Authors Note:
Look, an update! Soon after the other one! I'm shocking myself! I hope you like this chapter. This is one of my favourite chapters! I don't know why, but it was fun to write I guess! I love the imagery of Fred at the beach!! Read on…

Disclaimer: Everything is J. K. Rowlings. I own nothing!!

Quote: Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections – unknown

Getting out of Limbo

Fred crept into Hermiones room and then he leapt onto her bed. He began bouncing up and down on it, nearly crushing her legs in the process.

"Wakey, wakey" He shouted.

"What s'matter?" Hermione asked, sitting up in bed like a rocket.

"Breakfast! Downstairs in two minutes!" Fred said and then he jumped off the bed and sprinted out of her room.

Hermione slumped back onto her mattress.

"Breakfast? He can't cook" Hermione mumbled as she turned over in her bed, trying to return to sleep. But her curiosity got the better of her and she headed downstairs.

Once in the kitchen Hermione realised Fred was gone. But her mouth hung open and her eyes widened as she stared at the food. The kitchen table was groaning under the weight of having every sort of breakfast delicacy imaginable on it. It was like the worlds greatest buffet.

Hermione put what she wanted on a plate and put it on the counter top as there was no space at the table. Then she pulled down the jar of coffee only to find a note was stuck to its cap. It was written in very loopy handwriting with a lot of smiley faces. It read:

Hermsy,

Coffee is not healthy for you and it gives people bad breath! So I've charmed this jar so that it won't open. No more coffee for you… why not try a smoothie instead? They're delicious and nutritious! Anyway, I hope you enjoy breakfast. I cooked it myself… okay no I didn't; I got it from the bakery in town. Eat up! Have a good day! Pip Pip!

Freddie

Hermione laughed at his note, she ended up making herself a smoothie. He was right, they were delicious! Hermione then changed out of her pyjamas and into jeans and a vest top. She then took to hanging photos and paintings on the walls in the kitchen. When she finished two hours later, she checked the time and saw that it was two in the afternoon. Hermione decided to make herself another smoothie. Just as she reached for the strawberries she shrieked and dropped her glass as a voice, Fred's voice actually, filled the kitchen.

"Afternoon Granger!" His voice was loud and clear as if he were in the room but he wasn't, no one was except a frozen Hermione.

"Bet this is freaking you out!" His voice continued, laughing at himself, "I bet you're thinking of making another smoothie? Well don't. Why not come down to the beach? Could you do that now? And make the smoothie later? This is Fred Weasley… over and out…" And then there was no sound except for Hermione taking calming breaths to steady herself. For some reason, unbeknownst to herself, she decided she would head down to the beach. So she went up to her room and changed into a yellow swimsuit, she put white shorts on over it. Thinking a swim would clear her head.

Hermione headed out into her garden and down the old stone steps that led to the beach. There were at least fifty and she took it a step at a time so as not to kill herself! Once she reached the sand she kicked off her sandals and the let the grains of golden goodness tickle her feet.

This was her first time down here and much to her surprise she discovered that she actually had her own private beach, it was a small stretch of sand and then two cliffs cut it off from the outside world, making the water calmer than the open sea.

Hermione suddenly felt cold. It was as if she'd started to come out of her shell, had gotten the smallest glimpse of the real world only to have her shell close itself. So she just stood on the shore for while, not bothering to go swimming now. She watched the waves come and go. Hermione listened to them crash softly against the cliffs.

"GRANGER!"

Hermione froze. She knew that voice. But it sounded distorted and strange as though she was hearing a muffled version of it. Looking up she saw nothing put a pool of red in the middle of the sea. Then a head popped up.

"Granger over here!" It was Fred, he was swimming. And he thought for some unknown reason that Hermione would like to join him. She shook her head vigorously.

As if! Hermione scoffed to herself.

Then before she knew what was happening, Fred waded out of the water, his t-shirt and what looked like his boxers clinging to him. Hermione blushed, but luckily you couldn't tell as her cheeks and nose were red from being out in the cold anyway.

But still…I'm blushing because of Fred Weasley! She thought to herself. Who wouldn't? A sly voice in her head asked.

Hermione shook her head and faced Fred, trying hard not to blush as he reached her, his hair dripping wet but a huge grin spread across his freckled face as he stopped infront of Hermione.

