A.N.: Well, this fanfic was not planned, as I usually do not start a new project until my current WIP is finished. But then there was this prompt in a Facebook group and you know how these things go... ;-)

This fanfic has kindly been betaed by lilvictoire.

One kiss a day…

Setting the rules

"You weren't exactly my idea of a spouse," Hermione said, looking at her new husband with a shake of her head. Fred Weasley looked back at her with a humourless smile, before he closed the door to his flat in Diagon Alley. Well, Hermione guessed it was their flat now. George had moved out a few weeks ago, after his marriage to Angelina. Fred's twin had been one of the lucky guys, who was engaged before the terrible law had been passed, without much of a warning. Hermione and Fred hadn't been quite so lucky. Considering that the man had even found the strength to joke after his brother lost an ear, his lack of humour was really saying something about their situation.

"Yeah, well, the feeling's mutual. But here we are, shackled together just like they want," he said, loosening the cravat around his neck, before throwing himself on the comfortable looking sofa in the living room. "I guess we'll have to learn to live with each other now. Even though you'd probably preferred for another Weasley to take my place."

"Don't be absurd," Hermione muttered and looked at the redhead with a scowl. "Don't tell me you expected me to end up with Ron. We both would probably kill each other within the week." It was true. After their heated kiss in the Chamber of Secrets, Hermione had remembered their last months together and realized that they were probably better off as friends. Even though it had been hard to admit it to herself - and him.

"Huh," Fred said scratching his head in surprise. "Didn't expect that answer. You know, he was pining after you ever since he realized you were actually a girl." He grinned and Hermione could not help but roll her eyes at the man. Being reminded of that particular comment from Ron still stung, especially since the Yule Ball had turned out to be less fun than she had hoped. Fred seemed to pick up on her sudden mood change, as he suddenly sought her out with his brown eyes and a kind smile. "Well, maybe we should establish some rules for us then. You know, just to make sure we don't drive each other up the wall."

Hermione looked at him in surprise. That was actually very thoughtful of him, especially since there were a few things that would drive her mad sooner or later. She nibbled at her bottom lip, before she carefully sat down next to him, leaving enough room between them to still feel safe. It wasn't that she didn't find Fred attractive, he really was a handsome and charming guy. But considering that she did not have very much experience with boys or in that particular area, while Fred had been with at least a few girls, she could not help but feel a bit overwhelmed with the whole situation. Fred knew what he would be doing, Hermione not so much. And she hated being clueless about something.

"Mione?" Fred's voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she realized that she still had not answered him.

"Uh sorry, my mind just suddenly drifted off. I guess some rules would be a good idea. They might help to keep us sane throughout this whole farce."

Fred nodded. "Alright," he said before he pulled up his long legs and folded them beneath him on the sofa. Considering that he still wore his tight black suit Hermione wondered how that position could even be comfortable for him. "What's your first rule then?" he asked, fixing her with his brown eyes. They were kind eyes, Hermione thought and realized that she could have done much worse than Fred Weasley. Fred would not hurt her and she could tell that he was trying to make this work. She was determined to do the same.

"How many rules are you aiming for?" she asked, pulling her brows together while contemplating the things that would be most important to her.

He chuckled. "For every rule you name, I will name one, too," he said. "But at first let's stick with just one. We can still grade it up later on, don't you think? I don't fancy ending with an Umbridge-like catalogue in the end."

Hermione nodded, her mind starting to work in overdrive. Just one rule… she sighed. What would be most challenging for her to deal with? It actually wasn't a hard decision. She looked at him with a serious expression. "I don't want you to prank me, Fred. Not ever. I think in this marriage we should both be equals and I think it would make me feel highly uncomfortable if I got the impression to be… well… humiliated."

Fred stared at her with a surprised look on his face and she could tell that he wanted to object, but after a moment she could see him shake his head with a smile. "Alright, no pranking. Noted," he said looking at her with a grin. "Now it's my turn."

Hermione nodded before she looked at him with an expectant look. What would it be that Fred requested from her? Less reading? Attending Sunday's family Quidditch matches? She honestly had no idea.

In the end, his rule wasn't anything she had expected. "I'd like you to kiss me once a day," he said with a serious look in the eyes. "No matter if we just fought and you're mad at me," he chuckled, "or if we barely even know each other. I'd like a kiss from you, every day."

