Hermione was studying in the library a couple days later when two shadows fell upon her. When she kept her nose in her books, one of them spoke up.
"Morning Granger."
"Morning George." She answered without looking up from her books.
"Wai-How?"
"Hello to you too, Fred." She grinned before looking up and she saw four wide eyes looking down at her. "Fred you're not surprised, are you? I recognized you in the dark." She chuckled.
Fred grin replaced his surprised face and George followed. "Well yeah... but you still didn't say how you did it."
"Does it matter?"
"Of course. We don't want anyone else to find out." Fred said as George nodded in agreement.
"Since almost no one can see the difference in the years that they have known you I think you are safe." She turned back to her books when something occurred to her. "Wait! What are you two doing in the library?"
"Looking for you of course."
Hermione closed her books and reclined in her chair looking up to the twins with a raised eyebrow. "Me?"
"You." They said in unison grinning.
"We are planning something, something big and we need your help." George said as he sat down.
"We are stuck on -" Fred started as he sat down in front of her.
"You can't do that." Hermione hissed as she leaned forward. "Umbridge is out for your blood, she will do worse than make you write lines. You will be expelled!"
"But that's the thing... We don't care anymore."
Hermione's mouth fell open as she looked from one twin to the other. "What do you mean you don't care anymore?"
"We are of age and our plans don't need to involve NEWTS."
"And what are those plans?"
"Well.." Fred and George leaned forward as they whispered. "opening our shop of course."
"A shop?"
"Joke shop.-"
"We have everything ready-"
"To start up, we already have a shop-"
"At Diagon Alley."
Hermione leaned back as she studied the twins, she saw the excitement in their eyes. She smiled up at the twins who looked back in shock.
"What? Do we have something on our nose?" Fred asked as they both touched their nose with their fingers.
"No, it's just.. Well, it's perfect for you two, isn't it? I would prefer you two to graduate, but with Umbridge here I see the appeal of leaving."
The twins' mouth fell open as they looked at her and back to each other.
"Who would have thought that THE Hermione Granger would approve?" Fred laughed, which earned a hiss from Madam Pince.
"I sure didn't. Who are you and what have you done to Granger?"
"Very funny. As I said, I would rather prefer for you to graduate but we could use a little laughter right about now." She said as she furrowed her eyebrows.
"Very true." George rose from his seat. "I'm meeting with Lee for you know what." He said to Fred. "I'll see you in a bit." He winked at his twin before heading off.
"Wait George, didn't you need my help?"
"Fred will fill you in." He smirked over his shoulder and walked out of the library. Hermione squinted her eyes at George before looking back at the Weasley in front of her. Fred had his feet up the table as he balanced his chair on the back legs, eyes closed.
"Fred? Do you need help? Or can I get back to.." She pointed at her books as he opened an eye.
"Right." He dropped his legs from the table and landed his chair back on four legs. He rummaged in his pockets and pulled out a piece of parchment. He laid it down between them as he rolled it open.
"When we go, we are going big. We have everything set up, but we need a little help with the swamp."
"Swamp?" Hermione's eyebrows knit together as she looked over the parchment.
"A portable swamp. But now it is too easy to remove. Just a simple Finite and poof gone."
"And you would like to keep it a considerable amount of time, right?" She chuckled as she looked over to Fred who was grinning.
"Aah. You know us so well."
Hermione flicked her wand. Two books came flying over to their table and silently dropped between them. She handed him one as she took the other. Fred looked questionably at her and at the book.
"I read something a while back but don't remember which book it was. So, you read that one and I read this. It will be faster if we do it togetheter."
Fred hummed as he opened his book. They worked in silence for a while before Hermione found what she was looking for. She yelped excitingly and turned the book towards Fred. She pointed at the right page, Fred's eyes went big and he scribbled it down on the parchment.
"Brilliant Hermione!" Fred said at the same time his stomach growled. He looked at his watch and groaned. "We missed lunch."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"No worries. Let's go."
"Let's go where?"
"The kitchens. You too need to eat, come on."
Hermione looked down at her forgotten homework and sighed. "Fine, but after you'll leave me to it okay?"
"Promise." He smiled as he helped pack her bags and lead her out the library.
- FWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFW -
George and Hermione entered the hotel. The entrance hall was big and bright. Witches and wizards of all sorts were walking around. While the older ones still wore robes, the people who were younger wore muggle clothes like them. They walked to the counter where a house elf was sitting on a high chair behind it.
