true love begins when nothing is looked for in return.

xi. allure au chocolat

Humid, sultry, damp, moist, warm – none of these seemed to describe exactly how it felt in the loo with Fleur standing before her. The lighting was dim from the candles about the room, Hermione herself feeling as weak as a candlestick from being in such awe of Fleur standing so close to her, towering over her in a comforting way. She was in nothing but a fluffy white bathrobe; Hermione still in a shirt and jeans. The very air around them smelled of chocolate, of arousal, of Fleur and Hermione…

There was a wild twinge of uncertainty in Hermione's eyes; uncertainty with herself, and yet she was still so entranced at the same time. The steam in the room was settling into a dark haze in Fleur's eyes right above hers; it was maddening because of how badly she wanted to capture the vestiges in her darkening eyes and give them form. Shape. Substance. A name. Anything..

Hermione felt as if she should say something. She knew what she wanted to ask – she wanted to ask just how Fleur felt about her and for how long. But there was something else swirling about the room, seemingly fused with the vapour, filling her senses with such a pleasant entrancement that she could have sworn Fleur's thrall had melded with the fog. Fleur had made her a rather large flask of bath soap with a special added effect.

The effect most certainly was working…

The gentle, warm, rapid thud against her chest that was steadily rising and falling faster and faster seemed to make the sensual curve about Fleur's lips become more and more refined as time passed. Hermione simply felt as if she could see the words in Fleur's eyes that she was so desperately searching – the words, questions, and pleas to have her think this over once more before she let herself spin any more out of control. The shape of the visible blue and the tint to it and the hope gleaming in the deep crystalline was becoming increasingly easier to read. Fleur was becoming more concrete to her. Fleur was allowing herself to become a strong support-system for her.

There shouldn't have been any hesitation on Hermione's part and there no longer was; she hardly felt her hands hover to the belt of Fleur's robe, settling on the knot while she tried desperately to keep breathing to fill her crying lungs. Her chest nearly exploded from overheat when Fleur nodded with her eyes, giving her all the permission she needed. An increasingly lulling sensation sifted through her arms and wrists and hands and fingers while she wondered whether to close her parted mouth or undo the knot; multitasking seemed a difficult feat for her now. Her hands moved on their own while she let her thoughts float to finally being able to repay Fleur for everything for a very long time to come. It took next to no time for the belt to be undone. Fleur had to help gently guide Hermione's hands to her shoulders as she had started staring at where her hands once were, but she didn't seem to mind at all.

And it was only appropriate that Hermione tried to put enough pressure on either side of the robes, but she was still so weak in her limbs from the increasing allure arcing throughout her senses. Fleur eased her hands down her shoulders, just enough for the robe to slowly reveal more and more and more of her smooth skin before the white fell as a heap at her feet. Hermione felt her face flush considerably, though she'd seen Fleur like this many times before. It was different now, and they both knew it. Fleur was caressing her hands with her thumbs, watching her serenely, waiting patiently. Hermione tried to focus on her eyes while she moved both of their hands to her own waist and letting Fleur go.

The nails and fingertips she loved so much eased underneath her shirt, slowly snaking up her waist and relieving her of her shirt. The more and more her waist became exposed, the more she felt the warmth wrap about her form, soaking her in a damp allure that was undoubtedly Fleur. Soon her shirt was off, Hermione was thanking herself for taking her bra off earlier, and Fleur had gotten down on one knee and had her fingers on the button and zipper of her jeans while looking up at her. Hermione felt her knees give way somewhat and she almost fell, but the look in Fleur's eyes somehow kept her stable enough, but not so much. There was a look of deep sincerity in her eyes, matching the seriousness of her glowing face. Hermione truly felt as if Fleur were worshipping her with her eyes; the revelation nearly sent her to her knees once more while she tried to smile just a little..

Fleur gave her a very small smile in return and slowly unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. The sound of both rang terribly in Hermione's ears for how badly she wanted the clothes out of the way so that they could have their time together without anything in the way. The unzipping was tantalising but built up a powerful yearning for Fleur all the way through; she nearly wanted to burst once Fleur finally finished. Her hands found their way back to her hips; the way her fingers and hands fit into her was perfect. It felt even more perfect for the immaculate hands to edge down, Fleur always knowing to finish the two jobs at the same time and never letting her eyes linger, however much Hermione had grown to want Fleur's eyes to observe, the loiter, to stay…

Hermione felt an erosion of nerves throughout, settling right in between her legs once she'd stepped out of her jeans. Fleur didn't do anything.. not like that. But she did wrap her arms about Hermione's waist, pulling her closer while she placed her warm cheek just at her navel. The throbbing that had started long ago finally struck her as extremely apparent while she enveloped damp silk in her arms, pulling Fleur's head close and sighing deeply. Fleur's muffled voice tickled her skin and made her smile while she looked down at her, noting how her eyes were closed in such need and bliss and want..

