A/N: WOW! That's all I can say! I never expected so many reviews. You are just the most wonderful reader in the world! Your reviews have inspired me so much that I have already written chapter 3 and began writing chapter 4. I'll have them up the moment my beta reader sends them back to me.

By the way, I wanted to thank Ally for taking the time to be my beta reader: You are great at it. You've helped me a lot so: THANK YOU!

On this chapter, I know it's shorter than the previous one, but I can promise the third one is longer ('cause I've already written it.) So, read and keep reviewing…

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, the places and you may even argue that I don't own the plot!

First comes marriage, then love?

Chapter II: Conversations

Once in the Three Broomsticks, they found a table and both ordered a glass of fire whisky, the situation called for something strong. The place was pretty crowded, and although everyone seamed too busy with their own affairs, Fred and Hermione chose a table at the back of the pub. During a war one could never take too many precautions and Dumbledore had insisted that no one find out what they were planning.

Fred took a swig from the glass Madame Rosmerta had just placed in front of him and looked at Hermione. "Do you still want to do this?"

"Yes, we have already given Dumbledore our word. Besides, I truly meant what I told him. I'm willing to do anything to help the Order and stop Voldemort. What about you?" she asked hesitantly.

"Me too. But there is something…"

"I know."

"Tell me the truth. This has nothing to do with the mission or the Order, and I need to know. Do you love him?"

"I-" but Hermione was at a lost for words. She truly didn't know if she loved Ron. She had always liked him in a way different to how she liked Harry. But nothing had ever happened between them and she sometimes wondered if what she felt for her best friend was nothing more than a juvenile infatuation. "I-" she tried again, and once more, no words came out of her.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have asked. It was tactless of me," Fred apologized, "It's ok if you don't want to talk about it."

"It's not that I don't want to. It's just…" she looked up at him. Perhaps she was emotionally stressed about what she had gotten herself into. Probably because of this, she was not thinking straight, but it occurred to her that if Fred were going to be her husband, she would have to trust him. "I don't know if I love him or not," Hermione answered with a sigh.

Fred looked stunned by her response. "I am allowed to not know everything, you know?" she added pointedly.

"No, it's not that! It's just that we— meaning, well, everybody— always thought that you two were crazy for each other but either you hadn't noticed or you were waiting for my slow brother to realize and do something. We even have bets on when he is going to tell you how he feels about you."

"Oh," was the only thing Hermione could think of saying. Yes, many people had told her that Ron was in love with her during the last few years. She had always given them the same answer: "We are just friends." Still, she had always wondered if that was what they really were and if that was what she wanted them to be.

"One thing is certain," continued Fred, "He does love you. He is too thick to do anything and I'm not sure he recognizes his own feelings. But he is in love with you 'Mione." Hermione nodded. She couldn't lie to herself and she had long ago figured that out. Her feelings however, were something different.

"This is going to kill him, isn't it?"

"Not if he understands the real reason why we are doing this. Although, I wouldn't put it past him. My youngest brother can be really a bit of a moron some times. Most of the time actually," he added as an after thought.

"He is very sensitive. He would never admit it, but I know better. And the last thing I want to do is hurt him. I don't think I could live without his friendship"

"I know. But he'll have to understand that he is not the center of the universe and that there are more important things. He'll come round, in the end. Don't worry about your friendship or losing him. He does love you and couldn't have a grudge against you even if he tried," reassured Fred. Hermione looked in the verge of tears and he couldn't stand to see her cry.

"Thank you," she said, a sad smile playing on her lips.

"That's why future husbands are for. And if he doesn't forgive you, you can always count on George and me to make him understand. Trust me, we can be very persuasive," he winked at her.

"What do you think the rest of your family will say? I've decided to tell my parents that you are my boyfriend and that we are getting married because we love each other. I think it will be better and safer for them not to know the truth."

"Mum will be ecstatic! She always wanted you to be a member of the family and me to settle down, find a nice witch to marry and give her lots of grandchildren. As if she wasn't going to have tons with seven children of her own."

Hermione laughed.

"And for the rest of them," Fred continued, "I don't think they'll have much to say about it. After all it's just a mission."