"So I guess my spell worked then? You heard my voice!" He asked gleefuly.

"How did you do it? It sounded so real!" Hermione was in awe, she never knew Fred had so much knowledge.

"It was just a simple medley of spells. They're so easy that even you could work it out for yourself and it's pointless for me to waste my time explaining!" Fred said lightly.

"What do you mean by 'even me' Fred?" Hermione asked glaring at him.

Fred said nothing but just continued grinning at her.

"Fred, if you have any notion that I'm going in there" Hermione told him, pointing at the blue sea, "Then you're sorely mistaken"

"Granger, why would I even think such a thing?" he asked her, grinning wickedly now.

"Because you're Fred Weasley! You live for tormenting people!" Hermione stammered.

"Not tormenting people. I love to make people laugh; if tormenting others is involved in the process but laughter is the finished product then I believe the end justifies the means!" Fred laughed as he finished speaking.

"What are you laughing at now?" Hermione demanded.

"Oooh, somebody's in a bad mood" He teased.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "Whatever" She muttered.

Fred winked at her and then ran back into the sea. For some reason Hermione saw his sprint as a slow motion run, somewhat reminiscent of Bay Watch, she just couldn't take her eyes of him.

Why? She asked herself. But as she looked at Fred all she could see was his torso now. Which wasn't a bad thing, his t-shirt was wetter than before now that he was half submerged in the sea again. It clung to his body. Hermione blushed, a deep scarlet this time.

What's wrong with me today?

"Miss Hermione Jean Granger, get your butt in here this instant!" He yelled at her.

Hermione knew that if she didn't he'd just come and drag her in so she slipped out of her shorts, and feeling extremely self-conscious she too waded into the sea. It was freezing. But she kept her eyes on Fred and clenched her jaw to stop her teeth chattering. Finally she reached him. Fred was standing and you could see most of him from the waist up. But he was taller than Hermione, who was shorter than everyone, so you could only see her neck and her head, but that was even with her standing on her tippy-toes.

"Nice huh?" Fred asked, smirking.

Hermione blushed, thinking he had seen her wandering eyes and was on about his tight t-shirt.

"Not that!" He laughed, "Ooh, Granger's checking me out!" He guffawed. Hermione couldn't help but blush a deeper shade than the last time, she then buried her face in her hands. This appeared to make Freds grin if possible, even wider.

"Shut up!" Hermione moaned. She took her face from her hands and continued on, "What makes you think you're worth blushing at anyway? I could be blushing at-"

"What the rocks? There's no one else here" He laughed, "Granger who wouldn't blush at me?"

Hermiones blush left her cheeks instantly, "FRED…ugh…you are so… conceited! Get over yourself!" Hermione exploded, her eyes burning.

"Whoa, what brought this on?" Fred asked, his eyes narrowing, 2Are you pregnant? You're having a lot of mood swings today! Is it Deans?"

"You brought this on! Maybe you should try not to boast next time you're chatting someone up. And Dean and I were on one date! So no, I'm not pregnant!"

"But… Hermsy… who said I was chatting you up? Are you saying though, that if you were pregnant it would be Deans?" Fred's eyes were now sparkling again; they rivalled the sea for their colour.

Hermione couldn't retort, so stayed silent. She poured all her efforts into keeping her head above water.

"Come on Granger, now who's conceited?" Fred grinned. He then nudged her trying to get any sort of reaction.

Hermione stared stonily back at him, her brown eyes harsh.

Fred then pouted his bottom lip, and blinked continuously, his long lashes sweeping over his sky blue eyes.

Hermione felt her self caving in but didn't let him know that. Fred then knew he had to do more to convince her he was innocent, so he took her hand and intertwined it with his. Hermiones hand was tiny compared to Freds. She slowly raised her eyes from their joined hands and met his eyes. Something like electricity ran through him, but for Fred, that moment was the most perfect moment of his life. Unknown to him, Hermione was shocking herself by thinking the exact same thing.

She then, not knowing what to do, splashed Fred with her other hand. He blanched, dropping her hand. Hermione stared up at him for what seemed like forever, but was really only a few seconds. Then he grinned, his eyes lit up and Hermione was pulled underwater, her hair finally getting wet.

And so ensued the fiercest water fight Cornwall has ever been home to.

