Chapter 39: Walking on Sunshine
Hermione woke the next day glowing and giggling like the giddy teenager, bouncing from her bed to the shower.
"Someone's happy," Tonks laughed as she watched Hermione bounce around the room. "Did something happen last night?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Hermione deflected as she turned on the water. "Last night was just ordinary in every way."
"Uh huh. That's why your lips are swollen and you can't keep the smile off your face. Out with it: what happened?"
"Harry," Hermione said his name breathlessly. "We... we kissed! After I went to the balcony to get some air, he came out to talk to me and told me he had feelings for me."
"Get it girl!" Tonks high-fived the young brunette. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Thanks," Hermione turned toward the bathroom. "I've got to start moving if we're going to make it to the Louvre on time."
"I'm just about to head down and do my security sweep of the lobby. Have a fun day with loverboy."
Tonks dodged one of Hermione's slippers as she walked out the door.
In the other room, Harry was laying in bed. Did last night really happen? He thought as he sat up in bed. He conducted his morning routine as quickly and happily as he ever could remember. Opening the door, he saw Richard in the main room buttering a croissant.
"Morning kid. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Harry's smile gave him away. "Yes, I did."
"From the look on your face, your talk with my daughter went well."
"Yes... we decided to try for something more. Don't really know what that is or what it will be but I am... happy."
"Good for you, kid. Now do me a favor? Take care of her and try not to break her heart."
"Last thing I want to do," Harry replied. "You've seen Hermione angry. Do you want to be the person to willingly upset her?"
"Point taken," Richard pushed the croissants to Harry. "Eat up. We leave for the Louvre in a half hour."
They were joined by Helen and Hermione, the former enjoying the look of pure joy on the latter's face. Next thing Harry knew, they were walking through the glass pyramid into the Louvre. Harry and Hermione walked through the museum, hand in hand. Painting after painting went by until they arrived at one in particular.
"Yup. She's still here," Harry said, looking at the Mona Lisa.
"Did you really think she'd walk out of her frame?" Hermione asked.
"You never know..." Harry said and then, while they were looking, Mona Lisa winked at them.
"I don't believe it..." Hermione stared at the painting in surprise.
"Don't believe what?" Her father said as the parents caught up them.
"Oh I just can't believe how good these paintings are," Hermione lied effectively. "The amount of history in this building..."
"I know," Helen was awestruck. "It's overwhelming just being here."
A short ways away, they were gazing a portrait when Harry remembered back to last night. Even though they didn't kiss then, their moment atop the Eifel Tower was one of the best of his life. Even getting interrupted by the old man was sweet in a way, how Nicolas remembered his wife.
"Son of a bitch," Harry exclaimed out of nowhere.
"Language, Harry," Hermione said.
"Do you remember last night?"
"It'd be rather hard to forget, Harry."
"The old man who talked to us last night," Harry powered on. "Do you realize who that was?"
"No I..." Hermione stopped halfway through. "Son of a bitch!"
"Hermione!" Helen admonished as Harry laughed at the expression on Hermione's face.
"Nicolas Flamel!" Hermione said. "We met Nicolas Flamel and we didn't even know it."
"I know! I guess we were focused on other things at the time to put it all together."
On and on they wandered through the museum. They sat on a bench to observe a Monet painting, Hermione leaning gently into Harry. He wrapped his arm around her to pull her in even closer.
"Isn't this beautiful?" Hermione asked. "The artistry involved is incredible. Such a beautiful work."
"Still not as beautiful as you," Harry pulled his eyes from the work to look at her. "All the world-famous paintings in this building and still the most beautiful thing in here is you."
"You're a beautiful liar," Hermione said, leaning in to kiss him. "I know I'm not even the prettiest girl in here, to say nothing of the artworks."
"Hermione, you've got to stop putting yourself down and start seeing what I see," Harry put his hand on her cheek, running his fingers through her hair. "I see a beautiful girl with a slim figure, an angelic-looking face and the most beautiful brown eyes with flecks of gold interspersed. She has the most wonderful smile, even though she's self-conscious of her front teeth and a laugh that lights up a room. Then there's her personality. She's kind, giving and understanding, with enough intelligence to fill this entire museum. I mean, you know something about every single painting here. That's impressive
"It isn't your looks that define you, Hermione. You're not just a pretty shell; you have fire and grace, intelligence and kindness. That's what I see when I see you."
