Dedicated to 'LerArt' who requested an Oliver/Hermione fic.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of it, not even the recipe :(
"Where do you keep your mixing bowl?" Hermione asked with annoyed huff as she closed yet another cabinet. A boyish laugh behind her caused her eyes to narrow and her hands to fly to her hip as she spun to face the exasperating Scottish man behind her.
"Pray tell what you find so terribly funny?" Oliver's eyes widened in slight surprise at the upset bookworm as a memory of her yelling at the twins resurfaced in his mind. He raised his hand to point something out as he spoke.
"Naethin', I was jist wonderin' how lang it would tak' ye tae notice th' bowl on th' coonter behin' ye." She spun back to the counter and blushed as she saw a metal bowl sitting right where he had said it would be. She huffed in an attempt to sound like she had known it was there and quickly asked another question.
"Brilliant, now where are your beaters?"
"Mah what?" He asked, his accent thick. It marveled her how much it had deepened since he'd spent a week with his relatives Kilwinning. Not that she minded of course, she rather liked the thick brogue.
"Your beaters-whisks?" She questioned, making a whipping motion with her hand. He watched the movement with an upraised eyebrow, clearly fighting the urge to laugh.
"Would a spoon suffice?" He asked after a moment, his lips still trying to twitch up at the corners. She narrowed her gaze even more, but she couldn't hold the dark look. Her own lips twitched up and she nodded her head.
"Yeah, a spoon will suffice." She stepped back towards the bowl and pulled it off the counter, setting it on a small table he had in the middle of the kitchen. It looked like a breakfast nook, but it was perfect for what they were making.
"Haur ya go." Oliver said, placing a wooden spoon next to her. She nodded her head in thanks and pulled a recipe card out of her pocket.
"Alright, Double Fudge Fever Cookies." She read off, smiling softly. This was her favorite recipe, her mother and her would always make it whenever she wanted something sweet. The cookies were dense and delicious, and so chocolatey it should have been illegal. Oliver brightened up at her obvious excitement, eager to get started and see what made these cookies so 'legendary.'
"From the fridge we need one egg, one cup of butter, two tablespoons of milk." Hermione read off. She looked up to see Oliver still standing in the same place.
"Oh, was I supposed tae gie 'at?" She raised an eyebrow and nodded her head.
"Did you think I was reading it to amuse myself?"
"Nae."
"Then grab it, you silly nutter!" she said, tutting as she went to the pantry. She pulled out a bag of flour, a box of sugar, a bottle of vanilla extract, a tin of baking powder, a tin of cocoa, a bag of brown sugar, and a bag of chocolate chips. She levitated the items to the table and arranged them in the order she would need them.
"Haur ya go," Oliver said again, setting the milk, butter, and egg next to her items. He stepped back and reclined against the counter, crossing his arms and looking at her expectantly. She felt her eyebrow raise again.
"Just what do you think you're doing?"
"Watchin'?" He offered weakly. She shook her head and he frowned nervously. "Ya want me tae help?"
"You're the one who volunteered to make these for the fund raiser."
"Yeah, but that's wa I asked ye tae come over." He said dumbly. She turned to fully face him and started to hit the spoon against her open hand. She looked remarkably like a teacher, Oliver realized with a slight sense of amusement.
"I came to help, not to make by myself."
"Fine, don't gie yer knickers in a twist. Wa do I need tae do?" She nodded her head in satisfaction as he stepped towards her.
"Much better." She approved. She pointed towards the stack of measuring cups with her spoon before continuing. "Now, measure out a cup of butter." He did as instructed, tipping the contents into the metal bowl. Hermione measured the sugar out into the bowl, and then began to mix them together. She quickly found herself missing electricity. She couldn't remember the spell for magically mixing.
"Hae," Oliver said, stepping closer to her and placing a light, warm hand on her shoulder. She started at the unexpected contact, making him smile. "Let me do 'at fur ye. I've got bigger muscles, ye knaew, quidditch an' aw." He explained, taking the spoon from her hand. She tried to hide a blush as his fingers brushed hers. She stepped back quickly, letting him take her spot while she turned towards the other ingredients. She busied herself measuring the rest of them out, ignoring the voice in her head that kept telling her she should really take this chance to admire her friends very well developed muscles.
She really shouldn't be having such thoughts. She was here only to help him bake cookies for charity. They were for children for Merlin's sake!
"Now wa?" He questioned, looking up from the creamed ingredients. She smiled and tipped the dry ingredients in.
"Have at." She ordered, grabbing the measuring cups up. He nodded his head and began to whip the ingredients in earnest. She watched him for a moment, contented and happy.
"So, who dae ye 'hink will win? th' contest I mean..." He asked offhandedly, glancing at her over his shoulders.
