Summer Before the Hunt
Hermione made her way through the orchard heading for Bill's spot, it was rather late at night, but she needed to be alone for a few minutes to think about what she'd just done to her parents. She wasn't surprised when she saw Bill sitting there and stilled her steps to leave. She'd go find somewhere else that had such a nice view of the stars, when he glanced over to see who'd come. She held her face neutral, it was the first time she'd seen him since the hospital wing and so far he'd avoided her at the Burrow today. She'd thought he'd left. "Sorry, I'll go somewhere else."
"No, you're welcome to join me. Just no apologizing for anything or asking what I need." He called and she hesitated, but the offer had been genuine.
She went over and dropped down to sit on his good side and kissed his cheek in greeting, "Hey there."
He returned the gesture, opting to loop his arm around her shoulders and squeeze her. "How are you holding up?"
"Fine." She tried, though she wasn't. She was all twisted up with knowing she'd done what she had to do, going to have to do more, afraid and determined and very scared they wouldn't get out alive. She also knew there was a rather strong possibility that even if they did, her parents wouldn't forgive her. Sitting next to Bill's scarred face, his infected blood and knowing he'd lost his fiancee made it all more real.
"Hey, don't cry. It'll be ok." He pulled her head to his chest and she realized she'd silently started crying at the probing look in his eyes. He held her for a long time, stroking her hair as she let it out. Strangely enough she felt him smile into her hair, "I've become an expert with crying women lately. At least you're not crying directly into my face or shrieking. Mum still tears up when she sees me."
She smiled, felt some of the tears and emotions seep from her. "She did it to me too. You should be used to your Mum's tears."
He smiled. "True, but if she asks you, will you please try and tell her I'm not going to off myself?"
"Maybe I'll tell her you will if she doesn't stop fussing over you." Hermione offered him, knowing she would never in her life say such a thing to Mrs. Weasley.
He gave a genuine laugh. "I would pay to see that. Charlie's in trouble with her for growling at me randomly and the twins are too for making wolf jokes. She's worried about my sensitivities, not realizing they're coping with it too."
"Why am I not surprised at the twins at all?" She told him, then sighed. "How are you holding up with the changes?"
He shrugged. "It's still a process, especially with food and the crazy energy boosts, but it could be worse." His eyes raked her in a way that made her shiver and her stomach tense in not an uncomfortable way. "If I try and order you about just tell me to stop being a brute, everything is still settling as I heal up."
She nodded, "I don't take orders well, I'm sure I will." He grinned and she went on, "Ron made a plan, an actual plan, for trying to teach me to swim properly. I'm sure that will go smoothly."
He looked surprised himself, "He's grown up a lot, but I'll still supervise. Someone needs to protect my baby brother from getting hexed." Then a wink, "Or make sure you're not cheating and using magic."
She looked thoughtful at that and he went on, "Mum's tasked me with keeping you three apart as I recover to keep you from planning something." She stilled and he gave her a wry smile, "Look, Hermione, I'm going to assume you already have a plan. Ron too, I've seen what he's doing with the ghoul."
She nodded and he went on, "I won't ask, but I know you three aren't going back to school and whatever you three need to learn, just ask, ok? I've got books, can show you all dueling, warding, curse breaking, muggle fighting. I know whatever you're off to do is the best chance, or maybe the only chance for us to end this war."
Her insides flipped at the intensity in his voice and she abruptly realized it wasn't gone, the crush she had tried so hard to deny, had cried over, was very much making itself known again at his offer. Moved by his offer and intensity she kissed his cheek in impulsive thanks, He turned slightly and their noses brushed, only to hear Ron call, "Bill, stop being morose and come say hi to Hermione."
"I'm right here, Ron." She called, pulling back feeling flustered. It had seemed as if he might kiss her, drat Ron's timing.
"What? At Bill's private spot? You're not supposed to do that, it's rude." Ron called back from wherever he was.
"She shares it, Ron." Bill called back. "Showed it to her ages ago. We'll be back to the house in awhile."
Sounds of stomping away through the orchard with no goodbye. She waited until he was out of earshot, "Thank you, Bill. I have a feeling you'll be answering a lot of questions for me this summer."
He hoped so, he was definitely going to be present at swim lessons. She still felt slightly flummoxed at the near kiss, "Are you staying here? Or at your house?"
"Here some of the time, the rest at Shell Cottage when I can't take Mum." Bill said it matter of factly, watching the shock on her face, "We'd been planning on slowly telling everyone the wedding was indefinitely delayed when I got attacked and she went mental and started talking about how she still wanted to get married. Bless her, but the first time we really got along in months was drinking champagne watching her wedding binder burn to ashes."