Hermione blinked at him in surprise, her heart suddenly beating wildly in her chest. A kiss? Why would he want a kiss?

Fred seemed to sense her confusion, as he looked at her with a knowing smile. "You know, sometimes a kiss can express much more than a bunch of words. Especially as people tend to misunderstand each other. Not with a kiss though. It usually brings people closer together, instead of pushing them apart, like words so often tend to do."

Hermione looked at him with a small, understanding nod. He was probably right and considering that they would soon be forced to do much more than kissing, it wasn't really such an unreasonable request. "Alright, Fred. One kiss each day, as long as we are married," she said, her heart starting to beat wildly at the smile that suddenly bloomed on his mouth - his very kissable mouth. And that's when Hermione realized something. Fred could have set any rule, but he had asked for a kiss. Did that mean he wanted to kiss her? Because it most certainly sounded like he did.

"Do you want me to do it now?" she asked, her mouth feeling suddenly dry. "Kiss you, I mean."

Fred looked at her with a chuckle. "If you like? There's no hurry, Hermione. There are 5 more hours until this day is over, so there is certainly no reason to panic."

Panic? She was not panicking. Or was she? Because she had kissed before. There were a few awkward kisses with Victor, for example, some of them mere pecks on the mouth while others were awkwardly… wet. Victor had always been a perfect gentleman with her but after their last encounter, where she had accidentally bitten his tongue and almost died from embarrassment, they had decided they were probably better off as friends. Hermione still remembered how relieved she had been back then. Then there was Cormac, whom she had avoided like a plague because the thought of kissing him was just nauseating. And lastly, there was Ron. Kissing him had been… unexpected, impulsive and for a moment it had made her heart beat faster, even though in hindsight that could have also been the excitement from the battle going on around them. After they had won and Ron looked at her with nervous expectation, Hermione knew that she did not want to kiss him again. Luckily her friend had thought the same. What if Hermione simply wasn't meant for kissing? What if she did not want to kiss Fred either or if their kisses felt just awkward or wrong? Alright, maybe she was panicking a little bit.

"Let's do it now," Hermione suddenly decided and looked at him with determination. She could do this, she told herself, it was just a kiss after all. And if she wasn't meant for kissing, she'd rather know it now.

Fred looked at her with an expectant smile, before he turned sidewards on the sofa. "Alright, go on then. I won't bite." He winked at her but somehow that gesture only made her heart beat even faster. But what was she even nervous about? Fred was her husband now, he had even been the one asking for that kiss. So it wasn't like he would suddenly push her away or anything.

Taking a deep breath she turned around to him before she carefully crawled closer on the sofa. Hermione had always known that he and George were tall, but now that she was sitting right in front of him she realized that she would have problems even reaching him like that. It wasn't like she felt comfortable climbing onto his lap just yet.

"Fred? Could you just lean down a little?" she asked, biting her lip nervously. "You're too tall…" she mumbled, embarrassment turning her cheeks pink. Fred did not chuckle or even comment though, he just calmly leaned down for her, until his head was only a few inches away. From there he looked at her with a friendly smile.

"Better?"

Hermione nodded gratefully. "Better."

She only had to lean forward and she did so after taking a deep, calming breath. Not that it helped very much. It was probably only seconds before her lips finally touched his, but to Hermione it felt like ages, as Fred simply stayed still, waiting for her to close the gap between them. When she did though, Hermione could suddenly feel him smile against her lips, before his right hand closed around her cheek. Then, he kissed her back, his lips softly touching hers, moving against them slowly and deliberately. And suddenly Hermione understood why Fred had proposed the rule, his lips said more than his words had over the last hour. They said "Hello," when their lips first touched, a spark of excitement running through her nerves. A moment later they said: "Don't worry," when they gently ghosted along her bottom lip, softly kissing the corner of her mouth. Hermione sighed before she felt herself break out into a soft smile on her own. She turned her head ever so slightly, capturing his mouth in a last, slow kiss where she tried to put everything in that she could not find the words to say. She said: "I know," and "We'll make this work," - every movement of her lips a soft promise that she would try. And going by the smile on Fred's lips, he had understood and seemed to agree with her.

They would make this marriage work - one kiss at a time.