Chapter Four
Cissy, put the boys in the cellar! I'm going to have a conversation with this one, girl to girl!
Oh god, Oh Merlin, please no!
Hold still, you filthy little Mudblood!
I didn't do anything! STOP IT! NOO!
"OI, GRANGER!"
Hermione's eyes flew open. She didn't know where she was but it was pitch black and a tall figure loomed over her menacingly. She could make out the figure of a man but couldn't see who it was. Heart racing, Hermione's instincts kicked in and she drew her wand as she yanked away from the firm hand on her shoulder. Bolting out of the chair she pointed her wand at the intruder.
"Granger, wait!"
"EXPELLIARMUS!" she screamed.
The intruder was hit full force with the spell and flew across the entire room before slamming hard into one of the many book cases on the other side. He slumped to the ground as the book case and its contents fell on top of him. Hermione shook as she willed herself to calm down and think logically. Who was that? Where was she? Why couldn't she see? With the adrenalin pounding through her, Hermione notice someone coming up behind her and flinched when a small feminine hand gripped her shoulder comfortingly. Hermione felt a gentle but firm grip wrap itself around her wrist while slowly forcing her to lower her trembling wand arm.
"Miss Granger," a soft voice whispered in her ear. "Miss Granger, it's alright you're safe now. No one here will hurt you."
The lights flew on and Hermione's tunnel vision melted away into the familiar four walls of her office. She blinked a few times at her secretary with a dazed and confused expression. Sally only smiled kindly back as she helped her boss slowly ease down into her chair.
"Miss Granger, can you hear me?" she asked delicately.
Hermione nodded.
"Do you know where you are now?"
At another nod, Sally reached into her pocket and with drew a small vial of calming drought. She could absolutely kick herself right now. Not just for not stopping that blathering idiot sooner, but for not remembering to give Miss Granger a sip of dreamless drought before forcing her to take a nap.
Sally had been working for Miss Granger for nearly five years. In those five years Sally had found her bushy haired employer asleep at her desk many a time. It was safe to say Sally knew a fair few things about Hermione Granger, and what happened when she slept. She never discussed it, and Sally knew better than to ask, but Miss Granger frequently had nightmares about the war. Sally was only a second year student when the war started and a third year by the time it was in full swing. As a pure blood witch Sally was still allowed to be at Hogwarts and kept her head down enough to mostly avoid serving detentions with the Carrows. However the few times that she did serve them had left her with the occasional bad dream herself. Sally had heard gossip and whispers of some of the things Miss Granger and her friends endured during their year on the run and she didn't dare try imagining anything that they had actually seen. It'd probably leave her with chronic nightmares too.
Hermione gulped down the potion handed to her and shook her head as though to clear away a fog.
"What… who was that?" Hermione finally found her voice.
"Mr. Weasley," Sally said with a rather unsympathetic nod to the upturned part of the office. "And if I may say M'am, excellent shot."
"What!" Hermione leaped out of her chair and dashed over to the fallen over book case.
"I will work free for a year if you let me watch the memory," Sally smirked.
Hermione fixed her assistant with a glare as she levitated the book case off the ginger haired man. "George, are you alright!"
"Well good morning to you too," George groaned as he rubbed his head and sat up. "I stay up all night filling out your ruddy forms and this is the thanks I get for being assiduous?"
"I am so sorry, George!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I'm yanking you're wand, Hermione," George chuckled as he hoisted himself onto his feet. "But I think I will make a real appointment next time. Or bring coffee, which ever doesn't get me nearly murdered."
"I really am so sorry. I didn't mean to lash out like that, you just startled me."
"Mental note then: Never startle a gorgeous witch with a wand ever again. Especially while she's sleeping," George said. "Hell of a spell cast though. Should have remembered that, what with how you tossed Ron across the room back in the DA. Both times brilliant, by the way."
"You… you're not cross?" Hermione asked. If she wasn't mistaken he actually seemed down right amused.
"Do you want me to be cross?"
"Well no, certainly not but I could have seriously hurt you! What if I had-"
"It was my fault," George interrupted her. "I shouldn't have barged in like that."
Hermione blinked in surprise for a moment. Was George Weasley actually apologizing to her? She wasn't sure if that flattered her, or frightened her. The twins rarely legitimately apologized for their antics. Sally raised an eye brow as well. She too knew of the Weasley Twin's reputation, but right now she was more concerned about her boss. Miss Granger was still visibly shaking.
"Miss Granger, if I may, I think a pot of tea is in order?" Sally prodded gently. At Hermione's nod Sally quickly slipped out of the room.
"Extra lemon for me!" George called after her. Thankfully she was too far out of the room for him to hear her mutterings.
Hermione had never been so mortified in her life. She couldn't believe she had attacked him like that! She had flash backs far more often then she cared to admit, and Hermione shuddered at the thought of what would have happened if she had been so far gone she'd used a more dangerous spell. She would have never been able to look Molly in the face again if she had actually hurt George!
George frowned slightly. It was clear Hermione was upset so he got up off the floor and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?" he asked. "You seem shaken."
"I'm shaken? What about you!"
George chuckled, "I've had worse experiences while inventing, trust me."
"Are you sure you're not hurt?" Hermione asked again as she led him over to one of the chairs facing her desk.
"Are you actually worried about me?" George's face light up in a huge smile. Maybe he should rethink this whole never startling her again thing.
"Of course I'm worried about you! I could have killed you!" Hermione snapped.
"Hermione, I promise I'm ok," George winked. "But if you want to kiss it better, I'll let you."
