AN: Snitch, glad you're in. I have gone back and marked off the smut last chapter so you can avoid it and will do so from now on. No smut this chapter.

As usual, the Mariachi music came blaring through the floor at seven AM on the dot. Unusually, Hermione found herself tangled around Fred Weasley with her arms tucked between their bodies and him holding onto her for dear life. He groaned as he was roused from sleep, cracking open his eyes to glare at the ceiling.

"I take it back. The woman isn't a cow. She's a straight-up bitch. Maybe even a cu-"

"Fred!" Hermione smiled as he pulled the covers back over them, wrapping them in warmth and muting the aggressive strumming.

"Nope. Too early. Back to sleep."

"Let me up. I have to check if I have rehearsal."

"Not letting you go if you do," Fred murmured, his lips tickling against her neck. "I most definitely need more of your skin pressed against mine. Permanently if possible."

"Knock it off!" She pushed weakly against his chest.

"It's cold out there. Stay here. Where it's warm. And I'm here. I bet I can get you off before the end of the trumpet bit."

"It's Mariachi. It's all trumpet bits."

"Fine. I bet I can have her banging on the ceiling before the end of the next song." Fred wiggled his eyebrows and she threw back her head and laughed appreciating the freeing feeling. When he pulled her waist closer she winced, suddenly aware of the dull pain in her abdomen.

"Oh, ouch," she said.

He glanced at her stomach and frowned, releasing her gently to graze his hand across the skin.

"Sorry. Forgot about that part. You'll probably want a shower. It's supposed to make you feel better."

"You do this often?" she questioned lightly.

"Not particularly. Only once when I was like sixteen but I was so paranoid about doing it right I looked up everything I could about it. Turns out it was totally unnecessary because I lasted all of a minute."

"Careful," she said. "You just gave me some Grade-A blackmail right there."

Hermione shook off his hands and hissed at the cold air against her bare skin. When she stood he was staring at her, his eyes resting on a spot at her chest with a causal look of pride.

"You can have anything you want, Doll. Just ask and I'll get it for you."

"How about breakfast?" she chuckled, pulling her robe off a wall hook and covering herself. "There are some sausage bowls in the freezer and a French press."

"Something other than ramen? Que Magnifique!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and wandering into the bathroom, leaving him to probe around the small pantry. She turned on the shower, allowing time for the hot water to run through the pipes. While she waited she pulled her phone off the charger checking her wealth of messages. Most of them were from the city and school, letting her know everything was shut down for the next three days. The rest came in a scattered array of text from friends and family.

Tonks (8:25pm) Snowd n at the den. stayin open but dont bother coming in unless u bring booze

Tonks (9:18pm) How do u feel about cat cafe as a theme

Tonks (10:48 pm) Scratch that. against health code... ice palace?

George (9:24 pm) Ron gave me your number. I hear you have kidnapped my twin and I would like him back.

George (9:36 pm) Hello?

George(9:37 pm) Fred, blink twice if she has brainwashed you and turned you into leather shoes.

George(9:37 pm) She had swapped your brain with a chicken?

George(9:38pm) Has turned you into a Fred-skinned rug?

George(9:38 pm) ...Sex slave?

George (9:40pm) Well I assume you're happy with the outcome then. Let me know you're alive at some point.

Malfoy (5:15 am) Apparently this school has gone to the dogs. How pathetic that a bit of snow stops them. I am still practicing at the studio in my house and I expect you to be as well. If you embarrass me Granger I will never forgive you.

Ron (8:52pm) please tell me you have the other idiot with you? Mom is going insane.

Ron (9:20pm) im gonna tell her yes to shut her up

Ron (9:26pm) wrong answer. She and Gin are now planning a wedding. Sorry.

Harry (1:32 am) Cleared out for the night. I'll swing by tomorrow with whatever supplies I can sneak.

Gin (9:13 pm) What is this I hear about my brother holed up during Snowmaggedon in your impossibly small apartment with only one bed?

Gin (9:20 pm) Hello? Explain before I start conjecturing.

Gin (9:24 pm) I am planning the wedding for March. I think you'll look lovely in pastel blue.

She laughed and responded politely to everyone, (except Malfoy. She called him a spoilt brat and asked him how she was supposed to do a stage routine in an apartment smaller than most bathrooms). George got a text to let him know his twin didn't have his phone and stalwartly ignored what he was (correctly) implying. Finally, she set her phone back on the sink and got ready to shower.

