"Dear brother mine, I have a business errand for you. Hi Hermione, how did you find my last brother's services?" Their attention snapped toward the door hearing Fred's familiar drawl. "Never mind, we'll catch up later. I have business to do, and..." he was thinking for a moment. "I'll be a gentleman and let the Lady stay in bed. Charlie, out!" He flicked his wand to give weight to his command, while striding through the room to steal a delicious kiss from Hermione.

Hermione was too surprised to react.

He was just like that; storming into her life occasionally, and leaving in the most unexpected moment. She hoped there would be a time when he stayed. The last time he arrived without notice was the birth of the aforementioned child. Fred was still here when they announced the happy news, and he came back to see if everything went alright with the birth. He did not offer any explanation about his disappearance, he briefly mentioned to her he was still working on finding her parents, and Molly was so outraged by his silence that it was exactly what he got from her. Silent treatment. And a forceful slap from Fleur for causing so much grief.

Bill, however was an entirely different case, and now, at least she understood. Bill was following him around, and when the baby came, Bill was hanging on his soothing words. Everyone tried to reassure him that all was right, but he only listened to Fred, requiring his presence constantly while waiting for any news.

Then, Fred was pronounced the godfather, standing with the baby in her arms, and Hermione was melting by seeing them. Fred wiggled his brows, and she remembered his remark about making kids, and she very much felt like up to it. Yet, despite the long lovemaking sessions before the birth, he wouldn't linger much more: a quick shag in a closet at the Mungo, and a flippant comment about 'trying Charlie', and he was on his way again.

Cheeky, confident bastard.

And he found her exactly where he suggested her to be – although it took her more than half a year to accomplish said result. She had to get over her resentment first (passing her to his brother for comfort so openly sounded outrageous, even after everything that happened between her and the Weasley boys), then, she had to get used to the idea that she was trying to seduce Charlie. Confident, famous, adventurous Charlie. Dragontamer. Dragonrider. She was trying not to get scared of him, but she always found him pretty impressive, even when she only heard distant tales about him. He was so out of her league – yet, when she coolly asked him out for a drink, he agreed enthusiastically. (So much for the hysterical breakdowns in the privacy of her rooms about the probability of her getting rejected.) They immediately hit it off, especially, when Charlie enlightened her that she was a dragonrider too. After the first drink, Charlie offered to buy her another one, or continue in his flat.

He was so much like Fred, only more, yet calmer. She knew he had been with tons of women, and she enjoyed his experience. He encouraged her to try anything she wanted, which she did; it also reminded her to Fred. By the time they finished, she had a long list of similarities between him and Fred, and perhaps that was the reason she opened up so eagerly. Back then, with George, it was different; she was definitely not in love, but now, she definitely was.

She wondered what they were talking about, when Charlie barged in, dressed and left.

Fred peeked into the room.

"Sorry to steal your partner, but he's needed. More like, his shady acquaintance is needed to forge some papers. Brought a surprise, I did!" he laughed proudly.

Hermione was gaping, and decided to send a pillow flying into his face. This only prompted him to come closer, sprawling on his brother's bed.

"Oi! We've just had..." She was appalled and outraged, and he was still laughing.

"Sex. Here. I know. Brother Bill would even smell it, isn't it fantastic, love?"

Hermione desperately shook her head.

"I've missed you."

His expression turned serious. "And I you. I love you. Now, I can love you however I want."

"Why, because I've slept with all of your brothers?"

"No. Because when you go home, the house will no longer be empty. You need to stay here for a while, though. A couple of hours I guess? Any idea how to pass that time?" He was winking and suggesting dirty things by a mere glance, but Hermione sat up.

"Gross!" She was awkwardly wrapping her blanket around her frame. "You are insufferable! You are... You!"

"Everything?"

"Yes. Come here, I don't want to jump around like a penguin."

"At your service, My Lady!"

She lost herself in his arms, and a couple of minutes later, she lost herself beneath him, in the bed which she shared with Charlie just this night.

