A/N: First chapter of my new fanfiction, Harry Potter won the poll by a landslide and I'm so excited to write this. Real quick Hermione's 18 and Fred is ALIVE and he's 20.
The Runaways- Chapter One
Hermione wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and unconsciously tried to tame her bushy hair that had started to frizz at the fumes from her cauldron. She had been working at "Weasley's Wizard Wheezies" all summer, doing accounting and research for Fred and George—but it had been against her better judgment. Now she was experimenting in the back room while sweating profusely and desperately trying to figure out what combination of positions would make a mixture that, when ingested, would automatically make you cry.
Fred and George where having trouble with this new product—they called it "Cry Me a River"—and Hermione, who had already been doing the books for a couple of months at their shop had offered to help.
Hermione let out an angry huff, and put her head in her hands. Suddenly the doorbell jingled, and she immediately stood straight up as Fred strode in to the room with a smirk on his face "A little jumpy there Hermione? You weren't slacking off where you?"
"Of course not I was just—" she stopped herself as she realized he was joking.
"It's getting late, I'm just about to close up." He said. Hermione nodded absent-mindedly and went back to her work. Fred turned to leave, but looked back at her. "Come back to the Burrow for dinner. You've put in enough hours for today, I'm sure Mum would love to have you and Ronniekinz would be sooooooo excited."
Hermione ignored his comment, "I would, but—" She looked longingly down at the bubbling concoction, desperate to solve this mystery.
Fred chuckled "What is it Hermione, started a great love affair with the pewter cauldron have you?"
Hermione grimaced, "Funny." She said unenthusiastically as she turned back to the simmering pot, as if by staring at it for long enough she could figure out the puzzle. Fred looked at her with an amused look plastered on his face until Hermione finally threw her hands up into the air and Fred burst out laughing, "I don't know how to do this Fred! I'm top of my class and I can't figure this out, there is no way I can do this! It's not possible, I can't make a potion that makes people cry! I can't, this has never happened before!"
"Blimey Hermione, calm down!" Fred said urgently, striding around the work counter and quickly putting his hands on Hermione's shoulders trying to soothe her. "Breeeeaaattttthhheeee… It's fine we will figure it out. George and I are really good at this stuff and if we all put our heads together we will find a way to make these damn bastards have the sniffles. So calm yourself, Caaaaalllllmmm… are you calm?"
Hermione nodded and looked up at Fred, her eyes still full of concern, "All my ingredients… they should add up—but they don't."
Fred took his arms off Hermione's shoulders, as he sighed. He rolled up his sleeves and a split second later slammed his hands down on to the counter top, "What have you been brewing here Hermione?" he asked as he peered at the contents of the cauldron.
"Well I have Dittany, Fluxweed, Rose Oil, Honeywater, Syrup of Helibore and Eye of Newt, which technically if you add them all up should give you a crying solution that lets up in a couple minutes." Hermione faltered "But—it doesn't."
Fred paused for a moment "Replace Helibore with Arnica and we've got ourselves 'Cry Me a River' Hermione. Now let's go."
Hermione gaped at Fred, "But how—"
"Syrup of Helibore is found in the draft of peace, it gives a soothing effect which was counter acting your potion. I don't really consider crying a peaceful thing, I find rather upsetting."
"But why—" She was stuttering, looking utterly confused.
"Hermione, it's late! I don't want to play the role of ol'Profesor Snape! Can we just—" Fred groaned gesturing wildly at the door.
"Fine, Fine, Fine! Hermione said, giving in and letting Fred lead her through the store and out the front door. She felt the heat of the hot summer night and closed her eyes and let the fresh air rush over her as she listened to the "Click, click" of her feet against the cobble stone street.
Fred held out his arm and she took it, now used to apparating alongside one of the twins. She kept her eyes closed as she heard the loud "Crack!" and felt the familiar but yet, unpleasant sensation of being pushed in, out and backward before she felt stable again and was standing in an empty field just outside The Burrow.
Hermione immediately let go of Fred's arm and shifted away awkwardly.
She couldn't help it, it was simply a reflex. Fred made his way to the door and looked back at Hermione expectantly, "Well? Are you coming?"
"Yes, just give me a minute." She said. Fred raised an eyebrow, "It's just I haven't been out of the shop for days and the air feels so good."
Fred nodded, "I'll let mum know that you'll be coming in eventually."
