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Chapter 10
"So, what does this letter say?" Ginny wondered as they made there way back into the forest.
"I'm not sure. Should we open the bag first or read the letter?" Hermione asked.
"How about you read the letter and I'll open the bag," the red head suggested.
"Sounds good," the older witch said, unrolling the parchment.
Hermione,
So, you remembered this place? The Quidditch World Cup is one thing I'll never forget. It was actually when I first really saw you. Its when I started falling for you. You always made it well known that you didn't like Quidditch, but your face lite up every time one of the players flew by.
The figuresare kind of a clue for you this time. I hope you like them.
The rubber duck will take you where you need to go next. Squeeze the middle three times and it will take you there when you are ready.
"What are the figures?" Hermione wondered after reading the note aloud.
Ginny grinned widely. "Its a flying Viktor Krum and a leprechaun," she answered, holding up both.
"What?" her friend exclaimed, taking the little plastic toys. Why on earth would this guy give me both of these? "What does this mean?"
Oh, Hermione, Ginny thought, knowing full well who was behind the hunt now. For being so smart, you really aren't using your brain. "Well, Viktor is a seeker..."
Hermione gasped. "The leprechaun for the Irish. Do you think its Seamus?"
It took all of Ginny's will power not to slap Hermione up side her head. "I'm not sure. Why dont' we squeeze the duck and see where we end up?"
"Okay, that sounds good," Hermione agreed, pulling the duck out of her bag. Ginny placed the figures back in the bag they had been in and handed it over to Hermione who put them into her massive bag.
"You ready?" Ginny asked, holding onto Hermione's arm.
"I suppose," the girl replied, squeezing the duck three times. The yellow object tuned a deep orange and they quickly left their spot int the middle of the woods. Seconds later they found themselves standing on a doorstep that they hadn't seen in quite a while. Before either girl could gather their thoughts, the door opened quickly.
"Hey," a voice the both recognized greeted them.
"Harry?"
It had been a very busy morning at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Fred had been at the shop most of the day by himself while George was off setting up for his evening with Hermione.
Stop feeling so jealous, he scolded himself as he turned the open sign off for lunch. George deserves to be happy with her and you've got to learn how to start talking with her again, especially if she's going to be with your twin.
Just as he was about to walk over to the door and lock it, someone walked through the door.
"I'm sorry, we're closed for lunch," Fred said, turning to see none other then Charlie.
"Where's George?" his big brother demanded, walking past him to the back of the shop.
"I thought you were suppose to be at Hogwarts helping Hagrid," Fred replied, following Charlie into their back room. Fred pulled out his lunch and took a seat at their work bench.
"I'm on a break," Charlie answered, taking a seat on the other stool."Where's George?" he asked again, watching as Fred opened the pouch that held a sandwich.
"He's out and about," the twin answered, holding out an apple. "Would you like one?"
"NO! Damn it Fred. Why won't you tell me where he is?" Charlie asked angrily.
"Why do you want to know so bad?" he asked, even though he already knew why.
"Don't play stupid. You do not do it well. Just tell me, is he the one who had Hermione and Ginny out on a wild goose chase?" the older brother said.
Fred took a bite of his sandwich, watching his older brother as he did. Charlie looked as if he was about to go crazy.
He looks how I feel, he thought to himself.
"You like her, don't you?" Fred asked.
"Hermione? Of course I do! Why else would I give her a petition? Is George going to petition her? Is that what all of this is about?" Charlie wondered.
The twin sighed and put down his sandwich. He wasn't really hungry anyway. "Charlie, there's a few things you don't know. While you've been away in Romania with your dragons, we've grown up."
"I know that," Charlie started, but was interrupted.
"But you don't know us anymore. You are just really beginning to get to know Hermione, but we've known her for over seven years. George has been in love with her since the Quidditch World Cup. He's watched her go from a little book worm know it all, to a smart, beautiful, loving women, who is full of life. And just when he was gathering his courage to ask her on a date, the Ministry comes up with this law and you and Malfoy swoop in like knights in shining armor. So if you came here to yell at George, because he's decided to go after this gorgeous women, then you can just back the hell off."
