I'm sorry these updates have been so slow; I've been planning a summer camp for the last few months. It went well though, and we managed to find 114 deer ticks with 28 of us there. I still feel gross and crawly a week later.
And I fixed the weird mix up in chapter 9, so it's legible now. Sorry for the confusion.
This chapter takes place April 25, 1999 (as in, one week before Fleur pops)
And, sorry, I haven't done one of these in a while: Disclaimer… I'm Canadian (hence the multiple times I apologize, and I actually don't realize I'm doing it usually. Though I did it on purpose for you this time) and not British. Ergo, I couldn't own this.
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"Hermione, come on! I'm famished; I'm practically dying from starvation!" Ginny moaned and groaned from her friend's side of the room, draped dramatically over the bedspread and Hermione's legs. Simply smiling at the younger girl, Hermione calmly flipped her page over, reading the second last page carefully. She had told Ginny she was determined to finish this book before dinner with everyone, and only had the last page to go. But with the incessant whining, the last page had turned into a ten minute debacle.
"We're not eating for another fifteen minutes at least, Gin. Your dad, Bill and the twins won't be off work until then." Ginny only sighed loudly, but knew Hermione was right. She finished her page up quickly, closing the book lightly and placing it back in its spot under her night table. Pushing Ginny off her lap, she followed at a slower pace than the skipping trot Ginny had taken. Molly was already putting out the table settings, only just allowing Hermione to snatch them away to do it for her. The matriarchal Weasley had been cooking since the early hours of the morning, shocking Hermione and Ginny when they had woken to the smells of a roasting ham. 'They're actually bringing them home tonight girls, I need to make it extra good.' was all they had gotten for the first two hours, until Ginny eventually flooed her father at the Ministry to ask if her mother had gone nutty.
Arthur had assured his daughter that Molly was not, in fact, nuts. She had been told by Charlie, Percy and Ron that they were going to be bringing their intended to dinner this Sunday. Molly had been ecstatic. She had immediately flooed George and Bill to invite Angelina and Fleur over o make a family dinner out of the night. She didn't stop to rest until she had Ginny promise she would watch the potatoes so she could run to the loo.
"Hermione, dear, could you straighten that last place setting?" Molly gestured over her shoulder, not even looking to see if Hermione finished the task before immersing herself in perfecting the chocolate cake she's concocted for dessert. After doing as she was told, Hermione decided to take her seat early, and just wait for everyone to come in, or take over a job for Mrs. Weasley; whichever came first. Ginny disappeared into the living room, aware she wouldn't be getting any food as of yet. The floo popped then, depositing Charlie in the living room across from his sister. Hermione craned around the doorway, grinning back at the older Weasley.
"Hey Charlie, is Tessa on her way?" He grinned back at her, nodding an affirmative as he grabbed Ginny up in a small tussle to say his hellos. The floo activated once more, catching Ginny with a small face full of soot, which had Charlie falling apart with giggles.
"Merlin, sorry Ginny," Tessa Jones said only slightly apologetically to her soon to be sister-in-law, mostly because she was laughing at Charlie for giggling. She shook out her curly blonde hair, ridding it of any soot or floo dust before stepping into Molly's immaculate living room. Hermione and Ginny had met Tessa a few hours ago, but she had left to 'clean up' from work. She worked at the Ministry, for the Care of Magical Creatures department; Hermione didn't think she looked half bad, but Tessa insisted she smelt distinctly like 'a dragon with a week's worth of Thestral stuck in its teeth' and had gone home to change. Now, she had on a pretty muggle sweater that looked two sizes too big for her, and some kind of cotton pants that showed off her long legs. If she wasn't so polite, Hermione was sure she'd hate her for making the outfit look so cute and modest.
"'Lo Hermione!" Tessa waved to her from her spot in the other room, with a quick finger waggle and a grin. Tessa was too good at conversing in what should have been a stressful situation for her. Hermione would have been feeling quite faint in her place, but she had known the Weasley's for seven years.
"Hello, Tessa. Care to come watch supper be made?" Hermione patted the chair on her left, the one she knew Harry usually sat in, but had decided he could find a different place for tonight. Tessa smiled and skipped over, sliding onto the mismatched chair.
Tessa looked over at Mrs. Weasley, and gave her a quick greeting before looking back at Hermione, "Why aren't we helping?" Hermione grinned at the innocent question.
"Because I've been told if I touch anything else I'll be hexed with an Itching Pants hex." Tessa's eyes widened in surprise before she smiled, nodding her head in approval of the Weasley matriarch. The floo popped again, the voices of Bill and Fleur coming in through the door, Fleur chastising Charlie for rough housing with his sister. Bill stayed in the room with his siblings, while a now heavily pregnant Fleur came into the kitchen, spotting the girls immediately.
