Familial Obligations

A/N: Wow, people actually liked it!! I’m so warmed by your reviews!! Thank you so much!! Again, thanks to Kathy for all her wonderful support, YOU ROCK!! She is truly my angel, she puts up with my quirks and all my issues. Okay, on to business. I have found myself in a pickle. I hadn’t ever meant to unveil Hermione’s previous lover, but many reviewers at other sites are adamant in their queries about him, so I thought I would tell all, only one problem, I hadn’t decided who he would be. If anyone has suggestions, please, send them my way. I have a couple ideas, but I am going to wait and see what the more popular response is before I bring his identity out into the open, so, let me know…onto the good stuff!! This part is a little shorter than the last, but I didn’t really want to add the dinner party here, so I ended it where I did.
Familial Obligations

Part Two

Hermione awoke to bright sunlight streaming through the parted curtains in her bedroom. A small smile graced her lips as she remembered last night’s events. She rolled over to face the empty side of her bed. Her smile faltered when she realized Bill was gone. She sighed. Of course he wouldn’t stay the night, what had she been thinking? He had his wife to get home to, why would he stay here with her? And even more important, why did she even want him to?

Shaking those thoughts out of her head, she rose from her bed and made her way over to her wardrobe, taking out a Muggle pair of jeans and a Gryffindor red jumper. It was Saturday and she had promised Ron, Harry and Ginny she would go shopping with them today. Apparently thirteen months to plan a wedding was “cutting it short” according to Molly Weasley, so to appease her future mother-in-law, she had promised to get right on it. Today they would be looking at bridesmaid’s dresses and Ginny was in heaven. Hermione on the other hand was not looking forward to their day of shopping.

She made her way into her master bathroom and turned the shower on. Soon the room was filled with heavy steam. She stepped into the hot spray and allowed it to wash away her aches from the night before, wishing she could wash away the feeling of his hands on her body while she was at it. The last thing she needed today was to be lost in the memories of Bill while trying to pay attention to Ron.

She finished her shower quickly and threw on her clothes for the day, casting a quick drying spell on her hair. She wasn’t really in the mood to fight with her hair today, so she threw it up into a high ponytail. The young witch stared at her reflection for a moment, trying to discern if any telltale marks had been left on her body that would betray her. Her musings were interrupted by a loud knock on her door.

“Coming!” she called out, grabbing her wand on her way to the door. Opening the door to reveal her friends, she greeted them with a smile. “Hey!”

“Hey, yourself,” Ron said, leaning in to chastely kiss her lips. She couldn’t help but notice how different his lips were from Bills. Ron’s were thinner and smoother, almost as if he wore chapstick, whereas Bill’s were fuller and a little rough, possibly due to the time spent out in the harsh sun of Egypt. Stop! Her brain yelled at her. She could not wander off into those thoughts today, she had to focus!

“So, ready to go?” Ron asked her, putting his arm around her shoulders.

“Yeah, let’s go,” she answered with a cheery smile.

“Oh, by the way, do you have any plans tonight for dinner?” her fiancé asked.

“No, nothing I can think of,” she answered, her thoughts straying for a moment to Bill, wondering if he had meant to come by tonight.

“Good, the whole family is getting together tonight. You can come, right?” he asked, his eyes hiding a smile.

“Wouldn’t miss if for the world. What’s the occasion?”

“Oh, nothing big,” he answered, his eyes avoiding hers.

“Sure,” she said, her eyes narrowing. She turned her gaze to Harry to find him grinning like an idiot. Ginny reached over and elbowed the raven-haired boy.

“Ouch! What was that for?” he asked his girlfriend.

“Oh for cripe’s sake!” she said, rolling her eyes. “Harry, Ron, remind me never to trust either of you with a secret,” the red headed girl muttered.

“Okay, guys, what’s going on?” Hermione asked her friends.

“Just don’t ask, that way they can’t ruin it,” Ginny pleaded with her brunette friend.

The older girl just shook her head, “Okay, whatever.”

The four friends made their way out of the house and out to the Apparition point. “Diagon Alley?” she asked.

