A/N: No beta, just Grammarly.

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Chapter 2

Thorfinn

Damn, looks good

*fire emoji*

Thorfinn went to type more, but his phone was snatched from his hand by Antonin. They were at their local having a pint after practice, something they did on a fairly regular basis. Thorfinn liked this pub because everyone here knew to leave them alone and if someone did start getting too friendly, a helpful local would kindly tell them to fuck off.

Antonin wolf-whistled as he scrolled up in Thorfinn's text feed with Hermione.

"Damn, how in the hell did you get so lucky?" he asked, zooming in on the picture.

"Give it back," Thorfinn growled reaching for his phone. Antonin pulled it out of his grasp.

"Hang on, I'm not done yet," Antonin mumbled as he zoomed in on the photo.

"Who's that?" Charlie asked, coming in behind Antonin to get a look. "Damn, are you dating her?" He looked up at Thorfinn and waggled his eyebrows.

"That, is Hermione Granger, your kid sister's friend," Thorfinn replied, still reaching for his phone.

"Hey, enough of that," Charlie scolded Antonin and plucked the phone from his fingers, giving it to Thorfinn. "No ogling Granger."

"What? She's fit," Antonin said with a shrug. "Think she meant to send you nipple?"

"She sent nipple?!" Charlie and Thorfinn asked at the same time. Thorfinn opened the picture up again and zoomed in. Sure enough, just a shadow of a nipple was peaking out from the top of her dress. His blood pounded hard at that tantalizing glimpse.

"No way," Charlie said. "She must not have noticed. Hermione's not like that."

"Please," Antonin scoffed into his beer. "All chicks are like that. She probably analyzed that picture seven ways to Sunday before sending it."

Hermione

OMG

I'm so sorry

I did not mean to send such a revealing photo

*facepalm emoji*

Thorfinn

You think I mind?

I assure you, I absolutely do not

At all

You look gorgeous

I can't wait to see you this weekend

"What are you texting her?" Antonin asked a filthy smirk on his face.

"Why are you texting her?" Charlie asked with a heavy frown marring his brows.

"Don't give me that look," Thorfinn said to Charlie, ignoring Antonin entirely. Antonin was a horndog, and Thorfinn had a feeling that even if he lived to be a hundred, he would always be a horndog. "Your sister suggested that Hermione ask me to be her date to Ron's wedding this weekend."

"Oh," Charlie lit up. "Ron is going to flip his shit. Attending this wedding just went from chore to prime entertainment."

"Your sister got a date?" Antonin asked Charlie. "I'd like a little entertainment with my best mates."

"You are not going on a date with my sister. Besides, she's engaged already," Charlie said, giving Antonin a withering glare. Thorfinn snorted, if he had a sister, he wouldn't let Antonin anywhere near her either.

"What? It can be a pretend date. Just like Thorfinn's is with Hermione," Antonin insisted.

"A pretend date?" Charlie asked, turning back to Thorfinn. "What the hell is a pretend date?"

Thorfinn chuckled. "She didn't want to show up to her ex's wedding alone. Can you blame her?"

"'Course not," Antonin said shaking his head and pointing at Charlie. "Especially since her ex is your twatty younger brother."

Charlie snorted. "Ron is a twat," he agreed. "So is it a fake date? Or?"

"I'm hoping I can turn it from fake date to not fake date," Thorfinn replied, rubbing his chin and leaning back a bit.

"Just don't fuck with her," Charlie warned, pointing a finger at him. "Hermione is a nice girl."

"Very nice," Antonin chortled, waggling his eyebrows. Charlie glared at him and Thorfinn smiled at the pair of them.

Charlie didn't much care for Antonin, Thorfinn knew, but Antonin didn't socialize with too many people and while he was rough around the edges, he was a good bloke. Charlie just hadn't spent enough time with him. He'd only moved back to England in the last year.

Charlie chuckled again. "I can't wait to see Ron's face when he sees you on Hermione's arm."

"He's the one getting married, oughtn't he be looking at his bride?" Thorfinn asked as he polished off his beer. He wiped the foam from his mustache hairs and waved the waitress down again.

"Sure, but Hermione's the one who got away, you know?" Charlie replied.

Antonin frowned. "Why is he getting married if he wants to be with someone else?"

"I'm not sure that he wants to be with Hermione, more like, he doesn't want anyone else to be with her."

"That makes no sense, mate," Antonin said, shaking his head. "Either he wants her or he doesn't."

"Ron is a twat," Charlie replied with a shrug as if that answered everything.

If what Charlie said was true, then Thorfinn could understand why Hermione wanted a date. It had to be hard enough to go to her ex's wedding, but then to attend alone? Especially if the rest of her friends were paired up.

Hermione

Right, well still

It was accidental

Sorry about that

Thorfinn

Would an 'accidental' pic of my own soothe you?

