A/N: I don't have the books for reference, so things such as the dates of Hogsmeade weekends might not be accurate. Also, the pub is called Three Broomsticks, right? I've forgotten. I made up the Blinkarts and Slimerods. The spell incantations I got directly from my Latin textbooks, since the majority of JKR's spells are Latin-based. If you're curious"Conspicio Periculum" translates to "I find danger" and "Occulus Reditum" means "return eye." At last, my twosome years of Latin has come in handy!

October

"Harry, hurry up! It's time for Quidditch practice" shouted Ron. He'd been named Captain and took his job very seriously.

Harry hesitated. He was behind on his homework, and he felt like he could miss a practice. Being seeker, it wasn't vital for him to join them. "Ron, I think I might sit this one out. I have a Potions essay, sixteen inches, due in a couple days, and I haven't even started. Not to mention Charms, Transfiguration, and DADA homework." (And Hermione would kill me) he added to himself.

"Harry, did I just hear you pass up Quidditch practice for homework" asked Hermione disbelievingly. "I think you should go. You've been cooped up with books far too much lately, and some fresh air would do you good."

Harry stared at her in shock. A statement like that from her was about as rare as Lupin's smile these days. Cooped up with books? What did Hermione do all day but that"Uh, sure Hermione" he said slowly, reconsidering. "Never mind, Ron, I'm coming."

Hermione smiled. Ginny had asked her to make sure that Harry went off to Quidditch practice so Fred and George could prepare their surprise appearance while he was gone. She gazed at the two departing boys. Now she was alone in the common room, a regular occurrence these days. Everyone else busied themselves with their boyfriends and girlfriends. Everyone but her. She felt a pang of loneliness. There was no one to blame but herself. She didn't like any of the available guys. Colin Creevy occasionally tried to get her to go out with him, but she wasn't interested. (Lupin's not too bad, though) Hermione sighed. (What a silly thought. It would never happen, I'm just a student to him, not to mention it would just be, well, unusual. Inappropriate.)

With her extra time, Hermione had gotten ahead in her homework, despite the fact she got assigned a massive amount. She also did alot of Ron's prefect duties for him, because he would often forget them while he was hanging out with Luna or planning Quidditch practices. She didn't mind. It kept her mind off how left out she felt, well, at least most of the time. She brushed off such thoughts as two red headed young men entered the common room with their trademark mischievous grins. Tonight Hermione was going to forget prefect rules. She knew many students, especially Harry, could do with a funny distraction. He was still brooding with emotions about what happened during the war. Although he tried not to show it, Hermione knew it was really getting to him. He'd tried a few more times to talk to Lupin over the past couple weeks with little success. Perhaps she would intervene and come along with him next time. (I'll ask him about that later)

"Hello, Hermione" greeted the twins. Hermione cautiously shook their hands. She wouldn't be surprised if they literally had something up their sleeves to make her skin turn orange or something. "Good to see you again, Fred and George" she said politely. "I hope this room is still intact when you're finished."

"Oh, we're not going to have any explosives" said Fred.

"Or dragon fireworks" said George.

"We'll keep it nice and tame" assured Fred.

"Nothing to worry about, Hermione" declared George.

Hermione raised her eyebrow but said nothing. "I'll be sitting here doing homework. Please, DON'T use your products before the others arrive. I need to concentrate."

"We won't" promised Fred.

"Not so much as a gumdrop" said George. The twins left her to her reading as they set up a table in a corner. As it turned out, Hermione was finishing the entire DADA book, 7th year, for the third time. (Nothing like thorough coverage) she thought with satisfaction. (Hopefully this will help my NEWTS score. My parents would be so proud! It would reflect well on Lupin's teaching skills, as well. There I go again. I really should stop, it's a dead end.) She turned to page five hundred-sixty-seven. (Only two hundred more pages to go!)

By the time Hermione snapped her book shut, finished, Harry and the others trooped in with smiles on their faces. "That was a great practice, Ron. We should have had you all along instead of Oliver Wood" praised Harry.

Ron grinned, then gaped at his brothers standing in the corner. "Fred, George, I didn't know you were coming. Why didn't you tell me"

"Surprise, surprise" said Fred.

"It's all Ginny's fault" accused George with a grin.

"Wow, are these your latest products" queried Harry, curiously staring at the oddments on the table.

"Our very newest" confirmed Fred.

