Grimmauld Place

~o0o~

The room itself was dark and gloomy, courtesy of the tapestries donning the walls and the gothic-inspired beds, chairs and desk. It severely lacked the feeling of being an inhabited place; having everything about it scream uncomfortable, old and stiff. Nevertheless, there was a bright spot in the centre where two humans sat. Two boys, who, apparently, had made it their quest to fill the area to the brim with parchment, quills and potions ingredients, and several other things that Hermione had a hard time identifying.

Fred and George's room…

The twins in question were opposite each other, cross-legged on the floor, leaning on their respective beds. Both of them were furiously scratching something down and the sound of quill-tips on parchment dominated across the four walls.

After a few moments of the occasional 'hm' and 'ah', they started to speak.

"I've been thinking," said Fred, looking up from his writing.

"That never bodes well," said George, his voice absent; continuing despite the interruption.

Fred rolled his eyes.

Silence returned for a few seconds, until Fred broke it with a loud sigh, rolling his eyes once more.

Scratch, scratch, scratch…

Nothing.

He tried again.

When his brother still didn't react, Fred rolled up a piece of parchment and slapped him on the arm. "Gred, I'm rolling my eyes!"

"No, yeah! Sorry, go on," said George. "I'm listening."

Fred pouted at him as his attention seemed far from undivided, but still decided to speak.

"With all the money we got from Harry," he said. "and our rather successful attempts at developing products, you don't think it might be time to call it quits?"

At this, George finally looked up from his writing, raising an eyebrow in the process. "Meaning?"

"Let's not go back to school," Fred explained. "We already know there are plenty of good places to set up shop in Diagon Alley. Why waste our time doing NEWTs that we won't even need?"

George took a moment to think.

"You might be right," he said. "there's no real point in going back. We don't need NEWTs to do this…and it might be a shame to waste time studying instead of working…"

"Right-"

"There's one flaw though…" George interrupted before his brother got ahead of himself. "Mum's going to kill us."

Fred winced at the thought. "We should find a place for real, then. At least that way we won't be homeless by the time she kicks us out."

George laughed, but after it ended his expression quickly turned somber.

"But seriously, though," he continued. "tempting as it might be, I think we're needed more at school than at Diagon Alley."

Fred nodded. "So, you've noticed it too?"

"That Ginny's been nervous ever since we heard You-Know-Who's back? Yeah."

"That bloody diary did a number on her," Fred sighed. "I know I'm being selfish. It's just with us not being let in the Order and everything…I want to do more! Not just sit comfy in the common room while the Death Eaters roam around!"

George frowned. "I want that as well, you know that. Can't believe they won't even let us in on the meetings..." he trailed off, looking the tiniest bit bitter, then shook his head, "However, with everything that's going on perhaps we shouldn't be thinking about what the 'adults' are doing, but rather what we should do about the little ones. Ginny's not the only one who's going to have a hard time. You've read what the Prophet's been saying about Harry."

Fred bore a look of defeat. "Fine, yeah, I know. Although, I do have to say, that if it seems like we're much more needed elsewhere-"

"-we just up and leave middle of the term?"

"Correct."

"…can't argue with that, sure."

They shook hands.

While Fred began scribbling again, his twin paused. "You know," he said, "I never pegged you as being one this afraid of NEWTs, though, Freddie."

"Who said I was afraid?"

"Well, you seem awfully adamant about not going back or staying at Hogwarts. Certain there's not something keeping you away from school, rather than pulling you towards the Order?"

George's tone was teasing and playful, but when Fred didn't answer, the redhead's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, you cannot be serious-"

"No, Sirius is downstairs-"

"-are you afraid of going back and have to deal with Hermione, is that really it?" George looked at Fred as if pleading him to say that that wasn't the case.

Fred grimaced and looked up. "Maybe, a small part-"

"-Oh, for f-"

"-might be slightly worried-"

"-ounders' sake, Fred. C'mon-"

"It's not that I'm scared of her!" Fred argued. "It's more like…you know… I don't want to spend my last year watching her and my brother together, moving ever so slowly, whilst in the back of my mind thinking that I'm the better choice! I mean, what sort of brother does that?"

