A/N: Yay! Nice long chapter for all ye loverly reviewers. I love the reviews. Thank you all! Enjoy.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all except for my small two characters.
Chapter Four
George never noticed how, whenever he passed through the hall on the way to see his brother, the Healers would whisper behind their hands, some of the less subtle ones giggling softly. He also never noticed how, whenever he entered the ward in which his brother was staying, Anne would always turn pink before he even opened his mouth. The fact that she sometimes stuttered his name or fumbled with an object in his presence or gave him much more attention than she would another patient's family member also never came to his notice. A casual observer would see that the two were obviously smitten, because the reason George never picked up on these small details was that he was guilty of similar actions, albeit in his own fashion.
Fred's twin didn't notice the mutterings of the Healers, because every time he came through the door he was practicing what he would say as soon as he entered the ward. He never noticed Anne blushing at his presence, because he was too occupied covering up his own redness with jokes and exclamations. He neglected to notice her stuttering because, when he was around her, it seemed he couldn't get his own words out properly never mind hers. To Fred's amusement, and annoyance, they dropped and neglected to catch so many items he was surprised that half of the medical equipment wasn't damaged. Anne's particular attention wasn't noted, because of George's particular attention to her. In short, George Weasley had somehow managed to fall head over heels in love with the pretty, dark-haired, dark-eyed Healer named Anne. And, he wasn't really aware of it.
The oblivious twin, as Fred had taken to calling him in his head, apparated in a good few hours after Hermione arrived, having the sleeping pattern of a normal person, or so he liked to think. At twelve o' clock in the afternoon George Weasley burst through the doors of the Poddlemore Ward, startling Anne so much she accidentally kicked the cage of a soon irate ginger-haired cat.
"Sorry, love, didn't mean to scare you," George said, stumbling over his feet in his haste to lean "casually" on her desk. Anne, her usual rosy shade, merely stuttered that she was fine and not to worry.
"Although, you shouldn't make so much noise. Some of the patients are still sleeping," she reprimanded, abandoning her stutter, as she always did, in defense of her charges. She glared at him, eyes afire, and George was captivated, "I expect you're here to see your dear, demonic brother."
"I heard that!" sailed a voice from room 103. George stared at her in confusion.
He was here, in St. Mungo's, to see…to see…the lovely eyes of…his brother….Wait…What? "Er, yeah, my brother. Right." George hurried quickly away from the flustered witch, his muddled thoughts clearing as he got closer to his brother's room and farther away from her. He thought it very odd that his mind always got a bit foggy when he was in the hospital. Maybe it was all the potion ingredients. He grinned, made sure Anne was turned away, and ran into the room, taking a flying leap onto his brother's bed. Fred gave a great "OOMPH!" as his brother landed haphazardly on his torso, arms and legs flying.
"Hello, brother dear, how goes it?" George said, grinning cheekily up at his winded twin. Fred glared at him for a second before giving him a smug look. George knew why a moment later
"George Weasley!" came Hermione's irate voice from beside the bed, "Your brother's in the hospital for pity's sake! Show some consideration! Honestly," she muttered, amused despite herself. George had jerked around at her voice. She sounded alarmingly like his mum sometimes.
"Hermione," George grinned, still sprawled across his brother, "to what do we owe the pleasure."
"She didn't just get here, dolt. Unlike you, she gets up at a decent hour," Fred said, pushing his twin off the bed. George landed unceremoniously on the floor next to Hermione's chair.
"Hello, George," she said, wearily but with a smile, "Here—" She conjured another guest chair for him to sit on.
"Thanks," he said gratefully, hauling himself off the floor and throwing himself onto the piece of furniture, "So, Hermione, are you just here to visit this month's family invalid?"
Hermione laughed, "Well, yes, but I'm also going to be staying at the Burrow until the start of term." She started playing with the strings on the end of her purple scarf, avoiding Fred's pointed look. He had been trying to find out what had caused her unexpected visit for the better part of an hour. He knew it had something to do with her parents, but she would tell him nothing more about it. He couldn't really blame her. They had never been the closest of confidants, but the curiosity was driving him mad.
"Really?" George raised his eyebrows, "Are your parents up to world traveling again?"
"They're off to the Caribbean in a month," she said evasively. The twins gave each other a look, agreed, and turned their collective gaze on Hermione. Smart lady that she was, she knew what was coming. To the bookworm's intense relief, a knock sounded at the door before the brothers could start their interrogation, and Anne poked her head in.
"Anne! How are you? Is it time for George's sponge bath already?" Fred exclaimed, grinning evilly. George's ear and Anne's checks both turned rosy as they avoided looking at each other. Hermione looked at the blushing pair and turned a shrewd look at Fred. He winked at her and gave a meaningful look in his brother's direction. She raised her eyebrows with a smirk.
