Chapter 3
Work the next day was boring; there weren't many artefacts that needed found and only a few that required attention, Hermione spent most of the day at her desk.
At the end of the day Hermione went to leave and met Fred in the main atrium. Unfortunately, she had been walking out with Arthur who had forgotten that she was going to look for a new flat.
"Fred, what a surprise." Shaking his sons hand Arthur bid his good byes and went on home. "I hope you find a nice flat Hermione."
"Hey dad, can you tell mum that we'll probably be looking at flats late so I'll make sure to feed Hermione. Just so she doesn't get worried that she's wasting away." Arthur nodded and waved. "She won't try to feed you when you get back tonight that way, besides we have an actual date to go on."
The pair left the ministry through the visitors entrance, Hermione stowing her robes within the bag she used to bring files to and from home. The muggles didn't notice when two people left a phone booth that had been empty before, but they never noticed people with owls and toads as pets running through a wall at the train station either. Leading them back through London to the Leaky Cauldron Fred enjoyed looking at all the muggle shops along the way, with magic there were things that witches and wizards didn't need like salons.
Diagon Alley wasn't busy during that time of night, everyone was trying to get home to their families for dinner, and the only part that was busy was the residence area that had been built after the war. Diagon Alley had been almost deserted as the war went on, but when everyone had started to rebuild a block of flats was added for those who had lost their homes, and then another, and then a few more. Eventually there were several buildings for anyone who wanted to pay the rent for it.
After looking into it, the rent wasn't bad, especially for Hermione who held two jobs and had been able to save almost everything she had made in the past few months. She had decided to rent one of the one bedroom flats on the second floor of one of the buildings.
"I'll be happy to help you move in." She could start moving her things in the very next day but still needed furniture.
"Thank you Fred, that's very kind."
"But for now, we have a date to go on."
The restaurant Fred took her to wasn't one that she had heard of before, but the inside was cozy and nice. The food was delicious looking and the menu was large enough to accommodate any kind of taste. They ordered a bottle of wine to share and their food shortly after.
"So tell me something about yourself that I don't already know."
"Let's see, notorious bookworm, overachiever, overworked, helped save the wizarding world, and working for a pair of pranksters."
"Is that just a summary of your life?"
"Yes, I'm not sure what you don't already know."
"What about something you enjoy that you haven't told anyone else about?"
At Hogwarts Hermione had never really talked with Ron and Harry about herself, it was always about Harry and how to defeat Voldemort. "My favorite book is a muggle novel about America in the 1920's, it's called The Great Gatsby."
"What's it about?"
"There's this guy who moves back to New York and meets up with his cousin, and she had fallen in love with this guy named Gatsby, who just happens to live across the water and throws these insane parties. Those parties are his demise though as he lures his old love back into his life, a lot of crazy things happen like murder and car accidents and in the end he dies because of his greed."
"That is an odd sounding book."
"It's really lovely, I've read it hundreds of times mostly when I'm feeling overwhelmed with something."
They continued talking about little things no one else knew about them until the wine and food was all gone. When they left the restaurant the pair walked back down Diagon Alley until they reached the joke shop.
"Do you need to use the floo?" George must have been asleep because there was no noise coming from the flat above them, the fire was low in the grate, almost reduced to just embers. "I had a really nice time Hermione."
"I did too Fred, thank you for helping me and for a wonderful dinner."
Hermione felt like it was something out of the movies, Fred looked down at her with a small smile on his lips and took a small step towards her. Her body reacted and moved forward as well, he was so much taller than she was so she stood on her toes and without thinking about it their lips crashed together in their first kiss.
Holding onto her hips Fred kept their balance, Hermione snaked her arms around his shoulders getting more height to meet him. Their mouths moved together, soft lips against each other with Fred's tongue running along her lower lip trying to gain entrance.
Hermione wasn't exactly unpracticed, he had kissed plenty before, and obviously wasn't a virgin but this kiss was different. It felt more meaningful and passionate. It was only a few minutes until they broke apart for air, but to them it was like they had been kissing for ages.
"I don't want to take advantage of you, I'll wait as long as you want."
"That was thrown out the window, but seeing as this is our first date I won't be so easy. Maybe next time." With a wink, Hermione said good night and flooed herself to the Burrow smiling at Fred as she left.
Stepping into the empty sitting room Hermione couldn't stop smiling. It hadn't been a fancy date but it was fun, she had a great time with Fred and could see them actually working.
"How was your night with Fred?" Hermione jumped and blushed, did Arthur know? "Did you find a flat?"
"Oh, yes I did. I'll be moving a few things throughout the week but I still need some furniture, I'll have to visit Diagon Alley to look." So he didn't know, and she could pass off the blushing as her being startled
"Let us know and we can all help you move your things, I know you have quite a lot of reading material."
It felt nice to know that she was so well taken care of and guilty for keeping such a large secret from the rest of the family, but what were they supposed to do? She and Fred were just going to have to make the best out of the situation and they seemed to like each other enough so maybe it would all work out.
