Chapter 2 – House on Fire – Sia

I'm going on up in flames /
And you're to blame

Hermione's POV

Night turned to day, as night usually does, and Molly Weasley was bustling about the kitchen in Grimmauld place, frying bacon and juicing fruit. Hermione was awoken by Ginny's footsteps about the room that the girls shared. Hermione jumped up, grabbed some jeans and a fistfull of linen, hoping that it was a shirt, and started getting ready for the day.

She moved clumsily to the kid's bathroom on the second floor and knocked on the defeated looking door. "Anyone in there?" She called through the wood.

"Me. I'm in here, HERMIONE" A sing-song voice came back at her, it sounded drowned in the shower and was gargling a bit. It was Fred, she concluded, and she kind of didn't want to run into him today. However, at the same time, she wanted to see him badly.

"Okay, Fred. I'll be in my room. I'll shower after breakfast. Don't worry." Hermione bolted back to her room and changed. Ginny had disappeared to the kitchen. When Hermione finished tying her unruly hair back into a bun, she raced downstairs to get a seat away from Ron and Fred. She was relieved to find that the table was almost empty. She took a very safe seat between Sirius and Bill.

Sirius was practically buzzing because Harry was coming in less than 5 days. Tonks made some sharp jokes about how Sirius was in love with Harry, which fell on cold ears. Mrs. Weasley grumbled about appropriate humour, and Lupin looked horrified.

A short while after Hermione had arrived, both Fred and George came tumbling down the stairs, laughing. Fred's hair was still damp and he winked at Hermione as he caught her eye, making her blush uncontrollably.

Why had one slow dance and a soft hand turned her into a blushing idiot at the mere sight of that redhead twin?

Fred's POV

Fred had been planning to let the girl into the bathroom, since he had finished his shower and was brushing his teeth at the time of her arrival. However, Hermione left and Fred didn't see her until breakfast, when he winked at her and was given a cold stare in return.

The weird thing was that Fred had really enjoyed the time he spent with Hermione. Did that mean he liked her as more than one of Ron's limbs? And if he did, why hadn't he noticed before now? There was no conceivable reason for her to be interested in him. Fred remembered the many times that Hermione had made him look like a fool, or condemned him for the stupid stunts he pulled.

Why. Why why why why. Fred tried to concentrate on food and work with George, he had to make more products for the business, however he couldn't focus. He hadn't been interested in anyone in months, since Katie had broken up with him and left him with half a heart.

By lunchtime, the house had been investigated by Mrs. Weasley three or four times and she had made a carefully organized schedule for the decontamination and cleaning of every room and closet. Kreacher made sounds of protest, along with all of the Weasley children and Hermione. Mrs. Weasley made hundreds of sandwiches for the Order and all of the teenagers running around.

Later in the morning, Fred found Hermione in the drawing room alone, and assisted her in extricating a huge and unidentifiable ball of fluff from inside one of the straight-backed chairs.

"Ew" complained Fred, making faces behind Hermione's bushy hair.

"I know Fred. It's disgusting. I've been trying to take this out for an hour at least." Hermione said in exasperated tones. Fred sighed and decided to change the subject.

"Come eat lunch with me?" Fred held out his hand to help Hermione up from her seated position. She took it and nodded.

They were still holding hands as they walked towards the kitchen and living room. Fred noticed how well their hands fit; interlocking and warm.

"Fred. We should stop holding hands."

"Oh. Right"

Hermione's POV

Fred was eating at a ferocious speed and Hermione didn't know whether to laugh or blush quietly in the silence. They didn't speak for quite a while, having really nothing to say, until finally Fred plucked up the courage to lay out the truth.

"Hermione, I feel … I feel as though a need another sandwich." His face reddened and he reached over her leg to grab one.

"Fred, I feel strange." Hermione looked straight ahead. "Can I tell you something?" He nodded, worried abut what might be wrong with her. "I think I'm developing feelings for my best friend's brother-"

"- Harry has a brother?-"

"- Shut up Fred.., anyways, I think that I could like something that I know I didn't even know I could be attracted to yesterday morning. I don't know why or when this happened, all I know is that I don't want any regrets." Hermione finished, her heart pounding so hard, she feared it would pop right out of her chest.

"Oh, I see. Well I've got the same dilemma, there is this wonderful girl who just showed up out of nowhere, and it's taken all my willpower not to stare at her every time we're together. I just don't want to be rejected again."

"She won't reject you." Hermione smiled and looked down, avoiding Fred's eyes.

"OH! So you reckon I should ask Parvati out?" Fred teased, with a straight face.

Hermione was visibly taken aback, but shrugged and nodded "Oh, I guess, if that's what you really want."

"How should I ask her?" Fred asked earnestly.

"Just ask her." Hermione searched his eyes.

"Is this too forward? What if I say: I think I really like you. Can I kiss you?"

"Yea." Hermione paused as though he had asked her. "That's it."

Then it happened. It happened as though in slow-motion. Fred reached up and stroked her cheek, and in the same movement, leaned forward to kiss her lips gently.

Oh, Hermione thought as Fred deepened the kiss, this could be a great holiday.