Chapter 3: Malfoy's Mistake

"But Hermione!" Ron whined from his chair in the common room. "You don't know with them! They always have some sort of secret agenda. They're probably just using you!"

Hermione crossed her arms in a huff as she glared at the redhead. She hoped to Merlin she was right in defending the twins. "Unlike you, Ronald, not everyone uses me for something. How do you know if they have a secret agenda? Is it so hard to believe that someone other than you and Harry actually want me for company?"

Ron's already pink face increased at Hermione's ignorance. "But it's the twins! It's not just anyone. It's my brothers and I know my brothers. They don't care about anything but themselves and their pranks. That's it! They wouldn't want you for company!" he retorted without thinking.

Ron's eyes widened upon realizing what he said, but before he could speak, Hermione sputtered in offense, "What's that supposed to mean- They wouldn't want me for company?" Her voice slowly increased gaining the attention of many of the Gryffindors around them. "Is that what you think? That all I'm here for is to-to do your homework for you? Be at your beck and call whenever you feel too lazy or 'busy' to do it? Well," she slammed her books together and jerked them to her chest. "get over yourself you ruddy prat! You don't mean that much to me anyway. The twins make much better company than you any day." She whipped around and stomped angrily up the stairs just as Harry entered the room.

At the loud bang of the door, Harry turned to his best friend whose face had grown the astonishing shade of Weasley red. Figuring Ron would most likely not give the best answer, he glanced over to the twins who had been watching the scene in avid interest.

"What was that all about?" he asked as he took a seat next to the two boys.

"That, pumpkin, was Hermione proverbially shoving Ron's foot back in his mouth," George replied in contentment as he leaned back against his chair.

"Pumpkin?" Harry asked in confusion.

"Yes, dear." George pulled Harry's chair next to his and slung an arm around the dark haired boy's shoulder. "I figured now would be the best time to come out of the closet and tell the whole world about our fabulous relationship!"

"George, what are you on about? What product did you accidentally inhale this time?" Harry replied trying to get out from under George's arm.

"Ah, but, bunny tail, I did not inhale a thing other than your manly odor." George winked at Harry. From his seat, Fred attempted to keep his face straight, but it was all in vain as his deep laughter belted out. After a few seconds, George soon joined his twin. Harry rolled his eyes at their antics.

"You two are absolutely barmy," he declared as he left the laughing pair to go up to his dormitory.

….

"Make it a powerful memory- the happiest one you can remember. Remember- allow it to fill you up. Keep trying Seamus. George, your turn now," Harry's voice floated over the murmur of spells and conversations in the Room of Requirement.

"Expecto Patronum!" George exclaimed, but only large silvery puffs of cloud jetted out of his wand, much to his dismay. Fred sniggered at his brother's futile attempt earning him a hearty shove. Seeing the two fooling around, Hermione turned back to focus on her own attempt at a full-bodied patronus.

"Expecto Patronum!" She attempted. Once her otter sharpened into shape, though, it disappeared in a cloud of silver. Her eyebrows furrowed and her lips dropped into a frown.

"You were bloody brilliant," a male voice whispered into her ear causing shivers up her spine. Hermione whipped her head around to see the handsome smiling face of Fred Weasley as his twin brother attempted another patronus. Her eyebrow rose in question, but the frown remained. "Your prank. It's been a week and people are still talking about it." He appeared meditative as she tried focusing on the matter at hand. "Maybe there's still hope for you yet, Granger."

The red headed twin watched in curiosity as the shorter girl attempted another full-bodied otter, but again it quickly disappeared into a cloud after fully forming. She let out a sound of frustration.

Hermione turned to face him. "What do you mean there's still hope for me?"

Fred grinned as he plopped his arm around her shoulder. "There's still hope for making you a permanent prankster and I don't say that to just anyone, so you should feel honored that I, a Weasley twin, have bestowed you such a great honor." He winked at her causing her to roll her eyes. He leaned in to whisper into her ear again, "And don't worry. We're not using you." Hearing his words quickly untied any knots she had in her stomach about whether she did the right thing defending the twins the other night. Instead her stomach seemed to flutter strangely. She dismissed it as stomach indigestion.

"You don't say what to just anyone, Gred?" Another voice entered the conversation from her side.

