Part 16

FLEUR POV

It became clear that Fleur didn't know Hermione as well as she thought during Christmas. Fleur had only known the brunette as a shy, overly intelligent and modest person. It turned out that the Englishwoman could also be spontaneous. Especially when Fleur was attacked by snowballs when she left the house, trying to get through the snowdrifts towards the Delacour residence. She also noticed that the sidewalk was partially cleared, and a shovel was lying abandoned in the snow. She dusted off her jacket and prepared a snowball to throw it towards Hermione hiding behind a bush. 'I'll get you in a moment, ma cherie!' She shouted, smiling as she did so. She heard the brunette giggle. The battle lasted a few minutes before Fleur surprised her wife and, coming up behind her, pushed her into the snow. She didn't anticipate how agile the other woman was, and after a moment she was lying on her, drowning in a wave of laughter that vibrated inside her like a refreshing note bringing joy and relief. The laughter stopped when they saw how close their faces were. Hermione was blushing from the cold and her freckles on her cheeks were highlighted. She was also wearing an old Hogwarts school cap in the red color of Gryffindor, and Fleur found it totally adorable at that moment. 'You're staring.' Teased Hermione. Fleur was as if hypnotized, without blinking she brought her lips closer to the brunette's, searching for an objection in her eyes, but she didn't find it, so she gently kissed her on the lips. Hermione hummed with appreciation. Fleur, not wanting to push her luck, moved away and stood up slowly. They both stood in silence for a moment, admiring the snow falling on them. 'You know we have magic, right? We can shovel the sidewalk in a second.' Fleur said, smiling slightly. 'I like doing it manually.' Hermione sighed, her eyes saddening. 'I used to do it with my dad whenever it snowed. We each had our own shovel. I liked doing it.'

Fleur's heart ached for the brunette. 'Did you think about finding them after the war?' She asked gently. 'And not just once. In the end I decided that maybe it would be better this way, you know? I have a feeling they wouldn't forgive me for enchanting them and sending them to Australia. Besides... I don't even live in London anymore, so why should I interfere in their new lives? And so, because of Hogwarts, a rift had formed between us. They didn't understand my life, magic, and I stopped being interested in theirs... I was away from home for most of the year and we learned to live separately.' Hermione said openly. 'Thank you for wanting to share this with me.' Fleur mumbled, reaching for her wife's hand and squeezing it lightly. 'We should clear the snow though if we want to make it to my parents' for dinner.' 'Yes, Gabrielle was already there this morning to leave a present for Victoire under the tree.' FLeur raised her eyes to Hermione. 'Gabrielle was there? Oh yes...' She nodded. 'Christmas break at Beauxbatons...' She cleared her throat and added involuntarily. 'You'll have such a good time with my family tonight, I'm afraid of what my sister will do to me. She'll either ignore me or insult me.' Fleur reached for the other shovel and began to clear the snow furiously. She heard Hermione follow her. 'Gabrielle loves you, as does the rest of your family. She just needs time.' Hermione said softly as they caught up. 'Oh yes... the whole family loves me. Especially Aurelie... and the rest of this village. They don't attack me just because I'm Delacour and you're my wife.' 'What's that supposed to mean?' The brunette stopped, leaning on her shovel. 'Do you think I don't see how they look at you? You're an extraordinary woman, Hermione. Your magic is strong and alluring. Every Veela can sense it and desire you. My cousin wouldn't have proposed a relationship with you otherwise.' Fleur chuckled humorlessly. Hermione didn't move. Fleur dug the shovel into the snow deeper and faster, as if the snow threatened her too. 'How do you know about Aurelie?' 'It's not hard to guess why she's so hurt now. She can't stand that you chose a relationship with me despite everything. Regardless of the circumstances.' 'It's hard to blame her.' Hermione said quietly. 'You've taken away the woman she cared about for the second time.' 'You're mine! I didn't take anything from her! She was the one who tried to take you away from me!' Fleur growled suddenly feeling furious and possessive towards Hermione. Her Veela had woken up again, ready to fight for her mate. This time Fleur gave in to her anger. Cecile keeps telling her to come to terms with her nature, doesn't she? She looked at Hermione, who was watching her with an unreadable expression on her face. 'We better hurry. I wonder what Christmas at the Delacours' is like.' She said as she went back to work.

