A shorter chapter because I'm at a bit of a standstill with this story since there's two ways I'd like the plot to go and I don't know which to choose! If you'd like a say, go to my profile page and vote on the poll (it's a short question). Thanks!
She tries to fall asleep that night but fails miserably. It's two a.m. now and she's still tossing and turning due to her fight with Fred. With a frustrated sigh, Hermione sits up in bed and slides her feet into her slippers. She has to apologize to Fred; otherwise, she won't get any sleep tonight.
Hermione opens the bedroom door and sneaks quietly down the hallway toward Fred and George's room, hesitating a moment before giving a light knock. When no one answers, she knocks harder and more insistently.
She hears a light being turned on and a scuffling before George answers the door. He leans against the door frame, rubbing his bleary eyes. "Blimey, woman. You do know it's two a.m.?"
"Um, yes?"
"Right. Well, Fred doesn't really want to talk right now." He gives her a less-than-friendly look and her tentative smile wavers even more.
"Please, George. I want to apologize," she whispers.
He studies her for a moment and then nods curtly. "Alright. C'mon in. But don't blame me if he plays a joke on you."
She ventures into the room and glances towards Fred's bed, only to find him sitting up and staring at George and her.
"Fred? Can I talk to you for a moment, please?"
"Sure." He doesn't give a snappy or sarcastic comment like Ron would've, and it catches her off guard that he's being so mature about the situation.
They step into the hall and close the door, and Fred crosses his arms, waiting for her to speak.
"I'm sorry, Fred. That was a stupid fight. It wasn't really about you at all..."
"What was it about?"
"My Mum and Dad. After we got back from St. Mungo's last week, I finally managed to get the letter to them about my job and marriage. I only just got a reply after dinner. The owl came to my room with their letter. They were ecstatic about the job..."
"And the marriage?" He has a knowing look in his eyes.
"Not so much," she whispers. "They want me to have a serious talk with them because they don't want their only daughter to be forced to marry. I almost got the impression that they'd rather I leave the wizarding world for a time and come back once the law is no longer in effect."
"So, are you going to meet with them?"
"Yes. I sent back an owl but I don't know when yet. I'm really sorry, Fred. It's just that I was already stressed and then you scared me and I just kind of took it out on you. It was stupid."
He uncrosses his arms and his eyes pierce hers for a second, but she refuses to look up. "Look, Hermione. We need to be honest with each other about these things. You can tell me if you're upset about something or just want to be alone to think for a while. I get that way too, but I refuse to marry a witch who's going to lie to me."
"Y-you're right."
"If we want this marriage to work, we need to be more open with each other, okay?" She doesn't look up, continuing to stare at her feet and the ugly, black carpet. "Look at me, love. It'll be okay."
She looks up and finds his eyes carry a tender expression that almost makes her gasp. She's starting to realize this serious and loving side of Fred Weasley is a rather large part of his personality. He's not just the jokester she thought he was to begin with.
"Fred?"
"Mm?"
"If we're going to be completely honest with each other from now on, I should tell you something."
"Hm?"
"I'm starting to really care about you," Hermione blushes.
A grin lights his face, because even though it's way too soon to admit they are in love or anything for both of them, he feels the same way.
"Me too." He leans forward and gently brushes his lips across her own. "Night, love."
"Goodnight."
She turns around to walk back to her room and Fred opens the door to his when she hears a loud THUNK.
"Fred? Are you okay?"
She hears more noises and walks swiftly toward the twins' room, thinking maybe he tripped on something in the dark after George turned the light back off. She arrives at the door and has to laugh at the scene in front of her:
Fred and George are wrestling on the ground. Fred has George's arm pinned beneath him and George is pulling on Fred's hair. "I wasn't listening! I wasn't!"
"You had your ear to the bloody door!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"If you tell anyone I'm that sensitive, I'll-"
"Ooh! Blackmail!"
"Not if I can help it!"
With an amused smirk, Hermione clears her throat. Both men stop moving and look up at her from their positions on the floor.
"Why, hello there Hermione," George grins at her unashamedly from his squished position under Fred and she rolls her eyes.
"George, Fred. Let each other go." They swiftly comply and George runs back over to his bed, landing on it with a bounce.
"Goodnight boys."
"Goodnight, Mione," they reply simultaneously, making her smile again as she leaves the room.
She's just closed the door when she hears George say, "Freddie?"
