L'Amour Toujour

C25: Homecoming

Standard Disclaimer: I don't own any of the recognizable characters

The day Draco, Hermione and Luna were to come home, the entire house was still a whirlwind of activity, with everyone pitching in to ensure that everything would be ready for their return.

All Christmas decorations were ready and up to Narcissa's high standards and everyone was glad that they had managed to do so, although none were more glad than Bellatrix, since she had been able to be of help for once.

That did not lessen the nerves she still felt about seeing her daughters again, mostly because she still felt the separation clear in her heart, despite the best efforts of her sisters, and her daughter's mate.

Fleur on her turn was also feeling that same separation, but had been in more regular contact with her mate, so she was fine with her future mother-in-law hogging her mate for a little while, especially since she knew that Hermione would be in bed with her later tonight.

This is what led to them to the living room together with Pandora, since Gabrielle was still debating on what to wear for her mate while the rest would pick up the three students from King's Cross, and Fleur just couldn't help but smile at how Bellatrix and Pandora were cuddled up together. "Every time I see you two cuddled up together in the corner of the couch I can't help but think of how much you resemble your daughter and myself."

The two witches smiled at that. "Our bonds are very similar, so that is honestly no surprise. It also happens to be the way we deal with our nerves the best, which I am sure you are familiar with." Pandora said sweetly as she gave her wife's waist a loving squeeze.

Fleur nodded at that. "That I am, and I honestly can't wait to hold her in my arms tonight, since I am sure you two will be monopolizing your daughter's time for the majority of the day."

"You would be right in that, as much as we would like to share that time with you and Gabrielle, our very souls are screaming out for them, so we'll probably be gone from lunch until just before dinner so we can reassure ourselves that our babies are safe again." Pandora said with a soft smile.

Fleur smiled sweetly at the blonde. "We understand Pandora, and both Gabi and I know that we'll have plenty of time to spend with them over the next few weeks, and if everything goes well, in the next months too. We also know how close you two are to them now that you two are able to again, and we would never do anything to come between that. In fact I only see the six of us becoming closer from now on."

Pandora gave her a sweet smile while Bellatrix gave her a proud smile. "We have that feeling too, and has been more than once over the last weeks been a point of discussion between us, and while we will need to discuss things with Hermione and Luna first, I don't think they would let this opportunity slide." Bellatrix said softly.

Fleur nodded at that as her sister rushed into the living room. "Are they here yet?" She asked almost frantically.

Fleur smiled and motioned for her sister to join them. "Not yet, ma petite. We were just talking about how we'll have to wait until tonight before we can get properly reacquainted with our mates."

"I know Fleur, but I'm just excited to see her again. We haven't been together as long as you and Hermione." Gabrielle said softly as she cuddled into her sister's arms.

Fleur smiled at her. "I know, you just tend to forget things when you're excited, so I was merely saying it again in case you forgot."

Gabrielle blushed a little at that. "I can't help it okay. We can't all be as composed as you are the entire day."

Fleur smiled and pressed a kiss to her sister's head. "I was teasing you sweetie, as is my job as your big sister."

Gabrielle stuck her tongue out at her sister as Narcissa, Andromeda and Nymphadora appeared in the living room with Draco, Luna and Hermione by their sides, much to the relief and pleasure of their mates and mothers, and if they had to judge by the way Hermione and Luna pulled their mates into a deep kiss, the feeling was more than mutual.

"I take it you're all glad to be home again?" Bellatrix asked with a soft smile as she pulled her daughters into a hug.

The two girls smiled and nodded. "Immensely so Mama. The last few weeks it was so difficult to keep my temper in check, since Weasley thinks it is still a good idea to provoke me on a daily basis, and no matter how many times we tell our Head of House, any action against them is opposed by Dumbledore." Hermione said softly.

Bellatrix sighed softly at that. "I should've known, but not to worry my sweets. We have something that we need to discuss with you both that will ensure a few things going forward."

Hermione and Luna nodded at that as they all took a seat. "Before you all go and talk and we are not going to see you for the rest of the day, we're going to have our customary homecoming lunch. Andi and I have slaved away for most of the morning to make everyone's favorites, and Merlin help me we will have lunch before anything else." Narcissa said sternly, knowing exactly where this was headed.

Bellatrix, Pandora and their daughters smiled sheepishly as they all followed the blonde into the dining room, although Hermione and Luna both stayed as close as they possibly could both their mothers and their mates.

They ate breakfast in relative silence, the only conversation being that of how the repairs to the Cabinet were progressing and how the assassination attempt had gone, and Bellatrix especially was keen to hear all the details.

