Just a Wizard

Chapter Nineteen

Later the next week Hermione got a call from Remus, telling her they were in town with the company and that they would be coming to see them.

"I've missed you all," she said, smiling as Ron walked up to her and put his arms around her waist, bending to rest his head on her shoulder.

"Well, we've missed you too, Ninny, which is why we're coming to check on you, make sure that big moron is taking care of you!"

Ron heard the words as his head was near the phone and he frowned. "Maybe I don't want your ugly old arse at my house," he snarled into the phone and Hermione slapped him.

"Tell him he hasn't got a choice," Remus told her, laughing. "Anyway, I heard tell that he's having a barbecue, but I haven't received my invitation yet!"

Ron rolled his eyes and grabbed the phone out of her hand. "Of course you're invited, you're Hermione's family. I checked with Carter and he said the only day you're all free is Wednesday."

"Yeah, that's right. The whole group have a day off then. Oh, by the way, I've put you in to do security for an autograph signing, since we're in your home town and all," Remus said, and Ron could hear the smile in his voice.

"I'm supposed to be on vacation," he protested, giving Hermione a disgusted look that made her laugh.

"Hey, it's only one day, and you're getting paid. Besides, you can't let those fellow Canons fans down, now can you? If you're not there, the signing gets cancelled." Remus pointed out.

"I guess not. What day?"

"Monday at ten Am. Be there early. So when's the barbecue then?"

"Well, since you're all free on Wednesday, then that's the day to have it isn't it?" Ron asked him sarcastically and got a laugh in return. "I thought maybe about noon, that way everyone will be hungry."

"Great. Shall I tell the others?"

"Yeah. Mind you, Harry is coming over this weekend, so you don't have to tell him. Plus Daphne's coming to stay too, for a week I think she said. Anyhow, in the mean time, how about you come over for dinner tonight, unless you have plans?"

"That would be good, we don't have any other plans. Thanks, Ron. I'll see you later?"

Ron finished the call and then picked Hermione up ran up the stairs with her, ignoring her shriek of laughter and the slaps she was giving him. He dropped her on the bed and started stripping his shirt off.

"What are you doing?" she asked through a fit of the giggles.

"Remus and Emmeline are coming to dinner soon, so we don't have much time," he said, pulling off the last item of clothing and leaping on the bed.

"It's only eleven am!" she said, trying and failing to stop his hands from removing her clothes.

"Yeah, so we only have a few hours!" he told her frantically, laughing finally as he wrestled her down on the bed and went about shutting her up.

Remus and Emmeline came to dinner that night at six, Remus grabbing Hermione and hugging her as soon as she opened the door. When he released her he looked at her face and then raised his eyebrow, his eyes going to Ron and looking at him knowingly. "Well, I guess she looks okay. I assume you've been taking good care of her?"

"The best," he grinned, sliding an arm around her waist and drawing her back into the house, the other couple following.

Emmeline gave Hermione a hug, and then hugged Ron too, getting a sheepish smile from the big man. "So, what are we having? Something smells good!" she asked, poking her head around doors until she reached the kitchen.

"Nothing too fancy, I'm afraid," Hermione said, walking into the room with her and checking the oven. "Just a roast."

"I love roast, and so does Remus, as you well know. Do you need any help?" the older woman asked.

"No, thanks. It's all doing okay by the looks of it. How about a drink?" she asked, getting some pumpkin wine out of the fridge and pouring a couple of glasses, handing one to each of her surrogate parents.

They all sat down and talked about what had been happening with various contracts since Ron had been away, and Hermione was surprised at how much went on in a two-week period. She was relaxed and happy as they all ate dinner, and she realised that she felt like this was her home now. Her eyes went to Ron and found him looking back at her, a smile curving his lips and his eyebrows arching as he held his hand out. Hermione took it and he squeezed her fingers, his eyes so loving that Remus had no doubts in his mind about the big man's feelings for his new daughter.

"So, when's Harry coming here?" Remus asked, making Ron come out of his trance.

"Oh, er, this weekend. Probably tomorrow night if I know Harry, he hates wasting time," he said, shaking his head.

"True," Remus replied. "He isn't due here until Monday, or at least he isn't due back at work. Carter and him were going to travel together, as far as I knew. Is Carter staying too?"

"No, he and Tabitha want some time alone, so he'll be staying at the hotel. I did offer though. Like I said, Daffy's coming to stay," Ron said, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth that made Hermione look at him suspiciously.

