A/N- I just wanna shoot a big thanks to all the people who have followed/favorited this story. Your dedication is giving me the drive the to keep going (: You all rock! Since this is my first fanfic, you're making me feel like a rockstar...thanks again guys!

Sidenote: I have two chapters uploaded after this one that I will upload sometime next week... My son, however, broke my laptop. I am currently trying to work from my home computer around the rest of the family's schedules which is proving somewhat difficult. Updates will be a little further in between! Sorry guys :(

Disclaimer: I own only the plot and Christine Smith.

Chapter 26 ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` September 19, 1998

The smell of bacon and eggs wafting through her room woke Hermione up. As she fought to open her eyes, she felt Fred drag his fingers down her bare shoulders. She smiled in her sleepy state. "Come on, Mia, wake up. I brought you breakfast in bed. You better sit up and eat before it gets cold." She rubbed her eyes as she sat up in bed. "Freddie, you didn't have to bring me breakfast in bed. I could have came downstairs just as easily." She daintily started in on her meal, still not fully awake.

As she ate her meal, he explained to her that he had arranged for them both to have the whole day off work and he was taking her out for the day. Her eyes gleamed at the prospect of an adventure with him. She was climbing into the shower as he carried down the dirty dishes to the kitchen. She dressed in jeans and a simple long sleeved blue shirt that just barely reached the waist of her jeans. Throwing a cloak over her arm, she headed down the stairs.

Upon seeing the cloak over her arm, Fred let out a laugh. "Love, I forgot to specify. We're headed to muggle London. You might want to transfigure that." She shot him a dirty look but waved her wand nonetheless. A blue jacket, just a few shades lighter than her shirt, appeared in its place. Of all people, Percy raised his hand in farewell. "See you later, Hermione. I'll be a bit late for the party." Ginny hissed and swatted him on the back of the head. "Way to go Perce, it was supposed to be a surprise!" Hermione laughed. "I kind of figured it out anyways. It's my birthday, breakfast in bed, Fred taking the day off, getting me out of the house all day...it's a dead giveaway to a party." Ginny rolled her eyes. "Fred, this is all your fault. You weren't subtle enough." He held up his hands as Hermione laughed again. "Gin, it wasn't his fault. Remember, you are dealing with the brightest witch of her age." Fred grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door to Ginny still berating Percy for blowing the secret.

The young pair apparated to a shopping mall located in one of the busier parts of town. He was a little overwhelmed at the size but she seemed completely at ease. Upon entering the building, she pulled him by their interlaced fingers to a large fountain. There was all sizes of muggle money on the bottom of the fountain, water pouring on top of it from numerous nozzles. Hermione dug in her purse, took out two muggle coins, and handed one to Fred. To his surprise, she stood up on the ledge, his grip tightening on her hand, closed her eyes, scrunched her nose, and threw the coin into the water. She smiled, opened her eyes and climbed back down. Looking at him expectantly, she told him, "Your turn." Confused, he turned to her. "I really don't know what you just did." She pushed him up towards the edge, urging him up. "You close your eyes, make a wish, and throw the coin in. It's called a wishing well. It's something muggles do." He grinned down at her. He didn't step on the ledge, but closed his eyes, and then threw the coin in. She was smiling up at him when he opened his eyes.

He pulled her past stores, both of them windowshopping. As they passed a popular clothing store, he gave her a gentle shove inside. "It's you're birthday, love. Go find you some clothes you like." She looked up at him beseechingly but gave in when he gave her a stern look. "Fine, fine, I'll get a couple things. Maybe I'll even wear something new tonight."
He gave her a kiss as she departed into the store.

While she was in the clothing store shopping, he wandered a few stores down, trying to think of a good gift to get her for her birthday. A quaint jewelery store off in a corner caught his eye. It wasn't a large flashy chain store, just Hermione's taste. He wandered in, looking through the glass cases. A silver locket on a dainty chain caught his eye. He waved the man over, asking him to take it out. After inspecting it and finding it perfect, he purchased it and hid it in his pocket.

Fred found Hermione coming out of the clothing store holding a bag in each hand. She met him with a kiss. "I hope you're happy. That was entirely too much money to be spent on clothes." He smiled down at her. "I'm sure it was worth it. You'll look smashing in them." They linked hands after Fred took her bags from her. As they walked past an electronics store, Fred had an idea. He pulled her inside.
"I have a great idea, love. Let's buy a muggle television and tapeplayer. We can set it up at the Burrow for now, and then take it with us when we move. Or just get another set when we move." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh that's a wonderful idea, Fred! Your dad would love it! He wrapped his arm around her slender waist. "I wasn't thinking of my dad, Mia. You're the one who grew up a muggle." Moving through the store with ease, Hermione compared the products, finally deciding on her purchases.

Against Hermione's advice, Fred vanished their purchases to the Burrow while the store owner wasn't looking. He kissed away her stern look, laughing away the remnants of it that remained after the kiss. They walked towards the exit of the shopping mall, both tired from walking all morning. Once they reached a deserted alley near the mall, they apparated back to the Burrow.

