Birthday Present : Chapter 2
"Why?"
Hermione teetered for a moment. She had hoped he wouldn't ask. Most of the time Harry just assumed she had good reason to borrow the cloak, but she couldn't exactly tell him why.
"I'd… rather not say" she bit her lip.
"Mione it's the third time you've asked in three weeks, what are you up to." He whispered closing his book.
The two were in the library studying for tomorrow's charms exam. Ron was off somewhere with Lavender, but there was no telling when he would decide to show up. When he did it would be her que to leave, so she had to get harry to agree now. She wanted to be leaving Hogwarts during lunch.
"Would you please trust me when I say it's for a good purpose."
He eyed her a second. "Promise me you're not putting yourself in any unnecessary danger?"
"I swear its nothing like that"
"They're both in my trunk, ask Ginny if you need help getting them"
She smiled from ear to ear "Thanks Harry"
The twins had a fairly complicated set of charms locking their door to the storage room, and more on the one leading into their apartment. However by this point Hermione had done them a few times and she had the wand movements down.
The witch entered the apartment immediately setting her bag down on the counter. She already felt at home among the stacked plates (which made her roll her eyes, it's not like they had magic to help them clean) and boxes full of products.
Fred was seated on their maroon couch- the same couch they had used her first night there- leaning over a pot that was giving off a disturbing smell.
"What is it this time" she asked, bending down to whiff the pot, and instantly regretting it.
"It's supposed to be an all-nighter nougat, but all I get right now when you chew it is an inability to sleep with no energy," He huffed. "And horrible hiccups"
She slid to the floor next to him, and leaned against the couch. "What exactly do you want it to do"
"We need it to keep a person up and give them a lot of energy, and focus. Preferably for around 15 hours" He ran a hand through his ginger hair "I'm trying to penetrate the older more studious children at Hogwarts."
"I can see that" she said looking over the ingredients he had spread over the table. "But I have to point out that if it's really necessary, most students just drink coffee."
"Well I must point out" he said in a terrible imitation of her "That in our Hogwarts days Forge and I hated coffee, we used to buy those muggle energy drinks over break and stash them through the year."
He got up suddenly, and walked to the kitchen. "But they still didn't make us as focused as we wanted" He called back "We were always disoriented and out of it. So we'd spend all night setting up a prank, only to be too tired to really enjoy it"
The wizard strode back into the room "I can't imagine it would be any better for someone who studies all night, only to fail regardless because they're too tired."
"Or students could just learn responsibility and study in advance for tests"
Fred snorted. "Don't act like you haven't fallen asleep in the common room before"
"Only on a handful of occasions" she said proudly. "Although I must admit its become a much more common occurrence this year."
"Granger? Are you sure it's not just because you have no one to levitate you up to your room anymore?"
"What?"
He raised an eyebrow at her "Don't tell me we never woke you up?" at her confused look he went on "George and I have probably brought you up to your room hundreds of times over the years."
"You two used to levitate me to bed" she shrieked.
"We would come back to the common room at ungodly hours of the morning to find you asleep on the couch," He exclaimed "S'not like we were going to leave you there. I even did it once at the burrow over holiday"
"I don't believe you, boys can't even get up to the girl's dormitory"
His face turned into the twin's classic smirk as he laughed at her "Love we figured out how to get up to the girls dorms in second year, for much different reasons"
She crossed her arms over her chest "I still don't believe you,"
"Your bed is the second one on the left side of the room"
Her face went red. "Well thank you then"
"Do you think some peppermint would help?" He asked holding up a bag of the crushed candy.
She looked over the listed ingredients he had next to the pot. "Defiantly, I'd also up the porcupine quills."
He measured and poured in the peppermint. "We'll make a couple pots tonight, they'll harden overnight and I'll test them tomorrow."
"Alright" she stood "I'll go get some more cauldrons from downstairs."
She opened the door intending to go downstairs only to find George standing in the frame.
"Oh" she said surprised "I didn't realize you were going to be home tonight" So far Fred had only invited her on nights his twin was with his girlfriend. She had told him it didn't matter to her weather George was there or not, but she had also thought it made him uncomfortable to think about doing any of their 'activities' with his brother in the same flat.
