"It smells amazing," was the first thing Michael said as he entered her apartment. Kissing her on the check he smiled, "and you look brilliant of course. Is that a new dress?"
"No, but I have many dresses you are yet to see," Hermione smiled honestly. She ran her hands over her stomach smoothing out any wrinkles in the black and gold dress that extended to her mid thigh.
"Red?" Hermione asked as she held up a dark green bottle of wine. Hermione had introduced Michael to muggle meads when they started their friendship.
"Thanks," Michael accepted. Hermione quickly poured him a glass before passing it to him.
"Dinner will be half an hour so we can relax in the lounge till then," Hermione said gesturing towards the lounge room. The pair of them then strolled into the lounge room and took a seat at either end of the three person couch. Hermione tucked her legs up under her and sipped her wine.
"So... Are you going to spill or what?" Michael asked curiously.
"Is that okay?" Hermione asked cautiously. In truth she had invited him over wanting to talk to him about her relationship with the twins. However, on the other hand she was concerned at creating awkwardness between Michael and herself, after all they still worked together.
"Hermione, I know I am the only person you can talk to about this. I really don't mind at all, some might even say I am curious," Michael winked.
"You are sure?" Hermione asked one last time.
"Seriously, we use to be friends who screwed and now we are just friends. I am fine with that, luckily I make friends easily," Michael teased slightly. It was true though, Michael had never struggled for a date.
Hermione watched Michael as he talked and must have decided he was genuine since she started to tell the story of everything that had happened yesterday. "Well after you left yesterday we got back together," Hermione started.
"I figured as much, now just spill... What is bothering you?" Michael asked plainly. He could tell she was still hesitant which made him think things with the twins weren't perfect.
"Well it was my fault really; I kept forgetting there were two of them. I am not use to paying attention to more than one person at a time," Hermione confessed earnestly as she blushed slightly.
"You did them on at a time? One after the other?" Michael asked without thinking.
"I would prefer it if you didn't make me sound like a complete whore thank you," Hermione said defensively.
"Sorry," Michael said genuinely, "that isn't what I meant at all. What I meant to say was, wouldn't that be a bit odd? One watching the other one fuck you? I had just assumed they had done it before and knew what they were doing."
"Well they haven't," Hermione said truthfully, "but I know what you mean... I think it is because they are being cautious."
"Was last night the same?"
"Last night was pretty great, but it still wasn't what I," Hermione said pulling an odd sort of face, "had prepared for."
Shuffling forward Michael stroked her exposed calf, "don't worry about it. I am sure they will come round and realise you aren't fragile."
"You didn't have to come round to the idea," Hermione said honestly.
Michael smiled as Hermione as he ran his hand up past her knee, "I didn't have to come around to the idea of you not being fragile because you told me what you wanted."
"You are right," Hermione insisted, "I need to tell them what I want."
"I usually am," Michael said cockily, with his hand now grazing her inner thigh. Hermione had been intimate with Michael for their entire relationship, which is why his hand on her leg hadn't even drawn any real attention.
"How did things go with the family?" Michael asked. His hand lingered on her thigh; he wasn't going to push his luck any further than this.
"Ginny and Molly nearly had a fit they were so pleased," Hermione explained with a laugh.
"I can imagine, does that mean Ginny will no longer glare at me every time she sees me?" Michael asked shaking his head. He had only heard lovely things about the youngest Weasley but she seemed to have taken a particular dislike to him, undoubtable because of his relationship with her best friend.
"Did you tell the twins I was coming over tonight?" Michael asked casually.
"Of course, can you imagine what they would do if they thought we were sneaking around together! They already hate you. Although now I think about it nearly everyone I know outside of work hates you," Hermione teased. To be fair it was only the Weasley's that hated Michael and for obvious biased.
"What did the twins say when you told them?"
"Nothing in particular, only because George did an excellent job of censoring Fred," Hermione explained.
"Are you still testing them by hanging out with me?"
"No, I am hanging out with you because you are great company. But admittedly testing Fred's maturity is also a benefit," Hermione explained placing her hand on top of his as she noticed it slowly creeping up her leg.
Hermione almost jumped out of her skin as she heard Ginny say, "sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt, I just came back to pick up some stuff to take to mums."
Hermione noticed Ginny's eyes linger on her leg where Michael's hand was slowly retreating in hope that Ginny wouldn't notice. Hermione jumped off the couch, knowing what it looked like, "Ginny can I talk to you for a moment?"
Pulling a smart-alec face Ginny returned, "are you sure? I wouldn't want to interrupt."
"I'll be right back," Hermione promised as she stood up, "actually dinner is almost ready I will meet you in the kitchen."
Hermione then walked over to Ginny, gently grabbing her arm she dragged her into her own bedroom. Shutting the door behind them Hermione finally spoke again, "Michael is my friend Ginny. There is nothing going on between us, Fred knows he is here tonight and he is fine with it."
"I overheard what you said about testing him."
"Then you will know that isn't why I am seeing Michael tonight, it is just an added benefit," Hermione explained.
"I get that," Ginny said before continuing, "what I don't get is why you are testing him in the first place. You are the one who admitted having feelings for his brother, Fred has never done anything bad or nasty to you ever and you are the one who broke his heart. It also doesn't explain what Michael's hand was going under your dress."
