My submission for the HP Drizzle Fest 2024, Hot Girl Summer, has been revealed! Click the link to read on AO3, and see below for an excerpt.
Hermione POV | Rating: T | Post-Hogwarts, Flirting | WC 5K
Hermione considered her silk blouse and cotton skirt. She’d thought them sufficient at the start of the day, but now the knee-length material felt confining. The silk had already proven shite, sticking to her sweaty skin as it did. Fingering the linen covering her thighs and eyeballing Luna’s transfiguration, an idea formed.
“There’s plenty of cover behind the tree.” Luna was already a step ahead of her, waving a pale hand towards the thick beech trunk.
When Hermione returned, it was with her silk blouse in hand and a newly transfigured linen sundress that skimmed halfway up her thighs. Thin spaghetti straps allowed her arms to breathe. She twirled in place the moment she held her friend’s attention.
“Nicely done!” Luna exclaimed, nodding in approval at the sight.
A series of curses burst out above them. Hermione had to block the sun with a hand to look for the source.
“Foul! That’s reckless flying, Charlie!” Percy waggled his finger at the burly Seeker.
“Me? What about Fred? He was just as reckless as I was!”
The accused twin shrugged, not even bothering to argue the point. “Can you really blame me?”
Hermione felt like she was missing something. None of the boys were looking at them, but from the way the rest of the family kept shooting her looks and how Luna erupted into giggles, Hermione was convinced she was somehow involved.
“What is this about, then?” She propped both hands on her hips as she questioned Luna.
The witch only giggled harder, shaking her head and waving a hand at Hermione as if she were the one causing a fuss.
Nonplussed, Hermione sought out Arthur and Molly’s attention, only to find that they, too, wore similar expressions of amusement. Was everyone in on it, whatever it was?
She was just about to storm off, perhaps splash her face with some cold water, when she caught Charlie sneaking a peek in her direction. The instant he noticed her watching, he jerked his head back around so hard that his broom nearly fishtailed and sent him off the end.
A theory now in place, Hermione settled back onto the blanket next to Luna. She stretched out as if to nap, letting the hem of her dress ride up to the top of her thighs.
“Want to make them even more obvious?” Luna whispered conspiratorially. Her grin showed she knew exactly what Hermione was doing. At her nod, Luna turned onto her side, head propped on one hand as she leaned over Hermione. Their eyes locked on one another, pale turquoise on gold-flecked umber.
They did nothing but smirk at one another, ears pricked for a reaction. They didn’t have to wait long.
A loud whooshing sound preceded the gust that felt refreshing in the otherwise still air. They turned as one to take in the sight of Charlie in all his glory–rippling muscles covered with tattoos and scars, a sheen of perspiration coating them like oil, and a blinding smile underneath piercing sapphire eyes. “Hey.”
Hermione choked on her response, prompting him to grin even wider.
“Hi, Charlie!” Luna replied, lacking none of her usual poise. “I love your Ridgeback.” She pointed at the figure gracing the upper right part of his chest where the dragon’s wings stretched outward.
“Thanks, love,” he said with a wink.
Hermione made room for him as he moved to settle down next to her. It took two throat clears before she could finally speak. “I like them, too.” She motioned towards his body, then hastily added, “The tattoos.”
“Thank you. I like what you did with the dress.” His eyes ran appreciatively down her figure.
Rather than feel insulted at the blatant way he checked her out, Hermione’s stomach flipped in place. “Th-thanks. I got the idea from Luna.”
The other girl saluted them both, then rolled over onto her side in a clear bid for a nap. They turned their attention back to one another, tension filling the space in between.
Hermione had always found Charlie attractive. There was an air about him that screamed danger, much like the dragons that were his livelihood. He’d always seemed out of reach for anything more than a girlish crush. Surely, there were sexy witches closer to his age, ones who could run circles around Hermione’s awkward attempts at conversation. But, here he was, propped up next to her and the bottomless blues of his regard reeling her in.
Whatever he’d been about to say was lost to the shouts.
Faster than her eyes could follow, Charlie was in front of her, his broad back obstructing her view of the pitch. It was only when he turned that she saw the unmistakable red leather clutched in his hands. Beside her, Luna murmured and continued to sleep on.
“You’re a git, you know that?” Charlie yelled, before chucking the Quaffle straight at Fred with enough force to knock the wizard’s broom back.
“I’m not the one out on a foul!” Fred threw back. “You alright there, Hermione?”
Her and Charlie’s responses overlapped.
“You’re out, Fred. Charlie, you’re back in.” Percy’s no-nonsense orders garnered groans from Fred’s team now that they were the ones a man down.
“Guess that’s my cue,” Charlie said, looking reluctant as he scratched at the back of his neck. He straddled his broom, then hesitated. “Would you–”
“Hermione, love!” Fred’s voice boomed over his brother and emphasised the interruption with a clap to the other man’s back. “Mind if I keep you company?”
She had to fight the laughter threatening to bubble up her throat at the way the two men growled at one another. Hermione wouldn’t have been surprised if they’d bumped chests. “I don’t mind at all.” She padded the invitation to one with encouragement to the other, “Good luck, Charlie.”
“I don’t need luck, darling,” he said with a wink. Fred scoffed, but Hermione couldn’t help but bite her lip at the confidence.
Read the rest on AO3, where your comments and kudos are appreciated <3 Make sure to check out the other @hpdrizzle works in the collection!
