What Isn't

It was the night before Ginny and Hermione were leaving for Hogwarts. Hermione stood in the bedroom packing; Fred sat on her bed watching. She went through her books trying to decide which ones she wanted to take.

She placed her Hogwarts: A History in her trunk, while going through some others.

Fred bent down and picked it up, giving it a once over and set it on the bed.

Next she placed her seven books for her NEWT classes in her trunk.

As she turned to look through some of the extra DADA books she bought before the war, Fred reached down and picked up her Potions book, only to look at it for a second and put it on the bed. He then picked up her Herbology book and did the same. By the time he got to her Transfiguration book, he didn't bother to pretend to look at it before setting it with the others.

He bent down to grab her Ancient Runes book when he heard her speak. "You know, you help pack just as well as your twin helps set the table."

He straightened up to give her an innocent smile. He found her standing there, tapping her foot with a hand on her hip while the other held onto another book. He couldn't help his grin. It brought him back to Hogwarts.

"I don't want to help you pack. I want to help you unpack."

"You can do that in December. Now put them back."

He picked up the books and stood up, heading toward the shelf that she got them from originally.

"Frederick Weasley! You know what I mean!"

Grumbling, he dropped them into her trunk and dramatically fell back on the bed with a loud sigh.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Acting like a child will do no good in this situation. We both know this is something I have to do. Please don't make this any harder."

He sat back up. "I'm sorry, Hermione. But this… well… this sucks bullocks!"

She placed a couple more books in the trunk and sat next to him.

"I'm sorry you are upset. You left Hogwarts to fulfill a dream of yours. I'm going back to fulfill a dream of mine. I need to do this for me. For the past six years there I had to juggle my schoolwork with helping Harry with different things. I wouldn't have had it any other way, but now it's my turn to really dive into my schoolwork and concentrate on me. It's more important now than ever."

He took her hand. "Four months though. That's a long time."

"It's really only three and a half. I'll be back a week before Christmas and then again for two weeks during Easter and then I'll be back for good by the third week on June. See… no big deal." Reaching up, her fingers slipped through his ginger hair, pushing it off his forehead. She didn't really believe what she was saying, but she needed to sell it nonetheless.

He sighed, running his own hand through his hair, before yanking on it. He wasn't sure what was happening to him. He felt like he was losing control of himself. Since when did he let a bird control his happiness? A few months felt like a hundred years to him at the moment. He needed to get it together; his carefree attitude about life was becoming harder and harder to find.

"Don't forget we'll talk through the floo. I can hear your voice, see you smile. Everything will be great." She told him, but her stomach told her otherwise. She was getting less sure of herself by the hour. Her stomach felt like she swallowed a brick.

She got up, letting go of his hand and started throwing in her cauldron, the ingredients she bought at the apothecary, quills, parchment, ink, her toiletries, and finally ending with her clothes before packing away her personal items.

She placed all of the items she got for her birthday on top, except for Harry's, which never left her neck and George's gift, that she promised she'd wear on the train.

She placed a small bag on the very top that contained the daydream charms, some makeup, and the last of her sugar quills.

Fred held up a small WWW bag and placed it in her trunk.

"What is that?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Just some things that I thought might come in handy some day."

"Mmhmm. You aren't trying to smuggle some products into Hogwarts are you?" She asked, skeptical.

"No. Well… not with you. Those are in Ginny's trunk." He looped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his lap.

"You're lucky I'm no longer a prefect or I'd have to confiscate those from her." She cupped his jaw, her thumb rubbing against the dark red scruff growing on it.

"Who would have thought that Hermione Jean Granger would ever turn down the opportunity to boss people around?"

She playfully smacked his chest. "Oh, stop! I think I deserve a break. Like I said, I just want to concentrate on me this year."

Fred pressed his forehead against hers, watching her lips. "That's unfortunate since I wanted to do the same."

"Then how is that unfortunate? Concentrating on yourself wouldn't be a bad thing you know." She told him, playing with his fringe on the back of his neck.

He rolled his eyes. "I meant I wanted to concentrate on you."

