Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Hermione pushed open the doors to the seventh floor of St. Mungo's, and with hurried steps quickly made her way to the door marked H .J. Potter. With a short tap on the door she entered cautiously, hoping to see Harry in a better mood than he had been the last time she visited.
"Harry?" she asked upon seeing his closed eyes. At once his eyes popped open and he peered at her.
"Oh, hi Hermione. How's it going?" Harry asked sheepishly.
"I'm quite alright," she answered smirking. There was a quick silence before Harry grabbed a piece of parchment from the metal bedside table and handed it to Hermione. The still-bushy haired girl took the letter and sat on the chair closest to Harry, her brown eyes quickly taking in what was written in the letter. Once done she glanced over at Harry. They both shared a look that only best friends could share, and Hermione hopped off the chair and gave Harry a hug, her honey brown hair falling over her shoulders and into Harry's face.
"Ah! Hermione, your hair is attacking me!" he groaned, batting Hermione's hair out of his face. Hermione laughed and sat back down on the chair. "So, how are the Weasleys?" he asked soberly. "They are getting along alright now?"
Hermione shook her head. "They are all quite shaken up from her death, walking around like zombie's half the time. I don't know Harry; they depended on her for everything! It's really hard watching and not knowing what to do. Ginny and I are doing our best to keep food on the table for the men to eat and keeping everything clean, but Mrs. Weasley had a tougher job than she let on. It's hard trying to keep them all in line."
"Well, that, and she could do magic," Harry said, smiling a little. Hermione nodded slightly.
"Harry, it's just hard to watch them like this. The twins still try and spread cheer around; I walked into the living room once looking for Ginny and both of them were just sitting on the couch, looking at this old photo album of their mum. Harry, there were tears in their eyes!" Hermione whispered, a small tear of her own escaping out of the corner of her eye. Harry was silent for a second, silently berating himself for being so self-centered and not noticing that other people were having a hard time too. "I've got to go. Ginny'll be needing help with dinner." With one last hug, Hermione quickly rushed out, the door banging closed behind her. Harry was once again alone.
"Oh, Hermione, there you are. Could you please go to St. Ottery's and grab some – well something to go with this soup … stew thing?" Ginny stressed, dumping some questionable looking stuff into a pot.
"Erm … okay, sure," Hermione stated and headed back out the way she came.
"Oi, Hermione!" someone yelled back at her. Hermione spun around to see the twins chasing after her. "Where are you going?" one asked once they caught up with her.
"To the village. Ginny needed something to go with what she is making."
"Oh no."
"That's horribly dreadful." Hermione looked at them with raised eyebrows. "Don't tell her I said this, but –"
"– she's a dreadful cook, I pity the man she marries," the other twin finished in one quick breath. Hermione gave them a look of disapproval.
"Well, good luck then … you're going to need it." They gave her a crooked grin before skipping off in the opposite direction. Hermione shook her head, but somehow had to agree with them. Even with Mrs. Weasley's help, Ginny hadn't received any kind of cooking skill Molly had. Hermione turned back toward the way to the village and continued on.
"HERMIONE!" someone yelled. Hermione sighed and turned around.
"Oh, hi Ron. I'm going down to the village to get something to go with dinner," Hermione said before he asked. Ron gave a little grimace.
"Can I walk with you then?" he asked sheepishly. Hermione snorted.
"Of course you can, Ron." Hermione let out a little snicker. Ron nodded, blushing a little, before falling into step beside Hermione.
"Where do you see yourself in ten years?" Ron asked, giving Hermione a meaningful look.
"Um…" Hermione started, wondering why Ron was asking such a question. "Oh, I don't know, Ron," she said uncomfortably. "What about you?" Ron looked a little off guard for the question.
"I dunno. I suspect that I'll become an Auror, have … have a wonderful wife," Ron said quietly, letting his statement hang between them. Hermione bit down on her lower lip. The two of them walked in silence. Occasionally Hermione glanced at Ron only to see him staring at her. She blushed and looked away, wondering again when Ron had become so bold.
"Oh, here we are," Hermione said with a breath of relief, hoping it would take the uncomfortable silence that had befallen them.
Bakery
Open 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Hermione opened the door, the smell of fresh bread entering her nose as she breathed deeply.
"Hurry up, Hermione, not everyone likes to inhale food through the nose," Ron said impatiently from outside the door.
