Just wanted to say to everyone reading this, especially my followers, favouriters and reviews - thank you! It means a lot to me :)

Did you know that Voldemort is pronounced without the 't'?

.

.

Hermione PoV

I should have known that dates are harder to plan for than I thought. After all, I had only had a few hours to arrange it. It should be easy – you pick a place and go there. But nooo, you have to make all of the reservations and cook food and then – the outfit! Also, Ginny had really got to me on the clothes front. Not as in 'annoying' just as in I was not wearing her chosen outfit. It wasn't too bad really.

First, she had me in a ridiculous sparkly silver spangle dress that barely covered my derrière. It was stupid. However, once I complied to telling her what my plans for the date entitled, she had allocated me a little leg room. Now, I at least didn't have to wear anything with a skirt.

This only problem was that she now saw it in herself to dress me in something almost as bad – but I thankfully managed to convince her out of the green chinos.

I stood in front of the mirror and appraised my reflection. She'd dressed me up in a pair of short, short black shorts and had made me tuck a thin light blue vest top into it. Then, she had artistically placed a batwing top over that and had added a thin brown belt to tie in the look.

My feet we encased in small brown ankle boots with 3 inch heels. I was just relieved that she hadn't gone any higher – I had seen some shoes of hers with 6 inch heels. Although, as she kept telling me, I wasn't actually going to be wearing the shoes half the time.

My hair was left to hang over my shoulders, but with our combine efforts we tamed it enough so that it just looked like soft wavy curls. I had to admit, Ginny's fashion style was pretty good – most of the time.

My favourite piece of the whole ensemble was definitely my top. It was bewitched to show the sky outside, so currently it was displaying white clouds and beaming sunshine. Occasionally, a flock of birds would pass over the shirt. I'd seen it last night at sunset, and it was absolutely stunning. I'd practically told Ginny to buy it, with the threat of a jelly-legs curse there if she didn't. Suffice to say, she bought it.

I paused half way out of the room to tug down my shorts. Why couldn't they be tincy bit longer! Sighing, I picked up my matt black bag and readied myself for apparation. I'd lingered here long enough. Fred would be waiting for me. I checked my watch again. Exactly quarter past.

I felt the usual compressing feeling like bars on my chest as I spun, and I gasped when I landed on his front doorstep. Straightening my clothes and adjusting my hair, I tentatively knocked on the orange door. Within seconds, it was flung open and a beaming Fred was standing in its place.

He was wearing casual dark blue jeans and a dark blue shirt on which the sleeves were rolled up - he looked great.

"Are we ready to go then?" he asked, drawing my eyes from his body.

"Um, yeah." I stuttered. Real attractive quality, stuttering is. I shuffled my feet. "I'm going to need to use side-along apparation because you don't know where you're going."

"Sure!" he agreed enthusiastically. He stepped down from his position above me and linked my arm with his. "When you're ready, m'lady." he bowed, still holding onto my arm and therefore half-dragging me down with him.

"Oops." he propped me upright again. "Now I'm ready." I raised my eyebrows at him. "I'm sure. 80% sure." I figured that this was the best that I was going to get, rolled my eyes, and turned on the spot.

I staggered but managed to stay off the ground. That was saying better than Fred. He was lying spread-eagled on the floor. I giggled at him and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"Sorry. I shouldn't be laughing. We did apparate a rather long way." I paused to help him up. "You did say you were 80% ready." I reminded him.

"Yeah," he grumbled. "That 20% was clearly dominating." he checked himself over. "At least I didn't get splinched! Where are we?" Giggling mischievously, I took his hand and pulled him out of the dark alley. The hustle and bustle of the street we arrived in was enough to shut him up.

His eyes were wide as he took in the whole splendour of one of London's main streets. I had to drag him just to get him moving.

"This, is London."

By the time we got to the tube station, Fred had managed to embarrass us more times than I could count. No matter what I told him about going along with it, he still felt the need to ask silly questions, drawing us curious stares. If only his voice wasn't so loud.

