AN: My eighth chapter. Amazing. I hope this chapter is as well received as my previous ones. And I'm sorry it took so long. Writer's block of sorts.

Here's the gist: Acting 101, partying with the Weasleys, getting sloshed. Yes. Fun fun.

Playlist people! I need assistance please! Or else, and I mean it. Even if you don't want to tell me your opinion of my story, please just give me ideas! I really want participation to see how people grasp the story!

Well, anyway, ENJOY!

Sincerely,

lovah of Ron

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Chapter 8: I Miss my Mind the Most

"Alright Hermione, the first rule when it comes to acting is this: Relax. You're most likely not as bad as you think. Lying has the same concept."

"But, I can't lie well."

"Oh, pish, of course you can."

"No, I can't."

"Well, I'll prove you wrong. Do you remember when it was your first year, and you went to the loo because my idiot of a brother said something to offend you? You were in there practically all day and then at dinner, that berk Quirrell told of the 'troll, troll in the dungeons!'?" When Fred was saying this part about the troll, he had the same quavering voice as the pitiful Quirrell. "Harry and Ron came to save you since you didn't know about the troll, and they defeated it all by themselves, the little firsties that you all were. McGonagall had a conniption when you said that it was your idea to go after the troll, thinking you could handle it, and that Harry and Ron only followed to help. Or something like that."

"Yes, I remember that. But what's your point?"

"You lied. To McGonagall. That's a feat in itself."

"So. I've lied to McGonagall many times."

"And the truth comes out."

"Like you never lied to McGonagall."

Fred sighed. "I never did. That was always George. That witch scared the bloody hell outta me."

"Oh."

"You need to keep that a secret Hermione. No one else knows that. Besides George, of course."

"I will."

Oh dear, Fred had a secret. He was frightened of Minerva McGonagall. That woman, as harmless as a rabid rabbit. How embarrassing that would be to learn that you were afraid of that old witch.

"Alright. Moving on. Rule number two on acting. You have to know what the story, tale, lie, etcetera is about. That's one of the easiest rules. Mostly because you already know the objective: fool my parents into thinking we really are dating."

"Yes. Relax and know the tale. Next?"

"Rule number three: Don't think about what will be asked later. Just think about what is going on and being asked now."

"Relax, know the tale, and don't anticipate the future. Okay. Got it."

"Rule number four: really listen. Just pay attention to who you're talking about and what."

"Relax, know the tale, don't anticipate the future and really listen."

"Rule number five: be ready for whatever happens next. It can be unpredictable what will happen next."

"Relax, know the tale, don't anticipate the future, really listen, and expect anything. How many more rules are there?"

"Only two more. Now, rule number six: now we already discussed this, but know the objective. Technically, it the first one. Rule I mean."

"Okay. Relax, know the tale, don't anticipate the future, really listen, expect anything, and know the objective. What's the last rule?"

"Trust yourself."

"What?"

"Trust yourself."

"Trust myself? I don't trust myself! I'll let it slip that I'm not really your girlfriend! That we're only attached at the wrist and you don't want your bloody pride diminished!"

"Woah there, Hermione. Who said anything about my pride?"

"Nobody," she answered meekly.

"Nobody, eh? This 'nobody' must be you then, correct?"

Hermione didn't answer.

"You can say that you think it's because of my goddamn bloody pride. Go ahead, tell me. There is no reason not to be honest with me. I'll understand." Fred didn't sound as though he was mad. Hermione didn't know what Fred sounded like. But, I do know. He was intrigued. But that's to be kept a secret between you and me. Wink wink.

"I think you think that it will diminish your pride. Males are quite proud. It's a proven fact." Hermione said it with conviction.

"Okay. Maybe it will. But, let me tell you a secret." Fred leaned in closer to Hermione. "I think it's an adventure being attached and having to act that we are a couple. It gives practice and it's incredibly fun."

"Oh."

