Author's Notes: I have edited and rewritten and revised the first five chapters, so I highly recommend that anyone who hasn't go back and read them. There's a lot of background information. I'll probably edit them all again. It's never good enough for me. -sigh- I've been writing this chapter for days and planned on having it up days ago but there's been much madness and I apologize. To make up for it, it's seriously long!
A special thanks to HP-Magic for coming back and reviewing every chapter! Thank you! And check out her stuff, it's fabulous!
What is the deal with this site not allowing certain characters and things! I don't understand!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything associated with it, simply the plot.
Chapter 6
Women!
"What should I wear? Casual, yes, casual…" she started rummaging through her closet, "No, not this. This…no, no," clothes were flying over her head, covering her bed and portions of the hardwood floor. "Oooh, I love those shoes," she reached up into the top of her closet. "I can't reach! Oh, oh," Hermione was struggling up on her tip toes, reaching into the back of her top shelf. "Just, almost," The shoes were so far above her that she couldn't see what she was reaching for, she felt what she thought was the box and jerked, hard. "Aaah!" Hermione went tumbling onto her back with an entire shelf of clothes falling on top of her body which now lay sprawled across the floor in front of her closet.
She groaned, "Ouch…" slowly she pulled herself out from under the chaos and onto her bed. She sat there on the edge of her bed, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Hermione!" called a voice from the living room.
"In the bedroom," Hermione called back, recognizing the voice as her favorite red-headed female friend, Ginny.
Ginny walked in slowly, trying to avoid stepping on any of the various items strewn about her friend's room. "Did your closet throw up?"
Hermione laughed and lay back on the bed, "Something like that."
Add one more to the dinner party for tonight. Thanks Mum.
Love, George
"Who are you bringing to dinner?" Ginny was hovering over George's shoulder as he scribbled on a piece of parchment. Ginny came in that afternoon to work for Fred, though not without first finding out Fred's news. If she wanted to know something, she wouldn't rest until she knew.
George hesitated and Ginny figured that was her answer. A mischievous smile graced her face as she looked accusingly at her older brother. "You have a date!"
"No, it's not a date. It's…" it's not that he didn't want to tell his sister, he just wanted to keep it a surprise. He knew how excited everyone would be to see her. "It's uhh, it's a surprise?" He meant it as a statement, but, as he was unsure what tonight was and as he was unsure what to tell his sister, it came out as a tentative question.
"Ah ha! It is a date!" Ginny squealed and her smile spread wider across her face. "George Weasley!" she punched him playfully on the shoulder. "I didn't know you were dating someone! So," her eyebrows raised, "who's the lucky girl?"
"Ginny, I know because you're female you have to squeal and gush and jump up and down, but it's not a date." She glared disbelievingly at him. "Wouldn't I tell Mum if I had a date!"
This seemed to convince her as her smile fell and she slumped back down on the stool behind the counter. "Yeah, I guess that's true. Bugger!"
George couldn't help but laugh. "Sorry my love life disappoints."
"No, it doesn't," Ginny apologized. "Well, it does, but I just thought…well, you've been in such a good mood today and I just thought maybe…" her voice fell as she spoke. "You deserve someone, George."
He felt awful, he didn't understand why she was so upset. "Ginny," he moved toward her. "It's just Hermione..."
Ginny's head popped up with a look of surprise. "Hermione! What does this have to do with Hermione?"
"Well," George was reluctant to tell her now. "Hermione's the extra person or my date, I suppose."
The smile sprung back to Ginny's face. "Hermione? Hermione! Wait, she's coming to the Burrow for a family dinner! I've been asking her to come to those for ages, why…" she looked up at George, "This is a date! Oh!" she squealed again. "George! You and Hermione!"
George threw his arms in the air. "Ginny! I'm not dating Hermione! Today was the first I've seen Hermione for years!"
"Well, what then?"
