DISCLAIMER: I am not her, she is not me. Boo Hoo!


She smiled. "I am me, my dear Fred. Now, do either of you have time for a cup of tea?" she asked, looping her arms through theirs.

The twins looked at each other over her head with raised brows. 'Something is up,' they both thought at the same time. This was a very different side of the Hermione they all knew, and it begged to be explored.

"Certainly, my dear. Oi, watch the shop!" Fred hollered to the young man at the cash register. He just nodded and returned to his customer.

As they entered the back room of the shop, the bubbling and popping noises surrounded them. Many experiments were being conducted at once, and the resulting mess was what one would expect after knowing the twins for any period of time.

There was one table unoccupied by anything noxious, and it was here they all sat to enjoy their tea.

"So, how are you boys?" Hermione asked. "I feel like I haven't seen anyone in ages."

"Boys?" Fred exclaimed with indignation, setting out the tea service.

"We're older than you, Hermione," George said, pouring her tea. He smiled as she rolled her eyes.

"Thank you. Excuse me," she said, as she cleared her throat. "How are you two strapping young specimens of fine wizard virility doing?" she rephrased with a smirk dancing on her face.

George gasped, almost dropping the teapot he was holding, as Fred turned to the side to avoid spraying the contents of his mouth all over Hermione, as she smiled into her teacup.

"What has gotten into you-"Fred started after wiping his chin.

"-and where do we get some?" George finished, setting the teapot down carefully.

Hermione chuckled. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Sure, and I am Snape's love child," Fred replied sarcastically.

"Hey, Fred, ew, okay? Don't drag me into your sick fantasies," George said, glaring at Fred.

Hermione smiled again as the twins began to bicker like an old married couple. She cleared her throat and said in a voice reminiscent of their mother, "Bo-, ahem, gentlemen!"

They looked at her, smiled sheepishly, and sat down. Hermione asked them again how things were.

"Things are going swimmingly here," George said.

"Yeah. Wedding plans are progressing well and we have not yet gotten popped for being, what was it Harry said?" Fred asked George.

"NID," George replied, setting down his cup.

Hermione lowered her brows in question.

"Not Into Details," they chorused.

They all broke into laughter as family news was shared over their tea time.

Later, after Hermione returned from the ladies room, George waggled his brows at Fred, who jumped up to clear off the table in an almost nonchalant manner.

"So, where have you been to miss our stunning masculinity, Hermione?" George asked offhand.

Her cheeks flushed pink as she smiled softly and said, "I was working, out of town."

"Ah, must have been very enjoyable to make you blush so," Fred observed.

Her face only deepened in color as she remembered exactly how enjoyable it really was. The twins exchanged winks.

"So, what were you working on?" George asked, rising to turn off a burner under a cauldron that was about to boil over.

"Well, I can't really break the confidence of my client," she said firmly.

"Okay, then just tell us who it is. No details, just a name," Fred asked, wiping down the table.

"Why are you so interested?" Hermione asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Why?" Fred uttered as he stopped wiping.

"Yes, why?" Hermione repeated.

"Why?" Fred said again, looking at George for help.

"Hermione," George began, "we, or at least I, have always been interested in your work. You know that."

Hermione's eyes softened. It was true. George was a great source of encouragement when she was completing her studies all over the world. She would talk to him about the difficulty learning translations and applying them accurately, when she actually managed to return to England those few times. He showed her how to think outside the strict areas of her learning, to think 'outside the box' if you will. Chewing her lip, Hermione remembered the times he would look at her notes, and mix things up to test her. One such passage had taken her almost a week to work out. It opened her mind greatly and allowed her to look for things not set in the stone of literature and languages.

"George, I never knew," Fred said, looking a bit disheartened. He tossed the dishcloth at the sink with a bit of force.

"You were too busy chasing the fair Angelina, Fred. Your mind was quite focused," George said with a shrug.

Before they could get into it yet again, Hermione interrupted.

"If you two must know, and you probably will find out eventually, seeing as the client is a very good friend of yours, I was in Scotland."

Twin sets of identical eyebrows rose. "Scotland, eh?" George said, his eyes flaring a bit.

Hermione nodded.

Fred, knowing the look in George's eyes, kept quiet.

"Good friend, you say? Tall feller? Devilishly handsome, brown hair?" George said with a questioning look on his face. His eyes told a different story, alive with humor and a bit of patting on the back for himself and Fred.

Hermione blushed and nodded.

George clapped his hands together.

"Well, this is a pleasant development then," he said.

"What?" Fred asked innocently, "who is it?"

