Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
Third year
~o0o~
"All right, Percy, you go now. Where's Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley turned around, scanning the station for her daughter.
Behind her, twelve year old Ginny Weasley piped up. "Mum, I'm right here."
"Oh, sorry, dear. Join your brother to run through the barrier. Your father and Harry are already through." The Weasley matriarch ushered her two children forward. The others waited as they watched Ginny and Percy sprint through the wall to Platform Nine and Three-quarters.
"Ron, George, you're up."
The two brothers decided to make it a race who got there first, and almost collided with a muggle on their way.
"Boys! Careful!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked, but they were out of sight as soon as the words left her mouth.
Hermione stood once again in one of Fred's memories, taking it all in. The weather was pleasant out, her younger self sported a rather nice tan she'd got from her vacation in France, and she was happy to have this distraction. Seeing Ron, even if only a memory of him, twisted a knot in her stomach. She knew she had some thinking to do, but not now.
As soon as she had left the Burrow in real life, she'd put on her comfortable pyjamas, brushed her teeth and while her parents thought she'd been going to bed, she'd actually pulled out her Pensieve and emptied another vial into it.
"Crookshanks, calm down. We'll be on the train soon enough and I'll let you out." Memory Hermione was comforting their cat, currently anxious in the wicker basket. "It's all right."
Fred peeked into the basket. "Can't get enough of us gingers, can you, Granger?" Crookshanks seemed to settle down a little when the twin came closer. "Thought you'd have enough to last a lifetime, what with my whole family of redheads."
Soon-to-be fourteen year old Hermione peered up into his face, the edge of her lips tugging slightly upwards.
"Fred, Hermione, what's taking you so long? Go on now!"
At the sound of his mother voice, Fred straightened up and nodded for Hermione to follow him through the crowd. She kept an eye on her cat, careful not to shake the basket too much, but kept up with Fred as best she could. He was fast, his strides bigger than hers, but seemed to slow down just enough for her to stay by his side. Hermione watched the scene amused. It wasn't often someone had to hold back so she could catch up, it was usually the other way around.
They arrived at the platform, Mrs. Weasley right behind them. After clearing away their trunks they crowded together and received hugs from her, one after another. Harry got two.
Mr. Weasley then pulled Harry aside (to warn him about not to look for Sirius, Hermione realised with a start).
The rest of them remained standing in a circle around Mrs. Weasley as she handed them sandwiches for the journey. Memory Hermione accidentally got two, and absentmindedly handed one of them to the person on her left, namely Fred.
"He just got one, Hermione," Ron complained. "If you don't want it, I'll take it. No fair if he gets two."
She turned towards her friend, her gaze shifting awkwardly from side to side, as though not able to believe the nonsense she'd just heard. "But if I hand it to you, you'll have two." She sighed. "Besides, it was corned beef and I thought you didn't like corned beef. I know Fred likes it so I figured-"
Ron wasn't listening anymore. "Mum, I thought you said they weren't corned beef?"
"Sorry, dear, I meant yours wasn't beef. Now stop fussing like a baby and all of you; get on the train!" His mother wore an impatient look that told him his only option was to oblige. "Arthur!"
Her husband called back to his wife from where he and Harry stood and assured her Harry would be joining them shortly.
The rest of them made their way to board the train.
Before leaving with George to find their friend Lee, Fred thanked Hermione for the sandwich.
"You're welcome," she replied earnestly.
Since this was Fred's memory, real Hermione followed the twins rather than watch herself, Ron and Harry find themselves in the same compartment as Remus. The thought of her old Professor being alive in this memory felt strange.
It's so unfair. Teddy won't have any memories of his own father, while we have years' worth…
The twins (and real Hermione) found Lee, Alicia and Angelina lounging comfortably in another compartment, discussing their future Quidditch matches that term.
"The first one will be Gryffindor versus Slytherin! I'm going to enjoy making that Malfoy kid suffer," Alicia announced pleased. "Oh, hiya, Fred and George!"
"Hello," they greeted her back in unison. The others made room for their newly arrived friends who joined in on the conversation.
"You know, Alicia, don't take this the wrong way, but sometimes it scares me how someone so sweet can hold grudges like you do," George said.
Alicia who was just about to take a bite out of her apple, stopped midway and scrunched her nose at him. "Don't tell me you've forgotten what he did, George?"
"'Course not. Freddie and I have actually been working all summer on a plan to get our revenge undetected. Ain't that right, Fred?"
Fred smiled wickedly. "Indeed we have. Can't tell you much though," Angelina rolled her eyes. "Seeing as it's still heavily under development."
