Chapter 3: After You
"George Weasley!"
Molly Weasly was not impressed with the eldest of the twins. Not only had he not woken up to help clean the house, he also had forgotten to oversee that the rest of the teenagers in the house did theirs. That left an untidy house and a very unhappy Mrs Weasley. George apparated sheepishly into the hall. This was going to be interesting.
He poked his head around the corner only to retract it quickly whilst a plate flew past his head.
"God woman, the killing curse would be an easier method" George yelled from around the corner.
"Get in here now!" Molly demanded.
George took a deep breathe and rounded the corner. There his mother stood, hands on hips, face bright red, chest heaving. A typical sight with an infuriated Molly Weasley.
"What did I do now?" he groaned, taking a seat at the end of the table.
"You were supposed to clean the house this morning! And you were meant to tell the others what they were meant to be doing! It's now lunch time and nothing has been done! We promised Sirius we would help out! And what happens?! YOU REFUSE TO WAKE UP! I am SO DISAPPOINTED IN YOU! All you do is sit around all day or apparate everywhere or use your USELESS WIZARDING WAZOO-"
"Wheezes"
"I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY ARE CALLED! WHY COULDN'T YOU HAVE JUST STUDIED FOR YOUR O. ! THEN YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR LIFE!"
"Mum, I'm sorry! I forgot!"
"Useless. Absolutely useless" Molly whispered to herself, "FRED!"
"At your service mother dearest" Fred called sarcastically, slipping into a deep bow.
"Seeing as your older brother-"
"By 13 minutes" Fred muttered.
"Has decided to be completely incompetent-"
A scoff came from George's mouth.
"I have decided you are going to be in charge"
A confused look came across Fred's face. "Wot?"
"You are going to round up everybody, assign them a partner and a room to clean and you will not have any supper until ALL THE ROOMS ARE CLEAN" Molly yelled.
"Alrighty there mother, no need to get yah knickers in a bunch! I'm on it" Fred replied sarcastically, "Unlike that ungrateful prat"
George scowled. "Well, at least I'm still the better looking one"
"Debatable"
The two stood and walked out of the kitchen. Standing in the hall they looked at each other and smiled. Fred winked.
"ALL RIGHT YOU LOT, GET DOWN 'ERE" he yelled.
"YEAH YOU LAZY GITS, UP AND AT 'EM!" bellowed George.
Suddenly, four sets of footsteps came rushing across the landing.
"What's going on?"
"What happened?"
"Who's been injured?"
"No one you dozy birds, we've gotta clean the house" explained George.
"Yeah, and seeing as this one" Fred pointed to George, "angered the beast, I have been put in charge"
The four between the two in amazement.
"Right," scoffed Harry, "and I'm getting Ron a spider for christmas"
Ron shuddered.
"No really, you can ask the old bat herself" George chimed, "She obviously didn't want you children distracted from my good looks"
"Anyways kiddly winks, time to get cleaning! George, you and Gin can go clean the drawing room. Harry, Hermione, you two are cleaning you clean the first floor bedrooms and Ronnykins, you and I will be cleaning Sirius' room" rambled Fred.
"Actually, Fred, is it okay if I go with Ron? No offense Hermione, but uh, you know, you can be a bit over bearing"
Hermione looked over at Harry scowling. She knew what the two were up to. Discussing the increasingly intimate details pertaining to their girlfriends.
Surprisingly Fred's face lit up. "Alright mate, if you and Ronnykins REALLY need some alone time. It's sorted. Right gang, lets get cleaning!"
The pairs all moved to their individual parts of the house. Fred extended a hand up the staircase.
"After you love"
Hermione laughed. She started up the staircase. As Fred and Hermione continued past the second floor, she couldn't help but think, what was that look on Fred's face for? He seemed genuinely happy to be cleaning with her. Usually Fred couldn't stand to even speak to her for more than a few minutes and now he wanted to spend the next few hours cleaning with her. And she couldn't help but feel as she walked up that last staircase that he was staring at her.
Once they arrived at the room, Fred reached around her to unlock the door. Hermione couldn't help but notice the tension in his arm. The muscle bulging just slightly as he twisted the key in the lock. The loud click broke the silence.
Two hours passed as the pair scrubbed the filth off of Siruis' bed, dusted the furnishings and straightened out the bed. The only thing proving to be a problem was the infestion of doxies. The supply of Doxycide was beginning to wane and the pile of doxies in the bucket did not seem to increase although the bulge of Fred's pockets did.
"This is hopeless" cried Hermione as she sat on the bed.
"Don't give up now 'Mione! After all, the venom will be great for the Skiving Snackboxes" beamed Fred as he joined Hermione.
She snapped around. "What?"
"Well, ah, you see, we use the ah, the doxy venom and it uh, yeah, well" Fred replied sheepishly.
"And you've been testing this on first years?!"
"Now, come on love, it's not dangerous. We pay 'em"
"And that makes it alright?! Honestly Fred, do you have any idea how dangerous doxy venom can be?"
"Well enough to know that they make yah sick"
"It can kill people Fred, KILL THEM!"
"Yeah, but not if it's mixed with certain ingredients"
"SO?! It is completely immoral! I have no choice but to-"
"But to what, tell my mother?" Fred sneered, now standing directly in front of Hermione. She had forgotten how tall he was as he loomed over her.
"Listen here you twig haired little git, I don't care if you are friends with Harry and Ron, I don't care if you are some prefect, and I sure as hell don't care that underneath all this snobby twat behaviour you are actually one of the most decent people I have met. George and me, we are trying to make a life for ourselves. We are trying to get out of Hogwarts, away from Umbridge, away from all the crap that has been going on here. And here you are, standing in our way at every turn! Why is that? Because the only thrill you get in life is belittling people to make yourself feel better? Cause you have to feel and be superior at all points during the day?! Get off your high horse Granger. And maybe, just maybe, people would actually LIKE YOU"
Fred stopped. His chest was heaving from the fury he felt, his hands clenched. Hermione looked down as she sat. He braced himself for a hexing. He knew it was coming. He jolted as she stood and looked up at him, her expression unreadable.
"If you ever speak to me again, I will hex you into the next life" she whispered, stepping around him and walking out the door. Rushing down the two flights of stairs, she entered her room and slammed the door. As she leant against the door sobbing, Fred apparated into the kitchen.
"Sirius' room is finished"