Notes: Thanks to those who have taken time to read and review. And all of you that followed me from the original story, A Kiss at Midnight.

Chapter 4

"So you asked her to dance, huh?" George asked as he stocked the shelves at our shop. Fred was supposed to be helping, but admittedly, he was a bit distracted. "Why didn't you just ask her to go with you?"

"If it was that easy for me to ask her out, don't you think I'd have done that by now?" he scowled. He roughly sat down a large container of Skiving Snack Boxes on the floor between them.

"Easy! I worked hard on those." George exclaimed. "And yeah, I get it, but you could tell her you both need dates. It's kind of true, isn't it?"

He thought about that for a moment. It was true. George was with Angelina. Ginny was with Harry. Lee as with Katie. Even Ron had Lavender. They were the two unattached ones. Maybe he should ask her. It would just make sense, right?

"You know you're going to have to ask her out eventually? Like, for real ask her?"

"Yes," he grumbled, angrily throwing merchandise on the shelves, hoping his twin would take a hint.

"You could just snog her?"

"You know bloody well I want to snog her, you git," he hissed. "But one doesn't just walk up and snog Hermione Granger."

"Why not?"

"Because it's Hermione," he argued helplessly.

His twin just shook his head. "But isn't that what you usually would do? What's different about this one?"

"Everything," he said quietly.

"Oi, Fred! Get out here!" he heard George shout from the front of the shop. He was in the back working out the kinks on a new product, desperately trying to get a certain bookworm out of his mind.

"I'm busy!" he yelled back, urging George to just take care of it this once. He really wasn't in the mood.

"Have it your way," his twin shouted back. "Ah, If it isn't our favorite little sister," he continued loudly. Ginny. Well, normally he would take time to see his little sister, but he had just seen her this morning and he wasn't really in the mood to socialize.

"And Granger too?" George's voice came across even louder this time. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

Well, that got his attention. He looked down. He was a mess. Oh, well, so be it. He brushed himself off the best he could and stumbled through the door to the front of the shop.

"Just came by to see my dear brothers, of course," Ginny was saying.

"Hermione," he said breathlessly upon seeing her. Well, that was graceful. Bloody hell, she looked fantastic. He was certain she didn't even try, that it just came effortlessly. Either way, it was magnificent. He wasn't sure why she was standing in his shop right now, but best make the most of it.

"What brings you lovely ladies to Diagon Alley? Couldn't resist the Weasley charm, eh, Granger?" he teased.

"Actually, we were dress shopping for the ball," Ginny interrupted. She was watching him curiously and he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy at the idea of his little sister catching on to him.

"Nothing too revealing I hope, Sis," George teased. "Don't want to have to have a second talk with the Boy Wonder."

"My dress is nothing compared to Hermione's," Ginny retorted. "And stay away from Harry!" Fred smirked, remembering their last conversation with the Boy Who Lived. Poor bloke had been so nervous it really hadn't seemed fair.

"Anyway," Ginny continued, glaring between the two, "I need some new snacks for my Pygmy Puff. George, could you help me look, please."

"But you know where they are…OW, you don't have to be so rough!" his twin hissed as their baby sister pulled him away.

Well, this was awkward. He wasn't sure if he should strangle his twin or hug him. He did get some alone time with Hermione, after all. He glanced over to her and nearly snorted when he realized she was standing over the love potions looking positively horrified.

"Don't worry, I'm not about to slip you one."

"It's not that," she said, obviously nervous. "It's just that, um, well, it's-"

"We've been set up," he finished. "Yes, I noticed," he said rolling his eyes to show he thought his siblings were crazy too. He waved his hand in dismissal, trying to put her at ease and show that it didn't really bother him.

Think fast, think fast, he thought. What would he normally do in this situation? At a loss, he began walking around the store, straightening merchandise as he went, hoping she would follow and buy him a little time to think.

"But why?" Hermione asked, almost running to keep up with his long legs.

Fred just laughed as he reached up to grab an escaped anti-gravity hat. "Always trying to figure out the next puzzle, aren't you, Granger? Except the ones that are right under your nose."

"I don't understand-" she began but he didn't let her finish, disappearing around the corner.

"Will you PLEASE be still?" she ordered when she finally caught up to him.

He stopped suddenly and she nearly ran into him. He had to stop himself from laughing out loud. There was that sassiness he loved so much. He turned around slowly, very aware of their close proximity. Oh Merlin, she smelled nice. Really nice. He resisted the urge to lean in further.

"Granger?" he asked quietly. He didn't move and realized he had been holding his breath. He watched as the warmth of his breath ruffled her hair. He wanted so badly to kiss her.

"Yes?" she whispered. She stared up at him, making his heart skip a beat.

"You're standing on my foot," he replied and then chuckled as she jumped and stumbled to get out of the way. Yeah, he chickened out. It was just as well, he'd told her New Years, right? Might as well keep up that little charade or whatever it was.

"I'm so sorry," she stammered and he could see she was embarrassed. She mumbled something about finding Ginny and began to hurry off.

"Hermione! Wait!" he called. She stopped and turned around, waiting for him to continue.

"Will you be my date for the ball?" he asked.

She looked flustered and he scrambled to explain. "That is," he continued, "all the others are all coupled up. I thought we might go together, um, if you want to that is." When did he become such a babbling fool? Why couldn't he just say he wanted to go with her the rest of them be damned?

"Alright," she answered slowly.

His head shot up and he watched her carefully. Why was she so bloody hard to read? Whatever, she said yes. He grinned at her as he headed back behind the counter. "Great! It's a date! I'll see you tonight at the Burrow."

"Great!" she agreed, starting to leave, probably desperate to get away from him and find Ginny to talk about what a nutter he was being. He needed to say something smooth. Recover from acting like a bumbling baboon.

"Oi, Granger!"

"Yes?" she stopped waiting to hear what else he had to say.

"2 more days!"

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