Dinner that night was different. She knew it was because Fred has regained some memory of the people they were dining with, but it was still awkward. Ever since he came home from the hospital, Fred had sat with her at every meal, as if she had long been his most trusted confidante. Tonight, however, he was back in his old spot beside George, laughing at something ridiculous. It was like it used to be before the war, except now she was unsure where she fit into the equation. She had always felt like part of the family as one of Ron's closest friends. Now she felt like an outsider. It wasn't Ron's fault, not entirely. They were still friendly enough toward each other, but that kiss during the Battle of Hogwarts had still changed things. She had thought she loved him, had thought for years that it was part of her end game to be an official Weasley. She knew he had felt the same way and part of her thought he still did, but the years of fighting had changed something in her. She realized that Ron had been the convenient choice. He was safe. Like Harry had Ginny, she had Ron. Unlike Harry and Ginny that were constantly growing closer (she expected an engagement any day), she and Ron argued constantly. It wasn't with a passion that stirred something in her though. It was usually just plain irritating. At one time she had thought that Fred might, well, that he might be the one to make her feel welcome at the Burrow, but she couldn't allow herself to think like that.

She had felt a sense of relief, almost, when he had returned and things had fallen into place the way they did. It hadn't been what she was expecting, but it made her feel that she had a purpose to be there. She knew the Weasleys would find her thought process utterly ridiculous, but that was how she felt, nonetheless.

So, now that Fred was starting to return to his old self, Hermione was left out again. She shouldn't have been so surprised. This is what she had been expecting all along. Still, it hurt a little.

"Whaddya reckon, Freddie? Ready to move back to the flat?" George asked. Hermione was immediately startled out of her thoughts. She had known this would come eventually. Fred and George belonged together and she felt a small twinge of guilt at her desire for Fred to stay at the Burrow. He had to go back. He had been spending a lot more time at the shop and this was the inevitable next step, the full reunion of the Weasley twins.

"Probably soon," said Fred happily. "I know Mum's probably ready to kick me out..."

"After that stunt you pulled, Fred Weasley, I ought to be."

"What happened?" Ron asked in between bites of food.

"Never you mind that," Mrs. Weasley answered, blushing. "Just thank goodness for Hermione here."

Hermione could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as she continued. "What would we do without this dear girl in the family? Why she fixed Fred when even the healers at St. Mungo's were helpless."

"Again, Mum, not broken," Fred said.

"Oh, you were as good as," Mrs. Weasley said. "I've never seen anything like the way you came alive in front of this one."

Hermione wanted to crawl under the table.

"Yeah, Fred," said Ron, "why were you only able to remember Hermione in the beginning? You weren't exactly friends growing up." He chuckled along with the others.

Hermione knew they were all watching Fred, waiting for him to answer, but it certainly felt like all eyes were on her. She was silently cursing Ron when Fred answered.

"Probably because she's bloody brilliant," he said. "If I recall the rest of you lot would run scared every time I came near."

"That's the thing though," said George. "You couldn't recall. We all tried. Nothing seemed to work. I'm your bloody twin and I couldn't get you to remember anything."

"Language, George!" Mrs. Weasley cried.

"Well, I guess we can all be thankful that Hermione didn't give up," Harry said, smiling at her. She appreciated the support, but she was really wondering if she could just disapparate.

"No, George is right," Ginny said and ignored Hermione giving her a death stare. "Why were you able to remember her before the rest of us? We tried so long and she had you remembering in like a day."

"It was weeks," Hermione murmured, wishing with everything she had they would just let it go.

"Maybe you fancy her," Ginny suggested.

The room got quiet for a moment and then everyone laughed, especially Ron. Everyone, including Fred.

Hermione let out a sigh of relief when everyone had finally gone to bed. She sat curled up in her favorite spot in the living room, not wanting to have to answer any questions or endure any teasing from Ginny. She had just opened her book when she realized someone was standing in the doorway. Fred.

"Hi," he said softly.

"Hi."

"Mind if I join you?" he asked and he sat down as she shook her head no. "Look, I'm sorry, Hermione, if their teasing tonight upset you."

