The Circumstances Of Crossing Paths

Chapter 12:

Cold Feet

The engagement bliss that surrounded Hermione began to wear off around the next Tuesday. Following the squeals of excitement from Ginny, and the shocked and hurt glares from Ron, Hermione began to feel uneasy.

"Ahh, look. The mudblood's got a ring on her finger." Draco said, emerging from a corridor on their way to potions, "But, who would want to marry you? Such filthy blood."

Hermione turned to glare at him. "In case you haven't noticed, Malfoy, it's not as if anyone has a choice anymore. Besides, who were you matched with? Astoria Greengrass?"

Malfoy stopped short, turning to smirk at her. "Yes," he said, smoothly, "Astoria is my match. She's a bit of a whore, but, then again, so am I." With those last words he leaned in close to her, eyes flashing.

She backed away quickly, frowning, and turned to walk into their classroom. Draco called after her. "So, who are you matched with?"

She turned. "Fred Weasley." And entered the room. She could hear the distinct "figures." Behind her.

In the days before exams, Hermione forgot entirely about her looming wedding date. Molly had sent her several letters about dress fittings and flowers and cakes to which Hermione had not responded. As it turned out, their wedding would be the first real wedding, as Harry and Ginny had gotten married in secret.

Ginny wandered into Hermione's room one Thursday evening. "Hermione?" she said softly, poking her in the arm.

"What is it, Gin?"

"Harry and I.. well.. we got married."

"You- I- what?" Hermione was stunned. It was a very Ginny thing to do, but she didn't think that she would go through with it.

"We went to the office in Hogsmeade. Last week. I've been meaning to tell you, it's just, I didn't want to deal with a big wedding fuss with mum, you know how she is with these things. She'd sent me stacks of pamphlets about dresses and cakes and tablecloths. I couldn't take it. So, one night, I asked Harry if he wanted to go get married. He was a bit confused at first, but he finally got it. And then we went and were married.

Hermione sat for a moment in stunned silence. Finally, she jumped up and hugged her friend. "Congratulations!" She squealed. "Er. Gin. You know your mum is going to have a fit, right?"

"Yeah, I know. I've written to her about it. Her response should be interesting.

And interesting it was. The next day at breakfast, when the mail was delivered, a large, tawny owl dropped a red envelope in front of Ginny.

"Oh shit." She muttered, picking it up by the corner. "Figures she'd send me a howler. Well, better get this over with." She unsealed it, and Mrs. Weasley's magnified voice rang throughout the hall.

"GINEVERA WEASLEY, I CAN NOT BELIEVE YOU. YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN PLANNING THIS WEDDING FOR MONTHS, I'VE ALREADY GOT EVERYTHING READY. YOU'VE BROKEN MY HEART, YOU ARE MY ONLY DAUGHTER. YOU KNOW I'VE WANTED TO PLAN YOUR WEDDING SINCE YOU WERE BORN. HOW DARE YOU." The envelope exploded into a "poof" and a few snickers came from the crowd.

"What is with you Weasleys and howlers?" Came a voice.

Ginny looked guiltily down at her plate. "I knew she was going to be mad ,but damn, did she have to make me feel that badly?" She turned to Harry, expecting a response, but he was embarrassedly playing with his sausage.

Hermione laughed at this memory, turning the page in her Arithmancy book. Her studying had become more frantic than ever, and she wasted no time getting to work. Even Harry and Ron showed signs of stress, spending long hours together in the common rooms, and bent over books and stacks of parchment.

The only time she ever felt the stress of her marriage was when she went to sleep at night. Her absence from Fred left her feeling drained, and stressed. She wouldn't see him until exams were over, next week. But she needed him here, she needed him now.

Jumping up suddenly, she crossed the common room and went up the stairs to put on her coat and steal Harry's invisibility cloak. The hallways were clear as Hermione made her way to the one-eyed witch passageway, and entered. The tunnel was long and cold in the winter air, but Hermione found solace in the fact that she would see her Fred soon. Quietly, she lifted the stone that covered the entrance, and left the shop.

