Author's Notes:
I just want to thank all of you that have taken the time to leave reviews. It really appreciate it. I also thought I'd take this opportunity to answer a few of your questions. Not all mind you, it would take forever and I have a forum where I do that at Checkmated.com. I tried to leave you all a direct link, but apparently I can't. Feel free to pop on by if you have questions. I check it daily. But be warned, there are major spoilers posted there. I've published 40 chapters, (41 if you include the NC-17 outtake), at that site, so the conversation is a bit ahead of where most of you are plot wise. Any of you that want to jump ahead, or catch up can read all 40 chapters over there. Be warned though, the story isn't fisnished yet, so once you hit chapter 40, you're in for a bit of a wait.
Well, on to the questions.
valentines-hater:
Good guess, but not quite what Hermione has in mind.
angeloffear2006:
Sorry to tell you this, but Hermione doesn't tell Ron her plan until chapter 28 & 29, so you have a bit of a wait. I do drop a lot of clues along the way though, so if you pay close attention you might just be able to figure parts of it out on your own.
AdrienneLovesRon69:
I hate to disappoint you, but I've written 40 chapters so far and Ron and Hermione STILL haven't done the deed yet. They've come damn closer a few times though.
White roses for me:
Nope, not British :-( but my ex was, so I've got a fairly good handle on some of the lingo.
Chapter 15
Hermione was roused from her nap by the sound of someone talking rather loudly downstairs. Wondering how long she had been asleep, she rubbed her eyes and sat up. Now fully awake, Hermione recognized Ginny's voice as it filtered through the gap left by the half opened bedroom door.
"You can't just barge in here and .... Get the hell out of here, Per...."
Ginny's voice faded for a moment and Hermione strained her ears in an attempt to hear anything else. For a split second she thought she heard a deeper, male voice mutter something before Ginny's angry shout drowned it out.
"I don't care who you're with! You can't see... You're going to... talk to Bill... He's out back trying to get rid of the..."
There was more muttering. Whoever was speaking was either getting louder or closer. This time Hermione was almost sure she heard two distinctly different male voices trying to speak at the same time before Ginny interrupted them.
"HEY! I SAID YOU CAN'T SEE HER!" Hermione heard Ginny shout angrily. There was a loud thump and then Ginny erupted. "GET YOUR HANDS OFF'A ME YOU SON OF A... BILL!" Hermione heard Ginny call out for her eldest brother as her footsteps echoed down the stairs. "BILL!!"
Hermione just had time to realize that Ginny couldn't possible have been fighting with Fred and George because neither of them would ever lay a hand on her, when there was a knock on the half opened door and it was pushed open by a man she had never seen before. Hermione instantly thrust her hand under the pillow she had been resting on to grasp Ron's wand. She would have cursed the unknown man right where he stood if Percy Weasley hadn't entered the room at the same time her hand closed on the wand.
"GET OUT!" Hermione shouted loudly as she narrowed her eyes at Percy. For his part, Percy acted as if he hadn't even heard her. In fact, he didn't even look at Hermione. He stepped to the side and let his eyes scan his old bedroom as a third man walked through the door.
Hermione scowled angrily at the Minister of Magic as he took a step towards the bed and gave her a placating smile. Rather than calm her, all it did was incense her more. She glared silently at Cornelius Fudge for a moment longer and then locked her angry glower on the redhead attempting to ignore her. "GET THE HELL OUT!" she shouted.
"I say?" the unknown man still standing by the door declared as he looked at the Minister and arched his eyebrow in surprise.
"I MEAN IT, PERCY!"Hermione bellowed so loudly Fudge actually took a step away from her himself. "YOU BACKSTABBING, EGOTISTICAL, TURNCOAT! HOW DARE YOU SET ONE FOOT IN THIS HOUSE AFTER THE WAY YOU'VE TREATED YOUR FAMILY."
"Now wait just a minute," Percy stated, finally deeming it necessary to look at Hermione and acknowledge the fact she was speaking to him.
With a loud crack, Fred materialized out of thin air right next to the bed and promptly pointed his wand at the unwelcome trio standing before him.
