'Hermione?'

Someone shook Hermione's arm and she grabbed their hand to make them stop shaking her. The person chuckled a low chuckle and Hermione opened one eye to see Fred leaning beside her with a grin on his face. Hermione opened both of her eyes to see him better and she suddenly sat up as she realised where she was. This was not her room! She realised it was the common room and then she realised that she had met Fred here last night and must've fell asleep.

'You look adorable when you sleep,' muttered Fred chuckling as she blushed.

Hermione got up and tied her hair up to keep it out of her face. Fred sat on the sofa and watched her. Hermione looked out of the window and saw that the sun was up but no one was awake. She turned back to Fred and saw him staring at her. Hermione thought of last night. It was the first night that Fred had spent without George... She decided not to ask him or else he' get upset so she sat on the sofa and he grinned as he turned to face her.

'So, Fred,' said Hermione, turning to face him.

'So, Hermione,' muttered Fred, raising an eyebrow, 'Want to get something to eat?'

'From Hogsmeade?' asked Hermione frowning as she checked the time. It was nearly twelve, 'we were supposed to leave at eleven... Oh well, Harry could use the sleep.'

'Come on,' said Fred and grabbed her hand.

Hermione let him pull her up. Fred grinned and lead her down the stairs. His grin faltered as they neared the Great Hall but he lead her past it and into the kitchens. Hermione saw that there were only a couple of house elves there and she didn't want to imagine what happened to the others. Fred sat down on a table and Hermione sat with him.

'Do not give me the S.P.E.W nonsense,' warned Fred and sighed before smiling, 'what do you want to eat?'

'Um...' Hermione paused. She wasn't entirely hungry but she had anything to choose from... 'I'll have whatever you're having.'

'Okay,' he turned to the house elf and said, 'Just give us some sweets for the road.'

The houseful hurried away and Hermione turned to Fred.

'For the road? Are we going somewhere?' asked Hermione.

'No, it was figure of speech!' Fred rolled his eyes and Hermione sighed, 'Seriously, Hermione, they call you the smartest witch of our age?'

Fred laughed and Hermione knew he was joking. His laugh lit up alight in her heart and made her want to hear it again and again. She really liked Fred. Better than before and was glad that they were friends now. A death brought them closer but she wasn't thankful for the death. The house elf cam hurrying back and had a plate of sweets which he handed to Fred and scurried away. Fred offered Hermione some sweets and they sat on the table eating Bertie Bots Every Flavour Beans.

'Fred,' asked Hermione and Fred looked to her, 'Can I ask you something?'

'Anything,' muttered Fred.

Hermione blushed red and tried t hide her face from Fred. She had no reason to bush but she just thought it was a personal question but she wanted to know the answer anyway.

'Come on, Mia... I mean Hermione, sorry,' now Fred blushed red as Hermione looked up to him.

'No call me Mia. I like it...' muttered Hermione and Fred's embarrassment faded away.

'Okay... so what do you want to ask me?' asked Fred.

'Um... Do you have a... um... a girlfriend? I know it's really personal but-' Hermione tried to hide her face again.

'No I don't... although I do like someone,' Fred' eyes twinkled as Hermione looked up.

Hermione could feel something in her heart but she ignored it. She couldn't ignore the thoughts bursting through her head. She couldn't believe that Fred liked someone... well she could believe it but she didn't want to for some reason. Her heart thud as Fred looked up at her and she tried to control herself. His blue eyes bore into hers with such intensity that she looked down to the plate of sweets.

'She's beautiful,' Fred murmured watching Hermione as she looked down, 'Her hair is long and I love it best when it hangs down her back in the most amazing curls. Sometimes I wonder how she has curls like that. So flawless and silky. Her eyes get so big and wide when she's afraid or nervous or guilty and I love that too and her smile... Merlin, her smile is the best. She-'

'Seems like you love her,' muttered Hermione, looking up at him and was surprised to see his expression. Fred was surprised. Literally. His eyebrows shot up and his he had the most surprised face, Hermione smiled and said 'Okay, maybe not?'

