Chapter 13
It's been Five months and 30 days or 183 days since Fred died and George and Hermione were getting ready for the Halloween masquerade ball. George was already dressed in a full on jester costume, of course in his favorite colors purple and orange. Hermione emerged from the bathroom wearing a medieval court dress. In contrary to George it was in a simple deep blue color, her sleeves getting wider as it reached her wrists, a small v-neck that was decorated with small with flowers.
"Wow George, you should only wear this." Hermione laughed as George jiggled his head, making the bells of his hat ring.
"And you look beautiful Mione. You should keep it for Fred. He would love it."
"Thanks." She sat down on the bed as she pulled her shoes on. "Can we go over the plan one more time."
"So we will mingle in the crowd for about an hour." George started as he sat down next to Hermione. "Mason already made a duplicate of the box and the turner. We will make the switch because Mason can't get away for to long before someone comes looking for him. After the switch we track him down and go to the empty cellar downstairs and try to break the protection charm so we can take it out of the house and proceed from there."
"And what if we get caught?"
George rummaged in his pockets pulling out several small boxes. "I've got it covered" He winked. "We better get going." He said glancing over at his watch. "Ready milady?" George bowed deep before her, offering his arm.
"Certainly good sir." She smiled as she was reminded of Fred. She looped her arm around his and he apparated them away.
They appeared outside Agatha's house, lights shined from the windows and music blasted through the air. Hermione handed over George's mask and they both put it on before heading to the front door.
"Ready?" George asked looking over at her.
"As ready as I'll ever be." She took in a deep breath as George knocked on the door. Not only a second later and Agatha stood in front of her wearing an all black pest doctor costume with mask, a hat and a cane. She tilted her mask up and squinted her eyes at them.
"Oh the Lovegoods. So glad you could make it. Your hair gave it away." She smiled at them glancing over their hair. "Please do come in."
George and Hermione entered the hallway and saw that the place was already full of people. George grabbed Hermione's hand as he saw Belinda walk up wearing a very short red riding hood dress with cape.
"Oh no." He groaned next to her. "Hello Belinda."
"George! I'm so happy you're here. Hermione."
"Belinda." She gave her a grim smile.
"George would you like to get a drink?" She asked smiling and wrapped her arm around his.
"Hermione and I are just going to mingle first, maybe later." He gave her a short nod before leading Hermione to the ball room.
The ballroom was filled with guests all dressed in costumes and masks. She saw the three Campbell's and quickly turned away when they looked back at her.
"I'll get us some drinks. I could certainly use one."
"Alright but don't leave me alone for to long."
He squeezed her hand before heading through the crowd over to the bar. She was just about to walk over to a table when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned dreading to face one of the snobby purebloods here tonight. She let out a breath of relief when she recognized Mason behind his mask. He was dressed as Robin hood, his costume complete with bow and quiver.
"Thank god it's you." She sighed.
"Afraid I was Agatha or the Campbell's ?" Mason chuckled.
"Actually yes."
"Ha. Can I have a dance?" He held out his hand. She smiled and took it before he led her to the dance floor. "Are you ready?" He asked when they started to dance. Hermione saw George standing at the bar with a sour look on his face as Belinda flirted with him. She turned back to look at Mason.
"Yes, we are working on this for over a month. It's now or never." She looked confident in his eyes. "There is one thing we wanted to talk about with you."
She glanced around the room and saw that they were being watched. "Can we talk in private?"
"Euhm yeah sure." Mason said looking around the room. "Let's free George from Belinda's claws first."
"I think that's best." She chuckled as they made their way to the bar.
"George! Glad to see you again." Mason overreacted as he shook his hand. "If you will excuse us Belinda, I want to talk to George."
"Fine." She grumbled and stomped of.
"Let's talk in the garden." Mason gestured to the open doors that led outside. They walked deep in the garden and sat down at a table near a small pond. As they sat down Hermione flicked her wand and cast spells to ensure their privacy.
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"We wanted to talk to you. We know what you're putting at risk in helping us. So we wanted to do something in return. Only if you want of course and he had to do our research first to see if it was even possible."
"What are you talking about?" He asked looking from Hermione to George.
"Well if everything works out. You won't remember us, remember what you did for us or what your family did to you." George started. "We found a way that if you wanted you can remember what you did. We thought we could collect our and your memories, like for a pensieve. We found a way to bring them into to the new time line. We would look you up and give them to you. We've become good friends mate and we lost so much already."
Mason looked wide eyed at George. "You mean it? It's possible?"