"No names, dear brother. Wouldn't want to endanger Hermione's promise of confidentiality," George said with a wink to her. She smiled.

Fred crossed his arms and glared at the two of them.

"Let's just say, the gentleman in question is quite well-known for, how do I say this, his passion for Quidditch?" George said, looking meaningfully at Fred. Fred's eyes widened as he looked at Hermione. He grinned like the cat that got into the cream.

"Shhh, now. No names, Fred," George said again. Fred nodded.

George's face changed to a serious expression.

"I should let you know, dear girl, the gentleman we are talking about has been burned in the past, quite severely," he said, his voice laced with not one bit of humor.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Why are you telling me?" she asked.

"We just want to make sure that you are aware of his nature, when it comes to relationships. We care deeply for both of you," Fred said quietly, taking her small hand in his.

"Yes," George continued, "we care for you both, but I will caution you that if you are not at all serious about him, I would quit it now, for both of your sakes. When this particular person gives over to another, it is complete," he said, his meaning clear, as he took her other hand.

Her eyes softened again as she squeezed both their hands. "I'll not muddy him about, fellas, if that what is worrying you. It would be wrong to play him like that, and I," she hesitated.

"You…" Fred prompted.

"I," Hermione began again, taking a deep breath, "I think it may be too late for backing out anyway." Her face was almost as red as the twin's hair by now.

Two faces broke into grins as they hugged Hermione from both sides.

"That is just splendid," George said. They all laughed.

Hermione removed herself of the double entanglement and straightened her hair.

"I must be going now," she said, her face bright. "I will try to see you again before I leave."

"Leave?" the red heads asked in unison.

"Yes, I have to travel out of town again next week. Hopefully I won't be gone for too long, but I promise to keep you two informed, okay?" she said, giving each one a hug goodbye. Her heart was fair to bursting over her realization and she wanted to leave before she embarrassed them.

"I will hold you to that, Mione," George said, holding her an extra moment. He had always had a soft spot for her. She was like another sister to him.

She smiled and waved, leaving through the front entrance.

"George," Fred asked his voice quiet, "what is going on with you two?" He knew every single Weasley loved and cared for Hermione, but this was different.

"Fred, I just care about her. She is like another sister, but more. I can't really explain it, but don't worry, it isn't like that," George assured his twin. He knew Fred was thinking of Katie. "There could never be anyone for me but Katie."

Fred clapped him on the back and smiled. "Quite right. Who else would put up with me so well?" They laughed, walking back into the shop.


The soft strains of saxophone and piano combined filtered through the room as they swayed in each other's arms. Hermione's head rested on Oliver's chest as she breathed in his scent. He felt her breasts push into him with her deep breath, fanning the flames of his desire even higher. His hand resting at the nape of her neck teased the deep curls that had come loose from the twist she wore that evening, trailing down her soft-as-down skin to the back of her sundress.

Hermione's body shivered against his and she leaned back to look up into his eyes, all the passion she felt present in hers. Her lips parted slightly as Oliver leaned down to kiss her softly. His tongue traced the lines of her lips from corner to corner and she gripped his waist. His arms pulled her closer still as he swept his tongue in her mouth, eliciting a soft moan from her throat.

Her hands tugged at his t-shirt, pulling it slowly from the waistband of his slacks, as Oliver's heat radiated through. Her slender fingers grazed the skin on his ribcage, tugging the shirt up and over his head, breaking the kiss; this allowed her to explore his chest with her mouth, following the lines of muscles with her tongue. His fingers worked through the clips holding her hair up. The cascade of curls fell onto his hands and he gripped the back of her head, tugging her face up for another soft and deep kiss.

Her hands were unbuttoning his pants when he raised his head and said with a rasp to his voice, "Why don't we move this to somewhere more comfortable?"

Hermione nodded and they walked into the bedroom. Candlelight was provided with a whisper and Oliver closed the door, turning to the love of his life. His heart pounded as he walked over and ran his fingertip down her shoulder to the ties of her dress. His hands began to loosen them and she turned her head to delicately nip at his fingers. The gentle pressure of her teeth tore at him, almost making him fumble the simple act of pulling loose the strings. As the dress slid down to her waist, he turned her to admire the beauty of her in the candlelight. The soft glow emanating from her eyes touched him deep in his soul as he traced the line of soft freckles down her cheek with his fingertip.

Hermione's hands spread out from the center over his chest, causing a trail of fire in their wake. The small fingers slid down his ribcage again, causing him to gasp. Her eyes flared at his response to her touch and she moved her hands to his waist once more, tugging him closer to her.