"A human one," said George sympathetically. After patting Fred's shoulder lightly, he put on a playful smirk. "Besides, not everyone can be as selfless as me."

"Pardon?"

"Well, you know I've fancied Angie for a while," said George, trying to ignore Fred's theatrical gasp ('He finally admits it!'), "and I spent an incredible amount of time to make sure there wasn't anything still going on between the two of you-"

"You still on about that?" said Fred, frowning. "I told you, Ange is a dear friend. And while, yes, she's incredibly fit- hey!" He rubbed his shin which George had just aimed a kick at. "Bloody…Anyway. Though she's attractive, it took nothing more than one small peck on the mouth before we realized we could never be more. And don't look so smug and act like you were so saint-like," Fred added when George let satisfaction coat his face. "You were the one who tried to have me 'move on' from Angelina and pushed this whole Hermione business on me in the first place, remember? 'You admitted to being interested in the girl, Fred', 'You've got it bad', 'I don't want it to take you too long to admit your feelings is all'. "Fred scoffed. "You're the one who's got it bad, mate."

George opened his mouth to respond when suddenly, there was a huge commotion downstairs.

"Who d'you reckon that is?" asked George.

"Dunno, but they got bloody Walburga going at it again…"

The twins emerged from their room, Hermione right behind them, and Walburga Black's wails got louder. Not until they reach the first landing can they distinguish anything but the old witch portrait clearly.

"DISGRACE, FILTH, AND NOW A MUDBLOOD IN OUR PROUD HOUSE-"

"Will someone shut her up?" shouted Sirius.

"I'll take care of it, cousin!" said Tonks and a second later they heard someone knock over at least five different things.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake..."

"-BLOOD TRAITORS WHO ARE JUST AS BAD! GET OUT! LEAVE-"

"I'll just do it myself! Dora, you're in the way-"

"Sorry, I'll get up-"

"ALL OF YOU! FILTH-"

"C'mon-"

"My cloak got stuck-"

"-MUDBLOODS AND DIRT, THE LOT OF THEM, OUT! OUT WITH YOU! OUT-"

Then the relief of silence.

"Thank you, Ron."

"No worries, happy to help."

There were a few scuffles and additional murmured thanks heard, followed by the sound of footsteps.

Then Ron and memory Hermione arrived upstairs.

"Sorry about that, Sirius' mum is a nasty piece of work," said Ron.

Hermione did appear a bit bothered but shook her head. "It's fine, it's not like I haven't heard that word before."

"Well, still isn't right," said Ron.

"You are gallant, brother," said George as the twins stepped forward from their place by the railing.

"Knight in shining armor, he is," said Fred. "Say, is that why you're having Hermione carry her trunk?"

Ron's ears turned red. "I'm helping," he said, pointing to where he held the other end of the trunk.

"Impressive," said George.

Hermione sighed. "If you're quite finished," she said, pulling the trunk out of Ron's grip to begin heaving it by herself. Unfortunately, this only resulted in having it thump heavily to the floor, forcing her weak arms to drag it along the carpet. Slowly.

The boys all laughed.

"C'mere, Granger," said Fred, his wand out, and offered to take it.

"Fine," said Hermione, her face growing pink from embarrassment. "Thank you."

"Where are you staying?"

"Ginny's room."

Fred grinned. "Well then, that's just down the hallway." He levitated the trunk along the way, letting it bump into Ron's legs occasionally while George sniggered.

A new scene appeared.

Hermione and Ginny were sitting similar to the way the twins had in the previous memory, talking in their room.

"So how's it going between the two of you?" asked Hermione while Ginny stroked the fur on Crookshanks back.

"Very well. Michael's been sending me letters-"

Without warning, two loud cracks sounded as Fred and George interrupts by Apparating in.

"Who's Michael?" they chorus.

