Author's Note: I hope you guys like this chapter. Let me know if you catch my nod to Philospher's Stone at the end of the chapter. Not Rowling.

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DAY TWENTY TWO

Hermione was at her desk at the Daily Prophet headquarters, reading over an article on the new exchange rates at Gringotts, written by one of the new interns, when a familiar owl flew through the open window and fluttered down to her desk. She put her quill back in the pot of red ink, looked up, and smiled at the medium-sized tawny owl who was staring at her expectantly. "Well, hello there," she said as she untied the letter from his leg. He stayed absolutely still, signaling that this was a letter to which Hermione was expected to respond immediately. Under the fold of the envelope she slid the silver paper knife that always rested on her desk, cleanly ripping it open and revealing the letter, which read:

Hermione,

I hate to ask on such short notice, but can you watch Teddy tomorrow? I usually wouldn't bother you about this, but Mum and Dad are out in Romania visiting Charlie, and Andromeda is sick. You're so good with him and he just adores you. Would you be able to? If so, I'd drop him off around eight tomorrow morning. Let me know and thanks very much!

Gin

Hermione flipped open her day planner and glanced at what was written down for the next day. She quickly picked up a green piece of paper, scribbled Need to change tomorrow's meeting with new Head of Magical Games and Sports. Family business just came up. Will be away from office all day tomorrow. Thanks., and sent it zooming off to the office secretary. She then replied to Ginny's letter, affirming that she could watch Teddy, and sent it off with Aether, watching him fly out the open window before returning to her editing. 'No rest for the weary,' she thought.

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DAY TWENTY THREE

George was just heading out from the loo when Hermione passed him in the hall, still dressed in her pajamas, her hair sticking up in places from sleep.

"Hey, I need to take a quick shower, so if Ginny shows up while I'm busy, will you explain that I'll be right out?"

"Uhh…sure," he said hesitantly, not really sure why this conversation was necessary at a quarter to eight in the morning. "Why is Gin-"

"Thanks!" She smiled at him and headed past him into the bathroom, not noticing she had cut him off mid-question. He heard the shower start a moment later and, baffled, he headed out to the kitchen. Ten minutes later found him sitting in the armchair, reading the morning's edition of The Quibbler and having toast, his tea and the Daily Prophet sitting on the table in front of him. Rather unexpectedly, the floo suddenly burst into life and out walked his sister, a bright-eyed Teddy in her arms.

"Morning George," said Ginny with a smile, looking around the room.

"What are you looking for?"

"Hermione."

"Ohh, okay, now that makes sense," he said, more to himself than to her. "She said she'll be out in a minute." Just as he finished speaking, Hermione entered as the same time that the floo lit up again, this time expelling Harry.

"Hey Ginny!" said Hermione brightly, walking out, now dressed in a bright blue shirt and some yoga pants, her hair tamed and in a plait, and taking the heavy bag that hung from Ginny's shoulder.

"Why are you only wearing shorts?" Harry asked George as he surveyed him with a furrowed brow.

"He doesn't like wearing clothes," replied Ginny and Hermione in tandem before George had even opened his mouth. Harry stared at his wife and his best friend bemusedly as the former handed off Teddy to the latter.

"Hold on a mo'," said George hurriedly, watching Hermione confusedly. "Why are you holding the baby?"

"Because he can't stand on his own," replied Ginny sarcastically.

George pursed his lips in mild irritation. "Oh you're so funny," he replied, pretending to laugh.

"We're watching Teddy today," said Hermione as she bounced Teddy in her arms, earning an adorable giggle from the baby.

"We're? When did I sign up for this?"

"When we adopted Teddy," replied Ginny, shooting him a reprimanding look.

"You two aren't even engaged yet!" he cried.

"Man up! You're his uncle!"

…

"Well, technically he's his almost god-uncle," said Hermione absent-mindedly as she pulled faces to make Teddy laughed. Ginny turned and shot her a look. "Sorry, not helping." She turned to George. "You don't have to do anything. He'll be fine with me."

"Are you saying I can't handle taking care of a baby?" he asked, affronted.

"Don't worry, George. I know you have more important things to worry about."

"How dare you! I am a good uncle!" He hurried over and took Teddy from her arms, throwing him up in the air before swiftly catching him, Teddy laughing hysterically. He turned and walked out of the room, still bouncing the baby in his arms, a bright smile on his face.

Hermione turned to Harry and Ginny with a smile. "Works every time."

Harry laughed as Ginny moved forward and hugged her. "Bless you for knowing how to work my brother," said Ginny quietly.

Hermione shrugged. "You two have fun. We'll be fine here." She smiled at them as they headed into the hearth and were swept away by the emerald flames.

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"George?" There was no reply. "George?" she called again. Still nothing. With a sigh, she walked to George's room, where he was bent over a piece of parchment, writing furiously. Next to him, Teddy was happily rolling around on the layers of blankets George had lain on the floor, playing with a toy giraffe. "George, I have to run to the market. I'll be back in a few minutes. You'll keep an eye on Teddy, right?"

"Uh huh," he mumbled. Satisfied, she walked out, grabbed her bag and her coat, and headed down the stairs and out towards Diagon Alley.

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Hermione walked into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, the bell jingling as the door closed behind her. "Hey Hermione," called Lee from across the room.