"Funny, I didn't think you were going to be here" George said.
She blinked in confusion, but George only pushed his way into the apartment.
"What are you doing back so early Forge." Fred asked with a pained look on his face "You usually don't come back until late tomorrow"
"Had a bit of a row with Angie," He said tight lipped "Can I talk to you in the other room for a moment"
Fred gave him a small nod and turned to her "I'll be right back, go ahead and get those cauldrons for us would you"
She nodded in return, and he left to follow his twin into the bedroom.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing" George said the moment the door closed.
"I really don't see what's wrong with it. She's very helpful with our products."
His twin let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair "I already explained this to you when you asked me about inviting her over a couple months ago."
"I didn't see the problem then, I don't see it now" he defensively pushed his hands into the pockets of his robes.
"If Ronniekins ever finds out, he and mum will have a conniption" George began "The boy practically laid his claim two years ago when he cursed out victor Krum all summer"
"One:" He held up a finger "Ron doesn't just get to decide she's his. Two:" Another digit went up "She's already told me she had absolutely no interest in our younger brother"
"Doesn't matter if she is or not" George hissed "You go out with her and he will forever think you stole her"
"We're not going out" Fred defended "She helps me with the products and we occasionally engage in…." he searched for the right wording "…mutual stress relief"
"Merlin's bollucks Fred! This has happened before!"
"Just a handful of times" He mumbled "And they aren't dates."
George made a noise of distress as he rubbed his eyes "You know I hate having to say what's good for you, but you're my brother and I'm not going to let you stumble in and send our family into turmoil over one bird" He pulled his hand from his face, and placed one on Fred's shoulder. He looked his brother in the eye as he said "This will not end well Freddy, you have had a crush on her since 6th year, and you might not look at them as dates now, but soon you'll be inviting her for a butterbeer or taking her to a bookstore and both of you will become invested"
"Would it hurt so much if that did happen" His twin looked sad "It's not right that one of us can just lay claim on a girl, regardless of any of the other's feelings, and she's never allowed to date any Weasley but the one"
"I know its not right" He said "But we have to do it that way, do you even remember what it was like the summer after Charlie's third year at Hogwarts."
"Hell" He commented, making light of what that summer really was.
"Exactly, it was like the family had split in two" he gestured with his hands "And Ron is much more possessive of Hermione than Charlie ever was about Lana"
"But he is also much more grown up" Fred insisted. "We're not third years anymore mate, there is a war coming. She said she doesn't ever want to be with him, and if she likes me like I do her, I'm not going to go asking for Ronnie's approval."
"You're really going to ignore all my warnings"
"Yes"
George sighed "I've done everything in my power to stop you, so now I can say go out there and woo her brother"
Fred grinned for the first time since they entered the bedroom. "Will you stick around?"
"No" George said heading towards his dresser "I'll call Lee and we'll go out tonight. Besides it sounds like you and Herms have plans" He winked as he pulled on some nice robes. "Just remember when Ron finds out and the whole family is on your arse in a few months, I warned you"
He nodded and watched as he twin dissaperated to meet Lee before going out into the living room once more.
"Ginny" The red head looked up at the call of her name, and sighed in relief. Dean and her had an argument and she was hiding out by the lake hoping he wouldn't find her. Thankfully it was just harry.
"Hi Harry," she said standing. "What do you need?"
"Gin, do you know what Hermione's been up to lately?" He had a worried look on his features.
"What she's been up to lately?"
"Yeah" he said adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder "She keeps borrowing my cloak, on weekends especially"
She couldn't stop the little smile that grew on her face "Well, I wouldn't know for sure, but I have a really good idea of where she's heading off to."
"Can you tell me" Ginny shook no "But she's not doing anything dangerous or bad for her"
"Of course not" she assured "She's just doing something that… makes her happy" she finished.
He let out a sigh "I have noticed she's been acting more relaxed lately, and she isn't quite as angry around Ron and Lavender"
The witch nodded, "I think what she's doing is really good for her"
Harry stiffened "Gin, would this thing she's doing upset Ron if he found out?"
