Sorry this took a while longer than I would have liked. I had a serious case of writers block and hating every word I typed and doubting myself. Also I've been having an issue with my arm hurting and getting tired especially because of my job. But for scary reasons I've had a lot of spare time on my hands at home. So I've been using fanfiction as an escape from all the scary. Hopefully the next chapter won't take too long. Thanks for your patience, all of the follows, favourites, comments and such.
Hermione wished time could stop. Just for a while. And she knew there were spells for that. But it wouldn't be the same. She wanted to live in her Christmas with Fred forever. Life wasn't perfect, far from it. But going on snowy walks hand in hand with Fred, sitting across from him in a cosy restaurant and squeezing to sit next to him at the Burrow felt perfect in it's own little way. Not to mention the excitement of slipping in an hour or two of alone time.
But she could feel her Christmas break coming to an end and school just around the corner. School brought a whole trunk full of problems. Number one being Harry having to chose between her and Ron. Although Ron's enthusiasm for public displays of affection, and the likelihood of Ginny being around Hermione, tended to make Harry's choice easier.
"I swear I'm going to snap soon." Hermione vented as she helped Fred with the dishes after a family dinner. "We have to learn to get along. We're prefects for goodness sake."
"George is going to have a brother to brother talk to him." Fred said, glancing over his shoulder to where Ron was sulking in the corner shooting looks in their direction. "He thinks it might help or something."
"I'm willing to let anyone who wants to try and give it a shot." Hermione sighed finishing off the last of the dishes and drying her hands. "I just need one day to not feel guilty."
"Hey," Fred wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. "You have nothing to feel guilty for. WE have nothing to feel guilty for."
"I know, I know. Doesn't change the way it feels when I catch him looking at me like he just found out I became a death eater."
"Come on, let's get out of here for a while." Fred said, steering Hermione towards the door. When Fred looked over his shoulder he caught George winking in his direction as he walked over to Ron. He hoped George could help, he wasn't sure what his next step would be if that didn't work.
When Hermione got back to the Burrow everyone said Ron and George had gone off just after them and no one had seen them since. No one saw either one of them until the next morning. He seemed calmer, no longer glaring in her direction or standing with is guard up, arms crossed and shoulders hunched.
"What do you think he said?" Hermione asked. She was helping Fred with the books for the shop, giving them a once over to make sure everything added up. It also meant she got to spend a few more hours with Fred squeezing in more time before they were separated again.
"I asked him. And I swear we both keep breaking the bloody unspoken twin rule. No secrets. He just said they had a good chat about girls and life. What kind of Ogre turd is that?" Fred said pushing the books away from him.
Hermione considered how to respond. They had kept a bigger secret from George and if it meant Ron was happier and didn't shoot her evil looks when they were in the same room she was all for it.
"I guess he's just getting revenge. I don't care. If things go in this direction then I'm thrilled." Hermione said with a shrug.
"Well then, if you're thrilled, I'm thrilled." Fred said swooping down to kiss Hermione on the cheek before getting up to clean up the books that had taken over the table.
When Hermione did go back to school she felt more settled. Ron was talking to her again, they never discussed anything too deep and whenever someone did say the name Fred Ron winced but for now it was enough. Lavender and Ron also appeared to have called their relationship off. Ron never told her why and Harry was reluctant to say anything on the topic.
Hermione filled her time with her studies and prefect duties. She had to put more effort in while Ron slacked off. But she was happy to be kept busy and away from all of those in her year who seemed to be coupling off. She did start to notice Ginny spent more time with her and less with Dean Thomas, her boyfriend.
"Come on, Ginny, spill why are you on opposite sides of the common room, decidedly avoiding looking in that direction?" Hermione asked over homework one afternoon.
"No reason." Ginny shrugged not willing to give anything away.
Hermione let the subject drop. For five seconds.
"You've had an argument." She decided ignoring the way Ginny scoffed and rolled her eyes. "It's better to just talk it out, you know?"
"No offence, Hermione, but I'll take that advice when you do." Ginny said shooting her a pointed look.
"I don't know what you're trying to say." Hermione said turning back to the parchment in front of her and trying not sulk in front of one of her best friends.
