Disclaimers And All That Jazz: Written by RGBTheDuckie and xakemii. We don't own Harry Potter, sadly enough.
Sorry about the wait. We had a couple of issues with hitting a wall when it came to this chapter. Anyway, it's up now (: Don't hate us too much!
Fred pulled Hermione up the stairs impatiently. He had noticed her nervous behaviour from dinner, and was wondering what on earth George had done to her. He also caught his little sister glaring at him from across the table, and winced slightly. He was considering cornering George first, and asking, but after Hermione had come up to him, he couldn't resist and immediately whisked her away. He stopped at the door to her room, sensing her discomfort.
"You okay?" He cocked his head to the side, watching as she squirmed out of his grip.
"Can't you show me here?" Hermione said. She was determined not to enter the room, as she still hadn't gotten the previous events out of her mind.
"Actually," Fred said, flashing her a strange look. "I can't."
Hermione sighed, and looked visibly hurt as she reached to hold onto the door's handle. Fred smiled lightly as he ushered her into the room, flamboyantly gesturing towards the bed, inviting her to sit.
"How's Alicia?" Hermione muttered spitefully as she hooked one foot over the other, swinging them against the bed.
"How would I know that?" He looked shocked at her question, and stopped rifling through the drawer for a moment to stare at her.
"George said you were owling her," she snapped, before biting her tongue. So much for talking nicely to him, but then, if he wasn't acting so bloody arrogant, perhaps she wouldn't have been so rude. She glared at his oblivious expression before talking again, "Apparently you owl her everyday at three thirty, naked whilst doing so."
"What?!" Fred exclaimed, his jaw hitting the floor as she said the last part. Well, that certainly cleared things up. His eyes widened in disbelief as she sat there, looking quite irritated as he started chuckling quietly. "George said that, did he?"
"Yes, though I don't see how it's funny," she glared at him, feeling the need to leave the room.
Fred leaned against the desk casually. "Tell me, 'Mione, why would anyone owl someone when they're naked?"
She flushed furiously at this point, still glaring at him while she muttered, "You tell me."
"On the other hand," Fred grinned at her, seemingly undeterred by her deadly gaze. "I can assure you that I was not owling Alicia, least not while naked."
"But George –"
"George lied," he laughed heartedly. "I asked him to keep you out of this room."
"Oh, what?" Hermione retorted, her eyes brimming with tears. "So you don't want my company?"
"Hermione," Fred said, exasperated, turning to go through his drawers once more and beginning to push the papers that were strewn across the table into a messy pile. "I did actually invite you here, remember?"
"Why did you invite me, anyway?" She blushed at her stupid remark, and briskly changed the subject. She was anxious to know why Fred had brought her to his room, and her eyes darted around excitedly.
"Close your eyes," he commanded, circling around her and sitting on the bed behind her. She protested for a few moments, trying to twist around, but he quickly kept her in order, and she relented, shutting her eyes with a final, "Hmph!"
Hermione bit back a giggle as his hands brushed against her neck gently, but let out an involuntarily gasp as she felt cold metal slap against her skin. Not waiting for permission, she snapped her eyes open, looking down at herself. She lifted her hand up hesitantly, fingering the locket the hung from her neck. It was an oval shape, with numerous patterns swirling around the centre. She ran her fingers over it, marveling at the delicate curves.
"Do you like it?" Fred sounded uncharacteristically nervous as he watched Hermione, eager to see a reaction from her.
"Oh, Fred," she gasped, twisting around to fling her arms around his neck. Burying her head into his shoulder, she let her tears seep through his t-shirt. "It's beautiful," she finally replied.
Fred let out a breath that he didn't remember holding. A mixture of relief and pride swelled through him as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Does that mean you like it?" he breathed after a few moments.
"Of course I do, you prat," she laughed quietly, pulling away from the tight hug. She offered him a smile before speaking again. "You made this for me?"
It was Fred's turn to laugh, and he nodded. "Yeah."
"Why?" The word slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it, and Fred's grin fell instantly. "I mean, I love it, I really do. I just don't understand why. Only yesterday you were telling me that you only wanted to be friends, and now –"
"I lied," Fred cut in. Sighing, he placed his hands on her cheeks, gazing into her eyes deeply. "I lied, Hermione."
"So did I," she whispered. "I want… I want…"
"That reminds me," Fred said. He picked the locket up in his hand and carefully popped it open. Inside was what appeared to be a compass. "It's a new creation of mine. It points to the thing you want most."
