Stuck in Place
by KemAjiana
A/n: Ah. Chapter 2! Special thanks to my followers, and my reviewer! You make my heart happy (which is funny, because I'm a grump. Ask anyone.)
Looking for a new title. Stuck in Place just doesn't seem to fit, per say. May change to "The Coyote That Chased the Fox". Still debating.
Anywho, enjoy this next installment. I enjoyed writing it! Ciao!
Chapter Two
The swirl of apparation seemed to be even worse when you weren't in a human body, and as soon as she landed in the flat, accompanied by a resounding crack and the heavy thud of her trunk, she leaped nimbly from the arms of George, shaking herself. Who would have thought that she'd miss the day she could travel by Floo?
She took in the flat with some critical eye, finding herself...oddly pleased. Whereas the Burrow was disorganized and stuffed to bursting with furniture and knickknacks, the Twins' place was simple. Modern. The living room boasted beige walls (a far, pleasant cry from the very vivid orange of the shop), an elegant black couch and coffee table, and a thick gray rug. To her joy, there was hardly any clutter, and she gave an approving nod to the men as she went to settle upon the couch.
"Glad it's too your liking, Highness," Fred teased.
"We had to fox-proof the whole flat," George added.
"Oh! That reminds me! We got you a housewarming present!"
With a quirk of her head, her whole body went on high alert. A gift from the Twins was almost surely a prank in disguise. They brought forward a small, blue-wrapped box and set it before her, encouraging her to open it. She nudged it, poked it, and sniffed it, before knocking it to the ground; if it was an explosive of some sort, it would not be going off in her face. Finally, she tore open the box carefully, squeezing her eyes shut in case the box decided to...do something or another. But, when nothing happened, she peeked one eye open and hissed in annoyance.
Cat toys. They got her cat toys! She narrowed her bright brown eyes at them, tipping the box over and scattering the toys across the carpet, daring them to say something - anything. George was beaming and pulled something from behind his back that had her leaping quickly away...but Fred was holding her before she got very far, arms outstretched and laughing as she kicked and squirmed. She felt something slip around her neck and stilled when there was a small clipping noise near her ear. Fred set her down slowly, easily, his blue eyes twinkling in mischief, and she bared her teeth at them in pure malice, contemplating which one of them she should go for first. She was certain Molly would forgive her if she took a chunk out of the twins calves...
"There, 'Mione!" George beamed.
"Now you're a proper lady fox. Bow and all!" Fred guffawed.
Without warning, Hermione was lunging forward, seizing Fred's trousers in her sharp teeth and thrashing her head angrily. Fred yelped, hopping backwards to try and fling her off, and George grabbed her by the scruff of her overly-fluffy neck, hoisting her into the air like one would a misbehaving kitten. He levelled his gaze with hers, quirking a ginger eyebrow.
"Now, that wasn't very nice, 'Mione."
"She about took my leg off!" Fred wailed, poking his fingers through the sizeable tear in his pants leg.
Sniffing, Hermione bared her teeth at them, refusing to apologize, and averted her gaze stubbornly. George laughed aloud. "I don't think she likes her housewarming presents, Fred!"
"How rude. After all the thought we put into them."
"Even had to go to muggle London for the bow!"
"After that bite, Fred, I reckon I won't be able to take you anywhere near muggle London. Merlin knows, you're probably some sort of were-fox, now."
"Is that a thing, Georgie?"
"It is now."
Growling, Hermione gave a snort, trotting off as soon as George set her on her paws to find some dark corner to could hide away for the week, ignoring the soft tinkling of her new bow; perhaps, if she hid away well enough, she could avoid being the subject of their perverse humor...
"Oh! Hermione!" Fred called. "I meant to ask: can you still do, like, human stuff? Read and all that, I mean? Obviously you can't write; no opposable thumbs, and such."
Hermione stilled, tail giving a betraying twitch. Curiosity was going to be the death of her, she swore - perhaps she should have been transfigured into a cat, but that thought made her shudder thinking back to her second year - but the subject of reading was too enticing to pass up. She nodded affirmative.
"Oh good, because Georgie and I were thinking -"
"- if you wanted something to keep you busy -"
"- we'd love to use your brain down in the shop! Product development and all that."
For a brief second, she contemplated the offer; did she really want to be involved with the makings of the same pranks she'd practically made a career in Hogwarts out of stopping? But the thought of being cooped up in the flat, with no outlet except - she shuddered - cat toys, was an even worse option. She nodded.
"Excellent!" Fred cheered!
"You can be our Weasley Wizard Wheezes official mascot," added George.
And, inwardly groaning, Hermione wondered exactly it was she'd just agreed to.
