A/N: Sorry it's been longer than usual since I've updated. I had a tooth pulled out a few days ago and have been sore and on painkillers ever since. I'm feeling better, still a little sore, and I plan to get back to updating this twice a week or so. Hope everyone enjoys this chapter! Let me know what you think in the reviews :)
Also, thanks to everyone who has reviewed/favorited/followed. It's awesome seeing those numbers go up each time I post a new chapter. I love you guys!
Hermione could feel the warm sun beating down on her. She didn't want to open her eyes just yet, so she snuggled closer to the person that had their arm wrapped around her. She laid her head against his chest and felt his arm tighten around her slightly. She let out a small contented sigh as he started playing with her hair.
They lay like that for a few minutes before she finally opened her eyes, looking into Fred's face. "Have a nice nap Beautiful?" he asked her as their eyes met.
"Mmm, I did. Are we still at the Black Lake?"
"Yeah, we are. I didn't want to move you too far and it was so peaceful here." he said.
"It really is. I feel like I could stay here forever." Hermione said.
"Oh really now?" Fred asked, propping up on one elbow, "I'm glad you're starting to like it here with me. Did you get everything fixed with that kid brother of mine then?"
Hermione punched him gently in the ribs before sitting up. "Yeah, I did. Turns out he was acting weird because he felt the same as me. We have both been through so much together that starting a romantic relationship after all this time just wouldn't work out. We are much better off as friends."
"So does that mean you're available then?" Fred asked suggestively, leaning his face closer to hers.
"Well, yes, I guess that means I am." she replied coyly, leaning towards him as well. Fred felt his pulse start to quicken and his breathing became slightly ragged. When she was just a couple inches from his face, Hermione stopped. "But just because I am available doesn't mean I'm going to go for the first guy I see." and she jumped up and started before he could process what had happened.
Fred caught up to her as she neared the pathway that led back up to the castle. He grabbed her by the waist and the both fell to the ground, Hermione lying on top of Fred. They stared into each others eyes for a long moment before he helped her up and they dusted themselves off. "So," Fred said with a gleam in his eye, "what shall we do today?"
The two spent the next few hours wandering the empty corridors of Hogwarts and simply getting to know each other better. Fred learned that Hermione's favorite color was light blue, and Hermione learned that Fred had originally planned on trying out to be a Chaser on the Quidditch team before George convinced him that they should both be Beaters.
With Fred's extensive knowledge of the school, the pair decided to go visit the other houses common rooms. Since none of the paintings moved in this dream world, gaining access to the common rooms were fairly easy. Naturally, Hermione loved the Ravenclaw common room. It was a large spacious room with bookshelves that lined most of the walls. The view from the tower was perhaps even better than the view from the Gryffindor common room. If it weren't for Ron and Harry and her other Gryffindor friends, Hermione thought she would have been quite happy as a Ravenclaw.
Fred was quite interested in the Hufflepuff common room, however. It was warm and earthy and homey, and slightly reminded him of the Burrow. For the first time since he had arrived here, a small part of him wished he were awake and back home. Then he looked back towards the beautiful, bushy-haired woman who was inspecting a strange looking plant, and he realized there was no where else he wanted to be.
They didn't linger very long in the Slytherin common room, it was cold despite the summer warmth outside, and the whole room had a greenish tinge thanks to the green balls of light that hung around the room. It was a large room with beautiful gothic furniture, but it simply wasn't to Fred and Hermione's taste.
Once they left the dungeons, Fred suggested they go take a look around the Headmaster's office. It was a bit of a trek from the dungeons to the tower, but Hermione agreed. When they were back on the main floor of the castle, Fred took her hand. She was surprised, but she didn't pull away. They walked hand in hand up to the Headmaster's office, and came face to face with the large stone gargoyle. Since it was too large to step around to go the stairs, Fred started naming off different types of candy. At the mention of "canary creams" the gargoyle jumped aside and they began to climb the spiral staircase.
