It'd been just over a week since Hermione had moved into Grimmauld Place with Harry and Ginny and I found myself laying comfortably on the sofa in the sitting room of our flat, my hands pillowing my head, thinking of her once again. All week, I my mind returned to the evening we shared. I never imagined that I'd share something like that with Hermione Granger. She certainly wasn't the type to have a one night affair. I was wondering what she thought about it for I'd heard nothing from or about her since. I was worried she was upset about it. I also wondered if she had talked to Michael. The mere possibility that she could go back to him made me upset. Although I know I would hear something from Ginny if she did. I just hoped that I hadn't hurt her...

"Fuck and dammit!" A muffled shout rose from the store below me. I laughed and wondered what George had done to warrant such a harsh interjection. More than likely it was because of something that Verity did. She was a nice witch, but not the brightest and she was extremely clumsy. I knew that George liked to keep her around more as eye candy than for her skills as a sales person. But whatever the shout was about, they'd have to do without me. I was thoroughly enjoying my afternoon off.

A sudden "pop" sounded directly outside the door to the flat. I curiously stared at the door as silence followed. I wondered whether I had imagined the noise but after a minute there was a light knock. Nonplussed, I got to my feet and walked toward the door. No one ever Apparated directly outside the door, but either came through the store or just used floo powder.

"Hermione?" To say I was surprised would be an understatement.

She lifted her head and looked extremely nervous and distressed. "Um... Hi Fred... I..." Her eyes met mine and I witnessed her courage take flight. "I shouldn't be here. I'm going to go." She quickly turned to leave, but I gently grabbed her arm.

"Wait. You can't just come and go like that," I said with concern. "Come in."

She stepped in just enough for me to close the door.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I... It's just..." She couldn't find the words.

"Is it about last week?" I asked guiltily.

She nodded.

"Look, Hermione, I'm really very sorry about..."

"No," She interjected firmly. "I didn't come for an apology. It's just... last week you..." She stopped and tried again. "I went to see Michael for lunch today. I walked into his office and he was snogging another witch and I... I just.. and I thought..." She talked very fast and I struggled to keep up with her incomplete thoughts.

"Stop, Hermione." She looked up at me, exhibiting even more distress. I thought I finally realized why she was here: she needed comfort. "You don't need to explain anything to me. I'm here for you if you need me. My ear is ready if you want to talk, but don't feel that you have to."

She looked frightened and relieved at the same and rather cute because of it. My eyes widened as her lips abruptly and unexpectedly pressed against mine. I was frozen again in shock but my lips loosened and joined with hers sooner than the last time she'd surprised me. Her arms were around my neck, one of her hands running through my hair. My hands were on her waist and I pulled her body closer to mine. Something finally clicked in my mind: she was here for a different kind of comfort than I had assumed.

I broke our kiss and led her to my bedroom. After closing the door behind us, I looked down into her soft brown eyes, studying her. I suddenly wished I was skilled at Legilimency. She pressed her lips against mine again and I pulled away. My heart was racing. What was happening? What was I doing? One night after drinking was one thing... but what was this? She looked up at me, frightened again. She feared rejection; it was etched deeply on her face. It was true I wanted her again, but I was afraid to hurt her. Casual sex was not a foreign idea to me, but this wasn't casual - this was for her to find comfort and escape from a broken relationship. She looked as though she were about to run. Where would she go? She'd only be more hurt if I let her go... or was that just my excuse because I wanted her?

My hand softly brushed her cheek. "This can happen," I said quietly, "but only if there are no regrets, only if you can look at me afterward. I don't want to hurt you or our friendship. I don't want you to avoid me. And I'm sure we'll see each other at The Burrow for dinner sometimes... I don't want things to be awkward. I want you, but only if we'll be okay afterward. You can change your mind now and there will be no funny feelings."

Her gaze dropped. I could feel her searching herself. Her deep brown eyes met mine again and she nodded. I flicked my wand twice at the door, locking it and trapping the sound inside the room so that no one would overhear the moans that would inevitably come. Lastly, I placed my wand upon her belly and whispered a charm.

"Contraception," I explained though surely I didn't need to; she was not unfamiliar with such charms. "No surprises."

I waited for her to kiss me. It was what I needed - one final confirmation that she wanted to continue. When her lips touched mine, something inside of me was released. All of our uncertainty melted away. All my fears had left at her reassurance that this was what she really wanted. Her hands lifted my shirt as far as she could and I helped to pull it over my head. Her small hands rubbed my chest. In my passion, now unbridled, I tore open the front of her blouse. My hands cupped her modest breasts through her white satin bra and her lips moaned against mine. Patience was no where to be found. I wanted her as badly as she needed me. My hands wrapped around her and began fumbling with the clasp of her bra at the same time she worked at the button of my jeans.

Only seconds later, I laid on the bed, Hermione's nude body straddling my own as she kissed me hungrily. She pulled her lips from mine and stared down into my eyes, breathing heavily. My heart ached suddenly. When she looked into my face, was she disappointed? This was what she wanted, but that didn't necessarily mean that I was the one she wanted. I knew I was being used, but I decided then that it was okay. Of course she was using me, but wasn't I using her just the same? Her eyes didn't show any disappointment, only lust and need.

She slowly lowered herself onto my hips, burying my manhood deeply inside her. She moaned and excitement coursed through me. She positioned herself over me and rocked slowly back and forth. Each time she rocked forward I was nearly removed from her but as she rocked back my length was completely hidden inside. I moaned and lifted my hips to meet her each time she rocked back. She hummed in pleasure as she ground against me. Her slow pace was both agonizing and delicious. I placed my hands on her waist and urged her to rock her faster.

