I'm so sorry it took me so long to update, I just started a new semester, so I didn't had time to write during school, that is when I generally write, but here it is.

By the way, Bellatrix is alive too, I know some of you might not like that, but I needed her for the story. (Trust me, if I didn't needed her, she wouldn't be here even as a joke)

Well, I won't say more and I'll leave you read it, I hope you enjoy!!

Disclaimer: I bet that if you're reading this, is because you probably know that Harry Potter doesn't belong to me, but to the awesome J.K.Rowling. And if you didn't know that, then you're really lost.

Of love and bets

Chapter 3

Bad and good news

"Are you going to tell me what got you so happy?" asked Hermione while she look at Ginny who cross her room all the way to the closet and started to go through all her clothes, with a huge smile in her face .

"Why yes, I thought you would never ask"

"You entered the room two seconds ago. How could I have asked you before? I'm a witch, not a seer, you know?"

"You're right. I'm just so excited!" exclaimed Ginny jumping all the way to her bed.

"So? Spit it out" said Hermione curious about what Ginny was so thrilled about, while she sat down in the other bed, facing Ginny.

"Harry just asked me out tonight and I think he's gonna asked me to get back together!!" answer Ginny letting out a small scream of joy.

"Oh My Gosh Ginny, that's so great!! I'm so happy for you!!" Hermione got up and gave Ginny a hug.

"I know I can't wait. And I can't find anything to wear" exclaimed Ginny sounding a bit desperate while she picked up a black skirt and threw it back to the closet.

"Let me help you with that. You can look through my clothes too, see if you like something"

"Thanks, Hermione"

Hermione went to her trunk and started throwing clothes to the bed, while Ginny went through her own closet.

"So," said Ginny starting a conversation after being quiet for a while, now searching through Hermione's clothes "has my brother asked you out yet?"

"No, no yet. You know that if he had, I would have told you immediately" said Hermione looking sad. "I know he will. I mean, it's obvious that he likes me, and everyone thinks we ought to be together. I'm just giving him some time to make up his mind. Everything's been really mess up since the war."

Ginny stopped looking, and went to sit down right next to Hermione.

"Look Hermione, listen to me. Ron's my brother, and you're my best friend. I don't want to see either of you two get hurt, and I really love the idea of you two together. But if he's doing nothing, even if it's because he doesn't get the guts to ask you out, then you can't be waiting on him forever, no matter what I or anyone else thinks or want. You have to go out and have fun, with or without him, ok?" Ginny was sure Hermione could wait for Ron forever, but that was wrong, if his brother couldn't see what a wonderful person Hermione was, then Hermione had to move on, and Ginny was going to make sure of that.

"I hate when you're right, I mean, I'm supposed to be the brightest witch of my age, not you" said Hermione frowning, pretending to be mad.

"Well, you said it yourself, of your age, but we're not the same age" Ginny pointed out with a smirk on her face.

"That's even worst!! You're younger!!"

Both of them started to laugh, and when they finally stopped, Hermione said "You know what? You're right. I'll give Ron a week to ask me out before I move on"

"Now you really sound like the brightest witch of your age" said Ginny and they started laughing again.

"Harry! Ron! Hermione! Ginny! Fred! George! Get down here right now!"Mrs. Weasley yelled.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny immediately ran downstairs, not wanting Mrs. Weasley to get mad; but Fred and George simply appeared behind their mom, making her jump.

"How many times have I told you not to do that!!" yelled Mrs. Weasley angrily looking at the twins with a frown in her face.

"Now, now, calm down mum. We'll try not to do it in front, I mean, behind you" said George smirking "Anyway, what did you call us for?" he asked quickly when he saw the look on his mom's face.

"Kingsley, Tonks and Remus are here. They came for lunch and to talk to all of us. But hurry up, they don't have much time" answer Mrs. Weasley still looking at the twins but motioning everyone to enter to the kitchen.

"Gee, what's the hurry? After all, the war's over. We don't have to worry about 'you-know-what'" Fred joked in a soft voice so that only his friend would hear, but unfortunately, Mrs. Weasley heard him, and immediately started yelling

"Stop joking!! This is serious, and I don't want any of you two making jokes. Now get in the kitchen!!"

