"Come on, hurry!" Fred laughed as he dragged her behind him in the empty corridors.

"Where are we going?"

Fred didn't answer, he just led her through the empty hallways and secret passage ways. Fred found her on her nightly prefect route and dragged her with him. He stopped on the seventh floor as he paced in front of the wall.

"Fred, why are we at the RoR?"

"Shh." Fred held his finger over his lips as the door appeared. He opened the door and gestured her in. Hermione stepped into the room, it was small with a large red sofa against the wall and a coffee table in front of it. Fred closed the door behind him and sat down on the sofa. He padded the cushion next to him. Hermione rolled her eyes as she sat down too. She turned her body so she could face him, her feet tucked under her.

"Fred, I have rounds."

"I know." He smirked at her. "With Ronald." He said grim. "I heard what he said at dinner. Are you okay? Want to talk about it?"

"It's fine honestly... It's just Ron being Ron. I can choose who I hang out with, I don't need to explain myself to him." She huffed.

"You're right, as always." He grinned. "You do know why he acts that way don't you?"

"Yes," She sighed. "I put the pieces together last year when he reacted that badly to Viktor. But that's still no excuse. We-" She gestured between her and Fred. "-are friends, he reacts this way and he doesn't even know-"

"He'll probably freak when he finds out you like snogging me."

"You kissed me remember?" She arched an eyebrow at him.

"Hard to forget." He winked at her and a light blush appeared on her cheeks.

"Why?"

"Why what?" He asked surprised.

"I understand why you kissed me the first time but –"

"I think the better question is.. why not?" He laughed at her bewildered face. "Hermione, like I already told you...you're funny, smart and beautiful."

"Even if that is true, there are a dozen other witches you could snog." She countered.

Fred hummed as he stared in front of him, shrugging his shoulders. "Maybe."
After a moment Fred asked. "So, you know how my brother feels about you. Do you feel the same?"

"No." She said surely. "I think I did before the whole yule ball fiasco. But the way Viktor made me feel was completely different than what I feel for Ron. I think it's more of a brother/sister love."

"Oh." Fred answered absently as he slowly looked over. "So, you and Viktor? You still hear from him?"

"Yeah, I write to him a couple times a month but we're just friends now. He just started seeing someone in Bulgaria." She smiled as she thought back to his last letter.

"Someone else you're interested in? I heard Terry Boot almost falling at your feet in the DA meeting a couple of weeks ago." He grinned but something was off.

"Why do you care?" She asked, poking his arm.

"Just wondering..."

"Right." Hermione put her feet on the floor and stood up. "I'll go back to my rounds then."

Before she could walk away, she felt Fred tug at her hand. When she turned, Fred was standing in front of her. His eyes piercing hers, he slowly bent down and captured her lips. After a moment Hermione pulled away and looked up at him, eyebrows knit together.

"I like you." Fred blurted out. "I can't stop thinking about that moment in the cupboard. I uhm I liked you since this summer."

"W-What?" Hermione stuttered.

"Yeah." Fred rubbed his neck nervously. "It kind of snuck up on me. Remember when we were cleaning the library?" Hermione nodded and he continued. "Those nasty books fell down and hit you. You had a nasty cut on your arm. And we started talking as I healed your wound. We just talked about school and some of our products. You even suggested some ideas for improvement." He chuckled as he thought back at the memory. "Then it sort of grew from there. You keep me on my toes Granger. And your smart brain-" He tapped his knuckles on her head. "- keeps up with me and George. It challenges me."

"Oh." Hermione's mouth fell open as she looked up at the twin, his ears bright red as he confessed to all of this. "Well, I think you and George are pretty brilliant too. You can discuss things with me that the others don't have a clue about." She grinned up at him. "And I like you too Fred, maybe not since this summer but-"

She was cut off as Fred crashed his lips back on hers, pulling her close. Hermione's hands wrapped around his neck as she pulled him down. She licked his bottom lip and he gladly gave her entrance. They snogged for a couple of minutes before pulling back, catching their breath.

"What does this mean? You'll be leaving soon..."

"I know." He rested his head against hers. "Let's start slow. We'll write to each other once a week or so and when the summer starts, we can see where this goes. Does that sound good?"

She nodded her head against his, smiling. "Maybe we can keep this to ourselves for now?" She pulled slightly back so she could look at him. She saw him knit his brows together. "You can tell George." She snickered. A wide smile crossed his face before he bent down and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

"Thanks love."

"We better get going before the others start wondering where we are."

"George got us covered if it's needed." He winked at her as he opened the door.

"So, you planned all this?" She asked as they walked the dark corridors.

"Not the part that I would tell my secret desire for you or that fact that you'd snog me senseless." He laughed as she slapped his arm. "But I wanted to talk to you after the whole Ronald incident."

"I'm glad you did." She stopped walking as they reached the portrait hole. She glanced around before standing on her tip toes, waiting for Fred to come down to kiss her like there was no tomorrow.

"I want a goodnight kiss like that every night." He grinned as they pulled apart.

"You can get one every night until you leave. Then you would have to do without." She teased as she whispered it in his ear. She mumbled the password and climbed through the portrait hole. Happy to see a deserted common room except for George and Ginny both grinning from their seats on the sofa.

- FWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFW -

It was Saturday evening and Hermione and George were dressed in matching dark green robes as they stood in front of a rundown mansion. They were both looking up at the gargoyle on top of the house.

"You ready?" George asked as he looked down at her, she was playing with the hem of her sleeve.

"Ready as I'll ever be." She said nervously as she reached out to knock on the door. A second later the door swung upon and a woman about 25 years old with long pitch-black hair stood in the doorway. She looked suspicious at them before plastering on a smile.

