A/N- The poll is in, and apparently people like it so I shall continue. Just one thing to answer for certain people: George and Angelina are together because I said so, and how in the world do you expect me to have Hermione set up plans to get Fred's attention if Fred is there all the time? Hmmm? And vice versa?

Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter, but I do have a little apartment of my own… ANYONE KNOW THE QUOTE? (Hint: Those who stand before these doors shall be judged.)

Chapter 2: Family

Angelina agreed to come over, though she was confused why George couldn't wait until their date planned for the next day. He hadn't explained anything, just said it had to do with Hermione, and she might want to know what's up. But then again, he was a Weasley Twin after all, and they thrived off of surprises, so she gave in.

She flooed to their flat after him and automatically could tell something had changed. The very air seemed to carry a new scent. A musky, soft, papery smell seemed to tinge the air. It took her a while to place this new scent, and when she did, she called out, "Why does this place smell like books?"

"Angelina! How have you been? I must see the ring!" Hermione said as she rushed over to greet her. Angelina couldn't help but notice how perky Hermione seemed. It was a huge change from the last time she'd seen her. Hermione grabbed her hand and inspected the huge diamond ring George had bought for her. She knew its every contour by now as she'd stared it every spare moment she had. The ring was made of 24-karat gold that had two emerald-cut garnets around an enormous princess-cut diamond. The diamond was nearly flawless with one slightly foggy spot in the upper corner, but that just made her love it more. You can't see beauty without a flaw to place next to it in comparison. The garnets were scarlet, so that the ring itself was Gryffindor's colors. It fit her personality so perfectly that she could barely say, "yes" between the tears.

"Oh my God, it's gorgeous! George must have spent a fortune on you!"

Angelina looked at the man in question, the man she loved so much who was smiling just slightly like he did sometimes, and grinned to herself. "Yes, he did."

"Hermione, you do realize that you have my fiancé's hand in a death-grip?" George laughed.

"Oh, sorry," she mumbled in a small voice, looking very embarrassed.

Fred yelled, "Dinner's ready!" from the kitchen. Everyone exited the common room and entered the dining room. Hermione could never get over the fact that Fred could cook, but then he did have to make joke treats for the shop. Tonight's meal consisted of roast pork and new potatoes with rolls and a salad, very simple but delicious all the same.

There was very little talk during dinner, but once Angelina had finished her plate she asked, "So what the Hell is going on?" That got everyone's attention.

"Eh...what exactly do you mean by that?" Fred asked, confused.

"Let's see, Hermione is acting happier than she has for a year or so, the whole house smells like books, George is keeping secrets and Fred's being polite while eating. Something's going on," she said as if it was blatantly obvious, which in her eyes it was. They all exchanged a look to figure out who would be best to explain.

"Your turn, mate," George said to Fred. "Hermione said it last time. Plus, it's more or less your doing."

"True, true," he conceded. "Alright, here's the short version: Hermione's going to live here from now on. George, you, or I must be present if she leaves, so she doesn't have to be alone. The house smells like books because there's now a mini-library down the hall since she couldn't fit all her books in her room. There, satisfied?"

"Sufficiently. George, I'm getting tired. Let's go to bed," she passively commanded with a wink.

"Yes, ma'am!" They walked off together to George's bedroom.

"What are the odds she's really sleepy?" Hermione laughed.

"Just plug your ears and ignore it. That's what I've tried to do since they started going to bed together," Fred grinned. "Would you like to join me on the couch, Miss Granger?"

"Will it make it possible for me not to hear them?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.

"If I turn up the stereo, it will," he shrugged.

"Since when do you two have a stereo?" Hermione asked.

"Since around the time that George and I realized we had a little of our dad's appreciation for Muggles," he said.

"Just don't let him near it!" she laughed.

