AN: I'm baaaaack!


This One's for Fred


As Hermione was preparing tea in her and Ron's kitchen at their flat near Hampstead Heath, she remembered a conversation she once had with her nan after a rough day at primary school. 'Do you know why people make tea for people after something bad happens,' her kind grandmother asked as she poured tea; Hermione had responded in the negative. 'We offer to make tea because it helps give people the time they need to think about what happened. Then once the tea is made, well, the warmth of tea offers comfort.' The former Gryfindor smiled at the memory as she finished making tea for her best female friend.

Hermione Granger walked into her sitting room carrying a small tray with tea and biscuits. She'd decided to make tea to help her friend digest the article. Putting the tray down on the coffee table, she sat and turned to look at her dear friend, and was happy to see that she looked less frazzled. "So, how are we?"

Lottie turned to look at her and simply said, "Bloody hell." Hermione rolled her eyes and snorted, "Ron's eloquence has certainly rubbed off on you"

Rolling her eyes, Lottie took her cup of tea, mumbling a sarcastic, "ta".

"Honestly Lottie, what are you thinking about?"

The researcher shook her head, "You're going to think I'm mental, but my first reaction to the article was the urge to write the editor and tell them to do their research. It's a family vineyard, so we're all inheriting shares in it"

Hermione shook her head and chuckled as her friend rambled on about the vineyard, "you're a total nutter, but it's one of the reasons we love you,"

Charlotte glared at her best mate before laughing, "Love how you keep me humble. Anyway, it was a bit of a shock to read all that. I mean," Lottie quickly took a sip of tea, "the only times I've ever been mentioned in the paper pertain to my work, or when I'm out with you lot."

Hermione ran a hand through her brown wavy hair, "Well, he is a quidditch player, one with a bit of a rep." Lottie turned pink, "Yeah, I've read about how he pulls (Hermione giggled at that). But yesterday was nice, it felt like he genuinely wanted to get to know me." Hermione nodded at that, and reclined in her seat, "I've known of Adrian Pucey since Hogwarts; seen him at school and at clubs when he picks up women. But with you last night, well, it was different. It didn't fit his M.O." Charlotte softly asked if that was a good thing to which Hermione answered that she truly hoped it was. "So, what do you think about him?"

Lottie blushed, "I only met him yesterday but . . . I really like him"

"What about you and Fred?"

Putting down her cuppa, Lottie leaned back into the soft, blue couch in Hermione's flat and sighed, "that relationship is so complicated. I'd no idea my feelings for him were so obvious"

Hermione sat up and shook her head, "it wasn't just you, you know. His relationship with you is different; not like your relationship with George – George and you are like siblings. Fred," she paused as she thought about how to best phrase it, "he's just so tactile with you; there's always this undertone of flirtation in everything he says or does with you Charlotte. Personally, I don't think he's conscious of it, which apparently is a trait all Weasley men have, but there is something there. " Charlotte sat up and looked to be ready to start arguing that fact, but Mione stopped her, "it's true, that's why the prophet picked up on it. That's why when I was at the Weasley's for breakfast this morning, a lot of them thought the article held some truth"

At that Lottie turned beet red, jumping up from her seat and unintentionally frightening Crookshanks who had been resting on the back of the sofa.

"What did they say? What did Fred say? Oh my gosh," the researcher paled considerably, "What did Molly say? Oh, if she believed the article she'll hate me and think I'm a tart!"

Resisting the urge to laugh at the last comment, Hermione stood and gently led the frazzled girl to her seat. When they were both seated she calmly explained that Fred had not been at the Burrow for Sunday breakfast, as it was his day to open the shop. She also explained, as she poured more tea for her friend, that she'd cleared up any thoughts of a secret tryst between Fred and Lottie. However, after clearing the air the others in the room (especially Molly) said that the pair would be a great couple, well all except Fleur as she was fiercely loyal to Chloé.

Lottie's eyes filled with tears as she shook her head, "that's not going to happen. I'm done pining over Fred Weasley"

Hermione stopped pouring tea, pushing the saucer and cup towards Lottie and looked at her friend with worry, "I had noticed that there has been an awful lot of tension between the pair of you. What's that about?"

What had caused the sudden shift in her friendship, Lottie mentally asked herself. Yes, there was the situation at the Crouch estate, but her relationship with Fred had started to strain even before that. She rubbed a hand over her face, "I think that it started a few months ago, before that terrible row between him and me. I received a phone call from Ben," Hermione nodded remembering Lottie's handsome, intelligent, but arrogant ex-boyfriend, "he told me about the research he and his research partner were doing in Asia for his brother. Said that their trip was being extended for a few more months. Then he asked how I was doing. When I said that things were the same as always, he said he missed me and wanted me to join him in Asia." Hermione's eyes widened at that. She knew Ben through Lottie, but also knew his professional reputation. The man was known as being pompous and cold. Even when he was dating Lottie, he was never publicly affectionate, though Hermione and Ben's best mate and research partner, John, recognized the looks and smiles reserved just for Charlotte (not to mention that in private the pair were very physical). Still, it was surprising to hear that he had expressed emotions.

