A/N: Hello people and welcome to part 16 of our fun lil work, I hope you enjoy, and thank you; we don't have too many left before our soft ending is reached!
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Apolline and Alain shared a look, and in it, Harry could see a myriad of emotions and the words conveyed therein. He marvelled at the ability of the couple to communicate silently, with just those loving looks on their faces; Apolline, like Fleur, naturally had a hand on her lover.
Some few seconds later, Apolline looked towards her daughters with a wide, winning smile while Alain snickered to himself, his eyes focused solely on his wife. "My lovely daughters, you would 'ave your mama wait unteel she ees old to 'ave 'er cheeldren wed?" Neither Fleur nor Gabrielle were given the chance to answer, before Apolline spoke again; the smile she wore was still present even as she leaned forward to rest a hand atop one of Fleur's — she was the closer of the two. "I keed, I would 'ave you wait unteel you are ready to marry 'Arry."
Her husband made a noise in his throat then.
"Per'aps zey are ready, my love," Alain leaned forward in his seat, and rested a hand atop his wife's thigh. "Eef our Fleur and Gabrielle reacted as zey 'ave, maybe zey would marry 'eem now?"
Apolline leaned into her husband's touch, all but preening under the attention given to her. "We could reconseeder, yes," The hand atop of Fleur's swept under it and took hold. Apolline raised it a few centimetres, but Fleur, flushed red and silent save for the one word she'd spoken earlier, didn't react. She nearly looked comatose. "Alain, we could 'ave ze banquet 'all prepared een a day, no?"
Her husband gave a dutiful nod. "We most certainly could, my love," He pressed a kiss to her cheek, and it was that kiss that made her drop Fleur's hand altogether so that she could bring it back to her husband.
"I could 'ave ze guest leest done zees night." Apolline's eyes darted from her husband, to her daughters, and to her husband again.
Harry — the only unbothered one of the three youth — caught the look her husband sent her. It was filled with amusement, and blind as he usually was, even Harry could make out that the man was fighting to hold back a smirk.
Apolline rose from her seat, the eyes of her daughters followed, now broken from their stupor… and then she promptly fell right back into it with a laugh. One she shared with her husband.
Fleur was the first to react now that the aforementioned stupor had been broken. "I knew eet was a joke."
Gabby nodded her head, joining her sister's side. "We boz deed, you and papa always tease us!"
With a look of amusement flashing across her face, Apolline hummed. Words followed. "Yes yes, I am sure you and Gabby knew zat eet was, my sweet."
Alain and Apolline simply shared an expression that was outright… well, content, after she'd poked fun at their daughters just a tiny smidge more. Harry didn't know how else to say it, but the pair just seemed happy, pleased, as if this moment in life was another one which they'd love and cherish. He was almost jealous, and he would've been, if it wasn't possible that he could have much the same if he wanted it; a glance Fleur and Gabrielle's way whilst they looked towards their parents filled his head with such thoughts.
"Ah, 'Arry?" Apolline called for his attention, and received it in no time. An angelic smile — a regular occurrence for all Delacour women it seemed — was sent his way in thanks before she spoke again. "You 'ave been told of ancient Veela tradeetions, yes?"
He dipped his head. "I have." His eyes sought out Fleur of their own accord.
Apolline seemed pleased, and clapped her hands together. "Par— Perfect, eet ees good zat my daughters 'ave taught of our ways eef you are to marry zem — now, 'ow about anozzer one to add to zose zey 'ave told you, yes?" She leaned forward, oblivious to the embarrassed glares her daughters were sending her. "Eet ees one of ze oldest. One 'as to tease 'er cheeldren, no? My 'usband?"
Ever the faithful companion to Apolline, Alain gave a nod of his head when called upon by her. "Eet ees eendeed one of ze oldest tradeetions ze Veela 'ave. Trust me, 'Arry. I 'ave learned of zem for decades."
Even upon hearing the man's words, Harry couldn't tell if it all said was for real, or if they were teasing him just as their daughters usually did… or as they themselves did to those aforementioned beautiful daughters of theirs.
"Decades, but you 'ave not aged a day, my love," Apolline's tone was decidedly sweet, and void of teasing when she said such words. She sent him the eyes, and after a wink was given, looked back at her daughters. "You weel 'ave to teach your 'Arry more of our ways, my loves."
Harry nearly snorted; he loved their parents.
With a grin, he nodded at Apolline and Alain. He, of course, agreed that teasing was a good tradition, especially if it left Fleur and Gabrielle red as could be, with those adorable, bashful expressions. "I look forward to hearing of more, sir — the traditions I've learned about so far have all been… enlightening."
"A fast learner." Alain quipped with a knowing gaze sent Apolline's way. A second later, he looked back at Harry, and fixed the younger man with a look of wisdom. "You weel make zem 'appy, I am sure."
"Oh, 'e weel. I am certain our Fleur 'ad a 'and een zat too," Apolline shot Fleur a look that conveyed words would be had later, when it came time for bird talk. "Now, we weel stop weez ze tease, no? And, my love?"
Alain raised a hand to his head as if he'd made a mistake upon Apolline's prompt. "Alain or Papa, eef you prefer, 'Arry. Zere ees no need for anyzeeng more formal…" He looked back at Apolline, winked, and then spoke in a louder voice. "Not when you weel be my son-een-law weezeen ze next few years." The man paused then, and still looking at his wife as he was, raised a hand to his chin in thought. "My love. What ees ze legal age to be wed een our France 'ere? Surely we could see zat zrough."
Fleur and Gabby squeaked.
As for Harry, he simply raised his glass to Alain; such good teasing of his daughters deserved a toast.
