Disclaimer: HP is not mine

Author's Note: Again a big thank you to my Beta Clover Bay, this chapter exists only because of you ;)

ok so read and (hopefully) enjoy, people!

Fred and George rushed to the castle, Hermione disillusioned herself again and snuck back through the secret passage. She arrived at the hospital wing a few minutes before the twins.

"Hermione where have you been we have been looking for you," Harry asked worriedly.

""I've been … ahem ... busy Hermione mumbled; then, remembering Ron, she asked: "how did this happen, how is he?"

Luckily Harry went into a detailed account of what had happened this morning and forgot about her disappearance.

Shortly after the twins arrived, they were allowed to go in to see Ron. Hermione stayed away from Fred, she hadn't told her friends about them yet after all.

While they stood around his bed speculating about who might be behind this attack and who the actual target was, Ron started mumbling in his sleep and suddenly he croaked: "Er-my-nee" before he started snoring again.

Everybody had gone quiet, she stole a shy glance at Fred who looked at her curiously; blushing she looked back at Ron.

Hermione left with Harry and Hagrid after Arthur and Molly arrived, she didn't have a chance that evening to see Fred again. She felt a little bad for not being able to be at Fred's side at the moment, she recalled the way he had looked at his brother, all mischief was gone from his eyes and replaced by worry. But then she told herself that it might be better for the moment if their relationship stayed a secret, it didn't make her feel much better though.

Then her thoughts went back to Ron. He had been poisoned, she couldn't believe it and she didn't want to think of what would have happened if Harry hadn't thought of the Bezoar (she send a silent thank you to the Halfblood Prince whoever he or she might be).

All her feelings of frustration and anger with him were suddenly replaced by worry and guilt, why did she let someone like Lavender and some foolish jealousy almost ruin her friendship with him?

Allowedly she looked at the last months and his behaviour in particular with much softer and more forgiving feelings than before but the thought that she almost lost him with this grudge between them was almost too much to bear. Finally she admitted that she missed his friendship and decided to knock some sense into Ron's thick scull as soon as he was conscious again.

She didn't have to do anything to make up with Ron once he woke up. It felt as if they never had fought in the first place.

But, during his time in the hospital wing she got the nagging suspicion that he liked her as more than just a friend. Especially since his relationship with Lavender seemed to not be going too well and he started to look for a way to dump her or, better yet, get dumped by her.

She felt bad now that she didn't have the chance before to tell him about her relationship with Fred, she hadn't told Harry or Ginny either, and she didn't want to risk another fight when he learned that she was dating his brother (she still had the scene he caused at the Yule Ball clearly in her mind) but she also felt that this would be unfair to Fred.

She felt torn but decided to keep the peace and so kept her mouth shut for now.

After Ron was released from the hospital wing, their friendship went back to normal and luckily he didn't do anything to show her that he felt more than friendship for her.

And Hermione thought that if she ignored the glances he would give her or whenever he would touch her and let his hand rest just a moment too long on her shoulder or arm that it would all just go away.

She kept postponing talking about her dilemma with Fred, as well, she wasn't quite sure how to address the topic without making him feel bad.

His letters had been somewhat cooler and more distant since Ron's birthday and from some of his remarks she deduced that he was jealous of Ron (which she found ridiculous since she had explained him several times now that she only felt brotherly affection for Ron).

In the last letter he had finally asked her why she wouldn't tell anyone about their relationship and if she was ashamed of him. This was her cue to finally approach the topic, she hated to do this by mail but there was no other option at the moment.

It took her several attempts to write that letter, in the end she gave up on trying to make up believable and reasonable excuses as to why they should keep their relationship a secret, so she decided to stick to the truth.

Dear Fred,

There is a somehow delicate topic that I can't postpone talking to you about anymore. I am not quite sure how to put this and please don't get me wrong but I think we should keep our relationship a secret for now.

The thing is I think that Ron might perhaps have feelings for me. He hasn't said anything yet, but there are moments when it shows.

