Chapter Ten: Impossible Plans

I was in the Library studying for my upcoming O.W.L's. They were thirty-six weeks away and I hadn't even looked at my Charms work! No matter, if I devised a new study timetable that made Charms the focus... I could switch Care of Magical Creatures with Potions and lessen the work load on Tuesdays...
Books thumped in front of me. "Hermione," Fred and George said at once.

I looked up cautiously. They were never in the Library. "Nice to see you've kept out of trouble," I said to Fred, with a smile. "What can I do for you? You must be desperate, being in the library and all."
"We're in the Library more often than you think," Fred said.
"Just not where you can see us." George added. "Anyway, we have things to discuss." They invited themselves to sit at my table, scraping the chairs on the floor. I winced. "We need your help."

I looked at Fred, then at George, then at my hands. "Again?" was all I could muster. They nodded enthusiastically. "Guys, you know that I would love to but besides the fact that I don't entirely condone your products and how you test them, I just don't have the time..."

"You see, we've thought about that," George interrupted.
"We don't test on first years anymore, remember?" Fred added. "Only ourselves and Lee."
"And our products will be the future," George said proudly.
"We just need a little genius to kick start us," Fred admitted. "We can only do so much on our own."
I deliberated for a minute. "Tell me what I need to do and I'll think about it."
They were shaking their heads. "Either you give us the Unbreakable Vow or you hear nothing from us," George said quietly.
"Doctor patient confidentiality?" I offered. Fred cracked a grin.
"We need your word that you're in on this until the end," Fred said easily. "It won't take long. Just a bit of research, I'm sure you'll find it enjoyable."

I knew better than to immediately say yes to the twins. But research... and maybe I'd get another favour out of it...

"Fine, do you want to shake on it?" I joked. Evil grins appeared on their faces. I immediately backtracked. "Woah, hang on a minute! What did I just agree to?"
"No, no, Hermione! You already agreed to this!" Fred said gleefully.
I put my hands over my ears like a child. "No! I haven't heard anything yet, I can still back out safely!" I started shaking my head. "I'm innocent in this!"

Together the twins burst out in laughter which Madam Pince was bound to hear. Of course, she stuck her head around the corner within seconds – I wonder if she was stalking them through the Library, waiting for them to cause trouble.
"Mister Weasley's and Miss Granger! Outside at once!" she screeched. I quickly gathered my stuff and forced it into my bag, Fred and George walking ahead of me talking in low voices.

I hurried to catch up when they increased speed in the corridor. "I'm regretting this decision already!" I called out.
"Probably," Fred agreed.
"I would," George teased.

Oh no.

"Please just tell me what it is you need me to do," I said desperately. "I'm starting to freak out."
"Well, it's not just research we need you to do," George admitted.
"Surprise, surprise," I muttered. There's always a catch with these two.
"We also need a sample of the ingredient," Fred explained, perhaps a bit nervously. "But it's a bit tricky to get."
"I'm sure Snape will have some," I said confidently. The Weasley's shook their heads.
"We checked already. We wouldn't ask you if we weren't desperate and we know that you're capable of doing this," Fred said earnestly.
"You're the only person other than Lee we trust enough to do this and make it out alive," George said quickly.
"You have five seconds to explain what you need or I am out of this, regardless of any deals I made," I said sternly. What on earth did he mean, make it out alive? I would risk my life for Harry and Ron without a second thought in the face of Voldemort... but for the twins? For a bloody ingredient?

"Acromantula venom," they said in unison.

I sighed in relief. "Is that all?" I asked.
They looked at me incredulously. "Do you understand how rare this is to find?" George asked me, as if I didn't hear the question.
"Do you understand that Hagrid had an acromantula and probably has some in his cabin? And if that fails, Slughorn has some too?"
Fred and George looked amazed. "Looks like you've got this under control then," Fred said simply.
"But we need a large sample," George added. "And we need to know all of its uses. We have a general idea, but the more the better."
"And you can't do that yourself?" I asked sceptically.
"We know you'll be more thorough than us," Fred praised.

I laughed.

"I think you two are just too scared to get the venom yourselves and too lazy to do the work," Hermione joked. "But whatever you say. I said I'd do it, so I will."
"Brilliant!" Fred murmured.
"Oh, and we need it in two days," George said. "See you later."

And they disappeared.

Now it's not like what they wanted was difficult to get. But I had other commitments and two days was a very short time. But.

I was Hermione Granger, and research was my thing. I could do this with ease.