Title: Life in Colors, Red
Disclaimer: I own nothing! JK Rowling owns everything pertaining to Harry Potter and the world we so love to play around with. Also Lorrie Morgan owns the rights to the song "Something in Red".
Author's Notes: This is something that came to me as I was listening to the song so I thought I'd write a one-shot (hopefully). It's AU! I'm not fond of what happens in DH...especially not with the end.
888
I'm looking for something in red
Something that's shocking to turn someone's head
It was the night of the Fifth Anniversary since the downfall of Voldemort. The Ministry, under Kingsley Shacklebolt, had changed drastically almost over night. The first year was spent gathering rogue death eaters and holding trials. The second year was spent erecting a monument in honor of those who had died during the long and hard struggle. Harry couldn't fight the tears that came to his eyes at seeing the names James Potter and Lily Potter carved in above names like Cedric Diggory, Albus Dumbledore, Sirius Black and many more. It seemed years three and four were spent rebuilding – rebuilding the Ministry, Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and any other place that was affected by the war. Finally it seemed that things were moving forward – slowly, yes, but forward no less.
So many things had changed since the summer before her seventh year at Hogwarts. For one thing, Hermione's parents had decided to stay in Australia after she reversed the memory charm on them. They were a bit sore at her for altering their memories like she did, but they understood her desire to protect them.
Harry, Ron, Ginny and she were still as close as could be. Ginny was a chaser for the Holyhead Harpies and was enjoying being single while savoring the ability to play her favorite game. Ron and Harry had become Aurors as they wanted to while she finished her seventh year at Hogwarts. She had completed her training with Gringotts and now she was certified to work as a curse breaker. She was waiting for them to assign her a location, but until then she was enjoying the work around the bank – such as translating ruins. Fred and George still had their shop in Diagon Alley and were looking to expand into Hogsmeade. Percy, after apologizing to his family, was working along side Kingsley to remove old and outdated laws – it was a slow and tedious job but the redhead seemed to enjoy it immensely. Charlie went back to Romania to work with his dragons while Bill, Fleur and their daughter Victoire had moved to Egypt – Bill's first love. It appeared that Fleur loved it too as Hermione had heard that Fleur was pregnant again.
Hermione looked into the full length mirror in front of her and sighed. She wasn't sure about the color red on her – she thought it washed out her skin but the shop girl had assured her that it looked smashing on her and brought out the bronze colored natural highlights in her hair. She let her dark hair fall down her back in cascades of curls even as she pulled it back with a pearl clip her mother had given her when she graduated from Hogwarts. It was a lovely dress, Hermione thought as she looked at her profile. It was strapless – the shop girl insisted that she had the frame to carry off the dress – with a corset top which had sequin that led down the bodice to the lightly decorated beaded waist. The skirt had to be her favorite part – even if it was a bit shorter than she'd normally wear – with its two-tiered skirt that fell to her mid-thigh. She looked at the nude colored stockings she wore with the black pair of shoes that had a modest heel to them. She felt sexy wearing the outfit and it excited her but yet it also terrified her.
Strapless and sequined and down to there
Stockings and garters and lace underwear
"Hermione?" Ginny called down the hallway. "Are you ready yet?" She questioned coming into the room. "Wow, you look fantastic!"
"Thanks." Hermione blushed lightly. "I wasn't sure because of the color,"
"Oh tish." Ginny retorted. "It looks incredible." She assured her before repeating her question.
"Yes." She answered after doing a mental check of everything she needed before grabbing her black clutch purse and heading out into the night with her roommate and best female friend.
The pair walked into the luxuriously decorated hall and just paused to take in the sights. The hall was bathed in thousands of candles, white and purple colored table cloths with crystal bowls and China adoring the table tops. On the far side was the dance floor where a small wizarding band was staged and was currently playing a soft melody.
"Hermione!" Harry called. "Ginny!" He added before saying, "-glad to see you."
Ginny smiled and excused herself to mingle with those in the hall. Teasingly Hermione retorted, "-well if you'd answer your owls more often you wouldn't have to wait so long to see me."
Harry laughed, "-touché."
"How are you, Harry?" She asked hugging the green-eyed wizard tightly.
Harry smiled, "I'm good. How are you?"
She shrugged carelessly, "-busy as always."
"Yes, I heard that you got promoted to a curse breaker." Harry grinned.
She accepted his arm and they began walking through the hall. "Yes, I haven't been assigned a location yet. I should hear within the next couple of days. Griphook says that they're currently discussing possibly sending me to Egypt to work with Bill or possibly to America to help out with the American branch of Gringotts."
"America?" Harry repeated. "That's awfully far away from home, isn't it?"
"I suppose it is, but" she paused pondering how to say it, "-we're all growing up. It seems as good as any time to move on and experience life."
