Mischief Managed

I do not own the characters, but, seeing as this is AU from first year, I definitely own the plot and anything you don't recognize. And yes, this will be a light Harry Hermione ficlet.

.X.x.x.x.x.xX.

Fred and George froze, staring into the shocked eyes of the first year that had accidentally become the brunt of their newest prank. They watched her glance furtively around at all those crowded around that were now getting over their shock and falling into snickers. They watched her set her mouth and tilt her chin up, and they watched her spin on her heel and leave the common room with a soft click of the portrait door.

They glanced at each other and cursed before they too were out the portrait, frantically looking around for any trace of the firstie they had sworn not to prank. Hermione Granger had looked so lost when she first came; quiet and unsure but still helping Neville Longbottom when they first met her, though she shied away from anything but polite conversation.

They had watched the interesting first year gain the disdain of her peers through her brilliance and her absolute and blunt refusal to subtly fit her way into the world- no, Hermione Granger was muggle and proud of it. Fred and George rather liked that. The fierce loyalty to her family that had her often writing letters to them and receiving muggle trinkets that the other students scoffed at because they could do the same thing with magic; and Fred and George rather liked the way her face lit up when she received these gifts, like there was nothing better in the world that someone could give her because it meant that her parent's knew her well enough to understand that she needed reminders. She even helped the bumbling Neville who had gained the reputation for a klutz, pointed some other ill informed firsties in the right direction to the stacks, helped Seamus Finnegan with his Potions Essay because Snape was a royal berk…but they all never mentioned this to each other- like she was some taboo because she blatantly enjoyed the dusty tomes and magic lessons.

So she had a fierce loyalty and inquiring brilliant mind and unendingly compassionate heart…

But she had no friends.

And their pranks were meant to be a gentle laugh amongst friends.

Not the ganging up of the whole common room on an unsuspecting and vulnerable female.

They ran speedily along the halls, wondering where she could have gone before hearing an echoing cry from down the hall. They skidded to a stop around the corner to watch her sink down the wall with her face in her hands, the red goop still stuck in her hair. They grimaced and stepped forward to joke her into a better mood but the clip of teacher's steps stopped them and instead made them hide in the shadows.

Professor McGonagall stepped up with her proprietary air, and then she softened right in front of them and helped little Hermione with a Scourgify and her fingers gently combing through wayward curls to get the remaining stubborn goop out.

“Who was it this time?” Her burr was gentle like they'd never heard it, and Fred winced at the inference that this happened a lot to their fellow Gryff.

George sucked in a breath as Hermione only shook her head and wet doe eyes looked out from the shadow of her hair.

McGonagall sighed and settled in front of the child, hands resting on her shoulders to make her look up. “You know, Miss Granger, you can tell me who does this to you. It is only right they be punished for their actions.”

Hermione only shook her head again.

McGonagall sighed and stood, helping up her student with a hand and walking down the hallway to her quarters with her. “Let's get a cup of tea shall we? And maybe you can finish telling me of that Transfiguration theory you were thinking of.”

And they were mere echoes by the time Fred and George decided they could move.

The looked at each other with grimaces and certain that, by the morrow, they would be in deep trouble with a very vindictive teacher.

And it never came to be.

The twins stood by and watched Hermione continue on with her life as normal (although they did manage to pay closer attention and catch the jeering instances of others to her) and their Transfiguration professor try to get the girl to open up.

It was rather funny to notice that their rather strict and regal and burring professor was almost doting on the very quiet Gryffindor cub, stranger still to notice her almost friendly rapport with all the teachers (that included the visibly reluctant but still blatantly endeared Severus Snape), and it made them wonder.

So they decided to cease wondering and start asking questions- Hermione was a nice polite little girl after all, she wouldn't turn their inquiries away.

………………

“Hello Hermione.” They chorused; their identical grins in place even as she looked at them curiously and remained silent for a second.

“Fred,” she nodded in the correct twin's direction, “George.” She proceeded even as the twins stood there in shock and she regarded them politely. “Was there something that you two wanted?”

Fred cleared his throat, the first to recover, and nudged his twin before speaking up. “We were very curious about your knowledge of the castle.”

“We had seen you walking around, and you know shortcuts-“

“We've heard the others complain about how you always get to class on time,”

“-even when it's mortally impossible to do so.”

“And even when the stairs are particularly energetic.”

They left out the fact that she had run through the halls after their misfired prank- and the twins had difficultly keeping up even with their own extensive knowledge of the hallowed school.

Hermione was smiling up at them from her table, the books spread upon it thick and containing small print. Her hands were placed to hold her place on one page, and George goggled at the complex diagram on the opposite page. He didn't think he'd understand it even if it was right side up.

“And you two are interested in knowing some secret passageways?”

The twins grinned more broadly. “Of course!”

She laughed slightly, her eyes gentle as she tilted her head in thought and tapped her chin. “I am not so sure you two will appreciate this, but I don't think I'll tell you. Besides, what if I, indeed, wasn't mortal? Wouldn't that make it all possible then?”

Fred moaned dramatically as George swooned, their arms going around each other to hold themselves up as they played up her refusal. “The lady doth doubt our intentions! And try to misdirect us with such grand claims!”

“And mortally wounds our character with such oblique accusations.”

“You do know that referring to your character as one entity just confuses the both of you?” Her genuinely curious interruption had them stalling to think before they grinned, shrugged, and continued.

“Further she questions our abilities to identify our individual souls amidst the turmoil of twinship!”

“Woe!”

“Fie!

Her laughter rang out as she started cleaning up her books, shaking her head as she smiled and regarded them before she moved to leave. “My answer is still no.”

…

Fred paled and George cursed as they stood, their identical faces mirroring each other's worry as the students were filed out of the great hall.

Hermione wasn't there.

They eased their way among the Gryffindors, but no one was walking with her and they couldn't spot her distinctive form anywhere.

Suddenly, "Are you sure she's in the bathrooms?" said a worried first year with dark hair, his large eyes shiny and his posture stooped and cowering.

The blonde girl laughed, "Ran there like a wailing ghost, which is all the company she'll get there. It's Moaning Myrtle's Loo she went into."

The boy fretted about for a second before the girl's companion, a pretty dark colored witch, spoke up with a smile. "I mean really, she's taking it too hard. She did get the spell right after all."

He glowered. "She's not a nightmare though; she's just really smart- Ron shouldn't have challenged her if he was going to be a poor loser."

The girls gave him off looks and then tittered, and the boy blushed and crumpled in on himself before following them and the crowd out of the hall.

The twins exchanged horrified glances before taking their first possible chance- hiding behind two suits of armour before snitching their way along shadows and hurrying their way along small corridors. When they spun the last corner near the ghostly bathroom, they gaped down the hall as the troll lumbered slowly into the door. They gunned it, slipping into the bathroom to shout - "Hermione!" - in unison as they watched her lock herself into a stall only to have the big brute crash his club along.

Her shrill scream underlined their frantic shouts, the beast's lumbering and grunting bass almost drowning out their voices as they yelled for her to move, watched her teary face as she slipped along the floor, watched her cover her neck and scream as the club landed on porcelain, shattered porcelain, just mere feet away from her small body.

Fred scowled and threw some debris, watching the stunned beast gape his way before slowly turning, George aiming his wand to blast between its eyes and causing it to stumble. Hermione recovered herself, angrily wiping her sleeve across her face before raising her wand and standing. "Wingardium Leviosa!" She clearly intoned, and the beast stared as his club rose, and then fell to the floor as it landed upon his head.

There was a still silence, dust settling and their coping breaths heavy in the air. Then George started laughing, and Fred smiled and coughed out some dust- Hermione grinned sheepishly before smiling shyly, her toe scuffing the floor in front of her. The twins came up to her- "Best we get out before the professors come to the mess."

"Yes, they'd be right chuffed."

"You were such a good little witch."

"It must be the Weasley influence; they'll have to lock her away."

"Oh, they must not- too much of an asset to the school records. Did you not see that spellwork?"

They grinned, but then they were shocked into silence by her tiny voice.

"Thank you."

They stared at her and watched her watery eyes, her very apparent disbelief in the fact that they'd come to rescue her. They swallowed and nodded abruptly. Their hearts inexplicably swelling and softening for the small little witch that had no one and believed no one wanted her.

They quietly set about dusting her off, ignoring how she stiffened under their touch until she relaxed and timidly returned the favour. Just as silently they made their way down the corridors, barely missing the rush of Hogwarts' professors as they whooshed down the hall to the broken bathroom door, the billowing dust and scattered debris marking the destination clearly.

Hermione quietly slipped away from them, and they watched her go for a moment before turning down their separate path to the dormitories to be present for the head count.

...

Fred grinned as he came up beside Hermione, her head buried in a book as she walked through the halls and remained oblivious to the twins coming up to flank each side of her.

“Forsooth! The gentle lady ignores the gallant knights as they call for her attention!”

Hermione startled, and her wide eyes looked up at both of them as she struggled to maintain her suddenly precarious hold on the large book she held. George laughed and used a hand to steady the tome.

“I believe the lady thinks us jesters, and derides our professions as interruptions.”

Hermione wrinkled her nose. “The lady thinks that all knights are jesters, who else would gallop around with lances to gain ribbon favors with bloodshed and sport instead of bringing gifts and wooing properly for kisses?”

Fred laughed and grinned at George. “Me think the lady is asking for a bribe, what type of blokes does she take us for?”

George returned his grin as Hermione looked between them. “I think you are correct, and she believes us to be scoundrels of the worst sort.”

“No, that would be Lord Voldemort.” She stated wryly, “You two are merely a helpfully interfering nuisance. But we digress, what are you two on about now?”

Fred and George blinked at her in astonishment, withholding the shiver that rose from that name stated so bluntly. She gazed at them expectantly, and her brow furrowed as she watched them gape at each other and then shrug.

“We kindly request your input about the halls of Hogwarts.”

“You two are still on about that?”

“We are very tenacious.”

“And we do have a very important goal in mind.”

