31st December 1998

"Okay I got a six so….1…2…3…..oh come on!"

Hermione smiled as Ginny – with a lot of reluctance – moved her piece down the snake's body and back towards the lower half of the board. She took the dice for her own go.

"I was going to win as well!" Ginny protested.

Hermione didn't reply and instead rolled her own dice. Having only been a few square behind the younger girl, she moved her piece forward. Just needed to get a three or more and she'd win. Ginny smiled.

"I must admit, this is fun. It's still weird that nothing moves though. You don't even have actual ladders or snakes on the board."

"I think it'll be a while before I can comfortably look at a real snake again." Hermione shuddered. "At least I know these ones aren't going to try and kill me."

Ginny rolled her own dice and moved her piece in silence. Guilt bubbled in Hermione's stomach. Whenever any of them mentioned anything about the past year and a bit, it seemed to force a silence onto everyone else. As though nothing else seemed appropriate to mention. She took the dice of Ginny – aware of the younger girl staring at the closest snake drawing on the board.

"Do you still have nightmares?" Hermione whispered. Ginny nodded; still not looking up.

"Not about the battle as such. But I'm back. In the chamber. Only it's me now with….with him. Not as Tom Riddle but as…you know."

Hermione nodded. With the others all occupying other parts of The Burrow, the living room had been left for her and Ginny. Thankfully, no one had disturbed them so far. Which was probably why Ginny was willing to talk about it outside the privacy of their room.

"He's in my head." She whispered. "Controlling everything I do. Every thought. Every action. Sometimes…" She took a deep breath. "Sometimes Harry is there. When he is…..he makes me kill him. He makes me want to kill him!"

Hermione shuffled round to where Ginny sat and pulled the younger girl in for a hug.

"It'll get better." She whispered. "I promise."

"Will it?" Ginny laughed feebly. "I somehow doubt it."

"It will." Hermione nodded fiercely. "It might just take some time."

"Like your nightmares about Malfoy Manor?"

Hermione froze and the dice fell from her hand.

"Three. I win."

She pushed her piece onto the final square and got to her feet. Ginny jumped up to grabbed her hand.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I just….well that's the one thing you still have nightmares about isn't it?"

Hermione nodded mutely. Ginny had seen her scars when she'd been getting ready for bed. But she didn't know the details. Hermione had tried to tell her, but the very thought of getting the words out had sent her spiralling and she'd backed down.

"But it's like you said." Ginny nodded. "It'll get better. It just might take time. It's only been a few months since it all ended. It's still too soon for a lot of people."

Hermione smiled weakly. "Yes, you're right."

"Shall we have another game?" Ginny eased Hermione back onto the floor. "I'm determined to keep playing until I win!"

With a laugh, Hermione nodded. "What's happening tonight? What do you guys do for New Year's Eve?"

"I think Fred and George have some big fireworks thing set up. We usually just all stay up and have a drink and mum tends to do a special late-night meal."

Hermione handed Ginny the dice. "Sounds lovely."

The younger girl went to reply when the door to the living room burst open and Fred and George appeared. Their own laughter muted as their eyes landed on her and Ginny. Hermione's heart went into overdrive at the sight of Fred. Heat filled his own face whilst it was all she could do to keep her breathing steady.

"Did you two fancy joining us?" Ginny asked. George nodded but Hermione could see the look on Fred's face. The look of someone who wanted to be anywhere but here. She scrambled to her feet.

"Actually, Ginny I….I have to do…something."

"Hermione," Fred said, "wait a minute."

"No, it's…" she gestured behind her to where a very confused Ginny and George were now sat.

"It's fine. I um…I have this thing to do. I forgot about it."

Fred opened his mouth, but she simply pushed past him and bolted for the stairs. The long and winding staircase that reached all the way to the very top of The Burrow and in her haste to reach the floor where her and Ginny's room was, her foot slipped several times on the narrow steps.

"Hermione? Hermione wait!"

At Ginny's voice, Hermione hauled herself over the last few steps and ran towards her room. She knew she was being silly, even as she slammed the door shut. Afterall, this was Ginny's room as well and noting was going to stop her from entering. Hermione backed away towards her bed just as Ginny opened the door.

