As Arthur finished, Molly Weasley, her eyes moist, had her arm around Ginny, who was sniffling.
"It always affects me this way, too, dear," she confided to her daughter.
Ron and the Twins were still sitting in shock. Now they realized why they hadn't been told anything when they were younger. It was the stuff of nightmares. Arthur Weasley, drained from the retelling of the tragic story, sipped his drink thoughtfully. He gave himself a little shake, observed his family and decided a change of subject was needed.
" Herodotus Henckel, hmm. You know I see to recall his nephew at the Ministry saying his Uncle Dotty had a peculiar gift."
Ron's head shot up and he stopped chewing his second piece of his Mother's special apple cinnamon gingerbread, which was slowly making the shock better.
" Dad, he told me – well- that he could see things that had just happened or were about to happen but only if he could pick up a person's strong emotions. He did it with me. He saw…" Here Ron wound down remembering vividly what Mr.Henckel had 'seen.'
Fred and George pounced, glad to have something to think about after the story of their Uncle Billius.
" So just what or whom did this old bloke see, Little Ronnie?" Fred demanded winking at his brother.
" Picked up on your strong emotions, did he? Not much of a guessing game there who you might have been thinking of," jeered George.
Ginny put her hands on her hips. " You two pipe down right now. Ron has had quite enough for today and he doesn't need you two at him."
" Woah, she's channeling Mum," Fred groaned earning him a glare from both Ginny and his mother. Ginny's eyes became icicles and his mother rose threateningly.
" Right, pipe down now. We can do that. Right, Fred?" said George who decidedly did not want to take both his sister and mother on in any battle of wills.
Ron threw a grateful look to his sister. Another reprieve although he knew clearly that she would expect to hear all the details of his day later. He found that he didn't really mind. Ginny had been proving herself a true support these days, other than her ill-timed interruption this morning.
" So, anyway Dad, what is it that he can actually do? " Ron asked curiously.
" Well, he's not quite a seer as he can't predict things without having someone's emotions to trigger what he sees. Might be a useful gift if it could be focused properly." his father replied.
Something twigged at the back of Ron's brain.
" So if the emotions of a certain person could be picked up with you know, some sort of Muggle computer, then maybe Henckel could get a trigger from that. What if we could tap into a Death Eater - maybe we could predict an attack, " he ended excitedly.
His brain felt alive and tingly the way it did when he played an equal opponent in chess or when he was having an excellent argument with Hermione trying to keep one step ahead of her.
Charlie, who had been silent after the retelling of Billius Weasley's untimely end, now spoke quietly.
" That's brilliant, Ron. You're obviously exactly what's needed for this job if you can make connections like that."
Ron glowed from his brother's praise and his father's look of respect but he just mumbled.
" Yeah, but I have no idea how any of that would work or even could work."
" Well, that's where we could come in, " replied Fred, " You get the ideas and connections and we'll figure out the practical stuff."
" Weasley Brothers – Muggle Technology for Discerning Wizards. Think of the profit margins," George joined in with enthusiasm.
" Will you two ever grow up? " their mother sighed with exasperation.
" Hey, we're not joking. This could be the next big thing!" Fred and George were already discussing how they might expand their shop.
They talked about it all the way back to the Twins' flat, banishing all thoughts of the Dark Side and tragic family tales on this golden summer evening. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fred and George's flat was a converted warehouse above their shop. It was surprisingly neat and looked not unlike the Gryffindor Common Room on its best days.
" Here, Gin. Come see the latest products while those two settle themselves." Fred guided his sister to the corner of the living area where boxes were stacked on bookshelves. Meanwhile George indicated a room to the right of the living area to Charlie and Ron.
" Not much of a spare room – more like an extra storage area but at least there are beds and some drawer space. Oh, and a desk for you, Ron, so that you'll be able to do your homework. You wouldn't want to let poor Hermione down by not getting a head start on your NEWT's, would you now?"
" Shut it," Ron growled feeling his ears go red and then feeling miserable as he had not thought of Hermione in the last half hour.
" She's alright, you know," his older brother observed as he began to unpack his belongings.
" The Order has assigned extra members for the watch tonight. Besides Remus and Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Moody and Professor McGonagall will be there."
" Professor McGonagall!" Ron gaped in amazement. " But she doesn't do field work, does she?"
" Well, not normally," Charlie admitted, " But when she heard about the situation, she offered, no, insisted on coming. She appeared to think her presence might have an effect."
