Chapter Ten

"He didn't!"

"Oh but he did," Ron said between gasps of air. "A..and then the stupid wanker goes running off down the middle of Hogsmeade main street screaming at the top of his lungs that it was a frame job and we weren't gonna take him alive."

Hermione grabbed her sides laughing hysterically and fell against the wall of the booth for a lack of being able to stay up right.

"We didn't know whether to stun him or just let him run the fire whiskey off," Harry added, taking another bite of his sandwich

"He was so hysterical we didn't even get the chance to tell him we were there to question the bloke sitting next to him, not him," Ron laughed.

"Sweet Merlin," Hermione giggled, wiping away some tears. "So what happened then? Did you go after him or just let him run off?"

Ron and Harry had been regaling her with tales of their most recent adventures at work. With Voldemort gone and most of the Death Eaters rounded up, being an Auror meant handling more domestic matters. Which suited Harry just fine of course. He preferred life to be a bit on the mundane side. Seven years of running for your life will do that to you.

"We were just going to let him run off to where ever it was he thought he had to go but then he started stripping off his robes for some reason and well… there were children about," Harry grimaced. "Hopefully we stunned him quick enough that none of them has any permanent childhood trauma."

"Yeah, I reckon that bloke's pale skinny arse would've given more than one of them sprouts nightmares for life," Ron snorted into his drink.

Hermione chuckled again and pointedly avoided Harry's gaze as she took another bite of her salad. She knew what he was thinking and she didn't want him to voice it.

"Speaking of nightmares…"

'Dammit,' Hermione thought as she glared at her salad.

"A little birdie mentioned that you've started having them again," Harry said.

"You are?" Ron looked up from his roast beef with a furrowed brow. "Hermione, why didn't you tell us?"

"Would this little birdie happen to be blond and about to be looking for a new job?" Hermione frowned, completely ignoring Ron's questions.

"Oh please," Harry rolled his eyes. "The day you fire Sally is the day Ron snogs Malfoy."

"I'm eating here!" Ron made a disgusted face.

"Focus, Ron," Harry said. "Seriously Hermione, why didn't you tell us you were having nightmares again?"

"It's not that big of deal," Hermione shrugged. "It's bound to happen every now and then. I just need to stop falling asleep at my desk. It startles me when I wake up in a place I don't recognize, you know that."

"Hermione, don't try and down play it to us because we know you better than that," Harry frowned. "And from what Sally said it's more than you just getting a little startled."

"Sally is over protective and prone to exaggeration."

"Really?" Harry folded his arms and leaned back against the booth seat. "Then answer me this honestly. Did you or did you not put a client into a book case because they shook you awake?"

'I have GOT to fire her one of these days,' she thought to herself with a groan.

Harry wasn't letting up, "Well?"

"Harry, I don't want to talk about this right now."

"Well too bad because I'm not dropping the subject."

Hermione glared at her emerald eyed friend. Why couldn't he just leave well enough alone?

"You can either talk to us or we can haul you back to Healer Connors," Harry crossed his arms. "You're pick."

"Don't you dare threaten me, Harry James Potter, you are not hauling me anywhere," Hermione snapped, loosing her appetite. "And certainly not back to that quack."

"He is not a quack!"

"Oh yes he is," Hermione snarled under her breath. "I have everything under control."

"Mione, you can not keep sweeping this problem under the rug."

"I'm not sweeping anything!" Hermione said through clenched teeth. She was starting to loose her temper and that was not something she wanted to do in the middle of the Leaky Cauldron. "It is not my fault I put George into that book shelf. If the little prat hadn't of barged into my pitch black office, uninvited, while I was asleep I wouldn't have panicked so badly!"

"Wait… that was George?" Ron snorted a laugh.

"Someone say my name?"

Hermione nearly jumped clear out of her seat as the very person they were speaking of suddenly appeared next to the booth. George stood leaning against the side of booth grinning down at the trio. Hermione blushed a bit for her reaction but was thankful none the less for the reprieve in conversation. She caught Harry's displeased gaze for a split second. She knew it meant they would be finishing this little chat later. To say she was not looking forward to it would be the most stupidly obvious understatement in the history of understatements.

