Hieroglyphic Hearts

CHAPTER 2

In the morning things were bustling in Bill's small flat. The girls were busy getting ready for a proper tour of the city with Ali-Reza, and Bill was trying to get ready for work. There was high competition for the small bathroom, so Bill had to shave in the kitchen area. He was good-natured about everything, but it was probably due to the fact that he was the oldest of seven children.

As Bill was trying to shave, Hermione found herself staring at his very sexy and very naked feet. There had to be something wrong with her because this was the second time in as many days that she was thinking the words "sexy", "naked" and "Bill" in conjunction with each other.

She couldn't stop staring, though, and she felt as if she were beginning to develop a foot fetish. His feet were simply perfect peeking out of the legs of his pajama bottoms, and the toes were just right. None of the toes were mangled or too long for the others around them. The feet weren't matted and overly hairy, either. Bill's feet were as strong and lovely as the rest of him, and the fact that she noticed concerned Hermione.

She tried to take her mind off his feet and looked past his bare chest up to him shaving. Bill did not use a wand as other wizards did, or even an electric or disposable hand razor as most Muggle men did. Instead he used a straight razor and shaving cream, a habit that had gone out of fashion for most groups of men nearly a hundred years ago.

"My grandfather used to shave with a straight razor," she commented to him.

He raised his eyebrow at her, but did not speak as he was trying to get some of the hair from his upper lip.

Quite unlike herself, she babbled, "I never thought I would see another man do that!"

Bill paused with his blade to comment, "A man has to have his peculiarities."

"Why do you do it?"

He shrugged. "It's a habit I developed while breaking curses in tombs. I used a sharp dagger once when I was deep in a tomb, and the rest is personal grooming history."

She chuckled, "Ah! Like the hair your mother so wishes to cut."

He nodded and silently went back to finishing his shave. Hermione, on the other hand, forced herself to stop looking at him and made sure both she and Mary Frances were ready to go.

~*~

When all three were ready, Bill walked them to the place where they would rendezvous with Ali-Reza. He waited with them until his friend came, but he didn't have to wait too long. Bill's friend Ali-Reza El Fadil met them promptly at eight in the morning with great plans for the sight-seeing tour.

"Ali-Reza!" Bill greeted his friend. "These fine young ladies are Hermione Granger and Mary Frances O'Brien." Bill gestured at each when he said her name.

"My ladies!" he said as he bowed low to them with a sweeping gesture of his arm.

"When you show them the sights today, don't go near the tombs or any of the more interesting venues. I'd like to think that is my area of expertise."

"I see. You will be taking them there tomorrow?" he asked Bill.

"But of course!" To the coeds he said, "Have a lovely day!" and he then Apparated to work.

~*~

After he left, all thoughts were on the tour plans of the day, and Ali-Reza was fully prepared to show them the sights. He was charming and funny and a very appropriate guide. Bill had chosen well among his friends, and Hermione did not have too much time to regret that Bill himself was not there with them.

Ali-Reza had taken them to the general interest places in the city that most tourists visited, but he managed to do it without encountering too much of a crowd of other tourists. When they tried to buy souvenirs, he helped make sure they got the best for their money and were not deceived for being foreign tourists. He later brought them to a family-owned restaurant so they could enjoy savory authentic food.

If Mary Frances had been flirting with Bill, it was nothing compared to how she acted when she met Ali-Reza. He had black hair and blue eyes like Mary Frances but with mocha colored skin that made the blue of his eyes more striking. When she asked about it, he told her that he was from Sudan and that his maternal grandparents were English. She was smitten with him and too much of a modern woman to let it pass.

While it was obvious that Mary Frances and Ali-Reza were feeling great interest in each other, Hermione was not excluded when he gave an invitation to spend the evening in a local dance club. Feeling adventurous as part of her holiday, Hermione agreed that it would be fun to go, but first wanted to stop at the flat to change into the right clothing.

"Maybe if Bill is there, you can invite him to come with us," whispered Mary Frances in Hermione's ear.

"Yes, maybe," she replied, trying to hide the hope she was feeling.

When they went back, Bill still wasn't home from work, but both girls got ready and went to the club with Ali-Reza without him. Each quickly bathed and changed into evening party attire. Hermione left Bill a note and off they went to dance the night away.

