A.N.: Merry Christmas guys! I'm enjoying some days with my family and there's not much time for writing at the moment. But that's fine. You'll hear back from me soon enough. The story's finished by the way. And I already started working on the next one.

Chapter 24: Shifting alliances

Hermione didn't get much rest that night, even though George had tucked her safely into his arms. Her mind simply wouldn't stop to worry about Fred and she couldn't help to be jealous of the twin bond, her husbands shared. George didn't have problems to sleep at all but Hermione was sure his sub consciousness could tell if his twin was safe. Merlin, how was she going to survive several nights like that? When had she gotten that dependant on both of their presences?

When morning finally arrived she pried herself from George's arms and dragged herself into the shower. This and at least two cups of coffee would hopefully help to get her back into shape.

George joined her for breakfast unusually late and just snagged himself a slice of toast, before taking out his notebook and brooding over the notes he and his twin had made. More than once Hermione had tried to join their discussions about their upcoming inventions, but she quickly had to realize, that she was totally out of her depth. It was new experience for her and everything in her itched to ask her husbands a million questions to be able to understand, but as they were on a tight schedule, there was no time for them to indulge her curiosity at the moment. Well, they'd have to fill her in later. Because there was no chance in hell that Hermione would miss an opportunity to learn something new and exciting.

They didn't talk much over breakfast as both of them were deep in thought. And when they finally walked down into the shop, Hermione busied herself in the backroom, while Verity, Lee and George ran the business in the salesroom. But it was just an hour into their work, when George suddenly dashed through the door his eyes wide with panic.

"We need to go to the headmaster's office," he urged and took out one of the key-shaped portkeys from under his colourful robes. "Fred's been found out by Malfoy and his mother."

Hermione swore silently. "Merlin, that's bad. We have to go now. Give me just a second." She pulled a little coin, similar to the DA-coins, from her pocket and tapped it with the tip of her wand, before sliding it back into her pocket. "Alright, help is on the way. Let's go."

George nodded quickly and took her arm. A moment later they were already on the way.

"Well, out with it," the voice of Lucius' son demanded while stepping closer to him. "Who are you?"

Fred sighed. "I can't tell you, obviously."

The blond man in front of him gritted his teeth. "I can get the answer from you, if need be. Don't force me to do it, because I will." Fred looked at him with a raised eyebrow and schooled his features back into something that would be more fitting for his current face. It wouldn't do to betray his identity now by acting anything like his old self. For that he was too recognizable.

"Then do it, boy," he said in an imitation of Lucius Malfoy and raised his chin. But the attack never came. Instead Narcissa took her son's wand hand, and lowered it somewhat. "Draco stop," she whispered urgently and looked at him with a fearful gaze. "Tell me, is my husband still alive?"

Fred winced internally. It was the first time somebody implied that he might be capable of murder and he shuddered. But it was a war, he realized, and maybe he would have to kill somebody soon. "Your husband is alive and well," he confirmed and looked her into the eyes to make her see his sincerity.

She nodded with a relieved sigh. "Thank you."

He didn't know what to say to that and neither what to do, but he was released from that decision as the tell-tale plop of one of his portkeys brought George and Hermione into the office. His attackers didn't even have the time to turn around, before the two of them lost their wands to a silent "Expelliarmus."

"What the…" Draco started and stared open-mouthedly at the two newcomers. "Granger? Of course it is you. It is always you, when there's trouble, isn't it?"

Hermione cast a silent incarcerous on the two of them before she smiled dangerously. "It's Weasely now, actually, thanks to the new marriage law," she stated nonchalantly before turning around to George. "What shall we do with them? Can't just lock them away with the others. I guess the two of them would be missed sooner or later."

George shrugged. "Well, luckily you are quite adept with memory charms. Maybe you should implant some modified memories that will keep them away for some time."

"We're right here, you know?" Malfoy sneered at them but his mum cast him a disapproving look before looking at them with wide eyes. "Others? There are others then my husband?" She asked and tried to study them. Fred couldn't resist and smiled at her dangerously. But the effect was somewhat ruined as the door to the office burst open and Harry and Neville entered in disguise of the Carrows. It took them only a moment to assess the situation and point their wands at the intruders. And Fred noted with a grin, that even Malfoy had lost his cool, sneering expression and looked somewhat panicked.