…

After breakfast Bellatrix, Pandora and their daughters absconded to the blonde's greenhouse, so they could talk in as a relaxed an atmosphere as possible, and of course the two sisters wasted no time in cuddling up to their mothers, all four of them not wearing a stitch of clothing. "How I've missed this feeling. It feels like it has been ages since we last had the opportunity to sit like this." Hermione said as she snuggled into Bellatrix.

Bellatrix smiled at her eldest and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "We know exactly how you feel sweetheart, which is one of the reasons we wanted to talk to you both already. Usually we would give you two all the time in the world to spend time with your mates, but we felt that this was so important that we want to give you two time to think it all over. Due to the success of your assassination attempt on the old man, and the progress Draco has made on the Cabinet so far, the Dark Lord has deemed further attempts unnecessary, and given how you two have been harassed over the last months, we had an idea that would not only keep you safe from those idiots and Dumbledore, but also give you the opportunity to spend more time with us and your mates so you both don't feel the separation so sharply."

"You want to pull us out of school? I didn't even know that was a possibility." Hermione said softly.

"Only if you want to my sweets, but we have to be honest and say that it will be a lot safer for both of you, because the closer we get to the implementation of the final plan, the more you two are going to be harassed by the Order. Of course we will continue your education here so you will still learn everything you would want and need to know." Pandora said sweetly.

The sisters shared a look at that. "While we would love to say yes outright, we worry about what this will mean for Ginny and Draco. We wouldn't want them to be put in danger because of this."

Bellatrix smiled at that. "We understand that sweetlings, we merely wanted you two to have this option."

"Thank you Mama, and when Ginny gets here for the Ball we will talk about this with her. I know that Draco won't have as much issues with this because he can easily cajole the majority of Slytherin to watch his back for the last bit of repairs. Apparently our dear nephew has spent as much time networking as he has been working on his Cabinet over the last few weeks." Luna said with a soft smile.

Bellatrix smiled at that. "We figured as much, and we know that this is very much out of the blue that we've dropped this on you. We just felt that you two have been feeling the separation from both us and your mates very sharply, even with you two all the way at Hogwarts."

"It's true that we have both felt that aching pain in our hearts ever since we went back to school, and while we would love nothing more than to spend every waking moment with our family and mates, we need to talk about this with Ginny. She has done too much for us and has been our friend ever since she came to school for us to just up and leave like that." Hermione said softly.

Luna then smiled at her sister. "You know, we could always just ask her, since we've created a journal for her too, remember?"

Hermione had to resist the urge to smack herself. "You're absolutely right. We'll do that tonight when she has less chance to be discovered by her mother. I feel so stupid that I didn't think of that, although that might have something to do with the fact I'm cuddled up to Mama, that usually makes me forget the obvious."

Bellatrix smiled at her eldest. "Your mother frequently accuses me of the same, sweetie."

Pandora merely smiled at that. "It is not an accusation if it's true love."

The raven-haired witch only smiled at that. "I suppose, but I can't say I mind when it brings our daughter such comfort, and since our other daughter is in a very similar position with you, I don't think you mind either."

Pandora smiled at that. "I never said I did love, but I also know what this might lead to, and I feel it is a bit early in the holiday to let our daughters be witness to such intimacies between their mothers."

"It's not like we're not used to that by now Mummy, and it is not like it would be a punishment to watch you two lose yourselves." Luna said with a sweet smile.

Both Bellatrix and Pandora smiled at them. "Soon, my sweets. Because it is something that a lot of mated parents did with their daughters when they became of age. It is an ancient ritual in our family."

That made them blush a little, because they certainly hadn't expected that. "That is not something I've ever read in any of our family books."

"That's because the book it is in was put into the Vault by your grandmother, something I've now corrected. We can take a look at it after Christmas, because I am sure I don't need to tell you how your aunt gets around this time of year." Bellatrix said with a soft smile.

The two girls nodded and smiled at that. "We do, and we certainly don't want to get aunt Cissa on our bad side." Hermione said softly.

Bellatrix smiled at her. "You have good survival instincts sweetie. Something you undoubtedly got from me, since I have a bit of a tendency to push my sister's buttons."

Hermione only smiled at her mother, but said nothing as they were content to spend the majority of the afternoon in the arms of their mothers.

…

Later that evening, well after dinner, Hermione and Fleur were finally back in each other's arms, and for the first time in many months Hermione didn't have her sister in bed with her, since Luna and Gabrielle needed each other as well tonight.

