Stopping in to say hello...

[gryffndean]

Date: Wednesday February 13
Time: about 4:45pm
Location: Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Hogsmeade
Rating: PG?
Characters Involved: Dean Thomas, Hannah Abbott, and Ron Weasley

Since his afternoons and evenings were now (forcibly) freer than what Dean was used to, he'd decided to take advantage of his newfound free time.  After leaving the office, he apparated

Comments

[yngstweasleybro]

Ron was looking over at Hannah, trying to catch her when she wasn't paying attention. He thought he'd try a paper airplane trick they used to use at school, just for a laugh. He had been having a great time with her at work. He was finding they had more and more in common; she had an easy nature about her that made talking with her pleasant. She never talked down to him, unlike other people he knew. She also didn't seem to argue much. It could be that they just didn't know each other that well but he had a feeling that was her nature; she didn't seem to have this burning need to be absolutely correct all of the time. He couldn't help it; he found himself comparing the girl he loved to the blond he worked with.

The bell rang, and he moved his attention, his feelings faltering for a moment, "Dean! It's been a long time! It's really been too long! What have you been up to?"

Ron moved towards his friend, his hand out, ready to shake Dean's. Ron couldn't help glancing over at Hannah as he greeted his friend. He still wasn't sure what was going on between the two of them.

[gryffndean]

Dean grinned at Ron, extending his own hand. It had been far, far too long since he'd seen his Gryffindor classmate, and had actually almost forgotten that he was the manager here.

"Ron! I know, it's been ages, mate," he said, shaking Ron's hand. "Been up to my ears in legal paperwork, most days. How have you been?" Dean's eyes glanced around for Hannah, but as he could not see her at the moment, flicked back towards Ron. "Busy keeping the students of Hogwarts well-stocked in the latest gags?"

[about_abbott]

Hannah hadn't a clue who had actually come into the shop. What she did know was that he was too preoccupied with whichever customer had walked in to note exactly what she was doing in the back of the store. She'd found a package of gummy spiders that worked a bit like chocolate frogs. Of course, had she known of Ron's deadly fear of spiders she'd have never chosen the packet, but it was a bit late now.

She knealt down and crawled herself to the opening of the door. She then tore the package open near Ron's feet sending the chewable critters scuttling off towards him. Then she leaned back against the wall just the other side of the door and waited to see what would ensue.

As she waited, she heard the voice of the customer and immediately recognized it as Dean's. Debating between giving herself away and waiting for the prank to come to pass she stood and slowly peeked around the corner.

[yngstweasleybro]

"I've been good," Ron said shaking Dean's hand and then clapping his back. Ron was ready to reply about how Hogwart students seemed to find un-imaginable amounts of galleons to spend on their jokes when he glanced about for Hannah and saw a scurring on the ground.

"HOLY FUCK!" were the words that roared out of Ron's mouth as it seemed a thousand little colored spiders seemed to attach themselves to his shoes, and leap at him, to start crawling up his pants.

His scream was loud and high as he hopped about, trying to kick them off of him. He pulled out his wand and was blasting it about the floor, missing the spiders and hitting the shelves. He must have hit a bag of Pygmy Puffs, which sent screetching and flying pink pygmies all over the shop. The next blast hit the shelf of the Basic Blaze Box, which sent a shower of sparks, flashes, lights and bangs all over the inside of the store. His hands were slapping at his pants, and his face was bright red before some clarity seemed to sink into his brain. It was the loud banging as two of the boxes exploded that seemed to snape him from his panic. He was breathing hard, and had moved in his hopping and jumping about, all the way from the front door to the counter. He leaned against it, and said, "Holy BLOODY fucking hell!" and he looked about, roaring, "George! Fred! Where the HELL are you?!" He knew that his brothers' would be the only ones to trick him with such cunning.

[gryffndean]

Dean managed to step back as Ron started screaming, torn between wanting to laugh at Ron's reaction and knowing he should probably help get rid of the scurrying spiders. Dean, having lived in a dormitory with Ron for six years, was well aware of his fear of spiders, and knew it would be better if they were vanished quickly-

Still, how often did he get to hear Ron Weasley scream like a girl?