"Well, some of us like to enjoy the simple things, Ron," Hermione retorted hotly but went into the store in search for some bread.
"Hermione, what about this?" Ron yelled from across the small store.
"There is no need to yell, Ron, we're like two feet from each other. And no, that's not right. I don't want – well, whatever that is." Ron placed the star-shaped bread back down into the little basket it was in and started browsing again. Every few seconds he would point something out, like heart-shaped bread, circled bread, moon bread, and being normally obnoxious. Hermione grabbed some garlic bread and some cinnamon rolls with icing on top and brought them to the till.
"What about this?"
"No, Ron," Hermione said without even looking.
"You didn't even look."
"I don't have to," Hermione said, exasperated.
"Well, I thought having pretty-looking bread would somehow make people think the food will be good for once," Ron spat back, placing a bag of breadcrumbs down.
"It's not that bad, Ron! If you'd get off your arse off the couch and help, then maybe it wouldn't be so hard!" Hermione fumed, handing the cashier the money owed. The lady gave Hermione a look of sympathy. "Lets go, Ronald, Ginny'll be waiting for us." Hermione briskly left the store, leaving Ron behind.
"I'm not always on the couch!" Ron argued once he caught back up with her.
"Oh yes, and continuously playing quidditch, or fantasizing about that Hufflepuff girl is just so much better!" Hermione yelled tersely, tears forming at the corner of her eyes. Ron was silent for a moment.
"The only girl I fantasize about is … well, is you," Ron said, blushing from the root of his hair and quickly looking at his feet. Hermione blushed and glanced over at Ron.
"Really?" she asked quietly. Ron nodded slowly, his blush spreading down his neck. Hermione bit her bottom lip, a slow smile forming on her pink lips. With her empty hand she reached for Ron's and held it tightly. Ron blinked back his surprise and stared at their linked hands for a moment before looking away, turning red once again.
"So, erm … what did you do your first week at our parents home?" Ron asked uneasily.
"Not much, really. I read some, and then my parents got tickets from work to China; something about the Best Employee Award. I'd have loved to go, it would have been fascinating," Hermione said wistfully.
"Who would want to go to China?" Ron announced. "It's supposed to smell funny."
"Oh, honestly Ron. Just because it's stereotyped for smelling bad doesn't meant there won't be loads to learn there. The Hun dynasty, for example, or any of the five dynasties would have been spectacular to learn about." Ron rolled his eyes. This seemed to break the ice and the two chatted comfortably with only a few raised words all the way back to the Burrow.
"Supper was good, thanks," Ron praised, lifting the last of his stew into his mouth. Ginny beamed.
"What're you on about, Ron?" George asked.
"I thought it was absolutely dreadful," Fred returned. Ginny burst into tears and ran from the room. Hermione glared at the twins.
"Good job you two, must make you feel real proud of yourself, making your sister cry," Hermione spat at them before running after Ginny.
"Geez," Ron said, scooping his plate up and putting it in the sink. Not only did he put it in the sink, he started the water and washed them as well.
"What's up with you, little Ronnikins?" George asked, watching him clean up after himself with raised eyebrows. Ron didn't seem to hear him and started humming. Fred and George coughed back a laugh and shoved a spoonful of dinner into their mouths to keep from laughing. The two twins finished the meal grimaces on the faces. "Hey, Ron? You'll clean ours too, right?"
"Um…okay," Ron said and took the twins' dishes. He continued humming and cleaning up.
"What's up with him?" Fred asked once they were out of earshot.
"If it were anyone else, I'd say he just got laid," George muttered, and Fred nodded.
"Well, off to see Ginny." A moment of silence
"Yeah…sometimes I wonder how much more moronic we can get." Once at Ginny's door, they gave it a quick knock. Hermione peeked out.
"She doesn't want to talk to you two," she hissed, her eyes flashing.
"We're sorry, Ginny."
"We were only kidding."
"We loved the stew," they yelled into the door, completely ignoring Hermione.
"It was horrid!" sobbed Ginny from the inside of the room. "Like all of them have been! I can't get it right!" Fred and George looked at each other and then at Hermione.
"Remember that one time Mum made that gnome casserole? That was disgusting, she said it was good for us and was a useful way to get rid of them…I swear I've never been the same since."
"Or the time she accidentally put dragon meat in the soup instead of whatever she was going to put in, and Ron had to go to St. Mungo's?" A muffled laugh came from within the room. The twins noticed that Hermione had left and they pushed open the door.