"I know you want to talk first.. and we will. Just.. please don't tell me no... I want to be with you, Hermione... I want to soothe you and take care of you and repay you for all you've done. I'm indebted to you for helping me so much… I promise that this what I feel for you is strong enough to protect you alone.. so please…"

"Fleur... of course I want the same thing.. how could I not..? You've done so much for me… I've…never felt this way about anyone before.. I'm not letting you go. Not now, not ever.."

Eyes of blue looked up at her pleadingly, innocently; one last validation. Hermione was only too happy to oblige and return the adorable gaze with a warm smile, the smile she always reserved for Fleur and only Fleur. An incredible mesh of warmth settled everywhere throughout her while Fleur beamed and immediately scooped Hermione in her arms to carry her to the bath. During the short ride, Hermione basked in the wonderful innocence about Fleur's features just before letting her pores drink in the aroma of Fleur's creation in the water.

Fleur dipped in the bath soon after, making sure to sit opposite her as she knew that they needed to talk about a multitude of things before they let themselves get carried away. Hermione knew how badly she wanted to let Fleur just hold her now, at the very least, and never let go but this was a completely new experience for both of them. She did trust Fleur and she didn't want to say that she was afraid of jumping in head first with things, but she still wanted to talk.

She just… wasn't quite sure what to say, considering how constricted her throat was and how exquisite Fleur was, as always..

"Nervous?" Fleur asked gently.

"A.. a bit…" Hermione managed to get out.

"It's fine." Fleur gave a deep, quiet laugh and looked down slightly with heavy-lidded eyes and a small smile. "If it makes you feel any better, so am I…"

"You? Nervous?" Hermione looked bewildered and Fleur chuckled again, this time looking back up to reclaim the eyes before her with her own.

"I may be less human than you but I still am human. Besides…I need to admit something that might answer a few questions for you."

"What's that..?"

"All of those hallucinations I had – I faked them. Every. Single. One."

A good five seconds went by before Hermione really heard what Fleur had just uttered. Neither of their faces changed at all. Fleur had actually begun to blush from Hermione's lack of response and reaction; there was something about the tinge of red that made Hermione want to launch herself to the other side of the bath, but she stayed put. She wasn't sure if she had it in her to move or speak at all…not for a while, anyway. Thinking was difficult, breathing was difficult; all she could register was that she and Fleur were together and the bath was beginning to render her silly.

Fleur faked her hallucinations… which meant…

"I'm sorry," Fleur breathed, "I've just had this… strange fascination with you for years.. And it got to the point where I wasn't sure if it was you or the vertigo that was making me light-headed all of the time… I was just so curious about you and I wanted to be close to you without having to ask or tell you why and I was mad at myself for enjoying it so much and confused as to why you were so nervous and…" Fleur drew a deep breath and willed herself to keep looking into Hermione's eyes, noticing the powerful shade of red upon her face, "…and I should have told you earlier. It would have saved you a lot of heartache.."

"…every…single…one…?"

"Yes…"

"Oh.." Hermione couldn't seem to find the words to say what she felt.

"You're not angry..?"

"No! No, I'm not. I just.. it's a big…shock… you're right about the heartache thing, but.. I mean, you were confused. It does answer a lot of my questions… but I just don't get how you had complete control over yourself the entire time…"

"Draco used to call me a control freak." Fleur grimaced momentarily and Hermione seemed to light up with understanding.

"Does he know..?"

"Everyone knows."

"How do you mean?"

"I left out the major part of my story a few weeks back that I practically confessed to the entire House that I care for you like this. I've heard people from other Houses gossiping happily about it when they thought I wasn't around."

"Oh…"

"I know you're not very fond of attention like that but it just…slipped.. I was so excited and proud of how I feel that I wasn't thinking.. personally I don't care that everyone knows but I wasn't thinking about how you'd take it."

"No, no, Fleur.. It's fine," Hermione said sincerely, "really it is. People were bound to find out regardless.."

"You're right," Fleur chuckled. Hermione smiled for a moment and thought back to something else.

"But is what Draco said about you true? You're a…control freak..?"

"Not with you, no. I don't want you to worry about that happening. But when it comes to myself…I can be."

"That makes sense.. since your Boggart is.. or was a Dementor."

