‘Where the bloody hell have you been?!’ shouted Fred, stopping his anxious pacing as he heard a crack that echoed Hermione’s arrival.

Hermione apparated into the house later than she would have liked. She carried her small bag with one pair of clothes and some underwear that she had took over to Harry’s house. Hermione had planned to wake up early and get home before Fred woke up but it didn’t work out like that exactly. She had slept in and getting changed into her clothes plus declining breakfast took more time than it should have. Now she had to face a snappy and hung-over Fred.

‘I didn’t really feel like sleeping in a house alone,’ Hermione sighed as her eyes roamed over Fred’s condition.

He looked awful and nothing like the Fred that she had fell in love with knowing how many hurdles they would face in their relationship. Fred’s eyes were decorated horribly with black bags under them while his hair looked as though it hadn’t seen the face of a brush in months. He wore grey trousers and a white stained shirt. His posture suggested that he could hardly keep on his feet. Hermione realised that some of his features were only because he had just woken up but something about him was different and she couldn’t put her finger on it.

‘Where did you go?’ Fred muttered almost too quiet to hear. His eyes stayed on hers and Hermione felt something squirm inside her which felt like her intestines were competing in a knot contest or something.

‘None of your business,’ she muttered, grabbing her bag tighter in her hand. She marched past him with her head held high and bumped his shoulder as she did so. In a flash Fred grabbed her arm tightly and spun her around so that they were face to face, nose to nose. Hermione gulped and her voice came out in a whisper, ‘let me go.’

‘Whose house did you go to last night?’ Fred said almost in a threatening tone. Hermione glanced down and his grip got tighter on her arm making her look up at him again, ‘TELL ME!’

‘I said it’s none of your business and you’re hurting me again... in more than one way!’ Hermione yelled and pushed him away with what little strength that she had.

‘Don’t push me, Hermione,’ threatened Fred, holding up his hands and looking frustrated at her, ‘I have a right to know where you were last night.’

‘No, that is where you’re wrong, Fred!’ Hermione pushed him again and his back hit the wall. His face turned red in anger but Hermione pointed a finger in his chest and continued, ‘you do not have a right to know where I was because we are not a married couple. I am my own person and you are your own person! Besides you don’t tell me where you disappear to every night but I know it’s a bar because you come home filthy and drunk. You think I don’t realise that you’re drunk every night! You don’t even tell me who you’re with and I don’t know if it’s another woman! You have no right to question me about where I was and, to be honest, I don’t care where you go or who you’re with. I'm leaving, Fred!’

‘Leaving?! To go where?’ Fred shouted at her making her flinch, ‘you’re not leaving me! I work so hard to get some money and it’s only for you and this bloody child who I do care for but I care for you way more. I only agreed to raising it with you because I love you! I won’t let you leave, Hermione!’

‘Let me... let me?! How are you going to stop me?’ Hermione shouted and bought her foot down on Fred’s foot. He yelped and jumped away slightly, letting her go so that she walked to their room.

Hermione grabbed the suitcase from the top shelf of the drawer and opened it up furiously. She started to grab her clothes from the cupboard and shove them into the suitcase. Fred walked in and waited for a moment. Horror dawned on his face as he shot across the room and started to take the clothes out of the suitcase. Hermione just grabbed her other clothes and threw them in. Fred grabbed her waist and tried to stop her but she pushed him away.

‘Mia, please,’ Fred whispered as her hands pushed on his chest. She just started to pack her underwear, oblivious to his attempts at stopping her from packing.

‘Just give up, Fred. It’s easier to walk away rather than fight for the person you love. Just admit it, we are over,’ Hermione sighed, stopping in the middle of packing her small teddy bear on top of her clothes. She looked down at the teddy and smiled sadly, ‘this little guy has been with me through everything and even if, right now, it seems like my heart is tearing into two pieces-’

‘Mia,’ Fred whispered, knowing he had messed everything up.

‘My teddy bear has been with me through thick and thin and sometimes I just want to break down but then I look at this little guy and... I tell myself that if he can remain whole through everything we’ve been through... then I can too,’ Hermione shrugged and her hands grazed over the ear that had been chewed off and then threw the teddy in, ‘partially whole anyway.’

‘Hermione, please don’t leave... I... I love you,’ Fred whispered again, wrapping his arms around her waist again. Hermione slowly turned around so that they were facing each other, ‘I’ll do anything for you.’

