I Caught Myself- Chapter Nine
Mrs Weasley's POV:
I flipped the bacon onto a plate and sat it in the middle of the table so people could help themselves. Looking around the table, I noticed that there were only four of us, George, Bill, Arthur and I.
"It's not like Hermione to be asleep this late," I thought to myself as I bustled around making coffee.
"Back to Hogwarts in four days, George. How are you feeling?" Arthur asked, looking across the table at George, whose eyes were red and puffy.
"Pretty excited, I guess."
"Well you and Fred make the most of it. It was very kind of Dumbledore to give you this opportunity," I instructed, handing Bill his beverage.
"I will mum, don't worry. Honestly."
I sat down at the table beside Bill and started on my bacon and eggs. Just as I was about to take a bite, a loud clatter and a spray of glass from the window announced Errol's arrival.
"For the love of Merlin! That bloody bird will be the death of me," I grumbled, sweeping up the mess that Errol had made.
"Oh God, that's Fleur's handwriting," Bill groaned, untying the large, red letter.
"Umm, Bill? That looks like a Howler," George pointed out cautiously.
"Shoot! It is. What do you reckon I've done this time?" he questioned.
"I don't know, just open it."
Fleur's voice suddenly rang loud and clear through the kitchen, screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Bill Weasley! I can't believe you would do such a thing, you complete arse! It is one thing to cancel plans on me and watch me get upset and hurt because they were planned so specially for us, but it is a completely different situation to do it to a young child. Especially your own daughter."
Bill gave us all a quizzical look.
"You were the one that made the arrangements to have her over, not me. You. It may have been a while ago now, but I thought you would have wrote to explain yourself and make it up to her. You promised her a day out and then a sleepover and you let her down. I must say, I expected better from you, Bill."
And with that the letter evaporated.
Fred's POV:
The sound of Fleur Delacour's once french voice being blasted through the house woke me suddenly. I sat up quickly and whacked my head off of the slanted roof above the bed.
"Ouch! Damned roof," I complained rubbing my head.
My sudden movement and cry of anguish must have woken Hermione because a moment later she was sitting up beside me rubbing her eyes.
"Whasgoinon?" she asked, sleepily.
"Did you hear that?" I said, turning to her.
"Hear what?"
"Fleur shouting at Bill."
"What? No, I didn't hear that!"
"Oh well, he'll get through it."
"I suppose he will. The Weasleys are very brave," she smiled at me.
"Not all of us," I smiled back.
"Yes all of you."
"Percy isn't. He is a coward," I said darkly. "He took off and didn't speak to us and said horrible stuff about his own family then he was brave enough to come back, but then he done the cowardly thing again and took off without saying anything. And George seems to be blaming himself."
Hermione sighed and and reached over to take my hand.
"I know things are tough with you and George right now. Have you tried to speak to him about it?"
"No."
To be honest, the idea hadn't really occurred to me. I was always one that liked things out in the open, not one for long heart-to-hearts.
"I think it would be a good idea, Fred."
"Fine. I'll try today, I promise," I grinned and kissed her on the cheek.
"Good boy. I'm going to go take a shower and see if Ginny's back yet," she said, sliding out of bed and exiting.
I lay back down with my hands behind my head, contemplating Hermione's idea. It wasn't bad. Maybe it would help to talk things over with George and see things from his point of view.
I got up and dressed quickly, deciding I didn't need a shower because my awesomeness masked the scent of unwashed Weasley, and made my way to the breakfast table. Boy I was hungry!
"Bill, don't be so hard on yourself," I heard Mum saying as Bill growled.
"I let my baby girl down," he was saying, "and now Fleur won't let me see her."
I wave of pity fell over me. Bill was a cool brother, and little Victoire was sweet enough, loved me and George a lot. And Ginny.
"Bill mate, you okay?" I said, walking in and placing a supportive hand on his shoulder.
He didn't even look at me. He just put his head in his hands and shook with anger or sadness, I wasn't sure which.
Hermione's POV:
Last night was amazing. I had felt so upset and going to see Fred really did cheer me up. Especially the question at the end. I was pretty surprised that he asked me to be his girlfriend, to be honest. The famous Fred Weasley settling for me?
I jumped in the shower and turned the hot water on. I just let the water slide down my body, enjoying the feeling of it running down my limbs. I knew people would be wanting in soon though so I hurried up and washed my hair, rinsing it out slowly. When it was done I got dried and slipped on my leggings and sweater before going back to our room and drying my hair. I let it fall past my shoulders, happy that it was getting longer again and set off to Harry's room.
I knocked on the door and waited. Figuring that they were still asleep, I decided to go wake Ginny up and get her out before someone came to check on one of them and saw that they were sleeping beside each other. I opened the door and let out a scream. Ginny had straddled Harry, they were making out passionately, he was wearing nothing but boxers - which made everything extremely visible - and Ginny was only in her underwear.
