A/N: Sorry this took so long.. I don't have a reason for it, but at least it's here now. I did get a Pottermore, so that's exciting. Anyway, I hope the fact that it's nearly 3,000 words long sort of makes up for that.
Thank you to L00ve-Joanna and Iceprincess22454 for adding my drabble-thing to your Favorite Story list.
Thanks to iLoveRomance2o11 for your review. That's sort of eerie, that those events coincided in that way. And I offer a personal apology for not updating sooner, i hope you forgive me.
Enjoy!
Was it you who caught me staring?
The Ministry of Magic was full of activity today. Hermione sighed as the Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, walked up to her. "Ms Granger," He inclined his head toward her. "Minister," She replied, feeling a bit put out by all the people walking up and down her usually deserted hall. "How are you getting on?" He asked her in his deep, comforting voice, glancing at her half-completed report. "Er… to tell you the truth, it's a bit… noisy today." She reached up and snagged the memo that had just begun soaring around her head. "I was wondering if I might be able to go home early. I don't think I'll be able to do much more on this until I can get a hold of the masters of the House-Elf that submitted this complaint, and they're off on vacation until next week." She glanced at the memo, a reminder from Ron that he was treating her and Harry to drinks after work today. "Of course, Ms Granger," he smiled kindly at her. "I have something to attend to in the Department of Mysteries. You will be called in if we need you. Have a nice day," He inclined his head at her again, turned, and swept away from her desk. She put the paper she had been revising into her desk, picked up her bag, and left her office. The hallway was, mercifully, nearly empty, and she reached the elevators quickly. People treated her, Harry, and Ron as celebrities after the second wizarding war. Harry, who had been receiving this sort of attention since his youth, was used to it, and Ron was enjoying his newfound fame, but Hermione didn't like the constant presence of people she didn't really know or like. She pressed the button that would take her to where Ron and Harry worked, and the doors slid shut. There were a few memos zooming around her head, and the elevator stopped a few times on the way to let the memos out. When she finally reached the Auror offices, she made her way quickly to Harry's cubicle. Harry was writing something on a piece of parchment. His raven hair was dishevelled and his glasses had slid down on his nose. He finished writing, attached the parchment to the wall of his cubicle, and turned to face her. "Oh, hi, 'Mione," he said, "What are you doing down here?" "Er… I've just seen Kingsley. He said I could leave early today," She explained. "Brilliant!" He smiled at her. "Let's go and get Ron, and then we'll go out for drinks." Hermione still didn't understand how the Auror's office worked. They could leave work whenever they wanted, and usually seemed to spend half their time talking to each other rather then working. She supposed it was a bit more relaxed, but her friends kept her schedule, so they could all go to the Burrow for supper together every night (a tradition started by Mrs Weasley after nearly losing many of the members of her family in the war). Once Harry and Hermione had collected Ron, they made their way to the atrium, where they lined up to take the floo network to Diagon Alley. People kept shaking their hands and offering to let them go ahead, and they reached the fireplace quickly.
A pair of strong arms caught Hermione as she fell from the flames. "Fancy meeting you here, love," Hermione got to her feet and turned to her boyfriend of several years, Fred Weasley. "Yeah, seeing as I invited you," she told him, slipping her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer to him. She leaned up to kiss him, and he smiled. "I missed you, too, 'Mione." "Get a room!" Ginny's voice called out from behind Fred. Harry emerged, coughing slightly, from the emerald flames, and hurried to embrace Ginny. She laughed, and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him enthusiastically. "Who needs a room?" Hermione said archly. Ginny's engagement ring sparkled on her finger as she tightened her arms around Harry. "Oi! I only agreed to pay for Harry and Hermione's drinks," Ron announced from behind Hermione, having arrived shortly after Harry. "You're paying for your own!" Hermione laughed. "You wound me, Ronnie," Fred clutched at his chest dramatically. Ron muttered darkly before rummaging in his pocket and pulling out enough galleons for five butterbeers. Tom, the elderly barkeep, helped him carry them over to the booth they had all crowded into. Fred draped his arm around her, and she leaned into his side, sighing contentedly. They swapped stories about work and Fred started a bet with Ginny and Ron about what their mum would make for supper. A few hours (and several butterbeers each) later, Ginny announced that she was going to go shopping. Fred said he needed to stop off at his shop, and then he would meet up with them to travel to the Burrow. Hermione wanted to go with Fred, hoping to do a bit of snogging, but he left without offering. Instead, she wandered along behind Ginny and Harry, talking to Ron.
