Title: I Don't Want To Stop At All
Prompt: Lyrics taken from 'I Don't Want to Stop at all' by Queen
Rating: PG
Word Count: 750
Author's Note: Apparently the prompt for this week wasn't enough of a challenge for me, so I decided it would be more fun to chop the rabble up into a 50 word intro, and seven 100 word drabbles! Seriously someone tell me to do things the easy way next time, okay? *rolls eyes at self*
...
I Don't Want To Stop At All
She was determined this time.
She was.
Probably.
She was determined, yes, but the past three times she had tried to actually talk to Fred about their 'Situation' something had stopped her. Namely, her nerves and Fred's lack of urgency.
Not this time, though. Nothing was going to stop her.
...
Fourth time lucky...
She walked up Diagon Alley towards the brightly coloured shop and went over her opening line in her head. Yes, she had thought of an opening line because she had left talking to him about that for far too long. Not that that was her fault of course.
She carried on up to the door, at which point it was blown off its hinges and landed at her feet. She sighed, knowing that now wasn't the time for that conversation and that she would be spending the next few hours trying to undo whatever had just happened.
...
Fifth time's not a charm...
Today would be fine. It would. She was meeting him for lunch and then all her questions would be answered. She would know if their passionate kiss in the orchard at the Burrow had meant something to him, as it had to her. She wasn't sure if she could admit that to him yet, she had only just admitted it to herself.
'Hermione! Court hearing's been moved forward to half twelve.'
Her heart sank.
'But-'
'I haven't eaten, either!'
'I was-'
'You'll have to meet whoever it is some other day.'
Well, that was that.
...
Sixth time had to work...
She was about to apparate out of her flat when an owl landed on the windowsill and started tapping on the glass urgently.
She let the owl in and took the scroll of parchment from its leg.
Recognising Fred's handwriting she sighed.
Hermione,
Explosions are the thought of the month apparently; George just blew up the kitchen. The building has to be stabilised before anyone else can come in. He apologises profusely as do I.
Sorry again,
Fred x
She kicked off her shoes and landed heavily on the sofa. Tonight was not her night.
...
Seventh Heaven?
Sick of missing their meetings, she decided going to see him when they had arranged nothing was the best. Her lack of knowledge about something so important to her was infuriating. Something must be done.
She arrived as the last customers were leaving, but one was still talking to Fred. She waited near the sweets.
'Sir, I can't give you a refund!'
'You'll give me a refund, Weasley. Or else.'
'Or else what?'
The bang made her scream. The man fled, but she had only eyes for the man on the floor. The man who was hardly breathing.
...
I waited too long...
'Fred... it's me... Hermione...'
She looked over his still body.
'Um... I don't know what to say. Typical really, I've wanted to talk to you for ages, and now that I can, I can't!
'I miss you. Ridiculous, really, I've seen you more this week than ever. At least before I could've spoken to you if I really tried. I mean... I did try, maybe I'm just scared you don't think of that kiss as much as-'
She watched his eyes open and heard him clear his throat.
'Her...mione?'
'Fred?'
'It d...did... kiss me.'
...
Nine days later...
'Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?'
'Hermione, I'm fine! Sit down and stop fussing!'
'I'm not fussing! I'm looking after the man who was hexed unconscious and refused to wake up for a week!'
'I was recovering! At least you had a peaceful week! And you loved what I did, when I did!'
She couldn't argue with that.
'I thought I'd missed my chance,' she said quietly.
'With what?'
'You... Us... I don't even know if there is an 'us'.'
'Do you want there to be?'
'Do you?'
'Answer the question.'
'Yes.'
'Then there's an 'us'.'
...
One, two, three...
They had missed their first three attempts at an official date. Hermione was hardly surprised and now expected something to happen whenever they made plans.
It was Friday, she had finished her work and she decided to be spontaneous.
She went home, changed and headed out for Wheezes.
She had decided that going out with Fred Weasley was going to be a fascinating challenge, but she found herself liking that concept.
With regards to Fred Weasley, nothing was going to stop her.
I'm a shooting star, leaping through the sky...
She didn't want to stop at all.