"Why do you look like you're planning something?" she asked him, her eyes narrowing as he grinned.

"Me? Planning something?" he asked, trying to look innocent.

"Yes, you!" she said, giggling as he put on a sorrowful expression.

"You'll just have to wait and see won't you?" he said, grinning and flicking her nose with his finger. He knew she hated waiting for things, especially if she knew it was a secret. But this was one thing she wouldn't be getting out of him.

He believed that right up until later that night when Remus and Emmeline had left and they were laying in bed. She had teased him almost beyond endurance and he had finally managed to pin her down long enough to thrust inside her, his body going wild and his mind following suit until he lay next to her in a daze, trying to regain his breath.

"Tell me what you've got planned," she murmured, running her hand down his chest and nuzzling his neck. "Or I won't ever do that again!"

He groaned at that thought and clutched his chest theatrically. "You wound me!"

Hermione laughed and elbowed his ribs, laying herself over him and sighing contentedly. "You big fake. Come on, tell me."

"Okay, okay. Daphne told me she would be staying after the barbecue, so I invited Neville to stay."

"Neville?" she asked, raising her head to look at him.

"Mmm-hmm. I thought it might give them the push they both need. What do you think?"

"I think you're devious," she said softly, tracing his features with her fingertips and then kissing his lips. "And a really nice man."

"Like I told you before, I'm not that nice. But I don't mind you saying so every now and then." He bit her fingertip and smiled. "You could also say how sexy I am if you like."

"I guess I could," she murmured, then rolled onto her side and curled up with her back to him, staying silent.

"Hey!" he said, nudging her back. "You didn't say it."

"Well, I wouldn't want to lie, now would I?" she said, a giggle escaping her throat as she felt his hands grab her and roll her over.

"Oh you'll pay for that," he growled, bending and covering her mouth with his.

"I was hoping you'd say that," she breathed as he nuzzled her neck, giving herself over to sensation again.

The next evening Ron was out in his garage working on one of his bikes and Ginny had come to visit. She and Hermione were sitting in the kitchen having a cup of tea and chatting about various topics. Hermione was pleased to find she still had a lot in common with the other girl, and she knew they would be fast friends once again. She heard a car pulling up outside and frowned, remembering that Harry would be arriving this evening.

"Who's that?" Ginny asked as Hermione went to look out of the window.

"I think it's Harry, he's supposed to be staying here... yes, that's him," she said, smiling as she saw the dark haired man unfold himself from the driver's seat of a huge truck

.

"Harry Potter?" Ginny asked quietly, coming to stand behind Hermione so she could look for herself. "Oh no."

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, turning round to see the other girl's worried face.

"He doesn't like me," she murmured, watching out of the window as Ron came out of the garage to greet his friend, wiping his hands on a rag before shaking the other man's hand.

"What? Why on earth not?" Hermione asked.

"Well... We had a falling out some time back, and to make matters worse I got drunk last time he was here. It was the first time I'd ever really had alcohol and, well, I managed to knock him into the barbecue. It almost set light to his trousers and he was furious! And now he thinks I did it on purpose," she said, grimacing.

"What did he do?"

"He picked me up and threw me in the lake," she said, her brows creasing in a frown as she thought back to that day. "He said it would sober me up. I really don't like him at all anymore. Far cry from the girl-with-the-crush, huh?"

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that, because he's staying for some time and he'll be at the barbecue too. I hope you can get on now?" Hermione asked her, biting her lip as she worried about what would happen.

Ginny saw her expression and sighed. "I'll try, but he might not," she said, wondering if she should go home now before he came in the house, but when the door opened a second later, she knew she was too late.

"Hermione!" Harry said, lifting her off her feet in a hug and ignoring the glower Ron gave him. He loved that his friend was jealous. "How have you been?" he asked, putting her down and grinning. Hermione couldn't help grinning back, something about his smile always made her feel like giggling.

"I've been really good, thanks. How about you?"

"Not bad, not bad. Of course, I've had a lot of work to do over the last coupl..." he broke off as he caught sight of Ginny, his face instantly freezing. "What the ruddy hell is she doing here?"

Hermione gaped at him, shocked by the sudden change from smiling, friendly man to avenging ogre. He looked furious.

"She's come to visit me," Hermione told him, casting a worried look at Ginny and seeing the other girl looking red-faced and uncomfortable. "She's my friend."

"Really?" he drawled, pulling himself up to his full height and folding his arms over his chest, his eyes glaring at the young woman. "I hope you haven't done something stupid like inviting her to the barbecue? She'll probably try and set fire to you if she's here!"

