As Harry's trial loomed closer and closer, Hermione's mood grew more and more panicked. The Wizarding world functioned on different principles than the Muggles'. This meant there was no separation of power, no checks and balances. Although archaic, it worked... most the time. There was only evidence and a vote. There were bound to be supporters of Fudge on the Wizengamot.

"They just can't, they haven't the authority over who gets expelled!" Hermione vented frustrated to Ginny as they cleaned out a drawing room.

"Filthy Mudblood thinks she knows everything," said Kreacher viciously, "Thinks she understands-"

"Do not call her that!" said Ginny angrily, and Hermione was hard pressed to stop her from kicking the House-Elf.

"Miss Bloodtraitor, no better than my poor mistress' pig of a son-"

"Kreacher!" called Sirius down the hall, and the tiny thing scampered off wisely as Hermione released Ginny. Even though she knew it was probably Sirius' dreadful treatment of him that caused him to be so obstinately rude, she could not stand to hear him insulted. Perhaps Sirius had a bit of a wild streak, and maybe he was growing reckless and bored being cooped up so long. But Sirius was the closest thing Harry had to a father, and sometimes, Hermione would allow herself to admit she felt closer to Sirius than her own father.

"I'll take his head clean off," snarled Ginny. "I mean it."

"His ears aren't the only things he has that're batty," Fred glared down the hall after the ancient elf. He gestured up the hall towards his room. "Gin, you mind testing something for us?"

"Oh, here we go," Ginny rolled her eyes and jogged up the stairs past Fred.

"You're testing them on her now?" Hermione demanded, outraged.

Fred recognized the fire in her eyes and backed up, "No, no, it's all right. She wants to help and she's been giving us a good idea for how girls'll react and we haven't given her anything we haven't tested ourselves a thousand times- she offered to help and she's actually really excited about it-"

"Have you seen Harry?" Ron called up the hall.

"What- no of course not!" hissed Hermione. What day was today? It couldn't be-! Hermione gasped. "He's at his trial!"

"No, that's-" Ron paled. "He didn't even get me up... or anything! Why wouldn't he- I mean, wouldn't he want to, talk about it, or something?"

"Has he told either of you about what happened with Cedric?" asked Fred.

"Yes, but I don't think he's told us everything," Hermione said quietly.

"How would you know?"

"Oh come on, would you want to relive every single detail?" Hermione demanded. Ron could be so thick.

"They weren't that close really, were they?" asked Ron.

"I think whatever happened in that maze... there's no going back from it," Hermione said sadly.

"I'd be more concerned about the graveyard."

"That is because you are incredibly negative," sniffed Hermione. "Harry's allowed more than two friends you know."

And she stalked past him to her room.

"I'm Harry's friend," said Fred with a frown.

"Really?"

"We're the ones gave him the bloody map, aren't we?" Fred crossed his arms. "You'd be long dead without us."

"Yeah, by the way, thanks for telling me a bloke named Peter was following me around everywhere I went."

"We didn't even need the map by the time you lot got to school," chuckled Fred, "We only checked on if Filch or McGonagall was about. We weren't into stalking our baby brother."

Fred ruffled Ron's hair with a grin and stomped up to his room with George. Ginny was emptying her stomach into a small cauldron.

...

Harry was cleared of all charges, and the time remaining until school was back in session flew by. Fred did not dare try to pull Hermione away again, Kreacher roamed the house and yelled whenever he saw Hermione talking with any Weasley and an old friend of Sirius' was always popping in to check on Harry, Hermione and Ron.

Fred chuckled to see Sirius so happy, it was the first time he'd been out since the beginning of the summer. Hermione didn't much like it, but she didn't much like anything when it came to danger. Still, she smiled back at him. That counted for something.

Of course, she had become a prefect so she would be spending a majority of her time on the train not with them but rather wandering around. Fred tried to pay attention to what George and Lee were saying, really he did, but it was so hard. He leaned against the window with a near permanent frown. He sighed frequently.

