Hermione watches him floo away as she walks out of the Leaky.
She smiles and touches her lips. They were finally together. She wishes they could announce it, but they both understand why.
Hermione walks into her house and introduces Zetes to everyone. Crooks doesn't really care, just another owl to him. Hedwig generously budges over to share her stand, until Hermione and Harry get his built. Hermione's parents tentativelypatted him. When he proves that he is actually friendly, they warm up to him.
"He is fine owl, Hermione, but I am still partial to my little girl." Harry feeds both birds a treat and pats them both.
"I got Hedwig a present while we were there." Hermione hands a tiny box to Harry and opens the other one. Hedwig hops over and nudges Hermione in thanks for her white mouse treat. "You are very welcome, Hedwig. Happy Christmas, girl."
George walks through the floo and encounters a Weasley war zone. Seeing that Fred is sitting off to the side, he walks over and drops to sit with him. "What's all this about?" George asks and starts stealing popcorn from his twin's dish.
"Soon after you left, Ron decided that he had given Hermione enough time to get over his tantrum and went to town to call her. I have no idea how he got her number, but I did pinch it for you. Mum made me go with him. A man, that I am assuming is her father answered, asked who was calling and told him that she was going to meet up with the only man that has her family's permission to see her."
George beams at the endorsement, then motions him to continue. Fred reached for more popcorn. "Ron blundered through asking how long the guy's been courting Hermione. Mr. Granger said since the summer after her first year and his third. Ron went into shock, so I took over and politely ended the call. Mr. Granger told me to say hi to you for him. I hauled Ron home and he told Mum. She melted down and went off on a tear about how she was now glad that she doesn't have to deal with the hussy. I'm sorry, but she isn't letting up on this. I think it's mostly because she wasn't consulted on who Hermione would be with.
Then she started in on Bill, Charlie and Ginny. I hope Charlie can withstand this. This would be a bad time!" Fred said the last line louder.
"So Ginny Dear, why did Harry attend with Miss Patil anyway?" Molly asks, hoping to hear that Ginny was being fair because Neville got to her first.
"Harry was in a scramble to find a date, Ron had convinced him to wait and it was getting down to the wire. Fred and George opened his eyes. He was a "champion" and had to open the Ball. Ron needed one too, so Harry asked Parvarti and begged her to get Padma to go to with Ron. Poor girls, the beginning was dreadful for them until Hermione suggested that the guys trade off and dance with the seated girls. Ron was the only one that refused. All of the Durmstrang blokes were eager to help out. Neville asked me two weeks ago, right after the announcement. Harry's two first choices were taken, being Cho and Hermione.
Since then, Neville and I decided to try seeing each other." Ginny shrugs her mother off. Arthur shakes his head.
"But why would he not want to ask you?"
"Because he sees me as a sister. He sees Hermione as one too, but everyone knows that she would do anything for him. By that,I mean in the same that Bill, Charlie or the twins would for me. Even if it meant not attending with her love.
Seeing the Patil's sitting out a few songs in a row, she sent Viktor over to ask them to dance, even though it meant that she was to sit it out. She even allowed me to dance with Viktor, he was very nice and congratulated Neville on finding a lovely date. Which he didn't have to do.
You have her all wrong. With you banning her, you'll never get Harry back without some serious grovelling. I know Harry will most likely be in contact with Sirius and Remus over all of this. That means that things are going to change." Ginny rubs some salt in the Harry wound.
The twins nod along with their sister's assertion, knowing that Harry had been around Sirius and Remus long enough for everything to have come out.
After dinner, which proved to George that once again Hermione had a point this summer. His mother's food was too heavy. It settled like a weight in his gut.
"So Georgie, did you have a good time on your date? How is Alicia? Why haven't you brought her by?" Molly turns to the silently eating son that she hasn't heard from.
"I had a great time on my date. My girl is not Alicia. I've told you that already, Mum. I have no interest whatsoever in Miss Spinnet.
My girl and I were talking during lunch and I gave her a choice between asking her out or me courting her. She reminded that since the summer before my fourth year, her father gave me his permission. We had been slightly courting since. She chose to starting dating, we are keeping it quiet, but we are happy. She is smart, beautiful and powerful. I don't need anything beyond her. So please Mum, leave me out of these "must find a mate for my child" dealings. I was able to all by myself and I am not leaving her.
It sounds like Ginny is happy with a good boy. So, leave her alone. While I think Harry is barking up the wrong tree with Cho Chang; she is a snotty, vain girl that would make him into a shell of himself, but that doesn't mean that we have a right to tell him who to date. He only sees Gin as a sister.
All I have to say about your treatment of Hermione is that she deserves nothing of what you have done. Hermione is Harry's best friend. No Ron, she is." He stops Ron's tirade before it starts.
"We were sitting with them when he wrote to Dad and then to Sirius. As for her conduct at the Ball, she only danced with Krum. Harry, Neville,and I only got one dance each. By the way, I cut in. I did the same with Ginny and Susan Bones. Sue told me that if Harry has trouble again to mention her. She went Colin, so he could take photos for the couples."
Molly sits back. George just tore her dreams of Harry and Ginny apart. "Just who are you seeing? Surely, you can tell your family. Bring her around to get to know us." The rest of the room groans.
"She knows everyone here very well. As for "bringing her around"." George gets up and picks up after himself. He walks to the stairs. "I can't. You told her that she isn't welcome in your "presence" ever again. Yes, Mum. I am seeing Hermione. I've been in love with her since she was sorted into Gryffindor, but I waited until now to tell her.
