A/N: So, This idea has been brewing in my head for awhile now. My computer's hard drive crashed so right when I started thinking it up, I couldn't type it down! Let me tell you, it was torture. I actually had to resort to writing by hand…something I absolutely hate doing. But now, my computer's fixed and I'm able to save it all on here! Very exciting. Anyway, this is just a little boring intro chapter. I was planning on writing more, but it's late and Legally Blonde is on…(I have a short attention span). So please read and CRITIQUE! I always like to know ways to improve my writing. Oh, and…
Disclaimer: Obviously, these characters are not my own (well, Wendy is). I am merely using the characters that J.K. Rowling thought up. And they're just so fun to play with!
Whatever This Is
"So, as you can see, our team of specialists is quite prepared to embark on this new idea. If, or shall I say when we succeed, the result will open a whole new door of healing that has never been approached before. With your help, we will be able to travel through this door, and into a new era. Thank you so much, and have a wonderful evening."
Hermione Granger stepped off the podium on which she had been standing, uttered 'Quietus' under her breath while pointing her wand at her throat, and walked back to her seat to the applause of her audience.
'Inhale, exhale, smile, relax' thought the young healer, sitting down next to the wizard whose appearance made her the envy of the female population of the large crowd.
"You sounded great Hermione. Won over the people."
She snorted slightly and smiled, shaking her head.
"I hate public speaking," she replied. "But thank you. I really appreciate you coming, Harry. Since Ron couldn't."
"He really wanted to, though," interjected Harry, always quick to jump to his friend's rescue.
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"I know. I'm not accusing him. It's actually been nice to have a night out with you."
"Well, I think Ginny was glad to have a night without me. She was looking forward to her girl's night with Wendy."
"Wendy definitely was too. She'd probably like to see her Uncle Harry too, if you want to come over quickly. I think we're pretty much done here."
Harry screwed up his face in mock concentration.
"Hmm…let's see," he said, dragging the words out, "did we…eat?"
"Check."
"You gave your speech?"
"Check."
"Mingled?"
"Check."
"For five minutes!"
"Which was enough for these people!"
"Okay…danced?"
"With you?"
Harry glared at her sullenly.
"I'm not that bad."
She appraised him silently.
"Well, I'm not as bad as Ron," he muttered. Hermione grinned.
"That much is true. But for now, let's just go home. I told Wendy we'd get back before bedtime."
"Okay, then. Let's go."
The two friends stood up, waved to their tablemates, Hermione said goodbye to a few colleagues, and then they both disapparated with silent pops.
Both wizard and witch apparated simultaneously into the dark back yard, Harry immediately getting his wand and whispering 'lumos' to see as he turned around to search the darkness. Hermione marched ahead of him and began her unlocking charms. Before the door opened, Harry had run to catch up and stood behind her as she entered the dark kitchen.
"Ginny?" Hermione yelled out through the cottage.
"In the parlor!" A voice came from through the kitchen door. Hermione walked through to the large room where Ginny Weasley was sitting on the couch reading.
"Hey! How was she?" Hermione asked, walking over to the couch and dropping gracefully onto it. Harry had walked in behind her and Ginny kissed him quickly before answering.
"An angel, as always. One of these days I'll come and steal her away from you. She likes me better, after all." Ginny said with a grin and a defeated shrug of her shoulders. "She just went into her room to show me something, but she must have gotten wrapped up in something or other." Harry sat next to Ginny on the couch as Hermione yawned widely.
"Hmm. Okay, I'll go get her out here just as soon as I get…these…shoes…off. Ha!" Hermione finished triumphantly as she forced the tight heels off of her feet and dropped them on the floor. She stood up and walked out of the parlor.
Harry groaned tiredly.
"Hard night, Harry darling?" Ginny asked in a slightly sarcastic tone. His head dropped onto her shoulder.
"Oh, it was terrible." He retorted.
"Poor baby," Ginny whispered in his ear as she started to knead his shoulders with her small hands, to his delight.
"Wendy? Are you awake?" Hermione said softly knocking on the bedroom door she approached from the short hallway.
"Just reading," came a quiet voice from inside the room. Hermione entered, smiling.
"Hey bun, how was your night?" She asked, walking over to the small girl laying in her bed with a large book in her lap and shining red hair spread over her pillow.
