Author's Note: I took out the author update chapter because it was throwing me off, haha. So basically I'll put what it said here. I'm in the middle of "Hell Weeks" AKA post-Thanksgiving pre-Christmas exam/studying weeks. College. Is. Hard. I found time to update some, obviously, but don't be too upset with me if I don't update that much! Oh, and I'm writing this as I'm watching Austin Powers, so I apologize for that, too. :D

Chapter Ten

Thoughts of Ron may not have entered her mind while she was with Fred, but as soon as she was back in her own room for the night, Ron seemed to be the only thing on her mind. Guilt washed over her and kept her tossing and turning throughout the night. She had no one to go to; of course Fred would tell her to just dump Ron and be over with it, but it wasn't that easy. She couldn't tell Ginny, because she had cheated on her brother with another one of her brothers. And no one else knew. No one except…Hermione sat up in bed and looked at her clock. Seven in the morning. She jumped out of the bed and threw on the closest clothes she could find before hurrying down to the common room. No one had awoken themselves yet on the Sunday morning, so she walked over to the fire and sat down on the floor, keeping her eyes on the boys' dormitory stairwell.

Slowly, Gryffindors seemed to be rising as they stumbled down the stairwell and out the portrait hole, presumably heading towards the Great Hall. Finally, just as Hermione was starting to drift off, a flash of ginger caught her eye. She shook her head to get her senses together, and looked up in time to see George heading towards the portrait hole. She stood up quickly and rushed over to him.

"George, hold up!" she said, tapping him on the arm.

George turned around and gave Hermione an odd look. "Yeah?"

"I need your…advice," Hermione said slowly, the words not sounding as right out loud as they did inside her head. "About Fred."

George's face screwed up. "I don't know what you're talking about…"

"Oh, come off it," Hermione said, exasperated. "You're his twin and partner in crime, I'm pretty sure you know exactly what I'm talking about."

George sighed. "Alright, fine. I know. He bewitched you, but you're dating wittle Ronniekins. It seems like you're trying your best to ignore the enchantment."

Hermione flushed a dark shade of red as she muttered, "Ignoring it so much that I spent some 'quality' time in your dormitory with him yesterday while you guys were outside?"

George's mouth dropped open. "Bloody hell, Granger, not only did I not know you had it in you to do anything like that, but to do it behind Ron's back?!"

Hermione shook her head. "I shouldn't have come to you for help, that was stupid of me. Sorry."

George held up his hand. "Calm down, goodness. I was only saying that isn't like you. Now, I don't need to know any details, at least not from you." Hermione looked outraged that he would suggest that Fred would tell him, but he just winked and continued. "But obviously you don't care much for Ron, or at least not more than this enchantment with Fredward. So I say tell Ron that something has happened, some things have changed, and he'll get pissed, but he'll bounce back and be asking for your homework in no time." George patted her twice on the shoulder. "Now if you'll excuse me, my stomach is roaring."

Hermione stared after George in shock as he made his way out of the portrait hole. How dare he suggest that she not care about Ron! Of course she cared about Ron…didn't she? She stumbled over to an armchair and lowered herself into it heavily. Lost in her thoughts, contemplating his relationship and her feelings, she didn't notice Ron come down the staircase and stand in front of her."

"Oi, Hermione!" Ron practically shouted. Hermione jumped and looked up; Ron must have been saying her name a few times before this, for he was giving her quite an odd look. "What's up with you?"

"I, um…I just…" Hermione paused, took a deep breath, and then continued. "Ronald I think it would be best if we remained just friends. Some things have happened that are beyond my control, and well. No excuses. I just feel it be better that we remain best friends. Our relationship is more of that, don't you think?" She slowly looked up to meet his eyes.

"If that's what you want," Ron said slowly, making sure each word came out calmly. More than anything he wanted to ask questions, demand an answer, accuse her of leading him on for all these years. "That's fine. Right. Well. I'll see you, then." He turned and hurried from the room, face red with embarrassment.

Hermione sagged back into the chair and covered her eyes with the back of her hand; the coolness against her flushing forehead felt nice. The deed had been done; all she had to do was wait until Ron calmed down and things went back to normal, and everything would be fine. Well, not exactly everything. She had to figure things out with-

"Hello, love," Fred whispered in her ear. Hermione jumped a little and lowered her hand to find Fred standing in front of her. "So, George tells me that you talked to him this morning."

"That boy can't keep a secret to save his life," Hermione muttered.

Fred grinned down at her. "Well, then. Have you done it?"

"If you mean end things with Ronald, then yes, I have," Hermione said, avoiding his eyes.

Fred reached up and gently but firmly grabbed her chin and turned her face back towards his. "Don't tell me you're sad about that git!"

Hermione pushed his hand away and stood up. "He's not a git, at least not all of the time. And yes, I am sad, because I actually care about him, or people in general, unlike you!"

Fred mocked a frown. "Come now, Granger, surely you don't mean all of those things?"

Hermione shook her head in disgust. "I really don't understand you, and I'm not sure I want to." She turned to head towards the dormitories, but Fred quickly grabbed her hand.

"Hermione," he said. Simply that. Nothing more, nothing less, and she found herself turning back towards him. The look in his eyes was the look that had been there just yesterday. And she found herself being melded to him once again.

Author's Note: Before anyone says anything, no one's in the Common Room. READ AND REVIEW!