"What else we need?" Ron asked as he finished the last bite of his sundae.

"I need some new robes," Hermione finished off her pumpkin juice and set the glass back on the table. "And I need to get a few other things. Maybe we could split up and meet up in an hour or so? That way you and Harry could go to Quality Quidditch Supplies and I don't have to."

"Oh."

Hermione smiled at Ginny's disappointed sigh. "Go ahead, Ginny. Maybe Luna will come with me?"

"That'd be nice." Luna blinked. "I don't need any Quidditch supplies. I made my lion head all by myself."

"Er." Ron nodded. "Right." He stood up, waiting for Harry and Ginny to do the same. "We'll meet you guys in an hour."

"Aren't you going to kiss her goodbye?" Ginny elbowed Ron in the ribs.

"Who?"

"Luna." Ginny rolled her eyes. "She's your girlfriend, isn't she?"

"Oh. Er." Ron looked at Luna and she got to her feet, moving over to press a light kiss to Ron's lips. "Er."

Luna smiled enigmatically and turned to follow Hermione as she headed off down the street.

"What's going on between you and Ron?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he looked a little perplexed about whether or not you two were dating." Hermione moved the robes around on the rack as she looked for one in her size. "Have you two broken up?"

"He's not in love with me."

"Oh."

"He likes you, you know."

"Ron and I are just friends."

"I know. I'm not trying to make you feel bad. You can't help how you feel. I understand that. Ron doesn't. Not yet. He might eventually though."

"Hmm." Hermione pulled a robe free of the hanger and looked at it, trying it on over her clothes. "So if you've broken up, why did you kiss him?"

"He's quite a good kisser."

"Oh."

"And there were people watching. Kids from school. I thought it best not to embarrass him. He certainly doesn't need to go back to school with everyone thinking that Loony Luna broke up with him."

Hermione laughed. "We don't think of you like that."

"Anymore." Luna returned her smile, her eyes suddenly sharp. "It's really okay, you know. When people think you're lost in your own world, they say things around you. They admit things." She tilted her head. "It makes your hair look bigger."

"The robe?"

"Yeah."

"Right. Not this one then. My hair doesn't need any encouragement."

Ron wrapped his hand around the bag he was holding, making sure he didn't lose it in the bustling crowd. Even with news that Lord Voldemort had returned, the lack of activity during the summer had given everyone renewed confidence and they showed it off by shopping, shoving and calling out to each other around the streets.

"It's weird." He stuffed a chocolate frog in his mouth. "You'd think they'd be scared or something."

"There's Aurors everywhere, "Ginny pointed several stationery clumps of wizards, all of them observing the crowd with hard eyes. "Probably afraid something's going to happen with all of us gathered around here."

Ron jabbed Ginny and nodded toward Harry who was a few steps ahead of them. "Hush. He doesn't need to hear that."

"He'd know it before any of us, Ron," she reminded him. "And he seems okay."

"Right, so let's not get any ideas in his head and ruin today, okay?" He tightened his grip once more and Ginny laughed. "What?"

"No one's going to steal your broom servicing kit, Ron."

"Our kit," he reminded her. He was about to say something else when Harry suddenly broke into a jog. "Hey! Harry!" He cast a quick, worried glance at Ginny and took off after his friend, coming to a gasping stop as Harry did, his best friend engulfed in the lanky arms of Remus Lupin. "Oh."

Ginny skidded to a stop beside him and grinned at the gathering. Remus, both her parents, Tonks, Neville and his Gran, and… "Bill! What're you doing here?"

"Just in town for the day, Sis." He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. "Dumbledore gave me a day off, so I'm here to hang out with the family."

"Dumbledore assigned all of you to Diagon Alley just in case Voldemort decided to pay a visit." She told him. "Right?"

"You're too smart for your own good." He kissed the top of her head again, laughing as she batted him away. "What's left for you guys?"

"We're supposed to meet Hermione and Luna and get our books. Then I guess we're just going home."

"Well, I can't be sure, but I think Mum's invited everyone back to our house for dinner." He grimaced slightly. "Which means it'll be more of a madhouse than usual."