Her friends nodded. “See you there,” Harry said, then turned on the spot and disappeared.

The four friends appeared outside of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. They had promised to stop in and see George and Charlie before heading to Madam Malkin’s. Charlie had moved back to England after the final battle and to everyone’s surprise taken up Fred’s place at the shop. It pleased Molly and Arthur to finally have all of their family back home. It helped with the healing.

Hermione entered the shop first, only to duck in order to avoid a flying stink bomb. The little devils had been Charlie’s idea. Large Dung Bombs enchanted like bludgers to soar at the nearest individual. “Finite Incantatem”, she yelled, pointing her wand at the black ball as it turned to make another dive at her.

“Spoil-sport,” Charlie laughed, coming over to pick up the now lifeless pellet.

“Gee, I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to be covered in dung while trying to pick out wedding dresses,” she sneered at the older Weasley.

Charlie threw his head back and laughed. George came up to them as Ron, Harry and Ginny entered the store. “How are you lot doing?” he asked, giving his sister a hug.

“Great, actually,” Harry answered for them, noticing Hermione’s sour expression. “All right there, Hermione?” he asked hesitantly.

“Oh, just peachy,” she replied, shooting daggers at Charlie’s laughing form, before relaxing into a chuckle herself.

“You are both coming to dinner tonight, right?” Ron asked, eyeing his brothers.

“Of course, Ronniekins,” George answered, ruffling his little brother’s hair. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Good, you, too, right Charlie?”

“Don’t worry, we are all coming, now lay off before you have a fit,” the older man laughed, thumping his brother on the back.

Hermione looked between the Weasleys and Harry, wondering once again what was going on and why Ron seemed so adamant that everyone be at dinner that night.

“Have you talked to Bill yet?” Ron was asking Charlie.

“Yeah, he didn’t know for sure if Fleur would be back from Calais yet, but he said he would definitely come,” was the answer.

Hermoine’s heart jumped at the mention of Bill. She scolded her wayward organ for its lapse in judgment. “Well, we had better get going. We have no idea how long this is going to take and dinner seems awfully important tonight, so we don’t want to be late,” she told her companions. The group bade the two older Weasleys goodbye before heading off up the street to the dress shop.

They entered the quiet shop and made their way to the back, where the formal attire was kept. They told the clerk they would like some time to just look and would come find her if they needed any help. After they were left alone, Hermione turned to Ginny.

“I was thinking baby blue for yours and Luna’s dresses. I want to see exactly how it will look with your hair first though,” she told her friend.

“Sure, not a problem. Harry, Ron, you two sit down over there. You know you are going to have to give us your opinion, right?” the younger witch told the two frowning wizards.

Harry just rolled his eyes. “Of course, dear.”

Ginny narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend. “Are you sassing me?” she demanded.

His eyes widened in mock fear. “Never darling!”

She just smirked. “Good.”

“Okay, Gin, try this one on first,” Hermione said, coming up to her friend and holding out a dress.

“All right, be back in a minute,” she told them, disappearing into one of the curtained changing cubicles.

“Why are Harry and I here again?” Ron asked his fiancé with a frown.

“You have to pick out your dress robes then have them fitted, remember?”

“Oh…yeah,” he replied with a sigh.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be as quick as possible,” she promised.

Just as she was finishing her sentence, Ginny came out. Hermione smiled. The dress was perfect. It had two delicate straps on each shoulder. The bodice had delicate flowers embroidered on it, ending in an empire waistline. The skirt was satin and fell to the floor, covered in a sheer overlay. She glanced over at Harry and laughed at his expression. He was gaping open mouthed at Ginny, doing his best impression of a fish.

“Wow, you look great, Gin!” Hermione gushed.

Ron reached over and shut Harry’s gaping mouth. “Yeah you really do…he thinks so, too,” he replied, indicating the silent wizard as he spoke.

Ginny just laughed. “Thanks.”

Hermione went to speak to the saleswitch about purchasing two of the blue dresses, then set up appointments for Ginny and Luna to come have them fitted. After that was completed, the four friends made quick work of selecting the boys’ robes then ordered them to be delivered later that week.

