Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Semper Vigilans ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Semper Vigilans
- Chapter 7 -


Hogwarts Academy - Hermione's Fifth Year


Hermione looked up from the textbook she had been poring over for the last three hours as the door to the Common Room opened allowing three figures to enter. From the comfort of the couch, she watched in amusement as Fred and George, along with Lee Jordan playfully pushed at each other while laughing uproariously and praising each other on a job well done. More than likely, they had just finished testing a new product for the twins' future business venture. She could only imagine which poor soul they had just wreaked havoc on before returning.

She shook her head as she went back to her studies, her thought briefly wandering to how disapproving she would have been of such antics just four years ago. But that was before she had gotten to really know the Weasley Twins. Before their first encounter in the Restricted Section, she had only known them by means of their reputation. Their popularity, achievements in sports and pranking abilities were renowned school-wide. They had seemed, in the beginning, untouchable to someone like herself.

It wasn't until after her rather literal run in with them, however, that she'd soon learned how wrong she was. They really were caring people. She'd witnessed them comfort or come to the aide of their friends when needed, herself included, on many occasions. She had learned that, despite their jokester personas, they were serious when the time called for it.

She had also discovered that they were evil geniuses when it came to coming up with ideas for products and when putting their skills to use in making those ideas reality, they had been sublime. Because of all this, Hermione was certain that if the opportunity arose in the future for them to open their own business that they would be a success.

That was the reason she was not disturbed by the fact that they had obviously just come from a pulling a prank on some poor sod. If there was one thing she could say about her boys, while they loved a good prank, seldom was it done for spite or to cause harm.

She was jolted from her reminiscent thoughts when Fred collapsed onto the couch on her left side, while George did the same on her right. The action caused her to bounce a bit on the cushion of the seat. Lee, who had settled on the floor in front of her near her feet, chuckled at the annoyed look she shot the twins.

"Really, guys, can't you see I'm trying to study here?" she readjusted her book on her lap.

"Come on, Kit, there's a lot more important things we could be doing, you know?" George began.

"Headmaster Dumbledore has given express permission for students wanting to go swimming in the Black Lake for the evening." Lee continued, shooting Hermione puppy eyes for good measure.

"I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing you in a bikini." Fred concluded, nudging her shoulder as he wiggled his eyebrows at her.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm sure Angelina would appreciate knowing that, Fred. Besides, I don't have time, there's an important exam next Tuesday. Not to mention I'm already behind in my research for the essay due on the 19th..."

"But it's only the 5th..." Lee pointed out. The twins shared a look with their best guy friend, they knew what was coming.

"Exactly," Hermione replied, ignoring the gestures equivalent to "See!" the twins made to Lee.

Lee's bark of laughter caught Hermione's attention. "What?" she questioned, not sure exactly what he found so amusing by her situation. Lee waved her off. "Nothing, Little Mimi. I'm just still in awe of your dedication to your more studious endeavors."

Hermione shook her head at the nickname Lee insisted on using for her. That was okay, she had a nickname for him as well.

"Well, Jory, if either you, or Mischief and Mayhem over here, would take the time to open a textbook every once in a while you might find out that studying can be quite enjoyable, not to mention beneficial."

The twins’ response to this was to each throw an arm around her shoulders and pull her back with them onto the couch while Lee grabbed the book from her hands. Closing the book, Lee placed it on the nearby table which was littered with her various notebooks, pens and things.

"Honestly?" Hermione huffed as looked at the three boys in turn that surrounded her, noted the conspiratorial look they shared, and knew immediately she would not get to finish studying today.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The Twins' Flat - Saturday Morning

Hermione's eyes flew open as she heard a crash coming from the kitchen. She sat up straight in bed, confused about her surroundings, and why her head was throbbing like someone was hitting it with a hammer, or why her throat felt as dry as sandpaper. She struggled to remember where she was and how she had gotten here. Taking a chance, she turned her head to look around, recognizing George's bedroom, though she suffered for it as another jolt of blinding pain pierced her brain. She cradled her head in her hands as she vaguely recalled the events from the prior day.

