A/N: Thank you Alicia for all the re-reading you did.

Chapter 9

"We've been approved for a marriage license," stuttered George.

"So it seems," Hermione replied. "So much for the whole it isn't true, it didn't happen scenario," she said scathingly.

"What?" asked a confused Harry. George shoved the papers into his hands rearranging his legs into a more comfortable position on the floor.

"We're married," Hermione claimed tentatively forcing herself to look at George.

"It would seem so."

"Wait, this only says you applied for a marriage license, it doesn't say anything about you actually being married," Harry stated. "There is still a chance."

"A chance of what, that it's all make-believe," Hermione snorted. "I really think we're beyond that point. It's obvious that something happened; now we have to find out what. Do you know where Luna went?"

"No, Neville probably knows, but you wouldn't be able to find her before tonight."

"Why would we need to find her before tonight?" asked Hermione.

"Because, we, my dear," George answered standing up, "still have appointments with my mother."

"Oh, I'd forgotten about that. Doesn't seem possible, this day is just surreal," supplied Hermione.

"Exactly, there has to be someone else who knows what happened," said George.

Harry waited his own mind already at the conclusion. Finally he spoke, "You could always go to the LoveNest."

"What?" Hermione shrieked indignant.

"Where?" George responded confused.

"The LoveNest Wedding Chapel, where you tied the knot," Harry explained. "They're bound to have records or something."

"Good thinking," Hermione commented internally berating herself for not thinking of it before, it should have been the first place she went after she left work. Where was all her quick thinking and calm in crisis, it flew out the window as soon as George got involved, the voice was back without the aid of alcohol. Oh shut up, Hermione told her inner thoughts.

"Where is it?" two voices asked at once.

"You two have been there, not me," Harry reminded them, holding his breath to stop the laughter. "Let me know how it goes, I've got to get back to work or Kingsley will have my backside."

"Likely," George laughed. "The boy who saved us all has job insecurity.

Chuckling, Harry headed for the door, "Hermione, if you need help you know where to find me."

"Thanks, Harry." Hermione gave a half-hearted wave.

Silence flowed through the kitchen once more, the awkwardness heavy in the air with the added spice of tension.

"We should get going," offered George. "We need to decide what we're going to do about mum."

"Can't we just put her off," suggested Hermione, knowing as she spoke it wouldn't be possible.

"Can you put off a mother bear when a cub is in danger?"

"Let's go to the LoveNest," Hermione said, disgust flavoring the last word.

George held a hand out to help Hermione rise from her position on the floor. Once Hermione was standing she noticed George staring at her hand. "Something wrong?" she tugged her hand free.

"I don't think I've ever noticed that ring before."

"Oh, it's from my parents, they sent a package," she hesitated, then continued, "meaning you were right yesterday." Had it only been yesterday? The past three days felt as if they were stretched out over a period of months.

"Right?" his brain was temporarily frozen.

"About my parents not forgetting my birthday," her own eyebrows furrowed at his puzzled expression and lack of boasting. She felt the need to explain further, "They did send a present; it was late, like you said."

"Oh, well we should be going."

Hermione frowned at the baffling tempo of changes in the conversation. "Let me grab my wand and purse," she said. She had too many thoughts dancing in her own head to read the added tension in George, let alone wonder what it was from.

WMWMWMWMWMWMWM

Using their keen detective skills the pair stood outside of the LoveNest Wedding Chapel fifteen minutes after leaving Hermione's apartment.

At least he isn't afraid of asking for directions, the voice told Hermione. "Yes, just what every woman desires."

"What?"

"Nothing," she answered hurriedly. She hadn't meant to say it out loud. I am so not talking to myself anymore, she thought. Stop it. She shook her head forcing herself to concentrate on the situation at hand.

Her nose wrinkled in distaste as they entered the overly decorated lobby. Pink frilly things were strategically placed around the room along with hearts of every shape and size. Tacky plastic cupids hung from the ceiling. It was a replica of Madam Puddifoot's on Valentine's Day.

"Oh, Merlin," Hermione whispered. "We did not come here."

"I hope not," agreed George reaching for Hermione's hand. The simple instinctive gesture brought comfort to both parties and neither one gave it more than a moment's notice.

"May I help you," a witch appeared behind the counter.

"Yes," Hermione began struggling for words.

"We were here last night," George contributed.

"Oh, are you here to pick up the photographs? Last name of the groom?"

"Weasley."

"One moment." She disappeared behind a red curtain.

"Photographs?" Please not more, Hermione begged whoever was listening. She didn't know if she would be able to take anymore.

"I'm sorry, your photographs have been sent to a Ms. Luna Lovegood by special delivery as prearranged last night."

"So we were here last night?" Hermione blurted.

The receptionist stared at her with a look of bewilderment on her features.

"What she means is, we've misplaced some of our paperwork, which we need for the ministry," George explained smiling disarmingly at the young witch.

"One more moment."

"Sheesh, Granger, I thought you were steady under pressure."

"I don't see the need in dancing around the questions we need answered."

"True, but think if Skeeter is having us followed and comes in to find out what we were up to?"

