Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, nor do I own the part from the Great Gatsby.

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Chapter 3 something gained, something lost

Fred almost didn't want to open his eyes when morning came around. Not because he didn't want to face the family, but because he got a lousy night sleep even with Hermione next to him. The light shown in brightly, due to the fact Ron's window was facing east. If there wasn't a slight overcast, then Fred would of thrown something at the window. There was a cold air coming in through the open window. This only caused him pull Hermione closer, for body heat, and wrapped the blankets tighter around them. He didn't want to leave the warm bed, but he knew that his mother was going to be there shortly.

The door creaked open as he shut his eyes tighter, pretending that he was asleep. Maybe then he wouldn't get an earful when his mother began to yell at the twins for sleeping the same bed with Hermione. He was counting down the moments in his head to hear his mother's shrill voice. It wasn't like Fred cared; he truly knew that nothing happened between the three of them.

"Oh," he heard his mum say, barely above a whisper. "I'll wake you three later." The door was then shut almost as silently as it was opened.

Fred opened his crystal clear blue eyes. He had half a moment to run after her and yell at her himself. This was a glorious day in Weasley history! His mother had just let them lie there. What if she got the wrong thoughts, and believed that there was something going on between them? He shook his head of all those thoughts. With his luck, Mrs. Weasley probably thought they were up late last night talking. Which was a good thing for the twins. They wouldn't get in half as much trouble and this would give him a chance to sleep in a little bit.

He looked down at Hermione and saw that she had taken a comfort in against his chest. Not that he minded, but he could of used without the twin in the same bed though. George currently had his arms wrapped around Hermione, his leg was draped over hers and his foot currently was touching Fred's leg. Maybe George liked Hermione too. Fred could use this to his advantage. This was definitely blackmail material and George would have to test out the new line of Love Today potions that were going to be coming out soon.

"Did we get attacked?" George asked groggily. He looked down and let out a blood-curdling scream, which oddly sounded girlish. He pushed himself away from Hermione and his brother, causing Fred and himself to fall to the floor with a loud thud.

Not a moment later Hermione shot up and the door was slammed open. "What's going on here?" Mrs. Weasley demanded.

Fred burst into laughter. "George had an accident." He couldn't help it. Sure he didn't want to wake up this way, but the reaction to his twin was just way too funny not to laugh.

"I didn't wet the bed Fred, I fell off of it." George shot back. He wasn't mad at the situation you could tell. George still wore that Weasley twin smile across his face.

Hermione looked down and studied her surroundings. She would have said something, if she weren't afraid of her own morning breath. She wasn't there when she went to bed earlier the previous evening. She glanced at both twins as she felt her hair. It seemed to be in one peace, still brown, but a little frizzier than normal, probably because of the rain of last night. She sighed as she tried to untangle herself from the bed sheets.

Mrs. Weasley nodded and turned to leave. "I expect you three down for breakfast shortly."

"Not much of a morning person are you?" George asked. Fred glared at his other half (better looking other half if you were to ask George). If looks could kill, George would be lying in his own blood right now. "Now, now Fred. This isn't the way to talk—"

"GET DOWN HERE NOW!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed.

"YES MUM!"

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Hermione was happier after she was showered and had fresh breath. It also helped that she was with her family, well, her second family. But the moment she set foot into the kitchen the questions didn't seem to stop. She was going to kill Ron for even bringing up the question of who she was engaged to.

"Where did you meet him?"

"Is he someone we know?"

"How about personality?"

"Is he cute?"

Hermione tried to desperately to avoid them all. It took some effort, but she got them to focus on Charlie's wedding for most of breakfast. It wasn't until Ron asked the question that had been on everyone's mind. "You're not even engaged are you?"

The room was quiet. She had to tell the truth to him. It was she was or she wasn't, it all depended on her answer here and now. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop a mile away, which was odd for the Weasley family.

"Just because you don't believe me Ronald, doesn't give you a single reason to question my word. You're just a slimy cheating git, who doesn't even know when to be sincere. Why don't you do everyone a favor and ask your perfect Lavender?" Hermione finally snapped at the youngest male Weasley. She nodded her thanks towards Mrs. Weasley and left for Ginny's room. It was where she had put her stuff during her stay here. Not that there was much room in the house anyway.

Ginny was close on her heals however. It wasn't a genius to figure out what was wrong. It had to be about the person she was engaged to. "So is it true? Are you seriously engaged to Draco Malfoy?" Ginny questioned. "That's what Angelina and Katie were saying. Even Fleur was saying it."

"Gin, I really don't want to talk about it." Hermione answered. "I know you're my best friend, and I feel the time is right to publicly announce our engagement then you'll be the first to know."

