Part Two: Consumed

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.

A/N – This story is non-HBP or DH compliant and can therefore be considered AU. For the purpose of this story, Bill is neither engaged to Fleur nor is he part werewolf. He might have been dating the blonde for a short time, but she won't be getting a mention.

Many thanks, as usual, to WriterMerrin for continuing to support me with her mad beta skills.

--

Her mind whirled when she looked down at the sheets of parchment in front of her.

The month that Hermione had spent planning felt like it had been for naught. Her trip to China had been postponed by the goblins, who had insisted that she remain in London until at least the end of the month, which was three whole weeks away. Her field research wasn't really going to suffer just because she arrived a week after the dig began. After all, with the delicacy of ancient tombs, the slower the team worked, the better. But that didn't help with her other problem at work either – her boss.

Bill had become even more of a nuisance at work since the wedding. He brought her coffee, sat on the corner of her desk and chatted to her for longer periods of time, and on the days when she didn't leave the office during the lunch hour, he always brought her something to eat. Granted, it was nice not to have to go in search of sustenance when she was busy with her translations; it was strange behaviour all the same. Every evening he would ask her to go to dinner with him, and she always replied in the negative. She knew for a fact that everyone else was taking notice of his attentions.

In fact, if Hermione didn't know any better, she would think he was going out of his way to be obvious around her on purpose.

Bill, unlike many of his siblings, was a very take-charge being who always came across as confident and exuded charm and masculinity. He was a man. And Hermione was unbelievably drawn to him for this very reason. He was well travelled, ordinarily had very good manners and was intelligent in a way that very few of the Weasley boys were. Not that the other Weasleys were unintelligent, but his kind certainly appealed to her. However, Bill was making her life very difficult at that moment by tormenting her with his presence.

That evening, as everyone else was finishing up for the day, Hermione was still at her desk scribbling away when her tormentor approached her desk.

'Go to dinner with me,' he said simply, holding out a hand to her.

'Bill, you need to stop doing this, especially while we are at work,' she said, her frustration evident in her voice.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw that a couple of the others were watching them closely. 'I will stop when you agree to go on a date with me,' he replied.

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she fought down the urge to just stand up and deliver a blow to his perfect nose. 'If I agree to go to dinner with you, will you stop harassing me for the next three weeks?' she asked.

'I'll stop harassing you at work at the very least,' he said with a grin. 'I can't promise you that I'll leave you alone when we're not at work though.'

'Fine,' she said, shuffling the parchments in front of her into a neat pile and putting them all in her briefcase. 'I'll go to dinner with you, but it is not a date. It's just dinner.'

'I'll take what I can get,' Bill replied with a smirk.

Grabbing her robes off the back of her chair, she shrugged them on before snatching up her briefcase and ignoring the redhead's proffered arm. 'Lead the way,' she said, aware that they were still being watched by the two other people in the office.

'Stubborn witch,' he muttered under his breath just loud enough for her to hear as he stalked out of the office.

They walked a short way through the Alley before Bill stopped at a small café that had a nice atmosphere and was slightly secluded, much to Hermione's appreciation. Even though she was practically being coerced into having dinner with him, the part of her that was deeply attracted to Bill was rejoicing. They were seated by a young, acne-covered boy who brought out two menus before moving off to the side while they made their selections.

Hermione was just about to open hers up when she felt it being tugged from her hands gently. 'What are you doing?' she asked, confusion clearly written all over her face.

'Well I should think it was obvious,' he said, beckoning the waiter over.

Hermione opened her mouth to protest his presumptuous behaviour, but snapped it shut when the pimply boy arrived at their table. She had no intention of making a scene and making herself look bad in public. He was goading her, but she would not be caving in to the temptation. It was all just a part of his game. As Bill placed their order, Hermione sat stiffly in her chair, playing with the edge of the table cloth and scowling.

'You won't regret it, trust me,' the redhead said on seeing her expression.

'You are going to regret your behaviour so far this evening, William Weasley,' she hissed under her breath as a new couple walked into the café.

