A/N: Thank you so much for all the reviews. I'm so glad so many of you like my story. And I'm sorry if I seemed ungracious with CelticMage's review, because I'm not. I enjoy all types of reviews whether they say "This is great!" or, "This sucks." I want to apologize for the curtness in which my response seemed, because that wasn't the intention. I only responded in that manner because I got the feeling she didn't like Harry Potter Fan Fictions and I thought, "Why is she reading this if she doesn't like it?" If that's not the case, then I retract the letter in whole and I'm sorry for being so stupid about it. Don't be afraid to submit anything in your reviews! And Jessica B., if you want to help me improve my writing style, please don't hesitate. I would appreciate it immensely. I strive to be a good writer and if you can help me achieve my goal, hooray!

Sorry I have such long, droning A/N's lately. Some things I feel the need to talk about stuff, though. Here's chapter nine!

:*: 9 – Hogwart's Revisited :*:

"Wow," was all I could say.

We had decided, the next day, to go and check out the apartment.

"I know," said George, also in awe of the space around it.

The living area was a spacious room with a fireplace on one wall. A couch, a chair and a table could fit quite nicely in the room. The kitchen, which was basically in the same room, consisted of an island counter, wall locked counters, shelves above those cabinets, an oven and a refrigerator.

The two bedrooms were connected by the one bathroom and those bedrooms were equal in size. You could easily fit a large bed, a desk and a few clothing holder things in it. It also had a window.

"We'll take it," George said.

The sales witch looked dumbstruck.

"Really?" she said happily.

"Yes," said George. "It's perfect."

"George," I said warily. "Don't you think we should ask… I don't know… someone?"

"Nah," he said offhandedly, turning to the sales witch. "How much?"

"Well…" she said, still looking a little shocked George had decided to buy it so quickly. "Uh… there's a three month minimum for staying her, so you have to pay the three month's rent up front. So that's… Forty-five galleons."

My jaw dropped. Forty-five galleons? I barely made thirty so far.

"George," I said. He responded by waving his hand in my face and saying,

"So, Fred, that's twenty three galleons for you to contribute."

"What? Twenty three! Why do I have to pay the extra Galleon?"

"Fine," he said, defeated. He reached into his pocket and drew out his money sack and anteed up twenty three shining, gold, galleons.

My jaw dropped again.

"Fred?" George said expectantly.

I slowly drew out my sack. It was jingling loudly because my hands were shaking so bad. I drew out one galleon, one galleon I had worked my ass off to earn… and I was handing it to a stranger.

George, obviously frustrated with my shock, snatched the bag out of my hands and dumped twenty-two galleons into the waiting payment sack.

"Well," the sales lady said, quickly grabbing the sack. "Sign here." She held out a parchment which George and I signed.

"Welcome home, boys," she chirped, Disapperating with a "POP."

George sighed happily.

I was still dumbfounded. Twenty minutes ago, I was living with my mother. Now, I live on my own (with George). That's a huge thing to deal within a matter of minutes.

"We're going to need a couch… some chairs… our beds we can transport over along with our dressers. We'll need – "

"George," I interrupted. "Do you realize what we just did?" I asked stupidly.

"Yeah," George said happily. "We just bought our place. Our new home."

This was ours. Not Mum and Dad's whom we basically mooched off of, but our's. George and mines. Payed for ourselves with our hard earned money.

Whoa.

I'm really an adult now, huh?

Another whoa.

I'm officially on my own… an adult. What was Hermione? A child.

"George," I said.

"What?" he asked. He was still extremely happy with our new place.

"What about Hermione?"

"Well," he said, "I'm sure she can come and stay some times. Thinking of some Hogsmeade shag sessions?"

"What?" I asked. "What? No! I was just… well, that would be nice… but no! I was just thinking… She's two years younger than me."

"Congratulations," George praised. "You've learned math!"

I  scowled at him. It's been awhile since I've scowled.

George dropped the sarcasm and said seriously, "Look, Fred. Yes, she's two years younger. She's now seventeen since it's past September, and you'll be nineteen in March (A/N: I hope I got that right. I'm too lazy to go find GoF). That's not so amazingly huge. Mum and Dad are three years apart."

I nodded.

"If you fancy each other as much as I think you do," he added, "age means nothing."

"You sound like Dumbledore," I replied.

"I know."

I smiled.

My brother sure is great, huh?

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

"Mum!" I yelled. "We're back!"

"And we've got news!" George added.