"Here, take one of these," they said together and handed her a yellow candy.
"What is it?" she asked, wiping her tears away.
"Something of our own creation. Don't worry, it isn't anything bad." Ginny took the candy and unwrapped it from its wrapper.
"It better be nothing bad or I'll have your heads." She popped the yellow candy into her mouth, and suddenly warmth spread throughout her whole body and a feeling of contentment steeled within her.
"They are called 'Happy Pills for the Poor Soul in Desperate Need of Some Sun-shiny Warmth to Make Their Rainy Day Seem Brighter.'
A few weeks passed since that incident, and Ron, Ginny and Hermione were sitting in the living room playing Exploding Snap.
"Man, I wish Harry were here. He'd offer some real competition," Ron said after beating Hermione for the fifth time. Hermione huffed, but a loud pop averted her attention and she didn't respond.
"Well, that as bloody terrible!"
"Awful."
"Heartbreaking in the worst sort of ways."
"What are you two going on about?" Ron asked as Hermione hid a smile behind her hand.
"Inventory…"
"It'll be the death of us, I'm sure."
"Blimey! It took us two days!"
"Tragic," Ron said chuckling. "Exploding Snap, you two?" Fred and George looked down at the game.
"Honestly, Ron. How about a game of quidditch?"
"Haven't played that all summer. But there are only three people that would play; unfair," Ron said sadly, looking over at Hermione and Ginny.
"Nothing personal, mate, but you seem rather cold-hearted. After all this time you wouldn't think you would just ignore him."
"You have known him for six years, for Merlin's sake." The twins gave their brother a disapproving glare before stepping aside to present the object of their concern: Harry Potter.
"Harry!" Hermione yelped and jumped up from her place beside Ron, giving him a hug.
"Mate, all right?" Ron asked, getting up from the couch.
"Yeah, and you?"
"Never better," Ron said, glancing at Hermione and making her blush. The twins caught it and they jeered.
"Oh, it looks like Ronnikins and Hermit here have a long awaited announcement to make," Fred said in a sugar-sweet voice while grabbing the two and giving them a huge bear hug.
"Ger'off me!" Ron said, pushing Fred away from him. Hermione stepped out of Fred's embrace, still blushing.
"Well?" Ginny said, peering at the two.
"Um…well, it isn't official, but…" Ginny squealed and dove at Hermione.
"I always wanted a sister!" she proclaimed cheerfully.
"About time, mate," Harry said laughing.
"What's all this racket going on down here?" a voice boomed from the doorway to the living room. The group turned and saw Mr. Weasley. They all were a little shocked; they hadn't seen him downstairs from his room in quite some time.
"Hey dad, Ron and Hermione finally hooked up," Ginny, the first to recover, commented. Mr. Weasley gave a weak smile.
"Congratulations," he said without much emotion.
"Do you want some tea?" she asked hopefully. He nodded and went to the kitchen. Ginny poured him a cup of tea and placed some biscuits on a plate in front of him.
"We're off to go play quidditch," Fred shouted from the living room. With a bang of the front door the four boys were gone.
"You don't have to hover over me, Ginny; I'm quite fine on my own. Why don't you and Hermione go into the village?" Mr. Weasley suggested, looking deep into the contents of the tea.
"You sure, dad?" Ginny asked. He nodded, absently twirling the spoon around in his tea. "All right then, we'll be back later." Ginny walked out of the kitchen and found Hermione sitting in the armchair by the fire with her nose stuck in a book. She looked up when Ginny entered.
"Dad said we should go to the village."
"Sure, if we could stop at the bookstore there are a couple books I wanted to pick up before the school year."
"And I want all the juicy details about you and Ron," Ginny giggled. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"There really aren't many, Ginny…" Hermione started, but Ginny grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her out of the Burrow and down the path to the village. They walked in silence for a few moments before Ginny tugged on Hermione's arm.
"So?" Ginny prompted.
"Well, I don't know; it just sort of happened," Hermione said getting flustered.
"Ah, Hermione, you've been hanging around boys too long. When did it happen?"
"A few weeks," Hermione answered simply. Ginny sighed. "What?" Hermione asked, looking confused. "I told you when."
"Just tell me everything: when, how, why, what exactly went down. Every little detail you can think of. How did you feel? Anything! It's time I taught you to be a girl for once and not always in your 'lets-save-the-world-from-utter-demolishment' mode."