Fred, after submerging Hermione cheered and did a victory dance, only to be jumped on from behind from a soaked Hermione who had wasted no time in retaliating. They splashed, dived, ducked, lunged, leaped, swam and laughed until they were more shrivelled than the worlds most shrivelled prunes.
Finally they staggered out of the water. Fred was ahead of Hermione. He collapsed onto the sand, breathing hard and fast. He took in Hermione in all her glorious swimsuit. He'd never seen her look like that. Not even last night when she'd tried on her clothes. He had a lopsided smile on his face. Looking up he saw Hermione with a mischievous grin playing out on her lips, staring down at him.

"What?" He asked. He continued to stare at her, he'd never seen Hermione this playful before, it was endearing. What he was not expecting was for Hermione to kick water at him.

A wave crashed over him as Hermione ran for the house; laughing the entire way and screaming at the top of her lungs "I win!"

It only took him a few seconds to recover from the shock. And then he raced after her.

She was in the garden by the time he reached the top of the steps. He felt as if he could pass out but one look at Hermione grinning at him rejuvenated him, more than he could've imagined.

"So…" He smirked, "You think that was funny do you?"

Hermione nodded, "I sure do!"

"Yhoo have made a very bahd mistake. Yhoo have messed vit ze wrong vizard" He said in a thick accent, a cross between German and Russian, "Now, let me see… vat am I going to do vit yhoo?" He grinned evilly at Hermione, "Ah, yes… zer is really no ozer option. Yhoo must be submitted to torture, of ze vickedest vorm. I call it…" He raised his eyes to hers, she was feet from him, "ze ticklemania! Yhoo have been varned!"

Hermione ran but only got a few paces from him before his arms wrapped themselves around her waist. She shrieked as he swung her round. Fred then turned her to face him.

"I did varn yu. I told yu to run…yu made a terrible mistake. And now…yu vill die! Mwahaha"

He then tickled Hermione into oblivion. She laughed until she cried. Finally he stopped. Hermione was gasping for air. And they were lying on the grass.

"I did warn you though! You cannot say I didn't!" He said laughing, his accent had disappeared.

His hair was falling into his eyes. Hermione liked it that way. But Fred brushed it back. Hermione slowly raised her hand until her fingers were running through his hair. She looked at him for confirmation. He nodded, not taking his eyes from hers. Neither of them spoke. She slowly pulled his hair down to where it had been, but not so that it disrupted his vision. She kept her hand on his face. Hermione brought it down his face, her fingers lingering on his lips, before she clenched her fist and put it down by her side. They were still staring at one another. There was an intense silence which Hermione bravely broke.

"You're skins soft" She exclaimed cheerily, hoping to get them back to where they'd been minutes before.

Fred took the hint and grinned, "I use your moisturiser!"

"What?" This, Hermione hadn't expected.

"Yep, it smells lovely"

She laughed and stood up, he emulated her actions. They entered the house still wet and now with grass stuck to them. Fred used Accio to get towels and Hermione made them kiwi smoothies.

"So… did you like swimming?" Fred asked smiling at her from the counter top he was sitting on.

"Well" Hermione said in between sips of her drink, "I wouldn't call it swimming per se, more of a water fight"

"I don't know about you, but I managed to get a few backstrokes in" Fred joked.

Hermione laughed, giving Fed his desired response from her. Out of the thousands of people he made laugh every day, it was her laugh that gave him a sense of satisfaction, a sense of doing something, because, he'd figured she hadn't laughed much in a while. It also made him happy. Not the happy-go-lucky way he was constantly, or the happy of being with his twin and family, but a different happy. A happy he'd never experienced before.

"What time is it?" He asked Hermione.

"Four. Why?"

"Woo! Movie time!" He cheered.

"Do you have anything specific in mind?" Hermione asked him.

"Nope. Well… something light hearted. Nothing too heavy!" He reasoned.

"I have the perfect movie! It's one of my top three all time favourites" Hermione admitted.

"What is it?" He asked, leaning forward.

"Notting Hill"

"Never heard of it" He replied shaking his head.

"Of course you haven't. You've only known of the existence of films for a month and a half!" Hermione laughed, "Trust me. You'll love it"

"You said that about bloody Anastasia" He grumbled playfully.

