AN: I can honestly say this wasn't the chapter I sat down to write, but it wouldn't leave me alone. A bit of a filler, but in honor of Fred and George's Birthday weekend (as well as due to a very hectic schedule this month that will limit writing...) here's chapter 26!

Chapter 26

Falling Brilliance

The Morning of their Apparition Test, Hermione bid farewell to Harry, telling him to work on recovering the secret memory from Slughorn. As she had every day that week, she had firmly instructed him to stop stalking Malfoy which he said he would—and she said she knew that was a load of codswallop.

Walking out of the Great Hall to the waiting carriages she burrowed in her jacket as the wind pulled at the ends of her hair In front of her she could see some of the others a head of her—including Ron and Lavender who where holding hands as they made their way to a carriage, their arms swinging in the morning breeze.

"Makes me want to hurl," a voice muttered to her side, " I don't know how you are still holding it in." Paravati had joined her at her side. Her hair was blowing into the wind, sending her braid back and forth like a snake.

"Those two?" Hermione asked surprised, motioning her head to Ron and Lavender. This year had been the most she had spoken with Paravati. After all, she and Lavender had always been the best friends. Hermione was part of a trio, but it was never a trio where she was teamed up with her roommates. She was usually the odd man out. She had always felt that way. From the first night when she was sorted into Gryffindor, Lavender and Paravti were joined at the hip.

But this past year, especially with Hermione not caring or posing a threat to Lavender's new interest in Ron, the dynamics of the 6th year Gryffindor girls had been different. Lavender had thrown herself completely into her relationship with Ron. Hermione had been busy grappling with her time travel—and she supposed Fred. But for Paravati had suddenly found herself alone for the first time since being separated from Padme at the sorting ceremony.

Everything had been so different before. Before Lavender and Paravati were able to laugh at Hermione's expense. Before they shared whispers when Ron walked down the hallway and cast a glance. Before Paravati used to shoot a dirty look whenever Hermione was in the same room, talking with Ron. Before they had been a duo united in their goal of Lavender and Ron, and their distrust of Hermione.

But now—

Paravati shook her head and looked from her friend to Hermione. "Don't get me wrong, she's fancied him since the D.A last spring, I was thrilled when they got together. I just thought they'd be done by now."

"Ray of sunshine you are," Hermione chuckled darkly, "They're an odd pair, I'll give you that."

"You know, she thought about breaking up with him at Christmas, wanted to see if he'd fight to keep them together," Paravati's words seemed to rush together and Hermione wondered if this is what Paravati and Lavender's conversations where like Fast, Rapid, but hushed, "I think she wanted to see if that would raddle your cage. You know Lavender," Paravati explained as they got in their own carriage, "Always wanting a reaction."

"It's amazing she doesn't have more friends," Hermione said, taking a sharp breath, looking out the window. Determination—Deliberation—Destination—

She could certainly deal with Paravati trying less to be friendly.

((*))

The Ministry had set up an apparition station in the main road of Hogsmede.

There were about twenty or so sixth years that were of age that had poured into the town. Just like last time, there were at least a dozen professors standing on the perimeters, intermingled with Ministry Officials. A few of them where outside, Hermione figured there were more inside The Three Broomsticks, hoping to stay in the warm a little bit longer.

It was identical to last time, down to the little Ministry Official that had taught them the Three D's. He was wearing a floppy hat, similar to the silly Sherlock Holmes hats they sold off Baker Street. He was at the head table talking with Professor Flitwick, the professor tapping his watch as though he was trying to get the test to begin so they could all return to the Pub and get out of the chilly air.

As though they had seen the Professor's watch, six Ministry Officials came out of the Three Broomsticks. A few holding a cup of Butterbeer. This was different. Before they had been Officials from the Department of Magical Transportation. There were two she recognized, but the other four where from Scrimgeour's office. Percy—

Percy was standing there.

Horned rimmed glasses. His hair gelled back, curls frozen at his neck. She hadn't seen Percy since she fell back in time and here he was. File folders in hand. He had moved high enough he now had someone lagging behind him, someone he probably called the wrong name because he felt like he had earned it. He was surveying the crowd and his face froze when he saw Ron.

