Till There Was You
Chapter 8: Plan On Forever
Disclaimer: Why are you still reading these? If you have any questions refer back to the disclaimer of any other chapter….
A/N: Well here's another chapter…. My plan for this one is basically to throw in a cute fluffy little chapter, to make up for all of Hermione's angst in the last one, but we'll see if that happens…. So I hope you enjoy it!
Cause you danced with me, and the earth stood still
My heart can't quite believe how right this seems
When you're in my arms the truth of us
Is better than the best of all my dreams
How could I plan on forever?
When I never planned on u
Someone to fall for
To love for all eternity
Baby let's plan on forever
And watch all our dreams come true
You're what I live for
Who I can give forever to
My destiny is u
-Plan On Forever, Sue Ann Carwell & Mervyn Warren
Hermione was in her room getting ready to go out, listening to the one CD she had, now that Fred had stolen then rest. He had become fascinated with muggle music, though Hermione didn't find it much different than wizard music. She tapped her hair with her wand to make it calmer and wavy. It was Thursday night and her and Fred were going dancing. It had been exactly two months since their first "date." This time however Ginny had found out where there were going and invited herself and Harry to go along; an idea that Harry wasn't extremely comfortable with. He had tried to get out of double dating with his best friend's fiancée and brother by telling Ginny he didn't dance, but once Ginny was set on doing something, there was no use fighting her. Hermione threw her wand into her bag and headed out of the room. As she passed Ginny's room she could her Ginny frantically scurrying around, trying to finish. Ginny was never ready to go anywhere when Harry came to get her. She claimed that a girl should always make a guy wait, but truthfully she just put too much time into getting ready. Hermione headed down the stairs and found Harry and Fred in the living room. She glanced at her watch; Harry was twenty minutes early. Why would he come early when he knows how long it takes Ginny to get ready? She probably wasn't even finished dressing yet, let alone anything else.
"What are you doing here so early?" she asked sitting next to Fred on the couch, but not too close. Harry seemed to squirm a little before answering the question.
"I umm, I kind of wanted to talk to you guys, and I figured this way we'd be safe from Ginny interrupting," he answered her question
"Alright," Hermione agreed to talk, calmer than Harry had expected to her to be.
" I don't really know what I want to say. I guess I just need you to understand that even though I'm keeping your secret doesn't mean I'm completely okay with this. So you know tonight if you could avoid anything… I mean if you could not…"
"Harry," Fred interrupted, "We're not that stupid; in public Hermione are never anything more than good friends. Besides in case you'd forgotten, Ginny doesn't know, we defiantly wouldn't do anything to tip her off. Lord, the whole country would know within two minutes."
"Okay, sorry I had to bring it up," Harry was obviously extremely uncomfortable with the situation.
"I'm sorry you have to deal with this," Hermione offered.
"Mione, are you really still going to marry Ron?"
Before Hermione could answer Ginny came bounding down the stairs. All three of the other people in the living room looked down at their watches; Ginny was ready early.
"You're ready?" Fred asked eyeing his sister suspiciously.
"Yeah, sorry to keep you guys back, I took a little longer than I expected."
"Ginny, your ready early," Hermione told her.
'What?" she looked at her watch. " It's 6:15"
"We said we'd go at 6:30," Fred replied.
"No, Harry told me quarter of six…" Ginny voice trailed off as she realized she had been tricked. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at her fiancée.
"You're ready on time for once aren't you?" Harry defended himself.
"Harry Potter!" Ginny yelled, and everyone feared she was about to lose her temper. She then broke out into a grin, laughing at herself. "You know me way too well," she laughed before kissing him briefly. Hermione noticed Harry slip a note into Ginny's hand as she did so, but didn't bother inquiring about it.
"So should we go?" Fred suggested, standing up.
"Why not?" Hermione too stood up from the couch ready to leave. Fred paused for a moment, noticing Hermione's black dress.
"I must say; you look ravishing darling," he told her, trying to tell her she looked beautiful without seeming obvious.
"I know," he Hermione smiled, secretly thanking him. They had developed their own language to tell each other things when they weren't alone. Ginny grabbed her purse and the four apparated out.
When they entered the club Ginny's face lit up as she took everything in.
"Hermione! Why didn't you tell me about this place before?"
"Why did you tell her about this place at all?" Harry teased.
They found a table and sat down before Ginny pulled Harry on to the dance floor. Hermione felt Fred's hand slip over her hand. She gave him a sad smile before pulling her hand away.
"Fred we have to be more careful than that. Harry and Ginny are right over there. And who knows who else who else we know is here."
"Mione, no one can see if I have your hand under the table," he countered her.
