A/N: okay. So I left this story for a long time, and it was never my intention to take so much time in between updating. Please forgive me, I intend to be back more regularly now! And well, as always… ENJOY!!!

Chapter 6: double trouble

Friday morning's breakfast and occlumency lesson came and went in much the same fashion as Thursday's. Hermione could hardly eat a bite while Teddy talked on and on at the head table. Today's ramble was about his professional career, and all of his success – before the knee injury of course. Then she haughtily marched down to the dungeons, where she let Snape see a few snippets of her muggle childhood and earlier Hogwarts memories. Luckily a major difference between Thursday and Friday was that on the latter morning, the potions professor did not pursue any embarrassing subject matter. He merely saw a studious twelve-year-old know-it-all gleefully answering questions in Transfiguration.

"Now I see why Minerva has always reveled in your thirst for knowledge. Quite the little arse kisser." Snape had mumbled after she had thrown him out of their final attempt for the morning. He cleared his throat and and flatly complimented her, "good use of the trunk imagery. It really seems to work for you, so I suggest over the weekend you practice visualising it as often as possible."

She left the dungeons feeling pleased with her weeks' work, and less sore from the embarrassment of the first day's attempt. After eating a more substantial lunch than usual, Hermione found herself back in her lovely private quarters in Gryffindor tower, sitting in front of a magical fire talking to the head of Ginny Weasley.

"Don't worry about bringing anything 'Mione! Everyone understands you've just moved back in the castle, and had quite a hectic week. We just want to see you before the term starts and you really get busy." The petite redhead was reassuring.

"Well, it would be lovely to see you lot before I go mad with work and lessons and students. Maybe I'll nip into Hogsmeade and buy some Butterbeer before I floo over?"

"If you insist, yes that would be fine. I've never seen a brother or husband of mine turn down a Butterbeer!" Both girls happily laughed at this.

"Anything else I should know before I see you tomorrow?" Hermione asked.

"Just come, and have fun. I'm leaving James with my mum; you know the twins love a childless party." Ginny laughed and rolled her eyes.

Hermione said goodbye to Ginny as she finalised plans to meet at the twins' London flat around two in the afternoon the next day, Saturday. Noticing the soft blue sky without a cloud smearing its face, Hermione took Professor Snape's borrowed plans and headed outside to enjoy doing some work in the comfort of the sunny afternoon.

About an hour had passed as Hermione was happily reading over the plans and making her notes. She was always pleasant when being academically productive.

"Oy Hermione!" A booming voice interrupted her all-too-perfect silence. She looked up to see the hulking muscles of Teddy sauntering across the lawn from the direction of the quidditch pitch.

"Oh, hi Teddy," she tried to force herself to project her voice and belie her obvious irritation at breaking the bliss of her studious quiet.

He broke into a slight run and made his way to her. "Whatcha doin love? It's a beau'iful day, aye? Fancy a fly with me?"

"Oh no Teddy. That's kind of you to offer, but I've loads of work before term starts."

He beamed at her, trying his best to look dashing. "Oh don't reject me now love, just a quick one!" He reached out his arm, gesturing to help her up.

"Err, it's a kind offer, but really I'd rather get this done," she bit her lip, feeling awkward at having to 'reject' the offer from a co-worker who seemed a bit too eager.

"Oh c'mon Hermione, just a quick one. Mos' girls'd love ta come fly with me!" He sputtered a laugh that felt forced as he bent down to Hermione, and grabbed her arm, trying to pry her up from her spot.

Her body jostled under his grip and she lost balance of her work. "Oh damn!," she swore as a bottle of ink rolled over some fresh parchment, staining and splotching the once unmarred pages. "Honestly Teddy, I'd rather not. I have work to do." She struggled to pull her arm out of his grasp, and her voice was becoming louder.

Teddy tightened his grip. "Listen 'Mione, don't be such a tight arse. I think you'd have fun if you'd just let it happen."

Neither noticed the soft crunch of approaching footsteps and were startled to hear a third voice. "I think the professor said no." Those strong, deep tones could only belong to one man: Severus Snape.

Teddy immediately dropped the tiny healer at the base of the tree. Hermione glared at him for a moment, then wandlessly cleaned up the spilt ink as Snape walked close to the pair of them.

She was rubbing her upper arm and she heard Snape's voice, despite his mouth remaining tight closed: What a total arse he is. All brawn and no sense whatsoever. Are you alright?

Hermione nodded a "yes."

Nice wandless, by the way. Interesting to note you can still do it even whilst provoked.

Teddy's brash voice was actually audible, "Good day professor, I don't think its any of your business what I do on me days off and who I do 'em with." He locked his bright eyes with the black stones of the Portions master.

