A/N: Still not completely happy with it, but I need to get my mind off some other things, and writing is my best chance at doing exactly that.
"You're allowed to make mistakes, it's part of every life." - Never far behind, Aly & Aj
Fred and Hermione were sitting on the couch in their common room, enjoying an enormous pile of slightly failed chocolate cupcakes and chatting about everything they could come up with. And even thought Hermione was trying hard not to let it show, Fred knew she was still worrying about the whole Jenny situation. He really wanted to help her, but he didn't know how. Chocolate normally did the trick, but it did not seem to work this time. His line of thoughts was disrupted, when the door swung open and Astoria walked in.
"Sorry if I'm bothering the two of you but I need to talk to Hermione." She said, before looking at the pile of cupcakes. "Do the two of you have something to celebrate?"
"What do you want to talk about?" Hermione asked. Astoria didn't answer, but cast a look on Fred. "Oh, I get it. The thing we were talking about earlier today. We'll go to my room."
"No, it's okay. I'll just go take a shower, so you two can talk in private." Fred jumped up and went to get his stuff, before stepping into the bathroom. Hermione motioned to the pile of cupcakes, but Astoria declined.
"Okay, now tell me what's on your mind. It must be something big, or you wouldn't say no to chocolate." Hermione's words got a small smile from Astoria, but it vanished just as quickly as it came.
"I did something stupid." Hermione blinked.
"That sounds serious. What did you do?" Astoria sat down and let her head fall back.
"I might have, sort off, kinda agreed to meet Malfoy tonight in the astronomy tower."
"What?"
"I know, I know. Stupid, stupid, stupid! I shouldn't have said yes."
"Wait, it was his idea?" Astoria nodded.
"What should I do? I mean, everyone knows what the astronomy tower is used for when there's no lessons." Hermione seemed in deep thought. The astronomy tower was used by older students for 'extracurricular activities' as some might call it. It was no surprise that Malfoy wanted to meet up there.
"In my eyes you have two options. One: You tell him you've changed your mind and don't want to meet up with him. Or two: You go up there tonight, but on your own terms." Astoria looked at her.
"I'll think about it and let you know what I decided on." Hermione smiled, and unwillingly thought back to her conversation with Jenny.
"Can you help me with something too?" Astoria nodded, glad that she could do something back. "What can you tell me about Damian Davies?"
"He can be an asshole, but is a nice guy most of the time, why?"
"I think I made a mistake. A friend of mine asked for advice, and I told her to stay away from him. And now she's mad at me."
"I could talk to her and tell her exactly what he's like, if you want. Anyway, you're allowed to make mistakes, it's part of every life, you know." Hermione nodded in thanks and told Astoria exactly what happened outside the library earlier.
"Don't worry, I'll get this all figured out." Astoria stood up and then left Hermione alone in the head's common room.
Hermione was staring ahead of her, mindlessly nibbling on the tip of her quill, when Fred left the bathroom. He stood in the door frame, silently looking at her. His feelings for her were starting to grow stronger, and the urge to act on them was getting more and more difficult each day. But he was afraid for what she might do if he tried to make a move. While he had been setting up a prank for the new transfiguration teacher earlier, two girls had passed his hiding place, talking quietly about something that apparently involved him and Hermione, so he went looking for someone who could tell him all about the current gossip. And according to his sources, there were several stories going round the school. His source had promised to try and help all those stories disappear, but Fred knew that they would turn up again, eventually. He just hoped that by then, he could confirm a few of them. Forcing himself to stop daydreaming, he stepped towards Hermione and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I think it's time for bed. It's past one o'clock in the morning and we're starting with professor Sprout, so it's probably going to be an interesting lesson." Hermione nodded absentmindedly and stood up.
"Thanks. I'll just go and brush my teeth then." Hermione walked into the bathroom, followed by Fred. Maneuvering around each other, they both brushed their teeth and washed their faces, before leaving the bathroom again. Hermione quickly walked towards the door that lead to her room, as Fred did the same.
"Goodnight, Hermione."
"Goodnight, Fred." They both walked into their own rooms and closed the doors behind them.