"I hate it that you can make so undone so fast!"

"Are you kidding?" He laughed. "I love it!" He also loved when she counter attacked, and now he was the one sinking in the pillow, lost in pleasure, watching her taking care of their needs.

Hours later, Fred was asleep as Hermione watched over him. It took a while to get him down on Earth: he was high on being proud of a job well done. Now, he looked calm; travelling the world in constant uncertainty took its toll on him. Yet, she remembered how much worse he looked while living in the Burrow after the Battle, surrounded by his family and friends, eating his Mother's food and being taken care of. He was not one to settle down and live a classic family life. He craved adventure and becoming the protagonist of great stories to be retold again and again - now that he got it, he found his peace.

She found hers too, she realised. The War had broken her beyond her understanding, but time has passed, and by the time she gathered her courage to heed his counsel, she felt the familiar buzz in her veins that always pushed her forward. With Bill, she did what she had to do, but with Charlie, she did what felt right to do, completely shedding any remaining fears of hers. And tonight... Tonight, while she summarised her sexual life to Charlie, she made peace with everything that happened. It was just a story, after all. Just the story of her life, nothing extraordinary, nothing that she hadn't known. Charlie was a good person to talk to; perhaps Fred pushed her toward him for a reason.

Charlie came back, bringing a large manila folder. He used the object to hit his brother's ass, who woke groaning.

"What now?"

Charlie tossed the folder at his head. "Get up, sleepyhead, I want my bed back. You're disgusting, could you not find another place to snog?"

"Weren't just snogging," he mumbled. Hermione was watching the scene with bashful interest, trying to ignore the blush crawling on her face.

"I'm sorry, Charlie. Perhaps I should keep you instead of him?" she teased.

Charlie smirked, letting Fred time to react.

"Calling dibs!" he shouted, jumping out of the bed naked, but wielding his wand.

"All yours," Charlie waved them off.

.

Fred truly found her parents, whole and happy, and delivered them home. He promised her to one day tell everything, but for now, he wanted to let them reunite. Hermione and her parents were hugging like they would never let go, and he tried to melt into the wallpaper, but he just wasn't a person to be ignored for long. Hermione's father came over to him, shaking his hand, thanking him profoundly for whatever he had done. Hermione's mother locked him in a breathtaking embrace, and the daughter was standing in the background, wiping her happy tears.

It was sappy. Disgusting, really. He was not emotional, nor did he do relationship – but at that moment, he knew he was utterly, irrevocably doomed. He half-heartedly tried to push her toward his brothers; he was hoping that perhaps he would find a way to keep her close, yet, not getting truly attached. Charlie's words though rang too true: he should man up and make it right. He ceremoniously stepped in front of her father and asked.

"Mr Granger, I would like to ask for your blessing to woo your daughter and eventually trick her into marriage with me, if she so wishes."

The father stood speechless, clapping his shoulder several times to express his approval, the mother gave him another tearful hug, but he only had eyes for Hermione.

She was livid. And happy. She was crying happy tears, while looked like she wanted to throw things at his way. There was nothing too heavy or painful in the way, so he shrugged.

"I so wish?! I so wish to slap you! I so wish to kill you! I so wish to take you home and lock you up and never let you leave the place!" she counted screaming. "Are you happy now, that you got your big scene?!"

Easily, he bypassed the overwhelmed parents, and took her by the hand.

"I'm happy now. And to be honest, I'm having fun now, are you too?"

Her response was lost in a deep, long kiss.

.

THE END

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A/N: That's it, dear readers. I wanted to write a fluffy end, but these two here were not very fluffy during this story, so this is how it turned out. Fred came back, accomplished what he wanted to, they are both over their traumas of the war, found their peace, and Hermione finally tried all of the Weasley boys.

How did you like it? Which was your favorite chapter/brother?

I would like to thank you for the constant feedback, especially by reviewing, but also for the favs/follows!

Bye, SV