Charlie studied his younger brother for several minutes, surprised at his out burst. He stood from his stool and nodded, knowing that Fred was right.
"'All is fair in love and war,'" Charlie quoted, nodding.
"What?" Fred asked, not expecting his brother to be so calm.
"It's something mum said a few weeks back," he replied, shaking it off. "Well, when you see out brother, tell him I said good luck tonight."
"Okay, I will," Fred said, following him towards the door.
"Thanks. Oh and Fred?" Charlie called as he got to the door. "How long have you been in love with Hermione?"
"What? I'm not, I mean, I haven't... I don't know what you are talking about." Fred stammered, caught completely off guard by Charlie's question.
"Sure you don't," the older brother smirked. "Just because George has wanted her for years, doesn't mean he should have her. It doesn't mean he should have 'first dibs' on her. If you like her, you should pursue her, too."
Fred ran his hand through his hair, as he often did when he was upset or confused. "Why are you telling me this Charlie? Dont' you want to be with Hermione? If I were to petition her as well, that owuld be more competition for you."
"I know that, but its like what I said earlier. 'All is fair in love and war.' Think about it, okay," Charlie walked out of the shop and apparated away, leaving a very confused Fred alone. Bloody hell, what am I suppose to do with that? Fred wondered.
"What are we doing here?" Ginny asked as they walked into the foyer of 12 Grimmauld place.
"Why are you here?" Hermione added, looking over at her best friend who had lead them into the dining room.
"You are here, obviously because that duck brought you here," Harry teased as he put a kettle on the stove for some tea.
"Harry!" the girls exclaimed together, frightening the boy who lived. He wasn't scared of many things, but the wrath of his best friend and his fiance' was defiantly on the small list of things that scared him senseless.
"Alright, alright. A few minutes after you left, Mrs. Weasley set Luna and Ron down with her notebooks and magazines and told them to look through them while she talked to me about something. She then took me outside and asked me to come here and wait for you. She gave me this piece of parchment and this box to give to you," he said, taking a box off the table and handing it over to Hermione.
"Did she say who it was from?" his best friend asked, looking at the box. She was starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
"No, she didn't. However, she did ask that you open the box first," Harry informed her as he put his arm around his fiancee'.
Hermione stood and pulled the rectangular box closer to her before carefully opening the box. there was a velvet pouch laying on top of layers of tissue paper. She picked up the pouch and opened it, pulling out a vial of WWW love potion, causing Hermione to laugh.
"What is it?" Ginny asked from her seat on Harry's lap.
"Love potion from your brother's shop," she informed them, setting the vial to the side. The love potion worked, but the effects lasted only for a few hours. That potion had been the topic of many conversations between Hermione and the twins. Which one is it, though,she asked herself as she moved the tissue paper out of the box.
"Oh my!" Hermione gasped as she saw what was under all of the paper.
"What is it?" Ginny asked again.
"Its a dress," she answered, pulling the beautiful flowered muggle sundress out of the box.
"Are those Gerber Daisy's?" the red head asked, smiling at the look of pure happiness that shined on Hermione's face.
"They look like it, don't they," Hermione agreed, holding the dress up to her body.
"Are you going to read the note or are you going to admire the dress all day?" Harry teased, getting up from his seat to fix their cups of tea.
"I actually forgot about the note," his best friend admitted, grinning sheepishly, causing Harry and Ginny to laugh.
Hermione placed the dress gently back into the box so nothing would get on it.
Dear Hermione,
Have you guessed who I am yet? I'm pretty sure you have narrowed it down to my brother and I.
Your clue this time is the love potion. I know we've had many discussions about this. You always telling us we shouldn't sell it, we always insisting that everyone needs a little love, even if its forced by potion. Good times.
So, is Harry at Grimmwald place with you? This is actually another clue for you...not Harry being there, but this place itself. When we stayed here a few years ago, I loved the talks we would have. They were about everything and anything; it always took my mind off of the crazy things that happened that year. Thanks for that.
So, if you would, meet me on the roof of our shop at 7:00 this evening. I'm looking forward to seeing your beautiful face.
