A/N: Before I start this yes I do have a Snape/McGonagall pairing out there. I've had issues with it. I can't bring myself past the first chapter. I need you as the reader to be understanding I have an issue with straight computer writing I need pen to paper it calms me. So most chapters will take longer going from paper to readable text. I have the same issue with my own novel. It takes a bit to get a final product. And I'm sorry for that. I do not own Harry Potter, though if I did...

Hermione sat down in her favorite over stuffed chair in the Burrow. She rubbed her hands over the crocheted afghan that draped over the back. Home she thought, sadly. The Weasley's and herself were heading to Order headquarters the next day. What ever, where ever that is. Some place unfamiliar. Sights and sounds she didn't know or want to learn.

Hermione cracked open her book and began to find her place amongst the pages. She fell into middle earth a story of elves and hobbits and warriors. Her guilty pleasure. She read a paragraph or two before slamming the book shut. She desperately wanted to owl Harry. She'd been worried since the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Voldemort was back. The signs of war brewing were everywhere. Her parents thought she was safer with the Weasley family than them, where magic could protect her. She thought of her teary good bye with her mother.

'Be safe my darling,' Mrs. Granger whispered hugging her. She slipped off the pendant around her neck and handed it to Hermione. 'Take this. Your Grandmere gave it to me when I was your age. Its your turn to wear it proudly. I hope it keeps you as safe as it's kept me.'

Hermione clutched the Celtic knot pendant at her neck. She sighed and wiped away a stray tear.

"You okay Hermione?"

She looked up and came eye to eye with Fred. "I'm fine can you go away now?"

"No tell me what's wrong Mione. You're obviously upset and I'm the only one awake so we might as well chat," Fred reasoned, jumping over the couch and landing in one of its well worn seats.

"I'm just thinking about my mum, and the muggle girls I was, am friends with. I ran into them on my way to the Leaky Cauldron. There's boutiques in that area that teenage muggles like. We talked and had tea. And their lives are so normal and I want normal. They all have boyfriends and my last date was Victor Krum," she explained, slamming her book on the floor just to release some anger. She immediately picked the book up again. Checking for damage.

"An impressive feat in and of itself. So your friends..." He was trying to get her back on track. Ignoring the fact that the biggest book lover he'd ever met just abused a book. The bird was weird. Some times he wondered if she had any other friends besides his brother, sister, and Harry Potter.

She pulled her hair back into a pony tail. "They were on and on about normal things like dances and summer reading lists and boys. They asked me about school and what was I supposed to say, Fred? 'I'm Hermione Granger and I'm learning about ancient runes and divionation and defense against the dark arts. And my best friend has nearly been killed three times in four years.' Hah. Bloody hell. Then the boys conversation. I said Victor was a ruddy rugby player in Bulgaria." She laughed. "Normal. They went on and on about their boyfriends and I sat there like 'I don't have anyone to talk about let alone like.' It was ridiculous and I felt so horrible. I still do." She groaned. "That's the first time I've ever thought maybe I'm missing something. Like I'm missing out." She laughed. "Sorry I just unloaded on you like you're some sort of therapist."

Fred laughed. "I understood none of it. Particularly that last bit. Hermione what's a therapist?"

Hermione smiled, "They're a doctor that people tell their secrets too. They're like a secret keeper. Its a muggle thing."

He rolled his eyes. "Sorry to disturb you Hermione." He made the move to stand up.

"Fred why are you awake?" she asked, opening back up her book.

He shrugged, "Sometimes my mind doesn't stop. I'm okay with it, most nights. Tonight I've got a girl on my mind, and I don't think she sees me as a whole instead of a half."

She frowned. "I see you as a whole Fred. Not that it matters but I see it."

He smiled. "Thanks Hermione. Tomorrow is a big day. You ought to get some rest."

"Sometimes my brain doesn't stop either Fred. They call it insomnia. The muggles that is," she stated, finding her place in the book. "I find tea helps. Lavender tea, and the occasional orange."

He nodded, "Talking helps too. I figured that out. Do you mind if I keep you company. I'll be as quiet as a mouse I swear it."

"I can read for you. I enjoy that. I'd read children's books at story time at our library. Before everything." She studied him a moment.

He thought for a moment. "What's it about?"

"An adventure. I'll start from the beginning if you'd like," she offered.

"I'd like that," he whispered.

Hermione marked her page and started at the beginning. She'd read him a few chapters before falling asleep. Fred looked over at her the moment the story died. She'd fallen asleep. He smiled slightly, before standing up. He took the book from her lap and placed it on the table.

Fred tucked the huge afghan around her. He kissed her forehead gently. "G'night, bird," he murmured before going up to his room.

Hermione woke up the next morning to Molly gently shaking her shoulder. "Get up dear," the sweet portly woman stated.

