A/N: as usual, it's at the bottom!
Dislaimer: None of the characters are mine, though i'd like to think i own the plot:)
Chapter 2.
George came home that night. They'd got the place, next stop, France and the rest of Europe. It was ok though; after all they had family there now, what with Bill and the little tykes he had with Fleur. So, George and Fred went out to celebrate, Hermione couldn't come because she was trying to ignore Ron who was shouting through the door to get her to let him in so they could talk. The twins got absolutely slaughtered that night, well George anyway, Fred just sat and supped one pint all night staring into its depths, as though the answers would come from them.
He had managed a whole two days of not seeing her. He did this by making sure he was either early for breakfast or very late, never around 8.30am because that was when she ate. How sad that he actually knew that! Groaning, he rolled back over in his bed before finally stumbling his way out, and into the shower.
Stepping out of the bathroom, dressed for another day of avoidance, he made his way downstairs. Grabbing a bagel and some orange juice, he made his way outside and sat down by the lake, munching his breakfast.
Once he'd finished, he got up, dusted of non-existent dust, and walked back into the house through the kitchen where he heard cheers.
Walking into the living room, he noticed his twin was whirling Hermione around by the waist, while she wore a small grin on her face and Ron was stood looking red and sheepish.
"What's going on then?" Fred asked.
Molly came bustling over, looking very proud. "Ron and Hermione are engaged!" she beamed. "I knew you were destined to be a Weasley Hermione!"
"Fantastic." Fred said, looking towards Hermione as he shook his little brother's hand.
Hermione stood still now. Making her way over to him, she pulled Fred aside and asked to talk to him privately.
Once outside, Fred congratulated her, by hissing, "What the hell happened!"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I thought you were all up for giving up on him!" Fred stomped into the small study next to the kitchen.
Hermione followed Fred through to the study and shut the door firmly behind her. "I was, but he changed my mind." she said simply.
"Changed your mind? Changed your mind! How the hell did he do that!" he stood glaring at her.
"Ron," she emphasised, "asked me to marry him and apologised for his behaviour. He also promised me he wouldn't compare me to any other girl ever again."
"And how many times have you listened and swallowed that crap Mione?"
"How dare you! Why can't you just be happy and believe him like I do?" she pleaded.
"Because..." he hesitated.
"Because what Fred?"
"Because I think it's a load of bull, and your more stupid than I ever thought you could be." he turned around to glare at the terracotta-wallpapered wall instead.
"What?" Hermione's voice barely above a whisper.
'Oh crap, dangerous territory here Fred, be careful!' he thought to himself. He whirled round to face her again. "You know how many times he has said that crap, AND how many times he has gone back on it. Hell he's cheated on you before Hermione! Are you gonna stand for that when your married? I expected more from you."
"And how the hell should you know what to expect from me! I can't believe you're throwing your brother's past mistakes in our faces Frederick Weasley! God you're so, so... arrogant! You just make me so angry!" Hermione's face rivalled a tomato's.
"I have known you as long as Ron, in fact, I'd say I'd know you better! Which is why I don't want to see you treated like this, even if it is by my little brother." Fred said, slightly softer now.
"I think it is up to me how I feel and I love Ron. I will marry him!" she hissed.
"Then why did you kiss me that night?"
"WHAT? YOU kissed ME! And you regretted it as soon as it was over!" she turned away now.
"What the hell? How do you know whether or not I regretted it, you ran off!"
Now Hermione whirled round, once again nose to nose with Fred, staring him dead in the eye. "I do NOT need to stay and listen to someone's apologies and how much they regretted it, that's why I left! At least Ron is never that inconsiderate!" her eyes were watering now.
"You idiot!" Fred shouted. Which was the wrong thing to say to an already hysterical girl, because she merely glared at him before she hit him on the arm and stormed back into the living room to be with her fiancée.
Fred stood, stunned before he slid into the plush leather, swivel chair in the office. His head in his hands, his conscience decided to tell him how much better that could have gone and what a plonker he was.
Hermione went back into the living room. She smiled at her soon-to-be husband, slightly disappointed that he didn't seem to notice she had been gone, or that she was angry and upset. 'Fred would have.' she thought before shaking her head and becoming angry with herself for thinking such thoughts when only 2 minutes ago, she'd hit him and left him alone in the study.
"Well, this calls for a trip into Diagon alley tomorrow!" cheered Mrs Weasley.
"Erm, actually, I don't want to rush anything. I'd like to just be engaged for a while, if that's ok?" Hermione said meekly.
"Well, of course it's alright dear, but are you sure? I couldn't wait to get married when Arthur asked me!" Molly grinned.
"Oh I couldn't be happier that I'm marrying Ron! It's just, I was only asked 10 minutes ago!" she blushed. "And it feels as though it's a bit too hectic at the moment."
Fred walked in the room with a cup of tea. He glanced around the room, offered a small smile to everyone and sat down before starting to read the paper.
"Well, can I at least throw you two a party?" pleaded Molly.
"Of course mum!" said Ron hugging Hermione round the waist.
"Fantastic! I'll start organising it for tomorrow night. I think Harry's been a bit bored recently, what with not having any more Dark Wizard Lords to defeat after Voldemort died." she said, eyes looking at something in a distance no-one else could see.
"Well he's been busy with his Auror training hasn't he?" Ron added. He squeezed Hermione slightly, expecting her to smile at his little joke.
"Yes he has!" she defended her best friend.
Fred just casually flipped the paper to the Quidditch section to see how the Chudley Cannons were doing. Once more he gulped some tea down and continued to read quietly, ignoring the conversation buzzing around him as much as possible.
George came and sat next to him to start talking to him about the business, which Fred happily chatted away about new inventions.
