A/N: Hello, everybody. I'm feeling a little blue today, so I figured I'd update. I always get such nice reviews; maybe they'll cheer me up. I want to say I'm sorry in advance because it will be awhile before we find out what Ron is up to. But don't worry-he will give you clues. : ) I also want to give a nice big hello to Sydney M. LeBlanc-who emailed me and asked my permission to post my story on her website I'm so flattered. Oh yeah, several people have emailed me and said they had problems opening chapters. If this happens to anyone else please let me know, and I'll send it to you.
SiriusJamesRemus'sgirl: Don't worry. If he rating changes, it won't alter the storyline. I'm just debating about writing a love scene.
Professional Toilet Flusher: I seriously doubt you are going to die. I would hate to think my story murdered anyone. If the worst happens-I'll send flowers. P.S. Your name rocks.
Fred Weasley's Angel: I'll think about it.
Liv Pierce: Well, thank you. (Author blushes at sweetness)
Kaydeek: He he. I'm sorry. I don't mean to be evil, it just happens.
silver gaze: More evil and cruel than Voldemort? Gasps. I sort of appreciate that.
Ginny Weasley: We'll have to wait and see.
Preetoaka Raven Potter Weasley: Don't worry-it's not in the plan. I'm not a big fan of that particular ship myself.
Neharmen: Why does everyone keep calling me evil?
Ashley579: Foul? I apologize. Consider this your free throw. Does that make any sense?
Katrina Tonak: There are some really great Fred/Hermione stories that I've read. I recommend: "Just A Harmless Joke" by CrazyGirl 47, "Deep in the Subconscious of a Prankster" and "In the Rising Consciousness of a Prankster" by Sneezy Mouse, "Baby Bliss" by Faith and Grace and "Till There Was You." There are more great ones, but I can't remember them all right now. I don't know of any George/Hermione fics cause I don't read 'em. Fred to till the end!
Tinas74: Another vote for evil! I had no idea that I didn't accept anonymous reviews. How can I change it?
write-or-wrong: Ouch. I think I felt one.
cookiedoughicecream: They call it 'pretend' for a reason. One that we will find out about later.
Tempestmoon: Don't worry. Ron will not be a villain. Maybe just a little bit of a jerk, though. I'm trying not to change his character too much. But I must a little in order for my plot to work. I apologize if it offends anyone.
Renor Faer: I'm sorry it's not fair. I just like cliffhangers.
Mizfit Faerie: Another evil. Why stop reviewing? That's why I write. If you don't review how will I know if it's any good?
EmailyGirl: More flying things. Oww! I think we're all jealous of Hermione. But I'm confused. What 'way' is it you mean? I don't want anyone to be bothered by my story. Let me know what you're talking about.
heart of flame: Should I hire a bodyguard?
Monica 7725: Why would you think I haven't filled you in on everything: )
Everybody Else: Love you all. You are the reason I keep going.
-Disclaimer: Second verse, same as the first. Same goes for the fourteenth.
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Scheming with the Best
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Hermione and Fred stood there in shock for several seconds. Then Hermione came to her senses and slammed the door shut. She ran and grabbed her robe and put it on as quickly as possible. She had never been more embarrassed in her life! She sat on the edge of the bed with her face in her hands and wondered how much a ticket out of the country cost.
She heard the bathroom door open slowly but didn't look up. If she had to look Fred in the face, she was positive she would die of humiliation.
"Hermione." Fred said softly. When she didn't look at him, he bent down in front of her on the floor. "Hermione." He repeated a little more firmly.
Though she still didn't remove her hands, she answered him this time. "I'm just so embarrassed."
"Don't be. Living together, something like this was bound to happen sooner or later. It's better that it was now." Fred rationed.
Tentatively, Hermione lowered her hands. She was thankful he had gotten dressed. She couldn't take anymore. "You're not upset?"
"Nah." He told her dismissively. "These things happen."
"It's just that no one's ever…you're the only…" she stammered.
Fred out his hand on hers, silencing her. He'd figured as much. "It's no big deal. Besides," he added with a mischievous smirk "you don't have anything to be embarrassed about."
"Ahh." She cried hitting his arm. Then she fell backward onto the bed and curled up into a ball, more red than before.
Fred crawled up behind her and pulled her back against him. "Do you often walk around naked when I'm not home? Cause I think that's something I should know about." He teased.
"Fred, you are seriously close to an Unforgivable Curse right now." Hermione warned him.
"Sorry."
"No you're not. But I appreciate it just the same." She sighed.
"Are we okay?" he asked her hopefully.
"Yeah. Now I'm going to take my shower. Would you mind setting the table?" she asked sitting up.
"As you wish wifey."
Hermione frowned. "Please don't call me that."
She walked over to the bathroom door as Fred walked towards the kitchen. Then, for some reason she couldn't explain, she turned and called out "Fred?"
"Yes?" he said popping his head back in the room.
"You don't have anything to be embarrassed about either." She said and quickly shut the door.
Fred grinned as he went to back to the kitchen
-
"That's an odd question Ron." Fred said to his little brother at dinner that night.
"Not really. My brother and my friend eloped. I'd like to know how long they dated beforehand. Is that weird?" he explained.
Fred looked over at Hermione, silently asking her permission to answer.