"You stupid git!" Ron burst into laughter at his brother.

"Is it 'Insults Instead of Greetings Day'?" George asked with a smirk. "How marvelous! Me next?"

"What moron sneaks up on a witch in the dark while she is asleep?"

"Ah, I see you told them about our little mishap a few weeks ago," George chuckled at Hermione.

Hermione flushed again with embarrassment, "I did not, it was Sa… George, have you been running?"

"Sorry?"

"Have you been running? You look flushed and sound out of breath."

"Oh," George laughed awkwardly. "Uh yes, I uh I've taken up jogging recently. Have to stay fit you know."

"You were jogging?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

"Just now?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you still wearing your shop robes?"

George ears redden and he began frantically try to think of another excuse. Preferably one that did not involve revealing he had just sprinted the whole three blocks here. He may have accidently knocked over an elderly couple and a flower booth in the process, but George had been a desperate man on a desperate mission. Fred took a bit longer then twenty minutes with that potion. And by a bit he meant nearly an hour. George suspected Fred may have taken his time on purpose.

"Transfigured them of course," George laughed nervously. "Anyway I just finished my run and decided to stop in for a bite to eat before heading back to the shop. Saw you lot here and thought I'd come over and say hello."

"Oh…"

"So!" George slid effortlessly in to the booth next to Hermione. "How is my favorite baby brother and baby brother-in-law today?"

"Errr we're fine?" Ron said, suspicious of his brother's sudden interest in his well-being. "We're just finishing up lunch and about to hea…"

"That's nice, Ronniekins," George cut him off before turning to Hermione. "And Miss Granger! A lovely sight for sore eyes you are…"

"You saw me yesterday."

"Ah, so I did," George said. "And speaking of our meeting yesterday, everything is all set for tomorrow I trust?"

"Of course," Hermione replied. "Our time slot is at two o'clock tomorrow in Courtroom Ten. I would prefer you both there at about one fifteen though if you don't mind."

"Does it have to be both of us?" George frowned just slightly.

"Not necessarily but it would help."

"Well I can't promise anything on both of us," George said as he pulled Ron's plate across the table and began to help himself to it. Ignoring Ron's protests he continued, "Verity has an appointment at the Healer's tomorrow around that time, new baby or some such, so one of us has to stay with the store."

George did not miss the expression that briefly crossed Hermione's face though he couldn't quite place it. It vanished to quickly for him to figure out though and she shrugged, "As I said, it's not a necessity, just preferable."

"Fair cop," George shrugged and continued to eat Ron's remaining lunch.

Ron glowered at his older brother, "If you're going to eat my lunch, you're going to pay for it."

George chuckled, "Like you could make me."

"George!"

"Simmer down, Ronniekins," he laughed. "I'll be happy to pay for your lunch. Actually consider all three lunches on me today."

Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at George for a moment. Harry and Ron in disbelief, and Hermione in confusion.

"Er thank you, George," Hermione said. "That's uh, very generous of you."

"Well that's just the kind of guy I am, Hermione," George smiled charmingly at her. "Generous to the point it hurts."

"Riiiight…" Harry narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Well George, as gracious as your offer is…"

"Thank you, Harry, it is isn't it?"

"We were having a bit of a private conversation and if you don't mind…"

"Actually, you know what I just remembered I have to get back to the office," Hermione said and started to try and push George out of the booth so that she could get out herself. "I have a client to see right after lunch and I don't wish to be late."

Hermione did not miss the looks Harry and Ron gave her but she didn't care. She did not wish to continue with this debate. Least of all here and least of all with George anywhere near the vicinity.

Pleased with some actual physical contact, George leaped up out of the booth before offering his hand to the bushy haired brunette, "Well then, if that's the case then allow me to escort you back to your office."

"I thought you said you were hungry," Ron folded his arm.

"Did I?" George asked innocently, and helped Hermione out of the booth. Hermione tossed a few galleons on the table before muttering a quick good bye to her friends and rushing out the door. George gave the two men still sitting at the table a wink before sprinting out the door himself.

"There is something not right going on here," Harry frowned as he watched George slip out the door.

