Disclaimer: What? I'm not claiming anything. Oh! Dis-claimer! I get it now!

A/N: Happy New Year, everyone! Yes, it's me, up at 6am. My sleep schedule's been pretty sporadic lately, probably due to my almost constant diet of cheese curls and cream soda over the past few days. But, whatever it is, it's good luck for you, 'cause I'm writing this, aren't I? Also, much thanks to all my reviewers. Keep up the encouragement; I totally appreciate it.

Fred couldn't understand it. For someone who had only been on one date in her entire life, Hermione was a wonderful kisser. It wasn't so much that she seemed experienced as that kissing her felt good. It did feel good; Fred couldn't deny that.

After what seemed like minutes of sweet, dizzying kisses, Hermione finally pulled away. "I…I owed you a proper kiss." she stuttered.

"Right." Fred said breathlessly. "Thanks."

By the time he realized how stupid that sounded, Hermione had fled down the hall, presumably to be on time for her date.

Well, Fred thought as he stared after her. That was unexpected.

George was waiting when Fred entered their room. "What's going on, brother o' mine?" he asked cheerfully.

"What?" Fred said.

"With you and a certain friend of our brother's?" George added.

Fred feigned ignorance. "What are you talking about? Something about Harry?"

"A certain girl friend of our brother's?" George persisted.

"Danielle?" Fred asked carefully.

George shook his head. "Sounds like…uh…" George thought for a moment and said, "Shmermione?"

"Shmermione? Shmer-" Fred pretended to be deep in thought. "Oh! You mean Hermione!"

George snorted. "Good going, mate! But seriously, what's going on between you two?"

Uh-oh, Fred thought. George knows what I'm thinking. He can read me like a book. He's going to know that I like dancing with her even when she steps on my feet! He's going to know that she just kissed me and that I want to kiss her back! He's going to know that-

"Uh, Fred, it was a simple question. What's going on between you and Hermione?"

"Nothing." Fred said stiffly.

George laughed. "Don't try to pull that! I've known you for, um, a really long time, and I can tell that something is up with you! Just spill it!"

Fred sighed. It was time to let George in on "the Plan."

"Not much of a plan if you ask me." George said, all of five minutes later when Fred had revealed his scheme.

"What do you mean? The plan is to get Hermione to stop working sohard and become a valuable member of society!" Fred exclaimed defensively. "And I didn't ask you." he added lamely.

"I'm just saying that that isn't really a plan. It's more of a"-here George searched for the right word- "a goal."

"Oh." Fred said dumbly. "So, you gonna help me make it a plan or what?"

George clapped him on the back. "I thought you'd never ask." Then, he started to laugh. "I thought you might fancy her." he confessed.

Fred first assumed a deer-in-the-headlights sort of expression, but covered it up quickly. "Right." he said sarcastically. "Me and the bookworm. We're meant for each other."

George became serious. "It's possible, you know. Probable, even. I mean, I've always heard that opposites attract…"

Fred suddenly wondered how it was that George could say this exactly as he was thinking it.

When Hermione got back from her date with Dean, Ginny was waiting in the hallway to hear the details. "So, how'd it go?"

"Ginny, could you wait until I get my coat off?"

Ginny waited impatiently for Hermione to talk. "Well?"

"Well," Hermione said. "It went fine. We went, we ate, we danced, we came home."

"I knew that already!" Ginny snorted.

Hermione smiled proudly. "We danced most of the night and I didn't even hurt him!" Her smile faltered. "…that much. Nobody's perfect. But at least it wasn't a complete catastrophe like last time."

"Annnnd?"

"Annnnd what?"

"Did he ask you out again?" Ginny asked urgently.

Hermione laughed. "Quite the opposite." she said. "I told him we shouldn't see each other anymore."

"Was he heartbroken?" Ginny gasped.

"Actually," Hermione said. "I believe his exact words were "Thank God."

The girls laughed together, and Fred sauntered over. "What's so funny?"

Just looking at him reminded Hermione of how she'd kissed him earlier, and she blushed scarlet.

"Hermione gave Dean the boot." Ginny told him.

Fred smiled. "Did you give the poor blighter a reason for kicking him to the curb?" he teased.

Hermione glared. "I didn't "give him the boot" or "kick him to the curb" as you so nicely put it. I just told him it wasn't working out and he agreed. Dean's really nice, he's just not my type."

"Then who is your type?" Fred asked in a serious voice.

Hermione finally looked at him and blushed deeper when she saw how intently he was staring at her. What did he mean by that?

Ginny shot them both a strange look. "Well, I'm off to bed." she announced. "'Night, Fred. Hermione."

"'Night." they mumbled in unison, each locked in the other's gaze. There they stood until Ginny was gone.

Later, Fred would never know what prompted him to do such a thing, but he took her hand. "'Mione, come ice skating with me tomorrow."

Hermione looked as surprised as if he had proposed to her then and there. "Uh…" she said dumbly.

"Great!" Fred said cheerfully. "See you tomorrow!"

He left, and Hermione regained her wits and called, "I'm busy tomorrow!" after his retreating figure, but he didn't seem to hear. Hermione sighed. The kiss had made things awkward between them. She shouldn't have done it. And yet, a voice in her head reminded her, she wouldn't have missed it for anything.

A/N: Well, there it is. Next chapter: 'Mione and Fred go ice skating! Review if you want to know what happens! Heck, review even if you don't want to know what happens!