This one took me a good while to write.

Thank you to all my faithful readers and reviewers

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The next few days went by fairly quickly and without issue. McGonagall's words had gotten to me though, and I found myself at the library not just to spend time with Hermione, but to actually do my work. Something that greatly confused Professor Flitwick, who after years of simply walking past Fred and me when collecting work found himself with my copy of the latest assignment. I could tell that Fred wasn't appreciating me doing work, but as long as I continued on joke development he didn't ask too much about it.

I was sitting by myself at a table far off in the library when Ginny sat across from me. "So," she said. "What's your big surprise for the dance?"

I smiled at her. "Well, I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. I really couldn't stand that, you know, all that crying. Mum would probably never look at me again, killing her only daughter."

"Very funny," she said with a scowl. "I suppose that I'll just have to wait for tomorrow night then?"

"I suppose so," I replied.

As she was getting up to leave I called out to her. "Do you happen to know what color Hermione's dress robes are?"

"Light pink, why?"

"I thought so. I just wanted to make sure that the flower matches, thanks."

She nodded and left the library.

I sighed looking down at my now completed transfiguration homework, shoved it into my bag, and made off for class.

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Packing all my stuff back into my bag, I told Fred to leave without me, and walked up to McGonagall once the room had cleared out. "Professor?"

She jumped slightly at my voice thinking that the classroom was now empty. "Mr. Weasley," she said, studying me. "What can I do for you?"

"I've been thinking of what you had said to me earlier on in the week. About what I was planning on doing with my life. I was wondering if it was possible to take N.E.W.T. exams for subjects that you weren't enrolled in."

She stared at me intently and then glanced at her watch. "Follow me," she said, getting up and leaving the room, not leaving me any chance to respond.

I followed her into Dumbledore's office and sat in the chair across from his desk as she instructed me to do so. McGonagall repeated to him the question that I had asked her and he looks down at me.

"It's unheard of, Mr. Weasley. You would be two years behind in the subject. There are no rules against it though. May I ask which you wish to test in?"

"Potions," I replied to Dumbledore. "And maybe Herbology or Care of Magical Creatures…"

Dumbledore nodded. "I understand that you're currently taking Charms, History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration. Why the sudden decision?

"I wish to join the Order after school," I reply, suddenly finding my hands very interesting. "I thought that if I scored high enough that I might look towards becoming an Auror."

"I thought that might be it," Dumbledore replied. I looked up at him and he smiled. "You most definitely have great potential, and if you put the effort in, I'm sure that you would do great. Potions would be a good choice, and the other would be up to your own discretion. You would only need one extra N.E.W.T, but if you wish to take another…I was always quite partial to Herbology."

"Thank you sir, that sounds good." I replied.

"You'll do fine. Minerva, will you make sure that Mr. Weasley gets the books that he needs? I have a meeting to attend to."

"Yes sir," She replied and led me out of the room.

When we were out of his office and back into the hall McGonagall turned to me. "I'm proud of your decision, and I'm sure that your mother would be."

"Thank you," I replied. "But can you please not mention it to her? I haven't even told Fred and I wouldn't want to get her hopes up on something that might just be a washout."

"Of course. If you come by my office prior to the start of the dance tomorrow, I will have the books for you to pick up."

"Thank you professor," I stated and we made our way to the Great Hall for dinner, myself following McGonagall.

I sat to Hermione's right and smiled at her. She seemed more interested in McGonagall. "In trouble again?" She asked me.

"Not quite," I replied. "At least not as of yet. We simply met in the hall." I smirked at Fred to give him the idea that I was being untruthful to Hermione.

Getting the idea he stated, "Just wait for tomorrow." And winked at Hermione.

Hermione turned to me. "What are you two planning on doing?"

I ignored Lee's addition of "us three," and replied "Nothing too bad, don't worry love."

She smiled when I called her love and stated, "Just be careful" and turned back to the conversation she had been in with Harry and Ron.

"Git alert, five o' clock," Fred whispers. I turn my head around to see Snape walking in my direction.

"You will make up your detention tonight at seven. Don't be late," he sneers. I watch him as he walks away and roll my eyes.

"Prat," I mumble.

"What'd you do to get a detention with Snape?" Hermione asks. 'You don't even have him anymore."

I smile at her. "Let's just say that I accidentally hit Malfoy with a curse at an inopportune moment."

She shakes her head at me and smiles.

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I pause outside of Snape's office, not sure if I should go in the five minutes early that I've arrived. Deciding to chance it I knock.

"Enter."

I slowly push open the door and look around. Snape's office hasn't changed much in the seven years that I've had the pleasure to have seen it. Glass bottles filled with different slimy contents line the walls along with volumes of books.

"You're early," he says from behind the paper that he is grading.

"Yes sir," I reply. "I wasn't too keen on being late, seeing as I missed when I was supposed to have detention."

He doesn't respond to my statement and continues to read the paper. He marks a large P in the top left corner of the parchment and stands up, leading me into his classroom.

"I'm running low on Veritaserum and currently do not have the time to put into making some more. I'm aware that you can be competent when you wish, so I'm putting it in your hands. In case you botch it and make poison, I'll be testing it upon your self. Although not mature until the next full moon, its affects still do wonders. Understand?"

