A/N: Hey guys! I'm back. A year later yes I know. I've received a few lovely PM's from people asking for an update and well today was the perfect day! Nothing quite like procrastinating for studying for a medical terminology final to cure writers block. This was completely different than what I envisioned but I figured most of you have been missing the Fremione interactions so I had to find a way to get those in. Hopefully this doesn't disappoint. My writings changed a bit since I first started writing this. Hopefully it's better. And please keep in mind I literally wrote this all in 5 hours all from scratch. Enjoy and as always reviews are my greatest motivators!

"Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune. "

― C.G. Jung

The next morning

Hermione woke up at 5 am after a long night of tossing and turning. Cleaning the dishes with Sirius had been a tense and awkward affair and spending a week with him cleaning the attic was sure to be more of the same.

"And I'm starting to think you regret that decision every day!"

She winced. For the past three days she had been unable to think of much else. Truth be told she had been horribly wrong. And unfortunately, she had allowed her pride to overrule her logic since Sunday. She had accused Sirius of messing with her hair products when logically she knew it had to be the twins. Sadly, Sirius had caught her in a bad moment.

She had read her parents letter earlier on Sunday. It was dangerous to owl frequently and she was limited to writing them a letter once a week to be delivered on Saturday when the Order did their routine checks on them. She missed them terribly. She knew in her heart this was the best course of action, but she hardly saw her parents as it was. Plus, her sleeping habits were getting worse making her snippier with the others and she missed the freedom.

For one blessed week she was just Hermione Granger, daughter of Emma and Daniel Granger, who had a perfectly normal life with a perfectly normal job. Except for their daughter being a witch. But for that week she could just forget that her best friend had a target on his back, that everyone she loved dearly had a target on their backs. Not to mention dealing with the fact that SHE, a girl of 15 years, was most likely on a hit list somewhere (she tried not to think of that one too much). And that a boy who she admired (and had a bit of a crush on honestly-he was a prefect and top of his class!) was lying in a coffin, unaware how his death changed everything.

What a perfectly morbid way to start your morning, Hermione. Top of the line idea there. Let's just reflect on everything horrible about your life instead of focusing on the pressing issue here-you are cleaning an attic with Sirius Black! The man you chewed out and who thinks you hate him all because you're having a rubbish week and he happened to be the first person you saw after you showered.

Ahhh, there lied the issue. She had chewed Sirius out only because he had been the first person to see her with her purple streaked hair and he had laughed. Laughed at her. Well if there is any way to set her off that would be it. Of course, after she calmed down, she realized her mistake and embarrassed she hid out in her room only coming out for dinner. The next day she planned on apologizing and finally tracked down Sirius. Unfortunately for him that moment happened to be right when he was recounting how he had "accidentally" snogged a girl's sister not knowing she was the sister of one of his previous girlfriends. Right then she decided he didn't deserve an apology considering he treated women like material objects.

It got worse. He was like Ron but worse. Ron had the excuse of innocence and just general obliviousness to how hurtful he could be. Or how easily he could rile her up. Sirius was not oblivious and knew exactly how to rile her up with sexist comments and mocking her insecurities. Plus, the whole matter with Kreacher was not helping. Not that she was any better. She attacked his intelligence and remained oblivious to the difficulties he was facing currently. And she had hurt him. Deeply.

She could see it every time they parted ways and every insult, she hurled at him. And now she had to apologize. But how?

Hermione buried her face into her pillow frustrated.

"Just tell him the truth," Ginny said from her bed. It was now nearly noon and Hermione was due to meet Sirius up in the attic in a few minutes.

"Truth," Hermione asked confused.

"Don't play dumb, it doesn't work on you. Tell him that you're a Gryffindor and your biggest flaw is your pride," Ginny said simply, "and your stubbornness." Hermione opened her mouth to argue but nothing came to mind. "Hah, I see now why Fred and Ron like making you speechless. It's adorable."

Hermione flushed before rolling her eyes. "Are you still on about that? There is nothing going on between me and any of your brothers."

Ginny shook her head amused. "We'll see about that. But I am the sister to the biggest pranksters Hogwarts has most likely ever seen and pranksters appreciate honesty. And Sirius is a prankster at heart. Course, they'll tease you but if you set boundaries with them, they will do their best to respect it so long as you give them your respect."

"How come that doesn't work with Ron or Percy?"

"Siblings have no say."

"You clearly do."

"Not really, I'm just smarter than the whole lot of them and know how to get them to do what I want."

"Teach me?"

"Sorry, too advanced for even your brain."