His eyes traveled up to hers, causing their eyelashes to flutter against each other. She closed her eyes, nuzzled her nose against his and sighed. He closed his and they sat, clinging to one another for a few moments.

"Ahem."

Hermione jumped up, looking toward the door.

"Mrs. Weasley!"

Mrs. Weasley smiled. "I don't think you want to forget this."

She held up his freshly laundered practice jersey.

"Oh my word, Mrs. Weasley, thank you!" Hermione took the jersey and folded it.

"Almost packed?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Fred wouldn't fit then, I take it?"

Hermione laughed. "Unfortunately not."

Mrs. Weasley patted her cheek. "I am so proud of you for going back. You'll do wonderful."

She smiled at Mrs. Weasley. "Thank you. That means the world to me."

Mrs. Weasley took a step back. "Now… I must go up to Harry's room and make sure he and Ginny are okay." She looked up the stairs, her brows furrowed.

"Good luck." Hermione smiled as Mrs. Weasley ascended the stairs.

She looked down at the shirt in her hands and let her fingers run over the letters on the back.

"Hermione?" She looked pensive and it made him nervous.

She looked up at Fred and smiled. "Just blessed to be part of the Weasley family. Should have just changed my name after the war." She joked.

"You'll be a Weasley one day." He told her.

She cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Well, even if things don't work out with me you still have two more tries. Possibly even Ginny if her relationship with Harry goes south."

"Fred!" She threw the jersey at him.

"We could just tear my number off of this and replace it with another. You can recycle it as you go through the line." He gave her a grin as he held up the shirt.

"You are as insufferable as George!" She scowled. "Well... really… Charlie would actually be a pretty fit catch… what was his quiddich number?"

His mouth dropped to the floor and she couldn't contain her laughter anymore.

He pretended to pout. She moved towards him and sat in his lap, wanting to ease him. "Don't worry. This bird only sings for you."

He smiled. "Good, cause I'd really hate to have to hex Charlie the next time I see him."

Hermione laughed. "Poor Charlie."

"Hermione? Could you come down to the kitchen?" Mrs. Weasley asked her on her way back down from Harry's room.

"Of course." She stood up, Fred following her.

When she reached the kitchen she saw a photo album on the table.

"Happy birthday, Hermione." Mrs. Weasley said as she motioned for Hermione to sit.

Fred sat next to Hermione as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sat on the opposite side of the table.

She opened up the album and smiled. The first picture was of Harry, Ron, and Hermione in Diagon Alley right before the start of term second year.

"We were so tiny!" Hermione mentioned as she watched the three of them smile up at her.

There were footsteps down the stairs. "Who were?" She looked up at Harry.

"We were!" She slid over, pushing Fred to do the same so Harry could sit.

"Woah. We were babies." He agreed. She linked her arm in his and squeezed it.

She turned the page and saw another photo where the trio was standing in the Leaky Cauldron, the summer before third year. Ron had his rat and Hermione had Crookshanks, who struggled in her arms to get to 'Scabbers'.

"Wish Crookshanks would have eaten him." Harry mentioned.

Hermione squeezed his arm with her hand. "I'm sorry, Harry."

The picture on the opposite page was a newspaper clipping of the Weasley's vacation.

She smiled. "I love this."

She turned the page to see the trio before fourth year. Next, a picture of she, Harry, Ginny, and the twins after the second task, then a picture of Hermione and Krum at the Yule ball dancing, and lastly a picture of Harry and Hermione at the Yule ball.

"Ginny didn't take any pictures of you and Ron that night for some reason." Mrs. Weasley mentioned.

Hermione nodded. "He wasn't happy that I went with Viktor."

She turned the next couple pages and found pictures of herself with the various Weasley's and Harry around Grimmauld Place: Hermione and the twins as they try to get her to bite into a puking pastille, she and Ginny cleaning the sitting room, Ron and Harry playing chess, she and Ron with their prefect badges, and a picture of everyone around the table that included Sirius and Remus.

"What is that?" Harry asked pointing to the photo.

Hermione looked closer. Fred sat next to Hermione, leaning in and saying something in her ear as she turned toward him smiling. Across the table sat Ron, who was scowling at Fred.

