Chapter Eleven

Two days later

Hermione stretched contentedly, rolled over and laid her chin on Fred's chest. "As much as I would love to stay like this forever, you realize that we do have to leave this flat sometime."

Fred shook his head and brushed a stray hair from her face. "Show me what law is on the books that requires that."

She grinned. "I will eventually need to wear something besides one of your old Quidditch shirts."

He raised an eyebrow. "To my mind they've never looked better."

She pushed herself up onto her elbow. "You have a business to run."

He leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose. "The crew downstairs seem to have that covered for the time being."

Not long after the enchantment was broken a note was pushed under the door of the flat. It read simply, "Right then. Take your time. We'll look after the shop. Love, Ginny, Harry, Ron & Padma."

Hermione tipped her head. "I have school."

Fred started to pull her closer to him. "It's Sunday. You don't have any classes until tomorrow – gives us hours."

Hermione teasingly stared at the ceiling. "Hours? Whatever could we do to fill the time?"

Fred grinned. "I may have an idea or two…."

Their lips were almost touching when they were interrupted by a loud squawk at the window. "Bloody Errol." Fred groaned. He wrapped a sheet around his waist and crossed the room to open the sash. The Weasley family owl was sitting on the ledge, holding a message in his beak. Fred read it and turned back to Hermione.

"Looks like we might be leaving the flat before tomorrow after all." Fred sighed, holding up the envelope. "Invitation to dinner at the Burrow this evening. Sent directly to the flat and addressed to the both of us."

Hermione sat up and clasped a pillow in her lap. "So - you think they know about us yet?"

Fred laughed. "Given how pleased with themselves the group downstairs are by now? I'll be surprised if it's not in the Quibbler already."

Hermione made a face and playfully threw the pillow at him. "I'm being serious. Do you think your family will be okay with us?"

Fred crawled back into the bed. "Okay? It's pretty obvious that we have Ginny and Ron's blessing. Mum and Dad are crazy about you – so is everyone else."

Hermione hesitated and then softly asked, "What about George?"

Fred propped up the pillow against the headboard and leaned back. He put on an exaggerated serious expression. "Ah….George. George….would be very disappointed." Hermione appeared hurt for second before Fred smiled and drew her into his arms, kissing her forehead. "Because George was certain that you had much higher standards. 'Perish the thought, Freddie' he said to me. 'Not a chance in hell.' "

Hermione sat back and gave him a quizzical look. "You and George talked about me? When?"

Fred blushed deeply and looked away. "I MAY have made an inappropriate comment after having too much of the punch at the Yule Ball all those years ago."

Hermione's eyes gleamed curiously. "Really?! Do tell."

Fred suddenly became very focused on a piece of thread sticking out of the comforter, avoiding her gaze. "I might have said something to the effect of 'If my little brother doesn't have the sense to snog a beautiful girl then maybe I should try'."

Fred glanced quickly to see Hermione's reaction before looking back down at the thread.

Her eyes grew wide. "You didn't!"

Fred nodded. "George whacked me on the side of the head and said, "Don't be daft, Freddie. Hermione Granger has standards. Beauty and brains? Not a chance in hell for guys like us. Best perish the thought now.'"

Fred kept inspecting the thread. Hermione took his chin in her hand, causing him to look her straight in the face. "Listen to me, Fred Weasley. Your brother was a wonderful man and a brilliant wizard, but he was sadly mistaken on that point. I would have been just as thrilled with your attention then as I am right now."

She leaned in and kissed him deeply before whispering, "Want to make up for lost time?"

Fred immediately lost interest in the thread.

Fred and Hermione finally managed to tear themselves away from the coziness of the flat and arrived at the appointed time that evening for dinner at the Burrow. They stepped from the fireplace and were immediately suspicious.

The place was unusually quiet, especially for a Weasley get together. Molly was alone in the kitchen making preparations.

"Fred! Hermione! So glad you could make it!" Molly bustled over and hugged both of them warmly.

"Mum….where is everybody else?" Fred asked warily.

Molly began pushing him towards the back door. "Oh….They'll be along shortly, I suppose. Be a dear, Fred, and go out to the shed and help your father finish up before dinner, won't you?"

Fred gave his mother a look. "I thought I was smelling chicken before but I believe I'm now getting the distinct whiff of an ambush."

Molly continued to propel him to the exit. "Don't be silly! Now go along and let Hermione and I get things situated in here."

Before getting shoved outside, Fred turned and gave Hermione a helpless shrug. Hermione winked and mouthed, "It's okay."

After shutting the door firmly after him, Molly turned and beamed at Hermione. "Now, dear. First things first…."

With a flick of her wand, Molly set the kitchen in action. Plates and cutlery appeared on the table, water glasses began to fill and a knife floated from its place by the sink and began chopping the vegetables laid out on the cutting board.

"Right. On to more important matters then." Molly sat down at the dining table and pulled out the chair next to her, indicating that she wished Hermione to take a seat.