Hermione stared open-mouthed at him, astounded at his careful attention to details that hadn't yet crossed her mind. "You don't see any beetles, do you?"

"Beetles?" he looked at her like she had truly lost her mind.

"See any?"

"No." Before he could inquire further the red curtain moved to show an elderly gentleman.

"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, what an unexpected surprise. I did not think I would be seeing the young loves back so soon. Please step into my office. My assistant passed along your request."

Both were temporarily shocked hearing Hermione Granger referred to as Mrs. Weasley. Hermione followed the older gentlemen's arm into a small office. She was cringing on the inside. If you would have asked her two months ago, the name would not have sounded so unimaginable, but she'd been with Ron, and Ron was not the red head with her now.

George was thinking along the same lines. Shaking his head he fought the urge to think of her as his wife. He still could not bring himself to believe such a thing would be possible. After all, even though he was the better looking brother he wasn't the youngest.

"Of course you didn't find your paperwork because Ms. Lovegood has it. We both thought it best for her to take charge of those things," the proprietor broke into their private musings.

"Naturally," Hermione forced a smile. "But she's left on an expedition and won't be returning for quite some time and we need the paperwork as soon as possible."

"I see but I'm sorry, you two as well as Ms. Lovegood signed papers allowing only her to receive copies. She was protecting you I believe. She did not seem to trust the other woman with you."

"I can imagine," Hermione replied abusing Rita Skeeter in her mind.

"I wish I could be of more help." He stood signaling they should also. He shook their hands in turn. "Ah, I see your ring has already been delivered."

Hermione being thoroughly disappointed, and losing herself in planning what to do next did not hear the statement, but the huge cough in her ear distracted her enough to shoot George an askance glance.

"Yes," George answered hastily.

"All taken care of then," the man ushered them out.

"Come on," George said pulling her.

"How could he not give us papers concerning us, and how could Luna have done such a thing?"

"She was protecting us, I suppose. Now what?"

"We go see Neville."

WMWMWMWMWMWMWM

"So what do we do?"

"I don't know," George said.

They were sitting in his living room with papers spread all around them. Parts of their mystery were solved but the answers only left them more confused about what they should do.

"It's obvious, isn't it? We go to the Ministry and we get it annulled or whatever it is that wizards do and then we can pretend like it never happened," Hermione said.

"Seems simple, the only problem is the whole wizarding world knows what we've done so acting like it didn't happen isn't going to wash."

"Meaning we have to admit what we've done, telling everyone that we were drunk and didn't realize what we were doing."

"That is one alternative," George agreed.

"And if we do that," Hermione continued as if he hadn't spoken. "Skeeter will go on to destroy my reputation and all those people who oppose the changes I am trying to make will have sufficient evidence to discredit me. Nothing will get changed. They aren't going to keep me in my department when I can't get laws passed," Hermione began ranting. The thoughts had been running rampant in her mind all day, only now coming out. Her career was over. Her reputation meant everything to her job, and now she had ruined it because of one night and one mistake after another.

"And in about thirty minutes we have to go to your mother and tell her," she finished tears threatening to spill.

George studied the situation at hand realizing Hermione's predicament. Trying to change controversial laws was hard in the wizarding community. The odds were already stacked against Hermione and here comes this mess.

Guilt among other feelings spurred him to say, "There is another option."

"Huh?"

"Well, we could," he fidgeted, "still pretend."

"Pretend what? George, you just said pretending wouldn't work."

"No, I said we can't pretend it didn't happen. We can however, pretend to be married."

A small sigh escaped, "We are married, and that's what's caused all this trouble."

"I know we're married. But you said admitting we were drunk and irresponsible will only cause more problems. Think of the ammunition Skeeter would have against you, imagine the stories she'd write. It wouldn't have to be true anymore because once this comes out; your word will mean nothing. People aren't as forgiving as they'd like to think they are."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying we prove them all wrong. We prove to Rita that we are indeed in love and it was just a spur of the moment event because we couldn't wait any longer. We let the world know that we are happy and it was the best decision we ever made. Then no one can dispute your word, you still have your dignity, your job, and everything works out for the best."

"I'm not sure this is what..."

"Listen, Hermione, ever since your fifth year you have been fighting against injustice in the magical community. The odds have always been against you, why make things worse. The work you are doing is going to shape the magical world into a better place, are you willing to jeopardize that?"

"No, I'm not, but..."

"But nothing. We can do this, we can pull this off and we can protect ourselves while we do it."

"You are nuts, completely crazy."

"No, I'm offering a solution to this mess we're in."

"I don't know."

"Well we better decide something because we have to go to the Burrow now."

He stared intently at her trying to figure out what was going on behind those eyes. Hermione gave him a longing glance, she wanted to believe in the solution he offered, but it only posed more problems.

"No, George, we're better off telling the truth," she stated firmly gathering all the papers scattered around them along with the manila envelope they'd also gotten from Neville. The one containing their wedding pictures that neither one felt prepared to look at.

"I'm just trying to help."

"I know George, but it is so easy to get trapped in a lie, always covering with another and another one. I lived like that for so long, and I'm not eager to go back to a life style ruled by secrets."