Hermione was struck silent by his speech.
"Is that really how you see me?" She finally asked, tearfully.
"It is."
"Thank you," Hermione leaned in and kissed him deeply. "Come on, we have to move along, I think."
The vacation passed like a dream for Hermione. They played tourist around the city, visiting museums in the morning before sampling their way through French cuisine in the evenings. They even made a trip down to Versailles to see the royal palace. The vacation finished in Nice where they were booked in a villa next to the beach.
"You ready?" Hermione asked Harry who looked nervous. They were heading out to the beach.
"Sure," Harry then looked off her shoulder to the overweight gentleman standing just beyond her. "You shouldn't go incognito today, Tonks. Just be yourself today, okay?"
"How'd you know?" Tonks asked as she morphed back to her usual form.
"You always position yourself where you can see us and wherever we're heading, with an angle to get us to safety," Harry said. "Just relax for today, okay?"
"You got it, Boy Wonder," Tonks disappeared upstairs to change and the group of five headed out toward the beach. Harry was drinking in the sight of the ocean before he turned around to setup his towel on one of the loungers. He stopped midway as Hermione pulled off her sarong. Underneath, she was wearing a red string bikini. He had never seen her wearing so little and suddenly he was able to appreciate the curves she was developing.
"See something you like, Wonder Boy?" Tonks had removed her wrap to reveal her purple bikini. Harry certainly noticed her but for some reason, he didn't see her the same way as he did Hermione.
"Just enjoying the sights," Harry tried to play it off.
"Yes, yes, the sights," Tonks elbowed him. "I'd say they've never looked better."
"Are you okay, Harry?" Hermione asked as she stretched her arms wide over her head. "You're still wearing your shirt."
"I'm fine," Harry said. "I'm just not sure I'm ready for that."
"It's okay," she said softly. "You're in a safe place."
Taking a deep breath, Harry pulled the shirt over his head, leaving him only in emerald green swim trunks.
"Harry," Hermione's eyes widened in amazement as she looked at his back. She ran her hands over his arms and down his back. "Your scars..."
"I know," Harry started to put his shirt back on. "They're hideous."
"No," Hermione stopped him. "They've faded. I can barely even see them; I can't even feel them. How?"
"Madam Pomfrey gave me a cream that's supposed to help," Harry said. "But I've never been able to reach my back. Not sure why those have faded."
Dobby chose that moment to pop in.
"Begging your pardon," he said sheepishly. "But Dobby has been putting it on while you sleep."
"You did?" Harry asked.
"Master needed to be healed and Dobby needed to make up for leaving him with his nasty relatives last summer."
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said. "You've done a great job. How may I repay you?"
"Dobby would like pants, sir."
"Then you shall have pants. You can either grab my old school ones and shrink them or you can buy ones yourself. I have told the goblins you can access my vaults for a stipend up to 10 Galleons a month."
"Thank you, Harry," Dobby bowed and popped away.
"You weren't lying, Hermione," Tonks was holding her sides in laughter. "He doesn't do anything normal."
"Nope!" Hermione smiled and kissed him. "And that's just the way I like it. Come on, let's go swimming."
"S-s-sw-swimming?" Harry stepped backward.
"Yes swimming. In the ocean." Hermione pulled on his hand but he didn't move. "What's the matter?"
"I, uh," Harry mumbled. "Dunnohowtoswim."
"What? We've been swimming lots of times at home."
"I don't really swim there, I just float, mostly," Harry said. "I've never learned how to swim properly."
"No better time than the present," Hermione pulled his hand again and dragged him toward the water. For the next half hour, Hermione went over the different strokes and techniques until Harry, ever the athlete, was literally swimming circles around her.
"There you've got it!" Hermione was impressed and a little jealous at how quickly Harry picked this up. Standing with the water up to her waist, She looked across the beach and took her eyes off Harry. Big mistake as Harry dove under the water, emerging right next to her, picking her up out of the water as he stood. Hermione shrieked as her feet left the ground. "Harry! No, no, no put me down!"
"As you wish," Harry said as he threw her into the water.
Hermione shrieked again as she splashed into the ocean. Regaining her footing, Hermione pushed the curtains of hair out of her face.
