Chapter Twenty Five

Sigmund Dietrich was not happy. In fact he was down right furious.

That damned woman… That bleeding frizzy-haired harpy had completely destroyed his carefully put together plans.

The photos he had slipped under Krum's door should have had the drooling troll crawling on his hands and knees to him by now begging and pleading to make them go away. He should be falling all over himself saying he'll do anything to keep them out of the public eye. Anything, including signing over those brats, and more importantly all that gold to his wife. What would a soon to be single Quidditch star need with two whiny infant flobberworms under foot anyway? He should have had this case wrapped up in a neat little bow by now but no... ooooh no… She wasn't cooperating.

That damned Miss Granger had had the nerve to storm in here like she was entitled to do so, accuse him of stalking, and then threaten him! Should a single one of those photos see the light of day he would barely have a dress robe to his name let alone a law firm by the time she was done suing him for slander.

"DIETRICH!"

The man in question groaned. Oh joy, the other current bane of his existence…

Not four seconds later his office door came crashing open. Dietrich flinched. That door was hand carved imported wood.

An impeccably dressed blond witch stood seething in his doorway. Her green eyes were narrowed in to thin slits and trained directly on him. The ridiculous amount of jeweled necklaces that adorned her neck clinked angrily as she stomped up to his desk. Dietrich sighed and rubbed his temple for a moment before smiling at the intruder.

"Mrs. Krum, good to see you. What brings you to London today? I didn't think we had an appointment until next week?"

"Safe it, Sigmund! You know exactly vhy I am here! 'Ow could you let dis happen, you stupid man!" the blond roared.

Dietrich felt his temper flare but was able to keep it under control. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean. Mrs Krum?"

"Oh you don't, don't you?" she snarled, slamming a hand on his desk so hard that her half a dozen bracelets jumped by the sheer force of it. "You haf no idea den dat Victor brought his leetal slut to Bulgaria wit him dis veekend and introduced her to MY sons!? You vere suppose to take care of dis, Dietrich! Vhat am I paying you for if you can't even make one stupid leetal girl go away! If I haf to leestin to vne more story from dose damn keeds about 'ow vonderful dis Sally is, 'ow nice Sally is, 'ow sweet Sally is, I vill scream!"

"Children meet people every day, it doesn't mean they remember them in a week even if they liked them," he sighed. "It's all perfectly under control, Mrs. Krum. By next month you'll have full custody, and well more than half of your husband's assets. As you very well deserve of course."

"Dis better be true, Dietrich," the blond all but growled and she turned to go. "Or I vill make your life a leeving hell."

'Too late for that one,' Dietrich thought to himself bitterly as she slammed his door shut on her way out. Dietrich gaped in outrage as several of his framed photos crashed to the ground and shattered.

The dark haired man snarled to himself as he leaned back against his expensive dragon hide chair. This was all Granger's fault. If she had just done what every other lawyer he went up against did and rolled over, he would have had this dealt with weeks ago. He was clearly the superior attorney of the two, what made her think she could stick her nose into all this? That witch was a thorn in his side that needed to be removed with extreme prejudice. He would destroy her… her business, her reputation, everything. No one crossed Sigmund Dietrich! And when he was done with her, he'd ruin that smart mouthed little boyfriend of hers as well. Diuretic indeed!

… ~ … ~ …

Hermione watched her panicking secretary with a bemused smirk as they strolled through the aisles of Madame Tiggley's Magical Toy Shop. They had decided to do a little combined shopping together after work today. With Christmas fast approaching Sally was frantically trying to think of gifts for Viktor and his boys. She had already spent two weekends with all three of them and anyone with eyes could tell it was no longer just the hulking Quidditch coach she was smitten with.

"Erik would love these but I just don't know. He already has so many dragon toys as it is… and Mikhail is about to be too old for toys all together," Sally sighed wistfully at the toys in her hand. "I don't want to get them something stupid, but I couldn't possibly afford to get them anything near the quality their parents can. I mean, what does one really get for a nine and five year old anyway?"

"You could always knit them both a hat instead," Hermione said thoughtfully. "One with a dragon on it for Erik and one with whatever it is Mikhail likes on it."

Sally gave her a teasing glare, "Miss Granger, not everyone's problems can be fixed by knitting a hat."

"Preposterous," Hermione waved her off and took a sip from her to go cup of tea. "Of course they can."

Sally chuckled and set the toys back before resuming her search. Hermione chuckled as well but to be perfectly honest she was having the same issue. She hadn't a clue what to get for George, though he seemed to know exactly what he was getting for her. He told her as much this morning when he kissed her goodbye before he left her flat for work.

Hermione blushed slightly. George had been spending the night with her quite a lot lately. They'd have dinner then curl up in front of the telly for a bit before retiring for the night in her bedroom. Recently though they'd play a game before bed instead. George had found her stash of muggle board games and had been obsessed with them ever since. Last night she was forced to beat him three times before he agreed to go to bed.

As far as bedroom activities went nothing had really happened yet; they just snuggled up together and slept, but it all felt wonderfully intimate in a way Hermione was worried she'd never get to experience. Who would have thought that George Weasley was a cuddler? Their little routine wasn't with out its issues though. Having someone in the house other than Crookshanks meant she always had to be very careful and remember to take a dreamless sleep potion before going to sleep. It was easy enough to just slip some into her tea without George noticing.

