April 4th

A Day of Model-esque Boys and Not Being in Love

Hermione figuratively (or was it literally?) and predictably had her nose in a book as she walked to the library. The day's good read was a muggle novel. She turned corners, narrowly missing walls and dawdling students, eyes focused on the words on the pages. The common room was much too noisy as usual, so she took her normal route to the library. She was happy that the twins hadn't bothered her all day. It was nearly dinner and she had barely—

"Stop!" a magnified voice boomed through the hall. She spoke--or thought--much too soon. "Ginger time!"

Hermione snapped her head up towards the voice and saw Fred sauntering down the empty hall toward her, making the most of the free space. He did his best model walk, model poses, and 'charming' smiles. He even made his own sexy model theme song. He removed his sweater and threw it over his shoulder, still holding onto the sleeves, and continued doing his silky walk.

At the end of the hallway, George walked out in almost the same way. But instead of walking like a model, he struck a pose for a moment to take advantage of the spotlight and did cartwheel after cartwheel. He wasn't very good; he collided into the wall on more than one occasion.

Well, they were known for being ostentatious.

Hermione, however, continued walking down the hallway. They were always full of surprises. She opened her book once again and moved past the twins. She smiled into the book, not quite reading, when she heard two pairs of footsteps behind her. They were pranksters, but sometimes they were as predictable as she.

Hermione was prepared for that.

There wasn't really a plan; all she had to do was avoid them like the plague. It seemed simple enough. But of course, she'd been trying to do that the past few days and it didn't turn out so well. She looked up and took a left instead of a right and the footsteps trailed behind her. Where could she go?

Her left turn took her to a flight of stairs that went down. She walked down them and listened carefully for the thudding sounds of the twins' feet. She swiveled and turned up and down the staircases all around Hogwarts and still the footsteps didn't stop. They slowed down, sure, but so did hers. She really was out of shape. Oh well, it was a good time for exercise anyway.

Finally, she heard voices. "Where the heck are you going, bookworm?" Clearly, he was out of breath by the sound of his voice.

She laughed; she was tired herself but she tried catching it before saying, "Nowhere, boys. Is there something that you wanted?"

"Our presents!" They both called back. She shook her head. Persistent seemed to be such a weak word. She took in a big breath.

And she ran.

She had a destination. This time it was the Great Hall. She rushed by friends, teachers, peers, and sneering Slytherins and still steps followed her. It seemed that there was only one pair of feet behind her, though. She wondered who stopped…

She swore out loud when the footsteps grew louder and closer. She was almost there! "Almost there, Hermione!" His voice was so sickly sweet, it made her stomach turn. The adrenaline really was getting to Hermione. It was exhilarating. She was lost in her thoughts, so much so that the boy behind her caught up and wrapped his arms around her. "Got you!" Fred whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her skin. She hoped he didn't feel the goose bumps forming on her skin.

There was a bright flash of light before her. She looked up to see Colin Creevey with empty hands beside a foolish George Weasley with the Wizard camera. He returned it to its rightful owner and sauntered into the Great Hall without a word.

"I'll consider that an addition to my birthday present," Fred commented. He released her from his hold and she missed the warm feeling of his body against hers. He was walking away but he paused and turned back to her. "Are you coming?" She nodded absently.

They walked into the Great Hall side by side. Fred told jokes and Hermione laughed politely even though his jokes were stupid and corny. She sat in the empty space beside Harry and across from Ron. Fred gracefully placed his behind in the empty space beside her, squeezing in because of the tiny gap.

A crumpled up dinner napkin thumped against her cranium and landed on her thankfully empty plate. She looked around to see who might have thrown it but she saw no likely instigator. She opened it up.

Dear Bookworm,

I give up.

Fred doesn't.

Take a hint.

Love,

The Better Looking Twin

(and if you think I'm Fred, you're extremely mistaken)

P.S. Thank you for the birthday presents. They're lovely!*insert girlish giggle here*

She glanced over at George but he was busy chatting up Angelina Johnson. He looked up for a moment to smile at her but returned to his conversation.

This really left her something to think about.

She politely spoke to Ron, Harry, and Fred throughout dinner but she was troubled.

Why was she feeling like this? It was Fred, for Merlin's sake! He was Ron's brother, George's twin, one half of the Great Weasley Pranksters! Weren't there some kind of unspoken rules? Don't fall you're your best friend's brother. Don't fall for a prankster. And yet…

And yet she could take her mind off of him. He always seemed to be in such a close distance from her. He acted normal enough, just…closer. She didn't mind but it made her insides go completely mental. She felt like she swallowed an angry Buckbeak whole. Was it a good feeling?

It could be a good feeling at times. But there were moments where it made her feel like combusting. Yes, it was a good feeling; pleasant. It was pointless. He was like her brother. He joked around with her like he did with everybody else. He was protective like Ron and Harry, and they were like her brothers, too. He didn't act much different from them, excluding the pranks, the close proximities, and cornering her in libraries.

He was like her brother!

But she certainly wasn't having sibling-like feelings.

She found herself wishing that he wasn't either.

Hermione turned to Fred and laughed at another one of his corny jokes. She held back a sigh.

She was not in love with Fred Weasley. She couldn't be.

The reviews keep me going. (And the more I get, the sooner I'll post the rest of it.) :)