The trip to the zoo and all the things before she remembered clearly, but then they had returned to the flat and started their drink fest and she could recall nothing else. She should have known better, really, she never was one who could hold her drink. Flinging aside the covers, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, intending to stumble her way to the loo. However, her progress was promptly halted when a wave of dizziness hit her, causing her knees to buckle and sending her tumbling onto the floor in a tangle of legs, as she lost balance.

"Shit," Hermione muttered as she attempted to pull herself up from the crumpled heap she had formed on George's bedroom floor. She clutched at her head as another piercing pain ripped through it followed by a severe case of nausea.

Somehow, the sound of the bedroom door opening and footsteps crossing the room toward her managed to make it through her self-induced agony. Dammit, she was never touching another alcoholic drink again.

George had heard a thud coming from his bedroom, and as the only person currently invading his private space was Hermione, he hastily made his way over to her, his eyes falling upon her shaky form on the floor. He knelt beside her, a soft wash-cloth in his hands, he was expecting this. He pressed the cold fabric to the back of her neck.

"Breathe slowly, love." he instructed as he helped her up, and sat her on his bed. "Your drinking got a wee bit out of hand."

"More than a little..." she attempted to say but the words came out more of a whimper.

The cool sensation of the cloth on the back of her neck began to sooth her head, though she could still feel the nausea building within her stomach. She reached up weakly to clutch at the front of George's shirt in an attempt to pull him nearer in order to lean her head against his chest. George complied and she sighed in relief as she pressed her forehead against the muscled surface, adding a bit more relief to the throbbing pain.

George hugged her to him, gently caressing her back. 'Fred?' he asked through their mental link. 'Would you mind bringing some of that special potion I brewed over to my bedroom? Kit's hungover.'

'Be right there.' Fred replied and made his way to the cabinet they kept locked due to the contents held within.

During their fifth year, the twins and Lee Jordan had been introduced to whisky at a party thrown by fellow student Cedric Diggory. Though the boys had taken to the taste of the alcohol, Lee's constitution for the drink was nowhere near what the twins possessed. Thus, on the few occasions the trio had imbibed said liquor, Lee had always wound up hung over the next morning.

Seeing their friend suffer this fate time and again had triggered something in their minds - a memory surfacing from the depths of they knew not where. With the knowledge revealed they were able to prepare a potion made from certain plant-life that they had altered using a touch of the weird energy their bodies were beginning to produce. Once finished, they had felt sure that it would help - not harm - their friend. Lee had been astonished the first time he'd tried it. Not even twenty minutes after consuming the thick liquid, his splitting headache and nausea were all but gone. He had sung their praises for days, insisting they patent the brew and had lovingly dubbed it "Pepper-Up Potion".

Now, with said bottle of potion in hand, Fred approached and knocked on the bedroom door. He was a bit nervous about what had happened last night, and whether or not Hermione even remembered any of it. He honestly hoped not.

"Here you go, love, take this and you'll be right as rain." Fred offered hesitantly, kneeling down beside his twin. He sighed in relief when Hermione shifted enough to move her head from George's chest onto his own.

"Thank you." Hermione mumbled against his chest. She raised her head long enough to swallow the contents in the bottle with only a slight grimace before resting her forehead against Fred's chest once more. "Never let me drink again." she moaned.

"Sure, love. Never again." Fred murmured, placing a light kiss to the crown of her head.

Together the brothers helped her to her feet and were just tucking her back in bed when they heard the sound of someone knocking on the door.

"Were we expecting anyone today?" Fred asked.

George shook his head in the negative. "None that I'm aware of."

There was a select few who possessed a key to the door to their shop, narrowing down the possibilities of who could be knocking on the door to the flat significantly. They both turned back to the woman lying on the bed. George leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Take it easy, pet. We'll take care of you." he murmured tenderly before pulling back. They smiled down at her when she nodded slightly before pulling the covers over her head.

With one last final glance the twins turned in sync and went to see which family member was at their front door.

