Authors note: for those who don't know Usain Bolt is an Olympic runner considered to be one of the fastest men alive. Thankyou for continuing with this story, as always I welcome any reviews, and respond to all my direct messages. Cheers!
"We can't keep doing this" Hermione panted, fastening her pace as she hears footsteps approaching.
"why not?' Sirius asks as he rounds the upcoming corner, sweat beads on his brown and many of his curls have sprung loose from their tie.
"Hermione? Sirius?" A voice calls and Sirius gestures for her to follow him in another series of turns around the nearby neighborhood. When the two watch those in their pursuit continue in the opposite direction return home, they sigh in relief.
"you know Lupin's going to have a fit don't you?" Hermione asked as she slumped down to the ground relishing in the chill of the winter air. They had taken to running recently, Hermione after one too many comments by Snape on her physical condition had begun and the rest had decided to accompany her. Hermione lay collapsed on the sidewalk "my lung is going to explode" she complained, but Sirius rolled his eyes, already used to Hermione's constant complaining when it came to exercise.
It had begun as a small game, Hermione seeing if she could successfully escape the others and Sirius enjoying the chase. The wind in her hair and the rebellion of doing something out of character set Hermione's heart alight. Blaise and Harry didn't mind the running, they both claimed to enjoy it partaking in conversation while Hermione panted heavily, having the cardiac fitness of someone twice her age.
Sirius helps her to her feet "come on Usain Bolt" he urges and a giggle escapes Hermione at the mugleness of the reference. There is a warmth in her core, despite the bite of the wind.
She grins "see you later snuffles" before sprinting in the direction the Grimaud Place- home. She grins when she hears the disgruntled "Kitten!" growled before he too sprints in her direction.
"it's rubbish it is" Hermione hears the arguing as she enters the kitchen, grabbing a water bottle with a ferocity. She raises her eyebrow and Harry launches into an explanation.
"where being forced" he starts.
"recommended" Lupin corrects.
"to stay locked up in this house" Harry continues.
Harry, Blaise and Remus sit at the kitchen table a letter positioned between the three. An owl makes noise expectantly and Hermione begrudgingly parts with a treat from the bottom of her pocket.
"There's been a series of attacks, and we've been told to be extra careful" Blaise clarifies, raising his head to meet her eyes.
"In muggle Oxford" Harry interjects, and Hermione couldn't help but laugh. It was a strange strangled noise but a laugh, nevertheless. It was almost laughable to hear harry, and Blaise acting like normal teenage boys, upset at being told to stay home. It was almost relieving that such juvenile reactions remained.
"there's a letter for you too" Lupin remark handing an impressively sealed correspondence to Hermione as she made to move upstairs and towards to lavish beckoning of a hot shower.
Hermione accepted the letter gratefully, not needed to open it to guess at the dark mission it contained. She supposed this new quarantine did not apply to her, not when she was Dumbledore's hired hand.
Hermione stayed in the shower longer than necessary, scrubbing at her flesh until raw. It wasn't until the water turned cold that she emerged from the water. She gazed in the mirror trailing her fingers down the white scars marring her flesh. She covered up quickly.
She waited until after supper before she made her leave, she had no mission tonight, but she had to get out. She couldn't spend time with her housemates knowing what she would do tomorrow, knowing they would never forgive her if they knew.
It wasn't until she had made her way outside that she realized, there was only one place she could go. The very place she had been avoiding since Ron's death- the burrow.
It was quiet when she entered, just the noise of the family clock changing her icon to 'home'. The house felt quiet, almost eerily so, Hermione felt like an intruder. With little conscious decision, she made her way to the twins, to Fred's room, knocking before entering.
Fred is sitting at his desk and top spinning furiously at the careful attention of his wand. Hermione watches fascinated as it spins itself into combustion colourful particles and soot covering Fred's face.
"wotcher Fred" she greets as he looks up from his failed experiment. As he sees her he jumps startled.
"can I guess you've been here long enough to see that terrible failure," he asked looking almost hopeful that she hadn't.
She gave him a smile "I thought it was a brilliant failure". Fred threw an exploding snap card at her chuckling.
"Not that I'm not elated by your presence but what are you doing here," he asked, wiping the soot off his face.
"I can't come to visit anymore?" she asked trying to hide to hurt in her face. She knew she sounded like a scorned child, but this rejection burned more than she was willing to admit. She moved to leave.
"nonono" he backtracked, his face turning a red colour, gesturing she sits on his bed.
"let me shower quick and well go for drinks, you look like you could use a pint" Hermione raised an eyebrow, a silent question given her age
"I won't tell if you don't" he grinned slyly before disappearing to the bathroom.
She wasn't sure what she was doing here. Fred and she hadn't ever spent time together, not aside from the soft pleasantries one reserved for their kid brother's friend. Sure, they exchanged nods at Hogwarts, and he had supported her when they found Luna, but that didn't make their friends, now did it?
Hermione surveyed the room, only one large bed remained and the side that once had George's belongings now was filled with boxes of Weasley Wheezes. The room was organized, George had always been the messier out of the two. Fred's bed was made and – Hermione was pulled out of her thoughts when a towel-clad Fred entered the room.
"sorry ill be quick," he said his face flushing red as he riffled through drawers pulling out a shirt and trousers disappearing to get changed.
Hermione wasn't embarrassed, instead, it was like she had noticed Fred for the first time. His body was toned, and his muscles sculpted. Hermione wished she could trace the white lines of his scars or catch a full glimpse at what she thought was a dragon on his torso. Hermione's cheeks coloured as heat rose to them.
"after you" Fred announced holding his elbow for her gentlemanly and grinning. she bounded up grasping his elbow and bounding down the stairs.
"Fred?" Hermione asked, again taking note of the strange silence that she had never known the home to have.
"where is everyone," she asked hesitantly, knowing that bringing up the lack of family members could ruin the bright and joyful attitude he now had.
He gazed at the room for a long time before responding "mum and dad are on a mission, and ginny is at yours I believe" he shook his head lightly "never mind that, any preference to where we go or should we see where we land" he raised an eyebrow a halfcocked smile directed at her.
Hermione's brain buzzed with an idea. A brilliant, terrible idea. She wanted to dance, she wanted to forget, just for tonight. "Do you trust me?" she asked.
Fred gulped " 'course Hermione" and Hermione nodded "maybe I should ask you again at the end of the night. Fred laughed brightly "what's life without a little adventure" he spoke in her ear and chills flittered down her spine.
She held onto him and turned on the spot.