"You act like you don't love it. Where's Fleur?"

His ears turned pink. "Work. She should be done in a few. What about the twins? You seen 'em?"

"Their store was flooded with students when we went by. We decided we didn't want to get roped into working for them, so we avoided it like the plague."

"Like I said, smart." He ruffled her hair and moved away from her as she swung at him. He dodged her blow, nearly stumbling over Luna and Hermione as they joined the fray. "Hello, girls."

"Hi, Bill." Hermione waved at him and then at Neville. "Hi, Neville."

"Oh, Hermione!" He moved over to her and gave her an awkward hug then looked at Luna, blushing as he stood there, unsure of what to do. She smiled at him and hugged him, not giving him the choice. He patted her on the back and pulled away, his face crimson. "How's your summer?"

"Good. Good. Yours?"

"All right," he nodded. "Gran and I are going to the Weasleys for dinner. Mrs. Weasley says you've been spending the summer there?"

"Most of it." She nodded. "Have you got your books yet?"

"We were just about to go in."

"Us too." She spied Ron and Harry hanging by Remus. "Let me get the boys and we'll all go in together."

They converged on Flourish and Blotts, all of them grabbing at the stacks of books and carrying them up to pay, Hermione's stack the largest of all. "Really, Hermione," Ron shook his head, "it's getting to the point where it's almost disgusting how much you study."

"You think any amount of studying is disgusting, Ron."

He nodded. "True enough."

They left the store, joining the throng of friends and relatives and heading toward Fred and George's store. Molly's disapproval was still evident as she muttered under her breath about where the twins would be if they'd taken their N.E.W.T.s but even she was impressed at the huge line that spiraled from the counter and out the door.

"Hey!" George waved from the ladder he was on, losing his balance for a second before grabbing the rung again. "Wow. The gang's all here. Fred. Everyone's here."

"Great. Get your arse down here and help."

Hermione glanced at the mass of people around her then down at her books. She pulled out her wand and shrunk them, tucking them in the pocket of her robe along with her wand. "Mrs. Weasley?"

"Yes, Hermione, dear?"

"Would it be all right if I stayed? And…and helped out the twins?"

"But everyone's coming to the house, dear."

"Which means you'll have more than enough people to look after. And Fred and George really look like they could use the help." Molly considered her for a moment. Hermione swallowed hard and met her eyes. "It's my last chance to see him until October, Mrs. Weasley."

She pursed her lips and grabbed Hermione's arm, dragging her in through the store. George jumped off the ladder, a box in his hands, nearly tumbling into them both as Mrs. Weasley swung open the divider and stepped behind the counter.

"Er, hi, Mum."

"George, what are you doing tonight?"

"Working?"

"After?"

"Uh…" he glanced out the storefront window, his eyes locked on something. "Nothing, Mum."

"All right." She turned and looked at Hermione. "You can stay. Until eleven." She looked at Fred and he pressed his lips together to hide his smile. "Eleven, Fredrick. And not a second later."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Where's George?"

"He went out." Fred was stretched out on the couch, the leg against the back of it bent at the knee, his foot buried between the two cushions. His other foot was resting on the floor, one arm on each leg, his eyes smiling up at Hermione. "Come sit down."

"Maybe I should go."

"You wanted to study, right?" He reached up and caught her hand, tugging her toward him. "And we all know that there's no way you're going to do that at the Burrow with Ron and Harry and Ginny and Luna and Neville and Bill and Remus and…"

"Okay, okay." She laughed and let him pull her closer. "Point taken." She sat on the edge of the couch and stared at their hands for a few moments, watching his thumb rub gently over her knuckles.

"Come here," he suggested softly, patting the space between his legs with his free hand.

Her voice was soft and unsure when she finally spoke. "I really do mean to study, Fred."

He sat up, leaning forward and brushing a kiss across her cheek. "I know. But you can study over here, can't you?"

"You promise not to be a distraction?"

"Well, I promise not to distract you on purpose," he shrugged. "I can't help my natural charm and good looks."

