'…And as Prefects you will all be expected to uphold school rules and set a perfect example for our younger pupils.' Professor McGonagall finished. The new fifth year prefects were sat and stood in the teacher's compartment listening to the rules of the role. 'I shall see you all present at the feast, good afternoon.'
There were mumbles of goodbyes and the prefects filed out into the corridor, each going back to their friends.
'I'm just going to go to the toilet before I go sit back down again Ron.' She told her redheaded friend on their journey back to the compartment their friends were in.
'Alright, I'll see you in a bit.' He carried on down the corridor, muttering something about excitable first years.

Hermione turned on the spot and walked back in the direction she'd come from. Knowing the toilets were at the other end of the train to the compartment she, Ron and Harry had found she decided she didn't look or sound suspicious. Her heart raced at the danger of what she was doing but then remembered that technically she wasn't doing anything wrong in the first place. She shook her head as she reasoned with herself and took a large gulp of air as she knocked on one of the slightly open compartment doors.

'What do we owe the pleasure of your company Miss Prefect?' George Weasley laughed as he lounged across one of the two seats within the compartment.

'I don't quite think it's you that'll be getting my company.' She retorted.

'When did you get so sharp Granger?'

'When I realised that I needed to be able to argue against people like you.'

'Alright you two, maybe you should both take a step back and calm down?' Lee Jordan, the close friend of the twins', intervened. 'Really Hermione, what can we do for you?'

'I'd like a word with Fred actually.' She blushed a little at the thought of what her "word" meant.

'On the train? You're getting more daring by the day love.' He smiled at her as he stepped out after her into the corridor.

'I don't know when I'll next be able to see you properly once we're at school, I wanted to see you.' She told him.

'I know, I think the girls toilets free…' he trailed off.

'One step ahead of you there.' Hermione carried on up the corridor, noticing Fred keeping a distance as a precaution.

They were sat in the Hogs Head, a dingy and poor second choice to the Three Broomstick in Hogsmeade, on a freezing Saturday morning. The barman was listening intently to every word being said and Hermione could tell he didn't exactly approve.

'If you'd all sign your names please. That way we know exactly who wishes to be a part of this.' She pushed a piece of parchment forwards and watched as everyone stepped up one by one to sign their name. Ron and Harry were chatting animatedly about the, now ended, meeting whilst she watched closely at the group of students in front of them.

'Alright Hermione?' she looked into Fred's cheeky grin, the grin she knew so well but had never been subject to in public.
'Hi Fred.' A crimson blush filled her cheeks and she was glad once he stepped aside for his brother to sign his name.
Harry Ron and Hermione were the last to leave the small and dingy pub and as they backed up to Hogwarts she felt an unusual sense of achievement.
'The only problem now is where are we going to run these meetings?' Ron asked as they were halfway back to Hogwarts.
'I'm sure we'll find somewhere secluded enough. Hogwarts is massive; she can't have eyes and ears everywhere.' As Harry spoke they both understood exactly who 'she' was.

'Right well, thank you all for coming. We honestly didn't expect this turnout but this is brilliant. Although you haven't come here to listen to me so I'll take this chance to hand over to Harry.' Hermione took a step to the side and allowed her best friend to take centre stage.

It had been Neville who had found their secret place in which to hold their very own Defence Against The Dark Arts Classes and the trio had never been more grateful to him for his help.

As the first lesson of disarming spells broke apart and their classmates said goodnight, Harry stayed back to sit for a while. Hermione noticed Ron deep in conversation with their other best friend and took it as her chance to leave.

'After the break we'll try something I've wanted to do for a while. I think everyone's ready to try a Patronus Charm.' She listened to the excited agreements that everyone was emitting and smiled, Harry had so much to be proud of there. 'You've all worked so hard since we've started so everyone have a good Christmas and we'll let you know when we're next meeting.' He held his coin up to show exactly how he would let the faithful group know. Ron and Hermione set about tidying up the beanbags they'd been using for the lesson on levitation whilst Harry spoke to people before they left.

'I think we should leave Harry to it, he looks like he's having a very in depth conversation with Cho Chang.' Hermione looked over and sure enough a, slightly awkward, conversation was taking place. It looked like it could have been quite intimate.

'It wasn't as if we didn't see it coming.' she muttered to Ron who'd already walked on to catch up with Seamus. SHe left quietly and checked the corridor in both directions as she left the Room of Requirement.