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK TO ME, YOU POMPOUS JACKASS!" Hermione shrieked loudly. "YOU HAVE UNTIL THE COUNT OF 3 TO GET YOUR PRETENTIOUS BACKSIDE OUT OF MY SIGHT," she screeched as she pulled Ron's wand out from under the pillow and pointing it right at Percy's chest, "BEFORE I CURSE YOU INTO OBLIVION! "
"The Howlers," Fudge muttered to himself as he gaped at the scene taking place before him.
"You heard her," Fred said, turning his own wand on his brother. "Get out of her room."
"ONE!"Hermione shouted.
"This is my room," Percy cried resentfully.
"Not anymore, it isn't," Fred informed him with a smirk. "This room is hers now. And she asked you to leave. SO GET THE HELL OUT !"
"TWO!"Hermione continued to count.
Blushing deeply, Percy glanced over at his boss as if looking for an answer about what he ought to do. Seeing nothing but shock on Fudge's face, Percy did the only sensible thing he could do.
"THREE!"Hermione bellowed.
Mr. Weasley and Bill both apparated into the room just in time to see Percy turned tail and run out into the hallway, slamming the door shut behind him to block any curses that might be following. Unfortunately for Percy, George had been waiting for him. As he made his hasty retreat, George stuck his foot out and tripped his brother. Percy was forced to abandon the paperwork he had been clutching in his hands, in order to break his fall. George snickered loudly as he watched his older brother attempt to gather the papers into a pile on the floor. Before Percy could scoop the pile up into his hands again, George strode forward until both of his feet were planted firmly on top of the Ministry documents.
"Got another Howler, did you Perce?" George taunted his brother as he rose to his feet. "Up close and personal this time?"
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON UP HERE?" Ron shouted as he tore up the stairs, Ginny right on his heels "What's he doing here?" Ron asked George, screwing his face up when he said 'he,' as if it were a dirty word.
"He came here to harass your girlfriend," Fred replied as he exited the bedroom and closed the door behind him.
"Girlfriend?" Percy questioned as Ron glared murderously at him.
"If you did anything to her I swear I'll...," Ron started before his brother interrupted him.
"If anyone was in danger it was this stupid git," Fred laughed, pointing at Percy with his wand. "He damn near wet himself when she pulled your wand on him and threatened to curse him into oblivion. It was bloody brilliant," he continued with a laugh.
"I've seen you get her pretty hacked off, Ron," George chortled happily. "But I've never heard her shout like that."
"Well, maybe after the Yule Ball," Fred snickered.
"Yeah, that one was pretty impressive, wasn't it," George chuckled. "Reminded me of that row Mum and Dad had about..."
"OH SHUT UP!" Ron growled at the twins even though he was still glaring at Percy.
"Still, bet that was nothing compared to those howlers you got. Right, Perce?" Fred asked.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Percy replied, staring back at his brothers with a straight face and trying to act dignified.
George caught Fred's eye and they both snorted loudly at their brother's feigned confusion.
"What I would have given to be there to witness that," George snickered.
"What are you two talking about?" Ginny asked, looking as confused by the comments as Ron did.
"She didn't tell you?" Fred asked Ron with a smile.
"Your girlfriend has been sending howlers to this git at the Ministry," George laughed as he pointed at Percy.
"Perkins told us," Fred added.
"He was there when the first one went off," George explained. "Lucky bloke. He got to hear the whole thing. But then, he wasn't the only one, was he?" George asked Percy.
"She times it perfectly," Fred said, his face full of sincere admiration.
"Of course," George chuckled.
"It went off right in the main lobby," Fred explained.
"Just after everyone arrived at work," George added.
"She told him off for writing you some bloody letter," Fred informed Ron.
"She told him that you would never be anything like him," George said.
"Called him a...," Fred began and then seemed to pause to consider it for a minute. "A greedy fool, wasn't it Percy?"
"I think it was a 'materialistic collaborator'," George suggested.
"No, it was a 'materialistic fool' and a 'pretentious little collaborator'," Fred corrected.
"Yes that was it," George agreed with a chuckle. "And a 'grasping devious spy'."
"Who sold his family out for a prestigious job and a fancy title," Fred added as all the humor draining out of his face.
"Who is too stupid to realize he's doing You-Know-Who's dirty work," George continued.
"No, that last bit about You -Know-Who was in the second one," Fred informed his twin brother.