Hermione laughed and let him coerce her closer, settling between his legs, his chest warm against her back. He tilted his head slightly to the side as she leaned against him, planting a soft kiss on her temple.

"There now. Not so bad, is it?"

"Well, you're certainly more comfortable than George's sorry excuse for a chair."

"He's had it since we were five. It's a bit beat up. But, you know, settled in."

"That's because it's conformed to the shape of his body." She turned her head. "Now, stop being distracting."

"One last kiss?" She gave him a knowing look and he raised his hand. "I swear I'm not trying to seduce you, Miss Granger. I just want a little taste to get me through the next couple of hours of you preparing for another year of Transfiguration."

"And here I thought the only thing Fred Weasley swore to was that he was up to no good."

"You've changed me."

"Oh," she shook her head and leaned in to kiss him, her breath warm on her lips, "don't say that. George would never forgive me."

His hand threaded through her hair and he painted her lips with the tip of his tongue. "George who?"

"Explain television again?"

"Freeeeeeeeed." She shook her head, her hair like soft whips against his neck. "I'm trying to study."

"Please?"

"It's like the movie we saw the other night, only in your house."

"It's that big?"

"No. It's smaller. Like…like the size of," she mimed the shape and size with her hands. "And you watch things on it ."

"Movies?"

"And other stuff. TV shows."

"Which are?"

"Stories."

"Like books?"

"Yes, only with actors and actresses playing the roles. And sometimes there are real things. Like the news. Or documentaries, which are sort of news about specific things."

"Muggles are an odd sort."

She chuckled. "I suppose that's better than Draco Malfoy's usual rhetoric, though not very nice."

"I didn't say odd was bad." He shrugged. "Go back to your book."

"And you promise not to distract me? Again?"

He smiled and kissed her hair, inhaling the delicate scent of apples that clung to her. "Exactly."

"Mm-hmm." She picked up her book again, shifting slightly, settling more comfortably in his loose embrace. Her breath caught as she felt him adjust to her, felt the delicate movement that he couldn't quite hide as her bottom pressed more snugly against him. She swallowed hard as she felt the harsh puff of air he expelled stir her hair, felt his body tighten almost imperceptibly.

Neither of them spoke. Hermione struggled to focus on her book, her eyes going over the same sentence time and time again, conscious only of Fred's hands as he slowly began stroking her upper arms, fingers feathering delicately over her skin. She closed her eyes for a second, leaning into him and he sighed, his thumb beginning to swirl circles amidst the invisible lines left by his fingers.

"You all ready for school?" His voice was strangled.

"Mostly," she breathed, her lashes fluttering and her hands tightening on the edges of her book as his fingers continued stroking her, an errant one occasionally finding the curve of her breast. "Har…Harry's nervous about it, knows that everything's going to start up again."

"Bound to." His eyes threatened to close as she wriggled slightly, but he forced them to stay open, to watch her body react to his small, light touches. Her chest hitched as he moved his hand, letting three fingers curve over the peak of her nipple where it strained against her shirt, barely stirring the air above it.

"R…Ron," she swallowed hard as his fingers moved back to her arms, taking a deep breath as they curved around her bicep and seemed to fall away. "Ron doesn't want to go back. Worried about Harry, I think."

"I figured he'd want to go. Get you away from me."

She started to respond, stopping, her mouth open as the hand he'd kept resting on his upraised knee moved to her arm, the other down to her thigh where it pressed against his.

"And you?"

"All set."

He nuzzled her neck, his breath hot like a furnace, heating her all over. "And no one's surprised by that one, are they?"

"I am, a little." Her voice shook as Fred's fingers ran along the hem of her skirt, fingering the fabric lightly, never touching her. His other hand traced the sleeve of her shirt, occasionally curling under the material to brush her arm. "Not about going back. But by how much I don't want to." She bent her head as his breath feathered over her neck. "Besides, I'm still terrible at flying."

"You're not terrible at anything."

"You never saw me in Divination."

"You just need a little confidence in your flying." He nibbled her earlobe, inhaling as she gasped, extending the shocked and hungry sound by slipping his fingers onto her thigh, under the edge of her skirt. "Confidence and practice. And a really good coach."

