Chapter 1 – Let It Rain – OkGo
Did you come here to dance? /
What's in your glass? /
Do you feel better now?
Hermione's POV
Rain was falling outside, dreary and gray. Hermione Granger sat on her bed, stroking her cat Crookshank's back. Crookshank purred quietly and shifted, but Hermione's mind was on other matters, House Elves. Only moments before, Ron, her "best friend" had purposefully overworked the poor Grimmauld place house elf, Kreacher, for his own amusement. Hermione tried to be mature about the situation and talk to Ron quietly, however, within minutes the discussion turned to screaming and Mrs. Black (the portrait) had joined it. Mrs. Weasley sent Ron and Hermione to their rooms to cool off.
Hermione leaned back onto her pillow and exhaled slowly. Cool Off.
The rain continued and Crookshanks left Hermione's side. She heard the boys downstairs yelling and laughing. Unbelievable, she thought, only one day with Ron and she'd already lost her temper. This time it was his fault, though. She closed her eyes and focused.
She was still deep in thought when a mighty crack filled the room and Fred Weasley was standing on Ginny's bed, grinning. Hermione screamed and fell off of her own bed, clutching at thin air.
"Oh, 'hullo Hermione! I was aiming for Ron's room, but I think I missed." Fred clambered off of Ginny's bed and headed towards the door before pausing and turning back around. "Actually, this'll do."
"Fred, what happened to knocking?" Hermione asked, still slightly shocked.
"Oh.. Well.. I was expecting to see Ron.. and Pig.. Sorry Mione." Fred looked genuinely sorry and grinned a sheepish Weasley grin. "Bill's trying to find me.. George too.. and Ginny.." Fred trailed off and magically locked the door.
"What on earth have you done?" Hermione was impressed, amused and slightly annoyed at the same time.
"Oh. New product.. gave it to Bill, who got mad at George.. who tricked Ginny into having one.. who didn't take to it too kindly.. Don't look at me like that Granger.. Mistake, I swear." Fred walked over and sat with Hermione, whose eyebrows were way up in her hairline. "I think I'll be safe here. Until Mum finds out…"
Fred continued with his rambling until Hermione interrupted him.
"Fred, do you happen to have your fifth year Herbology book? I had some troubles ordering my book and it won't be in until after the term begins. I know you might have thrown it out or given it to Ron or something."
"No, no, Ron got George's book. I actually have mine here. I'll just summon it." within moments, the Herbology book came flying in through the door. Hermione and Fred both reached for the book, Fred's warm hand closing around Hermione's. The air turned warm and a blush crept up Hermione's neck.
They snapped out of whatever silence had fallen and Fred removed his hand. "Here you are. Aside from a few markings, it's good as new." Hermione gratefully accepted the fat book and stuffed it underneath her bed.
"Um, I should be going Fred. I think I've cooled off from my fight with Ron. I should help with supper." Hermione left the room as quickly as possible. Whatever had happened in her room, she would forget about. It was nothing more that soft, warm hands. Ron was the same, wasn't he?
She wouldn't let Fred Weasley confuse her.
Fred's POV
It was Hermione. Hermione. His little brother's best friend. The smart bushy haired, buck teeth, no wait, her teeth were back to normal. Oh bugger. She was cute, but no Katie Bell. And what about what had happened when he summoned the book,;that moment where all he could feel was her knuckles against his palm.
No. Nothing happened, it was a trick of the light. But what about when she left? He had watched her go; her hair slightly tinted a golden colour by the rays of sunlight streaming through the window. No.
By dinnertime, none of Fred's siblings had found him as he'd stayed hidden in the girl's room. He read some of the books in the heavy bookcases and investigated some of the pictures that boarded the walls. Many were asleep, or moving into other's frames. An old hag was coughing miserably into her handkerchief.
Fred made his way downstairs to find Ginny, George and Bill seated around a weary looking Ron who was talking to Hermione quickly out of the corner of his mouth. The only spot that wasn't beside Ginny, was across from Hermione, in between Tonks and Sirius. He sat down and looked up at Hermione, who was looking right back. Fred smiled and turned his gaze to Tonks, who was talking to Lupin in urgent tones.
Supper was a little bit tense. Sirius was obviously upset with Molly, and Lupin was slightly sharp with Tonks. Ginny and George were mad at Bill for some reason, and Hermione looked fit for tears. Fred's knee bumped hers and her head shot up from her empty plate. A few seconds later, her foot brushed Fred's foot, making him look up. He excused himself early to start the washing up. He was cleaning a pan when another pair of hands picked up a washcloth and started on the plates.
He and Hermione worked together in silence, until she leaned over him to lather soap onto her cloth. "You know, you could do this magically Fred." She said.
