Thank you all for reviewing!
.
CHAPTER 12.
.
Lunch was a lively affair.
Everyone congratulated Hermione for coming up with the wonderful idea of shifting the venue for the Weasley Sunday lunches and managing to care for the forever hungry Weasley's.
"Seriously Mione, it's brilliant. I almost don't miss mum", Ron said with a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
"You've prepared food enough for dinner too", Percy said.
"Yeah. I warned her about the Weasley appetite. Told her it's best to have more than have less." Fred grinned.
"Please. I don't need you to tell me about the Weasley appetite. I almost grew up at the Burrow. I know how much you'll eat." Hermione interjected.
"I'm glad Ginny came over to help then." Harry said.
Both Fred and Hermione looked a bit sheepishly at Ginny when Harry said that.
"Yeah. Good I did." Ginny said smirking.
"Fred helped too you know. I told him if he wanted me to prepare all the food, he'd have to clean up. That really got him going." Hermione laughed.
"Eet ees wonderful to meet on Sundays. Molly weel be so 'appy to 'ear we are 'olding up 'er traditions." Fleur said, gently rocking a sleeping Dominique.
"Let's get the dessert out Mione, since everyone is done with lunch. I hear there's cake." Ginny said looking at Fred pointedly.
Fred lowered his eyes away from Ginny's for a moment wondering if Hermione had told her about the cake whilst he was bathing.
But Ginny didn't say anything more.
"Umm. One moment. Before we start with dessert. There's something Luna and I would like to tell the family." Ron said looking excited and nervous at the same time.
Ginny and Hermione at once looked at Luna's left hand. It was clasped within her right hand and there was no way of saying if there was a ring on her finger or not.
Ron and Luna stood up, Ron's arm was around her waist and she looked positively radiant.
"I'm so glad we had this lunch. Ron and I couldn't wait to tell all of you'll." Luna said.
Slowly she removed her left hand from her right.
Ginny and Hermione gasped inwardly.
"We're getting married!" they said together.
At once, there was ooohhs and aahhs and congratulations being said, backs being clapped and hugs being exchanged.
Fleur who was still hormonal, post partum and couldn't stop crying. She made up for her mother-in-law's absence.
Ginny and Hermione had enveloped Luna in a massive hug and were saying something on the lines of finally picked up courage, I can't believe etc.
They released her to see her ring.
It was a simple platinum band with some creature with horns. And in the middle of its horns was a tiny heart encrusted with the smallest cluster of blood red rubies.
The creature itself was studded with tiny diamonds and emeralds for eyes.
"It's beautiful Luna. But what is that animal?" Hermione asked.
"Why Hermione? It's a Crumple Horned Snorkack of course. You should know that." Luna said as if it was the most obvious thing ever.
"Oh. Yes of course it is." Hermione said "it's beautiful. Suits you perfectly."
Ginny nudged Ron and asked him, "How the hell do you know what a crumpled horned whatever even looks like?"
"She drew one on a card for me for one of my birthdays. And it is her favourite animal. So I thought I could get a ring made for her. She absolutely loved it when I gave it to her yesterday", Ron said beaming.
"Ickle Ronniekins finally plucked up the courage to propose, I see", Fred said teasing him. "Mum's going to go crazy but she's not going to like the fact you broke the news without her being here to witness it".
"Oh I know. So I already sent her an owl in the morning telling her first. She sent me a charmer and trust me I think I preferred the howler she sent me in my second year in comparison to that. She just wouldn't stop crying. I could barely make out what she was saying" Ron said.
"Oh Ron. You weel not understand what eet ees to be a mother. I theenk of my leetle Victoire getting marreed and I cry so much", Fleur said wiping her tears and Bill was hugging her soothingly with a distraught expression. Being around a woman was guaranteed to bring with it some emotional breakdowns but being around a hormonal, French woman, well that was something else.
Ron looked like he was swallowing his laughter.
"Wait till Luna's pregnant." Bill whispered. "We'll see who's laughing then".
Ron gulped and sent Bill an apologetic and sympathetic look.
"So that's why you canned our weekly lunch yesterday. Ron was busy proposing! How did he propose?" An excited Ginny asked.
Ron turned a deep shade of red, darker than his hair.
