A/N: I know I'll regret this when my exams come, but I couldn't help it… your reviews were sooooo wonderful that the only thing I could focus on was continuing with this. I hope it's out of my system now so I be able to study! Hope you like it… pleaseeee review!

Oh, and thanks to everyone who wished me luck for my exams... I'm going to need it after this, hehehehe, hope it was woth it ;o)

Bad News, Sad News, Dangerous News

Fred's prediction turned out to be, if not completely accurate, at least partly true. In only two weeks Hermione became very popular in the department. Her boss simply loved her. Mrs. Hathaway said she was the most efficient assistant she had ever had. Her colleagues soon learned how hard she usually worked. She was usually ahead with her work and she generally had time to assist anyone who needed help. This had two bright sides: on the one hand, everybody liked her and soon enough she had made two or three good mates; on the other hand, she could spend long hours checking files and taking detailed notes of the things she found and nobody bothered her because they just assume she was preparing another lengthy report to be handed in in two weeks time. So that she was useful not only for her boss, but also for the Order. With the information she had gathered in the short time she had been working at the Department of Magical Families, They had found enough evidentiary support for the conviction of a Death Eater who, until that moment, had manage to convince the Ministry of his innocence. Moreover, she was hoping to have a married couple in Azkaban by the end of the month.

Personally, she didn't enjoy her work much. It wasn't a real challenge for her to spend day after day filling memos and arranging Mrs. Hathaway's agenda. But she was helping Harry and the Order and that kept her happy. Besides, she was making an impressive carrier and she was positive that, when the war was finally over, she would we able to apply for any position she wanted.

However, if she had thought that her working days were going to be always quiet and smooth, there was and old enemy who ready to prove her wrong.

One morning she was reading an interdepartmental memo that had arrived from Mr. Weasley's office when somebody entered her office, without knocking. It was a tall, blonde someone, who had expression of such smugness on his face that if anyone else tried to copy it, it would be painful.

"I have an appointment with the head of the department. See if she can see me quickly, I have more important things to do than this stupid interview," he said in his most unpleasant drooling voice, without bothering to look at the person sitting in the desk.

"Oh I'm sure your hairdresser can wait a few minutes to do your highlights Malfoy. I'm sorry to tell you this, but you'll have to wait like everybody else," answered Hermione.

"What are you doing here Granger?"

"That confirms it, you have nothing between your ears. What do you think I'm doing here?"

"I don't have the faintest idea," he smirked "since mudbloods aren't usually allowed here".

"I'm disappointed on you Malfoy, you've used that insult for the past seven years, one would think you could come up with something a bit more original."

"You haven't answered my question Granger" he said in a brave attempt to hide his embarrassment.

"Not that I have to, but I work here. So if you take a sit, I'll go and see if Mrs. Hathaway has time to see you."

"You can't pull that one on me, you have to belong to a pureblood family to work here."

"And I do," she said showing him his engagement ring.

"Don't tell me you actually found someone who wanted to marry you. Let me guess, that pathetic excuse of a wizard Weasley."

"That's more what I was talking about, and yes Malfoy I'm Mrs. Weasley now."

"And there was me thinking that family couldn't go any lower. Anyway, I wouldn't go around showing that imitation of crystal if I were you."

"Wanna put it to a test?" she said offering the ring. There was a simple spell to prove whether a piece of jewelry or a coin for that matter was false or not. Malfoy glared at her before taking it in his hand and whispering the incantation under his breath. His eyes widened as the results came out.

"What did Potter's lap dog sell to buy this? His soul wouldn't be enough."

"My husband is a very successful businessman, and you should know it, being one of his customers," said Hermione, making reference to the instant darkness powder. Malfoy looked even more confused at this. His eyes traveled around the room, clearly looking for an explanation. He found it when he saw the picture of the wedding Hermione had on her desk.

"You married one of those horrible twins?"

"Indeed. Fred Weasley is my husband," said Hermione grinning. But there was something on his face that she didn't like at all. She could tell his mind was working fast; but on what it was working, she did not know. In any case nothing good could come from Malfoy's thinking.

"This is how the Ministry got Doyle. You feed them information, didn't you?" Malfoy pointed an accusatory finger at Hermione, but she kept her face impassive.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Everybody knew Doyle was a disgusting Death Eater, and he's got what he deserves. Just like your awful father," answered the girl quietly, her voice emotionless.

