Summer Before Third Year - Diagon Alley

"Hermione!"

Hermione whipped around and broke out into a smile, "Ron."

Hermione started for Ron but before she could reach him she was smothered by the twins. "Hermione! Dear girl-"

"We've missed you so!"

Hermione rolled her eyes as they released her, "Hello George, Fred."

They grinned at her before being shoved aside by Ron, "Lay off her, will you?"

The two raised their eyebrows simultaneously, "What's wrong ickle Ronnikins?"

Ron turned maroon before Hermione placed a hand on his arm, "Ron, calm down, it's fine." She looked at the twins, "I'm used to it by now."

Ron sighed, "Fine. Is Harry with you?"

Hermione shook her head, "No. He's not with you?"

"No, he's in trouble."

Mr. Weasley suddenly came forward, "He's not in trouble Ron."

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed, "What isn't he in trouble for?"

Percy answered this question, "He used magic outside of school. Again."

Hermione sighed, "He can't help it sometimes, and with those hideous Dursley's around-"

"It doesn't matter since he's not in trouble, alright? Now when we find Harry, nobody will mention it, clear?" Mr. Weasley spoke with such authority that nobody argued, although Hermione swore she saw a glint in the twins eyes.

Mrs. Weasley smiled, "Alright then, let's find Harry shall we?"

The huge group then started off to find the Boy-who-lived. Fred and George eventually fell into step with Hermione and Ron. He smiled down at her, "So Hermione, what's new in the life of the bookworm?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Nothing Fred, what's new in the life of the troublemaker?"

Fred clapped a hand to his heart, "Ouch, you wound me."

"Oh please."

"Do I sense a hint of grumpiness?"

Ron rolled his eyes this time, "Stop flirting you two."

Hermione blushed a bit, "We are not flirting."

Fred nodded, "Yeah, if we were flirting I'd do this." He suddenly grabbed her around the middle and dipped her, "Darling, did it hurt?" Off to the side, George shook his head, but there was still a smile.

Hermione shrieked when he grabbed her but knew he wouldn't stop until she played along, "Did what hurt?"

"Why, when you fell from heaven."

Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her up, "That's enough of that." Fred released her and was faced with a very enraged brother.

Fred held up his hands, "I was only joking."

Ron was about to reply when Hermione grabbed his arm, "Come on Ron, let's get some ice cream." Ron took a deep breath before nodding. As Hermione was leading Ron away she leaned over to Fred and whispered, "By the way, that line will never work, ever."

Fred smiled as she walked past.

Later That Night

Hermione rolled her eyes as she walked past Ron and Percy's room and heard the two yelling at each other. As she passed the twin's room she stopped outside when she heard laughter. She straightened her shoulders before opening the door and barging in.

"Oi!"

Hermione closed the door quietly, "Where is Percy's badge?"

The twins shared a look before George stood up and slowly walked towards her, "Dear Hermione, why would steal our dear brothers most sacred badge? We know how much it means to him."

Hermione cocked an eyebrow, "Okay first, don't refer to Percy as your "dear brother" you can't stand him, and second, you would steal it because you know how much it means to him."

George smiled, "Can't get anything past you, can we?"

"Just show me the badge."

"Step right this way."

George led her over to the bed and nodded to Fred, who lifted a pillow and revealed the badge. Hermione sat on the bed beside Fred and George sat next to her. She looked at the badge, then at George, then at Fred and then back at the badge. "So...what did you do to it?"

Fred sighed, "We've been trying to charm it to read 'Bighead Boy'."

George continued, "But we've only been able to make it last for a few seconds."

The three were silent for a second before Hermione nodded, "Hold on one second." She jumped off the bed and ran silently out of the room. The two shared another look but before they could speak, Hermione was back.

She knelt beside the bed and took out her wand, she pointed it at the badge and whispered, "Izraziti, bighead boy."

The badge went blank for a second and the three were silent again. Suddenly, the words "BIGHEAD BOY" appeared on the badge. Fred and George instantly sprung from the bed and grabbed Hermione, squishing her between them.

Fred smiled broadly, "You are a GENIUS!"

