A/n: I'm a horrible person, I know. But I've had 4 month to make up 4 months of school work on top of the work I was already doing. I know, excuses, excuses.
Disclaimer: Mm. -checks pulse- Oh well I'm alive-but I'm still Rachel.
-Chapter 9
'For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.'
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The next morning dawned bright and early, just as all the others before it. It was a quiet, calm morning with a slight breeze coming from the west with nary a cloud in the sky. Birds were flitting from tree to tree and ducks were floating in the lake a ways away from the Burrow. A picturesque scene as Hermione gazed out of Ginny's window. The same could not be said for the inside of the Burrow.
"Fred and George Weasley!" an irate Mrs. Weasley screamed up the stairs. "How could you?" She demanded.
Hermione pulled her drifting thoughts back to reality and tore herself from the window, curious as to what was going on.
"Answer me this instant!"
"We didn't do it mum!" "We swear!" Hermione heard from the landing above them. She snorted in response.
"Don't you dare try to blame this on any one else! What are these owls?"
She heard a string of profanities before two pairs of feet racing down the stairs. "Um, mum, mummy dearest. It's not what you think." They called along the way.
After they hit the bottom floor there was a quiet. For about two minutes.
"YOU WHAT?"
There was another silence where Hermione assumed Fred or George, possibly both, was explaining himself rapidly. Ginny sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes blearily. "Wass all that-"
"Shh." Hermione put her finger to her lips, poking her head out of the doorway to attempt to hear what was being said.
"I will NOT allow you to sell your products out of this house! Nor while you're at school young men! I told you that you needed this year. Just this year! To finish your schooling. Then you could go back to your infernal shop!"
Ginny gasped and Hermione's eyes went wide in shock. She knew Mrs. Weasley disapproved of Fred and George's shop and thought that after they had been doing so well Mrs. Weasley had thought better of it.
She wasn't sure what happened next but two pops were heard above them followed by loud bangs and more muttering.
Hermione exchanged glances with Ginny, opened the door wider, and stepped into the hallway, making her way to the stairs. When she reached the twin's door she reached out to open it but found it was locked. "Honestly." She muttered to herself. "Alohomora." Thank goodness for being of age, she thought to herself as she opened the door. As she did so she noticed an immediate change in the room as she once knew it.
For one she could actually see the floor. Drawers to two dressers were thrown out carelessly and clothes were missing out of them. Posters that had decorated the walls were missing and there were large boxes covering two twin beds with odds and ends strewn inside.
She was hoping she'd make a quiet entrance but the door gave away her position when it creaked suddenly. The two boys whipped around, wands at the ready. Hermione gasped and dropped her wand as she raised her hands in surrender.
"Oh, it's only you 'Mione. We ah—thought you were someone else." Fred, she decided, muttered running a hand through his hair.
Hermione felt rather silly at her reaction and carefully bent down to pick up her wand. "I um, couldn't help but overhearing," The two boys snorted and turned back around, throwing more clothes into the boxes, "And then well, I came to see if you were alright." She was staring at George when they both turned around. Fred answered though.
"Just peachy princess, we've just decided to go on a little, er, trip's all, nothing to worry your pretty little head about."
Frowning, Hermione stared at Fred then back to George, who wouldn't look her in the eye. "Don't lie to me Fredrick George." Hermione scolded. "And don't you dare speak to me as though I'm three. I am a young women, and if you can believe it or not, someone who can handle the truth!"
Fred stalked up to her suddenly. "Oh could you?" he asked menacingly. Hermione's eyes widened slightly, not used to this type of behavior from Fred. George noticed and put a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"She doesn't mean any harm." He whispered in Fred's ear.
Fred was tense a minute longer before his shoulders sagged and he let out a long breath. "Sorry 'Mione." He apologized. "I really didn't mean it. This whole situation is just, well ridiculous."
Hermione let out her own breath she'd been holding. "Erhm, what exactly is the situation?" She asked timidly.
George realized Fred wasn't saying anything more so he sighed and began. "Well, we were going to be AWOL from the shop for a year. An entire Year!" Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's close enough. We didn't want to close the business for that long. It'd give Zonko's a chance to jump the proverbial gun on us! We needed to stay in business, keep inventing, and producing new products. Since mum wouldn't let us go to the store we were planning on selling our products out of the house again, then move to school when the time came. The only problem is our stupid owls left some completed order forms on the kitchen table this morning for mum to see. I didn't really think mum would get that upset over the whole thing. Anyway, we're leaving."
