"Hey 'Mione, let's go to Diagon Alley this afternoon," Ginny proposed out of thin air. Eager to change into clean clothing, they'd hurried upstairs after the chaos had died down and ensuing mess was cleaned up.
"I don't know…" Hermione hesitated. She hopped a little, wriggling around. These jeans were always just a little too tight and freshly washed like this they were nearly impossible.
"Ah come on 'Mione, it'll be fun. We can go clothes shopping," Luna's voice joined in eagerly.
"We could find you some jeans that don't look like they've been painted on your ass… but that top looks pretty good," Ginny leered at the thin tee-shirt stretched tightly over Hermione's chest.
Hermione looked down and grimaced. She really shouldn't have let Mrs. Weasley take all of her clothes to wash today, but half her clothes were shrunk from her last attempt at a washing charm, and everytime she tried to fix them, they ended up big enough to fit three of her easily. "No… no really, I think I'll just stay here. Maybe catch up on some reading," the indecision hidden from her voice, but clear in her eyes.
" 'Mione you read about a book a day," Ginny scoffed openly. "Come on, where's the harm in going out?"
Hermione sighed, still tugging slightly at her shirt self-consciously. "I've got to watch my spending Gin. With my pay-rate, I can't afford to go out shopping if I'm ever going to move out. I can't stay here forever…"
A loud sob interrupted her, causing all three women to whirl around to see Mrs. Weasley standing in the doorway, had clapped over her mouth. All three lurched forward, worried about the increasingly hysterical woman. Much to everyone's surprise, she launched herself at Hermione, catching the smaller witch in a bear hug so tight Hermione's spine audibly cracked.
"Mum?" Ginny popped her head out the door, wondering if perhaps something had happened outside the room.
"I had no idea!" Mrs. Weasley's voice was piercing. "Why didn't you say something? Oh, it's all my fault for not seeing it! I'm so sorry my dear," her voice became tighter, lower with emotion. There was a steadily growing wet spot on Hermione's shirt from the tears falling on it. "Oh Merlin, what kind of mother doesn't even notice her baby isn't happy at home?" Her arms tightened, one hand cupping the back of Hermione's head and forcing her face into her ample bosom. "Is it too crowded now for you here? I know it's been a little packed, especially since the twins moved back in." She pulled Hermione back, looking at her dead in the eye. "What if we renovated a bit? Made you a nice room all of your own?" There wasn't an ounce of hesitation in the suggestion, despite everyone in the room knowing the cost of such a renovation would clean out whatever kind of savings and retirement fund Mrs. Weasley had scrupulously saved.
Hermione stared at her for a moment, lips parted and mind blank as she tried to catch up with the frantic woman. She reached up to try to wipe the woman's tears, but there were too many and she simply ended up spreading them across the woman's ruddy cheeks. Panic welled in her chest, the weight of the woman's tears and offer hitting her hard. "Of course it's not too crowded here," she finally had the sense to respond. Her voice sounded weird to her ears. Like an out of body experience. "I love it here. I get to be near so many people I love so much. You all are family to me..." she trailed off. The words just wouldn't come to her. The depth of the moment too much for her. All she could do was try to push the panic aside and not cry herself. She pulled Mrs. Weasley into another tight hug.
"Well maybe, well maybe… we could try and… and figure something out," Mrs. Weasley finally began to regain her composure, thoughts of being able to take action helping to fortify her. "Oh… I know! How about something special to eat? I can try and make something new. You've said how good French food is…. I saw a book in Flourish and Botts…"
"Merlin no!" Hermione pulled away gaped at the desperate woman. Her throat closing at the thought of her big-hearted second mother going out and buying such an expensive book just for her. "Oh Mrs. Weasley you don't need to do any of that. Please. I love being here with you and everyone else. I love the food and I love getting to share a room with my best girlfriend. I love you, and your incredible cooking. I couldn't be more grateful. Truly." She wrapped her arms around herself and took a slow, deep breath to recenter herself. Compose and control. "I'm sorry, that isn't how I meant what I said earlier at all. It isn't about me wanting to get away. I just…"
"Didn't want to be a burden?" Harry's voice, low and soft, surprised everyone, drawing their attention back to the doorway. "You should know by now that's the last thing anyone here thinks you are," he gently admonished her, walking up to rest his hand at the base of the back of her neck, anchoring her. Somehow, he'd grown to understand her even more than she understood herself at times. He gently wrapped his arms around her and planted a light kiss near her ear. His forehead rested lightly against her temple, his arms tightening as though her knew his strength was all that was holding her together now. "Why don't you girls go into town? Get some air and enjoy some girl time?" He prompted softly in her ear, knowing first hand how unexpected overwhelming unexpected displays of love and affection could be.
Hermione nodded, "yeah, that sounds like fun," her voice muted around the emotion closing her throat. Still feeling like she was witnessing the scene from afar, she reached out and squeezed Mrs. Weasley's matriarch smiled broadly now, and wrapped the two best friends in a big hug.
Mrs. Weasley pushed back Hermione's hair gently, "you girls go have some fun." Hermione nodded.
"Come on Mum, I'll put the kettle on for you before we go," Ginny finally brought the moment to an end. As close as the girls were, she knew that Harry had a natural talent for pulling Hermione out of her own mind and putting her at ease.
"Good idea," Luna smiled, "I think I'll grab a biscuit too. Those little rectangle ones really are too addicting." She followed in Ginny and Mrs. Weasley's footsteps, chattering lightly about various baking attempts. The last thing Harry and Hermione heard was Luna's theory that cooking at twice the temperature would cook the food twice as fast.
"Remind me to never let her cook here," Harry still held Hermione, letting her leech off his strength for a little longer. "She'd probably end up chasing after a gobbledegook and burn the whole place down." Hermione pulled her lips into a small smile she didn't quite feel yet. Harry shifted to pull her into a more proper hug, sighing softly when she rested her head on her chest. "Its okay 'Mione. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. You can say what's on your mind. Make demands. You know there's not a single person here who wouldn't be elated to actually have a chance to do something for you once in a while." He chuckled lightly, "I think the twins still have that paint…"
"No!" Hermione looked up at him, horrified. He laughed outright, shaking his head. She smiled again, this time for real. "I ask for a lot by living here Harry. A temporary place to crash is getting dangerously close to being a permanent home now."
"Oh 'Mione," Harry shook his head. "The Burrow has been a permanent home for us since school."
Fred and George were on their way out, planning on stopping by their appointment for a few things. They slowed watching Ginny, their Mum, and Luna leave Ginny's room. Their mother's face was flushed like she'd been crying. They exchanged a quick look and moved forward to see what happened when Harry's voice brought them to pause near the door. They peeked in and saw Harry pull Hermione into a tighter hug, both too distracted to notice the twins
"Easy Freddie," George whispered reaching out to grab Fred's wrist and pull him away from the doorway. He could see the tension in his shoulders and jaw as they heard Harry's soft reassurances. They exchanged a quick looks of agreement with what Harry said. "Guess we'll have to let the whole snogging our sister issue go now," George thought wryly. They couldn't very well go making an enemy of what may turn out to be their biggest ally.
"Come on 'Mione, I'm sure the girls are waiting," Harry's gentle urging signaled that it was time for them to make a quick get away.
Fred and George leaned against opposite sides of the window sill in their room, watching out the window as the girls made their way off the property to apparate away.
"What now?"
Have patience with my slow progress please! I'm still in the midst of classes, and they take up far more of my time than I'd like
Reviews make the pen flow faster...