Harry was an Englishman through and through. He'd always fancied himself a lover of the simple, hearty foods and the nice, peaceful countryside. London, on occasion, could be nice to visit as well, but he fancied more places like Hogwarts or Diagon Alley.
With all of that said, Harry couldn't help but marvel at the sight before him; Paris. Fleur and Gabrielle had insisted after a suitable amount of time spent at Chateau Delacour, that they go and visit the greatest city in the world. They were also quick to assure him that it wasn't perfect just because it housed the aforementioned Chateau.
With a last, lingering glance at the sight the city made for, Harry opened the door when he felt Fleur give his hand a gentle squeeze. "Quite the place."
"I 'ad said you would love eet 'ere, no?" Fleur pulled him out the door right alongside herself, making him smush up against her as they squeezed through. Gabrielle had gone ahead, her eagerness at the earlier mention of 'shopping' in the day shining in her actions and the bounce her step had, which meant she didn't see the shenanigans her big sister got up to.
"You did," Harry stumbled, but with the agility Quidditch had instilled in him, caught himself in less than a second. He tried to take a step to the side, outside along the finely cobbled streets so as to admire the lamps or the tapestries that flew about in the gentle, rolling breeze…
But Fleur had other ideas. With a tut, she wrapped an arm around him and pulled him flush against her. "Gabby can run to ze chocolate shop, but I would walk weez my future 'usband' as you and my parents 'ad said over deener."
Now in the later portion of the evening as it was, and with the faint glow of the lamps that lined the road only just keeping back the darkness, Fleur looked a vision that belonged in those weekly witch magazines. Probably right on the cover too, no less. He'd thought it time and time again, he had, but Fleur, Gabrielle, the pair couldn't be matched by any witch he'd ever seen.
Especially when they blushed and got all shy; he particularly loved that.
"I know I've said it a hundred times, but Merlin, Fleur," He went from looking around the place, back to looking at her. As he'd previously thought, in that faint orange light… well, words didn't do her justice. "Thank you."
That made her scrunch up her nose. "Zank you?" Like when he'd shifted away from her, Fleur tutted, and that arm wrapped around him squeezed his flank. "Eet 'as been me and Gabby zat need to say zat, 'Arry, never you — I weel 'ear no more of eet. Even eef eet ees to zank me for you 'ere een France, yes? Eef you try, I weel kees you unteel you cannot speak."
Harry laughed and raised the hand that wasn't squished between them in surrender. "Fine, fine. No more thanks and no more sir or ma'am with your parents." The latter two had been quite adamant about that. Harry nearly looked away from Fleur, back to the street, but the look she made for was entirely too mesmerising. "What's this I hear about a chocolate shop?"
At that, Fleur leaned forward and pecked his cheek, leaving behind a faint wetness that all but sang thanks to the constant wind. When she pulled back, her tongue was sticking out from between those pink lips of hers in a manner that seemed quite pleased, content even. "Eet ees ze very same one zat we 'ad gone too when eet was een 'Ogsmeade. I do not zeenk eet weel be zere forever, but you should know once you are 'ere weez us permanently zat we can always come 'ere whenever you or Gabby want to."
Far beyond the teasing that such words had used to be full of, Harry reckoned that was another point in the many he'd made for actually just doing as they said; marriage. Fleur or Gabby… or as the deeper parts of his mind called defiantly, both, he'd be happy and at home with them.
Had the time he'd spent with them not proven as much already?
Fleur threw up her hands as they exited their most recent shop, a decidedly sour — and cute — expression on her face. For Harry, it was the little creases that'd form in her nose when she scrunched up her face that did him in most. "I 'ave 'ad enough. We weel go to no more stores for clothes," With a firm but gentle yank, she pulled Harry back to where he belonged; her side.
He was quick to smile at her, entirely content in their closeness after the most recent store they'd visited.
Gabby, however, had a reaction that was far from his. She giggled in a manner that was just as girlish as her mothers. It was devious-sounding, and the fact that her eyes were on Fleur didn't seem to help the matter. He opened his mouth so as to make mention of just about anything else, but before he could do just that, Fleur spoke.
"Yes, yes, laugh, my leetle Gabby. Your seester 'as breasts too large for most of ze bras een ze shop." Fleur's words, naturally, drew his attention to the aforementioned area even all covered as they were; the bloke in him couldn't be controlled.
In response to her sister's words, Gabrielle's giggling grew, and he swore there were even a few snorts strewn about in said giggling.
"Not a very big problem, I'd say. We could probably get them custom made…?" Harry tried to be helpful, but his latter words went all but unheard on account of his former making Gabby's giggling grow louder and fiercer still.
Fleur's hand that rested on his shoulder began to knead, causing his head to lul against her. It seemed as comforting to her as it was for him based on the goofy little smile she now sported; goofy, but still beautiful, it was unfair.
"You weel 'ave ze same eessue one day, seester, trust me. I 'ad laughed at Mama when I was your age, and she told me ze same zeeng. Now 'ere I am weez zeese," Fleur's voice sounded pouty, if also informative; especially when she looked down at her chest. "Eet won't be more zan a two or zree years and zen we weel 'ave to do as 'Arry says and 'ave larger sizes brought to ze stores we go to most often. Too often zey are meant for ze weetches weez supposedly normal sizes."
Gabrielle stuck out her tongue, but he didn't miss the way her eyes darted down as if to envision what her sister had said a few seconds later, when she thought nobody was looking her way.
That made Harry snicker even as Fleur continued her little impromptu massage.
"Comfortable?"
Fleur's words made him open his eyes from the half-drooped manner they'd been in. Her softness, the deftness of her hands… how couldn't he all but fall asleep even as they walked?
