"Fred, I-" she started, but stopped. She wasn't sure where she was going. She didn't know what to say.

"Maybe I should let you two talk," Ginny got up quietly and walked out. As she passed Fred, she put her hand on his shoulder reassuringly. Of course, Fred knew this was a warning. To not get upset. To let Hermione speak. He stepped forward to sit on the bed next to Hermione. "It's okay if you still love him. He still loves you," he spoke quietly.

"Fred, it's not like that," she looked at him, but he was looking intensely at the floor. "Please look at me."

When he looked up, he pulled his face back to a neutral state. "I know you went through a lot with him. And I can't pretend that I don't want you to have feelings for him, but if you do, I'm not mad. You didn't choose a life with me. We were forced together. I just don't understand why you didn't come back to be with him."

"Because I didn't want to marry him. I may have had feelings for him, yes. But the fact is, that didn't mean I wanted to marry him. You know I didn't want to marry anyone. When I left, and I had time to be alone, I realized Ron wasn't what I needed. And I don't love him now. Nothing more than a friend. I want a life with you. I understand now why Ron wasn't what I needed. It's because Ron and I were thrown together in life or death situations. With you, it's different. It's not because I think I'm going to die tomorrow. It's not adrenaline or fear pushing me to you. It's just you," she touched his cheek.

"So why tell Ginny all this now if you don't still love him?"

She let her hand fall as she shrugged. "It's been bothering me a lot lately. Wondering what would have happened if I hadn't left. I keep feeling like I brought this misery on Ron. Because I keep wondering if I would have been with him had I stayed. And he wouldn't be so miserable. And you'd be happy with someone and your family wouldn't be tearing apart because of me."

"Mione, my family isn't tearing apart. We've gotten through a lot worse than me and Ron having it out over a girl," he gave her an almost sympathetic smile. "Besides, I'd be miserable without you," he attempted to give her his trademark grin. It was weaker than normal, but the hint of its presence comforted her a bit.

"You wouldn't know you were miserable. You wouldn't have fallen in love with me."

"Can you keep a secret?" he gave her a wink.

"Fred, if you tell me you loved me before all this, I'll smack you," she gave a light laugh as she nudged him. She was relieved when she heard him laugh. It was a genuine one. She was worried when he walked in that she wouldn't get to hear it again.

"Fine, you win. I wouldn't be in love with you, and maybe I'd be with some other bird, but where would you be? If you realized you didn't love him, it wouldn't have changed from staying. So We'd all be happy except for you, who would be sadly watching me live out my happy married life. If that really what you want?" he put an arm around her when she shook her head, still smiling a bit. "Stop trying to put my prat of a brother's feelings before your own. If he wants to make himself miserable by losing you, that's his problem. But any way you work this out in your head, someone is not happy. And personally, I prefer the ending where you and I are happy together now and my brother ends up happy despite himself."

"How is it that you end up comforting me when I upset you?"

"Because I'm amazing, of course," he grinned as he kissed her forehead.

"How'd your talk go?" Ginny took a bite of cake as Fred walked down to the kitchen and plopped himself in a seat beside her.

"We're good," he replied casually as he plunged his own fork into her cake, despite her protests.

"You know even if she has feeling for Ron, she loves you more, right?" She couldn't tell what her brother was thinking.

"I know," he nodded as he took another bite. This time she just stayed quiet. "She just wants him to be happy. I get that. She's been feeling guilty and just needs to let it go. She needs to realize that Ron's going to be back to being friends with her and everything will be back to normal soon."

"Are you really okay? I know you love her. That can't have been easy to hear," he watched him finish the last bite before he turned back to her.

"Ginny, do you think I really didn't know she loved Ron back then? Why do you think I was so surprised when it was Luna he ended up with and her with me? I'm not fooling myself into thinking I'm her first love. But the fact that she can be happy with me now is enough. We're going to be married any way we spin it. So there's no need to dwell on the past. I'm glad she's finally getting all this out. She's been quiet lately and keeps asking me if I'm really happy with her. It's good to know that it's not that she doesn't love me like I love her."

"You really are good for her," she smiled.

"That's what I keep saying," he laughed. "I don't think she always believes me."

"I believe you," Hermione joined them. "You're just so smug sometimes, I can't let you know it."

"I've never been smug a day in my life," he forced his brow to furrow, despite the smile still spread across his face. "Okay, maybe once," he added when both girls looked at him. "Can I go back to the whole wounded thing from upstairs? I got sympathy then. I feel like you two are ganging up on me now."

"Nope. We've already crossed that bridge," Ginny smiled. "Which I'm glad you two didn't have a whole long drawn out drama fest, because honestly, I'm tired and need to get home to get some sleep. Love you both," she hugged them before disapparating.

"I think sleep sounds good. How about you, love?" he held out a hand as he stood up.

"Sounds wonderful actually," she yawned as if on cue.

"You going to make tonight up to me?" he grinned.

"I'll figure out something," she smiled as he wrapped his arm around her. "Tomorrow. Tonight we sleep."

"I'm holdign you to that, love," he winked before they disapparated.