Author's Notes: I suggested that some questions might be answered this chapter, and to be honest, I don't think I answered ANY of them!! Sorry to anyone who was hoping for some great enlightenment in this chapter. Slowly moving forward, that's what I'm doing here. You'll be glad I went slow when I start fast-forwarding through huge chunks of the summer as the end of this fic closes in.
I'm changing the Genre of this story officially from "General" to Romance/Comedy, although I wish they had Dramedy as a category, as there's some drama in here, too. It was suggested that this story needs action...but I'm sorry, this isn't an action fic. I have another fic planned that will have action, but this isn't it.
One of my FRIENDS last night, in the Author's Notes of the 6th chapter of her story LATE WINTER'S NIGHT'S DREAM called me "Horribly Mean, Girly, Twit Like, and can't talk olde english to save his life". And while I'll own up to being a bit TWIT LIKE and that I can't talk olde english to save my life, I take umbridge at the HORRIBLY MEAN and I am far from GIRLY. I swore to her that I'd get her back in my own public forum (here), but the fact is I'm too much of a gentleman. I will, however, say this...if you enjoy Shakespeare and Harry Potter, check out her fic. If you don't enjoy Shakespeare and Harry Potter...check it out anyway!
And now it's time to thank you wonderful readers who have REVIEWED my work! Edinburgh Love, Ann Malfoy, Cantletharrygo, CutewithAcapital-Q, fatyellowrat, Avanell, Dizzy0305, katie1985, Elytha, Trude, mugglemama, emmy1124, Emma.Jane-HPfan, Moony3005, IsI Wisi, Lady Anja, embergrl9010, the written princess, MissFinnegan, Tiffany M, kareem33, randomguy1517, Shlesha, ronniemione, sarah-keyko, not for lack of trying, Emm04, Jacob's-One-Girl, Ravenhaired2, and Nosta82, Aly-Cat 101, EnglishGirlVerity, marauders rox, Lane Joey, allenterrill, skippyboo, Larelles, kellymc1 (who created an account JUST so she could send me a wonderfully flattering review!), xxafterglowxx, and screamxheart are just the WORLD'S FINEST REVIEWERS and I value each and every one of them! Thank you so much for each of your 221 reviews!
Disclaimer: J.K.R. owns this stuff.
"Aftermath"
Chapter 25 -- Ron Finds Out
When Ron Weasley got back to the Burrow, Harry Potter was already in the room they shared, getting ready for bed. A bit annoyed at Harry for the way he acted at the airport, Ron decided to stay away from the bedroom for a bit, to give Harry time to fall asleep before he, too, went to bed.
Making his way down to the kitchen, Ron was a bit surprised to find Ginny sitting at the table looking all forlorn as she stirred a cup of tea. She looked up when he walked in and tried to force a smile.
"Hey, Gin," Ron said, a look of concern flashing across his face, "What're you still doing up?"
"Can't sleep," she sighed, looking down at her tea. Ron could tell there was more to it, though.
"So, what's bothering you so much you can't sleep?" he asked, sitting down across from her.
"Harry," Ginny replied, her voice cracking a bit, "You're his best friend…has he said anything about me?"
"Like what?" Ron asked, confused.
"Well, lately," she explained, "He's just really distant and he gets angry very easily…especially when we're…uh…snogging."
Ron rolled his eyes. He did not want to hear about his best mate and his sister snogging, "If it's any consolation, Gin, he's been a bit short with me, too."
"Yeah, but he used to like it when we snogged," Ginny went on, traveling a bit too far into the land of too much information, "But now, it's like we'll just get really into it, and he'll start yelling at me…telling me not to touch him and to get off him. I think he wants to finish with me."
"Gin…come on, do you really think so?" Ron asked, leaning back in his chair, "You know how Harry is. He gets moody."
"This is different, though, Ron. Ever since we got caught sleeping together --…"
"YOU WHAT?!" Ron jumped up out of his chair, his face flashing with anger. Ginny's eyes widened as realization dawned on her.
