Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot is my own! Happy reading!
A/N: This story is undergoing minor grammar and formatting editing.
Chapter Two: Heartbreak and Alliances
Stretching groggily in her cot, Hermione peered around Ginny's room. Noting that her roommate was already gone, she grabbed her shower bag and made her way to the bathroom, fresh clothes in hand. Walking slowly to avoid stumbling, she reached the bathroom to find it locked. Resting on the floor with her knees scrunched up, she thought over the previous night. Flashes of the party, a drunken Ginny, flashing mistletoe, and a kiss crossed her memories. She groaned inwardly as the awkward flushing took over.
The door opened and Ginny strolled out dressed and prepared to clean from the previous night's festivities. She flashed a small smile to Hermione before making her back to her room, caddy in hand.
Hermione washed quickly, brushed her teeth thoroughly, and tried to make her curls manageable. Admitting defeat, she pinned the front out of it away from her face. Fully dressed in simple jeans and light blue jumper, she returned to Ginny's room with her supplies.
The table was already full and chatter echoed up the stairwell. Hermione searched for an empty seat and found one by Harry. Harry nodded at her and offered her eggs. She ate her meal slowly, listening to the conversations surrounding her. Pleased with how she hid herself, she was almost done when Ginny caught her.
"You know, I seem to remember a lot about last night. The party was great, lots of interesting guests, and a certain friend of ours was forced to endure the charmed mistletoe. Say, Hermione, how did you get rid of it?" Ginny remarked.
Before she could respond, George winked at her and replied, "Hermione, brilliant as she is, discovered a way to charm the blasted thing off. Leave it to her to find a way out of a pleasant sn-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence, George Weasley," his mother scolded.
Harry snorted, resulting in a swift kick to his shin from Hermione. Fred noticed, but said nothing.
The dishes were banished to the sink and chores were assigned to everyone present. Hermione and Ginny were responsible for changing sheets in all rooms and scrubbing the floors on the main floor. She quickly decided to change from her jeans and jumper to a pair of jogging pants and tee. Her hair was braided and fastened in the back.
She met Ginny on the laundry lines Mrs. Weasley charmed in the closet. They unhooked and folded the fresh linens. She caught sight of the boys repairing the shed, once more. Fred and Ron struggled to get the rickety door to reattach properly, but managed to get it straight. The girls gathered their things and made their way to the bedrooms, changing sheets and banishing the soiled ones to the laundry area.
Mrs. Weasley set out two brooms, two mops, and polishing rags to clean the floors. Ginny and Hermione scrubbed the floors and polished the stairs all day. Once Hermione was sure the scuff marks were diminished, if not gone, she leaned back against the wall.
"Ron, can you tell Hermione to come eat supper? The poor dear has been scrubbing the floors all day," Mrs. Molly requested.
She heard his footsteps coming closer and cringed. She was still on the floor, probably a filthy sight at the moment.
"Mum said supper is ready. You know this lot will eat it, if you don't hurry," he said. Hermione looked at him and wondered if they ever stood another chance at being friends again. The icy nature of their relationship grated her nerves.
"I'm just going to freshen up and change out of these. I'll be along in a moment," she replied with an attempted smile. He nodded and left without another word.
Hermione sprinted up the stairs, snatched her clothes from Ginny's room and ran to the bathroom. She washed her hands and face, shed her soiled clothing, and put on the outfit from before. The curls were released from their braid and allowed to fall along her shoulders. Satisfied that she no longer looked filthy, Hermione left the loo and joined the family at dinner.
Wanting to avoid the knowing eyes of Ginny and the icy tone of Ron, Hermione chose to save Fleur from Mrs. Weasley. The two were conversing about cooking tips and the beautiful girl was positively confused. Hermione offered some simple suggestions of French substitutes she could try and Fleur flashed her small smile of gratitude.
