“Wicked, mate.” Fred grinned evilly, his brown eyes skimming over the dusty book. George trotted over, abandoning the cleaning they had been assigned. Number 12, Grimmauld Place would take a lot more work than six children could give.

Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny walked over, peering at the book in interest. Hermione’s eyes popped open at the title printed on the spine in loopy, golden letters: The Secret to Animagi.

“That book has been missing for a century!” She gasped, trying to snatch it from the twin only to be rebuffed. Fred rolled his eyes, easily holding it above her bushy head.

“Down girl! We’ll share--”

“After all, who could leave such an extraordinary treasure--”

“Unseen by the newest and most mischievous of successors.” Fred completely, he and George sharing matching grins.

“S-successors?” Hermione stuttered while the other three looked back and forth between the twins and girl in trepidation and amusement.

“Harry, lad--” George suddenly switched to the emerald eyed boy, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and leaning in conspiratorially.

“How much you want to bet the Marauders learned from this book?” Fred completely, waving the slightly thick tome in the air. Hermione was eyeing his hands attentively, making sure the older male didn’t drop the valuable book.

Harry’s eyes widened before he also peered intently at the book. “I’m in.”

“Harry!” Hermione gasped, the twins simply grinning. Ron and Ginny were exchanging looks before they both gave their agreement as well.

“Ronald! Ginevra!” Hermione screeched, looking between the two in shock.

“You’re outvoted ‘Mione.” Fred stated, smirking down at the bushy haired girl and snorting in amusement at the fierce glare she directed his way. She was like an angry kitten.

“Alright, bozos, how are we supposed to learn it? Our magic is still monitored.” Hermione growled, gesturing to the other three and including herself. The two seventeen year olds blinked at that, their heads tilting for a moment before George snapped his fingers.

“We’re under Fidelus, aren’t we?”

“Yeah.” Ron answered suspiciously.

“The monitoring charms don’t work under it.” Fred explained, getting a nod from his duplicate.

Staring blankly at the twins for a moment, Hermione let out a deep sigh. “Let’s just start.”

“Knew you’d see it our way!” The twins echoed, both scurrying over to the couch and sending up a plume of dust when they flopped onto it. Coughing and waving away the dust with a wave of his wand, George conjured up a coffee table as the others joined them. Fred sat the book down, Hermione pressed slightly closer than normal so that she could peer at the words as he opened the tome.

____