Bird Songs
Chapter 4: Happy Christmas, Ronald!
Ginny glared at her older brother. "Do you see where you screwed up this time, Fred?"
Ginny and Fred were sitting around the table in the Common Room. It had been a week since Hermione and Fred's disagreement. Everyone was packing up to head home for the winter holidays. Rumors about Fred and Hermione had begun to die down since Ron had "put his foot down" and stopped the rumors. In reality, it was because they were rarely seen together lately. At that moment, only Fred and Ginny were downstairs.
Fred hung his head, resting them on his hands. "Yes Ginny. I do, and I don't need you to add your fucking input."
Ginny looked surprised at Fred's swearing. He was always so laid back, even when she yelled at him. "Fred, what's wrong?"
"I don't understand why she frustrates me so damn much." Fred snapped, "I mean, what the fuck did I do? I only seem to upset her." Ginny reached out and patted his forearm.
"How about you just try talking to her? Tell her you didn't mean to upset her." Ginny smiled, "Hermione can be sensitive sometimes. It sucks to have the 'goody-two-shoes' title on you for the past five years. Maybe she just needs a little trouble to in her life to make things better. Or a trouble-maker." Ginny winked. Fred just shook his head.
"I don't know about that Gin, but thanks anyways." Fred shrugged as Hermione appeared at the top of the stairs lugging her trunk. She pulled out her wand and spelled the trunk to float down the stairs. Fred stood up and headed up the stairs to the Boys' Dorm.
"You don't know the half of it." Ginny muttered as Hermione began walking down the stairs. "Hey Hermione." Ginny smiled brightly and spoke loudly. "You all packed?"
Hermione nodded as the trunk settled down next to her. "Yup, I hope things are better at the Burrow. I need a break from here."
Ginny smiled, "I'm sure things will be different."
"What do you know?"
"Absolutely nothing, I just am aware of the fact that Lavender and Parvati are not going to be there since they are the cause of your stress." Ginny half lied. Hermione seemed to buy it since she nodded and sat down. Once the entire Weasley clan, Harry, Luna, and Hermione were completely packed and their luggage was sitting in a neat pile in the Common Room with a piece of paper with "Burrow" written on it on top of it, they all headed downstairs to meet the Hogwarts Express.
The ride back to King's Cross seemed to fly by. Hermione actually enjoyed herself, laughing with Ron and Harry, Ron had been terribly cross to her since the rumors about her and Fred had begun. However, he had gotten over it the moment Luna had kissed him. By the time the train had pulled into the station, snow was falling outside. It did not take long for the snow to begin piling up and slowing traffic, both pedestrian and vehicle.
By the time the group got to the Burrow and got settled, the snow had covered the ground with well over a foot of snow. Soon the Weasleys and guests were snowed in. Well, as snowed in as a group of wizards could be. Since it was still early, Fred, George, and Harry had packed down a large area of snow where the group could play Quidditich without landing in a foot and a half of snow, and the girls could sit and watch.
As the remaining sunlight was slowly dying on the horizon in a blast of reds, golds, and oranges, the boys called it quits—mostly because Ron was losing to Fred and Harry and he was sick of it. It was all good timing since Mrs. Weasley was waiting to start dinner. The group trudged back down the hill to the Burrow once more. Once inside, everyone shook the snow off of their shoulders and removed their jackets. Fred stopped Hermione before she headed into the kitchen with everyone else.
"Hermione, do you think you could take a quick walk with me before dinner?" Fred asked quietly.
"Of course." Hermione's heart sped up; the two had not said much to each other since their disagreement. She quickly grabbed her coat and pulled on her gloves and hat once more. Fred held the half-wall-half-window-door open for Hermione once she was all ready. The two of them walked in silence for a while, making their way around the garden. The normally green, purple, and red plants were covered with a blanket of pure white snow. A few late birds tweeted their songs before they tucked into their homes. After circling the garden nearly two times, Hermione stopped walking and looked at Fred. Once he turned to look at her, Hermione opened her mouth to speak.
"I didn't mean to offend you Hermione; I'm sorry. I just want you to know that." Fred said before Hermione could say anything, "I'm sure Krum was great. I didn't realize that me saying that would upset you. I should have been smarter with what I said. I say stupid things a lot."
"I know you didn't mean to upset me." Hermione smiled. "But yes, he really was that bad. It was completely awkward actually. I just hate having the whole—"
"Good girl label. I understand." Fred cut in quickly.
"You understand? How can you understand? Everyone loves you Fred." Hermione shrugged as she put her hand on his forearm. His muscles flexed slightly. "You can get anyone and the only label you have is you make everyone laugh."
"I don't know if I can get anyone." Fred shook his head. "Not the one I want." He was staring down at her hand on his arm. Hesitantly he took a step closer to her, just as Hermione dropped her hand off of his arm. "There is something different about you 'Mione. I just can't put my finger on it." He chuckled as her face blushed, he could see it even in the dying light. "You've caught my attention."