"You didn't know? I thought everyone knew…it's why Mum was so mad…oh wait…you were in Australia when it happened."
"YOU BLOODY SHAGGED HARRY?!" Ron yelled, not caring that his voice could very well wake the whole house.
"Ron, you're such a prat!" she snapped, standing up and balling her fists in anger, "This is old news! Mum already read us the riot act over this, so you can just stop with the angry big brother routine!"
"But…!"
"We. SLEPT!" she hissed, moving around the table to poke him in the chest, "We didn't shag! We didn't do…whatever the Hell it is you did with Hermione! He doesn't have a pair of my knickers under his pillow!! Which, by the way, is kind of creepy!!"
"It was YOU!!" Ron roared, "You went snooping in my room and showed 'Mione's knickers to Mum!!"
"Actually…it was Harry," Ginny said, blushing, "BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT!!"
"I'm gonna kill 'im!!" Ron seathed, "I'm gonna effing KILL HIM!!"
"YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE HIM ALONE!!" Ginny yelled, punching him in the arm.
"'Mione's gonna kill him!!" Ron ranted, no longer listening to his sister, "When she finds out what Mum said about her…she's gonna die of embarrassment and then she's gonna kill Harry for getting into her knickers…and then she's gonna kill ME for not putting them someplace more secure!"
"Are you even listening to me anymore, Ron?"
"I wonder if I can get away with Obliviating my whole family…" Ron said to himself, running his fingers through his hair as he left the kitchen and headed upstairs.
"Hey! I'm still talking to you!" Ginny shrieked to her brother's retreating back, "You prat!!"
Ginny stamped her foot in frustration. She was furious with her brother now and was no closer to having her problem with Harry solved. She kicked the table and yelled in a mix of anger and pain, hopping on one foot as she held the other foot, rubbing it to alleviate the pain.
Leaving his volatile sister behind, Ron climbed the steps to his attic bedroom. He kicked open the door, not caring if he woke up Harry in the process. He stormed into the middle of the room and looked at his best friend as he slept in peaceful repose.
"I should kill him," Ron thought, grinding his teeth in anger at his former best friend, "I should just whip out my wand and Avada Kadavra the little git…it'd be worth the trip to Azkaban!!"
Ron walked up to Harry's bed, taking his wand out of his back pocket. Jaw still clenched, he aimed the wand right at Harry's face, opened his mouth, and angrily yelled out a spell.
Ginny hopped over to a chair and dropped heavily into it, rubbing her toes vigorously, cursing her brother the entire time. He could be such a prat…always being so overprotective of her. It's a wonder she ever got a boyfriend in the first place with Ron threatening to beat each of them up if they ever stepped out of line.
It's not like anything happened between her and Harry…a little groping perhaps, but always above the waist…not that it was any of Ron's business! Sometimes she hated having older brothers…especially older brothers with the Weasley temper. At least she never had to worry about Percy or George doing something stupid like trying to intimidate Harry.
"Ron is such an arse--…"
Crack!
The sound of someone Apparating into the garden drew Ginny's attention away from her boyfriend and brother problems. Ginny jumped to her feet, forgetting the soreness from earlier. She suddenly felt very alone and wished very much that Ron hadn't gone upstairs. At the very least, she wished she still had her wand.
She could hear someone walking through the grass towards the back door and Ginny hurried to the rack above the stove, grabbing a heavy, cast-iron frying pan. She didn't have a wand, but if the unknown visitor was looking for trouble, she'd at least have a makeshift weapon.
The backdoor to the Burrow opened slowly, as if whoever was opening it was trying hard not to make any noise. Ginny crept up behind the door, frying pan held high in the air, ready to strike. A bushy head of chestnut colored hair drew Ginny's attention as the intruder entered the kitchen. Dropping the frying pan on the floor with a loud clang, the youngest Weasley started squealing happily as she threw her arms around the Burrow's surprise visitor.
