Chapter One: The Interview

George Weasley was sitting behind his desk at the new Hogsmeade office of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes conducting interviews for a new shop assistant. He had just returned from shopping for supplies in Egypt only to find a note from the last girl informing him that she had run off with his twin brother.

So far, none of the applicants had been very impressive. Apparently George’s fame at Hogwarts had grown to the point that thirteen year olds were sneaking out of class to try and see him in a private interview. Of the ones who were actually really looking to get a job, some were just too serious and boring. If George hired one of them the joke shop would soon become about as popular as Snape’s dungeon.

George yanked himself from his thoughts as the bell on the front door rang. There were no Hogsmeade visits until Halloween and the sign on the door announced “Closed for Interviews”, so George knew it was another applicant.

There was a knock at the door, soft but insistent.

“Come in,” called George. The door opened and in walked the last person he would ever have expected: Hermione Granger.

“Hermione! What are you doing here?” It had come out more suspiciously than he would have liked.

“I’m here to apply for a job, George. Isn’t that what everyone is here for today?” She pulled up a chair and sat down, a small smile showing that no offence had been taken.

“Why do you want to work in a joke shop?” A scenario flashed into George’s mind. Hermione was loudly telling all customers to stay away from the Skiving Snackboxes because school-work was the most important part of their life right now. She had posted large signs in front of the love potion aisle, proclaiming that these would not be sold to anyone less than seventeen. She had taken all of his best products off the shelves and filled them instead with boxes full of S.P.E.W. badges and thick, difficult looking textbooks.

Shaking his head slightly to clear his mind of the unpleasant scene George focused on Hermione, who was giving him a rather odd look.

“I need a little more money than last year. S.P.E.W. is really expanding!” she informed him. The reference to her house-elf-rights project enforced the image that had sprung into his mind. “I didn’t want to be employed where I would feel uncomfortable and I wanted to work with people I already knew. I just happened to notice your advertisement in the Daily Prophet.”

“Aren’t you still at Hogwarts even though Harry left? How did you get down here from school, is Professor McGonagall letting students take jobs now? You didn’t come alone, did you?”

“To your first question, yes I’m still at Hogwarts. I just couldn’t bear to run off and abandon my education. I can’t believe you did, regardless of Umbridge. I even managed to convince Ron to remain with me. Second question, I got special permission from Professor McGonagall. She said it’s fine as long as I always have someone else walk with me here and back. Third question, no, Luna and Neville came down with me. Luna’s just gone to Honeydukes to buy some Ice Mice, which apparently attract Blibbering Humdingers.” Hermione shook her head slightly at the antics of her Ravenclaw friend. “Neville‘s with her.”

He paused and looked at her. It had been awhile since he had seen her last, since the seventh year N.E.W.T. students had loads of homework and Hermione would never put pleasure over school work. With Voldemort on the loose and his Death Eater attacks becoming common news, George was glad she hadn’t come here alone. Even Hogsmeade wasn’t entirely safe.

Hermione had grown up a lot from the bossy, bushy-haired, know-it-all who had joined Gryffindor in his third year. Her shell had receded a little each year, and while her closest friends were still Ginny and Luna, Hermione was starting to feel at ease with more people than she used to. Some would still describe her as a control freak but that particular tendency usually only showed up when she was either with her close friends or completely stressed out. Homework was still a top priority to her- often causing her to be described often as a ‘fanatic’. Worry for Harry on his Horcrux hunt had caused her smiles to come less frequently than they used to. Her physical appearance hadn’t changed all that much. The bushy brown hair that piled up on her shoulders was still out of control, and unlike most of the other girls her age, she wasn’t wearing any makeup.

George wasn’t quite sure what it was, but something was different about Hermione. He wouldn’t think of her as a girl anymore-she was a woman.

“So, shall we get down to the interview, Mr Weasley?” Hermione’s voice sounded slightly amused.

“Er, yes. Well, obviously you’re the smartest witch at Hogwarts, so I won’t have to worry about asking you half the questions. You know, about safety and stuff.”

“George, there’s no need to give me special treatment just because I know you! That’s unfair to the other applicants!” George could hear her foot start to tap against the tile floor.

“Trust me, none of the other applicants have even tempted me to hire them. I’m desperate When can you come in?”

After giving him a disapproving look she recited her schedule to him.

“Well, actually not all that often. With N.E.W.T.s coming up in just eight months I have to study! There’s no way I could put off my knitting for the house elves, I’m still keeping in touch with the Order, and being Head Girl takes up a lot of time. But I can come in for an hour and a half every day after classes are over. On weekends I can be here from eight till noon.”

George didn’t seem to care about the low hours she would be working. “Well, that’s it. You’re hired.” He noticed that the tapping increased in speed.

Hermione shot him a critical glare, one that George remembered very well from his days of posting notices in the Gryffindor common room. She had sometimes managed to make even him feel guilty.

