Divided Loyalties

The first Hogsmeade visit of the year wasn't until October, so Hermione had plenty of time to think about what would happen next. Several times, often during her evening patrols when her mind had time to wander, Hermione wondered if she was making a big mistake. Fred was two years older than she was, and had dated quite a bit more than she had. What possible interest could she generate for him? Not to mention, they were so different. She was often serious, studious to a fault, and had a great respect for the rules. This was most certainly not the case for the tall red-head.

On the other hand, Fred was a good guy. He was fiercely loyal to his friends and family. He was incredibly smart and creative. He and George made up spells that she would never even conceive of, let alone have the gall to attempt. Fred was an eternal optimist, even as he was an eternal child. There was something endearing about that. Frustrating, but endearing.

While they waited for the day of their lunch to come around, they had been keeping up an occasional correspondence by owl. She told him about school, and how absolutely swamped she was with work and responsibilities. She even felt comfortable enough to complain about all the extra work that Harry and Ron dumped on her, though she assured him it was well within her ability and her desire to help her friends.

She also complained soundly about the "Slug Club". It was just a horrible experience, and she didn't enjoy the feeling of being collected. Not to mention, she still got strange looks from some of the pureblood kids when she talked about her parents, or her non-school interests.

Fred's letters came back with updates on the shop. Now that business was steady, he was finding more time to research new products. He was excited about his current experiments, and said he couldn't wait to show them to her. He was sure she'd be surprised. He assured her that it would be a good surprise.

He also updated her on George and Verity. George was quite the businessman, according to Fred. He was good at keeping books, amazing at witty advertisements, and could put on the highest levels of charisma that could sell almost anything to anyone. Verity, on the other hand, was a diligent worker. The blonde girl had an eye for display, she was willing to work long hours, and she wasn't afraid to tell Fred and George when something wasn't going the way they planned. She also had contributed to several new ideas, and was a willing participant in some of their trials.

All in all, by the time October 16th came around, Fred and Hermione had struck up quite the pen pal friendship. They were comfortable enough to share both victories and defeats, and Hermione always felt that was something important to a friendship. And she firmly believed that a relationship shouldn't begin without a friendship.

The theory of their friendship, and anything more, was to be tested almost immediately, however.

It already sat strangely in Hermione's stomach that she had to make up a lie to get away from Ron and Harry. The only thing worse than telling them the lie was that they ate it up without any question or hesitation.

"Oh, yeah. You enjoy yourself at the bookstore. We'll head over to buy treats for Pig and Hedwig." Ron had said reassuringly, his face flooded with relief that she hadn't suggested the boys come with her. Harry nodded, but kept his lips pursed. Hermione had a feeling they were still mildly on the outs from their discussion over breakfast about the spell from the Half Blood Prince. She could see why he was perturbed, but she couldn't back down from her convictions that the person was bad news.

She watched them walk off, heads down against the chilly October wind. She could hear Ron telling Harry a joke, and caught the last vestiges of laughter as they turned down the other street corner. Finally, she turned to walk toward the Three Broomsticks, where Fred had suggested they meet. It wasn't exactly a hidden location, but they weren't trying to be ridiculous about the whole matter. They were friends, getting together for lunch, and seeing where things might go next.

Hermione stepped into the warmth of the Three Broomsticks with a sigh and a small shake to get rid of the lingering chill. As she took off her knitted cap, she looked around to see if Fred was already there. The sight that she was met with, however, set her blood to boil.

George was the first one to spot her. He elbowed his brother sharply and pointed towards her. She could see him whisper something to Fred, but he was too far away for her to make out what he might have said. They were surrounded by a group of fresh faced third years, out at Hogsmeade for their first ever excursions. The kids were filling out paperwork. It was just like the previous year, when the boys were testing their skivving snackboxes on first years.

"Hermione!" Fred finally called to her, beckoning her over to the table with a sheepish look on his face.

She shook her head no. She could feel her face turning more red as her anger was building. What could she have been thinking. Fred Weasley hadn't grown up. He hadn't changed from the irresponsible boy who was willing to do experiments on young children. Eyes blurred and mind turning with murderous thoughts, Hermione turned and walked back out of the Three Broomsticks, letting the door close loudly and abruptly behind her.

"Hermione! Hermione, wait a second will you! You could at least give me a chance to explain, you know!" She could hear his voice call after her, and she merely picked up her pace. When she felt his hand on her arm, she spun to look him in the eyes. Furious brown eyes met soft amber with an intensity that made Fred let go of her. But he didn't back down.

