U Got Mail

CHAPTER 1

"Virginia Weasley!"

A loud thunderous voice could be heard across the whole apartment. But Ginny, who was busy typing documents on her computer laptop, was completely unaware of the loud ruckus. She had earphones plugged on both ears, as she listened to her favorite band. The door to her room opened with a loud bang, she look up just in time to see a livid, red-faced, Hermione.

"Something wrong, Hermione?" Ginny asked innocently but her voice contained amusement, as she unplugged one earphone. Hermione stood in front of her, hands on her waist, looking like she wanted to strangle Ginny with her bare hands. She angrily waved a letter up close to Ginny, almost shoving it to her face.

"Can you please tell me that you don't have anything to do with this?"

Ginny with an amused glint in her eyes, took the letter and silently read it. Her lips twitched into a slight smile but she said nothing. She, along with Harry, Ron, Fred and George shared this apartment with Hermione for almost two years now. Which is why, she had pretty much mastered Hermione's moods. And judging from Hermione's looks, Ginny could tell how mad she was at that moment.

"Well?" Hermione asked, thoroughly exasperated.

"This letter," began Ginny, who was now grinning from ear to ear, "merely states that you are now officially a member of the Lonely Hearts Dating Club." Still grinning, she looked up at Hermione. "So, what's the big deal?"

Hermione was not at all amused by Ginny's reaction. She glared furiously at Ginny, who suddenly burst into fits of laughter. "It's not funny, Ginny. Not funny at all."

Ginny was so overwhelmed by laughter that she nearly choked as she tried to say something.

"Ginny," Hermione hissed furiously, "if you don't stop laughing, I swear-"

"It's not Ginny's fault. It's our brilliant idea!"

Hermione whirled around to see Fred Weasley standing at the doorway. He was leaning on the doorjamb, his arms crossed over his chest with a mischievous look on his face.

"Fred-" Hermione began saying.

"It would really be fun, Hermione," Fred said, placing his arm around her. He winked at her, and playfully wrapped a strand of brown hair around his index finger. "Just imagine how many single guys you would be able to meet?" he said, chortling with laughter. Right then, Hermione jabbed her elbow down his ribs hard. "Awww! That hurts, Er-My-knee."

"That wasn't funny, Fred," she said, looking daggers at him. She stormed off the room, and slammed the door with such force that the walls shook.

Inside her room, Hermione flopped into the bed, with her fist curled into a ball. She was boiling mad, and she wanted to think how to get back at Fred. "That jerk. I'll get you for this," she muttered darkly.

Crookshanks jumped into the bed and purred loudly for attention. "Oh, Crookshanks," she said softly, her anger started to fade a little as she stroke Crookshanks gently.

The door creaked open, and Ginny peered warily,afraid that Hermione might throw something at her. She was right. An object suddenly came flying right at her, she quickly duck. It missed her by an inch.

"Oops," Hermione exclaimed. "I thought you were that scumbag, Fred."

"It's okay." Ginny giggled, as she curled up next to Hermione on the bed. "Fred's in the kitchen, cooking your favorite soup. You know, to try sweeten your mood."

Hermione gave an angry snort. If Fred thought making her favorite soup would allay her anger. 'He had to think again,' she thought angrily.

"Hey. What's up with my two favorite girls?" a warm voice said from the doorway. They both looked up to see Harry grinning at them.

"Harry!" they both shouted in unison and jumped from the bed and hugged him excitedly.

"I thought you won't be coming back til next month," chirped Ginny, her eyes lit up with happiness.

"Hi, Harry!" greeted Hermione, smiling for the first time.

Harry kissed them both on the cheeks, then flopped on Hermione's bed. His eyes caught a crumpled letter on the bed. "What's this. A love letter?" he asked curiously.

Hermione made to grab the letter but Harry stood up and quickly scanned the contents of the letter. His eyes widened, then he burst into fits of amused laughter.