*picture message sent*

"Holy… I knew rugby players were fit, but this is," Ginny turned her head as if that would help her see Thorfinn's abs better.

"Better not let Blaise catch you ogling another man," Hermione said, chortling into her wine. She still couldn't believe that she had accidentally sent Thorfinn a photo that showed nipple, though, she wasn't even a little upset by the photo Thorfinn sent back. Of himself, topless. A mirror, selfie, with his shirt raised and a devastating smirk on his face. His long hair was down, brushing the top of his pecs and Hermione wondered what it would feel like to have her fingers in that hair. Perhaps as she guided him between her legs.

"Hermione Jean Granger! Just what are you thinking about?" Ginny asked, looking up at her with a laugh. Hermione's face went hot at being caught fantasizing.

"Nothing! Nothing at all. Just Thorfinn," she shrugged trying to play it off.

"Thorfinn taking off your clothes? Or you taking off his?" Ginny asked with a smirk.

Hermione threw her head back in laughter and willed the heat out of her face. She offered Ginny a saucy smirk. "I was picturing his head between my thighs, is that lewd enough for you?"

"Yes, girl! Get it!" Ginny grinned. She looked back at the phone and licked her bottom lip. "He's so cut, I have this irrational urge to taste each one of his muscles."

"Want to run your tongue across them like a xylophone, eh?" Hermione asked with a chuckle. She pulled her phone back to her and sighed as she looked at the perfection staring back at her. "Do you think he took this for me? Or was it in his camera roll?"

"That is a look of desire," Ginny replied, pointing to the phone with her wine glass in hand. "I'd bet he took it for you. How long between when you apologized and when he sent this?"

"I'm not sure, an hour or so?" Hermione closed the picture and set her phone facedown on the table between them. "Well, it should definitely make Ron's wedding more interesting."

"You do know Ron is going to have 'opinions' about this, right?" Ginny said with a warning. She looked over her shoulder to where Pansy was busy dancing with the rest of her bridesmaids. "He loves Pansy, but…"

"Ron's opinions don't matter," Hermione replied with a shrug. "He can be upset about it all he likes, but then he shouldn't have invited me to his wedding with a 'plus one' if he didn't want me actually attending with one."

Ginny grunted and they both fell silent, watching the rest of the hen party make fools of themselves on the dance floor. Hermione frowned at Ginny's words. She didn't really want Ron to be upset about her choice of date, maybe she should cancel?

But then the grin in the photo Thorfinn just sent popped up in her mind's eye and she found that for the first time, she was really, really looking forward to Ron's wedding. Mostly, because she was looking forward to seeing Thorfinn. Shit, Harry might end up being prophetic after all. Though, even if he was, there was no saying that Thorfinn was actually interested in her, beyond a mere flirtation.

She sighed. This is why she didn't date. It was so hard to figure out anyone's motives. Would it be too forward of her to ask Thorfinn what he thought? Just as she picked up her phone to do so, most of the hen do arrived at the table in a whirl of shrieking laughter and competing floral perfumes.

"We gotta get you two out on that dance floor," Pansy insisted, yanking at Hermione and Ginny's hands.

"I'm fine watching the table," Hermione replied with a tight smile.

"I've got it," Daphne said, giving Hermione a wink and a push.

She followed Ginny and Pansy out where Luna was still dancing to a song that had to be in her head as the moves didn't align to the rhythm of the pounding bass that the DJ was playing at all. Something Hermione had always liked about Luna was that she was carefree in the best possible way.

"Hermione! Ginny!" Luna shouted upon seeing them and grabbed for their hands. She pulled them through the crowd and with Pansy hot on their heels, the four of them danced. The thumping bass and combined body temperature of the other dancers should have given Hermione a headache. They would have, any other time, but she was just the right amount of buzzed that it felt good to be moving her body on the dance floor with her friends. It wasn't long before she lost herself in the music and just let go of all her worries for the rest of the night.

Hermione

Well….

As far as retribution goes, I suppose that will do

*wink-face emoji*

Thorfinn

Seemed a fair exchange to me

What time shall we meet?

Hermione

Oh, gosh, I completely forgot

I planned to take the train down Friday night

The 5:30 from Paddington

Should put us in around 8:30 in Exeter, is that alright?

We'll have to get a car to Bovey Castle, but Pansy's arranged them

Thorfinn

Bovey Castle?

My, my, this is a fancy affair

That sounds fine. Shall I meet you at Paddington at 5:00?

Hermione smiled, pleased to see that Thorfinn was as punctual as she was. She hated arriving late for the train. She texted her affirmative and set the phone down onto her desk. Her texting with Thorfinn was getting a little out of hand. She had almost missed two separate deadlines this week at work and needed to refocus her attention.

To say nothing of the picture he had sent over the weekend. She knew he was fit, but… she had saved the photo to her phone and found herself looking at it over and over again. He was very, very fit. As Ginny had said, she had this irrational urge to lick each one of his muscles.

