"Her room is right there." Fred said, staring through the doorway at the closed door across the hall. Ever since Sirius had explained the sleeping situation, the thought of what the doorway was hiding haunted him.
"I know," George answers with a sigh. "You have mentioned that three times."
Fred sighs, laying back on his bed. "I'm going mad, brother." He said, imagining Hermione on the other side of the door changing out of her clothes, her white bra and knickers blocking his view of her goodies.
"You've been mad." George says, "Now here, do something. Distract yourself." Throwing him an artificial ear and the cord to attach it to. "If we can't join the Order, I at least want to know what they are doing."
"Good idea." Fred answers, "Use the hands, distract the mind." Sitting up, he takes the ear and carefully slides the cord through the hole on the bottom of the earlobe. He tried to focus on what he was doing, tried not to look up at the door closed and haunting him but instead caught himself glancing back up at it.
"Merlin!" George yells, walking over to the door and slamming it shut. "Get ahold of yourself. They're knickers."
"Look who's talking." Fred answers, "At least mine is only one pair."
"Honestly, part of me wishes it wasn't." George replies, "At least then you could get some work done so we could get this shop up and rolling."
"It's rolling." Fred says, "We have orders again. People wanting dungbombs and fanged frisbees. My commitment to Hermione doesn't interfere with my commitment to the business."
"So long as it stays that way." George mumbles to himself.
"What's wrong with you?" Fred asks, noticing his brother wasn't being himself.
"I'm mad." He answered honestly. "I want to fight for the Order, for the cause and Mum said no because we are kids. Everything we could provide for the Order. These things!" He said, holding up one of the Extendable Ears. "We could help."
"I know." Fred answers with a sigh, "Don't think I'm not mad about it. But honestly what can we do? Mum won't let us join and until we've graduated Hogwarts. They are technically still our...guiding light in the world. Besides, would you really want to cross her on this one?"
George sighed, knowing Fred was right but it didn't make him feel any better.
Fred tinkered with the cord one last time until he heard a soft buzz. "There we go, perfect." He said with a smile, "Care to try it out?" He asked, glancing at their closed door as if to look through it and see the door on the other side mocking him once more.
"May as well." George answers rolling his eyes at his brother's attempt, standing up from his own bed and opening the door. He led the way as the twins snuck down the stairs, walking past the shrunken House Elf heads.
Fred smiled at the sight, remembering how disgusted Hermione had been upon seeing them. She had raised a fit, saying that it was inhumane and cruel that they had been mounted like a line of trophies. Fred couldn't argue the fact, it was disgusting to see them there but he wasn't going to complain about it like Hermione had. It just creeped him out slightly that the little beady eyes stared back at him when he looked at them.
"This way," Fred whispered, pointing down the stairs to the living room. "We can listen directly through the wall."
"With Moody? Doubtful." George answers. "That damned eye sees everything."
"Fair enough brother," Fred answers, "So right here? Just dangle it over the balcony?" He asked, leaning over the old wood and staring down at the hallway in front of the kitchen door.
"Sounds good." George answers, sliding the ear down slowly until it was right in front of the door.
"What are you two doing?" Ginny asks, causing Fred and George to jump. Her voice was louder than what they expected.
"Shhh..." George hushes.
"Are you trying to give us away?" Fred asks, losing his concentration momentarily as he saw Hermione standing behind her, already in her pajamas. She was changing. She was changing behind that door and I was RIGHT there. Right outside her room. Silently he cursed to himself.
"Depends." Hermione answers, walking up to Fred and looking over the balcony. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to listen in." George answers, knowing Ginny and Hermione were just as curious as to what was going on.
"Can we?" Ginny asks, the devious smile of a little sister about to tell on them covering her face.
"You wouldn't-" Fred starts, recognizing the smile instantly.
"Try me." Ginny answers, walking up to him and grabbing the cord of the Extendable Ear and sitting down with her back to the balcony as she listened intently. "It's working." She whispered with excitement.
"Of course it's working." George answers.
"Don't think Weasley's Wizard Wheezes would be faulty, do you?" Fred asks.
"Let me hear!" Hermione whispers, moving over and sitting next to Ginny.
"He's still with the them. Them people, 'ey are the ones that give muggles a bad name."
"We need to bring him here."
"Not yet."
"The Dark Lord has just as many people watching Potter as we do, if not more. The second he moves, Dumbledore-"
"What do you care Snivellus.? You would just as much rather have my godson dead."
