A/N: OK so I have had this story in my head for a while lots of plot twist but nothing to crazy promise. Please review and tell me how you like the story and if I should continue. It is rated T so there will be no smut I will change that if enough people want me to so review and tell me what you think.
2 weeks later
Music was blasting, all around people were laughing, and chatting with family. Happy to finally be free of the dark cloud of the war. Hermione surveyed the room, of all people partying, in the flat above the twins shop. Harry was talking quietly with Ginny. They were holding hands, and laughing. She was glad to see her best friend, who had been through so much, look so happy, and carefree for once in his life. Ron was standing in the middle of the room, basking in the attention, from the horde of giggling girls around him as he retold stories of his, most likely highly exaggerated bravery, and heroism. All she could do was roll her eyes, at the sheer shallowness of his actions. She spotted George and Angelina, sitting in the kitchen talking quietly to each other, and she wondered how Fred was doing with that. She hadn't talked to him much since, what was quickly becoming known as, the Battle of Hogwarts. Both of them have been busy, him with trying to restock and rebuild the shop, so they could reopen before term starts. And she had been busy with rebuilding Hogwarts, and meetings with Kingsley about her parents. It saddened her to think that she would never see them again, but at least they were safe, many people could not say the same. She spotted Fred, all about the room, and although he seemed to be talking to everyone, and even dancing occasionally, she got the distinct impression he was avoiding someone. She continued to survey the room of friends, and acquaintances in varying degrees of intoxication, in slight amusement, when her eyes connected with Harry's inquiring worried gaze, and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes, but he had been mollycoddling her for 2 weeks now, waiting for her to break down over Ron's apparent rejection. So she simply smiled and waved happily, before making her way through all the people, before he could invite her over to be the third wheel. On her way passed the kitchen, she caught snippets of George and Angelina's conversation.
"I don't know why he is angry, I mean we broke up months ago. Why can't he just move on, and be happy for us? Why does he have to act so childish?" Angelina asked George, who simply sighed deeply, and put his head in his hands
Hermione resisted the urge to comment on those, in her opinion very stupid and obvious questions, and grabbed a couple bottles of firewiskey, before wondering off for someplace quiet.
Fred was making his way through the party, laughing with friends he hadn't seen in a while, but mostly, he was trying to avoid George and Angelina's prying eyes. He was pretty sure they were talking about him, in their cozy little place in the kitchen. Things had been very tense lately. Made worse when they were staying in the crowded space of The Burrow, while the flat was being checked out. Angelina had been staying over since they moved back to the flat pretty much every night. Which he thought was a bunch of crap. What they thought just because he knew now they should rub their betrayal of his trust in his face. He scoffed in disgust causing people around him to turn and stare curiously at him. He kept walking through the party skirting around all the people dancing and laughing, feeling less and less in the mood for a party. When he saw George take a deep breath as if steeling himself for something before meeting his eyes and starting to rise. Fred quickly made his way towards his room before George could catch him. He locked and silenced the room the second the door closed easily baring all the noise from the party and any attempts of George out. He released a breath of relief only to jump when a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Should have thought about the silencing charm would have made it quieter" said Hermione from her place on the bed
"Merlin woman. You nearly gave me a heart attack. What are you doing in here" exclaimed Fred
"Just needed to get away from all the noise. So this is your room" asked Hermione
"You sound surprised" stated Fred settling on the bed beside her and grabbing one of the firewiskey bottles
"I am, it's so clean." Hermione jibed
"Oh ha ha ha. What are you saying I'm a slob than" said Fred popping the bottle open and taking a long sip
"No of course not. I would never say such a thing" replied Hermione
"Of course. So what are you running away from in here" asked Fred
"I'm not running from anything. What makes you say that?" asked Hermione
"No one's going to leave a party alone unless their running" stated Fred triumphantly
"Oh than what are you running from" asked Hermione
"Me nothing. I'm not running from anything" replied Fred
"You just said no one leaves a party alone" said Hermione
"I'm not alone. I'm…meeting someone" said Fred nodding his head
"Oh that's why you locked the door than" she asked slyly
"uhhh…no no I was..meeting…uh. you yea you I knew you were in here thought you might like some company, yea that's it" said Fred nodding along with his own words
"Yea sure that's it. Running away from George or Angelina" asked Hermione knowingly
"Fred released a frustrated sigh flopped down on the bed and replied 'both. You"
"Harry" replied Hermione, causing Fred to look at her curiously. So she elaborated "he acts like I'm about to break into pieces at any moment. So he keeps dragging me along to play third wheel with him and Ginny. It's getting really annoying"
"Does this have anything to do with Ron and his new fan club" asked Fred gently
"Don't you start that now to" Hermione replied testily
"Sorry sorry didn't mean any harm, don't get your wand in a knot" placated Fred
"My wand is not in a knot. But I honestly don't care what Ron does or doesn't do. But everyone acts like I'm about break into pieces over the slightest mention of him" she replied
"And you're not" he asked
"No I am not" she replied
"Okay than" said Fred
"Everybody acts like I can't take care of myself. I can take care of myself. I can do a lot of things, thank your very much" she rambled
"Oh show not tell Hermione" he jokingly leered only to be smacked in the face with a pillow.
