In the week that followed Hermione and Fred met frequently in Rowena's secret study. Sometimes they studied together and looked up spells that might come in handy and sometimes they just talked. Fred gave her a roll of parchment on which they exchanged notes during class or whenever they couldn't speak in person. If she didn't want to sit with Ron and Harry at mealtimes or in the common room she usually went to sit with the twins. Something which did not go unnoticed by the rest of their house.
If Harry checked the map when Hermione had been absent for a while he would invariably find the little bubble containing Fred Weasley next to hers. He wondered what they were up to. Hermione said that he was helping her to work out the dragon egg clue. This didn't quite satisfy him but he accepted that she would tell him if something was going on in due time.
Fred didn't say much about his first note but in his surprisingly subtle and charming way he seemed to be, for want of a better word, courting her. He left origami notes for her in the study, he made her laugh, studied with her, kept her secrets, opened up to her, passed over her favourite dishes at mealtimes, took her for secret walks in the grounds and leant her his scarf or cloak if she got too cold. Hermione wouldn't admit it to anyone but she liked it, he was winning her over and something about him seemed right. Hermione also didn't mention to anyone that she had stumbled across Angelina crying in one of the girls bathrooms about a week after their first chat in the study.
One evening at dinner, after a particularly bad fight with Ron, Hermione sat opposite Fred at the table. He joked around, making her feel better and trying to make her laugh. It was during one hilarious impression of Snape that George interrupted asking where Krum was, as he was conspicuous by his absence at the Slytherin table. George wasn't the only one to wonder about this.
"I think he's having dinner on the ship tonight," said Hermione cagily. "Studying for the next task, I believe."
Fred looked at her carefully, a questioning eyebrow twitch asked the question. Hermione nodded slightly, taking a sip of pumpkin juice.
George seemed to accept that answer and returned to his heaped plate of food. Fred scribbled a word on his parchment and Hermione read it on hers under the table.
"Study."
Hermione left dinner before him, not needing to invent an excuse to slip away. Hermione leant against the desk in the study, waiting for him. It didn't take too long for Fred to join her.
He stood before her, fiddling with his hands nervously. "How'd he take it?"
"Quite calmly. But I could tell he was upset. He hoped I'd change my mind in a bit and take him back."
"And will you?"
Hermione shook her head. "We're not a matching pair. It didn't click with Viktor."
Fred nodded, and mentally struggled with himself for a moment. "I want to propose a little experiment. To see if it does."
"Go on."
Fred stood in front of her and gently raised her chin, kissing her lips softly and tenderly. It was only a brief kiss, filled to the brim with nerves, but it awakened something in the pit of her belly, leaving her wanting more when it ended.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time," Fred whispered, not moving back for fear of breaking the moment and losing it forever.
Hermione smiled. She had definitely felt the click there. Obviously neither noticed the four founders jumping and cheering in the tapestry behind them.
"Hm, I don't know," she said slightly teasingly. "We might need to try the experiment again."
He grinned and kissed her again, more confidently this time, gathering her up in his arms. She was glad he did, for the intensity of this kiss made her knees weaken a little. She forgot the world in his kiss, and was slightly dazed when he broke away. Fred's kiss was the only thing that could turn Hermione Granger's brain off. A miracle in and of itself.
Another kiss, more natural this time, making her feel like home was in his arms, holding each other close.
Before they realised it the clock on one of the bookshelves started chiming. They'd hardly noticed the time flashing past. They had better get back to the common room before they were missed.
On their way out of the room Hermione stopped. "Oh Merlin, what about Ron?"
"What about him?"
"He wasn't happy about Krum, but he'll be raving mad if he discovers that I chose his brother over him."
"So we don't tell him. We don't tell anyone. Keep it our secret. That goes for you lot too." Here he turned and pointed at the founders tapestry. The four of them nodded obediently.