'Pssst, Granger!'

'Merlin Fred! You scared the shit out of me.'

'Glad to see I've still got some sort of effect on you.'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'Take a walk and you'll find out.' He extended his hand to her. Hermione's heart began to race.

'With you?' She asked.

'You want to get caught by Umbridge and her crackpot squad or something?' he smirked. She took his hand and he led her along the seventh floor corridor and up a staircase which was behind a tapestry that she'd never noticed before.

'Where am I?' She asked, expecting to have ended up outside of Gryffindor tower.

'Granger, we are in my favourite place in the entire castle. I welcome you to the Astronomy Tower.'

'I wouldn't have thought this was your favourite part of the castle.'

'Why not?'

'It's quiet, secluded and there's no chance for you to cause trouble.'

'You wounded my heart Hermione. I'm not all about causing trouble.' He placed his hand over the left side of his chest and feigned upset.

'Sure?'

'I could cause you some trouble, if you'd like. As I recall we haven't had very much time for that recently.' The look in his eye made her heart flutter. Instead of the disappointment she thought would come, she found Fred's arms around her waist and herself leaning into his chest. He was a good five inches taller than she was, a height difference that was only an issue as he bent down and kissed her.

'You're ready to call it quits Mione?'

'We were nearly caught.'

'That's not exactly a big deal. People will find out sometime'

'By your brother! Who is also my best friend. Do you have any idea what this would do to him?'

'I don't give a damn what my brother thinks about this!' he said, a little too loudly.

'Don't be so dramatic Fred.' she sighed.

'But I just don't understand it. You told me that you liked the risk and the danger.'

'You don't think we need to be a little more careful whilst we're at Grimmauld Place?'

'Everyone's far too busy with the festivities to notice.'

'But we said we'd keep this a secret to see where things go and I want to stick to that.' she watched his eyes soften and she knew she was forgiven. He pulled her into a large bear hug and she buried myself into his chest.

'It's fine. Promise you won't be so quick to give up in future?'

'I promise.' Hermione stood on her tiptoes to place a light kiss on his lips. Fred returned the kiss and she pulled back.

'Merry Christmas Fred.'

'Merry Christmas Mione.'

'I haven't given you your present yet.' She said, a little excitement creeping into her voice.

'I thought we agreed we'd do them tonight?'

'I know but I'm so excited!'

'Let's go get some lunch before Mum throttles us both for being late.'

Five hours later Fred and Hermione were at the very top of the house. Grimmauld place had a few rooms that'd they'd found and no one else seemed to notice, much like the house itself.

'George is the only other person who knows I know about this room.'

'You sure he won't come looking for you up here?'

'He's gone to bed, as has almost everyone. I think it's only Sirius, Bill and Lupin that are still up and they're down in the kitchen.'

'Can I give you mine second?' she asked eagerly hoping he'd say yes.

'I hope it's worth it.'

'Of course it is.' Fred pulled a small box out of his pocket and handed it to her. She handled it carefully before opening the lid to reveal a beautiful and elegant silver chain with a small ruby heart pendant.

'Fred...it's beautiful!' she noticed he blushed a little and he leaned forwards to place it around her neck. 'Thank you so much.'

'I'm glad you like it, I mean I had no idea what to get you or anything...' The gift was so beautiful she felt guilty, they'd been seeing each other for a few months and already she was being given things that people usually gave after years together.

'Well my present's nothing like that.' she summoned all the Gryffindor courage she had and pressed her lips hard against Fred's and felt him respond within seconds. After several minutes she pulled back. 'That's only half of your present. The other half's here.' she picked up the wrapped box that she'd placed Fred's present in and gave it to him.

'What is it?'

'Open it and you'll see.' Without hesitating Fred ripped off the paper and opened the box to reveal a framed picture of him and George from their last birthday. They were pushing each other around with party hats on whilst they laughed uncontrollably.

'Thank you Mione. You'd think that I'd have a photo of me and George but I don't.' he hugged her tight and there was silence.

'I feel like I should have gotten you something better.' She said as they sat in the warmth of the fire.

'I loved what you gave me, both parts of it,' he grinned.

'But the necklace must've cost you so much Fred.'

'I don't care about how much you spent on it. I know that you thought about what you were getting me. That was way more important.' He kissed her forehead and pulled her close to him, the fire quickly sending them both into a deep sleep.

Let me know what you think :)

L x