Flaming Red

By corset-rebellion-follower

Disclaimer: I don't own HP

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 8- The Cauldron

"Fred… I… I don't know what to say," Hermione whispered.

Fred's eyes filled with panic as he realized what he'd just done. I just asked Hermione to marry me! How stupid could I possibly get? There's no way she's going to say yes, we started seeing each other three days ago! Now she'll probably think I'm crazy or something!

He stood up. "Hermione… I'm sorry if I was too sudden, I just… I don't want you dating that guy from your department. He's so cocky, and Ariana hates him, and..." He took a deep breath. "And I guess I've been meddling in your life too much lately. I'm really sorry, Hermione, for putting you through all this trouble. I guess I should leave." He walked toward the door.

"Wait!"

Hermione rushed over to him and took his hand. "No, don't leave, I just… this was so unexpected." She cracked a smile. "But you've always been like this, taking lots of chances and risks."

He smiled a little. She squeezed his hand.

"And that's I want to marry you. Because I've wanted to give us a chance since seventh year." A grin illuminated Fred's face.

"Hermione… I love you. I wish I had a ring, though." He paused for a minute. "Wait here." He let go of her hand and ran up the stairs to Ariana's room. He knocked on her door.

"Ariana?"

There was no reply.

"Ariana, I know you're in there."

"Go away!" He sighed.

"Can I come in for just a second? I won't be too long." She opened the door.

"What?" There were tears running down her cheeks.

He smiled and wiped her tears away. "Do you still have the ring?" he asked.

Her face went a little pale. "Uh, yeah." She took out the velvet box and handed it to him.

"Thanks." He kissed the top of her head and ran back down the stairs. Hermione was still in the exact same spot she was in when he left. He walked over to her and opened the ring box, removed the ring, and slid it on Hermione's finger. She smiled when she saw it. It was beautiful. The diamond was the strangest shape she had ever seen.

"It looks like…"

"A cauldron," Fred finished.

She smiled at him. "Only you, Fredrick Weasley, would get me a cauldron-shaped engagement ring." He wrapped his arms around her.

"Then that gives me a jump on the competition," he whispered in her ear. She giggled.

"Mum? Dad?" Ariana came running down the stairs. Fred let go of Hermione. Ariana skidded to a stop in front of them. She immediately saw the ring on Hermione's finger. She squealed.

"You're getting married, I'm so happy! And I'm sorry I said that I hated you, I just didn't want you to go out with Jacob! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said, hugging Hermione tightly. Both Fred and Hermione grinned at her.

There was a knock on the door. Hermione suddenly froze.

"What? What is it?" Ariana asked, letting go of her mother.

"Uh, well, I didn't know how you would react to the idea of Jacob and I, and I definitely didn't know that your father was going to ask me to marry him, so I told Jacob to come over at seven to get an answer about whether or not I would go out with him," she said timidly.

Fred put a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be fine."

She took a deep breath and answered the door. Sure enough, Jacob was on the other side, smiling at her.

"Hermione, I'm glad I caught you. Have you thought about my proposal?" he asked sweetly.

An idea popped into Ariana's head. "Dad, hide! I have an idea!" she whispered.

She quietly told Fred her idea. He grinned and nodded, taking shelter in the kitchen.

"Can I come in?" Jacob asked. Hermione looked behind her. Fred was gone, and Ariana was standing in the front room, smirking slightly.

"Um… sure." Hermione stepped aside and Jacob entered the house. He smiled at Ariana.

"Hermione, it's really lovely to see your daughter again," he said cheerfully.

"You know, I have a name. And it isn't Hermione's daughter," Ariana spat. Hermione glared at Ariana, but she didn't notice.

"Charming," was all that Jacob said.

"Ariana? Hermione? Are you in here?" Fred walked back into the room, wearing the same smirk Ariana had on earlier.

"And who's this?" Jacob asked, slightly flustered.

"I'm Ariana's father," Fred said frostily.

"Hermione… you didn't tell me you were married," Jacob said, trying to keep his cheery attitude.

"I'm not."

Jacob furrowed his brow. "You got a divorce?" She shook her head.

"Well, are you ready to go?" he asked, his happy attitude returning.

"Um, I can't go," Hermione said quietly.

"Why not?"

"I'm engaged now." She showed him the ring. His face drained of color. He gulped.

"To whom?" he asked anxiously. Fred stepped behind Hermione and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"To me." Ariana was grinning. Hermione had a guilty look on her face.

"I'll be in the other room if you need me," she said, escaping Fred's grip and hurrying out of the room. Ariana saw the death stares that Fred and Jacob were now giving each other.

"Uh, I think I'll go with her. Be right back." She ran out of the room.

"So… you're marrying Hermione. Lucky man, I must say," Jacob complimented.

"Do you always act like this, or do you have some sort of curse put on you?" Fred asked furiously.

"Well, I just feel bad for Hermione. Having to marry someone like you. I thought she would have better judgment, she really is very bright," Jacob replied calmly.

"Shut up."

"I guess she showed poor judgment eleven years ago, deciding to reproduce with you. But it really all was an accident, wasn't it?" Jacob spat. Fred drew his wand and pointed it at Jacob.

"Don't you dare talk about Ariana that way," he snarled.

"Sorry. My mistake." Fred was seething.

"Take it back."

Jacob smirked. "Why don't you make me?" he taunted. This was the final straw for Fred.

"STUPEFY!"

Jacob hit the floor, unconscious. Hermione and Ariana ran back into the room. Ariana screamed. "Dad, what did you do? Did you kill him?" she asked, scared.

"No, I didn't. He's just stunned," Fred said, staring at Jacob's body in loathing. She breathed a sigh of relief. Hermione rushed over to Jacob.

"Fred, why did you stun him?" she asked, checking Jacob's pulse. He kneeled down next to Hermione.

"He said Ariana was a mistake." Hermione looked up at him.

"Really?" He nodded. She threw down his arm. "Git." Fred grinned at her.

"I knew you'd see it my way," he joked. She gave him a small smile.

"We better move him. Even if he is a prat, he deserves a little kindness."

"And she yells at me for swearing," Ariana muttered. They carried Jacob's body to the couch. After twenty minutes, he finally sat up.

"What the…" He saw Fred and scowled.

"Fred, why don't you show Jacob to the door?" Hermione asked quietly. Fred merely nodded and walked to the door. Jacob reluctantly followed. Fred opened the door.

"Don't bother coming back," he snapped.

"This isn't over. Hermione deserves better than you. I'll be back for her," Jacob retorted.

"But you deserve no better than this." He shoved Jacob out the door and slammed it shut. He walked back over to Hermione and Ariana.

"I told you he was serious," Ariana said quietly. Fred smiled.

"I'm just lucky to have such an inquisitive daughter." She grinned and gave him a big hug.

"I love you, Dad. And I'm glad you and Mum are getting married," she whispered. He returned her hug.

"I love you too, Ariana. Fred saw the tears of joy in Hermione's eyes. He smiled as she wiped them away and stroked Ariana's ginger hair. He let go of Ariana.

"Aren't you going to hug your mum, too? She's the one who agreed to marry me," he reminded her.

Ariana grinned and hugged Hermione. "I love you too, Mum. And I'm really glad we're all going to be a family."

Hermione smiled when she said that. Fred slid his arms around her shoulders and kissed her cheek.

"This is our family, Hermione. Ours. And no one can take it away," he whispered.

And Hermione just smiled.