He reached out to stop Lee from grabbing something off his lap.
"What? You know I love your mother's sandwiches."
"Well, maybe you could owl and ask her to make you some, mate. But keep your mitts off these, however, if you'd like to keep them."
"Dear me, Fred, if I didn't know any better I'd say your girlfriend made you those," Alicia teased. Neither he nor Angelina looked amused by this, and George was giving his brother the strangest look.
Suddenly Hermione felt time jump forwards and all she could see was a dark hooded cloak pass by them.
Dementors.
Even though it was a memory, she couldn't fight the shivers that travelled along her spine and the cold forming in her chest.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Fred exclaimed.
He looked down to the floor where Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle had stumbled in. They were shaking and shivering; all blood drained from their faces. The sight seemed to please the Gryffindors.
"I love karma," Alicia stammered, catching her breath.
George leaned in and told his brother that they might not need their revenge plot after all.
The scene shifted.
"You needed Stink Pellets this bad, Freddie?"
George was rubbing his hands together, his cheeks red from the wind blowing outside, as they entered Zonko's Joke Shop. He was looking at his brother, waiting for an answer, but none came. Instead, Fred made his way further into the shop, not really listening.
"We could have been at the castle, hanging out with the girls and Lee, warm and cozy in front of the fire," George continued. "Can we at least get some Butterbeer before my fingers fall off?"
Fred chuckled. "Brother, sometimes it's like you forget that we're wizards. Just cast a warming spell."
It was George's time to look amused. "And sometimes, it's like you forget we're underage."
Fred threw him a look as if to say 'When has that ever stopped us before?'. He continued scanning the shelves, pushing through the crowds of overly excited third years. Judging by the familiar faces and how they seemed entranced by their surroundings, Hermione guessed it was their first time in the wizard village.
"And to answer your question, George, yes. I am almost out of Stink Pellets. I told you this before. You know this." Fred said impatiently.
"All I know is that Ron mentioned he and Granger were going to Hogsmeade and all of a sudden, you are telling everyone you're in need of new Stink Pellets." He looked up from the tin of Hiccough Sweets he was holding and searched his brother's face to see his reaction.
"Maybe I was simply reminded by the presence of Ronald's horrid smell that I needed to stink down Filch's office some more?"
This made Hermione snicker. She immediately felt guilty.
George was not laughing and while putting the Hiccough Sweets back on its shelf, he suggested, almost lazily, "Or maybe you didn't like the idea of Granger and Ron walking around alone, without Harry as their chaperone?"
Fred and Hermione gaped at him. "Where did that come from?" Fred asked, baffled.
"I'm more observant than you give me credit for," George stated casually. "I'm not going to make you answer my other question, just answer me one thing, honestly, and I'll never bring it up again."
Fred's eyebrows were pulled together in confusion. "Go on, then."
George looked around and in a hushed whisper, afraid someone might overhear, he asked, "Do you fancy Granger?"
Hermione stopped breathing.
What the bloody ruddy Merlin's beard…?!
She needed to sit down, she needed air, she needed…She needed not to have heard this…Was this a joke? Or even worse, was this why Fred had left her these memories? Because he'd fancied her? She didn't even know what to make of that idea.
A moment passed and she realized Fred hadn't answered yet. He looked at his brother, eyes wide, posture stiff and his mouth slightly open. Hermione feared the worst when a loud, earsplitting laughter erupted from him and he smacked his brother on the arm. Fred wiped the corner of his eye. "No, George, I do not."
Fred calmed down, his shoulders no longer shaking and cleared his throat, smiling. "Are we done now?"
Something that had been very clear ever since Hermione had got to know the twins was that no matter how many pranks they pulled, or how many lies they told or convinced others; they never did it to each other. Therefore, George didn't doubt his brother for a second when that was the answer he gave. And neither did Hermione.
"Yeah, we're done," George smiled back. A minute later they were grabbing several boxes of Stink Pellets and strutting to the register to pay for them.
"This should be enough for a while I think," Fred nodded approvingly. "What'd you reckon, George?"
His twin was looking at the entrance, a smirk on his freckled face. "Speak of the devil."
Ron and mini 'Mione just entered the shop.
"…and he appears," Fred finished for his brother and snorted. "Honestly, it's not far from the truth. For all we know, ickle Ronniekins-"
"Hi!" Hermione's younger self greeted them. Her tan long faded, hair windswept, making it look crazier than usual, and cheeks rosy from the weather. Ron walked right behind her, not looking as pleased to see his brothers as Hermione did.
"Hello," the twins chorused.
"Enjoying your first trip to Hogsmeade, children?" George asked.
