Thanks to everyone for all the marvelous reviews. I love getting reviews. I just wanted to really give a big thanks. Also please don't be too angry about the way I ended this chapter. It was just a natural breaking point and I hope to have the next chapter up tomorrow or the next day.
Hermione screamed as she felt Fred's hand slip out of hers as they hit ground. She looked frantically around for Fred.
"Could I get some help out of here?" She heard his voice beneath her. She looked down to see Fred sitting in a giant hole just below her.
"What is that thing?" Hermione asked mystified.
"Gnome Trap ever since mom had it installed, the little beasts quit coming back, I guess it's hard for them to get out." Fred said. Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled him up out of the hole "I can see why."
"Are you ok?" She asked
"My ankle hurts." Fred said "But I didn't do this on purpose."
"I know you didn't. Now let me see that ankle." Hermione smiled. She pulled up his black sock and wasn't surprised to find the ankle slightly swollen. "Congratulations it's a spranged ankle."
"What are you going to do about it?" He asked
"Fix it, after all I am going to be a healer, and with a patient like you I'm getting plenty of practice."
"Hey I blame you, I wasn't a walking accident until I started spending time with you." Fred said
"I sometimes think you do it all for the attention." Hermione said she pulled out her wand and did a few minor tricks. Fred howled. "It hurts something awful for about two minutes, but once that wears off it should be fine."
"Do you enjoy causing me pain?" he asked
"No now get up, we need to get going or everyone will wonder where we are." Hermione smiled, she pulled Fred to his feet and helped him walk. However soon the pain was all gone and he was thanking Hermione for her amazing work.
"Seriously, what would I do with you?" Fred smiled
"Well I guess you'd probably die." Hermione smiled. At this they entered the area of the Burrow's backyard. It now had a huge canopy tent set up with what must have been 300 tables inside. Molly waved Fred and Hermione to the wedding party's table. Harry and Ginny hadn't arrived yet.
"This is really nice Molly. I love it."
"I had to expand the back yard slightly you know, but the Muggles haven't seemed to notice so everything should be fine." She announced.
"I love the dance floor Harry and Ginny will look beautiful on it." Hermione said but at that George and Katie sat down interrupting the conversation.
"Where have you two been?" George asked more to Fred then Hermione.
"Your twin fell in the gnome trap and sprung his ankle, but I fixed it." Hermione smiled
"Yes she did." Fred smiled at that moment Ginny and Harry walked in hand in hand. Everyone began to clap. As they shook hands with several guests, Katie took a seat next to Hermione. Fred and George took off toward the refreshment table hoping to get some food before the festivities were underway and it was too late.
"So George tells me that you and Fred have been spending a lot of time together." Katie hinted Hermione smiled looking at Fred.
"Yeah, but we're just friends." Hermione clarified. Katie laughed. "What's so funny?"
"That's what I said about George after Oliver dumped me."
"You really love him don't you?" Hermione asked smiling as Katie looked at George. He was now bringing her back a drink.
"More then I thought it was possible to love someone." Katie explained the idea of it made Hermione smile.
"I hope you like tea, as it turns out the choices are pretty limited." Fred said. He then took a seat next to Hermione. She grinned.
"Tea is perfect." Hermione said. Katie winked at her.
"So, what were you two ladies talking about?" George asked Harry and Ginny were just finally taking their seats.
"Nothing." Katie and Hermione said together and then they heard Molly banging on her glass. They both shut up and watched as the festivities began. Hermione looked over and noticed two empty seats on the other side of the table.
"Who's missing?" She asked suddenly confused.
"Lavender and Ron." Katie explained
"Apparently, Ron told mum to start without him and that he would be along shortly." George explained Hermione wondered what in the world was going on. However, she decided to just enjoy herself for the rest of the reception.
After the toasts were said and dinner was served Harry and Ginny began the first dance. Everyone smiled as they danced to a beautiful ballad. Hermione congratulated both of them, just before she felt a hand slid across her back. She turned to find Fred with his arm across her shoulders.
