"Ginny, are you all right?" Hermione asked. Her friend was staring at her as if her head had been cut off, and Hermione really didn't know why. It was quite disturbing.

"Oh, um…yes." She said, placing a mischievous smirk on her face. "So…you had a good night I suppose."

Hermione looked at her quizzically. Why was Ginny looking at her like that? "Well…no actually. I can't remember much actually. I think I may have gotten very ill, I woke up on the floor of Ron's room this morning."

"On the floor," Ginny asked. "Why were you on the floor if you were…ahem…ill?" The poor girl looked very distraught and confused indeed.

"Oh, I don't know, I must have fallen off Harry's bed some time in the night."

"Oh…you slept on Harry's bed then…"

Hermione laughed. "Well, by the looks of him this morning, it's not as if he missed it exactly."

Ginny blushed and giggled. "Nothing happened, we just talked. A lot."

"Ah."

"Well. I'm going to head down to breakfast now, I'm starving."

"Alright, I'll see you down there, just looking for a book to get away from Fanny."

Ginny nodded in agreement and left the room quite quickly.

---------------------------------------------

As she headed down to the breakfast table, she pondered the very confusing events of the morning that had transpired. Ron had definitely thrown Hermione's underwear into their room this morning. One didn't simply…leave their underwear lying around a floor above…it would have had to have been…removed.

Ack-Ginny didn't even want to think about it! I mean, she knew Hermione had like Ron for ages and that he had liked her too, but…ewww, it was her brother for Merlin's sake!

I mean, yes, she had played her little prank on Hermione in hopes of getting her to loosen up. And, yes, maybe she had been hoping that in the process of Hermione being loosened up and Ron being of age and therefore taking advantage of all the free fire whiskey that something might happen, but not this! God, think of how angry Hermione would be when she found out! The poor girl didn't even remember! Unless…maybe Hermione did really just get dumped on Harry's bed. Ron would know…hopefully. But, that was an awkward topic to talk to her brother about…

She knew one thing, she thought, as she saw her twin brothers squirming under her death glare, Fred and George were going to get an earful.

---------------------------------------------

"Oi, Tweedle-dee, Tweedle-dum! Outside. Now." She jabbed her finger to the back garden, which was deserted at present time.

The boys feigned confusion as they sauntered out into the garden. "What's up Gin?" they asked.

Ginny took a deep breath. "What the HELL did you put in those toffees? Poor Hermione can't remember a thing about last night! You told me that they would make her a bit tipsy, 'a little loony at most' were your words!"

"She can't remember anything at all? Oh dear, that's no good. Maybe we should lower the dose a little George?"

"I'd say so. We want all our clients to remember the fun times they have while using our products!"

"You DOLTS! How could you have let this happen!"

"Now, Gin, there are a few things that you unfortunately did not take into consideration."

"Yes, that's right. For one, Hermione, being our very own innocent little prefect she is, has absolutely no tolerance. You should have known this."

"Yes, and add in the fact that she is rather petite."

"And the fact that we only guessed how she would react to them based on our own testing, which has only occurred on ourselves."

"And then you must take into account our larger size, and capacity."

"So, therefore, you are perfectly liable in this matter. In fact, you were rather irresponsible last night, you left her all alone under the influence and ran off with dear Harry."

"I…I…that's not the point!"

"Actually Gin, I do believe it is. Good thing Fred and I were good-natured enough to watch over the little chit."

"Yeah, then she went into the house with Ron, so we figured we were home free. Those two really hit it off didn't they George?"

"Oh yes, dancing and laughing and whatnot, never seen them both so happy. I bet they snuck a snog behind our backs too, mind you. And didn't Hermione did catch the bouquet? Do I hear wedding bells Fred?"

"I think you may, wouldn't that be simply lovely if those two got together thanks to us?"

"They could promote the toffees for us! I can just see the ad in the Daily Prophet now!"

"Oh yeah, they really hit it off, they hit it off real well," growled Ginny. "Yes, it's because they hit it off so well that Hermione woke up on Ron's floor this morning having no idea why she felt so ill, not knowing why she couldn't remember last night! And I suppose it's also just swell that Ron chucked a pair of yellow polka-dot panties into my room this morning that certainly weren't mine!"

