Disclaimer: Harry Potter and company belong to JK Rowling. "Jaded" belongs to Mest and their record label
There's a time and place for everything
There's a reason why certain people meet
There's a destination for everyone
What's the explanation when we're done?
All the summer nights spent wondering
So many questions asked
No one is answering
Will it be okay if I left today?
Took my chances on what you said was wrong
Jaded, Mest
Chapter Two
"So you want to explain what happened, Hermione?" George asked, folding his freckled arms over his chest.
I squirmed. I was so pissed at Lavender for just leaving me here alone with these two - well I can't really call them a bad name seeing as how they never really did anything to me but you get the picture. She could have stayed and helped me out a little. Mental note to self: next time you run into ex's brothers bring a friend with a backbone.
"I'm sure Ron told you all about it," I said, edging to the door. Fred stepped in front of me, for he had clearly seen what I was doing.
"Actually that's the funny part. Ron didn't mention anything either." Fred replied, locking his gaze with mine. I looked away. Forget the friend with a backbone, I need one first.
"But something must have happened." George added. "Two people don't just suddenly part ways and never see each other again for no good reason, now do they?"
"It's a long story," I sighed, exasperated.
A flash of sympathy crossed Fred's face. "Why don't you come get a drink with us?"
"Now is not really a good time." I said, still edging to the door.
"Come on. You don't have to explain about the break up. Just come out and catch up, okay?" George said. Fred shot him a look which clearly suggested that I did have to explain about the break up but George shot him just as pleasant a look back.
"Come on," Fred said firmly.
I could tell they weren't going to leave me alone. And the twins seemed just odd enough to become one of those 'obsessive stalker people' that Lavender worries about. I could just imagine them popping out from behind dark corners trying to get me to explain what happened. Actually, it would be kind of funny if someone really did wait for me in a dark corner all day and jump out but that's a whole other issue.
"Fine," I grumbled giving in.
"Grab your coat and we'll be off." George replied, pulling a coat off an old stick that didn't appear like it was meant to be a coat rack.
"George, it is like seventy degrees out."
"Never mind then."
"So what will ye'all have to drink tonight?" the waiter asked in a rough husky voice.
"Firewhisky," I replied, knowing that by the time this interrogation was over, I was definitely going to need it.
"Butterbeer." Fred answered.
"Same as the lady," George replied, pocketing his wand.
"So..." I said feeling very very uncomfortable.
"Where do you work?" Fred asked, drumming his fingers on the wooden round table of the now less busy Three Broomsticks.
"A news correspondent for WINN." I replied, grateful that the waiter was headed our way with the drinks. I heard the firewhisky was strong and I had a feeling that I was going to need that, my nerves already rattling.
"You are a news correspondent?" Fred raised his eyebrows. "After that bit about Rita Skeeter, you became a reporter?"
"I don't report gossip," I hissed. "I report factual information."
Fred sipped his drink. "So do you live near here or were you working on a segment?"
"Both, actually." I answered, the knots in my stomach slowly unraveling now that I was pretty sure that Fred wasn't going to attack me. "We were working on story but Lavender and I live on the northeast side of Hogsmeade. Over by the Apothecary and the Quill & Ink Book shop." Oh, god. I just blabbed where I lived. What if he told Ron? I don't want to face Ron. But Ron may already know, the little voice in my head whispered. I mean, Harry knows where I live. What if Harry told Ron? I need to get duct tape and just tape my mouth shut.
"We live over that way." George commented, seeming a little out of it. I was beginning to feel light headed and a little out of it too but I figured it was just from all the smoke from the wizard's pipe at the table next to ours. Fred however didn't seem light headed at tall. Maybe it was the drinks..
"So why didn't you talk to us after you broke up with Ron?" Fred asked. "You didn't have to forget the rest of us. You left a lot of people when you ran away."
I put my head on the table. The room appeared to be moving now. "I don't know. You know how I am about talking to people. I get so uncomfortable."