Hermione gave a smile that stretched from ear to ear. "Very much. It's all so fascinating! And the history of this village is incredible," they could tell she was about to recite facts she'd learned about Hogsmeade from the books she'd read, so Ron was quick to interrupt.
"What are you lot up to then?"
Fred nodded to the boxes of Stink Pellets in his arms. Hermione let her frown, brought forward by Ron's earlier interruption, disappear. "Oh, right, you said you were almost running out those." She eyed them cautiously. "Although I'd prefer not knowing what you were planning on doing with them, I would like to ask you to keep them away from the girls' dormitory and the library."
Fred grinned. "No worries, Granger. We have no plans on disturbing your studies. Which are all of them, from what I hear."
Ron nodded. "She's mental, I don't even know how she does it. Most of the classes are at the same time-"
Hermione watched herself drag Ron at his sleeve, away from the twins, interrupting him this time. "Let's not keep your brothers, I'm sure they have more important things to tend to."
"Blimey, 'Mione! You can let go of my arm."
She didn't turn back to see the amused expressions on Fred and George's faces. "Wonder what that was all about," said George.
"Not sure," said Fred. "But let's hurry up and pay for these, and head back to the castle. I'm worried about Lee, alone with all those ladies."
George snickered. "Yes, poor Lee."
The comfort of walls disappeared and the new scene took place on the Quidditch pitch.
Oliver Wood called for a time-out. Fred landed on the muddy ground with some difficulty (Hermione once again on the same broom sitting behind him) as the wind howled and rain seeped through the fabric of their clothes. Hermione was especially glad that this memory took place on the ground. Not that she was rather fond of flying at all, but at least the first year match's weather had been calmer.
The Gryffindor team discussed tactics when she saw herself hurrying to Harry's side.
"I've an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!" she said, smiling.
Real Hermione turned to Fred who looked intrigued. She glanced at the whole team and realized how intently they observed her younger self wave her wand over Harry's glasses. "Impervius!"
"There! They'll repel water!" she explained before heading back to the crowd, while Wood called after her.
"Brilliant!" The Gryffindor team captain turned to his team members. "Okay, team, let's go for it!"
Before taking off, George elbowed his brother. "Lucky you don't fancy Granger, Freddie, because I think Wood was ready to kiss her right then and there."
"Shut it, you." Fred said shaking his head while he kicked off the ground.
The scene shifted and Hermione silently thanked Fred for making the last one short. It was late in the Gryffindor common room. Fred was sitting by the fire, reading. Hermione looked around, expecting to find Lee or George nearby, but the common room was scarce on people.
Odd…
Two voices were heard entering through the portrait hole.
"-it'll be fine, Hermione. We'll visit him in the morning."
"I know, it's just that he seemed so upset. I wish I could fix his broom for him, but even Madam Hooch told us it was beyond repair."
"It'll take a while but he'll get over it," Ron assured her as they crossed the common room. "I'm going upstairs. Dean, Seamus and Neville probably want to hear about what happened."
He left and Fred briefly looked up. He was startled when he saw Hermione sit down on the floor next to his armchair.
"Hi, Fred." She removed her still soaking robe and inched closer to the fireplace. "I just needed to warm up a bit, sorry if I disturbed your reading."
"No worries, Granger," he flipped a page, brows furrowed, his voice distracted. "I was only researching a potion."
Hermione recalled how surprised she'd been at the twin's seriousness (not to mention seeing him read a book). Her younger self's expression mirrored how her train of thought had gone that evening; eyebrows raised, with a hint of amazement. Hermione never had been very good at concealing her emotions.
"I wanted to thank you for what you said to Harry, by the way."
"Hm?"
"The bit about him being the best Seeker the team's ever had, and how he shouldn't beat himself up over losing to Hufflepuff? I think it helped."
Fred glanced up from his book, a small and genuine smile on his lips. So unlike his usual mischievous or sarcastic ones. "No problem. Didn't think of it much. It's all true."
'Mione rolled her eyes. "Still. Thank you."
They sat there in comfortable silence for a while. The only sound either from his pages turning or the crackling fire, warming her drenched clothes.
Hermione wondered why he had picked this memory. Was there something else happening that she had missed? As far as she knew, they had spent ten minutes like this after their conversation and then she got up to bed.
She decided to investigate, leaning over Fred's shoulder to look at what he was reading. Perhaps he'd lied and not been researching potions at all. No such luck, however. He was indeed reading a book on potions.
Then what am I doing here? Nothing's happening…
After another painful, uneventful five minutes mini 'Mione told Fred she'd warmed up and bade him good night.