Yours Always.
Hermione looked over at Ginny, who had walked over to where she was standing to read the letter over her shoulder. "Which one do you think it it?" Hermione asked, taking a seat back at the table.
"I'm not sure," Ginny answered honestly, taking the tea that was offered to her.
"What do you mean which one? George has liked you for a long time," Harry said, curious as to what Hermione meant.
The girls exchanged looks and Hermione sighed, realizing she had put her foot in her mouth.
"What? Why would you think this was Fred?" Harry asked, looking between the two.
"Remember when I left your room when I found out Ron and Luna were together?" Hermione asked deciding to start at the beginning.
"Yes," her best friend replied cautiously, looking between the two girls.
"Well, I was kind of upset and I forgot people were in the dining room. Anyway, I guess Mrs. Weasley sent Fred out to check on me."
"Why did she send Fred out and not Charlie? Or you, Ginny?" Harry wondered.
"That is a good question," Hermione replied, looking over at the red head.
"Long story. Lets just say Mum got frustrated with Charlie and George for arguing over who would come to your rescue. Fred was the first one she saw and when he tried to have her send me, she was already beyond irritated. When she get like that, there's no changing her mind," Ginny answered.
"Okay, so what happened with Fred that makes you think he would be the one behind this whole thing?" Harry asked.
"Well, he listened to what I had to say, without judging me for the way I felt. He didn't try to pass his own agenda-he just let me talk. And then he...well...he.."
"What did he do?" Harry demanded, frustrated.
"He kissed me," Hermione answered quietly, blushing furiously.
"He kissed you?" he replied, shocked. How on Earth could he do that to his own twin, he thought.
"Does George know?" Harry asked suddenly sound very tired.
"No!" Hermione replied quickly. "No one knows but you and Ginny. And that's the way I want it to stay."
"But," Harry started, but was stopped.
"No buts, Harry James Potter. Its none of your business. She isn't engaged to anyone and George hasn't asked her out. You need to stay out of it," Ginny scolded him, looking very much like Molly Weasley with her hands on her hips.
"Alright," he promised, sighing. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt. Especially you Hermione. You're like my little sister."
Hermione smiled and walked around the table to hug him. "I'll go my best not to get hurt, I promise." He squeezed her tightly, trying to convey how he was feeling all in that hug.
"Alright. Now that you've made her cry, I have to get her ready to meet my brother," Ginny said, teasing her fiancee'.
"Did I make you cry?" Harry asked, worriedly, quickly pulling away from his best friend to check on her.
"Just a tear or two," she assured him, laughing. Hermione looked at her watch and began to panic.
"Oh Merlin, Ginny, its five! I look horrible! How am I going to be ready in time? I've got leaf's in my hair, for Merlin's sake!"
Ginny laughed. "We'll fix you up, I promise. Harry, we're going to use one of the bathrooms."
"That's fine. I'll make more tea and bring some up. Oh and Mrs. Weasley asked me to give you this bag. I think that its some girl stuff," Harry said, handing Ginny the bag. She looked through it and grinned. "Thank you Mum. She must really want you as a daughter-in-law," she teased Hermione, causing her to blush. "Lets go get you ready," the red heads said, grabbing the bag and box and leading her friend upstairs.
George stood in the apartment about the shop, trying to calm his nerves. Everything was done; there was nothing more he could do. Except to get ready.
He looked down at the outfit that he had decide to wear for the occasion. He had though about wearing dress robes, but didn't want to look like a stupid git. So since she was wearing a muggle sundress (at least that's what the sales lady had called it) he decided to wear a muggle outfit as well. Fleur had helped him with the dress ans so she decided to help him with his outfit as well. She picked out tan colored pants, brown 'man' sandals ("You vill look very nice," Fleur had assure him) and a loose fitting white dress shirt. I guess she knows what she's doing, he thought as he started getting ready to see the girl of his dreams.
"So, how do I look?" Hermione asked as she twirled around in the foyer of 12 Grimmwald place.
"Beautiful," Ginny replied from the circle of Harry's arms.
