Till There Was You

Chapter 11: Jumpin Jumpin

Disclaimer: still don't own 'em

A/N: What?? Am I actually working on this story?? I'm really sorry ya'll. Really, I am.

Ladies leave yo man at home
The club is full of ballas and they pockets full grown
And all you fellas leave yo girl with her friends
Cause its 11:30 and the club is jumpin jumpin

Though he say he got a girl
Yes true you got a man
But the party aint gon' stop
So lets make it hot hot!

            -Destiny's Child

            "You're brothers are coming home this weekend," Molly Weasley told Fred and George as they meandered into the kitchen. Hermione was already in there, reading the prophet at the table.

            "Which ones?" Fred mumbled, obviously not completely awake yet. "We have four you know."

            "All of them," she replied.

            "All of them?" George exclaimed. "Where are we going to put them all?"

            "We'll manage."

            "What are them coming home for anyway?" Fred questioned as he sat down.

            "Well you know Percy and Penelope have been planning to come up for awhile now, and just this morning I got an owl from Charlie saying he'd gotten a few days off and thought he'd take the chance to bring home his new girlfriend for everyone to meet. I hadn't even finished Charlie's letter when I got one from Bill saying Charlie had convinced him and Olivia to come home for a visit too."

            "Is Ron actually coming home this weekend Mione?" George asked.

            "As far as I know," she said not sounding like she cared.

            "Am I sensing so anger toward a little brother?" George teased.

            " No," Hermione replied.

            "Well if your not going to be angry at him, I sure will," Mrs. Weasley shook her head. "Honestly! Forgetting you birthday!"

            "Who forgot your birthday?" a new voice entered the kitchen.

            "Harry! You're back!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly.

            "Do you live here or something?" Fred laughed at Harry, still in his pajama bottoms, tee shirt and slippers. It was obvious that after waking up he had simply apparated to the burrow in search of food.

            "Practically," he answered sitting down. "Who forgot your birthday Mione?"

            "My son," Mrs. Weasley answered his question.

            "Which one?" he asked. "Well there are six of them."

            "The one that has no excuses to not have remembered," she shook her head again.

            "Ron?" Harry asked surprised. Then he let out a laugh. "I'd shudder to think what would happen if I ever forgot Ginny's."

            "Oh it would be so bad dear," Mrs. Weasley said as she placed a plate full of food in front of Harry. Then she grinned. "We'd all come visit you in the hospital."

            Fred and George nearly choked as their mother said this about her precious daughter. Mrs. Weasley however walked away from the table as if nothing had been said.

            "Oh Fred dear, Charlie said he'd be calling over the Floo later."

            "Why?" he asked with a mouthful of food.

            "Something about he and his girlfriend bringing her younger sister with them. Apparently she's your age.."

            All four heads at the table snapped up, everyone suddenly very attentive.

            "What about her?" Fred narrowed his eyes.

            "Well he didn't really say, but I'd presume as the only single one left in the family…"

            "No," Fred stated sternly.

            "Well you might as well give it a shot Fred Weasley. At the rate your going you're never going to find someone you can settle down with."

            "Mum, I don't know if setting him up is the best idea. I tried once already."

            "Oh George, with your usual taste in women? I swear some of those girls you brought home…. Thank god for Katie. God answered my prayers by letting you find one good one to put a leash on you."

            "Good morning all!" Ginny fluttered into the kitchen. "Harry!" She kissed her finance lightly. "How was your trip?" Ginny took a moment to give Hermione a meaningful look. She and Fred had arrived home late the night before. Ginny had simply told her that she'd covered for her with Molly, but Hermione knew she'd want to talk.

            "Horrible and wonderful," he mused.

            "How so dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked handing Ginny a plate of food.

            "Well I gave talks all day about the war and dark arts, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. But then in the hallway I had kids asking for autographs. There was one boy Gin, a seventh year, so he muct have been there when we were. He told me he didn't want my autograph but gave me his name and address so I send an autographed photo of how did he put it?? That hot chick of mine I believe."

            Ginny laughed. The though of having admirers due to her new fame as the future Mrs. Harry Potter had really crossed her mind.

            "Hmm." Ginny thought aloud. "You know Harry, maybe we should explore our options before we settle down."

            "What options Gin? The brilliant 7th year who tried to get a picture of you from your fiancé? Fred asked.

            "I'm not that much older, and it is rather flattering. But remember, there's also the offer Oliver made me."

            "Wood? What offer?" George pressed.

            "Yes dear what offer?" Mrs. Weasley asked, still facing the stove.

            "Oh nothing Mum," Ginny remarked innocently, but at the same time made a crude gesture showing George exactly what his offer had been about. Hermione laughed as George's mouth fell open and he screwed up his face. She didn't know whether he was more horrified at Oliver suggesting something of that nature to his baby sister, or to his baby sister's obscene sign language. Hermione shook her head and went back to reading the paper.