"Well, when you harass a colleague of mine, who clearly would prefer not to be bothered, it is indeed my business. Now, good day Teddy. I'm sure you have some sort of training or sporting nonsense to be doing instead of disturbing actual professors." Snape verbally shooed him off, and a frustrated Teddy sulked off towards the castle.

"Actual professors?" Hermione asked, a soft smirk coming to her face.

"Well Miss Granger. Sometimes the likes of those less academically inclined need to be reminded you can't accomplish everything on sheer force alone. It was a rather cheap dig, but it worked, right?" His voice gave hint to a smile although his face remained stoic as usual.

"Right. Well, err, thanks for helping me again. You're always in the right place …so it seems." Hermione began collecting her supplies, not in the mood to work much anymore.

"Call it luck, or instinct. Who had any idea you were always getting yourself into trouble with bulky quidditch stars?"

Hermione audibly giggled at this bit. "Oh, do you fancy Teddy then, professor? Seeing as you find him bulky?"

Snape actually let out a genuine laugh, the first of its like Hermione had ever heard. "Far from it, Miss Granger. Far from it. I just know you'd rather work in peace, and that types like him are often misguided in their attempts to try and win over women so clearly out of their league."

Hermione blushed a deep crimson.

Snape realizing he had just inadvertently complimented a fellow teacher, no less Hermione Granger at that, regained his severe demeanor and straight face. "Well, Miss Granger, you seem safe now, so do enjoy your weekend." And without looking back at her, he turned and walked towards the Forbidden Forest.

Hermione grabbed her belongings and headed back to the castle alone, trying to dismiss the comments Snape had just made, and all together forgetting Teddy Tungston even existed.

……………………..

"Allo? Where are you lot?" Hermione called into the home of the Weasley twins as she stepped out of their kitchen fireplace.

"In here 'Mione!" Fred called back from the living room down the hall.

She put two cases cold Butterbeers into the refrigerator, and carried the third with her into the room where, presumably, the rest of her friends were.

She was greeted amicably by the twins and their wives; Angelina was married to George, and an American witch named Emily was married to Fred.

"You look great 'Mione! Guess I half-expected you to walk in looking like a duplicate McGonagall." Angelina laughed as she hugged her friend.

"Or maybe a young Trelawny, care for some glasses and scarves?" joked Fred from his recliner chair.

"Har, har. Very funny. I may be a professor now, but I'm still the same Hermione you know."

"Oh? Uptight and bossy as usual? Yeah, you'll fit in just fine m'dear." George was adjusting the wireless to put on some music.

Emily jabbed her brother-in-law in the ribs. "Don't listen to him Hermy, you're as lovely as usual!"

Hermione laughed. She had always loved Angelina, growing up a fellow Gryffindor, but Emily was really great too, and was the perfect fit to the twins and their extended group. She had long blond hair, and she was just the right amount of sweet as well as sassy. Being a brassy American, she liked to come up with and use her own nicknames, that didn't sound so British, or in her term, stuffy.

Just then Harry and Ginny came in through the door, and helped themselves to a Butterbeer each from the table Hermione had set them down on.

Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione, "I knew you couldn't show up empty handed."

The afternoon passed enjoyably, as the group laughed and chatted about nothing too important. Several other friends joined them as well including: Jetson, one of the shop managers from the twins' diagon alley store; Seamus Finnegan, who regularly hung out with the group now that he lived in London; and Patria, a sweet witch from the auror department who had trained with Ginny before she fell pregnant with James.

Around four in the afternoon, a very pregnant Luna Longbottom and her husband Neville joined the crowd. Hermione tried her best to hug her round friend, her arms not quite touching in the back. "You look so radiant, Luna!" she cooed.

"Yeah, we're hoping its sooner than later we meet the lil' one," Chuckled Neville, as he patted Hermione's back. He seemed to never leave Luna's side when they were out in public, always so sweet and protective of his wife with baby.

"Oh thanks Hermione." Luna groaned slightly, easing her body into a nearby chair. "I didn't get to see you much at the engagement party, everyone seemed to slip out the door so quickly." Always one to say what was on her mind unfiltered, Luna broached the subject no one else had spoke of.

"Eh, wasn't much of a party at all, if you ask me." Fred provided an honest commentary.

"Erm, yeah, I did leave rather quickly I suppose," Hermione tried not to comment on the event, as honestly she was trying to erase it from her memory as best as possible.

"It's a shame, I was having fun. I hadn't seen Ronald in ages, and that Esmeralda is quite sweet." Luna really had no concept of social norms more often than not.

"Oh I'd say more tart than sweet any day," George, ever honest and quick to make light of the subject, chimed in.

"Letting our little bro just shag away in broad day light! Its all too funny," Fred laughed.

Fred's twin quipped back, "Well now Fred, they did have the decency to use the shed."

"What? Oh, I have no idea what you mean…" Luna was honestly out of the loop.

