Several days have passed since the last events. The second half of November was just beginning. It was raining more and more often outside, and the wind was blowing, and the temperatures dropped, but even that did not discourage the Hogwarts students from leaving the castle walls. It was the day of a long-awaited trip to Hogsmeade, which Professor Dumbledore had been postponed for some unknown reasons. Hermione and George had been looking for the perfect birthday present for Angelina for over two hours. It was only in the tenth store that the redhead chose a silver necklace with the letter G. The chain had magical properties, because the pendant changed color depending on the owner's mood. It is worth noting that it reacted only to the person to whom the unusual necklace was given. He did not show the feelings of a stranger.
Hermione was very happy when, at least for a moment, she could break away from studying and thinking about a certain redhead. More than three weeks have passed since an unusual evening in the Common Room, and nothing has changed since then. The brown-haired woman hardly spoke to Fred, she hadn't even seen him. She didn't understand why? What actually happened? Maybe she unknowingly offended him or did something wrong? She really thought they were starting to be friends, and possibly even more. In the end, they almost kissed, but she seemed to be wrong. She was smiling among her friends and pretended that she didn't care about anything, unfortunately she was suffering a lot internally. Only leaving with George allowed her to forget for a while.
Ge: Thanks for helping Hermione. I couldn't do it without you!
He: You are welcome, everything for friends. (She smiled). I hope Angelina will like the gift.
Ge: I hope she will be delighted. Maybe as a "Thank You" you can invite yourself for a cream beer at Three Broomsticks Inn?
He: Gladly ... But won't Angelina be jealous that we spend so much time together?
Ge: No, I told her we were going to Hogsmeade together because you have to help me with a very important matter. He trusts me and knows you. He knows we're only friends.
He: Then lead...
Hermione fell silent unexpectedly, then began to stare at one point. Her smile vanished from her face, and tears welled up in her eyes. George didn't know what was going on, so he looked the same way the girl did. He saw his twin with Lee Jordan, who were surrounded by a wreath of laughing girls, including Katie Bell, a Ravenclaw girl in love with a redhead, and other girls whom the younger twin did not know. He had no problem guessing why the brown haired girl became sad. Over the past few days, he had been seeing him more and more in the company of other girls, and he had noticed a sudden deterioration in his relationship with Hermione. At moments like this, he immediately remembered Angelina's words. He tried to talk to his brother about it, but didn't know how to start this conversation. He did not want to provoke another argument, however, he guessed that it would be inevitable. He wanted to take his friend away from this unpleasant sight, when suddenly he noticed Crookshanks wandering in the street.
Ge: Is it ? What's Crookshanks. What he doing here? (He pointed to the cat walking down the street).
He: Yes it is! He's finally found! (She walked over to the cat and picked it up in her arms.) You won't get away from me anymore!
Ge: What about him? Why did he run away from you?
He: It all started with the death of Sirius ... (George noticed the girl was shaking with the cold).
Ge: Come on, tell me everything at Three Broomsticks Inn. It's very cold outside, we'll warm up there with a beer.
They go to Three Broomsticks Inn. Unfortunately, they did not notice that Fred and his friends had entered there a moment earlier. Upon entering the bar, George immediately noticed his brother sitting at the table, telling silly jokes to a girl who drooled at the sight of him. He didn't want Hermione to notice him, and he didn't want her to become even sadder. He suggested that they sit in the corner of the room, with their backs to the older twin, to which the brown haired girl agreed. They sat down comfortably on wooden chairs, and next to them on the floor, not far from the fireplace, lay the ginger cat of a young witch. After a while, smiling Madame Rosmerta handed them the cream beers and cakes they had ordered. They were both smiling and feel very good in each other's company. They were not embarrassed at all because they treat each other like siblings. They were able to show support in the most difficult situations.
Ge: Okay ... Now, can you tell me what's going on with Crookshanks?
He: It all started after Sirius died. He became weird, ate little, and ran away a lot. At first, he disappeared almost every day, and I had to search for him for several days. It's better now, but still not perfect.
Ge: They miss him, they were friends, after all. Since we are on this topic. Harry seems to be holding up better after all this, too.
He: Yes ... Mainly thanks to your sister. She supports him very much, they understand each other. Maybe because she was with us in the Ministry. I don't know, but Harry still can't forgive himself for not being able to cast Crucio as Bellatrix.
Ge: He is not surprised that he thinks about it. He lost his last relative. It must have been horrible. I wish I had been there ... I never asked how do you feel after that fight?
He: Okay, it was tough in the beginning, but now it's okay. I think about it sometimes, but it's important that the Department of Mysteries has managed to defeat You Know Who.
Ge: If it hadn't been for Umbrige's detention, I would have been there with you, but you are right, it is significant that everything ended well.
He: I know you would like to be with us then, but that wouldn't change too much. Let's be happy with what we have. End of the war, we are free. (She smiled at the boy).