In the Post War, Percy had come around. He had come around before the battle started—something Molly Weasley clung to, the knowledge that her family was a family again when Fred died. She took comfort knowing the brothers had made peace before Fred's passing. That they were brothers, fighting together, when the wall came down. That Fred wasn't alone when he died. It was the only bright side she had coming out of Fred's death.

Percy had gone into detail telling how he'd come around to their side again. That it was when he saw Mad-Eye's blue, all seeing eye plastered to Umbridge's door, constantly watching for betrayal. How he had made contact with Tonks before she had gone on the underground, and how she would sneak him information—Quibbler articles transformed into Ministry reports. His last name still separated him from the closet circles of the new elite, but he was able to gather information on his own. Collecting names of who was acting on their own accord and who he thought could be under the Imperious Curse.

He had taken those names with him when he had to disappear into hiding himself. He had overheard in the hallway Thickenese talking with Umbrdige about the upstart students who were challenging Snape, he had heard Ginny's name. Not long after that, Percy decided it was time to disappear and wait till it was time. He had reached out to Oliver Wood—they had been roommates all those years, he knew that he would be in touch with his Brothers. And if the twins told Oliver it was time, Oliver would let Percy know. He owed it to him after all the assignments he had helped him with over the years.

The post war Percy had spent the year repentant, trying to come around. Trying to make things right for his family. Especially with his younger surviving brothers. Bill and Charlie had in a way thought they should share the blame of what happened to Percy. Too much pressure, not enough support-but George and Ron—he had failed on being the older brother he thought they deserved.

George pushed this back. He didn't want to argue. He just wanted Fred back.

Ron was less than forgiving. It probably took Fred's death to lessen the tension between the two.

Post War Percy had been pennant—had tried to do everything he could to make things right. He had tried to live his life in a way his brothers—his family—would be proud of.

This Percy, standing in the chilly morning air with his hair a frozen plaster of curls—he was looking at Ron as though he had seen him for the first time and Ron was doing all he could to not use the three D's to rearrange his Brother's face.

She made her way through the crowd to Ron's side, her hand slipping in his own, "Don't—" was all she said, squeezing his hand once. This is what she had done before to stop him from flying off the handle—she fell into the old habit when she saw Ron's jaw lock. It was always his tell.

She tried to let go of her hand but looked down when he saw his hand still gripping hers. As though the muscles could remember a memory that he never had. As though he needed her.

"Thanks—" He looked down on their enclosed hands and let go once Percy looked away. "Thanks Hermione."

"Won-Won!" A voice called behind her shoulder and she took that as her cue to walk towards the front of the line.

She thought she heard him say her name, and she casually turned her head over her shoulder and looked back to see Lavender, her sweet disposition now surly while Ron looked at her as though he had been clubbed with a beater's bat.

No—not now—he couldn't possibly—

"Attention!" the official squeaked, "Attention! We are going to begin with this morning's apparition tests. Please line up by houses."

"After you," Dean said, stepping back so she stood in the front of the Gryffindor line. "Er—what's those three D's again?"

"Determination—Deliberation—Destination—something like that," Hermione said. She looked over to her right to see the other three in the front of her line. Padme had been nudged to the front of the Ravenclaw line while Hannah Abbot had taken Susan's spot in the Hufflepuff while Pansy Parkinson whispered with Zabini.

"Ah, Ladies first, very good," the Ministry man squeaked. "Come along girls, come along." And the four of them disappeared from the street.

((*))

She had made it on her first attempt. Arriving in the little gold hoop at the bench near Madam Puddifoots. "A natural," the ministry official had said, "Simply a natural. I've never seen a Muggleborn so adept," he bubbled, sharing this with his coworker and then turning his attention to Hermione. His mustache twitching from side to side as he asked, "Are you sure your not a half blood? This is unprecedented."

"I'm taking it I passed then?" Hermione asked with a confident smile, trying to turn the attention away from quires over her blood status.

"With flying colors!" the Ministry Man said, his floppy Sherlock Hat flapping as he enthusiastically bobbed his head and made a note on his forms.