More awake, he fixed her with a tired, lopsided smile; he was living the life. "Very," Harry willed himself to be more awake, and so he straightened his posture whilst pulling away from her soft, cool, comfortable… side. Merlin, was it difficult. "Where was it we're going now? Almost wish it was home to cuddle."
"Zose are ze words zat would make me take you back," Fleur's free hand, the one that wasn't still wrapped around his shoulders, came about to pinch incessantly at his cheek. "Ahh, Mama was right. I should 'ave agreed at ze table and just had us married ze next day — eet ees unfair 'ow adorable you are."
Harry couldn't help but snicker. "Your parents are wicked, you know. Never seen you or Gabby go more red than when your mum was teasing the pair of you just like how you always tease me," He snorted then. "I can see where you and Gabby get all those noble and ancient Veela traditions from too."
"Eef only you would go red as you used to. Now you 'ave become accustomed to me." Fleur pouted at him… and then, with a devious look that he had all of a split-second to register, she darted in and pressed her lips to the tip of his nose. Her little surprise smooch was over in a second, but she'd made a loud, exaggerated noise when she'd done so.
It drew Gabby's attention. Of course it did, but all she gave by way of a response was a grin as she spun around just a few steps ahead of them.
That was perfectly fine with Harry; he was used to her being around whenever Fleur felt like seeing how red she could make him. He wasn't, however, used to the dozen or so others looking their way — from older couples with nostalgic looks to kids that made sour faces, Harry saw them all as he looked past the short figure that was Gabrielle.
And so he felt that familiar heat rush to his face.
"Zere eet ees," Fleur cooed, over the moon with the fact she'd gotten a response from him.
Harry mumbled and looked away from her as she fawned over him. In that time, embarrassed as he was, Gabby fell into step on his free side. With a gleeful look up at him, she took up his empty hand and swung it between them with a youthful innocence that she only occasionally betrayed when she joined in on Fleur's teasing.
With that very thought in mind, Gabby stepped on his foot — lightly — and made him look her way. As he did so, she sent him a little pout, and raised a hand that beckoned him to lower his head. With a half-second's pause, if that, he did so.
"Gabby?" He whispered her name.
"We weel get 'er back later, togezzer," She kissed his cheek, and giggled when she saw the mark she left behind on it. When he raised his head thereafter, a little grin on his face, she winked at him just as Fleur might. "Don't worry. We weel."
Some few seconds later, and with that grin from Gabby's words and kiss, he looked back Fleur's way, intent on getting her back. He very nearly did too, going so far as to open his mouth before he paused altogether when he saw the bloke beyond her stood outside a shop with something advertised via a board that floated around him.
"Bonjour!" Harry said, giving French a go on account of the many recent lessons he'd had at Chateau Delacour. "Un ç'est restaurant?" Merlin, he just knew he butchered the accent. His French didn't sound remotely like Fleur's or Gabby's — they sounded otherworldly and divine, and he sounded like a bumbling buffoon.
The man, having heard Harry as the trio approached him, raised his nose and pointedly looked away. When that wasn't enough to get Harry to bugger off, he made a show of rolling his eyes and laughing before he looked Harry's way and spoke in just as heavily-accented English as the Delacours. "London ees to ze Nord, Engleeshman."
Harry made to retort, but before he could so much as get the first syllable out Fleur fired off a myriad of French words. She did so in such a rapid, flowing pace he couldn't hope to understand what was said despite his best efforts.
Gabby tugged on his hand once Fleur was finished, pulling him and by extension, Fleur away from where he'd started to lead them. Even with her doing so, Harry and Fleur were staring at the rather rude countryman of theirs; he was the first negative experience Harry had in France.
"Eet ees always an embarrassment when people act as 'e just 'as," Fleur had a dusting of pink upon her otherwise porcelain cheeks. "Eet does not 'elp ze cleeche we 'ave eizzer."
From his opposite side, Gabby nodded a good half-dozen times. "Zose zat act as 'e does are ze reason people at 'Ogwarts deed not want to approach us," A look of contemplation then flashed across her face. A giggle burst from her, and then with a cute little look, she patted his cheek whilst beaming up at him. "Not to worry, 'Arry! French ees a very compleecated language. Much too 'ard for cute Breeteesh boys such as you to learn."
"Is that right?" He would've folded his arms, if each wasn't encased by a Veela. "Say jewellery or squirrel for me, yeah?"
Gabrielle batted her eyes and stuck out her bottom lip. The resulting pout was one she'd seemingly perfected.
Harry snickered, and couldn't resist tacking on a few words more. "Teasing your girlfriend's little sister is an ancient Veela tradition — didn't you hear?"
Fleur's melodious laughter washed away what remained of his annoyance at the other bloke.
And if it hadn't, the kick — with no real force behind it — to his shin from Gabby and the giggle-fit that followed, did.
Harry reckoned he could rest at Chateau Delacour forever, just like they'd offered. Here he was, laying spread out atop a chair with the scent of the water, song of birds and most importantly, rays from the sun above beaming down on him. The scenery of the place was no less magnificent than the weather that seemed so common, what with the private water access, the dozens of flowers in full-bloom and the vine-covered walls that set the perimeter of the place.
It was almost like something one could only expect to find in a Muggle film, after they'd spent weeks and thousands on the place.
Lazily, he rolled his head from where it'd been staring straight into the sky, to his right, where Fleur was resting. She wore a less conservative bathing suit now than when she'd been in the tournament, favouring a muggle bikini so as to soak in as much of the sun as she could. Gabrielle had grabbed much the same, but she didn't oft sit in the sun as he and Fleur had taken to.
