Chapter 7
"So, the plan... You go find Ward and get him alone, see what you can find out. I think we could trust Mason. I'm not going to say what we are looking for." She added quickly as George's head shot towards her. "But I'll talk with him about heirlooms and such."
She glanced in the room. "Okay Georgie you're up, there is Ward. Good luck!" She chuckled as she pushed him to the wizard.
Hermione looked around before her eyes fell on Mason, he was looking agitated as Belinda clung to his side. She saw George picking up a bottle of scotch as he headed towards Ward. She looked back at Mason and made her way over.
"Mason, you promised me one of your famous cocktails." She smiled as she approached. Belinda scowled at her as she neared. A surprised and confused look pased his face before offering a smile.
"And I never break a promise. This way." He gestured towards the bar. "See you later Belinda."
They reached the bar and he hopped over it and took two glasses. "Thanks. You would think she would go for someone who isn't her cousin."
"She's your cousin?" Her eyebrows shot up as she glanced back at the witch, who was still scowling at them.
"Second cousin but yeah. Most of us here are related. With your brother here, I had a Belinda-free night for a while before he whisked you away."
"I'm sorry." She chuckled as she watched him shake their drinks. "But George needed a break from her too. What are you making anyway? I just made an excuse to get you away from her."
"I know but just your luck that own a bar myself."
"Really?"
"Really." He smiled as he put the glass down and slid it over to her. She squinted at the glass.
"Try it. It won't kill you."
She tentatively took a sip, her eyes wide and a smile on her face. "That's amazing!"
Mason hummed as he took a sip from his own drink, coming around the bar and sat down next to her on a bar stool. Hermione saw a pendant hanging around his neck as he leaned back against the bar looking over at the crowd.
"What's that?" She asked as she pointed at his pendant.
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George took a big gulp from the scotch as he walked towards Ward. Ward was sitting in the corner nursing his own glass as George sat down next to him.
"Ward."
Ward looked up with a quirked eyebrow. "Lovegood."
"This party is getting dull, want to finish this bottle somewhere else?" George asked in his flirty voice, trying to sound natural even though he felt nauseous as he looked at the man. He had a big brown mustache that was shining with alcohol, his buzz cut hair showed of his rectangular head. George was man enough to admit when another man was handsome but the wizard in front of him was anything but.
"I'd love to." He smiled at George which made his stomach turn. Ward stood up and gestured at the door behind them. George followed but let his eyes search for Hermione before he walked through the door. He found her quickly as she sat at the bar as Diaz made their drinks. His brows furrowed a bit before following the wizard.
When he entered, there was a spiral staircase leading down to a basement. Ward was already halfway down. He swallowed thickly before heading down the stairs. It was a large wine cellar filled with racks and racks of bottles of wine and scotch. He glanced around the basement and his eyes landed on Ward who was sitting on a brown leather sofa in between the racks. Ward tapped the side of the sofa to invite George to sit with him. George took a deep breath before sitting down next to him. Filling Ward's glass to the brim as he handed it over. Ward chucked it immediately.
"So... How long will you be staying?" Ward asked, his speech already slurred as he rested his arm on the back of the sofa near George's head.
"Maybe a couple weeks we're not sure yet." George leaned back a little, avoiding his arm.
"That's just enough time to get to know each other." Ward scooted a bit closer to him.
George turned his head to the table next to them and filled Ward's glass a second time. He filled his own glass too. "To getting to know each other." He clinked their glasses and when Ward downed it, George waved his wand under his robe and made the liquid disappear.
"Can I ask? Is that a family heirloom?" George asked subtly as he gently reached over to Ward's hand and lifted his wrist showing of a golden bracelet.
"Been in my family for decades, my great-great-grandfather stole it from some goblins." Ward laughed loudly. "Stupid animals."
George bit the inside of his cheek trying to remain calm. He took in a deep breath before he asked anything further. "What other things do you have? What else did your family steal from those beasts." George felt awful talking like that, if Hermione was here, she would've castrated him right on the spot.
Loads." He yawned as he came closer. "But the most valuable thing we have is from Grindelwald himself. A pocket watch, doused in dark magic."
"That's incredible. You should show me one day." George teased. "What about the rest of your family?"
"Aunt Agatha has a collection of those turning clocks."
