AN: As promised, here is a second chapter. Thanks for all the responses from last chapter!
"Hermione, wake up!"
Hermione waved her hand at her friend while mumbling something incoherently. She rolled on her stomach and covered her head with the blanket.
"Hermione..."
Her bed started shaking. "Go away, Ginny."
"Oh come on! It's the first summer that we've all been out of school and we can have our first worry free summer!" she said, shaking the bed even more vigorously.
Hermione uncovered her head slightly to stare blankly at her freckle-faced friend. "What time is it?"
Ginny grinned cheekily. "Late enough for mum to be worried about you missing breakfast. She sent me up here on her orders to get you downstairs." Her smile turned into a knowing smirk. "Or would you rather she came up here herself?"
Hermione rubbed her eyes. "I'm up. I'm up!" She loved Molly as a second mother, but she was a horrible person to wake up to, though Ginny's bright idea to jump on her bed made her a close second.
"Atta girl, Hermione," Ginny said, slapping her arse. "Get a move on. We're going swimming!"
"I take that back. You're worse than your mother. At least she bribes me with food." She sat up and stretched, then frowned.
"What's wrong?" asked Ginny.
She didn't reply as she rose from the bed to check her trunk. The lid shut and she huffed in frustration. "I didn't bring a suit."
"What? Why not?" Ginny asked, then waved her hand. "Never mind, Hermione. You can wear one of mine."
She really shouldn't have needed to point out just why that wouldn't work. Ginny's body was athletic and slim while Hermione's body had a little more weight up top, to put it delicately. "Ginny, I don't want to sound rude, but..." She gestured to her breasts. "I sense a problem."
"Oh..." Her eyes lit up suddenly. "Fleur is here though! Her body isn't that different than yours, maybe she has an extra."
It turned out that Fleur did have an extra...but that didn't mean it was a good thing.
"You're daft if you think I'm going to wear this!" Hermione hissed as she clutched the oversized towel to her chest securely.
Ginny grabbed her arm and tugged her down the path to the small lake. "May I point out that you're already wearing it? Stop fussing, you look great!"
"I look like a tart," she huffed.
Ginny looked insulted. "Hey Fleur wears that swimsuit all the time." Then she laughed. "Never mind. That probably wasn't the best way to defend the suit."
"Ginny!" Hermione scolded in amusement as she started to willingly follow her friend instead of being pulled forcefully. "I'm just not comfortable in it, and I do look like a trollop."
Ginny rolled her eyes as they reached the lake and laid the towel over a rock before tackling Harry who fell in surprise.
Hermione kept her own towel wrapped around her body and took a seat. Maybe she could get away with just sitting. If she sat still, no one would even notice she was—
"Can't you swim?"
She let out a 'whoop' of surprise and almost fell off the rock. She quickly clutched the towel tighter and scowled. "Was that payment for last night?" she asked in annoyance.
Charley smoothed back his wet hair. "Hardly. Just curious, is all."
Her eyes left his to study his tanned torso. Dragon training certainly did wonders for Charlie, and she was particularly fascinated by a single water drop that slid down slowly his chest and into a thin trail of ginger hair that disappeared beneath his shorts. She bit her lip.
"You never answered my question."
She tore her eyes away from his body and blinked up at him. "I can swim."
"Then why aren't you?" he asked.
Hermione didn't want to admit that she was wearing a suit that would qualify for a witch's calender ad. It wasn't so much that she had a problem with the suit, and Ginny had been right when she said Fleur's body was similar to Hermione's. It was more or less the fact that Hermione was more reserved, while Fleur enjoyed the attention. There wasn't anything wrong with that, Hermione supposed, but she still felt out of place and awkward wearing the small...very small one piece—which was easily more revealing than any two piece she had ever seen before.
"Maybe I just don't want to," she challenged.
Charlie took a seat next to her as the other Weasleys broke off into pairs and splashed happily in the water. "Then why bother coming at all? You could have stayed in with mum. She'd love the company." He studied her bare shoulders. "Are you even wearing a bathing suit?"
She snorted. "No, I happen to love going to family events in the nude," she said sarcastically. She looked to her right to see Charlie leaned back against the rock, his face lifted towards the sun.
"I wish I had known," he commented looking completely serious. "I would have brought my drawing utensils."
Hermione didn't know if he were joking or not. She cast her eyes down in embarrassment and sighed. "I didn't bring a suit."
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "I didn't think you were serious," he interrupted in amusement.
She frowned. "I'm not. If you'd let me finish... I had to borrow one of Fleur's suits. I just didn't realize it would be this kind of suit."
He turned back to the sun with a small, private smile playing on his lips. "It can't be that bad."
Hermione grimaced. If only he knew. "It has straps everywhere, it shows everything to my belly button, it has virtually no back. It's practically held together with dental floss. Trust me, Charlie. It's bad. And, as if that wasn't enough, it's held up with sticking charms and it's unbelievably uncomfortable." She wriggled in her seat as to make her point clear.
"Exaggerating?"
"I truly wish I were, Charlie," Hermione sighed.
A splash was sent her way and she looked at Ginny. "Hermione, get your studious arse in here now! You're missing all the fun!" she yelled over the others as Charlie hopped off the rock.
"I decided I'm not in the mood!" she hollered back with a frown. She was rewarded with another splash that just barely wet the tip of her feet. "Hey!" Another splash came her way and soaked the bottom of the towel. "That's not funny, Ginny!"
She scowled at her friend, who shrugged. "That one wasn't me!" Ginny pointed at Harry and Ron who both grinned at her.
A dark wad of cloth crossed into her line of vision. "Here." Hermione followed the toned forearm, up to the shoulders, and finally to Charlie's face. "You want to swim, but you don't want anyone to see the suit. Easy solution."