"I told you before, I didn't do it on purpose..." Ginny said heatedly, but his glare made her stop speaking.

"You were disgustingly drunk and you had no control over yourself, which doesn't come as much of a surprise!" he snapped, his hands going to his hips as he bent slightly to thrust his face antagonistically towards her. "You're lucky I didn't hold your head under the water!"

Ginny's mouth fell open and she swung her hand up, slapping his face as hard as she could. Harry was so caught of guard by her actions that he didn't even retaliate, and she covered her mouth with both hands before pushing her way past them all and running off up the road towards her own house.

Hermione was staring wide-eyed at the whole scene, and Ron pulled her against him, one arm draped over her shoulders. "Don't worry about it, they're always like this."

"Always? For how long, they used to get on so well?"

"When she was a kid, yes, it was cute, but now... well she hasn't grown up at all!" Harry bellowed out of the door, coming out of his stupor and rubbing his face where she had hit him. "Merlin's balls, when I get my hands on her..!"

"Oh dear, oh dear," Hermione murmured, chewing her lip and looking worried again. "What about the barbecue? We've invited them and I don't want to exclude her..."

"You won't have to. Harry here will behave himself, won't you?" he asked the dark man, giving him a hard look.

"She just hit me, she'll be paying for that," he answered.

"Not at the barbecue though," Ron said firmly, and Harry relented, nodding his head.

"Okay, I'll try and stay out of her way, I suppose, but if she throws anything at me or spills anything on me, I'll throw her in the lake again. And this time I'll tie a concrete block to her foot!" he snapped, leaving the house and walking to his truck to get his bags.

"Wow, he really doesn't like her does he?" Hermione breathed when Harry was out of earshot, and Ron laughed.

"Don't be too sure. Things aren't always as they appear."

"You mean he does like her?" she asked, confused. Ron just laughed again and hugged her, bending his head to whisper in her ear.

"We've got company for the next couple of weeks, unfortunately, otherwise I'd have you upstairs right now," he said, giving her a heated look that spoke volumes. "Mind you, right about now the floor would be okay by me."

"You can't want to do it again, we only just did that this morning... twice!" she said in a hushed voice, risking a glance out the door to where Harry was unloading his bags.

Ron smiled slowly and bent to kiss her, putting all his passion for her in the kiss until she was clinging to him and gasping for breath.

"Now tell me you don't want to do it again," he asked quietly, chuckling when she glared at him.

"That wasn't fair," she muttered, trying to cool her hot cheeks down as Harry walked back in.

"What wasn't fair?" Harry asked, glancing curiously at her red face and then smiling wickedly at Ron. "What did you do to her?"

"Just taught her the meaning of frustration," Ron said, widening his eyes and laughing when Hermione went to punch him. "Hey, stop attacking me!" he yelled, yelping comically when one of her fists connected with his backside. He tried to grab her but she dodged around him and punched him again, giggling as he attempted to avoid her fists.

"Need a hand, mate?" Harry asked, twisting his lips thoughtfully as he watched his big friend being beaten by a tiny little witch.

"No, I damn well don't!" Ron growled, unable to help laughing again when Hermione pinched his backside this time. He spun the opposite way to what she had expected and grabbed her, hauling her up and over his shoulder and slapping her bottom. "Make yourself at home Harry, I'll just put her in the kitchen where she belongs!"

Harry laughed as he watched them disappear into the back of the house, pleased to see Ron so at ease. The iceman had fallen, he mused, and it was quite a sight to see. He shook his head and picked his bags up again, carrying them up the stairs and stashing them in the room he had used last time he was here. Apart from that damn nuisance girl hanging around, he was determined to enjoy this stay, even if he had to bury her up to her neck in one of the fields.

Harry watched Hermione and Ron interact over the next couple of days and was slightly amazed at how much more relaxed Ron seemed to be. He had never been like that with Lavender, not that that was so remarkable, but he had obviously never really been himself. Now he laughed more and smiled more than Harry had ever seen since Hermione had left them, and he wasn't the only one who noticed. Carter came to visit on the Sunday and brought Tabitha with him, and the two girls went off to make something to eat while the men sprawled in the television room and watched a Quidditch match on the WVN, shouting at the magical screen every now and then.

Hermione laughed as she heard them bellowing and looked at Tabitha, raising her eyebrows. "Only men would be stupid enough to shout at an inanimate object, right?"

