DISCLAIMER: I obviously am not JK Rowling (as far as you know) and thus do not own any aspect of the series or characters.
Chapter 4: Wait, Really? (Really)
Hermione was anxiously pacing back and forth on the seventh floor. Fred was exactly 5 minutes and 32 seconds late (and counting) for their meeting. She kept glancing down at her watch.
Maybe this was a trick. Some stupid joke. What if he decided to just stand me up? Or maybe he'll bring a bunch of people and they'll all laugh at me, she thought, chewing on her fingernails nervously.
She shook those thoughts out of her head and glanced around the corridor. She heard hurried footsteps echoing throughout the empty hallway and suddenly Fred came barreling from around the corner, out of breath.
When he reached her, he leaned down and put his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Hermione stared at him with wide, doe-like eyes.
"S-Sorry I'm late." He gasped out raggedly. He stood up straight and looked at her. A smile filled his face, as he tilted his head slightly to the side.
"It's good to see you, 'Mione," he said. Hermione blushed and looked away from Fred in embarrassment, becoming more nervous now that he was actually here.
"It's okay...it's nice to see you too…" she whispered, her face a bright pink. She tried to take a calming breath to quell her nerves.
"Thanks for meeting with me," she told him with a small smile. Hermione's whole body felt giddy with excitement, the nervousness finally fading away. Oh Merlin, he actually came!
"Thanks for finally agreeing to talk to me! I was starting to feel like I'd need to kidnap you in order for us to have a real conversation." he told her with a laugh and slight nudge with his elbow.
Hermione let out a small laugh. She was glad Fred was able to lighten the mood. She felt terribly awkward. Here she was, alone with a boy almost 2 years older than her, whom she had kissed a few weeks prior.
She looked up at him through her lashes and realized she was probably going to have to say something. Anything, really. Now.
"So, I was…"
"Anyway, we should…"
They spoke at the same time.
The pair both blushed and laughed at the coincidence.
"A little more practice and you could be George and me!" He told her, his laugh ringing throughout the halls. It was rich, and deep and it was contagious. Hermione continued to let small giggles escaped her lips.
Fred stared at her. How had he not noticed how fucking cute she was before? He loved the way her face would scrunch up as her twinkling laugh filled the room, which always resulted in a lovely pink color on her porcelain skin. Every part of her face was flawless and all Fred could do was stare.
Hermione looked up at Fred. A small 'O' seemed to adorn his lips, making his face one of surprise.
Hermione suddenly felt a very strong rush of fondness for Fred that felt foreign, but also heightened how much she cared for him.
His dark brown eyes eyes gleamed as the light of the candles flickered around them.
Hermione tried to memorize every freckle, every line, and every last detail in his face. She finally shifted her gaze to his eyes, and she gasped when their eyes met. She felt his gaze boring into her soul. They're just like chocolate, she thought.
Hermione felt her face go as red as Ron's did. She quickly tore her eyes away and looked down at her toes. She had been checking him out!
Fred looked at her with a startled expression at her sudden movement. He had enjoyed their little staring contest. Her deep, warm brown eyes were intoxicating.
"I...uh...you look...nice." Fred mumbled out. He didn't know why he was so nervous. DAMMIT! He thought. I never get nervous like this. PULL IT TOGETHER, MATE, he mentally screamed to himself.
Hermione looked at him with an incredulous expression. Really? 'You look nice?' That's all he says? Not that I mind, but THAT is what he says? Hermione thought.
"Erm, thank you?" She said, while shifting her gaze as she swayed on her feet. This awkward exchange was getting them nowhere, and there was a reason why she had finally agreed to talk with Fred.
"So, what exactly have you been meaning to talk about with me?" Hermione finally asked him, using her Gryffindor courage. Fred took a deep breath and said in one breath,
"I... um… look, I don't know how you feel, because I barely even know what I feel, but I think I really like you or at least I'm starting to, and I don't want this to go away, because it's not a prank, I swear, and I just wanted to maybe give us a go because you're all I can think about since the ball." He rushed out his words, his nerves finally getting the best of him. His face was flushed and he had a small hopeful smile on his face.
"So, I...uh, yeah," he concluded, his face as red as his hair.
Hermione froze as she looked at him. There was only one thing she could think of saying at the moment. She blurted it out with wide eyes:
"Was that even a real sentence? Because I don't think that was." Hermione stated.
Fred blinked at her before opening his mouth and bursting into laughter.
"Typical Hermione. I just confess to her that I fancy her and she's hung up on the grammar aspect. How did you get me to start falling for you." He said with small laughs.
Hermione froze again as she realized exactly what he was saying.
"You…You like…me?" She gaped as she stared at him.
"Well yeah, haven't I said that like 3 times now? I thought you were the brightest witch of our age, 'Mione." Fred told her, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
"I…uh…wow…Are you- Are you sure?" Hermione stuttered out. Fred Weasley likes me? He fancies me? He…What? No way. He's lying. This is some sort of trick or joke…It must be. Hermione's brain went into overdrive, examining and analyzing everything he had said and how he said it.
