Bill's advice tested!
I realized the more I try to correct my writing style and the more I try to be completely accurate, the more I lose the joy I once had for writing. I write how I write. If that offends you or you find it unpleasant or difficult to understand, I am sorry. I have been trying to edit but ehhhhhh
I know that the Twin's eyes are brown but in my head, for some weird reason, they are blue. Sorry :/
Read. Rate. Review. Be jolly and enjoy a jelly filled donut.
Fred was laying on a couch that had seen better days, better years was more accurate. He was consumed with thoughts of how to show Hermione that he was a prospective partner. How was he supposed to show her that he was financially suitable? Bill had been absolutely useless. He really hoped the rest of his brothers weren't this stupid. Was he the smart one? Of course he was. Well, George too... but that didn't count. One and the same and all that jazz.
There was the familiar rumble of rushed footsteps down creaky stairs. He didn't bother looking over. The Burrow was always bustling. He looked at the ceiling with crazed intent. He needed an idea... NOW! Suddenly, Hermione's smiling face was over his and her hair was a bushy curtain around them, shrouding them in a waterfall of shiny secrecy. It tickled his chin and his eyes were wide. She was grinning like mad and her body was vibrating with pent up energy. Her chin was then rested on his forehead.
"Up you get! I'm taking you lot out."
"Where to? I can't imagine any please interesting." He teased with a grin.
She rolled her eyes and poked his stomach. Lean muscle greeted her with tension and she hesitated for a moment. Damn Beaters, she thought with a gulp.
"I'm taking you on a little field trip."
"I bet you have an itinerary and homework for us too." He said with a smug smile.
"I do. Make sure you don't leave your buddy's side or you'll get points deducted." She snarked. The smile was wiped off his face for only a moment.
"Are you my partner? Do I have to hold your hand too?" He said grabbing her hand causing a rosy blush to work into her cheeks.
"N-no." She seemed to regain her composure. " You're in a group with George and your mother. But you're more than welcome to hold her hand if you'd like." She smiled brightly and then walked away to talk to George.
He watched the way her hips swayed. At least, he tried. Though she was wearing jeans, they were baggy and covered by an oversized sweater. That was it! He was buying her new clothes. That would prove him financially...whatever the hell he was after, right? He practically skipped over to the gathering of his family members in the kitchen.
"Where are we going?" He asked while picking up a muffin to munch on. They were good. Not like his mother made. It was warm and sweet and tasted like oranges and cinnamon and caramel and strawberries and something delightfully bitter.
"Hermione is going to show us around some muggle places." Ron said while Hermione mussed with his hair. He would be lying if he said he wasn't jealous. The way her hands ruffled and fidgeted made him wonder what her hands would feel like tangled in his own long locks. He had to drag his eyes away from her delicate fingers and wrists. George was looking at him with glittering eyes. Shit.
"Isn't this exciting!" His father looked about 10 years younger, childish glee radiating off him in waves.
"Nobody told him that he is babysitting Ron the whole time." George joked. Ron sputtered out that he didn't need a babysitter.
"George don't tease your brother or you'll be stuck with him and I'll take Fred away for the day." She tried to sound menacing but it looked like that was the reply George had wanted. Sneaky git.
"I bet you twenty galleons that I could handle a whole day with Ron without a complaint. You on the other hand, I sincerely doubt you could handle Fred for a whole day."
Hermione's shoulders straightened. "Fred isn't that bad. Ron on the other hand has had very limited muggle interactions. You're in for more than you can handle." Hermione was undoubtedly competitive. And as smart as the little lioness was, she didn't have a clue what George was up to.
"Oh please! You've never been with Fred around Muggles. He's like a child. You'll loose him in 10 minutes."
"You are so on!" Hermione growled. "Not one complaint! Ronald, Fred, You have to tell if either one of us complains and you cannot go out of your way to be difficult."
Thank you Georgy!
They had separated and gone their own ways. Harry was leading GInny, his mother, Charlie, Bill and Fleur around. Fred and Hermione had gone off on their own. As did Ron and George. They all promised to meet up later at a restaurant that Hermione "simply adored". They meandered around looking at shops and Fred was sad to say that Hermione had had to call him back to her more than once. But how could he stay calm? It was all so delightfully simplistic. He understood Hermione a bit better now. She didn't look out of place here. She walked the streets with a sort of shy confidence. He wondered how she did it; walked around like she knew every corner, every alley, and street name, yet she was clearly trying to stay out of people's way.
They saw a lot of shops but Hermione didn't seem to enjoy any of them. He wanted her to take him someplace that she would enjoy. He stopped her in a clothing store that she seemed to particularly dislike.
"Take me to your favorite shop." He said with a smile.
She looked at him with big, wide eyes. She looked shocked and confused before he face lit up like Christmas. She grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the store. He enjoyed the contact a bit too much. He felt giddy in his stomach. She pulled him along alleys and busy streets, past assorted shops and businesses. When the people started to fade away Fred began to worry.
