Tell Me Your Secrets
Author: Ladyfun
Rating: M. Why? Because.
Summary: Hermione and Fleur, in the post-war world, find themselves in the unsettling role of colleagues with more than a bit of lingering and forbidden attraction towards one another, despite their obligations to others. One fateful evening, courtesy of the firewhiskey, they admit their repressed secrets and darkest desires, to one another. Problem is, one can't unring a bell, once rung...nor the actions that follow. Angsty Fleurmione!
Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its merchandising- all of this is in wholesome, non-profit fun. Ownership belongs to JK Rowling as everyone in the free world is aware. Will have some kinks in later chapters, disclaimers forthcoming as needed...
A/N: Also, thank you to some of the frequent flyers, for your return flight! GISA103, cuccino2002, silentragnarock, AnonBiggie, monkgirl, Texaschic1: good to see you back. And for those joining the party, Codyw1, blahys, tumma, emilyfieldsfan, chaosrin, MelodyDam...thanks for all the suggestions, constructive critiques, and encouragement...it's appreciated! Lastly, for you Anonymous flamers- just an ad hominem attack is really not helpful. Get some ovaries, register, and offer some specific comments- it's the adult thing to do. Alternatively stop reading every single chapter.. Just sayin'.
Now then. An extra milk at lunch if anyone has figured out the stichk with the chapter titles...and before you get ansy the nsfw is next chapter. Keep your pants on, take a cool shower, etc.
Chapter 6. An Inconvenient Truth.
They laid there, wrapped up in each other, for what felt like an eternity. Neither one wanted to end it, or advance it, it would seem.
Neither wanted to scare away the other, it would appear.
Hermione watched Fleur's eyes change, all most in a kaleidoscope of colors - changing from her deep aqua blue, to something much darker, finally to red with flecks of gold. After Fleur released a breath it seemed she was holding in, with her exhale, she was able to get the return of her natural blue to the edges of her iris.
"Fleur...your eyes..."
Fleur noticed the clear emotional discomfort that Hermione was in, beneath her; so the huntress swallowed her disappointment, and the Veela merely scowled. "Yes? Vat about zem?"
Fleur rolled off the younger girl, blinking rapidly, until her eyes returned to their natural state. Truthfully, Hermione was uncomfortable...but not because the feel of Fleur's body was unwelcome. Rather, it caught her totally unaware- something very different. However, Fleur had already moved away, defensively, and Hermione found herself longing for the heat of Fleur's body molded against her own. It perplexed her, really; the younger woman had never really thought of another lady in that manner. But she realized, to her surprise, she might want to...Despite the fact she technically belonged to another.
She didn't know what to make of it; what to feel...other than her feeling of desperate longing for the beautiful and complex woman she had almost kissed.
In the mildly awkward silence that followed, Hermione looked away, chuckling to herself. Had she thought of women this way? She laughed, again. Who was she kidding? She never thought of anyone that way! She might be the only asexual homo sapien on Earth...until now.
"Are you laughing at me, 'ermione?" Fleur asked, defensively.
Hermione's eyes shot back to her friend, laying next to her on the clover field. "No!" She insisted, brows furrowing. "No..not at all, Fleur! No...but I was actually thinking about...well, you, really..."
"So you were-"
"Hold up! No, I wasn't!" Hermione defended, putting her hand up, to calm the Frenchwoman. "I was merely thinking that...oh, bother! I think...um. I think you have caused me to think of things...a little bit differently that I did before."
"Iz zat bad?"
"I don't think so. Just...different."
"Hmm." Fleur said, still unconvinced.
Hermione's hand shot up, touching Fleur's face, gently. She cupped her cheek, and then began to gently stroke her face, attempting to calm her skittish and painfully insecure friend. "Look, Fleur...I...what happened, just now..."
Fleur instinctively knew it wasn't the right time yet, to entertain this...whatever "this" was, between them...yet. She pulled her face out of Hermione's grasp. She silently cursed her inner Veela, for forcing "it", prematurely.
Deflecting, she changed the subject quickly.
With a dismissive glance, she shot out, "Eh, look...I am Veela. I get carried away. No 'arm done, right? Let's get back to zat dreary castle of ours, before Minerva realizes zere are only 80 year old instructors left, in ze building, Ay?"
Hermione fought down an inexplicable feeling of disappointment, and resigned herself to just nodding, allowing herself to be pulled up to standing by her bestie. The air was formal, between them, as they gathered their picnic items and headed back. It wash't long after they started walking back in silence, that when Hermione cocked her head.
"What was that?" She asked.
Fleur looked agitated. "Vat now?"
"Nothing...I just thought...I thought I heard something."
Fleur stared at her, disbelievingly, as she continued their forced walk at a breakneck pace. She was deliberately not attending to what Hermione had just said. Eventually, after hearing the Gryffindor huff, Fleur offered a terse,
"Mmm? Like...what, 'ermione?"
