Living on AIAOY 8

"Fred?"  

Rebecca waited a moment before leaning closer to him, her arm leaning on the bed on both sides of him so that her face was directly over his.  "Darling?" 

Her tone was singsongy, her mood ecstatic.  They were waking up in their bed, in the flat they shared with Cedric and George, over all of their shop, again.  The thrill had yet to wear off in the weeks after the Battle of Hogwarts and she wasn't sure it ever would.  "Are you going to wake up?"

Fred groaned and swung his arm up under her, rolling them both over so that he lie over her and Rebecca was firmly tucked under his arm with her face against his chest.  "You just saved the world, can't we sleep in?"  He smacked his lips and let out a fake snore, content to lie in bed with her much longer.

"Fred-"

"Don't 'Fred' me like that.  I'm sleeping."  Fred buried his head into her neck, his eyes still closed.  

"You sure talk a lot for someone who's 'sleeping.'"  Rebecca kissed his neck.  He didn't react.  She moved her lips higher, kissing along his jaw.  He opened one eye, but shut it as soon she saw him.  "I also didn't know you could sleep with your eyes open."

"That's because I can't.  I'm sleeping."

Rebecca pushed him onto his back and patted his chest, swinging her legs out of bed.  Fred's shirt hung off her shoulders and he sat up in bed as she took out clothes for the day.  Fred's eyes had just drifted closed once more when he was hit with a rapid succession of flying apparel, he jolted awake.  "Hey!"

"You're not sleeping?"  Rebecca asked coyly, already having pulled her shirt over her head and tugging her trousers up.  Fred cursed himself for closing his eyes.  "We're off to Grimmauld today for lunch, Rems invited everyone."

"Lunch is so early.  Whatever happened to dinner?"  Fred grumbled, sitting on the edge of the bed.  "What time is it, anyway?"

"Time for you to get a watch!" Rebecca laughed and turned back from the door, crawling across the bed and throwing her arms around his neck from behind.  "Get dressed, I'll make breakfast."  She kissed his cheek and danced out of the room, wildly excited for the first gathering of everyone since they had been in the Great Hall. 

Plus, Bill and Fleur said they had a surprise, which only added to Rebecca's excitement.

"Morning Ced!"  Rebecca called, pulling out bowls and the box of cereal from the cupboard.  

"Let me guess, complaining about waking up 'so early.'"  Cedric slid a teacup down the counter, opening the bane of George's existence: The tea drawer.  George had the assorted types organised by flavour and strength and had made it clear he expected it to stay that way.  Of course, all three housemates moved it around after each and every time he'd 'fixed' it.

"Oh yes, quite grumbly."

Cedric chuckled and conjured the kettle, pouring their water and joining her at the table.  "They're mental."

"I know.  What were we thinking?"

George and Fred stumbled down the hall, rubbing their eyes.  Fred looked around the counters.  "Where is the Snufflewo-"

"Already on the table."  Rebecca pushed the chair out next to her as Fred staggered towards breakfast.

"And what about-"

"Tea's here too."  Rebecca hopped up with an abruptness that startled Fred and George partially out of their grogginess.  

"Where're you going?"  George called before lifting his spoon to his mouth.  "Never mind, don't care."

Rebecca rolled her eyes and whacked the back of his head as she passed him.  "Don't be an arse."  She paused at the door down to the shop, "Tonks asked if we had something...special for Sirius."

Cedric gave George a hard look as he continued to eat, Cedric's eyebrows furrowed in disappointment at such unwarranted rude behaviour.  George sighed, "I know.  I'll apologise."

Fred snorted and looked up at them turning to him for an elabouration.  "Apologise?  Why?  She's going downstairs."  Neither boy showed any understanding.  "She's just going to get you back."

George's eyes widened and he poured the remnants of his bowl into his mouth, running towards the door to the shop with fear in his eyes.  "Rebecca!"  Fred gathered the dishes left on the table and laughed with Cedric as they charmed them clean and put them back where they were before going downstairs to check on George.

