Chapter Six

Despite the subject matter of their meeting, Hermione thoroughly enjoyed her visit with Viktor. So much so that she had almost forgotten about George having run off with her keys.

Emphasis on the Almost.

The moment a follow up meeting was scheduled and Viktor was out the door, Hermione began frantically gathering up everything she needed to take home that night. She was desperate to get home, but she still had a job to do.

"Sally, if I don't show up by nine o'clock tomorrow morning I want you to floo the DMLE and get Aurors Potter and Weasley to come save me, got it?" Hermione said as she stuffed the last of her belongs in her brief case and snapped it closed.

"M'am, he's been gone all day. Merlin knows what he's laced your flat with by now! Are you honestly suggesting that I let you just waltz into a possible death trap? By yourself?" Sally exclaimed as she too finished packing her own bag for the night.

"Of course I am going by myself!" Hermione retorted, pulling on her coat. "Have you even seen some of the stuff the Weasley Twins' produce? Half of them explode! I don't want to have to look for a new assistant because you got blasted into a million pieces."

"And I am not going to end up unemployed because you were too stubborn to take back up!" Sally snapped paying no attention to the tone she had just taken with her boss. "I am not letting you walk into that flat by yourself. If you want me to leave you'll just have to give me the sack."

"Don't tempt me."

"Go ahead, but you should probably know that the first thing I will do afterwards is floo Mr. Potter."

"So?"

Sally got a smug look as she folded her arms over her chest, "So, which one of us would you rather contend with over this issue?"

Hermione frowned. Dammit.

Sally smirked to herself. She'd played the trump card and she knew it. Her boss never refused Mr. Potter on anything. He was like the brother she never had and could never say no to.

Hermione suddenly decided that the blond assistant was far too versed in her personal life for the bushy haired witch's comfort. She and Sally stood there glaring at each other for awhile, neither willing to back down.

"Also you still owe me dinner," Sally said, finally breaking the staring contest.

Hermione threw her arms up in defeat, "Alright, fine, let's go," she sighed and picked up her brief case. "But you if get yourself blown up I don't want to hear any whining when you still have to come in to work tomorrow."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Miss Granger," Sally chuckled as they exited the office.

Hermione huffed in annoyance as she turned to lock the door and cast the anti-burglar charms. She finished quickly and was just putting her wand away when she heard someone shouting her name. She and Sally turned around to see Fred Weasley trying to flag them down.

"Oi, Granger, hold up!" Fred shouted as he jogged best he could towards them. The slight limp in his step did not go unnoticed.

During the Battle of Hogwarts a wall had fallen on Fred. Some quick thinking and a series of incantations done by Percy had saved his life but only just barely. Fred survived, but with irreparable damage to his right leg. The healers at Saint Mungo's were able to heal his body quickly but not matter what they did, his leg refused to mend properly. The healer who over saw Fred's recovery theorized that he was probably hit in the leg by a way ward curse before the wall fell.

"Thanks for waiting. Don't think I could have chased you down," Fred smiled as he finally made it to them.

The Weasleys were beyond relieved Fred survived of course but that didn't mean they weren't heartbroken when they realized that Fred and George would never be running away from a crime scene together ever again. Fred and George joked that a broomstick made for a faster get away anyways but they both knew it just wasn't the same. Speaking of 'they'…

"Where is George?" Hermione asked pointedly.

"Interesting question," Fred said with a curious expression. "And the same one I was coming to ask you."

Hermione blinked in confusion for a moment, "You… you don't know?"

The twin shook his head. "Haven't seen him since this morning when he left to come see you. Thought perhaps you two were just enjoying each other's company a little too much…"

"Hardly," Hermione snorted.

Fred snickered a bit, "I came to remind him that he promised to watch Freddie Jr. tonight while I take Angeline out."

"Well Sir, we can assure you he isn't here," Sally frowned.

Fred turned to the young woman with a calculating look, "And you are…?"

"Sally Sheffield, Sir. I'm Miss Granger's assistant," she replied.

"Oooh… so you're Sally," Fred grinned at the tiny blond much like a cat would a mouse.

"Yes..."

"Fred Weasley, at your service," Fred bowed deeply to her. "Also known as the better and more handsome twin. But don't get any ideas; I am after all a happily married man." Hermione and Sally both rolled their eyes. "My brother has told me what a charming young woman you are, Miss Sheffield."