When she dropped her robe she saw what had pleased Fred so much this morning. A light purple love bite splashed against the skin of her shoulder, marking her rather possessively. It was a good thing they were out for a few days, otherwise McGonagall would surely get on her case about ballerinas having flawless unmarked skin. Like makeup didn't exist.

She slipped into the shower and the warm water certainly seemed to help. She lounged a bit longer under the spray than usual before stepping out with a sigh. She was brushing her teeth when the door slammed open, a half-dressed redhead staring at her in open shock.

"I forgot."

"Wa?" She spat and rinsed out her mouth, trying not to panic at how pale he had become.

"I forgot a condom."

Hermione instantly let out a low exhale, trying to calm herself while she screwed the cap of the toothpaste back on. "Oh, don't-"

"Shit shit shit! I didn't even pull out. This is so bad." Fred's hands were pulling through his hair frantically as he tried to pace in the small room. Deciding to wait it out, Hermione rested her hand on her hip as he worried. When he finally talked himself into hunting down an open pharmacy to get some plan B she finally took pity on him.

"I'm on birth control you know," she said.

"You are?" Fred looked at her in apparent confusion. "Weren't you a virgin?"

"I still don't want acne or periods as a dancer. Do you have any idea how bright lights highlight every tiny detail? It's not pretty."

"Oh...Thank god." He collapsed against the door pushing his hair back behind his ears. Color flooded back to his face and Hermione might have been offended that he was so relieved if the situation hadn't been so amusing. When he finally caught her wry grin he cleared his throat awkwardly. "You should always use one though. Just to be safe. It's uh… basically rule one."

"You were never one for rules." Fred flushed. "I knew you were safe because George can't keep a secret from Ginny to save his life and if Ginny knew she would have told me."

"I forget how much potential blackmail you can access," he grumbled, pushing to a stand.

Hermione forced herself not to stare at the pale expanse of his chest or the severe dip of his hip bones where they fed into dark jeans. Judging from how low they fell he had forgone the boxers for now.

"And you just gave me more. I've seen you naked," she muttered distractedly.

"That, my dear, is a privilege. You're welcome." Fred replied with a wide grin and a wink.

Hermione smiled and stepped out of the bathroom to find a messily compiled coffee ground soup and a breakfast bowl that was still cold in the middle. She raised an eyebrow at the redhead.

"Alright. So I was worried the plastic was going to melt when your microwave started popping. Also, I have no idea how the press works."

"The microwave always makes a popping sound and let me see what I can do about the coffee. Take your turn in the shower."

"Hm, I quite like smelling like you though."

She couldn't help the small sigh that escaped her as he circled his hands around her stomach and pulled her back against his chest. He nudged the edge of her robe aside and kissed the mark he had made.

"I'm mad at you for that." Her tone didn't really sound that believable.

"It'll be gone by the time we go back to the real world," Fred mumbled into her hair.

The phrasing stung, even though it was true. In a few days, she would return to being the driven solo ballerina who barely had time to sleep, let alone time to date. She forced herself off that train of thought, choosing to enjoy what she could while she had it.

"You should definitely shower. Harry is coming by later to drop off some sustenance. I'm not saying he's particularly violent but the man does see me as a sister and carries a gun for work. If he were here for your little outburst this morning they would find your corpse suspiciously frozen in the snow with a broken neck."

Fred laughed but did pale slightly. She kissed him on the cheek before stepping forward to fold up the bed.

"Fine fine. I'll go get cleaned up." Fred watched her for a moment before slipping into the bathroom. "I am looking forward to homebrewed coffee. My last visit here had bottom-of-the barrel wine."

"Well, there goes my plan for the night. I suppose you'll just have to sit there while I drink since you're too good for three-dollar wine," she called as the door shut.

"When did I say that?" came the muted reply. "I just said that it was shit quality. Which it was."

Hermione shook her head as he turned on the shower. It seemed so domestic, a role she never expected to find herself in. She had never pictured a life for herself past ballet. Of course she knew that she would have to retire at some point. Even the best cared for bodies still start giving out at thirty-five. After that what would she do?

She glanced towards the bathroom shoving down that dangerous idea with the others and packing them away for later. She set about fixing the coffee with a smile on her face that was so bright she almost believed it.

