Overriding Jealousy
Chapter Two
Back to the Burrow
Once back at the Burrow, Fred offered to take Hermione's bags up to her room. Hermione agreed, but only because her bags were extremely heavy. Ron looked very disgusted with this.
"Oh you'll all need dinner now," Mrs. Weasley muttered, as she started busying herself with making dinner. Ron led Harry up to the new bedroom, which was right next to Ron's room. And there was yet another new room right next to that. It was no doubt Hermione's room. Harry settled in, and then went over to talk to Ron about their favorite quidditch team, The Chudley Cannons. Hermione interrupted them.
"I was just coming up to let you two know that dinner is ready. Oh good lord you aren't talking about quidditch again are you?" Hermione said exasperatedly.
"Come off it Hermione. It's got to be the best thing around! And just think, I could be signed to England or Whales as the keeper…" Ron said drifting off.
"Oh stop your daydreaming and come eat," Hermione scoffed. So Ron, Harry, and Hermione went down the winding wooden staircase to the kitchen. Mrs. Wealsey had prepared a rather large meal that looked rather delicious. Harry sat down and eyed the food hungrily.
"Oh help yourself Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley urged him. Ron had no troubling with stuffing his face right away. Neither did George. But Fred wasn't eating the food in front of him. He looked rather spaced out staring at Hermione.
"OY FRED! COME OFF IT YOU NUTTER," George yelled, smacking Fred upside the head.
"Right….err….sorry…," Fred said as he started to stuff his face. Ron had stopped abruptly looking very disgusted once again. About 20 minutes later Hermione sat up.
"Well, I better start working on my paperwork for the Ministry. I know I'm starting in September, but I want to be ready," Hermione said.
"Honestly, she'll be as bad as Percy," Ron muttered, and much too loudly for Hermione had heard him.
"Oh Ron come off it," Hermione said angrily whipping Ron with her napkin. Ron rubbed the side of his leg where Hermione had whipped him as Hermione walked away with her nose in the air. Ron rolled his eyes, and then stood up.
"Want to go play some quidditch up in the field?" Ron asked.
"Sure," Harry said instantly. Harry ran upstairs to get his firebolt, while Ron went looking for his broom. They met at the bottom of the stairs and set out for the field right next to the Weasley's yard. They mounted their brooms, and kicked off the ground. Harry started throwing the quaffle in between two trees, which took the place of the usual rings. Ron blocked every one of Harry's shots. Harry wasn't surprised. Ron was a very good keeper, but not when he had started. He started in his fifth year, and was very bad at it. But, in one game he blocked all the shots, and he was good ever since then. Harry wouldn't even be surprised if he actually did get signed to England or Whales. Both teams even needed keepers.
Harry and Ron played till it was pitch black out. They trudged back inside and up the winding staircase.
"Night," Ron said yawning.
"Yeah, night," Harry said as he closed the door to his room. Harry put his pajamas on, and climbed into bed. His thoughts wandered as his eyes started to droop, and he drifted off to sleep.
*~*~*
Harry woke with a start. The sun was just rising, and Harry figured it must be very early. Harry sat for a moment then realized that he desperately had to pee. So he got up and crept down the hall towards the bathroom.
On his way to the bathroom he passed Fred and George's room. The door was slightly ajar, and Harry could hear voices. He also saw George standing over Fred's bed.
"Oy! Wake up you nutter," George said poking Fred.
"Hermione….Hermione my love….I need you….." Fred said. And judging by the way he said it, he was talking in his sleep. George finally gave up and came out of the room.
"Oh, hello Harry," George said in an annoyed tone. He was obviously mad at Fred for disturbing his sleep.
"Hiya George. Err….is everything ok?" Harry asked.
"Not really. Fred's been talking about Hermione in his sleep all night. I think the poor bloke's gone mad if you ask me. Well, I'll talk to you later Harry," George said, then walked away. Harry took this all into his mind. Is it possible that Fred actually loves Hermione?
*~*~*
After sitting in his room for a long time thinking, Harry finally went down to breakfast. Fred and George had already left for their days work at the joke shop. Hermione and Ron were once again bickering at the kitchen table.
"Oh god damn it Hermione! How can you need more books to read already? You've bought almost every damn piece of shit book in Flourish and Blotts," Ron said.
"RON! HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU THAT USING VULGAR LANGUAGE IS WRONG?" Hermione screamed.
"AND HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU THAT I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! IT'S ALMOST AS IF YOU'RE OBSESSED WITH THE WAY I TALK! WHY DO YOU CARE?" Ron screamed back.
"Oh…. well…it's just…. never mind," Hermione said blushing furiously. Ron looked very puzzled, but shrugged and kept eating.
"I've got to go practice some more quidditch. Care to join me?" Ron said when he was finished.
"Err….no not right now. Maybe later ok?" Harry said.
"Suit yourself," Ron said shrugging. Harry walked back upstairs. He desperately needed to clear his mind. He finally decided to apparate into Diagon Alley. He figured maybe a stroll down it would help clear his mind.
POP!
Harry apparated right into the middle of the street, and he started to take a walk, trying to clear his mind.
