Play Date Chapter 4

Fleur leaned against the kitchen counter. Bill was somewhere outside, swimming, possibly. She was having a hard time caring. It had been a long time since she had a proper French Roast cup of coffee, but she couldn't enjoy it. Her thoughts were with Harry. She wished she could have taken Victorie to see them. She wanted her 'Di-di'.

Victorie called Bill 'Daddy' but that was only after a lot of helping develop the pronunciation. Fleur was more than aware that people judged her just as much for her accent as they did from her heritage, and she worked to make sure that Victorie didn't have one. Originally, the little girl would say 'Di-di'.

Thankfully, Fleur was quick to point out that was what she called Teddy. It was a lie, but no one else knew that. Bill was never around. Gabrielle had just finished school and hadn't spent enough time with her niece to know. Luckily, her parents had never been to Harry's home to hear what Victorie actually called Teddy.

Victorie wanted Harry, and it was breaking Fleur's heart. Her little girl had already made the connection. So far, she only tolerated Bill's attention when Fleur was in the room. Victorie was noticeably fussier when he tried to hold her or got too close.

Fleur didn't blame her. It wasn't just the Veela in her that was tired of him. Bill was a good match on paper. Her allure had minimal impact on his behavior, he was a passable lover, and he provided for the family. In reality, he was never around, the time they spent together was usually a moment away from arguing, and he was barely a passable lover. Bill had missed her birthday, which she understood. It was a rare case that he could just pop back home in the middle of a job. However, he also missed her daughter's birthday twice, and had to leave directly after dinner last Christmas.

Until recently, Victorie had adored him. Though her attention was growing thin as she got older. This surprise trip to see her family had been rough. Bill didn't seem how short Fleur had been with him. He had commented a couple of times that Victorie was grumpy, but simply handed her off to Gabrielle or Fleur. The first night they spent together was thoroughly disappointing, and that was compared to their previous times being intimate. If she thought of his performance when compared to Harry, it was pathetic.

It all came back to Harry. She wasn't certain she was pregnant, but there was a very good chance. The instinctual transformation during sex was hard to ignore. It was talked about, but it was usually mentioned only in passing. Finding a proper mate that could handle the transformation was almost a myth these days. Though it wouldn't be the first time that Harry had proved that he was indeed something special.

She could have easily written off the situation as a misunderstanding. Except, that didn't work since it hadn't been the only time they had slept together. That sweet, accidental kiss had shined a light on the feelings she had been hiding for so long. Fleur had confessed her love for him.

Fleur perked up when she heard the door in the sitting room open. It was the one connected to the network, only people who were keyed in to the wards could use it without needing it to be unlocked. Only Gabrielle and Victorie had used it this morning and had been gone the majority of the day. They had gone to see Teddy and Harry.

She hurried to meet them, trying her best not to appear too impatient. Gabrielle had a dreamy smile on her face as she walked out to the hallway. It sent a spike of dread deep to Fleur's being. She watched as her little sister seemed to float through the house to the room that had been set aside for Victorie. Fleur trailed behind, trying not to panic. She knew that look; she knew what caused that effect.

Being around Victorie muted some of her Veela nature. It happened naturally to any who were in proximity of their young. Right now, it didn't help matters. Fleur recognized the scent of her daughter, her sister, and the lingering scent of Harry's home, but there was something more to it. A stronger undertone that was aggravating her.

It wasn't until Gabrielle had put Victorie to bed that Fleur was able to get the full range. Gabrielle was covered in Harry's scent.

Fleur's eyes turned deep gold, she launched herself at her sister. Gabrielle reacted just as fast, tackling her to the ground. They attacked each other with claws and teeth, fighting like wild animals. One moment Fleur was about to take a bite out of Gabrielle's cheek and the next she was hovering in the air, immobilized.

Their mother watched from nearby with her wand out.

"What is going on?" Apolline asked.

Veela all had a familial resemblance. It took a strong wizard, or other magical creature, to truly alter the appearance of their offspring. As such, Apolline looked more like their older sister than their mother.

The stately Veela took a step forward. She stopped, now close enough to catch the scent. A sharp eye studied both of her daughters in turn.

"I have not had to separate you two in years." Apolline snapped. "Yet here you are, two grown women acting like children fighting over a toy."

"She… She…" Fleur growled as she glared at her sister. "She knows what she did."

Gabrielle looked incredibly smug.

"You two will have a civil discussion to settle this." Their mother ordered.

Apolline floated the two along the hallway until they reached the study. She set them on opposite sides of the room before locking the thick doors. Once that was done, she took a seat and released her daughters.

"Sit." She ordered.

Fleur huffed but listened. Gabrielle smiled primly as she took a seat.

"Hello, mother." Gabrielle said sweetly. "How was your day?'

"It was pleasant." Apolline answered. "Your father took me for a tour of the vineyards. They smell wonderful this time of the year."

"That does sound-" Gabrielle started to say.

"She slept with my mate!" Fleur cut in.

"He was mine first!" Gabrielle yelled back.

They both stopped as their mother raised her wand. She hadn't used any magic, but they knew she wasn't bluffing. Being frozen while listening to a lecture was not something that either wanted to experience again.

Apolline arced an eyebrow. "You slept with Bill?"

"No." Gabrielle scoffed. "I would never."

Apolline fixed her eyes on Fleur and waited.

"She slept with Harry." Fleur whispered.

Apolline looked to Gabrielle.

"No, I didn't." She said in a sing-song voice. "Not yet."

"But…" Fleur glared at her. "His scent is all over you."

"He let me borrow a shirt so that Victorie could cuddle it." Gabrielle explained offhandedly. "It may have accidentallyrubbed against me a few times."

"And why would Victorie need to cuddle his scent?" Apolline asked.