Hermione looked down at open locket. Before the point had been spinning lazily around, now it had settled - pointing directly at Fred. She stared at the locket momentarily, before lifting her eyes to meet his. She could feel her stomach tying itself into knots. She didn't know if she could do it; tell him the truth. After all the time she had spent admiring from afar. But then her thoughts drifted back to the person who had pushed her to have this conversation. Ginny had been crushing on Harry for years, and it turned out he liked her too. Ginny got her fairytale ending, so why couldn't she?
"I don't want to be friends either," she whispered. She edged closer to him so their bodies touched. She reached for his hand and felt somewhat relived when he held on. Looking up into his deep brown eyes she knew she had to do it. If she didn't she would forever wonder what could have been.
"I want to be so much more." Neither of them spoke for what felt like hours.
"Fred," Hermione said, breaking the silence. The word had barely come out of her mouth when Fred leaned forward to kiss her open mouth.
She didn't respond for a minute - a moment where she sat in shock while his lips pressed gently against hers. When he noticed that he broke away.
"This is the part where you're supposed to kiss me back." It was said teasingly, but she could hear the worry in his voice.
"Really?" she teased, grinning at him.
"Yes, and then I'll carry you off into the sunset."
She gave a girlish squeal as he scooped her up off the bed. She threw her arms around his neck, and couldn't help but laugh.
"There's no sunset," she told him, pouting slightly.
"I think I can arrange that," he said, winking at her. She shook her head.
"You don't need it." Hesitantly, she lifted hers lips to meet his.
This was what he had wanted for so long, and she had gotten it. She was kissing Fred Weasley, the man of her dreams. She wasn't about to tell him, but it was her first kiss. She never had time for dating, when she was worrying about Harry or fighting with Ron. At the back of her mind she was worried she would do something wrong, that Fred would drop her right there and laugh. But another much bigger part was busy enjoying the moment.
Fred lowered Hermione back down to the bed. She quickly stood up and advanced on him, but Fred gently placed his hands on her shoulders and held her at arm's length.
"Hermione, are you sure?" It pained him to say it. All her really wanted was pin her to the door behind her and continue snogging. But he wanted to know for sure. He had fallen for his brother's best friend, and now they were kissing. Hermione placed her hands on his chest; she couldn't help but notice the toned muscles beneath her fingertips.
"I have waited for this moment for years," she said softly. "And now you want to talk."
Fred smiled at her. He leaned down so his mouth was just beside her ear.
"Well in that case…" He went on the impulse he had before and pushed her against the wall. The wood making a thunk as her back collided with the wood. He hadn't time to do anything when there was a muffled scream from the other side of the door.
Instinctively Fred pulled out his wand and aimed it at the door. He gently moved Hermione out of the way, and flung open the door. Ginny, Harry, Ron and George were in a pile on the floor. They must have been listening at the door when Hermione had hit it. George's head poked up from the pile of limbs.
"So are you two together now, or what?" George asked - ever the tactful one. Much to Hermione's embarrassment, he didn't even have the decency to look sheepish at the fact that he had just been caught red-handed.
Fred threw his arms around Hermione's shoulders, pulling her close into him. She didn't protest although her checks flushed slightly. "Of course."
Hermione slowly tiptoed across the landing - careful to avoid the lose floorboards, not wanting to wake anyone up. She hadn't been able to sleep, but for different reasons then the pervious nights. She had eventually given up on sleep, knowing that the more she tossed and turned the more unlikely it was. After searching her belongings as quietly as possible, she remembered that she had left her book in the living room. So, with a glance in Ginny's direction to make sure she had not woken her, she had crept out of the room.
She jumped as she heard a distant moan. Straining her ears she attempted to hear more. She was just able to make out a mumbled voice. It took her a minute to figure out what it was. All thoughts of her book forgotten, Hermione vaulted up the stairs two at a time. Not even stopping to knock she ran into the attic bedroom.
Just as she had expected, Harry was writhing around on the stretcher he slept on while at the Weasley's. The blankets had become entangled in his legs as he thrashed around.
"No, don't hurt them," he muttered. Hermione rushed towards him and knelt down by his side.
"Harry, wake up," she murmured shaking his shoulder gently. He didn't respond. It was frightening, the way he was twisting and turning. Had she been thinking clearly, she probably would have thought that the whole positioning of his body looked rather painful. Not that it stayed still for very long. Taking his shoulder once more, she shook him, quite viciously this time. "Harry! Oh god, Harry!"
His murmurs were becoming more frequent, but slightly quieter, much to Hermione's relief. Did that mean his nightmare was coming to an end? Not knowing what else to do, she settled with trying once more to wake him, saying his name repeatedly as she grasped his shoulder.
