A/N: Still don't own Harry Potter. Plus, Fred finally appears in this chapter!!!!
* II *
"If I walked around at all it was in bits and pieces, of a jagged heart…"
Tim McGraw, "Unbroken"
* One year later… *
"So," Ginny asked. "Is David proposing tonight?"
Lisa was full on, attention wise.
"I didn't know you two were discussing marriage," she said, amazed.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"We aren't," she said. "Ginny is in some delusion that we're that serious."
"You've said you love each other… you've done everything but and – "
"If those are your standards, Ginny," Hermione replied. "Where's your engagement ring?"
Ginny looked like she was ready to cry after that.
"Hermione!" Lisa scolded.
Lisa Turpin, twenty-six years old, was another of Hermione's friend. They had attended Hogwart's together, same year, but Lisa was in Ravenclaw and Hermione was in Gryffindor. Lisa and Hermione had met while reporting at the Daily Prophet, where Lisa also works.
"Sorry," Hermione said sincerely. "Ginny, I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Ginny said, sobbing.
"What did I do?" Hermione mouthed to Lisa, who shrugged.
"Harry and I had a huge argument the other day," Ginny wailed. "I asked him if he was ever going to propose. I mean, we've been together for three years! But instead of proposing or saying he needed to get a ring, he said it was too soon! So I started getting upset, saying that it's been three years and how is that too soon? We've been in a relationship for three years, but we've known each other for fifteen!"
"It'll be okay," Lisa said. "He's a boy. He's an idiot."
"But he's my idiot!" Ginny cried.
Lisa and Hermione shared a look.
"I'll go cancel David," Hermione said to Lisa, hoping Ginny didn't hear. She did.
"Don't you dare!" she said. "You will go to dinner with him and he will propose and you will live happily ever after with me as your maid-of-honor."
Lisa gave Hermione two looks. One that said, "Ginny's completely lost it." And another that said, "Ginny really has lost it if she thinks she's your maid-of-honor."
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked.
"Go," Ginny said.
"It's okay," Lisa said. "I'll stay. I'll do Harry bashing."
"No," Hermione said. "Tell her about you're upcoming date with Ron."
Then Hermione Apparated away – but not before she saw the happy look on Ginny's face and heard her squeal, "Oh my God!"
When Hermione POPped into her flat, she was still smiling. Ginny was a sucker for hearing relationship news. She wasn't a romantic or a gossip or anything, she just loved the happiness that usually followed a relationship. So I guess you could say Ginny was a sucker for happiness.
Although Hermione didn't logically believe the David was going to propose tonight – after all, it had been only a year – she sort of hoped he would. She was deeply in love with him and as far as she knew, it was reciprocated. He had said it numerous times. He was actually the first to say it.
Stop it, Hermione, she told herself as she caught herself looking whimsically at her wedding band finger.
She was to arrive at David's at exactly 6:15, so she had a half hour to get ready. At Hermione's first thought, she was just going to wear the same thing she had been wearing all day, but Ginny's engagement talk had spurred Hermione to think that if he was going to propose, she didn't want to be dressed in ratty old flares and a plain red t-shirt.
So she changed. She put on her tight, black bootlegs; her "Sexy Pants" as Ginny and Lisa had dubbed them. And with that, put on her pale yellow polo tee. She surveyed herself in the mirror again before putting on mascara (waterproof, in case she cried) and strawberry flavored lip gloss (David loved strawberries and with past precedence's, there would be major kissage). That's all she needed.
But something still wasn't right. Still wasn't… engagement-y.
And that was Hermione's prized look: Her bushy hair.
She pulled out her bottle of Sleakeezy Serum and stood pensively in her bathroom. She really wanted to look her best on the long shot he might actually propose. But still… her hair was Hermione's trade mark.
Hermione inhaled deeply and dumped the bottle on her hair. She then grabbed a brush and started spreading it all over. After a good ten minutes (she still had another ten) , her hair was sleek and shiny. Hermione looked in the mirror and shook her head.
"I can't believe I just did that," she muttered, feeling the smooth plait atop her head. "If only Ginny could see me now."
Smiling, Hermione spritzed herself with Peach perfume, then slipped on her black sandals. She then stood in her living room, wringing her hands in impatience.
"What has gotten into me?" She said, still talking to herself. "One tiny comment from Ginny and I'm a space case, changing my look to try and impress David. I need not impress him, he loves me…"
She looked at her clock. Five minutes. David liked punctuality.
So he should be pleased if I show up a bit early, Hermione reasoned. So she Apparated in.
