A/N: Harry Potter is a billion dollar enterprise, so do you really think a Seattle-dwelling geek like me would own it? Of course not.

Also, thank you for all the wonderful reviews.

All right, I know you all want to read what happens with Fred and Hermione's reaction, so I will, drum roll please, continue with the story! HOORAY!!

:*: 7 – The Zonko's Encounter:*:

I just stood there, waving.

Waving.

Of all the things I could've done, I waved.

Like a complete buffoon.

I kissed her.

And then I waved?

I am such an idiot.

"Fred?" came a shocked voice.

I turned around and came face to face with… myself?

"Fred?" George repeated. "What… I mean, why…"

My twin seemed to be quite shocked at my actions. He also seemed to be unable to ask a question.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said, dismissing George and walking towards the barrier into the Muggle King's Cross.

"No," George said firmly, grasping onto my upper arm.

"I am sick and tired of you being so sullen lately," he said. I was glad that the platform was nearly empty because George was speaking very loudly.

"Now," George continued, "what the hell has been up with you lately and why the hell did you just kiss Hermione? And I don't want to hear some crappy answer. I want the truth. I'm your brother, your twin, and I want, and deserve, to know."

I just looked at him for a second and realized, wow, George is really serious. I've never seen him so… demanding and all that before. He wasn't joking.

So I caved. I told him everything… And I mean everything. The first time I felt all fuzzy when I was around Hermione all the way up to:

"And so I kissed her," I said. "I kissed her and she sped away to Hogwarts. Happy now?"

"Well," George said, "yeah. I just wish you would've told me. I would've understood."

"So you're not going to get all judgmental and stupid and say things like, 'But Hermione's two years younger than you' and stuff."

"Only unless you want me to give you reasons on not to like her," George said, smiling. "I personally think you'd be good together. They always say opposite's attract."

"You know," I said, "I've always wondered you the 'they' in those sayings are…"

George laughed.

I have to admit, I'm glad he's supportive of my… crush? Would that be the appropriate word? It sounds so… vapid and loser-ish. Oh well, can't think of anything else. Crush it is!

:*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*:

It had been a good week before I had any response to what I did. It was a letter, which I was expecting to be from Hermione, or maybe even Ron to scream at me. But no, oddly enough, it was from Harry.

Fred,

This is awful weird, writing this. Just to let you know, I tried to get Hermione to write you, but she is… I really don't know what she is. I think the best word to describe how she's feeling is "conflicted." She won't elaborate, so I can't offer you a great explanation.

I tried to get Ron to owl, but he's a little angry. Since it's Ron, he won't tell me why, but I have a pretty good feeling it's because he likes Hermione, or maybe it's that "he never gets anything because he has six siblings and a famous best friend" thing Hermione told me about. What ever it is, he's mad.

Ginny was going to, but she's mad at you also for not telling her about your feelings for Hermione.

Did you have any idea you Weasley's are so stubborn? Well, you are.

Anyways, I just thought you would like to know how Hermione reacted, since I'm assuming you fancy her… or else you're just a complete idiot… or maybe even both.

So, directly after "The Kiss," she was stunned, obviously. She smiled for a bit before getting an annoyed expression. Whether that was from "The Kiss" or maybe it was because Ron, Ginny and I were pestering her about it, I'll never know.

She refuses to talk about it with anyone but Ginny and Ginny won't tell me anything, so I can't offer much help. I can tell you this:

Our first trip to Hogsmeade is in two Saturdays. Try to schedule work on that day, and I'll try to get Hermione to come into Zonko's and you can sort out any underlying issues you two might have.

Hope all is well at the Burrow, and I'll see you (hopefully) at Zonko's.

Harry

I quickly rifled through all the current mail to see if the owled my schedule for two Saturday's from now.

Thank God! I was working. Eight to eight. Twelve hours… hopefully some of that will be filled with Hermione time.

What was I going to say to her, though? I mean, I kissed her out of no where, and if she truly didn't feel that way for me, things are going to pretty awkward.

Knowing me, I'll say something completely inappropriate and Hermione would smack me like she smacked Malfoy, and then I'd be a hurt, lonely, pathetic nothing.

Or, she could like me back and I could be all suave and debonair and…

Oh, who am I kidding? I'm going to screw it up. I always screw it up somehow. Let me give you a brief history:

My fourth year, I asked a Ravenclaw out, and she laughed at me… in front of everyone.

My fifth year, I asked a Gryffindor fourth year to go to Hogsmeade with me and she said yes. I then proceeded to make a complete idiot of myself the entire day.

My sixth year, after the Yule Ball, I was talking (and kissing…) with Angelina and I made a completely inappropriate comment (I won't dare to reveal it) and she got mad and left. I apologized the next day, but it still counts.

