Chapter 8: Detention

"Well, well. Isn't it miss Granger and a Weasley. Do you know what time it is?"

"Professor -"

"It's my fault professor. I was studying in the library and lost track of time. Fred here, came to get me."

Professor Snape looked surprised from Fred to Hermione, Fred was trying to keep a neutral face. "Be that as it may, detention for both of you. This Saturday evening, eight o'clock."

"But -" Hermione stopped as she saw Fred's face. "Yes, professor."

Professor Snape looked at them for another second before he turned to leave. "Now up to your dormitories."

Fred and Hermione watched him walk away before turning back to the stairs that led to the Gryffindor tower. They walked in silence for a bit, before Fred spoke up.

"Thanks, you didn't need to cover for me."

"It's okay. You were looking for me remember. And I hoped you wouldn't get detention, again." She chuckled. "I know you had detention for at least 3 times this month."

Fred shrugged, grinning. "Yeah, busy year so far. But at least he didn't deduct points. Flubberworm" The portrait swung open, and they walked in.

"Where have you been!" George shouted.

"Merlin, George. You sound just like mum." Fred laughed, clapping his twin on the shoulder. "We bumped into Snape."

"How many points?" Angelina chuckled, rolling her eyes.

"None actually. Granger came up with an excuse. We just have detention Saturday."

"Together?" George asked with a raised eyebrow, looking between her and Fred.

"Hermione Granger, getting detention? Where should I put this?" Katie laughed, as she pretended to search for a quill and parchment.

"Professor Snape wouldn't let us do anything horrible, is he?" Hermione asked nervous.

"Well, he despises Gryffindors, doesn't like me or George-"

"Why in the world wouldn't he like you?" Hermione teased; Fred looked a bit flabbergasted at her, at her joke before he stuck out his tongue to her. "Mature, Fred."

"And he doesn't particularly like you too, as I remember." He grinned at her. "But let's worry about that later-"

"Now it's time for your present!" George chimed in. George and Fred guided her to the sofa and the others sat down around her, looking up at the grinning duo. They pulled something out of their pockets and with a wave of their wands, little fireworks exploded in the sky, creating the number 11 above their heads, Happy Birthday written in sparkling fireworks. Hermione's mouth dropped open when the fireworks ended.

"Happy birthday Granger." The twins called in unison.

"Wow! I never – I mean – That was ... -" The twins were looking unsure at her, as she stumbled over her words, the others looking curious at her. "AMAZING! Thank you." She leapt up and gave George and tight hug, before going over to Fred and giving him an awkward but grateful hug. She turned back to the others smiling. "Thank you, really. This has been the best birthday I've ever had."

"There is always next year." George smiled mischievously. "Now we have a whole year to plan."

"Oh God!" Hermione's eyes turned big as the others laughed.

HG

"Ready to go?" Fred asked as she finished her dinner. She looked up in surprise.

"What?"

"Detention... Snape."

"Oh right..." She finished her goblet and stood up. "Let's get this over with."

"See you guys later." Fred waved to the others.

"Goodluck!" Lee called over.

"Where to?" Hermione asked as they walked out the great hall, looking from left to right.

"His office." Fred said and started walking to the stairs that led to the dungeons.

They walked in awkward silence to Snape's office. Passing a bunch of Slytherins who looked at Hermione with distaste but didn't say anything. Hermione frowned at the boys and back to Fred, who kept looking forward. Weird. She thought. The Slytherins always tease or call her names when she passed them. The further down they walked to colder it got, Hermione buttoned up her coat as they walked down the corridors. Suddenly Fred halted in front of a black wooden door, before he had time to knock, a voice called out.

"Come in!"

Hermione and Fred shared a look, before he pushed the door open, Hermione walking in after him. Professor Snape sat at his desk going over some essays, he didn't look up as they entered. Fred and Hermione stopped in front of him and waited for the professor to finish. After Snape gave the essay a failed grade, he looked up.

"All of the cauldrons needed cleaning. Without magic!" He added, looking pointedly at Fred. "I'll be back later to see your progress." He took the essays and walked out of the room, leaving them behind.

"Better get started then." Fred shrugged and walked over to the pile of dirty cauldrons. Hermione took the buckets and went to fill them. When she came back Fred was sitting on a desk, cross-legged, shooting golden sparks out of his wand. She dropped the bucket next to him and walked over to the second pile of cauldrons. They started to work in silence. When they were midway, she saw Fred glancing at her a couple of times.