Hermione thanked him and watched him open the door and march into the living room with a great call of "Blimey that smells good! Mum what have you been cooking? God damn it Ron, I'm not her! Get off, these robes are new!" Hermione couldn't help but smile, as she shuffled around in the dry grass until she was lying down on her back under the stars.
The summer had been going by so fast—Hogwarts began next week, and she couldn't believe it. It was so strange to think that she would be returning to school after a whole year of fighting against the dark arts. But Professor McGonagall had announced it in a letter sent to every one of the Hogwarts students who had been7th years last year. Everyone of them must return for half a year to replenishing the knowledge that was lost during that treacherous year.
Hermione shuddered, that year had been awful. It had been too dangerous and too horrific to even think about, and as she did she became very conscious of the thin scars of writing etched in her skin. Of course they had won in the end though, and every thing was at ease. The only thing that puzzled Hermione was about how Wizard race could survive for too much longer; the population had lost nearly eight thousand wizards. There had been whispers of a "Marriage Law" being decreed and she prayed that the rumors false. A marriage law!
"How ridiculous" thought Hermione—though she didn't know the details, she figured that no good could come from something like that! She presumed that if that happened that she would have to marry Ron. Though she did like Ron, she wasn't sure if she wanted to marry him yet! The whole ordeal was really quite confusing to her, one kiss and now everything was completely bewildering.
She felt a sharp pain at her temple and took this as a sign to stop over thinking things for the night. So she crawled to her feet, brushed herself off and gently placed a knock on the door.
She heard Fred's voice exclaim loudly, "That'll be her Ron! Make sure not to tackle her as she makes her way in through the door!"
A split second later the door had swung open and Ron stood in front of her beaming, "Bloody hell Hermione, I didn't know you would be joining us."
There was a loud guffaw from the living room where the second Weasley twin was sitting on the couch—his brother next to him. Fred muttered into his brother's ear in a not-so-secretive-whisper "Yeah right, like he hasn't just spent the past fifteen minutes in the bathroom primping for this very occasion."
Ron shot a death glare in the direction of his siblings and turned back to Hermione with a look of pure delight, "You doing' alright then?"
"Oh—yes, lots of work but I'm managing." Hermione smiled shyly.
"I bet, heard from Fred you're working more hours then they are."
"I said no-such-thing!" Protested Fred, who was again eavesdropping.
"But out!" Ron retorted.
"Why! You can't talk to me like that—I'm a guest!" Fred gasped, pretending to be scandalized by his brother's words.
"Yeah right!"
"Dinner!" Called Mrs. Weasley entering the entryway from the kitchen and giving her two sons a look that warned them against bringing the fight to the dining table. She noticed Hermione and immediately broke into a beam. "Hello Hermione dear, how nice of you to join us for dinner, I dare say you deserve it after how hard you've been working. Peckish?"
"Very." Said Hermione letting Mrs. Weasley's warm smile wash over her and comfort her and let her worries of a marriage law dissolve.
That was until Mr. Weasley and Percy began talking about it over dinner.
"All I'm saying father, it is a reasonable move for the Ministry to make. I mean more then eight thousand wizards lost? It will cost us in the long run if we don't hurry the process of reproduction along a bit." Said Percy in his always-knowledgeable tone that automatically kept anyone from doubting him.
"Yes, but all I'm saying is that it isn't natural for people to produce children in this manner. You'll end up with unfit parents if it's passed, not to mention children as parents! After all seventeen year olds would be affected!" Mr. Weasley replied, frustrated.
"The Ministry wouldn't really pass this law would they dad?" asked Ginny pale faced looking at her father, concerned.
Mr. Weasley sighed, "It looks probable, I mean—it is a lot more innocent then what You-Know-Who was planning on doing to us."
"But this is crap! What if people refuse to obey the law?!" Fred asked angrily.
"Now don't talk nonsense Fred!" Mr. Weasley spluttered, "If this law is passed every one of you will follow it. If not, I assume your wand will be broken in two by Ministry Officials and how happy will you be then? I doubt any of you would be thinking yourselves too clever stuck as an incompetent squib."
Hermione felt sick and pushed her dessert of chocolate pudding away, she wasn't in the mood for it anymore. And as she did so she found herself gazing at Fred, who was looking at her in worry, she felt on odd jump in her stomach. She waved it off instantly—after all it was probably another reaction to the thought of a marriage law, because oh what a horrible thought it was.
A/N: Hope you liked it! Rate and Review, no flames please! I'll be updating soon! I promise!