There were only three days left until Valentine's Day and up in the boys' dormitory one redhead was fuming

There were only three days left until Valentine's Day and up in the boys' dormitory one redhead was fuming. It was well passed noon on Sunday and Fred Weasley was still in bed, buried under the covers. He'd been that way since the Friday before. George looked at his brother in disgust. He couldn't take it anymore! with a growl George grabbed hold of Fred's blanket, yanking it off of the other boy.

Groaning, Fred hid his head under the pillow, but George snatched it and tossed the pillow across the room. He watched as his brother tried desperately to protect his eyes from the light of day.

"What is your problem?" Fred asked as he fixed George with a glare.

"You."

"Well, I'm trying to get some sleep so if you'll just give me my pillow back you can kindly sod off!"

George gave Fred an incredulous look. "Oh, come off it. You've been in bed for two days. And you've been moping about for weeks. People are starting to talk, brother. They think you've gone nutters. And..."

"People can go to..."

"AND your studies are suffering. Most importantly our work is suffering! So snap out of it!"

Finally Fred sat up in bed. He knew George was right. "Okay."

"Wonderful." George walked to the door. "And for Merlin's sake take a shower."

Fred stood up as George exited the room. As he walked to the bathroom he laughed bitterly. He used to make fun of blokes who got down because of some female.

The Golden Trio sat in the common room. Ron and Hermione were on speaking terms again. That meant that everything was back to normal, on the outside at least. The boys were playing a game of wizard's chess and Hermione was sitting in her favorite chair by the fire, reading.

She'd been trying to act like everything was fine. But it wasn't fine, she wasn't fine. Inside she felt like a knife was being pushed through her heart. She wanted Fred.

Fred walked into the common room. He had to admit that the shower and a clean change of clothes had helped to improve his mood, if only a little. He even almost felt like cracking a joke. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw her.

She was sitting by the fire in her favorite overstuffed chair. He noticed that she was watching him. Fred nodded to her.

Hermione attempted a smile. He was trying so hard to pretend that he was okay so he grinned back. Fred knew it was only a shadow of what it could have been, what it used to be. At least he made the effort. He exited the room. It was too hard to look at her.

Hermione sank deeper into the chair, pulling her legs up so that she could hug her knees to her chest. Maybe if she tried hard enough she could disappear. The tears began to well up in her eyes, but crying was becoming a regular occurrence in her life. Though usually she tried to keep it in private. A few heads turned in her direction as Hermione let out a sniffle. She had to get out of there. With a hasty desperation she flung herself out of the wingback and hurtled up the stairs to the girls' dormitory before she could embarrass herself further.

Both Ron and Harry had noticed her sudden departure. The bespectacled boy wasn't entirely surprised when his friend asked, "What was all that about?"

Harry had witnessed the whole interaction. He'd seen the pain etched in both of their faces. He knew that Hermione was denying her own happiness. And he knew she was doing it because she didn't want to upset Ron. Harry looked over the chessboard at the redhead, who was once more starring at the pieces in concentration, and shook his head.

Fred stepped out of the portrait hole with a genuine grin gracing his lips. Probably the most genuine he'd had since Christmas. Hermione did have feelings for him. He was sure of it. But he had to be a hundred percent sure. And to be that without doubt he was going to have to get someone else involved. Fred started down the corridor in search of his twin.

After a half an hour of looking all over the castle Fred finally came across his brother sitting by the Black Lake with Lee Jordan and Alicia Spinnet. The other students seemed surprised to see him and voiced their thoughts immediately.

"Good to see you out of bed, mate." Lee gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"And you took a shower." Alicia added. Fred blushed in embarrassment at his actions, or lack there of.

When he was finished greeting his friends and enduring a bit more ribbing he gestured for George to follow him away from the others. This conversation needed to be held in private.

After they had settled themselves near a large rock about twenty feet away George looked at his brother. "Nice to have you back to your old ways."

"I'm not...yet." Fred began to tell George everything that had been going on with him and Hermione.

George listened in stunned silence to his brother's confession then slapped him on the back. "I wish you the best of luck."

Fred continued to tell George about all that had transpired between them after the Yule Ball until earlier that day in the common room. "I think she likes me."

George nodded his head in agreement. "But we have to be certain."

"That is where you come in." They immediately started to develop a plan.

An hour later...

"She won't believe it." Fred stated adamantly.

"Why not? We are identical if you hadn't noticed."

"She knows the difference."

"But that's impossible. Mum can't even tell us apart."

"Hermione can." He received a skeptical look. "Tell me this; has she ever mistaken you for me? Ever?"

George thought for a moment then shook his head. "That puts a kink in the plan."

"It has to be me."" George nodded grimly.

Later that night the twins entered the Great Hall. Fred searched amongst the tables for Hermione, but he did not see her. "Is she going to help?"

"She'll do it." George grumbled. Fred didn't notice his sibling's disgruntled mood.

They moved to join their friends. Fred took a seat next to Alicia, straddling the bench so that she would be positioned between his legs. "George, keep an eye out."

George nodded, but he wasn't happy.

Hermione entered the Hall alone. She'd just gotten control of her tears when the meal began. She knew her appearance must have been horrifying but what did it matter? Who did she have to look good for? Hermione plopped down beside Harry. She just wanted to eat and get back wallowing in her misery.

"Are you okay, Mione?"

"I don't want to talk about it." So they left her to herself.

It didn't take long for Hermione to notice the twins further down the table. She turned her head away quickly. It hurt to look at him. Then she heard a laugh, a female laugh, and Hermione couldn't stop herself from turning. It was Alicia Spinnet that was laughing, with Fred's arm around her. Hermione watched as Fred gave her a kiss on the cheek. She bolted out of her seat and away from the room.

George elbowed Fred in the ribs. When his identical brother winced and turned to face him he said, "She's gone."

"Am I right?"

"Yes." George hissed. "Now, get off my girlfriend."

Fred laughed as he switched places with George.