Hermione and Fred spent the next day in the Hogsmeade shop working on getting the shelves filled and inventory taken. They didn't seem to get much done, because Fred kept pulling Hermione to him for snog sessions; effectively making her forget how many of a certain item she had counted.
He tried to refrain, but he kept finding himself watching her work while she hummed quietly to herself. She was showing him how important his career was by working in his shop. Seeing her work so comfortably there was making his body ache for her. He kept picturing how the future could be: Hermione coming down after work to spend time with him and help him stock the shelves… waking up on Sundays together to enjoy a late breakfast before coming down to do inventory or create new products together before heading to the burrow for family dinner...
He never thought he would be one to settle down with a girl; marriage never even seemed to be an option. But now, he never wanted anything more than to wake up next to her every morning and to fall asleep next to her every night after laying and talking about their day.
He knew he needed her to agree to move in with him after she graduated, now he just had to figure out how and when he was going to ask.
XxXxXx
Fred had hired Dean Thomas and Terry Boot to help him with the shop and Verity would now be working at the Hogsmeade location to help get it up and running.
George had hired Lee Jordan and Katie Bell for full time in Diagon. Angelina had decided to be a stay at home mum and told George she would supervise the shop while he was in the back brewing potions.
The next three days were spent filling shelves, hanging banners, and getting the shop ready for the grand opening. The last two days before the opening were training days for all of the new hires. George closed the Diagon shop for the holiday so he could help.
Verity and the twins conducted the training program and Hermione had decided to sit in as well so she could help when she was available.
Fred was glad to have her there because it seemed like everyone wanted to joke around more than listen. Maybe it had been a mistake hiring friends and schoolmates.
Hermione sat in the middle of the group, sitting up straight with a self inking quill and notebook in hand, looking eager to learn. Whenever someone whispered around her or laughed and spoke out of turn, it only took one look from Hermione to get them to straighten up…at least for awhile. She constantly raised her hand and asked questions, making Fred happy because she was asking things that they had overlooked and making George rather annoyed because they had to keep stopping.
After Hermione raised her hand for the fifth time that hour, there was a loud thud and everyone turned to find Terry smacking his head against the counter.
"I feel like this is McGonagall's class all over again!" Terry complained.
Hermione sat up straighter and uncrossed her legs, her eyes narrowing. Fred, George, and Dean automatically took a step back and Angelina grinned. Terry's brow furrowed in confusion to why the Gryffindor alumni were acting this way.
Terry looked at Hermione and then to Dean.
"You're on your own, mate."
Hermione licked her lips. "These men are putting their trust in you and paying you to keep their business successful. You are showing blatant disrespect for your employers by slamming your head against the desk like a small child and complaining that I am asking too many questions when my questions are valid and deserve answers.
"I want to do the best I can because Fred and George have put their hearts and souls into this company and by not fully understanding something, I could risk them losing customers or blowing up half the shop on accident! Everything we do affects their futures!" Hermione spat, taking a deep breath and crossing her legs again, setting the notebook in her lap and looking up at the twins and Verity to continue.
"I do respect the twins. You only feel that way because you're sleeping with one of them! There was nowhere in the job description that said I had to listen to you!" Terry spat back.
Dean rolled his eyes. "I think we all know that isn't true. She's always been very serious when it comes to anything school and career related."
Hermione smiled at Dean. "Thanks Dean."
"No problem."
"Spout off like that again Boot and you'll be out of a job." George warned.
"And you're wrong about the job description. It states that you are to report to and take orders from your superiors. Verity, Angelina, Hermione, George and I are your superiors. You respect her just as you would the rest of us." Fred told him, George nodding silently next to him.
Hermione reddened and looked down at her notebook. He never told her that she would have that type of authority…not that she would ever abuse it. She knew she didn't feel comfortable making any decisions without consulting Verity or Fred first.
"Now that that's settled….Hermione? What was your question?" Verity inquired.
"I was just hoping you could tell us what spells you use to keep the shop from burning down when the fireworks accidentally go off?" Hermione asked, already knowing which spells to use, but wanting to make sure everyone else knew as well.
"Fourteen galleons Granger!" George grumbled, making Hermione laugh.
"Someday, Weasley." She retorted.
Verity took the next twenty minutes going over different safety spells and making everyone take turns showing her and the twins that they could perform each spell correctly.
"I have a question!" Dean announced, while they took a moment to let Hermione and Angelina jot down some notes.
"How do I tell you two apart? I've been trying to find a difference all day." Dean asked.
The twins looked at each other as if trying to figure it out themselves. George had lost an ear, but he often wore a prosthetic over the hole.
"Ask Angelina or Hermione." Katie said. "I've never been good at telling them apart."
Hermione smiled, remembering the time Katie thought George was Fred.
"Ask Hermione. I can only tell them apart when they're together. When they're not, I just have to trust that Fred wouldn't make a move on me." Angelina said, jokingly.
"Thanks babe. That makes me feel great." George told her, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
They all turned toward Hermione. "Er…I don't know! Why don't you ask Lee?" She noticed he turned his head and was now whistling like he hadn't heard a thing.
