Another drabble for y'all! Enjoy!

House: Ravenclaw , Category: Drabble , Prompt: Fred/Hermione , WC: 881

AU, Post-OOTP, a couples of years after Hogwarts.

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A jarring wall of sound and colour hurls itself upon me as I traipse inside the store after Harry and Ron. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes has always been this level of crazy since it opened, so you might assume I would be used to it. However, today I'm really not feeling like being amongst the crowds of strangers, hoping not to brush into anyone. But there are people everywhere, reaching across each other for the products that seem to manifest in every inch of the shop.

It is amazing, this place. The twins have done a great job making it the easiest place in the world in which to distract any person. Balancing balls, towers of magic tricks, and catastrophic amounts of cards charmed to flutter like birds around the high ceilings. Harry and Ron jab each other in the arm and race off, running in one direction, already absorbed into the crowd before I can begin to consider following them. Through the hoards, I spot a redhead. Whoever they are, let's hope they're friendly.

Haphazard shelves seem to revolve around me, coming into being from every direction. I spin out of their way. Colours of the people blur before my eyes. It's a mixture of wonderful and horrifying. Despite being an adult now, coming into toy stores are generally a happy experience. However, one aspect of adulthood is the fact that everything becomes ten times more stressful. So, on the one hand it's fabulous to enjoy the time around toys and fun. One the other hand, I am dying on the inside. Do I need some air? You know, I think I'll be fine. Just like Dory said, just keep swimming.

Elbowing my way through the people, I finally come to an area where fewer strangers are congregated. Deftly, I make my way up the stairs, dodging the various items Fred and George have so eloquently balanced on top of one another. Gosh. And breathe.

"Hermione!" someone shouts from several metres away, meaning their voice is barely heard above the din. "Down here! It's Fred!" Suddenly I see him. He's running up the stairs to greet me. "How goes the day Young Granger?"

I scowl.

"It goes. And I'm not young!" I argue, slapping him on the arm. Fred shrinks away from me, opening his mouth in pain as if I just broke his arm. Honestly. What an idiot.

"Fine. Crotchety, ancient Granger," he alters, in a mocking tone. I laugh, then glance around the store for Harry and Ron. When can we leave? "You look stressed. Everything alright?" My head whips back around to stare at Fred, confused by his sudden expression. He can't possibly care.

"I need some air, that's all," I admit, not quite certain of him right now.

"Then let's go," he nods towards the door.

Together, we push through the people. Several of them call out to him, but he quickly waves them off. George salutes and tips an imaginary hat as we leave, while I am finally able to breathe a little easier at last. The lack of strangers pressing against me is definitely a calming thing.

"You've both done really well," I tell him, finally leaning against the wall of the store. He smiles and raises an eyebrow.

"Was that a compliment?"

"Yes. I'm not repeating myself," I murmur. He laughs. "It's weird, I haven't seen you around recently." Weasley family dinners have been strangely calm compared to what we might consider normality. Fred and George elected to be absent in lieu of making some big changes to the shop. It's good, but it doesn't mean that I don't miss their slightly crazy antics.

"Yeah, lots going on," he muses, glancing around at the bright colours of his shop. "I've missed your ridiculously admonishing presence."

"Fred."

"We should get a drink together sometime," he notes casually, as if it is the simplest thing in the world. In the meantime, my heart stops and my face floods with heat. But then he doesn't say anything. He's waiting for me. Oh Merlin. Because that's just insane.

"Funny," I mutter, assuming it must be a joke. Because if it isn't, then what? It's not as though I haven't considered it… Once? Twice, maybe. His personality is attractive. Endearing. But the thought of it is terrifying.

"I'm completely serious," he says, laughing. "You haven't seen this face before." I smile, nervously albeit. "I like you."

My mind goes blank. That's ridiculous.

"Why?"

"You're annoying," Fred states, as if that's a viable reason. I don't think it is. He stares down at the ground, waiting. Then speaks again. "We could go as friends… If you want?"

"Okay."

"Really?"

"Merlin, Fred," I laugh. "Yes." He grins, looking back up at me.

"Tomorrow, seven thirty," he declares loudly, raising one fist in the air. I frown.

"I'm busy every night for the next three months."

"You're joking!" he exclaims, face falling.

"Yeah, I am." I laugh at his ridiculous expression. "Tomorrow is great."

"It's a date." He pauses. "Or not, it's up to you!"

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