A/N: I'm very thankful for all the reviews I recieved. I was actually quite shocked when I found out I had nine new reviews and then even more. I will give a general thanks to people who just say, great story, update soon, but people who say something more specific will get singled out. Something I'd like to point out is that in chapter two, no one caught that Fred called Hermione by her real name and then chided her for using his. I fixed it though so now she's the only one who makes a mistake. And also, the idea for them having to dress up to go to dinner came out of absolutely no where. I was going to make this chapter much longer, but after so many demanding reviews I thought I'd just get it out there for you to enjoy.
AngelWooWoo: I never thought of that. Now I'll have to work in something about "Rock" being insanely immature and possesive, just kidding!
PearlyJammer: Yes, I suppose they are. I will try and make it as funny as possible, although I'm not sure how good I am at humor.
RonGranger: Just thought I'd point out that you made me think of a McDonalds comercial. "Buddmmp ba-ba-ba-ba I'm lovin' it"
Chapter Three
A Disasterous Affair
Fred shot up from the bed at Hermione's announcement. He had packed some fancy dress robes, but he hadn't thought he'd actually be wearing them. Hermione rushed to her suitcase and began to throw clothes out, totally undoing all her neat packing skills. Carefully picking his way over Hermione's now rumpled clothing, Fred opened his trunk and tucking his dress robes under his arm, went into the bathroom.
Hermione, meanwhile, had found what she was looking for, in the form of some crisply pressed light blue robes and what she'd be wearing underneath them, a soft white dress. Fred was hogging the bathroom, so Hermione dressed in the room. She quickly folded her old clothes and looked at the mess she had made. Clothes were strewn everywhere, but it only took a quick wave of Hermione's wand and everything was neatly put to order in her trunk.
She could hear the water running in the bathroom and figured Fred was brushing his teeth. She sat on the bed and looked at her watch. It was five-fifty. Rolling her eyes at her partner, Hermione let herself lay back on the bed and relax for a moment.
The door to the bathroom opened suddenly and Hermione bolted up. Fred immerged, but Hermione almost didn't recognize him. He was dressed in the most astonishingly red robes Hermione had ever seen and his brown hair was ruffled, but in a very pleasing way. If it weren't for the familiar bright blue eyes, she'd of thought someone else had snuck into her room while she was resting.
"Ready to go, Rachel," Fred asked nervously fiddling with collar of the white shirt he was wearing underneath the robes.
"Yes," Hermione said blushing only a little bit, at the way her voice had come out all breathless sounding.
They didn't speak as they walked to the lift and got in. Hermione was very nervous, but Fred seemed to be fine. He was humming under his breath and looked at a poster advertising Wanda's Wonderful Wands that was plastered to the wall of the lift. He turned and gave Hermione a reasurring grin, but she could only smile wanly at him, but it looked more like a grimace.
"What if I blow the whole thing?" Hermione wondered out loud and Fred had the grace to look suprised.
"You must be joking, Rachel. You are the brightest witch I know, if anyone can pull this off, it will be you," Fred said and Hermione gulped and nodded.
"Thanks."
"Just don't call me Gred and you'll be good to go," He joked and Hermione actually smiled.
The lift doors opened and they proceeded out into the lobby and acrossed to some fancy wooden doors. Fred held the door for Hermione and she flashed him a thankful look.
"What do you think, Mrs. Henderson is like? I figured she's got to be an old bat," Hermione said and Fred looked suddenly sick and she couldn't fathom why.
"Hello, I'm Mrs. Henderson," Came a loud boyant voice.
Hermione instantly paled and turned to look at the woman who had spoken.
Amy Henderson did not look her age. She was an average sized woman with curly white hair and a youthful looking face. Her robes were pale gold and she was giving Hermione a very cold look.
"Hello, Mrs. Henderson. I'm Arnold Daniels and this is my rude little sister Rachel," Fred said smoothly and Mrs. Henderson turned her startling blue eyes on him.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Daniels," Mrs. Henderson said and her voice was very business like. She gave Fred a firm smile and an even firmer handshake and walked away.
Hermione put her head in her hands. Fred led her, still clutching her face in horror, to a large table that sat in the front of the room.
"I'm completely mortified," Hermione said as soon as she was seated.
Fred who had seated himself beside her, laughed.
"It wasn't that bad. She'll be alright once she really gets to know you," He said and Hermione shook her head.
"I don't think so."
Lots of other people had come to sit at their table, seemingly it was the most important table, because Mrs. Henderson had seated herself at the head of it.