The four friends left the store and began walking up the street. It was a beautiful day and the sun shone down upon the small group as they made their way up to Gringotts. Ron and Harry said they had some business to take care of there, but neither would say what that entailed. Ginny and Hermione promised to wait for the boys out in the marbled entryway. Hermione had forgotten for a moment that Bill worked at the bank so she was rather shocked to find his smiling face approaching them.

“Bill!” Ginny called out to her brother, throwing her arms around his neck.

“Hey, there. What are you guys doing here?” he asked, his eyes falling on Hermione.

“Ron and Harry drug us here,” Ginny explained to her oldest brother. “It’s all hush, hush, you know,” she said with a conspiratorial wink.

“Okay, that is getting really annoying!” Hermione exploded.

Ginny turned her shocked gaze to her normally calm friend. “Sorry, Hermione, I didn’t know it bothered you that much…we’re just joking, you know,” she apologized hesitantly.

She just huffed. “I know. I just hate not knowing what’s going on,” she mumbled to the floor.

“Hey, I’m sorry,” Ginny told her, placing a gently hand on her shoulder.

She shrugged. “It’s fine.” She raised her eyes to finally meet Bill’s. She melted beneath his gaze. It was almost as if he could see right through her, right down to the heart of her. When he looked at her, she felt she had no secrets. She knew for sure he could see right into her heart and know her deepest desires. She was lost in his gaze, her pulse quickening. She licked her dry lips, his eyes following her moist tongue.

“Hermione!” Ginny repeated her name again.

“Wha-?” she asked, blinking rapidly to shake off the unbalanced feelings she was experiencing. “Sorry, zoned out for a minute,” she muttered, going a brilliant shade of red.

“I said, ‘There’s the guys, we better get going,’” she repeated, giving her brother a confused look.

Bill gave Ginny another quick hug. “I’ll see you tonight, then,” he told them, nodding to Hermione.

She gave him a small, embarrassed smile, then turned to follow Ginny over to the boys who were waiting for them next to the exit. “Did you get what you needed?” she asked them.

“Yep,” Ron answered with a brilliant smile. The four friends headed back down the street to the apparition point. “Well, Harry and I gotta run, but I’ll come by to pick you up tonight about six, is that okay?” he asked her.

“Sure, I’ll be ready,” she told him with a quick peck on the lips and a wave before they apparated away.

Ginny bade her good bye, promising to see her later that evening as well then turned on the spot and disappeared. She gathered her thoughts together, preparing to apparate herself, when a hand reached out and grabbed her, pulling her roughly into the mouth of a dark alleyway then up against the side of the building. Before she could so much as call out, rough lips were pressed against her mouth in a hungry kiss.

“Bill!” she gasped, finally recognizing her assailant. “What are you doing? Anybody could see us!” she hissed. He didn’t answer but pulled her further down the dark path before pushing her up against the wall once again and pressing his lips against her swollen ones.

Bill had no idea what possessed him to follow her out of the bank. He felt drawn to her. Something snapped inside of him the moment their eyes met. He had to have her, he couldn’t wait. He swore he wouldn’t go to her again until he had talked with Fleur, but seeing her so unexpectedly had broken his resolve. He had meant to go back to her flat to see her, but once she was alone, his control broke. He couldn’t wait to get her back home; he had to have her now.

His body held hers captive against the cold stone wall. Very little noise from the street penetrated this far down the alley. He could feel his arousal straining against his trousers, begging to be inside of her. His lips left hers to trail down her throat, gently nipping at the exposed skin. His hands slipped under her red jumper to stroke her stomach. His left hand settled on her hip while his right made its way up. His thumb gently caressed the underside of her breast. She moaned his name as her hands raked down his chest, heading towards his throbbing member.

His left hand slipped down inside her jeans to stroke her dripping center. “Wow, all this for me?” he asked huskily.

“Whom else would it be for?” she muttered without thinking.

“You’re mine, Hermione. He will never make you feel like I do,” he growled in her ear, a feeling of possessiveness washing over him at the thought that only he made her drip with arousal.

