A/N: Thank you once again for all the reviews. You guys are wonderful! When I saw how many I had gotten, I let some very colorful words fly, but they were out of joy I assure you. Oh and the line in here where Fred goes to the bathroom and he says 'Wish me luck!' is from another Fred/Hermione story, 'Doublemint Gum' by Tempest Break, I liked it so much I just had to use it.
AngelWooWoo: Yes, suprisingly I modeled her after my grandmother (in looks and the curt, business like attitude), but when I got to her personality I was actually thinking of Rose's mother in Titanic. She's supposed to be a gossiping old bigot.
lughnasadhfirecat: Heck yes, I like the mission too.Thank you ever so much for adding my story to your favorites and alerts.
Gilraen Aclamense: Why thank you, I happen to think so too.
RonGranger: Well alrighty then. I'm glad you do.
cantateddomino:Has anybody ever told you flattery gets you everywhere. No, no I need him! Well actually he was talking about George, but only because he panicked.
Sarah: Thank you very much! I thought about that, once, but I didn't think she's too well known... not how she looks anyway. You gave me the perfect idea, a good twist and an appearance by my favorite HP character are now in the works.
Moony4Moony:Well I share a bed with my sibling when I go places... it's not that weird. Oh, Fred just didn't know what to say... Rock will probably make an appearance again.
ZepplinGirl: Haha, don't worry Kelsey, they won't be 'brother and sister' for long.
RedXTears: Well I agree with you. She's not very nice, but I enjoy writing her too. And I will :)
notavailible: That is quite alright I'm tired myself.
tiger-lily9240: Well, Hermione's got to rub someone the wrong way, she's too bossy not to. I never thought she'd be sauve or good at getting people to laugh, so I kinda liked that she fell flat on her face.
Chapter Four
A Redeeming Quality
Hermione and Fred went to their hotel room in silence. Hermione almost wanted Fred to start yelling at her for being a claud and mucking everything up, but he didn't. Instead he gave her a comforting smile when she collasped onto the bed with a defeated moan. He sat on the edge and yawned.
"I don't see how that could have gone any worse," Hermione said shaking her head in dismay.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, you did fine," Fred said and Hermione snorted.
"At least she likes you. You charmed them all which, I guess, isn't that suprising," Hermione said complimentary.
"Years and years of work, my dear. Me and George had to come up with a brilliant cover so people wouldn't get too mad when we blew things up," Fred said seriously.
"It worked. Proffesor McGonagall still liked you, even when you smashed the rules to pieces," Hermione said in a kinda of miffed voice.
"Oh, she likes to pretend to be stuffy, but underneath she's a wildcat," Fred said waving his hand as though it was ridiculous to think otherwise.
"No, she's not," Hermione said rolling her eyes and Fred looked at her with wide eyes.
"Are you crazy! We snuck into a staff party once and she was swinging from a chandelier, in her knickers! Of course, that's an image that will stick with you, especially since she was drunkenly singing, "Cat Scratch Fever."
Hermione laughed, "Are we talking about the same Proffesor?"
"The one in the same, Mrs. Minerva McGonagall, about yay high, pinched looking face, usually looks like she swallowed a ruler."
"I can't believe that," Hermione said shaking her head and getting up. She went to her suitcase and pulled out pajamas.
"I'm tired, I think I'll go straight to bed," Hermione said to no one in particular.
Fred nodded and pulled out his own pajamas from his trunk.
"Wish me luck," He said in the voice of someone off to face a dragon and skipping slightly, he headed into the bathroom and shut the door just as Hermione was about to say something. She made a very sour face at the closed door and muttered under her breath about "Bathroom-hogging red heads," as she went about taking off her dress robes and getting into her Pjs.
Fred immerged wearing blue shorts and a light blue shirt, just as Hermione was placing her blue muggle alarm clock on the bedside table. She quickly set it and turned to look at Fred. Her eyes were at once drawn to Fred's muscular legs, which happened to be covered in ginger colored hair.
"Your hair is red everywhere?" Hermione asked before she could stop herself and she blushed crimson as Fred grinned at her evilly.
"Of course, but if I showed you, I'd feel like you were taking advantage of me, since I am in such a delicate state," Fred said and Hermione scoffed and got into bed.
"Oh yes, Fred, I'm can see you telling your mum that I took advantage of you. Me being a foot shorter than you and built like a twig," Hermione said rolling her eyes as she plumped her pillow.
"Hey, it could happen! Happened to Lee Jordan once. I'm not joking," Fred said when Hermione began to giggle.
"Although she wasn't built like you, she was a little bit taller and really muscular. We watched as she put him into a head lock once," Fred said gleeful in the rememberance.
"And you didn't help him out," Hermione asked incrediously.
"Of course not, you should have seen her. She was bloody terrifying," Fred said with a a fake shiver.