"How lucky she is to receive a compliment from someone as roguishly handsome and charming as me about how she should give up the life of being a nun and become a permanent prankster- oi!" Fred yelped as Hermione slapped him on the arm. She huffed in annoyance.

"Serves you right."

George chuckled seeing the smaller girl's stern expression toward his brother. "He's right, you know. A lot of our…admirers would practically wet themselves to hear something along the lines of a compliment from one of us famous Weasley twins. It's our debonair charm I'll have you know." George flashed her an exaggerated wink and grin.

"So what do you think, Brother? Think she's wet and ready for us?" Fred elbowed his twin, eyes twinkling in merriment.

At Hermione's guffaw, George laughed and joked, "I don't know. Might have to start with some foreplay. Merlin knows this one's too innocent for our…tricks." Hermione's face twisted in disgust as a chuckling Fred swung an arm around her.

"You two are so crude!" Hermione exclaimed as she shoved Fred away from her. She felt her face heat up at the insinuations and quickly turned away from the twins, but a pair of muscled arms held her in place.

"Uh, uh. You're not going anywhere until we've finished having our dirty ways with you, Hermione." Fred pulled her flush against his chest to keep her from walking away. Hermione blushed at the intimate embrace and turned to face him.

"And who," she replied, poking him in the chest and leaning her upper body away to glare at him- he was a good six or so inches taller than her after all, "said I want you two to have your 'dirty ways' with me? What if I found you two to be absolutely ghastly and any idea of physical contact other than hugs absolutely repulses me?"

At her side, George gasped in mock pain as he pretended to feel faint. Hermione turned to face the twin. "Oh how such foul words strike my soul! Brother, I cannot live on with such rejection," George shook his head pitifully, "Say farewell to our poor mum and dad for they will miss me- the more handsome and charismatic twin- dearly. Bid the garden gnomes adieu- actually make sure you get a good snog in there as well. Oh how I will miss those charming pesks!" Hermione could feel the vibration of Fred's deep chuckles against her body as she rolled her eyes at George's dramatics.

"Ah, but your ears deceive you dear brother. The fair maiden said 'what if.' She didn't say she actually thought that. Your death- though inconsequential since I am the fairer twin with dashing good looks and endless charm- would be for naught. We still have hope to woo this fiery lioness lounging in my arms." His arms tightened comfortably around her waist causing Hermione to blush deeper and forget the words that had bubbled up in response to the twins' words.

"Oi!" Ron's voice interrupted the twins and Hermione who turned to face the lanky redhead. "What're you doing? Leave her alone you gits!"

Fred and George smirked at their little brother, but it was Hermione, still in Fred's arms, who replied glaring. "Oh hush up, Ronald. They're just joking around like they usually do. You're not my keeper." She huffed as she shimmied out of Fred's arms.

"But, Hermione!" Ron complained as Harry walked over to them.

"Hermione, come on. Let's see your patronus," Hermione shot Harry a grateful look for interrupting what would have been another infamous Hermione-Ron fight.

She cleared her throat and thought of the joy from the prank she received and the compliments Fred gave her, his breath tingling against her ear filling her with pride. Then she thought of the simple but meaningful words he whispered to her. 'We're not using you.' "Expecto Patronum!" A burst of bright light engulfed the space before her as her otter proudly formed in front of her, playing happily in the air instead of disappearing into a cloud.

"Excellent, Hermione!" Harry congratulated her along with all the other students who complimented her. Her eyes sparkled as she caught sight of the twins who were grinning boyishly. Fred winked at her causing that strange fluttering in her stomach to return.

Suddenly the whole room lurched causing a couple of students to stumble. A series of loud booms followed consecutively after that. Fear gripped her heart as everyone moved toward the center of the room not knowing what was happening. After another boom the mirror lined wall exploded falling with a deafening crash. Hermione watched as Harry moved forward toward the wall where a large hole appeared.

"Harry-" Hermione started before she saw Harry hurry back toward them right when the entire wall exploded into huge chunks of concrete and rubble.

Her eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat seeing Dolores Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad staring at them in triumph. She felt someone grab her hand making her head jerk to the side. Fred squeezed her hand a fraction of a second before the scene erupted into chaos.

"Get them!" Professor Umbridge hissed.

Realizing they were caught finally clicked into everyone's brain as they all screamed and ran around the room in an effort to dodge the leering Slytherin squad.