Charlotte suppressed the urge to laugh at the look of shock that settled on her mate's face, and continued, "Yes, contrary to popular belief, Ben does have feelings. Anyway, I turned down the offer. At the time I was neck deep in my research. Ben said that he understood, but the invitation was always open"

Hermione began to pet Crookshanks, who had jumped up on her lap. She bit her lip as she looked at her friend, a puzzled expression marring her features, "so, how'd that change your relationship with Fred?"

"Because that's when I realized that my feelings for Fred were stopping me from pursuing happiness. Yes, I turned down the invitation because of my research, but I also turned it down because if I went to Asia, then I wouldn't be able to see Fred"

Hermione's mouth formed a little O, before frowning for her friend. Lottie nodded, "yeah, I felt so pathetic. I just dived into my research, and then when I was finished I debated taking up Ben's offer, then that argument happened and the news about my da'.

Lottie then told Hermione everything about what she'd experienced at Crouch manor. The retelling of the experience caused Lottie's eyes to fill with tears, and soon Hermione found herself also crying, patting her friend's back in comfort. Her poor friend, the past few months had been terrible for her, "I'm so sorry," Hermione whispered to her friend as she hugged her. The pair hugged for a bit, before pulling away. Lottie apologized as she wiped her tears with a napkin

"I'm such a wreck, sorry about the sudden cry," Lottie said as she began to compose herself. Hermione shook her head, "It's ok to cry Lottie, especially after the shit time you've had.

"So, are you going to take a break from your work?"

Lottie nodded, "Yes, at least for a couple of months. I'll take the time off to move into my new flat and decorate it. Find a new hobby; maybe write a book – I've no idea"

Upon hearing about Lottie's new flat, Hermione immediately began to ask her about the flat. The two spent the next half hour discussing the property, and decoration plans for it before meeting up with their mates for lunch.

George Weasley frowned as he made his way up the stairs towards Fred's flat. He'd just dropped the kids off at his parents, as Katie was currently with her girlfriends. George had wanted to check up on his twin. According to Verity, Fred had been down only twice. Apparently, each time he'd come down all of a sudden everyone would start whispering to each other. The first time down a girl had approached him and told him that he could do much better than "some swotty slag." He'd asked the girl and her friends to leave saying no one was allowed to speak ill of his friends, then had gone back up to the flat. His second time down he'd spotted Rita Skeeter standing at the front door, and had immediately gone back upstairs. That had been two hours ago.

George briskly knocked on the door to the flat before stepping inside. He found Fred sitting on the orange couch drinking whiskey, "Oi, don't you dare finish that off in one go – it's good stuff"

Fred rolled his eyes, "off course it's good stuff, it was a gift from Lottie"

George laughed, placing a bag of take away on the coffee table "Ah yes, she knows her Scottish Whisky and the best Italian wines. Bless her and her heritage," Fred raised his glass in agreement and thanked George for bringing over food.

George took a seat on the arm chair across from the couch, and accepted the dram of whisky offered to him, mumbling 'it's 5 o'clock somewhere,' before savoring the drink. As George enjoyed his drink, his twin went to the kitchen to collect some plates and brought them back. The two quietly loaded their plates with delicious Chinese takeaway and tucked in.

"Yes, I saw the article," Fred said before he chewed on a spring roll. George sighed, putting down his chopsticks, "Way to stay the obvious, oh twin of mine"

Said twin rolled his eyes, "Anyway, I can't believe Lottie's involved with Pucey. I thought she had better taste than that – OW!"

George had chucked a fortune cookie at Fred for his mumbled comment, "don't slag off Lottie"

Fred mumbled an apology as he rubbed his head, and returned to his food. The pair didn't say anything until they'd finished their meal. George waved the dishes to the kitchen, then looked at his brother, "so…what are your thoughts regarding your relationship with our little bookworm?"

"I'm not shagging her," Fred said as he crossed his arms. His twin shook his head, "Duh, of course you're not – I'd have been the first to know"

Two more drams were filled and downed before Fred spoke, "it's just odd that the world seemed to be convinced I'm involved with her, or that she fancies me and I had no idea of it. Why was I the last to know?"

"Well, I am the smarter twin," George said which earned him the two finger salute, "but seriously, even I was clueless to her liking you that way"

Fred sat up, and leaned his elbows on his knees, "Well, I guess it doesn't matter now anyway. I'm with Chloe, and she's with that git Pucey. I'm not the cheating type and I don't want to put the moves on another bloke's bird"

"But, lets say you both were single. Would you make a play for her?"

Fred turned to look at his brother and shook his head, "I have no idea. I've only ever thought of her as a mate"

George stood up to put away the leftovers, "are you sure about that? They say that a rumor comes from a kernel of truth. So, if people are assuming you are shagging her, then maybe there's something there?"

Fred shook his head, "I've never heard anyone say that about rumors"

George shrugged his shoulders, "I'm going down to relieve Verity for her lunch break. While I'm down there, just think about it"

As the tall redhead left, his doppelganger leaned into his seat and thought about his relationship with Lottie, 'Do I secretly fancy Lottie?'


AN: Sorry this hasn't been updated in forever. I've had a bunch of health issues and major writers block. The first half of this chapter was written ages ago, but I couldn't get past it until today. It turned out different than I imagined... but it's here now. And the next chapter will be better.