Fred re-joined the group fifteen minutes later, as they were walking past Flourish & Blotts. He immediately reached for Hermione's hand, and cheerfully refused to tell her what he had gone back to his store for. Finally, when they had walked the entire length of Diagon Alley, they decided to apparate to the Burrow (or a point some six-hundred feet from it). Fred, still holding fast to her hand, whispered, "Hold on, love," before twisting on the spot and, with a crack, they disappeared. When Hermione opened her eyes again, she smiled at the familiar, slightly crooked house looming above her. As she watched, Charlie emerged from the house and jogged toward them, with George close on his heels. Bill and Fleur watched from the door, Bill's hand resting gently on Fleur's swollen stomach. Charlie let them around to the garden, were Mrs Weasley had set up the two battered old tables and was burying them in a mountain of food. "Mum!" Ron called out, as she emerged from the house levitating another large dish of food. She set it down, looked them over, proclaimed that Hermione was far too skinny, and then turned on Harry, standing behind her. "Harry dear, how are you?" She hugged him tightly. "Have you been eating enough? Has my daughter been cooking for you? I've just finished setting up supper," She motioned for him to sit. Hermione sank into a chair on Harry's left; Fred sat on her other side. Mrs Weasley fussed over him all the way through dessert and dished both her and Harry thirds on everything. Once everyone had finished, Hermione stood to help Mrs Weasley with the dishes, but Fred caught her arm and led her away from the table and across the garden. Dusk was falling, and there were fireflies everywhere darting around and casting a gentle glow over them. He led her to the pond on the other side of the garden from the two tables. "Er… Hermione," he sounded nervous, which surprised her. "I want to ask you something." "Yes, Fred?" "I… well, I love you. I've loved you for a very long time. I've, er, seen the way you look at Ginny and Harry, and how happy they are. I want to make you happy like that. And, er, I want to ask you," He cleared his throat and reached into his pocket. "Hermione Granger, will you marry me?" He pulled out an old velvet box, and opened it. "This belonged to my Great-Grandmother," He pulled the ring out, and held it delicately in his fingers, "And I can think of no better witch's hand for it to sit on then yours." Hermione was so overcome with emotion that all she could do was nod through her tears. He slid the ring on her finger and kissed her hand before moving to her lips. When they finally returned to the rest of the family, George was the first to approach. "Congratulations, Forge," he called out, throwing an arm around his twin's shoulders. Suddenly, they were surrounded by conversation on all sides. Everyone was either congratulating them or asking questions about the wedding. Hermione felt overwhelmed and a little put out, preferring to let Fred answer people's questions in his usual jovial manner. It was only later that night, when she was laying in his arms, that she had anything to say. "Fred?" she murmured, as he stroked her arm softly. "Yes, 'Mione?" "You had better not slip any of our guests Canary Crèmes." He laughed. "Whatever you say, love."
Or was it me who caught you?
Proposing marriage must be the most stressful event of all time. Fred Weasley certainly thought so. He and his twin were taking a lunch-break after a particularly stressful morning at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Fred had not eaten at all and instead paced nervously around the floor in the back room. "Calm down, mate," Fred looked up and into the eyes of his twin, who looked as though he was fighting laughter. "But what if she says no?" "Forge," George's voice was abruptly serious. "She won't. She's crazy about you, brother mine. Lucky bloke, you are." Fred's mood lightened considerably, and he marched back into the front of the store determinedly. The rest of the afternoon passed quickly, and he had personally sold three pygmy puffs, half a dozen boxes of Weasleys' Whiz-Bangs, and a portable swamp. He was interrupted midway through his sale of a love potion to a girl who looked suspiciously like she wanted to try using it on him by an owl that landed on his arm and thrust its beak into Fred's ear. He pulled the letter- a short one from Hermione that told him she had left work early- from the owl's leg, patted it on the head, and reached in his pocket for a spare owl treat. It hooted at him, snatched the treat, and flew off again. "Er... Sorry. I have to go. My fiancée is waiting for me." Fred motioned to George, who bounded over cheerfully, "But my brother George here will take care of you." Fred turned to George. "'Mione's waiting." George nodded, "Have fun, mate," He turned to the girl, who had watched Fred sadly through the entire exchange. "Bye, then," Fred said, without really looking at the girl again. He hurried down the street, excited to see his girlfriend of several years. Tom the elderly barkeeper, nodded cordially at him as he burst through the door. "The usual, Fred?" Fred never ceased to be amazed at the easy way the barkeep could tell him and his brother apart, even if they entered together. "Not right now, Tom. I'm waiting for 'Mione to show up." Tom nodded again and went back to wiping out the glass in his hand. After sinking into a chair by the fire beside Ginny, who had arrived before him and waved him over, Fred felt the pocket inside his coat where he kept his Great-Grandmother's ring, and then patted the pocket again. "Bloody…" He muttered, frustrated. The pocket was empty; He must have left the ring in his shop. He stood, hoping he had enough time to retrieve it before Hermione