‘Fred, just stop. It’s over,’ Hermione muttered and turned around. She zipped up her suitcase but Fred stopped her by placing his hand over hers, ‘you’re obviously not ready. Don’t kid yourself that you are... we... we’re not right for each other.’

‘That’s bull and you know it, Mia,’ Fred said, cupping her face in his hands. He wanted to make her stay but he had no way of doing it other than showing her what she really meant to him, ‘I love you and I can prove it. Tonight it’ll be just you and me together. I won’t go out, work can wait and we can spend time together.’

‘One night and gradually we’ll go back to not talking at all and just murmuring one word answers to each other,’ Hermione said, grabbing her suitcase, ‘no thanks.’

‘Don’t leave me, Mia!’ Fred shouted, walking after her as she left the room. He grabbed her hand and turned her around, ‘I can’t live without you... please stay.’

‘Fred. Let. Me. Go.’ Hermione said, enunciating every word.

Fred sighed, staring her down but she didn’t even flinch. He let her hand go and she sighed, her chest rising slightly and then falling. Hermione ran a hand through her hair and turned around, ready to leave. Fred knew he had to do something to stop her. Anything! He was desperate now and the only thing he could think of was... well, that would have to do since it was better than nothing. Fed grabbed her arm and turned her for the third time to face him, she opened her mouth to object but he crashed his lips onto hers. A weird noise escaped Hermione and she pushed Fred away. He moved away almost instantly and they stared at each other. Hermione frowned at him lightly and he shrugged, embarrassed.

‘Sorry, I thought it-’

Hermione grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer. She slowly kissed him, giving him time to move away if he wanted to. He didn’t want to. Hermione felt him smile a little  as they kissed. His hand trailed down her arm until he got to her hand. He grabbed the suitcase and put it on the ground, kicking it away with his foot. He pulled her closer to him and Hermione felt the connection between them. The connection that had died the last couple of weeks was anew and as bright as it ever could be.

‘I guess you’re not leaving then?’ Fred asked as they slowed down.

‘If you can feel the chemistry between us-’

‘I can feel it,’ Fred whispered.

‘Then I won’t leave,’ Hermione muttered back, smiling as they kissed again, ‘at least I know that you love me. So how about that quality time together?’

‘Well...’ Fred sighed and Hermione’s face fell. He wasn’t planning on spending time with Hermione. She let her hands drop from where they were entwined in his hair but Fred caught her hands, ‘the guy who sold me my new shop is coming over. Just to see the apartment and then he’ll leave and we can spend some time together, okay?’

‘Oh yeah sure,’ Hermione said as he pecked her head. Her heart felt lighter now.

At least he wasn’t ditching her tonight and she could handle a business man in her house for a couple of minutes. Hermione promised herself that she would not ruin this for Fred. No matter what. Fred turned around, worrying about how Hermione will react when she sees that he was doing business with a Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. He’ll try and leave that at the very last moment, he thought as he entrapped her lips once again.

---

‘I swear you think you’re bigger than you actually look,’ Fred sighed as he saw Hermione in front of the mirror. She was inspecting her stomach. Hermione, shocked to see that he was watching her, let her shirt fall down and cover her stomach. Fred walked over to her and hugged her from behind, ‘oh, Mia.’

Fred looked at them in the mirror together. His hands were wrapped around her enlarging waist and she covered his hands with hers. His gaze fixed on his own face and he noticed the bags under his eyes but he didn’t care. Fred turned away from the mirror suddenly and sighed. When would he be able to look in a mirror and see himself rather than... George?

‘Fred,’ Hermione muttered, turning him around but he shook his head as the bell rang.

He was here. Draco was here and he still hadn’t told Hermione about him. Fred turned around, avoiding the mirror, and looked at Hermione. He caught her face in his hands and caressed her cheek. Hermione waited for him to speak since she knew he obviously had some news to tell her.

‘You, um, you know the guy I’m doing business with? Well... you know him and you’re not a huge fan of hum but,’ Fred managed to say as the doorbell rung again, ‘please do not freak out! I need this, Mia.’

‘It can’t be that bad,’ Hermione muttered and kissed him once, ‘I promise I won’t ruin this for you.’

 Fred nodded but he looked really nervous. He wasn’t worried about what Draco would think but he was worried about how Hermione would react. He grabbed her hand and he lead her out to the polished and cleaned hall. Hermione waited and watched as Fred fumbled with the keys and opened the door. As the man walked into the house, her jaw dropped.

