Author's Note: I'm having so much fun writing that I can't stop! I should leave you guys hanging on for more, but I'm not that cruel. Enjoy! Not Rowling.
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George stared at his sister, who was suddenly glaring at him from the middle of his sitting room.
"What? What did I do? I didn't do it, whatever it was. Don't hex me." He watched her warily, his hand surreptitiously on his wand in case she was going to hex him from a prank he might have pulled.
Ginny rolled her eyes, moving to sit down on the couch as he got up to clean up the spilt tea. "You didn't do anything. That's what I need to talk to you about. You need to do something."
He looked at her, confused, as he picked up the now-repaired mug from the now-dry floor. He placed it in the sink and walked back towards her, carrying his piece of toast he had forgotten in the kitchen. "Alright," he said slowly, the sarcasm evident in his voice. "So we know I'm involved. And there's an action verb involved somehow. We're off to a good start. Care to add in any more nouns or adjectives?"
"Git. How do you like that noun? Now hush up and let me explain."
"Alright," he said, sitting down next to her and munching on his toast.
"This is not the time for breakfast, George!" she said, smacking his hand.
"Actually, if you look at the clock, it is! Remarkable isn't it, how breakfast happens in the morning? It blew my mind." He grinned at her, and went back to eating his toast.
"George, this is serious! Stop it!" She snatched the toast from his hand and threw it across the room.
"OI! What is with you and throwing my breakfast around this morning, eh?"
"It's Hermione," she said seriously.
"No," he said slowly, as if talking to someone not quite bright. "You're the one who threw my toast and your name is Ginny. OI! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" The last part he exclaimed, clutching his head with his right hand. "WHY'D YOU SMACK ME?"
"I NEED YOU TO LISTEN! THIS IS SERIOUS!" shouted an equally red-faced Ginny.
There was a pause before Ginny muttered apologetically, "I'm sorry for hitting you."
"I'm sorry for not listening," muttered George, leaning back into the couch. "Please continue."
…
As Ginny explained in grueling detail about Hermione's breakup and the week she had spent with her, George thought about the situation. He had never liked the Malfoys, nor did the rest of his family, but he had held a special contempt for Draco. He had bullied Ron, Hermione and Harry for years, not to mention his father was the one that slipped Riddle's diary to Ginny. He didn't care what Narcissa or Malfoy might have done; that family was no good, right down to the core. He had heard something of Hermione dating Malfoy from Ron shouting about it to Harry one day at the Burrow.
"Holding his hand! His hand, Harry! And snogging!"
"You've seen them snogging?" said Harry, a disgusted look on his face.
"No!" Ron blustered. "But I know they have! Coming back from 'checking the statues' and whatnot, with her hair all messed up and her face all red."
"Ron, I thought you didn't like Hermione. I thought you two talked about it and decided to stay friends."
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT, HARRY! The point is that she's dating the Ferrett! Being friends with him was ridiculous enough, but DATING him?"
Harry ran his fingers through his hair distractedly. "I know, Ron. I don't trust him, same as you. But if he makes her happy…"
"HE CAN'T! After all the things he said to her and about her at school? After all he's done? NO! I won't allow it!" Ron strode angrily about the room, his face as red as a beet.
"I feel the same as you, Ron, but you're not the one who can decide who she dates any more than I am. I'm afraid we just have to accept it and try to support her when it all goes downhill."
"When?" said a sly voice from the hall. Harry and Ron turned to see George leaning in the doorway, watching them in mild interest, his arms crossed. "For being so calm about this, you're certainly not taking a positive stance on it, Harry."
"I feel just like Ron. Upset, untrusting, almost a little betrayed. But she's our best friend, and we can't forget that. Although I'm sure it won't end well, I'll make sure I'm there if she needs me."
George looked at Harry, at the lines on his brow, at the worried look in his eyes, and smiled slightly. "You're a good friend to her, Potter."
Harry smiled back. "Well, she's been one to me."
He had seen her outside his shop and had moved to go talk to her, but she had disapperated away. He had seen how she looked sad, exhausted, and almost…well, the only word he could think of to describe it was 'deflated.'
"So that's where you come in!" said Ginny happily.
"Whoa whoa whoa," said George, sitting up quickly and holding up his hand to silence her. "Why am I being dragged into this? I haven't seen Hermione in almost five years. Why not Harry or Ron?"
"See, now I'm glad you asked! There are a few reasons. First, they're too close to the situation and they're too biased." As she spoke, she ticked off reasons on her fingers matter-of-factly.
"And I'm not biased? His father tried to kill you, Gin!" interjected George angrily.
"Yes, but Ron has always been indelicate about situations like this. And Harry has already tried and failed. Second reason," she continued, as though she had never been interrupted. "-is that you're the best person I know at bringing a smile to people's faces."
"She thinks my inventions are rubbish," interrupted George again.
"Good Godric, am I going to have to smack you again to get you to shut up?"
"Sorry," mumbled George.
"Thank you," Ginny said huffily. "She didn't think your inventions were rubbish. She just didn't like you testing them on first years. ANYWAYS, she's in a right state, and if anyone can cheer her up, it's you. So you're going to go cheer her up." She smiled and nodded, as though that settled everything.
"Ginevra Weasley, are you trying to pimp me?" George looked at her, eyebrows raised and arms crossed. Ginny burst into laughter before regaining her composure.
"Yes," she replied simply. Now it was George's turn to laugh.
"S-seriously? You want my next project to be cheering up Hermione after her breakup?"
"Now listen to what you just said and think about it," said Ginny slowly, making her voice as persuasive as possible. "I just gave you a challenge. Hermione is in a heavy depression and it's your mission to bring laughter back into her life." She watched George and could practically see the cogs working in his head. "Fred would have thought of it as a wicked challenge," she said quietly, watching George's face for his reaction. His eyes went watery and he pressed his lips together as if trying to hold his composure.
"You had to play the Fred card," he said, his voice shaky.
"You know it's true though," whispered Ginny.
George shook his head and brought his left arm back, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. I'll do it."
Ginny squealed happily and hugged him tightly. "You won't regret it! I promise!"
"I do already," he said, smiling as he hugged her back. When Ginny sat back down, George clapped his hands together. "Well, if I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this right. Let's get started. Tell me everything you know about Hermione."