Hermione gripped her tea cup more tightly and fought not to giggle. Fred adjusted his position on the love seat so that he was pressed closer to her. Hermione bit her lip against another giddy giggle and tucked her head under Fred's chin. He wrapped his arm around her and Hermione allowed the ludicrous giddiness take over. Fred Weasley had his arm around her. Fred Weasley had told her that he thought she was beautiful (that was what he'd stuttered over.)

Fred Weasley wanted to take her on a date.

The minute she got alone she was going to squeal. Loudly. And probably dance with Ginny and Luna a little.

"How long till George returns?" Hermione asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over them when they'd settled on the couch.

"A while." Fred brushed a kiss against her head. "He'll be…happy."

"He'll tease me." Hermione corrected. "He's known for a while."

"Git." Fred said, "He never told me." Hermione grinned and bit her lip again.

"I threatened to hex him if he should try." Hermione explained. Fred was warm and smelled like cinnamon. She suspected it was from his newest invention, Laughing Lollies.

"Would you like to-to go out tom-tomo-tomorrow?"

"I'd love to, Fred."

A loud laugh from the hall announced the (early) arrival of George.

Lee staggered in behind George. He was carrying a rather large bowl of some purple that sloshed over the bowls edge. George laughed at whatever he'd said before they walked into the room.

"Yeah, shockingly enough it's actually harder to pay ones monthly bills than I was lead to believe in Hogwarts'. Why are you two snuggling on the couch? Is the furnace out?" George stopped and his grin turned positively evil. "You cheeky bugger! You finally did something! Which one was it that made the move?"

"You-you.." Fred started. Hermione, still beaming because she couldn't stop beaming sat up.

"You shall never know." George squealed in a ridiculously girly manner and flapped his arms wildly. Lee watched him with a raised eyebrow, still struggling to hold the bowl of purple liquid.

"Congratulations and all that, but this is rather heavy. I don't suppose you could help me find a place to put it?"

"Oh!" George scrambled around the couch and cleared off a space on the overly cluttered table. Lee dropped the bowl and stepped back. He wiped his hands off on his slacks and turned to look at Fred and Hermione.

"It honestly is about time, mate." Fred stuck his tongue out.

"You buggers… were no-help."

"Whatever." George dismissed with a wave of his hand. "I'm starving so I'm going to fix tacos. That," he pointed towards the bowl of purple liquid, "needs to sit for at least an hour so don't touch it."

Hermione looked up at Fred who was grinning absently. 'Why would we?' she mouthed. Fred snorted and glanced at the table. 'I don't know.' He mouthed back. Fred's hand moved from her hip to her arm and started tracing little patterns into her bare skin. It felt nice.

"Did you hear about the Minister?" Lee handed George some cooked beef from the fridge before pulling out a block of cheddar cheese. George shook his head.

"Kingsley? What about him?"

"He reaches the end of his emergency term in a month."

George's brow furrowed as Hermione sat up a little straighter. She hadn't heard anything about the Minister. She had been rather busy with medical school recently. "Then who is next in line?"

"I'm not sure. Normally I would have guessed the-"

"Malfoy's but they're on suspension from the war." George cut off. He poured the beef into a sauté pan. "Actually, most contenders are out of the race."

"Right?" Lee grated the cheese. Hermione was thoroughly confused. She always assumed that the Minster of Magic was elected the same way as the Prime Minister. It was sounding like she had been quite mistaken. They were making it sound as though the Minister of Magic was supposed to be born into the position. Was everyone not eligible?

"Are the Longbottom's contenders?" Lee snorted and dropped some cheese on the floor. He banished it with a wave of his hand.

"Neville? Or his Gran? We'd be safe. No one would mess with Britain if they were at the lead."

"When are they announcing?" Fred asked. George looked over his shoulder and smiled widely at his twin. Hermione was impressed as well. He'd hardly struggled at all.

"Supposedly they're already in negotiations with whoever is being considered."

"We'll have to poke the grapevine and see who that is." George suggested. Lee snorted and frowned in mock horror.

"Or else we'd have to wait like normal people!"

"The horror!" George cried out dramatically.

Fred shifted against Hermione and leaned into her a bit. She stiffened at the unexpected contact before relaxing into his warmth. The giddy smile she'd been fighting earlier came back and Hermione was helpless against it. She'd have to do a giddy dance whenever she got back home.

"Dinner smells good, and I lo-love my twin… But I would rather it were. Just us." Fred whispered the words in Hermione's ear and her grin just got all the larger.

"Can you come to my place for dinner tomorrow? I can promise us a few hours alone." Hermione's skin flushed as she realized how wanton that probably sounded. Fred's eyes sparkled and he nodded his head.

"It's a date."

"Here you go, lovebirds!" George interrupted. He thrust a plate of tacos under their noses and beamed like he had done something profoundly brilliant. Hermione gave her head a little shake and took the plate.

"Thank you, George.-"

"Now bugger off." Fred ordered before grabbing a taco. George's eyes widened a bit and darted between Hermione and Fred. He stood still for a moment before retreating to the other couch with his own plate of tacos.

Hermione felt as if she'd just missed something.