"HERMIONEEEEEEEE!!" Ginny screamed out in glee as she hugged her best friend as tightly as she could, "I missed you soooooooo much!! Oh my God!! How was Australia?! Did you bring me anything? How are your parents?! Are they okay? Were they mad? Did they forgive you?! Did they like my brother?! Oh my God! I bet they HATED him…didn't they?! Oh my God, Hermione you just absolutely have to tell me EVERYTHING!!"
Hermione couldn't help but laugh as she returned the hug to her very best girlfriend on the whole planet. It was so good to see her again, "Calm down, Gin, I can only answer one question at a time!"
"Okay…okay!" Ginny gushed, pulling Hermione all the way into the kitchen and leading her to a chair, "Sit!! You want some tea?"
"No, I'm fine, Ginny," Hermione replied looking at the large iron pan laying on the floor, "Were you going to hit me with that?"
Ginny blushed and laughed nervously, "Heh…yeah…uhm…I didn't know who you were. Thought maybe you could be…I dunno…a rogue Death Eater or something. I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay," Hermione laughed, "Better safe than sorry. At least you didn't actually hit me!"
"Yeah, my prat of a brother would be pissed!" Ginny laughed.
"You're brother's not a prat, Ginny," Hermione scolded, "What did he do now?"
Before Ginny could answer Hermione's question, a yell from upstairs drew their attention. It sounded like Harry.
"Oh God!!" Ginny exclaimed, running for the stairs, "I didn't think he was serious!"
"What's going on, Ginny?" Hermione asked desperately as she ran up the stairs close on the redhead's heels.
"It's Ron!" Ginny called over her shoulder as she hurried up the stairs, "I think he's beating up Harry!"
Aguamenti!
Ron smiled wickedly as a stream of water shot out of his wand and hit Harry right in the face.
"WHA…GAH…ACK!!" Harry threw his hands in front of his face trying to block the flow of water, coughing and sputtering as he sat up quickly in bed, "Ron…what the Hell?!"
Once Harry was awake, Ron ended the spell and then cast a quick Drying charm to clean up the mess before his mother found out about. When he finished, he moved over to his own bed, pushed Crookshanks out of the way, and sat with his arm across his chest glaring at his best friend.
"Are you going to tell me what this is all about, Ron?" Harry asked angrily, sweeping the wet mop of hair out of his face and putting his glasses on.
"Had to wake you up somehow, mate," Ron said spitefully.
"Wake me up? Why the Bloody hell would you need to wake me up, Ron?" Harry snapped, flustered, "Are you mental?"
"I know you slept with Ginny," Ron said coldly.
"I…oh," Harry replied, his anger fading quickly as a sheepish look spread across his face, "Uh…what're you going to do?"
Before Ron could answer him, the door to his bedroom burst open and Ginny came rushing in, followed closely by Hermione.
"Leave him alone, Ron!" Ginny yelled, throwing herself in front of Harry, "We didn't DO anything!!"
Hermione, out of breath, plopped down on Ron's bed next to him, "Ron…what's this all about?"
"'Mione?" Ron looked at her, confused by her presence, "What are you doing here?"
"Answer my question first, Ron," Hermione said, looking a bit cross, "What is going on here?"
"'Mione…" Ron rolled his eyes.
"No…don't 'Mione me, Ron," she said, glaring at him, "Answer me! You've got your sister running around the house screaming while everyone is trying to sleep and you're doing something up here that's making Harry yell, as well. So, obviously, Ronald, you did something wrong."
"So you immediately take their side, without even knowing the fact?" Ron was now returning her glare while, across the room Harry and Ginny just sat back and watched, knowing that the couple across from them was once again on the verge of one of their famous rows.
"Well, I don't know your side, do I, Ron?" Hermione replied, haltingly, "Why don't you tell me your side, so I can make my decision?"
"Fine," Ron growled, "It turns out that while I was in Australia last Sunday, our supposed best friend slept with my baby sister!"
"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed, looking across the room at the redheaded girl, "You didn't tell me that!"
"I didn't have a chance!" Ginny exclaimed, "And NOTHING HAPPENED!!"
