I don't know what to say about my long absence, other than it's been a rough year and I'm sorry! But I want to thank you all who are sticking with me throughout my absences. I'm working on getting things moving again and should be posting another chapter shortly. Thank you all for your positive reviews! You all are so wonderful!
The morning that they woke up to go to Hogwarts, Hermione was not her usual enthusiastic self. It wasn't that she didn't want to go back, of course. She was certainly ready to get out of the burrow and the pressure of trying to allow the other to believe that Fred was her boyfriend while trying to maintain her cool with Ron. However, she also knew that with school came having to deal with seeing Ron and Lavender spend more time together than over the holiday. She dressed quickly and quietly, while Ginny seemed much happier.
"You seem excited to be going back," Hermione closed the lid of her trunk and sat on the bed. "Ready to see Dean again?"
"I'm ready to play real Quidditch again," she laughed. "It'll be nice to see Dean again though," she added, almost as an afterthought.
"Did he even write you over the holiday?" Hermione asked carefully. She knew Ginny and Dean had been fighting for a while before Christmas and she couldn't recall hearing Ginny saying anything about Dean at all during their time at the burrow.
She shrugged as she struggled to cram her books in the trunk on top of her robes. "He sent an owl right before Christmas. Said he missed me, and that he was enjoying Germany with his mum."
Hermione stayed quiet for a minute. "Did you write him back?"
Ginny looked pointedly at her friend. "Why are you so concerned with my relationship?"
Hermione looked taken aback. Ginny had confided in her about her relationship with Dean since it had started. "Because I'm your friend."
Ginny sighed. She stepped away from her trunk and looked out the window to the front yard, where George, Fred, Bill, Ron and Harry were engaging in a snowball fight. "I'm sorry. It's just been a bit touchy. I like Dean a lot. He's a really great guy and all. I guess it's just harder than I imagined it to be. I always thought a relationship should be easier." She turned back toward Hermione. "The snogging is nice though. He's certainly an improvement over Micheal," a smile crept over her lips.
"Well, I suppose that's an upside. But snogging hardly makes for a lasting relationship."
"Yeah, but it doesn't hurt," she shrugged. "Well at least when we go back, you won't have to pretend anymore with all this you and Fred business, huh?" Ginny grinned, careful to turn away from Hermione when she said so.
Hermione took a moment before answering. It was true. She didn't have to pretend to be in a relationship with Fred anymore. But she had to admit, she would miss him a bit. Being around him was easy. He made her smile and laugh. He was open with listen to her, which surprised her most of all. While it had certainly taken some convincing with Ron to not out her every time Fred grabbed her hand, that was a small price to pay for being able to enjoy her holiday just a little bit more. Now, she wasn't sure where it left her. Would she and Fred continue to talk? Would things go back to the way they were once they all returned for the Easter holiday?
"Yeah, it'll be nice to not have to lie to your mum about all of it."
"Will you miss him, though?"
Hermione shrugged, unsure of how she really wanted to answer this question. She didn't want Ginny reading too much into all of this. "I can't say I haven't enjoyed spending time with Fred. It's surprised me even how pleasant he's been."
"So do you think if you didn't have feelings for Ron, you'd be with Fred?" Ginny asked quickly.
"I don't really think that's a fair question," Hermione replied.
"Why not? Hermione, what is keeping you from pursuing a relationship with Fred, aside from Ron? Don't look at me like that. It's a perfectly legitimate question."
"It's not," Hermione almost laughed. "Fred and I, we probably wouldn't have ever even changed our relationship if it wasn't for the whole thing with Ron."
"Fine," Ginny crossed her arms. She was about to open her mouth to say something else when Molly called them downstairs. It was time to go back to school. "This isn't over," she smiled at Hermione before grabbing her trunk and pulling it down the stairs behind her.
When they arrived downstairs, Molly was already hugging Harry and Ron. All of the boys were red faced and covered in snow. She watched them all strip off their excess clothes as Molly used the tip of her wand to suck the liquid off of them. "Everyone all ready then?" She looked over the group.
"Ready to eat," Ron nodded. The dinnertime feast was awaiting them when they arrived back at Hogwarts. It felt strange having spent the whole day home, rather than on the Hogwarts express.
"You're always ready to eat," Ginny rolled her eyes.
"You lot be good, now. I don't want to have to send you any howlers this year, alright?" George grinned at his mother, who was holding back a smile.
"Jokes aside, you all behave. And be careful," Molly took a turn hugging each of them.
Fred and Hermione looked to each other, maybe a bit too awkwardly. Molly smiled at them. "It's alright dears. No need to be ashamed. You're not going to see each other for months. You can say goodbye."
"That's right, Freddie. Tell your lovely little lady how much you'll miss her," George chuckled. In return, he received an elbow to the ribs.
"Oh, don't make this awkward for everyone," Ginny muttered. "Ron, go ahead. You too, Harry," she added as Ron protested. "Just let them have a moment without the whole world watching, yeah?" She heard Ron mutter something under his breath before stepping in the fire once Harry's form disappeared. "You're welcome," she smiled at them before stepping into the emerald flames herself.
"Come on, Mum. Let's leave these love birds alone," he put an arm around his mother and steered her toward the kitchen, despite her slight protests. "It's Hermione. She's not going to miss the window," he laughed before they disappeared from the room.
"Well," Hermione shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "I suppose this is the end for us, huh?"
"Guess so," Fred replied, staring at her. He felt guilty for not wanting her to go. "Can we still be friends?" He smiled.
The edges of her lips turned up at this. "I'd be offended if you wouldn't still be my friend."
"Thanks for not letting Mum think we used you to settle a score. And thanks for handling Ron," he held out an arm and curled it around her when she forward, wrapped her own arms around his waist. He could smell the scent of lavender in her hair. It was a scent he associated only with her now. "You should probably be going," he loosened one of his arms from around her shoulders.
She nodded against his chest, finding herself hesitant to release him. When she finally pulled back just a bit, she looked up into his eyes. There was a sadness in them that made her feel guilty. She would have never guessed she would find herself feeling guilty for Fred Weasley having feelings for her. "I'm sorry, Fred."
"Don't be sorry, love. You can't help that you care about my prat of a brother," he smiled as he pushed a curly strand of hair behind her ear. It was a habit he had gotten used to in the last week. He was fond of touching her hair, and the way she would avert her eyes and smile when he did it. "I'll be seeing you around."
"Bye, Fred," she smiled. Before she had a moment to think, he was leaning down and his lips were on hers. There was that fire that swept through her body again. She had never quite experienced anything like it before Fred had kissed her for the first time. She suddenly didn't want to let go of him. She found body moving so it was flush against him, once hand entwined in the hair at his neck while the other stayed planted at his side. The feel of his hand in her hair sent a shiver down her spine and for that moment, she didn't want it to end. In that moment, she was sure she would have been happy to stay like this forever. A loud clearing of a throat and George's laughter sent them jumping apart. She was sure she was crimson as she looked at Molly, then to George.
"Sorry. I thought you would have gone already," he shrugged, still chuckling.
"I think you should hurry up, dear. You wouldn't want to get stuck here," Molly said, her tone motherly, but her smile still warm.
"Of course," she nodded and replied quietly. "Thank you for having me, Mrs. Weasley," she added.
"Think nothing of it, dear. You're family," the woman smiled before giving her a final hug. "Look after Ronald and Harry, will you?"
"Of course," she smiled as she dragged her trunk behind her into the fireplace. "Bye," she added quietly, looking at Fred before tossing down a handful of powder and disappearing into emerald flames as the others had.