An Awkward Dinner

Dinner at the Weasley's had always been a loud and boisterous affair. But not today.

Mrs. Weasley had discreetly made Hermione get up from her seat between Harry and Ron and sent her to sit between the twins.

Everyone had been surprised when the plump matronly woman had shouted all of a sudden when Hermione had been in mid process of sitting, "NO! NOT THERE!"

Hermione's butt had been frozen mid air as Ron's mother gestured toward the twins, "Sit with Fred, dear."

"What?"

"Why?"

Harry and Ron could never be less than obvious.

Hermione locked eyes with Fred who looked confused and for a minute she didn't understand and then the memory of yesterday's incident came crashing back and her face turned red. It seemed Fred had also remembered and he looked highly entertained.

"This is your fault." Hermione hissed, as she stabbed at the meat loaf in her plate, rather viciously with her fork.

"Oh, how so?"

Fred grinned at her.

Imagining the vegetables were Fred's face, she slashed them with her knife, and bit out, "If you had just left me alone, none of this - Your mother thinks - Heaven knows what she thinks of me! She must think I'm some sort of tramp!"

The amusement slid off of Fred's face as he said in a low voice, "She doesn't think that of you. You know that."

Hermione turned her head to look at him for a few seconds before sighing and returning to her meal, "I know." Then she chopped her vegetables into tiny unrecognizable pieces, "This is still your fault."

Fred cheered silently. If his mother thought he and Hermione were involved, she'd get off his back about dating Carline Saltzwater, her friend's snobby daughter.

Unbeknownst to them, Mrs. Weasley was watching their interactions very closely. While she could not understand what they were saying, the fact that they were so deep in conversation and the soulful look that just passed between them made her feel strange.

"You worry too much, Molly."

She didn't even look at her husband as she replied absently, "They're so different."

Her husband nudged her, his eyes warm, "Different is good, no?"

As her eyes remained fixed on the two individuals, she started wondering if maybe Hermione was what Fred needed all along.

"Stop it, Fred."

As Hermione turned to glare at him, George gave his brother a thumbs up and stole a big spoonful of Hermione's dessert.

Hermione was not called the smartest witch of her generation for no reason. No sooner than George had swallowed the creamy delight, his mouth turned bitter. He frowned and drank a glass of water. However, the bitter feeling in his mouth became worse. He drank more water.

He took a bit of his own dessert and the feeling intensified.

He made a face and his mother called him out, sternly, "Who are you making faces at, George? Show some manners for heaven's sake!"

Poor George looked so confused.

"Is everything okay George" Hermione asked, her eyes wide with concern. That concern morphed into a mixture of satisfaction and glee, "You look like you swallowed something bitter. Here," She held out her dessert, "Maybe something sweet will help."

George glared at her and tried to stomp on her foot. However, his heel landed on Fred's toe who howled, "Blimey, mate! What did I do?"

And just like that a quiet and strained dinner turned into chaos.

A.N: And here is part two. Have a blast.