Disclaimer: Everything is not mine except for the storyline
A/N: edited version (also I didn't mention this before but the first scene in this chapter is inspired by another fic that I have read a long long time ago. This chapter was written four years ago so I've forgotten what fic it was but I feel really shitty for not giving credit and forgetting.)
Warning: Implied drug use and coarse language (I figured it was the late 90s to the 00s so taking drugs wasn't a big deal or anything, lol)
Hermione and Fred has been doing shots of muggle and wizard alcohol, and had already finished half a bottle of Firewhiskey in just three hours. They were comfortably talking, laughing, and dancing in their own bubble in a dark corner of the pub.
"Oh! Oh! Oh! What's thiiiiiiis?" Hermione asked, holding a shot glass full of alcohol while tugging Fred's shirt using her other hand.
"Try it!" He answered chuckling at Hermione's drunken state. He, too, was definitely drunk. He knew because he's seeing two Hermiones in front of him.
It all felt surreal to him. Being there with the girl he has been in love with for Merlin knows how long, talking, laughing, dancing and just having an all-out fun. He had planned it all out. He knew Ginny will occupy Harry's attention, and Ron will be somewhere making out with some random guy (Ron has always been the most sexually repressed one in the family, Fred chuckled in his mind). He thought Hermione will just stay in a corner, drink a glass of wine, and go home. In his head, he was the one showing her a good time. He was definitely wrong with that. Hermione kept on dragging him to the dance floor then to the bar, and she had actually cracked jokes that made him laugh like a mad man.
It was the perfect night for him. Even though half of the men inside the pub kept staring at Hermione like she's on the menu, and kept glaring at him because they were obviously jealous that he was the one who she was with, but he did not mind at all. Hermione's full attention was on him, and that was all he ever needed.
"Heeeey!" Hermione chirped.
"Yeah?"
"D'you wanna take a walk, get some fresh air?" Hermione asked hopefully. She had so much fun with Fred that night that she considered their time a date (but she will never tell him, or anyone, that).
Fred blinked a couple of times trying to let Hermione's words sink in on his head. Is she…? Did I hear it right? Am I dreaming? were the questions running through his head. Hermione was still looking at him, waiting for an answer. Fred pulled himself together, and gave her a wide grin.
"Sure."
~OoO~
"Keep up, keep up, keep up!" Hermione chanted while running at the quiet streets of Diagon Alley.
"God, woman! You asked me for a walk, not a bloody marathon! You're like a five year old on Meth!" Fred exclaimed, trying to outrun Hermione so he could make her stop. She did stop when she heard Fred's last statement.
"How did you know about Meth?!" She asked in a high-pitch voice.
Fred ran to her side and smiled nervously. "George and I saw Lee using one when we were still in Hogwarts. We tried it too so…" he trailed off. Hermione examined his face for a while, trying to think of something to say but chose to drop it. She was too drunk to scold him. She then saw a bench not too far away from them and started running towards it. Fred groaned, feeling like he's about to disconnect himself from his feet.
When they got to the bench, they both sat and let the gloriousness of being able to finally rest sink in on them. They were silent but it was comfortable for the both of them. Fred was surely having a good time just being alone with Hermione, even though they're not doing anything productive.
"You're okay," Hermione said, breaking their silence. Fred contemplated her words, not sure what it meant. But before he could ask, Hermione continued. "I never really thought we could have this kind of fun, you know? I've always thought you and George are fun, don't get me wrong. But being with Harry and Ron, I really never thought I'd get to spend this kind of time with you."
Fred sat there and trying to think of what to reply. He wasn't sure what to feel after hearing what Hermione just told him. He was disappointed at the fact that Hermione never thought of him as a friend friend, not just he's-my-friend-because-he's-my-best friend's-brother-so-I-couldn't-really-dismiss-the-fact-that-he-exists kind of friendship. But he was also happy because now, she sees what kind of an individual he is. One step to success, he thought.
"Thanks, I guess." He mumbled still not sure what to say.
Hermione gazed at Fred. She really didn't get why he stuck with her all night. He was an attention seeker and just focusing on her for hours was a bit suspicious. She really didn't want to think of anything bad about him because she really had fun and was looking forward to have more fun with him in the future.
"Hermione?"
"Yeah?"
"We're friends now right?" Fred asked hopefully, staring intently at Hermione's big, brown eyes. Before getting lost in them, she smiled knowing what Fred meant. "Sure," and rest her head on his shoulders. She snaked her arms through his shoulders and rubbed on it unconsciously.
"Hermione?"
"Hm?"
Fred let out a loud sigh. "I…"
"Whu'?"
"I love you," he murmured.
Hermione didn't respond, and Fred started to panic. He was about to say something again when he heard a soft snore coming out from her lips. Fuck, he thought. She chose this moment to fall asleep. Fred scolded himself for another five minutes and finally drifted off to sleep.
~OoO~
Hermione woke up feeling like her head was splitting into two, and was having back pains. She opened her eyes and groaned loudly as the sun blinded her eyes.
"Holy bloody fuck!" She groaned. She shifted and realized that she was lying on a hard bench in a park. Then she realized her head was resting on someone's lap while a hand was holding her shoulders protectively.
"Language, Granger." Fred groaned, obviously having his own hangover to deal with. Hermione chuckled, remembering the night they had shared. She got up and snuggled comfortably beside Fred.
"Good morning," she whispered in his ear. Fred tensed up with the sudden contact. She's hung over, and practically still drunk! Keep your head out of the gutters, Weasley!, he scolded himself. Hermione was unmindful of Fred's reaction and just kept herself comfortable beside him. Fred let out a loud sigh and relaxed after a while.
Fred suddenly remembered how he had revealed his feelings to Hermione last night. He sighed again. Hermione noticed Fred's motions. She sat up straight and asked, "What are you thinking?"
He looked at her, trying to think of something to say other than 'I love you'. "We're really friends now, right?"
"We've been friends for eight, almost nine years. And you already asked me this last night. What are you up to?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"I know. But I really want to be, you know, friends friends with you. Not just because I'm Ron's brother, " he mumbled. "Besides, I had loads of fun last night. I'm really looking forward to having you around more often."
Hermione couldn't help but blush at what he said. She never saw him this serious before. We could be real friends, I guess. And he's really handsome even at the shabby state he's in. "I also had fun last night," she said with a smile. "You know this will make Ron and Harry go detective on you. They might think you're up to something."
He wanted to say, "They already know, Hermione! You're the only one who's got no clue!" but decided to drop it. Instead, he gave her the famous Weasley Twin grin and said, "It'll be worth it."
They stayed like that for a few minutes and decided to walk back to Diagon Alley and to their flats.
