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Chapter 15

Hermione sat perched over what had to be at least her third cup of coffee arguing with Fred for what felt like the zillionth time over her plan. She had tried explaining rationally, compromising, even yelling, but nothing was getting through to him. Despite all the caffeine, she could feel her eyes glazing over as he argued his case once again.

"Are you mad?" he asked, his eyes blazing, which Hermione found to be a humorous combination when paired with his fiery red hair. "You can't join this group of lunatics. Who knows what might happen to you? What do you think they might do to Harry Potter's best friend once they are done with you? Huh? I doubt it's anything too sweet and innocent, I'll tell you that. They'll use you for leverage and then what will happen to you?"

"You think that Harry will betray me then, is that it?" Hermione asked innocently, unable to help being amused by his rantings. It was not a side you saw all that often with Fred, as he and George were usually so good-natured.

"No, of course not, woman. Are you even listening to what I'm saying to you?" He sat down on the bench across from her so hard that it made her coffee slosh out of the mug. "Hermione," he said, more calmly this time, "you have to see how dangerous this is…these people, they want to destroy us all."

"They want to strip us of our powers, Fred, not kill us."

"Well, that's as good as, isn't it?"

Hermione looked startled for a moment before growing angry. "Really, Fred? Being a muggle is as good as being dead?" She could feel the heat rising to her face and knew her ears were growing red as they always did when she was mad. How dare he?

"No, that's not what I meant at all. It's not about prejudice. You grew up without magic, you know how to survive in a world where it does not exist, but me, my family? We wouldn't make it, Hermione. It is all we have ever known. It's our livelihood. Our shop, Ginny's Quidditch career, Harry and Ron as aurors, Dad's job at the ministry…"

"You could find muggle jobs, Fred. You aren't helpless."

Not jobs we could ever hope to be as successful at as we are in the wizarding world. Not to mention, we don't know how to drive cars, have any muggle money, cook without magic… it's not just the Weasleys...think how many witches and wizards just like us would be unleashed unto the muggle world. You would be taking away our very way of life."

She sighed, realizing he was right. It would not just destroy his way of life, but hers, too. It had been as many years now since she first heard of Hogwarts as she had spent oblivious of the place. It was engrained in her just as much as her friends. That was why she had to help them.

"I have to do this, Fred," she said softly. "You know I do. Right now, it's our only chance."

Fred exhaled loudly, looking as defeated as she had ever seen him. She knew he was also coming to understand that it was the only way, but she also knew he did not like it. Not one bit.

"Okay," he said, causing her to perk up a little before he continued. "Okay, but only if you let me come with you."

Hermione gasped. "What? You know I can't do that."

"Take it or leave it, Granger."

"I don't have to take or leave it, Weasley. I am not a little kid. I can do what I want."

"And so, can I. And I will follow you either way."

It was Hermione's turn to exhale loudly, the exasperation evident. "Fred, you know you cannot go into that place. They will take you prisoner, or worse, kill you."

He folded his arms in defiance. "I'm going either way, Hermione. With or without your knowledge or approval."

They sat in silence for a long time, the tension in the room was obvious, but mostly Hermione was trying to gather her thoughts and Fred, for once, was letting her. Finally, she stood up and walked out of the room before returning a moment later. Before he could speak she threw Mrs. Weasley's tattered copy of Witch Weekly down on the table in front of him.

"Ummm, I love good gossip as much as the next guy, but this seems like a strange time to be reading tabloids."

"Oh, don't be ridiculous," she said, grabbing the magazine from his hands and quickly flipping to the page in question. The page that showed the two of them hand in hand in muggle London, very much looking like a couple.

"I'm still not following. Though I do look rather dashing if I do say so myself."

"Ugh," she said, rolling her eyes. "Look, if you are going, polyjuice potion clearly isn't going to work this time, is it?" she asked. "You'll have to be yourself. And the only way I can see that they will buy that Fred Weasley would possibly join their cause was if he was hopelessly in love with Hermione Granger."

Fred stared in shock between the magazine and Hermione trying to process what she was suggesting.

"You want me to date you?" He continued staring at her completely flabbergasted.

"I want you to pretend to date me," she said, shaking her head. "To keep you alive."

"What if they don't buy it?" he asked. "They'll never buy it."

"I guess we just have to hope that they do, don't we?