I know. I know. I'm late with the update, super late. I just had too much to do in the last few months and decisions to make about my career and stuff but hopefully, it will be a bit more relaxed this year. And don't worry: I will never abandon WHAT IF. I will definitely finish it even if it take some time, for now I'm taking it slow with updates. So please be patient.

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WHAT IF

Chapter 28 - Darling Birthday Girl

Hermione stared at the small card and bit back a bright smile. She hadn't been sure if Fred really knew when her birthday was. Here in Hogwarts most students only knew the birthday because of group dynamics. Someone would mention it a week or day before or someone would see other congratulate and then everyone else just followed. Hermione had thought that the twins only ever congratulated her because everyone else did. Seemed like she had been wrong.

Darling birthday girl,

Congratulations on your big day! A witch only turns seventeen once and you should celebrate it accordingly. So I took the liberty and packed you a special celebration package with everything you need.

Happy Birthday, Hermione.

Your personal party planner,

Fred

PS: Happy Birthday, Granger! I helped with the gifts so give me some credit, love George.

Hermione had received a lot of owl post this morning from several well-wishers. Molly and Arthur had sent her a package with cauldron cakes, her grandparents had sent money - muggle money and of course, they had no idea that her parents had sent the letter via owl - and from her parents a small card from their vacation, since the gift had already arrived. But the letter from Fred attached to a bright orange and purple box certainly got the most looks.

"Why did Fred and George send you a birthday gift?" Ron asked as he eyed the box wearily. "Be careful with opening it, maybe it will explode."

"Nonsense," Ginny intervened from her other side. "Fred and George like Hermione very much, they would never prank her. Especially not on her birthday."

Ignoring the bickering of the siblings Hermione opened the box. If Fred kept going like this she would soon be used to getting presents from him. With a snicker, she realised that every gift inside the box was also wrapped which would certainly produce a lot of waste at the breakfast table. So Hermione decided to open just one, for now, a little box wrapped in dark blue paper. There was a note attached: Open me first.

Carefully and slowly she opened the package - Ron and Harry both complaining that she should just tear it open - and discovered a small jewellery box. Hermione and Ginny exchanged a nervous gaze. How could they ever explain why Fred (and George) sent her jewellery? But now that everyone had seen her unwrap the box it was too late. With her heart beating twice as fast Hermione opened the box, hoping it wouldn't be something totally ridiculous. She let out a relieved and amused laugh when she discovered the content.

On a velvet ground, like it was a rare and special piece of jewellery, rested a candy watch. The wristband was made of candy pearls in different colours while the watch made one larger piece of the same candy with numbers pressed into it. Hermione knew these kinds of candy watches from her childhood when she had visited the funfair with her parents. Candy watches were one of the candies she had always wanted to try but her dentist parents had never allowed it. Pure sugar, Hermione, they had scolded her.

Hermione was just thinking that it really was a waste to eat this gift when she saw that the candy display moved. The pressed numbers changed like a digital watch and after a quick check, Hermione realised that it showed the right time. The watch actually worked! Fred, probably with George's help, had managed to charm a candy watch for her. With delicate movements Hermione slipped the watch over her wrist, admiring the brilliant magic.

"They gave you a watch?" Ron interrupted her daydreaming brutally. "Why are they making such an effort for you?"

"Like I said," Ginny growled. "Fred and George actually like Hermione." She threw a nasty gaze towards Ron, daring him to argue.

"And it's only a candy watch," Hermione shrugged, trying to play it down even though her heart was bursting with joy. "Its's not like it was expensive." Just terribly complicated and brilliant magic.

"Yes, and since Hermione's parents probably don't know about the tradition to gift witches and wizards a watch when they turn 17 it's really nice of Fred and George to get her one instead." Ginny was now in a right mood to fight and everyone could see how Ron's face turned into a darker shade of red with each passing second. But it seemed like he found no good argument against his little sister and instead opted for sulkily eating his breakfast.