"I wouldn't expect less from Hermione Granger," a familiar voice said from behind. She knew who it was the instant he spoke. Percy had found her.

She hadn't noticed how formal he had looked this morning. His robes were new, but not as sleek as he would've liked. She could tell, he had a charm on the fabric which would make them—from a distance—appear to be of higher quality. She could tell the way the robes were cut he had probably skipped Madam Malkins and gone to Twillfitt and Tattings—or perhaps an imitation of that.

He wanted to command authority. Presence.

At least that's what she was picking up as he stood in her way.

"Thank you Percy," she said, trying to duck to the side and get around him, but he wouldn't have it.

"Did I see you and my younger brother are together now?" Percy inquired, following her at her heals. Her heart jumped. How the bloody hell—

"What do—"

"I saw you and Ronald holding hands," Percy said. He looked rather uncomfortable, as though he regretted having brought up the subject, but all the same looked pleased. As though he was proud he had been correct in his assumption. " I didn't see you at the Burrow when I stopped by for Christmas. Congratulations on the recent development."

"Oh—" a wave of relief came over her. "No, we're not together," she smiled, "Just a good luck thing, that's all—he was nervous."

Percy seemed to give an equally nervous chuckle. Confidence crashing to embarrassment having established in the most awkward of circumstances Hermione was not with Ron, she simply wished him well and thought that would be the end of it but Percy turned and followed.

"Actually Hermione, I hoped to have a word,"Percy said again, his pace matching hers. "I heard from Jarvis over there that you were a gifted apparitor—He's a favorite in the office you see and I—" he looked even more awkward and uncomfortable, more so than when he had been asking about her and Ron.

"Hermione. You know that with what's going on, The Ministry is going to need brought young minds. You've always been an academic—brilliant—I've admired your studious habits over the years. And the fact your well on your way to becoming a Head Girl—"

For the love of all things Holy—Percy if you're confessing emotions-

"Many a slip between cup and lip—" Hermione said, trying to quicken her pace down the straight away back into town.

"What I'm saying is, when you finish Hogwarts, they're going to try and recruit you for the Ministry and I want to help mentor you to be an Under Secretary," he said it so quickly his words seemed to stream together. He had dismissed embarrassment and was puffing his chest as though he was wearing his Head Boy Badge again. He thinks he's doing you a service—

She tried to give a polite smile but she felt anything but polite, "I'm alright but thank you."

His chest deflated, "Hermione—at least think about it. Harry wants to be an Auror, Scrimgeour is going to help him. You and I both know he wouldn't be where he is if it wasn't for your hard work. Just," he chased after her, giving her a small card with his name and latest title, "Just think about it."

"Right, thanks" she said, taking the card and throwing it into the little bag Fred had given her at the start of term. It would stay there till she cleaned it out at the end of the war, when he had a new title and the card would only be good for scribbling a note over.

In her time, When the war had ended and the bodies had been buried, Percy had made a similar offer. To help her find her spot in the Ministry but he had quickly followed his offer with "When your finished at Hogwarts, of course." Percy had figured it out before Harry and Ron—that Hermione wouldn't leave her education incomplete. That no matter what promises, what offers she received from others, she wouldn't look at them until she had finished what she had started her first year.

But that was then. This didn't happen before. Before Percy hadn't been here at all. Before she had met up at the Three Broomsticks with the others, she and Ron had talked until Lavender finished the test. She hadn't spoken with Percy. Percy hadn't been there. Why was Percy here? What did that mean—

She could see another Red head not far ahead of her. Someone else hadn't been there either.

Someone else that was smiling, waiting for her. With a cocky, but confident smile she loved.

Fred.

He was now coming towards her, his stride quickened, matching her own. He reached out for her and she found herself in his embrace, his arms welcoming her to the only peace she seemed to ever find.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, reveling in the warmth of his hug. She hadn't realized how cold she was until just then. She broke away from him for a minute and looked up, her voice tightening, "Is George alright? The Shop?"

"They're both alright," Fred laughed, tucking a stray hair behind her ear, "An owl came in and told me you had an Apparition test. So Naturally I had to come and make sure you completed it in one piece."

She raised an eye brow, "You came to make sure I didn't get splinched?"

