CHAPTER 22.
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"Fred! I swear on Merlin that if today you don't get your dress robes fitted, I may resort to drastic measures." Mrs. Weasley yelled at one of her currently present twins.
"And you know that you'll be required for George's fittings as well since he's going to return home just one day before the wedding. How can you be so irresponsible?" She ranted on and Fred quietly slipped out of the kitchen when his mother turned her back on him to stir the stew.
"Hello?" Hermione asked, raising her head and hand in a questioning manner. "Back, come on!" She said gesturing towards the kitchen with a finger, firm look on her face.
Fred groaned and gave up and walked back into the kitchen, sulking.
"But mum!" He started.
"No buts no mum. I don't care when you find the time Fred Weasley, but by today if you do not get yours and George's robes done then you'll face the worst." She yelled, swirling a ladle in his direction.
"One week left only and the boy doesn't even have the decency to get his robes." Mrs. Weasley fumed.
"Don't worry Mrs. Weasley. I'll make sure he gets it done today." Hermione volunteered, sitting up on the kitchen platform, chewing a carrot and smiling slyly at Fred.
Fred scowled. He hated wearing dress robes. Even if it was his brother's wedding. He shook his head and thought that with his mum and Hermione on his case, there was no escaping the trials.
"Would you really dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked expectantly.
"Sure Mrs. Weasley. I'm going for my final fitting today, so I can surely escort Fred here for his robes." She said smirking at Fred. "In fact. I'll even make sure he doesn't choose some ridiculous orange or any other ghastly colour that would clash with his hair."
Mrs. Weasley beamed at Hermione.
Fred meanwhile gave a mock shocked expression as if he had been caught in some act.
Mumbling to himself about dignity and pride, he gave Hermione a dirty look and left the kitchen.
"Dear, call the others. Table will be set right away." Mrs. Weasley told Hermione.
This was the last lunch at the Burrow before Ron's and Luna's wedding, and Mrs. Weasley was running around like crazy managing everything.
All the daughters in law and Ginny and Hermione were helping too. But by far the most difficult task seemed to be to get the men to decide and try their robes.
Since Ron was the groom and Harry the best man, they had had the misfortune of being personally escorted by Mrs. Weasley to the tailor's.
Lunch got over quickly and everyone dispersed to finish off the work delegated to them.
Hermione and Fred said goodbye to everyone at the burrow and headed to the tailor's.
"Why Hermione why? Do you hate me? Why did you offer to get me fitted today?" Fred asked dramatically.
"Because... I had to go anyway for my final trial. So I thought why should I suffer alone? And besides your mum's right. You do need to choose your robes." She said.
Fred groaned. He hated when she was right. Which was almost always.
"Wait a minute.. Why would you suffer? I thought you birds love dressing up and shopping." He queried.
"Yeah maybe. Most girls do. But you forget, this is me we are talking about. I absolutely hate shopping. And after all, I am Luna's maid of honour. I was worried what she'd make us wear. But luckily Ginny's got it under control."
Fred laughed. "I can't believe you don't like shopping." He said shaking his head.
"You better believe it. Come now. Let's get your thing out of the way quickly. I barely have 5 minutes worth of work. Then we can go and fetch the twins from Andromeda." Hermione said.
They shopped for robes for Fred and George. And Hermione had a hard time dissuading him from orange and magenta.
Finally they both settled on navy robes with black trimmings for Fred and dark green robes with brown trimmings for George.
As Fred was getting his alterations done, Hermione couldn't help thinking how dapper he looked in dress robes.
He may hate them, but he certainly carried them off superbly. She then remembered him wearing muggle formals that night they had had dinner. He looked so at ease then too. Few wizards carried off muggle clothing so confidently.
She noticed how blue brought out his eyes wonderfully. She had decided that blue was her favourite colour on him. Wait a minute! Why should I have a favourite colour for Fred ? She thought and quickly looked over at him.
She had a spaced look as she continued looking at Fred appreciatively. He was busy moving around, making it difficult for the tailor to measure him. She had to laugh at his antics.
Fred looked over at her laughing and his heart leaped. He had an idea that she was probably laughing at him at this very moment, but he couldn't care less.
All he cared about was her laughter and her happiness. And his heart warmed at the beautiful sound of her unabashed laughs.
He pretended to be irritated at her and stuck out his tongue at her.
She just shook her head and continued laughing.
They finished off his fitting and her trial and walked out of the shop, when it started raining.
It started slowly but soon it was pouring.
Fred quickly dried the both of them and conjured umbrellas.
"Let's apparate home." He said.
But Hermione seemed to have other ideas.
"No come on Fred. It's so beautiful. I love the smell of rain and mud. It's been so long I've walked in the rain. Let's get wet. It'll be fun." She coaxed.
Fun! Hermione Granger using the word fun!
Fred was surprised at the reversal of roles here.
Usually it would be him trying to force Hermione to have some fun and she would require coaxing, but here Fred was trying to do the sensible thing and Hermione wanted to get wet in the rain!
Fred would've never thought that Hermione was the types to get wet purposely. But it was a welcome change, besides the fact that Fred himself wasn't too fond of the rain.
But looking at the look of pure childlike anticipation on Hermione's face, he couldn't even think of refusing her.
He vanished the umbrellas and took her outstretched hand into his large ones and she pulled him out in the alley which now was deserted as everyone else had apparated home.
She faced up towards the sky, eyes half closed and an innocent smile on her face, trying to get as many raindrops on her face as she could. Her free hand was outstretched in the air, feeling the rain slamming on it. She was twirling in her place now, completely oblivious to anything around her.
Fred stood transfixed at his spot, his mouth slightly open at the vision in front of him.
He had never seen her so relaxed, so free ever. Even though they'd had many a nights chatting and baring souls to each other, the Hermione that stood enjoying something as simple and as pure as rain, was a sight to behold.
Her hair was matted against her head and neck and her thin sundress was weighing down due to the weight of the water but she didn't care.
Fred found himself smiling at her. She really managed to surprise him often.
Her little make up had been washed away and now her cheeks had a natural red glow due to the rain falling hard on her face. She had never looked prettier.
Her little dance steps were highly mismatched but Fred had not seen a more enchanting dance in his life. There was no music except the occasional thunder and the sound of the rain splattering against the ground. But that didn't seem to stop her.
She looked at Fred and Fred shamefully lowered his gaze, just realizing that he probably was openly staring at her. He was glad for the rain because he was sure that he was drooling and at least this way she wouldn't be able to see him.
She stopped for a moment at beckoned him to join her. He shook his head. She didn't take no for an answer. She pulled him to the centre of the alley and started dancing with him.
They danced again the dances they had done on the terrace the other night, this time fooling around and laughing more.
The more Fred looked at her, the more he loved the wet hair look on her. It kept getting into her eyes and she kept pushing them away. It took all of his resolve to prevent himself from pushing her locks out of the way so he could gaze into the chocolate wonders of her eyes.
Tired from all the dancing, she was panting as she slowed down.
Fred realized that both of them had slowed into a swaying rhythm and thus were holding each other closer than necessary.
He didn't know whether she put her head on his chest and pulled him closer just because she wanted to or because she was tired and leaning onto him for support, but he wasn't complaining.
A wide smile played on his lips as he allowed himself to be pulled closer.
The rains aren't that bad after all. He thought still smiling as he held her close by the waist.
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