0000000000000000

After a quick breakfast and a lazy morning spent with Fred practicing while Hermione stretched, they settled into a certain bored silence. They couldn't eat since their food was limited and there were only so many naps one could take before they found themselves in a coma. Her laptop was dead and when it finally held enough of a charge to turn on she was bombarded with updates.

Regardless Hermione was getting antsy but a singular look out the snow-packed window cautioned her away from any walks. When Fred started digging through her closet and pulled out the scrabble board she was inclined to take anything to help pass the time. Turns out she should have been more specific.

"Calizar is not a word."

"Of course it is." Fred responded as he snapped the small wooden square on the board. "You are just upset I get to use my z."

"No. You don't because it is not a word!" she snapped.

"Yes, it is!"

"Use it in a sentence."

"The calizar is an essential function of a tree." Fred responded confidently.

"You made that up."

"Prove it."

He smirked and Hermione threw her hands up in the air and fell backwards onto the beanbags she kept hidden under the bed. They needed new filling and weren't very warm but were otherwise serviceable. The material shifted and Fred settled beside her, throwing his arm around her shoulder with an easy grace. It was the first time since the morning that he actually touched her in a more than friendly way.

"Go away you cheating cheater," she grumbled trying not to lean into him.

"Witty. You should write for the New Yorker."

"I hate the New Yorker."

"Doesn't everyone?" he asked with a grin.

She scoffed but when he tucked his arm around her shoulder she still turned to cuddle into his chest. Hermione hated the odd clinginess that stuck to her now, like she couldn't stop touching him but not feeling bold enough to reach out for him. She desperately hoped this is not what sex was always like or she would never get anything done.

"You okay, Doll?" Fred asked, his voice soft and gentle.

"Mmmm better now that you have conceded."

"I did no-"

"'Anything I wanted' remember," she quoted.

"Fine. I concede the game." Fred paused to kiss the top of her head. "But calizar is still a word."

"Language is ever evolving. A cell used to define a small room in a monastery, now we carry them in our pockets," she mused.

"But really, Hermione. How do you feel?"

She was about to brush him off when his face took on that soft, concerned look. It made lying to him harder than others.

"A bit sore honestly."

"Damn it," he groaned resting his forehead against hers. "Sorry I thought I was more careful than that."

"It's not just you," she sighed. "I have been working really hard on the spring performance for March."

"I heard you had gotten the lead again."

Hermione couldn't help but smile at how proud he sounded when he said that.

"From who?" she asked.

"A couple groupies who hate your guts. It's lonely at the top Doll, remember that." Hermione smacked his chest but he just pulled her closer, running his hand along her spine. "What are you dancing this time?"

"Right of Spring. I'm taking the position of 'chosen one'," she answered.

"Fancy. Sounds like a blast."

"Well I get offered up to Malfoy and get sacrificed."

"That fucking dick again," Fred rolled his eyes. "Do you always dance with him?"

"Not always, but he is an unfortunately good partner," she conceded. "For as much as he insults me he has never stepped on my toes or dropped me. Once he even fell with me when another male dancer mistimed his pass. Without him guiding us down safely I may have broken something and been out for the season."

"There is a right way to fall?" Fred asked curiously.

"There is a right way to do everything," Hermione quoted, using her best McGonagall impression. "And you are likely doing it wrong."

"Was that the angry Irish lady?"

"Scottish, but yes."

"Well she would despise me." Fred said with a nod.

"Oh, she already does."

"What?" Fred sputtered briefly. "Not that it isn't valid but what did I do?"

"Last May when you dated Staci she kept ditching practices. When you dumped her she had a full blown breakdown and gained sixteen pounds in two weeks."

He stared at her with wide eyes and she could practically see him flipping through the memories. His face screwed up in confusion.

"I don't remember dating a Staci."

"It could have been George." Hermione shrugged, tucking her finger into the collar of his t-shirt. "She wasn't exactly the brightest sort of girl and if I recall the dates consisted of a drunken hook up and a few text messages."

"Your lot is vicious," Fred commented sagely, even as he brushed his hand against her cheek.

"Ballet is competitive. Not everyone can hack it."

"That's cold."

"Told you. We bite." To emphasize her point she nipped lightly at his collarbone, pleased at his sharp intake of breath.