You know that we haven't been on speaking terms for quite a while and just now got back to normal and I don't want to jeopardize that again.( And I shudder when I remember the scene he caused at the Yule ball.)

I hope you understand because I don't want you to get the impression that I don't care for you, because I do very much so.

Yours,

Hermione

Hermione felt very anxious after she had sent that letter. How would he react? Would he understand that this was for the best, for now at least?

She waited for a reply but none came. She had sent that letter Tuesday in the afternoon, but there was no reply for her in the evening, or the next morning. She grew more and more worried with each hour that past without a word from him.

She tried unsuccessfully to distract herself by studying and she tried equally unsuccessful to act normal around their friends and they were getting suspicious already.

Finally very late on Thursday night Eugene came buzzing happily into her dormitory. With shaking hands she loosened the letter that was attached to his leg. She closed the curtains around her bed took a deep breath and opened it.

Hermione,

I am not sure what to think about that. I admit that I am quite upset and disappointed. That's also the reason why I took so long to reply I didn't want to write anything I might regret later.

I am pretty sure that Ron has feelings for you, heck everybody knows that. And I actually was a little reluctant at first to admit my growing feelings for you because I felt like I was steeling you away from my brother. But then I thought he had his chance and didn't take it and if she has feelings for me instead of him then why should not I be the one who gets the girl.

So yes he might get upset, sad or angry when you tell him that you are with me, but he will get over it and move on. Don't you think it would be unfair to lead him on and then tell him months later, oh by the way I am with your brother, I think he would be a lot more hurt then.

Also I don't want to have to hide my feelings for you and steel kisses in the middle of the night in abandoned places. I want to let everybody know that I am with the most amazing witch, I want to act like your boyfriend in front of our friends and my family and not pretend to be nothing more then the older brother of one of your best friends.

You say you care about me, but by wanting to keep our relationship a secret you show that you neither care about me nor Ron, you only care about yourself. Since at the moment this seems to be the easy way out, you wouldn't have to upset Ron or any other friends, but believe me in the end it would make everything worse.

That is if you want to try to make this relationship work. If this is just a fling for you and you know already that you are going to dump me as soon as you find someone else please tell me and we end it right now. Cause I can't guarantee that we will stay together for a lifetime but I want to give my all in this relationship for however long it might last. I have feelings for you Hermione that I've never had for anyone before.

Fred

The ink on the letter was smeared by the time she finished reading because she was crying so hard. She could tell that he was really hurt and upset. And she had to admit that he was right, she had acted like a coward. Before she hadn't been sure how deep his feelings for her went but now that she knew she couldn't hold back any longer. She made her decision then and there.

Dear Fred,

I know you're right, and I acted like a selfish coward. I will tell them all about us tomorrow. I rather have Ron angry and not talking to me than lose you. And I want to give my all too and make this relationship work.

Please forgive me.

Yours,

Hermione

After she had sent Eugene on his way, she tried to get at least a little bit of sleep.

The next morning she sat slightly dazed in the Great Hall to have breakfast, she hadn't slept well the last few nights and it began to take its toll. Suddenly a brown fluffy ball hit her head and chirped quite loudly in her ear.

"Eugene you impossible..thing…owl…oh well whatever" she groaned.

However when she realized that Eugene meant a letter from Fred she was suddenly wide awake and sat bolt upright on the bench.

My dearest Hermione,

Of course I'll forgive you, we all make mistakes and poor decisions from time to time.

I am glad that you'll tell them today, so I can show off with you next time we're all together..

Got to hurry now and open the shop.

Lots of love and kisses for my princess,

Fred

She let out a breath and a broad smile crept on her face. Her friends around her looked at her curiously.

"Good news, eh" Ginny said cheekily.

Hermione mumbled something unintelligible and excused herself to go to her first class this morning.

Later that same day in the Gryffindor common room Hermione fidgeted and wondered how to address the topic of her and Fred. Finally she just decided to get it over with and asked Ron, Harry and Ginny to a small secluded area where they all got comfortable.

