Author's Note: I just wanted to note that I'm taking things a bit slower because I want this story to have the potential to go a long way, and I don't want to dry out too many things too soon. So be patient, my avid readers, all the goodies you're craving will come in due time. ;)
Chapter Seven
Saturday morning was here within a blink of an eye. Hermione awoke that morning, nervous more than ever. Her mind had been going over and over the other night with Fred in her head, not to mention that fact that she was going to Hogsmeade with Ron today, on what Ron himself had called a 'date.' She wasn't exactly sure what he had meant, but he had acted very finicky when he had asked her, there was no denying that. And Fred…
Hermione sighed. Fred had opened her eyes to a new side of things. To some unexplainable fun. He had been right. She needed to relax sometimes, and just do something out of the ordinary. And he had shown her that. Constantly she had been going through her head, reminding herself that this was the charm working right now, that it wasn't just something natural building up between them. But still, she couldn't help but smile every time she thought of riding the broomstick with Fred, or when he had been laying on top of her…
Fred, on the other hand, was trying his hardest not to think about it, for every time that he began thinking about him, another, more sensitive part of his body began thinking about it also. It couldn't be helped, though; thinking of the way Hermione had let loose around him excited him. Thinking of the way he had laid on top of her, and the way she looked, at excited him. For the days that had proceeded their evening together, he began seeing Hermione in this brand new light. Never before had he noticed the subtle beauty of her petite frame. He trembled thinking about it, but quickly pulled himself together.
As he descended the boys' staircase into the common room, he saw Ron standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, looking extremely nervous. Fred put a crooked grin on his face and skipped over to his youngest brother. "Ronniekins, what are you looking so nervous about?" Fred asked.
"Mind your own business," Ron mumbled.
"Oooo, not in a chatty mood today, are we?" Fred asked. "Come now, tell big brother Fred what has got your mind all scattered more than usual?"
Ron sighed. "If you must know, Hermione and I are going to Hogsmeade together today."
"How is that unusual?" Fred asked. "Don't you always go to Hogsmeade together?"
Ron blushed. "This time's a bit more different, if you get what I mean."
Fred didn't get what Ron meant, until he saw a smile play on Ron's lips, and he understood. All of a sudden, Fred's insides twisted and anger over took him. Before he knew what he was doing, he grabbed Ron's arm and spun him around to face him. Ron looked up at Fred first in surprise, but then Ron's faced mirrored Fred's in anger. Just when Ron was about to yell at Fred, and Fred had his arm raised, did a voice call out, "What are you two doing now?" Both boys turned to look at who had spoken, and saw Hermione standing at the bottom of the girls' staircase. Fred took a sharp intake of breath, as did Ron. Hermione looked radiant; dark blue jeans, a snug fitting olive green sweater with a slightly lower neckline than she usually wore that showed off her modest petite body in just the right way, plus a white jacket and navy blue scarf. She had managed to keep her curls from frizzing at all and they hung down around her face and down past her shoulders. She had even attempted a small amount of makeup that didn't look bad on her at all.
Fred and Ron pulled away from one another. "Fred was just having a meltdown, that's all," Ron said. "Are you ready to go?" Hermione nodded, but glanced over at Fred. He caught her eye, but she quickly looked away. Ron led her to the portrait hole, and with one last glare at Fred, they disappeared together.
Fred sat down on the armchair. Hermione had actually gotten up and put herself together for Ron. She had tried to look good for Ron. What was that about? Wasn't he the one that she had the bloody attachment spell with? It infuriated him. She was just playing games with him at this point. Well, two could play at that game.
***
Hermione had felt guilty, leaving with Ron like that and Fred being left behind. It had already started off a bad morning, after being Parvati and Lavender's beauty project of the morning. Her face felt caked on to her with the makeup they had applied, and the shirt that Lavender had given to Hermione to wear was much too low cut for her taste. However, she was determined to have a good afternoon with Ron.
Truth be told, she had always felt strong feelings towards Ron, but now with this whole fiasco with Fred, she wasn't quite sure what was going to happen. She had never expected anything to happen at all. Her head was spinning round and round in circles when she was snapped out of her own thoughts.
"Fred was acting like a blazing lunatic back there," Ron commented. "I don't know what his issue was."
"Maybe he had a reaction to one of those projects that those two are always testing," Hermione suggested, hoping to get the topic away from Fred.
"Yeah, maybe. Er…you look really good, 'Mione." Ron blushed.
Hermione reached over and squeezed Ron's hand once before letting it go. "Thanks, Ron."