George sighed. He knew he wasn't going to get out of this situation without telling her Hermione's news. So, since the store was slow, George told her the events of the day. Ginny was ecstatic! "Hermione's coming back! She's coming back!" She hugged her brother. "I have to go see her!"
"Whoa Ginny!" George held her by the shoulders. "Get a hold of yourself!" he laughed. "You'll see her at dinner."
"Dinner! Oh no, George, I have to go now." Ginny's voice was urgent.
"What? Why?"
"Hermione won't know what to wear!" George started to laugh. "I'm serious, George. You can close up without me?" Before waiting for an answer she stepped outside and apparated away.
George just shook his head, "Women."
"Hermione, that's perfect!" She was clad in a midnight blue dress with a low back and scooping neck-line, the bottom was jagged, stopping at the knee and accented with small heeled sandals.
Hermione looked down at herself then back into the mirror. While she liked what she saw, she felt a bit uncomfortable considering the occasion. "Don't you think this is a bit much for dinner at the Burrow?"
"Of course not, I didn't straighten your hair. That would be too much." Ginny smiled at her work. Hermione was such a pretty girl, it was a shame she didn't date more, but maybe tonight would be a step in the right direction. After all, if anyone deserved someone as much as Hermione, it was George. George had dated, but it had been a long time. His only serious girlfriend, Katie Bell, hadn't lasted very long, not even a year. She had disappeared and everyone, including George, assumed she'd been another victim of the Dark War. He mourned her death though he never truly loved her. Not long after the war ended, however, she turned back up, without a scratch on her. She'd gone to hide out in the United States until the chaos had ended and Voldemort was defeated. She came back to George, begging his forgiveness for being such a coward, but he couldn't take her back. He couldn't take back a woman who wasn't bold enough to stand by his side, to be there for him through those terrible times.
Ginny looked down at her watch, "Oh! I have to go get Lily. Mum probably already started dinner and she's just a nuisance when you're actually trying to get something done." She crossed the room and the two exchanged friendly kisses on the cheek. "You look beautiful Hermione. I'll see you soon." Seeing the uneasy look on Hermione's face, she added, "Don't be nervous! We're your family and everyone will be thrilled to see you." With a POP! She was gone.
Hermione sighed. "My family…" she smiled and smoke to her reflection, "I'm going home."
George closed up the store quickly; there hadn't been much business that day. He went into the back and changed clothes. Since he was meeting Hermione at the same time that the store closed, Ginny brought over some clothes for him. She said they were, 'More appropriate date attire'. She was right, were he going on a date, this would be a much more appropriate outfit. It was a loose-fitting pair of dark jeans with a brown and white plaid button-up shirt complete with matching necklace. He laughed, "Good old Ginny. Everything down to the accessories."
After locking the door, he examined himself in the window and ran his fingers through his hair. He sighed, "It's hopeless." He extinguished the fire with a flick of his wand and apparated home. Seconds later he found himself standing down the lane from the Burrow. A full five minute stroll from the front gate. He looked over to find Hermione looking questioningly at him. Upon looking at her, words escaped him and he just looked her over for a few minutes.
"George?" she broke into his alternate universe. She could feel the blush creeping across her exposed chest as he stumbled for words.
"You made it," he smiled.
"Well, sort of," she looked up the lane. "I was going for the front gate, must be losing my touch."
George laughed. "No, you're not losing anything, I assure you," he winked looking suggestively at her.
She blushed and laughed, "I wasn't talking about that touch."
"I know, I know. You must have forgotten?"
"Forgotten what?"
"The apparating wards that were set around the house during the war."
Her eyes flicked to acknowledgement, "Oh, yeah, I remember now."
"Shall we?" He held out the crook of his arm and she slipped hers through.
"We shall," she smiled as they strolled up the lane. The two kept sneaking glances at one another, but walked in a comfortable silence. He looked nice, really nice. "That's a step up from you work uniform."