Fred smiled. "I remember that. I was angry at him for telling Mum what we were cooking in our room, so I did it on purpose."

"Fred Weasley! He was just being a good boy!" Mrs. Weasley told him.

"No… he was just angry that I slipped him a nosebleed nougat earlier that day."

"You two were terrible to him! You should have been better brothers." Hermione admonished as she turned the page of the book.

"Harry went back to his memories in the pensieve to get these." Mrs. Weasley told her.

She looked up at Harry. "You can do that?"

"We weren't sure at first… but evidently you can."

She looked down to see herself and Ron producing their patronuses, his Jack Russell chasing her otter.

"I took this one on purpose." He said, pointing to the next one.

Her otter was circling around her and behind her was Fred watching, with a smile on his face.

She looked up at Fred. "I honestly thought you were joking."

"No. Like I said, if it wasn't for Ron I would have made a move. Ron and I were brothers and I took the mickey more than I should have, but I would never take the girl he had his eyes on. It's brocode."

Hermione laughed. "Brocode? I thought it was because of your reputation that you had to uphold?"

"Yea, well… you might have been worth ruining my reputation for."

"You say that as if I would have accepted." She said, smiling.

"No one can resist a Weasley twin." He told her, his eyebrows wiggling.

"I didn't seem to have a problem back then." She retorted.

"I wasn't trying!" He exclaimed, his forehead creased.

"Reputation? What reputation? Wasn't anyone watching you while you were there?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Maybe I need to owl Headmaster McGonagall and give her a piece of my mind!"

Hermione snorted a laugh.

"Now Molly… I'm sure that the professors are doing fine keeping the kids in line. Don't go and embarrass yourself by flying off the broom handle. All of our children got through fine." Mr. Weasley told her.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Weasley. The twin's reputations were that they never tied themselves down to a girl." Hermione conveniently left out the snogging random girls part.

XxXxXx

Later, while Harry and Ginny sat in the sitting room with the rest of the Weasley's, Hermione decided she needed to say goodbye to someone she wouldn't be able to tomorrow. She hoped that Fred would let her be for a few minutes.

She ascended the stairs quickly, slowing the closer she came to the door at the very top.

She stood for a full two minutes staring at the door before she had the guts to turn the handle and pushed it open.

Standing in the doorway, she peered in. It smelled like a mix between Ron and Harry, reminding her of the smell of the tent that they had stayed in while on the run. She took a deep breath. The smell was oddly comforting. Although they had been in danger while living in the tent, the mix between her best friends made her feel at home. It reminded her that she was where she should be.

She saw the unmade bed, which was now Harry's. The desk in the corner was mostly full of old textbooks and parchment that contained Ron's handwriting. She saw that on the chair in a crumpled heap was his old jumper with the letter 'R'. She stepped into the small room slowly and made her way over to the desk.

Picking up his old jumper, she sat in the chair and breathed in his scent as tears started to leak out of the corner of her eyes.

She looked up to see a clear, plastic bag on the desk. She stared at it for a moment before reaching in and grabbing his deluminator.

"Interesting seeing you here." Came a voice from the door.

"Hi, Harry." She clicked the deluminator, causing the lights to disappear. She clicked it again, the lights reappearing and gliding toward their respected homes.

She smiled. Harry stepped toward the desk.

"What is all this, Harry?" She asked, looking at the baggy.

"It's what he had in his pocket that day."

She sighed, dumping out the contents and going through it. There were a few knuts and sickles, a couple pieces of crumpled parchment, and a ring. Her breath caught in her throat.

With a shaky hand she picked it up to examine it. It was a white gold band with a sapphire the color of Ron's eyes in the center. There were small diamonds in a halo around the sapphire. She noticed it was engraved on the inside in tiny letters. She moved closer to the desk lamp to read it. It read 'My light in the darkness'.

She smiled, tears falling down her cheeks. She slid it on her finger and held her finger out to look at it.

"You realize what that ring signifies now?" Harry asked her.

"What could have been." She answered, moving her hand so that the ring sparkled.

"No." He put his hand over her hand, covering the ring. "It signifies what isn't. What will never be."

