19.

Rumors

Hermione was right. . .EVERYONE KNEW. The news spread like the black plague, from mouth to ear it went, growing and expanding and taking on a new life of it's own. Since neither Hermione nor Remus appeared that day to dispel the rumor, it continued to grow. It was practically unrecognizable by the time that it returned to Dumbledore.

Hermione didn't appear at the Ministry the next day, either, nor could she be located near any of her usual haunts. Her floo was closed, her flat warded and her telephone was unanswered. By the third morning, Ginny had become concerned and asked whether or not she should drop by Hermione's flat. It was nearing the full moon and it was really too dangerous to leave Remus in a Muggle neighborhood, without him having drunk his potion.

Dumbledore agreed that perhaps things had gone just a bit too far, and it might be wise to carefully advise the two of them to be cautious, and that an appearance by one or both might assist in whittling down the rumors. The most recent one he had heard was that the Dark Lord had captured them, and was probably torturing them until they converted to his beliefs. Why he would actually need a Muggle born witch and a werewolf, was not a clarified point.

There were other rumors, some not so unbelievable; ( They must have eloped...)

Some that were a little more colorful: (What's this I hear about Ms. Granger? Well, there was a bit of a scandal when they found out about the baby, so she disappeared...probably to the States.),

And some rumors were almost too awful to laugh about. Almost. (...one of those clubs, you know, where they beat each other with whips? Well, apparently the guy-no I haven't heard who it was yet-stalked her home, and they fought outside her home. Hexed four Muggles, and put the both of them in St. Mungo's. I didn't see it, but a friend of my sisters ex-boyfriend's boss' mother-in-law said that she was there the night they brought her in...do you know what she was wearing...?...)

" Gods! Where does some of this stuff come from?" asked Ron, rolling his eyes.

Harry shrugged. He wasn't going to say that a lot of the more wild rumors he had heard, ( like the fact that they had been dueling and accidentally banished themselves to a tiny Caribbean island where they we're having to transfigure coconuts into shelters until someone could rescue them...)sounded an awful lot like something one of the twins might have invented.

" I mean, it's only been three days, and they have been everywhere from the Caribbean to a Deatheater's revel according to these." he pushed aside a small pile of notes wherein some of their more inquisitive old schoolfellows had owled to confirm this-or-that story that had been heard.

" Not too shabby for two people who have been warded into a flat for two and half days. It hasn't even been three."

" Yeah mate...they must be exhausted..." Ron nudged Harry, and Harry nudged back.

" All of that...mileage...they must really be nearly incapacitated."

" Yeah, poor things. Calls for bed rest you know." Nudge, nudge.

'' What are you two doing?" demanded Ginny. She had entered the kitchen just in time to hear ' bed rest ' and see the nudging,...which usually meant they were up to no good.

" Nothing at all dear sister. Are you off somewhere?" Ginny's outfit was purely Muggle, a blouse and slacks, with her hair pulled back and clipped behind her head with what looked like a medieval torture implement. If she had dressed that way, there was only one place she could be going.

" Yes I am...actually, Dumbledore has sent me on a dangerous mission." she said sarcastically.

'' Going to rout out Hermione then?" Harry asked a little too enthusiastically.

" Yes...and I am going alone. "

" Why would we what to go any way?" asked Ron. " We already have plans for the day."

" Do those actually include going to work?"

" Later...it's early yet. I like to be fashionably late for everything."

" Like for receiving that promotion?" she countered.

" Well..." Ron was suddenly uncomfortable.

Harry came to his rescue, putting an arm around Ginny's shoulders he shook his head solemnly.

" Don't worry, little Ginny, I'll see that he get's to work with enough time to grovel at his boss' feet before work begins . But first...we have an important appointment with Fred and George. " He gave Ginny's cheek a quick kiss, that made her

blush. . .and left her at a loss for words long enough that they could apparate from the kitchen.

After they were gone. . .she shook her head. Whatever it was that they were doing with Fred and George so much these

days. . .she didn't want to know.

Ginny had been knocking on Hermine's door for nearly five minutes. She wondered if the door might be soundproofed inside as well as out. After a few minutes more, she called Hermione's name. Waited. Nothing. Sighing, she was just about to leave when the door cracked open just the slightest bit and one of Hermione's brown eyes peered out at her.