"And that's about five steps up from your 'meeting attire'," he smiled looking over at her.
She stopped and turned to face him, "I can go home and change if it's a problem." She shrugged, though her tone was joking.
"And deny me privilege of having the most attractive date here? I think not," she blushed and turned away, continuing up the path until she reached the gate. She stopped and just stared at this home that she hadn't seen in so long.
George, who had been trailing slightly behind her, walked up next to her. "Nervous?"
They both continued to look at the Burrow. "Yeah, and I don't even know why."
He grabbed her hand, "You'll be fine," he assured her and gave a slight squeeze to her hand. "Ready?"
She took a deep breath, "Let's go."
The inside of the Burrow was not quite the picture of serenity.
"Chari! Stop running!" shouted Bill as he scooped up the young child with one arm and Lily with the other. Chari (pronounced Carey) is Bill's youngest child. Her full name is Charistina (named for Charlie) Willow Weasley and she is quite vibrant and always on the go, though only two years old. She and Lily are the best of pals, since they were born only a few months apart and are always wreaking havoc, even at their young age. Chari has more of her mother, Miriam's features, with light brown hair but complete with Bill's sparkling green eyes.
"Hey Uncle Ron!" Ron was seated in the living room with his newest girlfriend, Emma Dobbs, journalist for the Daily Prophet. "Take the kids outside until Mum's done with dinner, will you?" Bill looked at his brother pleadingly as the two girls wriggled in his arms in useless attempts to escape.
Ron smiled and stood, "Alright you two monsters!" He took the girls from Bill's grasp and began toting them toward the backdoor. "Pierce," Ron called to the young boy sitting in the arm chair nearest the fire. "Wanna come?"
The boy's hazel eyes looked up from behind his strawberry curls. "No thanks, Uncle Ron."
"Aw, come on Pierceton," implored his mother. "You've been behind that book all day, sweetie. Take some time off, go play."
The young boy sighed. He was quite like the uncle for whom he was named for, Pierceton Ignatius Weasley, in memory of Percy. He had learned to read at the age of four and since then, he was rarely seen without a book on his lap. Ron sent the girls on ahead and knelt down next to the boy. "Pierceton?"
"Hmm?"
"I bet I can tickle that book out of your hands!" Before Pierce could respond Ron had the book out of his lap and was attacking him with wiggling fingers in a tickling fiasco.
"Stop," Pierce breathed between giggles. "Uncle Ron!"
"If I stop, will you come out and play?"
Ron stopped tickling long enough for Pierce to answer. "Okay, okay, I'll go."
"That's more like it!" Ron scooped the boy up and draped him over his shoulder, Pierce laughing all the way.
"It's about time Ron had a family of his own. He's so good with the kids."
"Miriam! Ron's only been seeing this Emma for a few weeks," Alicia reminded her. "Don't scare her off already." The two women laughed and engaged in light chatter with one another. Miriam Strout Weasley had been married to Bill for six years. The two met when Bill was wounded and spent some time in St. Mungo's, Miriam was his healer. Bill came in and sat next to his wife on the loveseat, wrapping a comforting arm around her lean shoulder. He lightly stroked her long, dark hair. Bill was still wearing his hair long as well, still as red as ever with a slight curl that his son had inherited. He still had that rugged handsomeness that women loved though he'd discarded the earrings when Pierceton was born. The only addition was a tattoo on his right shoulder blade of the Weasley family crest with two sets of initials within, 'PIW' and 'CWW'.
Fred came into the room planting a succulent kiss on his new fiancée. "Fred!" scolded Alicia. The couple across the room just laughed as Fred sat down on the arm of Alicia's chair. "Lee! Lisa!" Alicia whipped out of her seat, knocking Fred onto the floor as she hurried to greet her two friends.
