Diamond in the Rough
By: TheFifthCharmedOne
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Summary: "So let me get this straight. You stole a magic jewel from an Egyptian pyramid, didn't read anything about it, and now we're stuck in 1977?" Hermione asked. "Sounds about right." Fred nodded. "And here I thought I'd have a normal life after the war." She sighed. "Just great."
Warning: Chapter may contain profanity.
Chapter 14: One In A Million
Marlene stormed into the Gryffindor girl's dormitory, her face a picture of fury. Alice and Emmeline looked up from their game of Exploding Snap.
"What happened?" Alice ventured after a few seconds of tense silence.
"Lily happened!" Marlene fumed. "Just because she's too much of a coward to admit she has feelings for James doesn't mean she gets to barge in on other peoples' love lives! She has no say in anything Sirius and I do-"
"Slow down, crazy train." Emmeline stood and put her hands on Marlene's shoulders. "Tell us exactly what happened."
Marlene took a deep breath and tried to relax enough to tell the story.
"You know, back in our time, we never really talked." Hermione said as she and Fred walked around the Black Lake, blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding inside the castle. As a way to fix their friendship, the two Out-Placers had chosen to come outside and talk for a while.
"We saw each other at family dinners, and when you were in school, you were always at the Burrow." Fred recalled. "I do remember one time when I caught you in just your towel...you blushed so hard." Hermione slapped his arm.
"I was fourteen!" she said defensively. "You should have been responsible enough not to look."
"Me and responsible don't belong together." he reminded her.
"That's very true." she laughed. "Why did you want to show me the Stone of Tempus so badly?" she asked after a pause, remembering how excited he'd been to show her the stolen stone.
"I don't know. I just felt the need to show you as soon as I got it. Maybe it was the Stone, acting on the other Out-Placer it needed to send us back in time?"
"There has to be more to it than that." Hermione said contemplatively. "Magic always has a reason."
Maybe you just need to admit it. A small voice whispered in the back of her mind. You're in love with Fred - head over heels, topsy-turvy, completely smitten with him.
I can't be. If Ron ever found out-
If Ron was truly your friend, he'd trust your judgement and realize that you love Fred and not him. You can't force yourself to love someone.
I wouldn't be forcing myself. I do love Ron...just not the way he wants me too.
"Hermione?" Fred waved his hand in front of her face and she blinked rapidly. "Thought I lost you for a minute there."
"Sorry, I was lost in thought." they continued on their walk, and it was peacefully quiet until Fred reached up and shook a tree branch, coating both of them with snow.
"Fred!" Hermione squealed, giggling. She shook her uncontrollable mane and pulled at the curly strands, trying to get rid of the fluffy flakes. Snow crystallized in her hair, and it caught in the winter sunlight in just the right way. Fred didn't think she'd ever looked more beautiful. The more time he spent with her, he realized, the more he loved her.
Suddenly, a warm tingling enveloped his left hand, and he looked down to see a small and circular glow on his ring finger.
"Um, Hermione?" he raised his hand, and she gasped, staring at it. Right before their eyes, a small, golden ring appeared with sapphire blue stones encrusted in the surface.
"Is that...?" she exclaimed. She had seen it so many times in her research, but the fact that it was before her now was a shock. "It's the Stone of Reddo! We've found it!"
"But how?" Fred pondered. "And how do we get it to work?"
"Maybe we'll find answers in the library! Come on!" Hermione said excitedly, grabbing his hand and taking off in a frenzied run toward the castle. Fred's arm tingled where Hermione was holding it, and the ring glowed in recognition.
"Hermione, if the library didn't have answers before..." Fred said breathlessly as they reached the doors to the Entrance Hall.
"But now we have the Stone, so maybe some hidden messages will be revealed!"
"I don't think so." Fred said stubbornly. "I think the only way to make the Stone appear is to be honest with yourself."
Hermione stopped and looked at him quizzically. "I'm not sure why, but I think that coming to terms with my feelings is what brought the Stone out."
"The Stone hides where you least expect..." Hermione recalled, and her eyes went wide. If Fred was right, that meant that the only way that they could get home would be if Hermione confessed her feelings. Keeping them locked inside was not going to work. The stone was hidden inside her heart.
"Fred...I..." Hermione said softly.
"Hermione, there you are!" Lily said suddenly, shattering the moment. "Hi, Fred." she offered to the redhead, who smiled in recognition, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I've been looking all over for you, I need to talk to you!"
"About what?" Hermione asked.
"James." Lily replied.
"James? Is he hurt again?" Fred wanted to know.
"No, no. He's fine." Lily said without looking at him. "Can we go somewhere more private?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure." Hermione replied hesitantly. She looked at Fred, who met her eyes for a long moment before breaking the contact and waving his hand dismissively, indicating they'd talk about it later. Smiling gratefully at him, Hermione followed Lily up the Grand Staircase.