"Hermione….what on earth was that downstairs?"

"Nothing." She lied. "Honestly. I just realised I had something to do that was all."

"Okay." Ginny folded her arms. "What did you need to do then?"

"I….um…some stuff for when I go back to Hogwarts?"

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Okay, shall we try this again? Why are you and Fred suddenly being so weird around each other? Ever since you and Harry moved in here you and Fred have gotten on great. But ever since Christmas you're doing whatever it takes to avoid each other!"

"Ginny just leave it."

"No, I won't. Considering how know how much you care about him something has to have happened. You used to love spending time with him and now you guys can barely look at each other!"

Hermione fixed Ginny with a sharp look. "Is the door closed?"

Ginny nodded and sat down on her own bed. Hermione took a deep breath.

"You know how, on Christmas we all had a sort of party….with lots of alcohol?"

"Yeah?"

"Well….um…. I got a bit upset seeing all you guys together. As a family. I kept thinking about my parents and if…if I'd ever see them again. So, I snuck in here and decided that drinking a bottle of Fire whiskey was the ideal solution."

"Oh Hermione."

"No, it gets worse. Fred found me after I'd had most of the bottle. In amongst my drunk and tearful stammering's he realised why I was so upset. And….and then I blurted out that I loved him."

"You did what?" Ginny's eyes were almost popping out of her head. "You finally told him!"

Hermione shook her head as fresh tears began to build in her eyes. "And do you want to know what he did? He took the bottle from my hands, said I needed some sleep and that "I'd feel better in the morning". That was it. No response of any kind."

"Ahh." Ginny nodded in understanding. "Now I get it."

"I basically ruined any chance of having any sort of relationship with Fred. I woke up the next day and I felt so humiliated. I could barely look him in the eye. Once him and George move back above the shop it'll be easier. But for now, I just need to try and stay out of his way."

"But…you don't know that Fred doesn't like you?"

"He had a chance to tell me didn't he?"

"Well….you were upset. And drunk. Maybe he felt it wasn't the right time."

"Well given he is trying to avoid me as well I doubt it. I mean he's had plenty of other chances this past week."

"Well, if you keep trying to avoid him it's not making things easy is it?" Ginny argued. "I think you should ask him outright. Oh!" Her eyes lit up. "Ask him tonight? It's New Year's Eve! That'd be so romantic!"

"Only if he says yes." Hermione pointed out. "Which I can't see happening somehow."

"Well, you don't know if you don't ask." Ginny argued. She got to her feet with a smile.

"Look, I know all of my brothers pretty well. Especially when it comes to girls they like. I wouldn't tell you to do this if I wasn't certain he'll say yes."

"I just….Ginny I really don't think I can."

"Listen to me Hermione." Ginny took her hands. "After everything you've done, you're telling me that speaking to Fred is somehow more daunting?"

"Well, when you put it like that….yes."

"Oh for…" Ginny rolled her eyes. "Hermione listen to me. Whatever you might think, I can promise you need to do this. You'll just regret it if you. After everything you've been through, please don't deny yourself a chance at happiness. Please?"

"Can I think about it?"

Ginny seemed on the verge of protesting this before she simply nodded.

"Okay. But maybe don't think about it too long. We've only got a few hours left."

"Right then!" George folded his arms. "Would you like to tell me what just happened?"

Fred eyed the discarded Snakes and Ladders board on the floor. "It's nothing."

"I see. Let me try again. Why are you and Hermione being so weird around each other?"

"We're not…." Fred took one look at George's face and knew his twin wasn't buying it.

"Okay." He sighed. "Something did happen. But this has to stay a complete secret George. I mean it."

"Of course. So, what happened?"

"Well, you remember the party we had on Christmas?"

"I'd rather not." George joked. "I still don't know what was worse: watching Percy dancing or watching Harry snogging Ginny!"

