Chapter 5
Hermione marched back into the Weasley's home with tears staining her shirt. The house was deserted. Ginny and Harry must have still been on their walk, George was no where in sight, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had probably retired to bed.
Normally Hermione wasn't one to cry over a petty little breakup, she'd just read and do homework to forget about the situation. But since the school year hadn't started, she only had Harry's party the next day; to keep her distracted from her problems with Ron. So she cried. Hermione had no idea what she was going to do or how she felt about their break up. Sad. Disgruntled. Angry. Maybe even relieved.
Hermione clambered up the many flights of stairs and laid down on her bed in Ginny's room. She rolled onto her stomach and looked out the window; the moon and stars shone much brighter in the countryside where the Burrow sat all lopsided and cozy. The house was quiet all except for the faint scraping noise of Crookshank's tiny paws. Hermione sniffled and searched for something to read. Or really anything with words.
After finding an old children's book on one of Ginny's shelves, she opened to the middle and began to read. Her eyes skimmed the same jumble of letters for minutes, not even reading the words on the page.
A single tear fell from her cheek. It fell in slow motion, inching nearer and nearer to the book. Finally it splattered against the black ink; seeping into the papyrus fibers and creating a little dome. Her vision was blurred with unshed tears.
Hermione closed the book, knowing nothing would distract her wandering mind, when she heard a small knock on the door.
"Yes?" Her voice was weak, even vulnerable, "Who is there?"
"George," the voice mumbled from the other side of the door.
"Oh, come in."
He walked in and smiled at her. Oh boy this could not be good.
"Can I help you . . . ?" She asked casually hiding the tears that had spilled onto her front.
"If you don't mind me asking, you wouldn't happen to know why Ickle Ronnie is sitting outside by himself mumbling rubbish, would you?" he asked.
"Actually yes, I do know the reason," She grumbled looking down at her pillow.
"May I?" he questioned, motioning to Ginny's bed. She shook her head and he closed the door and took a seat beside her.
"So tell me Hermione," he said pretending to act like a Muggle psychiatrist, and crossing his legs; "What's wrong? Did you and my numpty of a brother split up?"
"Why would you think that?" she said defensively.
"I was just assuming the worst, and judging by the way you two are both moping around, I think I am right."
There was a small silence between them until Hermione broke it and said, "Yes, we did."
"Well I'm quite sorry to hear that, we were all hoping you would rub off on him a bit." He was obviously uncomfortable and looked around the room, not wanting to meet her eyes.
"I—I thought he changed. I'm not even completely sure why. I mean I don't think I said or did anything to lose his affection for me," Hermione said sadly.
"Hermione, Ron will never stop caring for you . . . . But, what's done is done. . . Do you want me to prank him? Just to cheer us both up? Light a fire cracker in his bed? Jinx his broomstick? Give him a Puking Pastille?" George perked up and smiled.
"No it's alright, but why do you need cheering up—" Hermione started before Ginny whipped open the door, looking furious.
"What the bloody hell did my twat of a brother do this time!" Ginny demanded from the doorway.
"You mean Ron?" Hermione asked quietly.
"No Charlie—of course Ron! He's laying on the kitchen table shoving his face with sweets and singing some Muggle song," Ginny said hotly.
"They broke up," George leant over to Ginny and whispered.
The anger drained from Ginny face and she shuffled over to Hermione and put a comforting arm around her shoulder,"I'm sorry Hermione."
"It's alright Gin . . . But why is he upset too? I mean he did break up with me, and not the other way around." Hermione said with a deep frown.
"Oh boy will I kick his arse," Ginny said heading for the door with George in pursuit.
"No wait! I have another idea, instead of physically beating him up," Hermione said. The two siblings turned around, both with the same wicked grin upon their faces.
-•-•-•-•-
Next day (Harry's birthday)
Hermione and Ginny both woke up early to help Mrs. Weasley prepare for Harry's party later that night. Hermione was excited and ready to put her plan for revenge in action, thanks to the help of Ginny and George.
Mrs. Weasley placed some toast in front of the two girls and told them to eat quickly.
Mrs. Weasley placed her hands on the counter and divvied out their chores.
"Hermione would you freshen up the lawn, tend the garden, clean the windows, and then come back to help me inside?" She listed and turned to Ginny, "Will you make sure the shed is properly locked, then plant some new flowers in the front of the house, d-gnome the yard, clean the loo, and then come back to the kitchen as well?"
"Sure mum," Ginny replied heading outside with Hermione, knowing these chores would only take ten minuets due to the fact that magic was at their side.
"Thank you, girls!" Mrs. Weasley cheered quickly pulling out pots, pans, and ingredients to make Harry a spectacular birthday breakfast.
Once outside, Hermione muttered a few spells on the Weasley's rustic lawnmower, enchanting it to cut the the grass quickly and quietly, not wanting to wake up Harry inside. As she walked to the garden, she wondered how they had even gotten a lawnmower, wizards didn't normally have muggle objects nor did they know what their purposes were. She figured that Mr. Weasley had come across one and tried to mend it.
Hermione planted new flowers in the brightly colored garden and even identified some of the wizarding herbs.