"Honestly, Ginny, there's no need to yell," Hermione said in a slightly scolding voice, "We're right here. Now, Ron, if Ginny told you nothing happened, then why didn't you believe her?"
Ron rolled his eyes and scoffed at her, "Oh come on! If they had done something do you think she'd admit it? Of course she said nothing happened!"
"Oh!" Ginny exclaimed, eyes blazing, as she jumped up off Harry's bed, "So when Mum was yelling at you last week about shagging Hermione and you said nothing happened, were you lying then?"
"What?!" Hermione's eyes widened and her face paled, "We didn't…we never…your MOTHER THINKS WE SHAGGED?! Why would she think that?!"
Hermione looked to Ron for the answer, but he sheepishly looked down at his feet.
"Mum found your knickers," Ginny said shyly, sitting back down, "And the note."
"WHAT?!" Now it was Hermione's turn to jump up and start yelling, she rounded on Ron and started slapping him in about the head and shoulders, "YOU LET YOUR MOTHER FIND MY KNICKERS AND THAT NOTE?! HOW COULD YOU?! I can NEVER face your mother AGAIN, Ron! I hope you're happy!! She must think I'm some sort of…of…"
"Scarlet woman," Ron, Ginny, and Harry supplied in unison.
"Thank you," Hermione hissed sarcastically, "She must think I swept in here and seduced her baby boy with my feminine wiles! I'm so embarrassed! Ron, how could you?!"
"It wasn't me, 'Mione," Ron said defensively, "It was Harry! Besides…Mum thought I seduced you…with my manly wiles and such."
"Oh, please, as if you could ever seduce me!" Hermione scoffed, causing Ron to quirk his eyebrows at her, "And…wait a minute…how did Harry get my knickers?"
"He was snooping!" Ron snapped, glaring at Harry.
"I was trying to find out where you disappeared to!" Harry retorted angrily.
"And you thought there was a clue in my knickers?" Hermione asked, furrowing her brow at him, "I'm sorry Harry, but you should have put them back as soon as you found them, instead of giving them to Mrs. Weasley."
"I didn't give them to her," Harry said, looking guiltily down at his feet, "I guess Ginny and I left them out when she and I fell asleep…snogging."
"You didn't think to put them away?" Hermione asked, exasperated, "Didn't you think a pair of girls' knickers on a boy's bed might draw suspicion especially if there was a note explaining what they were for?! I'm sorry Harry, but that was just…well…stupid."
"It wasn't stupid!" Ginny snapped jumping up again, "We were trying to get the horrible image of you two shagging out of our heads, so we forgot that the bloody knickers where out! Pretty soon we were so exhausted from distracting each other that we fell asleep…and SLEPT!"
"It still shouldn't have happened," Ron said, glaring back and forth between Harry and Ginny.
"And what about what you did with Hermione?!" Ginny snapped, glaring back at him.
"That shouldn't have happened either," Hermione said using every bit of her best Prefect voice, "Seeing as all the trouble it's caused, it was a mistake."
"'Mione…you don't mean that," Ron said, eyes full of surprise.
"I do, Ron," she replied, nodding stiffly, "Had that not happened, you wouldn't have had my knickers, they wouldn't have found them and needed to distract themselves, they wouldn't have slept together and your mother wouldn't have seen any of what she saw, you lot wouldn't have gotten in trouble, and I would still be able to look that sweet woman in the eye!"
"'Mione, come on…" Ron tried to put an arm around her but she jumped off the bed before he could.
"I'd better go. Let me just collect Crookshanks and I'll leave. Come here, Crookshanks!" Hermione called to her cat that was still lying curled up on Ron's bed, "Come over here Crookshanks!!" The cat opened up one green eye and looked at her before shutting it and going back to sleep, "Oh you stupid cat!! Ron, hand him here, please?"
"'Mione, the cat is asleep…he's comfortable…leave him be," Ron said in his best soothing voice. He was still incredibly angry at the whole situation, but he realized that Hermione was upset and needed to be handled delicately…unless he wanted her to blow up in his face, "Crookshanks can spend the night here, and you can come get him in the morning."
