A/N: Happy New Year! I severely apologize for how long it took to get this one out. Please enjoy!
Chapter 11: Investment Options
"I don't know where I stand with you. I don't know what I mean to you. All I know is every time I think of you, I want to be with you."- Unknown.
It had become a game back in Hogwarts. One that he and Fred had invented, of course, to make a little more money. Reading for pleasure or reading for research? The problem was when Hermione was reading she had moments when she would be taking multiple scrolls worth of notes, only to find that she found something rather fascinating about wizarding history when she was taking in a bit of "light reading." Other times she could be found curled up in a chair with a book, the girl had a photographic memory, so she would write her notes later on.
And it was here in the living room of the Weasley household that George found Hermione, curled onto one couch cushion with a large book in her lap, and a cup of tea in hand. His brother and best friend were also enjoying their day off by playing a game of chess on the floor. George was too far from the couch to get a real look at what Hermione was reading. Harry noticed the slight movement of George craning his neck. With a sigh of defeat, George glanced over to the black hired boy that was currently shaking his head. Harry made a slight attempt to see the cover of the book, but found that Hermione's knees were blocking the title. Harry shrugged then ran his hand through his messy hair. He tapped Ron's foot with his own and pointed out George in the corner, then to Hermione. Ron rolled his eyes, as he usually lost at this particular game. After making his decision, he scratched his nose. George nodded, ran his hand through his own hair, all bets were placed.
George made his way over to the couch and sat beside Hermione for a few minutes pretending to read the book that was dropped off at his shop. He watched as Harry's knight slide across the chessboard to check Ron. With a dramatic sigh, George reached over Hermione's knees, snatched the book from her hands while gently tossing his book at her. Thankfully, with all the years of being 'constantly vigilant' Hermione's reflexes were adapt. She caught the book with surprise and ease.
"Hey! I was reading that!" she scolded as she tried to grab it back.
"Let's trade. Mine is so dull and your book on…" George now took the time to look over her current page, "…banshees…banshees?" he asked.
Hermione nodded with a stone face.
"Yes, well, it's far more interesting than mine." George looked over at Harry and Ron, who shrugged in return.
"You boys are ridiculous with this stupid game. I hope you know that I have lied to you in the past just so you would lose. But as some of you could do with some extra money for the holidays, I am in fact reading for fun. Seamus was telling me all about the one that lived on his neighbor's farm when he was young. He claims that it killed the father when he went out to try to rid it of the property."
"Funny, he told me it killed the grandmother when she threw the cane at it." Ron replied.
"He said it killed off all the sheep." Harry chimed.
"Well, I guess we can conclude that Finnigan likes to tell tall tales, and that Ron needs to work an extra shift this weekend, pay up dear brother." George added as he held out his hand.
"I'll also have you know, I have not had ink on my nose while doing research in some time. You need a new signal." Hermione stated as she turned the book George threw at her in her hands.
The celtic designs on the cover were raised with a slight gold fading at the edges. She turned to read the binding only to find it just as blank as the cover. She opened the front cover and again, found nothing.
"New diary?" she asked as she began to hand the book back.
George shook his head, refusing to take it.
"Open it to the second page and wait." He instructed.
Hermione glanced over at Harry as his interest seemed to peak. She took a steady breath, waiting for the book to shoot 'clever' insults her way. She watched as the lettering on the page began to appear:
"When Rose was born, all human were given a timer. It was said that each person's timer would count down to a major life event. It was an ordinary day when she felt the timer in her purse vibrate. When she looked up, she saw him…"
"It's a book that judges its reader. It picks what it thinks you should read." George explained.
"This is interesting, how did you come up with a spell to change the stories?" Hermione asked as she continued to read.
"I didn't. It was another gift." He answered.
Harry groaned from the other side of the table.
"Mysterious books, given as a gift. I feel like we've been through this before."
"Oh, Harry. Surely, George didn't accept this from any dark wizard, and would have inspected it himself for curses." Hermione laughed.
"Funny you should say that…." George started.
