione," Fleur says quietly, almost leaning on the door.

Mrs. Weasley replies in a tone that almost seems hesitant and scared, "Tell me something only I would know?"

Hermione recalls Ginny mentioning something about the Minister for Magic issuing pamphlets to all magical households on how to identify and protect families against dark wizards and her family had implemented the protections. Hermione had been not at all surprised to note that her family had not received such a pamphlet. Fleur almost rolls her eyes, but answers the question in good faith, "My grandmozer's 'air, it is in my wand."

Molly Weasley opens the door and pulls them both inside with a nervous glance towards the empty gardens and the field beyond them. The moon hangs low in the sky and her red hair takes on a strange sheen as she waves a hand and checks the wards. "It's lovely to see you both," she says with a bright smile, before casting a worried glance into the kitchen just beyond. Hermione peers over her shoulder to see Bill and Marietta sitting at the kitchen table shelling peas with Ginny and Ron. Ginny has a murderous look on her face and keeps glaring daggers at Marietta when she thinks no one's looking.

Hermione's eyebrows rise in curiosity and she feels Fleur's finger's tangle in her own as Molly pulls Hermione into a tight hug. "I felt positively horrible leaving you at the train station, Hermione." Her round cheeks draw into a thin line and Hermione just shakes her head.

"It's really okay, Mrs. Weasley. Fleur and Bill came about five minutes after you all left," she explains and then toes off her trainers and steps into the kitchen properly. Ginny is smiling brightly now, her chair scraping against the kitchen floor as she gets to her feet to smile brightly at Hermione.

"Hullo," she says and Hermione hugs her tight. She never really realizes how much she misses Ginny until she's not around her for a spell, and then the need to see her grows again. It's an odd sort of a feeling – Hermione wonders if it's because she's never had a female friend before. Parvati and Lavender are alright, but she's far closer with Ginny and, to some extent, Luna Lovegood.

"Fleur, are you going to be spending the night tonight?"

"If it is not too much trouble," Fleur shrugs, her cheeks coloring slightly. "I 'ave taken ze day, I zought zat you might want some 'elp wiz all ze preparations."

Mrs. Weasley's smile is real and genuine and Hermione wonders when her attitude towards Fleur had changed so much. She seems almost grateful for the help, glancing over to where Ron, Bill and Marietta are all talking in low voices over their peas. "That would be lovely," she says and then turns to Hermione. "I've put you in with Gin," she explains. "You'll have to kip together I'm afraid. Fleur, do you mind sleeping on the sofa in the sitting room? Dumbledore's written to say that Harry should be arriving in the morning and I've put him in Fred and George's old room…"

Fleur shrugs and Hermione half-opens her mouth to say that she doesn't mind sharing with Fleur, but Fleur's shot her a look that tells her that it's probably for the best to keep quiet. Hermione swallows her want to protest.

Ron trails up the stairs after Hermione and Ginny, divesting himself from Bill and Marietta as they start to discuss work as Mrs. Weasley sets a bowl of potatoes in front of all of them to peel. Fleur lingers and Mrs. Weasley directs her to a pot that's bubbling on the stove with a smile and asks her if she knows anything about making shepherd's pie. Hermione tries and fails to keep the smile off of her face as she sees Fleur's nose wrinkle just a little bit as she pulls the lid off of the pot. Ginny waits until they're all safely closed in her bedroom on the third floor before she starts. "I cannot stand her," she grinds out.

"Oh come on, Gin," Ron says, but Hermione can tell that his heart is not really in his protests. "She's not that bad."

Hermione knows that the idea of Bill having such a relationship must be odd for Ginny. Charlie doesn't date as far as Hermione knows and Percy is never around anymore. Bill's always been her hero too.

"They're getting married," Ginny continues, pacing up and down the small amount of floor space between her bed and the camp bed that's shoved up against the wall under the window. Hermione's mouth opens and she shares a long glance at Ron who gives her the tiniest shrug as Ginny turns to pace back towards the window. She and Ron have always been good at these silent conversations. Ron will wiggle his eyebrows and jerk his head one way or another, Hermione will nod and then purse her lips. It's the sort of skill that they both need to have when Harry gets going on one of his rants – or Ginny. Hermione's secretly hoping that they'll figure out how much they like each other one of these days, they're absolutely perfect for each other.

