A/N: Thanks for the love already! Enjoy the update.
Dinner was uneventful. Hermione was glad for that, as her day had been quite eventful on its own. Everyone ate well, and the Weasley home was full of chatter. As people finished, Molly enlisted her sons to help clean up dinner. Fred and Hermione snuck away, unnoticed by everyone except George. They flooed back to his flat. Hermione collapsed onto the couch in their sitting room, and adjusted the boots that she had "borrowed" from Ginny.
"First you steal my shirt, then my socks, now Gin's shoes? What am I going to do with you, Granger?"
"I'd like to think I'm above any punishment for this one." She stood, and wandered around the flat for a bit, until she found what she was looking for. She continued speaking "However, this I probably deserve punishment for." She wandered out from his bedroom wearing a Weasley sweater of his, from at least two years ago. It was also navy, with a big ivory "F" right across the front.
"Hmmm. That is blatant thievery." He had nothing better to say. No cleverness in his head, because all of his intelligence was lost at the sight of her. If he was pleased by his shirt, then he was absolutely ecstatic about her wearing one of his Weasley sweaters. She can wear every one of my sweaters. She can have all of them. "But you look bloody gorgeous in it."
She blushed. "Is navy blue your favorite color?" Smooth, Granger. She couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth. You couldn't thank the man? You just stole his sweater.
"Nah, it's magenta. But Mum's favorite color for me is navy blue. And might I say, it's rapidly turning into my favorite color for you."
Phew, another compliment. "Thank you, Fred, You're very sweet." Much better.
"Alright, 'Mione dear, where would you like to go first?"
"Well, I was thinking Madam Malkin's honestly. I just need a few robes to get me through the week. I can do laundry at your Mum's."
"Don't forget the knickers, love. You don't need to be wearing the same pair for a week. Dare I say that's a bit gross."
"If you think it's gross, then it must be practically abhorrent." It was her turn to wink at him. He offered his arm to her.
"Shall we head out then?" She nodded intently. The two strolled down Diagon Alley together, and headed into the only store she ever shopped at for her robes. He held things she wanted to try on, gave his opinion when asked, and when all was said and done (and purchased) he carried her bag. She ended up purchasing several boring work shirts, a few pairs of trousers, and a skirt.
"Fred, they aren't boring, they're neutral."
"Hermione, grey is boring. Black is boring. White is boring. The only one that could be considered even a bit not boring is the light blue one, and that's because it has those white vertical stripes. All your trousers are black or grey. The only thing that I really liked was that navy skirt."
"I bought a navy robe!"
"And a black one. And a grey one."
"Well, to be fair, I work at the MINISTRY. Of MAGIC. I can't exactly get away with wearing lime green robes to work like you and George. I don't work in a joke shop."
"I'm offended, Mione, I really am. I don't work in a joke shop. I own a joke shop." She rolled her eyes as they walked up to their next stop.
"I'm going in alone, Fred. Sit outside and wait for me? I won't be too long." He got a mischievous look in his eyes. "I know that look. I'll be in and out. I don't need too many…new things. Sit. On the bench." He smirked and sat.
"I'll be here while you shop, love." He watched her bum as she walked into the store. Okay, breathe. She's flirting with you. There's no doubting it. What's next? Do you ask her on a proper date? Give her a day or two and then send her an owl or go for dinner at The Burrow? Or just put the ball in her court? Maybe I'll do that…Fred was lost in thought. He didn't know that Hermione was similarly caught up while browsing the knickers.
He's flirting with you, and you're flirting back! What are you doing, Granger? He's bloody hot, that's for sure. Just take it slow. Slow? Bloody fucking hell, Hermione he's seen you naked! Okay, focus. Focus. Pick out nice, sexy undergarments. She set about picking her new bras and knickers, and quickly paid. She took out her wand and shrunk the package, and placed it in her pocket.
"Trying to avoid someone seeing them before they're meant to?" The saleswitch looked at her with a knowing look.
"Something like that." Hermione smiled, thanked the girl, and walked out. Just as she was leaving, she felt a sharp jab in her shoulder. She looked over and saw none other than Lavender Brown.
"Ah, Granger, come to buy some granny panties?" Hermione rolled her eyes. When anyone else called her Granger, it came out as a term of endearment. With Lavender fucking Brown, it was derogatory.
"Goodbye, Lavender."
"You can't get away that easy."
Hermione laughed in the blonde girl's face. Her stupid, ugly, bitchy face. "I can, actually." And she walked away. She was so concerned with getting away and avoiding conflict that she ran directly into Fred. "Oh! Fred. I was just—"
"Everything okay here, Hermione?" He wrapped his arms around her to steady her, and then left one protectively around her waist, holding her tight.
"Just leaving, dear. Ready to go?" He nodded, and stared daggers at Lavender as the two of them walked away. Once they were out of earshot, she sighed angrily. "I am going to hear about that one at work tomorrow."
"How the hell does she interact with you at work? She's so—"
"She's bloody thick, that's what she is. She's Cormac McLaggen's secretary."
"McLaggen works for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement?"
"He's some sort of official whatever the fuck. I don't care, I don't have to interact with him. He's more of an officer type, I think. But for some fucking reason, I have to deal with Lavender fucking BROWN. I think she seeks me out."
"Why would she do that?"
"Because she's still upset that Ron picked me over her."
"Ron…Ron picked Hannah Abbott over you!"
"Yeah, and you should see the shit she pulls with Hannah."
"Does Hannah work in your department?"
"NO! That's the worst part. Hannah and I have a standing lunch date with Susan Bones, the Patil twins, and a few other girls from our year in Hogwarts. Not because we're all very close, but it's nice to catch up every week and discuss things. We all meet in my office, and Lavender must be jealous because she's not fucking invited, but she always ends up getting to her before she makes it into my office and says such terrible things to get a rise out of her!"
"What a twat." Hermione giggled at the mention of her nemesis being called a twat. "Does Ron know about this?"
"Yeah, he's tried talking to her, but she just pretends like it's never happened and that she has no idea what he's talking about."
"Can you get her fired?"
"She's not my employee. McLaggen is the only one who can fire her. Well, him, his boss, and the head of the department."
"Can you get McLaggen fired?"
"Ha! I wish. I'm above him, but I'm not his boss. Nor am I the head of the department."
They continued conversing while they walked back to his flat. They got upstairs, noticed that George still wasn't home, and made two mugs of tea. They continued to talk while the evening dwindled away. Hermione glanced up at the clock, it was nearly ten.
"Bloody hell, Fred I have to go back to The Burrow. I need to get to bed so I can get ready for work tomorrow."
"Of course. Bye Hermione, I had a lovely time with you this evening." He kissed her cheek gently and smiled at her with his goofy grin. She Disapparated out of his living room, having shrunk her other bag and placed it into her pocket with her other parcel. Her returned smile was all he thought about when he brought the mugs in, and was startled out of thought by his twin brother.