'No, I just... I've never been in love. Ever. Maybe I am in love with her,' muttered Fred as he stared into her eyes again, 'But she only thinks of me as a friend so...'

'Hmm...' muttered Hermione and she looked down again.

She couldn't comprehend why she felt this way. It was almost... jealousy. She was jealous because Fred liked another girl. Hermione grimaced. She shouldn't be feeling jealous. That was stupid. She guessed it was a friendly sort of jealous. Hermione sighed and stood up.

'Where are you going?' asked Fred, grabbing her arm.

'I should go home now. Need to get Harry and then say good bye to everyone,' shrugged Hermione, 'We've waited too long.'

'I'll walk you,' said Fred and stood up.

He left the plate on the table and walked out of the kitchen, side by side. They walked in silence and Fred sighed and took her hand. Hermione didn't complain. They entered the Gryffindor common room and Hermione let go of Fred's hand as she saw the Weasley family sitting there. Some were getting ready and others were just lounging.

'Arthur, get your travelling cloak on! Come on!' Mrs Weasley barked orders as Ron came up to Hermione.

'Hey,' he muttered and kissed Hermione on the lips.

Hermione kissed him too and out of the corner of her eye she saw Fred. He ran a hand through his hair and then walked away to sit next to Ginny.

'You leaving?' asked Hermione, as Ron pulled back.

'Yes and Harry's ready to leave with you. Please take care of yourself,' said Ron.

'I will,' muttered Hermione and she untangled herself from Ron. She walked over to Harry and tapped his shoulder, 'Ready to go?'

'Yeah,' muttered Harry and leaned in to kiss Ginny after a quick glance to her parents.

Hermione decided that she would get changed at home after a long hot shower. She couldn't wait. Fred got up and gathered her in for a hug.

'Oh, Mia,' he whispered, 'I'm going to miss you.'

'Me too, Fred. You can come over for dinner tonight if you want,' asked Hermione as Fred pulled back.

'Thanks, I will,' muttered Fred.

Hermione said her goodbyes to the Weasley family. She declined yet another offer of Mrs Weasley to stay with her and she said good bye to Percy who had become really quiet after the war and Hermione guessed it was his way of mourning. She quickly ran up the stairs and grabbed her wand. When she came back down Harry stood up and grabbed Hermione's hand. They disapparated to her home and both hated the feeling of apparition. Hermione was glad when she saw her house.

It reminded her of her parents an awful lot but she didn't mind because she knew they were happy. Hermione opened the door and loved the soft yet homey smell in her house. The living room was bare like it hadn't been touched in years instead of just one year and the kitchen reminded her of her mother's cooking which she thought was the best apart from, of course, Mrs Weasley's amazing meals. Hermione avoided her parents room and went to show Harry his room.

'This is the guest bedroom,' muttered Hermione and opened the cream door.

Inside the room, the walls were a blue colour with sea waves a shade darker and the bed was also the same blue as the sea. There was also a bathroom which hadn't been used except for the time when Hermione's Aunt came to stay for the day. Harry smiled at her as she showed him the bathroom.

'Truly, Hermione, you are the best. It'll only be for a few days then I'll move,' said Harry, taking a seat on the bed.

'Nonsense. Stay here as long as you want,' Hermione smoothed out the curtains and turned to face Harry who had lost his smile, 'Harry, what are you going to do about work?'

'You think I can be an Auror after I killed the most evil dark wizard who had gained power?' joked Harry and Hermione chuckled, 'I think I'll wait a few days and then get some work in the Ministry. You could work there too since you were with me and of course... because of your amazing grades.'

'I guess I could but I just want to lay low for a year... I took a job with Fred... in his joke shop,' said Hermione. She didn't know how Harry would react to this but she was sure that she didn't want to go to the ministry just yet. Anyway, she could use some free time.

'That's great... I guess. I know what you mean... Everyone's going to be asking for autographs and... It's good that you stay out of the Ministry for now anyway,' said Harry and Hermione saw a slight grin on his face which disappeared so fast that she thought he must've imagined it.