"You're a smart witch, I'm sure you can figure it out." Ginny said with a smirk nudging Hermione with her elbow. "We should get out of here for a while, I'm feeling couped up."
Hermione agreed. They packed away their school supplies and headed for the portrait. Neither had any strong opinion of where they wanted to go, other than outside the castle walls. Ginny steered them in the direction of the Owlery.
"I don't think Dean and I will last, whenever we spend any time together it ends in an argument." Ginny explained. "I don't know why we're still together to be honest."
"Maybe because of one Harry Potter?" Hermione suggested which earned her a snowball to her winter hat.
"Why on earth would this have anything to do with Harry?" Ginny asked her voice a slightly higher pitch than normal.
Hermione smirked as Ginny blushed, giving away how she most likely felt inside.
"I assume it has something to do with you not wanting to go back to that old crush of yours. Or you're in denial about the way he talks about you and looks at you when he thinks he can get away with it. Or how he makes sure you're always in his eye line at dinner." Hermione said keeping a close eye on Ginny's reaction.
"But can you imagine how Ronald will react? He's only JUST gotten a step past you and Fred. If this thing with Harry IS real he'll curse Harry or me or both of us. Or I don't know fly off the handle even more." Ginny said with a sigh.
"So you're not denying you can tell Harry likes you and you like him?" Hermione said trying to hide her giggling.
"I am not- you were- he never…" Ginny said the blush darkening her cheeks and warming her face against the cold.
"Don't worry, the blush tells me enough. You Weasley's all have the same tell tale signs." Hermione said laughing along as Ginny gave her a friendly shove to the arm.
"Whatever, that's not the point I was trying to make."
"I know, I know, I know. The issue is your brother. And I get it. Trust me it's no fun to be on his bad side. But learn from my mistakes. Talk to him before, don't keep everything hidden and have it all blow up in your face." Hermione suggested. She linked her arm with Ginny as they climbed the icy steps.
"How are you and Fred? What's it like to be in loooove?" Ginny teased.
"Shut up." Hermione said attempting to pull away.
"No seriously, I know it's got to be tough not being with one another. I also know Fred can be a lot to handle." Ginny said. Hermione considered the change in topic, she knew Ginny wanted to stop talking about her love life so she was making Hermione talk about her own.
"Things are okay. You're right it's not the ideal situation. We're making it work for us though." Hermione said following Ginny towards a familiar owl.
"When you're done with Hogwarts are you going to live with him? Do you want to marry him and have a family?" Ginny asked shooting her a wink as she tied a letter securely in place.
"I don't know what's going to happen. I do know I want to be with him for as long as he'll have me." Hermione said, fighting off her own blush.
"Just promise me one thing." Ginny said leading them back outside.
"That all depends on what this 'thing' is." Hermione said.
"I get to be bridesmaid and make one short very quick I told you so speech." Ginny said knocking her elbow against Hermione's.
"What on earth do you need an I told you so speech for?"
"For back when you were in denial that you liked him and he liked you back. Oh and to rub it in everyone's faces that I was one of the first to know. Even when you thought you were being sneaky." Ginny steered them back inside away from the cold.
"No speeches of that description will be condoned at my wedding." Hermione said with a tone of finality to her voice.
It took a while but when the day finally came that Harry kissed Ginny in front of most of Gryffindor house, she almost cheered. Not that she agreed with how they went about things when it came to not shocking Ron. But at least he was calmer with them.
"Well I guess if she's going to date anyone." He had remarked after the Quidditch match. Hermione caught his eye across the room but was quick to drop the look and turn away before she said something she regretted.
Harry and Ginny dating meant she saw less of the two of them and more of Ron.
"I reckon they're just practising." Ron said with a shrug when Hermione asked after them after classes.
"Practising? Practising what? How well their tongues know the others mouth?" Hermione joked laughing a little, she quickly shut her mouth when she noticed the scowl taking over Ron's face.
"I meant Quidditch." Ron grumbled turning back to the open books that hadn't been touched in a while.
Hermione considered what she wanted to say. She missed the jokes she used to share with Ron. Even if she was the most serious of her friends she was always able to share a few laughs with them. Now she felt as though she was walking on egg shells during every conversation.
"I suppose that's a possibility." Hermione mumbled. "Did you need any help with question five?" Changing the subject to school work was always a good bet.