She felt a hand touch her shoulder and turned to see Bill's blue eyes twinkling happily before he pulled her into a hug. "Congratulations on getting the promotion." He said pulling back. "I hear that you might be assigned to my team."
Hermione smiled brightly, "-yes. Griphook wouldn't say anything specific only that it's one of several places they might send me. I'm so excited."
"Congratulations, 'ermione." Fleur said coming to stand next to her husband. "We're so excited for you." She added.
"Thank you, Fleur." She said accepting the hug from the slightly pregnant woman. "You look wonderful, Fleur." She added seeing the mini bump beneath the silver-blue colored dress robes she wore. "How is Victoire?"
"She is fine." Bill answered, his arm placed lovingly around his wife's shoulders. "She's staying the night with Gabriella who didn't feel up to coming tonight."
"She is heartbroken." Fleur answered the unasked question. "Her fiancée broke up with her just weeks before the wedding."
Hermione frowned at the news. "I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure Gabriella will bounce back soon."
"I hope so." Fleur said.
The guaranteed number to knock them men dead
Just then the Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt stood up and announced that the floor was open to any one who wanted to dance and to help themselves to the food that was set up buffet style. "Granger!" A pair of identical voices called as Harry excused himself to go to the dinner table while Bill and Fleur excused themselves to go towards the dance floor leaving the brunette standing momentarily alone.
Hermione turned to see Fred and George Weasley. "Hello boys." She greeted.
"Here that Forge?"
"Granger still thinks we're boys."
"Whatever should we do about it?"
Hermione laughed loudly before jumping at them to hug them close. "Oh, you know you're my favorite set of twins." She said before stepping away from the twin sandwich that they'd created around her. "My, you two clean up well." She teased. "Are Angie and Katie dressing you now?"
The two aforementioned girls came up along side of their boyfriends and laughed at Hermione's words. "Actually," Angie started but was interrupted by Fred.
"We agreed not to talk about that, Angie." Fred reminded his long time girlfriend. Ever since his life was returned to him that day at Hogwarts he and Angie were nearly inseparable. He planned to propose to her later and make their love last forever – if she said yes, that is.
Angie laughed before turning to the curvy brunette. "Wow, Hermione. You look smashing."
"I agree." Katie said before slyly looking between the girls. "Do we need to tie all the wizards down?"
Hermione and Angie laughed as Hermione struggled to find some kind of retort. "Only your wizards please." She finally uttered.
Fred and George just shook their heads at the teasing going on between their girlfriends and their close friend. "Hey Lee." They called spying their long time friend. "How's life on the radio?"
Lee shook their hands and grinned, "-good times, mates." He looked at the female companions before greeting, "'lo Angie, Katie and Granger."
Hermione rolled her eyes before asking, "-why is it, whenever the three of you are around I'm 'Granger'?"
"Think of it as a pet name." Fred teased as he wrapped his arm loosely around her shoulders winking at Angie who was shaking as she tried to retain her laughter.
George followed suit and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Yea, an affectionate pet name."
"Would you prefer something like 'honeybunch'?"
"No?" George teased. "Hmm, what about 'love-turtle'?"
Fred laughed, "-oh what about 'Snookie Pooks'?"
"Fever lips?" Suggested Lee getting into the swing of spouting out teasing pet names to the brunette who was turning pink as she was trying in vein not to laugh with the other girls who had given up and were slowing getting more and more confused but amused attention from others around them as if no time had gone by from their days at Hogwarts. Once upon a time, the three could think on the same wave length, but they'd all grown up – war did that to everyone.
"Lovie Doo?"
"STOP!" Hermione laughed loudly. "I get it." She added wiping a tear from her eye as the group tried to regain their breath.
Angie held out her hand to Fred and questioned, "-dance with me?"
Grinning he answered, "-forever." And off they went.
"If there was ever a pair that was hopelessly in love with each other, there they go." Hermione commented softly.
"How have you been?" Lee asked softly as he realized that George and Katie had snuck off at some point leaving him and Hermione alone together.
Realizing that she was left alone with the taller black wizard made her feel a little nervous as Lee had definitely changed since she last saw him. He was taller than she remembered and seemed fitter than he was when they were at Hogwarts together. His black hair was neatly done in dreadlocks that looked good on him. She shrugged trying to remain carefree before answering, "I've been good. How about you?"
"I can't complain." He shrugged reaching out to grab two flutes of champagne. When she smiled her thanks he continued, "I'll be broadcasting the next Harpies match against Puddlemere in my timeslot which is fine with me because I'll get to see Oliver in action again."
"That's great." She said smiling.
"I didn't think you liked Quidditch all that much."
She shrugged, "I don't mind the game. I just don't fancy talking about it all the time."
Nodding he asked, "-would you like to dance?"
I'm looking for something in red
End of Red
Author's Notes: This is what I saw when I thought of Hermione's dress: http :/ www. edressme. com/ scala-gowns-47119 html (just take out the spaces)