A/N: I first started this fiction eight years ago, and left it unedited to gather dust. Reading it again (in the year of our lord 2020,) shocked me, because it had the bones of a genuinely good story. I have since heavily revised the original content to match my current standards, and have continued the story at last. If any one of you gets an alert for this story and actually remembers ever reading it, thank you for reading again! Furthermore, thank you for being a part of this fandom, and contributing to this community just by existing within it. I love you all.

(To Elaine; I probably never would have gotten into writing if it weren't for you. I hope you're happy wherever you are.)

Part One: Innocence

Fred and George Weasley had disappeared - gallivanting if you will - taking a reprieve from their nine year old baby brother and eight year old little sister; wanting to make use of their wits in solitude. They had to plan something truly spectacular to say goodbye to their family: after all, they were departing in a week to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Fred lay opposite of his twin in the sweeping amber grass, his hands casually under his head as he stared absentmindedly at the passing clouds.

"Ey, Georgie," he said, plucking a sprig of clover carelessly.

"What's that, Fred?" Replied the twin, who was lying on his stomach and inspecting the path of a wandering beetle.

"Things are going to be different now," Fred said, "You know that."

"Different how?" Asked George disinterestedly.

"With us going off and all that," Said Fred, sitting up and turning towards his twin. "No more Ron or Ginny, or anything of the like."

"It's not a fair trade," Replied his brother, "We get Percy so soon as we arrive."

This made Fred laugh. He lay back down and stared upwards.

"But things really are going to change," He said to himself, "I'll make them."

"Oh?" Said George, suddenly taking interest.

"Right," His twin said, "We're going to make something real big of ourselves, Georgie. You wait and see, eh? We'll get up bright every morning and stir something up so everyone knows we're there."

A whisper of excitement began to well in George's belly, he sat up and leaned forward, beaming at his brother,

"We'll raise the rumpus we can't at home," He said.

"And then we'll show them that us Weasley boys are Masters of Mischief," Said Fred taking himself a little too seriously, "We're not appreciated around here, afterall."

The other boy laughed, "Right. Mum gives us the evil eye everytime we even breathe funny."

"Hmm," His fellow trickster said, as if in revelation, "But we did tell her we'd be on our best behavior, didn't we, George?"

His brother hesitated, and then smiled widely. He leaned forward and whispered;

'Never stopped us before.'

It was night, the eve before their departure. Neither Weasley boy could sleep, though they weren't quite aware of each other. Mum had spiffied up the room and cleared out some of the old clutter in anticipation of their leaving, and had moved their two narrow beds to opposite sides of the room. Most likely it was for Ginny, who wanted to have her own room for the brief time left before she joined them at Hogwarts as well. Like any Weasley; an opportunist.

After a painful minute of silence, Fred whispered into the darkness, "George?"

When at first no reply came, Fred turned on his side and buried his face into his threadbare quilt, gathering the scent for safekeeping (near his heart, where it would be easiest to cherish.) He was searching, desperately, for comfort.

He heard the sounds of his brother's gentle footsteps.

"Fred," Murmured his twin, "I swore I heard my name, Freddie. Can you not sleep either?"

He sighed in immense relief and turned around, pulling his brother by his sleeve into the bed beside him.

"Sleep here tonight, Georgie," He mumbled into his brother's shoulder, "I'll never get to rest knowing you're all the way over there." George didn't hesitate to settle in, jostling his twin until the perfect amount of space between them was reached.

And just as quickly as they'd nestled into bed they were asleep, innocently snug against one another.

For the two troublesome Weasley twins, everything went better than expected. Once assimilated into the whirlwind of Hogwarts activity, magic became a powerful tool in their arsenal of mischief. They interpreted every jinx and potion as something to potentially drive their commonmates crimson with irritation.

More importantly, they remained constantly together. Despite quietly fearing some impending separation, Fred was not discarded by George for any one of these interesting new people - And although George was sure Fred would likewise lose interest in him, he kept his brother in his pocket throughout the year.

In the beginning, everything was perfect.

For the two troublesome Weasley twins, everything went better than expected. Once assimilated into the whirlwind of Hogwarts activity, magic became a powerful tool in their arsenal of mischief. They interpreted every jinx and potion as another tool to potentially drive their commonmates crimson with irritation.

More importantly, they remained constantly together. Despite quietly fearing some impending rift, Fred was not discarded by George for any one of these interesting new people - And although George was sure Fred would likewise lose interest in him, he kept his brother in his pocket throughout the year.

They believed they had nothing to worry about.