Acquainted and Remembered
The whole situation became even more bizarre to Hermione as time went on. The too professors and Weasley twins became this great animation before her eyes, talking of potion components, charm separation and the like. Hermione had always known the twins were ingenious but now felt she was about to unleash even more havok by allowing them access to two of the greatest minds the wizarding world have ever known. However every time she thought she would find a slip in the conversation to interrupt, she found there was not one.
"So you're telling me, we could use a bezoar to counter the effects of the venom being well venomous but then gain the colour changing component?" Snape nodded with a smirk as George began to take notes. Fred had wandered to their work bench to grab a few new products to get the opinions of Dumbledore and Snape. Just before he passed Hermione and realised how deadly silent she had become. "Mi, you okay?" He asked gently, laying down the products and giving her his full attention. "I think I have just realised how cruel I have been." This soon brought everyone's attention in the room to her.
"Hermione?" Snape was the first to question her. "I realised, I have hidden both of you away keeping you all to myself and it is truly unfair to keep you at my beck and call." she reiterated her internal thoughts and it was Albus who spoke next. "Hmmm, it seems to me that Severus and I have been keeping you all to ourselves. We have much more freedom than you realise and honestly dear girl. If Severus or myself did not wish to be at your beck and call we would not be." He whimsically stated before his eyes fell on the twins latest products. "Hermione, Between myself and Albus we are the only ones keeping you up to date with the wizarding world. It is not us that you have trapped. I will admit it is a great shame it has taken Albus and I a long time to get round to talking to the twins but that is no fault of yours."
These comments did not settle her but did cause Albus to question George about some of their new and future products. Severus was keeping keen eyes on Hermione but it was Fred who was trying to make her see reason. "You know we awfully miss you." It was a small whispered truth without a hint of humour. Rare but truthfully. "Do you remember when you were studying for your OWLs?" He asked so gently it was barely audible but Hermione nodded. "I remember coming down every morning to find you half asleep or barely awake. Your hair was everywhere." He mused at the memory. "But it was the only time I saw you fragile, like if you didn't read the next page or write the next note you would break and the world would fall apart. I guess I was stupid thinking you could break from over studying, hmm maybe under studying. But it breaks my heart to see you broken now. It's a new world Hermione and if only I could drape a blanket over your shoulders and leave you a pepper up potion to make you look like the strong lioness everyone needed. I would do it in a heartbeat. But it could only hide the cracks not heal them."
Hermione's head spun in chaos, she believed that Harry left the blankets and the potions. It was now she realised that Fred Weasley was a secret in himself. "To think I was taking Weasley Whizzes special pepper up all this time without knowing." She was trying to hide shock and confusion with humour. "You were my first Guinea pig." Fred added before running out the door into the main shop area. "FREDRICK GIDIEON WEASLEY! YOU COME BACK THIS INSTANCE!" And for that split second the old Hermione surfaced. Anger simmering and detention on the tip of her tongue. Just as the situation came back to her she quickly pulled both hands to her mouth and looked like a deer in headlights flushed red.
"Who knew? All we needed to get this lioness to rawr was a Weasley." Snape drawled and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. George found this the best moment to intervene " 'mione if it makes it any better he tested it on me first." Hermione's attention turned to the twin left in the room. "You knew!" She began to stalk towards George as he quickly held his hands up in surrender. "I only found out a year into owning the shop, does that help my case." He added as he slowly backed off towards the door to the shop. "So you're telling me, your twin. Whom you both hold no secrets from happens to just not tell you he was testing his pepper up brew on me?" George could see the holes that were clearly there but it was true he didn't know for a whole year. "He wasn't testing it on you." He was throwing out pleas towards her now.
Before Hermione realised it she and George stood in the middle of the shop. Her wand pointed evilie at one of the owners. Just as Hermione realised what George had done she felt gentle hands rest over her clutch wand fist. "Easy there Mi, you know how much damage can be done with a haywire spell in this shop." It was Fred he had done it again. Magically sneaked up on her. The deadly quiet of the shoppers shattered as they began shouted and screaming at THE Hermione Granger; autographs, questions, money and other unmentionable swarmed Hermione before she felt herself hoisted onto the shoulders of one of the twins and ran towards Lee and Verity. Just as they passed the two shop hands she watched them coordinate wards to stop them being followed into the aisle.
"Well it's good to know code red still works." Fred hummed, carrying Hermione into the back room once again. Hermione began to kick "put me down this instant." It was a holler so much as a poisonous spit of words. "Okay, okay. I mean I quite liked the.." Hermione quickly shot a punch into Freds chest. "Don't finish that sentence." A cough sputtered from his mouth and he quickly shot Hermione a smile. "Warm reception?" Dumbledore mused from his portrait but all the reply he would receive from Hermione was "Quiet."
Before long George reentered the room and informed them he called out a five minute flash sale to distract the crowd. "So Hermione, not that we are overjoyed to have you join us this afternoon. I presume there is a reason?" Fred edged the conversation with caution. They never knew what they would get with Hermione. Hermione reached into her ever extended bag and pulled out some piles of parchment. "The notes you asked me to look over, some deeds for property in hogsmeade for you to mull over and finally the patent paperwork for the wonder witch product we collaborated on." She layed each pile neatly on the clear desk.
"The notes?" George questioned. "You can't mean the notes from before the war?" He was exacerbated "But that was almost a year ago, we had all but forgotten the contents of the notes." He continued to be completely confounded. " Well you did ask me to have a look. I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you on them, the red notes are Severus' additions, Albus is purple and myself blue." She pointed to the neat notes written underneath, around and scattered across their original work. Fred half expected to see the loopy twists of Albus' hand and the spiked eagle scrattings of Snape.
Fred decided it was his turn to question. "How did you know we were looking into expanding into Hogsmeade?" Quickly shuffle through each property Hermione had laid on the table. "Harry had expressed his thoughts, I thought I should inform you that Zonko's is closing at the end of the school year and the property will be available in the fall." Not giving it too much thought Fred continued his questioning. "And you know this how? Have you moved into estate agency of wizarding property?" Albus mildly chuckled from behind Hermione. "Well actually, I own the building of which Zonko lets. Needed money to kick start the business for one final year. Everyone is looking for a laugh. He thinks he can retire on a year's profit. And from the Goblins projections I believe him right." Fred nodded along but George was becoming more weary.