Ducking to avoid the fireworks that started flying about the store, Dean focused his attention on the little spiders, vanishing any that he managed to spot.

"Bloody hell Ron!" Dean gaped, half laughing at his friend once he'd calmed down a bit and was yelling for Fred and George. "I will be surprised if half of Hogsmeade doesn't show up, thinking you're being attacked by something!"

[about_abbott]

Hannah had no idea Ron would react so violently to the spiders. Once the noise had calmed down she peeked out from behind the door where she'd been hiding in the back room in order to keep herself in tact. With her hand over her mouth and her I'm so sorry eyes focused on Ron she timidly walked out into the shop.

Approaching Ron she wanted to place a hand gingerly on his shoulder to hopefully calm him. Instead she opted to keep a safe distance. "It wasn't Fred or George," she admitted with a cringe in case he went off again.

She didn't even pay attention to the fact that Dean was there. Right now she only wanted to ensure that Ron wouldn't hate her forever.

[yngstweasleybro]

Ron's breath was recovering and he started as Hannah came out of the door, with dawning comprehension that his brothers had never been here all day. Looking about the mess in the shop, and then watching her approach him, he was irritated. And then she confessed.

"You?! Hannah?! That was...that was....," he was sputter slightly, his anger fading, and ignoring Dean, "You just BLOODY well outdid my brothers! Congratulations! You are an honorary Weasley from now on!" and with that he started to shake with laughter. His head turned from the sparks fizzing on the ceiling to the smoking pieces of boxes on the shelf to the scurrying pink pygmy puffs that seemed to be everywhere. Squashed spiders, some still smoking, littered the floor, and he started again as a pink spider moved up his shirt. He plucked it off, and flung it on the floor. He realized how absolutely foolish he must have just looked, and started laughing hard at the spectacle that was his life.

[gryffndean]

Dean just crossed his arms and leaned back and watched, a half smile on his face. Seeing Ron react so violently had been amusing in itself, but knowing that it had been Hannah who played the prank was just priceless.

Ron seemed to have gotten over his shock, and Dean followed his gaze as he stared around the mess of a shop.

"Is everyday this exciting around here?" he asked no one in particular, still half laughing at the whole situation.

[about_abbott]

Hannah was highly relieved when Ron didn't throw a fit. To her surprise he actually seemed to be proud of her for scaring the daylights out of him. "Really, an honorary Weasley?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Does this mean I get to come over and try some of that Weasley cuisine you ramble on about all the time?" Not that their shared dinners at work or jaunts to the Three Broomsticks weren't satisfying.

She then, like Dean, began to survey the scene. "Of course if we don't clean this up, the twins might disown us both." She shook her head and finally her eyes landed on Dean for the first time. She'd almost forgtten he was there.

"Hello, Dean, what brings you by this evening?"

[yngstweasleybro]

Ron had caught his breath, and begun to use his wand, and his favorite spell, Scourgify. He answered Hannah over his shoulder, "Oh, you bet there missy! The next time I'm going to dinner, you are tagging along! You'll fit right in. Mom and Dad will be happy to meet you, I'm sure."

He looked over at Dean, who was obviously enjoying the entertainment, "Dean, my life is NEVER dull. Ever!"

He laughed freely, and began using his wand to gather up the pygmy puffs. The store would clean up in record time. He had to share the humor of it with her, "Hannah, this is so much easier with a wand! Let me tell you; I'll have this place cleaned so fast we still have plenty of time for that drink. You OWE me!"

[gryffndean]

Dean was about to answer Hannah when Ron laughed and started teasing her. He smiled along for the moment, though there seemed to be a strange thought building in the back of his head.

"Came here to see you, actually," Dean finally replied, turning towards Hannah. "Since I suddenly seem to have all of my afternoons free, and I haven't seen you in a while." He didn't mention the fact that he had asked to see her over the weekend, but that she'd had a date planned. Dean was still not all that happy about that fact, even though he knew it was his own bloody fault for taking her for granted.

He still had the urge to hex whomever the bloke was, however.

