Chapter Fifteen

They were curled up on the sofa the following morning when there was a sharp rap at the door. They both snapped to attention and grabbed their wands. Fred put a finger to his lips and signaled for Hermione to circle around to the other side of the room. He moved next to the doorknob and called out, "Who's there?"

"It's Harry and Neville."

Fred hesitated. "Harry Potter can apparate directly into this flat."

There was a brief pause before a bemused voice answered, "Harry Potter also knows that Hermione Granger is in there with her boyfriend and Harry Potter wishes to remain "The Boy Who Lived."

Fred rolled his eyes. "That bad of a joke almost qualifies as a security question in itself. However, I am not taking any chances. How did I describe you before drinking the polyjuice potion that night?"

A soft chuckle could be heard from the other side of the door. "A specky, scrawny git."

Fred cautiously opened the door. "Hello, Harry."

"Hello, Fred."

Harry started to enter but Fred held up his hand. "Not so fast."

He turned to Neville. "Sorry, mate..."

Before Fred could formulate a question, a voice came from inside the room. "How did we first meet, Neville?"

A smile came across Neville's face as he answered, "You were one of the only ones that was willing to help me look for Trevor on that first train ride to Hogwarts."

Fred looked back at Hermione and, satisfied with the response he got, opened the door and let both men inside. Hermione stepped towards them and then gasped. "Neville!" She rushed forward and pulled him into a big hug. "I am so sorry! Please forgive me!"

Neville awkwardly patted her back. "Nothing to forgive, Hermione. Besides, you've been hitting me with one hex or another since we were eleven years old. I think I've built up an immunity."

Fred looked a bit lost. "Couldn't Madame Pomfrey have fixed those bruises up for you, Nev?"

Harry laughed. "She offered but Luna told him she thought it made him look manly and..." He searched for the word.

Neville grinned. " 'Devil-may-care' "

They all chuckled at the expression on Neville's face. Harry stepped forward and embraced Hermione. "How are you feeling?"

She sighed and nodded. "Better." She smiled at Fred. "I have an excellent caretaker."

Harry gave Fred a mock serious look. "Good to hear. It's been a long night. I would hate to have to expend the energy to thrash him at this point."

Fred held up his hands in pretend surrender.

Harry grinned. "We do bring good news, however. It seems the three students acted alone, although after meeting their families I see where the psychopathic tendencies come from. They have all been expelled so you won't have to worry about meeting them in the hallways and the families have suddenly found they have no friends in the local wizarding community so they are moving away as we speak. Kingsley has also made it so we will be notified if they ever return so there shouldn't be any retaliatory attacks."

Fred placed his arm around Hermione and they both breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, guys. That is the best possible news." Fred said. "By the way, where's Ron? I thought he would come with you."

"There were a lot of families to notify this morning so we got paired up. Ron is out with Seamus. I'm sure he'll stop by later to check on you both," Harry answered.

Fred noticed a brief glance between Harry and Neville. Harry proceeded, "We will need you to come down to the Ministry at one point today and make a statement if you feel up to it, Hermione?"

"Absolutely. I'll just get changed and then we can all go together, if that's okay?"

Harry nodded. Hermione gave Fred a quick kiss and then went into the other room, closing the door behind her. Fred paused and then turned to Harry. "So what's the real reason Ron isn't here?"

Harry hesitated and looked at Neville. "He really wanted to but since we weren't sure of the after effects of the potion Luna suggested that Ron and I at the door might be a bit too much like that day..."

Fred nodded. "That was very thoughtful. Thank you."

Harry glanced at the closed door and then back to Fred. "Honestly, how is she?"

Fred rubbed the back of his neck. "As well as can be expected, I suppose. We talked, I let her scream, we broke things. I hope it helped."

Harry smiled. "Just having you around helps her, Fred. Thank you for that."

Fred looked at the closed door as well before turning back to Harry. "Nowhere else I would rather be, mate." He stood and reached for his jacket. "I can go with her this morning, right?"

Harry nodded. "Absolutely."

Fred stopped and asked, "Will Professor McGonagall be there?"

Harry shrugged. "Dunno. Maybe. We'll need a statement from her as well. Why?"

Fred began to fidget with his collar. "I kind of owe her an apology. I sort of...threatened her last night."

Harry and Neville both stared. Harry snorted, "You mean Ginny wasn't just having me on?!"

Neville looked at them in confusion. Harry explained, "Ginny told me that McGonagall stood between Fred and the door to the hospital ward and that he pulled his wand on her, but I thought she was joking with me."

Fred raised his eyebrows. "Guilty as charged."

Neville let out a low whistle. A playful grin came across Harry's face. "Do you know where we are, Neville?"

Neville blinked twice before answering uncertainly, "Fred's flat?"

Harry shook his head. "Neville, we are in the presence of a man that has purposely invited the wrath of Molly Weasley, Ginny Weasly, Hermione Granger AND Minerva McGonagall." He paused. "I wonder why I'm the one known as the "boy who lived?"

Neville immediately retorted, "I wonder why it's Luna that they call 'Looney'? "

At this all three men melted into laughter. Seconds later a befuddled Hermione stepped into the room. "What is so funny?" Something about her tone sent them into another fit of giggles.

Fred finally pulled himself together enough to hug her and say, "I'll tell you all about it later, luv. I promise."

She rolled her eyes, shook her head and muttered, "Boys..." before joining the trio as they flooed to the Ministry.