Fifth Year (Part three)

~o0o~

The atmosphere couldn't be any more different in the new memory. First of all, Hermione could hear laughter. Second, that laughter actually came from the twins.

"Not fair, two on one," said Lee as Fred and George sent snow balls at him; most of which missed and sailed up to the Gryffindor Tower.

"Well, that's what you get for telling Alicia 'Puking Pastilles' was your idea."

"Yeah, don't come here and take credit—"

"But it was my idea! Remember? I said 'You should make something that makes you sick' and then, two weeks later, you were developing the Pastilles!"

The twins looked at each other.

"Nope, no memory of this," said Fred.

"You're just embarrassing yourself, Lee," said George.

Fred was kneeling down to gather some more snow in his hands when he saw Hermione walk by on her way to Hagrid's. He grinned mischievously and sent the finished snow ball her way, hitting her on the bum.

She gave a huge yelp.

"Going somewhere, Grang—"

Fred ducked as she hexed a massive snow ball in his direction. It missed and instead hit the window where Ron had poked his nose out for a second to yell at them.

Memory Hermione looked mortified. She clutched her hands to her mouth as the twins laughed. Ron glared at them, though he didn't notice Hermione and therefore all his anger was directed at his brothers. He sharply withdrew his head and slammed the window shut.

"Thank you, Hermione, that couldn't have gone better than if we'd planned it," said George, laughing.

"It wouldn't surprise me if you actually had planned it," said Hermione. She was still looking anxious about having attacked Ron, and the twins and Lee clutching their stomachs hadn't helped. With a frown etched on her face she moved to leave, but after taking a step she stopped and turned back around. Before the boys knew what hit them, she'd hexed for all the snow on the tree next to them to fall down.

That shut them up.

Fred's head emerged from the pile, his nose and ears red, and already shivering. But as he watched Hermione tread through the snow to Hagrid's, her chin victoriously up in the air, his face lit up and he couldn't look less bothered by the cold.

A new memory in the Room of Requirement took form and Hermione was torn away from the previous heartwarming image.

Harry was calling a meeting to order.

"Okay," he said, "I thought this evening we should just go over the things we've done so far, because it's the last meeting before the holidays and there's no point starting anything new before a three-week break—"

"We're not doing anything new?" said Zacharias Smith, loud enough for everyone to hear. He continued his disgruntled 'whisper', "If I'd known that, I wouldn't have come."

"We're all really sorry Harry didn't tell you, then," said Fred loudly.

He grinned as people sniggered at his joke—Smug bastard, Hermione thought— and when he saw memory 'Mione attempt to discreetly hide her laugh with her hand, his grin grew even wider.

There was a new memory.

"FILTH! DISGRACE ON THE ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK—"

"Shut up, woman, it's Christmas!" shouted Sirius and pulled the curtains. He moved on and headed for the door where someone was knocking.

Fred and George were making their way down the stairs when Sirius opened it and exclaimed, "Hermione! What a pleasant surprise!"

Fred tripped on a step.

George sniggered behind him, watching while Fred pulled himself up using the railing he'd frantically reached out to grab just before hitting the floor. Hermione watched on being equally amused.

Sirius and Memory Hermione came into view as they walked through the hallway to the foot of the stairs.

"Here, let me take that," said Sirius. "I thought you were spending Christmas with your parents?"

"Thank you," said Hermione as she handed the old Marauder her bag, her face pink from the cold outside and the snow in her hair. "And yes, I was, but when I heard about what happened I couldn't not be here. I came as soon as I could on the Knight Bus."

"A lady venturing outside in the dark all by herself? Scandalous," said George and nudged his brother so they could continue down.

Memory Hermione appeared to just have noticed them and looked up to where they descended.

"Oh, you know Granger, George. If anyone can fend for themselves it's her," said Fred when they reached the bottom, and sent her a wink which she rolled her eyes at.

Sirius stood next to them, watching the exchange with a smile, though anyone who paid attention could tell it was strained. Meanwhile, Fred and George were clearly avoiding looking at him. Hermione had heard about the fight between Sirius and Fred later, but at the moment her younger self glanced confused between the Marauder and the twins, wondering where on earth this new tension stemmed from.

Fred and George didn't stay for long and continued towards the kitchen, only to have their mother emerge from there and push them aside.

"Hermione, dear! So glad to see you," she said.

"You too, Mrs. Weasley," she said, receiving her hug with a sad smile, expressing her condolences, "I'm so sorry I couldn't be here sooner, it's just with Umbridge—"

Mrs. Weasley shook her head. "Nonsense, there's nothing to apologize for. You're here now, after all."