George downed the rest of his drink and sort of dropped the mug on the table causing me to jump. "Mione, you know when you talk on WINN, millions of people are listening?"
"But I am not talking to them face to face." I whispered, closing my eyes, praying to Merlin that the spinning would stop. "Um, guys I am going to need a rain check on this conversation. I don't feel so good."
For the first time in a really long time, Fred seemed like his normal self. Forgiving and caring. "Do you need us to walk you home, Mione? You don't look so great."
"I'm fine," I moaned, getting to my feet. I reached for my purse but nearly fell. Fred caught my arm before I hit the stone floor of the pub. That would have hurt pretty bad if I'd actually hit it.
"We are going to walk you home," Fred stated fiercely, grabbing my arm. I couldn't really argue with him because I had a feeling that if I did he would do that thing where he throws his hands in air when he is frustrated. And if he did that, he would have to let go of my arm which would result in me hitting that stone floor after all.
"Um, Fred," George said, glancing at his watch. "I promised Katie, I'd be home ten minutes ago. I'll see you at the store tomorrow. Hope you feel better, Mione."
"Thanks," I muttered and gaped in shock as he got off his stool and walked away as if he had never even drank that darn firewhisky. "Bye."
I dropped a few sickles on the table next to our empty mugs and the two of us walked out of the pub. Well, Fred walked; I more stumbled out the door the only reason I wasn't on the ground was because he kept grabbing me by the sleeve of my shirt.
The night sky was really pretty. I remember that from my drunk walk home. I kept staring at the sparkly stars. "So, George is with Katie?" I commented, as I caught Fred staring at me staring at the stars.
"They got married six months ago. You would have known that if you had bothered to keep in touch." Fred snapped coldly.
"Why are you so pissed off?" I asked, apparently more brave than I was earlier most likely due to the large amount of firewhisky in me.
"You made a lot of people upset. Ginny, one of your best friends, you forgot. Mum worries all the time."
"Ugh," I smacked my forehead which I of course I instantly regretted, seeing as how I already had a pounding headache. "I'm sorry, Fred. It's just everything went wrong at once."
I staggered and Fred walked in silence for the next few minutes. "I would have thought that you would have been glad to see me go."
Fred whipped his head around to look at me. "Why do you think that?"
"Fred, we never got along in school. I studied for lessons and you tried to get out of them. I abided by the rules and you set records for breaking them. We were so different."
"Then. We have both changed over the years." Fred answered solemnly.
"Fred Weasley, are you trying to tell me that in the seven years since you left Hogwarts you have matured?" I laughed.
"If you think that playing with tricks all day constitutes as mature, then yes I have matured a great deal." Fred teased.
"I still don't see why you were upset when I left. We never even talked when I was with Ron."
"You are part of the family. Hell, I was even upset when Percy left despite the fact that I hate him."
"Great, now you are comparing me to a monstrous traitor."
"No, I'm just saying that you are like family and you will be apart of it no matter what happens. I missed you when you left as I missed Percy when he left."
"The only reason you missed Percy was because he was the victim of the majority of your pranks. Was that the reason you missed me?" I asked, scrapping my clog against the cobblestone road. We turned past the Apothecary and started up a hill.
"No. That wasn't the only reason." Fred smiled.
I laughed. Hard. I don't know why. I just couldn't control it. I no longer felt tipsy and light headed. I felt sort of carefree and silly. Fred looked at me as if I was insane and smiled again, revealing his perfectly white straight teeth.
"You have pretty teeth," I said sort of randomly.
Fred looked bewildered. "Okay..."
We stepped on the apartment building porch. "I'll let you go in now," Fred whispered. "It was good to see you, Hermione."
I stared blankly at the door. "Fred?"
Fred turned around. "What, Mione?"
"I forget what apartment is mine."
Thanks for reading! Please review!
Thanks to KitSa and Alyx for reviewing.
Cya,
Simple Plan GC fan
