"We're going to get Harry to do it," Hermione said quietly. "So if you two could just show up, and look all muscle-y and threaten anyone who doubts him, which includes himself by the way, it would be greatly appreciated."

"Ron is on board with this?" George asked, gesturing to where his younger brother cowered behind a chair, pretending to be doing a Potions essay.

"He doesn't like either of you very much right now," Hermione sighed.

"Can't see why not, we're loads better than Percy," Fred chuckled.

"Percy doesn't tease him about Quidditch," Hermione said clearly. "He thinks you're right. He doesn't understand that you're joking."

"We'll lay off him, don't worry," Fred rolled his eyes. "So where are we meeting for this..."

"Technically, it's- well- it's like if the Order would allow us to join," Hermione said quietly, throwing a few suspicious glances over her shoulder. "We're going to be learning practical Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Wicked," said the twins together, "Umbridge won't like that."

"The first meeting will be in the Hog's Head; it's empty most days," Hermione said. "You can invite people along, but only if you know for certain that they won't rat on us to Umbridge."

"So, we're your muscle, and in exchange we get...?" George prompted.

"Excuse me?"

"It's business, 'Mione, we're making a deal," Fred grinned from ear to ear, leaning in to whisper to George. Hermione did not like how this had turned on her.

"You do this, and I won't right home about the incident at Quidditch practice where you nearly killed one of your teammates with your stupid jokes," Hermione hissed.

"While all three of us here are especially talented at blackmail, that wasn't what I had in mind," Fred frowned at her.

"I'm talented, you still haven't gotten your money out of Bagman," Hermione said smugly.

"Forge, first off, I would like to say that this particular deal with have nothing, and I mean nothing, to do with the bedroom," George said holding up a hand to stop Fred's reply. "Now, Hermione, what do you have to offer us?"

"I could always not tell Angelina you're bullying Ron because the angry sex is-"

"No blackmail!"

"We're not bullying him!"

Hermione stared at them, "You could always do it out of the goodness of your hearts?"

"Nah."

Hermione smiled slowly as a thought formed. She glanced over her shoulder to Ron, then back to Fred and George, "Well, odds are we'll be picking up a few hexes here and there. Couldn't hurt to see them used on the Slytherins, could it? And, as a Prefect, I could always confirm that you were in detention with me were anything unfortunate to happen."

"I like the way you think," said the twins as one.

The first meeting of Dumbledore's Army went well enough. Besides Hermione tripping over her words and Harry blowing his top over Cedric (again), Hermione was reasonably happy. Fred had tried to invite Williams, but he claimed he already had a solution. When Fred asked, Williams revealed that he'd been discreetly cursing Death Eaters to be left and right since the incident with Umbridge, and was both getting away with it and better at it. Fred decided not to push it. He wasn't sure Hermione could find a place for eight people to study.

And yet there were over twenty-five at the meeting. Fred's head couldn't wrap around it. He was the first to sign his name, which, he supposed, left Williams out for good.

The first Quidditch match of the season arrived. It was a blur of adrenaline and wind, Fred never felt better than when he was beating the shit out of a bludger that went on to nail Montague in the face. Malfoy was-

Fred was shaking Harry's hand, admiring the tiny fluttering of wings beneath his clenched fist when he turned sheet white. Malfoy- had he just called his father a useless loser?! This coming from a spoiled brat of a child's whose parents lounged about at home living off of someone elses fortune and plotting the murder of innocents.

"Leave it, leave it, Fred, let him yell," Fred hid his anger a lot worse than George did. Angelina grabbed his arm. "He's just sore he lost, the jumped up little-"

"-but you like the Weasley's, don't you Potter, spend the holidays there and everything, don't you?" Malfoy sneered. Alicia grabbed hold of Fred's other arm as he clenched his fists and took a step toward Malfoy. In what society was it wrong to give a home to a boy who had none? "Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles-"

That was insulting Hermione. Hermione was Hermione because of her parents, because of Muggles. Fred managed to take another step before Katie wrapped her arms around his waist. He could hear Angelina muttering to herself faintly. The little shit had insulted Hermione. He didn't even hear what it was that made Harry let go of George. He saw Hermione standing behind Malfoy and his vision tunneled. He ached not to be beside her, but to be beside George and Harry, who were mercilessly kicking the snot out of the little shit. He would show that idiot manners, he would show that idiot what being a pretentious snob got you, he would show him that the Muggle way was so much better, especially when it came to duels. George and Harry were lead up to the castle by an astonished Madame Hooch. The second she had turned her back, the second Malfoy was left lying on the ground with no adult in sight, Angelina let go of Fred. It was easy to pull Alicia and Katie off him, he'd reached for his wand.

"Fred, take it easy. Alicia, Katie, go get changed," Angelina's face was enough to discourage argument. The two Chasers scurried off.

"Fred!" Hermione warned. Fred paused with his wand pointed at the little shit. Crabbe and Goyle sneered and raised their own. Without a second thought Fred disarmed the pair. Malfoy sneered like his cronies had.

"Be a good little Blood-Traitor, Weaselbee, and hide behind the Mudblood-"

Hermione kicked him in the head. Angelina hit him in the chest with a blue streak of light. Fred twirled his wand and jabbed. A boiled covered ferret scampered across the grounds, squeaking in horror.

.o0O0o.

I'm looking for a sort of informal Beta reader to look over some of my Year 7 stuff if anyone is interested, PM me. I promised myself I wouldn't go more than a week without updating, so I present to you something I literally started writing 45 minutes ago.

Electrocorrosive: I fully plan on Ron getting over his suspicions until about 7th year. I'm thinking about skipping 6th year almost entirely because I want to get to the good stuff. A big fight between Fred and Ron has always been in the plan, but when?

MademoiselleLottchen: You're the first one to say please don't kill Ron! Ron is one of my favorites, just because I ship Fremione like the Brits shipped tea in the 1700s doesn't mean I hate Ron, it just means I don't think he's the best man for Hermione. I try very hard to keep the characters close to their book characters. So many times I read a Fremione fic and Hermione is not Hermione at all, she's 90% of the time this sexy vixen off the bat and it's like noooooooooooo why?!

Fandomqueen104: Do not get me started on homework. Try writing half a page to answer a question that could be answered in two, succinct sentences when you have teeny tiny handwriting.

animelover5107: Thank you for you faith in me. I kinda need it right now. I'm trying desperately not to write douche-Ron, but the dude has some serious attitude/jealousy issues.