((((A/N: And continued….

Scorpio 1118—what on earth is Forge? I'm so lost.

Pauly-85—Haha! I love the enthusiasm! I'm very sorry you hurt your knee. Ice (I know it's cold, but it'll work) and Ibuprofen do wonders for injuries!

eckles—Okay, so maybe she's just a little stuck up…but aren't we all deep down inside?

Okay! Moving on!)))


"Everyone else fit in Mum and Dad's car—but you're last, so you're just going to have to ride with George and me." He laughed and picked up her bags. George was already in the car, waiting for them, so Fred carried her luggage by himself to the car. "So—" He said after a minute, "Which of my brothers were you thinking about?" He asked, as they slowly made their way through the traffic towards his car.

"Ro—wait, what!' She said, realizing that Fred had set yet another one of his cunning word traps. He chuckled at the frustrated and confused expression on her face.

"Don't worry—I won't tell anybody. I've got to tell you; I wasn't expecting you to say Ron…from the disgusted expression on your face, you looked like you were thinking about Percy. What did Ronnykins do this time?" Fred said, as they arrived at the car and he popped the trunk, tossing her bags in and slamming it close again.

"It doesn't matter…" Hermione shook her head and dejectedly started towards the passengers' side of the car, opened the door, and slipped into the front seat. She looked over her shoulder into the backseat, and saw George lying across the seat, fast asleep. She gave a halfhearted smile and turned to look out the window. She heard Fred open the door and get in next to her, start the engine, and drive away from the station. After they'd reached the main road, Fred decided to reopen their earlier discussion.

"Now—tell me what's got you so worked up about Ron." He said, looking in his rearview mirror and changing lanes.

"It doesn't—" She started, without looking away from the window.

"No Hermione—it does matter; it matters very much. I want to know what's got my favorite little brothers girlfriend in such a work." He said, sparing a glance over at her. Hermione rolled her eyes—that was it—she was tired of being Ron's "girlfriend". She decided to tell Fred just that—actually she couldn't help telling him just that. She exploded and the words tumbled from her mouth before she knew what hit her.

"Look—" She hissed, "I am so tired of everyone expecting me to date Ron, to marry Ron, to make little Weasley children with Ron. All he is to me is a friend. That's it—a friend. Can't two people, a guy and a girl, be friends without romance getting involved!" With that, Hermione threw up her hands and groaned. She slumped back in her seat and sighed. George stirred in the backseat and made sleepy attempts to shush the noisemakers, whoever they were, but when Hermione got quiet, he fell back into his dreams. Fred, who'd been quiet up until now, raised his eyebrows and nodded as he thought. After a few minutes of awkward silence, he spoke.

"I see." He said. "You don't love Ron then…"

"No." Hermione said quietly.

"Then that's okay. No one can blame you for not loving him. We can't help who we fall in love with—it's out of our hands." He didn't take his eyes off the road for more than a second after he said this, but when he did, and looked over at Hermione, he knew that he had taken the exact words that were written in her heart and they had just popped out of his mouth. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Exactly…" She sniffed out. Fred dug a hankie his mother made him keep in the car out of the glove compartment and handed it to Hermione.

"I didn't mean to make you cry." He laughed softly.

"It's okay—It's not your fault…it's just weird. You get it." She dabbed at the corners of her eyes, then blew her nose and pocketed the hankie.

"Hey—what are Freds for? Here we are!" He said as they pulled up in front of the Burrow. "Home Sweet Home" Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had already gotten there, along with Ginny, Harry, and Ron, and were waiting for them inside. George walked straight into the house when the car stopped, eager to get a real nap in his room, but Hermione waited around for Fred as he got her things.

"Thank you," She said as they walked towards the door leading to the kitchen. And somehow, Fred just knew she wasn't just thanking him for carrying her things.


"Ah…Fred—Hermione—George!" Percy called from the breakfast table. He was back—acting as cocky and superior as ever, and loving every moment of it.

"Percy…" Hermione mumbled and nodded in his direction before hurrying after Fred. She followed him up the long flight of creaky wooden stairs, up to the second floor or the house. She turned and started to walk towards Ginny's door, but Fred stopped her.

"Nope, up here." He mumbled, juggling her bags and shifting them so they were easier to carry. Hermione, perplexed, followed him down a hallway across the way from Ginny's room. When he reached the second door on the right, Fred stopped and pushed the door open.

"Here…" He said, dropping her bags on the floor. Hermione followed him into the room. The walls were a color of red Hermione had never seen before. It was a very calming red. A very...peaceful color. A large, wooden double bed sat facing into the room, with a matching wooden nightstand on either side. A Gryffindor blanket covered the bed, and Chudley Cannons posters covered the walls. A large wooden desk and matching set of draws sat opposite the bed, and on top of the dresser were several books; Quidditch Qualms?, Broomstick Servicing 101, The Wizarding Worlds Top 100 Pranks, A Flight to Remember, Jokes by George, and Fred Weasley: A Life. Hermione walked in and put her book bag on the bed.

"Fred, this looks like your room…" She said quietly.

"Yeah, it is, but I'm rooming with George for awhile, right next door." He pointed to a door across the room from him. "They connect, but you can keep the door locked if you want. The connecting doors—it's a twin thing. It's nice to know there's someone there when times get tough." Hermione watched as Fred pretended to get choked up and wiped away an imaginary tear, but she knew he was telling the truth. Hermione smiled and nodded her head.

"I didn't want to kick you out of your room. I can stay with Ginny, or sleep on the couch, or…" Before she could mention another alternative, Fred whipped out his wand, waved it, and her voice vanished. She moved her lips, but no sound came out. Fred laughed as she angrily mouthed, "FRED!" She put her hands on her hips and stomped her foot, and Fred could tell she was giving him a tongue lashing, even though he couldn't hear her. He smiled, and walked towards her, took her hand and gave it a quick squeeze.

"I don't mind you staying in my room. I'm fine with George." He walked to the door and let himself out, waving his wand once before he closed the door.

"—EASLEY, YOU ARE INSUFFERABLE!" Hermione finished shouting. She stopped abruptly as her voice came back, and then smiled reluctantly, shaking her head and sighing.