"Any problems headmaster?" Neville asked in a cool voice that was so very much unlike him. "Did these two give you any problems?"

Fred grinned. "We were just discussing how to proceed with them," he explained with a cool sneer which made Draco flinch from him. But Mrs Malfoy looked at them with a collected, calculating gaze.

"Let us help you," she said calmly but without desperation. "My son and I have stopped to care for the ways of the dark lord months ago."

Hermione looked at her with analysing eyes. "Why is that, suddenly? Your family has supported him for who knows how many years? Why should we suddenly trust you?"

Mrs Malfoy sighed tiredly. "He's been living with us for months and months. He killed and tortured in our drawing room and no one was safe from his insanity, not even his own people. I stopped counting how many times I and my family have been tortured but it's a miracle I have still more sanity left then my sister Bella."

George looked at her with hard eyes. "And now what? You have come to see the error of your ways and want to join the Weasleys as blood traitors? You want to fight him even if there is a good chance that it will get you killed or worse?" He snorted humourlessly. "I'm sorry if I have some problems believing you." He saw Harry and Neville nod at his words.

Draco's eyes drifted from his mother to the other persons in the room. "Of course you doubt our intentions, otherwise you'd be bloody idiots," he said evenly. "And even if my mother does have a point by saying that we no longer actively support… the dark lord… I can see that joining you could get us killed very fast." His eyes finally stayed at his mother and looked at her inquiringly. "Mother, are you sure that this is what you want to do?"

Fred followed their conversation with calculating eyes and so he didn't miss the quick nod, that Mrs Malfoy was giving her son. "I am quite sure, yes. And I am ready to swear and unbreakable vow to you, that I will not betray you and all people that follow your course in any way."

At Draco gasped. "Mother, you can't be serious," he hissed but she silenced him with her hand. "I am not finished, Draco." With that she moved her gaze towards Hermione and studied her intensely. "Me and my son will not work in any way against you and we will try to help you in any way we can. In exchange for that I want to see my husband and I want your promise, that you will not harm him or anybody else from my family." Hermione nodded but Mrs Malfoy wasn't finished with her little speech and said: "Furthermore I want your promise that if we somehow win this war, you and your little friends will testify our involvement in the fight and our support of the side of the light, should we be on trial later on."

Hermione's eyes drifted towards her friends to seek out their opinion on the matter. But as her eyes landed on Harry, she gasped and motioned towards him urgently. As soon as Fred turned around to him, he could see the problem. The polyjuice must have worn of, as he had started to shift back in front of their eyes. Fred cursed.

"Potter?" he heard Draco's shocked exclamation from the floor and the gasp from his mother behind him. "Merlin, it is you, isn't it?"

Harry's eyes were wide with panic as he searched his robes for his bottle of polyjuice. As he finally found it and gulped the liquid down, it was too late to conceal his true identity to the two Malfoys.

"Well, this totally changes things," Malfoy said with an air of arrogance from the floor. "I'll make an unbreakable vow with you, too and work with you to bring the dark lord down. This bastard has ruled my life long enough and if you're my chance to finally be free, then so be it."

Hermione's eyes darted from one to the other but before she said anything, she turned around to the portraits on the wall. She looked at them one by one, until her eyes finally rested on the scowling figure of a greasy haired potions master. "What do you say professor, can we trust them?" she asked calmly. "You know them much better than we do, so I would like your opinion on this."

Snape smiled with glinting eyes and nodded. Then he fixed his dark eyes on the Malfoys, Fred could have sworn that he was using occlumency on them but as he was just a portrait, that was of course impossible. Still he stared at them for some silent moments while stroking his chin before he spoke: "Your chances to end this war with a satisfying outcome would greatly improve with them joining your ranks," he stated in an almost bored tone. Nonetheless Fred had the impression that he was quite pleased with being asked for his opinion. "As selflessness is not an attribute that can be easily applied to the Malfoys, you can trust that they want something from you as a trade-off. As Narcissa has kindly let you know what will be expected in return and I have the impression that her offer is genue, I think it is safe for you to take her up on it. But of course the signing of your special contract or the use of an unbreakable vow is very much advisable."

Hermione listened to Snape attentively and nodded. "Very well," she said and with a flick of her wand their former contract appeared in front of her. "Do all of you agree with the professor on this?"