No, Gabby much preferred staying in the shallow section of the water, practising her swimming and occasionally splashing the pair.
He turned to look her way next, and found she was going back and forth maybe a metre from the water's edge. When her eyes caught his, she reached out, saw herself stabilised by the aforementioned edge, and used her free hand to wave at him; she sported a serene and enchanting smile.
One that made Harry grin at her.
"So 'appy 'ere weez us, aren't you?" Fleur's voice was soft, almost like she'd cooed the words at him; the nature of it drew an involuntary shiver from him.
"No doubt about that." Harry scooched a smidge closer to her, and rolled his head back her way.
In the time he'd looked away from her, to Gabby, she'd turned over so as to lay on her stomach and saw her gaze set solely on him. Like always, a smile was present. One that conveyed just how content she seemed to be; again, it made him think back to her parents.
"Eet makes me glad, you know," Fleur reached out, and ran a hand down the bare skin of his shoulder. Her eyes left his then, trailing after wherever her arm touched until it snatched up the closest of his two hands. Once it did so, her eyes stayed thereon for a few seconds whilst her smile grew… then she looked back up at him. When she did so, it looked like she'd broken free of a trance or something of that ilk. "Ah, I 'ad almost forgot — we weel 'ave to go and peeck out what you weel wear zees night."
"Why's that?"
Fleur's eyes made a gesture towards Gabby. "You weel take 'er on a date tonight. My Gabby 'as not 'ad one before. At Beauxbatons, she and I would keep to ourselves, and ze boys zat would try to approach would lose zemselves een ze allure. I want 'er to 'ave at least one good one."
Slowly, and on account of her explanation, Harry began to nod. "I think I understand. You want her to have a good experience to compare to any others she goes on," He paused then, furrowing his brow at her as he grew more confused. "Wait. You mean platonic, yeah? Like a big brother? I know we joke about marrying you both but reckon that's just teasing, isn't it?"
The only response he got from Fleur was a shrug.
Nearly an hour later, and after a good wash to get the scent of the water off, Harry found himself standing before a mirror whilst Fleur fussed over his clothing. It wasn't traditional wizarding garb like one would usually see back home, but more of a light, casual type attire that Fleur and those from Beauxbatons had seemed to fancy.
Thankfully, what he wore wasn't the same sky-blue they'd had on; he reckoned there was no chance he could pull that off.
"Take it I'm good, then?" There was no small amount of amusement in his tone.
Fleur's eyes were critical, and she continued to pluck at him incessantly with those deft hands of hers. Half the time, he couldn't see a difference between what she'd done, and how it'd been before.
After she ran a hand through his hair, her nails scraping in a fashion that had his eyes cross, she answered him. "You look very 'andsome. I am almost jealous of my leetle Gabby," Fleur turned him towards her, and pressed a kiss to either cheek. "You weel show 'er a wonderful date just 'as you 'ave gotten 'er to enjoy ze water. Zank you, 'Arry."
This time, after she'd said such words, she pressed a kiss to his lips. It was chaste, full of affection, and when she pulled away, he saw it matched the look in her eyes.
"Thanks for the help in getting me ready," He made to raise a hand to the collar, but Fleur's eyes widened and she grasped his hand before he could do so; it made him chuckle. "I get it, I get it, I won't mess with your work."
"You 'ad better not," Fleur's tone was one of faux haughtiness, and it lasted for all of a few seconds until laughter washed it away. "Gabby weel be een ze garden."
"Not by the Floo?" That was curious.
He could see Fleur's nose wrinkle ahead of her next words. "She 'ad zought eet would be 'cool' eef you two flew togezzer seence ze restaurant I 'ad reserved ees so close."
"We're flying?" That would be wicked. He hadn't gotten to see Chateau Delacour from high up as he'd have liked to, and now, with Gabby, he'd see far more than just the Chateau.
"You are," Fleur corrected, very nearly pulling him into her side with an arm wrapped around his person. She seemed to not wish to crease his clothes before Gabrielle saw him though, given she dropped that arm down low so as to take up one of his hands. "My Gabby weel more zan likely fly weez you on ze same broom."
Harry snickered. 'More than likely' probably meant, she'd definitely fly at least some of the way with him. "Your mum and dad won't kill me, will they? For taking her out, I mean."
Melodious laughter sounded from by the doorway to Fleur's room, and right as the aforementioned Fleur herself began to do much the same. His eyes went to seek out Fleur's mum, the woman he'd just made mention of, as soon as he and Fleur turned to face the woman.
"We 'ave wanted boz of our daughters to 'ave a man zey can apprecee'ate. Zat does not 'ave to be a lover, but a man zat weel treat zem weez a kindness zat all weetches deserve,'' Apolline's words in answer to his own were sweet as the woman looked, and gave more than the answer he'd hope to hear… and then she turned towards Fleur. Her look shifted from matronly and kind, to something more devious. "But eef my daughters would share you, zat would make eet easy for zem boz, no?"
Fleur's laughter cut short, the angelic sounds cut short by a squeak that — to him — was distinctly bird-like. "Mama!"
Apolline winked at him, and blew a kiss to her daughter. Pleased she'd embarrassed her daughter before the boy she likes and that aforementioned boy was ready for his time with her youngest, she twirled on her heels and practically floated away. Such was the grace that seemed so inherent to her; Fleur and Gabrielle weren't far behind their mother either.
"Merlin," Harry said with a snicker. "Reckon I love your mum and dad, Fleur."
With a blush still on her face, Fleur leaned in, her face a mere inch or so from his. She peered into his eyes before her own flicked down, to his lips, and then back up. Her expression shifted, Harry only just noticed, but he couldn't brace himself in time for her next words.
