Shit.

Shit!

Shit!

Over the cause of the next few days it had become evident to Hermione that she was in the process of falling for Fred. That she already had fallen for Fred. The Fred that she had had sex with two years ago and hadn't spoken to since. That Fred. Maybe she had even had feelings towards him back then? A lot of pieces sure seemed to fall into place with that realisation. It definitely explained why she had been so angry with him for leaving - and why she had forgiven him so easily as soon as he had come back home again.

When Sunday night came around, and Hermione was getting ready to apparate to the Burrow, all she could think about was seeing Fred again.

In all honesty, she didn't want to think about him - not in that way the least. They had finally just started talking again, and she realised that she couldn't just throw it all away because she had come to the same realisation that hundreds of girls before her had come to; that Fred Weasley actually was extraordinarily cute. Especially with his long hair. And the scars from the battle. And his stupid protruding veins.

Hermione let out a groan as she realised how silly she sounded. Eager to take her mind off of him, she apparated to the Burrow before she had even put on her jacket.

Angelina and Ginny were in the kitchen, singing loudly when Hermione entered the Burrow. The girls were peeling potatoes and air-drumming along to the radio, making Hermione laugh at her two friends.

"Hermione," Ginny laughed a bit out of breath, "I didn't even see you!"

"I was very quiet," Hermione laughed, "please do continue the show!"

"Sorry Hermione, but the show's over," Angelina grinned, "we just finished peeling the potatoes."

"What a shame," Hermione grinned back and eyed the small pile of peeled potatoes, "maybe you should peel more though - That surely can't be enough."

"The biggest bins of the house aren't coming," Ginny shrugged.

"...Bins?"

"Well Fred and George eat about anything and everything, you know. Like bins."

Angelina laughed at Ginny's joke but Hermione felt her stomach drop, "so Fred and George aren't coming?"

"George had to work and Fred's on a date," Angelina lifted her eyebrows, "- just don't tell Molly about it. Fred made me promise not to say anything about it."

"A date?" Hermione repeated in a weird voice, "with whom?"

"I don't know. I just overheard the guys talk about some girl who had asked him out the other day. - Aw, don't look like that, Hermione!" Angelina laughed, "he probably just forgot to tell you about it. I'm sure he didn't mean to leave you out of the loop. He said he would drop by later. Then he can tell you all about her himself."

"It's nice to see you two getting along again," Ginny smiled at Hermione, "Angie tells me that you and Fred are joined at the hip again."

"Yes, it's very nice seeing him again," Hermione croaked without really having come back from the nasty surprise. Fred was seeing a girl. He was on a date with said girl right now. Hermione felt her insides tie itself in a tight knot. She was suddenly losing all appetite.

During dinner, Hermione was having a hard time keeping her concentration on anything; she couldn't follow the others' conversation and she couldn't even eat the lovely roast and potatoes that Mrs. Weasley had spent all day sweating over. Instead, she felt her eyes constantly dart towards the door, hoping that Fred would step inside soon.

He didn't arrive until late in the evening after Mrs. Weasley had served her famous pudding. His face was flushed and his hair was messier than usual. Hermione couldn't help but painfully think to herself that he looked absolutely snogged. The stupid lopsided grin he was wearing wasn't exactly helping her train of thoughts either.

"Evening dear," his mum said as he sat down at the table, "how was work?"

"Uhm, work was fine," Fred lied unconvincingly, shooting Hermione a guilty look in the process as if he was checking to see if she knew anything about his true whereabouts.

"Well, we weren't sure if you had eaten anything but we made you a plate. Would you like me to heat it up for you?"

"That's okay, mum. I'm not hungry."

"Pudding?"

"Well, I won't say no to pudding," he grinned and got up from his seat, "I'll just run to the restroom real quick," he said and walked out of the kitchen, sending Hermione a wink and a charming smile in the process.

Hermione however, was in no mood to hear about his date, "Thanks for a lovely meal, Mrs. Weasley. I have a long week ahead of me so I think it might be best of me to try and get some early shuteye."

"Understandable, dear," Mrs. Weasley smiled, "you just run along and we'll see you soon."