"Mione," He began but he stopped when she halted.
In front of them was the most amazing bookshop he had ever seen. He wondered if all muggle bookstores looked this interesting. The building itself was old and made of rust colored bricks. The windows along the front were all stained glass. Just behind the glass were a set of mismatched chairs. The door fascinated him; old wood, once painted an off shade of seafoam green, framed an intricate picture. The glass had been cut and welded into a princess protecting a dragon from a knight. It reminded him of Hermione. Not the princess. No, she had blonde hair and blue eyes. The act itself was something that Hermione would do.
Above the door hung a rickety old sign that read, in old black script,
"The Dragon's Lair"
It reminded Fred more of a pub name but it suited. Hermione looked at him expectantly. He led her toward the shop and was sorry that he had to release her hand to open the door for her. A simple bell chime announced their entry. The smell of aged paper and old leather wrapped around them. The temperature was all to pleasant and the old wood floor was lit up in a myriad of colors by the glass. Hermione was already lost in the shelves. He followed her lead and found himself a book.
He eased himself into the leather of the overly large winged back by the front window. Hermione came over with a stack of books that nearly fell out of her arms. She could have sat in the smaller, burnt orange, velvet chair but she settled between Fred's legs. His heart beat rapidly. She had shocked him. He was grateful for the proximity but he had a feeling it was because she didn't think of him in the way she wanted him too. Damn.
She leaned into his chest and began to finger through the book. She looked up at him and smiled before reading. He stretched his legs out and rested his arm against the arm of the chair, book in hand. He laid the other against Hermione's side, moving it only when he needed to flip the page. The sat there for nearly 20 minutes before they were interrupted.
An older gentleman had come down the backstairs that connected the building to an upper apartment. He wore an old jumper and faded trousers. He smiled at Hermione and she greeted him.
"Hello, Harold!"
"Hermione," He nodded and smiled at her sweetly.
"Is Martha in?" She asked casually.
"Afraid not, dear. She went to visit with a friend some time ago. She'll be back soon 'nough I think."
"I'm happy to hear it. I had hoped to say hello. How ave you been?"
"Oh, very well. A bit of trouble with the hip but nothing I can't handle."
Hermione looked sern. "You work too hard. You need to hire someone to help out around here!"
"You sound like Martha." He chuckled. "I'll get you some tea and a snack."
"Don't trouble yourself." She said sweetly. He waved her off and returned to the upper level.
She looked up at Fred and apologized for not introducing him. He laughed and assured her it was fine. He questioned her about the exchange. It was incredibly familiar.
"This was the first bookshop I ever went to and I've come here ever since. I practically grew up here. I've known Harry and Martha since I could read. They've been very kind to me. I help out here and there during the summer. But Harold hasn't found anyone to help full-time." She looked worried.
He tapped her nose. "Don't worry, Love. I'm sure it will all work out."
She crinkled her nose and was about to reply when Harold came back with 3 cups of tea and some scones. They sat and chatted for almost an hour before Harold decided to go upstairs and take a nap. He left Hermione in charge of the store, saying he knew that they wouldn't be leaving for hours and it hadn't been busy lately anyway.
The couples cozied up again. Fred wasn't really reading his book so much as he was playing with Hermione's hair. They sat like that for hours. The sun warmed them and gave the shop a certain ambiance. Fred realized that this is the kind of place that really seemed to suit her. There was a sort of old, classic charm about the shop. She was at home in the endless shelves, endless adventures and endless comfort. It had opened up his eyes a bit. She had exposed a new side of herself.
He had always known her to be busy, sharp, and bossy. He had never seen her relaxed, soft, and at ease with the situation. She made no effort to recommend a book or manage the situation. She simply rested against him and read her book. She had even let him feed her a couple bites of scone. She had laughed when he smeared icing on her nose.
Martha had come in and talked to them for a few minutes before going up to have tea with her husband. They lost track of time and when the light had dimmed visibly Fred checked his watch. It was nearly time to meet with the rest of the group. They headed up the stairs and knocked on the door. They said their good byes to Harold and Martha and Harold came down with them to ring up their books. Fred insisted he pay and carry all of Hermione's books. Hermione had of course refused but he bullied her into agreement. She had just huffed and grumbled out a 'fine'.
When they left and met up with everyone Hermione listened to George complain about how awful Ron had been and told him that they had had a marvelous day. She couldn't think of a thing to complain about. She omitted the bit about Fred bullying her into paying for the books and when he had tried to convince her to buy a miniskirt.
When they got home everyone went to bed almost immediately. Fred was about to when he realized that he still had Hermione's books. He grabbed the bag and knocked on her door. When she opened the door in her pajamas he just smiled and held out the books. She grabbed them and sat them down inside the door. She leaned up and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks for the books, Fred. Goodnight." She smiled and closed the door.
Well, buying her books certainly had helped. Bill wasn't all wrong.
Review about the late update but wow! words... lots of em!
my fingers huuuuuurttt! And the brain is out of ideas for now.
THANKS FOR READING!