Disclaimer: If you think I'm making any money from this, please invite me to your world :)

Stuck on (to) You

"Could you come back here for a minute, Hermione?" Fred called, head poking out the doorway from the back room at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

Hermione held up a finger to her boss as she finished ringing up her current customer. She made change, bid the customer good day, then stalked into the "Inventing" Room. "What in the world is so important, Frederick Daniel Weasley?"

George and Fred exchanged looks. Then, Fred murmured, "Mya, we just want to congratulate you on being our longest lasting employee. Ever."

Hermione snorted. "I'm not testing out any more products for you guys."

George slung an arm around her shoulders. "What if it wouldn't change your appearance at all? If there were no side effects? Would you be willing?"

Hermione eyed the twins apprehensively. "I suppose…"

Fred grinned."Wonderful. You see we have a new product—"

George joined in, "They're called Unity Rings—"

"And two people put them on and the rings won't come off for a week. And—"

"And while the two people are wearing the rings, they can be no more than one meter apart from each other at any time!"

"So, you see, there aren't many people willing to be close to us for a full week, but we're desperate."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Why don't you two do it?"

Fred rubbed the back of his neck. "Didn't we mention? It has to be two people of opposite sexes. So will you help me out?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "What's in it for me, Boss?"

George grinned. "We'll give you an extra week's paid vacation."

Hermione considered, leaning on a lab table with her hands folded across her chest. "Okay, okay, I'll do it; but you do know that your mother is not going to be pleased that you're testing more products. She still hasn't forgiven you for ruining her dinner last Sunday."

Fred picked up a pair of the white gold bands and handed the small one to her. "We'll figure out a cover story when the time comes." He slid the remaining ring onto his finger. "Now scram!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned away. When she was slightly less than a meter away, her hand and Fred's flew towards each other as if attracted magnetically. "Oh, right," she muttered, and tugged Fred back out to the shop with her.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully, as Fred stayed directly next to Hermione the entire time. After closing, Hermione swore violently.

Fred touched the back of her waist gently. "What's the matter, Mya?"

Hermione stepped away from Fred's fingertips and locked the cash register drawer. "I have a bloody date tonight!"

Fred coughed nervously. "Um… a date? Who with?"

Hermione pressed her lips together, closed her eyes, and drew in a deep breath through her nose. Clutching the edge of the counter, she whispered, "Dalton McCaid." She named a very well-known Quidditch reporter. "I can't cancel it…"

Fred grabbed Hermione's hips and held her still. Then, he bent to whisper in her ear, his breath tickling the back of her neck. "I'll find a date and we'll go out on a double, okay?"

Hermione nodded. "Thank you." She twisted out of his grasp and made her way to the door. "C'mon, we need to go to my flat so I can get ready. Do you need to grab a change of clothes?"

Fred shook his head. "No, it's fine, I'll transfigure something when we get there. The more important question: Who am I going to take out?"

Rolling her eyes, Hermione snatched a handful of his shirt and apparated them away. They landed just outside her door, which she unlocked and opened. They stepped into a modest cream colored living room. Hermione whistled and her owl flew over to perch on her shoulder.

Hermione handed the elegant bird off to Fred and demanded, "Write to Alicia, Katie, Lavender, heck, even Pansy Parkington for all I care; just find someone to bring out with us"

Fred nodded, scribbled a letter to his on-again, off-again girlfriend Cho Chang, then allowed Hermione to literally drag him into her closet. She laid out her clothes then bustled into her tidy, tiny bathroom. She shut the door in Fred's face and for the next half hour, he sat on the floor feeling his hand tug every so often.

Hermione immerged with her long, luscious chocolate curls dangling half way down her back. She wore a little mascara and some lip gloss and was clothed in a terrycloth robe. She conjured a folding screen and pulled on underclothes then caramel leggings, a white knee length linen skirt, and an emerald green long-sleeved blouse. She zipped on some brown leather ankle boots.

She grinned when she vanished the screen to see Fred in khakis and a navy blue button down shirt untucked. He finished tying his brown and blue converses then ran a hand through his nape-of-the-neck length hair. He grabbed an old brown sweatshirt and yanked it on.

