Okay, so not as good a turnout on that last chapter. I was kind of hoping to get a few more reviews for that one, I haven't gotten many.
I realize it has been more than a month now, but between weeks of work with no break, receiving a surprise new room (guys I have a barn door closet!) and being sick, I haven't had much time for writing. I did warn you I wouldn't always be updating at a steady pace, especially being twenty and having to work constantly.
Anyway, on with the show, yeah?
Warning, for any children reading this, rating goes up a bit here. Nothing graphic, just…not childproof.
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Hermione hadn't seen Fred in a week. The first three days, she had refused any type of contact with him, using Mrs. Weasley's hospitality to stay at the Burrow to avoid the flat. She would go to visit Ginny and Teddy during the day, practically kicking Harry and Ron out of the house to leave her and Ginny free to talk while they played around with Teddy. The fourth day, she stopped running around, giving him a too subtle chance to come and apologize. By supper time with no sign of Fred, she ate Mrs. Weasley's lovely food somberly, and ran to Ginny's side as soon as she finished, crying harder than she'd ever done before.
'Hermione, he's a Weasley. You should have enough experience with us by now; we're stubborn.' Ginny had tucked her in, slipping in next to her until Hermione finally fell asleep with tears tracks down her cheeks. The next day, she hadn't left the Burrow at all, helping Mrs. Weasley, or just reading outside. Ginny had come over instead to keep her company and give her mother time with the baby. Once supper rolled around, Ginny decided to Floo call Harry over, bringing him and Ron over to eat with them. Half way through their dinner, Percy arrived with Mr. Weasley, both late home from the Ministry.
'Sorry about this mum, but Audrey sent an owl letting me know her sister was having her over for supper.' Molly had nodded and set out an extra place for her son. Hermione continued her discussion with Ginny until another Weasley arrived to interrupt. George turned the corner, looking rather ruffled in his work robes, and a stray feather sticking out of his hair.
'Don't mind if I join, mum? Fred's handling a, err, mess of sorts in the flat.' Mrs. Weasley once again nodded and waved her next son over to sit with them. Hermione watched George sit down with an exhausted huff just next to her, masking his yawn behind a bottle of Butterbeer Percy slid over to him. Hermione picked the feather out from behind his ear, gaining an abashed grin from him in thanks.
'How'd you get a chicken in the flat?' She asked him and honest to Merlin, Hermione had never seen George look so nervous.
'We don't, Fred's just, you know, at home.' He whispered out, scratching his neck in the same nervous gesture Fred did. She could still feel that horrible heavy feeling in her chest from that moment. After dinner had finished up, Ginny had immediately invited Hermione over for a 'girl's night' to discreetly allow her privacy again. This time she cried again, but wouldn't let Ginny leave Harry alone for a second time.
The next two nights were her walking not so discreetly down Diagon Alley, jumping in at random to different shops, including a few of the newer small kiosks out now after the War. She was out for close to two hours, jumping back and forth, not getting too close to the shop before moving into a different shop. By the end of the second day, Hermione was physically and mentally exhausted from her excursion, and obviously completely wrong about her and Fred's relationship. She had felt sure he would have tried to walk past her at least, giving her a chance to say something. But now, the most she'd seen of him was George showing up at dinner, and that barely made sense.
Day seven had her feeling the lowest she'd felt since first year at Hogwarts. She ignored Ginny's invitation to spend the day with her and Teddy; Hermione had no interest in human contact now. Her head was filled with miserable thoughts of the last month with Fred, where she thought everything had been going great, but she was apparently still a too brainy, bushy haired girl. Her brain had glossed over the mandatory aspect of their relationship, and possibly even their friendship, for the chance to believe he would actually like her. She had officially regressed to her childhood coping methods, using her time at the Burrow now to read every minute of the day. It was past noon at least, the sun straight up in the sky, beating down on the small pond behind the Burrow's garden; creating a lovely shaded nook for Hermione to read under and stay cool. Eventually though, she knew a Weasley would interrupt her moping, she just hadn't expected this particular one.
"Hey 'Mione," Ron greeted once he was a few feet away, though the sound of his dragging feet had given him away yards before he'd reached her. Hermione glanced up from her novel to greet her friend, immediately sticking her nose straight into the spine once more, "What'cha reading?"
"A book," she returned unhelpfully, keeping her tired eyes glued to the word 'against', unable to focus enough and continue with Ron looming over top her.
"A good book?"
Hermione sighed and dropped the hard bound copy to her lap, slumping down to lie against her chosen tree, "Not particularly, no, it's not." Ron didn't make any funny or rude comments, besides the incredulous raise of his brows. He took the extra few steps to stand right next to her, and offered her a hand up. The disdainful sort of glance she gave it didn't surprise him, but the offhanded way she used it to pull herself up did. Hermione was not her usual spunky self, and it had officially concerned everyone.
"Where are we going exactly?" She asked him, not mentioning the oddness of him acting so courtly towards her; especially the vice grip he had on her hand.
