Notes: Since I did not clarify this before, this takes place not terribly long after the war ended. AU, since Fred is obviously not dead. Thanks to all of you who read and reviewed.


Chapter 2

Hermione lay silently in the bedroom she shared with Ginny at the Burrow. She had barely gotten a moment's sleep the night before and now she could hear the soft clanging and murmurs that suggested Mrs. Weasley was already up preparing breakfast.

What was he playing at? She had visited the moment over and over in her mind, but was still as confused as ever. Fred kiss her on New Year's Eve at midnight? The idea of it was preposterous, was it not? It had to be one of their pranks. Well, she would not be falling for it. She was the brightest witch of her age, after all, and certainly not daft enough to become the Weasley twins' latest victim. No, certainly not.

What if it wasn't a joke? She allowed her mind to stray for a bit, the cheeky grin of a certain redhead clouding her thoughts. His eyes really were very lovely. Wait, what? Where did that come from? Since when did she notice Fred Weasley's eyes? Ridiculous, she thought, shaking her head trying to rid it of such meddlesome images. She got up to go downstairs to breakfast refusing to allow any more time to be spent on such outrageous ideas.

"Oi, Hermione!" a voice shouted as she stepped out of the door right into the arms of a tall, lanky, yet incredibly toned, Weasley twin. Startled, she looked up right into those lovely eyes she had just imagined.

"Fred! Hi, I was just, um, that is I am just heading down for breakfast." A slight blush crept on her cheeks as she realized she still had her hands on his chest. She let go quickly as if she was burned.

She saw him smirk as she made her way around him and down the stairs. Well, that was mortifying, she thought as she took her place beside Harry at the Weasley's large table. He gave her a strange look and she just shook her head choosing to pour herself some juice instead of speaking.

She was turning into a babbling idiot all because of Fred Weasley. All because he made some stupid joke about kissing her. She did not even want him to kiss her. Did she? No, of course not, she dismissed the idea before it even finished processing. Then, why was he having this effect on her? She groaned at the absurdity of it all.

"What's the matter with you?" Ron asked with a mouthful of toast.

"Nothing," she answered quickly. "And close your mouth, it's revolting."

"Aw, come now, Granger," George teased as he plopped down in the seat across from her, "ickle Ronniekins would never be revolting."

"Annoying, perhaps," Fred added as he swept in to the open seat beside her.

"Or a bit thick," George offered.

"Or even a little dull," Fred admitted.

"But never revolting," they finished together smiling wickedly at their little brother who simply muttered under his breath in way of response. She knew he was used to the relentless teasing of his older brothers and had finally realized it did no good to argue.

"I suppose that the two of you find it perfectly acceptable to have virtually no table manners to speak of?" she asked disapprovingly as she tried desperately to keep her voice steady. The table was filling up quickly and Hermione was extremely aware of Fred's close proximity to her. Unnecessarily close, she observed, as Harry was on her other side and still a good arm's length away.

George feigned a look of shock. "Why of course not, Granger. In fact, we are capable of pristine manners in even the most formal of circumstances."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "And do you find yourself attending formal occasions often?" As much as she loved the Weasleys she found it hard to believe that the rather modest family had much circumstance for formal gatherings.

"Have you forgotten the Yule Ball, in what, your fourth year?" Fred asked her as he reached over her to grab the jam clearly exaggerating his lack of etiquette.

"That was just a school dance," she scoffed. "Hardly a chance to put any true skills to the test."

"Is it just me, Freddie, or does that sound like a challenge?" his twin asked his eyes sparkling in anticipation.

"I do believe so, Georgie," his brother answered. "What did you have in mind?"

"New Year's Eve. A formal dinner. Perhaps a ball afterwards," he shrugged. "We will show Hermione here what gentleman we can be."

"Ooooh, a ball!" Ginny squealed with excitement. "Hermione, we have to go shopping immediately. I am going to need new dress robes. Can we have it outside, Mum?" she asked a slightly startled Mrs. Weasley.

"Well, yes, dear, I suppose so. We could all use a little happiness since the war, I think. Yes, quite so. We will start the preparations straight away."

Hermione looked from Fred to George in amazement. She knew they had something up their sleeves, but she had to admit the idea of a ball did sound exciting. Molly was right, they had not had a lot of happiness since the war ended. It could be just the thing to cheer everyone up.

As she studied the twins, she realized just how different they were. George was missing an ear obviously, but that was easily hidden by the hairstyle they had chosen. No, it was more than that. George was a little quieter, she noticed, while Fred seemed to radiate enthusiasm. She watched the easy banter between the two as she started to wonder what it would be like to dance with Fred at the ball, hold each other close as the clock struck midnight….

Stop it! It is just because he made that stupid joke about kissing you, she told herself. He got into your head that is all. You are not interested in Ron's older brother, she insisted, arguing against the slight flutters she could fill in the pit of her stomach as his arm brushed against hers.

"Four more days, Granger," he whispered quietly in her ear. She looked over to find him wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at her a huge grin breaking out on his face at her obvious discomfort.

She felt the warmth heating up her cheeks as she rose suddenly. "That was great, Molly," she said sincerely. "Thank you," she added before rushing upstairs leaving the rest of the family to wonder what happened.


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