"Bloody hell, Hermione. Would you let me tell you what's happening. You jump to conclusions faster than my mother and Percy!" He said, his voice gruff with annoyance.

"You're testing your products on students again! How dare you! That's how people get hurt, Fred Weasley." She retorted, and drew herself up tall. He still dwarfed her by about a head of height, but she looked awfully imposing.

"Well, yeah. But they're not the first trial. And I've got a method that's even safer than before, Hermione!" He argued. "That's what I've been waiting to tell you, if you could listen for one Merlin forsaken minute!"

"You were excited to tell me you were testing on students? Of all the half-baked ideas you two…" She was cut off before she could finish.

"No. Stop. Listen. I didn't want to brag about testing on kids. I was excited to tell you that I've been studying drug trial methodology. And I've found ways to change dosages to interact with different levels of magic, whether their due to age and experience, or Squib and Muggle background! I wanted to impress you with my studying… I wanted to show you that I was learning from muggle medicine." He started out with such gusto, but a she continued to stare him down he lost his composure towards the end and got quiet.

"Drug trials?" She repeated, her face still scrunched in confusion.

"Yeah. I ordered a muggle book on scientific methods and drug trials. So that when we made things like the skivving snacks, or anything else with a dosage, I could plan for how to change it for different types of people. It was Harry's cousin, Dudley, who gave me the idea originally. His reaction to the ton-tongue toffee was more intense than we'd seen with any of our other trials. Not that he didn't deserve it, but…" He trailed off, waiting for the reaction.

Her face lost some of the anger, but Hermione remained uncharacteristically quiet. The silence stretched on long enough that even Fred was beginning to believe she was calculating how exactly she could kill him without leaving a trace.

"Earth to Hermione? Uhm, if you're going to murder me, could I at least go say goodbye to George, and let him know how much I love him?" Fred piped up jokingly, trying to break the tension.

"You're an absolute nutter, you know that…" She replied quietly.

"That is what they tell me. And yet, here you are." He replied, his tone forcefully light. Even as he said it, he realized she was indeed still there. She hadn't tried stomping off again.

"Muggle drug trials. Levels of magic? You're a brilliant, bloody lunatic!" She told him, punctuating her thoughts with a prod to his chest. Even through his jacket and sweater, he could feel the sting of her bony finger. But she did something even more unexpected, next. She began to laugh. A great, big, tension releasing belly laugh. It was a wonderful sound to Fred's ears, and he knew she wasn't mad anymore.

"Can we please have lunch while you tell me how smart and wonderful I am?" Fred asked, holding a hand out to Hermione in invitation. She eyed him for a moment, still collecting herself from her laughter, then grasped his hand. They walked all the way back to the Three Broomsticks, fingers intertwined.

"Freddie, I can't believe she didn't curse your rear end off. She was steaming when she saw us." George said as they opened their flat that evening. It had been a productive day, and the twins were happy to be back in their humble abode.

"Oh, believe me...I know it. You should have seen how she looked at me, George. I thought my boys were going to crawl right up into my stomach to hide." Fred replied, his face quite serious. He plunked his bag full of papers onto his desk and then deposited himself onto the couch in the center of their living room.

George joined him a moment later, handing him a glass of some of the elderflower limeade they'd picked up in Hogsmeade, a specialty of one of the witches there.

"She came back, though. You charming dog. I even saw her smiling and laughing. So the date went well?"

"I think so, George. She seemed happy enough. In fact, she thought that all my research was well done. Brilliant, she called it." He said, turning pink with the remembered praise.

"So she's going to let us alone about our work?" George asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"She made me promise we'd get their parents permission." He revealed quietly.

"Freddie! Why did you have to go and like a female version of Percy…" George sighed loudly.

"Oh no, dear brother. Percy isn't nearly so cute when he's angry. And his laugh isn't as adorably bell-like. Not to mention… she likes our work. She just doesn't always appreciate our testing. Said so herself. She knows the world needs a bit more laughter. A bit more joy…"

"I'm glad to hear it. I'm also glad to see you so happy. So maybe you won't hex my brows off when I tell you I have a date next week." George said, smiling secretively.

"A date!?" Fred exclaimed. "With who?"

"I'm going out with Angelina. She stepped into the shop on Tuesday while you were out running errands and asked me."

Fred, who had really only liked Angelina as a friend, was happy for his brother. He patted him on the back supportively.

"Glad to hear it, mate. She's a great girl."