Crookshanks hissed and mini Hermione had given a huge yelp in surprise, followed by a very impressive scowl, but the youngest Weasley outdid them both, her furious expression enough to scare even the bravest of Gryffindor's.

"Were you eavesdropping with those 'Extendable Ears' of yours?" she asked.

"Now, Ginny, I'm sure we asked you first," said Fred, though a tad uneasy. "Who's Michael?"

"That's none of your business."

"I think it's our business who our sister dates," said George.

"Yeah, we might want to know who the chap is so we can have a 'friendly' talk with him," said Fred.

"You'll do no such thing!"

"You'll find, sis, that we are very resourceful. We'll find out who this Michael is and-"

There was a yell as Ginny interrupted with a shouted incantation. For a while nothing happened and as soon he was about to start talking again, George stopped and paused. Fred and Hermione exchanged a look of confusion, but Ginny smiled triumphantly. The reason grew apparent when, a second later, something black crawled out of George's nose and took flight. The bat was quickly followed by several more until there were at least ten of them circling the boy.

"Get 'em off me!" shouted George.

Hermione was trying her best to look sympathetic but failed utterly, laughs escaping her, while Fred was howling and asking for more bats to appear.

"Oh, don't think I've forgotten about you, brother dear," said Ginny and Fred's amused expression quickly turned into one of horror. Ginny cast another Bat-Bogey hex and stood watching her two brother's fret over the winged creatures. "That's what you get for meddling!"

Hermione from the vial was full on laughing now, not even trying to hide her glee as Fred and George pranced around in panic.

The room changed and a new memory took the last one's place.

Ron and Hermione were standing outside the kitchen door, speaking in hushed voices, when Fred and George appeared once again with two loud cracks.

"Hello, lads," said George.

"Would you please refrain from popping up like that!" said Hermione in a shrill voice, clutching her chest. "Every single time it's like I'm about to have a heart attack!"

The twins ignored her.

"Why is it," began Fred, observing the marks on Hermione's hand, "that I always seem to find your hands injured one way or the other?"

"Blimey," said George who appeared to just have noticed. "And you too, little brother? What beast's responsible for this?"

"Hedwig," Hermione explained. "Apparently, Harry feels we haven't provided him with enough information."

"You should get Mum to look at it, 'Mione," said Ron.

She shook her head. "No, that's all right. But if you need it-"

It was Ron's turn to shake his head. "No…it's fine," he said, gloominess surrounding him, as he simultaneously looked at his hand.

Fred frowned. "You know, you two shouldn't have to punish yourself. It's not your fault you can't tell him anything."

Hermione looked surprised he'd seen through her. "Er…"

"C'mon, 'Mione," said Ron. "Let's eat."

There was a lot of meaning buried in those simple words. The twins didn't get it. They weren't best friends with Harry. They didn't have to feel the overwhelming guilt of not being able to tell their friend what was going on. Ron's tone left little to the imagination, the burden shared between him and herself obvious to anyone who'd heard.

And so Hermione and Ron left the twins to look helplessly among themselves.

"Blimey, I really suppose you're right, George. We need to look after them," said Fred. "All of them."

The scene switched.

It's still in the kitchen, but it's much later in time. The most giving detail about being that Harry was sitting there, and when Fred and George went about hovering the cauldron full of stew, Hermione quickly pinned this down to being on the night Harry first arrived at Grimmauld Place.

"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!" screamed Mrs. Weasley. "THERE WAS NO NEED- I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS-JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ALLOWED TO USE MAGIC NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WHIP YOUR WANDS OUT FOR EVERY TINY LITTLE THING!"

"We were just trying to save a bit of time!" said Fred, hurrying forward to wrench the bread knife out of the table, which had fallen onto there, narrowly missing Sirius hand. This was after the twins had dropped food and all the things that came with it; the Butterbeer, the breadboard, the cauldron and of course the knife. "Sorry, Sirius, mate-didn't mean to-"

But Harry and Sirius were both laughing, their merry faces causing warmth to spread through her chest, and listening to the sound once more she realized how much she missed it. Not just their laughs but having Fred and George be able to conjure it. Harry and Sirius had not been the happiest of people at this particular moment so it could be deemed a small feat. But they'd managed somehow…

Standing closer to them this time around, she heard Fred whisper to George; "Did she see?"