How can it be? Fred and Hermione….. the thought just seemed to pretty much scare him. Fred is 19, and Hermione's 17. Of course it could work, but Fred doesn't seem like the one to fall for Hermione. And Hermione most definitely did not seem like the one to fall for Fred. Fred was quite the joker, and fooled around a lot. But Hermione, she was very serious and organized. She never fooled around, and did not appreciate vulgar language. Harry didn't know why Hermione hated vulgar language but that's not the point. Someone instantly interrupted his thoughts.
"Hey Harry," someone said. Harry whirled around and realized it was one of his former Gryffindors. It was a girl, and she had two of her friends with her. She had blonde hair down to her shoulders, and hazel eyes that were very hard to miss. One had been a Gryffindor, but the other must've been in Hufflepuff.
"Hello Lynzi. Hi Michelle, and err…?" Harry said
"Lauren," the former Hufflepuff with short brown hair said holding out a hand.
"Right.." Harry replied.
"How's it going Harry? I heard you're going to be an auror! That's wicked," Lynzi said.
"Yea, and I heard you're getting signed to Whales as a beater?" Harry questioned.
"Oh yes. All my years of bench warming has finally paid off," Lynzi said grinning.
"So, what are you up to Michelle?" Harry said turning to his other fellow Gryffindor who had short blonde hair.
"Oh, I'm just taking on an internship at the Ministry. In the Improper Use of Magic Office," Michelle said. "Oh, and well….Wood and I are engaged," she added blushing furiously.
"Wicked. And what are you up to Lauren?" Harry said turning to the brown haired girl.
"Yes, well I've been signed to Whales as well. I'm a chaser. We still need a keeper," Lauren said. "Oh, and I'm almost certain we're looking at Ron for that job," she added winking. "Don't tell him. It'll be better if it's a surprise," she finished.
"That's cool! Ron will be thrilled if you do sign him to Whales. I was asked to be seeker for Ireland, but my auror training interferes a lot with that, so yea…" Harry added.
"Oh! We have to get going. Lauren remember who you wanted to see?" Lynzi added pulling Lauren down the street waving goodbye.
"See you Harry," Michelle added running to catch up with Lauren and Lynzi. It was just then that Harry remembered how differently Lynzi spelled her name. L-y-n-z-i… it was very different, and no doubt and American way of spelling it. Harry also remembered that she went out with Ron their whole sixth year. Lynzi decided at the end of the year that it wouldn't work after overhearing a conversation Harry and Ron had. (A/N: not going to get into that now! I promise I'll explain later! Back to my wonderful story!)
Harry continued down the street, and on his way he passed Fred and George's joke shop. As usual it was very crowded. Harry spotted Lynzi, Michelle and Lauren inside talking to Fred and George. Well, Lynzi and Michelle were talking to George. Lauren was talking to Fred. She'd liked him for years, but had never said anything.
Harry continued walking down the street, turning back to his thoughts. He figured that there probably was a reason Fred liked Hermione. Before Hermione was rather unfortunate looking. She had bushy brown hair, large beaver teeth, and a bossy know-it-all attitude. She was different now of course. She had outgrown her bossy know-it-all attitude. She had also grown much taller. Her hair had straightened out, and her body had lovely curves. She also had well…a chest. Before, Hermione was a scrawny flat little thing. But now things were different. How could Fred just like her because she had gotten pretty? Harry thought this rather rude. But, Hermione's attitude had changed also. So maybe Fred had noticed.
*~*~*
Dinner that night was almost as big as last nights. George once again had to smack Fred upside the head to get him to eat his food, and Ron and Hermione continued to bicker.
"More books? MORE BOOKS? How many do you need?" Ron asked.
"For your information, I'm trying to prepare for my job. I don't see you with a job yet," Hermione said back.
"Well…I'm waiting to see if…Whales signs me on…You know they do need a keeper? And they've already signed on Lynzi Dillan as a beater. She was in Gryffindor remember? Bench warmer….Oh! And they also signed Lauren Williams as a chaser," Ron said.
"Well if they don't sign you then what will you do? You're not ready for an internship yet are you?" Hermione said.
"Yeah well…WHY DON'T YOU JUST BURN IN HE-"
"Speaking of Lynzi and Lauren, I saw them today in Diagon Alley. Michelle was with them, too," Harry interrupted Ron. Ron's ears went red at the sound of Lynzi's name.
"Ooooh Michelle! I haven't seen her in ages! What's she up to?" Hermione said.
"Well, she's also taking on an internship at the Ministry. In the Improper Use of Magic Office, and she's engaged to Wood," Harry added.
"Oh I figured she and Wood would get engaged eventually. I hope I'm invited to the wedding! I love weddings," Hermione added.
"You have to have a date for weddings," Fred added grinning at Hermione.
"Well, yes…sometimes….not all the time," Hermione said going red.
"Um, Ron and Fred can I talk to the both of you upstairs?" George said.
"Sure," Ron said shrugging.
"But the food," Fred said as George dragged him upstairs.
*~*~*
"Fred what is your problem? Have you not heard Ron all these years talking about how he-"
"Oy! Don't get into that," Ron said angrily.
"Right sorry. But Fred what is your problem?" George said.
"Well…you see…I've been thinking about Hermione for a couple months now. I think I love her," Fred said.
"WHAT?" Ron said. But two owls swooping into the window interrupted Fred. One was Pig, Ron's owl, andthe other was Hedwig.