To answer a couple questions from the last chapter, I made up the spell used on Hermione, as I couldn't find a canon one that fit what I needed it to do now and later in the story. Also, I realize the plot is moving rather slow right now, but it's not over yet so don't give up on me :) Right now I'm estimating to this fic to have upwards of twenty-five chapters.

Chapter 14 - The Love Letter

"What do you think so far?" The realtor asked as they stood in the kitchen of the nicest house they had seen so far. This was the third one on their list, and Hermione's stomach was beginning to protest all of the activity. She leaned against the counter, trying not to make her pain obvious to Fred, who would insist upon taking her home to rest.

"The yard's a little small." Fred said, looking out the sliding glass door. "We are planning on having kids after all. What do you think 'Mione?"

Hermione didn't even want to think about having kids. "I think it's alright. It's a half acre, you said?"

The realtor nodded. "Plenty of room to play."

"Can we see the upstairs?" Fred asked.

"Of course. There's two bedrooms and one bathroom upstairs, as well as a small office that could be repurposed into a game room or just about anything."

"I'm not sure how I feel about having the master bedroom so far from the kid's rooms. What if there's an emergency?" Fred remarked as they walked up the stairs.

"If you don't like this one we can look at others, Fred." She said, pausing half way up the stairs.

"I like it." He said tentatively. "It just doesn't feel like home."

"We can make it home." She replied, trying not to seem out of breath as she reached the top of the stairs.

"Here's the first bedroom." The realtor said, opening the door for them. "The two rooms are connected by the bathroom in the middle."

Hermione walked through the room and into the bathroom. It was a bit bigger than the ones at the Burrow. The next bedroom was a little bigger, and had a nice view of the backyard. "Two bedrooms, perfect for two kids." She said.

"Or more." Fred added.

"Uh, no." Hermione shot him a look.

"How about we head downstairs to the master bedroom?" The realtor said quickly. "Then I can show you the back porch. It's got a cute little swing, perfect for quiet evenings."

"Sounds lovely." Hermione said.

By the time they had reached the porch, Hermione was completely sold on the house. The color scheme needed a little work, but she hadn't expected it to be perfect. "Can you give me a moment to talk to my fiancé?" She asked.

"Of course. Take all the time you need." The realtor said, sitting down on the porch swing.

Hermione dragged Fred inside. "This is the one."

"I don't know..."

"It's loads better than all the rest. Size, price, the yard is a whole half acre, Fred. It's perfect."

"It's just… too open. Plus there's only three bedrooms."

"We don't need more than three bedrooms."

He gave her an unconvinced look.

"Trust me on this one. This is the one."

"Is it what you really want?"

"Yes. It'll feel just like home once we move in."

"Are you sure you don't want to look at any others?"

"I'm sure." She replied quickly.

"Are you in pain Hermione?"

She was caught. "A little."

He gave her a look.

"Okay. I can't walk anymore. I need a break."

He looked around for a chair, and finding none, picked her up and sat her on the counter. "Better?"

"A little. I would be more if you agreed to the house."

Fred laughed and shook his head. "Okay. We'll make an offer."

Hermione sat in the back room of the joke shop, watching the twins carefully categorize inventory. "You guys sure you don't need any help?"

"Thanks Hermione, but we've got a system." George replied.

"Promise you'll at least let me help once the shop is open for the day?" Since the store was getting more popular as students prepared to return to Hogwarts in two weeks, Hermione had offered to help until their assistant got back from her honeymoon. Fred explained that Verity wasn't the type to take off during busy season, but she had planned her wedding forgetting that Hogwarts was starting later in the year due to how long repairs were taking.

"Of course, if you have time between signing autographs." Fred grinned.

"What do you mean?"

"You're pretty famous you know, Hermione. Not as much as Harry, but everybody knows your face." There was something devious in George's voice.

"I've never signed an autograph in my life."

"Well there's a first time for everything."

"You two said I could help."

"Publicity is helping. Your fans await." Fred winked.

"Fred Weasley, I am going to kill you."

"Hey, what about me!" George acted hurt.

"Don't worry, you're next in line, I can just get to him first." Hermione pointed at her fiancé.

"Better run Freddie."

"You two, Georgie."
"It was nice knowing you."

"I can't believe you two."

"You promised you'd help in any way you could." George reminded her. "And since you're injured, we didn't want to have you doing anything strenuous."

Hermione groaned. "You two owe me for this. Big time."

"Can't we call it even for getting old man Kingsley out of your life?" George asked.

"No, cause technically Harry did that." Hermione said. "I want a little silver bell that I can ring to get you two to do whatever I want."

"Your girls getting demanding Freddie."

