A/N: Glad to know I'm not the only one experiencing the login problems. I thought my computer had gone schizo on me or something. All the positive thought and threats must have helped-no problems yet. I can't believe that I'm on chapter twenty. I had planned to have the whole thing done in about fifteen. I have to admit, I think I may have about ten more in me to wrap it all up. Maybe more. If that bothers anyone, I apologize. And a big thank you to emilychristianad for finding the name of the department: The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. I really appreciate it.
………………
Kaydeek
I think my computer is sufficiently scared.
-Hermione-Fred-Forever-Thank you. I was beginning to worry that people were starting to
get a little frustrated with the length. It's nice to know someone
appreciates it.
ali-louI did the same thing after I read my first FW/HG story.
CorviYay! I want a silver one with star-shaped diamonds…
Blue
Burns OrangeI'm with
you one hundred percent on that one. I absolutely hate it when
authors have the characters talking in slang and saying completely
absurd things that you know they would NEVER say. I've tried to
avoid that the best I could.
Chrissy430You'll see.
sandiwandi
Yay, another one who likes lengthy stories. Me happy.
Pauly-85I'm glad. I was very worried.
angryteabagI'll keep that in mind. : )
Monica7725Fred doesn't have a blood pact. Just Ron.
Marianne
BrandonOkay, the eyes
were just mean.
a
proud geekfreakI'm
not trying to make him a prat. Well, not too much.
SnapesMistress005Not avoided for long. : )
HuskerinexileA very twisted sort of method.
KrazieChikadeeYeah I know. But boring is better than nothing right?
SiriusJamesRemus'sgirlImpatient already? Oh, you are so going to be putting hexes on me
by the time I'm done.
Baseball
FanaticUm, okay.
SilverMoonsetRon and Claire? Sorry, but NO.
penguininpinkNo, not soon at all.
emilychristinadThank you very much.
hdhsfanOw, I now have a cavity.
silktophatI think my head may be deflating a bit. Don't worry.
Brice
HalliwellPrank? What
did you have in mind?
pyro
the dark angelWell, we
have to feed the bunnies now don't we?
MrsVincentCrabbeAw, you are the sweetest. Author blushes.
3-Legged
DogI agree. I never
would have thought it either. But similarly I just hit their names
one day to see what came up and voila! Here we are.
MichellesdaughterThink I could borrow him for awhile? Just for story purposes of
course.
tempusfugit3: Hmmm, playtime. Maybe I could add a swing set, perhaps throw in a slide. What do you think?
Everybody Else: Cookies, kisses, whatever you want-it's yours.
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Disclaimer: See other chapters. I'm too lazy.
………………
Here We Go Again
………………
Fred walked up the stairs the next day to find George sitting in one of the kitchen chairs and looking very sulky. Hermione was standing behind him with her wand pointed at his still purple hair and looked no less frustrated.
"Do I want to know?" Fred asked.
"I was hoping that Hermione, being as brilliant as she is, would be able to fix this." George groused.
"I take it you haven't had any luck." Fred deadpanned.
"I've tried everything I could think of. Nothing. It's like this hair is determined to stay purple." Hermione fumed.
"At least it's a nice shade of purple." Fred said as he walked down the hall into the bedroom.
"Not helping." Hermione called after him.
"Please tell me you've thought of something." George pleaded with her.
"Maybe just one more thing…" she murmured. She pointed her wand at his hair and shouted "Retorne" and a bright red light erupted around George's head. Once it faded, his hair was restored to it's previous vibrant red.
"It worked!" she cried.
"It did!" George jumped up and ran to the mirror next to the door.
"What's all the commotion about?" Fred asked, coming back into the kitchen.
"Your wife is a genius!" George cried, kissing her on the cheek. "If you ever need anything, ANYTHING, it's yours." With that he disappeared down the stairs.
Hermione looked over to see Fred grinning at her. "What?"
"You're amazing you know that?" he said softly.
Hermione blushed to the roots of her hair. "Yeah well…"
"Oh before I forget, Oliver and Katie came by to see me today." he said.
Grateful for the subject change she replied "How are they?"
"The date for the wedding has been set for the fourteenth of next month. We were threatened with Unforgivables if we don't attend. But they really dropped by to invite us out for drinks tomorrow night. If you want to."
"Of course." she answered. Fred smiled and went off to send them they'd be there.
Hermione sat down at the table and sighed heavily. How could she tell Fred that she thought it was a bad idea? She really didn't know either Oliver or Katie that well. What if they figured out she and Fred were just pretending? It was going to be a long night.
………………
"You're sure?" Fred asked her for the tenth time in the past hour.
"I'm sure. If you ask me again I'm going to break this plate over your head." she waved the dish she was holding at him menacingly and Fred made a face at her.