'Well, I'll let you get freshened up and... oh yeah, Fred's coming over to dinner tonight,' said Hermione remembering suddenly.

'Oh?' Harry stated and Hermione nodded after some hesitation, 'You should ask Ron to come too...'

Hermione nodded. Of course! She hadn't asked Ron over... He might take it the wrong way.

'I'll send him an owl right now,' said Hermione and she left the room, closing the door behind her.

Hermione entered her room which was in front of the guest bedroom. She remembered leaving her parents that day. She was heartbroken but determined to get the job done. She promised herself that she would stick with Harry no matter what and she did stick with him. Hermione's brown silent eyes grazed over her perfectly clean room. Her parchments had been put in the bin and the bin had been taken out that very day. She glanced at her desk and saw that it hadn't been touched. She was glad that the death eaters didn't come to her home. Maybe it was too obvious to hide here? She didn't know why.

Hermione then saw her little teddy sitting on her desk and went over to it. It was a brown teddy bear and had one ear chewed off. She had had that teddy since the day she was born. It had grew up with her, laughed with her, cried with her but it hadn't gone to war with her. She was also happy for this because she didn't want that memory to stay in her head. This teddy had seen all the memories she wanted to remain with her forever. She even took it to Hogwarts and she even told him what she thought were secrets when she was younger and needed someone to talk to as she didn't have any siblings. Hermione gingerly picked up the teddy bear and smelled it. It smelt so much like her... Her smell must've faded and entwined itself into the teddy bear since she could smell the perfume she wore every day.

Hermione put the teddy onto her well made bed and looked around. For a second she forgot why she had come in here but she heard a tap on the window and went to investigate. Ron's owl was standing with a letter in his beak. Hermione let him in with a smile and took the letter as it flew all over the room. She opened the letter and read.

Dear Hermione,

I hope you are all right and I heard that Fred was coming over for dinner? Can I come or am I not allowed? Remember I'll love you forever...

Love Ron Weasley

Hermione grinned and turned the parchment over and wrote:

Dear, Ron,

Of course you can come! I was actually going to send an owl but I couldn't because I don't have an owl... or Hedwig... I love you too.

Love, Hermione

Hermione tied the parchment to the owl and it flew off with a final hoot. She closed the window and turned around thinking of what to make. Hermione tied her hair up and quickly changed into sweats before leaving her room to go downstairs. She ransacked the fridge to try and find out what she could actually make.

Hermione quickly turned off the heat of the cooker and grabbed the spaghetti. She was well aware of the time but she had already gotten ready. All she had to do was her hair. Hermione decided to let the spaghetti cool as she went up to her room. She scrutinized herself in the mirror. Hermione wore a red top and some jeans, she couldn't and didn't want to dress up any more than that. It was only a dinner anyway. She tied her hair up and went down the stairs and into the living room, where Harry was watching the news.

'We need to go shopping for you pretty soon,' said Hermione eyeing his white button up shirt and simple blue jeans.

Harry grinned and Hermione walked into the kitchen again. The table was set out for four, compete with cutlery and glasses. She put the spaghetti on a huge plate and sat it in the middle of the table just as the doorbell rang. Hermione grinned and smoothed out her shirt as she went to get it, glancing into the mirror on the way. She opened the door with a smile and saw Fred and Ron standing on her doorstep. Ron seemed to tower over her as he was so tall and was wearing a blue shirt with jeans. Fred grinned at her and looked her up and down as she did the same. He wore a black and yellow shirt.

'We were going to apparate in but he didn't let me,' muttered Fred, gesturing to Ron who scowled.

Ron hugged Hermione and glanced into the living room as Fred hugged Hermione afterwards.

'You're looking hot,' he whispered in her ear making Hermione blush and push him away playfully. He only grinned like it was a perfectly normal statement. To other's it may be perfectly normal but for Hermione it was really...odd.