She grasped Fred's knee with her right hand then pressed her palm hard to the softer skin above the bone, breathing quickly as his hand stilled, warm weight pressing on her flesh. "Are you saying Madame Hooch isn't a good coach?"

"I would never suggest any such thing. In fact," his tongue flickered in the hollow behind her ear. "I'm appalled that you would suggest that I'd suggest such a thing."

"Then what are you saying?" Her book fell away from her, forgotten as the fingers of Fred's left hand moved up to the collar of her shirt, tugging it to the side so he could kiss the curve of her neck where it met her shoulder. The thumbnail of his right hand curled patterns onto her thigh beneath her skirt, the fabric tented over his hand. Licking her lips, she arched her back, the change in posture pressing her ass hard against Fred's body.

"Oh," he groaned against her neck, sucking on air and skin as he tensed his muscles in an effort to keep from thrusting against her. "Just that you need a little more," he paused, realizing he was panting, unsure how things had gotten quite this far, "one on one instruction."

"One on one?" Her voice caressed the words and he groaned again, the hand on her thigh slipping higher. Tiny tremors were running through Hermione's body, each one shaking him as well everywhere she touched him, which he realized as she relaxed slightly, was awfully close to everywhere.

"Not to brag," his voice held none of its usual boasting or mischief, instead it purred, surrounding her, stroking her as delicately as his hands, "but it's been said I'm quite masterful on a broom."

"Who…" his hand slid higher, above her thigh, his palm hot on her stomach, his fingers dipping beneath the waistband of her panties, her skirt in complete disarray, "who says that?"

He nipped at her neck, his tongue and lips leaving hot pink marks on her pale skin. He closed his eyes then swallowed, forcing himself to watch her as he let his fingers slide beneath her knickers, his palm brushing over the downy tangle of hair beneath the silky material. Hermione stilled and shuddered all at once, her eyes closing as every muscle in her body seemed to coil in on itself. "Everyone."

She swallowed several times, her chest barely moving as she struggled for air. Fred didn't move, his breath on her neck feathering down over her chest, her nipples tightening further. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips before she sank her teeth into the lower one. Fred shuddered beneath her, his breath stuttering into rough gasps. The silent stillness stretched out for infinite seconds. "Everyone, huh?"

He nearly groaned, biting the sound back as he let his hand slip lower, tangling through the silky strands until he felt the warm dip of flesh, his middle finger sliding down the delicate slope, his other fingers parting the skin in its wake. His left hand released her shirt and moved down her back, sliding beneath her arm so that it could curve around her breast, cupping the heavy mound through her clothes. "I was quite the Quidditch star in my day."

She shifted beneath him and his hands stilled. Fear swam through him as she seemed to pull away, drowning in the tidal wave of emotion that flooded him as she seemed to sprawl against him, allowing him easier access to her body, parting her legs slightly to accommodate his touch.

"Hermione," he breathed her name like a prayer as his finger found her clit, barely touching it.

"Oh, so you're that Fred Weasley, are you?" Her joking tone was destroyed by the tremor in her voice, the suspense and anticipation that underscored every word.

"Follow Quidditch, do you?" Neither of them were paying attention to what was said, both too consumed with the movement of his hands on her body, but the pretense seemed just as important, just as necessary as him rubbing his palm over her nipple, as him circling her clit with a touch so light it was almost imaginary.

"Not really, no." She swallowed between every word. Her left hand curled around his calf, fingers kneading the taut muscle, nails occasionally digging into his flesh, scraping against his jeans. Her right hand was still pressed to his thigh, sliding along it with long strokes that were almost as distracting there as they would have been higher, sliding over his cock.

"But you've heard of me?"

She breathed heavily for a few moments as he finally applied pressure, still circling the hard nub without touching it. "Rumors, mostly."

He released her breast and snuck his hand down between them, adjusting his cock. It ached, throbbing against his too-tight jeans. "Ru…rumors?" His own breath was just as strained as Hermione's, and he rubbed himself for a few moments, closing his eyes and finally - finally! - touching her clit.

