Author's Note: I hope you like it. This is probably one of my favorite chapters so far. Thank you for all the reviews and everything. You're all awesome. (:
Disclaimer: Think if I click my heels together and say "I wish it were mine" three times, it'll come true? No? Damn it.
The next few days passed slowly for Hermione. She and Fred had gone on their first date on Wednesday night and since then he had been busy at the shop building their stock supply. He stopped by a few times just to say hello and she had seen him for a few moments when she went to the shop in order to meet George for lunch. Mostly Hermione just spent her days with Harry, Ron, and Ginny and studied for her NEWTs.
On Sunday morning Harry found Hermione in her room with her books spread out before her and her jar of cherry blossoms open, playing her new favorite song. Harry stood in the doorway for a minute, observing his best friend, before she noticed he was there.
"Oh, Harry! Honestly, why didn't you say anything?" Hermione asked as she reached over and replaced the lid on her jar, silencing it.
He shrugged, "Dunno, you looked peaceful I guess. Didn't want to interrupt."
Hermione smiled and moved her books to clear a spot for Harry to sit, "You're always free to interrupt."
After getting comfortable, he turned to Hermione, "So, how are you?" he asked. It wasn't the type of formal "How are you" that people ask as a greeting. It was a serious question; Harry knew that Hermione held back on her emotions when she talked to him and Ron at the same time.
Hermione understood what he was asking and took a moment to really consider it. "I'm wonderful Harry, I truly am."
"So you really fancy, Fred?"
"I do. He's much more than everyone thinks he is. He isn't just a jokester."
"Good, I'm glad. Maybe he'll loosen you up a bit," Harry laughed.
"Harry Potter!" Hermione made to shove Harry off the bed but barely made him lean over.
When their laughing had subsided Hermione decided to ask a question that had been bothering her, "Harry, how is Ron doing?"
Her best friend sighed, "With the whole you and Fred thing or with Luna?"
"Both, I suppose."
"Well, he seems to be taking you and Fred better than anyone expected. I can't tell if it's only on the outside though. Even when I ask him about it when we're alone he seems like he's happy for you and that you'll still be in his life. I think he understands why you couldn't be together."
Hermione sighed this time, "But he hasn't really seen Fred and me together much, do you think that will make a difference?"
"Guess we'll see tonight."
"Yes, I guess we will. What about Luna?"
"They've meet for lunch a couple of times and they seem to be getting on fine. I don't think it's going to be anything like what you and Fred or Gin and I have, at least not for a while, but they get along."
"That's good. She's a nice girl," Hermione mused.
They were quiet for a few moments before the cherry blossom jar caught Harry's eye, "Hermione, what's that?"
"Oh," her cheeks flushed slightly at the memory of the night, "Fred gave it to me after our date." She went on to explain about the whole night, giving more detail than she had when telling it to Ron, but still leaving out the amounts of snogging they had done.
"That's brilliant magic," Harry said as he admired the jar, lifting the lid and replacing it again. "The whole night sounds like it was great, Hermione. Wonder if he'd help me do something for Ginny…" he trailed off as he thought.
"Harry…" Hermione had left out another part of the night and she was realizing she wanted to talk about it.
"Mmm?"
"There's something Fred said the other night. It's got me thinking. But you've got to promise not to tell anyone else about this, alright?" Harry nodded at her. "They're opening another shop in Hogsmeade, and Fred said they're already well off from one shop, let alone a second. He told me that if I didn't want to work or get a job that I enjoy but doesn't pay well that I shouldn't worry about it."
Harry thought for a minute, "You're worried about being bored out of your mind or not contributing, aren't you? You're uncomfortable taking money from him." It was Hermione's turn to nod; he knew her well. "Well, once you're married, your vaults at Gringotts will be joined anyways. I can't see you not working, but Fred's got a point. Depending what you do, you wouldn't make a lot. Say you decide to work for House Elf rights, that can't pay well can it?"
Hermione shook her head, "No, but I haven't decided really. I know that after I take my NEWTs I'll get a job, I'm more worried about right now. We're not even married yet so I'm afraid I'd come off badly just accepting his help but my savings are starting to run out. It's just so difficult to find a job without NEWT certifications."
"Just remind them you're part of the reason Voldemort is dead, Hermione. I'm sure they'll give you any job you'd like." Harry laughed at his own joke. Hermione rolled her eyes and shoved at his shoulder again.
"Honestly," she sighed but couldn't help succumbing to laughter herself.
