Sorry about the amazingly long gap between writing chapters, I finally got everything organized in my life and I'm back to writing I hope to have at least one more more chapter up this week. First and foremost thanks for your patience I've gotten some really amazing reviews, and since this is basically my first Hermione/Fred Fic, I appreciate the support.
The next morning as Fred woke up, his mind was instantly on Hermione. She was the most amazing woman he'd ever known. He didn't know exactly when he'd fallen for Hermione. He knew he hadn't loved her at first sight. Who could blame him? Hermione had been bushy haired, buck toothed, and twelve years old the first time he met her. Yet somehow, she'd changed. The summer she turned 16, it was the year he was no longer living at home and no longer going to Hogwarts. He and George had just gotten the joke shop up and running.
Flashback
"Did mum say what time they were arriving?" Fred asked George shrugged. "I was hoping we could clear this place out a little bit more so that we could actually see them."
"It's nearly lunchtime, we can hope people decide to get lunch, but I wouldn't bet on it."
"Are Harry and Hermione coming as well?"
"Of course haven't you figured out by now that they're as much a part of this family as we are?"
"Yeah, but I hadn't actually heard so I figured I'd ask." Fred explained George smiled
"Look. There they are." George pointed out. Molly Weasley entered still practically pulling his youngest sister Ginny behind her, despite the fact that Ginny was now 15. Harry and Ron entered next, followed by Ms. Weasley, and then Fred saw her. He knew she was Hermione Granger, but she hit him like a ton of bricks. It was amazing how much difference one year could make. Her previously bushy hair had become tamed and shiny, her large teeth seemed to finally fit her face. She was no longer a girl. She was now a woman, a very attractive woman at that.
"Hello." Fred approached trying to remain calm. As he showed Hermione the love potions, he caught himself wondering how effective they really would be.
"What's this?" Hermione asked pointing at one of the boxes. Fred smiled at her and began to explain exactly what the object did. He wasn't interested in that though he was interested in Hermione. Then in a single moment, any hope he had of being with Hermione faded.
"'Mione, come check this out." He heard Ron say Hermione's face lit up at the sight of him, he could tell in that moment she would never be his because he heart already belonged to his brother. His heart broke just a little.
End Flashback
It was amazing how much things had changed since that day. Hermione no longer was Ron's. While it was apparently obvious that she still felt deeply for him, Fred believed she was finally ready to move on. He just hoped she would choose to do it with him. He walked downstairs to breakfast and was surprised when only Hermione was sitting at the table.
"Where is everyone?" He asked looking at Hermione strangely.
"They all abandoned us because we overslept."
"What do you mean?"
"George took Katie out to breakfast; Ginny, Harry, and your mum had Harry's finally suite fitting and couldn't see a reason to go."
"Where's Ron?" Fred asked
"He's spending the day with Lavender and her parents in the countryside."
"Oh." Fred said. He could hear a hint of what sounded like anger in her voice, but he didn't press it.
"So I guess that just leaves you and me then?"
"Apparently."
"What do you want to do?"
"Anything as long as you promise it doesn't involve bodily injury or love potions."
"That sounds appealing." Fred teased. "Actually I do need to go check in at the shop. Lee's running things while we're gone, but I think I should just check it out."
"Then maybe we could get some Ice cream and hang out on Diagon Alley?" Hermione said "I need to pick up a book at Flourish and Blotts anyway."
"That sounds really great, let me just get ready."
"See down here in twenty minutes?"
"All right." Fred said then leapt up the stairs.
As Fred and Hermione stepped into Weasleys Wizard Wheezes Hermione had to laugh. Lee Jordan was running around like some sort of demented chicken trying to help four people at once. The shop was loaded with people who seemed to be getting quite angry.
"Fred" Lee said almost begging. "I just got hit hard, could you help?" Fred looked at Hermione who smiled at him as if telling him to go ahead.
Fred hopped over the checkout counter and began ringing people up and Lee began explaining products to the customers that were asking. Hermione stood watching Fred charm the customers. Suddenly she heard a little girl's voice behind her.
"Your boyfriend is really cute." The girl said, Hermione realized she wasn't really little, she was probably about 15.
"Oh he's just my friend."
"It doesn't seem like it the way you watch him."
"Well, it's very complicated."
"Uncomplicate it, use one of the love potions."
"I've already tried that, it's not a recommended course of action."
"Well, if I were you and I had a boyfriend who looked like him I'd never let him go."
"Ms, do you work here?" A woman in her early twenties asked Hermione now.
"No, it's my friends' shop." Hermione said trying desperately to get away from the little girl now.
"Well do you know anything about these potions?" She asked she was referring to the anti jinx potions. Hermione smiled then began to explain each one. Fred was watching her now. After she was done, she had managed to sell three kinds of the potions, and a love potion to the girl who'd been bothering her about Fred. Within an hour the shop had died down so that Lee could manage and Fred walked up to Hermione again.
"Thanks for the extra help." He smiled at her.
"You're welcome."
"What do you say we get that Ice cream you mentioned?" Fred said only to feel his stomach grumble slightly.
"Sounds like you need something a little more solid."
"We could over to the leaky cauldron, contrary to popular belief Tom serves very good food."
"I'm up for that." Hermione grinned. She was surprised when Fred grabbed her hand as they walked out onto Diagon Alley. For some reason however, she didn't stop him. They walked into the Leaky Cauldron still hand in hand. Hermione didn't bother questioning it when Fred sat down at one of the tables.
"Well I don't believe my eyes, if it isn't Fred Weasley?" Hermione heard a familiar voice say. She was surprised to see Angelina Johnson walking toward them from behind the bar.
"Angie." Fred said warmly he stood up to hug her. Then turned to Hermione. "You remember Hermione Granger."
"Yeah, it's great to see you." Angelina said.
"Do you work here?"
"I'm actually a part owner, Tom was having some troubles, but he still runs the place."
"Hermione and I decided we needed to get something to eat." Fred explained.
"I want waffles and a small pumpkin juice." Hermione said. She was struggling to hide her jealousy because of the way Fred was almost flirting with Angelina. "I need to go to the lady's room."
"Fine." Fred smiled at her. "Hurry back." He said and watched her walk all the way to the bathroom.
"So you and Granger, it looks like I figured that one completely wrong, I always thought she had it for your brother."
"Ron's dating Lavender Brown actually." Fred explained "But Hermione and I are just friends."
"Friends don't hold hands when they walk into a room, and they don't look at each other the way the two of you were just then." Angelina explained
"Seriously Angie, just lay off ok?" Fred begged
"Fine I'll go put your order in." Just then Hermione reemerged.
"You seemed awfully happy to see her." Hermione said sitting down and crossing her arms in front of her.
"Of course I am. She's one of my oldest FRIENDS." He emphasized the last word.
"So she's just a friend?" Hermione asked
"We dated for two weeks and decided we were better off as friends." Fred paused. "I could never feel about her the way I feel about . . . " He trailed off.
"Feel about whom?" Hermione asked
"Drop it please?"
"Ok. I'll let it go for now." Hermione said not wanting to press the subject any farther. They spent the rest of lunch talking and laughing but somewhere in the back of her mind, Hermione couldn't help but wonder had the next word in that sentence been you. Could Fred have possibly meant to say the way I feel about you? A thousand possibilities were swirling in her head. Hermione wondered how things could ever be so complicated and uncomplicated at the same time.