SD - Everything you recognize from Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. Everything you recognize from the film, "Two Weeks Notice" belongs to Marc Lawrence and Castle Rock Entertainment. So not even the plot idea is original. Oh well! xD
AN - Hey guys, I've returned once again! Since wrapping ADIT, I figured I'd be out of the game again for awhile. I'd been hoping to concentrate more on original fiction, and the last several fanfics I've done over the past months have all been in another fandom. But not too long ago, I saw the GOF film, and I suppose it jumpstarted my HP love all over again. So here I am! And I'm also here for another reason, which is that "Two Weeks Notice" is one of my all-time, favorite films. I love it to pieces, and it often reminded me of our favorite HP couple. If you've never seen it, you really need to! It's wonderful! ;-) So I'm doing this crossover. However, I am going to take a few liberties with the plot here and there, because I don't want it to be like a Xerox copy of the film, and also just to suit my own needs. But they won't be anything over the top, I don't think. ;-) Anyhoo, I hope everyone likes it, because I know I'm going to have fun writing it. Enjoy!
Dedicated to my awesome friend Gillian. The minute I told you about this idea, I knew I'd have to write it!
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Two Weeks Notice
-dutchtulips-
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"You know it takes a lot of kissin' to make a romance sweet,
And it takes a lot of lovin' to make my life complete;
Yeah, and it takes a lot of woman to knock me off of my feet,
And baby, you've got what it takes.
It takes more than an effort to stay away from you,
And it'd take more than a lifetime to prove that I'll be true;
Well, it takes somebody special to make me say 'I do',
And baby, you've got what it takes."
-- "Baby, You've Got What It Takes",
Brook Benton & Dinah Washington
---
"Hermione? Are you entirely sure this is a good idea?"
The voice of one of her oldest friends shouting at her had distracted twenty-seven year-old Hermione Granger, and she begrudgingly turned away from her task at hand. "Yes, Harry!" She replied loudly, and then, sarcastically, "That's only the thousandth time you've asked me that today, you know!"
"But he is our friend, mind!" Harry Potter pointed out, and then the slender, freckled redhead standing next to him, holding his hand, added, "Not to mention my brother!"
Hermione's eyebrows drew up as she glanced over at the red-haired girl - another of her best friends. "You wanted to come!" She reminded her.
"I know I did!" The freckle-faced girl, Ginny Weasley, shouted back. "But we should be at his office, duffing him up, instead of here!"
"Which would leave no one left to protect the building!" Hermione replied bluntly, and sighed in frustration. Her gaze on her best friends drifted to the building they were standing in front of - Flourish and Blotts. In recent years, the old bookstore had fallen on some hard times with the opening of several other wizard bookstore franchises, in Diagon Alley as well as everywhere else. It was now facing being torn down for good, which was precisely why Hermione has dragged her friends along to protest.
She pulled impatiently at her wrinkled red robes as she turned back to the dozen or so wizards standing in front of her, all wearing badges on the front of their maroon work robes, in which a large letter 'W' was emblazoned. They looked quite angered and frustrated themselves, specifically with the young woman standing before them.
"I am a lawyer!" Hermione was saying now, gritting her teeth, "And this is not the way I usually prefer to litigate! I'll drag you all the way into Wizengamot if I have to!"
"Listen, lady," one of them - the name Stewart Ackerley stitched on his work badge - started, "I don't care if you're a lawyer, I don't care if you drive the Knight Bus! You and your friends here are gonna have to move out. We got orders to close down this building and that's exactly what we're going to do!"
"Well, that's going to be pretty hard, now isn't it?" Hermione shot back, flicking her frizzy brown hair away from her face as she held up her right wrist to the man. Fastened to it was a large metal cuff, to which a heavy chain was attached. The other end of the chain was tethered to the gate that had been pulled down in front of the entrance to Flourish and Blotts. Both the metal cuff and the chain were emitting a golden glow. "I've enchanted the chain Unbreakable! Just try to drag us away!"
Ackerley rolled his eyes. "You're wasting your time, woman! We've already dispatched the Ministry's magical law enforcement!" He turned back to his co-workers, who were raising their wands and ready to take down the building. Hermione, however, was far from finished, and was still yelling at him.