"Teasing? Sure didn't seem like teasing to me."

"You know it was. They all care about you."

"So they criticized you for remembering things about me and then laughed like hyenas when-" She stopped suddenly, embarrassed to continue.

"When Ginny said I fancied you?"

"Well, yeah, Fred," she said. "Which do you think is harder for them to believe? That the two of us could be friends or that someone might fancy me?" She was near tears now and was furious at herself for it, making it that much worse.

"I don't think they believe no one would fancy you. I suspect they just find it hard to see the two of us together. What with...our history and all."

Her head snapped up to attention. "Our history?" she asked.

"I had another memory today," he said. "From Hogwarts."

"That's great, Fred," she said, then paused. "Isn't it?"

He grinned. "Well, I kind of liked it, but I'm not so sure you would."

Her eyes narrowed. "What?"

"You were so mad," he said. "It was like electricity was shooting out of you. I had never seen anyone stand up to us that way before."

"What?"

"When you yelled at us for testing our products on first years." He held his arm up as if he was afraid she was going to attack.

"Oh, that. Ha." She rolled her eyes and picked up her book.

"I didn't know you had it in you, Hermione," he said, his eyes twinkling. "I know you said we gave you a hard time when you were a prefect, but this was just so...unexpected."

"Oh, of course you knew, Fred," she said, setting the book down once more. "You don't remember, but you most certainly knew that I had it in me. I was the little bookworm that followed all the rules. Remember that? No? I spent my free time in the library. You spent your free time pulling pranks. Of course you knew."

"Maybe, but until yesterday I didn't remember any of it." He laughed, letting out a small whistle under his breath. "You were soooo mad. You threatened to write Mum."

"And don't you forget that I still have that power, Fred Weasley." She smiled a little. She supposed it was a little funny now considering everything that had happened since. They were both adults and she no longer wore a prefect's badge.

"So, is the Hermione I've spent the last several weeks with a new thing or did you decide to give me a break since I had a traumatic head injury?"

"Maybe a little of both," she said with a wistful smile. She took a deep breath before continuing. "When things started heating up with the war-well, that wasn't long after the incident you were just talking about- and I started to realize that books and rules were not everything. I guess you and George played a pretty big part in helping me see that. I had never really thought that much about it."

"Pleasure to be of service. You had to come around eventually."

"Hey, I said not everything. Not that they weren't important."

"Pfft...minor details," he said with that famous Weasley twin smirk.

"So now you know why everyone thought the idea of us even being friends was ridiculous."

"I thought you said you had eased up?"

"Yes, and no. And well, they wouldn't know that anyway. We had to leave. We didn't see any of them for months."

"I remember you saying that, but you still haven't told me why."

"Harry, Ron, and myself," she said. "The three of us had to go into hiding from Voldemort." She sighed. "You'll hear all about it soon enough, I'm sure. People refer to us as the "golden trio". I can't escape it. Hard to even be out in public for more than a few minutes.

"Are you telling me you're famous?"

"Not as much as Harry, but yes, I suppose so."

"Harry?"

She laughed. "Just when I think you are back to normal I realize that you still have so much to remember. Oh, yeah, wait until you remember all about Harry."

He grimaced. "That he can't seem to keep his hands off of my sister? Believe me, I have noticed."

"You might like him a little more if you remembered his whole story."

"I seriously doubt it, but I take it you aren't going to tell me?"

"No way, it would take a month."

"Now I'm intrigued," he said.

"When you remember more, I will tell you. There's quite a bit that the rest of your family doesn't know either."

"You promise you will tell me one day?"

"I promise."

He smiled. "I guess I better head to bed. They keep telling me I have to get enough rest. It's like they think I was hit in the head or something."

"Good night, Fred."

He started to go and then turned back. "You know, I may not remember everything, but I am pretty sure I know enough to know that you would definitely be a friend." He winked at her and then left her alone.

Hermione sat staring after him for a moment before falling back into her chair with a sigh. Friends indeed. Distracted, she returned to her book.