            That evening no one else was in the Burrow and Fred and Hermione were in the living room, Hermione asleep with her head in Fred's lap. She drifted awake when she heard a voice, but decided to leave her eyes shut.

            "If our little brother wasn't in love with her I'd tell you to make a move," Hermione recognized Charlie's voice.

            "But alas…he is," Fred responded.

            "So how is the love life treating you?"

            "Mum told me why you were going to call." Fred threw out Charlie's attempt to ease into the subject. "And the answer is no."

            " Come on Fred!" she heard Charlie plead.

            "No!"

            "Fred you're being ridiculous." Charlie raised his voice to a yell. She felt a small jolt of electricity as Fred gently placed his hand over her exposed ear.

            "Shhh!" he scolded. "You'll wake her." Hermione smiled inwardly at Fred's affection.

            "Fred please do this for me," Charlie asked sincerely. "It wouldn't be horrible…. She's cute…."

            Hermione heard Fred groan.

            "Fine….But you owe me!"

            "Thank you so much Fred. Alright, Friday night we'll go out. Think of something to do and then owl me with plans."

            Fred was about to protest when Charlie's head disappeared from the fireplace.         

            Friday morning Hermione grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and began writing a quick note to Ron.

            Ron-

                        Come home tonight dressed to go out. You probably won't have time to change after you get here. I'll fill you in on everything once you arrive.

                        Love,

                                    Hermione

            She sealed the letter and attached it to her owl to take to Ron. Since all of his brothers were going to be home for the weekend, Fred had decided that all seven of the Weasley siblings and partners should go out, instead of just he and Charlie. He decided that the thing to do…. would be to go dancing.

            Hermione had protested at first saying she didn't want to deal with Ron's whining all night, while having to watch him with the girl Charlie was setting him up with.

            "So I can watch you and Ron every weekend, pretending like nothing is going on, but you can't handle watching me for one night on some meaningless blind date that I'm only doing as a favor to my brother?" he had replied.

            That had hurt. Hermione didn't even know how to respond and instead simply left the room. Fred had apologized afterwards, but the thing was, Hermione did want him to.

~*~*~

            "Mione…" Fred started.

            "Fred don't," she said not turning to look at him.

            "I didn't mean it the way it sounded."

            There was silence before Hermione finally spoke.

            "You shouldn't have to do that. I'm getting jealous just thinking you and that girl this Friday. I can't even imagine what you…"

Fred just grinned and shrugged as if it were no big deal.

"It's worth the rewards I get on Monday."

Hermione smiled back.

"So you forgive me?" Fred raised his eyebrows.

            "So you forgive me?" Hermione asked back.

            Fred put a thoughtful look on his face.

            "Only if I get the thumbs up on Friday night.

            Hermione sighed. "You have my approval." Fred grinned and rushed at her, binding her with his arms before attacking her with kisses all over her face.

~*~*~*~

            Hermione heard a knock on her door as she was finishing getting ready.

            "Come in," she called.

            Fred slipped into her room to find Hermione in her under garments holding up two dresses, comparing them.

            "You know really should ask who it is before you let people in when your dress pr should I say not dressed like that."

            "I knew it was either you, Ginny, Ron or Harry," she rolled her eyes.

            "Harry?" Fred exclaimed.

            She rolled her eyes again. "Fred there had never been one ounce sexual attraction between Harry and I nor will there ever be. Think of my relationship with Harry as the relationship you have with George."

            "Still..." Fred said.

            "Are you telling me you've never seen George in his boxers? I've seen George in his boxers!"

            "No. But I can assure you that I have never seen George as a beautiful woman in sexy lingerie.

            Hermione shook her head and gave up. She held out the two dresses toward Fred.

            "Which one?"

            Fred eyed the two dresses for a moment.

            "The red one."

            Hermione tossed the other dress aside. As she stepped into the red dress she looked at Fred.

            "Was there something you wanted?"

            'What?" Fred came back to reality. "Oh. Do you know what time Ron will be home? Everyone is here. So we leave whenever he gets here."

            "He should be here soon," she said turning around lifting her hair off her back so Fred could zip her dress for her.

            "All right. I love how in a few seconds of being with you I can forget everything else," Fred laughed at himself.

            Hermione smiled back.

            "I know what you mean."

            "Well I'm going to head back down.:

            "I'll be down soon."

            Fred kissed Hermione's cheek and slipped a paper into her hand. She grinned as he rushed out of the room.

            She finished getting ready before opening the note.

            Hermione

Like your lil sexy style. I love it when you getting wil' girl in the club wit me, girl you need to be in magazines. Wit a crown on your head cause you's a ghetto queen, like bling bling bling. The way you shakin that sexy body, shaped like an hourglass And you're so-so fine, I wanna get you to myself. I mean me and nobody else.
You do the things we do. Baby there is something that I need from you.

