This / will indicate that someone is using sign language to talk. it's easier to do the then describing the actual motions. if I do this ' it means that lips are being read.

Chapter Ten: We have the answer to all your fears It's short, it's simple, it's crystal clear

"So, do you feel up for an activity after these?"

'Huh,' Fred questioned absently as Hermione handed him another plate to dry.

"Do you feel up for an activity? I have an item I want to cross off your list." Fred set the dry plate aside and took the next one she handed him.

'Yes?'

"Why was that a question?" Hermione smiled even though he couldn't see it and washed the sauce off of her plate.

Fred dried the plate she'd handed him with a wry smile. 'Because I have no idea what you're going to do.' He paused for a moment before his eyes widened. 'Not that I don't trust you, 'cause I do. A lot. I'm just nervous because some of it can be dangerous or embarrassing. Not that I mind danger, or embarrassment. But-' He stopped and looked in her direction. 'Were you planning on stopping me any time there, or were you just going to let me ramble on?'

Hermione laughed and passed him another plate. "That was the first time I ever saw you ramble. Excuse me for enjoying it."

Fred stuck his tongue out at her and Hermione just laughed louder. They finished the dishes up rather quickly and Hermione led Fred into the sitting room. She set him in front of the coffee table and then went to collect their other players for the evening.

By the time she returned, with George, Harry, Ginny, and Ron in tow, Archimedes had found Fred and was lying beside him eagerly awaiting the game. Hermione handed the board game to Harry who grinned happily when he saw what it was. Everyone else looked worried. They knew they were playing for Fred, but no one knew what they were playing.

"We are going to play something that Harry and I used to play when we missed our muggle ways. It's rather a complicated game, so if you're ever going to learn how to play a board game, I think this one should work quite well."

Fred grinned. He'd added that one to the list right before they left the roof. He insisted that it would be impossible to play a game without assistance. He wouldn't know where the pieces were or anything.

Harry was beaming at the obvious worry on everyone else's face and Hermione couldn't hide her own grin. It was so odd for the two of them to be the only ones who knew how to do something. It felt almost like payback for all the wizarding things that had baffled them as children. All the things none of the Weasleys' had even blinked at.

'What is it?'

"Monopoly." Harry started to lay the board out while she explained the basic rules of the game. She had to explain the way the money worked three times before they felt ready to start.

'Fair warning, this game is notorious for taking a long time and causing trust issues.' Harry said offhandedly as he passed Fred the dog piece. George looked up from his top hat warily and Hermione snorted.

"My uncle was always our banker, and I swear, he was always slipping himself fifties."

'Dudley always tried to slip himself hotels-as if we wouldn't notice.'

'Who is our banker?' Ron asked, looking around the table as if he couldn't decide who he trusted. Hermione sat up straighter and took the container of bills.

"I am. Harry is in charge of real estate and towers. I always found that splitting them up made my family slightly more trustworthy. Or, at least it made it harder for them to cheat."

A half hour later, and Hermione had no doubt that she'd chosen the right game. Fred and George were unfairly gifted at Monopoly, they'd already put Ron in the poor house and Ginny was struggling to stay alive. Harry and Hermione were doing well, but it was already clear that Fred and George were going to win.

'What!' Ron yelped when he heard how much rent it was going to cost him to stop at Pennsylvania Avenue*. 'When did you put a hotel up?'

'Last round, IckleRonnikins!' George exclaimed gleefully, holding his hand out for the money. Ron glared at him before pushing his mortgaged land towards him.

'Fine, take it. Just take it all. You killed me. I hope you're happy.'

'Thrilled. It was lovely doing business with you. Do stop by again.' Ron crossed his arms and sulked while Harry tried gallantly not to laugh at his misfortune. Hermione was too focused on Fred to notice how horribly Ron was doing. He had just picked up the dice (Hermione was thrilled and awed that he had found them on his own) and he was now rolling it.

'Six!' Ginny was the indignant looking one now. Ron's mouth fell open and Harry fell backwards he was laughing so hard now. Hermione and George were both grinning as Fred, without assistance, moved his piece to Free Parking. He scooped the money out of the middle of the board and Ginny slumped back against the couch with a dramatic sigh.

'I'm going to die.' Ron grinned.

'Join the club.' Ginny just stuck her tongue out at him. Hermione rolled the dice and moved her piece to the yellow land, cringing when she realized it had a hotel on it. Fred owned it, and the price was fairly steep if she remembered correctly.

'How much for Ventnor Avenue*?' Fred perked up even more and reached for the land in question. Hermione had charmed the backs so that it would be in braille form.

She was right, it was steep.

"Oh god, that much really?" Fred nodded his head with a lopsided grin that Hermione was starting to realize he really only gave to her. It was one that she knew meant he was happy, and slightly awed. Almost as though he couldn't believe it was really happening. He was playing a silly board game with friends and they were all laughing. His disability hadn't hindered him with this game in the least. They had even folded the bills in different ways so that he could tell the difference between the amounts.

'So, Ron and I are going to Hogwarts tomorrow, part of our Auror training, and we were wondering if you three would like to come too.' Harry commented as he passed Hermione a house in exchange for a hotel she'd had to take down to pay Fred's prices.

"Really?" Hermione hadn't seen Hogwarts since the war, which was nearly two months ago.

Dear lord, had she really been deaf that long? She'd had no idea it had been so long.

'Yeah, we figured that Fred and George would like to visit the spot their new shop will be at, and I figured you would like to see Hogwarts again.' He paused and grabbed the dice, shaking it as he continued. 'You don't have to, obviously, but I think McGonagall wanted to see you. Neville will be there too-she's meeting him after you-so Luna shouldn't be far away.'