"Romilda mentioned none of us have gone to reserve a Ministry official for the weddings, so Ginny thought it might be a good idea for us all to go together. We all have to do it eventually, right?" She wasn't sure if he was asking her or not, so she stuck to a nonchalant nod, not saying anything further as they lumbered through the grass, hand in hand. Halfway back, Ron tucked her hand into his elbow to stick his own hands in his trouser pockets. Hermione found this a bit odd at first; they had never done this before. A few more careful steps through the tall grass had Hermione tearing up with overflowing pride and love for her friend after a thought crossed her mind. Keeping her hand on his arm was a simple way for him to assume a leading role, while still keeping contact with her so she wouldn't stumble. A motion one would assume to lead the blind. Too emotional to say more of the matter, Hermione kept silent as they finally entered the Burrow, Ron giving her a quick grin before sitting at the kitchen table where Romilda was nursing a cuppa.
Hermione moved silently through the room, landing on the patchwork couch with a quilt lain over her legs. Perhaps they really had grown up.
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Now she was furious. Furious and exhausted. Their visit to the Ministry had gone downhill as soon as the first couple, Harry and Ginny, went to sign the papers for their official. The only way to properly get a Ministry official was to have both participants' magical signatures. Meaning, the lonely Hermione Granger couldn't sign a stupid piece of paper without her currently AWOL fiancé.
"Think of it this way 'Mione, now Fred will have to talk to you because the law said so!" Harry quipped good naturedly, but received scathing glares from his own fiancée and Hermione. Even Romilda reached out like she was going to smack him, but pulled back before she began groping the air to reach his arm.
"Yes, thank you Harry." He had the mind to grin; realizing his folly after the patronizing voice he'd heard for eight years chastised him sharply. "I suppose I'll head over to the shop right now, and get the whole thing over with. Even if I need to get George to forge the signature." Hermione grumbled and stomped off, leaving the other four in the center of Diagon Alley. Once she was more out of the way of the rush of people Hermione Apparated to the front door of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. The shop was still too busy for a week day during school, but most of the wizarding world seemed to have kept their children back for an extra year. Hermione couldn't blame them; if her parents had the choice, they would have done the same thing for her. Hermione, focus. One problem at a time.
Pushing open the bright orange door was a difficult process, only furthering the frustration boiling inside her. Kids and parents were so crowded inside, they were pushing against the door; sighing, Hermione waved her hand over the hinges, causing the door to readjust and swing out rather than in. A few small boys startled but sheepishly let Hermione pass, squeezing in between their parents legs to give her space. Another five minutes were wasted on her way up to the front desk, desperately trying to keep her emotions bottled up with so many people pushing against her and yelling throughout the joke shop. Finally, a familiar face emerged from the crowd, splitting the crowd as she came through with a big pile of active Whizbangers, sparking and reaching out to shock people as Verity passed them.
"'Lo, Hermione! Whatcha doing here?" The lovely shop girl didn't wait for an answer, just handed off a small pile of Whizbangers and began to lead Hermione up to the front. At the tills, George was handing off random bits and pieces to customers, telling them it was some kind of promotion, but Hermione knew better at this point and figured it was an experiment gone wrong, being passed off as candy.
"I'm making a sign, George." Hermione interrupted him, causing the man to startle and drop his extended candy. It made a small black mushroom cloud of something when it made contact with the ground, and a few of the mothers standing at the front of the line immediately turned their children away.
"Damn," George mumbled, but turned to Hermione with a confused grin, more than an upset glare, "a sign for what?"
"The front window; it'll read 'Caution, undiscovered, unknown, untested candy may be handed out at any time. Please be advised to watch your children, or their teeth will explode from their heads." George laughed loudly at her as she finished, mouthing along after, and nodding like it was a great idea.
"Brilliant, I look forward to seeing it."
Hermione rolled her eyes in bemusement, and went behind the cash counter to further distance herself from the pressing crowd. It was still really loud, but Hermione felt like she could breathe again, and did so in one big gulp. George puttered around her earnestly, not liking how pale the younger girl was looking. Going immediately into big brother mode, George slung his arm around her shoulders, leaning in to further block out the disturbances and noise of his shop.
"Head bothering you, Granger?"
"How could you know that?"
"I helped raise Ginny. There were a few too many migraines and cramps I had to deal with. 'S why I came up with the Wonder Witch products. Fred is rubbish at that, so good luck to you." George giggled, but Hermione tensed up before forcing a laugh out for him. "He's in the back, finishing the inventory. I'll make sure no one bothers you." George whispered into her hair as he gave her one last squeeze and left her alone. Hermione didn't stay long, hopping off the counter and heading through the store once more, reaching the ornate door of the twins' back room. She'd only been in here a few times now, but she'd never felt so wary about stepping in. This whole shop had an open door policy aura that made everyone feel welcome and excited to come in. But now, dread filled her and a nervousness she'd never felt around Fred before.
