A/N: I'm so sorry for this being uploaded so late! I've just been swamped with homework and school: it's been utter chaos! I'm sorry for this chapter being so short, also, I've just recovered from a serious bout of Writer's Block!
Thank you to all the lovely, amazing, beautiful people that read, reviewed, favourited and added to your alerts, you guys are just awesome! It really means the world to me that people come and actually read my little 'ol story!
Hope you enjoy! (I'll probably be posting another chapter, too, because I'm in such a great mood!)
Until the next chapter,
GreenSwallow~
Chapter 2: A Meeting in the Shadows
Hermione stared at the loopy gold handwriting with widening eyes, her breath catching in her throat. Fred Weasley? How she could be ever matched with him – it didn't add up! Errol hooted sympathetically from the pile of books he was perched on, grooming his feathers with a hooked beak. The room suddenly chilled, the spots of sunlight that had been dancing on the rug only a few minutes ago disappearing rapidly. Slotting the letter back into the envelope and tucking her newspaper under her arm, Hermione left the room, hurrying up the stairs to the room she shared with Ginny.
"You've gotten your letter I presume?" A hoarse voice sounded from the shadowed landing, halting Hermione in mid-step. The voice emerged from the gloom, his auburn hair falling softly over his face: Fred.
"Yes, I did," replied Hermione, surprised that her voice didn't wobble from nerves. Fred gazed at her intently, his brown gaze never faltering. "Did you get yours?"
"I got it a while back, I, erm, hid it so that George wouldn't find it and tell everyone. Didn't want you to have added pressure, and erm, yeah," he trailed off, an awkward silence descended upon them. "We need to talk... about things," Fred finally said, a long sigh accompanying his words, "meet me at the Three Broomsticks tomorrow at noon, okay?" he finished.
"But—," Hermione started, interrupted by Fred's finger pressed softly against her lips. She blushed beetroot, lowering her eyes to the scudded carpet below. "I'll be there," she promised, re-adjusting the newspaper in her arms nervously.
"Good," Fred said softly, removing his finger with a slightly embarrassed tinge to his cheeks and neck. "See you there," he added, composing himself and managing a cheeky wink.
Hermione nodded in acknowledgment, and with a sudden pop, Fred was gone. Suddenly, a door opened in front of her, and Ron appeared, his face a crimson colour. Hermione noticed the envelope and letter scattered across his creased bedspread before he slammed the door and turned to face her.
"Who did you get?" He demanded, his hands balling into fists.