Puzzle Pieces by Tiger Lily
Author's Note: I've finally updated this story. Hope you enjoy! I love this chapter.
Disclaimer: See Previous Chapters
Chapter 8 - Scuttleberry Pie
Hermione made a stop at Gringott's on her way to the Burrow that afternoon. There, she exchanged her half of the reward money into wizard gold. She now stood outside Gringott's holding a heavy, awkward sackful of Galleons and cursing the often backwards ways of the wizarding world.
"The power of the cosmos at our fingertips and we still run our economy like medieval paddlers," she said to herself as she hefted the sack over her shoulder and apparated ungracefully into the Weasley's front yard.
Ducks and chickens scattered as she dragged her loot up the stairs and through the door.
Mrs. Weasley was busy baking what smelled deliciously like scuttleberry pie, which Hermione hadn't had since her Hogwarts days. She breathed deep and followed the smell. Sure enough, she found Molly dropping grape-sized orange berries into a large pot. As each berry hit the water it exploded, sending up a waft of fragrant orange smoke and a splatter of jam-like goo which landed on an umbrella-shaped canopy covering the pot. Molly scraped off the goo, and dropped it carefully inside her flaky, home-baked pie crust.
Hermione suddenly realized she hadn't eaten all day and her stomach gave a loud rumble.
Mrs. Weasley heard this and turned around.
"Oh Hermione! Why didn't you say anything!" She hurried over and gave Hermione a tender kiss on the cheek. "Hello dear. You look tired. Sit down and I'll make you a cup of tea. I think there are some scones in the pantry. Dinner won't be ready for another couple of hours."
"Thanks Molly," said Hermione, trying to sound polite, "but I have to go talk to the twins about something very important. I'll be back down in a while, then I'd love a cup of tea. Here," she said as she hefted the money sack onto the table, "I want you to have this. I really, really don't want it." Molly began to speak. "Please don't ask why." Then Hermione disappeared upstairs.
The discussion with the twins went pretty much as Hermione expected. The twins thought they were ever so cute and clever. Hermione was not in the least bit amused. The twins saw absolutely nothing wrong with the fact that Hermione and Charlie had spent a passionate night wrapped in each others arms. Hermione treated them to a lecture on the importance of a woman's reputation, the consequences of unprotected and unremembered sex, and the shame and humiliation now clouding her, Charlie, and the twins (if they had any shame.) The twins looked properly abashed for a few moments, then proceeded to congratulate each other on the merits of the potion they'd invented (which they'd used to successfully spike Hermione's drink) and began making plans to mass-produce it and sell it in their shop (perhaps baked into cookies.) Hermione left their room even angrier than when she'd entered, but not before striking them with a very unique hex. She was sure it would amuse the rest of the Weasleys when Fred and George came down for dinner, and that knowledge was a small comfort.
Mrs. Weasley had a hot cup of Earl Grey waiting for Hermione as she re- entered the kitchen. Just a touch of honey and lemon, as Hermione liked it. Hermione was struck with a sudden and unexpected feeling of guilt, for the manner in which she'd treated Charlie that morning. What would Molly think if she knew.
-No- she thought. -This is not your fault. You are the victim here.-
"Hermione dear," Mrs. Weasley startled Hermione from her thoughts. Molly sat down across from her. "Do you know," she said in a motherly tone, "that this is the second small fortune that has been dropped in my kitchen today?" Hermione could not meet her eye. "Odd coincidence, don't you think?" Hermione stared into her teacup. "I can't help but wonder if they are somehow related." Hermione sighed deeply and rubbed the spot between her eyes that had been throbbing all day.
Molly reached across the table and tucked a lock of hair behind Hermione's ear, then gently cupped her cheek in one soft hand. "Darling, he's my son. I can always tell when something's wrong, and I've known you since you were 11 years old. I don't have to be Dumbledore to put two and two together."
Molly pulled out her wand and touched it lightly to the spot Hermione had been rubbing. She muttered a quiet "Relivius," and the pain was gone.
Hermione lifted her eyes to see Molly and her face crumpled as she dissolved into child-like tears.
Mrs. Weasley quickly embraced Hermione and led her to the sofa. She rocked her gently as Hermione cried. As the tears subsided Molly spoke again.
"I know I'm not the most ideal confindant, under the circumstances, but it may help to talk about it."
So, Hermione did.
"I don't remember much, Molly, but it started at the wedding. . ."