Ron Weasley was impatiently tapping his foot outside the twins' abode, his bright red hair, highlighted with strands of orange, was haphazardly tied into a pony tail with a leather cord and hung over shoulder, brushing his wicked dragon tattoo that ran from the curve of his neck down his back, towards the upper lines of his hips. He and his best friend, Harry Potter, had gotten tattoos together as their graduation gift to each other. It had been a huge hit with their girlfriends, but his mother had gone berserk about it, and she had yelled at them for days.

He let out a puff of air as the door finally opened, with the twins peeking their heads out, blinking at him. "Did we forget that you were coming by today?" Fred wondered out loud.

The youngest Weasley brother scratched at his neck sheepishly. "Nah, Mum sent me over to tell you that she's expecting you lot over for dinner next Friday night." he said, and then leaned in close to whisper. "Between you and me though, I would be on high alert when you arrive, because she's been kinda suspiciously cheerful and adamant that you come." he confided in them.

The twins shared a worried glance, and Georgie groaned. "I really hope she isn't setting us up with her friends' single daughters from her society gatherings. Last month was a spectacular case of awful..."

Ron didn't wait for an invitation to come inside, He simply shouldered his way between the twins and proceeded to head toward the kitchen where he helped himself to a soda from the fridge.

"Why don't you come in and have a drink, Ron. We don't mind." George muttered bitterly under his breath as he and Fred shared an exasperated look before shutting the door and turning around just as their younger brother reemerged from the kitchen, drink in hand.

"Yeah, thanks bro." Ron grinned, the sarcasm going right over his head. "So what are your plans for today? Do you wanna hang out with me and Harry? We're going to visit the old school grounds, perhaps prank Filch..."

Fred and George shot each other looks of annoyance.

"I don't think that we have-"

"Enough time in our busy schedule-"

"To spend time with you Ronnikins-" they chimed in their eerie Twin-Speak.

"Actually we'd appreciate it if you took your drink-" Fred said, as he ushered him towards the door.

"And got out of our hair... we'll even give you some pranks-" George promised, but his plan to nudged their baby brother out of the flat was thwarted by the sound of a feminine voice - followed by its owner - emerging feebly from his bedroom.

"Georgie? Freddie? Who was at the- Oh." Hermione came up short at the sight of one of her less than favorite people standing in the middle of the twins' flat.

Ron shot them an accusing look. "What the bloody hell is this?"

Fred rolled his eyes at his little brother. "Oh, come off it, Ron..."

"...it's not what it looks like." George finished for his twin before turning to face Hermione. She looked a bit like death warmed over but at least she wasn't wincing at every other word spoken. "You feeling any better, Kit?" he asked, ignoring the slight snort of disgust from behind him. He had never understood Ron's distaste for their friendship with Hermione. She'd been in Ron's grade at Hogwarts, but never had he shown a desire to befriend her.

"It looks like you've been screwing around with Granger." he accused them, disgust written all over his face.

Ever since he had first learned that the know-it-all swot had gotten into Hogwarts Academy on a full scholarship, he'd held a grudge against her, seeing as his parents had to struggle to pay for each of their children to attend such a good school. It only deepened when, for some odd-ball reason, the twins had taken her under their wings. That stung him more than he would ever admit to anyone, much less voice out loud.

"How dare you!" Hermione's eyes were blazing fire, the fact that she was miserable from being hungover certainly didn't help any. "You know absolutely nothing about me, or my friendship with your brothers. In fact, you never even attempted to get to know me. I don't know what the hell your problem is, Ronald Weasley, but stick it up your arse, and leave me the hell alone." she shouted at him, and grabbing her bag, she stormed out of the flat.

She had not planned on leaving yet, but the King of the Gits still had the power to piss her off, the only difference now being she was an adult and she wouldn't let the arsehole step all over her.

"Really, Ron?" Fred glared at his brother as he felt an intense desire to slam his fist into Ron's face emerge.

He had to literally clasp his hands behind his back to keep from reaching out and grabbing the tosser by his shirt collar. Fred had never been one prone to violent urges before and this sudden desire startled him a bit. He looked over to George and realized he felt a similar, though perhaps not quite as strong, urge wafting from his twin as well. George looked to Fred and could sense that it might be a good idea if Fred be the one to go after Hermione. If for nothing more than to get him out of the flat and away from their little brother.