Ginny sat Hermione on the bed and took the older witch's hand into her own. It was time they had a one on one girl talk session. Since they hadn't been able to do that since she got here. "Okay, how about last night then? You scared me and Harry. When we woke up and you weren't there. Is there anything going on between you and the twins?" Ginny asked. "And remember, if you don't tell me I'm just going to go to them. I'm closer to them than anyone else."

Hermione laughed. "I had a horrible nightmare last night. I don't remember anything, leaving the tent, the dream itself, nothing. All I can remember is hearing voices at one point in time, then arms wrapped around me." Hermione answered truthful. "If I knew that was going to happen I would of crawled over you to Harry."

"Why the twins? Couldn't you have crawled next to Harry or Ron? But Fred and George? Did you know those two sleep naked?" Ginny rambled. This caused Hermione to laugh harder. At least it was an improvement from what she was in earlier.

"Probably because they were in Ronald's room. And I was seeking comfort from Ron and Harry. I think my sub-consciousness took over." Hermione tried to seek some logic. "I think I even skipped that stupid stair that squeaks."

This caused Ginny to start laughing. "I've lived in this house for twenty-one years and I don't even know which stair squeaks." She leaned forward, trying to control her breathing from laughing so hard. "But seriously, you didn't know they sleep naked?"

"Ginny, when I ran in, I probably only one thing on my mind." Hermione guessed. "Escape whatever I was dreaming about."

"Okay, so sleeping next to Fred and George, what was it like?" Ginny asked. "Did you feel anything special?"

Hermione started to giggle. "Yeah, I think one of them farted last night."

Ginny started to laugh, clutching her sides. It only figured that one of them would let out a strange bodily function like that. That was how her brothers worked; they didn't care who was around them. But that's why she took a liking to them, because they just didn't care. It didn't even matter if it was the girl that they liked; they knew how to be themselves.

Ginny sat up looking at Hermione who had a smile across her face. It was definitely an improvement over the mood that Ron had put her in. "So, how about a game of Quidditch? We can kick the boys butt."

"I'm no good on a broom." Hermione insisted. "And with Ron and the Twins, plus there is Harry."

"I'm a Hollyhead Harpy. I'm going to be a great Quidditch player." Ginny smiled.

"Going to be? You are a great Quidditch player." Hermione corrected. "I'm horrible, and even with Alicia, Katie, and Angelina, we'd lose."

Ginny made a short list, "You, me, Alicia, Katie, and Angelina. That's five. The twins, Charlie, Ron and Harry, that's five as well. If Katie can distract Charlie, and I'm sure that George will be distracted by Angelina. He used to like her. Or was that Fred?"

"And what about you? Are you going to try to distract Harry?"

"Don't you know it." Ginny winked.

"And that would leave me and Alicia to fend for ourselves right?"

"Oh I could never do that to a fellow Quidditch player. I might just knock Harry off his broom, as well as Ron, so you could score. It's called playing Ginny's Way." Again she wore the same smile. Hermione knew at once that the boys would have to let her have her way. "Not that Fred and George mind, they love being able to shot random stuff off at Ron when we're playing three on three."

"The twins and you against, Charlie, Harry, and Ron?"

"Yeah, basically."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so. Why don't you ask Luna or Dean? I'm sure they'd love to play." Hermione answered. "It's sound like a violent game to me. I'm not really into violence. Especially after the whole war."

Ginny shrugged and pulled a Firebolt out of her closet. She handed it to Hermione before pulling out another one. "This one is the Firebolt 2009, the one you're holding is just like Harry. The Hollyhead Harpies only supply the best brooms for the only women team in the sport."

Hermione smiled. "Ginny, there really is a book I want to read. And I want to finish it before noon. I have to get this book back to my fiancé before he gets mad at me. I don't think he noticed that I took it."

"You're always reading Hermione!" Ginny practically begged. "What about some fun? I'm sure that the twins will take off their shirts."

"I'm sure Harry will too."

"That's not my point!"

"My point is that I really want to read. Can't you let me read for one hour?"

"Fine," the younger witch pouted. "But one hour of reading and you have to play an hour of Quidditch with us."

Hermione weighed her options. It was obvious that Ginny wasn't going to give up until she had her way. And it was either listen to her whining all-day or just give in. But Hermione really wanted to finish the book that her finance had given her; she had promised that she would return it by Saturday, other wise he was going to notice it missing.

"Fine you've got a yourself a deal."

"So about this mystery man. Are you going to tell me who it is?"

"Fine, c'mere." Hermione said, shutting the door and putting a spell on it so that Fred and George's Extendable Ears were unable to hear it.

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Hermione finally curled up in a chair and began to reading. She studied the words on the pages intently, of course she had several books near her so when she wanted to switch she could. Though currently she was focusing on a Muggle novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. She loved the romance and everything about that book; it was a classic. She snuggled back into the chair and began to read.

I told her how I had stopped off in Chicago for a day on my way East, and how a dozen people had sent their love through me.

