It was a bright Sunday morning and Hermione didn’t want to get out of bed. What was the point? She was not working for Lee Jordan, although she had to tell him that somehow, Ron had not even sent her an owl and Fred... Hermione sighed and faced the window to look outside. It was really sunny but even the sun spilling into her window didn’t make her get up. It only made her want to stay under her covers even more. Under her covers where she could block out the world and everything that didn’t matter… she wished.  

‘Urghhh!’ moaned Hermione as she willed herself to stand up and be productive.

She got to her feet and sat on the bed, clutching her head as if she had a headache. She felt dizzy but her head didn’t hurt which was probably a good thing. Hermione walked over to her window and opened it full so that she heard the... nothing really. She lived in a small street, full of retired pensioners with no children. She was glad that there was no noise. She loved the peacefulness.

She wondered where Harry was since he didn’t come home last night. He must’ve stayed at the Quidditch pitch or went to see Ginny.

Hermione stood by the window and stared at the parchment which lay on her desk. She had no owl so she couldn’t even send Lee Jordan an owl message. Hermione sighed, shoving everything from her mind; she had a long hot shower which helped her relax. She got changed into casual clothes and put her hair up. Somewhere in the back of her mind she heard a voice saying something about hair being so silky and it looked best when it was kept down... Fred’s voice of course. He had been describing the girl he liked. Hermione pushed Fred out of her mind and grabbed her purse and her wand. She had to leave her house or else she’d just climb into bed and sleep. The idea was very appealing. But she had to find Lee Jordan and tell him that she couldn’t work with him... He would ask why and Hermione would have no idea what to say.

‘Improvise,’ muttered Hermione to herself as she apparated.

Hermione landed in Diagon Alley. The shops were beginning to open up again and Hermione managed a smile for the first time that morning. Slowly everything would be coming back to normal like there had been no war. Her mind flipped to George for a fraction of a second and her smile slipped off of her face as easy as soap slips from  hands. She walked down the cobbled street and clutched her coat tightly. She saw Lee Jordan’s shop from where she was and walked over to it. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the shop and was amazed at how lively the place looked. There were a few customers browsing around. Products upon products were stacked to the ceiling and the floor had a bunch of messages on it... or maybe jokes. Hermione didn’t stop to read them. She continued to the cash register where a man was selling objects to two giggling girls who probably attended Hogwarts.

‘Next please,’ said the man and Hermione walked forward to the smiling man.

‘Hi, I'm looking for Lee Jordan. Is he here?’ asked Hermione looking hopefully to the door behind him which was a whole length mirror.

‘You’re Hermione Granger!’ the man who was as old as Hermione exclaimed and immediately shook her hand as if he had met a celebrity, ‘Where is your friend, Harry and your boyfriend, Ron?’

Hermione coughed and took her hand back. She guessed she would have to be used to this although she hated publicity. She was not a celebrity. She didn’t want to be treated like one. She didn’t want people to know her name. She wanted a private life not a public one where people ask for autographs. Autographs for what? She would ask and they would answer, for defeating the dark lord of course. Yes, people were still afraid to say Voldemort’s name. Hermione sighed and tried to calm herself. It wouldn’t help anyone if she started shouting at people just for shaking her hand.

‘Is Lee back there or should I come another time?’ asked Hermione, wishing he would stop staring at her like she was a hero of some kind. If she had it like this she didn’t want to think how Harry felt.

‘Can I get an autograph, please? My girlfriend would love one from Harry Potter of course but since he isn’t here...’ The man took Hermione’s hand again and pulled her closer, ‘You’ll do. Will you give me an autograph?’

‘I just want to talk to Lee,’ Hermione said and ripped her hand from the man. She went to the door behind him and he stared at her as she opened it.

The door led downstairs and Hermione, feeling quite angry, went down the stairs banging the door shut behind her. Suddenly the noises from the store were blocked out as the door shut but she could hear people conversing down the stairs. She went downstairs and came to a room where the walls were a dull red and there were two sofa’s, posters of Quidditch and a drinks machine. Hermione noticed the tall leaning from of Lee Jordan. His jet black hair hung by his face and he seemed like he was also smiling. Beside him was someone else. Hermione nearly turned back and went up the stairs as she recognised Fred. He wasn’t looking to her since he was talking to Lee Jordan.

‘Hermione?’ Le exclaimed and came over to her. He hugged her and Hermione avoided the piercing gaze of Fred, ‘How are you?’

‘I’m fine, Lee, how are you?’ asked Hermione with a smile on her face since Lee’s smile was basically contagious.

‘That’s great! I’m doing well. Fred said you were going to work with me?’ asked Lee, turning to Fred.

