"Morning Mione" Ginny sang out as she walked into the kitchen.
"Morning Gin" Hermione replied not looking up from the Daily Prophet
"What are you up to today?" Ginny asked sitting across from Hermione with a cup of coffee.
"Lunch with Tonks in about an hour" Hermione told her. "You?"
"Quidditch, when Harry and Ron finally wake up" Ginny answered. "Katie is coming over"
"That's nice" Hermione said.
"We are all going out tonight" Ginny told her. "Dinner and a muggle movie. Care to join us?"
Hermione sighed deeply looking at her friend for the first time.
"No, I mean I would love to" Hermione started. "But I have a date"
"A date?" Ginny shrieked happliy. "Oh Mione that's wonderful. Who with?"
"You don't know him," Hermione answered returning back to the newspaper. "An old friend"
"Hermione that's just wonderful" Ginny replied reaching out and touching her friends hand. "We were all really worried about you since Viktor. I am so happy for you"
Ginny kissed Hermione on the cheek before darting back upstairs.
"I hope you have a great time," Ginny told her. "I am going to tell Harry and Ron"
Hermione watched Ginny run out of the kitchen and banged her hand on her forehead.
"Stupid" she whispered.
"You said what?" Tonks asked, spitting out her pumpkin juice in surprise.
"I know" Hermione replied looking positively miserable. "I know, I can't believe I lied to her"
"Why?" Tonks asked still looking stunned.
"I thought moving into the burrow was a good idea. When Harry came to my house and begged me to go with him I honestly believed my friends were going to be there for me"
"And they weren't?" Tonks supplied
"No" Hermione admitted. "From the moment I got there I became the fifth wheel, the charity case. I hate pity. I have gone on dates with them and it's like I am not even there. I am just tired of feeling excluded."
"So, to get out of another awkward date night, you made up a lie about you own date" Tonks finished for her. "I am so sorry Hermione"
"That's ok" Hermione sighed. "I got myself into this"
"Well your welcome to come to my house tonight" Tonks told her. "Remus is making dinner"
"Thanks but no thanks" Hermione answered. "I know you mean well but it would be the same kind of thing"
"Well my offer stands" Tonks told her standing up. "I better go back to work"
"Yeah" Hermione relented. "I better go get ready for my date"
"Owl me tomorrow and let me know how that goes" Tonks teased, winking at her young friend.
"Whatever" Hermione said reaching over and hugging her tightly. The war may have driven Ginny and Hermione apart a little but it gave her another friend. Over the months they were stationed together, Hermione and Tonks forged a fast friendship.
"See you next week?" Tonks asked.
"Same bat time, same bat channel" Hermione replied before apparating back to the burrow.
"Were going now," Ginny told Hermione as she came down the stairs. Hermione nodded and plastered a smile on her face.
"I heard about your date" Ron told Hermione before taking handful of floo powder. "I think it's great"
"Yeah" Hermione replied. "I may be out late, so don't worry about me"
"We wont" Harry teased, winking at her.
"Have fun" Hermione called as they each took a turn and flooed to the Leaky Cauldron. She sighed deeply and looked around the empty house. Molly and Arthur were spending the day with Fleur and the baby at their home and wouldn't be back for hours. Hermione began roaming around. She took a stroll outside and wound up by the paddock where the Weasley's played Quidditch.
Standing in the distance was a figure that caused her to shiver.
"De ja vou" Hermione mumbled as she sprinted toward the Weasley twin.
"George" she called. When he didn't turn around she hesitated. "Fred?"
"Hey" he said softly as she finally reached him.
"George?" she asked again completely out of breath.
He turned around and she realized it was George.
"How are you?" George asked.
"Better than last time we spoke" she replied.
"Good" He told her. "Have you spoken to Krum?"
"Well when I first got here he owled about 500 times a day" Hermione answered. "Then Charlie threaten to sick a dragon on him"
"Yeah" George laughed. "Sounds like Charlie"
"How are you?" Hermione asked moving closer, remembering that night at Malfoy Manner when she had seen George cry.
"Back to my playboy ways" George joked. "Ellen was the first girl I had ever committed to. I realize that's just not me. I must have been crazy entering into a serious relationship. I blame it on the war"
"That makes sense" Hermione replied not truly believing him.
"So, where's Harry and Company tonight?" George asked, obviously trying to change the subject.
"A muggle movie" Hermione told him.
"And they didn't invite you" George asked completely stunned.
"They did" Hermione admitted sheepishly. "But I lied to get out of it. I am so stupid"
"Hermione Granger is anything but stupid" George assured her. "Whatever you did can't be that bad."
Hermione sat down on the ground and sighed. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes before relaying the whole story to George.
"Why would you tell them you had a date?" George asked.
"It's complicated" Hermione answered.
George began smiling mischievously.
"Let's make it true" George told her.
"Make what true?" Hermione whined not in the mood for Weasley twin games.
"Let's go out" George suggested, but quickly added "just as friends"
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Well, that way you won't actually be a liar" Gorge explained. "And give Harry and my beloved siblings a little payback."
"How is that going to be payback for them?" Hermione questioned.
"We go out tonight," George told her. "Tomorrow talk about what a great time we had, then refuse to tell them who you were with. If I know Ron and Ginny the suspense will make them crazy"
"That's not a bad idea" Hermione relented.
"And just so you know this isn't just a one time offer" Gorge assured her. "You are welcome to hang out with me and Fred anytime you want. You could hang out with us on semi regular basis, keeping it a secret until Ron and Ginny snap, therefore also making Harry crazy"
"Your evil George" Hermione told him.
George helped Hermione to her feet.
"I prefer being called a genius" George responded. "Now, go get ready for our 'date'"
George accompanied Hermione back to the burrow and waited for her downstairs. Hermione threw on a pair of pin stripe pants and a white button down shirt. Her hair took the longest but Hermione didn't have the time to do a proper taming spell so it still looked a little wild.
What am I doing, Hermione asked herself? Having a fun was the answer. With that she flew downstairs to meet her prince charming for the evening.