"Quiet or she'll kill you first."

"I don't want to live without you though."

"Oh please Hermione, be merciful, and kill us at the same time." Fred pleaded.

"What am I going to do with you two?"
"Last I checked the score was you were going to marry him." George pointed his thumb at his twin. "And give me nieces and nephews to spoil rotten."

Hermione shook her head laughing. "We'll talk. But I better at least get chocolate out of this publicity deal and nothing that will make me act insane."

"Did you ever figure out why the truffles did that to you and not me?" Fred asked.

"I'm thinking either differences in our body chemistry, or the level of stress in my situation that night. Either way I am never testing your products again."

Fred nodded. "We'll have to see if we can fix the recipe. It would be a hot item if we could make it work."

George looked at his watch. "Ready to meet your adoring public?"

She put on a brave face. "I was born ready."

"That's my girl." Fred grinned.

Hermione, exhausted, lay her head on the counter as the twins cleaned up after closing. She hadn't realized how many little girls idolized her for what she had done, or at least, had helped Harry do. She really needed to talk to him, but she had been so busy.

"You can go home if you want, we can clean up." Fred said, noticing her exhaustion.

"I can wait." She insisted.

"Alright."

She half dozed for a while, listening to the sound of two of her favorite people in the world cleaning up the shop they had worked so hard to create.

"This package of nosebleed nougat has been opened. This is getting ridiculous." She heard Fred complain.

"We need some anti-theft charms. Fun ones." George muttered.

"I thought we cast one on the whole store."

"Apparently it doesn't cover things like this."

"Hermione, do you happen to know any good anti-theft charms?"

"I could do some research and find out."

"Thanks sweetheart."

"Since when am I sweetheart?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Since now." Fred replied with a sweet smile.

"You're cute."

"I'm the cuter one." George called.

"True, but sadly you are homosexual."

"All the good ones are gay." He shrugged.

"I'm sure Seamus doesn't mind." Fred winked at him.

"Seamus? Have you been hiding him from me?" Hermione asked.

"I have to hide him from the ministry too, don't feel bad."

"George, I am appalled. Here I was thinking that you are stuck with Angelina and you have a wonderful cutie on the side."

"Not right now. We're not risking Azkaban."

"Do you at least send each other love letters?"

"Such a romantic, Hermione." George said, then turned to his twin. "You better step up your game bro."

"Would you like me to write you a love letter?" Fred asked.

"Yes. I demand it before this relationship can continue."

"One moment, my darling." Fred said, walking to the back room.

"You better hurry!" She called, "My other suitors are banging at the door."

"I've got a ministry ordinance that says your mine!" He called back.

"Arranged marriage isn't really that romantic!" she retorted, "You'll have to do better than that!"

Fred reappeared a few minutes later and kneeled before her, holding out a folded piece of parchment. "I hope this appeases you."

Hermione giggled and took the page from him. It was an old inventory list, but on the back he had scrawled;

Hermione,

I like your butt. Not that I've looked, but one can't help but notice perfection. Also you're really smart, but still laugh at my dumb jokes, so I hope you laugh at this and don't get offended.

Yours,

Fred

PS Your eyes also do that thing where they sparkle. I like that.

If it was anyone else, she might have been offended. Instead, she laughed. "Thanks Fred. I like your butt too."

"Okay lovebird, get back to work." George called, laughing at them.

"Permission to leave your side, my lady?"

"If you must."

Later that night, Hermione grabbed a quill and parchment and wrote a love – adoration – letter of her own, slipping it under his door after he had gone to bed.

Fred,

I like your nose. Especially the way it sits in the center of your face. And your lips. I'm sure you can figure out why.

Yours,

Hermione

P.S. Also, you do that thing where you make me laugh. Keep it up.

She woke up that morning to a note sitting atop her dresser, held down by a caramel filled chocolate bar.

Hermione,

I hope this small offering is enough to keep you from murdering my twin and I. I promise it was bought at a reputable shop at least a whole block from my own. Also, my lips pale in comparison to yours. Perhaps they could teach mine a thing or two?

Yours,

Fred

PS We got the house. Now it's up to us to make it home.

Hermione chuckled, taking a bite of the candy bar. She could definitely see herself falling in love with him. Maybe she already was.

I realize most of this chapter was fluff, but I think they deserve it after the ordeal they just went through. I doubt you mind :) I hope you enjoyed, and as always, please be sure to review!

One more thing, I'm insanely curious about where marriage law fics originated. I had never heard of them before this site, and while I think they're kinda awesome, if written well, I don't know where they came from. If you happen to know, PM me, and if you're one of the first couple people, I'll answer a question (within reason) about me or this fic! :)

-Zen