"They look so excited, right," Fleur said the moment she caught up with Lavender. Lavender looked at her with barely disguised jealousy, a gaze that Fleur was more than used to. Just because she was a Veela, she had to always deal with it no matter what.
But, this time, she was happy to see it, as her whole plan was reliant on making Lavender jealous without looking like she had been trying that all along.
"Yeah, give a bunch of men brooms and a ball, they will spend their days happy," Lavender said, keeping her distaste mostly hidden.
"I never understand the fascination myself," Fleur said. She didn't need to work hard to sound dismissive. Watching the Weasley men laugh loudly in their alcohol-fueled fun was enough.
It didn't help Lavender's impression of her, but Fleur didn't care. She had long learned that trying to keep her personality down to get people's approval never worked. They already had their own impression of Veela. In the past, she had just closed herself off and instead proved herself with her magic.
But, her most recent experiences showed that, embracing the stereotypes had its benefits. And, if she was going to do that, she was going to do it well. She needed to reclaim her dominance, showing Hermione that she wasn't the only one who could play the game.
Where Harry was the best prize.
To Lavender's barely hidden hostility, Fleur responded to Lavender with a warm smile, her steps graceful and deliberate as she pulled Lavender into a casual small talk as they watched. A small talk that started with Fleur celebrating him about Ron, but somehow ended up with Fleur complaining about how the constant male attention she received turned annoying.
However, she had to admit that watching Lavender's eyes tighten with jealousy was fun. "It must be … terrible to deal with the constant attention," Lavender said, almost hiding her fury.
Fleur let out a light laugh, brushing a strand of silvery blonde hair behind her ear. "Oh, it is hell," she said. It was true, but Fleur knew just how effective it was on Lavender, who had built her life plan on seducing the most eligible bachelor.
Admittedly, Fleur could see the point with Ron. For all his faults, he was decently strong magically, and his political reach was nothing to scoff at. It might have been different if Harry stuck around, but since he did not, Ron had become the face of the victory. For Lavender, he was a good catch.
For Fleur, he was an annoying fly she had to suffer occasionally.
She looked down, her eyes flicking to the sparkling ring. "It is beautiful," she said, her voice laced with exaggerated admiration. "You must be so happy." Only, she timed it for Ron to fly nearby, and a little blast of allure was all that was needed to make Ron look at her in a daze. Only for a moment, then his momentum brought him away.
Lavender smiled, but there was a hint of something else there. Uncertainty. Fleur recognized it immediately. It was the same look she had seen in countless other women who suddenly felt less confident about their loyalty.
For Lavender, who had 'won' Ron from his old fiancee, it was even more pronounced. If it wasn't for that, Fleur might have felt a hint of guilt, but she didn't. Instead, she decided to use that to her advantage.
"It's good that you don't have to worry about the constant annoyance," Fleur said, not hiding the dig.
Lavender tilted her head, her brow furrowing slightly. "What do you mean?"
Fleur gave a small shrug, her expression wistful. "Don't get it wrong. I admire it. It must be good to be … normal."
Lavender's expression tightened.
Fleur sighed, as if she was reluctant to share, but she knew she had Lavender's full attention now. "You know, with men," she said, glancing around as if making sure no one else was listening. "You don't have to deal with the constant annoyance of them hitting on you every second. It's torture."
"Believe me, I understand the torture," Lavender said, her voice stiff.
Fleur shrugged. "Perhaps you are right. You have some problems, in your own way." Lavender's anger flared, and Fleur knew she had struck the right chord. Fleur followed that with directed blasts, making all Weasley men look toward her. "Just, not at the same level."
"That sounds a bit arrogant, right?" Lavender said, her anger peaking.
"Well, how about a challenge," she said, letting her accent flare. "Pick any man you want, and we'll see who can seduce them first." As if there was any mystery, when during the game, every single Weasley man had spent their time watching her, while Harry showed his immunity to her allure.
Admittedly, it was a transparent ploy, but Fleur had two great advantages. First, there was no reason for Lavender to suspect that she was trying to push her toward Harry.
More importantly, her accent was an excellent tool to make them underestimate her, somehow always equating it with baseless arrogance. A trick that Fleur used often.
"Those sound like fighting words," Lavender said.
"With you," Fleur said, once again with an exaggerated accent. "It wouldn't even be a competition."
Lavender blushed in fury, but she managed to hide it as she twirled a strand of her hair around her finger. "Very well," she said. "I choose … Harry."
It took all Fleur had not to laugh at her face. Instead, she forced an exaggerated shock on her face, one that she 'erased'. "I-if you want to lose," she said with a soft stammer. "M-me and Harry, we're very tight.'
"Well, it's only fair for you to have some advantage, considering you're a married woman," Lavender said, getting even more confident in her choice. Then she stood up. "Speaking of it, I'm going to join the game for a bit. Want to join?"
"I can't fly," Fleur admitted, which was another lie, but Lavender was too excited at getting another advantage, and Fleur was happy to play onto it.
Fleur was ready to distract Ron if it was necessary, but to her surprise, Lavender was good. Not as good as she thought herself, but good enough to conceal her flirting from her drunk fiancee and the rest of the Weasley boys.
When the game had ended, Lavender had a blush, but also a prideful expression, as if she won a game. While Ron stumbled toward the dining room for another drink, Lavender whispered something to Harry, and dragged him to the currently empty living room.
She tried to lock the door, but Fleur countered the spell with a wave of her wand. Lavender looked angry and victorious at the same time. "May I help you, Fleur," Lavender said.
"Well, the boys are a bit too far gone, so you're the only one I can talk to," she said.
"Thanks, but —" Lavender started.
Harry interrupted her. "I'm sure Fleur can give her opinion," he said, then turned to Fleur. "Lavender asked me for my opinion on fashion," he added, acting clueless.
Fleur had to admit, his acting was spot on. But, that was not a surprise, considering he somehow convinced her that a naked lapdance had been her idea in the first place, a chain of events that ended up with her bent over Hermione's couch.
"We don't want to bother Fleur. I just want a male opinion to double-check," she said, but Fleur ignored her as she walked into the room.
"Let's see your show," Fleur said challengingly.
Lavender matched her smirk as her voice dropped lower. "Let's see how long a man could deal with your annoying presence without your allure to cheat."
Fleur paused, like she had been affected by it, barely holding back her laughter at Lavender's expression of pride. When she turned her back, Fleur caught Harry's gaze, sharing a smile.
She was quick to fulfill their little bet. Now, it was the the fun part.
