Author's Note
Merry Almost Christmas everyone! I don't know what my access to the internet will be like over Christmas and New Year so you're getting your Christmas present early - for the next 12 days I will be uploading a new chapter every day to one of my current stories (spread across Falling Apart With You, You and I, Fred's Heroine and Promise Me)!
Check out yesterday's which was on Falling Apart With You (this story's partner story - the timelines, events and characters overlap but it follows Charlie Weasley's life and relationships)
Hope you enjoy day two's gift!
Love,
Wishin' Girl x x x
...
"What careers are you considering Miss Granger?" asked Professor McGonagall from across the Burrow's kitchen table.
It was late Sunday morning and Hermione and Ginny were studying for their NEWTs with the Hogwarts Headmistress as they had done every week since the first of September. Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Ron had not been ready to go back to the site of the battle in September but Hermione was eager to complete her NEWTs and Molly had insisted that Ginny completed hers (the Weasley matriarch quickly gave up trying to convince Harry and Ron to though) and as a result of McGonagall's soft spot for the war heroines she agreed to tutor them both young women every Sunday morning at the Burrow.
"I really want to make a difference for marginalised groups, particularly house elves and werewolves to start with." Hermione had been considering this in her therapy sessions at St Mungo's and wanted to use her privilege to make things better for others like Dobby and Remus Lupin. Having been persecuted for being muggle born during the war she wanted to change things for those who continued to be treated poorly just because of who they were.
McGonagall nodded sagely and corrected Ginny's Care of Magical Creatures essay while Hermione finished off her Ancient Runes coursework. Ginny and Hermione took their week's homework out from their folders and handed it over to their Professor who in turn handed back last week's which had been marked. Ginny was taking Charms, Herbology and DADA which she worked with Hermione on after her weekday training sessions with the Holyhead Harpies, in addition to Care of Magical Creatures. Hermione was also taking Ancient Runes, Potions, Transfiguration and Arithmancy and was thoroughly enjoying learning again.
"Won't you stay for dinner Minerva?" Molly pleaded as the professor bid everyone goodbye.
"I'm sorry Molly but I really must be getting back to the school." Came McGonagall's standard reply and with a swish of her emerald cloak she flooed back to her office at Hogwarts.
The girls quickly tidied up their work before setting the table and helping Molly get the last of the dinner prepared and before long the rest of the Weasleys started to converge on the kitchen to offer a helping hand or, in the cases of George and Bill, share a few naughty jokes.
"We're here!" Fred's voice called from the back door just as everyone took their seats.
George watched Hermione's face light up at hearing Fred's voice and then immediately darken again at the sight. Fred stepped through the doorway in his ripped jeans and a muggle band t-shirt that pulled across his now bulging biceps, the sunlight caused his red hair to glow and in his hand was the small olive skinned hand of the assistant healer from St Mungo's. She was wearing a very tight top with a plunging neckline so low that everyone could tell she wasn't wearing a bra, figure hugging black jeans and six inch stiletto shoes.
"Welcome, welcome" Molly greeted Carina warmly, doing a valiant job at hiding her distaste for the young woman's outfit "it's so lovely to have you here. We're about to serve the food so just grab a seat!"
As they ate Fred introduced everyone to his 'girlfriend', when he reached Hermione however he stumbled over his words and his voice became instantly cold.
"And this is Hermione, she's my youngest brother, Ron's, girlfriend." He spoke quickly and tried to move on to Ginny who was seated beside the bushy haired brunette but couldn't due to the ensuing laughter from around the table.
"Girlfriend?" questioned Ron in between snorts of laughter.
Fred's heart sank at the thought of Hermione being more than just Ron's girlfriend, sure he hadn't spent much time with her since he and Carina made their relationship official but surely he couldn't have missed Hermione getting engaged to his own brother, could he?
"We're not going out" Hermione clarified "we tried for a couple of days after the battle but, despite how much I love him," she squeezed Ron's hand across the table "we would never work romantically."
"Despite how much I love her, I wholeheartedly agree" Ron grinned at his best friend in return, before turning his gaze fiercely towards Fred and adding through gritted teeth "but I will do all I can to keep her heart safe from players."
At his last few words Fred noticed Ron's eyes flick to Carina and back. It was clear that Ron considered Fred to be one of those players that he would try to keep Hermione safe from.
The rest of dinner passed by quickly as Carina got to know her boyfriend's family but Fred barely noticed anything that went on around him. 'They're not going out,' his thoughts repeated 'she's not dating my brother, she's single, I'm such an idiot, why didn't I just talk to her!?'.
The family all sat around the lounge after their hearty meal, Carina sat herself in Fred's lap and kept trying to capture his attention, but his eyes never left the jumper clad girl on the other side of the room. He allowed himself, for the first time in weeks, to be mesmerised by the soft curls hanging down her back and the way she worried her rosy lip between her pearly white teeth.
"Hermione, will you take a walk with me?" He asked abruptly, cutting across the current conversation about Ginny's last quidditch game and causing everyone to turn to him in surprise.