“I know,” she whispered before slipping her hand down his trousers to grip his erection. The feel of her soft hand on him was too much. He ripped her jeans down to her ankles then quickly released himself, pushing her hands out of the way. In one quick thrust he filled her. “Gods!” she gasped, gripping his shoulders. She kicked her jeans off completely so she could wrap her legs around his waist. He gripped her hips roughly to keep her upright against the wall.

His lips met hers in a frantic kiss as he thrust roughly into her, causing her back to slam into the hard stone. She could only pray no one would wander down their deserted alley. The thrill of being in such a public place only aroused her more.

Bill’s thrusts were becoming wild and erratic. She could feel her own pleasure building, a tight ball in her stomach ready to explode. He slipped a hand between them to pinch her clit and her world exploded.

“Yes, Bill!!” she cried out. He growled in her ear, thrust once more, then spilled his seed into her.

The stood there together for a moment catching their breaths. He placed a gently kiss on her temple. “I’m sorry. I…I don’t know what came over me. You have no idea what you do to me,” he muttered to her, blushing at his admission.

Hermione giggled nervously. “Well, if we keep at it like this, it shouldn’t take us any time at all to reach our goal,” she told him matter-of-factly.

He pulled back and gave her a hurt look, before plastering on a smile. “Yeah, you’re right. No time at all. Well, I really have to get back to the bank before they realize I’m missing. I’ll see you at dinner, I guess,” he told her while he tucked himself back into his trousers. He muttered a cleaning spell then handed her jeans to her.

“Umm..yeah, sure,” she told him, confused at his behavior. One minute he seemed to care and to have enjoyed what they just shared, then the next he was cold and clinical about it. Which, she had to remind herself, was how he should be about it. After all, she was only helping him out, nothing more. Yeah, right, she muttered to herself.

After pulling on her jeans, she said good-bye to Bill and apparated away. She then made her way into her flat where she collapsed in tears on her sofa.

“What have I gotten myself into?” she cried into her throw pillow. She wasn’t supposed to have feelings for Bill. This was supposed to be about procreation, creating a baby, not hot, passionate sex with her married, almost-brother-in-law. She knew she was attracted to him, he was a very good-looking wizard, it was hard not to be, but having feelings for him, that was something else. That could get her into trouble, deep trouble. She would have to be more careful in the future. She needed to find a way to detach herself the next time. Falling in love with Bill Weasley was absolutely not in the arrangement.

Having made up her mind, she rose and made her way to her bathroom. After her steamy meeting with Bill, she knew she would need a shower before her dinner date that evening. They were going out somewhere fancy and she wanted to look her best. The entire Weasley family would be there, including Fleur, and she wanted to shine.

Two hours later, Hermione emerged from her bedroom feeling absolutely perfect. She had on a midnight blue, knee length silk dress. It had spaghetti straps and an empire waist. It had a black lace over skirt and black beading along the waistline. She wore two black onyx studs in her ears and a simple teardrop onyx necklace. Her hair was piled on top of her head, with a few errant curls falling on her shoulders and down her back. She had found a pair of black, modest heels to finish it off with. She wore no make-up, in fact, she never wore make-up. She always felt that she was hiding her true self when she covered her face in the sticky substances that so many women swore by. She preferred to go au natural.

Her doorbell rang a moment later. She grabbed her purse and went to greet Ron. He looked amazing. He was wearing new, black dress robes and holding a single red rose with a white ribbon tied to it.

“Oh, it’s beautiful, Ron, thank you,” she told him, accepting the gift and kiss he offered.

“So are you,” he told her, his eyes raking her gorgeous body.

She blushed with embarrassment, rather than pleasure at his heated glance. “Umm…are you ready?” she asked, interrupting his musings.

“Yeah, you?” he asked, his eyes returning to her face.

“Yeah, let’s go,” she offered him her hand.

Ron took her outstretched hand in his and led her out to the apparition point. He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. She didn’t know why, but she always felt uncomfortable when he was this close to her. Something just didn’t feel…right.

Pushing those thoughts away, she cleared her mind as he apparated them away.