"Oh!" She bit out the sound, her hips curling off the couch. Fred groaned and bit at her neck, his fingers sliding down, inside her, thrusting into the wash of wet heat. He whispered her name over and over, matching the sound with the rhythm of his thrusts, his other hand sliding along the cushion between them, under her ass, squeezing it lightly. "Oh, Fr…Fred." She panted harshly, swallowing to ease her dry throat, gulping air as her body writhed at the end of his fingers. His thumb flicked across her clit, two fingers buried inside her, his mouth moving over her neck with wet, hot kisses that burned her skin, branded her like a dragon's breath. Her nails dug into his jeans and she shook violently, helplessly, caught and controlled as if under the Imperio curse.

She collapsed, spent and exhausted, flushed and pale all at once. Fred stared down at her with shocked eyes, the blue sparkling with power and pride and awe. Hermione's eyes were closed, her chest heaving, her body spasming as he carefully removed his fingers from inside her. He looked around, suddenly unsure, wiping them on his jeans before touching her cheek. "You…" Hardly any sound came out past his dry lips so he swallowed and tried again. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, her head bobbing out of her control. She forced herself to still and looked up at him, her eyes wide and scared and dangerously beautiful. She licked her lips and his hips jerked involuntarily. She was sprawled messily against him and even fully clothed she looked very much like she'd been doing exactly what they'd been doing. "I feel heavy."

"Languid."

"Oh," she sighed happily, wincing slightly as she tried to sit up. "That's a good word."

"Easy now." He stroked her hair, petting her.

She turned her head and smiled at him, her hand lifting to brush the light stubble that decorated his cheeks. "Thank you."

"For the stubble burn you're going to have to hide from Harry, Ginny and Ron? Not to mention my mother?"

She sat up then turned around, kneeling between his legs. Fred gaze hooked on the gradually slowing rise and fall of her breasts before lifting to her face and her knowing smile. Her grin widened then she glanced down at his waist before shyly meeting his gaze. "Do you want…"

"Ha!" He barked out the sound then breathed a host of sputtered sounds. "More than you can possibly imagine," he assured her. "But no. Not now. Not tonight. Not yet." He shook his head, shook away the feeling of betrayal that seemed to stem from the thought of her touching him, but had been absent as he'd touched her. "But thank you. For the offer."

Hermione licked her lips and grinned, impish and sweet and innocent all at once. "I didn't get any of my Transfiguration reading done."

"You sorry?"

She shook her head. "No."

Fred nodded and reached up, cupping her cheek and guiding her down to kiss him. "Good." His tongue teased hers, licking at her lips before sliding inside her mouth, tasting heat and promise and simply Hermione. When they pulled apart, she settled back into his lap, curled against him, satiation making her eyelids droop. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," she yawned, her nails scratching his chest through his thin shirt.

"What rumors did you hear?" He closed his eyes as she laughed, strangely and dangerously content.

"Let go of me!" Ron's raged cry jerked Fred awake and he blinked open his eyes, disoriented. The room swam into focus and he wondered what the hell he was doing in the living room and why he couldn't feel his legs and what was on him and breathing and…oh. "I'm going to kill the sodding bastard. Let go of me!"

"Ron!" Mr. Weasley's voice boomed around the room and Fred felt Hermione stir against him. She stretched, her body smoothing against his and he barely held in his groan as the morning erection that had begun to fade in the wake of the presence of his father and brother surged back to life.

"Look at him! He's got his hands all over her and I'm going to kill him!" He wrenched out of his father's grasp and lunged for Fred, only stopping when Mrs. Weasley stepped in front of him.

"That's enough, Ronald." Molly turned around and faced Fred and he was no longer worried about his erection, though a certain fear for his life did begin to come into play. "Fredrick."

"Er." He glanced at Hermione who was sliding off of his lap as cautiously as possible, her head down. "Hello, Mum. What, er, what time is it?"

"It's two in the sodding morning, that's what time it is, you great prick and if you've so much as laid a hand on her, I'm going to…"

"Ronald!"

