Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is just a figment of my imagination
Chapter four: Matters of the HeartHermione broke the seal on the envelope and opened it. Inside it were the Emmerdale files she had requested. On top of that rested a small red card. Surprised, she picked it up and opened it. It was a christmas card from Vivian Kramer, adressed to her.
She was even more surprised to see that she had written a personal and friendly message for her inside it. Bemused she set the card on the mantlepiece and returned to the files. All she had to do now was make two copies and highlight the important parts.
She had barely started when the twins came hurtling down the stairs and started to talk in the hallway. They were having an arguement of some sort.
"Why is he doing this? He knows all our stock are ideas of our own. He knows we don't need to steal his!"
She looked up. Stealing? What was all that about? She tried not to listen in, knowing she wouldn't appreciate other people listening in on her conversations, but she found her concentration slipping towards the boys' conversation.
"He's bitter. That must be it. He's bitter because we're outselling him. People are getting bored with his stuff and now they come to us."
"But to accuse us of theft, George. We both know Zonko's a nice old bloke, he normally wouldn't do this if it wasn't neccesary."
"He wouldn't? Look at what he did now, Fred! Now that this has happened, I consider him able to do anything."
The door flew open with a bang. Hermione ducked back into her file and pretended to be busy.
"...I just can't believe it." Fred sighed.
Hermione lowered her head even more, hoping they'd be so busy arguing that they wouldn't notice her.
"So what should we do about this." George said as he sat down at the table. "Let him say those things and do nothing? Oh, hey Hermione."
Fred sat down as well and poured himself a cup of tea from the teapot in the middle of the table.
"What...were you two talking about?" she tried carefully.
Fred sighed. "It's Zonko's. They're taking us to court."
"What!' she shouted. "Why!"
"Because he claims we stole one of his ideas." George said. "But he's lying. We only sell our own ideas, but he has apparently decided that he wanted to claim that the Pygmy Puff was his idea, not ours."
"That's horrible." She said, clearly shocked. "You should do something about it."
"That's what I said but Fred believes it'll blow over."
She put down her quill. "Now you two listen to me. If you allow this to grow out of proportions then the reputation of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes could seriously be damaged. It wouldn't be the first time a shop had to close down because of slander."
George snorted. "Since when are you an expert on legal issues?"
She huffed and picked up her quill again. "You don't have to sound so sarcastic about this. I only wanted to offer you my help, but if you don't want it, then fine."
She bent her head over her parchment again.
"Hermione, I didn't mean to sound sarcastic..."
"He just wondered, as do I, why or where you gained that knowledge." Fred said soothingly.
"Well," she said, a smile returning to her face, "I guess Ron didn't tell you...but I decided to go to lawschool after Hogwarts. I'm an intern at 'Andersson, Hoot & Kramer'."
"Lawschool?" Fred wondered. "What happened to becoming a Healer?"
"...I didn't know you knew about that." She said surprised. "Well, basically I found out that I can't take the sight of blood very well...and then McGonagall told me about a wizarding lawschool, which sounded perfect for me."
"And our little bookworm couldn't say no to something that involved lots of big books to read." Fred said with a smile. "Isn't it dangerous, though? What with all those old Death Eaters out and about, needing someone to defend them in front of the Wizengamnot?"
"Not really...Can't say I've notice any difference lately."
"So you work at a lawfrim..." George interrupted slowly. "Can you help us out?"
Hermione hesitated with a quick glance at the Emmerdal files she had been wanting to work on. "Well...I suppose I could take a look at the accusation. I might be able to say something if you'll let me read the letter you got."
George stood up, offering her his hand with a charming smile.
"Well then, miss Granger." He said.
She linked her arm to his and felt a slight blush creep to her cheeks when their hands met.
"Just show me the papers." She said, suddenly feeling very audacious.
George guided her out the kitchen, winking at Fred over her head. Fred rolled his eyes and shook his head as he took another sip of his tea.
- - - - - - - - - - -
She sighed. When she finally put the papers down, George stared at her eagerly. She looked up.
