Sinners and Saints

Part 20

Hermione's p.o.v. 

They put on their warm clothes and coats and walked through the Weasley's garden to the large field. Hermione transfigured four sticks into two goal posts each. They weren't playing with full teams so she thought only two posts would make it a bit easier. She turned around to see eight figures trudging towards her across the field. She smiled a grim sort of smile before taking a deep breath in and then muttering to herself,

"Accio spare broom."

The two teams reached her just as the broom came flying over their heads and into her hands.

Ron, Harry, Ginny, George, Charlie, Angelina and Bill all stood in shock, at the fact that Hermione was about to actually ride a broom. While Fred stood there with a smirk on his face, knowing despite what she had said earlier about not wanting to be in the air, he knew she was already up there, it being more convenient and easier to referee from the air. Also despite what Ron had said, it wasn't the first time she had been on a broom since first year, not only had she flown a broom out of the burning Room of Requirements, but Fred had secretly been giving her flying lessons, after a lot of persuading.

"What?" Hermione asked, "Do I have something on my face?"

Fred laughed. Ginny was the first to awaken from their shock, she shook her head, before mounting her broom and flying up. The others followed suit after her and once they were all in the air, Hermione let the balls loose.

"No fouls and don't give me any reason to hex you in the air because I will not hesitate to do so. We'll play first to 300 or whoever gets the snitch." Hermione stated clearly once she was up in the air.

The match began and they were having a great time until George took a big swing at one of the bludgers, aiming it at the quaffle that Ginny had just stolen from Angelina, but instead of going in the right direction it carried on and ricocheted off his follow through and was headed straight towards Hermione. Instantly he made her aware of what was about to happen if she didn't react.

"Hermione! Look out!" He cried, drawing the attention of the whole game on the referee.

Fred sped nearer her just in case someone had to catch her. But in an instant Hermione swerved her broom and got out the way, instead of catching her Fred hit it back over in George's direction avoiding Hermione at all costs. George tackled the bludger and brought it to the ground, the rest followed, Charlie having caught the snitch moments after, while everyone was distracted.

"Hermione Jean Granger! When did you learn to move like that on a broom?" Ginny practically screeched across the pitch as she stormed over to her.

From a far it would look to the untrained eye that Ginny was angry but in fact she was very impressed.

Hermione grinned, "Fred's been giving me lessons since fourth year."

"What?!" Chorused the seven others.

"Why did you never tell us?" Said Ron.

"Or come and play with us?" Asked Harry.

"Or tell us?" Ron said again.

"Well, first I knew that this would be your response and also I'm still terrified of heights, it's not like I go flying for fun. Fred had given me about ten lessons in four years and even then most of the time we are on the ground talking about how to fly rather than actually flying. I thought if you knew, you'd all try and make me fly even more. Twice a year is more than enough time in the air for me, thank you very much." Hermione explained.

Before anyone could say anything else they heard the distant yell for them to get back inside and warm up before dinner. Everyone had been fairly oblivious to how long they had spent playing Quidditch. All six boys and Ginny practically sprinted back to the house, leaving Hermione and Angelina to have a chat.

"You know Mione, if you've only had a few lessons that means there is a whole lot of natural talent behind that flying we saw today."

"I wouldn't think so, Fred has talked me through that sort of stuff before, so I kinda knew how to deal with the situation." Hermione said.

"Yes, but talking about something and experiencing it are two very different things, I bet Fred never actually hit a bludger at you at full force." Angelina replied.

"Well no but that's besides the point. I knew how to deal with it because I had been told."

"Okay Mione, whatever you say, I just think we could have used someone like you on the Gryffindor team after Wood left. Of course I captained that team to victory, sort of, but there is always room for improvement and I think you would have been a great asset. That's all I'm saying." With that Angelina went inside, leaving Hermione to think about what she had said.

Hermione knew that her fear of heights was something she would never get over but she had always wondered what her life could have been like if she wasn't afraid of them. There was a knock on the window in the front room which brought her out of her thoughts. It was Ginny. Hermione expected she wanted that chat she had asked about earlier.

So Hermione went inside and sat with Ginny by the fire to warm up. 

 .·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.

As soon as she re-entered the Burrow, Hermione was pulled aside by Ginny, who had been dying to know where Fred and Hermione had been earlier that day and what was said between the two of them. She could tell something was up because it wasn't like them to be that secretive with their best friends, or in Fred's case - twin. Although Ginny wasn't sure if George knew because when she asked him about it he had been vague, so maybe Fred had told him.

"What's up Gin?" Hermione asked in a very nonchalant way.

"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm about to ask you. You are the brightest witch of your age after all." Ginny said with a small chuckle. While the two girls were practically inseparable when they were together Ginny enjoyed teasing Hermione, but Hermione would always dish out as much as she served.

"Okay, okay Gin calm down." Hermione smiled, "He only pulled me aside to give me a more private Christmas present."

There was a pause.

"And?!" Ginny cried, growing impatient and being fully aware Hermione was taking forever on purpose.

Hermione laughed, stood up and dragged Ginny upstairs, knowing full well Ginny's reaction will spark the attention of the others in the kitchen.

"Hermione, would you just tell me already. I'm gonna explode if I don't know soon."

"Fine Gin, okay I'm sorry for all the suspense. He gave me a promise ring." Hermione decided against stopping to let Ginny react because once she did, Hermione knew she wouldn't be able to say another thing from Ginny's excitement. "He said that it was like a pre-engagement ring because we're too young for that but that he fully intended to make me his wife in the future." She breathed out and waited for the inevitable.

"Oh my god! Hermione! Oh my god! This is so exciting, you're gonna be my sister, finally! Cause Fleur is all very well and good but she's boring! And we all know Charlie isn't getting hitched anytime soon. I'm sure this Aubrey girl is very nice but then again she's engaged to Percy, so there must be something wrong with her." She chuckled at her own joke and continued. "George and Angie are a new thing and so I don't see them being married anytime soon and Ron is Ron. So this means I'll have a sane sister-in-law and this is just soooo exciting! I'm so happy for you!!!" she ended and engulfed Hermione in a Molly-esque hug.

"I love you too Gin." Hermione laughed, "Can you see now why I brought you upstairs?"

The two girls sat happily talking about their future and reminiscing about how different their lives had been since the summer.