"Oh it was the sweetest and the most thoughtful thing anyone has done for me. He took me to my favourite place in the whole world, the Forbidden Forest on a flying carpet which he had bought and imported from Baghdad when he had gone last month for his chess tournament. And just as we were going to land, he stood on his knees and proposed. I accepted of course and we had a lovely picnic lunch in the forest. Then we flew across the black lake on our way back." She said dreamily.
Everyone had turned silent and their eyes were wide.
Some were shocked that Ron could actually plan something so deep and meaningful but mostly they were shocked to learn that Luna's favourite place in the world was the forbidden forest.
"Wow!" Hermione said. "Who would've thought that your emotional range would grow from the size of a teaspoon to that of a serving spoon"
Everyone laughed and Fleur wiped a few tears out of the corners of her eyes.
"So when is the wedding?" Fred asked.
"In a month from now." Ron replied.
"Oh good. That gives mum 3 weeks to plan it at least." Ginny said. "If it were any sooner then she would've killed you for sure."
"Oh yeah. I told mum the same thing. She can relax now and when she comes back she can start preparing", Ron said.
"I bet she's looking at wedding designs in Austria at this very moment", Hermione said.
"It's been so long since one of her children has gotten married. She's going to go all out for you Ron. Beware!" Percy teased him.
"I think Luna is going to need the warning more than Ron dear," Audrey said to her husband. "I had to try at least 50 gowns before I found the perfect one and had to taste hundreds of dishes before we decided what to put on the menu."
"I think it'll be rather fun", Luna said excitedly. "Ginny, Mione I would be honoured to have you'll as my Maids of Honour"
Ginny and Hermione burst out crying and hugged their engaged friend.
"It's quite a tear fest here today isn't it?" Fred said to his overwhelmed brothers.
"You talk now. Wait till it's your turn." Harry told him.
"Oh me? I'm good for now. As happy as can be. Let mum fuss over Ron for a while. I'm off the hook till she remembers me" Fred grinned.
Soon the cake was over and all the kids were getting cranky in need of their nap.
Bill and Fleur apparated away with Victoire and Dominique, while Percy and Audrey left a few minutes later.
Ron and Luna hugged everyone and apparated away to spend the rest of their Sunday together as an engaged couple.
"I'm guessing you won't need my help cleaning up", Ginny said smugly.
"It's ok Gin. Go on. We've got it covered", Fred said not missing the suggestive tone in her voice.
Of course you do she thought, and gave Hermione a hug and whispered in her ear to give her an update about her date soon.
Ginny, Harry and a sleepy Teddy apparated away soon after.
Danny and Bruce had already gone to bed so Hermione went to the kitchen and started clearing up. "My legs are killing me. I don't know how your mum does it every Sunday. Hats off to her." Hermione said.
Fred caught her arm and put the plate she had in her hand, down.
"You go and lie down for a bit. You look positively exhausted. I'll clean up." Fred offered.
"Oh no Fred. I couldn't. You look tired too. I'll help and we'll get it done faster.
"Nope. Nothing doing. You've been on your feet cooking all day. Even though you used magic, it still can be tiring. And I know you stayed up late grading a pile of essays last night." Fred said.
"But you helped too. It's not like I was labouring and you had your legs up on the table all morning." Hermione argued.
"I know. But I'm not tired at all. I'll be your knight in shining armour and finish clearing up and get you your favourite hot chocolate later ok?" He said.
Hermione looked at him quizzically.
She wasn't surprised that they were arguing. That was normal.
But she was surprised at what they were arguing about. She would have never penned Fred to be the type of guy who'd offer to clean up after a party.
Although the offer seemed tempting, she could not let him clear everything on his own. So she shook her head and turned towards the kitchen again.
"Hmmm. Stubborn as ever I see. I'll let you help only on one condition then." Fred said.
"And what is that?" Hermione asked, curious.
"That after we're done, I will give you one of the Weasley's famous foot massages that will blow your mind and fatigue away." Fred said proudly.
What the hell did I just say? Fred thought. Did I just casually offer her a foot massage? Have I gone mad? He thought suddenly.
He had never ever said that to anyone who was not his girlfriend before. Then why did it come out of his mouth?
Maybe she's really tired. And you know she could do with one. He thought.
Hermione stood there looking at him with wide eyes.
