A/N: My beloved readers! I do love you, you are fantastic! All those reviews… I can't tell you what they mean to me, seriously!

I know this took very long, especially since I had told you that I had already finished it by the time I uploaded chapter two, and I had, but my beta reader had some problems (she is still great and I hope she will continue "beting" for me) and this is not corrected yet. But I got so many reviews that I wanted to repay you somehow. Bare in mind that nobody but me read this, so it'll have many mistakes. I'll post the betaed chapter the moment I got it. So try to enjoy it anyway.

Only one more thing, I have to say this: HBP FANTASTIC! I was a bit shocked at first, and had some problems accepting what happened but it's still the best book ever! And the romance parts… just lovely!

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, the places and you may even argue that I don't own the plot! (I will stop putting this in further chapters, so be sure to read it and get it!)

First comes marriage, then love?

Chapter III: Bursting out the news

Hermione woke up early the following morning. She had managed to get a few hours sleep, but the moment she opened her eyes she knew it would be pointless to try to doze off again. She had too many thoughts in her head, too many things to analyze and she wasn't looking forward to mull over any of them. However, she had never been the sort of person who avoids her responsibilities.

She resisted the temptation of taking a sleepless potion and got off the bed instead. Thinking it was too early to go down to breakfast, she went into her bathroom. If she was to do some serious thinking, she'd better take a long, relaxing bath. Once the bathtub was filled, she threw some bath salts and got in.

The first thing that came into her head was Ron, but she pushed it away. There were more urgent matters she had to deal with. She had to think on how to tell her parents that her baby girl was to be married soon to someone they hadn't even met. She would have to put up a good show to convince them that she was really in love with Fred and that she wanted nothing better than to marry him. Suddenly she found herself wondering if Fred was a good actor. "Well, he has to be seeing that he had talked his way out of many detentions back at school," she thought and an automatic grin spread across her face.

Fred had been very sweet to her the night before. She had never seen that side of him, thoughtful and tender. Of course she had always considered the Weasley twin a good person and a great friend, but there was something about the way he had consoled her that was… different. She couldn't quite explain or define it.

"Focus Hermione," she ordered herself. She needed to sort out her ideas quickly. After another half an hour, she decided that she wouldn't tell her parents anything until Dumbledore had given her all the details and she had had an opportunity to talk to Fred about this.

The brunette got out of the bathroom and changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She was putting on her shoes when her mother called for her.

"Baby, are you awake already? Breakfast is ready."

"Coming mum!"

Some minutes later she was sitting at the Granger's kitchen having breakfast with her mother and father.

"You came back late yesterday," said her father sounded concerned "is everything ok? What did Professor Dumbledore want?"

"Yes, everything is fine. Actually he wanted to offer me a position at the Ministry of Magic."

"That's great Darling!" Congratulated Mrs. Granger.

"Yes, I have to apply and see what happens." Explained Hermione, determinately avoiding her parents' eyes.

At that moment a brown owl came flying through the window and stopped in mid-air in front of Hermione. It carried another note from Dumbledore telling her that they would meet with Fred that afternoon to talk about their mission.

She had just finished writing a response to the Headmaster of Hogwarts when another owl entered the kitchen. This time it was from Fred, asking her if she would like to have dinner after the meeting, to discuss whatever it was that Dumbledore had prepared for them.

"Mum, Dad, I won't we here for dinner tonight either."

That afternoon Fred, Hermione and Dumbledore were, yet again, at the latter's office.

"You should know that I had lunch with Mr. Fudge today and Mrs. Hathaway, who is head of the Department of Magical Families. I proposed Miss Granger as a junior member and when they heard about your academic performance Mrs. Hathaway agreed that you are exactly what they need."

"And what about my parents being muggles?" Hermione inquired.

"I conveniently told them that Mr. Weasley had confided in me that he was planning to propose to you soon and that you were bound to accept 'cause it had been a while since I had seen two people so madly in love." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he said this. "Thus your job application has been taken charge of; now we have to concentrate on your wedding. I suggest you proceed as soon as possible." Fred and Hermione nodded.

"We have already decided where we are going to live. We only have to organize the ceremony, and tell our families," explained Fred.

"Do you want me to tell them?" offered Dumbledore. Hermione was about to nod. Things would be much easier with Ron if it was the Head of the Order who explained about the mission.

"No," Fred said "I think it would be better if we told them." Hermione looked crestfallen but didn't object. Fred was probably right, they would appreciate it better if they heard the news from him and Hermione.

"Good. I think Molly will help you with the arrangements and I believe that by the end of October we can celebrate you marriage."

"He didn't give us much time, did he?" Joked Fred. He and Hermione were having dinner at the Leaky Cauldron. He had invited her to her to his apartment again, but she had insisted on inviting him to thank him for everything he had done for her the night before.