Hermione took her place and Molly reached out and patted the girl's arm lovingly. "First off, Hermione, I want to say how thrilled we all are that you and Fred have finally realized what the rest of us have known for some time now – that you two belong together."

Hermione smiled shyly. Molly took a deep breath and took Hermione's hand in her own.

"I also want to say thank you. " A tear appeared in Molly's eyes. "I hope that you never experience the feeling of losing a child, dear. George's death has been devastating but for a long while I truly feared that I had lost both of them. Thank you for helping to bring Fred back to us."

Hermione embraced Mrs. Weasley and they both shed a few tears. Molly sat back, wiping her eyes, trying to pull herself back together. "Which brings me to my next point."

She reached into the pocket of her apron and pulled out a well-worn photo. Molly ran her finger lovingly around the edge before turning it to show Hermione. It was a picture of a very young Molly, standing proudly with two boys, obviously brothers.

"These were my older brothers, Fabian and Gideon." She stared at the photo for a moment before continuing. "They died in the first war. Fred and George were only 3 when it happened so I don't think they remember much about their uncles."

Molly looked at Hermione, squeezing her hand tight. "I loved my brothers, Hermione. More than I can say. Losing them was the hardest thing I'd ever gone through until George."

She took another deep breath. "But as much as I loved my brothers, I know that Fred and George's bond was beyond even my understanding. I fear that some scars never heal properly. Magic can't mend everything."
Another tear came to her eye. "I suppose what I'm trying to say, dear, is please be patient with him. He has a long road ahead of him and it won't always be easy."

Hermione squeezed Mrs. Weasley's hand in return. "I won't ever give up on him, Molly. Never. I swear."

Molly gave her a big hug then they both wiped their eyes again and began pulling themselves together. "Right. Didn't mean to get so emotional, darling."

The older woman paused. "There is one more thing I wanted to say, Hermione. You know that I love my husband and my sons but I'll be the first to admit that being in love with a Weasley man is not always easy. It seems at times that they would forget their heads if not attached and you will never be sure what you are going find in the living room on any given day."

Both of them laughed at the truth of that statement. Molly shook her head. "Fred and George presented their own challenges. They weren't the oldest, they weren't the youngest and Ginny was the only girl. They got used to making a lot of noise and creating a spectacle just to get noticed and they never outgrew that. Trust me – I know how trying that can be."

Molly placed her hand on Hermione's shoulder. "So please promise that when he starts to drive you to the edge that you will stop and remember the look on his face the first time he said he loved you, the way I am sure he will look at you at your wedding…" Hermione blushed as Molly continued, "The way he will look when you hand him your first child."

"Yes, there are going to be times when you will want to absolutely murder him, but I can promise that the love and laughter he will bring to your life will be more than worth it." At this, Molly looked adoringly at a portrait of Arthur on the wall across from her. "And remember, there are far worse things than having an enchanted car in the shed."

Just then a series of bangs could be heard from the fireplace and the rest of the clan started to arrive. Molly gave Hermione another quick hug and began greeting the guests and putting everyone to work.

Fred and Arthur came in a moment later. Fred wrapped his arm around Hermione and whispered, "All good?"

Hermione's arm encircled his waist and squeezed. "All good."

He leaned over to kiss her and was greeted with a chorus of "About time!" from the rest of the family.

"All right, all right!" laughed Molly. "Dinner's ready! Everyone take a seat."

After the main meal, the girls offered to help Molly get the dessert ready so Harry and Ron took the opportunity to pull Fred outside for a chat.

Harry stood with his hands in his pockets and shifted his feet. Ron was beside him, arms folded.

Harry started off. "Listen, mate. You know that we're happy for you, but that is our Hermione in there…." He paused, not feeling the need to finish that sentence.

Fred started to make a joke but, seeing the looks on their faces, turned serious. "Lads, if you never believe another word that I say, you can believe this. You have nothing to worry about. I fully intend love and protect that woman for as long as she will let me."

This answer seemed to satisfy the duo. They nodded approvingly, then Ron gave Fred a playful shove. "Better. We've taken on a dark lord. Figure we can give the likes of you a right thrashing if need be."

Fred ruffled Ron's hair. "Like to see you try, little brother."

The brothers had just began their typical roughhousing when Hermione's voice came from inside the house. "Fred?"

Fred called back, "Yes, dear?"

Harry and Ron dissolved in laughter. They started winding up to really take the mickey out of Fred when Hermione, Ginny and Padma walked around the corner. The females gave the three boys a look which immediately caused them to try to act respectably.

"Right," said Harry, clearing his throat. "Inside then".

The males dutifully made their way back in the house. Fred was last and, as he walked past he cheekily pinched Hermione's behind, producing an embarrassed squeal from her and a fit of giggles from Ginny & Padma.

They rejoined the rest of the family which had gathered in the living room for a game of charades. Soon they were all in tears as Arthur selected 'book titles' and was trying to act out "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them".

Fred pulled Hermione close and kissed her gently on top of the head. Hermione closed her eyes and savored the moment. For the first time in a very long while, she felt entirely at home and at peace.