After dinner, Hermione stayed with Mrs. Weasley and Ginny to do the dishes. She enjoyed the quiet time with the mother hen as she fussed about the kitchen. However, Ginny quickly finished the work and drug Hermione towards the attic. They were at the door, when Hermione overheard the mention of Lavender. She groaned and made to enter, but Ginny stalled her.
"Um…perhaps, we should go to my room and change into our pajamas first. Be a bit more comfortable, yeah?" Ginny's eyes pleaded with Hermione to follow her.
She was about to leave, when she overheard the most heartbreaking statement. She prayed she had misinterpreted his words. But, alas, he repeated them to her horror.
"It was better than winning the cup, Harry…nothing like it. She wanted me and I gave her every wanton desire she begged for. Lavender is mental, but she can't seem to get enough of me." Ron's voice could not have been clearer.
Reality hit Hermione like a knife to her heart. She felt the tears threatening to brim over her eyes and stifled her miserable cry, all the while rushing to be as far from him as possible. She entered Ginny's room, her roommate at her heels, and cast a silencing charm. Once secure, she fell apart and wept for her shattered illusions of him leaving her. She could not compete with a girl willing to give herself so freely.
"Please, tell me it's not true. That he is exaggerating for Harry for some sick form of guy talk," Hermione pleaded with Ginny.
Ginny's shoulders sunk in defeat and she shook her head.
Hermione screamed and wiped her face, stormed out of the room and climbed onto the roof, knowing the older boys did not allow Ron to join them, yet. She mounted the roof and scrambled to their hideout, startling all three boys present at the time.
Bill and the twins each had a bottle of fire whiskey and were steadily drinking their part. Hermione crawled over to a rather shocked Fred, snatched his bottle, and took a swig of the amber liquid. It burnt as ran down her throat, but her time for caring was over. She readied herself to take another gulp when he snatched it back.
"Oi! That's my drink, Granger. What the bloody hell happened to you? You were fine an hour ago at dinner," Fred held his bottle from her reach and stared at her tears streaked face.
"I know there are two boys in the attic, but my money is not on Boy Wonder pissing her off this bad. Nah, this has Ronniekin's thick head all over it. What did my daft brother do now?" Bill inquired.
Hermione remained silent and stared at the shingles.
"Five galleons says it involves Lavender," piped George.
Hermione sniffed and said, "You're getting warmer."
"Bloody hell, I told Charlie to shut his ruddy trap!" Bill groaned. Hermione stared at him and he continued, "Ronald wrote to Charlie asking for advice on contraception spells, said something about a lucky bird in his life. We thought he meant…doesn' t matter…we thought it was someone else and not that daft bimbo that trailed him. Plus, once upon a time he wrote saying he had a date with you. "
Hermione dropped her gaze one more time, and Fred sighed. "So, Ronald slept with his fling, Lav-Lav?" Fred's question was punctuated with the offer of his whiskey.
Hermione took another gulp and cringed as it burned its way down. She nodded her response and the boys groaned.
"Granger, he thinks this is what he wants. He has no clue. He can't possibly actually like this girl as much as he lets on," George reasoned.
"We'll take care of him, Granger. Puking Pastilles are easily slipped to unsuspecting gits," Bill offered.
Hermione took one more swig of the harsh drink and returned it to Fred's possession. She mulled over the idea, but shook her head.
"What if you got him back?" George inquired, a plan devising itself in his mischievous eyes. Hermione leaned back and groaned.
"Hear me out, Granger. Ronald is dating this bird and making quite a show of it from what I can tell. It would appear he wants the attention, say to make a certain person jealous." Fred laughed in agreement. "Well, what if you did the same thing? Give the prat a taste of his own medicine, hmm?"
Hermione scoffed and scrunched her face. "Actually, I have already failed on that front. McLaggen was my date for Slughorn's party after the row with Ronald began. He was like an untrained, ill-mannered octopus and slobbered on my face," she complained.
