63 Five more minutes.

(A/N: Here's chapter guys, one full day ahead, I have released THREE new chapters in the Shivering Isles, which makes the Madlads over there a full EIGHT chapters ahead of the madlads here.

Moral of the story? Visit Sheo.bio )

(Note: This chapter is dedicated to the fluff lovers, here you go.)

The first thing Magnus realized was that he slept well, there were no nightmares of a mind numbing void without escape, nor did he 'wake up' in his hospital room as a balder, weaker and helpless shell of himself.

For a single glorious moment, life was good.

Until he realized the second thing, he was sitting down on the damned ground with a soft weight pinning him down. Of course, the cushioning charms he put on the night before helped, but it was still very uncomfortable.

'Wait, the night before…'

It was only then, lying down on the ground with his eyes still closed that the memories of yesterday's events came rushing back, just in time for the softest pillow he's ever known to start shifting around.

This...situation, coupled with his body's natural reactions (Morning Broom.) made him sweatdropped.

'Let's just hope she doesn't wake up.'

This was an utter and complete mess. Most of the warming charms had faded away by now, and the wizard keyed Notice Me Not charm would soon follow. His arm was numb, his back ached and he'd have to deal with the aftermaths once sleeping beauty woke up.

'It was absolutely fucking worth it.'

In any case, he started tapping on his Occlumency to calm his body's less gracious reactions, it was a slow and nonoptimal process but much better than just praying Fleur's hand doesn't stray down from his abdomen.

His wand was still in its holster, but he could reach out to it easily enough to cast a few cleaning and hygiene charms on himself.

Once he was presentable, he could start dealing with the second biggest problem.

Fleur didn't show any sign of waking up, and time was very much not on their side. Either one of them might be sought out, and if someone knew how to look, they'd be met with the sight of two teenagers's untangled limbs in the middle of the school grounds. If Sirius was there, he'd laugh his arse off.

'Nah, he'd probably pat me on the back and tell me about some contraception charms.'

Magnus smiled, feeling her shift again. How on earth could she be so light and soft was beyond him, but the answer came on its own soon enough.

The same reason she still looked perfect when they slept outside with no covers, the same reason he didn't feel cold on a damned Scottish night, the same reason her hair seemed to glow in the dark and was so unbearably soft to the touch.

He ran a hand through it, lightly combing it with his fingers. It was as soft and velvety as he'd imagined, and with each stroke he felt the magic caressing him.

Fleur was a Veela, a being more magical than a Witch or Wizard could ever claim to be.

He almost forgot himself, just enjoying the moment until he felt her stir one more time. He heard the most adorable sigh someone could produce, and felt the light weight on his body move.

Fleur's eyelids fluttered open, and soon a flash of recognition flashed through them. She did not move, nor did he stop stroking her hair.

"Hi." He smiled.

"Hi." She answered in kind, more meekly than usual. Her eyes seemed much more vulnerable than he'd ever remembered them being, but regained their mischievous glint before he could think about it. " People would kill for a chance to hold a Veela, and you use it to stroke her hair?"

He pulled his hand away, but she kept it firmly in place.

"Keep at it." She almost purred, and from her smirk he could see that she knew exactly what it was doing to him.

He wasn't one for following orders but when it meant holding Fleur a bit longer, he could deal with it.

"I can't believe we fell asleep here." Magnus said, shaking his head at the madness of it all.

"Why? Do you hate holding me that much?" Fleur tilted her head, eyes half opened.

He wasn't saying it was a trap, but it was a trap.

"I call the fifth amendment."

(Right to stay silent. Just in case you used the second for something other than protecting the first.)

Fleur rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her amusement.

"Prudish Englishman." She tapped his nose. "If you'd like to know, I think you're a pretty good pillow."

"Oh, I'm honored." Magnus raised a brow, he felt tempted to just bite her finger." Think I could make a career out of it?"

"Mhm, I don't know." Fleur cradled his face, eyeing his muscled neck for longer than usual." There are worse ways to wake up."

This time he did blush, much to her hilarity.

Fleur laid her head back on his chest, giggling at the speed his heart was beating at. He glared at her, but didn't stop stroking her hair all the while.

"We should move." He eventually said, her answer was a content sigh.

"No, I'm good." That made him chuckle.

"Me too, but people will start coming here."

"You cast a Notice-Me-Not charm, non?" she pressed herself closer still.

"Yes, but it won't work if they know how to look," He said "I don't fancy explaining to Madam Maxime why her precious champion spent the night cuddling me."

"Because I like cuddling you?" She smiled.

"I don't think it's a viable answer." He was prepared this time, no blush was here to break his composure.

"Then don't explain." She shrugged, patting his chest lightly. "Does it really matter if we are seen together?"

She got him there.

"No, it does not." He sighed. "Five more minutes?"

"Make it thirty, mon petit canard."

"I'm not a bloody duck, Fleur." He headbutted her softly, making her giggle. "Ten."

"Twenty."

"Fifteen, take it or leave it."

"We have a deal."

Not one to break his oaths, especially when it involved holding a cuddly overly beautiful bird lady, Magnus laid there for fifteen more minutes. Then another five, and another five, and another five minutes.

Only when she cajoled him into staying until lunchtime did he understand that there was no point in negotiating with a Veela, especially one he was taken with.

A few unlucky students had a big surprise when they saw the two of them come out of nowhere, the two of them headed to the kitchens where the elf would have a blast catering to their needs.

'Let's just hope Dobby Tate doesn't give me dating advice.'