"Demolishment isn't a word," Hermione corrected. Ginny pouted.
"Anyway, details. I will not let you sleep until I have everything." Hermione sighed, and all the way to the tiny village she retold exactly what had happened.
"So, have you kissed?" Ginny asked. Hermione could tell by her eyes that that was the thing she really wanted to know.
"Well, no," Hermione replied and opened the door to Loa's Bookstore and walked in. The bell overhead rang at their entrance.
"Hello, what can I do for you?" a middle-aged woman with tinted glasses asked from behind the counter.
"Hello. I was wondering; do you perhaps have any Michael Connelly books?" Hermione asked pleasantly.
"Why, yes we do. If you would come with me I'll show you to them." The lady showed Hermione and Ginny to the back and pointed out a row of books all written by Michael Connelly.
"Thank you," Hermione said and started browsing. "Oh!" she gasped and picked up a book. "City of Bones! I've been looking everywhere for this one!"
"City of Bones, Hermione? I never expected you to…erm…be into that."
"Michael Connelly is an amazing writer. Hear, listen to the back: 'On New Year's Day, a dog finds a bone in the Hollywood Hills—and unearths a murder committed more than twenty years earlier. It's a cold case, but for Detective Harry Bosch it stirs up memories of his childhood as an orphan. He can't let it go. As the investigation takes Bosch deeper into the past, a beautiful rookie cop brings him alive to the present.' There's some more too it, but doesn't that little part sound thrilling? Not to mention, as I said before, that Connelly is an excellent author. One of the best out there, I suspect," Hermione gushed, staring at the book as if it where her best friend. "It's supposed to be surefooted…invigorating storytelling…a wrought maze…sensational and haunting; well, according to the London Times, anyhow." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Sounds spectacular," Ginny said. "Is that all you wanted?"
"No…I just want to browse around now. Hopefully a couple more books will catch my eye." Hermione started scanning the titles with Ginny trailing behind.
About an hour later, Ginny was dragging her feet.
"Hermione!" she whined.
"Okay, okay. I'll just these," Hermione said pointing to five thick books and carrying them to the till.
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Oh yes, your bookstore is lovely," Hermione commented. "There is such a selection."
"Thank you! My husband and I are thinking about adding a small tea room onto it in the corner there." The women pointed to a dusty corner right by the window.
"That would be nice it would be right cozy. I don't think I would be able to stay out of here if you did," Hermione declared.
"That comes to thirty-two pounds, please." Hermione gave the lady the money, wished her a good day, and then the Ginny and her were one their way.
"So, anyway, as we were talking about before; do you want to kiss him?" Ginny asked, looking at Hermione curiously.
"Ginny, this is your brother! Why do you want to know this?" Hermione asked.
"Because you're my friend, and I don't care if you want to kiss him," Ginny huffed. "So, do you?"
"Well," Hermione blushed.
"It's either you do or you don't," Ginny said laughing.
"Well, yeah, he is sort of my boyfriend," Hermione said, but a nagging voice kept ringing in her head. Did she really want to kiss him? Did she want her best friend's lips on her own?
Ginny giggled. "Ron and Hermione, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G," Ginny taunted. Hermione rolled her eyes and continued walking.
"Was there anything you wanted to get?" Hermione asked.
"No," Ginny said. "We probably should be getting back, though." Hermione nodded and the two headed off in the direction of The Burrow.
"Hey, you two, grab some brooms and get up here!" one of the twins yelled down at them. Ginny smiled slightly.
"Be right there!" she yelled back. "You coming, Hermione?"
"No!" Hermione almost screeched. "I mean…No, I'll just sit and watch. I'm dying to start reading City of Bones."
"Alright then," Ginny said and ran to the broom shed and grabbed a broom and shot up into the sky. Hermione shuddered; she looked around and found a nice piece of green grass, and sitting down, she put her bag of books beside her. For a few minuets she read undisturbed.
"Come on, Hermione!" someone inquired right beside her. She jumped and stared into the brown eyes of a twin.
"I would rather not," she stated and turned back to her book.
"Don't tell me; the Hermione know-it-all bookworm-to-the-end Granger is afraid of heights?" the twin teased.
"I'm not…I just don't see anything fun in flying about like maniacs."
"Oh really?" Hermione nodded determinedly, staring at her book. "Oi, Freddie boy? Hermit doesn't think flying is fun."