Fred snickered, earning him a glare from the already flustered girl.
George sat up more confidently and said, "That is why you will date, albeit less dashing version of myself, Fred." Fred choked momentarily on his drink and sent his brother a death glare. "It will drive Ronniekins mad and we get to be front and center as he makes an arse of himself."
"I'm sure your brother would rather be free to date girls more up to his standards," Hermione countered.
"Nonsense, Forge would be happy to do it," George said as he quickly left, passing snarky glances at his brothers. Bill laughed and bid Hermione goodnight.
"Fred, I'll figure out something-"
"Let's do it," he interjected.
"What?" Hermione was stunned by his resolution.
"He's being a prat to the brightest witch of our age and dating a blonde mess of a girl to boot. Let's show the git what he's missing." He was slipping the cap back on his bottle and stowing it in his jacket.
Hermione bit her lip and began to analyze every possible scenario. She was beginning to become very anxious over the idea when she felt his hand slip onto her shoulder. He was almost against her back, bracing himself on the slope.
"Breathe, Granger. I solemnly swear to only agree to anything within your own comfort zone."
Hermione relaxed her shoulders and nodded her consent. "Alright, but no dark corridor jokes," she told him sternly. He saluted her in mock fashion and flashed a smile.
"C'mon, let's get you inside before I freeze my bullocks off."
Once back inside, Fred slipped his arm around her once more and steered her towards the living room. Everyone was chatting, playing chess or exploding snap. Ron was the reigning champ of the former and it was a daunting task to challenge him once he was focused.
Hermione entered first grabbing a cup of tea on her way to the couch. Ron noticed her entrance, but his eyes turned into slits of glare once he saw who trailed behind her. Still feeling the nip of the frigid air of the roof, she began to rub her shoulders and arms. George noticed and nudged Fred to attend her.
"Granger, take my jumper, Love. Can't have you sitting here clattering into a million pieces, now can we?" Fred slipped his jumper over his head, letting his undershirt ride up, revealing a chiseled form and hint of a red trail leading to disappearing beneath his trousers. He winked at her when he noticed her staring. Hermione flushed, but hid it by quickly slipping the jumper over her head.
Scents of him invaded her senses and made her smile. He smelt warm and of fresh mown grass, cinnamon, and a bit of gunpowder. The jumper was far too big for her tiny frame so she rolled the sleeves up and burrowed inside, bringing her knees to her chest. The material fit easily over her form and left her sock covered feet as the only thing exposed. Ginny smiled knowingly at her actions and Hermione suddenly became quite interested in her tea.
After several agonizing defeats, Ron still remained the winner. It was something Hermione actually admired about him. His strategic thoughts were well planned and nicely played out. If he actually focused on his studies like he did the game, he could have marks rivaling her own.
"Hermione, how are you enjoying the holidays?" Arthur asked.
"Perfectly well, Mr. Weasley. It's far more cozy and entertaining here than home," she replied.
"Well, term starts back in a few day's time. I'd imagine you've already pre-read the required sections, though," Arthur mused.
"Yes, but re-reading offers more information that I may have failed to see initially," Hermione said.
"Can always count on you to keep them in line, I suppose," Arthur stated before bidding everyone a good night. Mrs. Weasley followed him to bed not long after.
Bill yawned and took Fleur upstairs, probably so he could bid her night after a quick snog. The two were not allowed to share a room in Burrow until they were married. George took her opportunity to nudge his brother and nod over to Hermione.
"To bed we go, the shop opens bright and early tomorrow. Night all!" George called. Everyone mumbled their pleasantries and made their way to the stairs.
Hermione stood to return the jumper, but Fred shook his head. "Keep it. Night, Love." Fred placed a kiss on her cheek, making her burn crimson, and apparated from the room.
Ginny burst out laughing and snatched Hermione up the stairs, leaving a rather stunned Harry and pissed off Ronald in their wake.