Baby turn around, and let me see that sexy body go bump bump bump. That is all I want to see, baby show me. Baby turn around, and let me see that sexy body go bump bump bump. The way you throwin that thing at me
I can take it.

            Love,

                        Fred

            Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes before heading downstairs.

            She got downstairs to find that Ron had just arrived home.

            She smiled. "Ron!"

            She kisses her fiancé briefly and pulled away. She noticed his eyes linger to her neck before he asked, "He where'd you get that neck…"

            At the same time Ginny spoke.

            "Oh Mione! You're wearing the necklace I gave you!"

            Hermione felt her heart skip a beat as she realized she still had on the locket Fred had given her. She made a mental note to thank Ginny.

            "Why'd Ginny buy you a necklace?" Ron scrunched up his face. Hermione felt another panic attack coming on, but another Weasley came to her rescue quite enthusiastically.

            "Ron, can you think of any reason why maybe you should have come home last weekend?" George grinned.

            "Huh?" Ron gave his brother a strange look.

            "Nothing you can think of was going on last weekend?"

            "George I don't know what you're talking about but…."

            "Think Ron. Ginny bought Hermione a gift. Why would she do that?"

            "George I don't what…"

            "Honestly Ron!" Hermione became frustrated. "It was my birthday last weekend. You dear older brother is trying to help you realize that you forgot my birthday."

            "No I didn't!" Ron said indignantly "Your birthday's in July!"

            "Ron, Harry's birthday is in July." Hermione said calmly. "Where is Harry?"

            "He's meeting us at the club," Ginny explained.

            "Club?" Ron exclaimed.

            "Are you really about to try and start an argument with me after you've just been informed that you forgot my birthday?"

            Ron opened his mouth to respond but then thought better of it.

            Charlie introduced everyone to his girlfriend Claire and her sister Sarah. Hermione determined that Claire seemed nice. Sarah however, was going to get on her nerves.

            After introductions they all gathered their things and apparated to Diagon Alley. At the club Ginny looked around.

            "Harry told me he'd be outside. He must be running late. I wait here for him."

            "By yourself?" Bill asked.

            "Yes William, by myself." Ginny shook her head.

            "Maybe that's not such a good idea Ginny."

            "Yes Percy, you're right. I'm pretty sure I would be in grave danger here in Diagon Alley."

            "Someone might approach you," Charlie pointed out.

            "I've taken on Death Eater Charlie. I think I can handle a drunk guy."

            "She's fine guys," she heard Fred say, opening the door for everyone. Everyone shrugged and filed in, Fred entering last.

            "Thanks," Ginny smiled.

            "I owed you for thinking quickly earlier," he shrugged but then bit his lip and looked around. "Are you sure you're ok? I could stay with you."

            Ginny let out an exasperated "ugh" and pointed toward the door.

            "Go!"

            Fred slumped his shoulders and reluctantly joined the rest of the group inside.

            Everyone sat down at a large round table and began chatting. The more she talked the more Hermione was sure that she didn't like Sarah.

            After awhile both Bill and Charlie gave up on waiting for Ginny and Harry and decided to go dance.

            Sarah didn't seem daunted by the fact that her sister was leaving her alone at a table full of strangers. In fact, Hermione noticed her scoot closer to Fred.

            "So Fred, Charlie said you're starting your own business?"

            "Yeah, George and I are."

            "Wow! That's really amazing," she cooed. "Once I tried to start a little company, but I couldn't. You must be really smart to accomplish something like that."

            "Ha! Fred and George?" Percy laughed.

            Fred frowned at Percy but then couldn't resist grinning.

            "Actually, the brains behind it all I'm sad to say, is a woman." Fred whipped his head toward Hermione who smiled.

            "Oh…" Sarah said, suddenly not as interested. "So are all of you dating couples or what?" she asked curiously.

            "Penelope and I have been married for 9 months," Percy announced proudly.

            "Mione and I have been engaged for 9 months," Ron smiled. He had proposed the night after Percy's wedding.

            "Hmmm… you're family likes to settle down. What about you two? Planning a wedding?" she asked George and Katie.

            "Not yet," Katie eyed George who in return choked on his drink. Fred cracked up as Katie whacked George.

            "What about Jenny and whoever she's waiting for?"    

            "Ginny and Harry?" Fred asked. "Well Harry proposed not too long ago."

            "But id Ginny had had it her way he would have done it forever ago," George added.

            "She's only been chasing after him since she was 11." Ron laughed.

            "I think it's disgusting when a girl throws herself at a guy." Hermione raised her eyebrow as Sarah said this, casually massaging Fred's hand.

            "Worked for Ginny…" George shrugged. "Though it wasn't so much her throwing herself at him as it was luring him into her trap," he added thoughtfully.

