A/N: Regarding Dumbledore and his motivations: I did my best to use the Dumbledore presented by glittergrrrl05 in The Bespoke Witch. We don't get his real reasons for doing what he's doing, there. Only that he HAS reasons. So, I really can't say why he's doing what he's doing. In my head? He preferred the Malfoys above all other Houses because he owed them for what they did in the War (per the TBW AU). So he endeavored to skew the presentation in their favor. This is just politics, which for centuries directed romances at the highest levels of society. I don't have to like it, but I get it.

Tally on how many times y'all felt sorry for the Malfoys in the last chapter: ||||| ||||| |

Back to the story. Some of you were asking about the Weeded One...?

TWENTY

93 Diagon Alley, 11 January 1999

The attitudinal owl flew right through the open door of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes just before sunset. It angled its flight path over shelves, around a few customers who were cooing over the Pygmy Puffs, before finally landing on the back counter to peck its beak against a box of something that rattled.

George poked his head out of the back room. "Oi, Mouse!" He recognized Harry's owl. "What brings you here, girl? You know, come to think of it, we should get Hermione an owl so she can write to us without having to go out to the owlery. Yes, we should. So, Mouse old girl. What do you have here?" While he'd been talking, George had deftly detached the parchment from the owl's leg, set it down, and offered her some very boring and non-practical-joking owl treats that he kept in a bowl.

Fred & George—

Hate to bother you, but we've got a problem up here at school. Our erstwhile best friend decided to show up and he's causing trouble. My sister is quite upset. I would have owled Bill but he told me he'd be in Spain for the week, neck-deep in an ancient vault.

Hermione wouldn't let me owl your parents; I don't know why. She might be angry with them? She won't talk about it with me.

Might one of you come up? Maybe through the Headmaster's Floo? He is hesitant to act in a family matter, he said.

Thanks!

Harry

"Fred!" George did a quick check on the store. They weren't as busy as they had been the week before, so he figured Fred might be okay to handle things until closing, which would be in about an hour. He caressed the owl over her head and down her soft chest.

Fred's red head popped up over aisle thirteen. "Yeah?"

"C'mere." After explaining the situation and showing Fred the letter, George said, "I'm gonna go. I feel like I should. Someone from the family should, should be there for this."

Fred nodded slowly. "Go on. Maybe see if you can meet with McGonagall while you do? She might have more insight than The-Boy-Who-Has-Two-Girlfriends." That still rankled, the twins acknowledged with a look.

"I'll Floo when I know what's going on. I am thinking we need Dad up there, but I get why Harry doesn't want to get Hermione mad."

Fred shared a smile with him. "We like her when she's feisty, after all."

"That we do, Twin o'Mine. That we do."

Hogwarts, 11 January 1999

"I do apologize about this circumstance," Professor Dumbledore said immediately as George emerged from the Floo in the Headmaster's office. "And I will, of course, grant you time to visit with Miss Potter as you're here. But let's first take care of my guest." With the wave of an arm, Dumbledore indicated Ron's motionless body on a sofa.

George's heart went out to Ron, but he was also extremely unhappy. "Why is he petrified?" Ron's face flushed and his eyes blinked madly. George planted his feet and kept his hands free, just in case.

Dumbledore sighed and stroked his beard. "Weeded scions are registered with the Ministry, did you know this? And, since Ronald Weasley was scheduled to be a student here this term, the Ministry notified me that he might not be in attendance any longer and I didn't expect him to be here. However, I sense that there's something not right with him so I want him to be seen by Madam Pomfrey, and, of course, he tried to abscond with Miss Potter."

"What?!" His wand out, George took a step toward his Weeded sibling. "What the bloody hell?"

Dumbledore stopped him by the simple expedient of touching his shoulder. "She was with Mr. Potter at the time, Mr. Weasley, and I assure you that he was entirely efficient at stopping the intruder and getting Miss Potter to safety. It was, er, disruptive, but not dangerous. Though, it is safe to say that Advanced Arithmancy hasn't seen that much spellwork in quite some time."

"Where's Hermione? Er, Miss Potter?"

"I imagine in the Gryffindor Common Room or the Library. Let's get my guest to the Hospital Wing and then I'll let you look for her." His tone made it very clear that the Headmaster was indeed the gatekeeper, and not just to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but also to Miss Hermione Jean Potter.

George had no choice but to comply.

She was a sight for sore eyes, that was for sure. Books spread out before her on a wide table in the Library, Hermione managed to look both studious and entirely desirable with her hair tamed a bit and falling over her shoulder, and her uniform sweater fitting, er, rather tighter than he was used to seeing. George remembered a Patented Daydream Charm that included a bookshelf and his favorite bookworm, but he pushed the memory of that delightful bit of pretend away. Maybe someday, someday soon, I'll get to live it out in person. I wonder if Hermione'd like to snog in the stacks or if she'd think we were desecrating the Library?

