The Hidden Soul
Please READ&REVIEW, I don't get much feedback on this story and it's a lot more inspiring to me to write, when I know people are enjoying it.
Hermione had woken first, checked quickly on both Harry and Ron who were both fast asleep, ordered up supplies from the hotel kitchens, and started cooking breakfast. She had a constant grin, despite the frustrating timing of last nights events, and she was still in an upbeat mood and desperate to get outside, under the open, strong sun.
The grin widened impulsively as her thoughts turned to Bill again. She would never have imagined she could have felt as at ease with someone she barely knew. He had the definitive Weasley style, making her feel as if she'd known him forever after just a few meetings. They'd had so much to discuss the night before: Aswan, his job, and his Indiana Jones' style adventures which captivated her by their sheer disparity from anything she had ever been involved in.
These unknowns were smattered equally among familiar subjects they both knew about: Ron and Harry, Hogwarts, and numerous Weasley family gatherings and outings could all spark lengthy talks.
Although she could wax lyrical about Bill's conversational prowess, there were other elements that added heavily to his appeal. His body, and the way he used it to create such amazing reactions from her. And, she thought, involuntarily releasing a chuckle, that infamous trail of golden curls. She was idly pondering how soon she might possibly see that trail again when Harry staggered into the kitchen.
"Morning gorgeous!" she chirped plonking down a plate of sausages, eggs and bacon on the table. Harry glowered at her and slapped a photo down beside the plate. The image of Harry in the photograph was spread eagled across his bed, snoring loudly. Hermione burst into a peal of laughter.
"Very funny..." Harry grunted sitting down and massaging his temples and shooting her a pained looking mock glare.
"Good night?" she asked arching an eyebrow at him. Harry nodded.
"Great. Zahra – she's so... so..." A huge grin spread across his face, "...amazing," he finished. Hermione smiled at him and then motioned to the breakfast, Harry's face paled as he blanched at the rich food.
"It'll make you feel better, trust me," Hermione sighed rolling her eyes at him. Harry looked sceptical but under her firm gaze he nibbled the end of a sausage. He felt the fuzziness clear from his head and the throbbing in his temples vanish.
"Woah..." he murmured, grabbing his knife and fork and begin to demolish the rest of the food.
"I tipped in a bit of hangover cure I brought from home." Hermione informed him.
"Thanks," Harry said taking a swig of orange juice. Then he squinted at her and cocked his head to the side. "What's up?" he asked suspiciously.
"What do you mean?" Hermione replied innocently.
Harry's eyes narrowed further as he studied her,
"You look goofy happy," he announced. Hermione raised her eyebrows at him and tried to force down the blush she could feel creeping onto her cheeks. She swallowed,
"Uh – I – I am," she stammered, Harry frowned at her in confusion. "I mean, I am happy, because...because it's such a nice day and I can't wait to see more of Aswan." Hermione babbled, finishing her excuse with a triumphant grin. Harry looked dubiously at her, but before he could challenge her further Ron entered the kitchen.
"Morning all," he greeted them breezily. Hermione smiled at him while Harry gawped, astounded, at his best friend.
"What? …How?" Harry stuttered, staring at Ron, who didn't seem to be suffering from his night's antics in the slightest. Ron plopped into a seat next to him and took a giant swig of orange juice, then smirked at Harry.
"'Mione gave me that charm last night." he said smugly. Harry scowled and turned to Hermione,
"Why didn't I get one?" he demanded.
"You were asleep," she said, rolling her eyes and nodding at the photo. Ron snorted with laughter as he looked at it, and Harry grunted.
"Oh."
Hermione clicked her tongue impatiently. "Anyway... since you're both feeling right as rain, thanks to me, we can all head down to the market as soon as we're dressed!"
They strolled up the street as casually as was possible in the bustling crowd. Hermione stared around, trying to take in every element of the Khan el Khalili Bazaar.
Midday market. Peak shopping time. Tourists and locals alike jostled each other in the frantic swarm, ruthlessly barging their ways to desired stands. The dry, dusty road was bordered on each side with stall after stall bearing all manner of items.
The first section they wandered through was completely tourist orientated. Sweaty salesmen leered from beneath every shaded stall canopy. Accented yells in broken English battled with each other, advertising the various pointless items of tack for sale. Hermione grinned as Ron received an elbow in the ribs from a pair of overweight and enthralled looking American tourists, who seemed to be drinking in the chaotic atmosphere.
