Hermione found herself avoiding the Burrow and a certain Weasley brother. She'd made it weeks before she had to go back. It was Remus's birthday and they were having a celebration that Mrs Weasley insisted be held at the Burrow, because she was commanding and Remus was a push over. She had an inkling that Remus knew exactly what was going on with her and yet he hadn't said a word about it. He was waiting for her to go to him. She could really see why he was a marauder in his youth.
She had pushed the thought of her mate out of her head entirely and focused on work. They had a deadline for a new law coming up and it really took up a lot of her time. Lucy was was also very intuitive and noticed something had changed. Unlike Remus though, she couldn't help but gossip.
"You've met a man." She stated one afternoon, the day before Remus's birthday bash.
"Why? Why do you have to know everything?" Hermione asked the older woman, sitting back in her chair with a huff.
"It's written all over you dear. Your posture is tense and it's not a full moon for another two weeks,"she deduced.
"Six week, I avoided this conversation and you have to bring it up the day before I have to see him again." Hermione said, running a hand over her tired face.
"So there is a man. Give me the details." She commanded.
"He's my mate." Was all she said. It was enough.
"Ah, well then, should you not try and woo him? As I understand it, mating is a sure thing, a forever with no exceptions thing, so you should really be trying to do everything in your power to make sure he likes you, loves you even, in order to secure your future together." Lucy said.
"That's probably exactly what I should be doing, but instead I'm hiding in here with you. I'm scared Lucy." Hermione confessed.
"Love is scary dear. But it's also exciting and fun and it makes life worth living."
"I don't know if I'm ready for a forever with him. I've hardly even lived by myself yet."
"Well, now that you've met him, you'll not want anyone else. It will be repulsive for you to enjoy yourself with another, if you understand my meaning."
"How do you know so much about this?"
"My husband was a werewolf."
"I didn't know you were married."
"Widowed now dear."
"What happened, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Greyback."
They sat in silence for a moment as Hermione let that sink in. She understood now, why Lucy had such a drive to make the magical community a safe place for magical creatures. So that they wouldn't turn to people like Greyback as a last resort only to have to live through his barbaric and horrifying way of life. Hermione knew exactly what that was like and she too didn't wish it on anyone.
"So you see dear, you should grasp at love while it's in reach because it won't be there forever." Lucy advised. Hermione took that advice into consideration.
Hermione asked Ginny to come over and get ready with her on the Saturday afternoon, afraid that she would chicken out and make her excuses. She took it one step at a time, so as to not overwhelm herself. First she had a nice warm shower, then she moisturised her body, then she did her hair and make up, then she put on some confidence boosting underwear and stockings, then her dress etc... until she was all ready to go. And there was still half an hour before Ginny would be ready to leave, so she cracked open a nice bottle of white wine and sat at the counter while she waited for her friend. She thought that facing Charlie would be easier if she let go of her inhibitions a little bit.
When Ginny emerged from the bathroom, clad in a flattering emerald green dress and her hair pinned up on top of her head, she eyed the half empty bottle wearily.
"Started drinking already Hermione?" She asked and the bushy haired woman giggled into her glass, before finishing the last long gulp and hopping up out of her chair.
"I need the courage." She told the ginger.
"For what exactly?" Her intuitive friend asked. She really did have too many of those. They always knew more than they let on.
"I don't think I should tell you." Hermione said. The ginger gave her a side glance but shrugged.
"Suit yourself." She told her. ANd then off they went through the floo. Hermione stumbled after Ginny nearly falling at the other end. Thankfully Remus was there to catch her.
"Happy birthday Moony." She whispered into his jumper as she rightened herself and hugged the aforementioned man. He laughed at her clumsiness.
"Thank you Hermione. Your present was well recieved by the way." He said with a wink in her direction. They had been out book shopping a week or so ago and Hermione had laughed with him about a copy of Karma Sutra. So she bought it for him in secret, sending it that very morning, knowing it would reach him while still in bed with his wife.
"I'm glad one of us is getting some." She told him conspiratorially. He raised an eyebrow at her boldness but didn't comment as she went off in search of Harry.
