Ok, I know I haven't been focussing on the twins much lately, but I will, I
promise! I just wrote out my plan for the story so I have it all sorted
out! Thanks for all the reviews guys! Really appreciated! R xxx
Ron and Harry sat on Hermione's bed still at a complete loss at what to say. What could you say except that you were sorry? And it's not as if either of them had had any experience in that field. Ron's parents had enjoyed a happy and fulfilling marriage with (perhaps too many) children. Harry's had been happy for the short two years they had been married and Vernon and Petunia Dursley had seemed to enjoy their incredibly normal marriage and had been blessed (or cursed, depending on how you saw the situation) with Dudley.
'Oh, this is so silly!' said Hermione. 'Hang on, let me just clear myself up', and she walked into the bathroom connected to her room leaving Harry and Ron together.
'Wow', said Ron. 'That was a little awkward!' and Harry nodded fervently.
'Yup. I mean, what could we have said?' Harry mused.
'Not much I s'pose', said Ron absently. 'But seriously mate, did you see her? I mean, bit of a change huh?'
'Well, yeah. I mean, her parents are getting a divorce. It's enough to make anyone a little more miserable than they usually are'.
'No, not that', said Ron eagerly. 'Her. As in, what she looks like'.
'Looks like? She looked normal to me mate'.
'Harry, I know your blind, but you do have your glasses on. Weren't you looking?!' asked Ron incredulously.
'Course I was! Maybe it was just coz she was crying... Oh was THAT what Fred and George were on about?'
'The twins? Since when have they been interested in girls?'
'Is it possible Hermione's the exception?'
'Oh crap. If they mess up my chances of getting her this-', and once again, he brought up his hand to his mouth, looking as though if he could kill himself, he would.
'Mate, it's okay. I know you like her. Couldn't be more bloody obvious actually but...Yeah, don't worry about it. I think she likes you too, you know?'
Ron gave him a sceptical look. 'Yeah well. Have a good look when she gets out. I swear, it'll be enough to make you drop Gin anyway,'
'Ron! Don't say that! I'd never hurt Gin, I love her mate. I know it's a bit difficult fro a brother to understand... but I do'.
'Ok, sorry. Well, I'm glad it's you she's chosen. I couldn't have stood it if it was that Michael Corner. He had a-'
'A really shifty look about him. Yeah Ron, we've heard it all before. And don't worry, I'll kill Corner if he ever lays a finger on Gin, I promise'.
'Thanks mate.'
'WOULD YOU ALL GET DOWN HERE NOW OR YOU'LL GO HUNGRY FOR A WEEK!!' came Mrs Weasley's magically magnified voice up the stairs.
'I guess that's the call for dinner then,' said Ron, lifting himself off the bed. 'Hungry for a week, yeah right! I swear, if you look like you've lost half and ounce she lays out a banquet for fear you're going anorexic!'
'Okay, I'll be down in a minute. I want to see this new Hermione!' said Harry and Ron nodded, bounding out of the door and sliding down the banisters which was followed by an impromptu-
'RONALD WEASLEY! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT! IF YOU BREAK YOUR NECK I WILL HAVE ABSOLUTELY-'
'No sympathy', muttered the twins who were walking past Hermione's door at that moment. They looked in at Harry, Fred grinned, George winked and they proceeded to slide down the banisters, just for the effect. Harry laughed to himself as fresh shouting emerged from below.
'Supper time huh?' said Hermione, making Harry jump as he had not seen her come out of the bathroom, and then jump as he did a double take on her. He stood up, faced her and breathed,
'Wow'. Hermione giggled.
'Yeah, that's what Ron said. Except you did it a little more articulately', she said, making them both laugh. 'How are you and Ginny then?' she asked.
'Really good, thanks', Harry grinned sheepishly.
'It'll last Harry. It will, I promise.' and he gave her a big hug.
'It's good to see you again 'mione', he whispered into her ear and it was her turn to grin.
'You too.' And they walked out the door, Harry pausing to wonder whether it would be worth it to risk sliding down the banisters. He decided not.