At the bottom of the stairs, Cedric patted George's back before sitting next to his newly improved figure.  George's hair was streaked with bright strips of pink, strips that couldn't be charmed away.  Rebecca had her head down and was bent over a row of boxes.  Fred and George had packed away what they could before they'd been forced to leave Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and unpacking had been slow going.  Mainly because they always ended up quitting early in the name of having done enough.  

Of course, they all wanted to reopen as soon as possible, but they also weren't quite ready to dive back into life.  They, Rebecca and Fred, and, George and Cedric, were still enjoying their days of meandering and togetherness.  It had been so long since they had been able to do so without the state of the world falling into jeopardy.

Fred smirked and reached his hand forward, peeking over his shoulder to make sure that the other two were still on the stairs.  Seeing that they were, Fred traced his fingertips down the curvature of her spine to the waist of her jeans, eliciting a shiver that sent her blushing.  "Fred!"  She hissed, crouching to the floor to keep looking out of his reach.  "I'm-"

"Positively enchanted by my presence and going to cancel lunch to snog the daylights out of me?" Fred offered.

"I'm looking for something."  Rebecca looked up at him and raised an eyebrow, "You are more than welcome to stay if you're so against going, you know.  I'm sure your hand will be more than happy to stay with you, too."

"No, no."  Fred shook his head.  "I want to go see everyone too."

"They why have you complained so much!"  Rebecca shook her head, standing and sticking something in her pocket.

Fred put his hands on her shoulders and she rest hers on his waist, looking up at him.  "I do want to go, I just don't want to go.  Does that make sense?"

"Not at all."  Rebecca picked up the box at her feet and hoisted it onto her hip, turning away from him.  

Fred picked up the one that was under it, following her.  "I'd love to see them all, and I won't lie, I'm am curious as to what Bill and Fleur have to say, but they're fine."

"I don't follow."  Rebecca's voice was slightly muffled, her back bent as she pointed her wand down the bottom shelf to brush all the dust off to a pile onto the floor that could be swept up later.  

"They're fine."  Fred sighed, setting his box down dropping to his back on the floor next to her and putting his arm behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling.  "They're perfectly fine, everyone's safe, and now I have you.  I want to spend every minute at your side, not surrounded by other people."

Rebecca ignored his position, lining up the products in her box with precision.  "How about this then?"  Rebecca sat back, looking at him over her shoulder and finding him already meeting her eyes.  He had a half, crooked smile across his face.  Fred knew that tone meant something pacifying would follow.  "We'll go and you can stay right next to me the whole time."

"The whole time?"  

"Every second."

"If you say so."

*******************************************

"And what about you, dear?  Anything exciting in your first week after...everything?"  Molly and a collection of other women sat around the parlour.  Fred followed her promise to the letter, slipping into the chair next to her and keeping her hand in his no matter who entered.

Tonks rolled her eyes and looked at Fred, "Don't you want to go talk with the big boys, green bean?"

"Nope."  Fred popped the p and sat back, winking at Tonks.  "I'd hate to lose a single moment with you, candy floss."

"Be nice."  Rebecca pinched his leg, ignoring his jump and looking to Molly.  Ginny walked past and ran down the hall, not giving Molly the opportunity to invite her in to chat.  "We've been pretty busy, the shop needs some organising before we can consider reopening."

"I'm sure you're getting lots of help."  Molly burst into laughter and shook her head, all three women joining in at the idea of Fred and George being helpful.

"Is that what you do in these little parties?"  Fred whispered into Rebecca's ear.  "Make fun of us."

"Oh no!"  Rebecca kissed his cheek.  "Sometimes we drink tea, too."  She looked away from Fred's open-mouthed shock at the doorbell, hopping out of her chair and grinning, "That'll be Bill and Fleur, fashionably late."

"They put you to shame!"  Fred called after her, "Considering I made it so we were on time today!"

Rebecca passed the dining room where Sirius and Remus were shouting over the other.  Harry was in the middle of them in a hilariously homemade apron that said, 'Doggone good cook.'  "You getting that?"  Harry asked.