They all entered the kitchen, where Kingsley, Tonks, Remus, Bill, Fleur, Charlie and Mr. Weasley were talking.

"Wotcher everyone" said Tonks happily once everyone, except for Mrs. Weasley, had sat down.

"Hey Tonks" the twins greet Tonks back simultaneously

"How's little Teddy?" asked Hermione

Remus was about to answer, but Tonks answer first

"Oh he's great. He's with my mom right now. You guys really have to come over and see him once everything goes back to normal" Tonks looked really excited about something and everyone wonder what it was.

Mrs. Weasley brought the food and immediately Ron helped himself

"God Ron, don't eat it all, the food is for everyone" said Ginny as she watched Ron served lots of food in his plate.

"Shut it. I'm hungry. It's not of your business how much I eat" snapped Ron as he turned a bit red

"Watch your language Ronald" warned Mrs. Weasley shooting a threatening look at Ron.

There was silence for a moment before it was broken by Fleur

"So, what was zat you wanted to tell us?" she asked

"Oh, right. Well, as you all know, after the war, the whole wizarding world has been a mess, and in the Ministry, we've been trying hard to get things back to normal. We came here to tell you how everything is going and…" Kingsley was cut off by Tonks who, unable to contain herself, burst out

"Oh, don't make it long. It's all so easy, we have news. A good one and a bad one. Which one do you wanna hear first?"

"Dora dear, calm down and let Kingsley explains" said Remus putting his hand on one of Tonks' shoulders.

"Oh fine. But if he does not hurry, I'll tell them" Tonks said reluctantly, crossing her arms and frowning, making everyone at the table laugh.

"C'mon guys, which one of the news does you want to hear first?" asked Tonks a little exasperated while everyone was still laughing

"Duh! It's obvious" said Fred as if she was asking the most stupid question in the world. He and George exchanged a look and said together

"The good one!!"

Everyone seemed pretty much to agree to that, so Kingsley just smiled and started telling the news

"Well, first of all, we're glad to announce that Hogwarts has been cleaned up and repaired like new, and is ready to go. Of course last year is not going to count, and everyone is going to repeat it."

"So do we three have to go back to Hogwarts too?" asked Ron looking worried. Mrs. Weasley looked at him and exclaimed

"But of course you do!! You three have to finish your education and graduate from Hogwarts, how do you expect to do without your N.E.W.T.S.?"

"Actually Molly, they don't have to. That's part of the news" said Remus quietly

"WHAT??" yelled Mrs. Weasley

"You see Molly, after all they've done, everyone thinks N.E.W.T.S. are…. let's say, unnecessary" answer Remus calmly. Harry and Ron looked at each other, excited and obviously relief by not having to go back to school.

"Besides, we know Harry and Ron wanted to be Aurors and we all pretty much agreed that they qualify for the job. Especially the Head of the Aurors Office added Kingsley smiling

"And who's zat?" asked Fleur

"Me!!" answer Tonks excited jumping a little

"Really?" asked Bill and Tonks nodded "That's great Tonks, congratulations"

"I know I'm so excited. I couldn't wait to tell you all"

"So does that mean we don't have to do any test at all to be Aurors?" asked

Ron with a hopeful look in his face.

"Yep" nodded Tonks happily "You just need to decide if you want to join, and if you do, I'll help you out"

"Of course we do!!" exclaimed Ron and Harry smiling

"Well then, I'll come by sometime next week to take you to the Ministry and explain you everything" said Tonks enthusiastically

"As for Hermione, we don't know yet what she wants to do" said Remus, and everyone turned to looked at her "But I'm sure she'll have no problem at all at whatever she wants to do" Hermione blushed at this and answer

"To be honest, I haven't really thought about it"

"Don't worry about it, there's no hurry. But if you're interested in something at the Ministry, tell me" said Kingsley

"I'll think about it, and I'll let Tonks now when she comes by next week"

"Molly, are you all right?" asked Mr. Weasley looking concerned at his wife. Mrs. Weasley had been quiet all along, which had surprised everyone, they all expected her to be yelling, and they were not quite wrong, as she exploded with her husband's question.

