My first fanfiction. I do not own these characters or Harry Potter.
"Hermione dear! It's so wonderful to see you again!" Mrs. Weasley says as she takes her into a bone crushing breathless hug, "and so grown up! You must be beating the boys off with sticks no doubt!"
A subtle shade of pink overcomes Ron's cheeks and the tips of his ears as he averts his eyes to the plate of pumpkin pasties on the table.
"Actually no, not at all.' Hermione smiles back, "I'm just too busy with work to stress over finding someone to handle me and all my craziness." Although they ended long ago, Hermione can feel just how awkward this conversation is making Ron. "Besides, with these two gits for best friends, no one ever makes it past a first date." She gives Ron a knowing wink and he smiles back. Harry is too busy holding on to Ginny, he doesn't even notice the weight of Hermione's arm flinging around his shoulder.
"Well come on then! You wash up for dinner! It'll be ready soon." Mrs. Weasley states as she pushes the trio out of the kitchen.
As they sit down for dinner, everyone is gleaming and happy that the war is over and things are returning to normal. So much laughter and smiling around the table but Fred only hears one laugh. He only sees one smile. He can't help but stare at this marvelous being seated directly in front of him. Molly Weasley eyes him watching her and silently praises herself for her choice of seating arrangements of the night.
They say she's boring. A book worm. A nobody. They say she doesn't know how to have fun. They say she's average. Nothing special.
I don't see who they're talking about. I don't see a frizzy haired nerd. I don't see her as 'one of the boys.' She's more than just one third of a trio.
She's unique. She's smart. She is so lost in her own world where nothing can hurt her; where if anything should happen, all she must do is close the book.
She's beautiful. She doesn't even realize just how beautiful she is. Especially when she's absent mindedly biting her lip when the plot of the story thickens. She's blissfully unaware of how she laughs out loud while reading and everyone turns to look at her. She doesn't hear their snickers and chortles because here, in this world of her own, she's protected. Just look at the way her smile lights up this whole room. Mum absolutely adores her. Ginny is her best friend so she knows what to expect out of this family. The only question is, would she ever be interested in someone as immature as me.
"Ginny, George you two clean up the kitchen. Harry dear, please be a doll and help Ron cut down a Christmas tree out back." Molly says. With no questions asked the four get up and start the tasks they've been given because they know Molly's word is final and they dare not question her. "Let's see, I suppose that leaves you two" she stands with one hand on her hip and other waving a finger about at Fred and Hermione, "to fetch the decorations from the attic. They're a bit strung about but I'm sure you'll find what you need up there." Fred being a mischievous person, thinks he notices a familiar twinkle in his mother's eye but chooses to ignore it seeing as how he gets a chance to be alone with Hermione. The girl he's been practically pining over for years.
"Um, Darling… what was that about?" Mr. Weasley asks approaching the stout woman. "Oh nothing Arthur. Just needed some chores done." He can plainly see how proud she is of what she's done.
"I sure hope you know what you're doing." He says as he engulfs his wife is a hug and begins to dance with her in the kitchen as Christmas music begins to play. "I do darling. I've seen it." She replies. "Seen what exactly?" he changes the direction of their dance and spins her out and quickly pulls her back in. "He looks at her like I look at you. There's no mistaking it." She says as she peers into his eyes and gives him a sweet tender kiss. "Alright my love, I trust you know what you're talking about." _
"I'll race you!" Fred yells as he darts up the stairs.
"Honestly Fred, you are so immature!" Hermione yells up after him trying to sound annoyed but she can't keep the smile off her face! "Ow!" she yelps as she grabs her toe. "Hermione, are you alright? Are you hurt?!" She feigns a pouty lip and leans against the banister as he rushes back down the stairs. The second he reaches her, he sees it. The brightest, most mischievous smile he's ever seen. She's off and half way up the stairs before he realizes what is happening. For a moment, he stares up after her amused and bewildered before he takes off chasing her.
Breathless and beaming with pride Hermione plops down Arthur's old bean bag chair. Molly of course makes him keep most of his muggle artifacts up here and out of sight. Fred finally reaches the top of the stairs and stands with his hands on his hips and a bit winded. If he has to lose to a girl he's glad it's this one.
"You're a cheat you know?" he says smiling.
"Well if there's one thing I've learned from you and your other half, it's that you must do whatever you can to win." She gives him a small wink. She inwardly thinks "Why did I just do that?! Oh merlin he's going to think I'm hitting on him!" He can't help but to smile knowing a bit of him has rubbed off on her. "Ah, yes," he says, "The most important rule is that trickery is fair game and by far the most fun one there is."