“And you two believe I'll not mind sharing my hard earned knowledge with the both of you?”

Fred and George shrugged genially. “If we're charming enough.”

She snorted out a laugh.

“You are known for helping fellow students”-

“With school work.” She interrupted with a smile.

He grinned. “The knowledge would let us get to class on time, wouldn't it Forge?”

“Oh, indubitably so. We would never have to worry about being late and receiving detentions that interfered with our homework.”

Hermione finally laughed. “I'll never get any peace.” Her eyes glittered as she eyed them, and Fred and George grinned as innocently as they best could. “But I'll let you in on a secret, and keep my own.”

Fred and George looked at each other, startled, but then they grinned mischievously and followed her through the halls.

They ended up in the library, and Hermione wove through the stacks to a little used section (George sneezed because of the dust and Fred wrinkled his nose at the cracked leather spines). She grinned at them in a secretive manner before she pulled a thick book of the stack.

“The Concise List of Confiscated Items: Hogwarts, 1976;” Fred intoned in disbelief. George made a light sound of agreement as he stared at Hermione in dismay.

She rolled her eyes and settled the tome on the filthy table, her fingers leaving tracks in the dust as she opened the pages and flipped through it absently. “I'm not willing to share my information with you, I like knowing I might be the only one who knows some of those passages. But I can tell you about this”- and she grinned and spun the book around to face them, her fingers pointing to a description.

`The Marauders Map: Parchment, folded. Suspected to be a map of Hogwarts grounds; confiscated from Misters Black and Potter after discovery in dungeon area after prank.'

Fred gaped and George whistled appreciatively. “It's a map of Hogwarts!”

“Charmed.” Hermione intoned brightly, and the twins both looked up at her confusedly for her interruption before she huffed and smiled. “It's supposed to be charmed to track where people are, students and faculty alike. I suspect it even has familiars and stuff on it.”

Fred raised one of his brows and gave her an arch look.

George grinned slyly, “And just why do you suspect that? And how do you know of it?”

She grinned sheepishly. “I read a lot. The Prankster's Book of Records two stacks over mentioned the Marauders and what they could do- it wasn't hard to make a few educated guesses.”

Fred held his tongue between his teeth as he grinned- “And why are you in the school inventory part of the library?”

She pursed her lips and sniffed at them, her eyes twinkling. “I was wondering about the old caretakers, Filch mutters all the time and gives things away.”

Fred and George exchanged looks, knowing first hand that Filch only muttered when he didn't know people were around him; because if they were he could talk about torture with a captive frightened audience.

“And you don't want the map for yourself?”

She snorted again. “Hardly, I don't want to go anywhere near that dirty office in the dungeons. Besides, it's much more fun to make your own discoveries by exploring.”

“And you're so sure this is still in the office?”

She nodded absently, readjusting her bag before giving up and settling it on the chair to rub at her shoulder. “Yes, Filch was muttering about the `Drawer of Suspicious Unclaimed Items'- and in The Prankster's Big Book of Records (that's the sequel) the pranks of the Marauders are much more tricky and risky, they had no use of any map.”

“He labels his drawers?”

The twins paused before snickering.

Hermione looked up with a small grin. “I dare say it's serendipitous that he's slightly obsessive with order.” And she smiled and nodded before tossing her bag over her shoulder and setting out. “I hope you boys don't get caught.”

Fred and George grinned at each other and started planning.

…

Fred stroked his chin in exaggerated thought, pondering the parchment in front of him.

George grinned maniacally, his teeth bared and his eyes wild as he stared at the folded paper and didn't bother fixing his unkempt hair- a result of agitated fingers ruffling it.

“Brilliant.”

“Absolutely brilliant.”

“Ingenious I'd say.”

“And I'd agree.”

“The spell work is impressive.”

“The details are magnificent.”

“The trickery is admirable.”

“Completely ingenious.”

A pause.

“We said that already.”

“Of course we have, it's true.”

“True.”

“Doesn't help us though.”

“Never thought we'd say it.”

“We need help.”

Both twins gave each other long suffering looks, communicating in that language that had become their own as surely as their identities had meshed. But then they lit up- for Hermione had made her way to their table in the isolated alcove of the library. They watched predatorily as she put her books down happily before settling into the chair across from them.

It was almost comical the way her demeanour shifted into wary suspicion when she looked up to their hungry gazes.

“What?”

George grinned and leaned his elbows on the table, suddenly quite happy that Hermione was a little precocious and damnably curious. Like a little lion cub.

Fred snickered as he carefully pushed the parchment to her.

Her eyes blinked as she cautiously regarded it, but then the slow smile gradually took over her face so that she looked as mischievous as the twins themselves on a good pranking day.

“It's got protection spells then?” She inquired.

Fred nodded, “Aperio and Revealo didn't work.”

“And neither did Fateor or the Effigia Recollection Spell.” George whined.

Hermione's eyes brightened as she regarded the folded parchment, her fingers caressing down the frayed edge before she grinned wider. “What about Penetralis? It's more passive detection than those intrusive things.”

Both twins gaped at her, but then they smiled. “That's brilliant!”

They nodded vigorously- “That way it's not exactly giving up its secrets!”

Hermione blushed, “And then we can work from there.”

“Without setting off the defence charms!”

They turned to the parchment and calmly waited while Fred said the incantation, waiting for the spell to reveal the intent of the casters who'd created the parchment charms. They all gaped at the long list of runes flashing through the air, the swirling mist of old and used magic happily revealing the need for secrecy and camaraderie.

“Well, that's interesting.”

“Quite…who would have thought of such a convoluted spell casting?”

“Well, obviously the Marauders did. And they focused on voice recognition and password intonation.”

There was a pause.

“So…what do you think the code is?”

Another pause, this one deeper and quieter than the last.

“Should we check The Pranksters' Big Book of Records?”

“What for-?”

“The biographies, magically added to examine the personalities of the pranksters.”

“It cased out their styles?”

She nodded.

“And their skills?”

She nodded again.

The twins looked at each other before grinning full out, suddenly proud that they had taken the time to get to know the quiet little library lion. They shrugged as she rolled her eyes at their renewed hungry expression, and she slipped away between the stacks to return only moments later.

They briefly paused and goggled at her ease in manoeuvring the gargantuan library.

“Here.” She said firmly, her small finger pointing to the title of a chapter.

“They have their own chapter?” They gawped.

She smiled, a silent little laugh making her mouth gape as she covered her eyes in exasperation. “They have more than one. This is dedicated solely to the Marauders' personal profiles, they are known all over the UK!” She sniffed delicately as a slightly sour look overcame her. “I can't say that I am impressed, but I am glad that no one in school now has the gall to pull some of their pranks.”

Fred and George ignored the written work, solemn and curious eyes set on their little witch as she shivered and winced and tried to hide it. Their grave eyes met as her brown eyes remained firm on the table grain, the pallor of her cheeks worrying and inciting all of their protective instincts.

It was so easy to fall for her proud intelligent smiles, her stunning eyes and straight shoulders even under the weight of her books and knowledge. But then, the quiet uncertainty of Hermione was a part of her too, and then there where moments when the twins where wholly reminded of her timidity and her stint as the butt of some heavy handed pranks…it was enough for the twins to want to ensconce her into some safe part of their mad little world.

No ill words or violence or prank would ever touch her.

They would make sure of it.

Fred snorted quietly, “How about their names?”

“Arrogant…but too obvious.”

A delicate, offended sniff was Fred's reply as he attempted it anyway. “ Moony, Wormtail, Prongs, Padfoot…”

Nothing.

“Told you. How about It's Time to Maraud!”

George only ended up slightly embarrassed and staring at a blank parchment.

A snicker from Hermione.

The parchment suddenly had ink appear, paw prints of various animals tracking along the creases before forming into words. The twins gaped happily at the genius displayed, ignoring Hermione's laugh at the biting comments they read in response to their sad attempts at passwords.

Really, that was simply uncalled for.

Fred huffed and glowered, his stance settling deeper so he could regard the puzzling parchment without swaying on unsteady feet. “I dare say that they were brilliant- worthy of a prankster's title.”

“Maybe a little too pompous,” George intoned, carefully watching Hermione's anxious expression as she shifted and then leaned forward- the cautious light to her eyes disappearing under their quiet understanding to be replaced with curiosity.

“Introduce yourselves at least, it's only proper.”

“Hermione-“

“We can't see its brain.”

“Mum always says that you”-

“Never trust anything if'-

“You can't see where it's”-

“Brain is.”

She grimaced, “That's mildly disturbing- if magic is based on the intents of the user and spells are left behind on objects that have no brain in the first place…why it's like saying we leave bits of our brain in every spell we perform.”

Fred barked out a laugh. “Well, be glad you're a know-it-all then.”

“Yes,” George nodded sagely, “you have lots to spare.”

“Now we”-

“On the other hand”-

“Share one mind.”

“Right, and I am Socrates reincarnated.”

“No.”

“Seriously.”

“Why else would we be so in tune with each other?”

“Able to finish our thoughts in each others heads?”

“Understand with the barest of glances?”

“Move together and mirror without any forethought?”

“That's your bond, nothing to do with your brain.”

They raised eyebrows at her.

She sighed exasperatedly. “You're twins!”

They exchanged a dubious glance before staring at the little lion witch.

“You grew up cribs beside each other- it's only natural that you've developed a language all your own. I imagine you might not even be aware of how you communicate through body language- and maybe even a bit of it is a mind link; I've read of stuff like that.”

George laughed, “Hermione, you can still see where we have our brain…s?” He stuck out his tongue as her face twisted- her nose wrinkling and her lips curling into a smile.

“Right, fact of the matter is we don't want to introduce ourselves.”

“Fine, be rude!” She threw up her hands. Then she sobered and gave them a contemplative glare with narrowed eyes, wagging a finger in warning. “Don't say I didn't give you warning.”

“Ah, a warning; Little Miss Knowledge has a fair few.”

“Indeed she does. One might think she actually cared.”

“Ack! Lies! She's far too smart for the like of us.”

“Fie, court jesters `til the end.”

Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled. “At least you have firm positions in the court- I dare not guess what I'd be.”

“Not the courtly lady, for certain.”

“No, too forthright for that… maybe she's the magician?”

They both grimaced.

“With flashy spells and gaudy robes?” They spoke simultaneously before shaking their heads frantically and making a disgusted sound.

Hermione's face softened as she watched them and the twins felt that she was, once again, fondly examining all the differences between them and finding amusement in the fact that she could see them both as one and as two- while everyone else saw them as one big mess.

She had a habit of falling into her moments of speculation, and they had grown accustomed to it and then endeared to it. It only served to remind them that she cared to decipher who was who and the differences that only made them more similar. Twinship was an odd thing, and the Weasley twins were no exception- they found that the more they became unique adults the more they seemed to mesh like two parts of one whole.

Maybe that was only because they'd grown up relying on each other in a large full household…but they hadn't realized they'd been dissatisfied with their lot until Hermione had come and seen them as separate individuals who were part of one whole.

And she treated them no differently for it.

So they let her have her moment, murmuring quietly as they continued their game.

“Could she be the princess then?”

“Nah, much too loud and bookish. How about the queen? Certainly she's strong and bossy enough.”

Hermione glared with a pouted smirk, her cinnamon eyes twinkling as she scrunched up her nose and then stuck out her tongue.

“Not with that immature reaction, Good Merlin my dear; whatever happened to your ladylike charm?”

She snorted and rolled her eyes. “I lost it when I started hanging out with the knight-jesters.”

They smirked and snapped their fingers, enlightenment seemingly falling upon them. “If she is not any of the above, and reacts strongly and instinctively- all the more influenced by our stunning example - there is only one thing she could be.” They bowed with a flourish, “The twin knights' pet lion.”

She gasped and reached across the table to smack them, barely managing to skim her fingers on Fred's shoulder as the twins skipped away and laughed. They whispered theatrically to each other, huddling with exaggerated care. “The lion has sharp claws, and doth desire to render us bloody for our light words.”

“To be sure, she has plans she does.”

“Dark, sinister type plans.”

Hermione snorted.

“Plans meant to foil our valiant attempts to make the courtly hearts lighter”-

“To bring joy to the hearts of the children!”

“For shame! What villainy lives in our midst!”

“Speak lion-witch!”

“Speak of your villainy and outrageous desires.”

“Speak the truth, little witch, for we will know if you do not.”

Hermione regarded them solemnly, a hand coming up over her heart as the other rose to the air in mock salute. She nodded regally, “I solemnly swear I am up to no good.”

And then the three burst into giggles.

They abruptly broke off to gape, their wide eyes blinking as they tried to recover their wits while staring at the Marauder's Map.

George, quietly, recalled them from their stupor. “Well, what do you know?”

Fred snorted.

Hermione dryly spoke up- “I didn't.”

Nonetheless, they stared happily at their accomplishment.

Until…“So, how do we make it stop?”

There was a pause.

“Fred!” Came their affronted rebuke.

…

Fred and George laughed and joked around with their little witch, careful not to use too much force when they `accidentally' knocked into her while roughhousing with each other. She was slowly getting used to the physical contact, and her timid responses and small hugs only made them find her more endearing. To truly accidentally knock her over would probably scare her and wreck all their hard work.

That she was laughing and had her books down in her bag while her head was held up high, to watch them and talk with them, sent a little thrill through them and a little bit of snappy pride to their straight spines. The twins weren't considered the best brothers to any of their siblings, but then they'd never needed to fill that role. Bill and Charlie were ample protection for little Ron or Ginny, and so the twins had fallen into the role of troublemakers- they didn't resent this at all. But sometimes, when they were being far too philosophical, they wondered if they hadn't gotten the chance to be anything else.

When they had stumbled upon Hermione, everything they'd admired, and maybe envied, about their other brothers had risen in their blood. They were protective and nurturing and strong- they were her brothers. She needed them more anyway.

So it was entirely acceptable that these strong fostering thoughts were in their heads even when they were holding a mundane conversation about the houses of Hogwarts.

“So the Ravens are smart, but really- what different is that to cunning?”

“And I take offence! I'm sly as they get! Why can't I be considered cunning?”

“You have the wrong tail brother.”

A pause filled with Hermione's small giggle.

“In that case, so do you- lion.”

“Ah, but I would rather be brave enough to carry out those risky projects than slimy enough to dodge even due credit!” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“True,” George blinked. “But to be Hufflepuff, with the tenacity to follow through and the perfect disguise!”

“Alas! None suspect the innocent Puffs!”

Both twins swooned, Hermione's laughter ringing out as she dodged a flamboyant hand gesture from Fred. “Honestly, you talk as if you can only have one house quality in you.”

“What?” Both twins recovered, shocked and portraying strong playful dismay.

“Methinks she's secretly a raven supporter, perhaps we should question her loyalties.”

“I do agree; the lady behaves suspiciously.”

“Lions must be proud and courageous, ready to face battle and stand up for their clan!”

“It's called a pride; a pride of lions, not a clan.” She shook her head in exasperation.

They grinned, mischief and magic and menacing. “But still, you're part of the pride. You need to claim your quality and embrace it!”

“I think I'm proud enough; there is a point where it's too much you know.”

“Nah.”

“Never.”

“A lion can never put down his crown; he walks as one of the favoured creatures.”

“A badger serves just as high a purpose.”

They blinked.

“In the food chain, all animals are needed for balance. If there were no badgers, ravens, snakes - or any others - the lion would stumble in exhaustion. Where would its pride be then? It's courage to go on even when he has no meat on his protruding ribs or energy to keep on fighting.”

Both twins gave disgusted grimaces- “Strong imagery.”

She smiled wryly- “It's your overactive imagination.”

“Well then, dear heart.”

“Tell us.”

“Yes, what house do you best represent then?”

She smiled and took a few contemplative steps, her eyes sparkling as her hands came up to play with the curls that had fallen to cover her cheeks.

“Well, there's `Ravenclaw' knowledge- certainly, with the imagination to practically apply her knowledge into `Slytherin' schemes… and the guts of `Gryffindor' (of course) to follow through despite circumstance. I dare say I am doing just fine.” She grinned, “I happen to like the certain qualities of all the houses that I have.”

Fred grinned. “You forgot Hufflepuff.”

She tilted her head, honestly confused. “But everyone is a Hufflepuff. That's the point.”

George grinned. “But that can't be true as there are four separate houses.”

She shook her head, eyes on them as if she didn't understand why they couldn't understand. “Yes, it is because the other three were picky and ignorant that they focused on the qualities they had and looked for them in students- truly arrogant of them. But Hufflepuff said that she would teach them all the same, and she did. They are purebloods and muggleborns, hard workers and loaf-abouts, and they stick up for each other bravely and they scheme just like every other teenager out there and knowledge is only an application of your passion. Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin; it doesn't mean anything except stereotypes and arrogance.”

Fred and George shared a wry amused grin before they spoke in unison. “Big hearted Helga is what that is; houses are for your most dominant qualities.”

She shook her head furiously. “No that's a technicality. We all have the qualities of every house in certain moderations, and it's able to shift in your personality. Deciding houses and alliances and the future based on a mere sliver of one's soul is like encouraging the disparity. Like saying I'm a muggleborn even though I am still a witch.” She looked at them with an odd light in her eyes. “I thought you two would understand that.” And she shook her head more gently.

Severus Snape swooped in to the hall at that time, pausing before approaching with a cold veneer on his face. “Is there anything wrong here?” His oily voice and sarcasms were heavy and suggestive, his eyes dark and glowering from under lanky fringe as he stood with his imposing height.

Hermione looked up serenely, even smiling slightly at her dark professor before she replied. “Nothing Professor, I was just leaving.” And she nodded cordially, gathered her bag closer to her, and then left.

All three men watched her leave, and then when she was out of sight Snape whirled on them with a furious light in his dark eyes. “If I discover that you two were making life hard for Miss Granger there will be hell to pay.”

Fred and George nodded darkly as they watched the dour man sweep away; his hissing curses audible under his breath as he continued to the dungeons.

The twins looked at each other and quickly made sure that no one was around watching them. Then it was fair game; they whipped out the Marauders map and frantically looked for their little bookworm. They spotted the speck of Hermione Granger moving down the halls to the third corridor and they quickly figured out the shortcut through the tapestry of Miranda Skyhawk in order to cut her off before she neared the secret hall to the library.

They stumbled upon her hugging her books to her chest, her chin down as she watched her feet and walked through the halls.

“Hermione!” They shouted, anxious to clear over the muddled conversation that had hurt both sides. She stiffened in response, and George uttered a creative curse as he bent over to catch his breath and Fred shuffled nervously.

“Hermione, we're sorry.”

“Yeah,” panted George, looking up through his fringe of red hair. “But you have to understand that you think differently.”

Hermione stiffened and glared. “So…what?”

Fred puffed out a nervous breath. “No, we mean that…er.” He trailed off, at a loss about explaining that her muggle heritage gave her a different perspective- wizarding children had grown up with bias regarding the houses, they wouldn't think anything of it.

It sounded bigoted, even in his head.

George sighed heavily and brushed his hair away from his forehead. “Look Hermione, Fred and I are used to being grouped together as twins, but really we are Fred and George. The distinction is nice to have.”

She sighed and shook her head. “But you two try to be as similar as possible, because you are twins. You have a connection that can't be stopped. And as witches and wizards we should have a connection that shouldn't be divided by personalities and blood.”

Fred swallowed, George looked to the floor- they both contemplated their coordinated attempts to confuse everyone about their identities, to mesh themselves so only they knew exactly which twin was which.

(And sometimes even that wasn't a sure thing- but Hermione always knew and it was perfect.)

Finally they sighed and offered contrite looks to the little witch, and she smiled and laughed lightly before pushing her book into her bag and hooking her arms around theirs. “Let's go to the library, I think I remember finding a book you two might be interested in.”

And the twins grinned and were forgiven.

..