'That sounds fun. What time?' Hermione had half expected Fred to refuse, but she was thrilled he didn't.

'Umm, noonish? McGonagall wants to see Hermione at two so that leaves us time for lunch.'

"Sounds fun." Hermione was a little confused at why she hadn't heard from McGonagall herself, but she decided to overlook it. She wanted to see her professor again and congratulate her on her new headship. She certainly deserved it.

'By the way, when are you taking your OWL's?" Harry asked. He rolled a three and landed on Go. Hermione tried not to be too envious.

"Next week." She was terrified to take them, but she'd studied all she could. Helping Harry and Ron with their Auror training had also helped her DADA studying. She was as ready as she was ever going to be.

'Can I skip my turn, or should I just go ahead and divide my land up between you two?' Ginny asked Fred and George, pouting as Harry passed her the dice. Fred laughed and pointed to the board.

'Roll little sis, I need another hotel.'

Hermione watched Ginny roll (and land on Boardwalk*, which Fred owned) with a grin. This night was turning out better than she ever could have hoped.

-o-o-o-

"Alright, Neville, we really need to head to the castle now." Hermione got up from her seat begrudgingly and pulled her bag with her. It was probably silly that she was still using the one she had made for the horcrux hunt, but she like it. It was convenient and could hold anything.

Neville got up with her after giving Luna a peck on the lips.

'Have fun.' Harry was still wearing a knowing smirk, the same one he'd been wearing all morning. It was a little unnerving.

'I'll walk you out.' Fred said quickly, standing up and stepping towards her. Neville grinned knowingly and started out towards the door while Hermione waited. Fred and Archimedes carefully maneuvered around the table and then went out to join Neville who staid a few steps ahead of them.

'I have no idea what Harry's hiding, but good luck with whatever it's going to be.'

"Thanks, I'm a little nervous. I can't imagine why McGonagall would want to meet with me."

'Don't worry, she's probably just going to give you tips on your NEWT's.'

Hermione hoped he was right. They walked in silence for a bit before Hermione thought of another topic.

"Are you and George still putting a new WWW in where Zonko's was?" Fred nodded his head and clutched her arm a little more tightly. It amazed Hermione how warm he always was.

'Yeah, we're going there in just a little bit, actually. George is hoping that I can take this branch while he works on getting the other one back together. He reckons that I'd know it really well and if I arrange it myself it might be easier for me to navigate.'

"That makes sense."

'Yeah.' They'd reached the castle gates so Hermione stopped and turned towards Fred, surprised to find him stepping in closer to her.

'Thanks, Hermione.'

"You're welcome?" She wasn't sure what he was thanking her for.

'Thanks for everything, for the list, for talking to me, for not giving up.'

"Fred, you don't need to thank me. Remember Pavarotti and Pandora? I'm the one that should be thanking you."

Archimedes wagged his tail as if he wanted to be included in their thank you's. Hermione pet his head so he would feel more included before giving Fred's hand a squeeze. "Besides, you're my friend. It's the least I could do. Now, I really have to go. Try not to get into any trouble?" Fred grinned and stepped back.

'I make no promises, Hermione.' She shook her hand and turned towards Neville, ignoring the blush that lit her cheeks at the look he was giving her.

"Don't start." She warned as she took his arm. He just grinned as they entered the castle together.

-o-o-o-

The office hadn't actually changed that much. There was a new painting of Snape hanging up, but McGonagall hadn't changed any of the design scheme yet.

The way Snape was staring at her was a little unnerving though. McGonagall was also peering over at her but Hermione was more comfortable dealing with her professor. Especially since here grade was no longer hanging in the balance.

'I have a proposition for you, .' Hermione nodded her head to her old professor to let her know that she was paying attention. 'As you are aware, I have been promoted to Headmistress.' Another nod. 'As such, I am no longer able to teach Transfiguration.'

Another fact Hermione was aware of, but she wasn't sure why she needed to know it.

'You're not returning to Hogwarts for your final year, are you?'

"No ma'am, I'm not."

McGonagall nodded her head like that was what she had expected. 'Then am I correct in assuming you haven't yet taken your NEWT's?'

"Yes ma'am."

'When will you be taking them?'

"This Thursday, ma'am."

'I see.' She paused for a moment, shuffling through a stack of papers. She pulled one out then returned her gaze to Hermione. 'You fought in the battle of Hogwarts, correct? It wasn't until after Voldemort's defeat that you were hospitalized?'

"Yes, ma'am."

'Then you needn't take your NEWT's for what I'm about to offer you.' She took a breath and steepled her fingers on the desk, her gaze completely leveled on Hermione. 'I have found myself in need of a competent individual to take over the position of Transfiguration teacher.'

Hermione nodded her head, not understanding why this involved her.

'I need someone who excelled in my class, and very few have.'

Another nod. Why did she need to kno-

Oh.

Oh.

That was a whole new game of Quidditch. Was McGonagall really offering her the position? Hermione didn't dare to hope. She couldn't, it would be her greatest dream come true.

'I can think of no one more competent than you, Ms. Granger.'

A/n: Don't rain on my parade! Potterheadgleekmsdarrencriss , raem9898, and Iloveromance2o11 got it correct.

* For all my non-american monopoly players: Pennsylvania Avenue is a green land; Ventnor avenue is a yellow land; and Boardwalk is the most expensive dark blue land.

Okay, the next chapter is going to have some social interaction, and a little bit more to do with what is going on in this chapter. :)

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