This / will indicate that someone is using sign language to talk. it's easier to do the then describing the actual motions. if I do this ' it means that lips are being read.

Chapter Twenty-One: We are young, so let's set the world on fire!

October had come, and was nearly gone. Hermione loved the cold month, but she didn't care for all the slush it also tended to bring. It usually left her cold and uncomfortable, and made her already icy hands numb.

A cup of hot cocoa usually did the trick to fix that problem though. Hermione could hold it in one hand and grade papers with the other, or make her lesson plans. She was currently in the teachers lounge, enjoying the quiet and peacefulness of the room. No students were allowed in it, which was very comforting to Hermione as she was currently having issues with a few of her older students.

Two slytherins, Tom and Jeremy, were trying to under mind her authority, which irritated her to no end. They didn't care to listen to a mudblood, as she had heard them call her on more than one occasion. She'd given them detentions both times and they now thoroughly hated her guts.

It marveled her a little how quickly that had happened. Neville told her that they quite hated him too, if it was any consolation. Hermione had laughed and shook her head. Even though it did help a little. Hermione suspected they were so bitter because one, or both, of their parents were in Azkaban. There were several students who had Death Eaters for parents and they were all having to cope with the same thing.

Hermione didn't even know where her parents were. She was hoping to find them during the summer. She was using tracking charms she had placed on them, and it showed that they were still somewhere in Australia.

She did not need to be thinking along that line right now. It was pointless and wouldn't help her or fix her current problems.

"Hermione, you in here?" Seamus' voice rang through the small lounge, triggering the noise charm Hermione had set. It caused the room to flash a bright blue and startled Hermione. She looked up from her work to see the Gryffindor barrel into the room like he used to when he was younger. He looked around eagerly before spotting her and jogging towards her table.

"Yes?"

Seamus didn't stop until he was right in front of her, and then he was bouncing on his heels like an excited puppy. 'Are ya busy?'

Hermione raised an eyebrow before responding. "Yes?"

'Well, take a break. We're about to throw a party.' Both Hermione's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She certainly hadn't expected that. It wasn't a surprise that they were throwing a party, it was Halloween, but it was shocking that she was invited. She'd never been all that popular, she was liked, but only a few people really enjoyed her company and most of them were no longer attending the school.

"Really?"

Seamus nodded his head. 'Yes, legally. Neville asked McGonagall and she said it was cool. It'll mostly be DA but a few others are coming, like Harry, Ron, Ernie, Hannah, Cho, Oliver.' He paused and gave Hermione a decidedly naughty grin. "Fred 'n George will be there too, I reckon.'

Hermione blushed and nodded her head curtly. "Alright, when and where?"

'Half an hour in the Room of Requirements. It's only fitting.'

It really was.

-o-o-o-

A half hour later found Hermione stepping into the room of requirements with a box of chocolate frogs and a gallon of butterbeer. The room was already packed with people, students and old friends. It was a real reunion of the DA and made Hermione grin largely at the affection that gripped her for all these people.

The reasons she had fought Voldmort for so long were in this room. All of them. She scanned the crowd quickly, waving at the people who called her name before she spotted Ron, Harry, and Neville. She headed towards them, depositing her refreshments with the rest of the giant pile. She took a seat between Neville and Harry, grinning when they instantly moved to make room for her.

'So then, Harry told him that he could get that kiss in Azkaban!' Neville snorted so hard at whatever Ron had been saying that he shot pumpkin juice out of his nose. Hermione would have been thoroughly disgusted if she wasn't so accustomed to dealing with boys.

She really needed more female friends.

Luna, Fay, and Ginny sat across from them, almost as though they knew what she had been thinking. It was a little uncanny.

'Hey!' Fay greeted enthusiastically, staring especially hard at Hermione. She hadn't seen Fay since the final battle, but she felt a little self conscious at the attention. Did she have something on her face? She hadn't changed her robes, but they were nice. Hermione just gave herself a mental shake and returned to the conversation, she was probably just imagining it.

"So the training is going well then?" Harry nodded, leaning back and crossing his leg.

/Yeah, we caught the man that attacked you today./ He was studying her now, and Hermione's stomach flipped. She'd almost forgotten about that…incident. So much had happened since that attack, and she'd been attacked so much in her life.

/His accomplices?/ She knew that he was part of a new group, but she didn't have any information outside of that. Harry shook his head.

/Nothing yet. Diggle is interrogating him this evening though. We should know more later./ Harry only had to spell out two words, Hermione was extremely impressed. It occurred to her that she should probably be more concerned about the attack than she was, but it really hadn't been that bad. Besides they had caught the man.

Hermione glanced from Harry to Neville, and noticed that no one else was talking anymore. In fact, they were all staring at her and Harry. It was probably awkwardly quiet.

No one was saying anything, and Hermione started feeling nervous. Had she missed something? She looked back at Harry, who had an equally as confused expression on his face, and signed: /what happened?/

/Not sure-/ Harry's answer was interrupted by Fay. She leaned forward into Hermione's space, and looked right in her eyes.

'How do you deal with it? The silence?' She shook her head, looking mildly appalled. 'I'd go mad.'

Well, that was unexpected. No one had asked her that. Not yet anyway.