"We better get to work." His smile falls but he knows she's right. Still it was nice to see the fun side of her again. It's been too long since he's seen it. "I'll start over here with these totes and you can start wherever." Her eyes are still full of pride as she begins opening and rummaging through totes and boxes in search of ornaments. She looks over her shoulder occasionally to admire her partner's physique and partially to reprimand him when he becomes distracted and stops working.
Oh merlin… Just look at him. Fiery hair, porcelain skin, and, the only physical thing separating him from his equal (that I know of), that freckle next to his right eyebrow. Oh shoot! He saw me watching him! "Come on Hermione. Get it together. He's just a boy. Well no, he's a man. And I'm a woman…. UGH... but he'll always see me as the bushy haired little nerd. Nothing more than a sisterly friend."
But still, I can't help looking in those big brown eyes. Oh, and his nose. The way his freckles are so meticulously placed as if deliberately put there to drive me insane. Mmmm… that bottom lip is just begging me to nibble it. She absent mindedly chews her bottom lip.
"Excuse me Ms. Granger, but that does not look like working." A playful grin etched across his face. But she doesn't hear him she's off again in her own little world.
"How do you think it's going up there?" Molly asks. "I'm sure it's going fine dear." Arthur replies nonchalantly while sipping hot cocoa in his giant green chair by the fire.
"Mrs. Weasley, we've got the tree. I hope it's alright. Ron picked it." Harry says as he nudges Ron's ribs.
"Oh it's lovely! And please Harry, call me Mum" Molly claps her hands together in approval. We're just waiting for the decorations and then we'll begin."
"Well where are the decorations then?" George questions very loudly." "Oh you never mind that they'll be down soon enough. Everyone go change into your pajamas and meet back down here in twenty minutes. FRED! HERMIONE! WE'RE WAITING!"
Just look at that brilliant shade of pink she wears in her cheeks. Ron is such a git. How could he ever let this fine specimen of woman go. She's not just a little girl anymore. I always knew she was beautiful but now that she's here. Completely unattached now that Ron's got himself a new gal, maybe… just maybe she'll see that I'm not all fun and games. I can be serious. I can be real.
"Hello? Earth to 'Mione?" Fred says gingerly, walking towards her. "Oh Fred! Sorry I was totally zoned out there for a minute!" she responds, a blush coming over her cheeks. "Did we get all we need?" trying to avert the conversation away from the fact that she had been staring at him. "Um almost, though I think I did most of the work" he says cheekily as he sits down beside her. Why did her stomach suddenly do flips? She's been around Fred for many years and a simple brush of his shoulder never made it do this before. "Sorry, I guess I was just off in my own world." answers looking down at her feet, a familiar warmth flooding her cheeks again. "Ah, that's alright 'Mione. You can make it up me some day." Fred says dramatically.
"And how do you suppose I do that? Hermione questions, squinting her eyes at him. "Tell me about your world." He looks directly into her eyes and she feels like her insides might ignite. Not knowing what else to say, she says "Okay." A long pause ensues until Fred says, "Alright then," an enchanting smile across his face, "Mum's hollering for us. We'd better get moving." They grab up the boxes of decorations and Fred slips something in his pocket just out of sight of Hermione.
"When did he start calling me 'Mione?" Hermione thinks as she follows him out.
When they reach the bottom of the stairs everyone is missing from the large living room. Fred knowing where everyone went takes the opportunity to catch Hermione off guard and swoop her up into his arms and spin her around to the Christmas music. He loves her laugh and she fits so perfectly in his arms. Lost in the swirling and the twirling, the music and the lights already hung on the mantel of the fireplace, they don't notice the crowd of people creeping down the stairs. The Weasley bunch and Harry watch amused with wide eyes at the sight. Ginny steps on a creaky step and breaks the magical bubble the two are in. Feeling very aware of the closeness between the two they break apart abruptly.
"Quite a show!" George breaks the silence. "You're really a lovely dancer. Have you thought about becoming a ballerina?"
"Oh leave her alone George!" Ginny pipes up. "I was referring the him!" he points at Fred, chuckling.
"Why thank you brother. I've been practicing." Fred curtsies.
"Everyone grab some popcorn and hop to it! "Molly says cheerfully. "The muggle way!" she warns the twins.
The tree is finished. The garland is strung. There isn't an inch of The Burrow that doesn't look like Christmas. Harry stands staring into the fire. Ginny, Ron and George squeeze onto one couch truly only meant for two people. Molly and Arthur cozy up together in his oversized chair, leaving Fred to sit at George's feet and Hermione to sit beside him at Ginny's feet. Molly summons the cocoa and cream and Arthur tells stories of his days in school.
