AN: This is AU. Takes place after HBP. Not DH compatible. There is going to be some Ron/Hermione in this chapter but I will keeping to the Fred/Hermione. I just want to keep it realistic. Either this chapter or the next one the Ron/Hermione stuff will be taken care of.


Chapter 4:

"Well, he is becoming thoroughly predictable," Fred said shattering the quiet.

Hermione slammed her fork down, "Shut up Fred," she snapped.

He looked taken aback, "Is this somehow my fault?" Fred asked.

"No, it's mine," Hermione sighed she climbed to her feet and left the kitchen. She climbed the stairs and went to Ron's room. She knocked on the door. He didn't respnd,"Ron? Please?"

She opened the door and went inside. Ron was standing across the room his back turned to her. "Ron? Talk to me."

"After we talked last night I actually felt better," Ron said. "You actually made me believe this wasn't about you and Fred."

"it's not," Hermione told him but somewhere inside she felt like she was lying to him.

"You kissed him," Ron said. "You said you had feelings for me but you kissed him. So..."

"So what?" Hermione demanded.

"So, you must not have feelings for me if you can kiss him." Ron said angrily.

"I guess by the line of thinking you must not have had feelings for me when you kissed Lavender then?" Hermione shot back.

Ron paled, "Is that what this is? Punishment for Lavender?"

"Of course not," Hermione replied.

"I only kissed Lavender because..." Ron trailed off.

"Because of what?" Hermione asked. "Spit it out."

"Because you kissed Krum," Ron told her.

Hermione wanted to hit him. "That is so childish," she said. "That is unbelievable. If you had concerns about me and Krum you should have talked to me instead snogging the first blonde who threw herself at you."

"You kissed my brother," Ron whined.

Hermione crossed her arms, "I know. But Ron you know why we have to do this. No one will believe we are dating, that we are serious, if we don't show physical affection. So I hugged him, I danced with and yes, I kissed him. It is what we have to do."

"I am just supposed to be ok with that. Hermione...I care for you...I want to be with you. Now I have to watch my brother do what I have never been able to do?"

Hermione wanted to rail at Ron and tell him he could have done but he was too busy with Lavender. But Ron looked so defeated that she just ignored that thought. "I am sorry," she said. "This is where we are right now."

Ron came to Hermione and stood right in front of her. He put his hand on her face and then moved in. Hermione almost let it happen and then pulled away. "Ron. No." she breathed. "We can't- not like this."

Ron glared at her, "But you can kiss Fred? And Krum?"

"Krum? Again? He kissed me. Once. Three years ago. It meant nothing." Hermione said exasperation in her tone.

"And Fred? That means nothing?" Ron pushed.

Hermione lied, "Yes. It means nothing."

It was as if Ron could see through her which Hermione didn't expect. Ron was never much of an observer. "This is done," Ron said definitively. "Me and you. it's done."

Hermione thought she would cry but she just shrugged, "Fine. Goodbye." The she left and she made it to Ginny's room before the tears started.


"Fred, go check on them," Mrs. Weasley said coolly.

"I doubt Ron is dying to see me at the moment," Fred told his mum dryly.

Molly glared at her son and then said, "Go. Check. On. Them."

Fred sighed and then stood up. He walked out the kitchen. He could hear Bill behind him so he stopped and faced his eldest brother. "Yes?"

Bill said, "Try and be kind to Ron," he said.

"Well, I wasn't planning on going in and punching him in the face or anything," Fred joked.

"Be serious," Bill replied sternly. "Ron is having a hard time."

"Oh and it is just so easy on the rest of us," Fred snorted derisively.

"Fred," Bill started but Fred cut him off.

"No, I am so tired of how this family deals with Ron." Fred seethed. "We have always walked on egg shells because his sensitive feelings and his bad temper. I am sick of it." The Fred stomped away.

He went to Ron's room hoping he would find Hermione there. He knocked and called out, "Ron?"

The door opened with a bang and Fred saw Ron glaring at him. "What do you want?" Ron demanded.

"Mum told me to check on you," Fred said.

"I don't know why," Ron said with a shrug. "I am fine."

"Look, I know seeing me kiss Hermione was upsetting for you, "Fred said. "I am sorry."

"I am done with Hermione. You can have her," Ron replied, bitterness lacing his tone.

"Oh, don't be a prat," Fred snapped. "You aren't done with Hermione. That kiss didn't mean anything."

Ron smirked, "That is what Hermione said. But her face said something different. It meant something to her. " Ron shook his head, "I see the same look on your face. You can say that the kiss was nothing...but you enjoyed it..."

Fred was flummoxed by this conversation. Finally he composed himself and said, "Did I enjoy kissing a pretty girl? Sure. Do I want to do it again? Not if it hurts you. But we don't have a choice. I am sorry. But don't take this out of Hermione she is doing the best she can."