"No, I'm not. I can't believe any of you. You're being extremely irresponsible. How can you come and give then all jobs? They're just kids. And don't you think they at least deserve a break after all they've done?"

"Molly, they're not kids anymore. They 17, almost 18. They have to decide about their future and right now is a good moment" said Kingsley with his low voice trying to calm her down "And besides, we all know they need a break. We never said they would go to work right away"

"We won't?" asked Ron looking confused

"But Tonks said…."

"Tonks said she would explain you everything, but you will not start working the next day"

"But why?"

"Molly's right, you need a break. You need some time to relax and rest. Besides, the jobs are not going anywhere" said Kingsley smiling

"But how long do we have to wait?" asked Harry

"Well, that depends…."

"On what?"

Remus and Kingsley exchanged a dark look and Tonks suddenly looked serious.

"Well, that's part of the bad news" finally Remus answer

"How bad are zey?" asked Fleur looking scared

"They're not that bad" Tonks reassured her "but they do affect Hermione, Fred and George"

All the looks that had been set on Kingsley, Remus and Tonks instantaneously turned to the twins and Hermione, so fast Hermione jumped a little. The three of them seemed surprise by the mention of their names and asked at the same time

"What thing involves us in what?!"

If it hadn't been for the seriousness of the situation, everyone would have laugh by this peculiarity.

"I'm sorry to inform you that you cannot open your shop yet, is gonna have to wait" answer Kingsley with an apologetic look in his face. Then he turned to look at Hermione and said "As well as your parents. You cannot go to Australia to bring them back or try to contact them in anyway. I'm sorry" The reaction was immediate. The twins looked really disappointed by this news, and Hermione seemed really pale, and seemed to be speechless.

"How long are they gonna have to wait?" Ginny asked aloud what everyone was wondering in their minds "hold on a second, you didn't answer Harry's question"

"Well, that's because both have the same answer. Bellatrix. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to find her"

"But what does that has to do…." Ron was interrupted by Kingsley.

"Bellatrix can be really dangerous. After all, she was Voldemort's most faithful Death Eater. And we have reasons to believe she's been trying to reunite all the Death Eaters left and finish what Voldemort started. We're doing all we can to find her, but we have no clue where she is. I'm afraid to say that as long as we can't find her, Harry and Ron cannot start working."

"But why not?"

"Yeah, we're not scared of her! We fought her before!"

"Look guys, you've done enough for the Wizarding world, let us take care of this. Just promess you will not go out alone, and you'll be careful. But especially that you won't go after Bellatrix, ok?" said Tonks

"Oh, fine. But if you need any help you'll tell us, right?" asked Harry looking serious

"Of course"

"But what does Bellatrix has to do with the shop and Hermione's parents?"

asked Ginny

"Well, unfortunately, the products that Fred and George sell, can be use as more than just little pranks, as we discovered the night Dumbledore died. Besides, they could be in danger" explained Kingsley "as for Hermione; it would be too dangerous to go to Australia, as she could be followed. Her parents are safe in there, as no one suspects where they are."

"I'm really sorry about all the inconveniences this can cause to all of you, but we promess you we won't stop 'til we get Bellatrix."

Everyone fall silent, obviously shocked by the news. They finished the rest of their lunches almost in silence, doing one or two commentaries once in a while, but everyone seemed to be thinking about Bellatrix and what could happen if no one find her soon.

So, how did you like it?? I know I probably used the word "well" like a thousand times, I apologize. I didn't quite like the end, I didn't know how to ended, so I perfectly understand if you don't like either.

I know this chapter was longer, I felt like I needed to explain what's going on outside the Burrow, and this seemed like a good way to do it. Sorry if it bored you.

There will be more Fred/Hermione next chapter, I promess.

I'll update soon, but please remember to leave a review in your wait out. I don't care if it's short, and constructive criticism is welcome.

Love ya all

Samy