"What's that?" he asked yet again, pointing to a large box in the corner. I steered him towards it so he could get a better look.

"That's a vending machine. You put money in the side, and tell it what you want. Then it comes out the bottom." he looked it over and then turned to me, his eye imploring.

"Alright," I gave in and dug around in my bag. Managing to extract some coins from the depth of my purse, I handed them to Fred. I would need to get some more money soon, and I wasn't sure how Fred would react to those automatic machines.

Fred slotted in the money and looked the products over.

"Aero chocolate please." he told it. Sighing, I pushed in the buttons and the bar of chocolate fell into the bottom. I knelt down to pick it up, and handed it to him. I pulled him away from the amused stares of passer-bys.

"You're supposed to type the code for the sweet in." I whispered into his ear. Then I drew back. "Anyway, don't you know enough about muggle things? You were going down to Ottery St Catchpole all of the time when we were at the Burrow."

"We didn't really look around -we were just chatting up girls. Anyway, only like 200 people lived in that tiny village. Nothing like the millions that live here! It's so confusing!" he threw his hands up in the air to prove his point.

Leading him over to the ticket barriers, I gave him the spare Oyster card I always had on me – it was my dad's old one. "Here. Just swipe this over the pad at the top and walk through" I pushed him forwards into the throng a little. "Go on!"

I nodded encouragingly at him and he nodded before disappearing through the crowd. Immediately I began to push after him but when I got through he was nowhere to be found.

"Fred?" I called, worried. How would he find his way out of here? There were way too many muggles to safely apparate. He had bright red hair –how could I lose him? "Fred?"

Suddenly he was by my side, and I clutched tightly at his arm so we would not be separated again.

"Careful there Granger. You might lose someone." he chuckled, and I swatted him on the arm.

I leant against his body as we descended down the escalator to the platform and sighed. He broke the silence when we got onto the platform.

"So where are you taking me?" I smirked and tapped my nose.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out." he huffed.

"But why couldn't we apparate there?" he persisted.

"I thought that you could get to know muggle things a little better. Also, when you go somewhere and actually look around as you do so, the world is your oyster!" now he just looked confused.

"Oyster, as in these things?" he questioned, holding up the card I had given him earlier.

"It's a muggle saying. Don't worry." I patted his arm reassuringly. We made it to the platform just as the next train was coming in.

"What's that?" he asked. His voice was filled with horror.

"That's a tube. It's a sort of train. We're going to be travelling in it to get to our next stop." he took a step back away from the noise as everyone else pushed forwards.

"But it's nothing like the Hogwarts' Express!" he cried.

"Shhhh!" I hushed him. "Not so loud. It's just faster and smaller so it can go underground. That's why it's so noisy." he nodded once to show his understanding. After a few moments of silence again I prodded him.

"Are we going to get on?" he snapped out of his distant world and grinned down at me, back to the normal Fred it was used to.

"Sure." he replied cockily - he was back to his normal self. "You didn't think I was scared, did you?" we stepped into the bus train together and shuffled towards the middle so that we could hold onto the bar. I'd only just touched the cool metal when the doors slid shut and the train lurched to a start. I stumbled into Fred, but he just wrapped his arm around me and winked, before continuing to look around at his surroundings again.

I wasn't really surprised about the sparks that flew when he touched me now – it was more of a comforting feeling. However, I wasn't sure what it meant. I read many romantic books where 'sparks fly' and then fall in love at first sight. That couldn't happen to us, though – we met years ago! The sparks thing though, was something else.

The train jerked to a stop again and I squished into Fred to let a woman past. He gripped me tighter and our eyes locked. Yet again, I felt like we were in our own world and that nothing else mattered. His blue eyes captivated me, seemingly drawing me in. I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from him, nor did I even want to.