"Hello, Lee," she called back. She was checking one of her bags and walking towards the stairs when she bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said, just as a deep voice replied, "My apologies." Hermione looked up and her eyes widened comically. "George?"

"Oh, hey Hermione!" he said, smiling at her. "Where have you been?"

"I was at the market. I left you to watch Teddy. Where is he?"

"You don't have him?"

"You mean you don't?" They seemed to reach the same conclusion at the same time, their mouths falling open in shock. "Oh my god!" they both cried. George turned on his heel and ran up the stairs two at a time, Hermione hot on his heels, trying not to pay attention to the way her chest was suddenly constricted, making it hard to breathe.

"Teddy! Teddy!" George called as soon as he had flung the door open.

"He's one, George. He can't call back," Hermione replied, her tone a mere shadow of how acerbic it usually would have been had it not been for her fear.

George immediately ran into his room and called, "Hermione! He's not here!"

She finished searching the sitting room and kitchen and now ran to her bedroom, dropping the bags of groceries, too scared to notice the splintering sound of a dozen eggs shattering. She ran in, almost bumping into George, who had rushed over at the same time. As her eyes raked the room, she gasped, thankful. There, on the floor next to Hermione's bed, sat Teddy with an inside-out shirt on his head, surrounded by dirty laundry, the toppled laundry bin at his side. He looked up and giggled happily. As relief flooded through her and she felt the fear that had seized her heart begin to fade, she leaned against George, who was standing in the doorway next to her. He wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and breathed deeply as she rested her head against his shoulder.

"Thank Merlin," he whispered. She laughed weakly.

Hermione and George were finding out that babysitting was a lot more difficult than holding the baby for a while, like they usually did when the family got together. They had played with Teddy for hours on end, entertaining him with stuffed animals and his favorite stories, most of which came from "Beadle the Bard". Feeding Teddy had involved Teddy flinging peas, mashed potatoes, and chicken all over the kitchen as well as Hermione and George ducking often to avoid being covered in food. Next came bathing him, which proved to be, if possible, an even messier venture. While Hermione had avoided being covered in food, she was soaking wet by the end of the bath, as were the bathmats and the floor. While George carried Teddy, who was bundled up in a towel, to his room to put him in clean clothes that were not smeared with mashed vegetables, Hermione dried off the bathroom then herself. She walked into George's room to see him struggling with putting on Teddy's pants, as his legs were kicking furiously as he wailed, his face screwed up and rather red.

"Help me," George pleaded as she came to stand next to him. Together they managed to get his legs in the proper holes and Hermione swiftly picked him up, bouncing him as she hummed a tune. She walked out to the sitting room, still bouncing Teddy, who was starting to quiet down, and surveyed the mess in front of her. In the kitchen, there was food everywhere, especially on the walls and table. The sitting room floor was littered with fuzzy blankets, stuffed animals, and other assorted toys. George walked out a moment later and began cleaning up, but Hermione was more focused on getting Teddy to sleep. She paced around the sitting room, deftly avoiding the toys that threatened to trip her, and sang quietly to Teddy, smiling to herself as she saw his eyes start to close.

"You're gonna be a good mum someday," said George, walking over to her and watching her with a soft expression on his face.

"I left the baby alone," said Hermione guiltily, her mouth twisting into a grimace as she continued to rock the little boy in her arms.

"No," replied George. He said it with such a tone of mingled sadness and anger that it made Hermione look up. "You left him with me. You trusted him with me and I completely forgot he was there. I can't believe I did that." A shadow seemed to pass over his face as her said bitterly, "What kind of father would I ever be if I can't manage to watch my nephew for a few hours?" Hermione saw his jaw clench, his anger and frustration with himself resonating and reverberating through the silence. She watched him, completely forgetting to continue rocking Teddy. She had never seen George like this before, looking thoroughly defeated. "He's asleep," said George quietly, walking over and taking Teddy carefully from her arms. Holding the sleeping child in one arm, he used his free hand to retrieve his wand from his back pocket and transfigure the armchair into a crib. He rocked him and laid a gentle kiss on his forehead before laying him down and covering him with the blanket that was sitting on the coffee table. Hermione watched him silently, and he seemed to barely notice her as he walked back to the sofa and sat down, his eyes still focused on the crib, his usually-smiling mouth twisted into a grimace of worry and frustration. She walked over and sat down next to him. He turned and looked at her, smiling faintly before his attention flicked back to the sleeping baby a few meters from them.

"George," she said quietly.

"Hmm?"

"You're a wonderful uncle, misplacing your nephew aside," she said. Rather than smile, his eyebrows contracted even more. "Smile, George. It was a joke."

He looked over at her and Hermione saw the worry in his eyes. "Ginny will never trust me to watch him again," he said sadly.

"Well," she said, whispering conspiratorially, "I won't tell if you don't." He stared at her, obviously surprised. "And Teddy was fine, George. He had a great time playing with my dirty clothes."

George chuckled. "Thank you, Hermione," he said quietly.

"You're very welcome, George," she replied, leaning her head on his shoulder. She felt his cheek rest against the top of her head and smiled.

From that moment on, Hermione Granger and George Weasley were friends. There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and taking care of a baby is one of them.