She muttered the water incantation and sprayed the various tangles of plants, "Aguamenti."
It was a hot and very sunny July day, perfect for Harry's party to take place. The sky was cloudless and there was just a slight breeze, allowing for a more comfortable atmosphere. Hermione inhaled the sweetness of the exotic flowers and felt relaxed and happy, even forgetting her conversation last night with Ron.
Hermione seemed to have almost finished with her list of jobs, so she went looking for her friend.
She skipped over to Ginny who appeared to be having a fist fight with one of the tiny gnomes.
"Need some help?" Hermione chuckled as she tried to cover up her laughter, and watched Ginny drop kick one of the little guys.
"Could you? That would be fantastic," Ginny said breathing heavily and brushing the hair from her face. She looked like a raging monkey who had had it's banana stolen from it, and was ready to attack.
Together the two girls rid the Weasley's yard of gnomes. Hermione would levitate the gnomes and spin them around to make them dizzy and then fling them into the air. When they would land, the gnomes would clumsily stagger around the yard, and that's where Ginny would kick them back in a bush.
It took them longer than they would have hoped seeing as some of the gnomes would try to run or fight back.
"Great, it looks like we are done," the girls panted.
"Hey, could you levitate me so I can wash the windows," Hermione turned to Ginny with her hands on her hips and her chest heaving.
"Sure thing," Ginny smiled.
"It'd be brilliant if you wouldn't drop me, I'd like to keep all my bones in place for the party," Hermione said skeptically.
"Don't worry," Ginny said rolling her eyes. She swished and flicked her wand at Hermione before she magicked a rag and tossed it up to her. Floating in mid air was harder than it seemed, she wobbled and tried to grab hold of the house for support. She carefully glided to the top windows and sprouted water from her wand to wipe off the grime. She did so until all the windows were squeaky clean and instructed Ginny to bring her back down.
"Alright I think we are done out here, c'mon lets go help your mum in the house," Hermione said as the two walked into the kitchen.
Mr. Weasley and George were now present in the kitchen talking about the putting up something in the yard.
"Oh good, will you girls help us put up the tent," he asked.
"Of course," Hermione replied. They once again headed outside, "Is it the same one from Bill and Fleur's wedding?"
"Yes, I patched it up from the attack and shrunk it just a bit; there won't be as many guests coming." Mr. Weasley said setting down the tent, "Alright George, you go on the left side, Hermione right, Ginny the back, and I'll take care of the front of the tent. Okay on 'three' everyone levitate their side. One! Two! Three!"
All of them slowly raised their wands to stretch out the tent and shoved the nails and poles into the earth.
They all admired their quick handy work and grinned at each other.
Hermione knew without a doubt that the Weasley's were also thinking about how similar this day was to Fleur and Bill's wedding. This time, however, Death Eaters and Snatchers wouldn't roaming the wizarding world, trying to find blood traitors and muggleborns.
"Hey Hermione, mum wanted us to clean inside," Ginny sighed and linked arms with her friend.
"Alright let's go," Hermione said cheerily with George and Mr. Weasley following behind them.
The closer and closer they got to the kitchen, the more they could smell the sweet aromas wafting from the warm air. Sweet syrup, chocolatey muffins, fresh coffee, sour fruits; she could hear the sizzling of bacon, pots and spoons clinking together, and Mrs. Weasley softly humming. Hermione couldn't wait for dinner that night, knowing it would be even more amazing than ever.
"It smells amazing Molly!" Mr. Weasley exclaimed and look at the variety of foods on the table. "Simply amazing dear!" He said squeezing her shoulders lovingly and gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Thank you Arthur," blushed Mrs. Weasley, "It's nothing really," she stated with a causal wave of her hand and turned to her daughter.
"Ginny, will you go wake the boys up please? And warn us when Harry comes down, will you?"
"Of course mum," she said with a wicked grin stretching across her face.
Ginny raced for the stairs but Mrs. Weasley caught her just in time to mention, "Nicely Ginny, wake them nicely"
"Oh alright," she sulked. "You old kill joy. . ." she muttered.
Hermione laughed along side George and Mr. Weasley, knowing that she would be scolded later by her mother.
"Alright," Mrs. Weasley said with a smile tugging at the edge of her lips, "The house is nearly done, so I'll finish it up, which means you lot are free the rest of the day until the guests arrive."
-•-•-•-•-
Ginny walked up the many flights of stairs, but stopped in her room first to get what her friends and family called, 'The Nudge Stick'. She still couldn't believe that they used this to wake her up, and even more so surprised when her mother used the method on her. 'Oh well', she thought, her mum needed to have some fun too, once in a while.
She hid it behind her back until she reached her brother's room which was filled with snores. Obviously Ron's. She tip toed into the room, which was hard to do with the squeaky floor boards underneath her, and quietly whispered a silencing charm on the the walls and floor and on Harry. 'Aw,' she thought, 'Ron looks so peaceful when he sleeps . . . Haha oh well.'
"ROOONNN WAKE UP! You missed breakfast!!" She screamed and whacked him hard with the stick.
