Chapter 9

Disclaimer: JKR owns everything, and I don't make any money with this story. The idea of the Marriage Law originated at WIKTT, I believe. I'm just borrowing...

a/n: AU since DH.

Chapter 9

When Hermione woke up the next morning, she stayed as still as she possibly could. She knew that it would be time to leave for Hogwarts soon, but she just couldn't bring herself to get up; it felt too good lying close to Fred. Her head was rising and falling with every breath he took, and she felt warm and cosy. Hermione wished she could stay like this forever.

It had only been a few short days since she had run out of her home and came to stay with Fred, although, it certainly felt like much longer. Hermione couldn't explain what had happened between them. One day they were beginning a tentative friendship, and she mostly felt grateful that Fred had agreed to save her from an unwanted marriage, the next day her heart started beating faster whenever he was in the room, and she felt hot all over when he touched her. It was confusing, but at the same time it was the most exhilarating feeling she had ever experienced.

The alarm charm Fred had set the night before went off, and Fred began to stir.

"Morning. Ready to go back to school?" he asked.

"No." Hermione didn't move from her spot atop of Fred, and consequently he couldn't get up either; though he generally thought that this was a small price to pay for a position that comfortable.

"Not that I mind being in bed with you, quite the contrary actually, but if we don't get up soon, you'll miss the Express," Fred said, gently nudging her to get up.

"Don't care," Hermione mumbled, refusing to budge from her comfortable position atop Fred.

Fred stayed still for a moment. He knew Hermione was dreading going back to school because she was afraid to see Ron and Ginny again. He couldn't blame her; they had both been horrible to her.

"You can't hide in here forever," Fred finally said, his voice soft.

"I know," Hermione replied, still without showing any intentions of ever wanting to get up.

"Of course, I could always Apparate to the platform and tell dear Ronniekins that you couldn't come because you refuse to leave my bed. His reaction should be fun to watch," Fred tried.

"After he has walked in on us sharing a bed twice already, I don't think it would come as too much of a shock for him," Hermione replied. Nevertheless, she grudgingly got out of bed. Fred was right. It was time to face the music.

Hermione reluctantly dragged herself into the bathroom and slowly got ready for the day. When she was done, she used her wand to gather her things from the bathroom and dumped them in her trunk. She picked up a few items, which were scattered over the bedroom and had been missed the night before, and threw them inside as well.

Fred had left the bedroom, presumably to get some breakfast, and Hermione was left alone. Before she shut the trunk she put his t-shirt and boxers, which she had been wearing every night, into her trunk as well. Hermione couldn't quite figure out what possessed her to wear his clothes to bed. She just knew that she liked the feeling, and since Fred hadn't said anything to the contrary, she presumed he didn't mind. Nevertheless, she was glad that he hadn't seen her pack them.

She exited the bedroom, and her nostrils picked up the smell of pancakes. Walking into the kitchen, Hermione saw Fred in front of the stove with a frying pan in hand and a stack of pancakes next to him.

"Did you get everything packed?" he asked when Hermione entered the kitchen.

"Yes, all done. You can cook?" Hermione looked at him sceptically.

"Of course I can cook. You have seen me do it already," Fred said indignantly. Hermione remembered the other day when they had cooked lunch together and kissed.

"Well, I've never seen you do it all by yourself. No offence, but I know what you can do to toast." Hermione grinned at him.

Before Fred was able to retaliate, George came into the room.

"I'm with you, Hermione. Fred in the kitchen always is a cause to worry."

"Ha, ha." Fred finished baking the last pancake and turned off the stove. "That's what I get for slaving away in the kitchen for you guys. But if you don't want to eat my pancakes, I'll just have to eat them all by myself."

Fred placed the stack of pancakes on the table and put the top one on his plate. After applying liberal amounts of syrup, he started to eat.

"We never said we wouldn't eat them, bro," George said hurriedly.

"Yeah, we wouldn't want to hurt your feelings," Hermione added.

All of them started laughing. Hermione and George sat down at the table and helped themselves to some pancakes, too. They were surprisingly good.

They had a relaxed meal together, but all too soon it was time to leave. Fred retrieved Hermione's trunk from his bedroom, and the three of them left the apartment together. They walked quietly through Diagon Alley...each of them lost in their own thoughts. When they reached the brick wall that posed as barrier between the Muggle and the magical world, they pause for a moment.

"You sure you want me to come, too? I could go back and watch the shop or something," George suggested.

