Back at the Burrow, Hermione changed out of her clothes and back into her pajamas. She joined the Weasley's and Harry in having a cup of cocoa. Still mulling over the incident at the lake, she turned in early.
"Mione, what's the matter with you?" Ginny asked.
"Oh, it's nothing, umm, yeah, just nothing." Hermione went about unpacking her clothes.
"Oh yes it is, now spill it." Ginny told her, putting a hand on Hermione's arm and spinning her around.
"Well, it's just that when we were on the ice, your brothers wanted me to give them 7 minutes when we got back. I got all angry and told them I wasn't a slut." Hermione confessed.
"Oh, Mione, 7 minutes is nothing." Ginny waved her hand in a dismissible way.
"Great, now everyone thinks I'm a prude." Hermione said, barely audible.
"Mione, don't worry about it. You could get any guy you want. You could have any of my brothers. You even almost got Harry." Ginny said reassuringly, but ending in a sad tone.
"What?" Hermione looked shocked.
"He told me he saw you in only a towel this morning. He said he had guilty feeling about you and him together. He said his feeling changed for me. But then he said he realized I'm the one he wants. I was really awful to him. He said he understood why. And he also told me he may need a break to make sure he has made the right decision." Ginny finished, letting a single tear fall.
"Oh, Ginns, I'm so sorry. I'm such a terrible person." Hermione buried her face in her hands.
"Mione it's not your fault they can't control what's in their pants!" Ginny said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
Hermione crawled into a restless sleep. At one o'clock, she got up, pulled her cream colored Eskimo boots on, zipped her jacket up, and tiptoed outside.
The freezy air bit at her cheeks and blew through the thin flannels she had on. She let the tears fall, and wiped them away. She began to think, All the Weasley boys want me. Harry, your best friend's boyfriend, wants you. Hermione, what are you going to do?
"Mione?" A husky voice called through the dark.
"W-w-what?" She called back through chattering teeth.
"I heard someone get up. Listen, I'm sorry about today on the ice. It was awful to ask that of you." Fred told her, still standing feet behind her.
"Well you and everyone probably think I'm a prude now." Hermione answered, her voice faltering slightly.
"No, not at all, Mione. I don't know why I would let them have you as well, when I want you all to myself." Fred said, coming directly behind her and wrapping his strong arms around her waist.
"Oh, Fred. I feel awful. Ever since I came here, which is an astounding one day, I've been the center of attention. Everyone wants me, and I can't choose." Hermione cried.
"Then I'll choose." Fred turned her around and kissed her gently on her lips. He began to draw back, but he felt Hermione follow him and kiss him deeper. He finally put his hands to her, and pull away.
"It was just a thought." He said searching her face. Hermione met his lips again, this time full of hunger. Fred moved his hands to her butt and squeezed gently. Hermione let out a moan, one muffled by Fred's mouth.
Fred moved his hands inside her pants and moved them around to the front. He stroked her lowers gently, feeling around for a spot she'd like.
Hermione pulled away and pulled Fred's hands out of her pants. "That's enough for tonight. Does, umm, this mean, ya know, that we're, umm, together?" She asked.
"Only if you want to." Fred answered.
"Yes. I think so, anyway. I've been so confused." She said, looking at her feet guiltily.
"Well, if you feel bad or uncomfortable with it, just tell me and we can, ya know, break up or whatever." Fred responded, taking her into his arms.
"Your freezing. Let's get you inside." He held her hand, it feeling small in his large, calloused hands from Quidditch.
The walked back inside, Fred taking her coat off and hanging it on the back of a chair. "Would you like a lift upstairs?" He asked.
"I think that sounds good." And with that, Hermione was picked up into Fred's arm and carried quietly upstairs. He brought her into the room she shared with Ginny and let her down carefully.
"Goodnight, Mione." He bent down and kissed her forehead, her nose, and a long kiss on her lips.
"Night." She said when he had released her.