“Fred! GEORGE!” Rang a frantic shout from down the hall, and the twins spun around to meet Hermione Granger as she flew down the steps and her wide eyes caught theirs. The twins exchanged panicky looks, worry taking over their features as they caught the little witch and pulled her into an unused classroom.

She panted and frantically threw her bag down upon a desk, her hands going to grip her hair as she paced and muttered and tried to calm down.

“Hermione? Calm down okay.”

“Yeah, it'll be okay. Just tell us what's wrong.”

“We can't help if we don't know what it is.”

“And we will help.”

She sniffled and looked up to them with a watery smile, wringing her hands together as she swallowed. “I figured out one of the teachers is the one who's been causing all the mishaps, I really didn't mean to listen in on their conversation but they startled me and I couldn't reveal the hidden passageway.” She gave them a shy smile and pleaded with her eyes.

Fred tsked and pulled her to his side, running a hand over her head to smooth out her frazzled hair as George wiped the tear tracks off her face. “And it's bad?”

“Dumbledore won't do anything?”

She shook her head and sniffled, snuggling further into Fred. “Dumbledore might already be aware, he's awesome like that- but it's why I don't think he'll help. He's so used to being powerful and wise that he forgets there are ways around his spells and protections.” She shuffled slightly, her eyes darting about- “But only a teacher would know what spell to use to make Harry fall off his broom, and the troll that got loose could have only entered through a teacher access route.” Her wide eyes suddenly looked up to both of them, and they both softened at the large darkness that had become of her fear. “I don't know what to do.”

“Okay,” George said softly as he rubbed her back. “What do we need to do?”

And she smiled, it was only a shade of her usual brightness but it made them all the happier to see it. Hermione would be okay; they just needed to make sure she had no reason to worry.

“Harry's in danger, he and Ron found Fluffy and will try to follow the mole. But then he'll meet up with protections from the adults. Hagrid let it slip that Fluffy falls asleep to music, and that means whoever's looking for the Philosopher's stone has the answer to two of the traps inside the school.”

Fred looked at George over Hermione's shoulder, wondering how their little witch knew all this stuff.

She gasped in a breath as she started panicking again, her eyes darting about to keep track of all her thoughts. “But something's off, and I think the dark lord might make an appearance. The unicorn's that have been slain in the Forbidden Forest had their blood taken- it's to maintain life…or immortality. Something Voldemort desires. This means that Harry might run into more trouble than he can handle.”

And as she finished she looked up to them so plaintively they ignored whatever sense was niggling at the back of their minds telling them to be cautious. Their blood brother was undoubtedly a part of this, and Hermione was worried. She looked up to them to fix it- and they would.

Both boys nodded and smiled at their little witch. And as she relaxed and emitted a tiny, relieved hiccup their burning eyes looked to each other and decided.

Harry wouldn't be going to face whoever made this whole mess alone.

They nodded and gave her a brief hug, and when they pulled away their faces were set in determination; their lips firmed and eyes hard as their jaws tensed. “What do we need to do?”

She took in a deep breath and gestured to start walking to the third floor corridor. “I'll subdue fluffy, the next safeguard should be easy enough because you're both really smart. It's only Snape's that I'm worried about- but you'll figure it out. Just catch up to Ron and Harry, and make sure to have his back. I'll try to keep the professors from realizing what's going on until you're at least ten minutes gone.”

Fred stopped in front of the door, and he watched quietly as Hermione took out a flute and stated some meek notes, the music growing louder and more purposeful as her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes narrowed.

They entered the room together- only startling slightly at the gigantic three headed dog sleeping beside an opened trap door (really, what else would they expect from Hagrid?). George gulped and nodded to his brother, sending a brief smile Hermione's way as she watched them worriedly.

They tried not to notice the expensive harp playing the same tune as Hermione, and they grinned at each other as they both jumped down the tunnel- this just might be fun….

The Devil's Snare was simple, the game of Giant chess interesting, the flying key a riot, the potion riddle amusing…but the mirror and the encounter with Voldemort's host…not so fun. On top of that was Harry's subdued confusion at their appearance and Ron's irritated glower- they knew the two boys weren't thinking of gratitude…but really.

The twins still emerged relatively unscathed; tired and weary and grumbling about puzzles but safe.

Fred helped George stand as he cradled a sprained wrist, and when they finally came forth from the bowels of the chamber - a weary Harry on Fred's back and Ron stumbling along beside them - they were met by a contingent of antsy teachers and the quiet figure of their little witch.

They handed Harry to Madame Pomfrey, her stretcher ready as she forced Ron to accompany her- he did so reluctantly, giving them an off look that twisted grossly when he glared at Hermione.

She ignored him and was suddenly in their arms, crying and worriedly patting their faces and looking them over for injuries. The quiet twins finally smiled; their shoulders relaxing as they held their special little witch and her lips finally smiled and choked out a laugh.

And they were all smiling as they turned to the suddenly towering teachers, dark eyes regarding them with stern confusion- the twins grinned more as Hermione blushed and fidgeted. Dumbledore regarded them strangely, but then he slowly shook his head, his long beard swinging across his purple robes, and he merely suffered a long sigh before giving them a nod and setting off in the direction of the hospital wing.

McGonagall shifted- her tartan housecoat thick and shielding as she regarded them from down the bridge of her nose. She sniffed delicately, and then she muttered something that sounded quite like `Well I never'- though it sounded like something they were not supposed to hear.

Fred grinned, because they had heard.

George spoke. “Of course not, dear Professor. I dare say you would have never gotten caught quite as spectacularly as we have- isn't that right Fred?”

“Oh, of course it is. Why, Miss McGonagall would have been a holy terror- and none would have been the wiser.”

Professor Snape snorted from his position in the shadows, looking them over carefully before his expression softened upon Hermione. She offered up one of those tiny little smiles she reserved for when she was being completely honest and forthright, and the twins practically felt a break in the tension as their dour potions master gave a conceding nod of his head to the young girl.

The two Gryffindor boys stiffened as Snape gave them an inscrutable stare- and became quite flabbergasted when the man only narrowed his eyes before his lips curled in sly satisfaction and he also gave them a nod.

McGonagall's lips twitched before she threw up her hands, her face wry and humoured as she gave them a stern glare (with Dumbledore's twinkle) before coughing out in her burr. “Miss Granger saw fit to explain everything, and I can only say that I'm appalled there is such a lack of faith in the authorities of Hogwarts that you didn't come to a professor first.” She paused and gave them a heavy look. “That said, I can now say that I am also very proud that you three saw fit to aid your fellow students despite the risk Miss Granger undoubtedly warned you of.”

The twins beamed at their little witch, and then gave each other smirks.

“Now, I want to return to my rooms and forget about this until the morning.”

Flitwick twittered from his perch beside Hagrid, looking all the more miniscule and irrelevant with the large man blubbering so close to him. He finally smiled with his hooked teeth- “My guess is that the points would counter each other gents and little lady. So just go off to bed and everything should be set right in the morning.”

Hagrid honked his nose loudly on a large, stained hanky. “Ah'm sorry I lost it. I just loved Fluffy- an' he's sleeping so peacefully. Hermione darling, you're absolutely beautiful with animals.”

Hermione was wide eyed and blushing as the twins led her past the remaining faculty- they smiled to her as she finally giggled. And everything was alright again.

People might not understand (and Ron could give them all the glares he wanted to) but the mismatched trio were alright. They'd survived the school year, and had a strong sense of who they were to show for it; they would survive the coming years just as adeptly.

And they did.

…

.XxxxxxX.

This has been on my flash drive for a long time, I've been writing it and writing it and trying to finish it as a one shot but it seems to be never ending. I'm trying to finish it today but found I needed some encouragement. So I hope you enjoyed the beginning.

I definitely enjoyed writing the twins! XD

-->

Unashamedly AU. And loving it.

.XxxxxxX.

Harry shuffled quietly as he walked into the twin's store, and he grinned at a brilliantly eye catching display of some new fangled product. He craned his neck to look around the store; only able to catch the newly hired female clerk crouched down to talk to an enthusiastic child as a matronly figure looked on in fond exasperation.

The twins were nowhere in sight.

This wasn't unusual, at this hour. It was far too early for any kind of business rush, and the twins needed time to invent and experiment and have fun themselves- lest the business take all the fun out of the business' original purpose.

He smiled politely as the mother gave him a brief glance (he kept in his snort at her sudden double take; really, they should be used to him being around by now). He watched the clerk finally confirm the sale of some Filibuster Fireworks…a few canary creams being snuck into the bag as Harry's keen eyes watched on and the woman was distracted.

He grinned as the clerk mumbled into the cashier's desk, her form hunched over and ignorant of him as the customer's left. “Are Fred and George in today?”

She groaned, “Yeah, go on back.” She waved disinterestedly and proceeded to open a witches' magazine, unconcerned with him now that he'd proven to not be a paying customer for this session- he raised an incredulous eyebrow before shaking his head and going into the workshop out back.

He grinned wider as he stepped in just to be greeted by a small puff and a plume of yellow smoke enveloping the twins in a mushroom cloud.

His laughter caused the two coughing redheads to spin and face him, and their smoky faces lit up as they suddenly pounced on him. “HARRY!” Came their mutual cry, and he grinned as they patted him on the back and spread colourful dust all over his shirt.

“It's so wonderful to see you!” One twin stated while his hand pumped Harry's own. Harry stared at the bright green stain now on his thumb.

“Of course it is! Our benefactor is always welcome- you should see the goodies we've cooked up.”

“Priceless, they'll be our bestseller yet.”

“Even greater than the skiving snack boxes!”

“And harder for the professors to detect!”

One twin winked and gave him a bony nudge with his elbow. “Even the older years might appreciate these.”

Harry finally let loose his laugh.

“Alas, it seems he's gone rather mad.”

“We're talking about Harry Potter! He can't `go mad'!”

“Well, of course he can.”

“No, no he can't. He's the bloody saint of Wizardry!”

“That's not reason enough!”

“For what?”

“For that!”

“Oh …? No! Not that?”