Fred stared at Hermione for the longest time before turning to the drinks machine. In other words, he turned his back on her. Hermione frowned at him and Lee’s smile slipped off of his face. He opened his mouth to say something but Hermione coughed and spoke.

‘I’m sorry, Lee; I can’t work for you... I just...’ Hermione trailed off. She had absolutely no reason not to work for Lee but she just knew that she didn’t want to.

Lee shook his head and gave her his winning smile, ‘Of course, Hermione, I get it. You don’t have to work for me.’

‘Thanks Lee... well, I’ll be going then,’ muttered Hermione.

‘No, no you don’t have to go. Take a seat,’ Lee gestured to his incredibly soft looking sofa’s but Hermione glanced at Fred, who seemed to be holding his drink tightly since his hands were white against the glass.

‘I should go. I’ll see you soon,’ muttered Hermione and hugged Lee. She loved that Lee was so nice and thoughtful as well. Hermione cleared her throat awkwardly and Lee gave her a look which she couldn’t comprehend or probably didn’t want to.

Hermione climbed the stairs and opened the door to the shop. The man behind the register tried to get her attention but Hermione quickly walked out of the shop. People whispered as she walked past but Hermione ignored them. She walked down the road until she got to the Owl shop. She would benefit from getting an owl. Hermione walked into the shop and browsed the owls around her. The shop keeper said a quick hello to her and she returned it, glad that she wasn’t asking for autographs. The shop was really quiet since the animals were sleeping. One particular owl caught Hermione’s eye and it made her smile. She stroked its beautiful orange wings and stroked its stunning white head. It was absolutely breath taking. It opened one eye and looked at her. Seemingly, stared up into her eyes as if trying to communicate somehow and she seemed to be getting lost in its sea blue eyes which looked very much like... Hermione smiled again, not finishing her previous thought, and patted its head. It seemed to relax into her touch as the shop keeper looked over to them.

‘His name is George,’ said the shop keeper, ‘I think he like’s you. We only got him a couple of day’s ago. He is completely and utterly gorgeous.’

Hermione turned to the shop keeper as she said the word George. She must’ve misheard but she knew she hadn’t. The owl’s name was George! She felt her heart grow heavy and felt her eyes prick slightly. Soon the shop keeper was patting her back as Hermione cried her eyes out. The shop keeper looked bewildered but Hermione smiled at the lovely owl.

‘George,’ whispered Hermione as she stopped crying, her heart reached out for the owl and she knew she had to buy it, ‘How much is he?’

‘Dear, I'm sure you’ll take very good care of him. He is actually twenty galleons,’ the shop keeper smiled at the disappointment on Hermione’s face, ‘but I’ll give you him for ten galleons.’

Hermione smiled and rummaged in her purse for ten galleons. She handed the money over and the shopkeeper smiled and put George into a cage. Hermione took him and grinned at the shopkeeper feeling like she was only there to make Hermione happy.

‘Thank you so much,’ muttered Hermione.

‘No worries, dear, bye,’ the shopkeeper waved.

Hermione apparated home with a permanent smile on her face. She went into her room and placed George next to her desk. He seemed to fit perfectly with her room. Hermione gave him water and food, her smile was still in place.

‘Why didn’t you take the job?’ asked a voice that sounded so much like George.

Hermione’s smile faded as she looked up to the owl. Did it just speak or is she losing her mind? She frowned as he spoke again.

‘Turn around!’

Hermione turned and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Fred. She wasn’t losing her mind then. Hermione gave a breathy and shaky laugh and then her frown came upon her face as she glared at Fred who scowled at her.

‘Can’t you knock?’ asked Hermione angrily.

Fred knocked on her bedroom door and Hermione rolled her eyes. He walked in and stood in front of her. Hermione had an urge to push him back but she glared up at him. They glared at each other for a while and then Fred sighed.

‘Why didn’t you take the job?’ asked Fred again.

‘Because I didn’t want to. It’s none of your business what I do and don’t do,’ retorted Hermione, blowing a stray hair from her face.

Fred sighed and looked to the side, where George the owl was. Fred frowned as he examined the owl with his eyes and Hermione held her breath. Fred walked over to it and slowly bent so they were looking eye to eye. Slowly, bit by bit, Fred stroked the owl’s head and a tear ran down his face as the owl closed its eyes and made an owl sound that was close to happiness. Tears streamed down his face as he mouthed the name ‘George.’ Fred stood up suddenly and, before turning to Hermione, he wiped the tears from his face. Hermione sighed and stroked the owl as Fred stared at her. Both of them didn’t know what to say so silence passed between them as Fred tried not to cry as the owl made the sounds of happiness again.

‘What...’ Fred whispered but couldn’t talk as his throat wouldn’t let him.

