A/N: Okay, here's the update for today. I'm having a bit of a writers block for the next chapter though, and if anyone has any ideas please let me know. It'd be nice to know what you guys want to see more of in the story & I'd love to try & include it. Be sure to review & make me happy too! Love you guyss(:


Fred's mood elevated greatly after his visit to the loft. He was completely at ease and genuinely happy. After he left his brothers room he quickly reproduced products they were running low on. It was mostly the Skiving Snackbox items and Patented Day-Dream Charms that he had to produce. All he did was keep a stash of each and with a "Geminio!" the objects duplicated. A few more spells was all it took and they were down in the shop ready for sale.

Before going down to the shop he was starting his work on a new product. It was a way to talk to someone without actually speaking. His idea was that one could write something down on parchment, and it would be transferred to the person you wanted to communicate with. The only problem was interception, and he wasn't sure if he wanted it to be written, or thought. It was more difficult for thoughts to be intercepted than a piece of parchment. He wrote down his ideas hastily while sketching a prototype on another piece of parchment. There was crumpled parchment all over the living room of the loft by the time an hour passed. He felt like he hardly made any progress and made a mental note to ask Ron or Hermione their opinion on it. Typically, he didn't release what he was working on to them, before it was in its testing phase, but this was difficult. Hermione would be especially good at this kind of magic too. Fred shoved his work back in a box and slipped his wand into his robes. It was time for him to head down to the shop and help Verity.

It was around noon when he made his way into the main part of the store, waving to a few of the customers and flashing his infamous twin smile. The smile, in fact, hardly came off his face at all when he was around the store. As he roamed, he caught a glimpse of a light-haired girl trying out a Nosebleed Nougat. Fred handed her a handkerchief he pulled from his coat pocket. She was a younger girl, probably a fourth year at most. Her eyes were a striking green and she was quite pretty for her young age. If she were older she would have been exactly George's type.

"Make sure you don't bleed too long, but really make it convincing to get out of class," he told her with a wink. The tips of her ears were the same color as the blood after he winked.

It was still fun to have that effect on girls. To have that affect on Hermione though thrilled him more. His thoughts were back to her and he hoped that she was doing well. He could practically hear George now telling him how bad he had it for that girl.

Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of Verity. She had been snubbing him lately after he never took her up on the lunch offer. Of course he felt bad, and it wasn't really a date so what harm could it bring?

"Hey Verity!" He said loudly, walking briskly to catch up with her.

She turned to him, seemingly uninterested that he was trying to talk to her.

"How about that lunch today?" he asked, flashing his infamous smile once again

"I think I might have plans," she said, starting to walk away again.

It made him feel terrible. He didn't mean to blow her off for so long, and couldn't remember why he had in the first place. Months had passed though, and he felt like he had been a complete prat to her. His lips fell from the smile and in a nervous gesture he ran a hand through his short hair.

"Oh, maybe another time then," he said. She nodded and returned to her place at the register.

"I'm sorry, about pushing it off so much. Time just got away from me," His voice was sincere, and maybe she could tell because it seemed like her anger had washed away.

"After we close then?" She asked, raising her eyebrows ever so slightly.

"Brilliant."

Later in the afternoon Fred and Verity made their way to a café that was down the Alley from Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. He stopped for a moment and padded his coat to be sure he had his wand, money pouch, and store keys. Once he was sure he had everything he returned to Verity's side again. Her blonde hair looked even lighter in the sun. She walked gracefully and held herself well. It was easy to see why George had a thing for her. He started to wonder if she ever knew his brother liked her. She never could tell the difference between them visually, but if they spoke she knew. Fred was louder.

Fred knew he was the loud though and completely brash too on occasion. That's why it puzzled him that Hermione ever had a crush on him. He could understand George, but Fred was the complete opposite of her. It must be true that opposites attract.

They reached the café and sat down at a table. Fred thumbed through the menu, but decided on something simple. Immediately when he decided it appeared in front of him. Verity's food appeared a little after his. He didn't eat until she got her food, trying to remain a gentleman. All of a sudden it was like everything his mother tried to teach him when he was younger was now taking effect.

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the thought of his mother's nagging over the years.

As Fred finished up his food he glanced up at Verity. She hadn't eaten a lot.

"I'm sorry again, about putting this off," he said.

"I understand," she said. "Time gets away from you sometimes."