"I have?" Hermione squeaked slightly.
Fred moved closer still. "I would have thought you knew that from the way you were dancing with me at the party. But confusingly, you avoided me for the weeks after that until I waited in the library for you to show up…I knew you would."
"I knew you had no reason to be in there!" Hermione smiled up at him. Snowflakes began to fall once more.
Fred smiled back at her. Hermione reached up and brushed away the snow that was beginning to settle in his hair. Fred only paused for half a second before he put one hand on Hermione's back, pulling her against him, and using the other to cup her face. He leaned forward, his hair falling over his forehead. Hermione's breath hitched in her throat.
"Oy! Fred, Hermione! Where are you two?" Ron's voiced yelled across the yard, startling the two. "I'm starving, hurry it up!"
Fred released Hermione, somewhat reluctantly. He had a disappointed look on his face. "Well, I'm glad we had this talk." Hermione smiled. After a moment of looking at each other again, the two headed back towards the house for dinner.
Hermione sat with a dreamy smile on her face on Ginny's bed. The two girls had retreated to the safety of Ginny's bedroom to talk.
"Why do you have that look on your face?" Ginny asked, she opened her top drawer and pulled out a large T-shirt.
Hermione smiled at Ginny, "I think Fred tried to kiss me."
Ginny, who was halfway through taking her shirt off, stared at Hermione through the opening to her shirt and arms. "What?!" She pulled her shirt all the way off, "He kissed you?"
"Well, no…But I think that was his aim until Ron called us." Hermione stood up and removed her own shirt and jeans.
"So that was what you were doing on your 'walk'!" Ginny winked, looking very much like her brothers.
"We walked too." Hermione laughed. Hermione pulled a simple blue tank top over her head as well and pulled on a pair of gray, baggy, loose sweatpants. Ginny sported short shorts. A quiet knock sounded at Ginny's door. Hermione opened it slightly to reveal Harry and Ron.
"You two ready?" He asked with a smile. Harry's shaggy black hair looked shaggier than ever, almost as if he had just woken up. Ron stood next to him with a goofy smile on his face while Luna dreamily held his hand. Fred and George hovered next to the stairs waiting for the rest of them. The group headed downstairs to the living room where they clustered around on the many old beat-up couches with their worn plaid cushions and pillows. Hermione perched herself on one end of the couch and snatched the throw blanket that was hanging over it. She wrapped it comfortably around her, it was terrible cold. If there is one thing Hermione Granger hated, it was the cold. However, she was only there for a moment before Fred flopped down next to her, stealing some of her blanket to wrap around himself. Hermione just smiled at him, slightly shaking her head.
Hermione was content listening to the group talk until Ginny asked about what the game Truth or Dare was. Hermione rolled her eyes when Harry jumped to tell them. Probably looking for a kiss from Ginny. The group jumped back and forth with dares until Hermione, who was set on getting Harry back for giving her the Truth to tell about her sexual encounter with Victor Krum, asked, "Harry, Truth or Dare?"
"Dare." Harry smirked.
"I dare you to serenade Mrs. Weasley and try to kiss her."
Harry's smirk faltered. "No."
"You have to." Hermione smiled triumphantly. "You wanted to play."
"Hermione, Harry may not come back with all of his gentleman parts." George waggled his eyebrows.
"Do it." Ginny laughed. Ron was scowling like usual. However, Luna had an extremely happy expression on her face as she stared at Ron. Hermione leaned back, comfortably leaning against Fred's arm while Harry stood up from his seat. With one last scowl on his face, directed at Hermione, Harry headed to the kitchen. The group sat silently for a moment before Fred trailed a finger lightly down the back of Hermione's arm. Hermione let out a soft sigh. Fred's finger trailed along her arm, lazily drawing soft designs on her skin.
"Oh Molly," Harry sang, as he leaned against the doorframe to the kitchen. His voice jolted Hermione from Fred's antics. "Molly, my loooooveeeee. Oh, how I adore you!" He knelt to his knees and grasped Molly's hand.
"Go away Harry." Molly patted the side of Harry's face. "You are far too skinny for me." Molly winked at the group of giggling teens as she bustled her way upstairs. Harry came back from the kitchen, his face burning redder than Ron's hair. He sat down on the floor next to Ginny's feet dejected.
"I'm not playing anymore." He joked. Then he looked up at Ginny and asked, "Truth or Dare?"
"Truth," Ginny smiled.
"Who was the last person you had sex with?"
"Oh, bloody hell Harry!" George groaned.
"That's our sister!" Fred shook his head. Ron had gone a sickly green.
"Dean Thomas. You all knew that." Ginny shrugged. Harry seemed to accept her answer and soon the group returned to their game. Ginny glanced at Hermione, a slightly panicked expression on her face as if to say do they know? Hermione could only shrug back at her.