'Wise move', grinned Hermione watching him. 'I heard Mrs Weasley having a go at Ron. He really asks for it!'
'Yeah, but the twins ask for it more', Harry replied.
'True, true', and her leg sank right through one of the steps in the staircase and she gave a yelp, losing her balance and falling over, her leg still trapped in what appeared to be a replica of the trick step that Neville always forgot to jump at Hogwarts.
'Ow!' cried Hermione, tears welling up in her eyes. The next few seconds were pandemonium as the twins jumped up to try and prevent their mother from seeing what had happened, Ron got up to help Hermione but tripped over Crookshanks who had joined the fray. Mrs Weasley had started shouting to try and find out what had happened that had caused Hermione to scream and at that moment, Mr Weasley walked in through the door who was immediately attacked by the wooden spoon that had been mixing pancake batter a few minutes before.
Amongst the fray, George managed to get to Hermione first, Harry having fallen down the last few stairs when Hermione collided into him. He muttered a spell and the step disappeared long enough for him to pull Hermione out of its hold and to catch her as she fell over again and into his arms.
'Hey', he said quietly and looking into her eyes. 'You okay?' Hermione nodded, stood up and collapsed again managing to mutter,
'I think my ankle's broken', before passing out. George looked incredibly uncomfortable holding her in his arms while she was so vulnerable (and beautiful, but um, cough, that had nothing to do with his discomfort!). He carried her over to the sofa in front of the fire, oblivious to everyone else who was either nursing a sprained wrist, being attacked by a large ginger cat, being battered by a spoon, shouting at their son or being shouted at by their mother.
'Malleolus immendia', said George pulling out his wand and pointing it at Hermione's ankle. He moved a strand of chestnut hair out of her face and put a hand on her cheek, stroking it softly in the way his mother used to do when he was ill. The whole situation made him feel strangely calm and happy, in an inexplicable way.
Hermione stirred, bringing her own hand up to touch his. She opened her eyes, smiled and George smiled back.
'How you feeling?'
'Not too bad actually. Did you fix my ankle?' George nodded. 'It's about the only thing I can do, you know, with all our experiments I had to get quite good at it!' Hermione grinned, despite herself.
'Well, thanks.' She glanced over to the fray still going on on the other side of the room. 'Guess I wasn't out for long then?'
'Bout two minutes', George replied. 'And it's really the least I could do.'
'Why?' asked Hermione suspiciously.
'Well, actually, me and Fred set up that step,' said George going pink. 'It was supposed to be for Ron, but he went down the banisters so...'
'Should have guessed really,' said Hermione, and to George's relief, she was still smiling. God, she looked beautiful when she smiled. 'It's okay, just as long as it wasn't meant to hurt me and I'm not dead, I don't mind.'
'You... you don't?' George asked incredulously. The Hermione he used to know would have held it against them for years.
'No, not really. I've changed you know,' she said.
'Yeah, I noticed,' said George going a delicate shade of pink. 'In a good way, I mean,' he said mentally kicking himself. That was what Ron had said about half an hour ago, was he reduced to that level? He was twenty years old for chrissakes, out of the sea of raging hormones and schoolboy crushes. How was it possible this girl could have reduced him to this? Almost as bad as Ron... he shuddered. However much he liked this new Hermione, he would not go a stupid as that.
'Come on,' he said reluctantly, wanting to stay like this, talking to her, forever. 'Better go rejoin the tussle.'
'Yeah, might as well,' said Hermione and taking George's proffered hand, she was lifted from that couch with ease into his arms. They stood awkwardly for a few seconds, secretly neither wanting to move from the position they were currently in. Hermione pressed up against George's chest, one hand in his, his other on the small of her back. Reluctantly, the went back to sort everyone out, George trying to explain the situation to his mother who was currently holding Fred's arm in an iron grip, Hermione to rescue Ron from Crookshanks while simultaneously relieving Mr Weasley of the bludgeoning spoon. Then she rushed over to Harry to see if he was alright, getting there at the same time as George who gave a small smile as he checked to see if Harry's wrist was broken (which it wasn't).