"Don't you dare speak of my father like that you filthy-" Malfoy had taken out his wand was pointing it at her chest.

"That's not a very smart move, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is just a couple of floors bellow, you know?"

Malfoy lowered his wand, but his chest was rising and falling rapidly. He turned and without another word he walked out of the room, banging the door in his way out. Hermione smiled to herself. She had learned long ago that the best way to deal with Malfoy was to remain impassive to his insults and threats. Nothing aggravated him more than that. However, something bothered her. The look on his face when she told him that she was married to Fred, and him guessing the Order's source of information was not good. Malfoy may not be as bright as she, Harry or Ron where, but he was still intelligent enough to put two and two together.

"Something wrong dear? I thought I heard the door slamming a minute ago," asked Mrs. Hathaway coming out of her office.

"No, everything's ok. It was just the wind," lied Hermione smiling reassuringly on her face trying to hide how worried she really was.

At around mid-day Hermione left the Ministry. She had made plans to have lunch with Harry, whom she hadn't seen since the wedding. The two of them were usually too busy to see each other as often as they would like to, but they tried to make regular appointments to, at least, have a cup of coffee together.

Harry had asked her to meet him at the Three Broomsticks, and Hermione had a nagging suspicion she was not the only girl he was going to see that day. And that was one of the issues she intended to discuss with her best friend: his relationship with Ginny.

She arrived at the pub to find that he was already ordering a beer from Madam Rosmerta.

"Hi Harry!" she said sitting opposite him.

"'Mione! It's great to see you!" he greeted her. "How are you?"

"Fine, and you?"

"Never been better. How's marriage life suiting you?"

"Better than I thought actually. Fred is a very good husband." Harry snorted.

"That's something I never thought I'd hear you say."

"I know, it's weird, isn't it? But it's true. We get along fine and he's very funny to be with. It makes a nice change living with someone who is also magical. I do miss my parents but I'm starting to feel at home with him."

"I'm glad to hear that, you do look fine."

"Thanks. And how do you feel living by yourself?" Harry had finally moved out of his uncle's house and was living in a rented apartment in central London.

"It's ok I guess, I don't spend much time at home but not I appreciate what it is to have someone cooking for you and doing your laundry." Hermione laughed.

"You are welcome to have dinner with Fred and me whenever you want."

"Don't tell me you cook!"

"No, Fred does. And he is very good at it too." Harry, being a boy and all, missed the way Hermione's eyes shown every time she mentioned her husband.

"Well, that figures. After all he's been making candies half his life."

Hermione nodded as she perused through her menu. Some minutes later they ordered their lunches and talked about Hermione's information for the Order as they waited for the food to come.

"You won't guess how came to my office today," she said suddenly, remembering her encounter with Malfoy.

"Who?" Harry asked looking curious

"Malfoy," Hermione answered and she told him everything from their conversation to her suspicious.

"I think you should go to Dumbledore," Harry advised her once she had finished her story. "We know he is in contact with the Death Eater and probably with Voldemort himself."

"That's what I thought, I'll pay him a visit after lunch."

"I'll go with you," Harry said quickly

"You too have things to discuss with him?" asked Hermione, though she knew perfectly well why her friend wanted to visit to Hogwarts. She just liked torturing him. Perhaps spending so much time with Fred was affecting her.

Harry blushed pink and avoided Hermione's eyes. "No," he said, "I was thinking I could visit someone."

"A red-haired someone?"

"If you know, why you ask?" scoffed Harry.

"What's going on between the two of you? I noticed you disappeared during the reception for a couple of hours." The color in Harry's cheek intensified with every word she uttered.

"Can we leave the interrogation for another moment? I've just remembered I have something important to tell you."

"I bet you do," said Hermione, looking disappointed.

"No, I do!" Harry reassured her. "I received a letter this morning… from Ron." Hermione's face turned pale.

"Oh," was the only thing she said. Over a million questions formed in her mind, but she was afraid of asking them. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer to most of them.

Harry seemed to know what was going on inside her and he took matters on his own hands.

"He says his fine, that he likes Denmark and that everything's much quieter there." Hermione nodded and tried to smile, but her lips wouldn't respond. She knew that couldn't be all from the way Harry had ended his sentence.

