Once again, I own zilch.


The first week without Fred and George was strange. Having no one to liven everybody up at the end of the day, no one to make lessons enjoyable and most of all, no one for me to hang around with.

That weekend the twins owled me, inviting me to see the shop in all of it's glory. I can't deny that it looked amazing and it was obvious how much hard work must have gone into everything.

"Did we do good?" Fred made me jump.

"It's amazing" he grinned at me like a Cheshire cat.

"Fred did pretty much all of the decorating" George called as he put some boxes on top of the counter.

"He's useless with that sort of thing" Fred whispered in my ear earning a glare from George and a giggle from me.

"You're just jealous I'm better looking"

"Keep thinking that dear brother" Fred walked over to the counted propping himself up on his elbows. George put his arm around his brothers shoulders.

"Don't worry Freddie, maybe one day you won't be such an ugly beast" they shared a grin and I couldn't help but smile at the way they teased each other. The twins began to empty one of the boxes full of unlabelled vials on the desk, all different colours being mixed together, ready to have a heart attack I jumped in.

"What are you doing? Things could get dangerous if you get something mixed up!" I shouted at them as I arranged the vials into colour co-ordinated groups. The twins exchanged a knowing look and nodded before standing by my side.

"How would you like to help out in the shop?" George asked.

"Oh I couldn't" I waved my hand at him.

"We could do with some help at the weekends, plus you've seen how we handle stock, we'll most likely blow up the place within a month!" Fred laid his head on my shoulder and looked up at me.

"Please?" pushing him off my shoulder I slowly nodded and was smothered in a hug. Every weekend I had was spent at the shop with the twins, helping them out with products and preventing them from blowing the whole shop up.

Admittedly it was a very hard job considering they had a habit of messing with dangerous things. School was the same, if not duller. But it made the weekends more entertaining and gave me something to look forward to.

Ginny had seemed to of distanced herself from Harry for no apparent reason but I did a mental happy dance. Maybe it was because of Ron's new girlfriend, Lavender Brown.

I was never fond of Lavender but was glad that someone made Ron happy. I was awoken in the middle of the night by a horrible churning in my stomach, I ran to the toilet feeling incredibly sick, but nothing happened. I walked down to the common room clutching my stomach, I was greeted by the warmth coming from the fire.

Looking at the clock, I discovered that it was 5am, everyone would be waking up soon and there was no point in going back to bed so I laid on the sofa, one arm under my head and the other draped over my stomach, willing the sicky feeling to go.

Luna woke me up, the common room was still empty and much to my disappointment I still felt awful, the sickness had worn off but in it's place was a raging headache.

"Are you okay Hermione? You've practically slept all day" I looked at the clock, she was right, it was now 3pm. I'd slept all day yet no one had woken me up. I could imagine how I looked to all of the students passing through.

"I feel awful" I sighed, sitting up. Luna looked sympathetic.

"You don't look so good, are you hungry? Thirsty?" I shook my head.

"I'm just so tired all of the time. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling sick so I came down here" she nodded and sat next to me, I put my head on her shoulder and she wrapped an arm around me.

"How did things go with Neville?" I felt her breathe in deeply.

"It turns out that we did get rather close that night... But he doesn't seem interested in a relationship"

"I'm sorry" she nodded and smiled.

"How's it going at the shop?"

"Shit, I need to tell them I'm not well. I can't work like this" I sighed.

"I'll take care of it, don't worry" I thanked her.

"Honestly the girl's a bloody pain in the ar-" Ron and Harry walked into the common room, Ron stopping mid-sentence. Both of them staring as if taking in what they were seeing.

"What's happening?" Harry asked quietly.

"Hermione isn't very well" Luna rubbed my shoulder carefully.

"Is it contagious?" Ron asked, which was answered by Harry swiftly elbowing him in the ribs.

"I think you're safe Ronald" I smiled.

"Good. I don't need to get sick. Lavender would baby me to death!" he said looking sorry for himself. Feeling a familiar feeling in my stomach I slowly got up from the sofa. Everyone's eyes followed me, Luna stood to support me. I didn't really need it, though my legs were wobbly due to lack of use all day.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked in a worried tone.

"Yeah, I just feel a little nauseous, that's all. I think I'm going to go up to bed" Harry nodded. Luna helped me up to bed and once I was settled she asked if I needed anything to which I simply shook my head.

"Should I get a nurse?" She wondered while putting her hand to my forehead, checking my temperature.

"I'll be fine, I just need a bit of rest, I've been so busy lately it must be catching up to me" I shut my eyes and attempted to sleep, Luna sat on the end of my bed, reading a book. I heard the doors shut, but kept my eyes shut, pretending to be asleep to avoid any conversation.

"What are you doing in here?" I heard a voice ask, there was no reply from Luna, I carefully moved my foot to see if she was still there, she placed her hand on top of my foot in reassurance.

"Is she alright?" the voice asked Luna.

"She'll be okay, Ginny" my body stiffened, wondering why Ginny would ask if I was okay. I opened my eyes and slowly sat up which caught the attention of both girls.

"Feel sick? Do you need anything?" Luna rushed, I smiled softly at her.

"I could do with a drink" feeling rather parched from not drinking for nearly 2 days. She nodded and disappeared out of the room.

"Want me to do anything?" I raised an eyebrow at Ginny.

"I'm fine"

"You don't look it, you should see the nurse. Have you been eating?" It almost seemed as if she really cared.

"Why do you care?"

"Mum brought me up to care for the needy" she shrugged.

"You're in the wrong place trying to make a right, Ginny. There's no need to act nice, no one's around" I murmured, watching her roll her eyes, she got into bed when Luna came back into the room with a glass of water and some toast on a plate.

"You have to eat something Hermione, it'll help you feel better I promise" I ate the toast obediently, and gulped the water greedily, loving the feel of it sliding down my throat.

"Thank you for looking after me"

"Don't be silly, you'd do the same for me. I owled Fred explaining everything so you can rest" She patted my hand, Ginny overheard us talking.

"Why would you owl Fred?"

"I don't think that concerns you" Luna snapped at her.

"I help out at the shop at weekends, stop them killing themselves, that sort of thing" she grunted and laid back down.

"You really don't look good"Luna frowned.

"I promise if I don't feel better in the morning, I'll see the nurse" she smiled at this.

"Good girl"

"Go to bed, I'll be fine now" Luna finally left but not before making sure that I would be okay. After sleeping a few more hours I woke up in tears, a splitting pain in my head. A dark figure approached me.

"What's wrong now?" I didn't respond. I heard them mutter something before a bright light hit my face, allowing me to see Ginny.

"Why are you crying?" I clutched my head , the light stinging my eyes.

"My head" I sobbed. She sighed and patted me on the back.

"Want me to get Luna?" she whispered, thankfully.

"No. It'll be fine" she nodded and the light disappeared, I saw her figure return to her own bed. Cursing under my breath I pulled the covers over me and rubbed my temples, slowly easing the pain.


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