Disclaimer: Unfortunatly, not mine
Pauly-85: I hope this update will convince you that Fred is cuter!
Sanwandi: I've read "Till There Was You" and I promise that the majority of the story will not be similar.
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Chapter 3 Getting Over Ron
When Hermione and Fred landed, Hermione looked around her to find herself in the pleasantly familiar village of Hogsmeade. She was puzzled though. And she looked positively awful from all of the crying she had been doing over the past hour. She raised her head to look at Fred. He was looking back at her and smiling.
"What do you think?" he asked her.
"Why are we here, Fred?" she asked him, confused.
"We are going to go dancing milady," he said to her grinning.
"Dancing," she repeated slowly, processing. Then, "but I can't go dancing, I look positively dreadful. I've only just broken up with Ron, and I've spent the last hour crying my eyes out."
"Not to worry, Mione," responded Fred, waving off her concerns. He took her hand and pulled her into one of the surrounding shops. Once inside, Hermione looked around. Fred had brought her into a spa. She was amazed. Fred had gone over to speak with the lady at the desk, and they began to have an animated conversation from the looks of it.
Suddenly after about five minutes of having her head in the clouds, a woman's voice brought her back to earth.
"Hermione Granger," the woman said. Hermione walked over to her. "Follow me please."
Hermione looked curiously over at Fred, who nodded for her to go. She realized what he had done, and was a bit embarrassed, yet she was extremely grateful to him for all of his thoughtfulness.
An hour later, she had gotten a massage, a facial, and her makeup and hair done. She looked and felt better, and when she walked back out into the lobby, she saw Fred calmly waiting and reading a magazine. When she entered he looked up at her and grinned.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
"Much," she replied smiling at him. "Thank you, Fred."
"It was nothing," he replied. "Now come on, we're going to enjoy Hogsmeade."
They walked off around the village for a bit, in which Fred didn't even make any mention of going to Zonko's to check out the competition, as he and George had been prone to doing lately. After a bit of looking around, Fred wrapped his arm around her, and walked her over to The Three Broomsticks. She noticed she didn't coil away from him as she did Ron. Fred sat her down, and went to order two butterbeers from Madam Rosemerta. Five minutes later he came back and handed her one of the bottles. Hermione took it, and remembered back in third year, when Ron would be so excited to see Madam Rosemerta. She frowned thinking about that. How she wished things were still that simple.
"What's on your mind?" asked Fred.
"Just thinking about Ron again," she replied with a sigh.
"The idea of the day was for you not to do that," said Fred looking at her. "Tell me everything that's troubling you, so that way you can clear your head. It works, and if you don't believe me, just ask Harry. He was bloody awful after the tournament, until he told Dumbledore and-and Padfoot."
She smiled, thinking how hard Fred was trying to get her mind off Ron. Ron. She gave a sigh, and began to talk to Fred. She told him everything that she could think of. She told him how she supposed that they wouldn't have worked out anyways. She was always uncomfortable with his touch, and they were awkward around each other. She was worried about how the Weasleys would take the news of the breakup. She was worried that she wouldn't be welcome by the Weasleys since she had just dumped the second youngest one.
Another worry she had was Ron and Harry and her friendships. She feared that things might never be the same between them again. She and Ron would probably be awkward around each other. She worried most about Ron and Harry's friendship. This wasn't like some of the fights she and Ron used to have. This was much bigger, and she worried that he would have to choose between her and Ron. She didn't want him in that position. He had enough trouble in his life lately without worrying about the possibility of loosing one of his best friends. She worried that Ginny would hate her for breaking up with her brother. She told him of how upset she was because Ron didn't trust her. She spoke for nearly three quarters of an hour.
When she was finished, she suddenly realized she had said all of this to Ron's brother.
"Why are you here Fred? I've just dumped your brother. You should be mad at me."
Fred regarded her very seriously. "Hermione, if I thought you were the problem here, then I wouldn't be here, but from what I saw and heard, it was Ron who was being an absolute git. I was shocked at how thick he was being, and he deserved every bit of what he got. And as for everyone hating you, I can't even believe that you would think that. You saw Ginny. If looks could kill, Ron would be dead and buried now, with the way she was looking at him. She argued for you Mione. Don't you forget it. She may be related to Ron, but that doesn't mean she will be blind to his pigheadedness."
Fred paused and took a sip of his butterbeer before continuing. "Don't think the rest of the Weasleys will hold it against you either. Mum practically had your wedding planned when she found out, but she'll get over it. She might just take a bit to get used to the idea, but she could never hate you. You and Harry are practically her children anyways. Aside from her, we all know how bad Ron can get. Hell, you already have Ginny, George, and I. You've got Harry too in case you hadn't noticed. He may not have said much, but he was on your side. As for his friendship with my prat of a brother, they're too good of friends not to work through this. Ron will realize not to put Harry in the middle of things also, and if he hasn't yet, well that's what George is for. Clam him down, and then beat some sense into him. Harry and Ginny are helping actually."