By the time two o'clock had rolled around, Hermione was nearly asleep on Fred's shoulder. He had resumed his playful touches to her arm again and it was slowly lulling her to sleep. Ron and Luna had gone upstairs nearly an hour ago; George had followed shortly after that. Ginny was talking quietly with Harry as they snuggled in an armchair on the other side of the room.
"What?" Hermione asked softly.
"I asked if you wanted to go to bed." Fred repeated himself. She nodded sleepily before snuggling against his chest. Fred chuckled and murmured, "We can't sleep here. We can sleep in my room if you would like…"
Hermione was suddenly awake. "All right, come on." She stood up, Fred following her. Hermione began to climb the stairs with Fred following her, enjoying the view. By the time she got to the floor with Ginny's room, Hermione had lost all confidence with going to Fred's room. What did he expect? She was not going to have sex with him. She was not like that. "Actually, Fred, I think I'm just going to sleep in Ginny's room." She could feel a blush creeping up her face.
Fred just smiled down at her. "That's fine. We would have just slept. I'd never push anything with you. Well, no more than this." Fred's hands came to rest on Hermione's hips, grabbing the bare skin that was revealed from her shirt and pants. Fred stared into Hermione's surprised eyes and smiled. He stepped closer to her until their bodies were pressed together. "There's something I've wanted to do, 'Mione."
"Oh, yeah?" Hermione breathed. Fred nodded and used one hand to cup Hermione's face. He leaned forward even more, hungrily claiming her lips. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, burying a fist in his hair. Fred pushed Hermione against the wall at the top of the stairs. He allowed his lips to trail along her jawline and down her neck to suck on the delicate skin above her collarbone. Hermione let out a soft moan.
"Mmm, are you sure you don't want to go to my room?" Fred waggled his eyebrows, "Your body says otherwise." He brushed a strand of hair out of Hermione's face with a gentle touch.
Hermione blushed furiously. "Yup, I'm sure," She squeaked. "Good night." She turned quickly and stepped carefully and quietly down the hallway.
"You are tough to figure out Hermione." Fred called softly after her. "But I'll get it." Hermione smiled over her shoulder to him as she disappeared into Ginny's room, closing the wooden door quietly behind her. "I'll get her." Fred told the closed door.
Hermione yawned. Through the window she could see the soft sunlight streaking through the window in fragile beams. It was still early; she wondered what had woken her. Ginny was sitting staring at her from the end of the bed. Hermione jumped. "What. The. Hell. Ginny." Hermione's heart was pounding.
"IsleptwithHarry." Ginny mumbled.
"I'm sorry?"
"I slept with Harry."
"What about—"
"I know."
"Well this is…"
"I know."
"Well, are you okay with it?"
"Yeah, actually, I am." Ginny smiled.
"Oh good, I made out with Fred."
"Oh good."
Hermione threw open the covers to Ginny's bed and patted it for her to come lie with her. Hermione rolled over once more. "Now that you have finished staring at me, I'm going back to sleep." Ginny snuggled into the bed next to her. The two slept until the sun was much higher in the sky. It was Hermione's turn to wake Ginny up. However, she chose to do so by shaking Ginny like crazy. "It is Christmas Eve, Gin. Wake up!"
Ginny groaned and shuffled away from Hermione. "Your present is under the bed. Now shut up."
Hermione laughed, "Not what I wanted." Hermione grabbed her shower things and a new set of clothes before she gave Ginny one last shake. She quickly climbed the stairs and rounded the top to see Fred standing in the doorway to the bathroom in nothing but a towel. Hermione was quickly reminded of the many times this had happened over the years she had stayed here. He winked at her before heading down the hall to his room. Hermione shook her head and walked into the bathroom breathing in. The bathroom smelt just like Fred's cologne. Half an hour later, Hermione emerged from the bathroom having showered and applied some makeup. She was letting her hair dry on its own.
She had barely stepped out of the bathroom before a hand snaked out and caught her wrist. Hermione gasped and whipped her head around. Fred grinned at her. He was leaning against the wall to the bathroom, his shaggy red hair hanging in his face. Hermione giggled and put the shampoo and bath products she was carrying down and stepped closer to him. She pushed some of the hair out of his eyes before leaning in to kiss him.
While their first kiss was full of passion and eagerness, this one was soft and gentle. Fred seemed to cradle her body against his and instead of nipping at her bottom lip, he merely gently caressed her lips.
"What the bloody hell are you doing to my brother?!" Ron let out a strangled yelp.
Hermione jumped away from Fred with a surprised gasp. She put a hand over her mouth to try to stifle the giggle that escaped at the horrified look on Ron's face.
"Happy Christmas, Ronald!" Fred grinned and slapped his younger brother on the back. With Hermione in tow, Fred headed up the stairs to the floor of the house that had his and George's room on it.
Author's Note: Well, what do you think? I want to thank everyone who has added me to their alerts and reviewed. I love the feedback and support. I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. Review! :)
xoxox