"While that would have given me more Hermione Granger to love,"he started, "If anyone's putting you back together again, it's me."

She laughed, tilting her head and rolling her eyes, "Seriously though, why are you here Fred?"

He looked in the distance, and then around behind him, as though he was waiting for someone to pop out of no where and kill them both. "I need to share something with Dumbledore—something George and I have been working on—"

Had they done this? And you never knew? The twins had been very subtly involved in the resistance—it wasn't surprising that they'd be working on something and she hadn't known about it—"What do you mean?"

Fred's face still looked hesitant, as though he was waiting for someone to come crashing in and interrupting them. "Where's a good place to talk? Where we won't be over heard?"

"Fred, I—" she was a little unsure. She was Hermione Granger the time traveler, but she was also Hermione Granger the Prefect. A Student. "Fred, I finished my test, I'm supposed to report back to the Three Broomsticks till the rest are done. If I wander off McGonagall will have a fit—"

"Don't worry about Minnie, I'll have Dumbledore fill her in when I finish talking with him," Fred waved off, "Come on, I grabbed some butterbeers from the flat before I left, lets go to the Shrieking Shack, I'll fill you in on everything."

She looked at her watch, "We only have an hour till McGonagall will send the goon squad looking for me," Hermione said, putting her hand in his. "One hour Fred."

"Getting Hermione Granger to wander off," he said with a smile, "I'm starting to think I'm a bad influence on you."

Hermione couldn't help but smile, "The very worst Fred."

((*))

He took off his jacket and laid it on a stone bench on the outskirts of the yard. Tapping his wand twice it expanded and turned into a blanket, the bright neon blue and zippers the only signs of its former use.

"Rather muggle of you," Hermione said, motioning to it with her bottle of Butterbeer. "What happened to the dragon hide?"

"Doesn't transfigure as well," Fred explained, cracking open his own bottle. "Besides, Lee's taken to Muggle Second Hand Stores and keeps giving George and I his finds. The two of them like wandering off to Muggle London every now and again."

"And you don't?" she asked, sitting down on the bench, "I thought you three did everything together."

"Usually Muggle London means muggle pubs and muggle girls—which isn't a bad thing—I just—"

"Yes—" Hermione asked, this time tilting her head with a smile.

"There's only one girl I'd like to see London with and she's not there" Fred said before exasperatingly turning to her with his lips puckered.

"That was the sappiest thing you've ever said," Hermione laughed, her hand shoving his lips away, "You and I both know that was pathetic and you can do better."

He loved her laugh. He loved making her laugh. He loved her being a joking Hermione.

He loved her.

And he felt it right then, sitting on a bench with two Butterbeers between them as the Shrieking Shack stood watch.

"You're right," Fred said coolly, "But pathetic or not, I'll never stop trying to make you laugh."

She leaned her head against his shoulder, wrapping her arm and hand around his, "Pathetic or not," she said softly, "I think you always will."

She squeezed his hand, "So, why have you taken me on the run evading McGonagall?"

"Right," Fred started, as he pulled out a book that looked like the ledgers he and George kept at the store, "I wanted to show you this."

He watched as her face pulled together,"If you've brought me out here to read me a story—"

"No—it's not that," he chuckled, "I stole this idea from you; It's a secret book of my own. Not even George knows about it," he explained, wondering if she knew just how rare that was—for someone to know something he hadn't confided with George. "I've been keeping my ideas about the resistance in here. Brain storms for the radio—"

"Radio, Resistance," Hermione started a the book in his hands and then looked at him again, "Fred what are you doing?"

"Being an owl—or whatever you'd call it—it's made me realize just how limited we are in means of communication. We've seen under Fudge what a controlled press could do—" he continued on, " If the Death Eaters ever got a hold of the Daily Prophet who knows what people would believe. And if they were to get control over the mail—owls being intercepted—"

"People wouldn't be able to share news except face to face—"Hermione said, her eyes heavy—as though she knew all to well the dilemma he was trying to prevent.