The thing was though, Hermione thought with a frown, when you were not given a choice, you had to adapt. Sure, it was hard to learn, it was probably the hardest thing she'd ever had to learn. They had to do it though, Fred and her. Well, Fred mostly, but she'd made a pack with him. He learned everything she needed, and she'd learn everything he needed.

That's how she dealt with it. She didn't have a choice, and she had Fred. It was as simple, and painfully complex as that.

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Fay frowned and moved back to her seat. "I have to adapt and deal with the silence, or else I'll just end up mental."

It got painfully quiet again. They were all still staring, and Hermione was about to get angry. She wasn't odd just because she was deaf. It didn't even affect her that much. She was quite capable of interacting with others.

' I think we've all wound up a little mental anyway, if we're being honest" Neville pointed out, finally breaking the horrible silence. 'It's been that kind of a – well, that kind of years." Hermione flashed him a grateful smile, but Fay was still staring at her like she couldn't believe her.

Hermione was about to stand up and excuse herself, when everyone eyes shot to the door. She looked over to see what had distracted them, and saw Fred and George (and Archimedes) in the door way. The twins were doubled over in laughter and Seamus was blinking in surprise as his hand felt his hair. It was bright red with a few gold streaks throughout. He had a wrapper in his hand and Hermione couldn't help but smirk. Poor Seamus. He really should have known by now not to trust any food near the twins.

It only took them a few minutes to make their way over to the corner where Hermione and the others were.

'I'm not sure why Cho isn't with Anthony.' Ginny said to Fay, looking extremely intrigued at the latest relationship gossip. Neville moved to the couch with Luna, leaving enough room for Fred beside Hermione. Archimedes quickly led Fred to the spot, and he plopped down beside Hermione. Archimedes tail hit her leg as it wagged and he wedged himself between their legs. He settled down and looked utterly content to be squished between Hermione and Fred on a cold floor. It made Hermione smile before she looked back at Fred.

'Hey, love.' He whispered beside her before taking her hand in his. Hermione blushed a bit at the sweet gesture and the fact that Harry was grinning at her knowingly.

'Well, Cho's dating Terry now. Right?' Fay looked at Ginny who nodded.

'Well, you know, he's a Ravenclaw too.' Ginny pointed out.

'She only dates Ravenclaws now?' Fay asked, looking mildly surprised. Fred grinned and winked at Hermione.

'Birds of a feather, aye?'

"You did not just make that joke." Hermione kept her expression un-amused but she was fighting a smile.

Fred beamed. He wasn't fooled by her act for even a moment. 'I believe I did.'

"Fred Gideon Weasley, you are the cheesiest nutter I know." Hermione declared, shaking her head and lifting her drink.

'Hermione Jean Granger, you wouldn't want me any other way.' Fred was completely confident as he leaned back and snuggled into the seat next to her. Hermione snorted and sipped her drink.

She wouldn't let him know just how right he was.

They sat like that for a bit, Hermione tucked into Fred's side with his arm draped over her side. The others conversed around them, Fred commenting occasionally. Hermione was more than content to just take in the scene without a care of what the conversation was. She was still a bit annoyed at Fay's line of questioning earlier anyway.

Fred's arm tightened on hers a bit, and then he started to trace on her hand. /Okay?/

She smiled a little and moved closer to him, completely pressing into his side before responding. /Yes. Just a little annoyed at ignorant questions./

Fred gave her a squeeze before rubbing his hand up and down her arm in a very comforting manner. She found her eyes getting a little heavy as she watched the fire across the room.

Of course, Fred wasn't about to let her drift to sleep.

'Let's dance!'

"What?" Hermione questioned as Fred shot up from his seat and grabbed her hand before she could fall over. He dragged her to her feet then tugged her toward the floor. She could feel a faint thrumming of music, but she was still trying to fully wake up. Archimedes was watching them leave with vague interest before settling down again and nudging Harry's leg. Harry got the hint and gave an amused smile as he began to pet the guide dog. Hermione watched them in annoyance.

She wasn't going to be getting any help from either of them then.

Fred got to the middle of the floor and froze, suddenly looking uncertain. Hermione was fairly certain why he was feeling that way, but she didn't say anything less she was wrong.

'Umm, how do we want to do this? I can't see other people…' Though she didn't particularly care for a dance at the moment, Hermione couldn't help but grin before she stepped closer to her, holding her hand out.

"The same as everything else. Together. I'll lead."

Fred snorted and shook his head before accepting her hand. It still marveled her how he just seemed to know where she was. She swallowed and quickly focused on something else. She didn't need to get emotional in the middle of the dance floor. "I'll need you to tap out the rhythm on my back. Is that okay?"

Fred nodded his head before dropping a hand to her waist where he gently splayed his warm fingers against her. A moment later he started to tap the beat out. Hermione led him in the movements, mindful of the other couples around them. No one gave them a second glance, or seemed curious as to why Hermione was leading. They were treated like they were completely normal.

And for the first time that evening, Hermione did feel normal.

A/n: Sweet Transvestite - The Rocky Horror Show Cast. Computer geek and SakuraHarunoGurl got it right ;)

Duh, of course the rain would stop Drive-In's. Thanks for explaining that!

Please leave me a review :)