"I can't, Ron! I can't face your family!!" she said desperately. Hermione was close to the edge. She'd be crying soon if she didn't calm down, "You'll have to bring him to me! The Ministry put us up in The Leaky Cauldron for tonight. We'll be leaving for our house around Ten O'clock, so you have to bring him to me before then."
"Okay, fine," Ron nodded, willing to agree to anything to keep her from crying.
"Good. Thank you, Ronald."
Before Ron could say you're welcome or try to calm her down any more, Hermione Disapparated from the room with a loud crack! Ron looked at the spot she'd last occupied and grimaced. Not even so much as a goodbye, or a goodbye kiss for that matter.
Ginny suddenly felt sorry for her brother, and her earlier anger was forgotten. She walked over and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "She'll come around, you'll see. Just give her a couple days."
Ron nodded and smiled weakly up at his sister as she left the room. Once she was gone, an uncomfortable silence overtook Harry and Ron until the Boy-Who-Lived finally spoke up.
"You didn't have to try and drown me, mate," Harry said, referring to his rather wet wake-up-call.
"Harry, if I had wanted to drown you, I'd have shoved the bloody wand in your gob before casting the spell, instead of spraying you in the face with it!"
"I still don't understand why you're so pissed at me," Harry said indignantly, "You know I didn't do anything with Ginny."
"Ginny's too young for you to do anything with anyway," Ron replied, stone-faced.
"Oh…and Hermione's not?" Harry sniped, "You're such a hypocrite, Ron!"
"Hermione's eighteen, Harry," Ron explained, feeling like he was instructing a very slow child, "She's of age in our world and the Muggle world. Ginny is still underage…at least until August. So, until August, I'm going to keep playing Overprotective Big Brother anytime you do anything more than snog her."
"You know, with the exception of your father, you Weasley males are real pains in the arse where your sister's concerned."
"Think we're bad, now?" Ron laughed, "Watch what we do when you hurt her! You'll be lucky to make it out alive with your bits intact!"
Harry blushed and looked away, "Yeah…well…whatever. I'm going to bed…unless you plan on attacking me in my sleep again."
"You're safe for now," Ron replied, obviously still angry, "But this isn't over yet. Not until Hermione can be in a room with my mother and not feel like she's being judged."
Without another word, Harry got in bed, rolled over and went to sleep. Ron changed his clothes, putting on his pajamas, and he, too, got into bed. This time, however, instead of throwing Crookshanks off the bed, Ron carefully got in bed so as not to disturb the sleeping cat.
"You go home to 'Mione tomorrow, Crookshanks," Ron whispered to the cat, scratching it behind the ears, "Hopefully I'll think of some way to fix everything in the morning…otherwise this might be your last visit to the Burrow, and just think about all the garden gnomes you'll miss out on chasing."
Lying on his side, still gently petting the cat that was taking up the lion's share of his small bed, Ron Weasley fell asleep. Tomorrow was a new day, and with the new day came the prospect of hope…and sometimes hope was reason enough to get up in the morning.
It was Eight O'clock in the morning when Ron took the Floo Network to The Leaky Cauldron. He had an hour before he needed to be at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, which hopefully gave him just enough time to drop off Crookshanks, pick up some breakfast (which he'd had to skip in favor of battling the cat into its carrier), and head off to work.
He was greeted by Tom the Innkeeper, who, when asked, informed Ron of the room number for the Granger family. Politely thanking him (always pays to be polite to the people who handle your food and drink), Ron made his way upstairs, Crookshanks wailing mournfully from inside his carrier.
Ron knocked on the door, and a few seconds later, Hermione answered in her fuzzy pink bathrobe. Her hair was messy (messier than usual) and she looked as if she hadn't slept well.
"Oh. Hi, Ron," she said rather stiffly, "I didn't expect to see you so early."