"I'm sure he has," Sally said flatly.

"Yes, he greatly admires your, how did he put it? Spunky nature."

"I'm sure he does."

"Could we move on from the sarcastic pleasantries please?" Hermione interjected. "Fred, are you sure you haven't seen George?"

"Nope," Fred shook his head. "Like I said, haven't seen him all day. If he came back to the shop at all it is news to me. Why do you ask?"

"He disappeared this morning with some personal property of mine and has yet to return with them," she explained.

"What did he take off with?" Fred frowned.

Hermione hesitated but Sally didn't, "Miss Granger needed someone to go feed her cat this morning but we were both too busy to do so. Mr. Weasley offered to help and left this morning with her keys. We haven't seen him since."

"Wait a moment, wait a moment…" Fred started, looking as though his curiosity was battling with his amusement. "Are you telling me that you, on purpose, handed George the keys to you flat and then just let him run off by himself with them?"

"…Yes" Hermione admitted bitterly. Fred doubled over in hysterical laughter.

"Merlin's balls, Granger! Are you out of your frizzy haired mind?" he gasped for breath. "Do you have any idea what that little git's probably done to your home by now?"

"Exactly my point, now if you don't mind I need to get home," the brunette glared.

"Oh I'm coming with you," Fred said as he wiped tears from his eyes. "Whatever you plan on doing to him I want to watch. It will be completely worth whatever Angie throws at my head for being late."

"You are incorrigible, Weasley," Hermione grumbled as she held out a hand to each of her companions.

"Part of the charm, Granger," Fred winked and clutched her hand. "Part of the charm."

Hermione sighed in exasperation as the three adults twisted in the air and disappeared.

...

Bored. George did not like being bored. It was his least favorite thing to be, right behind being in a conversation with Umbridge… and being in detention with Umbridge. Actually just anything involving Umbridge was right at the top of the 'Things George Does Not Like' list. It was a list George had come up with a few hours ago to try and curb him boredom. He'd reached forty two things he didn't like before getting bored with the list too.

George looked at his watch and grumbled before once again banging his head on the wall. Nearly nine hours he had been stuck in this loo. The red head had tried everything to keep himself entertained. He'd treated his scratches. He had gone through, sampled and organized all the contents of Granger's cabinets. He had counted every tile in the entire room, and even took a long girl style bath. Might as well, right? He had nothing to do and all of the supplies were already there.

George hated to admit it, but maybe girls were onto something with these luxury baths. The mud paste mask stuff he'd smeared on his face left it feeling tingly with a wonder fresh feeling. George made a mental note that he owed Granger a new bottle of that paste stuff, the strawberry bubble bath he's accidently used to much of, and a shower curtain.

George cringed slightly as he stole a glance at the now charred piece of fabric and half melted plastic lining behind it.

Hopefully Granger wouldn't be too angry about the shower curtain thing, but honestly, who kept candles and matches where an innocent and unsuspecting bored twin could find them? It was just plain irresponsible of her really…

George groaned again. When was she going to get home for Merlin's sake!

...

"You know, muggles are really on to something with these elven-nator things," Fred mused as they finally reached Hermione's floor. "I should put in an elven-nator at the shop. Would make getting upstairs easier."

"That's elevator, Fred, and I wasn't aware you still lived above the shop," Hermione said as they exited the metal box.

"Oh, we don't," Fred said. "Ang and I moved to a nice little place in the country after we got married. I just floo in and out via the fireplace in the flat."

"Makes sense," Sally replied. "I shared a flat with my older sister until she got married. After that she was rather insistent I move out. Newly weds like privacy."

"Well yes we certainly do, but why would you cram three adults, two of which are planning a family, into a barely two person flat in the first place? No thanks, Love, I prefer not being packed in like sardines," Fred laughed. "George still lives there though. Place almost looks like a real human being lives there. You'd never believe it but George is an organization nut. Only mess he likes is in our work room, and even there he keeps all the ingredients just so."

Hermione nodded absentmindedly as they finally reached her door. Muttering a spell she gripped the door handle and it turned easily in her grasp. Taking a deep breath she steeled herself for what may lie on the other side of that door.

TBC…

A/N: It's been a crazy few weeks with holidays, sick babies and just general business. Hope you like the new chapter and as always R&R! Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday! MUAH!

~Chupip