The Results
The following week, the long-awaited moment had finally arrived: the N.E.W.T. results were in. The atmosphere around Hogwarts was tense with anticipation. Students were anxiously awaiting their grades, many of them already dreading the possibility of failing the exams that would determine the course of their future careers. For Fred and George, the pressure was mounting, but they were determined to keep up their usual carefree façade. Hermione, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves, pacing in front of the Gryffindor common room, her eyes darting every time someone passed by with their results.
Fred and George had disappeared earlier that morning to check their grades, leaving Hermione anxiously awaiting their return. She couldn’t help but feel like she was holding her breath for them. She had worked tirelessly to help them study, pushing them harder than they had probably ever been pushed. It was more than just the exams—it was the hope that they could prove to themselves how capable they truly were.
When the door to the common room finally opened, Fred and George entered, their faces a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation. Their eyes met Hermione’s, and she could tell right away that they had already seen their results. The silence between them was thick with the weight of the moment. She stood up, her heart racing, her palms clammy.
“Well?” Hermione asked, her voice almost a whisper as she stood from her seat, her heart hammering in her chest. “What did you get? Come on, show me!”
Fred and George exchanged a sly glance, their faces unreadable, as they reached into their robes. Fred slowly pulled out a piece of parchment, and George followed suit, each holding their results tightly in their hands. The suspense was thick in the air, and Hermione could barely contain her excitement—or the dread that maybe it hadn't gone as well as they hoped.
"Drumroll, please," Fred announced theatrically, grinning wide, his eyes twinkling mischievously. He gave Hermione a playful wink, as if he knew exactly what kind of effect this moment was having on her.
Hermione’s fingers clenched at her sides, her pulse quickening. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, the anticipation coursing through her. She had always known Fred and George were brilliant, but their rather unconventional approach to studying, coupled with their knack for mischief, had left her on edge. They hadn’t been exactly traditional students.
"Alright," George said with a dramatic clearing of his throat, his voice slightly lower as he took his time, drawing out the moment. "First of all, we passed everything. All of it."
Hermione froze, her breath catching in her throat. The words hung in the air, and it took her a second to process them.
"Wait... What?"
The relief hit her in waves, so sudden and overwhelming that it made her knees go weak. She felt as though a massive weight she hadn’t even known she was carrying had just been lifted. The knot in her chest loosened, and for the first time in what seemed like days, she could breathe properly again.
“No way,” she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. “You really did it? You passed everything?”
Fred nodded, his grin now broad and triumphant. “Yep. Every single exam.”
George held his parchment up with a dramatic flourish, as if presenting a trophy. “And we did it with style. But don’t get too excited yet, Hermione,” he teased. “We’re about to show you the grades.”
Hermione’s eyes scanned their faces, still half in disbelief. She could barely focus on anything other than the overwhelming wave of joy. They had done it. They had actually done it. All of it. No failed subjects. No worrying about retakes. The twins, the pranksters, the ones who always lived life on the edge, had made it through their N.E.W.T.s.
Without thinking, Hermione launched herself at them, arms wide, her feet hardly even touching the ground as she threw herself into an ecstatic hug. Her heart was racing, her body vibrating with joy and relief. She had spent months stressing about them, trying to help them study, hoping they would make it. And now, standing here, they were holding their results—they had passed everything.
Fred and George, startled at first, quickly adjusted to the unexpected surge of emotion. They both wrapped their arms around her, laughing in that way that only Fred and George could, but there was a tenderness behind their usual mischief that made the moment feel real, raw, and true.
Fred flicked the parchment open, his fingers brushing over the edges as he held it up, the delicate paper trembling slightly in his hands. Hermione’s heart skipped a beat as she leaned in closer, eager to see what the results said. The twins’ faces, usually so confident and full of mischief, were tempered with a flicker of nervousness. Fred’s grin was wide, but his eyes held a glint of uncertainty that only heightened Hermione’s curiosity.
"Alright, first things first," Fred said, his voice light and teasing, but Hermione could hear a subtle note of pride beneath the casual tone. His fingers gently smoothed over the edges of the parchment as he held it out for her, the paper still crinkled from being tightly clutched in his hand moments before. “In Charms, we got an ‘A’. Not terrible, but, you know... could have been better, right?” He shot a glance over at George, his eyebrows lifting in playful expectation, as if seeking validation for the grade. There was something about his attitude, a kind of boyish pride mixed with a touch of sheepishness, that made Hermione’s heart swell with affection for him.
George chuckled, his usual bravado tempered by a slight unease. "Yeah, but we passed, Hermione," he said, his voice carrying a quiet but unmistakable sense of satisfaction. He let the parchment dangle loosely from his fingers as he looked at her. “That’s the important thing, right?” He glanced down at the results for a moment before continuing, as if contemplating their own success. “Not everyone could pull off an ‘A’ in a subject like Charms without making a massive spectacle. I mean, can you imagine anyone else making it that entertaining?”