" Ginny? What are you doing here?" she spoke in a rather hushed voice.

" Professor Dumbledore sent me...I have something I need to tell you. May I come in?" she asked this as if she had no idea what had been going on in the apartment for the last two days.

" I can't. . .I mean. . .I would rather you didn't see the place. . .the house is in shambles. "

Ginny raised a brow.

" In shambles? Great work Hermione, but I really need to tell you something, and I don't think out here is the appropriate place."

" Well. . .I. . .'

" I am supposed to tell you both, so you may as well just let me in." she whispered to Hermione, who blushed a little.

" Okay. . .just. ..give me a moment, please?" and the door was closed in Ginny's face. She tapped her foot

impatiently. . .hoping she did not look as conspicuous as she felt.

At last the door opened, and Hermione, dressed in what looked to be a hastily assembled pair of faded jeans and a black tee shirt, held back the door so that Ginny could enter.. The place was not really in shambles, but it did look as though it had been neglected for a day or two. There were dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, dust layered the coffee table. . .and Ginny could just see the creeping pile of towels inside the hall bathroom.

Hermione nervously began straightening the books and magazines, and gathering up some abandoned tea cups. Anything to keep from having to meet Ginny's gaze just yet. Ginny however was not the least bit awkward. She sat herself down at Hermione's small table and helped herself to a dusty but still perfect apple from the terra-cotta bowl. Rubbing it on her slacks to polish it, she caught Hermione's gaze.

" Well...what's the problem?" Hermione asked, sitting across from her.

" Where is Remus?"

" Behind you." Ginny jumped, startled at the sound of his voice so close. " You should be better prepared than that I could have been an attacker! " he laughed.

" Hmm...but I happen to know you can't do much damage without your wand. " Ginny smiled. " and don't worry, it is safe in Dumbledore's keeping at the moment. "

" So, why the honor of your visit. . ?'' Remus did not seem to have the least bit of embarrassment about being discovered in Hermione's flat. . .wearing just a pair of pants, and with his hair still wet and curling from a recent shower. They both looked guilty as hell, and he looked like he liked it. Time to see how well they liked each other.

" Well, were you aware Hermione, that you are pregnant? Or that you are both ' freaky sadists' who enjoy spanking each other with whips? Did you know you are both unconscious in St. Mungo's, banished to an island, gay, and in secret, Death Eaters?"

" WHAT?" they both demanded..looking a little confused.

" You didn't know? Then you also don't know that you have eloped to the States, killed each other during a jealous spat, been locked away by the officials for possessing too much information, or sold for medical research? Then I suppose it is safe to say that you haven't been outside. The streets are simply buzzing with such delectable gossip. Here. . .these are a few owls from friends. . .and an article from the Daily Prophet." she dumped the contents of her satchel onto the table.

Hermione, first upset, and then angry, was reading through the notes in a huffy manner. . .but Remus seemed to think it was was marvelous.

" Oh look at this one. " he said, holding a note out to her. " It says that I must have eaten you. If only they knew.''

Hermione elbowed him in the ribs, but he only laughed.

" Oh gods..." Hermione finally laughed. " Maybe we should disappear. This is awful!"

" Oh, that is a Slytherin thing to do, " Ginny chided.

" Is not!"

" Is so!"

" Ladies! Let's not be immature. I think we should appear, unabashed, and feign complete innocence of their theories." Remus laughed.

" Well, that is what Dumbledore advises. He said it is better to " nip it in the bud"; and you have to appear anyway. It's time for you to take your wolfsbane potion again." Ginny said.

Remus stopped laughing, and what color had been restored to him by Hermione, now drained to his feet. He still had nightmares about the last cup he had downed.

" Oh no...I think I would rather transform."

" Don't be silly. That is not an option." Hermione said.

" Have no fear, hero. . .Dumbledore assures that this one is completely unharmed. He said to tell you that the cause of the last effect has been pinpointed and lectured."

" Who. . .? "

" Did I say I knew? Now, I think you should both get dressed. . .and I will escort you back to headquarters."

" I don't need an escort." Lupin sniffed.

" Oh. . .I am not giving either of you the chance to escape. After all...you might try to elope on me."

" Not bloody likely." grumbled Hermione, winking at Remus, who only gave a weak smile. She was never going to kiss him again, he thought, if he turned into another magenta flavoured narcoleptic.