"And whatever you do, don't yell in the hall or make a lot of noise," Ginny finished, opening the door and peeking her head out.

"Can we go down to breakfast now?" Hermione whispered, "I'm starved."

"Just one thing," Ginny closed the door again and leaned against it, "Why do you really want to keep you and Fred a secret?"

"Last year, with everything with Skeeter and Krum and Harry," Hermione swallowed, "Everyone thought they knew everything about me. Fred helps me not care about that kind of thing. If people started to go after me and him... It'll be so much worse."

"It's going to make it worse when you finally do tell them though," Ginny frowned and opened the door again.

"Because you've told them about you and Michael Corner," Hermione scoffed, following her out into the hall.

"Keep your voice down," Ginny said softly.

"Honestly, as soon as we get to school-"

"Shh," Ginny insisted, putting one hand to her mouth, and whispering, "That's Sirius' mum's portrait. She's absolutely nuts."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, following Ginny down the stairs.

"Think Malfoy only a hundred times worse," Ginny said, shoving the doors open to the kitchen. Here a small group of people were talking quietly over Mrs. Weasley's cooking.

"What're you talking about the Malfoy's for?" A witch with a heart shaped face and shocking pink hair called.

"Trying to explain the portrait," Ginny answered, grinning, "Hermione, this is Tonks."

"Oh, I've heard a lot about you," Tonks extended her hand, knocking over a goblet of pumpkin juice in the process, "Damn! Sorry, I'm a bit clumsy-"

"Coming, Nymphadora?" A familiar gruff voice called, along with the familiar thumping sound that came with his peg-leg.

"Professor Moody?" Hermione said, her mouth slightly agape, "But- it's only-"

"It's Tonks, Mad-Eye!" The pink haired witch waved her wand, cleaning up her mess as quickly as she'd made it. "I don't go about calling you Alastor!"

"I'm not a professor anymore, and I never really was," Moody fixed both eyes on her for a moment before his electric blue one swiveled around and fixed on someone behind them, "Molly, your boys are up to something again."

"Go!" Fred shouted, and there was a very loud crack as the twins Disapparated.

"Boys!" Mrs. Weasley came dashing out of the kitchen.

"Molly, mind the portrait!" Lupin yelled as she slammed the kitchen door on her war path to the twins.

"BLOOD TRAITORS AND MUDBLOODS-"

"God dammit," Sirius and Lupin ran out the kitchen after Mrs. Weasley.

"HALF BREEDS AND FILTH- YOU! YOU LET THEM IN THIS HOUSE AND YOU BETRAYED-!"

"SHUT UP!" Sirius shouted over her, which was a feat in it of itself at the volume she'd reached, and then the house fell eerily silent.

"MUM NO!"

"Whad dey ub do?" Ron asked around a mouthful of food. Hermione glared silently until he swallowed and hastily cleared his throat, "I mean, what'd they do?"

"Something for their joke shop I'd bet," Ginny said quietly, sitting down and clenching her fists, "Best not to get in-"

There was a loud crack, someone grabbed Hermione's hand, yelled, "HOSTAGE!" and they both Disapparated. Hermione felt the most uncomfortable pressure in her chest before she took a deep breath.

"-volved," Ginny finished, back down in the kitchen.

"All this blasted childness is getting us nowhere, come on, Nymphadora, we'll be late," Moody growled, limping up the stairs and out of the kitchen. Tonks growled too, though for different reasons, and followed the older Auror out.

She threw a wink back at Ginny as she left and called brightly, "See you later!"

Ron frowned, "Where'd they take Hermione?"

"They're just messing around," Ginny grabbed some of his eggs of his plate, "Don't worry."

Besides, she was 50% sure that George had grabbed Hermione anyway. He'd only even been in the kitchen for about 3 seconds though, and it was hard to tell.

"You could've splinched me!" Hermione hissed.

"We're actually really good at this," George grinned back.

"We'll give you Hermione back if you leave us alone!" Fred called through the closed door.

"How'd you get Hermione in there... Frederick Gideon Weasley tell me you did not take her by Apparation!" Mrs. Weasley banged solidly on the door.

"He didn't!" George called, smiling wider.

"George Fabian-"

"We get it, you know our middle names," Fred cut her off, "She's fine, not a hair on her body misplaced."

"I will not negotiate this with you!" Mrs. Weasley said angrily, "You could get yourselves seriously hurt testing your silly candies, doing this, or worse someone else!"

"We're allowed to be stupid mum," Fred braced the door as she tried to barge in.

"You're testing what on yourselves?!" Hermione demanded.

"Hermione, dear, will you please tell them-"

"Everything you've already told us?" George asked, suspiciously holding his wand away from Hermione's grasp, as if she was strong enough to take it by force without magic.

"Why would that be any different?" Fred asked, though his voice was laced with some other emotion.

"I am serious, boys!" Mrs. Weasley said, exasperated.

"What?" A soft voice said.

"Oh, sorry Sirius, you know-"

"Molly, let them be. You'll wake up the portrait again."