Some wild hope in her flared and she buried it down, maybe Sirius had been right. "Still, it's a big change."
"Sure, but we ended it amicably and the distance is good for us." He truly didn't seem upset by it and for that Hermione was grateful. His eyes were raking her again and he abruptly stood up, "Time to go in, pet."
She stayed sitting, she wanted a little more time before being engulfed into Ron and Ginny's mayhem. He waited then his voice got impatient, "Get up, Hermione."
She frowned, Bill had rarely taken that tone with her, he reached down and pulled her up. "Now, Hermione."
She glared up at him seeing a much sharper expression on his face than the man who'd summoned dinner plates for her. "Stop being a brute."
He swallowed and it disappeared as he glanced towards the night sky, "Sorry. I need to go to talk to Charlie."
He left at a jog and she followed slower, thinking. She needed to look up where he was in the lunar cycle. When she paused at their landing their voices were carrying, "We'll have to do the moon at Shell, I don't think I can be around her with the way she smells."
Her stomach dropped, her earlier excitement at the almost kiss gone. He had to be talking about her. So she kept trudging upwards to Ron's room to keep talking about the plan. Ron was in a mood when she got there, "Why were you at Bill's spot with him?"
"Because I needed a few minutes alone. He took me there once when he caught me crying and told me I could share it." She really didn't want to have this discussion.
"Why would Bill care if you were crying? You're not friends." Ron's tones were rather sharper than needed.
She rolled her eyes at him, "Like Bill never comforted you when you were upset when you were younger?"
"That's different." Ron started, then visibly let it go, "Look, I'm sorry, it just caught me off guard. Those spots are sacred, you know?"
She wouldn't know that if Ron hadn't been sent for Bill, he would have kissed her. She wouldn't know that when she switched to unscented soap and shampoo after hearing his comment that he would miss her scent. Then find he liked how she naturally smelled just as much, which didn't solve his problem of the moon.
"You girls want to go on adventure?" Bill asked at breakfast.
"What I don't get to go?" Ron cut in, reaching for the last piece of toast.
"Do you want to go furniture shopping, Ron? I didn't know you wanted to be an interior decorator when you grow up." Bill told him, grabbing the toast from his hand and shoving it in his mouth over his brother's protest.
"Mum!" Ron called, "Bill's taking my food."
"Let him have it, Ronald, you can make more toast. Bill's healing up." The call came back and Ron shook his head and Ginny giggled until Bill eyed hers and she promptly shoved it in her mouth.
"We'd love to go, I'm not sure how much help I'll be though." Hermione told him shyly, pushing her plate closer so he could steal whatever he wanted. She hoped that meant they got to go see Shell Cottage, she was curious about what sort of house would catch Bill's eye.
"We can buy magazines, I've seen them in muggle shops, that show you how to decorate things." Ginny piped in agreement.
"I don't want it to look like a magazine, Gin, I want it to look like a house. So far I've just got what was at my flat and two motorcycles I've put a board over to be a desk. Don't tell Mum." Bill glanced around, suddenly paranoid and when Ron went to exclaim loudly found that he'd been silenced by very quick wand work on his brother's side and Hermione frowned at Bill.
"Those are incredibly dangerous, Bill. I don't see why you'd want-"
"I'll take you for a ride." He dropped a wink and she felt herself flush at the image of being curled against Bill's back again. "I'll take that as a yes."
She shook her head at him, not happening. He picked up her teacup and stole a sip, "Alright, girls. Let's mosey before Mum gives you chores."
Ginny shook her head, "I still need to get ready and I know what your house looks like. Just go show Hermione."
When they twisted to the house she could feel Bill's eyes on her face as he rambled about the property, felt that he very much wanted her to like it as he pointed out his coves. "It's lovely, Bill." A thought occurred to her, "Did you take the silencing charm off of Ron?"
"Whoops. Look, let's go inside." He kept his hand on her back as he guided her through the rooms, his face never losing that intensity as he watched her reactions. It was a little disconcerting.
"I think that your furniture looks more like it belongs in a modern London flat than a cozy little cottage. It clashes with the shells and takes away from how beautiful the light is." She said it hesitantly, fingers running along the shell border of one of the doors in what was going to be a study.
"See this is why I need help. Lived most of my adult life on site or in a flat with other curse breakers where we had things like skulls laying around." He agreed, intertwining his fingers with hers as he pulled her to the next room and eventually to a furniture store, completely forgetting Ginny until a patronus from her mother popped up reminding them and Bill went back for her.
