Woah, have I ever learned my lesson. The HP fandom is so much more competitive than the last one I wrote for. Post a story in the morning, and by the afternoon it's on page 3 and forgotten! No worries though, most of the stories here are amazing, I'm in awe.

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Later, after all members of the Weasley household were properly awake and eating a pancake breakfast, Hermione announced that a huge misfortune had befallen them.

"Ron, yesterday, before I went to work I saw a gnome in the yard."

Ron's pancake loaded fork froze halfway to his mouth and Ron looked at his wife worriedly. He knew where this was going, and he didn't like it. "Oh, is that right Hermione? That's too bad as they can be nasty little buggers, they always eat the vegetables from the family vegetable garden. Good thing we don't have one! That reminds me, I really ought to go and get some vegetables…"

He rose from his seat and made a beeline for the door, but Hermione beat him to it. "Actually, Ron, we have plenty of vegetables. In fact we are having nothing but cooked vegetables for dinner tonight" This statement caused two of four of the Weaselys to make disgusted faces, one to gag loudly, and the last Weasley frowned at her family, before continuing her speech. "Ron, seeing as it's a Saturday and you aren't busy, would you mind going outside and removing the gnomes from the yard?"

Ron grimaced; this was what he had been afraid of. "Fine, dear, I'll go and spend my only day off from work outside removing the ruddy dung headed gnomes while my lovely family sits inside and relaxes.

Hermione smiled sweetly at him. "Thank you dear! Well go on, don't just stand there!" And with that she kissed him quickly (Rose and Hughey both exclaimed "gross!") and pushed him out the door.

Just seconds after Ron left, Hermione noticed the faint scent of partially baked chocolate chip cookies come wafting in from the kitchen. Unfortunately for her, Rose and Hughey noticed it too. Hughey smiled a big toothy smile and said "Cookies! Bye bye." and he promptly waddled off to the kitchen to investigate.

Hermione rolled her eyes, and then sprang after him and whisked him back to the family room. "Darling, they aren't done yet."

Rose groaned loudly and clutched at her stomach "When will they be done mum? I'm starving!"

"No you're not, don't talk rubbish." Hermione scolded, "You just ate breakfast! In any case, they'll be done in an hour, including the time they take to cool."

"I don't need to wait for them to cool, mum! I'll eat them fresh from the oven!" Rose implored, "I don't mind, really…"

Hermione just laughed and shook her head. "No dear, you're going to have to wait. How about I tell you two a story to help pass the time?"

Hughey nodded, shouted "Stowy!" and allowed Hermione to pull him into her lap. Rose too gave a resigned "Fine I'll wait" and plopped down on the cream leather sofa by the light filled window, facing her mother. Hermione beamed at her, "Rose, since you are being such a good and patient girl, I'll let you pick the story."

Without skipping a beat, Rose said, "I want to hear the story of how you met dad! Aunty Ginny told me that Mr. Harry saved her from a giant snake when they were little! And from a freaky book! Then I asked her how a book could be freaky and she didn't tell me. Then James said that all books were freaky, and when I said that I liked books, he called me freaky too! He laughed at me and made me cry…"

To Hermione, Rose looked as though she may be on the verge of tears again, so she interrupted her, "James isn't clever enough to understand the importance of books, that's all dear. Now, back to the story. A long time ago, when I was a little girl, a strange letter appeared at the door. It told my parents and me that I was really a witch and that I had magical powers. So, to learn how to use my powers, I was sent to Hogwarts, a school of magic. I went there by train, and on that train ride, I made two of the best friends I've ever had"