Sorry it's been a while guys! With all the crazy back to school papers and stuff I barely had time for sleep, let alone this. I hope to write two more chapters this weekend, so I can distribute them during the week. Thank you guys for sticking through this with me for so long, it means a whole lot that I have amazing fans like you.

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Hermione had entered the room with slightly puffy eyes, but it was scarcely noticeable. She loved that kiss, the passion, the irony of it all. But when she strode into the common room, she realized it was pitch black. Before she could even mutter, "lumos," she heard muffled words and almost had a heart attack when the whole common room yelled, "Surprise!"

It was rather cliché, but she admired everyone from doing it all the same. There were Gryffindor and Happy Birthday banners all over the room, and there was a table full of food. "George Weasley, did you command the house elves to make this food?" She asked sternly, but laughed when she saw his shocked face. "Oh alright, I was just pulling your leg!" She giggled even more, but George looked utterly confused.

"It's a Muggle phrase," Harry whispered into his ear. "It means she was teasing you."

"Oh! Oh, I mean, of course. So you do like it, Granger? We thought we all owed you something after... well, you know."

"I'm not the one for parties; I think you all know that. Nonetheless, I love it all the same. Now, if you don't mind me asking, whose idea was this, pray tell?" She was curious enough, even though she knew they probably all pitched in, one person had to come up with the idea.

"That... would be me." She was shocked and almost gasped when Fred appeared from the stairs. He pondered whether to wrap his arms around her waist or not, but when he saw Ron glaring, he decided against it.

She was about to ask him something, but Ron had to butt in. "Happy Birthday, Mione! One year 'till you're of age!"

"Thank you, Ronald. I have to say, this party is amazing!" Hermione giggled, a true genuine girly giggle. "Thank you all so much, and now I guess the only thing left to do is party!"

And, that is exactly what the whole common room did. Although some of the older kids had decided that they would like firewhisky so that they wouldn't be able to even think about classes tomorrow, everyone under 6th year were not permitted to drink it. Merlin forbid if McGonagall had caught underage drinking. Hermione tried to have a good time and dance to the music, while people danced with her and threw her up onto her shoulders. But she felt empty, like she was not being completely truthful to her best friend.

She then knew what she had to do. She was nervous, but she wasn't in Gryffindor for just anything. She pulled Ron to his room, and hardly anyone had seemed to notice, but what she hasn't realized it was Fred that did.

Hermione was nervous, and Ron; even as oblivious as he is, could tell. "'Mione, what's wrong? You seem a bit… sore."

Hermione thought of ways to, as they say, "beat around the bush," but she had to say it. She had to. "Ron, you… you know that rumor that was spread about me and Fred? No… no calm yourself Ronald! It isn't true! But… after it, Fred helped me a lot. When no one would talk to me or anything, and he fixed it! For me Ron, for me! I, I then realized that…" She was then cut off by a hand being put up against her mouth.

"Hermione Jean Granger. I might not be the sharpest knife in the… drawing thing or whatever muggles call it; but I am not daft. You obviously fancy Fred, and vice versa. There's nothing I can do to change that! If you need my permission to give it a go, you have my blessing. Sure we fancied each other a while back, but we're fine now aren't we? Friends?" That was the best possible way he could have put it. And it did Hermione some good; she could fully admit her feelings for him not without worrying what Ron would think. Without giving it a second thought, she flung her arms around him in a tight hug. Little did she know that a non-sober Fred was standing in the doorway.

Fred had most definitely been pounding on the firewhisky after his encounter with Rose. He had pounded it consistently; and quite a bit too much frankly. He had lost his mind and hour ago, which was pretty much the point where he knew he wouldn't remember anything in the morning anyway, so he continued the drinking.

He had walked into Ron's room, curious to what Ron and Hermione had been doing, but his drunken mind thought the first thing that came to it; they were together.

"Her…Mi…Ne… whattre you doin? You's supposed to be with the rest of the common room atthe party." Fred slurred as he walked over to her in zigzags and pushed Ron off of her, "Gerrof her! She likes me you idiot… and I like her to so go. Go!" Fred shouted which attracted a quite sober George and Harry to come to the room.

Fred was, not intentionally, holding a firm grasp on Hermione's arm as he tried and pulled her into a hug. She was uncomfortable because he had been drinking, and smelled as if he had poured it all over himself. "Fred, Fred let go. Let go, dear you're hurting me." She said softly.

"Oi! But Ron over there wasn't? I get it! I get it loud and frickin' clear! You like him Hermione, and you always have! How could I have been suchha idiot? I, I can't ever look at you again. Juss go!" He looked as if he was about to cry; but he held it together. Fred Weasley never cried.

"Fred… Fred common mate, it's time for bed. We have lessons in the morning, mate. Come on." George eased Fred out of view who was by this point, sobbing like a child. Hermione couldn't take it as she began to cry as well. Had things just been messed up between her and Fred? Or… had they always been messed up?

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Several weeks passed, and the tension between Fred and Hermione hung in the air as they attempted avoiding each other; but was rather difficult. She had the same free periods as he, and every day she would see him in the corridors. It was like when whoever was making the schedules was making them, they had just wanted to torture her.

Halloween had came and gone without much raucous for the prefects to deal with, beside's Fred and George's annual prank. Hermione thanked Merlin she wasn't on patrol that night, because she would never be able to fulfill her duties and turn them to Dumbledore.