Harry was sitting next to her, Ginny on the table in front of him, which reassured George somewhat until he saw what was happening. Harry had his hands up Ginevra's uniform blouse and was—Ugh! I need to wash my eyes!—while he was also moving in a slight, suggestive motion, eyes half-lidded behind his glasses, mouth open to take in deep breaths. As he drew near, George saw the top of a very blond head of hair and he remembered that Harry was seeing both Ginny and Luna Lovegood. And Luna had blond hair. And Luna was apparently giving Harry a blow-job. In the Library.

A blow-job was happening right next to Hermione.

I cannot think of Hermione and oral sex in the same sentence. I will lose it. Completely. Not when she's right in front of me and—

George was relieved he was still wearing his magenta work robes with the WWW logo on them.

He almost called Hermione's name when he remembered The Rules. He had them in capital letters in his head. "Miss Potter. Mr. Potter." Then, he did his best not to make a face and added, "Ginevra. Miss Lovegood."

"Geo- Mr. Weasley!" Hermione's face lit up with her smile and George felt loads better. He stood across the table from her, so he didn't have to see his sister's face just yet.

"George!" Ginny jumped on the table just as Harry closed his eyes and grit his teeth as he obviously sought to contain an orgasm. Ginny leaned forward to kiss Harry before lifting her leg high and over his head so that she could hop off the table and straighten her uniform.

"Oi, Gin. In public? Really? I could have gone my entire life without seeing that."

"Oh, George," Luna's voice, sounding a bit thick, piped up from Harry's lap while Hermione looked on in wry amusement. "This wasn't so bad. If you'd been here at lunch, Ginny was—"

"Luna-dove. Enough," Harry said, drawing the blonde up and kissing her while she sat on his lap. "George. Thanks for coming." He managed to look like a serious chaperone and entirely besotted with Luna at the same time.

"Fred's still at the shop. Dumbledore said there was a problem?"

Hermione let out an exasperated sound and threw down her quill. "Not anymore, no. Only—" She grimaced and looked at him but George couldn't discern what question was pressing so urgently and she hadn't asked it yet.

He stepped around the table, entirely focused on his witch's expression. He took her hand—he was allowed!—and sat next to her. "First. Are you all right? I heard that there was a problem in Arithmancy."

Hermione blushed and dropped her gaze to their hands. She grabbed his other one so that their hands were entirely entwined. George felt something tight in his chest; something sweet but needful gripped him hard before letting go so he could relax at the touch of his Bespoken One. "I don't understand. He showed up and said he was going to marry me and make you take him back?"

"It won't happen." George gently jostled her hands until she looked up at him. "I promise you. You're safe."

Harry was no longer listening in, George noted, but he hadn't moved away, either. Rather, he and Ginny were snogging while Luna read a book next to them with apparent unconcern. After a quick glance to Madam Pince, George continued. "The Headmaster has him in the Hospital Wing right now, being examined by Madam Pomfrey. Something seemed off."

"You're sure he can't marry me? I, I find I don't want him to, not at all."

"No, Miss Potter. The Covenant has made it so. He's not a part of this."

Hermione's eyes softened. "I felt the Covenant, you know. With the Stake. I didn't hold it, but I could feel it. Like there was more than the parchment could hold. And the scent, Geo- Mr. Weasley! I got a whiff of it and I could almost feel like, like you were holding me. All of you. And I was surrounded by you."

George felt his heart race and his mouth go utterly dry. "Oh. Well, that's, that's good, then. I'm glad it was a good experience for you, lo- Miss Potter." She moistened her lips with a quick flick of her tongue when their gazes met and held. He leaned in, already practically able to taste her.

"Uh, sorry. No. Not yet, guys, okay?"

Cheeks aflame, Hermione dropped George's hands and leaned back in her chair. "Says the man who can barely eat at mealtimes because he's kissing someone."

"Rules are rules, Hermione!" Ginny said with a broad grin. "George, can you stay for dinner?"

"I'm going to send my Patronus to Dad and find out what's up with, er, you-know-who."

"We are not calling him that," Ginny declared, rising from Harry's lap with a toss of her head. "I refuse to call him The Ginger Lord."

Hermione snorted at that and moved to gather up her books and quill. "Me too. All right. I'll get this all sorted and then we can go to the Infirmary, all right? I want to know what's wrong as well."

They had about half an hour until dinner, so all five of them, Luna included, adjourned from the Library. The moving staircases all heeded the Savior of Wizarding Britain, apparently, which George commented on and which Harry waved off with a ducking of his head.

As they entered the Infirmary, George thought it smelled clean, but he detected no potions. Madam Pomfrey greeted them all as if taking attendance. "Miss Potter, Mr. Potter. Mr. and Miss Weasley. Miss Lovegood."