The dark Hogsmeade street was empty, allowing her to remove her cloak. The twin's shop looked less flamboyant in the dark, as well. She knocked on the side door. George answered.

"Well, well." He smirked, leaning against the door frame. "Look what the hippogriff dragged in."

"Erm. George? It's a bit cold."

His expression flickered. "Sorry." and stepped aside to admit her. "Fred's upstairs. I'll just… grab my coat." He disappeared out the door with a wink.

Hermione wandered up the spiral staircase, brushing her fingers on all of the toys and products that lined the shelves. The twins really were remarkable when it came to their shop. Her heart swelled with pride thinking about how much they'd accomplished.

"George, where'd you go? I got the whiskey you were looking f- Hermione!" Fred sprinted down towards her. "Hi!" He held her at arm's length, eyes raking up and down her body, "What are you doing here, I thought I wasn't going to see you until next week!"

She blushed, pulling him into a hug. "I missed you, I didn't want to wait." "I need you." She added with a whisper, pulling him up the stairs.

Confusion flashed across his face before he got the message a soft "oh" forming on his lips. The flat was warm as Hermione pulled off her jacket. She was wearing a shiny silver dress, one that Fred had admired before. She'd even taken the liberty to apply a bit of make up. Hermione led him down the hall and into his bedroom.

"Come here." She whispered, pushing him down on the bed before straddling him and taking his lips in hers. She deepened the kiss, rocking her pelvis against his growing erection. Hermione wasn't the type to do something so rash. It was her.. cold feet that drove her to do it. She knew she loved Fred, but she also knew that they still barely knew each other. That this "love" could be a lie. Not that she had any choice in the matter. Hermione felt that if she could do something like this, and wake up the next morning with no regrets, it would be okay, and she would be ready.

She pushed herself off of him, and pulled him up to meet her. "Undo my zipper, will you?" She whispered. He slowly slid the metal piece down her back, kissing her shoulders as he went. The dress pooled on the floor, giving Hermione a cushion as she sank to her knees. Teasingly, achingly slow, she pulled at his zipper, undid the button, and shimmied his trousers down to his ankles.

Fred bent down to her, and stroked her hair. "Are you sure you want to do this?" In response, Hermione squeezed the bulge in his pants. Fred moaned. She hooked her fingers around the elastic band of his boxers, pulling them down slowly. His cock sprang loose, twitching in the air before her. She'd never done anything like this before. It was all guesswork, but she placed her fingers around the base of his shaft and began to move up and down. Fred moaned softly, tilting his head back in ecstasy. She became more adventurous, stroking her fingers along the head, before kissing it. She then darted her tongue along it, licking up the salty precum that was forming. Hermione licked down the length of his shaft, and then took him in her mouth, bobbing up and down. Fred pressed his hands to the back of her head, forcing himself down her throat. She swirled her tongue around the head and fondled his balls with her fingers before standing to take off her bra. Fred's lust filled eyes traveled along her full breasts, her hard nipples, down, down to her womanhood, which was already soaking wet. He kissed down her neck, rolling her nipples in his fingers. She inhaled sharply. "Are you okay?" he whispered. "Yes." She responded, pulling his hand down to where she needed him the most. His breath hitched as he pushed his fingers through her pubic hair to her warm, wet folds. He pushed one finger inside of her, and then another, guiding them slowly in and out. Hermione gasped at the feeling. It was completely alien, but she liked it.

He pushed her down on the bed, spreading her legs, and placing himself at her entrance. "Are you ready?" She nodded, and he pressed himself into her. She gasped in pain as he filled her, but the pain didn't last long. She felt full. He stayed still for a moment before beginning to move. Slowly at first, but building speed. He pounded into her, lifting her legs over his shoulder. Hermione gripped the sheets of his bed as her orgasm built inside of her. When it ripped through her, she cried out, back arching off the bed. It rippled through her muscles like a wildfire, spreading a tingly, warm feeling. Fred pulled out as he hit his own climax, cumming all over her tummy with a loud "umf."

The two lay next to each other in shocked silence for a while.

"That was." Hermione began.

"Yeah. " He finished.

They rolled over and fell asleep.

a/n: wee. lemons. Review?