That night Hermione left work at went straight to the Alley to find some furniture for her new flat, she was lucky enough to at least find a couch, desk, and bed that day all for a good price. Paying for the items the store owner sent them to her home where she would find them all in the sitting room ready to be placed where she wanted.
"There's my favorite sister in law!" George wasn't doing a great job at keeping the news quiet, there were a few people in the shop that looked over.
"Really it's between me and Fleur and I would hope that you choose me every time." Everyone had at least gotten used to the French woman since the war, Bill was happy so to them that was all that mattered.
"Here to work or to chat."
"Mainly to chat because I was in the area, but I'll help if you need it."
George threw her the smock that was her uniform and took her bag. "Good because Freddy is out running some errands and I could use a little bit of your organizational skills on the shelves."
"Why don't you just charm them so that when someone is taken off the shelf the row moves forward, and when something is put back incorrectly it fixes itself?"
"Or, we can shock the git who puts the merchandise back in the wrong spot."
Some things never changed. "I can work on making it go back to its original spot but I won't work on shocking people."
"You're brilliant Hermione, really."
After two hours all of the shelves were charmed and tested, Hermione was happy to see that it all worked and met back up with George at the counter. "All done, what else do you need me to do?"
"Nothing, it hasn't been all that busy today, the rush before everyone leaves for Hogwarts will be soon so we are really going to need you these new few weekends."
Fred finally returned as the store was closing up and he looked rather pleased with himself. "Just the lady I wanted to see." Hermione was hanging up her smock and turned to greet him only to find him kneeling in front of her. "I know that this hasn't been a conventional marriage and I know that I probably didn't really propose so I wanted to make things right. You don't have to wear it, but I got us wedding bands."
The velvet box opened revealing a beautiful white gold band, it was thin enough to look delicate but Hermione knew that wizards placed charms on all their jewelry to keep them from bending or breaking. She was so glad that Fred hadn't gotten her anything flashy as she didn't enjoy when she felt weighed down by gemstones. "Oh my, it's beautiful thank you!"
Fred stood and slid the ring onto her fourth finger, the ring magically sized itself and found the perfect fit. "I have one as well," His band was larger width but matched her white gold ring perfectly. "And, they're charmed so that only we can see or feel them. To anyone who doesn't know about us it's like the rings aren't even there."
The guilt came rushing back through Hermione, how long would they keep this a secret? Was it really worth going through all of this trouble just to make sure no one knew only to tell them and have everyone angry?
"Like I said, I know it's been very unconventional but I wanted to at least try to do this right. So whenever you think you're ready to tell everyone let me know. I'm not excited about it honestly, but we do have to tell them at some point."
"They are your family, whenever you feel the most comfortable telling them I will be there with you."
Leaning down to kiss her, Fred smiled. "I think a few more dates are in order first."
The following weekend all of the available Weasley's helped move Hermione into her new flat. It only took one trip, but the rest of the furniture she had bought needed to be moved to their rooms and the kitchen needed stocked. Molly made sure that she had everything that she would need for basic meals in the fridge, including some premade food she had brought from the Burrow and was cooking dinner for everyone.
It was odd seeing all of the Weasley's together outside of the Burrow, Hermione could tell that Molly felt uncomfortable cooking in a different kitchen, but was enjoying herself all the same.
"We'll need to get you some new drapes and a table cloth dear," Molly added them to the growing list of decorations. "Do you have a clock?"
"That was something I was going to look for next week."
"No need Hermione, we have a housewarming gift for you." Arthur ran over towards the dining room table and pulled a box from behind it. Inside was a clock much like the one that hung in the Burrow, it only had one spoon on it for herself but there was room for a few more. "I started making it when you said that you were looking for a place, I hope you like it."
Setting the clock down gently, Hermione wrapped her arms around Arthur. "I love it, thank you so much."
"Hey, Fred and I didn't get anything like this when we moved out."
"We gave you two everything we had from my brothers, wasn't that enough?" Molly knew that her twins loved he brothers Gideon and Fabian and had gifted them with pictures they had left Molly when they died among other things.
"And the clocks are mainly for the women in the family anyhow boys, so that she can take it with her and add to it when she starts a family. I couldn't give you a clock with both your faces on it, what would happen when you boys get married and move out?"
The group all ate dinner together around the sitting room table, Molly and Arthur on the couch while everyone else sat on the floor. When everyone began to leave Fred and George offered to stay behind to help with some last minute unpacking.
"I can't believe dad made you a clock." Fred snaked his arms around Hermione's midsection and stood behind her staring that the gift.
"I know, it's one of the best gifts I've ever gotten."
George cleared his throat, "Well you two, I'm off. I'll see you lot tomorrow." And flooed to his flat.
"You know, I wouldn't mind counting this as a second date." Turning to look up at Fred, Hermione smiled. "That way you could take advantage of me if you wanted."
Within a moment his lips were on hers, and Fred carried her to the bedroom.
