Chapter 19.5- Doom Days

I gasped into my mouth when she reached me. She looked lovely, but her smell. She smelled divine. It was unreal. I dropped into a deep bow and took a hold of her offered hand, planting a kiss on it.

“You look enchanting” I told her in a whisper that still carried because of how silent the hall had fallen. She smiled, and I felt warmth flow to my chest.

“Thank you, Monsieur Potter.” My Occlumency was impeccable. I checked it again to be sure, and it was still perfect. There was no magic there, just pure beauty. I took out my wand and summoned a wide box from my robes’ pocket. Undetectable extension charms were my latest fascination and while I couldn’t take credit for the one on my robes- the robes themselves being delicate acromantula silk meant that only a master enchanter could get something so finicky to stick without artefacting or having other weird effects.

“A gift? For moi?" Fleur did a good job sounding coy with the question.

“Just something beautiful to adorn the neck of the most beautiful woman here” I said, presenting the box with a flourish. Of course, this was all theatre. She knew I’d have a gift ready for her, she had practically demanded it after all. I had actually visited a jeweller to look into getting something made but when we got to things around the level Fleur played at, the amounts called were enough to beggar even me. So I brought the issue to Sirius, and one visit to the Black vault later, we had something suitable- This one wasn’t even cursed or poisoned. I’d also gotten no shortage of ugly looks as I left the bank with it in my pocket. Only the blacks would be so insane and arrogant so as to store Goblin-made jewelry in Gringotts itself.

It was worth it all once I saw the look on her face as I opened the box though. It was an elaborate and flashy necklace, there was no getting around it. It just so happened to manage to stop a step short of being gaudy. Its frame was goblin silver, and inlaid were a series of jewels. Seven was the most magically powerful number so it wasn’t a surprise that the jewels were laid down with one massive emerald in the center, with three smaller diamonds on either side to make up the set.

“C’est magnifique” She said, and I could already tell that people around were craning their necks to get a look into the box. Fleur turned around with a flourish, silently presenting me with the back of her neck and asking me to do the honors. I smiled as I took the necklace out of the box and slowly placed it around her neck before drawing the clasp shut. I couldn’t deny feeling some satisfaction at the gasps from the female population once they got a glance at the necklace.

Fleur turned right back around to face me and gods did the necklace even look better on her. The emerald dipped towards her cleavage, drawing even more attention to it.

“Perfect” I whispered and she smiled. My heart sang.