This is just the musing of my imagination. JK Rowling is the rightful owner of the Harry Potter universe.

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"Charlie Weasley! I am not going to clean up your mess! Dinner was ready four hours ago you missed it…again. If my cooking is that repulsive that you have to fend for yourself later please I beg of you have the decency to cleanup after yourself!" Hermione was flushed with self-righteous anger.

Bill was working quietly at the kitchen table while his flat mates argued for the third night in a row. His smile faded when Hermione rounded on him, "You think it is funny?"

Bill cleared his throat to keep form laughing, "No, of course not! I think you are a great cook."

Hermione narrowed her eyes as she appraised him, "Then why doesn't Charlie?"

Bill pushed away from the table and walked to the counter picking up his wand. "I do not think this is about food and dishes…Charlie is preoccupied." With that, the kitchen was spotless.

Hermione took a deep breath, "Thanks."

Together they walked into the living room and took up the usual positions on either end of the sofa. Facing each other their legs crossing Hermione finally asked, "What has him so preoccupied?"

Bill grabbed her foot and began gently kneading the arch, "I think that he might have met someone. Ginny let something slip the other night when they were here."

Hermione purred she had come to realized she adored having Bill rub her feet. "That is fantastic but why does he always miss dinner"

Bill changed feet, "I believe his preoccupation is a healer trainee at St. Mungo's and only has dinner breaks free."

Hermione grinned, "Oh! Okay by why not eat there rather than coming home to destroy the kitchen?"

Bill increased the pressure on her arch and slowly worked his way up under her jeans to her calf, "As far as I can tell there are two possible explanations. One she makes him to nervous to eat or two the food in the cafeteria at St. Mungos is horrible."

Hermione's head rolled back against the arm of the sofa, "Well may be I should not cook so often."

Bill's hands stopped, "But, I like having dinner just you and me."

Hermione lifted her head, "I like it too."

Hermione was almost asleep on the sofa. Bill suddenly moved pushing her legs off him and jumping up off the sofa.

"I almost forgot Coco!" he was rushing toward the entry hall.

Bill came right back carrying a leather satchel that he had opened and was rummaging through. "Your first paycheck came through Willishins asked me to bring you the receipt…the galleons were directly deposited."

Bill handed Hermione an envelope.

Hermione seemed reluctant to take it. "Go ahead Coco you have earned every bit of it."

For the past several months since Sebastian's apprehension, Bill had convinced Hermione to work as a consultant for his curse-breaking firm. Initially she was hesitant but with both Charlie and Bill urging her, she agreed.

Bill was very proud of her abilities to simplify the most complex and organize the reams of research into significant break through.

Hermione opened the envelope and allowed a small squeak to escape from her mouth. She looked up at Bill, "It can not be right…it is way too much…I did not do anything special."

Bill laughed as he sat back down next to her and pulled her legs across his lap. "Curse-breaking is very lucrative Coco. Take the money and have fun!"

Hermione looked aghast, "That seems wrong…obscene…it was not that hard."

Bill's hands were rubbing between her knees and thighs, "Well it is what it is and I for one think this calls for a celebration. I think you should treat for dinner out tomorrow!"

The next evening the three were getting ready to go to their celebration dinner. The days had gotten shorter and the cool night air meant jackets for everyone. Charlie was helping Hermione on with her jacket when his arm brushed against her left shoulder. Hermione let out a gasp of pain.

Her eyes shot up to Charlie's face, he could see fear in her expression, "Coco what is going on? Are you hurt…did I hurt you?"

Hermione stammered, "No, I am fine it is the bite it is still a tad tender…nothing really I am sure it will be healed soon."

Bill had been holding the front door open and he heard and saw everything. Closing the door forcefully, he moved to stand directly in front of Hermione.

"You were bitten months ago and you mean to tell me it still has not healed?" Bill's voice was low and menacing.

Hermione shrugged, "I am fine, please let's go."

Bill growled, "I want to see it."

Hermione tried to brush past him and open the door. Bill's hand grasped her elbow, "Coco take off your jacket now"

Hermione was slow in complying, which made Bill reiterate, "Now Coco, I mean business. I want to look at that bite!"

Charlie on her other side was gently removing her jacket.

Hermione tried again, "It is nothing…please do not make such a fuss!"

Bill and Charlie were standing in front of her silent. Hermione knew she did not have a choice. She unbuttoned her blouse and let the material slip off her injured shoulder.

Bill's grip on her elbow tightened. Hermione's bite wound was black and the flesh surrounding the puncture holes was swollen and red. As Bill's fingers brush against the skin it was hot to the touch.

Softly Bill asked, "Coco how could you let it get this bad?"

Charlie did not say anything but carefully lifted the blouse back over her shoulder.

Hermione did not look at either of them, "I did not want to bother anyone…I am sure it will heal in time."

