chapter 1

It was a few days before school was to start and everyone was enjoying the end of their vacation. It was a beautiful sunny day. The birds were chirping, the wind was singing and Harry and Hermione were watching the live show of ''How-much-can-the-Weasley-twins-piss-off-Ron-before-he-blows-his-top''; a show that happens to be seen several times a day. Today's theme was the zoo. The two redheaded pranksters were amusing themselves by transfiguring different body parts of their beloved brother's into those of animals. At the moment, Ron was running like a madman after Fred and George. The difference in now and a few minutes ago was that the youngest male of the Weasley family now had duck feet, a beaver tale, an ostrich neck and a giant turtle body and legs. The only reason anyone could recognize the boy was that he still had that apparently human head (a fact that had been testified on many occasions by the twins) with that bright red hair, freckles and face.

'' I'm going to murder you, you bloody gits!'' growled Ron Weasley.

The main problem for the aggravated wizard was that he did in fact have a turtle's body and legs at the time, so he wasn't exactly going all that fast.

'' Looks like pooooor ickle Ronniekins has gained some weight.'' said Fred in a mockingly fond way.

''Maybe we should send him to those muggle fat camps.'' replied George in an equally mocking tone.

''It just MIGHT happen to be because this turtle shell you two so NICELY put on me happens to weigh a ton!'' Ron yelled.

At this last remark, Harry and Hermione could no longer hold in their laughter.

''Just you wait 'til I get my hands on you! I swear on Percy's head that you'll regret having ever messed with me!'' exclamed Ron, still walking at an irritatingly slow pace.'

''Looks like we should write to Percy to tell him that his days are numbered.'' said George.

''Dear loving brother Percy, we are so sorry but your days have been numbered thanks to Ron/duck/beaver/ostrich/giant-turtle. Would you like a marble or wooden coffin?'' said Fred while writing in the air with an imaginary quill.

''Arggg!'' growled Ron while preparing himself for his next step.

''Oh yes... we are terrified little brother.'' said Fred, exaggerating every word as though he were talking to a mentally disabled person.

''He moved exactly...dare I say it...3 FEET!'' exclaimed George after he accio-ed a measuring tape.

This, of course, brought on another roar of laughter from the two muggle-raised bystanders.

''Oh Mumsey-''

''Save us!'' finished Fred in mock-horror.

None of them expected that she would actually come out.

''Hermione dear, are you out there?'' came the call of the powerful mother, Molly Weasley.

''Yes, right outside.'' answered Hermione in between chuckles.

''Good Lord...What in heaven's sake did you two DO to him?'' came the booming voice of Molly as she entered the back yard.

''Yes but Mum-''

''Look on the bright side-''

''Now his mental pace-''

''Will be able to keep up with his physical pace.'' finished George.

''Turn him back this instant! There are important matters at hand and you two brats are just fooling around!'' ordered there enraged mother.

''Important matters-''

''We didn't know there were important matters-''

''How we love important matters-''

"But we still don't know what those important matters are-"

''Why haven't you told us yet?''

''Rude, rude, ruuuude if you ask me Fred.''

''I do agree George. Rude!''

''WILL YOU TWO EVER SHUT IT? I'll tell you what's rude. Your father just sent his patronus from the ministry. It just happened to be speaking of an extremely important matter. Your dearly beloved friend Hermione is not, in fact, muggle-born." Molly bellowed.

''What? Sorry Molly, I could have sworn that you just said that Mione wasn't a muggle-born.'' said Harry, not believing what he just heard.

Hermione was at his side looking quite confused. Was this a joke? No, that couldn't be it. Molly didn't really have a sense of humor. But how could she be telling the truth? That would be impossible. Because, if there was one thing that Hermione was most certain of, it was that she was a so called ''mud-blood'' as Draco Malfoy so kindly put it.

''I'm afraid that I did say that dear. Hermione's parents were extremely powerful wizards.'' said the plump women.

Now even the twins were speechless.

''Bu-bu-but...that's impossible! I-parents-wizards-what?''

''I thought I'd never see the day when the brightest witch of the age would stutter.'' said Fred in amazement.

''I reckon it might potentially have something to do with the fact that her whole past was a lie.'' answered George.

