Time Slipped By

Thanks for all the reviews and follows! They keep me motivated! There are probably going to be longer periods between updates for the next few months as I am studying and taking my Praxis exams! Thanks for understanding! Here is chapter 5, and the last chapter in Fred's POV. Happy Reading!

Chapter 5: One Proposal

Fred had a plan. And when he had a plan, they always seemed to work out for the best. Every plan that he and George had ever put into motion had become a success from pranks to the Weasley Wheezes. This, Fred believed, couldn't be any different.

Fred was always told by his father that the only time a man should ever propose to a woman is if he already knows what her answer will be. If he hadn't gotten this advice, Fred honestly believes he probably would have proposed to Hermione on their first date. He almost did, really.

But Fred didn't know what her answer would be. Not on that first date. Not the first time she told him she loved him. Not after a year of dating. Not after moving in together. Not after two years of dating. But now, three years into their relationship, Fred was certain that her answer would be "yes." All he had to do was ask the question.

He wanted to do it right, though. Just asking the bloody question wasn't going to be enough. He was a showman for Merlin's sake! So he planned a show. Not a huge one—that could wait until their wedding—but enough of a production where she would end the night not only happy about their impending wedding, but also the exciting life they would live together.

George helped plan. So did Ginny—honestly it was mostly Ginny. She knew Hermione in a different way than Fred knew her. He knew almost everything about her, but Ginny knew the girly stuff—the stuff that is only said between girlfriends. That was necessary to this proposal. So, though Ginny was hesitant to break the "girl code," she let Fred wrack her brain about what Hermione's ideal proposal would be like—down to the ring—and helped Fred incorporate his own extravagant ideas into the proposal without ruining it for Hermione. The production he would make would need to improve the proposal—not overshadow it.

Fred came out of that conversation with a newfound respect for Ginny. Thank Merlin for Ginny! Without her….well, Fred didn't want to think how badly he would've fucked up the proposal if it wasn't for Ginny's guidance.

So the plan was set. George would help Fred set up the proposal location, and Ginny would make sure Hermione got there. Everything would be perfect.

Even with perfection, and being almost a hundred percent certain that Hermione would say yes, Fred's hands shook with nerves as he helped George set up the location. Well, tried to help. After knocking over the flower covered arch at least half a dozen times, George sent Fred off a few feet away to practice what he was going to say to Hermione. Through that, Fred's hands still continued to shake.

Time seemed to move slowly and quickly all at once. Soon, Fred saw Ginny leading Hermione up the hill just beyond the burrow. This was their spot. Right on top of the hill, below the willow tree, with a perfect view of the lake below. They would spend hours upon hours under the willow talking about everything. When they first fell for each other, when they knew it was love, Hermione's travels with the boys searching for Horcruxes; every topic was free game in their little paradise.

Fred gave a quick look to George, where he stood admiring his handiwork, "Georgie, she's coming."

George just nodded with a smirk, and with a POP! he was gone. Fred looked back down the hill to see Hermione laughing at something Ginny said; her brown eyes glowing with the light reflected from the sunset. This would be the image of Hermione that would stay with him until his final days. Sunlight in her eyes, laughter across her face; happy and at peace.

Hermione's confusion as Ginny abruptly stopped just before the top of the hill gave her pause. But with Ginny's smirk—much the mirror image of her twin brothers', Hermione glanced up the hill at Fred and his elaborate set-up. Understanding. Nervousness. Joy. Love. All flashed across Hermione's face before she let a smile fill her face as she continued walking up the hill and towards Fred.

Fred thought that he would lose his words the moment she stared up at him, but it seemed the words just flowed off his tongue, "Hermione Granger, I have loved you for almost half my life. At times I can't remember not having this love for you inside of me. It came as a shock when I first realized it, but then it seemed to come as easy as breathing. You are the love of my life. I want to spend every day of the rest of my life making you smile and laugh, and I want to fall further in love with you every day. Please, will you be my wife?"

Hermione's smile, with happy tears running down her tanned face was his answer, but nothing could really ever replace the happiness he felt when she said, "Yes!"

Fireworks may have gone off in the background after she replied, but Fred was just too bloody focused on Hermione's lips to enjoy the show.

I know this is one of my shorter ones. But I kind of felt that, even as I described the setting and the production he was making out of this proposal, the most important aspect of this was that it only took him one time to get her to say yes. Next chapter will be the first one in Hermione's POV! I hope you enjoyed Fred's last full chapter! Please review!