Author's Note: I've finally updated this story. Hope you enjoy! I love this chapter.
Disclaimer: See Previous Chapters
Chapter 8 - Scuttleberry Pie
Hermione made a stop at Gringott's on her way to the Burrow that afternoon. There, she exchanged her half of the reward money into wizard gold. She now stood outside Gringott's holding a heavy, awkward sackful of Galleons and cursing the often backwards ways of the wizarding world.
"The power of the cosmos at our fingertips and we still run our economy like medieval paddlers," she said to herself as she hefted the sack over her shoulder and apparated ungracefully into the Weasley's front yard.
Ducks and chickens scattered as she dragged her loot up the stairs and through the door.
Mrs. Weasley was busy baking what smelled deliciously like scuttleberry pie, which Hermione hadn't had since her Hogwarts days. She breathed deep and followed the smell. Sure enough, she found Molly dropping grape-sized orange berries into a large pot. As each berry hit the water it exploded, sending up a waft of fragrant orange smoke and a splatter of jam-like goo which landed on an umbrella-shaped canopy covering the pot. Molly scraped off the goo, and dropped it carefully inside her flaky, home-baked pie crust.
Hermione suddenly realized she hadn't eaten all day and her stomach gave a loud rumble.
Mrs. Weasley heard this and turned around.
"Oh Hermione! Why didn't you say anything!" She hurried over and gave Hermione a tender kiss on the cheek. "Hello dear. You look tired. Sit down and I'll make you a cup of tea. I think there are some scones in the pantry. Dinner won't be ready for another couple of hours."
"Thanks Molly," said Hermione, trying to sound polite, "but I have to go talk to the twins about something very important. I'll be back down in a while, then I'd love a cup of tea. Here," she said as she hefted the money sack onto the table, "I want you to have this. I really, really don't want it." Molly began to speak. "Please don't ask why." Then Hermione disappeared upstairs.
The discussion with the twins went pretty much as Hermione expected. The twins thought they were ever so cute and clever. Hermione was not in the least bit amused. The twins saw absolutely nothing wrong with the fact that Hermione and Charlie had spent a passionate night wrapped in each others arms. Hermione treated them to a lecture on the importance of a woman's reputation, the consequences of unprotected and unremembered sex, and the shame and humiliation now clouding her, Charlie, and the twins (if they had any shame.) The twins looked properly abashed for a few moments, then proceeded to congratulate each other on the merits of the potion they'd invented (which they'd used to successfully spike Hermione's drink) and began making plans to mass-produce it and sell it in their shop (perhaps baked into cookies.) Hermione left their room even angrier than when she'd entered, but not before striking them with a very unique hex. She was sure it would amuse the rest of the Weasleys when Fred and George came down for dinner, and that knowledge was a small comfort.
Mrs. Weasley had a hot cup of Earl Grey waiting for Hermione as she re- entered the kitchen. Just a touch of honey and lemon, as Hermione liked it. Hermione was struck with a sudden and unexpected feeling of guilt, for the manner in which she'd treated Charlie that morning. What would Molly think if she knew.
-No- she thought. -This is not your fault. You are the victim here.-
"Hermione dear," Mrs. Weasley startled Hermione from her thoughts. Molly sat down across from her. "Do you know," she said in a motherly tone, "that this is the second small fortune that has been dropped in my kitchen today?" Hermione could not meet her eye. "Odd coincidence, don't you think?" Hermione stared into her teacup. "I can't help but wonder if they are somehow related." Hermione sighed deeply and rubbed the spot between her eyes that had been throbbing all day.
Molly reached across the table and tucked a lock of hair behind Hermione's ear, then gently cupped her cheek in one soft hand. "Darling, he's my son. I can always tell when something's wrong, and I've known you since you were 11 years old. I don't have to be Dumbledore to put two and two together."
Molly pulled out her wand and touched it lightly to the spot Hermione had been rubbing. She muttered a quiet "Relivius," and the pain was gone.
Hermione lifted her eyes to see Molly and her face crumpled as she dissolved into child-like tears.
Mrs. Weasley quickly embraced Hermione and led her to the sofa. She rocked her gently as Hermione cried. As the tears subsided Molly spoke again.
"I know I'm not the most ideal confindant, under the circumstances, but it may help to talk about it."
So, Hermione did.
"I don't remember much, Molly, but it started at the wedding. . ."