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Fred's POV

"You just had to try selling her the Puking Pastilles..." George muttered under his breathe.

"We could try the Fever Fudge again," Fred offered as his face soured at the reminder of the Snackbox that they still hadn't perfected.

He had originally been ecstatic about the house quidditch team getting permission to reform, but Angelina had gone off the deep end… possibly even worse than Oliver Wood had been during his years as captain.

"Do they work?" Ron mumbled at his brothers.

"Of course they work," George began.

"... they just have a few side effects that could make flying very uncomfortable," Fred finished.

Harry and Ron exchanged a worried look. Fred tried to enjoy their confused and terrified expressions, but the pain of the pus-filled boils were a bit too much still. He and George had tested them after lunch that day and it hadn't ended well.

"...the weather isn't ideal, obviously," Angie paced in front of the team in the small area of the locker room, "but we need to be prepared for any kind of flying conditions, so I see this as an opportunity to practice safe and effective flying. And Harry, didn't you do a spell on your glasses that time we played in the storm against the Puffs?"

Harry shook his head, "No, Hermione did that."

Fred felt a smile cross his face.

"She taught it to me though," Harry took off his glasses and waved his wand over the frames, "Impervious."

"Brilliant, let's all give that a try. Let's go," Angelina clapped her hands together a few times to encourage the team to work quickly and led them out into the pouring rain to practice.

Practice had been… interesting.

Fred's backside hurt more than when he and George had tried to coerce Ron into an Unbreakable Vow. And when Fred glanced over at his twin, he did not appear any better off.

"OUCH!" Harry yelled as he covered his face with a damp towel.

The worried look on Ron's face immediately set off warning bells in Fred's head. He didn't exactly enjoy being out of the loop when it came to important things that Hermione was involved with, or would inevitably be involved in. But he did try to understand that there were some things that he just couldn't be a part of.

… But that didn't mean he couldn't help indirectly.

"Come on George, let's go raid the kitchen. Maybe the elves will take pity on us and bring hot chocolate for the whole tower if we ask nicely enough," he suggested a bit louder than was necessary. George gave him a confused glance, but agreed anyway.

The locker room cleared out pretty quickly after that, except for Ron and Harry.

Fred smirked at the two, "Enjoy your private time, but you better hurry if you want any of that hot chocolate."

Harry had an appreciative look on his face and he thanked Fred and George before they disappeared back into the rain.

After a quick drying spell and a pop in with the Hogwarts house elves, Fred and George made their way back up to Gryffindor tower.

It was slow going due to the boils, but walking up the stairs at a slower pace did seem to help.

They entered the common room to find that the house elves had already set up a little table by the portrait hole with a large self-filling pitcher of the chocolaty hot beverage along with several different toppings to go along with it.

"So why did we need to clear out of the locker room?" George asked as they passed by the drink station and walked over to the fireplace. George practically dove into the carpet there and huffed as his stomach hit the floor.

"Potter business," Fred explained as he transfigured a napkin into a soft ice pillow. He tossed it onto the couch and sat down very gingerly with a sigh of relief.

A soft giggle sounded from behind them, "What on earth did Angelina do to you two? You sound like a pair of old men."

Fred smiled and leaned back his head so that he could see her, "You are a sight for sore eyes, Hermione."

The witch smiled and rolled her eyes as she carried over her school bag and sat down on the floor in front of Fred. Hermione leaned up against his legs and began fanning out the books and bits of parchment all around her.

"It wasn't actually Angie's doing…" George muttered into the carpet.

"She didn't have to make us practice in a bloody hurricane," Fred grumbled.

"She had good reason. Extra training isn't the worst thing."

Fred couldn't help but snort, "Ah, defending her madness... a perfect example of love being blind."

George grunted in response, "At least I don't' grin like an idiot whenever someone mentions her."

He felt Hermione's movement still at the comment… well, there was no use in covering it up. Fred grinned wildly, just as he had when Harry had given credit to Hermione for the water repelling spell, "Well she is my girlfriend, so I can act how I like. You, on the other hand, are defending a girl you won't even ask to hogsmeade."

"I'm waiting for the right moment," George huffed again.

"Should I even ask for clarification?" Hermione glanced over her shoulder to look up at Fred.

He shook his head, "Don't worry. You were only brought up because you're brilliant."

Hermione wore a shy smile, "Well, will you at least tell me why you're both in so much pain? The rest of the team just looked tired and a bit damp. Oh, and where are Harry and Ron?"

"Those two will be along in a minute. They will probably need to talk to you when they arrive," Fred gave her a knowingly look; she seemed to understand that meant something had happened that her two friends would need to explain later. "And, well... Um…" Fred swallowed thickly. He wasn't quite sure how much detail he wanted to use, "Let's just say that one of our Skiving Snakeboxes is giving us trouble... and we are currently suffering the aftermath of an uncomfortable side effect."

"And the uncomfortable side effect is on your bums?" Fred could tell that she was trying desperately not to laugh.

George moaned, "Just tell her. Knowing Granger, she probably knows a spell to vanish them."

Fred smiled and shook his head. Embarrassment was not a feeling that he was used to, but at this very moment he felt it through every inch of his body, "... Puss-filled boils on the previously mentioned area."

"Oh," Hermione covered her mouth in an obvious attempt to not openly laugh, but Fred noticed that there was a look of concern mixed in with the humor. The witch stood up and, without another word, disappeared up the girls staircase.

"Does that mean she's going to help or she's utterly disgusted with us?"

Fred grabbed a pillow and chucked it at his twin's head with a snort, "You're lucky I don't aim for your bum, you wanker."

Hermione returned just as their laughter was dying down. She offered Fred a small vial of yellow liquid and a few cotton balls, "This should at least help with the pain. But I'm not sure if it will help things heal any faster. It's what I've been using for Harry's hand."

Fred stood up with a little extra effort and kissed her on the forehead, "I don't know what we would do without you. Thank you. Now excuse us while we… tend to our arses…"

She couldn't hold in the laughter any longer and burst out giggling as Fred and George made their way up to their dorm rooms.

Eek! DA soon, can't wait to share it with you all.

What did you all think of this chapter?

***I do LOVE reviews...

Always,

Misha

Ps. Check out my other stories too! 'Thrown Back' and 'Penelope Jackson.' Or if you need more Hermione and Fred in your life, try out 'Begin Again,' which is now complete!