Commitaphobia
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Harry Potter, and I own nothing.
Summary: Hermione breaks up with her current boyfriend – again. It actually seems to be a bad habit of hers. However, when Fred and she go on a "secret mission," hilarity and romance ensue.
Chapter 7: The Day Pigs Fly
Previously...
And, suddenly, I was really glad I was okay. Because if I wasn't, Fred wouldn't be able to hug me like he was. And it felt sort of nice being wrapped up in his rather large arms. All I have to say about it was that it was over way too soon.
So. A little bit embarrassing, I suppose, but not too bad up to this point. Well, just wait. It gets worse.
Suddenly, I realized Ron was gone. In all the broom commotion, he had managed to slip away, unnoticed by us. "Ohh, no..." I said, looking down.
Fred also looked down and then glanced at me again. "Damn," he said.
"Language," I absentmindedly chastised him.
Fred looked at me in mock hurt. "Look who's talking," Fred said, putting on a falsetto voice and clutching his heart. "MY BROOM! FRED! Damn bloody hell fuck fuck fuck damn dammit shit damn!"
I pushed his shoulder and said, in my primmest voice, "My life was in grave danger up on that insane broom that you put me on."
"Bad news, babe," Fred said, grinning, "you swear like a sailor, and you have to come to terms with that."
"Uggh, Fred Weasley, get me off this broom! I've had enough of brooms for my entire lifetime."
Fred gave a sweeping gesture with his hand. "As you wish, madame." He grinned and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me to him. "Let's get you home," he said into my ear.
I smiled against his chest as he lightly rested his chin on my head and kept one hand around me while maneuvering the broom with the other hand. He really is a nice guy, and I told him so as we landed on firm solid ground. His cheeks turned slightly pink as he smiled at me and offered his arm.
"What do you say we go to dinner, Hermione?" Fred asked. "You can shake off this whole broom incident."
"I think I'd like that very much, Fred."
And so off we went, strolling along in Diagon Alley. It was sort of strange. We went into some low key pub-type place with dim lighting and smoke so thick that I found it a bit hard to breathe.
"Cute place," I mumbled to myself as we sat down, but Fred grinned at me.
"Just wait 'til you try the food."
A jolly old man named Bob was our waiter. He had a large stomach and a bald head. The only hair he had, in fact, were his two very white eyebrows that protruded in all directions from his face. "Weasley!" he said joyously, clapping Fred on the back. "Which one're you, anyways?"
"I'm Fred, Bob," Fred said, in a voice slightly louder than he would normally use, which led me to believe that Bob was a bit hard of hearing.
"Ohh, Fred, good man, you are! And who's the lucky lady?" he asked Fred, but looked at me.
"This is Hermione," Fred said smiling at me.
"Lovely young woman. Respectable. I can tell. I have an eye for people. Couples, really. You two will be happy together."
"Oh, no, we're not – " I started to say, but Fred cut me off.
"We already are very happy," Fred said reaching across the table and squeezing my hand. "She finally snagged me. You know me, I didn't want to, but she had to put her foot down." He grinned cheekily and winked at me.
Bob looked at me with a huge smile on his face. "Fantastic!" he said, putting his hand on my shoulder. "That is fan-bloody-tastic!" He took our order and walked away, mumbling to himself.
When he was out of earshot, I kicked Fred under the table and took my hand out of his grasp. "What was that Fred?"
Fred shrugged and took a sip of his water. "Makes the old guy happy. Everytime I come in here he wants to know if I've settled down. I figured this was my opportunity to say yes so that he'd stop bugging me."
I didn't know what to think about that. I know that Fred likes to have fun, but the way my hand felt in his... It was weird. I don't like Fred. I know that I don't, yet there was that weird spark of something there. What was it? "Frisson" is what my old chemistry teacher calls it. Frissonis a bitch, kids.
Then our food came and Fred kept trying to hold my hand under the table or play with my feet, which was just weird. Well, in my mind it was weird. But it felt so... okay. Normal, even. As if this was what we did every Friday night.
When it was time to pay, Fred wouldn't let me pay. He wouldn't even go dutch with me. He insisted on paying for my entire meal. It was so.. nice of him. I mean, I've always known he was nice, but chivalrous, too? Who knew?
As we left the restaurant, Bob waved goodbye, and Fred put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to him in a big gesture. "Lovebirds," Bob said happily as we walked out.
When we got onto the street it was a sticky-type of hot, and we apparated quickly back to his house. We were in the den alone at this point, and I flopped down onto the couch in front of the merrily crackling fire. "I'm exhausted," I said, closing my eyes for a second.
Fred threw himself onto the couch next to me, casually throwing his arm over my shoulders like he had in the restaurant. This time, though, it was natural, as if he hadn't even thought about doing it... it just happened.
It was so relaxing to be in front of the fire like that against Fred, who was warm and smelled really good, like aftershave and something else that I couldn't place, but it smelled so uniquely Fred that I loved it.
"So," Fred began, kicking his feet up on the coffee table in front of him, "you never answered my question. Me, you, and George. Who would you pick?"
It took me a second to re-register Fred's question. I looked up at him to find that he was already looking down at me. Our eyes locked for a second (have I mentioned his eyes before? They are so nice... blue and green and so, so intense), and I could barely get out the word, "You" before suddenly his lips were on mine.
That's right. There's the kicker.
He kissed me. He started out tentatively, but when I wrapped my arms around his neck, he began more assuredly. I don't know what in the world came over me, but I pressed myself against him, wanting to feel every curve of his body.
