I don't own any part of the HP franchise, all rights to JK, WB and Scholastic, no profit made here.

AN: Finally, another chapter! My favorite season has arrived , ladies and gents - Autumn! There's a crispness in the air and the smell of fireplaces in use already. I adore it. :) And I hope you adore this chapter! Sorry for the wait. If you like, you can check out the character-death fic prequel I wrote at reviewer's encouragement. It's a oneshot about Ron, and Hermione's reaction immediately after his death. 'What Breaks Us Apart'. At some point I may write the story of her and Draco too, but for right now I'll focus on getting this romance novel of a fanfiction finished, eh?

Hermione woke to the distinctly uncomfortable sensation of a sore throat, a throbbing head, and the caterwauls of an unhappy baby ringing in her ears. With a groan, she sat up and squinted at the bright light slipping from behind her window shades. She knew instantly that she'd overslept.

"I feel like utter crap," she declared, as if acknowledging it were the first step in fighting it. Then she dragged herself from the bed and padded over to the connecting door to the nursery. Glancing in, she found Scorpius with his hands on the bars of Minerva's crib. He was incredibly distressed and when he heard the door open he turned round to face his mother. He was crying.

"Mummy! She won't stop and I don't know what to do! You were s-sleeping and I didn't know what…to do…uuungh!"

Hermione immediately moved into the room , bending down to drop a swift kiss on her son's head.

"It's ok, Scraps, I'm up now. Why don't you start getting changed while I take care of Minnie, ok?"

He nodded and wiped his cheeks and Hermione kissed him again and gave him a hug. Minerva had calmed down considerably at the sight of her mother and she was standing in her crib now, eyeing Hermione with those big brown eyes George had noticed last night. Hermione reached in under her outstretched arms and lifted her from the crib to give her a large hug.

"Oh, my baby girl. Are you ok? Were you scared when I didn't come in here on time, is that it?"

Minnie buried her face in Hermione's neck and Hermione bounced her some, sliding one hand into her curls to hold her head softly – to hold her safe and warm. The throbbing in her head grew a little dimmer now the crying was over with, but the scratchy throat didn't feel much better. She sighed and kissed Minnie's head, who gurgled a little more happily. Her hands fisted around locks of Hermione's hair and she tugged some before pulling up to stuff the hair in her mouth. Hermione gave her daughter the driest look possible.

"You're two and a half, Munchkin, not one. Stop eating my hair."

Minnie paused and blinked at her mother before opening her mouth slowly. The hair spilled from it, dripping with saliva. Hermione laughed – she couldn't do anything else – and hugged Minnie close again.

"Oh, love, let's get you changed too, hmm? Maybe Scraps will help pick out your clothes, what do you say?"

Minnie smiled slyly and reached for Hermione's hair again while her mother was looking at her brother. She gurgled happily as she stuffed her mother's soft, sweet smelling hair into her mouth. Hermione seemed to remain blissfully unaware of what was going on while her head was turned – that or she'd decided it would be more trouble to care, especially when she was running late and had no idea just how late that was.

She managed to successfully help both her children dress for the day and Scraps ran ahead of his mother, down the stairs to gather up his things for the day – just a small bag of books, and his favorite plush, really. Then she set Minnie in her play pen with a sippy cup, Scraps settled at the table with some dry cereal and his own cup of juice, and took a moment to assess the time. It was already eight o'clock and she knew there was no way she'd make it out to her parents' house in rush hour traffic in time to Apparate to the Ministry for her eight-thirty start.

Blast it all to Hell.

With a sigh, she ran a hand through her thoroughly knotted – and now damp and sticky – curls and gave a small scream of frustration. Only that hurt her throat more and she ended up irritated at herself and the world.

"Who can I call?" she wondered aloud. Her parents driving to her house would take just as long and besides, they wouldn't like being alone in her magical abode all day. She sighed. It wasn't Narcissa's day to take the children and even though she knew the woman would be happy to come out, Hermione felt she'd trespassed on her mother-in-law's kindness far too often in the last two years – especially since she'd been on the outs with the Weasleys. She'd ended up treating Narcissa as a substitute friend half the time and that wasn't fair to either of them – no matter how much she genuinely liked the woman now.

So, neither set of grandparents were an option. That left Ginny and Harry. One of them would be perfectly suited to driving her kids to her parents' home. With a sigh she stuck her head in the fireplace and Flooed her friends' house quickly. She could only pray they hadn't left for work yet.

With a dash of powder the flames came up and Hermione could instantly hear the ruckus that was the Potter household in the mornings.

"Harry, could you – James, you get that out of your brother's mouth this instant!"

"Mummy, it were only a joke!"

"Was, not were, Merlin, has Harry been leaving you with Hagrid again? Harry! Get in here now, please!"

"He's perfectly trustworthy, Gin, calm down. He's one of the best teachers and friends we ever had."

"He buys illegal dragon eggs and hatches them in his basement!"