"Oh you," Hermione growled as Harry laughed jovially. "You're in for it now."
She dove for him as Harry tried to backpedal. He wasn't fast enough, however, as Hermione grabbed him by the waist, put her leg behind him and dumped him into the water. Hermione laughed victoriously as he rose out the water with his hair falling over his eyes like a black waterfall.
"Alright, alright," he said as he raised himself out of the surf. "You win."
"Darn right," Hermione nodded primly.
Hermione lead them back to their chairs and laid down upon the one next to Tonks. She pulled out a book and started to read as Harry dozed next to her.
"Hermione, dear," her mother's voice roused her. "Don't forget to apply sunscreen. You'll burn if you stay out here unprotected."
"Yes mum," Hermione said, pulling out the bottle of sunscreen. She applied the cream to all the spots she could get. "Harry? Would you mind doing my back?"
"Sure..." Harry hesitated a little as she turned over. Squeezing the bottle, Harry got a decent amount of the sunscreen into his hand. Kneeling next to Hermione, he started to rub it in, working across her back. Vividly aware her father was just over his shoulder, he kept his hands from drifting. Applying sunscreen turned into a back massage. As he rubbed the cream into her shoulders and upper back, Hermione let out a relaxed moan.
"Oooh keep doing that," Hermione cooed. She could feel his hands working all her muscles, massaging them to get the tension out. "That feels exquisite Harry."
Harry was finishing up with the sunscreen when he felt a pull on his mind. Every male head, and a few of the females, snapped to look at a family who just arrived on the beach. It was a balding man with three women; his wife and what must have been their two daughters. One daughter looked about 16 while the other appeared to be around 6 or 7.
Harry pushed the feeling away and returned to working on Hermione's back. The family scanned the beach. Noticing Richard engrossed in his book and Harry focused elsewhere, the family moved and set up on the loungers next to the Grangers.
"Do you mind if we sit here?" The man asked in a thick French accent.
"Of course not," Helen gestured for them to sit. "Make yourselves comfortable."
"Thank you," the wife said. "It is not often we can find a place on the beach where we can relax. Usually, we attract too much attention. So glad to find males who aren't enchanted by us."
Harry greeted the family as Hermione continued to be puddy in his hands. Nonchalantly, he flicked his fringe back.
"Mon dieu!" The eldest daughter suddenly pointed toward Harry. "Mama, it's!"
"Not polite to point, Fleur!" Her father admonished. "Yes, I know who he is."
"You do?" Harry asked, before shrinking as every head snapped to him. "You weren't being all that quiet. You know who I am?"
"Yes," the mother said. "You look just like the news stories said you would and that scar is hard to hide. I am Apolline Delacour. That is my husband, Jean-Luc, and my daughters, Fleur and Gabrielle."
"Nice to meet you," Harry said. "This is my... best friend Hermione Granger and her parents Richard and Helen. The one with the purple hair is Tonks."
"I must commend you both," Jean-Luc said. "It takes a lot of effort for any male to resist the allure of my wife and daughters."
"Allure?" Helen asked.
"We are Veela," Fleur spoke for the first time, making Hermione gasp.
"I've read about them," Hermione said. "Creatures of fire and air. Their allure is said to entrance all but the most dedicated and focused males."
"Oui," Fleur smiled. "We come to this beach every year and every year we have had to put up Notice-Me-Not Charms. It's been rather frustrating. You've got a good man, Hermione."
"I don't, we're not," Hermione stammered.
"Please," Apolline said. "We see the bonds between people and yours, while newly formed, is strong, as is the one between you and your husband, madame. Our allure is most difficult to ignore, even controlled as it is."
"Is that what that was?" Harry asked. "I felt something pull on my mind and my magic. It felt foreign and so I pushed it away."
"Really?" Apolline seemed surprised. "Do you mind if I try something?"
"Sure..." Harry replied, cautiously. Before he could ask what she wanted to try, he felt the heat of the beach rise. Her hair seemed to shine more and she took on an ethereal aura. Harry felt pulled and compelled to impress her. As he was about to move toward her, he realized that wasn't something he would do. He shook his head and pushed the feeling away. He focused on his breathing, closed his eyes and calmed his mind. When he opened his eyes, Apolline was back to normal.
"Impressive," she said. "Not quite full blast of the allure but you were able to resist. Even your husband wasn't pulled."
