**Author's Note: This is a rather short chapter, I know. But it wasn't an intentional thing to do. To make up for it, I've posted chapters two and three.**

"Bertie Bott's," George said and walked into the dark common room. "Hermione?" he whispered. He took out his wand. "Lumos. Hermione?"

She was sitting on the couch, with her head resting on an arm and an open book in her lap. George didn't want to wake her, but he thought she might be more comfortable in her own bed. Lightly, he touched her shoulder. "Hermione, wake up."

Her eyes fluttered open. "George! Did I fall asleep? Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I'm too tired to do any work tonight." She pushed her books aside and stood up. "Thanks for getting me up. I've fallen asleep on this couch before, and it's unpleasant waking up here." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "Sorry if I put you through any inconvenience, George."

"No, you didn't," he said quickly.

"Well, I'd better get to bed." Hermione yawned. "Goodnight."

"G'night," George said. He watched her ascend the staircase to the girls' dormitory, and then went up to his own. Fred and Lee Jordan were still awake playing Exploding Snap.

"What took you so long?" Fred asked. "The one Quidditch practice we get out a little early and you stay there and fly a few more laps. You're nutters. I mean, when does a chance like this come along? Not often, that's for sure."

George shrugged. "I just wanted some more fresh air."

"More?" Fred asked incredulously. "We were there for three and a half hours!" He leaned in more closely. "You weren't having a little rendezvous sub rosa, were you?"

"Huh?" George put on his best befuddled expression.

"Oh, come on, you can tell me. It's that Hufflepuff, Emiliana Twain, isn't it?" Fred inquired slyly.

"Who?" George asked.

Fred rolled his eyes. "Fine, don't tell me. I thought you trusted me, being your only twin brother." He got up and hopped into his bed, drawing the curtains about him. Lee Jordan did the same. "Goodnight, George," Fred said.

"What? You're not going to play Snap anymore?" George asked. "Oh, come on. Lee? A quick game?"

"Goodnight!" Lee shouted.

"Shh!" somebody hissed.

"Oh, be quiet," George shot back automatically. Soon the dormitory was engulfed in silence and darkness, and George fell asleep.

Morning came more quickly than he would have liked and he slept right through breakfast. Unfortunately, he had Potions first thing, and Professor Snape did not tolerate tardiness. Nor would he believe any excuses George might make.

He grabbed his books and ran right past the Great Hall, down to the dungeons. "You could have woken me up," he said to his twin as he made his way to his seat.

"I'm not your alarm clock," Fred retorted.

George rolled his eyes and sat down. He didn't want to bother with arguing; class was about to start.

"Settle down, seventh-years," Snape said loudly, gritting his teeth. "Open your textbooks to the seven-hundred and fifty-first page. There you will find a recipe for a bewitching draught, more commonly known as Thieves' Aid. You have the entire class period to prepare your ingredients, as there are so many. Tomorrow, you will be making the potion, so do not forget your cauldrons." He took a moment to glare at Fred. "It would serve you well to remember it, Mr. Weasley."

"I will, sir," Fred said.

"Now. Get to work," Snape snapped. "You're wasting time."

Katie leaned over as she was mashing her Wolfsbane and whispered, "How did it go last night? I suppose you laid on the old Weasley charm pretty thick."

George chuckled. "I didn't get the chance, she fell asleep before I got back from practice."

"Well, you did stay behind for a while," Katie said.

"Miss Bell, Mr. Weasley, I realize this must be an exceedingly important and vital conversation for you to have in my classroom, but I would appreciate it if you would leave your chatter until after class." Snape eyed each of them in turn. "You're wasting your time and mine. I shouldn't have to reprimand you at this age." He stalked off.

"Sorry, Professor," they called after him. Katie looked up at George and laughed quietly. "I guess we should get back to work."

"Well, at our age, he really shouldn't have to reprimand us," George mocked. They both laughed and began mashing their herbs.