Hermione looked into Fred eyes. There was no sign of deceit, no hint of dishonesty, not a blink of treachery. Fred was being completely honest. Besides the fact that they hid nothing, they were undeniably hazel. Not green; not green-blue; hazel. No one (especially JK Rowling) had ever embellished on the Weasley boys' eye colour (except for Ron; blue). It was high time for someone to embellish. And that was just what Hermione was about to do.

Fred's hazel eyes were wonderful. They were ever changing (which was also a reason JK Rowling never told of Fred Weasley's eyes), as hazel eyes have been told to do. But as of right now, they were undeniably hazel. A gorgeous green-brown; the area directly next to the pupil was a light brown, and the further away you got, a green the colour of grass blended in with the brown. Fred's eyes were the most unusual eyes Hermione had ever seen. And the most wonderful. Let's just say Hermione fell in love with Fred's eyes. (His eyes, eh?)

Hermione was staring straight into Fred's eyes for 2 minutes and 5 seconds. Fred liked the attention, but a little alarmed that something had happened. Usually people don't stare into another's eyes unless it was a contest.

"Hermione," Fred said softly. Hermione broke eye contact with, well, Fred's eyes.

"Hmm?"

"Are you alright?"

"Oh!" She flushed slightly. "Yes. I was just, um, looking at your eyes. They're incredibly intriguing. I've never quite seen eyes that exact colour. They're fantastic."

"Well, thank you." Who doesn't like having their eyes praised?

"Now, enough about my eyes as much as I'd like to continue," Fred joked. "I think it's time for acting." Dun dun dun.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Hermione. Time to go now. You've, by now, gotten the right pair of shoes?"

Fred was standing outside of the massive closet in Hermione's room. From what seemed like the depths of the closet (it was quite large, and Hermione was only a few feet in, since their situation), Hermione called out an affirmative.

The only reason Fred was just outside the door was because Hermione didn't want to get lost in the closet. And, because he felt claustrophobic in female closets. Yes. Only female closets, too.

She knew this too, and swore (well promised, she didn't like thinking of it as swearing) that she wouldn't tell anyone this secret of Fred's either.

Hermione came out of the closet and stood next to Fred with a pair of shoes in hand.

"Alright. Put them on and fast. We've only got ten minutes to be at the Burrow. Mum'll kill us if we're one second late."

"Alright." Hermione put her heels on. "Now I'm ready to go. Are we going to Apparate or Floo?"

"Apparate."

Fred looked down at Hermione. She looked gorgeous. Well, in Fred's opinion, she always looked gorgeous, but now she looked like the quintessence of gorgeous.

"Fred, I can't do this."

"Yes you can Hermione."

"No I can't. I don't trust myself!"

Fred put his arm around Hermione's. "If it would help, I trust you, Hermione."

Hermione smiled as she looked up into his quite good looking face. "Thanks Fred. That makes me feel a little bit better."

"Good. But you really should trust yourself. You did a fantastic job with the phantom-parents. I mean fantastic. You couldn't have done better."

"That also gives me a little more confidence."

"Very good. Now, are we ready to go?"

"Of course."

And so the two Apparated to the Burrow. You could hear the commotion in the kitchen.

It was warm and cozy in the quaint hall. Varying shades of orange and red were everywhere, from the chairs to the wall decorations. Pictures of all sorts of family and friends were in the hallway leading to the living room.

Four little kids were running around in the living room. As soon as they saw Fred, they ran (or toddled) to "Uncwle Fwed." They clung to his leg and screamed over and over "Horsie wide!" (Meaning, horsie ride, in case you weren't up on children-lisp talk.)

"No, kids, I can't. I'm going to go see grandmum. But first I want you to meet my girlfriend. Hermione."

"Aunt Hermione!" the oldest, Adelie (Fleur and Bill's oldest), said.

"Bonjour, Adelie," Hermione said.

"Bonjour."

"I didn't know you spoke French, Hermione."

Hermione smiled. "You learn something new everyday, now don't you?"

"I guess." He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. He had to make it believable, now didn't he? Even to his nieces and nephews, yes?

"Adelie, Andre, Armelle, and Cea, you continue playing. Maybe another time I'll give you a horsie ride. Okay?"

