A/N: Wow, I'm fast. And I'm reading a story and typing this at the same time. So if I have some mistakes, I'm sorry.

"What did I tell you?" groaned Fred, clutching Hermione's reply to his letter. "Now I can never tell her! She thinks whoever wrote the stupid letter is a lunatic! And it just had to be me who wrote it!"

George wrinkled his nose in distaste. "What did I tell you? I warned you that I thought those were the stupidest words ever written."

"You got me into this mess by making me write to her!"

George sat on his bunk. "I firmly believe that she never would have said that if she knew that she had received a letter from such a… a fantastic person as yourself." Fred snorted as George smirked and went on. " Why don't you just see her in person?"

"What?" Fred yelped.

George sighed. "Maybe I should rephrase that. You go see her of your own free will or I'll make you go by any means necessary."

"Why?" Fred demanded.

"Because it's for your own good. You're pining away. You need a definite answer from her and you'll never get one if you don't see her."

Fred knew he had lost. Again. "Fine," he grumbled.

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Fred was back at Hogwarts, standing in the entry hall. He wondered how he had let George rope him into this. He'd been looking at Hermione for more than five years, and had never said one of the words he'd wanted to. How was he going to say something now? When she was dating, for God's sake.

"Well, go on," George commanded his twin cheerfully, giving him a shove. "She's not going to come to you."

"Great," Fred muttered.

"I'll be waiting right here for you." Fred groaned and started up the marble staircase.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Hermione had finished lunch early and was heading to the empty classroom. She knew that she and Draco were pretty much acknowledged as a 'couple' now, even though almost everyone thought the pairing was really strange, really sick, or just plain betrayal. She also knew that since everyone knew, she didn't have to meet Draco here anymore, as if it was a secret, but she did anyways. If nothing else, everyone definitely thinks we're crazy, she thought ruefully. She remembered only that morning when a Hufflepuff first year had come up to her and said, "You're that crazy Gryffindor girl who's dating a Slytherin, aren't you?" and walked away. She shook her head. Whatever, she told herself. Then, just as she was about to open the door to the room, she saw Fred Weasley coming down the corridor toward her.

"Fred!" she cried, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

He looked nervous and embarrassed in equal measure. "Hi," he said.

"Hi. But really, what are you doing?" She couldn't believe Fred was here, of all places.

He looked even more embarrassed and muttered, "I wanted to talk to you."

Hermione wondered if she'd heard right. "Me? Why?"

"Uh," he said. "Can we go in there?" He pointed to the room Hermione had been about to enter.

Totally confused, she shrugged, said, "Sure," and opened the door. This was not the way Fred acted. He was loud, proud, theatrical, and absolutely never embarrassed or unsure of himself. But not today. She wondered what could possibly be going on.

"Well," he began once they were in the room, "the thing is…" He paused as if he didn't know how to put it. "You know the letter you got a couple days ago?"

Hermione's head snapped up. How does he know about that? She asked herself, shocked. "Yeah," she replied tentatively, hoping for an explanation.

"Yeah. Well." he rocked back onto his heels. "Uh, well, that was from…me."

"What?!?!?" Fred?!? Her mind screamed. Fred wrote that stupid letter? "Why?"

"Well…" he muttered. Clearly, this was not the reaction he'd hoped for. "You know. I just wanted you to, you know, give me a chance." He kept rambling on about how he didn't think she would ever give him another look and how great she was and quite a bit more, but Hermione had stopped listening. Her mind was reeling in shock. Fred? Fred likes me? Fred wrote that stupid letter?!? Part of her was flattered, but the other kept shouting questions. What now? What are you going to do? What about Draco? Her head was still spinning when Fred stepped forward and kissed her.

Immediately, she went into total lockdown, with one thought screaming from the infinitesimally small still sane part of her mind. Oh, shit, what do I do now? She had no idea what to do in this situation. Would it be rude to push him away, or worse to let him finish and then tell him that she wasn't interested? Or, was she interested? Fred, she noticed, was a very good kisser. She told the portion of her mind saying that to shut the hell up before she went completely insane.

Then, from the doorway, came a very cold, "You bloody mudblood." Hermione didn't stop to ask about manners (or what she was feeling, because if she did, she would probably start shivering all over) now. She pushed Fred away as hard as she could and ran after Draco, wanting to cry. He called me mudblood.

Draco couldn't believe what he had seen. No, that wasn't right. He could believe it, but he didn't want to. Hermione, he thought desperately. Why would she do that to me? He hadn't thought she would do that to him, but he looked at Fred, then he looked at himself. He could see why Hermione might choose Fred. He could hear her footsteps behind him, trying to catch up.

"Draco!" she cried. She sounded so desperate, but Draco was furious enough that he thought that if he stopped moving, he would turn around and rip Fred apart with his bare hands.

"No," he heard her say, alone. "Draco," she whispered. "Please." He heard her footsteps stop, then she turned and walked away, feet heavy. After a moment, he turned too and crept back to the door to the empty classroom. Fred was gone, and Hermione was sitting on a desk, her head in her hands. She was crying.

A/N: Ah, so sad. Couldn't resist. Hoped you liked it, though. And I'll work on updating soon, as always. And review! I need feedback people! Oh, and you should totally read my other story, Green and Silver Silk. I desperately need reviews for that one, too! I only have 2!