-0-0-
After their talk Hermione and Harry had gone up to the room he shared with Ron. The three of them and Ginny spent the rest of the afternoon playing exploding snap.
"Kids, come down here," Mrs. Weasley called up the stairs. The four of them looked at each other; it couldn't be dinner time yet so it caused worry that she was calling all of them now.
"Coming mum," Ginny yelled down the stairs.
"What is it?" Ron asked when they'd reached the living room.
Mrs. Weasley looked up, "Oh, Ronald darling, you didn't really need to come down."
"Well you didn't say so," he pouted.
"What were you gonna do, Ron? Sit in your room while the rest of us came down here and expect us to rush back up to fill you in? No, you would have come anyways," Ginny told him off in a snarky tone.
"Oi, what's got your knickers in a twist?" Ron asked.
Harry and Hermione stepped in, moving to stand between the siblings and redirecting everyone's attention at Mrs. Weasley. "What is it, Molly?" Hermione asked the older witch before she could begin reprimanding her children.
Mrs. Weasley sent one more glare at each of her biological children, clearly saying that they were to stop immediately. Ginny crossed her arms and Ron sunk down onto the couch. Molly's features relaxed. "These just arrived from the Ministry for you three," she said, holding out a letter for each of them.
"Fred probably got one too, then." No sooner had Hermione spoken the words than Fred walked through the front door.
"Have you got one of these?" he asked, holding his envelope up.
"Yes, we've just gotten them. Have you opened it yet?" she answered him.
He shook his head, "'Sposed I should wait for you."
Harry looked at the envelope in his own hands, "Reckon they're our time frames for the weddings?"
"Fred, Brother, do you mind at least letting me know where you're going when you just take off like that?" George was scolding Fred as he walked through the door.
Mrs. Weasley waved her dish towel at him, "Not now, George." She turned back to them, "Go on then dears, open them up and get it over with."
They sighed collectively, not even bothering to discuss whether they should open them together. They all tore them open and read simultaneously.
Ron had sat up and was on the edge of the couch; George sat down next to him and lounged backwards. Mrs. Weasley was flattening the edges of her already flat apron.
Hermione was the first to finish reading and seeing Mrs. Weasley's anxious expression decided to forgo waiting for the others to finish and explain it, "It says that because we were a couple before those who were paired by the Ministry, we are going to have to marry sooner than they do. Fred and I have to be married before the first of December."
"Same here," Harry said.
Ron looked puzzled, "So when do I have to be married then? Why didn't I get a letter?"
"Because Ronald," Hermione turned to him, "it already said in your original letter that all paired couples had to be married before the end of the year. You did read it, didn't you?" Ron shook his head. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned back to the others.
Ginny's face bore a similar expression to Ron's, "But wait, if I go back to Hogwarts how are we supposed to have a wedding or be married? Have they not thought about that?"
"I haven't actually heard from Professor McGonagall if the school is repaired enough to begin the term in September. Even if it is, I'm sure she would be willing to make arrangements for you," Hermione consoled her. She had been thinking the very same thing and had already decided it was yet another reason not to return to school.
Mrs. Weasley had returned from her temporary state of shock of having to marry off her children so quickly and was back to herself, "Well, it looks like we have some planning to do!" She clapped her hands together, "We can start after dinner," and bustled away to the kitchen to finish preparing the food.
Fred sighed and sunk back into the chair behind him, grabbing Hermione by the waist and pulling her to sit on his lap. She fidgeted slightly, not used to the position or sudden closeness, and managed to turn herself so she was across his legs rather than with her back against him. He kept one arm around her waist and let the other rest on her legs. Harry sat next to Ron and Ginny fell into the other arm chair.
They were all quiet for a few minutes. Hermione could not help thinking how weird it was to her that by the end of the year they would all be married. How would things change? Was she going to lose her best friends? The circles being drawn against her back reminded her that at least one of them would remain, always.
Ginny must have been feeling quite the same as Hermione; she looked around at them as she spoke, "Is anyone else afraid?" They all knew Ginny didn't use the word lightly. She grew up in a family of boys, fell in love with the Boy-Who-Lived and had to leave her to defeat the darkest wizard the world had ever known, and stood up against countless death eaters and dark wizards in the last few years. Fear wasn't something Ginny did.
No one really knew how to respond to her, Ron was the first to speak, "Yeah, I think we are all a bit." The others nodded in agreement.
"Everything's going to change now isn't it?" Hermione asked quietly. At first she thought no one had heard her and decided maybe that was best.