She was even more careful to make sure she was the first one awake so as to have time to apply all the charms she required before he woke up. Waking up first really wasn't a problem though. It did not come as a large shock that George was rather difficult to rouse in the morning. The cuddling thing threw her for a loop at first but it was sweet and she couldn't help but swell with affection as Hermione remembered kissing him awake this morning.

"What about these?"

Luckily Sally had spoken up and pulled her out of her thoughts before Hermione ran into the display of children's broom sticks.

"What? Sorry, say that again?"

Sally gave her an exasperated look and held up the two toys in her hands. A plush dragon lay in one hand and a children's potions kit lay in the other. "Mikhail mentioned a few times he really likes potions, do you think it's stupid? Should I just get him a book instead?"

"Maybe a book as well, because really who couldn't use another book?" Hermione teased. "But yes, I think those are perfect gifts."

"Now I just have to find something for Viktor," Sally sighed as she and her boss made their way to the cashier.

"Fred and George are having a sale on pygmy puffs. I bet a pink one would really go with his eyes."

Sally stuck her tongue out at Hermione for a lack of a better retaliation, "You know for someone who isn't actually having a physical relationship with their significant other, you certainly are annoyingly cheerful lately."

Hermione began choking on her tea, "Sally! Honestly!"

"Just saying a trip to that Veronica's Mysteries store or whatever it's called would solve all your Christmas gift issues with Mr. Weasley."

"It's called Victoria's Secret, and could we please not talk about this in public," Hermione hissed under her voice. "You are never allowed to go to the mall with me ever again."

"I'm smart enough to find it on my own," Sally laughed at her employer's glare as she handed her purchases to the cashier witch behind the counter. "Honestly, what are you planning on getting Mr. Weasley?"

Hermione sighed and looked a little defeated, "I have no idea."

"Why are men so difficult to shop for?"

"We're not," said a new voice behind them. "Food or Quidditch and we're good."

Hermione and Sally turned around to see Harry standing behind them. Sally smiled brightly while Hermione became highly interested in the small display of charmed levitating stuffed frogs.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter," Sally said warmly. "How are you? Haven't seen you or Mr. Weasley around for a few weeks."

"Yeah well… about that," Harry blushed and ran a hand through his hair nervously. "Can we talk?"

Hermione knew he was directing that question at her and she sighed. She turned an irritated glare towards him. "Fine," she said. "I'll meet you out front, Sally."

Sally nodded as the two feuding friends made their way outside the shop. Once on the street Hermione rounded on Harry with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Five minutes, Potter. Starting now."

"Hermione, I'm sorry," he sighed. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings but please try and understand that I am genuinely worried about you. Apparently I am not very good at dealing with being worried."

"Clearly," Hermione snorted.

"Before I married Ginny and James came along, you and Ron were the only family I had and I would do anything to protect either of you, even from yourself…" Harry put his hand up to calm Hermione before she opened her mouth to yell at him for that. "BUT… I trust you and if you say you don't need saving, then I will respect that."

Hermione raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Did Ginny put you up to this?"

"Ginny doesn't even know I'm here or that we've been fighting but she's getting suspicious since you've rejected three dinner invites."

"I've been busy," she shrugged, and it wasn't a lie. Hermione never realized until she couldn't rely on her for assistance just how much Sally did in helping her prepare cases for court. The blond witch was getting a custom ordered bracelet and a very large bonus for Christmas.

"I know you have but I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry. Forgive me?" Harry smiled sheepishly. "Please? I'm not above getting on my knees you know…"

Hermione tried really hard to maintain her stone hard face but she just couldn't. Those damnable puppy dog green eyes got her every time and the glare slipped off her face into an exasperated smile. "Alright, Potter… you're forgiven I suppose."

Harry smiled and wrapped his best friend in a large tight hug which Hermione returned in all its fierceness.

"So would you like to join us for dinner tonight?" Harry asked as he stepped back.

"I actually have plans tonight," Hermione smiled apologetically. "But I would love to come tomorrow evening. Is six thirty alright for you and Gin?"

"It's perfect," he returned her smiled. "We'll see you tomorrow then."

Hermione happily accepted the brotherly peak on the cheek before Harry disappeared into the bustling crowds of Diagon Ally. Sally was at her side not long after.

"How'd it go?" she asked nervously.

"Horribly," Hermione sighed. "I like him again."

"Why is that a problem?"

"Because now I have to get him a Christmas gift too. If I was mad at him still I could have just skipped it and saved myself some money."

Sally rolled her eyes, "You are a terrible person, you know that?"

"Yes I do," Hermione laughed out loud and put her arm around Sally. "Come on, I'll buy you a warm butterbeer before I leave."

"Plans tonight then?"

"Yeah, something like that," she smiled as they passed the large glowing window of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. As if on cue George appeared in the front display case with an armful of boxes he clearly intended to stack on top of one another. He immediately caught sight of her and smiled widely. Hermione winked at him shamelessly and nodded when he held up seven fingers before continuing towards the Leakey Cauldron. Life was pretty good right now. She hoped it stayed like that for awhile.

TBC…

A/N: *shyly peeks out from hiding place* Er… hey folks… yeah I know its been awhile… long freaking summer of insane busy, busy, busyness. I hope you don't hate me. Here look! Chapter! Read it! Love it! Then R&R if you don't mind Later!

~Chupip