She looked up into his vivid, green eyes. After a moment, she nodded. "You're right." She slipped the ring off and set it down on the desk.

He kneeled down, looking up at her, tears of his own falling.

"We haven't been able to grieve together… just the two of us… yet." He told her.

She wiped his tears off his cheek and shook her head.

She slid down to the floor and pulled him into a hug. They sat there for a few minutes hugging and crying, grieving the loss of their best friend. The three of them had a bond that they would never find again in anyone else.

She pulled away sniffling. "I just came up here to…" She swallowed the lump in her throat and waited for the urge to cry again to pass. "To say goodbye before I go to Hogwarts."

He started to stand up, pulling her with him. She saw him go to his iPod and turn on Celine Dion's Because You Loved Me.

She laughed. "Are we going to get all sappy with a Canadian muggle song now?"

He nodded. "Yes. We are." His answer made her giggle through her tears. Pulling her to him, Harry wrapped her in his arms and she held onto his shoulders, her head resting on the front of his right shoulder. "He's with us in spirit. We'll all dance."

She laughed. "You're a little mental, Harry."

"Am I?" He twirled her out and back to him. "Just want to dance with my best friend. Is that so mental?"

She shook her head. "I guess not."

They twirled each other and moved around the room doing ridiculous dance moves laughing and crying simultaneously, until the bridge of the song. Hermione squeezed him to her as she began to sob, causing him to start sobbing himself.

Ginny watched them from the half closed door as she heard Fred heading towards her.

"Don't. They need this." She told her brother.

They watched their significant others laugh and cry together as they danced around the room. This was the closure that they both needed to begin to move on. So far, every day had felt like they were living in limbo and it was time that they both took a step forward toward their futures without Ron.

The song ended and Harry blotted Hermione's mascara stained cheeks with a tissue. She smiled, taking the tissue and wiping his tears with it.

"Feel better?" He asked.

She nodded. "At peace."

"Good. Me too."

Realizing that Harry and Hermione would be making their way down soon, Fred and Ginny hurried down the stairs, hoping not to get caught.

Wrapped around each other, Harry and Hermione headed toward the door, but she stopped when they hit the catwalk. Looking behind her, she took one last glance around his room.

"I miss you; I always will. Goodbye, Ronald. I love you." She sniffed, her eyes filling with tears. She blinked rapidly to rid them. She needed to leave the pain here for now.

Harry squeezed her and shut the door behind them. "Let's go enjoy your last night with the family."

XxXxXx

Hermione lay in her bed that night staring at the wall. Ginny slipped out of the room a half hour ago, thinking Hermione was asleep, to be with Harry.

Hermione's heart was jumping around too much for her to sleep. She was nervous, anxious, excited, panicky… she felt like she just ingested a can full of coffee beans.

She went over the ingredients for polyjuice potion in her head to try and clear it. She was on lacewing flies for a second time when she heard footsteps behind her, the bed creak, and an arm go around her waist.

"I thought we decided it was best to sleep alone tonight?" She asked him as he pulled her closer against his chest.

"Yea, well I don't believe it'll make tomorrow night any easier. It'll just make tonight as shitty as tomorrow."

She rolled her eyes at his choice of words.

She rolled over to face him. "I can't sleep. My heart is jumping around."

"Want to talk about it?" He brushed a curl off her face.

"Just nerves. Feel like I'm eleven again, but more nervous than excited this time." She told him while playing with a hole in the chest of his shirt.

He watched her face for a few moments, not knowing what to say. "You'll do great. Enjoy the last year. I know you've been missing the library."

A smile formed on her face. "Yes, Hogwarts does have an incredible library. I'm determined to spend every moment I can there. It's really unfair. There are too many books for one person to read in seven years."

He laughed. "Oh, the horror!"

She poked his chest. "You know it bugs me when I can't finish something."

"This case is a bit different. You've probably read more of the library than any other student ever has. Isn't that an accomplishment?"

"I doubt that, but I'll let you know in June."

He smiled. She lifted her hand and traced his lips with her finger. "I'm going to miss this smile…this dimple..." she mentioned, her knuckle grazing his dimple.

He turned his head and kissed her hand.

