Chapter 9 Muggle Bound Operation: Fair Lady
At the Twins' flat, the Weasley family went into high gear to implement Ginny's Plan. Ginny sent Fred and George on missions to their bedroom and the shop respectively. Then she and Charlie pulled up their chairs and sat on either side of Ron.
" Right, first thing, Ron is you've been too slow to take advantage of your opportunities," Ginny said purposefully.
" I was doing my best today, but as you know, I kept getting interrupted," Ron defended himself.
Charlie looked thoughtful. " You know, Ron, interruptions are a fact of life right now. Yes, we'd all like to see you happy but the bottom line is there's a War on and you have an important role to play. Your relationship needs to established so that both you and Hermione can concentrate on your responsibilities to Harry and not be second-guessing each other."
Ginny flinched and looked pained but said in a small hurt voice," He won't let me, Ron, but he will let you and Hermione. So I need to know you're both doing your best."
Ron felt a stab of pain at his little sister's unhappy face and sad tones. He reached over and seized her hand.
" Gin, I promise that I'll work this out with Hermione. We will never let Harry down. Now tell me the next part of the plan." Ron kept hold of her hand and squeezed it gently.
Ginny smiled tremulously, " Well, Ron that's your assignment. You have to work out exactly what to say so you don't waste time when the opportunity comes. And you have to convince yourself that Hermione wants to be with you as much as you want to be with her."
Ron relaxed a little. He'd rehearsed what he was going to say many times since the first night at Hogwarts, which now seemed like a century ago. As for the other, his family had offered him enough "evidence" that Hermione returned his "strong emotions." If he had had any more doubts, he thought happily of the note that she had sent that evening.
" I can do that," Ron replied with determination in his voice.
Charlie clapped him on the back. " Good man! Think Gryffindor!"
" Next," Ginny continued," is your job, Charlie. You're going with Ron tomorrow to start the Ministry project, right?"
" You are?" Ron was surprised. " I thought you were on leave."
" From the Ministry, not the Order. I'll be there to relieve Tonks who's been on duty over forty-eight hours," Charlie replied.
" So your job is to make sure Ron and Hermione have an opportunity to be by themselves even if it's a short time," Ginny ordered.
" I can do that," Charlie promised, grinning at his younger brother.
Ron was beginning to feel much better about things and grinned back. The problems he'd been obsessing over were virtually solved. Well, except one.
" Challenge Number Three, " Ginny really was on a roll. " Fred, George! It's time!"
On cue, the Twins appeared rolling a rack of assorted clothing – shirts, jackets and robes- as well as carrying a variety of different sized boxes.
" What in Merlin's name?" Ron's jaw dropped and he noticed that Charlie had a similar expression on his face.
Ginny gave a smug smile.
Fred said proudly," Our latest line, Muggle and Wizard clothing for the Fashion Conscious Witch and Wizard."
George joined in. " You wouldn't believe how well it's going! "
" Yeah – we had a real run on these dragon skin jackets. Whoops! Sorry – Charlie!' Fred enthused.
Charlie humphed, " As long as they weren't protected species."
The next half hour consisted of Ron trying on every conceivable outfit while Gin, Fred, and George argued, rejected and laughed hysterically at certain combinations. Finally, Ron had had enough.
" And exactly why are we doing this again? Are you saying that Hermione will reject me if I'm not dressed like a Muggle fashion-plate? She didn't seem to be rejecting me today and I certainly wasn't at my best after a night of practically no sleep!" Ron's temper was beginning to get the better of him again.
" Oh, Ron, of course not. But this is really not about Hermione at all- other than she'll get a really great side benefit that she'll enjoy," Gin smirked knowingly.
" Yeah, mate. The idea is to impress a) her father and b) the Ministry blokes" said George.
" And when b) the Ministry blokes are so impressed with you, then a) her father will even more so," Fred reasoned.
" But clothes are just appearance! No one's going to be impressed if I can't do the job or say something intelligent!" Ron felt his worries come tumbling back.
Charlie had been very quiet the last while only chuckling at some of the odder clothing combinations. Now he added his voice to the discussion.
" Ron, look. If you feel confident, you will impress everyone even yourself. If you're worried about your appearance, even a little bit, it will impact on your confidence and therefore your ability to think. So, we're getting the whole appearance thing out of the way so you can concentrate on-well-other things."
Ron blushed, thinking of – well -other things. He had to admit that his family knew him way too well. He realized that he would have been in a state the next morning trying to find something that wouldn't make him look lame in front of Dr. Granger, the Ministry and most of all, Hermione.
Charlie pointed to the clock on the wall. " Decision time. Gin has to be back at Great Aunt Muriel's in fifteen minutes."
Ginny started to complain. Charlie shook his head. " No discussion. I promised Dad."
The outfit – a plain blue button down shirt, black denim pants and some plain but elegant dragonskin boots which Fred and George said were all the rage- was laid carefully out for the morning.
Charlie was now dragging Ginny towards the fireplace where a Floo link had been established to Great Aunt Muriel's.
" And don't let him get dressed before breakfast!" she yelled as her head disappeared in a flash of Floo powder.
" Breakfast!" Ron was sure that breakfast would be the last thing on his mind when tomorrow morning arrived.