She had already written a quick message to Ginny before getting into bed, because if she was honest both she and Luna had the feeling that Hogwarts had taught them all it could for a while now, and Ginny had almost instantly written back that she would be more than fine and that they for once should think of themselves instead of someone else and that they were allowed to be selfish.

"So, mon amour, are you happy to be home again?" Fleur asked once they had settled themselves under the covers.

Hermione smiled and kissed the blonde deeply. "Immensely so baby. I can honestly say I've never been one to count down the hours, but this last week I just couldn't wait to be back home, and more importantly back in your arms."

Fleur smiled at her as she nuzzled her nose in her lover's neck. "Wouldn't it be great if we could have this all the time, mon amour. Where we could go to sleep and wake up in each other's arms all of the time?"

"I see my mothers talked to you about their idea." Hermione said softly.

Fleur nodded and smiled at that. "To me and Gabi both. They wanted our input before making the final decision on making this offer to you and Luna."

"With Ginny assuring me that she'll be fine and knowing that Draco will be able to finish the Cabinet easy enough, I can safely say that I will not be going back to school after the holidays, so for the foreseeable future we will be right where we need to be. Ginny was right, Luna and I need to become a bit more selfish, and right now what I want is to be by your side and at home with my mothers and sister." Hermione said softly.

Fleur smiled at that. "You don't know how happy I am to hear you say that, and Ginny is right too. You and your sister are far too selfless sometimes."

Hermione smiled at her mate. "I know, and I promise to better myself, starting right now. Apparently our dear sisters managed to get a leg up on us in bed, and I can't think of a better way to start this holiday then to level the playing field."

Fleur's eyes immediately darkened a little. "What exactly did you have in mind, mon amour, because you've gotten me intrigued now."

Hermione just smiled at her mate. "Trust me that it is better when I show you. All you need to do is go with it and trust me."

Fleur nodded and kissed the brunette as Hermione positioned her mate onto her hands and knees before kissing her way down the blonde's back, to the shapely butt she had so many dreams about. "You know I trust you with my life chéri."

"I know, and I promise that you are going to love this. I certainly did when Luna showed me." Hermione said before placing two kisses on her mate's perfect posterior.

After taking a moment to appreciate the perfection that was her mate, Hermione settled herself behind her lover and took a long lick up her mate's already soaking slit, making the blonde moan loudly.

Hermione drank deeply from her lover and almost lost herself in pleasuring the blonde, but it wouldn't do for either of them if tonight would be a quickie, not after having spent three months away from each other.

Slowly she started adding a finger to the mix, fingering her lover slowly as she kept eating her out from this intimate position, and she felt, as well as heard how much the blonde was enjoying it. "Enjoying yourself love?" She asked teasingly.

Fleur moaned as she grasped at the sheets. "Of course I am. I've dreamed of this for so long. It feels so intimate."

Hermione smiled at her as she added a second finger. "So have I, which is why I am currently presented with the best view in the world. You're perfect love."

Fleur smiled at that. "Thank you mon amour. That means a lot to me."

Hermione just gave her a wink before she sped up a little bit, making her lover moan loudly once again, and she could feel in their bond that the blonde was close already, which gave her a proud sense of satisfaction.

"Mon amour, please don't tease me more, I can't hold on anymore." Fleur moaned out softly.

"Then let go baby. I've got you." The brunette said softly as she added a third finger, truly wanting to bring her lover over the edge in pleasure.

Not ten seconds later Fleur screamed out her name in orgasm, almost ripping the sheets in the progress as her nails had elongated, and Hermione couldn't help but grin proudly as she brought her lover down with soft kisses to her thigh.

"I'm sure you are pretty proud of yourself, aren't you?" Fleur asked once she had stabilized her breathing and laid back down to the mattress.

Hermione smiled and laid down next to her. "Of course I am, it's not often I make you scream so loud that there are almost certainly questions to be asked tomorrow." She said with a wink.

Fleur smiled and rolled herself on top of her mate before kissing her, moaning softly as she tasted herself on the brunette's tongue. "Then I hope you're ready to answer a few more questions, because you know that I am positively dying to return the favor. I intend to make you scream just as loudly."

"Like I would ever say no to that, do you want to try the same thing, or did you have something a bit more physical in mind?" Hermione asked softly.

Fleur only smirked as she straddled her mate and bent down to whisper in her ear. "Let's just say that it would be best if you wore something with a high collar tomorrow." She said before latching her lips to her mate's neck.

…

The following morning Hermione was woken up by the sound of her bedroom door opening, and knowing that it couldn't be her sister just yet, it could only mean one other person. "Good morning Mama." She said with a soft groan as she turned to face the raven-haired witch.