"So I have to tell you something." She mumbled looking very uncomfortable.

"Did something happen? is everything alright?" Harry asked alarmed.

"No, yes everything is fine there is just something that I think I should tell you all." She stopped there and didn't say anything for a while.

Finally Ginny asked: "Well has this by any chance anything to do with that letter that you got this morning from your mysterious pen pal?"

"Yes, kind of, you see my pen pal is Fred." She hold her breath for the onslaught that was sure to come.

"Fred who?" Ron asked dumbly

"Ahem Fred Weasley, your brother you might know him actually," Hermione said rolling her eyes.

"So you and Fred are pen pals?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Well yeah, you see we are actually a bit more than just pen pals," She mumbled.

"You are dating Fred, my brother Fred as in Fred and George?" Ginny asked with an excited look on her face.

"Yeah we are actually kind of together, for quite a while already, so I thought I should tell you guys." Hermione replied.

Ginny looked as if she might burst of excitement any moment. Then Ron started laughing all of a sudden. They all looked at him questioningly.

"Haha, you and Fred, that's just too funny, you almost got me there Hermione, hahaha good joke, as if that would ever happen."

After he had calmed down somewhat, Hermione stated slightly irritated:

"I'm not joking Ronald, Fred and I are together."

He looked at her with big eyes: "But you two are so different and you hate the twins."

"I've never hated them, I might not have approved of some of their methods, but that doesn't mean that I had anything against them." Her tone was so serious that Ron was finally convinced that she said the truth.

He opened his mouth to no doubt say something rather insulting, when Harry cut in quickly by asking:

"So how did that happen?"

She told them a highly edited version of the events and watched Ron's face getting redder and redder by the second. All of a sudden she imagined him breathing fire and had to suppress the urge to laugh.

After she finished Ron started a verbal onslaught about how they were too different, Fred was too old and how this could not end well and she should mark his words.

He was silenced however by Harry who told him to shut up and Ginny who glared at him with her wand raised threateningly in the air.

They had all gotten up from their seats during Ron's rant and Harry now stepped closer to her and said in a low voice.

"I'm happy for you and Fred, and don't worry about Ron I'll try and talk to him."

Ginny then dragged her along to the girls' dormitories, they sat on Hermione's bed and Ginny yanked the curtains close and demanded:

"OK and now I want a complete account of what happened."

*

Hermione had to give Ron credit he tried hard not to show how upset he was about the news that she and Fred were a couple. The first few days he avoided her as much as possible and his answers were rather snappy but he threw himself into Quidditch and practiced as often as possible that seemed to help him get over it. Maybe it also helped that he started seeing Lisa Turpin.

While things went well with Ron, this time it was Harry who was giving her grief. Instead of focusing to get the memory from Slughorn he came up with even more absurd theories about Malfoy and wasted his time away in front of the room of requirement trying to get in.

All the time Fred's birthday was coming closer and she thought hard about what to give him, his presents so far had always been thoughtful and creative and simply lovely and she didn't want to stand back.

The idea hit her while she was finishing her essay for Professor Snape. It would be a lot of work but he would definitely be surprised and she could get back at him for his Valentine's prank.

Since Fred's birthday was only two weeks away and it would be a lot of work, she started to make a schedule for herself and set to work right away.

Early in the morning on April 1st Hermione sent a school owl with a big package on its way.

Fred was awoken on his birthday by a tapping on his window. He cracked one eye open and once his mind told him "birthday mail" he jumped excitedly out of his bed to open the window.

He got the package that was attached to the bird's leg and ripped it open impatiently.

On top was a card that had a big pink heart with golden glitter on it that read:

Happy Birthday my sweet Ginger Snap

Fred cracked a smile, what a cheeky witch, must be her revenge for him calling her princess.

He opened the card and grimaced when it started playing a jazzy version of "Happy Birthday" sung by no one else than the great Celestina Warbeck (he wondered for a moment where she had gotten that from but then again this was Hermione so he shouldn't be surprised) and continued reading:

My beloved Fred,

I wish you all the best for your birthday (and George too) and I am sending you all my love. I hope you'll have a wonderful day I only wish I could be with you.

