A/N: Thank you all again for reading my story. :D Though I'm afraid to tell you that starting Thursday of this week, I might not update as frequently. We're going to travel a lot this summer but I will try to update as soon as I get internet connection. I hope you all understand. ^-^
Disclaimer: Somebody told me that I could own Harry Potter on the 30th of February, I'm still waiting and happily looking forward to that day~
"Rambling"
by SJRegina
Hermione always found herself rambling whenever in the presence of the one and only Fred Weasley, but that's just how Fred liked it.
Chapter 8: Diagon Alley
It was a Wednesday and Mrs. Weasley woke everyone up early to go to Diagon Alley to purchase the materials they required for the following year. The night before, all of them had received a letter from Hogwarts regarding their requirements.
And Hermione was beyond shocked to see a great number of books written by a bloke named Gilderoy Lockhart. And they were expensive. She was worried on where she would get the money, she only had 2 galleons on her pocket.
Fred and George have hinted that the new DADA teacher might be a witch because their mum herself 'fancied' the bloke.
"Fancy? I'd say if she wasn't married, she might be inlove!" George said nonchalantly while pompously biting on a very scrumptious bacon sandwhich Mrs. Weasley made mimicing Percy who was getting frustrated.
"Couldn't agree more." Fred followed George as they both mimiced Percy during breakfast.
"You're lucky mum's not here or she would've hexed you to oblivion." Percy furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance but was too happy to be mad as he had just received his OWL test results and was beyond happy and gloatingly proud.
After a dozen large bacon sandwhiches each, all of them went to the sitting room in front of the fireplace as per Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's orders and wore their coats. When Mr. Weasley went to the kitchen and Hermione followed him taking this as a chance to tell him about how she had no money.
He was about to get a flowerpot at the top of the kitchen matlepiece which was filled with some kind of glitter powder inside when Hermione spoke shyly, "Errm, Mr. Weasley. I only have 2 galleons in my pocket and I was wondering if-"
"Not to worry Hermione, I have owled your parents yesterday and they understand the situation. They were actually about to pick you up yesterday but I told them we could just go shop in Diagon Alley together today. They approved and gave me a fairly large amount of Muggle money that we could convert into Wizard money. Sorry I haven't told you earlier, must've gotten out of my mind." Mr. Weasley gave an apologetic smile as Hermione sighed in relief.
They both went to the fireplace together and Mr. Weasley gave the pot to Harry.
"We're running low Molly." He sighed. "We'll have to buy some more today... Ah well, guests first! After you Harry." He then offered the flowerpot to Harry.
Harry stared at them all watching him.
"W-what am I supposed to do?" he stammered.
"He's never traveled by Floo powder," said Ron suddenly. "Sorry, Harry, I forgot."
"Never?" said Mr. Weasley. "But how did you get to Diagon Alley to buy your school things last year?"
"I went on the Underground -"
"Really?" said Mr. Weasley eagerly. "Were there escapators? How exactly -"
"Not now, Arthur," said Mrs. Weasley. "Floo powder's a lot quicker, dear, but goodness me, if you've never used it before -"
"He'll be all right, Mum," said Fred. "Harry, watch us first." Fred got a pinch of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace. When he dropped the floo powder the fireplace became green. Fred winked at Hermione, making her blush, before shouting, "Diagon Alley!"
George followed Fred but before he shouted "Diagon Alley!" He told Harry to make sure that he says the destination clearly. Hermione followed George confidently and popped out of another fireplace on the sidewalk of Diagon Alley. Hermione mesmerized of the view of the line of fireplaces and all the people coming in and out of them.
"Wow." It was all she could muster, she had never seen this part of Diagon Alley before. The Wizarding World never failed to surprise and mesmerize her.
"Stop mesmerizing the Floo Station and step away from the fireplace." George laughed and motioned her to stay beside him and Fred who were several feet away from the fireplace. She happily complied.
Once she stepped beside Fred and accidentally bumped his shoulder, she noticed him act strangely. "Sorry Fred." Fred did her best to hide his blush by keeping a straight face, which George was currently laughing at. Hermione couldn't help but giggle too.
Not a minute later, Percy stepped out of the fireplace. Followed by Ginny, Ron, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
"Where's Harry?" Hermione looked over to search for Harry. Ron shook his head in utter disbelief, "Got lost in the floo network. Didn't say Diagon Alley properly. Where do we start to look for him now?"
"Don't worry, daddy will handle it." Mr. Weasley piped in and smiled at Hermione. "Molly, go to Gringgots with the children. I'll follow and bring Harry through apparition." Mrs. Weasley nodded her head in understanding.
"Now come along." She then led them to Gringgots. After a few minutes of walking, they finally reached the gates of Gringgots. Mr. Weasley and Harry not short behind. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley got some money then the girls separated from the boys, with the excemption of Percy who went with the girls to go to their respective destinations.