"I'm sorry she sighed. I guess I've just been a little paranoid since we almost got caught last weekend."
"Almost, being the key word there."
"Fred, you know as well as I do that if George hadn't come and woken us up when he did, Ron would have found us."
Hermione awoke the same time as Fred to George shaking them and hissing for them to wake up. As soon as she remembered the night before Hermione jolted up in the bed.
"What time is it?" she asked Fred, panicked.
"Almost eight," he answered.
"Oh my god, Ron must be awake by now, he went to bed at ten!" Hermione jumped out of the bed.
"He is awake," George warned them. "But he just got up I think. He was downstairs looking for you. He's on his way up here now." Hermione's eyes grew wide as he said this and she rushed out of the bedroom and towards the door out of the attic. Just as she got there it opened and Ron stepped into the office.
"There you are!" he said. "What are you doing up here?" he asked her curiously.
"Oh I…"Hermione struggled to compose herself and come up with a story to tell him. "I woke up early this morning and thought I'd come up and check some of the paperwork the twins have been keeping for the business," she rambled, hoping this answer would suffice.
"I thought you weren't working for them anymore," Ron seemed confused.
'Oh I'm not. Not really. I had just promised them I'd come see if everything was okay once in awhile," she lied.
"So you decided to do this early on a Sunday morning, still in your pajamas, while they were still sleeping?" he asked. Hermione silently prayed that he didn't suspect anything. Her prayers were answered when he laughed and said, "My fiancée, the work-a-holic. You really need a real job." He laughed and Hermione inwardly sighed with relief. She then followed Ron down to the kitchen for breakfast, still slightly trembling from the close call.
"I know, and you're right, we do need to be careful. But that was a special situation."
"That doesn't matter Fred. Just because I'm upset doesn't mean we can be reckless. Do think Ron would consider it an excuse? 'Oh sorry you just caught me in bed with your brother honey, but I needed to be with him last night because I was upset that I'm in love with him but I have to marry you.' Yeah I think that would go over really well."
"What are you two discussing so intently?" Ginny asked, returning with Harry, interrupting Fred and Hermione's conversation.
" We were trying to figure out how to break the news to Ron about our torrid love affair," Fred said with mock seriousness. Harry shot him a look telling him he didn't think that was an appropriate thing to joke about. But Fred just grinned.
"I don't know if you should do that 'Mione," Ginny played along. "When I told Harry I was sleeping with Oliver Wood, he didn't take it so well." Fred smile faded after the words came out of his sister's mouth, and he silently dared her not to take them back. Both she and Hermione rolled their eyes.
"He's still marrying though isn't he?" Hermione joined in.
"Well he couldn't really hold it against me; Oliver's categorically irresistible. But I don't know about your case; Fred isn't nearly as dreamy as Oliver." Both and Harry and Fred looked at Ginny after she made her comment. "Really. I was only joking!" she rolled her eyes. "You know I love you," she kissed Harry on the cheek. Hermione this time noticed Ginny slipping a note into Harry's hand. She was thinking about saying something when Fred spoke up.
"Speaking of Wood. Are you two still doing that?
"Doing what?" Ginny asked innocently.
" Wood works?"
"And what if we do?" Ginny defended.
"Nothing, I guess I thought you two'd have gotten sick of them by now. George and Katie still send them."
" What are 'wood works'?" Hermione looked at the three people sitting with her at the table.
"Nothing," Fred shook his head obviously not wanting to tell her. Ginny rolled her eyes again at this.
"I'll tell her," she began.
" Ginny, it's a quidditch team secret …" Fred lamely protested. He shut up when Ginny gave him an evil look.
"They're love notes," Ginny explained. "Just song lyrics though, nothing else can be in them."
"Well if she's going to here the story at least let some one who knows it tell it," a voice from the table behind them called. A man turned around to look at the people who were now staring at him curiously. It was Oliver Wood himself. Harry, Fred, Hermione, and Ginny, all grinned, happily surprised to see their friend. He excused himself from the people he was sitting with and pulled a chair up to their table.
"Now, what was this I was hearing about Wood works? Love letter's did you call them" he snorted at this.
" That's what they are," Ginny replied.
" No quite Gin," Fred countered her.
"Not quite indeed. Wood works are… Well if I must say Wood works are infallible tools used to secure a woman's heart as forever yours. They are complex pieces of art that when constructed properly are the ultimate form of declaring your love," Oliver explained in mock seriousness. Fred and Harry played along and Ginny rolled her eyes.
"No really what are they?" Hermione turned to Fred, who laughed.
"Well that's what they were 'supposed' to be. Wood gave that speech back in Hogwarts before he gave his girlfriend of two months one. She broke up with him a week later. Since then it's been tradition for those who were on the team that year to exchange Wood Works as George and I named them, with our better halves. They're not serious though, just random lyrics."
