Chapter 4
“Wotcher, Hermione, let’s go find that cousin of yours,” Tonks said determinedly. Not looking at all like herself but transformed into a blonde teen in a blue shimmery shift dress.
Tonks waved her wand at the twins and made their hair a few shades darker. “Can’t have Robards spotting any Weasleys here tonight,” she said with a smirk.
“Be safe,” Hermione said, smiling grimly before following Tonks out.
“Will do, George said with a smile elbowing Fred, who was staring off after Hermione with a goofy grin.
“This is a fantastic setup. Love the costume. You look adorable. My dad used to take me to the shopping centre to see Father Christmas with his mum, my nan, when I was younger. Nothing as fancy as this, but it brings back good memories to see,” Tonks said with a smile, following Hermione, her eyes darting around as she scanned the crowd.
“I take it this is some charity, do?”
“Yes,” Hermione hummed, threading her way through the crowd, searching for Sarah. “My family helps organize the holiday party yearly, and we collect toys and funds for St Augustine’s – the children’s hospital.”
“When we find your cousin, we will have to head somewhere quiet. I will run a non-invasive diagnostic scan, and if Kingsley is right, I will have to get you a purging potion to give to her. It will make her sick, but getting other potions out of her system is necessary. Don’t worry, it is safe and efficient. I am sure Kingsley can call a DMLE elf to obtain some if we need.”
Hermione blanched and nodded. “We were on our way to the Grotto, so she might be there. I am sure everyone is in the other room; dinner will be served soon now that the PM is here.”
“Sarah!” Hermione exclaimed in relief, finally spotting her cousin in the grotto with a large platter of decorated Christmas biscuits and mince pies. She was peeling gumdrop buttons off a gingerbread man and popping them in her mouth.
“Hey, Minnie! It is pretty exciting to have the PM here. Did you see him? Sarah asked.
“I am okay. I ran into a friend,” Hermione stammered.
“Nice to meet you,” Sarah greeted “Do you go to school with Minnie?” she asked.
"Minnie?" Tonks asked.
"Family nickname," Hermione said blushing. "I met Tonks through some other friends."
“I was thinking about having a bit of a catch-up in the grotto for a bit before heading through. Do you think they would miss me? I am sure it’s just going to be dull speeches for a bit,” Hermione said, and Tonks nodded in agreement.
“That sounds like a fantastic idea. Ben and Jess headed through already, but I wasn’t feeling so good, so I thought I would sit here a bit. I am not really even in the mood for biscuits, let alone dinner.”
Hermione grabbed a shortbread biscuit nodding along while Sarah prattled on about various people in attendance.
Tonks surreptitiously ran a scan behind her back. Her lips thinned, clearly not liking one of the readings. She nodded at Hermione sadly.
Hermione blanched and swallowed quickly, causing her to start choking on a bit of biscuit.
“Minnie, are you okay?” Sarah asked in alarm, reaching to pat her on the back.
“Sorry, I thought I saw that creepy guy you were with earlier,” Hermione said in explanation, trying to catch her breath. Some crumbs must have gone down the wrong way.”
“Let me pop off to get you some water,” Tonks said, excusing herself. “I will be right back,” she said with a significant look and a reassuring arm squeeze.
“Tony?” Sarah asked, breaking the limbs off of the gingerbread man. “He wasn’t creepy. Just tall, dark, and foreign,” she said, waggling her eyebrows.
“I don’t know what came over me, actually. I have never been like that with a stranger. I think it must have been some Dutch courage from a combo of champagne and those little rum balls. Bit embarrassing, really! It is probably a good thing you found me,” Sarah said contemplatively.
“At least it was me. I think your mum would have skinned you.”
“I best stick to tea now. I don’t want to make a fool of myself by flirting with the PM or something,” Sarah mumbled. “No more rum balls for me. Or champagne.”
“Or nan’s little liqueur choccies,” Hermione added with a cough.
“Probably why I feel so blah now. I might head off home soon,” Sarah said.
“If you do, I think I might join you,” Hermione said, still coughing a bit.
Tonks soon reappeared and handed each of them a glass. “I am sure this will help you both feel better,” she said with a reassuring smile.
Sarah and Hermione both drank the water gratefully. Minutes later, Sarah was rushing for the loo. Hermione grimaced, wondering if she should follow.
“Give her a minute,” Tonks said. “I got the purging potion from. It is quick acting, so it will be over soon. You don’t need to worry, she will be fine. You can check on her in a minute.”
“I am going to see if they need my help searching. I will check in with you in a bit.”
Shortly after she left, Fred appeared, giving her a big grin and a thumbs-up.