arrived. The fire in the fireplace turned a bright emerald, and the witch he had been dating for the last three years came tumbling out. He reached out and steadied her, holding her snugly in his arms. "Fancy meeting you here, love," He joked, helping her to her feet. "Yeah, seeing as I invited you." Hermione's arms slid around his neck, and he pulled her close to him, his arms fitting around her waist in a way he loved. She leaned into him and kissed him, and Fred smiled. "I missed you, too, 'Mione." "Get a room!" Ginny laughed from behind him, and Fred looked up in time to see Harry emerge from the flames before hurrying over to Ginny and pulling her into an embrace. Ginny laughed again and threw her arms around him, kissing him with enthusiasm. Fred opened his mouth to retort, but Hermione beat him to it. "Who needs a room?" She asked, and Fred nearly laughed aloud. He didn't miss the way Hermione's eyes lingered on the ring on Ginny's finger. "Oi!" Ron intoned from behind Harry, "I only agreed to pay for Harry and Hermione's drinks. You're paying for your own!" Hermione laughed and Fred, seizing the opportunity to tease his brother, clutched at his chest. "You wound me, Ronnie." Ron muttered a bit, but pulled out enough galleons to pay for Fred and Ginny, too. They found their way to a large booth in the corner, Ginny and Harry started snogging and Fred turned to Hermione hopefully. Ron, with the help of Tom, carried over some butterbeers, and Harry pulled away from Ginny, looking sort of reluctant. By the time they had each gotten through several rounds, Fred had heard more then he wanted to about Hermione's work, listened to Ron brag about apprehending some dark wizard (he suspected it wasn't nearly the conquest Ron described), and teased Harry for snogging his sister. He told them about the girl who wanted a love potion, (conveniently leaving out the part where he called Hermione his fiancée) which earned laughter. He then started a bet with Ginny and Ron about what his mum would cook for supper (He was betting she would cook all Harry's favourites). Ginny announced that she was going to go shopping and Fred saw his chance. "I have to get something at the shop," he told them, "But I'll meet up with you later to go to the Burrow." Fred walked away, wishing he could have invited Hermione; He would have enjoyed a little snogging.
Fred let himself in the front door of the shop just as George was closing up. George watched him curiously as he made his way up the stairs to the flat, but didn't ask any questions, and neither did Angelina, who was sitting on the front counter. Fred rummaged around in the living room; moving aside a blouse that he was fairly certain belonged to Angelina, and a pair of George's pants, that hadn't been there yesterday. He moved on to his bedroom, searching under his bed and in the pocket of his jeans. "Oh!" he scrambled to his feet. "Accio ring!" He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it earlier. The little velvet box zoomed from some corner of his room and into his hand. Heaving a sigh of relief, Fred hurried from the room and down the stairs to the shop. George, who was now snogging heavily with Angelina, didn't even look up at him. He wandered around, trying to find the group he had left behind, the ring weighing heavily in his pocket. He finally found them just outside Flourish & Blotts, and hurried to take Hermione's hand. She tried to find out what he had needed to get, and he, in very high spirits, refused to tell her. They continued down Diagon Alley, and all too soon they were apparating to the Burrow, and all of his brothers were surrounding them. His mum proclaimed Hermione too skinny (Fred thought she was perfect) and fussed over Harry throughout dinner and dessert. Fred, who felt the weight of the ring more heavily then ever, was quiet for once. After supper, Hermione stood up, probably to help his mum with dishes, and Fred seized his opportunity, as well as Hermione's arm. She allowed him to lead her away from the table, and he swallowed heavily, the ring felt like lead in his pocket. He led her to the other side of the garden, which was only lit by fireflies, "Er… Hermione," he said, extremely aware of how nervous he sounded. "I want to ask you something." "Yes, Fred?" "I… well, I love you. I've loved you for a very long time. I've, er, seen the way you look at Ginny and Harry, and how happy they are. I want to make you happy like that. And, er, I want to ask you," He reached into his pocket for the familiar box. "Hermione Granger, will you marry me?" He opened it. "This belonged to my Great-Grandmother," He pulled the ring out, and held it between his thumb and forefinger, "And I can think of no better witch's hand for it to sit on then yours." He watched her carefully for her reaction, and was surprised to see her crying. She nodded at him, so he slid the ring on her finger and kissed her hand. Then, feeling considerably more light-hearted, he kissed her enthusiastically.
When they returned, George, reading the emotion on Fred's face as only he could, threw his arm around Fred and promptly said, "Congratulations, Forge." The rest of his family surrounded them then, and asked question after question. Hermione looked overwhelmed so Fred took it upon himself to answer every question. He announced that he was going to be serving Canary Crèmes at the reception, and that the entertainment would, therefore, be watching people turn into birds, and then led the still-silent Hermione away from the crowds. He thought she hadn't heard that remark until later that night. He was holding her snugly and stroking her arm when she murmured, "Fred?" "Yes, 'Mione?" "You had better not slip any of our guests Canary Crèmes." He laughed, a little surprised. "Whatever you say, love."