Ge: You are right! You know, sometimes I can't believe you're my age and not with me for a year.
He: All because I was born in September. I turned eleven when school was already underway, and you must be eleven when you enter Hogwarts, so I had to go to Hogwarts a year later
Ge: I know, but it's a bit weird.
He: Apparently, it had to be.
The friends started laughing very loudly. George tried to tell jokes, but kept looking at his clone, who was having a great time with his friends and Lee. He figured she needed to talk to him today. He was sick of his behavior. He thought he had changed, and he really cared about Hermione, but he must have miscalculated. He knew he was going to get another fight, but what are siblings for? From pointing out mistakes before it's too late. At this time, Harry and Ron entered the bar. They both sat down, tired and in gloomy moods, next to the brown-haired girl and the younger twin.
R: I'm exhausted ... (He drank Hermione's cream beer until the end).
He: Hey! Buy your own beer!
R: Sorry, Hermione! Lavender and Ginny forced us were looking for a prom outfit for two hours!
H: It was torture!
He: (she laughed). Where are they now?
R: They chased us out of the store, claiming that we are disturbing them more than helping them.
H: Thank god for that! I couldn't take any longer!
Ge: (Snorted). Poor boys! I'd better get you a beer.
R: Thanks bro!
Laughing, George got up and went to the bar. Passing the table where his twin brother was sitting, he heard ambiguous texts from his companions' mouths, unfortunately Fred reacts to them with a flirtation. The pissed-off redhead looked at his brother angrily. Meanwhile, Ron, Harry and Hermione had a very interesting conversation that shocked everyone.
R: I'm exhausted!
H: I'm the same, but I have to go to Dumbledore when I go back to Hogwarts.
He: Why is he calling you again? This is the sixth time in three weeks!
H: I know, it's weird for me too. He says I still need Occlumency class, only this time he will be teaching me.
R: Why ?! A year ago, it did not work!
H: I don't know ... He wouldn't tell me. He said I would understand this after the holiday break.
R: The older he gets, the more he freaks out! (Everyone laughed loudly).
George returned with a smile on his face and four beers. The friends sat in the bar for another hour and had a great time together. They talked a lot about unlimited topics. The younger twin joked, and Ron and Harry tried to imitate their teachers. Unfortunately, it was getting late, it was getting dark outside, which meant dinner time was coming and a return to Hogwarts. After eating, a tired Hermione sat down in the Common Room and started reading some Muggle book, as usual it was an affair. She imagined herself playing the main character, and the boy who was in love with her was a certain redhead. She immediately recalled a mysterious dream that had haunted her every day for almost three weeks. Yes, it's the same dream with a meadow, flowers, a ball and a man in a mask. Even though the boy was taking off his mask, she didn't see him as she was waking up at that moment. She sighed dreamily, then returned to the book. Engrossed in reading, she did not notice that Fred was watching her with a smile on his face. After a while, George sat down next to him.
Ge: We need to talk, dude!
F: What again? What did I do wrong this time? (He asked, resigned).
Ge: Not what, who?
F: So who?
Ge: Hermione! What are you actually doing, what?
F: I don't understand what you mean? I do not do anything. All is well!
Ge: You're doing nothing? And your behavior today? When she saw you with these girls. She lost all her humor just so you could see her expression. I thought he was going to cry, and you flirted with some chicks, for example with a Ravenclaw girl, which you were supposed to avoid with a wide berth.
F: What should I do? They conquer me by themselves! I try to keep them off, but it's not that simple. Besides, I can't even have friends?
Ge: You can, but they didn't look like friends from a distance. First, you almost kiss her, then you hug her, and then you haven't talked to her in almost three weeks. I'm starting to think that this was your falling in love, it wasn't real. You go for it because it is a challenge, it is not easy, but when others are willing, you put Hermione aside because she is not needed! You are playing with her!
F: What are you fucking! I do not know the world except Hermione! And I don't talk to her because I'm scared, okay! I don't want her to reject me. All the time I have the feeling that I will do something wrong, that it will spoil it and that I will lose her forever!
Ge: You are stupid, though! If you really cared, you would do anything to make her trust you again, and most importantly, you would try to win her heart and build the relationship you both want. You are messing with her head right now. Please, consider if this is a real feeling, because if not, let go. Getting her won't do you any good. You have to really love to be with her. From experience, I can tell you that our girls don't have it easy, and they have to endure a lot just because they are with us.
F: What the hell are you talking about ?! I care about Hermione! I want to be with her. The fact is that I am a little poor in trying to get it, but I'm not going to let it go. I won't let her hurt you!
Ge: Do what you want, but I just inform you that you won't go far with this behavior, and if you hurt her, you'll face a fist. You are my brother, but at this point I won't hesitate.
George tried to leave and end the conversation, but Ginny ran up to them irritated.
G: Hey! Morons! You have to help me!