Chapter 5:

Hermione apparated right in front of the twins' shop and entered the store. As usual, the place was full of kids with their parents. She looked around the crowd for a sign of either Fred or Gorge. But instead of seeing the twins, a girl greeted him.

"Good Morning Ma'm, how may I help you?"

Hermione smiled. "It's okay, I'm just looking for either Fred or Gorge, you're Verity right?"

"Yes, I am, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley are in the back room. I believe they are perfecting a product."

Hermione grinned, wondering what kind of product, the twins are inventing again. "Thanks Verity, I'll just go there on my own." The she made her way back, looking around the store at the children and teenagers studying the items. She caught sight of the headless hats in the corner and smiled, remembering the first time the twins made a demonstration at the Gryffindor common room. She arrived at the back, where the specialty items are placed and went further back at the storage room.

She opened the door and immediately laughed at the sight before her. Gorge's face was full of multicolored bumps and boils. He looked absolutely ridiculous. Both twins turned to her, Gorge went bright red and Fred grinned.

"Hey Hermione!" Fred greeted.

"Hey Fred, Gorge"

"So you changed your mind?" Fred asked

"Looks like it." Hermione said then she looked at Fred and grinned. "I'm glad I did or I would not have seen you, you look priceless!" Hermione sniggered.

Gorge laughed, "I suppose I do look ridiculous, but it's this product, we can't seem to get it right." Gorge showed her a cup with a pink liquid in it.

Hermione squinted at it and grew a bit curious. "What is it suppose to do anyway?"

Gorge answered. "It's supposed to turn your face to look like the face of your enemy for a few hours, depending on the amount of juice but all it does for now is give the face muli colored boils."

Hermione laughed, "Where did you get that idea?"

Fred grinned, "We just thought of it, we were imagining Ron, looking at the mirror and seeing Malfoy's face instead."

Hermione laughed, imagining Ron's reaction.

"So, what made you change your mind and spend the day with us Hermione?" Fred asked, while pouring some clear liquid in another cup and giving it to Gorge, who took it and drank, making his face clear of all boils in an instant.

Hermione shrugged, "I just suddenly wanted to get out of the house."

The twins looked at her curiously but didn't say anything more about the issue.

"Well, I'd love to join the both of you but I have to go see Alicia today, I already told you about that, didn't I Fred?" Gorge asked

Fred smacked the side of his head. "Bloody Hell, I forgot."

Hermione's face fell, "So I guess, we'll just reschedule then." She stated

Fred looked at her incredulously "Of course not, we just have to do it without Gorge that's all."

"That won't bother you Gorge?"

"Heck No." Gorge answered and started walking out the door, he turned before leaving.

"So brother, I'll just see you at home then?"

Fred nodded. "Later then."

Then Gorge left leaving Fred and Hermione in the room. "So Hermione" Fred started with a grin. "You ready to have some fun?"

Hermione grinned. "Just as long as its not embarrassing, then I'm good."

Fred winked at her, leave it to me. He walked out the door and Hermione followed.

"Verity, I'm going to leave the store to you, but I'll be back to close up all right?"

"Okay Mr. Weasley."

At that Fred took Hermione's hand and led her out the door.

"Where are we going?"

Fred looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Are you hungry?" He asked

Hermione made a face. "Very. I haven't had any breakfast yet and its already 10:30"

Fred grinned and bowed like a gentleman.

"Then we shall eat, right this way my lady."

Hermione laughed at his tactics and gave a curtsy. "Lead the way Monsieur."

With that they walked along Diagon Alley.

After around 5 minutes of walking, Fred led her to an obscure part of Diagon Alley. She had never been there before. Fred stopped in an old place. It looked like it was about to fall over. Hermione looked at it apprehensively.

"Are we going to eat here?"

Fred raised his brows. "Yes. Didn't I tell you we're gonna have fun?"

"And fun includes eating in a place that looks like its been hit by a hurricane 10 times?"

"No, fun includes doing something you've never done before, and this is one of them."

With that Fred entered and Hermione sighed, and followed him. They sat at the table, opened the menu and a waitress walked over and took their orders. Fred immediately said what he wanted and then waited for Hermione to order. Hermione wrinkled her nose, the food were so… Obscure and unknown to her, but when she looked at Fred, he had a challenging look in his eye and at that Hermione raised one eyebrow and ordered the first thing she saw on the menu. It was some kind of seafood and some water.

No sooner, the food was served. Hermione stared at her food. It didn't really look that appetizing.

"Well, aren't you going to eat?" Fred asked, still looking at her with that challenging look.

"Of course, I will!" she answered haughtily. "I'm just.. erm… preparing…"

Fred smirked and placed is fork down. "Go on, eat. I'm waiting."

Hermione took a deep breath, picked up her fork, closed her eyes and took the first bite. She chewed, swallowed and then opened her eyes.

"This is good!" she said, her eyes lighting up and took another bite.

Fred laughed while looking at her, which made her look up.

"What's so funny?"

"You."

"And why is that?"

"Hermione" Fred started "You hate trying on new things, am I right?"

Hermione placed her fork down and pondered at that. "Well, You're half right."

Fred squinted. "What does that mean?"

"It means, I want to try new things, I really do, but most of the time, I feel scared to break from the mold. It takes a person that I trust to help me break it. Like Harry and Ron…"

"So I take it that you trust me?"

Hermione smiled. "What makes you say that?"

"I got you to eat that, whatever it is, didn't I?" Fred said smirking

Hermione laughed. "Well, I suppose you're right, Thanks Fred."

Fred grinned. "Well, go ahead and eat now, You're going to need you're strength for the rest of the day."

Hermione looked a bit anxious. "There's more?"

Fred smiled a bit devilishly. "You haven't seen anything yet."