Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the rights to Harry Potter. I promise I don't own any of it. Google it if you have to.

Second year

~ o0o~

Hermione didn't hesitate when reaching for the second vial, immediately emptying it into the Pensieve.

What the bloody hell is going on?

The memories had unnerved her. Not only from seeing so many different, familiar faces alive and well there, but because these were Fred's memories. Fred Weasley. And each and every one of them had been linked to her. Why?

She mentally prepared herself for another trip down memory lane and stuck her head down like an ostrich.

As her surroundings solidified she quickly registered that she was standing in a crowded shop in Diagon Alley. Hermione remembered the place; it was Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop.

"Honestly, you two, are you still going on about Quality Quidditch Supplies? You were just staring at the window, and we all needed new ink and parchment. You'll thank me later," young Hermione told her two friends.

Harry and Ron sighed, knowing it was futile to argue. They turned their attention to the different products the store they were in had to offer and quickly forgot about how their bushy-haired friend had dragged them away from the sports store.

Hermione remembered how excited she had been that summer before second year. She had made friends, and at this moment in the memory she was actually out shopping with them. Something she'd never even dared to hope before as she never really had any close friends before Harry and Ron.

But when the two boys started walking around together in the store, unintentionally leaving her to fend for herself, young Hermione's insecurities had begun bubbling up to the surface. Had she scared them off? Were they starting to find her annoying again? Perhaps she should have just let them stare at the Quidditch stuff…

The present Hermione sighed as she saw how troubled her younger self looked. Don't worry, she wanted to say. Harry and Ron will forever be your best friends.

"All right there, Granger?" A voice behind her asked. Both of the Hermione's turned to see the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan smiling at her.

Her younger self started to say yes when she noticed what they were carrying. "Are those fireworks?"

George grinned. "Indeed they are. Have to stock up before school starts. Imagine what Filch would think if we didn't greet him with our annual firework show in his office? The mere thought-"

"-The terror-", remarked Fred.

"-The devastation-"George continued.

"-The absolute horror." Fred finished.

Lee laughed at Hermione's open mouth. "Don't worry, they're only joking."

Fred scoffed. "That's what you think, mate." He turned to his brother and handed him the fireworks. "I'm going to see if they have more in stock. Granger, you coming?"

Hermione blinked at him bewildered. "Help you obtain fireworks that you'll use to bother the entire school with, including the professors?"

He nodded. "Isn't that I just said? C'mon."

Tiny Hermione was too stunned to do anything but oblige. The Weasley twin spoke to the shop owner who laughed, apparently used to the three boys ransacking his products. He told them to wait while he checked in the back.

"So what are you planning on doing with the fireworks if I may ask? Really?" Hermione said.

"Well, we aren't lighting up Filch's office, I can tell you that much," Fred answered with a wink. He started looking up at the roof. "It wouldn't work in that small a space, anyway. A kitchen's one thing, but… If only there were fireworks that were smaller, not risking to burn the place down, but enough to give the people a bit of a scare…"

"Why don't you just make one yourselves?" Hermione suggested. "It wouldn't be too hard to make adjustments, maybe a simple reducio charm I've read about would do the trick…"

Fred gave her a large grin. "My, my, Hermione Granger-"

She blushed and shook her head. "Forget I said that-I-I shouldn't have given you the idea-"

"George and I actually tried the reducio our first year. It didn't quite do the trick, though."

"Oh." It was silent for a moment and little Hermione glanced around the shop. She saw Harry and Ron looking at prank Snitches that momentarily turned into some sort of green goo when caught. Frowning, she turned her attention back to Fred and was met with a toy snake staring at her, inches from her face.

"Fred!" she yelped. But after clutching her chest and catching her breath Hermione couldn't help but laugh. Fred laughed too.

"There we go," he simply said as she wiped happy tears out of her eyes.

"Oy, what are you doing to Hermione? Leave her alone." Ron approached them and gave Hermione a sympathetic look, as if to apologize for his older brother's behavior.

