Who: Ernie and Hannah What: Bonding in the most adorable way possible When: Saturday afternoon Where: Hannah's house Rating: It's these two, people Status: Complete
Ernie knew everyone always meant well, but he didn’t need to be reminded of his break-up every other hour. In normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have been that big a deal, would it? He couldn’t help thinking all his mates were waiting for him to snap like a twig. Sure, it had been hard losing Ernest and, later, breaking things off with Hermione, but none of that was in Ernie’s control. He lost his father to nature and Hermione to adulthood. Would Ernie like to change both those things? Of course. However, he couldn’t. He could just take it one day at a time and try to live his life. He had to believe it would get better eventually. They had fought a war and survived; he could face his current challenges. Nonetheless, that didn’t mean he didn’t get lonely because he definitely did. He just needed to be around people who didn’t treat him like some fragile egg. It drove him rather bonkers since Ernie MacMillan liked feeling in control and it was hard to think that way when his friends and family kept looking at him like he was one step from St. Mungo’s.
For all those reasons, he was always grateful to spend time with Hannah. She knew him so well and it was just so easy with her. He didn’t have to pretend to be anything other than what he was. It felt right and that is exactly what he needed after being reminded that he disappointed Megan and Teddy. He knew he should have gone, but he just hadn’t been in the mood. Besides, he had never been much of a partier. He preferred spending time with loved ones personally. Yet, he knew they were all blaming Ernest’s death and the break-up. He simply didn’t want to deal with it and was glad Hannah had made the excuse she had for him.
Feeling like he should make it up to her, Ernie grabbed some of Hannah’s favorite muggle videos in effort to surprise her at her house. He had been so proud when he had gotten that silly muggle video store card, but his mum had always taught him to appreciate the little things, right?
He stood on her porch with a warm smile as he waited for someone to answer. He didn’t usually like surprises and as he stood out there for a few moments, he recalled why. What if she wasn’t even home?
But Ernie knew Hannah's schedule almost as well as she did by that point. It was just one of those things. He knew the little ins and outs of her the same as she did with him. It came from knowing each other for the last eight years and being closer than most siblings were. So of course he should have known she was home.
That and the fact that, to be honest, Hannah didn't get out so much anymore anyway.
The doorbell rang and she jumped, nearly dropping the book in her lap. A good mystery was the sort to suck you in and make you forget the outside world, so when the doorbell did ring, Hannah hadn't been expecting it. She let out a squeak and nearly stumbled off of the sofa as she got to her feet. Laughing at herself for her own ridiculousness, she headed to the door and nearly pounced on the visitor waiting outside of it. "Oi!" she declared, throwing a hug at him in typical Hannah fashion. "What are you doing here? I didn't forget something, did I? Geez, I know I'm scatter-brained, but... No, no, I didn't get any owls..." Her forehead scrunched as she released him, watching him carefully. "You're not here to tell me you're moving to Zimbabwe are you?" Because what other crazy thing might he do if he was showing up by surprise? It was Ernie. He was just so practical and planned these sorts of things ahead.
"Oooph!" Ernie laughed as she nearly knocked him over with her exuberant hug. He squeezed her tightly, even raising her off her feet for a few seconds. "Zimbabwe?" He repeated. "Where did you pull that from?" He held up the proof that he had been at her local video store. "See this? That's right."
She giggled as he lifted her and shrugged her shoulders. "Furthest place I could think of. And losing my Ernie to people who don't speak the language and the owls probably would get lost? Not happy." But then she noticed the bag in his hand and gasped. "You didn't? My little Ernie in a big bad scary muggle store?"
"You are very possessive today," he teased as he lowered the bag and nodded toward the inside of the house. "Now you can either take them and watch yourself of invite me in..." He paused for a beat. "But then I really might go to Zimbabwe."
Of course she was possessive, it was Ernie! Hadn't he once had to scold her not to be possessive of him in front of Teddy? That should've been the first clue right there. But he'd been her first Hogwarts friend and was still her closest. As far as she was concerned, he was her Ernie. Others could talk to him and hang out with him and she didn't mind but at the end of the day? Hers. Besides, he needed her just then. Whatever made him feel special. "Well, I can't have that. If you were threatening Switzerland or France or somewhere wonderful where I could tag along, sure. But not Zimbabwe. Get in here." She ushered him in, knowing by that point he'd know exactly where to go.
Ernie stepped into the familiar house. Visiting there often felt like visiting his own home. It made him feel safe when the world was cold and all felt lost. And those days? Ernie certainly felt lost. His father was gone and a year long relationship had ended. He needed to try to find himself outside of them and it was the bloodiest hard thing he had done other than the war. Nonetheless, he felt like he knew exactly who he was with Hannah. She was his best mate and knew him so well. "No one here?" He asked. "Will your father kill me?" He teased.
"Well, I don't know, some horrible scary bloke alone with his baby girl?" she teased. "I'm pretty sure he trusts you, love." Dropping on to the couch, she nodded towards the VCR. "Now, let's see if you can actually work that thing."
"That's not fair!" Ernie exclaimed on peering at the evil looking machine. "There are...shiny things in it. Shiny things which can break!"
Hannah giggled. Not at him, but at the face he was making. "You're not going to break it, silly." She hopped off of the couch and knelt in front of the machine, nodding for him to join her. "You just push the eject button here to make sure there's not already a video in it. If there's not, pop it in and wait for it to load. Then push play. See? Easy!"