"If that were the case, I wouldn't have saved him."
"When?"
"From your four-legged furry friend over there."
"That's enough. He is just a boy. If Dumbledore feels like he is safe for now, he is."
"We will continue to keep watch. Mundungus, same time tomorrow."
"Yes sir."
"They are talking about Harry." Hermione says, relaying what her and Ginny had heard through the ear. "They are debating on whether or not to bring him here yet. Dumbledore says no."
"Snape is in the Order." Ginny says in shock.
"Thought I smelt a snake." Fred mumbles.
"Thought that was Fletcher, personally." George answers with a snarl.
"What are you guys doing?" A voice asks, causing the group to jump before seeing Ron standing behind Fred and George.
"Shhh..." Hermione and Ginny hush in unison.
"What are you doing?" Ron asks again, this time a whisper as he moves closer.
"Listen," Hermione says, handing Ron the cord.
Ron looked at the cord oddly before putting it up to his own ear.
"And the Ministry?"
"We are better off keeping our alliances secret for now. Fudge hasn't exactly been supportive upon hearing Volder- Sorry Snape, that He has returned."
"It's fine, Headmaster."
"Are you sure he isn't working for him?"
"BILL!"
"It's fine Molly, rather he trust no one than trust someone he shouldn't. No, we aren't although I like to think that Cornelius has better judgement than that."
"Is that what they are saying right now?" Ron asks, taking the cord away from his ear and looking at it before looking down the balcony to the dangling ear.
"No," Fred answers sarcastically, taking the cord away from him.
"It's what they were discussing last week." George replies, rolling his eyes.
Fred sits silently, listening to what was being said on the other end of the cord as Hermione, Ginny, George, and Ron watch him. They waited, all staring at him as they awaited more news.
Finally Fred pulls the cord away from his ear, shaking his head. "That was the last of it." He says, pulling the cord back up the balcony. "Nothing else."
"At least now we know something." Hermione says, discouraged that they hadn't heard more.
"Like what?" Ginny asks, "That they want to bring Harry here?"
"It's something." Fred answers, sticking up for Hermione.
"More than we knew an hour ago." George pipes in.
"I guess," Ginny answers. "It just doesn't help."
"Well, you can't expect everyday to be You-Know-Who did this or You-Know-Who did that." Ron says, running his hand through his hair with a yawn.
"We better all head back up." Hermione says, looking at her watch. "Before the meeting is adjourned and Molly sees us here."
"That would be fun to explain." Ginny replies, agreeing with Hermione.
"Okay," Hermione answers with a laugh, her legs crossed as she sat on Ginny's bed, the door closed. They had been playing twenty-one questions for almost a half-hour now and it seemed to be quite fun. "I have one. Who's the last boy you kissed?"
"Promise not to laugh?" Ginny asked with a serious look on her face.
"I promise," Hermione answers, "Just tell me."
"Neville. The night of the Yule Ball. It was...ok, a little bit too wet and he tried to stick his tongue in my mouth." Ginny said squirming before saying, "Now you!"
"Now me what?" Hermione asked, choking on the water she was taking a drink of as she started to blush.
"Don't play coy with me Hermione. Now you as in, who was the last person you kissed?" Ginny asked placing her chin in her hands as she leaned forward eyeing Hermione.
"Umm...well..." Hermione started, unsure of how to answer. "There's really only been one boy actually." She answered with an uncomfortable laugh. "But he did appear experienced. It was nice." She said, hoping the answer would be satisfactory
"Oh no you don't! Don't try pulling the wool over my eyes. I want a name! Now give! Who was it?" Ginny demanded wanting to know who could be so juicy that Hermione didn't want to share his name.
"Well, you can't tell anyone." Hermione answers, "Honestly I'm probably not even supposed to tell you, but we did mention telling you so I'm sure he wouldn't be too horribly upset."
"For the love of Merlin Hermione, just spill it already!" Ginny said in exasperation with a look that said she was about hex Hermione if she didn't give her the name.
"I kissed Fred," Hermione whispers, her face turning beet red at just the thought of telling someone the secret she had been keeping for the past six months. "Actually, we've kind of kissed a lot since December. I have to admit, it's probably one of my favorite things to do now." She said with a giggle.
Ginny's eyes widen with a look of genuine surprise and shock before saying, "Fred? As in our Fred? As in Fred Weasley one room over? For the past six months?"
