Please forgive me if I act a little strange, for I know not what I do.
Hermione smiled to herself as she walked into the bedroom she shared with Ginny. The redhead was lying on her back grinning at the ceiling.
"Date went well then?" Hermione smirked.
Ginny rolled over on her stomach to get her best friend in a better view, "Yeah, it did. He's lovely. But... that's not why I'm smiling"
"Ok, I admit, I'm intrigued now. Explain why you've got a smile like the Chesire cat on your face" Hermione grinned, sitting down on her own bed, waiting for an answer.
"Like a what? A Chesquirey cat? What in the name of Merlin is that? What happened to Crookshanks?" Ginny leaned forward, wide-eyed.
Hermione thought how best to explain the muggle phenomenon that was Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, "Um, it's a magical cat from a muggle tale. And the cat is known for having a very sly and sneaky smile"
Ginny's mouth formed the shape of an 'o', "So... nothing has replaced Crookshanks?"
Hermione snorted, "No Gin, he is still here"
"Good, he is so playful, it's like a feline version of Fred... and George" Her voice faded as she talked about her brother.
"...Why are you smiling then?" Hermione asked, hoping to distract the girl.
"Harry has asked me to go on a walk with him this evening, he said he wants to talk" Her smile was huge, but at the lack of Hermione's enthusiasm, she narrowed her eyes, "What's wrong with him wanting to talk to me?"
"I'm just afraid.. for you.. that he might want to say he needs more time. And you've got your hopes up and you'll just be let down" Hermione couldn't look her friend in the eyes as she spoke.
"Mione, I'm not completely delusional! I know that more than likely that will be what he's going to say, but one has to have hope. And this is the first time he's looked me in the eyes since the War. I'm looking at the positives here, not the negatives" Ginny reasoned.
A smile stretched across Hermione's face, "You need to spread your optimistic outlook with me, because it seems I'm only finding negatives in life lately. If you want I can have a talk with Harry and let you know if he seems happy"
Ginny squealed, delighted, and ran to Hermione and hugged her, "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Oh, and by the way, if Bill or anyone asks, you had a headache today and left to get some fresh air" Hermione smirked.
"Gotcha" said Ginny, winking in reply. Then sitting up she said, "Are you coming out to the garden? The boys and me are playing Quidditch in a minute, you could read? It is beautifully sunny"
Hermione smiled, "That sounds great.. I must talk to Ron too" She added, gazing into the distance.
Ginny was watching her carefully, "Are you two... together now?"
Hermione shook her head, "No... I kissed him during the Battle but I thought we were all going to die, it was a spur of the moment thing, and while it was a nice kiss... there just..."
"No fireworks?" Ginny offered.
Smiling sadly, Hermione replied, "Yeah, no fireworks. I just couldn't really analyse it until now, I feel awful, but I know when I find the One, I want fireworks. Lots and lots"
Ginny laughed, "I hope you get them then.. Just be gentle with him, he's very tempermental"
Hermione snorted, "That's an understatement, but I will be gentle"
"Good! Come on, grab your book and let's go!", said Ginny.
The Quidditch match held Hermione's interest for all of five minutes, she was bursting to read Hogwarts; A History as she hadn't been able to for months now as they'd spent the last few hunting Horcruxes. She was so immersed in reading that she didn't notice the match ending or Ron come over and sit next to her.
"Hermione?" He asked.
She looked up, "Oh, hi Ron! Sorry I didn't notice you I was-"
"Reading, I saw" He smiled and his blue eyes shone, "How've you been? It feels like we haven't talked properly in days"
Hermione closed her book at twisted her body so that she faced her best friend, "So much has happened though, I've just been trying to take it all in"
"Same" muttered Ron.
Hermione started to feel nervous. She had to tell Ron she didn't have feelings for him, "Ron... I have something to say" She started.
"Me too" He was avoiding looking at her now.
"Ok" said Hermione cautiously, "You first"
"There's something I need to say but... could I have a kiss first?" His anxious blue eyes met her brown.
Hermione was so shocked at his request that Ron took her silence as a yes, and leaned in. His lips were on hers and suddenly Hermione felt all wrong. As if she were kissing her brother, or a cousin. Not to mention his kissing style hadn't improved since his octapus days with Lavender Brown. She opened her eyes, grimacing at the kiss and pulled away. Ron's eyes were still closed, and his lips puckered.
"Ron?" Hermione asked after a few seconds of awkward silence.
"Nothing" He moaned.
"What?"