"Good evening, Madam Pomfrey," George said as the others all looked to him. Is this how Bill feels when we do that? he wondered. He was the senior representative of the family here, he supposed. Straightening his shoulders, he knew he had to do his best. "We were all her to inquire about—"

"About Ronald," Hermione said, stepping in front of all of them and shooting him a look that dared him to stop her. "Professor Dumbledore, good evening. Geo- Mr. Weasley explained things to me, but I am still concerned about what will happen to him."

George looked over her head at the Mediwitch. "Have you had a chance to examine him, Madam Pomfrey?"

The Healer looked uncomfortable as she met his eye. "I have. And, er, this is a bit complicated. He should be sent to St. Mungo's. But, er, due to his uncertain status . . ."

Hermione inhaled loudly but George felt this was one of those times he'd have to act against what she might desire. She could yell at him later. "I'm going to advise sending for my father. I know that Ronald Weasley has been Weeded, but Dad might have information for the Healers."

Hermione turned and stared at his face, but George had to focus on the task at hand. He was not used to being the responsible one unless it was at the store, dammit. No one else reacted save for staring at Ron in his cot.

Madam Pomfrey laced her fingers together. She looked more stressed than he could remember having seen her when there wasn't a serious injury at hand. Merlin knew that he and Fred had spent enough time in her company over the years, so he knew her in pretty much all her moods. "What does complicated mean, Madam Pomfrey?"

The older witch pressed her lips firmly closed in clear disapproval. "It's not something I would wish to discuss in the presence of innocent girls," she said in a low tone.

George couldn't help himself. He darted a quick look at his sister, who was exchanging a grinning glance with Luna, and he surmised that "innocent girls" probably didn't apply to them. However, he wasn't going to announce that out loud. Instead, he tried hard to wipe the images from the Library from his mind. "I understand. Let me send for Dad and you can talk to him." Without waiting for approval from anyone, he brought up his happiest memory, the one that he always used to conjure his Patronus. It was the day that Harry gave him and Fred the prize money from the Triwizard Tournament. It wasn't the money, it was what it represented. The moment that he knew—knew!—that he and Fred could open their shop. Someday, he imagined the witch standing next to him would bring him even better memories, but at the moment, he went with what he had.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Seeing his shining, silvery fox always made him smile. He spoke to it. "Dad. Need you up at Hogwarts Infirmary. There's a situation with," he paused and shot a grin at his sister, "The Ginger Lord. I'll wait at Hogwarts for you." That being done, George addressed the Headmaster. "I'd like to speak with, with him when he is awake, if that's possible."

"Perhaps after dinner, Mr. Weasley."

"Thank you."

Harry and Hermione were clearly reluctant to leave, but between them, George and Ginny and Luna got them out of the Infirmary. Harry was flanked by his girlfriends, who each took one of his hands as they walked a few paces ahead through the castle's halls.

George took Hermione's hand in his. "Are you going to tell me what he did in Arithmancy?"

Hermione tried to tug her hand away, but he clung to it and she stopped after only one attempt. "I told you. He said he would marry me and make you take him back into the family."

"The Headmaster mentioned spells?" George glanced down at his Bespoken One. "Any hit you?"

She snorted. "Not bloody likely." Then, she blushed. "Pardon me. Sorry. I mean, no. I can cast a quick shield, as you might remember from the D.A."

With a chuckle, he squeezed her hand. "I do. And I remember those Galleons. Protean charms as a Fifth Year. Always were a remarkable witch, Miss Potter."

While they made their way to the Great Hall and their dinner, George noted both the similarities and differences in the castle since he had studied there. A portrait was in a new space. That staircase was now crafted from a different stone. There were new ghosts lurking in dark corners overhead. "Have you spoken with that one, there?" he whispered to Hermione, using their joined hands to point to the spirit in question.

She glanced up at the shadowy figure of a child who was monitoring all the comings and goings into the Hall. "It's Colin. Colin Creevey. He, he died here last May. Worst part about coming back to school, G- Mr. Weasley. I feel just dreadful whenever I see him." Her voice trembled and George took a moment to hold her back from entering the Hall. Harry stopped at the entrance, evidently not in a hurry and willing to give them a moment of quasi-privacy.

"I'm so sorry," George murmured, reaching for her other hand so they faced each other. He drew them up and pressed them against his chest. "I didn't know him, really, but I can't imagine having to see his ghost every day."

Her eyes welled with tears and everything in him said to take her in his arms to provide comfort, but he really couldn't. She tugged their hands to her cheek to dry it. "It's only been a few days, but it's felt longer, sometimes. I really just want to take my N.E.W.T.s and graduate, you know?"