Oh, how she regretted that one move.
* * * * *
Ginny had mentioned something about having dinner at the Weasleys. So that's where Hermione went.
"Ginny?" She called, falling into a crying heap on the carpeted floor of the living room.
"Hello?" Hermione heard someone call out. It wasn't Ginny though. It was Fred. "Hermione?" he said, shocked.
"Is Ginny here?" Hermione said, trying to hold back her tears. "I need to talk to her."
"No, she's not," Fred replied, walking over to her. "She and Harry aren't due to arrive for another hour or so. They were going someplace important beforehand. Work related, you know."
"Okay," Hermione said. "I'll go then. I hope Lisa's home."
"Hermione, you're not going anywhere. You're upset. You could end up Apparating to the wrong place, or worse yet, you could be splinched."
Hermione thought for a second, then let out a large sob.
"I can't believe he did that!" she said.
"Who? What?" Fred asked.
Fred hadn't seen Hermione in almost three years. She looked different. But in a good way – you know, except for the part that she was crying something dreadful.
Fred, a little uncomfortable, walked over and pulled Hermione up and then led her to the couch where he sat down next to her.
"What happened, Hermione?" Fred asked, concern filling his voice.
"He-he-he broke up with me!" Hermione wailed, placing her face in her hands. Fred offered his sleeve as there were no tissues around. Hermione took it and wiped her eyes, which were very red and very puffy.
"Who?" Fred asked.
"David… my boyfriend," Hermione said. Then she let out another large sob. "Or ex-boyfriend, I should say."
"Oh, Hermione," was all Fred could say. After all, he knew nothing of her relationship. The last time he had seen her, she was dating Ron.
Hermione cried for another ten minutes before heaving one last sob and saying,
"You know, Fred. It would've been easy for him just to say, 'Hey, Hermione! I don't want to see you anymore. Sorry.'" Hermione blew her nose on Fred's sleeve. "But no. I have to appear in his house and see him shagging another girl. And what's worse!" she added loudly. "Is that he planned it."
"I don't think anyone plans that," Fred said, hoping Ginny would arrive soon. He was feeling a bit out-of-place, comforting Hermione like this. Plus, the sleeve of his shirt was getting really gross from tears and snot. He wondered if Hermione actually knew it was his sleeve.
"Oh yes," Hermione said angrily. "He did. When I got there, he saw me. But he didn't freak out. He didn't get off his whore and start apologizing profusely. No," Hermione said, feeling more tears as she recalled what happened. "He saw me, looked up at me, smiled his stupid smile and waved before kissing his whore again."
"Oh," was once again all Fred could say. He took Hermione's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Hermione smiled at him and said, "So how are you, Fred?"
Fred was a little taken aback from Hermione's sudden question and said, "Well, I – "
But he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Harry and Ginny, both of whom looked exceptionally happy.
"Guess what!" Ginny said excitedly as Molly, Arthur, George, Percy and Ron Weasley appeared in the living room, along with Fred and Hermione who were already there.
"Harry and I are – " Ginny began, but Fred interrupted.
"David broke up with Hermione," he said.
Everyone's attention flicked to Fred and Hermione, who looked embarrassed. Ginny got a horrified expression on her face and ran over to Hermione.
"Oh, Herm," she said.
Hermione hated pity. She always knew when people pitied her because they called her "Herm."
"I'm sorry," Ginny said, hugging her.
Hermione felt more tears coming and broke away from the hug. "I'll be fine," she said bravely. Fred somehow knew better.
"What were you going to say?" Hermione asked.
"Well," Ginny said, trying to read Hermione's emotions, then looked at Harry. "Well, he proposed…" Ginny brandished her new engagement ring – a very nice sized diamond on a gold band. "And I excepted."
"Well, of course you did!" said Ron, who was smiling from ear to ear.
Molly was the one crying now, mumbling something about how her little baby is all grown up. Arthur hugged his wife and smiled at the two. George looked crestfallen whereas Percy looked very smug. Ron was still smiling.
"Congratulations, you two," he said, giving Ginny a huge hug. "I know he'll make you happy. And Harry," he said, turning to Harry now. "You're going to officially be part of the family now!" He said, hugging his best friend and future brother-in-law.
Hermione looked like she was going to cry again… a mix between sadness and happiness.
"I'm so happy for you, Ginny," she said, trying to hold back her tears. She gave her friend a huge hug and then rounded onto Harry. "Good God, Harry. Think it took you long enough?"
Harry laughed and hugged Hermione.