Her parents picked up on my attraction. Mr. Granger pulled me aside while you were falling all over Harry and Lockheart. He asked me about my plans, affection for his daughter, intentions, the whole shebang. He gave me his approval and he is happy that I support her studies, friendship with Harry and keeping her grounded and in touch with her family.
Mr. Granger is not someone that you go against. He strongly dislikes Ron, all because how he treats Hermione. He's the one that Hermione listens to. He is former SAS. That means that he can be the right type of dangerous. His hands are weapons.
I am going to bed. Goodnight all." George goes up to his and Fred's room. He knows his mother is going to try and convince him to leave Hermione to Ron or to cast her away completely. That is not going to happen. Hermione is hisgirl.
He happily dreams of their future together. In the morning, George gets up with a smile. He walks down the stairs into another war zone. Usually breakfast is a loud, happy time, but everyone is quietly eating. His siblings give him a look of sympathy. This was the day that they returned to Hogwarts. He couldn't wait to see his Hermione.
George sits down and begins to eat. He barely holds onto his reaction when his mother speaks up.
"I wrote to the Grangers, telling them that I don't approve of their daughter's conduct this year. That the courting was a surprise to me and that you didn't have my permission to start." Molly says smugly, as she butters some bread for his father.
George looks to his father and older brother for help. Arthur clears his throat. "Molly, I am sorry, but you have no right to do that."
"He is my son. I have the right to tell them." Molly sputters.
"No. As the head of this family, he had my permission to start. They were young, but you need to get used to Hermione's place in George's life. He has been courting her for going on three years now. Now children, I will be going with you to see you off." He tells them.
Fred and George sit in a compartment, waiting for Angie, Hermione and Harry. "She didn't just send a letter. She sent a snotty howler at five am. I'll save you and 'Mione's space. Go get her, Tiger."
George is gone in a flash of red hair. He jumps on the platform and spies Hermione, her parents, Harry and the Maraudersgetting near. He sprints to her. George slows and walks to her father.
"Sir I don't know what my mother put in that letter, but I did have my father/head of the family's permission. I don't care about whatever she is spouting, I want to be with Hermione, Sir."
The stern face of Dan Granger melts into a welcoming smile. "Good to hear that, Son. I was concerned for a moment there." He turns to their group. "I need to speak to George and Arthur about this whole issue."
The three men walk away and discuss how to get around Molly's ire. "George and Fred are adult wizards on April 1st. Molly can't say much after that. Before that, as long as he stays away from the Burrow, she can only send howlers and owls. Hermione has a way of taking the venom out of those. I have no problem with them being together." Arthur tells Dan after George introduces them.
"George, you are always welcome at our house. We support you and Hermione's relationship." Dan assures the young man. "And Arthur, I hope this doesn't affect the kids, but the wife and I have a response to Mrs. Weasley's letter. We have no problem with you or the kids other than Ron." Arthur nods. "It may wake her up. I still would like to work towards a happy union of George and Hermione." The three of them walk back. George gathers Hermione in a hug.
"'Mione, Mum sent that nasty letter before I even got up. I had no idea until she told me at breakfast. I am not going to let you think she speaks for me." George laughs at her smile. He helps her up onto the train and leads Harry and his girl to the carriage. Before he opens the door, he leans in and whispers. "Nothing is going to keep me from the woman I love when I know she wants to be with me too." He kisses her neck and opens the door.
George has to roll his eyes. Angie and Alicia are sitting with Fred. He looks up at George apologetically. George shrugs and sits across from them. He knows his twin is a fool for Angie and where Angie goes, Leesh isn't very far behind.
Harry is a lot more relaxed than he was before vacation. When Fred mentions it, Harry and Hermione laugh. "How can he not be relaxed? He spent most of the holidays pelting his sister with snowballs, building snow owls by the dozens, hanging with his family and sleeping more than I have ever seen him sleep. Harry did you really have to make up for thirteen and a half years of sleep in two weeks? I swore one morning I was going to have to have a wake for you."
"Thanks a lot, Sis." Harry mutters, laughing along with her.
Half way through the trip, George and Hermione are getting annoyed with Alicia's cow eyes. Angie is no better, she keeps telling the twins of things that would make great double dates in Hogsmeade. Obviously she is hinting that George and Alicia should be the other couple.
George can even see Fred reaching his limit. "Angelina, I do recall my brother already addressing this topic, quite publicly. You need to get that thought of George and Leesh out of your mind. He and his lady are seeing each other now. They discussed it out like rational beings and agreed to keep their relationship to themselves. That doesn't mean that he is at all free for the plucking by anyone but her. Unless you want to do these dates with them, Leesh needs to find someone for herself."
"Yeah Angie, I am not budging on this. I am very serious about her. So no, I am not going to be looking for another, fun on the side, or anything like that. She is my future and I am not going to be messing that up for anything." He glances at Hermione and Harry. The younger two are incandescence with happinessoverhis assertion.
Harry clears his throat and speaks up. "Now let's put aside the obviously doomed hopes of Angie and discuss this egg thing. I have to save either something or someone that I can't live without. It or they will be at the bottom of the Black Lake and I have an hour to look/rescue and return. Knowing Albus, he will be up to his old tricks, I can think of a few possibilities;
Hedwig- I will seriously maimwhoever put her down there.
Hermione- sister/best friend/ greatest ally. Also could be Krum's, given Albus' thinking.
Sirius Black- uncle/godfather
Susan Bones- Hopefullyfuture girlfriend. Cho is a bitch.
Ginny- given how Albus and Molly want me to be with her and only her.
Ron- Most likely,because I can't be allowed to learn from our mistakes. That would smack of having a mind of my own. Albus is keen to get Ron back in my good graces."