“Well, why not?”

“Wait; are you thinking what I'm thinking?”

“Maybe”-

“Is it that Harry finally succumbed to the pressure that wizarding society placed upon him as the savior of our ruddy world during his tender teenage years, and then they forced him to public scrutiny for their mistakes and then his glorious triumph?”

“No. That's not it.”

“Well good. I wasn't thinking that either.”

“So we must be on the same page!”

“Exactly.”

“Right.”

“Unquestionably.”

“Voldemort has come back and taken over Harry!”

Harry snorted and smiled, shaking his head while unable to think of a suitable retort.

He didn't get to as suddenly voices came from the front of the store, the clerk's stammering heard between the breaths a stern woman took to scold her with.

“Right.” Harry said, quietly. “I meant to ask you about your sanity in hiring the wench out front.”

“Ah, her. Right daft she is.”

The other twin nodded sagely. “Quite, but bored and she works for cheap- and loves selling to the littles.”

“And does a good job of that at least.”

Harry scratched his neck and regarded them in amusement, far too used to their antics after fifteen years of being considered family.

Suddenly - “Fred! George!” - the twins lit up. Harry blinked as near blinding grins spread upon their mirrored faces, their eyes over bright (enough that Harry thought the smoke might have had a teensy bit of fun stuff in it) before they were bounding to the front.

“LITTLE WITCH!” They called out happily, bouncing into the room and right into the arms of a petite woman- she smiling as brightly as they and laughing as they took turns spinning her around.

Harry watched them oddly as the young lady was finally set on her feet and was able to give them a folder she'd been holding in one hand. Her eyes were glowing as she looked down at it and pointed at a small note. “I hit pay dirt- turns out that your investment should have gotten a greater return; I looked into it more and found out that they'd been skimming off the top for a while.” She grinned, her eyes closing into little crescents with fans of lashes. “You guys have enough money to donate to that orphan fund like you wanted.”

One of the twins grinned predatorily, “And if we sue we'll get greater return.”

“Especially if they try to bribe us to keep this under the radar.”

The lady snorted and winked at them- her lips pursing to whistle innocently before the twins chuckled and placed grateful hands on her shoulders for a group hug.

Harry approached quietly, and he briefly glanced at the heading on the folder- `The Wizard Wiseacre Investment Firm' - before looking up to the twins in amusement and waiting for them to recall he was there.

One of them startled and snapped his fingers. “Merlin! Harry should be happy! He's been contemplating more donations anyway!” He turned and grinned at him, and Harry had the unsettling feeling that they'd known he was there the whole time (which was a feeling he had often with the twins, but still never got used to despite his almost family status).

The other twin laughed. “Harry look at this!”

“We're going to get some money so we can donate to the new orphanage!”

“Isn't this great!”

“Then we can make sure that all your hard work meant something!”

The girl rolled her eyes and shook her head- “They're very proud of themselves, do forgive them.”

Both twins gasped and turned to her. “But little witch”-

“You're proud of us too!”

She smiled. “Of course I am.” Her grin turned just as mischievous as theirs, and the twins only seemed to light up more proudly because of it. “Why do you think I put up with you except for your rather brief but brilliant moments?”

The duo cried out happily, pulling her to them in a Weasley hug as the folder went flying and the woman cried out in happy surprise.

Harry calmly bent and picked it up, his eyes still on the trio as they laughed and finally fell into their merrymaking with a genuine mirth that shook their shoulders and made their eyes sparkle. Harry could only smile as he absently opened the folder, his hands fiddling with the papers as he let the grin fully spread across his face.

It seemed as if everything was alright in the twins' mad little world…but Harry could only wonder how the woman fit in. She had a nickname from them, and easily fell into their embrace without any suspicious glances to their pockets for tricks- even their biological family members gave them cautious glances before approaching.

His eyes glanced down to give them some privacy, ignoring the store clerk who was nervously inching her way out the door since her shift had ended and the store would be closing soon, but his eyes suddenly grew wide and attentive as he almost dropped the folder in front of him. He gaped and took in a sharp breath, his glasses nearly slipping off his nose as he examined the numbers and finally choked on a disbelieving laugh.

The twins were like that.

He looked up with a wide grin- meeting the very smug contentment upon the twins' faces and the amusement covering the lady's. “This is brilliant- the investigation was quiet- I haven't even heard anything that would indicate something of this magnitude has even been uncovered.”

She blushed and shuffled demurely as the twins bowed up, their eyes bright and smirks proud as they gave each other haughty glances. "Of course, our little witch is used to sneaking about- quite a hard catch she was. But she was well worth it, why I don't think anyone other than you made more of a contribution to the wizarding world!"

"George!" rang her stunned shout, her eyes wide and face flushed as she rocked back on her heels. "You mustn't say things like that; plenty of people did much more."

"That's just because you don't take credit."

She rolled her eyes and settled her weight upon one leg, and as Harry watched he realized that this was an old point of contention. "I tell you I'm fine. Besides, people at the ministry think I'm loony, if they saw my name on some patents they'd deny them just out of principle."

The twins gave dark glowers.

She softened, "but thank you, I don't think I could ever have brothers better than you two."

The twins smiled and pulled her into another large hug, pressing light kisses on her brow.

She licked her lips and pulled away, crinkling her nose and dusting off some bright purple powder from her shoulder with a sly look at the twins. "New product?"

George grinned, "Your suggestion about powdered erumpent horn worked; a slight pinch of it and the dust bombs go off beautifully." He held up a finger and then bounced off to the back room, his multicolored shirt even more blinding viewed from the back.

"Did you have a good day, little lion?"

She smiled a small content little thing and nodded. "I think I got through that sticking point for the Runic translation, Bill should be happy to have it to him by the end of the week."

Fred's eyes widened before squinting joyfully. "You're working on your personal project instead of finishing work? Now that's my little cub!"

She laughed, "I finished work early today, the boss had the nerve to come in and demand I spend all my time going over Fairhill's mistake- as if it was too difficult!" She sniffed and tossed her head back.

Fred scowled, "That's the chap who put toadstool powder in with newt's poison?"

She nodded exasperatedly.

Fred snorted out a laugh, a smile fighting upon his lips before she joined him and they both commiserated over someone's stupidity.

Harry blinked, smiling in bemusement as he regarded them. It was only the twins he'd ever seen who could be so intelligent and yet so comical...

"So now Fairhill is in the medic wing for toad boils, and Mr. Flangenhan is after everyone's hides and Matherson..." she trailed off, her expression clearing with epiphany as Fred looked on curiously and waited. "That can't be right...but it's so like him. And now he's been rather short, even blamed me. Oh but I warned him and..."

"Cub?"

"George!" She suddenly yelled out, and Harry stared at her because she wasn't talking to George, and it was easier to tell the two from each other now that the war had created slight scars and faint patterns upon them (but really only if you looked, and knew where to look- as Harry was still finding).

But Fred turned to watch George pop up, his face falsely eager.

Hermione tapped her foot and shook her finger. "Don't think I don't know you pranked Matherson, he's been in a right tizzy and after my hide."

Fred slowly grinned, his freckles twisting as George tried for an expression of innocence.

"It was Fred.”

"Hey! It was not!"

George nodded solemnly, adamant.

“It was not.” She stated calmly, her eyes bored and her features dry as she twisted her wrist in a reflexive movement Harry recalled performing calming spells with.

“How did you…?”

She turned to him, surprised, and Harry smiled crookedly because she had forgotten he was there, but she answered him readily enough. “He is rather endeared to mischief resulting in gooey messes…Fred likes the more fuzzy results,” Harry narrowed his eyes as both men froze in similar guilty remembrance, “but they both love big colorful bangs.” She waved her arms about her in demonstration, a grin upon her face.

George flung out an exuberant arm, his grin wide - “Brilliant colors and distracting noise just go together!”

“And magical scenes and awed crowds make it all worth while.” Fred intoned dramatically, his eyebrows raised haughtily and assuredly before she poked him in the stomach.

“You know everyone there likes to see the results of our patents…such genius work!” The other twin nodded in agreement, a happy expression narrowing his eyes as his hands clapped together.

She scoffed before placing her arms akimbo; mouth twisted to one side to fight the emerging smile Harry could swear was twinkling in her eyes. “Hardly. Still, you better be scant if you're looking for a patent anytime soon; Matherson may have an otherwise short memory but he doesn't forget his grudges.”

“Bah, he's harmless.”

“For a man who works developing spells for aurors?”

The twins paused and blinked, smiles breaking out on their faces. “Now that's true, and an interesting point.”

“I wonder if he'd be willing to demonstrate them for us.”

Their eyes gleamed before the lady straightened authoritatively and wagged a reprimanding finger at them- “Don't you dare, because I know he'd be more than happy to do it.”

“But cub!”

“But nothing. Really you two, it's not like I'm going to turn you in. Just be more careful who you prank.”

“That bloke needed a good laugh.”

“And he'll get around to it.”

“Eventually.”

“When he stops being so shocked…”

“-and angry. Be careful the next time you come in.” She smiled and winked as she interrupted, going up to them for a hug and kiss on the cheek. “He's very suspicious, and out for blood.” She concluded, straightening out her muggle suit and making her way to the door. The men watched her as the door chime rang out, and Harry turned only to watch the twins' expressions turn feral and dangerous and satisfied.

They turned to him with serious visages, their chins tilting up defiantly when they met his curious and shocked face. “He'd pushed around our little witch, we won't stand for that.”

Harry swallowed and diverted his attention, glancing briefly out the window as he watched the strange witch walk down Diagon Alley- "He works with her though?"

Fred nodded carefully, "At the Patent Office; he stole some of her notes and patented the newer version of the cheering charm, and she just rolled over instead of contending for the rights. She usually posts under a pseudonym."

George glowered and scuffed his foot. "She was trying to find a way to recover flesh cursed off; she's been worried about the occasional ringing in my ear."

"'Ear, 'Ear." Fred stated subdued, though neither of them laughed at the gross pun.