Ron took her hand and Hermione led them into the living room. Harry stood up and man hugged Ron and Fred, slapping his hand on their backs just as Fred and Ron did too.

'Where's the food?' asked Fred, clapping his hands together and Hermione chuckled leading them into the kitchen.

'Hermione's been cooking for hours,' stated Harry as Ron took her hand.

'Ah, looks delicious, Mi- Hermione,' muttered Fred, glancing at the spaghetti hungrily. He did a good job covering up his mistake since he didn't turn red or anything but Hermione blushed and Ron frowned at her as Harry tried to hide a smile but it grew on his face.

'Well, let's get started then,' said Harry taking a sat just as Ron as about to speak.

Hermione took a seat and soon, after a furtive glance in Harry's direction, Fred sat next to Hermione. Ron sat on her other side, eyeing Harry's grin, which left the seat in front for Harry. Hermione started dishing out food just as Fred started up a conversation about a Quidditch match which was coming near them. Hermione, after giving everyone some of her spaghetti, she took some for herself and eyed the long thin strips realising that she was really hungry. She twirled her fork around and around the spaghetti and finally ate it. She was quite nervous about her cooking since she hadn't tasted it before but it felt magical which was a good thing even though she never used any magic to make it.

'So how about it, Hermione?' asked Fred, twirling spaghetti for himself and he glanced up and grinned as she quickly tried to swallow her food, 'Want me to leave you in a room with that spaghetti, Mi- Hermione? Here... you've got a bit of...'

Fred grinned and slowly wiped away something at the side of Hermione's mouth. As soon as the napkin touched her face, Hermione blushed like a teenager. She tried to say thank you but the words were caught in her throat as he smirked at her. Harry coughed and Fred pulled back, looking at his plate like nothing had happened. Ron grumpily stared at Hermione who just ignored him and willed for the blush, which crept all the up to her hair line, would just die down.

'So... Hermione? You want to go?' asked Harry, breaking the silence that followed the scene.

'Where?' asked Hermione, avoiding Fred's furtive glances and smirks.

'To the Quidditch game, of course. We have four tickets since Geo- I mean... four for me, Ron and Fred. We have an extra one, so if you want to go...?' Harry trailed off leaving the sentence in the air.

Hermione glanced at Fred and saw him glare down at his food like it was annoying him or something. She wasn't sure if Fred would want her to go... Would he think of the spare ticket as George's ticket even though he wasn't here? Hermione coughed and quickly looked to Harry and then shot a glance at Fred and back to Harry, who shrugged.

'No... no... you guys go on without me,' muttered Hermione, crossing her legs under the table, 'I don't really know much about Quidditch.'

'No, you should come anyway. It's a Saturday and we'll stay the night there and come back Sunday morning. It'll be fun,' said Fred and looked up with a smile on his face. Although it wasn't the same smile. It was a lot smaller but it was there and Hermione was glad for it.

'Okay then, I'll go,' shrugged Hermione and Ron looked up to her.

'This is amazing, babe,' Ron muttered, gesturing to the spaghetti.

'Thank you, Ron' smiled Hermione and they lapsed into another conversation about Quidditch.

After the plates were clean, Fred and Ron stood up and Hermione stood up too.

'You leaving already?' asked Hermione in a frown.

'It's nearly eleven, Hermione,' laughed Ron and swung an arm around her waist as he pulled her in for a kiss. He pulled back and smiled, 'Love you.'

'I love you too,' whispered Hermione and pulled away from him to hug Fred who waited patiently.

'I can help you clean up if you like?' asked Fred, whispering into her ear and making her giggle as his breath tickled her ear.

For a second she wanted to say 'Yes! Help me!' just so that he could stay. For a second she didn't want to pull away from the hug but she made herself pull back before Ron got the wrong idea.

'No thanks, I'll manage,' muttered Hermione, 'I have Harry anyway.'

Harry smiled and said his goodbyes. Hermione leaned against the doorway as she watched them leave. Ron blew her a kiss and Fred smirked at her. Her stomach flipped as Fred mouthed the word 'Mia' before leaving the room.