We were broken out of our moment when I was rudely shoved into Fred. I scowled at the boy who had pushed me, and he just smirked back as he walked off. The train started up again and I looked up at Fred, suddenly realising the predicament we were in.

I took a small step back in the confined space we had and he dropped his arm away from me. I instantly missed it. Our smiles were both shy and tentative but neither of us said a word until a few stops later.

"I'm assuming you're going to tell me when we can get off." Fred confirmed, an amused sparkle in his eyes. I decided to mess with him. I glanced up at the tube map and made my eyes widen. I swung them around to the electronic announcement displaying our next stop and quietly groaned. Fred's smile dropped.

"What? What is it?" he hand came to touch my arm almost instantly. I looked silently at him with big eyes and muttered my words as sorrowfully as I could.

"I think we've missed our stop. I'm sorry." I looked away from him at the floor then, but he pulled my chin up so I was forced to stare into his eyes.

"It's okay. It wasn't you fault. We can just get off at the next stop and go back, right?" I shrugged miserably.

"Probably. But it cost more money and I think that there are mechanical works being done on the line anyway." I sighed again, and he leaned closer to whisper in my ear. My heart almost stopped.

"Can't we – can't we apparate?" he breathed. His breath blew onto the side of my face and I shivered. His being that close was really doing things to my body that I'd never encountered before. When had I ever been flustered by a boy before?

I took a deep breath in before letting a wide grin spread over my face.

"And you all thought that I wasn't a good actor!" The doors pinged open just at that moment - perfect timing – and I dragged Fred out. He was still looking very befuddled.

I let go of his hand and danced through the barriers. I was in a great mood – something I would never had expected on a date with Fred Weasley. I probably would've expected him to prank me.

"Come on." I called behind me to where Fred was hurrying to keep up. "We're still got to catch a bus!" I dated back to grab his hand and we emerged into the streets, the night slightly darker than when we entered. My shirt matched it exactly.

We walked around the corner and reached the bus stop with plenty of time to spare.

"Why couldn't we have got the tude?" he asked.

"Tube," I corrected gently. "And it doesn't go in the direction I want to go. I don't really feel like walking." I stood up and stretched, reaching down to touch my toes. I hadn't been able to do that until last year – I stretched every night until I could. Now I did it whenever I could.

"Anyway, shouldn't you learn a bit more about muggle transport?" I winked at him. He protested weakly.

"I know what brusses look like!" I didn't bother to correct him this time. "They're like the Knight Bus, but smaller and normally white-ish. And they have still adverts all over the sides."

"Yeah." I confirmed, standing up as I heard the tell-tale signs of a heavy vehicle approaching around the corner. "But this is a London bus."

The red double-decker bus came muscling around the corner towards us, and as Fred stepped back I stepped forwards and held my arm out. I felt his arm encircle my wrist as he tried to tug me back.

"What are you doing? That thing might hit you!" I dropped my arm and smiled at him.

"Don't worry. I was only signalling it." comprehension drew on his face as the bus drew to a halt in front of us. I stepped up to the driver.

"Two tickets to Bloomsbury please." I requested. I quickly handed over the money and gave a ticket to Fred. He promptly walked up the stairs and I followed him as he sat at the front.

"This isn't anything like the ones in the village back home." he mused after a while. "They're bigger, and red."

I hummed in agreement, and then turned towards him as an idea popped into my head.

"We've got a while, so why don't we play 20 questions? We'll take turns."

"Alright," he agreed, turning towards me too so we were sitting face to face. "You go first."

I thought for a moment and asked the simplest question ever. "What is your favourite colour?"

He smirked."Orange."

I sighed. "Should've known." I muttered. "Your turn."

"Okay then. What's yours?"

"Aqua. Or turquoise. I'm not really sure. They're both colours of the sea, and I love the sea. It's so powerful and beautiful." Fred whispered something so softy that I didn't actually hear the words. I leant forwards.