"You got that right," the other girl said, starting to peel the vegetables Hermione had put on the work surface. "Actually, I've done my fair share of shouting at the telly, especially when there's a good match on, so maybe that's a bit unfair!"

Hermione laughed and shook her head. "Okay, you've got me there, I've shouted at it too! So," she asked, looking across at the blonde girl, "how are you and Carter getting along?"

"Really well," she said, smiling with pure happiness. "He's been so romantic, and protective, and....oh, I don't know. He's just lovely. I guess people would never think that to look at him, but he's a big softie really."

"I know what you mean. Ron's the same," Hermione murmured, her eyes briefly flicking to the doorway and then back again. "Er... have you and Carter... you know, er, slept together yet?"

Tabitha went red and then laughed when she saw that Hermione was much the same colour. "Yes, we have. I guess I don't have to ask you the same question?"

Hermione grinned and shook her head. "No, you don't. I thought somehow I'd feel even more shy all the time, but I don't."

"I know, I thought the same thing. I'm definitely more confident around Carter," Tabitha said as she put a pile of chopped carrots in a pan, and then started on a cauliflower.

"I know what you mean, I think. I can talk to him better, and if I want a kiss, I just go ahead and take one!" she laughed as she thought of Ron's face every time she initiated a kiss. "He always seems shocked when I do that!"

"He's happier than I've ever seen him," the other girl said, smiling. "He used to walk around looking morose, and I can't remember seeing a smile on his face. He looks totally different now, and that's down to you. You must be good for him."

"He's good for me too. I really love him, you know?"

"Yeah, it's pretty obvious how you feel about each other," she said, then turned her head when there was a knock on the back door, and it opened to reveal Ginny standing there.

She smiled at Hermione and cast a worried look around. "Sorry to burst in. I just thought I'd come and say hi, but I didn't realise you had company," the other girl said, looking uncomfortable.

"That's okay," Hermione said, not in the least bit bothered by the other girl just popping round, and she gestured for her to come in. "We're just, making something to eat, you're very welcome to join us. This is Tabitha, a friend of mine from the company, we both work in surveillance. Tabitha, this is Ginevra, Charlie, and Ron's ickle sister."

"Pleased to meet you, Ginevra," Tabitha said, smiling and shaking the girl's hand.

"Ugh, don't call me that. Everyone calls me Ginny. And it's nice to meet you too, Hermione's talked about you," she said, perching on another stool. "Can I help at all?"

"No, we've got it all under control now. I'm just doing a casserole, so it'll take a while until it's ready," Hermione said, dumping the rest of the vegetables in the big pan and then starting to put everything together to throw in the oven.

"Is... er, he here?"

Tabitha raised her eyebrows. "Who's he?"

"The raven haired, green eyed ogre," Ginny said, grimacing.

Hermione laughed. "Yes, he's watching a match with the others."

"Hmm. Maybe I shouldn't stay."

"What's going on?" Tabitha asked, looking eager to hear any gossip. Hermione laughed and told her what had happened the day Harry had arrived, and Ginny filled her in on what had happened before that. "I thought Harry was so mild mannered!"

"He is with anyone else but me, or that's how it seems anyway," Ginny said, shrugging.

"Well, if you're going to stay, you should play him at his own game," Tabitha told her, grinning.

"How's that?" Ginny asked, confused.

"What's the one thing he expects out of you when he sees you? For you to argue with him, right? So ignore him instead, he'll probably hate that."

Ginny smiled and then giggled. "You're right, I always rise to the bait when he says horrible things to me. Okay, I'll stay."

"Good. This should be interesting!" Hermione said. "Come on, let's get them lot a butterbeer and we'll go and sit with them, shall we?"

Hermione and Tabitha both found it hard to hide their laughter when Harry saw Ginny walk in the room. His hair almost stood on end with rage and he glared at her through narrowed eyes. Ginny did as they'd planned and completely ignored him, apart from handing him a butterbeer, which he took and stared at as though it was poisoned. She went and sat on the opposite side of the room and said hello to Ron and Carter, having already met him before.

Ron pulled Hermione down onto his lap and raised his eyebrows. "Something going on?" he asked quietly, nodding towards Harry who was still glaring at the other girl.

"No," she said innocently, leaning against him and smiling when his arms closed tightly around her.

"Hmm, why don't I believe you?" he murmured, grinning at her when she flushed guiltily.

"Ginny's staying for dinner, that's all," she said, her voice loud enough for Harry to hear.

