I had meant to upload Chapter 4 sooner, but FF wasn't taking my documents a couple of days ago. But all is well now.

And I'm sorry about the short chapters. I know you want longer ones because you want to read more of the story, but this is a story for which writing long chapters is difficult. I'm not sure why, because normally my chapters are pretty long if appropriate. I guess they are short because this story was a spur of the moment idea for me and didn't have months of development in my head. I'll try to make chapter 6 long because it's going to be a really good one. And maybe I can go back and add to the older chapters if I ever get the chance.

If you want to read one of mine with really long chapters, try my "A Chi Town Romance" if you like The Mighty Ducks.

Anyways, on to Chapter 5…

Chapter 5: A New Matchmaker

Hermione spent the next miserable week confining her activities to work and moping. George had owled her several times with offers of lunch or dinner with the twins, but she turned them all down. Ginny, having heard about Hermione's bender the preceding weekend, made it a point to stop over at Hermione's flat several times that week. But none of it made a bit of difference.

Again, wasting a perfectly good Friday night, Hermione sat in the corner of the large, squishy couch in the living room of the Burrow. Her eyes watched the golden liquid in her glass slosh as she forced herself to slow down. She wouldn't want to get drunk in front of all of the party guests, most of whom were so busy celebrating Ron and Lavender's engagement that they didn't even notice Hermione's vacant expression and bloodshot eyes. Hermione watched Ron and Lavender through the meade in her glass, making them pleasantly distorted. That's the best Lavender has looked all year, Hermione thought, giggling to herself.

"Budge up, love," Fred said, tapping Hermione on the leg. Lethargically, she stood up to allow Fred to sit on her left and George to sit on her right.

"Twin sandwich," she said softly, smiling a little.

"Now if you're interested in a real twin sandwich—" Fred began, but was cut off by George.

"No, Hermione doesn't want a real twin sandwich," George said, air quoting. Couldn't Fred see that she was upset over Ron? Honestly, his twin was so insensitive sometimes.

"Let's talk about your love life, dear," Fred said, putting his arm around Hermione's shoulders, which were covered only by tank top straps. Hermione frowned, but didn't stop Fred from going on. "Now, we know that you're pretty down because of our dear little brother, but I've got a plan that will have you engaged in 6 months or less. What do you say?"

Hermione frowned skeptically and said, "I don't know. Besides, no more blind dates."

"Oh, but these blind dates will be quality guys, unlike the ones my dear twin picked out for you," Fred said.

Hermione looked at George for a second before saying, "Really, I'm fine. I'll be okay being by myself for a while." It wasn't that George's choices of dates had been bad… in fact, she could tell that he had listened to her very closely and actually knew her quite well. She didn't want to insult George by firing him as her matchmaker, even if she had sworn off men.

"Oh, come on, Hermione… you're lonely! Everyone can tell!" Fred continued, his voice rising slightly.

"She said no, Fred. Don't you know what no means?" George said angrily, getting up and walking into the kitchen. A few seconds later, Hermione heard the screen door slam shut.

Fred sighed. "He's been a bit moody today. He'll get over it," Fred said, shrugging, "Now, I'll give you a couple of hours to decide about letting me be your matchmaker. But let me know before you leave. I already have a great idea for a date for you tomorrow night."

"Okay," Hermione said, only half listening. For some reason, she really wanted to follow George out into the yard. She wasn't sure why, but him being upset was making her be upset.

She found him sitting on the picnic table, leaning back against the table and watching the lightning bugs as they hovered over the garden. The garden gnomes were jumping up and down, attempting to catch the lightning bugs. "Strange little buggers," George said, knowing that Hermione was standing behind him, watching him. Hermione silently walked around the table and brushed off the seat, sitting down next to him.

"You okay?" She asked softly after a few minutes of silence.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I guess I'm just feeling like you… wondering if I'm ever going to get married," George pondered, his gaze moving up to the sky.

"Of course you will. You just need to find the right woman. One who won't make you change too much," Hermione said, chuckling.

"I'm still young, I suppose. But my brother always has a girlfriend, and I'm never dating anyone!" he said, exasperated.

"Well, if your brother is always dating someone, then at least you know it isn't your appearance," Hermione said, frowning.

"True," George said, pausing for a second. Was Hermione saying that she thought her appearance was the problem? Pushing the thought away, George continued, "But it's still pretty bad if I have a crap personality."

"You don't have a crap personality," Hermione said, finding her fingernails very interesting, "Maybe you just sometimes don't appear that you want to be in a serious relationship. And neither does your brother. I mean look at the girls he dates. None of those relationships seem to give off the 'I want to make babies with you' kind of vibe."

"Eh, maybe," George considered, trying not to laugh.

"Do you?" Hermione asked timidly.

"Do I what?" He replied.

"Want to be in a serious relationship," she added, looking over at him, regarding him closely.

"Honestly, I don't know. I guess it would depend on if I met a woman that I fell in love with," he said, looking back at her. What a strange question… he thought.

They were silent for another several minutes before Hermione yawned. "Well, I'm going to go inside and say goodbye to everyone," she said, standing up and turning to walk back to the house.

"Hermione?" George said, stopping her, "Um… are you free for lunch tomorrow?"

Turning around, she smiled and said, "Sure. Meet you at 3W in Hogsmeade?"

"We're back in Diagon Alley this week. Meet me there at noon," he said, smiling, "See you then."

"Bye," she added, watching George turn his eyes back up to the stars.

"Okay, go ahead," Hermione reluctantly said to Fred, who was downing a butterbeer. She cringed at the excited reaction she knew would come.

"Really? I can fix you up? Wicked!" he said, shaking her shoulders.

"So, tomorrow night?" She said, unsure of what she was getting herself into. She trusted George, but Fred was a little crazy.

"Yes, 8 o'clock. Meet him at that new pub that just opened up in Diagon Alley. He will be carrying a white rose, and you should carry a red one so that he can find you," Fred said, slinging his arm around her shoulders again.

"Okay," she said, trying to keep the negativity out of her voice.

"Cheer up, Hermione. It can't be any worse than the other blind dates you've had!" Fred said, grinning cheekily.

"Thanks, Fred. That's reassuring," she grumbled, making her way to the back door to disapperate to her flat.

To be continued…