They suddenly, magically, recovered. "But we got him good! I don't think he'll be trying to attempt signing his name on any parchments not his own for a while."

Harry stared at them for second, and then shook his head. "I don't want to know."

Fred grinned. "There was goop,"

"Plenty of it!"

"And there was maybe a teensy tiny bit of stinging pain and itchy rash."

"Maybe just a teensy bit more than teensy tiny."

"Okay, a tiny teensy bit more of it, and then there was his allergic reaction."

They both grinned. "Hermione Granger is safe for another brilliant year!" They threw up their hands in mock cheers, grins toothy and satisfied as Harry slowly smiled.

The redheads were very protective...and- "Hermione Granger!?"

They turned from peering out the window, casually turning off the open sign and locking the door before patting off each other (some remaining colorful dust floated in small clouds before dissipating). Fred twitched his nose as he sniffed, "Of course it was, don't know anyone else brilliant enough to guess we'd done that."

George smiled manically, "Or ballsy enough to call us out on it. That woman's a right treasure."

Harry couldn't speak, could only shake his head in confusion....certainly calling the woman who possessed that name ballsy didn't fit, he'd always remembered shy wisp of a girl with too much knowledge and too little time. She'd observed heavily and slipped into shadows- no one ever quite knew exactly where she was or what she was doing.

And no one had distinctly known her.

But everyone knew of her. Hermione Granger was a name from Hogwarts; a young girl crazy enough to challenge the teachers in theory and do extracurricular activities to find out what field she wanted to get into. She'd not made many friends...and then Harry gasped. "You were the two friends of hers, the ones who beat up McLaggen!"

One glowered as the other snarled, "Right git he was, good thing she saw that."

Harry let out a breathless laugh, "That means that she's the girl Molly always goes into a snit about..."

And the woman Ron abhorred, having an unhealthy dislike for her study habits and vast knowledge (always making him feel slovenly).

"Yeah, Hermione was wonderful- got into an argument with mum right off the bat."

"Of course, that could be because Mum went right into us about our futures before introducing herself. Hermione didn't like that very much."

"But Hermione got ruffled, and then got in Mum's face. Told her that she was proud of us for being so passionate about making people happy, that we'd be successful and lovable like this the rest of our lives."

"Cor, Mum almost blew at that, she always wanted us to go into potions or something more dignified."

Harry glanced between them, confused and hesitant upon their fond yet somber recollection. It was easy to recall how the twins had always refused to bring anyone to the Burrow - though Molly insisted on more company every time in the hopes of them settling down - without telling their mother that they would only invite one person to be part of their family. It fell into place easier now, because the rest of the family was okay with it- only the ever reluctant Molly refused to acknowledge the good friend the twins had become with Hermione. Whenever it was brought up she became stiff and unyielding, unused to anyone challenging her matriarchy.

Harry took in a breath and ruffled his hair, pushing his glasses up because, once again, they'd slipped down the bridge of his nose. He really needed to repair them... "That means...” he scrunched up his nose. “How long have you been helping her?" he could recall many people who'd been pranked heavily by the twins, and no one had figured out why...

Fred grinned and George snickered.

Because everyone who was anyone knew that the twins had helped him with the philosopher's stone, had found out about the basilisk, they'd protested Buckbeak's persecution with evidence and sound theory (almost to the point where some ministry members had to step in for a fight), that they'd almost fooled the age line in fourth year for the triwizard tournament, that they'd outwitted Umbridge and the inquisitorial squad so well that they'd been able to pull pranks even under their heavy rule.

They'd been far too busy to make friends with the shy little know it all he remembered from first year.

"Your first year, Harry, we made friends with a brilliant shy little thing- accidentally pranked her actually." Harry's eyes widened with the suddenly sharp remembrance, shocked to recall how everyone had laughed at their fellow Gryffindor and let her run out of the common room.

"But we helped her out when the troll came, and then she repaid us. And it was perfect." They nodded.

"She's the one who found out about the stone, and then what was going on."

"She sent us after you actually."

And Harry drew in a shaky breath as he remembered the quiet young girl at the end of that year, the one who'd cried for the twins even while Ron was glaring at her. He'd already forgotten who she was.

"And your second year! Cor that was a trial." They glowered, snarls upon their lips as Harry suddenly, vividly, remembered the basilisk and its attacks. "She's muggleborn, but tried so hard to help. Got caught coming back from the library, she did."

"We found the torn parchment in her hand, about pipes and the basilisk. And then we helped you."

"It was so easy for her to slip into shadows you know, we should have been paying more attention."

George glared. "Yeah, but what would we have done? She hates the spotlight, how people are always looking at her and waiting."

Fred snorted and mopped a hand down his face, blinking and shifting like he was physically changing the direction of their conversation. "And then in third year Harry, you weren't even curious to where we'd gotten the time turner?"

"She took on too many classes, doubled up. And then she accidentally found out about everything."

"Had a right good cry about Buckbeak and Sirius,"

"And then she handed us the time turner before sending us to the watch tower. That's where you were brooding, and it was all simple after that."

"Fourth year was easier, except she had that Krum fellow talking to her and she didn't know what to do."

"Yeah, the stupid bloke didn't understand why she'd said no to his invitation. But she was too busy figuring out the challenges so we could help you- by then I think she was sort of attached to you, she told us that you never teased her."

Harry blinked back his shock, ashamed to admit that it had been so because he'd completely forgotten about her.

"So we helped you with that stupid tournament, and she cried for Cedric- he was the only other person we knew who'd help her." There was a grudging respect behind the name, and Harry recalled how they'd first snickered about the Hufflepuff champion.

Hermione must have changed that.

"Then she found the RoR, but told Neville instead and let us tell you its story- it's all in "Hogwart's A History", though none ever read it except her."

"That's when we left for the ministry, and she arrived with the professors, though everyone was too busy to notice."

"She'd gotten worried when Umbridge came back to the school raving about children and centaurs."

The twins shrugged, "Then we left and didn't realize she'd gone back to secret corridors and shadows. And she's good at staying hidden."

One licked his lips as the other glanced off to one side. "See Harry? It's not us that help her.”

“It's the other way around.”

He was graced with somber countenances, and Harry straightened under the slightly ethereal feel the brothers exuded.

Growing up, attending to the war against Voldemort, and learning magic- Harry had always been a slightly different child. As a wizard he was no exception- he instinctively understood the magics far better than anyone gave him credit for.

And the twins were magic bonded to Hermione Granger.

The ever present feel of death defeated hung over them since Fred's journey and return, the new otherworldly light to twins that had always seemed more in tune…though now he saw what had brought them back, George from his post war depression and Fred back from it all.

There was another magic at work for them, and it had everything to do with their little lion.

He swallowed and had to consciously make the effort to relax.

For he was one of those included in the plural, and he'd never bothered to notice.

But he remembered Hermione being one to employ the polyjuice when he was being escorted from the Dursleys' for the final time, he remembered her worried face during encounters with the aurors and the triumphantly scarred return of both twins to the Burrow. He remembered her very well now, and he wondered how it was that he'd forgotten.

So he swallowed again and smiled, “Tell her thanks then, next time she comes around.”

They regarded him slowly, as if searching for a certain part of him they'd never quite seen before and were only just now glimpsing. Harry shifted uncomfortably before they grinned, like they usually did, with full teeth and squinted eyes. “We'll do.”

Harry smiled, relieved that it wouldn't have to go beyond that.

“We'll also make sure that your orphanage gets a healthy donation of toys.”

Harry blushed, because it wasn't supposed to be known that he'd built an orphanage; it was all listed under a rather misleading pseudonym with his other donations.

George smiled happily, contently. “Hermione might throw in some children's books; she's got quite the collection for her cousins.”

Harry cleared his throat. “That would be wonderful. I actually came to find out if you guys had worked things out, but I can see that Hermione did everything.”

Fred laughed, “Hermione did, didn't she?”

“She's good at everything, so it stands to reason that she would do it all.”

“No sense in stopping her either, she was almost too sappy when she found out about the orphanage.”

The twins exchanged humorous glances before simultaneously retracting their statement. “Naw!”

“She's a single child, always wanted a bigger family.”

“Busy parents, distracted nanny, senile grandparents, far away cousins…”

“You get the idea.”

Harry slowly smiled, his eyes going from one twin to the other as they held a further silent conversation he would never be privy to. “I do, you make good brothers for her.”

Fred and George blinked at him, astonished, before their faces cleared into generally thankful and happy expressions; truly pleased that he thought so…

“Thank you Harry.”

“We try our best.”

Harry smiled and nodded, tapping the folder against his other hand before handing it over and saluting- making his way to the exit now that he knew everything was fine on this front. The twins wouldn't need his help after all.

The name `Harry Potter' carried a lot of legal clout, but Harry was loath to use it in any circumstance and found himself grateful, for one more thing, to Hermione Granger.

.XxxxxxX.

Fred contemplated, and George thoughtfully scratched his chin as they looked out the window of their recently emptied shop.

“You know, our Hermione is very special.”

“Of course she is; she's brilliant and caring and wonderful.”

One grinned manically. “And powerful, do you remember that one chit she hexed?

The other's face followed suit; creating a dark manic light between both men. “Couldn't forget; our little lion certainly scared off any other woman seeking to use us for our fame and fortune.”

They coughed discreetly and sobered, easily recalling how powerful she'd been at the last war, how she'd done what she always did and helped on the sidelines. How furious and glowing her magic had been at the thought of both of them gone- they loved Hermione too much to let her grieve in such an angry manner, throwing herself in to the last few stands and fights.

It needn't be said, the other reasons people should perhaps fear her- reasons that were hidden and soft because no one else bothered to notice.

They were her brothers.

And that was where they belonged. Together in one big mess no one else could figure out.

Fred and George with their robust knowledge and vivacious personalities; and Hermione with her quiet understanding that seemed to indicate the world was illuminated for her eyes alone, a trust in the world that things were infallibly good.

And they were, because the twins would move the very rivers of magic to make sure it was- just for her.

