Chapter 2
She peaked an eye open and saw Bill turn around clearly not expecting her to be awake, she shuffled across, making space for him on his small single bed. As he lay next to her she held his hand in her own, already feeling better. The next time she rolled over she noticed Bill was asleep.
His own scars were not easy to overlook, of course he had Greyback to thank for them. Before his appearance had been something many including her had admired, his rugged good-looks had captured the attention of a Veela hadn't they? She still thought he was pretty handsome, his ginger hair something that many had judged him for was simply another thing she admired. Yet it was Bill's personality which had drawn her to him the most, his ability to love and always think of others was in Hermione's opinion the best qualities anyone could hold.
As she pondered this thought she noticed Bill waking, his face becoming more animated and the expression on his face reappearing.
"Morning" he spoke, his voice rough from lack of use.
"Morning" Hermione whispered back, staring in to his amber eyes.
They laid there for a while, simply looking in to each others eyes, neither one of them wanting to move.
"Hermione?" shouted Mrs Wesley, as she made her way across the second floor landing, not been able to find Hermione in her own room. "Oh Bill, have you seen Hermione?" asked Mrs Wesley entering his room. "I'm right here Mrs Wesley," replied Hermione.
"Oh good heavens child, I couldn't see you behind Bill over there. The Minister's here to see you, something about a Ball?"
Hermione sighed and heaved herself off the bed and followed Mrs Wesley downstairs, Bill's eyes following her until she went out of sight.
As Hermione reached the bottom floor she saw The Minister before he saw her. Her eyes took in his tall figure and perfect posture. "Kingsley! How are you?" she enquired, having not seen her friend in a while.
"I'm good thank you Hermione, but I'm strictly here on official business. You see the ministry is holding its annual Christmas Ball and of course the Golden Trio must be in attendance, it would reflect badly otherwise, so please do tell me the real reason you chose not to reply to my many letters."
Hermione had already known what this meeting was going to be about, however feigned ignorance at the hope that the Christmas Ball wasn't what the Minister had wanted to talk about. Unfortunately, it seemed the Minister had her cornered good and proper.
"It's nothing personal Kingsley, honestly. I meant to reply, I really did, I just forgot."
"Hermione, we both know you don't forget anything..." She felt Kingsley's eyes on her, and felt a slight blush rising on her face.
"I didn't forget. I just don't want to go." Hermione knew she sounded like a small child but that was better than revealing her real reason.
"Why ever not?" asked Mrs Weasley, both Hermione and Kingsley pulled abruptly from their train of thought, having forgot Mollie's presence in the room.
"The staring..." mumbled Hermione.
"You have to speak louder dear, my hearing just isn't what it used to be." She quickly realised her mumbling must have been inaudible to the other members of the room. There was really no controlling her blush now, knowing her face could be mistaken for a tomato she decided just to get it over with since Mollyand Kingsley were possiably the two most stubborn people she knew.
"People will stare." The bluntness meant that the room stood in silence for more than a few minutes.
"Well of course they will, you're part of the Golden Trio, you helped defeat Voldermort." replied Mollyfeebely, knowing that wasn't really what Hermione had meant.
"That isn't what she meant Mum." stated Bill as he entered the room, having been listening to the conversation from outside. "Hermione, you can't let something like this effect your life, if you didn't have those scars you most defiantly would be going, so don't pretend otherwise." Bill scolded her.
"It's not like you ever go!" she replied, knowing it was a low blow.
"Fine." he admitted. "If you are so against going, we shall both go, together. That way people will be staring at me, not you. I doubt anyone will be interested in your battle scars, when you have a part werewolf stood by your side." Having said his piece, Bill exited through the door he had entered leaving the remaining occupants of the room stunned. They all knew Bill had been invited to many events, at the Ministry, for charity, you name it Bill had been invited, however he had graciously refused every invitation preferring to spend his nights at home relaxing. So his sudden decision to attend such a event undoubtedly created a few questions.
Hermione was the first one to react, moving quickly to the door and swiftly heading back to his room. She entered his room seeing him laid on his bed, book in hand. "Bill, are you sure about this?" she asked, not wanting to force anything upon him.
He peered at her over the top of his copy of 'Transfiguration For The Modern Wizard'. "Of course, I wouldn't subject myself to something if I didn't think it was the right thing to do, and I so happen to think that getting out there more might be the best idea for both of us."
She fidgeted in his doorway, "Okay if you're sure, I'm glad you're coming with me Bill." He smiled at her remark, hastily jumping off his bed and pulling her in to his arms for a hug.
"I wouldn't have it any other way Hermione."