‘I found him at the owl shop in Diagon Alley,’ Hermione turned to Fred and whispered, ‘she said his name was George.’

Fred looked stunned at this news and he frowned, ‘That’s impossible.’

Hermione shrugged and Fred quickly turned and walked to her door. He went down the stairs and Hermione, after a quick glance at owl George, went after him and found Fred in the kitchen, drinking some water. Hermione sat on the counter beside him and he moved away from her to stand opposite her.

‘Where are you going to work?’ asked Fred, for some reason he sounded angry.

‘Why do you care?’ asked Hermione, swinging her legs.

‘Hermione... where are you going to work?’ asked Fred again and enunciated each word with a pause.

‘I don’t know,’ shrugged Hermione.

‘Work in the ministry,’ suggested Fred.

‘I’ll find work somewhere,’ shrugged Hermione again.

‘Mia... I mean, Hermione, you can’t not work. You need the money so if you are really desperate I’ll let you work for me,’ said Fred, although Hermione knew he didn’t mean it.

‘Forget it, Fred. I’ll find work since you obviously don’t care about me. You have already made that clear enough so don’t try and take it back. Fred, just-’ Hermione was cut off.

‘Hermione, for Merlin’s sake, shut up and try to understand!’ shouted Fred and refrained from slamming the glass down onto the counter. He put the glass down and came over to Hermione, standing in front of her, face to face he said, ‘I do care about you. More than Ron and you know that. I want you to find work somewhere else since you love Ron and he doesn’t want us to be... friends... Hermione, I’m not going to do that to my brother.’

‘Why are you here? If we are not supposed to be friends then that doesn’t mean you can just waltz into my house like this!’ shouted Hermione and got down off of the counter. She pushed Fred aside and walked to the door. Opening the door she said, ‘Get out, Fred.’

‘Hermione, you don’t understand-’

‘I understand perfectly!’ yelled Hermione and went up to I'm and got in his face, ‘Fred, I wanted to help you and I relied on you to help me with work and grievance and... You just left. So just get out!’

‘I don’t want to leave you here alone,’ whispered Fred and his thumb brushed lightly against Hermione’s now pink cheek.

‘Fred, just leave or else I’ll leave,’ muttered Hermione trying not to give in.

Fred scowled at Hermione and sighed, ‘You’ll never understand what I'm trying to say!’

Fred left the house and Hermione stared after him. He was right. She didn’t understand him at all although she never understood the Weasley boy’s. Hermione looked up as someone entered the house but it wasn’t Fred... It was Harry. He pointed behind him and spoke,

‘Is that Fred who just left?’ asked Harry in a tired tone.

‘Yes, where have you been?’ asked Hermione, aware that she sounded like Mrs Weasley.

‘I stayed over at the Weasley’s. Thought you could use some privacy... Mrs Weasley’s invited you for dinner tomorrow,’ stated Harry and he rummaged in his cloak pocket and pulled out a piece of parchment, ‘That’s from Viktor Krum. He gave it to me when we were leaving.’

Hermione’s heart jumped and bounced against her chest as she took the parchment and tried not to let it show on her face. She wondered what it would say and wanted to open it straight away but refrained as Harry was watching her intently. Hermione shrugged nonchalantly and pocketed the parchment to Harry’s surprise although he didn’t say anything.

Harry and Hermione moved over to the living room and watched TV. Hermione told Harry about George the owl and how she got him for ten galleons. Harry was really surprised and went up to see him. He came back downstairs and seemed speechless just like Fred.

‘Wow...’ said Harry as he got his voice back, ‘Did Fred see him too?’

Hermione pursed her lip and nodded. She didn’t ant to talk or think about Fred and Harry got the point as he shut up. They watched an advert for chocolate in silence and Harry finally spoke up.

‘Ron really loves you, you know,’ he muttered and Hermione looked at him surprised, ‘You may think he doesn’t care about you or bosses you around but really he loves you... Do you love him?’

Hermione didn’t say anything for the longest time. The truth was... she didn’t know if she loved Ron or not but Harry only shrugged and let the silence continue. They watched TV and Hermione barely heard it as her mind drifted of to Fred and Ron. She discreetly took out the parchment and opened it up as she thought of Viktor. It read;

Dear Hermione,

                        Where were you? I was waiting and you did not show up. I was very excited to talk to you about everything. I realise that you had a fight with that... Ron... I think that is his name? He looked very sad and did not want to talk to anyone at the party. Are you alright? Please come and see me on Tuesday night at Diagon Alley? We can have a drink and talk and it will be wonderful...If you are busy send me an owl and we will fix up another date. You still look as beautiful as you did in fourth year.

Love, VK

Hermione blushed at the last sentence and pocketed the letter again as she fixed her eyes on the television. She couldn’t wait to see Viktor...