"Which is pretty damming when your on the run or hiding," Fred finished, squeezing her hand"You're getting it. So George and I have been trying to come up with ways to share news from the order to its members—rather than calling a conclave. We left some coded messages at a pub about a potential werewolf attack and someone people took the hit and made preparations. If we could do that on a larger scale—"

"You'd be saving lives," Hermione said, her voice carry a soft tinge of hope "Where does this radio fit in?"

"Lee's Great Uncle gave him his old radio set, they used it to communicate with the resistance with Grindelwald way back in the day," he wavered, turning the page of the book where a diagram of radio had been crudely illustrated. "We're going to try and fix it and see if there are any resistance chancels on the Archangel Network."

"To listen or to perform?"

He hadn't thought of performing—not until then. You could do that—if there's no one else in the Order working on it—the Order would have the best source of News—

"You'd have to be careful, set up a password—if the enemy was able to listen to the broadcast they'd be able to zoom in on your location." She started raddling off, taking a quill from her bag and jotting her ideas down in his book. "You'd also want to use code names—that way you could still keep the shop running—and it wouldn't be a bad idea to use different safe houses to broadcast. Just to throw them off—"

He looked at her, her mind always moving a head of the game. "Did running the DA make you paranoid or constantly prepared for rebellions?"

"I prefer consistently vigilant," she laughed, leaning into his shoulder, she looked at the book. "But there's the problem," he said. "We cant get it to run. Do you know anything about radios? I don't want to get dad involved if I can."

"I don't, but there used to be a store in Chelsea—it might still be there—my dad took my grandad's radio to be fixed there—they might be able to look at it. Get it in working muggle order and then strengthen the magical enhancements."

"Chelsea. Got it," he said, looking at her tight, slanted handwriting as she scribbled down the address in the corner of his book. " Is this what you wanted to show me?"

He turned to the page, he had been working on. The code words scribbled in the margin. The advertisement, different phrasing, several crossed out in frustration.

"Its like the flyers at the Pub, but a little more clandestine—and more wide spread. We'd put an add in the Prophet, or the Quibbler—looking for a skilled wizard to tutor an ill child—"

She knitted her eyebrows together, "A werewolf child?"

"Ill is how its usually advertised," Fred nodded, "We'd then have Inquires to Mr. So and So, whatever code word we can come up with, a bogus address in the city that's at risk by the date of the attack. Members of the order that live in the area can then do a neighborhood watch—warn people—"

"It's a bit of a stretch, but it's really brilliant," Hermione muttered, her eyes looking over his book, and then turning to him. "You'd just have to make sure that people knew what they were looking for—and then there's the matter of coming up with different phrasing so the Death Eaters or Greyback didn't catch on –and you have to be careful. You can't have this trace back to you in any way—"

"What are you thinking?" He asked, cutting her off. His hand reached for hers again. "Calm that brain of yours for a minute. I wanted to know what Hermione Granger thought of it before I presented it to Dumbledore."

There was a momentary pause before she answered. "I think you're brilliant," Hermione said, turning her head up to him. "What about you? What are you thinking?"

"That we can do this," he said confidently, "I'm not going to say it'll be easy by any stretch of the imagination—but between the two of us, I think we can create the resistance people are going to need."

He'd be lying if he wasn't concerned by her facial expression. It was one that was proud, but also had an edge of dread. As though she knew. She always has that look—

"We can do this," she repeated, her hand squeezing his in turn, "We will do this."

"That's the spirit Granger," he said with a smile. "I'll have to send Umbridge flowers for all the preparation she provided us."

"If you send her flowers before me, so help me Fred Weasley, you'll never hear the end of it," Hermione laughed, her look of foreboding disappearing. In stead, she rested her head on his arm. " Speaking of unpleasantness, I ran into your brother before I ran into you—"

"Ron? He's already finished his test?"

"No—Percy," Fred's body tensed as Hermione carried on, "Ron saw him and nearly decked him. I held his hand and it may have made it look like we were dating to Percy."

"Percy thinks you and Ron are a couple?" Fred laughed, giving into the humor of the situation,. "Probably a good thing you didn't correct him. Percy would have hulled you off to St Mungos for tests and had an auror pick me up for doing an unforgiveable on you."

She hit his shoulder and laughed, "You're right."