And Hermione was their perfect completion; the sister they had never known that they'd need, the cautious worry over their health that endeared them, the strong advocate that opened their eyes to all that was swept aside, the fiery little wisp of a witch that needed them and took pride in them.

No one needed to know they spells they'd done, created. No one needed to know the magic and death they'd faced for each other. No one needed to know how the war had shifted them and altered them, together.

No one needed to know that Hermione still fought- as a muggleborn, as an unorthodox thinker in the stiff ministry, as a misunderstood student.

The twins thought of her as their perfect enigma.

Yes, Hermione was perfect.

And it seemed that no one else was good enough for her.

She was lonely and ostracized at work- the loony rights enthusiast no one could take seriously.

Fred swallowed and then raised a curious eyebrow, a slow smile overtaking his lips.

George grinned from ear to `ear', and started snickering.

Certainly no one was good enough for their complex little witch, but, if anything, Harry Potter was close enough.

They'd be good for each other.

…XxxxxX…

Harry shuffled a hand through his hair, daunted by the looks of blatant hunger he was getting from the crowd eager for a statement or conversation. The host quietly handed him a menu, but Harry only murmured his thanks and promptly hid behind it.

He could never get used to the attention his mother's power had brought him.

But his attention was caught when the patrons abruptly turned their attention elsewhere and snickered.

He slowly shifted his eyes though the gloom of ambiance, widening when he spotted the prim Hermione Granger pursing her lips and endeavoring to ignore the other clients as they hid snickers behind their hands and pointed while whispering.

She tossed her head proudly; her glittering eyes narrowed as the host stumbled over himself and gestured to the set tables.

Harry grinned, for despite the fact that most of the diners laughed at her, they certainly quieted themselves cautiously and carefully looked away when she passed. She kept her face carefully blank through it all, so it was all the more startling to see her startle when she spotted him and the host seated her across from his place. “Harry?” She whispered quietly, her eyes darting about to a certain nosy couple with a prim look while they flushed and abruptly busied themselves.

“Hermione…?”

“I was supposed to be meeting the twins…” Her head tilted and her eyes narrowed, a calculating suspicious gleam in them before her lips smirked and she shook her head.

She tsked softly, and Harry felt his crooked grin in reply stretch his mouth- “They were supposed to meet me about starting a store in Canada. Apparently the little ankle nippers over there are quite eager.”

Hermione smiled softly, a gleam to her that spoke of her appreciation for the twins and all that they'd created. Except: “It seems we've been had.”

Harry settled; unsure whether he wanted to admit to being bested by the twins or not. “They're not simply late?”

She grinned, “George is a stickler for timing; says they might as well be different and make their fashionable entrance spot on.” Her smile softened and her eyes drifted to the side, and Harry couldn't help but grin at her blatant fondness for the two troublemakers- despite her quite prim and solid air.

“So…they want us to have dinner?” He smiled mischievously, “It would be such a shame if we never even got to eat.”

She gave him an odd look before tittering out a laugh. “I am rather tired of the crowd.”

Harry grinned and stood, tipping his head to the gawking host as he left a sizable tip on the table and escorted Hermione towards the exit. He tried to sober his expression as the snotty man stumbled over himself with apologies and questions, but Hermione only raised her eyebrow and sniffed rather primly before the man silenced himself.

Harry snorted and rushed her out of the establishment before he broke out into laughter.

His hand came up to pinch the bridge of his nose, a snort escaping him as he calmed down and turned to the delightful creature walking sedately beside him. He almost started another fit when he saw the blatantly smug and satisfied air she carried about her, instead he smiled contently and settled as she tossed her head and shifted the grip she had on her purse.

“That'll teach them; really, I don't know what the twins thought about sending us to that dreadful place.”

Harry shook his head- “It was particularly bad in there…”

Hermione snorted. “They were vultures.” She turned to him and wagged a finger. “And one must always be rid of vultures- they stick around and breed.”

Harry smiled and let out a breath, actually quite pleased that they'd left the nosey restaurant. He usually stayed to put up with it since Ron couldn't be torn away form his food. “They'll probably go through a black period, bad publicity stunt and all that.”

Hermione smiled serenely. “It serves them right. What, with all those busybodies and the host's appalling taste in manners.” She sniffed delicately and sent him an arch look.

Harry chuckled and turned to look ahead.

There was a comfortable silence between them.

“So...?”

“The twins seem to want us to have dinner.”

“Yes, I have no idea why they thought we wanted to be set up on a blind date.”

Harry felt his brows furrow, a sly grin on his lips as he turned to look into the dark street. “Especially in that restaurant- maybe they wanted us to make a scene.”

Hermione threw her head back and laughed, “I would just as easily have done so with them- in fact, it might have been more of a hullabaloo with their input.” She drew in a shaky happy breath as she closed her eyes. “No, and if the twins are up to what I think they are I feel the need to kick them.”

“Oh?”

She blushed and pulled her fingers uncertainly, her suddenly shy eyes darting to him before she bit her lip. “They're rather protective of me...”

“And…?” He twisted and leaned forward slightly to see more of that delightful blush as they passed under the lit oil lamppost.

She blushed more before huffing, her eyes flashing as she straightened. “Well, they obviously think we need to go on a date, which means they think I'm feeling lonely.”

Harry watched her deflate before his eyes, her soft eyes sad and dark as she sighed.

“But they're so good to me; I can't help but feel bad that they're not everything. I mean they're worth it all, and it's not like I have anyone lining up- they really shouldn't worry so. And they pulled you into this, which is almost sweet since I know how they think and all that but really I feel bad and…”

Harry sadly listened to her babble, his heart warming even as he reached out to stop her rushed sentences. “I think they had the right idea.” Her wide eyes turned to him sharply, the clearly astonished expression on her face only serving to make him smile and draw closer to her. “Obviously we understand each other.” He grinned in fond recollection of the restaurant (now that they'd left it in a right mess and Hermione was grinning shyly at him).

She cleared her throat softly and looked up at him, her fingers stiffening to avoid the fretting they'd been doing before. “Well, then I must say that I do find your company enjoyable.” And she smiled at him.

Harry blushed, a grin and a laugh unhindered as he reached out for her hand to ensconce it in his. “Well, I'm not sure I should thank the twins- they have enough trouble getting their heads through doors as is.”

Hermione laughed and cautiously curled her fingers around his. “Well, they should be able to take it as much as they dish it out.” She spoke slowly, a scheming air to her words.

Harry grinned fuller. “Hmmm, and what would be the best way to reward the two pranksters?”

Hermione giggled and pulled herself closer to him, the warmth of her body inviting at his side. “Well, they would be pleased as all get out for us to get together, it seems.” She hastily added under his dark emerald eyes, and he watched her blush and draw into herself uncertainly as his heart thudded in his chest.

“Well, we can't have them crowing about our relationship.” Her wide eyes turned back to him. “We'll just have to make sure they aren't aware of it; maybe pretend to dislike each other.” He grinned roguishly; “Though that might prove very hard for me, dear Hermione.”

She laughed and swatted his arm with her free hand; her body more comfortably folding into his side as he watched the mischievous light enter her eyes and the impish look transform her expression. He rather liked it. “Well, the twins would be expecting us to get together- they'd have put a lot of thought into this.” Her expression cleared into epiphany- “Those little buggers! They've been talking about you more often; I can't believe I haven't noticed.”

Harry grinned sheepishly. “They've been contacting me more too, and you've been brought up on occasion.” He blushed and scratched the bridge of his nose under her thoughtful eyes.

She smiled slowly up at him, an endearing light to her eyes before she looked down with a blush and a lick to her lips. “Yes, but knowing the twins they'll simply want a large reaction. And if we pretend to dislike each other they'll be after you. It's still a reaction, but they'd be protective of me as well.” She smiled and looked up to him, clearly delighted in the twins' endeavors to make sure she was happy.

Harry nodded fondly. “They are very fond of you, can't say I've heard a bad thing.”

She beamed up at him. “Now that almost makes me feel bad about what I was going to suggest.”

Harry leaned forward like a conspirator, his eyes twinkling like they hadn't since his own pranks at Hogwarts. “Oh? Do tell.”

She laughed quietly, drawing her hand up to cover her mouth as her eyes darted around. “Well,” she started, her eyes sparkling, “since the twins are so looking forward to our reactions…what about none at all?”

Harry blinked in shock. “Nothing?”

She nodded her head happily, quite pleased with herself as Harry fought the grin resulting from her darling antics. She sniffed primly, “Really, setting us up. They sort of deserve it no? They'll be so disappointed and confused.” Her sudden grin was almost feral.

Harry choked. As he coughed Hermione carefully rubbed his back as she emitted carefully restrained comforting sounds (hiding her laughter). He recovered himself and grinned around watery eyes- “That's positively evil.”

She smiled, “Yes well, what can I say. The twins taught me well.”

Harry snorted and took her hand in his. His eyes twinkled as he examined her small fingers between his with a very serious air. “I dare say they might be proud, after they get over their shock and dismay of course.”

She smiled and bumped her hip into him. “Hmmm, yes they might.” The beaming smile she turned up at him was all fond recollection- an appreciation and respect for the twins' peculiar brand of brilliance.

Harry found himself helpless to the grin that sprung in response, a wonder in his being at the delightful young woman that had managed to stay hidden for so long. He cleared his throat at this turn of thoughts, feeling unaccountably awkward even if he supposed she couldn't read minds.

But Hermione walked beside him calmly, her hand tucked into the crook of his arm and her steps energetic as she watched the people they passed. “Hermione,” she turned expectant doe eyes up to him, and he faltered. But he could only continue under the sincerity that was her entire being. “Do you think we could actually go out for dinner?”

She startled and blushed, a pleased smile overtaking her. “I think I'd like that.”

Harry grinned impishly. “We should probably do it after we've teased the twins…”

Her laugh rang out as she threw her head back, suddenly pulling him along the street in the direction of the twins' shop.

Harry laughed and jogged to catch up to her.

.XxxxX.