Harry sat on the floor, watching Hermione while George inspected his wrist. He hadn't seen what had happened by the sofa but he did see the glances the pair exchanged. Oh dear... Ron was definitely not going to like this.
Five minutes later, the Weasley household sat down to dinner, all much the worse for wear. Ginny had arrived downstairs after hearing the commotion from upstairs and had managed to command order and fix up Ron's leg which had a pretty nasty gash in it from where Crookshanks had attempted to climb up his leg. The conversation from Mrs Weasley was very clipped and halfway through pudding (pancakes and maple syrup!) she asked the twins to stay behind so she could 'have a little talk' with them. They both rolled their eyes, Fred retreating to eating his 13th pancake and George, catching Hermione looking in his direction, grinned at her and she grinned back.
This time, Ginny saw these gestures and with a worried look at Ron (who hadn't noticed a thing), whispered something into Harry's ear who nodded and they excused themselves from the table. Mrs Weasley smiled fondly at them, she was very glad those two had found each other.
Up in Ginny's room, she and Harry were having a very tense conversation about the situation. Having both noticed George and Hermione's smiles at each other they were beginning to grow worried about how Ron would take it.
'It'll kill him Gin, it really will. He's liked her for too long.'
'I know, but what can we do. It's not like we can tell George to lay off her is it?'
'We could. No actually we couldn't, he'd kill us.'
'Or deny it. You know, he's never been exactly interested in many girls. Fred's usually the one that gets them. I dunno why though, they're pretty much the same in every respect.'
'Ok, look. Ron's pretty oblivious at the moment, right? Why don't we let him keep it that way? He probably wouldn't even notice unless we told him.'
'Yeah. Yeah, I s'pose. And anyway, we don't even know if anything's happened between her and George. I mean, they're only smiling at each other, right?'
'Right,' said Harry, thoroughly unconvinced.
'Yeah,' said Ginny, thoroughly unconvinced.
'I'm so glad we don't have to go through that any more,' mused Harry.
'Same,' replied Ginny and leaned over to kiss him.
Ron and Harry sat on Hermione's bed still at a complete loss at what to say. What could you say except that you were sorry? And it's not as if either of them had had any experience in that field. Ron's parents had enjoyed a happy and fulfilling marriage with (perhaps too many) children. Harry's had been happy for the short two years they had been married and Vernon and Petunia Dursley had seemed to enjoy their incredibly normal marriage and had been blessed (or cursed, depending on how you saw the situation) with Dudley.
'Oh, this is so silly!' said Hermione. 'Hang on, let me just clear myself up', and she walked into the bathroom connected to her room leaving Harry and Ron together.
'Wow', said Ron. 'That was a little awkward!' and Harry nodded fervently.
'Yup. I mean, what could we have said?' Harry mused.
'Not much I s'pose', said Ron absently. 'But seriously mate, did you see her? I mean, bit of a change huh?'
'Well, yeah. I mean, her parents are getting a divorce. It's enough to make anyone a little more miserable than they usually are'.
'No, not that', said Ron eagerly. 'Her. As in, what she looks like'.
'Looks like? She looked normal to me mate'.
'Harry, I know your blind, but you do have your glasses on. Weren't you looking?!' asked Ron incredulously.
'Course I was! Maybe it was just coz she was crying... Oh was THAT what Fred and George were on about?'
'The twins? Since when have they been interested in girls?'
'Is it possible Hermione's the exception?'
'Oh crap. If they mess up my chances of getting her this-', and once again, he brought up his hand to his mouth, looking as though if he could kill himself, he would.
'Mate, it's okay. I know you like her. Couldn't be more bloody obvious actually but...Yeah, don't worry about it. I think she likes you too, you know?'
Ron gave him a sceptical look. 'Yeah well. Have a good look when she gets out. I swear, it'll be enough to make you drop Gin anyway,'
'Ron! Don't say that! I'd never hurt Gin, I love her mate. I know it's a bit difficult fro a brother to understand... but I do'.
