Chapter 4: To Persuade You
Hermione groaned as Ginny shook her awake. "Leave me alone, Gin," She waved the girl off.
"Fine but don't come crying to me if you miss your shower time and then breakfast," Ginny huffed and left the room.
Hermione rolled over trying to get back to the sweet obliviousness that sleep afforded her. No marriage laws in her dreams, nightmares maybe, but not in her dreams. Guilt and the nagging feeling that pulled at her when she had things to do pulled her out of bed and to her wardrobe.
She picked out a pair of jeans and a green t-shirt. She quickly checked her hair and finally decided that it was tamed enough to leave down and didn't have to be washed, dried, and then charmed. She descended the stairs of Order Headquarters and she heard Ginny begging her mum for something.
"Please mum! It's not fair that we can't go. I know it's dangerous but we can do so many things to ensure our safety."
"No! And that's the end of it. It is way too dangerous for Hermione and you to go out. Do you know that…No. Just no." Mrs. Weasley's voice imperiously told her daughter.
"Mum. I want to shop, yes, but I can live without picking out my own wedding dress. Hermione is the one who really needs it. She can't even really choose her husband and now she's not even allowed to have a say in what she wears to the wedding?" Ginny's voice was pleading and appealing. There was a silence and Hermione decided to enter into the kitchen. She had been standing in entranceway for far too long.
"Good morning." She said brightly. Remus and Kingsley regarded her cautiously as if she had bumped her head.
"Morning. Eggs?" Mrs. Weasley said to her adopted daughter.
"No, thank you. I'll just have toast and coffee." Mrs. Weasley opened to mouth to protest but Ginny was already setting the aforementioned items in front of Hermione. She smiled gratefully at her friend.
"So Mum?" Ginny asked shooting glances at Hermione's back. Molly wrung her hands and said slowly, "I don't know. It's awfully dangerous."
Hermione quirked a brow at Kingsley, "Did I miss something?"
"Hermione, dear, what would you think about going to Diagon Alley? Hmm, to shop?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"I would love to. I know some charms that would help in disillusioning us. Hmm…yes, that would work wonderfully. Wait, no. But that charm could be useful." Hermione said, mentally cataloguing various spells, potions, and charms that could keep them concealed and protected.
"We'll talk to the Order and see. No promises though." Remus said.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Ginny squealed.
Harry Potter walked into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes tiredly, and asked, "Who's caved to Ginny now?" The occupants of the kitchen laughed and Ginny playfully smacked Harry on the chest.
--
"What are you reading?" Harry asked her as she sat in the Black Library with a book in one hand and a steaming mug of tea in the other. It seemed like the only way she could escape the thoughts that tormented her was to lose herself in books or sleep.
She looked up into his green eyes. "What? Oh, a book about the magical properties from magical creatures and the further research being done." He nodded his head thoughtfully.
"Are you okay?"
"What?" Hermione asked startled.
"Hermione, you're my friend and you haven't so much as frowned over this whole mess. I can read people. I know you're bottling it up, trying to spare others, so just stop." Harry said forcing her chin up to look him in the eyes.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." She said right back.
"Right and I'm a bloody unicorn." Harry said sarcastically.
"Huh. Good to know. Mind if I rip out some of those black locks for potion making then?" Hermione reached for his hair and he slapped her hand away.
"Hermione." He sighed.
"Har-ry." She replied in an over-exaggerated sigh.
"You're impossible, you know that right?" Harry said.
Hermione just grinned at her best friend. "Seriously though Harry, I really am fine. If I need someone to talk to I know where to find you." She said gently.
"Okay. Just don't worry about anyone else right now." He got up and gave her a caring hug then left her to her reading.
She threw the book onto a chair and buried her head in her hands and silently questioned what to do.
An hour or two later, she left the too quiet library. She needed distractions and lots of them. She realized she was being childish by avoiding the decision she would have to eventually make but that didn't keep her from seeking out the Weasley twins.
They were in their bedroom and she could hear the voices on the other side of the door. "Fred! That is not going to work. I swear, did you even pay attention in Potions?!" she heard George demand of his twin. She bit her lower lip worriedly. The Twins never fought with anyone, especially each other.
It was quiet for a minute and Hermione could just picture the twins on the other side of the door staring each other down... wands possibly drawn… Her hand was resting on the knob ready to push the door open when she heard loud laughter and chuckles of, "Yeah right. Potions. Ha, good one." The door swung open and Hermione was standing there in shock staring at the two tall Weasley brothers.
"Hermione?" George asked her worriedly. She never came to their room and now she was just standing there.
"Hermione?" Fred asked her this time and poked her in the cheek.
She came out of her trance and shoved his hand away while glaring at him. The twins simultaneously raised their eyebrows at her glare. For Merlin's sake, they didn't even do anything this time!
"I came down to er.." she broke off for a second trying to find a reason as to why she was actually here. She couldn't just say 'oh, hi. I was just wondering if you could make me forget about my upcoming marriage. Thanks.' Now could she? "to see if… you had that book I loaned you earlier on Potion Making and Brewing for the Young and Busy." She lied quickly. A blush flared in her cheeks at her lie and the boys started sniggering.
"Young and Busy? Please Hermione, give us more credit than that." Fred said.
"We're pranksters, love, lies are our specialty. Now, why are you here to see us?" George asked.
"Is it because we're drop dead gorgeous?" One twin asked.
"Or dashingly charming?"
"Perhaps outstandingly brilliant?" Hermione couldn't tell who was speaking at this point and just sighed wearily and tapped her foot impatiently. "Let me know when you get finished."
"Oh our dear sweet Hermione. Our wonderful traits could go on forever. What can we do for you?" They said simultaneously. She never could figure out how they knew exactly what to say and got the timing right.