"Well," Ron says and his lips quirk up into the sort of evil smirk that makes Hermione want to scream, because she knows, she just knows that he's about to tease her. "It's not that bad, really. Marietta's really nice and she gets along great with Fleur so there is that."

"Fleur would be a better option than bloody Marietta," Ginny mutters darkly. "No offense, Hermione."

Hermione just shakes her head. "None taken."

The next morning Fleur comes to wake Hermione up and they head outside, collecting eggs from the sleepy chickens and delivering them to Mrs. Weasley who smiles at them brightly. She waves her wand and one by one they crack and start to whip themselves into a scramble. Hermione puts the kettle on and they all sit, blinking bleary-eyed in the early morning sunlight.

"Harry came in at about one o'clock this morning," Mrs. Weasley says as Fleur levitates a plate of toast over from the fire. Hermione perks up, anxious to see Harry. After Hermione had snuck downstairs to spend a few minutes alone with Fleur the previous evening, Fleur had told her that Harry was expected the following morning and that he was helping Dumbledore with an errand before he came. "He's still sleeping, poor boy. I put him in Fred and George's old room."

Fleur draws Hermione outside with her some twenty minutes later. Bill and Mr. Weasley still have to work, as does Marietta. Hermione tries her best to smile at the poor young woman, engagement ring glittering on her finger. Over dinner the previous night, Hermione had gotten a full taste of why Ginny found Marietta so awful and she hated to say that she was inclined to agree. Outside of Draco Malfoy, she had never met one who was so hell-bent on sucking up to anyone as Marietta was on attempting to get Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to like her. Hermione hates to admit that it is really rather trying on her patience.

"I know zat 'arry will tell you everzing," Fleur says, toeing the dirt with a faded, dirty trainer that Hermione recognized from all the way back in fourth year. "It is 'ow 'e is," she continues. Her hair is falling into her face and she looks almost translucent in the sunlight. Hermione knows that she's spreading herself far too thin, even now on a day off and she bites back her want to tell Fleur that she should be getting more rest. "But I want you to 'ave caution, zis 'ear. Zere are terrible zings zat are 'appening, everywhere…" Fleur looks down at her hands before her blue, blue eyes rise to meet Hermione's curious gaze. "I do not want you 'urt."

"I know," Hermione says, and she rises onto her tiptoes to press her lips to Fleur's. "I know, but I cannot promise that I will be safe. No one can, especially not now."

"C'est vrai," Fleur says agreeably, and she pulls Hermione over towards the back of a half-formed haystack and pushes her down into the hay. Hermione lets out an indignant squawk, flailing about as she lands amongst the good and clean smelling bits of hay. Fleur smiles down at her, before settling herself down on Hermione's lap and pressing her lips once more to Hermione's. She smells of heat and of summer and Hermione's fingers tangle in her hair as Fleur kisses her deeply.

Fleur rocks against Hermione, her fingers pushing past the waistband of the loose shorts that Hermione slept in the night before and her hips rocking forward. Hermione cannot help the little noises that escape her lips as Fleur's fingers push her shorts down and slip underneath her knickers. She's wet and ready and Fleur's fingers down waste any time at all, slipping inside and curling upwards.

"Ff—aaaa," Hermione gasps out, her fingers clawing at the back of Fleur's old button down that Hermione is pretty sure belonged to Bill once upon a time. She pushes it up, finding that Fleur is not wearing a bra underneath it and hisses her appreciation, her fingers playing against smooth skin as Fleur buries her head in Hermione's neck and nips at her pulse point. She feels so good, so perfect, and all of the doubts that Hermione had had about making such a promise to Fleur at such a young age vanish in this one perfect moment.

She comes quietly, her breath hot in Fleur's ear as Fleur whispers to her in French that she is the most beautiful creature on earth. Hermione lays back in the hay and early morning sunlight and watches as Fleur sits back, hay in her hair. Hermione's still recovering, panting and breathless as Fleur slowly licks her fingers clean. She feels another surge of arousal then, and she reaches up, grabbing at the half-open buttons on Fleur's shirt. She pulls Fleur back down on top of her, kissing her until she's breathless and sucking on Fleur's tongue like it's her only lifeline.

