A/N: I'm back! Contrary to popular belief, I did not die or drop off the face of the Earth. I have just been very busy-so busy that the muses seemed to have vanished for awhile. And once they returned, my computer went psycho and decided to lock up all my files. I just got them back, so I thought I'd update before I start receiving death threats or mean emails. : ) Be warned; this is pretty much just a filler chapter to build up for what happens later.

Gwyn2: Would you like a special jacket? They make one for that you know.

SerpentineAngel14: I've been debating about writing one. Some people have said they don't want one, so we'll just have to wait and see.

PinkTribeChick: You never know.

Tears-That-Fall: )

Shading in Grey: Thanks for the tip.

AmberJupiter: Aw! That has got to be one of the nicest reviews I have ever gotten. I can't tell you how touched I am that you registered just to review my story. I think I may cry. I didn't intend for this to be based on the marriage law challenge, I just read a few where they ended up married so I decided to write my own. And rest assured, all of my Harry Potter stories will contain them together, even if they're not the focus.

txgrl-88: I agree.

LetMeBreath: Thank you, I've experienced that myself and thought it would work well.

BlackGoldSilverTiger: If you prefer I could shorten the story. Just let me know. : ) Yes, I have read it-that's what started me on this ship in the first place. Actually, I had no intention of using Malfoy. But I'll give him a cameo just for you.

CallMeTemari: Fluff is not my strong suit, but I'll do my best.

mhbf: Hah! I converted another one.

sarahpuppylove: I know what you mean. Why are they always so appealing?

angryteabag: There's another one! I'm very proud of myself for all the conversions. Is that wrong? BTW, there are a few OC's. Just the fiancées.

KoniGeorghion: Thunk. That was jaw hitting the floor when I read your review. You. Are. Awesome. I'm am sooooooooo FLATTERED.

SnowHedwig05: What did I do to deserve such wonderful reviewers? Sorry by the way.

KrazieChikadee: Add another converted one. I'm so touched that mine was the first one you read-I feel so honored. About the love scene: if I do one (big if, it's a slightly controversial topic) of course it will be them. I agree with you about the whole thing, but they are married.

ProfessionalToiletFlusher: Ha, ha. You're welcome.

Katrina Tonak: Author blushes. Too sweet. I'm gonna get a big head from all this praise. Yes, there is. Just click the search button and scroll down to Harry Potter in the category list.

Kaydeek: Then I'm not evil the rest of the time? Yay for me.

SiriusJamesRemus'sgirl: If I do, I promise it will be separate. I don't want anyone to stop reading because they're uncomfortable.

Monica7725: Are you psychic? I see I'll have to be more subtle before you start writing the story yourself. Somehow you always seem to know what I'm planning.

TMK: Thank you. Is that good?

Hermione Weasley: Good. It was a bad pun I know-couldn't help it.

heart of flame: They are currently on the payroll.

Mizfit Faerie: Harry and Ginny? Sorry, not in the plan. I don't want to ruin the plot, but don't count on Ginny to pull a Fred/Hermione.

Everybody Else: You know I love you.

Disclaimer: I see myself on a beach in the South of France…wait. It's not mine. Dang.

Preparation

"That won't work." Hermione muttered to herself over breakfast a few days later. She was reading Fred's daily letter, and he had come up with an idea to help Bill. Unfortunately, it involved snails, costumes, and feathers. Not good.

"What won't work?" Ginny asked from across the table.

Hermione looked up. "Huh? Oh, it's not important."

Ginny looked unconvinced but dropped it. As if feeling something, she looked down the table to where Ron was sitting with Neville. Promptly, Neville turned red and looked down at his food. Ginny sighed.

"You could talk to him you know. Neville's a good guy, and he's not bad looking." Hermione told her.

"I know," Ginny answered, "it's just…weird."

Just then Harry plopped down on the bench next to Hermione and started piling his plate full.

"When did you start eating like Ron?" Hermione asked.

"Just hungry. But speaking of Ron, why is he still sitting at the end of the table? He can't possibly still be upset about the shirt thing."

In unison the girls replied "He is."

Harry shook his head. "Well he better get over it. If he goes to his career counseling session with McGonagall with that attitude, she'll likely hex him."

Hermione looked down towards Ron again. He was half-heartedly talking to Neville, who looked equally depressed. Why did things have to get so complicated?

Oh yeah, because Mr. and Mrs. Weasley decided to lie to their children.

Hermione looked down at her left hand where her wedding band glinted on her finger. She suddenly had the feeling that her 'help' hadn't actually helped at all.

