July 1995
Hermione, Ginny, and Luna were enjoying France, thank you very much. They enjoyed laying out on the beach with Fleur and visiting the French wizarding world. Fleur's aunt ran a spa, because who knows beauty better than a veela? They spent several afternoons there, learning charms and techniques. Hermione learned that her hair would never be shiny and straight like Ginny or Luna, but that didn't mean she couldn't take care of it. When she voiced her concern about the sheer number of products necessary, Fleur's aunt laughed it off. Then she explained that curls worked differently and she shouldn't listen to Lavender or Pavarti when they tried to give her beauty tips. Hermione agreed to that.
The second week of July, Fleur's cousin Giselle 'escorted' the girls to Bulgaria. Giselle was a full three months older than Fleur, so she deemed herself the chaperone. Sirius had vouched for the Delacour family when the Grangers asked after them, so they were content to send their daughter and her friends off to meet another school chum for a week. Fleur was excited to see Viktor again; they had gotten close as 'foreign half' of the champions.
When they arrived, Viktor was a training, which made sense. Viktor's mother made the girls feel very welcome. The girls enjoyed touring wizarding Bulgaria during the day and spending time with Viktor in the evenings. Victor even taught Ginny some new tricks on his broom and deemed her an amazing player. The last day of their visit was spent at the Romania v. Bulgaria rivalry game. Viktor had loaned the girls his old jerseys to wear to the game and Charlie Weasley joined them, using up the last of Hermione's free tickets.
"Wouldn't mind getting to know your seeker, Hermione." Charlie gave the witch a salacious grin. Ginny mimed gagging herself as Hermione and Luna snickered.
"You won't be getting near my seeker." Giselle glared. "Or you will come to fully understand a Veela's wrath."
"Oh, I understand a Veela's wrath, sweetie." Charlie laughed. "Although, I would like to meet these men that made Fleur assume I wouldn't accept a straightforward 'no.' I've got a baby sister and Molly Weasley as a mum. I've heard the word and am aware of its meaning."
"I may 'ave set his robes on fire when 'e asked if I wanted to sleep with 'im." Fleur blushed. "I apologize for my 'asty actions."
"Never apologize for defending yourself from men, Fleur. It's your right. Ain't that right, Ginny?" Charlie said seriously.
"That's what my brothers have always told me." Ginny agreed. "Anyone want to tell that to Harry and Draco?"
Hermione and Luna both looked in the other direction, muttering something along the lines of "just pick one already." Ginny pretended not to hear them.
While the girls were enjoying their holiday in the sun, the boys were dealing with a whole new set of issues at home.
"What do you mean Fudge doesn't believe that Voldemort is alive?!" Harry exploded.
"Why the hell are you telling the children this?!" Molly exclaimed.
"They haven't been children since roughly the time my son pulled your daughter out of a sewer where she was supposed to die of demon possession!" Sirius shouted back.
"Sirius! Mind your manners!" Hestia shouted.
"Well! It's true! And now her son is taking the Ministry's stance!" Sirius gestured.
"And your mother tortured children in her parlor!" Hestia shouted back. "Don't blame the mother for sins of the son and we won't blame the son for the sins of the mother!"
"Why don't both of you stop. Just stop. Whether or not you like it, there are young ears present. Yes, they've seen a lot and, yes, they've handled it well. You two can't start fighting with the Weasleys. That's what they want. Now sit down and let's be adults about this." Remus growled, feeling the pull of the moon.
"Thank you, Remus," Minerva said, taking control. "Now, we are gathered here because Dumbledore is going to reform the Order of the Phoenix. As much as I loath to say it, we will have to humor him."
"What!?" Sirius exploded. "Why the hell would we do that?"
"Because most of the wizarding world, especially muggle-borns, see him as the leader of the Light. We have to go into this with a plan." Minerva commanded, using her teacher voice on her former students.
"What's your plan, Minnie?" Sirius asked after counting to one hundred mentally.
"We don't let him have the children. He wants Harry and he only sees Neville as a replacement." Snape drawled from the corner.
"And how do you know that, Sniv?" Sirius asked with a roll of his eyes.
"Because, Padfoot, Dumbledore seems to see me as his golden spy on the inside." Snape gave Sirius a withering glare.
"You're married to my cousin for Merlin's sake!" Sirius argued.
"Your cousin who was once married to a prized Death Eater. I am a former Death Eater. I make the perfect spy. I also make the perfect confidante, as I have the most to lose if his little plan gets out." Snape sneered.
"He's not getting Neville!" Alice shouted, hugging an embarrassed Neville.