She yawned and stretched. "Sorry Mrs. Weasley. I don't know what happened. I remember reading and then." She yawned again loosing her thought process. "Sorry 'bout that."

"You're fine dear. Now I've got to get the twins outta bed. There's tea and breakfast in the kitchen. Dear if you need anything let me know." Molly bent down and kissed her forehead in the same spot Fred had kissed her the night before.

Fred watched the display from the stairs. He cleared his throat. Molly jumped and turned towards the stairs.

"Good you're up. Where's George? We have a long day. Best be getting started are you two packed?" Molly questioned.

"Yes mum. Mornin' Mione," he greeted with a yawn.

"Breakfast in the kitchen hurry you two. I need to rouse George," Molly stated, heading up the stairs.

Hermione smiled at him. "Morning Fred. How'd you sleep?" She stood up moving a lot like her cat. Slow deliberate movements as she tried to work out knots from sleeping on the chair. She rolled her head stretching out and loosening up the muscles in her neck. She winced.

He watched her openly. "Fine I guess, yourself?"

"Easy minded would describe how I finally slept. I got a lot out. Thank you for that." She sighed. "I'm gonna eat now." She made a move to walk past him, towards the kitchen.

"Hey Mione mind keeping last night between us?" he aasked, with a shrug, "George doesn't know I have what ever you called it. I don't want him to worry."

She nodded. "I won't tell yours if you won't tell mine."

He held out his hand. She shook it. They held onto each others hands a moment longer than necessary. Her enjoying his light calluses. Him enjoying her softness. He pulled his hand away first. "I'll see you in a moment."

She nodded, before going to the kitchen.

"Well that was a mistake old chap," he whispered to himself.

A scream erupted from upstairs. Fred shook his head just as his mother screamed for him in the mist of yelling at his twin. He laughed before running up to his room to see what his mum had found.

Hermione tossed a few last minute items in her trunk before latching it

She'd cornered Crookshanks and had him in his cage. The orange ball of fur was complaining from his spot in Ginny's room.

She peaked out of Ginny's door. Mrs. Weasley was still reaming at the twins for the box of pranks she'd tripped over setting off various explosions. She closed the door and sat on the trundle bed she normally slept on. She groaned and fell back. Hitting her head on the book she'd read to Fred last night. She sat up and cradled the book in her hands and shoved it in her trunk at the last minute.

Ginny came into the room. "They really did it this time. We won't be leaving until late tonight. Apparently mum didn't appreciate the punching teddy bears. Oops." Ginny laughed and shrugged.

"Punching stuffed aanimals?" Hermione giggled at the thought. "A violent way to say 'I care'."

"More like sod off," Ginny exploded into another batch of giggles. "Are you ready to bring your stuff down?"

Hermione looked around. "I believe so. What do you know about this place?"

"Nothing they haven't even mentioned Harry yet. Ron's getting annoyed because no one is answering any questions. Dad's been saying 'We'll see Harry once we're safe right now Harry is as safe as he can be with his Aunt and Uncle.' I don't believe that bollocks. It feels different out there. Dad said so last night. London doesn't feel safe. The ministry doesn't either," Gin said, sitting on her floor. "Something's going on and Harry and Dumbledore are a part of it. You've seen the Prophet."

Hermione nodded. Everything she'd read in the last few weeks had been rubbish. Stories against Harry and the Headmaster. She had read them all even Cedric Diggory's obituary. She sighed. "They're right Harry is safest with his Aunt and Uncle."

"You're going to swallow that line Mione?" Gin's eyebrow shot up.

Hermione shook her head. "No, but its the best one we've got."

"Ain't that the truth?" Ginny agreed, "Let's get our stuff downstairs apparently we're meeting our transport in an hour. Mum said you and Fred are going to be the first to leave then Ron. Then George and I. Mum and dad last."

Hermione nodded as she moved to drag her things down stairs.

She met Fred and George at their landing. "Twins," she greeted merrily.

"Hey Hermione. I heard we're the first to leave. Mum separated George and I after she found some of our merchandise," Fred laughed, "Georgie I'll see ya soon enough."

George gave Hermione a lewd wink. "Behave you two."

Fred followed her down to the den. Hermione looked at him. "She ground you two?"

"No but my ears may never recover. We have most of our projects in our trunks. Undetectable extentention charm. Genius eh?" He waved to his battered old trunk.

"Are you bringing that stuff to school with you?" she questioned, staring at the trunk that held god knows what.

"Maybe," he hummed.

"Fred you and George can't bring that stuff it'll get you thrown out of Hogwarts!" she exclaimed in a hushed whisper.

"Don't worry your pretty little head. We haven't been tossed out yet. We've made it this far," he stated.

She groaned. "I ssuppose you're right."

The two sat in the den waiting on their transport in relative silence. Fred decided to leave alone the fact that she said he was right. One battle at a time. At least he got what he wanted more time alone with the intriguing witch.