Chapter 12

Hermione awoke late on Saturday morning; the previous night, after her talk with George, she hadn't been able to sleep and had resorted to sitting on the bench in the yard until past midnight, simply watching the stars. It hadn't been until she felt Crookshanks mewing and shivering on her lap that she realised how late and cold it was, and had hurried up to bed.

As she descended the creaky stairs on Saturday morning, she heard many lively voices chattering away in the kitchen below; she groaned inwardly at the thought of facing all the Weasleys after her several emotional outbursts and false revelations over the past few days, feeling particularly cautious of Ginny and George. However, when she stepped over the threshold, no awkward or expectant glances were cast her way; everyone was huddled around a small piece of parchment being held by Mrs Weasley, who was clutching it as if it were made of gold and was positively beaming.

"Tonight?" Said Ron eagerly, (who had recently recovered from his unfortunate bludger-induced injury but was still having to drink a rather foul-smelling green potion three times a day), peering over his mother's shoulder, his eyes bright, and stuffing a very heavily-buttered piece of toast into his mouth.

"Yes, yes! Oh, we shall have to have a party! I've been so worried …"

"Morning," Hermione said timidly, as no-one seemed to have noticed her quiet arrival.

"Hermione! Harry's coming tonight!" Ron grinned, before taking another enormous bite of his toast.

Hermione smiled and heaved a silent sigh of relief for two reasons: Harry was finally coming, and by the looks of it, Ginny had not told Ron what she had presumed yesterday. On a second scan of the small, noisy room, she realised that Ginny in fact wasn't there – visiting Dean again was her suspicion – and neither was Fred, again. Perhaps he was visiting –

"Hello Hermione, dear, sit yourself down and I'll bring you some eggs .." Mrs Weasley, clearly just as joyous as the rest, pushed Hermione into a chair at the scrubbed wooden table, and bustled off to the cooker to sort her out some breakfast.

After she had finished and was just about to go upstairs to take a shower, Hermione was cornered by George. But before he could say anything, she spoke:

"George, this is ridiculous, I can't possibly tell Fred what I told you, its –"

"Don't start denying it now! I heard what you said and I'm not stupid." He fixed her with a very firm, slightly intimidating gaze and didn't blink for several seconds. "Besides, you have to …. before other people get involved and then it will get confusing …"

"If you're talking about 'Verity-darling', then save your breath," Hermione hissed. "It would be a waste of time George, honestly, the two of them are obviously extremely happy together seeing as they never seem to spend a second apart, and what I said to you was rubbish anyway, I didn't even mean it, I was upset and –"

"Hermione, stop babbling!" Geroge said with exasperation. "I wasn't talking about her anyway, I meant –"

"George! Are you off to get those fireworks?" His mother's voice suddenly erupted from somewhere distant, but was very loud none-the-less.

George sighed impatiently. "Look, come with me, I'm going to the shop to pick up some fireworks for tonight, and he'll be there –"

"No! Won't you listen George? I'm not telling him anthing! There's nothing to tell! I thought I knew him but I don't think I really do … he's not the same, out with that Verity all the time and –"

"Hermione!" George exclaimed, sounding annoyed now. "She's not there, they're not even –"

"GEORGE!" Mrs Weasley's voice boomed through the house again.

"Yeah, I'm going!" He yelled distractedly before turning on Hermione again and talking extremely hurriedly. "Look, I've been talking to Ginny, and it's bloody important you tell Fred 'cause it sounds like tonight –"

"GEORGE WEASLEY! WILL I HAVE TO COME DOWN AND DRAG YOU?"

Before his mother could catch up with him, George grabbed a handful of powder from a small pot on the mantelpiece, threw it into the fire and leapt into the waist-high now-emerald green flames and mouthed to Hermione, (who was standing watching, apparently slightly taken aback by his sudden departure), "Just do it before tonight!", before yelling "DIAGON ALLEY!" and vanishing with a tiny 'pop!'.

A/N: Hi everyone, I'm back! Hope you liked that chapter - sorry it's so short but there will be a lot happening in the next one, what with the party and everything, so stay tuned! And please review:)