"AHHH what the bloody hell Ginny!" Ron cursed and tried to shield his body from his maniac sister.
"Get up and get dressed, your lucky me and Hermione did most of the chores this morning, so you can sit on your arse and shove your face with food all day," she scolded and then turned to Harry and took off the charm.
"Harry, love, time to wake up," Ginny whispered and gently shook her boyfriend's arm.
"What . . . ?" Harry said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and grabbed for his glasses.
"Happy birthday!" Ginny said, hugging Harry and giving him a kiss.
Ron, who still had red marks on his skin from 'The Nudge Stick', trudged to the bathroom to change; and gave his sister a dirty look, "Your unbelievable," he scoffed and looked at Harry, "Happy birthday mate."
Ginny rolled her eyes once again at her brother, and then focused her attention back to Harry, "Can you get dressed and then meet me back downstairs? Mum's got a big surprise for you!"
-•-•-•-•-
Hermione heard a pair of feet stomp down the stairs with quieter ones trailing not far behind. This was Ginny's sign. Harry was coming.
She scurried into the kitchen along with George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and even Percy and Charlie.
They were all poised and ready to shout 'Happy Birthday' and celebrate the rest of the eventful day. Mrs. Weasley who stood at the head of the table, had neatly set Harry's birthday breakfast nicely on the table.
Thump thump thump thump *gasps*
"SURPRISE!"
"Happy Birthday!"
"Happy Birthday Harry!"
"Happy Birthday mate!"
Everyone screamed Happy Birthday, and that's when Harry began to cry.
-•-•-•-•-•-
He just couldn't believe that the Weasley's and Hermione had bothered to thrown him an extravagant birthday party, when he was expecting nothing.
When he lived with the Dursley's he wouldn't even get as much as a, 'How do ya do?' from his own relatives or sometimes, if he was lucky, an old pair of socks as a present.
Even when Harry first met the Weasley's and stayed at their home during the summer holiday, he never wanted them to do or give him anything special. He just wasn't accustomed to it. Harry looked at the exotic breakfast table and the decorations around the house, this all was for him.
Harry knew that it was a little strange to cry in front of them, but he couldn't hold in his happiness and love for the people around him. He finally had a family.
"I—I'm sorry. . . I just don't know what to say. Thank you. . . Thank you everyone," he said as he looked from Mrs. Weasley to the rest of his friends, wiping tears from his face.
"Oh, Harry!" Mrs. Weasley said starting to tear up herself and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you," he sobbed into her shoulder.
Hermione and Ginny then ran up to join the hug, and he pulled them close.
He couldn't be anymore thankful.
They all let go, and Harry gave Ron and Charlie a man hug and Mr. Weasley and Percy a firm hand shake.
"Alright everyone! Let's dig in!" Mrs. Weasley announced.
-•-•-•-•-
After breakfast Hermione and Ginny ventured upstairs for some down time before the party. Ginny was dozing in her bed while Hermione, laying on her bed on the floor, stared at the ceiling.
"Oh my god," Hermione said wide eyed.
"Hmh what's going on?" Ginny said looking around slightly confused.
"We don't have anything to wear for tonight," Hermione stated.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!" The girls both screamed at the realization.
Ginny's bedroom door burst open which revealed Ron and Harry with their wands at the ready.
"What's wrong," Ron said scanning the room for some invisible danger.
"We forgot to buy dresses!" Ginny squealed with a terrified expression on her face.
Harry and Ron gave one look at each other and shut the door, knowing that it would be best not to interfere with the girls wardrobe issues.
"We've got to got to Diagon Alley," Ginny said as a matter of factly.
"How will we get there? Floo network or should we apperate?" Hermione asked. She knew that both would be a quick way of transportation.
"Let's use Floo," Ginny said, scrambling for her purse and flats.
Hermione too, grabbed her things and headed downstairs to use the Floo network.
"Hey mum, Hermione and I are going to Diagon Alley for some last minute shopping, but we'll be back before the guests arrive."
"Alright," she nodded, not taking her eyes off the dirty dishes or processing what her daughter just told her.
"Eh, she won't even realize we are gone," Ginny turned to Hermione and grabbed a handful of the Floo power.
"Let's go" she said wiggling her eyebrows.
Ginny stepped into the fireplace and clearly spoke, "Diagon Alley!"
Whoosh
Tall green flames erupted from no where, licked her body, consuming her entirely, and then . . . she was gone. Now it was Hermione's turn.
She took a great deal of powder into her hand and ducked into the fireplace then said,"Diagon Alley!"
Her body was being lifted up, her insides burned and twisted, her eyes itched and throat felt scratchy, she felt like she was falling and couldn't balance or grab onto anything. Hermione fumbled in mid air and finally landed hard on her stomach.
As she gasped for breath and rubbed, what seemed like sand, out of her eyes; a hand tapped her shoulder and reached down to help her up.
Hermione took it gladly and hauled herself up.
"Ugh, thank—" she said and wiped away the leftover sand lingering on her face, but stopped when she saw the man who had helped her up.
It was none other than the ex Death Eater, Draco Malfoy.