Disclaimer: I own nothing and there is no personal gain from this writing.

1: I'm George!

She was in a bubble, the bubble that always showed up when something big was going to happen, and something big was. OWLS were swiftly approaching, and Hermione Granger was stressed. She had Charms and Transfiguration studying to do, as well as Herbology prep, not to mention all that potions homework… Groaning to herself, she bustled down the hallway, heading for the library. "I'll be lucky if I can make it through today, let alone through OWLS," she thought as the stately wooden doors of the library approached.

Her bubble meant that she was oblivious to everything but her studies, so she missed Draco and Pansy Parkinson fighting, bickering again, like they always did, a lover's spat. She missed a hello from Luna, as she wafted down the hall in a way only Luna could, to Charms, and she missed one of the twins as he glanced up at her from the potions book he was reading, an aisle over from hers.

She was particular about where she sat to study. The Advanced History aisle was always empty. If Professor Binns was good at anything, it was sounding like a book, making the history aisle a particularly deserted one.

She set down her pile of parchment, books and ink, plopped down in a seat, and took off her cloak, immediately starting to scratch away at her potions work. But her brain wouldn't let her focus. Potions homework, Charms and Transfiguration studying, Herbology prep, and of course, how could she have forgotten? Professor Umbridge wanted them to memorize all kinds of facts about some first year level DADA. Mentally cursing herself for being so unorganized, she sighed deeply, trying desperately to push the raucous bedlam from her brain long enough to finish this paper.

"When you combine three horned slugs with a simple sleeping draught at medium temperature and mix six times counter clockwise, what have you created?" I know this I know this I know this! She repeated over and over in her head, but to no avail, the properties of horned slugs had escaped her mind. Sighing yet again, she pushed away from the table and headed to the potions isle next door. She quickly started scanning titles, looking for a book she had read over the summer. Gently brushing her fingers over the spines of the ancient books, she quickly became distracted.

Taking a second to marvel at how ancient and wise they were, she let her bubble protect her now from the worries of horned slugs and memorization, just for a moment. "To think about how many students had thumbed through these same pages over time. They've lasted so long and done so much. How many fingers frantically flipped through their pages right before an exam? How many new students walked into the library and stood still, marveling at how beautiful it is, how teeming with -" Her musings were cut short.

"'Mione!" She turned quickly to see Fred standing there, grinning a little.

"Blimey! I called your name four times! You're going to get me kicked out for talking so loud." He exclaimed, feigning hurt.

"Oh bother! I'm sorry Fred, I spaced out!" She said, blushing lightly at the thought of him watching her practically worship the books.

"Bloody hell! I'm George!" He cried even louder, his face falling.

A small smile crept across her face, as she proudly stated, "You are not George. George doesn't have a freckle next to his eyebrow." Seeing as the Weasleys had no shortage of freckles, this was an unexpected answer. He murmured quietly to himself as he searched his face for the telltale freckle.

She took a step forward, reaching out her hand to touch the very end of his eyebrow, with one finger.

"Right there, a freckle that George doesn't have. So there!" She whisper-shouted triumphantly, sticking her tongue out at him.

He was still speechlessly massaging his face while she looked up at him, smiling a little. Hermione was quite proud that she had managed to get a Weasley twin to lose his ability to crack a joke for a precious moment.

And then something unexpected happened.

In one quick motion Fred took a small step forward, closing the small distance between them, slipping his arm around the small of her back, and leaning in, gently fitting his mouth to hers. They stood like that, pressed against each other in a passionate and gentle kiss as her stomach flooded with a warm feeling. The screaming stress of OWLS and homework and studying all dissipated as he held her close and she kissed him back. The only thing she could even think of thinking was, "maybe I can survive the day."

Once they pulled away, Fred smiled down at her and said, "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that."

She smiled, her face bright red as she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed the edge of his eyebrow.

"For the record Fred, you don't have a freckle there."