"Bloody hell," he muttered reproachfully rubbing his chest. The woman owner of the nearest stall took his pause as opportunity to grab him and prostrate herself madly, jabbering in fast Egyptian and waving an odd contraption of rubber and plastic. She chattered off a fast stream of words pointing from Ron, to the object, to Hermione. Ron looked terrified and tried to wrench his arm out of her vice like grip.
"No. THANKYOU." He said loudly and clearly, shaking his head. Hermione was smirking and Harry's attention was focused on a set of pornographic playing cards on the woman's store. Ron managed to free himself and grabbed Hermione and sprinted – as far as they could through the sea of people, away from the store. Harry just managed to drop a few coins into the woman's palm before Hermione grabbed the back of his shirt and towed him after them.
"What the hell?" Ron gasped, now massaging his arm where the woman had grabbed him. Hermione was still smirking.
"Well... the sellers are persistent here you know Ron," she replied calmly. Ron rolled his eyes.
"What was she trying to sell me anyway?" he grumbled. Hermione's grin became more pronounced and Ron noticed.
"Did you understand her?" he asked, Hermione shrugged.
"Some."
"Well?" he demanded keenly, "It must've been good, the way she was going on about it," he commented making Hermione burst into laughter.
"I expect it would have been good for me," replied Hermione her speech choked with laughter. "...but I guess you might have enjoyed it too..."
"Oh?"
At this, Harry glanced at his new set of cards, then at Hermione and guffawed loudly. Ron looked confused, and then a look of dawning comprehension spread over his face.
"Oh."
They passed through the rest of the stalls; Hermione paused briefly to haggle good-naturedly with a young stall owner over a pretty silver necklace. Passing through this section, they entered an even busier collection of stands, teeming with locals, yelling at the tops of their voices. It was striking and very colourful. Bright green lettuces sat next to vivid yellow lemons and scarlet-red tomatoes. Dashes of deep amethyst purple as plump, shiny aubergines which lay by a crate of ruby-red, ridiculously ripe strawberries.
"Wow!" Ron grinned, his trauma wiped from his mind as he faced the paint box of food. He headed for a stall where a man was using scales to weigh piles of honey-roasted nuts. Hermione bought a large watermelon and a bag of vibrant orange satsumas. They then manoeuvred through the buzzing crowd, picking up various other items.
After they dropped their purchases back to the hotel, Harry rustled up a lunch with their groceries; a huge mozzarella and feta salad drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. By the time the three had eaten their fill, they felt extremely sleepy, Harry suggested a 'siesta' and despite her arguments that siestas weren't an Egyptian thing, Hermione didn't protest for long. When they woke, they realised that they had slept away most of the broiling midday-to-afternoon heat. Hermione dragged them out to the Museum of Antiquities, which she claimed was renowned for its brilliance.
"It's a museum Hermione; brilliance can't be used in the same sentence." Ron moaned, as he and Harry traipsed dismally up the stone steps behind her. Hermione ignored him and smiled charmingly at the security guard before breezing into the cool, shaded interior.
The next four hours comprised of Hermione avidly examining every display, while muttering questions to herself and perusing her selection of books she had bought from the shop and her luggage. At first Ron and Harry trailed her quietly and obediently, the look of pure delight on her face smothering their frustration. But after the thousandth time, Hermione leafed through her books to find the answer to a query she had about a particular trinket, Ron snapped.
"Hermione, why couldn't we just take a tour?" He asked pointing at a group of tourists gathered like sheep around a uniformed guide, who was preaching about a large pottery vase, gesturing widely, and then taking questions. Hermione glanced mildly at the guide.
"Where's the fun in that? I like finding out." She said, turning another page in her book. "Ah... yes, I understand..." She exclaimed, nodding, her finger tapping a passage of writing and her nose an inch from the glass cabinet. Ron raised his arms to heaven and mouthed 'Why?!' Harry snickered,
"Next section 'Mione?" He suggested brightly as Ron continued his silent gesticulations.
"Wait – I just want to take some notes." Hermione said waving her hand absently at Harry.
"More notes?" Ron said in disbelief, but Hermione was already scribbling into her large notebook sketching the object and noting beside it in minute, neat writing.
Another two hours and Hermione snapped her notebook shut and slipped it, with her other stack of volumes back into her bag.
