A/N: Thanks for your reviews and alerts, people! Not much to say this time, so here it is... Chapter 3!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, however much I wish I did. I just like to play.

Chapter 3: Aftermath

Hermione started sweeping her wand in front of her, righting tables and sending chairs to stack over themselves. She was so absorbed in her work she didn't see Ron walking over to her. His face was red and he looked angry.

As soon as he got to her, he started shouting. "What the hell was all that about!"

She whirled around, her long hair streaming behind her. "What was what about?"

"Fred and George! You! All chummy in that corner, exchanging kisses!"

"What the—I was thanking them for saving my life, you prat! In case you didn't notice, our visitors were under orders of taking me to the ministry." The last bit she hissed out between clenched teeth. It had been a stressful day and she didn't need this now.

"It didn't look like that from where I was standing. How long could it take you to say 'thank you', huh? Did you need to go all kissy-feely with them?"

She was furious now. "First of all, Ronald," she punctuated the use of his name by jabbing her finger on his chest. "They saved my life, so I get to thank them however I want, for however long I want. Second," another jab. "You have no say whatsoever in who I may or may not get 'kissy-feely' with, are we clear?"

"No say? I—you are my best friend, Hermione! Of course I have a bloo—"

"No. You. Don't. It is my business and mine alone. I do not have to explain myself to you." With that, she marched past him and into the house. Merlin, he made her so angry. Who the hell does he think he is, anyway?

She plopped down on one of the kitchen chairs feeling drained. She had hoped that after the poisoning incident a few months back he might realize his feelings for her, what with whispering her name in his sleep and all. So far, she had been sadly disappointed. If anything, her fights with Ron had been getting worse. She didn't know what to do about him. She closed her eyes and let out a long, heartfelt sigh.

She was startled out of her reverie by the voice of Bill Weasley. "Something wrong, Hermione?"

She snapped her eyes open to see an amused Bill standing at the kitchen counter, preparing what appeared to be a tea tray. "Bill! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there!"

"Obviously," he replied with a slight smirk. "So? Is there?"

"I don't wanna talk about it." She really didn't want to start raving about Ron being a prat to his older brother.

Despite looking like he wanted to pursue the subject, he opted for commenting on Amèlie Delacour. "That was some quick thinking, pretending to be one of Fleur's cousins. Quite brilliant."

"It really was, but it was all Fred and George's idea. When we heard I was to be taken to the ministry, I panicked and completely froze up but they came up with the whole plan and did most of the transfigurations on me on their own."

"I'm impressed!"

"Truth be told, so am I, though I guess I really shouldn't be. I mean, they have always been brilliant, you only have to take a look at their work to notice that, and I suppose that playing pranks on each other forces them to think on their feet."

"Right you are, dearest!" Hermione raised an eyebrow at the endearment but chose not to comment on it. She didn't really mind it. Fred slung an arm over her shoulder while George settled for sitting next to her. "And despite your freezing episode—"

"—which we're sure could happen to anyone—"

"—you're still a brilliant duelist like us," he smiled at her and then raised his eyes to look at Bill. "Which is why we have asked her to be the third member of our team."

"That's great! I saw you guys and you work extremely well together."

"I haven't said yes yet. I said I'd think about it." George opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by an indignant shriek from behind. Their battle instincts still in overdrive, all four of them stood and turned to the kitchen door with their wands drawn. Ron stood there, his face once again red with anger.

"So that's it, huh? You're betraying Harry and me for them! I should have known you'd do something like that."

"Be—betraying?" She was so hurt there wasn't room in her left to be angry. Bill, Fred and George, however had no such qualms.

"Go and partner with them for all I care, we don't need you." He spat at her feet. Her world slowed down and she didn't hear the shouts of indignation coming from Bill and the twins demanding he apologize. A single tear trailed down her cheek as his cruel words broke her heart… and removed any and all lingering feelings that she might have harbored for him. She stood and swiftly made her way out of the kitchen and into the room she shared with Ginny.

"You git! What the hell did you do that for?" Fred was itching to use his wand, and even though George was the more level headed one of the two, he still had ounces more common sense than Ron.

"You… you are stealing her from me… from us!"

"Stealing? What are you talking about! The only thing we did, brother, was offer her a place in our team since you three can't team up together!"

"Of course we can team up! We have always been a team! Always us three."

