Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Sorry this took so long. I have been moving and getting started with school. Please review.

New Years Eve

The week after Christmas flew past.

Have you ever noticed that when you are dreading something, time speeds up? I, for perhaps the first time, didn't want to go back to school. In a week and a half, my view of home had changed. No longer did I think longingly of the castle where I had spent the last 6 and a half years. No. Nor was home the place I had grown up with my parents. Home could never be in the muggle world again.

That's really the problem with being muggle-born. It's not that we aren't as capable as someone whose linage goes back to the beginnings of recorded history in the wizarding world. That's obvious. After all, look at Neville…

It's really that once we leave our loving muggle parents, we don't fit. At least not until we are all grown up and have a family of our own. Or at least until we're out of school and have a home of our own.

At the moment I'm felling really lost and adrift. Not alone, precisely. I have the twins and Ginny, Ron and Harry (for whatever good they'll do me…) and the rest of the friends I've made in Gryffindor. I'm not alone.

Damn it. I'M NOT ALONE!

But still, lonely.

New Years Eve. A time for renewal. For starting over. For deciding what changes I really want to see happen in my life.

The morning of New Years Eve I got up as usual and went to the kitchen to start breakfast. All week George and I had been in this strange state of avoiding each other and yet spending as much time as possible together. The tension was making me crazy. And I'm pretty sure I wasn't alone in my insipient insanity.

Fred and George were both in the kitchen reading over a stack of papers that looked like orders.

"Eggs and bacon this morning?" I asked.

"Great" said Fred, not even looking up.

I got out the skillet and began making eggs and frying bacon. Just as I was about done, two owls arrived with mail.

"Hey, Hermione, this ones for you" George said after opening the window for the birds. It was a medium sized owl I didn't recognize.

Opening the letter, I noticed it was in my mother's hand writing.

Hermione-

We hope this finds you well. Your father and I have decided to extend our vacation and attend a conference, seeing as it's in the same city as your Grandmother. We'll be back in London early February.

Let us know if you need anything.

Mum

"Apparently the parents have decided to stay out of London a while longer." I said to the twins.

"Hermione, have you thought about what you wanted to do for New Years tonight?" Fred asked.

"Honestly, Fred, no, I haven't."

"Well, we were thinking about meeting some friends at a club tonight to ring in the New Year, and well, we were wondering if you'd like to join us…" George said, making eye contact for a very brief moment.

"That sounds lovely" I said with a smile. "Which friends?"

"Angelina and her older sister. Lee. A couple of guys who graduated before you started at Hogwarts." Fred answered.

"Sounds like a great time. Please eat your eggs, Fred, they won't be good cold."

"Yes, Mummy" Fred said, poking fun at me.

After they finished their breakfast, the twins went down to their shop while I cleaned up the mess I had made.

The whole day I thought about that evening. I wanted to wear some of my new clothing, I wanted to look grown up and nice. But as excited as I was, I was also scared. I wanted George to notice me that night. I wanted to see his jaw drop. I wanted to dance with him and feel his arms around me. But I didn't want him to hurt me.

I know that I'm being silly. He wouldn't hurt me. Not on purpose, anyway. But what if he didn't feel the same way. I got butterflies in my tummy every time I locked eyes with him. I could talk to him for hours.

A week ago, on Christmas, I had thought he felt the same.

Then I kissed him.

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe that kissed proved to him he didn't feel that way about me.

Maybe he was just biding his time till I left so he didn't feel like he was going to hurt me.

I think I need to talk to Fred.

The morning passed with my thoughts and soon it was time for lunch.

I went into the kitchen and fixed soup and sandwiches, still thinking about my expectations (hopes?) for the evening.

Momentarily, footsteps came clumping up the stairs.

"Busy today. Lots of people getting last minute supplies for tonight!" Fred was clearly happy with this upswing in business.

"That's great!" I was trying to be enthusiastic for them, get my mind off of things…

Both of the twins looked at me funny. I guess I didn't fool them. Lunch passed pretty fast and pretty quietly. Apparently they hadn't had a chance to sit all morning.

George finished up first, and, with a smile, headed back down the stairs. Taking this as a sign from above, I sat down across from Fred and cleared my throat.

"Fred, can I talk to you a minute?" I asked.

"Sure, Hermione…" Fred looked a little nervous. This is a little worrisome in one of the Weasley twins…

"Fred, what's going on?"

"Um…I'm not sure I follow you, Hermione. Going on with what?"

"With George. He's been acting…distant…since Christmas. I, well, I thought he might be starting to like me a bit, and now…well, it's like he doesn't want to be around me at all. He never talks to me…I just don't know what to think. I…well…I kind of kissed him a week ago, and ever since then…he's almost been avoiding me. If he's not interested, he should just say so…or something…" I trailed off…

"Oh. I see. Hermione, if I know George, and I do, pretty well, I think he does like you." Fred was grinning. "Yes, indeed, pretty sure of that. He just, well…" he trailed off… "I think he doesn't want to hurt you. He's worried about you. You just had something awful happen to you. He doesn't want to rush you. He doesn't want to just be someone you are with to be safe. He wants to be someone you want to be with. At least, that's what I think is happening. He hasn't said it, exactly, but…well…he is acting strange. That's the only thing that makes sense."