"Pardon?" I said as he blushed – he probably hadn't realised I'd heard him.

"Nothing." he replied, so I shrugged it off.

"Favourite subject?" I asked.

"Potions. I mean, Snape wasn't great, but potions really come in handy at the shop. You?"

"Err, transfiguration. McGonagall pushed me the most. Animal?"

"Hyena. You?"

"Otter. It's my patronus."

"Mine too! Well, the hyena." he exclaimed. I looked out of the window and saw only buildings and trees. We had a while to go yet. Bloomsbury was quite far from that particular station, and the traffic was heavy – as per usual in London.

"Favourite school year?" he pondered for a moment.

"First year. George and I were... innocent... for the first tiny part. And then we realised the joys a boarding school could bring to pranking. No mum and dad round, and nobody could escape. Nobody was really expecting it – Bill, Charlie and Percy had all been goody two shoes – Bill and Charlie had been prefects and everything." He cracked a large grin. "And then we came along. I've never had so many howlers in my life." he leant back against the window and relaxed.

"What's your... best childhood memory? Before Hogwarts."

I hesitated for not more than I second. I could remember the best day like it had been yesterday. My parents and I had simply gone out for the day in the summer before I came to Hogwarts. It was a beautifully clear sunny day, and we'd had a picnic by the sea. Later, all three of us had got into the water and had splashed each other. I think that it was my best memory of them. I told Fred all of this and he patted my back sympathetically. He knew just how much I missed them.

"What's the best prank someone has ever pulled on you?" I asked. I actually wanted to know the answer to this one.

He smirked at me. "The Weasley twins never get pranked." And that was his answer. "What is the most daring thing you've done?" I laughed. There were so many different things that I could say.

"I followed Harry into jumping onto a dragon's back once." I shrugged, like it was no big deal. He gawped at me.

"Really?"

"Yes really – how else do you think we escaped from Gringotts? Didn't you ever read the prophet?"

"Is that your question? Yes, I have read the Prophet before. Now who was your first crush at Hogwarts?" I grumbled a little but one look from his eyes forced me to answer.

"Oliver Wood." I shrunk down in my seat, not meeting his eyes.

"Oh." was all he said.

"What's your favourite Qudditch team?" I tried to hide my embarrassment.

"Puddlemere United." He leant closer and winked at me. "You know, the team Oliver is on?" I scowled at him but shrunk down in me seat even more - would the ground just swallow me up now?

"Your happiest memory."

"Seeing that Harry was still alive. You?"

"George waking up after he lost his ear." I smiled. That was really sweet. "What's your favourite food?"

"Sugar-free lollypops – it reminds me of home. And you?"

"Chocolate. Lots of it. Speaking of which, I have something for you." He pulled a rather squashed looking bar of 'Honeydukes' Finest Midnight Munch'. He held out half to me and I accepted it graciously. We both started eating it at the same time, chewing it in a comfortable silence. I swallowed my last piece to see Fred looking at me.

"Hmm." I contemplated. "Not bad. Better." He smiled and we continued with the questions.

"What's your favourite place?"

"This lovely little muggle bookshop in the heart of my town." I sighed in memory of the quaint little place I was so fond of. "I'll have to take you there sometime. What's your favourite place?"

"Our shop." He replied simply. "Favourite flower?"

"Daffodils. Sappy, I know, but they're just so – it's hard to explain – cheerful." He grinned at me.

"Nothing says happy like springtime."

"What has been your favourite holiday?" he didn't have to think as he answered immediately.

"Egypt. By far. The only family holiday we've ever had, really. What hobbies do you have?"

"I like to play the flute." I revealed. I'd never told anyone this before – most people thought that the flute was a very girly instrument. "What's your best Qudditch match?" he laughed loudly, causing the other members of the top deck of the bus to look at us warily.

"Definitely the one where Harry and George tired to kill Malfoy. I would've done it too, if the girls weren't holding me back." He cracked his knuckles threatingly. "Slimy little git. Pity we got banned, thought that never stopped us, did it?"

