February 1999
Hermione had long ago concluded that Crookshanks had been right. And as Fred handed her the lotion he had made just for her, Hermione had to conclude the same thing once more.
After Fred's and Crookshank's encounter a few months back, Hermione had decided to trust her cat's magical abilities and had immediately started spending more time with Fred. She quickly realised that Fred was a much better friend than she had ever considered him to be. Of course he was still reckless and over the top with his pranks, but he was also very protective of those he loved and would do anything for them. George was the same in loads of ways, but Fred and Hermione had grown especially close because Fred - who always soared a little bit higher than his twin brother - had a knack for taking Hermione flying alongside him. Hermione on the other hand made sure to keep Fred closer to the ground than anyone else around him had ever managed to do. It was a neat trade-off and Hermione had long ago realised that what had seemed like an unlikely friendship at first, actually wasn't.
And now, Fred was handing her his own invention; the lotion that would change everything. No more long-sleeved shirts during summer. No more stares. No more awkward questions about the night at Malfoy Manor. The lotion would conceal the horrible scar that Bellatrix had edged on Hermione's skin.
"It's for your scar," Fred said as he presented he purple 'W.W.W'-encrusted container to her.
"My scar? Why?"
"You hate it," he stated flatly.
"I - no - well, yes - but how did you know?" Hermione mumbled as she accepted the container from Fred. She had never discussed her scar with anyone.
"Oh nothing grand," he shrugged, "it's just... you constantly pull at the sleeve of your jumpers, you don't want anyone to touch your arm, you constantly keep it out of sight - you know. It's in the details."
"...and you noticed?"
"Of course I noticed!"
May 1999
"Hermione, dear, you look fantastic," Mrs. Weasley took the girl in her arms, "are you ready?"
Hermione merely nodded, nervous of what the night might bring. It was the first anniversary of the triumph over Voldemort, and she was being awarded the medal of honour for her service during the war.
"Well, if it isn't the hero!" Fred smirked from the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. He was looking very handsome in his dress robes.
"Oh shut it," Hermione groaned. Fred of all people knew how much she hated being referred to as a war hero.
"Are you ready for your medal?" he asked with a laugh.
"Let's just get it over with," Hermione groaned.
"Ah, you better practise your winning-face or everybody will think you don't want this."
"I don't," Hermione said flatly.
It made Fred laugh loudly.
"Oh, come on Hermione," George's voice called from behind Fred. He was also wearing his dress robes, looking just as handsome as Fred, "you're receiving the medal of honour - how can someone not want that?"
"I merely did what was necessary," Hermione groaned.
"You, Harry, and Ron saved the entire wizarding world and you don't think you did anything remarkable?"
Hermione's face reddened, "it all sounds so heroic when you say it like that."
"It was bloody heroic!" Fred looked at her, a proud smile on his lips.
"Anyone would have done the same," Hermione muttered, nervous under Fred's gaze.
"Merlin Granger, you're the worst," he laughed.
October 1999
Hermione enjoyed the falling leaves, the way the wind rustled in the trees, the many Jack-O-Lanterns in the streets. The sun was shining, and she was out on a afternoon stroll when she heard someone call her name behind her.
"Hermione! Wait up!" A familiar redhead waved at her.
"Fred?" she waved back, "what are you doing here?"
"I saw you from the shop. Thought I'd come say hi - and it's George, actually," the man in front of her shrugged.
Hermione eyed him suspiciously; hundreds of freckles strewn across his face, warmer hair colour than the rest of the Weasleys, lighter eyes and a slightly larger nose than his twin, "No, it's not," she smacked his arm lightly.
Fred laughed whole-heartedly, "how did you know?"
"As if you could ever fool me."
Fred flung his arm around her shoulder, "I'm very impressed with you, Granger - you didn't even have to look at my ears. I'm going to have to bring out the big guns if I ever want to deceive you."
"Oh no," Hermione groaned.
"You brought this upon yourself," Fred grinned, "It's not my fault that you're far too observant for your own good."
January 2000
Hermione awoke with a jolt. A strange sound was coming from the next room. It took a few seconds for her to realise that she was in the flat above Fred and George's shop, and that the strange sound was someone relieving their bladder. Not being used to listen to guys pee, the sound embarrassed her and she felt as if she was eavesdropping on someone's private conversation. Desperately, she tried to bury her face in the sofa cushions. After what felt like an eternity, she finally heard the toilet flush, the sink running, a yawn, and then bare feet on the floor boards coming nearer and nearer.
"Hermione?" she heard a hoarse voice whisper above her.
"Hi," she whispered back to a very groggy-looking Fred, standing in front of her in nothing but his boxers. He was carrying a glass of water in one hand, and used the other hand to scratch his belly. With his dumbfound expression, unruly hair, and red-rimmed eyes, he looked as if he was having a rough morning following his and George's night out.
"I hope you don't mind me sleeping here," Hermione said.
"Of course not - hey, how did you get in?"
"Uh... You let me in?"
"I did?"