"G'night. Oh wait, you forgot your robe!"
He hurriedly reached down and picked the clothing up from the floor, and was about to hand it to her when something slipped out of the pockets. A glitter of gold shimmered against the scarlet carpet.
"Oh, Merlin!" Hermione quickly picked it up before Fred got a chance to recognize what it was. "Er-my necklace must've slipped off. It appears to be fine. Thank goodness or McGon-"she stopped. "I mean, mother would have killed me. Thank you, Fred. Good night!"
I can't believe how non-discreet I was about the time turner…
She watched herself snatch the robe from Fred's hand, and in her panic, not noticing that they'd touched. Fred stared after Hermione as she escaped to the girls' dormitory, clutching his hand.
George appeared soon after, looking newly showered and sat down on the sofa next to his twin's armchair. "Why so glum, chum?"
His brother looked up from the hand that had brushed Hermione's and let out a deep breath. "Just wishing you'd never said anything."
"Said what? I say a lot of things. Not nearly as much as you-"
"Forget it," he grunted.
The next scenes came like a montage, one after another at great speed. There were several ones where Hermione snapped at people trying to talk to her or interrupt her otherwise, while she studied in a corner in Gryffindor common room. Fred avoided going near her in every single one. Others were just Fred avoiding her overall.
I do look pretty horrifying, have to admit…But I was so stressed…, she thought, and added, coward…
Then came one that was longer than the previous, which barely had been more than glimpses. It stood still long enough for Hermione to properly take in her surroundings. Snow covered the grounds outside and the windows were frosted with white. Fred walked with Angelina and George down a corridor. Angelina suddenly remembered she needed to go to the library and asked the twins to join her. After many flourished bows and claims to own up to their gentlemanly reputation-Hermione laughed at this- the three of them finally headed for the library.
After passing through some bookshelves, Angelina came to an abrupt halt. "On second thought, I think I'll manage. We didn't really need to reference 'The Magical History of Scandinavian Maras and other creatures', did we?"
"Ange, what are you talking about? That is the entire essay-"George, who had been towering over Angelina, attempting to go around her, also stopped in his tracks. "Although," he continued in a lower voice. "I think I like living too much to risk it over this one essay."
Fred, standing last in their three-man line, grew impatient. "What are you two on about?"
"Ssssh!"
He recoiled as his friend and brother, fingers on their mouths, turned to glare at him.
"Quiet down or you'll wake Cerberus."
George laughed softly at Angelina's joke.
Fred gaped at them like they'd both lost their marbles. "Seriously- sorry, I'll keep it down- seriously, though, what's gotten into you two?"
"You know, Ange," George started, clearly up to something. "I think Freddie here might be Gryffindor enough for the task."
Angelina quickly caught on. "Oh, yeah, really? I don't know, it's pretty dangerous…"
George's smile grew wide. Hermione tried to remember when she'd seen it this bright last…
"Obviously, but my brother here isn't one to deny a quest, and especially not when a fair maiden is in distress."
Angelina scoffed.
"Honestly, what is-"Fred walked past them and now he too froze. He tried to backtrack but the other two quickly stopped him. "G'eroff me, let me through," he hissed.
Hermione finally treaded through them, eager to learn what it was that made three nearly grown Gryffindors tremble with fear. The sight made her giggle.
Surely, they can't be worried about this...?
By a table, next to the bookshelf harboring the book Angelina required, slept a fourteen year old Hermione Granger. Her face was hidden in her arms, on top of a heap of open books.
"Fred, please, I really need that book. I wouldn't ask if I didn't desperately need it. Please."
Being a Weasley twin, he was useless against the Gryffindor Chaser's brown eyes.
"Fine," he relented. "But you owe me."
"I may be desperate, but I'm not stupid, Weasley. As if I'd want to be owing you anything."
"Did you want that book or not?"
She fell silent and Fred tip toed to the bookshelf. He managed to find the tome within a minute and carefully slid it into his hands. He sighed in relief.
"Hey, there you are! I was looking for you everywhere!"
"Lee! Ssssh!"
But it was too late. Hermione stirred at the sound of all the voices (and Madam Pince's scolding that followed). Fred panicked and dropped the book.
"Wait for me-"
But his friends and brother were already nowhere to be seen.
"Fred?" croaked a voice. "What are you doing- oh right. I'm in the library."
Fred picked up the book and clutched it to his side.
"All right there, Granger?" he asked as if approaching a hippogriff, one wrong and insulting move and she would rip his chest open.
She rubbed her bloodshot eyes. "Yes, I just- I just forgot I was in the library and not sleeping in my dorm."