"Do you read, Mr. Ackerley? How many books on wizard law do you own? Have you ever read the Decrees of the Ministry? Do you know any of them?" She rattled off, growing more and more annoyed. "I have a right to protest here, I'll have you know! Flourish and Blotts has been standing for longer than your grandparents have lived, Mr. Ackerley! And it deserves to stay here for another century, at least! For the good of the community, for our children, and their children! You have rich heritage right in the middle of Diagon Alley that you are indifferently going to destroy! You are -"
But the rest of Hermione's words were cut off as she watched Ackerley and his brigade unanimously raise their wands and point them at Flourish and Blotts, prepared to collapse it. Harry and Ginny rushed forward and grabbed onto her arms, pulling her out of the way and under the awning of the bookstore where they had been standing.
Grabbing at the chain on the store gate, Hermione turned to her friends, holding up two more wrist cuffs. "Attach these to your arms," she told them, "and link elbows. They can't move us!"
Harry and Ginny slowly did as they were told, attaching the cuffs to their wrists. They linked arms with each other, and then tacked onto Hermione, albeit somewhat reluctantly. She looked determined as she stared at the workers, but Harry and Ginny were slightly more apprehensive.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Ginny inquired. "Because I don't think they're going to stop!"
Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, Harry's voice burst out, blurting suddenly and unexpectedly. "Ginny, will you marry me?"
Her flaming hair fanned outward as she spun on her heels to look at him. "Are you serious?" She asked, a surprised smile spreading across her face.
Harry nodded, beaming, and then a moment later let out a gasp as Ginny jumped on him, smothering him in an excited embrace. "Yes!" She answered him, laughing. "Merlin, yes!"
As her two friends kissed, Hermione looked up to see Ackerley and his men pocketing their wands, and elation welled up inside of her. "Guys!" She exclaimed, trying to get Harry and Ginny's attention. "You guys, they've stopped! They put away their wands! We've saved the store!"
However, the workers were only stepping back because, Hermione noticed - with a sinking feeling in her stomach - several Ministry officials from the magical law enforcement office had shown up, decked out in black robes and staring, stony-faced, at the trio standing at the bookstore's gate.
Hermione sighed and stamped her foot. "Wonderful!" She said dejectedly. "Not again!"
---
A few hours later, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny were riding down the gold-gated lift at the Ministry of Magic, along with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, bringing up the rear. After the wizards from the magical law enforcement office had taken the three of them away, they'd spent quite some time on the second floor office, Hermione doing her best to debate their way out of having to spend the night in Azkaban. Luckily, Ginny had been able to get ahold of her parents via Floo Network, and they'd come down to the Ministry to pay the bond for the trio's release.
As the lift doors opened, the five of them stepped out into the busy hallway, Harry and Ginny in front, their arms wrapped warmly around each other. "Thanks so much for a great day, Hermione," Ginny said over her shoulder, beaming at her fiancé.
"Anytime," she replied, giving her friends a tired smile as they walked away. Molly, thoroughly excited at the news that her daughter had gotten engaged today, ambled off after the couple. Arthur, however, hung back for a moment.
"Thanks for picking us up today, Arthur," Hermione said, looking up at him. "I promise I'll get you paid back."
"Oh, that's quite all right," he said dismissively. "It's obvious my daughter and Harry are feeling quite well; I wanted to make sure you're okay, too."
She nodded slowly. "Yeah, I am. I'm just a little... glum, I guess." Pause. "So... did he demolish Flourish and Blotts?"
Arthur's eyebrows drew up for a moment. "Actually... no. Your little demonstration today caused such a scene that they've had to postpone."
"Good. I still have time," Hermione murmured to herself. When she looked back up at Mr. Weasley, however, an apologetic look suddenly filled her features. "Oh! You know I'm not warring against him, don't you? I just... I don't always like what he does."
"Of course, I know that," he replied, smiling gently. "However, I would suggest... perhaps you need to meet with him and let him know that." Arthur paused, staring at Hermione as she mulled over what he'd just said. She was gazing right back at him, the look in her eyes knowing fully what he meant in his words.
