Chapter Text
The sun beat down hard over The Burrow, a handful of postcard worthy clouds scattered across the sky doing very little to shade the haphazard house from the warm rays.
Hermione had been spending the summer with the Weasleys, a much needed invitation to destress from the chaos of her working life. Between running her little bookshop and her relentless campaigning for S.P.E.W she rarely had any time for herself these days.
She sighed contently as she lifted her face up to the sun, eyes fluttering shut beneath her sunglasses for a brief moment. The warmth washed over her and she welcomed it happily, a book in one hand and a cold glass of butterbeer in the other.
She was determined that today would be the day she caught a tan. So once she had finished breakfast, she had sprinted up to Ginny's room, changed into a two-piece bathing suit, grabbed her book, a sheer wrap for when she needed to go inside and a blanket for the grass and headed out into the garden.
Molly had sweetly checked up on her every hour or so and when she had offered everyone refreshments, Hermione had thanked her before returning to her spot with the cold drink.
'It's a wonder you have any books left to read, 'Mione.' She heard a voice to her left and turned to see Ron passing her, broom balanced over his shoulder. He was closely followed by Harry, Ginny, Charlie, Fred and George, all equally carrying brooms.
'This might come as a shock to you Ronald but there's these two little words called 'New Print'.' Hermione chuckled, eyeing the group from behind her sunglasses.
'We're off to play a bit of quidditch. Fancy coming to watch?' Harry chimed in as he passed her and Hermione shook her head.
'I think I'll stay here, thank you though.' She smiled, bringing the rim of the glass to her lips.
She watched each one pass, wishing them a good game as they went. The last two to pass her were the twins, carrying a beater's bat each in the hands that weren't holding the handles of their brooms.
'Nice tits.' Fred winked as he passed, the grin on his face big enough to put the Cheshire Cat to shame. She watched as he chuckled and before she could hit him back with some witty reply, the both of them were racing to catch up with the rest of the group.
Oh he thought he was so fucking funny.
Hermione subconsciously fixed one of the straps to her bikini top, rolling her eyes before returning to the paragraph she'd left off. Yet no matter how long or hard she stared at the page, the words weren't sinking in.
She'd heard rumours about the twins. Scandalous rumours. Deplorable rumours.
She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth as she thought. She wasn't normally one to listen to gossip but when she'd heard Fred and George's names, she couldn't help herself.
At first she couldn't believe what she'd heard, telling herself that perhaps she had mistaken the names and there was no way they could've possibly been talking about the Weasley twins. But as time went by, she found herself wondering more.
What if it was true? Did anyone else know? What was it like?
That last thought had slithered its way into her mind as she was taking a bath one night and the notion that she'd heard wrong was long gone. She knew it was probably wrong of her to even entertain the idea but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't a little bit curious.
She resigned herself from reading, shutting her book and setting it down beside her. Her mind wandered once more to the singular thought that had been plaguing her for weeks.
What was it like?
****
A couple of hours had passed since Hermione had watched her friends set out to play quidditch. The sun wasn't nearly as hot anymore and she felt as though she'd been out long enough so she made to collect her things.
As she folded the blanket, she could hear everyone returning just in time for food. She watched as they approached, laughing and chatting away with each other. It had clearly been a fun game and Hermione waited for them to get closer so that she could walk in with them.
She noticed that the twins weren't with them and she raised an inquisitive brow.
'Where's Fred and George?' She asked and was answered with another chorus of laughter.
'They're catching up.' Harry pointed behind them. 'George's bat slipped and flew off into the overgrowth so they went looking for it.' He snorted.
'You should've been there, 'Mione.' Ginny laughed. 'It was so funny!'
Hermione couldn't help the chuckle that slipped from her and she looked out to where they had appeared from. She could see the two men in the distance, very obviously in a jovial mood.
'I'll catch up with you guys.' Hermione smiled, finishing folding the blanket as everyone filed back into the house, eager to sit and curb their hunger.
She waited until she was alone again before heading in the direction of the twins, meeting them before they could reach the garden.
'Uh-oh, I think you're about to get in trouble, Fred.' George smirked as the two of them were stopped in their tracks.
'Finally thought of a comeback, Granger?' Fred teased, leaning on his broom as it hovered beside him.
'That wasn't funny before, Fred.' Hermione chastised but it only sounded half-sincere.
'No?' Fred raised a brow. 'Would you have preferred I just stared instead? Because you know me, Hermione. I'm a man of honesty.' He held his hand to his chest, feigning offence.
Hermione blushed lightly, shifting her stance as she readied herself for what she was about to do. She shouldn't even be asking them. This was insane, surely?
'Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about.' She cleared her throat. 'I overheard something a few weeks ago and I need to know for myself if it's true.' She looked from Fred to George and then back again.
'Go on.' George encouraged her to continue, the glint in his eye giving Hermione the sinking suspicion that he knew just what she about to say.
'I-I heard that you two..' She started, unsure of how to say this without sounding so crude. Fuck it, she was just going to have to say it. 'I heard you two fu..'
'Fuck people together?' George cut her off, a low chuckle leaving his lips at the light blush forming on her cheeks.
'Yes.' Hermione breathed, swallowing hard as she waited for either one of them to just say something.
'Thought about it a lot, hm?' Fred teased, a smirk slipping onto his face. 'Thought you'd try it for yourself?'
'N-not at all.' The brunette answered shakily. 'I just thought that if anyone were to find out..'
'Mhm, sure.' George nodded, slowly making to walk around her. As he reached behind her, he stopped momentarily, dipping his head to her ear. 'For what it's worth, all you have to do is ask.' He whispered.
Hermione fought back the shiver that travelled down her spine, settling in the pit of her stomach. Her eyes were still fixed on Fred as his eyes visibly raked over her body.
'I stand by what I said.' He smiled as he moved to join his brother, the two of them heading back up to the house. 'You really do have nice tits.' He winked once again and they left Hermione to join the rest in the kitchen.
Cocky twats, Hermione thought as she begrudgingly followed them and entered into the kitchen. She donned the wrap she had brought out with her before taking a seat at the table, only for the twins to take up residence either side of her.
She huffed to herself, reaching out and helping herself to the spread of food set on the middle of the table. She silently watched as conversations flowed, enjoying her food as she listened.
That night Hermione lay awake into the early hours of the morning, unable to stop her mind from racing. She couldn't help but feel guilty. Here she was, sharing a room with Ginny and all she could think about was her older brothers. What kind of friend was she?
She fell into an uneasy sleep, tossing and turning all night as she allowed her fantasies to drown out her guilt.