"I won't be able to make it next Thursday," Fred said a couple of weeks later just as Hermione was about to floo home after another successful pizza-night.

"No worries. I can stop by some other day," she beamed at him.

"Actually, I have plans every night next week.."

"All week?" Hermione almost choked on her slice. She found her stomach drop at his words. He had just taken away the highlight of her week.

Every time she was with Fred, he made her laugh harder than she ever had before. He made her forget everything around them. She loved her evenings with him. In fact, she loved them so much that she often found herself lying to Oliver to go see Fred more than just their regular Thursday nights. She had told Oliver that she needed to work late, that Ginny needed help with James and her newborn son Albus, or that Aubrey had an emergency that only Hermione could help her with. With every lie, Oliver had just smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead before he had sent her out the door. With guilt in her stomach, she had gone to Fred's flat to spend time with him. And when Fred got too suspicious and started asking questions, she fed him off with a lie about Oliver having extra practise hours, or she had come up with a story just to pretend that she had a reason to drop by unannounced.

She had tried to convince herself that the only reason she was spending so much time with Fred was because she had missed him as a friend and that she needed to invest a lot of time in their friendship if she ever wanted it to get back to what it was before - but she still couldn't ignore the guilt that was eating her up every time she snuck into Oliver's bed late at night. She tried convincing herself that if her and Oliver kept shagging regularly, she had no reason to be feeling so guilty - However, she couldn't ignore how she felt more and more empty every time Oliver thrusted into her. Her and Fred had never done anything apart from keeping a friendly distance, but the thought of his hands and lips on her body hadn't exactly escaped her mind.

She had felt it creeping up on her for quite some time now and she had grown gradually more and more confused with every of their weekly rendezvous. A few months ago she would have sworn that Oliver was the love of her life, but now she wasn't so sure anymore. She longed to touch and spend all her time with her best friend and it wasn't fair to Oliver. There was not a doubt in her mind that she still loved Oliver and that their relationship deserved a second chance, but she had seen the longing looks that Fred often sent her. How he seemed to yearn for her touch too. How he obviously had to hide the pain that he felt everytime Hermione went back to Oliver's flat. She felt sick to her stomach that she was the one who caused him that pain, so she had tried to imagine her life without Fred in it, but had to stop herself because the thought of losing him again was much worse than anything else.

Hermione realised that she hadn't said anything for quite a while. Fred looked at her with a grin on his face.

"Err.. what are your plans then?" She eventually asked him.

"I have to help George out with some stuff to prepare for the baby."

"When is Angelina due?"

"Actually, she was last week," Fred said and threw his napkin across the room into the fireplace, "George is far behind with a lot of baby stuff so I promised I'd help the poor man out."

"Are you ready for George to be a father?" She smiled at him.

"Yeah, he's gonna be the best dad on the planet - and I'm gonna be the best uncle," he was smiling from ear to ear, "I can't wait to see the little bugger."

Hermione smiled at him, "you're gonna do great. The rest of the lot sure seem to love their uncle Freddy."

"Yeah, they're cute," he smiled, "Although the Burrow's going to be run over by toddlers and babies at the next family gathering. Promise me that you and Wood will wait for a while before you decide to have a baby - All Georgie and Ang can talk about these days are diapers, and cradles, and types of pacifiers. I feel like you're the only sane person I can actually talk to," he laughed at her.

Hermione sent him an awkward smile and was unsure of what to say next. Eventually, she settled on, "you know...if you need to get away from the baby talk for a while me and the girls are having a ladies night out tomorrow. You should stop by for a drink. I'm sure you'd be more than welcome."

Fred laughed, "I wouldn't want to intrude. I know that Ginny's been dying to have a night out with you ever since she gave birth to Albus. I don't want to be on the receiving end of her bad bogey hex," he laughed.

"So I won't see you for a week?" She pouted at him, "I'll miss you."

"Oh stop it Granger - I bet you won't even notice I'm gone!" He laughed but Hermione wasn't so sure.

-

The next night, Hermione hurried to front door when she heard a soft knock. She turned the knob with a broad smile and was met by Aubrey and Ginny singing, "Girls' night out! Girls' night out!"

"Come on in!" Hermione laughed and let the two girls enter her flat.

Ginny was shaking a bottle of tequila, "we brought everything for frozen margaritas!" She said excitingly.

"I'll find the blender," Hermione laughed.

Aubrey put on the newest track from the Weird Sisters and started swaying softly in the room next to the kitchen while Ginny rummaged around for a couple of glasses.

Ginny pointed towards Aubrey in the next room, "I picked her up from work. Apparently, they go out for drinks every friday," Ginny snickered, "she's completely buzzed already."