"Fun!" Answered the girl happily. "Aunt Ginny made me some supper and then we listened to the wireless and read. She told me funny stories." Wendy giggled as if she was recollecting the tales. Suddenly her eyes widened and she looked excitedly towards Hermione.
"How was your night? Were there lots of im-port-ant people there?" She slowly sounded out the word important; it was a new word for the five-year-old. Hermione had sat down on the girl's bed and was leaning back next to her on the pillows.
"Well, none as important as your Uncle Harry and I of course," she replied as Wendy nodded eagerly, "but…hmm…let's see, there was the minister. And of course many colleagues of mine. The Malfoys, Parkinsons, Zabinis, all those important families, of course." She pursed her lips jokingly and thought, pretending to think of more people. She knew that she had said everything Wendy needed.
"Was…Draco Malfoy there?" Wendy asked slowly, trying to sound not very interested (and failing, as most children do with deception). Hermione pretended to think for a few more dreadful moments before answering.
"Why, yes. I do believe I might've talked to him for awhile." Wendy clapped her hands.
"What did he say!"
"He'll be by to visit tomorrow." Hermione finally told her, poking the girl in her stomach.
Wendy giggled happily.
Since Draco had haltingly joined the Order of the Phoenix, with absolutely no one trusting him, he had slowly been working his way into the Weasley's, and Harry and Hermione's, lives. Five years after the war, they were all good friends, and Wendy Weasley was unnaturally obsessed with her 'Uncle Draco' (who wasn't even close to being her uncle, anyway).
"But for now, your Uncle Harry has come to pick up your Aunt Ginny, and is absolutely dying to see you." Hermione said to the girl, smiling, and laughing as she quickly marked her place in the book, set it down on her bedside table and ran out of the room. Hermione took a second to smooth the covers of the bed before following her into the parlor. She entered to see Harry spinning the girl around as she giggled happily. Ginny was smiling slightly wistfully as Harry finally landed Wendy on the ground and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Well, Munchkin, let's see how you're growing. Hmm…yes…yes…" He muttered thoughtfully as he looked from her feet to her head as Wendy stifled her laughter. "It's as I thought. Soon you'll be as tall as me. I'd give it a few days, maybe." He nodded to himself.
Wendy shook her head, although beaming from his scrutiny.
"Uncle Harry, you know that's not true! I won't be as tall as you for a long time, probably never!" She uttered intelligently. Harry put a hand to his heart.
"Ah, she's outsmarted me again!" He cried despairingly, Wendy, Ginny and Hermione all laughing good-naturedly. Ginny looked towards the grandfather clock in the corner of the room and noting the time, said,
"We should probably get going, you guys. Both Harry and I have to work tomorrow, and it's someone's bedtime." She lifted Wendy up pointedly and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"Goodnight, Wendy. Thanks for letting me hang out with you tonight." She said. Wendy nodded happily and replied.
"It was no trouble at all, Aunt Ginny."
"Well, would you look at our hospitable girl. Night, munchkin," Harry said, ruffling Wendy's hair and kissing her forehead while she was still in Ginny's arms. Ginny set her down and walked over to Hermione, giving her friend a big hug.
"Thanks for taking this guy off my hands for the night," She said, gesturing to the indignant Harry. "Owl me about lunch tomorrow, okay?"
Hermione nodded to her.
"I'll do that. Goodnight Ginny. Goodnight Harry." Harry gave her a hug after Ginny let the woman go and kissed her cheek.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow, Hermione."
She squeezed him quickly before letting him go and picking Wendy up as they all said goodnight and Harry and Ginny disapparated. Hermione yawned widely with Wendy following the action a moment later.
"I think I'm ready for bed, too. Let's get you back to your room." Wendy nodded sleepily, resting her head on Hermione's shoulder as she carried her into her room and set her under the covers of her bed.
"Tightly," Wendy instructed, muffled against her pillow. Hermione obeyed, tucking the girl's blankets tightly around her small body before kissing her forehead.
"Goodnight, bun." Hermione said before leaving the room. Wendy replied.
"Goodnight, Hermione. See you in the morning."
"See you tomorrow."
The witch closed the door quietly on her way out.
Please Review!