"Oh 'Ermione! I was hoping to zee you before everyone arrived. My 'air, 'as become a complete monster! I thought being pregnant gave you better 'air. Please, 'elp me!" The frizzy blonde haired Veela sat down with a huff, arching her back to get comfortable.
"I'll give you some of my favourite potion, Fleur. If it works, I'll grab a big jar for you from the twins." Hermione popped up and left to go and fetch the small bottle of Hair Taming potion she had left. When she got back, the kitchen had filled with another bushel of Weasley's. Fleur and Tessa were talking about what Hermione assumed was the baby. Charlie had moved in to try and mooch the finished biscuits off his mother. Bill was talking with his father, while Harry tried to listen to the conversation without Ginny poking at his side. Hermione smiled at the already large family and took her seat next to Fleur again. The seating arrangements would probably be all messed up for tonight anyway.
"Hello!" Percy's voice called from the front door, obviously having Apparated. Everyone gave him a quick greeting before going back to their conversations, basically ignoring or not realizing his fiancée was with him. Audrey Pendragon was, in Hermione's opinion (and amusement), a female version of Percy. She was rather frail looking, like she didn't get a lot of sunlight, and her long pin straight black hair washed her out even more. But her face was dotted in adorable freckles over her cheeks, not even hidden behind the thick black frame glasses perched on the end of her nose. She was smiling shyly, but it was a lovely smile, giving her a soft and gentle demeanour. At first glance, Hermione decided she was a good match for Percy, and for the Weasley's. Percy looked over his family and rolled his eyes, taking Audrey over to introduce her to his mother first. Mrs. Weasley met the girl in a big hug, basically welcoming her to the family right then.
George and Angelina were the next to arrive, coming in mid laugh. Angelina had dirt smeared across her cheek and up the bridge of her nose, and George was sporting a huge grass stain up his jersey front. Smiling, Hermione realized they had probably been playing a one-on-one game of Quidditch to prep Angelina for tryouts. They made a pretty picture though, George red faced and Angelina's mocha complexion darkened from the dirt, happy together.
Molly seemed to think differently, "George Weasley, you know better to show up for dinner so filthy! Go wash up, before I send a mop up slap you clean." George winced and left after giving Angelina's waist a quick squeeze. For her part, Angelina blushed and whispered a quick 'Scourgify', wiping her face clean of all dirt and sweat. The girl took a seat across from Hermione, Fleur and Tessa, giving the first two a smile, and sticking her hand out to shake the latter's.
"Hey, I'm Angelina," Tessa smiled politely and shook hands, saying her name and also mentioning she was Charlie's fiancée.
"I feel like we should be wearing name tags, 'Tessa, with Charlie'." Hermione and Fleur broke out in giggles, agreeing with the girl's ridiculous notion. It must be difficult for someone who didn't know the Weasley's to come into the family so suddenly. Angelina grinned at her, and pointed to George who had just come flying down the stairs, receiving another scolding from his mother.
"I'm with Dimwit #1 over there, his twin's on his way later." Hermione couldn't stop the grin, but Tessa looked confused. "It may get confusing with George and Fred though, they tend to switch up on us at times. I can honestly say I've hit on Fred accidently, and they roll with it. Drives me barkin' honestly." Angelina rolled her eyes and took a sip of her tea Molly had sent her way.
Hermione laughed again, but now Tessa looked rather devastated, "Are you telling me they're identical? Is this family trying to kill me?" The girls all broke down, causing the rest of the room to look at them strangely. Molly only gave them a fond glance before dishing up the supper.
"Suppose we'll have to start without the last three. Ron said they would be a little late, and I don't know where that brother of yours is, George." Mrs. Weasley waved all the food onto the table, and everyone dug in with gusto, Ginny being one of the first to fill her plate. The family dinner raged on for forty minutes before the floo activated again, and the second twin of the duo came out looking quite pissed. Fred gave the family a wave before dashing up the stairs in a flash of magenta work robes. George looked after him in concern but brushed it off when he noticed Hermione was glancing over at him.
"What was that about?" Hermione mumbled under her breath, ignoring the rest of the table for a moment to stare at her food, and wait for Fred to come downstairs. They hadn't been together long enough for them to have fought or seen each other in a bad mood. Fred was always happy; he was a self proclaimed prankster! She was nervous, she realized suddenly, and for once in her life, had no idea what to do.
Fred came down eventually, obviously having showered before changing as his hair was dark with water. He was quiet as he walked around the table like he was going to sit beside Hermione, but then seemed to realize she was already quite crowded. With a heavy sigh Hermione could actually hear, he spun and took the seat next to Harry and his dad, ignoring George's empty seat on his left. Molly looked like she wanted to say something, but kept her lips in a firm line and turned back to Angelina, who had been talking with her quietly about the weddings. Ginny tried to catch her eye, but Hermione took the chance to watch Fred from her seat across the table, and noted he barely touched any of the food his mother had dished out for him. He didn't look up often, mostly to look at George when he called for him to join in on a joke no one else understood. Finally she decided she needed to get his attention. Slowly, she slipped her wand out of her sleeve and sent as small a Patronus she could muster across the table at him. It hit the side of his fork as he went to slowly push his food around, knocking the utensil to the side. He looked up with a frown, following the slinking otter as it trailed back to her, finally catching her eye.
