Upside Down

I've gotten such a great reception to the story! I'm glad everyone likes it so far. And for the ones who are in for the ride, it's going to be an exciting and bumpy one, so remember to wear your helmets!
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Hermione found out very quickly just how big the culture gap between her and Ruby when they went out to eat. Ruby spent a good five minutes arguing with their waitress about the difference between ‘chips’ and ‘fries’. Hermione finally snapped after the waitress called Ruby a ‘low-class Yank.’

“That’s enough!” Hermione exploded, seeing the look of absolute shock and hurt on Ruby’s face. “Just bring us both a sandwich and chips!” she spat acidly at the waitress.

“But I don’t want chips! I want fries…” Ruby argued. Hermione took a deep breath, and tried to use the information she had gathered from the fight to her advantage.

“Ruby….your ‘fries’ are our ‘chips.’ Your ‘chips’ are our ‘crisps.’ It’s a different word for practically the same thing….” She said as gently as possible. Ruby put her hands in her lap, looking thoroughly depressed.

“I need a cookie…” Ruby mumbled, and sniffled softly.

“I think you mean biscuit…” Hermione said softly. Ruby suddenly burst into tears.

“No! I don’t mean biscuit…I mean cookie! I want iced tea and fried chicken, with southern slaw and mashed potatoes and gravy! I want apple pie with vanilla ice cream. I want turnip greens and pinto beans, with a big pone of cornbread. I want…I just want to go home…” Ruby sobbed. Hermione was at a loss. She hadn’t realized that Ruby was so….unstable. But it was to be expected, she supposed.

She was in a foreign land with no family, friends, money or home, and no knowledge of the culture she had been so suddenly submerged in. Hermione realized at that moment that she probably had her work cut out for her taking care of this American orphan. But Hermione was the most brilliant witch of their age…she could handle a little American….couldn’t she?

Hermione looked at the waitress, who was still standing there, a gobsmacked expression on her face at Ruby’s outburst.

“Look…just cancel the order. We’re leaving.” She said. “C’mon, Ruby. I know a place we can go that you’ll enjoy…” she said softly, reaching out her hand for the girl’s Ruby took it, still sniffling softly, and Hermione walked with her to the nearest Apparition point.

When they materialized, Ruby looked up in awe.

“What is this place? It’s…so interesting…” she said, a grin slowly replacing her sad look.

“Ruby…welcome to the Burrow!”

Ruby looked on in awe as a wave of red-heads suddenly ran from the house, all going for her curly-headed cousin.

“Mione!” Ron called, wrapping her in his arms and twirling her. Fred and George then crushed her in a twin sandwich, kissing both her cheeks.

“Mi! It’s been ages! You look absolutely spiffing!” Fred said amicably, and the twins released her.

“I was just here a few days ago…” Hermione said, a grin on her face.

“But those few days have been torture!” George put in. It was Molly, following behind her brood with a smile, who noticed Ruby.

“Who’s your company, Hermione?” she asked, wiping flour off of her hands with her apron.

“This is my cousin, guys. This is Ruby Grangeford. She’s American.” She said. Ruby then got the same treatment as Hermione from the twins.

“Welcome to the other side of the pond, dear.” Fred said, kissing her cheek.

“I must say, you look a lot less frightening than the picture books. I was always under the impression Americans were cross-eyed, big-eared, fanged beasts that eat little children and ruin perfectly good tea with copious amounts of sugar and ice.” George said. Hermione stiffened slightly…George may have went too far…but to her utter amazement, Ruby burst out laughing.

“I like you. Both of you.” Ruby giggled, and the twins smiled.

“Did you hear that, Fred?”

“Little Ruby likes us, George! Our lives are complete!”

“We can die happy, Fred.”

Ruby laughed harder at the antics of the twins.

“You guys are hilarious. Now put me down…” She said, still smiling.

“But you’re so cute!” Fred cooed, cuddling her like one would a cat or dog. He turned to his mother. “Can we keep her, Mum? We promise to be extra careful! Not like that last American….What ever happened to him, George?”

“I think he ran away, Fred.”

“We never found a body so that’s what must have happened…”

“Maybe if we actually feed this one, Fred.”

“That might help, George.”

“You smell nice and everything….but could ya put me down, now?” Ruby said, looking slightly uncomfortable with her cheek pressed against Fred’s chest. Hermione cleared her throat, and Fred gently put the petit American back on the ground. Ruby smoothed the wrinkles from her shirt.

“Hermione, dear, what brings you to the Burrow?” Molly asked, smoothing some of the young woman’s hair.

“We came by to see if we might join you for dinner. I’m afraid Ruby hasn’t quite gotten the hang of ordering out over here.” Hermione said. Ruby blushed pink, and put her head down. “Although it was interesting to see her argue with the waitress over her chips…” Hermione added with a smile.

“Of course, dear! You’re both welcome any time. I was just setting things up. We’re just waiting for Percy. Bill and Charlie weren’t able to make it, I’m afraid, but I can’t wait to meet Percy’s girlfriend. He sounds serious about this one!” Molly said, the excitement practically rolling off of her in waves.

