Hello, darlings. I am trying to keep one chapter ready to go as I post so there won't be a huge gap. Legal disclaimer: I own nothing.
Thank you all for reading, I adore the dickens out of you all. I hope I came close to filling your expectations.

Last chapter Viktor told Hermione: I love you. You are the best thing to ever happen to me. She responded with: I feel exactly the same way. Then repeated his words back to him.

Chapter 15 Weasley Family Dinner

Katie rapped on her partial open office door, "Mr. Draco Malfoy to see you if you are available?"

"Send him in."

"Good morning, Mistress Granger."

"Hello, Malfoy."

"Did you really make the receptionist cry on my behalf?"

Hermione snorted, "Of course not. I made her cry for sheer spite." They laughed. "I assume they are looking into your matter."

"Enough to have almost immediately discovered she's done this to all her suitors."

"Oh, dear."

"Indeed." He smirked at her "Though the story, with embellishments, in making the rounds at the Ministry and beyond."

"Better than some of the things people could be gossiping about," she shrugged.

"You aren't seriously considering Livingston, are you?"

"Godric, no!"

"Thank Merlin,' he sighed. "I suppose I should warn you he intends to talk to you about proper behavior."

"That's fine." She gave him an evil little grin, "I intend to introduce him to a pair of unleashed Weasley twins."

"How much for an invite? Or at least the memories for a pensive? Tell them I'll pay handsomely."

"You don't like him?"

"Never could stand the stuffy git. There's a reason he is still a bachelor at nearly 41. If they had held out a few more months they could have spared some poor girl."

"I seriously doubt he makes anyone's top two or three. And given his age, he might be excused from the second round."

"What now?"

"Given the sheer numbers involved, anyone not selected by their top three choices will be given new questionnaires and start over with new lists. I will let the twins know about your offer."

"That's all I ask. Oh, and I owe Nott a favor. He wants me to ask you for the female Weasley's favorite flowers."

"Molly likes roses, something other than red would delight her to no end. But Ginny prefers orchids and snapdragons."

"Thank you."

"You are most welcome. Let Theo know I'm Team Nott."

"Team Nott?" he quirked an eyebrow.

"I support the idea of her picking Theo."

"So if I wanted you to pick Krum I would be Team Krum?"

"Exactly."

"I like it. Let Fred know most of Daphne's friends are Team Weasley."

"If it comes up, I'll let him know."

"No, seriously, please let him know her friends intend on being supportive. The only other pureblood on her list is a fucking control freak. He makes Livingston look like a perfect choice."

"And her family expects a pureblood." It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"I hate people."

"In this case, agreed."

"I'll tell him before heading home today."

"Agreed."

"I'll tell him before heading home today."

"Thank you, Hermione, from all of us."

"You're welcome."

She insisted on closing early so she could catch Fred at the shop. Both twins greeted her when she entered, "Hello. Fred, can I talk to you a moment?"

"Mione, it's too late to declare your undying love. We can't run away together," he joked.

"You should be so lucky. No, I was asked to pass along a message from Daphne Greengrass's friends."

Fred's face fell. "Let me guess," he started before she could finish, "poor blood traitors aren't good enough and need to move along?" he spat out bitterly.

"Quite the contrary, they want you to pick her. They promise to be supportive, regardless of what her family does."

"Really?" his eyes lit up.

"Closest I've ever seen Malfoy come to begging. I think one of them would have said something, but feared your reception."

"That's great. Daphne's super sweet, and no one deserves Milton Davies, like not even Umbridge."

Hermione whistled, "Damn, that's saying a lot."

"Yeah, when you see Malfoy tell him message received."

"Will do."

George popped up, "Please tell me Sunday isn't canceled?"

"No, why would you think that?"

"Very serious faces over here. Serious faces mean bad news."

"Fred and I were just ending our torrid affair. Sunday is still on."

"Oh, good then, carry on crushing Freddie's heart."

"Thank, Georgie," his brother rolled his eyes.

