Chapter 10: Prototype

Two days later after numerous mishaps with the rubber duckies – including once where Hermione accidentally dyed her left hand blue – they had their prototype. Fredrick the ducky had been donated to the cause of science and had become the first ever Color Changing Duck, a most impressive title to be sure.

Hermione looked at George and grinned. "We did it!"

He nodded. "That we did. We're going to have to test it though."

Hermione looked intrigued for a second and then her face split with a wicked grin. "Does Fred know about this?"

George smirked. "Not as far as I know…"

"Come on, the bathroom is back this way," George whispered.

Hermione suppressed the urge to giggle as they tiptoed down Fred and Katie's hallway. It was the middle of the day and no one was home, but it was possible that they could be home any moment. Fred was going to very much regret the day he gave George a key to the apartment.

Ten minutes later, George and Hermione collapsed back into their chairs in the lab, finally succumbing to the giggles they had held at bay.

"This is far too much fun," Hermione commented when she had caught her breath.

"Tell me about it," George agreed.

Not ten minutes later, the frog started singing and dancing on the desk, signaling that someone had come into the shop. George exited the lab to greet the customer, Hermione just a half step behind him. What they saw froze them in place. Standing before them was someone dyed completely purple from head to toe. Someone who did not have red hair and was decidedly more feminine…

She was also livid.

"George Weasley, you change me back right this instant!"

George took a step away from his enraged sister-in-law with his hands out in front of him as a defense. "Honestly, Katie, we weren't trying to get you. We were going for Fred…"

Katie took a menacing step forward causing George to take another step back. "I don't care! You change me back this instant or I'll hex you into next Thursday!"

"Now, Katie, be reasonable…" George began, but Katie was advancing on him again with a decidedly murderous look in her eye.

"Change. Me. Back. Now." Katie bit out each word and advanced another step. Right when she was almost on top of George, Hermione reached out her hand and grabbed his shoulder. With a loud crack! She dual-apparated them to her London apartment and promptly collapsed to the couch in a fit of giggles.

George breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought she was going to disembowel me!"

"She might have, too!" Hermione said through a chuckle. "I haven't seen anybody so mad since that time you charmed Snape's cauldron to sing show tunes!"

He burst out laughing at the memory. "That was one of my greatest triumphs of all time."

"But it worked though! It worked perfectly!" Hermione exclaimed with pride.

They were interrupted when the phone rang. Hermione reached over to the end table and switched on the speaker phone. "Jaya Hunter here."

"Hermione? It's Ron. I was just wondering, have you seen George anywhere? I just got the weirdest call from Fred. Apparently someone dyed Katie purple and…"

Ron was cut off from saying anything further when the room exploded into boisterous laughter once again.

After the phone call ended and the laughing finally died down, Hermione turned to George. "How about some dinner?"

"Sure. What are we having?"

"You'll see."

Fifteen minutes later, George tilted his head to the side and asked quizzically, "What is it?"

"That, Sparky, is a Sloppy Joe complete with chips and potato salad. It's a recipe I picked up in America. Try it, you'll love it."

"Inconceivable."

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means," Hermione replied without missing a beat.

George looked thoroughly nonplussed. "What?!"

"Oh that I just can't have. Someone who's never seen 'The Princess Bride' before?" Hermione grabbed her plate and stood up. "Take your plate. We're going in the living room. We have to watch it right this instant. Come, come, come."

George's eyes followed her retreating back, still looking nonplussed. Then shook himself and stood, plate in hand. Never a dull moment with this one. Not ever.