"Well, George...as much as I'd like to help you myself, I'm afraid this is just a bit too difficult for me. I'm not a lawyer yet, you know."
He looked up disappointed. "So you can't help us?"
"Well, like I said, it's complicated. But I did manage to draw up a few basic arguements you could use in defence, but I'm pretty sure they won't hold up long in court. If you really want to be sure you should come by the office and ask one of the lawyers for advice." She bit her lip. "...As a matter of fact, there's this really nice old man at the office...His name is Alexander Hoot, he's the one who founded the company. I'm sure that, if I ask him, he'd take a look at it for a friendly price."
His face lit up. "That would be wonderful!"
He jumped up and hugged her tightly, giving her a soft kiss on her temple. She blushed and kept her eyes on the floor. Why did she feel...so weird just now? And...was he sniffing her hair?
George seemed to notice what he was doing too and quickly let go of her. He ran a hand through his hair.
"...So...er, I'd best go and tell Fred..."
"...Y- yeah." She said quickly. "But remember that I can't promise anything!"
He nodded and then left the room rather quickly. Hermione stayed behind, sinking back down on the bed she had been sitting on, what was going on with her? She knew this feeling only too well and she couldn't imagine worse timing or even a worse person to fall for.
No, this was not going to happen. Besides, what could George see in her? Thank Merlin she wouldn't have to worry about that.
"...Hermione?"
She looked up to see a pair of curious eyes looking at her. She scrambled up to her feet and quickly walked towards the door.
"...I- I didn't know you were up..."
"I was looking for you..."
"Oh...so...how are you now, how do you feel? Your family was really worried. All of them. I talked to Ron and perhaps he's troubled most of all."
"I know..." the girl let her glance slide down to her own feet as locks of long red hair fell in front of her eyes. "I don't want them to be worried. They need to think about themselves. I'm fine."
Hermione sighed. "Ginny, you're doing the same thing you did seven months ago! You shut us all out and locked yourself up in a room so you don't have to face what's out there. But all that's out here is us, trying to take care of you the best we can! Stop pushing us away, Ginny. Before it's too late."
Ginny bit her lip and Hermione could see she was fighting back tears.
"Oh...Ginny, I'm sorry. I didn't-"
"It's just that I knew that he was the one...I always knew he'd have to fight, but I always thought he'd-" she hesitated.
Suddenly Hermione reached out of her hand and squeezed it encouragingly. "You can talk to me, Ginny. That's what I want you to know. I wanted to be there for you back then, just like your family, and we all still are here now. But you have to trust us with your feelings."
"...I always thought he'd end up alright. That he'd pull through. That's what heroes do, right? They fight and live. But Harry didn't...he-"
She stopped and wrapped her arms around herself, hugging herself tighly. Hermione gently pushed her in the direction of her own room.
"I know, Ginny. I know how hard it is. We all still miss him, each of us in their own way, no one can ever take his place and no one is ever going to try. But you can't go on like this. Living in memories never did anyone any good. You linger and waste away. And, Ginny, there is still so much for you to do in this world. Don't miss out on all of that because he can't be there with you."
Ginny looked up at her. "You talk about it so easily. As if you don't hurt anymore. I want to do everything you just said, I want to move on...But it's just too hard for me and I can't shake that off. My heart won't let me."
Ginny turned around and ran inside her room, closing the door behind her. Hermione could hear her sob through the door.
"I understand, Ginny. No one wants you to forget. But you need to get your life back again. For your own good..." she said, hoping Ginny could hear her and would listen to her words. "Maybe you didn't want to let go of the pain because you're afraid that, if you do, you'll slowly start to forget him and what he meant to you."
Ginny didn't answer.
Hermione sighed. "He'll never change in your heart or in your memories. But you have to let go just a little."
When still no answer came, she decided to leave her alone. Perhaps a little rest would let her see that letting go of the pain wouldn't harm his memory. With another sigh she started downstairs.
'What a day.' She thought.
And with slight aprehension she wondered whether there were going to be any more like this one soon.
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