"May I have this dance?" he asked Hermione smiled.
"Well I suppose since you are my date." She smiled and let Fred lead her onto the dance floor. She looked over to the table and saw that there was still no sign of Ron. She was now getting a little worried but she didn't show it. Instead she rested her head on Fred's shoulder.
"So where do we go from here?" Fred finally asked at the end of the first slow dance Hermione looked up at him confused.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Well after today we have no reason to interact with each other, except for at family functions, unless we make a reason."
"I'd like that." Hermione said seeing that Fred wasn't ready to define what they were.
"I was hoping you'd . . . " At that moment Fred was cut off.
"Can I cut in?" Ron asked walking up behind Fred. Fred stepped away. He looked for Hermione's reaction. Hermione nodded at him that it was ok.
"Fine, but you can't have her for long." Fred said strangely he winked at Hermione.
"What's this about Ron?" Hermione said looking around for signs of Lavender.
"I don't really know if I can answer that here." He explained "Can we just go somewhere and talk?"
"I suppose." Hermione said. She was finally moving on, and she realized that in order to completely move forward she needed to forgive Ron. They had been friends once and they could be again. Hermione let Ron lead her off behind the tent.
"So." She said as soon as they were alone.
"I just . . . " Ron started "I screwed up."
"What do you mean you screwed up?"
"I mean that I screwed up with you, I mean that I lost you because I was stupid."
"Ron come on; don't do this." Hermione said.
"When you were walking down that aisle toward me today, I realized that I didn't want Lavender." He paused taking a breath. "When I see someone walking down the aisle toward me, I still see you." Hermione stared at him for a moment completely unsure of what to say.
"Ron, you can't just spring this on me like this." She finally managed. "Not now."
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't keep how I feel a secret, look I lost you once because I was stupid, I cheated on you with a girl who will never mean even half what you mean to me."
"What about Lavender?" Hermione asked. Her mind was on Fred. For the first time she knew what she wanted. It had taken Ron to show her that.
"I broke up with her." Ron explained Hermione nearly gasped. "That's why I grabbed her at the wedding I needed to talk to her. I wanted to do it before she came here with me today, I couldn't keep leading her on, when it was you I wanted."
"Wow." Hermione managed.
"I love you, Hermione." Ron said Hermione just stared at him. "Say something please."
"What do you want me say?" Hermione screamed. "I loved you with everything that I had. I spent two years of my life devoted to you, and one day I came home and found you in bed with Lavender, and now when I'm finally moving on, the second I'm finally starting to have feelings for someone else you tell me that you still love me?"
"You have feelings for someone else?" Ron said looking upset. "I haven't seen you with anyone since we broke up."
"It's complicated." Hermione explained "But yeah, I have feelings."
"I know you don't love him the way you loved me." Ron grabbed her hand.
"Let go Ron." Hermione said "Look it's over, I thought that we made that clear a year ago."
"Please Hermione let me remind you of what we have?" Ron said more then asked, he then grabbed Hermione and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Hermione pondered for just an instant. How could she have enjoyed this? She remembered a time when kissing Ron had made her weak in the knees. She remembered when she knew she didn't want to kiss anyone for the rest of her life. However in that moment she realized that Ron's kiss didn't hold a candle to Fred's. Compared to kissing Fred, Ron made her feel like she was kissing her very own brother. Hermione pulled away and opened her eyes, just in time to see Fred standing in view he had tears in his eyes. Hermione stared at him for a minute saying nothing. Ron looked from Fred to Hermione. He was the first to finally speak.
"No way." He muttered as Hermione kept her eyes locked with Fred's. At this Fred looked from Hermione to Ron.
"I hope that the two of you are very happy together." He said then began to run off. Hermione could feel her heart breaking.
"I'm sorry Ron." Hermione said before turning to run after Fred.