Fleur's heart was pounding as she watched Hermione turn away and return to shoveling snow. The snowstorm of emotions swirling inside her felt heavier than the winter chill biting at her skin. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the surge of possessiveness that had flared moments ago. The Veela part of her was always there, simmering under the surface, but moments like these reminded her how deeply intertwined it was with her emotions—and how it could bubble over uncontrollably.

She sighed, pushing the snow aside with deliberate force. Hermione was right; they didn't have time to dwell on this right now. Christmas dinner at her parents' home was looming, and Fleur knew it would be a delicate dance of strained conversations and unspoken grievances, particularly with Gabrielle.

By the time they finished clearing the path, the air between them had settled into a tentative peace. Fleur glanced at Hermione, who was brushing snow off her jacket. She felt a pang of guilt for losing her composure earlier.

"Hermione," Fleur began softly, stepping closer. "I'm sorry for what I said. About Aurelie, about—everything. I... struggle sometimes to keep the Veela side of me in check."

Hermione paused, her brown eyes meeting Fleur's. There was no anger there, only a quiet understanding. "I know, Fleur. I've always known. And I don't blame you for feeling the way you do. But I chose this. Remember that."

Fleur swallowed hard and nodded, her throat tight. She wanted to say more, to promise Hermione that she would do better, but the words felt stuck. Instead, she reached out and tucked a loose strand of Hermione's hair behind her ear, letting her touch say what her voice couldn't.

Hermione gave her a small smile, and the tension in Fleur's chest eased slightly.

Arriving at the Delacour residence felt like stepping into a memory, one that was both familiar and unnervingly distant. The house was warm and inviting, with the scent of roasted chestnuts and spices wafting through the air. Victoire ran ahead of them, eager to see the Christmas tree and her grandparents.

Apolline greeted them at the door, enveloping Hermione in a warm hug and pressing kisses to Fleur's cheeks. "You made it just in time! Dinner is nearly ready."

"Where's Gabrielle?" Fleur asked, trying to sound casual.

"She's in the sitting room with your father. And, Fleur, please—" Apolline's voice softened as she touched her daughter's arm. "Be patient with her."

Fleur nodded stiffly, her jaw tightening. Patience was not her strong suit, especially when it came to Gabrielle.

The dinner table was a picture of festive cheer. Victoire was seated between Apolline and Hermione, chattering animatedly about the snowball fight. Fleur found herself across from Gabrielle, who was uncharacteristically quiet, her gaze focused on her plate. The tension between them was palpable, but neither made an effort to address it. Aurelie and Cecile were seated on the end of the table talking quietly. Fleur noticed the glances Aurelie was throwing at Hermione, but her wife was too busy feeding Victoire to notice.

It was Hermione who broke the silence, asking Gabrielle about her studies at Beauxbatons. Gabrielle responded politely but kept her answers short, avoiding Fleur's eyes. Fleur's chest tightened with frustration, but she forced herself to remain calm.

