I think maybe 2 to 4 more chapters of this story and then this baby can get wrapped up. It isn't going to be as long as Weasley Boys On How To Romance A Bookworm but I think that'll be a good place to end.

Read. Rate. Review. Be jolly and enjoy french toast bagels with butter and cinnamon!


Hermione was doing very well. She wasn't thinking about Fred at all. Not one bit! It had been 9 days since that night and she had not only managed to avoid seeing Fred but also thinking about him. Well...mostly. She only thought about him when she went to bed because she was wearing his sweater and in the mornings because her pillow still smelled like him and in the shower because... you know why. There had also been an almost encounter in the hall one day. She spotted him coming out of his apartment and ran down the stairs to hide behind a door. She hadn't stopped to think it could have been George. Too big of a risk factor.

So she was doing fine. It wasn't at all awkward. She could totally do one night stands and she wasn't at all hung up on him. She had lunch with Ginny and didn't even think to ask about him. She went to Ron's for poker night and bother to question after his brother. She saw the girl that was with George at the party and didn't have to stomp the urge to greet her and casually converse. No, she settled for a polite smile after eye contact.

Okay, so it was all a lie. She had been dying to tell Ginny about her night with Fred and ask if he had said anything. She had to practically suffocate herself with popcorn to keep from asking Ron how Fred was. And when she saw the girl who was with George she practically ran away to keep from exploding. She felt like it was impossible to escape him. She never should have slept with him. Hell, she never should have left her apartment.

Who said it was important to know your neighbors? Because she would like very much to hit them in the face. with a chair. She just hoped it would get easier with time.

It didn't. It had officially been 13 days since she had welcomed Fred into her bed with open arms and open legs. His scent was nearly gone from her pillow and she was still wearing his sweater. She had cancelled a dinner date with Ginny for fear of snapping. She restricted her phone calls with Ron to 10 minutes because any longer than that and she might ask something stupid. She had even changed the way she walked to class to avoid George's lady friend.

She was determined though! The nagging ache will go away, she told herself. Only it hadn't. She was sitting on her couch drinking tea and reading in his sweater when her phone vibrated. She picked it up and saw a message from Ginny. She was celebrating a massive win and demanded Hermione come to her party. She politely declined as she was in for the night and had cozied up already. Ginny wasn't having it.

Get your arse over here or I'll drag you out myself.

Hermione sighed. She would too. The last time that had happened Hermione had been manhandled into a tight red dress and 4 inch heels. She would much rather dress herself before spending 3 hours miserably at a party where she knew no one. She wasn't exactly great at making friends. Her nerves frequently got the best of her and she fumbled to find the right words. She sent Ginny a short message with a resigned confirmation before standing up.

She had shrugged into a knee length skirt and a t-shirt with a picture of her cat on it. Her father had sent it a month after she had moved into the dorm. She had to leave Crookshanks with her parents for a while and missed his squashed little face. The only perk was that her clothes weren't covered in orange fur. She grabbed a cardigan and her things before she left. She was very to have a skirt with pockets. She shoved her phone and wallet into them before closing the door. She was just locking up when the twins' door opened. She froze for a moment. She had to make a choice; be cordial or ignore whoever it was. She decided to take the adult path.

Ignore him.

She turned to walk down the hall and held her breath as she got closer to their door. The ginger turned to look at her and smiled brightly. She stared at him wide eyed for a moment before returning a tight and awkward smile. She was the picture of charm and friendliness.

"Hermione." He greeted. She wasn't really looking at him anymore. She was staring at his shirt. It had a grizzly bear wearing a sombrero on it.

"Hello." She mumbled.

"Where you off to?" He said putting his key in his pocket.

"Ginny's party." Oh god, let it end!

"I'm headed that way too. Need a lift?"

"erm, no. I was going to take the bus." She answered looking at her shoes. Her flats were worn and the toes were scuffed.

"Nonsense! You never know what kind of hooligans you'll run into this time of night." He said.

"Like you." She quipped without thinking.

He laughed but it didn't make her chest warm like it should. She looked at him and felt no stirring when she saw his shaggy hair or sparkling eyes. It had finally happened! She was over him. It was probably due to the shirt. Why does a bear need a sombrero? She didn't know and she didn't care. It shook her up enough to realize it was fascination.

"Like me. Come on, neighbor. Can't have you riding with a bunch of strangers."

"I won't be riding with you then." she replied readily.

"Ouch! Words hurt you know." He said playfully.

"Not as much as a foot to the shin." She mumbled to herself. Not that she felt like kicking him. Rather she felt like kicking herself. She should have ignored him but he was charismatic and she found herself drawn into conversation. She knew that at this point she would end up riding with him. There was no point in arguing further. It would waste her time and if she didn't arrive soon then Ginny would be pouring shots down her throat. "I'm sorry. Thank you for the offer. I'm in your care." She said awkwardly.

"Ta! Let's be off. Gin's spirits are sure to be going down by the minute."

The ride was awkward to say the least. The radio was on but the volume was very hushed. There was a quiet hum in the car. She watched the light from the streets stream through the window and onto her hand. It was mesmerizing for a time. She was tired and her bra was already annoying her. She found herself angry at agreeing to go so readily. Hermione looked at her chauffeur. His mouth was pursed, as though he wanted to say something. She wanted to say something too. Something like why are you doing this or can't we just move on already. Maybe even, would you mind wearing your sweater again for a bit because it doesn't smell like you anymore and I'm having a hard time sleeping.