"So Lee Jordan likes brutish girls, poor boy," Hermione shaking her head, but she was still laughing.
"Yes, I know we're all going to miss him," Fred said wiping away an imaginary tear.
Fred rolled down the covers on his side of the bed and hopped in. Hermione rolled over so she was facing him. Fred wiggled around for a moment, getting comfortable and once he was settled, he noticed Hermione looking at him with the most mournful look on her face.
"Who killed your cat," He asked suddenly and Hermione merely blinked at him in suprise.
"Wh.. what?"
"You look like someone murdered your dearest pet," Fred said and Hermione nodded.
"I was just thinking about how much I miss seeing you with red hair," Hermione said and Fred laughed.
"Oh, that's all it is? You had me worried for a moment. It's only a glamour isn't it? Easy to reverse," Fred said and he picked up his wand from the bedside table, where he had set it earlier.
Screwing up his face in concentration he pointed his wand at his own head and muttered to himself. Instantly his hair was vibrant red again. He smiled at Hermione then he changed his hair back to the dull brown it had been before.
"Happy?"
"I suppose. I'm feeling a little home sick I guess," Hermione said rolling onto her back now, so she wouldn't have to look him in the eye.
"Ahh, for your parents," Fred said with an understanding nod.
"Actually no, I miss being at the Burrow," Hermione said and she smiled to herself.
"And why is that," Fred asked and then teasingly he said, "My darling little brother?"
"Ron? No, it's everyone. Your family is so amazing," Hermione gushed and then she stopped because she felt like an idiot.
Fred didn't know what to say to that, and after a moment of awkward silence, he said goodnight.
"Goodnight," Hermione chirped, ducking further under the covers.
The sun was just streaking through the window when a loud beeping filled the room. Fred shot up and looked around, trying to untangle himself from Hermione. She groaned and rolled over to hit the snooze button on her alarm. Sometime during the night they'd become hopelessly wrapped around each other. Hermione didn't think this would phase Fred, but he didn't make it an issue so she didn't feel embarrased either, which she was thankful for. Instead he hopped out of bed and grabbed the breakfast menu.
"We're supposed to go downstairs for breakfast, it's our chance to keep buttering Mrs. Henderson up," Hermione groaned from the bed, where she was still sprawled out.
"We've got a little time, you want to go spruce yourself up," Fred asked Hermione sat up and looked at Fred as though he'd lost his mind.
"Your allowing me into the bathroom," She asked sounding flattered.
"Sorry about that, old habit really. I've never shared a room with a woman before," Fred said sheepishly.
The way he said it like she was something special, made her smile inwardly.
"Thank you, I guess a warm shower would be nice," Hermione said swinging her legs over the side of the bed and getting up.
She stretched her arms above her head and gave out a contented sigh. Walking over to her suitcase, she pulled out her toiletries and clothes for the day and went into the bathroom. Hermione was very used to having her own bathroom, being an only child, but she was considerate and took the least amount of time she could to shower and brush her teeth. With a flick of her wand her hair was dry and although she frowned at the poufy nature of it, with a couple of pins she had it looking decent.
She emerged from the bathroom, shiny and clean and Fred gave her an admiring look before he passed her and shut the door with a click.
Living with a male was deffinately different, but not intolerable. She was much more conscious of what she pulled out of her bag when he was in the room and keeping her personal items secret was a top priority.
Fred came out of the bathroom, his hair was still wet, but he was wearing a new set of robes. Hermione couldn't figure out why she hadn't noticed what beautiful blue eyes Fred had. They were gorgeous and the navy robes he was wearing accentuated them perfectly. She blushed and turned away, fussing with skirt. Fred glanced at his appearance in the mirror over a small table and turned to Hermione.
"Here we go again," She groaned as he walked to the door, opened it and waited for her to walk through.
"After last night, there can't be much else you can do to Mrs. Henderson. You know, besides setting her hair on fire, or spitting in her tea," Fred joked and Hermione smiled.
She was silently glad for his company. She could have never made it on her own. Every time she felt unsure or upset, he was there with an encouraging word or a joke and she would be right as rain again. She'd never thought much of the duel pranksters, but now having spent so much time with one of them, she had to say there was more to them then what met the eye.
Hermione pushed the button for the lift and the doors slid open easily. She and Fred stepped in and the doors closed. Fred was nearest the buttons and Hermione, who was rummaging through her purse, expected him to push the button for downstairs. Instead, Fred turned to Hermione.
"You know, if you were yourself today, I'm sure Mrs. Henderson wouldn't loath you as much, or if you don't like that idea, you could always don a blond wig, stick a Canary Cream on her plate and tell her what you think of her, while whistling the theme to Chicago, of course," Fred was saying and Hermione looked up from the lip balm she'd found and saw his mischeivious grin.
