Although getting out of the Burrow would have been a nice change, but everyone was still terrified that they could get blown to pieces. So it ended up that Hermione, Ginny, Fluer, Fred, and George sat around a small television set to welcome the New Year.

Half an hour left and Fred and George were telling stories of their jokes they had pulled at Hogwarts. "So, the second day of school Filch gives us detention for a week because of a couple stink pellets we strapped onto Mrs. Norris," George said. The room filled with laughter. Even though the war had changed them, the twins still had their prankster and jokester ways.

More stories were told until time flew away from them all. They didn't hear the announcer say, "10…9…8…"

"Look, look!" Ginny pointed out, and they all horded around the tiny set.

"4…3…2…1…HAPPY NEW YEAR," the announcer yelled.

"Happy New Year," the whole group yelled to each other.

"Just go for it." Fred said to himself. He grabbed Hermione's hand and spun her around to face him. "Happy New Year, 'Mione."

"Happy New Ye…" she was stopped in mid-sentence by a surprise kiss from Fred. "Year," Hermione finished her sentence. Her usual pink cheeks were now a crimson red.

"Wow," she thought to herself. "I might actually really like Fred." In fact she loved him. They had grown very close to each other, and she hated it when they were separated from each other for a long time.

Fred pulled Hermione off to the side of the room and whispered in her ear, "I love you 'Mione."

"I love you too," her voice was so soft and gentle with those four words.

-----One Year Later-----

Fred and Hermione had been a couple for a year and seven months. Ginny and Neville Longbottom had been going steady for about eight months now. The war had kept those two friends separated for a long time. Harry and Ron were still missing. Everyone was putting the broken pieces of their lives back together.

Hermione was sitting on a chair in the garden watching the sun set. Ever since Fred confessed his love to her she was a new person. Her interest in books had returned, and she was a lot happier. Although, some days, such as this one, she would feel depressed because she missed Ron and Harry terribly. She still had feelings for Ron, but she knew he was most likely dead and so she picked herself up and started to live her life again.

Fred knew this was one of her depressed days, so he just walked outside, stood behind Hermione and wrapped his arms around her. Before he went inside he leaned down and kissed Hermione's cheek. He whispered in her ear, "I love you, and always will."

-----Two Years Later-----

The Ministry of Magic had gotten some power back and had put out a new law. People must be engaged by the age of 21 and be married by the age of 27. Very odd years, yes, but there were a lot of people in their late teens and early twenties now. These young couples weren't having any children because of their fear of the war. So, within the first year of a marriage a child must be conceived.

"This is ridiculous!" Ginny said in an outrage. "I'm 20 years old now and the ministry expects me to be engaged by my twenty-first birthday?"

"Well, at least you have a year. I have one day." Hermione said shyly. Her relationship was going exceptionally well with Fred, but she wasn't sure if they were both ready to get married.

"Get some rest. You'll feel better," Ginny said as she gave Hermione a hug. "You'll be a lot better at your party."

While Hermione was down in the kitchen Fred was nervously pacing in his room. His head was reeling at about 120 miles an hour.

"Calm down, she'll say 'yes.' I can guarantee that, bro," George said.

"I hope you're right. I really love her," Fred took a box out of his jean pocket. The velvet box was cool and soft, the color was of a deep navy blue. Inside laid a one karat diamond with tiny sapphires circling around it.

"I gave up half a years pay so you could get that!" George said jokingly. He wanted his brother to be happy, and Hermione was already like a sister to him.

Fred just laughed. He knew that their business had just started to hit it big again. Soon enough would he pay his brother back. He walked over to the door and turned to say, "I'll catch you later."

Hermione woke up with sunshine on her face. She walked down the stairs to the kitchen forgetting that it was her twenty-first birthday. Her form fitting scarlet Gryffindor tee-shirt was slightly winkled and the same with her grey track sweatpants. No one was in the kitchen. "How odd," she thought to herself.

"Happy Birthday Hermione!" yelled Ginny, Fred, George, and Fluer. At this noise, Hermione jumped about a foot into the air.

"God, you guys scared me," she said, a huge smile forming on her face. "And look, you guys are all dressed and me, well I'm still in my pajamas."

"Well you better get ready we're going to Hogsmeade to celebrate your birthday," George said. He walked over to Fred while Hermione, Ginny and Fluer were talking. "Come on let's go and get everything set up." So the two of them left to set up Hermione's surprise.

"Where did Fred and George go?" Hermione asked when she came downstairs.

"Oh, ze went ahead of uz," Fluer said. Her English still hadn't improved that much. Yet, for a French woman her English was good.

"Okay. Well, are we ready to go then?" Ginny asked walking in from outside. "Yes? Well, let's get going."

By floo powder they arrived at the Three Broomsticks.