-o-o-o-

"It's a chocolate sundae, silly." Hermione laughed as she handed the treat over to Fred. He screwed his face up and gave it a little shake.

"A sundae? H-how can a de-de-d… day be food?"

Hermione glanced over her shoulder before leaning forward and whispering as if she was sharing a secret . "Magic." She confided and raised bother her eyebrows before nodding her head regally. Fred laughed loudly and carefree and Hermione cherished the noise while trying to control the amount her face was beaming. She was ridiculously happy.

Fred picked up his spoon, still grinning and took his sundae. He spooned out a bit and stuck it in his mouth. He held still for a moment before closing his eyes and moaning dramatically. Hermione blushed at the noise and blushed harder at realizing she was blushing. It was a rather horrible cycle.

"Merlin's beard," Fred murmured around his spoon with his eyes still closed.

Hermione leaned on the counter and grinned. "So, meet your expectations?" Fred opened his eyes and nodded his head. Hermione darted her hand forward and dragged her finger through a bit of his syrup and whip cream before popping the digit in her mouth and sucking it all up happily. Fred watched the finger with wide eyes and Hermione felt herself flush all over again.

She loved it.

-o-o-o-

"Why did I let you talk me into that?" George whined loudly, and in Hermione's opinion, dramatically. Hermione snorted and gave her head a shake as she locked the car up. Fred joined her and took her hand.

"It was not that bad. And I told you the traffic would be frightful." She poked George's chest. "You're the one that wanted to go on an adventure."

"That was not an adventure." George stated as they traipsed across the Burrow's lawn. She could see brooms littered about the front lawn which meant the others had already arrived. George pressed the newly installed doorbell and stepped back. "You are never getting me back in that car to drive through London. That was terrifying. Quidditch is safer than that was." Hermione snickered and George glared before ringing the doorbell again. "Thank God we arrived in one piece." Hermione laughed and gave George a little push. Fred shook his head. "No seriously, thank him. He deserves a thanks because he is the only reason I am here. " George rang the doorbell once again. "Why the hell isn't anyone answering?"

"Patience." Hermione sang out with a haughty grin. George stuck his tongue out and rang the doorbell again.

"Mummy!" Fred called out as loudly as he could. Hermione jumped in surprise and then proceeded to glare at George who started to cackle at her obvious fright.

The door sprung open and Molly stuck her head out. "Well come in, come in! We thought you weren't coming."

"You started dinner?" George asked in a scandalized tone. Molly shook her head.

"No, we're all eating outside and the turkey has another half hour before it's done." She pushed George forward and Hermione followed them. Fred tightened his grip on her hand and Hermione felt her chest flutter happily.

Music drifted into the Burrow from wherever it was playing outside. The Weasleys' and their significant others were all standing about except for Bill and Fleur who were sitting at the table. Fleur was several months pregnant and glowing. Literally. Her skin had a silvery sheen that made her look even more breathtaking than usual.

George wandered over to where Charlie and a blonde athletic witch were standing. Hermione made to follow him and introduce herself but Fred stopped her with a quick tug on her hand. She stumbled back a step and he caught her before spinning her around so she was pressed up against him. He brought her free hand up to his shoulder and took her waist before lifting their clasped hands up. He smiled down at her, and with sparkling eyes, began to take her around in a slow dance.

Hermione's heart sped up and she didn't care how many people were staring at her or that she hated the song that was playing.

Fred was staring at her like she'd given him the best prank in the world and they really didn't need any words.

That was what Lavender had clearly not gotten. Fred might have trouble speaking, but he didn't need to. He could communicate anything through his eyes. He was so kind and handsome, and he chose Hermione.

That blew her mind a little bit.

She had no idea how long they danced, but she did notice Harry and Ginny, Ron and Hannah, and George join them on the dance floor. Molly and Arthur even had a dance.

They gathered around the table but they didn't sit as they always did. Instead of squeezing in between Harry and Ginny, Hermione was sitting beside Fred.

Hermione, for the first time, had a boyfriend she could sit beside. She took her seat and marveled at the shock while trying not to beam too widely. Harry started the conversation up with something about the latest news with the ministry and Hermione put aside her inward flailing about having a boyfriend and paid attention.

"So we're not sure who is going to be our boss at the end of term and it's making life… difficult." Harry complained.

Ron nodded his head. "Why aren't they announcing the family? Kingsley only has a week left."

"They're probably worried about the publicity. They don't want anyone trying to stop it from going through. I imagine the new Minister will have ties to Death Eaters. There are precious few families who don't." Charlie offered. "What have you heard, Perce? You work with the Minister directly. Percy chewed his turkey thoughtfully and shrugged.

"Nothing much. Well, nothing I'm at liberty to discuss."

Fred tossed a bit of his potatoes at his brother. "Prat." George said. Percy stuck his tongue out and thrust his hand forward. Fred's water glass tipped over from the magic and Hermione barely managed to catch it before it spilled all over the twin.

Fred laughed and inclined his head in respect. Percy grinned and grabbed a roll. Hermione sipped at her own water slowly. No one else seemed to notice that Percy had very deliberately avoided and the question and then changed the subject. He knew something.

Hermione was dying to know just what.