"James is getting good at dodging the flames," Harry said and Hermione knew he was joking, but she decided to clear her throat and announce herself anyhow. Judging by the tone of Ginny's voice, her friend was about to fly into a true Weasley rage – which was indicative of only one thing. She wondered if Harry knew Ginny was pregnant again. She wondered if Ginny knew. Then she shook her head and interrupted the oncoming tiff.

"Good morning!" she said as brightly as possible. Ginny immediately turned around to see her friend's head poking out of the flames in her fireplace.

"Hermione!" she exclaimed, all joviality again. Then her expression fell. "You sound like utter shite," she said and Harry's jaw dropped as he bounced Albus on one hip.

"Hey! You get after Jamie's grammar and then swear in front of him?"

Hermione sighed and Ginny waved a hand over her shoulder, indicating through the use of a cunning gesture that Harry could bugger off.

"I know I do," Hermione said. "Woke up feeling pretty poor, but what can you do? I have to go to work."

"And why aren't you at work already? I know you changed your hours so you could get those extra days off. Shouldn't you be on the road at least?"

"That's the thing," Hermione said, clearing her throat a bit and wincing at the sting. "Scraps had a rough night and I overslept – there's no way I can make the drive to my parents' and still get to work on time. And while my supervisor has been more understanding, we've a large conference meeting this afternoon and still a fair bit of organizing to get done."

Ginny looked very sorry. "Oh, Hermione. I can't. You know I can't, I've early training hours this month and next – besides, I haven't been feeling in top form this morning, myself." Hermione's face fell and Ginny sighed and glanced over her shoulder at her husband. "Harry?"

He came into view, Albus still on one hip. "Gin, you're leaving in another ten minutes and after that I've got to get these two off to The Burrow. Shacklebolt only gave me fifteen minutes when I got that Owl a moment ago. I've got to get in as well." He sighed and peered at Hermione. "Look, could you leave them with Molly? She won't mind, honestly. If you can, you can bring them over now and I'll take them with me when we go."

Hermione hesitated and Harry's face softened. Ginny disappeared from her view suddenly, calling for James.

"Hermione…you know you are allowed to call in a sick day," he said. Hermione shook her head.

"I'll take some Pepper-Up once I've taken care of the children. But you know I have to save my days, Harry."

"I know. Listen, let me take them to Molly – oh, shit."

"And whose language is so terrible?" Ginny called and Harry rolled his eyes. Hermione felt her heart sink and the throbbing returned to her temples.

"What is it, Harry?" she asked.

"It's just that they're taking the grandkids to see a show today – the one Charlie is over with promoting?"

"The dragons, right," Hermione said. She remembered it clearly because the amount of paperwork it had taken to clear the show with the Ministry had been phenomenal.

"But it's sold out and they've only so much room in the box Charlie reserved for them – not to mention the Portkey. Oh, no, Hermione. I'm so sorry. If we send them to Molly we'd still just have to…"

"No, it's ok, Harry," Hermione said, feeling far from ok. Panic was starting to creep in as the seconds ticked away. "I can call Narcissa, I guess, but – oh, gods. No, I can't, because she's going to the damned show as well, with Lucius. They have to go because his company is interested in Charlie's work. And before you ask, no, I don't particularly want Scraps to sit through an afternoon of watching grown men and women perform acrobatics off the backs of dragons fifty meters up. His nightmares are bad enough already," she snapped, feeling more irritable with every word.

Harry gave her a sympathetic look and Hermione was about to utter an apology and take herself off when Ginny reappeared.

"George!" she said brightly.

"What about him?" Hermione asked, rubbing at her head.

"Floo George. He can drive, Dad helped him get his license a couple years ago. He doesn't do it much, but occasionally they do have an enchanted delivery truck at the shop. They take it out every once in a while. And I know he's not doing anything this hour of the morning."

"Oh, I can't call George, Ginny! I'm sure he's busy with the shop or experiments –"

Ginny's face grew stern. "Hermione, I promise he is probably still sleeping. The shop doesn't open until ten. Call George."

"I can just take the day, Ginny, it doesn't matter."

Ginny glared at Harry, who smiled weakly at Hermione and waved before moving from view. The redheaded witch turned back to her.

"You listen to me, Hermione. George isn't doing anything right now other than – oh, probably sleeping off firewhisky! He can drive, you know he gets on with your kids, and he's not likely to run them into a ditch. If you plan on actually making work on time today you'd better Floo him and quick. I promise he won't mind – not if he knows what's good for him."

Hermione hesitated. "Well…I suppose…" she said, looking highly doubtful. "He did say last night I should rely on him if I needed anything."

"There you are then."

"I just didn't think I'd be calling him quite this soon. I don't think it's what he expected when he offered."

"Hermione, you're a single parent with two children. Nothing is ever going to be what either you or he expects and George, for all his pranking, whiny, woe-is-me faults, is smart enough to realize that. Give him some credit, Hermione. Merlin."

Hermione sighed. "Yes, alright, thanks Molly," she said pointedly and Ginny was about to retort something when Harry called to her.

"Gin, you've got to go."

"Alright. Love you, Hermione. Floo later, let me know how it went."