This being said he gestured around to the boxes. Hermione followed his arms around. "You mean-for good?" She asked quietly.
He gaze fell to the floor and he stumbled over a few words before Fred cut it. "We're not sure. How mad do you think our mum would be if we moved in over the shop and opened it regardless?"
Hermione stared at him incredulously, as if saying you cannot be serious.
"Hm, I suppose you have a point. But we can't stay here! I mean, we're adults for Merlin's sake! How can she still tell us what to do?" Fred vented.
"You know, you're bordering on whining now." Hermione told him. "Not trying to be smart." She added quickly at Fred's murderous look.
"Calm down Fred, she's only trying to help." George supplied carefully before his twin exploded again.
Nodding quickly Hermione stalled for something. "Er—well. Okay, why not just let things calm down again. You know, lie low. Then start selling again. You're just a little rusty."
"Excuse me?" Fred asked scandalized.
"Oh you know what I meant. You did this for who know how long before so you can certainly do it again. Leaving is only going to upset your mother more. We really don't want another Percy incident." She explained this calmly, looking between both of them to gauge their reactions.
This obviously struck a chord with the twins for they were silent for a few minutes, thinking over what Hermione told them and weighing their other options. Apparently they could come up with nothing better so they flopped down on their beds, shoving the boxes off in the process.
"You're staying?" Hermione asked happily.
"Seems that way princess." Fred replied smoothly.
Hermione stuck her tongue out at the name. "Well you're welcome."
"Thanks 'Mione." George told her sincerely.
They smiled shyly at each other before Fred accidentally rolled off the bed and landed with a loud, oomph, on the floor in front of Hermione. He smiled sheepishly up at her. "'Lo 'Mione. Nice underwear."
Hermione looked down and sure enough Fred was staring straight up her shorts. "Fredrick! I can't believe you! You're insufferable!" With that she kicked him in the stomach and tore out of the room as fast as she could.
Fred had curled up, nursing he sore side when he noticed George was standing over him fuming. "'Lo twin. I can say the view is not as nice now. Hey, you okay, your hands are shaking a little there. Nervous about something?"
"You're a right git!" George yelled at his brother's obviousness.
"Oh calm down Gred. I couldn't really see up her shorts. But they were on the short side weren't they?" Fred replied, not fazed in the least.
George stared down at him angrily. "I need some air." With that he turned around and stomped down the stairs.
Hermione on the other hand was currently being consoled by a confused Ginny. "I really don't understand what the problem is." Ginny admitted.
"It was just—embarrassing. I don't do well with embarrassment." Hermione told her friend through her hands.
"Oh Hermione, knowing Fred he didn't see anything—he just wanted to embarrass you. It's pretty much what he lives for, besides the shop that is."
"You're a right git!" The two girls heard from above them.
"What's going on now?" Ginny wondered out loud.
"Well I don't care. I'm staying here, until I'm ninety." Hermione declared solemnly.
"This has made you insanely over dramatic. Save the theatrics for George sweetie, you're wasting your talent on me." Ginny smiled teasingly.
Hermione was about to retaliate when they heard heavy footsteps pounding down the stairs then the back door slam. A few seconds later a frustrated scream. The two girls looked at each other with a cocked eye brow, and Hermione shook her head adamantly. "I really don't want to know."
"Too bad, ten bucks it's about you and Fred's little peep show." Ginny was smiling but now it was more sinister than teasing.
"No Ginny. Not now. I calmed down things once the morning. Do you really wanna make me do it again?" She sighed wearily. Did they have this many problems when she wasn't here?
Ginny stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. "What if I do?"
Hermione shook her head stubbornly. "No."
"You never have any fun." Ginny said still pouting.
"Nope, I'll be a stuffy old bookworm forever."
"You're not stuffy."
"And…?"
"Oh, I wasn't disagreeing with the bookworm part. You're the one who said it anyway." Ginny was teasing again.
Sticking her tongue out Hermione went to find some clothes for the day. "Any plans for today Gin?"
"Don't you have plans with a certain tall, dark, and handsome Slytherin?" Ginny asked airily.
"Um—not that I… GIN! What have you done?" Hermione asked horrified.
