Sweets, Treats and Candy Coated Chaos Chapter 6
Sleep.
That was what she really needed.
She was so goddamn tired that she didn't even run to the window to let her wizard's owl in.
After a few minutes of pecking at her windowsill, the bird squawked apparently offended by the lack of attention.
Letting out a groan, Hermione shakily raised herself up into a sitting position as she pulled the fuzzy white blanket that was wrapped around her shoulders tighter.
Deciding that maybe it really was time to let the poor bird in, she walked over to the window and opened it as the gorgeous black owl landed on her kitchen table before starting to eat the brownies that she had made earlier that day.
"Shoo! You do NOT get to eat my brownies! That's what owl treats are for you silly bird."
She said as she waved her hand across the table effectively making the bird give her bare fingers a nip.
Shaking her hand she let out a wince when she felt a small cut where her wizard's owl had taken a chunk out of her finger. "Nope. Bloody nope. You are not getting an owl treat after that Mister."
She chided as the bird had the decency to actually look somewhat guilty.
With her good hand she untied the letter from the bird's foot and began to read as she picked up a brownie that had been unscathed from the bird's wrath and started munching on it.
Dear Little Witch,
I bring you greetings from a small café in Italy as I grab a bite to eat before heading home for the night. I was visiting a friend here and he insisted that I try the pizza from this place. It is rather delicious I must say. I have spent all day wondering what you have been doing back in London and I was hoping that maybe you would like to finally meet on St. Valentine's Day at the festival in Diagon Alley. I have been brainstorming ideas for how we can find each other in the massive crowd. I know you're a talented witch when coming up with ideas so I think I shall leave that up to you. I can't wait till I can see your beautiful face and kiss you senseless. I promise little witch that this will be the beginning of our own fairytale. You will be treated like the princess you are and I will spoil you rotten. I do hope that you aren't too angry when you discover who I am. But I have high hopes that there may be a possibility that you will accept my love for you. Please have a good rest of the week and I will see you on Saturday. I love you Hermione.
Forever yours,
Prince Charming
P.s. This sunset over the canals of Venice would be much more beautiful if you were here with me.
Hermione felt her eyes water at her wizard's words and clutched the letter tightly to her chest.
When she looked down at the parchment again, she gasped when she saw that her fingers had been covered in chocolate and she had ruined the letter with dirty fingerprints.
Looking at the brownies on the table, she pushed the plate towards her wizard's owl who gave a hoot of happiness.
"They're all yours. Have at it."
She said as she went to the sink to rinse the chocolate off of her hands.
Once they were dry she cast a cleaning spell on the letter and watched as the fingerprints disappeared into thin air.
Just as she was about to read it again, a loud crack sounded from the living room making her grab her wand and storm into the room.
George let out a yelp of surprise when he found that his best friend's wand was pointed straight at his nose.
"Merlin Hermione! Put that down. It's just me!"
He said as he gave her an amused smile.
Hermione let out an exasperated sigh before slipping her wand back into its holster on her thigh.
"What are you doing here George? I thought you were going to be running the shop for the rest of the afternoon."
Taking a seat on her couch and putting his feet up, he gave her a sly smirk.
"I'm here to make sure my best friend is still alive after storming out earlier. Ginny's running the shop for the afternoon. Harry came back to the Burrow and took his anger out on all of us. She was more than happy to get away for a while."
Hermione sank down into the arm chair across from him as she processed the news.
Rubbing a hand down her face she groaned and looked up only to see that George was watching her with a concerned expression.
"You know it's not your fault, Mione. Harry's being like this with everyone. I think out of all of us he's the one that still hasn't really recovered from the war. Not to say I have or you have, or any of us really, but that I believe the things he had done and seen are going to haunt him for years. You and I both know that he didn't used to be like this. All we can really do is hope that he turns a corner in the right direction."
Shaking her head she let the tears she had been holding back fall as her shoulders shook with silent sobs.
"He was my best friend and now I don't even know him anymore. He and Ron have all but deserted all of us. They get mad when I say that I'm getting better. I think it's probably because they wish they were getting better too."
George left the couch and came to kneel down in front of her as he raised her chin so she looked him in his bright green eyes.
"Hermione Jean Granger do not let those boys dictate who you are and where you're going in life. I can tell that you're incredibly happy lately and I think I know why. You're in love Hermione. And that's a beautiful thing. If this person that you've fallen for is really the right person for you, then he will support your dreams and aspirations. And remember, now is NOT the time for tears. St. Valentine's Day is on Saturday and we've got a hell of a lot to do before then to get the shop ready. I vote you go take a shower and get dressed so you can go back to the shop and help Ginny with the workload. Heavens knows she's clueless when it comes to the shipments and orders."
Before he could even finish, Hermione threw her arms around him and buried her face in his neck as she got lost in the feeling of comfort that her best friend had given her.
"Thank you George. You really do mean the world to me. I know if Fred were here he'd be really proud of how far you've come. One day there will be a girl that you'll fall for and you too will be as happy as me. I love you like the brother I never had. And I'm dragging you back to the shop with me. Just because you came here to cheer me up does not mean that you shouldn't be working."
She whispered before pulling away and seeing that George's eyes were glazed over with tears.
He quickly wiped at his eyes before grasping her hands and pulling her to her feet.
"Love you too, Mione. Now go get in that bloody shower. You smell awful."
Hermione whacked his shoulder making him burst out laughing before she scurried off to her bedroom to go take that shower.
George started to whistle a tune as he put his hands in his pockets and went into the kitchen.
His eyebrows shot to his hairline when he spied the majestic black owl feasting on some rather burnt brownies.
He knew that owl anywhere.
A knowing smile played on his lips as he picked up the letter that sat on the table and began to read it.
"Looks like Draco finally took my advice…"
He said before he shook his head and shooed the large bird off of the table and out the window.
One thing he did know was that it was really fun to play matchmaker and he couldn't wait until Hermione found out that Draco was the one behind the letters.
Sitting down at the table, he smiled happily at the thought of bringing two very different, yet lovable people together for their very own happily ever after.