Cast Aside

Angry Women and Reconnection

Chapter 13

Hermione'd been pacing back and forth in the hall just inside the front door for thirty minutes. George had told her that he and his uncles were stepping out for a quick errand and would be bringing home lunch. That was hours ago. Having been so absorbed in her research, she hadn't noticed their extended absence until her stomach reminded her she'd skipped lunch. Casting a tempus and realizing how late it was had sent her into a near panic.

They were in the middle of a war. Every time they stepped out of the heavily warded house there was a risk they might not come back. Normally she wouldn't worry so much, especially as they'd said they were going for lunch in a muggle neighborhood. But they were hours overdue and every possible scenario played out in her mind as the minutes ticked by with no sign of them.

Pacing away from the door, noise from the stoop had her whirling around with her wand ready. She held her breath as the lock clicked and the door swung open. When Gideon stepped through, infuriating laughter falling from his smiling mouth, anger welled up and found release in the form of a stinging hex to his shin.

He yelped in pain. "Dammit woman! What the bloody hell?"

"'What the bloody hell' he says? Where the bloody hell have you been?"

Fabian came in behind his brother, wand up and ready to defend. "What do you mean? George told you we were stepping out. We were a bit longer than we meant to be but..."

"A bit?!" Hermione could hear how shrill her voice was getting but she was too angry to care as George brought up the rear, looking contrite. "A bit? Do you have any idea what time it is? You've been gone for hours!"

George held up a hand, the other seeming to hold something just inside his jacket. "I'm sorry, Hermione. We got a bit lost on the tube and..."

She was aghast. "The tube? You lot took the bloody underground? Why in the world... that's a confusing mess for the uninitiated muggle. If you wanted to see some bloody trains so badly, why didn't you ask me to come? Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

Gideon attempted to get between her and George. "Now, Hermione, don't be too mad at George. It's not his fault we're so late. Blame Fabian..."

When she raised her wand at him, hair beginning to spark and glaring ferociously, Gideon wisely backed away. Approaching her cautiously, George truly did look sorry but she had been so worried about him and she was furious at how they all seemed as though it was no big deal.

"Some... I'm sorry Hermione. We didn't mean to worry you but I..."

She couldn't help it. She smacked him hard in the arm. "Anything could have happened. Death Eaters could have found you. You could have been hurt or worse! Why didn't you let me know you'd be so long? Couldn't you have at least sent a patronus or something?"

Wincing, George shook the sting from his arm, his voice low so only she could hear. "We didn't think about it... and you know I... you know I can't cast that anymore, Hermione."

Blinking rapidly as she realized what she'd just said, nearly all of her anger dissipated. Looking into his hurt, brown eyes, guilt and exhaustion replaced the earlier anger. "I'm sorry, George. I shouldn't have... I'm just so... I was so scared, George. But I... I'm sorry."

Hanging her head and squeezing her eyes against tears, she heard the kitchen door open and close behind her as Gideon and Fabian left them alone in the hall. George's warm hand settled on her shoulder and gently tugged her towards himself. Giving in, she allowed him to wrap an arm around her, dropping her forehead against his chest.