"You think it's changed, hm?"

"Your Patronus changed," Hermione pointed out quietly.

"You changed me."

"I did, didn't I..? When I saw exactly how much…well.. I was so...overwhelmed and.. convinced of everything… it all just came rushing right at me and I couldn't stop it even if I wanted to..."

"I'm glad you couldn't.. But I'm guessing you were rather embarrassed that everyone saw?"

"Well.. I was. For a while. Especially with the twins howling and cat calling at me all day after you gave me time to think… but I don't know.. at least it gets rid of having to announce anything."

"Mmm.. you're right. But what were you talking about with everyone else just now? I only heard the last thing Fred or…George said and your response."

"That's it..?"

"I'm not one to eavesdrop. Though I think I have an idea what you and Ginny were hissing about over dinner that evening."

"Oh.. w-well, yes, you're right about the thing with Ginny.. As for right now I was just…telling them that I'm terrified that I'll end up hurting you eventually.. you've gone through so much and the last thing I want is to be overbearing or not give you enough attention or end up botching things up between us even though that's the absolute last thing I'd ever want to do…"

"I think...the best part about this is that neither of us wants to hurt the other. And…finding a happy medium and just being.. considerate of each other will help. I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if I let you go now all because I don't want to hurt you in the long run... that seems to defeat the purpose of things."

"That's what I told myself too. And it seemed like once you snuck up on me I forgot all about whatever else it was that I was fretting over.. even now I'm not worried… This soap you made is definitely.. helping…"

"Mmm…yes, that was my intention.. You seem to be doing fine so far."

"No… no, when you were right next to me it was even worse."

"Was it really?"

"Come here.."

Hermione and Fleur both moved from their places at the ends of the bath and met halfway, both of them stopping awkwardly to just sit and stare at the other. Both were hyperaware of how they were breathing, neither were sure whether to play footsie with their entwined legs; how to sit, how to look at one another, how to act how to blink how to breathe – all were unknown and nagging and it plagued them to no end. Hermione wondered how she was supposed to breathe around Fleur now; was it any different than before? A swell of discomfort seared them, both trying to hold on to the vestiges of love coursing throughout and steadily succeeding but not by much. Hermione knew she needed to do something…with her hands.. But what? Fleur seemed to like, no, love whenever she took initiative.. it was more assuring for her, perhaps. More…comforting.

She took a deep breath and eased her hands to Fleur's arms as she did, and almost like a dance it was in that Fleur automatically moved with the slightest touch and situated herself so that her back was to the wall. Nails and hands glossed about Hermione's hips, and in the same manner she was soon straddling Fleur without the faintest tinge of any ridiculous force against her body to make her move this way or that, Fleur actually having to look up at Hermione for once from her position. It was a subtly acquired commodity they'd learned from being on this level with each other for so long, even if just as friends.

The twinges she felt from the soap did begin to overwhelm her once more; that one added with the closer proximity to the one belonging to Fleur herself seemed to help tip her over the edge little by little while they continued to stare at one another. Everything but Fleur and the water and the allure had dissolved; all she could feel was the velvet under her hands and legs and Fleur holding her about her waist. The steam throughout the room only accentuated what she herself may have been exuding from the warmth she felt inside of her from being like this with Fleur after so long.

There was a burning pit of uncertainty and longing within, one that Hermione tried to hold as the latter while she searched and searched Fleur's eyes beneath her own. The blue she saw was dark and yet it was different this time – she could actually see her own eyes staring right back at her. There was a compassionate, considerate kind of vagueness giving itself away there, but any pronouncement of the feeling was smashed once Hermione had the pleasure of hearing Fleur's dulcet tones, further accentuated by sharpening, shallow breaths that hers soon mimicked.

"I've wanted…to be this close to you without having to hide behind a hallucination for months.. You're the only one who's ever made me feel before. For a long time I isolated myself because I was…afraid of letting go completely… something had always told me not to.. Even now I'm still afraid but I want to love you so badly that it doesn't matter.. Nothing else matters...only us."

"I…I'm so.. relieved to hear you say that… I want you to know that I meant every word I wrote to you in your letter.. I can hardly begin to describe the way you make me feel… I knew you were special from the moment I found you that night. Even if I've never felt this way before…that doesn't mean that I'll be afraid.. You've shown me such a wonderful side of yourself, and only me… I don't want to forsake you…ever.."

Apprehension rang…nicely in Hermione's ears while she felt their faces slowly pull closer. Her hands glided from Fleur's arms to the smooth of her waist and glossed up and around her back, pulling her closer still bit by bit. A wondrous pool of careful curiosity and want settled in her eyes that were watching the very same expand within the blues before her. Fleur inched her nails up from Hermione's hips, eliciting shivers all the while until she settled her palms in between her shoulder blades, beckoning her closer.