"So is having you do it," Ernie pointed out as he straightened up. He went over to the couch and plopped down. Well, as much as Ernie MacMillan plopped anyway. "I'll even let you put that awful blanket over us." Truthfully, he could use a cuddle, but he wasn't going to confess such.
And Hannah, being Hannah and interpreting when Ernie could use a cuddle, wouldn't say it out loud, either. But she slipped in The Lion King and dropped on the couch at his side. Reaching behind her, she grabbed the 'awful blanket' in question, a multi-colored throw her great-aunt had knitted them that they all despised but couldn't bring themselves to throw out. "Well, unless you prefer being cold, I could just leave you to it."
"Oh come here." He stretched an arm out, inviting her to snuggle up to him. "You know, a baby lion accomplishes an awful lot..."
"He has help," Hannah assured, nuzzling up under his arm and draping the blanket over the two of them. "See, he's got Zazu who's all wise and stuff and then he's got his mum and dad though we know what happens to dad..." Hmm. Bad movie choice, Ernie. She'd keep talking through all that. That she was good at. "And then he's got Nala, see. She's the brains of the operation, Simba would be crap without her."
"We know what happens to Dad, yes." Ernie squeezed Hannah's shoulders. "It's okay."
"I'm worse than Simba," she muttered, feeling a little stupid for having put this one in first. If she'd waited, they might not have had time to get to it. And there was mushy love stuff. Boy she really failed at this best friend thing. "Apparently, you get to be the brains in this operation."
"It's a cartoon movie," Ernie answered, smiling gently as he rubbed her back. "I'm fine. Really. It's everywhere, not just in some film. Besides, it will make you smile and that's good enough for me."
"Actually, that part will make me sob like a little kid," she reminded him, resting her head on his shoulder. "But at least you've already seen me cry and I'm not wearing makeup to get all over your shirt, either."
Ernie chuckled. "That's an improvement, you know!" He patted his too formal for an afternoon at home shirt. "I love this one."
Hannah sighed and shook her head. "One day, you'll learn to wear your awful clothes when you come over here. What if one day I decide to drag you running through the sprinkler or push you in the ocean, then what?"
"I'd have to get close enough to either for you to accomplish this," Ernie reminded her. "And lose a few." He patted his stocky, but muscular stomach. "Besides, half the fun of visiting you is wearing the best muggle clothing!"
Playfully, Hannah rolled her eyes. "One day, I'll succeed. I have brothers, Macmillan, being bigger than me isn't going to save you forever. Trust me, being in grungy old clothes isn't all bad. In fact, I think for Christmas I'll get you one of those big baggy t-shirts my brother likes so much. One with a band name or something on it."
"No, oh, no!" Ernie shook his head so hard his hair fell into his eyes. "I'll hand it right over to your brother! Did you give him that catalog I suggested? I think it would have everyone really taking him seriously if he bought some of those."
Tsking at him, Hannah reached up and brushed his hair off of his face. "Sweetie, we've been over this. No matter how nice a quality they are? He'd get looked at like a monster if he wore robes to work."
"Funny!" He batted her hand away though he smiled sheepishly as he fixed the rest of his hair. "I got him a brilliant one from one of those muggle places. Really, he should look closely!"
She wouldn't admit it to him, but it made her happier than she could say that he made such an effort to make her family as happy as he made her. Tweaking his chin, she giggled. "You can't make him into the man you are, I'm sorry to say it. He's just as happy hanging around the house in t-shirts and short pants."
Ernie shuddered. "Poor bloke. He doesn't know what he's missing." He glanced back at the television. "I'm afraid we missed most of this too!"
A smile crossed her face, glad she'd missed the dreadful scene where Baby Simba lost his father. Stupid old Scar. "We've seen it twice, you know. It's not like we don't know what happened. Besides, we're at the good part now." And she burst into a cheerful round of Hakuna Matata.
Covering his ears, Ernie disentangled himself from her arm. "Oh make it stop!"
"Sing along, Ernie, you know you want to!" she teased, and continued singing right along with Timon. "It's our problem freeee, philosophyyyy!"
"I don't know the words!" A definite lie, but she didn't need to know that!
Nudging him with her elbow, she shot him a feigned glare. "You sure about that? Because I'd be happy to make you watch the sing-a-long version..."
Ernie released his ears and stood up straight. "No need for that, Madam! I'm listening, I swear!"
"Silly duck." She shook her head and draped her legs across his lap, nuzzling back into his side. "You have a sweet voice, I don't know why you won't sing more."
"Duck?" Ernie echoed. "Are you saying I waddle, Hannah?" It was easy for him to open his arms and let her fall back into place.
"Mmm hmm," she murmured, really quite comfortable in her place against him. It was a shame about him and Hermione, but she wouldn't complain about getting undivided Ernie time back. The two of them having significant others had been nice, but had definitely put a damper on how much time they could spend together. "It's that stuffed-shirt walk you do. Mr. Big Bad Head Boy, you know the one." Peeking up at him, Hannah winked before burying herself back into that crisp, clean-smelling shirt.
Ernie faked a gasp. "I think I'm entirely insulted!" He tried to force her head up. "Don't go hiding on me now! Face the music!"
Hannah shook her head furiously and continued hiding. "Don't be," she mumbled. "It's also your bloke-who's-going-to-set-the-wizarding-world-right walk."
"Now that? I can get into!" Ernie laughed as he gave up trying to force her out of his arms, choosing instead to squeeze her tightly. "Ah, needed this."
"Me too, love." Leaning up, she pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. "You know I'm always here, right? You, me, Timon, Pumba, Simba, we're all a team."