Greetings my ever-faithful readers! We meet again!
Last chapter: A very interesting game of Truth or Dare occurred.. Haha!
Now, it is time to thank fred weasley watcher, avidficreader, 93 Diagon Alley, and brii, for your reviews! Thankyou!
Disclaimer: Honestly, if you think I own Harry Potter by now, I suggest you get your head checked; the characters belong to J.K Rowling; I am merely borrowing them.
And thus I give to you!
Chapter 6: Catching On.
Hermione awoke, sweating, sobbing and shaking. She had no idea where she was, only that there was someone next to her, and that person's arm was around he waist. As Hermione looked around the dark room, the previous night's events came back to her, and she calmed down a bit. Realising it was just Fred; Hermione gingerly removed his arm and stood up, grabbing her wand from where it lay on Fred's bedside table, and heading towards the doorway. Pulling on the shirt closest to her (which was Fred's mind you), she found her night shorts and pulled them on too. Fred's dressing gown hung on the doorway, and Hermione slipped it around her, inhaling it's scent.
Hermione left Fred in his room, and made her way to the sofa, where she sat down, pulled her knees to her chest and silently sobbed. She knew the nightmare was not real, that the awful woman who haunted them was dead, but they were so real. Bellatrix is dead, Bellatrix is dead, thought Hermione. It was true, Bellatrix Lestrange was dead; Mrs Weasley had killed her in the Battle of Hogwarts; but the way she skipped around, taunting and torturing Hermione in her nightmares, made her seem very-much alive.
There was a creak of the floorboards behind Hermione, making her jump and grab her wand. The nightmares made her paranoid and jumpy, but part of her knew it was only Fred.
"'Mione," he whispered as he sat down in front of her. "I woke up and you were gone, I worried," Fred looked at her, and she knew he was telling the absolute truth. There was pain in his eyes that she had seen in his twin George, when everyone thought Fred was dead, but she never thought she would see it again.
Hermione returned his gaze through blurry eyes, and he gently pulled her knees down, so her legs could stretch onto his lap. "Come on," he said, and she moved closer to him. His arm went around her shoulder, and the other around her waist, pulling her to him. "Alright?" Fred asked softly. Hermione nodded weakly, and absent-mindedly rubbed her fingers over the scar that most of her nightmares were about, the one that Bellatrix had etched into her arm at Malfoy Manor, which said mudblood. When Fred noticed what she was doing, he pulled her arm to look. "Who the hell did that to you 'Mione?"
"Bellatrix," she whispered into his chest.
"Is that what you have nightmares about?" he was getting angry now.
"Y-yes."
"Bloody hell, she had no right to do that! That cow got what she deserved!"
"Fred, don't worry; I'm fine now,"
"I'm so sorry," Fred whimpered.
"What for?"
"For not looking after you,"
"You couldn't have-"
"That's not what I meant. It's been two years since the war ended, and I'm sure they aren't the first nightmares you've had, I'm sorry for not being there, all those nights,"
"You're here now,"
When Fred looked at her, he was crying.
They lay there on the couch, talking for what seemed like hours. Hermione was surprised to find talking to Fred was like talking to Harry; he listened, unlike Ron, who would normally get bored half-way through and wander off.
"It was always you," Hermione said eventually.
"What do you mean by 'it was always me'?"
"You know, when Harry and Ron were being mean to me in first year, it was you who found me behind the curtain in the Common Room; then at the Yule Ball, when you sat with me on the step telling me Ron didn't deserve me as his friend.."
"I was telling the truth every time."
"You were my first friend!"
At that Fred grinned, his lopsided grin that she loved so much. "Aren't you cold?" Hermione teased. Then again, he was only wearing boxer shorts.
"Not really. Sitting with you keeps me warm, and that's all I really need."
It was Hermione's turn to grin, only she was blushing, too.
Fred yawned. "I'm beat," he said, barely containing another yawn. "What about you?"
"Yeah, and it's.." Hermione looked at her Muggle watch, which was just visible in the dim room, "4:30,"
"Come on you," and Fred got up, picked Hermione up yet again, and took her to bed.
As they lay down, Fred said, "I was wondering where my shirt had gotten to,"
To this, Hermione cheekily replied, "I, personally, think you look better without it."
