A/N: To make up for the wait I decided to post two chapters this time. I hope you like this one; it should answer a few of your questions.

Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine.

Reality Sinks In

Sunshine filtered in through the window the next morning, rousing Hermione from her sleep. She stretched and rolled over. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at Fred asleep on his large pillow. A smile crept onto her face. The whole situation was so absurd that it put her in a good mood.

She continued to gaze at Fred. Even though she had known him for almost seven years, she had never really looked at him. He was always just one of Ron's brothers. Now it was different. He was a part of her life that didn't include Ron.

'He really is quite cute' she thought. And he was. Fred was six feet, and pretty muscular thanks to years of Quidditch. He wasn't grossly over muscled, but leaner, yet still defined. He had a square jaw and a very nice nose. And now that they had kissed, Hermione had to admit he was also possessed of very…yummy lips. But his hair was the best. Like Bill and Ginny, Fred and George had darker hair than the rest of the Weasley's. It was more red than orange, and very thick. More than one girl at Hogwarts had talked of the way it fell into his bright blue eyes slightly. Especially when he smiled…

Suddenly Fred's eyes popped open and locked onto Hermione's. She felt herself go red immediately. Oops.

"Morning." She said sheepishly.

Fred smiled that lopsided grin of his and replied "Good morning. Sleep well?"

"Actually, yes. After a few hours anyway."

"How long have you been awake?" he asked, mischief creeping into his voice.

"Not long."

"Uh-huh." He nodded. Fred was very aware that Hermione had been staring at him. It was what had woken him up.

"What time is it?" he yawned.

Hermione looked at her watch. She shrieked and jumped up. "It's almost 10!"

Fred too hurried to his feet. "What? How can that be?"

"I'm so dead!" she moaned covering her face with her hands.

"Not yet. Let's go." He grabbed her hand after she put on her shoes and coat and they raced downstairs to check out.

Fred mounted his broom that Madam Rosmerta had held overnight. Hermione frowned. Night was one thing, but she was sure that someone would see them if they flew in broad daylight.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked impatiently.

"What if someone sees us?" she demanded.

"Is that more important than McGonagall finding out you were gone all night?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Then get on."

She did. Like the night before, she sat in front of Fred, with his arms in front of her to steer.

It seemed to take forever until the reached Hogwarts. Once Fred landed out by the greenhouses, Hermione was sure she was going to have a heart attack. She hopped off the broom and made to run inside, but Fred grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"What?"

"Thank you." He said simply. Then he shocked her by wrapping his arms around her and hugging her close. He released her and gave her that grin of his before taking off.

Dazed once more, Hermione slowly walked into the school. An eruption of noise coming form the Great Hall told Hermione that breakfast was still being served. After sneaking upstairs to put Harry's cloak and map back in his trunk, she headed downstairs. She walked towards the Gryffindor table, surprised to see Harry, Ron, and Ginny all there.

"Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed. "Where have you been?"

"Taking a walk." She replied. She hated lying to them, but it was necessary.

"But it's so cold." Ginny argued.

"Not really." Hermione said without looking up form her plate. She could feel Harry staring at her from across the table.

"Well, I'm full." She suddenly announced and stood up.

"But you hardly ate anything." Ron protested.

"No matter. See you later." She hurried out of the hall, feeling three pairs of eyes on her back.

"Hermione, what's going on?"

Hermione looked up at Harry, and blinked in surprise. She was in the library doing more research on wizard weddings. Just to make sure her own marriage was really legal and that there would be no complications from the betrothal.

"What do you mean?"

"You weren't taking a walk this morning." Harry stated.

"Oh." She raised an eyebrow. "Then where was I?"

"I don't know. But it was probably somewhere you shouldn't have been." He answered.

"I'm busy Harry." Hermione said and went back to her book.

"Fine. But remember, I tried to warn you." He snapped before stalking off.

Hermione sighed and closed her book. So much for research. Ever since Harry had defeated Voldemort at the end of sixth year, he seemed to think he had the right to but into everyone's lives. She didn't want to hide this from him. Harry was her best friend, but she also knew he wouldn't understand. She put the books back and headed to dinner. She had been in the library all day and was starving.

She approached the table slowly. Like that morning, the only seat open was across from Harry. And right now, Hermione did not want to sit near Harry. But she had to.

It was oddly quiet all through the meal. Ron and Ginny both recognized that something was wrong between Harry and Hermione. This was never good. It was rare that they fought, and when they did, it got pretty bad.

Halfway through dessert Ron attempted to make conversation about Quidditch, obviously, but was interrupted by a loud squawk.

"Errol?" Ginny said incredulously, spying the elderly Weasley family owl.

By now everyone was looking. Owls never came at dinner unless something important was happening.

"Oh no." Ron breathed. Errol had a howler in his beak. He whirled towards his sister. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" she said

"Me neither."

But Errol wasn't there for them. The whole of Hogwarts watched in awe as Errol crashed into the table, then hopped up and placed the howler on Hermione's plate before taking off.

"Hermione." Ginny whispered as the howler started to smoke.

But Hermione was frozen to the spot. She couldn't bring herself to open it. And then it exploded of its own accord. Several people covered their ears as Mrs. Weasley's yells filled the room.

