George stood nose to nose with Ginny, glaring fiercely. His face set in stone as he gestured wildly at her general form.
"Change!"
"Bugger off!"
Luna stood by the door, watching the siblings face off over their wardrobe choices. She had to admit that it was amusing watching the two equally stubborn redheads go nose to nose over something so silly. It made her wish she'd had siblings of her own to see such a sense of kinship. The door cracked open behind her, prompting her to step aside and let Harry silently enter the room and watch the siblings continue their argument obliviously.
"You look rather nice this evening," she whispered softly to him from the side of her mouth as they watched George mime choking Ginny in frustration. Both stifled chuckles at her answering gesture.
"He's rather animated," Harry snickered.
"Yes, its lovely, isn't it?"
They watched silently for a moment in unspoken agreement. While no one knew the full extent of what he was going though, the whole family had noticed George's change since the war. He was much quieter and more reserved than he used to be. And Fred had changed too, becoming much more attached to him, the two withdrawing together. Finally, Harry stepped forward and caught Ginny from behind.
"Gin you said he loves her."
"He does," Ginny turned eagerly to him, forgetting all about George. "Give him a chance, you'll see. He's crazy about her."
"Then he wont notice anyone but her regardless of how nice you dress darling."
"Yes but…"
"But nothing. Trust me," Harry kissed her nose in a rare show of public affection making her blush lightly. "A man truly in love can't see a thing other than his girl." He kissed her gently, making her blush deepen as Luna sighed dreamily and George rolled his eyes. "Besides, don't you think it would look suspicious with everyone but her dressed like a bunch of bums?"
"True… I guess she wouldn't feel too comfortable being odd man out like that."
"Not at all. Please get changed into something normal?"
Ginny nodded and nuzzled his chest momentarily. "Fine, but you two need to step out first."
George threw his hands up in defeat as Harry ushered him from the room, making Luna giggle. "Oh, so it makes since is the chosen one says it!"
Fred stalked toward the living room on silent feet and peeked into the room to see Hermione. She was sitting on the couch, her legs curled to the side with her feet under her as she leaned against the arm of the couch thoroughly entranced in her book. His heart began to pound, sending butterflies to flight in his stomach as blood pooled further south. She was gorgeous. Her dress had ridden up high on her thighs, showing off her fantastic legs, inciting thoughts of having them wrapped around him as he kissed his way down her neck to her chest. It looked soft too, making him wonder what would be softer. Her curves or the material the of the dress. He stepped into the doorway, quickly making up his mind. As he approached, he summoned a book from his room, a mystery he'd been flipping through the past few weeks without much progress. It was the perfect cover story. Catching it as he neared the couch, he sat softly next to her, close enough for her feet to touch his thigh.
"Ah!" Hermione yelped, so entranced in her book she hadn't noticed him until he was next to her. She kicked her legs out at him in instinctual defense.
"Sorry," he murmured, completely unapologetic as he caught her legs, shifted closer and rested them in his lap. "I didn't mean to surprise you. What are you reading?"
He spoke quickly, shifting her attention to their respective books to distract her as he held her feet firmly to his lap, warming them with his large hand. He flashed in innocent smile as she tugged at the feet, trying to gain her freedom. She shot him an odd look staring pointedly at her feet.
"They're cold. I thought I'd warm them up for you," his smile grew strained at the lame excuse. He dropped his book in the now small space between them and wrapped both hands around her feet, miming like he was breathing over them to warm them up. He wasn't lying, they were freezing.
"Okay then…" she stopped tugging as he began to massage them, still shooting him a confused look.
"So, is that your new book?" He tried again to redirect her attention. It seemed to work. Surreptitiously, she glanced at the door before handing him the book to examine. Psychology 101.
"Psychology?" He read out, confused.
"For George," she whispered softly, giving him an excuse to lean even closer. "I wanted to review the basics before we started our research."
Fred's heart clenched painfully. This amazing, sexy woman. He'd ordered her to take time out for herself, and here she was using the precious down time to read for his second half. He could kiss her. He did.
Silence hung heavy between them for a moment before he reached out and wrapped a hand behind her head, threading his fingers through her curls and tightening them to pull her forward. He eyes widening innocently as he gently urged her closer, her eyes darting down to his lips as he licked them. Such a promising response.
"You're incredible," he whispered as he leaned forward, his lips gently pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. He pulled back and chuckled as she blushed, crossing her eyes to look at the point of contact, wrinkling her nose cutely. Not relinquishing his hold, he pulled her in again, tilting her head to trail his nose feather light along her jaw up to her ear. "Next time, save the studying for us to work on together, okay Angel?" He lowered his voice to a soft growl in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
He pulled back and regarded her; eyes wide, pupils dilatated with a deep flush spreading from her checks to her neck. He fought to keep the masculine pride off his face as he watched her sway slightly in place, obviously dazed from his teasing.
'Responsive little witch,' he thought with satisfaction. If this is how she acted with some innocent flirting he couldn't wait to see what happened when he really made his move. He pictured her writhing beneath him as he kissed her, teaching her just what it means to be snogged silly.
"Angel," was all she could seem to think to say, her voice distant and questioning.
"Dinner!"
Molly saved him from answering, her call making them both jump. His carefully weaved moment of intensity snapped easily. They looked at each other and grinned sheepishly at being so startled. Fred finally relinquished her feet and stood, offering his hand to help her up. Automatically, she accepted, letting him pull her to her feet so she could slide her shoes back on. Good, he hadn't startled her enough to be weary of touching him. She collected the books and placed them on the table, hers hidden underneath his.
"Sherlock Holmes?" She questioned. He took her hand and tucked it under his arm, escorting her properly to the dinner room slowly.
"I saw it when I was out one day and remembered Harry talking about it."
"How are you liking it?"
"So far… it's a bit slow." He confessed making her tilt her head back as she laughed heartily.
'Fuck." His mind hit the gutter again as her laughter stirred his blood and his eyes strayed to her neck. He wondered if she would protest if he kissed there…
"There you are love," Harry strolled in and wrapped Hermione in a tight hug. "You look fantastic, is that new?" He kissed her just below the ear.
"Oh!" She burrowed into his arms and returned the hug enthusiastically. "You look fantastic yourself. Have I ever told you how much that jumper makes your eyes pop?"
Fred growled. He didn't think it was possible, but he must of cause George came up behind him and discretely pinched his side hard hissing at him to stop growling like a damned dog.
Dinner was an odd affair to say the least. Nothing would distract Hermione from her delicious pie, and the sides were just fantastic. Nonetheless, she couldn't help but notice that Harry seemed to be rather amused, though he wasn't saying a word. She recognized the shit-eating grin on his face. Of course, unseen to her, but not him, Fred was spending a great deal of the meal alternating between looking at her like a starved man and attempting to glare a hole in Harry. Unseen under the table, George continued to prob Fred, commanding him to stop staring at her and glaring at him in turn, trying to keep his perhaps slightly insane twin under control.
"He's just being affectionate like always. He'll never help if you keep glaring," George hissed all but silently more than once.
Nonetheless, Hermione remained blissfully unaware of the tension between her brother and what was soon to be her man. Though her mind wasn't far from the man in question. As she ate, she found herself going over what had happened in the living room over and over again. They way he'd wormed his way right over next to her, in her personal space, and it didn't bother her for a moment. The way that he'd grabbed her… she thought he was going to kiss her. And she was going to let him. Her cheeks flushed and she kept her head down hoping to avoid catching anyone's notice. She nearly succeeded too.
Yes this may seem a little rushed, but trust me - its a necessary evil to keep future chapters at a reasonable length.
Reviews make the pen flow faster...