''*cough-not helping- *cough'' added Harry, now deeply worried as Hermione's face got pale.

''Is it just me...or is everything turning? I just feel a bit...dizzy.'' the young witch fell right into Harry's arms after those words. lowly the darkness started to take over her vision.

It could have been minutes or days later, Hermione didn't know. The only thing she was certain of was that she was laying down somewhere. There was a light breeze, so she must still be outside. Her pillow was also...moving? At this last realization, her eyes burst opened and she found herself face to face with no other than the famous Harry Potter. Apparently, his lap was her moving pillow.

''What are you-''started the bewildered girl.

''One hundred and twenty-two, one hundred and twenty-three. You have exactly one hundred and twenty-three eyelashes.'' said Harry quite suddenly.

''You were counting my...eyelashes?'' asked the young girl in disbelief.

''Eh ya- I mean no- I mean...eh...maybe?'' he said this as though it were a question.

''Harry, are you Ok? You can trust me.'' said Hermione reassuringly.

''It's just that...well...you see... Ok, here goes. You're really pretty when you sleep Mione.'' said the chosen one in a quiet voice.

Harry could fight the you-know-who, in a cemetery, right beside Cedric Diggory's dead body with no fear whatsoever. But when it came to emotional things, like telling a girl she's pretty, he just looses all his chosen one-ness. So the fact that he was actually speaking his mind about his emotions was really something special. Nothing could possibly ruin this part of history.

''Hey guys, I did it! I got all the way to the porch stairs! Now I just have to go up...the stairs. Arggg!'' came Ron's oh so innocent voice.

Apparently THAT could ruin the 'special moment'. Perfect. Count on Ron to be the one to do that.

''Merlin's beard, Ron! Can't you see were a bit busy here!'' said Harry in a surprisingly irritated tone.

''Whatcha doin' there that's sooo bloody important that a bloke like me can't even talk.'' demanded Ron.

At this precise moment, Molly Weasly walked through the door.

''Nothing! Just nothing!'' Harry growled through clenched teeth and got off the bench where he and Hermione were sitting.

'' I just got a letter from Arthur that was so CHARMINGLY transfiguring into a HOWLER!'' the redheaded women said the part about the howler quite loud so that the twins could hear.

''No need to shout Mum, were not deaf!'' said Fred sliding Harry's invisibility cloak off of him and his twin then returning it to Harry.

''Well we weren't before you yelled bloody murder.'' added George, rubbing his ears.

''And I'd get used to that howler thing if I were you-''

''Because we jinxed all the doors and windows so that whenever a letter comes in-''

''It will instantly turn into a howler-''

''To show you our understanding about the fact that your poor hearing is going down-''

''And the only reason you yell so much-''

''Is really because you can't hear yourself properly otherwise.'' finished George affectionately.

''Oh, I can't wait until the day you two have moved, are married and have children that annoy you just as much as you two annoy me.'' said Molly, irritated.

''Um, excuse me Molly, but what did the letter/howler say.'' asked Hermione, only knowing too well what happens when you push on the powerful woman' s nerves.

''Oh yes, of course dear. Arthur said to meet him at the ministry at 4pm. That gives us 15 minutes.'' said Molly.

''But Ron still hasn't done the dishes.'' said one of the twins wickedly.

''Ey! That's not fair, I did them last time. Plus you two are done school, you can do magic whenever you want.'' complained Ron.

''Not our fault.'' said the twins simultaneously.

''No, of course not. It must have been the Nargles again.'' said Ron sarcastically.

''I knew they were guilty somehow or another.'' said Fred.

''Harry, you go do it.'' said Ron.

''Um, sorry Hermione, but could you do it?'' asked Harry apologetically.

''Ginny, go do the dishes. Not my fault, it's the twins. Obviously. Throw in a good punch for me when you kill them. Thanks. Bye.'' called Hermione.

A grumble was heard from inside the house.

''I can't wait 'till I can use magic outside of Hogwarts!'' grumbled Ginny miserably to herself.

''Ok everyone, no more dawdling. Let's go now. Up, up, up! We'll take the flu network.'' said Molly, remembering the time.

And off they went to discover what exactly the minister had in store for them. Completely unaware of their horrible fate.

R&R Please!