CHAPTER 14

Pairing: Fred W/Hermione G

Rating: K+

DISCLAIMER: Only the plot is mine.

A/N: AND NOW, THE DATE! I've never been on a date, so all of my imaginations and scenarios come from movies and stories. Just so you know :P. Also, follow me on tumblr at ollivanderscuriousapprentice *dot* tumblr *dot* com.. I take fic-requests there, so have at it! Anyhow, enjoy!

Hermione's heart beat erratically in her chest at the sight of the large metal skeleton in front of her. She had never been fond of heights. Steeling herself, she followed Fred into their private pod. Fred was practically bouncing in excitement, never having ridden in something so muggle.

He looked over at Hermione, and caught the slightly ashen look on her face.

"Hermione? What's wrong?" Hermione smiled wanly at him.

"It's nothing, Fred. I just don't like heights much. I'll be fine." Fred nodded worriedly, and scooted closer to her in the warm chamber.

"I promise I won't let anything happen to you." Hermione nodded gratefully at him, and snuggled closer.

The ride was just getting started when, with a pop, a small cart with drinks and dinner appeared out of thin air. Startled, Hermione let out a squeak.

"Fred! This is a muggle place! How did the food get here?" Fred grinned secretively. He only shook his head, and pulled the cart closer. Hermione huffed, but dropped the subject for the time being. Fred poured them each a glass of wine, and handed Hermione hers.

"To a better life, yeah?" He raised his glass in a toast, waiting for Hermione to follow. The glasses clinked together, and the two smiled at each other, sipping slowly.

Hermione sighed, and looked out the window. Her heart sped up again when she saw how high up they were, and she squeaked involuntarily. Fred pulled her close to him again, reassuring her that everything would be okay. Calming down, she took the time to appreciate the view. Lights sparkled up at her from Downtown London. Tourists and natives alike blended together in the streets, shopping in SoHo, having a merry time with friends and family. Small cruise-boats floated down the River Thames.

The night was dark, but the streets of the city were alive with happiness and joy. Hermione stared in awe.

"It's so beautiful! I've never been this high up with my eyes open… Ooh look! The Big Ben! Did you know it's officially called the Elizabeth Tower? It holds the biggest four-faced chiming clock in the world! And look! The Globe Theatre! Shakespeare performed some of his most famous pieces in the Globe." Fred laughed at Hermione's enthusiasm. Many (Harry and Ron included) made fun of Hermione's Know-It-All tendencies, but he found it rather endearing.

Hermione tore herself away from the window, bubbling with excitement. She faced the cart with their dinner on it, her stomach rumbling just as she spotted the food. She blushed at the embarrassing sound.

Next to her, Fred laughed at her embarrassment, and uncovered two dinners for the both of them. Savory aromas of tomato bisque soup, fresh bread, and potato gnocchi with pesto sauce. Hermione's mouth watered at the mere sight of the food, and waited anxiously for Fred to join her before diving into the food.

The remainder of the ride was spent in laughter and merriment. The couple finished off their food, and watched as the cart popped once more out of existence. Without needing a prompt, Hermione snuggled up to Fred's body, sighing in contentment as the pod descended towards the ground.

The door opened with a hiss, and Fred extended his arm out to Hermione as they exited.

"Where to next," Hermione inquired, not wanting the evening to end so quickly. She tucked herself closer to Fred's body, sheltering herself from the chill that laced the evening air. All around them, couples were chatting, laughing, snuggling, and kissing, making the atmosphere very much romantic.

Fred sighed a bit, then looked down at Hermione.

"I'm not sure, actually. I was planning on just walking around for a bit, sort of get to know muggle London." Hermione nodded happily, excited at the prospect of showing Fred around her home turf.

"I can give you a tour, if you'd like. I grew up in these parts, not too far out of the city," she stated, already pulling Fred towards the streets of London. Seeing Hermione so happy brought a smile on Fred's face, and he followed without protest.

The couple walked hand-in-hand through the maze of streets, stopping every now and then to marvel at some muggle phenomenon on the street. Hermione, after a bit of prodding from Fred, began to loosen up and tell him stories from her childhood.

"…and so then I got really mad, because she had just insulted my books, right, so I raised my hands up, and focused really hard, and then poof the girl's hair was pink and blue striped, and her entire body was purple. I went straight to the principal's office, of course, but they couldn't punish me because they didn't know how I had done it, or if I'd done it at all. I was grounded for a week at home, though. No books. You can imagine how that went," Hermione chuckled, thinking of her parents' reactions to her accidental magic as a child. Fred was nearly in stitches laughing – he was having a hard time imagining Hermione as a prankster, but was enjoying it nonetheless.

The two entered the twins' flat laughing uproariously and clutching each other to stay upright. Dropping their coats on the rack, Fred pulled Hermione to the sitting room, intent on continuing their conversation. Just as Fred reached for his wand to light the place up, a candle flickered to life in the corner, illuminating the mock-sinister face of George Weasley in one of the armchairs.

Just barely muffling a scream so as not to wake the kids, Hermione clutched her chest in an attempt to slow her beating heart.

"George! You scared the living daylights out of me, you prat!" George only shrugged, and a small smile pulling the corners of his mouth up.

"You kids have been gone for quite some time. Had fun, I presume?" George stared coolly at the couple.

"It's barely 11, you git," Fred said, glaring at his brother for stopping their date earlier than he was ready for. Hermione looked between the two for a moment, before turning to Fred.

"It's alright, Fred. I'm knackered anyways, so I think I'm going to head to bed now. Thanks for an amazing evening, though. I can't wait until we can do it again sometime." She looked at Fred from under her lashes, before boldly rising up on her toes and placing a chaste kiss on his mouth. Stepping down again, she gave him a small grin, a bright red blush filling her cheeks. Fred smiled at her, his face softening, and nodded, watching as she entered her room and shut the door.

Face hardening once more, he turned to George.

"What was that for, eh? We were doing just fine, thanks!" George held up his hands in surrender. Fred sent one more glower towards him before sitting down on the couch and waiting for an explanation.

"I apologize for ruining your festivities, Freddie, but I needed to talk to you alone without making Hermione suspicious." Almost immediately, Fred was on high alert.

"What happened? Is everything okay? The kids?" George nodded, and held up a hand once more.

"Nothing serious, I don't think. The kids were asleep up here and I went down to just check that everything was off and closed in the shop. I was just about to come upstairs again when I saw someone's face pressed up against the window," George hesitated, before plowing on. "It seems, dear brother, that old Michael wanted to pay his lovely wife another visit."

Fred stiffened. This was not good.

A/N: another CLIFFY :D! I had a bit of trouble writing this chapter, because again, I've never been on a date, and so I don't really know what one would do, you know? But I think it went okay.. I don't really like the second half of the chapter, but that's just me. Anyhow, let me know what you think! OH ALSO as I mentioned up at the top, I am taking fic-requests on my tumblr (ollivanderscuriousapprentice *dot* tumblr *dot* com), so if you want me to write anything in particular, let me know! I LOVE YOU ALL.