I hope you like my birthday card since I created it myself. In the package is only the first part of your present I will send you your real present later, so be patient my love.

A million kisses and hugs,

Your princess

By now Fred was smiling benevolently at her attempt at a prank. He opened the box that was in the package and saw an assortment of his favourite sweets. It was still early but he couldn't resist and started eating heartily. Shortly afterwards half the box was empty and he started to feel slightly sick, maybe it was not such a good idea to have sweets before breakfast.

He heard his brother rummaging outside and decided to join him. He walked out of his room a big grin on his face and said:

"A very happy birthday, Forge," spreading his arms in a dramatic gesture.

Gred turned around and started, "Hap..," he stared at Forge for a moment before he started laughing.

Fred stared at his brother slightly bewildered, while George was hitting his thighs, tears running down his cheeks and howling with laughter.

"Whahat hahappened tohoo youu, brotheheher," he managed to get out between howls of laughter.

"Ahem, I don't know what you're talking about, are you alright?" Fred was totally lost now, he had no idea what had gotten into George.

"Maybe you should look into a mirror," George said, holding his sides that had started to hurt from laughing so hard.

Fred walked into the bathroom and stared into the mirror. For a second he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. His hair was magenta and stood straight up into the air as if he had been hit by lightning, he sported a huge moustache (though how he missed to notice that was beyond him), his teeth were purple, he had big green spots all over his face and neck and they seemed to keep spreading all over his body, when he got a closer look at his fingernails he saw that they were bright pink.

For a moment he was absolutely stunned, he hadn't thought she had it in her then a proud smile spread over his face. Never again would he underestimate the force of nature called Hermione Granger.

He pranced out of the bathroom and told his brother:

"See I've told you my girlfriend is brilliant."

During her lunch break Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table grinning like a Cheshire cat while reading a letter:

My dearest Princess,

You never cease to amaze me. I am so proud of you those prank sweets were brilliant. I have to say the better I get to know you the stronger my feelings get for you. I wish I could snog you senseless right now.

So where is the second part of my present? Don't make me wait too long.

I'm sending you all my love, princess,

Fred

After her last class was finished, Hermione sent the second part of Fred's gift. She had gotten him a wizard camera because he had mentioned that he should get one to take pictures when the whole family got together, while she spent Christmas with Harry and the Weasleys during her 5th year, but he had never bought one so far.

She supposed that it would be a good idea to take as many pictures of family and friends as possible, or as long as they were alive (as a quiet pessimistic voice said in her head) with this war going on no one could tell who was going to make it and this way they would never forget the faces of their loved ones.

Fred jumped up and down in excitement when the owl from Hogwarts arrived. He tore the paper away and was stunned when he held the camera in his hands. 'She remembered,' he thought, 'she remembered that I wanted to get one'.

But there was more in the package, there were also some pictures.

There was a picture of Hermione on which she was blowing kisses and waving and smiling into the camera.

On the next picture there where Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Harry they were standing in the Gryffindor common room, hugging each other and laughing into the camera.

Another picture showed Harry, Ginny and Ron racing on their brooms.

The last picture showed Hermione again, she sat in an armchair in front of the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room, reading, she was playing with her hair and softly biting her lower lip then she realized that someone was taking a picture of her and smiled softly into the camera.

Fred kept staring at the pictures with tears in his eyes. He loved those pictures, she was beautiful and he couldn't wait to take his own pictures.

In the parcel was also a letter.

Dear Fred,

I hope that you like my gift for you. You wanted to get a camera, didn't you? (I hope you haven't gotten one by now and never mentioned it to me)

We took the liberty to test the camera, I hope you like the pictures. I don't like myself much on the pictures but Ginny insisted that they were fine.

Again Happy Birthday (to George too). I miss you.

Yours,

Hermione

"Hey George look here!"

"Why?"

*click*