"You're hopeless," George said, shaking his head.

"Can't believe your mom just-" Lee made scissors with his right hand and pulled on one of his dreads, "Chopped it all off."

"I swear that's why Charlie went off to Romania."

There was a small knock on the compartment a few minutes later. Fred continued to stare out the window. His twin continued to talk with whoever the new person was, though they conversed with nods and the like.

"He's cute when he doesn't know what's going on."

Fred grinned and sat up as Hermione sat beside him. He placed his hand on her knee and leaned into her, taking a deep breath and relishing as her scent washed over him. It was calming and exciting all at once.

"He may be cute but I'm devilishly handsome, all the time," George said.

"I've only got a few minutes, I managed to ditch Ron," Hermione said sadly. Fred pressed his forehead against hers.

"You're the best human being I know," Fred kissed her lightly, aware of his audience. Though it was easy to forget them, that was what the witch beside him did to him.

"Hey, there are children present!" George said, and Hermione turned to stare at him coldly. Lee had pulled his knees up to his chest and was pretending to be scared.

The compartment door slid open. Hermione turned to Fred, "And when I say this is your last warning, I mean it."

Fred had the decency to look scared for a heartbeat before he turned to glare at the intruder, "Malfoy."

"This is what happens when you socialize with Mudbloods," Malfoy sneered. "They try to tell you what to do."

"Get out," George said, not sounding very cross. Fred was boiling, Hermione put her hand on his elbow to stop him from doing something rash. She stood carefully.

"Hey, Freddie, remember what happened last time he interrupted us?" Hermione asked innocently.

"He got hexed," Fred smiled maliciously. "And mummy had to pay to get him fixed up."

"Would hate for that to happen again," Hermione relished how Malfoy flinched when she patted his shoulder, Fred could tell. All too soon she was gone. A spluttering Malfoy followed her.

"How come there's only one of her?" asked Lee, with a low whistle.

"You have got to love her," George agreed, giving Fred a pointed look. His eyebrows knit together. George rolled his eyes, "And you have to tell her that."

"Whoa, when you two start waving around words like 'love' it's serious," Lee sat up straighter and crossed his arms. "Why exactly have I not heard about this?"

"Who do you think you are, our Mum?" George chuckled. "Though, to be fair, quite a bit goes over her head too..."

"I'd just rather keep it from being commented on while I'm on the pitch," Fred said lazily. He sighed and laid his forehead on the window again.

"Who d'you reckon the new professor will be?" George asked.

"Dunno," Fred said. "Can't be much worse than a Death Eater in disguise though, right?"

He never, in all his life, had been or would be so wrong.

.o0O0o.

Merry Belated Christmas and Happy Early New Year! This was going to be two chapters, but then I realized how very short they were. I sincerely hope that everyone is enjoying their time off, whether it be from school or work. On another note, if anyone has an idea regarding the whole 6th year thing, I would love to hear it. Right now I'm thinking a whole bunch of letters back and forth, but that would just end up being a sparks notes version of the 6th book...

BTW, reading the reviews makes me blush every time. I love you guys!

SeverusSnape'sLove: I'm sorry to say, but I am not a big Snape fan. Just because he's a 'good guy' doesn't mean he's a good guy. Thank you very much though, and I'm maintaining the suspense on the Fred/Weasley death issue.

jperks: What's the point in writing if no one but you reads it? Then again, I have never shared any of my original works so... Thanks, though!

virason: Thank you! I try to update as often as possible :)

animelover5107: I'm convinced that Sirius is harmlessly deranged, if only because of all the in-breeding. You don't have a cousin like Bellatrix and come out perfectly sane.

cochran4444: You get an early Christmas present and a late Christmas present then! :D

Electrocorrosive: Only problem with the chapter title is I want to use it again and again. So much tension, at least that's what I'm hoping for. Here is the 'more' you requested!