"I weel 'ave to tell mama to be careful, and papa not t—"
Harry had raised his free hand to silence her, but when that didn't have the desired effect, he pressed his lips to hers. That both made her laugh despite the kiss, and, thankfully, stop lest she say anything more.
"Point made," Harry said. "Now, fancy escorting me to your sister?"
That made Fleur giggle, and return to his side. "I weel 'and you off to 'er as a good seester, but you 'ad better make sure ze leetle veexen returns you when you come back 'ome. Eef not, zat weel mean anozzer set of spanks."
He blinked at her… and then they were off, sharing a laugh as they swept through the beautifully designed halls of the Chateau.
Nearly five minutes later, the pair emerged out back, where they spotted a casually dressed Gabrielle lounging atop a padded chair. Just to the left of her was a broom that looked quite custom-made, with a seat, a backrest and foot rests. Harry had never seen one like it before, but he'd heard such models were occasionally spotted — usually for long-distance travel or the elderly.
To him, it seemed a bit extra, but he also imagined it'd be right comfortable. Far more so than any broom he'd used thus far had been.
"Gabby, I 'ave brought you a geeft," Fleur pushed him forward a few steps towards her. "I would 'ave you sign for 'eem, but weez you, zat ees not needed, no?"
With a light dusting of pink now upon her cheeks, Gabrielle rose from her seat and nodded, almost shyly, at her sister. "Zank you," She looked up at him from behind a curtain of hair and eyelashes, a demure expression worn. "Ze brooms are okay weez you too, yes?"
"More than okay with me." He was quick to assure her of that, especially given her surprisingly shy and wholly adorable reaction to his arrival. "That looks like it was meant for two… custom for us?
"Papa always enjoys eet when Mama wants to stretch 'er weengs. She weel start on ze back weez 'eem, and once zay get 'igh enough, she weel fly off and go around 'eem." Gabrielle gradually looked up at him as she spoke, her hair falling away as she spoke fondly of her parents.
Harry, for his part, was quite keen to listen to her speak. He always was whenever she or Fleur had something to say, even despite all the teasing they'd usually add. That was why he felt bad when he blinked at her like he'd misheard when he clearly hadn't. "Fly? She flies next to him?"
Gabrielle nodded, whilst Fleur did much the same. It was like that was completely and utterly normal, and he supposed to them, it was. Merlin, he'd just forgotten, hadn't he?
"Zat ees why I 'ad said Gabby weel fly weez you for a ways. I 'ad meant she would do ze same and stretch 'er weengs as Mama always does." Fleur looked past him, at her sister. "I am right, no?"
"You are!" Gabby's answer showed off her eagerness, as did the little hop she did as she neared Harry and her sister. "I 'ad 'oped to fly weez 'eem zere, and zen togezzer, we can fly 'ome side by side."
Harry shrugged. He was more than fine with that… but he did have a few questions he reckoned they wouldn't get too mad at him for asking. "Think I could feel your wings when we're back? And how do they work while you have clothes? Do they just sprout right through, or?"
Gabby cocked her head, opened her mouth, and then promptly closed it as her eyebrows scrunched together; the fiercest of blushes rose to her face thereafter, and made her cheeks pinker than any amount of cosmetics ever could . After a few seconds of silence, she looked away from him, to Fleur.
He joined her in doing so.
What he saw brought a look of confusion to his face. Fleur, like her sister, had her cheeks flushed to a point he seldom saw. It was like he'd asked to shove his tongue down her throat in the middle of the Great Hall… worse, actually; she wasn't very likely to mind that, nor much else of what he could think of.
Harry swallowed and stopped such thoughts. But Merlin, Fleur and Gabby looked even more otherworldly when they were so pink-faced.
After a few seconds of silence, Fleur, with a laugh, waved to her little sister and blew a kiss to Harry. "I weel leave you to answer all of our 'Arry's questions, Gabby." She still looked embarrassed beyond belief, but it seemed she'd found herself an out of the question, and seized the chance.
Harry watched Fleur go back whence they'd come together, and after she was fully out of view, he looked towards the broom. He extended a hand towards it so as to call it to him, but he paused. "You're sure your parents don't mind?"
"No, Mama 'ad got eet out for me een ze afternoon when Fleur 'ad told her you would take me on a date," Gabby hopped over to him and stopped once she'd reached his side. As Fleur always did when she was there, Gabby took hold of one of his hands. "Get ze broom and 'elp me on eet?"
"Help you on it?" Harry couldn't hide the tinge of amusement that laced his tone.
"Naturally," Gabrielle pouted up at him. "I am better weez my weengs zan on a broom — eet ees not mandatory to learn 'ow to use zeem when you 'ave your own way to fly."
That made sense.
"Oh, and you 'ad asked about zem earlier, yes? About where zey come een or 'ow?" Just as quickly as she'd taken hold of his hand, she dropped it and turned so that her back was towards him. "See ze 'oles een ze back wee ze zeepers? When eet ees time, I weel 'ave you open zem and 'elp get my weengs out — zey are sensee'teeve, so you weel 'ave to be careful, but zat ees when you can 'ave your touch too. Very gently."
Sure enough, on the backside of her shirt there were zippers that ran from just about where her shoulder blades were, all the way down, to just above where the fabric was thicker at the end of her blouse. He supposed Veela wings were rather large, from what he could recall.
He shook his head as she turned back to face him, and grabbed up the broom, very quickly setting himself atop it. Much to his surprise, it didn't feel unwieldy, unresponsive, or fidgety; a quick tell that the broom was of a good quality. After making sure he had a good feel for it, he held out a hand towards Gabrielle as his feet raised off the ground; he'd have her use the rest. "My Lady."
