Chapter 4

Dinner

Ginny was packing her childhood room the muggle way when Hermione apparated in.

"hey Hermione what's up? Having fun at casa de Fred?"

"this is not a time for Spanish!Gin, I am having a serious breakdown."

"okay okay...tell me what happened." Ginny sat on her bed patting the spot next to her then gesturing for Hermione to sit down.

"I don't love him. He told me he loved me a few days ago and I told him I didn't love him."

"we're talking about Ron?"

"yes! I told him my life was perfect everything was perfect and it was it really was the house well flat of my dreams it's what I dreamed of since I was a little girl."

"so whats the problem?"

"because you know that feeling that people say they get when they wake up in the arms of their boyfriend. That feeling people talk about after they kiss. You know the spark that ignites! You know the twinkle you get in your eye. The smile you get that you know you're in love."

Ginny blushed instantly and Hermione knew that's how she felt about Harry.

"I don't feel that way about Ron. When I wake up and see him I feel empty like I know that there is more than this. I couldn't tell him I loved him. He begged me to say it, but I couldn't saying you're in love with someone is not something you say when you don't mean it has values it's special. I love Ron but I am not in love with him. I told him maybe after a year I will love him ,but the more time I spend away from him the happier I get the more that feeling of emptiness goes away. My life was so perfect it was like a fairy tale and in fairy tales the princess doesn't fall out of love with the prince!"

"well, princess, have you ever thought that the emptiness isn't going away because you're not with him. It's going away because your with..."

"Ginny please tell me you were going to say it's because the walls are orange and green." Hermione whined.

"what?"

"the Decor in the house looks like it was designed by 4 year olds! He acts like a 4-year-old. I can't live with it gin it's like a constant war!"

"maybe that's what you need... You don't need someone who will do whatever you say. You Need someone who will challenge you. Question you. Someone who will make you better than the wondrous witch you are, but also make you laugh when your crying. And maybe he needs you to make him grow up a bit. To make him better you can challenge him as well. So if you think about it as different as you two are that's what make you both so oddly perfect."

"what about Ron."

"happiness isn't perfection. Happiness is being able to look past the imperfections."

"that's sweet gin did you get it out of a birthday card?"

She erupted in laughter,"no!An anniversary card to be exact. Okay Want some real Ginny advise. Ron is a jealous stupid git. He is not a 10 in the looks department he took you for granted. He deserves less than you and you deserve better and better in my opinion would be Fred. And Hermione he will never hurt you like Ron has. He won't crush your heart and confuse you like Ron has done."

"he crushed Angelina's."

"you're crushing Ron's. He is scared too Hermione it broke him to do that to Angelina. Just like its breaking you to do this to Ron."

"do what to Ron?" asked the voice of Ron himself from the doorway.

"um nothing..." Ginny said automatically and Hermione paled

"Hermione..."

" Really it's nothing you'd care about. What time is it,gin?"

Ginny checked her clock and said,"almost ten."

"oh I gotta be home Fred and I are moving upstairs today! Bye ron! And thanks Gin you were completely wrong but thanks anyways." she grabbed her wand and apparated before either could reply.

I apparated to the middle of the kitchen and George was siting there drinking coffee. He must have just woken up.

"where's Fred?"

"he is unpacking all the stuff upstairs."

"oh no!" she muttered and apparated to the flat right above.

"FRED!"she said loudly.

"WIFEY! Your home!"Fred exclamed giving her a hug

"what did you do?" Hermione glared at him

"me? Nothing dearest."Fred said batting his eyes innocently

"well everything looks normal in the kitchen... Living room is fine... That leaves the bedroom ,bathroom, and guest room."

"okay 'Mione,but it's my room. You can decorate your room with all the boring colors you want!"

"Fred its our room. The ministry will check on what if they come in the middle of the night and we are in different rooms? That doesn't really look like we are trying. If we don't who knows what they'll do perhaps we will get arrested or worse."

"what's worse than azkaban?"

"they might make me stay married to YOU!"

"Ouch! That one hurt, but You do know you don't have to make excuses."

"excuses for what?"

"don't play dumb dear I. Think we both know."

"oh well than enlighten me on what I am supposedly making excuses for."

"For getting into bed with me." he replied with a wink.

She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks and she quickly shook off the blush mentally blaming it on the heat and avoided the fact it was snowing outside. She collected her thoughts and said,"that is the very last thing I would ever do."

He laughed again causing her to smile slightly. The smile was only for a brief moment, but Fred caught it.

The split second where she wasn't thinking. Wasn't trying to put up some reputation for people. That brief minute where she relaxed and let herself smile. He noticed. How beautiful she really was when she smiled. He vowed to himself that he would make this marriage as painless for her as possible for her. To get her to smile more and maybe laugh some.