"No worries. He doesn't even know we have it." They both sat down on the green and orange striped couch, which faced the fireplace. Fred placed the play button and his Incubus CD started to play:

I'm home alone tonight.
Full moon illuminates my room, and sends my mind aflight.
I think I was dreaming up some thoughts that were seemingly
Possible...with you.
So I call you on the tin can phone.
We rendezvous at a quarter-two, and make sure we're alone.
I may have found a way for you and I to finally fly free.
When we get there, we're gonna go far away.
Making sure to laugh; while we experience anti-gravity.
For years, I kept to myself.
Now potentialities are bound, and sleeping under my shelf.
Simply choose your destination from the diamond canopy,
And we'll be there.
So I call you on the tin can phone.
We rendezvous at a quarter-two, and make sure we're alone.
I may have found the way for you and I to finally be free

"So, do you want me to tell you why I came to the shop a week ago?" she whispered to him.

"You missed seeing my sexy face?" he half-joked, placing his arm around her shoulders.

"I was considering a job offer in Russia for the Ministry," she felt his hand tighten on her arm, "but I had to see if my life was completely empty. I wanted to make sure I truly had nothing left as I had begun to convince myself. Then I saw you with that poor boy-"

"He offered to help!" he interjected.

"-and went straight into goody-two shoes mode, and I knew I couldn't leave my family," she continued, ignoring him. "I was so caught up in self-pity and contempt that I failed to see all the people still around that I cared about. That cared about me." She yawned and placed her head on his shoulder.

"Hermione, you know we'll always be there for you. Abandonment is just not something we do in this family." He paused and stared into the fire for a few minutes. "About that kiss…" he started turning toward her. She was asleep.

He lifted her and carried her into her room. Placing her on the bed, he gently kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, beloved."

------------------That morning:

Hermione awoke due to the feeling of a heavy weight landing right on her stomach. "Oof!"

"Wakey wakey! We have a long day ahead of us," said an exuberant Fred. Obviously he was a morning person. Hermione, on the other hand, was not.

"Leave me alone!" she whined.

"We have to be at the Burrow for lunch, and it's already 11!"

"That's still on the wrong side of AM. I want more sleep," she groaned.

"I'll buy you a new book," he whispered in her ears.

She tossed him off her shouting, "I'm up! Just give me 20 minutes!" She bolted to the bathroom to take a shower. Fifteen minutes later she was back in her room flinging clothes around in an attempt to find the right outfit. "Got it!" Four minutes and 38 seconds later she emerged with dry, curly hair and make-up applied. Her outfit was boot-cut, low-rise jeans, a red tank covered with a transparent black shirt that had fairy wings on the back, and black Nikes. She grabbed Fred's hand and disapparated them both to the Burrow, all Fred could do was hang on.

She knocked on the door, and Mr. Weasley answered.

"HERMIONE!" He flung open the door and gave her a crushing hug Molly would have been proud up. They could hear a collective, "What?"

Everyone came rushing to the front hallway, and by everyone I mean Fleur, Bill, Charlie, Remus Lupin, Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and the new children: Gaverinth and Magenta Weasley (from Fleur and Bill) and Tristan Potter (Ginny and Harry's before he died). Neville had just flooed in as well. When he saw her, he rushed through the crowned and lifted Hermione off the ground, swirling her around. He had never quite gotten over his crush on her.

Hermione by now was in a state of shock. 'Why is everyone so surprised?' she thought to herself. 'It's like they thought I was dead.'

"Hermione dear, you must eat something! You're much too thin!" Mrs. Weasley fussed. She had lost some weight, but Hermione didn't think it was that bad.

"Auntie Hermione, where have been?" said a tiny voice below her. It was Tristan. He looked exactly like Ginny except for the jade green eyes, which were all Harry.

"In a land far away, dearest, but I'm back now, so no need to fret," she said comfortingly. It was true in a way. She had seemed to be stuck in a world full of nightmares up until recently.

"Don't ever leave again! We had no one here to save us from Remus' horrid stories! He just wouldn't shut-up about being a werewolf and Grandpa and when they were at school! It was horrible," Tristan complained. Hermione laughed and glanced at Remus, who looked completely offended.

"I thought you liked those stories," he pouted.

"Only the first twenty times!" She couldn't help it. She had to laugh. She was home again.