"Do they miss me?" she cried ecstatically.

"The whole town is desolate. All the cars have the left rear wheel painted black as a mourning wreath, and there's a persistent wail all night along the north shore."

"How gorgeous! Let's go back, Tom. To-morrow!" Then she added irrelevantly: "You ought to see the baby."

"I'd like to."

"She's asleep. She's three years old. Haven't you ever seen her?"

"Never."

"Well, you ought to see her. She's——"

Tom Buchanan, who had been hovering restlessly about the room, stopped and rested his hand on my shoulder.

"What you doing, Nick?"

"I'm a bond man."

"Who with?"

I told him.

"Never heard of them," he remarked decisively.

This annoyed me.

Hermione let out a sigh. Sure it was hard to get into at first, but she had read the book numerous of times. She knew it by heart, every twist and turn, every little meaning that came out of the characters mouth; she even knew what was going when someone said something backstabbing. This was Hermione though, she just loved to read and reread something until she had it memorized word for word.

Her friends, aside from Ginny, had no idea that her Muggle collection of books was vast and she was informed about everything in the Muggles culture, well book wise. She just loved to read. But this doesn't mean she didn't have books to read of the Wizarding community. The collection there was just as big as the one of her Muggle collection of books.

A shadow cast over her reading book. This annoyed her, but at the same time it caused Hermione looked up to find Fred leaning over her. "May I help you?"

"So, Ginny said that I'm to come ask you about Quidditch." Fred smiled, still leaning over her.

"I haven't been reading for an hour." Hermione contradicted, her brown eyes still studying the pages.

"I'm sure you're right. It's been over three hours." Fred smiled. "Also, I was wonder, because Ginny won't tell us. Who is this mystery guy?"

"I refuse to tell you." Hermione gathered up her three books. She looked up at the clock, which was pretty much worthless, but she was able to tell by the hands that where on Quidditch that she had been reading for over three hours. "Ah crap."

"Yup, three whole hours of Ginny Quidditch." Fred smile only got bigger. "Now if you put those lovely books down, I'll go easy on you. I promise you'll only fall off your broom once or maybe twice."

"I'll tell you what. If you can teach me Quidditch in the five minutes that we have to spend walking up to the Apple Orchard, then I'll tell you my mystery guy." Hermione offered. "I mean after all you're such a nice guy."

Fred looked down at Hermione. "No, I don't think so. I've been put into this situation before. I don't think so."

"Oh but Fred, last time was different. You fell into a trap that was meant for Ron."

"Just like you crawling into bed with me?"

"That was different. I wasn't awake." Hermione tried to defend. "I forgot that you two were in there. I thought you were Harry and Ron. You can't blame me for not being fully awake."

"Hermione, I'm hurt." Fred clutched his heart, his eyes closed. He opened an eye. "Are you sure it wasn't because of my good looks?"

"George is the better looking twin." She replied quite bluntly.

"Again, you've struck a sword right through my heart." He said dramatically. He threw his head back his hands straight his hands once again clutching his heart.

Hermione stood up, but Fred pushed her back down into the chair. "Look, we both know why I'm really here. I want to know who's going to marry you. And what that nightmare was about." Fred's tone turned serious. Hermione didn't even think it was possible.

"And we both know, that if you don't move I'm seriously going to curse you." Hermione threatened. "And you know that I'm the best witch in my year, and I know more curses and jinxes than you and your twin."

"And we both know that I'm not going to be moving some time soon." Fred answered, placing his foot on Hermione's knee. "So, you might as well give in. I can hold you down until you do get in." He shrugged, looking at his fingernails.

"You're right Fred, you're so much bigger and stronger than me." Hermione moped, sticking out her bottom lip. "How am I ever going to defeat a strong wizard like yourself?" She looked up at Fred with a face of pure innocence.

Fred smiled. "Of course I am, now what I really want to know…" He looked down at Hermione who had her wand pointed at his chest. "Now Hermione, there is no reason to get hasty. I'm just joking. Put the wand down and nobody gets hurt." He put his hands up in defense, as if that was going to help him any.

"It was great talking to you Fredrick." Hermione waved her wand and Fred was placed into a full body-bind. "I'll tell you're team not to worry about you. And just so you don't talk. SilencioEnjoy your stay." She then pushed Fred back, picked up her books and returned them to Ginny's room. She was going to enjoy this game after all.

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K15: This was my favorite part, the ending. I also liked the beginning because you all thought that Mrs. Weasley was going to yell at Fred and George. Again, this chapter was prewritten and

Fred: I just enjoyed the story.

Me: Yeah, you guys know the drill.

Fred: Five reviews and you get an update.

Me: So that means when I'm up to about SIXTEEN reviews.

Fred: C'mon you guys can do it!

Me: Anyway so please review. Later. K15