'Go on, Freddie, check on Kit, I'll handle Ickle Ronnikins.' He mentally suggested.

Fred nodded, then threw another scathing look Ron's way before running out of the flat in pursuit of Hermione.

~*~*~*~*~*~

George waited for Fred to shut the door as he exited before rounding on Ron. "What the hell is your problem, Ron? Ever since you met Hermione you've gone out of your way to be rude to her, sometimes, even hurtful. She's our friend and I will not have you upsetting her in our home!"

Ron scoffed. "She's an annoying little swot, and it's high time you two saw that for yourselves!" he shouted at George, his hands shaking from anger. "But no, once again you stick up for the little rich princess..." he ranted with a sour expression, totally mindless that he had inadvertently let one of his problems with her slip.

'Rich princess?' George thought to himself. "Ron, do you honestly believe she's some sort of high fa-looting princess? She's not rich, Ronald. Do you even know anything about her?" he asked, staring at his brother in disbelief, and wondering how he had come to be so petty.

The youngest Weasley male rolled his eyes. "Well, obviously she's not a real princess. She's neither beautiful, nor delicate enough for that, but face it, George, she’s always had the best clothes and stuff, like belonging in one of those elite families. You're merely kidding yourself, if you say she's not rich."

George shook his head in disbelief at Ron's spiteful words. "You really don't know Hermione at all, do you, Ronald." his eyes narrowed as he took an intimidating step toward his baby brother. "Firstly, you're off by a long shot if you think she isn't beautiful. She's more beautiful, both inside and out, than any other woman I've ever met. She's special to me and to Fred as well."

He noticed Ron was making a gagging gesture and took another step forward until he stood face to face with the other redhead. "If you had ever taken the time to talk to her - to really get to know her - instead of making rude comments or throwing insults, then perhaps you would know that her parents are dentists," George informed him. "And though their practice does fairly well, they are far from the elite family status you're spouting off about. She works at a book shop now for Heaven's sake. Does that sound like she's rolling in dough to you?"

For once, Ron didn't back down from his older sibling. "She has you and Fred so hooked on her that you're both too blind to see anything else, like your family! I'm your brother and you never paid me half the attention you gave to her! Maybe if you and Fred would've taken the time to notice anything but her and your stupid pranks, you would have realized how much I looked up to you!"

George stared at Ron as comprehension dawned. "You're jealous of her." he backed off a step and ran a hand through his hair as he tried to think of something else to say.

Ron's face was turning a red that rivaled his hair, anger filling him ten-fold, as he realized something about his older brother. "You bloody well didn't know, did you?" he accused. "Did I mean so little to you that you never even noticed the way I idolized you two? You were popular and good at sports and had tons of friends. All I ever had was Harry, and sometimes I think even he was taken in by her, because he always offered for her to hang around with us. Thank goodness she never took him up on it though..."

George was torn between feeling guilty for not having paid more attention to his little brother in school and confusion on exactly why Ron felt justified in taking his anger out on Hermione if it was his and Fred's neglect that was the root of the problem. "Why the focus on Hermione? You're angry at us, I get that, and I'm sorry that we weren't better big brothers during school. But, Ron, we're adults now. All this petty shit you're doing with the bad-mouthing has got to stop. You should have come to us about this."

He thought he had made a valid point. He'd been prepared for Ron to issue an apology and then sit down and have a heart-to-heart and heal old wounds and all that. What George wasn’t prepared for was another onslaught of angry words and slurs toward Hermione being shouted into his face as Ron shoved him roughly before turning and leaving the flat.

For a moment, George was stunned, but then anger took hold at his brother's irrational behavior. "Ron, wait! Ron!" he bellowed as he ran after him.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Author’s Note: I apologize for my portrayal of Ron in this chapter. It was not meant as bashing, it simply benefited the plot to have them not be friends and have him dislike her. I really do like Ron's character, it just suited the story, so hopefully I didn't make too many Ron fans mad.