George glanced to where younger Hermione sat next to Ginny. The disapproving frown was evidence enough.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure she did."

Fred groaned.

Real Hermione smiled.

There was a new memory.

Mrs. Weasley had just left the drawing-room and Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and Ginny stood gathered by the window.

"Mundungus!" said Hermione. "What's he brought all those cauldrons for?"

"Probably looking for a safe space to keep them," said Harry. "Isn't that what he was doing the night he was supposed to be tailing me? Picking up dodgy cauldrons?"

"Yeah, you're right!" said Fred. The group eased away from the window as Mundungus had disappeared from view and entered the house. "Blimey, mum won't like that."

The twins moved to the door to eavesdrop. The rest of them stood nearby waiting for them to report.

"Mundungus is talking to Sirius and Kingsley," Fred muttered, frowning with concentration. "Can't hear properly…d'you reckon we can risk the Extendable Ears?"

"Might be worth it," said George. "I could sneak up and get a pair-"

But that's when their mother interrupted, yelling like mad.

"WE ARE NOT RUNNING A HIDEOUT FOR STOLEN GOODS!"

There were small sniggers from the twins.

"I love hearing mum shouting at someone else," said Fred, a satisfied smile on his face as he opened the door an inch or so to allow Mrs. Weasley's voice to penetrate the room better. "It makes such a nice change."

Though his tone was playful, Hermione couldn't help but provide a sad sympathetic look on his behalf, which the twin noticed, resulting in his smile growing wider as he turned to listen in on the scolding going on downstairs.

"-COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE, AS IF WE HAVEN'T GOT ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT WITHOUT YOU DRAGGING STOLEN CAULDRONS INTO THE HOUSE-"

George shook his head and began explaining the mistake the other wizard made in letting his mother go on screaming and when he moved to shut the door so as to shut out the now also screaming Mrs. Black, Kreacher edged into the room.

Looking more ragged than his present self, he took no notice of the others and shuffled to the far end of the room, muttering about blood-traitors, werewolves and the like. But before that, he'd under his breath said the word 'Mudblood', unknowingly causing all other occupants in the room to stiffen.

Hermione flinched at the word, but tried to compose herself, which Ginny, Fred and George noticed. Harry was busy figuring out who this offensive being was and Ron was positively fuming already at the obscenities flying out of Kreacher's mouth. For every new thing he said, the rest of group's dislike grew more and more apparent. He seemed determined to offend everything and everyone.

"Hello, Kreacher," said Fred very loudly, closing the door with a snap.

The house-elf made an attempt at surprise. "Kreacher did not see young master," he said, turning around and bowing to Fred. Still facing the carpet, he added, perfectly audibly, "Nasty little brat of a blood traitor it is."

"Sorry?" said George. "Didn't catch that last bit."

"Kreacher said nothing," said the house-elf, bowing to George now, and muttering just as he had with Fred, "and there's its twin, unnatural little beasts they are."

Then, he glanced around the room, muttering once more in a way that conveyed his conviction that they truly couldn't hear him, "…and there's the Mudblood, standing there bold as brass, oh , if my mistress knew, oh, how she'd cry, and there's a new boy, Kreacher doesn't know his name. What's he doing here? Kreacher doesn't know…"

When it seemed the Weasley's prepared to pummel the little elf, Hermione stepped forward. "This is Harry, Kreacher. Harry Potter."

Kreacher's pale eyes widened and he muttered faster and more furiously than ever.

"The Mudblood is talking to Kreacher as though she is my friend, if Kreacher's mistress saw him in such company, oh, what would she say-"

"Don't call her a Mudblood!" said Ron and Ginny together, very angrily.