Forewarned that Livingston intended to attempt taking her to task over her display of temper, Hermione arranged to meet him just before their planned arrival at the Burrow. Even then, he attempted to start the conversation several times as she rushed him. "Please, Nigel, we need to hurry. Ten minutes early is late in Molly Weasley's book." She pushed him towards the floo. The address is the Burrow, off you pop," she said shoving him into the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron.

Even twenty minutes early, Hermione and Nigel were the last to arrive. Livingston assumed it was due to the Weasleys running a tight ship. Young Percy had been a shining example of that, hadn't he? Hermione knew none of them wanted to miss a second of the entertainment. The family of redheads extended a warm welcome and round of hugs for both of them. Hermione bit back the snort of laughter at the sight of the 'kick me' sign Charlie clapped on the back of the slim man. Bill rolled his eyes and mouthed 'lame.' Charlie grinned and pointed to the small porcelain figurines placed around the rooms. Each began to animate and position themselves to poke, stab, and kick the man when he stepped too close. Every time this happened, Livingston flinched and looked around for the source of this torment.

"Welcome to our home, Mr. Livingston," Arthur said shaking his hand.

"Thank you for the gracious invitation, Mr. Weasley. You have a lovely home." On home his voice squeaked, shooting up an octave. Everyone looked at him concerned. He cleared his throat. "Excuse me." It happened again on 'me,' and then on the 'dear' of his "oh, dear." Behind his back, Arthur smirked and wiggled at his fingers at Hermione.

"Let's get you a drink," Molly fussed, faking concern. Bill handed her a glass of fresh pumpkin juice. "Here you are, wash away that frog, that's a love." She took away glass and began herding her family to the table. Livingston trailed behind them with a concerned Hermione hovering nearby.

"Gran, Gran, the frog is coming out!" Victorie cried, drawing attention to the now bulging eyes and widening mouth of Livingston.

"Now, Torie, calm down. Frogs don't come out of people." Molly admonished.

"They come out of the pond," exclaimed Teddy.

"That's right," Remus ruffled his hair. Lightning quick Teddy changed his face to a frog's then back to normal. Livingston rubbed his eyes.

"Sit, sit," Molly bustled about setting food on the table. "Alright, settle down. Are we all here? Good, dig in." Obediently, hands reached out and began filling plates.

Inane chatter bounced about the table. Every time Livingston tried to pick up his knife it would slip from his hand, clattering onto the plate below. Every time he tried to drink from his glass, he dribbled. "My apologies. I seem to have a case of clumsiness," his voice squeaking on the last word of each sentence.

"Of course," Molly assured him, her eyes sparkling in merriment as his face completed the transformation to frog. His hair began to lighten as he ate, ending in light pink. Bea passed behind him to collect another basket of rolls, pausing to sprinkle something over his head. Each hair shimmered with glitter. He looked like he had been dipped in a crafting bin head first.

George provided the distraction while Fred poured a small clear liquid into his drink. They grinned triumphantly once he took a drink. Fleur silently counted to herself, once the predetermined amount of time passed, she dazzled Livingston with a pheromone-fueled smile. "So, what do you think of our Hermione?" she purred.

"She's a little rough around the edges, but her fame balances that out. Her reputation should open numerous doors at the Ministry for me. I think she'll make a suitable mother, though she'll have to leave this research nonsense behind when the children come." His voice still squeaked on the last word.

"But she's worked hard for those masteries," Ron protested.

"She'll be far too busy raising children and seeing to the house. Women shouldn't work outside the home after marriage. She might chafe against it initially, but I'm sure she will see reason soon enough."

"Please tell me you do not intend for one of the greatest minds in generations to sit around and cater to your every whim instead of enacting innovations of magic?" Remus's eyes flashed amber. Tonks rubbed a soothing hand down his leg.

"You seem very sure of your chances. Mione might not choose you," Bill remarked, wandlessly he levitated several curios into attack range.