She swallowed back her tears and slid down the bed to bury her head in his chest. She promised herself she wouldn't kiss him until after coming back from Hogwarts, but it was becoming harder than she thought it would be. She knew it would feel right in the moment, but it would tear her up while she was away.

He pulled her flush against him and tangled his fingers into her dark curls.

"Godric, you smell phenomenal. It's really hard not to snog you senseless right now." Nuzzling into the top of her head, he breathed deeply, trying to commit her smell to his memory. He was going to have to wait a long time to experience her like that again.

She started to giggle, the giggle turning into a full belly laugh. She pulled away from his chest, trying to catch her breath.

"Glad you find it so funny…" He told her, half amused.

"No! It's just… it's so ridiculous. Here we are thinking the same thing and not doing anything about it."

"Then why aren't we doing something about it?" He asked, tugging on a few of her curls.

She bit her lip. "To be honest, I'm scared I won't go. I'm scared I'll lose my nerve and decide it's safer to just stay here. I've never taken the safe way out, and I don't intend to now." She answered, honestly.

He sighed and ruffled his hair. "I don't know how much longer I can wait, Mione. I might go insane."

"I told you that you didn't have to wait on me. I can't be upset with you for moving on." She told him, concentrating on his chest, not being able to look at his face as she said it. She felt the tears burning in her eyes and she did her best to swallow them back.

He lifted her chin. "I don't want anyone else. I want you. I am trying to be as patient as I can be, but I'm a twenty year old man who is in love. My hormones don't listen to my logic, no matter how much I try."

"I'm sorry. I know I'm not the run-of-the-mill girl. I'm not really that experienced compared to other girls my age and it makes me vulnerable, unfortunately. I feel terrible, but I still have things to figure out. Like I said, just wait until I get this whole school thing figured out. It really isn't that long until winter break."

He pulled her to him. "I know you're different, but I love that about you. You know, I'm trying."

"I know."

A few minutes passed.

"Fred?"

"Yes?"

"I love you, too."

He gave an airy laugh, squeezing her against him and hiding his face in her hair, his chest feeling light again.

"That's the best thing I've ever heard you say." He said, muffled.

She smiled, her heart pounding. She knew she had to be completely honest, both with Fred and herself.

"Fred?"

"Yes, pet?" He grinned into her hair.

"I think I even love you more than I've ever loved one person."

He pulled back to look at her. "Yea?" He asked her.

She nodded, her eyes full of unshed years. "Yea."

"I could just kiss you right now!" He told her, kissing her forehead instead.

"Well, you can add it to my tab." She told him.

He laughed. "At this point, your tab is going to cost you a few days worth."

She giggled. "Sounds lovely."

He sighed. "Waiting doesn't seem so bad now." He mentioned, kissing her forehead one last time. She curled up against him, her face in the crook of his neck.

"Goodnight, Hermione. I love you."

"Night. Love you, too, Fredrick Gideon."

XxXxXx

Hermione was woken up the next morning by the sun shining in her face. She turned to find herself alone in bed. She stretched, looking toward the clock. 6:52am.

She climbed out of bed and reached for her checklist, making sure everything was in order.

Halfway through her list, she looked up to see Ginny come strolling into the room, a broad smile on her face.

"Have a good night I take it?" Hermione asked while she checked something off her list, a smirk on her face.

"You could say that…" She told Hermione, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Ew."

"What do you mean ew? Didn't you and Fred enjoy your time last night?"

"Not like that! And it's ew, because the thought of Harry… nope. Can't even… he's like… like my brother. It's weird."

"Well, he's not my brother. It's fun for me!"

Hermione threw a pillow at her, smiling. "Enough!"

Laughing, Ginny threw it back at Hermione and Hermione caught it.

"You need to get laid, Hermione. You're too uptight."

"SHUT UP, GINNY!"

George decided to traipse in at that moment, a smirk on his face.

"Of course you would choose now to come in!" Hermione complained, throwing her pillow at him.

"Damn Hermione, perhaps Ginny is right…" George mentioned after catching the pillow and throwing it at the end of Ginny's bed.

Hermione huffed and headed toward the door.