That drew a giggle from her. "Such a gentleman," She took hold of his hand and hopped up, her other hand stabilising herself by grabbing his shirt as she slid into the space behind him. "Zank you!" Her tone was sweet as any dessert he'd had at her family's Chateau.
"Have to treat my date nice, now don't I?" Harry took them up a metre, slow and steady, and looked over his shoulder as he did so. "Good? Feel alright back there?"
Gabby's arms wrapped around his chest and connected to one another via her hands as her fingers interlocked. "As safe as wood ever feels," Her scrunched up nose and troubled expression was quickly concealed when she leaned in close so as to mash her face against his back. "You weel not treat zees as eef eet ees Quidd'eetch, no?"
He knew exactly what she meant by that, especially since she'd seen him outfly the dragon, and so he shook his head. "No, no I'll make sure I don't do any rolls or something like that. Just a nice, calm flight to see the sights," Harry turned devious when he said aloud his next sentence. "A bit bummed though. The best view of the night's behind me."
In response, he heard her sputter before she leaned forward and upwards, and blew a raspberry against the back of his neck.
With a snicker, they were off.
The initial portion of the flight had given the pair a wondrous view of Chateau Delacour. One that showcased the numerous plants and flowers that gave life to the property, as well as the water that he swore glowed under the last vestiges of light for the night. Even the wall and home itself, ornately carved and covered, in-parts, in vines, made for quite the vision.
From then, and whilst Harry was deep in thought about how each day in France gave another reason for him to stay, they navigated around the edge of Muggle Paris. In the outskirts as they were, the glow of the city under that of the sun made for nearly as marvellous a sight as the Chateau.
He was roused when he felt Gabby move from behind him, and then, a few seconds later, she spoke.
"Ze light up a'ead ees our stop. Eet ees at ze edge of Magical Parees," Gabby pointed past him with one arm whilst her head rested atop his shoulder; she'd risen up in the seat to point it out, which was what he'd felt a second prior. "Fleur 'ad zought privacy would be smart. A date ees no fun eef ozzers watch and bozzer us."
"Fleur's smart like that," Harry was quick to give credit where credit was due, and then he acknowledged the sight she'd pointed out. "You've had quite the view, haven't you?"
Gabby's smile could just barely be seen with a slight turn of his head. "Ze first time I saw eet was when I was seven. Mama 'ad zought to fly me up 'ere — zat was when my weengs 'ad sprouted," She added the latter-half of her sentence for context, and when she did, that made Harry like Apolline all the more so.
The woman — who barely looked all that old herself — had shown herself to be the epitome of kind.
"All this talk about wings and flying has got me eager to watch you."
Gabby giggled. "Soon enough. Unless I am too full after ze meal. Eef zat ees ze case, I weel just 'old onto you and 'ave you breeng me to my bed when we are 'ome," One of her hands slithered up to his shoulder, and gave it a little squeeze. "You 'ave ze muscles to do zat."
He reckoned he did.
Some few minutes later, and with Gabrielle pointing out various views she thought he'd appreciate, the pair reached an area that was simply too perfect not to land at. They'd have a short walk to their destination, but each had figured that was a worthwhile cost if it meant they'd be able to walk through a garden that had glowing plants; even those in the depths of the pond gave off some degree of light.
Harry couldn't understand how nearly everywhere they'd gone in France, seemed made for pictures.
"Ze park 'ere ees one of ze best we 'ave ever been to," Gabrielle said, her eyes seeming to watch his reaction more than the colourful and luminescent flora. "Every year, ze restaurant eet belongs to changes eet to breeng back customers."
"Reckon it works too." Harry's eyes were gliding all about the grove-like space as the scent of the many flowers filled his nose. He had to liken it to the perfume Fleur and Gabby used, but it wasn't quite as sweet; certainly more floral. "Hand or arm?"
That made Gabby wrinkle her nose. "Fleur ees too old — ze arm loop ees what Mama and Papa do. I only want your 'and… unless, no, no ze way back ees better," Whatever she'd been about to say went unsaid as she grabbed up his hand, and started them down the little dirt path that'd see them out of the miniature park-like space.
Naturally, Harry was curious, but he'd leave her be. It wasn't like he wouldn't find out on the way back as she'd said, besides, he liked surprises.
"How many times have you gone to the restaurant Fleur made reservations at?" Harry wanted to ask what her favourite dish was too, but he couldn't help but snicker when she started swinging their hands back and forth.
It was cute. She was cute.
And now after that snicker, he was grinning like an absolute dork.
Thankfully, Gabby was too after she'd started looking his way. So much so that her dimples were showing and the tip of her tongue was sticking out from between her lips. She tried to give an answer, but broke off, giggling and snorting and waving her free hand.
Eventually, and while Harry's grin grew into a wide, happy smile, Gabby managed to answer his question. She did so right about at the time the pair passed under the garden's wood-made archway that'd see them from a dirt path, to one that was cobbled. "Many. Fleur 'ad told you eet ees one of my favour'eetes?"
"I don't think she did, just that she'd made sure they knew we were coming. Made me wonder after you commented about the garden. Seemed like you liked the place a lot," Harry pulled her further to the left when he saw an older couple dressed elegantly and clearly lost in one another start to veer towards Gabby.
"Eet ees een my top ten," Gabrielle scrunched up her nose and furrowed her brow immediately after said words, and with her free hand, he noticed how she began to count silently, and to herself. Three or so seconds later, she gave a nod, and that look of thought left. "No, top zree — zere are too many spots we 'ave gone, but zees 'as to be one of ze best. One day, when you 'ave marr'eed a Veela, you weel 'ave to try ze food een ze commun'eety."
