"Hermione, what are you doing back so soon?" Ginny asked as she walked into the living room.

"You're never allowed to set me up again Ginevra Molly Weasley," Hermione groaned as she fell onto the couch. "The slimy little toad stood me up tonight. Luckily your brother showed up or I would have considered the whole night wasted." She sat up just enough to yank her arms out of her coat before sinking back into the cushions.

Ginny raised an eyebrow and sat on the armchair across from her. "I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific Hermione. I've never been short of brothers."

"Fred of all people, decided to show up and be civil for once. Did you know he can be quite charming when he's not trying to irritate you?"

Ginny nodded and blew on her tea. "Yes, I do recall him cracking a few jokes and opening a door or two over the years."

Hermione rolled her eyes and began to pull off her stockings. "You might, but the only memories I have are of him being an obnoxious troll who liked to see how much paper he could put in my hair before I noticed."

The memory pulled a snort from Ginny and she bit her lip as Hermione shot her a withering look. Perhaps it was best not to mention who she'd intended to set Hermione up with.

"Anyways, I'd been waiting at the restaurant for almost an hour -"

"You waited that long?"

"Yes. Normally I wouldn't, but I was too caught up in my book to pay attention to the time. By the time I looked up to check the clock, in walks your brother, completely covered in soot with half of his hair burned off and not a care in the world. So imagine my surprise when he looks around the shop and spots me, then comes to sit at my table as if I'd invited him over."

"Oh? Did he say anything?"

Hermione snorted. "This is Fred, of course he had something to say. He'd barely sat down before he began going on and on about how they'd put too much krup dung in the fireworks batch and that's why he was looking so bad. Apparently it took them almost an hour and a half to put out the fire and by that time it was already past closing. He'd drawn the short straw and was sent for take out. In the middle of all of that, the waiter comes over, probably happy he can finally take someone's order, then Fred puts his order in to eat there. And I'm so flabbergasted by his sudden appearance, when the waiter asks what I want I put in for a curry."

"I'm surprised you didn't tell Fred to shove off," Ginny said with a laugh.

"I am too. But we got to talking about work and things, and now I'm meeting him for dinner on Thursday."

"Are you really?" Ginny asked with a slight smile on her face.

"Well, yes. That is if you don't mind," Hermione said as she fiddled with her necklace.

"Why would I mind?"

"Well, you did try to set me up tonight, even if the bugger didn't show. I didn't know if you'd want me to give it another go with him before meeting Fred.

"Not at all. I'm happy something worked out for you tonight," Ginny said with a grin. Perhaps it was best Hermione didn't know Fred had almost stood her up tonight.

xxxx

The first in a series of unconnected drabbles.