"Hermione!"

Ron and Ginny appeared after their mother and hugged their friend. Fred and George sent them dirty looks, having once again been pushed aside.

Their mother clasped her hands together with a sounding clap, and said, "Now, children, go to Ron and Harry's bedroom, I'll light a fire and send you some sandwiches while you talk."

"I'll go get Harry then," said Hermione, turning to Ron and Ginny. "How bad is it?"

The memory changed.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and Ginny were struggling up the drive that led to Hogwarts, dragging their trunks behind them.

Hermione was talking about knitting some hats for the elves before going to sleep.

"You know, they keep disappearing," she said, barely concealing her excitement, even as she strained to pull her baggage with her.

A few steps ahead, George looked at Fred. "You haven't been taking them while I wasn't looking, have you?"

"Are you kidding?" asked Fred. "I only did it that first time because I was so angry at her. I wouldn't risk doing it again. Whoever's collecting them, it's not me."

They turned into fog and new surroundings took shape.

It was late in the common room, and Fred and George were demonstrating their 'Headless Hats'. Harry passed them, successfully having ducked away from George trying to put one on his head.

"What's wrong with Harry?" asked George.

"Dunno," said Fred. "But I suspect they do." He gestured to Hermione and Ron who were approaching.

"Go and see to him, Ron," said Hermione, urging him forward. "After his sessions with Professor Snape . . . I'm sure his mind is weak right now."

"I will," said Ron gravely. "See you tomorrow, 'Mione."

"Okay," said Hermione, and watched him enter the door leading to the boys' dormitory. She then realized she was standing in between the twins.

"Why's Harry's mind weak?" asked Fred.

"Yeah, is he not all right?" asked George.

Memory 'Mione chewed her lip, contemplating what to tell them. "Well, he's been practicing some magic that left him quite drained. I just wanted Ron to make sure he was okay."

The twins didn't ask any more questions, seeming to understand that Hermione probably wouldn't be able to answer them anyway. Acting as if on impulse, Fred put one of the hats on her head.

She gave a shriek.

"Honestly! I don't have time for this," said Hermione while flinging her arms around trying to locate her head to pull the hat off.

"C'mon, Hermione," said George, "it looks good on you."

"Very funny," came her reply. "Argh! How do you get this ruddy thing off?"

It took another second, and then Hermione managed to pull it off her head. She returned it to Fred and tried uselessly to rearrange her locks to their previous order. Or as close to order as they'd ever get without products. She then stormed back to her seat.

"I think you missed on that one, Freddie," said George.

"At least it took her mind off of worrying," said Fred, half-heartedly.

The following memory took place in Lee, Fred and George's dorm. It wasn't less messy than the previous time she'd been there, but one huge difference was that the mess now solely consisted of boxes of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products. Hermione observed that the lines of boxes stopped drastically by the fourth bed, the area clear of anything Weasley related. Poor fellow, she mused, can't have been easy sharing a dorm with these three . . .

A hiss of pain interrupted her thoughts, and Hermione focused on watching the memory. Lee was sitting in one of the beds, dousing his hand in Murtlap essence while the boys talked.

"Angie's still pissed at me," said George, laying in the bed next to Lee's. "I mean, it was bad enough that I didn't ask her out because of these stupid boils, but now that I cost her the Quidditch team . . . things are tense."

Leaning against the side of George's bed was Fred, who now looked up from where he sat on the floor. "Ease up, mate," he said, "she'll come around. This is Angelina we're talking about. She gets angry, and then she isn't."

"Yeah, but . . ."

"Just don't try to talk to her now," interrupted Lee, his whole body visibly more relaxed than before thanks to the Murtlap. "Nothing pisses her off more than being talked to while being pissed off."

"You would know," scoffed George. "You're lucky she lets you keep your limbs after the comments you make during the matches. Actually, you're lucky I do, as well."

Fred chuckled.

"Those are just some friendly jokes," said Lee. "Angelina knows that, not my fault the rest of the school don't."

"Right."

Lee shook his head, and then stared at his hand. "Blimey, speaking of limbs . . . My hand already feels loads better! You should try this Murtlap essence, guys. Its healing properties might work on your . . . privates."

The twins helped themselves to what was left of Lee's Murtlap that he wasn't using at the moment and Fred took first shift in the bathroom. To her mortification, Hermione was pulled along with him. She immediately covered her eyes, even contemplating getting her head out of the Pensieve.

Of course, it's his memory so I go where he goes, but I could've lived without this, she thought, Please be over soon, please, please . . .

