Disclaimer: Not mine. Just trust me on this one, 'kay?

A/N: Yes, it's true. I didn't get this finished for Christmas. On the bright side, it's looking good for next Christmas! Relax, I'm just joking. I hope you're all in the mood for stale Christmas stories, though. And please review! I've been disappointed with review revenue lately…

Hermione went inside and leaned against the back of the door. Tears filled her eyes: part relief that it was over, but mostly frustration because she had to do it all over again tomorrow.

And she felt like such an idiot! Why hadn't she said something? Why had she said anything? When would she learn to keep her mouth shut?

"Was it that bad?" asked the redhead who appeared at her side.

"Yes." Hermione said, blinking through her tears. "…George." She gave him a watery smile. "You almost got me."

"Good." said George, who looked oddly self-satisfied at that comment. "Now, what happened?"

Hermione gritted her teeth. "This is your idiot twin's fault."

"It usually is."

"He dragged me to that bloody party and before I know it I'm stuck on the date from Hell!"

George shrugged. "Dean seemed nice."

"Oh, he is." Hermione conceded. "Too nice. He should have said no when I asked him out for tomorrow night!"

George looked a bit more confused than usual, but Hermione just continued raging.

"I swear, when I get my hands on Fred, I'll wring his neck!" Hermione was ranting now. "No, I'll castrate him and then I'll wring his neck!"

George looked impressed by Hermione's threat. "Come on, he's in the family room."

Hermione paused to quirk an eyebrow. "So... you don't have any family loyalty?"

"Usually, yes." George said as he steered her toward the family room, "But in this case…" They entered the room, where Fred was talking to Harry and Ginny. "Hey Fred!" George called. "Hermione's going to cas-"

Hermione elbowed him in the stomach and pushed him out of the room, closing the door.

The room was momentarily silent. "Umm, okay… You're going to do what to Fred?" Harry asked conversationally.

Hermione glared at Harry, the tears coming back now.

"Harry!" Ginny cried, seeing Hermione's red eyes.

Harry winced. "Alright, I'm leaving."

Hermione nodded impatiently. As soon as he was gone, she re-burst into tears. "It was awful!" She moaned to Ginny, who nodded sympathetically.

From the other side of the room, Fred teased, "Come here. Sit on Uncle Fred's lap and tell him all about it."

Hermione rounded on him so fast she almost got whiplash. "You're such a freak, Fred!"she sobbed. "And I'm not going to sit on your lap!"

Fred almost laughed at her tearful retort but quickly turned it into a cough; she really was upset. "What happened?" he asked, in as concerned a voice as he could manage.

Hermione sank down beside him on the loveseat and described the fiasco: storm drain, lit candle and all. She ended with an "…and it's all your fault, you moron!" which was, of course, directed at Fred, who looked decidedly unremorseful.

Hermione started to sob again. "And the worst part is-" Now she was crying so hard that she couldn't even talk. "…is…"

Fred dispatched Ginny for some tea for the distraught girl. "…Or a tranquilizer…" he added under his breath.

Hermione buried her head in Fred's shoulder and heabsent-mindedly rubbed her back.

"The worst part is…" she whispered hoarsely. "I have to go dancing with him tomorrow!" She looked up at him pleadingly. "You know I can't dance! What if I hurt him?"

Fred, seeking to calm her, told her reassuringly. "That's alright, 'Mione. I'll-" he stopped, remembering how his feet had throbbed after his last dance with her, and amended, "Ginny will teach you tomorrow!"

"That's right!" Ginny said brightly from the doorway. Shehanded Hermione a cup of tea, which was gratefully accepted. "And Fred will supervise," Ginny continued with amusement. "Seeing as how this whole thing was his fault!"

"Exactly!" Hermione said. "I was content to stay here and work, but nooo!" Calming down a bit, she said, "Thanks, guys. Sorry, I think I got a little hysterical there."

"A little?" Fred cracked.

Ginny glared at him reproachfully. "'Night, Hermione. Get some sleep so you're ready to for your dancing lesson tomorrow!"

"Thanks, Gin." Hermione said. She avoided Fred as she left. He thinks I'm a hysterical idiot, she thought with a pang. Maybe he's right.

In the family room, Ginny frowned at Fred. "You could have been nicer to her!"

"Is she always such an emotional wimp?" Fred asked defensively.

"Give her a break!" Ginny said disgustedly. "That was her first date!"

"Oh." was all Fred could say. He sat there long after Ginny left and felt miserable about the way he had treated Hermione.

A/N: Happy Holidays to everyone! Hey, I'll tell you what: I'll update as soon as I get reviews from at least six people. So review, or you'll never find out how Fred makes up with Hermione! (Was that a good hook?)