I was watching Cinderella and I realized how many Headaches/Disney chapters I would love to do.
And you shall be my guinea pigs, so to speak.
Hermione groaned as light streamed in from the window, opening her eyes before frowning and shoving the pillow over her heard. She certainly did not feel like getting up today, or rather any other day. She would like to sleep her days away and never again wake up to the nightmare that was her life.
During the War, Voldemort had been defeated. But more and more Death Eaters came, and there'd been too much. To further put salt in the wound of their loss, she'd been sold as a servant to a lesser known, yet wealthy Pureblood family. Having the Hermione Granger as a servant in your own home seemed a far better punishment than death for her. And, many days, this proved to be right.
She was given daily chores, the list nearly unraveling to the floor when put on parchment, and she did these things the Muggle way, as they'd broken her wand when they'd sold her away. Her hands and feet and back ached daily, and her pride had been broken long ago. The brightest witch of her age, stooped to the ground cleaning dirt off of the floors. The Slytherins in her class were probably laughing at her.
The family she'd been given to was awful. The father was never there, possibly cheating on his wife while supposing to be out on "business." The mother was cruel and would often give her more and more chores that were completely unnecessary and hard to do without magic. The daughters were her age and hateful, spoiled people, giving Hermione sneers every time she walked past.
"Mother of Merlin," Hermione groaned as she stood from her bed, stretching and yawning and looking at her appearance in the mirror. She frowned at it, her hair sticking out in weird angles and the shirt she'd been given to sleep in large and hanging awkwardly off of her as she struggled to keep it on her shoulders. She looked down at her arm and frowned at the scar before shaking her head and grabbing a brush, humming as she ran it through the snags and curls. It'd gotten long, nearly to the small of her back.
She had no idea where Harry or Ron or Ginny or any of the Weasleys were. She hoped they were still alive. She'd taken several trips through Diagon Alley and stared up at the sad Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the doors and windows boarded up and the colors seeming to have faded. Wherever they were, they weren't there.
"HERMIONE!" "HERMIONE!" "HERMIONE!" several voices called, making Hermione sigh and tug off the shirt before grabbing the dress she'd been given to work in, slipping it on and shoving her feet into the flats.
"Coming!" she called as she started the descent down the stairs. She couldn't help but sing under her breath, "Cinderellie, Cinderellie, night and day it's 'Cinderellie,' make the fire, fix the breakfast, do the dishes, do the mopping." She shut her mouth and started down another flight of stairs and found the three who called for her. "Yes?"
"Chores for you today," the oldest, the mother, said, handing her a large, rolled up piece of parchment that was triple the size of her arm.
"Hmm, seems more than usual today," Hermione noted rather dryly, "What's so special?"
"We're having a party tonight," she responded, "The house must be spic-and-span for tonight, and you must help my girls get ready, along with your usual chores."
"Better get started," the first daughter sneered in a nasal tone, "The party's at six."
"Twelve hours to get a huge house ready," Hermione sighed, unrolling it and watching the rest bounce down the stairs as the three departed to go make more messes for her. "What I wouldn't give for a fairy godmother."
Hermione worked her fingers to the bone that day. She stretched and reached to clean higher places and skated on the wet floors and tried to find something quickly for her to eat before she was sent right back to work. At four, chefs arrived to cook for the event. Hermione was surprised when she saw Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas, enveloping them both in hugs and trying not to cry as they smiled down at her.
"You got sold here?" Seamus asked as she mopped the floor, "Lucky."
Hermione snorted, "As if. Night and day, all I hear is – "
"HERMIONE!"
She sighed and looked at them wearily as Dean took the mop from her hands sympathetically, "That." She waved as she departed from the kitchen, going up the stairs and into the sitting room, where clothes were strewn about on every available surface, some even on the ceiling.
"Help us get ready," one of the sisters ordered, flinging what resembled a dress into her arms. Hermione nodded and did just that, zipping up their dresses and nearly being knocked in the face when they stepped into their heels, curling their hair and helping apply makeup.
"Mother says you're to waitress at the party," the second daughter said as she examined her hair in the mirror. "After you've cleaned this mess up."
"Alright," Hermione sighed, stooping down and grabbing a basket to begin tugging things into it.
