UNEXPECTED || Hermione Granger

"Ronald Billius Weasley!"

"Are you kidding me, Harry Potter?" Hermione muttered under her breath, glaring daggers at the stag patronus. It blinked, uncomprehending, before disappearing in a puff of smoke. She sighed irritably.

It was Ron who was supposed to call her, not Harry, they'd planned a date today, to go to one of her favourite restaurants, The Sleeping Monkey. It was almost five, and the sun was already setting. Where was that git?

It'd been 2 years since Voldemort was finished, and Ronald still hadn't had the guts to propose her. They'd been dating since after the Battle of Hogwarts, but they were yet to make it official. Harry had already married Ginny, and she was also the aunt of James Sirius Potter (not officially) and Godmother. Hermione was quite fed up with Ron by now, and planned on proposing him at The Sleeping Monkey. That is, if Ron contacts her.

Harry was now the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, and if he'd contacted the Minister for Magic on one of her off days, then it was surely quite serious. She'll deal with Ronald later.

Grabbing her wand she quickly apparated to her office (it had special wards to allow only her to apparate in). The sun had dropped from the sky, leaving a few whisps of light to announce its departure.

"What's wrong, Harry? Your message sounded urgent," Hermione had tracked down her best friend to the Atrium. Many witches and wizards were gaping in awe, or bowing slightly in respect. Hermione mentally dismissed them and focused on her distressed friend.

"The Death Eaters. Many of them had evaded Azkaban, and we've had a minor breakout ..."

"When did it happen?" Hermione asked urgently, her eyes narrowing.

"A fortnight ago, but- "

"Harry James Potter," Hermione hissed venomously, causing Harry to flinch. "Why am I being informed about it after a fortnight?"

"Look, Hermione, I can explain," Harry began hurriedly. He paused for a moment, waiting for an interruption. It never came.

At loss of what to say, Harry noncommittally shrugged, unknowingly fanning her anger.

"After all this, you just shrug! Are you out of your mind, Potter? All I require right now is an explanation, and the promise of all Death Eaters rounded up." Harry gulped at the use of his last name. Hermione was pissed.

"Do you have the names of the escapees, Potter? Don't disappoint me this time."

That's an understatement, he thought dryly. "No yet. The Aurors are still searching."

Hermione exhaled deeply. "Get me the list in an hour, Potter. Have you seen Ron?"

"Stood you up on a date again, has he?" Harry abruptly shut up at her seething glare.

"Says the person who didn't inform me about a breakout," she shot back.

"Fine, he's at the joke shop. Don't murder him, will you?"

With another glare, Hermione left, leaving Harry to hope for his best mate's life.

"Hey, Fawley! Where's Shacklebolt?"

__________________

"RONALD BILLIUS WEASLEY!" Hermione thundered, entering Fred and George's shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. The man in question gulped, recognising his girlfriend's voice.

"Oh no ..." he whispered to himself, mortified.

The shop was packed with amateur pranksters and their exasperated parents - it was peak hour - and an angry Hermione would do buisness more harm than good.