Bellatrix gasped softly as she saw the state of her daughter's neck and shoulders. "I see someone had fun last night. Mind explaining all of these love bites?" She asked with a quirked eyebrow.

Hermione blushed a little as her mother took a seat on the edge of the bed, getting a lovely grumble from her still slumbering mate. "We may have gotten a little bit carried away last night." Hermione said softly.

Bellatrix smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of her daughter's head. "I was mostly teasing you sweetie. It's not like your mother and I haven't done the same to each other, but it would be advisable for both of you to try and cover them up a little if you don't want your aunt to jump through the ceiling."

Hermione nodded and smiled at her. "We were planning to Mama, we wouldn't want to upset aunt Cissa this close to Christmas." She said as she poked her lover under the covers, who then woke up with a slight grumble.

"Good morning Fleur. Care to tell me why you felt the need to maul my daughter, as well as keep the whole house awake?" Bellatrix asked with a grin.

Fleur turned around and smiled at her. "What can I say Bellatrix. Your daughter knows exactly which buttons to push to make me lose all control, I will take full responsibility for the fact of leaving a few marks on her, but I think she did the same to me. We'll cover them up before coming down for breakfast."

Bellatrix smiled and nodded at them. "That is for the best, since I wouldn't want my sister to have a coronary from seeing you two in such a state this close to Christmas. I also came to inform you that you have an hour to get ready for breakfast."

The two girls nodded and smiled at the raven-haired witch as she took her leave, after placing another kiss to the top of Hermione's head.

"It seems we really did a number on each other baby. Would you like to join me for a shower so we can heal the most visible ones?" Hermione asked teasingly.

Fleur smiled and nodded as the two witches got out of bed and made their way to the bathroom so they could take a shower. "Of course mon amour, and perhaps after breakfast we should take some time to talk to our sisters and see how they are doing after this first night back home."

Hermione nodded as she flicked her hand to the shower to turn it on and get it up to temperature. "That is a great idea, although I have a feeling they had quite a similar night to us, perhaps without the numerous love bites."

Fleur smiled as they stepped under the spray. "I certainly didn't hear you complain last night, mon amour. If memory serves you were begging me to make you mine."

"And if my memory serves me right, you were begging me for the exact same, and I think we've both delivered on our promise." Hermione said with a teasing smile.

Fleur nodded as she lifted the brunette against her, and let her hand trail over the numerous love bites, smiling as they faded on her touch. "We did, but we promised to heal them and be on time for breakfast, so I hope you'll allow me a bit of Veela magic to expedite your healing."

Hermione smiled and kissed the blonde softly. "Of course love. I just wish I had something similar to heal the ones I left on you."

"Mine will heal together with yours love, no additional magic necessary. That is part of the beauty of a Veela's magic when used on her soulmate." Fleur said softly.

Hermione smiled at her mate as she was put back onto her feet. "It's like I learn something new about the Veela every day I spend in your presence."

"I promise that if you don't go back to Hogwarts to teach you everything you want to know." Fleur said sweetly.

Hermione smiled at that. "We'll ask Luna on what she wants to do, but I think once she hears of Ginny's response, she'll want to stay home as much as I do, and if she does we'll tell our mothers of our decision, but I think I know my sister's answer."

Fleur nodded at her as she turned the brunette around so she could wash her mate's hair, as always loving the feeling of the brunette's curls running through her fingers.

Hermione on her turn moaned softly as she relaxed against her mate's body. "You truly have magical fingers baby. A girl could get used to this. Perhaps we should make this a staple of our future shower time."

"Gladly mon amour. There are few things I love more than feeling your hair run through my fingers. Your hair is so soft." Fleur said sweetly.

Hermione smiled dreamily at that. "The same and more could be said about your hair baby. It feels like silk every time I get the privilege to touch it."

Fleur smiled at that. "Why thank you mon amour, and you know that you can touch it anytime you want."

Hermione nodded and smiled at her mate as they continued to wash each other's bodies, surprisingly without letting their hands wander too far or too long, since they were expected down for breakfast in a while and neither of them wanted to upset Narcissa this close to Christmas.

After their shower and taking their time in selecting an outfit for today, they made their way downstairs, where the rest of the family was already waiting for them, and after a round of good mornings, they sat down to eat, everyone happy to be together again.

…

After breakfast Fleur and Hermione made their way to the library with Luna and Gabrielle, since especially Luna and Hermione had a lot to talk about and now that they had the chance, their mates would not be far from their side if they could help it.

Luna and Gabrielle were both sporting bright smiles as they cuddled up in each other's arms, and Hermione just couldn't help but smile as she saw how happy her sister was. "I take it you two had a good night?" The brunette asked with a smile.