Dinner at the Weasley house was not only delicious, but it was only slightly controlled chaos. It reminded Ruby of the time she had seen a herd of Buffalo moving. Beautiful…but dangerous. But it also happened to be the best meal Ruby had had since she had came to England, having been unfamiliar with or afraid to try anything else, and having been stuck with sandwiches after she had been taken into the Ministry’s custody after her father was killed.

But a full belly and the warmth of a family that really cared about each other had a very bubbly effect on Ruby, and she found herself talking about her home country to the friendly ginger people.

“Well, the thing I miss most about home is the farm that I grew up on. We had cows and horses, and lots of gardens. The only thing we ever went to the store for was house wares. I ‘specially miss my horse Shadrack. He was a big black Clydesdale that I rescued from a barn fire, hence his name. ‘Bout as soon as I got him out of the barn, it collapsed, but there wasn’t a mark on him…not even as much as a singed bit of tail.” Ruby said, looking quite wistful.

“Whatever happened to the farm?” Arthur asked.

“I don’t know what will happen to it. With my mom and dad gone, I’m the only one with legal claim to it, but I don’t have the deed nor was I left any provisions in my father’s will. He didn’t expect to go so soon, I guess…” Ruby said, propping her chin on her hand. Molly looked at Hermione, who was surprised to hear this bit of information.

“I guess the government will take it. They’ve wanted my dad to sell forever because they wanted the land. Effin A, sometimes I hate the American Government….” She said, and sighed loudly. There was an awkward silence at the table. Ruby looked up, blushed, and then plastered a grin on her face. “But don’t let me get you guys down! I’m just fine! I’m getting used to this place a lot quicker than I thought I would! Except the tea…I’m so very sorry….but I can’t do it. I tried….I really did…” she said, looking apologetic. Molly laughed.

“You don’t have to apologize to us, dear! I’ll just make sure to have you something else to drink next time you visit.” She said. “And you’ll visit soon, won’t you?” she asked, turning to Hermione.

“I’ll try, Mrs. Weasley. I think I’m going to take Ruby shopping tomorrow, and then the next day I have to go gather some Potions ingredients from the Forbidden Forest.” She said.

“Do be careful in that place, Hermione, I’ve heard the Death Eaters are using parts of it as camp.” Arthur said, looking serious.

“Death Eaters?” Ruby asked, wrinkling her nose at the strange name. “Is that some kind of motorcycle gang?” she asked. Hermione laughed, snorting the water she had been drinking up her nose.

“No…I’ll…I’ll tell you back at the flat…” she said, wiping the water from her face. The Weasleys all had parting hugs and kisses for both Hermione and Ruby. Except Percy, who shook their hands warmly and sent them on their way.

Once back at the flat, the two women plopped down on the sofa, full and exhausted.

“That one guy, the one with the glasses, is he some kind of kill-joy?” Ruby asked. Hermione snorted, and nodded.

“Yeah…Percy is a bit of a kill-joy from time to time. Say, it’s getting late. Do you want to shower tonight or in the morning?”

“I always shower at night.” Ruby said.

“And I do in the mornings.” Hermione replied.

After her shower, Ruby emerged from the bathroom dressed in her pajamas, her hair dry and-

“You’ve got curly hair!” Hermione exclaimed, running her hands over the soft brown ringlets. “But it was straight when you went in...”

“I straighten my hair.” Ruby said. She drew her wand from the waistband of her sleeping pants, and cast a spell over her hands. She then used her fingers like a flat iron, taming the curls into straight submission.

“So…you can use magic. But how is that possible?” Hermione asked.

“Well…the American government is a lot less strict on underage magic than the British Government. I was able to go through a program that allowed me to place out of several of the classes I was supposed to take, which then allowed me to graduate early. I have certification to use magic, even though I’m only sixteen. I actually graduated when I was fifteen. It’s great to be smart.” She said, running the last strand of curls through her fingers to straighten them. Hermione grinned. At least her cousin was smart…she really couldn’t abide by stupid people.

“Well, tomorrow’s going to be a long day. I’m going to take you out to get you some clothes and amenities. Then maybe we can go see how Harry’s doing.” She said.

“Who’s Harry?” Ruby asked.

“Harry Potter, my best friend.” She said. Ruby nodded. They parted ways at their separate doors.

“Good night, Ruby.” Hermione said, smiling at the girl who had been thrust into her life.

“Good night, cousin. I just wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me so far. Even if you don’t decide to keep me, I won’t forget the time we got to share.” Ruby said. Hermione smiled, and closed her door. She felt tears pricking at her eyes as she climbed into her bed. She could never turn Ruby away. The girl had no one, and nowhere to go. And she seemed like such a smart girl. It would be a waste not to culture such an obviously brilliant mind. Besides, it would be like having a younger sister, and Hermione had always regretted being an only child.

Who knew….maybe something good could come out of this after all…
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I know, I know....no Draco. But I promise he's coming up soon. I can't tell you when, because that would ruin the surprise now, wouldn't it? But he's coming. Oh...he's coming.

But in the meantime, why don't you tell me what you think of Ruby and Hermione? I'm sure both of them would cherish the attention...

You've already read, now rate and/or review!!