Then Harry looked at her, "Yes." He smiled and hoped she was remembering the same things he was. She couldn't help laughing at the last time they had said those words. Ron joined in on their laughter. The other three looked at each other with confused expressions until the trio calmed down.
"But really," Hermione said again.
Ron nodded at her, "It'll have to. We can't very well all keep living here and pretending to stay like this forever, can we?" He spoke the last words almost as a real question, like maybe it was a possibility.
Hermione shook her head.
"Don't worry," Harry told her, "it doesn't mean we can't all still come for Sunday dinners, I'm sure Mrs. Weasley will insist on it anyways. And we can meet for lunch or just drop by to see each other. It just means there will be a few more people and some extra responsibilities as time passes."
Fred and George laughed. "When did you become so wise?" George asked.
"Shove off," Harry was laughing through the insult.
"Speaking of extra people," Fred started, looking at Ron, "How's Lovegood?"
"Yeah," George added, "Does she really love good?" He nudged his brother's shoulder with his and waggled his eyebrows towards him.
Hermione stretched her leg out and got a good kick to George's knee. She felt Fred laughing beneath her and swatted at him lightly.
"Oi, why does he only get a light tap and I get a bruise?" the first twin complained.
"Because you're the one who said it," Hermione explained. She turned to Ron, "How is Luna?" She spoke with genuine interest and tried to ignore Fred's continued snickers at his brother.
"Erm, well, she's good," Ron told her, rubbing his neck. "She's still completely loony sometimes, going on about nargles and horns of whatever. She's good though."
"So you're getting along?" Ginny questioned.
"Yeah, yeah. She's nice. I mean, we all knew she was nice. It's just different being one on one with her, is all." Ron's cheeks were turning red. Hermione decided it was time to change the subject.
"What about Angelina?" she asked George.
"Don't get him started!" complained Fred.
George grinned wildly, "She's brilliant. Turns out she was just as excited about the pairing. Who knew the Ministry could actually get something right once in a while?"
"Dinner's ready kids!" Mrs. Weasley called. Fred took Hermione by the waist and lifted her from his lap, placing a quick kiss on her forehead and taking off for the kitchen behind his brothers. Ginny was on their heels. Harry shook his head and threw his arm around Hermione's shoulder. She thought about how they weren't really kids anymore, but perhaps Mrs. Weasley would always see them that way.
-0-0-
Sunday dinner was loud, as always. Everyone was trying to have their own conversations while simultaneously listening to everyone else's as well. Hermione just ate her food and listened, choosing not to add to the noise.
Fred was engaged in a debate with George and Charlie about quidditch and dragons. Hermione wasn't sure how the two related but she couldn't keep up with them to figure it out.
Just as they were all finishing second and third helpings of pie, Mrs. Weasley called for attention. "Now, we've got some decisions to make. Percy, Ron and George, obviously we can't decide on your dates tonight since Amelia, Luna and Angelina aren't here." Ron and George leaned back in their chairs, realizing they didn't need to be involved in this conversation took the weight off their chests for the time being. Percy remained attentive however. "Now, did you four have any ideas for your dates?"
Three of them shook their heads. Hermione realized that Fred had not and looked towards him, "Well, I had an idea," he said. He placed his hand on Hermione's knee under the table, "If you don't mind not waiting until the last minute. What about the fourth of November?"
Hermione saw a grin spread across George's face, who tried to hide it by eating more pie. The others obviously hadn't made the connection yet.
Mrs. Weasley thought for a moment, "Yes, that's a Sunday this year. That should work just fine. Hermione dear, is that alright with you?"
She smiled, "Yes, yes that's fine. No point in waiting until the last minute and causing more unnecessary stress, is there?" Although the thought that in just over two months she would be married was more than slightly terrifying to her.
"Ginny, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley turned to them. "How about the eighteenth, dears? That's two weeks after Fred and Hermione, plenty of time to prepare but not so close that it could cause problems."
Harry shrugged at Ginny, "Sure mum," she answered for them both.
-0-0-
"How was your walk?" Fred asked Hermione after she'd returned from her evening walk with George.
"Fine," she told him, "It was nice to have a little peace after such a loud dinner."
Fred was sitting in the arm chair again and Hermione had stopped in front of it to answer his question. This, she realized, was a bad place to stop. He reached forward and scooped her into his lap again, placing a kiss right on her lips. She giggled and tried to squirm away from him, "Fred! What are you doing?"