She was eyeing desks in pale beachwood when the salesman started chatting with her. An abrupt presence at her back, a hand sliding around her waist had her start. Bill's timbre was sharp, "Is he bothering you, pet?"
She tried not to blush, "He works here, Bill."
"We don't need any help." Whatever look Bill was giving him had the man scampering away.
"Bill, what was that?"
"He was hitting on you." Bill said with a shrug, "What if it had been a Death Eater?"
"I don't think they pose as muggle furniture salesman, Bill, and no he wasn't." She did blush this time, Bill still hadn't let go of her.
"As the one here with experience hitting on girls, I can definitely tell you he was and I didn't like the look of him. Beady little eyes, he had." Bill said easily, apparently not caring that his voice was carrying, she blushed even worse hiding behind her hair.
"Bill, what do you think of this desk?" She asked him trying to wildly get out of that line of conversation. She didn't need Bill acting like her older brother.
"Ooooh, that one's nice." Ginny piped up, "Might not have enough leg room for you though, Bill."
When she would later find herself at Shell and coherent enough to take in her surroundings she'd find an awful lot of things looked familiar, would find the beautiful corner desk she had loved and lingered over was tucked neatly into the study along with Bill's. He'd brush it aside and lie, telling her he got it on a steal of a deal. When she'd finally settle into using it she'd find an expletive filled note from Charlie telling him he was completely mental and that he needed to ask her on a date, not think she was magically going to fall into his lap because his house had matching furniture and that he too, wanted his own desk if they were getting given out like candy.
"What are you doing in Ginny's room?" Charlie asked from the landing, voice dropping to a hiss as he moved into the room.
"Borrowing this." Bill said, shoving something behind his back and grabbing the closest thing, a Witch Weekly magazine.
"Give it to me." Charlie shut the door and held out his hand. "Hand it over. You're snooping, aren't you?"
"No." Bill lied and Charlie lunged for him, trying to grab it only to find Bill held it above his head.
"Whose letter is that?" Charlie demanded and saw Bill's ears turn a guilty red. "Godric, are you kidding me, Bill?"
Bill shook his head, "There's a good explanation, I swear. She got really excited by it at breakfast and I thought it might be the letter we'd sent off for a theoretical explanation of-"
"You don't open other people's mail, Bill." Charlie scolded, "Put it down. It's bad enough you're like a puppy, following her around."
"Am not." Bill denied, but passed over the letter and unable to stop his own curiosity Charlie started to scan it. Whoever Luna was she was completely crazy, but he'd have to look up what kind of creature an idlespurk was.
The door opened again and Charlie shoved it behind his back, stuffing it into his pants trying to make it look like he was scratching his back at Hermione's confused face. "What are you two doing in here?"
Bill held up the Witch Weekly again, "Mum wanted it, something about-" he glanced at the cover "-beet recipes."
"Yuck." Her face scrunched up and a glance at Bill showed he thought it was adorable and Charlie internally rolled his eyes. This was getting ridiculous, Bill had spent half of yesterday following her scent around and tracking her movements claiming he was just practicing with his new senses.
Bill shoved the magazine at Charlie, "Go give that to Mum, Hermione want to go for a swim? It's hot out."
"I'm a little sunburned." She hesitated.
"I'll help you put the lotion on." Bill offered and his eyes gleamed, could he be any more obvious?
Apparently she was completely oblivious because she just nodded, "Thanks, Ginny always forgets a spot on my back. Charlie, are you coming too?"
Well he'd been planning on several other things, but that was out the window now. "Sure."
Bill shot him a glare, which he ignored as they left the room so she could change, heading up to their old room. "Hope she wears the muggle two piece that Mum thinks is indecent. She looks so freaking-"
"Bill, seriously." He shook his head, tossing the magazine on his bunk bed. "Stop acting like a lecherous old troll."
"It's not lecherous when it's appreciating beauty, Charlie. The female form is considered high art." Bill told him pretentiously. "Thought you had letters to write."
"I do, but I've got a brother I have to keep in line. Don't make her do the rope swing with you again, she almost drowned last time." Charlie told him while changing.
"She didn't, because I was there to save her. She can't do it by herself yet, she won't let go." Bill told him stubbornly and Charlie rolled his eyes.
Charlie would have to intervene on the lotioning when Hermione started to look out of sorts, blushing lightly, by demanding Bill come do his back and would take to pinching Bill when he stared too long. "Stop acting like you're fifteen."
"You go get mauled by a werewolf and see how easy it is to handle the urges." Was the returning hiss. "She smells like I could put a baby in her right now. It's driving me nuts."