'What?' he mouthed, his head shaking back in an irritated manner. Hermione didn't shy away, remembering he had wanted to sit with her earlier, so it couldn't be her he was mad with. She twirled her fingers through the otter and it turned happier at her thoughts before dissipating.
'What happened?' she mouthed back but he shook his head, looking back down to his dinner and poking at it. She turned back to the girls around her, deciding to try and talk to him later after he had calmed down a bit. Tessa brought her back into the conversation about Fleur's newest name choice she'd been toying with, and Hermione relaxed back into her seat, ignoring Audrey's wide eyes at the small Patronus she had witnessed.
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Dinner finished up, and the dishes were taken over by Audrey and Tessa, who had to fight for the job, eventually agreeing on it being a onetime thing because they had just met. Hermione, Harry, Angelina and the rest of the Weasley's sat back and watched Molly force herself to sit down and watch her dishes whiz around with the younger witches magic. Hermione stayed in the kitchen while the rest of the family adjourned to the living room, where Charlie broke out the chess board to challenge Bill, and the rest of the boys sat around teasing one another. Ginny tried to sit with Hermione but was eventually called by Harry to settle an argument. Fleur was the next to leave, complaining she needed a cushion. It only took the two girls another minute to finish washing, smiling in triumph when Mrs. Weasley thanked them whole-heartedly. The left to sit with the others, and Mr. Weasley came back in from his shed, Muggle car grease streaked across his shirt front. He mumbled an apology to his wife, who only sighed and gestured for him to leave it on the line for her to tend to later.
Molly was just about to go and rest her feet with her family when the front door opened, Ron stepping in. He was turned to face the door as he closed it softly; mumbling something so quietly no one seemed to be able to hear. He turned around and gave his mum a soft smile, one she returned with a bit of surprise.
"You're a bit late, Ronald. I thought you said you were going to bring Romilda tonight." Molly asked, and Hermione thought she sounded a bit hurt.
"I did, mum. But I need to talk with everyone first."
"She couldn't come during supper? Everyone was sitting down. You could have talked then." Ron was looking a bit chuffed now.
"Mum, I'm serious. She's nervous, and I need to tell everyone why." Hermione was surprised by his tone, so Molly must have been shocked. Eventually she nodded and waved him to the other room. He paused and looked over a Hermione, hesitating to go,
"'Mione, do you think you could, er, grab Romilda for me? I don't know how long this will take."
"Course Ron, I'll get her." He smiled, and went to turn, but hesitated again.
"Just be, nice," he still didn't sound sure of himself, so Hermione waited patiently for him. "Well, you're always nice, so I know you'll be great. But I mean be, ready, I guess." Now Ron turned fully and disappeared into the throng of harassing and teasing from his siblings. Hermione gave the occupants of the kitchen a weird look, but stood from her seat and moved to open the door, slipping out as small an opening as she could make. It took her a second, but eventually Hermione got used to the dark and saw a slim silhouette leaning against the crooked wall of the Burrow.
"Ron?" a timid voice Hermione thought sounded familiar, rose from the person, but she didn't step any closer or move too much.
"It's Hermione, actually. Ron said he needed to talk to the rest of the Weasley's and sent me out here. I'm assuming so you're not left out here in the cold." She grinned, hoping Romilda would recognize she was joking. A light giggle rose, but it didn't sound very convincing.
"That's nice of you, thank you Hermione." She said everything like it was a fact, straight and to the point. Hermione fluttered around for a new topic, trying not to be awkward but failing horribly. This didn't; sound much like the girl she had met at Hogwarts.
"Did you want to come in? If you're hungry, I know Molly will make something for you."
"No, Hermione, I think maybe I should wait until Ron is finished warning everyone." Romilda still hadn't moved, and Hermione was beginning to get concerned.
"Sorry, what is he warning everyone about? I'm sort of missing the memo." She tried joking again, but it fell just as flat as the first. Apparently Fred needed to give her better lessons on jokes to say during an awkward situation. Romilda sighed, but seemed to agree with her, as she moved away from the wall, visibly shaking. Hermione waited until she had gotten close enough before sticking out her hand to help, unsure if the girl was going to fall. Romilda ignored it, tripping over the first step first before Hermione grabbed her, steadying the other girl on her feet. Romilda still didn't focus on the other hand Hermione was offering her. And then Hermione saw why.
