A/N: Hello! I'm back after a long break with a brand new (not really) story. Yaaaay! I'm calling it new, though it's really not, because I've started writing it a long, long, looooong time ago in Polish (which is my first language), but then I kinda abandoned it. But after I reread what I've written so far, I decided to translate and fix it. Why? Because I actually like how the story is playing out in my head and I really hope you guys will too. We'll see. Anyway, this is technically, the second story I'm posting here. If you're curious about my other story, it's called "Unexpected" and it's a Hermione/Draco fic.
Okay. I'm done babbling. I'm already working on the second chapter, so it should be updated soon. And as always, if you enjoy then please, please, pretty please review and follow. Those things give me motivation and make me very happy. Enjoy!
Hermione Granger was never a huge fan of Apparition. She simply couldn't get used to the strange feeling that accompanied it, the unpleasant tugging sensation around the belly button area and not being able to breathe properly. She didn't like Apparating. No matter how fast it was.
Hermione exhaled with relief when she felt her feet hit the hard ground. She immediately grabbed the extendable handle of her charmed suitcase and slowly started making her way down the dirt path leading to the Burrow. She was careful not to jolt the suitcase too much, though. She didn't spend all that time and energy perfecting the Extension Charm just to have all of her summer reading scattered all over the place. Was the magic she used slightly illegal? Maybe. But she was Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age, one third of the Golden Trio, the war heroine. She could do whatever she wanted.
She finally reached the small rickety metal gate that let out a loud groan when Hermione opened it and stepped through it. The magic and wards surrounding the Burrow could be felt instantly. They were quite powerful and made Hermione feel like a little static shock ran through her body. The brunette took in the familiar sight of the Burrow's front yard and inhaled the scent of freshly cut grass. She felt at home for the first time in months.
When Hermione finally reached the front door, she didn't even get the chance to knock, because the door swung open and in a matter of what seemed like milliseconds, she was being pulled inside and wrapped in Mrs. Weasley's warm embrace.
"Oh, Hermione, darling!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed "I've missed you so much. Let me make you something to eat, you feel so thin, sweetheart."
Hermione carefully untangled herself from the hug, offering her a small smile and said, "That's okay Mrs. Weasley, I'm not really hungry right now. Maybe later."
"Well, all right," the older woman said, affectionately patting the brunette's cheek. "Ron will help you with your suitcase. He was just coming down. Ronald!"
Mrs. Weasley gave Hermione one last long investigative look and went back to the book opened on the kitchen table, which she apparently abandoned when the girl arrived. A few seconds later Hermione heard loud and heavy footsteps on the old wooden steps above her head, meaning Ron was running downstairs to greet her. And sure enough, moments later, the youngest Weasley boy was in the kitchen, giving his friend a tight hug. When they finally let go of each other Ron made it his life's mission to haul Hermione's suitcase up the stairs without using any magic. Hermione suspected he was trying to show off the muscles he gained during the last few months. She didn't understand it, but she didn't argue and left him to it.
"Harry's not getting in until tomorrow evening." Ron said, struggling with getting Hermione's suitcase to the first landing, but still not giving up on doing his job without using his wand. "And with both you and him arriving, Ginny's going nuts. You better talk to her, and quick. She's been driving me bonkers."
Finally setting the suitcase on the first landing, the boy heaved a laboured breath and laughed: "Merlin's beard, Hermione. Did you pack every book you ever owned or is it just boulders?"
The brunette smacked him affectionately on the arm and squeezed by him to get to Ginny's room faster. Before she disappeared from Ron's view, she advised him to stop being silly and use his wand, or he'll give himself a hernia, a word which left him confused, but he did in fact take his wand out and cast a Levitation charm.
After hours of catching up with Ginny and Ron, but with Ginny doing most of the talking, Hermione was exhausted. The redheaded girl was so excited about her relationship with Harry, they ended up talking mostly about that, which resulted in Ron pretending to be sick and making gross gagging sounds. He eventually left them to their "girl talk".
Now, several hours after Hermione's arrival at the Burrow, Ginny was fast asleep and, as Hermione suspected, so were the rest of the Weasleys. But she wasn't able to fall asleep, although she was extremely tired. After approximately half an hour of staring up at the ceiling she decided that a mug of warm tea should do the trick and relax her enough to finally fall asleep.
Hermione got to the kitchen, trying to make as little noise as possible, it was the middle of the night after all. She put the kettle on and started the search for a mug and tea in the dimly lit kitchen.
"The mugs are to your left." A quiet voice spoke right behind Hermione, which made her jump. She had enough of her wits about her to not start screaming and wake the whole house up.
Hermione whipped her head around. She had an angry comment at the tip of her tongue, but then she recognised the person standing behind her.
"Fred," Hermione half sighed, half said. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
"Me?" the boy asked, batting his eyelashes in an attempt to look innocent. "Never. I just saw you struggling, so I decided to help. I'm nice like that."
"Uh-huh," Hermione murmured, reaching to the cupboard on her left and getting herself a sizable mug. "Since you're so nice, would you mind telling me where does your mother keep her tea?"
Instead of answering her, Fred simply reached around her, grabbed the first tin on the counter and handed it to Hermione. She quickly took the tin from his hand and moved away from him, because he was way too close for comfort.
Hermione cleared her throat and said:
"So… How are things going at the store? I heard you and George were rebuilding."
"Yeah. It's going slow," Fred replied and leaned against the counter next to the brunette. "We got through most of the repairs, but we still have a ton of refurnishing and restocking. Not to mention a few issues with our new products."
For a moment Fred appeared to be lost in his thoughts but he quickly shook it off and offered Hermione one of his dazzling smiles.
"And what are you up to this beautiful summer, Granger?"
"I…" Hermione stammered, unable to think clearly with Fred in such close proximity and giving her that damned smile.
"Besides," Fred continued, ignoring the girl's failed attempt to answer his question. "What's the deal with Ginny monopolizing you for the whole evening? There's other people that have missed their dose of Granger."
"Oh, yeah, like who? Ron?" Hermione chuckled, shaking her head at the redhead's silliness.
"No. Like me."
Hermione just stared at him. She wasn't sure if she heard him correctly. Or maybe she was just imagining things. Whatever the case was, Fred was also just looking at her, but he also had this sweet, soft smile on his lips. And just as he opened his mouth to say something, the sound of the tea kettle whistle interrupted him.
"Do you want some tea?" Hermione asked, pouring hot water into her mug and deliberately ignoring Fred's words.
"Nah, I'm knackered. Think I'm gonna go to bed," the boy said, running a hand through his slightly too long and falling into his eyes. He made a move to leave, but suddenly he stopped to lightly touch Hermione's elbow and said: "Goodnight, Hermione."
And then, just like that, the fingers on Hermione's elbow were gone and Fred was walking out of the kitchen, up the stairs. Suddenly the brunette didn't feel like drinking her tea anymore. She was confused and had one single question playing in her brain on repeat: "What the hell was that?"