He gently turned his body and laid me along the couch, without ever once breaking our lip contact. Fred slid his tongue into my mouth so skillfully that I couldn't help wondering how many other girls he'd done this with. Then I found myself not caring.
Everything felt so right. One of his arms bracing his body above mine while the other tremblingly touched my cheek. His legs entwined with mine. My hands in his hair, pulling him closer.
Like I said, I don't know what I was thinking. Something came over me, and I couldn't stop it even if I had wanted to.
Fred apparently could though.
After probably only five minutes, he pulled back, breathing heavily. He looked into my eyes, and instead of seeing the half-lidded expression I'm sure I had on, his eyes were wide with panic. He clumsily pushed himself off of me and stumbled backwards, almost tripping over the coffee table.
"Oh, God, Hermione," he said, running his hand through his hair and looking down at his shirt, which had somehow come unbuttoned revealing his chest and a light smattering of freckles. "Oh, God," he repeated. "I – I can't. We can't. I – we – I have to go."
With that, he apparated out of the room with a pop.
So that's how he left me, still, on the couch, trying to pull down my shirt which had become extremely wrinkled.
See? See what I mean. It's me that's so much less sexy than anything else in the world. Me.
I don't know what I did. Maybe I was a bad kisser. Maybe he just made a mistake. To be honest, I haven't seen him all day long. Not that I've been looking. I so, so, so have NOT been. I've been in my room for the most part, alternately trying to answer the ridiculous ministry internship questionnaire and writing in this book about yesterday's fiasco.
Hermione Granger
June 20th – 5:00 PM – Same.
1. How many hours a week can you devote to the Ministry of Magic's esteemed internship?
As many as necessary... At least 8 hours a day... Well. At one time I might've said as many necessary. Now, I have to say as many necessary except for those I'm spending in an attempt to sabotage one of my best friend's relationships. Bloody hell.
2. What are your qualifications for the Ministry of Magic's internship position?
After five years at Hogwarts School of Withcraft and Wizardry... Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has adequately prepared me to handle... I have often worked with... I can actually do quite a lot with plotting and what not. I would've never thought that I could, but it is an area that I truly excel in. I'm good at keeping secrets, too. What's that? Minister of Magic is a transvestite? No worries, your secret's safe with me.
3, Why do you want to be an intern at the Ministry of Magic?
Throughout my years as a student, I have always admired... After graduating from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I hope to... So I can do the Minister of Magic. I hear it puts you in a serious position of power.
4. If you were to not receive this internship, what would the reason be?
I think that if I did not receive this internship, it would be based on my take charge attitude... The quality that may first and foremost prevent me from receiving an... I have this bad tendency to be a controlling bitch that can't keep her own plans straight. I also sometimes lash out at other people when I'm mad. I made out with a boy yesterday. Interns don't do that either.
5. Do you support the Ministry of Magic in all its endeavors? (Check box yes or no)
Yes X No
June 21st – 9:00 AM – The Bathroom
I still haven't seen Fred since the fiasco. Why not? Is he mad at me? I'm willing to admit that it was wrong...
Was it that bad?
June 21st – 9:20 AM – The Bathroom
It's not like I like him or anything.
June 21st – 9:24 AM – The Bathroom
I really don't.
June 21st – 9:26 AM – The Bathroom
Reasons I Should Not Like Fred:
1. He's an audacious flirt.
2. He's too loud. How would I be able to think when he's around?
3. He has that infuriating way of proving me wrong.
4. He's too tall. I'm dwarfed next to him. 5'11" is my cut-off. He's 6'0.
5. He would never like me. Seriously. The day he likes me is the day pigs fly.
6. His eyes are too penetrating. I can't be with someone who knows everything about me with one glance of their eyes. Creepy.
7. He's probably skinnier than me.
8. When he touches me I get all tingly. That can't lead up to a healthy relationship, right?
9. His hair does that irritating... yet adorable... thing where it falls in his eyes.
Ok. That's it. That's a pretty long list. I've got tons of reason why I should avoid him at all costs.
Later
I think.
Later still
Seriously though. I don't like him.
June 21st – 10:30 – Still the bathroom
OK! FINE! I'll admit it! Happy? I, Hermione Granger, like – love? – Fred Weasley. Yes, ok? Yes. It's true. I am hopelessly, madly, head-over-heels crazy in love with him. I probably always have been, too. Why else would I have bickered with him endlessly since he first began breaking rules when I was a first year? Why else would I always have that small pang of jealousy when I saw him with a girl? And why else did his loathing of school bother me so much?
There's really only one explanation for it...
What's worse about this admission is what comes along with it. Finally admitting it means that I also have to admit to myself that I can't have him. He'll never like me. I will always be his little brother's little friend to him. Sure, we are partners-in-crime at the moment, but what's going to come of that? The day that he likes me is the day pigs fly.
I know that he kissed me, but he clearly proved that he didn't mean to. It was a heat-of-the-moment thing. A mistake. We've all had them... where it just feels right, but it's really oh-so-wrong.
Plus, as I've mentioned earlier, we're both commitaphobic people. What kind of couple would we make? A bad one.
Sadly enough.
I hate this.
So, here's to hoping for the day pigs fly,
Hermione Granger
A/N: I hope you guys liked it... I decided to finally give you guys some solid fluff. Like before, I have the next chapter almost complete and it'll be posted really soon! Review por favor?