“George, you don’t hire someone after only asking one question. I object!” Her brows furrowed, her eyes flashed angrily, and her foot was going so fast that it sounded as if she were running a marathon.

George smiled brightly at Hermione, which didn’t seem to calm her down any. After a minute or two he reached for the brightly colored ‘Help Wanted’ sign and picked it up. He turned back to the desk and handed the sign to Hermione.

“Congratulations, Hermione Granger. You are now an employee of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.”

Hermione slowly let go of her anger as the tap-tap-tap of her foot faded away.


“When should I start?”

“Be here on Monday after classes end. I’ll tell you your duties then.”

Hermione rose from her seat. “I’ll see you then, Mr. Weasley. I look forward to it. Thank you for the job.”

George escorted her to the door and saw her out.

“I look forward to it, Hermione. Anyway, it’s really me who should be thanking you. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t showed up.”

Hermione bade him goodbye and exited the front door of the shop. The bell tinkled behind her, leaving George alone.

As soon as she had left, he dashed to the back room to retrieve the bouquet of roses that he had stashed there earlier. Angelina Johnson, his girlfriend, would be here for their date any minute and George wanted to be ready. Angelina hadn’t seen him for a long time, so George wanted her first sight of him to put him in a positive light.
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Hermione stood outside Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and gave a happy sigh. She had a job, and it was with a person that she was comfortable with. At Hogwarts she was making good marks and had good friends. The only bad thing on her horizon right now was a huge black cloud that represented Harry out looking for Horcruxes. But that was an extremely emotional issue that had a nasty tendency to be haunt almost all of her waking thoughts.

Hermione had accepted that Harry was out of her control. Though she knew that he could take care of himself, it still made her so afraid to think of him fighting alone against Voldemort. Right now the only thing Hermione wanted was someone to talk to, who would listen and understand her concerns. She allowed a small smile to come to her face as she thought about Ron, George’s younger brother. Hopefully, Ron could fill this place in her life.

Ronald Weasley had been on Hermione’s mind for around three years now. True, he could be annoying and an insufferable git, but sometimes that git was kind of cute. Ever since Harry had left on his journey last summer, Ron and Hermione had been growing closer together every day. They were forced to rely on each other to stay strong and their friendship had deepened accordingly. However if Hermione had been forced to say, she would have admitted that she was probably looking for more than friendship with the tall Gryffindor.

Looking up to the castle ahead Hermione smiled. Maybe one of these days Ron would actually get up the nerve to ask her out. Of course she would be more than happy to accept.

Hermione set off at a brisk walk up the street towards Honeydukes to fetch Luna and Neville. It had been a good day.

Chapter Two: The First Day

A fire crackled merrily in the grate, filling the Gryffindor common room with warmth. Some students chatted and laughed while others skimmed through textbooks of worked at homework. One tall and red headed boy sat alone on a couch facing the blazing fireplace, looking up frequently and scanning the room nervously. When the Fat Lady’s portrait swung open to reveal a bushy haired witch carrying a black book bag, he instantly rushed over to her. He gallantly relieved her of the book bag and escorted her to the seat he had just vacated.

“How did it go, Hermione? Did my brother give you a job?”

“It went fine, Ron, and yes I did get the job. It’s just that…” Hermione’s voice trailed away.

“Just that what? If my stupid brother did anything to you I swear I’ll-“ Ron looked positively furious at the idea of George doing anything to Hermione.

Hermione sighed tiredly, reached down to her book bag, pulled out a parchment, quill, and book, and began working at an essay. “It’s nothing like that, Ron. The only thing I’m worried about is that George gave me the job without a complete interview. He only asked when I could come in to work.”

“That’s not a bad thing, Hermione. I mean, obviously George realizes that you are a competent witch and he wants you in his shop.”

“I just don’t want to take the job unfairly.”

“It’s perfectly fair!”

Hermione continued to scratch away on her paper while she replied. “Let’s just not talk about it. Obviously I have a job now and I don’t want to argue with you about if it is fair or not.”

The pair sat in silence for a minute, Hermione working, Ron staring into the fire. He appeared to be trying to work up the courage to say something, his mouth working silently as if practicing exactly the right words to use. Finally an audible sound escaped his mouth.

“Hermione,” he began nervously. “I have something that I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”

“Yes?” Hermione’s gaze remained focused on her homework.

“It’s about me and, well, you.” Ron was slowly turning a dark shade of red.

Hermione suddenly looked up, startled. “What did you say?”

“I was just going to say, that um, you and I, we should, well I was wondering if you would…”

“Yes?” Hermione gave Ron her full attention, her eyes eagerly searching his face.

Ron took a deep breath and then let it out. “I was just wondering if you would let me look over your essay when you’re done with it.”