She gave herself a mental shake and stepped across the kitchen, depositing her cups and teaspoons into the sink. "Well, I don't really know. Who all is competing again?" She asked, turning the water on.
Fred an' George, Lee an' Alicia, Katie an' Angelina, Harry an' Ron, Ginny an' Luna... That's aw I 'hink. oh, Hannah an' Neville." Hermione nodded her head, smiling eagerly at the thought of going on a bake off with the others.
"Well, in that case, I'd say our only real competition was Neville and Hannah. Hannah runs the cauldron, so she's a brilliant chef."
"Yeah, but Neville blundered anything remotely related to potions." Oliver argued, grinning at her from across the room.
"True, but he excelled at Herbology, so he might make up for it with that."
"Yeah, but I've got th' best witch ay any age oan my team." Oliver said with a wink that made Hermione blush again. She shook her head and caused her bushy hair to fall in front of her, blocking her warm cheeks from his view. She took a deep breath and focused on the measuring cup in her hand. She needed to stop thinking about Oliver like that. He was just a friend in need, nothing more.
Even if he was extremely cute standing over there mixing the cookies.
She gave herself a hard mental shake and stood up straighter. She dried the utensils off and turned back to him.
"All right, they're ready to be baked now." She took the bowl from him, leaving the wooden spoon with him. He grinned mischievously and brought it to his lips, taking a lick of the batter. She grinned back at him, shaking her head in mock disapproval.
She set a pan out and began to spoon the mixture onto it, trying not to pay attention to the way he was enjoying the batter.
"Where are 'he chips?"
"You have to add them on." She said, handing him the bag. He grinned eagerly and popped a few chips out.
"One fur th' cookie, three fur me."
"No, get your own bag!" She laughed out, grabbing for the bag. He stepped back, holding the bag close and putting on a pleading face.
"I'm a growin' player! I need the nutrition!"
"Oh, I'm sure." She retorted, stretching up to grab the bag from him. He held it higher, grinning mischievously.
He stepped back again, and bumped into the table, causing some of the chips to fall out of the open bag and onto his shaggy hair. A bubble of laughter fell off her lips, and she brought her hands up to her mouth to stifle the noise. Oliver straightened up, righting himself before he fell further and furrowed his brow in mock anger.
"Oh no yae didn'." He said simply. Hermione took a step back, feeling alarmed.
"Oliver," She started, but she couldn't get any thing more out before he'd reacted. He scooped up a handful of the flour that was still sitting on the table and tossed it out her. Her mouth fell open in a expression of shock as the white dust settled around her, covering her hair, face, and clothes.
"Oh. My. God." She managed after a moment, and Oliver let out a loud laugh. She took a step forward and placed her hand on her hips, her eyes narrowing in annoyance. Oliver recognized the expression and began to feel worried.
"Hermione," he started weakly, but he was too late. She lunged forward and then dumped the bag of sugar over his head, earning a yelp from him. He retaliated immediately, grabbing at the rest of the flour and tossing it. A full fledge food fight started, and sugar, flower, milk, and butter was flying through the air as both adults tried to cover the other in more food.
Something changed drastically when Hermione slipped on some spilt milk and Oliver caught her. She suddenly found herself pressed into his hard, and warm chest as his arms wrapped around her to help hold her up and still. She found her face mere inches from his, and she suddenly wanted nothing more than to close that space.
"Hermione," he said, the word barely more than a whisper. It made her heart start to pound in her chest, and her breath quickened. One of his hands made its way up to her cheek, brushing the soft skin there. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt her knees grow weaker.
"Oliver, we should-"
"Stop it," he ordered, gripping her tighter and pulling closer. He lowered his head slowly, now no more than a breath away. Her thoughts had stopped, and she couldn't see past him, his bright eyes held her own, silently asking her for permission. She leaned forward and his lips came crashing down forcibly on hers stopping any retorts she might have had. She was momentarily surprised, and she felt as though she wasn't really here. She wasn't really standing in Oliver's arms, kissing him.
He tasted like the chocolate cookie batter he had just eaten. She loved the flavor, and went back for more.
Disheartened by her lack of response, he began to pull back when Hermione finally responded. She brought her hands up to his neck and pulled herself up higher, pressing her lips against his. Her fingers found their way into his hair, grabbing at the brown locks and tugging them gently.
He grinned against her lips and pulled her towards him, causing a moan to escape from her. His hands began to wander up her body, grazing her arms and brushing the skin of her jaw. She felt her legs give out and clung onto him more tightly.
He broke the kiss off, needing air. She looked up at him with wide eyes, her heart racing in her chest.
"Wow…" he said simply, his eyes sparkling.
Her eyes widened even more and she dropped her arms from his neck, stepping back. He looked at her with furrowed brows, looking nervous now.
"Hermion-"
"I can't." She whispered, and then she left with a loud crack.
A/N: Well, that's the start, until the next chapter ;)