"How did it go?" Harry asked Hermione as she came through the portrait hole. She had just been to her session with McGonagall to talk about her career plans. If everything went well, Hermione was hoping to have news if she had gotten the job that she'd applied for in a few days.

"Well, McGonagall's not one to let things slip, but I think I may have it."

Harry grinned at her. "That's great."

"Thanks."

Harry opened his mouth to say something, but the portrait hole opened and Ginny walked through…with Neville. And they were actually talking.

"Am I hallucinating?" Harry whispered to Hermione.

"If you are, then I am too." She told him.

"Hey guys." Harry called over to them.

"Hey." They both answered as they wandered over towards the two. Hermione studied their appearances. Both of them had large, somewhat goofy grins on their faces. And unless she actually was hallucinating, Neville seemed to be…blushing.

"What's up?" Harry asked as a sly grin spread across his face.

"Nothing." they both replied quickly. A little too quickly.

"Uh-huh." Harry said.

"Ginny, can I talk to you for a minute?" Hermione asked her.

"Sure. What about?"

Hermione said the only thing that came to mind. "It's about me and Fred."

Ginny started. She hadn't been expecting that.

"Let's go." Ginny said as she grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her towards the girls' dorms.

Harry and Neville watched them disappear up the stairs, bewildered. Neville turned to Harry to ask him what was going on but before he got the chance Harry grinned at him and asked "What's going on with you and Ginny?"

Neville turned red and retreated up to their room to do his "homework."

"What's going on with you and Fred?" Ginny asked Hermione worriedly as she shut the door behind her and Hermione.

"Nothing." Hermione replied calmly.

"But...y-you said" Ginny stuttered.

"I needed to talk to you." She explained.

"What about?" Ginny demanded, clearly upset.

"What's going on with you and Neville?"

Ginny's face turned as red as her hair and she smiled. "I decided you were right."

"And…?" Hermione demanded.

Ginny's blush depend-if that was possible. "I'm beginning to think that being married to him won't be so bad." she confessed.

Hermione let out an uncharacteristic squeal as she flung her arms around Ginny. "I'm soooooooooo happy for you!"

Ginny laughed. "I think marriage has mellowed you out a little bit."

Hermione grinned. "Good to know some good came out of it."

"Is that the only good?" Ginny teased.

Hermione quickly blushed to the roots of her hair.

"So how is packing going?" Ginny asked as she flopped down onto Hermione's bed. She grinned at Hermione's obvious discomfort to her question.

Hermione sighed. Graduation was three weeks away, and she was trying to pack seven years worth of clothes, books and other assorted trinkets into her trunk.

"I don't know where I'm going to put all of this stuff. Our flat is so small."

"Can't you just leave some of your stuff at your parents house?" Ginny piped up.

"I would but my dad's still not thrilled with the whole me being married idea." Hermione told her as she tried to stuff a pair of shoes into her already full trunk.

"Well it was gonna happen sooner or later." Ginny replied.

"Big help. I just think it's going to take awhile before he accepts it." she confessed.

"Why?" Ginny asked perplexed.

"Well for starters, every time I've heard from him since in the past few weeks he refers to Fred as "that husband" of mine. And he says husband like I've got some sort of disease. Plus, he always mentions how 'everyone makes mistakes' and 'it's never too late to right a wrong.'"

"Ouch."

"Tell me about it." Hermione sighed. "Now, care to help me stuff seven years worth of parchment into this trunk?"

"Making any progress?" George called from the doorway of the shop.

Fred grunted in response. He had been trying in vain for the last two hours to come up with an antidote for the shrinking powder they were debuting that week. And failing.

George stared at his brother. Ever since Hermione had gone back to Hogwarts, Fred had been more than a little crabby. George could understand to a point, he missed his wife and had to be more than a little…frustrated. After all, she had been gone almost a month. But the constant bad mood was a little uncalled for in George's opinion.

"She'll be here in less than three weeks." he said.

Fred tensed. "I know." he said through gritted teeth.

George knew that tone of voice. He decided to drop it. He said goodnight and headed back to the Burrow so his brother could stew and wallow in private.

Fred sighed as he heard the door close. George was right, as much as he hated to admit it.

He missed Hermione. A lot.

The week she had been there had made it seem like he had never lived there without her, and now that she was gone, it was hard to ignore her absence. He hadn't slept well a single night since she left. The huge bed felt too big, too empty. The things that she had moved or left lying around hadn't been touched. And for some reason he couldn't figure out, it was really starting to irritate him that the bed didn't smell like her anymore.

He headed up to bed for another restless night, hoping that the next two and a half weeks would go by fast.

A/N: Well, I warned you. I know I promised some Fred interaction in this chapter and it is coming up. I'll see you next time.