"She also left a dress in your room for you to wear," the first said. "You're to give it back after the party."
"Alright," she said. Once she'd pulled the things into the basket and carried them with her up the stairs to be folded, she grimaced at the plain, dingy white dress she was to wear. She shook her head and pulled it on, braiding her hair and twisting it up into a bun and pinning it there. Her mouth twitched at her reflection in the mirror as she tugged a wayward curl behind her ear.
Waitressing was extremely hard, Hermione decided. People bumped into her and nearly spilled things on her and yelled at her when she had to weave through other people to get to them. And it seemed as though she was the only one waitressing. She lamented to Seamus and Dean on stops to the kitchen before she was sent off again.
"And I said to him – I said – " a rather drunk partygoer said as Hermione served drinks to the adults. "I said – boy, you're a worthless piece of filth, and others of your kind died for nothing!" Hermione froze, frowning before counting to ten and getting the last drink off of her tray. "I mean, just look over there – Hermione Granger, the most troublesome one – waiting on her superiors!"
Hermione let out a fearsome growl and threw the tray at the man before she could even think. The room turned silent as she clenched her fists, "I believe you're a fool if you think of yourself as my superior."
"You Mudblood!" the woman growled, grabbing her arm and glaring at her, "I don't know why we ever wasted money on you!"
Hermione glanced over to the door to the kitchen and saw Seamus and Dean and several other cooks peeking out to look at her. "I don't know why we ever stopped fighting worthless people like you!"
She growled again and tugged on the dress, not even making her jump or blink as she stared her down when it ripped.
"Worthless piece of trash," she glared before grabbing her hair and tugging it out of its hold, making her yelp and move with her head to the floor. She glared up at her as the partygoers laughed. "Just like that family of yours you seemed to like so much. Wonder where they are – tortured, servants, or dead?"
Tears stung at her eyes and she bolted out through the kitchen, Dean and Seamus attempting to grab her and stop her, but she bolted out and into the garden, taking deep breaths to try to calm herself down before finding it of no use. She broke down by the side of the fountain, sobbing as she wrapped her arms around herself and looked at her reflection in the water. Her face was splotchy and red and her hair was half out of its former hold.
"I hate my life," Hermione announced, sobbing to the sky, "I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. I want to go home – I want to be with Mum and Dad and I want Harry and all of the Weasleys and I want to be happy and safe again. The very least, I want to say good-bye to them all."
"Well, my dear, all you had to do was ask," a voice said, making Hermione gasp and turn to the woman, sitting on a bench underneath the willow tree. She seemed older, a cloak around her shoulders and a white wand in her hands. Hermione stood warily, tilting her head curiously at her. "Come, come closer," she said, patting the seat by her on the bench.
Hermione warily sat down, "Who are you, again?"
"Oh, I'm your fairy godmother," she said softly, fingering Hermione's hair.
Hermione scoffed, "No, really."
"No, really!" she smiled, "I heard you wanted to be with your friends and family again."
"Yes," Hermione nodded.
"My dear, sweet child, that's where I can help," she said, holding Hermione's shoulders, "I can make your dream come true."
Hermione stared at the woman's face before smiling a little, feeling a bubble of hope in her chest, "Really?"
"Yes – but," she made Hermione's smile drop, "It will be broken at midnight. All spells must one day be broken."
"Oh," Hermione sighed before smiling a little, "Alright, then." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, blinking them open and forcing them wider when she was no longer there. Instead, she was in the Weasley's garden, in jeans and a jumper, sitting underneath the large tree with a book in her lap. She looked around before smiling a little, closing the book before a voice captured her attention.
"Galleon for your thoughts, Love?" he asked, making her look up before beaming at Fred as he leaned against the tree trunk and looked down at her.
"Oh, Fred!" she exclaimed, jumping up and throwing her arms around his neck, nearly taking him down, "You're alright!"
"Of course I'm alright, you barmy bird," he chuckled, wrapping his arms around her, "But that was some 'hello.'" He arched an eyebrow down at her, "You alright?"
"I'm fine, perfect, brilliant," she smiled, making him blink before chuckling and pecking her forehead.