The night went by rather quickly. Ginny was her chaperon, afraid she would do something stupid in her drunken state. She limited her alcohol consumption, replacing her cup with pumpkin juice at every chance she got, and steered her away from certain conversation topics that would result in her starting an argument. All in all, Hermione owed Ginny a really good gift basket.
But at some point, the girl had to use the bathroom, and left her to fend for herself for a moment. Charlie Weasley chose that moment to walk into the room, rain covered and dripping everywhere.
"Damn, why does he have to be so good looking, even when he's covered in water?" Hermione asked herself.
"DO you have a crush on Charlie do you?" Someone asked her. She hadn't realised that she'd been talking out loud but nodded anyway.
"Really? Well isn't that just fascinating." George said and Hermione knew that she'd made a mistake. After the death of his twin brother, George had grieved aggressively, but soon realised that Fred would want him to live for the both of them, causing as much mischief as was possible in his stead.
"I need you to never mention this ever again." Hermione turned on him, still coherent enough to be threatening.
"What will you give me to buy my silence?" The little shit asked.
"How about I don't unleash all of my creative anger and revenge down up on you like the fires of hell?" Hermione said, her voice ringing like a sweet bell chime.
"That threat won't hold up for long, my little crackle bunny." He told her as her hair started to spark. It did so with the rise and tide of her emotions.
"It will hold for as long as I need it to." Before they could agree to anything, the subject of their conversation approached them and Hermione became dizzy as his scent filled her.
"Hey Hermione, Brother. Hows the party so far?" He asked them. Hermione just stared up at him again, absolutely speechless.
"Great Charles. Just fabulous." George said with a grin. He looked down at Hermione and found her expression to one of wonder, as if she were completely overcome by his brother. He thought that maybe there was more to it than just a crush and he vowed to find out exactly what was going on.
"I hope you're not going to clam up on me again Granger." Charlie spoke, addressing Hermione directly. His voice was so soothing, she immediately felt safe and relaxed.
"I don't think so." She purred out with a charming smile, her instincts taking over. This was her mate. She should be making sure he was hers not avoiding the situation like a little girl. She was a woman. She was a wolf and she knew what she wanted.
"I'm glad. I wanted your opinion on a few laws regarding Dragons in England that I've been trying to get updated." He went off about his dragons and their rights etc... and Hermione answered all of his questions impeccably, laughed at all of his jokes, touched his arm as she did so and basically flirted her little heart out. She had never really been good at flirting before but with her wolf instincts backing her up, she found it quite easy to exude a sexy and confident attitude and have the man looking down at her with a sort of wonder on his face that made her preen with accomplishment.
All too soon Ginny returned from where ever she had disappeared to, took one look at Hermione, grabbed her by the arm and hauled her out of the room and back to her apartment.
"What was that for?" Hermione asked, pouting at her friend.
"You were flirting with my brother." She said, as if that was meant to explain everything.
"So? Just because you're related to him, doesn't mean I can't find him attractive." Hermione said to her and the ginger just looked at her contemplatively for a moment.
"You've never shown an interest in him before, why start now?" She questioned, obviously picking up that there was something that Hermione wasn't telling her.
"I- ..." Hemrione started but was at a loss as to what to say. Should she lie to her? Or just tell her the truth? Did she even want anyone else to know. Remus did already, probably Tonks now too, George knew something was up and so did Lucy. Hermione was uncomfortable with so many people knowing her personal business, especially before Charlie himself knew.
Ginny must have seen her internal conflict and thankfully chose to end her misery.
"Okay, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." She told the bushy haired woman. Hermione sighed in relief.
"But I do want you to know that it's really obvious that somethings going on with you. You've been acting so strange since that dinner a month or so back. I just want you to know that you can talk to me about it if you want to," The girl offered and Hermione smiled at her, grateful.
"Thank you Ginny. That really means a lot to me. And I promise I will talk to you when I'm ready." Hermione hugged her, feeling the need to convey her appreciation. She wasn't usually the hugging type but she felt that, in her still tipsy state and the conversation, that it was appropriate.
"But I just want to let you know that if Charlie is involved somehow, you'd better not screw him around." Ginny said.
"I'm a one man kinda gal Gin. You know that."
"Yeah I know. I just kinda always wanted to give someone a shovel talk." They laughed together, before saying their goodbyes for the night.
Hermione went to bed with a plan forming in her head.