Fred was probably about to give him some sarcastic or mocking comment, so Hermione quickly interrupted.

"Fred was just showing me this nice stuffed toy, Ron. Are you feeling done? Harry?"

Harry, standing behind Ron, hadn't really been paying attention but snapped to when his name was mentioned. "Uh, yeah."

The girl straightened her robes. "Good, then we should leave if we want to look around some more before meeting our parents at Flourish and Blotts." The three of them headed for the exit. Hermione turned and looked at Fred. "See you later."

Young Hermione was gone too quick and therefore didn't see the brief smile Fred gave her, but old Hermione did.

The scenery changed and she now stood in a very crowded Gryffindor common room.

"Of all the stupid things to do. A flying car…Muggles saw them! They could have been hurt! Expelled!" young Hermione mumbled while Percy stood next to her, nodding in agreement. Harry and Ron had quickly made their way to the boy's dormitory, escaping both of their scolding eyes. For now, at least. The two exemplary students crossed their arms, clearly displeased while the rest of their house chose to cheer. Cheer!

Fred, George and Lee seemed to be egging the others on, as well. Real Hermione noted how her memory-self glared at them.

Oh boy…

Percy excused himself and went to check on the first years; most of them not really understanding what was happening, but excited nonetheless. Hermione remembered how she had felt for Percy back then. By no means had she fancied him, no, no, no. But she had respected him. He was Perfect Prefect Percy. Someone who admired intellect as much as Hermione did. And she remembered that she wished Harry and Ron shared that thirst for knowledge. She loved that her friends had other attributes, bravery and kindness to name a few, but it was isolating at times. She could be talking about something she found utterly fascinating while the two of them would roll their eyes at each other, thinking she didn't notice. But she did.

The first night back at Hogwarts, she felt especially alone. She had waited, claimed a compartment for the three of them at the Hogwarts Express earlier that day, eager not to spend her second train ride by herself.

The first train ride she had gone from compartment to compartment, trying to distract herself, maybe make some new friends like her mother had told her to. She had tried helping Neville, she had tried passing Harry and Ron several times without seeming like a stalker. In hindsight, perhaps not the best plan she'd ever executed, but in the end it hadn't mattered. They were friends now.

However, when the train moved with neither of them coming to sit with her, she had strolled by several compartments asking for them. Fred and George had looked confused, thinking that they had been with her all along. When she found Percy he helped her ask around and then when they arrived at Hogwarts they found out what had happened.

'They left me alone to fly in a car!' she had thought. 'And did they bother asking me if I at least wanted to come along? No. Ugh, boys… They'll have some explaining to do in the morning.'

Small Hermione decided to call it in early, despite Parvati's half-hearted attempt to make her stay. She was tolerable before she made close friends with Lavender. Hermione hadn't really thought about how the other girl had tried to make friends with her. Even if it might only have been to get close to the famous Harry Potter or plain pity, Hermione felt it a shame she never noticed it when she was younger.

She did wonder why Fred had chosen this particular memory when he and his twin made themselves visible to her. She realized it had been the first time (of many to come) she gave the twins a piece of her mind.

"Oy, Fred! Would you look at that gloomy goose over there," George stage whispered a few paces away, blocking the path to the girls' dormitory.

"Why, George, how can anyone not be happy in such an occasion as this?"

"Unless you're Snape-"

"Or Filch-"

"Or Percy-"

Little Hermione let out a growl which startled the twins enough to shut up. It had been the final drop, after enduring a day of feeling miserable when really, she should be enjoying being back at Hogwarts, and Hermione finally snapped.

"Your brother is right, you know. And I hope he takes points from them, and gives them both a proper lecture. Godric knows I will. Now, if you don't mind," she said while knocking both of them out of her way.

When she disappeared out sight, the two of them looked at each other. Fred hooked his arm over his brother and led him towards the crowd again. "Dear me, seems like we have another Percy on or hands."