~*~

Bill returned home about an hour later to find no one in his flat, which at the moment was fine. He had several work reports to finish before he could indulge himself in a free day with Hermione and Mary Frances. He made himself a pot of coffee and spread his work on his combination table and desk.

His work went on for an uncountable length of time only interrupted by Hermione as she entered his flat alone.

"Where's Mary Frances?" Bill asked in concern as he was getting himself another cup of coffee.

Hermione sat in the kitchen chair across from his and took off her shoes so she could rub the soles of her aching feet. "She decided to take an evening at the disco with Ali-Reza."

"She will be fine with him, so don't worry. Just as long as he gets to work on time in the morning," Bill said in boss mode, "I don't care how late he stays out dancing."

Bill then sat back down in his chair opposite of her and took Hermione's feet in his lap to massage them. She sighed in pure relief and whispered, "Thank you."

"Too much walking today?" he asked as he continued to work on her feet.

"I didn't think so! I did as much walking in Italy and Greece in the same pair of shoes without so much trouble."

He smiled as he looked at her attire. "Did you do walk all day in those shoes?"

Hermione laughed as she noticed the high heels on the floor. "No, I danced in those shoes."

Being diplomatic, Bill said, "Maybe you've done so much walking in your other shoes that you've worn them out, or maybe you've done too much dancing in these shoes."

"A little of both," she sighed. "I did go dancing with them for a while."

Bill returned his attention to finishing the work he had before him, but he never moved Hermione's feet from his lap. She quietly went to sleep as he was working. When finally finished, he picked her up and took her to the bed.

While he was carrying her, Hermione sleepily looked up and said "Hi, Bill" in the most contented voice one could imagine. Without censure, she reached behind his head and loosed his pony tail so his hair fell freely around his face. She happily played with his hair as he set her down on the bed.

"Grrr!" she said as she continued to touch his brilliant hair. It only caused Bill to smile, and he broke away from her to pull the coverlet over her.

"Goodnight, Hermione," he said softly as he left to take his place on the sofa

"Mmmm, night, Bill," she murmured into her pillow.

~*~

The next day with Bill also advised Hermione and Mary Frances to wear sensible clothing as the trip to the tombs was no delicate matter. To help, he started bright and early with a good, hearty breakfast that he cooked. He explained that they would need lots of protein to keep their energy going all day.

Mary Frances was ever appreciative of his cooking efforts. "When I get married, I really need to find a man that can cook."

"Me, too!" Hermione agreed as she savored her breakfast of potatoes, eggs and cheese.

"I need a woman who can wash the dishes. Cooking is easy. I just don't like cleaning up afterward."

"Oh, that's easy, Bill," Hermione scoffed. "Scourgify!" The evidence of cooking immediately vanished.

"Impressive," he whistled.

~*~

Bill took them to the tombs as he had promised the day before. In his work as a curse breaker, he had seen several of them, and tourists of the Magical or Muggle kind were not allowed to enter. He found ways around it, and it was breathtaking.

Hermione was enthralled by everything. She generally knew vast amounts about many different subjects, but Bill impressed her with his easy intelligence and comfort in using it. Some people knew things just to enjoy the knowing but were never really adept at handing the information. When she would ask him a question, he had the answers she wanted and they could discuss everything in depth. As her esteem for him continued to grow, she decided that he hadn't been made one of Hogwarts Head Boys for nothing.

He promised to show them some impressive artwork in one particular tomb deep in the ground. He said the lives and mysteries were there to anyone who would read the stories painted in the pictures on the walls.

"Hold my hand, and let's walk along the wall." He took Hermione's hand, who in turn took the hand of Mary Frances. He had his wand drawn and they inched slowly forward.

"DUCK!" Bill shouted when one of the traps was released. The girls wasted no time, and thankfully so because a blade came swinging through the air where their necks would have been.

"This is his job?" Mary Frances asked incredulously behind Hermione.

"Yes!" Bill heard and answered with obvious enthusiasm.

She mouthed to Hermione, "Is he crazy?" Hermione grinned back at Mary Frances because she didn't think Bill was crazy at all.

"From here, we need to go by touch. Some of the traps are triggered by light." He reached his hand to Hermione again before extinguishing his wand.