Hermione and George nodded.
"You two are my friends too. Even in this short period of time I already trust you more than anyone inside." He looked at his lap fumbling with his nails. "I don't want to forget about you either. Can you tell me how it works?"
George and Hermione filled him in on what to do when the time comes. It was wel over a hour before they realized how late it was.
"Better get inside before they get suspicious. I'll make my round again with the guests, you to head to the artifact chamber. We'll meet back in half and hour or so." Mason said standing up after he handed over the duplicates. Hermione and George followed him back in the mansion laughing to trow of suspicion. While Mason walked over to Agatha and the Campbell's who where standing by the piano, George and Hermione slipped outside in to the hallway. The hallway was empty and they scurried to the room. Before slipping inside they looked around and Hermione for good measure cast a spell to see if someone was there. When the coast was clear Hermione and George quickly filed in the room and closed the door, locking it. Hermione rushed to the closet and pulled out the drawer. She switched the boxes and Hermione added some protection spells on the duplicate before closing the drawer again. George in the mean while was standing by the door holding one end of the expendable ear and a wobbly eye to the door were he could see through.
"I'm ready." Hermione whispered as she came to stand behind George. "Coast clear?"
George peered through the eye and placed his finger on his lips. "Wait, there is someone out there."
They stood there for ten minutes before the person left. "Finally." George mumbled as he opened the door. "Come on, let's get to the cellar."
He grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her to the hallway and down the spiral staircase that led to the cellar. When they reached the landing they saw Mason pacing back and forward. As he heard their footsteps he looked up.
"Thank god! I thought you were caught."
"No but there was someone in the hallway, we had to wait until he was gone."
"What was he doing?"
"Swaying and bouncing of the walls, I think he just had a little bit to much to drink."
Mason nodded and dropped down on the sofa. George and Hermione sat down in front of him on the coffee table. Hermione pulled out the box from under her dress and handed it over to Mason. Mason took his wand and waved it over the box. The box started to float mid air in front of them. With each flick of his wand the box turned. When he murmured some spells Hermione couldn't make out the box started to shake.
"Mason..is it supposed to do that?"
"I'm just checking what spells are on this." He answered not taking his eyes of the box. Mason kept shooting spells at the box until after 10 minutes the box turned bright white before it faded down. "I think it's safe."
"You think?" George asked.
"Only one way to find out." Mason said, plucking the box out of the air and standing up.
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"I'm leaving!" Hermione called out as she walked towards the fireplace.
"Have fun dear. If they do something just come home and I'll take care of it." Molly smiled as she gave her a quick hug. "Straight to the shop or the flat."
She smiled at the older witch as she grabbed some floo powder and walked in the fireplace. "The twins flat." She called out and a moment later she stepped in the living room of Fred and George who were both waiting for her in front of the fireplace grinning in their magenta robes that clashed horribly with their hair.
"Morning." They said in unison.
"What are you two up to?" She asked looking at their grins. "Don't make me regret this."
"We would never." They called out clutching their hearts in mock hurt.
"But.." Fred started and swooped in to give her a kiss. "We do have something for you."
Hermione looked with furrowed eyebrows at the twins. George chuckled as he held out magenta robes in front of her.
"You can't work in those clothes love."
"So we designed these special for you." George grinned.
Hermione took the robes and examined them. Even though George and Fred were grinning she felt that they grew nervous as she watched the robes intently.
"I love it." She smiled back at the boys. She saw both of their shoulders drop in relief. "Let me just put them on."
"You can take me room love." Fred kissed her cheek and she walked to the room. She closed the door behind her and laid the clothes on the bed. When she was dressed she stood in front of the mirror taking in the magenta robes. The purple pants was skinny that hugged her figure just right. They gave her a simple white blouse that hung losely with a small v-neck and a magenta blaser that fitted just right. Even though she was wearing a purple suit she felt very feminine and the color looked good on her. With one last look she opened the door and headed to the living room. She saw Fred and George sitting on the edge of the sofa bouncing their legs.
"Do you think she likes it?"
"What if she hates it?" She heard them ask each other, neither of them noticing her entering the room. She smiled, knowing how much work they put into this.
"I love it." She said making the boys jump up. "How do I look?" She twirled in front of them.
"Wow Mione!"
"You look bloody gorgeous!" Fred picked her up and spun her around before setting her down and kissed her deeply. George came over and placed his elbow on her head, leaning as they broke apart.
"You certainly pull of the color better than us."