Hermione's mouth hung open speechless for a few moments before finally speaking, "I wasn't aware you thought so little of me."
"Yeah well neither did until very recently," Ginny said angrily. "I don't want you to see him anymore."
Hermione bit her lip, she couldn't believe Ginny was being such a brat. Hermione understood where Ginny was coming from though, maybe if she knew the whole truth she would be more accepting? Deciding it was time to confess Hermione said very slowly, "Fred and I broke up because I felt guilty about having feelings for George."
"I know this," Ginny said impatiently as she wondered what Hermione's point was.
"Well what you don't know is that George and I acted on those feelings more than once," Hermione said plainly as she watched Ginny's hands fly over her mouth. "That is why I broke up with Fred."
"Oh my god," Ginny said before returning to her speechless state and allowing Hermione to continue.
"But it turns out Fred wasn't even mad. Actually I have a sneaking suspicion he had hoped it would happen," Hermione said honestly. She had been thinking of late that Fred had left with the intention of leaving Hermione and George in a situation where a possible relationship was imminent.
"I don't get it, why would Fred want you to be with George, he loves you." Ginny said with a furrowed brow.
"I love them both Ginny and we want to be together," Hermione said with tears almost welling in her eyes. She wasn't upset; it was just hard to talk about the twins in this serious way. Talking to Michael about their sex life wasn't that personal given her prior relationship with him, but talking to Ginny about being in a relationship with the twins seemed impossible.
Hermione tried to gauge Ginny's reaction but it was hard since both of her hands were over most of her face it was difficult. Ginny's hands eventually fell showing a look of both surprise and happiness. "I knew it," Ginny announced causing Hermione to laugh. Hermione knew Ginny was lying but she decided to let her have this one.
"Wow," Ginny said after the laughter died down. "I mean wow."
"Michael is the only other one who knows, that is why I invited him over tonight. You have to promise not to tell anyone!" Hermione said insistently.
"I won't say a word," Ginny swore. "Thank you for telling me."
"Are you mad at me?" Hermione queried.
"Not now that I have a clue what happened," Ginny smiled as she hugged her friend.
"Would you like to join us for dinner?" Hermione offered sincerely as she opened the bedroom door.
"I am right thank you, I don't wish to risk the possibility of subjecting myself to any talk of your sex life." Ginny laughed. Hermione knew she was only denying as she couldn't stand Michael's presence.
Hermione helped Ginny grab a few things before walking Ginny to the front door.
"I will see you later Michael," Ginny waved on her way past the kitchen.
"Bye Ginny," Michael said awkwardly as he was caught by surprise.
Hugging her friend one last time before leaving Ginny whispered, "thanks again for telling me. I am really happy for the three of you."
"Thanks," Hermione whispered back before letting Ginny leave and returning to Michael.
"What has gotten into her?" Michael asked, clearly dumbfounded by Ginny acknowledging him.
"I told her the truth and she is no longer angry with me," Hermione smiled as she poured them both more wine. "It seems telling the truth does wonders."
"Well the truth is happiness looks very good on you," Michael said smoothly as he sipped at his wine slowly.
Hermione smiled over her shoulder at him as she dished up their meals. "You don't look so bad yourself, not that you need me to tell you that." Hermione laughed, as she casually changed the topic, "are you seeing anyone at the moment?"
"You are a hard woman to replace," Michael complimented.
"Don't replace me, you should be upgrading," Hermione said as she sat both of their plates on the table.
"Impossible," Michael quickly corrected. "Maybe if the twins get better at sharing they won't mind you and me having some of our infamous sleepovers." Michael said very suggestively as he stroked his leg against hers under the table.
Hermione kicked him in the shins hard causing him grimace is pain. "If you make light of my relationship with Fred and George again it won't be your shin I kick." Hermione threatened with a smile before adding on a more serious note, "I want to be friends with you Michael but you can't make any sexual advances on me. Are we clear?"
"Friends it is," Michael said almost dismissively.
"I'm serious," Hermione insisted.
"Since I never get to see you naked again, so am I," Michael smiled playfully.
'Okay, consider yourself warned," Hermione said with a half smile as she picked up her knife and fork and tried some of the lasagne and vegetables on her plate. She was very pleased to discover everything was cooked to perfection. Glancing over at Michael it looked like he was also enjoying the meal.
Michael behaved for the rest of the evening, politely giving her a kiss on the check at the end of the evening before she shut the door behind him. Hermione quickly packed that evenings dishes before lying on the couch and staring at the ceiling, allowing herself to day dream. She pondered what Michael had said about telling the twins what she wanted. Hermione knew Michael had a point, if Hermione explicitly told the twins what she wanted she doubted that they would refuse her. Hermione blushed at the thought of having that conversation, she wasn't sure why but she seemed to have trouble verbalising her desires. That was one of the reasons she loved her time with Michael, she needn't spell everything out. Sexual he was very intuitive; Hermione guessed he gained this skill through experience.
Hermione laughed to herself as she imagined how she would start that conversation, no matter how she pictured it, it was not pretty. Hermione giggled to herself before almost jumping out of her skin as Ginny came home.
"How'd it go?" Ginny asked as she laughed at Hermione's jumpiness.
"Fine," Hermione smiled as she sat up.
"What ya thinking about?" Ginny asked as she took a seat next to Hermione.