George 'tsk'ed. "And we thought that one was more than enough for the planet."

Fred hummed in agreement, but added, "Somehow, though, I've got the feeling Granger is going to end up being an even bigger pain in our arses."

George looked at him in mock horror. "What ever should we do?"

Fred was about to say something when Angelina approached them and Hermione swore she saw a tiny shade of pink rise in his cheeks. George must have noticed as well for he escaped his brother's embrace and pushed the two of them together in a group hug.

Her surroundings dematerialized once again.

Hermione cursed under her breath when she arrived at the next scene. Why had Fred picked such horrible memories? First the one where she was being emotional and Fred basically called her Percy II, but now this one?

The event that gave Hermione her first glimpse of the horrible side of being a muggleborn witch; the prejudice that would haunt her until the war was over…

The Slytherin Quidditch team was showing off their new broomsticks while Draco Malfoy looked all too satisfied with the Gryffindor team's reaction. Hermione watched as her younger self and Ron made their way towards them and how her friend gaped as they learned Malfoy was the new team seeker and owner of a Nimbus Two Thousand and One.

"Good, aren't they?" said Malfoy smoothly. "But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them."

Hermione rolled her eyes as she once more watched the Slytherin team howl with laughter at Malfoy's pathetic excuse for a joke. She knew what was coming, and she had always been rather proud of her comeback. After all, Malfoy had to stoop real low in order to get the last word.

She watched her younger self tilt her head with as much attitude as she could muster. "At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," she said sharply. "They got in on pure talent."

The first time, she had been occupied watching Malfoy's smug little face drop and enjoy her brief victory. This time Hermione watched Fred. He had obviously chosen these memories for a reason, and she was determined to try and catch whatever it was she had missed to see the first time around. Otherwise, she would have figured it out already, wouldn't she?

As soon as tiny 'Mione had given her retort, Fred's face lit up. To be fair, every Gryffindor there had showed some kind of positive emotion. Ron had snorted loudly. But there was something about the way Fred looked at her, like he was stunned. But in a good way.

The mood quickly changed when Malfoy spat the word 'mudblood' at her. Hermione remembered feeling confused. She'd realized the word was bad, but didn't know what to do. How to react. And then she had felt a flutter in her stomach when Ron went to her defense, attempting to jinx Malfoy for her.

But she had never fully comprehended how much the others had done. Alicia Spinnet was shrieking her lungs out at the little blond. And the twins were held back by Flint, both wanting to physically harm Malfoy. Now it was Hermione's turn to look stunned. She'd have to thank George later (even though she wasn't sure how she would go about explaining to him why she suddenly brought up something that had occurred six years ago).

The sequence wasn't over yet, and she watched herself and Harry pull a slug-vomiting Ron away to Hagrid's.

Fred and George weren't attempting to attack Malfoy anymore, but Angelina and Katie had to calm Alicia down, who was still fuming.

"That little prat," she screamed once they were in the changing room. "How dare he even use that word? Not to mention call someone-"

"Don't worry, Alicia, we'll get him later," Fred promised. He and George sat down on the benches, exhausted.

"Wish we could have gotten one punch in on his scrawny little git face, though."

"You know I despise being the voice of reason, Freddie-"

"-The voice of what now?"

"-But I do believe it's just as well. Imagine what Lucius Malfoy would have done if we had harmed his son?"

Fred slumped his shoulders. "Yeah, yeah. I reckon you're right. Glad Ron tried to jinx him at least."

"Who knew he had it in him?"

"Not anymore, though. The slugs found their way out now."

"Sluggie Ronniekins."

Angelina passed them and rolled her eyes. "You two…Why not be honest and tell your brother you're proud of him instead of making fun of him?"

The twins looked at her like she had grown two heads. They shook their own heads, their next word loud: "Never!"

"Hope she's all right though. Granger," Fred said once Angelina walked away.

"Didn't seem like she understood what was going on, so I suspect she'll be fine enough," said George distracted, looking for his school robes.