Hermione looked at Aubrey and worried, "do you think they'll let us in if she's that intoxicated?"

"Come on, Hermione. We're three beautiful witches - who wouldn't let us in?"

"Yeah, Hermione! We're very very beautiful," Aubrey slurred as she entered the kitchen.

Hermione laughed and glady took the glass of margarita that Ginny held out to her. Aubrey grabbed one too.

"I haven't had a drink in so long!" Ginny exclaimed after her first sip of the drink, "amazing - it tastes like heaven!"

Hermione laughed at her and took a sip herself, "I can't believe you left Harry in charge of the boys," she laughed.

"Yeah, I'm the worst mum ever," she joked, "but I think Harry was looking forward to it to be honest.."

"If not, Ron will be there soon to relieve him," Aubrey chimed in and took a sip.

"How does James feel about having a younger brother all of a sudden?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, he's extatic! It's so cute!" Ginny smiled dreamily, "and on top of that, he's really starting to look like Harry!"

"Poor kid," Aubrey laughed.

"I don't mind. I just hope he doesn't have his poor eyesight," Ginny chimed.

The three girls spent a few hours at Hermione's flat having drinks and playing board games, but decided to go dancing at the Leaky Cauldron at 11 O'clock.

As they walked from the flat to the Leaky Cauldron, they laughed and chatted and Hermione felt lucky to have such good friends. They entered the pub arm in arm, and immediately went to the dance floor. A catchy tune was playing and although Hermione wasn't much for dancing, she really enjoyed her time. The three girls took it in turns to buy drinks, but otherwise stayed on the dancefloor. During a particularly brisk song, Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and twirled her around, making her dizzy.

"I'm getting the next round," Hermione laughed and went to the bar to order three more cocktails along with a few shots of firewhiskey.

As the colourful liquids were placed in front of her, she downed two of the firewhiskey shots herself before she grabbed the tray and passed the remaining drinks around between her girlfriends.

As the night progressed, the more drunk she got, and she was suddenly having a hard time thinking straight. Hermione had never been one to lose control over herself and decided that it was time to call it a night before things got way out of hand.

"Alright, I'm admitting defeat," she smiled at Ginny and Aubrey, "I'm heading home."

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked her with a concerned look in her eyes.

"Yes! Definitely! I'm fine - I've just had a bit too much to drink," Hermione smiled.

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, it's alright. Thanks though. You two just have fun, okay?" She hugged them both goodbye.

As she stepped outside in the chilly spring air, the coldness seemed to sober her up a bit and she contemplated walking home. That was until an impulsive thought settled in her; she should go visit Fred! She should go to his place and tell her how much she would miss him next week.

"That would make him happy," she muttered to herself before she spun on her heel and appeared just outside the door to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. She climbed the stairs to his flat and knocked loudly as she reached his front door.

"FREEED!" She yelled loudly and listened intently for any sign of life from the other side of the door.

She couldn't hear him move around behind the door, so she tried again, "FREEEEEED!" She yelled once more, only this time a little louder.

The door in front of her was ripped open, revealing a very groggy Fred clutching his wand desperately. His chest was bare and he was only wearing his chequered pyjama pants. Hermione couldn't help but laugh at his confused facial expression.

"Hermione?" He said in a raspy voice, "what's going on? What are you doing here?"

"Eeeeyyy Freddy," she said and stumbled into his bare chest, "I missed you!"

She felt Fred easen up and he wrapped his toned arms around her, "I'd ask you if you are drunk but that seems like an unecessary question," he laughed above her.

"I hope I'm not interrupting you, but I just had to see you," she nuzzled against his chest, "I've missed you so so so badly!"

"You do realise that we saw eachother only yesterday, right?" He laughed.

"I know, Freddy, I know," she booped his nose with her index finger, "but...do you realise that we aren't going to see eachother for a week? Did you know? An entire week! And you're kinda my highlight of the week and I just thought to myself that if I was somebody's highlight of the week I'd want to know. Especially after what you said yesterday about how I wouldn't even notice you were gone. Well, I just thought you should know that I will in fact notice your absence because I love our evenings together even though I hate saying goodbye and they make me fall asleep crying every night."

She felt him tense above her, "you're crying yourself to sleep?" He asked softly.

Hermione hadn't meant for it to happen, but she suddenly felt the hot tears burn in her eyes, "I am so confused, Freddy," she sniffled into his chest, "I don't know what to do."

"About what?" He croaked.

"About our situation.."

Fred didn't say anything. He didn't even move a muscle but she could feel his heart racing in his chest.

"Do you..do you still have feelings for me?" She sniffled.

Fred let his arms fall to his sides and took a step back, "Come on, Hermione," he tore his gaze away from her with a sigh, "it isn't fair of you to ask me that. You know I do.."