"I guess not."

"What is…. your favourite spell?"

"Waddiwasi. Lupin taught us it in third year." I sniffed as the picture of Lupin and Tonks, together still in death, floated to the front of my mind. I cleared my throat and hurried on with the questions.

"What's yours?" honestly, I could think of no original questions.

"Finite Incantatum. You have noidea how many times have had to use that when we do product testing. What is your favourite book?" He had me there.

"You got me." I admitted, "I don't have one. I can never choose." I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. Ummm – your favourite book – no! Kidding, kidding. Who is your favourite sibling?" He opened his mouth to answer. "Apart from George." I added.

"Oh. Well, Ginny then. She would hex me back to Merlin's time if I said anything different!" he grinned and shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder how Harry's going to cope with her, but if there's anyone meant to be with my little sister, it's him." I rolled my eyes at him, but it was the truth.

"Okay then." He clapped his hands together as he tried to think of another question. "Okay. What is it like having two boys as your best friends?" I pondered this for a while, and then answered as best as I could. It was hard to explain, but I think that I said it okay. I'd been best friends with them for what felt my whole life, and I they helped to make me myself. I knew that Ron and I weren't exactly seeing eye to eye at the moment, but he would come around. I hoped.

"What is the longest time you and George have ever spent apart?" I asked. His answer was quick.

"A day, I think. He was invited over to Angelina's house – he left before I woke up and didn't come home until late the next day. That was when we realised that we needed to see each other at least once a day, just to keep us sane." He cracked a small smile at me, and then it turned mischievous.

"Where are we going?" I gasped in mock indignation.

"No! You're not allowed to ask that! And you've just wasted another question." I stuck my tongue out at him as he narrowed his eyes at me. I moved on.

"Who is the person who inspires you the most?" I thought that this was quite a good question.

"My mum. Not only does she look after all of us, but she is a kick-ass fighter! Did you hear her line when she went to fight Bellatrix? I don't think I'd ever loved her more." I grinned – the 'Not my daughter, you bitch!' line was a bit of a legend now.

"She really is great." I agreed. "And since I have an idea of what your next question will be. Mine is Harry."

"Okay. Yeah, that was my question."

"What do you want to do before you die?" I asked. His brow creased in thought.

"Jump out of an airy-o-plate like you showed me in those muggle pictures." He revealed. "Not that I want to die anytime soon!" giggling, I slapped him lightly over the head.

"And you said you thought they were stupid!" I grinned. "Your turn."

"Alright, don't abuse me woman!" but he was grinning too. "Err - have you ever hit someone?" I blushed furiously.

"Yeah," his eyes widened comically. "In third year - I slapped Malfoy." His beam stretched from ear to ear as he high-fived me and I found myself laughing too.

"Nice!" the bus stuttered to a halt again and I looked out of the window to check where we were. I hopped up immediately and clambered down the small stairs.

"Fred! This is our stop!" I called back to him. We rushed out of the vehicle, barely taking our time to say thank you to the driver in our haste to leave. We had arrived in front of a brightly signed building – the tube station. I mentally smacked myself upside the head.

"Look! There's a tupe station right there!"

I grinned wickedly. "I know. I lied." He grumbled and crossed his arm but I coaxed him out of it by promising him an extra question. I now had three left and he had four. We would use them later – if we remembered.

Fred gazed up at the bright building that was situated next to the tube station. It certainly was impressive. The neon lights that were naming the building were practically classic American.

"This is a small retro American place, but it's my favourite of the type. Only witches and wizards can get in on Monday nights – if you go in the right door. It's not that busy though, because not many people know about it. It's not magical at all though, and that's what I love about it."

Fred listened to me ramble on silently, and then stood aside as he gestured with one arm to the building.

"Lead the way."

Sorry if I get some facts wrong - I haven't been to London in a while!