Hermione couldn’t help but laugh, the sound coming easily as she gave them both an affectionate smile. The weight of the past few weeks seemed to lift as she looked at the two of them—there, standing before her, proud of their achievements, even if they hadn’t followed the most traditional approach to studying. “You two never do anything quietly,” she said, shaking her head fondly. “Honestly, I don’t think anyone else could make Charms as memorable as you two.” She stepped a little closer, leaning in just a bit to peer at the parchment, her chest swelling with pride as she watched them make it through despite all odds.
Fred, noticing her close attention, flipped the parchment over with a flourish, revealing the next set of results. “Okay, here we go,” he said, his voice shifting, just a little more serious but still filled with excitement. “In Transfiguration, we got an ‘O.’” He let the word hang in the air, his grin growing wider as he looked at Hermione. “Outstanding, Hermione. Not just an ‘E’—but a solid ‘O.’” There was something almost triumphant in his tone now, a spark in his eyes that made Hermione feel like they had just won a victory that meant more than just a grade. Fred raised an eyebrow playfully, glancing quickly at George for a reaction, the unspoken challenge clear between them—could George be as impressed as he was?
George let out a soft laugh, his smile stretching into something more genuine, the tension from before easing away. He glanced at Fred with a teasing gleam in his eye, his voice light but affectionate. “Honestly, I think McGonagall was just impressed that we didn’t transfigure her desk into a pigeon or something,” he joked, his tone softening as he let the humor settle into a moment of shared relief. “Can you imagine? The last thing we needed was to be banned from Transfiguration forever because we turned the whole classroom into a flock of birds.”
Fred snorted, his eyes twinkling with amusement at the thought. “Careful, George,” he warned, his voice low but full of mischief. “You might just jinx it. Last thing we need is another accidental pratfall. We almost turned the entire classroom into a ferret farm last time, remember?”
Hermione’s laughter bubbled up again, warm and full, as she covered her mouth with one hand to stifle it. The image of the twins, causing chaos without even meaning to, had become so iconic to her that she couldn’t help but picture the whole scenario. It wasn’t just that they were mischievous—it was the way they managed to slip through situations like this and somehow make it work, no matter how bizarre or unorthodox. Their talent for creating unforgettable moments was something to be admired.
“Oh, I remember,” Hermione managed between giggles. “I definitely remember. You two were lucky McGonagall didn’t turn you both into frogs for that stunt.”
Fred shook his head with a smile, still clearly revelling in the small victory. “Well, if we’d had more time, I’m sure we could have managed it. Maybe next time, eh?”
George snickered in agreement, the playful teasing continuing as they both looked at Hermione, their shared joy and sense of accomplishment palpable between them. “Maybe we should start practicing Transfiguration on her desk. I’m sure it would make things more interesting around here,” George suggested with a wink.
Hermione’s eyes twinkled with laughter as she shook her head, unable to stop the giggle that slipped from her lips. "You two are impossible,” she said, wiping away a tear of laughter. “But honestly, I don’t think anyone could pull off an ‘O’ in Transfiguration and still make it sound like a victory. You’ve got some serious charm, I’ll give you that."
"Alright, alright," Fred continued, his voice growing more playful. “Let’s see… in Potions, we got an ‘A’. Nothing spectacular, but it’s passing. Definitely no ‘Outstanding’ there, though.” He looked at George with a slight smirk. “I’d say we did better than Slughorn expected, don’t you think?”
George snorted, his shoulders shaking with laughter. “Not our finest hour, but hey, we didn’t blow anything up, so I’m counting it as a win.” His smile softened, and for a moment, the two of them were no longer the pranksters of Hogwarts, but two brothers who had just taken on one of the hardest challenges of their lives—and come through it stronger than before.
Hermione’s heart softened as she watched them, the affection she had for them blooming with every passing second. The twins had defied expectations, both their own and everyone else’s, and here they were, holding their results like a badge of honor. She took a deep breath, still struggling to comprehend just how far they had come.
“You did it,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she reached out to touch their shoulders. “You really did it. All that hard work... it paid off. You both should be so proud.”
Fred glanced at George, and for a moment, the usual joking expression on his face faded into something more sincere. He met Hermione’s eyes, his voice softening. “We couldn’t have done it without you, Hermione. You pushed us, even when we didn’t want to be pushed. You helped us see that we could do this. We know that.”
George nodded, his smile now warm and genuine. “Yeah, you pushed us to do better, and we might not have liked it at the time—but we needed it. We really needed you. So… thank you.”