"B-but you said y-you liked it" Hermione stuttered.

"I say a lot of things"

"Now wait a minute-"

"Hermione! Calm! I'm kidding I loved the film! Bartok for Minister of Magic I say" Fred said, interrupting her before a rant could begin.

"Sorry. Well you will identify with Spike in this!"

"What?"

"Spikes a who, not a what…well…actually now that I think about it, you take bits from every character" Hermione laughed to herself as she pictured a combination of Fred and Spike.

"What's so funny?" He demanded.

"You'll see in a minute! I just have to change out of this wet swimsuit. Maybe you should do the same" Hermione said. She got out of her chair at the table in which she had been sitting and then headed upstairs. She was followed by Fred.

Fred was downstairs first. He was in long kaki shorts and a cream t-shirt. Hermione wore her favourite, most worn, and oldest pair of faded Levis. She had the ends tucked into fluffy socks and she had a white v-neck jumper over it. Hermione had brought a blanket.

Fred quirked one eyebrow as she sat down next to him.

"We might get cold! Who knows?" Hermione explained meekly as she tried to justify the blanket.

Fred said nothing as Hermione put the DVD in and pressed the play button. Hermione turned off all the lights except for the tiny lamp in the living rooms corner. During the opening scene she could almost feel Fred rolling his eyes.

"It gets better" She said quietly.

"I didn't say anything" He whispered.

"You didn't have to" She whispered back.

Soon they were both immersed in the movie. For Hermione this was at least her hundredth time seeing it. She never tired of it. It was a classic. Somewhere in the middle of the film Fred reached across her. Hermione's heart raced. He looked at her,and she hoped he hadn't heard it. But he just pulled the blanket across them both. He ignored Hermiones smirk and her whisper of, "I told you so".

As the credits rolled, Hermione turned to face Fred. He was looking right at her.

"Well?" She asked him.

"Not bad" He replied indifferently.

"Not bad? It's amazing! It's-"

"Yet again, you take me too seriously" He grinned, "I loved it, if you really want to know" He admitted.

Hermione grinned as he continued, "Spike's brilliant, but I love Bernie too! And Martin! And William! And Honey! And-"

"I get it!" Hermione laughed as she interrupted his tirade, "It's my second favourite movie"

She got up and walked out to the kitchen. Fred followed her out. Hermione began to start dinner. It was half six, quarter to seven. And it was much needed.

"Fred?"

"Yessum?"

"Could you do the sauce?" Hermione asked him.

"Yep. Er…what are we having?"

"Beef and red bell pepper stir-fry"

"I've never had that" He mumbled.

"Me either" Hermione chuckled. Fred grinned as he prepared the sauce like the recipe said. He had little trouble and was soon helping Hermione. It only took a few minutes and they were soon stuffing their faces. The sea air had made them ravenous. Fred gulped down a glass of water.

"Granger-"

"Fred, why do you call me Granger?" Hermione asked him.

"I dunno. I don't do it that often though"

"You do it all the time. You're rivalling Malfoy for use of my surname these days"

Fred looked down at his plate, then up at Hermione.

"Sorry. Force of habit I guess. You were always Ron's friend. I guess I still think of you as that and so I still call you Granger"

"Is that what I am to you still? Rons best friend?" Hermione asked, her fork clattering onto her plate.

"No…you're other things"

"Like what? Your cook?" Hermione glared.

"N-no. You're my house-mate. And my…" Fred's voice faded out.

"Yes?" Hermione asked, urging him to continue. Fred looked into her eyes. He wanted to say something so bad, but knew it would be wrong and inappropriate, so instead he said, "You're my friend", somewhat lamely.

Hermione's face fell but she recovered quickly.

"Well don't call me Granger then" She said as she picked up her fork.

"Okay then… Hermione" Fred replied softly.

At that moment a tiny owl came soaring in the kitchen window. He bounced around the room, zooming towards the table. Fred caught it in his left hand.

"Pig" he muttered as he unwrapped a letter from the birds' leg. Ron's owl Pigwidgeon now began hopping on the table. He ate a bit of Hermiones left over beef as he waited.

Fred opened the letter and stared at it. All Hermione saw were his pupils dashing back and forth across the page.

"What is it Fred?" She asked.

He didn't answer and did nothing but gape at the letter. Hermione made a grab for the letter but he pulled his arm away.

