Chapter 2
Disclaimer: It's not what it looks like officer, I didn't STEAL them per say, I just sort of borrowed them…. I'll return most of them, lol. Just kidding not mine.
Thanks to those who did review it is nice to know what you think. Oh and obviously this story is AU because the twins are just too hot….
"Okay dear I think that if we just sort these out and eliminate a few of the ones we know you can't except, then this will be easier." Molly said as she stared at the 89 petitions on her kitchen table. All of them addressed to Hermione. Molly's original estimate had been close but it was nearly impossible to count that many moving objects.
"Here, let me try something." Ginny said waving her wand at Hermione and then back at the pile of petitions. The pile that had been 89 was now only 54.
"What did you do?" Hermione asked looking at her now slightly more manageable pile of petitions.
Ginny smiled, "I banished any petitions from men you'd never met before."
"Thanks Gin, but still how am I ever going to get through this? This is just such a big decision to make…" Hermione trailed off and paled as she saw the petition on the top of the pile, Draco Malfoy's petition. "I think I'm going to be sick." Hermione muttered as she pushed the petitions away from her.
Ginny looked from Hermione to the pile of petitions and quickly snatched up Draco's petition. "That little ferret, I'm going to kill him. She quickly crumpled up the petition and threw it toward the other side of the room. "There, now don't worry about him, Mione. You won't have to marry him, cause if you do, I'll make sure you are a widow, I know people who-"
Ginny was cut off, "Ginerva Weasley! Leave it be, Hermione won't have to marry him. I'm going to go get George to petition."
"No, Mrs. Weasley I could never do that to George. He deserves a choice in the matter." Hermione said desperately trying to save George from the unhappy fate she had.
"Hermione, we're here for you, I know that you feel alone and with out your parents to help you, how could you not? But I've always thought of you as part of my family and there's nothing that Arthur and I wouldn't do for you." Molly said as she wrapped her arms around Hermione. "And if I have to hunny, I will have Arthur send out the petition in George's name."
"That's alright Molly, I'm sure I'll figure something out." As Hermione said this another owl flew into the room. "Not another one." Hermione cried out.
"I think I recognize that owl." Ginny said as the owl dropped another petition into Hermione's hands.
"We'll let's find out, open it up dear." Molly said softly.
"Here goes nothing." Hermione whispered ad she broke the ministry seal and unfolded the petition.
"I, George Weasley, hereby petition to wed Hermione Granger in accordance with Ordinance k102-34. If she should accept, she will be wed to myself with 30 days of signing this petition."
"Well I won't have to force him I guess." Molly said with a smile.
W W W 3
George was more nervous than he could ever remember being before in his life. The petition had been sent and now he could do nothing but wait. Wait, and wonder what Hermione was thinking and if she would say yes. He was working the floor today and Fred had the register, this was no time to be nervous and daydreaming. He needed to be focused but instead he was thinking of Hermione.
"Excuse me, I was wondering if you could help me?" Said a small boy with sandy hair and Hogwarts School robes with yellow trimming.
"What can I do for you? Puking Pastel? Canary Cream? Ton ton Taffy?" George asked picking up the various products.
The boy shook his head. "I'm looking for a gift for a girl… something nice." The blush that crept across his cheeks was a dead giveaway, the boy wanted to woo a girl.
George smiled, "You don't want anything like that then, let me see, I've got some day dream candy that will turn any class into a nice day in the park, um, or some handheld fireworks, always an eye catcher…. Oh here's something, How about a few Pygmy Puffs? Girls love those, they look like little puff balls." George looked around the shop, "I think that's about it, other than the gossip friendly aisle over to your left, that has your pass free notes and extendable ears…. Did you have any questions or is there anything else I can help you with?"
The boy smiled and shook his head as he headed off toward the products George had mentioned.
"Um, George? Can you please help me by explaining what this is?" A shrill and rather annoyed voice asked.
George had known that it was Hermione before he even turned around. Trying to look calmer than he felt he turned to face Hermione and the petition he had sent only a short time ago. "Explain what?"
"You know god damn well what! What were you thinking petitioning for me?" Hermione was red in the face as she yelled this and pushed the petition into is face.
"Oh, that's what you mean, well about that, um I'm Fred." George hoped the lie would work but knew instantly that it would not.