With that track record (and numerous more I won't bother to regale you with) I'm not all that confident about seeing Hermione. And knowing Hermione and how easily she gets ruffled, I'll be treading on thin ice.

I heard the door to my room open and George walked in.

"Heard from Hermione?" he asked, sitting down on his bed.

"Nope," I replied sadly, "I got a letter from Harry instead. Here." I handed it to him and he read it, his face falling a bit.

"Bummer. But hey," he said brightly, "Harry never said she didn't like you back. She might just be mad at you because you waited until that moment, and now she can't date you."

"You think?" I asked hopefully. I hadn't thought of that.

George shrugged.

"Comforting," I said sarcastically. George grinned.

"Don't sweat it," he said. "Look, she either likes you, or she doesn't. If she does, good for you. If she doesn't, at least you won't have to see her every day."

I glared at him.

"You know, I was hoping you'd offer some great words of encouragement, but your just being an ass."

"I'm just being myself," he replied with a smile.

I shook my head.

"So," I said, "are you going to help me not screw it up with Hermione, assuming she does like me… or help me convince her to like me?"

"You can't convince someone to like you, Fred," George said. "But I'll help you. Of course I will. First off, don't say anything stupid."

"Obviously. So how do I do that?"

"I don't know," George answered. "I've never said anything stupid."

"If you're going to be this frustrating, then forget it," I said angrily, getting up and taking a few steps towards the door.

"Okay," he conceded, "I'll get serious. Promise."

I sat back down and listen to George rattle off rules of wooing Hermione.

:*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*:

It was "The Day."

Two weeks had inched by, with me worrying everyday, and repeating George's rules in my head over and over. But when "The Day," came… the day I'd finally see Hermione… when I woke up, I realized something horrible.

I didn't remember a single rule George had taught me.

Except for number one: Don't make fun of Hermione's hair.

Wow, that would help me.

I was going to pass out. I truly felt I was going to pass out. My breath was all ragged and I was all wobbly on my feet and I was stuttering when I spoke and my head was all swimmy. Basically, it sucked.

But I had to see her. I just had to.

"Good morning!" said my co-worker Caitlin.

She was so freaking chipper in the morning I wanted to puke.

"You don't look too good," Caitlin said, looking at my ashen face. I was also sweating terribly.

"Uh… I'm a bit nervous…"

"About?"
"It's just some… romance stuff," I said sheepishly, nervously looking over my shoulder.

"Oh!" was all Caitlin said.

"Could I possibly work the register today? I'm expecting someone and – "

"Of course," Caitlin interrupted. "I can do inventory. Plus, today is the Hogsmeade trip for Hogwarts, so I don't fancy working on the register."

"Thanks," I said gratefully.

Caitlin smiled and walked into the back.

:*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*: :*:

I wish I could say that Hermione waltzed into Zonko's and declared her love for me… but I can't.

Though I can tell you the story of the day in a painstakingly slow manner. Here I go!

I was working in aisle four, cleaning up after some idiotic third year came in and knocked over a display of Melting Wands (wands that melt when they touch your hands so a disgusting goo spreads over your hands and then constricts like a shell), so that goo was all over the floor, constricting to the floor and me.

I was having no luck with a Cleaning Charm, so I was forced to clean it up the Muggle way, so there I was, on my knees chipping off hardened goo on the floor when I heard her.

"Harry," she said. "I don't want to come in here!"

"Why not?" Harry asked.

"Because…' Hermione trailed off.

I had walked out into her eye line.

She immediately turned and began to walk out. Harry grabbed her and roughly turned her around.

"You aren't leaving until you tell Fred what you told me," he said firmly.

Hermione looked at him, embarrassed, but he only shrugged and walked out. leaving me and Hermione standing awkwardly across from each other.

"Hermione," I said at the same tome she said, "Fred."

We were silent again.

"I like you," I said stupidly. I then mentally smacked myself.

Hermione looked at me sympathetically.

"Fred, you are such a great guy and – "

I interrupted her.

"Do you like me back or not?" I said roughly.

She looked at the floor and mumbled something.

"What?" I asked, my heart pounding.

She looked at me with her big brown eyes and said, "Yes" very softly.

I was conflicted.

"Yes to you like me? Or yes to or not?" I asked fearfully.

"Yes to," she paused, "I like you."

The joy I felt was overwhelming.

I smiled wide and ran over and picked her up, hugged her and spun her around.

She finally said to put her down, which I obeyed reluctantly. When I looked at her, she had a huge smile on her face and her eyes were dancing with happiness and… God, she was just so beautiful.

So beautiful, in fact, that I kissed her. Needless to say, this time, Hermione kissed back.

A/N: Yeah!  There's chapter seven. I am so happy with how this story is going. It's not over. I've still got some more ideas for this story, maybe even a sequel depending on how I decide to end this one. The backdrop is finally done so I'll have more time to write which means quicker updates. Hooray!