"Turning clocks? Time turners?" George asked but Ward fell asleep. "Ward?" He pushed his shoulder which only made him snore louder. "Time turners. Here, in this house. Hermione!" George shot up and quickly climbed the stairs. When he entered the ballroom Hermione and Mason were gone. He frantically looked around but couldn't spot him anywhere. He dashed out of the room and into the hallway.
"Hermione?"
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"Hmm?" Mason looked away from the room and caught her eye. She was pointing at the pendant on his neck. "Oh, this was my mother's... nothing special. It's not like some of the things the others have passed down the line for centuries."
"You don't have heirlooms?"
"Nah, my father had some, but it was passed down to his sisters. Don't care for it anyway." He shrugged as his gaze fell back on the room, his fingers playing with the pendant. "Come on." He hopped of the bar stool.
"Where are we going?" She took his offered hand as he helped her off the stool.
"Great Aunt Agatha has a room full of old stuff." He dragged her out in to the hallway.
"So, what does that pendant stand for?"
"It's supposed to stand for strength and light." He said as they reached the last door. He opened it slowly and let her in first. "Suppose I could use it now." He said absently, before Hermione could ask any further, her gaze fell across the room, it was filled with glass cases. All containing old artifacts. Hermione stepped in front of a case and furrowed her eyebrows. Mason slid up next to her.
"Yeah... weird right? They despise muggles but own and trade muggle artifacts."
That side of the room was full of medieval things, from swords, to portraits and goblets. Mason stepped closer to a glass case, smiling as he looked down.
"This one is my favorite. I hope to have it someday."
Hermione stepped up next to him and looked in the case below them. Inside was a letter, a very old and expensive letter from the 13the century. It was very well preserved and you could read most of it. It was a love letter from Sir Dorian to Lady Lara.
"You like love letters?" She asked as she looked at him.
"I do, I think it's a beautiful way to tell a person how much they mean to them. A way to show them how much they love each other." He turned as he smiled down. He gently took her wrist in his hand, his eyes fixed on hers as he lowered his head.
"Mason." Hermione looked down as she took a step back. He released her wrist.
"I'm sorry I didn't-"
"No, it's fine. It's just-" She said looking downn playing with her turner under her robe.
"There's someone else?"
She nodded her head as she looked up. "I – I lost him during the war a couple of months ago."
"I'm sorry." He whispered; his eyes fell down. "Is – is that a time turner?"
Hermione's eyes shot up at him and saw him pointing at her neck. Without even realizing it she had pulled out the turner as she played with it in her hands.
"Oh, yeah. Family heirloom, I like to keep it close."
He frowned as he looked at the turner before turning and walking across the room. Hermione looked at him in surprise as he opened up several drawers.
"Mason?" But he didn't answer. He opened even more drawers and closets, looking for something. He finally pulled two boxes out and showed them to her. He clicked open the first one and inside lay a broken turner just like hers but something was.. off.
"What-?" She frowned as she looked inside the box.
"Agatha said this was the last turner in our family. And that's why I couldn't go back to save my mum."
"I'm sorry." She whispered as she looked up at him. "Can I take a look?"
"Yeah." He gestured her to the sofa and they sat down as he handed her the box with the broken time turner.
Hermione took the box and placed it on her lap as she took her turner and laid it next to it. There were subtle differences. The gold of the broken turner was fading, like it was a fake. The glass was way too thin and would break rather quickly if it fell to the floor.
"Mason this one is a fake." She said looking sideways as the wizard watched her intently.
"Fake." He repeated. "Why would they do that?"
"I don't know." She frowned as she looked at the broken necklace. "What's in the other box?"
Mason grabbed the box that laid next to him on the sofa as he clicked it open. Hermione's mouth fell when she saw what was inside. It was the black time turner they needed. Hermione could feel the magic come of it and when she tried to reach for it, she was blown back.
"Sorry... should've warned you, everything in this room, expect for that-" He pointed at the fake turner. "-is protected so no one could steal it you know."
"What kind is it?"
"Aunt Agatha told me it's a turner but it could only be used once and would only work for lovers. It won't help me get my mom back."
Hermione bit the inside of her cheek. Contemplating what to say, but before she could open her mouth the door flew open. Mason clicked the box shut as Hermione turned to face the door. George with his blond locks stood in the doorway, looking frantic.
"Mione! Gods I've been looking for you for the last hour. This place is top big."
"I'm sorry, didn't know it was that late. We better get going." She turned to face Mason. "Thanks for your company this evening Mason."
