Work Text:
Harry Potter gazed mutely at the entrancing women seated across from him. He hadn’t laid his eyes on the pretty Gabrielle Delacour since attending her elder sister Fleur Delacour’s wedding to Bill Weasley. She was only eleven years old back then and now ten years has transformed her into a beautiful siren. Harry fretted all week and still felt awkward before arriving today. There was an age gap between them, he had recently turned twenty-six years old and she was five years younger than him. Yet as soon as he was seated at the table in this small café in Muggle London, she ensnared him with her bright blue eyes.
This date was actually arranged by his ex-girlfriend, the recently wedded Ginny Weasley to his old rival Draco Malfoy. She had befriended Gabrielle over the years through her brother Bill’s marriage. She had claimed to want Harry to find happiness and said that Gabrielle was newly single. Harry felt truly overwhelmed by this ethereal beauty and his throat felt very dry. Her long silvery blonde hair was separated in two pigtails that cascaded down her lower back and she seemed to exude effortlessness as she leaned back in her chair observing him with a small smile on her face.
While her sister was more curvaceous, Gabrielle had a petite frame with such a small waist he knew if she gave him a chance that he would be worried about crushing her. Her hands were resting on the table and she said softly, “It has been so long since I ‘ave seen you, ‘Arry.” Her native accent had Harry’s name sounding foreign but lovely. She picked up her cup of espresso with her pinky finger extended out as she took a small sip. They must’ve taught that at Beauxbatons, Hogwarts students would’ve just laughed, he thought with a rueful grin he hid behind his cup of tea.
She placed the espresso back on the saucer and tilted her head to the side as she asked him, “Why did you and Ginny break-up?” Harry flush spread to his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. “I wanted to get married right away and she had her Quidditch career,” he admitted sheepishly. Gabrielle nodded knowingly and said soothingly, “Oui, you are being ‘onest, Ginny told me already, but I wanted to ‘ear from you too.”
Harry cursed internally at the thought of whatever she confided in Gabrielle about him but he assured himself that the redheaded girl was his friend. Ginny knew this was serious with him being paired up with her bonus-sister-by-marriage. He asked her, “Ginny told me you are recently single. Who were you seeing before?” Her lips pulled into a pout as she mused, “Je ne sais quoi, ‘e was a connard.. asshole! That is the word.”
Gabrielle’s pale cheeks flamed as she told Harry passionately, “‘e was the rudest boy. ‘e went to Durmstrang and I theenk zat school doesn’t ‘ave any manners. ‘e per’aps believed because I am part-Veela I wouldn’t mind if ‘e kissed my friend.” Harry’s mouth fell open in shock at the thought of anyone cheating on the beautiful creature in front of him. He said bluntly, “Pardon my French, but what the fuck.” Her painted lips pulled into a smile as she laughed and said, “Non, ‘Arry, we French usually say something like.. Putain de bordel de merde.”
He didn’t nod in his head in understanding as he had no clue what she just said. It was truly amazing to hear her speak as she easily switched from English to her native tongue. They conversed with each other for a few hours, the pair discussed all sorts of topics and only a few times did Harry have to interrupt her to explain a phrase. “Excuses-moi ‘Arry,” as Gabrielle’s elbow brushed against his side.
Over time they arranged their chairs right next to each other as they chatted and ate small confectionery desserts. She was wearing a light blue dress with white straps on her shoulders, one of them kept sliding down, he would fix it for her and she replied with a smile, “Merci beaucoup, ‘Arry.” Harry looked over at a clock on the wall and her sweet floral scent engulfed him as she leaned forward to whisper in his ear teasingly, “Wanna taste my bonbon, mon chéri?” Gabrielle pressed her chest against his side as she continued, “It is so sweet.”
His cheeks flushed scarlet from the innuendo as Harry turned his green eyes to look at Gabrielle. She was actually holding a small shiny chocolate bonbon between two fingers. She brought it to his mouth and he ate it as his lips brushed along her skin of her fingertips. She whispered in Harry’s ear beseeching him, “Invite me back to your place.” He cleared his throat as he asked not completely half-heartedly, “What about the language barrier between us?”
Her lips brushed the shell of his ear as she said huskily, “You can just read my body language, ‘Arry.” One of her hands trailed along Harry’s chest which had him shuttering as he admitted, “I-I like you, Gabrielle.” He leaned back in his seat to look at her eyes as he earnestly said, “I’m not like the other blokes you have been on dates with. I don’t do flings. I am ready to settle down. I would commit exclusively to you.”
“You are such a ‘ero, mon chérie, it must be the lion in you.” Gabrielle leaned forward to press a chaste kiss to his cheek and she confessed, “I like you too. I will agree, let's take it slow for now. I ‘aven’t thought about being a young bride before.” Harry couldn’t hide his flinch when he recalled their age difference and she giggled, “I theenk I will look lovely in white.” His cheeks flushed a brighter pink when she whispered in his ear, “Don’t you agree, ‘Arry?”
He nodded his head in agreement as her hands were busy playing with his messy hair. Gabrielle whispered something else in his ear that he couldn't understand and he swore to himself at that moment to start learning French as soon as possible. Especially the sexy words, he wondered if Fleur would try to hex him if he sent her an owl to Shell Cottage asking for lessons. Immediately.