Anne walked briskly towards the bed, still slightly pink, "I'm sure G-George is perfectly capable of bathing himself. As to whether you have the mental faculties to do the same, I have my doubts." Hermione giggled at Fred's playfully indignant look, and the Healer gave her a smile, "I absolutely adore your cat. Are you planning on visiting again sometime soon?"
Hermione chuckled at her hopeful look, "I suppose I could spare a few hours a day to visit this miscreant every once in awhile," she gave Fred a teasing smile, "And, I'll make sure to bring Crookshanks along when I do."
"Excellent," Anne grinned happily, not noticing George's unfaltering attention. Fred snickered at his twin's behavior before submitting to the Healer's numerous spells. Anne was surprised at his compliant attitude. Usually he put up quite a fuss when his mother wasn't around. However, Fred was quite content. He had his daily entertainment of his brother's awkward relationship with the Healer as well as Hermione, who had proven herself adept at provoking Fred's playful side. Yes, he was in a very good mood today.
Mrs. Weasley poked her head inside her son's hospital room with caution. As the mother of two very boisterous, very creative pranksters, she had learned early on the safety of wariness. One of the ways she maintained the twin's respect was her habit of rarely being a victim of their pranks. They had gotten her once or twice, but she still had the edge on them. Unnoticed, she smiled at the occupants of the room. Hermione was snorting with laughter at something the twins had said, and both of the brothers were grinning ear to ear— in George's case ear to hole—obviously pleased with themselves.
Molly walked in then and gave George a kiss on the cheek, "Hello, George dear. Have you been here long?"
George grinned at his mother, "Only for about three hours."
"Have I really been gone that long?" she gasped, shocked at how much time had passed.
"That must have been some really good tea, mum," Fred snickered, earning himself a glare.
"Oh hush, Frederick Weasley," she looked Hermione with a smile, "Are you ready to leave dear?" Hermione nodded, "Alright then. George, will you grab her luggage there? I think Anne has her cat as well."
George jumped out of the chair as if he had been bitten, "Righto!" He exited the room quickly, completely forgetting Hermione's miniscule trunk on the Fred's nightstand.
Fred snickered as Mrs. Weasley sighed, "That boy…I'd best go take this to him." She levitated Hermione's trunk and followed her son out the door.
Hermione rose, smoothing the wrinkles in her corduroy skirt, "Well, Fred, it was nice seeing you."
Fred smiled, "That's it? Nice seeing you? Have a good life? I thought the last few hours meant something more to you," he gave a fake sob, "I guess I was mistaken. GOOODBYE MY LOVE!" Hermione started giggling, "I shall miss you terribly. Even if you didn't give me a sponge bath."
He gave her a wink, and she caught her breath before giving him a tight hug, "Don't worry. I'll be back," she began walking out the door, turning back once to give him an evil grin, "with Umbridge and a nice lufa." She chuckled to herself when she heard his yell of revulsion through the closed door and walked down the hall towards George, Mrs. Weasley, and Anne.
The two women were chatting amicably about first aid spells while George looked somewhere in the distance, every so often sending a glance Anne's way. Hermione smirked. When George had gone to the loo, Fred had told the interested girl all about his brother's disastrous mutual attraction with the Healer. They had been tiptoeing around each other for a week now, and George still had no idea that he was smitten with her. His Holeyness, as Fred sometimes called his twin, only acted this obtuse around women when he was really serious about them. Hermione thought it was the sweetest thing she had ever heard. Mrs. Weasley's voice broke through her thoughts.
"Hermione we're ready to go. George is going to floo home with your luggage, and I'll walk you outside so you can apparate there. The protections are down now, so you can apparate right by the front door," the older woman said with a smile.
"Okay, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione agreed following her out of the ward.
"I'll be back, Anne," Mrs. Weasley called over her shoulder, leading the way down the hall.
"Alright, Molly," Anne's voice drifted back, "Bye, Hermione!"
"Bye, Anne," Hermione called back, fondly. George caught up with them a moment later carrying Crookshanks' cage, his ear bright red. Hermione, though sorely tempted to tease him, decided to let it go for the time being. George was, after all, the temporary keeper of her cat in the Floo Network.
They had almost reached the front when George took a right turn into another hallway, "See you there, Hermione." Hmm…she mused…the fireplaces must be that way.
She continued to follow Mrs. Weasley until they reached the same deserted alley that Hermione had first apparated to earlier that morning.
