Birthday Celebration - Part 7

Hermione frowned and Ron wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Lay off," he said to George in a low voice.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, little bro," Fred said, taking the bottle from Harry. "No one is picking on your Hermione."

Ron's ears turned red, matching the color in Hermione's cheeks.

As they passed the bottle around and listened to the twins' amusing stories of events from their shop, Harry tried to shake his unease. The Firewhiskey felt warm in his belly, but he wasn't as relaxed and carefree as he had the last time he'd drunk it. Narcissa's words kept ringing in his head.

The people that get close to you have a nasty habit of ending up dead…

Harry angrily took the bottle from Ginny and took another drink, desperately trying to block the implication of the words.

Ron, Hermione and Ginny are the people closest to me now…

Ron had begun slurring his words, while Ginny had developed an uncontrollable case of the giggles. Despite his morose thoughts, Harry couldn't help but be amused seeing her this way. At first, she'd laugh at any nonsensical thing the twins' would say but gradually would giggle if anyone so much as looked at her.

Surprisingly, Hermione appeared to hold it better than either of the Weasleys. She kept right up with the others, but hadn't started acting silly. She had grown much quieter than usual, however.

Ginny turned towards Harry, frowning slightly as she studied him intently.

"What?" he demanded finally, slightly unnerved by her intense gaze.

"I don't know where I came up with fresh pickled toad; they're really more emerald in color. I suppose it was harder to rhyme emerald," she said, giggling so hard she couldn't catch her breath.

The others roared with laughter, as Harry felt color flame to his cheeks, remembering that horribly embarrassing Valentine from second year.

"Er…right," he said, shifting his position so he could lean back against the wall. "Maybe you've had enough of that Ginny." He'd begun to worry what else she might blurt out in her drunken state. He was sitting in a small room with three of her brothers.

"Bloody Hell, Harry, lighten up," Hermione said, shocking them all. Ron's mouth gaped open.

"Hermione," he said. "You just cursed."

"I've spent the last six years practically living with you, Ron. Did you think I hadn't picked up some of your ruddy habits?" Hermione asked, taking another drink.

Fred and George forgot all about Harry's Valentine as they turned towards Hermione with calculating expressions.

"Which of his other habits have you picked up on, Hermione?" Fred asked eagerly.

"Well, I haven't learned how he stuffs an entire potato into his mouth at one time, but I really don't think I want to know that," she said seriously causing the others to laugh. "But I have picked up a load of curse words and can make my face appear as if I'm listening to you intently when I'm really plotting out an entire assignment in my head. Of course, I don't think Ron's really thinking about assignments when he does that, more like a Quidditch roster. I've never seen anyone so obsessed with ruddy Quidditch. Back when we were younger – before he was on the team – he used to quote facts and records about every match in history while we watched Harry play."

"I never thought you were really listening," Ron said, stunned.

"Oh, I wasn't paying attention, but I did like to listen to your voice. You have a very pleasant-sounding voice when it's not cursing or shouting about something. You do tend to shout a lot," she said seriously.