"S'alright 'Mione," Ron told her, "we didn't expect you to hold off forever, you know."
Hermione blushed; she hadn't expected Ron to be so okay with the whole thing. Fred took advantage of her moment of shock, pulling her tighter to him. He leaned close to her and whispered softly, "Stop worrying love, it's alright." She turned to him and saw he wasn't teasing her at all. Hermione was surprised to discover just how quickly Fred had become attuned to her, how he already knew what was going on in her mind. She relaxed her body against him.
-0-0-
There were moments when Fred still couldn't believe his luck. Here he was sitting with the prettiest girl he knew perched on his lap. Not only was he lucky enough to be holding her, but he'd get to do it forever. Sure, it was scary to think that he was getting married so young, but something about Hermione made him sure that it was all going to be alright. He didn't feel so foolish or like he was just wasting time anymore. Hermione gave him a purpose, a reason to be serious. At the same time, she didn't hold him back from being himself or prevent him from doing anything. He was lucky.
He pulled her tighter against himself, tucking his face into the thick curls at the side of her neck and breathing her in. She smelled an awful lot like cherry blossoms, it made him wonder if she'd been listening to the gift he'd given her.
"'Mione," he spoke softly into her ear, not wanting to distract the others from their conversation and draw attention to themselves.
"Hmm?" she answered just as softly, only barely turning her head towards him.
"What kind of ring do you want?"
"I'm not sure. Could we pick it together? We have to get our bands as well, don't we?"
"Mhm," they were still talking softly and the others had not noticed their absence from the conversation. "Would you like to go tomorrow?"
"I thought we were going to date as long as possible, Fred."
"We are. We don't have to buy one tomorrow. I'd just like to know what you like so that when I ask you I know I have the right ring." He said softly, playing with her small fingers.
"Alright," Hermione agreed. She rested her head against his shoulder. Fred found he enjoyed the feeling. He continued stroking her fingers with his right hand while the left played with a few curls splayed across her back.
Fred didn't know when Hermione had fallen asleep, but decided not to disturb her. He continued to listen to the conversation between George, Ginny, Ron, and Harry but didn't add anything. He wasn't sure when but he must have dozed off himself because the next thing he knew, George was standing over him.
"Freddie, wakey wakey." He kicked at the leg that wasn't supporting most of Hermione's weight. Fred opened his eyes and took a moment to realize his surroundings. He became aware of the sleeping girl in his arms and smiled. George sighed, "Ready to head home Brother-mine or are you going to sleep like that all night?"
Harry, who was standing nearby looking down at a sleeping Ginny, looked over to Fred. "She'll be mad in the morning if you let her sleep like that all night. Her back will be bothering her," he warned. Harry had learned the hard way after letting Hermione sleep in the common room chairs when she'd fallen asleep studying.
"Think she'll wake up if I lift her?" Fred asked him.
"Nah, once she's asleep she's usually out." He turned to ask Ron a question, only to find he'd nodded off on the couch. "Ron, get up." Harry shoved at his arm.
"Uherhuh?" Ron mumbled incoherently for a moment. "Oh, sorry, drifted off."
"Yeah, seems everybody did," George commented.
Harry moved back to Ginny's side and bent to pick her up. "Mind getting the girls' door mate?" he asked Ron.
"I'll meet you back at the flat, Georgie," Fred said softly as he stood slowly, trying not to jostle Hermione too much in the process. Just like Harry said she didn't wake, she merely turned her body inward and snuggled her face more securely into the crook of Fred's shoulder.
George flooed home while the boys headed up the stairs carrying the slumbering girls in their arms.
-0-0-
Hermione woke sometime later in the middle of the night. The last thing she remembered was shutting her eyes on Fred's shoulder, now she was in her bed with no recollection of getting there. She sat up slightly on her elbows, looking around the room. Ginny was asleep in her bed and looked as if she was still wearing her day clothes. Hermione then realized she too was still in her jeans and shirt. She got up as quietly as she could and moved to her wardrobe. She changed into her pajamas and slipped back into her bed. That's when she noticed the note next to her glowing cherry blossom jar.
Mione, you nodded off on my shoulder and I didn't have the heart to wake you. You look bloody cute when you sleep. Harry said you wouldn't wake if I carried you to bed, so I did. See you around lunch. Yours only, Fred.
She smiled, tucking the note back under the edge of her jar, which she opened so it was playing what she had come to think of as their song. Still smiling, Hermione slid back under her blankets and drifted off to sleep again.
