Who: Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott What: New Year's shenanigans When: New Year's Eve Where: A park near the Macmillans' house Rating: These two?? PG Status: Complete
Ernie had basically offered her the whole world, but the truth of the matter was, Hannah didn't much fancy being in the heart of a huge city as the new year came in. She didn't really want to do so on her living room sofa, either, though. So she'd talked him into a nice dinner out near his house, taking advantage of the setting to actually dress up for once. Nothing too terribly fancy, but she was wearing a dress, at least. She'd even had a go at the makeup her sisters had given her for Christmas. It was rare she got to go out anymore. And even more rare that she got special time alone with her best friend.
After dinner, though, the world was still at their disposal. Her arm linked through his, Hannah led Ernie down the streets, pausing to look into the occasional shop window with a smile. "Where to?" she asked, eagerly. "We've got an hour till midnight, I want it to be brilliant. Memorable. I want you to look back on this year ten years from now and just grin with the memory." Mostly because Ernie didn't have an awful lot to grin over anymore and she wanted that for him. Something. Something wonderful.
Ernie was glad Hannah hadn't wanted to apparate all the way over to New York City, but, regardless, he would have if that had been what she really wanted. As it stood, he felt like they were being anti-social in not joining any of their mates to ring in the New Year. Still, Ernie liked being alone with his best mate. He just wasn't sure what "memorable" meant.
He caught their reflection in a store window as they walked and he smiled. "We can head over to the firework display," he suggested. "If you aren't too cold, that is."
"Nope, not at all!" Hannah countered good-naturedly, giving his arm a squeeze. "Warm and snuggly here. Are you trying to tell me you are? You big wimp." Playfully, she nudged him with her elbow, but giggled as she did it. He couldn't possibly be angry on such a fun day.
Well, he could, but not at her, especially when she giggled all innocently. "Then I think we should. I haven't seen them since..." He grimaced. "Oy, I'm old now. It's been way too long." He pulled his scarf off and wrapped it around her neck. "There."
Beaming up at him, Hannah played with the ends of his scarf before speaking. "What about you? You'll get cold. I'm fine, Ernie, honest." She took the end of the scarf and bopped him lightly in the nose with it. "We used to go see fireworks all the time. When did we decide to grow up? I don't like it."
"Hmm, about the time you got too cool for it," he teased.
Hannah's mouth dropped open and she turned to look at him in shock, walking backwards as she did. "Are you kidding me? I'm not cool, I've never been cool! I'm the opposite of cool. I think mentally I'm still ten years-old. No. Eleven. Because at ten I didn't know you and that would be bad."
Okay, so maybe Ernie had been the one who thought it was a little silly at their age, but why admit that to her? Grinning, he dislodged his arm from around her shoulders in favor of spinning in front of her and walking backward. "Oh, yes, that would be a travesty indeed. That's right. Big word. Look at us, all grown up despite the fireworks."
"Travesty is only three syllables, it's not really all that big, and you're about to walk into a pole, love." A playful grin crossed her face which should've been his first sign that there was no such pole. "But we are pretty grown up, aren't we? I mean," Hannah shook her hair out, "no pigtails!"
She might have been playing, but Ernie instinctively turned and, in the process, stumbled. "Oy, you!"
As he stumbled, Hannah reached out to grab him, giggling despite herself. "I'm sorry! Are you okay, sweetheart?" Leaning up, she dropped a kiss on the tip of his nose, smoothing his hair out. "See? All better. You're just fine, right?"
Ernie did his very best to straighten up and not look like the wanker he felt. Oy, how embarrassing. A second later, he was caught off guard when she kissed him. It wasn't anything she hadn't done, but he hadn't been expecting it and when she got so close...
He shook his head. What was he thinking? The season was getting to him. When did he become so bloody sentimental? "We should hurry," he said, "We don't want to miss the fireworks."
Hannah looked at him curiously for his moment of silence. It was so odd to see him rattled. It was Ernie. Head Boy Ernie, perfect prefect Ernie, occasionally stuffed shirt composed Ernie. To be honest, if he went and snapped on her, she wouldn't know what to trust any longer. "Yeah, sure," she agreed quietly, falling into step beside him. "You okay? You seem a bit...off."
"Off?" Ernie repeated. Of course, she would notice. She was Hannah. Why did she know him so well. "I'm fine. Sorry. You?" He pulled at his collar in guise of straightening it.
Rolling her eyes, Hannah shrugged, determined to keep an eye on him from then on but not wanting to push it. It was a fun and special night. Admittedly, though, she might have pushed her luck if they hadn't already reached the group gathered in the small park to enjoy the display. "Remember the first time we came here?" she asked, wrapping an arm around him and grinning brightly.
"Hmmm," he asked, a bit distracted by a father talking to his little boy. "Oh, I think we were about that little bloke's age, yeah?"
Hannah leaned her chin on his shoulder and beamed. "We might've been just a bit cuter. You know, despite the pigtails." Pausing, she sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. "And that's me, not you."
"Well, I did ask my mum for some of those tail things, but she just wouldn't." He raised a hand to squeeze her neck as she leaned into his shoulder blade.
"Let me be the girl, wouldja?" Hannah teased. "Even if I'm not sure you ever noticed. I could have put on a hot pink frilly skirt and a tiara and I think you'd have still thought I was still gender-free." Nose-wrinkling, she shook her head furiously. "Not that I ever would have. Blech."
In spite of the joke, Ernie turned to look at her. "Do you really think that? That I don't think of you as a gi---woman?"
Shrugging, Hannah shook her head. "Well, no. And I guess I never really gave you any reason to." A slightly bittersweet smile crossed her face. "That used to be a joke with Teddy and me. That he was the first guy to actually realize I was female." Though the fact that he'd actually gone and called her a woman gave her a warm feeling she couldn't quite explain.
Even if Teddy was his friend, Ernie still felt a loyalty to Hannah that made him bristle. "Well, we see where that got you both." He knew it was wrong the minute he said it, but it was too late. "I'm sorry." He turned back to look at nothing in particular.
That definitely wasn't what Hannah had needed. Pulling away from him, she crossed her arms in front of her and issued a casual shrug. "Some people work, some don't. It wasn't anything on us. You know that."
"I know." Ernie exhaled into the cold, trying hard not to think about Hermione. "It's foolish to think first times will work out anyway. When did I become a romantic?"
Glancing up, Hannah shook her head. "I don't know. I don't think it's impossible. I just don't think it worked out where we were concerned. Teddy and I just had too much between us. You and Hermione...I don't know." A crooked little smile crossed her face and she watched a pair of kids play with sparklers nearby. "Some people are possibly too good together."
"Too vanilla you mean?" Ernie quoted one of his sisters' favorite things to say.
Hannah's eyebrows raised. "No, not what I meant. You're both...kind of perfect, you know? All high marks and determination and hard work and professionalism. I think you both just need someone different from yourselves is all."
"Perfect? Me?" Ernie near well snorted. "Have you met me?"
Rolling her eyes, Hannah gave him her best 'duh' look. "Yeah, almost ten years ago!"
"Best day of your life! Don't lie!" He reached out to jab at her stomach just as the fireworks started in full force.
Squealing, Hannah giggled and threw her arms around Ernie's neck, resting her head against his chest to watch the fireworks. "You may be right. But I'm too good for you to be poking, you know."
Grinning at her delight, Ernie hugged her tightly. "I know."