"What?"  Rebecca shook her head, not able to hear him. "I'm getting the door!"  Sirius and Remus fell silent at the exact moment she shouted her answer.

Sirius put his hand on his hip, "Why are you shouting?"

The doorbell rang again and saved Sirius from the remark crossing Rebecca's tongue.  Throwing the door open, Rebecca smiled grandly.  "Draco!"  He was pulled into a tight hug before Harry stuck his head out of the kitchen and waved at the latest arrivals.  

"Hey Bill, hey Fleur!"

"Ah yes, left to the curb."  

"Wendell, behave!"  

"Mum!  Dad!"  Hermione whispered, stepping forward to greet Rebecca and leaving her unconfounded parents to themselves.  "Mum told him not to snack and...well, he's hungry."

"No, dearest daughter."  Wendell put his arms around both Hermione and Rebecca and steered them all into the house.  "I'm famished."

Ron clomped down the stairs loudly, smiling widely at the sight of Hermione.  The house was filled even more with chatter and happiness, Draco finding Cedric and George friendly and amicable company as they paraded him around to meet anyone he hadn't yet.

Bill and Fleur whispered in the corner, Fleur holding a folded piece of parchment in her hands and shaking her head.  Rebecca jumped as a hand snuck its way around her middle, a chin resting on her shoulder.  "Fred!"

"What did I do?"  He kissed the side of her neck, knowing he'd startled her and loving the annoyed flash that crossed her face.  "What do you think?  A baby?"

Rebecca considered it, but didn't feel that was right.  "No, I don't think so.  I'm not sure what it is, but I know it's not that."

"Oh, you know?"  Fred smirked and stood straight up, turning her towards him.  "How do you know?"

"We've gone over this, I know everything."

Fred shook his head, "I don't know if you're right about this."

"Care to wager on it then?"  Rebecca raised an eyebrow at him, "If you're so certain of yourself."

Fred raised a finger, "What, my dear, would you care to put up?"

Rebecca thought for a long moment before standing on her tiptoes and putting her lips near his ear.  "When I'm right," 

"When?"

"When I'm right..."  Rebecca's lips brushed against his cheek and sent him shivering, her voice low and steady and clearly hinting towards an activity they'd both been inching closer towards.  "Do I have to finish or do you know where I'm going with this?  I do believe you said something about 'in the summer' last time this came up."

"I hope you win."  Fred murmured, sliding his hands around her back and pulling her up against him in the gratefully emptied hall to the front door.  "I've literally never wanted to lose more."

*******************************************

"Gentlemen!"  Molly gasped, looking over the array of lunch foods spread out and the proud Sirius and Remus at the end.  "We're out of a job, Monica, they'll never need us again."

"Let's not go mental now ladies," Sirius started.

Plates began to fill as Remus nodded, people milling about and taking their share.   "This was a celebratory affair...Let's not plan on celebrating again any time soon, unless of course you plan on leading."  Remus could not believe the sheer amount of food it took to feed them all, let alone how long it took to make sure it was all proper, magic considered!

"What are we celebrating?"  Rebecca asked, catching Fred's eye with a salitious wink.  "Bill?  Fleur?"

"Besides that we are all here..."  Fleur set her plate down and handed the parchment to Bill, worried that she wouldn't convey exactly what she wanted to.

"We've been working with Kingsley and the Ministry."  Bill finished, putting his arm around Draco next to him, "As well as the students who've found themselves-"

"Lost."  Draco interrupted.  

"Yes, lost."  Bill passed the parchment around and continued.  "Saving Students is an initiative that will place those who no longer have guardians in homes."  Bill looked to Draco, "You want to finish?  You've been at the head of it all."

Draco nodded smiling up at those around him.  The three of them had spent every minute Bill and Fleur had at the Ministry, the freshly married couple offering him the support Draco needed as he navigated a post-war world.  Bill and Fleur had remained in Shell Cottage, Draco remaining alongside them.  They insisted he stay in a guest room a little while more, until he felt fully prepared to enter the world an adult.  They were giving him the home and leadership he would ensure every other lost student got as well.

