"Actually…there is something I could use a bit of help with…" "Oh yeah?" he asked looking curious. "Yeah. It has to do with Polyjuice Potion…"
Lies, lies, lies. Actually, Hermione knew everything that was possible to know about Polyjuice Potion having successfully made it in her second year. And the topic…well it just didn't get any easier. "What happens if an animal hair gets into the potion instead of a human hair?" she read from her blank essay.
And so Fred helped he write possibly the easiest essay ever assigned to her, and she had had fun writing it. He would occasionally tap her head with a fake wand, and he ate a Canary Cream or two, and he had Hermione laughing the whole time. Hermione was surprised to find how smart he was. She knew he must have to have some brains being able to make up those items they sold, but she was shocked to find that it went beyond pranks.
"Thank you so much." She said, rolling up her essay and smiling at Fred. 'Oh Merlin, there she goes with that smiling thing again.' He thought. Hermione grabbed the Potions book, kissed Fred on the cheek, and left the room. Damn her. That girl just HAD to barge into his room and straddle him and put his face in her chest, didn't she? The rudeness of some people.
later that week
"Hermione come on! We're going to Diagon Alley to get new dress robes, and Mum wants to stop off and see Fred and George. Hermione sprang up and looked in the mirror, trying desperately to flatten her overly-bushy hair. Ginny flashed her an odd look. "We're just going to see Fred and George…it's not like we're meeting a celebrity." She said. "Seriously. I mean why meet one, when you've already got one for a best mate, eh?" Ron said, Harry behind him rolling his eyes.
Hermione and Ginny grinned, but also rolled there eyes, and the four of them left the room. Once dress robes were bought, and the group had eaten lunch at a nearby café, they walked into Fred and George's shop. "Hello my darling brothers!!" Ginny said batting her eyelashes. "Ginny…" started Fred. "We told you…" George continued. "No free items!" they finished together. "Fine. Be that way. But I'll have you know…you'll regret it some day." She said, before stalking off.
"Hello Hermione, how has your summer break been?" asked George draping an arm around her shoulder. "It's been great. All my work is completed, no thanks to you burning your Potions book, might I add, and I'm most certainly ready to go back to Hogwarts." She said.
Ginny came running over just then. "Did you hear?!" she squealed to Hermione. "Hear what?" The brunette asked her friend. "Mum let it spill! The reason we need dress robes!! There's a welcome back ball!! The first Hogwarts has ever had!!" she said excitedly. "Lovely…there's a ball in a week and I've got no date. Not even a POTENTIAL date. I mean you've got Harry, we all know he's going to ask, and Ron's with Lavender still so naturally they'll be going, and I haven't got anyone!" Hermione said. "Aww, Herms it'll be fun!!" Ginny had picked up on the nickname given to her by Ron and Harry. Hermione, could kill them.
"I probably won't go…and don't call me Herms…" she said. "Not go?! Are you MAD?!" George asked. Hermione and Ginny looked at the boy, and it was clear they had gotten so into the conversation that they had forgotten his existence. "Well that what do you presume I do?" she asked, turning to face him.
"Fred! OI FRED!" he called. "What are you…hi Fred." Hermione said. "Hello Mione, great to see you." He replied. "So Fred, what're you doing in about a week?" George asked his twin, though he already knew they were both free. "Oh…you know the usual." Fred replied. The usual meaning he was planning on closing the shop, getting some food, and falling asleep on the couch watching the Muggle T.V. Mr. Weasley got them for a housewarming gift.
"Well, change your plans mate. Dear Hermione here doesn't have a date to the Welcome Back ball Hogwarts is throwing, and we certainly can't let her go alone now can we? I say we join her." George said. "Sure." Fred replied, grinning at Hermione before getting back to business. "See? Went from having no date, to two. Aren't you happy that you know such DASHING people as my brother and I?" Hermione simply laughed.
One Week Later
"Do you think pink is my color?" gasped Lavender Brown worriedly at her stunning pale pink dress robes. "I dunno. I've always loved you in lavender Lav…" Parvati said. "Oh my night is RUINED!" Hermione flicked her wand at the girls robes and watched at they turned from the pink to a lovely light purple. "Oh Hermione!! You're perfectly wonderful!" she exclaimed. "So, who is your date? I mean last time there was a ball, you went with Viktor Krum. Who're you going with this time the Weasley Twins?" Parvati asked jokingly. "Er…yeah actually." Hermione said, taking off her shower robe, which she had been wearing while applying her make-up, to reveal lovely silver dress robes. Her hair was down and in ringlet's, thanks mostly to Ginny, and her make-up was flattering.
The three girls, each looking positively gorgeous, walked out of the dorm and headed downstairs. Every male in the Common Room stood up, awaiting their dates, however all but Dean Thomas, Ron, Fred and George sat down again. Fred was in dark blue dress robes, and George was in emerald green dress robes, both of them looking wonderful. "Hermione!" said George. "You look lovely." Finished Fred. They each held out a single white rose to her, an offered her their arms. Hermione blushed, accepted their arms, and gave Lavender and Parvati a shy smile.
An hour later, George was off snogging a seventh year Hufflepuff, and Fred and Hermione were dancing. "Thanks for coming…" she muttered. "Absolutely. No problem at all." He grinned. "Hey! Did you get good marks on the Potions essay I helped you with?" he asked. Ron was walking past, and stopped dead, looking at the oddly. "Fred helped you with a Potions essay?" he asked.
"Yeah. On Polyjuice Potion. She wasn't clear on what would happen if an animal hair got into the potion by mistake." Fred said to his brother. "Really? Fred, do mind if I borrowed Hermione for a minute?" Ron asked. "Sure…" Fred replied though he looked upset at how Hermione let go as if she had been burned. Fred stepped aside, and Ron sweeped Hermione across the floor as if waltzing. "Hermione Granger. You like Fred." He said.
