Disclaimer: Me. Got it? Okay. Harry Potter. You following me? Alright. No? Good, you're doing good. Ownership? Nice! Alright, so here's the hard part, try to keep up. Me(plus)Harry Potter(equals)No Ownership. One last piece. Ownership(plus)Harry Potter(equals)J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Hello, hello, hello. Finally found a plot bunny. He was hidden in my TV, on channel 40. It was during a commercial. I was watching Happy Gilmore. Finally know what that movie is about...Anyway! So, I might be starting a new fic soon, providing this goes well. I might wait til I'm finished with this, might not. From the looks of it, this will be about 15 to 20 chapters, give or take a little. We'll see. Anyway, faithful reviewers, thank you! I really appreciate it, everything! So, here it is, chapter 10!

Chapter Ten

Hermione was exhausted. Every night had proven to be a very difficult obstacle. Her mind and her heart were at war, as cliche as it may be. Stubborn feelings, and the mindset that she wasn't meant to be happy, was fighting with every word Ginny said concerning the matter of her older brother, and every thought that reflected some of the stranger run-ins she had experienced with Fred Weasley.

It was becoming increasingly ridiculous. By mid-November, she knew there was only one way to figure it out.

Hogsmeade weekend was upon the Hogwarts students, another weekend they could spend flitting their ways about the town. Hermione followed the others, putting up a front full of cheer. But in the back of her mind, she knew, if she wanted things to start getting back to normal, she had to do something that she really wasn't too willing to do.

Down the street from the bookstore she was currently residing in, was a small building, one that used to be home to an old quill shop. And Hermione knew from Ron and Ginny that this would be the new joke shop for the Weasley twins.

But, being the careful and practical woman that she was, Hermione sat in the small part of her favorite bookshop that had little booths where you could drink coffee and read. And this was precisely what Hermione was doing.

She had quickly found a book, a little novel she had been eyeing during her previous visits, about the comedy and confusion that ensued when love was lit between two souls. She began to read it, hoping to finish the first chapter and evaporate some of the nervousness that had plagued her all weeks.

Hermione knew she had to confront Fred, and hear it herself, so she could get on with her life. Hear that he wasn't serious about anything that had involved her, and ask exactly why he had resorted to such measures as what he had.

But those intentions were soon forgotten.

"Oi! Hermione! Imagine finding you here!" Hermione looked up.

Red-hair, freckles, tall and grinning.

"George?"

"That's the name, don't wear it out!"

"What are you doing in a bookstore?"

George feigned hurt. "You don't think I can read?" Hermione just stared at him. "Aw, shucks Mione. I thought you had more faith in me than that! Oh, and many points for recognizing me! Anyway, Yes, my darling love enjoys a good book here and there, and secretly," George leaned in a bit, "So do I."

"Oh...I'm sorry George, I didn't mean any offense."

"Oh, none taken! So, whatcha readin?" George slid into the seat across from her and peered at the book in her hands. "Oh! 'Love and It's Many Splendid Misfortunes'! Very good book. Of course, Fred would know it better than I. He's read it about a million times."

"Oh?" Hermione perked up a bit, mentally slapping herself.

"Yes, yes, he's got it, sits on his bedside table, never goes anywhere else, except for in his pocket when he expects that he'll need entertainment." George paused and eyed Hermione suspiciously. "But you wouldn't really be interested in hearin g about my dear brother."

Hermione's eyes widened a bit. "I...I'm sorry?"

George sighed and looked at the table for a silent moment. He then looked back up into the eyes of the beautiful and intelligent girl that his younger brother had befriended and adored for so long. "He's been crazy over you, you know. He's buried himself in that book, and, once you read it, you'll see why. But he hasn't found the answer he's been looking for...You've gotta find it. Cause Fred's dug himself a grave, and he knows it. But he's not ready to lie down."

Hermione stared at the man before her and realized all the things she had never seen...or maybe marriage just does this to you...

"George-"

"Mione, listen. I don't know what Fred said to you, and I don't know exactly what he did that has you so convinced he's out for nothing but to play a prank and get some pleasure. But, he's a Weasley. And he's my brother. And Hermione...he's Fred. He's a real man, not a lousy excuse for one. You should know that." George sighed and shook his head. "He wouldn't ever hurt you Hermione. He wouldn't hurt anyone, well, not unless they deserved it. And from the way he's been talking...he's found the same thing I stumbled upon about a year ago."

Hermione looked down at the book in her hands. "There's no way."