"Bill, she doesn't want your babies, she's seventeen. We're going out tonight after the meeting and you're getting laid."
Charlie's night did not go as planned, instead he had to corral Bill away from her and Viktor all night at the pub in some sort of noble attempt to let them catch up with a normal, non Bill focused conversation.
Hermione blanched when Bill dropped off the outfit for her undercover Order shift, looking helplessly at Ginny. "He can't actually expect me to wear that? It's too….too-"
"Sexy? Risqué? Hot?" Ginny eyed it critically, "High ponytail I think. Calm down, Hermione, it's not that bad. The top is just lower than you're used to and you don't normally wear leather jackets."
"Or heels." She stared at them, but let Ginny fuss and fix her until she didn't recognize the girl in the mirror. Was she under those big earrings and lip gloss, the stilettos and silver bangles, the clingy black top? "Gin, I can't-"
There was a knock at the door, "You ready yet? We've got to get going."
"Get going where?" She asked, insides freezing as Ginny pushed her towards the door, "Have fun and be confident. If you get awkward just use the WWGD framework."
"You know! Bill's making it out like it's a big secret." She accused Ginny who gave her an evil grin and ripped open the door. Bill froze, staring at her, eyes going up and down, up and down. She started to shut the door in his face, but he stopped it with a swallow. What would Ginny do? She wouldn't blush or try and hide, she pushed it back open.
"Leather suits you." His voice was husky as he grabbed her by the hand and dragged her out, "Really suits you."
They went through the kitchen quickly, Ginny on their heels. Ron looked up, as they went by, "Not even going to introduce the new girlfriend, Bill? Mum'll be pissed you had a girl over and-"
'That's Hermione, you idiot." Ginny scolded him.
A glass dropped, "Well, bloody hell." Ron seemed speechless, but gathered his courage as she swept by. "Hermione, you look fantastic."
"Bloody hell." Hermione echoed him, staring at a motorcycle, "You're mental if you think I'm getting on that."
He grinned at her reaction, "You said you trusted me."
She wanted to tell him she trusted him with not lying to her, not with her life, but didn't she trust him with that as well? She'd fought along side Bill. She swallowed heavily, really really relying on her Gryffindor courage as he picked her up and put her on the back seat. She wanted to fling herself off and run back into Ginny's room and hide, she didn't like flying, she wasn't going to like this. He raised an eyebrow at her, "Less of a fight than I thought this would be. Want me to put a sticking charm on you and the seat?"
She nodded and felt it hit, Bill was passing her a helmet, voice not quite his usual serious tone when discussing Order business, more excitement thrumming in it. "We're helping cover a motorcycle rally, Mad-Eye is trying to buy some sort of dark object off a wizard there so it doesn't get used against the muggles. Hagrid will be there too, but it's a big rally and we need all of the wands we can get."
She nodded and felt the cushioning charms he was swinging around her hit. At least she wouldn't die when he inevitably crashed the thing. "Got it."
Ron was hovering, "Do you think that's safe? Shouldn't I go?"
She felt a soft little tingle at his protectiveness, Bill apparently did not. "You're too big for us to ride double and Mad-Eye requested a girl."
"You're to stay close to me, couple close." His tone was demanding, the wolfish side peeking out in a possessive way that send shivers down her spine. Some of Ginny's talk of confidence bubbled up and she didn't push him away as he reached up to undo the ponytail, there was no doubt in her at the moment of exactly how she was affecting Bill. She wouldn't see Ron's frown at the actions, at the way she was letting him touch her, because while the last thing she wanted to be was affected by Bill, she just was. She wasn't entirely sure how you could get brutalized by a werewolf and come out even more striking, but Bill had managed it. He wore the scars he'd earned well, as if they were only there to highlight his cheekbones and show off just how blue his eyes could be.
She tried not to blush at the intensity of his stare, as he resettled the silk of Ginny's efforts behind her ears, fingers softly playing in her hair at the sensitive spot on the back of her neck for a long moment. Words, she had words, she knew how to say things. "Shouldn't we spread out for more coverage?"
"No, it's mainly going to be blokes and you'll be the hottest girl there by far." Bill released her and swung his leg over the bike, settling in front of her, "Then I'll have to keep coming over and telling them to back off."
"I'm perfectly capable-" She started at his back, feeling incensed that he would think she needed rescuing.
"A lot smoother if I do it, babe. You'll have to hex, my face means nobody will mess with me." He revved the engine and she slammed her helmet on, fussing with the straps, "You ready?"