Hermione couldn't understand why, but her mind kept wandering away from the conversation and back to Fred. This wasn't good as she was caught openly staring at him by Ron.
"Are you alright love?" he asked nudging her shoulder.
"Hermione darted her gaze away from the twins and back to Ron. "Yes I'm fine, and please don't call me love. It makes me sound like some middle aged woman and you, an old man!"
"Ok! I won't any more! Geez." he whistled under his breath.
Hermione's teeth started gnashing. "I'm going to talk to the twins, I think they are planning something," she said curtly.
As she made her way over to the sofa and sat down, she ignored the fact Ron didn't make much of a protest, or apologise for upsetting her. 'Fred would have.' she thought once more. Her eyes were watering slightly, not sure where all this emotion was coming from, she wiped her eyes roughly to keep the tears at bay and sat on the coffee table in front of Fred and George.
George acknowledged her presence first by saying, "Crying already Hermione? You're not supposed to do that until the end of the wedding when you realise you're stuck to Ron for life!" he laughed.
Hermione grinned slightly. "So what are you two up to? Not making any dangerous tricks are you?" she asked sternly.
"Why Hermione, we resent that accusation! Plus we couldn't smuggle the dragons eggs in the house without mum noticing." Fred joked.
And thus things seemed to be back to normal between the pair. They trio bantered the rest of the night and talked shop until Ginny came home and squealed at the news of the engagement.
"Hermione! Oh this is fantastic! You will legally be my sister now! Finally some more oestrogen to aid the female side of the family!" she babbled.
Hermione beamed at Ginny's response, and watched Fred get up and say "Good night" to everyone before making his way upstairs. George decided to follow his example and also went up.
Ginny rushed around the room saying Good night to everyone as well before dragging Hermione up to their room, Mrs Weasley still wouldn't let Ron and Hermione share a room whilst they were in her house.
Once in the room, Ginny asked a million questions, mainly all about what kind of dress she wanted and where they would hold the reception. Then she noticed Hermione's slightly bemused and sad look.
"Mione? What's wrong? Aren't you supposed to be gushing about Ron right now? Although feel free not to! He is my brother after all!" she laughed.
Hermione felt a tear slip down her cheek as she remembered the last time she had heard someone use that nickname. "Do you think I'm doing the right thing Ginny?"
"You're not sure? Then why did you say yes?"
"I don't know! I thought 'Maybe this time it'll be for real, and Ron will grow up' but am I a fool for thinking that, Ginny?"
"Do you want my honest opinion?" Ginny asked, realising how upset Hermione actually was about this.
Hermione nodded.
"I personally wouldn't have stood for the way Ron has treated you if it had been Dean, but then again, you guys seemed to be destined to be together. And we all know that Ron's a prat without thinking about it." she grinned.
Hermione smiled feebly. "You're right, it will all work out I'm sure." she said with a confidence she didn't feel. "Good night Ginny, and thank you."
"Don't worry about it, Mione."
And both girls went to sleep almost as soon as their heads touched the pillow.
"So what's been up with you all evening mate?" George asked his brother over the top of his Quidditch magazine.
"What do you mean?" asked Fred, turning over in his bed to talk to his brother in the other bed.
"Well, you've been really quiet and then you and Hermione disappeared for about 10 minutes, not that anyone else noticed," George trailed off.
"It's nothing," he stated.
"Bull," George replied.
"Ok, fine, but you're not to tell a soul!" glared Fred.
"When have I ever!" George grinned.
"Hermione and I... we kissed." he said looking down at his quilt.
There was absolute silence until, "Seriously? As in tonight?"
"No, it was a couple of night's ago, when you were at that meeting."
"How the hell did that happen?" George asked.
"She was upset, Ron had compared her to Lavender again and I was trying to comfort her and it just happened. She thinks I regretted it and I think that's why she's said yes to Ron," he said forlornly.
"Do you? Regret it I mean." he added when Fred looked at him, confused.
"No! Well, I do now because I think I've totally ruined our friendship. She hit me when we were gone for that 10 minutes because I said she was making a mistake about marrying Ron."
"But, do you regret it because you kissed her or because you kissed her?" he asked.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Well, how do you feel about her now?"
"I don't know. All I know is, that it hurts."
"Sounds like you've got it bad. Does she know this?"
"No, and I can't tell her."
"Why not?"
"She asked me to just be happy for her and Ron, so that's what I'm going to do. I don't want to lose our remaining friendship."
"I don't think that's the only thing you could lose mate, especially if you don't tell her."
"Yeah well, I dunno. I'll see what it's like in the morning."
"Ok, night."
"Night." and George flicked off the light while Fred pondered his dilemma before finally exhausting himself and falling asleep. Not before he'd reached his decision though.
A/N: Howdy folks! I am dedicating this chapter to all of the fantastic reviews I got for this story, most of them within the DAY! i was so shocked and every single one brought a smile to my face! So thank you VERY VERY much! This chapter also didn't go the way I planned it, it seems my brain and my fingers aren't linked together as they seem to have a mind of their own! My brain tells me to use the little scene I have planned, and my fingers decide to type a different one! The arguement was the way it should have started off, but it ended up going differently and also the whole engagement thing was necessary as you shall find out later! so feel free to roast me about that but don't worry! Something may happen, although i'll probably keep it going for a while coz i'm mean like that! anyways, Again i would love to hear what you guys think of this chapter, i think it's a bit longer than the previous one because it was 4 pages in word, which sounds really pathetic compared to some people's 12 pages but i'm proud of myself! I apologise for any grammatical mistakes, please tell me and I will try to correct them! Thankyou! See you in the next chapter!