Everytime you get up
And get back in the race
One more small piece of you
Starts to fall into place
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend till you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad, you get strong
Wipe your hands, shake it off
Then you stand
Rascal Flatts "Stand"
"So I can't decide how much to include about Voldemort and the war." Hermione took a bite of her chicken salad and waited for Terry's opinion on the matter. He'd asked if she minded meeting him for lunch and she'd agreed to. She suspected he really wanted to talk about Michael, but he hadn't brought the subject up yet.
Terry was a special friend. He was one of the only people that Hermione really felt liked her for herself. He'd become her friend independently of Ron and Harry. Neville was technically her first friend, but he'd always be closer to Ginny and the Weasleys' in general because of it. But Terry was different. They'd become acquainted during First Year when they both found the other studying for their Charms test. They'd met to study after that. In third year they'd become far closer when Hermione was being ignored by the Gryffindors. That was also when she got to know Michael, Anthony and Su Li. She was one of the first people he'd come out to. Only Michael knew before her.
It was flattering and had cemented their bond.
"I think it makes him more relatable if you include a fair bit of Hogwarts. Also, the war will attract attention. Readers know he is the brother of Harry's best friend. He'd have an inside track. Not to mention the entire 'Potterwatch' thing."
Hermione nodded her head absently and poked at her salad.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with people?" Ron boomed as he marched into the break room with a bang. Hermione looked up from her salad and frowned. Terry gaped at Ron with a bit of lettuce stuck to his lip.
"Umm, hello?" Terry tried. He raised his eyebrow at Hermione who tried to convey how sorry she was for the interruption with her eyes.
"Do you know what's going on right now? No-of course you don't." Ron growled. He stormed over until he was right in front of their table. He gripped the extra chair until his knuckles turned white. "You wouldn't be here if you did."
"What is it, Ronald?" Hermione was getting exasperated. That wasn't anything new with how Ron usually made her feel, but it was annoying none the less.
"There are about thirty people protesting werewolves outside of the twins shop."
"What?" Hermione shot up and grabbed her wand before Ron grabbed her wrist. "Let go of me, Ron. I have to go-"
"No, we're not allowed to mess with them. They're not breaking the law and we'll only get in trouble." Ron grumbled. His face was red and Hermione noticed the vein in his head was twitching. Terry pushed back from the table and dropped his napkin.
"I'm going to Michael. We'll look over the legal information." He turned to Hermione and smiled softly. His blue eyes glinted knowingly. "Thanks for lunch, Hermione. We'll talk tomorrow?"
She nodded her head and watched him go before banishing the rest of their lunches. Ron grabbed a carrot before she could get rid of it. Hermione's heart gave a little twinge at the sight. Some things never changed.
"I'm going to check on protesting reports. It might be illegal if they're outing him. Anything that potentially harms a curse victim might be able to be used against the protestors." Hermione explained before bustling past Ron. Much to her dislike, he followed her out the door.
"Why aren't you with Harry?" She turned left and continued down the corridor to her department.
"Because I thought you should know about George. You're best friends or something now." Ron said dismissively. Hermione walked up to her desk and dug through the papers on top. She needed to find the report on Madame Malkin's. She'd hired a werecat a few weeks ago and a customer had tried to sue her for negligence. It might have something they could use.
"We're not best friends. Fred and Lee will always be his best friend."
"You're friends though."
"More like business acquaintances."
"Damn." Ron huffed. "That is cold Hermione."
Hermione straightened for a moment and glared at him. "It's the truth. I don't have many friends. I don't make friends." She turned back to her papers. "You and Harry had friends. They hung out with me because you hung out with me."
Ron shook his head, not that Hermione was looking. She was through with Ron Weasley. "Harry was right. I'm a git. And I really need to apologize."
"I'm sorry?" Hermione said. She was giving him very little attention, too focused on the misplaced report.
"I did something horribly wrong when we broke up. I'm not sure what I said, or did, but you're so wrong. If you think for even a moment that you don't have a lot of friends. You're the most incredible women I've ever met. You're smart, you're kind, you're pretty, you're funny, you're caring, and you can put up with what are literally some of the most annoying and needy people on the planet."
Hermione had stopped looking for her report and was now looking at Ron with wide eyes. Ron continued. "I broke up with you because that sparkle your eyes used to have had disappeared. I broke up with you because neither of us where happy. I'm so sorry that I hurt you in doing that, but I couldn't keep wasting your time." Ron leaned forward and picked her hand up, smiling softly, his blue eyes sad.
"I know I'm rubbish with tact and handling emotions, but I care about you. At the end of the day, you're one of my very best friends. You have lots of friends, just because they were friends with me doesn't mean they weren't friends with you. Most of them prefer hanging out with you. You're far easier to deal with than me." He paused and gave her a cheeky grin. "After all, not everyone can handle my winning personality."
Hermione smiled, albeit a little watery. She had no idea what to say to Ron. He sobered and continued. "You're going to be fine, Hermione. You don't need me. You never have. You can be incredible all by yourself. You just don't have to be. You've got friends waiting to join you everywhere." Ron dropped Hermione's hand and smiled a bit awkwardly before stepping back. He tripped on the edge of her desk and fell gracelessly to the floor.
Hermione couldn't help herself, she laughed, and it felt good.