"Oh now really, no one wants to talk about this at all." Ginny was trying to break up the conversation, it was far too soon to be cracking jokes about the bizarre chain of events."

"Luna, how did you not see 'Mione here blast apart the shed and our mum go mad?" Fred's tact forgotten thanks to a few Butterbeers. "Rowdy Ronald was plugging away at the little minx when 'Mione walked right in on them!"

"Oh, I had no idea…." Luna looked quizzically at Neville, who was blushing, wishing to avoid the whole conversation.

"Oh it's really none of our business, love." Neville offered.

"Oh, but it was brilliant! Wizarding celebrities all gone mad and improper. Mum was having kittens, with the press there and all. Even the old bat was in on the action, he jumped in to rescue Hermione and really took the piss from Ron." Fred was practically in tears now, as was George. Emily stomped firmly on Fred's foot. "Ow! Whattidya do that for? Its true, we were all there."

"Well not all of us," huffed Angelina.

"Oh come now, you said you two didn't want to deal with the mob of people." George defended.

"Well we didn't, and once you insisted on wearing those ludicrous muggle suits, we knew the day wouldn't be quite as fun in Molly's eyes as it seemed in yours. Rather glad we missed all the screwing and blasting after all." Emily was always bold, and Fred secretly loved it when she was defiant.

"I really don't think… I mean, must we get into all of this?" Harry was trying to make peace after he noticed a pale and sullen Hermione sitting motionless.

George, ignoring Harry's words took the bait from Emily, "Oh you and Angelina just wanted an excuse to have the day without us!"

"George, you know damn well we had already arranged to have the mediwitch come here from California for Em, and it couldn't be changed!" Angelina snapped.

"Oy! So much for keeping things quite now, eh love!?!" George yelled at his wife.

"What secrets? A medi-witch, why?" Now Ginny joined the chaos, maternal concern engulfing her.

"Oh mind your own business, you!" Fred snapped at Ginny.

Harry was about to open his mouth but was beaten as Emily stood up, "Don't snap at her like that! Its not her fault this whole lot has such big mouths!"

Fred made to come back at Emily, but just stood open mouthed, searching for a retort.

"Ha, speechless for the first time ever. Attention everyone, Fred Weasley has nothing smart to say." Emily looked rather pleased with herself.

Fred just blushed, and let out a little laugh, finally breaking the tension of the mood. Emily made her way to him. "Now is as good a time as any, love." She kissed him softly, and faced the curious eyes of her friends. "We," she took her husband's hand in hers, "are going…" she placed his hand on her belly, pushing back the loose fabric of her dress to show a slightly rounding figure that was being disguised, "to have a baby."

"Holy shit, a little Fred. Now that's brilliant!" Harry joked as he jumped up to hug the tall redhead. Relieved that such excellent news had broken the tension. Hugs and claps on the back went all around as Ginny and Luna gushed about pregnancy talk with Emily.

Hermione sat even quieter now. Of course some of the other friends in the group were single, but as far as her immediate "family" went, she was the only one to be unmarried, and now would be one of the only ones without a baby. A deep sadness seemed to come over her, and she forced it to the back of her mind as she faked a smile and told Emily her congratulations. She was happy for Emily, honestly, she was just also sad for herself.

"Well now, brother dear, not to be outdone," George cleared his throat and started to talk over the crowd.

Before he could finish, Angelina stood up, and interjected, "Yeah, us too. Our own version of twins I guess." And with a dramatic roll of her eyes, she pulled tight the loose jumper she had on to show a small bump forming around her middle as well.

Harry's eyes opened wide as dinner plates. "Must you two do everything in sync?"

"Yes, apparently they must!" Jetson provided, all too aware of how oddly duplicate the twins' lives were.

With this testimony from their employee and friend, the twins started laughing, and the whole room had joined in.

"Ah now Harry old friend, some things are best left unknown!" Fred answered, raised his eyebrows quizzically and managed to hold a straight face for about five seconds before exploding again in laughter.

"Honestly, when Emily told me she was making a conception potion, I decided to take some as well. I mean, might as well try to keep the little ones close in age, it'll keep things easier on us." Angelina gave a knowing laugh. As the business of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes expanded, it would be convenient for both of the twins' wives to be on the same page, as they spent most of their days together. Living as a foursome just worked for them, and both couples had agreed that they'd prefer to live collectively for the foreseeable future.

"Oh I think its brilliant," Ginny hugged both of her sister-in-laws in turn.

Harry stepped back from the knot of hugs and bellies and took the moment to lock eyes with a sullen brunette, who was unable to hide her dismay from him. You don't have to pretend to me Hermione, I know this is all a bit much for you right now.

Hermione looked right into his eyes, as he thought this, and Harry heard her voice in his head: Thanks Harry, you always understand.

'Mione?!?! You could hear me? I didn't know you knew how to do that!

