Butterbeers and Flirting

The Reaction!

Later that day, Fred and Hermione walked back to the common room with her arm linked through his. Hermione had thought the date was wonderful, and really sweet. First Fred had taken her to Honeydukes and gotten her one of every flavor sugar quill they had. Next, he had taken her to the new bookstore recently built next to Zonko's. Because he had sat through the bookstore with her, Hermione decided to take him to Zonko's; as long as he promised not to use any of the joke products on her. When he had finished meshing around there, playing with the products and making her laugh incessantly, they walked back to the castle hand in hand. All in all it was a great day.

When they walked into the common room laughing, people starred at them just like in Hogsemeade. They walked over to the couches to sit with George and Lee. "Thank you, Fred. The date was absolutely wonderful," Hermione said kissing Fred's cheek once they had sat down. His arm draped around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

"Anything for you, 'Mione," Fred replied kissing the top of her head. She rested her head on his shoulder. George and Lee sat starring at the two with dropped jaws. Finally George smiled a wide smile that showed jubilant joy.

"Well, finally. You know how long Lee and I have been waiting for you two to finally get together? Oh, and speaking of Lee. You owe me ten galleons." George finished turning to Lee who unhappily forked over a small pouch while George just smiled gleefully.

"You two bet on our getting together? What will the two of you not bet on?" Fred noted astonished, shaking his head at the pair. Hermione was about to say something as well when a mysterious object came flying out of nowhere and hit Fred in the arm. The group turned to see Cormac McClaggen walking towards them seething with anger.

"Oi! Get your hands off my woman," he yelled balling up another piece of parchment and lobbing it at them. Fred stood up in front of Hermione.

"What do you mean 'your woman'? She's my girlfriend," Fred yelled back as the balled up parchment hit him square in the chest.

"She is not your girlfriend, because she is mine. I asked her on a date yesterday and she accepted," Cormac said gritting his teeth now standing as straight as he could trying, and failing, to get up in Fred's face.

"I am not your girlfriend, Cormac. The only reason I agreed to go out with you last night was because no matter how many times I said 'no' you would not stop asking me out. I never agreed to be your girlfriend, nor did you ever actually ask me to be your girlfriend. Beside the point even if I was your girlfriend I would not be 'your woman' because that is just plain demeaning," Hermione said harshly stepping out from behind Fred with her arms crossed over her chest.

"I…Well….URGH!" Cormac stomped away in both embarrassment and indignation when he realized the whole common room was staring at the scene.

"Merlin, I do not like him," Hermione muttered under her breathe while sitting back down. Fred smiled at her before sitting next to her and returning his arm to its new place around her waist. Hermione wrapped her arm around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder. "What were we discussing before we were…" Hermione was cut off as Ron approached the group with Harry trailing behind him.

"Well, I was about to come over and ask what in bloody hell you two were doing like that, but I just got my answer," he said plopping down on the couch between Fred and Hermione forcing them to release each other. Harry came and sat on the floor between George and Lee's chairs.

"What do you mean you were going to ask 'what in bloody hell we were doing like this'?" Fred asked through gritted teeth when Ron's arm went around Hermione's shoulders loosely. Hermione looked at his arm on her shoulders with disgust before carefully reaching up and removing it. Fred smirked lightly at Ron's disappointment, but still continued to glare at him.

"You're helping Hermione get rid of McClaggen, you're not seriously dating." Out of the corner of her eyes Hermione saw George roll his eyes and smirk while Fred continued to glare at his little brother. At a look from Hermione, though, Fred sighed and tried to put his arm around his girlfriend with Ron still in the middle of them. "Umm... look, Fred, I know we're brothers and all, but your arm around me is a little too touchy feely," Ron said glancing between Fred and his arm awkwardly.

"My arm isn't around you, my little prat of a brother. My arm is around my girlfriend that you so rudely squashed to sit in the middle of us," Fred responded while glaring at Ron.

Ron glanced around before replying, "Cormac is gone you know. You don't have to pretend anymore."

"We are not pretending anything, Ronald. Fred and I really are dating. He asked me out earlier this morning in Hogsemeade," Hermione said getting up and moving to Fred's other side. He smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders immediately. Ron snorted bemusedly.

"Like that would happen. Why would Fred ask you out? He's a prankster, and a trouble maker. You're a know-it-all, bossy, bookworm, prude," Ron said with ease like it was nothing.

"OI! Watch what you say about my girlfriend, Ronald. You might end up with a spider or two in your food if you're not careful." At Fred's threat Ron visibly paled.

"What? It's just the truth. You two are as different as the Chudley Cannons and the Holyhead Harpies," Ron stated indignantly. As per usual, he was completely oblivious to the brunette's growing anger.

"That makes absolutely no sense. The two things are quite similar. They are both Quidditch teams, they both are professional level Quidditch, and they have the same number of players. I believe the statement you're looking for is as different as fire and water, or oil and water perhaps," Hermione corrected in a harsh tone, her arms and legs both crossed in a clear sign of animosity.

"See! Complete know-it-all! She can't help herself correcting people all the time," Ron stated motioning to Hermione. At this point Harry tried to stop Ron from his rambling unsuccessfully.

"Uh, Ron, I think you're being…" Harry didn't get very far before he was cut off by a now fuming Hermione.

"I have had it, Ronald Weasley! I am through with your degrading me! Every day I deal with you telling me how ugly I am, or how bossy I am, or how I don't know how to have fun! Well I have had enough of it! You might not find me attractive, but that doesn't mean someone else might not! Just because you don't find me fun doesn't mean no one else does! The world does not revolve around you! Not everyone's opinions are the same as yours!" At this point everyone in the common room was gawking as Hermione stood towering over Ron who sat quivering on the couch.

"I'm done. I can't handle this anymore. We are done, Ronald Weasley. Don't come asking me to do your homework for you, or ask me for any favors. Our friendship, or whatever this was, is finished!" Ron stood up and opened his mouth like he was going to say something before deciding against it. He stormed out of the common room, and slammed the portrait door behind him earning some nasty language from the Fat Lady.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm happy for the two of you, and again sorry," Harry said giving Hermione a weary glance and smiling lightly before taking off after Ron.

Hermione huffed before sitting back down next to Fred. Smiling happily Fred wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist for about the third time that night. He kissed her temple before looking to his twin. Upon looking up Fred grabbed a pillow and threw it at his brother. "Quit doing that or I'll throw something harder next time!" he yelled. Hermione looked to George just in time to see him stop doing silent smooching movements. She laughed lightly before bringing her legs to cross beside her on the couch and curl into Fred's side.

"Oh be nice to your brother. Let him have his fun now," she said smiling into Fred's shirt.

"What do you mean 'for now'?" George asked with amusement in his voice.

"I mean you can make your jokes and have your laughs now, but a week from now I will be laughing at you if it continues strong," Hermione smiled as she heard the three boys gasp and Fred chuckle under his breathe (probably from the other two boys expressions). Hermione laughed as well when she looked up and saw George and Lee with horror etched across their entire faces.

Fred leaned down and kissed Hermione's forehead. "That's my girl. I knew there was a trouble-maker in you somewhere," Fred whispered into her hair. Hermione leaned up and gave Fred a kiss full of the love she had harbored for him for a long time. They both smiled into the kiss. Everything was perfect. And it would stay perfect for longer than they would bother to count.