"You promised, George," Hermione pleaded.

Hermione hated how desperate she sounded. She just figured it would be easier to have them both at her side when she got to the platform. There would be enough people there who would be angry with her. It was good to know that the twins were there with her.

"Yeah, well..." George started.

"Chickening out, brother of mine?" Fred asked. "What a shame. I don't even know what you're scared of. No one is angry with you. You're not the one who corrupted our innocent, little Hermione here."

George gave a snort, and Hermione smacked Fred's arm. "I'm not little."

"They are mad at me because I'm not mad at you," George explained.

"Sorry, George, we didn't mean to drag you into all of this." Hermione sounded sad.

"Don't worry. This will blow over eventually," Fred reassured her, and George nodded.

They passed through the passage in the wall and once they were on the other side Apparated to King's Cross.

*****

Platform 9 ¾ was already packed with pupils dragging their oversized trunks after themselves and parents trying to kiss their offspring goodbye. The air was filled with a pandemonium of loud voices, the odd animalistic screams of owls or cats mixed in between.

Hermione instinctively grabbed Fred's hand and looked around for familiar faces. Almost immediately she spotted the bulk of redheads further down the platform. Bill and Charlie had joined their mother as she was bringing her two youngest children to school. Hermione noted that Mr. Weasley wasn't present, probably at the Ministry she thought, but Harry was standing next to them with a sour expression on his face.

Hermione took a deep breath. She desperately hoped there wouldn't be another scene. She hated to fight with the Weasleys, and she definitely didn't want to do it in front of the entire student body.

"Just relax. It's not going to be as bad as you think," Fred assured her, squeezing her hand. She smiled gratefully up at him.

"I hope so."

At that moment Harry saw them. He turned to Bill, Charlie and Mrs. Weasley, and it looked like he was saying good-bye to them. Hermione noticed that Mrs. Weasley only gave him a very tight smile and hugged him stiffly. Her oldest sons didn't seem sorry to see Harry go either. As soon as he left, their attention was back on Ron and Ginny.

Harry walked over to Hermione, Fred and George.

"Hello, I was hoping you would arrive soon," Harry greeted them.

Hermione was looking sad again and opened her mouth to apologize once more for the trouble she was causing.

"I'VE MISSED YOU, TOO, HARRY!" George suddenly exclaimed dramatically, and he actually threw himself at Harry. Harry did his best to fight off the other boy, but was little successful against the energetic twin...he had no choice, but to led himself be hugged. George kept screaming how much he had missed Harry, how his life had been dark without the boy-who-lived-to-light-it and that he did not know how to deal with the impending loss off Harry's presence again.

Fred and Hermione were laughing so hard they had to lean on each other for support.

George's screams drew quite a lot of attention to them. Even the rest of the Weasleys looked over, but they did not join them. Eventually, George stopped his tirade and let go of Harry. Harry was still laughing as he moved to hug Hermione and shake Fred's hand.

"You will excuse me when I don't greet you as enthusiastically as my brother. But frankly I'm just not into hugging wizards that much," Fred said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"That's quite alright," Harry answered. "How are you guys doing?"

"Oh, they are fine," George answered for his brother and Hermione. "Just lovey-dovey. Let me tell you, living with them is torture! Just last night when I came home, I found them on the couch and..."

"George!" Hermione interrupted, her cheeks the vibrant colour of tomatoes.

"Just telling it how it is," George beamed at her.

Harry shook his head. "Good to know." Hermione hid her face on Fred's chest, who just grinned.

George bent down to take Hermione's trunk, which stood next to Fred.

"Come on, Harry, let's put this trunk inside the train. This way we don't have to witness them kissing good-bye and doing all these other nauseatingly sweet things couples insist on doing." Together they dragged Hermione's trunk towards the Hogwarts Express.

"What did the girl pack? Bricks?"

"Probably books."

"Must be half a library." Carrying Hermione's trunk in between them, Harry and George disappeared into the mist surrounding the train and their voices faded.

Fred watched his brother leave with Harry. Hermione was still leaning against him, her face buried in his chest. He closed his arms around her and pressed her body into his.

"I promise, it's not going to be as bad as you think," Fred repeated once more.

"I don't know." Her voice was muffled by his shirt.

"Some Gryffindor you are. Has nobody told you that we're the bravest of all the houses?"

"Maybe I should have been sorted into Hufflepuff."

Fred gave a short laugh. "Certainly not."

