Every Step of the Way

Ch 7: I Wanna Be With You

For the next week, Mary avoided places where Hermione generally frequented and was a bit more reserved than usual which only served to make George angrier and angrier at Hermione. He pulled her into an empty classroom as she was heading back from the library on Sunday night. She struggled a bit against him, and then whirled on him once he let her go. "What are you doing, George?" she demanded, a little more flustered than usual.

"I want to talk to you about something."

"And what, pray tell, is that?" she asked haughtily.

"About how you treated my girlfriend last weekend and what you're going to do about it," he told her, not at all impressed with her superior tone. "She's been taking a lot of heat from people about your stupid comments. You need to apologize to her."

"You can get people to shut up, they like you."

"That was the first time she had ever…that was her only experience…and now she's got idiots calling her a 'Quidditch Quitch.'"

"And what is the definition of that term?"

"It's essentially what you made her out to be, only worse. They're saying she's a player chaser and a slut because of your implications."

"Who is 'they?'"

"Mostly people from other houses. Not exactly friendlies, but still not people who usually talk. You're the reason that she's got this shit going on. If you hadn't made a big deal out of it, she wouldn't be seen as anything other than a girl who slept with her boyfriend."

"I just think people should be more aware of their actions, George. Things you do have consequences."

"So you wouldn't mind me making a huge deal about you being in the guys dormitories with Ron and Harry next time you're there?"

"That's not the same and you know it!"

"You're going to apologize to her and anyone who asks you will get the response that you were just having a horrible day and made a mistake," George told her.

"Or what?"

"Hermione, do you really want to ruin someone's repuatation like that?" he asked.

He could tell that she was rethinking her actions. "Fine. I'll do that. I'm sorry, but that doesn't change that you've practically kidnapped me."

"Sorry to have to do that, but it was a necessary evil."

"Don't harass me about this anymore. I'll apologize," she told him. "But the next time you need something try to be a bit more normal in asking to chat."

After Hermione left, George rubbed his temples. He wasn't usually so stressed out, but the stress put on Mary was just as bad, if not worse for him. He truly wanted her to be happy and that was somewhat impossible at the moment. He left the classroom and went off in search of Fred, hoping that Hermione got a chance to apologize to Mary before he got back.

"Oi!" Fred called out to him as he was leaving the classroom. "Where've you been? Lee and I are plotting and you're in some classroom with Hermione! Let's get priorities straight!" George knew his twin was joking, but he wasn't pleased with Hermione, so the effect of the joke was lost on him.

"Had to take care of some things," he replied dryly. "Hermione thought I could use a lesson in discretion."

"You know your girlfriend will kill you if you start talking like that," Lee told him. "And I pissed her off in second year…I should warn you about her right hook."

Fred snorted. "Mary kicked your ass? Why do we hang out with you, again?"

"You're suckers for my dashing good looks and charm."

It was George's turn to scoff now, as he was loosened up by the joking of his two best friends. "Right. And Fred fancies Moaning Myrtle."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he's the reason she's always moaning," Lee said, waggling his eyebrows.

"I am the only bloke that could woo her as such," Fred agreed.

"Alright, you two, let's get this party started."

"Yea we won't get much done in the way of torturing first years if we don't get started fairly quickly," George said with a grin. The boys disappeared behind a tapestry and started on their way to finding someone to test some new products on.

Mary was reading an autobiography of Morgana Le Faye, curled up in her bed when a knock on the door jarred her out of her zone. She placed the book on the bedside table and crossed the room to find Hermione Granger waiting on the other side, looking rather uncomfortable. She was more than a little surprised and she was a bit harsher than necessary as she asked the younger girl how she could be of assistance.

"What do you need?" Mary asked.

"I…owe you a huge apology. I really shouldn't have called you out about anything that I didn't know the full story on and I really hope you can forgive me. I was having a really terrible morning and I know that's no excuse."

Mary stepped back and allowed Hermione to come into the room. Hermione cleared her throat. "You're not going to lecture on how this is partially my own fault for having been in George's room in the first place, are you?" Mary asked. "Because I don't really care to hear that kind of apology."

"I'm not going to excuse my actions, and I'm not going to go into my personal beliefs and try to tear you down in any way. I just really needed to apologize," Hermione told her.

"Well I appreciate that. It'll take a while for me to get over this though…sort a blow to my reputation."

"I'll do everything I can to restore that," Hermione assured her.

"Well thank you. I've got to handle it inside my own person, more than anything though."

"I really am sorry."

"Please stop apologizing," Mary told her. "It's fine. I'm over that part."

"Ok. Well I hope we can still be friends."

"Were we friends before?"

"Erm…I suppose not," Hermione admitted. "But I'd like to try if you're willing."

"Ok then. We can try it out and see how it works. If it's just not possible, though…if we're not compatible, I'm not going to lose any sleep and I don't think you'll be heartbroken either."

Hermione cleared her throat. "I suppose you're right."

"Did you need anything else?"

"No…I'll just be going. Thanks. For giving me another chance."

"Sure. Let's just not talk about this again."

"Alright…I'll see you later."

After Hermione left, Mary turned back to her book. She didn't quite know how to take Hermione. She hadn't ever met anyone who would apologize so readily, not that she minded. She really wanted to get over the stupid situation and the quicker the better. It was nice to have an apology when she knew she hadn't done anything wrong from someone who had blown it out of proportion, but she only hoped that the situation wouldn't get even larger because Hermione wanted to do the right thing by her.

Things concerning the situation with Mary were clearing up fairly quickly. George spent as much time as possible with her and Fred when he wasn't in class or at Quidditch practice. He was pleased when Hermione stood up for Mary when some quite rude seventh years were discussing the reasons why George was staying with Mary. Things were looking great and he had even planned some romantic evenings with his girlfriend before the end of the term.

"What are your plans for the summer?" George asked her one evening as Fred and Lee showed off at exploding snap for Angelina and Katie in front of the fire.

"I'm not sure exactly," she replied. I'm probably going to spend a lot of time alone. Mum's going to be in Romania working.

"Well I wanted to ask if you'd like to spend some time with us at the Burrow. I talked to Mum and she reckons it'll be ok for you to spend a few weeks if you'd like," George said.

"Oh…we'll I'd like that, but I don't want to put your family out."

"Don't worry about that. They'd like to have you."

"Alright," Mary agreed. "Just let me know when you'd like me to come and I'll let Mum know."

George nodded and went back to watching Fred and Lee just as a small explosion set Lee's robes on fire. "Put it out, put it OUT!!!!" Lee yelled, dancing around as the flames licked upward toward his dreadlocks. The twins erupted into laughter and Angelina whipped out her wand to save Lee. It wasn't long before the jokes about Lee being a 'hunk of burning love' started and Mary sank into the happiness that surrounded her.