And, speaking of the sly man that was named Dumbledore, he had set up enchanted mistletoes. They were hidden all over the halls, and if two people were to encounter under the mistletoe they would be stuck together until they snogged it out. Hermione tried not to bump into anyone in the corridors; she didn't want to be in an awkward situation. What if she had ended up with one of her best mates? Like Harry or Ron? She shuddered at the thought.

One day, the day before she was to leave with the Weasley clan to go to the Burrow for Christmas, Hermione was helping Professor Snape clean up after a particularly messy Potions assignment. He had told her he didn't want her sucking up to him, but she did it anyway. She was Hermione Granger after all.

She then realized that she was late for her next class; Charms, but what she didn't know was that a certain red-head boy was heading down that same corridor.

Hermione ducked her head and ran. She hated, hated, hated being late; she was always early. She forgot to look for mistletoes, and found herself bumping into someone, and not being able to let go.

Merlin's Pants. She thought bitterly. She was stuck to none other than Fred Weasley. She gasped, and he just stood there with wide eyes. This was just his luck.

Then, over to the left was George Weasley and Lee Jordan laughing their head's off, if that was possible. They could barely breathe, and the only words Hermione and Fred could hear was "You two… Together…HAHAHAHAH."

"George Weasley! You get me out of here this instant! I will not stand for this! I will not I will not I will NOT! Oh, I swear I'll hex you so bad that you… MPH." Her rant was cut to a mute silence and she felt warm, familiar lips pressed up against her. She flung her arms around Fred, and leaned up closer to his lips. She felt her mouth open along with his, and she could hear the whistles and claps in the corridors in the corridor. But she didn't care, she stayed in Fred's arms for what seemed like hours, as he leaded their passionate kiss. But when it came the time for them to take a breath, they realized that everyone was staring at them. Hermione produced a blush that would make the Weasley family proud.

"I would take a hex for that," Fred whispered in her ear.

"Oh… oh Fred I'm sorry. That… that night I wasn't with Ron! He… he gave me his 'blessing' per say, and oh! Fred, please forgive me!" Hermione cried as she leaned into his shoulder, sobbing until Fred was pretty sure her body was most likely cleared of all fluids.

"Hermione, I'm the one who should be sorry. I bruised you for Merlin's sake! I swear, Hermione, I will make it up to you if it's the last thing I ever do." Fred wrapped her in his arms, and the other duo in the hallway cleared their throats.

"We've class you know, mate?" George snickered, his laughing had finally subdued to just a chuckle.

"Go to the room and get some Puking Pasties, George. Oh wait, who am I kidding? Accio Puking Pasty. Hermione, pop one of these in during class when Flitwick isn't looking, then on your way out eat the other half. Don't you give me that look; we have to sort things out." Fred looked into Hermione's eyes with guilt. Something was eating at his conscience, but now was not the time to think about it.

Hermione ran; nay, sprinted to Charms. Even though she would eventually skive off class, she had to be on time at the very least.

"Ah, it seems that you have chosen to join us, Ms. Granger. It is not going to become a habit; being late that is?" Flitwick pestered Rose on why she'd been late further, and a lie rolled off her tounge in such a quick and easy manor that she was surprised she wasn't a Slytherin.

"I was having some stomach problems, professor. I only just stepped out of the bathroom," she sighed and took her seat. As soon as Flitwick stepped down from his book pedestal so that he couldn't see any longer, she popped the orange part of the candy into her mouth and began puking all over the room.

"Hospital, now Miss Granger! Go on, no sit down Mister Potter, the Hospital is just down the hall, you don't need to help her." Flitwick looked as if he was going to be sick to his stomach, seeing the vile substance exit her mouth. She sprinted out of the room, putting the purple part immediately in afterwards.

She then felt loads better, she never really got sick too often. Only the sniffles or strep throat, but nothing too serious. She headed towards the common room and saw Fred waiting for her patiently. She hid her head and blushed as he took her and headed up the steps to his dormitory.

He had loved her. It was as simple as that. But he had… things, he needed to take care of as soon as he could. Preferably after N.E.W.T's, or O.W.L's in Hermione's case. She came in looking a bit green from the Puking Pasties, and his heart dropped. He really didn't know what to do.

"Fred Gideon Weasley. I would like to say something and you can not interrupt me. I don't have Gryffindor courage for nothing, you know. Ever since that day that I found you in the bathroom I have fancied you. But then, after you saved me from all those rumors and such several times; I realized that I didn't fancy you anymore." Hermione sighed, and it was horror to Fred's ears. His unreadable face suddenly turned to a frown. Hermione then continued by whispering letter that changed his life forever, "I love you."

He tried to speak, but the words escaped his lips. He couldn't find one thing to say, damn! Where the hell was his courage? "Hermione… I can't be with you. I'm going to work right after the year is over and I need to work. This won't work, there are other guys and I can't end up losing you." Hermione didn't flinch nor cry, but she sat up straighter with a a determined look on her face.

"I don't give a rat's arse if you think it's bad or not Fred Weasley. I don't care if you're leaving today, tomorrow, or 50 years from now. I will only go away if you don't reciprocate my feelings." Hermione looked as though she was hurt, but she quickly hid her emotions. She stared at Fred intensely as he became uncomfortable because of the stress.

Should he lie and tell her he didn't for her own good? Or say yes (which was the truth) and become a selfish pig and end up breaking her heart? There were so many things running through his mid that he couldn't think straight as he rounded up an answer.

"Hermione. I… I…"

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CLIFFY ! Yup, sorry to do this to you almost every chapter guys, I just feel like it's the only way to keep you all hooked!