"You and Ron will be able to work through this. It may be awkward for a bit, since it was a bit of a messy breakup, but he'll get used to it and he will know by the time we get back what an ass he's been. You've got nothing to worry about, Mione."
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After they had finished their talk, Fred had leapt up, declared that it was time for her to cheer up, and whisked her out of the Three Broomsticks. He had led her there. To the very club she'd told him about back in the clearing. A dance club called Pixies. The club she'd always wanted to go to, that Ron would never take her too. She had figured all the Weasley menwould be like Ron, in the sensethat they didn't dance. She thought now that she ought to have remembered that Fred and George had never been shy in dancing before. She had a fleeting vision of the Yule Ball. She smiled at the memory. Ron had been the same in regards to dancing, but Harry had improved some, and developed sort of a liking for it after dating Parvati Patil for a few months in sixth year.
She looked at the club. Music could be heard from the street. It was at the far end of Hogsmeade, across the street from the Hogs Head, and next to a decent looking, yet vacant building, with a sign that read For Rental, and then gave some more detailed information. Fred stopped to read the sign for a bit, and then shrugged and walked inside muttering that he hadn't known that that space was empty.
They walked inside the club, and the music got louder. She and Fred walked over to one of the tables set around the edge of the rather large dance floor. They sat down, and a waitress came over to take their order. Fred ordered a firewhiskey, while Hermione ordered a butterbeer.
"You just had a butterbeer," said Fred looking at her.
"Yes, well I like them, and I'm still in Hogwarts. I hardly think I should be having Firewhiskey," she told him pointedly. Though she was of age to be having Firewhiskey, it was considered reckless if that witch or wizard was still in school.
He raised his eyebrows at her. "I forgot how much you set store by the rules. Oh well. I must say though, it's much easier to get over something with a bit of whiskey."
She gave him a look. "Are you advising me to get completely sloshed, then go back to your mum, and tell her I dumped her son?"
"No, I'm just saying it's easier with a bit. Not enough to get sloshed. If you don't want any though, it's your choice. You've got my respect for not caving."
She appreciated the fact that he was not going to pressure her into having a drink, and the fact that he just said he respected her was pleasantly shocking. The waitress appeared with their drinks. Hermione sipped her butterbeer, and within a few minutes, she had finished it, after watching Fred drain his firewhiskey in two swallows. Suddenly he seemed to realize that they were in a club. A fast song came on, by the Weird Sisters.
"Care to dance, milady?" he asked, bowing and offering his hand.
"Of course, good sir," she replied giggling, and took his hand. They made their way out onto the dance floor, and began to dance. Surprisingly they were both excellent dancers, and had no trouble getting in with the music. They looked like they were club regulars to anyone in the club.
"Damn Granger," Fred said above the music. "Where in the bloody hell did you learn to dance like this?"
He was referring to their close proximity. They were grinding and looking like they had been doing it every night for a while. Hermione couldn't help but flush as she felt him against her.
"I would ask you the same question Weasley, but I'm not sure that I would like to know the answer," she shouted to him over the deafening volume. He grinned at her.
"You haven't see anything yet," he informed her. She was about to ask what he had meant be that, when the next song started, and Fred pulled her into a wild, yet very skilled dance, that had crowds around them and cheering by the end of the song. Hermione blushed a bit at all the attention they were getting, and even Fred seemed a bit surprised, although not what one would call flustered in any way. Hermione's blush was ignored by the crowd however, as they all brought it down to her being pink from dancing. She found after a few more songs, however, that she didn't mind all of the attention. It was nice to be appreciated for one's skills, she mused as she and Fred made their way back to the table for a rest. She never got this kind of reaction for anything she'd done in school.
"Who knew you were such a sexy dancer Mione," smirked Fred after they'd been sitting for two songs. "I never thought you had it in you."
Hermione willed herself not to blush. He had just flirted with her! She was surprised, but flattered all the same.
"Well, Fred, there's more where that came from," she stood up, throwing him a wink before heading out for the dance floor. A new song had just come on. She walked out to the middle of the floor wondering if he would follow her. She didn't have to wait long, as she only stood there for two seconds before she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"You're such a tease Mione," Fred grinned. "How about another dance?"
Rather than answer him, she pulled him into rhythm with her, andsoon the song had ended, followed by four more songs. Before long, the club DJ's voice echoed through the crowded club.
"Witches and wizards, May I have your attention please! As you all know, it's Tuesday night! All you regulars out there know what Tuesday means at Pixies!" He stopped and waited for the considerable applause that had greeted his words to die down. Once it had he started up again. "Tuesday means Dance Contest! So all of you who think you are cool enough to show your stuff, get your asses out on the floor!"
At this, a number of people went to sit down, preferring to watch rather than dance. The other half of the club however scrambled to get out on the floor. Fred and Hermione looked at each other and grinned.