The moment was fleeting however, and before Hermione became too lost in her thoughts, Arthur was speaking again. "Well, I'd better go catch up with Molly; she's probably nagging the kids to death by now. Do you want to come along? We're treating them to dinner in Hogsmeade."
Hermione looked up, running a hand through her brown tresses. "No, thanks. I think I'll just Floo on home. I'm kind of tired."
"Sure." Arthur nodded, and as they departed, he called back to her again, as she was starting off in the direction of the Atrium. "Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"Hang in there," her told her, smiling knowingly.
---
The fifth floor of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries - its luxurious tearoom - was packed with people; guests and employees alike. It was the night of the big benefit party that Weasley Towers, Ltd. was throwing, in which the realty company was donating a large sum of gold to the hospital. The mogul of the company - the man of the hour himself - was standing at the front of the room, in front of a shiny oak podium which had a fancy letter 'W', the realty's emblem, plastered on it. He was speaking animatedly to the crowd of witches and wizards, who were all dressed in their evening finery, as was he.
"... And of course, I understand how important antidote research is to our beloved St. Mungo's," Ronald Weasley was saying, "to all sort of magical maladies. Two of my older brothers, Fred and George, have been two of the biggest jokesters in the world since their birth, and they certainly made sure I knew what being jinxed and hexed was like!"
The party guests laughed politely, and Ron gave the crowd a charming grin.
"That's why Weasley Towers is more than pleased to donate in every way we can, in the fight to find more antidotes to cure more magical illnesses, giving all of us a chance to live longer, stronger, happier, and hopeful," he proclaimed, and then raised his wine glass for a toast. "To St. Mungo's! Skoal!"
His speech finished, Ron stepped off the podium as the tearoom filled with applause. Casually, he slipped into the crowd, drinking champagne and mingling occasionally. Now that the biggest part of the evening - giving his speech - was over, he was glad to just relax and chat with people. He was somewhat distracted though, glancing around the room every so often, as if he was looking for someone.
As he was getting another drink from the waiter, Ron felt someone tap his shoulder and he turned around abruptly. A witch was standing there, one with shoulder-length brown hair who looked vaguely familiar to him. She was smiling at Ron, and before he could say anything, she said, almost in a flirtatious tone, "Hi. Great speech!"
He returned her smile, and then extended his arm to shake her hand. As he did so, Ron was finally able to place her. "Susan Bones!" He blurted. "Good to see you again. How've you been?"
"Oh, fine," she replied, still beaming. "Just fine. I'm actually a Healer here at the hospital now. I was thrilled when I heard you were hosting our yearly benefit." Susan took a drink of her champagne before speaking again. "My friend Rose Zeller really wants to meet you, but she's... kind of shy. Would you mind?"
Ron shook his head, replying brightly - though it was somewhat forced - "Oh, of course not."
"Wait right there, I'll get her," Susan said, and then slipped off in the crowd. Right as she did, though, yet another person tapped Ron on the back.
Sighing, he turned around, but relief flooded into him when he saw who it was. "Harry," he smiled, glad to see his best friend. "Didn't think you'd show up tonight. I know you had a... busy day."
"Well, I knew it'd been awhile since we spent any time together, so I thought I'd stop by and hear your speech," Harry replied with a grin, as he bit into a shrimp kabob he'd stolen from one of the hors d'oeuvres trays. "Very inspiring, mate."
The redhead chuckled and shrugged. "You know I don't write this stuff all by myself."
"Yes, that bubble-headed lawyer of yours enjoys overlooking those things, as I recall."
Ron rolled his eyes, not unkindly. "Well, did. I, uh, had to let her go this morning. Long story. Anyway," he said, swiftly changing the subject, "I heard that you yourself had quite the day with a hard-nosed lawyer we both know rather well."
Harry looked up at his oldest friend, and was almost surprised to see that he was smirking. "What, you're not upset? I was an accomplice in obstructing your business, after all."
The redhead merely shrugged, without replying directly. "But you did get engaged today! And to Ginny!" He held up his wine glass again. "Congrats, mate! Congrats! I hope you and my sister have a long, happy life together."
Harry grinned back, but with no drink to toast with, he instead held up his half-eaten shrimp kabob. "Cheers," he replied cheerfully.
