December 2003

"Hermione! The deal went through!" George bellowed as soon as he came into view, "And with impressive speed - we take over the lease in only four days. January 1st!"

Fred was smiling beside him but for once, he didn't speak. Come to think of it, he hadn't said much since the day before Christmas.

"Oh guys! Congratulations!" Hermione flung her arms around the both of them, "I can't believe you're expanding - and to Hogsmeade of all places."

"Yep! Grand opening April 1st!"

"Your 26th birthday?" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, "I thought we had plans to go away for the weekend?"

"Sorry, Hermione," Fred said sheepishly, "it's just a great date to open a joke shop - we hope you understand."

Hermione gave herself a mental shake, "of course. Of course I understand. We can always go to my parents cabin some other time."

"You're the best," Fred pulled her close, "thank you!"

February 2004

Hermione was lying in bed, happy to see the winter slowly turn to spring. She knew that winter always was rough but this year, January had been especially rough. She missed Fred and George who she hadn't seen much of since they took over the lease on the new shop January 1st.

She pulled out a quill, some ink, and a piece of parchment and starting scribbling a note to her best friends.

How are you guys?
I feel like I haven't seen you in forever.
Maybe I could come visit you?
Missed you at new years!

Hermione sent the tawny owl on its way with the note attached to its small leg.

She picked up a book and read to herself for quite some time before the owl finally returned with a note.

Sorry, love.
Busy preparing for the new shop.
Don't worry, we haven't forgotten about you at all.
Miss you too
/F

Hermione couldn't help but notice how he had ignored her question about visiting him.

April 2004

Hermione walked up to the new shop in Hogsmeade. People were already standing in a massive line just to get in. She looked over the crowd, a lot of happy faces taking in the first rays of spring. She was carrying a present under each arm and she couldn't wait for the twins to open them. Patiently, she got in the back of the line and waited for her turn to enter the shop. During the wait, Hermione looked around Hogsmeade and saw how many shops had been replaced since her Hogwarts years. Even Zonko's, the shop that almost everybody at Hogwarts had loved, had now been bought and replaced. This time, by the twins.

It took almost one and a half hours before she was able to walk through the doors to the twins' new shop. Immediately, she was amazed by the new location; shelves were stacked from floor to ceiling on all walls apart from the back wall which had been replaced by an enormous piece of glass, giving the shop goers a beautiful view of the Scottish mountains surrounding Hogwarts.

"Hermione?" Angelina's voice rang behind her.

Hermione spun around, facing George's girlfriend who was holding a box of yellow pygmy puffs. Hermione was a little taken aback to learn that Angelina was wearing Weasley's Wizard Wheezes robes.

"What are you doing here?" the girl laughed while pulling Hermione in for a hug.

"I came to surprise Fred and George for their birthday," Hermione said awkwardly. Why hadn't they asked for her help if they had asked for Angelina's?

"George is busy behind the counter over there but I think Fred is somewhere in the shop," Angelina smiled, "let's see if we can find him."

Hermione followed the tall girl to the back of the shop were a familiar redhead was shaking hands with a satisfied customer. As soon as the customer had turned around, Fred looked around to see if there was anybody else he could help. His eyes landed on Hermione almost immediately, his face erupting in a broad grin. He took a few long strides towards her, and took her in his arms in a tight embrace.

"Love!" He exclaimed, "what are you doing here? I thought you went to your parent's cabin?"

"I wouldn't want to miss this," she chuckled against him, "happy birthday. Do you have time for a present?"

"Thanks, love," Fred said and let go of her. He looked at his watch, "I guess I can take a couple of minutes off," he took her hand and led her to the backroom.

"How are you?" She asked him when they were finally alone.

"Busy!" Fred laughed, "but it's been fun opening the new shop."

"So you're still planning on opening shops all over Europe?"

Fred grinned, "yeah, it would be a dream come true but let's see..."

Hermione went quiet. She loved Fred and George's ambition and their passion for their joke shop, but something about their plan of expanding to the rest of Europe seemed off-putting and she couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly it was.

"How about that birthday present, huh?" Fred wiggled his eyebrows.

"Wow you're impatient," Hermione laughed as she pulled two presents out of her bag. One was big and soft, the other was small and hard. "This one is for you," she said and handed Fred the small square box.

"Thank Merlin mine isn't the soft one," Fred said with a wink as he took the present from her hand.