"No, but I suppose it's better that way."

"How?"

"Honestly, I don't know." They looked at each other and burst out laughing. The situation was still so ridiculous and unexpected that they couldn't help it.

"Today I was thinking on how I'm going to tell my parents. And it occurred to me that we should tell them together. It will be easier to make them believe we are in love if we are together."

"Sure, no problem 'Mione. And we should probably tell my family together too. Though it would be easier 'cause we'll be telling them the truth."

"Yes, and I suppose we should do it soon. If Dumbledore has told Fudge that we are madly in love, we'd better warn the rest of your family and Harry before they put their foot into it."

"You are probably right. Tell you what, I'll ask mum to organize a family dinner tomorrow so we can tell them."

"Ok. And once we have the date we'll tell my parents. I'll have to come up with a good reason why I'm getting married in such haste. They'll probably think I'm pregnant!"

"Don't worry about that, we'll think of something. Or we could get you pregnant if you want… I was just joking!" he added, seeing the horrified expression on her face.

"There is something else we should talk about." Hermione said timidly.

"What?"

"It's just that if we are going to tell everyone that we are in love, we should act like a couple. You know, walk hand in hand or hugged, that sort of stuff. At least in public."

"That won't be a problem. I usually don't mind being seen walking with beautiful young witches." Hermione blushed a little at his comment.

After they had finished eating, they left together. Fred had his arm around Hermione's shoulder. They walked like that up to the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes shop. They could feel many eyes upon them, but they didn't care much. It was surprisingly comfortable to walk like that. Hermione's head had found the right spot on Fred's shoulder, and her back was so small that it felt good to hug.

When they reached the shop, they stopped. Fred asked her if she wanted to go in for a drink, but she declined the invitation saying that it was late and that next day was going to be a long one.

"You are right Mione. Good night."

"Night!" She turned and disapparated.

Hermione barely got to sleep that night, and she was restless the whole day. Her parents couldn't help but notice that their daughter was nervous about something. But they assumed it had something to do with the ongoing war. She never wanted to tell them anything, for their own protection as she would put it. So, they didn't ask.

Hermione arrived half an hour earlier at Fred's apartment. They had agreed to meet there in order to arrive at The Burrow together. She knew he wouldn't be ready, but her anxiety had gotten the better of her.

She apparated at Fred's living room and called for him. There was no response. She called again, a bit louder. He stuck his head out of the bathroom. His hear was soaking wet and steam was coming out.

"Oh! Hi 'Mione!" he greeted her grinning.

"Hi," she answered blushing. That seamed to be happening a lot to her lately, especially when Fred was around. But this time it was because he had come out of the shower and the only thing he was wearing was a towel around his waist.

"Hang there for a second. I'll be ready in five minutes."

"It's ok, take your time. I'm early anyway." She had been about to say 'I'm in no hurry', because she didn't actually mind staring at Fred's muscular figure. But it wasn't appropriate for a girl to think that kind of things, let alone say them out loud.

Some minutes later, Fred was back in the living room. He was wearing at pair of jeans and a blue polo t-shirt that brought up the color of his eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked, because she was transfixed staring at him.

"Nothing. That color suits you," she answered without thinking.

"Thank you," he said with a smile. "Shall we go then?"

"Sure."

They apparated at the door of The Burrow.

"Are you nervous?"

"Terrified."

"Don't worry 'Mione. Everything is going to be all right. I'm here with you." Before she could chicken out, Fred knocked on the door. To Hermione's disgrace it was Ron who answered it.

"Hi 'Mione, hi Fred." He sounded so cheerful that Hermione felt a pang at the pitch of her stomach. Luckily Ron didn't ask why the two of them had arrived together. Probably he had assumed that they had met at the door. However, when he hugged her, he didn't let go as fast as she did. And only when Fred coughed pointedly did he release her.

"It's good to see you," Ron said in her ear before letting her inside the house. Hermione smiled guiltily.

Almost everybody had already arrived. The moment they say who had entered, the chat stopped and they all went to greet them. Hermione was saved from Ron by Ginny, the former showed signs of wanting to engage her in conversation.

"Hey 'Mione, come and help me with this cutlery." Shouted Ginny who was by the table, setting it. But the moment she arrived next to her friend, the redhead put the knives and folks down on the table and asked her, "Do you know what is this all about? Mum said Fred had an announcement to make, and then the two of you turn up together."

"Yes Gin, but I'd rather wait until everyone is here. There is much to explain."

"Oh, come on! You can't do that to your best friend," she begged, looking at Hermione with puppy eyes.

"No, seriously. You'll know soon enough," she arranged the goblets in front of each plate and then went to talk to Fred, whom, from the looks of it, was being questioned by George.

