Nobody Cared

Sept 18

18 Sept 1991 - Sunday

Snape settled into his desk chair in his office and glared at the potions that all needed analysing for the resumption of classes on Monday. They were from his first year Gryffindor/Slytherin class and he could all ready see that many had not been brewed up to his standards. Just as he was reaching for the first rack of potions there came a polite knock on his door. He pointed his wand at the door to reveal his visitors as he was not expecting anyone during his free period.

"The twin banes of my existence," Snape muttered under his breath. "Come!" he ordered sharply.

"Sorry to bother you, Professor," began George as they stepped into the office.

"We have a matter to discuss with you," said Fred.

"Why not bring your problem to your Head of House?" he asked thinly.

Fred and George glanced at each other. A nearly imperceptible nod from George had Fred replying, "We believe that Professor McGonagall can't help, Sir."

George clarified softly, "Not won't but can't..."

Snape nodded for the twins to sit in the chairs before his desk, and he steepled his hands over his abdomen to listen.

George began again, "We know that you're aware of the bullying Hermione's getting from our House, Professor."

"Our little brother Ron is set to break mum's cooking spoon with his bum," Fred said shaking his head.

"Is your brother the instigator?" inquired Snape. Both twins shook their heads.

"Ron sat with Hermione on the train at the start of term, Professor," said George. "They shared the same compartment. We're certain Ron's acting out because Draco and Harry "took" Hermione from him."

"Dean and Seamus just don't like Hermione," sighed Fred. "That's only gotten worse since classes started."

"Then Mr. Thomas and Mr. Finnegan are the instigators," stated Snape. He clamped his Occlumency down upon the thread of a memory of Sirius Black and James Potter who disliked him for simply existing.

The twins nodded. "Ron follows them, Professor," said George with a tinge of disgust. "And, the three of them have gotten the entire House against Hermione."

"It doesn't help that she's still losing points, too," pointed out Fred.

"Which is something that never mattered to the two of you," remarked Snape with a very slight smirk.

Fred and George smiled. George agreed, "We may seem like clowns to everyone, Professor, but me and Gred have specific plans that require a certain amount of education."

"Forge is right, Sir," nodded Fred. "We can also see how much our world means to Hermione and how much she wants to be a part of it..."

Snape interrupted smoothly, "I am certain there were two... gentlemen... at the Gryffindor table that 'booed' when the first child was Sorted into Slytherin." He glared pointedly at the twins who both squirmed uneasily under the stern look.

George spoke up, "Yeah... uhm... about that, Professor... me and Fred... well..."

"What my oh-so-eloquent counterpart is trying to say, Sir, is that Hermione took us right to sorts about that right after the feast," butted in Fred with a slight huff of annoyance.

George nodded abjectly. "I think that set Dean and Seamus right off but Hermione was right. Milli..."

"Millicent Bulstrode," Fred added softly.