"The whole point of Saving Students is to reconnect those who've lost their ties to either world--The Muggle or the Wizard--and make sure they have the opportunities to not only stay involved in them, but also that they have a home base to return to as they become adults and age out of the school system."  Draco grew serious a moment, the tone of the room following suit.  "A lot of students--not just Slytherins--lost their families.  Whether because they made the choice to not follow their families paths or for other, just as permanent, reasons."

"And now," Fleur grabbed Draco's wrist, "You are making sure there's a home for everyone."

Rebecca winked at Fred as she made her way to Draco to congratulate him on his work, not a single word about baby-related topics leaving Fleur's mouth the entirety of the afternoon.

Fred's face burnt as lunch progressed and they spread about conversing, Charlie not the only one to notice Fred's absence and flaming ears.  Romania was taking a back burner for the time being, Charlie felt that he needed to be with his family right now.  Not countries away.  Besides, Bill was working with Gringotts to make a deal for a new dragon.  One who would need a constant carer because one would never be kept as the still-free dragon was, tortured and a prisoner.  Gringotts was taking heavy fire in the papers at the moment at the revelation.  "You alright, Fred?  Ill?"

Fred choked, reaching for his glass and drinking deeply.  He'd been startled out of his thoughts and hadn't seen Charlie sit across from him on the couch.  "Fine!  I'm fine!"

Charlie stared at him, saying nothing else on the topic.  "Saving Students...What do you think?"

"The initiative?"  Fred nodded, "I think it's great.  I hope it goes into effect immediately so the student housing can end."

"I know."  Charlie hated the government-forced housing of now orphaned students that were peppered about the country.  "I was thinking of signing up for one."

"A kid?"  Fred's eyes widened, "So you're not leaving again?"

"No."  Charlie shook his head.  "Not now, anyway.  I wouldn't want a young one, plenty of people are calling for them.  No, the sixth and seventh years are stuck in those homes too.  Not quite as in demand, I think, once things start going.  I'm old enough though, and I don't know...I think I could be pretty good for an older student."

"I think that's a brilliant idea."  Fred grabbed Charlie's arm.  "Really, I do.  Do you have a flat here yet?  We have an extra room."

Charlie smiled at his brother, "I've got one lined up soon, should be moved in by the end of the week."

"Good."  

"Good." 

They sat in silence for a few minutes, both thinking about the future, near and far.

*******************************************

Down the hall, Rebecca was firmly wrapped in three sets of arms.  "It's been a week since you called..."  Harry whispered, "They're a bit-"

"You don't call, you don't write.  It's like you've disappeared!"  Sirius held the two of them tighter.  "If it wasn't for Harry here, we'd have forgotten we have godchildren at all!"

"What he means to say, Rebecca," Remus shook his head slowly.  "We're happy you're making yourself at home and would love to know when you are reopening."

"So we can at least see you then!"  Sirius added.

"Probably end of the week, two loons insisted we go to a lunch celebration and it took some working time out of the day."

Harry looked up quickly, "Don't forget tea on Friday."

"What?"  Rebecca asked as they separated, all standing in a circle as the sounds of their family and friends filled the house around them.

"Aunt Petunia, you told me to call her a few days ago with the envelope she'd left us."  Harry tilted his head, "Did you not want me to?"

Rebecca's jaw dropped, she'd forgotten the conversation entirely.  "No!  I just forgot!"  Rebecca ran over the week in her head and was suddenly happy she hadn't sent in the ad for the Prophet yet.  "Friday?  We'll be there."

"Who's we?"  Remus asked nosily, Sirius continuing to look over his shoulder nervously.  Tonks had been far too kind to him so far.  "You're bringing Fred?  Is that wise?"

Harry smirked, "Wise?  Probably not.  Requested?  Yes."