"Nothing! I felt nothing" He opened his eyes and looked at his best friend, "It's us! We've liked eachother for years and when we finally kiss, I feel absolutely nothing. I'm so sorry Mione"
A small smile crept onto her face, "I feel the same. It's as if I kissed Harry" She agreed.
"Or if I kissed Ginny" he said, grinning. Then his eyes grew wide, horrified.
Hermione laughed, "Bad mental image now?"
He nodded and shook his head, "Bleh, I'll have nightmares tonight. Thanks 'Mione" He nudged her, smiling.
"I wish we could work Ron, I really do. But, I think if we got together, I could never get passed you leaving me and Harry last winter. I know its strange, but it's easier to accept just as friends" She smiled.
"I'm so sorry about that Hermione. Truly" He said earnestly, his eyes pleading.
"I know you are" Hermione put her arms around her friends neck and pulled him close for a hug. He hugged her back tightly.
"Love you 'Mione" He said happily.
"Love you too Ron" She said, grinning.
"RON! HERMIONE! DINNER!" Yelled Mrs. Weasley from the other side of the garden.
Ron stood up and then pulled Hermione off the ground, "Come on, I'm starving!" as he said this his stomach grumbled loudly. Hermione laughed as she picked up her book and followed her best friend to dinner. She was beaming. Everything was just right in her life.
...
Hermione was about halfway through dinner when George passed around the jug with pumpkin juice. Everyone filled up their glass, but Hermione's was almost full already so she declined. Just as George set the jug on the table, everyone who had taken some juice sprouted extra green ears all over their face. George burst out laughing, with Hermione trying to contain hers. She had never seen such ridiculous looking people and it had been so unexpected. Everyone, once they'd gotten over the initial shock, joined in the laughter too. Even Mrs. Weasley.
It was almost an hour later, when the sun had set and everyone was relaxing, that Hermione remembered. Closing her eyes she saw Fred, standing up and facing her while she sat at the piano,
"Follow my advice though, and don't drink whatever George offers at dinner tonight" said Fred.
She sat up, breathing heavy. She looked around the sitting room and obviously there was no piano. Which meant it had been a dream. But dreams don't predict the future. Dreams don't tell you to avoid George's prank at the dinner table. She looked anxiously around. What was going on? Was Fred reality? Or was this reality? She pinched herself.
"Ow!" She mumbled. Earning a fleeting glance from Charlie from across the room. Clearly, this was her normality. Not her dreams of Fred. But then... how did he know? She was so confused just thinking about it. Standing up she looked at Mrs. Weasley, "Mrs. Weasley?"
The plump woman looked at her, "Yes dear?"
"I... I don't feel so well. I have an awful headache and was wondering if I could take some Dreamless Sleep potion so as to get a good rest? If that's ok?" Hermione didn't have to fake her symptoms. Trying to figure everything out had given her a headache, and she was pale and clammy from worrying about it.
Mrs. Weasley stood up, "You do look a pit peaky and unwell.. Come to the kitchen and I'll get you some" Hermione followed her to the kitchen and took the potion. She then walked back into the sitting room. Mr. Weasely was with Fred tonight, but everyone apart from Bill and Fleur were packed into the room.
"Goodnight everyone" Hermione smiled weakly at them. She really needed to sleep. She could feel the potion starting to take effect already.
"Night" They said collectively.
"Feel better" Harry said, he looked worried at the state she was in. Hermione smiled and started upstairs, looking back to see Harry and Ginny slip outside for their talk.
Once upstairs, Hermione barely managed to change into the pyjamas she slept in and get in the bed before she fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
Someone was shaking her, "Go away" She mumbled, furious. Had they not seen her take the potion? She needed sleep!
"Nope" Was the reply from a vaguely familiar voice.
Hermione pushed her head further into the pillow, "I swear if you don't leave me be I will hex you into oblivion"
"Oooh you're fiesty when you're trying to sleep" said the person. Then they laughed and Hermione knew who it was. She rolled over and faced them.
"Fred?" She was stunned. She had taken Dreamless Sleep, this dream shouldn't be happening.
"Mione?" He mimicked, copying her confused tone. He looked down at her, she seemed troubled but he smiled nonetheless, "Meet me downstairs as soon as you can. Everyone's gone to visit Bill and Fleur" And then he apparated.
Hermione rolled over and went back to sleep. She was not going to dream about him anymore. "Not going to dream about him... Not going to dream about him" She muttered over and over trying to get herself back to sleep. Despite her efforts, it was pointless and so she rolled out of bed and went downstairs to the sitting room.