She took the shirt. "You're a life saver," she said, hopping off the rock and carefully covered the towel with the tank top before pulling the terry cloth free. She grinned at him as he nodded in approval.
"Oi, you two! Are you coming in or do we need to get you a room?"
Hermione blushed and grumbled, "God, does your sister have any brain to mouth filter at all?"
Charlie chuckled. "Probably not. Come on," he said nodding towards the lake.
Hermione wadded through the warm water sighing happily, before getting knocked down. She kicked her feet and broke the surface sputtering. "Ginny!"
Her friend giggled. "What? Harry and Ron went off to bring food," she explained. "I have no one else to pester right now."
Hermione caught Charlie swimming laps out of the corner of her eye before shaking her head slightly. "What do you mean? You have at least three brothers to bother right now."
"Percy stayed with mum and Charlie isn't really the kind of person to pester... George is sucking face with Angelina while Fleur and Bill are in their own little romantic bubble, not to mention—is that Charlie's shirt?" she asked suddenly.
Hermione looked down. "Yes it is," she snipped. "Some people actually listen when I say I'm not comfortable wearing..." she looked at Fleur and pointed to the bathing suit. "this!"
"You're so weird, 'Mione. I bet people would be drooling over you if they saw you in it. Hell, I would shag you," Ginny exclaimed.
Hermione heard a splash and a splutter behind her as Charlie started coughing. He ducked under the water once before swimming away as if nothing had happened.
"I'm not sure if you noticed, but I'm in the middle of your family. I hardly want them drooling over me, and I really don't think you do either."
"Good point," replied Ginny before dipping under the surface to get her hair wet again. Her eyes lit up which caused some slight alarm to Hermione. "I've got an idea!"
"Uh-oh."
She shook her head and put up her hands in defence. "No, no, it's a good one. I promise. Why don't we play Battle of Orthrus!"
"Let's not!" Hermione laughed. "I don't think I'd last very long holding you up like that."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "I'll wait 'till Harry gets back, then we can do teams. Ron's going to be stuffing his face anyway. He can referee."
She was about to reply when a sudden splash of water filled her mouth. She spit out the water and scowled at Ron. "Did you really have to do that?"
Ron gaped at her. "You were already wet!" He glared at her. "Never mind, you're mad. I'm going to eat."
Ginny snorted in laughter. "I swear, he's like clockwork. So what do you say?"
Hermione's shoulders slumped. "Fine."
"Great," she turned. "Guys we're playing Battle!"
George broke away from his lip lock with Angelina. "Teams?"
Bill smirked. "Don't you think I'm getting too old for these games?" he joked.
Ginny flicked water in his direction. "Don't go pulling that, old man," she teased. "George and Bill against Harry and Charlie."
Bill swam over with his wife as the rest followed suit. "You wound me, little sis."
"So are we ready?"
"Er, I don't how to play, Gin," Harry admitted nervously.
"It's kind of like chicken fight, Harry," Hermione explained and he continued to look at her clueless.
Ginny kissed his cheek. "It's easy. I get on your shoulders and you have to keep me from falling while I fight Angelina." Harry smirked and whispered something in her ear that made Ginny nod enthusiastically. "Alright. In position. Ron, count us down when we're ready?"
Hermione looked around. "Where—" Something brushed against her leg as the guys dived under to pick up the women. She spread her legs and was hoisted in the air to sit on Charlie's shoulders. Beside her Harry fell back on unsteady footing and Ginny hit the water with a splash, causing everyone to laugh until Charlie wrapped his arms around her legs. Her laughter died quickly and she cleared her throat.
Ron counted down through a mouth full of food and Charlie shifted beneath her. Her natural response was to grab onto something, but seeing as his head was the only thing, she put her arms out for balance.
Fleur giggled as Bill advanced closer. "Mon Cheri, this is so exciting and silly!" Her hands reached out in a claw motion and Hermione grinned as she laced their fingers. "You're going down, 'ermione."
Hermione pushed against her hands, trying to knock her off while Bill and Charlie had their own battle of words.
"A bee is on your arm, Charlie."
"I work with dragons," he replied in amusement and squeezed on Hermione's left thigh before taking a small step forward.
"You're allergic, aren't you?" Bill taunted.
Charlie smirked. "I'll survive."
Hermione felt another squeeze on her leg and realized he was doing. He was steering her! She grinned. "You're brilliant," she remarked as she pushed harder with her right arm.
Bill and Fleur seemed to have their own strategy going on as they murmured to each other in French. Bill let go of one of Fleur's legs to push at Charlie who challenged the shove by forcefully stepping into it. Fleur squealed as Bill stumbled.
Hermione took the chance to push at Fleur's arm one last time before the she screamed and leaned back, losing her balance fully and falling into the water, bringing her husband down with her.
Hermione grinned smugly and let out a whoop of cheer before she toppled forward into the water. Arms circled her and pulled her to the surface. She stared into Charlie's blue eyes, the sounds of the others drowning out—or that could have been due to the water in her ears.
His hands left her waist suddenly and she realized she missed the feeling. Behind her Fleur was scolding Bill for making her lose, but she was too busy fighting back a blush.
"Well done, partner," he whispered with a grinned before swimming off.
"Y-yeah," she breathed.
Ginny lunged for Hermione. "So you do have the hots for my brother?"
Hermione detached herself from the death-grip. "I do not!" she said coolly.
"Liar! He makes you feel all tingly inside!" she sang and tucked her laced fingers under her chin while blinking dreamily into the distance. "I'm Hermione and I think dragon training is soo sexy."
"You're horrible. Stop talking about your brother like that. It's weirding me out," Hermione said and laughed at Ginny's grimace.
"Oh, ew."
As always, all reviews are welcome and very much appreciated.
Thanks for reading!
More to come...
