Chapter 14: The Date
Hermione's heart jumped as Bill grabbed her hand lightly and led her back into the common room. When they stepped foot back into the room it transformed. The couches and table disappeared being replaced by a blanket laid out in the grass and a picnic basket in the middle, fireflies were everywhere as the sunset and illuminated the sky.
"It's beautiful," Hermione gasped.
Smiling, Bill walked her over to the blanket and sat down. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Do we have any wine?" Hermione had always been one to surprise people and when Bill looked at her questioningly all she could do was raise her eyebrow at him. "I like the occasional glass but don't get one very often because your mother forbids drinking in her house."
The booming laugh echoed as Bill pulled elf made wine from the basket and filling up two glasses.
"Tell me something about you that most people don't know." The food was pouring out of the basket, obviously getting sent from the kitchens out onto the rest of the blanket. Mashed potatoes, green beans, grilled chicken, Sheppard's pie, lemon tart, and a few other dishes were pulled from the basket's depth followed by two plates and two sets of silverware.
"I don't like flying on broomsticks." The shocked look she received made her laugh. "I know, you and your brothers are mad for quidditch and I like the game I just can't get on a broom and fly around. Mainly because I borrowed Ginny's while I was at the Burrow one morning, before everyone was awake and I went to try it out in the back yard and fell off. I broke my ankle, and when your mum woke up she found me crying in the kitchen."
The pair laughed before starting to eat. "We're going to have to get you back on a broom." Bill said before taking a bite of chicken.
Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled. "Tell me something I don't know about you."
"I almost went to Brazil in my fourth year in an exchange program." Starting to clear up some of the plates Bill poured more wine. "My parents couldn't afford it though, so when I told my pen pal that I couldn't go he sent me a curse and it shriveled up my ears." Bill laughed at the memory and the fact that Hermione's jaw had literally dropped with horror. "They obviously were fixed."
When the pair had finished eating the blanket became a lounging area for them, Bill stretched his legs out and propped his head up with one arm while Hermione laid completely on her back staring up at the sky.
Bill found that he couldn't keep his eyes off the girl in front of him; she had tried to make an effort to look good for the date but still wanted to be herself. Noticing that she was playing with some piece of jewelry he smiled.
"What's the story with the necklace?" Hermione looked over at him, surprised. "You've been playing with it for the past few minutes."
"It was my grandmothers, she gave it to me when my parents took me for a visit and then she died the next day. I've been wearing it ever since." Sadly, the girl smiled and continued looking up at the stars. "She had told me that if I believed in it the necklace would always be my northern star and that I could always find my way."
Smiling towards the sky again Hermione showed no sadness over her grandmother's death, only happiness with the wisdom that had been passed down to her.
"I think we're more alike than people think." Bill was looking down at his wine glass, they had both had a couple glasses and while he had never been too open about things he was feeling, but he was aware that for Hermione to know how he was feeling he would have to speak. "We're both challenge ourselves academically, we fight for the same cause, and we don't talk constantly. I like those things about you Hermione."
The pair smiled at each other. "Ron was so worried that you were too old, I don't think he understands that I have to have a connection with someone on an intelligence level as well as an emotional."
"And I'm sure my dear brother thought he had all the attributes to woo the great Hermione Granger." Joking Bill finished his glass of wine.
"He did," Laughing the brunette finished her wine as well and turned to mimic Bill's pose. "But I think he finally figured it out." Again the pair stared at each other, trying to read the other's face and read their mind. "Why me?"
Confusion masked over Bill's face, "What do you mean?"
"I mean what is it about me that caught your fancy?"
There were many things that had made Bill decide that he enjoyed the company of his little brothers best friend but actually divulging the information to Hermione was something Bill hadn't anticipated just yet. "You're not like the other students, you actually understand magic in a way and you're not superficial. You know that you're in the spotlight at all times but you don't let what other people say about you influence anything about you which shows that you're more mature."
Bill's words made Hermione smile and blush lightly, but what made her cheeks flush deep red was when Bill reached up and brushed some of the curls out of her face and let his hand linger on her cheek for a moment.
Noticing the effect a simple touch had caused Bill smiled, "Yet you're still a woman and still have feelings and emotions but they aren't as juvenile and misplaced as those around you." He looked into the coffee brown eyes of his date. "What about me caught your eye?"