The walked in the darkness incrementally slower than they had before. Bill was feeling for several triggers and making sure there were no curses blocking their way. When he got to a certain spot, he had the time to whisper "Slide" before the floor moved underneath them.

The girls' surprised screams were heard as they twisted down the slide that would have been more appropriate as part of a Muggle water park ride. When they reached the bottom, they fell into Bill with a thud.

"Just a little farther," he said as he helped them stand.

When they were almost there, a hand reached out and grabbed Hermione by the ankle in the dark and tried to pull her down. She yelped and jumped into Bill's arms. He expertly threw his dagger, and the sound of groaning was heard.

"Desert wraith," he explained. "I'm not sure what it was doing this far down into the tomb."

Hermione was shaken and didn't let go of Bill, who hugged her protectively in the safety of his arm.

"It's okay, Hermione. I got him, so no worries. And... we're here!"

"We are?" Mary Frances asked dryly.

"Lumos!" he called, and the room became bathed in light as he held his wand over his head. They saw with their own eyes the stories of the ancient pharaohs written on every wall of the room.

"Exciting, isn't it?" he said while looking at the paintings. His arm was still around her and he didn't loosen his hold as he surveyed everything.

"Very," Hermione agreed, though she was looking at him, not the wall. His hair had become loose--as she preferred--when they had been moving in the darkness. His arm around her was strong and comforting, and his body beside hers was masculine and powerful. It was a heady combination.

Hermione finally did look at the walls and was fascinated by every detail and color that was somehow preserved over the ages.

"What does it say?" Mary Frances asked Bill.

"There," he pointed, "is the lineage of the Pharaoh. On that panel is the love story of him and his bride. Those are somewhat unusual."

"Why?" she said as she wrinkled her nose.

"Because while love itself is old, it has never made a very good bedfellow with politics."

Mary Frances nodded in satisfaction of his answer, and Bill told the story painted on the rest of the walls.

"Over there is the more day to day stuff like weather patterns and seasons of the crops. There in that section is the list of all Pharaoh's belongings to make sure he has what is rightfully his when he enters the afterlife."

Hermione noticed a beautiful red bird in the paintings that could have been Fawkes. "The ancient Egyptian phoenix..."

Bill nodded. "That would be Bennu. I am sure there were plenty of Orders of the Phoenix before we needed one for our purpose."

"Bill, I have to admit that I'm not too happy how you got us here, but this is actually worth it," Mary Frances said as a way of thanks.

After they were done looking in the room, Bill retrieved his dagger and then guided them back. It took them a long time to get up to the surface, but it was considerably easier going. The sunlight felt wonderful on their faces, and as they breathed the fresh air they realized they were ravenously hungry.

~*~

The three went into the city and ate a large meal while discussing everything Bill had shown them.

"So, do you have plans for more adventures?" Hermione asked him hopefully.

"I hope not!" they heard Ali-Reza say. He waved his hand as he walked over to their table. "I was hoping to have another opportunity to dance with this lovely lady," he said as he smiled at Mary Frances.

She giggled at him making Hermione feel dumbstruck in observation of her friend's behavior.

"So, friend, what do you say for an evening of dancing with the loveliest ladies in all of Egypt?" Ali-Reza suggested to Bill.

"Bill already said that to us!" Mary Frances giggled.

He smiled at her and winked. "Then it must be true!"

"While not as exciting as a day in the tombs, I guess I could go," Bill smiled easily. "How about you, Hermione?"

"Yes. Sure. Okay," she said as her mind raced. Was she going to get another opportunity to be held closely in Bill's arms?

They returned to Bill's flat and the trio quickly bathed away all the tomb grime and prepared for an evening out. Hermione put on a slinky, light print and the same heels she had dared to wear dancing the night before. When the group was finally ready, they all Apparated to the dance club.

Inside the crowd was dancing to the sexy sounds of the music and various couples where whispering sweet nothings in each others' ears. Hermione felt nervous at the prospect of dancing with Bill, but she was immediately put at rest, something she realized she always felt around him.

"Would you like to dance, Hermione?" he asked sociably.

"Why of course, Mr. Weasley," she smiled back.

When Bill did dance with her, he actually knew what he was doing. He was even graceful, but that was entirely logical. One didn't survive the work as a curse breaker by being a bumbling idiot.

"You can dance!" she said in surprise aloud.