"Yeah," she laughed, "Don't you remember?"
"Must've thought you were George..." he shrugged, "although I do have to admit that you are prettier than George by far!"
Hermione laughed at his remark and sat up straight so there was room on the sofa for Fred to sit down next to her.
"How was your party?" Fred asked her before taking a big gulp of water.
"You seriously don't remember?" She arched an eyebrow at him.
"Should I be embarrassed by the fact that I don't?" He looked nervously at her.
Hermione laughed, "oh no! Don't worry! I'm just surprised that you don't remember last night's conversation at all."
"What happened?" He asked in a hoarse voice, "why aren't you at... what's his face's place?"
Hermione looked away from Fred, "well... apparently it wasn't as much a date as it was more him playing me as a safe hand."
"What?" Fred spluttered, "you were his second choice?"
Hermione nodded, "apparently he wanted to take Hannah Abbott to the party but she wasn't sure whether she could make it or not. So in order to secure a date, he asked me. Of course I was over the moon to be asked out by a guy like that but - well - Hannah came to the party and he cancelled on me five minutes before we were supposed to meet up for dinner."
"What an absolute twat!"
Hermione looked at him with embarrassment.
"Absolutely no need to be embarrassed, Hermione! He's an arse for several reasons, the first for treating you like that. The second for not choosing you as his date over Hannah Abbott."
Hermione sent him a small smile, "you're just saying to cheer me up..."
"Absolutely not!" Fred spluttered, "any lad would be lucky to go on a date with you!"
"Thanks Freddy," Hermione whispered.
Fred looked at her with a goofy smile, "say, do you want me to prank him? I can be really nasty."
Hermione laughed at his remark, "that's very nice of you, but I think I'll manage."
"Oi! Freddy!" George's voice came from his bedroom, "will you shut up? I'm trying to sleep in here."
"Sorry mate. We'll try and keep it down" Fred bellowed and banged a pipe loudly just to annoy the very hungover George in the next room
"What the hell, mate?" George came into view a couple of minutes later. He was wearing dark blue pyjama pants and a jumper, "Cut a bloke some slack! Why are you being so noisy?"
"We've got company," Fred said, tilting his head towards Hermione.
"Granger? Why are you here so early? I thought you'd definitely be at Roger Davies' place."
"The git cancelled on her," Fred said.
"He did what?"
Hermione filled George in on what had happened the night before.
"What did you do?" George asked when she was done talking.
"I went to the party on my own of course," she said defiantly.
"Are you serious?" Fred bellowed before he roared with laughter, "Hermione, you are hard as nails!"
"What?"
"Come on love, he may have dumped you but you clearly came out on top!" Fred laughed, "oh I wish I could have seen his stupid face when you showed up anyway."
"It must've crushed him!" George said happily.
Hermione joined in on their laughter too, happy to have such good friends that could get her spirits up after she had hit rock bottom.
July 2000
"What have you done to your hair!" Ron bellowed as soon as he saw Hermione. He was so shocked that he had almost dropped Harry's birthday present when she had walked in the door.
Hermione's hand flew to her neatly done hairdo, scared that the potion she had put in it might have turned her hair some weird colour, "What's wrong with it?" She had spent hours trying to make it sleek and she was not ready for it to look weird or too frizzy so soon.
"It's... straight!" Ron scrunched up his nose.
"You don't like it?" Hermione said looking around the crowd, all the confidence she had possessed only seconds before, now completely gone.
"Ron, you twat!" Fred said angrily before he directed his attention towards Hermione, "don't listen to him. You look lovely!"
Hermione shot Fred a thankful look before she turned towards Ron with her head held high, "just thought I'd try something new. It's not my problem if you don't like it."
Ron sent her a shrug, "it's not that you look bad. You just don't look like you..."
After Harry's birthday dinner, Fred and Hermione went for a walk around the garden.
"I hope you didn't take Ron's words too seriously, love," he looked at her with furrowed brows.
"Don't worry. I've learned not to take Ron's opinion into too much consideration years ago," she rolled her eyes.
"Good," Fred grinned, "he's honestly the worst with women."
Hermione froze, "you don't think he still fancies me, do you?"
Fred eyed her carefully, "do you want him to fancy you?"
"Absolutely not!" Hermione spluttered, "that kiss was a mistake! It was just in the spur of the moment," she could feel her cheeks getting warm. Her and Fred had never discussed her short-lived romance with Ron before.
Fred looked a tiny bit relieved, "I don't know if he fancies you - I just meant that he somehow always manages to say the completely wrong things to girls. And hey - for the record, I think you should know that I really like your hair like this," he smiled at her.
"Thanks Fred," she said and interlocked her arm with his, "I'm glad that you like it."
"I really do," he nodded, "...but the curls will come back - right?"
December 2000
The snowball hit Hermione on the arm, "ha-ha, very funny guys," she said out loud, not the least amused.
She had been getting firewood from the shed and hadn't anticipated an ambush even though she realised that she should have expected it. For days, Fred and George had been begging the inhabitants of the Burrow to have a snowball fight, but not a single person had agreed to it.