"What?" the other man said, his voice so loud that everyone turned to look at him. He cleared his throat and sank back against the sofa, turning his attention to the Quidditch match and trying to ignore the amused glances he was getting from his friends.

It was a tense atmosphere in the room for the next couple of hours, and it was a relief when Hermione finally got up and announced that dinner should be cooked, so they could all go to the dining room. Harry was the first to leave the room and Ginny gave a triumphant smile as she watched him stomp off to the other room. She made sure she seated herself next to him, hoping she could take anything he dished out. Any insults he heaped on her head would be worth it just to see him feeling so uncomfortable.

Harry shot Hermione a look as she put dinner on the table and he decided he couldn't act on what he was feeling. What he really wanted to do was push Ginny's head in the huge casserole, but he bottled up his anger and remained polite and cordial throughout the meal, finding it easier to ignore her.

Ron smiled, knowing what the other man was doing. They were alike in some ways and this was exactly the way he would react in this situation. Harry looked up and caught the smile, shooting Ron a deadly look and then finding himself looking next to him at Ginny. It was unfortunate that Ginny had chosen that moment to look at him, too, and she gave him a sweet smile, narrowing her eyes. The look almost made him explode with rage and he gripped the edge of the table so hard he nearly snapped it off. What was it about her that made him lose control so easily, he wondered, hurriedly looking away.

Ginny watched his jaw clench and turned her gaze from him, frowning. Maybe she should leave well enough alone, she thought, because it was bad enough when he just got a bit angry. Merlin only knew what he would do if really lost his temper. She stayed silent for the rest of the meal, only talking when someone spoke directly to her, and only quietly. She didn't want to draw attention to herself anymore. After what seemed a decent amount of time had passed she made her excuses and got up from the table, thanking Hermione and Ron for the meal.

Hermione walked her out. "Harry seemed very tense. Looks like giving him the silent treatment worked," she said, smiling at the other girl as they reached the front door.

"I know, but maybe it worked too well. He'll just be even nastier at the barbecue now," she said, looking unsure of herself. "Perhaps I should just stay at home where he can't get me."

"No! Don't do that. I haven't got many female friends, only Tabitha really. I'd like us to be friends again too," Hermione said.

"I think we will be," the other girl said and gave a genuine smile.

"I tell you what, how would you like to come round tomorrow morning for tea and chat? Ron's got to work, so the company would be nice. Don't worry," she said quickly when she saw the other girl frown hesitantly, "Harry's going to be at work too!"

Ginny relaxed instantly. "Then yes, I'd love to. I'll come round after breakfast, if that's okay?"

"That's fine. See you then," Hermione said, watching the other girl walk off and give a wave before she closed the door. She always really liked her and she thought it would be nice to have a friend close by while she was staying here, because Tabitha would be gone soon and Daphne was only staying a week.

Harry walked out of the dining room, looking towards the door and narrowing his eyes. "Is she gone?"

"Yeah," Hermione said, walking past him. "Nice of you to make her feel so welcome though," she murmured, tongue in cheek.

He glowered, looking bad tempered and sulky. "She should have stayed away if she didn't like my company."

"She came here to see me, not you. Harry, you will be nice at the barbecue won't you?" she asked worriedly and he looked down at her, rolling his eyes.

"Okay, I'll be nice, for you," he said, giving her a cheeky grin that made her laugh. "If she does anything stupid though, I can't make any promises about my reaction, okay?"

Hermione nodded. "Okay, fair enough, but she won't."

"We'll see," Harry said under his breath as she walked away.

The next morning Ginny knocked on the back door just after 8.30, and Hermione let her in, handing her a cup of tea she had already been pouring out.

"You're early!"

"Yeah, I know, but I've been up since seven, and I hate waiting around. Have... er... have they gone yet?" she asked, not having seen the driveway, so she didn't know whether Harry's truck was there or not.

Hermione shook her head. "Not yet. They're just getting ready."

"But they'll be gone soon, right?" she asked again, glancing towards the door as if Harry was going to appear there any second.

"Yes, they will, don't panic!"

"Sorry. So, what did you want to do today? I thought if it's okay with you, we could go shopping? I really need to get something more feminine to wear to your barbecue," Ginny said, looking faintly excited about a possible shopping trip.

"Yes, I'd like that. I haven't been to the shops here, so it'll be nice to find my way around," Hermione said, pleased to have something to do while Ron was out.

