Chapter 1: She's Something

"Password"

The single word jolted the ginger haired boy out of his reverie. "Mimbulus mimbletonia" he mumbled.

The portrait swung open, allowing him to slip into the common room. He knew it was late by the chime of the clock. Fred Weasley was used to sneaking around after hours, but not for this. The stinging coming from his left hand fuelled his hate for her.

"Umbridge will pay for this" he thought to himself, as he sat in front of the fire. He sunk lower into the arm-chair, a sudden wave of tiredness coming over him. In his last few moments before sleep, he heard a familiar screech.

"Fred Weasley!"

Fred looked over the side of the arm chair to find none other than Hermione Granger. Hermione, a woman of many talents and even more words, stood over him fuming.

"What are you doing getting back this late? You know very well that-"

Fred covered her mouth with his good hand. For a small girl, she sure had a big voice.

"God Granger, at least you haven't woken Slytherin"

She scowled. Fred Weasley was infuriating. As if she didn't have enough trouble with Ron and Harry, she had to deal with Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes.

"Now, if I remove my hand, will you promise to yah mouth shut?" he said scathingly.

Hermione rolled her eyes but nodded.

Clearing her voice, she spoke.

"Fred, you know very well that our curfew is at 9pm sharp. It is now 12:05 in the morning. Exactly what were you doing?"

"I could ask you the same thing, being up at this late hour. Hiding out with your new boyfriend aye Granger?"

"What?"

"Come on, you and old McLaggen. Everyone knows he's hot for yah?"

"That is completely beside the point Frederick! Tell me what you were doing or so help me-"

"What?" Fred scoffed, "What are you going to do to me, little miss prefect? Give me detention? I am so scared"

Hermione took a step forward and folded her arms. Her bushy hair gleamed in the light from the fire.

"No. But I will send an owl to your mother"

Fred's expression became murderous.

"You. Will. Do. No. Such. Thing" he spat with fury.

She smirked. "Tell me or I will"

Exasperated, he threw his hands in the air. "Fine!"

"Fine" he whispered.

He lifted his left hand so it basked in the light from the fire. The bleeding had ceased but the skin was red and irritated.

Hermione traced the words carefully whilst Fred winced.

"Blood traitor" she whispered in disgust.

She looked up at Fred. She could tell what the words meant to him, what they felt like. His proud stance was given away by the look in his eyes.

"Fred-"

"It's nothing" he said, pulling his hand away.

She snatched it back. "This is not nothing! She can't do this to you! To any of us!"

"They're just words"

"Not to you!"

"How would you know?" Fred snarled, "How would you have any idea how this feels Hermione? You have no idea! The whole wizarding world thinks my family is a joke! The poor Weasleys, ginger haired and second-hand everything! Whilst you sit there, Miss Perfect-Little-Miss-Prefect Granger. At least no one thinks you are a joke. At least people take you seriously!"

His chest heaved with emotion. Never had he been so furious.

Hermione looked up at him. She knew how he felt. She knew what he felt. Fury. Despair. Longing. Wanting. Tears came to her eyes.

"At least you aren't a filthy little mudblood"

Fred stopped.

"Her-Hermione, I'm so-"

"What? Sorry? Because of my blood? Fred, I don't care. My blood status is not me. It is not who I am. It does not make me who I am because I choose who I am. But you, you allow your blood to define you!" she snapped.

Fred reeled back. He shook his head and sat back in the chair. Hermione went back to the desk where she had been working. Arithmancy could wait.

"This is getting us nowhere" she muttered, searching through the mountainous pile.

Taking a small jar, she moved back to the arm-chair and knelt beside him.

"Give me your hand"

Fred placed his hand in hers as she unscrewed the jar.

"This may sting a little" she warned.

She reached into the jar and started to lather it on the open wound.

"Ouch!" Fred winced.

"I told you. Stop wriggling! I'm getting cream everywhere"

"You ain't the one feeling it love!"

Hermione stopped to look at him while he caressed his hand. In the fire light, Fred certainly looked handsome. Not that he wasn't in the first place. His red hair shone. And although his face was puckered in pain, she could still see a slight dimple in his right cheek. Oh he was handsome alright.

"What did you put of here 'Mione?" Fred skulked.

"Just a healing cream" she sighed, slipping out of her reverie, "I've been using it on all the first years"

"Well yah might wanna change the formula so it doesn't sting so much"

"They never complained"

Fred glared at her for a moment. She smirked back.

"That," Fred stated, "was mean"

Hermione rolled her eyes while they laughed. Fred watched her. Ever since she shrunk her teeth last year, she had changed. Her body had developed in ways that even Harry and Ron couldn't have imagined. Although she was still as strict and annoying as ever, she sure was beautiful.

They both jumped as the clock tolled.

"Oh my gosh! I didn't realise- And I haven't finished my essay!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Well, time flies in the company of the charming Mr Weasley" Fred chimed, winking.

"Really? When did George get here?"

Fred glared. "Intelligent and mean. Cormac is in for a wild ride"

"Frederick!"

He chuckled. "Just playing love. You know me, always jokin'"

Now it was Hermione chuckling. "Oh sure, how did I ever see through your charm and good looks?"

She stopped for a second. What was she doing?! She never behaved this way, all the giggling and flirting. This is Fred Weasley! The older (albeit better looking) brother of one of her best friends! Yet she couldn't help but look at him. She couldn't help but wonder what it felt like to run her fingers through his gorgeous hair, to press her body against his in a passionate rage.

Fred looked down at his hand frowning. "I wish this stupid thing would just piss of already"

Before Hermione could stop herself, she was running her fingers through his hair. "It'll heal up soon Fred, I promise" she cooed.

Fred stared at her for a second as she gazed into his eyes. "They're like pools of hazel" he thought. He shook his head. What?!

Both of them broke their gaze, standing abruptly.

"Well-" Hermione spluttered.

"Suppose we should head off to bed" Fred stuttered

"Right, goodnight" Hermione said, rushing over to the desk to collect her things.

"Night!"

Hermione turned around to see bounding up the stairs. She sighed. This was not the night she had planned. As she continued to gather up her things, giving up on her essay for the night, she failed to notice that Fred had not go into his dorm. In fact, he was lingering at the top of the stairs watching. He couldn't explain it, but Hermione Granger was something.