[about_abbott]

Though completely innocent at this point, flirting with Ron had become second nature. True they were only friends, but Hannah could easily see herself with the mild natured red head should the suggestion ever arise. With her wand up straightening some of the boxes that had been blown off the shelves by his fireworks she corrected him. "I OWE you? I beg to differ. It's definitely the other way around." Turning to face Ron she added with a teasing smile, "But if it'll help calm your nerves, I suppose I have no other choice than to treat you this time."

Returning to the task, she realized that one good thing about her picking up a bit more time at the shop lately had been Ron's gift for keeping her mind off Dean. Yet, when she was alone, especially in the kitchen at home, she still thought of him with a pang of regret that she hadn't been a bit more assertive. Then she'd remind herself that he was the one who hadn't been able to make time for her. As she stood there casting cleaning spells she thought back to the two men standing nearby. One made time for her, even if it was just to hang out for fun. The other had treated her like a commodity. "Yes, it has been awhile," she finally stated trying to hold back all the things she'd like to say to him.

[yngstweasleybro]

Ron caught the underlying tone to Dean's comments to Hannah, even if she didn't seem to acknowledge it, and he felt a pang of guilt for his friend. He flashed another look at Dean, and felt like he was maybe overstepping his bounds by openly flirting with her. But he also felt annoyed that Dean was playing her just like Hermione was playing him; it was one thing to be actively dating someone, but inattentiveness was the first step to breaking up. That was how Hermione had perceived his actions; why should Hannah not respond similarly to Dean's? Having been on the end of that, it annoyed him again that Dean was being such a git about this great woman. He decided he was gonna push him a bit, and see if he couldn't knudge the big oaf into taking some action.

Turning to Hannah, he smiled again, "Yes, you do need to treat me, this time. I think I've paid for the last few times. And I certainly do need a bit of hand-holding. You knocked about ten years off my life with a scare like that. I suppose you never knew my boggart was a spider."

He continued cleaning, moving things out of the way to get the last bits of candy spider. He stepped back, and watched out of the corner of his eye for Dean's reaction.

[gryffndean]

The strange, buzzing thought in the back of Dean's mind was only growing louder as he listened to Ron and Hannah talking.

No, not talking. Flirting.

Because there was no doubt at all, that's what it was. And from the sounds of it, they'd been doing it for a while- Hannah owed him a drink? Ron had treated her the last few times?

Dean knew that this entire situation, including the annoyance he was feeling right now, was completely his fault. He hadn't made time for Hannah, hadn't pushed her when he was unsure about what their relationship was. Standing here, though, and watching as she flirted with Ron (who, Dean mused, was supposed to be one of his best mates) he was sure of one thing-

He did not like this at all, and the only person he wanted Hannah to be flirting with was him.

"Well, let's get this place cleaned up, then," Dean finally said, trying to sound as light-hearted and joking as Ron and Hannah currently did, "And we can all go grab a pint or two."

[about_abbott]

Hannah wasn't intentionally flirting with Ron in Dean's presence, it was just Hannah being Hannah. She always acted as such when she became comfortable around guys. Everyone always thought she had something going with either Ernie or Justin when the simple fact of the matter had been that they were just close friends.

Seeing that Ron was handling his portion of the clean up quite well, Hannah finally walked over to Dean. "You don't have to bother yourself with the clean up," she placed a hand on his shoulder just before casting a spell that put another set of shelving back in order. "Besides, we get paid to put up with each other," her eyes inadvertantly went to Ron and she subconsciously smiled at the statement before turning her attention back to Dean's invite for a drink.

Turning to face Dean, she gave him the same genuine smile she'd been giving to Ron. "A drink sounds wonderful. We really do need to catch up." She wasn't sure about including Ron in on the invitation. Not that she didnt' think the three of them would have a blast, but she was beginning to read a bit of tension into Dean's body language. Besides, she wasn't sure how much longer he was planning on staying to finish up any paperwork the twins required of him.

[yngstweasleybro]

Ron nodded slightly in satisfaction as he watched Hannah approach Dean. He heard her speaking about joining Dean for a drink, but didn't correct her about their plans. It was better if she went out with Dean alone. There was nothing worse then being the third wheel.

"You know, Hannah, I've got this covered if you want to take off early."

Ron's tone was light as he caught Hannah's eye as she turned to look at him. He tried to say 'go' without being too obvious.