A Plan in Motion
The first tutoring session was set to take place that afternoon, and Hermione couldn’t help but feel a knot tighten in her stomach. The library was quieter than usual when she arrived, the scent of aged parchment and the soft rustle of pages filling the space. She had arrived early, wanting to ensure everything was in place before Fred and George arrived. It was all she could do to prepare herself for the chaos she was about to face.
She had spent the last few hours reviewing her study program, the one she had perfected over the years. During the summer, she had meticulously gone through every textbook, making detailed notes, and forming a routine that had gotten her through countless exams. It was a program that had worked for her—one that included precise schedules for studying, reading, and practicing every spell and charm she needed to master. Hermione had adapted that same program for Fred and George, hoping that with her structured approach, they might at least make some headway.
She had already set out the materials they would need for the session: textbooks, parchment, quills, and a stack of notes she had prepared for them. There was a large table at the back of the library, which Hermione had claimed as her base of operations for their weekly study sessions. It felt odd to be setting up for a tutoring session with Fred and George, but she was determined to stay organized. She wasn’t going to let this get out of control.
The door to the library creaked open, and Hermione looked up to see Fred and George saunter in, as usual, a bit too casually. They were a couple of minutes late, but that was to be expected. Fred grinned at her, looking far too pleased with himself. George’s hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his face neutral, but his eyes sparkling with the mischief that Hermione had learned to associate with nearly everything he did.
“Here we are,” Fred said brightly, his tone far too chipper for the situation at hand. “Sorry we’re late, Granger. Got caught up in a bit of a minor distraction on the way here.”
Hermione raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t waste any time on questions. “Let’s get started,” she said firmly, taking a seat and motioning for them to sit across from her. “I’ve prepared a study plan for you two. It’s going to be strict, and we’re going to follow it exactly.”
Fred and George exchanged a look before sitting down with exaggerated slowness, both trying to hide grins. Hermione ignored them, pulling out a sheet of parchment and setting it in front of them. It had everything mapped out: when they were going to study, when they’d take breaks, and exactly which chapters they were going to cover.
“This is how it’s going to work,” Hermione began, her voice steady and professional. “You will have three sessions a week, each lasting two hours. In between sessions, I expect you to read the assigned chapters and complete the exercises I give you. There’s no room for messing about.”
Fred raised his hand, his usual smirk plastered on his face. “Just a quick question, Granger,” he said with mock seriousness. “What happens if we, say, decide to break for a snack in the middle of one of these rigorous study sessions? Is there a designated snack time?”
Hermione didn’t even flinch, keeping her tone deadpan. “You can have a snack—on the condition that it’s done during the break time.” She shot him a pointed look. “I’ll be timing it.”
Fred and George exchanged glances, clearly entertained by her no-nonsense attitude. But Hermione didn’t let their antics throw her off. She was determined to make this work. They were in their final year, and they had to pass.
“Now,” she continued, flipping through the notes she had carefully prepared, “I’ve tailored your study plan based on everything we’ve covered so far. I expect you to stay on task. I’ve broken down each subject by week. We’re going to focus on Transfiguration first—since I know that’s one of the more challenging ones for you two.” She gave them a pointed look as she spoke. “The goal is to get through the entire textbook by the end of the term.”
Fred raised an eyebrow. “That’s ambitious.”
“It’s necessary,” Hermione said, her voice firm. “You can’t pass the exams if you don’t know the material inside and out.”
She slid a piece of parchment over to them. “Here’s the study schedule. Every week, we’ll cover two chapters per subject. I’ve included time for reviewing and practice. You’ll each have specific spells to practice every day, and I’ll quiz you on them at the start of each session.”
Fred and George shared another look, though their faces were now a little more serious. Hermione’s dedication was something they couldn’t ignore, and the weight of their failure to advance to the next year was starting to settle in.
“So, you’ve planned out everything?” George asked, his voice slightly less teasing than usual.
“Everything,” Hermione replied, nodding firmly. “And I’ve even set up a reward system. If you complete all of the required work for the week, I’ll allow a break at the end of each session for something you both enjoy. Maybe a prank or something light-hearted. But only if you stay on task.”
Fred and George leaned back in their chairs, clearly interested in the idea of a “reward system,” though they knew Hermione wasn’t one to make empty promises.
“Now, I’m going to go over the first chapter of Transfiguration with you,” Hermione said, flipping to the appropriate section in the book. “I’ve written down notes on the key concepts, and I want you to follow along. If there’s something you don’t understand, ask. I’m not going to babysit you, but I’ll make sure you understand the material.”
Fred raised his hand again, this time more seriously. “Granger, we do know some of this stuff. We’re not complete novices, you know. We’ve just... got distracted in the past.”
Hermione nodded, acknowledging his point. “I know you know some of it. But the goal is to make sure you know it all—and that you don’t get distracted this time. No shortcuts. We’re going to go through this properly.”
The session began in earnest. Hermione spent the next hour walking them through the fundamentals of Transfiguration, making sure to pause every few minutes to answer any questions they had. She was impressed that they didn’t immediately try to derail the session with jokes or distractions. It was clear they were taking things a bit more seriously now that the consequences of failure were staring them in the face.
But even with their improved focus, Fred and George couldn’t resist throwing in a few quips now and then, trying to break the tension. Every time they did, Hermione shot them a pointed look, and they quickly straightened up, only to smirk at each other when her attention was elsewhere.
By the end of the session, Hermione felt both drained and satisfied. The twins had followed her study schedule, mostly, and she’d managed to get through the material without too much interruption. They had worked harder than she had expected—and even seemed to appreciate the structure she had imposed on them.
“You did alright,” Hermione said as she gathered up her things, giving them an appraising look. “Not perfect, but you’re improving. We’ll pick up where we left off next time.”
Fred, looking surprisingly tired but pleased with their progress, grinned. “Alright, Granger. We’ll be ready for the next session. We’re serious now.”
Hermione couldn’t help but smile at that. As much as it frustrated her, she knew Fred and George were trying, even if it was in their own peculiar way.
She hoped this wasn’t all for nothing.