"Well," he began to explain, "I have to be at in an hour. I hope I didn't wake you…"
"No," Hermione replied, stifling a yawn, "I've been up for about half-an-hour; my parents have been up since Six, I think. They're already dressed and out wandering Diagon Alley, I think. Dad's a bit fascinated by magic, although it scares Mum a little. I'm sorry…do you want to come in?"
"Yeah, sure," Ron nodded, entering the room and taking a seat at the small table near the window. He put Crookshanks' carrier on the table and looked with concern at his girlfriend, "You okay, 'Mione?"
"I'm fine, Ron," she said, rolling her eyes as she approached the pet carrier, "Did Crookshanks give you any trouble? I should really owl your Aunt Muriel and thank her for watching him for me."
"The cat was no trouble, 'Mione," Ron lied. He wore a long sleeve shirt today to hide the landscape of scratches that traveled his arms from wrist to elbow. Crookshanks did not want to get into his pet carrier, "I just don't think he wanted to leave the Burrow."
"Why not?" Hermione asked as she opened the latch on the carrier. She reached inside but before she could grab him, Crookshanks shot out of the carrier in a blur of orange fur and proceeded to run about the room as fast as he could for several minutes before settling down on the bed nearest the door. Hermione laughed at his antics before sitting down next to him and petting her beloved cat.
"I think he enjoyed having stuff to chase and lots of space to run around," Ron said with a chuckle, "And having my bed to hog was a plus for him."
"He wasn't that bad, was he?" Hermione asked with a smile, stroking Crookshanks' back lovingly.
"Nah, I think he just missed you," he smiled.
"Aww…did you miss your Mummy, Crookshanks?" she leaned over and planted a kiss on the cat's large head, nuzzling her face against his orange fur, "Mummy missed you…missed you sooo much."
"Listen, 'Mione," Ron cleared his throat, needing to get serious, "There's this dinner on Sunday…not just an ordinary Weasley dinner…the Minister's gonna be there. It's a real big deal…we think Dad might be getting a promotion."
"That's great, Ron," Hermione said with a smile, "Your Mum must be very excited."
"Yeah, she is," he nodded, "She's going all out to get the house in tip-top shape for Kingsley. Everyone's going to be there…even Charlie's coming in from Romania. Mum wants the whole family together for this."
"I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time," she said.
"Yeah, well, like I said…she wants the whole family there," Ron looked her in the eye, "Including you."
"No! No-no-no-no-no-no-no!" Hermione exclaimed jumping up and moving to the other side of the room, "Ron, I can't! You know that!! I cannot be around your mother after…after what she must think!! Ron she thinks I'm some sort of trollop!"
"She does not!" Ron yelled, jumping up and moving to her. He wrapped her up in his arms, holding her tight, "She loves you! Remember…it was me she blamed for corrupting you. She about beat me bloody with a wooden spoon!"
Hermione laughed at the image of Molly Weasley wielding a wooden cooking spoon as a weapon against her towering, thick-headed son.
"I don't know, Ron…"
"Come one, 'Mione…Percy's girlfriend will be there…George is even talking about bringing a date. You can't let me be the only one without a date except for Charlie! I'll have to sit next to him…and you've seen how he eats! He's worse than me!"
She chuckled again. The Weasley boys were ravenous eaters, and sometimes Charlie ate like the dragons he worked with in Romania.
"I'll have to think about it," she finally said, frowning.
Ron nodded, "Alright, I guess. Your parents are welcome, too, by the way. Mum's dying to see them, and Dad's hoping to finally find out how those airplanes stay up. And I owe your dad a game of wizard's chess."
"I'll tell them…if I decide to come," she said finally.
"Alright, 'Mione," Ron said, hanging his head. He knew he couldn't force her, and he wasn't about to start a fight over it…not when he had to go to work. He leaned down to give her a kiss, and she turned to offer him her cheek. He sighed. This was far from over…he didn't have to be a genius to know that, "I'll see you later, Hermione."
"Bye, Ron."
