Okay, here goes! Part 2! Interestingly enough I'm probably more nervous about posting this second part then the first part. I guess because I wasn't sure anyone would actually read the first part heh. Anyhow, if you enjoy it and want to read more let me know.

George held out a full eight seconds by Fred's reckoning before he collapsed onto the floor guffawing like a loon.

"She…she really didn't believe you?" George managed to gasp out in between snorts and howls.

"She, she, she…thought…she thought…OW!" George paused, pain distracting him from his laughing fit long enough to aim a reproachful glare at his twin who was giving George a narrow-eyed glare right back, wand held stiffly out at his side. George tried half-heartedly to hold the laughter back before his twin cursed him into oblivion but…but… it was just too bloody brilliant! "She didn't believe you!" He howled again, setting himself off into another convulsive fit of laughter.

Fred sighed as, rolling his eyes in resignation, he lowered his wand and settled back to wait it out. When George went off like this, nothing as minor as miniature zappo curses would get in his way. Prat.

Eventually, as the fits of laughter became interspersed with longer and longer pauses of sobriety (mainly due to the increasing need for oxygen), George lay on the stone floor of one of the less used passages of Hogwarts, panting like a runner finishing up a race. "Sorry," he offered, reaching up to weakly wipe at the tears of laughter streaming down his face.

Fred just shrugged acceptance, returning to the problem at hand. "I can't believe she thought I was pranking her," he scowled, still feeling very much indignant at the way his proffered invitation had been thrown back in his face. His very sincere face.

George tossed his brother a look of sympathy, preparing to be helpful now that he'd got the amusement temporarily out of his system. "Well, old boy," he mused, propping himself up on both elbows to give Fred his full attention. "I hate to say it but I think our Hermione may have some grounds for concern."

"Shove off George!" Fred shot his twin a look of wounded outrage. "You know I wasn't trying to prank her!"

"Yes, yes, I do know that." George agreed hastily. "And you know that," he continued on. "But how, exactly, would Hermione know that?" He raised a wicked eyebrow, his smile turning a bit smug with satisfaction. "After all, brother, we do have a bit of a modest reputation at Hogwarts, don't we? In point of fact, we've spent the past six years working to earn the well-deserved and well-enjoyed reputation of being the most fearsome pranksters to ever walk the fair halls of our enchanted institution."

"Yeah but Hermione should have known I'd never prank her." Fred muttered with an ill-used frown, not quite up to enjoying the reputation that usually filled him with a toasty glow of satisfaction.

"Wellll, there was the time we…"

"That was before we really knew her! I wouldn't prank her now!"

George raised his eyebrows skeptically.

"Unless it was a really brilliant prank that would only work on a reddish-brown haired female genius with a cat," Fred clarified hastily.

George nodded and heaved himself up, moving to sit next to his brother against the wall. "Y'know Fred…" he paused consideringly. "Maybe what went wrong is that you were being serious."

Fred blinked at his brother, processing. "Y'mean…"

"Yes!" George nodded vigorously as he watched his twin link on to his own thought process. "No one expects us to be honest and genuine. You threw Hermione off guard, you did, not acting like our normal devilishly charming selves. It made her suspicious."

"She was suspicious because she's a cold hearted woman destined to embrace a life of spinsterly witchhood," Fred muttered, even as he processed, his rapid-fire mind starting to turn over possibilities and potential solutions.

"Well, you're the one who likes her." George commented rather heartlessly. Of course he, George, could appreciate Hermione Granger as well. She was cute and kind and immensely clever. In fact, George thought wistfully, and not for the first time, that it was a true waste to have such immense brain power and cleverness devoted to the world of academia. If she could only be turned to the paths of mischief and mayhem, her contributions to the field could be outstanding. But the girl was just too straight-laced for her own good. Even if she was best mates with Ron and Harry.

Anyhow, if George was ever tempted to like her, the thought of having yet another bossy, opinionated witch in his life was enough to make him shudder. He didn't need a girlfriend like that to add to the mix. But if Fred did…well, it was his solemn duty as a twin to help him get her. And then to tease them both mercilessly once he did.

Fred meanwhile was frowning thoughtfully. "You know…you may be right brother," he finally offered.

"Well, yes, of course I am," George agreed readily. "And you would have thought of it yourself if you hadn't been so, er, involved in the matter." He added generously.

"She's never really seen our serious side has she?"

"Exactly," George agreed. "So she doesn't know we have one."

"So I need to convince her I am being serious by…"

"By not being serious! You need to ask her out while being yourself!"

"Yeah, y'know, what we really need to do is approach this like a prank." Fred mused while George nodded encouragement.

"Yeah, exactly."

"Brilliant Planning…"

"Brilliant Strategy…"

"Brilliant Execution…"

They both smiled simultaneously. Identical smiles of wicked glee.

"And never ever getting caught."