Hermione laughed at him, "they're dress robes for George."

Fred laughed too, "did Angelina put you up to this?"

"Of course she did. She wants him to look nice for her brother's wedding."

"Women," Fred muttered while shaking his head lightly.

"Just open your present," Hermione smiled and urged him to go on.

Fred didn't need telling twice, and ripped off the wrapping in one, swift motion. "Is it... jewelry?" He said as he took in he box with a sceptical look in his eyes.

"Just open it."

Fred pulled off the lid, revealing a silver dog-tag necklace engraved with his name and date of birth. Hermione had never seen Fred wear jewelry a day in his life, but this particular necklace had screamed for her every time she had walked past the jeweler in Diagon Alley.

"It's a dog-tag," Hermione said rapidly, "they use them in the muggle military for identification. I don't know why but I just thought of you when I saw it."

Fred was completely awestruck, "bloody hell Granger!" He breathed, admiring his gift, "This is so cool! Help me put it on!" He held out the necklace.

"If... if you don't like it, you don't have to wear it," Hermione stammered. She had no idea why she was so nervous all of a sudden. With shaking hands, she closed the necklace around his neck.

He looked at her with a tender expression, "Thank you so much, love!"

"You're welcome," Hermione breathed, "I'm glad you like it."

"I do," Fred admired it, "I love it! What a great birthday."

Hermione beamed at him, "I was actually hoping we could go out and celebrate tonight?"

Fred took a minute before a pained expression erupted on his face, "we'll probably be busy at the shop tonight..."

"Tomorrow then?"

"Well, tomorrow too."

"Friday?"

"Love, it will probably be busy for us for the next couple of weeks. I'm sorry, but I can't make any promises."

Hermione was having a hard time hiding her disappointment, "yeah... alright. Look, you should probably go back to your shop, right? I wouldn't want to intrude," she smiled forcibly before gathering her belongings.

Fred put a hand on her arm, forcing her to look at him, "I really am sorry..."

July 2004

"Heeeeermiiiiiooooneee," he sang as soon as Hermione showed up. He was already drunk, celebrating the fact that his twin brother was now engaged.

"Fred!" Hermione laughed at him and enjoyed the familiar sensation of his strong arms wrapped around her - a feeling she hadn't experienced for quite some time. Hermione hadn't seen the twins much for the past few months. She had tried setting up different appointments with them and she had tried to reschedule their trip to her parents' cabin but to no avail. She had even tried dropping by unannounced on several occasions but the twins always apologised and said they were too busy. She had however owled with Fred a couple of times so she didn't feel completely left out.

"Did you finish all your work-stuff?" Fred slurred as he let go of her.

"Yep. Sorry I couldn't get here earlier."

"Don't worry. George has been too busy sucking Angelina's face off anyway. He probably hasn't even noticed that there's a whole crowd of people in here. I, on the other hand, have missed you like crazy," he smiled broadly down at her.

"I've missed you too. You have no idea."

Fred started telling her about everything that had happened since the last time they had seen each other. He drunkenly droned on and on and Hermione patiently listened to everything he had to say without interrupting him. She enjoyed having him back at The Leaky Cauldron with her and knew that she had to enjoy it while it lasted.

September 2004

"It's been great seeing you. Thank you for all the presents," Hermione said as Harry, Ginny, and Ron put on their coats before apparating home.

Only Fred, George, and Angelina remained in the living room. From the kitchen where Hermione was tidying up she could hear them talk over the practicalities regarding tomorrow where George and Angelina would move to their new house in Kent.

"Excuse me," she heard Fred say from the other room before he joined her in the kitchen with a sad face.

"Everything alright?" She asked him.

"George is moving out tomorrow..." Fred sighed, "and I know it's really selfish of me, but I'm really not looking forward to it."

Hermione shook her head, "it isn't selfish of you to realise how much you're going to miss him. And I'm quite sure that even though he's looking forward to moving in with Angelina, he's dreading moving away from you too."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Fred sent her a sad smile.

She beamed back at him, "Listen, if you're up for it, you and I could do something tomorrow evening to take your mind off of things? We could trash George's old room?" she grinned.

Fred looked uncomfortable "Uhm... unfortunately, tomorrow's not so good for me," he caressed his neck and avoided her gaze.

"I thought you were going to sit around and cry now that George has moved out," Hermione laughed, "but I'm glad to learn that you're doing something else. New invention?"