Ron left The Leaky Cauldron and headed out into Diagon Alley. Shops were just beginning to open up for the day, so it was starting to get crowded. Ron had just unlocked the door to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes when he heard someone call his name.
"Ron!!"
Ron looked over his shoulder and saw the smiling faces of John and Elizabeth Granger walking quickly towards him. Smiling, Ron turned and shook Mr. Granger's hand before Mrs. Granger embraced him and kissed his cheek.
"'Morning, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, enjoying your visit to Diagon Alley?" he asked politely.
"It's really quite unique," John said, smiling broadly, "We've merely been window shopping of course. I don't think Lizzie would let me buy anything magical."
"We've been through this before, John," Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes good-naturedly, "Hermione knows how to use magic…you don't."
"Is this your shop, Ron?" Mr. Granger asked pretending to ignore his wife, "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?"
"Actually, it's my brother, George's shop," Ron said, opening the door and ushering them inside so that he could begin his workday, "He and Fred…they were twins…they opened this shop after they left Hogwarts a couple of years ago. I've been helping him get the shop back on its feet."
"That's very admirable, son," John said, clapping Ron on the shoulder. Mr. Granger took a look around the shop at the various items on display and even though he didn't know what most of them (if any of them) were, he could get a general sense from the bright colors and fun atmosphere of the shop, "So this is some sort of what…a joke shop?"
"Oh God no," Elizabeth said, grabbing her husband's arm and trying to tug him towards the door, "We are NOT buying any magical joke…stuff!"
Ron couldn't help but chuckle at the Grangers. They were such nice people…he couldn't help but like them. He got lucky; Hermione's parents could've been horrible people like the Muggles Harry had lived with.
"If you like, I could show you what some of the stuff does," Ron volunteered, smiling as Mrs. Granger shot him a dirty look.
"Ronald! You know you're making my job harder, right? You show him some of these things and John's going to pester me 'til St. Swithen's Day to let him get something."
"Honestly, Lizzie," John replied to his wife in a very stiff manner reminiscent of Hermione in nag mode, "You make it sound as if I'm a child. I'll have you know I'm a well-respected dentist, as well as the father of the smartest witch in the world."
Before Elizabeth could respond to her husband, a sudden pop announced the arrival of the shop's proprietor.
"I love the smell of commerce in the morning," George exclaimed as he Apparated right behind the counter in front of the cashbox, "Smells like…Muggles!" George looked at the two potential customers and smiled his best Cheshire grin.
"How did you know we were Muggles?" Mr. Granger asked, intrigued.
"It's the clothes," George and Ron said simultaneously. Even though wizards and witches often wore Muggle-style clothing, there was something about actual Muggle clothing that set it apart…it always looked so manufactured.
"I told you we should've bought some robes at that Madame Manakin's shop," John said to his wife, "That way we'd blend in."
"Madame Malkin's," Ron corrected him with a grin. So this is what it felt like to be Harry or Hermione when they corrected him for mispronouncing the name of some Muggle thing or another.
"Thank you, Ron," Mr. Granger said, nodding to him, "Now everyone's got us pegged as Muggles, Lizzie."
"We are Muggles, John," she reminded him.
Ron stepped in before they went any further. They reminded him a lot of himself and Hermione, and if they were anything like them at all, and argument could soon commence.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I'd like you to meet my brother, George. George these are Hermione's parents."
"Ickle Hermione's parents in my humble shop?" George exclaimed smiling even broader than before, "This is a special occasion. We'll have to break out some free samples of our Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products."
"There's really no need," Mrs. Weasley said nervously, moving towards the door, "We were just about to leave."
"Nonsense…have you had breakfast?" George replied, reaching underneath the counter and pulling out a tray of pastries, "How about a tasty sweet treat! Canary Crème anybody?"
"NO!!"
Author's End Notes: Another cliffhanger. Oh no!! Hehehe! I'll get to work on Ch. 26 tonight, and with luck it'll be up tomorrow. I hope everyone in the U.S. had a nice Labor Day...now...get back out there and labor some more people!!