They roll around in the hay like the teenagers enjoying a stolen moment that they are. Hermione scoots herself down and presses her lips to Fleur's sex. She's done this enough now that she knows, she knows that this is what Fleur likes. Hermione's lips curl up into a smile as Fleur's fingers tangle in her hair and hold her there and she sucks and licks and slips her fingers in when her jaw starts to get sore.

Hermione curls her tongue just to the spot that Fleur likes best and sucks until Fleur gasps and goes still, her body shaking involuntarily. It is perfect, in that moment, and Hermione licks her lips as she pulls away slowly, her smile never fading.

"I-" she begins, pressing her lips against Fleur's neck and then moving a little bit further up to whisper in her ear. "I am going to make you a promise," she begins to explain. "I know I'm only sixteen, but you made it to me and I want to make it to you as well."

"'ermione," Fleur says, pushing herself downwards into the hay and staring up at Hermione. "You would do zat?"

Hermione grins at her, feeling almost overwhelmed by the surge or emotion that wells up within her. She knows that it isn't done yet, that there is a ring that must go along with the promise to make it real and true, but she loves Fleur with all her heart and she doesn't see that changing any time soon. "I love you," she says sitting up and pulling Fleur into a sitting position as well. Fleur rests her forehead against Hermione's own and Hermione continues, "We've been bonded, inadvertently, for a while now I think."

"Ah…" Fleur says with a sheepish smile as she pulls a piece of hay from Hermione's hair. "Zat may 'ave 'appened, yes."

Mrs. Weasley's voice echoes across the yard before Hermione can press Fleur for the details. "Fleur? Hermione? Where have you got to? I need you to help take a tray up for Harry!"

They rise as one and Fleur hurriedly moves to remove all of the hay that's gotten tangled in Hermione's hair. Hermione giggles and bats her hands away. "I have to shower anyway," she explains and Fleur just shakes her head, eyeing the doorway back into Mrs. Weasley's kitchen.

Ron is leaning in the doorway with a teasing grin on his face. "Fancied a roll in the hay did you, 'mione?" he says.

"Sod off," Hermione replies tersely, and pulls a bit of hay from her hair. She's blushing, though; Fleur is too as she skirts around them and suggests quietly that maybe Harry would like to be woken up before he is inundated with his breakfast.

Their O.W.L. grades come later that afternoon, after Harry's birthday present from Fred and George gives Hermione a rather spectacular black eye. (Punching telescopes, honestly…) Mrs. Weasley has just barely finished inspecting the injury when Hermione sees the trio of owls out of the kitchen window. Fleur's rather excellent distraction earlier had been enough to just about drive the thoughts of their exam results straight from her mind, but as she sees the three owls the panic sets right back in. Her finger shakes and she finds herself squeaking just a little bit as Mrs. Weasley pulls her wand away from her black eye.

The owls deliver their results and Hermione cannot help herself as she rips open the results with trembling fingers. She unfolds the letter and reads her results, one, two, and then finally three times before she finally allows herself to breath. There are ten perfect Os and one E. She knew she could have done better in Defense.

Harry and Ron have swapped results, and Ron's punching Harry in the shoulder telling him he would be top at Defense.

"Well done!" Mrs. Weasley says with pride. She positively beams at him as she ruffles his hair affectionately. "Seven O.W.L.s, that's more than Fred and George got together!"

Ginny pulls on Hermione's sleeve and she jerks out of the daze that she's in, staring down at her O in Arithmancy. "Hermione," she asks tentatively. "How did you do?"

Her voice sounds small when she speaks, like she's trying to temper her own jubilation at the results. "I—not too bad."

Ron cross the room in two steps and pulls the results paper from her hand. "Oh, come off it," he says and reads the results. "Yup, ten 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' in Defense." He stares down at her, his eyebrows furrowing as they usually do when he's exasperated. "You're actually disappointed by that?"

She shakes her head and Harry's laughing and it all seems so much better all of a sudden. "We're N.E.W.T. students now!" Ron proclaims happily, before he turns to his mother and asks if there's any more breakfast to be had. Hermione resists every urge to roll her eyes that she possibly can and somehow still manages to exchange a long look at Ginny before she disappears up the stairs to find Fleur (who was set with the task of delivering laundry to various rooms once Mrs. Weasley had cast scourgify on her a few times when she had caught sight of all the hay that was caught up in Fleur's hair).


AN: hahah oops, forgot I was releasing this slowly. my b yall.