"YOU want to give ME a foot massage?" Hermione said still looking shocked.
"Why are you being so nice?" she asked with suspicion.
"Some new trick of yours, I bet." She said.
Fred sighed. "No Hermione. I promise. No trick. Nothing funny. Think of it as a thank you to show my appreciation for getting my family together for lunch today."
Hermione's expression softened. "They're my family too you know", she said softly.
"I know. But still. I'd like to officially thank you. So let's get done with this so you can have the ultimate Fred Weasley experience!" He said clapping his hands.
"That sounds very bad you know" Hermione said naughtily.
"Who are you and what have you done to Hermione Granger?" Fred asked in mock shock.
Laughing and joking they cleared up in no time.
Hermione curled up on the couch with some hot chocolate and Fred sat on the floor with a bottle of scented vanilla oil.
"I swear if you tell anyone about my generosity, Hermione I will haunt you in your dreams." He warned her.
"Why Weasley ? Scared that you'll be rubbish at it or too good at it?" Hermione egged him on.
"Oh I've no doubts about myself. I just don't fancy seeing myself giving free massages to anymore family members." He joked.
"Oh so this is my first and last chance?" Hermione feigned disappointment.
"Yepp", Fred said rubbing some oil on his palms.
"I'm glad I dint let this rare, almost impossible opppppppporrrrrtunity pass by", Hermione breathed.
Fred had just coated her left sole with some oil which he had warmed before and his feather light touch was already making her giddy, so she decided to stop talking and let the amazing feeling of stimulated pressure points take over.
Her initial apprehension turned into relief as the pent up tension in her foot was released and she forgot what she was uncomfortable about.
Fred continued to take some more oil and gently but firmly stroked her sole in slow long motions. He could feel Hermione's tense foot loosen up. She had closed her eyes by now and her face looked completely at rest.
She moaned slightly when he massaged the balls of her feet in slow, deliberate circular motions.
Fred was surprised at the noises Hermione Granger was capable of making. If it weren't for the fact that he had made an innocent suggestion of getting rid of the tiredness of her feet, Fred would have been extremely proud of his abilities to invoke such a vocal appreciation from her.
He continued, changing the strokes and varying the directions and intensities at different points and soon Hermione found herself turn to jelly.
Her mind was too fogged up right now to think straight. She could not stop herself from feeling so good and she didn't want to. She was unaware of the noises she was making because if she was, she would definitely be biting her tongue to control herself.
Fred had not anticipated how a foot massage would suddenly turn out to be. Sure, it was supposed to be pleasurable for her. But never did he think he could have enjoyed giving one so much ever.
Seeing Hermione lose herself and embrace what she was really feeling rather than doing what was right and politically correct always, Fred was elated.
He was very happy to see her so, and the fact that he was the reason made him happier.
He could not explain it to himself but the woman sitting in front of him, was not extra ordinarily gorgeous otherwise but seeing her in such a primal moment, enjoying herself as someone else took care of her for a change, she looked breathtaking.
She had no makeup on. She hadn't the time to put any today. Her hair was as it always was. She had left it open before sitting on the couch and it fanned the back of the couch as a few strands stuck to her face. She had craned her neck backwards and her long porcelain neck showed her veins.
At that moment, Fred thought he had never seen anyone look so beautiful or gorgeous ever.
He switched legs and repeated the motions again on the other leg and continued to look at her once more.
Her face had completely smoothened and there were no wrinlkes, furrowed brows or thinking expressions.
She had let go and was thoroughly in the moment.
Fred could not take his eyes off her.
Sighing, she shifted her head to the other side to get more comfortable.
What am I thinking? He thought. I'm sitting with Hermione Granger, giving her a comforting foot massage. That's all. There is no need for me to go on about her looks and my feelings. What is wrong with me? Annoyed and a bit surprised at himself, he quickly wrapped up the massage. Looking up he realised that he had been massaging for a long time.
Because Hermione Granger had slipped into what looked like a very peaceful slumber.
.
.
Long chapter! Phew!
A bit intense?
I don't have any hidden meanings in the chapters ending part.
Just a few moments here and there.
Its d first time I've written something like this and I'm nervous about your reaction.
So if you've read this and liked it or disliked it please review and let me know so I can write better.
Thanks for reading!
.