"No, uhm... actually I have a date," he said quietly, still not looking at her.

Hermione felt a weird punch to her guts, "a date?" she spluttered, taken aback, "with whom?"

"Angie set me up with one of her team mates," Fred said, looking at her with a weird expression.

Hermione put on a brave face and said, "that's good, Freddy. As long as you're not sulking over George."

December 2004

"Another expansion? Wow," Hermione said after their Christmas lunch, "where is it this time?"

"Dublin," Fred said proudly, "we're leaving on the 27th."

"That's amazing," Hermione beamed, "what about George and Angelina?"

"For a moment it looked as if I had to go with Lee, but Angie convinced George to come along too."

"What about Angelina then?" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows.

Fred looked over his shoulder, making sure that they were alone, "I'm not supposed to say anything but she got signed by the Dubliner Devils for the season."

"That's so great for her - Well, and for you too."

"Yeah," Fred smiled "it really is working out for the best."

"Maybe I could come too," Hermione said excitedly, "well just for a few days."

"What about your job?"

"I could take a couple of days off - I want to see your new shop."

"It's just a big empty hall for the time being," Fred laughed.

"I don't mind - I want to be part of it. I could stay with you and I could help make everything look great."

"Love," Fred smacked his lips, "I don't think it's such a good idea," he said with furrowed brows.

"Why exactly not?" Hermione snapped, "you don't seem to mind Angelina's help!"

"I want to spend time with you," he said, "I really do! I just have a lot on my plate right now."

"It's fine. I get it," Hermione said and got up from the sofa.

Quickly, Fred grabbed her hand, "Love, come on... I'm here now. Why can't we just have fun while I'm here?"

Hermione knew he was right so she sat back down with a sigh.

January 2005

"Granger? What are you doing here?" Fred opened the door to his flat. He was dressed much nicer than ususal.

"Hi - we have plans," Hermione beamed at him, "remember?"

"Oh, bugger," he smacked his forehead, "that's today?"

"Yes," Hermione said slowly.

Fred looked embarrassed, "I'm so sorry but..."

"You're not cancelling on me, are you?" Hermione said sourly. For weeks, she had been looking forward to their pizza night.

Fred sent her a pained expression, "this is not my proudest moment, but I'm sorry; I have to."

"You're kidding me..."

"I'm afraid not," he gulped, "I accidentaly double-booked."

"Well, cancel the other thing you have planned then. I'm here now."

Fred ran his fingers through his hair, "I'm sorry love but I can't."

"Why not? We've had this planned for weeks."

"I know. I'm sorry - but I can't cancel. See, she's already here..." His ears grew red.

"She? ...oh for heaven's sake Fred! You're cancelling on me because you have a date?"

Fred looked embarrassed, "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"I think you need to start prioritising who you want to spend your limited amount of time with!" Hermione huffed before she turned on her heel and apparated home.

March 2005

'Hi love. I'm very sorry but I have to cancel on you tomorrow. Something came up. /F"

Angrily, Hermione threw away his letter. She should have known better than to make plans with Fred. She should have known that he would end up deprioritising her - again.

May 2005

"How was Dublin?"

"Amazing!" Fred chimed, "one day, I'll take you!"

Hermione merely nodded, "and the shop? How did it go?"

"Everything went according to plan. It looks amazing and the customers are waiting in line outside the shop every morning," he looked proud of himself and Hermione couldn't help but think that he looked awfully cute.

"Glad to hear it. Do you already have plans for yet another expansion?"

Fred nodded, "I think we'll lay low for a while. At least until after Georgie's wedding."

"Oh, have they set a date yet?"

"October 25th," Fred nodded, "and I don't think we'll leave until January or February."

"Leave? Where to?" Hermione asked.

Fred looked at her with an intense look on his face, "I know we've talked about it for years but we finally think it's time for the big European expansion. We're starting in Prague in the spring."

Hermione went quiet for a fraction of a second before she managed pull herself together, "that sounds amazing," she smiled through the burning sensation in her eyes.

Fred's face erupted in a large grin, "I'm so excited, love! I can't wait to take on the entire world!"

He pulled her in for a hug and Hermione enjoyed having her best friend's arms wrapped so tightly around her. Cloves and pine filled her nostrils, and it was soothing and welcoming. He softly kissed the top of her head and Hermione suddenly couldn't hold back the tears that were stinging in her eyes.