Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, not even the sand under their imaginary feet.
Harry looked as if she was committing the ultimate sin, until he started laughing. His laughter was followed by Ginny's, Fred and George's chuckles, and Mrs. Weasley's happy sobs.
The Hermione couldn't resist the urge, she joined in the laughter, she never thought she would be standing here, being caught by the whole Weasley clan, in the arms of Bill. The more she thought about the situation she was in, the harder she laughed.
Everyone continued laughing except for Bill, he—unlike his family—didn't see the hilarity of the situation. Hermione had—not five minutes ago—been making him forget his family existed. Now here they were, standing in his room, laughing…at him. Even his beautiful Hermione was laughing at him. This had to stop.
"What's so funny?" Bill asked sounding rather disgruntled.
"I…don't…know!" Hermione managed through her laughs.
"Then why are you laughing?" Bill asked, a little desperate to know why everyone had gone nuts.
"Because, William…laughs are contagious," Mr. Weasley said, finally keeping his laughter under control
"How?" Bill asked, still thinking his family was insane.
"Because Billy Boy, not everyone has a dead sense of humor like you do," replied Fred and George simultaneously.
"Fred, George, just because Bill doesn't see the hilarity of the situation doesn't mean his sense of humor is dead. It's just hidden, in some deep, dark part of him. Do you think that Hermione might be able to bring it out in him again?" Ginny said.
"Her sense of humor is usually dead too, but it seems that for once, she has loosened control of it," Harry informed them in the middle of one of his quiet spells.
"I have a sense of humor! There are just better ways to spend the time. At least I didn't laugh when Ron racked himself on his broom during Quidditch practice, like you four did. He really could have…hurt himself," Hermione said quietly.
At the mention of Ron, the room became silent. After several moments it became apparent that no one was going to say anything about the current situation, the silence grew to an uncomfortable level. Hermione, not being able to stand the silence any longer, walked over to Bill and wrapped her arms around him, as his arms in circled her.
"I'm sorry that I had to mention him; I didn't mean to make everyone remember the severity of the situation. I'm sorry everyone," Hermione said into Bill's warm chest.
"Oh dear, that isn't your fault, you've been friends with him for 12 years. Things like that are hard to forget," Mrs. Weasley said motherly.
"I guess now would be a good time to go have a discussion with Ronald," Charlie said, stating the fact that no one wanted to realize.
At the nod of approval that enveloped the room, Mr. Weasley led everyone to the living room. Upon seeing his father followed by the rest of his family, Ron immediately began saying accusing statements towards Bill.
"Get your dirty, mummy-rag covered hands off of my woman," Ron said hotly, at the sight of Bill with his comforting arm around Hermione's shoulders.
Bill started towards him but paused at Hermione's hand on his arm. The look in her eyes told Bill that what Ron thought about him didn't matter at all to her.
"Hermione, I thought you loved me! Not my brother! What happened to you! Did he brainwash you against me! If he did, I swear to Merlin that I will have his head for it," Ron yelled at Hermione and Bill.
"I did love you Ron, a long time ago. Back before Luna, before you broke my heart, before life got complicated, and before I realized how much I love Bill! So before you start blaming Bill, look back at all the things you did to me! You broke my heart into a million pieces, not Bill. He's the one helping me put it back together. Besides Ronald, it's your fault that I went to Bill, if I wouldn't have gone to Egypt if you hadn't slept with Luna! I would have stayed here and been happy with you, but you couldn't keep your pants zip-…" Hermione practically yelled at Ron's face.
Bill grabbed her by the arms and slowly pulled her from the room. As they left the room, they heard Mrs. Weasley's voice reach an octave that would have broken glass. Hermione turned herself into Bill's strong, loving chest, trying to rid herself of the images that danced through her head. As the memories of the night she caught Ron appeared, Hermione tensed as the images were startlingly clear and vibrant.
Bill felt her body tense against him and wondered what thoughts had caused her to be acting like this. He just slightly rested his head on top of hers and waited for her fears to cease.
"Love, what's wrong? Don't let him get to you, that's just Ron. In a few days he will no longer bug you, or even be a worry on your mind, and if he is all you have to do is to tell me and I will try my hardest to remove him from you're thoughts. Remember, I will always be here to protect you. If you need me, call for me, I will be here," Bill whispered quietly into her ear.
"Thank you Bill, you really are my hero. That is a reason that I love you deeply, you're always there when I need you," Hermione said almost to herself.
"I love you, too," Bill said sweetly.
She looked at Bill with tears shining in her eyes, wondering if maybe she wasn't day dreaming and he had really said that. He looked down at her with a tiny smirk on his face, and gently placed his lips on hers.
"Look at those two, they can hardly keep their hands off each other for ten minutes," came a voice that was laced with humor.
"Well, who could keep their hands off of her, she's beautiful," came another similar voice.
"FRED, GEORGE! Would you leave them be, for a few minutes?" asked Mrs. Weasley, as she entered the room.
"Alright you two, time to spill. How long have you liked each other? How long have you two been "together"? And why on earth did it takes so bloody long!" Ginny asked rather quickly.