"Hem. Hem." After some time, Professor Umbridge's high pitched sound easily carried over the noise effectively stopping everyone in their tracks. Hermione gulped upon seeing Professor Umbridge's eyes lock onto Harry's, a wide smile appearing on her face. "Now that I have your attention, do not try running away. If you do, we will find you and worse punishments will be dealt out. Is that clear?" Slowly all the panicked heads nodded. "As a clear violation of the rules, I must assign all of you detention for two weeks."

Hermione's eyes widened enormously. Two weeks? Two weeks with those horrible quills? Was she crazy? It wasn't even the other's idea. It was hers. All hers. Flashes of her friend's pained faces after two full weeks of Professor Umbridge's detention drifted into her mind. Harry. Ron. Ginny. Luna. Neville. Parvati. Padma. George…Fred. She shook her head, her decision set.

"Professor!" Every head turned to look at Hermione causing her to pause at the sudden attention. Clearing her throat, she stared straight at the haughty professor unwilling to show her fear and disgust for the woman. Eerily she was reminded of her first year when she took the blame for Harry and Ron Halloween night. "It was my fault. Don't punish them. It was all my idea not theirs."

From behind her, everyone's eyes widened upon hearing her words. Fred shook his head at her before he spoke up. Unfortunately he couldn't be heard over the other loud protests from the DA.

"Silence!" Professor Umbridge's voice quieted the uproar. Her eyes flickered maliciously toward the bushy haired Gryffindor as her lips curved upward into her sugar coated smile. "Miss Granger. I should have known you would be the one claiming to be behind this. However, it is Mr. Potter I have been led to believe who started this."

Hermione's eyes widened. She knew Professor Umbridge was going to give Harry more problems and Hermione knew Harry wouldn't be able to handle it on top of all the stress he had with Voldemort in his mind. She opened her mouth to protest, but the professor continued.

"But if you say it was your idea, then I have no choice," Professor Umbridge's smile turned into a malicious grin. "Three weeks of detention and suspension of your Prefect badge."

Hermione's heart dropped. The barrage of protests behind her fell on deaf ears as she felt the blood drain from her face. Suspension of her Prefect badge? Three weeks of detention?

Her eyes flickered toward the sound of sniggering. Hermione's eyes narrowed upon seeing the gleeful blond Slytherin who was currently gripping a sorrowful Cho Chang by the robe. She shot Draco Malfoy the dirtiest look she could muster in her misery.

"Hem. Hem." Professor Umbridge called attention. "Now that that is all settled, please report to my office tomorrow after dinner for detention- all of you." Her beady eyes pointedly looked at every member of the DA. "Mr. Potter, you will come with me. Mr. Malfoy- you and the rest of the Inquisitorial Squad are to dismantle this room and bring anything of importance to me in Dumbledore's office." She flashed everyone a buttery smile before leaving with Harry and Cho in her grasp.

"Got what you had coming," Draco sneered once Umbridge disappeared around the corner. Hermione glared at him, fists clenched. "Stupid little mudblood."

A flurry of action took place as both sides whipped their wands out at each other. Hermione pointed her wand deftly at Draco, eyes stinging from angry tears. She cursed the fates when Draco caught sight of her watery eyes.

"Oh is the little mudblood gonna cry? Oh, wah! I want my mummy. The big bad Umbridge took my shiny little badge away. Boo hoo!" Draco mocked in a child-like voice. From behind him, the rest of the Slytherins laughed.

"Bloody ferret!" Ron exclaimed as he flicked his wand at the blond who easily blocked the spell.

"Really Weasel," Draco eyed the redhead lazily, "Being a pureblood I thought you were better at magic. Then again," he smirked, "being a blood traitor has probably messed your head up even more what with having to beg on the streets for money. I'm sure you even enjoy hearing your mother bring customers home. After all, it's another meal paid for." Another burst of laughter filled the demolished Room of Requirements. Hermione saw red, body jerking into action.

In a flash, Draco found himself sprawled on the floor, his hand gingerly touching his already bright pink cheek. His grey eyes narrowed dangerously at the fuming little witch standing in front of him. He jumped back onto his feet.

