Of Teacups and Idiots Part 2 (Barmy Prompts)
Read Part 1 here
“I’m fine, Hermione! I promise,” said Ron, trying in vain to convince Hermione that the gash in his forehead wasn’t actually that deep. “I’m glad you didn’t call mum.”
“Yes, on George’s insistence,” said Hermione, casting him a dirty look.
“I’m really sorry, mate! I should’ve listened to you when you warned me to be careful with it,” said George, for what must have been the tenth time within the past five minutes.
“Ah, don’t worry ‘bout it. If you hadn’t messed up, I probably would have,” he said, dismissively.
“Well, we’re going to have to work on it some more, to make it safer to use at the department,” said Harry grimly.
“I beg your pardon?” said Hermione, looking up at Harry with her eyes narrowed.
“Um, so that, no one would be in this situation again?”
“No, no one’s going to be in this situation again, because it’s not happening. You’re not making those blasted teacup-sneakoscopes anymore!”
“Hermione, it’s really important,” said Ron, trying to talk reason into his hysterical wife. “And it actually works! I’m proof that it works!”
“Are you joking, Ronald? You’re never going near those things again, if I have anything to say about it!”
“I worked really hard on it! And it’s nearly perfect, it just needs some safety features and probably a slightly slower response time-“
“He’s right Hermione,” Harry interjected before Ron got too carried away with the details. “It’s important to the department, it’ll solve a lot of our problems.”
“I don’t care! I’ll have them banned, Potter. Just you try and bring them into the Ministry, I’ll get those damn teacups banned!” she said furiously.
“I’m with her on this one,” added Ginny, albeit a bit more sedately. “You nearly got killed, Ron. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”
“Bloody hell, look at me, I’m fine! You’re both being ridiculous!” said Ron, irritated.
“Oh, we’re being ridiculous? Excuse me for being upset that my husband got himself nearly killed by tripping over an enchanted teacup! How dare I be worried!”
“Hermione,” Ron’s voice softened as he saw the tears in her eyes.
But she blinked them away and shook her head.
“I’m warning you both, I’ll take the matter to the Wizengamot if I have to. And you know I’ll win, too. So, you better drop it.”
Ron sighed deeply.
"Hermione-" Harry began to say, but Ron cut in.
“You’re the boss, Hermione. Consider it dropped,” he said, catching Harry’s eye. After a little staring contest between the two, Harry let out a frustrated sigh.
“Yeah. We’ll let it go, Hermione,” he agreed reluctantly.
“I’ll personally get rid of all of them,” George chimed in.
“Yeah, forgive me if I don’t trust you with that,” retorted Ginny, even as Hermione hugged Ron and sobbed with relief.
“Harry will take care of it, won’t you Harry?”
“Of course!” he replied.
“Well, do any of you trust me to bring you anything from the cafeteria?” asked George in a mock-wounded voice.
“No, not really. I’ll come with you just to be sure. Coffee for everyone?” asked Ginny, already pushing George out the door.
“Tea for me, please,” Hermione called after her, before turning to Ron. “Will you be alright for a few minutes? I just want to go ask the healer when they’ll be able to release you.”
“Sure, Hermione. They put me on all kinds of potions, I’m not going anywhere,” he grinned at her.
“Don’t worry Hermione. I’ll wait right here until everyone gets back,” Harry assured her. She nodded and left to find Healer Lash.
Harry settled himself in one of the chairs next to Ron’s bed.
“So.”
“So?”
“We’re not really going to give up on the Sneakoscopes, are we?”
“Pfft. Of course not!”