"Thanks Lee. Well…I just know… they're different." She looked at the twins.
"Fred does everything with his right side, George with his left…like a mirror." At this point the boys were leaning on one foot, with a hand in their pocket. Fred to the right and George to the left.
She pointed at them. "See. Like right now."
She stood up and stood between them. "George is taller, but he slouches. If you close your eyes and listen to them, you can hear that George has a bit more bass in his voice than Fred; I can tell them apart without even seeing them."
She turned around and faced the twins. She looked back and forth between the two. "Fred's eyes are darker…George's have a few flecks of green and his eyes slant more. Fred looks at me different and he stands closer…"
"Duh!" Angelina exclaimed.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I mean he's always done that…"
"Again…duh!"
Hermione scowled at her. "I've been able to tell them apart since I was thirteen, but if you think you can do a better job at explaining, then go ahead!"
"How did you figure it out at thirteen? It was harder to tell them apart back then than now." Katie asked.
Hermione shrugged. "I basically lived with them in the summers because of Ron and Ginny. I guess being around them year round had something to do with it.
"The first thing I noticed was George's slouching… Fred chewed his lip a lot when listening to me talk…although… that's probably because I was talking to much… then I noticed their mirror movements at the World Cup. I also noticed that Fred had no problem keeping eye contact, but George would look at me in the eyes and then up to my forehead and then back down…the interesting thing is that when he was pretending to be Fred his eye contact didn't waiver…like he was more confident when he wasn't playing himself.
"Also, Fred doesn't have as large of a personal bubble as George. If you come up to George and stand too close, he takes a step back…but if you do it to Fred, he just grins or leans in more…" Hermione explained. Dean still had a confused look on his face.
"Okay…if you've tried everything and all else fails….GEORGE!" Hermione yelled.
George startled. "What woman? I am right here!"
"That always works." She finished, making everyone smile.
"Also…if you find a Weasley attached to Hermione it'll be most likely Fred…not always though… probably nine times out of ten. The same with me and George." Angelina added.
"Not always?" Katie asked.
Angelina laughed. "No, not always. They share." When seeing Katie's expression, she laughed.
"Not like that! They just like to tease us...The Weasleys are just really affectionate…especially with Hermione." Angelina explained.
"That's because they've somehow managed to make me affectionate… when you've got random Weasleys attached to your side, you finally just give in and join them. They haven't been able to turn you yet." Hermione mentioned.
Angelina shook her head. "No turning me. I like my personal space. The only one I want attached to my side is George…maybe Harry…" Angelina teased.
"Of course you'd pick boy wonder…" George complained.
Hermione smiled. "I think Ginny and I are a bit too possessive to let you have an arm…" She mentioned, making everyone laugh.
"Oi!" Fred called.
"Don't worry. I have another arm for you…" Hermione answered. She looked over to Verity, who looked very put off.
"I'm sorry…I think we got off track." Hermione said, apologizing to Verity.
"I agree...we completely got off track. Let's get back to business…" Verity mentioned.
XxXxXx
Hermione sat on the counter as she watched everyone start to disperse for the night. Terry left as soon as Verity announced that they were done and Dean left after talking to Hermione for a bit. The twins friends stayed and she watched as the five of them talked and laughed close to the door.
She enjoyed seeing them with their old friends. They seemed to not have much time for them lately; they were either at the shop, spending time with family, or with her and Angelina.
Fred looked over at her and she smiled at him before opening her notebook open to look over her notes again. He made his way toward her and stood in front of her, reaching for her book and setting it aside.
"Fred, go be with your friends. I'm perfectly content here." She urged, pushing on his arms.
"No, I want to see you." He told her and moved her legs so he could stand between them.
"You've seen me all day!"
He nodded. "I've seen them all day too…I want to mention that Katie told me that Alicia is picking her up for drinks here in a minute." Hermione's body tensed and he immediately put his arms around her. "Easy. She won't come over here. I won't even turn around." He said, calming her.
There was an eruption of laughter and Hermione looked over to find Lee with a potato for a nose. She laughed and shook her head.
"I never realized how exhausting they could be." He told her, smirking.
She laughed. "You think they're exhausting? Imagine how they felt dealing with you in school! You two were twice as bad."
"Were?" He asked.
She nodded. "Yes, were. Old age must be catching up with you." She teased.
"Old age? I'm only a year and a half older!"
She smiled. "Ah, yes…but that year and a half makes all the difference. I am still a young woman…you on the other hand…"
"Don't even finish that sentence! You love me anyhow!" He told her.
"Eh!" She shrugged.
"Yes you do! Now kiss me." He demanded.
She leaned back and scrunched her nose. "I don't think I should be kissing old men."
He narrowed his eyes and lunged toward her, showering her face in kisses and rubbing his stubble against her cheek and neck making her laugh. She cupped his face to try and get him to stop. He smiled and leaned his forehead against hers.
"She's here and staring." Hermione whispered.
He shrugged, not lifting his forehead from hers. "Let her stare. She isn't getting any of my attention… not that I have any energy to anyway… I am an old man after all." He grinned.
