CHAPTER 13

Pairing: Fred W/Hermione G

Rating: K+

DISCLAIMER: Only the plot is mine. J

A/N: DO YOU KNOW WHAT I REALIZED? I MADE FRED AND HERMIONE KISS TOO SOON. GEORGE AND ROSE HAD A PLAN, REMEMBER? ALKAJHDFLKJSHDFKJHSFD NOW I HAVE TO FIX IT BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW! Anyhow.. enough of me.. Allons-y! Read on!

Hermione's eyes fluttered closed at the first brush of Fred's lips.

Bliss.

This was the bliss she had heard so much about.

A sigh of contentment escaped both of them, and they chuckled into the kiss. Pulling him closer, Hermione deepened the kiss, savoring every second she could get before someone came bursting into the flat and destroyed the moment.

Pulling apart, Fred rested his forehead against hers, panting from lack of breath.

"Ten sickles says Rose or George will come running into the flat in 5 seconds," breathed Fred, still breathless from the kiss.

"You're on," Hermione giggled. Her heart was still beating rapidly, and her breath was just barely getting back into rhythm, and yet Hermione Granger had never in her life felt so relaxed and at ease.

Fred's arms tightened around her waist once more, and he pulled her in for another kiss. Their lips had barely touched, however, when the door of the flat squeaked open, and George stepped in with a sleeping Rose in his arms.

The previously scheming look vanished from his face upon seeing his twin and surrogate sister wrapped around each other in what looked like an intimate embrace, and was replaced very quickly with surprise, and after another second or two, happiness.

"I see Rose and I didn't have to meddle in the end, did we?" Hermione and Fred looked at him quizzically.

"What on earth are you on about, George?" Hermione untangled herself from Fred and placed her hands on her hips, imitating her best 'prefects' stance. George only smiled wider, and motioned for her to wait a second as he placed the snoozing toddler in his arms onto the couch, arranging the throw over her and giving her an affectionate look.

"Rose and I have been noticing the tension between you two since before you two even knew your own feelings for each other. My sidekick and I were just about to devise a nefarious plot to get the two of you together, when Rose here decided she wanted a nap first. It seems our planning will have to be put to use somewhere else, because the two of you are getting on smashingly from what I see." Hermione blushed at the insinuation, relaxing her defensive stance a bit.

Fred slipped his arm around her waist, blissfully happy that Hermione fancied him back, and was still willing to give him a chance after her previous disastrous relationship.

"Good you came just now, Georgie! I, that is to say, we, have a favor to ask of you," Fred stated, looking at his twin as if daring him to object. "Could you watch Rosie and Hughie for Hermione while I attempt to woo her this evening?" Hermione turned red as a tomato at the very mention of wooing. It really had been too long since she was on the receiving end of someone's affection, and she was unused to feeling so positively delightful and happy.

"Of course, brother dear. Off you go now – don't want to miss your – ah – round by being late, do you?" George's face broke into a sly grin at the subtly obvious hint in his statement. Fred shot him a warning glare, a faint blush rising in his cheeks. Hermione looked curiously between the twins, a bit unsettled at the exchange.

"Let's go, then, shall we?" Hermione accepted the offered arm, smiling widely as he handed her her purse and coat and pulled her from the flat. This was sure to be an extremely exciting evening.

The alley was nearly empty as the new couple walked down the street, hand in hand. The evening was chilly, and Hermione had to draw her coat closer to her body to keep the cold out.

Noticing his date's discomfort, Fred let go of her hand, smiling when Hermione's face fell a bit, and draped his arm across her shoulders, bringing her closer to his body. A new smile lit up Hermione's face, and the two continued to walk along contentedly.

Reaching the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, Fred tapped the bricks with his wand, and waited for the archway to form.

A gust of warm air washed over them, thick with the smell of chips and butterbeer. The fall season was approaching quickly, and patrons were filling the 'Cauldron' to the brim, chatting happily and enjoying the warm and lively atmosphere. Hermione looked at Fred questioningly, but he simply smiled, and shook his head 'no'.

"Our date is in the muggle world, remember?" Fred pulled on Hermione's hand, and brought her out onto Charing Cross Road. Standing outside the pub, Fred faltered.

"Need some help, Fred?" He shook his head resolutely. His face scrunched up in thought, and for a couple of seconds, he was silent. Hermione chuckled at his face, but waited patiently. A minute later, Fred relaxed his face, and nodded sullenly.

"I know where I want to go, but not how to get there. And I don't want to apparate, either. But it's meant to be a surprise for you!" Hermione nodded understandingly, and thought for a moment.

"How about this? I can call us a cab, and then you can tell the driver where you want to take me. I promise I won't listen." Fred's eyes lit up at the idea, and he nodded enthusiastically.

Hermione giggled at his enthusiasm, struck once more by how much she had grown to like and appreciate the man next to her. She pulled out a 10-pound note from her wallet, and stuck her arm out into the street, waving it around a bit. At the sight of the money, a cab pulled off the street and stopped in front of them at the curb.

The window opened a bit, and Hermione waited for Fred to whisper their destination to the cabbie. Unsurprisingly, it took a couple of tries for Fred to get his point across, but he got there in the end, and pulled Hermione into the back seat once he did.

The first few seconds of the ride were awkward, with both of them sitting at opposite ends of the cab. Hermione wasn't very well versed in the art of snuggling, and didn't quite know what to do. The silence was becoming near suffocating before Fred gave in and pulled her to him, wrapping an arm around her and letting her relax into her side.

At the contact, the uncomfortable air disappeared, and both passengers smiled contentedly.

"Fred?"

"Mmm?"

"You know, I think this is the first proper date I've ever been on." Fred stiffened, and looked at her incredulously.

"Ever?" Hermione nodded, a bit embarrassed. "Well then, this will be your best first date ever. Just you wait!" Fred beamed at her, pulling her a bit closer to him.

Hermione leaned up, intending to steal a short kiss from her date, when the cabbie rapped on the separating glass.

Hermione leaned off of Fred, and reached for her wallet to pay. A hand on her wrist stopped her, and she looked up at Fred, confused.

"You're not paying, Granger," he said.

"You have muggle money, then?" Hermione raised her eyebrow questioningly. Fred dropped his serious face, going red and looking sheepish.

"I'll just pay you back later then, shall I?" Hermione nodded absently, having no intention to accept any money from him. They thanked the cabbie, and turned toward their destination.

"The London Eye? You brought me to the Eye?" Fred nodded, beaming up at the massive structure. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her towards the ticket booth.

A/N: And I'm back! Sooner than expected, actually. I hope I transitioned okay into this chapter.. And I fixed the little George and Rose problem too, I think. Don't be afraid to let me know what you think!

To my "Guest" reviewer – I did think it went a bit fast too, but I think that this being a fanfiction, that I could take a few liberties and skip a few of the minute details. This is my first chapter fic, and I still have a lot planned for ahead *hinthintmichaelhint* and I wanted to just get to the good part, so I skipped the boring bits because of that. I hope that's explained ok… Thanks for the review!