Fred's gaze softened.
"May I?" he gestured to the empty chair and seated himself next to her when she nodded. "I'm not telling you to slow down, because you wouldn't be Hermione Granger if you did." Hermione managed to muster a blush and so did real Hermione. "But at least get a good night's sleep, yeah?"
Mini 'Mione took a deep breath, eyes glassy from unshed tears. "Sorry, yeah, I'm a bit sleep deprived." She cleared her throat and blinked her eyes. "But, I need time to study, so that's that." She turned to her pile of books, trying to organize them.
Real Hermione noticed the concern etched on Fred's face as he furrowed his brows, and felt something flutter inside her stomach.
What the bloody hell was that? Flutter? Nothing should be fluttering.
Fred sighed, interrupting Hermione's inner scolding, and stood up to leave. He looked down at the memory brunette. "You're impossible." He sighed again, but this time softly.
"Hm?"
"Nothing. See you later, Granger."
"Bye, Fred."
She didn't look up once.
Another quick memory followed of Hermione rising from the table and stomping away from Harry in the Great Hall; her hair on end and her shrill voice echoing to where Fred and George sat a bit further away.
"- Firebolt and now Scabbers, everything's my fault, isn't it!"
She rushed past the twins and stormed out.
"Blimey," said George. "All of this over a rat? I know he was Ron's but he never did treasure him much before he died, did he?"
"Perhaps we should talk some sense into him," Fred suggested. "Our little brother has let this go on long enough and I doubt Granger has much patience left."
There was another change in scenery.
"All he did was eat and sleep, Ron, you said it yourself," said George.
The twins were trying to make Ron forget about losing Scabbers, convincing him that he could just get a new rat and that being eaten by Crookshanks had probably been the best way to go for an old rat like him.
While a part of Hermione was disgusted at the memory of Peter Pettigrew hiding out somewhere in Hogwarts, still alive, she was also pleasantly surprised the twins had tried to talk some sense into Ron. Not that she thought it had been for her, no…Even so, she added this to the list of things she'd thank George for.
The memory changed again.
"Fred, George! Did you hear the news?" Ginny was beaming as she practically skipped to where they sat in the common room.
"Hi, sis'", said George.
"What news?" Fred asked.
"Well, I heard it from some first years, who heard it from some fourth years, who heard it from Seamus, who heard it from the other third years, but I don't think they were lying-"
"Gin, you're rambling. What did Harry do now?"
Their sister scowled as a flush of red crept up her cheeks. "It's- it's not about H-Harry."
George raised his eyebrows. "That's a first."
"I'll say."
Ginny ignored them.
"Anyway, I heard from some first years that during the third years' Magical Creature lesson with the Slytherins," The twins snorted at the mere mention of the other house. "Malfoy was insulting Hagrid so much that Hermione snapped. She slapped him. And apparently she pulled her wand out before either of his cronies could do anything about it."
Her older brothers gawked.
"Ron had to hold her back," she continued, satisfied that her news had had the impact it did.
"She's bloody brilliant, she is," Fred stated, looking awestruck.
George glanced at his brother. "Ginny, would you mind leaving me alone with Forge. Just for a moment."
Ginny looked at them dubiously but shrugged and stepped away. George turned to Fred.
"Okay, I believed you when you told me before Christmas that you didn't fancy Granger- hang on, listen- I believed you. But it's been months and I was just wondering if things might have…changed?"
Fred started shaking his head, seeming prepared to joke it off this time as well, but he stopped. "I don't- I don't know."
George waited.
"I suppose, I find her interesting. But fancy? Granger? And she's younger than us, and a friend of our brother's…"
His twin patted him on the shoulder. "It's even worse than I thought…And here I suspected since our first year that you and Ange were going to hit it off."
Fred shook out of his confusion and recovered. He smirked. "We shared one kiss last year. Believe me, if it was meant to be it would have happened by now."
"I thought you were someone who took matters in his own hands, or have all these years of pranks all been just a lie?" George feigned hurt.
A huff of air escaped Fred, who smiled.
His brother continued, serious now, "If you're not sure about Granger then just wait it out. Maybe it's just a small, temporary thing. Don't fret too much over it, it doesn't suit you."
Fred considered this. "All right, I'll wait it out and see. Probably not more than being impressed over her slapping Malfoy, anyway."
George looked like he seriously doubted this, but seemed to think that this way of reasoning helped his brother, and let it be. "Right."
~o0o~
Hello, everyone!
Thank you so much for reading chapter four! Thank you also to all the people who follow, review and favorite this story, you guys are awesome!
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Until next time!
/Primrue