'Hermione, I am merely trying to allow you to take a break,' he said smoothly. 'Doesn't it get exhausting having to be in control of everything all of the time?'

Hermione sniffed at that. 'I have not experienced any weariness yet as far as control over my life is concerned,' she said coldly.

Her internal battle was growing far more serious with each passing moment. She still liked him! The man was positively infuriating, and yet all of his charm, sexiness and other good qualities kept reminding her why it was that she was attracted to him – why she admired him. So many times already she had to hold back the torrent of angry words that were trying to launch themselves at him like a nuclear missile. But instead, her head throbbed from the effort of keeping them to herself.

Dinner arrived at the table during her musings, and she looked down, surprised to see that he had ordered the two of them spinach and feta ravioli in a creamy pesto sauce. It was one of her favourite dishes, and she wondered vaguely how he had known to order that. She guessed it probably had something to do with either Ginny or Harry. She was probably going to send them something horrible in the mail for that. The last thing she needed was Bill trying to distract her even more by doing nice things for her.

'You're quiet,' he murmured as he ate.

'I don't like to talk with my mouth full of food,' she replied after swallowing the bite in her mouth.

After that, they lapsed into silence once more. It was odd. Before the Potters' wedding, Hermione had very little trouble conversing with Bill at all. They had a lot of common interests. But since then, everything had seemed so stilted. She hated the way that he made her feel, but relished it at the same time. Hermione waved off dessert when the waiter collected their plates and offered it, and Bill paid for their meals and escorted her outside.

'Let me see you to your house,' he said, holding out a hand to her. 'No strings attached, I promise.'

'Alright,' Hermione agreed.

He Apparated them both to her door and leaned in to place a soft kiss just beside her own trembling lips. 'May I kiss you, Hermione?' he asked.

'Just one kiss, I suppose,' she breathed, unable to deny him then.

His warm lips pressed against hers gently, his hand sliding up to cup her cheek as he deepened it only a little before pulling back. Her breathing hitched as he withdrew, and with a final gentle caress, he turned and Apparated into the night. Clutching a hand to her chest as her heart fluttered madly beneath, she unlocked the door and let herself into the house. And as she went through her nightly hygiene routine, Hermione thought that it was going to be difficult for sleep to find her.

--

The weekend was coming to a close, and with it, the fabric of Hermione's patience was beginning to fray around the edges.

Since dinner on Friday night with Bill, she had been driven to distraction by the redhead in question. The day before, she had intended to finish doing her preliminary research on the dig in China. Instead, she spent the day in idle thought, wondering what she was going to do about the difficult situation she now found herself in with her boss. So, instead she had set out to complete her research that day, but to no effect. Her Sunday had been wasted thinking about dinner at the Burrow that night. He was going to be there, and there was no way she could avoid him.

The last thing she needed was his family to suspect that something out of the ordinary was going on between them. The moment news like that was leaked, it would be impossible to get everyone off her back. Molly especially would be overexcited about the prospect of Hermione becoming an official part of the family that she would push the two of them until they were barmy.

Her cheeks heated the moment her mind drifted to the kiss.

It was unforgettable to say the least. She wanted to keep on kissing him, and she desperately wished he had touched her or held her or stayed. But he had kissed her and left her standing in front of her house, desperate for more of what he had started. Closing her eyes, she willed her thoughts away. When she opened them, she looked at the clock on her mantel and saw that it was already half past six, and she was expected at the Burrow by seven.

She dashed upstairs to her room and took a quick shower, towelling herself dry on the way back into her room. Slipping on her cotton knickers and her bra, she found a navy sweater and a pair of jeans in the drawer and donned them also. Grabbing her wand from beside the basin in the bathroom, she went downstairs, slipped on a pair of loafers and Apparated directly to the back door of the Burrow.

Before she could enter the house, however, a pair of arms slipped around her waist from behind, and she was drawn back towards Arthur's tool shed. She spun around, already knowing who it was, and had the breath knocked out of her at the sight of him. He was wearing a black cashmere sweater with blue jeans, and his long red hair was hanging in slight waves around his face instead of tied back as usual. The change was stunning and strangely beautiful.

