Chapter 32
Hermione's fifth year starts with the news that Ministry had in fact tried to implant their own person into the school. Madame Delores Umbridge was named the Defense professor, until she attempted to enter the castle. She could not step one foot into the courtyard. The next attempt ended with the person flying into the Forbidden Forest with their left sleeve torn open to reveal their Dark Mark. Snape was only saved because of his true leanings.
Severus wasn't the greatest man and less than giving as a professor, but he cared for his students on one level or another.
Albus ended up choosing Sirius Black to teach. The Ministry threw a fit, but could not come out and deny that he was an auror before his time at Azkaban. With Sirius in place, the LATR group was able to meet without much scrutiny.
As they have confirmed their relationship to the family, George and Hermione have no issue in acting like a couple now. Especially now that they know that in the near future, George and Fred will be leaving and that Harry, Hermione and Ron will be leaving for a hunt.
The year goes by without much uproar. At the end, Harry starts having visions of Riddle's comings and goings. It seems that Riddle is not aware of this link yet. The downside is that Tom is able to break the Lestranges and a few choice other minions of his motley group out of Azkaban.
When the vision of Sirius getting tortured comes through, Hermione urges Harry to tell Sirius. They find the man in his office. When Harry tells him about the "dream", Siri rubs his hands together. "Let those idiots duke it out in the Department of Mysteries. Tom's after that prophecy orb. He'll be disappointed." The dark haired man cackles. Then he asks about Harry still getting the visions.
"All I can think of is that he had that in his head for so long that his mind made a connection. I really don't know, it's just a guess." Hermione relates to the two guys.
Harry and Hermione relax about everything and are able to take their O.W.L.s in peace. The twins announce that they are finally going to open their joke shop in time for the next school year.
Over the summer, when he and Fred are not working on the shop, the inventory, fixing up their apartment, or packing and moving to above the store, George can be found at Hermione's, Sirius' or taking Hermione out on a date.
Fred and Angie start tagging along on a few, to see the muggle world more. Angie has now come to realize that George is very happy with Hermione. A couple times, Alicia has tried to worm into being invited, but as it's Hermione and George doing the inviting, that never materializes.
The chaser is still after the ginger beater. The only time she is able to track him down is when he and Fred are working.
Today, both twins are in the middle of doing some difficult brewing so a visit was anything but welcome. Fred quickly tells Angie what's going on. All the while Alicia is preening and posturing within George's eyesight. He decides that the only way to get his work done is to completely ignore her and put in his earphones that Hermione got him. He plays the list of music that he downloaded onto the device this past weekend. The twins had discovered that small electronics worked in their world. This is due to them not having as many crucial components to fry. With this in mind, they have started a line of magical electronics. Right now, it's just music players and such, but in the future they hope to have computers, phones and televisions.
Alicia tries many times to get George's attention by clearing her throat, making small comments about being stuck together due to Fred and Angie and outright calling his name. When he doesn't respond, for the fifth time, she goes to Angie interrupting the girl and Fred canoodling. Fred sighs, gives Angie a look and then looks over to his twin. He sees George hard at work with his earphones in.
"He can't hear anything with those in. He's working and just wants to get through it as he is taking his girl out tonight." The red head explains.
Angie nods. She knew about the big surprise date, because Fred told her earlier this week. It was all a surprise because George was able to actually keep Hermione in the dark about it, aside from telling her to be ready around seven.
Fred turns to Alicia. "He has planned this for weeks and has been logging in some seriously long hours here to make up for his not working tonight and tomorrow." This brings Alicia's head around.
"Overnight?!" She shrieks.
"Yes, but not in the sense that you are thinking. At most, he's hoping for the same bed, but just to sleep. In the morning, her parents are taking them and Harry into Muggle London. Forge has promised to take photos."
This is getting worse. Alicia was hoping to nab the quiet twin now that they were no longer in school. She had accepted a position in the financial department of the Ministry. It was temporary. She wanted what the twins' mother had, to stay at home, but with mountains of money to spend.
George finishes his project. With some advice from Hermione's research he was able to find a way to up the production of each gag, potion, sweet or toy. Together he and Fred were able to mass produce some tags, boxes and stickers. Now, he has worked through a magical scanner and register set up. George installs the data from their inventory and gives Angie a galleon.
"Here, go and get one of the nosebleed nougat. I want to check to make sure this works."
Angie brings the candy back for George to ring up. He shows her and Fred what he's done and how to work it.
"George this is great! I'll make out the paperwork for the patent. You deserve all the credit for this." Fred exclaims.
"No, 'Mione gave me the idea. She should get something from it." The other twin tells his excited brother.
The two girls leave soon afterward, because Leesh is about to cry.
Angie sees the girl home. When the girls enter the Spinnet home, Alicia's parents are waiting for her with the Flints. Angie knows a betrothal play when she sees it. She quickly backs out.
"Angie! Come back in here. I need you to stand by me." Alicia cries and tries to grab for the other girl.
"Sorry girl, but this is a family matter. Plus, you might have a better chance at a good life with Flint. This date that George is taking Hermione on, is to ask her to marry him. Marc isn't one of the bad Slytherins, though he's friends with them." Angie calls as she heads out the door.
Alicia and Marcus Flint are married by Christmas and move into their large home in the magical community outside Los Angeles, California. Marcus has just landed a professorship in Transfiguration at the local magical academy.