"Hermione don't be stupid," she chastised herself for thinking so much and pushed open the door. Unlike many things the Weasley's owned, the shop was always in good working order, including the squeak-less doors. Her entry was so silent, the slouched over figure seated behind the wooden muggle desk didn't move or make any mention of her. Hermione took a moment, watching Fred scribble something out then scratch the back of his neck before crossing the previous line out and writing another down. He was adorable, and she missed him.
Reaching out to place her knuckles on the door frame, she rapped twice, causing the Weasley to startle and look up at her in surprise.
"Homework?" she asked with a tiny grin, surprised he only grunted in answer. His eyes were tired, so she took his answer as a sign of his weary state and not anger towards her.
"If I say yes, will you feel obligated to help me? I may fail the test if you don't." The sarcasm wasn't as strong as she was expecting; the normal happy Fred showing his face.
"Well, how could I let my favourite student fail? Give it here," she teased, stepping up to the desk, taking a seat on the corner across from him, collecting the archives into her lap. Fred didn't say a word, watching as she tucked her hair, and dipped his frayed quill into the red ink to make corrections to his ledger.
"Hello," he finally said, looking up at her now from his seat next to her.
Hermione felt her cheeks blush at the sudden attention she was receiving, but smiled and replied, "Hello," and took a leap of faith and leaned in, lightly grazing his cheek with her lips.
"Thanks for helping. My head was beginning to feel like Hagrid had stepped on it." Fred sighed a bit happily, leaning into her side, and resting his chin on her leg.
"How long have you been doing this that you gave yourself a headache?" She asked curiously, feeling rather protective of this giant goof.
"Not that long, but George broke my glasses last week, and I forgot the spell Harry always uses."
"You wear glasses?" the ledger was completely forgotten in exchange for staring at Fred incredulously, "how long have you had glasses?" it was now Fred's turn to blush, rubbing his neck as an excuse to look at the desk in embarrassment.
"Just about a year now; I only use them to read, otherwise George calls me 'the Perfect Prefect Percy Posse'. Bit of a mouthful, but he gets a right laugh out of it." The nervous chuckle was silenced by Hermione silently Accio-ing the glasses from the room, figuring they would be stashed in here, and fixing them with a quick 'Oculus Reparo'. Not saying a word, Hermione slipped the glasses on over the bridge of his nose, brushing back the scruff of hair blocking his face. The effect was instant; that warm butterfly effect worming its way through her body, rushing pleasantly till it reached her toes.
"There," was all she whispered, barely making a sound. Fred couldn't stop watching her, transfixed by her eyes turning darker.
The moment was broken by a familiar twist of Fred's lips, and a comment that made her scoff, "If I'd've known glasses would have gotten you off, I would have used them on you much earlier."
"I'm sorry," Hermione said, tracing his ear and keeping her eyes fixated on her movements.
"For not mentioning your glasses fetish? I must say, I am pleasantly surprised."
"No, I'm just, really sorry."
They stayed silent together, Fred realizing now was not the time for jokes. Neither said anything, but both felt immensely better.
"Me too, but I'm also very glad we got our first fight out of the way. Truce?" He smirked and stuck out his hand for a handshake, taking hers and pumping their arms a few times.
"I suppose so, if it lets me kiss you now." She grinned happily, leaning down to cup his face in both her hands tenderly, pecking at his lips until he caught her bottom lip between his. In seconds, Fred had pushed the ledgers off Hermione's lap, instead collecting her onto his to pull her even closer. Eventually, his glasses were pushed up to the top of his head and were threatening to tip onto the floor. Hermione took a moment to slide them off and popped them over her shoulder onto the desk.
"Thanks, I was going a bit crossed eyed, I think."
"Still have a headache then?" Hermione cooed into his neck, slipping her hand up into his hair, and tugging lightly to gain his attention. Whimpering under her ministrations, but trying to hide it, Fred shifted around, ending up with Hermione's legs wrapped around his waist.
"Bloody hell," he mumbled to the ceiling, feeling more than lightheaded now, "bit of a tinge, I suppose."
"Well," she grinned with a distinctly feline manner, "I know for a fact being in a dark room lessens the pressure behind your eyes, especially after not wearing your," she pushed up further to his chest, breathing heavily onto his neck, "glasses."
"Merlin help me," Fred groaned, picking the small woman up as he stood, keeping one arm under her, feeling a moan coming on as he shifted to grab her bum. Hermione kept her legs wrapped around him, her hands busy distracting him to no end, and her stomach swooping in delight and lust, past the point of stopping. Fred made a step to move them away from the desk, most likely to Apparate, but Hermione pulled away to whisper something once more into his ear, nipping at the shell.
He barely made sense anymore, but most of it sounded like, "Shite, bloody buggering, Merlin, I've gone to heaven."
Before Apparating up to the flat, Fred grabbed the glasses off the desk for Hermione, who snatched them with a greedy grin, bearing down on his neck as they spun out.
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Done for now! Thanks to everyone still reading, and sticking with me!
AJ