AN: Written for the Wand Wood Challenge Prompt: Larch - Write about a surprise.
Hermione Granger was excited, it was not something that would be noticeable to many, but those who knew her well could tell. When she was asked what was going on she evaded the truth, blushing a bit and muttering something about a new arithmancy book that the bookstore in the village was holding for her.
Ron had just looked at her, muttering under his breath about 'mental girls who prefer books to life'. The glare that he received could have gelded a hippogriff, but he seemed not to notice, having already continued to stuff his face with his breakfast before they headed off into the village.
Harry and Ron had made the suggestion that they head to Zonko's first to see if they had anything good, but Hermione declined, telling them to go ahead, she was going to the bookstore to pick up her book and browse for a bit. The boys looked at her and tried to persuade her otherwise, but she was firm in her decision and she told them that she would meet them later at the Three Broomsticks.
The journey to the bookstore seemed to be the longest walk of her life, mainly because she knew what was going to be awaiting her when she got there, and she wanted it now. Sure enough she had just walked through the doors to the bookstore when she was pulled into someone's arms. She relaxed when she noted that it was George and not some strange wizard out to do her harm. She hugged him back before turning on Fred and giving him the same treatment.
She then released him and ignoring them she walked straight to the counter where she waited for the owner to bring her the arithmancy book, she had been waiting for it for a while after all. Once she had it in her possession she turned to the twins, smiling at them before leading the way out of the bookstore. She had no idea how they managed it, but the twins almost seemed to disappear, becoming shadows as they followed her.
She led them away from the streets filled with Hogwarts students towards the more residential part of town and towards the caves that Sirius had hidden in the year before. "I've missed you." Hermione muttered to them when they were sprawled out on the grass in a pile as was their custom.
"We've missed you too." George replied.
"Why do you have two more years of school?" Fred whined, looking at her imploringly, as if trying to get her to say that she wasn't going to go back.
"I can't drop out. I need a Hogwarts degree, without it I won't be able to do anything, even if I take the NEWTs at the Ministry. As a muggleborn my qualifications have to be gained through a school or no-one will take them seriously." Hermione told them, it was something that they themselves knew, but none of them really wanted to think of another two full school years apart, but for clandestine meetings.
They stayed for a while lying out on the grass sharing leisurely kisses and just catching up on what they had been doing, revelling in the closeness that they knew was going to have to disappear as soon as they walked back into town.
Heading towards the Three Broomsticks they made it look like they were catching up, having bumped into each other on the way to the pub. When they got to the pub they found Harry and Ron, but they kept up the pretence and the twins stayed to chat for a few minutes before making their way across the pub to find Lee, most likely to talk business and catch up on what the other had been doing without them.
Hermione and the boys left the pub, the twins following not far behind them, calling for them to wait a moment. Hermione wondered what they wanted, but they handed Ron a small package that was apparently from their mother for him. Hermione was sure that Mrs Weasley would have sent whatever she wanted Ron to have by owl so she was suspicious straight off as to what her boyfriends' were up to.
The twins then left walking off towards the apparition point, and Hermione made a quick excuse about sugar quills before hurrying off in the same direction, unaware that Ron and Harry had followed her.
She ducked into an alleyway that her twins were waiting for her in. She smiled as she made her way towards them, getting small but genuine smiles in return, the smile they reserved for her.
"Looking for these?" Fred asked, holding out a packet of sugar quills to her.
"Or are you looking for these?" George asked before pulling her into a kiss then passing her off to Fred for him to do the same.
"Both." She replied, a small smile on her face as she took the sweets and turned to go meet up with the boys. The smile slipped a bit when she realised that they were at the other end of the alley staring at them their expressions one of surprise. Hermione sighed, knowing that once she was back at Hogwarts she would have a lot of explaining to do.
