A/N: Thank you for your patience and the comments for the story so far! I am truly sorry for the long gaps between chapters. Unfortunately, it's hard to find enough time to sit and get the story going the way I would like it to. The good news is that the next chapter is already about 1/4 written (it's a direct continuation, I just didn't want this to be too long). I can also see the ending in the horizon - of questionable but foreseeable distance! I've also begun to toy with the idea of this story being the basis for a series of one-shots, but it'll really depend on how this will end.

-x-

A light tap-tap on the window stirred Hermione from her slumber. "Coming," she grumbled as she pushed herself up from her childhood bed. A quick glance at the clock told her it was just past 6am on Christmas morning.

She yawned as she unlatched the window and stepped back as a large, beautiful snow owl hopped in and onto her rug. A handful of gift-wrapped presents balanced precariously on the sill. Hermione scooped them up and placed them on her bed before closing the window. She found a treat for the snow owl and pet her lightly.

Intrigued, Hermione sat beside the presents and reached for the one with a card on top. It read Merry Christmas from the Weasley family and was addressed to Hermione's parents, so she put it aside. The next two were smaller - a soft bundle wrapped in tissue paper, most likely a knitted sweater from Molly Weasley, and a dazzling box wrapped in midnight-purple and twinkling stars.

Large owl eyes watched her curiously as she delicately removed the wrapping from the box. Inside, Hermione found two crystal bottles and a Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes business card with the words, I wasn't sure which one you'd like, hastily written on the back.

She frowned slightly at the "I"- who could it be? - but then she took another look at the bottles and it dawned on her. Daydream charms. Fairytale-themed, Beauty and the Beast daydream charms in classic and musical.

"Oh, Fred…" she smiled wistfully. The snow owl leaped gingerly beside her and gave an encouraging hoot before nudging her arm with its head. "They are beautiful, aren't they?" she said as she stroked the soft feathers on its back.

It turned its head and nipped her fingers, not all too gently. Hermione yelped and frowned at the bird. "What was that for?" It gave another hoot and tilted its head towards the box. Hermione shrugged and reached a hand inside. Sure enough, her fingers brushed against the corners of a notecard beneath several layers of wrapping tissue. She pulled it out.

Handwritten in gold ink was a personal invitation to Fred and George's New Year's party extravaganza. Her eyes did a double-take on the venue and she gasped – a Muggle establishment at the heart of London, near St. James and overlooking the Thames! For the twins to procure such a venue was a as much a statement as it was a bold show of their business success. An R.S.V.P., however, was immediately required so Hermione stood up and went to her drawer. She honestly couldn't think of a better way to bring in the new millenium. However...

Hermione chewed on a pen as she mused over the plus one option. After a long moment, she came to a decision, wrote it down, and walked over to open the windowsill. The snow owl hopped over and she slipped a sheet of paper into the mail sleeve strapped to its leg. It gave a final, satisfied hoot and flew off.

-xxx-

It seemed like New Year's Eve came sooner than expected. To Fred, at least, who spent the past few days finalizing inventory and planning last-minute arrangements for their millenium party. He rubbed his temple and grumbled as he signed off on yet another bill for the venue and passed it to his brother. "That better be the last one!"

"For the year, at least." George sighed. He raised a brow at Fred's weary expression. "Regrets?"

Fred leaned back in his chair and gave a lazy grin. "Nah, it'll be worth it." But a Muggle venue required a certain amount of Muggle services... and wizard precautions... to avoid unwanted suspicion. Over 200 wizards and witches were expected to attend, and it seemed prudent to ensure non-magical transportation services would be available between Diagon Alley and the venue.

George pulled open a scroll and scanned the list of names on it carefully. "Last-minute cancellation by Percy. Working late at the Ministry, he says."

"He will be missed," Fred said dryly and yawned.

"Hmm, this is interesting."

Fred folded his hands behind his head and reclined further in the chair. His eyes narrowed suspiciously at the grin pulling on George's lip. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Have your tease! You obviously want to."