While Hermione groaned in discomfort and wondered why on earth he would have added this memory for someone else to see—for her to see—Fred's memory self was thrilled.

"Amazing!" he called out. "I might need more of it to let it work properly, but it's still working. Who told you about this?"

"Harry," said Lee from the other side of the door. "Although, he got it from Hermione."

Hermione heard the door handle rattle and she dared a glance. She let out a sound of relief, and watched as Fred emerged from the bathroom with a grin. "'Course he did."

George sniggered, moving to the bathroom to try out his share of the Murtlap essence. "I wonder how Hermione will feel when she discovers that she's unintentionally helped us develop a product."

"Probably curse herself," said Lee, smirking, "Or you."

There was a new memory.

It was the Gryffindor common room. Harry and Hermione were sitting studying by a table when Fred and George arrived.

"Ron and Ginny not here?" asked Fred, looking around as he pulled up a chair, and when Harry shook his head, he said, "Good. We were watching their practice. They're going to be slaughtered. They're complete rubbish without us."

"Come on, Ginny's not bad," said George, sitting himself down next to Fred. "Actually, I dunno how she got so good, seeing how we never let her play with us."

Both Hermiones bit back their annoyance at this, and young Hermione said, "She's been breaking into your broom shed in the garden since the age of six and taking each of your brooms out in turn when you weren't looking." She let a satisfied smile grow when George mumbled in response, clearly impressed, and then peered over her pile of Ancient Runes books. "Has Ron saved a goal yet?"

"Well, he can do it if he doesn't think anyone's watching him," said Fred, rolling his eyes. "So all we have to do is ask the crowd to turn their backs and talk amongst themselves every time the Quaffle goes up his end on Saturday." He got up again and moved restlessly to the window, staring out across the dark grounds. "You know," he said, "Quidditch was about the only thing in this place worth staying for." Fred exchanged a quick saddened look with George who clearly was thinking the same thing. They hadn't wanted to come back in the first place really, but had mostly done it for Harry, Ron and Ginny, and perhaps even Hermione, and with the increased deaths and people going missing outside, Hermione did in hindsight not find herself that upset about them wanting to leave. Her young counterpart, however, did.

"You've got exams coming!" she said, and cast Fred a stern look.

"Told you already, we're not fussed about NEWTs," said Fred. "The Snackboxes are ready to roll, we found out how to get rid of these boils, just a couple of drops of Murtlap essence sorts them, Lee put us up to it."' He was hiding his grin, and his twin struggled to do the same; while Fred faced the window again, George yawned widely. Hermione realized they were thinking about the irony of having her telling them to stay, when it was she— and not Lee really— who was to thank for the Murtlap.

"I dunno if I even want to watch this match," said George, adopting a miserable disposition, "If Zacharias Smith beats us I might have to kill myself."

"Kill him, more like," said Fred firmly.

"That's the trouble with Quidditch," said Hermione absentmindedly and, unbeknownst to them, still thinking about what Fred had said about Lee and the Murtlap, wondering where the latter boy had heard about it, "it creates all this bad feeling and tension between the houses."

She looked up to find her copy of Spellman's Syllabary, and caught Fred, George and Harry all staring at her with expressions of mingled disgust and incredulity on their faces.

"Well, it does!" she said impatiently. "It's only a game, isn't it?"

She immediately realized that had been the wrong thing to say, and she set her face into a stubborn, unrelenting face as the three boys kept staring. For all the things Hermione now appreciated about Fred, he never understood the flaws in Quidditch and had been very passionate about the sport, much like all the other boys she'd dated. Well, the two boys she'd dated . . .

"Hermione," said Harry, shaking his head, "you're good at feelings and stuff, but you just don't understand about Quidditch."

George mouthed 'feelings?' to Fred, who got the joke, but only gave a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Har Har, let's laugh at Hermione, because she never saw that Fred liked her . . .

Young Hermione returned to her translation of runes. "Maybe not," she said darkly, "but at least my happiness doesn't depend on Ron's goalkeeping ability."

The memory switched.

Hermione looked around, seeing the Great Hall take shape, and unfortunately—along with it— Umbridge.

"What is going on here?" she asked, her voice falsely sweet and proper disgusting to Hermione's ears.

Harry looked up from the table, his hands full of envelopes. Umbridge was standing behind Fred and Luna, her bulging toad's eyes scanning the mess of owls and letters on the table in front of Harry and Hermione.

"Why have you got all these letters, Mr. Potter?" Umbridge asked, slowly.

"Is that a crime now?" said Fred loudly. "Getting mail?"