George grabbed her wrist as she pushed her way out. "There is a ginger in the shower right now that would be honored to assist you if you'd like."

Hermione's eyes narrowed, her lips pursed. She yanked her wand out and before George could react, he felt his backside burning.

He grabbed it. "What did you do?!"

"If you are going to act like a pig, then you might as well be one!" She spat, before turning and disappearing downstairs.

"Did she really just give me a tail?" George asked, feeling around.

Ginny laid on her bed clutching her sides as she laughed.

"What's so funny?" Fred asked, sticking his head in the room.

"Hermione! She… she… she gave him a tail! A… A… A pig's tail!" Ginny cried out, in between laughter.

He smiled. "What'd you do mate?"

George started to explain, "Well, you see it's really all Ginny's fault…"

XxXxXx

Meanwhile, Hermione stood at the counter making morning coffee. She smiled and hummed to herself, happy with her handiwork. It seemed as if everyone wanted to decide what she should do with her body, instead of letting her decide. George deserved it for his cheeky, pigheaded comment. She knew Mrs. Weasley could help him get rid of it later, and her smile widened with the thought of George's upcoming embarrassment having to ask her.

She accio'd the mugs and set them on the counter while she waited for the coffee to finish.

She heard foot steps of multiple people coming down the stairs and bit her cheek to try to hide her smirk.

"Have I ever told you how brilliant you are?" Fred's voice whispered in her ear. He pinched her bum making her jump and squeak.

"What was that for?" She asked, pouring her coffee.

"It's a love pinch. I'd give you a love bite," He pushed her hair behind her shoulder and watched her neck, pressing a kiss to it. "but I don't think it's appropriate at the moment."

"You're right. It's not." She told him, handing him a mug of coffee and sitting down at the table.

Mrs. Weasley came barreling down the stairs a minute later, surprised to see everyone up.

"Has anyone seen Percy?" She asked, pouring a mug of coffee for herself.

The twins snorted a laugh.

"Nope." Fred answered.

"Haven't seen him." George added.

"Of course..." Fred started.

"You could ask Penelope."

"On the other hand…"

"He could be at work."

"But chances are…"

"WILL YOU TWO STOP DOING THAT! You're giving me a migraine!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed.

The girls stifled a laugh. The twins hadn't done that since before the war and they knew it annoyed their mother to no end to have to move her head back and forth to watch them.

Hermione was glad that things were getting back to normal, but she was a little disappointed she was leaving. She wouldn't get to enjoy the twins now that their pre-war personalities were coming back. She'd just have to wait until Christmas.

XxXxXx

Hermione, Ginny, Harry, Fred, George and Mrs. Weasley all stood at King's Cross waiting for the crowd to thin a bit.

"Okay… Ginny, Harry…" Mrs. Weasley called. Ginny and Harry grabbed onto the cart and leisurely strolled into the wall between platform nine and ten.

"Okay… you next!" She told Hermione and Fred. They held onto her cart and headed toward the wall quickly.

A second later they were on Platform 9 ¾ . Hermione's heart started to pound as she saw the train. It seemed like the last time she was here had been a lifetime ago.

"Let's find you and Ginny a seat." Fred told her, pushing the cart toward the train.

"Hermione!" A voice called out.

"Neville! What are you doing here? Are… are you going back?" She said smiling up at him.

"Yea. Have to if I want to become a Professor."

She squealed and threw her arms around him. "Thank Godric! You are a sight for sore eyes!"

He laughed, hugging her back. "Luna and I found a seat. You can sit with us. I'll put your trunk up for you."

"Luna's here, too?! That's wonderful! Thank you, Neville!" He pulled out his wand and levitated her trunk onto the train.

She turned to Fred and smiled, doing a small happy dance.

He chuckled, pulling her into his arms. "See, everything will be great."

She took a deep cleansing breath, resting her palms on his chest. "I hope so."

George walked by with a bagful of what looked like to be WWW products. Hermione grabbed her wand and shot it towards his backside.

He jumped and then shimmied. Realizing his tail was gone, he turned and smiled at her and she returned it.

He stalked toward her and pulled her away from Fred so he could hug her.