"It doesn't matter," Hermione whispered, "he's not in his right mind, he doesn't know what he's-"

"Don't kid yourself, Hermione, he knows exactly what he's saying," said Fred, eyeing Kreacher with great dislike.

And with that it ended and the next scene took shape and Real Hermione followed as Fred, George and Ginny entered the kitchen. Around the table sat Sirius, Remus, Mrs. Weasley, Tonks and younger Hermione.

"There you are, you sneak," said Ginny when she sat down next to her roommate. "Why didn't you wake me up? Did you see Harry off?"

"Sorry, I wanted to let you sleep. And no, I got here just after Harry left," said Hermione. She was nervously tapping her mug of tea, sending an annoying stream of 'clinks' around the room. "He'll be fine, though…He'll be fine."

Meanwhile, Fred and George sat themselves next to Sirius.

"'Course he will, Granger," said George. "He's Harry Potter."

"Yeah, nothing can take that boy down. You of all people should know that, you've been surviving alongside him half the time he's been in trouble," said Fred.

The tapping stopped as Hermione actually quirked a small smile at that. "Yes," she said, "but this isn't some troll in the dungeons. This is Wizarding Law…with a possibly corrupt government."

"All governments are corrupt," said Sirius. "One way or another."

"Aren't you just a ray of sunshine," said Tonks, leaning heavily on her arm against the table.

Remus chuckled.

"Just trying to say that maybe it won't go too differently with the Minister of Magic that we have," said Sirius, shooting Remus a dark look for laughing on his behalf. "And even if it goes badly...well, that wouldn't be the end of the world, would it?"

The others stayed silent, but memory Hermione was narrowing her eyes at Sirius in suspicion.

I always did suspect a part of him wanted Harry to be expelled…

"B-blimey," said Tonks, yawning. "I'm sorry, everyone, I'll have to go home. I can barely sit up straight, I'm spent." She pulled out her chair and rose on wobbly legs.

"I'll see you to the door," said Remus, getting up from his own seat.

The metamorphmagus smirked. "My, what a gentleman you are, Mister Lupin."

He gave her a polite smile. "Don't grant me too much credit; I'm only doing it because I have to get going as well."

"If that's your excuse," said Tonks and winked at the man before grinning back at the other witches in the room, who all giggled. "Bye, everyone!"

Remus sighed good-naturedly and turned to Mrs. Weasley. "Thank you for breakfast, Molly. I expect I'll be back in the evening. Goodbye, all of you."

"Bye," the rest of them chorused as Remus followed Tonks out.

"Now," said Mrs. Weasley, gesturing to a bunch of pots, pans and plates. "There's toast, porridge, muffins, kippers, bacon and eggs. I made all sorts for Harry but he barely ate, poor thing."

"So what you're saying is we're having Harry's leftovers for breakfast?" said Fred. "Brilliant."

Hermione shot him a glare, before turning to his mother. "That all sounds lovely, Mrs. Weasley."

"Yes, well, it's nothing much. Just make sure to eat up."

"Will do!" said George, helping himself to eggs and bacon. "Have to take advantage now that Ron is still sleeping."

"Don't have to tell me," said Ginny, grabbing a stack of toast.

"There's plenty of food for everyone," said Mrs. Weasley. "No need to act as if I'm having you starve."

"Oh, it's not you, mother dear," said Fred, fluttering his eyelashes innocently at her. "It's our pig of a brother."

"Oy!"

Ron entered the kitchen, rubbing his eyes groggily.

"And there he is," said George. "Graceful as ever."

"Hurry, Sirius, pass me the marmalade before it's too late," said Fred.

Ginny, George and Sirius laughed, while memory Hermione rolled her eyes, fighting a grin.

There was a new memory.

They were down in the basement, dinner table overflowing with different dishes of food, and above it hung a scarlet banner reading:

CONGRATULATIONS

RON AND HERMIONE

NEW PREFECTS

As they arrived, Mrs. Weasley told Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and Ginny that they'd have a little party. "Your father and Bill are on their way, Ron. I've sent them both owls and they're thrilled," she added, beaming.

