Written for the Months of the Year Challenge. November: Write about someone feeling lifeless (Prompts: (location) Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, (phrase) you won't know until you try, (emotion) optimmistic

Written for the Pairing the Character Competition. Hermione/Bill

Worth a Try

"I'm pleasantly surprised by these two."

In the process of trying to discreetly return the love potion to its large shelf of other love potions, Bill managed to not only knock over that one, but a hundred of the other ones too.

"Thirty Galleons!" Fred called from the other side of the shop. "Right in our pocket, thanks, brother."

Turning the typical red every Weasley turned when embarrassed, Bill faced Hermione, who was now wearing a bemused expression. "Me too," he said in answer to her statement.

Hermione took out her wand. "Reparo," she said, and the love potion bottles returned to their previous state of non-shattered bottles. "That way Fred and George can't make you pay."

Bill looked woefully at the bottles. "Shouldn't have been here anyway," he mumbled.

Hermione smiled. "I'm sure we've all been tempted before."

"I'm not the love potion kind of guy, though," Bill responded. "I'm just…."

"Lonely?" Hermione finished.

Bill nodded, stuffing his hands into his pockets of his worn jeans.

Hermione patted his arm. "You'll be okay," she said. "Just give it time."

Bill watched her walk away, leaving his mind with many questions. Give it time? He'd been feeling like this for a year now. Ever since the end of his last relationship. He'd been seeing a girl who had been a few years younger at school, and despite her parents' willingness to send her to Hogwarts for an education, apparently marrying a wizard was one step too far. They had plans for her, and she was too afraid of them to tell them she wanted something else.

Last he heard she was married to a wealthy Muggle man who knew nothing of her magic, and was expecting her first child next February.

Good for her.

He looked back at where Hermione was now looking thoroughly impressed by a multi-purpose quill George was showing her. Until it squirted ink in her face.

Bill smiled.

He hadn't meant for his feelings to turn to her. At first, he'd thought it a rebound from Esmerelda. But then he started getting nervous when she was around, and thoughts of 'she's my brother's best friend' and 'she's way too young' started playing around in his mind.

His careless brain, however, was telling him to 'go for it'.

Wiping the ink from her face, Hermione turned to face him, returning his smile.

You won't know until you try, careless brain said.

Bill sighed.

Do it.

Taking a step toward her, Bill removed all thoughts of the love potion from his mind. It was worth a try. If she rejected him, then the worst that could happen would be a hurt pride and probably a punch in the face from Ron.

With another step forward, he puffed out his chest. The best that could happen would be soon he may just get to feel how soft her lips were.

I hope you liked it! I'm a Ron/Hermione shipper, so it's tricky for me to write Hermione with someone else, but I tried :)