"Shall we give it a go, Ms. Granger?" he asked.
"Of course, Mr. Weasley," she replied, and they both got up and walked onto the dance floor. Everyone paid attention as the rules were explained, and then the music came on. Fred and Hermione were in their element. They moved together with a gracefulness that could not have been practiced, and with natural skills that magic could not replicate. The way their bodies fit together was natural, and Hermione was feeling very confident as they were among those selected to move on to the next round.
"Good job, Mione," said Fred, grinning. "We might actually have a chance to win this thing."
She grinned back at him. "Fred Weasley, let's show them what we can do."
The next song came on, a very fast one at that, and Fred and Hermione danced their hearts out, each never imagining that they could have this much fun with the other. They began to dance similar to the way they had earlier in the night, and they had the crowd cheering once more. By the end of the song it was just them and two other couples.
"And now for the final round!" cried the DJ. "At the end of the round, the crowd decided the winner. Pay attention people, and remember to cheer for whom you support."
Another fast song came on, and Fred and Hermione grinned at each other. "Let's kick some ass Fred," cried Hermione with a grin. Fred shot one right back, and they began to dance.
They danced in a complicated dance made up completely on the spot, however, the couple seemed to have no trouble reading each other's thoughts, and seemed to know how the other was going to move next. It was amazing how well they moved together, and apparently the crowd thought so too. When the song finally ended, all three couples were flushed from dancing, and panting to catch their breaths.
"Ok people!" cried the DJ. "Now comes the moment we've all been waiting for. You all know how it works. When I bring the couple forward, you applaud. The couple with the most support wins!"
The DJ brought the first couple forward, and the crowd applauded loudly. The second couple came forward, and the crowd exploded. Apparently they were the usual winners of the contest. Hermione found herself getting more and more nervous. She discovered that she really wanted to win this. From the slightly nervous look on Fred's face when she cast a side glance at him, he wanted to win just as badly. When the DJ asked Fred and Hermione to come forward, Fred suddenly grabbed her hand and whisked her into an overconfident bow, and then waved merrily at the crowd. Hermione was nervous for only a moment.
The din was nearly deafening. It was a very clear cut winner. Fred and Hermione had won by a landslide. They grinned and bowed again. After the contest, Fred and Hermione gave their names to be put on the month's list of winners. They danced to two more songs after that, before deciding that it was time to go home.
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They slowly made their way out of the club. Once out on the street, they found that it had gotten quite late indeed.
"Fred, what time is it?" asked Hermione, taking in the darkness surrounding them.
"Nearly half past eleven," he replied looking at his watch.
"Wow, I hadn't realized it was so late. Won't everyone be worried about us?" she asked.
"Time flies when you're having fun," he replied. "And no, no one will be worried because George will have said something by now."
"He knows we're here then?" she asked.
"No one knows we're here, because it was a bit of a spur of the moment decision," he admitted. "George and Harry, and probably Ginny by now, know that I went up to comfort you, and they know we'll come back when you're feeling better. By the way, do you see anything around that would make a decent portkey?"
Fred looked around, and spotted something on the ground. He bent down to pick it up, and Hermione saw that it was an empty butterbeer bottle. He pointed his wand at it and muttered "portus." He then turned to her.
"Hold on Mione, we've got to get back to the burrow," he said.
She reached over and held the end of the bottle. She felt the telltale pull around her navel, and closed her eyes. When she opened them she was standing outside the burrow. She turned to Fred beside her.
"Fred," she said. He looked at her. "I wanted to thank you for cheering me up today. It really helped a lot. Today was fun."
"Of course it was fun," Fred said in mock horror. "What else would you expect from yours truly?"
She grinned at him. "Well, I certainly didn't expect that you were such a good dancer. That was fun. I've wanted to go to Pixies forever."
"What's today?" asked Fred suddenly.
Hermione was puzzled at his sudden interest in the date. She was about to open her mouth and tell him it was Tuesday, when he seemed to answer himself. "Tuesday," he said. Then he turned to look at her once more. "Mione, from now on, Tuesday will be our night. Our Pixie night."
"Our Pixie night?" she repeated, confused.
"Yes, our Pixie night. Every Tuesday we go dancing. Tuesday is, after all, the night of the dance contest. We've got a title to defend now," he told her grinning impishly.
"What ever you say Fred," she replied also grinning. "Tuesday will be our Pixie night."
The pair turned and walked into the Burrow, both smiling. They bid each other good night, tired after a long night of dancing, and walked to their respective rooms. When she entered Ginny's room however, she found the younger red head sitting up, and waiting for her.
"What's up Gin?" she asked, worried at the look on the young girls face.
"Hermione, I need to talk to you. It's important," said Ginny looking extremely serious. At this look, Hermione felt some of the happiness from her night with Fred slowly drain out of her. She sat down to talk with Ginny Weasley.
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Cliffie! Yea!
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