She scoffed as she walked in, "Low and behold, the piano is back. I'm definitely dreaming now"
Fred turned in his seat at the piano, "What's got your panties in a twist, Granger?" He grinned.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, "Listen here Fred Weasley. You are making me insane. I don't know whether I'm asleep or awake anymore. Is this a dream? Because it can't be if you knew about George's prank! Please just... explain all of this to me" She finished, almost close to tears of frustration. She sat down on the sofa and stared at Fred, waiting for his answer.
He got up and walked over, kneeling infront of her, "Mione", he whispered, "What's wrong?"
Hermione looked in his brown eyes, they were just a bit darker than Ginny's, "I'm just so confused" She mumbled, "And I know this is a dream because I pinched myself earlier when I was awake and it hurt"
Fred didn't seem to understand what she was talking about, but he pinched Hermione's arm.
"Ow!" She yelped, pulling her arm away. She glared at him until realisation dawned on her, "I felt that!"
Fred smiled one of his crooked smiles. He offered Hermione his hand and she took it. Gently he pulled her up off the sofa. He led her to the piano seat and they both sat down. He squeezed her hand, "Did you feel that?" He whispered softly. Hermione nodded, her face glowing with confusion. Fred seemed concerned for her. He placed her small hand on his chest over his heart, "Do you feel that?" He asked, looking her in the eyes. She was nervous and bit her lip. Fred's heart beat faster.
A soft laugh escaped her lips, and she pulled her hand away, a blush colouring her cheeks, "Sorry for going a bit crazy there"
Fred shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts, "It's fine. Do you feel better now?"
Hermioned nodded, "Just a bit confused, but that's nothing new"
Fred cleared his throat, "Eh... So..." He seemed to be lost in thought, "Right! I remember now. Piano lessons! Do you have your song?"
"Yeah, I do. It's one of my favourites actually" She smiled.
"Another muggle song?" He guessed.
"Of course. I may be a bit biased, but we do have better music"
Fred snorted, "Of course you do, we have that Celina or Celestina woman mum's obsessed with. At least she doesn't exist for the poor muggles"
Hermione laughed, and conjured her music sheet, "It's by a girl called Ellie Goulding, and it is Your Song"
"My song?" Fred asked, wiggling his eyebrows, as if impressed.
Hermione smacked his arm playfully with the sheet, "If you want it to be, yes Fred, this can be Your Song too" Fred laughed and as he did so his eyes crinkled and Hermione thought to herself, that she had never seen something so simple, yet perfect. Quickly shaking that thought from her head, she handed the music to him.
"Can't wait to hear you sing me my song in awhile" He grinned as he set up the pages, then he became a bit more serious, "Ok same as last time, just follow my hand movements, and tell me when you think you've got the hang of it. Alright?" He glanced at Hermione who nodded, already focused on the keys. And so he started playing.
It took almost an hour and a half this time, but Hermione was finally sure she knew it, "Can I try now?"
Fred took his hands off the keys, "Blow me away with 'my' song please" he winked.
Hermione began, "It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside. I'm not one of those who can easily hide. I don't have much money, but boy if I did, I'd buy a big house where we both could live. So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do. See I've forgotten if, they're green or they're blue. Anyway the thing is, what I really mean, yours are the sweetest eyes, I've ever seen. And you can tell everybody, this is Your Song, it may be quite simple but, now that it's done. I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words, how wonderful life is, now you're in the world..."
Hermione finished, and smiled. She really did love that song. She had yet again made mistakes, but she wasn't as embarrassed as the last time, and so turned to Fred, "What do you think?" She asked, chewing on her lip with nerves.
Fred was smiling at her like she'd never been smiled at before. It gave her goosebumps, "What?" She asked, wondering what on earth made him look at her like that.
"That was such a beautiful song Hermione. It was just... look I'm speechless! That doesn't happen often" He chuckled.
Hermione laughed, "It was just a song, Fred"
"It was my song" He said seriously.
"Yeah" said Hermione softly, "It was your song" They stayed like that. Sitting at the piano and looking at one another for awhile.
"What are you like, Hermione?" Fred asked suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
"You know.. you're favourite food? Book? Smell? What's your least favourite colour? Or what would be your perfect day? What gets you to sleep at night? You know... you! I just want to know about you I guess" He finished, casting his brown eyes away from her darker ones.