Hermione thinks to herself. This truly is the best Christmas I've had in a long time. Mum and Dad would love it here. Everything is so cozy and so cheerful. To be here where everyone loves everyone and to be sitting next to this amazing guy it's all just so perfect. Hermione steals a glance at the boy of her affections to find him already looking at her. She blushes but doesn't look away.
"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you earlier." Fred shrugs sheepishly, close to a whisper. "You didn't. It was fun." She smiles back at him. He feels much more at ease. "You really are a wonderful dancer. I'd like to do it again sometime." Fred says so fast Hermione can barely understand him. Stunned and confused she says "What?" eyes wide. Fred's face flushes bright red.
"I just thought maybe…sometime…possibly…" he stutters. "Sounds lovely." She whispers trying to not be heard over the stories of flying cauldrons and potions gone awry.
Is this happening? Fred asking me, Hermione Granger, the nerd, the nobody to dance with him? Maybe I'm overthinking this. He probably means like a friendly dance. Like the way he'd dance with Ginny or Molly…But anything to have him hold me like before…. She chews her lip again.
Merlin, I'm glad she said that! Perhaps I should check with Ron. He's a git but I don't want to upset him. I mean it's four years since the war ended… surely now with Maggie, he won't mind… Besides a little friendly conversation and dancing never hurt anyone. Oh she's biting her lip again…He tries to keep his face calm but the smile appears and he's afraid with her around it may never go away.
"Arthur look!" Molly whispers. She nods toward Hermione and Fred who have been airily smiling at each other for no less than three minutes. No else has noticed as Ginny has gone up to bed. Ron, Harry and George are in a heated debate about Quidditch. "Oh yes, I see." Arthur whispers back. "It appears that you were right after all."
Hermione and Fred sit cross legged now facing each other. "I challenge thee to a war of thumbs!" Fred states boldly. "Alright Mr. Weasley," she draws out the name for dramatic effect now realizing just how sweet the name sounds to her ears. "but I must warn you, sir, I am undefeated." She states taking his hand in hers. Suddenly, it's just the two of them, looking into one another's eyes. Even though this is in no way a romantic way to hold hands, they feel it. Neither wants to ever let go. There they sit, Fred's face one of knowing and questioning at the same time; Hermione's the same. They each wear smiles that could outshine the sun. "Well then, get on with it Granger." Fred says and she finds herself missing the new nickname.
"Are you sure you're ready to lose to a woman for the second time today?" The joking tone obvious in her voice. "To you?... Anytime." A shocking answer coming from the competitive Fred.
Rematch after rematch each not truly willing to concede to the winner, they don't notice that they are now alone. Everyone has gone to bed. The lights seem dimmer (no doubt Molly's doing).Topic after topic they never stop talking. The conversation turns serious.
"I feel like I've been holding my breath for the longest time." Fred says laying lazily by the fire. "Like I'm just laying at the bottom of the pool and all these thoughts are just weighing me down and I can't get up. I worry what I will do in my future. I don't just want to be a joker forever. Ya know?"
"I do know. Sometimes I feel like a piece of my childhood was stolen from me. Fred?" Hermione asks laying opposite of him by the fire. "Yes?"
"What do you want to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what do you want to be remembered for?" she asks idly playing with a stray strand of tinsel. "Well, if you can keep a secret I'll tell you something I've been working on for a while." She nods. Excitedly he sits up. "Well, it's this thing. Sort of like a bean or even a piece of chocolate if you wish. But one bite will fill you up for days!"
"OH THAT'S WONDERFUL!" Hermione joins him sitting up.
He shrugs his shoulders disappointedly, "It would be but I can't get it right…" she places her hands lightly on his. "You could cure world hunger. I believe in you. If you'd like, I could maybe help you sometime." Her eyes are sparkling.
This man, he's so much more than I ever thought. He's so wonderful. He is so full of goodness.
She believes in me. She really believes in me…
They're so close now. Hermione can see the hope in Fred's eyes and he can feel her breath on his shoulder. The corners of her lips curl up slightly. She begins to bite her lip again. Fred thinks to himself that this must be a nervous habit but he doesn't care. It drives him crazy. Unable to deny his urge for their lips to meet, he reaches into his pocket. She wonders what he's doing but then she sees it. The mistletoe from the attic. He holds it just above their heads and he can't help but to be nervous. Without a second thought Hermione leans in and places the most loving kiss Fred has ever had right on his lips. Relieved, he kisses her back. Neither of them worrying what anyone else might say or who may be watching because right now, they can both breath. The deepest and most relieving breath they've ever taken.
Who would've thought, the joker and the bookworm would make such a perfect match. Fred encourages the child in Hermione and she inspires the adult in him.