"Spill it!" She turned and glared at him.

"What?"

"You keep looking at me, what is it? Do I have dirt on my face?"

"No, no... Hermione-" Hermione's eyes went big when he used her first name. "I wanted to apologize, for what we – for what I did. I'm sorry I scared you and that you crashed with your broom because of me."

"Oh." She said quietly, taking him in. Looking to see if he was serious, which he was. "I'm sorry too." Now it was Fred who looked surprised, his eyes turning comically big. "I never really had any friends and I know we are very different people but maybe that's a good thing."

Fred looked down at his rag. "How come?" He elaborated when he saw her confused look. "How come you didn't have any friends?"

"Numerous things... I was always with my nose in my books, I was ahead of everyone in class. And of course, the weird accidents."

"Accidents?"

"Yes, magical outbursts, Professor McGonagall called it. Things happened around me that muggles didn't understand. It started when I was five. They -" Hermione took in a deep breath, looking down, rubbing a cauldron softly, tears forming in her eyes. "They called me a freak." At that last word her tears rolled down her cheek. Fred stood there in shock as he watched the girl cry. He pushed all his feelings aside and jumped off the desk and wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry on his chest.

"They're wrong, you know. You're not a freak, you're a witch and my guess... a very powerful one." He whispered in her hair when she calmed down. Hermione pulled back and wiped her tears on her sleeve, before looking up.

"You think so?" She asked in a quiet voice.

"I do. Merlin Granger, you cast a locking spell on the door even before someone taught you!"

Hermione chuckled lightly and quickly stepped back when the door of the room flew open. Fred stepped back to his cauldrons as Professor Snape came closer.

"At this rate you won't be done by next year." Snape looked between the two. "You can go, but you'll have to finish this tomorrow." He waved them off. Fred and Hermione quickly gathered their things and hurried out of the room.

"Are you okay?" Fred asked as they climbed the stairs. Hermione looked up from her fingers, which she had been twirling with.

"Yeah, sort of. I never thought I would tell anyone this, especially you. No offence."

"None taken. I get it, we never really tried to be friends now, did we? But my lips are sealed." He made a zipline move over his lips.

"Thank you."

"Is that why you don't celebrate your birthday?"

"No..." She said as she gazed the other way, avoiding his eyes. "I don't know if I'm quite ready to tell anyone yet."

"Well, if you are, or you need someone to talk to..." He left the sentence open as he looked at her. "I'm pretty easy to talk to, once you get to know me. I know I'm all fun and jokes but..."

"I know." She gave him a small smile. "Flubberworm." She muttered as they reached the portrait. Fred looked in front of him, surprised that they already were at the Gryffindor tower.

"I'm sorry. The password changed an hour ago." The fat lady informed, keeping the portrait shut.

"What?! But -"

"We just came back detention with Snape, we didn't know there was a new password." Fred finished, looking at the fat lady, who gave a crooked grin and shrugged. Fred sighed and turned looking at the empty staircases, before he dropped himself down and sat himself on the staircase.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked with her head cocked.

"What do you think?" He said, looking over his shoulder. "Waiting."

Waiting, Hermione mouthed, looking around nervously before she sat down next to Fred.

"Fred..." Hermione asked carefully after a moment. Fred looked at her questionably. "Can you tell me what it's like, growing up with magic, growing up with such a big family."

"Oh..." Fred said surprised, not expecting that question. "I - I don't know. Once the war was over, my mum would relax more and let us explore in the neighbourhood. We didn't have our wands naturally-" He said while he played with his wand between his fingers. "- but like you said, we already had magic inside us. But because we knew we were wizards; we had more control over it."

"Control?"

Fred put his wand down next to him on the stone staircase and held out his hand. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Hermione's eyes widened when snowflakes started to fall down on his hand.

"Wow." She sighed. Fred opened his eyes and the snowflakes disappeared.

"When George and I focus, we can combine our magic, make it stronger."

"That's incredible." She yawned. "Sorry, long day."

"Come on..." He said gesturing her over. She looked confused from him to the portrait, where the fat lady was already sleeping. "I won't bite. I'll wake you when someone gets here."

She bit her lip nervously, looking around before giving up, sighing. "Alright." Fred leaned back and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, she slowly laid her head on his chest, fighting another yawn. "Can I ask you something else?"

"Sure."

"The war, do you remember anything?"