"Alicia!" The two women hugged warmly, "It's so good to see you." Lisa Turpin and Lee Jordan had been dating for two years now. She was two years younger than him and had been a Ravenclaw at Hogwarts. The two were expecting to make their own announcement soon enough, or so Lee planned. The two were practically Weasleys these days, with Lee being a third part owner of WWW.
"Yeah," Lee took the next hug, "We hear you two have a big announcement to make." Lee winked over at Fred, who had gathered himself up from the floor and was walking over to greet his friends. The two couples were very close to one another. Just then there was a loud crash in the kitchen. The women all jumped up and off to the kitchen to help Mrs. Weasley while Bill, Fred and Lee began animatedly discussing the World Quidditch Cup this year. When another loud noise echoed in from the kitchen, the men jumped up and to the kitchen when it was followed by Mrs. Weasley's scream.
George opened the door and, at Hermione's request, walked in ahead of her.
"George!" Alicia bustled over from the stove to give him a big hug as George whispered in her ear.
"Congratulations!" he said softly. She pulled away from him, grinning from ear to ear.
"Thanks," she whispered with a wink as something behind George caught her attention. "Oh my…" she looked from George back to the thing that caught her eye. "Hermione!" she said in a hushed voice, partly excited, partly questioning.
"Alicia, it's been a while…" Hermione started.
"Hermione!" Alicia squealed and enveloped her in a tight hug. Hermione smiled, hugging her back. She should just get used to this, there would be about ten more!
Mrs. Weasley's head jerked toward the door and she was so surprised that she dropped the bowl she was holding. She didn't even notice as she squealed and hurried over to Hermione.
"Hermione! Dear! How are you!" She crushed Hermione in one of her breath-gripping hugs. Before Hermione could catch her breath to answer, Lee, Bill and Fred burst into the room.
"Mum…" started Bill as he looked at the girl standing in front of her. "Uhh, Mum?"
Mrs. Weasley just wiped a tear and looked back toward Hermione, "Oh, Hermione!" she said as she reached in for another bone-crushing hug.
"Mum!" George broke in, "Let the girl breathe!" He pulled Hermione away from his mother, slightly.
"I'm sorry George, Hermione," she paused for a shuddering breath. "I'm just…it's been so long, I can't…oh!" Mrs. Weasley reached in for another blubbering hug, but Bill was quicker, sweeping her up into a hug.
She smiled into his shoulder, "Thanks," she whispered.
He pulled her back and smiled, "Mum's a bit overwhelming, if you'll remember."
She laughed, "How could I forget?"
"It's good to see you, Hermione. Pierce will be excited too," he kissed her on the forehead and headed over toward the broken bowl across the room. "He's in the backyard," he called over his shoulder.
Hermione greeted the rest of the Weasleys within the house, including Ginny and Mr. Weasley who had come back downstairs, when she saw a face she didn't recognize as well. She walked over, "Lisa?"
The girl turned, "Turpin, right. We had Arithmancy and Ancient Runes together." Lisa looked down a bit shyly, "I wasn't sure you'd remember me…"
"No, I do!" Hermione smiled, "I just wasn't sure at first. Are you, well you and Lee are dating…or something?"
Lisa laughed at Hermione's slight bit of awkwardness at not knowing something. "Lee and I have been dating for a while now, hopefully we'll be moving to the next step soon." Lisa grinned from ear to ear.
"Oh, that's great!"
The two ladies hugged as Lee walked over, "You two know one another?"
Lisa turned to her boyfriend as he put an arm around her waist. "Old classmates," she put simply.
Lee nodded as Ron came rushing past him, a crying Chari in tow. "Miriam - " he started, but Miriam was there before he could go on.
"Thanks, Ron. I'll take care of it from here." She looked over toward Hermione, "I think there's someone you might want to see."
"Huh?" Ron followed her gaze and – "Hermione!" She grinned as he moved forward, picking her up in hug. "What are you doing here!" he asked when he finally released her.
George stepped up beside her, "She's with me," he put a possessive arm around her waist.