"What about you" she asked
"Well I'm certainly not going to break into pieces at the mention of Ron" said Fred avoiding the subject
"Don't be daft, you know what I mean. George and Angelina, how are you taking that?" she asked gently
"See, it's just like your problem with everyone about Ron" he replied in frustration
"How so" she asked taking a sip from her bottle
"Everyone assumes I'm angry because my brother is dating my ex-girlfriend" he said
"And you're not" she inquired
"No, I'm angry because my twin hid something this big from me for months. Months, he was shagging the girl you dumped me, just weeks after we broke up, might I add, and he didn't tell me. We have always told each other everything" he finished pitifully taking the bottle from her and taking a long sip
"So, your mad George lied, and hid things from you" she asked
"Yes" he replied
"So, if he had come to you, and asked if it was ok, you wouldn't have been angry" she asked, looking at him questioningly
"No, I wouldn't have been mad, if he had told me what happened. When it happened instead of lying to my face, and going behind my back" he said looking back at her, wondering why she looked amused, he was pouring his heart out here, and she was practically laughing in his face.
"Well, no offense or anything Fred, but you sound like a bird" she said
"What, I do not sound like a bird. I'm just wondering, why my best friend thought he had to lie, and go behind my back with my ex, and I completely sound like a bird. oh merlin" he said, putting his hands to his face, laughing along with Hermione
"Ahh don't worry, I'm sure you two will work it out, and be gossiping in no time" she jibed
"Oh ha ha ha yes, me and George are a couple of girls, I get it" he replied tossing a pillow at her
"So, was that George you locked out" she asked lying back down on the bed
"Yea, tried to corner me again. And I don't want to have that conversation again, When he still doesn't even get why I'm mad" he said, crossing his arms over his chest with a huff, until Hermione started whistling a bird song, causing him to smack her with the pillow again.
"Sorry" she said between laughs
"Oh, what a sad lot we make huh. A great party going on, and we are in here, wallowing in our lack-of relationship drama" he sighed
"Yea well better to be wallowing with you in here, than being the pitiful third wheel out there" she replied taking another drink.
"Misery loves company aye" he asked
"Yea, and you're not that bad company either" she stated smiling over at him.
"Neither are you" he replied, smiling back
At the moment Fred realized how much he really meant that, sure in the years he had known Hermione this was probably their longest, most serious conversation ever. He had always known her as the bossy, know-it-all, always trying to keep Harry and Ron out of trouble, usually ending up in more trouble than she was trying to keep them out of, just this little sprite of a girl. He'd always thought she was pretty. But he realized she wasn't so small anymore, if they were standing, she would probably come up to just above his shoulder. She looked so different than when he last saw her, after she saved his life, covered in dirt, blood, and who knew what else, she looked so tired and sad. She was happier now, cleaner to but that's to be expected, she was far from the battle worn hero, he saw at the end of the battle, and a world away from the tiny little sprite he use to know. She was beautiful, and she was staring at him, very amused at his silent assessment of her. He felt the flush rush over his neck, and to his ears, as he cleared his throat, and looked away.
"Sorry, was just thinking" he said quietly
"Oh, quite unusual for you" she joked
"Hey I resent that. I think all the time for your information. I can even walk, and talk at the same time" he joked back
"Yea, what are you thinking about than" she said, giving him a curious knowing look
Unbeknownst to him, Hermione's thoughts had been following a similar path. Thinking how much he had changed over the years. No longer the rule breaking prankster, who would do anything for a laugh, not far from it, but still different. He was more mature or maybe he was always like that. Maybe there was always this side to Fred, and she had just never taken the time to notice. She had always thought he was handsome, along with half the female population, and even some of the male persuasion. She never thought he would think of her in such a way, but the way he was looking at her now told a different story, and she found herself wishing he would lean forward and kiss her.
"Nothing really" he finally replied, leaving her with a sinking feeling of disappointment
"No come on, I know you were thinking something "she encouraged, moving a bit closer, and facing him
"You really want to know" he asked, turning to face her as well, swiping his tongue across his lips
"Yes, I really want to know" she replied, her eyes following the path, his tongue made
"I'm thinking, I would really like to kiss you right now" he said, holding his breath in anticipation. if he had read the signs wrong, she might smack him or worse laugh in his face.
"Show not tell Fred" she repeated his earlier joking words to him. So he stopped thinking, and just acted. His lips crashed onto hers, as he rolled them over, so he could hover over her. He swiped his tongue across her lip asking for entrance, which she quickly granted. He had always wondered about Hermione, she was a perfectionist, and it showed even here. His hands wandered beneath her shirt, when she pulled slightly away.
"What are we doing" she asked
"We're wallowing in our lack of relationship drama together" he replied smiling down at her, she smiled back at him pulling back in for a deep kiss, and showed him just how much of perfectionists she was. Who knew wallowing in self-pity, locked in your bedroom, with your little brother's best friend could be so fun? Show not tell indeed.