His attraction to her started the summer before his 5th year, her 4th. Everyone was at the Burrow, soaking up the last days of summer before they went back to Hogwarts for yet another year. He and George were at the table going over plans for possible pranks when Ginny spoke up.
"We should play hide and seek." Everyone looked up. Harry and Ron from their wizards chess, Hermione from her book, and he and George from their spot.
"Ginny are you 12?" George asked with a slight roll of his eyes. His twin elbowed him.
"I don't know Georgie, it could be fun." He said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "As long as Ginny goes first of course." Ginny shrugged in agreement, and the game began. Everyone scattered in different directions as she counted down from 100. He knew where he was going to hide. In Charlie's closet where his mum now stored old books.
He took the stairs two at a time and rushed into his older brother's room and opened the door only to find Hermione hidden inside.
"Granger! What are you doing?" He demanded. She glared at him.
"Go find your own spot Fred. I was here first." She hissed in annoyance.
"Ready or not, here I come!" Ginny cried out from a floor below.
"Too late! Scoot over." Fred said as he shoved his way into the small closet and shut the door. The room was almost pitch dark, save the sliver of light coming from under the door that gave just enough light to illuminate their faces. Hermione's was one of annoyance, Fred's one of mischief. The two were extremely close together, only about a couple of inches between them.
"Well isn't this cosy?" He whispered with a smirk. She just rolled her eyes and turned her head toward the door, her hair brushing his neck as she did so. He shivered slightly. Wait…what? He frowned slightly and looked down at her. She came just below his chin. She was so close he could reach out and grab her to him if he wanted…Bloody hell! What was he thinking like this for? This was know-it-all Granger we were talking about here.
He cleared his throat. "A little warm isn't it? This used to be Charlie's room you know. Mum just uses it for storage now." He whispered again, breaking the silence that was only interrupted by their breathing. She turned back toward him.
"I know Fred. I've been over here many times." She replied a little snarky, but her eyes were still rather warm.
"A little touchy aren't we?" He replied, smirking once again.
"Well if someone hadn't taken my spot I doubt I would be." She shot back and he smiled. She had gotten feistier since he had last seen her.
"This is my house after all. Don't you think I should get to choose where I want to hide?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No. Technically as your guest, I should get first pick or are you just a terrible host?" She glared at him. His smile got wider as he leaned in toward her. She instinctively pulled back until she was against the opposite shelf.
"I'm never a good host." He whispered rather seductively in her ear, his breath tickling her neck. He felt her breath hitch slightly. She looked up into his eyes, her annoyance gone, instead replaced by a stunned expression.
The door flew open and Fred looked at her one last time before leaning back with a slight smirk, but his eyes clouded with confusion. He looked over at his sister who was flanked by Harry and George. "Darn, you found us. Guess Ronniekins is the big winner. First time ever right Georgie?" Fred said smoothly as he stepped out of the closet, acting as if nothing had happened.
"Yeah I suppose so…" George replied to his twin, his voice suspicious as he looked from Hermione back to Fred. Fred gave an almost imperceptible shake of the head. Now was not the place. George understood. They would talk later…if there was anything to talk about. Fred couldn't be sure, but he was afraid he starting to feel something, and that never led to anything good.
"Oi! What happened back there?" George asked as he shut to door. Fred turned to face his twin as he plopped down on his bed. "We open the closet and it looks like you and Granger ad about to snog!" Fred groaned and pulled a pillow closer to him and rested his head on it.
"George I don't know. You know I hate to lose and she was in my spot and I panicked. Besides, I wasn't going to kiss her. It's Hermione we're talking about!" He said with a huff and George raised an eyebrow. Fred was his twin and he could always tell when he was keeping something to himself.
"Fred…" George started and looked at his twin who had now buried himself in the pillow. Fred grunted. "Do you…like her?" he asked hesitantly. Fred poked one eye up.
"I don't know George! I might? But it's Granger! Why on earth would I like Granger?" He let out a huge sigh and rolled over on his back and let the pillow cover his face. George looked at his twin sympathetically but said nothing. He knew Fred would need his space and didn't want to push.
Hermione turned her head toward Ginny. She was leaning up against the wall behind her bed with Ginny seated across from her.
"So he did what now?" Ginny asked rather loudly.
"He came into the closet and well…whispered in my ear. He was so close!" She replied and turned to look out the window. "It was…kind of nice. But it's Fred. He was just playing around like he always does." She looked back at Ginny and smiled. "Besides, it's not like he would actually like her or anything. He had plenty of other choices. He's quite the ladies man you know." She shrugged. "It's nothing Gin, seriously. We better get to bed anyways. World Cup is tomorrow." She finished as Ginny pursed her lips.
"Fine. But this isn't over yet." Ginny replied firmly and the two began getting ready for bed. As Hermione pulled on her pjs, she thought about what had happened. Could Fred like her? Did she want Fred to like her? She was so confused as she collapsed into her bed. Morning would come bright and early.