Hermione awoke the next morning with a grin on her face. Her good mood carried on through the morning. Every so often she caught herself humming softly while she did the necessary household chores.
Around 11:30 Hermione finished folding the laundry and remembered that she was meeting Karen for their permanent lunch date at Bean Time. Every Saturday at noon the two girls met at the coffee shop to eat lunch and basically gossip and/or dish about whatever happened the night before. Hermione grabbed a wad of bills off her nightstand, stuffing it into her pocket, and headed out the door of her apartment.
On the walk over Hermione found herself admiring the houses and the budding plants that boldly sprang from the earth now that the warmer weather had returned. Why did I never notice it was so beautiful here before, she wondered, smiling broadly.
"And what are you so happy about today, Miss Min," asked Karen, looking exhausted, as Hermione practically floated into the coffee shop. Hermione sat in the chair across from her grumpy looking friend and grinned broadly.
"Someone has a bitch of a hang over, don't they," she sing-songed, poking Karen in the arm. Karen scowled and pulled her arm away.
"It was your birthday, you're the one who should be sitting her sick," she moaned, her head in her hands.
"Why haven't you taken a hangover potion, you ditz," Hermione asked, keeping her voice low. Karen gave her another dirty look.
"My roommate the last of it and I don't know how to brew it." The waitress set a cup of the blackest coffee Hermione had ever seen in front of Karen before asking her what she wanted. They both ordered their meal; Hermione a tuna salad and fries, Karen a bowl of tomato soup and potato chips.
"Anyway, enough about my night," Karen said, seemingly feeling better after the coffee. "You look awfully chipper today. You so got laid," she chimed, beaming.
"I did not!" Hermione blushed, swatting at her. "We just had some coffee and caught up on everything that's happened in the past few years." Karen raised an eyebrow.
"Uh-huh. Well you're a fool if you didn't, he was so hot. I just love that accent. Besides, he seemed like a genuinely nice guy."
"He is. He always has been. I remember once in my seventh year, before I was dating Ron, I had been seeing this boy in Ravenclaw for a month or so until I found him snogging some little girl from Slytherin, " she spat the word with evident distaste. "Anyway, Ron must have mentioned it to the twins because Fred and George turned up for a visit saying they were going to cheer me up. Not only did they cheer me up with a few good jokes, they also apparently cursed my ex with charm that tattooed the words "Filthy Cheat" on his forehead that would only go away when he had groveled at my feet begging forgiveness. Publicly, no less. Good times." She smiled, remembering. "I imagine they did something else to him, too, because he seemd a little to anxious for my forgiveness but the twins never admitted to it, they would just grin mischievous."
"So, are you going to see him again," Karen asked excitedly, digging into her food that had just appeared in front of her. Hermione smiled a little and blushed again.
"Yeah, we're going out to dinner tonight and I'm going to show him a little bit of New York." Karen squealed.
"Well, now you'll get a chance to correct your grievous mistake in not sleeping with that fine, fine man, " she giggled.
"Shut up and eat your soup," Hermione scowled half-heartedly. "It's not like that! It's just two friends catching up."
"Yeah, and that's why you came dancing in here this morning with a goofy grin plastered on your face. You are in love, love love, lady," she taunted.
"Oh what do you know." But she blushed anyway.
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"5….5….5….6…9…9…5," Fred mumbled to himself, trying to figure out the telephone in his hotel room. He nearly dropped the phone with he heard a rather loud and rude beeping noise in his ear.
"I'm sorry, I don't understand the command you have entered. To place call, hang up and try again, " the cool female voice stated in monotone.
"Uh, hello, Hermione," Fred asked confusedly, speaking into the wrong end of the phone. "Oh bugger this, I'm just owling her," he yelled, slamming down the phone. "Oi, Gary, where are you?" A flammulated owl came pelting out of the next the other room, a bag of chips over it's head, tumbling to a halt on the bed. Gary ruffled his feathers, attempting to look dignified.
"Nice entrance, mate. I need you to take a letter to Hermione Granger, you remember her?" Gary hooted indignantly. "Right, naturally, anyway hang on while I write the letter." Gary gave him a look that quite plainly said, "So what was all the rush for?" Fred pulled out some parchment and hastily wrote,
Hermione,
I couldn't figure out the whole tellofone thing so I'm sending Gary with a note. How about you come by my hotel (The Marriot on 5th…I think….) around 8 and we'll go out? I know I'm the one who is supposed to come pick you up and all, but I highly doubt I'd be able to find your apartment and I don't know any restaurants so this is really in the interest of efficiency and my not getting mugged in a dark alleyway. Send a note back with Gary if you can't make it, if not I'll see you at 8.
