Disclaimer: I do not own anything, although I wish I did.
Chapter One: First Kiss
"It wasn't that long, and it certainly wasn't the kind of kiss you see in movies these days, but it was wonderful in its own way, and all I can remember about the moment is that when our lips touched, I knew the memory would last forever." – Nicholas Sparks.
She remembers their first kiss as clumsy and chaste and exactly how a first kiss should be.
He had noticed her immediately, but then again so had almost every other attendee of the Yule Ball. She was almost unrecognisable, although the prim and studious prefect was most definitely still lurking. Her untameable hair had somehow been transformed, gone was the long bushy next and in its place was a sleek updo knotted at the back of her head. Her porcelain skin glowed against the periwinkle-blue material of her flattering robes and the way in which she held herself had altered. There was an air about her, she smiled – albeit nervously – and her face shone, her eyes glittered with anticipation and her noticeably shorter teeth nibbled at her lightly glossed lips. He had watched as she placed her delicate hand on her companion's arm and gracefully passed him by.
His eyes sought her out throughout the ball. Although he made an effort to ensure Angelina's night was what could only be described as perfect, he could not resist the casual glances at the periwinkle clad prefect. He observed her breezy chatter with Viktor Krum over dinner service, finding it hard to focus on the eating of his own pork chops uncharacteristically. He had scrutinised the pair as Krum grasped at her waist and as she in turn nestled her hand to rest within his before commencing the champions dance. His eyes had followed the trail along the ballroom floor led by Krum before he too joined the many others who had crept on the dance floor alongside Angelina.
He had also watched his lanky brother glaring at elegant bookworm as she glided across the dance floor. He had watched their encounter manifest as she reached Ron's table unaccompanied and flushed from dancing. He had noticed the sudden and visible change in her expression, the excitement in her eyes replaced by a glistening glow of disappointment and the sparkling smile tugged into an angry frown. She was angry. She was upset. Now he was angry – angry at his git of a brother who had managed to tarnish her night. His eyes tracked her exit and she quickly became lost amongst the dancing crowd.
He tried to bring his focus back to the girl in front of him and attempted to mirror her flamboyant moves with a cheeky grin. However, the grin would not quite reach his eyes, his thoughts continuously drawn back to the girl in the periwinkle robes. His decision was made; he quickly excused himself and followed the insistent pull.
He manoeuvred his way through the moving crowd, passing by the table by which his brother and the-boy-who-lived sat with a scowl, before reaching the exit at the back of the great hall. He greeted Nearly Headless Nick who questioned his early exit from the ball and continued on his way. A quick glance down the left hand corridor revealed Cormac McLaggen with a witch pressed up against the wall before he finally arrived at one of the furthest corridors leading away from the great hall to find her. There she sat, the sole occupant of the bare hallway, her strappy silver heels lay forgotten beside her as she wiped at the tears with the back of her hand, unaware of his presence.
"You know, I never thought Krum would be that bad of a dancer" he spoke the first words that came to him.
She was slightly startled and began wiping at her tears furiously "Fred, I'm really not in the mood to talk to anyone redheaded and with the name Weasley right now" she mumbled.
"Not many witches are left unaffected by my charms, and seeing as George was lucky enough to be blessed with a similar charisma, I'm gonna go ahead and blame Ron for this one" he stated as he slides his back down the wall to sit beside her.
She glances over to peer at him "you saw" she noted.
He hesitates slightly before admitting "well, yeah" with a flash of a smile.
"He's a git, and absolute bloody git" she exclaimed furiously fumbling with an errant strand of hair fallen from the knotted updo "sorry Fred, I know he's your bro-"
"I couldn't agree with you more" he cut her off smiling.
They fell into an amicable silence before she whispered "I just wanted one night" with glistening eyes.
"A night for what?" he questioned.
"I don't know…its stupid – you'll probably laugh" she shook her head "it doesn't matter" she muttered, reaching for her shoes in an attempt to leave.
"No c'mon now Granger, indulge me" he urged with a wink, "I solemnly swear that I, Fred Weasley, prankster extraordinaire will not laugh" he declared with a hand on his heart.
She smiled softly, sitting herself back in her earlier position "just…a night. No responsibilities. No pressure. No rules to uphold…"
He made a show of being shocked "who are you and what have you done with our prefect?"
