"Did anything happen between you two?"
"No, why would you think that?"
"She just came back to our room with the biggest grin on her face."
"Well, we talked over tea for a few hours. Did Mum noticed we slipped out?"
"I don't think so, and if she did, she didn't say anything. Ginny, Ron, Harry, and I left shortly after you did without announcing to go play Quidditch."
"Ah, okay." There was a pause. "So, she looked happy?"
"She hung up her robes, unshrunk a package that she wouldn't unwrap, and asked if I was going to leave so she could get into her pajamas. Before I left, I saw her rifle through your dresser for a pair of boxers. She pulled out a magenta pair and a navy pair, and couldn't decide which ones, so she transfigured them together. She laughed and then kicked me out. I'm still a bit confused."
"Oh, just something we talked about. Do you think—"
"Yes. She likes you."
"Should I still wait a week, then?"
"I mean, I think you should wait a week before you ask her to be your woman. But keep dating her. That's fine. I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Forge." George seemed a bit perturbed, but Fred brushed it off as him opening the shop this morning and being tired.
"Night, Gred." Fred retired to his room, and began to clean it up a bit. I wonder when she'll be in here? Thank Merlin Mum keeps the rooms clean while we're gone. Why do I leave this such a mess? What's she thinking about right now? Fred put the last of the laundry in his hamper and got into bed. He would dust his room tomorrow, and maybe even wash his sheets. He drifted off to sleep thinking about that beautiful brunette whom he could not believe that he had just noticed today.
I cannot believe that he and I stayed until nearly ten! Does that mean he likes me? Do I like him? I am absolutely rubbish at this whole "are men interested in me or no" thing. Ugh, I wish I knew if he likes me. Hermione removed Fred's shirt and socks, her bra, and Ginny's leggings, thinking about the last time she was naked in this room. Her mind was racing. She had never really noticed Fred until she was standing naked in his childhood bedroom, him shockingly there as well. She put on the newly transfigured boxers in their colors—Alright, that's enough Hermione, he hasn't asked you on a date yet. Those colors are no one's colors yet. She dug through her purchases and pulled out an elastic and lace sports bra, and threw it on along with the boxers. She climbed into Fred's bed, and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Hermione woke up with a start at 7:30AM. She had been waking up at 7:30 for over four years, but it was so much harder than waking up at 6:30 for classes at Hogwarts. She went to her meager supply of clothing and dressed in her new grey trousers, and took her new white blouse off the hanger. Fred is right. This is terribly boring. But hey, I wore orange yesterday. That's got to count for something! She buttoned up the blouse, tucking it into her trousers as she pulled them on. Her grey robe went over her clothes, and she did her hair up as best as she could. She had no product, and no make up for that matter.
She went downstairs and made herself some tea and toast, and just as she was going to turn around to sit at the table and stare into the void for a while until she woke up, she heard a voice.
"So, gone out for a bit last night?" Her best friend was sitting at the kitchen table, fingers in a pyramid, and sporting a slightly evil grin.
"Oh for fuck's sake, Harry James Potter. Just because Voldemort didn't succeed in killing you, doesn't mean I won't." The two of them grinned at each other. She got up, and made him some tea and toast as well.
"Where did you and Fred run off to?"
Granger, be cool. Don't let anyone know what's going on. "Fred made me aware that I had no clothes for work until I could get into my apartment. When I went shopping, he joined me."
"And you couldn't Apparate into your unit?"
"Harry, I told you last night. There was something fishy going on in my building, so I couldn't get in."
"Are you going to go back there when they figure it out?"
"To get my stuff, sure. I think this weekend I'm going to look for a new place."
"In Diagon Alley?"
"I was thinking Hogsmeade, actually." Hermione and Harry continued chatting about their plans. Hermione thought she was in the clear and wouldn't have to answer any questions about Fred until—
"So, Fred."
"What about him?" I really hope that sounded nonchalant.
"Are you two dating now? Do you want to date him?"
"So much for a casual chat."
"So you do have feelings for him, then?"
Hermione let out a deep sigh. "Okay, Harry, you have to promise me this goes nowhere. Not even to Ginny or Ron."
"Cross my heart."
"I think I do have feelings for Fred. I never considered him as anything more than Ron and Ginny's brother until yesterday, so I'm trying to take it slow. I don't want to scare him off, and I don't want to lead him on. Which is why—"
"Which is why I won't be saying a single word about any of this to anyone until you've figured it out yourself. Got it."
"Thanks, Harry. I appreciate it." Hermione smiled at him. The two of them were only children, thrust into a family of nine. While they both knew they had each one of the Weasley siblings on their side, they formed a very strong bond with each other.
The two walked over to the fireplace, and flooed to the Ministry of Magic, parting ways only when Harry had to get off at his floor. Hermione traveled the next four floors alone with her thoughts. She exited, and made her way over to her office. Her secretary, Eliza, had just graduated from Hogwarts and was hoping to learn from Hermione and work on policy. She expected to see Eliza in her office. She did not expect to see Lavender Brown this early in the morning.
"Hello, Lavender. Did Cormac need me to sign some papers?" Play dumb. Just pretend like you don't know why she's here. She'll leave soon.
"No, I just came by to see you, Hermione." The malice in her voice was nearly palpable. Eliza thought she could cut the tension with a knife if she tried.
"Whatever for?" Hermione raised her eyebrows in mock surprise. I wouldn't put it past her to think I'm actually surprised.
"Well I wanted to congratulate you on finally bagging a Weasley brother."
"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."
"Of course you don't. Granger, you've got another thing coming if you think you can outsmart me. I'm going to get you for…well, for something. I am so tired of looking at your smarmy little face, thinking just because Potter and Ron were such good friends with you, you can get anything you want in life."
"Lavender, I will not tolerate your terrible behavior towards me because you are still angry about something that happened in our Sixth Year. You are a grown woman. I am a grown woman. I know you are bitter, and that's fine, but you will not speak negatively about my friends and you will not speak negatively about my accomplishments. I risked my life for this society. I earned that Order of Merlin, every award and praise, and even that bloody Chocolate Frog card. I'm sorry you feel slighted, but I would appreciate if you get your nasty attitude out of my office immediately." All Hermione wanted to do was sit down, but she waited until Lavender had finished looking at her with a mixture of disgust and surprise, huffed angrily, and left the office before collapsing into one of her large armchairs in front of Eliza's desk.
"Hermione, what the bloody hell was that?" Eliza's thick Scottish accent broke the silence.
"Lavender Brown is a disaster on legs. But hopefully I have enough on her to get her fired."
A/N: I am so sorry this chapter took forever. I had some family in town and it was just a mess and I think that I would like to keep a bit of a buffer up for things like this that arise. I hope you liked it! There's more to come.