Disclaimer- I own nothing. Please don't try to take it away, because then you'll have nothing, and you don't want that.
Necessary background info: First part set in sixth year, though it goes backwards through time a bit, and explains everything. I haven't decided if it'll skip back and forth yet, but I will decide at some point, and you shall be informed. The Triwizard Tournament didn't happen, and therefore Voldemort did not come back. There is a Hogwarts ball around Christmas of the year. I used some dialogue-scenario stuff that is a lot like what happened before the Yule Ball, but it doesn't last long. Molly and Arthur don't really care whether their children use magic inside the house in this story, and Harry and Hermione were basically adopted into the family.
Fred/Hermione, some Harry/Ginny and an itsy bit Ron/Lav, though I don't really like her, so mostly it'll be making fun of her. She won't really be in the story until later, if I get that far, which hopefully I will.
Note: I am going to aim for updating once per week, though it may be faster or slower than that. Also, most should be about the length of this chapter, but there are no guarantees either way. You have been warned.
Warning: M for drug use, some sex (not extremely smutty) and some language.
"Who're you going with?!" Ron had been trying to get Hermione to tell him who she was going to the Winter Ball with since she had turned him down.
"Better hurry up or all the good ones';ll be taken!" Fred told him.
"So who are you going with then?!" Ron demanded.
Fred just shrugged and grinned, then went back to his plotting with George. Ron turned to Harry and sighed.
"At the rate mate we'll be the last ones left without dates." (And no, that was not meant to be rhyming.)
Harry looked grim.
"Not if I can help it. You wouldn't mind if I asked Ginny would you?!
"IF you find me a date , sure. Just makes sure that she knows why you're asking her. I don't want her hurt because she thinks it's a date."
Harry shifted nervously.
"What if that is how I mean it, though?"
Ron was preoccupied. "Fine mate, What about me? Hermione says that she's going with someone…"
"You could always ask Lavender Brown. It'll give her a reason to stop giggling at us like that."
"How do you see that happening?"
"you tell her after that you don't want any more with her. She'll hate you for a while. It'll be great."
"Yeah, alright. You can go ask Ginny and I'll go ask her."
Throughout their conversation they didn't realize that there were little pieces of paper flying back and forth across the room above their heads.
The pieces of paper were being tossed across by Fred, to be returned by Hermione. If they had noticed, it could have made everyone's lives at least a little easier in the coming weeks.
-5 Months Earlier, The Burrow-
Hermione was sitting under a tree near the pond on the weasley's property. A book lay open on her lap, but she didn't seem to notice. She sat under the tree watching the sunset until she heard a loud squeak from across the pond. Snapping out of her reverie, she looked to find the source of the noise.
'Of course it'd be Fred and George.' Hermione thought.
Somehow she never found it difficult to distinguish between any of the Weasley boys, including the identical twins, whom she now watched with interest. They were crouched low over something across the pond. Hermione saw a momentary flame, and, seconds later, sparks started to shoot out of the canister.
Immediately Hermione recognized the muggle firecracker, along with the many more boxes surrounding their feet. Taking advantage of the fact that neither Fred nor George could see her, she snuck up behind Fred and jumped onto his back, arms around his neck, ankles locked around his waist. Fred yelled and tried to figure out who had attacked him. He could tell that it was a girl, but he couldn't figure out whether it was Ginny or Hermione. He put his arm back to touch her hair, and immediately figured it out.
"Hermione."
Still giggling she got off of his back, but stopped abruptly and started screaming when he picked her up and strode towards the pond. When he reached it, he let go of her over a little drop off to the water. However, he didn't notice that she was holding on to him. She pulled him into the pond with her as she fell. They both came up sputtering., Hermione's hands on his shoulders, Fred's arms around her waist. Neither realized how close they were to each other until Fred pulled his eyes from her gaze and looked down. He immediately stiffened and turned bright red- the neckline of her shirt had stretched, and her shirt was clinging to her, unintentionally leaving little to the imagination. He stepped back quickly, letting go of her waist.
"Come on, lets get out of the water before we catch cold and give Mum fits."
He knew that would get her out and distract her from what had just happened- she hated to worry Mrs. Weasley. They waded through the water to a place where it would be slightly easier to get out. George was there waiting for them and grinning. When he saw Hermione his eyes bugged for a moment in surprise and awe. He gave Fred a questioning look, but Fred just mouthed 'later,' and helped Hermione out of the pond. When they were both standing on dry ground, he asked her something that she only half expected given recent… events.
"Want to come set off some fireworks with us?"
"Sure. But only if I get to light some."
Half an hour later, Hermione sat with them, the rest of the containers lying around their feet. Hermione was drying out and burning leaves with the muggle lighter they had been using to light fireworks. Fred and George were sitting together, watching her in awe.
"Mione's a pyro! Who'd a though!" Fred said loudly to George. Hermione looked up sheepishly. Then, with a twinkle in her eye, said 'you have no idea." She got up and walked back to the house
They watched her go silently, though George was inwardly laughing at Fred's obvious gaze. Suddenly Hermione turned.
"Are you guys coming or not?!" She yelled back at them. Fred and George looked at each other, and silently began gathering up the remnants of their afternoon. Suddenly Fred started, popping out of his zombie-like state.
"Hey!" Fred said (hehe, more rhymes.) "She took our lighter!"
The twins grinned at each other- they could guess what she was up to, and they were definitely in.
A/N: What's Hermione up to? Will Ginny say "YES!" to Harry? All that and more, in this series, "Shocked."
Read and Review- I have the next chapter mostly written at this point, but suggestions are always welcome, as is constructive criticism.