He stood, tipping Carina from his lap unceremoniously, strode over to her and grabbed her hand before pulling her through the kitchen and out to the Burrow's orchard. The cold November air didn't seem to bother Fred or even register with him despite him only wearing a t-shirt and jeans.
"So you and Ron?" He decided to dive straight to the point like he should have done weeks ago.
"What about me and Ron?" Hermione felt quite affronted at being dragged outside by him so abruptly.
"What's the deal between you two?" Fred demanded.
"We're best friends." She wasn't going to give him any more information than necessary when he was speaking to her so harshly.
"You sleep in his bed!" shouted Fred so loudly into her face that it startled several nearby birds but Hermione didn't even flinch.
"So what!? He helps with my nightmares but you wouldn't know anything about that would you!? Seeing as you're not around anymore to sit with me or talk to me or have anything to do with me now that you have her." Hermione had only been outside with him for a few minutes but she'd already had enough.
He spluttered in response, to which Hermione turned on her heel and marched determinedly back to the house.
Fred sunk down to the damp orchard floor and let his head fall into his hands, 'why do I always have to mess things up?' he scolded himself internally.
George looked up from his place on the lounge floor to see an angry Hermione storm inside and head straight upstairs. The younger twin looked pointedly at Ron who immediately jumped up to follow her, while he stood up and headed out towards the orchard where he knew his twin would be, with Carina following closely behind.
…
The following Friday night Harry and Ginny were heading out on a date together to the nearby muggle town. Hermione had had enough of sitting around at home, studying and learning how to keep a house and family running.
"Oi Ron!" She called up the tall staircase from outside Ginny's room "What are you doing tonight while the lovebirds are out on their date?"
"Oh just continuing with my thrilling life full of absolutely nothing" he called in response, smirking down at her over the banister.
"Fancy going out somewhere too? I could use some fun." Hermione's eyes sparkled mischievously as she hatched a plan.
A moment later Ron was stood by her side.
"What were you thinking of?" He asked with an edge of nerves, he knew that look in her eyes and it could spell danger.
"Muggles don't know who we are so I say we head out to a muggle bar in London. I can be your wing-girl and help you pick up some chick then dance the night away." Her words elicited a small smirk from her best friend who disappeared in a pop to get ready while Ginny helped her pick out an outfit too.
Within an hour Hermione apparated the pair to an alley in Soho, London, and they made their way to a busy looking bar with music, laughter and dancing patrons spilling out onto the street. They showed the fake IDs that Hermione had charmed for them, although they were both over eighteen neither of them had a muggle ID to prove this, and headed straight up to the bar. The pair had a great time trying out the various cocktails on offer and dancing to the muggle club music.
They caught the knight bus back to the burrow in the early hours of the morning, too drunk to apparate, and vowed to do this every Friday and Saturday night from now on.
That was how, in mid-December, Hermione found herself dancing with a very handsome muggle man while Ron was snogging a blonde lady up against the bar nearby.
"The club's closing soon" a baritone voice sounded in her ear as her hips swayed against the man's.
She did find him exceedingly attractive but she was also rather drunk so just hummed in response.
"I can walk you home if you like?" the man offered as his fingers teased the sides of her grinding hips.
She decided not to reply verbally right now but continued to dance with him until the staff were throwing the four of them out the doors as they closed for the night.
"You are so attractive but I'm really not trying for anything when I offer to walk you home. Just want to make sure a beautiful woman like you is safe." He spoke gently as he took her hand in the golden light from the streetlamps and rubbed her knuckles with the pad of his thumb.
She looked over at Ron who was still entwined with the busty blond he had been snogging most of the night.
"Let me just chat to my friend" she decided and pulled Ron out of the embrace and a few steps away.
"What's your plan now?" She asked with a playful wink "Are you getting the bus back or heading home with your new friend?"
"I think I'll head back to hers if you're sure you don't mind?" Ron's eyes were dark and hooded with lust as he looked back at the woman eyeing him up and down with a salacious smirk.
"I'll see you in the morning then stud" she answered with a teasing nudge "remember to keep your wand hidden and be back by ten or else I can't promise to keep you safe from your mother."
"I'm going to get the bus home" explained Hermione to her handsome man and reached out to give him a hug goodbye when she returned to him and Ron vanished off with his hook up.
"At least let me walk you to your stop" he insisted in return, recapturing her hand and gesturing for her to show him the way.
The pair laughed and chatted amicably as they walked for a few streets until she found a bus stop she could pretend was hers.
"Three minutes" he read from the electronic board above their heads "looks like I'll have to make this quick then."
He wrapped his arms firmly around her waist and gazed down into her eyes, dipping his head half way towards hers and slightly parting his lips. She giggled briefly at his obvious invitation before tipping her head up and meeting his parted lips with her own. Their lips stayed locked in a sensuous kiss, tongues dancing together until the rumble of the approaching bus brought their attention back down to earth.
"Here," he said breathlessly, pressing a business card into her palm as she stepped aboard the bus "I would love to take you out on a date, call me if in the morning you still want to see me again."
The doors closed and with a wink he was gone. She only went a few stops before hopping off the muggle bus and sticking her wand arm out to call the knight bus to take her back to the burrow instead.