Ms. Hermione Jean Granger
Flat at the top of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes
Diagon Alley

You are cordially invited to a ball and reception to commemorate the seventh year anniversary of the end of the war. This event is to commemorate those we have lost as well as the lives we have rebuilt.

On this special anniversary we invite you to remember with us, and celebrate, on the second of May.

Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress

Hermione re-read the invitation for the third time. She had just gotten home from work when a large barn own arrived holding two perfectly folded envelops. One was addressed to Fred and the other to her, she suspected Fred's envelope held a similar invitation.

She changed out of her scrubs and went to start working on dinner. While Fred was definitely the better cook between the two, her skills were good enough. She turned her muggle radio on as she chopped celery and carrots for the stew she was making. The music was deafening, just the way she liked it when she cooked. It allowed her to get lost in her thoughts and escape from any worries or stress.

She was standing at the stove adding the final herbs to the bubbling soup in front of her when she felt arms wrap around her waist. She smiled and leaned back.

"Smells good." Came a voice that made smile falter a bit.

"Thanks. Staying for dinner George?" She asked before turning around to smirk at the younger twin.

He grinned right back. "You know it's sad when you can tell us apart better than our own mother."

She laughed and shook her head, "Right because the obvious missing ear, haircut and Fred's beard aren't enough of giveaways."

He went to lean against the island counter top and bit into the carrots that were still sitting out. "Yeah but you didn't see my face."

She shrugged and turned back to her task, "Your voices are different."

He considered this for a bit before conceding and settling on one of the stools. Hermione pulled out two bottles of butter beer, handing one to him before sitting down herself with hers.

"Did you get an invite?" George asked after taking a long sip.

She nodded. "It's a bit odd. Why would they decide to suddenly start commemorating it now? I mean the repairs were made years ago, they could have done this at any time."

George actually knew this one. "I think that it's because everyone who would have been at school during the war has now graduated. The first years at that time would have finished last year so guess they want to keep reminding those who weren't directly involved of what happened."

She thought about this and agreed that it did make sense, it was unfortunate that they required a large event to remind people of the horrors the wizarding word had been through. It was hard to imagine any one forgetting about the things that they had suffered through.

Fred came through the door of the flat and seeing Hermione and his brother, he went over to them. He kissed the top of Hermione's head and stole a pull from her bottle, "Smells good, love."

She sent a glance at George who grinned, "Where have I heard that before."

She took her drink back and gestured towards the dining table. "You've got a letter."

As Fred opened his letter his brows furrowed. He hadn't been back to the castle since he had almost died there, and he wasn't sure he wanted to. So much had changed in his life during that fateful night. The realization that he had almost died, and likely would have had really gotten to him for a few years. He pushed back those all too familiar feelings and turned back to his fiancé and brother. "Everyone get one?"

Hermione and George both nodded at him. They were sure at this point everyone who had been at Hogwarts during that day seven years ago was getting an invitation.

"Well, guess we're going to party." Fred said smiling, raising his letter in the air.

Hermione shook her head at him, "I don't really think that is what the intent is."

"Well it says 'ball' and the last ball we had at Hogwarts was a wild affair. Any less from them now and I am going to protest." George said next to Hermione. He agreed with his brother, if they were going to have to relive that night then they were going to enjoy it.

"Think of it like a practice run for the wedding, Granger," Fred said coming to stand next to her. "We get to be all dressed up and then get completely wasted."

They hadn't made many plans yet for the wedding in the four months since their engagement. They did agree on a date, thinking what would be the shop's least busy time and had settled on July, 14tth over three months from now. Ginny kept pushing them to make further plans and Hermione had finally relented and agreed to go dress shopping with her tomorrow. At least she could knock out two birds with one stone and find a dress for the ball as well, too bad she couldn't just wear the same one.

The three of them ate dinner an hour later, George making several cracks about how much her cooking had improved and how she was going to make a wonderful house wife.

"You'll not get any of the brownies this little housewife made if you keep it up." She threatened him with good results.