Hermione waved to the rest of the table and flooed home before Fred had come back from the restroom.

As Hermione was lying in bed, she was wondering what to do now. Fred dating someone was supposed to be a good thing. It would keep her from doing anything stupid that might jeopardise their friendship. She couldn't lose him again. Still, she couldn't fall asleep out of pure jealousy towards the girl he had been on a date with. Impatiently, Hermione grabbed a book from her bedside table and started reading, hoping that the Ministry's bylaws would take her mind off of things.

Luckily, Hermione wasn't too invested in the book or she was sure she would have suffered a minor heart attack; instead, she managed to register the green flames coming from her bedroom fireplace before Fred stumbled into her bedroom with a loud cough.

"Hey!" He said, steadying himself.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione furrowed her brows. Had he not understood that she had ignored him for a reason?

"Just wanted to check if you're still alive," he shrugged, "are you?"

"Very much so," Hermione said sourly, "but you nearly gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry," he grinned, "I was just very disappointed to come downstairs and learn that you had already gone home. Had to gulp down my pudding in the hopes of catching you before you fell asleep."

"Sorry, I have a tonne of paperwork to go through for work tomorrow..." Hermione lied.

"Oh, alright," Fred said and looked truly disappointed, "you don't even have time for an old friend for five minutes?" He said with puppy eyes.

"Have a seat, Weasley," Hermione rolled her eyes, "but if you don't leave in exactly five minutes, don't think I wont hex you out of here."

Fred smiled at her, took off his shoes and sat down on the edge of her bed.

"So... What's up?" Hermione asked him.

"Just thought it was weird that you left before we had had a chance to talk," he shrugged, "you alright?"

Hermione nodded, forcing a smile, "like I said: I just have a tonne of work to do."

He nodded and neither of them spoke for a while.

"Love, what's wrong?" Fred finally said, "I can tell something's up..."

"What? Nothing's wrong! Nothing's up!" Hermione said in a voice that was half a pitch too high.

Fred noticed and he started to chuckle, "you have never been able to hide what you think. I've known you since forever and I can tell when something's up."

Hermione sighed, "It's nothing, alright. I just need to sort it out in my head and actually get some work done meanwhile."

Fred nodded, "Alright."

They both went quiet and the silence between them was awkward and tense.

"Hey; how was your date?" Hermione broke the tension and tried to sound casual.

Fred looked taken aback, "My date? Did Angie tell you?"

"Yes," Hermione said hoarsely.

"Well," Fred said carefully, "I didn't expect it to be but it was actually quite fun."

"Oh..." Hermione said disappointedly before she could even stop herself. Desperately she tried to save it, "well, thats great, Fred! Who's the lucky girl?" She said in an unusual peppy voice.

"Erm, her name's Valerie. I met her at The Leaky Cauldron a few nights ago," he eyed Hermione who merely nodded.

Both of them went quiet again. The tension in the room was so thick that it could've been cut with a knife.

"Well," Fred finally cleared his throat, "i guess my five minutes are up. I'll leave you to it then. If you want to, we could do something tomorrow?"

"That sounds lovely, but I doubt I'll have the time for it this week with the anniversary and all that stuff next Saturday."

"Shit, that's next weekend?" Fred looked taken aback.

"Yes. I've taken the day off Thursday and Friday to help your mum and dad with the preparations."

"That's very sweet of you," he smiled at her, "so you'll be staying at the Burrow?"

"Yes, probably."

Fred grinned at her, "I'll join you then. Oh Granger, the fun we'll have," he said and rubbed his hands together evilly.

"Oh stop that!" Hermione laughed, "I'm not being drawn into any of your pranks, okay?"

Fred pretended that he hadn't heard her and instead turned his attention towards his watch, "well, looks like my five minutes are definitely up now. I'll leave you to it."

He patted her leg through the covers, pulled on his shoes and stepped into the fireplace with a fistful of floo powder.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing you next weekend, love," he sent her a wink before he disappeared in the green flames.

Even hours after he was gone, Hermione felt his scent in her nostrils, making it hard for her to fall asleep.