Chapter Twenty Three

Revenge of the Red Princess

Wednesday (4/7)

Fred Weasley was in deep shit. Ginny had been a bit disconcerted all day but she knew enough to know that her brother was going to get in trouble. He was playing with fire and Hermione was going to burn him to the ground.

Ginny did not feel bad for her brother. She and George had dragged him along yesterday during the practice in the woods. It had been a great practice, minus the part where she came across Katie and Alicia making out. Well, that had been fine, just a little strange.

"What's going on?" she asked Hermione, taking a seat beside the older girl.

"How goes it with Malfoy?" Hermione asked.

"Never gonna happen."

"Liar," Hermione smirked.

"Sadly true. I don't know what to do about it. What are you going to do about my brother?"

"Attack him."

"Fair enough. I thought the two of you already were together ish."

"It's complicated. I think. I don't know."

"Do you want to get together with him?"

"Yeah."

"Okay...then what are you waiting for? Go jump him. You have my blessing."

"Thanks."

8()8()8

Hermione had a plan. She was good at making plans and this one involved lots of chocolate.

8()8()8

If there were three things Fred Weasley could not resist, it was Hermione Granger, a good prank and chocolate, in that order.

There was a piece of chocolate sitting on the back of the couch in the common room. Fred had spent too much time with his twin to trust a random chocolate. George knew he liked his chocolate. Fortunately he could take a joke, even one at his own expense.

Still, Fred cast a quick spell and touched the chocolate with the tip of his wand. Nothing happened so he snatched it up and popped it in his mouth. It was good chocolate, German, he was guessing. Not that he was an expert...okay, maybe a little.

He was savoring the last taste of the chocolate when he saw the next piece.

Fred was not stupid but two pieces of chocolate were not exactly a coincidence. As he was reaching for it, he saw the third.

"Someone is playing a game with me," he muttered but moved over and took it anyway.

The trail of chocolate led him. He followed it out of the common room and into the hall. It got trickier to follow. The chocolates were spaced further apart out here and he had to dodge a few students.

Finally the trail ended in a spare class room. He wasn't terribly surprised to see Hermione sitting at one of the desks. She had a box of chocolate in front of her.

"Is this the part where you jump my bones again?" he asked.

"No. This is the part where we talk."

"I don't think I like that plan quite so well."

"I want to know where we stand," she said. "I don't mean to sound girly about this but I want to know. I like you, Fred and I want to know if we have a future."

"I like you too," he said, surprising himself with his honesty.

"Good."

"You mean that's it?" he demanded. "All this subterfuge just to know if I liked you? Damnit woman, I thought that was obvious."

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to know. Are you telling me you didn't have fun?"

"Well...maybe a little."

She grinned. He crossed the distance to her and it was quite a while before either of them said anything important.

(A/N: It's a shorter chapter, but just some sweetness before I go on break. I'll be back the first week in December with new updates!

To .x- Glad you like!

To Gryffonder Lover- Thanks! I certainly intend to finish it. '

To Katie Marley- Well, I did open on the twins coming up with a plot. Kinda hard not to like that!