"As entertaining and high out of character as that sounds, I think I will just try to blend," Hermione said rolling her eyes slightly at his ridiculous suggestion. Fred finally pushed the button and Hermione quickly spread the balm on her lips. The strong scent of cherries wafted over to him and Hermione suddenly snapped her fingers making him jump.
"Chicago? That's a muggle musical," Hermione said rounding on him as if he'd told her he was the Minister of Magic.
"Yes, Angelina dragged me to one once. Thought it was a riot, and all that jazz," Fred said stamping his foot as if tap dancing and striking a very silly pose.
"You are very strange sometimes," Hermione giggled.
The lift doors opened then and they walked to the dining room. All the guest from the previous night seemed to be there, along with a couple of newcomers. Everyone was milling around wait for Mrs. Henderson to seat herself, but she seemed more content to chat with the different guest. Mrs. Henderson was like a shark after fresh meat, as soon as she laid eyes on Fred, she came over, eyes gleaming.
"Mr. Daniels, since you proved good company yesterday, I was wondering if you would sit beside me at breakfast this morning," Mrs. Henderson said in a slightly smarmy way.
Fred looked at Hermione who gave him an encouraging nudge. She had the mission on her mind, and it was imperative that Mrs. Henderson bond with Fred, because she obviously despised Hermione. The older woman actually smiled at Hermione for pushing Fred a bit. Fred walked to the head of the table and sat to Mrs. Henderson's left making sure to wave and wink at Hermione, who had taken a seat next to Mr. Bervre and a young man who was stuttering wildly now to a woman across the way.
Hermione unfolded her napkin and put it carefully in her lap, the waiter came and Hermione ordered a chocolate crepe. Sipping a bit of the orange juice that had been placed before her, Hermione eyed the man sitting next to her. He seemed to be the only person that wasn't there with someone else and his black rimmed glasses and rather large front teeth, reminded Hermione of someone. She watched as he nervously fiddled with his fork and then took a small notebook out of his pocket. Pulling out a quill as well he started scribbling in the tablet at a furious pace.
On Hermione's other side, Mr. Bervre chuckled and knocked her elbow.
"Ministry lackey, that one is," He said to Hermione and the young man looked up sheepishly and put the quill and pad away.
"I am swamped and even though the Ministry sent me on this trip for relaxtion, I still have a million things to do," He said quickly.
"What department do you work in," Hermione asked and he turned a bright pink.
"Ministry Of Foreign Affairs," Was his shy answer.
Though he lacked the air of pompousness Percy had, he was a suprising reminder of that particular Weasley.
Hermione looked up to where Fred was smoozing with Mrs. Henderson. From where she sat, it looked like the old woman was eating out of the palm of his hand. This was good because they only had five more days to try and get her to open up and reveal her families secrets.
From what Hermione had read in her packet, Mrs. Henderson was a pureblood witch, who, while being Lucius Malfoy's godmother, she wasn't tied in with them. In fact, Hermione had read, the older woman wasn't fond of Lucius at all, but she did know his secrets, which is what made her useful to the Order. Hermione was snapped out of her thoughts, when she heard a loud coughing.
Mr. Bervre had become very red in the face and seemed to gasping for air as he huffed and hacked beside Hermione. She got out of her seat like a shot and coming to stand behind the older man, she tentavely helped up from the table. Thinking quickly, Hermione put her hands around Mr. Bervre and while squeezing tightly, she heaved with all her strength and was able to get the man a few inches off the floor before dropping him back down.
Like magic a large round object flew from Mr. Bervre's mouth and would have hit the woman sitting across the table in the forehead, but she ducked just in time and it instead hit the wall. Mr. Bervre guzzled water down and the people of the table all got to there feet.
"That was mighty admirable, saving his life like that," Mrs. Henderson said at Hermione's elbow, and she whipped around, suprised not only that the old woman was speaking to her, but that she'd managed to slip that close to Hermione without her realizing it.
"I just followed my instincts," Hermione said modestly and Mrs. Henderson shook her head as she started edging back to the head of the table.
"Maybe I was wrong about you."
Bewildered and feeling rather shaky, Hermione stood rooted to the spot while people kept coming up, wanting to shake her hand and congradulate her on being such a quick thinker. Fred squeezed through the crowd and put his arm around her.
"Good job, Sis," He said loudly.
He hugged her close to his side, when he felt her trembling against him. Slowly he menuavered them towards the exit. They were almost there when a formidable road block appeared in pale purple robes.
"Where are you two, lovely children going?" Mrs. Henderson cooed.
"She's not feeling very well," Fred said and Mrs. Henderson looked sympathetically at Hermione.
"Go lie down, dear. Maybe you'll feel better in a bit," She said sounding more like the old grandmother that she was.
"Thank you," Hermione said weakly and supporting Hermione's weight, Fred went into the lift.