The Shipping Shuffle Challenge [HermioneFred]

The A-Maze-Ing Race Challenge [stairs]

Hey Juliet

His eyes always managed to find her no matter where they were. Hermione's brown hair somehow always managed to catch his attention. Maybe it was the strange frizziness of her hair. Fred doubted it, it was more that the personality of the owner of that hair drew him towards her.

The highly intelligent and somewhat bookish Hermione Granger had really grown into herself and was now a force to be reckoned with even without being friends with Harry. Hermione was smart and beautiful with many boys sending her hopeful glances she never noticed. There was always the possibility that she did notice and simply did not want to give any of them the time of day, but most people liked to hold on to the idea of there still being a chance.

Fred knew he did. Even though Hermione always rolled her eyes at his and George's pranks, Fred knew that she found it at least a little bit amusin because despite shouting at them and scolding them for their childish behaviour, her lips would lift slightly around the edges as she tried to restrain her humor. Fred knew Hermione noticed him, if only for his pranks. That put him a step above the rest of the male population of Hogwarts.

Fred knew that Ron liked Hermione and he should probably back off, but he couldn't. How could he stop pursuing a woman who enchanted his prankster heart? He often wished he could be like Ron, able to follow Hermione throughout Hogwarts. Navigating the moving staircases, pinpointing the trick stair while studying the beauty while he was supposed to be concentrating on lessons or studying for a test simply to get Hermione to focus on him and only him. Ron was so lucky and he didn't even know it.

Fred just wanted a sign. Any sign that would tell him that it would be okay to be a little more open about his hopes with Hermione. A glance for a second too long, any means of communication that was started by Hermione for no good reason whatsoever. He just needed Hermione to show some interest and that would be enough for him to make his move. He was not below begging if it came to that.

Fred could only hope that by some miracle Hermione would be interested in him and not Ron, as everyone assumed she would be from how often they fought and argued.