            As he spoke Harry and Ginny sat down at the table.

            "Sorry I took so long," Harry apologized. "I was just…."

            "Saving Ginny from the vacuum cleaner that attacked her neck?" George commented. Harry and Ginny both blushed.

            "Really…" Hermione sighed. "Conciliarme!" she said, flicking her wand. Ginny's neck was suddenly blemish-free.

            "When did you get so handy with charms like that?" Ron raised an eyebrow.

            "She's Hermione. She's handy with everything."

            "Not spells you find in CosmoWitch!" Ron laughed. He was right. Hermione had never been proficient with charms like those. However her skills had quickly improved once she had become "better acquainted" with Fred.

            "Hey! Why are you picking a fight with me? Harry Potter was just snogging your sister in the street! Get on his case!"

            Ron was about to say something when a gasp escaped someone at the table.

            Sarah's hand had flown over her heart and she was now staring wide eyed at Harry.

            "Harry Potter? The Harry Potter?" she said in awe. "Oh my god. I can't believe I'm sitting this close to Harry Potter."

            Harry simply blushed. All these years and he still hadn't gotten used to being famous.

            "And I recognize you now," she directed her attention at Ginny. "There was an article on you in Bridal Witch. My oldest sister is getting married. You must be the most envied witch in the wizarding world! You must doing things like this extremely boring now," she commented, fawning over Ginny.

            "Actually this is the most fun thing I've done in weeks!" Ginny laughed. "I hate to disappoint you I don't exactly live the life of the rich and the famous."

            "Yeah" Fred noted. "Don't be fooled by the rocks that she got."

            "She's still Ginny from the block." George added. Everyone stared at the twins blankly and Hermione resisted the urge to groan. Apparently Fred had been sharing her CD's with George.

            After a while, Hermione found herself at the table with Ron, who refused to dance, and Percy and Penelope, who weren't really ones for dancing either. Hermione sat silently, letting dull conversations go on around her.

            After what seemed like forever everyone joined them back at the table. They had been chatting for a few minutes when Hermione heard a familiar beat come on. She brought her hand to her locket and looked over at Fred who was grinning back at her.

            "Shall we?" he raised his eyebrow.

            Hermione stood up in an instant and allowed Fred to lead her onto the dance floor.

            "What? But…No!" Ron sputtered in protest.

            "Oh shush up Ron. Did you really expect her to sit in her chair all night?" Ginny stopped her brother's protests. "You should thank Fred because I guarantee Hermione would have been in a bad mood later otherwise."

            "I wouldn't thank him…" Sarah commented staring at Fred and Hermione on the dance floor.

            "Huh? Why?" Ron asked.

            "Because your brother's shagging your fiancée."

            "What?" Ron exclaimed whirling around to look at his brother and Hermione as if Sarah had meant at that very moment.

            "Sarah!" her older sister gasped.

            George forced a laugh, as Ginny grew nervous, glancing over at Harry.

            "Why do you say that?" George asked, pretending to be amused.

            "Look at them," she nodded her head toward them. "You can tell by the way two people dance if they've ever had sex. And those two defiantly have."

            "They're both just good dancers," Bill shrugged.

            " Well I'm a good dancer, and he certainly wasn't dancing with me like that. I do think I would have noticed."

            "Well they're also good friends, they're comfortable with each other. Hasn't Hermione been helping you and Fred with the business George?" Charlie asked.

            "Yeah, she has."

            "And they come here a lot. They're used to each other," Ginny finally collected herself.

            "Yeah. With me gone all the time I'm glad they've become good friends actually. It makes me feel better," Ron smiled, no longer defending Fred and Hermione, but simply commenting on their relationship.

            "I think they'll probably miss each other some when you come home to stay," Charlie commented.

            The conversation continued but Ginny stopped paying attention as her eyes wandered towards Hermione and Fred. She had to admit there was something there. She sighed at what seemed to be a hopeless situation. Though she knew Sarah's accusations weren't false, that wasn't she saw when she watched them. What she saw was two people who were obviously meant to be together.

A/N: I am so so so so so sorry that this took so long to get up. I set the story aside for a while, while I wrote a little Christmas story (which ended up longer than I expected) and since then I've had a lot of trouble picking this back up. I've had a lot of trouble writing anything actually. So hopefully I'll get out of my slump soon and thank you all so much for being patient with me. Hmmm… well this chapter was inspired by a CD a friends of mine made me so it's not too too important plot wise, I just think it's sort of a fun chapter. Next chapter??? I'm not sure when yet. I haven't started writing it and I don't want to make any promises considering how long this one took. Well okay, I'll promise that it won't be as long a wait as it was for this one. I can promise you that. Anyway r/r please. That'll definitely help me keep going.

            Love and kisses,

                        Bella