Oliver moved his hands over her shoulders to pull her to him, feeling her breasts press into his bare chest and their instant response to the contact. His mouth moved over her face slowly, dropping kisses along her jaw. He nipped at her earlobe, blazing a trail from there to her neck with his tongue as her hands finished undoing the front of his slacks. Hermione's hand slid into his boxers to grasp a hold of him and he tightened every muscle in his body instantly. His teeth clamped down lightly on her shoulder as she moved her hand over the silky length of him again and again.

Hermione's eyes were dark when Oliver raised his head to look at her. Her eyelids fluttered closed and she removed her hand from its warm location as Oliver's hands pushed her dress the rest of the way down her hips, and she stepped out of where it had pooled on the floor. When he stood back up, he slipped his own clothing off and reached for her. The only garment separating them were a pair of hi-cut lace panties and Oliver removed them from Hermione with gentle precision, designed to arouse every nerve in her body. Judging by her gasps, he was successful.

Walking backwards, Hermione beckoned him with a finger, sliding back over the soft duvet to the pillows. Oliver crawled over her and rested his legs on either side of hers, his body covering her almost completely. He kissed her lips with passion, his tongue probing her mouth gently but fervently. Her arms wound around him and his hair tickled between her fingers as she moved through it. When he moved to her neck, his lips nibbling and licking down to the valley between her breasts, she grasped his hair quickly and let a soft moan escape.

Progressing over her body, Oliver was fighting to keep things on an even keel, but his desire to be sheathed within her was raging. As Hermione responded to the attention of his mouth at her breast, he instantly thought he could go for an eternity just listening to her. One hand slid down her body to her triangle of curls, and she arched up as he found her completely ready for him. He slid his fingers through the wetness to find the unshakable evidence and she cried out softly.

Hermione's hand gripped his shoulders as she pulled him up to her, her eyes flashing with absolute certainty that she was done waiting. Oliver's desire roared in approval as her hand slid between them to guide him to her opening. Preparing him slowly and agonizingly, she thrust her hips up as he pushed into her, both of them moaning as they were joined. They held still for a moment, each looking into the other's eyes, memorizing this moment for all eternity. Hermione's eyes sparkled with unshed emotions as she opened her mouth and said, "I lo-".

Oliver sat up quickly, his breathing heavy and loud in the semi-dark room. A sheen of sweat covered his bare chest as he looked around for the woman in his dream. His mind eventually grasped the idea that it wasn't real. His heart racing, he threw off the covers and sat at the edge of the bed. Bending his head to his hands, he forcefully calmed the pounding of his heart and the unevenness of his breathing, his body finally coming under control. His soul's desire wasn't so complacent. He really wished he hadn't woken up at that point. What she was about to say was so tantalizing; his soul could have wept with the need to hear her finish.

"UGH!" his voice bellowed through the empty house. He couldn't believe it was all just a dream. He hadn't been that worked up since…well, since they had been together at his parent's house, he grimaced. Another thing, he never dreamt like that before, where every fiber of his being was clamoring for something. His dreams during school were usually about Quidditch formations, very rarely about girls. He didn't really know how rare that was, but accepted it as fact. When he got older, he never dreamed about women in particular. He didn't really have to, between Quidditch exhausting even his subconscious and being able to fulfill certain needs every now and again.

The dream was replaying itself in his mind, and Oliver could almost taste her skin once again. His body began to respond and he growled. Looking over at the clock, he realized it was still quite early. The sun was just beginning to lighten the sky outside the window. "Might as well get up," he muttered. He would have liked to act on the thoughts pounding through his head, but unfortunately, the person causing all this turmoil was absent.

He walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. 'This definitely calls for a cold shower this morning,' he thought to himself, as he dropped his pajama bottoms. He gasped as he stepped under the stream of icy water, it beginning to do its job immediately. He began to wash his hair, thinking of what he had to do that day. 'It's Thursday, so I have the doctor's appointment this afternoon, and then,' his hands stilled in his hair. 'It's Thursday.' Hermione would be coming over for dinner tonight, to discuss any progress on the book. His blood began to race again as he thought of her. 'This will not do,' he thought as he rinsed his hair, standing there for a good ten minutes until the shivering became uncontrollable. He smiled when he finally gained control of his heated thoughts once more and began to plan the evening ahead. He stepped from the shower and dried off quickly.

Walking back to his room, he looked at the messy bedcovers and saw Hermione laying there, her eyes beckoning to him.

'Perhaps it doesn't have to just be a dream,' he thought as he fought his desire again, and reluctantly dressed for the day.


A/N: So...yeah. Um...more to come soon. ;) Thank you all for reading. TA