Hermione looked at her watch: there was still a good amount of time before the others would start arriving. They often met up like this, but Hermione only just realised that it was always the same; she and her friends definitely operated like clockwork. Hermione was already her normal fifteen minutes early and if she knew the others correctly, Ginny would arrive five minutes prior to their appointment to make sure that she absolutely wasn't late, Harry and Ron would come barging in a few minutes past the time they had all agreed upon - always apologising for being late - and George would come strolling in casually, his normal twenty minutes late. It had always been like that and Hermione doubted it would ever change.
Normally, Hermione would be killing the waiting time by reading a book to herself but today, she was completely mesmerised by the snowflakes falling heavily from the sky, making Diagon Alley look like something out of a muggle post-card. She took a long sip of her hot cocoa and admired the snow-covered street outside the window as she felt all the tension in her neck disappear.
She sighed contentedly, enjoying the last quiet moments before her eye was caught by two figures fighting their way through the snowstorm. She immediately recognised the tall muscular man in the blue wool coat; George who was followed by a sour-looking Ginny at his heels. Through the frosted glass, Hermione could see how George was urging his sister to hurry up, resulting in Ginny shouting something incoherently back at him, flipping him off in the process.
A few seconds later, Hermione witnessed George kicking open the door to The Leaky Cauldron with a loud bang. He dusted the snowflakes off his shoulders and scanned the room for Hermione, who put up her hand to attract his attention. When their eyes finally met, George's face erupted in a large grin and with a few fast-paced strides, he arrived at the table that Hermione was occupying.
"Figured you'd be early," he said and gave her a friendly peck on the cheek, pulling her close.
Hermione leaned in to the warm hug he was offering her and gave out a small laugh, "What are you doing here so early?" she looked at her watch, "You do realise that you're almost half an hour earlier than your usual, right?"
"It's a special day," George sent her an exaggerated wink, and pushed his sister in front of him, "don't mind Ginny. She's a bit under the weather."
Ginny sent Hermione a small wave, "No hugs today - I don't want you to get sick as well," she sniffled. The tip of her nose was matching her bright ginger hair and she had dark bags under her eyes.
"You don't look too good," Hermione said carefully, "don't you think you should go home and get under the covers?"
"I really want to," Ginny groaned, "I even sent James over to mum and dad so I could get some peace and quiet, but somebody -" Ginny sent her older brother a glare, "- wouldn't let me sleep."
George sent his sister a shrug, "You'd hex me sideways if you missed out on what's about to happen."
Ginny rolled her eyes while she took a seat at the table, "but you haven't even told me what's so special about today of all days."
"You'll see," George's face erupted in yet another excited smile, "I'll go get us something to drink, yeah?" he said and headed for the bar before neither Hermione nor Ginny could have a say in the matter.
"I hate it when he makes that face," Ginny groaned, "I don't think I can take any pranks today and I just know that he has something big planned..."
"What do you think it is?" Hermione eyed George carefully and noticed how he was constantly looking nervously at his watch.
"I have no idea," Ginny sniffled, "he's been secretive all week. It's been so annoying. Even Angelina has been eager to get him out of the house."
The bell above the door to The Leaky Cauldron rang loudly as yet another pair of well-known figures appeared. Just like George had done, Harry and Ron's eyes scanned the inn for familiar faces until their gazes landed upon Hermione and Ginny at the table by the fireplace.
Harry looked confused as he half-ran to the table, "Honey, what are you doing here?" he said with a concerned look in his eyes, "you're supposed to be in bed!"
"George dragged me here. Apparently he has some important news to share with us," Ginny sniffled and pulled her husband down for a kiss.
Ron took the seat next to Hermione and put his arm around her shoulders, "George is here?" he asked surprised.
Hermione nodded towards George at the bar, "he's getting us all drinks"
"Must be important news for him to be here before Harry and I," Ron laughed, "Do you think Angelina's pregnant? I saw her rub her belly absentmindedly the other day."
"A bit weird to announce a pregnancy without your wife - don't you think?"
"Yeah, good point..."
"Angelina's so not pregnant!" Ginny snorted, "yesterday at practise, she was even more aggressive than normal. You'd definitely not be that reckless if you were pregnant."
"Erm... you were?" Harry arched an eyebrow at his wife.
"Oh shut up," Ginny groaned, "James turned out fine, didn't he?"
Ron rubbed the lower part of his face, eyeing his brother as he came strolling over to the table with several butterbeers in hand.
"Oh no. This can't be good," Harry muttered as he noticed the secretive grin that George was sporting.
"Evening chaps!" George said and sat down the butterbeers on the table.
"Why are you looking like that?" Ron squinted his eyes, "you didn't tamper with the flasks, did you?"
"I would never!" George said in mock-horror, trying to look offended.
Hermione's eyes scanned the six flasks on the table in front of them. She looked between her friends and did a head-count; five.
