Fic: "Not Fate" Chapter 21 R Fleur/Hermione
Author: Lash_Larue
Title: “Not Fate” Chapter 21 of ?
Pairing: Fleur/Hermione
Rating: R (mild)
Summary: Seminars, assignments, and reality checks
Warnings: Reference to past traumatic events
Word Count: 1560
Disclaimer: These characters belong to JK Rowling, except the ones like Linda Wilkes, who don’t.
“Not Fate”
Chapter Twenty-one
“You wanted to see me, Professor Granger?”
“Indeed, have a seat please, Mr. Staunton.” He sat.
“Professor Delacour’s seminar starts Monday, I hope you realize.”
“Yes Professor, I’m quite looking forward to it.”
“As well you should be. Tell me, why do you think that I am allowing you to attend?” Hermione asked.
It was on the tip of his tongue to say ‘My rugged good looks’, but even he wasn’t that foolish.
“My mother, I suppose, Professor,” he said honestly.
“Quite correct Mr. Staunton, you are indeed once again being granted an opportunity that you do not deserve, and did not earn, because of your mother. But it’s a bit different this time. This time it is not your mother’s checkbook that gets you this chance, but her heart. You see Mr. Staunton, for some reason that woman still has hopes for you, and she loves you a great deal, and for the sake of that love you are getting, again, an unearned privilege.”
Staunton wisely remained silent; he would save his crowing for later.
“It is also different because you are most assuredly going to have to earn the right to stay in this program. This is not going to be an opportunity for you to sit and stare at Professor Delacour. You will report to my classroom promptly at 8 AM the morning following each and every session of this seminar, where you will be tested on the previous day’s material. Should you miss a single session, skip or be late to a single exam, or fall below sixty percent on any of these tests that it shall be your sole privilege to take; you will be immediately barred from further sessions. You will also receive a failing grade on your transcript, not that that will concern you overmuch. Should you somehow adhere to these conditions you will then have the honor of sitting the final examination with your fellow students. Have you any questions?”
“This isn’t fair!” he blurted.
“It isn’t fair that you are attending at all. And please Mr. Staunton, if you aren’t even going to try, just don’t bother at all. It is also unfair that I am going to have to devote a fair bit of my free time to compiling and marking your special tests. That is all, Mr. Staunton; I shall regard your appearance at the first session as your acceptance of these conditions.” Hermione returned to her papers, Staunton stared for a brief moment and then walked out to floo call his mother.
~~~~
“Stop whining Roger,” Inez Staunton said in exasperation. “It wasn’t cute when you were five and it’s downright ludicrous now. You wanted in, I got you in. Man up, for crying out loud. It’s my fault for coddling you so long, and now that’s done too. I won’t let you starve, but if you screw this up you’ll have to settle for a job you can get on your own, got it?” She vanished from the fire.
“Oh, balls!” moaned Roger.
~~~~
“You’re here!” exclaimed Hermione as she rushed to Fleur and threw her arms around her.
“Oui,” agreed Fleur, “you are as sharp as ever, I see.”
It was a bit hard for either of them to see at the moment, but they didn’t mind.
“We have so much to do…” Hermione began.
“Tomorrow,” Fleur told her just before their lips met.
~~~~
Information had reached Gabrielle’s division that a pocket of surviving Death Eaters were planning to track down any former Order of the Phoenix members and supporters who had left the continent and were therefore absent the protections the surviving Order members and their confreres had in Europe.
“I believe that you will find this assignment gratifying, Gabrielle,” Killy said as he slid the folder across his desk to her. Even Gustav shivered a bit at the look that came to her face as she read the report.
“Most gratifying indeed, Chief Killy. Who is in charge of this matter?”
“This one is for you, Gabrielle; your promotion has come through. The teams are yours, take whom you wish. This sort of behaviour must be vigorously discouraged; we cannot have stray Death Eaters disturbing our friends overseas.”
“Certainement pas,” she agreed.
None of the expatriate members of the Order were ever aware that they had been potential targets for revenge.
After a large and heavy parcel was delivered anonymously to Malfoy Manor, none of them ever were again.