"We fell asleep." Fred resisted the urge to glare at Ron, instead turning his blue eyes to his mother. "We were talking and we fell asleep."

Molly glanced quickly at Hermione who was straightening her skirt, her face bright red. "We told you to have her home by eleven, Fred."

"We fell asleep, Mum. It wasn't on purpose. It was just…"

"I'll tell you what it was!" Ron moved around his mother and glared down at Fred. "She wouldn't give you what you wanted the other night at the house, so you took advantage of her here, when there was no one else around to stop you."

"What the fuck are you on about, Ronald?" Fred snapped.

"Fred!"

"I saw the two of you the other night at the house after the voomie. You were all over her, pawing her outside the front door, touching her," he didn't look at Hermione, but he could feel the heat of embarrassment and anger radiating off of her. "And she told you to stop and you just bided your time, didn't you?"

"You're delusional, Ronald." Fred shoved Ron back and got to his feet, his legs tingling as blood circulated through them again. "After the movie the other night, I very chastely kissed Hermione good night since she'd taken so long at her parents house and was tired. Maybe your little scenario is a little more likely to be what happened in Luna's room, eh?"

"You shut up," Ron snarled.

"Ron." Hermione snapped his name, forcing his attention to turn to her. "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. We fell asleep. That's all. And I'm sorry that we worried you, but please, nothing happened." She gave Fred a regretful smile. "Nothing happened."

"Very well." Molly took a deep breath and stepped back, a tight grip on Ron's arm. "Let's get everyone home. You've got a train to catch in a few hours."

"That's it?" Ron gasped. "That's all? We just walk away? He's been…been doing Merlin knows what with her and we're just going home?"

"Ron, Hermione said nothing happened," Mr. Weasley told him gently, guiding him toward the fireplace. "Let's go home."

"He's lying!" He glared at Hermione. "She's lying. She's not going to tell you that he's shagged her. She'd be too embarrassed. And no reason not to be, given that she's been shagging him."

"Ronald!" Arthur snapped. "That's enough." He tossed a handful of floo powder in the fireplace, called out "The Burrow" and shoved Ron into the flames, his recriminations against Fred lingering in the air.

Arthur followed Ron through the flames without looking back at Fred. Molly guided Hermione toward the fireplace. "I need to get my books, Mrs. Weasley."

"Hurry up then."

Hermione gathered the stack up, blushing as Fred tugged her Transfiguration text from between the seat cushions of the couch. His voice was tender. "Here you go."

"I'll owl you."

"You'd better."

"Got them all, Hermione?" Molly was obviously having trouble keeping her temper in check. "Good. Move along then." She shooed her to the fireplace, waiting until she was gone to turn to Fred. "You and your brother will be home for dinner tonight."

"But…"

"Tonight, Fredrick."

"Yes, Mum."

George waited until everyone had left before shuffling into the living room, wiping his sleepy eyes with one hand, scratching his bare stomach with the other. Fred glanced and him and shrugged, smirking slightly. "Hey."

"What'd I miss?"

"Apparently everything, but I'll leave it to Mum's diatribe during dinner tonight to let you experience all the details. Because, trust me, you'll no doubt get your share of the blame."

"And you won't tell me what I did?"

"You weren't sitting like an angel on my shoulder telling me not to defile Hermione."

George nodded until he processed what his brother said. "You defiled Hermione?"

"Not as I recall." He sat there silently, cursing the rising tide that flooded his skin. "Er, not exactly."

George leaned back against the arm of the couch and crossed his arms over his chest, staring at his twin. "What exactly do you mean by not exactly?"

"I mean nothing happened."

"Fredrick?"

"I'm not going to tell you anything, brother mine. So don't even ask. What happened is very strictly just between Hermione and myself."

George's voice was soft, slightly sad. "I'm your twin. Your best friend."

"Yeah, and you're a rotten git for trying to get the details, aren't you? Hermione doesn't need everyone in the Weasley family knowing what exactly she's done or not done." He crossed his arms as well and refused to look at George. "And you're not exactly discreet, are you?"