"She woke up in…Ron's room?"

"Yes."

"Feeling ill?"

"Yes. She thinks Ron, being the gentleman we all know he is, judging by his behaviour with Fleur's cousin last night anyways, carried her upstairs and that she slept on Harry's bed."

"Huh. And Ron chucked a strange pair of yellow polka-dot panties into your room this morning…"

"Yes."

"That came from his room…where Hermione woke up on the floor?"

"YES, YOU INSUFFERABLE DUNCE!"

A smile broke on Fred's face. "Our little Ronnikins got lucky last night! And to think, Miss coughPrudecough!"

"Yeah, and it's just lovely that neither of them remember what happened!"

"Hmm. You're right, that could be potentially problematic…"

"Let's just not tell them," George quickly concluded.

"Yeah, you're right, what they don't know can't hurt them. Smart idea George."

"I can't believe you. Do you understand what consequences this could have?" Ginny said, raising her voice.

"Obviously not. Enlighten us why don't you?"

"We have to find out what happened! Isn't there a spell or something that we can do on them to make them remember?"

Fred scratched his chin. "Not that I know of. Mind you, not that I know a lot of useful spells. You know what, I bet Hermione would know one!"

Ginny shook her head quickly. "I'm not asking her!"

"Why not?"

"Because then she'll ask why I need a spell to make peopleremember what happened to them while they were hammered!"

"And that's bad because..."

"Because it's Hermione and she'll figure it out! Honestly, it's a wonder you managed three OWLS between you..."

"Well then, your idea just really sucks then, doesn't it!"

Ginny frowned. "You're boys. Don't you talk about that kind of thing? Why don't you two go hit up Ron and see what you can find out."

"Well, yeah, but…eeewww, not with siblings."

"Yeah, that's just like, against The Code."

"The Code?" Ginny asked skeptically.

"Yeah, The Code of Brotherly Honour."

"And it goes against this 'Code' because?"

"Because it clearly states that one's shagging habits are a subject to be talked about in detail only with friends, not siblings, that's vile. Hypothetically, however, then it's fine."

"Well then," Ginny said, glaring at the two again. "Why don't you two go hypothetically ask Ron whether or not he kept Mr. Snake in his trousers last night?"

---------------------------------

Hermione was having a nice relaxing afternoon in the sunshine, reading Hogwarts: A History, for the sixteenth time. It was quite sad, as she really didn't know whether she would be seeing the place where she had grown up ever again. They were scheduled to leave for Harry's relative's house in less than a week, and after that the final adventure of their lives would take off.

Not that she meant final as in final she thought they were all going to die final, but final as in that if (and she hoped that they would) and when they got back from destroying the horcruxes and Voldemort that there would be no more adventures. Hermione tried not to think of her life beyond that point, as first of all, she really had no clue as to how long it would take them to accomplish what they were to set out to do, and second, she had absolutely no idea what she would do when she returned. She supposed that maybe if she wasn't too old when returned, she might go back to Hogwarts (if it was still there) for another year to write her NEWTS. She couldn't see herself ever being content in life without completing her education. She also couldn't see herself getting a real job without completing her education either.

I mean, sure the Weasley's had done it, but they had had quite the hefty loan from Harry to start off, and they were really very lucky to have succeeded. Speaking of which, she had wanted to go and ask them if they had their new Harry Potter action figures completed yet, she had wanted to give one to Harry for his birthday, which was in just over two weeks. She scanned the yard for Fanny to make sure the coast was clear before reluctantly setting down her book on the grass beside her chair.

She had seen them walk into the house about ten minutes ago, or so she guessed, grumbling to each other with an angry-looking Ginny following them closely, shooting sharp comments at them every so often.

