Promising Young Witch | Bill Weasley

Chapter 12

I almost choked on the piece of banana out of surprise and Bill hurried to tap me on the back, just the same spot where he left off last time. I quickly turned around with indignation on my face.

"What are you doing?" I asked him almost losing my temper.

"I just wanted to... check on you," he said, hiding his eyes.

I turned away from him with my back against the table, he did the same leaning right next to me, our hands touching slightly. I couldn't lie to him like I did to George. There was no point, he knew how I felt.

"It seems like my brother is rather keen on you," we both were looking at George dancing with one of the veela cousins, and making faces at me like I had to save him this instant. I smiled and looked down. Although Bill tried to smile, his voice sounded bitter. He gulped before saying the next words. "Maybe you should just be with him."

"Well, it's up to me to decide," I said frowning.

We stood there for a few more moments in silence, our hands still slightly touching.

"You shouldn't be here... with me," I broke the silence.

"Yes, but in this rather crowded place, I always find my way back to you."

Unable to stand this agony no more I proceeded to walk away, but Bill quickly caught my arm, which was so conveniently close to him. He didn't squeeze it, just held it in his cold arm.

"I need to talk to you, please. I promise to let you alone once and for all."

"Okay."

"Meet me at the kitchen at 2 am."

I freed my hand, not answering him at all, and walked away. I didn't know where I was going. Where could one hide their feelings for the groom in the middle of an engagement party?

I decided to go inside the house and check if Molly needed my help, so I could distract myself. I entered the hall of the house and turned left in direction of the kitchen. I saw someone down the hallway kneeling in his black suit and black leather shoes, which wrinkled from the uncomfortable position of its owner. It looked like he dropped something on the floor and was about to pick it up. As I was approaching, my step being absolutely soundless, he didn't stand up.

Just when I approached the man, I saw a tiny white mouse standing at its feet right near the man's hands. It noticed me instantly and with a squeak ran away, which made the man turn around.

"Is everything okay?" I said in an absent voice.

"Yes, why?" said the deep baritone of Viktor Krum, who was slowly standing up, the wrinkles on the shoes straightening up.

"Um... no reason."

I gave him one last look and continued to the kitchen. The bizarre contrast of big Krum in a black suit and a white little mouse hit the nerve, and I pushed my fingers to my mouth to hold the giggle.

I entered the kitchen and run into Hermione, who was holding a bowl of chocolate frogs. I let out a giggle that I was trying to hold. Her face changed from focused, to amused and she smiled. Without knowing why I'm giggling, she just picked up the mood.

"What?" she said, still smiling.

"I just..." I giggled again. "I just saw Krum..." We both giggled more for no reason. "with a mouse"

We started to laugh, now both holding to the bowl to help us stand.

"What?" repeated Hermione, clearly thinking I'm joking.

"He was just there down the hall," we giggled even more, while I was pointing at the hallway, "he was kneeling like he was trying to pick it up or something"

We both laughed again.

"I thought he was afraid of mice," Hermione said still smiling and looking behind me at the now empty corridor.

"Really?" I held my fingers to my lips, trying to subdue another wave of laughter.

"Yeah. It's quite bizarre actually. I find out when we were at Hogwarts and he would wince in the hallways when it passed near his leg."

"This made my day Hermione."

"Stop!" she jokingly kicked me with her elbow.

"Anyways, do you need any help?"

I helped Hermione in the kitchen, but it turned out I mostly distracted her while also knicking sweets from plates. I asked her about Ron and how he didn't snatch her yet, in that beautiful red dress.

"That arse Ronald only does something when Krum or someone else's around," she said indignantly.

I let out an indignant groan, from the mouth full of chocolate.

"I mean it's not like I'll be here waiting for him forever you know," she continued.

"And you shouldn't! Honestly, I know Ginny said that to give him a chance, but Hermione it's tiring to way for someone to make up their mind. You need someone who knows what their want and not afraid to take it!"

I got so passionate about Hermione's love life, I wasn't sure whether I was advising her or to myself. It's so much easier to advise than to follow it, especially when the heart says one thing and the brain says something different.

"Anyway, what about you?" asked Hermione.

"What about me?" I asked just to buy me some time to come up with a convincing lie.

"You and George seem rather intimate. So are you going out with him?"

"No... I- It's more complicated than that."

"Do you still have feelings for Lupin?"

"No! No, it's not that at all."

Even with Hermione's shrillness, she couldn't figure out who was really on my mind. I started to question whether I am hiding too much from my best friend.

"Then what is it?"

"Talking about me ladies?" said a third voice from behind my back. George entered the kitchen unnoticed.

"No, they're talking about me obviously," Fred entered right after his brother, and already got his hands on sandwiches.

"Of course, we are talking about you," I said with the most confidence I could find in myself, "both of you in fact, and how we are hopelessly devoted to you."

I knew that the only way to get out of the situation, was to joke with them, and what's more importantly don't show they can get to you.

"I've always known you've had a bit of a crush on me, Hermione," said Fred matter-of-factly, knowing full well it would annoy her.

"What! I did not!" said Hermione, color rising in her cheeks.

"The more you deny it, the less I'll believe you, Granger," said Fred and then took the apple she was about to bit right out of her hands.

"Hey!"

"Come and get it!" he said and began to run away out of the kitchen.

George and I turned our heads when Hermione followed Fred out of the kitchen. Just when she was catching up with him he Disapparated on the stairs.

"Hey, that's not fair!" Hermione shouted.

"Who said I was going to be fair?" Fred shouted from upstairs.