Chapter 51 – Learning Spells
My first date with George had been perfect. It was in the most beautiful setting and after yummy meal prepared by Dobby then snuggled up on the sofa to watch a movie. We called it a night at about 12am and headed off to bed.
"Don't be worrying Laura we're totally safe and Dobby is doing look out all night." George told me as I got myself ready for bed.
I was really nervous about spending out first night together though it was totally innocent. I was shattered by the time we got into bed so it wasn't long before I was fast asleep with George's arm draped around me.
******
Dobby had stayed up all night on watch to make sure no one would try and attack the cottage. He was still wide awake enough to make us a hearty breakfast the next morning.
"I wonder how Fred and Hermione got on last night?" I wondered.
"Well they either got on really well and had a lot of fun together or they have killed each other." George answered in between mouthfuls of scrambled egg.
"I think I'll go with the first option." I replied.
"Yeah I think the same. For all we know they could have ended up in bed together." George spoke. "Though I don't think Hermione would be that type of girl nor would Fred take advantage of her in that way, well I hope he wouldn't."
Our time at the beach cottage came to an end as Remus and Tonks were bringing Teddy to it for a few days along with Tonk's mother. George and I said goodbye to Dobby and apparated back to his house. Fred had already left for work and Hermione was sat in the living room working on some paper work.
"Hello you pair. Did you have a nice night?" she asked looking up from the papers.
"We had a brilliant time." I answered grinning.
"We did indeed." George added. "What about you and my less handsome twin?"
"Yes we got on really well. We didn't really do much, just watched some television." Hermione answered with a sigh scribbling something on a piece of paper.
"So there was no snogging then?" George pushed.
Hermione rolled her eyes
"No there was not!" she lied in a defensive tone though she knew Fred would probably tell George about their kiss anyway.
"Oh Laura some post came for you today. It's on the kitchen table." Hermione said.
I wandered into the kitchen with George following me and found the cream envelope sitting on the table. It was from the Ministry.
Dear Miss Laura McAleese,
We are pleased to inform you that your application for the Ministry Wizardry course has been accepted. We would like to invite you to an interview to discuss what subjects you wish to take, your accommodation arrangements and other issues you wish you discuss with us about the course. Please fill in the enclosed form with an suitable date for your interview and return to us asap.
Juliet Harrison Head of Wizardry Course Department
I took out the enclosed form and looked through the dates picking the one for that afternoon. George had already gone and got me one of their owls for me to use. I filled in the form and attached it to the owl then George sent it off.
"That was easy." I commented.
George had to dash off to work leaving me with Hermione for the rest of the day.
"I shall see you lovely ladies later on." George spoke planting a light kiss on my forehead and hugging me tightly then apparated to the shop.
"Hermione could you teach me some spells?" I asked the brown haired witch.
"Of course I will." She answered grinning. "And you can tell me all about last night."
I dashed straight upstairs and grabbed my spell book and wand then met with Hermione outside where she had already conjured some crash mats and cushions.
"Right we'll start off with the basics. We'll start with 'accio'." Hermione stated.
"All you do is point at an object for example 'accio cushion'." Hermione pointed her wand at the pile of cushions and one of them came flying towards her.
I held my wand out at arm's length.
"accio cushion!" I shouted and a cushion came flying in my direction.
Hermione then locked the outside door and got me to try 'Alohomora' which opens unlocked doors. I pointed my wand at the door and shouted "Alohomora." And the door unlocked instantly.
"Right next we'll do enlarging and reducing spells. I think we'll stick to ones you'll use the most or need the most." Hermione stated setting a toy rabbit on the wooden table.
"Engorgio!" she stated and the rabbit got bigger.
"Reducio." She then said and the rabbit went back to its orginial side.
I then tried both of them.
"You're a natural. You're doing brilliantly." Hermione commented.
The next spell I was taught was how to conjure a patronus which I was most looking forward to doing, especially as I didn't know what mine would actually be. I pointed my wand and let as many happy memories fill me up as I possibly could, though the main one was my perfect date with George.