Hermione pursed her lips and scrunched up her nose thinking. About the rooms. Maybe Ginny was right maybe orange could be good.

She walked into the room and Fred followed her. She looked at him to tell him no but he was making a puppy dog face. Healing his blues eyes practically sparkle in the light. It was an unfair advantage those weasleys had. Ginny did the same thing and she saw bill do it to Fleur before. Charlie and Ron didn't have the right features for it. Their eyes were a bright brilliant blue like Arthur weasley, but all the rest had these blue-green eyes. It seemed as though they would change with the weather. Most of the time they had little golden flecks near the center. Their freckles were more near their nose. Ron Charlie and Arthur's were more on their cheeks. Ron and Charlie had wider faces where as Ginny the twins and bill had slimmer faces. So when Fred Weasley looked at her with those wide-eyes and his bottom lip out she couldn't say no. She rolled her eyes and giggled slightly.

"Fine,but NO ONE is going in here then! And your making the bed every morning!"

"YIPPEEE!" Fred yelled as he tackled her onto the bed. He shouted,"Best Wife EVER!"

She forgot to think. She forgot everything to keep calm to hide her feelings and started laughing uncontrollably.

Fred put a goofy lopsided smile without realizing it and stared at her.

She noticed him and said,"what?"

"nothing. It's just. You should not think more often..."

"excuse me? I can't I am the brightest witch remember? Thinking is kinda what I'm famous for."

"okay not all the time, but how about when we're here you don't over-analyze everything and just be you and smile. Your more fun that way."

She looked at him searching for a hint that joking antics that he was known for, but to no avail. She let herself smile and said,"okay, but only when no ones around. And you stop hiding everything you feel."

"excuse me?" he asked confused

"when things turn serious you try to joke and tease it away. Like when I brought up marriage. The only time you were ever serious was when you were talking about Angelina and even then you didn't talk about your feelings. "

"so your asking the infamous weasley twin to stop joking and pranking?"

"No, I'm not asking anything from him. I am asking Fred weasley to put down the wall he built to shield his real feelings from the world."

"they don't call you the brightest witch for nothing do they?" he asked jokingly.

"nope ad you do know about the dinner tonite at the burrow to help ease the tension between everyone and their new partner..."

"yepp!" he replied simply.

"well you realise Angelina will be there with Percy right?"

His eyes grew wide and he said,"oh bloody hell! I hadn't talk to her in a year!"

"wanna talk about it?"

"what is there to talk about?"

"I don't know how you dealt with the guilt of breaking someone's heart. How you still hate yourself for it. How George and Ginny Still bring it up as a joke and you snap."

He looked at her silently his expression indistinguishable. Finally he looked down and said,"I didn't mean to. I didn't want to do it. You can't understand what it's like..."

She touched his arm and said,"Fred they might not understand, but I do. I know how it feels. I have been...I am going through it and if I didn't have this marriage as an excuse I don't know how much longer I could take it. I don't know how I stood it that long. But you have to know this. It is impossible to fall out of love you either never were or always will be. I never fell in love with Ron. And you never fell in love with Angelina. You couldn't help that. If you could I am sure you would have made yourself, but there comes a point where everyone has to just stop caring for others and think about whats best for them."

He smiled slightly looked up from his hands to Hermione and saw it. He saw a twinkle in her eye. Again it was only for a moment. It was so fast he thought he might have imagined it, but he noticed. He felt... Happy? He hasn't felt happy in years. He hasn't felt whole in years. The emptiness that took over him wasn't there. All these years of his dealing with it he hadn't noticed it left. The question is when it left? And why?

Hermione saw his smile turn into a confusion and she said,"Fred..."

" hmm?" he mumbled still lost in thought.

She hated seeing him not smiling. It bothered her. She didn't know why, but she needed him to smile. She needed him to make her laugh. She did the only thing she could think of.

She tickled him.

He erupted in laughter and she got up and bolted out the door knowing Fred would seek revenge on her. She was looking back the entire time an breathing so heavily she didn't hear the 2 cracks of his apparating into the kitchen.

She thought she was safe and stopped to catch her breath. He came up behind her and tickled her sides she tried to run away and he grabbed her arm.

"no more running Granger" he laughed out and continued tickling her. She was desperate and decided to trip him hoping for him to let go of her and fall leaving her free to run. But her plan failed. He pulled her Down with him and she was now on top of him both of them were panting trying to catch their breath. Hermione's head was on his hard muscular chest and she looked up at his eyes and began to laugh again. He joined her.

Really it was quite ridiculous how they ended up in such a position. She couldn't hold in her laugh if she tried. Once their laughter stopped he bit his lip as if holding back saying something. She was about to ask him what the problem was when a barn owl flew through the window. Landing on the coffee table. She got up and untied the note. It read,

Dear fred and Hermione,

Just a reminder. Dinner tonight at the burrow be here by 6. I hope you haven't murdered each other yet.