‘Malfoy?’ she muttered to herself when she saw him.

Fred shook hands with him, smiling as he invited him into their apartment like it was no big deal. Hermione looked him up and down and admitted to herself that he cleaned up really nicely. He wore an all black suit with a dark elegant green tie. His shoes were so polished that she could probably see her face in them.

‘Obviously you know Hermione,’ Fred said anxiously turning to Hermione.

‘Granger,’ Draco muttered, nodding his head and then he winked at her when Fred wasn’t looking. He winked at her. Hermione was fuming but she composed herself and nodded back to him.

‘Malfoy.’

The tension was thick and nearly consuming them in the air. Finally Fred led the way into the living room and Hermione took a seat. Draco sat opposite her, next to Fred. He kept glancing at her and smirking in a way that was arrogantly annoying. Hermione crossed her legs, he looked at her. She fixed her hair, he looked at her. She did anything at all and his grey eyes that made Hermione’s heart beat faster for some reason would turn towards her.

‘Do you want some coffee?’ asked Fred. His tone was not formal towards Draco. He was speaking in a business/informal tone that surprised Hermione, it was like they were friends.

‘Yeah. Black. Two sugars,’ Draco nodded as his eyes fixed on the file open in front of him.

‘That’s funny. Hermione likes her coffee like that too. Would you like some, dear?’ asked Fred and Hermione glared at him before nodding.

‘What the hell are you playing at, you selfish, arrogant little-’ Hermione muttered under her breath, moving so that she sat closer to him and so that Fred didn’t hear her.

‘Now now, no need for those kinds of names,’ Draco nearly sang in his arrogant tone, ‘I’m not playing anything. I thought you needed the money and I have a way of opening up an opportunity to give you that money. If you call me names like that, I may have to re think my business partner.’

‘I... you... you can’t-’

‘Oh, but I can,’ Draco turned to her and leaned closer so that they were face to face. Hermione’s eyes skirted to the door and then back into his eyes, ‘never say I can’t do anything. I get what I want and you know that perfectly well. I got that kiss from you and I plan on getting another before this night ends.’

‘You’re going to be disappointed tonight then. I won’t kiss you,’ Hermione said and pushed him away so that his back hit the arm rest.

Hermione walked over to the other sofa and sat down opposite him.

‘I guess I will have to re think this business proposal, huh?’ Draco threatened, ‘I either get a kiss or you can drown in debt. It looks like you’re child won’t be able to buy that lovely little toy they might want when he or she grows up.’

Hermione didn’t say anything, she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction but she also didn’t want Fred to lose this opportunity.

‘I can’t do this. Isn’t there anything else your crooked and dirty brain wants other than a kiss?’ Hermione asked and Draco’s eyes lightened as he winked at her again. Hermione stopped him before he even said a word, ‘never mind. I’m sure you have worse intentions than a kiss. Why do you want a kiss from me anyway?’

‘Hey, Hermione!’ Fred called from the kitchen, scaring her for a second. Draco only smirked as she nearly jumped out of her chair.

‘Yes?’ Hermione asked him.

‘Where’s the sugar?’ he asked back and Hermione told him as Draco sneered at her.

‘Anyway,’ Draco said, chuckling arrogantly, ‘you shouldn’t have slapped me that night or else I would not be sitting here and asking for you to kiss me again.’

‘You’re doing this for revenge?’ Hermione narrowed her eyes at her as he nodded, ‘don’t you ever get tired of being so... so malevolent?’

‘Black coffee,’ Fred said, interrupting their conversation as he handed them both a cup. He chuckled a little, ‘I feel obliged to tell you that I might not be the best you’ve ever tasted.’

‘Coffee is coffee. It does the job,’ Draco said as he drank a little of it. He glanced at Hermione as she walked over to sit on the arm rest of Fred’s chair. Fred grasped her hand and Draco coughed, ‘you know I don’t think this is a great idea.’

‘What? Why not?’ Fred asked, his anxiousness coming back.

Draco shrugged and shut the folder in front of them. Hermione felt Fred’s hand go cold around hers, almost as if his happiness was being sucked from him. Draco was like a dementor. A leach of happiness and she knew what he wanted when he raised one eyebrow at her.