-o-o-o-
"So they're not sure how to handle the whole 'ice cream' thing." Fred said cheerfully. He jumped onto the counter and crossed his legs over each other before placing his hands on his knees. Luna sat down on the floor and laid a pack of cards in front of herself, shuffling the deck absently. George considered the setting for a moment before joining her on the deck.
"Deal 'em." He ordered. She smiled and did as asked.
"Hey, no fair. I want to play. I will not be ignored!" Fred declared before dropping to the floor beside George. George took a moment to appreciate how ridiculous his life was, they were playing cards on the floor of their empty shop while protesters ate ice cream they provided out front of their shop, before he picked his cards up.
"What are we playing for?"
"Bertie Bott's beans." Luna offered. She pulled a package of the mentioned beans out of her pocket and set them on the floor.
"Works for us." George and Fred said together. Fred divided the beans up while George glanced out the window to see how it was going. There were still groups of people marching about, so, no change there.
"I think I should warn you that I can't count cards." Luna informed Fred sagely. He grinned back.
"Brilliant, it'll be like playing with Hermione."
"It's basic math," George said in a slightly higher, exasperated tone, "Honestly, it's not something that I can just turn off." He shook his head. "I'd love to be able to turn it on. There are far too many numbers to keep up with."
"We should make self-counting cards." Fred suggested. He sifted through his cards with a frown. "Well this is a Boggarts hand, 'cause it's Riddikulus."
"Mine is brilliant." George grinned and laid three cards down. Luna dealt him the requested cards and Fred laid down his own.
"So, do you and Neville have any plans this weekend?" Fred asked as he picked up his cards. "Bollocks."
"Oh," Luna laid down her hand of cards and George scowled. She had a royal flush. "We're going to Germany. Neville's found a plant he'd like to add to his collection."
"That sounds lovely."
"I think it will be. What are you doing?"
"We have exactly no plans. Seriously, I'm seeing Angelina at some point, but we're pretty much lounging."
"Are you attending Michael's meeting?"
"In a week? Yeah. You know about it?" George instantly asked. Luna just smiled vaguely and dealt the cards.
-o-o-o-
"Hey-are you leaving? Did I come at a bad time?" Hermione stepped out of the fireplace and nervously bit her lip. George grinned. He missed Hermione, and her scent just made him smile. Which was nice because he'd had a headache all day. It was probably because he'd been inventing most of the day but it was still not fun.
Hermione's eyes were on Fred, who was walking around the back of the flat with a suitcase and an extra robe.
"No, Fred will be in just a bit, but I'm staying. He's got a date with Angelina." George made several, loud, obnoxious snogging noises in Fred's general direction before turning back to Hermione and smiling. She relaxed and walked fully into the room. She set a leather messenger bag down and made her way towards the sofa across from where George was sitting on the floor.
"Brilliant. I have a few things I'd like to talk with you about."
George nodded his head before reclining back against the floor. He brought his arm up to cover his eyes from the light. "Sure. What about?"
"About the march." Hermione said quickly, as if it didn't really matter. "I'm sorry, are you alright?"
George shrugged his shoulder and heard Fred step over him to sit on the couch. "I'm fine."
"Prats is lying." Fred said from his new seat. The cushion rustled again and George raised his arm a bit to see what was going on. Hermione was walking towards him, concern on her face and in her scent.
"What are you doing?" Fred asked as Hermione sat on the ground next to where George had sprawled out on his back.
"Testing a theory." Hermione answered with an easy smile. She stretched a small hand out to George's stomach and gently edged his jumper up. He still had an undershirt on, so she couldn't see the scars he was so littered with. Her hand was warm against the thin fabric of his shirt and she let it rest there for a long moment. George was about to lift his head to look at her when she finally moved. She moved her hand in a circle, digging her fingers into his stomach just the tiniest bit.
It took George an embarrassingly long minute to realize she was giving him a belly rub, and good Godric's ghost did it feel incredible. George's foot began to twitch as he tried not to make an outward reaction to the sinfully good sensation. It should be a lot more humiliating that he's enjoying a belly rub-something for pets-but it's so good. George can feel the wolf laid out and enjoying every last minute of it. He's practically purring (and he hates being related to anything cat-like.)
George gave up the ghost and threw his head back, letting out a moan of satisfaction. His foot started to thump against the floor and Fred laughed out loud and bright.
"Shut it-" George started to growl, but it turned into a pant by the end. His wolf was completely blissed out and George was fighting not to just join him on cloud nine.
"Nope. I just wish I had a camera because this is priceless." Fred stood up and walked over to the two. He gave George a quick pat on the head, snatching his hand away before George could do anything more than snap at it, and left the room. He called over his shoulder; "I'll be out in about five minutes and then you two can have the flat to yourself. Don't do anything to lewd."
George blushed and brought his arm back up to his face to cover it. He hated his twin sometimes.
Oh, he was going to be alone with Hermione.
A/N: Congratulations to ArmyWife22079 for being the first one to figure out the irony of Luna working for the twins. I did it on purpose because I found it funny ;)
As for my prompt opening, it will really depend on the prompt. If it can be covered in a oneshot, I'll do it. If I think the idea is good and could benefit from a longer story, I'll do that. Any character is acceptable, but I probably won't do very cracky pairings.