Chapter 4
Hermione was sweating. The day was a real scorcher, and she'd offered to help Mrs. Weasley with her garden. Even with magic the process of planting flowers, weeding, and mulching was making her wonder why she'd volunteered in the first place. She remembered when she heard the voices of several Weasley children and Harry over the hill.
They had all decided to play a rather competitive game of Quidditch, and thankfully no one questioned Hermione's declining the invitation to join due to their knowledge that she was terrified of mounting a broom. Truthfully, Hermione had declined because she couldn't bear to be in the same place as Fred and Ron together.
It had been three days since Hermione's first date with Ron. The evening had passed quite pleasantly, and there were even moments during dinner when Hermione found herself not thinking of Fred. She had a creeping suspicion, however; that her enthusiasm during the date was due to her long-suppressed crush resurfacing when Ron finally declared his feelings for her.
What made the whole situation worse was Fred's behavior around the two of them. He didn't let Hermione see anything akin to disappointment or sadness again after the morning Ron had asked her out. Instead Fred tormented the two of them endlessly. Of course this was something that everyone else in the house viewed as entirely normal, but Hermione felt a sting in her heart with every teasing word or lewd joke.
Yesterday Fred had even gone as far as telling Ron to come by if he needed any tips on how to please Hermione in the sack. Naturally, Ron had turned a bright shade of red but suspected nothing more than his brother's incessant, often inappropriate, sense of humor. Hermione had also turned a bright shade of red and while everyone else assumed it to be embarrassment, she knew from the look on Fred's face that he recognized it as lethal anger. He had let off the jokes for the remainder of the day.
And so today she had been doing a magnificent job of avoiding them both. Fred more so than Ron. As she stood up from the rhododendron she had been weeding around, she spotted several red heads and one jet-black coming over the hill. Before she could make an excuse to retreat into the house, she heard a rapid fluttering at her shoulder. She turned to see a young owl with a bright yellow envelope addressed to her clasped in its beak. The owl flew away after the envelope was safely in her hands, and Hermione turned it over to see the Ministry's seal on the back. Her heart hammered in her chest. She carefully tore open the envelope and read through the first few lines of the letter.
"Oh goodness, I've been given the job!" She squealed. Mrs. Weasley came rushing over at her words.
"The Muggle Relations job? Oh, Hermione, I'm so proud of you! Of course I knew you would be hired. A smart, young witch like you must have so many opportunities. Oh, we'll have a great celebratory dinner tonight!" She hugged Hermione tight enough that she almost believed her ribs would crack. When Mrs. Weasley pulled back, her face was suddenly somber.
"It is a bit bittersweet though, isn't it?"
And it was. Weeks ago when Hermione had interviewed for the job, she had announced that if she were to be hired she would be immediately finding a flat of her own.
"It is. But of course I'll be visiting all the time!" She said, noticing that this brought another smile to the older woman's face.
Mrs. Weasley furiously wiped her dirty hands against her apron and turned towards the group coming down the hill.
"Hermione got the job at the Ministry!" She yelled. "Tonight, we celebrate!"
Hermione could only laugh at Mrs. Weasley's announcement and the sounds of whooping and cheering coming from her friends. One by one they ran up to her, squashing her with hugs and ruffling her hair. At the end of the line was Fred. Hermione was suddenly struck again by a hammering heart and was aware of just how sweaty the hot July air had made her. Before she could plan an escape route, Fred enveloped her in a tight hug, one that likely looked brotherly but felt anything but.
"Congratulations," he whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
When he pulled back, he too looked somber. Hermione knew he was wondering if he would ever see her once she left the Burrow. If she was able to do such an excellent job of avoiding him while they lived under the same roof, imagine what could be accomplished once she was further away.
Hermione watched as the gang followed Mrs. Weasley into the house to help her prepare for dinner. She was alone with her letter in one hand and a clump of weeds in the other. She looked into the sun, which was beginning to set but taking none of the heat with it. She suddenly felt her eyes prick with tears and began wiping at them furiously should anyone see her. When she finally felt composed, she turned and walked back into the house, never noticing the two sets of Weasley eyes watching her from windows above.
That night Hermione felt as though she were back at the beginning of June, celebrating with the Weasleys like she had the night she, Ron, and Harry had graduated from Hogwarts. Although both Charlie and Percy were unable to attend, Bill and Fleur had floo'd in, and Mrs. Weasley had, to Hermione's pleasure, invited Neville and Luna.
Hermione enjoyed the abundant dinner that Mrs. Weasley had prepared and then enjoyed hours of laughing with her friends under the influence of several tall glasses of Butterbeer and a few shots of Firewhiskey. She was even able to enjoy herself around both Fred and Ron.
As the night wore away, Hermione found herself sitting outside on the grass near the infamous picnic table. She sat in a circle with Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Fred, and George. Bill and Fleur had apparated home hours before, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had just retired for the night. The group sat quietly at first in the warm, late-night air and looked up at the stars.
"It's hard to believe we're really growing up," Neville said wistfully, looking around at them all.
"Yeah, I think we've had enough life experience to have earned a little vacation for a while," Ron said. Hermione and Harry nodded their heads quickly, and everyone laughed with them. Hermione looked at Harry and Ron.
