Day 5: Periodical AU

I'd Climb Every Tower...

Fleur lifted her leg onto the brick that was poking out from the wall slightly, using it as a foothold to hoist herself higher as she breathed deeply, sweating from the effort this exercise was requiring. Why in the merde did these things have to be so high?! Stupid towers of stupid castles! She's been climbing for an hour already! Ok, she had just started climbing but it felt like an hour! She huffed as she reached with her right arm, grappling to find purchase on any brick that was slightly off. She was a fucking ninja! Oops, wrong period! She was a knight of great courage!

She looked up just in time to see a vase come crashing down, barely missing her by an act of absolute agility from her. She didn't even know she was that flexible! Damn girl! She winced as she heard the vase crash on the floor, sparing a quick peek downwards before looking back up, right into furious brown eyes peeking through the window above her.

"Go away, Fleur!"

"Mon amour, I'm innocent!" she shouted, hoping to get through her princess. They have been friends for so long so Fleur knew that the brunette had a jealous streak but this was off the charts. Hermione had locked herself inside her room for a week, a FULL WEEK!

"Innocent?! I saw you with that...that...duchess! How dare you come back in front of me after all that!" Fleur could see the unruly bushy brown hair of her love bouncing everywhere as she screamed at her. She was probably shaking her fist, that's why. She knew her princess. Such a cutie pie.

"I did nothing! She came onto me!" she replied, slowly inching higher, hoping that the woman wouldn't find anything else to throw at her. That room was thankfully mostly full of books and her Hermione would never throw her books. Throw Fleur? Sure. Throw her books? No way!

"You are out of your mind if you think I'm going to fall for your lies!" the shrill voice sounded from above. Fleur winced at the sound, her bookworm only reached that high pitch when she was genuinely pissed and hurt. Fleur had to fix this!

So lost in her thoughts, that she totally missed that Hermione had thrown another projectile at her, the bucket banging noisily against her head, making her lose her grip and she tumbled back to the ground, landing with a big THUD.

"Owwwwww," sheeeet, that hurt! She was sure she now had a thoroughly bruised derriere! Looking up she noticed teary and concerned chocolate eyes looking at her (ok, maybe this tower wasn't as high as you thought... Come on, she's French! Drama is in her blood). Sighing, she got up and dusted herself, she didn't want to make the dark-haired woman feel bad or guilty. She looked back up and shouted, "please open ze door, mon amour!"

"No, go away, Fleur! I don't want to see you!"

Huffing, Fleur let her shoulders drop in defeat. She would have to try things differently. For now, she'd retreat to form a better plan.

Everything was better under the cover of the night! Stealth, ninja! Whoops, wrong period again! Sheeet! Whatever. Fleur was currently back on the wall of the damn tower, looking a caméléon in her black outfit to blend in the darkness of the night.

It was late enough that Hermione would be in bed. She had planned this thoroughly, s'il vous plait! It took her less than a quarter of a candlemark to get to the window, now that Hermione wasn't hurling things at her. Peeking over the ledge of the window, she smiled as the room was dark and the coast was clear. Hoisting herself through the opening, she carefully stepped into the room, making sure not to make any noise, smiling affectionately at the silhouette of Hermione sleeping. Grabbing the rope she had attached to her belt, she secured one end to the heavy mahogany bed before pulling a few pieces of silk out of her pocket, stealthily approaching the slumbering royal.

"Hmmpf!" Hermione was shocked to be woken up and tried to scream only to find herself gagged. Trying to get up, she realised that her hands and legs were bound together. Looking fearfully at her attacker, her eyes changed to fury when she saw glittering azure eyes in the moonlight.

"Bonsoir, 'Ermione. I apologise for interrupting your sleep! Unfortunately, it 'ad to be done," said Fleur, as she wrapped the other end of the rope around Hermione.

"Flrrrr, lhhhh muuuu guuuu" shouted Hermione, her words coming out muffled and gibberish from under the cloth tied around her mouth.

"Sorry, I don't speak zat language," grinned Fleur, hoisting the woman onto her shoulder before walking to the window.

"Flrrrrrrrrrr!"

Carefully climbing the ledge, Fleur looked into furious brown eyes before jumping off the ledge, one arm tightly wrapped around her bound captive and another around the rope.

"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Hermione tried to shriek.

Fleur carefully slowed their descent, gracefully dropping to the ground while Hermione was feeling like her heart and stomach were still on that window ledge. She was sure her life had flashed before her eyes.