"You filthy little-"

"Shut your trap, ferret, and come up with something original for once." Her eyes shot daggers at the suddenly fearful wizard while she lifted her wand up to his neck. Her voice came out low and menacing, sending shivers up everyone's spine. "Call me a mudblood all you want. I'll take your annoying juvenile rants, but don't you dare ever say one bad word against the Weasley family or else. Do you understand me?"

He made no move except to glare and sneer. She dug the wand deeper against his throat. "Do. You. Understand. Me?"

Finally, the blond Slytherin shivered slightly before he nodded still eyeing the wand digging into his neck.

"Good," she dropped her wand before pushing him aside and heading out of the room. Slowly the rest of the DA followed after her, wands still trained on the Slytherins until all were safely around the corner. Ron turned his head, jaw slack as he looked at his best friend in amazement. All thoughts of their previous fight erased from his mind.

"Bloody hell, Hermione. That was- that was-"

"Fantastic!" George finished for his little brother.

"Knocked Malfoy silly, she did!" Fred swung an arm proudly around Hermione's shoulders, grinning widely. As a whole, the DA members hooted in laughter before turning down different corridors to go to their respective common rooms. Hermione hid her face in her hands despite the grin that found its way onto her face.

"Right nasty git, that Malfoy," Dean Thomas piped up from behind.

"Yeah, seeing Hermione punch the wits outta him makes getting detention with Toad Face worth it!" Seamus agreed.

"Just wait 'til he gets the full treatment. Bloody git deserves what's coming for saying that about mum," George added vehemently as he remembered the reason for Hermione's uncharacteristic actions. Ron, Ginny, and Fred nodded their heads in agreement along with all the others who had the chance to meet the whole Weasley family.

"And no one gets to mess with our Hermione. Not that she needs defending of course," Fred winked at the girl under his arm.

"Yeah! I hope whatever you plan for him is going to knick that stupid snake right in the arse!" Ginny exclaimed, her fists clenching. Hermione sighed, gaining the attention of the twin next to her.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" Fred asked looking into her eyes as she paused in her steps. His uncharacteristic question also gained many questioning glances toward the two of them. She looked up sadly at him before her face brightened and the mischievous twinkle returned.

"He's gonna get it so bad he's gonna be the one wetting his pants and crying for mummy!" She exclaimed with an unexpected fervor. Everyone chuckled.

"But Hermione, what about your prefect badge? You just got yourself three weeks of detention!" Ginny reminded her.

"Which was very stupid if I do say so myself." Fred added.

"Oh be quiet!" Hermione shoved him before her face became somber. "I couldn't take to idea of seeing all of you come out of her detention for an idea that was mine. I was the one who started the idea and roped you all into it. Now you all have two weeks of detention with that horrible animal." From her side Fred gave her a reassuring squeeze as George affectionately threw his arm around Hermione's shoulder. "I'm sorry, everyone."

"Hermione, you didn't rope us into anything," Ginny replied as she walked backward trying to stare meaningfully at her bushy haired friend. "We joined out of our own desire. You didn't force us to do anything. Umbridge is a right tyrant taking away your badge like that. She's a beast."

"A giant with infested boils in disguise!" George added.

"And thick fingers and feet with hair and purple and brown fungi all over!" Fred exclaimed joyfully.

"And large pointed yellowed teeth!" Another voice added while others joined in.

"And creepy crawly eyes like a beady little rat!"

"And the most horrible breath! Like a mixture of Ron's socks, Snape's hair, and Fang's drool!" Everyone made a noise of disgust while Ron protested.

"And don't forget her cat-like meows! Meow. Meow." Hermione tried imitating the professor's signature "Hem. Hem." causing the group to fill the otherwise empty corridor with laughter and erasing any worries about the punishments they just received.

A/N: So, as you can see I took some aspects of the movie instead of the book. I was going to use the book and have Marietta be the tattletale, but I figured the way the movie was done fit a bit better with this chapter. Unfortunately no pranks in this chapter, but I did include some Fred/Hermione action which is always great, right?

Anyway, thank you thank you thank you to all who reviewed and favorite/alerted my story! After not getting much of a response for my other stories, I was wondering if I was doing something wrong. But yes, those ten reviews for chapter two made my day! So I hope I made your day with this update!

As always, please take the time to review even if it's a couple words. They do mean a lot to me. Also, let me know if the pace of the story is going too slow. I feel like my stories have been going a snail's pace, so let me know what you think!