Hermione shook her head, troubled. "It was like...I'm not sure, maybe... a dismayed wail, almost? Like a cry of pain, almost. You know, like when a lion gets a splinter in its paw, or something?"
Fleur shook her head, cursing under her breath. She closed her eyes, collecting herself.
"We should 'ead back, ze forest is full of zings, and it iz getting dark. I 'eard nozzing... I zink you may 'ave just imagined it, 'ermione."
Fleur turned around, cursing inwardly, and missing the frown on her younger companions' face at being dismissed, so readily. When Hermione could no longer see her when Fleur turned to face forward, The blonde hissed to herself in low, threatening tones. She admonished her inner Veela for protesting... so loudly. Loud enough for the cause of the Veela's inner discontent to actually hear it.
Fleur was furious.
She ordered it to shut the hell up, and try not to expose them furither, before they returned to the castle.
This was a decision Fleur's Veela was clearly unhappy about, but the human half could care less about what the inner Veela wanted .Fleur grew steadily more irritated, as she continued to wage an internal argument with her creature side.
From behind, Hermione thought it odd, all the animated gesticulations Fleur was making as they walked back to the Castle, ostensibly trying to NOT draw attention to themselves. She could make out empassioned murmuring, as though Fleur was talking ...to herself.
"Besides...she iz straight, you... vous bête stupide!" Fleur hissed, to herself, striding ahead of Hermione towards the castle. Fleur was so frustrated...and now she was getting a migraine.
The Veela wants what it wants, Fleur thought disgustedly. And now, it has put her in a horrible position that is virtually un-winnable!
Fleur was never so happy to see the gates of Hogwarts as she was in that moment. She needed to put some distance -stat- between herself and Mademosielle Granger, if she hoped to reign in her Veela. Otherwise Fleur imagined she would soon be debasing Hermione in a very lurid manner, smack dab in the center of the public common area of the main gate.
Because she would, if things continued...unchecked.
Fleur hissed to herself. The Veela was distraught...it almost had her, its mate, almost...and then, something happened!
"Non!" Fleur said, to herself. "Nozzing 'append, ignorant beast! Nozzing will 'appen, eizer! When will you learn? It iz a lost cause! Just...stop, before you make us botz insane!" In her rush and irritation, the Potions Mistress missed altogether the frown that creeped across Hermione-the former Auror's -face, as she continued walking behind her, quietly.
There were many characteristics to Hermione that had made her a talented Auror, of course: determination, a good eye for detail, patience, excellent hand to eye coordination, good memory skills, and a keen intellect.
Topping the list, of course, was her excellent hearing.
Fleur schooled her features, turning around to face Hermione. "I zink I am more tired zan I realized, my friend! I am going to... head to my quarters, tout suite. Goodnight, 'ermione..." Abruptly, she turned to leave, putting distance between them.
No hug...no tiny little "good night" bis, as was their unspoken tradition; Hermione felt her heart break, just a little tiny bit, Watching the backside of Fleur Delacour, as as she walked away from her.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Fortunately, their little falling out was only a few days before the long weekend of fall break. Fleur had volunteered to be the facility advisor to remain at the castle for the students not returning home; most of Hogwarts was surprised that Hermione wasn't going to stay as well. Where one went, usually the other would follow. It was just a given! Frick, with Frack. It appeared Frick and Frack would separate at the hip - much to everyone's surprise, this weekend!
Hermione was dreading the weekend.
Worse, she knew she shouldn't be dreading it. She should be looking forward to seeing the person she was actually married to, especially given the fact they hadn't spent a single night together in almost 3 1/2 months! Work was busy for both, with Ron out of the country for a majority of the time; Hogwarts was not exactly a place one could just pop into, either.
Strangely enough, when she thought about it-if she thought about it-she knew that probably wasn't a good thing that she didn't really mind the separation. She sighed.
How did she get saddled with such adult problems? It felt like just yesterday that she was entering Hogwarts as a student, for Merlin's sake! And her marriage...how on Merlin's knee was it supposed to transition through the trials and tribulations of adult life and all its complexities, when their actual bloody relationship was forged under the auspices of childhood? Of being children, together, as their commonality? How is a marriage supposed to mature, that is by definition is at its genesis...immature? How does one survive that? She mused.
However, she realized on the most basic level, a marriage's survival required one to actually physically see their spouse, at some point, in order for it to survive at all. Hell, she had gotten so uncharacteristically lacksidasical about even writing to Ron- to the point where her concerned spouse had floo'ed Hagrid last month, asking him to "check in on her" to make sure she hadn't been kidnapped or something.
It was so hard, to give any time to someone who was so disconnected from her, in every way, these days. It was very time consuming, learning how to be a teacher, mentoring the next generation, and such...
