Chapter 13: Slytherin vs. Gryffindor
Fleur got up to find that she couldn't move from her bed, for it was covered in red roses. And worse, there was an owl sleeping on her pillow! She snatched a note from the owl's mouth and it screeched in protest. Fleur's face expression became annoyed as she read the note:
To the most beautiful girl in the whole wizarding world. Hope you like it. Please forgive me. With all the love in the world and then some,
Oliver
She reached for the owl's shiny badge:
"Venus"
"Guys and poetry. `Zey suck at it!" Fleur cursed, getting up from her bed in a flash and crushing all the red roses in the process. As soon as she was dressed, she made her way into the Gryffindor common room. She made record time, for as she sat on the couch and settled to wait for Hermione, her best friend came out of Harry's room.
" `Ermione, can I `ave a word?" She stood up. Hermione smiled and nodded, sitting down next to her.
"What's up?" she asked, but she knew perfectly well what this was about. Harry had told her all about it just last night, prior to their other nightly activity.
"Wood told `Arry, didn't `e?"
"Yes. And Harry told me. Why didn't you tell me in the first place Fleur?"
"I…didn't want to bozer you wiz my problems." Fleur lowered her head.
"You're not a bother. You should know that by now. Still want to talk about it?" Hermione patted her shoulder.
"It was `zat all team practice day. Practice was over, so I changed. We were supposed to spend time alone, so I went back to the pitch. Darcelle was `itting on `im and I just got `zere in time before she was able to kiss `im. I know it wasn't `is fault. `E's just like `zat, buys everyzing you tell `im sometimes, and I suppose Darcelle convinced `im to give `im an after practice advice on `Quidditch'. I just got so upset `zat Darcele `ad gotten what she wanted `zat I didn't even let `im explain. We argued, well, actually, I argued and…" Fleur's voice was cut off by her tears.
Hermione embraced her in gentle a hug.
"It's okay," she tried to calm her, but Fleur pulled away instantly.
" `Ze problem is Dracelle is right."
"What do you mean?"
"She told me `zat I was finally in love and what burned me `ze most was `ze `zought of not being able to retain Oliver like any ozer man I've ever been wiz. She's right. I've always been able to get any man I ever wanted, but Oliver's different. I even went `zrough Quidditch and mud just to get `im to notice me and I just despair at the `zought of `im being wiz somebody else. I love `im, and I'm scared of losing `im!" Fleur's
sobs got louder and she threw herself into Hermione's arms, crying uncontrollably.
"It's okay, it's all right. You won't lose him." Hermione tried in vain to calm her.
She was interrupted, however, by Harry's shouts.
"Crookshanks! Out! Jeez!"
"What's going on?" Fleur's lips curled up as a tiny laugh escaped them.
"Oh, Crookshanks likes him a little too much."
* * * *
Finally, the first Quidditch match after Christmas took place. Hermione went with Fleur to the locker room, so she could wish Harry good luck. Fleur just waited in a corner.
Hermione smiled as she spotted Harry and jumped at him, kissing him passionately which, of course, was most welcomed by him.
"What was that for?" Harry caught his breath, looking at his beautiful girlfriend in amazement.
"Just for good luck," Hermione smiled.
"Well then, I can't wait to see what you give me if Gryffindor wins the match," Harry grinned.
"You'll just have to wait and find out, won't you?"
Harry embraced her once more, brushed her lips softly and then took possession of his Firebolt. He was more than ready for the match and rest assured, twice as motivated.
* * * *
But the game was unbearable for Fleur. No, more unbearable was the fact that Ravenclaw played the winner tomorrow, and if it was Gryffindor…
Her thoughts were briefly interrupted when she hear Hermione cheering for Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team.
The game was finally over when Harry beat Malfoy to the snitch, giving Gryffindor yet another victory. Hermione went over to the pitch, so she could properly congratulate the team and her boyfriend. Fleur, on the other hand, disappeared from the stadium in a second. But this didn't go unnoticed by the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, who went after her.
Harry and Hermione shared another kiss on the pitch as Hermione promised him a surprise for that same night.
After Harry changed, he and Hermione walked, hand in hand, to their favorite spot by the lake. And that was when Hermione became aware that Fleur was nowhere to be seen.
****
Oliver caught Fleur alone in the Ravenclaw common room, for the students hadn't yet come up to their houses. As the Head Boy, he was privy to all the houses' passwords and changes, just in case. And there she was…reading?
"Missed you at practice yesterday," he remarked, bringing her attention to him. Yesterday had been the last all team practice before the Quidditch games started for the semester, and Fleur hadn't showed up.
The part-Veela shut her book and gave him an annoyed look. Of all the subjects in the world he had to approach her with Quidditch. Typical.