"What?" Ron stepped back. "Are you two…but you…" the classic Weasley look graced his befuddled face.
Hermione laughed, "No, Ron! I just ran into George in Hogsmeade and…"
"He invites you to a Weasley family dinner and you come, but Ginny and I have been inviting you for years and - "
"Hey ickle Ronniekins, calm down." George put a calming arm on his brother's shoulder, "She has an announcement to make."
The night continued smoothly and the dinner was delicious, as usual. Hermione told the same stories ten different times though, she added, her life really hadn't been that interesting since they had all seen her last. Fred and Alicia announced their engagement to everyone's greatest approval. Mrs. Weasley cried, of course. George's announcement of his new job, however, wasn't greeted with quite the same enthusiasm by everyone, namely, Fred.
"Fred?" George had followed his brother upstairs to their old bedroom after he got mad and stormed out. Fred was sitting on the end of his old bed facing away from the door, looking out the window. George walked in and stood at the door, not really knowing what to say.
"You could have told me, you know? Before you told everyone else."
George shook his head. "I'm sorry. I meant to tell you today but…" he looked at Fred, "I didn't think you'd be so upset."
Fred shrugged and walked over to the window, "You're leaving me."
George laughed and fell back on the bed and laughed some more.
Fred turned from the window to stare at his lunatic brother. "Something funny?"
"Fred!" George gasped, "You'll be in Hogsmeade, and I'll be at Hogwarts. We'll be in walking distance!" George was starting to get tears in his eyes as he controlled his laughter enough to speak. "I'm leaving you!"
His laughter became contagious and soon Fred joined in. The two brothers held their stomachs and wiped away the tears. George gave a final chuckle and stood up, "You're becoming a bit melodramatic, Fred. Must be the marriage-thing kicking in."
Fred laughed and hit his brother on the back before giving his shoulder a light squeeze. "Congratulations."
"Thanks."
"Pretty sexy date too," Fred winked as George pushed him off and onto the bedand took off back downstairs.
"Ron, is everything okay?" Emma asked him. They were the only two left standing in the kitchen. Lily and Chari were playing with Lisa and Hermione was talking to Pierce about the book he was reading while everyone else sat around chatting.
Ronwalked over and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "I'm fine," he kissed her forehead. "You've survived your first Weasley family dinner. Are you okay?" She was a small girl, much shorter than Ron and she looked up at him with her big blue eyes.
"I have had a lovely evening," she smiled revealingher pearly whites. "Your family is everything I expected them to be, though your mother, well, I can't figure if she really likes me or…really doesn't." She wrinkled the freckles on her little button nose.
Ron laughed and pushed back a strand of her blonde hair. "Mum takes some getting used to. Might want to talk to Hermione about that, she's been in your position and the two of you seemed to be getting along well."
Her eyes lit up, "Hermione is everything I always thought she was!" When Ron looked confused, she blushed and tried to explain. "You see, Hermione was always a bit of an idol to me."
Ron opened his mouth to laugh, but she stopped him. "Don't laugh!" she scolded as his mouth clamped shut. "She was three years older and I always loved that she could be so smart and still be in Gryffindor and, well…" she looked to the ground.
"What?"
"She was dating you." Now it was his turn to blush.
"Speaking of Hermione," he said, trying to change the subject. "She was supposed to make an announcement."
"Ron!" came flowing in from the other room. "Ron! Emma! Get in here!" shouted Fred.
The group was seated all around the living room, everyone was focused on Hermione.
"Well," she looked toward George who smiled and winked. She smiled back graciously, "I'm coming back."
"Back?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"To the wizarding world. I was offered a job, well, sort of ordered into a job and - "
"That's great!" Ron cut her off quickly and rushed over to herfor a hug. She giggled. "You're really coming back?" he asked.
She nodded, smiling, "Dumbl-Albus has asked me to teach at Hogwarts!"