"You know?" George replied, "I think you're right."
"Bloody genius, that one," Fred laughed.
"She sent it to him disguised as a Christmas card," George explained.
"In a green envelope," Fred added.
"Right to the Minister's office."
"How do you know about that?" Percy asked the twins guardedly.
"And of course 'Perfect Percy' would never open personal mail at work so it exploded," George explained an instant before he and Fred started laughing.
"Right in the middle of Fudge's office," Fred hooted loudly. "Told him off good for being such a git."
"And ruining Christmas for Mum," George added.
"Called you a smug, self-righteous prat, didn't she Perce? Oh no wait, that was me," Fred informed his older brother with a smirk.
"She did tell him that he ought to be ashamed of himself though. Dad almost died and he didn't have the decency to even visit," George explained.
"She said he was too busy doing You-Know-Who's dirty work," Fred added.
"Only she didn't say You- Know-Who, did she Percy?" George asked, even though he knew the answer.
"Oh no," Fred replied. "She shouted out his name. Right there in the Minister's office."
"Caused quite a scene, that," George snickered. "Or so I heard."
"People screaming."
"Is it true Fudge almost passed out?" George asked Percy.
"Too bad they didn't fire you," Fred hissed at his brother.
"You know what Fred, I reckon maybe we shouldn't give Hermione such a bad time right now. We owe her one for putting this," George said as he pointed at Percy, "in it's place."
"Owe her another one for what she did to his little mentor, Umbridge," Fred added.
"That was bloody fantastic," George laughed.
"Almost wish we had still been in school to witness it."
"Almost."
"I guess Ickle Ronniekins will have to bear the brunt of it now," Fred said.
"He's used to it though. Where's the fun in that?" George asked, his voice full of regret.
"Well, maybe an occasional prank," Fred suggested.
"Or joke at her expense," George added with a mischievous smile.
"Just so she knows we still care," Fred explained.
"Yes," George agreed. "We wouldn't want her to think we don't appreciate her. After all, those disguised Howlers are selling like mad," he added, kicking the paperwork he had been standing on at Percy. "Time for you to go," he said glaring at his brother with a serious expression.
"Before Mum gets home," Fred added with a glare of his own. "Wouldn't do to have her find you here."
Percy didn't seem to know what to do. He didn't make a move to leave, so Fred took matters into his own hands.
"Wingardium Leviosa," Fred said, as he pointed his wand down at the floor. The paperwork Percy had been carrying earlier floated up into the air and hovered there.
Percy made no move to take it, so George reached over and grabbed it, then thrust it at Percy's chest. "Don't come back," he warned his older brother when he reached for the paperwork.
"Don't owl," Fred added.
"Forget that you know us."
"You pompous git."
"Now get out of our bloody house," George barked as both he and his twin brother pointed their wands at Percy's chest.
Percy took a moment to glance at Ron and Ginny, who both look completely stunned and then he disappareated with a pop.
"Bloody prat," Fred swore under his breath.
"Good thing Mum wasn't here," George said.
"Bit odd though, isn't it?" Fred asked his twin brother. "I mean that he'd show up when BOTH Mum and Dad were gone."
"Do you think the Ministry is watching the house?" George questioned.
"Makes sense, I suppose," Fred replied. He looked over at Ginny and Ron for a moment and then back at George. Somehow he was able to communicate something to George with the look, although neither twin attempted to voice what it was.
"You two," Fred finally said as he looked first at Ginny and then at Ron. "Stay inside until AFTER we've talked to Dad."
"Why?" Ginny asked.
"He's still in there with the Minister," George said, ignoring Ginny's question. "And Hermione."
"I wonder why she didn't order Fudge out of the room as well," Fred thought out loud.
"She probably didn't want to give him an excuse to sack Dad," George replied.
"Still, they've been in there a long time."
"Extendable ears you reckon?" George asked.
"Accio extendable ears," Fred said as he pointed his wand at the staircase. Within a matter of moments, 4 long flesh colored objects came flying down the hall and landed in Fred's outstretched hand. He immediately handed them out amongst his siblings and all 4 of them popped one end in their ears so they could listen to the conversation taking place on the other side of the door.
....................