"Fred, I do want to be with him."

"Give it time, Hermione. Don't rush it. Whether you want to admit it or not, you have some things to work through. George isn't going to hold them against you. So take your time. I don't want to see either of you get your hearts broken. Now, I am going back to work. I'll talk to him. Discreetly. And see if he'll open up. Tonight, just try and relax and have some fun."

"Alright. I'll be ready when you guys get up here. What time are we leaving."

"The store is staying open until 9 tonight. We'll head out around 10."

"Alright. Are you guys taking a dinner break?"

"No, probably not. We'll eat out tonight."

I spent the afternoon picking out clothes. I decided to wear some of the new clothes my mother had gotten me for Christmas. I dug out some black pants that clung to my hips and paired them up with the slinky, low-cut, clingy black knit shirt. I found the new black boots my mother had gotten me at the start of term and decided to go all-out if the femme fatale look.

Taking my new clothing with me I went in the bathroom to take a shower. I turned the water on as hot as it would go and spent a few minutes drowning my confusion in shampoo. I decided to use the new shower gel Ginny had gotten me for my birthday last year. It smelled wonderful; my favorite flowers were lilacs and the shower gel reminded me of spring.

Once I felt thoroughly clean, I got out and dried off on a big fuzzy bath towel. Using the matching body lotion I saturated my skin and the smell spring. Turning my attention to my hair, I proceeded to work out that tangles using liberal amounts of Sleek Easy hair potion.

Scented and coiffed, I decided the New Year's Eve called for a more dramatic look than I usually wore in my makeup. Carefully, I shaped my eyebrows into delicate arches. I brushed powder over my face, blending my complexion. Fortunately, I had never had the normal adolescent woes of bad skin, but my nose did tend to shine. I applied blushed lightly my cheeks. I decided and to play up my eyes, gently dusting my eyelids with a soft green to bring out the catlike flecks before lining them with a soft smoky black. My eyelashes got a quick coat of mascara. I smiled at my reflection, I hardly ever wore makeup like this. If only Harry and Ron could see me like this, well, frankly I don't think it recognize me. I did not look like a mousy wallflower tonight. To finish off my makeup I chose a soft chocolate brown let's take made in the wizard in world. It actually tasted like fudge. I'd have to remember not to lick it off myself.

Quickly, I put on some lingerie I had rarely worn before. It was red and lacey and very un-Hermione like. I felt a little strange in this red lace push-up bra. I wasn't sure why I was even wearing it. It was a bra made to be seen, and I wasn't planning for anyone to see it but me. The knickers were the same, meant for that special someone, who apparently was afraid of hurting me.

I pulled stockings on that stopped just above my knees. The black pants slid up my thighs and fastened low on my hips, although they were loose from the knee down to accommodate boots. The shirt, once I pulled it on, was cut so low that it barely covered the cups of my bra. It did however, make one thing abundantly clear. I was no little girl. Looking in the mirror was like seeing myself for the first time.

I opened the door to the bathroom and headed into the bedroom or I quickly checked the time. It was about eight o'clock, almost time for the twins to finish at the shop. I grabbed one of the new books I had gotten to read for fun, and headed into the living room to wait for their return.

I was just getting into my book when their footsteps on the stairs told me that they had close the shop for the night.

Bursting through the door, the two redheads ran into their respective bedrooms, clearly getting ready for a fun night on the town.

Momentarily, they came out of their rooms, dressed as usual in almost identical clothing. Together, they came into the living room to finally sitting in one of the comfy chairs with my book. Often they do things at the same time, and this is no exception, as their jaws dropped to their chest. Apparently, the twins like what they saw.

"Hermione! What are you wearing? You look great!" Said Fred.

"Thanks, Fred. These are just some of the clothes my mom got me for Christmas. I hope they're appropriate for tonight." I answered.

"They're perfect." Said Fred.

"Shall we go then?" Said George, as he offered me a hand out of the chair. I accepted and he pulled me up. He placed my hand on his elbow as if he were claiming me, and led me to the door.

When we were all standing in a group in front of the door, the twins grinned at each other before smiling at me, and apparated us as a group to Angelina's, where we apparently were meeting the rest of the group.

Everyone all seemed already be there, as lots of hugging, handshaking, and backslapping ensued.

Angelina came over to me grinning from ear to ear. "Hermione! I haven't seen you in ages. You look great!"

"You look great to Angelina! I'm so glad we're going to be able to spend New Year's Eve together!"

Once we all sorted out who knew who, who wanted to see who, and who missed who, we got on our way to the club. Someone had decided that it would be fun to spend New Year's Eve at a Muggle club. So the group apparated to the Leaky Cauldron and headed into Muggle London for our night on the town.

A/N: I am sorry this took so long to update. I hope to be more frequent in the future. I was going to keep going, but decided this was a good place to start. I am not totally happy with this one, but...well...life has been pretty stressful. Anyway, I'm going to get the next one up soon, I promise, and it should be good...hm...