~~~~
Fleur and Hermione spent Sunday together finalizing things for Monday’s session, and they enjoyed working together nearly as much as sleeping in each others arms. There had been no incidents during the night, and both of them were deeply content. Even after Hermione had explained the situation regarding Roger Staunton.
“Very well, I of course support your decision, especially the reasons for it. We shall see how this child of privilege enjoys wetting his toes in the sea of reality, n’est ce pas?”
Ten AM Monday found eleven eager faces, and Roger Staunton, seated in the front rows of Hermione’s classroom.
“Witches and wizards, it is my great honor to present the visiting professor for this seminar on Advanced Charms Theory, Professor Fleur Delacour of Washington Magical Development.”
Fleur stood, and Hermione smiled at the expressions on the faces of the students.
“Thank you Professor Granger,” Fleur began, “I believe that all of you have the handout for this course, and I hope that you have read it thoroughly. The things that we shall study together are extremely advanced; indeed, a small part of what we will examine is still strictly experimental. What I hope that you will gain from this is a new appreciation of what magic can be, if you open yourself to new possibilities.” She gave her dazzling smile, and a girl in the front row whimpered a bit, but was politely ignored; if anyone other than Fleur or Hermione had even heard her that is.
“Let us begin…”
~~~~
“Congratulations Mr. Staunton, I’ll see you in class,” Hermione said as she returned his examination to him just prior to the start of the second session. Sixty-five percent.
“Thank you professor,” he said.
~~~~
“This is not St. Catherine’s,” Fleur admitted, but I like it here.”
“It will do,” Hermione admitted, “but I can kiss you on the beach at St. Catherine’s. I like it better there.”
“Moi aussi. Suddenly I have had enough sun, Professor Granger. Let us prepare for the final week of class.”
“As you say, Professor Delacour…”
~~~~
Twelve students sat the exam at the conclusion of the seminar, and Roger Staunton’s score placed him dead last of them, but he sat up all night staring at the first thing he had ever truly earned by his own efforts.
Roger Staunton never came to visit Hermione Granger in the years that she taught after his graduation. Never sent her a card or a letter. He did however finish with decent grades and enter a graduate program in business, and subsequently became a very effective head of Staunton Enterprises.
The very day that Roger Staunton assumed control of the empire that his father had built; Staunton Enterprises announced the construction of the Hermione Jean Granger Library at the Hawaiian Institute for Advanced Magical Studies. Hermione’s personal office within the library was a marvel, and contained memorabilia from many different witches and wizards. Prominent among them were eyeglasses from Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Harry Potter himself. There was a set of robes that had belonged to Severus Snape, and signed first editions of works by Adelthwaite Gamp and the original, albeit badly damaged, formula for the philosopher’s stone written in Nicholas Flamel’s own hand. There was a crystal ball with a large chip in it, unlabeled, but Hermione thought that she knew whose it was, a baton that Filius Flitwick had used to conduct the Hogwarts chorus. There was a desk with rambunctious tendencies that was secured to the wall by a tartan scarf, and a very old broomstick with a slender handle of silvery wood, a moth-gnawed tea cozy, and much more besides.
There was even a battered old diary with a hole through it, jammed into a small case in the corner with a hand-written card that said, “Not worth mentioning save as a bad example.”
The library itself was the envy of every institution in the magical world, and Hermione even got over being embarrassed by the statue of herself in the entry way that depicted her sitting at her desk ‘explaining’ something. It was a pose that all of her students knew very well.
Staunton Enterprises also held a majority interest in Magicorp, and the contract that was eventually signed by Magicorp, WMD, and Fleur Isabelle Delacour was a positive wonder of fairness.
The little punk really did know how to say thank you after all.
~~~~
“I don’t want you to leave,” Hermione admitted as she held Fleur tightly.
“I don’t want to leave you,” Fleur returned, “but I confess that I miss my trees. You must come and meet them. There is the upcoming American Thanksgiving holiday…”
“I’ll be there,” promised Hermione.
“And I shall be thankful,” Fleur told her, just before she knelt and began to unfasten Hermione’s jeans. “Once more please, just for love,” she breathed against the skin of Hermione’s belly.