He nodded in agreement and then pushed his plate away from him. It was reaction when he was done with something. The plate disappeared and a check appeared in its place. He thought about how fascinated Hermione would have been over it, and made a mental note to take her here sometime. It seemed like a kind of place she would like.

"You act like him more now, your personality…" Verity's voice was barely audible.

He had to think about what she said a few times to understand. She took the silence the wrong way and her cheeks turned completely red.
"I'm so sorry, that was a stupid thing to say." She stammered, shaking her head at herself.

"No, it wasn't stupid," he told her.

It was interesting to him. He felt like he changed slightly, but never took much notice of it. After the death he calmed down a great deal, and was a little less torturous to his siblings.

"Did he ever mention me?" she asked.

"He fancied you... of course he did, " he told her.

It probably wasn't the best thing to say at the time, but he felt she deserved to know and move on.

"We went out a few times, but I was never sure. I never had the courage to ask if he fancied me," she admitted.

"He was that intimidating?" he teased.

It was strange having no one to finish his sentence or banter along side him. He was still getting used to the feeling.

Fred placed the money for the bill on top of the check. It vanished with a small pop once the correct amount was paid.

The sun was starting to go down and he suddenly realized that he needed to be home.

"Blimey," he jumped up after noticing the position of the sun. "I need to be home, I should have been awhile ago. It completely slipped my mind!" His eyes were wide and she giggled at him.

"Get home then!" she exclaimed, still laughing.

"I'm so sorry, I'll see you tomorrow!" he smiled, and gave her a quick one-armed hug before disapparating from the café and back to the Burrow.

When he got though the door he could see everyone at the table. Ron and Bill didn't bother to look at him for more than a glance. However, Percy was eyeing the twin.

"Yes, Weatherby?" asked Fred, using the old nickname for his brother.

It was his and George's favorite nickname for him. It was hysterical to them how Crouch called him that and Percy never bothered to correct him. Plus, although he loved his brother, he was still a little annoyed at how much of a prat he was three years ago.

"Why are you so late?" asked Percy.

Hermione's eyes were on him now also. She was studying him, and it was making him nervous.

"Why are you so nosy?" Fred retorted, taking a seat next to Harry. It was the only open spot at the table.

Percy ignored the comment and returned to his dinner.

"Was the shop busy today?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Very," Fred replied.

"Why aren't you eating?" asked Ron.

"Why don't you ever stop eating?" Hermione asked Ron.

The tips of Ron's ears turned a dark red. He was apparently already on his third helping of dinner.

"Oh, shut up." He told her.

She rolled her eyes. It got Fred out of the question though. He didn't know how to explain that he went out to lunch with Verity without it coming out sounding wrong. It wasn't a date, but his brothers would badger him about it regardless. If only he could be open about him and Hermione things would be a lot easier.

"Are you feeling all right, Fred?" Mrs. Weasley was charming the dishes to wash and put away themselves as the family started to finish their meals.

"I'm fine, Mum," he said.

"Our work was crazy today," Ron told them, trying to get his parent's attention. "Right Harry?" He looked to his mate, hoping Harry would help make it interesting.

"Huh? Oh…Yeah." Harry hadn't been paying attention. In fact, he was day-dreaming about Ron's sister. However, that was slightly awkward to mention.

"Every Auror was there today while we investigated the attack. We even got to see the victim and he's a bloody mess let me tell you." Ron spoke vividly about his workday while Mr. Weasley was the only one who seemed to remain interested.

There weren't any more attacks and that was mostly what everyone cared about.

Fleur got bored of the talk and stood up to help Mrs. Weasley clean up.

They had somehow taken a liking to one another and Mrs. Weasley enjoyed the company of the French girl. Mind, her accent was still sometimes tough to understand and she wondered how her son was able to do it.

Back at the table, Ginny spoke excitedly to Hermione about being offered a spot on the Holyhead Harpies once she graduates Hogwarts.

"They saw me play and everything!" She exclaimed, thinking back to the game weeks ago.

Harry smiled at the news again. She had apparently told him the first second she saw him. He could have been in Quidditch as well, but his dream to become an Auror took over.

"You better get us tickets to all of your games," said Fred, who had overheard the conversation.

"Of course I will!"

Ginny smiled brightly at her older brother. Secretly, Fred was her favorite. When she was younger she never understood why everyone wanted to be like Percy or Bill or Charlie.

She always wanted to be like Fred and George.