Fred stroked his chin for a second but finally he nodded. "Alright. If they sign the contract than there should be no danger for us." The others nodded in agreement. "And the more of us, the better."

Hermione studied their expressions a moment longer, before she lifted her wand once again and the ropes that bound the Malfoys disappeared. Then she levitated the contract in front of them and conjured a quill and ink. "Read it carefully before you sign. And discuss it if you need to. Those two," she motioned towards Harry and Neville "should leave for their lessons now as we don't want to draw any more suspicions. But the three of us have some more time to answer your questions, if need be."

Harry and Neville left silently with a nod in their direction, just as the Malfoys started reading. It only took them some minutes, before Draco looked at them with raised eyebrows. "Blood magic? I must say I'm impressed."

Hermione smiled amusedly in his direction. "Well, I am glad you approve, as several other people had their doubts about it." Her eyes moved towards Dumbledore's portrait that watched them with curiosity and concentration. Luckily it kept silent on the matter, even though Fred was almost sure, that the old man would love to force his opinion upon them. Malfoy who must have followed his view gave an understanding snort but didn't say anything else on the matter. He kept on reading for several more minutes, before he said: "I imagine you want me to sign before returning my wand to me."

Hermione nodded curtly and conjured a needle with her wand, which she offered to the young wizard. Malfoy took it from her without giving his feelings away and spilled a drop of his blood on the contract a moment later. His mother followed his actions a few seconds later.

"Very well," Hermione murmured and silently cast the spell to seal the contract, before giving a sigh of relieve. "I am glad this matter is sealed."

They all nodded in agreeance. "I'm sure you want to see Lucius Malfoy as soon as possible. We'll be able to arrange something in the next hours. Would you agree to come back later?"

At that Draco smiled at her wolfishly. "I'd rather like to stay a bit longer, as I have a proposal I'd like to discuss with you."

George groaned. "Why am I not surprised?"

Snape's portrait behind him snorted. "I think, Mr Weasley, that young Mr Malfoy here will surprise you quite a lot with what he has to say. It has its merits having a Slytherin in your team." At that Malfoy snorted. And Fred had to admit that Snape was right. Malfoy really did surprise him with the proposal he made.

Hermione, Fred and George tumbled into their living room tiredly. It was already late afternoon and it had been a long and exhausting day for all of them.

"Blimney, I still can't believe we agreed that Malfoy takes the place as headmaster of the school. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to get rid of the job, but…" Fred started, but then he didn't know how to finish his sentence.

George shrugged. "Hermione's contract is air tight. He cannot work against us and I really got the feeling that he wants to bring the bastard down as much as we do."

Hermione nodded solemnly. "He's not the boy we knew back in school. The last two years have changed him. When we were caught by the snatchers in spring and brought to his manor it was obvious, that he knew who we were. But he didn't give us away. Why would he have tried to protect us, if he still worked for the dark lord?"

The twins agreed with a hum and Hermione continued: "And it makes much more sense, if he plays his father. He knows him much better than we do. And he has the dark mark."

George nodded darkly. "I still can't believe they made him take it as punishment for his father's mistakes in the department of mysteries. But well, it kind of fits in the picture."

"Yeah," Fred agreed and looked at them full of concern. "We are really doing this. In two days everything will be over, one way or the other. Are we really prepared? Maybe we should train a bit longer or invent some more stuff."

Hermione sighed and looked at her husbands. "The longer we wait, the stronger the dark lord gets. And we don't know how long we can keep our whereabouts at Hogwarts a secret. At the moment the castle is more or less ours, but we all know it will only be a temporary thing. You-know-who just needs to call for the Carrows. Harry and Neville wouldn't even know they were discovered, as they don't have the dark mark. I can't believe it took Malfoy to point us to this error in our plan."

George shrugged. "It's a good thing we have him on our side. Now we finally have a way, to trap old Voldisnort. The opportunity is too good to let it go."

"I know," Fred grumbled and threw himself on the sofa. "But I don't have to like it."

Hermione couldn't help the restlessness that was taking hold of her during the next day. Working at the twin's shop was almost torturous for her and the time simply didn't want to move forward. In her head she was going through hexes, curses and shielding techniques while her hands moved boxes and restocked the shelfs with newly created joke products. But she was sure the twins weren't doing much better.