"Hermione!" Ginny squealed as they sprang apart.
"Ginny!" I cried accusingly.
"It wasn't what it looked like," Harry said awkwardly.
"It was exactly what it looked like," Ginny and I said, giving him a look that clearly said 'Are-you-flipping-stupid?'
Harry blushed and covered himself up. He was surprisingly muscular, with perfectly toned abs and large biceps. I had never noticed.
"Why the hell did you come in here?" demanded Ginny.
"I knocked and there was no answer so I thought you were both asleep and I didn't want you to get caught so I came you wake you up!"
"Well next time, don't bother," she snapped.
I was wounded. Ginny and I had never been this way with each other. I never thought it would happen.
"You know what? Fine!"
And with that, I walked out of the room, slamming the door behind me.
Percy's POV:
I woke the next morning to the sound of my crying daughter. I sighed and made my way over to the bassinet, lifting her up and holding her close to me.
"There there my little angel. It's okay, Daddy's got you," I sing-songed into her little ear.
"You're so good with her, baby," Amilie said seductively from the door.
"Thank you."
"Here, I'll take her," she said, taking the baby from my arms and sitting on the bed.
"Listen, Amilie, I've planned to stay here for the next four weeks, so she'll be about two and a half moths old when it's time for me to leave. I don't want to leave her after such a short amount of time with her and I'm starting to fall for you. So how would you feel about moving to London with me and finding a nice flat for the three of us to live in? Then you could meet my parents, my brothers and my sister," I offered nervously.
"Are you being serious right now? You want us to move country and live with you? And meet your family?"
"Sure. I don't mind if you wouldn't want to move country, I'd understand and we could work around it but -"
"I would love to. Spain is too hot. And Mum and Dad have been trying to get rid of me for years."
"Great! I'll start looking for places to stay," I promised, kissing her on the forehead and making my way to the bathroom to have my morning shower.
Harry's POV:
I was so embarrassed. Hermione walked in on me and Ginny...getting closer. Ginny was now in a foul mood. She was no longer up for making out or having a cuddle or a chat. She was lying staring at the ceiling complaining about Hermione and grumbling about how much of an interfering cow she is. Personally, I think she was just trying to help but it was pointless trying to say that to Ginny.
"She thinks that everything is her business and I'm sick of it, Harry."
"I know, sweetheart, but she was only trying to help," I told her gently, my hand tracing her her jawline.
"You always make excuses for her," Ginny whined, giving me the puppy dog eyes.
"It's not that I'm making excuses, I just don't like seeing you two arguing."
"I'm sorry," Ginny sighed.
"It's fine, just don't push her away, she wants to help."
"I'll go talk to her," she said getting up and slipping her clothes back on, brushing her turquoise striped hair into a bun.
"Thank you."
Ginny left and I got up to get ready. I thought about what we had to do. I still had a load of packing to do and I'm pretty sure we still have planning to do. We don't have a tent or anything. Maybe it'll be the one we used at the Quidditch World Cup, although Mr Weasley borrowed that from someone. It's a shame he's not in on The Plan.
I threw on my shirt and jeans and went downstairs to see what all the commotion was about. I'd heard the voice of Fleur Delacour yelling at Bill for something while Ginny and I were together but I hadn't thought anything of it. Arriving in the kitchen, I saw Mr and Mrs Weasley leaving through the back door.
"Oh good morning Harry dear. Arthur and I need to pop over to St Mungo's to see that Fletcher woman about Charlie, but we won't be too long," Mrs Weasley told me.
"There's some bacon and eggs for you in the fridge," Mr Weasley added, shutting the door behind them.
Hermione was sitting in between Bill and Fred looking grouchy and upset, while Fred's arm was around the back of her chair. It was very obvious that she fancied him so I thought him having his arm around her would've softened her mood. Confusing. A moment later, Ginny appeared in the doorway with a guilty expression.
"Hermione, can I have a word?" Ginny asked in a small voice.
Hermione turned to her with such a glare that I was scared she was going to turn Ginny down and start yelling, but to my relief, she gave a small smile and followed Ginny out of the room.
"What's going on with them?" Bill said, looking around at us all.
"No idea mate," Fred shrugged.
"Girls," I joked.
"Speaking about girls, I've got something to tell you all. You know, while Mum and Dad are away out and Hermione and Ginny are in their room having a girly chat," said Fred excitedly.
"You're a woman, aren't you?" Bill smirked at once.
"No I am not!" said Fred indignantly.
George, Bill and I laughed at the expression on Fred's face.
"Anyway," Fred cast an accusing look at Bill, "I wanted to tell you that last night, I asked Hermione to be my girlfriend."