"Accio letter" She said firmly, waving her wand.

The letter flew out of Fred's grasp and into Hermiones outstretched hand. She read it aloud:

"Romilda & Ron,
Do hereby invite you,
Fred and Hermione to our engagement party.
It is to be held in the Siana restaurant in Diagon Alley.
You may each bring a guest if you wish. It is on Friday the 7th September. It begins at eight o'clock. Hoping to see you there. Please R.S.V.P A.S.A.P.
(or Fred just drop in home!)
Yours sincerely,
Romilda & Ron

BLACK TIE"

Fred looked at Hermione; waiting for her reaction. Her face was unreadable until suddenly, she burst out laughing. Fred was stunned. This he hadn't expected.

Fred joined in and soon they were laughing for the sake of laughing. If they had any neighbours they would be knocking down the door right now. As all Fred and Hermione sounded like were a pack of hyenas!

"What kind of engagement party is black tie?" Hermione managed at last.

"I don't know. Ron and Romildas maybe?" Fred shrugged.

"Correction! Romilda and Rons! Take note, she comes before him!"

Soon they were back on the sofa laughing and reminiscing about old times in Hogwarts. They reached the subject of Hagrid but Hermione quickly changed it to Quidditch, the one subject she'd talk about to avoid talking about how much she missed her big friend.

"Hermione, it'll help you to talk about it" Fred urged her.

"Not tonight it won't" She snapped.

Fred raised his arms into the air, signalling that he surrendered. They talked for hours.

"Time?" Fred asked her.

"Oh! It's one in the morning! We stay up late way too often" Hermione smiled.

"Guess what?" He asked grinning.

"What?"

"JERRY! JERRY! JERRY! Come on Hermsy, say it with me"

Reluctantly Hermione joined in with a weak "Jerry! Jerry!"

"No Mione, you can't say Jerry half heartedly, it's an insult to me personally! Say it with me now… one, two, three!"

Hermione took a deep breath then chanted loudly, "JERRY! JERRY! JERRY!"

It was now three o clock and they were finished two bottles of wine, three Jerry Springer episodes and were roaring his name, albeit, somewhat hoarsely now.

"Night Fred" Hermione slurred.

"NO! DON'T LEAVE ME HERMSSSSY!" Fred roared, but it was too late she was now in a deep sleep. Seeing her lay there, empty wine glass still clutched in her hand, Fred felt the alcohol drain out of him at the sight of her chest rising and falling, her head was on his lap, her hair acting as a pillow.

He somewhat clumsily took the glass out of her hand. Then he picked Hermione up, and carried her upstairs to her room.

She stirred as he sat her on her bed. He pulled her jeans off and her top too. He tried not to stare at her, trying to save her modesty. He then pulled one of her night dresses over her head and pulled her arms through the holes. Finally he tucked her under the covers.

"This is becoming a bit repetitive, don't cha think?!" He chuckled to himself; "Night Hermione" Fred said looking down on her sleeping form.
It took every ounce of his self control not to climb in next to her in bed. Instead he turned his back on her and quickly exited her bedroom. He turned off all the lights in the house with a wave of his wand. Then Fred stumbled into his room. He shut the door, staggered across the floor and collapsed onto his bed. Replaying one thing over and over in his mind; Hermiones hand on his face earlier on today, her fingertips lingering on his lips. He groaned and rolled over, wrapping himself in his blankets. And falling into a sleep so deep it rivalled a coma.

Authors Note:
I love Fred in this chapter. I hated him calling her Granger so now she's either Hermione or Hermsy. For those of you who don't like her nickname. I just think that seeing as Fred and George have nicknames for almost everyone it's fitting that Hermione has a nickname! It's also what Grawp called her... I think!
Next chapter is the Engagement party! Ooh the excitement! It also features a rather evil Romilda quite a lot! Oh and a showdown between Fred, Ron and Harry either happens in the next chapter or the one after!! Whoop!

Special thanks to emaleekay93, jessicashekler, TahnDawg and Anna-xx-Banana.

Anna: I washed my hair and restyled it so now I like it! I'm hiding all the horrible highlights too! Thank god for hats! I like all those things about Fred too! I can't decided which trait of his I like best!

Love Always...

FireboltPheonix