A/N: Well, here we are. Obviously, this story is going to be a little longer than a one-shot, though I haven't really decided just how long I want to make it. At any rate, here's chapter two. I hope you enjoy, and I hope, hope, HOPE you review! Thanks bunches!
Chapter 2: Playing With Fire
Hermione didn't have proper words to explain what was going through her head as Fred walked away. She eventually ended on a single question, though it was unlike her to speak or even think in such terms.
What the hell?
Fred kissed her. Fred Weasley kissed her, Hermione Granger. She was shocked, horrified, and disgusted immediately; and while she pondered it, she realized she was also irritated, insulted, and angry. How dare he kiss her without her permission? A kiss was supposed to be romantic. It was supposed to leave you floating, happy, and eager for more.
But kissing Fred—if she even dared to call it that—was the exact opposite. After she'd had a few minutes to sort out her thoughts, she was ready to throttle him. Glancing across the yard, she saw the family was still busy chasing Ron around. For goodness sakes, didn't any of them have enough wits to realize they were wizards?
Hermione stamped across the grass and produced her wand, shooting an angry spell at the screaming pig. He stumbled as the sparks hit him, then his limbs and torso grew until he had fully returned to human form. The Weasleys fell silent while Ron regained his sense of awareness and stood. Then, in the next moment, chaos resumed. Ron threw himself at his brothers and they all rolled to the ground in a jumbled mass.
Mrs. Weasley approached Hermione, her grip loosening on her broomstick, and patted the younger witch's shoulder.
"Thank you, dear," she said sweetly, unconcerned with the boys' brawling. "I'd forgotten my wand in the house, I was so flustered!" She shook her head and mumbled, "Those boys are in so much trouble."
The Weasleys made their way back inside one by one, letting Ron, Fred and George duke it out on their own. Harry and Ginny remained a while to watch, encouraging the handicap wrestling match with their jeers and catcalls.
Eventually, Ron figured out that he wasn't enough for Fred and George together, so he got up from the fray and stormed into the house. He passed Hermione and mumbled "thanks," but hardly spoke the rest of the evening. Ginny and Harry went to catch up with Ron, leaving only the twins and Hermione. She put her hands firmly on her hips and glared at Fred as he brushed himself off, still laughing.
"Oh, come on, Hermione," George chuckled. "Admit it. It was funny!"
"Not at all," she replied.
"You've always known Ron was a pig," added Fred. "We were just making it obvious to everyone else."
George came to Hermione's side and slung his arm over her shoulders. "Look—mum's going to kill us as it is. Can't you let us off the hook just this once?" he pleaded.
"Ugh," she said, shrugging his arm off her. "I hope Mrs. Weasley locks you up in a dungeon for the rest of the summer!"
"Does that mean you forgive us?" George asked with false sweetness. When Hermione didn't answer, only glared at him some more, George laughed and headed for the house. "Good enough for me."
Fred had only hesitated a second, but it was just enough time for Hermione to halt him.
"Fred Weasley," she snarled. "I am very upset with you."
He sighed through a smirk. "I figured as much."
Hermione got very close to him and lowered her voice so no one else could overhear. "How dare you do that to me!"
"We didn't do it to you, Hermione. Ron was the pig, remember?"
"Not that!" she shouted, then decreased her volume again. "The—kiss!"
"Oh," he said with a laugh. "That."
"Yes, that! You are totally and completely foul!"
Fred was still smirking. "You didn't enjoy it at all?"
"What!?"
"I'm kidding, Hermione, really. I meant what I said, you know. You have got to try to relax a little."
"I don't want to relax! Ron should have turned you into a pig, because you are absolutely—"
He cut her off again with another kiss, and she stopped talking immediately. It was exactly the same as the first—short, sweet, and not really significant at all—and it had the same effect. Hermione looked up at him, all anger temporarily drained from her cinnamon eyes. They stared at each other for several long moments before Hermione shook her head and was able to think.
"Would you stop doing that?" she insisted vehemently, visibly flustered.
Fred smiled and shrugged. "When it stops working, I'll quit doing it."
He winked and sauntered into the house, leaving Hermione fuming. He was playing with fire, and he knew it; Hermione could hex him to oblivion and back if she wanted, but that was what made it so much fun. A couple innocent kisses weren't going to hurt anybody. And damn it, Hermione did need to loosen up. He couldn't spend his entire summer at the Burrow with her harping and screeching at him all the time.
It was all in good fun, really. Hermione would be able to see that in the end.