Opposite him, Hermione was sending him warning looks, and even went as far as reach her foot out to nudge him, so he could remember to keep his temper; the incident at the Quidditch pitch was still fresh in everyone's memory.

Fred didn't look at her, but she could tell he'd understood, and held his tongue. It was lucky he managed because not a second later did Umbridge threaten him with detention if he wasn't careful.

The memory changed.

The twins were talking in their dormitory, sitting on one of the beds with the curtains mostly drawn, their whispers urgent and sounding serious. Hermione stepped closer to peek through the gap and to hear what they were saying.

"You mean— but to just leave?" asked George.

"Not just leave," said Fred, "We're the Weasley twins, we never do anything half-assed, do we?"

"No, because we have a double set of buttocks."

"Precisely," said Fred. "Chasing off our Headmaster . . . I think it's time we make her realize who she's messing with."

"Brilliant." George was grinning, but the grin quickly fell. "What about the others, though?"

"What about them?"

"Well, we came here for them."

Fred sighed. "I know, but . . . face it, George; we can't do anything here. Our hands are tied. Now that Dumbledore's gone, there's nothing stopping that old toad from owning us completely. At least if we get out of here we can make a difference. Our products will sell and we can join the Order properly." Fred smiled. "And the kids have shown they can stand up for themselves, if the D.A. did anything it was showing that."

George nodded. "True, and it's not like us being here stops Umbridge from doing anything. At least if we make our exit a good one, we get to stick it to her, and she can't do anything about it."

"We'll make it count," said Fred. "I promise."

Their room became the Entrance Hall.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ernie Macmillan stood looking towards the giant hour-glasses set in niches along the wall behind them, which recorded the house-points. As they watched, stones flew upwards, reducing the amounts in the lower bulbs of three of the houses. In fact, the only glass that seemed unchanged was the emerald-filled one of Slytherin.

"Noticed, have you?" said Fred's voice.

He and George had just come down the marble staircase and joined Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ernie in front of the hour-glasses.

"Malfoy just docked us all about fifty points," said Harry furiously, as they watched several more stones fly upwards from the Gryffindor hour-glass.

"Yeah, Montague tried to do us during break," said George.

"What do you mean, 'tried'?" said Ron quickly.

"He never managed to get all the words out," said Fred, "due to the fact that we forced him headfirst into that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor."

Hermione looked very shocked.

"But you'll get into terrible trouble!"

"Not until Montague reappears, and that could take weeks, I dunno where we sent him," said Fred coolly. "Anyway… we've decided we don't care about getting into trouble anymore."

"Have you ever?" asked Hermione.

"Course we have," said George. "Never been expelled, have we?"

"We've always known where to draw the line," said Fred.

"We might have put a toe across it occasionally," said George.

"But we've always stopped short of causing real mayhem," said Fred.

"But now?" said Ron tentatively.

"Well, now—" said George.

"—what with Dumbledore gone—" said Fred.

"—we reckon a bit of mayhem —" said George.

"— is exactly what our dear new Head deserves," said Fred.

"You mustn't!" whispered Hermione. "You really mustn't! She'd love a reason to expel you!"

"You don't get it, Hermione, do you?" said Fred, smiling at her. "We don't care about staying anymore. We'd walk out right now if we weren't determined to do our bit for Dumbledore first. So, anyway," he checked his watch, "phase one is about to begin. I'd get in the Great Hall for lunch, if I were you, that way the teachers will see you can't have had anything to do with it."

"Anything to do with what?" said Hermione anxiously.

"You'll see," said George. "Run along, now."

Fred and George turned away to disappear into the swelling crowd descending the stairs towards lunch. Looking highly disconcerted, Ernie muttered something about unfinished Transfiguration homework and scurried away.

"I think we should get out of here, you know," said Hermione nervously. "Just in case"

There was a new memory.

Fred and George were surrounded by people cheering them on in the Gryffindor common room. Even past Hermione fought her way through the excited crowd to congratulate them.

"They were wonderful fireworks," she said admiringly.

"Thanks," said George, looking both surprised and pleased. He shot Fred a brief look, before turning his attention back on her. "Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs. Only thing is, we used our whole stock; we're going to have to start again from scratch now."

"It was worth it, though," said Fred, who was taking orders from clamouring Gryffindors, appearing not too affected by Hermione's compliment. Looking closer though, there was a tug on one of the corners of his lips. "If you want to add your name to the waiting list, Hermione, it's five Galleons for your Basic Blaze box and twenty for Deflagration Deluxe . . ."

Hermione politely declined and returned to the table where Harry and Ron were sitting.