"I'll miss rowing with my little Herms. Have fun and don't worry so much. Enjoy yourself a little." She looked down at the bag and he hid it behind his back.

"What is in the bag, George?"

He smirked. "Now does it really matter, Hermione? You just let those ickle-prefects worry about what is in the bag and you just sit back and enjoy the show."

Hermione laughed. "You know what? You're right. I'll miss you, George." She pulled him into another hug before letting him disappear in the crowd.

She wrapped her arms around Fred's waist and deep breathed into his jumper. "I'm going to miss your smell."

He reached down and pulled at the hem of his jumper and pulled it over his head before he shoved it down over hers.

She emerged from the top laughing, her hair full of static and standing bushier than ever. She slipped her hands in the long arms and realized they were about six inches too long.

He smiled, rolling up her sleeves, while she tried taming her hair.

"How do I look?" She asked once he was done, twirling in a circle.

"You look like it is going to swallow you alive." With Fred being a foot taller than her, the jumper went to Hermione's knees and looked as if two of her could fit in it.

He pulled her to him. "You look adorable."

"I look like I'm five." She said, laughing. "It smells like you and it's warm, so thank you."

He kissed her nose.

"Did you get your trunk in the compartment, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked, behind her.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good girl. Have a safe trip and owl me once you're settled." Hermione nodded and hugged her. Hermione watched her leave, giving her and Fred time for goodbyes.

She hugged Fred and he was just starting to hug her back when he cursed under his breath and let her go again.

Harry popped up next to her. "Ginny found Neville and Luna. They're in the compartment waiting for you."

"Thank you, Harry." She hugged him. "I'll miss you. Good luck with Auror training. Don't forget to owl."

"I'll miss you, too, Hermione. Please take it easy." She nodded and turned back to Fred, tears in her eyes.

"Hey… everything is great. Everything will be fine." He told her.

She nodded and squeezed him, hiding her face in his chest.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Fred. I wish you could come with me."

He laughed. "Could you really concentrate on your schooling with your handsome bloke living so close? I mean... I wouldn't mind hiking that little skirt up-"

"Fred! Never mind. Stay home." She laughed. "You're a menace."

"But I'm your menace."

Nodding, she nuzzled into his chest again. She found herself teary-eyed at the thought of letting go. Unfortunately, the train whistle blew and she knew she had to pull away. She couldn't keep her tears from falling, but quickly wiped them away.

"Bye, baby. I'll see you soon. Have fun!"

She nodded and waved as she climbed onto the stairs and headed through to the compartment.

Suddenly, her heart gave a jolt and the invisible vise on her chest began to crank shut. She needed more from him. She ran past Neville, Luna, and Ginny and yanked the compartment window down.

"FRED!" She yelled out the window.

He hurried over to her. "What is-"

She leaned out as far as she could, grabbed his face in both hands and pulled his lips to hers. The kiss was soft and sweet, their tongues barely getting a taste of each other before the train began to move and she had to let him go. She let out a breathy sigh, her cheeks tinged pink and she waved back at him. When he was out of view, she pulled the window back up and realized she could hear fireworks going off in the hallway.

She stood there, a broad smile on her face, happy that George unknowingly kept everyone's eyes off their public display of affection. She felt content with her decision to give him a piece of her that she wasn't sure she was ready to yet. She did the right thing... and she couldn't wait to do it again. His lips were so soft and he was so gentle with her, it made her heart burst. Her other experiences seemed to be hard and hurried, but she guessed that was the difference between dating a boy versus dating a man.

Fred stood on the platform grinning like an idiot. He got a taste of Hermione and he savored those few seconds with her. His lips still tingled from their connection and although he couldn't wait to get his hands on her again, he was completely content with their interaction. It was just enough to get him through for a couple more months.

George came up behind him smiling, putting an arm over his shoulder. He witnessed their PDA and he was glad for his brother. Fred had given Hermione everything he could and George felt like Hermione was finally allowing herself to give back. Maybe now his brother wouldn't be so moody while she was gone.

Together, they watched the train leave, fireworks exploding down the corridors of the train from the back window, hearing students cheering from inside.