"Okay Uncle Fred," Adelie answered for all of them.

Fred squeezed Hermione's hand comfortingly. He bent towards her ear and whispered in words of encouragement. "Remember, you're amazing."

Hermione smiled shyly and nodded.

The "couple" walked into the kitchen where all the other Weasleys and the Potters were. And Ron's significant other.

Molly Weasley was just finishing up something on the stove and noticed the room grow still. She turned and there was her son and Hermione!

"Fred! Hermione! You're here!" She rushed them and enveloped them into a giant hug. It made it a little easy, bearing in mind the fact they were attached.

Molly let go. "Oh Hermione, you look beautiful!"

Hermione looked down at herself. Did she look beautiful? All she wore was a black flowing skirt with a rose-coloured wrap around sweater, with a white, shimmery shirt underneath and black pointy pumps. She had long since ditched her winter coat, since she was inside, and it was, well, winter.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said.

"Oh, Hermione, just call me Molly, or mum. You've known me too long to be calling me Mrs. Weasley," Mrs.-er- Molly said warmly. (Hermione couldn't call her mum, now could she?) "Now dears, can I get you anything?"

"Oh, no Mum, Hermione and I are fine."

"Oh alright dears." And Molly Weasley returned to cooking.

"Hello Fred and Hermione. It's lovely for you to join us," Arthur Weasley said, coming from the back of the kitchen.

"We're glad to be here, Mr. Weasley."

"Arthur please, Hermione." Hermione nodded.

Arthur Weasley went to help his wife. Everyone was ushered out of the kitchen and into the living room. The little dears (no, not any of Molly Weasley's children) were taken into the kitchen by Arthur and Molly. They needed some grandchildren-only time.

All fourteen adults took a seat in the living room. Obviously, everyone was sitting next to their significant other.

"So, Fred, how come you didn't tell anyone that you and Hermione were together, besides Harry and Ginny of course?" Bill asked.

Fred froze. "Er…"

"Well, Bill, it's mostly because it was slightly awkward. You know, how I used to date Ron and all. Now I'm dating his brother." Hermione was an absolute natural.

"Oh. Okay."

"And since Harry and Ginny told us their news, we thought it appropriate to tell them our news. It just happened to be convenient."

"Are you calling me convenient?" Ginny asked, slightly joking.

Hermione laughed. "Quite so."

"Oh, alright."

"So, how long 'ave you been dating?" Nadalyna asked in her rich Romanian accent. (Remember, she's Charlie's wife and the mother of his son Cea.)

"How about you guess?" Fred challenged.

"Two weeks," Alicia said.

"Two days," George said.

"Four months," Charlie said.

"Three months, two weeks, and one day," Percy said.

"Nine days," Penelope said.

"Five and a half months," Ron said glumly.

"A year!" Ron's girlfriend said happily.

Everyone looked at Margaret.

"Margaret, Hermione and I broke up only six months and a day ago," Ron told her.

"Oh, I just felt like saying a year. You know, that would be scandalous if they were dating when you two were still together. But I doubt she's like that, considering what you told me about her. She too nice to do that to her best friend."

Hermione's heart reached out to the girl. She shouldn't have judged Ron. Or Margaret. She seemed quite a nice girl, now that she actually met her. And her boobs weren't that big. They were like the same as hers! Hermione thought she was going to be a blonde bimbo with big boobs, but no. Sure, she was blonde, but it was more brunette-ish than blonde. And she didn't look like she caked on the make-up and let it all hang out. No, she reminded Hermione of this girl (who happened to be American as well) that her cousin (who was married to Cartel's Will Pugh's brother Ben) introduced her to.

"I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself to you Hermione. I'm Margaret Box. I graduated from the Salem School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1999. I'm the same age as Ginny."

"Oh, it's a pleasure meeting you. But for some reason, it feels like I've met you before."

"Really? Me too! Yet, I don't know why. Have you ever been to the States?"

"Plenty of times. My cousin lives in New York."

"Really? Who is your cousin?"

"Meaghan Pugh."

