Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter all but the plot of this fic belong to the beautiful mind of J. K. Rowling
Chapter 4
It was dinner time over at the burrow with most of the Weasley family in attendance. Mr. Weasley was engaged in a deep conversation with Harry about his plans to clean out Number 12 Grimmauld Place and convert it into a home. Ginny and Ron where in the middle of a heated argument about quidditch, while Bill and Fleur where in the middle of talking about enchantments Fleur will need to plant a garden around Shell cottage. But Mrs. Weasley sat sharing knowingly at Hermoine and Fred who were whispering to one another. No one other than Ron knew that Fred had taken the job at Hogwarts, and only Fred was aware Hermione intended on going back for her NEWTs. There hadn't been a good time to bring any of it up, but they were running out of time. Fred was to report to Hogwarts in the morning for training before the students arrive, and Hermione only had a week before the start of term.
"Just tell them now Fred" Hermione whispered as she elbowed Fred in the side for encouragement. Fred rubbed his hand to the back of his neck and sighed. "Hey mom?"
"Yes, Fred?"
"I thought you should know I accepted an opening at Hogwarts and leave in the morning." There was a growing silence that fell on the table as everyone began looking from Fred to Mrs. Weasley. Fred clapped his hands together very loudly "So… that's my news."
Mrs. Weasley gets up and smiles before walking over to hug Fred "And you waiting until now to tell me such wonderful news?" Fred let out a sigh of relief that he quickly try to mask with a laugh "Well, I just got the offer a few weeks ago but Hermione," He paused to point his finger in Hermione's direction "has known she was going back for her NEWT year for months now and didn't tell you." Fred turn his gaze in time to make eye contact with Hermione as she glared at him intensely before she kicked him under the table. "Ouch! What was that for?"
"Throwing me under the bus, that's what for." It was just then everyone else at the table erupted into laughter, and it was only a moment before Hermione and Fred joined in. There mutual relaxation of all those present was quickly followed up by the continuation of side conversation as Fred and Hermione played a game of twenty questions with Molly about their return to Hogwarts as the evening returned to normal.
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Fred laid in bed wide awake starring at the ceiling thinking of the morning he had woken up on Hermione. He had found his mind often wondering to the memory of that morning, and how warm her breast had felt as it fit perfectly in his hand. He shuttered as desperately trying to shake away the thoughts that where becoming more familiar to him. He couldn't believe himself for thinking such a thing about her, but as more time passed after the war it very clear to Fred Hermione was not the same loud mouthed girl anymore, nor was she simply his little brother's best friend. No, time had changed her in not only a rather strong and beautiful woman but also someone he would call a friend.
Times really have changed Fred thought as he remembered all the yelling he and George had endured from the small and fiery 4th year Hermione when she first became a prefect. But following that came another thought that soon brought a wicked grin to Fred face. He would soon have a chance to throw around some of his own authority with her in the coming weeks, and as he laid there scheming he drifted off into a dream land filled with scenarios in which he gave Hermione a hundred detentions.
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It was the late hours of the morning, and Hermione had woke to the strange dreams again. For the past few night she had been having dreams of the night Fred drunkenly busted into her room, and she could take it anymore. She laid there wide awake trying to reason with herself why she was having such subconscious thoughts.
She sighed deeply an rolled over face down into the pillow mentally scolding herself for having illogical feelings creepy up in her dreams but as she took a deep breath the faintest smell came into her nose. She smile for a moment as she realized it was a lingering smell of Fred, but then quickly shot up in bed appalled with herself. That was it she could take it anymore she was going crazy, sitting here is this room were everything reminded her of him and her thoughts that she couldn't seem to understand the source of. She through back the covers and hopped out of bed. She was going for a walk.
There was a brisk chill in the early morning air as Hermione walked out of the kitchen and into the orchard. The sky was still completely black as she paced about the trees trying to clear her mind of her conflicting thoughts. She took a moment and looked up sky still glittering in starlight when a voice came from behind her. "What are you doing out here?" Hermione jumped in horror and let out small shrike before turning around to find Ron standing behind her looking at her shocked by the degree of her reaction to his presence. "Bloody Hell Ron!" She gasped as she clasped her hand to her chest and tried to catch her breath when it turn into laugher. She looked up and shoved him in the chest a few times as she shouted "You scared me, for Merlin sack never sneak up on me like that again."
For a moment it was just like old time, but then her laughter faded and she quickly apologized. There was a tension between them as they stood in silent for like felt like hours, Hermione had no idea what to say to Ron so she stood there staring at her bare feet. "I'm sorry Hermione." Her head turn up quick to look at Ron but his gaze was at the ground as he fidgeted "When… When you broke up with me I was so angry that," He took a deep breath and moved his gaze up to look at her before he continued "That I didn't even really listen to what it was you were saying. I was too blinded by my own thoughts of ending up with you that I didn't see that what you were trying to say was right. As pre usual. A relationship shouldn't be a constant battle… we weren't right for each other as more then friends." There was a moment where neither of them spoke, but Hermione cracked half a smile and pulled Ron into a hug. "We really have grown up haven't we?" Hermione said as she let go "Who would have ever thought you'd admit I was right out loud?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah rub it in a little harder would you?" Ron chuckled for a moment before looking up and rubbing his hand on the back of his neck "So…?"
"So, friends?" There was a silence for a moment before Ron respond "just as long as you don't go and marry Harry on me, I think we can manage being friends." Hermione scoffed at him "Honestly Ron, that thought is absolutely ridiculous." They laughed together for a brief moment before looked up at the sky as the tension between them faded and the silence began to lose its awkwardness. They continued walking around the orchard and catching up on what the other had been up to for the past few months. The time passed and the two soon found themselves watching as the sun raised to the start of a new day.
They both returned into the house heading up the stairs back to bed just before Molly was heading down to start on breakfast. Hermione happy to have her mind off her conflicted feelings, crawled back into bed only to fall back into her dreams Fred.
Author's Note: OMG I'm so sorry guys I'm such a jerk, I can't believe it took me this long to update this but I'm super busy. I'm a college student with a double major, a minor, a full time job and two part-time jobs and this semester has just been murder... But I promise I haven't abandoned this fic and I have plans for it, so I hope you liked my update I know its not much but I think this ones gonna be a slow build so stick with me I promise I'm working on it.