"Well, the twins apparently also send stuff to make a little party. How about it?" Hermione smiled brightly to sooth the fiery Weasleys around her. Both Ginny and Ron glared at each other but nodded. Harry sighed in relief.

OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO

The day seemed to take forever to finally end. Never had a school day felt so long for Hermione, who was anxiously waiting to open the gifts from Fred and George. She was sure everything but the watch was from both of them and it made her even more happy to know that George also thought of her. When finally classes were over and dinner ended Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny made their way to the common room.

Hermione and Ginny took the big, worn sofa in front of the fire while Ron stretched out on the plush rug and Harry almost fell into the armchair. On the small sofa table between them, her three friends started to place wrapped gifts and Hermione settled the package from Fred and George beside them.

"Well, with which one should I start?"

With identical grins, Harry and Ron handed her a big and a rather heavy gift and even before opening Hermione knew it had to be books. But to her surprise, it was muggle books, novels from her favourite authors.

"We know you love reading and you even enjoy reading the most boring school books," Ron grinned.

"But we thought from time to time you should read something more enjoyable, just for a change," Harry winked. Hermione was deeply touched. Normally she left her muggle books at her parents' house and only read them overt he holidays since her Hogwarts trunk was always filled with magical books.

"Oh, thank you," Hermione grabbed both her best friends and enveloped them in a tight hug. Never before had they given her such a thoughtful gift. From Ginny, she got a new set of knitting needles and a book about knitting patterns as well as a package of homemade cookies, preserved with a charm by Mrs Weasley.

And then she finally allowed Harry, Ron and Ginny to open the remaining packages from Fred and George. With glee, they all started to rip open the colourful paper. Hermione had no idea how the twins had done it but in the end, the content of the packages was so much more and bigger and it shouldn't have fitted in the first place. She thought it had to be an extension charm or something similar.

The coffee table in front of them was full of WWW products - mostly prank sweets and some WonderWitch stuff -, sweets, and drinks. Ron and Harry were especially pleased that the twins had sent butterbeer and a large amount of chocolate from Honeydukes, as well as some meat pies. Ron eventually started to wolf down the pies as if he didn't already have dinner while Harry and Ginny opened the butterbeer. There was, of course, also a bottle of firewhiskey since Hermione was now out-of-age but she forbade everyone from opening it.

"We could sneak a drink at Christmas or New Year," she suggested. "But I won't drink here. What if Professor McGonagall catches us?" Hermione could only imagine what kind of terrible punishment their strict head of house would use if she caught them drinking alcohol.

That night Hermione went to bed with a belly full of sweets - Merlin, her parents would flip if they knew - and a head full of dreams about a certain Weasley boy.

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Fred almost betrayed his cover when Remus Lupin walked up to the till laying a package of Canary Creams on the table. But seeing his former professor and fellow Order member in his store was almost too much of a surprise. Almost. In the last second, he remembered that they had to pretend that they didn't know each other well. To a stranger, Fred and Remus were former professor and student. The Death Eaters probably knew that Remus and Fred's parents were members of the Order, but no one knew that the Weasley children had also joined one after the other.

"Professor Lupin, what a surprise to see you. Are you here to support the business of some former students?" Fred put on his best salesman smile, charming but in a polite and detached way.

"Well, I wanted to see what you two were selling here," Remus shrugged, his face blank. "I only knew you as troublemakers but it seems like even that can be a career nowadays." There was a small glint in his eyes but somehow Fred had the feeling that there was more going on with Remus than just pretending they didn't know each other. A heavy sadness and wariness were wavering around Remus like a cloak and the feeling slowly swapped over to Fred.

With his smile still intact Fred packed Remus order and anxiously took his money. He didn't want to make money from his former professor. He knew how difficult it was for Remus to get a job. Plus, he and George had an agreement not to take money from close friends and Order members. But right now that was no possibility. So with a tight smile, Fred took the coins and then froze. There was a piece of paper right underneath them, folded into a small square.