"What?"
"Y'know I was kidding, right? I'd hex anyone who made fun of you and Hermione."
"Yeah, I know." A pause. "George?"
"Hm?"
"Thanks."
"Yeah."
Boys, Hermione shrugs at their way of expressing their emotions, but at the same time, she feels envious of their close relationship. Those two would easily lay down the life for the other, even though they do tend to tease each other a lot.
She tiptoes back to her room and falls asleep almost right away, feeling much better than she did before.
"FRED! GEORGE! YOU...YOU BUFFOONS!"
That rainy Monday morning, everyone at the kitchen table stops eating breakfast and cringes as Percy walks into the room. Even Hermione, extremely nervous about her first day on the job at the Ministry, feels bad for Percy.
He's covered in painful looking boils.
Fred and George, however, had already floo'ed to their shop. They're almost finished re-modeling and hoping to move back in soon, to Mrs. Weasley's dismay.
"Oh, Percy! What happened?" She rushes over to him and he explains.
"They put Bubotuber pus in my bedsheets."
Ron and Harry hide snorts as Percy tries to sit down and jumps back up abruptly, as if he sat on a tack. Clearly, they put it in his knickers too. His face turns red and he stands awkwardly waiting for Mrs. Weasley to get the necessary ingredients to fix the problem.
"Here we are, dear. Some salve, burn cream, and wrappings should do it." He sits down and Mrs. Weasley helps him, while the others finish their breakfasts.
"I-I better go." Hermione hastily stands up, realizing the time and wanting to be early for her first day.
"Already? S'only-Ow!" Ron gives Harry, who just elbowed him not-so-subtly in the ribs, a glower.
"I know it's early, Ronald! But I don't want to be late on the first day. You only have once to make a positive first impression," she states in her prefect voice and no one argues with her.
Adjusting her black suit jacket with the purple, frilly top underneath and pencil skirt, Hermione grabs her things.
The entire time she is gathering up her bag and wand, everyone is watching her as she mutters to herself answers to questions they'll be likely to ask her: "Yes, I believe magical co-operation is essential because it brings together the wizarding world in unique and exciting ways... No, I chose this department because of its quality work...Or was it because it's fascinating?"
She walks out the door and it slams behind her. Ron looks at Harry and shakes his head. "S'like O.W.L.S. all over again."
Harry shrugs, "It's important to her, mate."
"Yeah, well, this auror job is important to me, but it's just a job, isn't it?"
Harry is thankful that he doesn't have to answer because he just spooned a large chunk of cereal into his mouth.
Mrs. Weasley finishes fixing up Percy and turns to the boys. "Now, Ron. Harry. What are you two doing today? We could really use the help fixing up the Burrow. It's almost finished."
"Er, sorry, Mum, but we're, ah-"
"Working on..."
"Auror training!" Ron finishes, relieved he thought of something. "Need to practice."
"Right."
"Okay, then. Well, I'll just have to get some Order members to help." She sighs and begins to put away the breakfast dishes, leaving the slightly-guilty boys to leave the table in peace.
Hermione arrives at the Ministry exactly fifteen minutes before she's required to be there. She manages to find the way to the Department of Magical Co-operation without too much difficulty, although people are staring at her a lot.
Walking as confidently as she can up to the front desk of the department, she clears her throat. "Hermione Granger, here to see Mr. Carob Curthy," she states.
The brunette in front of her, whom Hermione estimates to be in her mid thirties, gives her a warm smiles and then glances at her again. "Hermione Granger! Wow! It's so nice to finally meet you! We are all just absolutely thrilled that you're going to be working here! I'm Mary, Mr. Curthy's secretary."
This is all said so quickly that Hermione barely catches half of it, but she smiles brightly back and the other woman is none the wiser. Mary leads her to Mr. Curthy's office and shakes her hand enthusiastically again. "So nice to meet you!"
Hermione nods, a bit embarrassed and worried that everyone's going to treat her like royalty just because she's Harry Potter's best friend. That's not what she wants; she wants to work for her position like everyone else, not be coddled.
She knocks and a grumpy, male voice growls, "Come in."
With a deep, calming breath, she opens the door and steps inside, hoping he won't see her shaking knees.
FYI, the current head of the Department of Magical Co-operation is unknown, but it was Barty Crouch Sr. before. I just made an anagram of his name for the new head of the department. Please review and vote! :)