"HERMIONE GRANGER! I AM ABSOLUTELY APPALLED. OF ALL THE SNEAKY, IMMATURE THINGS TO DO! I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT POSSIBLE OF YOU. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN BOTH OF YOU. AND TELL RON, HARRY, AND GINNY IF THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS, IT'S THEIR HEADS!"

An eerie silence filled the room as the letter dissolved into ashes. Everyone turned to stare at Hermione who had turned white all the way to her lips.

"What the bloody hell was that about?" Ron yelled, causing many to jump.

But Hermione didn't answer. Instead she jumped up and ran out of the room as tears started to pour down her cheeks.

"Hermione!" Ginny yelled.

"Come on." Harry said to Ginny and Ron as he stood up. They followed and ran after Hermione.

"She must be in her room." Ron panted.

Ginny headed up the girls stairs, as Ron and Harry couldn't go into the girls dorms.

She knocked on the door to the private room Hermione had received as Head Girl. "Hermione?" she called.

"Go away!"

"What happened?" Ginny asked.

But Hermione didn't answer. Then Professor McGonagall appeared at Ginny's side. She rapped on the door.

"I said go away!" Hermione's tear-filled voice yelled.

"Miss Granger, I'm afraid you're going to have to come with me." McGonagall said.

Hermione promptly opened the door, wiping her face. Silently she followed McGonagall downstairs. At the portrait hole the professor turned around and told Harry, Ron, and Ginny to come, too. They exchanged curious glances, but did as they were told.

"Sugar Quill." McGonagall said when the reached the statue leading up to Dumbledore's office. She opened the door revealing a furious looking Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, George, and a slightly queasy looking Fred.

"Please have a seat." Dumbledore said to the four students. Since there were only three empty chairs, Fred hopped up and offered his to Hermione. This drew a very pointed glare form his mother. He stepped around behind the chair and placed his hands on Hermione's shoulders. Ron and Ginny looked shocked by this act of familiarity.

"Albus, isn't there anything we can do about this?" Mrs. Weasley asked Dumbledore.

"I'm afraid not Molly. They're both of age. It's out of our hands." He replied.

"There must be something-this can't be legal!" she shouted.

"Will someone please tell us what's going on?" Ron shouted.

"You don't know?" George asked him.

He, Harry, and Ginny all shook their heads.

"Well it appears that Fred and Hermione have taken this betrothal into their own hands." Mr. Weasley told them.

"How?" Ron demanded.

"They got married." His father replied.

"WHAT?!" the three of them yelled.

"It appears that sometime last night; Miss Granger snuck out of the castle, met up with Mr. Weasley, and went into Hogsmeade and eloped." Dumbledore explained.

Ron jumped out of chair and drew his wand on his older brother. "Tell me this is one of your jokes." He said through gritted teeth.

"Ron!" Ginny said.

"No! I want to hear him say it." Ron seethed.

With a pitiful look on his face, Fred looked at his younger brother and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Ron. It's true."

"No." he whispered.

"Yes." said Hermione, standing up beside Fred.

"NO!" he yelled. But seeing the tears welling up in Hermione's eyesRon knew it was true. He turned and stormed out of the room. Ginny and Harry went after him.

Hermione slowly sat back in her chair. Fred resumed his place behind her.

"Albus," Mr. Weasley said, "will Hermione have to leave school?'

Hermione looked up at Dumbeldore in shock. Leave school? This wasn't happening.

"This is a first at Hogwarts. We have no dormitories for married students, but under the circumstances I don't think that will be necessary. Miss Granger can stay in her room, but I think we need to take some house points for sneaking out."

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's it?" demanded Mrs. Weasley.

"Yes Molly, that's it." Dumbeldore answered.

Fuming, she stood up and walked over to the fireplace. With a yell of "The Burrow" she flooed home. Mr. Weasley and George gave Fred and Hermione sympathetic looks then followed suit.

Fred turned to the headmaster. "Professor, do you think I could…?"

"Yes. Take all the time you need." He answered.

Fred reached down and took Hermione's hand. He led her down stairs and through the corridors.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered.

"How?" she asked tearfully.

"They were waiting for me when I got home. Then they saw my ring. I had no choice."

Hermione continued to cry. Fred pulled her to him. She broke down and sobbed unrestrainedly into his chest. He rubbed her back and let her, placing his head on top of hers. After about fifteen minutes she stopped. She pulled back and looked up at Fred. He gently placed his hands on either side of her face and wiped her tears.

"It'll be fine. I promise." He assured.

"I really want to believe that." She said.

"Then do."

"And Ron?" she asked.

Fred sighed. "That's going to take awhile."

"I was afraid of that." She muttered.

'Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No. I want to go first." She told him.

"Alright." He agreed. "But don't take all the blame, this is my fault too."

Hermione smiled despite herself. "You know me too well."

"Goodnight." He said and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

"Goodnight." Hermione said as he walked back towards Dumbledore's office to leave.

Hermione took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. It was time to face the music.

A/N: Well I hope that pleased everyone. I'll try to update again in the next day or so. Don't miss the next two chapters; they're going to be very crucial to the plot. I hope nobody has a problem with my killing off Voldemort. I know the final battle isn't supossed to happen until their seventh year, but I didn't really know how to write it into the story.