Fancy serving maids came in to pour them each a glass of butterbeer and a smartly dressed man took their orders. Hermione decided on a salad, while Fred went for the fish and chips combination. The waiter nodded to show he understood and briskly went through a set of white double doors. Everyone at the table was speaking quietly amongst themselves, when a very crisp voice cut across everyone elses conversations to hit the ears of a couple sitting halfway down from the top.
"Mr. Bervre, why it is you have not brought your lovely wife and daughter," Mrs. Henderson asked briskly.
The woman sitting beside Mr. Bervre looked like she wanted to melt into the carpet and Mr. Bevre, himself, had turned a slight pink.
"They weren't feeling well," He said gruffly.
"Then who is your beautiful companion this evening," Mrs. Henderson without a hint of mercy for either of them.
"This is Mattie Dorfin," Mr.Bervre said looking helpless.
"Miss Dorfin, how do you know our wonderful Mr. Bervre here?"
"We.. we were friends in school," Mattie said in a wavering tone, while blushing profusely.
"Ahh wonderful," Mrs. Henderson said and she turned to talk to the person beside her, leaving Miss Dorfin and Mr. Bervre to chat quite animatedly to each other.
"She's terrible," Hermione whispered to Fred, when she was absolutely sure that Mrs. Henderson was preoccupied.
"You know I agree with you, but I can't help feeling Mr. Bervre was going to get his sooner or later," Fred said equally as quiet.
"Mr. Daniels where are you and your sister from?" Mrs. Henderson asked suddenly and Fred's head shot up.
"We're from London," Fred said easily and Mrs. Henderson nodded.
"Very large place. Don't like it much myself. Why is it that you travel without a young lady of your own?"
Fred laughed and was about to answer, but Hermione spoke before he could.
"Arnold's girlfriend doesn't have the nice manners a place like this requires," Hermione said shooting Fred a quick look.
"So she is uncultured," Mrs. Henderson said now looking at Hermione, her voice was nearly the same, but had turned wintery now that she was addressing Hermione.
"I suppose you could say that. She's a terrible bore too, not very high minded, if you know what I mean. My brother always has had a soft spot for the less-fortunate," Hermione said giving Fred a nudge with her shoulder.
He just smiled weakly and stared at his plate. He wanted to stop Hermione from making a fool of herself, but he'd have to hold her down and put a sock in her mouth to do it, and that wouldn't have looked very good to the people gathered at the table.
"And you think it's funny to make fun of someone who is not as intelligent as you think you are," Mrs. Henderson asked coldly and Hermione shrunk back a little.
"No, I just... I'm sorry," Hermione said and then she fell silent, her face burning and her mind racing at why it had all gone over so badly.
"Arnold, how about your sister, I can't imagine it, but does she have a boyfriend," Mrs. Henderson asked and Fred nodded his head before he looked up.
He felt a little like he was being lured into a trap, but he took a deep breath and gave Mrs. Henderson a winning smile.
"Oh she does. He's a right laugh. He's a partial owner of a joke shop in Diagon Alley, something Weazy," Fred started and Hermione looked over at him in suprise.
"Weasley's Wizarding Weezes?" Mrs. Henderson inquired.
"That's it!"
"Yes, my Great-Stepbrother's grandchildren own that shop. Two of the biggest miscreants, from what I hear, but people like that make life interesting," Mrs. Henderson said and it was Fred's turn to look a little shocked.
"Yes, I suppose," He said uncertainly.
"A couple of handsome boys are they not," Mrs. Henderson said proudly and Hermione peeked out from under her eyelashes.
When she realized that the question was directed at her, she thought she might have a chance at redeeming herself.
"Oh yes, very handsome! I was only joking about Arnold's girlfriend, she's quite lovely actually. But the twins are quite fabolous, although their disregard for rules has rubbed on my nerves a time or two," Hermione said and Fred laughed.
"You're too much of a stickler."
"Well how nice, do tell the twins I would like to come to their shop sometime," Mrs. Henderson said, in a very flippant way, meaning she would never do such a thing. With that said, she turned to pick on a dumpy woman sitting to her left.
It was then that their food arrived and Hermione and Fred dug in with the hope that while their mouths were full and they were making such a show of eating, that Mrs. Henderson wouldn't talk to them. This strategy worked, and even after Hermione had scooped up the last little piece of lettuce off her plate and Fred had popped the last chip noisily into his mouth, Mrs. Henderson didn't turn to speak to either of them.
"Dinner is over, you can return to your rooms," Mrs. Henderson called