Hermione laughed as she pushed of his arm from her head. "Not hard with your hair now is it?"
"Oh, she's getting cheeky." George hollered.
"She's spending to much time with us." Fred grinned.
"A good influence we are."
"Come on let's go get the shop ready." Hermione chuckled as she pushed them to the door.
"Even though you look lovely in those robes, we still own the place." George said looking over his shoulder as she pushed them.
"For now." She winked. Fred and George looked wide eyed at each other. When they entered the shop the twins led her to the register so she could count the money.
"How did mum and Ron react?" Fred asked leaning over the counter next to George.
"We already received a letter from mum, telling us to be on our best behavior and not to prank you but nothing else."
"It went rather easy with your mum actually."
"But Ron.." Fred started.
"Yeah, but Ron is a different story. He hasn't said more than a few words to me since then." She shrugged her shoulders. "But Ginny and your mum set him straight and once Harry arrives he'll talk some sense into him."
"Do you want us to talk with him?" George asked serious.
"No it's fine. Let him stew for a bit. He just doesn't understand why I would want to work with you."
"I can't believe it-"
"After we have been the best-"
"most wonderful brothers-"
"anyone can ever hope for." They twins gasped mouths open before laughing.
"And I wonder why?" Hermione giggled rolling her eyes.
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It was three in the afternoon when they shop quieted down for a bit and Hermione was sorting some articles behind the counter when George came out from the back room.
"Hi Georgie. How is it going?"
"Just finished 3 batches of puking pastilles."
"Wonderful." Hermione said with a grimmace.
"Hey you called me Georgie, only Fred calls me that."
Hermione shrugged as she looked at him. "Sorry, if you want I'll stop. It just slipped out."
"No, it's fine. Seems Fred is rubbing of on you."
"It seems so." She smiled as George wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Oi! Get your own!" They heard Fred yell from upstairs. The glanced up and saw Fred leaning over the banister.
"But I like this one!" George called back.
"To bad. She-" He stopped when the door of the store opened and students from Hogwarts walked in. Fred went back to shelving and George turned to go back to the back. He looked over his shoulder.
"Oh Mione. The reason I came out the back room was to ask if you wanted to stay for dinner? Shop doesn't close until 7 today. I don't think mum wants to deny Ronald his food until you get there."
"Oh. I would love to but your mum.."
"I'll floo call her and ask." He said as he walked back. Five minutes later he called out from the back while she was ringing up a witch with her five year old son.
"Mum agreed!"
Hermione chuckled as she trew her head over the shoulder. "Okay!" She turned back to the witch. "I'm sorry." She smiled at her.
"No it's fine. I come here often so I know their antics. My son just love this shop."
"Our favorite costumer!" Fred called out as he strode up to the little boy. He crouched down before him and gave him a high five. "Hi Tommy! What did you get today?"
The boy named Tommy grinned wide as he opened his bag excitingly and showed him his purchases.
"That quite a haul! Well I have something very special for you." Fred padded down several of his pockets before he found what he was looking for. He pulled out a bag full of sweet. "You know what colors do what." He winked. "But don't try them on your mum, she's a saint for bringing you here." He chuckled. Tommy nodded heavily before leaping forward to give Fred a hug. Fred returned it eagerly laughing. Hermione watched the whole exchange from behind the register smiling wide. Her eyes full of admiration and love for the red headed twin. She was falling.. falling hard.
"You're almost drolling." George's voice came close to her ear making her jump.
"No I'm not!" She turned and frowned at him. George chuckled.
"Sure your not." He kept laughing as he headed to the back room once again. When she turned Fred had stood up and was grabbing something from the counter. He grabbed a light blue box and handed it to Tommy's mum.
"We can't forget about your saint can we." He laughed at the little boy. "Just some Belgian chocolates. They are save. Need to keep our favorite costumers happy don't we." He winked at the witch.
The woman turned to Hermione, rolling her eyes. "Always the charmers those two."
"You have no idea." Hermione sighed before laughing with the older witch.
When they walked out the shop Fred turned to Hermione leaning on the counter his face only inches away from her.
"What was George yelling about earlier?"
"He asked if I wanted to stay for dinner. And he floo called your mum to ask if it was okay. You don't mind do you?"
"Never." He grinned. He looked around the shop and when he saw no one in their close proximity he kissed her lightly. Both smiling as they looked at each other. They tore their gaze away when they heard a loud crash on the first floor of the shop.
"Better go see what that was about." He winked and headed up the spiral staircase.