Ron shook his head, "Go defend your fiancé somewhere else. I am taking a nap." He slammed the door in Fred's face.

Fred stood there in a stupor. He heaved a sigh and then turned around to go find Hermione. He figured she was in Ginny's room. He knocked on Ginny's door. "What do you want?" Ginny asked when she opened the door.

"Why is everyone mad at me today?" Fred demanded.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I am not mad at you," she told her brother.

"Neither am I," came a sad voice from behind Ginny.

Fred looked around and saw Hermione sitting on the bed. She had her thin arms wrapped around her legs. She had been crying as evidenced by her red, puffy eyes. He wanted to wrap his arms around her but he fought the urge.

"You ok?" he asked.

"I will let you two talk," Ginny said and slipped out shutting the door behind her.

"Are you ok?" Fred asked again as he sat on the edge of Ginny's bed. Hermione nodded but Fred knew she was lying. He sighed, "Now try telling the truth."

Hermione exhaled loudly, "Ron is mad."

"And?" Fred prompted. "Ron has been mad since the day he was born. He will get over it."

Hermione shook her head. Fred was horrified to see fresh tears in her eyes. "He said were done. Forever done."

Fred felt terrible for her. "Like you said he was mad. He will be sorry he said that later. I promise." Hermione wouldn't look at him. He used his finger to tilt her chin up. "Really."

"I wish it were that easy but ..." Hermione let out a sob. "I kissed his brother. He will never forgive me."

"You didn't kiss me. I kissed you." Fred pointed out. "Plus, it's not like we chose this. He will understand that eventually. I promise."

Hermione launched herself at Fred and buried her face in his shoulder. He held the sobbing girl rubbing her back and whispering soothing things in her ear. He was fighting the urge to punch his babiest brother.


"Where are you going tonight?" Ginny asked as she watched Hermione getting dressed.

Hermione was trying to duplicate what Fleur created last night. This time she was wearing an outfit of Fleur's- a shiny silver slip dress and black heels. "I feel naked," Hermione complained looking at the dress.

"You look hot," Ginny said. "I wish I had your figure."

"Ginny every guy at Hogwarts is half in love with you," Hermione said. "Including Harry Potter."

"I just wish I had bigger boobs," Ginny said with a sigh. The she asked again, "Where are you going?"

"Katie's birthday party," Hermione answered.

"At Katie's house?" Ginny asked.

Hermione nodded. She pulled back and looked at her reflection. She didn't look quite as good as she did when Fleur did her makeup and hair but she looked a right sight better than she did earlier. "Can you tell I cried all day?" Hermione asked Ginny, turning to let the redhead see her.

"Nope, you look stunning," Ginny smiled. "You're going to show Katie up on her own birthday."

Hermione laughed and then looked at her reflection. She was pleased with what she saw. There was knock on the door.

"hold on!" Ginny yelled. She looked at Hermione, "Ready?"

"As I will ever be," Hermione said.

Ginny opened the door. Fred was standing there in blue button up shirt and khaki slacks. Hermione thought he looked very handsome. He looked at past Ginny at Hermione and she could see appreciation all over his face. "You look hot," Fred said.

Hermione felt herself blush. Ginny looked between them with an eyebrow raised.

Fred held out his arm, "Ready?"

Hermione nodded and took the offered arm. "See you later, Gin" she called.

"Don't wait up," Fred added.

The apparated to Katie's house which was huge. "Katie's family has money?" Hermione asked.

"Katie's dad played Quidditch," Fred told her. "He works for the ministry now. But, yeah, they have money."

Hermione nodded and let Fred lead her to the door. He knocked and the door was thrown open by Angelina. "Hey guys!" she greeted them jovially. She hugged Fred and Hermione as they entered.

"Where is the birthday girl?" Fred asked.

"Somewhere with her tongue shoved down Oliver's throat I would imagine," Angelina laughed.

"Speaking of...where is Lee?" Fred teased.

Angelina punched him in the shoulder and wandered off (Probably in search of Lee).

Fred looked at Hermione. He smiled and her heart fluttered in her chest. Fred took her hand in his, "Care to mingle?"

Hermione nodded. "I need a drink," she said. Especially if Fred was going to keep holding her hand.

"Me thinks I have been a bad influence," Fred laughed. The he said,"Yeah, I could use a drink myself."

Fred found them two cups. Hermione didn't know what was in the cup but she tilted her head back and took a huge gulp.

"Slow down, Granger," Fred smirked.

Whiskey. It made her chest burn a little. She took another big sip. "Ah!" she said and coughed.

"Nice whiskey face, Granger," Fred teased. Soon his finished his own drink.

"Want to dance?" Hermione asked. There was a part of her that a dance might lead to another kiss. She couldn't deny that she was dying to kiss him again-if only to see if she felt the sparks again.

"Sure," Fred said and he led her onto the dance floor.

AN: Sorry it's so short. Sorry it took me so long. I am going to try and do better.