Disclaimer: See the previous chapter.

Find me, Help me, Marry me

Chapter 4

Where would Hermione feel the most at home? Apart from here of course. George didn't believe Hermione left England. She was smarter than that. She wouldn't head to her parents' house; memories of the fighting tore her apart. Where else did she have to go? Unless…

George jumped up and ran to Harry's room. "Harry!" he bellowed, bursting through the door.

Harry, shocked at the sudden noise, sat up in bed. "Whazzat?"

"Harry, do you still have The Map?" George asked, rifling though the younger boy's trunk. He pulled out a yellowing piece of parchment. "Never mind," he said as he ran out, "I found it."

He slammed the door once he was inside of his room, effectively waking up half the house. Leaning against the door, he slid down to the floor, grinning in relief and happiness. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he whispered to the parchment and tapped it with his wand. Eagerly, he read the message that was writing itself. It had been so long since he had seen this thing.

Messers Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs are proud to present… The Marauders' Map.

George unfolded the map, piece by piece, scanning each section carefully. She wasn't in the dungeons or on the first or second floor. He scanned the third floor. A tiny dotted moved from side to side, as if sneaking; Mrs Norris was written underneath it. His eyes traveled to the room which he knew was the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Hermione wasn't there. His eyes passed over the Defence teacher's office when he noticed a dot moving back and forth: 'Hermione Granger'.

George jumped up in surprise. She was there! His Hermione was there!

George did a little victory dance then scanned the paper to double check that she really was there and it wasn't his imagination. Once more he found the teacher's room only to find two people occupied it. One, of course, was Hermione but the other said: Malcolm Manning… and they were standing rather close together.

Hermione was regretting ever agreeing to take this job. She was regretting even considering it. Because right now, she and the new potions teacher, Malcolm Manning, were standing rather close together. But not under the circumstances you might think.

Hermione was backed up against her desk, trying not to flinch as Malcolm held a willow wand to her throat. "Miss Mudblood, came back to Hogwarts? Did that blood traitor dump you when he realized what scum you are?"

Hermione's hand was sifting through her pocket, trying to find her wand.

"Looking for this?" Malcolm asked, brandishing her wand and running its tip down her nose. "A little trick I learned from the Dark Lord. It's too bad your Potter friend killed him; too bad for him. For me, it was the best thing that could have happened. I think the world needs a dose of fear, a new Dark Lord. Soon every one will fear the name: Malcolm Manning!"

George knew Hermione would never cheat on him. It wasn't in her nature. But that name… Malcolm Manning… where had he heard that name before? Suddenly, he realized. Oh Merlin, bad news, bad news, bad news.

Hurriedly, George threw some clothes into a trunk and Banished it to the Headmaster's office. He knew Dumbledore already knew what he was doing and would make the necessary arrangements.

"Mum!" he cried, charging down the stairs.

"What is it George?" Molly asked, coming out of from the kitchen.

"I have to go to Hogwarts! I'll explain later. Maybe I'll owl you or something." George slid down the last banister, straight into the living room. He grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from the flower pot by the mantle and threw it into the blazing fire in the fireplace. After waiting until the flames turned green, he jumped in and shouted "Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher's office, Hogwarts!"

He tucked his elbows in close to his body and closed his eyes. When the spinning stopped, he stepped out of the fireplace to see his girlfriend pinned against a desk, being threatened by a wand. A wand held by a man in his 20's with shiny brown hair and dark, dark eyes.

George pulled his wand out and pointed it at the man. "Step away from Hermione, Manning." He strode up to the pair, his wand pushing Malcolm in the heart, on top of his heart.

"Ah, George Weasley," Malcolm sneered. "So you haven't dumped her. You really should, she's just a Mudblood. You, on the other hand are a pureblood, you really shouldn't be cavorting with such filth."

"Don't you dare talk about Hermione that way," George growled. "Don't you dare."

"Oh I can and I will. And there's nothing you can do about it."

George sent an electric current through the potions teacher's body. "Say that again. I dare you."

"You're girlfriend… is filthy Mudblood scum."

"STUPEFY!" George cried, as his control snapped.

George and Hermione stared at Malcolm for a second before Hermione started to cry. Wrapping his arms around her, he whispered, "Don't cry Hermione, don't. I'm here now."

"George! George, I'm so, so sorry. I was just overwhelmed. Please, forgive me."

"Hermione, you did nothing wrong," George said, chuckling softly. He looked around the room and noticed Hermione's personal effects around the room. "Hermione, why are you here?"

"I don't know. I just sort of ended up here and then Dumbledore offered me a teaching job?"

"You're a teacher?"

"Yeah, I'm teaching DADA."

George hugged her tighter. "So you're staying here then?"

"Of course! I can't deprive these children from their education!"

"Of course you couldn't. Well, I was planning on only bringing you back but I guess I'll have to stay then because I am not leaving you here alone with this idiot." He kicked the brunette on the floor.

"Come on," Hermione sighed, "Let's go see Dumbledore."

They walked, hand in hand, to the statue before Dumbledore's office.

"Great," George drawled, "Now we have to figure out the password."

"George-"

"Umm, Lemon Drops?"

"George, I know-"

"Sugar Quills!"

"Honey, wait!"

"Cockroach Cluster?"

"Chocolate Frogs!" Hermione cried out and the statue sprung to life.

"Oh." George said sheepishly.

Hermione smiled and tugged her boyfriend on to the rising staircase. They knocked on the door and entered the office when Dumbledore called them in. "Miss Granger, back so soon?" The twinkle in his eye said that he knew exactly what was going to happen.

"Sir, there's been a slight problem."

Dumbledore motioned for her to continue.

"Well, this morning, it seems that I had gone mad, and I ran away from the Burrow and George. I don't know about his part of the story, but after I had settled in my office, I had a visit from the Potions Master. He threatened me at wand point and then all of a sudden, George comes barrelling out of the fireplace, Manning provokes him, George Stupefies him and we come here."

Dumbledore blinked.

"And I refuse to leave and let Hermione be in danger," George interjected.

Dumbledore smiled, "I think I can solve that bit of the problem. Mr Weasley, would you like to become the Arithmancy Professor here?"

"Uh…"

"Excuse us sir," Hermione said sweetly and pulled George father away from the Headmaster. "George, I think you should take it. This way, we can be close together and keep an eye on Manning. Besides, he doesn't have an Arithmancy teacher and you're so good at it."

George planted a small kiss on her lips. "Okay, because you think its right, I will." He stepped up to the Professor's desk. "I'll take the job, Professor."

"Then please, call me Albus, both of you."

"Of course," George and Hermione said together.

"Now, I expect you two would like the same room. It will be on the 3rd floor behind the portrait of King Arthur. I suggest you two go prepare you lessons. Here are your schedules." Dumbledore handed them two sheets of paper, showing which years they had first and who was in it.

The couple thanked him and left, George listening to Hermione prattle on about what she was going to teach each class.

There, I hope you like Chapter Four. Please tell me if you think anybody is OoC of whatever. Review because it's my birthday today!

Mandy