The halls were just as vacant as they always were at this time at night, and Hermione Granger, fifth year prefect, was patrolling the corridors. All the other prefects either had Quidditch or a test the next day, so Hermione found herself walking the corridors alone. At least this would enable her some time to think.

The past year or so had been rather difficult on her. She had to deal with helping Harry in the Tri Wizard tournament last year and she was very fidgety; she was always worried how Harry could possibly manage to get through his tasks unharmed. This year, she was going through his struggles with… Voldemort trying to toy with his mind, and the fact that no one seemed to have believed that he was really back. Hermione, of course, knew he had indeed returned, but this had only added more worries to her already-full plate. Harry was her very best friend; Hermione could never manage living without him, it was simply not an option She had no feelings towards him though; it was a strict sibling-like, non-platonic love.

Her other best friend on the other hand, Ron, had given her utter grief over the past two years. She had developed feelings for him, but he was always such an arse towards her. Like last year, when he had completely used her as a last resort to attend the Yule Ball, and didn't think that she had another date on top of that! What was she to him anyway? Some kind of play toy that he could just use whenever he wanted? Oh, how he infuriated her so! They were honestly sore towards one another the rest of fourth year, but this year had become less awkward. The only thing that he did that truly annoyed her was him pestering about her writing Viktor. Why couldn't he just leave her be and return to their friendship?

She wanted to be more than friends, but the way he always angered her would never work out in a relationship. She stopped for a moment, closed her eyes, and shook her head. She vowed, right then and there to try and get rid of her feelings for Ron. It wasn't impossible, she could just single out his terrible traits. What's the worst that could happen?

He could fall for her in return. Then, she would never be able to hide her feelings… As these thoughts swirled through her mind she heard snickering from the lavatory she was passing. It just so happened to be Moaning Myrtle's bathroom on the second floor. She suddenly remembered that she was, in fact, on prefect duty, and slowly entered the bathroom.

"I think we've done it Forge!" That was the unmistakable voice of George Weasley, Ron's older brother.

"You are just about right, Gred," chuckled Fred, his identical twin brother. Hermione could easily tell the difference between the two now. She had been able to barely do so since second year, if she really looked at them. However, they both spent a great deal of time at Grimmauld Place this past summer, so it was quite doable to tell one twin from the other.

Fred had a remarkable twinkle in his eye whenever he spoke, and George slouched a bit more than Fred. George's smile was straight, as compared to his brother's crooked smile, which Hermione quite enjoyed. She had always thought that Fred was the more attractive twin, as there always was one. She huffed her breath and stepped into the light and cleared her through, loud and clear so the twins could hear her.

" Hermione!" Gasped Fred.

"We were just," continued George. Oh no, they were going to do the act where they finished each other's sentences!

"Trying to,"

"Fix our potions,"

"For Snape,"

"So we wouldn't get,"

"In trouble!" They both concluded. Geez, Hermione loved it when they did that. But, she was on prefect duty. She had to fulfill them as anyone else would have… but they were just so charming!

"Oh, I see," mumbled Hermione. "So, what are you working on?" Ha! She knew she would catch them there, they couldn't possibly be working on something for Snape, they completely slacked off in his class but still received decent marks.

"Ageing Potion!" The twins announced. Hermione pondered for a bit, trying to figure out a way to see if they were being truthful.

"Oh, then you wouldn't mind if I tried it, would you?" Hermione asked slyly.

"Erm, I don't really think that would be a good idea, 'Mione. You see we… er… aren't quite done yet." Fred stuttered. What Hermione didn't know is that they were trying out new products to sell for Weasley Wizard Wheezes. So far, they had love potions, puking pasties, sugar quills, and nose-bleeding nougats. They were trying to brew another concoction when Hermione walked in.

Fred had looked at Hermione with wide eyes. He was looking at her in the dim light of the bathroom, but he had just realized something. It wasn't like he hadn't thought of her in any way besides a sister before. Actually, she was quite attractive. Her bushy hair had become tamer throughout the years, and her buck teeth were shrunk to normal. She had gorgeous brown eyes that lit up whenever she spoke.