"Don't you think your mother will be upset that one of her sons is marrying just to fulfill a mission?"

"Nah, but probably she'll try to talk us into stay married once all this is over."

"Where do you think we should live? At the Burrow?"

"I'm sure mum would be delighted, but if we are to make this plausible we should get a place of our own. I've been living alone in the apartment over the joke shop since George moved in with Katie. We could live there if you like. It's not too big, but you can redecorate it if you want to. And we could turn George's room into a study. I think an entire room should be enough for all your books." In spite of the joke about her having too many books, she couldn't help to think that it was very thoughtful of him to offer her that.

"That sounds great!"

"You've never been there, have you?" Hermione shook her head. "Wanna come see it? We could have dinner there."

"Ok, that's a good idea. Although, I should tell you, I'm not much of a cook. Or a housewife for that matter," she admitted.

"Don't worry about that. We'll manage." They paid for their drinks and left for Fred's apartment.

The flat was not big, but it wasn't too small either. The living room was stuffed with boxes from the joke shop. The table was small, but there was a large, comfortable looking couch next to a large window from which the whole of Diagon Alley could be seen.

"Sorry about the mess, I got used to living alone," apologized Fred when they entered. "But we can take this downstairs, though."

"It's ok. I'm not moving in today, so take your time to organize yourself. I don't want to impose anything on you. It's enough that you have to live with me."

"'Mione, I don't mind sharing my house with you. Listen, I know what you are thinking, but listen carefully to what I'm going to say: it's not a burden marrying you! You are one of my best friends and living together will be fun!"

"But-" Hermione began, sounding unconvinced.

"Nah, no buts! Let me show you the rest of the apartment." Hermione nodded.

The rest of the flat was a small kitchen, a bathroom with a large bathtub and two bedrooms that were decorated in exactly the same way.

"We'll move all of George's stuff to the burrow so you can accommodate your things. I can perform and enlargement charm in the wardrobe to fit your robes, but we'll need to buy a king size bed." Hermione blushed scarlet at the mention of the bed. She hadn't thought of it, but of course they would we sleeping together. She looked at Fred but he didn't seem to realize her discomfort.

"Now, come here Miss Granger, you are about to experience my gourmet cooking."

"You can cook?" Hermione asked disbelievingly, momentarily forgetting about her and Fred sharing a bed.

"Why, of course! And I'm an excellent chef if I may say so."

"And where exactly did you learn?" she inquired, her face still set in an incredulous expression.

"Actually, it's very similar to making potions, and George and I have to deal with that all the time when inventing new stuff for the shop. I'm surprised that you find it so difficult since you have been able to prepare a Polyjuice Potion since you were twelve."

"Yes, cauldrons I can manage. Ovens are a different thing."

Fred laughed, "Don't worry, I love cooking. You can deal with the dishes."

"Deal," replied Hermione shaking his hand.

They had a very enjoyable dinner. They scarcely talked about what Dumbledore had asked them to do. Instead, Fred entertained her with some of his and George's stories from Hogwarts. Now that she was no longer a prefect, she found the twins attempts to drive Filch crazy was pretty amusing.

After the last story she laughed so hard that she ended up knocking over her goblet of wine.

"I think Harry and Ron have had a bad influence over you. Seven years ago you would have lectured for an hour about how irresponsible it was of us to do that to an authority figure," said Fred as he quickly stood up to clean up the mess Hermione's goblet had made. When he looked at her, he saw that the laughter had died from her face and she was looking somber once again.

He immediately dropped the napkin he had been using to mop the wine and went to hug her. "Everything is going to be all right, 'Mione. You are not going to lose him as a friend. I promise you that," he consoled her.

"Listen, it's late. Why don't you go home and have a good night's sleep and we'll talk in the morning, ok?" Hermione nodded but then looked at the dishes on the table. This made Fred chuckle slightly. "Don't worry, you are off the hook tonight. But it is the first and the last time!"

Hermione smiled warmly at him. She put on cloak and allowed Fred to walk her to the door.

"Fred, I'm glad it's you I'm marrying," she said honestly, and after planting a swift kiss on his cheek, she disapparated.