"I don't know if I should be telling you this, but I figured you have the right to know. Ron can be very stubborn some times and he is not very good at handling his own feelings… He also wrote that the misses you terribly and that he thinks about you all the time."

That was it; that was the real reason Harry was telling her about the damned letter. And she could see what was coming next, he wanted to discuss her feelings towards Ron. For the last two weeks she had managed to keep her mind off her other best friend. While she was at the office, she concentrated on her work. At home, she had Fred to distract her. Although she had never told him that she didn't want to talk or think about his youngest brother, he seemed to have guessed it and never mentioned him. And then, when she went to bed she was usually so tired that didn't have much time to think about anything.

She tried to avoid thinking about Ron because every time she did, she felt like crying. She missed him so much it hurt. But she wasn't sure how she missed him. Did she miss him as a friend? As the person with whom she had constant rows? Or as something else?

Her feelings had never been so confusing, and for some reason living with Fred made matters worse. Perhaps it was because she knew how Ron felt about it, but every time she thought he looked cute or she laughed at one of his jokes she felt terribly guilty.

And now, after all the efforts she had devoted to keep him off her mind, Harry was bringing the matter into consideration. To make things worst, she had never been able to lie to the man sitting in front of her. He could tell whenever she was not being honest, just as she could read him.

"Do you remember that night after we finished our N.E.W.Ts? That Ron, you and I stayed up most of the night talking about our memories at Hogwarts?" Harry asked her.

"Of course I do"

"Well, you know how you fell asleep before either of us did? At one point he was watching you sleep and said that the best thing about being a Gryffindor was getting to spend so much time around you." Hermione couldn't hold the tears any longer. She had felt so happy lately, why did she have to cope with this right now, when Ron wasn't even around?

"I don't know if he got to tell you this," Harry proceeded, "but he loves you. He told Ginny and me the night you and Fred announced you were getting married. I had never seen him so devastated. He said that he could handle anything Voldemort (yes, he used the name) put in front of him, but only if you were by his side."

"Harry, please stop."

"No Hermione, you need to know this. He is not going to be around for a while and it's important that you bear in mind that absence makes the heart grow fonder. He won't forget about you just because he can't see you. And he is counting the days to come back home and be with you."

"Do you think I don't know that? All these things that you are telling me? I just don't understand why you decided to torment me with this now," said Hermione angrily, the tears were still flooding her eyes and cheeks.

"It's because I'm a guy, because I've been around Fred long enough to get to know him and because I saw they way he acted at the wedding," he responded simply

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't tell me you didn't realize! He glared at any man who dared to look at you longer than three seconds. He wouldn't allow anyone to dance with you for more than a song."

Hermione actually laughed at this. "As you said, he was acting. You are forgetting that we had to convince half the guests that we are in love. He was pretended to be jealous so that this marriage seemed more realistic."

"Hermione, he's not that good an actor."

"Harry, you are talking nonsense. Fred and I, we are just friends. We care a lot for each other, but in the same way I care about you. And in respect to Ron, well… that's a different matter and only time will tell what happens between us. But he's not here now and I have to go on with my life until the moment he comes back to it, do you understand?"

"I just don't want to see any of you hurt. More than he already is, anyway." Hermione appreciated his concern, but she had never needed his advice less. The very last thing she wanted right now was to have someone telling her how much Ron loved her. Not when she had no idea how she felt about him.

"Or Fred, for that matter," her inner voice said, right on cue.

"I do know how I feel for Fred. Stop it, will you?"

Hermione looked at her watch, trying to rid her head of undesired voices.

"If we are to go to Hogwarts, we should leave soon. I have to return to the office later," she said. Harry didn't answer. He merely nodded and called for the check.

As they made their way to through the village, he kept glancing at her. She walked looking determinately ahead. When they reached the gates to the castle he grabbed her hand to stop her from going in.

"Listen, I'm sorry I was so rude about this… It's just-" He began to apologize, but Hermione interrupted him.

"I know you just want to see both of happy. But right now neither of us can do anything about Ron happiness, but I can do something about mine. It might be a bit selfish, but you need to understand me."

