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Chapter 2, Making Plans

"Tell me you didn't," Bill teased his younger brother. While Charlie appreciated all of his siblings, for different reasons, he and Bill had always had a special relationship, not unlike the one that the twins shared.

The traditional Sunday brunch was unavoidable for those Weasely spawn that had managed to remain even marginally close to home, and Charlie was grateful that he got to catch up with his brother again.

But their daily walk and smoke, sometime cigarettes or cigars, sometimes other things, around the grounds had turned from a catch up about life to Charlie rambling about Hermione Granger's legs. When Bill had pointed out this fact Charlie admitted that the events of the night before had not left his head, and that he needed help. Bill, the fantastic older brother he was, took the opportunity to tease him.

"I need a plan of action," Charlie said. " I want to put her in the same situation she put me."

"And what exactly would that be?" Bill replied, smirking, not unlike Draco Malfoy.

"Panting and wanton?" Charlie replied, with inflection in his voice. He was far too old to be acting like this.

"You realize she's still a kid," Bill asked him, after a moment, to which Charlie let out a laugh.

"She's out of school, she's practically our age and if you had seen her legs last night I swear, you would understand."

And in the next moment Bill did understand. Because as they reared around the house and came up to the pond they realized that Ginny and Hermione were in said pond, and very scantily clad. Paying no attention to their sister Bill and Charlie were both transfixed for a moment.

"If she stays inside all day how does she get so tan?" Bill asked, after a moment. His brother, too preoccupied with the look of her wet, heaving bikini-covered breasts, did not respond. Yeah. Bill couldn't help but think. His brother was going to need help.

Hermione knew he was going it on purpose. Every time the bloody Charlie Weasley went to take a bite of his ice cream he would wrap that sinful tongue of his around the spoon and suck. She was doing everything in her power, reciting the 78 uses for Thistle Extract, going over the Goblin's War, trying to remember the ingredients for Dreamless Draught, but nothing could get her mind off of that damn Charlie Weasley.

She sighed, throwing her head against the pillow on his old bed. She had become an honorary Weasley in the summer following their Hogwarts graduation, and, seeing as Charlie had been away at the reserve, even gained the use of his bedroom. When he had returned home he hadn't minded being pushed to Bill's old room. It also enforced, to his mother, that he wasn't planning on stay back for too long.

But here she was, lying in his old bed, and Merlin, it smelled like him. What's wrong with you, Granger? She asked herself. You're letting your body get the better of you. Think logically. But she found she couldn't justify logical thinking, at this point in time. She had dozens of job opportunities lined up for the next year, none of which she even planned considering until September. The war was over, her life was at ease. And then came Charlie Bloody Weasley.

"Damn your brother," Hermione said to Ginny, when the younger girl walked in.

"We all know Ron's a dunderhead," her friend replied, having heard the rant, many a time.

"Not that one," Hermione said, exasperated. She would have pulled the pillow up close to her body, but it was too hot for that. Yes, Hermione, blame all of your problems on the heat. Her mind mocked.

"What did Fred and George do now?" Ginny asked. Ginny was truly Hermione's favorite girl in the world. She had coaxed from her a femininity that had really made her life easier, and to be honest, more fun. Hermione was by no means the Lavender level of incompetence, but she often found that silly acts, like straightening her hair and buying a new pair of shoes, could relax her. And she felt that, after all they had been through, a little relaxation was deserved.

"Not them either," Hermione moaned. She had grown quite fond of the twins, as well, when she took time to study one of their pranks and realized that they were really quite brilliant. She'd be hard pressed to admit it to them, but they had been able to notice the change in her attitude towards their work, and she found that they three of them rather enjoyed each others' company, on occasion.

"So," Ginny looked at her, "what are you talking about then?" Although Percy Weasley was known for his big head and pretentious pomp, he got along well with Hermione, the two of them enjoying a battle of wits that could go on for hours. As for Bill, she'd hardly seen hide or hair of him in days.

"You," Ginny jumped up, barely able to contain her smile, "you've got a crush on Charlie!" She practically screamed it, and Hermione felt herself blush to the tips of her ears.

"Can you not shout it? I'd prefer that everyone and their Azkaban guarded father didn't know."

"Wait, so I'm right?"

Hermione sighed.

"I don't know. I don't think I have a crush, per say, I think I'm just very physically attracted to him. Very much." Ginny raised her eyebrow.

"Hermione Granger, are you saying you're horny?" Her voice was a mixture of incredulous and proud. Hermione smiled, despite.

"I think I might be," she admitted.

"Well then," her friend replied. "Let's help you get laid."