"Will Ginny be accompanying us too then?"  Rebecca gave him a smirk of her own.

"What about me?"  Ginny stopped in the hall, Hermione and Ron following behind her.  "I heard my name."

Harry sighed, "I-I had a...You see, there's a, It's a bit of a-"

"Tea.  Friday.  The Dursleys."  Rebecca put her hand over Harry's stammering mouth.  "Would you like to come?"

Ginny nodded, going to answer in further detail but interrupted as Tonks pushed past them all with a war-cry and ran into the room with a hand above her head.  Sirius shrieked and dropped to the floor with his arms above his head, Tonks smashing the egg shaped ball onto his head while Remus, Harry, and Rebecca stepped out of her way.

"NO!"  Sirius fell back to the floor, his hand on his forehead as if he'd fainted.  

"Dora..."  Remus sighed heavily.  "I have to tell you that I'm-"

"Going to fight for my honour and dance on her grave?"  Sirius asked before closing his eyes again.

"I'm going to have to ask what you just did."  Remus finished.

Rebecca gasped and put her face into Harry's back, hiding her laughter from Sirius.  As he sat up, every hair on his head remained on the floor.  Harry laughed with her, not taking the necessary steps to hide it.  Sirius reached up slowly, feeling a breeze where he never had before over his shiny, bald head.  "NYMPHADORA TONKS!"  Sirius screamed at the top of his lungs.  

Tonks didn't bother to correct him on the usage of her name, she was far too busy sprinting out of the room as he chased after her.  Laughter followed the two of them through the house, Sirius' bald head at the epicenter of it all.  

"Do I want to know?"  Remus asked, waving his wand at the pile of hair and sending it away.

"Egg-heads."  Rebecca raised an eyebrow.  "It's only momentary, don't worry.  I've heard someone's quite the braider, you'll be able to again."

"I would hope it's only temporary."  Remus looked away shyly, "And I don't know who would have told you that."  Remus grew serious and crossed his arms in front of Harry, Ginny, and Rebecca.  "Will you be alright Friday?  We can come too if you're worried.  I can, if you think Sirius can't-"

"Rems," Harry interrupted, smiling up at him.  "I think we can handle tea."  Tonks thundered down the hall, Sirius still shouting and close behind.  "And I think you're going to be preoccupied."

"Definitely going to be preoccupied."  Rebecca chimed in before excusing herself from the room.  She had one more thing that had to be done before she could find Fred again.  She was certain he was pouting somewhere that he'd failed to stay at her side entirely.  "Draco?"  She asked, poking her head in the parlour a few people were in.  

He wasn't there.  Bill gave Rebecca a sad smile and pointed down the hall, knowing where Draco would have found himself.  "Draco?"

His blond head spun around and he put his hands in his pockets like he'd been caught doing something wrong.  "Yeah?"

"Oh."  She walked into the room by the stairs, the room with the Black family tree tapestry.  "I'm sorry."

"For what?  You didn't do anything."  He asked, forcing a phony laugh from his unsmiling mouth.  

Rebecca crossed her arms and stood next to him, looking up at the faces of those who'd proven unable to choose goodness.  "You know exactly what for.  I--of all your friends--know."

Draco blushed lightly, "I know.  That was arseholish of me."

Rebecca smiled at that, "You do have a tendency to be so when we're alone, if I remember correctly."  She held her hand out with her palm to the ceiling, offering him what she thought he would find symbolic.  "This...this is for you."

Draco picked it up gingerly, not entirely sure what it was.  "And this is?"

"That little stick of seemingly no importance, would be a piece of the Elder Wand.  A piece for the one who made everything possible."  Rebecca knew immediately that she'd been right, he did appreciate it.  Fred had been apprehensive about Draco taking it as an insult, that she'd only return a piece and not the entire collection of broken bits, but she disagreed.

"It wasn't just me who made it all possible, though."  Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out the paper Bill and Fleur had passed around.  "Read the draft of the initiative's finalisation, what will be signed into law by the end of the week.  I'm not letting anything happen to its final notes, it's not up for debate or editing.  Kingsley understood completely and has helped me keep it exactly as I wrote it."