Hermione shrugged into a brown suede jacket lined in fleece and hustled back to the kitchen. Her owl was there with a letter, and she tossed it flippantly at Fred, who caught it between the fingers of his left hand.

He unfolded the letter, smiled slightly, then crumpled the letter and tossed it away. "Cho is meeting me at the restaurant. She says she can't wait to see me again, it's been 'too, too long' since our last date." He waggled his eyebrows and laughed.

Hermione rolled her eyes and checked the clock. "We should probably be going."

Fred nodded, they apparated, then took as many steps away as possible. Hermione sat on the park bench and drummed her fingernails on her knee. Fred rocked back and forth on his heels, whistling cheerily. Pretending just to have noticed her, he said, "Why hello, Hermione! Fancy seeing you here!"

Hermione laughed lightly and twisted a lock of hair around her finger. "I hate winter; it's entirely too cold!"

Fred shrugged. "I like it, it's better than sweating all summer." He took a step forward as Cho arrived, "Hey!"

Cho smiled, flaunting herself in white skinny jeans and a silver halter-top with sequins. She had a gray fur wrap draped around her shoulders and stood slightly wobbly in purple high heels. Her hair had been cut shortish and slightly spiky so it hung to her chin but looked slightly tousled. She curled her arms around his neck. "How are you, Sweetie?"

Fred brushed his lips against her forehead, "Good, you?"

Cho laughed vibrantly and prattled immediately about her Quidditch practice that day (she was on the Greater Scotland area semi-pro team) and her beauty appointment afterwards.

Hermione stood and passed the cuddling couple, pacing back and forth past them. Suddenly, she was hugged from behind by two skinny arms. She whirled around, saw him, and kissed his cheek, "Dalton."

Dalton smiled. He had a blonde buzz cut, a skinny face with a beard, a lanky body, and large hands and feet. He was dressed in gray trousers and a red sweater. He shoved his mini notebook and quill into his pocket. "Sorry I'm late, I was reporting on a Hogwarts match." He looped an arm around Hermione's shoulders. "You used to go to Hogwarts, right?"

Hermione took a step too far and felt her arm tugged towards Fred. Fred's hand tugged towards Hermione's and his head jerked towards her. "Why hello, Hermione!"

Hermione nodded. "Fred! Hello, Cho, how are you?"

Dalton wrinkled his nose. "Fred Weasley?"

Fred shot him a 'duh' look. "Gryffindor. This is Cho Chang. She was a year below us, Ravenclaw. You were a Hufflepuff, right?"

Dalton nodded eagerly, obviously excited that someone remembered him. "Are you two here for dinner, too?"

Fred nodded with a smirk, "Indeed we are. You know what? The four of us should have dinner together. Wouldn't that be great?"

Dalton nodded again. "Totally, golly gee, that'd be swell, Fred! What do you think, Hermsi?"

Hermione smiled at Fred over Dalton's shoulder. "Of course, Dalton, that sounds absolutely fabulous!"

Cho cleared her throat and grabbed Fred's thigh with long blood red fingernails "Well, I don't want to eat with them! It was just supposed to be the two of us, Freddy!"

Fred rolled his eyes and patted her hand gently. "I'll make it up to you; but look at it this way: It might get your name in the paper next time he writes about one of your matches!"

Cho pouted, glossy dark lips tugging downwards, "Oh, fine!"

Fred caught Cho's hand and followed her into the restaurant, strangely aware that Hermione was following close behind him.

Dalton stepped up to the nearest waitress. "Hello, I am Dalton McCaid. I had reservations for two—"

The waitress consulted the list at the desk, "Your reservations were for four people, Sir."

Dalton raised his eyebrows. "Oh, good then." He nodded and slipped the waitress a shinny sickle. "Seat us at a nice booth."

Fred caught Hermione's eye and grinned. Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth and bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. She felt her waist grabbed by one of Dalton's bony, large hands and winced as he tugged her into the back of the restaurant as they followed the waitress.