"As I'll ever be." She told him shakily and wrapped her arms around his waist, putting the helmet into his back and squeezed her eyes shut.
It would be one of the strangest Order missions she took. She would be uncomfortable with the attention, with the crassness, but it would be okay because Bill was there, arm around her, fingers intertwined, jokes when she needed them. Knowledge when she looked curiously at Charlie's motorcycle and found out there was a terrifying sport called motorcycle quidditch. It would be Bill who would treat photos from the night like a jealous goblin and her who would be embarrassed at all of the ones taken after she misused the WWGD framework and took a sip from Hagrid's flask.
"Excellent, excellent. Thank you for participation in testing." George declared and Hermione tried to move, finding herself stuck.
"I didn't-"
"Shhh, now." George cut her off, glancing around then at his clipboard. "Charlie? Bill?"
Charlie wandered in from the kitchen, "What's up?"
"George, I don't want to participate in whatever-"
"Too late." George looked gleeful, grabbing Charlie and flourishing his wand, mistletoe pouring out from it.
"George, it's July." Charlie pointed out, glancing up and winking at her. She felt herself start to blush at the thought of kissing him, Charlie was certainly good looking, but very intimidating if any of what Ron and Ginny said about his womanizing was true.
"Got to have it perfected before the holidays. Hop hop. Kiss away, blow each other's worlds. Got it all charmed up." George glanced back at his clipboard, "Well I think anyway."
Charlie was just grinning, waiting for her to make a move and she felt flustered, "George, I don't want-"
"I'm not that terrible, am I?" Charlie was tipping her face up.
"Just get it over with, Charlie." She huffed, he seemed to be enjoying how uncomfortable she was an incredible amount. His kiss was surprisingly gentle, just a soft brushing of lips, not the teasing smack she was expecting.
George was frowning and she found she still couldn't move and a red dust was dropping onto them from their mistletoe captor. Why had she never noticed Charlie's eyes were such a perfect shade of green? She wanted to kiss and memorize every freckle he had. His lips met hers again and she melted into him, clutching into his hair and trying to get closer and closer. There was something in his tongue as it brushed hers and slid against the roof of her mouth. He boosted her up and she wrapped her legs around him, when she was forcibly removed her insides ached. Bill had showed up and was furious, "What the hell is going on?"
"Product testing, let go of her, Bill. Hermione, how do you feel?" George told him happily, making notes on his clipboard.
"I like product testing." She reached for Charlie and found Bill was moving in the way, she peered around him, finding herself caught as she tried to find her prize. He needed to kiss her more. Charlie had taken off his shirt, she liked that, the mix of freckles and scars looking like art.
"Charlie?" George was prompting.
"I'm going to name a dragon after her." Charlie informed him as if this was the highest praise in the land and she beamed back at him. He started to drop his pants, should she be doing that? She reached for her shirt and found Bill grabbing her wrists.
Bill was beyond furious, "Charlie, put your clothes back on. Get it off of them, George."
Bill was trying to take her from Charlie, trying to drag her from the mistletoe, but she was stuck under it. She struggled against him, she needed Charlie. George's wand waved and more dust fell and everything went sideways. There was Bill, handsome, clever Bill, but there was still Charlie, but Bill, maybe Bill would look at her now. Both, she wanted both. Bill was hitting Charlie now, that was bad. She couldn't kiss them if they were hitting each other. Different colored dust seemed to be smacking her and things went completely out of her head as she jumped her way in the middle.
When she came to after the entire debacle Ginny was sitting by the bed, "How you feeling? The twins aren't allowed to test products on you anymore."
"You mean that wasn't a dream? Oh my god- that actually-" She flushed completely. "I'm never leaving this room."
Ginny gave her a slightly evil smile, "Don't think Bill minded in the slightest that you tackled him. We gave you the antidote and you forgot all about Charlie, but not about Bill. Took Mum ages to sort it back." Her fingers fidgeted on the bedspread, "Mum knows now, I think she already knew, but now she knows for sure."
Hermione shoved her face in her hands, Bill had said her name so sweetly with that perfect, just for her smile before he'd flipped her and smashed his lips onto hers. Damn that powder. "How did-"
Ginny's face was still mirthful, "Bill didn't seem to mind in the least that you want to have his little quaffles, snitches and bludgers. Charlie just said you're a fantastic kisser and he's down if you ever need a snog."
If she had anywhere else in the world to go she would. She felt completely humiliated all over again and Ginny softened, nudged her to look at the small, cluttered desk where there was a vase of flowers. "Bill went out and picked you those after he was done with George, who will not be showing his face around here anytime soon."