As soon as she'd said those words the two big men walked into the kitchen, Ron bending to lift Hermione in a hug, and Harry sending Ginny a glare. She lifted her chin and glared right back, wondering if she had a death wish, because he instantly took a step towards her, checking himself with a self control she didn't think she would have been able to manage.

Ron dropped a kiss on Hermione's lips, lingering for a few seconds and then kissing his way down her neck to bite her shoulder with a growl. She giggled and tried pushing his head away from her, managing it with some difficulty and smiling into his crystal clear blue eyes.

"It's a shame you have to work," Hermione murmured, stroking her fingers through his hair as he carried her to the front door.

"I'll only be gone a few hours," he pointed out, rubbing his cheek on hers. "Use the time to explore the place okay?"

"Okay. I thought I might go shopping with Ginny..."

"Hell, no you don't!" he said quickly, staring at her with rapidly narrowing eyes.

"Why not?" she asked, curious.

"You don't know where you're going and if you apparate, you'll splinch yourself, surely. And, you're not taking a cab, that's why. Ginny hasn't got a car, and it's too dangerous for women on their own, and I haven't got time right now to take you myself. Wait until I get back and we can go together," he said.

"Ron, women takes cabs all the time..." she began, but he cut her off again.

"Yeah, maybe they do, but you're special, Ninny, and I'm not taking any chances with you. I've done enough of that. Surely you can wait a few hours?"

Hermione looked at him and bit her lip. She had really wanted to go and get some more steak for him, knowing it was his favourite food. He saw her indecision and the way she hesitated to answer him, but still waited.

"Okay, I'll wait," she said, nodding her head.

Ron's eyes missed very little and he cocked his head. "Tell me you're going to stay right here," he demanded.

"I will," she agreed readily, raising her eyebrows.

"Okay. One thing though," he said, suddenly looking deadly serious. "I don't want you going out there on your own, and I know good and well that Remus wouldn't want you to either. So you are going to stay here, no arguments. And I don't expect you to disobey me on this, okay?"

"Obey..." she started, feeling her temper flare. Then looked at his serious expression. "fine," she said heatedly, folding her arms over her chest as best she could. Now was not the time to start an argument.

"Promise me that you will not take a cab anywhere," he continued, not trusting her.

Surely he couldn't read her mind could he? She carefully plastered an innocent expression on her face, or as close to one as she could manage.

"I promise."

He nodded, seemingly satisfied. He gave her a quick kiss and lowered her to the floor. "Right, we'd better go." He gestured for Harry and the other man walked over to them, shooting another dirty look behind him at Ginny. "I'll call you in a while, to make sure everything's all right. You can answer the floo-phone, it'll only be me or Remus, maybe Carter or Harry. See you later love," he said, winking at her and walking out of the house. She watched out of the window as the two men went straight into the garage, leaving Harry's truck in the driveway.

Ginny came up behind Hermione and she turned away from the window, smiling. She waited until she heard the sound of an engine and then went upstairs to get ready for her shopping trip, telling Ginny she wouldn't be a second. It was only a small fib, she told herself, and what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Mind you, her mind helpfully supplied, he'll know when he sees what you've got for dinner. Ah, but he'll be so pleased with it that he'll forget that I went against what he told me to do, she reasoned and happily got herself ready.

A few minutes later she was standing in the hallway, ready to go. Ginny grinned at her. "I haven't been shopping for ages, I'm looking forward to this. Are we apparating?"

Hermione bit her lip and gave a groan. "I haven't been to town yet, and have no clue where to go. Is there a floo somewhere we could use?"

"Only at the Quidditch Stadium, and that's where Ron is. We could call a cab..."

"Bollocks! I promised Ron I wouldn't take a cab anywhere!"

"And Charlie's gone out, so I can't borrow his car. Couldn't we just get a cab? Ron wouldn't have to know," the other girl asked.

"Yeah, but I'm really bad at lying to him, and he would definitely ask. I guess we'll have to cancel for today," she said glumly, dropping her purse on the hall seat.

Ginny glanced out of the window and her eyes lit up. "Maybe not," she murmured, twisting her lips thoughtfully. "Are the keys to that monster in here anywhere?"

"Harry's truck? I'm not sure, but... Ginny! We can't take that, Harry would kill us."

"He won't even know. We'll have it back here before he gets back. Come on, it's the only way we'll get to go shopping, and I'm a good driver," she pleaded.

Hermione stared at her and waged a silent battle in her head. What harm could it do? Ginny was right, they would never know, and besides Harry was her mate too. Surely he wouldn't mind Ginny driving if she was supervising?