"Hey they might not have worked for me, but Harry here seems to have kept the littlest Weasley's heart from anyone else. Well, except for those of who are categorically irresistible," he said and Ginny blushed furiously, realizing e had heard her comment from earlier.
"Olli! We're leaving," a woman called from the table he had been sitting at. The group was getting up, gathering their things. Oliver smiled and got up, and put the chair he was sitting in back where he got it.
"Well it was nice talking, but I have to go," he said his goodbyes. "Oh and Ginny," he directed her attention to the girl whose cheeks were still slightly pink. "Since I'm categorically irresistible, and your categorically on my top 5 list of women I want to shag but can't, give me a call if anything happens between you and Potter," he grinned at Ginny who no longer felt she needed to be embarrassed and she smiled back.
"I will," she smiled and Oliver quickly exited before Hermione lost her grip on Fred arm and he was able cause him bodily harm. Ginny smiled at the scowl on her brother's face, as did Harry. Fred scowled at Harry.
"Did you not here what he just said?" Fred questioned him.
"He was kidding," Harry shrugged still smiling at Fred face.
"Shame on you for letting him injure Ginny's precious virgin ears," Fred placed his hands over his sister's ears and she quickly pushed him away scowling.
"Uh huh Fred, keep telling yourself that," Ginny twisted her frown into a mischievous smile, referring to Fred's emphasized word. Fred shifted his stare at Harry, whose smile now faded.
"Come on Fred, lets go dance," Hermione quickly drug him away from the table. She knew he wasn't actually angry, but just to be sure she figured she'd try to make him forget the comment his sister had made. She knew she had succeeded when they reached the dance floor and his smile had returned to his face. Hermione smiled too. Dancing was her absolute favorite thing to do on Thursday nights with Fred. Dancing allowed them as close to each other as they wanted, without anyone being suspicious. Dancing made her feel like she and Fred were really together, like a normal couple. Dancing could make her forget everything else, just like Fred promised he would make her do.
After they all had tired, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny and Harry decided to leave. Fred scowled a little when Ginny said she was going back to Harry's but smiled when he realized this meant he and Hermione would be home alone. Arthur and Molly Weasley had gone to visit Bill and his wife Alexandra who had called and said they had news. Figuring they were going to announce Alex was pregnant, Mrs. Weasley had packed things and they had left as soon as possible. With them gone, Ginny would probably spend the whole night at Harry's and George had promised Fred he would stay out Katie all night. They said quick goodbyes to Harry and Ginny and apparated back the Burrow.
"So looks like we're all alone here," Fred waggled his eyebrows suggestively, putting his arms around her waste and pulling her towards him.
" I believe we are Mr. Weasley," she replied. Fred kissed her briefly and then pulled away taking hold of both her hands.
"You wait here, I need to get something ready," Hermione looked at him suspiciously and then noticed when he let go of her hands, a paper slipped in her left one. He bounced up the stairs, headed for the attic and left Hermione to read her note. She opened it up and laughed. It said:
Hey Baby-
You like fine cookin? Cause I got a Swanson's dinner in the freezer, with your name on it!
Love Always,
Fred
Fred had been listening to her CD's when he'd come across this song. He'd asked her what a "Swanson's Dinner" was but wasn't able to understand until she bought him one and cooked it with a microwave she found in Mr. Weasley's collection of muggle items. A few minutes later she heard Fred calling for her from the attic. She made her way up but found the door closed when she got there. She knocked softly and waited until Fred slowly opened the door for her. The door opened to reveal floating candles everywhere and a table set for two in the center of the office; there were flower petals everywhere and music was playing. Hermione felt her heart flutter with excitement at all the trouble Fred had gone through. She had figured they weren't going to celebrate anniversaries when Fred didn't even mention their one-month, but she hadn't been disappointed since they weren't exactly a "couple." In fact, she didn't know what to call her and Fred's relationship. All she knew was that at the moment she was so touched, she thought she might cry. The most Ron had ever done was buy her flowers, and that was for their one year anniversary.
"Oh Fred…" she managed to spit out. Then she kissed him, thanking him the best way she knew how. He then guided her over to the table and sat her down in front of a covered platter. Once she was seated he lifted the cover and revealed a Swanson's dinner, still in its black plastic container, on top of an elegant plate. Hermione laughed, surprised.
"You didn't think I would lie did you?" Fred grinned referring to his note. He sat down across from her. She smiled back.
" I should have guessed. I loved the note though. I guess I'm forever yours now. Isn't that how it works?"