"I'm incredibly discreet." George tried to look hurt. "You've no idea what I'm up to, do you?"

Fred looked at him, his gaze penetrating. "I know exactly what you're up to, George. And you're going to get yourself smeared over the pavement emotionally if you're not careful. Maybe even if you are."

"How's it you know what I'm up to all the time?"

"How do you think the Extendable Ears got so much better so fast?" Fred grinned. "And trust me that I am kidding, because the last thing I want to listen to is you making all sorts of embarrassing noises in the middle of the night."

"You're a prick."

"Yeah. Your point?" Fred got to his feet and headed into the kitchen to start the kettle. "You want tea?"

"You told her you're in love with her yet?"

"What are you on about?" Fred stopped walking but didn't turn around, knowing that his expression would give everything away to George's searching eye. "I'm not in love with Hermione."

"Right. You're still doing it to piss off Ron and get him to ask her out." George knelt on the couch and looked at Fred over the back of it. "That's why when I came home last night, she looked like she wasn't going to wake up for anything less than an earthquake and you looked about as happy as I've ever seen you."

"Nothing happened."

"Fred, I appreciate that you think I'm an idiot, I really do, but I know what a girl looks like when she's been…"

"Nothing. Happened."

"It's all right, mate. I'm not going to tell anyone. Maybe I'm a shit about teasing and talking the mickey but you're my twin, Fred. Nothing between us goes beyond us. Remember?"

Fred bowed his head and nodded. "What am I gonna do, George?"

"You love her…"

"What?" Fred's head jerked up and he shook it violently. "No. I don't. I'm just…this is about Ron, remember?"

"That's straight up bullshit, Fred."

"This is about Ron," he insisted.

"What you did to Hermione, whatever it was? That was about Ron?" George's mouth pressed into a thin line. "The only thing saving you from me cursing you into next week is the fact that you're bald-face lying." He got off the couch and walked up to his twin, his face hard and angry.

"I'm not lying."

"Then stop it right now. Because you did something, you touched her. And if that was about Ron and not about you and how you feel about her? I'll hand you over to Voldemort myself, you stupid shit."

"Look," Fred held up both hands, "she's on her way back to school, so it's not like I'll see her for a while. Things just got…"

"Out of hand?" George sneered. "You laying a finger on her is out of hand if you don't have feelings for her." He cuffed Fred up the side of the head. "Leave her alone, Fred."

"Fuck off, George." He headed for the kitchen, his ears ringing from George's words and the stinging slap. "You don't know what it's all about."

"I think it's more than clear what it's about, Fred." George shook his head in disgust. "I also think the only person you're fooling is yourself."

"Where's Mr. Weasley taking Ron?"

"Outside, dear." Her voice was worried and clipped. "It's one of the side effects of being forced through the floo network. Makes the person who's been forced horribly sick." She guided Hermione to the stairs and followed her up, the ragged sound of Ron's retching echoing after them. She sighed, somewhat tearfully.

"I'm really, really sorry, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione stopped outside Ginny's door and turned around to face her. "I didn't mean to worry anyone and I really didn't mean to stay all night." She grimaced as Ron retched again. "I'm really, really sorry."

"It's all right, dear," Molly nodded absently and moved her aside, opening Ginny's door. Ginny sat up, blinking blearily as her mother snapped on the light.

"Mum?"

"Go take your shower, Ginny."

"'S three in the morning."

"And there is a lot to do and a lot of showers that need to be taken and I need you to do as I say." Her voice caught and she swallowed. "Please, Ginny."

"Yes, Mum." Ginny got out of bed and grabbed her robe, pulling it around her. She gave Hermione a questioning glance as she walked past; waking up enough to widen her eyes as she realized that her friend was wearing the same clothes she'd been in the day before. "Oh."

"Ginny!" Molly snapped. "Go."

"Yes, Mum." She disappeared through the door, closing it behind her.

Molly moved over to the vacated bed and lowered herself onto it, poised nervously on the edge of the mattress. "Hermione, dear, have a seat, won't you?"