"I…" She almost told them but she didn't. Her pride wouldn't let her go around moping when people had much bigger problems going on.
"No reason." She said with a shrug.
"Ah so she did come to gaze upon our handsome faces, George." Fred said with an air of mock-smugness.
They were both grinning and their eyes were dancing merrily and she almost didn't mind they were picking on her. Almost. "Forget it." She said and pushed off the door jab and started to walk away.
"Nuh uh." Fred said as he and his brother captured each of her wrists.
"Tell us what's up." George said to her.
"Let me go." She told them.
"No." They said together.
"I'll hex you." She threatened.
"We'll deflect it." Damn, she thought. "I'll tell your mother." They dropped her wrists and she smirked triumphantly at them.
"Ha." They gave her a mischievous smile that made her heart do that little skitter of nervousness.
She bolted away from them and made a mad dash for the stairs. She didn't know why she let them chase her or why she yelled behind her to them but she did. Maybe it was her way of making up as being an only child growing up or it could be that any excitement in this somber house was a breath of fresh air. She laughed and shouted to George who just skidded onto the landing, "You still back there, boys?"
He laughed and shouted back to her, "Just wait Granger. We've been looking for a new tester." She gulped and skipped down the stairs and looked around wildly for an escape route. She grinned at a pushed opened door and slipped inside and left another door cracked.
She heard their foot falls and breaths and grinned. "Where she'd go?"
"Dunno. I'll check this one you look in that one." The boys checked rooms and Hermione slipped out of the room and started sneaking down the corridor, mindful of the creaking floorboards.
The twins stepped out onto the hallway and saw her at once. She gave them a 'come and get me' grin and dashed off, making for the stairs to carry her down to the ground floor.
The excitement and fun had her laughing and panting at the same time. She spared a glance behind her and, even though they were right behind her, decided to taunt them about her lead.
"I thought you played Quidditch? Aren't you supposed to be fast?" She heard huffs of indignation and smiled. The adrenaline made her reckless and she stopped watching where she was going as carefully.
She had just come off the stairs and rounded the corner and bumped into something solid. 'Oh great. That's what I need: bumping into clocks and things. Right.' She though wryly.
She felt herself being moved and pulled to a new location and when she gained perspective again, she noticed that Charlie was the one she had run into and he now had put her behind him and had his wand drawn. She could have laughed at the whole situation if 1.) her oxygen supply wasn't running low and 2.) the few breaths she had wasn't stolen by the protective stance Charlie held for her.
Fred and George came sweeping around the corner and pulled up short seeing Hermione being guarded by their brother. Charlie immediately stepped away and gave a tired grin. "Sorry." He said sheepishly to Hermione. She gave him a warm smile and then after a glance at the twins stepped behind him again.
"I think I'm going to stick with you for a while, Charlie." He let out a loud throaty chuckle that made her shiver involuntarily. It wasn't scary, no, far from it.
The Twins gave her a curious look before smirking to each other and dipping their imaginary hats to Hermione and Charlie. "See you around Hermione. Don't think this is over."
Hermione gave a sickly sweet smile and said, "Don't worry boys. This is far from over. You know what? I'll even promise to go easy on you next time."
The twins grinned and headed back up the stairs.
"You okay?" Charlie asked her humorously.
"Err… Well, I was worried there for a minute. Did you think I was being attacked?" she asked looking up into his eyes.
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as if ashamed of his immediate reaction. "Yeah, I did. I just came off some Order business so I was still in defense mode, I guess."
Hermione took in his dirty, disheveled appearance and the tired tone in his voice. "It's fine. In a way you did save me. Your lovely brothers threatened me with the fate of being a tester." She shivered at the thought of their products coming anywhere near her.
He laughed at gave her a friendly squeeze, "Well, anything to keep you safe."
Molly Weasley came bustling into the room and gave a smile to herself but then shrieked at the state her eldest son was in. "Charlie! You go take a shower. Shoo! You look so thin. I'll make you a sandwich."
Charlie began protesting and insisting that he could wait but his mother wouldn't hear of it. He began moseying out of the room.
"Mrs. Weasley? Anything I can do?" Hermione asked the older witch. Molly turned around letting her eyes fall on her surrogate daughter. Her roving, critical eyes softened as she inspected the younger woman. She was being so strong, still thinking of others, even when facing something life changing.
"No dear. It's fine." She finally said to her. Hermione gave her a skeptical look.
"There's an Order meeting in half an hour. I know there's something I can do."
Mrs. Weasley relented and told her quietly, "Maybe you could make Charlie that sandwich I promised. He likes—"
Hermione cut her off with a smile, "Hot ham and cheese. Coming up."
Mrs. Weasley stood there a moment longer wondering when Charlie and Hermione had become that close. 'No, Hermione was just overly observant. That's all.' She thought and soon continued her sweep around the large parlor.
--
Hermione was sitting in a small, kitchen chair that was scooted against the wall in the parlor holding the plate that Charlie's warm sandwich resided on. The Order meeting was about to begin in a few minutes. People were still trickling in and Hermione just spotted Charlie walking into the room.
His shaggy hair was damp from the shower and, after he got closer to her, she saw a few beads of water run from his hair into his shirt. She picked up on his fresh scent that made a series of warm feelings tingle through her in that comfortable, familiar way when he sat down.
"Almost missed it." She said quietly to him as Remus started up the meeting.
"What? The meeting or my sandwich?" he asked as he took the plate from her.
She gave him a grin, "Both." He gave her a returning grin and then set his eyes on the man before them.
Author's Note:
Please PLEASE review!
I'm still in the market for a beta reader.
I would greatly any feedback on this chapter and the story in general.
Thanks!