Oh. Right, sorry Harry. Professor Snape decided he should train me in some mental arts.

Harry looked at her in surprise. Oh did he now?

Harry. Honestly, I think it's a good idea and he may be on to something, he followed me at the party, and he knew I exploded the shed without my wand. Hermione decided to use the group's distraction to vent to her best friend.

Harry was marveled by how easy this style of communication was. He knew a couple Aurors who could do it, but never anyone who was a close friend, and he was enjoying this clandestine communication. What do you mean without a wand?

Oh Harry, I was so upset, and I just got so mad. I mean, I just made it blow up into pieces without realizing what I'd done. And Professor Snape said he could tell from the…

Magical Trace? Harry finished her sentence for her. Yeah, He's pretty good at that sort of thing. So why train you as an Occlumens? Or whatever he's doing?

The rest of the group was talking about babies, and the hilarity of the twins' planning duplicate births. They hardly noticed Harry and Hermione just silently staring at each other and locked in a telepathic conversation.

He says that when my emotions erupt, the magical disruptions I cause are pretty damaging. He thinks if harnessed properly, I could actually do some strong wandless magic. He thinks it may be quite powerful.

Harry nodded in improvement, thinking for a second. Well 'Mione, you are you know, brightest witch and all that. Honestly, his ideas make sense, and if you can stand working with him, the man is quite accomplished in his own right.

Hermione smiled. I agree, I could probably learn a great deal from him, his talents are so impressive.

So impressive? Harry was staring at her strangely now.

Blushing, she flustered some rapid-fire thought at Harry: I just mean, that well yeah, once you get past the whole bat-of-the-dungeons bit, he is a smart man. And err, well, his intentions seem genuine and academic.

Err, right. Well, just keep me posted and let me know what happens. I'll help you with anything I can. Otherwise, you alright? About the umm, thing the other weekend and moving, what-not?

Yes Harry. I'm doing just fine, having some new challenges right now will be great, you know, keep me busy.

He nodded, and noticed the group breaking up, and the twins walking toward Hermione. Sounds great, let's talk more soon.

She nodded back in agreement, and broke eye contact, releasing him from hearing her thoughts. "Can I help you two?" She asked, with a smile, now more relaxed than during the tension of a few minutes prior.

"Why yes, dear Hermione, we believe you can." Fred leaned against the end table next to Hermione's chair.

"We could certainly use the assistance of the brightest witch of our age, who also happens to be a potions mistress." George winked.

"Yes, yes. Very well. Give them to me and I'll try to do some testing this week. I can't promise you when I'll have time though!" Hermione suppressed a giggle. She had been helping the Weasleys with some of their potion work for years now. And although her passion was healing potions, she did admit there was an undeniable fun to helping with their joke shop business.

"You're too lovely, I'll just grab them now!" George said with a smile as he walked out the door, toward their basement laboratory.

"Speaking of potions, Ginny, any luck?" Hermione asked, craning her neck looking for the petite redhead.

"Oh yes, I have notes for you as well!" Ginny walked toward her purse to fetch the comments for her friend. "They all worked lovely, and to Harry's grand disappoint, no such side effects like last time."

Harry, pretending to be miffed made a clicking noise. "You know, you come over to have a couple Butterbeers, and it all turns into business around here. Who knew this lot would turn out to be entrepreneurs, let alone successful?"

Everyone laughed at Harry's joke, and after the business was out of the way, the afternoon stretched into the evening. The conversation stayed light, and Hermione actually relaxed, and was able to be only happy for her friends. After saying her goodbyes, and promising to visit as often as school would permit, she apparated to Hogsmeade to walk back up to the castle and turn in for the evening.

As she popped into view outside the Hogwarts gates, she saw the tartan figure of Minerva. She gave her new boss a little wave.

"Hello Hermione, just coming back to the castle for the evening?"

"Oh yes, headmistress. Just went into London to see the family." Hermione walked towards her, as McGonagall now held open the gate for her.

"Family?" She looked at her young employee quizzically.

"Oh right," she bit her lip. "I just always refer to Harry and the Weasleys as family, since you know."

Nodding in understanding Minerva patted Hermione on the shoulder, "Well, you lot are as close as any family I've ever known. I'm glad you were able to see them all before the start of school."

"Oh me too Headmistress –"

McGonagall cute her off – "Minerva, I insist,"

"Right, sorry. Well, Minerva, it was quite nice. The twins are both having babies in the winter!"

Minerva happily chatted to Hermione, and listened as she was filled in on the comings and goings of some of her most beloved former Gryffindors. She was glad the newest teacher was starting to feel more comfortable in her adult role, and was seemingly happier than she was just a couple weeks ago at the disastrous engagement party.

Two hours later, a content and sleepy Hermione drifted off to sleep as she was making a to-do list of her last minute preparations for the start of term.