Sorry I haven't uploaded anything in awhile - here's the first of several. ;) Written for Dyno_Drabbles and won Runner Up! Disclaimer: The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling, Scholastic and WB. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.

Bill Weasley, freshly returned from a dig in Egypt, laid out his treasures upon the kitchen table for his family to peruse. Among the assortment were arm bracelets, earrings, amulets, and hair combs... all beautiful to behold.

"Is that... a beetle?" Ron asked with a grimace, poking one intricate piece.

"It's a Scarab," Hermione muttered under breath. She didn't notice the smug smile Bill gave Ron.

"It's hideous is what it is," Ron grumbled before moving on to something else.

She just rolled her eyes and studied the rest of the items, yet always returning to the Scarab amulet.

"The Scarab is known as the protector of the heart," Bill murmured to her once the rest of his family had looked their fill and left the room. He'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy the flush that crept up Hermione's throat at his words.

Smiling hesitantly, she met his eyes. "Didn't they use to place them in the mummy's heart cavity?"

A wide grin broke out on his face. "Exactly." He picked up the multi-coloured amulet and came around the table to stand behind her.

Standing very still, Hermione tried not to appear breathless. Long had she admired the eldest Weasley, even with his scarred face, and having him so near to her allowed for tensions to rise—at least on her part. The feeling sky-rocketed when he leaned closer.

"Lift your hair," he whispered, his nose brushing the delicate shell of her ear.

As if in a trance, she reached behind her, lifted her mass of curls, and propped them on top of her head, revealing her slender column of flesh. Her eyes followed the amulet as it was brought into her vision and laid flush against her skin in the centre of her chest, Bill's fingers fastening the clasp before he placed a soft kiss on the nape of her neck.

"In life, Egyptians carried the Scarab amulet to protect their hearts and give them longevity," he breathed, nuzzling just below her hairline.

"Really?" She couldn't form a coherent thought and remained with one arm raised to hold her hair. She could feel him smile against her skin.

"Mm, really." He gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist and moved her hand so that her lustrous mane fell into place again. "They also used jewellery to draw attention to the more attractive aspects of their bodies."

She wanted to say something in return, but all she could manage was a squeak when he nipped her earlobe.

"Many of the pieces were used to attract a mate," he continued, placing small kisses on her jaw between words. A low growl issued from his throat when she arched her neck to allow him further access. "For fertility..." He placed his wide palm at the base of her throat, delighting in her rapid heartbeat. "For victory," he finished and closed his mouth over hers.

In the end, the amulet fulfilled its purpose quite well.