"Okay, let's find out if the keys are around anywhere," she said, and the two girls started searching for them.

It took a while to locate them, but Hermione eventually found them in Ron's desk and grabbed her bag, crossing her fingers to make sure everything went okay. It was quite exciting for her really, having not broken any rules since Hogwarts. Curious, how Harry, Ron and Ginny were usually the instigators, or at the very least involved. Ginny started the big vehicle once they were inside and carefully pulled out of the gates, making her way to the nearest shops, parking as near to the clothes shops as she could get. When she leapt out to the ground she gave the truck a satisfied look, pleased at how well she had parked it and that she had found it fairly easy to handle, as it was bigger than most things she had driven. Hermione smiled and thought if only she could tell Ron about this little trip, but she knew he would be furious if he found out. That thought made her stand still for a second, swallowing briefly and then shrugging. How would he ever know?

Unfortunately for the two girls, Carter had been on his way to the Cannon Bowl (The name of the Stadium where the Canons played, and other than a small group of shops on the outskirts of town, the only public wizarding building in Chudley.), when he had spotted Harry's truck. He hadn't been able to see who was driving it but he recognised the license plate, and frowned, making a mental note to ask the other man about it when he saw him.

Ron was standing back keeping an eye on the members of the Canons, as they sat at a table in front of a big queue of autograph hunters, and he glanced up briefly when Carter took the spot next to him.

"Bit late aren't you?" he muttered, giving a slight smile to the young girl at the front of the queue.

"Yeah, I overslept. Traffic was pretty heavy on the way over too. Which reminds me," Carter said as he started handing out photos to be autographed by the players, turning to glance at Harry who was standing on the other side of Ron, "I saw your truck."

"My truck?" Harry said, frowning.

"Yeah, your truck, you do remember it right? Well, I just saw it."

"It must have been someone else's ride," Harry said, shrugging. "Mine's in Ron's driveway."

"Are you sure? I happened to check out the license plate, it was definitely yours. Someone could have stolen it," Carter said, frowning.

Harry thought for a second. He remembered locking the truck before he left and anyway, Hermione and Ginny were there.

Ron looked at him and then went still as a thought occurred to him. "Oh, bloody hell, no... she wouldn't," he mumbled, scratching at his beard.

"What?" Harry asked, handing a photo to a small girl as she entered the queue.

"Ginny... and Hermione. They wouldn't have taken the truck," Ron said, trying to convince himself.

"She can't drive can she?" Carter asked, not looking at Ron as he continued keeping an eye on the growing crowd

.

"Hermione can't, but Ginny can. She mentioned she wanted to go shopping, but I made her promise not to leave the house." His frown got deeper as he thought about that. No, he hadn't made her promise that, he had made her promise not to get a cab, but surely she wouldn't be that sneaky... he closed his eyes and rubbed a hand over his face as sudden comprehension dawned. Hermione Jane Granger, had always been sneaky. Hell, he and Harry had instilled that trait in her themselves. "I am going to strangle her," he said grimly and Carter laughed, watching the emotions raging in him. Ron's eyes narrowed and swung in his direction. "You got your shell phone handy?"

Carter pursed his lips at the question. "What do you want it for?"

"To make a call of course," Ron replied calmly.

"Okay, as long as you aren't using it to shout at Hermione, you may use it," he said, handing the phone over to Ron with a shit eating grin.

"Don't worry. Shouting isn't what I had in mind at all," he replied, punching his home floo-phone number into the phone and waiting. No answer, he hissed out a breath and redialled, just in case. Still nothing. Grimly he tried her shell phone.

Hermione had just finished putting her bags of food in the truck, Ginny helping carry the abundance of stuff she had purchased, when her phone rang and she scrabbled to find it in her bag, not even bothering to look at the name of the caller flashing on the front before she answered.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?" Ron's deep voice asked her in a deadly tone, making her jump and her breath catch, something he must have heard.

"I'm... er... I'm in the garden," she improvised, glad that it was quiet here and that he wouldn't hear anyone else, her eyes shooting to Ginny's with faint panic.

"Really? Are you far from the house?" he drawled out slowly, continuing on once he had her negative response. "In that case, perhaps you can do me a little favour?"

"Er... sure, what's up? Is everything alright?"

"I hope so. Could you check that Harry's truck is still out front? Carter said he thought he saw it a little while ago," he asked her, and she grimaced.