Another snowball hit Hermione square in the chest. In the dark, she still couldn't make out anybody else, "please stop," she groaned into the darkness.
A strange whooshing noise filled her ears, and she spun around, trying to locate it. When it came to Fred and George, strange noises were never a good thing. She turned 360 degrees but still couldn't make out what was making the strange noise until it literally hit her: Massive amounts of fluffy snow was dropped on top of her head, burying her from her waist down. Finally, Fred and George emerged from behind the shed, roaring with laughter.
"Seriously?" Hermione said furiously, "this is not funny guys!"
"Oh, come on Hermione," George chuckled, "just admit that it's a little bit funny."
"It absolutely isn't!" she bellowed, "you better get me out of here or I will hex the both of you!"
"Easy, Granger," Fred chuckled and extended his hand, helping Hermione out of the snowdrift, "it was just a prank."
"Well, I didn't find it funny," Hermione scoffed, dusting snow off her clothes, "and now I'm completely frozen to the bone because of you."
Fred immediately undid the zipper on his green puffer jacket. Without hesitation, he pulled it off and handed it to Hermione, "here, you can have mine."
Hermione looked at him suspiciously.
He chuckled, "No more pranks, I swear."
Hesitantly, Hermione took the coat from his hands and discarded her own. She pulled on Fred's enormous jacket and immediately felt warmer. Fred's scent filled her nostrils and she enjoyed the notes of pine and cloves from his aftershave, "thanks, I guess," she said with a slight snarl.
Fred sent her a blinding smile, "no reason to look so disgruntled, Granger. I can tell you're already getting warmer now."
"Well, you were the one to get me cold in the first place."
George laughed, "sorry, Hermione, we thought it was funny."
Hermione sent them both a small smile, already in a better mood now that she was wearing Fred's lovely jacket.
"Look at you smiling and all," Fred said and flung his arm around Hermione's shoulders. George mimicked his brother's actions, sandwiching Hermione between them.
"Come on, love," Fred said, "let's get some tea in you."
When they reached living room, Hermione took the loveseat next to the fireplace while Fred threw a few logs on the fire. He sat down next to Hermione with a sigh, watching the flames dance.
"Are you still cold?" he asked her.
Hermione nodded, and Fred stretched out his arms, gesturing for her to come closer. Hermione leaned into his arms and snuggled up against his chest, enjoying the heat radiating from him.
George cleared his throat, "I hope I'm not interrupting whatever this is," he raised an eyebrow at them. He was holding a tray containing a steaming kettle along with three teacups.
Embarrassed, Hermione sat up straight and took one of the cups from George's tray. When she leaned backwards in the sofa again, she realised that Fred still had his arm draped around her shoulders while George was still eyeing them suspiciously.
Eager to make George think of something else, she asked, "how's the shop been this Christmas?"
Her question had the desired effect: George's face erupted in a smile, "Splendid! Our most successful month yet," he said eagerly.
Hermione gave out a laugh, "You say that every month."
"It's been an amazing year," Fred said happily, "we break records every month."
"In regards to that..." George started, he looked suddenly nervous.
"Yes?" Hermione urged him to continue.
"Well," Fred shifted uncomfortably behind her, "George and I have been talking and we think it's time for the next natural step."
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. It was very uncommon for Fred and George to look this serious, "the next step being?"
"We're looking at an expansion," George said.
"An expansion! That's such a great idea," Hermione said sincerely, "where do you want to expand to?"
Fred and George looked at each other.
"Hogsmeade... at first."
"First?" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, "What comes after?"
George eyed her carefully, "A few more places in Great Britain and if everything goes well - the rest of Europe."
"That's so great, guys! It's the only sensible thing to do, honestly."
"You think so?" Fred asked.
"Yes of course."
"Hermione, you do realise that it would mean a lot of traveling for Fred and I, right?" George looked at Hermione carefully.
"What do you mean?"
"We'd have to set up everything and then overlook each shop for a while to make sure that everything is running smoothly. We'd be gone for months at a time. Maybe even longer."
Hermione felt an unpleasant feeling in her stomach but managed to force a smile, "I think that's wonderful news, guys."
"You really think so?" Fred asked.
"Yes of course. I'm going to miss you guys like crazy but I completely understand. It's your dream."
"Don't worry love, it's not going to be for at least a couple of years. It might not even happen at all," Fred shrugged, "expanding is expensive!"
"Knowing you guys - and knowing how much you care about your shop - it will definitely happen eventually," she smiled, "just promise me one thing," she looked directly at Fred.
"Anything," he said quietly.
"When people start treating you like rockstars and you're swimming in girls, please don't forget the first girl who supported your dream of expanding to the entire world," she laughed.
Fred had a weird look in his eyes. It was a feeling that Hermione had never seen him portray before. He looked at her tenderly for a few seconds, breathing slowly, lips parting slightly. Then, his eyes widened before he whispered, "how could we ever forget you?" with a serious look.