"So, have you given any more thought about tomorrow night?" asked Bill, not wanting to pressure her, but still wanting an answer.
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it a lot... I'll do it." Hermione looked and Bill, trying to read him and see his reaction.
"You're sure? You don't have too..." he said, not wanting her to get in to something that she'd regret.
"Well, you didn't expect me to get in to this without researching it first did you?" She asked, amused at her own predictability, Bill chuckled to himself at this.
"Guess I should of known," he said. "Well at least you'll know what to expect."
Her mug of tea was decidedly cold now, as she soon found after taking a quick sip, nothing a quick reheating charm wouldn't fix.
"I do have one question though Bill... Why me?"
"What do you mean why you?" He asked not wanting to presume wrongly.
"I mean why am I your mate?" She asked.
"I never thought it would be you... I mean everyone just assumed you'd end up with Ron. Once you came of age and everything..."
"On my birthday, that was when you realised wasn't it." Her thoughts were coming faster now, starting to piece everything together.
A silence came between them, both comfortable sifting through their thoughts.
"Your eyes change colour." She bluntly stated, "I - I mean when your wolf starts coming forward. They turn yellow, not bright yellow though, greyish yellow. Remus has that happen too, I noticed in the final battle."
"Yeah, it happens when he gets close to Tonks as well, flecks appear around his pupil if you look closely."
"What makes it happen? If Remus gets flecks with Tonks, then why do your eyes change completely?"
Bill let out a breathe he didn't know he had been holding, "Intense emotion, that's what makes it happen." Another silence came between them, Hermione was staring down her mind whirling with the information.
"Maybe we should talk to Remus about it?" Asked Bill, "He'll know more about this than me, maybe Tonks too? They've been through his, they might make the transition easier. We can wait til we've talked to them if you like, before we spend a full moon together. I don't want to scare you."
She chanced a glance upwards, "I wouldn't have agreed Bill if I hadn't been sure."
The rest of their afternoon continued in a similar manner, both skirted around the issue of the impending full moon.
"So I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." Said Hermione, after deciding she had spent enough time imposing on Bill.
"There's still time to back out you know Hermione." Said Bill, not wanting her to feel pushed.
"I said I'm coming Bill... You almost have me thinking you don't want me here." She laughed, although it was laced full of insecurity.
His wide arms came to rest just above her hips, pulling her towards him. "I want nothing more than to be here with you Hermione, don't ever think otherwise." His statement was rhetorical yet enough to calm her insecure thoughts. She smiled up at him and leaned in to his hug, her head resting just below his chin.
She pulled back slightly from his arms, and crushed her lips in to his. Their kiss quickly became passionate and Hermione was hoping she'd never have to let go. "I hate to rain on this parade, but don't you have somewhere to be getting back to?" Asked Bill, at least one of them was thinking rationally.
"Yeah, Harry's probably wondering where I am..." Hermione admitted, "I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"I'll see you tomorrow Hermione," Smiled Bill. "Now get outta here!"
"See you later" She called, apparating back to the Burrow.
"Oh Hermione dear, you gave me the fright of my life apparating in like that!" Jested Mrs Weasley, turning back to the knitting she had been doing before her interruption. "How was your afternoon with Luna? God knows you need some girl time after spending so much time with those boys!"
Oh if only she knew thought Hermione, "It was lovely thank you Mrs Weasley, sometimes it is nice to spend some time just talking to someone and not having quidditch mentioned once."
"I bet it is," She amused. "An owl came for you earlier as well, I left the letter on your bed. Poor owl looked exhausted, so I gave it some treats and put him in with Pigwidgeon. You know how owls can get when they don't get chance to rest!"
"Thanks Mrs Weasley, I'll go deal with it now."
"Dinner shall be ready soon so don't be long!"
Hermione's mind was already racing, the only person she frequently owled was Bill and she'd just left his company so it was unlikely to be him. The owl had flown long haul so there was only one person it was likely to be... Viktor.
Hermione,
Hope you are well, and that my owl is not too cranky when it reaches you!
I shall soon be in London for Quidditch World Cup and would very much like chance to catch up.
I've enclosed tickets to a box at the stadium for your friends to join you.
Hope to see you there.
Viktor xx
Sure enough behind the letter were passes for the World Cup, enough for the whole Weasley matriarch to go. Honestly, Hermione wasn't a big fan of Quidditch but after spending large amounts of time with those who were obsessed over it she now had a healthy appreciation for it at least. Hardly believing how quickly the day had passed Hermione now felt rather hungry, having skipped lunch preferring to leave 12 Grimmauld Place early to spend more time with Bill, she had worked up quite the appetite. Remembering to pick up the passes she headed down to the kitchen.
Already bustling with people the dinner quickly got under way. The table was filled with chatter, many of the same people from that morning had returned for more marvellous food. 'The food at home just doesn't meet the standard of Mollys' as Kingsley had put it.
"Who was your letter from?" Mrs Weasley asked Hermione quietly.
"Viktor, he sent these passes to the World Cup too for everyone." She replied.
"Did you just say you've got World Cup passes?" Shouted Ron from the other end of the table. "Pass 'em here!" After a lot of pass the parcel the passes finally arrived at Ron. "Finals passes! Can you believe that! Think how much these must be worth! Our own box? Bloody Hell!"
"Viktor wants us all to go, since we haven't seen him in a while." Hermione commented, pushing her hair out of her face.
"Viktor gave you Finals passes? Bit cocky isn't he! Assuming he'll make it to the finals!" Ron had never gotten over his dispute with Viktor, years after the Triwizard Tournament debacle.
"He is the best seeker in the world Ron," mentioned Tonks from next to him, another Quidittch obsessive.
Dinner continued in the same manner, by the end of it Hermione did not think she could eat another morsel if her life depended on it. "I'm off to bed, I've got a late night tomorrow. See you all in the morning" Hermione said, scooting from her chair; receiving various goodnights from around the crammed table.
The stairs groaned as she made her way upstairs to Ginny and her self's room. She speedily changed and washed, then sinking in to her mattress. Just as she was nodding off the door creaked and a head appeared from behind it. "So are you going to tell me what happened with Bill today then?" Asked Ginny.
This is my longest chapter yet guys! Aren't you proud...
Sorry it's taken for-ever to update, I'll try to be a more frequent poster.
Reviews always make me want to write ... HINT HINT til next time :)
(For some reason my spell checker is refusing to work tonight, but i really wanted to post this chapter. Please exscuse any mistakes, I've tried my best!)