Margaret squealed. "Benjamin Pugh's wife! The brother to Will Pugh of Cartel! That's awesome! She and I are the best of friends! Well, actually, her younger sister and I. But anyway. Geeee!"

"Oh my god, you're Melissa's best friend! No wonder I felt as though I knew you! You were at Cartel's concert last year!"

"Yes! You're Meghan's awesome cousin! She just keeps going on about you!"

"I'm so glad to see you again."

"Wait, Margaret, Hermione, you know each other?" Even if Ron is a little slow, he's still oh-so-adorable.

"Yes, Ron," they answered together. And promptly began laughing at the fact they said the same thing, the same way.

"Well, that's weird. New girlfriend meets old girlfriend," Fred snickered. Hermione slapped him for being so inconsiderate.

"Well, aren't you going to tell us how long you've been dating? This little escapade off topic was quite wonderful, but I'd like to know who is closest," Penelope said. Dear Merlin, she's bossy!

"We've only been dating three months," Fred said, regaining his ability to lie. He certainly thought it wasn't going to be as bad.

"Then who was closest?" Penelope asked.

"Um, the person who said three months, two weeks and one day." (Not really, Alicia was the closest in reality to how long they started this charade.)

"That'd be me," Percy said proudly. He always does like to be right.

"Hermione! Why didn't you ever tell me?" Ginny cried.

"Well, Ginny, I didn't know how you'd take it. Me dating another of your brothers, only three months or so after I broke up with Ron." Hermione was on a roll. Nothing could stop her now.

"Oh, Hermione, I'm sure I would've gotten over it quite quickly."

"Well, now you all know. Hermione and I are dating."

"Zat is so adorable. You two, I mean. You both make a cute couple," Fleur said.

Everyone agreed. Even Ron. He was glad that Hermione found someone else, even if it was his idiot brother.

Ron got up from his seat and gave Hermione a hug. Well, kind of Hermione and Fred at the same time. "I'm glad you found someone Hermione. I really am. And I'm sorry I haven't been a better friend."

"It's okay Ron. I don't blame you. But that was one of the longest times we've avoided each other," Hermione joked.

The two best friends let go of each other. And they were best friends again, unlike the past six months of barely ever talking to each other.

Everyone started talking about random things; their kids, their jobs, their coworkers, their lives. Then, Molly Weasley had to open her big mouth.

"Dinner!"

The Weasley boys got up and ran, literally ran, into the kitchen. They must have been quite hungry. Or, they were looking forward to their mum's outstanding cooking.

The Weasley men sat next to their wives, girlfriends or fiancées. The kids sat at their own little table off to the side.

Before any one could eat (much to all of the male Weasleys' dismay), announcements were needed to be made.

Percy decided to take initiative and he and Penelope stood up.

"You all must have received the Daily Prophet, and there was an engagement notice. Penelope and I are engaged." Percy said this all very professionally. Penelope looked quite happy.

Congratulations were spread around and the next announcement was, well, announced.

"Well, Mum, Dad, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Nadalyna, Percy, Penelope, George, Angelina, Fred, Hermione, Ron, Margaret, Adelie, Andre, Armelle, Cea, I just wanted to tell you all that Harry and I are going to be parents!" Ginny squealed. Once again, congratulations went around, but they were a little bit louder than the first time.

Now, everyone was ready for food, but there was another announcement.

Fred and Hermione stood up. "Well, you all know already, but we never really announced it, but Hermione and I are dating."

It must be told that Hermione and Fred got the loudest congratulations of all three announcements. But that might have been just because they were all quiet hungry. And so, food was passed around and eaten now.

The conversation was light and kind. The food was warm and tasty. It was a very good dinner indeed.

"So, Hermione, how did you and Fred get together?" Margaret asked. She was a very personable girl. And a little nosy, but that could be easily overlooked.

"Well, we just happened to be at Gringotts at the same time and well, we decided to go out to lunch. Having lunch led to talking, and here we are now!" Hermione told Margaret.