The afternoon was spent roaming around the main street of Hogsmeade, going through the many stores. Ron was oddly more gentleman-like than usual, opening doors for her and making polite conversation. Not once did they fight like they normally would have, and it felt nice to Hermione. Somewhere in the middle of the day, Ron began holding her hand as they walked. It felt different, but it didn't feel odd to either one of them, so continued walking around as that. Finally, dusk was beginning to fall and they made their way back to the castle in order to catch dinner.
They entered the Great Hall and sat themselves on either side of Harry, who filled them in on his latest detention with Snape. Both gave their sympathies and then set out to clear their plates in silence. Just as Hermione was helping herself to a bit more roast, the twins entered the room. All three turned and watched as Fred and George made their way down the table. Fred caught Hermione's eye but quickly looked away. He stopped next to Angelina, who had motioned him over. She looked rather serious, but he leaned down and said something to her that must have been funny, for she started laughing. He leaned a bit closer and whispered something in her ear, which made her laugh once more. Hermione's heart skipped, but not in a good way. This seemed so familiar…just then, Fred leaned in and kissed Angelina's cheek.
Hermione gripped the table. The garden, back at the Burrow. He had joked, leaned in and whispered…his lips had been so close to her cheek… Hermione stood up suddenly.
"Oi, Hermione!" Ron hollered after her, but it had no effect. Hermione dashed down the length of the hall, passing Fred without so much as a look, and hurried into the Entrance Hall. Not until she was up the staircase did she realize that she hadn't been breathing. She gasped for air, but with the gasp came a sob. She hurried down a side hallway and collapsed on the floor, sobbing. She sat there, with her back against the wall, for minutes. Finally, she took a deep breath. Tears continued to roll down her cheeks, but she was wrecking her body with harsh, loud sobs anymore.
She turned her head to way she had come when she heard footsteps. She quickly made an attempt to wipe away the tears from her face, but it was in vain. The figure rounded the corner; it was Fred. Hermione turned away from him, but he hurried towards her.
"Please, just go away!" Hermione said loudly.
"Hermione, why the hell were you going to Hogsmeade with Ron?" Fred asked.
Hermione snapped her head towards him. "Am I not allowed to?"
Fred wavered. "You are. I just thought…"
"You thought what?" Hermione asked, jumping to her feet. "I'm sick of you beating around the bush with this whole mess that's happened. Just tell me, for once, what you are thinking instead of censoring it!"
Fred stepped towards her. "I just thought that we were building something."
"Is that why you just did that in there? Made an ass out of me?"
"How could I make an ass out of you if no one knows what's going on!"
Hermione glared at him. "Ginny has a great idea of what's going on, but that's not even the point! You did that to hurt me!"
"Well, did it hurt you?" Fred asked. "Because that's what you leaving with Ron did to me. That's what you getting all dolled up and leaving with that prat who doesn't even care about you did to me!"
Hermione's defenses fell and she closed the distance between them. "What are we doing?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Fred was very aware of how close she was to him now. He could faintly smell the shampoo that she had used.
"I mean, what are we doing, hurting one another?" she answered softly.
"Then what do you suggest?" he asked. His question received silence; he saw blush crawling onto her cheeks and saw that she didn't know the answer. She was embarrassed, and confused. "Hermione…" he whispered softly. She looked up into his eyes. She nodded once towards him, letting him know she understood. Slowly, he brought his lips down onto hers. He reached around her and pulled her close against him, moving his lips against hers to kiss her once more. Gently, he continuously met his firm lips against her soft pink ones, before hunger started taking over him, and he became more forceful. He flicked his tongue out against her lips, looking to seek entrance; she quickly obliged, parting her lips. Sparks seemed to fly as their tongues touched one another's. He reached under her and lifted her up; she wrapped her legs around his waist as he pushed her back up against the wall. Then continued to mesh their lips together was she ran her hands first through his hair, then down his muscular arms. His hand rested under buttocks, holding her up. He shifted and held her up with one arm, while he moved the other up along her small stomach, to where the sweater's neckline was. He slowly pulled it down, his lips never leaving hers, to reveal the pink cotton bra beneath. He was just pulling the bra down when her hand grabbed his, and she pulled his lips from him.
Fred finally looked up into her eyes for the first time in minutes, and what he saw there made him let her to the ground quickly. She had looked confused, and almost scared. "I'm sorry," she whispered, before hurrying away from him quickly. He watched her go, did not follow her. As she disappeared from sight, he leaned against the cool wall behind him, his manhood aching. God, that girl was wonderful. But what had happened to her…