'Ok, sorry. Well, I'm glad it's you she's chosen. I couldn't have stood it if it was that Michael Corner. He had a-'
'A really shifty look about him. Yeah Ron, we've heard it all before. And don't worry, I'll kill Corner if he ever lays a finger on Gin, I promise'.
'Thanks mate.'
'WOULD YOU ALL GET DOWN HERE NOW OR YOU'LL GO HUNGRY FOR A WEEK!!' came Mrs Weasley's magically magnified voice up the stairs.
'I guess that's the call for dinner then,' said Ron, lifting himself off the bed. 'Hungry for a week, yeah right! I swear, if you look like you've lost half and ounce she lays out a banquet for fear you're going anorexic!'
'Okay, I'll be down in a minute. I want to see this new Hermione!' said Harry and Ron nodded, bounding out of the door and sliding down the banisters which was followed by an impromptu-
'RONALD WEASLEY! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT! IF YOU BREAK YOUR NECK I WILL HAVE ABSOLUTELY-'
'No sympathy', muttered the twins who were walking past Hermione's door at that moment. They looked in at Harry, Fred grinned, George winked and they proceeded to slide down the banisters, just for the effect. Harry laughed to himself as fresh shouting emerged from below.
'Supper time huh?' said Hermione, making Harry jump as he had not seen her come out of the bathroom, and then jump as he did a double take on her. He stood up, faced her and breathed,
'Wow'. Hermione giggled.
'Yeah, that's what Ron said. Except you did it a little more articulately', she said, making them both laugh. 'How are you and Ginny then?' she asked.
'Really good, thanks', Harry grinned sheepishly.
'It'll last Harry. It will, I promise.' and he gave her a big hug.
'It's good to see you again 'mione', he whispered into her ear and it was her turn to grin.
'You too.' And they walked out the door, Harry pausing to wonder whether it would be worth it to risk sliding down the banisters. He decided not.
'Wise move', grinned Hermione watching him. 'I heard Mrs Weasley having a go at Ron. He really asks for it!'
'Yeah, but the twins ask for it more', Harry replied.
'True, true', and her leg sank right through one of the steps in the staircase and she gave a yelp, losing her balance and falling over, her leg still trapped in what appeared to be a replica of the trick step that Neville always forgot to jump at Hogwarts.
'Ow!' cried Hermione, tears welling up in her eyes. The next few seconds were pandemonium as the twins jumped up to try and prevent their mother from seeing what had happened, Ron got up to help Hermione but tripped over Crookshanks who had joined the fray. Mrs Weasley had started shouting to try and find out what had happened that had caused Hermione to scream and at that moment, Mr Weasley walked in through the door who was immediately attacked by the wooden spoon that had been mixing pancake batter a few minutes before.
Amongst the fray, George managed to get to Hermione first, Harry having fallen down the last few stairs when Hermione collided into him. He muttered a spell and the step disappeared long enough for him to pull Hermione out of its hold and to catch her as she fell over again and into his arms.
'Hey', he said quietly and looking into her eyes. 'You okay?' Hermione nodded, stood up and collapsed again managing to mutter,
'I think my ankle's broken', before passing out. George looked incredibly uncomfortable holding her in his arms while she was so vulnerable (and beautiful, but um, cough, that had nothing to do with his discomfort!). He carried her over to the sofa in front of the fire, oblivious to everyone else who was either nursing a sprained wrist, being attacked by a large ginger cat, being battered by a spoon, shouting at their son or being shouted at by their mother.
'Malleolus immendia', said George pulling out his wand and pointing it at Hermione's ankle. He moved a strand of chestnut hair out of her face and put a hand on her cheek, stroking it softly in the way his mother used to do when he was ill. The whole situation made him feel strangely calm and happy, in an inexplicable way.
Hermione stirred, bringing her own hand up to touch his. She opened her eyes, smiled and George smiled back.
'How you feeling?'
'Not too bad actually. Did you fix my ankle?' George nodded. 'It's about the only thing I can do, you know, with all our experiments I had to get quite good at it!' Hermione grinned, despite herself.