'I missed you,' he declared quietly before pressing his lips to hers without bothering to ask for permission that time.

She gasped softly when he broke the kiss. 'It's only been a day and a half,' she whispered back, staring at his black-clad chest.

'It feels like longer,' he murmured before leaning in for a second kiss, pressing his tongue against her lips to part them before exploring her mouth thoroughly.

When she was about to moan, she caught herself and pulled back, flushed and panting. He was seducing her so totally. She was finding it difficult to maintain control when he was around. Managing to wrench herself out of his arms, but not before his hand pressed against her breast over her sweater, she took a few deep breaths before trudging back to the Burrow. She looked over her should to see Bill following her a few steps behind. The look in his eyes frightened her a little. Not because he was angry – oh no – the look was that of a predator stalking its prey.

And Hermione felt just like a deer in the headlights.

--

'Snap out of it!' Ginny said loudly, waving her hand in front of Hermione's face. 'You're almost like a zombie these days.'

Hermione blinked rapidly and focused on her friend. 'Oh, I'm so sorry, Gin!' she exclaimed, grasping the redhead's hand across the table. 'I've been rather out of sorts a lot lately.'

'More than that,' the younger witch stated bluntly. 'There is something on your mind, Hermione Granger, and it's been on it for a while. Now spill.'

Sighing and releasing her hand, Hermione stared at the wood of the table, taking in the contours and the lines. Well, it seemed as though the cat was out of its metaphorical bag. Apparently Ginny knew her better than she thought.

'It's Bill,' she answered finally. 'Things are getting complicated at work because of him. I'm nearly ready to resign, actually. I can barely even get through the day without thinking about him. He is constantly hovering over me like a bird of prey.'

'You fancy Bill?' Ginny said, gawking. 'Well fuck me, I had no idea it was going to be that kind of secret. Well actually, I suppose it does make sense. Bill always was the best-looking boy in the family, so I can understand your attraction. And it does explain him asking about your favourite foods, flowers and places to go in London.'

'What? You mean he was asking all of those questions and you didn't suspect this thing between us before now?' Hermione asked, feeling a little frantic.

'I suppose Harry and I have been a little distracted too,' Ginny said with a blush. 'It's still all rather new for us. Marriage has only made the sex even better!'

'Ginny, I hate to say this to you, but I really don't want to know about Harry's sex life. He's like a brother to me.'

'But Bill isn't like a brother to you, is he?'

'Shut it.'

'Just make sure you use contraception no matter what. He is still a Weasley after all, and we're an unbelievably fertile bunch,' Ginny teased.

Hermione rolled her eyes. 'I'm starting to reconsider your status as my best friend.'

'Who are you trying to kid, Hermione? You love me!'

'Fortunate indeed or you'd be dead by now from all that teasing,' she replied.

Both women smiled and grasped each other's hands across the table. Everything would work out somehow.

--

Bill walked over to her desk and placed a stack of parchment in front of her.

Hermione picked them up and looked them over. They were her travel approval papers for the dig in China. She looked up at her boss with a confused expression on her face. Just one week before, the goblins had rejected her proposal to leave, and now sitting before her was the approval to leave two weeks before their agreed date. Why did Bill have that strange smile on his face?

'How is this possible?' she asked.

'I resubmitted your application for you and spoke with the goblins a couple of days ago,' he answered, seating himself on the corner of her desk as usual. 'I know how much you wanted to begin work in China.'

'You didn't have to do this,' she said, feeling her breath catch in her throat.

'After all of the torment you've endured over the past few weeks, this was the least I could do to make it up to you,' Bill said quietly. 'I know I've been a bit of an arse, but if I could do anything to make it up to you, I would.'

'Bill...'

'Well, I will just leave you to it then,' he said with a look of discomfort, pushing himself up off her desk and heading out of the office.

