A/N: One review (as of the second I wrote that) Reviews make me happy dance. Okay so I reread Chapter One. Sorry for the typos. I'm doing this on an app on my phone and well it likes to add extra letters occasionally.
Fred cleared his throat. He'd never been so silent for so long. Except detention. Detention. Almost over chap, he thought. He studied. Hermione. How could a person be so quiet? And be content with it? He cleared his throat again.
She looked up from her knitting. "Yes?"
"How are you so quiet?"
"Only child. I learned to amuse myself. Hense the books," she explained, as she tugged more yarn out of the bright crimson ball at her feet.
"Is that a Gryffindor scarf?" he asked.
She nodded. "Skills."
He chuckled, as a faint pop came from the kitchen. Molly let out a gasp as something crashed in the kitchen. "Oh Tonks it's only you. They're in the den best introduce yourself."
A young witch walked into the den. Her bright pink hair glinting off the light from the windows. Fred let out a low whistle. Hermione glared at him. "Really you're ridiculous," she grumbled.
"Nice hair," Fred said.
The witches hair went from bright pink to turquoise and back again. "Thanks. I'm Tonks. I'm your escort. You must be Hermione and Fred?" Tonks held out her hand to both of them. "Nice to meet you both."
Hermione smiled. "Pleasure."
Tonks laughed."I've been told to keep an eye on this one." She looked at Fred, who winked at her. "And now I see why."
Fred stood up. "My reputation proceeds me I see."
Instant charmer, pathedic. Hermione thought, standing up. She rolled her eyes. "Where are we going?"
"To headquarters. Now I'm a trained professional," the older witch said, before tripping over the rug and falling into the coffee table.
"What do you do Tonks?" Hermione asked.
"I'm am auror. Now we need to be moving along now," Tonks stated, as she backed off the rug. "Now we must be off. There's a port key we need to get too. Follow me please."
Tonks led them out into the orchard outside of the Burrow. Hermione sighed, as she dragged along her trunk and cat. Fred looked over at her and winked. She shot him a dirty look, unimpressed with elder Weasley twin.
"What?" he mouthed.
Hermione just rolled her eyes in response.
Fred glared at her, ",Just when I thought we were getting along there bird."
She chose to ignore him and started peppering Tonks with questions. The older witch laughed, with every answer she gave.
Tonks cleared her throat. "We're here," she said gesturing to a bright pink converse. "Portkey the preferred method of travel."
Hermione laughed at the tension breaking quip. Fred looked over at her. Such a pretty laugh. Too bad I don't do that, he thought, wait I do make her laugh. Just when no one is around. Might have to do something to change that. Hmm but what.
"Well come on now," Tonks said, as she sat down beside the portkey.
Fred and Hermione mimicked her actions. Tonks took Crookshanks crate from her. "I expect you two have done this before?" Tonks asked.
The two of them nodded. "It's been a year or so though," Hermione stated.
Tonks cleared her throat. "Here's a bit of a refresher then. Well welcome to Portkey express. My name is Nymphadora Tonks and I'll be your Auror this evening. Please keep one hand on the portkey at all times. Hold onto your luggage. Do not let go until I give you the word. We will be landing a bit from our intended location. From there we'll walk. Now of you'll please place one hand on the port key?"
Hermione took at deep breath and placed her hand on the port key. Fred followed her actions. Before they knew it. The three of them had landes in a little park. Hermione sat upright from her landing position. Her neck and back aching again. So much for that, she thought standing up. She looked over at her traveling companions.
Fred was sitting on his trunk, looking very smug. She scoffed and rolled her eyes. Tonks had landed on her feet.
"Well that was exciting," Tonks said dusting off her clothes, "Now let's get a move on."
Hermione grabbed the handle of her trunk and followed Tonks and Fred. She looked around for her cat crate before she noticed that it was in Fred's hand. The beast inside it was purring and meowing contentedly. She groaned. Fickle thing, she grumbled to herself.
Fred looked back at her and smiled. "Your cat likes me Granger," he chuckled.
"He also likes to eat toads. I think I understand why now," Hermione snipped.
"Ribbit," he countered.
"That's a frog. Toads are more of a croak," Tonks pointed out, "Hurry up almost there."
"More of a croak," Fred said, with particular emphasis on the croaking noise that came from his throat.
Tonks sniggered. Hermione rolled her eyes and looked around the muggle townhomes. Tonks stood between eleven and twelve. "Welcome to Grimmuald place. Number thirteen to be exact," she stated in a hushed tone.
"There's no thirteen tthough," Hermione pointed out.
Tonks looked at her and winked. "Just wait." She flicked her wand a couple of time and murmured an incantation.
Number thirteen seemed to grow out from the ends of its neighbors. Hermione stood awestruck, while Fred just rolled his eyes clearly unimpressed. Tonks looked back at them beeming. Her hair had gotten brighter with her excitement. It hurt Hermione's eyes to look at it.
"In we go," Tonks said leading the way in. Fred and Hermione following close behind the Auror.
Number Thirteen Grimmuald place was a dark and dusty. Hermione sneezed upon entering the building. Fred looked around enjoying his new ssurroundings.
Probably noting which corners he can jump out of to scare people, or to hide punching teddy bears, she thought smiling at the last bit.
"What's so funny Granger?" Fred asked.
"Punching teddy bears," Hermione replied.
"Is that Miss Hermione Granger?" A familiar voice asked. Sirius.
Hermione's face lit up, as she spotted Harry's coming out of what she assumed was a drawing room. "Sirius!" She exclaimed dropping her trunk and running to the man she'd helped save.
Fred rolled his eyes. Of course she likes older men, he griped.
"You must be Arthur's boy well one of them. Sirius Black. Hermione and my god son saved me from a very cruel fate." Sirius squeezed Hermione's shoulder.
Hermione studied him. "You look good," she said. The older man had picked up some color and looked a little more sane and a little less haggard than when she'd seen him last. She could almost say he looked polished compared to the night he'd escaped the dementors.
"Molly said to corral you teenagers into the library until her and Arthur can get here. Its inhabitable. The rest of the house is a work in progress," Sirius said.
"Who's house is this exactly?" Hermione asked.
"Mine. Welcome to the Black family home. Its mine now. Since I'm the only Black left," Sirius said, "And now its Order of the Phoenix headquarters."
"Well that answers that," Fred said.
Hermione ignored him. "Have you heard from Harry?"
Sirius nodded. "He's upset but there's nothing you or I can do Hermione. Not until Dumbledore gives the word."
Hermione gave a quick nod of agreement. "Where's the library?" she asked.
"Second floor first door on your left," Sirius said, motioning to the staircase.
Hermione gave a quick nod and made her way upstairs. Fred followed her, his head cocked slightly to the right. Sirius cleared his throat. The Weasley twin looked at him and smiled.
