The next morning found Hermione on a train heading west. She had a few days left in her holiday and she was determined to spend some of that time as a normal, young Muggle backpacking through Europe. Looking around as she took a seat in the restaurant cart, she was pleased to see a few others who looked like they had similar intentions.
To say travelling was therapeutic was putting it mildly. It was one part escapism, one part self-reinvention for her. Each morning, she awoke in a new and distant place. Each morning, she felt a little bolder, a little stronger, and a lot less like the wallflower she used to be.
She yawned and rubbed at her half-opened eyes. The excitement of seeing Weasleys and dragons last night made her sleep a rather restless one.
Charlie had just reminded her so much of Ron. He embodied everything she imagined Ron could've been- kind, attentive, and completely unreserved about his feelings for something he was passionate for.
She shivered involuntarily as her mind locked for the hundredth time onto the could've been. Sure, time and distance had lessened the emotional ache. But doubt and guilt had grown unbidden in its place.
Ron had been so emotionally insecure. In hindsight, it really wasn't healthy and directly contributed to her own insecurities.
He'd been volatile and clumsy.
He'd purposely made her cry.
He'd been her choice, anyway.
And he'd loved her the best he could.
That was where the guilt was deeply rooted for Hermione. Every passing day made her doubt that what she had felt for Ron in return, truly felt for Ron independent of the grand plan, had been nothing more than a fleeting high school crush. Hormones, at the crudest. On a long-term scale, their relationship would have been rocky at best. She had no doubt he'd disapprove of her choice in career. And yet she knew he'd use a ridiculous double-standard to justify his own as an Auror.
Just imagining the ensuing argument made her blood boil. She'd since matured and become disillusioned enough to realize that a relationship described as a 'turbulent, whirlwind romance' was only good for the partner who got the published book deal, movie adaptation, or hit breakup song when it ended.
A full minute passed before she realized her wallowing had not gone unnoticed. A young man sitting at the bar was watching her, piercing blue eyes staring from beneath a head of softly curling auburn hair. He was tall, clearly athletic, and matinee handsome with his sun-kissed complexion. Curiosity with a hint of concern was etched on his already sharp features. Hermione sat up in alarm and turned to face the window, partially concealing her face from his view as she reigned in her feelings.
Rule one for curse-breakers: be confident with yourself. Failing that, never give up the appearance of confidence.
The last few months had seen her in several situations that pushed her comfort zone. For the most part, she took the challenges head on with great success. But she'd underestimated the perceptiveness of her last mentor, who'd noticed her general aversion to social encounters. Book are meant to expand our world, he'd told her. Not hide you from it. Indeed, the old Hermione would've already curled in on herself, awkward and unsure. She would've buried herself in a book if she had one right now.
The new and improved Hermione would be better than that.
With a deep breath, she turned her head back towards the young man, her lips curling with a shy but welcome smile as she met his gaze. He returned the smile warmly, raising a glass of orange juice in her direction and a quizzical brow that asked, is everything okay? Her heart began to race as he seemed to consider coming over to ask her in person. Just as he decided to get up, a group of guys- his friends, by the looks of it —rushed pass the bar and hauled him away with them. He shrugged apologetically as he passed Hermione's table and disappeared into the next cart.
Hermione visibly sagged into her chair, feeling relieved but also a little disappointed. She yelped when a light punch landed on her upper arm. A long and lean body brushed past her from behind and slid smoothly into the chair beside hers.
"That was pretty close."
Her eyes widened in surprise as an identical figure pulled up a chair across from her. "Very close," Fred grinned cheekily. He leaned towards her, one elbow on the table, and said in a lowered voice, "A shame he couldn't stay."
Hermione's brow furrowed with instant suspicion. "You didn't."
George pressed a hand to his heart. "We didn't do anything! We just arrived."
She glanced from one twin to the next and pursed her lips thoughtfully. Both were watching her intently, George with a merry glint in his eyes and Fred with… an oddly curious expression. Had he seen what the young man saw? She dismissed the thought and tilted her head slightly in his direction. "Arrived from where, exactly?"
"From seeing Charlie off. He sends his regards, by the way."
Hermione nodded in acknowledgement as a waiter appeared and placed three glasses and a pitcher of water on their table. He left with an order for coffee and pancakes, an omelette for George, and 'just some milk' for Fred. She had always felt at ease around the twins, but there was a tension in the air that made waiting for the food strangely uncomfortable. She cleared her throat as a thought came to her. "What are you two doing here?"
"Well," George clasped his hands together and smiled. "I'm glad you asked! Fred and I got to thinking-"
"That's never good," Hermione muttered grimly, but a crooked smile was already creeping across her lips.
"—we're keen to new opportunities."
"And ideas. Unfortunately, we seem to be short on magical ones at the moment."
"So we thought that maybe, since you seem to know your way around and all—"
Uh oh. Hermione's fists clenched white in her lap. She wasn't sure she liked where this was heading.
"We'd tag along with you. Just for a day or two and have a Muggle tour."
"That is," Fred spoke, a hint of concern in his voice. "If it's alright with you."
Hermione closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Her heart beat anxiously against her chest. Two days with the Weasley twins! She wasn't sure how she felt about that.
Mercifully, the food arrived just then and bought her some time to think about it. On the one hand, she welcomed their company. They were just the right kind of high-maintenance to prevent her from further wallowing today. Their presence also guaranteed some fun times. On the other hand, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was all kind of… inappropriate.
Fred seemed to have read her thoughts because he added, "Our ulterior motive is to prove we're more than just devilishly handsome pranksters."
"Yeah," George picked up on his brother's cue. "It wounds us that you think we lack maturity."
"Let us improve your image of us."
"At the very least," George winked, "let us buy you your first drink."
This earned a genuine laugh from Hermione. No guy had ever offered to buy her a drink before. It was definitely not unflattering.
"You boys are awfully good at propositioning."
"Propositioning?" George raised his brows innocently. "Is that what we've been doing, Fred?"
"No George," his brother smiled smugly. "We were just asking if she'd like to spend some time with the coolest wizards she knows. Of course," Fred's smile turned wicked as his eyes fixed on Hermione with a startlingly intense gaze. "If it's her desire to be propositioned…"
"Oh, alright!" She rolled her eyes and shook her head in defeat. "You can both come along." She shot her hand up to stop the twins from interrupting. "But just one night! Don't you have a store to manage?"
"We trust Verity's management."
"It's quite better than ours, actually."
"And anyway, we're officially on holidays too."
Hermione leaned back in her chair and glanced warily at one twin, and then the next. 24 hours with the Weasley twins. "Well," she said with a huff, "this is going to be interesting."