George nodded, "Really! You know," He let her go and Fred followed the suit, but kept his arm on her shoulder. George looked at her thoughtfully, "with a bit of training you could be one of the best pranksters Hogwarts has ever seen. Perhaps even as good as us."

Fred looked scandalized, "What?"

George nodded seriously, "Yes. I said it."

Fred eyed Hermione warily, "Hermione as a prankster? That could be dangerous."

They began to circle her and Hermione shrunk a bit under their gaze. George nodded, "Very dangerous. Maybe we should just leave well enough alone."

They stopped and Hermione crossed her arms, "Are you two finished?"

They looked at each other then at Hermione, "Yes."

Fred came up next to her and wrapped an arm around her waist, "You know. I never knew you could be such a coy little thing."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Meaning?"

"You did sneak into two boy's room."

"Because I knew you had Percy's badge."

Fred nodded, "Uh-huh, I'm sure." He looked at George and nodded to the door, George took the hint and left.

Hermione watched him leave and took a step away from Fred, "What are you up to?"

Fred took a step towards her, "Whatever do you mean?"

She held out a hand, "Stay away from me."

He nodded, "Of course." They stood still for a second before Fred pounced. He grabbed her around the waist and dragged her onto the bed. Straddling her he smiled, "Hello Granger."

Hermione's eyes got so wide Fred worried they would explode out of her head, "Fred!"

Fred held up a finger to his mouth, "Shh...wouldn't want someone coming in would you?"

She glared up at him, "What's wrong with you today?"

"What are talking about?"

"You're very touchy-feely."

Fred's cheeks suddenly looked like someone had dusted red onto them, "I've just missed you." He slowly got off of her and sat with his back against the wall.

Hermione sat up and positioned herself across from Fred and took his hands, "I've missed you too."

Fred smiled brightly then became serious, "Why haven't you written?"

She sighed and looked down, "I'm sorry. I've just been busy getting ready for this year." She looked up at him, "I have a huge workload this year."

"How many classes are you taking?"

Hermione paused for just a second then shrugged, "I haven't counted exactly but a lot."

Fred nodded then smiled again and jumped up, "With all of the excitement I completely forgot!"

Hermione swiveled around to watch him dig through a large travel bag, throwing things out as he went, "Forgot what?"

He seemed to find what he was looking for and bounded back over to the bed, jumping on it and nearly sending Hermione through the ceiling. She laughed when she landed and looked at what Fred had brought. It was a small parcel wrapped (messily) in bright paper. Hermione looked up at him, confused. Fred smiled and placed the thing in her hand, "I know it's not your birthday for a few more days but. I figure with school starting up and especially with all your classes there won't be much time for gift giving. So I'm giving it to you now when I can enjoy your reaction."

Hermione smiled, "Thank you Fred, but you know you-"

Fred rolled his eyes, "Didn't have to, yeah yeah I got it. And yes I did." They both stopped and just stared into each others eyes. He laughed nervously, "Okay, open it."

Hermione ripped off the wrapping paper and slowly opened the box that had been covered by the paper, she half expected something to jump out of it. When that fear passed she looked into the box and her eyes rested on a long chain, and at the end was a silver pendent with ancient runes scrawled into it. She gasped lightly and lifted the necklace out of the box.

Fred looked at her, still nervous, "Is a gasp good or bad?" She looked at him, her jaw dropped, unable to speak. "Okay, um, nod once if you like it."

Hermione smiled a bit and nodded once, "I love it."

Fred smiled, relieved, "Well, I was walking in Diagon Alley and I saw it in the window. It's a protection charm, I figured since you and Harry and Ron get into so many...adventures it couldn't hurt to have a bit more protection with you. It came with an incantation, I charmed it myself. I mean, I'm not as good at charms as, say, you, but I'm pretty decent. I can give you the charm in case you want to redo it yourself-"

Hermione finally snapped out of her daze and jumped at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and enveloping him in a hug "I love it so much, and I don't need to recast the charm." She pulled back slightly but kept her arms around him and he kept his arms around her. She looked into his eyes and said, "I trust you."

Suddenly, Hermione's lips were on his.