"Di-di means daddy." Fleur said with a sigh.

"Ah." Apolline said. "And you claim he is your mate why?"

"They had sex." Gabrielle cut in. "She knew I had claim to him."

"Gabby." Their mother chided. "A crush does not mean you claim him."

"But she knew." Gabrielle whined. "You know. She knows! He was to be mine. But no, the golden child has to claim the wizard I have wanted for years! She already has a husband. They have a child together."

"Gabrielle." Apolline snapped. "Stop acting like a child unless you want to be treated as one."

Gabby took her seat again.

"Sex with a man does not mean he is your mate." Apolline addressed Fleur. "I love your father, he is my mate, but I have many lovers. Your father would be a husk of a man if I did not."

"It was more than just sex." Fleur said softly.

Apolline waited for her to continue.

"I transformed." She whispered.

Apolline and Gabrielle gasped. The older Veela pointed her wand at Fleur, casting a quick charm. Fleur's lower stomach glowed. It was too early to tell the gender, but she was indeed pregnant. Gabrielle screamed, she hopped to her feet, and stormed to the doors. Only to find them locked in place.

"Let me out!" Gabrielle yelled.

"Sit down." Apolline ordered.

Gabrielle kicked the doors a few times. She tried the handle, but still, it didn't work. Fire erupted from her hands.

"Gabrielle." Her mother yelled. "Let go of your fire right now and sit down."

The younger Veela huffed. She grumbled as she stomped back over to her seat.

"You hold no love for Bill?" Apolline asked.

Fleur shook her head.

Apolline shifted her attention to Gabrielle. "You are set on Harry as your mate?"

"Yes, of course." Gabrielle snapped.

Apolline met her eyes. The younger Veela shrunk under the scrutiny.

"Yes, mother." Gabrielle said, much more subdued.

"Baring the child of another man while married is one of the many disgusting tales witches and wizards spread about Veela." Apolline spoke firmly as she set her eyes on Fleur. "You will not dirty yourself, or your children, by doing such a thing. It was clear you were finished with Bill before this happened. End your marriage immediately. After a time, join your mate."

Gabrielle yelled.

"Little one." Apolline snapped. "And what do you propose?"

"Harry will mate with me." Gabrielle answered. "Our child would be conceived while I am unattached to another and my claim on him would be legitimate."

Fleur glared at her little sister. Her fingers began to shift to claws.

"Have you already had sex with him?" Apolline asked.

"No." Gabrielle answered barely above a whisper. "I tried this morning, but he is in love."

Fleur visibly relaxed at that.

"He loves me?" She squeaked.

"Yes." Her sister rolled her eyes.

Apolline stood. She flicked her wand at the door. "We will speak with Harry tomorrow. No more fighting."

Fleur hopped to her feet. There was a bright smile on her face. She rushed over to Gabrielle.

"Tell me everything." Fleur's words came out fast and a little too loud.

"Fleur." Her mother cut in. "You need to speak with your husband."

The smile fell off of Fleur's face. She nodded solemnly.

"Gabrielle." Her mother shifted her stern gaze to the younger Veela. "Are you going to put your plans for the future aside to become a mother? You finished school less than a week ago."

Gabrielle shrunk a bit at that. Apolline left her daughters in the study.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Gabrielle asked.

She stared at her sister for a moment. It seemed like a genuine offer. There wasn't a hint of malice, or gloating.

"No." Fleur shook her head. "Could you stay with Victorie until we are finished speaking? I don't want her alone if there is yelling."

Gabrielle nodded.

Fleur held her head up high as she left the room. It wasn't hard to find Bill. He was in their room, packing. Frustration flared up in her chest.

"I'm sorry, babe." Bill said hurriedly. "I've got to get back to the site. The team came up against a nasty ward array that needs an experienced breaker."

"I want a divorce." Fleur stated.

Bill froze. He turned slowly to look at her. The expression on his face was one of pure confusion. It only made her angrier. How could he not understand?

"I know it's sudden, but it's my job." Bill sounded like he was explaining it to a child.

"It is always your job." Fleur snapped. "You have been at your mothers house more often than our home."

"I can't miss those dinners." Bill countered.

"But you can miss birthdays?" Fleur pressed. "Anniversary's?"

"That's not fair." Bill said as he finally stopped packing.

"Victorie has seen your brothers more in the last year than you." Fleur continued.

"But…" He searched for words. "Fine."

"Fine?" Fleur flinched. "Fine?"

"You're right. I haven't been around. It's not fair to you or Victorie." Bill said with a sigh. He turned back to packing.

Fleur felt herself bristle. She didn't have to look at her hands to know they had shifted to claws. This bastard wasn't even going to argue? He was just giving up. How did she ever marry this man?

"I've been fucking Harry." She snapped.

Bill froze. He turned to look at her. Fleur braced herself. It was stupid, and childish, but this was just too much. His casual dismissal was getting to her.

He nodded. "That makes sense. You're over there all the time."

"That's it?" Fleur yelled. "We've been together for three years. We have a child together!"

"Yeah." Bill shrugged. "I have to stop by Gringotts for a Port Key. I'll have the account manager contact you. Tell Victorie I love her."

Bill grabbed his suitcase and slipped by her. He was down the hallway before she could even reply. The floo flashed signaling his departure.

Fleur didn't move. She looked at the room. The few things he had brought were gone. It was like he had never been here in the first place. She didn't remember going to the other room. It wasn't until Gabrielle shook her shoulder that she even blinked.

"There wasn't any shouting." Gabrielle said. "That's good, right?"

Fleur shrugged. She sat on the bed next to her daughter. Slowly, she settled in beside her, cuddling the little girl close. The scent of Harry's shirt was soothing. Fleur drifted off to sleep.