Hermione was still confused as to Ginny's strange behaviour this morning and had been meaning to have a chat with her. It was odd for Ginny to behave in such a strange manner, and also strange for her to seek out Fred and George's company rather than her own. She had reached the back door into the old house's kitchen, and paused when she heard voices. She immediately identified one as Ginny's, as it was distinctly more high-pitched than the others, and another as Ron. She guessed that the other one (two?) was either Fred and/or George. She had her hand placed on the doorknob when she heard something so disturbing her pinkie finger twitched before it froze, poised on the edge of the door:

"Why in the name of Merlin would you think that I shagged Hermione?!?! We're friends how many times do I have to tell you!"

"I think that you shagged Hermione, Ron, because this morning you rudely disturbed my peaceful rest with your hollering, and chucking of a certain pair of yellow-polka-dot panties into my room!"

"Yeah…they were yours, weren't they? Mum puts your stuff in my room, and my trunk for that matter all the time. I'll never forget the bra fiasco two years ago! Dean and Seamus wouldn't leave me in peace for weeks!"

"Ron. They were Hermione's. I saw her pick them up and throw them into the laundry basket."

"That doesn't mean anything. She could have just been…tidying up!"

"Yes, because I'm sure you pick up Harry's underwear when he leaves it in the middle of the floor without even breaking a cringe."

"…well…"

"You were so intoxicated last night that you don't remember anything at all, do you?"

"…I remember getting having a rather pleasant excursion with Fleur's cousin in the broom shed out back."

Fred and George clapped their brother on the back whilst Ginny let out a disgusted growl. "Good on you, mate, two girls in one night!" Ginny glared daggers at the three smiling boys, who then quickly sobered up resumed discussing the problem at hand.

"Ron, all I ask is that you think logically for just one minute. There's a lot of signs that point to the possibility of...well...I mean surely you must remember...something?"

Ron rolled his eyes, blushing all the same. "Merlin Ginny, why would-"

"BECAUSE RONALD!" The redhead was now livid. She stepped closer to him and spoke quietly as death, "Don't play stupid with me, I know that you've liked Hermione for ages and that whole little escapade with Lavender was very much just your way of dealing with jealousy in a very immature manner. And anyone with eyes could see that Hermione feels the same way, obviously you lack a viable pair..."

"But...I...we"

"Look, don't you think Ronald, that under the...circumstances you may have let...I mean, you obviously weren't in your right mind and neither was she..."

"What?"

"She means that you, having a few too many fire whiskeys, mate, might have thought a little too much with your pants instead of your noggin."

Ginny cringed. "Thank you, Fred for that...explanation. The point-"

Ron suddenly spoke up, "You just said that Hermione was gone over the moon too, and she also doesn't remember anything. That's not exactly like Hermione to be...irresponsible like that."

Ginny blushed and stuttered. "Well...I mean...um...she."

At which, Fred and George shared a pair of beaming smiles, "Yeah, that's our dear little Miss Prankster Jr.'s fault here. See, she readily allowed us to test our new product on Miss Prude and didn't have the sense to baby-sit her in order to avoid dire consequences, such as demonstrated!"

"Oh! So this is your fault then, is it? Trying to put the blame on me for something I probably didn't even do..."

"Well, you did do it, and if we're going to go into technicalities, then I'm sure most would agree that you actually are responsible. True I may be responsible for slightly-" Ron glared at her. "Okay, fine...majorly impairing Hermione's judgment. BUT, your judgment was entirely your responsibility. And besides, I'm not the one who decided to invent such a completely useless and stupid candy. Honestly, do you really expect those to be successful?" She spat at her twin brothers.

"Well Gin, see they're handy in situations exactly like this, when you have an uptight friend who needs some loosening up, and, well, these candies do just that...as proven!"

"AND they're tasteless, well, the tonic is anyways. They taste like mint so you can either use them for pranking an innocent rule-follower, or they're good for those who just can't stand fire whiskey!"

Ginny glared at her brothers in disgust. "Fine, Ron, think what you want, I really don't care. But if you're not going to admit that you did it, just...leave Hermione out of this, she has enough on her plate right now." She looked at each boy before she spoke again, "Not to mention she'll livid with all four of us if she finds out, regardless of whether anything happened."

Hermione released her hand from the doorknob.

Livid...

Boy was that an understatement.