"Aww, that's so cute! That's how my ex-boyfriend and I met. The meet-each-other-and-go-to-lunch thing, I mean. Then he cheated on me, but that's another story."

"How did you and Ron meet? I mean, you're American, and I'm pretty sure Ron hasn't gone to America in the past year."

"Oh, I was in Britain, visiting my brother, Matt. He lives in London with his girlfriend Kiley. She a witch too, from Australia. Weird, I know; living in London instead of New York or Sydney. But it works best for them, halfway away from their birth homes. But anyway, I'm rambling; I ran, literally, into Ron on Diagon Alley. I was in a rush to pick up something for Matt and Kiley while he was at work. Then we got talking, and then went to lunch, like you and Fred. From then on, it's been all good."

"That's sweet," Hermione said. She truly meant it too. She was glad Ron was in a good relationship.

"Hermione just loves hearing sappy love stories like that."

Hermione turned to Fred. She kissed him lightly. "You know you like them too."

Ginny, who sat across the table from Fred and Hermione, sighed. "Harry, isn't that so adorable?"

Harry had just shoveled in some of his "Mum's" fabulous food, so all he could do is look up and mumble and "mmhhhmmmm."

"Maybe they really are dating," Ginny whispered.

Harry had finally swallowed his food. "Maybe. But, you're right; they make a good couple, even if they aren't really."

The rest of the night was wonderful. The youngest four Weasleys were sent to bed at eight (with a silencing charm so that they couldn't hear the adult Weasleys). The adult Weasleys were quite a jolly bunch.

And like all adult parties, there was alcohol. Lots of alcohol. A lot more alcohol than Hermione thought she could handle.

"Fred," she said after two (or was it seven?) alcoholic beverages, "er, I think we should go, um home."

"Nonsense," he replied.

"No, Fred. I'm serious. I feeling a bit tipsy and that I might do something I might regret."

"Well, if you feel that bad, I suppose we should go."

"Thank you Fred." Despite the fact of how many alcoholic beverages Hermione drank, she was quite able to form complete sentences.

"Alright, family," Fred said loudly. "I think that Hermione and I are going to head home."

"So soon, dears?" Molly Weasley asked.

"Yes, Mum. It's been a long day."

"Alright." Molly Weasley hugged Fred and Hermione and gave them big kisses. The rest of the Weasleys and the two Potters (one being entirely sober considering her condition) gave their hugs and kisses and showed them to the Floo. ("It's much too late to be Apparating, especially after drinking," Molly Weasley advised.)

As soon as Fred and Hermione were in Fred's flat, they lunged at each other. Literally lunged.

"Fred," Hermione said, "I'm an effing good actress."

"Yes, you are."

"I was acting."

"Yes you were."

"Now, I'm not."

"Yes you- no, you're not?"

"No, I'm not."

"That's just the alcohol talking."

"Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't."

"Well, I'm not going to let you do whatever you're thinking about doing."

"Are you sure about that?"

Fred gulped. "I'm sure. No, I'm positive."

"Well, I'd appreciate it if you carried me to your bed then." Drunk-Hermione was a little upset. But it was probably just the alcohol talking.

Fred gladly did. He hooked one arm beneath Hermione's legs and one beneath her upper-back. He walked slowly but surely to his room with a very comfortable Hermione in his arms.

Hermione felt this tingly feeling in her chest when Fred was carrying her to his –their- room. Her whole chest was constricting, but in a good way. Her breath was caught in her throat.

Fred gently placed Hermione on the bed. He changed her out of her clothes (by magic, of course) and did the same for himself.

"Fred, I think that-"

Fred turned around to face Hermione. "What Hermione?"

She was on her side, sleeping.

"Oh, Hermione. You could never stay awake after drinking." Fred leaned toward and placed a kiss on Hermione's forehead. His lips tingled at the touch.

Sweet dreams, Hermione.

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AN: Holy bugger. That took me quite a long time to write this. I'm glad I did though. School starts soon. Don't know how that'll turn out.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

And here is the quote:

Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.
-- Mark Twain

R & R!

Sincerely,

lovah of Ron