The grin spread across George's face as he rolled the scroll back up. "Hermione's plus one. Want to know who it is?"

Fred's eyes flickered colourfully for a moment. Then he pushed himself off from the table and stood up. "But that would rob you of the joy of my reaction," he said, his smile a little too sharp. "I would not deprive you of that, brother."

George opened his mouth to retort, but thought better of it and nodded instead. "You're right, brother," he said with equal mocking. "No reason to spoil a good surprise, eh?"

Fred was not going to be baited into a dance around the subject of one, Hermione Granger. He stalked across the room to the door and gave a parting salute, signalling the official end of their business meeting.

"I'll just sort these papers myself, yeah?" George called out with mild irritation.

"That'd be swell, George!" Fred replied coolly, not bothering to look back. "See you at our party!"

Of course George knew. He had suspected something, at first, with the change in his brother's demeanour whenever the topic of the petite brunette came up (which became a regular occurrence after the Christmas dinner). His careful (and not so careful) prodding suggested that this something definitely started that night in Germany, but that even Fred wasn't certain what that something was. Curiosity, perhaps. George hadn't even been certain there was genuine attraction until Christmas day, when he watched Fred's face contort into a mixture of irritation and disappointment upon reading that Hermione would have a plus one. No one else's response got half as much notice from Fred. To confirm his theory, George carefully asked if they should meet with Katie and Angelina before the party. His brother's blank stare said it all.

Ironically, it was that same moment when Fred realized it himself… he fancied Granger. Bossy, know-it-all, teacher's pet Granger! But she's more than that, he reminded himself. Brave, clever, fiercely loyal – all traits he easily admired. Witty when she wanted to be, talented with magic, and Ron's almost…

Fred sighed.

He was, first and foremost, concerned about her well-being. They'd all suffered losses in the war and had scars to prove it. Some, however, were not as obvious as others. Hermione was hiding hers a little too well. Her behaviour that night in Germany was like an itch Fred couldn't scratch, and he couldn't stop feeling like there was something very telling about it that was crucial to his understanding of her.

It's called Denial, spoke a cynical voice in his head, and Regret. She abandoned her usual reserve that night, kissed a man, and it wasn't you.

Fred ran a hand through his hair in frustration. The fact of the matter was that he couldn't resist a good puzzle, especially ones that promised such a tantalizing secret. He remembered how Hermione's eyes had darkened and her demeanour shifted when he'd confronted her about that night. And again when she'd thought he'd given her away.

He dreamt about her. In his dreams, he would find Hermione in the fields outside the Burrow, a dark beauty crackling with power and magic and raging at him about it being all wrong. There was something eerily familiar about the way she'd say it, tears streaming down illuminated cheeks, which made Fred's stomach coil uneasily. His mind kept wandering back to the dream, the night club in Germany, and morbidly enough… the final battle in Hogwarts. They were connected, Fred knew. He just needed to get Hermione alone long enough to find out how. At the very least, to gain another piece to her puzzle.

But if Fred were truly being honest with himself, he'd admit to hoping for something a bit more for the evening.

-xxx-

"Are you sure you wouldn't have rather—?"

"Oh, stop it!" Hermione laughed and hooked her arm under her date's, guiding them both up the stairs. "For the last time, I am delighted you could come with me. I'm sure you and your boyfriend had plans."

"But he insisted I come!" Cho exclaimed. "He saw that it was a big deal for me and a perfect opportunity to spend time with old friends." She glanced nervously at the group of wizards and witches crowding the door. A giant of a man towered before them, guarding the entrance and turning away those who didn't hold a proper invitation. "I've never been to such a party!"

"Neither have I."

Hermione pushed through the crowd confidently, pulling a reluctant Cho with her. The giant's eyes darted to the two young witches as they approached. "Invitation?" he asked.