Ginny was excited when they returned, seeing their purchases had landed in the living room. Hermione laughed at her, trying to explain what they were for while eating a light lunch and drinking tea next to Fred.
"Well, you give it electricity and you put a tape in it, like what Fleur took of us, and it goes up on the screen for everyone to watch."
"That sounds like so much fun. It could be a tape of anything." Ginny was so entralled. It was so funny for Hermione for to picture Ginny watching a movie.
"That is the general idea, yes. Your father will love it, I'm sure." Hermione assured her. "I think I'm going to go upstairs and take a nap before my party." She told everyone at the table. Fred kissed her on the side of the head and urged her towards the stairs.

She settled herself on the bed after climbing the winding staircase to her room. The upstairs was quiet with nobody home but Molly, Ginny, and Fred. All three were busy with the preparations for her party. She contented herself with thoughts of her party. Her guests were sure to be familty and friends, past professors or order members. The food would be amazing, as always. She wondered about her gifts. The Weasleys had never really thrown her a birthday party, as her birthday had always landed after they had went back to Hogwarts. Not to say she had never gotten a gift. She had always received a little something, minced pies, or a cake. It had just never been a big deal. This was the first celebration, as Harry and Ron had horrible memories. They always seemed to remember a day or two after the event. She drifted off to sleep smiling to herself,despite the fact that she would be center of attention.

She awoke to Fred shake her lightly. "Mia, wake up, love. Your party is going to start in an hour. You've been sleeping all afternoon." Sitting up blearily, she rubbed her eyes, smiling. "Thanks, Freddie. I wouldn't have wanted to miss my first Weasley birthday party." He helped her sit up and rubbed her arm while she got her bearings on the side of the bed. He kissed her chastely on the cheek. "Feeling better, love?" She nodded. "I do, actually. I think I want to wear some of my new clothes." He smiled broadly at her and stood to retrieve her bags from the mall for her. She dug around in the bag for a few moments, extracting a three-quarter sleeved dark purple dress that clung to her figure in all the right places and reached to just above her knees. Hermione slipped it over her head and turned for judgement from Fred. He could only stare.
"Mia, you look amazing. That dress makes me want to jump you right now." She smiled in answer. She ran a brush through her near waist length hair and applied light makeup to her face. He watched in wonder. He didn't know if it was just he that she bewitched or every man.

She floated down the stairs, Fred at her side. The kitchen and living room were decorated and the table was loaded with food. Guests had begun to arrive. There was a large pile of gifts on the table in the living room with her name on them. Professor McGonagall sought her out by the kitchen table.
"Miss Granger, dear, I just wanted to say that I miss you quite a bit at Hogwarts this year. I thought that I would get the priviledge of teaching you one more year until this law came into effect. But we all must do what we must. I'm just glad that you are happy. Godric only knew you'd be happy with a Weasley twin." She gave her a smile as she patted her on the cheek. Fred winked at her from across the room as Professor McGonagall walked away as if he could hear the conversation that they were having. Hermione felt a blush rise to her cheeks. Molly came to the table holding her cake shaped as a large book, with the words 'Hogwarts, A History' in icing. Everyone joined in singing, making Hermione duck her head in embarrassment.

After Molly had cut the cake and handed out pieces, Ginny clapped her hands together and shouted above the noise. "Present time!" She skipped to the present pile and started shoving presents under Hermione's nose. She laughed as she started to unwrap them one by one. She thanked each person accordingly, loving the thought every person put into their gift. Ginny tried to hand her a little package, but Fred snatched it out her hands. "That one last, Gin." She rolled her eyes but let him keep the package in his hands. Hermione eyed him suspiciously.

When she reached the bottom of the pile, Fred handed her the small package in his hands. "This is from me, Mia. I hope you like it." She swatted him in the arm. "You've gotten me enough already, Freddie!" He smiled at her warmly. "Just open it. I hope you love it." The rest of the party looked on expectantly. Hermione was beginning to wish that he had given her this gift in her room. She took the paper off the box and opened the box. Inside was a silver locket on a thin silver chain. She fingered the small locket open. The piece of jewelery held a photo and an inscription. Her eyes teared up. 'A love that lasts forever' was inscribed on one side of the locket and the photo was one of she and Fred, both smiling. She had her arms around his neck and his arms were wrapped around her waist. He was dressed in dress robes and she in an ice blue dress from Harry and Ginny's wedding. Her hand covered her mouth in surprise at the gift and she looked up into his waiting eyes. "Freddie, I-I don't know what to say. I love it. Thank you so much." He moved behind her, taking the locket from her hands. Undoing the latch, he hooked it around her neck. He pressed a kiss in the crook of her neck, seemingly unaware that the crowd was watching his show of affection. "I've charmed the chain to never break, love." She smiled up at him and fingered the already warm locket against her chest.

The crowd dispersed and everyone began to clean up. Hermione was thankful that it was not going to be a long drawn out party. Everyone had to work the next day. She began to clear dishes from the table. Molly instantly started to swat her away. Fred smiled at her and began to tug towards the stairs, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. She laughed at him but let him pull her upstairs. As Fred shoved her new dress to a pool of shimmery fabric at her feet, she let him give her the best birthday present yet.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` So, I am thoroughly unhappy with how this chapter turned out but I have got MAJOR writers block. It took me all weekend to write this, which is bad for me. Hope I didn't disappoint y'all too badly. I promise to do better on the next chapter. Leave me your thoughts...