"That's what we're here to discuss." Minerva brought all the attention back to herself. "Harry's been having nightmares since well before the third task. We've been working over the summer to help him. Some of those dreams seem to have a link to Voldemort. Sirius has started on Occlumency, obviously. What we need from the young people is for you to watch out for each other this year. That's it."
August 1, 1996
Fred didn't know what he expected when the girls flooed in that morning. He was not expecting what he got. First, his baby sister, baby sister, was gorgeous. Like, even more than when she left. He suddenly realized how important looks were, and he and George made a silent agreement to remind Potter and Malfoy of THE RULES. Then, Luna waltzed out of the fireplace, looking ethereal. Summer had done that girl well.
"Damn, Luna, where have you been hiding those legs?" Harry asked, stunned. Oh yes, the twins were definitely going to remind the Potter heir of his manners.
"They've always been there, Harry. You're just too preoccupied with fulfilling Sirius' James/Lily dream to see anything other than Ginny." Luna assessed.
Harry stared at Luna as if it was the first time he really saw her. Then Ginny swooped in for a hug and he instantly forgot everything.
"Hey, did you forget about me this summer?" Hermione snuck up on him. And wow if she didn't look good herself. Glossy curls and a summer tan; yes, those girls were better definitely more gorgeous than when they left. And that was saying something.
"He most definitely did not forget about you." George snickered as Fred stared. "All I've heard for the last month is 'Hermione' this and 'Hermione' that and 'We have to finish these products, Georgie, or else Hermione will...' All summer long."
"Poor Georgie." Hermione simpered. "Well, why don't you give me a hug since Freddie's busy staring."
"Great plan, Bun-bun," George said, wrapping her in his arms and spinning her in a circle.
"Bun-bun?" Hermione asked, giggling.
"I decided that since you won't tell me you're animagus, I'll have to assume you're a cute, fluffy bunny and shall forever call you Bun-bun." George laughed, refusing to let go of Hermione.
"That's enough, Forge." Fred sobered, getting angry. "We agreed that I get to hug her first, arsehole."
"Watch your language." Hermione chastised, smile belying the order. Fred ignored her and swept her up into a hug. Then, as if announcing their relationship to his family, he pulled her into a searing kiss. George, of course, knew, and so did Ginny and Luna.
"Why don't you ever kiss me like that?" Harry asked, nudging Ginny.
"Maybe she doesn't want to," Draco said, rolling his eyes.
"Maybe I don't kiss you like that because I'm dating Michael Corner and cheating is wrong." Ginny scoffed. Both boys stared at her in stunned silence.
"Well, I think this is wonderful! Oh, Hermione, you'll keep that boy on the straight and narrow! You can talk the twins out of this crazy joke shop idea." Molly said, grabbing Hermione in for a hug.
"Um, I've been helping them with that, actually." Hermione blushed. "They're brilliant and their business plan is actually well thought out."
"Oh. That's cute. You're being supportive right now. That's important in the early stages." Molly patted her hand sympathetically.
"Now I'm really confused," Hermione said, going back to stand with Fred. "Why don't you help me take my things up to Ginny's room?"
"Or we could take them to mine," Fred suggested, wiggling his eyebrows as he took Hermione's trunk up the stairs.
"No!" Molly shouted as Hermione giggled and followed. "Don't either of you! George, follow them and make sure Fred takes that to Ginny's room!"
"Sure thing, Mum," George smirked and followed his twin.
"Oh, that boy! Ronald, follow the twins and make sure they get that trunk where it belongs." Molly ordered again.
"Oh, sure, yeah, I'll just go make the twins do anything other than what they want. That has a history of success." Ron muttered as he trudged up the stairs.
"Oh, and don't any of you get too comfortable. We're heading to Grimmauld Place next week." Molly shouted up the stairs, convinced no one was actually listening to her.
The boys all headed for the kitchen as Ginny and Luna grabbed their own things. "Are you going to them that you and Michael broke up?"
"Nah, they'll figure it out. In the meantime, I can finish my summer in peace."
Kat: So, anyone take the Patronus test on Pottermore? I'm a White Rabbit…
Gabs: And I'm a Brown Hare. I wrote the line where George called Hermione 'Bun-bun' long before that test. Kat said it was hilarious and we shouldn't change it.
Kat: Yes, it humored me. Sorry, this chapter is on the shorter end, we're both stupid busy and needed a transition chapter.
Gabs: Thanks to everyone for their lovely reviews. We'll probably stop sending teasers out to reviews until the holidays. As always, we own nothing.
XOXO
Gabs & Kat