"Breath taking," her best friend added earnestly. Harry hadn't seen Hermione look so beautiful since their forth year at the Yule Ball. She had a natural glow about her, this excitement that radiated off of her.
"Thank you," the brown haired beauty replied, smiling. "So, should I apparate to the roof or what?"
"Why don't you apparate out front of the shop?" Ginny suggested.
"Probably the best since I'm not sure what the roof looks like," Hermione agreed, sighing nervously. "Wish me luck."
"You'll be fine," Harry assured her as she opened the front door to step onto the porch.
"I hope so," she replied, pulling her want out. "See you later," Hermione said in way of good bye.
Seconds later, she found herself in the streets of Diagon Alley, right in front of the joke shop. She boldly walked to the front door,with its closed sign on and opened the door. As Hermone walked deeper into the shop, seh noticed an arrow made of Gerber Daisy's pointing towards the back of the shop. She smiled at the flowers as she passed them walking into the back room. She noticed a work bench and piles of boxes everywhere. In the corner or the room stood a staircase with pieces of flowers all the way up the stairs.
Here we go, Hermione thought as she followed the flower petals up two flights of stairs. When she opened the door to the roof, the scene that met her left her breathless.
White lights magically outlined the roof beautifully, making twilight look eve more gorgeous then it was by itself. There was a blanket laid out on the ground with a basket in the middle, pillows being used as weight to hold down the blanket. And standing in the middle of it all was a gorgeous red head, looking at her as if she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
"Hi," Hermione greeted him shyly, still standing in the doorway.
"Hello. Fancy meeting you here," the young man teased,breaking the ice.
"It is rather suspicious, isn't it?" she agreed, playing along as she walked further onto the roof.
"It is, almost as if someone sat this whole thing up, just so you would end up here on the roof with me," the twin said, smiling as Hermione walked closer, coming to a stop right in front of him.
"Thank you, George," she replied, taking the young mans hand.
"For what? I haven't really done anything, yet," he insisted, pulling her down onto the blanket to sit with him.
"You haven't done anything yet? George, you sent me on a scavenger hunt and had a note and gift at every turn. That took a ton of time, thought and effort. I've never had anyone do anything so thoughtful and romantic for me. You are making me feel like a princess, like I'm the only girl in the world. I've never felt this special," Hermione replied, looking into Georges eyes.
He grinned widely and took both of her hands in his. "Mione, you've been the only girl in my world for a while now. You're the only onoe I've seen for a long time now. I just wish that I'd had the courage to ask you out properly,before all of the Marriage Law rubbish came about."
"Well, screw the Marriage Law," Hermione found herself saying angrily.
"What do you mean? You won't consider my petition?" George asked, looking as if he had just been shot in the chest.
Hermione got on her knees right in front of him and put her hand on either side of his face. She didn't give a damn if she was being unlady like or if she was flashing everyone in Diagon Alley. She had to make him understand.
"Of course I'll consider your petition! Of the ones I've received, I'd say you know me best, especially if that Scavenger Hunt is any indication. What I'm saying is who cares about the Marriage Law. You say you've like me for a while now, that you wish you would have asked me out before. Whose to say we can't date now?"
"You want to date me?" George asked, astonished with the way the converstation had turned. "But what about Malfoy and Charlie? You've promised to consider them."
Hermione sighed and sat down on the blanket. "I did and I'm going to uphold that. But i want to fall in love and the only way I see that happening is if I date, like I would have before the law happened. Would that be alright with you?" she asked shyly, wondering if she had said too much to this man who had treated her to on the best days of her life.
George pulled Hermione into his arms ans was ecstatic when she wrapped her arms around him. "Mione, I feel so happy that you said you would consider my petition. For you to say that you want to date me is just an added bonus. However I can be around you is just fine with me."
"Really?" she asked, leaning back to look and see if he was telling the truth.
George beamed down and placed a soft, gentle kiss on her lips. "Really."
I hope you like this. I won't waste your time with excuses. Crap happens. LOL...Please review so I will know if you are still interested in this story. Otherwise, I might not write anymore. :) Happy Reading.