Ron thought furiously. He knew Hermione would feel better knowing that Professor McGonagall was there but he hoped that wouldn't cause her to let down her guard.
Charlie tried again, "Really, Ron, you'll make yourself ill if you keep fretting about it. She's as safe as safe can be or that any of us can be at the moment."
" Ron," Ginny called from the front room. " Pig's here – message from Hermione!"
Ron ran into the living room, leaving his scattered belongings behind. He grabbed the scroll from Pig's leg as the little owl squeaked excitedly.
Dear Ron,
Thank you for your note- it cheered me up no end! I can't wait to see you tomorrow when we begin our 'Muggle Studies' project. Ron, thank you for everything today, I don't know how I could have survived without you. I'm safe as safe can be right now. It's like an Aurors' convention here. Please don't worry!
Love, HermionePS – Of course I'll be at the Wedding! (with you)
Ron smiled, deliriously happy, collapsed into the nearest chair and reread the letter to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. No, he wasn't! He'd cheered her up, she couldn't wait to see him, she couldn't have survived without him. And she'd actually understood about the Wedding being a date! With a sigh of contentment, he stretched his long legs, put his head back on the comfortable cushion and closed his eyes to delightful visions of he and Hermione. He'd had enough today. He didn't want to think about the War. He didn't want to think about the Ministry. He didn't want to think about Billius Weasley. He only wanted to think of her.
A voice snapped him out of his reverie.
" Time to get to work, Little Ronnie." Two pairs of arms hauled him up.
" Work," he howled, " You two sod off! I've got a big day tomorrow and I need my rest. Gin, Charlie – tell them! I'll work in the shop after I get back tomorrow if you need me."
" Oh, not that kind of work, Ron," George said sweetly.
" Remember I said that I'd help you with your – umm- situation? " Ginny reminded him equally sweetly.
Ron groaned, " No, Gin, really no! I know you're trying to be kind but I-don't-really-need-any-help!"
" So, I've enlisted veryone and we're ready to start," she continued calmly but with a definite twinkle in her eye.
Now he was getting nervous and extremely frustrated. He replied through gritted teeth.
" No, Ginny. Honestly, the offer is generous but I don't really need any family assistance on this one. As you saw I was doing quite fine on my own today."
" Really, " inquired Ginny unimpressed." Let's review, why don't we? Fred?"
Fred smiled wickedly, " The question really comes down to this, Ronniekins. Why aren't you with our dear Hermione?"
George continued," First off, let's start with you and Hermione as a couple."
"We aren't a coup.." Ron objected but George interrupted him.
" Just as we were saying, the couple who should be a couple but isn't for some peculiar reason."
Gin coached," And how do we know that they should be a couple?"
Fred replied, mock seriously. " Well, in the matter of the parties of Weasley, R. and Granger, H. we submit the following evidence. Let's examine the long known infatuation of one Ronald Billius Weasley first, shall we?"
" Where to start, where to start," George sighed holding his hand over his heart.
" How about a lovesick Ron gazing at Hermione at any given opportunity?" Fred began.
Ron snorted as his face went red. He'd never thought that he'd been that obvious.
" Good one, and that started when?" George asked.
" About three years back, I reckon," was Fred's reply.
" Good, here's another. Ron bitten by the green- eyed monster. Jealousy, thy name is Viktor Krumm." Fred chortled.
" Or sometimes Conrad McLaggen," Ginny joined in enthusiastically.
" Or possibly, any bloke that even looks at Hermione in an interested way!" Fred concluded.
Ron glared, " I was just looking out for her best interests like any friend would."
Charlie smiled at his younger brother and opened his mouth. Ron turned to him in shock.
" Surely you're not going to be part of this!"
" It's for you own good, " Charlie winked at him and continued. " Ron, worrying himself into a frenzy over the girl who's his ' best friend' and agreeing to do anything at all if it might protect her, including this Ministry job."
Ginny smiled in a satisfied way. " Quite conclusive evidence, wouldn't you say, Mr. Weasley?"
Damn his family! Why couldn't they just mind their own business?
" Alright, alright. There's no use denying it. I don't even want to anymore. I-uh- care about her- uh- a great deal." He finished with a mumble.
Fred and George rolled their eyes.
" Merlin, he sounds like that prat Percy, all pompous and do-goody." Fred teased.
That hit a raw nerve as Fred knew it would.