"George, I've always been able to tell you two apart, so don't even try that crap. Why did you send this?"
"I, umm, can we maybe talk later? I get my lunch in about an hour, I could meet you somewhere and we could talk about this in private maybe?"
"Fine, you've got one hour. Meet me at the Hog's Head, don't be late." Hermione said this quickly and with a final glance walked out the door of W3 and disapparated with a defining crack.
"You are so dead my brother." Fred smiled as he hung his arm over George's shoulder.
"You don't think she'll actually hurt me, do you?" George asked a little more afraid at the thought of a rather pissed Hermione waiting for him.
"Oh I don't think so," Fred smirked, "I know so!" He laughed at the thought of his twin having to calm down Hermione. When George's face fell though, he tried to make light of the situation. "Hey now, don't look so down, just tell her you wanted to give her the option and that it is totally up to her. She'll see the light," at this point he paused, "either that or you will." With one final snicker he ran back up to the register, leaving George 55 more minutes to ponder his fate.
H O G S H E A D
As he approached the door to the Hog's Head, George prayed that Hermione was at least a tiny bit calmer than earlier. Sighing and gathering his courage, George pulled open the door. The wooden door was heavy and sounded to George as though a canon had been shot off when it slammed shut behind him. Wincing at the interruption of otherwise complete silence in the bar, George headed toward the table in the back at which Hermione was currently sitting at. As he approached, she turned to look at him.
"You made it on time I see."
"Um, yeah, I did. Look Hermione, I know that you are upset with me for petitioning for you and I want you to know that I'm really sorry about the situation this law puts you in, but if you let me, I think we can make the best of this." George finished and looked into her eyes for any clue of her emotions.
"Thank you George, I'm sorry that I'm so moody, I just, well, I feel like my life is over, but I shouldn't take this out on you" She looked at him and George could now see the fear in her eyes. "Also, George I wanted to see you today because I wanted to know what you'd expect out of a marriage with me, I know the ministry has some, shall we say, 'marital requirements' of it's own, but I need to know some things, for instance, do you, I mean to say, will you allow me as your wife to earn a living?"
"Of course I'd be fine with that, but just to be clear, I do want my children to be raised by their mother, so maybe if you were to take the first few years of their lives off of work and then return part time or something so that you could still spend time with them." Hermione's smile was a relief.
"How about living arrangements?"
"Fred and Angie have their own place so the apartment above the shop in Hogsmeade is mine. We could always live there for awhile, it's a three bedroom and then, when we are ready, we could move into a real house."
"That sounds fine with me George. But are you sure this is what you want? Did someone else put you up to this?" Hermione's eyes searched his face for regret.
"Hermione, I'm an adult and even if mum or dad did try to force me I wouldn't allow it. I'm doing this on my own accord."
Hermione gulped and replied, "I guess then as long as you're sure that this is what you want, I'm ready to sign." Hermione pulled the petition from her robes and unrolled it on the table. Pulling a quill from her pocket she muttered the quick spell that converted it to the standard legal quill. A quill she and all the other Dumbledore's Army members had gotten quite familiar with in her 5th year at Hogwarts. The quill would automatically write in the users own blood, the only difference between this quill and Umbridge's was that this quill was not charmed to crave anything into Hermione's hand. No, this quill just made the document legal and binding through her blood. As she finished her name the blood flashed gold and then turned black. Hermione pulled her hands away from the petition and it disappeared.
At the Potter's home the pile of petitions, along with the crumpled petition from Malfoy, disappeared. They were returned to their senders with a copy of the petition Hermione had just signed. Now everyone would know. She, Hermione Granger, little miss goody two-shoes, and bookworm of the century, was engaged to be married to George Weasley, half on one of the most notorious duos to ever enter Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Life would never be the same.
H O G S M E A D E
George had to admit that Hermione was a bit intimidating at first. She was a very powerful witch and to be on her bad side was not an enviable position to be in by any means. But today had gone well, she had been a lot calmer at lunch and after signing the petition the agitation that had settled around their table dissipated. After lunch they still had about 20 minutes till George had to return to work so they decided to take a walk toward the shrieking shack and back.
"Well if it isn't a Weasel and a mudblood." The cold voice or Draco Malfoy was unmistakable.
