A/N:

A shout out to my two lovely reviewers! Helldarkangel1, thanks for the encouragement! And CharleighAnn, I don't know exactly how long it will be yet but I do have a solid 10-11 chapters written already. It's going to be a nice sized fic, nothing too long.

Read and Review! It helps me squeeze out more chapters!

Oh yes, Fred Weasley was extremely interested. The girl in front of him was far prettier than any of the girls his mother had ever found before. Delilah Parkinson had been the closest to pretty that he'd ever had; and she had that same pug nose her cousin did. Marlene though…she was perfect. Her face was thin and angular, given a shape by her dark, tightly curled hair that he longed to run his fingers through. Not to mention her body, Fred never overlooked a great set of legs and anything with breasts.

His mother sure had picked a winner this time. He smiled as he held out his hand, "You must be my date for the afternoon?"

Millicent looked over at him, a smile spreading over her features as he grasped her hand and shook it vigorously. "Indeed, Mister Weasley. You're just as your mother described." She made a mental note to tell Molly exactly what had happened here. She planned on going into this relationship as Millicent Bulstrode, not as Marlene Braedenstock. It started with a lie…and she didn't know where it was going to stop.

"Are you interested in some lunch, Miss Braedenstock?" He asked, giving Zonko a wink as he gathered his coat.

It was against her better judgment to say yes after what she had overheard. However, she had promised Molly…not to mention, Fred was a very attractive man now. His orange hair had darkened to a less carroty color and he had certainly grown into his tall body. In school had had been boyishly handsome though very thin and lanky, as Arthur Weasley was, but Fred had put on muscle since then. He was certainly something to look at. "Sure, and please, call me Marlene."

"Fred," He replied with a smile. There were many things had had learned in the ten years since he had graduated Hogwarts, seducing women was one of those things. They loved to be treated with respect, and he held the door for her as they made their way out into the chilly street. Another thing women loved was to feel special, wanted. And Fred really wanted this one. "I was hoping we could go to this little bistro on the edge of Hogsmeade. It's where Madame Rosmerta's used to be."

Nodding her assent, she relished in the cool winds rushing down the streets. It was empty here at this time during the day. Hogsmeade was more of a weekend getaway for the younger scene; especially the Hogwarts students who were merely a short walk away. On a day such as today there were just a handful of people milling around, most out on their lunch break or herding children through stores while they were mostly empty.

The bell on the door jingled as Fred pushed it open. Madame Rosmerta's had been a romantic place for horny teenagers; this little bistro was where bachelors took women to get them wined, dined and primed. Even though it was a sunny afternoon, the bistro was bathed in soft, romantic darkness. There were red tulips, white periwinkle and French honeysuckle suspended by charm over each table; and there were only tables for two.

Millicent had to steel herself against rolling her eyes as the waiter, with a fake French accent, showed them to the table and insisted on taking their coats. Menus were placed in front of them riddled with romantic descriptions of food.

Inwardly, he was smirking. He had this girl right where he wanted her. George had told him that he took his wife here once and their son had been conceived that night; knowing George…and worse, knowing Penelope, them having sex before marriage was a big accomplishment. Percy had once told Fred that Penelope was uptight; coming from Percy, the king of tight-asses, that meant that Penelope was truly prudish.

Setting down the menu, he smiled over at her. "Would you like to start with some wine?" He asked, holding out the wine list to her.

"That sounds lovely…we'll have the Chateau d'Yquem White, 1896." A ten thousand galleon wine would loosen him up. A laugh sat in her chest as she watched Fred's Adam's apple bob with terror. "And I would like the Brill with the French Onion Soup to start." Another hundred galleons right there.

Expensive taste? Was this really the woman that his mother had picked out? Usually the girls that his mother picked were exactly like her: understanding, motherly and calm. This girl…she was a hellcat; not like Molly Weasley, for sure. Not to mention that he had no idea how the hell was he going to pay for this! He barely afforded his flat every month and the wine alone cost more than he made in a year. "I-I'm not hungry." He said, looking pale.

The waiter gave a nod, disappearing into dark door that must've been the kitchen, leaving Fred and Millicent alone to talk. Except, it didn't look like Fred Weasley was in the mood to do much talking; in fact, he looked about to swallow his own tongue.

Millicent couldn't help but smile. "So, Fred…your mother has told me a little bit about you. Why don't you fill me in on the rest of it?" Molly had told her mostly about Fred's love life and terrible taste in women.