Bill interrupted before the discussion could escalate anymore. "Fred, go see if she's okay, will you?" He waited until he heard him going up the stairs. "Fred is right, Ron. You, Harry and Hermione would not have been allowed to stay in the same team."

"Why not? We have always been together! Whether we team up together or not should be our decision! You have no say in the matter!"

"It is precisely that attitude that's behind the decision. Harry needs to be in a team with an adult—a fully trained adult—and you… you need a babysitter! The twins needed a third person, and I, for one, am happy they chose Hermione. They make a great team and they balance each other. Now, if you don't calm down, I'll personally make sure you don't go on any missions until you have gray hair! We're at war, Ron, so grow up!" Both George and Ron were shocked to hear Bill like that. He was usually calm and didn't let anything faze him. They stared at him as he strode out of the kitchen, the tray he had been preparing, which George noticed contained soothing teas, lay forgotten on the kitchen top.

Seeing that Ron looked sufficiently abashed, though he suspected it was more for being chewed out than because of how he had treated Hermione, George ignored the desire to continue Bill's tirade. That did not mean, however, that Ron was off the hook. There were a few new WWW products in need of testing and he had just found a new test subject.

Meanwhile, in the Burrow's second floor, Fred sat at the foot of Hermione's bed confronted for the second time that summer with a sobbing Hermione.

He ran a hand through his hair and looked up at the ceiling. "Don't mind him, Hermione, he's just a jealous prat."

"I know, and the attack probably didn't help any, but did he have to be so hurtful?"

"No, he didn't, but that's just how he is. Don't worry, he'll see the light soon enough and you two will get together and have lots of bushy-haired, ginger, freckled babies." He laughed at that, ignoring how hard it had been to actually say the words.

She didn't laugh, though. She just cocked her head and studied him. "Is that what you all think of me? Of us? That whatever it is he does we'll end up together and have… how did you put it? 'Lots of bushy-haired, ginger, freckled babies'." Nothing in her tone denoted her opinion or whether she was mad about it. She just sounded curious.

"Merlin, no! I was just saying. And well, don't you?"

"Don't I what, Fred?"

"Want to get together with him?"

"I… I really don't know anymore. And it's not just about today either, though that doesn't help his case much. I guess it's something that's been building on for a long time. I used to like him so much, maybe even was a little bit in love with him, but I don't think I am anymore. I guess I've just held on to these feelings because they were… familiar. Comfortable."

"Ah, that's no good! What you need is passion. The unexpected. If you settle for familiarity, you'll never be truly happy."

"I guess you're right." She smiled at him and he felt his insides tingle. "You have been holding out on me. When did you become so wise, Fred Weasley?"

He put a hand over his heart and pretended offense. "You wound me! I have always been wise. And talented. And handsome. And smart. Let's not forget funny. Oh and—"

"Oh, shut up, Fred! You're gonna give the poor girl a headache." George said from the doorway.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough. Come on, Fred, Hermione. Mum's calling so we can send off Bill and Fleur. Their Portkey for Greece leaves in five minutes."

"They are still going on their honeymoon?"

The twins exchanged a look as they all exited the room and made their way down the stairs. "Well, the term 'honeymoon' is used rather loosely here."

"The term 'secret mission' is more appropriate."

"Secret, is it? Then how is it you two came to know about it?"

George took on a very posh accent. "I'm afraid we cannot disclose that information."

"If you were to join our team, however, you might discover that our products can be used for more than just pranking."

"And that there are more products than most people think," George said with a smirk.

Before she could ask what he meant, they arrived at the kitchen, where Bill and Fleur were saying their good byes. She hugged them both tightly, once again whispering her thanks in Fleur's ear.

Once the Portkey left, Lupin turned to Hermione. "The house is warded against eavesdropping. We need to know where you sent Harry."

Arthur looked at them. "Where she sent Harry? What are you talking about, Lupin?"

"Harry, it appears, thought it prudent to disregard the orders he was given in case of an attack and didn't Disapparate. It was up to Hermione and the twins to get him out." There was a pause as they processed this news. "They Portkeyed him out." He answered the unasked question.

Molly fixed her sons with a severe stare. "What? Boys! You know setting unauthorized Portkeys is illegal, not to mention very dangerous! What were you thinking! And where did you ever learn such—" Hermione interrupted her.