Rebecca read slowly, not believing it.  "And, most importantly, the goal of Saving Students is not only to ensure their safety and well being, but to educate them of the importance of choice.  Every student will learn that their choices are what makes them, that life is choice and that nothing is more sacred."

"Draco..."  She whispered, reading over it one more time before looking up to him.  Rebecca put her arms around his neck and held him for a long time, both of them needing the time to let the other know just how important they'd become.  Rebecca and Draco had been schoomates, hostile enemies, cold friends, to warriors fighting for the good of the world, to, at last, friends.

And neither could be happier about where they'd ended up.

*******************************************

"So you can't forget about Friday, okay?"  Rebecca's feet were all that showed out from under the bed.  "Fred?"

"Friday.  Tea.  Can't forget."  Fred repeated monotonously.  He switched into a whinge.  "Now will you please come out from under the bed?"

"I told you!"  Rebecca's voice was muffled, but her cheek was clear.  "I lost my bloody-Here they are!"  She wiggled back out and sighed in relief.  "I lost my specs down the gap."

"Why didn't you just accio them out from under the bed?"  Fred grabbed the pile he'd made of their towels and pulled her to her feet, "We can do magic for a reason."

"I knew I'd be able to get to them, I didn't think that was a good reason to use my wand."  Rebecca explained as they stepped into the bathroom together.

Fred closed the door behind them quietly, George and Cedric long since returned to their rooms for the night.  "And say...silencing our side of the flat.  Would that be a good reason?"  Rebecca looked over her shoulder with her toothbrush sticking out of her mouth and her hand on the shower's knobs, sass evident.  "Yeah, yeah, I'll just do that."  Fred did as he said he would, everything down their hallway silenced with two focuses on both the bathroom and their bedroom door.

Rebecca rinsed her mouth and replaced her toothbrush, smirking up at Fred and putting her hand on the collar of her shirt.  "Are you going to stay dressed?"  Fred had his shirt on the floor and his shorts with it in seconds.  "Apparently not."

(We're not doing smut, not in this story.  It's one thing for it to be implied and talked about, but another for xxx rated lemon-esque scenes.  Too many of you have made it evident you're minors.  Sorry for the interruption but I wanted to make this clear.  Implications are one thing, graphic descriptions are another.  If there's enough of a demand, I could consider a supplemental book with solely those scenes.  <3)

*******************************************

Cedric pounded on their bedroom door the next day's early afternoon, still getting no response.  "Ced!"  George called from the living room, "Clearly they're sleeping!"

"They would have answered or woken up by now."  Cedric clapped his hand to his mouth, burying his head into the couch pillow.  "Oh no."

"What?"  George sat up concerned.  "Something wrong?"

"They're not answering, George."  Cedric kept his face in the pillow.

George laid a hand on his shoulder, rubbing it soothingly despite the fact that he didn't understand the conundrum.  "I don't-oh."

"Yes, oh!"  Cedric put the pillow down and had the brightest, reddest face George had ever seen.  "They charmed their room!  We must have been too loud!"

George laughed, "No, Ced.  I charmed our door last night."

"So if you..."  Cedric threw his head back and laughed with George, both of them realising what had to have happened.  "It's about time!  Merlin, I thought they-"

"They what?"  Fred asked, his hair wild and two cups in hand.  He'd spent most of his morning studying, memorising, and admiring Rebecca's profile against the rising sun and thought she'd find breakfast in their room pleasant, plus he was hungry.  Rebecca was sleeping a lot longer than he'd expected her to.

"The noise on that side of the flat."  George answered, Cedric looking at him shocked.

Fred paled, dropping the cup out of his hand were it hit the counter with a loud clank.  "The noise?"  He cleared his throat.

"Florean's got construction going early, wants to be open before school shopping starts."  George followed up with nonchalantly.

Fred gulped, knowing his brother well enough to know what he was actually talking about.  "No, we were fine."