"I'll say," Ron glared. "Little git ran out without leaving any money."

…~…~…

Hermione hurried down Diagon Alley's crowded street, embarrassed tears nearly at the surface. Why did Harry have to keep bringing it up? It was like he wanted her to be mad at him. She was just fine; everything was under control so why couldn't he just accept her at her word on that? And now she was committed to being at the Weasley's on Saturday so there was no hope of just avoiding him till he forgot. He might even get Ginny in on the argument again. Fan-bloody-tastic.

The frustrated witch was so absorbed in her angry thoughts that she almost missed that George had finally caught up to her.

"Wow you're fast," he laughed as he finally caught up. "Maybe you should go jogging with me sometime. It's always good to have a work out buddy; it keeps you foc… hey are you alright?"

"Hm?" Hermione looked up from the pavement.

"I said are you alright?" George said. "You look upset."

"No, I'm fine," she said, making sure she wasn't actually crying. "Just a bit of pollen in my eye."

"Can't kid a kidder, Granger," George said and stepped in front of Hermione, forcing her to stop. "Tell me what's wrong?"

"I am not discussing my private life with clients, George."

"Don't give me that, Hermione, I'm not just a client. I'm your friend too," he frowned.

"You think so do you?" Hermione's eyes flashed at him.

"Just because we aren't as close as you and Harry or you, Ron and Ginny, doesn't mean that I'm not your friend," George said stubbornly. "Now what did the witless wonders say that upset you so bad?"

"They just have a hard time keeping their noses out of other people's business is all," Hermione said finally. "Happy now?"

"No, but it's better than you pretending that there is nothing wrong at all," George said softly. "You know, I have been told I am an excellent listener should you need to get anything off your chest."

Hermione chuckled softly in spit of herself, "Well if I ever feel like spilling my life's story I'll let you know."

"Good," George beamed for a moment then got a quizzical look on his face. He looked around the alley for a moment as though he was trying to find something. Apparently he spotted what he was trying to find because his face split into another giant grin. "Stay right there for a moment, I'll be right back!"

Before Hermione could say anything else, the excited ginger disappeared into the crowd. She shrugged and decided she may as well just wait. Worse thing he could do was show back up with Harry and Ron floating behind him, passed out due to some side effect of a new prank.

...Actually that could work for her right about now...

A few minutes passed before finally George reemerged from the crowd. To Hermione's surprise he was holding two giant double scooped ice cream cones with sprinkles on top. He held out the one in his left hand to her while gleefully nibbling on the other. Hermione, still slightly stunned, took the cone offered to her with a shy smile.

"Thanks," she said sheepishly.

"Ice cream always makes me feel better," George said and took a big bite of his. "I hope cherry and mint chocolate chip is ok?"

"My favorites actually," Hermione said and took a large bite herself. The delicious flavors blending together on her tongue surprisingly did immediately improve her mood. She looked at George and couldn't help but join in his smiling.

"Told ya," he said, taking another lick. "It's hard to be irate when eating ice cream."

"I really appreciate this, George," she replied. "Thank you."

"Anytime."

"And I'm sorry," Hermione sighed and looked at the ground slightly ashamed. "You're right. You, just like everyone else in your family, are my friend. When I get into professional mode I become a bit stand offish sometimes. I hope you can forgive me."

"We all have our little professional quirks, but apology accepted," George mentally did a happy dance. "Now, I believe you said something about needing to get back to work in time to meet a client."

"I do, but I still have about two hours before they show up," Hermione admitted. "I just said that so I could leave. Harry was being a bit pushy on a subject I don't really feel like drudging up right now."

"Well now that just means we can take our time getting back then, doesn't it?" George grinned as he offered Hermione his arm.

The grin got even wider when she actually took it.

TBC

A/N: Why George, you sly little fox! ; )

I felt a bit guilty recently for having not given y'all a decent lengthy chapter in awhile so here you go! I do hope you enjoyed it. Next chapter will be the trial and I beg for forgiveness now but it may take a few days before I post it. I want to make sure I get it is just right since some things in the chapter will be important later in the story. Anyway, till then keep reading and as always, leave review!

~Chupip