"Defiantly," she snorted "but he's too absorbed with Lavender at the moment so I doubt he'll notice"
"Well alright, so long as she's not going to hurt herself" He turned to leave.
"Wait" he glanced back at her "Would you like to stay a bit, it's really quiet out here"
"Is…dean not coming." he said looking at the napkin of snacks she'd taken from the kitchens.
"No, just me and I'd like some company"
"Ron's probably wondering where I am" He said lamely.
"Oh please, Ron's probably in a broom closet mid snog" she said crossing her arms "I tried to get Hermione to come out with me, but she said she had a letter to write and studying to do afterwards"
She watched him take a look at the castle before setting his bag down next to hers under the shade of the tree she'd been using.
"I'm not sure if I should go" Hermione heard in a squeaky tone, before Ginny had pulled apart the curtains on her bed to stick her head in. "I don't know what I was thinking last year" She continued, in what Hermione assumed was supposed to be an imitation of her.
Her face flamed as she pulled her friend onto the bed, before closing the curtain once more and casting a mufflito.
"How'd you find out" she said, feeling the heat spread through her ears.
"Harry asked me why you kept borrowing his cloak, then I put the pieces together" She shrugged "You are going out to see Fred right"
"I am, but I'm not sure how much longer" She said looking down at her lap.
The youngest Weasley sat up on the covers "What are you talking about, you've practically been skipping through the halls the past few weeks you're so happy"
Hermione took a deep breath as she prepared to tell Ginny what happened at the twins apartment. "George is worried about Ron"
"What?" she asked laughing.
"Fred and George had this spat in another room last time I was there. When they came out Fred explained that Ron had some sort of 'dibs' on me and that if he found out what we were doing he'd be angry. Which might cause" She searched for the words to use "He called it a 'family ripple'"
Ginny's face took on a look of clarity "This is about Bill and Charlie"
Hermione's brow crinkled "What do they have to do with any of this"
Her red haired friend sighed "I was almost too young to remember any of it, but there was a lot of screaming that summer, and I've heard stories."
"Elaborate Ginny"
"When I was about 4, Charlie and Bill came home from Hogwarts over summer with this huge row going on. There was this girl in Charlie's year he had the biggest crush on, I think he even tried out for the quidditch team trying to impress her." The girls giggled.
"But then he found Bill snogging her brains out in the back of the library. They blew up on one another. Charlie was angry that Bill had gone after the girl he knew he liked, and Bill was upset he couldn't go out with her just because Charlie spoke up first."
"That's ridiculous" Hermione scoffed.
"I know it is" Ginny shrugged "But that summer was awful, it was just screaming and everyone was taking sides. It only ended when Bill agreed to break it off with her. Ever since all the boys have had this thing where if they lay some sort of unspoken claim on a witch, no one else can go after her, even if she's not interested in the one"
"I'm almost sickened" Hermione said face furrowed in anger "They're treating girls like cattle"
"I've always hated it as well, but it does keep the boys from rowing."
"Ron even has a girlfriend right now, does that not mean he's given up his 'claim'" she asked using air quotes.
"Unfortunately, no" she said "Not by the boys standards. If you ask me though, I think it should be the witch's choice."
"Well I'm not sure it's that much of an issue" she said staring at her hands "We're not exactly going out in the first place"
"What do you do when you go see him?" the younger girl asked leaning back on her hands.
"I help him with his products, we eat, talk a little and uh usually we end it by" she made a hole with one hand and put a finger through with the other.
Ginny laughed "I don't know what he thinks a date is, but I'd defiantly call that one. Unless you're truly only interested in the educational purpose and sex"
She didn't think it was possible but another rush of blood flooded her face. "I like him"
"Well then, I think the best course of action would be to ask him if he feels the same next time you're there. If he does- and he's stupid if he doesn't- you start calling them dates and continue happily in your secret relationship."
"And when Ron finds out" She asked twisting her hands.
"Ron can Fuck off"
Please Review! (also tell me if the sex scene last chapter was okay, I have a rough time writing them so any tips would be greatly appreciated)
Mel