"Thanks, keep the change." Remus nodded. He was gone faster than Fred, who still cramped his hand around the paper, could comprehend. The way Remus had delivered the note made Fred wary of its content. With an excuse to Verity, he left to shop to their employee and retreated to the workroom, where George was finishing a batch of Daydream Fancies.

"Remus was here, he left a note." Instantly George stopped his work and leaned over Fred's shoulder. They both let out a relieved breath when they saw the message. It was simply a notification for the next Order meeting. Dumbledore was getting more and more cautious with the Order meetings, always trying not to expose anyone of being a member. It seemed like personal deliveries were now the chosen way to schedule a meeting.

"Merlin, for a moment I thought it would be bad news." George went back to his workbench, adding the last finishing touches to the boiling potion.

"Well," Fred sighed when he realised the date. "To me it is."

It was the bloody day of the first Hogsmeade trip.

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Hermione swallowed hard to suppress the feeling of betrayal climbing up her throat. This was the third time. The third time Harry had scheduled a Quidditch training at the same time as a meeting of the Slug Club. And that meant that not only he wasn't here with her - which disappointed Slughorn greatly every time - but also Ginny was missing. And while Hermione understood Harry's urge to distance himself from their overbearing teacher she found it was unfair to just leave her alone with this. She didn't have the convenient excuse of Quidditch practice to stay away.

Hermione tried really hard not to be angry at Harry but part of her resented him for leaving her alone. Especially since he also did it to make Ron feel better. Since Ron was never invited to the parties he tried to sulk a lot and Hermione could understand it. She knew Ron felt left out and second-best beside Harry. But really, Ron would hate the parties. He would go to one, see how boring they were, and never sulk about it again. Well, maybe that was an idea. She could invite Ron to the Christmas Party. He would surely be happy to be invited and after seeing it once for himself he would never complain again.

Even while making the plan in her head Hermione knew it was flawed, but at least it was worth a try. And it kept her thoughts from the other thing that was constantly on her mind.

Fred. And his cancellation of their Hogsmeade plans. That was the worst thing and even though Hermione understood... well, it just fit right into her miserable mood. Hermione had looked forward to the Hogsmeade trip tomorrow but now she only felt a slight sting of disappointment about it. It would be nice going out with her friends - even if she was a bit angry with them - but it was not enough to make up. She really hoped that Fred would keep his promise and come for the next visit.

Hermione wanted nothing more than to hide in her bedroom, read a good book, and forget about how being at this party all alone, Ron's behaviour, and not seeing Fred this weekend made her feel. Instead, he plastered a smile on her face when Professor Slughorn greeted her and replied to his polite small talk. Maybe she would at least get some good connections out of this to find a job after school. Slughorn was famous for opening doors to his favourites and it was honestly the only reason Hermione was there anyway. That and her inability to say no to a teacher, especially when the request was well-intended and harmless.

Professor Slughorn had started to schedule a Slug Club meeting almost every week - probably hoping to catch Harry someday - and every week he invited some other special guest. Famous people from every field and Ministry workers, Slughorn seemed to know everyone and he liked making 'matches' between his current and former students. Last week he had actually introduced Hermione to a famous ancient runes specialist and she had greatly enjoyed that conversation.

"Hermione!" Someone intercepted her when Hermione made her way to the drink and for a moment she feared it was Cormac McLaggen again.

McLaggen seemed absolutely set on convincing her to go on a date with him which she had already declined like twelve times, or maybe even more. She had stopped counting at some point. And while it had been flattering in the beginning and even made her feel a bit guilty for hexing him during the tryouts it had quickly turned into borderline annoying. She felt more and more tempted to use one of the WWW products Fred kept sending her - always with very tempting suggestions on how to use them.

To her surprise, it wasn't McLaggen but Terry Boot who grinned at her in a very relieved way.

"I hoped you would be here, best of the year and all that," he smiled. "It's my first time tonight and unfortunately none of my friends are around." He gestured at the room and Hermione understood instantly what he meant. Since Slughorn choose the club members based on talent or family connections it was rare that people from the same friend circles were invited.