He looked at the Shrieking Shack. It was bleak but there was a patch of wildflowers in bloom, the paint peeling on the fence and only stains of colors remain on the actual building. The wind had stopped and the sun shone down on what was going to be a beautiful spring day.

Fred would've been content with staying there. The Two of them chatting on a bench in Hogsmede. If Katie Bell hadn't been attacked, his would've been a regular Hogsmede weekend. They would've been able to plan a real date. He'd have packed a picnic from the Leaky Cauldron. They'd have eaten it here, on this bench. Or maybe down by the Black Lake. They would have had their several sunlit days.

"I don't want to go back," He said despondently, still staring into the distance as though he could see what could've been. "Not yet."

"Me neither," she sighed, leaning on his arm. "I didn't think I was going to see you again till after term ended—and now that I have I don't know how I'll make it till June."

"Only a little while yet," he answered. "Which brings up a good point. Where are you going to stay? You're not staying in Essex by yourself."

"I have to take care of some things,"Hermione explained, "Besides, you're mum will be on my tail if I come straight to the Burrow. It's going to be hard enough explaining why my parents aren't picking me up."

"Stay at the shop. George and I have room—"

"We'll see,"Hermione smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She did that a lot too, or so he had noticed. "We'll—"

"Fred!" a voice called and he snapped his neck behind him; there stood Remus, obviously annoyed, his face flustered. "Where have you been?"

"If you had your hands on your hips you could've been my mother just now." Fred smirked, standing up from the bench. "Came into town and found Hermione. Just wanted to pick her brain over a few things we've been working on at the shop"

"Sorry Hermione, but the Headmaster is expecting us,"Fred noticed how Lupin's eyes seemed to twitch at us. As though he'd preferred to have said "The Headmaster was expecting me but now it's going to be a joint debriefing because Fred Weasley can't follow orders."

"It's ok Remus, McGonagall will be looking for me soon if I don't make it back" Hermione sighed sitting up and tapping Fred's blanket wit her wand as it folded itself back into its windbreaker form. "Don't forget your coat Fred," she said softly, touching his arm.

Remus looked at them as though he had just been struck by a bludger, and Fred knew he just put their secret together. "I'll see you in the stationhouse in five minutes Fred?"

He nodded and turned back to Hermione as Lupin walked away.

"I'll try and it make it back again before the end of term—but I wouldn't count on it," his shoulders shrugged as he put on the jacket, "In full honest I went off the radar—Lupin was supposed to share this with Dumbledore not me. If he gets his way I'll be lucky if I get to run another letter ever again."

"Especially if Remus knows—"

"Exactly," he sighed not wanting to tell her how much their former professor had probably put together in the last few minutes. "But I'll be there on the platform. And I'll take you to Essex. We can tell mum your parents couldn't get off work and had invited me to tea."

"And she'll wonder why you were invited to tea—"

"Once I kiss you on the platform for the world to see, she won't wonder why," he smiled his thumb brushing her cheek.

Her hand clasped over his, as he bent down and kissed her forehead.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"Be safe." Her eyes closed, her voice pleading. "For the love of Merlin—stay safe."

"For Merlin, not likely," he shoved away, taking her hand as they made their way back to the main path to the village. "But for Hermione Granger? Always."

((*))

When she returned to Hogwarts she and Ron shared their morning with Harry who, yet again, had failed to get Slughorn's memory.

"But I ran into Tonks— she was looking for Dumbledore but he wasn't in," Harry said, tossing ball into the air as he laid on his bed.

"Again?" Ron said looking up from his bag of Honeyduke Sweets he had bought himself as a consolation for not passing the Appiration test, "He's been away from the school more than he's been here it feels like."

Hermione's head shot up, "Hang on, I saw Lupin in the village—said he had business with Dumbledore."

Harry shrugged and looked at his friends, "All I know is what she told me. That Dumbledore was out and would be back later in the week. At least that's what the statue said."

If Dumbledore's gone, what did Fred do? Would he be coming back? Or would Lupin make he solo visit.

"What are you going to do about that Memory Harry?" she asked, snapping herself back, "If you keeping putting it off—"

"I haven't been putting it off," Harry said indignatly, "I jus haven't been lucky that's all."