"Well, alright then," he said as she blinked up at him in confusion. "Oy, what's with that look? Can't a man kiss his girlfriend anymore?"
"His girlfr – oh, of course he can," she said, trying to squish the blush away, "If he does it properly, that is."
He chuckled and kissed by her ear, "Mum's watching through the window. Seems to think I'm about to pop the question any second though."
"Yeah, your mum," she hummed before blinking, "Did I say 'hello' to her, by the way?"
"I dunno, you got here before I did," he said, "Sorry, by the way, but you saw the shop when you came downstairs."
"You should probably get another shop," she said.
"Hey, good idea," he grinned before stooping down to speak low into her ear, "And George can live in one flat and you and I could take the other. Wouldn't have to remember about silencing charms then, would we?"
Hermione was very sure that her face was about as red as his hair, biting her lip as he chuckled and cupped her face, either not noticing or ignoring her blush and kissing her nose, "I'll see you later – Bill, Charlie, Percy, Neville and George want to play Quidditch."
"Alright," she nodded, watching him go curiously before shaking it off and going into the kitchen, where Ginny was seated at the table, talking to her mother as she cooked.
"Oh, Hermione!" Ginny said brightly, jumping up and hugging Hermione, who hugged her back just as tightly, thankful that she'd started the hug so it wouldn't look awkward when she did. "I got accepted to the Holyhead Harpies! Isn't that wonderful?"
"It's brilliant, Ginny!" she grinned before she gasped at being hoisted up off of her feet, blinking at a pair of green eyes grinning back at her. "Harry!"
"Hey!" he smiled back, "Isn't it great? I get to play Quidditch against my girlfriend this season!"
"You mean you get to be beaten by your girlfriend in Quidditch this season, right?" Ginny teased.
"Surely not!" he frowned playfully back.
Ron snorted and rolled his eyes, grabbing a roll out of the basket and taking a bite out of it before giving Hermione a one-armed hug once Harry set her back on her feet. "Ugh, they're sickening, aren't they?"
Hermione chuckled, "I dunno, I think they're being sweet."
"Ahh, what do you know, you're dating Fred for Merlin's sake," he teased, ruffling up her hair.
Molly piped up, "What's wrong with Hermione dating your brother?"
"Nothing," he shrugged, "It's just that nobody else gets how weird it is to see your siblings getting cozy with your best friends."
"Go write a book about it or something," Harry frowned.
"You know what, I will, and I'll be even more famous than you," Ron countered as he stuck his tongue out at him.
"Missus Weasley?" Hermione asked as they began to argue.
"Yes, Hermione?" she questioned.
"Did I forget something when I came here?"
"Anything in particular?" she blinked.
"A 'hello' or a hug for you, for example?"
Molly smiled, "You remembered the 'hello,' but forgot the hug." She quickly remedied that, hugging her tightly before patting her cheek, "Do me a favor and go get the boys out from Quidditch, we're ready to eat."
"Alright," she nodded, heading back outside and out to the field, ducking when a Bludger whipped past her head. She frowned as Percy sheepishly touched down and walked towards her, holding a bat and grinning.
"Sorry," he said before giving her a one-armed hug, Charlie and Bill stooping down to peck on either side of her head, Fleur patting her shoulder as George ruffled up her hair. Neville laughed at something that was said and handed her the Snitch before hugging her and making his way with the rest of them, Luna dancing up to them with Victoire on her hip. She stuffed the Snitch in her pocket, unaware as to why he'd handed it to her, but smiling none-the-less.
Fred stopped next to her and grinned, shaking his head at them, "They're all barmy – we still don't know who won or lost." He bent down to kiss her, smiling when he pulled back and walking with her back to her house.
"Hermione," Arthur said, hugging her before moving with her and Fred to step aside and let everyone sort out where they were sitting. "How's staying with the boys going?"
"Oh, uh – fine," she smiled, not quite knowing how it was going to give an honest answer.
"Yeah, we haven't pranked her at all, Dad," Fred grinned, wrapping his arms around her waist and settling his chin on her head, inadvertently tugging her into his chest. "Yet."
"There better not be a 'yet,'" Hermione huffed, making them laugh before they were ushered to sit down.
