Hermione grabbed her trunk and began throwing things in. She pointed her wand and uttered an incantation to speed the process up, than sat on the bed, her face in her hands. She couldn't believe that she would have to leave George.

The trunk was propelled down the stairs and Hermione snuck out the back way. She left quietly, hoping not to be noticed so that she wouldn't have to say a final goodbye to anyone.

On her way down the stairs, not watching where she was going, she collided with George. He steadied her and took her trunk.

"So you're leaving then?" He stated, rather than asked.

"Yes, I think it's for the best." Hermione replied. George nodded and said nothing more. Why is he taking this so calmly? I thought he at least liked me enough to try to stop me!

Before she could get away, George kissed her for the second time. This time it was deeper, but sadder. Hermione left, blushing furiously and beginning to cry. She left too quickly to see the tears filling George's eyes as well.

George sat on his bed, scowling. He threw an exploding snap up into the air, causing several chunks of ceiling tile to fall with a thud. I should've stopped her. Why did she go like that- without saying anything about us, without trying to think of a different solution?

Ensconced in a mildewed chair, Draco Malfoy snickered sinisterly as he contemplated the results of his message. He grinned as he considered its outcome. She knows her duty to Harry and to the Order. She'll come here and then she'll leave. I will never have to worry about her Mug-bloodedness influencing the Malfoy family tree ever again.

Draco picked up a small crystal globe sitting on a nearby table. He couldn't resist the urge to let out a haunting cackle as he noticed the bushy-haired witch within the globe board a departing train.

In a corner of the room, a small brown mouse skittered with fright and decided to pack that very day and leave Malfoy Manor with his family.

Fred stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at George.

"You didn't even try to stop her! I don't believe it! After all these years, you finally get her, and then you give her up at the first sign of trouble."

"Look, Fred, she wanted to go. Who was I to stop her? I'm probably too old for her anyway and…"

"George, you're a stupid git." With this, Fred stalked out of the room, leaving George to reflect on his words.

A few moments later, George was packing his bags. Draco said she had to leave, but he didn't say anything about whether I could follow her.

As George pulled out a bureau drawer, he found a tiny blue velvet box buried deep inside.

"What the…!" He exclaimed. Nestled inside the box was a small, delicate band of gold attached to a shining diamond. I've never seen this before…It must be Fred's. But who? And why wouldn't he tell me!"

George found his twin sitting on a rock by the lake, staring moodily out over the water.

"Fred!"

"George!"

"What are you doing here? Why are you acting like this? Why do you have a ring hidden away? Why didn't you tell me? What is going on?"

"George. Sit down."

George obliged, throwing his lanky frame on the huge, moss-encrusted rock.

"This is going to be hard to explain." Fred began.

"Well, try then!" George exclaimed.

"Yeah, well!" Fred left off and began to turn back to the lake.

"Look, Fred. I'm your twin. I can deal with it, okay? Just tell me. What's wrong?" George said, beginning to take on a frenzied tone.

"Okay, George. I'minlovewithHermioneandalwayshavebeenand…"

"Um, could you say it a bit slower, please?"

"I'm in love with Hermione. There!" Fred yelled at the top of his lungs.

George, taken aback, couldn't find anything to say.

"Fred, I never knew…" He started.

"Well, now you do." Fred muttered.

"Jeez," George added.

Fred stood up and faced George.

"Look, George, you've got to go after her."

"No, Fred. You go." George told him.

"Aren't you missing something? How she happens to love you?"

"No, I mean it. Go after her and tell her and tell her I love her too and let her choose. She has a right to know about both of us and decide and you too and…" George trailed off.

Fred, embarrassed, clapped him on the shoulder. "Look, George, we'll- we'll both go."

George nodded and they left it at that.

Back at the house, Ron and Ginny were having it out in Ron's room.

"Ginny you listen to me!" Ron said at an extremely loud voice that sounded as if he was trying to control it to a reasonable inside level.

"Yeah, I sort of am, Ron! You two blasted ignorant-"Ginny tried to tell him.

Harry stood up and attempted to separate the siblings, who had begun to shove at each other with their fists.

"Sit down," Ginny shoved Harry back down to his seat. He landed slightly off, falling to the floor in dismay. He stood up again, this time with an air of strength, and tugged them apart.

"Stop it! What good are you doing by fighting?" Harry asked them in a furious tone of voice.

Ginny turned to face him.

"What the - did you think you were doing, just letting her go like that? Why didn't you stop her and why didn't she say goodbye to me? And I would like to know just why she left!" Ginny shouted.

"Hey!" Harry lifted his arms in a sign of defeat.

Ginny stopped shouting and sat down on the bed. Harry and Ron sat down next to her and sighed.

The trio looked up as the twins poked their heads into the room.

"Ron, Ginny, tell Mom we're- um-" Fred told them.

"Not going after Hermione," George continued.

"Really, honest." Fred added.

"So, um-"

"We'll be seeing you." Fred finished.

, "Ron, look after the shop and test out those new Hairy Eyeball Zonkers, will you? They were zooming around the shop yesterday, but I think they're going to have an off day soon if they don't get some rest…and Harry, good luck with the training," George told the boys absentmindedly.

"Yeah, Harry, I've heard it can be the pits." Fred warned him.

"So- bye Gin, bye Ron, Harry." With that final word, the twins were off after Hermione.