''Madame Maxime asked me to ask if you'd like to join one of our Defense Against the Dark Arts dueling lessons.' Gabrielle turned to Hermione, who raised her eyebrows in surprise. 'Me? What would I be doing there?' 'Isn't it obvious? The wizarding community of France already knows that Golden Girl lives here.' Aurelie winked at her, smiling. Fleur's knuckles went white. 'Please Hermione, agree! My friends don't believe me when I tell them we're family.' Gabrielle begged. 'Hmm.. all right.' Hermione nodded, glancing at Fleur, who smiled encouragingly. 'Thanks! I'll send an owl to Madame...' 'Gabrielle, not so fast.' Armand said, his voice serious. 'You know the rules - no mail. You know the Ministry intercepts all correspondence. We don't want Hermione's whereabouts known. For her own safety.' 'Yes, Dad...' Gabrielle mumbled, returning to her dessert. 'They know where I am anyway, I had to register.' Hermione said, wiping her mouth with a tissue. Fleur noticed Aurelie licking her lips, noticing the chocolate in the corner of the brunette's mouth. How could her wife be so unaware of Veelas' instincts? She was in a village full of predators! It was beyond her comprehension. 'Yes, my dear, but no one needs to know you'll be at the Academy.' Explained Apolline, casting a worried glance at Fleur. The young Veela knew the reason - Hermione was no longer safe, no longer protected by immunity as a Golden Girl since she married Fleur... she was an outcast like the rest of the reserve. Fleur lost her appetite, pushing her plate away from her. 'Why?' Hermione inquired. 'You don't want reporters following you around, do you?' Armand joked, trying to be cheerful. 'Aurelie, how's your project going? Did it work?' He asked, changing the subject. Hermione looked like she wanted to say something but fell silent as she listened to Aurelie's story about her new project. 'Pretty good, I think I'll try it next week.' Her cousin replied cheerfully. 'What are you working on now?' The Englishwoman was immediately interested. Fleur scoffed inwardly.

'On our first project.' Aurelie replied calmly, as if nothing had happened, although her eyes were shining. Hermione put down the cutlery with a bang. 'Did you manage?!' She almost screamed. 'I think so.' Aurelie said looking directly at the brunette. There was mutual understanding in their gazes and Fleur felt jealousy and sadness that she couldn't revive Hermione's feelings for each other. 'And what are we talking about?' Apolline asked. 'About a way to abandon the bond.' Aurelie said lightly, Fleur's heart sank. So Hermione wanted to destroy their bond before they got married? 'Such a thing is not possible.' Apolline snorted. 'Yes, it is.' Aurelie matched looking at her aunt with reluctance. 'Next week I intend to test it on myself.' 'You didn't go through the unification process.' How can you be sure that it works on people who are already in a relationship?' 'I think the potion is strong enough to do it. We'll see.' 'That's amazing!' Hermione was excited. So after dinner Fleur took care of Victoire, looking from the corner at her wife discussing a new project with Aurelie. 'Their passion for knowledge is the only thing that connects them, ma fille.' Apolline said gently. 'It's to you that he comes home every day.' 'Rather to Victoire, don't fool yourself.' Gabrielle said, approaching them and eating chocolates. 'Gabrielle!' Her mother admonished her in a warning tone. 'What? I'm telling the truth. If Bill hadn't turned out to be the son of a bitch I thought he was at the beginning, Fleur would still be with him like a trained pet, and Hermione would probably have married Aurelie by now. And maybe it would be better... at least she would save herself the heartbreak of Fleur running away again.' 'I'm not going to run away!' Fleur snapped. 'I know I messed up, but I'm changing!' 'You can tell Hermione that, but when the things gets tough you'll just run away like you always do. You never wanted to live here, Fleur.' Gabrielle shrugged. 'How long before you realize you're suffocating here and go after the next loser who falls for your charms?' Fleur didn't respond, drowning out the scolding Apolline was giving her younger daughter. The blonde could feel her Veela alert, she immediately turned her gaze to the brunette, who was still having a heated discussion, completely unaware of Aurelie's hand on her forearm and how close they were standing. She sighed heavily, wondering if Gabrielle wasn't right... maybe it would really be better to run away, to abandon Hermione again, never to return, so that the brunette could finally forget about her and start living truly, anew? But looking at the Englishwoman's concentrated face and her brown eyes shining in the fire, she decided that maybe she could stay a little longer?