Chapter 22 - http://lash-larue.livejournal.com/143112.html#cutid1
Title: “Not Fate” Chapter 21 of ?
Pairing: Fleur/Hermione
Rating: R (mild)
Summary: Seminars, assignments, and reality checks
Warnings: Reference to past traumatic events
Word Count: 1560
Disclaimer: These characters belong to JK Rowling, except the ones like Linda Wilkes, who don’t.
“Not Fate”
Chapter Twenty-one
“You wanted to see me, Professor Granger?”
“Indeed, have a seat please, Mr. Staunton.” He sat.
“Professor Delacour’s seminar starts Monday, I hope you realize.”
“Yes Professor, I’m quite looking forward to it.”
“As well you should be. Tell me, why do you think that I am allowing you to attend?” Hermione asked.
It was on the tip of his tongue to say ‘My rugged good looks’, but even he wasn’t that foolish.
“My mother, I suppose, Professor,” he said honestly.
“Quite correct Mr. Staunton, you are indeed once again being granted an opportunity that you do not deserve, and did not earn, because of your mother. But it’s a bit different this time. This time it is not your mother’s checkbook that gets you this chance, but her heart. You see Mr. Staunton, for some reason that woman still has hopes for you, and she loves you a great deal, and for the sake of that love you are getting, again, an unearned privilege.”
Staunton wisely remained silent; he would save his crowing for later.
“It is also different because you are most assuredly going to have to earn the right to stay in this program. This is not going to be an opportunity for you to sit and stare at Professor Delacour. You will report to my classroom promptly at 8 AM the morning following each and every session of this seminar, where you will be tested on the previous day’s material. Should you miss a single session, skip or be late to a single exam, or fall below sixty percent on any of these tests that it shall be your sole privilege to take; you will be immediately barred from further sessions. You will also receive a failing grade on your transcript, not that that will concern you overmuch. Should you somehow adhere to these conditions you will then have the honor of sitting the final examination with your fellow students. Have you any questions?”
“This isn’t fair!” he blurted.
“It isn’t fair that you are attending at all. And please Mr. Staunton, if you aren’t even going to try, just don’t bother at all. It is also unfair that I am going to have to devote a fair bit of my free time to compiling and marking your special tests. That is all, Mr. Staunton; I shall regard your appearance at the first session as your acceptance of these conditions.” Hermione returned to her papers, Staunton stared for a brief moment and then walked out to floo call his mother.
~~~~
“Stop whining Roger,” Inez Staunton said in exasperation. “It wasn’t cute when you were five and it’s downright ludicrous now. You wanted in, I got you in. Man up, for crying out loud. It’s my fault for coddling you so long, and now that’s done too. I won’t let you starve, but if you screw this up you’ll have to settle for a job you can get on your own, got it?” She vanished from the fire.
“Oh, balls!” moaned Roger.
~~~~
“You’re here!” exclaimed Hermione as she rushed to Fleur and threw her arms around her.
“Oui,” agreed Fleur, “you are as sharp as ever, I see.”
It was a bit hard for either of them to see at the moment, but they didn’t mind.
“We have so much to do…” Hermione began.
“Tomorrow,” Fleur told her just before their lips met.
~~~~
Information had reached Gabrielle’s division that a pocket of surviving Death Eaters were planning to track down any former Order of the Phoenix members and supporters who had left the continent and were therefore absent the protections the surviving Order members and their confreres had in Europe.
“I believe that you will find this assignment gratifying, Gabrielle,” Killy said as he slid the folder across his desk to her. Even Gustav shivered a bit at the look that came to her face as she read the report.
“Most gratifying indeed, Chief Killy. Who is in charge of this matter?”
“This one is for you, Gabrielle; your promotion has come through. The teams are yours, take whom you wish. This sort of behaviour must be vigorously discouraged; we cannot have stray Death Eaters disturbing our friends overseas.”
“Certainement pas,” she agreed.
None of the expatriate members of the Order were ever aware that they had been potential targets for revenge.
After a large and heavy parcel was delivered anonymously to Malfoy Manor, none of them ever were again.
