Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing, JK is a queen and deserves every bit of praise, I'm just writing my peace to keep Fred alive!
Brief Synopsis, What's been going on: The story takes place about September 2003, just so I don't confuse anyone the wedding at the beginning is Percy's, he's marrying Audrey just as JK had written in later. George and Angelina married Christmas Day 1998 and by this time have had both Fred II and Roxanne (Roxy). Hermione works for the Ministry working with Elvish laws and rights just as she would in the series JK had written. Now George is pretty well a full time dad helping Ang with the newborn Roxy and keeping Fred II in line. This leaves Fred alone to man the shop and also alone in the flat, he's in serious need of help and company.
Chapter 1: A Firewhiskey Deal
"You know, this could be you too, soon!" Ginny slurred as she tried to speak to Hermione.
"Ginny please stop talking about it, I'm not 'hunting' for a mate. When the right one comes along I'll know.. And when I know, you'll know, OKAY?!" Hermione was getting fairly annoyed now, just about any wedding they attended together Ginny was trying her best to 'set' her up with eligible bachelors that all ended horribly.
After the Battle of Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione had started dating and everything was great for about a year. They were constantly bickering and that lead to fighting until finally Hermione couldn't take it anymore. Ron was drinking, a lot, and coming in at awful hours of the night which made Hermione more stressed. When they had decided to end things to save their friendship, Harry and Ginny has 'officially' become engaged and were to wed New Year's Day 2000. Not long after that announcement Ron had told the family that after the wedding he would go back with Charlie to Romania to work with dragons. He kept assuring everyone that he had longed to work with them ever since the Tri Wizard Cup but they all knew it was to get away from Hermione..
Now 3 years later, September 2003, Ginny has been in full 'wingman' mode and she was horrible at it, Hermione had, had enough..
"Please, please, please, PLEASE, do NOT set me up with another 'perfect match' I'm quite capable of finding my own way!" And with that Hermione found two bottles of Firewhiskey, downed one, and held the other in her hand. Walked over to Percy and Audrey to wish them the best and made her way to the lake to have a late night swim.
Crying in frustration about her failed relationships, she could really feel the firewhiskey. Fred noticed the scene his younger sister had caused and quickly paced after the fuming Hermione, he followed her all the way to the Weasley's lake. When he came around the tree Hermione jumped up towards the figure, lost her balance and leaped lips first towards Fred.
"Well Granger, if I wouldn't know any better I'd say you're happy to see me!" Fred winked at her.
"I um, ugh I'm so*hiccup*rry" Hermione tried to apologize but became more and more embarrassed the more she tried to speak.
"No worries, should never sneak up on a drunken witch, Merlin knows what other catastrophes could have happened." Fred joked trying to reassure the bright red witch in front of him. Merlin she's rather cute when she's embarrassed to bits. He thought.
Fred gestured for them to see on the wooden dock over the water, Hermione took off her shoes and dipped her toes in the water, splashing a bit. Fred couldn't help but laugh as he felt his lips where Hermione had just crashed into and felt his stomach do a summersault.
She offered him a drink and they began talking about anything and everything, for what felt like hours. They both found that they enjoyed each other's company and talked about the pressures of their family and jobs. They found they had a lot more in common than they had thought.
Fred tells Hermione that since George and Angelina had their second kid, George hasn't been able to help that much around the shop. George and Ang also moved out of the flat about the shop to have more space for the kids, leaving Fred there alone.
"I've got it!" Fred said overly enthusiastically "How about you move into the spare room to get away from Ginny and pick up some hours in the shop! Quit that boring, stressful Ministry job and have a laugh! You of all people know I need all the help I can get." He wiggled his eyebrows grinning at her anxiously waiting her response.
Hermione thought about this for a little bit and stuck out her hand, "Deal." She stated and they shook on it, both smiling from ear to ear.
A couple months later and a routine had set in, Hermione would wake, start breakfast then wake Fred when it was ready to eat. He would make the coffee and set their places at the kitchen bar. They would talk about new potential products and Hermione would offer new ways to improve the old products. Fred was amazed at how quick she was able to pick up everything, from helping customers to creating stock, it had seemed if she had been doing it for years. Hermione had also helped Fred get a little more organized when it came to stock and supplies needed for making more products. Fred couldn't help but think of what a perfect idea it was to have her around, she was extremely helpful and not to mention very nice to look at. He had been thinking about her more and more lately, it happened after he had walked in on her changing one day.
Boy was that a sight, He thought. Those legs went on for days, and that night gown left nothing for the imagination…
"All done here, ready to go?" Fred's thoughts were interrupted by Hermione herself. They had agreed to meet up with Harry, Ginny and Luna at the Three Broomsticks. Luna had met her soulmate and wanted everyone to meet him.
"Oh, yeah.. Right, of course. Shall we?" Fred stammered and offered Hermione his arm.
They met everyone at the pub and the night consisted of Luna and her fiancé Rolf Scamander telling outrageous stories of the creatures they had encountered. Luna had made Hermione and Ginny matching tiaras made of unicorn horns to wear at the wedding. But Hermione had insisted that wearing them would take away attention from the bride.
Fred leaned into Hermione's ear and whispered huskily "Smooth Granger, although I would enjoy seeing you in that tiara.." And nothing else.. He finished in his head.
Hermione blushed and immediately looked to her glass trying to hear the interesting conversation about the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. "Sweets, it simply doesn't exist. Your father was a smart man but I think he lead you astray with this one." Rolf said grabbing Luna's fingers rubbing her thumb reassuringly. Luna smiled at him and leaned into his shoulder, "You're probably right," she sighed, "We'll just have to pick up were your grandfather left off.." She looked lovingly into his eyes.
"Well you lot, although tomorrow's Saturday the shop still has to open, we must be off." Fred said tugging Hermione to her feet and guiding her out the door. Fred escorts her back to the flat for tea and they fall asleep watching a muggle movie (Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones).