"It wasn't them, Mrs. Weasley. I made the Portkey." Before Molly could start another tirade, Lupin raised his voice a little.

"We'll talk about that later. We need to know where you sent him."

"I sent him to Moody." She blushed under their stares. "Well, I couldn't send him to Number 12 since we don't know if Snape gave it up or not, and anywhere else he might have tried to come back. I guessed Moody had the best chance of keeping him in check, even if he is bed-ridden at the moment." Moody had taken a curse during the mission to rescue Harry and had fallen out of his broom. He had managed to Apparate from the height he was flying to the ground. Even so, he had nearly been killed. Had Bill and Lupin not gone to look for his body, he might not have made it. As it was, he was confined to Hogwarts' Hospital Wing for at least another week. Needless to say, he was not happy about that.

First Tonks started chuckling, then Lupin and Arthur, then the rest of the adults save Molly. It soon evolved into full blown laughter. Through teary eyes, Lupin explained that they were laughing about Moody's most likely reaction to having Harry appear in front of him, battle-weary, wand in hand and most likely fuming. Not having thought about that, Hermione let out a hearty laugh as well. It wasn't really that funny, but the day had been extremely tense and they all welcomed something to laugh about.

"Come on, you'll come with me to get him. We'll use the floo." Lupin motioned for Hermione, still disguised as a blonde, to follow him. She was grateful that the Burrow was still connected to Hogwarts through the floo, but she guessed that with the Death Eaters taking over everything, that would change soon. To the surprise of most in the room, Fred announced he was going with them. Those who noticed Ron didn't say anything but settled for furiously glaring at them were even more shocked. Lupin noticed, but decided not to comment and just nodded at Fred. Once Lupin went through, Fred stepped into the fireplace and motioned for Hermione to get in with him. "I know you don't like flooing." He said as explanation. She just smiled thankfully at him and stepped in. She ignored the twisting of her stomach when he wrapped an arm around her and shouted "Hogwarts' Hospital Wing!" into the green flames.

Harry let go of the white stone as soon as his feet touched the ground. He turned just in time to see Moody level his wand at him. He thanked the Auror's fast reflexes when Moody stopped the Stunner he was about to hit him with mid-word.

"What happened boy! Why are you here!" Despite being bed-ridden, Moody's voice rang strong through the Hospital Wing.

Harry, however, wasn't interested in answering. He was furious. "Argh! Why the hell did they send me out! I was fighting! I could have done something!" This, however, was the wrong thing to say, as Moody quickly put the pieces together. He let a loud bang out of his wand, startling Harry.

"What do you mean, Potter, they sent you out?"

Harry opened and closed his mouth twice before responding. "Fred, or George, one of the twins in any case, threw something at me. When I caught it, I was portkeyed here."

"Yes, yes, that is all very nice. My question, Potter, is why did they have to send you out. Your orders were getting out of there at the first sign of trouble!"

"Those were stupid orders! I could have fought! I was fighting!"

"The first thing you'll have to learn if you want to be in any mission for the Order, Potter, is to follow orders. No matter how stupid you think they are, we had a reason!"

"If I want to be? This is my fight! You can't keep me out of it!"

"I can and will until you prove that you can handle it! This is not a child's game!"

"You think I take this as a child's game? I saw him kill! I've already fought him once!"

"When he was weak after just having acquired a new body! Don't underestimate your opponents, Potter! CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Harry was stunned. He had never considered that Voldemort may not have been at his full power when he had faced him in the graveyard. The thought was frightening. He let himself fall on to one of the chairs. Moody's gruff voice interrupted his brooding. "Attack me, Potter!" Harry just looked at him, bewildered. "I said attack!" He barked again.

"But… but, you're bedridden! I can't do that!" Instead of saying anything, Moody just sent a Stinging Hex in his direction. Harry dodged, and not knowing what else to say, sent a half-hearted hex back. Moody didn't even bother shielding against it, he just flicked his wand and redirected it.

"Don't underestimate me, Potter! I may be bedridden but I am still a fully trained Auror!" He roared, sending another hex at Harry. He put up a shield, barely in time, but it wasn't fast enough and the force of the hex colliding with his shield made him take a step back. He retaliated with a cry of 'Expelliarmus!' but Moody easily deflected it back at him. He had to dive to avoid it. "See what I mean, Potter? Never underestimate an opponent. Why did we tell you to get out at the first sign of trouble?"