Hermione threw a pillow at her.

"One day you're going to run out of pillows," Ginny bellowed out to Hermione's retreating form.

Hermione stared at the rackety, old ladder leading up to the attic. She supposed Mrs. Weasley would understand if she had to back out if she fell and shattered her leg. "Mmmmm, maybe she'd even bake me a cake as an apology," she mused out loud.

"A cake," a voice said from behind her. She turned, startled to see Sirius. He looked her up and down raising an eyebrow. "You can't mention cake and not bring one to share, not polite company you know," he said cheekily.

Hermione bit her cheek trying not to grin. "Sorry, I would have brought one but then you would have died from food poisoning and after this week I think even the Weasleys would testify to me committing murder," she said straight laced.

Sirius coughed loudly attempting to cover his laughter. "Thanks for sparing me then," he said smirking.

"No problem. I hope if I were ever to be sent to Azkaban for your murder, I would have the decency to be more creative than that," Hermione replied before turning around and climbing the sorry excuse of a ladder.

"Wait did you say if," Sirius said after a moment, but Hermione had already reached the other room. He swore he heard a small laugh though.

"Remind me to fix that," he said once he reached the top and nearly falling several times. Hermione nodded in return and an awkward, tense silence descended upon them.

Just tell him you're sorry!

"Right well, I'll take this side and you take that side," Sirius said motioning Hermione take the left half of the room. "If you see anything that seems dodgy come get me." Then he stopped, looked at her, opened his mouth, seemed to think better of it and walked away.

And they call you the most brilliant witch of your age. What was that?

Sighing she walked to her side cursing herself and her stubbornness.

A few hours passed, and Hermione had managed to make a few organized piles. One for keep, one for the trash and one for Sirius to look through (she didn't have the courage to ask him right this moment). Towards the corner she could make out a bassinet and an old chest. Opening the chest, she coughed from the pile of dust she had unearthed. Inside were several albums of photos and she reached for the one nearest to her. A picture of two adorable toddlers hugging each other made her smile. They looked really happy. She kept flipping through finding numerous pictures of them, clearly one was Sirius and the other most likely his brother, playing with the other and waxing excitedly at the camera.

"Toss it," Sirius said from behind her.

"Oh, I-I'm sorry. This must be private. I'll just put it all away," she stammered out nervous before realizing what he had said, "wait toss it? But why?"

Sirius looked away. In these moments Hermione found herself caught between wanting to stare and look away. She didn't know if he was aware but he would get lost a lot. Just be in the middle of a story, stop and look off, before coming back to them. No one ever mentioned it. It just became a thing everyone was too afraid to ask about. Where do you go? "Sirius," she asked hesitating.

Sirius came back. But instead of the usual sadness in his eyes there was anger. "They're all lies," he said reaching for the album in her hands. She stepped back shielding the chest from him and clinging to the album tightly. "Hermione, those are mine and I have final decision of what happens to them," he said warning clear in his voice.

"No," she said confidence returning to her voice. "I want them."

"Don't be mad, they're not yours."

"Well you don't want them, and I do so they're mine now."

Sirius sighed exasperated. "Stubborn witch," he muttered before glaring at her, "fine, keep them. What do I care? I think that's enough for today." He stormed off without another word leaving Hermione behind with a chest of unwanted memories.

Brilliant first day.

"I thought I said apologize," Ginny said interrupting Hermione from her book, "not make it more awkward." After cleaning Hermione had finished dusting the chest and placed the albums away and closing the chest. As extra caution, she had pushed the chest to the other side and placed another nearby chest in its stead hoping to confuse Sirius in case he tried to burn it all. "He's in a foul mood, well more so than usual. Nearly bit Fred's head off for asking him a question."

Hermione looked down feeling an unpleasant knot in her stomach form. "Sorry, I didn't mean to," she said apologetic.

"It's no skin off my teeth, but maybe you should come out from this room," Ginny said waving off the apology, "hang out with the rest of us more cheerful lot." Hermione shrugged not really wanting to interact with the others. "Oh come on, we're just down in the living room and I need someone to talk to or I'll be forced to endure playing chess with Ron and I'm rubbish at it. If you're there one of the twins will play instead." Ginny even threw in her best puppy dog eyes.

"Fine," Hemione grumbled standing up, "but this means you have to let me talk about what I'm reading for a bit."

Ginny scrunched up her nose. "On second thought maybe, you should play a round with Ron and I'll chat with the twins."

Hermione laughed. "Too late, you already got me to stand up," she said teasing as she walked out with a grumbling red head behind her.