"Well," Hermione answers, "It kind of started at the Yule Ball. He was comforting me and it just happened I suppose."
"And your just telling me this now?! What the hell took you so long?" Ginny squealed and ran over hugging Hermione. "I'm happy for you! Fred's great and I think you guys will be great together! Why all the secrecy?"
"Well," Hermione says, thinking about it. "Ron would flip if he knew. Mrs. Weasley wouldn't exactly be thrilled either and I don't exactly want everyone thinking I am...you know, like Lavender." She says honestly. "Fred and George are both known for...well, you know... and I don't know. I suppose we just want to make sure it's right before we tell anyone. Besides, it's kind of exciting, you know? Having to sneak around to see him. Sometimes he pulls me into empty classrooms just to kiss me before class and it's nice. We like the privacy, especially with him and George having the Joke Shop just starting up and my studies. It prevents gossip."
"Gossip?! You two would be the talk of all the wizarding world with the way Rita Skeeter has been lately so I guess I understand that. But you're happy, right? I mean that's all that really matters." Ginny said with a sigh as she looked toward their closed door. "I wish I could find a guy." Ginny said thinking wistfully of Harry being stuck at home with his awful Aunt and Uncle.
"Very happy." Hermione answers, "Honestly Fred is the only thing that kept me sane this past year." She said with a laugh. "You will find one. You don't just want to settle for any guy. You have to find the right one. Okay, here's a question. If you could go on one date with anyone, who would it be?" She asked with a devious smile.
"Anyone?" Ginny asked thoughtfully more to herself than Hermione. "Promise not to tell?"
"Honestly?" Hermione said, looking at Ginny through the top of her eyes. "You know about my secret love affair with your brother."
Ginny laughed before saying, "Ok how about this? Since were going to stuck in this house all summer let's just assume anything we say in here stays between us." Ginny took a deep breath before continuing, "If I could go on a date with anyone it would be Harry." She said, blushing profusely.
"HARRY!?" Hermione asks sarcastically, having watched Ginny stare at Harry since her second year. "Didn't see that one coming. Does he know?"
"Are you kidding? Harry Potter pay little Ginny Weasley the time of day? I'm not that lucky. Everytime I get around him I get all tongue tied and don't know what to say."Ginny said with a sigh.
"Well, you could start by hello." Hermione answers with a laugh. "Honestly, I don't know what you would say after that. Fred has always been the one to hit on me. Sorry." She said, shrugging her shoulders, wishing she could help more.
"Its ok. There are plenty of other fish to fry at Hogwarts. Unfortunately there's not a whole lot around here and I don't think were going to be getting out much this summer." Ginny said before flopping back unceremoniously on her bed.
"Doubt it," Hermione answers with a sigh. "Do you think we'll even remember what the sun looks like?" She asks with a laugh, "It's so hard to meet up with Fred alone when there are people everywhere. I can't even talk to him unless it's small talk."
"Why don't you just sneak over there after everyone goes to sleep? It's not like they keep watch on the upper floors after lights out and I'm not going to tell anyone. The only one you'll have to watch out for is George but even then, he can always come in here and sleep on your bed." Ginny said shrugging her shoulders like it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"Why didnt I think of that!" Hermione answers, "And I think he would. I mean, I wouldn't want to be in there with him every night. Fred is already...antsy.. as it is but one or two nights, even just getting to be alone with him for a little while couldn't hurt."
"Exactly. You should mention it to him next time it's our turn to do the dishes. I'll just fake a stomach ache. I'm sure Fred will jump at the chance to help you." Ginny said with a smile.
Hermione giggled at the thought. "You're probably right." She answers, "Earlier, I walked out to go use the bathroom and he was staring at our bedroom door. Any more and he probably would have been drooling." She snickers.
"Well someday when you guys have kids just remember who your favorite sister-in-law is and name one of them after me, okay?" Ginny said with a grin.
Hermione laughed. "Are you sure that's what you want?" She asks, "It will be Fred's offspring."
"On second thought maybe not. I don't know if I could handle that much responsibility. Just give one of them my name as a middle name. That way I still get credit but I don't look quite as guilty."Ginny giggled thinking of what Hermione and Fred's children would look like running around the Burrow.
"Okay," Hermione laughed. "I'll remember who let us get away with sneaking around to see each other." She said, hugging Ginny tightly.