Getting Rid of the Competition

"It's just one date, Granger."

"No."

"Come on. You know you want to."

Hermione glared at Fred, "Is this what you called me over for? This doesn't look like a life and death situation."

Fred gave her his most charming smile, "I will die if you don't go out with me."

"Hah. I'd like to see that happen."

Fred leaned on one arm on the counter, the other playing with on brown strand of hair. He grinned at her, "How do you know you'd hate a date with me when you've never even been on one?"

Hermione stole that strand of hair back and tucked it behind her ear. It was lunch hour and there were only a few customers milling about. So Fred had plenty of time to flirt and win Hermione over. The irate witch wasn't showing any signs of leaving any time soon as well.

At first he had thought that she was simply playing hard to get till he realized that something was off with the way she kept turning him down. However, trying to get her to say yes was turning into a challenging game and Fred Weasley loved a good challenge.

Hermione took another peanut from the bowl he had very strategically placed in front of her, exploiting her weakness. As she poked around in the bowl for a salted peanut, she didn't realize that the strand of hair had escaped from behind her ear and was once again in the possession of her companion.

"I don't trust you."

"No pranks, I swear."

Hermione scowled, "That's what you said when we were at Harry's birthday party. I still check my head for those bunny ears."

Fred laughed, "You looked very cute in them."

Hermione blushed, and blustered, "Now look here –"

The sound of the door chime distracted her and they both looked at the new customer.

A blonde entered the shop, her makeup on spot and a tiny black dress on. The dress clung to her in all the right places and at all the right curves. She looked more like a model and for a moment Hermione felt very shabby compared to her. Her heels clicked on the floor imposingly and she reminded Hermione of her neighbor who had a very bad reputation in the muggle world.

The girl looked around disdainfully and when her eyes fell on Fred, she smiled. It looked more like a Shark's smile in Hermione's opinion. Was everything supposed to move when she walked? She didn't realize she had voiced the question aloud till she heard Fred laugh under his breath.

"I wouldn't mind you in that dress." His murmured comment had her face turning red and she pinched his wrist making him yelp.

"Fred!"

Fred's greeting seemed more forced but maybe Hermione was imagining things.

"Carline. What can I do for you?"

The blonde snapped her fingers and a house elf appeared carrying a dozen bags in his tiny arms. "Take these to the house." The elf tried his best to bow and ended up tripping face first onto the ground spilling the bags."

"You stupid creature! Can't you do anything right?!"

She raised the umbrella in her hand and then paused and glared, "If it wasn't for that stupid regulation protecting these things, I would have knocked some sense into him long ago."

Hermione made a sound as the elf tried to gather the bags again and she knelt down, picking up the ridiculous amounts of clothing that had fallen out.

"I suppose you are one of those little elf lovers?" Carline spoke sarcastically at Hermione's bent head. Fred frowned at that tone but before he could say anything, Hermione straightened up and looked the girl in the eye and said evenly, "I am the elf lover who created that 'stupid regulation'."

Carline looked Hermione up and down and sneered, "Of course you are." Flipping her hair, she turned around and faced Fred whose face was anything but friendly at the moment.

"Fred, darling, you really need to teach your help some manners and dress them properly."

Hermione raised a brow, murmuring, "At least I'm wearing something."

Carline ignored her and gave her a dismissive glance, "Don't you have something else to do?" Then she turned her attention back to Fred, and batted her eyelashes, "I'm ready for our date. It really has been so long since we last –" she licked her lips suggestively.

Fred froze and his eyes flew to the girl he was in love with. Hermione showed no reaction, studying the two of them almost dispassionately. For the first time, a sense of hopelessness filled him. Did she really not care at all? How could he get her to realize that he was serious? That he did love her.

And then Hermione did the most incredulous thing. She smiled. A cheerful smile which was not a Hermione smile. She leaned forward and grabbing Fred's loose tie, she yanked him forward, and kissed him straight on the mouth.

Fred froze for a second and then swooped in to take control of the kiss, dominating it. However, Hermione was having none of that. She immediately pulled back and smiled as if completely satisfied. A smug look on her face, she grabbed her bag and as she turned to look at him, she wanted to laugh. Fred looked completely smitten. He had a dazed look on his face. Blowing him a kiss which was completely uncharacteristic of her, she walked out and called out before departing, "Pick me up at 7."

Carline didn't need to know that Mrs. Weasley had invited the entire family for dinner at seven.

Fred stared at her back as she walked out and saw himself in the mirror. His sleeves half rolled up till his elbows, his hand was in his hair, a frustrated look on his face.

A shrill voice demanding his attention made him wince.

Time to take care of this. He smiled to himself. Now he knew that even calm and collected Hermione could get jealous. Delighted with this titbit of knowledge, he tucked it away or future use and smiled patiently at Carline as she started yelling.

A.N: Things are getting interesting.