Ginny still managed to get roped into playing a round with Ron. She wondered if, as her best friend, she should inform Ginny that her weakness was being told she couldn't do something like winning against Ron. Of course, this worked against Ginny if the frustrated sighs she made were any indication as to how she was doing.

George announced he was heading to the toilet and hoped they would survive without his presence for a few minutes.

"We'll thrive without you is more like it," Ginny said shouting after her brother before returning to her game.

"Dollar for your thoughts Granger," Fred asked sitting down beside her.

"Dollar," Hemione asked amused, "I believe the expression is 'penny for your thoughts' unless I'm mistaken."

"Well, I'm afraid you are mistaken. Don't you know you're the brilliant Hemione Granger? People are lining up to pay for your thoughts," Fred said dramatically. "Between you and me you should charge more but I'm hoping as a friend I get a discount."

"I'm afraid I'll have to charge your more in fact seeing as it's unfair you have such unlimited access to my brain," Hermione said grinning, "don't want you thinking you can just use me whenever you please."

The Weasley's were a naturally red-faced lot and easily riled up but now that she thinks of it, she had never seen either of the twin's blush. It's kind of pretty. And no, that was the end of that line of thinking.

Still blushing but recovering quickly, Fred waggled his eyebrows at her and she lightly punched him on the shoulder. "Well I never knew the offer was on the table," Fred said clear innuendo in his tone.

"It's not," Hemione replied quickly flustered edging toward the end of the sofa. Wanting to steer the conversation away from her accidental implication she apologized for Sirius taking out his frustration with her on him.

"S'all right," he assured shrugging off the apology. "But if I were you, I'd fix things before Harry gets here and finds out you made his precious godfather cry."

Curses, she hadn't even factored Harry into the equation yet.

"I suppose you're right," she said, looking down at her hands quickly. Fred grinned before winking at her. He really was on a roll with getting her to admit she was wrong.

"One day Granger you'll realize I'm always right."

"Hope you don't blame me for doubting you."

"Can't say that I do, after all I dyed your hair purple."

"I wish you a slow painful death at the hands of a thousand wildebeests as your children watch devastated."

"…..muggle reference?"

"Muggle reference. I can explain if you want?"

"No, I'd rather you show me one day," Fred remarked before standing up to join George who had returned. "Also, sorry for messing with your hair, your natural hair color is much prettier."

Hermione blushed before smiling and thanking him quietly. She really needed to get a grip on this blushing, it was getting out of control.

Ginny watched amused before hearing Ron declare himself the winner.

Next Day

Sirius reached the entrance to the attic and sighed. He contemplated just burning everything in the attic down. Well better get on with it. Climbing the ladder, he reached the top and immediately a chocolatey scent hit his nose. There stood Hemione with a slice of cake, a hesitant grin on her face.

"I brought cake," she said proudly.

Sirius' eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Where did you get a cake," he asked.

"Doesn't matter, all that matters is I have one," she answered pushing the plate towards him. He grabbed it hesitantly.

"Well you implied you're a crap baker yesterday and would most likely result in my death, so I think I have reason to worry," Sirius explained.

"Fair point," she agreed, "fine, Remus brought me one from a shop yesterday and I begged him to hide it from the others, so we could share."

"Hemione, if this is about yesterday, I really don't want it. You can keep those, but I don't want to see them or talk about it," Sirius said ticked off.

"NO! Well I would like to talk about that," she said eagerly before noticing his dark expression, "but maybe that would be best for another day. I wanted to apologize. I know you didn't dye my hair color. I was just having an off day and you were the first person I saw, and I took it out on you which was unfair. Also, I meant to apologize but then I heard you talking to the twins and while I completely disagree with how you behaved, I should not have used it to justify not apologizing. Although, Sirius I hope your attitude towards women changes because it can be really damaging to our self esteem to be seen as material objects…and I'm getting off topic. Then it kept getting worse the more we talked, well argued, and you know how to push all my buttons and it just felt natural to fight with you. And I kind of liked it because you didn't look as sad when we fought but I realize now I was hurting you. I'm really sorry."

Sirius stared shocked. Hermione fidgeted. Awkward silence descended upon them once again.

"How is it possible that a tiny thing like you has enough air in your lungs to babble on for so long," he said in wonder, choking back a chuckle. Hermione spluttered trying to respond to his question. "Well seeing as this is no longer a "I feel sorry for you" cake and instead a "I'm a stubborn idiot" cake it's much more enjoyable. Give it here." Hermione handed the cake over wordlessly and he took a bite, moaning in approval. "Remus always finds the best chocolate desserts. Have you had any?"