"Suppose I'll have to find a Veela then, won't I? There were two I was trying to marry earlier, but…"
Gabby had that pretty blush of hers about her, and looked ahead as it began to spread. "You 'ave to be good to me, remember? Fleur 'ad told you." The pout she had was noticeable even if he failed to see more than the side of her face.
"Fine, fine, I'll be good," Harry brushed aside a particularly low-hanging branch with a wave of his hand, and held it there as he and Gabby passed it by. The thanks she gave was shyly said, and struck him again as entirely too adorable and seraphic. "That's the restaurant up ahead, yeah? Looks a bit different from the ground."
With that redness still prominent, she looked up, seemingly forgetting her embarrassment as her eyes sought out the place he mentioned. When he saw her vision settle on it, recognition was clear to see. "Eet ees," She increased their pace, but not by way of running, but rather, skipping; Harry had to jog to keep pace with her. "I know eet ees not much to look at from ze outdoors. Eet was a 'ouse before a restaurant, but een ze place eet ees as par— perfect as our Chateau."
Harry slowed down when Gabrielle did as they reached the path that led to the double-door entryway. As she'd said and even despite the pillars of the place, their surroundings made it look like a house that's had vines growing over it for years… vines that seemed to have various flowers blooming thereon, and served to make the place very woodsy.
It almost reminded Harry of a small pub in the countryside. Quiet, peaceful, close to nature. He liked it. "It has its own charm, I'd say."
"Eet ees better zan ze places weez too much decor or zose zat are too formal," Gabby wiggled the fingers of her hand that had hold of his, resulting in a little tickling sensation that had him involuntarily pull her closer.
When he did so, she stared up at him with wide, doe-like eyes. That changed after a few seconds, her look morphing into a cheeky little half-smile as her other hand wrapped around him. She pulled herself close and let out a deep breath, the warm air penetrating the shirt he wore.
So that's how Fleur feels when we cuddle.
The door to the place opened, and the sound of it doing so made Gabby quickly jolt back from him. If the elderly couple that chose that moment to make their exit noticed how close she and Harry had been, they didn't feel the need to give them the stink eye or show some other semblance of the fact they'd seen as much.
Harry dipped his head to the older man when he kept the door held open, and very quickly slipped his hand from Gabrielle's so as to get the door for her. The man returned the nod when he passed the door off to Harry and said something in French to the woman, who looked past him, to Harry and Gabby as the latter slipped inside with a glance up at the former.
He saw and heard nothing more of the pair when Gabby grabbed his hand and pulled him inside after her. The quickness with which she saw her fingers interlaced with his was quite impressive, as was the way she navigated the place. Harry could tell by her movement alone she was familiar with its twists and turns, and he could tell that she was just as familiar with the staff when she called out to a blonde woman behind the counter.
French as it was, he — more or less — understood what she'd said; Harry and her were there for the Delacour reservation.
That struck him as odd given the casual, homely feel of the dining space and the many open tables thereabout. It wasn't remotely like the typical place they'd gone, which most oft favoured wide, open and 'modern' interiors.
"Got a special table, Gabby?" Harry saw towards the back of the building there was a space for outdoor dining. From the glimpse he'd gotten before she tugged his hand again, it too seemed to be some sort of small, well-kept garden.
"All of ze tables 'ere are razzer private, but zere are special ones for zose zat need zem," Gabby gestured to herself as if that was all the explanation that was needed. "Ze owners 'ave Veela een ze fa—"
Gabby was cut off when a woman — clearly a Veela — came down a set of stairs neatly tucked away in the back right corner and hidden behind an indoor hedgerow, and called out to her. "Ees zat my leetle Gabby I 'ear?"
Immediately, a bright, happy smile formed on her face, and with a hand still holding Harry's, she all but sprinted towards the older woman.
Already, and without needing to taste so much as a bite of food, he could see why this place was a favourite of hers.
Nearly twenty minutes later, the pair were sitting in an upstairs room with a commanding view of the back garden he'd caught a glimpse of earlier. The woman — an Aunt he hadn't yet met — had insisted that family must be given one of the best rooms she had to offer, and so she'd pulled the pair up the stairs she'd come down and saw them to where they currently were.
The entire journey to said room, which had taken all of half a minute, had showcased more of the woodsy design the place had gone for. So much so that vines and tendrils crawled along the walls, with flowers blooming whensoever one walked near, and the ceiling of the place was enchanted just like that of the Hogwarts great hall. It imitated the sky above perfectly, and shed most of the light which they'd used to dine.
If that wasn't sufficient enough, there was always the candle in the centre of the table they were seated at.
"You can see anozzer reason why 'ere ees one of my favour'eete places, no?" Gabby seemed a smidge embarrassed, even if her aunt hadn't teased her nearly as viciously as her mom or dad oft did.
Really, there was only one comment made in regards to marriage, and by now, she was a seasoned veteran regarding those.
"I can. It makes sense how you know so much about the place too, if your aunt has a hand in it," Harry nodded towards the window. "Want me to open it?"
She gave him a small nod, and then sat up in her seat. In the faint glow from the moon that'd only just risen above, she looked every bit as divine as she and Fleur had when they'd been walking the lamp-lit streets.
"My aunt ees not 'ere all zat often, but ze staff and ozzers are known to us. Fleur even 'as ze Floo access — zere was a time she would demand zat Mama and Papa breeng us 'ere once a week," Gabby pouted at him. "You don't zeenk I am a baby, do you? Now zat you know ze place ees owned by my aunt and 'er 'usband?"
