A/N: You guys are the greatest! I got so many great reviews; they put me in such a great mood all week. I'm sorry I can't explain everything yet, but don't worry-it's coming. Moniqua-don't worry about Bill, I have big plans for him.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. Sniff.
Making Plans"Hermione, wake up." Ginny said on Saturday morning.
"I'm awake." She answered. Like she could sleep. She had spent the whole previous night tossing and turning. She was still having trouble wrapping her mind around the events of the previous night. She had actually agreed to marry Fred Weasley. The guy who thought of nothing but new ways to cause trouble. It was almost laughable. She couldn't think of any two people less suited for each other. But she had agreed and now there was no way out of it.
Slowly, Hermione got up and headed for the shower. Maybe that would help clear her head. She was just bout to open the door when someone steeped in front of her.
"Hermione."
"George."
"I don't suppose you would know where my brother's been all night?" he asked her.
"Which one?" she replied sweetly.
"Very funny. Where is he?"
"Hermione squared her shoulders. "I haven't the foggiest idea." She went to enter the bathroom, but George reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Why is it I don't believe you?" he said quietly.
"Because you're paranoid. Now let me GO." She wrenched her wrist form his grasp and dashed into the bathroom, slamming the door in his face.
Hermione made it a point to avoid George for the rest of the day. But he didn't seem to care. He discretely followed her around all day, obviously hoping she'd let slip something about Fred. She in turn just glared and refused to speak to him. Everyone noticed that there was something wrong with the two of them, but they were all still preoccupied with worry over Bill and Fred, not knowing that Fred had been home the night before, to pay that much attention.
Neither Fred nor Bill came home all day. Their hands on the Weasley family clock stayed at traveling, giving no indication where they might be. Ron and Ginny were still moping around; even Harry had given up on trying to get them out of their gloomy moods.
Just as she had done the night before, Hermione went to bed early that night. Or she would have if Fred hadn't been sitting on her bed.
"Fred-where have you been?" she cried.
"I had some stuff to do." She told her nonchalantly.
"Stuff? What kind of 'stuff'?" she inquired.
"Well first of all, after George's impeccably timed entrance last night," he smirked as she began to blush; "I really didn't want to deal with all of his questions."
"So you left me to deal with them?" she asked crossly.
He knew that tone too well; it was the same one she'd used every time she caught him and George pulling a prank at Hogwarts. He had to do something, if he made her angry, she might change her mind. "What can I do to make it up to you?"
"Well you can tell me where you were last night." She answered shortly.
"I slept at the shop. I'm amazed George didn't think to look for me there. Probably thought it would be too obvious." He explained.
"And today?"
"Ah." He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her.
Hermone looked at him skeptically then unfolded the paper. It was a marriage license. She looked up at him. "You don't waste any time do you?" she whispered.
"Not if this is going to work."
Hermione sank down on to her bed next to him, still staring at the license in her hands.
"It just sank in didn't it. What we're doing." He asked her softly.
"Yeah."
He put his arm around her shoulders. It'll be okay, I promise." He whispered in her ear.
She nodded. "So how are we going to tell everyone?" she inquired.
"Tell?" he looked thunderstruck. "My mum wold kill us. No, we have to do this in secret."
"You mean elope?" Hermione couldn't believe it. This would surely cause a problem.
"Yeah. That way no one can stop us. By the time they find out, it'll be too late."
"How are we going to pull this off?" she asked, almost too afraid to hear the answer.
"Well," he started, that troublemaker glint n his eye, "I thought you could sneak at of the castle on Saturday and I'll meet you at the gates. Then we can go into Hogsmeade and I'll have a high priest waiting for us."
"You've really thought this out haven't you?" she wondered incredulously. Then she realized what he'd said. "Saturday? As in a week from today?"
"Yep. See you then." With that, he kissed her on the cheek, and headed for the door.
He turned back to her "Don't forget to sign that. I'll file it first thing on Monday." Then left the room.
Fred was so pleased with himself he didn't notice someone watching him leave.
A/N: Just one thing- the last chapter should have said George caught Hermione in Fred's arms, not his face. I can't believe I didn't catch that. Anyway, I have to work all weekend, but I'll try to update on Monday-Tuesday at the latest. See you then.