Hermione stared at the door for a long time after he left. If she was confused before, then she was even more so after the awkward exchange that had just passed between them. It took her a moment to realize that while she had been staring out after her boss, two of her colleagues were looking at her with suspicion in their gazes. Feeling more than a little fed up with the hostility, she stood up from her desk and marched over to her silent accusers, crossing her arms over her chest.

'What is your problem?' Hermione demanded coldly.

'We certainly don't have one, but perhaps you do,' sneered Marietta Edgecombe.

Hermione briefly recalled the blonde woman holding something of a grudge with her since her fifth year at Hogwarts. 'I don't believe that who I chose to talk to is any of your business, let alone anyone else in this office,' she snapped loudly, looking around the rest of the office quickly to see a few of the other staff look down at the paperwork in front of them.

'You sure have a lot of nerve, Granger. You've practically been throwing yourself at the boss the entire time that you've been back in the office,' Marietta replied. 'We all know that the only reason you're going to China is because of him. You've been riding on the coattails of others to get everywhere your whole life.'

And this was the kind of scene Hermione had been desperately trying to avoid, but apparently the fates were just not on her side.

'I am only going to say this to you once, so you had better listen damn well,' Hermione said as she reined her temper in as best she could. 'Yes, I am friends with the Weasley family, and I have always had a friendly relationship with Bill. Yes, Harry Potter just happens to be one of my best friends. But that in no way has any affect on my work, whatsoever. I gained my position here and my previous position for the Ministry all on my own merit. Can you say the same for yourself?'

With that parting shot, she turned on her heel, leaving the rest of the people in the office gawking at her. Gathering her papers together, she put them in her briefcase and left the office, regardless of the fact that it was early. It didn't matter to her. The goblins didn't care what time in the afternoon they left, as long as they put in their appropriate hours for the week eventually. Hermione had extra hours owed to her already, so once she was clear of the building and back in Diagon Alley, she Apparated straight home.

Leaving her briefcase in the hall, she stomped upstairs and straight to the bathroom. With a flick of her wand, the bath began filling itself, and sweet-smelling bath salts and oils were added. Undressing, she tossed her robes into the hamper and sunk into the steaming hot water, relishing the sensation. It had been too long since her last long soak in a bath tub, and she felt that after the last little while at work, she was more entitled to it than she had ever been.

Forcing the thoughts about her co-workers out of her head, she let her mind wander to her other problem.

Bill. Her mind provided his name so quickly. He had been so out of sorts in the office. She was just beginning to grow accustomed to his cocky, presumptuous behaviour, when suddenly it was as though his conscience had decided to make an appearance once more, and he seemed almost remorseful for his actions over the past few weeks. His twists and turns and unpredictability, while annoying, still held some appeal to her. If this was an indicator of how he was going to be in a relationship, she knew that she would likely never be bored.

Sighing, she sunk down so that the water covered her shoulders and stretched her arms out, brushing them against the sides of her breasts as she did. At the movement, she felt a slight tingle begin at her breasts, travelling down her body until it pooled as heat at her centre. Had it been so long since she had taken a lover that the thought of Bill and an accidental brush against her skin caused her to become aroused? It might have been a month since her last encounter, but that was hardly an age.

Groaning, she let her hands drift up over her flat belly and further to cup her breasts. She felt another jolt of arousal and knew better than to deny her body more. Grazing her thumbs over her already hardening nipples, she moaned softly. Leaving one hand to play with her breasts, she moved the other down to rub through the curls at the apex of her thighs. Her fingers arrived at their intended destination and quickly slid between the soft, warm folds of her labia.

Rubbing gently, she worked her way back up to her clit and, with two fingers, stroked in the way that she knew her body craved. Her other hand left her breasts, and she slid two fingers inside her tight channel, fingering and rubbing herself. As she approached her peak, she rode her fingers harder before climaxing hard, her body trembling in the aftermath. Removing her hands from herself, she lazily went about the business of bathing and washing her hair.

After she was clean and dry, she went to bed, sliding under the covers and falling into a sated sleep.

--

To be continued...