"I do," he said. She hugged him tightly. A few seconds later she let go and gestured for him to follow her inside the grounds of their former school. That was the reason they were such good friends: no matter what happened between them, there was nothing a hug couldn't solve.

Once in the castle they parted ways. Harry took a short cut that would lead him Gryffindor tower and Hermione climbed the stairs to Dumbledore's office. She knew the password, so she had no problem getting in. She knocked on the door and hears the headmaster's voice inviting her in.

"Ah Hermione! To what do I owe the pleasure?" asked Dumbledore cheerfully when he saw her entering his office.

"Good afternoon professor. I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I was in Hogsmeade and I had something I wanted to discuss with you."

"Not at all, take a sit," he offered, showing her the chair in front of his desk. "How can I help you?"

"Today Draco Malfoy came into my office. We had words and he guessed I had passed the Order information about Goyle. Of course I tried to deny it, but I'm not sure he believed me."

"That means that by now Voldemort knows. Well Hermione, don't worry. I knew this moment was going to come sooner or later. This only means that the Death Eaters are going to be a bit more careful in their activities, so your task is going to be a bit more demanding."

"I don't mind that. I was worried because this could have a negative effect on the mission."

"Hermione, you are doing an excellent job. I knew you were the right person for this mission, that is why I choose you. Don't worry about Voldemort knowing," said Dumbledore reassuringly.

Hermione left Hogwarts feeling calmer, but she was still somewhat anxious. She couldn't forget the look on Malfoy's face.

And Hermione was right, because while she was speaking to the Headmaster Malfoy was giving the Dark Lord some precious information.

"That is right My Lord, Dumbledore has the mudblood Granger collecting information from the Department of Magical Families. I believe that was how they managed to get Goyle."

"Yes, I knew it was only time until the crocked old man put a spy there. Of course I had thought of it, but as those idiots of the Order of the Phoenix care not for the purity of blood it would have been of little help. Still the information you gave me is valuable."

"I thought you might find it useful, My Lord," said Draco in a silky voice, vowing his head.

"And you say she has married one of the blood traitors? I assume it's that rat how is always behind Potter."

"No My Lord. I had assumed that too, but it is one of his brothers she has married."

"Hm, that is interesting. From what Wormtail tells me, Ronald Weasley has been in love with the mudblood since he met her. This could come in handy," said Voldemort, his eyes glowing with malice.

"I'm sorry My Lord, but I don't understand."

"Of course you don't fool, and I'm not going to waste my breath trying to explain it to you. However, the information you gave will be very useful. You may go now," he said waving his hand carelessly.

Draco disapparated immediately, not wonting to irritate his master.

"Wormtail, come here!" shouted Voldemort. A stout man with watery eyes appeared the frame of the door.

"Wormtail, I want you to assume your animagus form and find out were Ronald Weasley is."

"I know where he is master, I lived with him for over thirteen years at that filthy house they call The Burrow," he answered nervously in a squeaky voice.

"Wormtail, do you think that if I thought the boy was there I would have called you? Don't make me waste my time with your stupidity and do as you are told."

"Yes master, sure master, your words are like orders to me…" he stammered.

"Go!" Voldemort shouted. Wormtail gave a terrified shriek and transformed into a thin, grey rat. The man glared at the animal as it exited the room.

Back at London and some time later, Hermione and Fred were having dinner.

"Are you all right 'Mione? You look worried," asked Fred looking at her over the candles that illuminated the dark kitchen.

"I am. I can't stop thinking about Malfoy." She had told her husband everything about her day the moment she had got home, with the exclusion of what Harry had said about Ron. It was always a relief for her to confide on Fred.

"If Dumbledore said you don't need to be troubled about it, then you shouldn't."

"I know, I just can't take him out of my head."

"If you keep saying that, I'll be jealous," he joked. "Although I don't understand how you could be thinking about Malfoy when you have moi sitting in front of you."

"Well, I've always had a soft spot for blondes," answered Hermione.

"Oh! That's why you went out with Krum," he said ironically.

"No, I went out with him because I happen to find quidditch players very attractive," she said remembering what Parvaty had told her on her sixth year.

"You do know I used to be a quidditch player, don't you?" He didn't know why, but he had had an urge to say that.

Hermione was saved from having to answer to such a weird remark by two loud pops that came from the living room. She gave him a quizzical look, but Fred smiled.