Yesterday had been a silent evening for them. They went to bed early only to curl around each other desperately. They simply held each other for a long time, none of them daring to say what they all thought: It could be their last days together, their last days alive. But no words were needed on that matter, as they all knew and felt the same. Today was even worse for Hermione. She was determined to come with them, to do her part but she knew that the boys wanted her safe. Still she didn't want to argue with them, didn't want to fight when these where possibly the last hours they had together. It wasn't unlikely that at least one of them would die during the battle. Voldemort was a dangerous wizard after all and even if they might be able to take him down in the end, nobody knew at what cost.

When closing time was finally there, Hermione was so wound up that she wasn't sure if she would be able to have a normal conversation over dinner. After rolling possible arguments around in her head, she wasn't even sure what to say to the twins on the matter any longer.

"We know that you want to come with us tomorrow," George said, as soon as they had closed the door to their flat behind them in the evening.

"We understand your need to be there with us and to fight against him and we will not stand in your way or hold you back if you want to go," Fred added and his voice sounded so sad and serious, like Hermione had never heard it before.

"Thank you," she said and looked at them with moist eyes.

"Fred and I have discussed possible ways for you to participate in the fight without putting yourself in immediate danger and we would like to give you something," George continued and pulled a simple silver necklace from under his robes. "We used the knowledge we gained about the twin bond during our lessons with Snape and created this. The pendant here will enable you, to be part of our bond, as long as it touches your skin. You'll be able to sense our feelings and if necessary you just have to say our names with the clear intention to get to us, and the integrated portkey will do the rest. It does also work the other way around which means that you can always get backup within seconds, if things go badly."

Hermione looked at them with a stunned expression. "How long did you work on this?" she asked and marvelled at the brilliance and the beauty of their work. Those twins really were exceptional wizards.

Fred grinned at her shyly. "We started working on it, after you were taken to the ministry. The minutes we spent waiting for you without being able to help you were some of the longest in our lifes. And we promised each other that we would find a way to reach you, no matter where you are. Is this alright? Do you like it?"

Hermione beamed at them, before she threw herself into their arms. "I love it! It's extraordinary and brilliant and … you don't know how much this means to me!"

George smiled happily at her. "Do you want to try it? I mean, we are pretty sure it works but…"

He couldn't finish the sentence, because Hermione started nodding impatiently while looking at him with pleading eyes. And so he broke the sentence off with a laugh and held the necklace towards her. "Well, come on then. Fred? Would you hold Hermione's hair up?"

Fred was behind her immediately and a moment later she could feel his big hands in her hair. He ran his fingers gently through her thick brown curls before holding them up expertly. And as soon as her neck was exposed to him, she could feel his breath tickling her from behind and shivered.

The necklace wasn't heavy at all on her neck and felt warm against her skin. But apart from a slight tingling sensation when the pendant touched her skin for the first time, Hermione couldn't feel any difference. She looked at the twins questioningly. "Shouldn't I be able to feel something now?" she asked them curiously.

George smiled at her. "You will only be able to feel strong emotions, like Fred and I do. Believe me anything else would simply drive you mad." At that he stepped closer to her and rested his hands on her shoulders. Hermione knew instantly what he was about to do and moved towards him eagerly. Then their lips locked in a passionate kiss and her world exploded into colours. She had never felt anything like it before, because suddenly she was hit with a wave of love, adoration and need that robbed her breath. And she knew instantly that it weren't her feelings she was experiencing, but theirs. It was like a drug and for a moment she was almost unable, to keep herself upright.

"Merlin," she moaned into George's mouth before pulling him even closer. Just then she could suddenly feel Fred's lips on her neck, as his mouth found the sensible spot just below her ear. It was almost too much.

"Gods Hermione, can you feel that?" Fred panted behind her and pulled her against his chest. She nodded dazedly, before ending the kiss.

"Yeah," she said because she could. Hermione felt everything and it was wonderful. "I can feel you," she said in awe, before kissing George once again. Then she turned around to his twin and pulled him into another heated kiss: "and you." That was all that was said for a very long time, as words were no longer necessary between them. Hermione knew what they wanted, could feel their need for her. And how could she send one of them away, when all she wanted was having them close? The answer was: she couldn't. Instead the three of them stumbled into their bedroom in a tangle of limbs and lips and clothes. It wasn't until morning before one of them emerged the bedroom again. And when he did, it was with a satisfied, dazed look on the face.