"Good morning travelers. How may I help you?" The elf piped up from behind the counter. She wore a dark green dress with a name pin on it. Suze.
"Good morning, Suze." Hermione smiled down at the house elf. "Do you have any rooms available?"
Suze looked in her books that laid in front of her while George and Hermione looked around. On the left was a sitting area with large green love seats and small round coffee tables next to each sofa. On the other side was a small owlery with different owls flying in and out of the hotel. Behind the counter were three large lifts that led to the rooms upstairs. In the corner was a large double door with a sign Restaurant above it. Her gaze drifted back to the elf as she cleared her throat.
"I have one room left at the moment. Is that a problem?"
Hermione looked over to George, who shrugged. After living together and falling asleep in each other's arms for comfort, it didn't matter if they had separate rooms or not.
"No, it's not a problem."
"How long will you be staying?"
"At least a week but it could be longer. You can put it under Lovegood." Hermione answered and Suze nodded as she scribbled it down.
George rummaged in his pockets and handed the elf the money for their room before Hermione had the chance to do so.
"This is too much, sir!" Said Suze as she tried to give back some of the coins.
"No, Suze. That's for you, for your excellent help." George smiled at the elf. "I insist."
The elf looked questionablly at them and Hermione gave her a reassuring smile.
"Thank you. If you need anything let me know." The elf piped up excitingly as she guided them to the lifts. The hotel had ten floors and they exited at the eight. She levitated their bags to the last door on the right.
"Here you are misses and mister Lovegood." She waved her hand and the door flew open. It was a spacious room with a large king size bed in the middle, a light brown wardrobe on the other side and a desk next to the window. They had a view of Central Park. There was a green sofa in the corner with a coffee table that was filled with glasses and bottles of water. "The password for the room is Levitated Nifflers."
Hermione nodded while George grinned at the password. "This is a beautiful room. Thank you, Suze."
Suze nodded as she smiled and backed out of the room. Hermione and George dropped their bags on the floor and both dropped down on the bed. George turned his head to Hermione.
"Do you want me to sleep on the sofa or should I ask for a cot?"
"No, it's fine Georgie. We slept together before. You're my brother, I trust you." She smiled as she turned her head to the red head turned blonde. She started laughing. George furrowed his eyebrows.
"What?"
"It's just... your hair!" She choked out before laughing again.
"You're one to say." He laughed as he tucked her hair.
"I missed your laugh." She smiled softly.
"Yeah, I missed yours too." He reached over and squeezed her hand. "Oh! I brought something..."
He sat up and opened his bag, pulling out a black journal. He handed it over and she opened it, blank pages in front of her.
"I thought this may come in handy. I enchanted it so that when we write in it only us two can read it."
"That's brilliant George." She beamed at him, his ears turning red.
"It's nothing really."
"It is George, don't sell yourself short." George took the journal back and flipped through it.
"I've been thinking about our plan once we get the time turner. I know you guys used Felix the night Dumbledore died. Maybe it would be interesting for us, when we go back to have some and maybe give a bit to Freddie?"
"It's not that easy. It takes six months to brew and the ingredients are hard to get. Do you want to wait that long?"
"No, but how long will it take before we find one? Maybe we can start it and if we find the turner sooner, we go without if not..-"
Hermione was lost in thought as she twirled with her turner. "Ok. We can start today; we have a couple days before we have our appointment. We'll ask Suze for wizards' shops around New York but some of these are..-"
"Mione, I have enough money don't worry about that."
"I don't want you to pay for everything. I have money saved up too."
"I know but you need it, you don't know when you'll have your parents back and you don't have a job."
"But-"
"No buts, it was my idea. Let me do this."
Hermione looked over at George's determent face and sighed, he clearly needed something to keep him occupied. She was just happy to see him outside of his room, looking interested in something.
"Fine. Let's unpack and head downstairs."
- FWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFW -
Fred tickled the pear before the painting opened and held out his hand to help Hermione step in. They were quickly greeted by a group of elves as they surrounded them.
"Mister Weasley! Would you like your favorite? Blueberry pancakes?" A little elf piped up right in front of Fred.