"Oh that's only because he's reading," Helen laughed. "Nothing gets between him and a book."
"I thought Hermione got that from you," Harry joked.
"She did," Helen smiled at her blushing daughter. "She actually got a double dose from the both of us, it's why we couldn't keep books away from her, literally, when she was younger. Every time we did, she'd just levitate it back to her."
Harry laughed at that image and rubbed Hermione's shoulder in a supportive way.
"I'm sorry what did you..." Richard looked up and went a little slack-jawed.
"Richard, dear," Helen brought him out of his state. "These are the Delacours. They are aware of who Harry is and came over to say hi."
Richard shook his head and smiled at the family, understanding they were magical.
"Good to meet you," Richard waved. "Do you go to school around here?"
"Oui," Fleur said with pride in her eyes. "I am currently heading into my sixth year at Beauxbatons."
"So you just took your O.W.L.s?" Hermione had turned over and sat up.
"Oui!" Fleur said. "I am waiting on my results. I am hoping for enough to become a Curse Breaker one day."
"How exciting!" Hermione bounced a little on her lounger. "How tough were the O.W.L.s? Did you find one more difficult than others? What about..."
Harry laid a hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"Easy, Hermione," he calmed her down. "She's here to relax, not think about the tests she just took."
"Thank you, Harry," Fleur smiled at him. "Owls were exhausting and stressful. I am just glad to relax a little. However, to answer your questions: I loved the Charms exam and struggled with Potions and Herbology."
"Well I hope you get the results you are looking for," Harry said. "Are you doing okay Gabrielle?"
The little girl blushed and hid around her mom.
"She's a little shy," Fleur said, smiling wistfully. "However, once she warms up, be ready. She's quite the chatterbox."
"Wonder what that's like," Harry dodged Hermione taking a swat at him as the elder Grangers and Tonks laughed. Harry and Hermione spent the rest of the day building a sandcastle. What started as a simple castle became a thorough recreation of Hogwarts.
"This is your castle, yes?" she asked to which a pair of heads nodded. "It looks magnifique. Much bigger than Beauxbatons."
"What is Beauxbatons like?" Hermione's inquisitive brain could not be stopped.
"Have you been to Versailles?" Again the pair nodded.
"We actually saw that on this trip," Hermione said. "I loved the hall of mirrors."
"Oh yes and the gardens were incredible!" Harry added, remembering just how great the experience was.
"Well Beauxbatons is almost a carbon copy, though a bit larger," Fleur said. "We do have a hall of mirrors and our gardens are where Herbology is taught but we don't have a whole lot of room on the grounds."
"Do you have a Quidditch pitch?" Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry's question.
"Oui," Fleur beamed. Being a Veela, it was unusual for people to have a real conversation with her. Boys were, well, boys and girls always seemed to think she was horning in on the boy they were dating or even wanted to date. "It is not much but we do have the occasionally friendly match. There's only two teams so it isn't really competitive."
"Do you play?"
"Non. I am a decent flyer but I am not interested in competing. I take it you play?"
"Yes, I am the Seeker for my house team."
"So you must be a fast flyer. How do you deal with his playing, Hermione?"
"Well assuming his broom isn't getting cursed or a Bludger isn't trying to take his head off, I'm fine. However, his dives are as terrifying as they are thrilling to watch."
"Well don't scare her too much, Harry," Fleur smiled at the way he awkwardly laughed. "What you have is special. You wouldn't want to scare your Hermione to death, no?"
My Hermione, Harry smiled at that thought. He wasn't often possessive but that honorific had a nice ring to it. Similarly Hermione was blushing for the same reason. I could get used to that, she thought.
"So you've discovered Hermione's detail-oriented fixation with Sand Castles?" Richard said as he approached the two. "Simply incredible work you two. Now where is the tower where you sleep?"
Hermione then took her parents on an external tour through the castle.
"Well we should take a picture of you two with it, for posterity," Helen said as she palmed the camera. She had them both kneel in front of it. Harry pulled Hermione in close and she leaned into his shoulder. Both smiling, Helen took the picture. "Fleur? Would you mind taking a picture of the four of us?"