"Anyway." Fred interrupted, "We'd all been drinking a bit and I noticed Hermione had gone. I had a look round the house and found her in her room. She….well she was really upset, and she'd had nearly a whole bottle of Fire Whiskey."

"Blimey!" George's eyes widened. "I thought she looked a bit rough the next day. But that can't be why you guys are being weird."

"It's not." Fred admitted. "I asked what was wrong and she said she missed her parents and that seeing us all together just made it worse. I tried to tell her it'd be fine. That's we'd find them and restore their memories and then….well she sort of paused and…"

"And what?"

"And she told me she loved me."

Fred eyed George closely. But where he had expected his twin to take the news as a shock, he was surprised to see George was just nodding as though this wasn't the first time he was hearing this.

"I assumed you'd be a bit more surprised at that news."

"Hardly." George snorted. "Freddie everyone under this roof knows exactly how Hermione feels about you."

"Oh….right." Guilt began to pool in Fred stomach and George raised an eyebrow.

"So, I have a question Fred. Please don't tell me you just ran off and left her. Because if you did then we will be having a very different conversation."

"No." Fred shook his head. "No, I didn't. I just took the bottle and told her she should get some sleep and that thing will look better in the morning."

"You said what?" George yelled. "You actually…..Bloody Hell Fred! Are you an actual idiot?"

"Well, what was I meant to do?"

"Er I don't know, maybe tell her that you love her as well?" George drawled. "Considering you do."

Fred dropped into the rocking chair by the fire. This wasn't quite how he had imagined the conversation would be going. With a sigh, George sat down on the floor in front of him.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I didn't meant to get so….but Fred, you've been in love with her for years. Why the hell didn't you tell her?"

"Because….because she was incredibly drunk okay? I have zero idea if she even had any idea what she was saying."

George raised an eyebrow. "I feel like this is you making excuses."

"I thought….I thought she assumed I was Ron." Fred whispered. "I know she did have feelings for him. But when she blurted it out I went to tell her I felt the same. Then I realised how out of it she was. What if she thought she was talking to Ron? If I'd told her how I felt, and she'd assumed she was talking to Ron it would have just made things awkward."

"Because it's not awkward right now?" George drawled. "Look, whatever you might think is between Ron and Hermione, I can promise you there are friends. Nothing else. Heck you can ask him yourself if you want. But it's you she's crazy about."

"How can you be so sure." Fred whispered. George held his hands with a smile.

"Because I see how she looks at you mate. When you're not looking. Her eyes light up whenever you talk to her or smile at her. And up until this week she's always found some sort of excuse to be in the same room as you."

Fred gave a small nod. "I hated leaving her. I just….I don't know really. I guess I just got scared."

"That's fine." George whispered. "But you do really need to sort this out mate."

"How?"

"Well telling her you love her might be a good start."

"Yes I gathered that!" Fred rolled his eyes. "I meant….how do I tell her that?"

George cocked his head to one side thoughtfully.

"Well, it's New Year's Eve tonight. Just get yourself in the same room as her and then, firstly, apologise for being an idiot that night. Then just tell her how you feel."

"You make it sound so simple."

"Well, it can be. You're just choosing to make it complicated." George grinned. "But honestly Fred, you need to do this. You have a chance to be so incredibly happy. I'm not going to let you lose that chance."

Fred gave a small nod as an idea began to form. George grinned at him.

"So then, are you going to go and find her?"

"Not now." Fred held up a hand to silence George's protests. "Not because I'm scared. But because I want to wait until later tonight. I want to tell her near midnight. I want…." He blushed. "I want to be able to give her a kiss when it hits twelve."

"You, old romantic." George jumped to his feet. "Fair enough. But can you please do it somewhere private. Watching one sibling making out is bad enough. I don't need to see another okay."

"Don't worry." Fred grinned. "I won't. And George?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

His twins smile softened. "I'm your brother. It's my job to make sure you're happy."

Fred sat back in the rocking chair as George left him. He had to assume Hermione was still upstairs since he hadn't seen either of the girls come down. He knew it would be easier to talk to her now. Especially since there was no guarantee his courage would last until tonight. Yet he couldn't help it. For all of George's jokes, he was a romantic. He wanted to make tonight special for Hermione. To make up for being such an idiot on Christmas.