Livingston shuddered, "What a ghastly nickname." He snorted derisively. "Have you seen my so-called competition? A blockheaded jock, who has most likely taken one too many bludgers to the head, a smarmy Lothario, and a herbology professor. No, intellectually, I am her only choice."

Silence followed his statement. Livingston, thanks to the pranks, seemed oblivious to their reactions and kept eating. The Weasley, Lupin, and Potter families stared in disbelief. Snickering silently Hermione held up her fingers in a soundless countdown. 5,4,3,2,1, an go! The decimal level at the table rocketed as everyone began to yell.

"How dare you?" demanded a twin.

"Neville Longbottom is the sweetest thing ever." Ginny leapt to her feet.

"Viktor Krum was a Triwizard champion, you, you, knothead." Fleur cried.

The explosion of noise startled Livingston, who, after listening to numerous insults, looked to Hermione. "Are you going to let them speak to me this way?"

"Yes."

"What? How dare you?"

She snapped her fingers silencing

him. "I promised them they could deal with you." She conjured a mirror.

Wearing his suit was a frog-headed figure with pink glittery hair. Small dragons circled, waiting for the attack signal. Even the floating shepherd and shepherdess figurines looked menacing. "What have you done?"

"Nothing permanent," Ginny grinned maliciously. She flicked her wand casting her infamous bat bogey hex. Bright colored hexes followed Livingston as he fled into the night. The Weasleys followed him, watching his retreat from the garden.

"Well, that felt anticlimactic," Hermione sighed.

"How so?" questioned Charlie.

"I was hoping for fireworks or something to celebrate."

"Wait for it," George told her. At the edge of the Burrow's wards, two large Catherine wheels rose from the ground, one red and gold, the other green and purple. The fireworks illuminated the fleeing wizard as they chased him away from Ottery St. Catchpole. "Can't risk the muggles seeing him."

"That. Was. Awesome." Teddy exclaimed.

Victorie rolled her eyes. "Maman, next time can we turn the next one into a unicorn?"

"You will have to ask Uncles Fred and George, ma petite."

"We'll look into it," Fred promised her.

"Merci, Oncle Fred." She hugged him.

The family began filing back into the house. "Do you think we broke him?" Harry wondered.

"One can only hope," Hermione smirked. She then turned to the twins and told them of Draco's request for memory viewing.

Nigel Livingston attempted to complain to the aurors, but nothing done was technically against the law. His supervisor remained unsympathetic. Kingsley Shacklebolt howled with laughter when he heard. "No one goes to dinner with Fred and George Weasley with their guards down. They own a prank joke shop. Mostly filled with their own creations." The best he could arrange was Hermione's agreement that sitting across the Ministry cafeteria for 30 minutes counted as a social interaction. Kingsley used it as time once a week to catch up and pick her brain.

"I hate to seem like a broken record, Hermione, but the ICW keeps asking any progress?"

"Are they breathing down everyone else's neck?" she inquired icily.

"I can ask."

"Do that." She picked up her teacup, taking a sip. "I think I might have an idea. But it will take time to test out the theory." He looked at her expectantly. "I'm not giving you details. If I'm wrong, no one can mock me. If I'm right, no one can take credit for my ideas."

"Fair enough, I suppose."

"Fair or not, it's what you get. Patience, Kings, Rome wasn't built in a day."

"I find your muggle turns of phrase refreshing."

"And my snail's pace annoying."

"I know it would."

"As I assume Livingston is out of the running, where are your thoughts leaning?"

"Last night Viktor and I admitted the depths of our feelings for each other. We're in agreement that while we have to finish this charade, we are each other's first choice."

"How is it going for everyone else?"

"Why aren't you asking them?"

"Who has time to get together for drinks anymore? And trying to find a time everyone is free? Forget it."

"The Weasleys seem content enough. And Harry likes at least one girl. Neville's hoping to sweep Hannah off her feet."

"Good luck to him."

"Oh, 30 minutes must be up, Livingston's on his way out. Have him owl me for next week, won't you?"

"Certainly, see you next week."