"Listen Hermione," Fred began. "We won't tell anyone you were wandering the halls at this hour, if you won't tell anyone that we were." Fred gave her a wink and her face because flushed with anger.

"You prat! Just in case you have forgotten, I am a prefect! I was only doing my rounds, and you two are obviously up to something. Now I know that we're friends, but I will have to issue both of you a…" Hermione's lecture was cut short by two pairs of strong arms lifting her off the ground.

"Sorry 'Mione, but we aren't in the mood for a detention any time soon," George laughed. "Silencio!"

Hermione could no longer talk, it was like she was mute! Damn them! She tried to wiggle away, but her puny girl muscles couldn't compare to those of two Quidditch players that were two years older than she was, so she tried to jump out of their grasp, but it just wouldn't work.

The twins took her all the way back to the Gryffindor common room. After a long fight, Hermione called a quits. She could just give them detention the next day, no! They would definitely get several detentions for this. As if it weren't bad enough to have two boys with a death hold on you- they almost got caught by Mrs. Norris! If they hadn't ducked behind a statue, who knows what kinds of trouble they would've got in. Fred and George were whispering to each other throughout the whole trip back to the Gryffindor common room. She really could barely hear what they were saying.

"Fortuna Major" The twins said in unison as the Fat Lady threw them dirty looks.

"It seems that you have kidnapped Miss. Granger!" She exclaimed. "I can only hope that you two haven't been up to your schemes." The portrait door opened and the twins stepped in with Hermione still in their grasps, and dropped her onto the couch.

"You go on up George, I'll take care of Granger here." Fred shooed his brother off towards their room, and murmured the anti-jinx towards Hermione.

"Fred Weasley! If you think you're going to talk me out of giving you detention for the rest of the year, you are mistaken! Let's see, that's one for being out after hours, one for brewing potions in a lavatory, one for being in a girls lavatory, one for using spells on another student; actually let's make that two considering that I'm a prefect, and one for carrying me throughout the corridors without my consent!" Hermione had said that all in one breath, then gasped for air. Her whole face became scarlet with fury, and it was coming quite close to the Gryffindor red color.

Fred was at a loss for words, this never happened to him, ever! He was always calm, cool, and collected around girls. "I'm quite curious as to why your cheeks are so red, 'Mione. I mean, being alone in the common room with the most handsome guy in the school may take its toll on the ladies, but it's nothing to be ashamed of, love." Fred gave a wink that made Hermione's stomach flutter with butterflies, but she put that aside.

"Goodnight, Fred. I'll tell you when you are serving your six detentions tomorrow." She responded coldly. Hermione stared for the stairs when Fred lightly grabbed her arm, as if he was about to tell her something, but she yanked her arm away, and with a huff continued up to her room with Fred near bellowing her name.

"I said, GOOD NIGHT Fred!" She slammed the door behind her to find a giggling Parvarti and Lavender staring at her. She briskly ignored them and walked over to her bed, near collapsing on it.

"Was that George?" Pestered Lavender. She was always in Hermione's business. Why couldn't she just get a life of her own and leave her alone?

"If you payed any attention to your surroundings at all instead of gossiping about them, you would know that it wasn't George, it was Fred. His voice is a tad huskier than George's higher voice." Hermione glared at her outright, and Lavender slightly blushed at Hermione's outburst.

"Oh, of course," started Parvarti tentatively, she surely didn't want another outburst, "But why were you out passed curfew? With Fred? Are you two dating?" She just couldn't help herself, she burst into a fit of giggles.

An exasperated Hermione was not in the mood to deal with silly girl gossip! That is why her best friends were boys, far less drama and pestering questions. "I was on prefect duty, just in case you forgot I was one, and I happened to see Fred and George and gave them six detentions. Fred was probably just calling to me to beg me to take his detentions back." Hermione really shouldn't have had to explain, but she didn't want the gossips to go around preaching that she had a relationship with Fred. Which, mind you she didn't.

"What did you give him detention for?" Both of the annoying witches asked simultaneously.