After George had eaten a quarter of the pan and taken a plate home for Ali and Roxy, Fred took over washing dishes. Hermione sat behind him at the counter and watched, appreciating the stature of her fiancé. He hated the word but she loved calling him that.

"I can feel you staring at me Granger. If you want to oogle me I'd be more than happy to undress." He said over his shoulder.

She blushed at having been caught. "Well I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to the idea."

He laughed and turned around to face her, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. Honestly there wasn't much she found sexier than Fred when he did the dishes, especially wearing her favorite jeans and a T-shirt.

"So how do you really feel about this ball thing?" Hermione asked, knowing that he still had an adverse reaction at the thought of going back to Hogwarts.

He smiled at how well she could read him. "I don't know. I haven't been back since almost dying so I guess I don't know how I'll feel being back thee. Will just have to find out." He tried to sound reassuring and not show the worry he really felt.

"I wouldn't have to shave my beard right?" He asked hopeful.

She laughed at that, "Absolutely not. That's my favorite part about you."

It turns out that when she agreed to go dress shopping with Ginny, it actually meant that she agreed to go with Ginny, Luna, Alicia and Audrey. While she had been happy to see the other women, she knew that it would make the process much less simpler. Madam Maxine's was thankfully empty when the group arrived that afternoon. The girls immediately scattered to pull dresses both for Hermione as well as for themselves for the ball. They had decided to find Hogwarts dresses first before looking at wedding dresses.

Alicia and Audrey found their dresses easily within a few minutes, both witches having had a prior idea of what they wanted. Alicia's was bright pink with fluttering sleeves while Audrey's was definitely less flashy in a beautiful soft grey fabric with some beading to the bodice. Hermione was trying on the second of her two picks, a simple light blue dress with a halter neckline. It wasn't anything spectacular but she didn't mind it.

As she emerged from the fitting room to show the others Ginny immediately made a face.

"What?" Hermione asked, putting her hand on her hips.

"Hermione this dress is for someone five times your age." Ginny said bluntly, causing Hermione to start smiling. The redhead stood up and started towards the back of the store. When she came back she was bringing a dress with her.

Hermione looked at her skeptically as she was handed the dress. "This one." Ginny said with certainty.

After slipping into Ginny's pick and looking at herself in the mirror, she sighed. She knew she never should have doubted her. The dress was a dark forest green silk that hugged her body and flared slightly at her waist, floating down over her legs. It was cut low over her back with thin straps crisscrossing over the exposed skin. It was perfect, Hermione thought. This was also the general consensus from the spectators when she pulled back the curtain. Ginny sat smugly with the others with a very pointed 'I told you so' look.

Ginny's choice was also perfect for the girl. She had chosen a black and gold column dress, cut high at the neck but quite low over her back. Hermione laughed as she wondered what McGonagall would have to say to the witch. Luna chose a lavender high-low dress that had an ethereal shimmer to it when she moved. When all the girls had chosen their dresses it was time for the grand finale of the wedding dress.

Hermione was tired at this point of the day and begrudgingly got up off the couch to try on more dresses. The first two were nixed quite quickly by the group as they were fluffy ball gowns that swamped her small frame. The next was a contender but was definitely more Ginny's style, and while that worked for her other dress, Hermione knew that it wasn't the right idea for her wedding dress.

After she had pulled the slinky dress off and slid into the fourth dress that she had picked out herself, she knew this would be the one. Where Ginny's wedding dress has been extravagant and detailed like its wearer, this one was simple and elegant. The bodice was made of a sturdier satin material that dropped down from the thin straps over her shoulders to cut low between her breasts in a V-shape. It hugged her tightly to her waist where it gently flared out to a soft floaty material Hermione couldn't identify. It was a light ivory color instead of stark white, which gave her a glow. A row of small stain covered buttons ran from the dip of the neckline to the waist.

