Lying back against the couch, Fred turns the page of the mystery novel he borrowed from Hermione. This Muggle author really is quite brilliant, sprinkling in all these odd little details for the main character to tie together with a dramatic flourish right at the end. At first, Fred had to stop reading frequently to look up some Muggle object or another. The more stories he reads, however, the less commonly he needs to stop.

Bright green light flashes across the page as his fireplace flares to life. Frowning, he straightens, tossing his book to the side. Few people have unfettered access to his flat, and as far as he's aware, they're all busy this evening. For someone to drop in unexpectedly…

But when Hermione stumbles out into his flat, her eyes bright and cheeks flushed from drinking, all questions flee from his mind. A wave of contentment washes over him, warming him from the inside.

'You did it!' he exclaims, laughing as he runs forward to sweep her up into a hug.

She shakes her head, laughing. 'We did it.'

Sometimes, it strikes him as odd that he still feels so giddy and full of affection whenever he's seen her. He's been in love before, but never to this degree or for this long. The more time passes, the more certain he becomes that that's never going to change.

'I actually meant to go to Grimmauld Place,' she admits as she pulls away and surveys his flat. 'I was just thinking of going home, and… I must have said the wrong address.'

The wrong address, or the right one? Fred's first instinct is to tease her, but he catches himself before he does. The idea of moving in together has been in the back of his mind for a while now, but this isn't the right time for that. Maybe in a few days, after they've all had time to bask in the joy of her Wizengamot win.

Instead, he just says, 'Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad you're here. Do you want to stay for dinner? I was just about to start cooking.'

'Of course.'

As they settle into their usual routine in the kitchen, Hermione starts giving him a play-by-play of the discussion and voting process. Usually, politics bores him. Between his father and Percy, he's heard more than his fair share of the goings-on of the Ministry. But she's so animated and passionate that it's infectious, and Fred quickly finds himself engrossed in the story.

This here, this is what he wants for the rest of his life.