The once gorgeous, unblemished face of the dark beauty was marred with three long, ugly scars. They began on the left temple and went down diagonally to the opposite side of her chin, dipping down her cheeks and up her nose. The middle scar went straight across her eyes, damaging the corner of her right brow. She didn't focus on Hermione at all, her eyes white and blank, hazed with blindness. She had kept her hand out when she had tripped, and it was still waiting for contact from something as she couldn't see anything around her. Hermione immediately felt horrible, though she knew it wasn't her fault.
"Oh Romilda," she whispered, and even put her hand on the girls face. To her credit, Romilda didn't flinch, like she was quite used to this reaction, and grinned sadly.
"Yeah," the girls were silent, mourning for something together. Hermione pulled away first, to give the other witch a moment to recover, and herself another look at the long scratches.
"How did this happen?" Romilda sighed and traced the largest one that spanned the entirety of her face.
"Greyback, if you'll believe it. Didn't bother biting or raping, just messed up my face. Took one look at me after the first backhand and thought two more seemed like a good idea. The third one, I had twisted and tried to move, and unfortunately he caught me across the eyes. The last thing I saw was his ugly mug, and a bright flash of some kind of spell. Now all I see is black, and occasionally, if my eyes aren't too sore, a change of light."
Hermione was silent, mourning this girl's loss, "If it makes you feel any better at all, that spell would have been mine. I killed him when I saw Lavender's dead body under him, and someone else on the ground. I assume that would have been you. And I'm sorry I didn't come over to check on you." Romilda obviously couldn't see, but to Hermione it felt like this witch was looking straight into her soul.
"Thank you," she didn't say anything else, but Hermione thought it was the best thanks she had received from anyone in her entire life. The stayed on the porch together for another moment of silence until Hermione suggested moving inside once more. This time, Romilda agreed, deciding Ron was taking too long after all. She didn't ask for help, used to people forgetting she was handicapped, but Hermione fitted her hand into her elbow, leading the blind girl in behind her, giving a running commentary as she led her in.
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Fred was barely listening anymore. Ron had been telling them about Romilda's accident for too long now, and while he was sorry for the girl, he couldn't seem to focus any longer. Dinner had been a pain; he had been looking forward to touching Hermione, holding her hand while they got to eat dinner together, and forgetting about the nasty reporter he'd run into at the store. Instead, he had found her surrounded by his future sister-in-laws, laughing and having an all together great time. He couldn't pull her away from that, she didn't have a lot of face time with females around his family, and taking her away would have been selfish. So instead he sat and sulked, ignoring her and George in favour of his bad mood.
"There's a weird corner of the entryway that will hit your hip if you don't take a step left, hopefully you remember that better than I do, because I hit it every time." Fred perked his head up when he heard Hermione coming closer. She passed through the door, like she was leading a puppy inside. George nudged him, like he was trying to dissuade him from making a joke, but Fred was quite speechless. Hermione had Romilda on her arm, the other girls hand tucked into her elbow as she patiently led her inside, and describing the room like it was a common occurrence for her.
Romilda looked worse than Ron had described to them, and Fred could already see Molly tearing up. Her eyes were already hazed over, and the scars were more visible as well, but there was a small grin tugging at her lips. Romilda looked like she couldn't decide if she was excited or sad about the fact Hermione was helping her so happily around the ramshackle house. Fred couldn't stop watching the pair, his bad mood all but forgotten as Hermione made her way around the room. She was purposefully allowing Romilda to bump lightly into any of the furniture that could be hazardous, letting her know where she was as they circled the room, and finally sat down on the couch, with Hermione right next to Fred. Romilda sat herself next to her new friend, folding her hands primly in her lap. Molly immediately began to ask Romilda how she was, aside from the obvious. Ron had glared at their mother for the tactless question, but Romilda answered with excitement. Fred assumed she must not have been socializing very much, and according to Ron, she hadn't been back in the Wizarding world much since her accident.
They sat in the sitting room all together, just talking with and around Romilda, but Fred didn't say a thing. Hermione had laced her fingers through his casually, keeping her attention solely on Romilda even though the other girl couldn't know she was looking at her. He felt a heavy pressing on his chest, like he suddenly couldn't breathe properly with Hermione beside him. His head was pounding, but he felt insanely proud of his fiancée. And shocked at himself for referring to Hermione as his fiancée, even if it was in his head. This woman had to be the most considerate, kind-hearted witch he had ever met, and he couldn't believe his luck in this cesspool of a mad marriage law. With his chest heavy, and head pounding in confusion and pride, Fred came to the startling conclusion he had fallen deeply in love with the brightest witch of their age.
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That ended nicer than I was expecting, I wrote this in quite a few different parts, hoping it would blend together. The sappiness in this entire story comes from watching Pride & Prejudice every time, just fyi.
Please review, I enjoy receiving those emails.
Thanks, AJ