"It. Is. None. Of. Your. Business!" Hermione bellowed. She was infuriated with their constant badgering about her life. Not just tonight about Fred, which was actually nothing, but with Harry; who was nothing more than her best mate and almost brother, Ron, and even Viktor last year. She had enough for one night and stormed out of her room. There weren't any classes the next day, she would sleep in the common room.

As she continued to the dimly lit common room, she spotted a familiar red head staring into the common room fire. She sighed, she supposed that she would rather be agitated by Fred then he idiotic dorm-mates.

"Fancy seeing you here, couldn't sleep I suppose?" Hermione started tentatively. Maybe they could just have a normal conversation outside of the detention she gave him.

"Oi! Hermione I didn't see you come down. Why don't you warn a bloke next time, eh?" Fred mocked being scared to death, like any normal person actually would. Hermione couldn't help but suppress a giggle.

"Why are you down here anyway, I would think that by now you would try and avoid me. Although I can see why you came back though, who wouldn't?" Fred managed his crooked smile, and Hermione felt as if her whole body was covered in warmth. Her stomach flutter like the beat of a butterflies wing, and a light blush seeped her cheeks. Could one smile really do that to a girl?

"I wouldn't flatter myself if I were you Fred, I'm trying to avoid my roommates; they really are all gossip and no brains." Hermione sighed and plopped next to Fred on the sofa.

"All the girls are like that, eh?" Fred began to say, but Hermione shot him a stern glare, but he didn't seem to notice. "Well, any girl that I've ever met anyway. Oh… oh 'Mione, you don't count. I mean, well you're not a girl. You're more like a…"

"Well, that's what everyone thinks! Just because I throw myself into studies and not into gossip and rumors, doesn't mean I that I don't harbour feelings like the rest of the daft girls at this school. Well I'm sick of people who think that. If you're one of them then you'd better leave, Fred. I haven't any other place to sleep." Hermione cried into the pillow, she should have known that he was just another person that didn't take her seriously.

"No! I meant… come on Hermione listen to me! I just meant that you're above all the things that most fret over. You're special, that's all I meant!" Fred soothed. He awkwardly patted her back for lack of something better to do.

Hermione felt her voice caught up in her throat. She tried to speak, but all she could mutter was, "Just go." And with that a disappointed Fred trudged up the spiral stairs and up to his twin and his best friend waiting for his return.

"Who was it this time, Fred?" Lee Jordan, his best friend apart from his twin pestered.

"Oi! What's that supposed to mean?" Fred retorted.

"Don't take it personally, good old twin of mine. We know you so well, that when you come back to the dorm after 12, you've had a good snog." George snickered. "Did you finally get Granger?"

"Granger? You fancy Granger? I knew it, didn't I George!" Lee boasted, he'd always had his suspicions on Fred's feelings for Hermione.

"What… How could you possibly… I mean, er… no." Fred mumbled as he searched for words to say. Actually, he had fancied Hermione since the Yule Ball last year. He then realized that she was more than a little sister to him, and it had brought him great pain when he had seen her with Krum and then moments later she was balling on the staircase. The only thing that kept him from rushing to her side and comforting her was the fact that he couldn't just abandon his date, they were there as friends and he knew he should be a gentlemen and stay put.

Besides, she was pretty much destined to be with his brother, Ron. Everyone expected it, they fancied each other and it was obvious. Why should it matter that he loved… wait, loved? Had he loved Hermione? Well, every time she spoke he wanted to smile, and when he looked into his eyes, he just wanted to swim in them. Every touch that they shared made him feel strange, but a good kind of strange! It was foreign to him to feel all mushy and such, he had just been someone to snog a bird and get it over with. Bloody Hell, love? What was he thinking?

"I'm your twin for Merlin's sake! Don't you think I would notice sometime completely obvious? As for our first question, was it Granger you were snogging?" George asked persistently. He wasn't going to be put down with a straightforward answer.

"I wasn't snogging anyone." Fred admitted, "I insulted Her- Granger. I implied that she wasn't a girl… when I just wanted to say she wasn't a normal girl. Why do I have to be such an idiot?" He moaned. It was never this difficult to impress a bird. He pushed it off, he would just think about it in the morning.