"I'm surrounded by people my age all day for most of the year and when I'm not I'm with my family. I spend most of my time with Harry and Ron and sometimes their conversations drive me crazy. You enjoy simple things like quidditch and taking care of Fritz, but you also like talking about things that are more in-depth and philosophical, you can have fun but still be intelligent. You're hard working and driven, but still laid back. It's something I envy about you and from talking with you I feel a connection and a sort of enjoyment when I'm with you."
As Hermione finished talking, Bill leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. The color that returned to Hermione's cheeks made Bill remember how cute he thought she was. "I'm sorry, I know you're not supposed to kiss on the first date but it was just something I had to do."
"Don't apologize," Hermione shook her head. "I was wondering when you would kiss me."
"Are you always this bold on dates?" Chuckling, Bill shifted his weight as Hermione shrugged. "I like it. Girls always try to be so mysterious."
Sighing, Hermione leaned back. "You know Ginny is going to be able to read our minds tomorrow."
"I know, she's always been able to." Bill was laughing at the predictability of his sister. "I also know that we can't let this get in the way of classes. I'm sure you're way ahead of everyone else but you still need to pay attention and get Gryffindor some points."
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"I want to hear all about it, what did he plan? Was it romantic? Did he kiss you?" When Hermione walked into the common room very late that night Ginny was the only one still awake and she had some questions.
"He made his common room turn into a field with lightening bugs and we had a picnic, it was absolutely amazing!" Falling onto the overstuffed couch Hermione sighed. "It was the greatest time I've had with someone in awhile."
Across the table, in the chair Ginny smirked. "So he did kiss you then?"
"Does it matter if he did?"
"The blush is starting to become a permanent fixture Mione," Ginny had always been the observant one. "It seems that it does matter a lot, you're smitten!"
Hermione brushed a curl out of her face. "Smitten? Ginny we've only had one date."
"But one date with my brother is enough to make you fall, I know how he works. I also know that he really fancies you and it would be heartbreaking if you didn't work out with another Weasley. I mean you have to become my sister-in-law!"
The girls were giggling and hadn't noticed that someone else had joined them in the common room. "What's this about you dating another Weasley?"
"Parvati, what are you doing up so late?"
The dark-skinned girl blushed. "I was out with someone, now answer me: which Weasley was it?"
"Well, it's not me and it's not Ron so you have five other choices." Parvati stormed off towards the dorm, most likely to tell Lavender the news. "Relax Hermione; there are three that they can logically choose from."
"Yeah, and which one is more my type? They're definitely not going to think Fred or George."
"Just go along with it, twist words or be sarcastic. They're too dense to even understand it anyway."
Standing to go to bed the girls both shrugged, "I hope you're right." Hermione said defeated.
The next morning was a disaster. Hermione should have known that something was going on when she woke up to an empty dorm; of course as she walked into the Great Hall it was obvious. All eyes were on her, following her towards Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table.
"What's going on?" Cautiously, the words came out of her mouth hoping that the boys would simply brush it off as paranoia.
"Lavender and Parvati are running around telling everyone they can that you're seeing a Weasley and they've narrowed it down to three." Harry squirmed in the seat next to Ron who was feeling too dejected to add in. "Fred, George, and Bill."
Her frown fell further if that was at all possible. "Shit."
"Shit's right Granger," The sinister voice of Draco Malfoy made its way past Hermione's shoulders and into her ears. "Too bad the only guy who will fall for you is a poor blood-traitor and even then you need to try with more than one of them."
"Fuck off ferret." And with that, Hermione had left.
It was cold, but she didn't care. Fresh air was something that worked well when her brain was foggy and it could work now. Dressed in jeans and a light sweater Hermione walked out towards her favorite spot at the lake, hands shoved in the denim pockets she swore under her breath again. "How can I fix this?"
"Easy Granger," Two men were suddenly walking with her in matching robes.
"We help." Fred and George held identical smiles as they strolled. "Basically, we just make it harder for everyone to figure out who it is you actually fancy."
"And who made you privy to this situation?" Now Hermione's arms were wrapped tightly around her torso trying to keep as much body heat in as possible.
Fred shrugged off his over coat and draped it onto the girl's small shoulders. "Ginny get us an owl, we were on our way to the castle when we saw you walking."
"But since we have a shop so close now it'll be easier to just 'drop in' and see our favorite siblings, don't you think Gred?"
"Absolutely Forge."
The twins were armed with malicious smirks as the three walked back into the castle, Fred's jacket still keeping her warm.
A/N: I didn't mean for this to become such a long chapter! I actually cut out the date scene from the last chapter because it would have made it too long, and now here I am making it even longer than before! Alas, I hope you all enjoyed the twist and please review!