After the dress magically shrunk to fit her small frame, Hermione stared at herself in the mirror. They had been being so nonchalant about the wedding as neither of them wanted anything extravagant. It hadn't even felt real that they were getting married in just a few short months. That is until now; standing here in her wedding dress, imaging walking towards Fred. She now knew why some brides cried when they found their dress.

Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her hands over the skirt before stepping through the curtain to face her friends. Silence greeted her, but their open mouths and the tears forming in Audrey's eyes told Hermione everything she needed to know.

"I think this is it." She said with a smile.

"You think?" Ginny finally spoke, "Hermione if you do not pick this one them I am going to buy it and force it on you the day of. It's perfect!" The redhead got up to hug the bride-to-be.

Hermione laughed and turned towards the others who all voiced their approval. They informed Madam Maxine of her decision who happily ushered them towards the shoes and jewelry which Luna fawned over. Hermione picked out a longer thin golden chain that held a light gold stone with rough edges that sparked in the light. After another hour they left the shop with their purchases and headed to the Leaky Cauldron for an early dinner.

She arrived back at the flat later that evening and found Fred sprawled on the couch watching the television. After kicking off her shoes she settled next to him in the space where his legs had been.

"That your dress?" Fred asked, pointing to the garment bag she had hung from the coat rack near the door.

"It's one of my dresses. Ginny didn't exactly think you were trustworthy enough to stay away from the other one so she took it with her." Hermione laughed at Fred's shocked expression.

"My own sister." He said darkly before hitching himself up to kiss her. "You'd never think that of me, right Granger?" He asked with a smile once they pulled apart.

She raised her eyebrows at him. "Fred I once saw you unwrap and then rewrap your presents days before Christmas when you were sixteen. I wouldn't exactly call you a patient person."

He laughed at the memory and fell back on the couch. That was the year he had asked for one of those muggle joke sets and had been counting down the day to when he could get his hands on one. He had been so disappointed when his snooping had only revealed socks. Good thing his mother knew him better too and had hidden all of his other presents, bringing them out Christmas morning.

She traced her hand absentmindedly over his knee as they watched a show together. It had been an exhausting day and she wanted nothing more than to rest her head on the couch and fall asleep, but she also felt… wanting. Fred must have had the same inclination as they both moved towards each other at the same time. She laughed as his hand pulled her down to lay on top of him. They kissed lazily, his hands running up and down her back, casually dragging her shirt off.

He sat up suddenly and Hermione had to reposition herself to where she was straddling him. The kiss was more urgent now and she moved her hips against his, eliciting a groan from his lips. After pulling his shirt off she stood slightly to push her own jeans down her legs, as he did the same. He reached for her, grabbing her hips to pull her back towards him. Wearing only her bra she teased him a bit before taking him fully. She could never get over the sensations she felt with Fred, it was unlike any other feeling in the world. Like being too close to a firework but feeling completely safe and secure the entire time.

She leaned forward to kiss him as she began to lift herself over him. His hands were still at her hips as he guided her movements, fingers digging into her skin. Her hands were steadying her at the back of the couch before coming to rest on his shoulder as he began to thrust up into her. As he reached between them to find her most sensitive spot, she gasped and let her head tip back, falling off the edge as her body contracted.

As the waves of pleasure washed over her, Fred gripped her and flipped them in one smooth motion. He pressed her back against the couch as he continued to move against her. Once she had regained her senses she wrapped a leg about his hips, pulling him closer to her. The only light in the room was from the television, but with this Hermione could see the slight sheen of sweat forming on his forehead.

Knowing they were both close she brought her mouth to his neck, biting softly, spurring him on. After a few more moments she arched up against him and cried out, at the same time he said her name and found his own release. Exhausted he rested his head down to the crook in her neck and breathed in her scent. They lay like that for several minutes, Hermione almost falling asleep when Fred pushed himself off of her.

"Come on love." He said quietly as he pulled her up. Knowing they both needed it he lead her to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Hermione sighed when the hot water washed over her body. They stood together under the stream, helping wash each other and laughing. When they were clean they simply clung together, enjoying the heat of the water and the comfort of each others bodies.