"Yeah there is. Girl, I know you are the most brilliant witch. But, sometimes...you really need to get a clue. If there is any girl my brother wants to be with, and who my brother wants to protect and care for...somehow, I know that that girl is you. No matter the small age difference, and the fact that you really think he is up to no good every time he takes a step toward you. That's not right Hermione, and you know it. You knew it all along, and I'm telling you. There is nothing wrong with being happy."

"This is so-"

"New? Such a very new concept, and so sudden, when you were about to wrench yourself from the safety and comfort of this bookstore and find him and demand that he tell you why he had to play with you? And then right before you thought you might finally find peace and escape him?"

Hermione just gaped at him. "You really are Ginny's brother."

George smirked. "Yeah...And Hermione..." George stood. "He wasn't playing with you. He meant everything he did."

"How do you know?"

"Easy. He's my brother. And any fool can see he's mad for you." George grabbed Hermione's hand and squeezed it. "It'd be nice for you to join the family, and not with Ron."

And away walked George Weasley, pausing to grab a book from a dusty shelf, and then pay for it. Hermione watched him go and sighed.

Looking back at the book in her hands, she sighed. "What am I gonna do?"

"Listen to what he said! And what I have been saying! Hermione, give him a chance! In fact, do what you had set out to do yesterday! Make him explain! Ask him why he did all those things and he will tell you! And then maybe you can believe us!"

"Ginny, this is insane."

Ginny sighed and put her face in her hands. "Of course it is Hermione!" She looked up. "It's my brother? Could it be any other way?"

"I'm going to my dorm."

"What? We're not finished!"

"Yes, we are."

Ginny followed her friend to the stairs. "Hermione!" Hermione turned sharply.

"Okay! Okay, Ginny. Just let me think...I want to read this book...and then I want to think..."

Ginny nodded solemnly.

"Just try not to break any more hearts."

"If I can keep mine in tact..."

Hermione left the Gryffindor Common Room with a goodbye to Harry and Ron and stole away to her own.

Blaise Zabini was lying on the couch in front of the fire, just staring in to it.

"Zabini?" He waved his hand a bit. "Something wrong?"

"I'm fine Granger. But thank you for your concern."

"Are you sure?" Hermione inquired, stepping closer to the Head Boy.

"Yes, I am. Just reflecting on life and love, that sort of thing."

"Uh...Excuse me?" Blaise sighed.

"Sit Granger." Hermione hesitated and then came around, sitting next to him.

"I didn't know you were such a deep person Zabini."

"Yes, well, niether did the rest of the world."

"Today I've been receiving a lot of talks that lead me to the same thoughts that you claim to ponder?"

"Ah...yes...love?"

"Maybe not quite that..." Hermione trailed off and looked at the boy, or really, the man, next to her. "But maybe so..."

"You know," Blaise furrowed his eyebrow. "Love is such a complicated emotion. One that perplexes me and many, many other humans in this world to no end. I have my theories, and my thoughts."

"You think you could share your wisdom, with someone like myself?"

Blaise turned and smirked at her. "You mean with a Gryffindor muggle-born who is at the top of her class? Of course. I know no discrimination these days."

Hermione smiled at him. "I'm happy for that...I need all the help I can get."

Blaise turned back to the fire. "Love is blinding. It makes you do stupid things, it makes you make mistakes. You can only hope you don't mess up so bad, that those mistakes unravel you. Because then, you might just lose the one you have lost it all for. And you don't want that. You have to say things you're scared to say, and do things you're not sure you should do. There are those who think they are saying everything they need to, but sometimes, there is the misinterpretation. Oh, misinterpretatioons. Horrible incidents..." Blaise paused.

"Do you mean...that maybe he might think...that she knows he cares for her...but she doesn't really know? And she just thinks...that he's toying with me...just as a joke, for laughs, and, even though I guess I knew all along, I was too scared to admit what it might be? Or was I too scared it was too good?"

Blaise was looking at her now. "Sounds like you've been fighting your own demons." He stood. "I'm off to bed Hermione. But, here is my advice: listen to your heart. So overused, right? Cliche? Well, it is the truth. So, take it or leave it." And he was up the stairs and into his room.

It was only later as she was crawling into bed, too tired to read, that she realized it.

'At least I made a break-through somewhere...Zabini called me by my first name, and he's showing me he has a heart...if only other things would look up this well...'

A/N: Wow, I'm tired, and my hand kinda hurts. I don't know if it is as much to ya'll, but I did a lot of typing, and a lot of erasing, and retyping. So, yeah...Well, hope ya liked it. I worked so hard, the inspiration was just spilling forth. Please, please, I would really love a good review!