Pseudo Cinderella and the Slytherin Prince

Chapter 11: Subtle Hints and Kept Secrets

Hermione's POV

"If I were actually modest, 'Mione, I'd say that my clothes look better on you than they do on me!" Ginny says as we make our way down stairs almost as extensive as the ones at Zabini Manor. Oh no, please don't think about that now!

"Thanks Gin." Yeah. Thanks for being here for me. I really need a friend right now. We finally reach the kitchen, where the three boys and Mrs. Weasley are already gathered, eating breakfast. Mmm, pancakes…

"Hermione, dear, sit down! Help yourself to some pancakes and bacon!" Mrs. Weasley insists. And how can I refuse? I love her cooking.

"Thank you!" Gods, it just occurred to me that I haven't had a decent meal in almost three days. Let me rephrase that. I haven't had a decent appetite in three days.

Ron takes a break from scarfing down his pancakes as if they're his last meal to notice my change of appearance. "Hey, 'Mione, what happened to the dress?" Oh, please. Now the twins want to know too. I try to make rolling my eyes.

"Uh, the dress? Oh, it's not really appropriate attire for tracking down ones parents, don't you agree?" heh. Of course they don't agree.

"Uh, yeah…yeah, sure. Not really appropriate," Ron answers. It's so obvious he's picturing me in that dress again. And so is George, and Fred…is staring at me the way I am? What's up with this now, twinny? Honestly, I don't know how I can tell the two apart. I mean, even they're own mother can't do that. I guess there's just always been…something about Fred that makes me see him differently… even since the first day I actually met the Weasley family, it didn't take me long to memorize which of the twins was which. NOT that I'm attracted to either one of them. Am I? Well I certainly hope not…

"So, 'Mione. Where do think your parents would have gone to?" Oh, probably just their new mansion in some fancy part of wizard Europe. Isn't that where you'd expect to find you're parents if you came home and your entire house was empty, not just of tangible objects, but of almost every single memory you ever made there? "I mean, where would they be if they aren't at home?" But how could I possibly tell Ginny this? Or anyone else, for that matter?

"Uh, that's what I don't know, exactly." 'Exactly' being the operative word.

"Hermione, how exactly did you find your house when you got home?" Oh no, what do I tell Mrs. Weasley? That I found the house completely stripped of any evidence that anyone ever lived there?

"…empty." Is my answer.

"So there was absolutely no one in it?" Well, there's that, yes. "Not even that at of yours?" Oh my gosh! CROOKSHANKS! I completely forgot about him! Oh, I'm a terrible, terrible owner. I hope they remembered to take him! Oh, Shanksy, I'll find you soon! I hope… but how to answer this question…

"No. there was no one at home. And I don't know if Crookshanks was there or not. He could have been outside…" Hopefully he wasn't. I really hope he's okay. Losing my home I've known since practically birth I can get over. But losing Crookshanks?

"And there was no note on the table, or anything like that?" Hmh. What table was there left to leave one on?

"No, Mrs. Weasley. There was no note, no phone number or message, nothing." Molly makes a slightly distorted face at my mention of Muggle appliances but covers it quickly.

"Did it look like…was there anything…missing from the house? Or broken? I've heard some Muggles can be terribly…intrusive." What? She thinks someone broke into my house? Hardly.

"No, Mrs. Weasley. I'm pretty sure no one broke into my house." Her sigh is one of heavy relief.

"Oh. Good. Then, you checked the whole entire house?" Merlin, will her questioning never end?

"Yes."

"And you checked with the all neighbors?" … Normally I'm all against lying, but now it's unavoidable.

"Yes. One of them heard me shouting for my parents and rushed over to see what was wrong." There. That was pretty good, if I do say so myself.

"Alright. So, they weren't at their… job. Were they?" Oh my goodness, Molly.

"No, they weren't. I called in to their office a couple of times." Oh! Good one, Hermione! I bet Malfoy would e proud if he knew how good I've been lying. Crap. NOT GOING TO THINK ABOUT HIM! NOT GOING TO!

"Relax, Mum. 'Mione's the smartest witch in Hogwarts. She's probably the smartest Muggle, too." Molly relaxes a bit as Fred flashes her a smile… and then flashes it at me. And was that a wink I just detected? What's going on here, twinny?

"Ah, Fred. I suppose you're right. Well then Hermione, where do you propose we start looking?" She gives me a warm smile, a Weasley trademark, along with impossibly bright red-orange hair and endless freckles. The Weasley smile, infact, could rival the Malfoy trademark smirk. But I'm NOT GOING TO THINK ABOUT THAT now, am I?

"Why don't we just go to Dumbledore? He'd know where they are, wouldn't he?" Hey, good idea Ronald. One of few. Sorry, I had to admit that. Even if he is one of my very best friends.

"A good idea, Ronald! Alright, who's up for a visit to Grimauld Place?" Of course, we all are. It's been ages since I've actually seen Harry. Needless to say, Ginny seems most excited about this spontaneous visit. She's grinning from ear to pierced ear. "Okay then! Let me check with Remus first. Well, what are you all standing around for? Go get yourselves cleaned up!" Fabtastic! This is just what I need to keep my mind off of… who? Haha, just kidding. I know very well who. But I'm going to pretend I don't. I follow Ginny once again up to her room. Merlin, how many stairs are there in the Burrow?

"I'll meet you upstairs, Gin. I just have to…catch…my breath…." Oh my goodness. Oxygen, need oxygen. Note to self: pace yourself when going up multiple flights of stairs. I guess being away from Hogwarts for three months takes one out of shape. That is, if you don't have to run up and down stairs on a regular basis.

"Hey Hermione," Hello there, Twinny.

"Oh. Uh, hi Fred. I'm just, ah, trying to catch my breath…" yeah… Why do I feel uncomfortable around him all of a sudden?

"Oh, well, no need, seeing as you already caught mine…" What? Was that a pick-up line? Fred Weasley, is this one of your stupid jokes, or are you trying to… uh-oh. I know that stare. He's not joking… Breathe Hermione, breathe…

"Right then. I'll, er, be seeing you, in a few minutes, that is." With that he walks into his room, which just so happens to be on the floor I'm resting at. And there's another wink. I stand on that landing for about another minute, trying to gather both my thoughts and my breath now. What just happened, exactly? Oops, no time. That's Ginny calling me.

"COMING, GINNY!" I take the rest of the stairs slowly, but deliberately.

To my three reviewers thus far: Thank you SO MUCH for reading! I'm glad you all like it! This chapter has literally taken me about six months to come up with, but I think I finally set it up in a way thatgets the story going in the direction I want it to. Now remember, there will be many twist and turns and different directions taken throughout this whole story, but trust me, I promise you it will be Draco/Hermione. Mostly... j/k. Just stay tuned to find out what happens.

hermione-Granger-420: Thought I'd opst the first eleven chaptres yesterday to tide you all over, but apparently you wanted more, so I hope this is soon enough! I'll try my hardest to keep it coming! And good guess, but not quite... Krum actually ties into it, but how will be revealed in a later chapter XD Sorry. trying not to be to evil. Hope you like this chapter tho!

Sincerely, I;I