"I must say, I am pretty impressed that the password was one of mine and George's original products." Fred said proudly.
Hermione nodded absently, curious as to what they would find when they reached the office. They were both used to seeing it as Dumbledore had kept it, but Snape had been the headmaster for the past year. Fred gently pushed the door open and they looked around. It looked very similar to what they had been accustomed to seeing, just a bit more empty. There weren't seemingly random knick knacks covering the tables around the room. Each table still had one or two whirring machines, but nothing like there had been. The perch where Fawkes used to sit was still there, but naturally it was empty.
Hermione walked over to the headmaster's desk while Fred examined a rather large globe. The desk was neat and tidy, unlike anything she had seen when Dumbledore was headmaster. She suspected the neatness was Snape's doing. Even though she knew he had been on the Order's side the whole time, Hermione couldn't help feel some resentment towards him. Maybe in time she could put that behind her. She looked up at the wall with all of the former headmasters. Like all of the other portraits in the castle, they didn't move, just like normal, muggle photos.
She looked over all of the pictures before settling her eyes on Dumbledore's. She felt a slight pang remembering that he had died over a year ago. It was still hard to believe at times that he was gone, it was so easy to think he had gone on some important errand and would be back any moment with some important piece of advice hidden inside one of his riddles. She was about to turn away when something in his picture caught her eye. She looked closer at the painting, and Dumbledore winked at her. He winked. Her mouth fell open in shock, but before she could call to Fred, the portrait of Dumbledore placed a long, thin finger to his lips.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Fred asked, coming up behind her.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just thought I saw something. What do you say we get something to eat?" she suggested. He took her hand again and they walked out of the office. Hermione turned her head before they reached the exit and saw Dumbledore looking directly at her and smiling.
They ate in the Great Hall, sitting at their normal spot in the Gryffindor table even though they were the only ones there. They ate sandwiches and soup, and Fred ran down to the kitchens to grab some dessert while Hermione headed back up to their common room. She sat in one of the large comfy chairs near the fireplace, and quickly conjured up a warm fire, even though it wasn't necessary in June.
Soon Fred returned with a plate full of chocolate cake and offered Hermione a slice. They ate while they talked, learning more and more about each other, and sharing their Hogwarts experiences from different points of view. Hermione recalled what it was like when the twins set off all of the fireworks and made their exit from Hogwarts. She told him everything that happened after and how frustrated Umbridge and Filch were at their antics.
Fred told her what things were like after Bill and Fleur's wedding, and what it was like trying to stay hidden and still keep everyone in the loop on what was going on via Potterwatch. Hermione found out how truly worried everyone had been not hearing anything from her, Harry, and Ron. They all understood that they couldn't make contact, but that didn't make the worry any easier.
The sun was starting to set and Hermione could feel herself starting to doze off. She must be starting to wake up in the real world. Fred noticed she was getting tired as well. He took the empty plate from her lap and helped her to her feet.
"I had a really great time today Hermione. I'm really glad it was you that came to visit me. I know one day I will wake up and will have to deal with the real world again, but for now I am glad it's just you and me."
"It's has been really nice just being the two of us. I feel like I know you so much more now, and I really like that." Hermione said, stifling a yawn. She looked up at Fred and say his dark blue eyes staring back at her. She could feel the intensity from his gaze as he placed his hands around her waist. He hugged her closer to him and she inhaled his woodsy scent. She placed her hands around his neck just as he began to lower his mouth to hers. His lips were soft, not rough like Ron's was, and she felt herself kissing him back. She opened her mouth slightly and his tongue darted in. The kiss became more passionate, but all too quickly, he pulled away.
"Now let's get you to bed." Fred said, his voice strained. Hermione's eyes widened before realized he was referring to her sleepiness and not something else. She gave him another quick peck on the lips, and before he could pull her into another intense kiss, she backed up and headed up the stairs to the dormitories, leaving Fred flushed and breathless.