"S... sure, I'll just... er... would you like me to call you back?" she asked nervously, thinking that maybe she could get home, then call him after they had put the truck back.

"Why would I want that? It's only a short way to the house, I can wait," he said, sounding strange.

"Okay," Hermione said, walking along the street and back until she judged she had walked roughly the same distance as it would be between the garden and the house. "Yes, his truck is here," she said, trying to keep her voice neutral and hating herself for lying to him.

"That's good. Just as a matter of interest, did he leave it unlocked?" he asked, knowing full well Harry never did that.

"Hang on a sec. Er... yes, it's unlocked," she said, starting to relax a little bit.

"Are you sure?" he prompted and she bit her lip, wondering if he knew it had been locked. She couldn't take it back now without letting him know she was lying.

"Yeah."

"Certain?" he asked, his voice sounding odd again and she frowned, wondering why he kept asking.

"Er... yes. What's wrong?"

He was silent for a while and she could hear his breathing get slightly heavier. "Nothing much. You see, this is one of those things that Harry's really anally retentive about. He never leaves his truck unlocked. Not ever."

"But, I thought..." she blurted out before she thought about it.

"Actually, I have a feeling you didn't think at all," he said, his voice low. "You want to tell me again where the ruddy hell you are?" he was sounding angry now and Hermione swallowed, wondering how she could possibly get out of this.

"No," she said in a small voice, wanting to just end the conversation and get home, before he came after her.

"I can't believe this," he muttered. "I'm not asking again, Hermione. Where the hell are you?" he snapped, his voice louder than he thought.

Hermione jumped so violently when he yelled that she dropped the phone and fumbled to pick it up again, her fingers inadvertently switching it off in the process.

Carter tried not to grin when he saw Ron pull the phone away from his ear and stare at it in shock. "I don't believe this," he mumbled, punching in her number again, his face grim.

"What's up mate?" Carter asked him, pausing briefly in his handing out photos.

"She cut me off," he said, his quiet tone conveying how angry he was.

"So would I if you yelled at me like that," Carter said reasonably.

"If she thinks that was yelling then she's got a lesson coming to her, I haven't even started yet!"

"She isn't the only one with a lesson coming. That little brat stole my truck!" Harry muttered, trying not to be too loud because the fans were still queuing to see the members of the Canons Quidditch team.

Ron had to dial twice more before Hermione finally answered, having only just turned the phone back on.

"Tell me where you are, right now," he said, trying to keep his voice moderately quiet because of the gawping fans standing in the queue.

"I... er..." Hermione stammered, not wanting to tell him.

"Don't try my patience," he warned her, his words holding just enough menace to make her answer him.

"At the...the shops," she confessed and her shoulders slumped.

"In town?" he queried.

She looked over at Ginny and grimaced. "Yes."

"In Harry's truck?" he asked, his tone incredulous.

"Ron, listen, we'll take it right back..."

"You will do nothing of the sort! You wait right there and I'll have someone come and get you both, understand?"

Hermione closed her eyes and firmed her jaw. "No," she said forcefully, feeling like a child.

"Good," he began, obviously thinking she would be wise and give him the right reply. Then she heard his breath hiss out angrily. "Did you just say no?" he asked harshly and the connection went dead, leaving him staring at the phone again. If it hadn't belonged to Carter he would probably have smashed it to pieces. Ron looked like someone had wired him up to electrodes. "Dammit, she did it again! That's it, she's going to pay," he grumbled, punching in another number and waiting.

Hermione looked at Ginny as she shut the phone off, her eyes darkening with worry. "They know we took the truck, Carter saw us," she told her quietly.

"Oh no," Ginny said, her voice a whisper as she thought of what Harry would likely do to her when they got back. She took a deep breath and shook her head. "Well, there's no point in going back right away, we may as well get on with our shopping."

Hermione looked at her like she'd gone mad. "But what if they come back early and we aren't there?"

"I don't think it will make much difference really. Whatever we do they'll probably kill us. You're lucky, you only have one person who'll skin you alive. I have Harry, Ron and Charlie as well. Come on, let's go shopping and try and forget them all. Besides, they are not our keepers. We don't have to bow down to THEIR commands!" In a way, Hermione thought, the girl was right.

She grabbed Hermione's arm and walked briskly back towards the shops, heading straight into a clothing store. Hermione couldn't relax, but she did give her comments on various dresses and they eventually found one that looked great on the other girl, making her eyes look almost amber rather than brown. They didn't notice the large man following behind them, not until he tapped Hermione on the shoulder.