A/N: edited version

Chapter 10

It has been a week since the serious conversation Hermione and Fred had, and Fred has never been confused about anything in his life. He thought that when Hermione told him that she liked him, it means that they're actually going to start dating. So when Hermione acted like they were just buddies, he couldn't stop thinking whether he did something wrong. He's not complaining, though. They've been spending almost every day together, and Mrs. Weasley couldn't be happier.

They're currently sitting on a love seat in the Burrow. They just finished eating dinner, and everyone was doing the usual stuff. Harry and Ron were on a heated game of wizard chess; Ginny was playing with Victoire—Bill and Fleur's daughter—and George and Angelina were somewhere doing something that everyone was not actually interested to know. Fred and Hermione were having their own little world in their corner and they were laughing silently.

"Okay, next!" Hermione exclaimed happily.

"Oh, no. I'm not fond of whatever's going in on your mind right now, Granger!"

"You now have to choose between a monkey who likes to eat your favourite food or Voldemort giving you a back rub!" Hermione laughed. Fred looked appalled.

"OH GODS!" Fred exclaimed with a grimace. Everyone turned to see Fred looking sick and Hermione clutching her stomach while silently laughing.

"Why? What happened?" Ron asked.

"She just made me choose between a monkey who likes to eat my favourite food and Voldemort giving me a back rub."

"THAT IS JUST SICK, HERMIONE!" Harry said while laughing with her.

"Your girl here has a very disturbed mind, Freddie." Bill chuckled.

"I have to keep up with his, you know!" Hermione finally said and everyone laughed.

So she's my girl? She didn't correct Bill or anything… Fred thought.

Hermione looked at Fred and poked him hard on his side. "Ouch! What was that for?"

"Choose now!"

"Okay, okay! I choose Voldemort giving me a back rub!"

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows forehead and stared at Fred like he just did something gross. "I thought you'll choose the monkey!"

"I will never EVER choose something that will keep me away from my favourite food!"

"Which is?"

"Mom's homemade lamb chops!" Fred said happily while licking his lips like he just had a taste of his favourite food.

Mrs. Weasley, who was currently listening to their conversation, joined them. "Well, you forgot he's a Weasley, dear."

"Ahhhh that I did." Hermione laughed softly. "I just can't believe he chose the back rub!"

"It's because I benefit from it!"

"Yeah, sure. Whatever." Hermione rolled her eyes. She and Fred talked about a different topic and Mrs. Weasley left them in peace.

Mrs. Weasley sat beside her Arthur who was looking at her with a soft expression on his face. She could read that face. He can also see the potential between the two young adults and they could have never been happier for their son. Also, Mr. Weasley is releaved now that his wife's wish to have Hermione as a daughter-in-law is somewhat looking clear to them now. All they have to do is wait…

"What are they?" Arthur asked Molly.

"I'm not sure, but they're spending a lot of time together, aren't they?" She giggled.

"Now, now. Don't get your hopes too high."

"Hmp! You can't blame me! I've been waiting for our son to have someone now that George is getting married—where is that boy?!—and I've been waiting for Hermione to be with us officially!"

"It will happen," was the only reply Arthur made but it did reassure Molly a great deal.

After an hour, the Golden Trio went back to their flat with Fred. He came with them because that was his version of "getting-the-fragile-girl-home" even though she has done more dangerous things and knows a handful more spells than him. After kissing Fred goodnight (in the cheeks), he apparated happily. Hermione turned around from where Fred apparated to see her best friends grinning at her.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing!" Both chirped.

"No! It's not nothing! What is it?" she asked again.

"Really, it's nothing!" The guys chirped again.

"Tell meeeeee!" Hermione whined. The three of them stared at each other for seconds and laughed.

"It's just that…" Harry started. "I've never seen Fred so happy with just a kiss on the cheek!"

Hermione giggled. "He was, wasn't he?"

"Soo…" Ron trailed off.

"'So…' what?" Hermione asked.

"How are things between the two of you?"

"Good." Hermione said simply and started walking towards her room. Harry and Ron looked at each other and sighed loudly at the same time. It didn't go unnoticed to her and looked at them again. "What's with that meaningful sigh?" She asked.

"Sit," Ron commanded.

"What's with the sudden seriousness?!" Hermione demanded.

"What are your REAL feelings for Fred, Hermione? And we don't want the 'we're just friends' bullshit because that's not how we see it." Harry said.