She glared at him, her brows furrowed "See?!" she exclaimed angrily "this is what I mean. That's all I am to anyone, that's all I'll ever be - some prim and proper prefect who follows and issues all the rules. A goody two shoes."
He remained silent, his focus completely set on the angry and hurt girl sat beside him.
"I just wanted one night as Hermione Granger, a regular student. I wanted a few dances; enjoy myself in the company of someone other than Ron or Harry. I love them… I do, but…" she sighed softly before brushing a tear away "you should get back to Angelina" she pointed out, glimpsing up at him.
"Don't worry 'bout her – Lee will take care of her – you've got me all to yourself Granger" he replied with a cheeky wink "I can't leave a damsel in distress stranded in hallway, especially one looking as lovely as you" he announced dramatically before lifting himself off of the ground and dusting away the remnants of the hallway floor. He offered a singular hand to her, "May I have this dance?"
She waved him off "I'm fine Fred", with an attempt to brush away his hand he quickly grasped her own.
"I tried being a gentleman" he pointed out "but if you insist on being difficult…" he trailed off before yanking her up on her feet.
She stumbled into him slightly before straightening. He confidently placed his hand on her waist, a move of Krum's he had earlier scrutinised, before gently wrapping his hand around her smaller one. She danced stiffly at first but allowed herself the enjoyment of relinquishing control and allowing him to gently rock them back and forth to the soft harmonic melody escaping the confines of the great hall.
He towered over her as she danced barefoot, but the thought is fleeting. This is what she wanted. Finally. She sighed in comfort and leant into him slightly.
"Better without the shoes?" he questioned quietly, his breath warm on her ear.
"Much" she confessed "they're very nice but…" she trailed off.
He nodded in understanding and resumed their gentle swaying.
He inhaled softly and was surrounded by her comforting scent. He noted the scent of vanilla with a hint of muskiness that reminded him of parchment and old books. He smiled to himself, he should have known.
They shuffled closer to one another and her head came to rest against his chest as his chin nestled itself above her head. He unconsciously reached for the clip holding her hair in place and she pulled back inquiringly.
"D'you mind? The blasted thing keeps scratching at me!" he asked.
She laughed lightly with a slight nod of her head indicating that it was okay. He gently tugged at the clip before her air cascaded to settle in sleek yet messy curls "There's my bookworm" he declared with a grin and she hit at his arm playfully.
He pulled her back into him but allowed both his hands to rest at her waist and she in turn clasped her hands to rest at the back of his next, her soft fingers gently brushing at the hairs at the nape of his neck.
They both let out a sigh of contentment.
They lost track of the seconds and minutes passed between them as each melodic song seamlessly seeped into the next. Their gentle swaying kept both their minds and bodies occupied, each concentrating on the other. They're both surprised at how natural it was, to be in each other's silent presence. No words muttered – just the fluid motion of two bodies as one.
But the sway was broken by the sound of students exiting the great hall, an indication that the night was drawing to a close. Hermione's hands unwillingly fell from his neck and his hands relinquished their grip on her waist.
They both smiled softly at one another. She stepped back slightly but before she could turn to collect her shoes he had stepped forward not wanting the moment to fade. His hand reached out to graze against the porcelain skin of her jaw. Her eyes fluttered closed in the seconds of anticipation and before her next breath she felt his against her. It is then that his finally brushed his lips against her. Her hands leant against his chest as their noses clumsily bumped against one another's and she felt his smile against hers.
The chaste kiss lasted merely seconds but the moment lingered. He faintly heard the whimper as his lips left hers and he couldn't help but allow the swell of pride at extracting those sounds from her. Her hands left his chest and he noticed her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes "Thanks for the dance Granger" he whispered mischievously and she smiled in reply.
He leant down to collect her shoes and passed them over to her, of which she accepted. "Thank you Fred" she spoke of the much deeper meaning than the simple handing over of shoes. He nodded in understanding before stepping back and making his way down the bare hallway and making his way back to great hall, knowing that she would be walking in the opposite direction back to the common room.
"Fred?" she called out and he turned to face her with a questioning expression "I…uh… goodnight" she sputtered nervously.
He chucked to himself before he too replied "Goodnight Granger".
A.N: I have ideas to turn this into a multi-chap fic, if you'd be interested in me continuing let me know through a quick review!