Mrs. Weasley huffed, thumping loudly down the hallway.

"Fred? George?" Sirius knocked on the door. "Can we have Hermione back now?"

"I dunno," Fred said, turning to look at her, "I kind of like having her around."

"As leverage, you know," George added hastily.

"Yes, well I'd appreciate you holding her hostage under kind, humane conditions," Hermione could hear the chuckle forming as he talked. "Make sure she has a bottle to pee in."

"Oh, of course," Fred answered.

"I'd tell you to give her a book or something, but that wouldn't really be much of a torture, would it?" Sirius chuckle burst out of him, and Hermione couldn't remember hearing him happier.

"I dunno, there might a dry one around here someplace," George laughed too.

"I don't doubt she'd manage to find some enjoyment in it," Fred grinned.

"Oh, shut up and get on with killing yourself," Hermione said crossly, folding her arms across her lap and sitting down in one of the corners.

"If you explode the house, give us some warning so we can all get out first," Sirius advised, then he left, still chuckling.

"It's your turn," Fred said to George, gesturing to a bubbling vat of purple.

"Yes, we both know I'm always first," George grinned. "First to come into the world-"

"Means you'll be the first to leave it," Fred answered, which seemed to be a common retort to a reoccurring issue. He left the door slowly, as though waiting for Sirius or Mrs. Weasley to break it down, and came to sit beside Hermione.

"And leave you all alone?" George scoffed. "Never."

"Really?" Hermione said softly, sliding away from Fred a little bit. "Taking me hostage?"

"That was all George," Fred assured her softly. "It's a good excuse though..."

"Excuse for what?" Hermione asked, turning her face to Fred. She found him startlingly close.

"For this," He brushed some hair away from her face and pulled her even closer to him. Hermione gave up trying to control her breathing as Fred held himself less than a mere inch away from her. Hermione gathered up her courage and closed the distance between them.

"Hey, Fred-" George turned to look at his twin, and discovered Fred with one hand entangled in Hermione's hair, the other one her waist. He gave it about 3 more seconds before shouting, "Oi!"

It must have been almost as embarrassing to him as it was to Hermione, whose face turned bright red, though he hid it much better.

"You can snog later," George said irately, "Are you sure we need this in there?"

Fred caught the herb they were using for their potions and stood reluctantly, "Yes I'm sure."

"What're you using that for?" Hermione asked, getting to her feet as well.

"Skiving Snackboxes," George answered, "This one makes you puke."

"Or, it's supposed to," Fred corrected.

"Strongest reaction we've gotten is mild gagging," George said, stirring the purple fluid.

"So what's wrong with it?" Hermione asked, bending over the cauldron before gagging herself, "What is that smell?!"

"Dunno, it just kind of smells like that," Fred shrugged, "Anyway, we think it might be one of the ingredients."

George sighed and handed Hermione the little journal with all of the ingredients they had tried and in what amounts.

"Some of this is really expensive!" Hermione exclaimed, "How'd you manage-"

"Don't ask if you don't want the answer," George said darkly, taking the book back.

Hermione sighed and took the herb from Fred's hand, ripping off its leaves and dropping them carefully into the cauldron. George stepped back as she took control of the workspace, using whatever ingredients she felt she needed. Fred stepped up carefully, ladling a small amount into a jar they'd been using as a glass.

He'd no soon swallowed then he threw up, violently, on the floor.

"Brilliant!" He gasped, then continued to be sick.

"Where is it?!" George grabbed a small, clearish orange liquid and passed it to Fred. He spat out the first little bit of it, making George wince at the loss. That particular solution had to brew 20 days before it was ready. Fred managed to down the liquid on his second try however, and stopped puking. George waved his wand, Vanishing the pile of sick.

"Fred I'm so sorry I didn't think-" Hermione rushed, helping Fred to his feet.

"Ingenious!" George said, trading a glance with his twin, "You really know how to pick 'em."

"What-"

Hermione's question was smothered by a quick kiss.

"Eww, Fred you taste like sick!" Hermione pulled away, wiping at her mouth. She gagged again and coughed.

"Oh, sorry about that," Fred said, following Hermione as she slipped past them toward the door and into the hall.

George sighed but grinned, "There goes our hostage."

.o0O0o.

It was less than a week before I updated this time! Huzzah! School is actually starting to get into full swing; I've got to write a page every other night about what I'm grateful for and I have to write 2 bills for 'mock congress.' Oh, the joy. Anyway, I am very grateful for you all, who after 21 chapters and way too many words, have some how decided that said too many words was worth your time. So thank you all very much!

Fandomqueen104: I would and I've considered it but, and don't get me wrong, Hermione is the hottest BAMF to ever BAMF, but it gets unrealistic when Ron and Victor and Fred and Draco are all in love with her. Thank you though, even though I don't even know why I put Narcissa in there.

Electrocorrosive: Much thanks, I've written I tiny spat and a huge fight down the road (like miles and miles down the road) and I even updated in less than 7 days, just for you ;) Fred is a cocky, smug, lovable son of a bitch.