Bringing her fingers to her lips, Fleur let out a low whistle, only waiting a few seconds before she heard hooves. Her white stallion, Éclair, trotted to a stop in front of her and the blonde hoisted Hermione onto the horse before climbing herself.

"Mmm! HMMMMMM!"

"Love you too, mon amour," replied Fleur smiling, kicking Éclair into a canter, away from the castle.

It only took about a quarter of a candlemark for Fleur to reach the clearing within the forest, where she had been camping. Bringing Éclair to a stop, she vaulted off the horse and carefully pulled Hermione down. Carrying the brunette bridal style, she gently deposited the woman on the bedroll she had spread out on the grass outside, propping her against the log beside it, in a seated position.

"Fwwwwww! Uhhhhthhh mhhhh nhhhh!"

Fleur quickly started a fire in the firepit as she knew that the temperature outside was freezing and she did kidnap Hermione in just her bed slip. After the fire was gently crackling, she approached the glaring princess and untied the mouth gag.

"FLEUR DELACOUR! UNTIE ME THIS INSTANT!" screeched Hermione, eyes blazing.

"Sure," shrugged Fleur, "only if you promise to listen to me,"

"Never! Untie me now!"

"Well, zhen you can stay like zis," grinned Fleur, "I do like you in zis position."

Hermione gritted her teeth. The nerve of the stupid French knight!, "Fine, I'll listen," she hissed.

"Promise?" asked Fleur, eyeing the woman suspiciously.

"I promise," replied Hermione, spitting the reply like it was acid.

"Ok," said Fleur, carefully untying Hermione's arms and legs. No sooner had she finished untying Hermione, that the brunette tried to jump to her feet and run away but Fleur was expecting that so with a quick movement she pulled the princess back onto the bedroll, restraining her wrists over her head and pinning down her body with hers, "You promised," pouted Fleur, "no escaping."

"You are a menace, Fleur Delacour! The kingdom will have your head for kidnapping me. I'll execute you myself!" growled Hermione, struggling but failing to break free of Fleur's strong grip.

Fleur stared hard at the squirming brunette and leant down, her face so close that Hermione could feel her warm breath on her skin, "Je t'aime…"

"Wh...what?" gasped Hermione, arms going slack as she stared, shocked at the blonde's words.

"Je t'aime de tout mon coeur," the blonde said, gazing lovingly in the orbs in front of her, enjoying how the flickering fire was mirrored in the chocolate brown.

Hermione's heart thudded in her chest at the meaning of the words. She suddenly felt a warmth spread within her chest and knew it had nothing to do with the fire crackling beside them.

"Zhere iz no one else but you. Duchess Emily might be interested and I might 'ave to be polite as a knight but zhere iz no one else but you in my 'eart," whispered Fleur, taking the time to memorise every freckle she could find on the brunette's pale skin.

"Fleur…" murmured Hermione, gazing back into the cerulean pools which were observing her so intently... like she was the finest of all paintings. She didn't know what to say.

"Tell me you don't love me and I will return you 'ome right now," said Fleur seriously.

Hermione felt her face flush and turned her face away, hoping to hide it from the blonde's gaze. She couldn't say that… Just seeing Duchess Emily being all touchy feely with the blonde at that gathering last week had made her nearly grab her fork and stab the woman's hands. The blonde was hers…

"Ermione?" asked Fleur, hesitantly, Hermione's silence bringing a sinking feeling to her stomach.

Hermione's head snapped back to look at the blonde when she heard the hesitation in the Frenchwoman's voice. The nervousness and insecurity in the blue eyes snapped her into action and she lifted her head, burying her face into the crook of the blonde's neck. Her face felt like it was on fire as she whispered shyly into the blonde's skin, "I love you too." God, she couldn't believe she just said that.

Fleur gently let go of Hermione's wrists, heart singing at the brunette's words and feeling butterflies in her stomach when the brunette immediately wrapped her freed arms around her. Her princess loved her. God, the feeling made her feel like she'd float away into the skies. Pulling away slightly, she smiled at the blushing face of her Hermione. Keeping her eyes locked on amber ones, she slowly leant down, hearing the hitch in Hermione's breath as her face got closer until their lips were just a breath away from each other. She ached to taste Hermione's lips but waited. It took agonising seconds before Hermione lifted her head to meet her lips. Shy lips trembled against hers and Fleur finally let her body settle on top of the brunette, her arms wrapping around the princess, pulling her closer.

"Je t'aime, je t'aime, je t'aime," Fleur murmured against Hermione's soft lips, wishing to convey just how much she loved the brunette. Feeling Hermione's arms tighten around her and a hand slip into her hair, she swiped her tongue along the brunette's bottom lip, loving when Hermione shyly brought her own tongue to play. Not hesitating for even a second, Fleur deepened the kiss, exploring the shy tongue and every corner of the princess' mouth.