The girls were to go to a second-hand shop and the boys were to the Quidditch store for some exploring. They were all to meet in Flourish and Bott's in an hour.
An hour has passed and the girls, and Percy, had gone to a secondhand robe shop, a secondhand wand shop, and bought small ice creams for a snack. Hermione felt guilty for not being able to give some of the fairly large amount of money she had. Mrs. Weasley insisted that it wasn't necessary but Hermione insisted on at least buying them a treat.
She bought small ice creams for the boys too. By the time they had reached Flourish and Bott's, they immediately saw the boys who were walking to Hermione with beaming eyes. Not on her, but the ice creams.
"Why thank you Hermione, ever so thoughtful of you." Mr. Weasley got the ice cream Hermione handed to him. She gave Harry a buttercream flavored-one and Ron a chocolate one. Both of them mussed her hair as thanks, much to her annoyance.
She specifically chose the ice cream flavors for Fred & George knowing their favorites. Hermione had a cookies and cream flavored ice cream, which was her favorite, while she gave George on what he called 'sorbetes' or fruits in ice cream or as Ron would like to call 'dirty ice cream' at the shocking colors of it.
"Thanks Hermione! You're the best! Gotta love a classic." George then kissed Hermione sloppily on the cheek.
"Ewwww! George!" Hermione wiped her cheek with the back of her lower arm in disgust and laughed at George who was happily eating his ice cream.
She handed Fred's ice cream last. They both had similar ice cream flavors. Fred's was rocky-road.
"Ahhh." Fred moaned appreciatively and hungrily at the sight of the ice cream that Hermione gave him making her laugh. He bit slowly, closing his eyes in pure bliss. He liked biting his ice cream, a characteristic he, George, and Hermione were similar at despite having a brain freeze.
"It's adventure in a cone, thanks Hermione!" Fred then kissed Hermione in the cheek making her blush to the roots of her bushy brown hair, but she tried to cover it by slapping him playfully on the shoulder and laughing at him.
They all finished their ice creams outside of the bookstore then came in after finishing them up.
When Hermione came in, she closed her eyes and took time to admire the smell of freshly-printed paper and fine ink. As she opened her eyes, it immediately shot to the portrait of a very handsome and charming wizard. Hermione made an 'o' shape with her mouth and couldn't help but go to the portrait to admire it.
When she infront of the portrait, she looked down to see the name 'Gilderoy Lockhart'. Fred and George were right, he was truly spiffing. She looked behind her and was shocked to see Gilderoy Lockhart himself smiling down at her. She couldn't help but squeal like a fangirl.
The day had gone on and Fred never thought he had seen such a more gruesome sight. All of the girls in the family were going gushy over that Lockhart bloke. Even Hermione.
It annoyed him how on the way home Hermione kept talking to Ginny on how, 'mesmerizing, charming, talented, brave, smart' Lockhart was all the while giggling. It wasn't even half of that.
When Hermione went back to her home, he couldn't help but bid her a bitter goodbye making Hermione hurt.
He always found that Lockhart bloke quite annoying. But now, he was furious at him. He didn't know why, but something about Hermione's reaction towards the bloke triggered this, this feeling in him. He has never felt like it before. It was so foreign to him and he didn't like it.
"You're jealous." George smirked at Fred.
"What?" Fred raised a curious eyebrow at George whose smirk just became more mischievous.
"You like her don't you? Haven't seen you like that since Mum gave Ron a better broom than us."
"Why do you say so?" Fred's raised eyebrows grew even higher.
"I can feel you rambling in our twin bond." George chuckled while Fred rolled his eyes.
"Whatever George."
"Remember what I said Fred. Night!" George then turned off the light and jumped to his bed while Fred slid on his.
He was rambling, he never did that. And he was jealous, that's what George thinks, but what if I am? Well that's not the case, it's not like I like Hermione. Even though she was extremely beautiful to him, and that she had one of the nicest personalities in the world, and how she was incredibly smart and witty. How she was so different from all the other girls he'd met. How she had pretty hair and mesmerizing eyes. Yeah, it's not like I like Hermione.
I like Hermione. Oh god. I like Hermione! His eyes grew wider as he realized this. And how he was rambling inside his head again. That Hermione and her effect on me! He thought then faced the other side of his bed then promptly fell to sleep.
While Hermione slept sadly thinking about Fred's bitterness towards her. But she was quite happy too having her first real fully-blown crush, Gilderoy Lockhart. Hermione giggled even in her sleep just dreaming about him.
She was happy she was back at home again, but she does miss Ginny and those lovely mornings in the Burrow. And surprisingly, she really really missed Fred and George.
Especially Fred.
A/N: I wrote this 1 in the morning so it's really narrative and contains very poor dialogue, I'm really sorry for that. I've been trying to speed up with the updating because of the reason said above, about my temporary hiatus. But don't think of it as like that, just think of it like I'm just going to upload it a bit late. ;)
Please review guys. :D They make me happy and work like magic to speed up my writing~ (: