Chapter 10-
"It seems here, we have the rare species of the wild book worm, in her natural habitat."
"Haha, very funny, George. How was the honeymoon?" Closing my book, and tossing it onto the coffee table. I turned to face George who had ungraciously plopped down right next to me on the couch. The rain outside pattered against the windows outside, like typical British weather it was.
"Ravishing," He grinned saucily and through me a wink. "But I'm in here because mum asked for your help with dinner. And don't ask me! I don't know why she wants help"
"Oh! alright than, thanks George. I'm glad you and Luna had a brilliant trip to the states" I stood from the couch patting George on the head as I left the sitting room; entering the kitchen.
"Hello Molly, George said you wanted some help."
"Yes dear, could you help? It wouldn't be too much of a hassle, would it?"
"Molly it's no hassle at all, what would you like me to do?" I started rolling up the sleeves of my flannel button up, heading toward the sink to wash my hands.
"How 'bout you start preparing those carrots, over on the counter, there." grabbing the bundle of orange veggie I cut the string that kept it all together, letting them fall into the sink.
"So did you enjoy yourself at the wedding? You looked absolutely stunning, dear." Turning the water off I started to scrub the carrots.
"Oh thank you, and yes! It was wonderful! I had a wonderful time,"
"Well, I saw you and Viktor Krum dancing, rekindling old flames?" I turned to the elder woman. She didn't say it in an accusing way, but more of an inquiring curiosity.
"Oh, no! Viktor and I are strictly friends, he had a date. A sweet lady he works with, she crazy about quidditch too, and he loves how she can talk strategy with him. We're just friends Molly, nothing more and nothing less" grabbing the peeler, and a bowl I started to peel the carrots. "What makes you so curious?"
"Nothing dear, I had looked over at you when you two were dancing, you seemed to both be having a splendid time, and you accepted his request to dance very cheerfully, I be merely asking."
"I understand, but Viktor and I have the same relationship as George and I, we laugh and share old memories, yet our feelings for each other are merely that of sibling love, it's that way with all your children and I."
"Are you sure you feel that way with all my children? I also noticed that you and Charles spent an offal lot of time dancing together. The looks you were giving each other said nothing of sibling love." I started when she brought up Charlie, the knife in my hand jerked forward and sliced my left pointer finger that held another carrot.
"Hell!" I scrabbled for a towel to stop the bleeding, it hurt but the cut wasn't deep so it should be fine, nothing a little magic can't fix.
"Hermione! Don't worry we'll get you fixed up in a jiffy" Molly stopped mashing the potatoes, and whipped out her wand from the pocket of her apron. With a few swishes here and there; the bleeding had ceased and my skin had started to bind itself back together. And with another swish the spoons and knifes that had been doing various jobs, began again. "Hermione, I'll just finish this up, we are almost finished here. Why don't you go and call in all the children. They should all be at the Quidditich field."
"Okay, alright."
I walked out the kitchen side door, and headed down the worn dirt shed, and passing by Arthur's gurage, where surprisingly he be kneeling next to Sirius' old motorbike, seemingly fixing it up.
"Hello Arthur! Dinner is ready, Molly just sent me out here to fetch the boys and Gin, you better head in too." looking up at me, the older man smiled. Arthur was in great health, he had lost weight, his coloring was fantastic, worked less hours, and he started to work more on some of his muggle ideas that he had stashed in his garage, in all he seem more relaxed.
"Really? what time is it?"
"it's a half past six, Arthur."
"Oh merlin's beard, I guess I lost track of time, thanks Mione. I'll be in, in a tick." I nodded as I continued my way down the worn path till I reached my desiared destination.
"Oi! You lot. Dinners ready! Get your arses to the burrow, snip-snap! You better be washed and shining before your mum gets a hold of you!" I hollered, as I watched the various groups turn to me. Fred, George, Bill, Ron, Harry, Gin, and Charlie had all seemed to convince Percy and Neville to play some Quidditich with them all. Luna and Audrey sat with Hannah, whose baby bump was growing larger since last time I had seen her, at George and Luna's wedding. I walked toward the ladies, giving Hannah a hand up, she was only three months pregnant and not quite showing yet.
"Hermione!-" I jumped as arms circled around me, and basically throwing me to someone else whom hoisting me over their muscular and quite sweaty shoulder. "Watch…out." Audrey's warning didn't have enough time to be heeded. I turned my head to the group of grimy Quidditich players, who all dangled from the earth like a clan of bats. I looked down at the muscular back and came nose to snout with a beautiful welsh green dragon.
"Charlie Weasley you let me down right now!" I yelled, he only chuckled and started to run toward, what I believe to be, the direction of the burrow. If you have never been straddled over someone's shoulder, like a sack of potatoes, while they are running then you are lucky because my abdomen was in so much pain by the he reached the burrow.
"Charles Weasley! What in Hogwarts founders are you doing!?" I believe we had entered the kitchen.
"I'm just dropping Mione, here, off before I went to go wash-up and shine!" bending over and depositing me in a chair. I glared at the stocky and cocky red head, which he in turn bent down and pecked me on the cheek so close to my mouth that his lips touched the corner of my mouth. I stilled, shocked, as Charlie backed away from me, he turned away but not before sending me a saucy wink before retreating to the stairs, following his sibling and estranged siblings.
I sat there, in that wooden kitchen chair, blushing furiously as I thought of sweat and Welsh green muscles and devilish charming grins.