She stayed like this for what felt like several minutes, before a blood curling yell from Harry made her yelp, shaking him vigorously. Casting an annoyed glance in the direction if a still sleeping Ron, she panicked. How could Ron sleep through that? And more importantly, why wasn't Harry waking up?
"Aguamenti..." The spell had slipped from her lips before she had had a chance to consider them, and water shot from her wand, drenching Harry and effectively waking him. "Oh, god, Harry!" Hermione grinned happily, flinging her arms around him, not really minding the wetness.
"Her... Hermione?" Harry gasped, sitting bolt right as he tried to clear the images that were flashing in his mind. It was the same nightmare. It always was. His vision became focused on his friend that was seemingly attached to him, and he smiled weakly.
"Harry, you're shaking." Hermione commented, as she let go of him. Harry ran his fingers awkwardly through his hair.
"I'm okay," he muttered. One look at his trembling body and Hermione could tell he was lying. She rubbed his arm reassuringly, before sighing inwardly and kicking off her slippers.
"Move over," she commanded. Harry looked up at her questioningly. She sighed, and pushed him gently to one side of the bed.
"It worked before didn't it? With me here you don't have nightmares. I'm worried about you Harry. You're stressed out all the time, and if I can help in any way, I'd do it in the blink of an eye." She pushed the blankets away and lay down next to him. Harry was hesitant at first, but eventually snuggled in closer.
"Silencing charm, by the way," he said, nodding towards Ron. Hermione looked up at the snoring figure of Ron and immediately understood.
"Why not the room too?" Hermione frowned, if he yelled like that he could wake up the whole house. "And the Ministry?"
"Not usually that loud," he chuckled, thinking of the drastic way he had been awoken. "And special allowances."
"Sorry," Hermione muttered sheepishly.
"Hey don't worry about it," he told her. "I really do appreciate you doing this. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"More than likely never do your homework," she said teasingly, nudging his shoulder. "But I meant what I said before. I'd do anything to help you, I hope you know that."
Harry smiled out her. "I do know that. Thanks 'Mione."
They laid in a comfortable silence for a minute, before Harry spoke.
"What about Fred?" he asked suddenly. "What would he think of this?"
Hermione shrugged, not seeing the problem. "This is different, we're not... You know."
"I guess..." Harry still sounded hesitant, but he shut his mouth anyway, hoping that nightmares wouldn't plague him for much longer.
With Hermione by his side, the nightmares were nonexistent for the rest of the night, and he woke peacefully, smiling as he realized just what a good sleep he had had, not counting the first half of the night, of course. Hermione had slipped out of the room earlier, and she wasn't in the room as the sun was rising. For this, Harry was extremely happy. How on earth would he have explained it to Ron? Or Ginny? Or Fred? He groaned quietly as the last two names entered his mind. His friendship with Hermione was still, as it always had been, strictly platonic. But like the rest of their family, Ginny and Fred had a stubborn streak, and he doubted that if the two of them were caught in bed together that either of them would stick around for an explanation. He was glad, for his sake and Hermione's that Hermione was an earlier riser and had escaped Ron waking up, which was sure to happen in a few moments. Sighing, he flicked his wand in the direction of his friend, successfully taking down the silencing charm that had been put up only hours beforehand. With that Harry pulled himself out of bed, making his way down the stairs.
"Hey Fred," Harry yawned, nodding in the redhead's direction. His yawn was cut off as his eyes opened, landing on a very furious Weasley.
"You are so dead."
Author's Notes:
Kimberley: And again, I'm very, very sorry for the wait. School's started again and to be honest, FanFiction isn't exactly my top priority in life at the moment. Anyway, I'm very sad to say that we are coming to an end soon, I reckon? But! If we do a sequel (which might just happen, in maybe a month or just when we find time), please, please put Rachel's account on alert, and that's where we'll say! Of course, we'll say here as well, but yeah, definitely on her account next time ;D We will write more together, right, Rachie?
Rachel: Defiantly. It's kind of sad that it's coming to an end, but it has been so much fun to write. I hope you all enjoyed the much awaited first kiss. But I promise you things are going to start to get a lot more dramatic next chapter.
Review Responses:
missygrace101 - You were our 50th review ;D Thanks so much! 50 reviews were pretty much what we were aiming for, so THANKS!
keelhaulrose - This is Kimberley, and I'm sorry to say that it's actually meant to be my job to do to the majority of the editing, but I fail at editing my own work. Ergh. Anyway, thanks for pointing out so many things to me, and I try to change them as soon as possible :) Thanks again!