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley."

"Hmm. Maybe…maybe you should call me Molly."

"Molly, Mrs. Weasley?"

"Perhaps not." She folded her hands on her lap then unfolded them, rubbing her palms on her apron. "Hermione," she paused. "Dear."

"I'm really sorry, Mrs. Weasley. I am. I didn't mean to take advantage of your generosity at letting me stay here. I meant to come home, I did."

"Hermione." She bit out her name then blushed at the force of it. "Please. Stop."

Tears stung her eyes as she nodded, sucking her lower lip into her mouth. "Yes, ma'am."

"Now, I know that…before we talk about what happened last night," she swallowed hard, unable to meet Hermione's eyes, "I think we should have another talk."

"Another talk, Mrs. Weasley?"

"About…about…boys. And girls."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"I know, dear. You're awfully young and I've been remiss in not talking to you before this. I guess I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to."

"I didn't mean to do anything wrong, Mrs. Weasley."

"We need to talk about sex, Hermione."

"Sex?"

Molly nodded. "I don't know what your parents have told you," she glanced up at Hermione's crimson face and sighed, "but I imagine that being told your daughter is a witch may have pushed the more rudimentary life lessons out of their minds. And, as the parent figure, I think I should say some things. Let you know some things."

"Mrs. Weasley, I know about sex." She stopped at Molly's horrified look. "No! Not from experience! No! I mean, books! I've read books!" Molly's expression didn't change and Hermione stumbled over more words. "In school, not…not Hogwarts! Muggle school. Biology."

"Biology?"

"It's, um, where they teach you about being human. It's science."

"Science." Molly nodded. "And they teach you that?"

"Well, normally when you're older, but I was, um, I studied ahead in school. Muggle school."

"There are a lot of things I don't understand about the Muggle world, I guess." Molly swallowed. "Regardless of that, without knowing really what they…and I don't want to know, necessarily. I just think that maybe we should talk about it."

"About sex?"

"Yes."

"No offense, Mrs. Weasley, but you're my boyfriend's mother."

"All the more reason," Molly smiled widely, tightly. "It's obvious from what happened last night that you and Fred are…getting closer. And before anything…irrevocable-"

"Irrevocable?"

"Happens," Molly continued, "I think it would be prudent that we discuss the…actions and emotions that might be…involved."

"I…"

"Sex is a major undertaking, Hermione. It's not something to be entered into lightly."

"I'm aware…"

"And if you do see your way to having…s…se…sex with Fred, I need you to make sure that you don't…" She pursed her lips and swallowed, staring at the laces of Hermione's shoes. "You know what a penis is, dear?"

Hermione choked. "Yes," she squeaked. "Mrs. Weasley," she pleaded. "Please don't do this."

"I think, if you can spend the night with my son unsupervised, you're adult enough to face the consequences of it. And that includes," Molly's voice rose steadily, "answering any questions I might have about your knowledge."

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley, I understand." Hermione bit her lip hard enough to make it hurt. "I promise I know all the parts and where they go and what they do, but even though I know that, I haven't done any of that. With Fred or anyone. And I don't…we're not…I really like him."

"I should hope so!" Molly managed a smile. "Fred's a good boy."

"He is, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione nodded. "And you trust him. And you used to trust me."

"I did. I do."

"Then can we please stop having this conversation?" She grinned weakly. "Please?"

"You will…come to me if you have questions or concerns, dear?" Molly looked Hermione in the eye. "Please?"

She nodded. "I will."

"And, er, as far as Ginny's concerned, well, she's young." Molly's eyes darted around the room, looking for proof of her daughter's age. "I know you're friends…"

"As far as Ginny's concerned, Fred and I fell asleep in separate rooms because we were too tired to floo home."

"Thank you, dear." Molly got up and patted Hermione on the head. "Thank you."

"I'm going to get ready for school."

"That'd be best. And Hermione?" Molly looked back at her from the door, her eyes raking over Hermione's disheveled clothes. "I've been around a long time and I have seven children." Hermione blushed and Molly nodded. "Get ready for the train, dear."