"Yes professor," I reply.

"Supplies and books are in the cupboard." I follow him with my eyes as he retreats back into his office and sigh. At least it isn't cleaning this time. Potion making isn't typically detention work, I was getting off easy this time.

I walk over to the cupboard and take out an advanced potions book and search it for Veritaserum. Finding the ingredients, I pull the off of their shelves and to an empty cauldron.

Looking up to the clock I see that it is now quarter past seven. I bring my hands up to my head and ruffle my hair. At least this will be good practice for getting back into potion making… "Here goes," I say out loud to myself.

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Forty-Five minutes later, as I'm adding the last carefully measured ingredient, Snape comes billowing back into the classroom. No doubt to scrutinize.

"I just finished sir," I state as he walks over to my cauldron.

He peers into it and sticks his finger in to test consistency. "So you have," he replies, and moves the potion to the side of the classroom where it will not be disturbed while it simmers for a month.

"You're not having me test it?" I ask.

He looks down at me and shakes his head. "No need."

I continue to look up at him in confusion. It wasn't often that Snape was void of sarcastic and crude comments.

"You can leave now; I have no more use for you."

I nod at him and begin placing ingredients back into their respective spots. I chance a glance at Snape who is studying me closely. As I go back for the final of the ingredients, he takes a book off of a shelf in the back corner and places it on top of the one I had been reading out of.

"Sir?" I ask.

"You'll need those for exams." He states. "McGonagall stopped by my office earlier. I'm glad that you had come to your senses finally. I was needless to say astounded that after scoring an outstanding on your O.W.L. exam for potions that you failed to continue with the subject."

I rack my brain for a thought to convey to him, but he cuts me off.

"Yes, I know of your score, but something tells me that you haven't been entirely truthful to your family about what you've received, have you?"

"No sir." I reply. I don't know how he had known it, but I hadn't told anyone of my actual scores, Fred included. My mom thinks that I received only three O.W.L.s, being completely unaware that I had scored double that.

"Well," he says, looking at the time. "Take those two books for now, and I suggest writing any questions you might have down to present to me. I have papers to correct and no more time to waste on this conversation."

I take the two books from the desk and head to the door. "Thank you professor," I state before exiting the room.

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I enter the common room at about quarter of eight. I had hoped to make it back to my bed to hide the book before anyone had noticed, but I had no such luck.

"You're back early," Fred states from a couch to my left. "What are those?" He asks, gesturing at the books.

"Just a couple of potion books," I say trying to sound like it was normal for me to be carrying them.

"Potions?" He asks me. "What are you doing with those? Nick them?"

"Well," I start slowly. "No. Um…Snape gave them to me to look over."

Fred's eyes narrow at me. "Right." He picks up the top most book and flips through it. "And why would he do that?"

I breathe in deep and look down at my hands. "I thought that it might be a bit beneficial to take the potions N.E.W.T. exam."

He shakes his head at me. "You're really on the Auror bit then, eh? I thought that it was just some phase you were going through." He laughs, in a semi-nervous manner.

"Fred, I don't know that they'd even accept me. Besides, I'm not backing out on the joke shop, I'm still developing ideas, this is just a possibility."

He smiles at me. "Of course they'll accept you, they'd be loony not to."

I look at him in confusion and he starts laughing, loudly, earning glares from people trying to study including Hermione.

"George," he begins. "I'm not mad at you. You really want this and you're smart enough to get it. I'm just upset that I'll be losing my biggest joke contributor. Jokes are what I want, and I don't have the brains that you do. We might be twins, but we're not the same person."

My biggest fear had been in hurting Fred and now I see that it was never even an issue. Without warning him, I grab him in the biggest bear hug I have even given. He tries to get out and I just hold him harder, ignoring the fact that we've both fallen off the couch by now in hysterical laughter and have gained the common room's undivided attention.

"Are you two through?" Hermione asks, as Fred and I lay on our backs in front of the fire trying to catch our breath.

I nod at her, unable to speak.

She smiles and sits down on the couch I had originally been sitting on. "What was the point of that?" She asks.

Regaining my composure I prop myself up on my elbows. "Who says I had a point?" I ask her, grinning.

She shakes her head at me. "What are these for?" She asks me, picking up the two potion books. "I saw you walk in with them."

"I believe," I say, sitting down on her left, as Fred sits on her right, "that they are for making potions."

"And what would you be doing making potions?" she asks me.

Fred taps her on her shoulder. "I expect practicing for N.E.W.Ts.

Hermione looks back at me. "You're not taking potions. Snape only lets in those who scored and outstanding on their O.W.Ls."

"Who's to say that I didn't?"

She doesn't reply and looks to Fred. Fred's attention is on me with a peculiar look on his face.

"What are you talking about?" he asks me.

"Nothing," I reply rather quickly. "I was just stating that she never saw my results so she doesn't know what I got."

I can see that Fred isn't convinced. "Now that I think about it," he begins, eyes narrowing. "I never saw your results either."

"What are you getting at?" I ask, getting pretty nervous.

"How many outstanding O.W.Ls did you get?"

I breathe in deep. "Six."

Fred glares at me and storms out of the common room I look quickly to Hermione and run after him.

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Ooooh, the suspense!

In advance, please do not hate me for the next chapter when I post it.

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