Cast Aside

Story Telling and Unwelcome Guests

Chapter 8

No one spoke for what felt to Hermione like ages. Gideon and Fabian grinned at George wickedly, as if they'd just uncovered the most fascinating secret, never once lowering their wands. Truthfully, she guessed, they had. For what could possibly be more shocking than discovering the man you'd been sheltering was in fact your time traveling newborn nephew?

It was so ludicrous she was amazed they'd figured it out. And in less than a day.

Unsure which tact to take, for she could think of several, Hermione glanced up at George for some hint. This was his family after all. Acutely aware of the wand at her throat, she had no doubt the older twins would eliminate her if they truly thought her a threat. George though, he was family. They'd want to hear him out first.

"Nephew? We've just come from your sister's and her George is less than a day old. How could I possibly be him?"

"Time travel." Fabian deadpanned.

George scoffed. "Impossible."

Gideon blinked and looked at his brother but clearly wouldn't be so easily dissuaded. "We know how it sounds. We didn't believe it either at first. But your magical signatures are the same, we checked. Wee Georgie can't do any casting yet like you can but he's as magical as any of us, it wasn't hard."

"Then there's our handy little hearing extension spell." Fabian looked downright smug. "It's not perfect mind, and the boys were frightfully loud and we couldn't be obvious but we did pick up some of your private little conversation by the lake."

"Shit. I should have cast a muffliato." All three red heads turned to look at her. She shrugged apologetically to George, and frowned at his uncles. "It's rude to eavesdrop."

Fabian cast her such a condescending look she wanted to roll her eyes and punch him. "Oi! It's rude to time travel into other people's lives, Helen. Or is that even your real name!"

She did roll her eyes. "If your sneaky little spell worked as well as you claim, you'd know that. Is that all the evidence you've got? Because you both just sound completely barking."

Now properly agitated, Fabian pressed the tip of his wand against her neck. "You already admitted to having been overheard. I haven't any idea who you are, Missy, for all I know you could be some Death Eater's slag who seduced my nephew."

Before she had a chance to say something equally nasty in reply, George's wand was pointed at his uncle causing him to shift his focus. "I don't care what you are to me, you'll not speak to her like that."

Gideon groaned, eyeing the wand aimed at his brother. "So the engagements' not just for show then?"

Hermione sighed, urging George to put his wand away. "That's none of your business."

"I'd say it is, considering you're staying in our house and sharing a bed. You're not corrupting our precious little nephew are you?" Gideon seemed to be carrying on as if it were all a joke and it reminded Hermione too much of Fred. It also didn't help her burgeoning temper.

"I'm twenty. I'll share a bed with whomever I please, thank you."

Grinning obnoxiously again, Gideon wrapped an arm tightly around George's shoulders and gripped his chin in his other hand. "So he admits it! Tell me, what's our adorable nephew doing crashing his own birthday? Fabian, is he taller than me? I think he's taller than me!"

"Gideon." Fabian was watching his brother with a frown. Twenty minutes ago Hermione had been convinced that these two men deserved to live, to be wonderful uncles and whatever else they were meant to do. Now she was seconds from blasting one of them herself.