Hermione held the paper out to the guard and it immediately dissolved into bright, magenta-tinted smoke. The guard nodded and gestured them inside, bumping away some eager partygoers in the process. A hostess greeted them in the hall and offered them a glass of champagne before directing them through velvet, midnight-purple curtains. The darkness engulfed them immediately, but the ladies giggled as a trail of shimmering stars appeared above their head, lighting the path through the corridor.

"How beautiful!" said Cho.

"I'm so glad you like them," came a voice beside her. One of the twins appeared and held his arm out to her. Hermione squinted in the dimly lit corridor, but it was difficult to tell which one. "I've found that in our line of business, it's an attention to detail that often make or break a product."

"But we don't limit the idea to just our products," a breath whispered in Hermione's ear, making her jump.

"What are you doing, lurking like creeps at your own party!" Hermione cried as a hand pressed gently against the small of her back, pushing her forward.

"We're not lurking," said the twin behind her.

"Nor creeping," said the other, who was also leading Cho forward. "We were merely observing our incoming guests."

"But speaking of details, it's about time we made our entrance-"

"With two beautiful women at our sides!"

"If you'd allow us the honour, of course."

"Well," Cho squeaked and her blush was obvious even in the dark. "I was looking forward to walking in with Hermione."

"You don't say!"

"Blast it all!"

"How did we miscalculate so badly?!"

"BUT-" Cho continued. "I happily accept if Hermione does."

Hermione felt a hand slip into hers and squeeze. The hand was warm and the squeeze encouraging. "I think..." she started, feeling silly that four grown adults were standing in the dark like they were. "I think it's alright if we still get the first dance."

"Quite right!" Cho laughed. "You're my date, afterall."

"Er, that's a yes, then?" asked Cho's escort after a moment.

"Yes."

Hermione's escort chuckled and let his hand slide from hers. "Let's be grateful, George. Who knows how long we'd have to wait for another lovely pair to stroll in?"

Fred, Hermione thought and stilled.

"There wasn't going to be another pair. Angelina and Katie are already inside!"

"Well, there you go."

They reached the end of the corridor and positioned themselves side-by-side. Fred offered his arm to Hermione with a curious brow. "Is this okay?"

She nodded and smiled. Standing beside Cho reminded her a lot of the Triwizard ball. She held Fred's arm and he grinned.

"Right then.."

George snapped his fingers and the curtains parted to reveal a long and elegant banquet hall. To their left were floor-to-ceiling windows that opened up to a balcony with a marvellous view of the Thames. The hall was warmly lit and full of colourfully (if not precisely well-) dressed men and women who were all, slowly, turning their gazes up at their entrance. George and Cho started down the stairs, a pleased looks on both their faces.

Hermione turned to Fred grinning and about to speak, but was stunned by the curious cascade of expressions that flashed across his face when their eyes met: joy, fear, pleasure, doubt- and something darker that Hermione couldn't quite place. A knot tightened in her gut and, unconsciously, she licked her lower lip. Fred seemed to remember himself then, his humour returning as he leaned down and brushed his lips lightly on her cheek. "You look splendid," he said softly.

Hermione looked away as her cheeks warmed. "Shall we?"

Without waiting for an answer, Hermione started down the stairs with Fred in tow. She forced a wide grin on her face as she looked out at the crowd.

"Can we—" started Fred, teeth bared in a forced smile for the crowd. "I'd like to talk with you. Privately."

Hermione tilted her head in his direction and her hand began to slip from his arm. "What for?"

Fred tried not to wince at the immediate suspicion in her tone. He reached over and placed his free hand firmly on hers, holding her in place. "Please, Hermione."

To everyone around them, Fred was bright, dashing, and radiating with confidence. But when their eyes met, the humour drained from Fred's face. His smile wavered and there was uncertainty in his eyes. He looked…

Hermione shook her head and pulled her hand forcefully from his grip. She didn't like how he looked, but the hurt in his reaction also made her hesitate. Already, the crowd was pushing towards them, eager to get a piece of their charming hosts. "Find me later," she breathed and disappeared into the crowd.