Hermione landed in the flat with her back to the front door and immediately knew that something was wrong.
Her feet felt funny. Almost like they were too thick – but as there was no pain, she knew she wasn't splinched. Looking down in trepidation, Hermione saw a puddle of green goo. Disgusted, she lifted up her foot and watched the goo stick to the sole of her shoes in thick ropes. A flash of light made Hermione look up.
"Got it!" George yelled happily, holding his damned camera in his hands. Fred and Angelina were on either side of him, looking sheepish. "That's a perfect look of disgust, Hermione. Merlin, Fred, we should really use that as our advertising campaign!"
"Charlie said to tell you that he thought you were a git," Hermione said as a greeting. Carefully taking off her shoes, Hermione stepped over the goo one foot at a time. Now barefoot, she took the food into the kitchen. "Gifts from Molly, Fred!"
"What about me?" George demanded.
"You're not the favourite," Fred informed him, skipping over the couch and into the kitchen. A childish grin graced his face as he looked at all the food.
Hermione took the opportunity to observe the extent of damage done to the flat. Large balloons covered the roof; at least two layers were floating around. Streamers and ribbons were tied to their ends and trailed down, brushing the tops of their heads. Goo was in front of every door, not just the front door, and varied in colour. A large poster exclaiming Happy New Year! was draped over the shelves, making it crinkle in strange places. Music was playing here too, but it was more modern than dear Celestina Warbeck and much easier to listen to. Hermione thought she recognised the Weird Sisters playing. The table was covered in food, some of which appeared to be used for a food fight, as it was littered around the floor as well.
"I missed you," Fred whispered, busying himself with unwrapping the food. Hermione smiled and looked at him, but he was avoiding her eyes. She nudged him softly with her hip.
"I missed you too," she said. "Let me go get cleaned up, okay?"
"Sure."
Hermione treaded carefully to her and Fred's bedroom, ignoring George's chuckles at her cautious nature. Pushing the door open quickly, she waited a few seconds before gingerly entering. Hermione was always aware of the possibilities of pranks, and she didn't believe for a minute that Fred and George were going to pass up the opportunity, especially on New Year's Eve.
Thankfully, her room was prank free. Hermione quickly changed out of her skirt and blouse (which Harry had spilt mead on due to an extravagant arm movement) and slipped on a simple purple summer dress. She decided against shoes and almost walked out before she remembered Ginny's advice. Sighing, Hermione turned to her bedside table and picked up the box she kept her few pieces of jewellery in.
Her ring was shining brightly amongst her dull silver earrings. Smiling, she slipped it on her finger and quickly left her room, jumping over the red goo in front of her door.
"Acrobatic," Fred teased, holding the camera. Hermione missed the light that had flashed and poked her tongue out at him.
"How do I look?" she asked, twirling. Fred grinned widely and pretended to take another photo.
"Perfect, as always," he said. Offering her a bottle (declined) he led her to the couch, where George and Angelina were already sitting. A small table was set up at their feet with Exploding Snap cards on it.
"You're back sooner than we thought," Angelina said, shuffling the cards.
"I felt bad leaving you with these two," Hermione joked as she sat. Angelina laughed and dealt the cards, taking her wand out.
"Not too drunk to play, are you?" she asked George, who shook his head adamantly. "Good, cause I need some actual competition."
Shouts of indignation were heard and Angelina won the first round because of them. "Losers have to drink," she declared, conjuring some bottles. Grumbling about dictatorship, the twins and Hermione took unwilling mouthfuls. Angelina smirked and resorted.
"You see, Hermione, we do things a little bit differently here," she said conversationally, avoiding a squirt of sap. "The whole aim with us is not to get drunk. We actually like to remember our holidays."
"And the photos are in case you do forget?" Hermione asked dryly.
"Tangible proof to remind us," George sniffed, tapping a wrong card and getting Hermione out. She frowned at him.
"Cheater," she muttered, and finished her bottle.
"Beater," he sung. "Get us some food, will you, Granger?"
"Not even a please in that sentence?" Hermione gasped. "You just lost your chance!"
Angelina took George's momentary distraction to get several pairs at once, automatically defeating both of the twins. Fred and George began moaning dramatically.
"We've been defeated!" Fred cried, leaning into Hermione's side and hiding his face.
"Our long reign, which has lasted a whole twenty days," George continued, shielding his face in shame.
"Only because we didn't play for twenty days," Angelina interrupted, but her words were drowned out by an anguished wail from Fred and George.
Hermione caught Angelina's eye and couldn't help but snicker. "How about some food then?" Hermione offered, and the twins jumped up immediately, their loss forgotten. Fred held his hands out to Hermione, who laughed and allowed Fred to help her up. His fingers grazed her ring.
"You're wearing it!" Fred beamed. Hermione looked down shyly.
"Of course, we're engaged," she said obviously.
In that moment, Hermione realised that Ginny was right, and was incredibly grateful for her friend's advice.
Fred seemed to be in a much better mood (if that was even possible) and turned up the music, twirling Hermione once and pulling her against his chest. Fred led the slow dance, not stepping on Hermione's toes once, and rubbing his fingers over Hermione's lower back comfortingly. After a moment of silence, Fred cleared his throat.
"Not a bad way to end the year," Fred murmured to Hermione happily, who nodded in agreement. "I've been meaning to tell you for a long time now, and I think it's fitting to end the year on a positive note…"
Hermione met his eyes and spotted the anxiety he felt but hid well with a smile. She nodded encouragingly, for Fred had stopped talking. He opened his mouth.
"Ten seconds!" George shouted. He and Angelina began yelling the countdown. Nine… Eight…
"I love you," Fred blurted. Hermione's heart stopped.
Seven… Six…
Happiness engulfed Hermione's body, beginning in her heart and spreading right to her toes. She knew that she had to say something quickly, but for that brief second she simply felt, and it was invigoratingly new. She beamed at her fiancé, who looked pleasantly bemused, and threw her arms around his neck.
Four! Three!
"Oh, Fred!" Hermione cried, a wide smile gracing her face. "I love you too!"
One!
Fred only allowed himself a brief smile of satisfaction before taking Hermione's lips with his own as miniature fireworks set off as the clock struck midnight, popping the balloons (who were mysteriously silent) and releasing confetti. Hermione took no notice of the wonderful display, however; her eyes were firmly shut, enjoying the bliss that came upon her realisation that she did indeed love Fred, and had for a very long time, and felt solace in knowing that it didn't matter when she had begun, only that it would last for a very long time.