Hermione sat down and scooted into the booth, frowning slightly as Dalton slid in next to her as close as possible. However, she was relieved when Fred ended up across from her.

The waitress returned to take their drink orders.

Cho clutched Fred's hand tightly, digging her fingernails into his palm slightly. "A martini please," she purred, batting her eyelashes at Fred as she spoke.

Fred tried to gently extricate his hand from Cho's, found it of no use, and swallowed, "Butterbeer, please, with just a sip of scotch."

The waitress furrowed her brows, "Huh?"

Fred slapped his forehead, "Right, sorry, just scotch on the rocks, please."

Hermione rolled her eyes and kicked Fred under the table. She turned and smiled at the waitress. "Just some ginger ale, please."

Dalton grabbed Hermione's knee under the table, squeezed it possessively, and said, "Champagne, si vou plex. Merci bouquo."

The waitress stifled a giggle and made a speedy exit.

Hermione glared at Fred. "Nice going, dimwit! You totally spilled the beans."

Fred snorted and scooted his leg forward so that it brushed against Hermione's. "I didn't spill anything. You are just uptight."

Cho giggled and then hooked an arm around Fred's neck to pull him into a kiss. As she giggled again at the smear of gloss she left on his lips, she whispered, "I love you, Freddy-Weddy."

Fred groaned. "Great…" He caught sight of the waitress delivering the drinks. He snatched his glass, took a sip, and slid his leg forward a bit more against Hermione's. Then, looking at Dalton, he asked, "So, any lovers in the picture?"

Dalton shrugged. "Well, I mean, Hermione of course; and if you want to be really specific, I never technicallybroke up with Sandy."

Hermione's eyebrows disappeared into her curls. "Listen, Dalton, if you're seeing someone else, I cannot—in good conscience—continue to see you."

Fred smirked at Hermione's blatant attempt to end the relationship before it could start.

The waitress returned and took their orders while Fred tried to ignore Cho's hand groping its way up his thigh. He brushed his leg against Hermione's again, then choked as Cho's hand reached the "definitely inappropriate" area. He grabbed Cho's hand and placed it on the table, "Stop, Cho."

Cho pouted and stood, excusing herself to go to the "little girls'" room.

After a few awkward moments, a young man timidly approached the table "Excuse me, Sir, but aren't you Dalton McCaid?"

Hermione giggled and shot Fred a look as Dalton preened his hair. "Why, in fact I am, lad! Why do you ask?"

The boy bit his lip. "My dad is a huge fan of yours and it's his birthday, so I was wondering if you would come have cake with us."

Dalton touched Hermione's hand gently, "Do you mind, Hermsi? I'll be back as soon as I can."

Hermione shook her head, "No, of course, go ahead; take as long as you need, Dalton." She watched Dalton go, then rolled her eyes and took a long sip of her soda. "He's driving me nuts!"

Fred grinned, "Then we're even, because Cho is going to send me to the loony bin, she's being ridiculous."

Hermione laughed out loud, "Yes, I'd noticed that you were getting uncomfortable with her cloying attentions, but she is your girlfriend, so…"

Fred scowled. "I've broken up with her five times, but each time something comes up where I need a date and we end up going together and then she's convinced that I just can't stay away from her."

Hermione shook her head as Cho slid in next to Fred again and grasped his hand. "Did you miss me, Freddy? You'd better say yes!" She giggled loudly and rocked back and forward a little.

Dalton returned, followed by a waiter. The waiter cleared his throat and held a neatly folded parchment out to Hermione. "An owl for you, Miss."

Hermione shot the waiter a confused look and he smiled, "Ravenclaw. Have a good meal."

Hermione nodded quickly, unfolded the parchment, and read the letter over. Turning to Dalton, she apologized, "There's a crisis at the shop, Fred and I have to go; George needs us."

Dalton stood to let Hermione escape from the booth and Fred crawled over Cho's lap, patting her head as he passed. With a quick look at his girlfriend and a brief, "Bye, Babe," he followed Hermione out of the restaurant and they apparated.