Hermione cocked her head to one side, he really was a puzzle. No-one had wanted to know her so well before though, so she decided to answer, "My favourite food is a BLT, made perfectly. The bacon not too crispy, the lettuce and tomato fresh, and a perfect cup of tea with it. Contrary to popular belief, Hogwarts; A History isn't my favourite book. Well, it is in the wizarding world, but in the Muggle world, it would be Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, or The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky." She stopped here to catch her breath, and grinned at Fred, he was leaning toward her, interested in what she was saying, a smile stretched across his face. Hermione continued on, "My favourite smells are cinnamon, freshly cut grass and new parchment. Least favourite colour is most definitetly that tacky pink so many girls love"
At this Fred snorted in laughter, "I expected that"
Hermione chortled, "Thanks" He winked cheekily, but she carried on, "My perfect day, as much as I love the sun, it would have to be a rainy Sunday. When the weather is ferocious and I can curl up next to a roaring fire with tea and a book, and be safe and warm" Here she got a far-away smile, as she imagined such a day.
"Come on woman, don't keep me in suspense for the last one!" Fred demanded.
"What gets me to sleep? Hmm... the rain sure helps! But, it would have to be listening to Asleep by The Smiths. It's so haunting and dark. If I can't listen to it, like when I'm here or in Hogwarts, then I sing it to myself" Hermione blushed. She'd never told someone that last piece of information. The song was something that had only ever been hers, and now, she was sharing it.
Fred seemed to recognise that it meant a lot for her to open up, so he gently squeezed her hand, "Thank you. I'll keep it all between us. Our secret Mione" He smiled. And if he did, so did Hermione. She couldn't help it, it was contagious.
"Next lesson you can tell me those things about you" she said, quietly. Hopefully.
Fred seemed to feel her hope, and grinned, "Of course, dear Granger" He said, "But now, you best be on your way to bed. It's time for me to go"
"Where are you going?" Hermione asked.
"I must go side-long apparate the family home from Bill's house. They'll be too tipsy to get it right and Ron especially, could end up on top of the Minister for Magic knowing him, only Godric knows how that boy ever passed"
Hermione chuckled, "He's good enough"
Her defending Ron seemed to effect Fred for a moment, "Are you two... together now?" He wondered, taking an extreme interest in his nail beds.
"No... we sorted everything out today. Just best friends, as always" Hermione smiled. Fred smiled lopsidedly at the small brunette infront of him.
"Well... You're already dressed for bed so you might aswell head up before I leave" Fred smirked.
Hermione looked down and finally realised she'd spend the entire night with Fred in her pyjamas which consisted of an oversized t-shirt and short shorts. "Oh" She muttered, going as red as a beetroot.
"Nice legs" Fred winked.
Hermione stepped forward as if to hit him for his comment, but he leaned in and kissed her lightly on top of the head. For such a simple thing, it was the source of a lot of tension. "Sorry" he muttered, his ears reddening, as he stepped back.
Hermione was touching where his lips had been, she was completely still. The feeling of electricity she had experienced with him once before happened again. "It's fine, Fred" She seemed dazed, but there was smile on her face.
Fred took this as a good sign, "I've got to go now, but we'll do this again soon. This talking after the lesson. I liked it" he said quietly.
Hermione met his lovely brown eyes, "I liked it too" She agreed.
Fred grinned and said, "It's a date" And then disapparated with a wave of goodbye.
Hermione stumbled upstairs and fell on to her bed,she was exhausted. Tonight had been a whirlwind, but as she went back to sleep, mixed in with her usual Smiths song, was her memory of Fred's kiss and his last words, "it's a date".
A/N: Thank you so much reviewers! I hope you all liked this! It is my longest yet and I needed to get it out as you all seemed eager for more! I really wanted to get things moving in this chapter between the two. And at this stage Hermione is really confused about reality, I hope that comes across. The chapter title comes from David Gray's 'Please Forgive Me'. If you've any song suggestions, let me know please!
Sexybeast- 2 updates from you for the last one! hehe! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! What do you think of the summary now? And here was your answer about Ron and Hermione too.
mydirt09- I'm going to go look up John Legend in a min :) Hope you enjoyed.
Weasleygirl1993- did you like this!
Competent Mellophone- Is this still going in the direction of you liking it? I hope so (:
Randomlise- ya i hate when you start a story and first chapter, BAM Fred is in love with Hermione and they're together and they hate Ron! Those ones are awful in my opinion! I hope the relationship is still progressing naturally?
pixies114- enjoy!
FireboltPhoenix
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