That arch of her body happened again, their proximity allowing Hermione to familiarise herself with the feel of the swell of Fleur's chest just underneath her own. Slowly they began to become level with each other, faces growing closer still; the tangible chocolate arousal swarmed her senses further, making them both draw their breaths in shaper and sharper, still so shallow, so sensual; steadily loudening enough to make them both blush.

"I'm falling for you so much," Fleur breathed; Hermione could feel the breaths on her own parted mouth, feel the fear and uncertainty tinting her tone…

"I won't hurt you, Fleur.. and I trust you. More than anyone… I want you to be carefree with me…you…deserve it. More than you know…"

Lips were merely a kiss away from each other, eyes were still searching for any ounce of anything they could. The tension had settled so nicely inside of Hermione; she wanted Fleur to extinguish it and light it again and douse it all over again with her passion and the moist of her tongue this time and the depths of the longing she held for her.

The vapour in the room would soon drive her mad if she didn't have Fleur to tip her over the edge soon… now… A carnal rage within had settled, screaming for more of Fleur, more of her love, more of her approval for her..

"I won't hurt you either," Fleur murmured, "I'd be a fool to.. just please be with me and never let go…"

Hermione breathed a yes and nodded lightly, closing her eyes before easing her lips forward to breach the endless space between them and reclaim the supple heart-shaped wonders before her. Fleur eased her lips into hers not a second later, Hermione having moved one hand to the damp sculpted splendour that was her face. Her body arched about, acting impulsively and being guided by the way which the current of combustions within coursed through her. Their lips were tentative at first, just like their hands on each other, but soon even Hermione could feel the same tiny explosions erupting underneath her very fingertips just as Fleur deepened the kiss.

The current shot up to her mouth immediately and she tried her hardest to make this known to Fleur. The way she felt the fingertips knead on her back and beckon her closer told her all she needed to know. They had gotten to know one another intimately on such a level bordering this for long enough that it made everything so much easier. Easier, but certainly not any less enjoyable… The second time was still new for them, both trying to make up for this with assured desire pouring through their lips that made up for it all.

Just as Hermione put a particular bit of pressure upon Fleur's breasts and navel, she was warmed and rewarded with a moan, adding wonderfully to the sounds of exploration already in the air around them. Hermione chanced finally putting her tongue to use and prodded at the swollen mounds in between kisses, keeping her hold on Fleur as gentle and want-filled as possible. Fleur sighed and allowed Hermione entry, giving another contented moan when Hermione found her tongue; it was moist and soft just as they both were, and the kiss itself. Thoughts and wonderings and questions escaped Hermione's mind while she quickly allowed herself to simply let the pull in Fleur's every direction keep her going, fully-intent on pleasing her, easing her, and still somehow seizing her as compassionately as possible.

Fleur's hands had begun to explore, still sensually frivolous, still driving Hermione further and further to deepen the kiss as much as she could. Fleur seemed very willing to watch Hermione with her senses, Hermione herself hypersensitive to the feel of feather-tipped digits and nails crevassing the muscles of her back, dipping lower and lower. Just as Hermione felt the pang of needing air finally overtake her no matter how much she wanted to continue basking in the ardour that was Fleur and her ever-braving tongue, Fleur's braver hand had slipped underneath the water and cupped a smooth mound without her even realising it.

Hermione jumped and broke the kiss without meaning to, Fleur opening her eyes in shock and realising what she'd done. What made Hermione jump the most was how much lovely pressure Fleur had placed there; Hermione was gaping at her while they both caught their breaths vigorously. Fleur tried to remove her hand but Hermione moved hers from Fleur's back and placed it behind her, smiling all the while. The deer-caught-in-headlights look upon Fleur's normally level face made Hermione bury her head in the crook of Fleur's neck and burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter; she really wasn't a control freak when it came to her.

And when Fleur pulled her closer with the arm still wrapped about her form, laughing loudly right along with her, this, Hermione realised with tears pouring from her eyes while she continued, was the first time she'd ever heard Fleur laugh like this. Any other time Fleur would only let a sexy chuckle escape her, and it wasn't as if either had ever done anything in front of the other that would make them laugh so much.

They kept laughing for quite a long time; when one would seemingly stop, the other would start up again just because they were still laughing. It was contagious, compassionate, contented, carefree laughter. A different kind of thrall that even sounded wonderfully of chocolate.