She put her face back in her hands, Bill would. Bill was kind, Bill had been gentle about her crush all along, had been indulgent and talked to her even when she'd gotten nervous and stammered. Bill would pick her flowers to ease her embarrassment and it made her insides ache. He was just going to wink and act like nothing happened. Act like he hadn't kissed her so hard her magic shook then vacillated between if he had to share, he could maybe share with Charlie, but he didn't want to.
"Hermione?" Ginny tried again, "I really think he has a thing for you. Ron and George had to drag him to the shed to sort him back while Mum handled you."
"It was a love potion and Fleur just left." She muttered it to her hands, not knowing he was outside the door coming to check on her at hearing the voices.
"No, I really think-"
"Ginny, don't. For once can you just not meddle?" It was said harsher than she meant it, but she was fueled by horrifying fact she couldn't stay in this room forever. She was going to have to look at Charlie and Bill sooner or later.
She should have let Ginny meddle. She wouldn't know that when she tossed the flowers in the trash, too humiliated to look at them that Bill would see them there and be hurt as he vanished them. Wouldn't know that while she tried to avoid him out of embarrassment he would blame himself and try to figure out just how to apologize for being decidedly rough when the dust hit him. Would have no idea that instead he would convince himself she had a crush on Charlie and be rather rude to his brother over it.
She was sweating by the time the thestral landed from airborne dueling practice and leaned against Bill for a moment, trying to remember everything he'd said. "Aim farther ahead." "Let the wings act as a shield for you as you prepare your next hex." "Trust your gut and cover both sides." "You'll scan below since you can't see Vera."
He gave her middle a squeeze, "Great job, we're all ready for tomorrow." Before throwing his voice, "You've got it down, Ron. You and Ginny were much better about communicating targets."
"Not that I'm allowed to help." Ginny said tiredly as she got off the broom in front of Ron, she'd said it so many times since the plan was concocted and in various degrees of petulance, anger and acceptance that everyone now simply ignored it. They both headed for the house without a glance back, talking about cold pumpkin juice.
Bill let go of her and slid down the invisible body underneath her that he could see and waited until he reached up and slid her off so she wouldn't land on her face again. He held onto her waist for a moment and she glanced up into his ocean eyes, "Will it be different when I'm Harry? The wand movements? His arms are quite a bit longer than mine."
He shook his head, "Should be the same, it's your magic and your hand movements."
She very badly wanted to lean into his chest for a moment in a hug and be lied to, be told everything and everyone would come out unharmed because Voldemort had dropped dead of dragon pox. She didn't, now wasn't the time for weakness, that had passed when her parents memories did. He seemed to sense something because he didn't move away, instead moving his arms to lean against the thestral, blocking her in. "Look at me, Hermione."
She did and his ocean eyes were serious, but confident. "It's going to be fine, not easy by any means, but I will get you here safe."
"It's not me I'm worried about." She nibbled her lip, she didn't doubt Bill and she would make it, they had a short route and Mad-Eye suspected they would think that Harry would be on broomstick, not thestral. She certainly didn't doubt Bill's dueling skills, not after practicing with him, not after having him outduel Ron, Fred and herself at once.
His eyes had flicked down to her lip and he watched her nibble it, "Harry's in the safest vehicle with the hardest to take down Order member we have and Ron will be with Tonks, an Auror. Everyone else has quite a bit more fighting experience under their belts."
She was silent, they knew how to fight, but so did the other side and there was no guarantee they wouldn't get completely ambushed. He brushed a curl from her face, "You should take a sleeping potion tonight, love. You'll want to be rested for tomorrow night's wild ride."
She wondered if he even knew he'd just called her that, but her stomach gave that old girlish flip as he kept twirling her curl, looking down at her with soft eyes. She was starting to get fluttery again and tilted her head back farther to be able to look at him better. He slid one of his arms up to rest on the back of the thestral, slightly encircling her as he moved closer and her heart rate spiked. "Is that what we're calling it? Our wild ride?"
He gave her a half smile as he tugged her curl, his face moving downward and her eyes started to drop in anticipation of a kiss when an unwelcome intrusion happened. "Beel? 'Ermione?"
Fleur was standing not two feet from them, eyeing them very speculatively and Bill pulled rapidly away, accidentally pulling her hair from where his finger was still entwined. "Hey Fleur. Are we that close to the meeting time already?"
There were kisses of greeting between them easily enough, and Hermione found herself swoop kissed too. Fleur slipping into French, "Not quite, I caught an earlier portkey in the hopes to ask your mother something."