He grinned at Hermione, who was now scowling openly, sitting cross-legged on the bed. Then he glanced at Ginny, who was already sitting on the bed next to Hermione, stroking Crookshanks affectionately. "You knew about this?" he asked, and seeing the expression on her face, knew the answer already. He lie on the bed next to Hermione's left, his arms over his head. "So whose idea was it? Fred's or George's?" he asked, his tone, clearly bemused.

"It was both our idea," a cheerful voice floated outside the doorway. It was George. He snuck his head by the doorway, knowing fully well what was to come next. True enough, a pink stuffed bunny came sailing across the room and nearly smacked George's face. He was wise enough to duck. Next came, a brown teddy bear, followed by a medium sized Garfield stuff toy. The toys fell on the carpeted floor, not one managed to hit the target.

A few seconds later, George waved a white kerchief into the air as a sign of peace. He was chuckling when he entered the room. He flopped next to Harry, and nudged him on the elbow. "You're back early," George said to Harry.

"Had nothing better to do," Harry answered, nonchalantly.

Ginny crinkled her nose and said, "Hey, this is getting a little too crowded in here!"

George ignored Ginny's loud comment and glanced at Hermione, judging her mood. As it was, Hermione was still glaring at him. He grinned at her apologetically. "C'mon, Hermione. Don't get mad. We were only thinking of you."

"Oh really," snorted Hermione, giving him another deadly glare. "If you had forgotten, you two were also the genius behind that Christmas blind date last year!" she nearly shouted.

This time, Ginny, Harry and George all doubled up with laughter as they remembered what happened to that disastrous date. Enraged, Hermione pushed all of them down the carpeted floor. Hands on hips, she glared at them. "Will you three stop laughing? Just forget it, okay?" she said angrily. 'Me and my big mouth!' she cursed herself for bringing that up.

Harry, who was holding his stomach from laughing too much, said, "But it was really funny, Hermione. Admit it."

Hermione didn't answer. She had been the butt of jokes for months, after it turned out that her blind date who described himself as mature, handsome and eloquent, turned out to be former Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. It was a real shock seeing the ultra vain but admittedly attractive older man, standing in their doorway with a huge bouquet of flowers in his arms. Because she used to have a school girl crush on him,she had decided to push through with the blind date. But she got bored to tears when he droned on and on about what else but himself. She kicked him hard on the shins when he wanted to kiss her on the lips.

Ginny chimed in, "At least Colin Creevey's cousin was cute."

Hermione looked furiously at Ginny.

"And you call yourself, my friend?" she hissed at Ginny, red-faced with anger.

How could she forget. Ron had set her up for a date with Colin Creevey's cousin, Jake. Yeah, he was cute alright. Up until he intentionally splashed champagne all over her lovely but very pricey body hugging cocktail dress. The jerk had not been content in simply ogling her chest, he even forcibly kissed her. She hadn't spoken with Ron for six months and it took three dozen white roses and five long sorry notes before she forgave Ron.

George gave one last chuckle before he sobered his expression. "Hermione, we just don't want you moping around and waiting for Sea-"

"I know," Hermione said, cutting him off. "It's just that setting me up in blind dates and listing me in dating club might not be all that helpful," she said softly. She knew deep inside that they all didn't want her to be sad and pine for a guy who already had someone else.

She stood up and leaned over to George and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "I know you care about me. But this is really getting a little overboard," she said. Then she got back on her bed, looking thoughtful but at least no longer angry.

All of them fell silent. Harry glared at George angrily. They all had an unspoken agreement not to mention that name again most specially when Hermione's around. She had gone steady with him since their seventh year in Hogwarts. It was obvious she's still not over him yet.

Hermione saw the pity in their eyes. She pursed her lips determinedly. 'I'm over him.' With that thought she forced a tight smileand faced them."C'mon. I'm hungry. Let's go and see what Fred's cooking in the kitchen."

They all headed down the kitchen in a comfortable silence. Out of the blue, Ginny speak out, "Can Hermione back out of that Dating Club?"

All three of them looked at George, waiting for his answer. George eyed them nervously. "T-t-that I think, only Fred knows the answer," and dashed towards the kitchen.

"GEORGE WEASLEY!" the three of them shouted then chased after George.