A knock on the door interrupted their banter. Fred opened the door to see Bill standing there with a huge grin on his face.
"What has you so chipper?" Fred asked.
"I just told Fleur about your idea to set Cherie up with Michael so she'd want out of the whole thing and she though it was brilliant. And Michael said he's more than happy to go out with her until Fleur and I are married." Bill responded hurriedly.
"Deep breaths." Fred mocked.
"So we're all set for dinner on Friday then?" Hermione asked Bill.
"Yep. Cherie agreed. She thinks I want her to get to know my family. Wait till she sees Michael. I can't wait." he slapped Fred heartily on the back and hugged Hermione before apparating out.
"Well at least that's working." Fred muttered under his breath.
"Huh?" Hermione asked him.
"We still haven't figured out what to do about Ron." he clarified.
"Oh." Hermione thought for a second then a huge smile broke across her face. "What if we invite Ron over Friday too?"
"Why?" Fred wondered.
"If we're getting to know future in-laws it only makes sense if he and Luna are there too."
Fred was shocked at her brilliance for a second then a matching grin spread across his face.
"Hermione, sometimes you're so clever it scares me." he told her.
"I try."
………………
Hermione was bored out of her mind.
She had been sitting with Fred, Oliver, and Katie for the past two hours at the Leaky Cauldron while they talked about Quidditch and she had already counted the holes in the wall and the ceiling tiles five times each. She raised her hand, signaling the waitress over for another drink. If she was going to listen to more Quidditch talk she definitely needed more fire whiskey.
"Hermione are you alright?" Katie asked her kindly.
"Fine." she replied in the same sugary tone.
"That's your fourth glass." she said as the waitress at Hermione's drink in front of her.
"So?" Hermione snapped as she downed it in two gulps. She looked over at Fred and realized that a song she liked very much was playing. She grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. "Let's dance."
Fred followed her onto the floor before he said anything. "Hermione are you sure you're okay?" he asked as he placed his hands on her hips.
"Fine. Just trying to have fun." she answered before winding her arms around his neck. She pulled him closer so he was forced to wrap his own arms around her. She sighed and snuggled her head against his chest. Fred smiled and placed his head on top of hers.
Fred decided he'd wait until Hermione was totally sober before he brought up her being rude. Someone as well-versed in curses as she was, was best not angered while drinking. Fred knew her temper and he wanted to live to see twenty.
She tightened her arms around him and made a small sound of contentment. Who knew Hermione was such a friendly drinker? He'd have to remember to keep her away from fire whiskey in the future. He was the immature one of the two of them. He didn't like having to watch out for someone. Then she sighed again and started running her hands up and down his back. He looked down at the smile playing on her lips and smiled in return. Oh well, it wasn't that bad looking after her.
The song ended and Hermione didn't move. "Hermione."
"Hmm?"
"The song's over." he whispered.
"Oh. Let's have some more to drink." she started off towards the bar but Fred grabbed her hand. "I don't think that's the best idea."
"Why? Oliver and Katie have forgotten all about us." Fred followed her gaze to the table they had been sitting at. Presently Oliver and Katie were making out, oblivious to the world around them. He shook his head. "Fine. One more then I'm taking you home."
"Okay. But only if you join me." she answered sweetly.
………………
Hermione groaned as the sunlight hit her face the next morning. The brightness made her head throb and a wave of nausea flowed through her. She rolled over onto her side to get the light out of her face. Who knew fire whiskey was so strong? She felt Fred shift beside her and she snuggled up against him. She hated being by herself when she wasn't feeling well. Hermione didn't even remember coming home the night before. She would definitely have to go and apologize to Oliver and Katie for this. Fred pressed closer to her and that's when she realized it.
She shot up and her eyes flew open. She regretted it at once when the urge to pass out overtook her. This could not be happening again.
"Fred." she croaked out. Her throat felt like sandpaper. She cleared it. "Fred." she said louder and poked him in the arm.
"Uhhh." he groaned and rolled over onto his back. "It's too early and way too bright."
"How much did I have to drink?" Hermione asked him.
"I don't remember. But I have a feeling I caught up with you." he said from underneath his pillow.
"Great." she muttered and flopped back onto the bed, pulling the comforter up to her chin.
"Hermione, getting drunk is not the end of the world." he told her.
"What about what you do after you get drunk?" she asked.
"Huh?" Fred peaked out from under his pillow at her.
"Fred-are you wearing any clothes?" Hermione asked him slowly. She was dreading his answer.
Fred looked confused for a second before realization dawned on his face. He moved beneath the covers, apparently checking before looking back at her.
"No." he replied.
"Here we go again." Hermione muttered.
………………..
A/N: In the next chapter we'll see how the dinner turns out, Fred finds out what happened at the bar, and Hermione calls in her favor from George. You do NOT want to miss it. Ta ta!