 ‘Hey, Fred. Can you get me a... uh... an apple?’ Hermione asked him. Fred looked at her as though she was crazy to even bring it up when everything for them was just about to be ruined, ‘please, Fred?’

‘Hermione, I’m kind of-’

‘No no, go ahead. I’ll look over this again,’ Draco said and held up the folder.

‘Thank you,’ Hermione said as Fred stood up and walked to the door, ‘it’ll be right at the back of the fridge. Look carefully.’

As soon as Fred walked out of the room, Draco opened his mouth to say something annoying and witty no doubt. Hermione shut him up by grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling his lips to hers. She felt heat radiating from him and felt herself blush as she noticed just how... skilled of a kisser he was. His hands tangled in her hair, pushing her closer.  He forced open her mouth and made the kiss deeper and more passionate. Hermione found herself not wanting to move away. The kiss was sensational and way better and passionate than the one they shared before. Draco suddenly pulled back and his thumb stroked her cheek and he chuckled as she blushed a deep and almost luminous red. Hermione moved away quickly as she heard Fred walk down the hall. She sat up, fixed her hair and tried to tone down her blush as Draco made it look like he was reading the folder.

‘Here,’ Fred said miserably as he chucked the apple at her. Hermione caught it and she pulled him in for a kiss. Once she let him go, Fred sat down quite dazed. Draco looked up at her and narrowed his eyes unbelievingly at her. He smiled at her as she raised her eyebrows.

She really was something, Draco thought to himself.

‘I’ll take the house,’ Draco said and signed the piece of paper. He handed the pen to a stunned Fred and Fred took no time in signing the papers, ‘I’ll let you live here for rent. I’m sure we could figure that out another day.’

‘Yes, of course. Thank you,’ Fred said, happiness shining on his face.

They all stood up, coffees forgotten and the apple held securely in Hermione’s hand. Draco put the file away and shook Fred’s hand before they went into the hall. Fred fumbled with the keys again as he tried to open the front door and while his back was turned, Draco took the apple out of Hermione’s hand and took a bit out of it.

‘Delicious,’ he whispered under his breath and winked at her with those grey mesmerizing eyes.

Hermione took the apple from him and felt herself blush as she thought she knew the double meaning behind his word. She was surprised to find herself smiling at Draco Malfoy. The Draco Malfoy whom she despised during every year at Hogwarts and now she was actually smiling at him and blushing at the stupid little things he said.

‘Bye, Malfoy,’ Hermione said, wrapping her hand around Fred’s.

He glanced down at Fred and Hermione’s entwined hands and frowned as though a thought had just occurred to him. Draco glanced at Hermione and she could feel the electric pull between them... he turned around and walked off, disapparating in the middle of the hallway. Hermione had a goody grin on her face but Fred didn’t notice as he went into their room. Hermione closed the door and locked it before walking into their room as well.

‘It’s quite late,’ she stated, fixing her hair in the mirror. She glanced at Fred who was looking out the window silently, ‘I think we should go to bed.’

‘Mhm,’ Fred muttered and Hermione stopped. Her hands suspended in her hair and she let them drop. She turned to face him. Had he seen the kiss she had with Draco? Was that why he was acting so weird? ‘I, uh, remember this quote that George had said to me one day.’

‘George?’ asked Hermione, not sure why he was telling her this but she listened anyway, ‘okay, continue?’

‘It was after Mad-eye died and he had lost his ear. Although he was really upset about Mad-eye, he was in love... with this girl who he always talked about but I’d never met her. He didn’t want me to meet her because he always said that after the war was over, he would ask her to be with him and then he would introduce me to her,’ Fred said and turned around. He looked at the ground though, as though he had forgotten that Hermione was even there. A tear fell out of his eye, ‘she didn’t know he loved her and I can’t even tell her because I don’t know who this girl is...’

‘Fred, I don’t understand why-’

‘He told me this quote the night Mad-eye died,’ Fred said and he quoted it, ‘“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal” Beautiful, isn’t it?’

‘Beautiful,’ Hermione agreed, a tear fell out of her eyes because Fred was so near to tears. Fred looked up at her and walked over to her. He slowly wiped away the tear and she cuddled into him.

‘If you ever leave me... I know that I’ll still have your memory and no one can take them away from me,’ Fred whispered, stroking her hair, ‘I love you.’

‘I love you too, Fred,’ Hermione whispered back as she hugged him tighter.