"When do you two start your Auror training?" Harry and Ron had learned immediately following graduation that they had been accepted into the Auror training program.
"End of August," Harry said. "The Ministry was kind enough to understand that after vanquishing a Dark Lord, we might need a little time to recuperate," he smiled.
"Well, I think we should be heading out," Neville said. "It's getting rather late."
Everyone murmured his or her agreement. They watched as Neville took Luna's hand as she smiled at him. They were quite adorable together, although Hermione was certain they hadn't come to that realization yet. After Neville and Luna apparated away, everyone stood up, signaling the end of a wonderful night. As Harry, Ginny, Fred, and George were walking into the house, Ron turned to Hermione.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Hermione noticed Fred falter and look back at her. Ron had his back to Fred, unable to see the look on his face.
"Sure," Hermione said, a sense of panic rising in her throat.
She watched as Fred turned away and walked into the house after his brother. Ron pulled Hermione over to the picnic table and motioned for her to sit down. How ironic.
"Hermione, I really like you. Obviously, I mean, you're one of my best friends. But for four years, I've liked you a lot more than thought I should have. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I hope your moving into your own flat doesn't affect what we've finally started. I mean, I would understand if…"
"Don't be silly, Ron," Hermione interrupted. "I'm only going to be a short apparition away, no matter where I go. Although I suspect I'll stay in Diagon Alley somewhere. Anyway, I've waited a long time for this, too. Longer even than you did."
Ron grinned at her and brought his hand up to brush a stray curl from her face. Hermione was having a sick sense of déjà vu. However, when Ron suddenly leaned in and pressed his lips to hers she forgot all about Fred for a few, blissful moments. She opened her mouth to Ron and realized that she thoroughly enjoyed kissing him. The thrill in her stomach in finally getting to this point with the boy she'd cared for this long only increased when Ron tangled his hands in her hair. But suddenly she pulled back. He looked worried for a moment, until she smiled at him.
"Ron, I'd like to do that again. When I'm not in a haze of Butterbeer or Firewhiskey."
"Me too," he agreed, taking her hand and leading her into the Burrow.
"No, no, no! I said put it in the corner of the room!" Hermione pointed towards an empty corner of the tiny living room. Ron huffed and dropped his wand.
"Blimey, Hermione! I don't know what you want!"
"Don't lose your temper, Ron. It's her first flat; she's allowed to be picky!" Ginny said, smiling at a very frustrated Hermione.
It was only a few days after the party at the Burrow, and Hermione had already found a one-bedroom flat and had enlisted the help of Harry, Ron, and Ginny to help her move things in. Even with magic, the task was daunting. Hermione sighed and sat down on the couch. Sweat was pouring from her forehead and down her back. It was almost August now, but the heat still was not letting up. It was the hottest summer she could remember, excluding the year she had visited Egypt with her parents.
When Ron had finally levitated the bookcase into the corner of the room, Hermione realized with pleasure that after four hours the moving process was finished. The other three plopped down next to her and looked around. The apartment was tiny, but it seemed to fit Hermione perfectly. Bookshelves were strewn throughout the living room and bedroom, making her feel immediately at home. The four friends sat reminiscing for nearly an hour before Harry and Ginny decided to head back to the Burrow.
"So, are you… excited… to be here all alone?" Ron asked when they had disapparated.
"Well, when you put it like that, no." Hermione looked around. "I've never lived alone before!"
"I can stay tonight if you want."
"Don't be silly. Your mother would have a fit!"
"So I'll go home for dinner and apparate back here when everyone goes to sleep." Hermione smiled.
"Like George?"
"What?"
"Nothing," Hermione said quickly, realizing Fred must not have told anyone else about George's nightly adventures. The ones that took place at the same time she and Fred were creating their own adventures.
Ron leaned in and kissed her, chastely, promising to return in a few hours. Hermione looked around the apartment and though her worries about staying alone were still there, she felt invigorated to be out in the world.
Ron returned a little after ten that night. Hermione was sitting on the couch, nose in a book. There was a half-empty glass of Butterbeer on the table next to her, and the only forms of light were several candles strewn about the room. Ron smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
"So how was your evening?" He asked. She smiled up at him.
"Quite lovely, actually. I ate dinner, showered and have been sitting here with this book ever since."
She shut the book and put it on the table next to her Butterbeer. Maybe it was the alcohol, though she'd barely had any, but Hermione was very happy to see Ron sitting next to her. She leaned in and kissed him tentatively at first. He responded enthusiastically. Hermione opened her mouth to his tongue and let herself enjoy the feelings he was creating in her.
"You're so beautiful, Hermione," Ron whispered before returning to the kiss.
They sat on the couch for what felt like an hour, making out like teenagers, touching and caressing everywhere their hands could reach. Hermione pulled back suddenly and looked into Ron's eyes, saw they were just as clouded as hers must be. She licked her lips and before she could change her mind, stood up and grabbed his hand. The question in Ron's eyes was answered as Hermione led him to her bedroom. She pulled him inside and shut the door behind her. If Hermione couldn't have Fred, she was sure as hell going to enjoy what she had with Ron.