Fred rolled his eyes.

Sirius, Remus, Tonks and Kingsley were already there, shortly accompanied by Mad-Eye Moody. And not too long after that, Mr. Weasley, Bill and Mundungus arrived.

The room grew louder as the people mingled, until Mr. Weasley called for a toast.

"To Ron and Hermione, the new Gryffindor prefects!"

Ron and Hermione beamed as everyone, even Fred and George, drank to them and applauded.

"I was never a prefect myself," said Tonks brightly as everyone moved to grab food at the table. "My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary qualities."

"Like what?" asked Ginny.

"Like the ability to behave myself," said Tonks.

Ginny laughed, while other people nearby chuckled. Hermione hadn't known whether or not to smile as well, so she'd simply taken an extra large gulp of butterbeer, only to choke on it.

Fred cast an amused look at the scene of Ginny thumping Hermione on the back as he helped himself to some potatoes.

"What about you, Sirius?" his sister asked.

Sirius, who stood next to his godson, let out his usual bark-like laugh.

"No one would have made me a prefect, I spent too much time in detention with James. Lupin was the good boy, he got the badge. "

Tonks eyed the werewolf in question with interest, one that Hermione now could too well understand and interpret. They had ended up getting married after all.

Fred wasn't looking at the young Auror, though. He was busy frowning at the excitement lighting up in Hermione's eyes.

"I think Dumbledore might have hoped I would be able to exercise some control over my best friends," said Remus. "I need scarcely say that I failed dismally."

Hermione had always felt a connection to her old Defense against the Dark Arts professor. He encouraged learning and he too had been the voice of reason amongst his group of friends, a task they'd later agreed was an exhausting one at times. But now that she spotted Fred looking between the two of them talking, she was afraid that her fondness for her professor was being misinterpreted by him.

"Oy, let's go talk to Mundungus about the Tentacula seeds." George whispered, before catching his brother's expression. "What's wrong with you?"

Fred shook his head. "Just sick of all these bloody prefects, is all."

George looked perplexed. When he looked where his brother had previously been staring that look only intensified. "Lupin? Really? He's old enough to be her father."

"I know that!" Fred hissed, his ears turning pink. "Merlin, I didn't mean it like that. I meant that obviously they hold an appeal with her."

"You're not going to go for it with her, anyway, so what's the problem?" whispered George. He narrowed his eyes in a sudden surge of impatience. "While me and Angelina have both told you it's ridiculous and that we doubt it would be the end of the world if you went for her, you're still bloody stubborn. So, fine, you made your choice, mate. But if you're not going to ask her out, then stop your whining."

Fred grumbled, not able to summon any reasonable comment other than, "You can talk the day you brave up and ask Angelina to Hogsmeade."

"I'm actually planning on it," said George, causing his brother to stare and gape. "No, really, I am. Not right away of course, but sometime this year."

It was as if a switch had been flipped and Fred broke out in a huge grin.

"Well, Merlin's pants, that's great, Georgie," he said, earnestly. "Can't tell you how long the rest of us have waited for the two of you to get together."

George scratched his head, a bit flustered at his twin's reaction. "Well, no telling if she'll even say yes…"

"Oh, she'll say yes, trust me," said Fred. He looked so much more cheerful than he had a moment ago. "Let's go see Dung now, before mum spots us," he suggested.

"No worries," said George, developing a grin too, as he glanced over Fred's shoulder. "She's fussing over Bill's hair at the moment."

"Oh, great, then we'll have all night."

~o0o~

A/N: HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRED AND GEORGE!

AND OH MY GOD THIS STORY GOT OVER 100 REVIEWS!

Shout out to the wonderful Misha Young for being reviewer number 100. (She's a great writer too, check out her Fremione fic "The Bookworm And The Prankster". It's amazing!)

Thank you to all of you who reviewed, favorited and followed last time. It warms my heart to know so many people enjoy this story.

Lots of hugs to everyone!
Until next time!
/Primrue