"I completely understand, Miss Potter." He smiled gently into her eyes.

She smiled bravely and tilted her chin. "You didn't even take yours, and look at you. Mr. Successful." With an obvious effort, she released one of his hands and turned to continue on their way. "Don't tell anyone, but I think what you and Fred do is just brilliant. And those Daydream Charms are extraordinary magic."

Warmth flared through his body, bringing a delighted grin to his face. "Why, thank you, Miss Potter. Can I tell my twin?"

Her tone was a bit flirtatious when she replied, "Perhaps I'll tell him myself when he visits."

Candles and bluebell flame lit the area around Ron's cot in the Infirmary when George returned there, sans Hermione but with Ginny, to meet their father. Dumbledore was nowhere in sight and George wondered if that was due to the fact that Ron had been Weeded or if the Headmaster had already covered everything with Dad.

"George, Gin. Good to see you both. He's awake." Dad briefly embraced them and they gathered at the foot of Ron's bed, half turned to each other with Ginny in the middle and half turned to Ron. "Ron is going to be going to St. Mungo's and, if he recovers fully from what ails him, we'll set him up elsewhere. At least he took his O.W.L.s. The Ministry will see to it that he is credited with them, at any rate, under whatever name he takes for himself."

Ginny scowled at The Ginger Lord. "How's Mum?"

"Oh, you know your mum. She cried, then cooked and baked and knitted sweaters for everyone last Christmas and now she's fine. More than fine, really." Their father smiled at George. "Anything to report?"

Ginevra giggled. "Oh, Dad! It's famous! Hermione's been blushing like anything since George arrived earlier."

"She's taken us for Consideration," George said, feeling the warm pride of that simmer in his chest. "We're all fine with that, really. Wouldn't want to keep her from her N.E.W.T.s!"

"No, indeed," Dad agreed with a lightened expression. "Well, now. Give her my best. She's welcome during the spring holiday if she can tear herself away from her revising."

"I hope she does," Ginny stated with a pout. "If she doesn't come home with me, Harry can't come, either."

"Oh?"

George lifted one brow. "Chaperone."

"Ah." Then, his father grinned with a far-too-knowing light in his eye. "I remember those days, indeed I do. Well, then. Off to bed with you Ginevra. I've things to discuss with your brother, here."

"Oooh, things about my soon-to-be sister-in-law?"

George felt his ears go hot, which only made his sister laugh loudly enough that Madam Pomfrey had to shush her. "Good night, Ginevra," he said. "Go find Harry and Luna, yeah?"

"That's the plan!"

Once she had half-danced out of the Infirmary, Dad indicated a spare bed with a motion of his chin. "Come on."

George nodded; Dad looked very serious. "What is it?"

Dad took a breath. "Your brother has VMV. Have you heard of it?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Is that something that happens when someone is Weeded?"

Dad shook his head. "Venerea morbis et venefici. It's a magical bug, son. A sexually transmitted disease," he added after a dark moment.

"And he tried to kidnap our Bespoken One?" George bounced to his feet, ready to pound some sense into his brother. He didn't know what VMV did to someone, but any kind of such disease turned his stomach to think about. And what if Ron had overpowered Harry? Unlikely, but disasters happened. What would have happened to their Hermione?

His father pulled him back down to the cot where they were sitting. "I am not going to speculate on what he was planning to do with her, but it couldn't have been good. Now that he's under wrapping, so to speak, we can get him to St. Mungo's and get him treated. The Ministry's post-Weeding board will monitor him from there."

"Fine. Just so long as they keep him away from Hermione."

"We think it's still treatable, if Hermione asks. Please, though, try to, er, discourage her from talking about him. I know she'll be curious, but . . ."

"I'll try, Dad."

"Healers from St. Mungo's will be by in the morning. I'll stay with him until then, to make sure all is in order. You should probably go." His father slid him a playful smile. "I hardly think Miss Potter's guardian would approve of you staying here overnight."

"I'll feel better knowing you're here, Dad. So will Fred."

With a reassuring clap of the shoulder, his father got to his feet. "Me, too. I'll owl you once he's secure. You and Fred coming for dinner this weekend?"

"Dunno. Might try to get back up here!"

With Madam Pomfrey's wry cooperation, George jotted a quick note for Miss Hermione Jean Potter, to be delivered in the morning.

"I'll play owl," his dad assured him. "Now, off with you. I don't want your Consideration period to be compromised. You've waited a long time."

"Not too much longer, now!" Anticipation thrummed through his body as he left the Hospital Wing. So long as none of them screwed up too badly, it was possible that Hermione might be willing to accept their Stake after graduation. What was a few more months?

A/N: Thank you again, so much, for all the adds to your lists and to all those who read and review! Hat tip today to animelover5107 for catching review #700! I never figured I'd have so many for this. Thank you all!