She felt the tension in her throat. She wanted to break the silence but honestly she could barely look at his face without feeling embarrassed. She was all too happy when they parked. She opened her door quickly. She felt more than a little foolish to be rushing off. They would be sharing a space all night. It didn't seem logical to run away. She tried anyway. She didn't get very far before he was beside her again. His long legs made easy strides while hers pounded furiously against the pavement.

She looked up at him. He was biting back a smile and she rolled her eyes. He seemed all too pleased at the situation. How was he not reading the atmosphere? This was too strange. She wanted him to go away. She didn't feel the urge to throw herself upon him but she certainly wanted to yell at him. If only to make herself feel better. Instead she bit the inside of her cheek and suffered in silence.

They walked up the stairs to Ginny's flat in an awkward manner. He took the steps two at a time, as though he refused to stay behind her. She was tempted to punch him in the leg. She admitted hesitantly to himself that his butt was quite nice. She looked away when he looked over his shoulder and snorted a laugh. She cursed herself. This was going to be the longest night of her life.

He knocked on the door to Ginny's flat quite loudly when they arrived at the landing. The door was opened by Blaise Zabini. Hermione was fond of Blaise. He had an easy nature that was found so rarely in her friend group. He fit in with just about everyone with ease and had a way of making you smile. She had first come across him at a party that Harry had. He had come with Draco. She had thought they were a couple until she found him flirting in the corner with Ginny. Hermione had encouraged Ginny to pursue Blaise but her friend just shook her head.

"He flirts with everyone. It's just his nature." But there was a soft blush on her cheeks.

Now he was opening the door to her flat. Hermione smiled at him politely. His returning smile was bright against his dark skin. His complexion was very similar to her own. She had never seen him with long hair. It was kept very short because he played football. He had told her once that he simply couldn't be bothered with it. He was very handsome and she could understand Ginny's interest.

"You finally made it." He said welcoming them in. He clapped her companion on the shoulder and pointed to the kitchen. "Ginny's in there I think. She's a bit foxed."

Of course she was. Ginny wasn't what Hermione would call a partier. Rather she was an enthusiastic celebrator. She let loose after a particularly grueling game, especially if they won. Hermione spotted a mess of red hair and headed towards it. She didn't bother to say goodbye to the ginger next to her. She was just happy to get away. She waded through a sea of people. Ginny's flat was rather large but it felt no larger than a sardine can with the amount of people there.

"Ginny!" She called over the music. How had the neighbors not called the police?

"Mione, yer here!" She bellowed and tackled her curly haired friend. "What're you wearing?" She said looking down at her baggy clothes and grimacing. "It's a party. Supposed to dress sexy."

Ginny definitely looked sexy. Her red hair was in the finest messy bun Hermione had ever seen and her dress was tight and black. She looked amazing and her shoes looked uncomfortable as hell. She had no doubt they would be kicked off within the hour. Hermione simply shook her head and smiled. There was a drink being thrust into her hands. She made a move to say no but the look on Ginny's face said that she wasn't having it. Hermione eyed the beverage and shrugged. Why not? She could really use a night off after the last 2 weeks.

Unfortunately for her, Ginny made sure she was never thirsty. She had ended up doing shots with some girls from the team and her cup never emptied. She was completely out of it after an hour. She was light headed and dizzy, a bit nauseous but her spirits were up. She felt good. She felt ready to take on the world. Or at least, the tall ginger in the corner of the room talking to Harry who had just so happened to show up. She stumbled over.

She greeted Harry cheerfully. He smiled and gave her a hug. He asked if she was okay. Silly Harry. She was better than okay.

"I'm super." She said with a series of enthusiastic nods.

"You're drunk." He said in wonder.

"So it would seem." Her eyes were having a hard time focusing. She swallowed roughly and looked at the man next to him. "You." She said pointing a finger.

He raised a light eyebrow. "This should be good." He said with a smile that went over her head.

"You're right. It's gonna be really good." She poked him and the chest. "You are such an annoying twat. That's what you are. With your charming smile and your impressive arms and your stupid nicknames. Why do you smell so good? Huh? Why are you so annoyingly charming? I made it clear," She blinked slowly, "clear that it was never gonna happ'n. You couldn't just ignore me. Nooooo! You had to offer me a ride. What kind of person does that? You don't offer rides to people you slept with once! It's not good manners."

She wasn't sure she was getting all the words out but it felt good to say it. She began to sway a little. Before she could recenter there were hands on her hips steadying her. She mumbled a thank you to the person behind her and eyed the man in front of her. He was smiling like a fool and Harry was biting back a laugh. She poked him in the chest again.

"You don't have good manners but you're a good kisser so I'll forgive you." She glared at his mouth. "How'd you do tha' one thing with your tongue?" She slurred.

"I'll show you later." She heard from behind her. She looked over her shoulder and had to swat the mess of curls out of her face to see.

"Either I am very drunk or there are two of you."

"You are very drunk and there are two of us."

She looked back and forth. She stared at the shirt of the man in front of her. Bear with sombrero. She looked behind her. His shirt had aliens abducting cows. Oh no... this was not good. She looked between the two with wide eyes. That explained the lack of spark. She closed her eyes and cursed mentally. Her finger was still digging into George's chest. She patted it in a friendly manner before pulling back. She looked at Fred before she shook her head. Nope.

"If you'll excuse me I have to go throw myself out a window."


Poor Mione. Life's rough. Stick around for the next chapter. Let me know what you think or want to see. Thanks for reading!