A/N: I had about a dozen chapters drafted back in 2016 when I got stuck with this story, so I'm planning to edit them in the hope it'll help me get into the headspace to keep writing it.

Hermione's pulse quickens when Fred's familiar voice cuts through the quiet of Grimmauld Place's library. Her awareness of him has only grown more insistent since her admission to Harry. It's like verbalising it, even just once, has made it more real.

"Research?" he asks as he slides into the seat beside her, and she realises that must be what he said the first time.

"Oh. Good. I've coded different pieces of legislation based on how progressive or conservative it is. I'm now trawling through it, trying to piece together something that would work here. If the bill is going to pass, it's going to have to be fairly conservative, but I'm hoping to set it up in a way that's open to amendments later."

"Can I have a look at it? An outside perspective might help."

Hermione pushes the paperwork over to him and watches intently as he reads through it. He reads fast, but he pauses frequently to reread earlier bits or mumble under his breath about some option or another.

Her heart warms at the sight; it's touching to see how much effort he's putting into this, both for the cause and for her. Harry and Ron let her explain it to them and made some brief observations, but Fred's commitment to helping endears him to her all the more.

"Britain is going to want to keep mandatory registration," he says. "That was one of the few changes Voldemort made that the public liked. It might've been possible to rescind it right after the battle, but so much time has passed now…"

"Their indignation and shame isn't going to push it through," she finishes for him. "I know. Kingsley wanted to deal with it immediately, but there were more pressing laws he had to address first." Letting out a frustrated sigh, she runs a hand through her hair, sweeping it back off of her face. "Drat. I'm going to have to keep that in, aren't I? At least in a modified form."

"Probably."

"I was thinking of having a registration list that only a very select few people can see, but that still has scope for corruption. Even if those people swear an oath to secrecy, they could still use it to discriminate against the people who have registered."

"What if the Unspeakables monitor it? It's not really what they do – well, I think it's not really what they do, but no one knows for sure, do they? – but they're distant enough from the general public that it shouldn't affect anyone's regular business at the Ministry or anywhere else. They could send people out to monitor them each full moon but leave them alone otherwise."

Hermione nods. It isn't a bad idea. "Some people think the Unspeakables are too mystical and removed, but they trust them implicitly. And it would mean nobody could try bribing a Ministry official to release their secrets, oath or not."

"And all it would take is one extra Unspeakable. The Ministry should be able to find the funds for that, especially when it would free up resources elsewhere."

"The Unspeakable would meet with known werewolves and at-risk families throughout the month to set up provisions for the full moon. People could opt to have something in their homes or another safe place or to spend those nights at the Ministry holding cells!" She beams at him. "I still want to find an alternative that doesn't require registration, but Fred, that could work as a backup!"

High on relief and joy, she lunges forward, throwing her arms around him. Laughing, he catches her easily, pulling him tighter against his chest.

"I'm glad I could be of help." His tone is amused, dancing, and she looks up with a broad smile.

"So much help." Her gaze falls to his lips. He's close, less than two inches away, so close that just a slight movement would have them kissing. Glancing up at his eyes, she observes with a flush of pleasure that he's focused on her mouth as well.

Be brave.

Gathering all her courage, she leans in.

"Hermione? Harry?"

They jerk apart at the sound of Ron's voice in the hallway.

Her cheeks heat in embarrassment. If Ron stayed silent for a few seconds longer, he might have caught them snogging! Or maybe he wouldn't have; maybe he would have witnessed Fred letting her down, explaining that he had been caught up in the moment but didn't fancy her back.

Long-buried self-doubt starts to set back in. She has made so much progress, refusing to let concern about what strangers might think rule her life. One thing she learned from her brief dalliance with Viktor and her relationship with Ron is it doesn't matter if any particular person doesn't find her attractive.

But what if Fred doesn't? She's happy with who she is, and what she looks like, but he might not be. While she was telling the truth when she told Harry that would be okay, it would also be awkward and painful and potentially ruinous to their friendship.

Ugh, she thinks, irritated at her own insecurities as much as she is at Ron's timing. Why do we let people just come and go here?

It's never bothered her before – there's never been a reason for it to bother her before – but now, staring up into Fred's frustrated blue eyes, she wishes they never decided to keep that stupid lenience.

Frustrated.

Frustrated.

He looks frustrated too.

She offers him a tentative smile, which he returns with much more confidence.

Maybe, just maybe, he wants this as much as she does. Maybe, just maybe, things will work out.

"Guys?!"

Hoping tight to that glimmer of hope, she calls out, "In the library!"