Fred fidgeted and fretted; a manic grin upon his face as he flitted about the store and glanced at the clock every now and then. George grinned and randomly made abrupt hand motions, his excitement too much to handle.

“Do you think they met yet?”

“Hermione is a stickler for timing; something about making an unusual fashionable entrance spot on or the like.”

“Hmmm, that's us.”

“No, that's the three of us.”

“All of us.”

There was a silence as one of the twins fiddled with a trinket they had on the clerk counter.

“You two didn't even bother to show up!” a witch stormed into their store, her hands waving about her head and a spectacular glower upon her pretty face.

The twins twitched and drew back slightly at her pouting face, easily seeing behind her angry eyes to the very personal affront she felt at their supposed abandonment of her. Fred stumbled over himself as he hurried forward to draw her into a hug, an odd noise coming from his throat a he glared at George.

Said twin cleared his throat awkwardly and shrugged his shoulders, hunching forward slightly as he replied. “Sorry, Hermione.”

She sniffed haughtily and glared before looking away.

The twins shuffled and brightened, quickly moving towards her in their attempt to reconcile. “Ah! Have you seen the results of that unicorn hair in the Innocuous Draught?

“Yes! And the diameter of the powdered bomb explosions?”

“Quite brilliant additions to our patents, we'll have to remember to thank the little witch who suggested them.”

She looked at them over her shoulder, an eyebrow raised in haughty amusement.

Any reply she was about to make was caught off by the `moo' of the door chime announcing a customer.

Harry made his way in, casual and unassuming as he always was, yet (to the twins' uncanny senses) still wary and ready for the next certain danger. The war had changed them all like that, and the twins were dismayed to realize their two favorite people weren't even close enough for a potential relationship so they could relax in each other's presence and enjoy the mischief they got so rarely lately.

He tapped off his boots at the entrance before glancing up, his lopsided smile in place as he greeted the twins and then startled at Hermione's presence. Politely he straightened himself into a more gentlemanly mindset- the twins watching with dismay as he carefully shuttered his expression.

Hermione cleared her throat and nodded her head genially. “Evening, Harry.”

Harry shuffled and looked around. “So…is anything going on tonight?” He cast a quick furtive glance to the twins as they grimaced and Hermione scowled.

It figured that their distraction in Harry bloody Potter would only serve to remind Hermione of her ire.

George quickly rushed to her. “Of course! Hermione's here!”

Red nodded emphatically. “There's always something special when Hermione's here. And Harry Potter to boot.”

The brief bemused expression that came over Harry settled the twins, for the boy - though rather reluctantly accepting of his popular status - was unused to anyone considering him second place.

But Hermione Granger was the twins' world; their pride and joy.

George grinned suddenly as Hermione relaxed, taking her sweet time but leaning into his hug as she released a sigh that heaved her shoulders.

The twins relaxed and quietly set about distracting the duo, their aspirations met with Harry's typical amazement and Hermione's usual fond and proud exasperation. They were always a delight to entertain, as Harry lacked whatever childhood he could have had of mischief and juvenile pursuits- as so it was a joy for the twins to watch him light up in genuine enchantment with their own toils. And Hermione, their perfect little lion witch so used to hiding in shadows and watching the world pass her by, they were always elated to draw her out of her quiet guard. It was always thrilling to see her eyes lit up with the knowledge that they wouldn't hurt her, that she was safe to enjoy their games without any other care in the worry.

She didn't have to observe and calculate, and, for one joyous moment, she was their brilliant lion witch letting herself be herself without regard to the outer world.

Harry definitely took second place to that.

He watched the two cautiously ease their way around each other, Fred painfully aware of how uncertain Hermione became every time she remembered the Potter boy was present.

So they relaxed and consciously drew the pair into conversation, making Hermione blush as they talked about her brief and fearful encounter with the poor school brooms (Harry's smile then was all boyish and good natured, even if he couldn't understand why she feared flying). Hermione laughed as they talked about Harry's first encounter with garden gnomes and Harry reciprocated by telling of the twins' folly one Christmas dinner by mentioning her just as Molly entered the room.

The twins glowered as Hermione fought between glowing at her pride for them standing up for her and contrition for ruining their family dinner.

To make her forget they quickly rushed with another fond memory, though Hermione would be quick to disagree. “Hah! In fourth year Hermione took it upon herself to champion the House Elves. Then she met this poor little creature who entirely abhorred the thought of not following her traditions- I dare say she turned Winky into a right drunkard.”

“Not that it's hard mind you, what with Butter Beer hitting them like Good FireWhiskey.”

Harry gaped as Hermione coloured, her eyes glaring. “Yes well; what about the time you two decided to try and use stinging nettle in place of fairy sage and…” the rest of her sentence was cut off by a sheepish George as his hand covered her mouth.

Her twinkling amber eyes were highly distracting as they tried to cover her almost revealing of their spectacular blunder.

Harry came to their rescue- “Winky? Dobby told me she came around- started talking about her Miss My-knee.” His lips twitched in a faint smile.

Hermione's eyes crinkled in a very visible smile and George removed his hand to watch her beam at their friend.

Perhaps their plans could be salvaged.

But first, a little revenge for almost revealing the damage their faulty potion had created.

Fred grinned. “Yes, people do make a habit of massacring her name. Why I recall a certain Bulgarian who couldn't ever get it right.”

George snickered and casually leaned back- “Poor little lion- he never quite took the hint until she drew her wand and hexed him.”

“Of course, it just so happened that her fury made her say the first thing that came to mind. And I don't think Krum minded the fact that she tied his hands to the chair and gagged him.”

“Might have been a wee bit into the heavy scene, that one.”

Hermione flushed and her hair frazzled out, her eyes flashing before she settled herself. “Yes well, I seem to recall a pair of wizards entirely too ready to come to my aid once they realized the predicament I'd gotten myself into. Viktor was entirely too forward after that. But Fred and George failed to realize the whole of the Durmstrang guests would come to Krum's aid and chase them off- I think they just barely managed to outrun them in the halls.”

Her grin was impish as the twins groaned and smacked their palms to their faces.

Fred drew a stealing breath, mock hurt upon his face as he clutched at his chest. “Ack! For shame little lion witch! And here we weren't going to tell him of the time your dorm mates managed to gussy you up.”

Hermione turned red, her eyes almost crossing as she glared. Her arms crossed as she huffed.

“Poor little lion had to endure hours of primping and fawning and veiled insults- truly a fate worse than death!”

Harry muffled a laugh; rather smartly, Fred thought with an approving eye, gleeful at the obvious indication that they were positively made for each other. Already they understood and communicated.

His brow furrowed and he sent Hermione a suspicious look, catching her intelligent eyes only to narrow his more.

Something wasn't right.

George cleared his throat uncertainly, and then was distracted by Hermione as she continued their little game. “What about the time Angelina started snogging you instead of him?”

They coughed and flushed; wicked gleams in their eyes- it was time for the heavy ammunition. “And what about the time you were so certain that the Half Blood Prince was a girl?”

Harry snorted, and the twins grinned once again at the entertaining thought of Severus Snape in drag.

“Or how Draco couldn't possible be behind all those plots? And that Dumbledore was a right old coot for letting anyone doubt him?”

“What about when you found Crookshanks up that tree and couldn't get him, started panicking as if you weren't a witch?”

“Or how about your boggart being McGonnagaall?”

Hermione carefully arranged the cuff of her blouse, her eyes narrowed before a reluctant smile overcame her face. “I don't think she ever got over her shock.” The twins grinned at their triumph. “But I dare say that anyone can make mistakes, I now know that you two are by far the worst thing that could happen to someone if you set your minds to it.” Her eyes softened. “So don't ever change.”

The twins grinned and looked at each other. “Can't change- I've got a mirror to make sure I look this great all the time.” The simultaneously primped.

Harry laughed and shook his head, “You two are unbelievable.”

Free grinned. “Of course.”

George nodded solemnly. “It's hard to believe we're so brilliant. Able to catch even the best wizard unawares.”

Fred puffed up his chest. “It's also very gratifying to be the most handsome blokes in England, on top of our wanted bachelor status and stellar wit.”

“And our humility.”

“Of course,” Hermione rolled her eyes comically as she moved about gathering her things. “Now Harry, I do believe we have plans.” Hermione said primly, her eyes only briefly falling upon George before she turned to exit.

Harry nodded quite steadily, “Yes, I was thinking about this new restaurant muggle side- it has the best chips I've had in a while.”

Fred and George gasped and gaped as the two sent winks over their shoulders- Harry's hand tenderly on her back and Hermione's shoulder leaning into his side.

They left without much fanfare, but the twins recovered soon enough and let out equal shouts of mirth and dismay- the pair might be a little too good together.

George grinned and turned to his twin, tipping a nonexistent hat and bowing in appreciation. Fred smiled softly, his eyes dark as he sighed.

“That's that.”

“Indeed it is.”

“Kind of like they were made for each other, ain't it?”

“Yeah, like they're the final piece of a well thought out prank.”

Fred and George grinned at each other, their souls joyful and almost unbound in the revelation of their happy soul sister and the comfort their pseudo brother had found. “Well in that case,” they paused together to stare at the couple walking down the street without regard to the gapes and stumbles that followed their path. The twins returned to each other and nodded solemnly, their smiles proud and almost surreally aware. Their voices spoke out together, a supernatural magical echo; “Mischief Managed.”

X.X.X.X X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X. X.X.X.X X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X

I have had two anonymous reviewers put this story down, and would like to point out that I am tired of being called a sick joke. If you guys really don't like this story be honest but don't just say tings like that without backing them up—I want to know why my story sucks as much as you think it does. Is it the (questionable and barely there) plot? Or is it the way I write Hermione as a character? Maybe it's the way I like writing the twins and Hermione as siblings…just tell me.

Also, please, if you want to call my work crap please use proper English. And if the story is truly abhorrent report it to the admins and I'm sure we'll all work it out. It sucks that the reviews are anonymous so I can't do anything, and quitting writing will only make you (whoever you (all) are) happy. So give me some feedback I can actually respond to—if it's worth it I might just fix my writing.

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