"Oh, if it isn't the judgmental wench herself." Marlene, Emmeline, and Alice were going in the opposite direction on the Staircase, and Marlene scowled at Lily with the utmost of disdain.
Lily stiffened and ducked her head down, stepping around her former best friend. "Nothing to say?"
"Marlene, be reasonable." Alice tried, putting a hand on the blond's arm. She shook it away.
"No! I'm so sick of everyone taking Lily's side all the time! She's not as perfect as people like to think!" Lily's head shot up.
"I never said I was perfect." Lily bit out, glaring fiercely at Marlene. "That wasn't my fault."
"Nothing is ever your fault!" Marlene yelled, her eyes flashing. "It's always circumstances that allow you to get around trouble! Everyone always sides with you for everything, and I'm tired of it!"
"If that's how you feel, then fine!" Lily shouted back. "Consider our friendship over." she looked at Hermione. "Come on, Hermione."
Hermione was torn - she wanted to keep the peace, not make it worse. Biting her lip, she followed Lily and avoided the gazes of Marlene, Emmeline, and Alice.
Later that night, Hermione came down from the girl's dormitory and was pleasantly surprised to find Fred, laying on the couch with his head dangling over the side, staring at the fire.
"Couldn't sleep?" she asked, and Fred looked over at her.
"Nah." he replied simply.
"Care to share the reason for your insomnia?"
"Only if you do."
Hermione thought about baiting him with a challenge, something along the lines of 'what makes you think I can't sleep', but the idea of that, after the last few months of running from her feelings...the idea of continuing was just exhausting. Especially now, since they were so close to getting home. She just needed to muster her courage and be honest with him.
Easier thought than done, obviously.
She sighed heavily and sat down next to him on the couch. "You're going to give yourself a headache sitting like that."
"It helps me think." he replied.
"Right then. What are you thinking about?"
"You." he stated plainly. "You were going to tell me something today, I think I know what it was, before Lily interrupted."
"It's a good thing she did." Hermione muttered. Fred raised an eyebrow. "That was hardly the time or the place. I was backed into a corner..." she trailed off.
"So what about now? Could you tell me now?" Hermione's face turned bright red and she fiddled with her fingers, not answering. "Hermione," he said softly. "It's okay."
"No it's not!" she cried out, jumping to her feet. "Don't you understand, Fred? Nothing is the way it should be!"
Fred rolled over so he was sitting up properly and blinked rapidly as the blood returned to the rest of his body. He observed Hermione, and she bit her lip, insecurity taking over yet again.
"What do you mean?"
Hermione chewed her lip again. "Come on. Be honest and talk to me."
"I just..." she sighed listlessly, forcing a hand through her curly mop. "What happens when we get back to the future? How do we explain months of absence? How can we expect anyone to understand? And Harry! We've been friends with his parents! A right he never had! We're watching as the war unfolds, one more month we spend here is another month closer to the inevitable!"
"We'll figure it out." Fred stood, and Hermione's breath hitched when he came closer to her. "I don't think that's everything you're worried about."
She sighed again, shakily this time from his proximity, and he took her hands. Caressing the inside of her wrists with the pad of his thumbs, shivers danced down her spine.
"Fred..." she murmured. "I can't. We can't. Ron will never..."
"Fuck Ron." Fred muttered. Hermione looked up at him. "He has to get his head out of his arse eventually."
"Even so." Hermione was struggling, Fred could see it. He wanted nothing more than to ease her pain. He tucked a curled finger under her chin and pulled her closer. "Fred-"
"Is it okay?" he asked quietly, their breaths beginning to mingle. "If it's not, I'll stop."
Whoever said chivalry is dead? Hermione thought, her eyes fluttering shut as she nodded, telling him to continue. Perhaps it was the way he smelled or the way his voice soothed a part of her she didn't know she had, or it could even be that he was Fred and she was Hermione and they were just meant for each other...
So much for not giving into the cliché.
Their lips met, and Hermione noted that he tasted like candy, which she supposed she should expect from a candy maker. His hands came around to cup each side of her face, and she adjusted her head so that she could make up for the height difference. Hesitantly, she opened her mouth, and he did in return, allowing their tongues to mingle in an electric fire that Hermione couldn't even put into words.
The kiss ended far too soon, but they leaned their foreheads together. Fred couldn't help but grin widely, and Hermione giggled nervously. She hugged him, leaning her head against his shoulder, and he held her close, as though he never wanted to let her go again.
A/N: *in the voice of AmazingPhil* And today's Diamond in the Rough poll is...
Should Marlene and Lily's argument just be a part of a plan to bring Lily and James closer, or should there be actual resentment between the two?
A) Part of a plan
B) Actual resentment
C) IDGAF. JUST UPDATE MORE WOMAN.
And now, for the rest of the A/N:
Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
*points up* That basically explains my life at the moment. College is hard. Don't ever do it. Ever.
And d'awwwwww. That last scene was so much fun to write. Happy November, guys! Thank you for reading, please review!
-Charmy
P.S. The link to Fred's ring is on my profile.