It was tough to hear what they were saying through the crowded common room, but Hermione remembered how she'd advised the boys to put off doing their homework. She smiled, recalling even having proclaimed herself feeling . . . rebellious.

Soon, the memory would change, and Hermione was sure what would show. What her feeling of rebellion would bring her that evening. And she hoped that watching it knowing what she knew now wouldn't be too hurtful . . .

Time sped forward and Hermione held her breath. When the mist cleared and she saw her young self stand by the window she let it out.

So . . . he did choose to include it . . .

Well, there was nothing she could do, but watch . . .

"Oh, forget it, I can't! I have no idea how these things work!" said young Hermione.

"That's why we're going to teach you, Hermione," said Fred calmly. "Well, I am, since I have no idea where my brother went."

"All right," said Hermione, dubiously eyeing the rocket she held. "So I just light this one and let it go out the window, simple as that?"

"Simple as that."

"It won't explode into my face?"

Fred laughed. "No, it won't explode in your face. I promise."

"Okay, so I'll just . . . Incendio!" Hermione set the rocket alight; the fire immediately eating away at the string, and she dropped it hastily, almost throwing it away in fear.

"Not too bad— holy mother of hippogriff!" said Fred, leaning out the window sill.

"What happened?" asked Hermione and opened her previously closed eyes.

"The rocket hit one of those Catherine wheels hovering in the air and . . . and it's like they mated," said Fred, shoulders shaking with laughter. "Come have a look!"

Leaning out beside him, Hermione gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Then she laughed with him. "Oh, heavens, what have I done?"

Glittering pink and silver winged piglets were now soaring past the windows of Gryffindor Tower. Everyone around them in the common room whooped appreciatively.

Hermione and Fred kept on laughing together, delighting in the glorious mishap. They turned to each other with smiles etched on their faces, and after their gazes locked the chuckles turned softer, gradually decreasing in volume and strength until they faded completely.

Real Hermione watched as they stood there, both growing a bit unsure on what to do. Because they were close. Much closer than Hermione had ever remembered being to Fred before.

She had had an amazing day and night ever since the twins had executed the first part of their plan to mess with Umbridge. She was unbelievably happy and content with life at this moment. So much so that when she looked at Fred she didn't think about the fact that he was two years her senior, or even that he was Ron's brother. Instead, she reflected on how nice his laugh lines were, and how attractive his face was in the light of the fireworks.

She'd always known the twins were a handsome duo (and even if she hadn't, her gossiping roommates had certainly made that clear), but never had she herself been attracted to either of them. She liked a good-looking man; it was one thing she was sort of embarrassed to admit. Lockhart had made a fool of her, so ever since her second year she'd focused on personalities instead, swearing off falling for good looks forever.

And Fred was suddenly very good-looking . . .

Memory Hermione let her eyes fall to his lips for the briefest moment and Hermione remembered how this was when she had— for one second—seen him as something other than just a prankster. Not just a friend. But a potential . . . something.

And just as quickly as she'd thought it, Fred pulled himself away.

With his confident smirk, acting as if nothing happened, Fred told her he needed to find George.

"Right, er . . . I should head to bed, it's quite late," said Hermione, fighting the blush. She'd figured that if he was acting casual about it then so should she. So they'd had lingering eye contact and an almost kiss; it was probably nothing in Fred Weasley's world anyway. At least, that's what she'd thought. "Okay, so, thank you and good night, Fred."

"Good night," said Fred, smiling softly at her.

Young Hermione nodded. "Right."

She nodded to herself once more and stepped away, blissfully unaware of how Fred's soft smile turned into a pained expression behind her.

~o0o~

A/N: Hello!

Woooow! So many reviews! I'm so happy there are so many still reading! Thank you!

And to all new followers: welcome! *hugs*

Gotta tell you, it's nice to have gotten some flow for writing this story back. :D

One quick thing before I end this author's note:
As much as I love hearing from you I would be ever so grateful if you could avoid telling me to update. I know you probably mean well and that you're just expressing your excitement for the story (which is great!), but the effect it has on me is that I get stressed instead of motivated. I wouldn't say anything if it wasn't affecting me, believe me, but unfortunately it does. And even if you don't really care what happens to me, consider this: if I feel stressed there's not gonna be a lot of writing, ergo no quick update.

Gosh, I hated writing that, but I hope you understand why. I always feel it's better to be honest than to let it build up. And I want to keep going with the story so if I notice that there's something that might get in the way, I'm gonna try to prevent it.

I do hope you know that I still appreciate you all, it's just that oooone thing that I've had a hard time dealing with.

Anyway, many hugs and ducklings to you and hope you enjoyed this update!

Until next time!
/Primrue