"I wonder if muggleborns know what they're in for when they enter our world. Pureblood, half-blood, who cares…"

"Not us, that much is certain," said George.

Fred looked at his brother and smiled. "Nope, not us." He then pulled something out from behind his back. "Looking for this, by the way?"

George snatched the black cloth from his brother. "Very funny."

"I thought so."

There was barely time to register how the changing room suddenly turned into a corridor before Hermione nearly slumped into a boy with red hair.

"Better not let Ron see you laugh, Hermione," Harry urged the brunette standing before him. "He seemed heavily traumatized."

"I'm sorry, it's just so funny. And every time I start thinking about it- I just-" She showed exactly what happened. Harry had to hold back a smile of his own as Hermione clutched her stomach, bent over in laughter.

Fred stopped walking through the corridor, looking curious to learn what made mini 'Mione laugh so much.

"I can't believe Fred turned the teddy bear into a spider, I mean- Pfft."

"I'm just happy you managed to keep it in when Ron told you about it. Quick! Compose yourself, he's coming." Sure enough, Ron was walking towards them, spotting Fred lurking behind one of the armored statues as he passed.

He looked up at his brother. "What are you doing?" His eyes squinted in suspicion.

Fred put on an air of innocence. "Nothing, dear brother. Just on my way to the library when I had to tie my shoelace."

Ron made a face but decided to let it go. The two of them approached the others. Hermione watched as her younger self had to bite her lip to prevent more laughter from escaping. Seeing both Ron and Fred there made it harder to not think about the teddy bear incident.

Fred seemed to sense she was on the verge of another attack, all she needed was a push.

"Well, I'll be heading for the library, gents. I hope you'll bear with me spidering off-I mean, wandering off."

He swaggered away, a satisfied grin on his face as he heard a loud giggle erupt behind him, while his brother mumbled, "Tosser."

A new sequence appeared.

Some people were whispering in the corner of the Gryffindor common room and Hermione quickly registered this particular memory being from the time students in Hogwarts suspected Harry of being the heir of Slytherin. She watched once more as Harry gripped his quill rather harshly, the tip almost breaking through the parchment of his Transfiguration's essay. Had they really thought he wouldn't hear them while he sat just at the other side of the room?

Ron's ears were tinged red but he looked at his friend as if to say 'Pay no attention to them, mate'.

Hermione watched herself glare at their house-seniors. Seniors! They were in fifth year, why would they bother gossiping about a second year student? Ridiculous. When one of them caught her staring, the whispering intensified.

Just as she considered sending some flames at the group, they were joined by two people.

"Hello there, Abernathy, Oswald and Temple! What are you all staring at?" Fred looked from the group to where Harry, Hermione and Ron sat (and where real Hermione stood). "Ah, I see! Don't worry, Harry told us he would be going after some Ravenclaw students next."

"That's right," chimed George. "No need to fret! Besides, he doesn't attack unless you bother him."

Fred winked at them. "Suggest you keep that in mind."

The group gaped at the twins, but they were already headed towards the table. Harry smiled slightly, his writing no longer forced, and Ron gave an approving nod, while young Hermione mouthed 'Thank you.'

A moment of blur, but hardly anything changed.

It was the Gryffindor common room again and Lee Jordan was rambling on about how the Slytherins needed to be thrown out of Hogwarts, saying that they were clearly at fault since no one from their house had been attacked.

Attacked? Oh right, the basilisk…

Hermione tip toed around the crowd applauding in favour and approached Fred. He was uncharacteristically quiet, standing next to Harry, George and Ron.

I don't remember this at all…why this memory, Fred?

No sooner had she thought it, when George leaned into Harry and whispered, "Percy's in shock." Hermione hadn't even noticed him and scanned the room. The prefect was sitting behind Lee, looking pale as a ghost.

"That Ravenclaw girl-Penelope Clearwater-"George continued but Hermione stopped listening.

Merlin's beard, this is after I got petrified.