"And I really don't want any of you get hurt," Ron continued.

Hermione sighed and took a cigarette stick from her pocket. She burned the tip and took a drag before talking. Harry and Ron know that Hermione also smokes when she feels stressed. They've been trying to make her quit for years but she just keep shrugging them off. "I like Fred, he likes me. We're taking it slow."

"Okay, at least you admit you like him," Ron breathes in relief. He really didn't want to hear that she only see him as a best friend or something because he had never seen Fred that happy whenever he's with Hermione.

Harry and Ron were aware with the changes that happened with Hermione after the war. She became more cautious with her surroundings, she became too suspicious, and she trusted no one but the people she's been with through the war. And when it comes to her heart, well, that's a whole different story. Another factor to why she and Draco fell apart—besides the fact that Draco was a coward—was that she always push Draco away whenever they start to get frisky. Draco made himself believe that maybe it's just because she was waiting for marriage but after months of being pushed away (sometimes violently), he came up with another conclusion: she just doesn't want anyone to touch her. Of course, he loved her too much to leave her. He just had to suck it up until they get married. But that didn't happen too. Ron suddenly wondered what happened to the ferret…

"Why are you guys exactly asking me this?" Hermione narrowed her eyes. She was not in the mood for a serious talk.

"Well…" Harry and Ron both murmured.

"It won't be like my relationship with Draco, if that's what you guys are worried about."

Well… that was exactly what they were worried about. Hermione kissed them goodnight and walked straight to her room and silently locked the door, a sign that Hermione was mad at the two for reminding her of Draco Malfoy.

~OoO~

"Hey, George!" Fred greeted his brother when he arrived to their house. George was currently eating an ice cream while half lying on their couch. Fred sat on the bean bag across him.

"What happened with you after dinner?" Fred asked.

"Had quality time with my fiancé," George replied cheekily. "Merlin, I love calling her my fiancé."

Fred laughed. "Wait until you get to call her your wife!"

"Oh, that too! Anyway, what happened after we left?" George asked, with a spoon on his mouth. It was just twin instinct to why Fred understood him.

"Same thing every night," Fred shrugged.

"So why did you just came home this late? It's already…" George squinted his eyes to look at the muggle wall clock behind Fred. "Almost midnight."

"I took Hermione home. Well, Harry and Ron was with us."

"Aw, so you're their chaperone now?" George joked.

"Stuff it! I'd rather walk her home but you know, she has work early tomorrow. I really don't want to tire her out or something."

Before George could reply, they heard a loud pop and saw Hermione clad in her very short cotton shorts and Ron's Gryffindor Keeper shirt.

"Hey," Hermione greeted.

"Hey!" George greeted and walked up to her and gave her a short hug. Fred was currently not moving and looking at the sexy girl right in front of him. His mouth was wide open and any second a drool might fall down. George sat back on the couch and continued eating. "Breathe, man!" George said which snapped Fred back to the world.

"Can I sleep here?" Hermione asked.

"Why? What happened with you?" George asked because he knows Fred still couldn't find his voice from the girl in front of him. George also cannot deny it but Hermione did look sexy even though she's only wearing her night wears.

"I just can't sleep in my room or anywhere in our flat right now. I'm kind of annoyed with Harry and Ron and anytime now they'll apparate in my room and will interrupt me in my sleep just to talk about my issues." She explained.

"You can sleep in Fred's room," George offered. "Right Feorge?" Fred merely nodded.

"No, don't do that. I'll happily take that couch instead. Scoot over," Hermione said and sat on the end of the couch with George's feet resting on her legs. Fred stared at her legs and with his twin's feet and glared at him. "You're feet are dirty, George." Fred said darkly.

"Geez, Fred. Jealous much?" George teased. Fred stuck his tongue out on his brother and blushed. Hermione just watched the twins with an amused smile.

"You can sleep in my bed, I'll take the couch." Fred finally offered.

"Okay, I'll take the bed. You'll sleep with me, though." Hermione said with a blush. "I won't fall asleep knowing I stole someone's bed and that someone's sleeping uncomfortably on the couch."

"Great idea, then! Now off to bed, you two! You both still have work tomorrow!" George chimed.

Hermione stood up and waited for Fred to stand up too. They walk side by side towards Fred's room. Before Fred could shut the door, he looked at his twin which gave him a thumbs-up and a suggestive wink. Fred just scowled.