Fred's arm moved around her waist, drawing her closer. "You sure about that, Granger?"
"Very much so, Weasley."
With Fred's arms around her, Hermione felt safe; safer than any other time, and as she buried her face into Fred's chest, she whispered, "Night Fred,"
"Night 'Mione."
Hermione's sleep was undisturbed, and surprisingly, didn't contain any nightmares. When she woke this time, which was now 7:45, she woke to Fred staring at her.
"How long have you been like that?" she asked him groggily.
"A while," he replied quietly. "No nightmares?"
"Not one."
"Interesting."
"Yep. Why were you staring at me?"
"Why wouldn't I? You're amazing, you know."
"That's a load of rubbish, Fred," Hermione looked down.
"Hey, look at me." Hermione looked into his eyes, and he continued. "Listen. I don't ever want to hear you say something like that ever again. You are funny, incredibly smart and kind, I have no idea how you put up with Ron all these years, I had no choice; I had to live with him! I think I forgot beautiful. Hermione, beautiful doesn't even begin to describe you. So do not, and I repeat not, let me hear you disagree."
"Or else?"
"Or else, I'll give you a replay of last night, only I won't stop."
"Fred, whoever said I didn't want that?"
"I did."
"Did you now?"
"That's right."
"We'll just have to see about that," Hermione kissed him, softly, on the lips, and stroked his cheek. As Fred went to grab her and pull her back for another, she was up, out of bed, and saying, "Sorry Fred, you'll just have to wait!"
"Where are you going?"
"Shower!" said Hermione, in a sing-song voice.
"Can I-"
"Nope!"
When Hermione exited the shower, smelling of Fred, she noticed he was gone. She got dressed, and left the bedroom. As she reached the kitchen, strong hands grabbed her by the waist and enveloped her in a hug from behind. Hermione spun in Fred's grip, and was now facing him.
"What would you like for breakfast, love?" Fred asked. "Pancakes? Bacon and Eggs?"
"Pancakes!" exclaimed Hermione. "Please." she added quickly.
"Pancakes it is. But first, I am going for a shower. I do hope you didn't use all my shampoo." Fred grinned and left.
Hermione sighed, and walked to a cupboard, hoping it had tea bags in it. She was right. This is a bit like my kitchen,she thought as she found a mug, and a teaspoon. She dashed back to Fred's room to get her wand, so she could boil the kettle quicker.
"It's me!" announced Fred, as he made his way back into the kitchen, startling Hermione, who had just sipped her tea.
"Frederick Gideon Weasley! Do not do that!"
"And why not?"
"Because, Fred, I almost tipped my tea on myself, and could have got horribly burnt! That's why!"
"Sorry!" apologised Fred as he kissed her shoulder. "Won't happen again! Now, go and sit at the table, leave the pancakes to me!"
20 minutes later, Fred emerged, carrying a plate stacked high with pancakes. On his face he wore a triumphant expression.
"Maple syrup, milady?" Hermione nodded, and Fred accio'd a bottle, along with two plates, and two sets of knives and forks.
He set everything down on the table in front of her, bowing as he did so. After he had done so, he sat down too.
Hermione couldn't help but notice how good Fred's cooking skills were. "Surely you didn't expect my mother to let me move out without knowing how to cook for myself," he said, as if reading her mind.
"Otherwise, I'd be at Mum's every meal!"
At this point, Hermione's mouth was full and she couldn't answer, but she nodded her agreement.
They quickly finished breakfast, Fred was a Weasley after all, and Hermione was helping clean up.
"I haven't been this full since Christmas!" groaned Hermione, her stomach sporting a significant bump.
"You hardly ate anything!" protested Fred.
Hermione was laughing, but shaking her head. "I don't believe you! I ate heaps!"
"I am an amazing cook; what do you expect?"
Fred came up behind her, took the plates from her hands, and put them in the sink. She turned around, and they kissed, but were interrupted by Ginny, who had Apparated into Fred's kitchen.
"No way!" was all she said.
That's all folks! Fluff, Fremione, and busted! What more could you want?
But I don't know exactly what you guys want; so review! I'm happy for the ones I've gotten so far, but I need more!
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Sorry for the late update though!
There's heaps going on at school :)
Thanks guys!