Ginny had been right. The next day as soon as breakfast was cleaned away Hermione was given a few muggle cleaning supplies and sent off with Ginny to clean a bedroom. The one she was cooped up in had already been cleared for all magical creatures since neither Ginny or Hermione were old enough to use magic outside of school yet. The girls swept, scrubbed, dusted and swept some more. But every time they thought the room was close to finished there a layer of dust remained.

Hermione's days were filled with cleaning. Harry arrived a month in the holidays. Having Harry around made things easier. Most of the attention was focused on him now. It gave her space to breathe. When she wasn't cleaning or spending time with Ginny and Harry she focused on getting a jump start. The summer would soon be over and she would be busier than even now that she had been assigned as a Gryffindor prefect. She should have been happy that Ron had also been selected, but she could not help but think she would miss spending time with another Weasley.

Fred was happy for the distraction. George had become more involved with testing out products for their shop, but cleaning in the day helped keep his hands and head busy. Now they could use magic outside of school Fred was often given the task of clearing out any unwelcome creatures they found. Helping to rid the house of creatures was more entertaining to the twins than cleaning. When rooms were clear they had to go back to scrubbing the muggle way, Fred was sure there was some ulterior motive but their mother claimed it was to build character.

The summer was coming to a close, all of the rooms were almost free of boggarts and Doxy's. It was just the stubborn dust that seemed to be causing the most back breaking jobs now.

"Right, I am splitting you lot up into pairs. We're finishing this house before you head off to school. Ron you're with Ginny, Harry with George and Hermione with Fred." Mrs. Weasley instructed while handing out supplies. Hermione felt her heart skip a beat. She did not want to be left alone with Fred, the silence would drive her mad.

"Mrs. Weasley, couldn't Ginny and I just spend the day cleaning our room together? I have this new idea for SPEW and I could use Ginny's insight?" Hermione asked as everyone began to file out.

"Dear, if I let Fred and Ron lose alone there will be no telling what kind of damage they could cause. Now he's a prefect Ron needs to set an example for his sister. And you're a prefect too now dear. You need to whip this lot into shape." Mrs. Weasley instructed. "Just think Fred, if you had put your head down and focused sooner you and George could have been prefects too."

"I think you'll find Fred and I are far too busy for such trivial matters." George said elbowing his twin who had turned a much paler shade than George in the last minute or so. "We have a shop to establish. And an inventory to create."

Fred said nothing and left the room with his bucket of water and sponge. He did not want to be left alone with Hermione either, but he also had not practically begged his mother to do anything but. The way Hermione asked to work with Ginny instead made him hurt. His chest felt tight. He knew his reaction was irrational but he was beginning to feel mad. Hermione had avoided him all summer and now she would rather face you-know-who himself instead of talking to Fred. He had done nothing wrong. So what they had kissed, Fred enjoyed it, if Hermione didn't all she had to do was come out and say it and things could go back to the way they had been before their arrangement was ever made.

Fred got to work as fast as he could without magical assistance. The faster they were finished the faster he could relieve the pinching in his chest. Hermione followed and busied herself in the opposite corner.

At first Hermione thought it best to work in silence. Neither knew what to say to the other so she thought it best if they focused and just got the job done. She also knew that this would not be the last time she ever saw Fred and if they were ever going to get to a civil place now was the best time to start building the road there.

"How is the shop coming? Any exciting products?" Hermione asked, her eyes remained glued to the floor.

For a moment Fred would have sworn his ears were playing tricks on him or he had inhaled too much Doxycide the day before. He could not deny it though. Hermione had said something directly to just him, while they were alone. Maybe she had tried out a bad batch of their fever fudge while the twins were sleeping.

"Just our latest version of the skiving snackbox. We're going to test them out at school." Fred said, he drained his dirty sponge and turned to look at Hermione. "Congrats on becoming a prefect. What did your parents say?"

"Since a prefect is also a muggle thing, they were thrilled that they understood something about Hogwarts." If they had been having this conversation last year Hermione would of gone on to add how sometimes her parents don't understand her like they used to. But that she was happy they understood this. And that she wished they could be proud of her for other things they would never get. And that she often felt disconnected from the world she had grown up in. That she was now leading two lives. But Hermione said nothing like that. She wanted her relationship with Fred back and she knew there was only way to get it. "Do you regret that we kissed?"

Fred was shocked. He had never thought Hermione would bring up the topic so randomly. He had always assumed if they ever talked about their kiss it would be because they both had agreed to. Or there would be some kind of big build up. He had never felt so speechless in his entire life. He turned to face Hermione who looked uncomfortable and had dropped her broom. No he did not regret kissing Hermione. He only regretted how it ended and how they had both acted since. But his mouth just hung open. Before he could regain enough sense to begin speaking Hermione ran from the room with tears streaming down her face. Fred stood in silence replaying her question in his head.

Ginny opened the door to their room, hoping to get five minutes away from her older brothers constant complaining. He hated all this muggle work, he wanted to relax before school, he had not seen the sun in days. Ginny was certain eve is she paid him, he could not talk about a positive topic. But Hermione was lying on her bed crying into her pillow. Ginny locked their door, although she knew it would do no use in keeping anyone else out. She sat next to Hermione on her bed and waited until she rolled over.

"What happened?" Ginny asked.

Hermione broke down. She needed to tell someone all the things that had been going through her head. She realised that maybe opening up to one of her best friends would help. So Hermione told Ginny everything. She told her about her having feelings for Fred and not knowing what they meant. She told her about them kissing and how they had jumped apart and how she had ran. She told her about asking Fred the one question they had both been avoiding. She told her how Fred had paused for so long.

"These months have been torture. I haven't been able to sort out how I feel about Fred. And then theres Ron." Hermione said laying down on her bed and taking in a deep breath.

"First, apart from Ron himself, we all know you liked Ron. Fred knows that, Harry, literally everyone. For what it's worth I think he likes you too." Ginny said. "And I know its going to be hard to accept but you obviously have liked Fred for a while now."

Hermione was well aware of this fact. But liking Fred came with a lot of complications. She was also well aware that Fred may not like her. She knew it was possible that Fred had been caught up in the moment and had no idea how to deal with it now.

"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" Ginny asked. "You know I would have listened and kept it all a secret." Hermione turned to face Ginny. She had wanted to tell her everything months ago. She had no good reason not to.

"I don't know. I suppose because I was still in denial. Talking would have made it real." Hermione said with a sigh wiping away the last of her tears. "What should I do, Ginny?"

Ginny considered Hermione's question. She had asked Hermione for help on a similar topic a few years back about Harry. And Hermione's words helped Ginny get over her very small obsession.

"A wise witch once told me that in order to get over a boy you have to move on first." Ginny said. "I know thats frustrating advice, trust me I was puzzled for days but if you really believe Fred regrets kissing you maybe it is best to try considering someone else. Or focusing on something else. But if you ask me the he likes you."

"I really do need to run a few ideas about SPEW with you." Hermione mumbled ignoring the last part of Ginny's pep talk.

"That's the spirit," Ginny said standing up and helping Hermione to her feet and to straighten herself out. "Now we need to get back to work before my mum hexes the both of us."