Hermione stared at him wide-eyed and tossed the book onto the table and whipped out her wand before he could finish. George watched as both she and Harry stared to wave various spells over the book.
"Malfoy dropped it off in the shop the other day. Wanted to talk business apparently, but I wasn't there when he came." George explained.
"Malfoy has given gifts in the past, none of which had friendly intentions. This seems to be safe though." Harry said as he and Hermione finished their enchantments.
"Figured if the blond git wanted to off me, he'd at least want to be around." George shrugged. "Besides, it was wrapped in the signature black and silver that I've come to love."
"Can't see Malfoy creating all this stuff. Wonder what he was on about?" Ron asked.
"Not a clue." George said as he reached for the book.
The four of them sat in silence for a few minutes, when Hermione took a long inhale, a sign she was ready to change the subject.
"Speaking of gifts, I need to go to Hogsmeade this week, would you care to join me?" she asked George.
There was always something about this quaint little town that made George feel relaxed. Unlike the rush and bustle of Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade always seemed to invite you to take your time, explore the shops and area attractions. So when Hermione asked him to join her, he was more than obliged.
It was snowing, although, it always seemed to snow in Hogsmeade. But it was the pretty type, big fluffy flakes coming down slowly, deciding the perfect place to land. Many of which were getting trapped in Hermione's hair. She seemed to notice this when window shopping and promptly shook them out, complaining about frizz.
They walked from shop to shop browsing the wares in each window before deciding on an oddities stores. Hermione was looking for something for her parents, who had an odd yet refined taste in décor. He mother had a collection of mismatched tea cups from the various places they have visited on holiday, and she was hoping to find one here.
As George watched her wander the shop, he began to wonder, what do you get the girl that has everything for Christmas? It wasn't widely known, and they preferred it that way, that the trio as well as other honored heroes, were well compensated for their heroics during the war. Hermione could easily live off the money she received and never have to work a day in her life. But, knowing Hermione, she can't even handle the two days off she has to take a week. So, what do you get a war hero?
As he pondered this question over in his mind, his eyes were drawn to a shelf on his left. The bottles were all of various sizes and different amounts of dust covered them. He watched as some of the ships within the bottles were sailing on calm, while others seemed to be in the middle of a hurricane.
"My father has one of these. It doesn't move like these, though. My mother hates it." Hermione laughed as she stood next to him, bag in hand. "He apparently bought it in Australia and had it on the mantle of their living room. Even as she portrayed another person, she seemed to keep her sense of taste. She was not happy when she unpacked it when they returned. She made my father put it in his office at work."
"You should see if his ship has a name." George replied as he pointed out the name on the stern of one of the ships. "Old wizarding captains would retire their ships when they did, and since they couldn't very well put the ship in their garden, they started to shrink their ships enough to fit within the opening of a bottle, then enlarge it enough to fit comfortably within. If it has a name on the stern, chances are it was a wizarding ship."
"And here I thought they were assemble in pieces using tweezers." Hermione smiled.
George gave her a funny look.
"Muggles have these kits and you slide each part of the ship in using metal tools. It's considered an art form, quite challenging." She explained.
George shook his head, "It's amazing what they do without magic. You should get your father one of these, although, I don't wish to upset your mother, maybe he can start his own office collection. Can't say they'll move in the presence of muggles."
Hermione smiled at his and chose a bottle on the smaller side. The wood of the ship was on the darker side with the name 'Scarlet Rose' burned into the stern. He watched as she made her way back to the counter.
Each ship, in a different wave of weather, each invoking a different emotion. Sure a love potion can give off the scent of the person of interest, but what if you could bottle up a scent of places or things that bring you joy, peace, reminders. What if you could literally bottle up an emotion? The wheels started to turn as Hermione began to drag him out of the store.
Hermione had all but given up buying the boys books for the holidays, knowing that half the time they were used as paperweights or collecting dust on forgotten shelves. But that still didn't stop her from wanting to browse the shelves.
As they made their way down the street, she was explaining the book about laws were passed in the wizarding world when a voice interrupted her.
"You are a hard one to get in contact with Weasley."