"Just fine?"  George raised his hands in surrender at the look Fred gave him.  "Okay, okay, we're done."

"We're?"  Cedric hissed as Fred turned to put the juice back into the fridge.  "I didn't say a word!"

"That's why you're my favourite, Ced!"  Fred called, already returning to his room with a box of cereal and two glasses of juice.  Fred used his foot to push their door closed behind him, finding their bed still occupied by a snoozing Rebecca.  It had to be the latest he'd ever known her to sleep in and he certainly didn't mind the cost of getting her to do so.

He set everything in his hands on top of their chest of drawers, slipping back into bed and kissing the side of her neck sweetly.  "Love?"

Rebecca stirred slightly, rolling onto her side and putting her arm around him.  "I know, I know.  I'm waking up."

Fred chuckled, "I don't think I've ever woken up before you.  Did you know that?"  Rebecca pulled the blanket up over her head, shaking her head and trying to hold onto the last vestiges of sleep his talking was driving away from her.  "I hope I'm not as hard to get out of bed."

"You are."  Rebecca opened her eyes at last, finding Fred smiling down at her.  

"Did you sleep well?"  Fred asked, scanning her face carefully.  

"Didn't get much of it, now did I?"  Rebecca grinned and kissed his cheek, sitting up in bed before running her hand through her hair to get it out of her face.  "Like a rock.  Funny, I don't remember the last time I slept that deeply."

"Deep sleep is supposed to be good for your health."  Fred had moved off the bed and handed her the glass he'd poured for her, elaborating at her clear confusion.  "We'll just have to make sure you're that tired every night."

*******************************************

After getting out of bed, Fred and Rebecca joined George and Cedric down in the shop and planned on spending the rest of the day down there.  

Rebecca was glad that she hadn't worn her usual work and organising attire of shorts and a tank top.  Both were so old they had far too many tears to wear out into Diagon Alley, but she was especially thankful that day.  She'd considered them, going so far as to pull them out as she got dressed, but Fred was watching her so carefully, so attentively in their room, she didn't think wearing something so revealing would lead to any work getting done.

Fred had asked her once more if she was alright, if she'd regretted anything before they left the confines of their room and Rebecca's response was an emphatic and heated kiss.  He hadn't asked again.  She thought it was exactly of Fred to make sure they were both on the same page, but it was entirely unneeded on that front.  Rebecca had never felt closer to Fred, not the a moment before and not a second since.

The phone ringing upstairs tore her from her thoughts in front of the shelf she was charged with fixing, waving to the others that she'd get it.  While Rebecca had previously said that she didn't want to use her wand for things she could do herself, she didn't hesitate to apparate up to the kitchen.

"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, RJ here.  How can I assis-"

"Rebecca!"  Hermione shouted, "Do not give me the business speil!  Can you come to my house?"

"Seconds, Hermione.  I'll be there in seconds."  Rebecca put the phone back in its cradle and ran down the stairs.  Hermione's tone was panicked and that was as un-Hermione like as anything.  Rebecca was going so fast, she didn't even bother to tie her shoes by the shop's door.  She stuck her bare feet in and pulled the bent over Weasley at the register into a quick kiss, calling to them all that she'd be back in a bit.

Fred walked out of the back with a box in arms as he heard the crack of her disapparating, George staring ahead.  "She didn't wait to say goodbye?"  Fred questioned, setting the box in front of George.  "That's strange.  She say where she's-"

"She said goodbye, Fred."  Cedric patted his arm and couldn't hide his laughs any longer.  "She just didn't notice that you were in the back!"  

George wiped his mouth, stopping and doing it again before giving Fred a face.  "That was the most horrible thing that has ever happened to me.  AND I HAVE ONE EAR!"

Fred put together what had happened: Rebecca had left in such a hurry she'd kissed George goodbye instead of him.  "I think you're being a little dramatic, George."

"No, I most certainly am not.  I'd even feel better if Ginny had done that!  At least then I wouldn't have kissed you by extension!"

