A/N: Written for a contest on The Third Floor Corridor.

Brighter

Disclaimer: I wish I owned them. Twin sandwiches!

Chapter 6: Good to Know…

Fred gave his twin an odd look, and turned back to the customers queuing up at the counter. When the shop was empty once again, he turned back to George with a raised eyebrow.

"Kidnapping me?"

"Yep. Hermione's orders. I'm to bring you with me this week to Holly Hill."

Fred sighed. "I don't know…"

"Fred, this isn't a question. You're going, whether you like it or not." George grinned. "Hermione insists. Or would you rather her come here and get you herself?"

Fred rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. "Damn that witch." He couldn't help smiling a little.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Tuesday came, and Hermione woke up extra early. She took a nice long shower and picked out a comfortable pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt. She quick dried her hair with her wand and attempted to tame it a little. She even caught herself putting on a bit of make-up. She made her way to the hall and found Beth sitting at a table, looking rather nervous.

"Are you okay, Beth. You look a little green."

"Oh…yes." She whispered, looking down at her breakfast plate.

"Beth…" Hermione warned.

"Okay, okay! I'm nervous!" Beth's cheeks flushed a little.

Hermione smiled knowingly. "He'll love you, trust me. Those boys are great people, you'll get along just fine, I promise."

Beth let out a deep breath. "Okay. I'm just being silly. I've got to stop acting like a girl." They both chuckled and finished off their breakfast.

Hermione looked up at the clock. "Well, we're not meeting them for another hour."

Beth nodded. "I'm too excited to wait up here. We'll walk down slow I guess."

"Good idea." The two girls walked out of the hall and out the front door. It was a beautiful summer day, just a little breezy and not too hot. They enjoyed the weather and Beth explained the kind of shops that were in Holly Hill. It sounded like it was just a bigger version of Hogsmeade. When they arrived Hermione checked her watch.

"It's still early. Is there a book store?" Beth nodded enthusiastically and pulled Hermione in the direction of the book shop.

"This is my favorite place to buy books!" Beth exclaimed as they opened the front door. The bell jingled merrily over their heads. She waved hello to the man behind the counter, who seemed to recognize her. Hermione and Beth browsed through the books for about 20 minutes before Beth checked Hermione's watch.

"Bugger! We're late!" The two girls turned around and ran out the front door and down to the local pub.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Fred and George were standing outside of Kitty's Broom, the local pub, waiting for Hermione and Beth.

"Write this one down in the history books," commented Fred.

George raised an eyebrow at his twin.

"Hermione Granger is late." Fred grinned.

"You're going to tease her unmercifully aren't you?"

"Yep, I wouldn't have it any other way! I still tease Ron about dancing with McGonnagal when he was in 4th year."

George smiled at the memory of his awkward 14 year old brother being asked to place his hand on his Transfiguration teacher's waist in front of every Gryffindor 4th year and up.

"And here she comes now…" Fred pointed to the bushy haired girl running down the road. "And she's not alone. Forget to mention something, dear brother?" He noted the taller blonde haired girl running after Hermione, and then turned to look at his twin.

"If I had told you, would you have been so willing to come?" George inquired.

Fred thought a moment. "Nope." He grinned.

"Okay, so shut it." George grinned back and turned his attention to Hermione, who was coming to a stop right in front of him, panting.

"Sorry…got…distracted…" She managed.

The blonde girl smiled. "We've…got…a…great…bookshop…" she finished for Hermione.

Hermione smiled. "George, Fred. This is Beth."

Beth smiled at George and Fred. George smiled back, and Fred's jaw seemed to be not working properly, as it was hanging open. George noticed his brother's rude look and jumped in for the save. "I'm George, the better looking twin," He stuck out his hand. "And this gaping git over here is Fred." He smacked Fred on the back of the head in order to bring his back to reality. George noted that Fred had forgotten about teasing Hermione, and he was grateful.

Fred shook his head and managed to come back to the world of the living. "Sor-Sorry about that…" He stammered, offering out his hand.

Beth giggled and shook both their hands. "It's nice to meet you both. I've heard wonderful things."

George raised an eyebrow at Hermione. Before he could comment she stopped him. "Hey, not all the things she heard were from me."

"Well, where else would she hear them?" Fred asked.

Beth smiled. "You're in textbooks you know. Everyone knows about your escape from Hogwarts in your 7th year." George and Fred blushed simultaneously. "And," she continued, "My father was a big fan of your products. He bought me Weasley's Wildfire Whizbangs for my birthday the past 2 years." She grinned.

Fred beamed. "Those are a favorite of mine. We invented them the summer before 7th year, remember George."

"Oh, how could I forget?" George pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. "Such fond memories."

Hermione rolled her eyes and poked George in the stomach. "Shall we go inside? Or sit out here all day?"

"Well, we could if you-" George began, but was cut off by Hermione pushing him towards the entrance to the pub. They entered and the girls grabbed a seat in the corner, while the boys went up to the bar to order some Butterbeers.

"So…" George raised an eyebrow at his twin.

"What?" Fred attempted an innocent look.

'The look of innocence doesn't work on me, brother. We have the same face."

"Bloody hell. I forget that a lot."

"How can you? It's like a mirror…" George shook his head. "So, anyway, what was the stupid gaping and the beaming for then?"

"I don't know what you're on about." Fred became extremely fascinated with the wood patterns on the bar.

"You think she's cute, don't you?"

"Don't you?" Fred asked, glancing back at the table where the girls sat.

"Yes, but you know where my heart lies."

"Oh, yes, dear Hermione." Fred grinned.

George stuck out his tongue. He glanced back at the table also. "Wonder what they're saying about us."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"So…" Hermione turned to look at Beth with the same face that George had given Fred, eyebrow raised.

"Oh, Hermione, I owe you my first born." Beth grinned. "He's adorable."

Hermione nodded, laughing. "Yes, they're a couple of show offs, but they're completely cute, and harmless."

Beth looked over to where the boys were standing by the bar. "You think they're talking about us?"

"Wouldn't doubt it." Hermione watched them closely. Fred was stealing glances over at the table. "Fred's not being too discrete about it." She giggled.

"So, what is going on with you and George? Are you a couple?" Beth asked.

"No, he actually told me how he felt about me the night before I left to come here. I told him I wanted to just get to know each other better, because I wasn't sure how I felt about him."

"And?" Beth grinned.

"He's absolutely adorable and funny and sweet and I like him. A lot." Hermione blushed.

"Like…a lot, a lot?"

"Yes."

"Like, if he kissed you today you'd be giddy for weeks and weeks?"

"Yes."

"And if he asked you to be his girlfriend you'd say yes?"

Hermione paused for a moment, thinking. "Yes."

Beth grinned. "Good to know."

Hermione smiled at first, and then realized what her friend had said. She looked at Beth quickly. "What? Why is that good to know?"

"No reason." Beth smiled innocently.

"Oh no…that doesn't work on me. You forget who I've known for years." She gestured to the two ginger haired boys who were making their way towards the table.

Beth just grinned and shrugged, and Hermione was disappointed to know the conversation wasn't going to continue, because the boys were back with their drinks. She hoped Beth wasn't planning anything, although she was almost positive today was going to be quite an interesting day.