Hermione discovered there were many books written by wizards on the subject of panic disorders. Most of the articles and case studies dealt with victims of both Grindewald and Voldemort. Not many people survived attacks from either of those dark wizards directly. Most of the victims it showed were those who were attacked by followers. Alice and Frank Longbttom were cited as an example of post traumatic stress disorder and shock.
The interesting thing Hermione found is most people affected by anxiety disorders were the family and friends of those attacked and George obviously fell into that category. After finishing the books written by wizards Hermione read the muggle books for contrast. She was surprised to see very little difference in the texts. Both wizards and muggles alike hypothesized the best way to deal with this kind if disorder was for the afflicted person to confront the pain. Once they dealt with what led them here then they could start moving on.
Now, Hermione had to figure out a way to get George to confront his pain. She brainstormed for a minute and came up with nothing. "I will think about that later," she muttered and climbed to her feet. Hermione stretched and started making herself breakfast. As she was frying the bacon she heard stirring in the next room. "George?," she called. George mumbled something incoherent from the hall. She ran to greet him. He looked exhausted still.
"What?" Hermione asked reaching to steady him.
"Still tired," he muttered. "And thirsty."
"George, " Hermione said. "Why don't you go back to bed and I will bring you some water."
George nodded and Hermione went to the kitchen and poured the promised glass of water. She paused in the doorway and noticed he looked so different in this vulnerable state. He also seemed to be sweating profusely. Hermione moved put the glass of water down on his bedside table. "George, are you ok?" she asked.
"Where's Fred?" He asked.
Hermione felt her heartbreak. "Not here." She told him. She felt his pulse and noticed it was racing. "George, you need to relax," she urged him. Hermione found the bottle that contained the sedative potion. "Drink this."
George swatted at her. "No, I want to see Fred." He muttered. Hermione put her weight against George and kept him from getting out of bed.
"Fred wants you to sleep" Hermione told him. "Please?" She put the bottle to his lips and George reluctantly drank. Hermione decided George couldn't sleep in these robes. They would strangle him or make him die of a heatstroke. Hermione helped George remove the robes. When she had him down to his boxers she searched the room for pajamas and didn't find any. "Your going to have to sleep like that," Hermione told George. She handed him, the water. "You said you were thirsty." George took the glass and drank greedily. Once he was done he shoved the glass back to Hermione and fell asleep.
Hermione left the room and put the glass in the sink. When she finished her breakfast she decided it was time to make a decision about the joke shop. Hermione cleaned her dishes and then went downstairs.
The shop was dark and looked almost as disorganized as the flat had looked when Hermione brought George there yesterday. Product placement didn't look right and the whole store could use a good scrub down. She decided to get the store up and running again. When George recovered he would be devastated if the store he once ran with his brother was out of business. Since Hermione wasn't working until September and not returning to Hogwarts she would have time to manage it for him until he recovered.
She went into the small makeshift office and found the ledger. Everything from the last few weeks was written in chicken scratch and the math looked wrong. She also found a garbage bag full of receipts and invoices that had not been added to the books. This needed to be done immediately. Since this was big job Hermione decided to call for back up.
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Within an hour Harry was there with Neville, Luna and Dean. The former members of Dumbledore's Army were sworn to secrecy and gladly agreed to help get the store ready to open while Hermione fixed the accounting.
Hermione was shocked to discover the store wasn't doing as well as before the war. It was by no means bankrupt. It was still holding it's own but it was nothing to scream from the rooftops either. She believed they could fix it but it would take dedication and patience.
She left the office and found her four friends working hard on the store itself. Luna and Neville were using magic to clean the floor and dust the shelves. Dean and Harry were straitening the shelves and redoing all the displays. "Looks great guys," she called. "Come here!"
The four surrounded her and she put the ledger down. "The store is doing ok but it's not like it used to be. We have to get this place back the way it used to be. When do you think it will be ready?" she asked.
"Tomorrow." Harry said. "We are almost done."
"Ok, I am going to run the place until George is well again." She told them.
"And we will help," Dean said.
"You don't have to-"Hermione started.
"Yes, we do." Neville replied. "George is a member of the D.A. and we stand behind each other." He looked at Harry, "Right?"
Harry smiled, "Yeah, of course." He told him. "I am in."
Luna nodded, "Me too." She said.
Hermione felt a surge of affection for her former school mates. "Thanks," she said feeling weepy. They decided to finish what needed to be done tonight and they would all meet back here tomorrow at 8:00 A.M.
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Hermione slept on the couch and felt it was comfortable enough. She felt rested when she awoke the next morning. Hermione quickly dressed for the day and went downstairs. Harry and Neville were already there.
"Hi guys, " she said. "Ready?"
Both Harry and Neville nodded. A moment later Dean and Luna apparated in together. Harry and Neville exchanged a look and grin. Hermione glared pointedly at them both. Everyone knew Dean and Luna were seeing each other since the war but apparating here together gave Harry and Neville the idea that they had woken up together. Hermione didn't want to discuss. Both boys looked away and tried to smother chuckles.