As the boys were debating the degrees of separation related to snogging and ruminating on how much trouble they were going to give Rebecca when she returned, Rebecca opened the door to the Granger row-house without a pause.  "Hey there!  I'm sorry, let myself right in."  Monica looked up from her desk, pointing up the stairs.

"Don't be sorry, who do you think unlocked it?"  Monica stood up and lowered her voice.  "Haven't seen her like this since...well, I don't think I ever have."

"What's happened?  Was it Ron?  Did he say something stupid?  I swear I'll-"

"Mione's upstairs, dear.  She'll have to tell you everything."  Monica smiled, grabbing Rebecca's arm a moment.  "'Hermione's upstairs.'  I can't even tell you how good it feels to say that again."

Rebecca took the stairs two at a time, not remembering a single time Hermione had sounded as distraught as she had on the phone.  "Hermione?"  Rebecca called, unfamiliar with the upstairs.  "I don't know which-"

"In here."  Hermione waved her wand and her door at the end of the hallway opened up.  

Rebecca brushed the hair out of her face as she stepped in, looking around and finding Hermione sitting on the floor with her back to her bed with a blanket wrapped around her tightly.  "What's happened?"

Hermione glanced at Rebecca concerned, running her eyes over her ragged appearance.  "Where are your socks?"

"You said to come as soon as I could."  Rebecca laughed, "I would have come starkers and dripping if I had heard you'd called like that when I was in the shower!  You scared the hell out of me."

"I didn't mean to."  Hermione nodded once, "And thank you for not coming naked."

"No problem, probably wouldn't have made it out the door if I had been.  Now what's wrong?"  Rebecca pulled her knees up to her chest, clasping her hands in front of them.

Hermione stared at her a long moment, "You...wouldn't have made it out the door?"

Rebecca blushed a hot crimson, looking away.  "Well..."

Hermione's mouth opened and she put both hands over her mouth, "WHAT!  Oh my-I called you and-!"

"Don't be stupid," Rebecca scooted closer, "Now what had you so frantic?"

Hermione lowered her eyes, "Ron."

"I will kill him."  Rebecca answered immediately.  "You don't have to say anything if you don't want, just where you think he is.  I will apparate in, grab him, take him to a dark-"

"He said he loved me."  

Rebecca fell silent a long moment.  "Oh."

"Yeah, 'oh.'"

The girls sat in quiet contemplation a while longer, Rebecca struggling to see the problem.  "And this required you calling as if your house had burnt down because..."

"Because we've been whatever-we-are for what, a week or two?  A month if you count our closeness beforehand?  It's so fast!"

Rebecca raised an eyebrow, "Are you unhappy when you're with him?"

"No."

"Do you like spending time with him?"

Hermione bit her lip, "Yes."

"Do you love him?"

"I don't know!"  Hermione put her face into her hands.  "That's the problem.  He's so certain--You weren't there.  He said it positively sure of himself.  He absolutely meant it with all his heart, how can I tell him I'm not there yet if he-"

"Just like that?"  Rebecca laid her hand on Hermione's leg.  "You could always explain exactly that."  

"I don't want to hurt him."  Hermione sighed heavily.  "I think the problem is boys.  You didn't happen to do anything with that colony of yours, did you?"

Rebecca laughed and shook her head, "No, no I did not.  You don't need a sapphic safe house, you need to pull up your big girl trousers and talk about your feelings!"

Hermione stood up slowly, turning and putting her blanket back onto her bed.  "Ah yes, forgot.  You're the guru of good advice now that you and Fred have shagged?"

Rebecca ignored her jest and put her arm around Hermione's waist as they made their way down the stairs, "Mione, last thing I want you to hear on it, then I'll quietly listen to your scolding on the absence of my socks."  Rebecca pulled her closer, holding Hermione against her side.  "Don't use your head for everything.  Let your heart do some of the thinking.  Not everything is logical."

Hermione sighed again, "Perhaps you're right."

"I love hearing you say that."

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