Well, theoretically I have two friends who are invited every time... Hermione thought bitterly. Again she shoved down her anger and smiled back at Terry.

"Well, then let me help you to get around. Honestly, at first, the hardest thing is the awkward small talk with Slughorn and the other grown-ups. Once you get used to it, it can be quite nice." Hermione shrugged non-nonchalantly but inside she was terribly grateful to finally have someone to talk to without minding her every word or having to prove something. "And the food is good," she added with a slight grin.

"Hm, anxious small-talk with stuffy grown-ups? Lovely," Terry grinned and swiftly took two butterbeer from a floating tray and handed Hermione one. "Be my partner in misery tonight?" Hermione giggled and clinked glasses with Terry. Well, at least there was one friendly person here, ready to keep her company.

"So, you're going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" Terry asked and Hermione barely managed not to sigh. She knew he only tried to make small talk but maybe this would still be a long night...

OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO

Fred stepped outside of Grimmauld Place and was more than glad to see the bright Autumn sun above him. The house had always been dark and gloomy but now without Sirius, it was worse. During the whole Order meeting Fred had felt the absence of their dead... well, they hadn't been friends exactly but they could have been. And it was that possibility that weighted Fred down. They could have been close with Sirius if he just had lived. He could have been their mentor, maybe even a business partner with his brilliant mind for pranking and enough money to invest, but the Marauder was never granted a happy life.

"You know, it's not that late," George remarked. "Maybe they're still at Hogsmeade. You could find them and still have a little meet-up with Hermione."

Fred shook his head. "Not really in the mood right now. Let's just get back to the shop and brew something. I feel like I need to turn my head off for a while." Fred pretended not to see the curious gaze George threw his way and grabbed his wand.

"Race you," he grinned at this twin. With a loud pop, Fred apparated away and grinned as he arrived seconds before George in the backroom of WWW. Only the two of them, their siblings - save Percy, but only because the git still didn't show his ugly nose around home - and a few selected Order members were able to apparate into the building directly or use the floo to come in. Not even Verity, their most trusted employee, was allowed to.

But they were still bickering about what they should brew next when the door to the backroom opened with a bang.

Fred and George both looked up, slightly alarmed and only relaxed when they saw it was Angelina. She swiftly closed the door behind her and even cast a Muffliato charm. Her mouth was set into a thin line and her eyes had an uncharacteristic shine to them.

"What's wrong?" Georg was faster than Fred. He was already by Angelina's side, wrapping his arm around when Fred finally realised that she had tears in her eyes. Tears which now freely fell.

"It's Katie," Angelina's voice wavered. "She was cursed. In Hogsmeade. They brought her to St. Mungo's an hour ago and no one knows what's going on. It's cri- Her condition is critical." She sobbed." They won't let me visit her and I thought... I couldn't stay at the hospital but I didn't want to be alone." She buried her head in George's shoulder and some part of Fred's heart registered how it didn't hurt him to see his ex-girlfriend so close to his brother.

George turned slightly around, worry visible on his face. But also helplessness. And fear. Their friend was hurt. It happened in Hogsmeade. Ron, Ginny, Harry, Hermione, Fred closed his eyes for a moment. They had all been in Hogsmeade today...

"You two go upstairs, drink some tea." Fred waved away George's concerned face. The git was still afraid to be alone with his soulmate. "I will close the shop."

Fred thought it would be good to give them a few minutes alone. He knew Angelina hadn't come to make a move on George but because the three of them were friends. But maybe something would change between the two of them. Plus, Fred was a selfish git and so the first thing he did was write a quick note to Hermione, asking if she was alright. He would never forgive himself if not. He should have been there.

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I took some freedom with the timeline here because I wasn't sure if there was a Slug Club meeting before the first Hogsmeade trip but since Harry skipped most of them in the books I thought it was possible. Especially since Slughorn loves his meetings and I think he wouldn't wait long to host one.

This story reached over 1000 followers after the last chapter and you have no idea what that means to me. I'm super happy and at the same time terribly overwhelmed. Thank you all for liking, following and reviewing this story.