I'm an idiot because at the A/N at the last chapter I said, something like I hate multiple of six chapters… when it was chapter 13. I actually noticed this after it had updated and stuff, but I was too lazy to change it. Oh well, it adds a personal touch to the story because, well, I say stuff like that a lot. Also, think of this story's tone and style… now think of sex… doesn't exactly fit does it? I don't own Harry Potter and on to chapter fourteen!

I hope this chapter is better than 13!

:*: 14 – Reactions and Arguments :*:

Nine months later, Hermione gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.

Aha! Had you going for a minute, didn't I?

Fear not, for that did not happen. I wish I could say that that little "…Do you want to shag?" comment didn't happen, but I couldn't.

Yes, folks. Fred Weasley is THAT big of an idiot. And do you know why else I'm an idiot? Because of my reaction to Hermione's agreement to questions. You want to know what it was? Here we go (prepared to witness the sheer stupidity that I, Fred Weasley, possess):

I laughed.

Can you believe that? I mean seriously. I have a beautiful girl that I'm in love with ready and willing to do the horizontal mambo with me and I laughed. And oh, if that's not bad enough, it's not just a little giggle or anything. No. It was loud, maniacal cackling.

Plus, if THAT isn't bad enough, it lasted for so long that by the time it subsided, Hermione had left. Her napkin she had been using was damp, from what I sincerely hoped was tears.

I think I spent a good millisecond contemplating what to do before I bolted out the door to hopefully catch up with Hermione.

I searched everywhere in Hogsmeade for her with no luck. After asking probably everyone I saw if they had seen a sixteen year old witch running down the street and most said no. The few that said yes pointed to Hogwart's.

Dumbledore wouldn't care if I barged into Hogwart's to apologize to the woman I love for being an idiot, would he?

So I ran to Hogwart's. I would've Apparated, but all of Hermione's "According to 'Hogwarts: A History' you can't Apparate or Disapperate on Hogwart's Grounds" finally rubbed off on me.

"Fred! What the hell did you do?" I heard someone yell angrily at me when I was about to reach the front doors.

I kept running to see who was yelling and Ron and Harry were on the front steps of the school and looking mighty pissed off.

"Hi, Ron. Hey, Harry," I said cheerily.

Ron walked over and shoved me.

"What the hell did you do to her?" he asked angrily.

"Where's Hermione?" I asked.

"In the tower," Ron repeated. "Crying because whatever the hell you did. I knew it, you bastard!"

Whoa.

"Whoa," I said. "What? What did you know?"

"Why do you think I was so adverse to you dating Hermione? A part of it was my bad mood, and yes, I'll admit I still had feelings for her, but not anymore. But the majority of it was that I knew that you could be a complete prat at times and I did not want Hermione to get hurt. So what did you do?"

That was a blow.

"What?" I asked, livid.

"You and the way you act, Fred," Ron replied. "You don't think I didn't notice all the girls you've dated. Sure, you never dated them for as long as you have with Hermione, but the point is, in the end, the girls end up hurt and you just moved on to the next one. I didn't want to see that happen to Hermione. She's my best friend."

I took a glance at Harry, who, thought still had an angry look for me, was shocked at the pronouncement Ron just made.

"Never," I said, my fists balled up as I willed them not to sock Ron across the face. "Would I ever do something to hurt Hermione. You have no idea how much I love her and want to be with her… forever!

"I admit what I did tonight was the most stupid, callous thing I could ever say or do and I regret it more than anything!" I said, calming down a little. "But I hate the accusation that I would… use Hermione and then discard her like a piece of trash. I love her, God dammit!"

There was an angry silence that befell us as I took in Ron's words, as he took in mine, and as Harry tried to take in both of our comments.

"So," I said finally. "Can you please move so I can go and apologize to her?"

"Can we know what you did first?" Harry asked, smirking.

"And if I don't think it's any of your business?" I asked.

"Then you won't get to see her," Ron said, puffing his chest. I tried to hide the amused expression creeping up on my face.

"Or what?" I asked, humor in my voice. "You'll fight me?"

"That's right," Ron said. I looked at Harry and he grinned.

"You really want to know?" I asked.

Ron and Harry nodded.

"Then will I get to see Hermione?" I asked impatiently.

Ron and Harry nodded again.

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

"Are you serious?" Ron howled. He and Harry were cracking up. I had just told him what had happened with Hermione and I didn't find their reactions the least bit amusing.

"Can I see go in and find her now?" I asked as the still laughed.

"Are you sure you don't want to shag now?" Ron asked, causing him and Harry to laugh harder.

I got up, smacked Ron in the back of the head and proceeded into the castle and to the Gryffindor Common Room. Of course, I didn't know the password, so I just stood.

"Come on," I told the Fat Lady. "I'm Fred Weasley. You remember me, right?"

"You dyed my face blue," she said, narrowing her eyes.