Bill cupped her chin and tilted her face up, "How much time Coco? A month? A year? You need to have that looked at by a healer."

Hermione's eyes reddened, "You know if I go to the hospital everyone will know. I do not want to be fodder for the tabloid!"

Charlie sighed, "Change of plans. I am going to pick up some take out. I will be back in a little while." Trying to help cheer up Hermione Charlie smiled and said, "I will bring back Chinese."

Hermione walked to the chair next to the fireplace and sat. She was so disappointed. She had not been out for so long and been looking forward to this evening. The fading sunlight cast shadows across the wallpaper as Hermione watched the dust motes float in the air lost in thought.

Bill found himself in the kitchen wrestling with conflicting emotions. He was so worried that the bite was much more serious than they had thought. He was also angry. Angry with Sebastian for causing all of the drama they had endured. Bill was angry with Hermione for not telling him that the bite was worse but more than that Bill was angry because he was scared. He was scared that he might lose Hermione. He wanted more time to spend with Hermione without angst.

Bill realized that over the past few months Hermione had become a large part of his life. He missed her when he was away and looked forward to coming back to her. He admired her analytical ability and her cooking inability. Bill wanted to protect her.

Bill realized that his need to protect her was the reason he had not broken their betrothal vows. He had told Hermione he could not find a reversal spell, but the truth was he knew exactly how to break their vows. He just needed to go out and have sex with some woman other than Hermione Granger. However, he could not make himself do that.

Looking out over the sink through the kitchen window Bill Weasley realized it was more than wanting to protect her; he wanted her to be his.

Hermione's eyes were glazed over as she watched the flames in the fireplace. She was disgusted with herself. When did she become so helpless, she had always valued her ability to take care of herself? When did that change? When did she become some delicate female? When had she become useless?

She hated feeling vulnerable; she was Hermione Granger for heavens sake! She was strong and capable; she did not need someone to take care of her. When did that change? When did Bill become her protector? When did he come to mean so much to her? Why was it so important for her to listen to him? Had she lost her mind and become an idiot?

Hermione stood up and started pacing in front of the fire. Why did she stay here? She could walk away; she could be independent she could prove to everyone that she did not need anybody.

Hermione stopped and looked toward the kitchen she realized she was right she did not need anyone, she could do it all herself but the truth was she wanted…she liked…honestly, she loved being here.

She did not want to be alone. Stepping closer to the kitchen Hermione wanted him. The idea frightened her. Hermione sat down again…Him…she wanted to be near him.

Hermione started watching the flames in the fireplace again. Her thoughts slowly turned to all of the things about living here that she cherished. Like Bill sharing his work with her or the time they spent mulling over puzzling cases. The way he smiled when he walked in the door. How his shoulders seem to lift and straighten when he saw her.

Hermione blinked she even loved their semi regular spats over whose turn it was to do the dishes. She loved her life here with him and Charlie; she did not want it to change.

Breaking the betrothal vow had to easy. Hermione knew that but she realized she had never once thought to ask Bill about it. She never considered breaking it on her own. She did not want anything to change…she wanted… shaking her head Hermione stood up and turned to face the kitchen. Bill was in there and they should talk.

Bill turned away for the window and sat down in the closest kitchen table chair. He needed to think. Looking at the doorway to the living room, he tried to think. Maybe they needed a break, maybe he should get away for while give each other some space. Bill dropped his head into his hands; he was in way over his head.

Hermione's footsteps back and forth in front of the fireplace set a rhythm to Bill's meandering thoughts. Step…step…step…turn. Step…step…step…turn. Step…step…step…turn. Maybe I should, no! She might be too! Are you crazy? Yes!

Bill push away from the table he wanted to escape before he went mad. Coco deserved someone better, someone unafraid of getting hurt. Bill was terrified; he knew the torture of caring for someone and having her break you. He could still feel the mind searing pain for finding his love in his bed with someone else.

Bill felt his anger rising as he remembered Fleur's face when he walked into his bedroom. The look of pure lust that was not put there by him made him realized at that moment she had to have planned on being caught. Bill wanted to beat her senseless when she had the nerve to suggest a ménage a trios. Bill could still feel the devastation and sense of being loss as he remembered that afternoon.

Resolved to get out of there and away from her his Coco, Bill walked into to the living room. Hermione had curled up on the sofa still staring into flames. When she looked up Bill stopped and they both were motionless.

Hermione stood up and broke the silence whispering his name, "Bill".

Bill did not speak. He just stood watching her come closer.

When she was close enough she placed her finger tips on his arm looking up into his face she sighed. Hermione realized it felt wonderful just to next to him, "Bill, I…" but the rest of her sentence was lost in the intense blaze of Bill's kiss.

Hermione pushed closer to him placing her hand on his shoulder and returned the most passionate kiss she had ever experienced.

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Happy Mardi Gras to all!

This is where this story started in my head.