Back at the shop, Fred called, "Georgie porgy, pudding and pie, where the bloody hell are you?"

George called, "Fred, help, I slipped in the shower and can't get up!"

Fred and Hermione rushed into the bathroom, and Hermione blindfolded herself and allowed herself to be dragged along as Fred helped George into bed. Then, feeling the tugging on her hand stop, she opened her eyes and saw George lying in bed and Fred standing very close to her.

Fred grabbed her around the waist, waggled his eyebrows at her, and whispered, "So, Mya, your place or mine?"

Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes. "Definitely mine, yours is a total pigsty, and I agreed to be connected to you for a week, but I just couldn't handle you and George."

George merrily flipped Hermione off from the bed as the couple left the room. Hermione grabbed Fred's arm and apparated them back to her flat. She opened the door to see, to her horror, Ron lying on her couch.

Hermione's hands settled stubbornly on her hips. "And what exactly do you think you're doing here, Ronald Bilius Weasley?"

Ron sat up, shocked, and pointed at Fred. "Wh-Wh-Huh?... That's my bloody brother!"

Hermione raised her eyebrows and retorted, "A) Yes, it is your brother, but B) he has no blood on his person, so C) watch your language."

Ron gaped, mouth opening and closing like a beached fish. "Why did you bring Fred back to your flat with you? I thought you had a date!" Then, eyes growing, and cheeks getting pale, "You're not dating Fredare you?"

Hermione started to shake her head, but Fred caught her hand and shrugged, "You caught us, Ronniekins. Mya and I are dating, and we've never been happier." He sat down in the chair across the coffee table from Ron and pulled Hermione into his lap.

Hermione clenched her jaw in frustration at Fred so that she wouldn't start yelling until after Ron left. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she turned to Ron. "So why are you here?"

Ron licked his lips nervously. "Um… Well, I was going to see how your date went, and if you didn't like the guy, I was going to ask you out."

Hermione leaned on Fred's chest. She had been dreading this moment since sixth year. She was glad now that she had a good excuse. Forcing herself to gaze happily at Fred, she shrugged. "Sorry, Ron."

Ron didn't look like he was getting ready to leave, so Fred placed his hand on Hermione's thigh. Leaning down to her ear, he whispered, "Play along, okay?"

Hermione forced a giggle from her throat and ran her fingers over Fred's arm affectionately. She glanced at Ron, then turned in Fred's lap as he caught her chin gently and turned her toward him. He pulled her closer and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

Ron jumped up. "Oye! I don't want to see that!"

Hermione pulled away from Fred, slightly dazed. "Then leave, Ronald; no one is stopping you."

Ron threw Floo into the fireplace and disappeared. Hermione jumped off of Fred's lap and strode across the room until she was jerked back. Fred caught her as she stumbled backwards. "Mya…"

Hermione whirled around. "You kissed me!"

Fred laughed, "Yes, yes I did."

Hermione crossed her arms tightly around her middle and bit her lip. "Why?"

Fred gently took hold of her upper arms. "Because we needed to get rid of Ron… Because we needed a cover story that would allow us to stay close together. Why not?"

Hermione relaxed slightly into his grip. "Because you have a girlfriend! Because you're my boss! I'm your little brother's best friend!"

Fred shrugged. "Cho is not my girlfriend, not really, she's too clingy and annoying. Yes, I'm your boss, but my grandmother worked for my grandpa and it worked for them! And yes, you're practically already a part of my family, we're already friends." He dropped his hands and crossed his arms, flopping on the couch. "It was just a kiss, why are we even having this conversation?"

Hermione shrugged and stomped up the stairs, dragging Fred behind her. She slammed her bedroom door in his face, got changed, then opened the door again. "You can stay on the floor."

Fred growled, conjured himself a hammock-cot, and lay down carefully on the narrow piece of suspended fabric. Then, grabbing a blanket from Hermione's bed, he shut off the lights and rolled over so his back was facing her.


Sort of an abrupt end, but when I wrote the story, I hadn't anticipated dividing it into chapters. The next chapter will be up soon. Reviews would be greatly appreciated :)