"And you look so delicate and pretty too."

Fred ran a slow hand up her ribs, stoking her new found desire. She shuddered, bringing herself closer to his chest and dragging her fingers up and down his thigh.

"Just don't look at our feet."

"Your feet? Wh-"

Fred was cut off by a booming knock that made them both jump. Hermione stood to answer the door, only making it a step before it swung open, replaced with the image of her best friend with a large bag of groceries.

"Hope you're both dressed! I have wedding gifts!"

"What?!" Fred had paled dramatically and was looking between Harry and Hermione in abject horror. Hermione groaned and buried her face in her hands. She had forgotten about that.

"Hermione!" Harry gasped in mock disappointment as he banged his hip against her fold up table, causing it to snap down with a crack. "Not telling the groom about his own wedding. I thought I knew you better than that."

Harry plunked the bag on the table, quickly pulling out assorted goodies of varying degrees of use. Coffee, some fresh fruit, bread, cheese and deli meats made the cut as well as an obscene number of jars of Mrs. Weasley's canned fruits and vegetables. A few rolls of toilet paper were appreciated but the pregnancy test and bulk pack of condoms could have been left out.

"Really Harry?"

"Always got to be safe Hermione dearest."

"Since when have I ever been safe," Fred cut in. "Now what's this I hear about marriage?"

"Yours of course," Harry said.

"Never," Fred scoffed. "Hate the institution as a whole. I say we just have mass orgies in the streets and throw the children on a farm to raise."

"I dare you to tell that to your mother," Hermione muttered, shoving her phone at him. He clicked through the messages with a growing sense of amusement.

"Sex slave you say?" Fred queried, staring at her until she blushed. "Well if you insist."

Hermione scowled just as Harry snatched the box of condoms.

"I was joking about these," he grumbled suddenly on the defensive.

"And so was I." Fred smiled before returning to their previously occupied bean back chair.

"What's the news of the outside world?" she asked.

Hermione poured Harry a cup of coffee, tossing it in the microwave as she put away their new food stuff.

"Snow, cold, ice, and more cold," Harry replied. "Honestly. You think we would have just built a dome over the city by now and been done with it."

"But then how would all that smog get out." Fred questioned.

"Everyone okay?" Hermione asked.

"George and Angelina were significantly less clothed when I knocked on the door. A detail I elected to leave out of my report to your mother." Harry shuddered. "Ron got lent to New York General for crowd control of essential services. Ginny is planning your wedding and Tonks nearly cried when I dropped off three bottles of whiskey. So… altogether good I'd say."

They chatted over the shittiness of East coast winters and how much they wished they had holed up at Sirius's place. As much of a rake as he had started out as, he had become very fatherly toward Hermione and also had a townhouse with a pool in it.

When his cell went off Harry sighed before tossing back the rest of his drink.

"That's Kingsley with another wellness check over on Eighth. I swear, people don't hear from someone for three hours and they start getting dire."

"Or planning weddings," Fred added. "Maybe we should invite the bitch downstairs."

"What?" Harry asked, shooting Hermione a glance.

"Neighbor stuff," she brushed away.

"Woman is loud and rude," Fred corrected. "I say you pop down there in your cute little hat and uniform and make it known that Hermione is your friend."

"Fred, knock it off she's fine," Hermione groaned. "This is New York. If you don't hate your neighbors you aren't doing it right."

"No, I'd love to chat with her," Harry said. "Walk me out and we can swing by."

Fred looked entirely too smug as the door closed behind them. Harry guided them to the elevator even though they were only going down one floor. She found herself fairly surprised when he paused the elevator by pressing the emergency stop key. Quick as a flash he whipped out his own keychain, flicking off the alarm with a twist of his wrist.

"Harry! What on earth did you do that for? The fire department is going to come looking for us!"

"Those assholes? No, they aren't working out in this. Don't worry I turned it off" Harry leaned back against the railing. "I love being able to do that."

"I don't take it that this surprise attack can be anything good?" Hermione questioned.

"Why is Fred upstairs in your apartment practically glowing?"

"I told you he got locked out."

"Right." Harry pinned her with his best, 'I-know-you-are-guilty-just-confess-so-I-can-book-you' look. "And why haven't you killed each other yet?"