Hermione grimaced.
What a load of horse crap! She wasn't being honest, and she knew it. Hermione Granger, what's happened to you? She pondered. You used to be a straight shooter. Admit it, Hermione...The bottom line is, if you wanted to, you would have made time. Both of you would have. You just are growing apart, and realizing your differences, finally.
Unfortunatley, this process was happening at exactly the same as Hermione was realizing what it meant to be in sync with another, effortlessly. The compare and contrast between her current relationship with Fleur, and her previous relationship with Ron...it was night and day. Hermione stopped walking in the hallway, altogether. She was by herself, now, and she was thankful for small miracles, because she felt like she was going to hyperventilate in a very undignified manner. Best that there were no witnesses...
Did you really just actually parallel your "life with Fleur" to your "life with Ron"? What the hell is wrong with you, Granger? You've gone nutters!... Fleur is...not your legal spouse. Ron IS.
The Golden Girl glanced around the empty hallway, once again. As always, she operated on facts, and logic. It had won a war, after all, her use of those things. Applying those skills, she reminded herself of the unmuttable conclusions she drew up: Firstly, Fleur was not even a viable option, as she was not a male... and she herself was heterosexual, right? Wasn't she? Secondly, the breathtaking Veela was SO far out of her league, she couldn't even ask for directions where Fleur's league might be playing, that day...
Example: Hemione was very sexually awkward, and she knew that; she still refused to be naked in front of her husband, especially if the lights were on or it was daytime. Fleur was the exact opposite; Blushing, Hermione would often use the barter system to get her to put on some damn clothes! Thinking of their previous Friday Night Beverage session, and chasing the witch around the faculty quarters, insisting she put on at least a scarf to cover those magnificent breasts...she flushed, recalling her immodest laughter. Worse, Fleur promptly ignored her, laughing at Hermione's utter modesty, as though daring her to look.
Please, oh please, don't let it get weird between Fleur and I...this will be such a long year, without her! She's the only thing making my life bearable
Hermione sighed, heart heavy, and she retired to her own quarters, to reflect on the evening's strange turn of events. She was determined to figure it out, before the inevitability that awaited her over the weekend.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
One Day Before the "Long weekend" of Fall Break
Things were definitely tense and becoming increasingly more so between the BFF's, or "The Besties," "Frick and Frack"; or the " The Weird Sisters," as they were nicknamed in secret. it unsettled most of the staff, even. Finially, the night before she was due to leave, Professor Granger snuck into Fleur's room, and promptly whacked her until she woke up.
She couldn't be sure, but she was fairly certain she saw dried tear tracks on her face and pillow. Additionally, while she -again-couldn't be certain, for sure, without independent confirmation, but... there was a high likelihood that Fleur was sleeping...in the buff.
Both prospects made Hermione feel equally unsettled.
"Fleur!" Hissed Hermione, in the dark.
Fleur bolted up, unsheathing her hidden wand and nearly hitting Hermione square in the the chest with a doozy of a stunner spell. Fortunately, Hermione's past life and childhood prepared her well. She had her wandless Protego spell cast long before Fleur even let her spell rip.
Fleur's eyes adjusted rapidly in the dark, and she almost laughed out loud.
"Mon Dieu! 'ermione, iz zat ze jacket and crossiard I wore for ze Triwizard Tournament?" Fleur asked, incredidiulously.
Hermione raised her head, defensivly. "Yes, it is, as a matter of fact! You did give it to me, Fleur."
Fleur nodded, laughing outright. "Mais, oui, I did...c'est vrai; but why are you wearing it, right now?"
"Because you and I are going on a little caper right now."
"Now?!"
"Did I stutter? Get some robes on your naked arse, Delacour, and...hustle hustle hustle!" Hermione grinned. "We have a tiny little caper ahed of us, to do together, tonight."
Fleur rolled her eyes. "I take it, it iz nozing to do wiz doing back to bedroom to get some shut eye?"
"Where's your sense of adventure, Fleur? Get out of the bedroom, and come on!"
The blonde choked back the dozens of wildly inappropriate statements the Veela offered in that moment, referencing to that statement. Establishing a loose control, after a few moments, Fleur finally directed her efforts towards assemblage of clothing...something analogous to what Hermione was wearing herself.
As she dressed quickly, a hum of excitement washed over her body, as she felt her Thrall recharge for the first. What does that little beautiful muffin 'ave in mind? Fleur wondered.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"Non! Absolument pas!" Fleur was pacing around the pit, furious. "Zat is ze damn dumbest idea I 've ever heard, 'ermione Jean Granger!"
Hermione ignored Fleur's outburst, choosing instead to unpack her now famous beaded bag, calmly. Hermione fussed over her bag, unloading the bizarre items, one by one. A bottle of dittany; gauze; a package of brown paper from the deli; a bucket of water; and Harry's old quiddich goggles.
