Late Lunch, Chapter 7


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"Have I told you how much I love you?"

"In the past twenty minutes? Yes, but not nearly enough."

Hermione dropped her puppy eyes and scoffed. "Don't act like I'm forcing you to do something incredibly horrible. It's just a tiny party."

Harry frowned. "And I told you that it's not about the party, it's about the fact that you're the one making me go to this. It's so weird. Remember the last time we went to one of these things together? You were miserable and therefore I was miserable. If you think Parvati Patil will ever consider going out with me ever again after that mope-fest then you're out of your mind."

She patted his arm consolingly. "I'm still sorry about that. But you know how I am at social gatherings."

"Which is why I'm so confused. Hermione, why are we here?"

Hermione wished she could answer him, but she hardly knew herself. Everything she remembered was absently agreeing to something Ginny said and apparently that was in kind of signing a legally binding document, because if you promised Ginevra Molly Weasley something then you very much obliged to follow it through. And thus, she was now standing with her best friend on the front steps of Seamus Finnigan's house, dreading what lay waiting inside those booming walls.

"I promised Ginny," she said finally.

Harry shook his head. "And that's another thing. Lately, you've been spending a lot of time with that girl, and you barely know her."

"I know her enough, Harry. Besides, how am I supposed to gain new friends by not speaking to anyone?"

He sighed. "I'm glad you're trying. I am. I just don't want you to try and be something you're not. If they make you feel like you have to then they can sod off. You're great the way you are."

This was shaping up to be one of those rare heart-warming speeches Harry would throw at the people he cared about. Last one he'd given had been directed at his godfather, a few months ago. One wouldn't think it when you looked at him, but Sirius Black had had quite the rough childhood. As a result he had his fair share of dark times and while James had been like a brother to him, Harry had been a light in Sirius darkness ever since he was born. Hermione thought it a big and unfair responsibility for a child to have, but it was one that Harry didn't mind one bit. He loved Sirius.

And he loved Hermione, and right now she knew that she had to assure him that he didn't have to shoulder her pain as well. That boy had a hero-complex.

She smiled at her best friend and took his hand. "Thank you, Harry. But I'm being perfectly honest when I say that I'm here of my own volition."

Harry relaxed. "Good." Then he faced the house. "Let's do this."

They rang the doorbell and were immediately greeted by an incredibly intoxicated Seamus.

"No, Dean, I'm the host, I have to open—Hello!"

Harry laughed. "Hi, there, mate. Mind if we join you?"

"Not at all, not at all! The more the merrier! C'mere!"

Dean Thomas stepped forward to stop Seamus from hugging them. "Seamus, maybe keep your hands on your boyfriend, yeah? No offence, Harry. It's just that I know he gets a bit. . .friendly, when he's had a drink or two."

"That's an understatement," said Harry, and the two of them shared a grin that Hermione didn't quite understand. Maybe a story for some other time.

They entered the house.

"I'm glad to see you here too, Hermione," said Seamus. "Not often you're out and about, I mean."

Hermione, having been busy taking in the surroundings, jumped. "Oh! Er, no, I tend to stay indoors, and thank you. Glad to see you as well."

"Dean, babe, I want to dance," said Seamus suddenly.

Dean kissed him on the top of his head. "Sure thing."

Seamus looked at Hermione and Harry and told them to help themselves to anything, before disappearing to the living room with Dean.

"What do you suggest we do now?" asked Hermione.

"Get something to drink," said Harry.

They maneuvered their way through the narrow hallways, greeting a few familiar faces, trying to find the kitchen. Once there, Harry made them some drinks he knew how to mix since Hermione had zero clue about any of these sort of things. It wasn't as if she'd never had a drink before, it was just that never bothered to learn how to make them.

While she sipped and felt the alcohol already making its way through her body, she looked out the kitchen window. There was quite the group on the lawn, making a ruckus, and playing with what appeared to be brooms and sticks. Hermione laughed when she realized they were pretending to fly on them.

"Want to take a closer look?" asked Harry.

Hermione nodded. She didn't really feel comfortable in the loud house anyway. Perhaps the evening would go on better being spent outside.

She'd barely stepped foot on the lawn when she stopped. Four of those broom riding idiots sported red hair.

"Hermione?" said Harry and looked at her, concerned.

She shook her head. "I'm fine, I'm all right—"

One of the players heard them and spun his head in their direction. Though his red hair had startled her at first, it was his smile that made her heartbeat quicken now.

"Herms!" said Fred, and threw his broom aside.

His team mates were groaning as he jogged towards her, arguing that he simply couldn't leave the match like that, but it seemed Fred didn't care. In one swift move he hoisted Hermione up in his arms, pressing her against his chest. She gave a tiny shriek, not enjoying having to leave the comfort of the ground.

"Herms," said Fred, again, this time while rocking her tiny frame back and forth. "Hello."

"Hi, Fred," said Hermione. "Would you mind letting me down?"

He made a disappointed sound, which she heard clearly rumbling through his chest, but the boy did as told, and her feet found surface once more. However, he did not completely release his hold on her. One of Fred's arms stayed around her shoulders, but Hermione found she didn't mind. She was blushing like crazy, though.

Red-faced and warm, Hermione tore her eyes away from him, meeting Harry's extremely perplexed stare.

'What?', he mouthed.

She shrugged in response, saying that she didn't have any idea what was happening either.


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A/N: Tihihihihi. . .(that's swedish for teeeheheeheehee)

Yeah, that's basically all I have to say. But also:

Thanks to all of you who favorited, followed and reviewed. You guys are amazing and I send all of you penguin hugs (I don't know if that's a thing but it sounded cute).

Until next time!
/Primrue