Mrs. Weasley cried and, once again, everyone hugged Hermione. It wasn't long until the night was over and everyone was heading home. Well, except Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, George and Ginny, they were already home.
Hermione was the last to leave. She was busy talking with Ginny as Lily fell asleep in her lap. Hermione yawned and looked at her watch. "I should go."
Ginny walked over and lightly moved her daughter. "Lily, wake up."
"What mummy?"
"Say good night to Hermione, she's going home and you're going to bed."
Lily reached her little arms up and gave Hermione a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Nighty Aunt Emione."
"Good night Lily," Hermione kissed her back.
"Be back soon Emione," Lily called as Ginny carried her away.
Hermione sighed, "Bye Gin."
"I'll owl," Ginny mouthed as Lily fell back off to sleep.
Hermione stood and gathered her things as she found Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and thanked them for the lovely evening.
"You'll come more often, dear?" asked Arthur. "You know you're family here."
"I know," she smiled. "I'll be back before you know it."
As her hand reached the door knob, a tapping foot caught her attention. She looked up to find George with his arms crossed, standing by the door. "Were you going to leave before saying Good-bye?"
"Well, I was, but…" Hermione faltered. She'd secretly been avoiding him a bit tonight, after his comment to Ron about 'her being with him'. It made her question why she was here and she really didn't want to think of that at the moment.
He smiled, "No goodnight kiss?" She blushed and shook her head. "Aww, come on Aunt Emione!" he joked with Lily's pet name for Hermione. "At least let me apparate you home."
"George, I can get home perfectly by myself."
"Oh really?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Really," she stated confidently.
"Guess we'll go with option A then," he started walking toward her with a glint in his eye, but stopped before he reached her. "But, if you can get home alone, why didn't you just apparate from inside the house?"
"But that apparating…" Duh Hermione! The wards are only for those apparating to the Burrow, not those apparating from the Burrow. "I forgot," she admitted.
He grinned, knowingly and strutted closer. "Not quite the know-it-all anymore."
She stepped back as he moved forward and their eyes locked. "George, I…" He kept moving toward her until eventually, she ran into the door. Her temperature began to rise and…and were those butterflies in her stomach? Butterflies? Hermione Granger did not get butterflies over boys! He leaned toward her. At a loss, Hermione threw him the only method she knew to thwart off guys and contain her emotions, she got mad. "George, I'm not a know-it-all."
"Not anymore," he leaned in closer as she tore her gaze from him, put her hand to his chest and pushed him away.
"What's that supposed to mean? Huh?" she glared at him, no longer playful. He tried to interject something, but she kept right on going. "Hermione's living in the muggle world, she must be such a stupid arse now, couldn't possibly still be as smart!" She began mimicking others' voices, "They've dumbed her senses. Since she hasn't been putting those skills to use, I'm sure she's lost them. It's a shame; she really used to be the brightest witch of her age. Do you feel that way too George?" he began stepping back, confused at this sudden outburst.
"You're taking pity on poor little Hermione? Hasn't had a date in years, I know what will make her feel better, I'll seduce her," she looked around, "In my parent's kitchen!" she huffed. "Surely she needs a man to run her life, because all good witches need a man in their life." She glared him down with her eyes, which was very difficult since he was a great deal taller than her. "Well, you know what George Weasley? I don't! I don't need anyone!" She could feel tears starting to sting her eyes.
"Hermione, I…" he tried but didn't really know how to finish it.
She sighed and looked up at him. She hadn't meant to get so upset or say all of that, she just didn't want to deal with these feelings and all these feelings that she'd been repressing just poured out. "Don't worry, everyone thinks it. I'm used to it." With a POP, she was gone.
Author's Notes: Wow. Okay, I hope you all enjoyed. Let me know what you think. Oh & I kept trying to use measurement words, so j/ out of curiosity, what would be the appropriate exchange for foot and inches in Europe?