"You must be the Lovegoods. My aunt told me all about you." Her fake smile still in place. "Come on in." She stepped aside so Hermione and George could pass. "I'm Belinda."

"Nice to meet you, Belinda. I'm Hermione Lovegood and this is my brother George." George held out his hand which she gladly took. Belinda stared at him like he was a piece of meat.

"Aunt told me you're not betrothed."

"I'm not." George answered pulling his hand back as he shot Hermione a look of panic. Belinda opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the shopkeeper.

"The Lovegoods, splendid." She beamed as she made her way over. The witch looked different than from the shop. Although she still wore dark robes, now they were new and fitting. Her teeth disguised with a glamour and her hair in a tight bun.

"Mrs Murphy."

"Call me Agatha dear. Let me show you around. Belinda, would you open the door please?" Agatha asked as the bell rang once more. Belinda reluctantly stepped away while George sighed in relieve as he followed Hermione and Agatha.

Agatha opened the big double doors that led them into a small ballroom. A huge crystal chandelier hung in the middle room. Medieval paintings of knights, kings and queens decorated the space. Music rang through the house. Hermione let her gaze cross the room. There were about 30 people scattered around, all wearing dress wizard's dress robes in dark colors.

"Let me introduce you two." Agatha walked to the right where an older couple stood close to the piano. "Mister and Mrs. Campbell may I introduce to you the Lovegoods." She smiled at the Campbell's before turning back to them. "They're from England."

Mister Campbell took them both in from top to bottom while his wife's eyes were locked on Hermione.

"Status?" The older man grumbled.

"Pure-blood sir." George lifted Hermione's hand and showed them the family ring. "My sister and I are delighted to be here."

To anyone who doesn't know George, it would look and sound like he was very happy to be here but Hermione knew better. She heard the strain in his voice and the stiffen stance. Hermione locked her arm around his and smiled at the couple.

"If you'll excuse us. There are a lot of people we want to meet."

"That's fine dear. But please make your way back, I would love for you to meet my son." Mrs. Campbell smiled. Hermione gave a short nod before George led her away.

"Thanks." George whispered. "It's going to be a long night."

"I know but we've got each other, think of the goal." She whispered back as she hugged his arm before releasing it as they approached a group.

The night dragged out. Agatha introduced them to everyone around at the party. Belinda popped up out of nowhere next to George, who looked like he wanted to flee. Hermione was introduced to 7 single men from the age of 15 to 40! (Campbell Jr. was nearly 41.) in the meantime George had a list of eligible women too. Four young women were introduced, but the one that George wanted to evade the most was constantly at his side. Hermione was talking to Mason Diaz, young man who lost his mother a couple of years back and was the only living member of the Diaz bloodline. She was interrupted as George slides up next to her.

"I'm sorry Mr. Diaz-"

"Mason is fine." He smiled politely.

"Can I borrow my sister for a moment?"

"Of course. I'll see you later?" Mason asked as he took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles.

She smiled up at him and gave a short nod before following George out the room. He took her to the garden that was lit with floating light bulbs. They took a seat on the bench just behind a bush and George put a silencing charm around them.

"Man that Belinda girl is driving me nuts." George sighed as he rubbed his hand over his face.

"I know and I'm sorry. But the night is almost over..." She said while rubbing his back as he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. "But the good thing is, we met 5 out of the 7 families that are on our list.

"Yeah, thank Godric something good came out of tonight." He leaned back against the bench and looked at her. "So, what do you think? You probably already made a list right here." He said as he tapped her head.

"You know me so well." She chuckled as she pushed his hand away. "Murphy is still a definite possibility." She started and George took out their journal from his robe and started jotting it down. "Sadly, the Campbells too. Baker is out of the running, they are broke, if they had something like that, they would already have sold it for a great deal of money. Then there is Ward and Diaz. Ward is a pompous show off. It is possible that he could have it, but we need some alone time with him, preferable drinking and I think he'll spill the beans."

"I'm not letting you alone with him." George said sternly as he looked up from the journal. "He's a rat, I don't trust him."

"Me neither but I think you'll be a better choice to do so."

"Why is that?" George asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Come one Georgie, you must know..." She grinned. "He likes the company of men. And the last time I checked you are one of them."

George groaned as he let his head fall back, looking up at the stars. He chuckled before looking back at her. "So, you checked me out huh?"

"Merlin George, you're my brother." Hermione laughed as she slapped his arm.

"Just teasing Granger." He said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Okay I'll go keep Ward company then, for Fred."

"For Fred." She sighed as her gaze flicked to the night sky. "He would've loved to see the sky so clear."

"Yeah, he would." George whispered as he followed her gaze. They sat in silence for a while just gazing at the stars, the soft music reaching the garden. "What about Diaz?" George eventually asked. "He seems like one of the normal ones here. And he takes a fancy to you." He furrowed his eyebrows.

"His parents married because they had to, you know engaged by the age of five and all. His father was extremely prejudiced, he died when Mason was ten. His mother was kind, she had half-blood friends in school and after Mr. Diaz died, she fell in love with a muggle. They kept their relationship a secret, but someone found out. She was murdered in her sleep a couple years back. Mason doesn't know who did it, but I think he suspects half the people here tonight."

"Oh.." George fell silent. "Did he tell you all that?"

"No, but the house elves here are pretty talkative with some giggle juice."

"Giggle juice?"

She chuckled at George's excitement. "I'll tell you later. I think they know who did it but are too afraid to speak. But she told me Mason has been asking around and searching for whoever did it. That's why I don't think he has the turner."

"Or else he would have gone back himself." George finished and Hermione nodded. They fell still for a second time as they searched the sky.