With a gentle pop, the wine appeared before them. Ah, discretion…another reason he had chosen this place. Now Fred really wished he had taken her to the Three Broomsticks instead. At least there the most expensive bottle of wine was under thirty galleons and nobody ever had the seventeen dollar haggis that happened to be the most expensive item on the menu.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he sighed, "Well, I am an inventor of sorts. I create gags for Zonko's joke shop. Someday I hope to own my own shop; it was our dream, my twin George and I…though, he's pretty much given up. I, though, am still working toward getting the funds to make it on my own." Not bloody likely after this meal! He thought to himself. "Do you have a job, Marlene?"

Smiling, she swirled the wine around in her glass; 1986 had been an excellent year and it showed in the rich, bold flavor of the wine. "Indeed, I work for the Daily Prophet."

"You're that Marlene Braedenstock!" Fred burst out excitedly, "The way you wrote the Quidditch Quarterly this year, it was bloody brilliant!"

This time when Millicent blushed, it was from pride. "I'm glad you liked it…I usually stick to smaller articles but a bad bout of the Owl Flu has hit the Daily Prophet; I took over all the articles I could handle." Smiling, she found that despite what she had overheard him saying about her (and she would admit her bum had been rather large back then), she really did like him. "So you have four brothers and one sister?"

Conversation was flowing easier now, maybe because they had both had some wine or perhaps because the first date jitters had passed. But he was definitely enjoying himself. "Yes, there's Charlie, Bill, my twin George, Ron and Ginny is the youngest, my sister. Percy has unfortunately passed away," He answered, counting off to make sure he hadn't missed one. "What about you? Siblings?"

Millicent shook her head, "None! My parents didn't really want to have children…they had me hoping they would have a boy who could carry on the family name. But, they got me instead and my mum was not going through another pregnancy." She took another sip of wine, letting it linger in her mouth. "It must have been wonderful growing up with all that family…my childhood was very lonely without anyone to talk to."

"Except there's never a moment of peace in a household with seven children," He laughed slightly. "But I suppose you could say that it was never boring…or quiet."

Once again, the food popped out of the air and fell gently in front of her. "Would you like to share?" She asked, pushing the plate toward him slightly. "I don't mind."

Fred broke into a goofy grin as he got his fork and knife. One thing that Molly had warned her about was his ravenous appetite. It made her smile to see him go through a hundred galleon meal as if it were a cheeseburger at the Three Broomsticks. She took a bite and shrugged; it wasn't the best Brill she'd ever had.

"So Fred," She said, leaning closer as he finished off the parsley garnish on the side, "You told me about your job, you family…now tell me about you. What do you like to do?"

He knew he had her right where he wanted her. "I love quidditch, it's my favorite sport. And I like you, Marlene…I like you a lot." Corny, he knew it; but if he was going to get this woman into bed, he had to work it…not that she didn't owe him for this bloody expensive meal!

Furrowing her eyebrows, she wasn't sure that this was working out. He was interested, but in nothing more than meaningless sex…she wasn't exactly looking for marriage and "a bundle of screaming kids" as he had put it, but she did want some sort of relationship with the man she slept with for the first time. Then again…he was looking quite delicious in his robes and she really did need to lose her virginity sometime.

Withdrawing her purse, she signaled for the waited and handed him the bag. "We'll be leaving now, monsieur. Keep the change." Grabbing her coat, then the bottle of wine, she stared into Fred Weasley's shocked face. "Come now, Fred…I've paid for an expensive meal. I expect you to put out."

For a split second he thought she was a legilimens and was poking through his thoughts. But then…then he saw the laughter behind her eyes. This woman was definitely not like the others his mother had picked for him. "Well if you insist, Madame. How can I say no?" Linking his arm in hers, they made it all the way to the door before the waiter came out after them.

"Miss Braedenstock? The prophet flooed for you while you were at lunch…you're needed immediately in Marcus Flint's office." He said, conveying the message as it had been given to him.

Sighing heavily, she shook her head. "That's one of my bosses, Fred…I have to go." She meant to kiss him on the cheek, she really had. But she missed completely and ended lip to lip with Fred. His lips were soft against hers at first then more insistent. Even as an inexperienced virgin, she knew that men who kissed like that were looking for only one thing…but for this moment, she didn't care. She melded against him, her tongue meeting his with fervor.

He sighed into her mouth and pulled back, cheeks flushing. "You better go; I wouldn't want to keep the boss waiting." There was a tightening in his stomach as he gave her one look, her lips slightly swollen from his kiss and her hair tousled from the wind. She was…beautiful. "I'll owl you, Marlene."

And in that moment…it almost felt like he would. But Millicent knew better than that, she wouldn't get her hopes up. Under no circumstances was she to start hoping this could end in anything but casual, meaningless sex and an awkward goodbye.