"I will. Thank you, Ginny, Harry. Love you too."

Then she pulled her head from the fireplace and the flames died. She tilted her head, listened for the sounds of merry making coming from the kitchen – Scraps was busy shooting his cereal bits at the wall, no doubt – and turned to gaze at Minnie, who was busily slurping her juice. Minnie paused and tilted her head to match her mother's. Hermione smiled at her.

"What do you think, love? Shall I call Uncle George?"

Minnie began sucking on her juice again and Hermione sighed and turned back to the fireplace. Then she tossed in another handful of Floo Powder and stuck her head back in.

The fireplace roared to life, startling George terribly. One second he was sleeping at the kitchen table and the next he was up on his feet, brandishing an empty bottle in all directions, shouting Protego as if it were his wand.

"George?" came Hermione's voice – or at least, it sounded somewhat like Hermione's voice. He immediately stopped, looked at the bottle in his hands, and tossed it over his shoulder. He smoothed down his hair nervously, quite unaware it was sticking up in the back, and moved cautiously to the fireplace.

"Hermione?" he responded and sure enough, there was her bushy haired self, peering out of the flames at him. Her hair looked as bad as he imagined his did and he stopped trying to catch it down. "What can I do for you?"

"It's only…I didn't have anyone else who could help, not today…one of those perfect storms…and I didn't want to call you so soon, but Ginny said…well, and I hope I didn't wake you?"

He smiled a little at her disjointed speech. It wasn't like her at all and he knew it must have been a hectic morning for her – especially if she was coming down with a cold, as her scratchy voice declared.

"How can I help?" he asked. She launched into another explanation.

"It's just the time…and I have to be at work…and I always drive the children to their grandparents' because I can't Floo them there…only there's absolutely no time this morning…I still have to change…Scraps – oh, there goes his bowl," she finished, turning her head slightly as if listening to something elsewhere in her home. George smiled a little more broadly.

"Hermione, how can I help?" he repeated more firmly, with just a touch of no-nonsense. Hermione turned her gaze back to him, a grateful, embarrassed expression on her face and finally told him what she needed done.

Ten minutes later George was standing in the parlor watching Hermione rearrange her robes for the fifth time.

"Love, you look fine – perfectly presentable. You even got that bit of drool out of your hair."

Hermione stopped and flushed prettily. "Minnie insists on sucking on my hair, for some reason," she muttered, feeling at the now tamed and sleek strands. They never felt as nice when she'd just spelled them into order, but it was better than nothing after the morning she'd had. George had even spelled her robes fresh and pressed for her – or as good as magic could do, at any rate. If he hadn't, she'd be late. In fact, if he hadn't popped over just a minute after she had Flooed him…

"Thank you, George," she said again and he laughed and bounced Minnie against his hip a bit more.

"It's not a problem, honestly. Something to get me up and keep me out of trouble before the day gets started. I told you last night – anytime you need my help, at all…"

"Yes, I know and…it's strange for me, you understand? But a lifesaver."

"Go on, before you use up your ration of compliments. Lovely last night, a lifesaver this morning, you're making me blush, Hermione!"

She flushed again and then leaned forward to kiss Minnie on the cheek one last time. Her daughter gurgled happily and then reached for her mother's curls again. George swiftly intercepted her chubby little fist and distracted as he was by his rescue of Hermione's hair, he nearly missed the way she then stood on tiptoe to land a kiss on his cheek as well. Before he could say or do anything, however, Scraps ran into the room and Hermione swooped down to give him a huge hug. Then she blew kisses at all three of them and disappeared into the fireplace, the words, "Ministry of Magic," on her lips.

George stood there completely shocked for a full minute before Scorpius tugged on his pantsleg.

"Gran and Gramps are waiting," he explained patiently when his Uncle George looked down at him, a silly expression on his face. He lowered his voice – which to a four year old meant it got louder. "And you know your hair is sticking up in the back? Like this?" He mimed exactly what George's hair was doing with his hands and George stared at him a moment, then began to laugh uproariously. His hair was a mess, he likely still had creases on his face from sleeping on the table, and he was lucky he'd had time to take hangover potion and spell himself clean before coming to Hermione's and thrust immediately into the thick of things. And yet he didn't know when he'd last had a day that had started off so well.

He laughed some more and Scraps joined him, giggling madly. Minnie decided not to be left out on the action and snuggled further against him before deciding to attempt climbing his shoulder. He swung her around his neck and perched her atop his shoulders, where she could fist her hands in his hair and attempt to eat the gingery locks all she liked.

Scraps's giggles died away and he smiled up at them. He liked Uncle George.

"Can we go now?" he asked and George nodded, grinning slyly.

"To the Malfoy Mobile!" he exclaimed and Scraps jumped up and down and whooped a bit before turning and running to the front door. George followed him, careful to watch that he didn't knock Minnie into anything; and a few minutes later, with both children safely strapped into their seats, he was in the driver's seat, pulling the vehicle away from the curb and into traffic.

AN: The thought of George quoting Batman seemed appropriate at the time. XD I plead the fifth!