"Hot off the experiment lab" George proudly said. He picked up a gumdrop. "Let's start our grand

presentation." He popped it in his mouth.

Hermione, mildly interested, watched as his hair turned various colors, before settling on hot pink. (That would be a funny prank to play. What am I thinking? I don't play pranks.) She picked up her Potions essay to do some editing. She wouldn't give Professor Snape any grounds for being nasty to her. Wild laughter echoed around her as her last piece of homework was perfected. What was she going to do without homework when she left school?

After three hours, the Weasley twins reluctantly finished their demo. Everyone said goodbye to them with wishes of them returning soon, and even some product orders. Hermione eyed the buyers. She'd have to keep close tabs on them.

Hermione jumped up and grabbed Harry's wrist as he approached her way. "I'd like to talk to you tomorrow, in the library after classes, if that's all right" she said. She decided to postpone her talk so she wouldn't spoil Harry's happy night.

"Sure thing, Hermione" he grinned. "I suppose you want to talk about my studying schedule."

"Possibly. Goodnight, Harry."

"'Night, Hermione." He turned and gave a quick goodnight kiss to Ginny before going to bed.

The following afternoon, Hermione showed up early for DADA class. Lupin shuffled through the papers on his desk, seeming to gather his thoughts about the upcoming lesson. Hermione could sense that he was slightly less depressed today. Perhaps he'd caught wind of Fred and George's visit last night. She knew that behind the disapproving demeanor he tried to display about their products, his Marauder spirit thought they were quite funny. She wouldn't be surprised if he was younger and carefree, he would have bought something out of their shop. And used it.

The class shuffled in on time, their chatter dying down as Lupin stood up to start the class. He lectured them about Norfolk Blinkarts, who deceived their victims with eyes on long, stringlike tentacles dangling from their hands. The victim would see the eyes on his left and assume that was where the dangerous creature was. Then the victim would go right, straight into the Blinkart and get eaten alive. "To avoid this, you need to learn this spell: 'Conspicio periculum.' "

"Conspicio periculum" the class repeated.

"Very good" praised Lupin. Hermione raised her hand. "Yes, Hermione"

"Isn't it 'Occulus reditum'? 'Conspicio periculum' isn't normally used on Blinkarts. It's more commonly used on Slimerods in marshy unknown territory in the springtime, when they like to drown their victims in sinkholes."

Lupin began to smile wryly in amusement, checking his notes. "Why, you're right, Hermione" he said, chuckling. "Although, I'm not sure how you knew that, because Slimerods not going to be covered until just before NEWTS." He paused, tilting his head with a measuring look. "You haven't read the whole book now, have you"

"Yes, I have" said Hermione, blushing. She could feel a twinge of butterflies in her stomach. "Three times in fact."

He laughed rather appreciatively. "I'm glad to have such a dedicated student." He returned to his lecture with a few more chuckles at her expense. Correcting his mistake and continuing on, his mood seemed rather jovial for the rest of the class.

"Good going" mouthed Harry to Hermione. He hadn't heard Lupin laugh ever since the beginning of the school year.

After the class, Harry and Hermione headed for the library. They sat down at a table. Harry looked at Hermione expectantly. "Harry, I'm not going to talk about schoolwork. I was thinking that this would be an opportune time to talk to Lupin about things, especially now that he's probably in more of a talking mood. I'll go with you, if that will help." She bit her lip, waiting for his reaction.

Replies to Reviewers:

TrinityDD: Thank you! You know, I'm not a big fan of the Time Turner ones either. I haven't read them because it seems like they would all have a sad ending, once Hermione had to return to the future.

BrennaM: Thank you! Updates should be pretty quick, I just have to edit the chapters.

CharmedLeoLvr: Thanks, you will see more! The story behind the title is rather funny. About four or five years ago, when I worked at a different horse barn than I do now, a friend of mine skipped up to me one day and randomly asked"How many cups of sugar does it take to get to the moon" It's one of those odd things you remember a long time. I thought it would be appropriate since Remus is "Moony" and sugar is generally associated with romance.

Preview of next chapter :"Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione were striding down the DADA stairs.

"What was that all about" smirked Harry.

"What all about" Hermione asked absently.

"You blushed every time he looked at you! And he seemed to be eyeing you and acting strange." He paused. "You two aren't going to get together, are you? Because it could only end in disaster."