“Did you find the wand already?” Hermione asked when he sat next to her, helping himself to a mince pie.
“Yes, the last spell cast was a confundus that Kingsley said he may have used on your cousin when he slipped her a potion.
“He said he didn’t,” Hermione growled, “but Tonks found something on the scan, and Sarah was in a sort of daze when I pulled her away from him. I think he only let her go because he heard the Prime Minister’s arrival. Sarah was worried that she was tipsy.” Hermione bit her lip anxiously. “If I hadn’t… he could have…” she said, fighting back her tears.
“Well, you did, and he didn’t. Thanks to you, he will be on a boat back to Azkaban soon,” Fred said reassuringly, instinctively pulling her into a hug. “Don’t fret the “could have beens’ you will make yourself crazy,” Fred said into her hair.
“Mmhmm,” Hermione mumbled into Fred’s shoulder,” feeling a bit calmer being in his arms.
She felt the weight of someone sitting on her other side and knew it was George.
“But what are you two doing here?” she hissed, drawing away from Fred.
“Don’t tell mum!” they both said in unison.
“Since dad’s attack, we have been talking to Sirius and Remus about joining the Order when we finish school as they did. They put in a good word for us with Dumbledore, and the Order is spread a bit thin with ministry stuff, especially now with all the escaped Death Eaters running about. We were with Remus when he got the call, and Tonks helped convince him to let us come tonight.”
“Why didn’t Kingsley call the Aurors?”
“I think the Order believes that the DMLE might have been infiltrated, or at least some Aurors can’t be trusted. They must want to interrogate Dolohov before they hand him over to the Aurors.”
“Where are the others now?”
“Remus sent us to look for you after we found the wand. He has gone to that room to pass on the word that they need to send Dolohov through to the DMLE now. Kingsley can’t stall any longer. He is back with Robards and the Prime Minister, updating them on Dolohov’s arrest.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he has to leave,” Fred said.
“I passed Tonks on the way over she said you were here. I think we will be leaving soon, too,” George said, reaching for a strawberry swirl.
“So that’s your cousin?” Fred asked, spotting a woman across the way dressed similarly to Hermione chatting to a sophisticated older woman.
“Yes, that’s Sarah talking to her mum. She looks better. Tonks said it would work quickly. My other cousins, Ben and Jess, are around here somewhere too.”
“Are they dressed as festively as you?” Fred asked with a slight quirk of his lips.
“My cousins are, and my grandparents are dressed as Father Christmas and Mrs. Claus. My mum is in a dress similar to her sister’s. My dad is on stage" she said, pointing out her dad across the way in his festive jumper that had a tinsel tree with blinking lights all over it. "He is the MC tonight.”
“Nice,” they both said approvingly.
“Wonder if we could charm mum’s jumpers to light up like that?” Fred said.
“Who knew our little princess had such a fun family,” George said.
“No one ever asks,” Hermione shrugged.
“Well, they should have. We should have,” Fred said quietly.
“Don’t worry about it,” she said, bumping her shoulder into his. “Just don’t tell Ron about this,” Hermione said. “If he heard I was dressed like an elf, I would never hear the end of it.”
“I think it’s fantastic. Reminds me a bit of one of those dolls in Gin’s old jewelry box than an elf, though. I think you should wear this next time, Hogsmeade weekend,” George said jokingly, tapping his foot against her pom-pom boots.
“Can you just imagine Umbridge’s face if I did?” Hermione said with a giggle.
“If I was to guess, I think that this skirt is at least two inches above regulation in ‘Educational Decree 34 – no skirts should be higher than two fingers above the knee’,” Hermione said in a terrible imitation of Umbridge’s overly sweet girly voice.
“That was terrible,” Fred guffawed.
“Educational Decree 5,346 --no tutus and candy cane stockings,” George said, attempting his impression.
“No pom-pom booties,” Fred joined in in a high-pitched voice.
“Or light-up jumpers,” Hermione added.
“It would be a great prank to charm her cardigans light up in different colors. Maybe a flashing picture of a toad on her back,” Fred said contemplatively, causing all three of them to erupt in laughter.
“All clear boys we best head out before the Aurors get here to run a sweep,” said Remus, with Tonks at his side.
“Thank you all for coming, I really appreciate it. I better go check on Sarah now,” Hermione said giving them each a quick hug.
“Don’t tell mum,” the twins repeated.
“I won’t if you don’t tell Ron about this,” she said laughing and straightening her outfit before bounding away.
“Alright, there, Gred?” George asked elbowing Fred in the ribs.
“Right as rain George. Right as rain.” Fred mumbled. “I told you she was something special.”