Harry snickered and leaned across the table, grabbing one of her hands as it rested thereatop. "I think it's pretty wicked," He gestured around, and then to the window that he'd opened with a flick of his hand upon her nod. "Almost as beautiful as your family's Chateau and it serves all the food we could want? I suppose it helps I have a right beautiful date too."
That seemed to please her twice over and so she leaned forward, eager to clasp the hand that had a hold of hers with her second. In doing so, she bumped the covered table and caused a bit of water to splash from her glass.
Gabby huffed, the force of it sending her windblown hair all over the place as she rose from the booth and swept around until she stood right beside him. From there, she slid into the space that remained free and saddled right up to his side. "You are a charmer, 'Arry," She prodded his chest. "Now, my seester told me zat you are fond of Bouillabaisse?"
That drew a snort from him. "Did she?"
"Ees eet not true?" Gabby furrowed her brow and looked up at him from where she was nestled against him.
Merlin, she could be so innocent and demure at times; other moments would find her a teasing temptress like her sister.
"I didn't mind it at Hogwarts," He tapped the menu with one hand — the one that wasn't wrapped around the bird snuggled against him. "Between us, I can only make out bits and pieces of the menu, so I'll have to rely on you."
"Oua— yay!" Gabby plucked the menu he'd tapped, and held it aloft before them as she wiggled against him, finding a comfortable position. "We weel start weez an appetiser, and zen I weel tell you all about ze entrees you weel enjoy. Trust me, I can tell your tastes by now."
He had no doubt about that.
"Merlin," Harry leaned back and brought Gabrielle with him, the pair reclining in the booth whilst they fully extended their legs.
They'd had more than their fill of food, and there was still one last course to come; dessert. Like when it came to the main courses and appetisers they'd ordered, Gabby had given her expert advice, and now, whilst in a food-coma, the pair awaited their tarte bourdaloue.
"Would you extend ze booz?" Gabby asked, peering up at him with a content and food-tired expression on her face.
"Fancy a lay down?" Harry did as she asked whilst he posed a question of his own.
Gabby yawned, and with her second hand brought around, pushed him down so that he too had laid across it. Happy tucked between the back of the booth and Harry, she pushed her head into his chest, and let out a sigh. "Just unteel ze dessert ees 'ere," She pulled out her wand, and saw a blanket cover them a second prior to her pushing the table farther away. "You are warmer zan Fleur, but much 'arder."
He let her manoeuvre about his arm as she used it for her temporary pillow, and chuckled, the action nearly making him groan from how full he was. "I'd hope I'm warmer than Fleur," Harry paused his words as he used the arm she'd captured to run a finger down her arm; he felt her shiver in response. He wasn't even trying to tease her either, he was curious about how her ice had progressed. "You're not very cold though, are you?"
"Not very, no," Gabby yawned a second time, and pouted out her bottom lip. "Not as long as I 'ave my 'eater 'ere weez me. My ice ees not a problem yet, but Fleur tells me eet could be a matter of time."
Harry opened his mouth, and then he paused when he heard the tell-tale signs of a person approaching. He wondered if Gabby would jolt just as she'd done at the entrance, but she was either too comfortable or too full to move that fast, and so she remained tucked where she was.
"Your heater has a question about that dessert—" Harry said as he slowly rose from where they were laying, bringing her up with him despite the protests and indignant squeaks she gave. "— What'd you say it was?"
Gabby folded her arms and fixed him with a faux look of sulking. "A surprise zat you weel enjoy."
The person, their waitress, pushed open the door and smiled at the pair as a tray floated in behind her along with two small plates. "Ze tarte bourdaloue, mees Delacour, meester Potter," She looked between them, a cocked head and that smile still on her face. "Ees zere any'zeeng else I can get for you?"
Harry cast a look at Gabrielle, and when she shook her head, so too did he. "No, thank you — actually, the bill, please."
With a nod, the woman was off, back out the door which she closed behind her. That left Harry and Gabrielle with the dessert they'd just been brought, and so he set his eyes thereon as Gabby further righted herself beside him.
It looked sort of pie-like, but with pears stuck about in it and all sliced up. There was a nut or something of that ilk atop it too, along with the white, powdery type of sugar.
"You weel love eet," Gabby's words came as she finally finished readjusting her clothes after resting atop him. She'd even done something to the many errant strands of hair, seeing them reorganised and not nearly as wild as they'd previously been. "Whatever you don't eat, we weel breeng back to ze Chateau and 'ave een ze night."
"Deal." Harry did so enjoy the little late-night snack runs he'd go on with Fleur or Gabby.
The pair then dug-in to their tasty dessert, with Harry serving Gabrielle a slice before he took one for himself. She'd been very insistent that the piece she had was one in which a whole, sliced pear was present. As for Harry, he fancied a mix of pear and the filling in equal parts rather than the former overpowering the latter.
"Mmmh," Gabby wiggled against him as she took her first bite. The pleased noises and the kicking of her feet under the table as she chewed told him just what she thought of the sweet she'd picked out.
He went in to take a bite, but Gabby stopped him with one small hand very quickly taking hold of his wrist. When he looked down at her with a raised brow, curious as to why she'd stopped him, she batted her eyes at him and reached across him.
"Eet ees a date, no?" Gabby didn't wait for him to answer. She grabbed his fork as he noticed her cheeks begin to flush, used it as a knife until she had a sizable bite, and raised it to his mouth. "Open."
The cuteness with which she'd said the word made him do just as she'd asked, and so a moment later, as he savoured the many flavours, he reckoned he was right thankful — thankful this had been served last; there'd have been nothing to take back otherwise.