"I think I have feelings for you too," she sniffled, "and it confuses me because I don't know what to do.."

She had expected Fred's face to erupt into a broad grin, but instead, it fell into deep folds, "you're drunk, okay? You love Oliver. I know you do."

"That's why I'm confused!" She cried, "how can I love him and then develop feelings for you?"

"You don't fancy me. You're just drunk and confused."

"I'm think I'm going to break up with him..." she awaited his response. The more she thought about it, the more sure she grew of what needed to be done, "I'm going to break up with him and then you and I can be together."

"Hermione, you're drunk," Fred sighed once more, "you shouldn't make decisions like this when you're drunk. In fact, I blame myself for taking advantage of you in a vulnerable situation. I should have known you'd be confused.. Hell, even George predicted it.."

"You didn't take advantage of me," Hermione said softly, "I wanted it. And I know that I want you now. I want you Freddy."

"Oliver loves you, Hermione.."

"But I want you."

"No, Hermione," his voice was getting stern.

"I've made my decision."

"No, Hermione!" He suddenly yelled at her, "You made your decision over Christmas! And you chose him!"

"But I'm choosing you now!" Hermione cried.

He huffed, "no you're not. I'm stepping out."

"You're stepping out? What does that even mean?"

"Hermione...this...this is...It's just..." Fred gestured wildly before settling on pinching the bridge of his nose, "it's too bloody hard!" He spat, "My heart was about to burst with jealousy when I saw you and Wood in that shed. I wanted to deck that prick right in the face. I've been crazy about you for so long and he just swoops in and swoons you in a matter of hours? I spent all summer and all autumn avoiding you so I could get over you in peace and when I finally saw you again, it all just came rushing back to me, Hermione. Fuck, I wanted to touch you so badly! And then I couldn't believe that I was the lucky bugger that got to take you home! But then you chose him - again!" Fred's teeth were gritted now, "and it broke my heart all over again, Hermione. And I can't take it anymore! I can't stand you toying with me like this!"

"I know I hurt you by choosing him in the past but our night together changed everything. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. About you...I think I'm in love with you.."

A thunderstorm was taking place in Fred's eyes as he spat, "There it is Hermione! You think you're going to break up with Wood. You think you're in love with me. You're choosing me now," he repeated her words, "you might believe it right in this moment but what happens when you wake up tomorrow and you see Wood? Is it Christmas morning all over again? I poured my heart out to you and we spent the best fucking night of my life together. I told you that I didn't want to be your one time thing and you convinced me to do it anyway because you knew I couldn't help myself. And then you get back together with your ex-boyfriend not even 5 hours later! How stupid do you think that makes me feel? How dare you come here and talk about how you're confused?" He was getting even more angry now, "and to make matters worse, you don't even have the decency to let me get over you in peace!" He fake laughed, "no no no! The always perfect Hermione who can't stand when I'm mad at her demands that we keep seeing eachother as if nothing has happened between us. As if everything's back to normal. And I told you that I didn't want to! I told you, Hermione!"

Hermione had never seem him so angry before. So hurt. He was even panting from his rant. She took a step back from him. He was right. She had been unintentionally selfish. He had told her that he didn't want to be her rebound - something she hadn't intended him to be but that he had ended up as anyway. And afterwards she had practically forced him to start their friendship anew even though he clearly hadn't wanted to. She had made it so hard on Fred and now he was suffering because she had been unsure of what she had wanted over Christmas.

"You're right.." she whispered while a tear spilled from her eye, "I've been awful and you've been suffering because of me."

With her words, Fred seemed to calm a bit down.

Hermione continued, "but I chose wrong in the past and I know what I want now. You've made me realise how much happier I am when I'm with you. Fred, I'm breaking up with Oliver. I want to be with you," she whispered, "just you," she whispered and stepped close to him again, wrapping her arms around his warm torso, never breaking eye contact. He didn't hug her back. He was just staring at her.

"Nothing inside me will have changed when I wake up in the morning - I promise you," she said, "I'll come back tomorrow and we can talk this through, okay?" She squeezed his hand softly before she turned towards the door.

"Wait," she heard Fred call behind her. She spun around on her heel in the hopes that she would be met by open arms. Her heart sank when she realised that his arms were crossed and his face was looking grim. He sighed deeply before he spoke, "break up with him if you want to. I don't care. But at least have the decency to leave me out of it," he said flatly.

She paled at his words and stopped dead in her tracks and prepared herself for the worst - but nothing could have braced her for his next words.

"I'm done, Hermione. I can't do this anymore. I don't want to have anything to do with you."

Hermione looked at him in utter shock while she felt the hot tears stream down her face, "you're breaking my heart," she whispered.

"You broke mine first."