Hermione honestly didn't know what was keeping her busier- her schoolwork or her side-job with Fred. She could, however, tell which one she was enjoying more. The only problem was she couldn't tell Harry or Ron. Well, Ron didn't really matter at the moment. Not while he was off snogging Lavender all the time.

Anyway, she and Fred had decided to keep the whole thing a secret. It was going pretty well, other than the fact that Harry kept asking her how she had so much homework. What he didn't know was that she was going to the library to search for books about trick spells, not defense charms.

It was actually quite incredible how much she had learned within the last two months. Muggle tricks and pranks, she had always known. But wizard ones? They were on an entirely new level. A complex, bizarre, yet ingenious level. Currently, Hermione was leant over a piece of parchment, writing out all of her new ideas for Fred. She had taken a particular liking to their selection of helpful quills, and personally found that they were quite handy to have around. She tapped the spell-correction quill against her cheek, wondering what she could name her latest "invention". Finally, thirty minutes later, she looked over her letter.

Dear Fred,

You wouldn't believe how much my respect for your business has grown within the past month. I'm glad to hear that the daydream charm is finally in working order! Would it be too much to ask for a new and improved one to test out? (For educational purposes, once more)

I have a new list of ideas to send to you. I've made up some names for them and provided explanations below. As you could imagine, some of mine are a bit more muggle-themed.

Accio Academics- a wave of this "wand" will lead you straight toward the book you need most in the library.

Grammar Grace Quill- finds grammatical mistakes as it writes.

Tip Trick Deck- great for drilling you on spells, this ordinary looking deck of cards comes by-the-subject and quizzes you on your hardest classes.

Bin-Bag Backpack- looks normal on the outside, but the inside has more than enough room for all of your garbage and more.

Magical Mind Mint- if you're feeling tired in class, pop this sweet candy in your mouth for a burst of peppermint, a scientifically proven ingredient that increases alertness and awareness.

Laughing Lollies- after a long study session, suck on this sweet treat and laugh as it tells you joke after joke.

I hope you liked them,
Hermione

"She's absolutely brilliant," George laughed. "Absolutely brilliant! I would have never thought of those! Are you sure this is Hermione Granger you're writing?"

Fred nodded dumbly, a sappy grin on his lips. His little witch was so incredibly intelligent, and she was amazing him more and more each day. He felt George put a hand on his shoulder and say, "Good job, Freddie. Always knew you picked the good ones."

It wasn't until after George had left the back room did Fred finally snap out of his daze. With a large smile on his face, he began writing back.

Dear Hermione,

As George said, you are absolutely brilliant! (And I agree with him) No doubt in my mind that you worked very hard on these ideas, and I cannot even begin to express how much I appreciate all you've done already. I hate to ask any more of you, but if you could send a list of spells to go along with each product, that would be fantastic!

We need to meet up again,
Fred

Hermione grinned proudly as she re-read his letter. She had been so nervous that they would think that all of her ideas were too "nerdy". Actually hearing how much they liked it made her practically glow. This intense feeling of happiness seemed so rare these days. Not only did she have a strained friendship with Ron, but she also had Slughorn's Christmas party coming up.

She'd toyed with the idea of asking Fred to be her date. After all, he was a much better option than Michael Cormac, and she had come to enjoy the older Weasley's company more and more. In fact, she often found that she missed his energetic presence. Most nights she found herself re-living their meeting at The Three Broomsticks or recalling flattering things he'd said in his letters to her.

Hermione sighed and read the note over once more. It would be so incredibly simple to ask him to be her date for the party. She really did want to…but something was holding her back. She didn't want it to be awkward…what if she couldn't form a sentence around him? What if she wasn't a good date? What if all she talked about was academics, and he found her boring? She really didn't want him to think of her as boring…

Sighing once more, Hermione folded up the note and made her way down the girls' staircase. Better to go ahead and ask Cormac now than later.

Once again, Hermione was on the run. She pushed past Harry and tangled herself into the crowd, looking back occasionally to make sure that Michael wasn't following her. First the mistletoe, now this. Fred wouldn't have been nearly this bad, she thought to herself with a slight smile. Sure, he would have been on his usual incorrigible behavior, but that was far better than Michael constantly trying to make a move on her.

If Fred was here, he'd be making her laugh. If Fred was here, he'd be listening to her ramble on about all of her ideas for the shop. If Fred was here, he'd be dancing with her with that silly grin on his face. Oh, if only Fred were here, Hermione sighed.

She now found herself out on a balcony. A chilly breeze swept by her, and she shivered. Perhaps wearing a sleeveless dress in December wasn't the best idea. Just when she thought about going inside, Hermione saw a familiar magenta-dressed owl making its way toward her.

"Thank you, good sir," she laughed as it landed on the stone wall in front of her. Timpson, the name of the owl that she had become so fond of, nipped at her fingers lovingly before it held its leg out. The second she saw the name on the parchment, Hermione's heart stopped.

Grinning like a fool, Hermione tickled Timpson's feathers. "He really is the best, isn't he?" she teased. "I bet he's a good owner, too." Timpson squawked happily, spreading his wings and hopping back and forth on his talons in a little dance. Hermione giggled and quickly opened up the letter.

Dear Hermione,

I'm glad to hear that you liked the daydream charm! We haven't yet planned when you're going to visit the shop. How does the 26th sound? The shop will still be closed then for the holidays, and George and I will be back from the Burrow. Your new academic line is doing well, so well in fact that it's all we seem to sell these days. I should have known that you were going to take over!

Can't wait to see you,
Fred

Hermione's heart felt like it was turning into a warm, gooey mess. She re-read the note at least three times, a plan forming in her head. She tucked the note away and made her way back into the fray, the prospect of seeing Fred pushing her through the night.