"Well…" I replied. "Can I get in?"

The Fat Lady just looked at me. So I continued to stand and wait. Hopefully someone would open the portrait soon… And someone did.

It was Ginny. I was amazed at how psychic my family members were to be so strategically placed to aid me in my quest to apologize.

"She's in her room," Ginny said coolly. "But I warn you not to go in. She's very mad right now. At you."

"Really?" I replied sarcastically. "I didn't know."

"Don't get all sarcastic with me, Fred Weasley. I'm not the one you made a fool of!" Ginny yelled.

"Will you shut up, Ginny?" I asked. "The entire Gryffindor dorm does not need to hear this argument. This is between me and Hermione, okay?"

"Fine," she said, stepping aside and letting me in.

I got to Hermione's dorm in a flash. Outside the door were Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.

"What's going on?" Parvati asked.

"We're tired and she won't let us in," Lavender added.

I ignored them and knocked on the door.

"Go away!" I heard Hermione say before sniffing.

"It's Fred," I said.

"Especially you!" she said angrily.

"I'm coming in!" I called.

I tried the knob, but it was locked.

"Alohamora!" I said. I heard the click and opened the door. "See, you teach me things," I said.

She didn't respond.

"Hermione," I said. "I am so sorry."

Still, nothing.

"Please," I said. "I am so sorry. That was… the stupidest thing I did and I… I…"

"For once, you're right," she said, her voice low and angry. "That was stupid. And painful and embarrassing."

"I know, I – "

"No you don't know!" she screamed, finally turning to face me. "You don't know how much I thought about that answer. How much I love you to say yes to a question – as crude as it was. You also don't know how embarrassing it was for me when, after I said yes, you laughed and then didn't even notice I had left! You don't know so don't even fucking pretend to!"

I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. Not only for her words (which I might add, if the first time I've ever heard her use a word that serious before), but for the pain in her voice as she said them. I knew it hurt, but I didn't know it had hurt that much.

I slowly walked over to her and put my arm on her shoulder. She winced. I knelt down next to her.

"Hermione," I started. "Before I say anything else, know how much I love you, because I do. I would never say anything like that and mean it because I love you more than anything. Do you understand?"

She nodded, I continued.

"When I asked if you wanted to… shag, I didn't… I mean, it was a stupid thing to say. It felt awkward just sitting there and… I don't know! I'm an eighteen year old boy! I think things like that and sometimes I'm stupid enough to voice them. Add to that fact I'm a Weasley and the odds of saying something intelligent in that situation are stacked highly against me."

I heard Hermione give a muffled laugh. I took that as a good sign.

"I am so… honored that you love me enough to actually want to have sex with me. Hell! I wouldn't even have sex with me and I'm myself!"

There was a definite laugh from Hermione this time.

"And the fact that the most beautiful girl in this world would actually want to do that kind of thing with me… well, I was beyond shocked. It means so much to me that you would want to do that and I can't even believe I had the audacity to laugh. But, as you know, people do stupid things when they're in love."

I didn't like the silence that followed. The longer the silence was, the more uncertain I felt about Hermione's final reaction.

Finally, she said something.

"I've never done anything stupid," she said proudly, smiling.

I released a humongous sigh of relief and swooped her up into my arms and kissed her.

"I love you, Hermione Granger and I am so sorry," I said, still holding her tightly in my arms.

"I love you too, Fred Weasley," she answered, kissing me again.

There was an impatient knock on the door.

"Ignore it," Hermione said. "I was getting sick of Parvati and Lavender's constant repertoire of inanity."

I laughed.

"Tired?" I asked as she yawned.

She nodded.

"Go to bed. I'll come back tomorrow and we can talk some more," I said, lifting up the covers to tuck her in.

She nodded and curled up. I kissed her and was about to open the door when she told me to wait.

"What?" I asked.

"Will you stay here tonight?" she asked timidly.

"Wait…" I said, ultimately confused. "What? I thought, you know, that…  uh…"

"No," she said, smiling. "Not… that… but just… sleep. Not in the naughty teenage way. Actual and true sleep. If you want," she added hastily.

"Of course I want to," I said, excited. "Wee!" I added as I jumped happily onto the bed, bouncing up and down.

"You do know," I added. "That if McGonagall were to catch me in your bed, she would freak out and you'd get in trouble… a lot of it."

"I guess," she said. "That the Weasley fearlessness really is rubbing off on me."

"Nice," I said, wrapping my arms around her. "Good night."

"Good night."

"I love you," I whispered in her ear again.

"I know," she said.

And we drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Ah… that chapter was a lot better. I hope. Okay, if I have to make a guess at to how many chapters are left in this story, I'd say… two? And then my super long thank you to each of my reviewers. Thank you for all of the reviews and for not being afraid to tell me exactly what you think of my story. See you in Chapter 15!