Groaning, she closed her eyes and rubbed them with her fingers. Even when she didn't mean to, she still found herself thinking about Thorfinn. She couldn't decide if that was a good or bad thing. Good, it would lend credence to their ruse this weekend if they were genuinely attracted to each other, bad though if she truly wanted to not date while she focused on her upcoming project at work.

Well, she had to get through this weekend first, then she could focus on the project at work. Thorfinn will have done her this favor and they could part ways as friends.

Friday night rolled around quicker than Hermione had anticipated and she found herself taking an Uber to Paddington instead of the Tube as she had planned. Uber was quicker than the cross-town train she would have had to take. Besides, with her luggage and her dress bag, getting on the train this morning had been bad enough, and she'd gotten on at five in the morning to avoid the crush.

Paddington was an absolute madhouse when she arrived with evening commuters and weekend warriors rushing home. Thorfinn was easy to spot at least, towering over nearly everyone else in the station. He was near the entrance to the correct platform even, and then she recalled that he had grown up near the Weasleys. He was probably quite familiar with this train.

"Hermione," he said with a warm smile as he helped pull her through the crush. She couldn't help but appreciate how good he looked in his leather jacket. His hair was tied back in a sloppy bun at the top of his head, and he somehow made the look devastating. Hermione knew she looked a mess with her hair the same way, but on a man, it was gorgeous.

"Good to see you, Thorfinn," she replied back. "Thanks again for agreeing to do this."

"It's really no trouble," he replied. "A weekend in the country with a pretty girl, free food, and booze? Sounds like heaven."

Hermione laughed and they boarded the train, settling into their seats after Thorfinn stowed their luggage on the rack above.

"Do you get back to Devonshire often?" Hermione asked as the train made its way out of the station. Despite the crowd in the station, their train was only half full, and nobody was sitting near them.

"Not as often as I'd like. Rugby season lasts most of the year. Do you follow the sport at all?"

Hermione felt her face heat and shook her head. "My dad rather likes the Wasps," she half-chuckled, knowing they were a rival of his team, the London Irish.

Thorfinn snorted. "'Course he does. Well, if he ever wants tickets to watch the Irish beat the Wasps, let me know. What do you do? I don't think you've ever said?"

Hermione shook her head. "I haven't. I'm a solicitor for a nonprofit. Women Power, have you heard of it?"

Thorfinn shook his head.

"It's a nonprofit that provides free legal expertise for women in need."

"What sort of legal expertise do you do?" Thorfinn asked.

"Immigration and asylum, mostly," Hermione replied. "We do family and criminal work as well. Whatever someone needs really. We've even passed clients off to some of the biggest firms in London when the client needed that sort of expertise. There are some cases too big for us, unfortunately."

"Wow, that's incredible work," Thorfinn replied. "I'm guessing with everything going on with Brexit, you are pretty busy."

Hermione grimaced. "Quite. Busier than usual, we've had to bring in as many law interns as we can afford, luckily we have some excellent patronage. We actually have a charity ball coming up next month."

"Need a date?" Thorfinn asked with a grin. "I might be free."

"Let's see how this weekend goes, shall we? I'd hate to sign you up for something in a month's time if we leave on Sunday hating each other."

"Well," Hermione said, glancing around the room nervously. Thorfinn fought back a grin. The hotel had been extremely sorry, but as one of the last guests to check in, they were given a room with just one bed. "I'll sleep on the sofa, obviously. I'm so sorry about this, again."

"Don't be ridiculous," Thorfinn replied, stepping into the gorgeous room further. The carpets were a plush cream color that matched the heavy drapes at both the window, and surrounding the four-poster bed. "That bed is massive, we'll both fit, just fine. And I promise, I won't think you're taking advantage of me, just because we shared a bed." He winked at her and was pleased to see her face darken, even as she laughed.

The tension broke at least. "I'm perfectly happy on the couch—" Hermione tried again.

"I insist," Thorfinn replied. "Besides, I'm sure that tiny, little sofa won't be nearly as comfortable as the bed. It's been a long trip, I think I'll just duck into the shower." He really wasn't trying to get her into bed with him, but he'd feel like a massive prig if he slept on the bed while she had the sofa. It was barely a sofa and more of a settee anyway.

He headed into the equally luxurious bathroom and took a quick shower, hopefully giving Hermione time to get settled and calm down. No way he'd be able to sleep if she was buzzing as tightly as she had been when they opened the door to the suite.

When he was finished brushing his teeth he exited the bathroom to find Hermione sitting nervously on the edge of the bed in what looked like an old t-shirt and a very short pair of shorts. She gave him a small, nervous smile. He made a very valiant attempt to not check out her legs, but couldn't resist looking when she walked past him toward the bathroom.

It was a good thing the bed was so big, any smaller and Thorfinn knew, he'd have a huge problem.