There was surprise on both Bill and Hermione's faces and Fleur gave her throaty laugh, "I never thought I'd see the day either. Take me to her, Beel?"
He nodded, then glanced at the thestral and Hermione intervened, feeling embarrassed at the position they were caught in, imagining it in her head to be far more than it was. Bill hadn't been about to kiss her. "I'll stable her."
Bill looked amused by this, "You can't even see her."
"Just give me the reins, I can feed her at least. I've done that before." She told him haughtily.
He laughed and with a wink informed her, "There are no reins. Let me take Fleur to Mum and I'll come back and help you."
They left and Hermione headed for the shed to grab the raw meat and started waving it around, knowing she would come. She did, bites started to disappear and she watched their progress to the house, hands waving as they talked, Fleur's laughter floating back. They truly did seem at ease with each other, none of the tension she'd once caused evident. She'd been surprised when she heard Fleur would be on the mission detail and worried since it would be the first time the former couple had seen each other. Bill was back shortly, carrying two plates with him. He handed her one and she glanced at his, just a piece of raw steak. "Bill, you know nobody cares what you eat."
He shook his head at her, still uncomfortable with this part of his changes. "Ginny looks slightly green if I eat it raw in front of her." He took a bite, "It doesn't bother you?"
She started eating her own shepherd's pie and shook her head, "You chew with your mouth shut and don't just constantly eat off my plate, that's all I ask of Weasleys."
He grinned, eyes sparkling, "Let me guess. Ron and the twins?"
She nodded, "Ginny sometimes too. The twins claim it's because they're excellent at sharing and I'm welcome to whatever is on their plates. At least if George realizes he's doing it, he refills whatever he's eaten. Fred just makes a mess by trying to feed whoever he's taken food from, got pea soup all over me once."
"Take a note of Ginny's book, just stab them in the hand with a fork." Bill advised, his smile dropping away to a more tense look. He seemed slightly preoccupied.
"What did Fleur want with your Mum?" She tried after a bout of silence of watching him think, pushing her food around. She wasn't really hungry, but thought it was nice he'd brought her a plate without summoning it and creating a mess.
"Fleur's working with the Veela reserve she partially grew up on and they're looking for a way to track the population and know if there have been any anti-veela attacks. She thinks a variation on Mum's clock would work, but doesn't know the magic. Mum was extremely flattered that her 'silly little clock' could help an endangered population." Bill shook his head, "I do not understand women."
"That's brilliant and we're rather easy to understand. You males are the difficult ones." She tried to tease, but he looked preoccupied again and her words didn't penetrate. He kept glancing at her in thought, frowning and shaking his head to himself. Minutes passed and she was startled when something licked her cheek and let out a little yelp, shifting away.
Bill jerked back in and then smiled, "She likes your sweat."
Hermione was still leaning away and he put his plate down and took hers, standing her up, "Give her a pet."
She blindly reached her hand out and he moved behind her, pressing against her and guided her hand to the scaly skin. Her insides hitched at the contact, she should have been used to it by now. Bill had no apparent regard for her physical space since his infection and was constantly touching her or invading it. She stroked the scaly skin and Bill's voice was contemplative, "I do hope you won't be mad at me after the meeting."
She turned in alarm, but he was looking at the thestral. "Is there a reason I will be?"
He looked at her, thoughtful blue eyes trailing her face and searching her eyes. "I haven't decided yet."
He moved away from her, his warmth leaving her back and side. His voice was a clear dismissal. "You should go get cleaned up, you've got a lick of blood down your face."
Confused and slightly hurt already she left and cleaned up, barely making it into her chair next to Ron before Mad-Eye started going over the plan. She listened, but was more focused on Bill watching her thoughtfully or staring into his tea, Fleur was watching Bill and occasionally glancing at her speculatively. Bill switched to firewhiskey as they led up to the part of plan of riding pairs. Mad-Eye saying "And Bill and Hermione on a thestral, Kingsley and Fleur on the other-"
Fleur cut in, "Alistair, I believe we should switch the pairs. 'ermione has less experieence and would be safer with an Auror."
Kingsley shrugged and gave her a smile and Bill looked into his tea, "Excellent point, Fleur."
Hermione felt the outraged words fly from her mouth. "But Bill and I have been practicing!"
Bill looked up then, his eyes had the same steely determination whenever he dealt with Order business. His tone was firm, "Fleur's right, Hermione. It's safest for you to be with Kingsley."
She looked away from him, fuming, "For Kingsley as well, I think. He's not used to Fleur's unusual dueling tactics."