Mum and Dad bustled into the kitchen to where we awaited them.

"Yes?" Dad asked.

"Well," I said, trying to phrase it in a way that will not make Mum feel so bad.

"We've decided to move out!" George broke in excitedly.

Mum's face paled and Dad looked a little shocked. George just rambled on.

"It's in Hogsmeade, two bedrooms, fifteen Galleons a month and – "

"George," Dad interrupted quietly. "What?"

I started explaining before George had a chance.

"We decided a few days ago that we should begin looking in to finding a place of our own," I explained, placing a hand on Mum's shoulder. "We're graduated and we have a job. We've just decided it's time to… grow up."

Mum sobbed loudly.

"Mum, don't cry!" I said, feeling really guilty. I hugged her tightly.

"Look," George said, realizing this was a delicate situation, "We're connected to the Floo Network, and we'll come home for dinner every once in awhile. Besides," he added, "You've said before that you've still got Ron and Ginny."

If that was supposed to cheer Mum up, he failed miserably. Mum was crying really loudly by now.

"George," Dad said. "While we're very pleased that you've decided to become so responsible all of a sudden… Maybe you could've offered a little… warning… before taking such drastic action."

I could tell he was trying to phrase it in a way that wouldn't piss us off, which was nice. There I go with things that are nice again.

"So, are you saying we can't move out?" George accused.

I could tell Dad was about to lose it so I spoke up first.

"Look!" I said loudly. "We're all feeling a bit… emotional right now. Why don't we all just take a few hours to think over our feelings and think of new ways to reveal our emotions."

Was this me talking? Did I just go all philosophical? Whoa. All of this brand new maturity sure is hitting me quickly. It's kind of scary.

In response to my advice, which everyone seemed so shocked to hear coming from my mouth, Mum and Dad went into the living room and George and I headed upstairs.

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

I would rather not bore you with the details of the later occurring conversation between my parents and George and I, so I'll give you a quick overview:

Although my parents would've liked to have been forewarned with our moving, they are quite happy for us and fully support our decision.

That's pretty much it. Although the actual conversation consisted of Mum crying occasionally and George's ears reddening in frustration. It was just another Weasley family conversation in the end.

But that isn't important right now. What's important is that tomorrow I get to see Hermione.

I sound excited, I know, but I kind of wasn't. Don't misunderstand me, I still am harboring feelings for her and want to continue our…

See that's what gets me. What do we have together? It really, logically, couldn't be a relationship because we haven't really been together long enough to have one. A few kisses (albeit, fantastic ones), a conversation and an extremely awkward letter correspondence.

Plus the age thing was still nagging at my brain. I want to be with her but… I don't even know how to phrase this.

I think I just need a good night's sleep. Then I can just go to Hogwart's tomorrow and wing it.

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

Wow.

I know I've been to Hogwart's so many times already, but when you come back for the first time when you really don't need to… it's different somehow.

Hogwart's had never had an affect on me because I've seen it for my entire life because of my older brothers. I never really realized how… incredible it was until that moment I got off my broom.

I had flown the tediously long flight on my broom thinking, "oh, flying to Hogwart's would be ever so much fun!" (but with out the girly twang to it) and found myself thinking after a good half hour, "oh dear God, how this flight needs to end."

But when I saw Hogwarts over the hill, the long broom ride and broom indentation now located on my butt was worth it.

I could see the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid's Hut, the Quidditch Pitch and the castle all at once.

The Quidditch Pitch was exciting, obviously, and I could see blurs zooming across the sky and decided to find out who was practicing. It was Gryffindor.

"Harry!" I yelled, causing him to almost fall off his broom. "Ron!"

Both looked down at me with grins on their faces and Harry called for a break. The other players sighed happily and lowered back to the ground.

"Fred!" Harry and Ron said at once. "Welcome back," Harry added.

"Thanks," I said. "I saw you all practicing. You look pretty good."

Harry's chest puffed out proudly, as he was captain and said, "I know."

Ron laughed. "Yeah, we're good alright, but as Harry has undoubtedly told you, the Beaters need some work."

"How so?" I asked.

"It's the exact opposite problem for each of them," Ron said, annoyed.

"Yeah," Harry explained, "Donald's got amazing aim, but a really weak hit. Clara, on the other hand, has great arm but bad aim. I've tried to help them, but I've got no idea the, ah, essence of being a Beater."

"Yes," I agreed, "We are a tricky breed."

Ron and Harry laughed.