"Alright, now I know you're fine," she muttered. Hermione suddenly caught something and stared curiously at the red haired man in the chair. "Wait, did you just call me 'Hermione'?"
"Well yes, that is your name is it not?" George laughed.
"Well yes, but usually you call me 'Granger'."
"Thought I'd try something different, what with us needing to work so closely and all," George winked, "But if you're opposed to it, I can come up with a different name for you if you like. Though now that I know you can toss me across a room like a rag doll I should probably keep most of them to myself."
Hermione rolled her eyes and moved around the desk as Sally returned with the tea. Hermione sat down and accepted a warm cup from the blonde woman. Slowly sipping the comforting liquid, Hermione couldn't help but snort a laugh as George and Sally had a stare down while she handed him a cup as well.
George locked gazes with the pretty young blonde. It would seem the little secretary was trying to intimidate him. He'd never admit it, but she was succeeding. When she offered him a cup of tea as well George panicked for a moment thinking she was about to dump it his lap again. In a moment of pity though, Sally simply gracefully handed him the cup before turning back to her employer.
"Anything else I can do for you, Miss Granger?" she asked.
"No, Sally, thank you," Hermione smiled genuinely at her. "You've already been a great help."
"If you need me," Sally nodded to the intercom on Miss Granger's desk and ducked out of the room.
"I don't know what I'd do with out her," Hermione smiled fondly. "Now then, George I really do apologize."
"Hermione, please it was my fault," George waved away her apology. "If you don't mind though, I brought back the papers you sent with me and would love to know when a date can be set up. A court day too, if that's convenient."
Hermione chuckled at the joke but did not comment. "Well," she said. "I already have a court day actually. The Stoneworth's attorney already set a date, it'll be three weeks from now."
"Is that enough time to compile a case in our defense?" George frowned.
"George, you wound me," Hermione feigned offence. "I can have this done in three days."
George smirked, "Oh you could, could you?"
"Of course I could," she smirked back. "I'm not called the brightest witch of my age for nothing you know."
George laughed, enjoying the look of pride on her face, "And so humble about it too, aren't you?"
Hermione smiled, "Have to be cocky about something, don't I?"
George winked, "Always did prefer a cocky woman to a catty woman."
Hermione chuckled for a moment before suddenly her eyes went wide and her hand flew to her mouth.
"Catty! Merlin's balls!" she swore, causing George to choke on his tea. He'd never heard her use such language before but he liked it.
"What's wrong?" he asked innocently.
"I forgot to feed Crookshanks this morning!" Hermione exclaimed as she bolted out of her chair again. "Oh my poor baby is probably starving!"
"That old flea bag is still alive?" George asked, before he thought better of it.
"Oi, watch it," she glared. "That's my cat."
George held his hands up in apology as she hurried out of the room. Suddenly a brilliant idea crossed his brain and George smiled to himself. The opportunity here was practically gift wrapped. He darted out of his chair and into the waiting room as fast as he could.
"I'll do it!" he exclaimed, skidding into the front room.
Hermione and Sally looked up at him from their conversation. Hermione looked confused while Sally looked like she though he had gone mad.
"Do what?" Hermione asked.
"I'll go feed Crookshanks for you!" he gave her a dazzling smile. "You probably have a lot of things here you need to do but I booked off the whole day off from the shop and have nothing else to do. Just tell me where you live and where his food is kept and I'll pour the little fur ball a feast."
Hermione opened her mouth but Sally spoke first, "Miss Granger, normally I would say you'd be mad to let that man anywhere near your house, but neither of us actually have time to run back and feed Crookshanks. Mrs. Hattingson just flooed and said she has to come earlier than expected."
"How early?" Hermione groaned. Another sound George found he liked.
"Twenty minutes."
Hermione groaned again for a moment but then turned to George. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach. George on the other hand looked as though his birthday had come early.
"You do realize I live in a muggle building right? You can't just Apparate to the front door because someone could see you."
"Not a problem."
"You'd have to Apparate to the zone near my flat and walk from there," she said.
"Last I check my legs where still in good working order."
"And you of course understand that if I fall victim to a single booby trap prank, not only will I drop your case, but violently murder you as well?"
"I'll bring popcorn," Sally piped in.
"On my honor you won't be pranked," George held up his right hand before sticking out his tongue at Sally. "Quick question though: Does the cat have to stay orange?"
"YES THE CAT HAS TO STAY ORANGE!" Hermione exclaimed. "Do you want to help or not."
George saluted before giving a deep sweeping bow. "At your service, milady."
Sally rolled her eyes as Hermione sighed in defeat and started writing down her address on a piece of parchment. She then handed the parchment and her flat keys to George before fixing him with a steely look.
"I mean it, Weasley," she said. "Any of my books get tampered with, my dishes start singing, or you mix that colour changing stuff in with my shampoo and I will hunt you down. Don't mess with my cat either. Just feed him and leave."
"Yes, M'am," he grinned and took the keys from her. "I will not fail you."
"That's nice, now hurry up," Hermione shooed him off. "His food is in the cupboard above my sink and when you're done please return my keys here."
"Done and done," he smiled and practically bounced out of the office.
Hermione and Sally stared at the doorway for a moment in slight shock.
"That was a stupid decision, wasn't it?" Hermione asked her assistant.
"Permission to speak freely with out getting the sack?"
"Granted."
"You'd have been better off handing your keys to a toddler, M'am," Sally said before resuming her typing.
"Thought so," Hermione muttered and trekked back into her office. Today was shaping up to just as spectacular as yesterday. Merlin save her.
TBC
A/N: I wonder how Crookshanks will take to our favorite little twin… R&R!
~Chupip