But as he glanced at the clock, Fred couldn't help but wish for midnight to come quicker.

Hermione gave the table one final wipe. Although Molly had said she was happy to clean up, Hermione had insisted. Although she'd been told plenty of times that her and Harry weren't guests but were family, if she'd been at home with her own parents she'd have been helping to clear away anyway. And if it meant that she was able to avoid Fred then even better. Obviously, she hadn't been able to avoid him during dinner; but thankfully Harry and Ron had kept her occupied and Fred had been sitting on the other end of the table.

Hermione glanced at her watch with a smile. Only half an hour until midnight. The rest of the family had gathered outside, and she knew Fred and George would be getting their fireworks all set up. She picked up a mug with a smile. Whilst this wasn't quite the New Year's Eve she'd imagined; it was infinitely better than last years.

"Hey Hermione."

The mug dropped from her hands and smashed onto the stone floor. Hermione stared at Fred before hurriedly dropping to her knees and picking up the broken pieces.

"Hey, let me." Fred knelt down and began helping.

"I'm so sorry." Hermione kept her eyes fixed on the broken mug. "I didn't mean to….you just made me jump!"

"Hermione it's fine." Fred smiled. "Trust me, me and George have broken our fair share of things in this kitchen. Never mind what everyone else has done. I'm sorry I scared you."

"No, it's…" she trailed off as her and Fred reached for the same broken bit and their fingers brushed against each other. Hermione shot her hand back and Fred cleared his throat.

"I'll pick up the rest. You might cut yourself."

"Okay." She carefully held her small pile of broken bits and pieces in her hands before dropping them into the bin. A few minutes later Fred did likewise.

"I um…" Hermione inched backwards towards the door that led from the kitchen to the fields outside.

"I thought you and George were setting up."

"We were." Fred nodded. "But I needed to do something important. Besides, he can manage the rest of it himself."

"Oh okay. Well, I'll leave you to it then."

Hermione made for the door when Fred darted forward and grabbed her hand.

"Hermione; the important thing I need to do is talk to you."

"Fred please." She whispered. "I really don't need to stand here whilst you tell me that you're flattered, but you only see me as a friend or as a sister. Or that you like me but not in that way. I don't need to be told something I already know okay?"

Fred raised an eyebrow. "Why on earth would you think that?"

"Because when I told you I…. you didn't exactly say it back did you? And you've not really tried to say anything in the past week."

"Only because you've been avoiding me." Fred argued. Hermione simply shrugged.

"You could have at least tried Fred. But you didn't."

"I know." He hung his head. "I know that and I'm sorry. I just…when you told me how you felt that night…I panicked."

"Panicked?"

"Yeah. You weren't exactly with it and I thought that….well I thought you might have gotten….confused."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

Fred took a deep breath. "I thought you might have confused me for Ron. I thought….I assumed he was the one you loved. Not me. I didn't….I couldn't say anything when I assumed you had no idea you were talking to me."

"Well, I did know it was you." Hermione said. "I might have been drunk but I wasn't completely senseless. I knew it was you Fred."

He nodded sadly. "Look, if I had known that then….well I would have reacted so differently Hermione. I swear."

Hermione tore her hands from Fred's. "Look, what exactly is your point here Fred? If you don't like me that way then can you just say so we can get this over with."

Fred nodded. "Hermione, I don't like you."

Tears pricked at her eyes. "Right. Okay. Well….okay."

She turned when Fred suddenly grabbed her and spun her back round.

"I don't like you Hermione. I love you."

All the air had been knocked out of her. "You…what?"

Fred gave a tearful nod. "I love you Hermione. I have for years. When you told me, you loved me on Christmas I was so happy. But then I was an idiot and panicked and assumed you thought I was Ron and I just…. Hermione I am so sorry for last week. So sorry. I should never have just left you. Never."

"You…" Hermione shook her head slowly. She was still trying to work it round Fred's confession.

"You love…. Me?"