"Not much, George and I were only about four years old. There was one time, that... that there was an attack on the house. Bill was 10 years old at the time. He gathered us; Charlie, Percy, Ron, George and I. Charlie was holding Ron, who was just a baby. Bill rushed us out of the back door and hid us in the woods until mum and dad came to get us."

"That must've been so scary."

"Not that I wasn't afraid, I was four, but I was so scared something would happen to my brothers, to George. I can't stand to think about losing him, he's my best friend."

"Hmm." Hermione hummed sleepy. "Must be nice growing up with a best friend."

"It was." Fred answered quietly, looking up at the ceiling. "Hermione... can you tell me how you can tell George and me apart?"

Fred looked down after a minute because he didn't get an answer. He saw her sleeping soundly, her hair everywhere. Fred shifted a bit so he could lean his head against the banister, he yawned widely before letting his eyes fall shut.

HG

"Fred... Hermione? Wake up." A gentle voice nudged them. They slowly opened their eyes and lifted their heads, both groaning for their sore necks. A worried ginger looked down on them.

"Charlie?" Fred asked with a sleepy voice.

"What are you two doing out here?"

"The fat lady said the password changed, but we had detention with Snape, so we didn't know."

"Oh, it's snitch snatcher. Come on, let's get you two to bed."

"Where did you come from?" Hermione asked as Charlie helped her up. She saw Charlie's ears turn red.

"Was it perhaps, milady Veronica?" Fred grinned at his brother.

"I was doing rounds." Charlie said, quickly turning around.

"At this time of night?" Fred looked at his watch still grinning. Charlie ignored his brother and walked up to the sleeping fat lady. Fred and Hermione shared a knowing look before looking back at the annoyed portrait.

"Snitch snatchers." Charlie mumbled, ears still red. He darted inside when the portrait swung open, when Hermione and Fred walked in the common room, Charlie was already halfway up the stairs.

"Goodnight, lover boy!" Fred laughed.

"Fred." Hermione nudged his side with his elbow. Fred turned his eyes away from the staircase, a smile still on his lips as he looked down at her. She nudged her head to the sofa in front of the extinguished fireplace. An almost exact replica laid there on the sofa, flat on his stomach, one leg still on the cushions while the other hung over the side. Fred walked closer to his twin and crouched down next to his head. Hermione standing a few feet away from them, watching them with interest.

"Georgie?" Fred gently pushed his shoulder. George let out a grunt before mumbling, turning his head. "George?"

"Five more minutes mum." George talked in his sleep. Hermione snickered as the youngest twin slept on. Fred rolled his eyes and pushed him a bit harder. "Just let me play quidditch."

"Do you want me to try?" Hermione asked as she walked closer. Fred leaned back smiling.

"Be my guest." He expected her to gently nudge him awake, to quietly whisper his name. What he didn't expect was Hermione clearing her throat and...

"GEORGE!" She called out as she pinched his arm. George shot up immediately, wobbling as he landed on his knees, on the ground next to Fred.

"I'm up, I'm up." He started, then stopped to rub his arm. "Auch!"

"Sorry George, but you wouldn't wake up. My uncle Eddie had the same problem, very deep sleeper too."

"Was I-?" He asked Fred.

"Yes, about quidditch." Fred laughed. "Better be careful or Granger here, will know your deepest and darkest secrets in no time."

"You talk in your sleep too, you know." George pointed his finger at his twin. "Were where you? I've waited up for you."

"After detention, we came back here but the password had changed. We had to wait until someone got here." Hermione explained, leaning against on the sofa.

"Charlie let us in." Fred grinned.

"At this hour? Where... Oh the lady Veronica." George laughed.

"I'm off to bed, goodnight Weasleys." She said as she stood up and walked to the girls' staircase.

"Night Granger." They called back.

HG

"So, how did it go?" George asked quietly as they climbed the boys' staircase.

"Good. We're good." George cocked an eyebrow at his brother. "No, really we are. We talked. No more teasing, no more weirdness."

"Great." George said, clapping his back. "Better late than never."

Fred chuckled as he pushed George in their dormitory and tripped over Fred's trunk, falling down with a hard bang.

"I swear to Godric, if you two don't keep it down, I will glue you to the wall!" Lee grumbled behind his curtains. Fred and George looked at each other and fell into a silent laughter as they changed into their pyjamas.

HG

So, I just finished writing year 1! And soon will be starting with year two! :D

I'll be updating once or twice a week.

But I was wondering if you have some thoughts about what you guys would like to see in future years...