Once they'd revived Molly, they all immediately began asking questions left and right. Fred waited patiently until they'd all died down, then folded his legs, holding his hands pressed together before him. He opened his eyes, smiled sagely, and replied, "I dunno." There was a collective sigh from the group.

They spent the rest of the afternoon catching up. Both Hermione and Percy approached him to talk about various tests and examinations they wished to perform on him, which he waved off with vague answers. Percy left early, disgruntled, Audrey politely excusing herself and the children to go after him.

"Hey, Gred," Fred said. "Know what I miss most?"

"What's up, Forge?" his twin asked, carefully adding lacewing flies to the cauldron he was stirring.

Fred sighed. "Food. I miss Mum's cooking." George looked up. He added a few more stirs, then took the cauldron off the heat, hopping up on the table next to Fred.

"Freddie, how many things have we invented?" he questioned. Fred opened his mouth, but George cut him off. "Lots, right? Why couldn't we invent a potion to help with that?" Fred's eyes widened. This could be huge.

Hermione Granger stood at the entrance to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, her hand on the doorknob. She wasn't sure what to expect when the twins had called her here, but she was sure it was nothing good. Fortunately, she was spared the decision when George opened the door.

"Hermione!" he yelled, hugging her. "Come in!" He grabbed her by the shoulders and expertly commandeered her into the back room.

"It's our favorite witch!" Fred cried. "Top of the class, she is. And excellent at Potions, am I right, George?"

"Quite right, Fred! Why, she-"

Hermione sighed. "Get to the point, please."

The twins stopped, deflated.

"Right, then," Fred started, "As you know, I am a, erm, ghost…" He stopped when he saw Hermione shake her head. "What? I am."

Hermione looked at him. "Nearly Headless Nick is a ghost. Moaning Myrtle is a ghost. No, Fred, judging from your behavior…..I've been looking into it. I'm fairly certain you're a poltergeist."

After the screaming and dancing in a circle had ended, Hermione was regretting telling the twins this news. They had brainstormed a new name for the shop- 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and Poltergeezes.'

"Fred! George! Kindly tell me why I am here." They quieted. Fred floated forward.

"Well, we weren't lying when we said you were a great potioneer. We...I...need your help."

Hermione frowned and folded her arms.

"I acknowledge that the two of you are very talented at charms, and the shop is brilliant, but if you need my help then this is serious."

Fred nodded. "We wanted to ask what you knew about the possibility of a potion that would enable a ghost- or poltergeist- to eat and drink."

Hermione furrowed her brow, deep in thought. "I don't know that that's possible, Fred. We wouldn't be able to get the potion in you for it to work. But….."

"What?" George asked, leaning forward excitedly.

"Well," Hermione said slowly, "We could probably turn the food itself ghostly."

A few hours later, Hermione left, promising to send them any research she found.

George rifled through books on the different uses of flowers in potions while Fred tended to the shop with Verity. They had gotten the new sign up, and more customers than ever had come to see the shop where one of the owners was a ghost. Parents were wary at first, but soon realized that Fred was as enthralled by the children as they were with him. He beamed while showing them prank products to use on their friends, subtly redirecting parents to items such as the reusable hangman ("Good for spelling practice,") and everlasting ink ("saving you a lot of money in the long run.") He levitated Pygmy Puffs, making them fly about the room and setting them atop little girls.

George and Hermione were in the back, sharing assorted things they found that might work. They weren't particularly experienced in the field, as nothing like this had ever been tried before. Hermione slammed a book shut, surprising George and making him jump. "George, this is pointless, honestly. We need to consult professionals. I think we should go back to Hogwarts."

He grinned. "Can we take Fred with us?"

Just then, Fred floated in. "Did someone say Fred Weasley?"

George beamed. "I think we're going back."

Fred's eyes widened. "Back to witches and wizards, and magical beasts? Goblins, ghosts and magical feasts?"

Hermione nodded. "It's all that we love, and all that we need at Hogwarts."

George agreed. "Hogwarts."

They took the Knight Bus, finally stepping inside the gates once more.