The whole dinner, Hermione couldn't stop smiling as they told stories and laughed and joked with one another. Victoire had bounded up to her after dessert to kiss her on the cheek and hug her tightly, saying that she'd forgotten to do so when she first saw her. This prompted Luna to hug her as well, who'd also forgotten.
When Harry, Ginny and Ron started leaving, Fred bid goodbye to his parents and Hermione did the same, although she didn't quite know why she was doing so until after Fred had Apparated her to the middle of the shop.
"George said he was spending the night at Angelina's," Fred murmured to her, nearly swaying with her. "That alright?"
"That's fine," she murmured back, smiling with him before he swooped down and picked her up in his arms, making her squeak and wrap her arms around his neck as he laughed and pecked her cheek. He carried her up the stairs and to the couch, where he deposited her as she laughed at him.
He gave a bow as he grinned before sitting down next to her with his arm around the back of the couch.
"You're really something different, aren't you?" Hermione asked with a grin.
He only grinned wider and started kissing up her neck, "Could be why you fancy me, huh?"
She hummed and tilted her head unconsciously, her eyes shutting and a hand moving into his hair, "Possibly."
"Oof! You barmy man," Hermione laughed as Fred grinned down at her, his arms on either side of her head now as she laughed.
He leaned down to kiss her, playing with the ends of her hair. He flopped off of her, looking across the bed at her and arching an eyebrow when she seemed sad.
"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, scooting closer to her and hugging her close.
"Oh, nothing," she smiled, pressing her ear against his heart as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Hmm," he hummed, absently playing with her hair, "I love you, Hermione."
Hermione winced and shut her eyes, burying her face into his chest a little, "I love you too, Fred. So, so much."
"Hmmn," he hummed again, moving his lips to her ear, "Goodnight, Hermione."
"Goodnight, Fred," she sighed.
"Have dreams about your favorite prankster," he said, making her smile a little before they both fell off to sleep.
Hermione blinked her eyes open at the light streaming in before sitting up with a gasp, looking around her bed, "Oh no, oh no, no, no – please, no." She took a few deep breaths before pressing her lips into a thin line, refusing to cry. She stood and got dressed, braiding her hair back and starting down the stairs. She grabbed a broom and started to work until she looked out at the garden. She dropped the broom with a huff and walked outside, walking around the bench and biting her lip as she begged anybody at all to make her so-called 'fairy godmother' come back.
After a few hours, she sat down at the bench and stared down at her feet before settling her hands in her lap. She blinked when she felt something there, moving her hand and pulling something out of her pocket. Her eyes widened when it was the Snitch, peering closely at it, as it had words written there. It said 'I open for the dream.' She curiously checked around it for more writing before finding none and sighing.
"You want to know what I dreamed about? I dreamed about being happy and safe and that somebody loved me – that's what I dreamed about," she said, frowning at the Snitch before tossing it into the fountain, pouting to herself.
She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, trying to get all of the memories out of her head before she felt somebody kissing the side of her head. She opened her eyes and blinked when she found that she was sitting on the edge of a bed, a certain redheaded prankster still lying in it, but sitting up enough to kiss her.
"Morning," he sighed as he flopped back down as she blinked and looked around.
"Uhh – g'morning," she said, wondering what the hell was going on now.
"You okay?" he muffled sleepily from a pillow, although looking up worriedly at her.
"I'm fine," she smiled, laying down with him and getting back underneath the covers as he wrapped an arm around her. She found the open Snitch on the nightstand, biting her lip before reaching forward for it and taking the small piece of paper out of it.
It is true that spells must be broken someday, but love is quite possibly the most powerful spell that has ever been known, and can never be broken.
That being said – welcome home, Hermione.
Love,
Your Fairy Godmother
Hermione blinked before smiling and setting it back before closing it up, mouthing out a silent 'thank you' before turning around to her sleepy partner and kissing him. He smiled and kissed her back, tugging her closer into him.
Now this was a dream she could stand waking up for.
Ta-da! I'm planning on doing more later on, as this was actually pretty fun.
Also – on Tumblr, I've got a Fremione RP blog for those who are interested. I'm pretty sure I've got a link – but they're fluffy and I love RPing as them.
Love,
Birdie