Love mum and dad.

She looked back at Fred who was reading it over her shoulder. And said,"well, it's 3:30 I should probably shower now."

"can I join?" he asked wriggling his eyebrows.

"in your dreams." she replied simply as she walked to the doorway.

"how'd you know what I dream about?" he asked jokingly

"lucky guess" she laughed as she shut the door. Tonight they had to face Ron and Angelina both of their ex's in the same room. Merlin better help us get through it alive.

They arrived at the front door of the burrow. Fred went to grab the handle when he stopped and turned towards face was completely serious as he said,"Can you promise me something?"

"Depends on what it is..."

"Don't leave me..."He said and Hermione raised her eyebrows not knowing what to say. She felt like she was in one of those muggle movies. She felt her fairytale come to life. He took in her confused expression than realised what he had said and how she must have taken it. "I-I-I meant as in don't leave me alone in a room tonight for Angelina to get me."

She let out a deep breath and felt...Disapointed? Why did she feel upset this was good. She wouldn't want Fred to like her in that way. Her life is confusing enough, but she couldn't deny the fact she felt depressed by his words.

"Oh, yeah. As long as you promise the same." She said as calmly as she could manage.

He did it again. He bit on his lip as if he was holding back saying something. The exact minute she was about to ask him what it was Mrs Weasley opened the door and enveloped them in a hug...That women had some timing.

"Oh hello dears! Dinner will be done by 7 the kids are all in the living room playing games. Go join them until dinner's done!"She told them both before bustling off into the kitchen.

"I am 24 years old and still qualified as a child." Hermione sighed.

"I don't think she will ever stop calling us children. To her we will always be kids." He replied smiling.

"I suppose your right." Hermione mumbled as they walked into the room she was once again tackled with hugs.

once she hugged her friends she noticed this they were all sitting in a circle on the floor. "We were just playing truth or dare." Angelina said quietly.

"C'mon Forge show 'em how a man takes a dare!" George yelled to his twin.

Hermione and Fred sat down on the floor Hermione next to Ginny and Fred. On the other side of Fred was George then Katie, Angelina, Percy, Charlie, Susan, Lavender, Ron, Harry, Luna, Neville, Ginny.

They played on and Hermione actually managed not to be picked at all. Most people were asking George and Fred the most ridiculous Dares that they did without a second thought. Then finally Angelina broke the cycle and said,"Hermione..Truth or Dare."

"Truth I guess..." Oh my this won't turn out good.

"Are you in love with Fred..." At this everyone looked at her like she was insane, but Ron glared at Hermione who said,"I chose Dare."

"I dare you to answer the Question."

"I don't know how to answer the question... I don't think I am ... I don't want to be, but I just don't know."

"Yes or No. You would know if you were. You just don't want to tell the truth right? The answers yes am I right?" She asked angrily.

Mrs. weasley ran into the room and said Dinner's ready!"

Oh Merlin bless that Women's timing! Hermione thought to herself as she Let out a sigh of relief and ran a hand through her hair

Dinner was just as good as any other day. Hermione kept quiet though. She didn't want to draw any attention to herself. That is until she started to listen to lavender rant on about how she missed her 'Won-won' Hermione bit her lip to try to stop herself from laughing. It was no use so she buried her face in Fred's shoulder so no one would hear her laughing.

Fred looked at her and whispered,"Did I miss something?"

"I...I used to be...Jealous...Of her!" Her said quietly between her laughs still not looking up from Fred.

Fred looked at Lavender who was Talking fast and holding onto Ron's arm. She so over-excited and jumpy. He whispered to Hermione,"She reminds me of Ron's owl ,Pig" This caused her to start laughing all over again and Fred had started to laugh also and buried his head in Her hair.

Ginny stared at them from across the table and Elbowed George who was sitting next to raised his eyebrows at her and she Twitched her head in the direction of Fred and Hermione. He looked at them and grinned along with Ginny. Ginny and George realised their suspicions were true. If only they could make Fred and Hermione realise it too.

Ron Glared at Hermione and Fred. He knew it was happening. despite what Hermione thinks she is falling for him. His brother is taking yet another thing from him. He looked to Angelina who nodded at him. They were going to wait and see if their plan was necessary. Seeing them now they knew it was. They had to stop them before Fred and Hermione realised they were slowly falling for eachother.

A/N: So how was it? Yeah I know it was kind of long. Next chapter should be up tomorrow! In the next chapter you finally find out what the plan Ron has is... Yes the one who is helping him is Angelina. George and Ginny will also cook up a plan of their own! I am really excited about the next chapter! REVIEW!