Hermione Granger stood desolately by the portrait of the Fat Lady, looking around wistfully. She had retreated to the Gryffindor dorm shortly after Ron had ruined her evening. But now, she couldn't recall the password. Holding back more tears, she sniffed discreetly, and leaned against the wall. The Fat Lady shrugged, and carried on with humming. The clever witch let her watering eyes flutter closed.
"Hermione?" They shot open again. Standing before her was a tall red-head, looking concerned.
"Oh, hello Fred." She sighed before closing her eyes once more.
Shocked at her immediate recognition of him, the older boy stuttered, "How'd you know it was me?"
Without opening her eyes, Hermione simply responded , "You're eyes are different. You're voice is deeper." Fred chuckled, and whispered the password to the Fat Lady, who swung open obligingly.
"After you, m'lady," He announced grandly, sweeping his had before him. Hermione giggled wetly, and stepped through the porthole.
Sitting in an armchair with an over exaggerated 'oof', Fred grinned up at her, patting the arm rest, gesturing for her to sit down. She did, the skirts of her dress ruffling slightly. Her hair was falling from its complex do.
"Is it Ron?" The redhead asked suddenly, glancing at her analytically. She nodded, and then sniffed, wiping her eyes.
"He's just so….so…thick! And he never knows what he wants, and he doesn't ever understand anything!" She whispered, tears rolling down her rose-flushed cheeks. Fred patted her arm consolingly.
"I know Ron is very, very, very, very, I could keep saying very forever really, oblivious. He's like a ginger haired buffoon really…" Fred stated, watching the witch poised on his armchair hopefully, waiting for a laugh. He got one, and let a smile of his own creep across his face. But the laughter in her eyes was gone all too soon, and she sighed.
"It's all so stupid, isn't it? I mean, me. And Ron. It couldn't ever, ever be. And I'm not sure I even want it, you know?" Her silky brown hair fell across her face as she looked down at her feet. Fred didn't know what to do to lighten her mood, so he did what first came to mind. He pulled her slight form into his lap and hugged her. He then noticed she smelled of cinnamon and parchment paper, and he liked it. She squeaked indignantly at first, but then buried her head in his shoulder. She took deep breaths of his cologne, and felt herself relax into him. She felt indescribably better then, as though through Fred, she had gotten rid of some huge weight on her heart. But then she wondered exactly what would happen if Ron or Harry, or both really, walked in at that moment. She untangled herself from the embrace, and stood up.
"Fred, I have to get changed, and do homework." She said curtly, but as she walked behind the armchair holding a disgruntled Fred, she leaned down and kissed his cheek, whispering in his ear, "Thank you." Before disappearing up into the girls common room.
Moments later, a punch-happy George paraded into the room, and plopped down beside his twin, whose face was redder than his hair.
"Blimey mate, what have I missed? It looks like you've been Confunded!" Fred simply shook his head, and shrugged.