Hermione smiled. "I hope you aren't too tired already…"
He pulled his face back and wiggled his eyebrows. "What did you have in mind?"
"I was just thinking we could take advantage of that hot tub on the deck upstairs." She bit her lip.
He nuzzled her neck and groaned at the thought of her half naked and wet. "That sounds perfect. Stay over after?" He asked, picking his head up to look at her, looking hopeful.
She pretended to think about it and he stuck his bottom lip out.
"How can I say no to that?" She asked, then kissed his pouted lips. He smiled and pulled her lips back to his.
"Oi! Get a room!" George bellowed from his spot close to the door.
They pulled apart and Hermione blushed, hiding her face in her hands.
Fred laughed and turned to his brother. "That's a good idea! Thanks for offering to close up shop! We're off to bed!"
He turned back to Hermione and bent over, throwing her over his shoulder and making his way to the back.
Lee gave a loud catcall.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" George called.
She looked back at the group and waved, a bashful smile on her face.
XxXxXx
"Well, that was embarrassing…" Hermione mentioned once they were in the flat.
He grinned. "Don't worry about it."
"But now everyone is going to think…ugh!" Hermione chewed her lip.
"Does that bother you? Them thinking we've done that?" He asked.
She shook her head. "No, of course not. I'm not embarrassed of us…it's just awkward knowing that a group of people know what we're doing at the moment…or think they know anyway." She tried explaining while she headed toward the bedroom to tend to Darcy.
"Just relax." He said, coming up behind her and rubbing her shoulders.
Hermione could feel her shoulders relax immediately.
"I'll go warm up the hot tub." He mentioned, releasing her shoulders and heading towards the French doors.
She just realized she didn't have anything to wear. She'd have to wear one of his shirts and her knickers.
"Fred? Can I borrow a shirt for the hot tub? I just realized I don't have anything to wear."
"Of course. Take your pick." He answered, before heading out and closing the door behind him.
XxXxXx
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Hermione asked as they relaxed in the hot tub.
Fred was currently sunk low in the tub in front of a jet, trying to get a kink in his shoulder worked out.
"As ready as we could be!" He answered, sitting up and reaching behind him to rub his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked.
"Can't get this kink out…" He rolled his neck again.
"Come here." Hermione turned so he could sit in front of her.
He grinned and moved to sit in front of her. Once settled, she began to work his shoulders.
It didn't take long for him to melt into her touch, his chin dropping to his chest with his eyes closed.
"Maybe if you hadn't thrown me over your shoulder like a rag doll, you wouldn't have hurt yourself." Hermione mentioned as she worked.
A small grin appeared on his face. "You like it." He stated.
Her lips twitched into a smile. "That's not the point." She worked her way down to the middle of his back.
"I woke up with it…so you like when I take control?" He asked.
"Er…in certain aspects of our relationship, I do."
"The physical aspect?" He inquired, pressing the subject. He liked to be near her as much as he could be, but it often worried him that she thought he was too clingy or found it possessive.
"That'd be one, yes." Hermione agreed. She really did love when he threw her around and how he constantly pulled her against him, hugging her to him. He always grabbed for her hand or her waist, like he just needed to be close to her. It made her feel safe, wanted, and loved.
"And the sexual aspect?" He asked.
She chewed her lip, deciding of she should go into a full explanation or if she should keep it short and sweet. She decided on the latter. "Eventually."
He grinned. "Good. I enjoy being dominant in the bedroom."
She let out an airy laugh. "So, I noticed." It didn't take her long to that figure out. Every time they had snogged or played around, he always pulled her under him.
It had surprised her in the beginning that she had liked it. She had even thought something was wrong with her for allowing a male to do such a thing. If she had seen a man do that to a woman a couple years ago, she would have admonished that he was being possessive and domineering like a Neanderthal. She now knew there was a whole spectrum of colors between white and black and that every couple has a different shade of what they like.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed between his shoulder blades, before leaning her cheek against his back. He reached for her leg and caressed her outer thigh.
She could feel him getting antsy. It didn't take long for him to turn and pull her into his lap, his arms tightening around her.
She couldn't contain her grin.
"Oh hush." He admonished, causing her to laugh.
She rested her head against his shoulder. "I love everything about you…even if you do have control issues." She teased.
He kissed the top of her head. "And I love you and yours…"
She laughed. "Hey! We didn't talk about mine tonight. You can't add that bit to the end!"
He grinned. "We don't have enough time tonight to delve into yours…we'll need more time for that. A few hours…maybe even a day…" He teased.
"Fred!" She lifted her head and scowled at him, the corners of her lips in a smirk.
He laughed. "I love you anyhow." He kissed her nose. "Although…I can't deny I'm a little scared to find out what compulsive habits you have that I don't know about when you move in."
She smiled. "Just don't touch the laundry…or the dishes…and best let me clean the bathroom…"
"Maybe you should just make me a list, yeah?"
"Frederick Wea-"
He cut her off with his lips, but she pulled away.
"Don't interrupt me whi-"
She gave up and leaned into his kiss this time. This was much better than bickering anyway.