Product Testing
Fred had just completed a three foot long parchment on the various uses of fluxweed in advanced potions' brewing when Hermione entered the library. As usual, she had a devious smile plastered across on her face and mischievous glint in her eyes. Fred's own eyes narrowed as he watched her sit down at a table of first year Hufflepuffs. When she began to exchange packages wrapped in brown paper for Knuts and Sickles, Fred knew he had to intervene.
"What's going on?" he asked stiffly from where he stood at the head of the table.
The first years blanched and looked guilty. Hermione, however, sat up, threw an arm over the back of the chair, and grinned widely up at him. "Nothing is going on, Freddy. Why do you ask?"
"You shouldn't be selling banned goods to first years."
She raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what you are talking about." Hermione then turned toward the scared kids sitting at her table. "Don't you lot have some place to be?"
The Hufflepuffs jumped from their chairs and started for the library exit.
"Just hold it right there!" Fred barked, causing the first years to slide to halt.
Hermione stood up and moved to stand in front of Fred. "Don't be a prick, Freddy."
"What?! I'm not! Just because I expect mature behavior from older students doesn't not make me the bad guy."
Hermione gave him a half smile, placed one of her hands on his shoulder, while her other hand began to undo his tie. "You really need to loosen up if you want me to believe that."
"Hermione, stop messing around."
She took a step closer to him, lifted her face to his, slipped one hand around her back, and waved the Hufflepuffs out of the library. "I'm not messing around, Fred. I'm completely serious about helping you relax."
"What makes you think I'm interested," he inquired, visibly swallowing at her nearness.
"Just call it a hunch," she whispered, reaching up to draw his head down to hers.
Fred sighed knowing he shouldn't kiss her, but at the same time not wanting to pull away. "This is crazy," he told her.
"The world's a better place when it's upside down," she told him before pressing her lips against his.
A kick to his leg jolted Fred awake. "Come on, mate," George called. "We are supposed to test the Personality Swap Day Dream Charms today."
Fred coughed and blinked the sleep from his eyes. "I tested one last night."
"Yeah? What did you think?"
"They are definitely interesting, but the results are also bit frightening," Fred admitted.
"Really?" George replied with a frown. "Maybe we should just drop the idea."
Fred sat up. "Perhaps, but I think I'll discuss the recipe with Hermione first."
"Hermione?" George looked astonished. "She's just going to get all uptight about it."
"I dunno," Fred smiled to himself. "I've got a feeling she might enjoy this product more than you'd think."
The End
AN: Winner of the fwhgldws challenge for the prompt: The world's a better place when it's upside down.