"Well, Ginny…actually I've liked Bill since the summer after fourth year. The only reason I didn't act on it was because I thought that your family wouldn't accept the fact that Bill is nine years older than me. So, instead of pursuing Bill, I went to Ron. He had always been there for me and I thought that he would get my mind off of Bill, but it didn't work. So after I found Ron and Luna together, I went to Egypt to get away from it. Then I realized that while I was here, Bill was too. And with no family I didn't see any reason not to try and let him know how I felt. And for your information, Ms. Weasley, we haven't been "together," yet," Hermione said stating her side of the story, not letting anyone get in a word to say other wise.
After realizing what she had just said, Hermione changed four different shades of red. She looked around and noticed that she not only had the attention of Ginny, Fred, and George, but the whole Weasley family…with the exception of Ron. Bill was blushing just like her—he looks so cute when he blushes, Hermione thought.
"Well, Billie it's your turn to spill the guts. Hermione did…time to fess up. How long have you like her? Why didn't you make a move, big brother?" Fred asked calmly.
"Actually, little brother, at first I didn't say anything to her because she was 16 and I didn't think she was interested in me. Then I realized that she had a brain that would make Merlin jealous, that's when I began to think of her as someone other than Ron's little friend. At that point, I noticed that she was someone who could keep up with me in a conversation involving everything. When she showed up her a few months ago I was amazed, gone was the little know-it-all bookworm and in her skin stood a women who was sure of herself and very beautiful," as he paused it looked as though he was thinking about what to say next.
"The only reason I didn't ask her out immediately was because of her history with Ron. Then, one day after digging, she broke the code on a tomb and suddenly we were laughing and hugging. I didn't know until later that that was when I fell in love with her, at that exact moment, when I hugged her. I realized then that I would do anything for her to be mine. Even if that meant just protecting her, but then we kissed and I knew I couldn't live with out her with me," Bill stated finally seeing what his heart had always known; he had loved Hermione since that moment.
Everyone saw the look of recognition hit him. Fred and George caught his arms as he went to sit down, there walked him to a chair so that he could sit properly. Hermione walked to his side and asked him what was wrong. Her voice was barely audible to him, so that his nosy family couldn't hear her. Bill looked into her eyes and smiled a smile that lifted her spirits to new heights.
"It just hit me that I meant every word I just said, and I did not even think about it. How could I never have noticed it before? I really do love you, 'Mione," Bill whispered into her ear, while looking at his family to see if they heard any of their conversation.
Hermione looked at Bill and she finally saw where she belonged, for the rest of her life—right here with Bill and his family. She slowly turned to Bill's family, asking them with her eyes to leave them alone for a moment.
Bill and Hermione spent the next several minutes in silence, wondering what to say to each other. She had so many things to say to him, while he wanted to know how she felt.
"Bill, I love you, too," came the barely audible whisper.
"'Mione, come here," Bill said while patting his lap.
"We are not talking about the first thing that pops up William," Hermione said while finding a comfortable spot on Bill's lap.
"Just as long as you don't wiggle, we won't have to worry about that," Bill said slyly.
"What do you think the future holds for us?" Hermione asked Bill, trying to be quiet enough to hide the tremor in her voice.
"What do you want it to hold for us, Hermione?" Bill responded.
"I want children with you, I want to be happy with you, and stay with you till the day I die," she said calmly.
"What do you mean you want to spend the rest of your life with Bill, you're only just starting you're life Hermione, this is the first time in how long that you have been single. You need to get out there and experiment; try new things," Harry said upon entering the room.
"With Bill I will be trying new things, I have never, ever, even with Ron; been completely happy. I want what you and Lavender have, Harry. Why can't I have that?" Hermione asked, looking Harry in the face, showing him all the hurt that she usually kept from him.
"What did he do to you 'Mione?" Harry and Bill asked, simultaneously.
"Nothing we did together was ever any fun for me, I was forced to do it," Hermione said.
"Well, why didn't you…" Harry began but was interrupted by Hermione.
"Because you wouldn't have believed me if I told you. You know that, Harry," Hermione finished.
"I'll kill him, he might be my brother, but I will kill him," Bill retorted while gently putting Hermione on the ground then jumping out of his chair and running to the place where Ron was being kept.
Before Bill made it to the door, Harry was on his heels ready to hit any place on Ron that Bill might miss…the second time around. Bill and Harry were ready to kill him, ready to do even the littlest amount of injury to him.
Unfortunately, neither Bill nor Harry got to raise their fists at Ron. The duel screams of outrage rang through the small flat. At the sound of both of them yelling the whole family came running. As soon as they entered the room containing only two bodies, not three. They all looked around to see where Ron was moved to, but saw nothing, except the broken ropes.
"At least he's not armed, then we would all be in trouble," Mrs. Weasley said calmly.
As Hermione entered the room, she looked to the place where Ron wasn't, thento the place her wand had been.
"He took my wand," she said letting the terror take over her.
"What?" Bill asked her coming closer to hear her.
"He took my wand, Bill. He took my wand," she practically screamed at him; right before she fell into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
A/N: sorry it took so long, but thanks for the reveiws everyone.