"Ron?"
He whipped back around again, seeing that Susan had returned, and standing next to her now, a lovely young girl with long, dark brown hair. "This is Rose Zeller," she introduced. "She works here at the hospital with me."
"Hi," Rose said fawningly, gazing at Ron. "It's so lovely to meet you. Will you sign my Witch Weekly?"
The redhead looked confused for a moment, until he looked down and noticed that Rose was holding a magazine out to him. Indeed, on the front cover of the periodical, the title, Witch Weekly, was accompanied by a portrait of Ron himself, which was smiling lopsidedly and winking at the camera.
"Oh, of course," he replied and, feeling around in his pockets for a moment, withdrew a quill and quickly scribbled his signature on the cover of the magazine. "To Rose," he murmured as he wrote, "from Ron Weasley!"
After he was through, she clutched the copy of Witch Weekly to her chest, and gazed at him fondly again. "Oh, thank you very much!"
"Well, er, you're welcome very much!" He told her, stuffing the pen back into his pocket. Ron half-expected Rose to leave after that, but when she didn't, he didn't know what to say next. Luckily, he didn't have to, when he felt Harry poke him in the back again.
"Hey, mate. Percy's just arrived. I suspect he's looking for you."
Ron groaned. "Has he? Where?"
Harry pointed surreptitiously towards the tearoom doors with his kabob stick, in which Percy Weasley had just entered. Ron spotted his older brother, plucking a canapé from a waiter's tray and popping it into his mouth. He also had a file folder tucked under one arm, which more likely than not meant he was here to talk business. He always was. He managed the whole of the Weasley Towers company, and he never seemed to take a day off.
"I guess I'd better get the lynching over with," Ron said sarcastically, and then politely excused himself, striding over to where his brother was standing.
" 'Lo, Perce," he greeted casually.
"Ah, Ron, corking to see you," Percy replied pleasantly. "Wonderful to see that the benefit seems to be going splendidly. However, I do need to speak with you. Care to step out into the corridor for a moment?"
"Of course," Ron said, masking the reluctance in his voice, and opened the tearoom doors and followed his brother into the hallway. Once outside, the doors securely closed, he asked, "So... what news have you, Perce?"
He started in shrewdly right away. "Well, the paper was lost on the new developments for the Budleigh Babberton estate because that vixen attorney of yours, Orla Quirke, was just too bloody busy worrying about her makeup that she forgot to owl the proper forms to the Ministry! Percy curtly reported, looking very displeased. "So now we have to start negotiations all over again!"
"I will admit that she wasn't... the most attentive lawyer in the world," Ron replied, humbly, fishing into the pocket of his robes. "That's why I fired her. Boiled sweet, Perce?"
Percy mutely took a piece of candy from the handful that his brother was offering and tossed it into his mouth. "No, that's why I fired her," the elder Weasley corrected. "Just like I sacked Cecile before her, just like I also fired Juliette before her!" Percy began pacing across the hallway floor, as he continued along with his tirade. "One thing you will never be good at is hiring a competent chief counsel! You need someone who has perhaps achieved all O's on their O.W.L.s, for example. Someone who has actually read the books she owns!"
"Witches that smart often find me insufferable," Ron commented sheepishly.
Percy, however, snapped back, "I'd ask why not hire a man, but I daresay I already know the answer. Your counsel is not there to be getting flirty with!" He paused for a moment, dislodging the file folder from underneath his elbow and opening it. "Now," he went on, sifting through the papers inside, "I've been looking through several new prospects, and tomorrow I've set up a row of interviews in order for you to meet with these people. And I want you to have a new lawyer hired by this time tomorrow! Promise me you will do that, Ron."
He nodded. "Okay. I will, I assure you."
"Good," Percy replied approvingly. "See you tomorrow."
The elder Weasley started down the stairs, but halfway down, he suddenly let out an exasperated yell. When Ron looked up, he saw Percy staring at him, holding out his tongue. A hole, about the size of a marble, had burned straight through it. "That was an acid pop, wasn't it!" He exclaimed, and when his younger brother nodded, he said, in frustration, "Why do you always find that so amusing?"
"Very difficult to say," Ron smirked.
---
To be continued...