"It's not some sort of Russian roulette with butterbeer, is it?" Hermione groaned.
"Ah! The brightest of the group figured that it has something to do with the amount of drinks on the table - well done, Granger - but as I said; I did not tamper with the butterbeers."
"There are six flasks," Ginny said, "and five of us."
"Correct, dear sister. We are being joined by a special guests this evening," George said ceremoniously.
"I thought we were going to talk about what to give mum and dad for their anniversary," Ron said, "wasn't that the whole point of meeting up?"
"Slight change of plans, Ronniekins," George looked at his watch, "now if you'll excuse me, I have to go pick up our guest!"
George exited The Leaky Cauldron with an excited bounce in his step. And Hermione knew immediately; only one person on the entire planet could make George act like that.
Please don't be him, Hermione thought to herself, anyone but him. But she knew it was him even before she saw him.
Ginny, Harry, and Ron had started talking about some heated quidditch game that had been taking place the night before, but Hermione couldn't concentrate on what they were saying. She was unable to pry her eyes away from the two tall figures who were approaching The Leaky Cauldron with equally excited bounces in their steps.
"Oh heavens..." Hermione groaned quietly when her worst fears were confirmed. The others whipped around in their seats, looking in the same direction that Hermione was.
"Is that... Fred?" Harry said, trying to make out the faces of the two figures approaching the inn.
"Oh my god!" Ginny exclaimed as the door to The Leaky Cauldron opened and two identical grins stepped inside. George pointed to the table they were occupying and Fred's grin grew even wider.
"Freddy!" Ginny left her chair with a whimper and ran to the door, jumping Fred and holding him in a tight embrace.
"Ta-dah!" George said and gestured proudly to his twin brother who hadn't been home for almost two years.
Hermione's pulse quickened by the mere sight of him. He had built more muscle mass than last time she had seen him and he had grown out his hair. He was wearing the green puffer jacket that she loved and had borrowed on numerous occasions. Somehow his freckles were more prominent than usual, accentuating his white teeth and emerald green eyes. She was surprised to learn that he was more handsome than she remembered. More handsome than George even.
As Ginny finally let go of her brother, he looked over the table. When his eyes landed on Hermione, he sent her a small smile that Hermione didn't reciprocate. After all, pretending that Fred Weasley meant absolutely nothing to her was something she had perfected over the last couple of years.
Fred pried his eyes away from her and looked towards the others instead, "hey lads!" he smiled from ear to ear, "good to see you!"
Harry and Ron got up too and gave Fred a short masculine hug, mumbling, "good to see you too, mate!"
Hermione gave out a sigh and reluctantly left her seat. She knew that she would have to act friendly towards Fred as to not rise any suspicion with the others to whom she had never even as much as mentioned their fall-out.
"Fred," she said in an overly sweet tone, "so good to see you."
"You too, Granger," Fred said and sent her his signature blinding smile, making a breath hitch in Hermione's throat. He wrapped his strong arms around her body, his scent filling her nostrils with the familiar smell of cloves and pine. Hermione closed her eyes as she leaned into the hug. Suddenly, she felt at home. But the feeling was soon replaced by anger when she reminded herself of how he had treated her. How he had left her and never looked back. How he hadn't even tried to contact her.
She had spent so much time hating the man in front of her and he still thought that all it took was for him to hug her and she was completely sold? No way!
Hermione sent George a murderous look over Fred's shoulder. She knew that of all the people in the room, George was the only one who knew exactly what had happened between her and his twin brother. After all, he had been there for the culmination of their friendship. The worst day of her life.
George, however, didn't look too threatened by Hermione's stare. He sent her an apologetic smile but he didn't look too sincere about it.
Fred finally unwrapped his arms from around Hermione and took a seat next to Ginny, making Hermione able to subtly pull George aside.
"What are you doing?" she said in a hushed voice.
"I'm having a night out with my mates - what are you doing, Hermione?" George joked.
Hermione was having none of his wits, "you do realise that I will have you murdered for this! I have friends in high places at the Ministry that can make your whole existence disappear!" she said through gritted teeth and with a snap of her fingers.
"Calm down, Hermione. You had to see him eventually," George rolled his eyes at her.
"You couldn't at least have given me a heads-up?"
"And risk you bailing out? Absolutely not! Look, I'm sick of being caught between you two. You need to resolve this," George gave Hermione a small pat on the back before he took the seat between Fred and Harry.
Hermione looked over the table. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. She was still in shock, unable to tell if she was having a nightmare or not. All those months she had practised what to do and say when she finally saw Fred again. She had spent many showers and many lonely nights in bed, playing the scenario over and over in her mind, perfecting her rant of how he meant absolutely nothing to her. However, as Fred turned around in his seat and looked at her with those big green eyes, she couldn't help but feel stupid. As if she was the one who had left him. Which she absolutely wasn't.