~~~~
Fleur and Hermione spent Sunday together finalizing things for Monday’s session, and they enjoyed working together nearly as much as sleeping in each others arms. There had been no incidents during the night, and both of them were deeply content. Even after Hermione had explained the situation regarding Roger Staunton.
“Very well, I of course support your decision, especially the reasons for it. We shall see how this child of privilege enjoys wetting his toes in the sea of reality, n’est ce pas?”
Ten AM Monday found eleven eager faces, and Roger Staunton, seated in the front rows of Hermione’s classroom.
“Witches and wizards, it is my great honor to present the visiting professor for this seminar on Advanced Charms Theory, Professor Fleur Delacour of Washington Magical Development.”
Fleur stood, and Hermione smiled at the expressions on the faces of the students.
“Thank you Professor Granger,” Fleur began, “I believe that all of you have the handout for this course, and I hope that you have read it thoroughly. The things that we shall study together are extremely advanced; indeed, a small part of what we will examine is still strictly experimental. What I hope that you will gain from this is a new appreciation of what magic can be, if you open yourself to new possibilities.” She gave her dazzling smile, and a girl in the front row whimpered a bit, but was politely ignored; if anyone other than Fleur or Hermione had even heard her that is.
“Let us begin…”
~~~~
“Congratulations Mr. Staunton, I’ll see you in class,” Hermione said as she returned his examination to him just prior to the start of the second session. Sixty-five percent.
“Thank you professor,” he said.
~~~~
“This is not St. Catherine’s,” Fleur admitted, but I like it here.”
“It will do,” Hermione admitted, “but I can kiss you on the beach at St. Catherine’s. I like it better there.”
“Moi aussi. Suddenly I have had enough sun, Professor Granger. Let us prepare for the final week of class.”
“As you say, Professor Delacour…”
~~~~
Twelve students sat the exam at the conclusion of the seminar, and Roger Staunton’s score placed him dead last of them, but he sat up all night staring at the first thing he had ever truly earned by his own efforts.
Roger Staunton never came to visit Hermione Granger in the years that she taught after his graduation. Never sent her a card or a letter. He did however finish with decent grades and enter a graduate program in business, and subsequently became a very effective head of Staunton Enterprises.
The very day that Roger Staunton assumed control of the empire that his father had built; Staunton Enterprises announced the construction of the Hermione Jean Granger Library at the Hawaiian Institute for Advanced Magical Studies. Hermione’s personal office within the library was a marvel, and contained memorabilia from many different witches and wizards. Prominent among them were eyeglasses from Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Harry Potter himself. There was a set of robes that had belonged to Severus Snape, and signed first editions of works by Adelthwaite Gamp and the original, albeit badly damaged, formula for the philosopher’s stone written in Nicholas Flamel’s own hand. There was a crystal ball with a large chip in it, unlabeled, but Hermione thought that she knew whose it was, a baton that Filius Flitwick had used to conduct the Hogwarts chorus. There was a desk with rambunctious tendencies that was secured to the wall by a tartan scarf, and a very old broomstick with a slender handle of silvery wood, a moth-gnawed tea cozy, and much more besides.
There was even a battered old diary with a hole through it, jammed into a small case in the corner with a hand-written card that said, “Not worth mentioning save as a bad example.”
The library itself was the envy of every institution in the magical world, and Hermione even got over being embarrassed by the statue of herself in the entry way that depicted her sitting at her desk ‘explaining’ something. It was a pose that all of her students knew very well.
Staunton Enterprises also held a majority interest in Magicorp, and the contract that was eventually signed by Magicorp, WMD, and Fleur Isabelle Delacour was a positive wonder of fairness.
The little punk really did know how to say thank you after all.
~~~~
“I don’t want you to leave,” Hermione admitted as she held Fleur tightly.
“I don’t want to leave you,” Fleur returned, “but I confess that I miss my trees. You must come and meet them. There is the upcoming American Thanksgiving holiday…”
“I’ll be there,” promised Hermione.
“And I shall be thankful,” Fleur told her, just before she knelt and began to unfasten Hermione’s jeans. “Once more please, just for love,” she breathed against the skin of Hermione’s belly.
Chapter 22 - http://lash-larue.livejournal.com/143112.html#cutid1