"My pleasure Hermione." He smiled at her, holding the box with the turner behind him. "And it was very nice to meet you, George."
"You as well. Goodnight." George grimaced as he took a hold of Hermione's arm. They silently walked out of the house and past the wards before George apparated them back to the hotel.
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"What did you find out?" George asked the second the door to their room closed. "Ward told me Agatha has a time turner." George continued before Hermione could open her mouth. They walked past the cauldron that was still simmering on a light fire.
"I know, I saw it." Hermione sighed as she sat down on the sofa. "George. It's the one we need."
"What?! Why didn't you say anything?" He sat down next to her; eyes wide.
"Agatha lied to Mason about that turner. My guess is that she or someone close to her killed his mother. George.. the turner can only be used once. How is it fair to use the turner for Fred but not for Mason's mum?"
George sunk back in the sofa, hands rubbing his face, groaning. "What know?"
"Maybe we should tell Mason."
"Tell him? Tell him what?"
"Why we are here for, what the turner can do. If he chooses to use it for his mum we can't blame him, the time to save her is almost gone, we still have time." She patted George's leg.
"I know, it's just..-" He dropped his hands from his face as he looked at her.
"Yeah" She pulled him in a hug. "But we'll get him back."
"I know" He smiled as he pulled back. His smile faltered as he thought back at the scene he walked into earlier. "Mione? Are you sure we can trust him? The only vibe I get from him is that he fancies you."
"Yeah, I think we can trust him. He's not like the others. And I kinda figured he fancied me when he tried to kiss me."
"What?" George jumped up, falling as he stumbled over his bags from the joke shop.
"Calm down Georgie. I didn't kiss him. I told him I just lost someone close to me during the war and he apologized."
George didn't look convinced from the spot on the floor. Hermione sighed as she stood up.
"I'm going to change." And she stalked up to the bathroom. George untangled himself from the bags and changed into his quidditch shirt and plaid pajama bottoms. He heard a gasp as Hermione walked back in. He turned and saw her brown eyes filling with tears as her mouth hung slightly open.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" George crossed the room in two steps as he placed his hands around her shoulders. Hermione stroked the sleeve of his shirt.
"Fred." Was the only thing she whispered. George looked down confused at his shirt and saw Fred's number on the front.
"Oh. I didn't realize..-"
"It's okay." She said still looking at the shirt. "Could you do something for me?"
"Anything."
"Tell me something about Fred no one knows."
"I can do that. Come on, off to bed." George walked to the bed holding Hermione's hand. George wrapped his arm around her shoulder as she laid her head on his chest. She took a deep breath, taking in Fred's scent that still lingers in the shirt.
"What do you want to hear?"
"Surprise me."
"Alright. Let me think." George tapped his index finger on his chin, sorting out his memories. "Did Fred tell you when he started liking you?"
"Yes, the summer before my fifth year."
"And did you know Fred didn't tell me until after school started?"
"No! Why didn't he tell you? He tells you everything..." Hermione pulled away from his chest so she could look at him with a shocked impression.
"I knew he was hiding something but couldn't put my finger on it. When I asked, he just said he didn't feel comfortable in that house but I knew he was lying.
It took me until the end of the summer before I figured it out. Do you want to know how I figured it out?" He felt Hermione's head nod as she leaned back on his chest.
"It was when you received your prefects' badge. I could see his eyes shimmer when he looked at how happy and proud you were. I was quite shocked you know, never had expected that. Don't get me wrong Mione, you're amazing but you were always Ron's friend you know."
"Is that why he didn't tell you?"
"That a big part, we always thought you would've ended up with Ron." He shrugged his shoulders. "Boy, how we were wrong... I still think mum hopes though."
"Ron will always be my friend but never anything more. He's like my brother... like you."
"Fred told me, that night you got together." After a moment of silence, he asked. "How does it work anyway?"
"What do you mean?"
"How could you fall for Fred but not me?" He joked. "We're identical."
"Even if you look the same, it doesn't mean you are." She chuckled. "You have different personalities and you know I always saw you two as individuals. Even when you tried to fool me, I could still tell you apart."
"Yeah, ever gonna tell me how?"
"Nice try." She smirked.
"Darn. But thanks Mione, for seeing us as two different people. I know we try to fool around with mixing us up but it was nice you could see us as a person not as the twins."
"My pleasure." She smiled in his chest.