"That's it," she exclaimed in small panicky voice. "That is the response to an apology I've been agonizing over for days! You offer me more cake and poke fun at my height."

"Can't say I have much to say, other than I'm sorry I retaliated. Some of my insults were uncalled for and were mostly just ways to rile you up," Sirius offered looking apologetic. "Suppose we should get to it then." Sirius started walking toward his side of the room.

Hemione gaped at him before grabbing a piece and moving to her side as well. They worked the rest of the day quietly. She couldn't explain, but she felt that the issue hadn't really been resolved.

Hemione knocked on the door nervously.

"One sec," a voice bellowed from inside. She heard a few shouts from inside and what sounded like a quick dash to put things away. The door opened to show a nervous looking twin but immediately relaxed upon seeing her. "Oh, it's just you. Worried you were mum. What can I help you with Granger," he questioned.

Hemione stared at him a bit trying to see if she could spot how to tell which twin it was. "George," she asked uncertainly.

"Right you are, how'd you guess," George answered.

Hemione laughed nervously. "Educated guess," she said with a note of relief. She didn't quite know how to explain to George that she knew he wasn't Fred because he didn't feel quite right. She wasn't even sure how to explain it to herself. She could make out Fred tidying up the room. "Would you be all right if I borrowed Fred for a few minutes?"

"A few minutes? Take him forever if you'd like. He's entirely useless. Unless you're here to trick him into doing chores then I must insist you turn your little head away and never return," George threatened whispering the last part hauntingly.

"Oi! Stop scaring her," Fred chimed in patting his twin on the shoulder. "Granger! What can I do for you?"

"I just need your help with a problem," Hemione requested, "but if it's a bad time I can wait."

"Nonsense! I'd love to be of service, I love pleasing people, help is what I'm all about," Fred blurted out. George gave Fred a puzzled look mouthing his twin's words as if trying to make sense of them. Fred rubbed his neck nervously, "I mean, yeah I can help. Let's go!" Fred walked away quickly calling Hemione after him.

"Are you experimenting with cheering charms," Hermione asked George bemused but started walking away before she could get a response.

George looked on his befuddled reaction morphing into a thoughtful expression.

Interesting.

Hermione caught up with Fred. "Where to Granger," he asked.

"My room should be fine, Ginny's helping your mum with dinner," she explained. Once they arrived Hemione made her way to her bed and sat down. Fred stopped for a second looking uncertain before walking hesitantly toward her side and sitting beside her rather than on Ginny's bed. Hemione felt her stomach tighten again but pushed on. "I talked to Sirius and apologized, and everything went fine."

"Great! Situation solved," he said happily.

"No."

"No," he asked confused.

"No, it still felt unresolved," she said and then proceeded to describe the entire apology.

Fred paused thinking. "Maybe it's because you only reached a temporary solution. You apologized for your behavior and so did he, but you don't know what the next step is," he reflected.

"That's it," Hemione cried out. "I want, no need, to find a way to befriend him, before Harry arrives in August."

"Well Harry doesn't get here for another three weeks so you have time," Fred said pleased he'd solved her dilemma.

"Perfect. Thank you, Fred," Hermione said beaming at him, "you're much wiser than I thought." Hemione slapped her hands to her mouth realizing what she said.

Fed grimaced for a moment but decided to laugh it off. "It's okay Granger, not all of us are in your league of genius," he remarked before standing up and pretending to wipe dust off his jeans. "Well I should go if that's all you need."

Hemione felt horrible realizing she had insinuated she had believed he wasn't very smart before all this. "I'm really sorry Fred. I'm glad you proved me wrong," she admitted, looking down at her twiddling fingers.

Fred gave her a genuine smile. "Head up Granger. I'm still just flattered you thought to ask me for help," he assured, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Hermione stilled. Normally she asked Ginny for advice for these matters but after finishing her chores she had automatically thought of Fred. She hadn't even questioned her actions. "Ahhh, well Ginny was preoccupied with other matters and you were very helpful earlier," Hermione explained hurriedly.

"Well you're always welcome to stop by our room for advice or just to test out a product," Fred said cheerfully.

Hermione smiled. "Thank you, I'll make sure to."

Beaming, Fred gave a small wave and walked out but stopped at the door. "Oh and Granger, there's one more stipulation."

"What's that?"

"You have to bring cake, only the polite thing to do you know."

Next time- the befriending of Sirius Black (well the start).

Oh and I may be uploading this on AO3 at a later date.