"Ok." She said loudly. "We are about to open." She went and unlocked the door. Hermione half expected to have a customer immediately. But that did not happen. In fact by 11:00 they had two customers neither of which bought anything- but Dean caught a teenage boy trying to steal the puking pastilles.
She had found a piece of paper showing which items were going sale next. So, Dean and Luna made signs to announce the sale that Harry and Neville put out front. Hermione prayed that this would get someone attention.
Right before lunch the door opened and in walked the last person any of them expected- Draco Malfoy. Harry, Dean and Neville watched him like a hawk and even followed him around. The entire shop was quiet except the footsteps of Draco and his Gryffindor stalkers. Finally, Draco started to pull things off the shelf by the time he reached the checkout he had an arm load of objects.
Luna rang him up and Hermione was floored when she discovered he bought a hundred galleons worth of stuff. "Thanks," Luna said. "We appreciate your business."
Draco looked over his shoulder to where Harry, Dean and Neville stood, "Sure about that?" he asked.
"Yes," Hermione replied. "Come back and see us."
Draco smiled, "Thanks Grang- I mean, Hermione."
"Draco," Hermione said, the word almost choked her.
Draco was about to leave and then he turned, "Tell George I am sorry." He said. "About his brother. They seemed like fun guys and … it's just sad."
Hermione nodded. When he gone she turned to look at the boys. "I know why you did it but you can't do things like that."
"Hermione," Neville said.
"Draco's dad is in Azkaban as is his mother. Draco got probation. They were punished. The war is over and he is trying." She said. "And he bought a lot of merchandise and might send a few customers our way."
Sure enough in the following two hours Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Daphne Greengrass and several former slytherins came into the store and bought almost as much as Malfoy had. Things were looking up and Hermione was thrilled- almost dancing.
As they were closing the shop, Hermione heard a cough from above her. She looked and saw George Weasley coming downstairs wearing nothing but his boxers and a t-shirt.
"What in the name of Merlin is going here?" he asked. He eyed Harry, Neville, Dean and Luna wearily. He didn't seem to notice he was barely dressed.
Harry coughed, "I think I have a thing to-" he started.
"Yeah, the thing. I should go with you." Neville agreed. Harry and Neville apparated away.
Dean and Luna stared at Hermione and then at George. "Well…, "Dean started.
"We want to be somewhere other than here." Luna said and Dean nodded. Together, hand in hand, they disapparated.
"Cowards," Hermione called. She turned and faced George, "What?" she asked.
"You going to answer my question?" George asked.
"You going to stand here in broad daylight in your underwear?" Hermione shot back. She gathered the paperwork from today's sales and started to walk away.
George followed her to the office. "Oh no," he said. "Don't change the subject. What is going on?"
Hermione out the stuff down on the desk. "While you were sick I decided to try and save your business. Harry and the others were helping."
"Who gave you permission?" George exploded.
Hermione almost cried but didn't falter. "I did," she said. "This place was in trouble. I thought I was doing you a favor."
"You know how you can do me a favor?" George asked. "Stop doing me favors!"
Hermione crossed her arms and glared at him. She left the office and fled to George's flat. She threw herself onto the kitchen floor and cried.
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George was sitting in the office chair looking through Hermione's paperwork. To his amazement the store had done better today than it had recently. George stood up and walked into shop. As he locked the door and shut off the lights he admired Hermione and the others handiwork.
Obviously Hermione out a lot of hard work into this and George felt bad for yelling. He knew Hermione was trying to help but she didn't get it. He didn't want help. He wanted his brother back.
He decided to apologize to her. When he opened the door to the flat Hermione was still on the floor crying. George was horrified. He felt terrible. "Hermione," he said gently. "Come here." He took her by the arm and sat her in one of the folding chairs. "I am so sorry."
Hermione looked up at him. Her eyes were swollen and red. "Me too," she said.
"You were just trying to help." George sat down across from here. "I am just not sure you can."
"What do you mean?" Hermione sniffed.
"I think I am a little too broken." He replied.
"Let me try." She pleaded.
"How?" George asked.
"Let me help you run the shop at least until you feel well enough to do it alone." Hermione suggested.
George thought about this for a moment. "Ok," he said finally. "I guess you can help in the shop. You did a great job today."
Hermione smiled and George handed her a handkerchief. "Thanks," she said. "I am sorry if I crossed the line."
George was shrugged, "You wouldn't be Hermione if you weren't bossy and pushy." He replied with a smile.
Hermione slapped his arm. "Are you going to put any clothes on?" she asked.
George looked down and smiled sheepishly, "be right back." He promised.
"I washed some clothes. They are in your closet." She said.
George found the clothes and reminded himself to thank Hermione. It struck George how much she had helped him and he silently wondered why she bothered. They were never that close. She was Ron's friend. Ron's girlfriend, wasn't she?"
George changed and went back to the kitchen where Hermione was looking through the pantry. "What do you want for dinner?" she asked.
George shrugged, "Whatever." He mumbled still confused as to how they got here.
"I will surprise you." Hermione chirped.
George couldn't help but wonder what led Hermione to take his case like this. He knew his family meant the world to her. But why didn't she just go to his mum if she was so worried. Most people would just let the family do all of this. But, then again, Hermione Granger wasn't most people, was she?