After they had ended their embrace, Molly took this as her chance and swooped in a gave both Harry and Ginny a rib shattering hug. Arthur, in true Arthur Weasley nature, asked, "Harry? How are Muggle weddings?"
Hermione took this as her cue and walked into the kitchen where Percy and George were arguing.
"It was fifteen," George insisted.
"No," Percy responded. "I distinctly remember you saying fifty."
"Fifteen," George repeated.
"Fifty."
"Fifteen."
"What are you two on about?" Hermione asked.
"George is trying to fink out on our bet," Percy replied, shooting George a glare.
"Bet?" Hermione asked, confused. "On what?"
"I bet Percy that Harry and Ginny wouldn't get engaged," George said. "But Percy her says that I said fifty. Why would I say fifty?"
"Because you thought you were going to win!" Percy said. "But," he added, looking at Hermione, "he lost. They're engaged and he owes me fifty galleons."
"Fifteen."
"Fifty!"
"Fifteen!"
"Wait!" Hermione said. "You two bet whether or not Harry and Ginny's relationship would last?"
"Not at all," George said. "I thought they'd stay together, but just never officiate it. Harry just didn't strike me as the type."
"I can't believe you two!" Hermione said, outraged. "Betting on love. That is just sick. Especially you, Percy. I thought you were more responsible than that."
"Well.. I… uh…" Percy blushed.
"Sorry about David," George said.
Hermione looked at him and ran out into the back yard, almost tripping over a stray chicken.
She steadied herself on the picnic table and took deep breaths, willing herself not to cry.
"He's just a jerk," she told herself. "He doesn't deserve to have me cry over him."
"That's right," Fred said, startling Hermione. "He doesn't. He's just a prat."
Hermione nodded, taking a seat on the picnic bench.
"God," Hermione sighed. "First time to see you in nearly three years and your first sight of me is with swollen eyes and complaining about my idiot of an ex-boyfriend."
Fred shrugged.
"I've been keeping up with your Daily Prophet articles," Fred said. He didn't know what else to say. He wasn't good in awkward moments. However, Hermione smiled at him.
"Thank you," she said.
"They're quite good. Whenever I make plans for the weekend, I read your article on upcoming events," he said truthfully. "If you think they're good, I usually go."
"Well I'm glad I have impact on one person's opinion," she sighed. "So how about you? Last time I heard anything about you, you were campaigning in Argentina to expand the shop."
"That's the last you heard about me?" Fred asked, astounded. "No one here must talk about me much, then."
Hermione laughed.
"Well," he began. "We closed the deal in Argentina. Four shops are going to open. We have some that have come up in the States and Canada. Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver and Quebec. That was a big deal for us. Now we're working a little more close to home. We've only got two in Ireland, Scotland, and England combined. And that's our home, basically. So we're intending to open a few more shops this side of the Atlantic."
Hermione smiled and nodded. She hadn't seen Fred in a long time, but his face still lit up when he spoke of his shop, Weasley Wizard's Wheezes, or Triple W in abbreviation. Three years ago, they had a quaint little shop next to Honeydukes in Hogsmeade and offered quite a lot of competition to Zonko's. Zonko's, in turn, partnered with Triple W and now Triple W was international. In three years they had acquired shops in every continent, minus Antarctica.
"Well," Hermione said. "I'm happy for you. I know how much you and George have dreamed of this. Just promise me one thing."
"What's that?" Fred asked.
"Don't turn me into a chicken again," Hermione pleaded. "Please."
Fred let out a great shout of laughter.
"That was in seventh year!" Fred said. "You still remember that?"
"Yes!" Hermione said. "I was a chicken for a week. Even Madam Pomfrey couldn't turn me back."
"Was that before or after I gave you Percy's voice?" Fred asked, smiling mischievously.
"Before."
"Don't fret, Hermione," Fred said, placing a reassuring arm around her shoulder. "I won't play anymore jokes on you."
"Thank you," Hermione said.
"At least until you heal you're broken heart."
Hermione laughed, but felt more tears coming on.
"Don't cry," Fred said. "It was a joke… Oh Lord, I'm such a git."
"No," Hermione said, a tear rolling down her cheek. "It's just new… I'll probably be crying for a week…"
Fred hugged Hermione as she cried into his shoulder. He knew she was upset and all, but he couldn't help it.
Holding Hermione was nice.
A/N: Ahhh… so sweet. Poor, poor, Hermione. It's so sad and that David sure is a jerk, huh? Well, Fred will make her feel better, I promise. Preview of chapter three: "You kissed me and every piece went back in place, every pain got erased…"