"Expecto Patronum!" I shouted and a white wispy rabbit came out of the end of my wand and began hopping around the garden. It then disappeared into nothing.
"Wow that was amazing Laura, especially for the first time trying to conjure one." Hermione chirped.
We continued to work on some charms first.
"I think you've done brilliantly today Laura. I think we'll take a break for some lunch and you can tell me all about your date with George." Hermione said packing up all the mats and cushions.
Hermione and I had made ourselves some lunch while doing what girls do best – gossip. I began informing Hermione about my date with George.
"I honestly can't believe there was an intruder. That happened on one of my dates there with Ron." Hermione spoke her voice quietening when she mentioned Ron.
She flopped down onto one of the chairs dropping her head in her hands.
"What's wrong Hermione?" I asked moving closer to her.
"Oh it's nothing. It's just me being stupid and turning into an emotional wreck." She sniffed.
I shuffled over to the freezer and brought out a tub of chocolate chip ice cream.
"This should do the trick." I stated.
"It's just Ron took me to the cottage for one of our first dates and it was really romantic. I suppose it broke my heart a little remembering about it that's all." She spoke taking a spoonful of ice cream. "Anyway what about you and George? Are you both dating now then?"
"I guess we are, well I don't think we're official just yet but last night was perfect. I do think I'm slowly falling for him." I admitted.
"What all did you do?" she then asked me.
"Dobby made us something to eat then we just watched a movie before going to bed and we didn't sleep together in that sense." I answered. "What about you and Fred?"
I could have sworn I seen a blush creep into her face.
"Oh Laura I only went and kissed him." She shrieked dropping her head into her hands.
"What?" I questioned wondering if I had heard her right.
"I kissed Fred. We were washing the dishes and started a bit of a water fight, I fell pulling Fred down with me and we kissed. I locked myself in my room and he came to talk to me, told me how he really felt about me and I went and kissed him again. I'm so stupid." She cried.
"You're not stupid Hermione." I said.
"I am. I've only been single a few days and I go and kiss Fred of all people, Ron's brother who he accused me of cheating on him with. I do really like Fred. He's been so lovely to me for years and every time Ron and I had an argument he was always there for me." Hermione admitted.
"Do you have feelings for him?" I wondered.
"I honestly don't know Laura. I love him as a friend and I did enjoy kissing him. He just makes me feel special when I'm around him, I can be myself without worrying about being slated. I don't have to walk on egg shells when I'm around him either and he really does get me." Hermione answered.
"You act differently around Fred. You seem to be more confident and more outgoing." I told her.
I didn't dare tell Hermione about what George and I had seen in the orb the night of the ball.
"I do feel that way when I'm around him. With Ron I'd have to be careful about what I said or what I did. He can be quite judgemental at times whereas Fred isn't." Hermione spoke.
I sat down on the chair beside Hermione taking a spoonful of the ice cream.
"I really don't know what to do. I was going to go and stay with my parents for a few days so to avoid any awkwardness between me and Fred but I don't want to leave you. There's so much I want to teach you and show you."
"Just keep being yourself and the worst thing you can do is push Fred away even as a friend. If you do like him more than a friend then what's stopping you? Life's too short and Fred obviously cares about you so much, I see the way he looks at you and acts around you. Like Luna said to me sometimes we've got to follow our hearts." I stated though I didn't know whether what I had just said made any sense.
"I guess you're right Laura. If anyone does happen between me and Fred, I dread to think about how Ron will act." She said.
"But you've got to think about what you want, not how it'll affect other people. Sometimes we've got to put ourselves first and do what we want for a change and stop pleasing other people, you get no thanks for it." I said.
Hermione thought for a few moments.
"You have got a point and you've been going through the same problem. I'll just wait and see what happens." Hermione signed.
I smiled at her
"Everything will be alright Hermione." I told her in a reassuring tone.