Hermione lifted her head and looked up at him. He was taller than her by a few inches, and she had to crane her neck to see his face properly.

"I'm going to miss you."

"Yeah, me too." He bent down and kissed her. So lost were they in their kiss, they didn't notice half the platform was staring at them nor that Ron's face turned puce when he saw them kiss. Only Bill's hand on his arm kept Ron from running over to hit Fred.

"See, that's what I am talking about!" George exclaimed. He and Harry had just returned in time to see the passionate exchange. Fred and Hermione broke apart.

"We should probably board the train. It's about to leave," Harry added.

Hermione nodded. She gave Fred another short kiss, hugged George briefly and, under calls of good-bye, left with Harry.

They got on the train, just as the whistle sounded, and the doors closed behind them.

"I reserved a compartment for us," Harry told her, and Hermione followed him. As they walked through the corridor Hermione noticed the other students whispering and pointing. She was relived when they reached their destination and went inside. Once the door was closed, Hermione let herself fall onto one of the seats and let out the breath she didn't know she had held. She was glad they had the compartment to themselves and let her eyes fall shut in an effort to blend out all her surroundings.

"You okay?" Hermione opened her eyes again to see Harry sitting across from her and looking worried.

"Yeah. I just don't like all the attention. I don't know how you do it."

"I don't think I'll ever get used to it either," Harry answered. After a short pause he added. "You didn't seem to mind Fred's attention though."

"I don't know what you mean," Hermione said evasively.

"Oh, come on, I know you. You are not that good of an actress. That kiss was real, and if half of the stuff George has told me is true, then you have stopped acting like you like Fred a long time ago."

Hermione's cheeks were burning red once more, and she refused to look at Harry's face.

"Am I right?" he prompted.

"I guess. I mean I don't know either. I'm confused. He's..." Hermione looked up at Harry. Taking another deep breath, she lunged into an account of the days since Harry left the flat with Ron.

To say Harry was surprised would be an understatement. He had not expected for Hermione and Fred to fall for each other. They were complete opposites. But opposites attract after all, and as Harry watched Hermione talking with coloured cheeks and glassy eyes, he realised quickly that the new couple made sense. In a twisted sense of way.

"Are you mad at me?" Hermione ended her monologue with a query.

"Why would I be?" Harry was taken aback by her question.

"Because of Ron. I was only supposed to be pretending. And now... I don't know... but, I guess, I'm not anymore."

"Hermione you and Ron are not a couple anymore. You can date whoever you want. And, given that Fred and you have to marry, isn't it great you guys seem to get along so well?"

"I guess. I mean, of course. I'm just sad that everybody else is so angry."

"Me too."

"How was it at the Weasleys'?" Hermione asked, trying to change the subject.

"Not exactly a barrel of laughter," Harry sighed. "They are mad at me because I refuse to be mad at you. Everybody had just figured that one day you and Ron would get together. No one ever put you and Fred together. Ron is hurt, of course, and the others are hurt for him. That's why everybody is so angry."

"He's not going to forgive me, is he?" Hermione asked.

"You need to give it some time," Harry said, though he did not sound very convincing.

*****

The ride passed quickly. Neville stopped by the compartment, as did Lavender and Parvati, but the dark look Harry had deliberately fixed on his face kept them from asking Hermione curious questions.

Once at Hogsmeade station, Hermione guiltily remembered that she was supposed to do Head Girl duties. She quickly jumped off the train, ignored all those whispering voices and helped herding off the people towards the carriages.

Her compulsion of upholding the rules salvaged, she joined Harry and Neville in one of the carriages. They arrived at Hogwarts and followed the throng of pupils going inside the Great Hall.

Hermione only hesitated briefly before passing the doors to the hall.

"It won't be as bad as you think," Harry, who was right behind her, whispered into her ear and gave her an encouraging push. Hermione went forward, resolving that as soon as she woke up the next day, she would go to the library and look up a summoning charm for courage.

So far, Hermione had avoided Ron and Ginny successfully, but there was no hiding when she sat down at the Gryffindor table for dinner.

Ginny shot her a murderous look from where she was sitting with her sixth-year friends on the far end of the table. Thankfully though, the youngest Weasley refrained from making any comment as Hermione walked past her to sit opposite Lavender and Parvati. Harry and Neville slid into seats on either side of her.

Hermione risked a careful glance further down the table, where Ron was sitting with Seamus and Dean. He didn't meet her eyes and stared down the goblet in front of him.