"We are in the kitchen George."

"Did you know they were going to come?"

"No, but he is the only one rude enough to apparate directly inside instead of knocking on the door," explained Fred.

"I told him we should apparate outside. But he just won't listen," said Katie apologetically coming through the kitchen door.

"It's not like we would walk into something interesting," replied George taking a sit next to Hermione and helping himself to some leftovers from her plate. "Anyway, we were going to the movies and thought you might want to come."

"How do you two know what a movie is?" asked Hermione impressed.

"I'm half-blood," explained Katie, "my mother is a muggle. I took him once and now he wants to go every week. He even made me buy a DVD player. He's obsessed with them," she added pointing at George.

"Is a movie one of those weird muggle things you were talking about the other day at the shop?" asked Fred.

"Yeap, you should come, they are wonderful! I still can't figure out how muggles manage to make them."

"You sound like dad! It's unnerving!" said Fred, backing away from his twin.

"So, do you want to come?" asked Katie, trying to put an end to the twins' discussion.

"Sure, I could use with something to distract me," said Hermione. "What did you want to see?"

"Wedding Crushers. Have you seen it?"

"No, its ages since I last went to the movies. It's a good choice. I'm sure these two will love it." A humorous movie was the best option for a pair of pranksters like Fred and George.

"Great. We should get going, there's a theater a few blocks from the Leaky Cauldron."

Fred entered the room full of skepticism but he left it in a state of excitement similar to the one he had had the first time he saw his brother turn into a canary after having on of his special creams.

"I'm sorry Hermione," apologized Katie as she saw Fred bounce up and down the street, retelling the best parts of the movie they had just seen. "He's going to be like that all week."

Hermione laughed. There was something of their father on the twins after all.

"Can we come back tomorrow?" Fred asked Hermione as if he was a little boy asking his mother for some candy.

"You can see them at home, you know?" George told his brother.

"You can? How?" asked Fred, eagerness all over his face.

"You have to get a VDV player."

"DVD," corrected Hermione. "I have one at home. I could bring it, and the T.V. set too." She put her hands on Fred's shoulders to calm him down because he was still jumping up and down.

"That would be fantastic!"

They had reached Diagon Alley. After saying their good byes, George and Katie disapparated, but Fred and Hermione decided to walk to their apartment. Hermione shivered in the cold night air and Fred put an arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him and smiled. Only he could make her feel worm just by placing an arm around her.

He only let go of her when they were inside their house. They went to the kitchen because Hermione still had to wash the dishes and Fred said he fancied a cup of tea. But they both knew it was just an excuse to keep her company.

"I would never admit this in front of the rest of the family, but dad is right, muggles are intelligent. Movies are awesome." Hermione laughed.

"I knew there was something of your father in you," she said, remembering the look on Fred's face when he first visited her parents' house.

"Talking about parents, mum told me to tell you to ask your folks if they would like to have lunch on Sunday at The Burrow. She keeps saying that the families have to get closer. I suppose she is certain you and Ron will get married once this is over and she wants to gain time," said Fred in a flat voice.

"I'll tell them, I'm sure they will love to," answered Hermione, trying to avoid the sharp pain in her chest. She had completely forgotten about her conversation with Harry, but now it had came back vividly.

"'Mione, if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here, ok?" said Fred, correctly interpreting the signs on Hermione's face.

Hermione smiled, but she knew that conversation was never going to happen. There was something that stopped her from discussing the Ron issue with her husband. It was completely irrational, because she could talk to Fred about everything and usually enjoyed doing it. Everything with the exception of that particular subject.

While Hermione mused over this, Fred was secretly hoping that she would never have the need to talk about it. He was not stupid, and he couldn't fool himself any longer. He knew he was starting to feel differently towards her. And that was not good. His youngest brother's face kept popping in his mind every time he thought about her, or he hugged her, or simply was around her in silence. The wisest thing to do would be to try to spend less time with her, to avoid moments like the one they had shared after George and Katie were gone. But that was easier said than done. Firstly, because if he started to act differently around her, she would suspect that something was going on. And secondly because he really liked spending time with Hermione. He had no idea what he was going to do about these new feelings, but every time she smiled up at he, he decided he didn't care.