The two girls nodded and smiled at their sisters. "We did, albeit not as much as you two did. I think the entire house heard you two last night." Luna said dreamily as she nuzzled her nose in Gabrielle's neck.

"Yeah, we've heard that from Mama too, so perhaps we were a little loud last night. I did manage to write to Ginny though, so that is something we can talk about." Hermione said softly as she snuggled further into Fleur's body.

"That's good news, what did she say?" Luna asked softly.

Hermione smiled at that as she thought back to the message. "She basically said that she's going to be fine and that Draco has the majority of Slytherin behind him that can cause plenty of distractions for two certain idiots, and that we for once should think our needs and wants and that we are allowed to be selfish for once."

Luna smiled at that. "I figured she would say something like that, and honestly I'm glad we have that confirmation from her, because I don't think I could go back to school now, not after everything we've been through in these past three months, and especially not with everything that is bound to happen should we return."

Hermione nodded at her. "I agree, and honestly I don't think I can handle the separation and the mental strain anymore. I need both Mama and Fleur close to feel some semblance of normalcy again, and of course that is in no way a detriment to you or everything you've done over the last few months to help bring me back from that edge."

"I know 'Mione, and honestly I feel exactly the same, and it's not like we're giving up on our school entirely. I think it'll be fun sharing lessons with Gabi." Luna said with a smile.

Hermione smiled at her sister. "I think you might be a bit biased there sister. I honestly think the bigger question should be if you two will be able to keep focused if you have lessons together, because I'm pretty sure that our dear mothers will have other lessons for me than they will for you and Gabrielle."

Luna and Gabrielle smiled at that. "I think we'll be able to find some sort of a healthy mix. It's not like we try to jump each other at every moment of the day." Gabrielle said with a teasing smile.

Fleur smiled at her sister. "Not yet you won't. The more you mature, the stronger the urges get too, probably even more so since you two already bonded."

"Veela biology is such a pain sometime. I really thought we were able to circumvent most of that by being able to bond so young." Gabrielle said with a slight huff.

"Trust me that I felt the same at times, ma petite. I promise that it will get better too, and because you two bonded so young it'll be easier for you two than it was for Hermione and me. It will also be easier now because we'll be able to have our mates here with us, at least as much as we can get them since they'll also spend plenty of time with their mothers." Fleur said with a soft smile.

Gabrielle smiled at that. "I know that Fleur, and from everything I've been able to learn and share from both Bellatrix and Pandora, I've learned exactly how close Luna and Hermione are to their mothers and they are to our mates. I've also come to accept the things we are bound to share in time and I can now honestly say that I am okay with that."

Hermione and Luna both smiled at that. "It seems we really to have a talk with our mothers, and not just about us not going back to school. It seems we missed more than we realized." Hermione said softly.

"Not as much as you think Hermione. You know that your mothers have done far more than just provide me with lessons, and sometimes these talks went through the things we all are meant to share, and I think that I am finally ready to properly share a bed with you two, because I know that Luna will like that too." Gabrielle said with a soft smile.

Luna smiled and pressed a kiss to her girlfriend's cheek. "As much as I would just like to be in bed with you, you're right. There is a certain calm I get when we all are in bed with each other. Perhaps we can talk to aunt Cissa in converting my room into a closet area or something similar, since they are next to each other anyway and it would be easy to fashion a door between them."

Hermione nodded and smiled at that. "We'll ask her after Christmas. For the time being I don't think any of us mind having to walk a few more feet to get dressed, and I'm sure my dear mate won't have an issue with enlarging my bed so we can all sleep comfortably, since I've noticed you move around a lot in your sleep."

Luna blushed a little at that. "I honestly can't help it. I've always been fidgety when I sleep, and while it has gotten better since we found out the truth and I have been able to spend nights with Gabi, I don't think I'll ever truly be completely still in bed."

Hermione smiled and gave her sister's hand a squeeze. "It's okay Lu, I was mostly teasing. Ever since you have started spending nights in my bed, I've noticed that you shift around a lot less whenever you cuddle into me, and even more so in the few times the four of us have shared a bed."

Luna smiled at her. "What can I say, both you and Gabi are a balm to my soul, and since I have Mama's genes just as much as you do, it is to be expected that I am at least somewhat chaotic at times."

Hermione nodded and smiled at the blonde. "That is very true, and speaking of our mothers, perhaps we should go and inform them of our decision to not go back to Hogwarts. I'm sure they'll appreciate the head's up."

They all nodded as they all stood and made their way to the living room, where they figured the two witches, as well as most of the rest of the family would be.