Fred cupped her face and gently wiped away a tear with his thumb.

"I'd be a fool not to love you."

"But…I mean you….why?"

Fred burst out laughing. "Seriously? I'm telling you I love you back and now you're questioning it?"

"No, I just…well I sort of assumed you could never love me."

"Well, I do. With all my heart." Fred whispered. "And I am more than happy to tell you every single reason why I do. But that would take an incredibly long time and we only have," he checked his watch, "ten minutes before midnight."

Hermione looped her arms around Fred's neck with a smile.

"Oh. Do you have something to do at midnight then?"

He gave a determined nod. "Hermione, I have spent the past few years dreaming about kissing you at midnight on New Year's Eve. There is no way I'm missing this chance."

"But what about the fireworks? Don't you need to help George?"

Fred shook his head. "Nope. He knew I was going to be doing something much more special instead."

"I just hope the others don't come looking for us and interrupt!"

"Oh no!" Fred groaned. "They probably will. I could put a shield charm around the house for a few minutes. That might stop them! Honestly, is a bit of privacy too much to ask for?"

"Maybe." Hermione giggled. Fred glanced down at her.

"So then, does this make up for me being a complete ass last week?"

"Of course, it does Fred. I'm just so embarrassed at how drunk I got."

"Hey." He whispered. "You were upset. With every right to be so. I guess we all got so caught up in being able to celebrate properly this year we forgot how you might feel. I'm sorry."

Hermione shook her head. "No, it's fine. Honestly. Besides, they'd want me to be happy."

"You'll see them again Hermione." Fred whispered. "I promise you that right now. You'll see them again. Even if I have to search every inch of Australia myself to do it."

One look at his face told Hermione he was being completely serious in his offer. They gazed at each other in silence for a few moments. Fred's hands cupping Hermione's face whilst her own clutched at his hair.

"I really want to kiss you." Fred whispered. "But I also really want to wait until midnight."

"Same." Hermione nodded. "These are probably the longest few minutes of my life!"

Fred chuckled. "I don't know. Waiting for everyone to file into the common room after the welcome feast always took an age."

Hermione nodded. "But I was never exactly desperate to enter the common room whereas I can promise you, I am very desperate to kiss you now."

"Only a few more minutes left now sweetheart."

"Sweetheart?"

Fred blushed "Well I…I mean if you don't like it won't call you it but….well I just…it sort of slipped out."

"Fred." Hermione reached up onto her toes. "I love it."

He beamed down at her. "I honestly can't believe this. Hermione Granger: War Hero and Brightest Witch of our age is in love with me."

"Well, it's like you said," Hermione whispered. "I'd be a fool not to love you."

They fell into silence before a faint countdown could be heard from outside.

"TEN. NINE. EIGHT."

"I love you Hermione." Fred whispered.

"SEVEN. SIX. FIVE."

"I love you too Fred."

"FOUR. THREE. TWO. ONE. HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

The sound of the ongoing fireworks vanished as Fred pulled Hermione close and pressed his lips to hers. Her fingers buried themselves in his hair whilst his own hands moved from cupping her face to getting lost in her hair. Their lips coaxed gently at each other for a few minutes and Hermione couldn't help but press her body up against Fred's. He broke away with a breathless smile.

"Happy New Year Hermione."

She reached up and kissed his forehead. "Happy New Year Fred."

Silence fell and Hermione glanced over at the window as she heard faint singing coming from the others outside.

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and days of auld lang syne?"

With a beaming smile Fred took her in his arms.

"Sounds like they're having fun?"

Hermione nodded. "We should probably join them."

"Later." Fred held her close and began to gently sway along to the song. "Much later."

They remained in each other's arms; not wanting to even take their eyes off each other. Both knowing they wouldn't want to start the new year any other way.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne.

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For days of auld lang syne

AN: Well after the year we've all had, what better way to end it than a lovely NYE fluff filled Fremione fic. Got plenty more story ideas to fill 2021 with so the fluff will be continuing throughout the next year Hope you all enjoyed it and hopefully 2021 is a lot better for us all xx