"What'd you mean, unusual dueling tactics?" Ron asked as Fleur gave a throaty laugh at the description, patting Bill's arm familiarly. Hermione saw the two of them share a look and Bill give a slight nod.
Abruptly, the table was hit with a blast of fury that left them all confused and wanting to flee. When Hermione could focus again, she had pushed back from the table Ron was feet away, Bill was the only one who didn't look out of sorts and Fleur was holding a fireball in her hand. "Veelas play a little differeent." She smiled, "I only just got ze fireballs mastered! It always used to be on accideeent ven I started throwing them."
"Usually at me." Bill said and the table laughed as they resettled. The fireball disappeared and Hermione looked into her own tea, feelings in a whirl. She had no issue with Kingsley whom she highly respected, but she'd been practicing with Bill, she trusted Bill and felt safe with him. She'd been counting on it being his arm around her, keeping her steady and from panicking.
"Well done, Fleur. So thestral pairs have changed, On broomstick-"
Hermione tuned it out, the rest of the plan was the same and he'd repeat it to them several times tomorrow. She simply stared into her tea, trying not to pout or feel inadequate that she was being relegated to a safety position like a child because she couldn't throw fireballs at people. She steadfastly ignored Bill's eyes imploring her to look at him and when his leg found hers under the table she gave it a sharp kick back.
She wouldn't know that Fleur had truly had her best interests at heart and had a row about it with Bill, about how she could see how Bill was looking at Hermione and didn't want him getting distracted in battle if she got hurt. She didn't know Bill had debated since he'd been told, the desire to protect her himself or put her in the hands of a better trained wizard rather a war in him. They'd never speak about it.
"Erm, Hermione?" Harry started, scratching his eyebrow.
She glanced up from her book, followed his gaze to where Bill was looking at them from a window. "Yes, Harry?"
"Is there something going on with Bill?" Harry sounded tentative, he knew about her crush, knew about how devastated she'd been after he got engaged, knew about how embarrassed she'd been after finding out Bill knew. "You two…well it seems different than it was. You know, you're talking to him again."
She mentally fought down a blush, "We're just friends. He's helping me prepare for the hunt."
"He stares at you constantly." Harry started and paused to fidget. "Made your breakfast plate and-"
"Harry, there's nothing going on." She did flush now. "I, well, the staring is just the wolfish side. I'm the only female that's not family."
"If you say so." He paused, getting nervous. "Who was that guy talking to Ginny forever outside this morning? I mean, they seemed close and all."
"Who's peeking out windows now, Harry? Charlie's friend, came out to track a dragon and drop an Order message." Hermione shrugged.
"Oh, her pen friend." Harry relaxed, "So no Bill, how about Ron?" Harry nudged her shoulder lightly, "Or I heard you and Charlie had a moment."
She nudged him back, "George tell you that?" She blushed lightly, "Just Hermione like usual."
"Charlie actually." Harry grinned, "Bill got real sharp with him over it, told him to stuff it or get his head stuffed in the toilet. Sort of wish I'd seen Hermione Granger 'go nuts for the Charlie'. They're something else, those two."
"They're also right behind you." Charlie said grabbing Hermione's shoulders with a shake and a giant smacking peck to her cheek, "Best kiss you've ever had."
"Whatever you say, Charlie." It was lightly huffed, Charlie had not decided to ignore the incident, but had decided to be annoyingly playful about it much in the same vein of teasing as the twins.
"Charlie's ego knows no bounds." Bill said falling into step next to her, grabbing her hand starting to pull her, "C'mon, you've got to practice healing. We're going to break Charlie for you."
Harry was eyeing the twined fingers with interest and she avoided his eye contact. Hermione talked quickly to distract him, "How are we going to do that?"
"However you want, pet. I was just going to break his nose, but he wants to show you two burn healing. If we're lucky he'll splinch himself, he's done that loads of times." He was swinging their hands and Harry was definitely still watching them in interest.
"My body is yours for the taking." Charlie told her with a wink and despite herself she smiled at him, he turned to Harry, "Anything you particularly want to learn? Anger you need to take out?"
It would be a very strange afternoon and Hermione would never know that Harry would definitely be suspicious and would tell Ron he needed to crack that book back open. She would pull away from Bill more now that Harry was here and they could really plan, wouldn't know that Bill would start unconsciously getting to meals earlier to make sure he got his spot next to her.
A/N: Almost done, just a little bit more of summer and we'll be at the start of Shifting Tides! Review, let me know any particular scenarios you think Bill and Hermione would have managed to get themselves caught in!