I spilled the glass of water I was holding all down my front.
"What?! I didn't even know you liked Hermione," I exclaimed.
But Fred didn't even notice me, or Bill who was repeatedly clapping him hard on the shoulder, because he was too busy taking in the sour expression on his twin's face.
Mr Weasley's POV:
Molly and I Apparated to St. Mungo's and walked through the visitors entrance straight into Fletcher's office.
"Hello, Mr and Mrs Weasley," Monique greeted, and indicated for us to sit down.
"Hello," Molly and I mumbled, shaking her hand and sitting at the hard chairs that sat across from her large, mahogany desk.
"So you have decided to keep the spell that was set on your son running," she said, checking her notes.
"Yes, yes we have," Molly replied.
It was simple routine that I sat there while Molly answered all of the questions, unless the question was directed at me.
"Now you are aware that there is not anything else we can do for Charles," Fletcher carried on in her annoyingly brisk tone.
"Yes thank you, it's been pointed out before," Molly snapped.
"Just as long as you know. You just need to sign these papers stating that you would like to keep the spell running and then you're free to visit your son."
Molly put her signature down quickly then passed the sheet to me. After I signed, Monique came out with a bunch of crap about this not doing Charlie any good and we would be better not to keep the spell running, resulting in a sharp slap across the face from Molly. We stormed out and instead of taking a left to see Charlie, we carried on out of the door and Apparated home, too enraged to stay in the building.
George's POV:
It's not that I'm not happy for Fred, I mean, I know he took a shine to Hermione quite a while ago and hasn't been able to shake the feelings since, but him telling everyone about his new girlfriend just makes things harder for me. How am I supposed to just come out and say what has been bothering me if he's going on about Hermione. I think that's why Percy left. Once he found out my secret, he was so repulsed that he couldn't even live with me anymore. All I do is tear apart this family. No wonder they hate me.
I sat on the stool next to my desk and doodled on a piece of paper that was lying on it. I was happy. Just sitting on my own, doodling away in the peace and quiet was a nice activity. But it was shortly ruined when an angry Fred burst through my door. In fact, he burst through so violently that the door banged off the wall.
"Wow, what's up with you?" I said, looking over at him tensely.
"What's up with me? What the hell's up with you?" he screamed wildly.
I just blinked at him, unsure of what to do. Fred and I had always been close, and if I'm honest, this is the first argument we've ever had.
"Are you jealous or something? You were just fine until I mentioned that Hermione was my bird! Do you want her? 'Cause if you do then I'll just break up with her."
My stomach dropped.
He thinks I'm in love with Hermione! Oh sweet Merlin no!
"Fred, I don't like Hermione in that way, I swear."
"Then what is it? What is it that is just so bad that you can't tell me, George? Me and you, we were best friends up until about three months ago! Now you won't even look me in the eye! We used to tell each other everything. What happened?" he asked, getting slightly tearful.
"Fred, it's not that I don't trust you, it really isn't. But I don't want to lose you and if I tell you, I know you won't want anything to do with me ever again."
"George, we are twins. We're so close that it's unbelievable. No matter what it is you can tell me. I thought you knew that."
I could feel myself tearing up. Fred was there for me no matter what and I did know that. But I didn't want him to know this.
"George, come on please," Fred begged desperately, his voice cracking slightly.
I lost the ability to speak. I felt like I had a lump the size of my fist in my throat, so I just shook my head.
"Damn you! DAMN YOU, George," Fred yelled slamming his fist down on my desk.
I shook with anxiety. Surely telling him was better than this? But I couldn't!
"You know what? I thought we had a bond that nobody could break. Clearly I was wrong."
Fred about turned and tried to storm out of the door. Just as he reached it and went to pull it open, I realized that I had to tell him.
"Fred," I called desperately.
He turned round with tears in his eyes and looked at my with a mixture of sorrow and pain.
"I'm gay," I whispered, hiding my face so I couldn't see his reaction.
Author's Note: Well that's the secret out! And so is George! Tell me your thoughts about it please. I already know Fred's reaction to this so I've got everything all planned out and I even have someone picked out for George ;).
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed, it means a lot to me and I have fun going through them and answering them. If you are a guest on here or if you have disabled private messaging then obviously I can't PM you to say thanks and answer any questions but I do still appreciate it.
I had an idea for a new story and I'm dying to write it! But I can't because I've not finished this and I can't do two at once. Plus, I was considering stopping this story before they go back to Hogwarts and then writing a sequel to it but I don't know if anyone would like it so leave your thoughts please!
Apologies in advance, if the next chapter isn't out on time next week, it's because my birthday on Wednesday so I might not have time.
Don't forget to geed Jim Bob, see you all soon.
-Beth x