"Of course I can." Again he acted as if his abilities were the most natural thing in the world.

"Ron can't," she supplied.

"Pity," he said, though he sounded unconcerned.

~*~

Several more rounds of dancing passed for everyone, and they had even traded partners several times. A few times they danced with others, but they always came back to the group of four. It was an enjoyable evening, but the time on the clock ticked away until Bill had to make his exit.

"Listen, I have to go back home," Bill said to his friends. "Work calls again early in the morning."

"Don't go, Bill," Mary Frances begged him.

"Goblins aren't pleasant in the morning, especially to people who are late, so I must. You three can stay and have a good time."

"I'll go home with you, Bill. I think I need to throw these shoes in the rubbish bin," Hermione sighed again at her tired and aching feet.

"You two have fun. I know we will." Mary Frances smiled at Ali-Reza and twirled off with him across the dance floor.

~*~

After Apparating back to Bill's flat, Hermione stumbled to the edge of the bed and threw off her high heels.

"I will never wear these again!" she said with disgust.

He sat beside her. "That's a wise choice. So, do you want something to drink?"

"Sure," she said as she looked up. "In fact, I have a bottle of something I got in Greece."

She Summoned two appropriately-sized glasses from the kitchen and got the bottle out of her travel bag.

"Cheers!" she toasted as they touched glasses.

"What is this?" he asked after spitting the clear liquid out of his mouth.

She looked offended that he didn't like the drink she had shared. "It's ouzo."

"I've had ouzo before, Hermione, but this is horrid. It tastes like petrol!" He drank another shot of the clear alcohol to be sure that it did really taste like petrol. He hissed, but held out his glass. "Okay, give me another."

She laughed at him and poured another shot for them both.

"So how is everyone back home?" he asked conversationally.

"My parents are fine, and Harry's doing well. He's dating Luna Lovegood now. Who would have imagined that?" Hermione shook her head in disbelief.

"Stranger things have been known to happen. Did you and Ron ever get together?" Bill asked after taking another shot of ouzo.

"No, and can you believe Ron is with Pansy Parkinson now? That cow!" Hermione made several nasty faces at the thought of her Slytherin rival.

"I love my brother, but I can't vouch for his taste in women."

Hermione earnestly nodded her agreement and then asked, "What about you and Fleur?"

"She's with Charlie now. Maybe she got confused by all the red hair and picked the wrong Weasley." Bill shrugged it off and didn't look too upset about it.

"Sorry," she slurred. "Ginny?"

"Neville Longbottom," Bill said as he poked the air for emphasis.

"So what about Fred and George?" If they were going to talk about the couples in the family, they might as well do it properly.

"Fred and Angelina are together. Mum sent me an owl letting me know Angelina's preggers, and with twins, no less!" Bill laughed. "It's karma coming to bite Fred in the arse."

Hermione laughed with him. "Great! And George?"

Bill looked almost like he was blushing then, but he might have been red in the face because of the ouzo. "He and Lee have a nice flat in SoHo last I heard."

"George and Lee?" Hermione spilled the shot of ouzo that she was trying to drink. "I would have never thought it would have been George. Percy, maybe, but not George!"

Here Bill laughed. "Well, it's always the quiet ones! Percy has actually been doing a lot of dating. He's quite popular with the Ministry set. Supposedly he's good for a shag, not that I am going to top my own brother to find out!"

"That's disgusting, Bill!" she laughed as she playfully slapped him on the arm.

"I know!" He laughed so hard that tears filled his eyes.

They continued talking and laughing, but soon succumbed to sleep right where they were.

~*~

When Mary Frances returned from dancing with Ali-Reza she found both Hermione and Bill in his bed together with his arm draped possessively over her. As much as she was hoping for some potential romantic action for her friend, it was clear that nothing had happened. They were both fully clothed and sleeping on top of the bed.

She knocked lightly to let them know she was there. Bill heard the sound and woke up slowly. He sat up on the bed and held his hand to his forehead and groaned.

"Damned ouzo. It tastes like cat piss!" Bill declared.

Mary Frances laughed at him softly. "How would you know? Do you make it a regular habit to drink cat piss?"

He tried to glare at her, but found it hurt his head to much. Instead he got up and stumbled to his sofa so she could sleep in the bedroom.

"Goodnight, Mary Frances," he wished over his shoulder.