George immediately turned toward the sneering voice. "Haven't you got better things to do Ferret? Hmm?"
Draco smirked and replied, "So mudblood did you think you were to good for me?" He paused at this point. "Or do you just like to sleep with all the Weasels?"
George pulled Hermione behind him. "What are you on about you idiot?"
"This." Draco ripped a returned petition from his robes. It was addressed to Hermione.
"Well to bad for you Ferret, but Hermione here doesn't sink that low."
"No, She's already low enough isn't she?" Malfoy sneered as his eyes darted from George to Hermione.
"Watch it Malfoy or finding yourself a bride will be the least of your concerns." George's wand was out in an instant and a protective arm held Hermione back from Draco.
"Is that a threat Weaselbee? My father will hear about this. I know a lot of important people Weasel. Doesn't matter anyway though, as if I'd want that whore." As the word 'whore' left Draco's lips, George's left hook caught him right in the jaw. Draco immediately fell to the ground holding his face.
"You wanna call my fiancé a whore?!" George pointed his wand directly at Draco's nose. "Try any more of this shit Malfoy and I will make sure that they won't even recognize what they find of you."
"George, come on, lets go! It's not a big deal, it's just Malfoy." Hermione cried as she pulled on George's sleeve.
"Hermione, I'm not going to stand here and let him call you that. No wife of mine will be called a 'whore' and you'll do well to remember that Malfoy. Now apologize to my fiancé." When Draco merely grunted and tried to get up George pulled him up by the collar and held him up. "Maybe you didn't understand Ferret, I said apologize to her!" With a glare, Malfoy muttered under his breath an unintelligible reply. "Say it like you mean it, or I'm going to make you mean it." George gave him a shake.
"I'm sorry." Draco said as he continued to glare at Hermione.
"I'm sorry Hermione." George emphasized her name and shook Malfoy again.
"I'm sorry Hermione." Draco said. George dropped him and wrapped a protective arm around Hermione's shoulders.
"George you shouldn't have done that. He always treats me that way and I don't want you in any trouble over me." Hermione said as they began to walk away.
Behind them, Draco scrambled to his feet and yelled "Sectumsempra!" The curse that erupted from his wand sped toward the couple.
But Hermione was smart enough to know Draco would not take well to being forced into an apology. Grabbing her wand from her pocket at the first syllable of the curse she turned and countered, "Protego!" The curse was stopped before it could do harm.
"If you want to play ferret, we'll play. Pick a date and a time." George said pulling his wand back out. But Draco was already gone with a crack. "That sneaky little ferret disapparated! When I get my hands on him…"
"George! That's enough violence for one day. You need to get back to the store soon or Fred will think I've done you in for sure." Hermione said as she pulled him away from the scene of the encounter.
"Alright, I'm done, but if I ever catch him trying to humiliate you again I will seriously hurt him." The look on George's face told Hermione he was not joking.
"Thank you George, for defending my honor and all that but it's not necessary. I can take care of myself you know." Hermione stopped and looked at him meaningfully.
"Hermione, I'm going to be your husband. If I'm not supposed to look out for you, who is?"
"No one needs to 'look out' for me George. I'm a big girl."
Laughing George shook his head. "No Hermione, you are my fiancé and I can't have that little spoiled brat trying to upset you. Soon enough we will be married and starting a family, he needs to be taken care of before he tries to hurt you."
Smiling Hermione said, "George, if he thinks it bothers us he'll continue to do it, if we ignore him he'll get bored and stop."
"I don't trust him to stop Hermione, he's a deatheater that got off and I'm sure he'd do anything to mess with you. You were the reason that they lost the war."
"No George, Harry is. I just helped him along."
"Harry wouldn't have won without your help. He'd have never known how to kill him."
Conceding that she was responsible for Harry's strategy with a nod of her head, she looked at him and asked a question she'd been wondering since his petition had landed in her hands. "George, why did you petition for me?"
"About that…." George trailed off as he struggled to come up with an acceptable response.
Eh, just seemed like a good place to leave it. More will be coming soon I'm a step ahead for now and without a beta, I have to comb over the damn thing 6 or 7 times so I don't look like an inbred fool. So tell me what you think and review or not again I'm going keep on writing either way, but it's still so nice to see the reveiws….