Chapter Nine
Harry and Ron apparated to Charlie's living room, startling Fleur and Luna, who were sitting on the couch chatting. They chuckled at the women's startled looks, and quickly kissed them both hello.
"Well don't you two look like the cat that ate the canary," Fleur commented.
"One of them at least. The bugger was gone when we arrived." Ron muttered, obviously still sore about missing out on a chance to beat Hermione's date to a pulp. Lavender didn't even know his name, and there was no way Hermione would tell them. She was too kind hearted to sign the ass's death certificate.
"Bill and Charlie aren't here?" Harry asked, trying to mask his own disappointment.
"Yeah, and Ginny was acting weird about needing to see 'Mione." Ron added.
"They're in the kitchen having a heart-to-heart." Fleur answered.
"And in Hermione's room." Luna added. Harry and Ron shared looks of a combination of suspicion and confusion.
"Err… what?" Ron asked.
"The girls are in 'Mione's room." Charlie explained, entering the room with Bill. Harry quickly noticed his intimate use of their friend's nickname. Fortunately, Ron was still trying to put two and two together, and missed it.
"Were." Hermione's voice corrected as she entered with Ginny.
"'Mione!" Harry and Ron greeted her simultaneously, sounding like they'd just found the missing piece to themselves. They surged forward and wrapped her in a hug between them. Hermione laughed and excepted their exuberant greeting cheerfully.
By ten, the entire Weasley family met with Hermione at the front door to her flat. As they exchanged greetings, she opened the door and lead them in. No one bothered to call out to see if anyone was home, knowing that Harry and Ron had made sure no living soul would be present for the rest of the weekend.
In true twin fashion, Fred and George magiced the walls to play popular wizard music while everyone levitated objects and boxes to and fro, barely missing one another numerous times by nothing more than luck. Around noon, Luna and Fleur stepped out to buy foot-long subs for everyone. Hermione had introduced them to the muggle meal, and they insisted on buying it every chance they got. Everyone ate mouthfuls of the sandwiches in between packing and stacking boxes. For the rest of the afternoon, the group danced and sang as the swept the apartment top to bottom to make sure everything to make sure everything of Hermione's was packed away. They teased and joked around; enjoying the time they got to spend together.
By late noon, everything was packed and ready to go. Charlie quickly took charge, organizing who would take what and how they'd move it. After setting his family to work, Charlie grabbed Hermione's hand and lead her out of the flat and to the street below.
"Come one, before they realize we're not coming back," he urged her, tightening his grip on her hand as he pulled her faster.
"We're not?" She questioned, jogging slightly to catch up with his long, powerful strides.
"Nope. They can do the heavy lifting, and we'll go get your office furniture picked out."
Charlie lead her through several more narrow streets, and through several hidden portals, until they came to a halt in front of a large store front that advertised the largest selection of office furniture possible. Hermione stared up in awe at the size of the building, barely noticing as Charlie gently lead her through the doors.
"Good afternoon! May I help you?" A small portly witch greeted them.
"Yes, we need furnishing for a home office." Charlie answered.
The witch lead them deep into the belly of the store where she showed them set after set of beautiful desks and cabinets. She told them about each price, and carefully outlined the benefits and downfalls of each item. Hermione listened attentively to everything the store clerk was saying, so focused she failed to notice that her hand was still held captive by her companion.
Charlie wasn't paying attention to a single word coming from the clerk's mouth. He was far too focused on the small, soft hand nestled within his own. He could tell when she found something interesting by the way her hand tightened around his fingers. For some reason, the gentle, innocent sensation was far more pleasurable than anything any other woman had managed to produce.
Just over an hour later, Hermione had finished choosing cherry – wood office furnishings, including a large desk with plenty of draw space and several shelves to hang on the wall near her desk. As a surprise, Charlie also ordered a plush, luxurious rolling chair that could magically sense and massage out tense muscles. She had thanked him profusely, and even tried to pay him back, but he refused. As far as the he was concerned, the way she smiled and looked at him, the way her hand tightened around his, and the way she hugged his arm to her soft curves made it worth every cent.
After arranging to have the furniture delivered the next day, Charlie reluctantly released his hand so they could apparate to the Burrow for dinner.