She nodded. Inwardly she cursed herself for not thinking of a back story sooner. But she would go along with whatever he said.
"Well, one night we were up late talking one night and things just kind of happened." Fred answered vaguely.
"When?" Ron asked.
"Jeez, Ron. What's up with the third degree?" George asked from the other side of the table.
"Yeah Ron. Are you implying something?" Ginny demanded with a look eerily reminiscent of her mother.
"No. Just curious." He said unconvincingly.
Hermione glanced over at Harry. He shrugged. She sighed and got up to clear the table.
-
"Do you think Ron knows something?" Hermione asked Fred later that night while she packed up for the trip back to Hogwarts the next day.
"I doubt it." He answered from the bed. He was going over the books for the shop. Hermione had been surprised to find out that Fred was really great at math and did all the books.
"Then why did he keep asking all of those questions? And I may be paranoid, but I think he was snooping when he said he went into our bedroom instead of the bathroom by mistake?"
Fred glanced up at her. "You don't think?"
"I hope not." She said.
"Need some help?" he asked eyeing her trunk.
"Nope. All done." She replied. She started towards the bed, ready to go to sleep, and then stopped. The day's events suddenly flashed through her mind and she felt a wave of embarrassment. Fred noticed and opened his mouth to speak, but a knock on the door interrupted him.
"Who could that be?" Hermione wondered. She put her robe on over the cannons shirt and a pair of Fred's pajama bottoms. She didn't feel comfortable in just the shirt over her shorts anymore. Luckily, he hadn't minded her wearing the pants.
Fred got up and together, they walked towards the door. He opened it to see Bill standing there looking absolutely miserable and with a huge wet spot on the front of his shirt.
"Bill, what happened?" Hermione cried.
"I went to see Fleur. I thought that since you two eloped and nothing happened, maybe we could do the same thing." He answered. He walked over and sat in one of the kitchen chairs. Hermione put a pot a tea on while Fred sat next to his brother.
"Judging from your shirt, I'd say she wasn't too keen on the idea." Fred said.
"No. She said it was 'dishonorable' and that, until I fix this, I shouldn't, how did she say it, 'darken her doorway' or something like that." He told them.
Fred snorted. "French girls." He muttered, images of Claire running through his mind.
"What can we do?" Hermione asked Bill sincerely.
Bill looked up at her. "I was hoping you'd help me."
"How?" Fred inquired.
"You're the sneakiest person I know." He said to Fred, and then turned to Hermione. "And you're the smartest. Together, I'm sure you can think of something that'll help me."
Hermione and Fred looked at each other. They both nodded.
"Where should we start?" Fred asked.
Just then the tea kettle whistled. They drank the whole pot while they stayed up until dawn planning their strategy.
-
"Will you stop that?" Harry demanded.
"I'm sorry!" Hermione cried. Then she yawned again. Harry sighed as he too, yawned. Again.
"There's room in here." Ginny said pointing into a compartment on the train. She was anxious to get inside, and away from Ron's glares at Hermione. He had not been happy to see his older brother turn up with Hermione at King's Cross. Though why he thought Fred wouldn't want to say good-bye to his wife was beyond Ginny.
"Great. I could use a nap." Hermione said through yet another yawn.
"Didn't you get any sleep?" Harry asked grumpily.
Hermione never answered for they entered the compartment to see that it was already occupied. By Neville and Luna.
"Oh brother." Ron muttered under his breath.
"Hi." Neville squeaked turning a bright hade of red. Luna merely sat in her typical dreamlike state as if she hadn't noticed the four of them come in.
Hermione promptly sat down next to Neville. She was too tired to deal with this. All she wanted was a nap. Harry was the next to sit down. Finally Ron and Ginny sat on either side of him. Clearly, both Weasley's were uncomfortable being in such close quarters with their fiancées. If that's what you could call them.
A tense silence filled the compartment as Hermione closed her eyes. This could wait.
-
All too soon Ginny was shaking her awake. "Hermione, we're almost there. You'd better change into your robes."
"Fine." She yawned, drawing another dirty look from Harry. He yawned, too. Hermione pulled her bag down that held her robes. She unzipped it, and in extracting her robes and Fred's Cannons shirt fell onto the floor.
Ron snatched it up. "What's this?" he demanded.
"Oh. That's Fred's." she answered.
"I know that," he spat, "why do you have it?"
Hermione shrugged. "I sleep in it."
Ron stared at her. So not only did his brother steal Hermione, but she slept in the shirt that Ron had given him. That was just adding insult to injury. He stared down at the shirt he was twisting in his hands, wanting to rip it up. Instead he threw it to the floor and stalked out of the compartment.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked Ginny as she picked the shirt of the floor and put it back in her bag.
"Ron gave Fred that shirt." Ginny said softly.
Hermione groaned. This was just going to make things worse.
"I'm going to go check on him." Harry announced as he got up.
"I'll come with you." Neville added. With a quick glance at Ginny, he followed Harry out the door.
Hermione thought about the remaining six weeks of school before graduation. She had been dreading it since she started. Now she found herself wishing it would come sooner.
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A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed that. There will be more Neville and Luna in upcoming chapters. Coming up in fifteen: Bill, Fred, and Hermione put their plan into action, the trio graduates, and someone begins to fall in love. Who? Just have to wait and see. See you then: )