Fred
Grabbing some twine, Fred tied the note to Gary's leg and carried him over to the window. "Alright, mate, off you go," Fred said, opening the window. Gary sprang off his arm and out into the sunny sky. Hmm…I hope that was ok in broad daylight. Oh well! Fred thought happily, eating some of the chips out of the bag Gary left behind.
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"Ok, I think I like this blue skirt, but I can't figure out the top that should go with it," Karen said, holding out a dark blue skirt to Hermione, who was sitting on the bed looking exasperated.
"Oh for heaven's sake, Karen, I'm just going out to dinner with Fred, it's not like it's a date or anything," Hermione sighed, knowing her attempts was futile. Karen never missed an opportunity to dress her.
"Right, just indecently attractive Fred Weasley who walks into your life after years, having just happen to find your and ask you to dance, and clearly it means fate is involved here," Karen stated, never taking her eyes from the selection of shirts laid out on Hermione's bed.
"Karen –" Hermione started but was interrupted by a shriek from her friend.
"I've got it! This shirt is perfect, 'Min!" she shouted, holding up a shimmering silver tank top. "Quick, go put it on," Karen ordered, handing her the shirt.
Walking out of the room, Hermione noticed a fuzzy object flying around her apartment window. What is that, she thought, puzzled for a moment before realizing it was an owl.
"Hang on, let me open it for you," she said, racing over to the window and opening it. "Inside, quickly before you attract attention!" The owl fluttered in through the window, landing on the kitchen counter. "Gary?" Hermione asked the owl. Gary hooted, holding out his leg. Hermione's barn owl, Felice, looked over from her perch with interest, hooting.
Hermione scanned the note, her smile widening as she read. "Hang on a minute, Gary, I'm going to send him back a reply." She grabbed a piece of parchment from a drawer and quickly wrote,
Fred,
Sure, I'll be by at 8 and we'll figure out where we want to go from there. I was a bit surprised by the owl, most people in the city use pigeons for inter-city communications.
Hermione
She looked up to tie her note to Gary's leg and saw that Felice had ventured over to introduce herself to the other owl. Aww, isn't that cute, she thought. Gary stuck out his leg as Hermione tied the parchment to it, hooting as he flew back out the window. Felice watched him go.
"Somebody's got a little crush," Hermione said, stroking Felice's feathers. The owl fluffed up her feathers and flew back over to her perch, ignoring Hermione. She giggled and went back to trying on her outfit.
"Oh Hermione, it's perfect," Karen squealed, seeing Hermione in her ensemble. "Fred won't be able to resist when he sees you in this, not that he could anyway."
"Karen, for the last time this is not a date!" Hermione growled. Karen just shook her head.
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Fred paced around the lobby of his hotel, wondering why he was so nervous. "It's only Hermione, it's only Hermione," he muttered under his breath. "This isn't even a date, no reason to be nervous. Yeah, just two old friends catching up." He took a deep breath and turned around to see Hermione walking through the door.
"Hey Fred." Fred stared at her as she walked over, his mouth open slightly. Hermione blinked and looked around before saying, "Uh…Fred?" Oh no. I forgot how to talk. Quick, for the love of Merlin say something, man!
"Oh! Hi, Hermione! You look….fantastic tonight," he said earnestly, coming to himself. Hermione cocked her head looking curiously at him for a moment before shrugging her shoulders.
"Um, thanks, Fred. So, what are you in the mood for? I know a great Thai place a couple of blocks down," She offered, walking with him out onto the sidewalk.
"Yeah, that sounds great," Fred nodded, walking along side her. "Lead the way, my lady." He heard her giggle and felt himself melting. Get ahold of yourself, Fred! This is just Hermione, you need to get a grip, he scolded himself, but looking over at her and seeing her smiling up at him he knew he was a goner.
Authors note:
Well, took a bit longer than I meant it to, but I had some writer's block and your usual 20 year old chicks angsty stuff going on, but the chapter is done now! And, I swear I'm getting to the good stuff. Next chapter: THE NON-DATE So! Thanks to all my reviewers….you people are the light in my life. Oh! And if anyone is interested in what a flammulated owl is, here is a pic: http/ . What can I say, I'm an ornithology student.
Grintastic: Thankies! I'm surprised people actually seem to like this. This was mostly just me being bored and running out of Hermione/Weasley Twin stories to read.
Cat in a box: Thanks to you, too, and I'll do my best.
Liberty-phoenix: Thanks, I'll do my best to keep updating regularly. Sweet username, by the way.
Brunetteheartsredheadsandskittles: Updating away! Also, skittles are pretty awesome. Kudos!
Hermione Heart: Yeah, I know! I love Hermione, a lot of the time I feel like her, but you know, she needs to learn to live a little and I always liked the idea of Hermione and a Weasley Twin!