"The reporters were a nice touch," they heard Bill say. "Having them lurk around the house snapping pictures. Inspired really. You knew of course, I'd go out and chase them off. Gave you the perfect opportunity to slip inside."
"I don't know what you're talking about," the Minister's voice replied. "They certainly didn't come with me."
"But you did tell them where she could be found," Mr. Weasley asked, his voice betraying no emotion whatsoever.
"Me?" they heard Fudge ask, as if he were shocked by the accusation. "Certainly not. Someone in the Ministry might have let it slip, but I wouldn't know anything about that."
"Well, as you can see, she's fine," Mr. Weasley said. "Now I'll thank you to leave my home."
"Come now, Arthur," a voice they didn't recognize said. "Be reasonable."
"I won't have you interrogating her," Mr. Weasley replied, his voice finally taking on an angry timbre.
"Mr. Weasley, it's ok," they heard Hermione say. "I don't mind. I'll talk to him."
"Hermione, you don't have to...," Bill's voice said.
"I know I don't have to," Hermione interrupted him. "But I will."
Her comment was met with silence. For a moment Ron thought someone might have placed a silencing charm on the room, but then he realized he would have heard them utter the spell.
"You see Arthur," Fudge's voice finally declared. "She understands how important this is. That's a good girl."
"That was a mistake," Ron whispers to his brothers with a smirk.
"I do not appreciate your condescending tone, Mr. Fudge," they heard Hermione reply sharply. "Nor will I sit here and let you talk down to me as if I were some silly 5 year old. If that's what you have in mind, you can leave right now."
"No... no, of course not," Fudge sputtered. " I didn't mean to... That is to say..."
"I'll answer all your questions," Hermione stated. "But you are going to have to do something for me in return."
"And what might that be?" they heard Fudge ask suspiciously after a prolonged silence.
"You are going to let Viktor Krum go."
"Now see here! I will not be dictated to by some.."
"You will let him go, Mr. Fudge," Hermione stated definitively. "One way or another. I will see to it."
"Are you threatening me?" the Minister asked, his voice now so low it came out almost as a growl.
"It was more of a statement of fact, then a threat," they heard Hermione reply, "but you can take it any way you like. Either I will be talking to you or I will be talking to the reporters you so kindly revealed my whereabouts to. What I won't do is sit back and watch you send another innocent man to Azkaban. You can either let him go now or you can wait until after I've spoken to the press and told everyone what an unfortunate victim he is. Captured by Death Eaters; forced to do their bidding against his will; thrown to the wolves and used as a scapegoat by the Ministry. I imagine it will cause quite the uproar. Especially when the Bulgarian Ministry gets involved. I suggest you let him go before the match. Unless you want to deal with all those fanatical Quidditch fans who no doubt will accuse you of keeping an innocent man in prison in an attempt to sabotage Bulgaria chance to make it to the World Cup."
"Snape was right about you," Fudge spat out angrily.
Ron didn't wait to hear what Hermione's reply was. He pulled the flesh colored string out of his ear and dropped it on the floor where he stood. Then without saying a word to anyone, he turned and marched off down the hall. Fred and George exchanged a glance as Ginny watched Ron storm down the stairs. All three of them stood there is silence looking at each other as they heard the backdoor slam shut.
"Stupid prat," Fred said. "We clearly told him to stay inside."
"He's upset about Krum," Ginny tried to explain.
"Bugger!" George swore. "Maybe you ought to go tell him to come back inside," he suggested to Fred
"Me? Why don't you do it?" Fred asked.
"Mum just healed one black eye. I don't fancy having another one."
"You two are pathetic," Ginny said. "I'll go get him."
"No you won't," George replied, grabbing her by the arm to stop her from following after Ron. "Mum would kill us if we let anything happen to you."
"I'll just be in the back yard," Ginny shot back as she tugged herself loose.
"No, I'll go," Fred said. "I'll just keep an eye on him until he's ready to come in on his own," he told George. "You stay inside," Fred said to Ginny.
Realizing that there was no point arguing with them, as George was obviously going to stay behind and watch her every move, Ginny agreed. "Fine."
"And you better tell Hermione that Ron's in a temper when she's through in there," Fred added as he headed off towards the stairs. "Because you know she's the only one that's going to be able to calm him down."