"Aye, too bad for her then, she sure is missing something," Fred said as he passed by, chasing the Quaffle.
"Well, good day to you." George rose back up into the air after giving her a smile of innocence. Hermione sighed. That was close, she thought. Soon she was back enthralled into the tale of Harry Bosch.
"AHHH!" Hermione screamed as someone scooped her up onto his or her broom. "Let me go, let me down! Right now!" she demanded, struggling for all she was worth. Her book fell from her hands onto the ground. She watched as the ground got farther and farther away. "No, let me down! Please!" she pleaded with her captor. She turned to see George smirking at her. "Mr. Weasley, I demand to be placed back on the ground," Hermione cried crankily.
"But I'm showing you how much fun flying is. Hold tight," George said and did a quick flip. Hermione screamed a little and pulled herself closer to George.
"Please, George put me down," she begged, a slight whimper had entered her voice.
"Nope." She clung tighter to the prankster and closed her eyes, slowly counting to ten. She started struggling again. "You're only going to get yourself killed if you do that," he stated, looking down at her. Her fiery chocolate brown eyes met his twinkling ones.
She glared at him. "You know glaring won't work, right?" he said smirking. Hermione blushed slightly before looking away. It was then that she noticed how close she was to her boyfriend's brother. She was pressed tightly against his chest and his arms were around her back holding onto the broom. She sighed, and tried to get herself to stop trembling from the height she was at.
"George, I honestly would do anything if you would just get me back on the ground this instant."
"Admit that you're afraid of heights."
"I am not afraid of heights, I would just rather not be in such close proximity to my best friend's annoying older brother," she yelled at him. He cocked an eyebrow.
"Ah…" he said smirking, "I get it now … you're having a hard time keeping your hands off me," he winked to her. "Go ahead – by all means, grasp me tighter."
Hermione blushed and let go of the material she had balled up in her fist. In the process of doing so she wobbled and automatically clung to George again. He laughed and went into a maniac dive. Hermione screamed and squeezed her eyes shut while pressing her head into George's chest. He pulled out of the dive a few meters above ground. "See, nothing to be scared of."
"George! What are you doing to her! Let her go!" someone screamed from above. Ron appeared in the line of vision, his eyes flaming.
"Just showing her how to fly, Ickle Ronnikins," George said.
"Don't call me that!" Ron bellowed. George smirked.
"Looks like Ron's in a tizzy." Fred said, arriving at the scene with a huge grin plastered across his face.
"I am not in a tizzy!" he bellowed again. Fred snorted.
"If that's not a tizzy, then I don't know what is."
"Leave her alone," Ron muttered, glaring at George.
"Or what? You'll hex me?" George smirked as he floated above the ground, Hermione still right in front of him.
"Yes!" Ron said, pulling out his wand.
"Got me shaking in my boots, mate."
Hermione hit her head with her hand. "I'm so stupid!" she muttered.
"What's that, love?" George asked, peering at her.
"Ron can't hex you, but I can!" she exclaimed. She grabbed her wand and pointed it at George. "Now fly me to the ground nice and slowly," she commanded. George sighed and landed on the ground.
"You take the fun otta everything," he whined. Hermione just glared at him before hopping off the broom. Still trembling slightly, she stuck her wand back in her pocket.
"Now if you don't mind, I'm going back to the house," Hermione replied hotly before stalking back to the house. George shrugged and zoomed back into the air. The game continued for a few more minutes before Ron stopped.
"Who's that coming?" he asked, hovering in the air with the quaffle in his hands.
"I dunno, looks like some of the Order and dad," Fred said, coming up beside Ron.
"And Hermione trailing behind." Harry smirked at his best friend while moving to catch up to the group.
"Best see what they want." George, Fred, Harry, Ron, and Ginny flew down to the group of people.
"Ah, Tonks! Long time no see," George said, swooping Tonks up in a big bear hug.
"As much as I'd love to play games with you, Fred – or is it George? – Oh, never mind. There's been an attack in Diagon Alley."
Authors Note- why hello fellow minions. Another chapter i have decieded to add to this creation of mine.
Please leave a review. they are all appreiated. be as honest as you can.
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Disclaimer: For years i had tricked myself into thinking that maybe i had found the key to world domination and had finally hacked into stealing JKR's identity. then i realized it was all an illusion and i woke up in a looney bin. Alas i do not own anything.