"Hiya Trix. I would love some. Hermione?" Fred turned and saw that Hermione was kneeling in front of another house-elf who was wearing three knitted hats on his head and two different colored socks on his feet. "Hermione?"
"Yeah?" She turned her head, smiling as she looked up at him. "Oh Fred. This is Dobby. I don't know if Ron or Harry told you about him?"
"Ow yeah. I remember. Nice to meet you Dobby." He held out his hand and Dobby eagerly shook it. "I've heard great things about you."
"Nice to meet you too Mister Weasley. We elves have heard a lot about you and your brother."
"Oh, really? All good things I hope..." Fred laughed and winked at Hermione, who rolled her eyes. "Dobby... Hermione and I missed lunch, is there a way you and Trix could whip something up?"
Dobby smiled broadly and headed to the back of the kitchens with Trix. Fred and Hermione sat down at a table in the corner as the other elves brought them some butterbeers and tea.
"I see you come here often. Most of the elves know you by name and even know your favorite snack." Hermione snickered.
"Yeah, George, Lee and I do come here quite a lot. The elves are so friendly and always offer us too much."
"And here I thought it was hard nicking things from the kitchens." She grinned.
"No one needs to know how easy it is, right?" He winked at her. "Besides when we're gone you, are the one who will end up nicking things from the kitchens once in a while."
"I think I'll leave that up to the boys." She glanced around the kitchens and saw Dobby and Trix walking over with several plates of food. Dobby put down pancakes and waffles while Trix sat down eggs and bacon.
"Thank you." Hermione and Fred said in unison to the elves before looking at each other grinning.
"Have you told your mum?" She looked at Fred. "There are so many options. First I always thought I would work at the ministry but it is such a mess right now. And with everything going on with Voldemort, I – I just hope I survive."
"Hey," He reached over, took her hand and squeezed it, that made her look up. "You will survive this Mione. You are smart, brave-"
"A mudblood."
"Don't call yourself that!" Fred hissed in a tone she never heard before.
"Sorry, but it is true Fred. They are after people like me."
"They are after muggleborns, yes, but you will make it through this. I can feel it." He said as he smiled at her. "Besides... my family is known for being blood traitors, I think we are on the same line. But let's talk about happier things."
And with that Fred turned the whole gloomy mood in just a few seconds; telling stories about pranks that he and George did when they were younger. They talked and laughed for a couple of hours before Hermione noticed the elves were preparing dinner.
"Uhm, Fred? I think we'd better go... The elves are already serving dinner." She nudged her head towards the elves behind Fred.
"Merlin! Is it that late already?" He looked over his shoulder and glanced back at his watch. "Come on, let's go to the great hall before they notice we are missing."
Fred stood up and walked over to the painting and opened it up as he helped her out. Hermione turned and waved at the elves. "See you soon Dobby, Trix."
They talked about Hermione's classes until they reached the Great Hall. "Thanks for a lovely afternoon Lady Mione." He bowed. "I'm dreadfully sorry I kept you from your work."
"I needed a break." She shrugged as she smiled at his antics. "So, thank you Sir Frederick." She curtsied. They both laughed as they entered the Great Hall.
Hermione saw Harry, Ginny and Ron looking at them with furrowed eyebrows. George a few seats further grinning widely.
"I'll see you later." He winked at her before he made his way to his twin and Hermione walked to her friends and sat down next to Ginny, smiling.
"Why were you with Fred?" Ron asked, his mouth full of potatoes.
"I bumped into him on my way here." She said calmly as she loaded up her plate. In the corner of her eyes, she saw Fred leaning towards them, listening.
Ron swallowed, looking from her to Fred and back. "And this afternoon? You weren't at lunch."
"I was hauled up at the library. What's with the twenty questions?"
"Not the first time she lost track of time when she's studying." Harry intercepted.
"I know that! But you have been friendly with the twins lately." Ron grumbled as he put another fork full of sausage in his mouth. "First the prank with Fred and now this." He motioned at the doors.
"Well, the prank was just a coincidence and after that I looked over some of their stuff that's all. And I already told you I bumped into him just now. They are your brothers Ronald. Shouldn't you be happy we get along?" Hermione hissed as she stood up. Fred and George were both looking at her as she argued with their brother. Hermione walked out the great hall and Ginny rose up.
"You're a git Ron! Mione can be friends with whoever she likes!" Ginny glared at her brother and followed Hermione out of the doors.