He knew very well she was referring to the secret Harry, Ron, and she shared about Voldemort and their mission from Dumbledore.

"It wouldn't be the same Hermione, no one is chasing you, or trying to kill you."

A small smile issued from her lips. The three of them were still bound together by their secrets. They refused to discuss their mission, a few random facts were strung together that painted a broad picture, but the horrifying truth was kept between them. They did not want to give other dark wizards any ideas.

"I know that. But it would still be lying, and there are ways to uncover the truth. If we were found out it would only lead to more problems."

"We wouldn't be found out, I mean we are married." Let it go, he told himself. There was not a single reason he should be pushing this, only hours before he was denying any chance of marriage and now he seemed to be fighting to stay in it.

She shook her head, and decided to try another track. "Do you realize the complications this would cause?"

"What complications?" he asked thinking she was surrendering.

"For starters, we'd have to live together," her nose wrinkled. "We would have to be seen in public all affectionate and in love," she drug the word out. "It would completely take us both off the market and damage whatever relationships we are having now." She bit her lip after saying the last one, she was not in a relationship, hadn't been for a while, and she refused to believe that was she fishing to find out if he were involved with someone.

"What relationship are you referring to? Am I stepping on someone else's toes?" he smirked.

"You know very well that I am not involved with anyone. I was referring to you."

"Oh well," he said standing. "You don't have to worry about the ladies in my life."

"Ok," she responded out loud on the inside she was burning with curiosity. Was he deliberately being vague, or was there actually someone in his life. "How accommodating," she commented.

"I suppose," he said studying her. "We should probably go; mum will already be breathing fire, no reason to add another offense by being late."

"Right," she huffed; annoyed at the fact that she was still in the dark about his love life.

"So I think if we can convince mum, that's more than half the battle."

"Convince her of what?"

"That we're happily married. Oh she may be mad at first but I'm sure that will fade away to be replaced with adoration, because it is you after all." He opened his mouth to continue when Hermione interrupted him.

"George, I never agreed to this ridiculous scheme of yours. We're better off telling the truth, come what may," she said her tone brooking no argument.

"Are you sure, it's your job and reputation to uphold."

"Aren't you at all concerned about the impact of your reputation?"

He just looked at her, like she already knew the answer and he wasn't going to dignify her with a response.

"Oh right, master prankster and all," she mumbled glancing at the clock one more time. "Let's go face the music," her voice full of dread. Mrs. Weasley was definitely a force to be reckoned with and Hermione had no motivation to face the waiting reprimand. She scoffed at the word, reprimand was too mild a word but she hated to put voice to the more serious implications.

"Have it your way," George said shaking his head feeling disappointed in Hermione's denial to go along with his plan.

WMWMWMWMWMWMWM

The Burrow looked just as it had yesterday. Hermione stood just outside the gate biting her lip in utter terror.

"Come on," George offered, "I've been through this before, the best thing is to get it over with as quickly as possible and say nothing. Do not try to defend yourself, let her rant, and she'll eventually run out of steam."

Hermione tried to form a response but she was paralyzed wide eyes staring straight ahead.

George grabbed her hand and gave a tug pulling her from her stupor. Sighing heavily he led the way through the gate, stopping half way up the walk, he turned excitedly to Hermione, "I've got it!"

"Got what?" Hermione asked desperately grasping at any possible delays.

"It," George stated as if that explained everything.

"George," she said sternly.

"The solution to our problem. It was all a joke. A prank."

"What are you talking about? What was a prank?"

"The whole thing, the tattoo, the wedding, our story being leaked to the press, all of it."

"Huh? What are you rambling on about?"

"Come on, Granger, stay with me here," he said in a tone associated with speaking to small children. "It was all a prank. People will believe that because I'm the infamous George Weasley who owns the most famous joke shop in the wizarding world."

"So we tell everyone it was a prank?" Hermione asked her brain whirling to figure out all the implications and complications with this solution.

"Yes!" he practically yelled with enthusiasm.

"Is that what it was?"

"Huh?" it was his turn to be baffled. He deflated in mere seconds at the sound of her voice and the defensive tightening of her body.

"Is that all this was to you? Some kind of joke, some kind of trick? George Weasley, tell me you did not pull this as a prank," she demanded. The volume level and the waspishness level both rising to the danger points.

"No, Hermione, I didn't, I wouldn't."

"Oh wouldn't you?" she attacked. "I suppose you wouldn't pull something like this just like you wouldn't hide your new inventions in sweets, or pounce on unsuspecting first years either."

George paled, backing away with his arms raised.

Hermione was reeling. All kinds of emotions were threatening to break out as the realization fully struck her. Anger had come first, then disappointment, then a completely overwhelming humiliation because she'd been fooled. "Oh, George, how could you?" her voice broke with defeat and disappointment.

"No, Hermione, I didn't..." he was talking to thin air because Hermione had disappeared. He stared into the empty space in front of him seeing the accusations, and pain etched onto her features. He bowed his head in shame.


I apologize for long delay in updating. Please review and thank you for reading.