"Uh, well yeah, I'm pretty sure. Why wouldn't I like you?" Fred answered her. He could almost see the gears turning in her brain.
"Well…I'm…well I'm me." She stated with a huff.
"Are you still on that? Because Hermione, if you don't think you're beautiful, something must be wrong with your brain. You're a genius, gorgeous, kind and even funny when you want to be. You're perfect." Fred told her sincerely. And he meant every word of it.
"This isn't a prank? I swear, Fred Weasley, if this is some kind of joke, I will murder yo-"
"It's no joke! I swear! I would never joke about something like this," he interrupted her, looking at her and begging her to believe him.
"I...okay." Hermione said, Her breath was coming faster and faster, and she tried to steady it.
I find you amazing, Hermione." Fred told her, brushing a small piece of hair behind her ear with a shaking hand. She hasn't said anything, Fred thought. Oh Merlin, she hasn't said anything. Did I mess up? What do I do? PLEASE SAY SOMETHING, he silently begged.
Fred knew that this was going to be the start of something big. He could feel it in his bones. In fact, both he and Hermione felt it.
It was as if fate was binding them together.
Or at least, it felt like it, Hermione rationalized, as she knew fate was a man-made concept that didn't really influence the outcome of things.
"I…I think you're amazing too…" Hermione trailed off.
"Wait, really?" Fred asked, a large smile beginning to form on his face.
"Yes! I know I haven't always acted like it…but I think your magic is amazing and your products are brilliant. You're going to do amazing things, Fred," she told him while twiddling her thumbs.
Hermione recently had realized that she used to treat the twins with frostiness and in the past had scoffed at their many childish pranks and mischief. Maybe it was the studious bookworm in her. She had always admired their work in secret, though.
Fred gaped at Hermione with delight. Pride swelled in his chest and Hermione let out a small gasp at the feeling she had also just had, though she didn't know why she felt the foreign wave of emotion.
However, before she could think about it, Fred leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.
Hermione simply melted. She felt as if she was a bowl of ice cream and Fred was the blazing sun that thawed her.
Their lips moved together clumsily and their teeth bumped together from their lack of experience.
It was perfect.
Hermione felt her knees shake, and tingles down her spine. This was even better than the first kiss. Sweeter, longer, and more lovely in every way.
Wrapped up in Hermione, Fred felt victorious. She hadn't pushed him off and she was kissing him back!
Her soft lips were heaven and he couldn't get enough.
They pulled apart for air after a few moments, both of their breaths ragged and their faces flushed.
"So, does this mean we're…together?" Hermione asked tentatively.
"Only if you want to be…" Fred answered. He secretly crossed his fingers behind his back and gave a silent prayer to Merlin.
"I would…" Hermione told him with a small smile.
Fred let out a whoop of success and picked her up to spin her around in a tight embrace. Their laughter blended together as echoes at the end of the hallway.
As he gently put her down and kissed her cheek, Hermione suddenly felt nervous as she thought of the people downstairs, all at dinner.
"Fred… Can...can we keep it a secret? Not forever…just for right now. From everyone." She asked, nervous he would be upset with her.
Fred nodded, agreeing completely.
"I...I think we should. Not that I wouldn't love showing you off, but there would be so many prying eyes and pressure. And I want more than anything to not screw this up," he told her, reaching for her hand and linking their fingers.
"It's settled then," Hermione said with a bright smile that made Fred's heart skip a beat. He vowed to keep making her smile like that.
"How about a kiss to seal the deal?" He suggested with a wink. He mentally applauded himself at the lack of stutter.
Hermione reached up on her tiptoes and gave him a slow kiss. She leaned back far too soon, in both of their opinions. She smiled when she pulled back and he made a noise of disappointment.
"I know. I want to stay here, but dinner is about to be over, and I have to hurry back. I'm going to tell Ron and Harry I got caught up in the library." Hermione told him, trying to look as truthful as she possibly could, as she grabbed his hand and walked towards the stairs.
Fred laughed. If he didn't know what really happened, he would have believed her story.
"What are you going to tell George and Lee?" She asked, making sure he knew what he was going to say.
Fred thought about it. It was hard to think of something believable that would fool George.
"I'll tell them that I thought I was really close to a breakthrough on a new product." He decided, looking at her for approval. Hermione nodded.
She kissed him one last time before she released his hand. They had reached the stairs.
"Meet me in the Owlery at 6:00. No one should be in there and it's a good hiding spot. Bring a letter and pretend you're sending it off to someone, so that if anyone sees you, you'll have a convincing story." Fred told her, kissing her cheek.
He leaned down to her ear and whispered quietly,
"Remember. Our little secret." Fred took off down the stairs, leaving behind a blushing but thrilled Hermione on the top of the steps.
AN: AH YAY HAPPINESS! All the fluff! Now I promise that it won't be a secret forever! The next chapter will focus on some more secret moments between them. But beware… Drama is coming.
ALSO LONGEST CHAPTER EVER YAS
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