She chuckled and whispered breathily in my ear, "Don't rush. It will come..."

Her breath my sent shivers through me. My hands loosened and rubbed sensually up and down her sides and her moving thighs. Her slow pace never wavered. It was torturous and glorious and I fought my desperate desire to thrust wildly into her. The urgency I felt was hard to contain. The pleasure built within us both, our moans becoming louder and more frequent. 'Don't rush...' I repeated to myself.

Her body shook and her movements became more erratic. I could feel her coming close. She yelled my name as she found release. Her muscles clenched and released rapidly. She fought through ecstasy to keep her slow pace for me, but she didn't need to maintain long. A powerful numb, tingling sensation spread through my entire body, causing my toes to curl. I thrust twice into her and felt release like never before. Pure white energy burst in front of my closed eyes. Heat and pure ecstasy exploded through every cell in my body. My voice felt hoarse and I realized that I had shouted her name as I came. She sat up straight, my shaft burying deeper inside her, and I shuddered. Her head tilted back as she struggled to find her breath and some semblance of thought through the blinding euphoria. I felt so lightheaded that I only strived to calm my breathing; forget thought. I opened my eyes and stared at the stunning sweat-slickened body that I was still tucked inside. 'Beautiful,' was the only thought I managed.

I mourned the loss of her warm body as she laid down next to me. "That was incredible..." I breathed.

"Mmmm..." was all she could respond.

"You... are an absolutely amazing lover." I breathed deeply and closed my eyes.

She chuckled and blushed. "You too..."

I couldn't tell you how long were laid there. It felt like seconds and it felt like days. Eventually her smile faded.

"Fred..." she started uncertainly. "I'm... I'm sorry..."

"No," I insisted. "No regrets. Remember?"

"No. No regrets. It's just that... I'm sorry that I..."

"Sorry - that's regret. No sorry."

"Maybe 'sorry' is not the right word. I just want to explain..."

"Stop, Hermione," I laughed and turned on my side to look at her. "Don't explain. There's no explanation needed. In fact... Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies won't believe you anyway." She too laughed. "Life is worth living, but not worth being discussed all the time."

She shook her head but her smile remained. "That's not what I mean. It's just... we're..." She was lost for words again. I'd never seen her so lost for words before today. It was actually rather cute.

"A definition," I provided. "You want to define what is going on between us, right?"

She nodded.

"It's not a romance, just a... thing. A private thing, obviously," I added. She nodded in agreement. "We'll just go with it and see where it takes us. It's over when either one of us blows the whistle. No attachment, no regrets, no hard feelings. That sum it up okay?"

She chuckled and nodded. "You act like I talk a lot, but you won't even let me finish a sentence."

"I would if you could actually pull your thoughts together long enough to make a sentence," I teased and poked a ticklish spot on her side. She giggled and squirmed away. She was right though, of course. I did tend to cut her off. I decided it was probably because of all the years I've spent with George. We tended to finish each others' thoughts.

"You're sure you're okay with this?" she asked. Her eyes met mine and she looked so vulnerable.

"Only if you are, Hermione," I answered.

"Yes."

"So," I said, glancing at the clock. "It's about time I get supper started."

"Yeah... I should get going," Hermione said quietly.

"No. I'm not trying to kick you out. I just said I needed to start dinner. You should stay," I suggested. She looked a little nervous again. "No awkwardness, remember? We're friends and you're staying for dinner," I declared.

She smiled warmly, something like true affection rose in her eyes. It caught me off guard, but I quickly dismissed the thought.

"Honey, I'm home!" George called as he threw open the door. Man, those magenta robes really clashed with his hair... which meant they looked just as bad on me. Maybe we should think about changing the color... Nah, magenta is fun, as are gingers. "Mmmm... something smells good. Hermione?"

I laughed. "She does smell good, doesn't she?"

"Well, yeah... like apples actually and maybe a light floral scent, but I was referring to whatever you're cooking." George explained. Hermione blushed deeply.

"Oh, well that would be fish and chips, dear brother," I said.

He breathed in deeply. "Delicious. And to what do I owe the honor of your visit, my deliciousness?" George bowed deeply and kissed Hermione's hand.

I swore I could feel Hermione's nervousness across the room, but maybe I was just imagining it. "She decided to give Harry and Ginny some privacy for dinner tonight and I invited her here to dine with us," I answered simply.

"Lovely," George smiled. "It's not often we get company."

"That's because most are too afraid," Hermione laughed.

"Touché," George replied. His lips curled with a mischievous glint in his eyes as he got incredibly close to her face. "And you're not afraid...?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows and smirked at him, not backing away. "Never."

"Excellent," he smiled. "I'm going to go change. Don't start eating without me."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I replied. He stared me up and down dubiously. As soon as he left, I placed the plates at table. "Tuck in."

Hermione laughed, but began eating immediately. I remembered what she said about meeting Michael for lunch and guessed that she hadn't eaten. I took the seat next to her and wasted no time my self.

"Oh, I meant to ask, how did things go with your boss?" I immediately regretted asking as her smile slipped away. It was horrible to bring up anything having to do with Michael. What was I thinking?

"He was really good about it. I apologized profusely and told him that I wasn't seeing him anymore. He actually seemed really sympathetic about it."

"As would anyone, I'd think."

"Damn it! I knew you'd start without me!" George cried in indignation as he crossed the sitting room toward the kitchen and plopped into his chair. "'Wouldn't dream of it.' Yeah right..."