"You're finished?" Ron asked hoarsely. Hermione rolled her eyes then nodded.
"Yes." She pulled him into a hug, "Thanks for coming today Ron, I had the best time."
Ron replied with a noncommittal noise in his throat. Harry raised his eyebrows at Hermione released him.
"What about me?" He asked feigning a wounded look.
"You know you enjoyed it Harry," Hermione snickered. Harry scowled playfully and followed her out of the doors. Evening was falling, and there was a hot, sticky heat covering the streets like a blanket. They set off back towards the hotel.
"What do you fancy doing tonight?" Harry asked. Hermione hesitated, and then shot a look at Ron.
"I was going to invite Bill out for dinner." She announced calmly, Harry's eyes widened and flicked onto Ron, who Hermione was also looking at. Ron carried on walking steadily, completely oblivious to their scrutiny.
"Yeah, good idea, where shall we go?" Ron asked vaguely, scratching his head. Harry grinned and raised his eyebrows at Hermione. She took a deep breath,
"No – I meant just me and him." Ron stopped and stared at her.
"What?" He snapped, his eyes flashing dangerously.
Hermione didn't reply and Ron's face darkened.
"Please don't tell me he's reeled you in too? Hermione you know what my brother's like!" Ron said angrily, his fists curling into balls at his sides.
"I've heard. But from what I've seen and known he doesn't seem like that." She replied breezily. Ron gaped at her.
"Hermione! He's my brother; you're like my sister, its incest!" He hissed, waving his hands frantically.
"Except for the fact that I'm not your sister, and it's not incest," Hermione said rolling her eyes,
"But –!" Ron spluttered furiously going red.
"But what? It's not like we're going to get married Ron." Hermione said, losing patience, "I'm asking him out to dinner. That's all. Dinner with someone I'd like to get –,"
"– into bed," Harry cut in, smirking as Ron blanched. Hermione gave Harry a murderous look.
"– to know better." She finished. Ron glowered at Harry, who was chuckling to himself. He looked at Hermione and shrugged grudgingly.
"Alright then, its okay with me." he said darkly. Hermione beamed.
"Good! We can all meet up after and go for a drink!" she suggested chirpily.
"I think I need one now," Ron grunted. They had reached the hotel. Ron stomped off towards the bar; Harry smirked at Hermione then followed him. Hermione rushed into the lift and leant against the doors grinning. At their level, she threw open the doors to the suite and headed straight for the sofa. Flopping into the cool leather, she lifted the phone and dialled the number Ron had scribbled down. It rung twice then a deep voice answered.
"Hello?"
"Hello?"
"Bill?"
"Hermione?"
"Yes," she answered feeling slightly confused by the series of questions. Bill chuckled down the phone.
"Sorry – I was just about to ring you, that was disconcerting." He said. Hermione smiled.
"Oh, okay," she answered, "So what were you going to ring for?" she asked stretching out on the sofa.
"I was going to ask you out to dinner." Bill answered. Hermione's smile widened.
"Funny, that's what I was going to ask you," she said,
"Will you?"
"Will you?"
They both laughed.
"I'd love to." Hermione said eventually.
"Same here," Bill replied. "Shall I meet you at the hotel? I've got a place in mind."
"Sounds good," Hermione agreed, "I'll see you later."
"Alright, later then,"
"Bye,"
"Bye." As Hermione replaced the receiver Ron and Harry came into the room, carrying martinis. Ron looked slightly pacified. Harry shot Hermione a look,
"Did you ask?" he said cocking his head at her, Hermione shrugged.
"No, he did." She answered. Harry grinned,
"Oh? What did you say?"
"Yes."
Harry frowned in confusion.
"But that doesn't make sense," he said. Hermione stared at him, looking perplexed.
"What are you on about?" She said in bewilderment. Harry's confused frown twitched.
"Well, 'Yes' doesn't really answer 'What are you wearing?'" Harry said, a grin splitting his face. Ron scowled and shook his head then sat down cradling his martini. Hermione narrowed her eyes at Harry, flipped him a sign and marched into her room, slamming her door on his hoots of laughter.
Please READ&REVIEW, I don't get much feedback on this story and it's a lot more inspiring to me to write, when I know people are enjoying it.
A big thankyou to my betas. Especially Cyropi who overlooked this chapter for me.