"There is a blizzard outside, Harry." She stuck her nose in the air to try to hide as much of her face as possible. "There is nowhere for either of us to go if we piss each other off."

"Mmmhmm." His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "How about next time you lie to me you wear a turtleneck?"

Instantly her hand shot to her shoulder in alarm, only to see it covered safely in fabric with green eyes sparking victoriously at her. She frowned and tried to make it look like she was just brushing away a speck of lint. Harry laughed openly.

"Ass."

"Transparent," he responded carefully looking her over. "You okay? Or do I need to go throw him out of the window and make it look like he froze to death."

"With a broken neck?" she laughed.

"Neck, face, spine. Same thing."

"No. I'm fine. We're… it's nothing really. We're bored and stuck inside for a few days."

"And that's all?" Harry asked.

"That's all."

"Is that what you want or what he wants?" he questioned with a dangerous edge to his voice.

Sometimes it was hard to remember that Harry was by far the most dangerous man she knew. Trained for combat and ruthless when it came to his friends and family.

"It's all I can give right now," Hermione responded with a shrug.

Harry stared at her for a measure longer before pressing the lobby button. The lift shook to life, returning to the bottom floor without issue.

"This seems like a bad idea but also none of my business. I'm here to talk if you need me though."

"Thanks Harry." She hugged him tightly just as the door binged open.

"Yeah yeah. I'm the god-damned matchmaker. I'll see what I can do about talking Molly off a ledge when I call her."

"Stay safe out there."

She held the door open until he disappeared into the white. She hated seeing him go, never really sure if he would be coming back. Sure, he currently worked in a safe and quiet neighborhood but bad things happen everywhere and random chance was the NYPD's worst enemy.

By the time she slipped back into her apartment Fred was flicking lazily through one of the books crammed in the two shelves by her door. They were mostly sheet music and position references with the occasional nod to fiction.

"Everything okay?" he questioned, setting the paperback down.

"I just worry about them." Hermione's voice was smaller than she intended. She tried to clear her throat but even that sounded weak.

"Come here."

She let her feet move toward him, ignoring the part of her that warned her she was already pushing into dangerous territories. Still, Fred pulled her down, catching her waist in his large hands and guiding her onto his lap.

"He'll be alright. He's careful and good at his job," Fred cooed, his rumbling of his chest soothing her nerves.

"I know... but that's not always enough."

"Then we will be here when they cart him home from the hospital and I promise you can be the first to yell at him."

She felt a small smile pull at her lips.

"Even before Ginny?" she asked.

Fred grimaced. "May take all my 'favorite brother points' but anything you want, Doll. Anything at all."

She waited a moment, enjoying the feeling of his body wrapped around hers before responding.

"But I thought Charlie was her favorite?"

"Hey!"

Hermione and Fred bickered back and forth until Fred silenced her with a searing kiss. He pulled away cautiously, waiting for her reaction. She just rolled her eyes and tugged him by his hair back to her. They rolled around on the floor for a while, just enjoying the feel of one another's bodies pressed against each other.

Notes:

Mariachi:

Wonderfully fun, albeit loud, Mexican music. Heavy on the guitar, brass and loud singing. Nothing quite wakes you up like a Mexican woman throwing on the vacuum and music full blast at 7am.

Plan B:

Not wholly relevant BUT you should know if you don't already. Plan B is an emergency source of birth control available at all pharmacies. If a condom breaks, or is forgotten go up to the pharmacist and ask (or demand if they are judgmental pricks) for Plan B then take as directed. We don't like unplanned, life ruining pregnancies in our fics around here!

Three-buck-chuck:

Or my preferred brand (Winking owl Aldi wine) is the bottom of the barrel low quality table wine. Personally I enjoy it quite a bit for your everyday drinking. However, because it is so cheap it is ubicoutious with hangovers and upset stomachs by some people. (Never had an issue and highly recommend to everyone of age.)

Right of Spring:

The Rite of Spring is a ballet and orchestral concert work by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. The 'story' is more of an interpretative dance than a plot that follows maidens through the forest. In the end a chosen maiden (who represents spring) is sacrificed to the elders to represent the cycle of the seasons.

Emergency services:

Elevators all have an alarm button. One rings a bell in house, the other calls the local emergency services to dispatch someone to your location. Usually Emergency Services have a key to shut off this alarm and also to force the elevator not to make any stops on the way down or up.