Ron had obviously decided to ignore her. She breathed a sigh of relief.

On the train Hermione had thought up at least 20 different scenarios of how dinner at the Great Hall could go wrong. She had given each of them a rating of one to ten, depending on the level of humiliation and pain, taking into account hurt feelings, embarrassment in front of the whole hall and various other complications.

Being ignored had gotten high marks in the hurt-feelings category, but given the fact that it at least didn't contain any public embarrassment, Ron's current behaviour ranked somewhere in the middle. Hermione sighed once more and started eating the food that had appeared in front of them. Maybe Fred and Harry were right and this wasn't going to be too bad.

"So Hermione, I hear you are sleeping with Fred Weasley now," Lavender commented with all the sensitivity of a blunt axe.

Hermione choked on the food in her mouth.

*****

Hermione was hoping for dinner to be over soon. She had flat out refused to answer any of Lavender's shockingly detailed questions about Hermione's and Fred's sex-life. However, keeping in mind the need to make their relationship public for the sake of gaining the Ministry's approval, Hermione did confirm hat she was in fact in a serious relationship with Fred. Lavender was positively elated by the news, and she and Parvati immediately tried to persuade Hermione to dish them all there was to know.

Due to Hermione's unfortunate insistence to keep private things private, Lavender and Parvati were limited to speculating about the on-goings in Fred Weasley's bedroom. They did so with a lot of imagination, attention to detail and most importantly so loudly that half of Gryffindor table was privy to their speculations. Hermione was sure they were attempting to punish her for her refusal to provide the information her two shallow dormmates so desperately craved.

Unable to prevent Parvati and Lavender's ramblings, Hermione kept pushing the food on her plate around, only sporadically looking up to check for the reactions of her classmates. She quickly deduced that most people were surprised to hear about her new relationship. But since Hermione herself had never even so much as considered the possibility of dating Fred Weasley, she could hardly blame everyone else for being surprised now. Nevertheless, Hermione was taken aback by the sheer amount of interest in her newly existing love-life, for she noticed a lot of Gryffindors were secretly listening to Lavender and Parvati or quietly talking among themselves sneaking peeks at Hermione once in a while.

A sidewise glance to Harry revealed that he was once again trying to shut up Parvati and Lavender by staring at them darkly. Unfortunately, the troublesome duo seemed to have reached the conclusion that Harry couldn't harm them in the Great Hall in front of hundreds of witnesses, or else they had decided that gossip this scandalous was worth the risk. Whatever their reasons, they could not be deterred from discussing Fred and Hermione openly.

Ginny was sitting too far away to hear Lavender and Parvati, but Ron was well within earshot, and Hermione was increasingly worried about him. Though Ron pretended not to listen to Parvati and Lavender's ongoing chatter, Hermione noticed the death-grip he had on his fork and that he was only mashing up the food on his plate, not eating more than a few bites.

The fact alone that Ron was refusing to eat was cause enough for Hermione to worry. Additionally, the lack of shouting and violent outbursts, which usually were guaranteed in a situation like this, had Hermione suspecting just how deeply she had hurt her friend's feelings. Hermione instantly felt guilty for causing Ron pain, but at the same time she was angry at the Ministry for putting her into this impossible position in the first place.

At long last dinner was over, and Hermione fled the Great Hall.

She reached the seventh-year dormitories first. Grabbing her nightwear and toiletries, she retreated into the bathroom before Lavender and Parvati had the chance to catch up and continue bothering her. After washing-up and brushing her teeth Hermione changed into Fred's T-shirt and boxers. Wishing she were back in Diagon Alley, Hermione exited the bathroom.

The second the two other girls saw Hermione wearing a pair of man's boxers and a T-shirt whose owner was evident due to the unmistakable imprint of 'Carrot-tops are green, Einstein!', they fired a new battery of indecent questions at Hermione. Hermione had expected as much, but her wish to have the small comfort Fred's clothes provided far outweighed her desire not to encourage Parvati and Lavender even more.

Therefore, Hermione shrugged off all inquires about her sex-life and got into bed. Before she closed the hangings around her four-poster bed, Hermione calmly informed her dormmates that she was sorry their own love-lives did not suffice to keep their interests, but she would refuse to make up for their lack of personal experience by divulging her own.

It shut Lavender and Parvati up. For the night.

tbc

A/N: I hope you guys liked the chapter. Please take the time and leave me a review.

Thanks go to Katia and Joey for doing the beta.