"Alright, Hermione. Be careful apparating. It can still be dangerous to the most talented witches and wizards. I'll drop by later to check up on you, Ron and Ginny," she gave Hermione a hug, "Oh, and be on the lookout for some muggle piece of junk that Arthur tinkered with. It's called a…oh what was it…a mike-crow wave. Something of that kind. Anyway, it tends to shoot out burritos at unsuspecting passersby." She shook her head wearily, "Just be careful. Are you all set?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes, I'm ready to go. Thank you again, Mrs. Weasley. You're a lifesaver."
The woman waved away the praise with a smile, "It's the least I can do, dear. I'll see you later."
Hermione said goodbye before disapparating with a small pop.
She was relieved when the pressure stopped and she could breathe properly again. The view was, as always, completely beautiful. In front of her was the tallest and most crooked house she had ever seen. It looked rickety and unstable, but the atmosphere was suffused with hominess. The yard was strewn with random odds and ends, but the grass was lush and the flowers were vibrant. She turned around and breathed in the scent of the nearby patch of woods that had served the Weasley family so well as a makeshift Quiddich field. The landscape wrapped her in its tranquility, and she felt like she was coming home after a long journey. She dropped off her little cloud nine with a crash. She had a feeling home was going to be a sore subject for a while until she could let her parents' decision go. She quickly shook off her grim train of thought and walked into the house. She was immediately attacked on two sides by two equally exited redheads. Ron clung to her left side while his sister hung on to her right, both hugging her fiercely.
"Hermione!" Ginny laughed, "I'm so glad you're here. You have no idea how boring it gets around here with only Ickle Ronniekins for company."
"Oi!" Ron stopped squeezing Hermione and looked around her to glare at his sister, "I'm right here!"
"Yes," she said simply, which made Hermione collapse onto her, laughing hysterically. Footsteps pounded on the stairs and George joined them in the kitchen.
He looked at the Hermione hanging limply on his sister, "What did Ron do this time?"
Ron turned his indignant gaze on his brother, "I didn't do anything!"
"That's what they all say, Ronnie," George said sadly, shaking his head. Hermione, who was just getting a hold of herself, broke down again, giggling madly.
Ginny patted her friend on the back, a confused grin on her face, "I think she needs some sleep…or food…or both." She led Hermione to the table and helped her sit down before moving around the kitchen, pulling pots and pans out of various nooks and crannies, "Hermione, do you feel like eating anything in particular?"
"W-whatever's e-easiest," she replied through broken giggles. She was rather hungry, and obviously giddy, after spending the day without a single meal. Ron sat down moodily at the chair opposite his best friend and George followed suit, sitting next to the girl who was slowly regaining control of herself.
"Mum's been training Ron and me on the fine art of cooking," Ginny said, grabbing matches from a drawer by the stove, "Unfortunately I don't turn seventeen until August so it's the muggle way for now."
"Gin's been using us as test subjects," George said, smirking, and ducked as his sister threw a dishrag at him, "But, I think she's inherited mum's skills. Ronnie on the other hand…" He trailed off, and Hermione noticed Ron's ears turn red.
"What did you do?" Hermione said amusedly. Ron muttered something undistinguishable.
"Sorry, didn't catch that," Hermione said, leaning forward.
"He set fire to almost every scrap of food he touched," Ginny said, grabbing a couple of eggs from the counter, "How do you like your eggs?"
"Scrambled," Hermione said distractedly, staring at Ron, "You set the food on fire?"
"Blew it up is more like it," Ginny said over the sizzling of the eggs.
"Not on purpose," Ron muttered irritably, unconsciously shredding a leftover napkin, "I just…got a little too overenthusiastic."
George snickered, "That poor pudding never knew what hit it."
"Shut up," Ron continued to look sullen.
Hermione giggled. She had missed him when she was at home. She blushed as she remembered how she had kissed him unabashedly before the last battle had really begun. She had liked him for a while, but she didn't know what had possessed her to act on it that day. She didn't want to blame it on adrenaline, but her logic told her that it had been a big part of the equation. Now what? she wondered, staring at Ron across the table.
He looked up at her and his frown turned up into a smile. Well, they would have plenty of time to find out. A minute later she was feasting happily on delicious scrambled eggs, bacon, and sourdough toast. George was right when he said that his sister had inherited Mrs. Weasley's skills in the kitchen.
"Well, I'm off," George said, grabbing a piece of bacon of Hermione's plate before rising.
"Give Anne my love," Ginny said sweetly but with a devilish smirk.
"Er…right," George said, before giving a last goodbye and disapparating in the front garden.
Hermione looked at Ginny who was shaking her head in amusement, "You can't get any thicker than that."
A/N: Yay for me? Was that long enough? I didn't want to drag in on too long, but I didn't want to make it short like the others. Hopefully the chapters will remain long. Reviews are love.