"So?" her voice was as cold as ice.
"Didn't you miss me too?" his voice was gentle against hers.
"It doesn't matter." She sighed. She did miss him. Again, Oliver blew her patience.
"It's not like you to miss a Quidditch practice. If it was for me…"
" `Zat's all you care about isn't it? Damn Quidditch game!!" she stood up and threw her book to the floor.
"Fleur, you know that's not true! I love you!" he confessed.
"Well, itz about time you knew somezing." She approached him. "I'm not going to Quidditch practice so I can see Darcelle all over you again. Plus, I don't even give a damn about Quidditch! "
"What?" Oliver was puzzled.
" `Zat's right. I don't care about Quidditch, nor for the Quaffle, Chasers and all `zat crap. I only entered `ze team so I could be close to you."
"What? You did all that just to get to me?" Oliver should have been angry at this revelation, but strangely enough, he wasn't. He was flattered.
"It doesn't matter now."
"It matters to me!" Oliver took a step closer to her and tried to kiss her, but she turned her face away.
"Congratulations on your team's victory and good luck tomorrow. Excuse me."
Fleur fought back her tears as she climbed out of the portrait hole. Oliver sighed, cursing his luck. All he wanted right now was to kiss her.
****
Night came and with it, Harry's anxiety to find out what Hermione had planned for the night.
" `Ermione, what brings you?" Fleur opened her door to find her best friend beaming at her. She was glad to see her so happy.
"I was wondering if you would be so kind as to take care of Crookshanks tonight. I don't want him to ruin Harry's evening."
"Of course. What do you `ave planned?" Fleur asked curiously. Hermione just grinned.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Well all right. But I want all `ze details tomorrow."
"You'll have them. By the way, are you prepared for the Quidditch game tomorrow?"
"Sure `zing. Itz nozing." But Hermione knew her friend all too well.
"You can't lie to me. I saw Oliver after the game. He looked pretty upset."
"I told `im `ze truz." Hermione's eyes widened.
"You did? How did he…"
"You know `Ermione, I don't want to talk about `zis, please."
"As you wish." Hermione glanced at the common room's clock. "Oh! It's getting late! Got to go. I got Ron to distract Harry and he sucks at it!"
"Don't do anyzing I wouldn't do," Fleur grinned maliciously.
"Oh, before I leave, can I ask you a personal question?"
"As long as it isn't about Oliver."
"Which…under gown would you choose were you in my place? Red or black?" Fleur looked at her best friend with amusement. When did know-it-all Hermione Granger start asking this type of advise? But, nevertheless, she answered.
"Black. Definitely black. It will drive Harry nuts as sure as brooms fly."
"Okay. Thanks."
Simultaneously, Oliver came running towards Hermione.
"Hermione, Ron said to tell you to hurry up. He's going berserk," he said in a hurried tone.
"In a minute! Bye Fleur."
Hermione smiled at her friend and left, leaving her face to face with the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, whose eyes were locked on hers. But before he could say a word to her, she closed the door in his face.
****
Fleur had a cold shower that night. But she couldn't fully enjoy her bath time. She was putting a towel around her body when the door opened abruptly.
"Damn it Wood! Don't you know `ow to knock?" she asked, outraged. "I'm not even dressed!"
"Sorry, but you forgot Hermione's cat and he was scratching me," Oliver remarked.
"Oh, well, `zanks." Oliver kept his gaze fixed on her. Her face was still wet and her hair was dripping. She was a sight indeed. "You know your way out."
When Oliver left, Fleur pulled on her nightgown and took Crookshanks in her arms. She fell into a peaceful slumber minutes later.
* * * *
Hermione was finished lightning the candles in Harry's room. As expected, Harry finally entered, stopping dead in his tracks as he took in the masterpiece that was Hermione's room.
The room was dark, except for the candles that gave it a dim appearance and on the pillow rested a plate containing chocolate covered strawberries. At the night table stood two goblets with a bottle of Butterbeer behind them.
But the real masterpiece lay on the edge on the bed. Hermione was dressed in a thin, layered black nightgown, which accentuated all her curves and her silky hair was combed to her shoulders. She looked breathtaking.
"Well, are you going to stand there all night or would you care to begin your lovemaking?" Hermione's voice brought him back to reality.
Harry took her in his arms and crushed his lips against hers, savoring her sweet, strawberry taste. But he stopped as he eased her down on bed.
"Where's your nice little cat?" his voice sounded slightly sarcastic.
"Taken care of," Hermione whispered, pulling him back to her.
Suffice to say that Harry enjoyed his surprise a little too much. It was a night to
remember.
A/N: So, I take it you like H/Hr fluff? Hey! This is Portkey! It should be illegal not to put it! See you next time!
Caroline