Fleur grabbed the camera and took a picture of the four with the crystal blue water in the background. As the sun was starting to set, Harry and the Grangers bade the Delacours farewell before heading back to their villa, Tonks following in tow. Tomorrow, they were to head back to England and they celebrated the end of the trip. Dobby had cooked a meal for them and the Grangers let Harry and Hermione try a little bit of wine.
"Here's to family," Richard held his glass aloft. "I've never believed family was just what you were born into but where your heart finds its home. I never expected my baby girl to be dating this soon but I couldn't be happier with her choice of who she chose to date. Thank you, Harry, for all you have given us."
"Here, here," Helen slurred at little. She was on glass three and feeling the wine.
"And to Tonks," Richard extended his glass to her. "Thank you for everything you're doing to help protect us."
"Thank you for letting me tag along," Tonks beamed. "I haven't had the opportunity to see France yet and especially in such style. To the goblins!"
"To the goblins!" Everyone chorused. They clinked glasses and finished their meal off with a crème brulee. Tonks slipped off to the room and Helen pulled Richard into their room, leaving the teens alone on the couch.
"Did you have a good vacation, Hermione?" Harry asked as he leaned back on the sofa. Hermione leaned in to him, snaking her arms around him and setting her head on his chest. She was soothed by his rhythmic breathing, comforted by the strength in which he held her. Leaning in to him, she absorbed her favorite scent that she could only define as Harry.
"I had a wonderful vacation, Harry," Hermione smiled and looked up at him. For the first time since she met him, he looked truly content. Not simply happy but overwhelmingly content. She leaned up to kiss him just as he leaned down. Their mouths met in the middle and she basked in the euphoria. "I wouldn't change anything."
"Nor would I," Harry replied. "Just when we get back, I have a request: could we keep this thing between us a secret?"
Hermione's heart fell. Is he embarrassed of me? Her mind became a whirling maelstrom. What could I have done wrong?
"It's not anything to do with you," Harry spoke as if he could hear her thoughts. "I have a number of people after me and, while you're already a target, us dating would make that even more so."
"So you want to protect me?" Hermione sat up slightly as she started to get irritated. She wasn't about to have him be overprotective and use their relationship as a crutch to keep her from harm. That's not who she was.
"No. Well I do but it's more than that," Harry admitted. "I'm still uncomfortable with my celebrity within the castle, within the whole Wizarding World, even. I don't know if this is selfish but I... I'd like to have some privacy when it comes to dating, at least for a while. I'd like to explore this, whatever it is, on our own without anyone else offering their opinion of who I should or should not date and how I should date them. I love what we have and I am excited to explore what we can become. I just don't think we can get where we both want to go if everyone is inserting themselves into our relationship, offering their two cents."
"Oh Harry," Hermione cradled his head with her hand. He's so sweet and he doesn't even know it. "I think I would like that very much. I'd like to let certain people know, like Neville, Luna, Parvati and Lavender but only if they swear to keep it among themselves."
"You'd tell Parvati and Lavender?" Harry knew their penchant for gossip.
"They'd keep it a secret," Hermione said. "I know they gossip but when it comes to the important things, they know what they can and cannot share. They're good like that. Oh and we should probably tell Susan too."
"Why Susan?"
"Stay the way you are, my sweet oblivious Harry. She has a bit of a crush on you, just like I did. You're sweet, kind, noble; you aren't afraid of her aunt being in the DMLE." Hermione looked at him from under her eyelashes.
She's really cute when she does that, Harry chuckled.
"And you're very, very cute," Hermione leaned in and kissed him again. "So yes, we should tell Susan so she isn't waiting on you to ask her out."
"Okay," Harry relented. "We can tell Susan. But that's it."
"I can live with that," Hermione said, returning to her place on his chest. Before long her breathing evened out and she fell fast asleep. Harry, tried to move her or slide out only to be met with the most adorable mewling groans. Giving up the effort, Harry instead opted to cradle Hermione in his arms, holding her tightly before he fell asleep as well.
(A/N: Just a quick note on formatting with Owls/O.W.L.s. When there are periods, the character is saying the letters and when the periods aren't there, they are just saying OWLs. Just in case anyone noticed the inconsistencies. Hermione usually goes by the letter, literally, to pronounce them O.W.L.s while Harry and others will shorten to OWLs.
I debated introducing Fleur and her family or not but I liked the way it flowed together and it keeps up the theme of Harry fighting off anyone trying to get into his mind.)