'Well, thanks.' She glanced over to the fray still going on on the other side of the room. 'Guess I wasn't out for long then?'
'Bout two minutes', George replied. 'And it's really the least I could do.'
'Why?' asked Hermione suspiciously.
'Well, actually, me and Fred set up that step,' said George going pink. 'It was supposed to be for Ron, but he went down the banisters so...'
'Should have guessed really,' said Hermione, and to George's relief, she was still smiling. God, she looked beautiful when she smiled. 'It's okay, just as long as it wasn't meant to hurt me and I'm not dead, I don't mind.'
'You... you don't?' George asked incredulously. The Hermione he used to know would have held it against them for years.
'No, not really. I've changed you know,' she said.
'Yeah, I noticed,' said George going a delicate shade of pink. 'In a good way, I mean,' he said mentally kicking himself. That was what Ron had said about half an hour ago, was he reduced to that level? He was twenty years old for chrissakes, out of the sea of raging hormones and schoolboy crushes. How was it possible this girl could have reduced him to this? Almost as bad as Ron... he shuddered. However much he liked this new Hermione, he would not go a stupid as that.
'Come on,' he said reluctantly, wanting to stay like this, talking to her, forever. 'Better go rejoin the tussle.'
'Yeah, might as well,' said Hermione and taking George's proffered hand, she was lifted from that couch with ease into his arms. They stood awkwardly for a few seconds, secretly neither wanting to move from the position they were currently in. Hermione pressed up against George's chest, one hand in his, his other on the small of her back. Reluctantly, the went back to sort everyone out, George trying to explain the situation to his mother who was currently holding Fred's arm in an iron grip, Hermione to rescue Ron from Crookshanks while simultaneously relieving Mr Weasley of the bludgeoning spoon. Then she rushed over to Harry to see if he was alright, getting there at the same time as George who gave a small smile as he checked to see if Harry's wrist was broken (which it wasn't).
Harry sat on the floor, watching Hermione while George inspected his wrist. He hadn't seen what had happened by the sofa but he did see the glances the pair exchanged. Oh dear... Ron was definitely not going to like this.
Five minutes later, the Weasley household sat down to dinner, all much the worse for wear. Ginny had arrived downstairs after hearing the commotion from upstairs and had managed to command order and fix up Ron's leg which had a pretty nasty gash in it from where Crookshanks had attempted to climb up his leg. The conversation from Mrs Weasley was very clipped and halfway through pudding (pancakes and maple syrup!) she asked the twins to stay behind so she could 'have a little talk' with them. They both rolled their eyes, Fred retreating to eating his 13th pancake and George, catching Hermione looking in his direction, grinned at her and she grinned back.
This time, Ginny saw these gestures and with a worried look at Ron (who hadn't noticed a thing), whispered something into Harry's ear who nodded and they excused themselves from the table. Mrs Weasley smiled fondly at them, she was very glad those two had found each other.
Up in Ginny's room, she and Harry were having a very tense conversation about the situation. Having both noticed George and Hermione's smiles at each other they were beginning to grow worried about how Ron would take it.
'It'll kill him Gin, it really will. He's liked her for too long.'
'I know, but what can we do. It's not like we can tell George to lay off her is it?'
'We could. No actually we couldn't, he'd kill us.'
'Or deny it. You know, he's never been exactly interested in many girls. Fred's usually the one that gets them. I dunno why though, they're pretty much the same in every respect.'
'Ok, look. Ron's pretty oblivious at the moment, right? Why don't we let him keep it that way? He probably wouldn't even notice unless we told him.'
'Yeah. Yeah, I s'pose. And anyway, we don't even know if anything's happened between her and George. I mean, they're only smiling at each other, right?'
'Right,' said Harry, thoroughly unconvinced.
'Yeah,' said Ginny, thoroughly unconvinced.
'I'm so glad we don't have to go through that any more,' mused Harry.
'Same,' replied Ginny and leaned over to kiss him.