"Hem, Fred, could I talk to you for a minute?" One of the Weasley twins looked relieved, the other one was clearly disappointed. Hermione looked around, making sure they were not being overheard. Fortunately, at that precise movement Harry arrived, shortly followed by Bill, Fleur and their baby daughter Marie and everyone's attention was set on them.

"What exactly did you tell your mother?" Hermione inquired, "Ginny's been asking me if I have anything to do with this."

"I only told her that I had something important to tell the whole family. But she must have been talking too much, because George has been pretty curious about this too."

"Now that everyone is here, we can proceed to the table." Said Mrs. Weasley. All the Weasleys and guests moved towards the table. Hermione sat between Fred and Ginny, and right in front of Ron. It looked as thought all the people present were too hungry to worry about the real reason why they were gathered there. The conversations varied according to the persons involved in them, but none of the topics was too serious.

However, once they were fed to bursting point as it usually happened after a meal cooked by Mrs. Weasley, everyone began to shut up and looks turned towards were Fred and Hermione were sitting.

"So Fred," started Mr. Weasley "which are the big news you had to give us?"

"Actually, it's not like that. Well, it is something new but not good. Not bad either it's…" began Fred. This was proving to be more difficult than he had thought, and Hermione fully understood how he felt.

"Out with it boy!" urged Charlie, "What is it?"

"Hermione and I are getting married!" he said quickly, as if he thought that by saying it like that it would be easier for the rest to understand. Obviously, he was deeply mistaken.

"What?" most of the family cried in shock.

"You are joking, right?" asked Ron how had turned pale.

"No" said Hermione. It was time someone said something logical, and logics had always been her area of expertise. "He is not joking, we are getting married. However, it's not what you are probably thinking."

"You are not pregnant them?" inquired George trying to keep a straight face, but the situation was too much for him and any second now he would burst out laughing.

"George!" reprimanded Mrs. Weasley, but then looked at Hermione, "You are not, right dear?"

"No! Of course not!" she answered quickly. There was a collective exhalation around the table, as thought everyone sitting there had been holding their breaths.

"Then why on earth are you going to marry him?" demanded Ron angrily, pointing an accusatory finger at his brother.

"It's because of a mission for the Order," tried to explain Hermione, but Ron's fury seamed to be beyond reason.

"If you don't have the guts to tell us that you are in love with him, at least don't lie!" shouted the redhead in front of her.

"Hey, watch it!" interjected Fred. "She is not lying, and if you stop acting like the big jerk you are and listen for five minutes we'll explain everything."

"Fred is right Ron," said Bill in a placating tone. "Let them talk." Ron didn't answer but glared daggers to those who were sitting in front of him.

"Now, care to elaborate please?" asked Ginny.

"Dumbledore gave Hermione the task of entering the Department of Magical Families so that a member of the Order can be in direct contact with those Death Eaters whom the Ministry would not persecute because of their noble linage." Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Percy immediately understood what was going on. But the rest of the family and Harry were still nonplussed.

"And what does that have to do with you and Hermione getting married?" asked Charlie before Ron could start shouting again, he looked close to doing.

"It's because to enter the Department of Magical Families you have to belong, even if it is by marriage, to a pure blood family," explained Mr. Weasley.

"And why did Dumbledore called you to marry 'Mione?" interjected Ron, who instead of calming down was getting more and more irritated.

"It's because it is to be a plausible marriage Ron. Nobody has to suspect why we are really getting married. We are not even telling 'Mione's parents the real reason." answered Fred, exasperated. Hermione put her hand over Fred's to calm him down, unfortunately Ron noticed this.

"That makes no sense at all! Nobody who knows both of you would believe that you two are a couple!" Ron burst out.

"Never heard the phrase opposites attract, little bro?" said George, still fighting hard not to laugh.

Ron ignored him and continued to stare at Hermione, wanting an explanation. Or perhaps hopping she would tell him that they hadn't thought of him and that she would marry him instead of Fred.

"Ron, everybody knows I spend more time with your family than I do with mine. It's not that illogical to think that I could have fallen in love with Fred," said Hermione

"Yes, it is!" he replied mulishly. "If you had to marry one of us, why Fred? Why not me?" he demanded.

"I can't marry you Ron." But this was the worst thing to say.

"Why?" he asked, but he looked so hurt that it brought tears to Hermione's eyes.

"What Hermione meant," interjected Mr. Weasley, "is that you can't get married because you are not of age to do so." Ron didn't answer. He simply stood up and went upstairs.

"I'll talk to him," said Harry and Ginny together when they heard the door of Ron's room shut with a slam. Harry climbed the stairs quickly, but Ginny stood by for a moment.

"Congratulations, I guess." She told Fred and Hermione, and then followed Harry.