Chapter 2

Hermione picked her way through the crowds of Diagon Alley heading toward the towering ministry building at the end of the day. She was careful not to glance over at the familiar purple and yellow building on her way knowing that if she stopped there now she would be late for the second time that day.

Her boss had yelled at her for the better part of an hour when she had stepped through the front foyer over half an hour late that morning. The young wizard she was supposed to have seen about his depressed house elf had already stormed out in a huff. The secretary who manned the front desk, and who happened to live for gossip, had sat listening avidly to the whole thing, 'tsking' at every opportunity.

She was almost certain that if she was late to this next event, she would get a similar greeting if not worse. Mrs Weasley did not appreciate when one of her dinners was ruined, especially when the guests of honour failed to turn up. Hermione was certain that if she stopped now at the twins' joke shop, she would be the one to get the blame for makingthem late as well.

She gave out a long sigh after she passed the point where they would have had a clear view of her and made her way to the Ministry doors, waiting in line to floo to the Burrow where the rest of her extended family would be waiting.

She failed to notice the two red haired men watching her from the second story window. They were both still dressed in next to nothing, Fred having wrapped a blanket around his nakedness and George in a pair of blue briefs.

"Looks like she's chosen to ignore us Fred," said George turning to look at his brother, a mischievous glint to his eyes.

"On our birthday no less," said Fred, matching George's look as a slow grin spread across his features.

"We will have to teach our Wondrous Master that it's not very nice to neglect such dutiful slaves as us." They both nodded in agreement at this before moving off the window sill to get ready for an evening of good food and even better entertainment.

Hermione arrived in the familiar kitchen to the sounds and smells of just about every dish she had ever seen Mrs Weasley bake. She brushed the floo powder off herself and was almost immediately engulfed by a welcoming hug.

Looking up at the owner of the strong set of arms she found Charlie Weasley grinning down at her. She had completely forgotten that Molly had guilt tripped him into coming home from Romania for the twins' birthday dinner.

"How is my favourite sister-in-law?" he asked, kissing her on the cheek before letting her go.

"Fine," she answered turning as red as his hair. He always had this effect on her, well most women actually – Charlie was just so manly, and it made it hard to forget the crush she had had on him during her fourth year at Hogwarts.

She was saved from having to stammer through a conversation with the handsome man when another set of arms snaked around her from behind. She knew almost immediately that this was Ron staking his claim on her as he did when he felt any sort of threat, even if the competition was his own brother.

She leant back into him and smiled as Charlie winked at her and went off to terrorize his sister who was trying to convince their mother that the roast lamb was finished.

"I missed you today," Ron whispered in her ear, tightening his arms a fraction and nuzzling her neck. She was a little bit surprised at his affectionate response to her. Normally she was lucky to get a peck on the cheek; perhaps it was the presence of his family that was causing him to act so loving.

She didn't get a chance to respond because in the next few minutes, Fred and George apparated directly onto the kitchen table, and Mrs Weasley was trying to hug them and hit them with a frying pan all at the same time. She felt rather than heard Ron's laughter behind her, and she couldn't help but join in the merriment.

By the time everyone was seated, they were all in fine spirits. Hermione observed the way every Weasley male acted as if they hadn't eaten in days, piling the food onto their plates before practically inhaling it.

She picked at her chicken and vegetable pie, aware that Fred and George were sending her glances every few seconds but choosing to ignore them.

"So Hermione dear, have you and Ron set a date yet?" Molly Weasley asked kindly from the head of the long table. Hermione choked down a piece of pastry, and Ginny passed her a glass of water to wash it down.

"Not yet," she squeaked, hiding her bright red face behind the glass. Her little display of dining finesse had earned her the attention of the whole table.

"Oh that will never do; how are we supposed to plan a wedding when we have no date?" Molly pursed her lips and put down her knife and fork. Hermione received what was known at the Burrow as 'the look'.

"I think you would make a lovely June bride," Ginny said, trying to divert her mothers' attention. Hermione tried to hide the terror she was experiencing; June was just so … so soon.

"Yes she would," agreed Mrs Weasley, "We could hold the ceremony in the garden."

"And set up the marquee again. Oh wouldn't a sunrise ceremony just be so romantic," Ginny sighed and Hermione had to suppress the urge to kick her friend under the table.

"Oh and cherubs blowing bubbles," Luna added dreamily. Hermione wasn't sure why the girl was there, but she supposed someone must have invited her.

"Sounds um …" Hermione started to say 'interesting' but was cut off by George who had abandoned his food to watch her.

"Real romantic," he said, rolling his R's and winking at her.

"So June sixteenth it is," Mrs Weasley announced happily, picking her cutlery back up and resuming the meal as if the most important date of Hermione's life hadn't just been set without her consent.

Hermione didn't know why but she was feeling the distinct urge to run screaming from the room. It was too soon, way too soon. She had wanted a long engagement, after all there was no rush just to get a piece of paper. Mrs Weasley obviously had other ideas.

Standing abruptly from the table she excused herself and practically flew upstairs to the bathroom. Once inside she locked the door and leant back against it, breathing heavily.

She felt out of control, panicky. The decision that should have been hers all along was just ripped away from her. But then again if they had left her to make up her mind for much longer, would she really have set a date at all? Probably not this year.

But now that it was set for June, everything she had been refusing to acknowledge was suddenly screaming up at her. After the wedding everyone would expect them to start a family, and a family meant she would have to leave her job for a while, and soon enough they would have to get a bigger house, and children meant much more frequent visits from Mrs Weasley and much less frequent visits from Fred and George.

She refused to accept that the reason for her reluctance was because of them – they were just a bit of fun, a way to work out her frustrations. They gave her something that Ron couldn't, but once they were married things would change … she was almost certain of it.

She jumped up from where she had managed to slump onto the floor when the sounds of apparition echoed off the tiled walls. Fred landed in the bathtub and George sat perched on top of the vanity. For once they had left their mischievous grins downstairs.

"Are you ok?" Fred asked, stepping out of the bath to lean against the counter.

"I'm fine," she quickly lied, turning her face so she didn't have to look them in the eye. "You really shouldn't be in here. What will everyone think?" she muttered.

"It's ok, mum wanted Ron to come up but we beat him to it," George said gently, hopping off the bench and approaching her. He turned her face toward him and kissed her gently.

"If it's too soon, tell them," he said, hitting the nail right on the head.

"It really doesn't make a difference whether it is in three months or three years, we are going to get married eventually," she sighed, pulling back. She didn't want to mention that she would love to spend the next three years kissing them but it would be wrong.

Ron was her long term plan, settling down with his brothers was out of the question. After all it was Ron who loved her for so much more than sex; they had been together for years she wasn't going to leave him because she had a more than healthy libido. That wouldn't be fair to any of them.

"We had better get down there before they notice we have been missing for ages," she said quietly, reluctantly stepping out of George's arms and reaching for the doorknob that was behind her.

"You don't want to get down first? It might make you feel better," Fred grinned, shifting his hands to his pockets and making his arousal more evident. Hermione had the good grace to blush as she tried not to laugh – some days they were incorrigible.

She didn't even bother to answer as she opened the bathroom door and walked out leaving them behind. She was still smiling when she walked into the kitchen again, just as Mrs Weasley was serving pie. She sat down next to Ron, and he rubbed his hand along her thigh, just about the only thing he did to acknowledge her presence again.

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