"So, where's Hermione?" I asked.

Harry and Ron shook there heads in a matter that clearly said, "I was wondering when he'd ask that."

"In the common room."

I turned around and took three steps in the direction of Hogwart's until Ron yelled, "Stop!"

I froze and turned around. "What?" I asked.

"Ginny said not to allow you in the common room until she's ready," Harry said, just as confused as I was. "Some sort of secret project she's performing."

I raised my eyebrow in a suspicious matter and asked, "What does that have to do with me?"

Harry shrugged.

"All right," I said. "Where are those Beaters?"

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

It was nearly two hours later when I was finally released from the newfound Hell:

Training inexperienced Beaters.

When Harry said that Clara had bad aim, he wasn't kidding. Great arm (which is proved by the humongous bruise on my stomach) but bad aim (which is also proved by the humongous bruise on my stomach).

I was just sitting on my broom and she was supposed to hit it forward to Donald, who would in turn hit it back, but somehow she managed to hit to me…

Did I mention I was behind her?

So, I was caught extremely off-guard and since I didn't have a Beater stick, it hit me, I doubled over, and proceeded to yell at the trainees.

It wasn't until Clara started crying (or wailing, which would be more appropriate) that I realized she hadn't intended to hit me.

So I calmed down and said, which was hard when your teeth are clenched in pain, "Why don't you guys teach each other. Dies that sound simple enough? Clara, you teach Donald here how to hit like that and Donald, you teach her how to aim. Sound like a plan? Good. I'm going to the infirmary."

I was at the front steps when Harry and Ron came out.

"Fred!" he said. "We were coming to get you. Ginny said you're allowed to come into the Common Room now."

Suddenly, the pain in my stomach was gone.

"Really?" I said happily. Harry and Ron nodded.

We continued on to the Gryffindor Common when I thought of something.

"Ron," I said. "I thought you were mad at me?"

Ron suddenly looked embarrassed.

"Uh… well…" he said.

"He and Melissa are together. He's been in a much better mood ever since," Harry interrupted.

"Who's Melissa?" I asked.

"Ginny's friend from Hufflepuff," Ron said, ears now pink.

"Aww… ickle Ronniekins is all grown up and getting a girlfriend," I teased.

Ron laughed. "I haven't heard you call me that in ages."

We laughed and reached the Fat Lady.

"Animus Gryffindor," Harry said. The Fat Lady eyed me for a moment, then swung open.

It was exactly how it looked last year, of course, but it had that feeling that seeing Hogwart's again had.

The plush couches and chairs were exactly where they had always been. The fire was blazing and students were sitting around doing their homework. I noticed Neville was looking for his toad, Trevor.

Nothing had changed…

My presence had a new impact, though. The second I walked through the door, fifth, sixth and seventh years were coming up to talk to me. There were even some second and third years that came up to me, even though they didn't know me well.

I must say, my celebrity-ism was quite nice, but after a good fifteen minutes of answering the same questions ("Do you still play Quidditch?"  "Have you opened the joke shop yet?" "You're here to see Hermione Granger?" "You're dating Hermione Granger?"), I wanted to see Hermione.

"Fred!" I heard Ginny yell. I panned to room to find her. She was over in the corner, waving frantically for me to make my way over.

I politely excused myself from the throng of fans I acquired and headed towards Ginny.

"Hi, Fred!" she said extremely happily, hugging me. "I have a surprise for you!"

"What kind of surprise?" I asked suspiciously. She was a Weasley, after all.

"You'll see. Follow me!" she said, grabbing my hand and leading me up the Girl's Dormitory staircase to the "Girls Sixth Year" dorms.

"Ginny," I said. "Just cause I'm graduated doesn't mean I'm allowed in the girl's dorm."

"Oh, grow up!" she said. My sister was turning out exactly like George and I. Mum's going to be upset.

She opened the door and there she was.

Hermione. My Hermione.

I thought.

"What have you done!?" I yelled angrily.

A/N: BAHAHA! A cliffhanger. My first in this story at least. I've been so busy lately for some reason, so sorry this took awhile to get out. I should have the next chapter ready by next weekend, so yeah. Also, this story is getting close to the end and while I can write a sequel if "DSP" fans want me too, (if it ends in a way I can write a sequel), I'm trying to think of a new story to write. New couplings or whatnot. If you have an idea, leave it to me in a review or e-mail me at sneezymouse82@hotmail.com. Thanks for reading and reviewing!GH