Fred winced and ducked under his mother's arms.
"Frederick Gideon!"
"It was an accident!" George protested, disappearing with a crack, his own arms full of ingredients for their Skiving Snackboxes.
"George Fabian, it was bad enough when you were blowing up our house, but this is not our house!" Mrs. Weasley howled.
"Molly!" Lupin stepped aside as Fred made another trip into the room. "Molly!"
"What?!"
There was a moment where Remus actually feared for the twins' safety. He'd seen what the Potters could be like when James was rude, and Mrs. Weasley clearly thought the twins were being rude to their host. Mrs. Weasley didn't really trust Sirius, but it was still his house. Sirius did that thing he'd always been able to do and appeared silently at Remus' shoulder.
"Molly, really it's the shouting that's worse than anything. There's this portrait of my mother, see and if she wakes up… Her lungs can out do anyone's. Trust me," Sirius said darkly.
"I'm sorry if they've damaged anything-"
"Trust me, this house would be better if left to rot," Sirius said sourly. Remus winced, remembering moments when Sirius' eyes glazed over and he jumped if anyone touched him, staring wistfully after his brother. Remus smiled through a grimace as rapid cracking occurred and the twins relocated their stores.
"When are they going to go and get Hermione?" Remus asked.
"I still don't think this is a good idea. They're barely of age and you made this decision while I was trying to help move Ginny in-"
"Because we knew you wouldn't like it," Sirius muttered. Remus smiled in spite of himself.
"Molly, we know," he said, trying to placate her. "But no one would suspect that they would be in the Order."
"They're school children," Molly scowled, completely oblivious to the fact that the supplies she had tried to destroy had all mysteriously vanished.
"Would you feel better if I went with them?" Sirius asked. Remus turned to give him a stern look. Sirius had been inside for 2 weeks and he was already getting restless. This did not seem to reassure Molly. She knew that the old Marauder would likely be just as bad as the twins.
"I can go too, if you'd like," Remus offered. She nodded tersely, because despite being a werewolf and all the stigma that went along with that, Remus seemed trustworthy and responsible. Then she walked off down the hall to help Ron move in.
"It's safe," Sirius called with a chuckle. The twins appeared, grinning, back in their room.
"It still smells slightly of mushrooms," George noted.
"'S'not my fault," Fred mumbled.
"Oh, it is too," George said. "You're too busy thinking about- "
"Shut up!" Fred snapped, eyeing his former teacher and his host wearily. Sirius seemed slightly less crazy than expected. But Lupin he wasn't quite sure about.
"You ready to go get my favorite bookworm?" Sirius asked.
"Not just your favorite," George said slyly.
"I swear to Merlin, George," Fred said darkly.
"We're ready," George said brightly, hitting his brother's arm. Fred hit him back harder.
Hermione picked up an old spell book reluctantly, she wished she could stop by Diagon Alley and get all her books. She supposed, however, that Mrs. Weasley would probably do that for them. She packed quickly and efficiently, not wanting to be caught halfway through.
She really was excited that the twins were coming, though she was aware it would create an abundance of chaos. Hermione started to drift off to sleep, but the doorbell rang before she had the chance. Hermione sat up straight, hopping off her bed and smoothing the sheets, her trainers already on her feet, and ran out to the front door. But her father had beaten her.
"Hello?" Her father asked as Hermione edged out into the hall way.
"Hermione!" Fred and George tackled her in a huge hug. She just barely managed two see another person behind them. Fred and George both kissed her on the cheek, enthusiastically shook her father's hand, and strode into her living room.
Lupin stepped into the house, smiling kindly though he looked even more tired than when Hermione had last seen him. Every time she saw him he looked worse for wear. A great black dog followed him, and he too seemed to smile up at them.
"Close the door," Hermione said softly, aware that her father had temporarily frozen. He was older by at least a half decade than both men, but still Lupin looked far wiser. He closed the door as Hermione lead the old friends into her living room. Fred and George had made themselves right at home, and were examining the still pictures on the wall.
"I forgot they didn't move."
"We have a cat, just so you know," her father warned belatedly.
"Yes, they've met," Hermione answered, trying not to smile in the serious situation. She'd missed Sirius, reckless as he was, "Sirius, what are you doing here?"
Lupin pulled the shades closed carefully. Hermione's father came in to lean against the wall, staring curiously at the dog. Padfoot transformed into Sirius and one glance at her father's face broke Hermione's smile free. His eyes threatened to pop out of his head, and his mouth had opened slightly. Fred nudged George and stifled a laugh.
"There's the brightest witch of her age!" Sirius grinned, holding open his arms. Hermione laughed, picking up a Muggle newspaper and swatting Sirius with it.
"Dad, this is Professor Lupin and Sirius Black," she glanced back at her father and frowned at Sirius, "You just had to do that."
"Come on, I love Muggles," He smiled, picking up one of her mother's magazines. He did not seem surprised at the stationary pictures.
"Yes, you've only been accused of killing 12 of them," Lupin said mildly, quietly enough so that Hermione's father couldn't hear.
"Where's your mum?" Fred asked.
"She was out on a walk," Hermione said.
"Care to show me around until she gets back? Wouldn't want to leave without saying a proper goodbye," the light in Fred's eyes was unmistakable. It made Hermione's heart beat faster, and thank Merlin that her father was still trying to work out Sirius' transformation.
"Quick tour of the loo for me, I think," George said. Hermione laughed and lead them back toward her room. She left George to discreetly explore without her and pulled Fred into her room. He shut the door quietly.
"Are you alright?" Fred asked. "Your parents-"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Fred."
"What?"
"Shut up and kiss me."
Fred was never more willing to comply. It was easy to forget about Death Eaters and wars when Hermione was so close to him. It was easy to forget just about everything.
.o0O0o.
Electrocorrosive: I originally just had Sirius and Lupin go over (Fred and George having 'nearly burned down the house' or some ridiculous claim like that) but the idea of Mr. Granger lecturing him convinced me otherwise. And thank you! :D
Sdrlana21: I am trying to right more per chapter now.
Just 1 Thought: I'm going to incorporate the twins' rules of fighting more into the coming year. Not that they'll be fighting a lot, but I think it's really funny and rarely every serious when they do.
badwolfinwinterfell: They're just a very stressed family in general I think. There are definitely funny/awesome/cute things to come ;)