Hermione moaned at the feeling of the blonde's tongue wrapped around hers. She gripped the blonde's hair tightly when she felt Fleur suck onto her tongue. She had never felt this way before, hot everywhere, like she was burning from within...breathless as the air got heady around them, filled with Fleur's intoxicating scent. She pushed her own tongue into Fleur's mouth, wanting to taste more of the blonde's sweet taste, her hands gaining a life of their own, one burying deeper into blonde locks with the other mapped every part of the knight she could touch.

Fleur pulled away slightly, not wanting to push Hermione into anything she didn't want. She stifled a smile when she heard a groan of disappointment from the brunette when their lips pulled apart.

"Why... did you...stop?" panted Hermione, suddenly worried she had done something wrong.

"I don't want to push you… Zhere is no need to rush", replied Fleur, depositing a kiss on the brunette's nose.

Hermione smiled at the blonde's concern for her but she didn't want to wait. They have been friends for so long... she had waited for so long, "I don't want to wait," she whispered shyly, fingers playing with the blonde's shirt collar.

Growling, Fleur captured Hermione's lips into a bruising kiss, hands slowly undressing the brunette, leaving feathery touches on every inch of skin she bared.

Hermione could feel the chilly air of the night as her breasts were bared when Fleur unbuttoned her slip, her nipples straining against the cold, gasping when she felt Fleur's fingers just brush against the pebbly peaks. She moaned softly when she felt the blonde's warm hands cup her in her palm, sending goosebumps down her body as the warmth spread over her cool skin. She shivered when she felt Fleur completely pull her slip from underneath her, leaving her bare to the evening breeze.

Fleur quickly divested herself of her clothing, pausing a moment to take in the brunette's body before settling herself on top of her. She hissed when their skin came into contact with each other, spreading a fire to her core. Leaning down, she deposited open-mouthed kisses on the column of Hermione's neck, enjoying the small mewls from the brunette.

"Fleur…." Hermione breathed out, clutching at the blonde's back tightly. She felt surrounded by the blonde and wanted nothing more than to stay like this. The delicious weight of the Frenchwoman on top of her made her ache and the feeling of her skin...God, her warm skin...Hermione allowed her hands to roam, taking in the feeling of that soft skin under her fingers.

Fleur shuffled downwards, dropping kisses and soft bites all over the brunette's collarbone, allowing her tongue to lap at the flesh afterwards, hoping to soothe the reddened skin. Her breath quickened when she reached Hermione's bosom, nuzzling at the soft pillows of flesh before taking a stiff nub into her mouth, sucking gently.

Hermione groaned at the feeling of a hot mouth enveloping her chest. She felt herself dripping in between her legs and tried to tighten her thighs together to feel some relief. It seems that Fleur noticed her movements because in the next instant, the blonde had wedged her thigh between hers, providing the delicious pressure Hermione had been seeking so badly. She groaned as she felt herself paint the blonde's thigh with her essence but she couldn't stop her hips from moving.

Fleur lavished attention onto Hermione's breasts...kissing, licking, sucking before pulling back to devour Hermione's mouth again. She pushed her thigh harder against the brunette's centre and was surprised to feel the princess lift her leg to press against her own core. She moaned into the princess' mouth, wrapping her arm around the brunette's waist to pull her closer, grinding her thigh harder against Hermione's wetness.

Hermione felt a coil tighten painfully in her nether regions, the pressure of Fleur's thigh, the weight of the blonde on top of her, the hot tongue wrapped around hers, the blonde's wetness coating her skin, it was all too much. She clutched at the blonde as she cried out, back arching as the tightness inside her snapped, sending stars dancing in her vision. She heard the blonde answer to her cry with one of her own, the release so acutely and wetly felt on Hermione's skin as the blonde shuddered on top of her.

Both women panted as they held each other tightly, settling back onto the bedroll side by side, gazing lovingly at each other, hair matted on sweaty foreheads and smiles adorning their faces.

"I love you…" whispered Hermione, burrowing deeper into the blonde's embrace, depositing a small kiss to Fleur's chin as she settled her head under it.

"I love you too, mon amour," whispered Fleur, throwing a blanket on them both as she gathered the princess into her arms, feeling blissful that those words now meant something totally different to when she said it when they were just friends.

The two women fell asleep, wrapped in each other's arms under the twinkling stars, knowing that every day coming forward, they'd be together.

Fin