She had met Penelope after discovering what the monster lurking in the Chamber of Secrets really was. The two of them had shared a mirror, scanning the corridor with it to make sure they would, as a worst case scenario, end up petrified rather than dead. And, though no one except for Ginny knew at the time, Penelope had been Percy's girlfriend.

Harry and Ron were whispering amongst themselves now, both looking rather upset.

My friends, Hermione thought affectionately. She knew they cared about her, but she had never been there to see their reactions regarding her petrification.

George, seemingly a bit distraught himself, was looking at his twin. He frowned, whispering, "Are you all right, Freddie?"

Fred nodded his head, not at all convincing. "Just thought these attacks had stopped till now," he whispered back. He clutched his arms to his stomach and frowned at the floor.

Hermione raised her hand when the scene shifted. Blinking, she shook her head furiously. What had she planned on doing with it?

Laughter interrupted her thoughts.

They were in the Hogwarts Express and the mood couldn't be more different than the previous memory had been. The compartment rang with merriment. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George shared their last hours together, before arriving at Kings Cross, in celebration.

Hermione tried to press herself against the window when she realized it didn't matter since everything and everyone would just go straight through her. And lucky that was. The twins decided to set off the last of their Filibuster fireworks and more than once did they fly through her.

The fireworks sizzled and exploded, everyone giving shrieks of delight and young Hermione had to lean in close to ask Fred how he'd done it.

"Done what?" he asked, not looking away from the display of colour.

"How did you manage to make them not blow the place up? This is amazing," she complimented. George set off yet another pair of fireworks as the last ones fizzled out. There was a loud boom and Ron nudged her arm to get her to look up and enjoy the show. She impatiently waved him off and faced Fred again, sitting opposite her. He was smirking.

"Just made some tweaks here and there," he said, ambiguously. He knew it annoyed her not to know and it showed by the expression she made.

I still don't know how they made most of their products…, real Hermione thought.

Mini 'Mione narrowed her eyes, understood that she wouldn't get an answer and leaned back and struck up a conversation with Ginny, who sat on her other side.

"I never did get to practice duelling properly," she told Ginny a few minutes later. "Millicent Bulstrode put me in a headlock just seconds into our duel."

"Maybe you could teach us?" Ginny said and turned to Fred and George, since they were older and more experienced. It looked like she first had been aiming to ask Harry but quickly reconsidered when a blush already had made it up his cheeks. The others pretended not to notice. Fred and George normally would have used this to tease Harry, but since he'd saved their sisters life, they apparently decided to be merciful.

Hermione blinked in surprise and shifted her stance. I didn't notice this the last time. I just remember going through all the spells I'd read about used for defense in my head…

They began disarming each other. Ron borrowed Harry's wand since none of them wanted to be at the receiving end of his spellotaped one. It was evident that Harry was better than the others. Even Fred and George applauded him when he managed to disarm them.

Hermione cringed when she saw herself attempt it. After the fifth try the words were barely coherent as she lost her confidence. Harry tried to show her but she didn't quite seem to get the hang of it until Ron, charming as ever, teased her about being all talk. Angered, she shouted Expelliarmus and Harry's wand flew across the room, while Fred slapped his brother on the shoulder for being rude. Ginny joined in, aiming for his head, and gave Hermione a bright smile which she returned.

And yet again it was over.

Hermione plunged out the Pensieve and had to sit down. She dug her hands into her mattress.

So, the memories are definitely about me. Blimey, I sound vain. But they do seem to be? Why is it making me nervous?

The innocent happiness she'd had to relive hadn't helped either. She laid down on her bed with a heavy sigh, feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Everything was so raw now. When they did find time to laugh it was far from the same as it had been in the memory. Hermione rubbed her eyes. But was that because of how they'd aged since back then or because something was missing?

Or someone…

~ o0o~

A/N: And that was chapter 2! Hope you enjoyed and thank you to everyone who follows, favorites and reviews.

Until next time!
/Primrue