Childish games
She had stayed up late talking to Luna, both telling her about her troubles and listening to Lunas. She had been matched two men from the twins year and a wizard in his thirties. Luna had met them all and she seemed very happy.
They had both realised that things could be a lot worse. They had been been matched with decent men. That is why she loved talking to Luna , she always brought perspective to her situation.
She woke up in the late morning feeling happier than she thought she would be for a long time.
"Morning sleepy head, here's some tea, there's brunch on the table if you want." Luna told her, popping her head in.
"Thank you I'll be there in a minute. " Hermione replied stretching.
She went through and sat down opposite the blonde, they ate in relitive silence. After eating they went for a walk along the water and just reminisced of their school days.
Luna had plans with one of her fiancé's for dinner, so in late afternoon she went to get ready, saying goodbye to her friend.
Hermione readied herself to go back to the burrow. She was ready to lay down the lay to a certain ginger.
When she apparated back Charlie was waiting for her.
"I am so sorry for my brother, he is a twat, but he does care for you, he is just struggling with this. Are you okay?" Charlie asked her.
"Yes, Luna is a wonderful listener. Where is he?"
"He is out looking for you. He was worried, we all were. I'll send him an owl, letting him know you are safe."
"No let him sweat a bit. I'll message him later. I think a family meeting is called for tonight." She told him as went into the house.
"Hermione, I'm glad you are okay! Thank you for letting us know where you were, all my boys were worried, especially Ron and Charlie. " Mrs Weasley told her as she wrapped her in a hug.
"I just needed time away from here. I am sorry if I worried you,it was not my intent."
"Oh dear you do not need to apologise, Ron acted rashly, he is very hot headed, but he really cares." Mr Weasley said as he stepped into the kitchen.
"Would you mind if we used your living room this evening, I think we need a family meeting again." Hermione asked her soon to be in laws.
"Yes of course, anything you need. Dinner will be ready in a couple of hours. If you want to get some rest before hand." Mrs Weasley told her gently.
"Actually I think I'll head to Diagon Alley, there's a couple of things I need." She told the older couple.
"I know you are more than capable but please take one of my sons with you. We would all feel safer. " Mr Weasley told her.
"Of course, I'll go see who wants a trip. I'll owl Ron letting him to be known for dinner."
She quickly wrote a letter and sent it to Ron, before heading to find a red headed chaperone.
Bill was the first one she came across and he readily agreed to accompany her, he was getting no where with his work and needed a break anyway.
They apparated to the Leaky Cauldon and headed to the shopping street.
They headed to florish and blotts, where she bought some books that she had been wanting plus some notebooks.
"You know you can always talk to me, if one of my brothers upset you, or hurt you in any way you can tell me." Bill told her as they were going to the next shop.
"I know, but I do need to handle things myself. I cannot keep running to your parents or you, I will be married, trying for children in a month. Don't worry if I struggle I'll come to you. " Hermione told him with a smile.
"Good, we all just want this to work and for you to be happy. Fluer always admired your strength, your ability to face anything." Bill told her with a sad smile.
"That's funny I admired her for the same reasons. She was an amazing woman!! How are you feeling about all this?"
"I enjoy your company and I do get to see my brothers probably more than I'd like. But I never saw myself with anyone other than Fleur. I find out attractive so the night time activities will be fine, but I cannot imagine loving you as anything more than a friend. Although I have five brothers that will be more than happy to do that." Bill explained.
"I get it, no woman could match up to her, honestly that's the way it should be. She was a force to be reckoned with and I would never want you to stop loving her." Hermione said taking his hand.
"Thank you, that means so much to me."
They carried few more errands, keeping their hands together, then headed back to the burrow.
During dinner, everything was tense, Hermione was friendly to everyone including Ron and this made him more nervous.
After dinner, the older Weasleys cleared up and ushered their sons and Hermione into the living room.
"Hermione I am so sorry! I should have never said any of it. Or left you alone. I regretted it immediately. " Ron told her before they even sat down.
"It's okay, you are forgiven." Hermione said to five stunned men and a smirking Bill. She told him her plans that afternoon.
"Forgiven, but how? You hated me for months for kissing someone and we weren't even together, why so easy now?"
"Because I've grown up and decided that I know a suitable punishment." She said as reached under her chair and brought out a water wand (like a water gun but shaped like a wand) a new toy that George and Fred has recently released.
She pointed it at a stunned Ron and sprayed water at him. Everyone laughed.
"Ron, we are all stressed, saying and doing things we don't mean are normal but please try and do it less. Please try not to leave , I need to trust you." She said spraying him one last time.
"Why the water? " He asked. "Will this happen anytime one of us wrong you?"
"No I just thought it was fun. We can all do with some fun. So on that note, outside everyone." She told them standing up and heading to the door.
At first no-one but Bill and Charlie followed her.
"Cmon, it'll be fun I promise." Bill told them.
They followed them outside. Hermione handed them each a water wand. Each filled with different coloured water.
"Free for all!!" She said as she sprayed Charlie with purple water and ran away.
"Oi!" Charlie yelled, chasing after her, spraying Percy and George with orange water as he ran.
Bill took the chance to spray Fred with Green water and ran in the opposite direction to his soon to be wife.
Madness ensued. After half an hour they were all panting and covered in lots of different colours.
"Well that was fun!" Hermione said laughing. She was the only one who seemed to have equal amounts of each colour, unlike the boys, the each seemed to have a friendly grudge. The twins obviously had each others, Bill and Charlie had each others, Percy had Ron's and Ron, clearly had the most water splashed over him, but his was mostly Hermione's.
"It was, I was wondering why you bought these today. I had never thought of using the water dye charm on them. Genius!" Fred exclaimed!!!
"I have not had such silly fun in years." Percy told them. They had all been surprised with the vigour he joined in.
"There's more surprises so let's get back in get warm." Bill told them with a swish of his wand, he cast a drying spell on them all.
They went back into the sitting room, Charlie made them all hot chocolates.
Hermione handed them all notebooks.
"This is for you. It might seem silly, but I found it useful over the years, you write down your feelings, fears, thoughts anything you feel like you cannot tell anyone. No matter how small. It's helped me work out many problems."
"Thank you, that's very thoughtful. We all do need to keep things from getting too much." Bill told her.
"Yes, I propose during our marriage, we take one evening every month for fun, silly childish fun." George said.
Every one nodded.
They spent the evening joking and just having fun. Hermione went to bed feeling happier than she had in a long time.