" I –DO- NOT! Alright! I love her! I'd do anything for her! Are you satisfied?" Ron was now extremely red in the face but continued. " But what good is it? She doesn't think of me that way. Well, sometimes I think she might be starting to- but every time I –um-try to find out. -Here he stumbled at the thought of his two aborted attempts at kissing Hermione- SOMETHING or let me see, SOMEONE, interrupts me!"
He stopped and glared at Ginny who had the grace to look somewhat abashed. " I'm sorry about that, Ron, but I still stick to what I said this morning." she replied firmly.
Sensing the tension between his younger siblings, Charlie broke in,
" Right, then. Evidence of the true feelings of one Hermione Granger towards Mr. Ronald Weasley."
Fred piped up, " Hermione gazing frequently at said Mr. Weasley on occasions when he was not looking. Oh, and to answer the next question – two years definitely."
" Make it three. She was just sneakier the first year," George observed.
" That can't be true," Ron said in wonder," I would have noticed."
" Pardon me for saying this, Ronniekins, but there are times when you are a most woefully unobservant git," George stated cheekily.
Ron scowled at him.
" Umm- next evidence. I'll go," Ginny said. " Hermione helping you with your work constantly above and beyond."
" She helps Harry, too," Ron objected.
His family exchanged thoroughly exasperated looks.
" Let him have it? " George asked.
The rest of the family nodded.
" Hermione kissing you on the cheek at last year's Quidditch match!"
"Hermione being the meanest I've ever seen when you started that idiotic fling with Lavendar Brown!"
"Hermione glued to your bedside after you'd been poisoned."
" Hermione crying herself to sleep the entire time you were with Lavendar!"
"Hermione in your arms the day of the Funeral."
" Hermione beside you the other night when the Burrow was attacked."
" Hermione this close to you in the Common Room this morning."
" Hermione in your arms again on the train today."
" Hermione letting you hold her hand at the Feast and getting your breakfast this morning."
Ron's head spun, " Stop, stop! Alright - maybe there's some evidence," he admitted cautiously.
Charlie gave his youngest brother an affectionate punch in the arm. " Two more pieces of evidence that even you won't be able to argue as they are the most conclusive. Think, Ron, - the look Hermione was giving you at the station was definitely not the kind of gaze between friends. That was a look that could burn right to your soul." His brother was now serious and Ron felt a wave of happiness engulf him. Charlie had been there – he knew. Ron, as usual, had doubted his senses.
" Yeah, mate. That look was so hot it could fry eggs on pavement," Fred concurred.
" And last but not least, " Charlie said, " there was –umm-another type of look."
Ron started and gulped. He had been avoiding any thoughts about the ramifications of that particular look all evening.
George grinned," That's right, little brother. Young Miss Granger absolutely has a thing for you and due to circumstances beyond your control, her father knows. If the Death Eaters don't get you first, Dr. Granger might do the job instead."
Ron moaned. Why couldn't anything ever be simple for him? His family may have relieved him on some level that Hermione really did have feelings for him, but now what? He still wouldn't have any time to act on those feelings what with Ministry officials, assorted Aurors everywhere guarding them and now Dr. Granger watching him like a hawk.
Gin's mouth twitched. " Ron, it's truly not as bad as you think. There are really only three challenges you need to overcome and if you'd think like the brilliant chess player you are, you'd have a strategy and a game plan. As it is, I'm quite good at chess and also other important things like knowledge of the female brain. Soo—I've come up with a plan that may work – as long as everybody does what they're told," she ended by glaring at her three oldest brothers.
" Ever notice how much like Gin is beginning to be like Mum?" George asked of no one in particular.
" Maybe we should call her 'Little Mum?' " Fred suggested nudging his Twin.
Ginny stamped her foot.
Charlie laughed, " Right, Gin. We'll all fall into line. Anything to get Operation: Fair Lady completed!"
"Operation: Fair Lady?" Ron looked confused.
" You know he really is a stupid prat sometimes. Yes, Ron. 'Fair Lady' as in your Hermione," Fred stated the obvious.
" You know, as in 'Faint heart never won Fair Lady?'" George clarified sarcastically.
Ron's heart flipped at the thought of 'his' Hermione and then he realized what the Twins were hinting at.
" WHAT! I'M NOT FAINT-HEARTED! I'M A GRYFFINDOR, ' shouted Ron outraged but also a little guilty as he knew he hadn't used his courage to best effect.
" Keep telling yourself that, Ron," smirked Fred.
Charlie shushed the Twins as Gin said soothingly, " Well, then you'll have a chance to prove that tomorrow, won't you?"