"Oh I'm aware, that just wouldn't be fair to you 'Mione." He smiled. Fred finished a cup and left it on the drying rack. He leaned back and waited until Hermione finished.
"Thanks for waiting. That was kind of nice."
"I know. I'm not totally heartless." They smiled at each other, and all the tension melted away from earlier.
"Hermione, come here, there's something you should see."
Fred led Hermione up to one of the many rooms on the top floor. Hermione followed him into the room and gasped. There were about 40 bookshelves, wall to wall, crammed with dusty books. " I found this a few days ago… and I thought about you."
Hermione just stood with her mouth wide open. "Wow Fred, there's everything, everything. Restricted, children's, wow" She walked up and down the aisles, astounded. She eventually picked up 4 books and started out the door. "I don't know what to say. Thank you." She smiled and patted Fred's cheek, which tingled at her touch. No.
Hermione's POV
"I thought about you" wasn't something Hermione wasn't used to hearing. But it was Ron's brother. But it was so sweet. She had 4 books from the Black's library, but there were so many; so many titles jumped out at her, even some muggle titles that she recognized from her childhood. She ended up taking a book about advanced potions, a book about Wizard history in America, one about Gringotts code breaking and a silly one, which gave step by step directions about how to dance various wizard styles.
Fred followed Hermione back to her room, where she dumped the books on her bed and sat down, ready to read. Fred sat on Ginny's bed and lay back. "Hermione, what was going on downstairs?"
"Oh, Bill got to leave the house to go back to the Burrow… just to grab a broomstick for Ginny, and George was in a huff because he'd wanted to escape the house, and Ginny was mad because Bill brought back the wrong one. Sirius was angry because your Mum was talking about how we're not allowed to tell Harry anything when he gets here next week, and Tonks and Lupin are in love… it's quite obvious.." Hermione sighed.
"How is that obvious? I would never have guessed."
"Well Tonks is always looking into space, eyes glazed, and Lupin? Lupin goes out of his way to avoid her. It's quite romantic really." She smiled secretively, she thought it was lovely.
"Oh, well it never occurred to me" Fred shrugged. "What books did you pick out there?"
"Oh, one about potions, romance, Gringotts and dancing.."
"Dancing? Why?" Fred interrupted.
"Oh, I never learned how… I mean yes I danced at the Yule Ball, but I don't want to just be able to waltz, and to be honest, I rather fancy learning how to dance. Just in case, you know?" Hermione stroked the side of the dancing book, which was trying to tap dance on her comforter.
"It's not that hard. You just put your arms around the other person and move around a bit." Fred made a face and imitated Percy trying to dance.
"You look like Percy, and I know. It's more complex then that. And it's not as if I'll just start dancing in the middle of the floor… I dunno. I never got to dance with Viktor properly because of your brother." Hermione smiled into space.
"What kind of dance? Show me!" Fred looked like a small child, excited over a Christmas present.
"No, I can't Fred. I need a partner, and it would be so embarrassing."
" I invented embarrassing Hermione. Here, I'll volunteer, however painfully, to be your partner." Hermione laughed as Fred stuck out his hand.
"Fine, I'll show you" She stood up to face him. He was quite tall, and solid. He was not as gangly as Ron. Hermione felt dwarfed. "Okay, well Fred, you put your hands around my waist here-" She placed his hands on her waist, "and, um, I put my arms around your neck like this." She did so. She could only imagine the look on Ginny's face if she had walked in at that moment.
"Oh, well this puts us in a compromising position 'Mione.. What next?"
Hermione just laughed nervously. "Well Fred, we sway back and forth and there should be music, but we haven't gotten any. So I guess that's pretty much it…" Fred smiled mischievously and flicked his wand. Music started playing; sad, long and mournful. They swayed gently; Hermione resting her head on Fred's shoulder. Slowly, they moved closer and closer, until Hermione could almost feel Fred's heartbeat through their shirts.
It seemed like only seconds after the song started that they heard feet outside the door. Fred locked the door magically and continued dancing. The doorknob rattled wildly but Fred and Hermione just stood pressed together, completely oblivious to everything else.
"MIONE, ARE YOU ASLEEP IN THERE? OPEN THE DOOR" Ginny shrieked, muffled by the door. Fred stepped back and looked at Hermione with wide, wild eyes.
"I should go. George will be looking for me and Ginny will be mad at you." Hermione just nodded and watched Fred disappear with a pop. She climbed into her bed and waited, then the door clicked open and Ginny walked in, two dark figures behind her.
"Night boys" Ginny waved.
"See you in the morning Ginny, Hermione." Fred's voice wafted into the room.
Hermione smiled and closed her eyes. Within seconds she was fast asleep. Visions of men and women in dress robes danced across her dreams.