The excited look in Hermione’s eyes abruptly vanished and was replaced by one of disappointment, followed by one of anger. “Ronald Weasley, I’ve told you a thousand times that I won’t let you cheat off of me this year. Now I am going to take the object of your desire and leave.” With those words she rose, snatched up the essay, turned on her heel and stormed out, radiating fury.

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George Weasley was stocking shelves when the bell on the door rang and Hermione entered.

“Hi, Hermione! How are you doing?” George straightened up and turned to face her.

“I’m fine, George, thank you for asking. I am ready to start my jobs. What are they?”

George walked to his desk and removed a neatly lettered sheet of parchment that he had place there earlier that day. “I have them right here, actually.” He handed her the list and watched as she inspected it.

“I’ll get right to work,” she informed him. She took the list out of George’s hand and headed toward the back storeroom.

Half an hour later, George entered the storeroom to check on Hermione. To his surprise it was totally unrecognizable. Where leaning towers of crates and tilting piles of pranks usually loomed menacingly there were neat and balanced stacks. The shelves usually resembled the toy chest of a three year old, with items tossed everywhere and in no sort of order whatsoever. Hermione had taken the jumbled mess onto the floor and started on an organization crusade. The first shelf was neatly labeled as Fainting Fancies, Nosebleed Nougats and Puking Pastilles. In George’s mind, it was a miracle.

“Wow. I haven’t had the courage to try and make any kind of order in here for years. It’s just gotten worse and worse, but now…wow.” ‘

Hermione's cheeks grew a blush at the praise but brushed it off. “It was nothing, George. I just can’t work in a place where I can’t find anything without a Summoning Charm, so I decided to take the project into my own hands. I hope you don’t mind it.”

George stared awestruck at Hermione. “Don’t mind it? I knew there was a good reason to hire you!”

The bell on the door at the front of the shop rang, signaling the arrival of another customer. George excused himself and went to assist them, leaving Hermione to her huge project of making order out of the storeroom.

As soon as he was gone, Hermione sat back down in the midst of all the pranks, potions, and jokes to think as she moved things into piles. As usual her mind immediately brought up the thought of Ron. The stupid boy couldn’t seem to get the hint that she was interested in him. How was she ever going to get it through his head? She had thought he had finally figured it out on Friday night, but she was wrong.

Hermione sighed. If Ron wasn’t interested in her, who could it be? Maybe Luna Lovegood, Lavender Brown, or Hannah Abbot? But none of those girls seemed like they would be Ron’s type. But then again, what did she know about Ron’s type? In her mind the only girl for him would be herself, which made her just a little bit biased.

Hermione gave up trying to figure out the mysterious male mind and stood back up. The storeroom wasn’t going to clean itself after all.

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George exited the storeroom and strode toward the front of the shop, looking for the customer who had opened the door. When he didn’t see anyone, he was puzzled. He looked around, shrugged, and was about to go back to his work when someone stepped out from behind a shelf and covered his eyes.

“Guess who?”

George smiled. He had heard that voice before.

“Is it Katie Bell? Alicia Spinnet? Or is it that other girl who used to be a Chaser, what’s her name again? Oh yes, Angelina Johnson. I think that’s the one.”

Angelina smiled mischievously and removed her hands. “That is the correct answer. And for that you get a reward.” She spun George around and kissed him.

‘I like that reward, Miss Johnson. May I have another? I have been a very good boy lately.”

Angelina laughed and tousled his hair. “I don’t think so, Mr. Weasley. For one thing, employers aren’t supposed to kiss in front of employees.”

George spun around, expecting to see Hermione, but no one was there.

“Ha! Made you look!”

“Angelina, I haven’t played that game since I was a first year at Hogwarts. Don’t you think we’re just a little too old for it?” George smiled in spite of the stern face he was trying to present.

“The owner of joke shop should know that no one is ever too old for anything.”

“I suppose that’s right. Wouldn’t Hermione let me have it if she did see us kissing on business hours though?”

Angelina laughed at the thought. “She would really be furious. Hey, do you think I can take you out for dinner tonight? If I know you, you haven’t found time to eat yet. I know that you’ve been really busy since Fred left.”

George threw up his hands. “What can I say? You know me too well. I’ll go as soon as I lock up the store tonight.”

“By the way, how’s Hermione? Is she going out with your brother yet?”

“Hermione? With Ron? Why would they be going out?”

“Honestly, George, I thought you would have noticed by now that Hermione has a huge crush on Ron! But don’t tell her I said that, she’d probably be really embarrassed. Anyway, I’ll see you tonight. Bye!’

Angelina turned and left the shop, leaving George with a new revelation about his employee and his youngest brother. Who would have thought that Hermione would want Ron? George had never even considered the two together. He shrugged and turned to serve two real customers who had just entered the shop. Hermione was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. If Ron was who she wanted, he was certain that Ron was who she would get. And if that was who Hermione wanted, who was he to stop her?