Fleur raised her eyebrows.
"Qu'est-ce c'est?"
"Here in Scotland, we speak the Kings English, Fleur."
"Oui... Kings English..What iz all that bloody shit?"
"Just preparing for every contingency when you shift."
Fleur gave her a look of death. "Well, you can just put all zat crap back in your ugly beaded bag, zen ! I'm not going to do it!"
"Why not?" she asked, simply.
Fleur sputtered out a response. "Because... because, well, for one zing, itz dangerous! Ze Veela iz violent, 'ermione! It comes out in times of great stress and emotional upheaval..."
"... Fear of death, sex, what else?"
"I don't know, truthfully...it's only ever come out when I've been in danger and I needed to defend myself."
"You mean, that's when you let it out...and Fleur: first of all it's not an "it", Fleur. It's you - it's part of you. It's something to be embraced and revered, not ashamed of!"
Fleur scowled. "Oh, you know so much about ze Veela, do you?"
Hermione bowed up to her friend. "Sometimes I think I actually do know more about Veela than you do, yes, Professor Delacour."
Fleur was incredulous. "How Dare you say zat...how can you even Zink... ?"
"Well," Hermione began slowly, "because I'm interested! I respect them; I respect you for what you are." She let her statement sink in before she continued. ".. And I learn because Im willing to listen, Fleur. I'm interested in knowing more, which is something I can definitely say you are not."
The blonde was flabbergasted.
Hermione continued. "For example, did you know that you can shift in times of calm and serenity? Your Veela can be called on when you need perspective that's a little bit different than a humans' perspective. In fact, I worked with somebody that did that often."
"That's 'ow you know?" Fleur asked, curious. "You 'ad a colleague zat was Veela?"
"Yes, real world experience!" Hermione chuckled.
Fleur felt suddenly jealous. "Wait a minute! Zat Veela...she didn't try to make any advances on you, did she? I know 'ow ze Veela can be..."
Hermione guffawed. "Are you kidding me? Firstly. she was quite happily mated. Secondly, she scared the absolute piss out of me!"
They both laughed .
"Fleur...now come on. why don't you give it a try? I bet your Veela is dying to get out..." Hermione encouraged.
It was in that moment - the sort in which you jump off a really high bridge into water and "just go for it" moment - that defies reason.
Fleur went for it.
The Englishwoman winced, hearing the sounds of the cracks and the breaking bones, as they remodeled into something more akin to an avian dragon. She heard Fleur release cries of pain, until the skin revealed, and the lustrous white feathers sprouted, while the scales overgrew the skin. It soon epithelizing over the dermal layer.
Fleur became her Veela.
The younger woman looked up, and gasped."Oh my word, your beautiful!" She exclaimed to the much larger presence before her .
It regarded her suspiciously.
"Oh, but where are my manners?" Hermione said, as she rustled toward her brown parcel. The Veela spread its wings, getting skittish.
"Wait! Here! I have it on very good authority that this is a proper friendship offering!" Hermione smiled, holding up the foul smelling contents of the brown parcel.
The Veela sniffed with curiosity, when recognizing the smell, lunged at Hermione's hands. Hermione, to her credit, didn't flinch, she stood her ground. The excited young Veela extended a forked tongue, sweeping up the collection of mealworms, ginger root, and French Endive out of Hermione's Palm.
After swallowing it in one gulp, it approached the Gryffindor. Hermione bowed her head. The Veela returned the bow. Hermione peeked up, and smiled. Gently, she approached the fierce looking beast, until she was right next to it.
"Fleur? I'm going to pet you now, okay?"
The creature nodded, and cocked its head to allow the brunette to reach up, and scratch, behind the ear. A grin broke across hermione's face as she distinctly heard the rumblings of a familiar sound:
Purring.
The Veela flopped down, unceremoniously, with the human following. The odd bedfellows sat on the grass like that, for several hours, until Hermione realized the time.
"Merlin's beard! I have to get back, Fleur! My train is going to leave in 3 hours!"
THe Veela nodded in understanding, ducking its head between HErmione's legs.
"What th-?" The brunette exclaimed, startled.
Sliding its neck through her legs, it lifted its neck, funneling the Golden Girl onto its back, and spread its considerable wingspan out. Before she knew it, she was onFleurs back, holding on for dear life, as the Veela soared aloft and took flight back towards the castle.
"Fleur!" Screamed Hermione, "have I told you I'm deathly afraid of flying?" She wailed in distress.
The Veela continued their flight, flapping its wings, despite Hermione's protests. And so, the distinct sounds could be heard that night, of a Veela laughing at its new (old) friend, gliding through the backdrop of the night sky.
TBC.