Ron nearly choked on the sugar quill he had just started, "That's it Harry. You just need to get lucky!"

Harry looked at Ron and then Hermione, "What is he talking about?"

"The Felix Felicis!" Ron continued waving his arms as though it was an obvious connection. "All you'd need is a swig of liquid luck and Slughorn would be telling you anything you need to know."

Hermione noticed Harry's face rise and fall at the same time. "He's right Harry, it might be your best shot."

"I suppose—" Harry looked at the trunk at the foot of his bed, "I just had some plans that's all—"

"But you've been working on this since the start of term," Ron grumbled,"What plans could be more important than this?"

Harry looked at Hermione and she knew in an instant what he had planned for, Ginny.

"If you don't get it out of him by Monday you should do it," Hermione said, killing any hope he had. "But if this memory is as important as Dumbledore thinks it is—"

"Right," Harry sighed, ending the conversation, "Quite right too." Sitting up from his bed he put on his shoes and grabbed his bag, "I'm going to the library to work on Snape's Essay I suppose. See you lot there?"

"Finished yesterday," Hermione grinned, " You go ahead though and I'll look over it when your done."

Harry disappeared from the dormitory and Hermione waited as Ron picked up his books and sugar quills to join Harry.

"That's a good idea you had, about the Liquid Luck," she told him.

"Yeah, it was," he said, a little more confidently than he normally would have. "Dunno why I didn't think of it sooner."

"Epiphany's are fickle things," Hermione smiled.

"Hermione—Back in Hogsmede—with Percy—"Ron started, stumbling over his own words.

"I hope I didn't get you in trouble with Lavender," she said simply, picking up her bag and heading down to the common room.

"No," he stopped on the steps before the final landing "Well actually yeah—but I wanted to—"

"I figured they wouldn't let you take your test if you knocked out your brother," she said simply, continuing down the stairs, laughing as she said, "Although if you'd prefer to in the future, just let me know and I wont stand in the way."

Lavender's eye were throwing daggers at her as she and Ron came down the stairs to the boy's dormitory. She darted right to him, taking his hand and through gritted teeth saying "We need to talk—" before dragging Ron out of the portrait hole.

She didn't want to think of what pray tell Lavender wanted to talk about. She took her place at the fire and that's when she saw it. Harry's potion book from when he had been working earlier in the day. If I take it now, he might not find Sectumsempra, she reasoned. Picking it up and leafing through it, she felt as though she was holding the center of fixed points. Good ones, and bad ones. But the good ones have already played out. Ron's alive, and Draco hasn't been cut to ribbons yet. If she were to take it—maybe there's something in her that could save them, could help save Fred.

She hated the book. It was cheating academically—but it had saved Ron's life—

But it was Snape's book. Bits of Dark Magic intermingling with the dark ink that covered the book.

If she took the book. Let him be a kid, she thought and took the book, putting it in her bag. Let him play his last quidditch game.

She tried to do some work on her essay but she was tiered and he room buzzing with chatter. If she went to bed now, she'd miss the silence and puffs of disapproval from Lavender—and that was motive enough to get to bed.

As she drifted to sleep, she tried to go through the timeline in her head. Harry would get the memory. Dumbledore would tell him more about Horcruxes. Dumbledore would die in less than two months.

Don't let him drink all the Felix Felicis, she told herself, hoping she'd remember that for the morning so she could jot it down in her book. You'll need some, you'll all need some this time around…

AN: Again, that was not the chapter I had initially set out to write. Feel as though its very dialogue heavy and coming it at over 6k words... lets just say We'll get back on track in Chapter 27.

As always, actually more so than always, I apologize for any spelling, syntax or awkward phrasing. I've got a few assignments for church and work this week so it's either update now or wait till mid May (figured you lot would be ok with sooner rather than later...).

Also, dear readers, we're hitting some serious milestones with this story. While we're flirting with 300 reviews, we're also looking at over 260 favourites and 500+ follows. Thank you! for letting me share my story with you. I am, as always, grateful for all your kind words of encouragement and support. You are all simply amazing.

Until next time, KH.