"Because I have to carry out the mission Dumbledore left for me and I can't do that if I'm in the hands of the Death Eaters."

"Good. Why didn't you obey?"

"I wanted to fight. To protect everyone."

"Don't you see, Potter," he continued in a tired, though still gruff voice. "That the best way to do that is to finish him once and for all? Letting yourself get captured or killed beforehand will do nothing to help anyone."

"I… I'm sorry, I didn't think—"

"You seem to do that a lot, lately." Harry closed his eyes. Moody was right. Ever since Dumbledore had died he had been taking stupid risks. Staying to fight at the wedding. Angering the minister at the reading of Dumbledore's Will. Going after Snape at the battle, though he doubted anyone could fault him for that one.

They talked a bit more, knowing someone would be along shortly to pick up Harry. Moody was giving him tips on dueling, when they heard the floo in Madam Pomfrey's office activate. "Get behind the curtain, now!" Having learned his lesson, for now at least, Harry got behind the curtain that separated Moody's bed from the rest of the wing, shifting it a little so Moody could have a clear view of the door. Before it opened, however, Lupin's muffled voice came from the other side.

"It's Remus John Lupin, werewolf, married to Nymphadora Tonks. Harry's Patronus is Prongs, a stag like his father, and you Moody, have been having problems with your eye since Crouch Jr. wore it." Moody nodded at Harry, his magical eye fixed on the doorway. After telling him to come in, Lupin, Fred and what appeared to be one of Fleur's cousins stepped out of the office.

The blonde girl ran straight to Harry and hugged him. After hugging the air out of him, she took a step back and slapped him upside the head. "You idiot! Why didn't you leave! They had orders to carry you to the ministry!"

"Hermione?" he asked, recognizing her voice. "Why are you blonde? Is everyone alright? Was there anyone hurt? Ginny? Ron? Why isn't Ron with you?" Harry asked in a hurry, not letting anyone answer his questions in between.

"It's okay, Harry. No one was hurt too much and Madam Pomfrey already fixed everyone. We're all fine."

Harry was adamant. "Ginny and Ron?"

Ignoring the flash of anger at Ron's name, Hermione nodded. "They're both fine."

"Why isn't Ron with you?"

"Not now, Harry," she said with a clipped tone that had Harry staring at her. Meanwhile, Lupin was conferring silently with Moody and Fred was snooping around. Why, Harry had no idea, since he was certain Fred had spent more time in the Hospital Wing than Harry himself.

"Umm, Harry? There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Yeah?"

"Well, I found out that you, Ron and me won't be partnering together," she paused as if expecting him to say something. He would have, had this been the first he heard of it, but Moody had already told him before they arrived. He hadn't like it one bit, but understood the reasoning behind it. He nodded at her to continue. "Well, the thing is, during the attack I fought with the twins and after that, they asked me to be a part of their team. I wanted to know if you were okay with that."

"Sure, why wouldn't I be?" He missed the fleeting hurt look in her eyes as he turned to talk with Lupin who had come up to him. After being reprimanded, yet again, for not having left the wedding soon enough, they said good bye to Moody and made their way back to Madam Pomfrey's office.

He took a fistful of floo powder from a pot beside the fireplace. "Back to the Burrow, then?"

"Yes, but you won't stay for long, it might still be watched. We'll stop long enough to Apparate from there."

"Where to?"

"Moody's place. He's going back home tomorrow morning." He smiled at their anxious faces. "It'll only be for a week. Two tops. It won't be that bad: Ron will be joining you." At this, Hermione simply let out a loud 'Argh!' at the ceiling, took a fistful of flood powder and flooed to the Burrow.

"What is it with her?" Harry asked, surprised.

"She and Ron had a row after the wedding. He said some pretty bad stuff to her."

Harry groaned. These were the two people he would be sharing a house with for the next week or so. Not to mention Captain Paranoid himself. "Great. Just great!" And with that, he too flooed to the Burrow. Lupin and Fred just exchanged a shrug and followed suit.

A/N: Well, I hope you liked it. To all of you Ron-fans, worry not! He will come around soon enough and there's even love in his horizon. If you've read 'Always and Forever' you know who I'm talking about. She'll be introduced in a couple more chapters. To all Harry-fans, I always felt they underestimated Voldemort a bit too much, but don't worry, the bratty attitude won't last at all. Don't forget to review!

Love,

C.