"Indeed it is," he smiled back. "What do you think that'd be like? If you were only mine forever?"
"I don't know," Hermione replied. "Honestly, I never in all my life would have imagined myself falling in love with someone like you."
"Oh so you pictured yourself with some one who wasn't strong, handsome, charming and what was Ginny's way of putting it… categorically irresistible?" he teased.
"No, I didn't picture my self with someone insane, spontaneous, and fun. I always thought I'd fall in love with someone like me, someone regimented, and anal, a perfectionist. Someone boring I guess, now that I think about it."
"You're not like that," Fred told her.
"Yes I am, I always do everything just the way it 'supposed' to be done."
"No you don't. Or you wouldn't be here right now. But you never answered my question, what do you think forever'd be like for us?"
"If I wasn't marrying Ron? I think it'd be just like it is now. We'd have fun and do stupid things, but we'd know when to be serious. We'd be able to keep each other company all the time, whether we were talking or just sitting in silence. We could be everything we are now, but everyone would know about it. It'd be perfect." Hermione took another bite of her food.
"I guess our forever is just going to end a little early," Fred said a little sadly.
"No. Our forever is just different. Forever is forever, and no matter what happens, I'm going to love you forever," Hermione told him seriously, meaning every word she said.
"Forever's a long time," Fred told her.
" I know." With that the food was forgotten and Fred lifted Hermione from her seat and carried her into the bedroom.
"I love you too," he whispered into her ear setting her down on the bed and then kissing her. She pulled him closer deepening the kiss. They released briefly and he whispered again, "Forever." He then flicked his wand and the dimmed lights went out, leaving only the romantic radiance of the candles.
Ron came home Friday night and Hermione was still in a happy mood from the night she had spent with Fred.
"Why are you so perky?" Ron questioned her.
"Hmm?" she looked at him.
"You're in a peculiarly happy mood," he stated.
"I'm just glad you're home," she lied realizing she truly was behaving oddly.
"Well I'm glad to be home, and I'm glad to see you in a happy mood for once."
"What do you mean for once?"
" You just have seemed a little down these past few weeks, like you're off somewhere else. Like last weekend, you kept staring off into space with a depressed look on your face. I was beginning to worry about you."
"Worry about Mione? Now why would you do that when your wonderful big brother is here looking after her 24/7?" Hermione's heart skipped a beat when she heard Fred's voice. She almost laughed at her reaction. She felt like a stupid teenaged girl whose crush had just walked in to the room, not like a grown woman whose lover had entered the room. She almost laughed again at the thought of calling Fred he lover. The word lover made her think of someone dark and mysterious with a foreign name on the cover of romance novel. The word lover did not make her think of Fred Weasley. Once again she found herself trying to think of a word to describe her relationship with Fred.
"That's exactly why I worry about her," she heard Ron retort.
"Oh come on little brother, I take wonderful care of her," she felt Fred come up and squeeze her from behind. She knew he was doing it jokingly to show Ron they were friends, but she still felt wrong about joking about Fred joking about their affection in front of Ron; then again it wasn't the joke that made her fell guilty as much as it was the that electricity shot through her and her heart rate increased dramatically as soon as Fred touched her.
Ron rolled his eyes at his brother. "By the way Fred, I have tickets to the Cannons game next weekend. Harry can't go, do you want to?" Ron asked.
Fred seemed surprised at his brother's offer. Hermione was aware that they didn't often do things together, especially without George. "Sure," Fred answered. "That'd be fun." Hermione could tell he had wanted to say no, but couldn't think of a legitimate excuse. She wasn't sure how Fred would act alone with Ron. She didn't think they'd even been alone in a room together since everything had happened between her and Fred, and now they were going to spend a whole day together. Hermione closed her eyes and silently prayed that the next weekend would never come.
A/N: Sorry it took me longer than expected to get this out. I really wasn't sure how I wanted to write this chapter. Basically its original purpose was to wrap up loose ends from the last chapter and set things up for the next chapter. However it took me a long time to get it how I wanted it and not make anything happening seem to random or out of place (if you don't understand what I'm trying to explain here don't worry cuz I don't think I'm making any sense) Anyway, I absolutely promise the next chapter will be up faster than this one because I wrote most of it before I even started this chapter…. By the way if you review this, I'll get the next part up even faster. The more reviews I get, the more I know people are reading it and the more I want to make them happy by getting out the next chapter so they can know what I already know is going to happen (and I loooooooove to hear people's reactions, thoughts, ideas, ect…) So plleeaassse review. And to those of you who have been reviewing thank you sooooo much. I swear I read every one of them (but only about a hundred and forty seven times….). So I hope you liked it and look for chapter nine soon!
Love,
Bella
