Summary: Fun loving Fred Weasley has always been carefree, going through life with laughter and fun, fastracking through everything he does. But when his younger brother's friend comes under his radar, he finds himself taking a different perspective.
Disclaimer: All characters and general plotlines belong to JK Rowling. Anything you do not recognise, is mine.
Pairings: FW/HG ; HP/LL
HERMIONE
The night ended similarly to how it had started, in the common room, Fred his brother and Lee and the girls, except we were far more coupled up, and of course we all still wore the formal dress we'd left in. Though I wouldn't speak for the others, Fred and I certainly looked worse for wear, his tie discarded and his coat covering me up as I leant against his chest, one arm curled across my back.
It astounded me that I was so comfortable with Fred, particularly in a room full of people. This wasn't normal behaviour for me but it still came naturally, and the words that Fred had said to me only hours earlier still created a warm tingling sensation in the pit of my stomach. It'd reassured me. The way that it had felt natural and not worried me made me feel much better. I trusted Fred, believed him, had no reason to doubt him whatsoever.
"Looks like they hit it off, then." Lee said from where he and Alicia had been talking to each other quietly, though he raised his voice for the benefit of us all. I sat up from Fred's chest and looked in the direction he'd motioned. I grinned when I saw Luna sat beside Harry. He was stretched across the sofa comfortably, looking at her with a wide grin on his face, one hand in her lap entwined with hers as she talked animatedly. I raised my eyebrows and surveyed the rest of the deserted common room before turning back to the others.
"I wonder where Katie and Krum got to, then." I said, then after a wide eyed glance from Angelina clapped my hand over my mouth.
"I mean, I'm sure they'll be back in a second..." Alicia face palmed herself as both Fred and George looked visibly more concerned, Fred even making to stand up. I put a hand on his chest pushing him back down, cursing myself for bringing it up.
"He'd better not be taking advantage of her.." George muttered as he was also subdued by Angelina. I shrugged at her apologetically but she simply smiled.
"Katie's a big girl Georgie. She's even of age now, and Krum's not a bad guy. Leave it. If she's not back in two hours we'll look?" He looked at her with a frown and I noticed that Fred looked slightly distressed by this too. Their feelings of protection didn't surprise me, but I'd not expected them and I wasn't surprised when Lee interjected.
"One hour." Angelina shrugged and sat back again, leaning forward to kiss George on the cheek and whisper in his ear. I turned to Fred, who smiled lazily at me.
"Alright babe?" I wrinkled my nose at the name, but smiled back at him.
"I'm good." I sighed, meaning it as he hugged me to him for a second before raising his eyebrows at his twin over my head.
"Oi, Georgie." He beckoned with his chin towards the portrait hole and George raised his eyebrows. I craned my neck and spotted Ginny and Neville coming through the portrait hole.
"Fred, don't you dare." I said, clapping a hand over his mouth. His eyes sparkled with mischief but I shook my head sternly.
"Ginny's happy. She likes him. Leave her." I punched his arm as he frowned, then calmly removed my hand.
"Whipped." Lee cackled, and Fred shot him an annoyed look.
"Come on 'Mione, let me tease her about it.." He looked at his sisters departing back longingly and I shook my head.
Fred and George weren't acting protective over Ginny as they had done Katie. Their little sister was very important to them and this suddenly struck me as potentially odd.
"Why aren't you bothered? She went with him as his date.." I trailed off, wondering if I was saying the wrong thing again but decided against it. Fred and George couldn't possibly have not known, and Fred's nod confirmed that he did already know this.
"It's Neville, babe. He's a nice guy and he wouldn't hurt Gin if Voldemort himself threatened to Avada him." Fred sat back confidently, his arms behind his head.
"Wow." I said, wanting to laugh. Ginny had been creeping around about how Neville had asked her to the ball all week, sure that her intefering brothers would annoy him or frighten him. But it appeared that they'd already decided to trust Neville. George seemed to be of the same opinion as he was no longer listening to our conversation, far more distracted by Angelina's lips, I realised as I turned to look at him.
"Was she worried?" Fred brought my attention back to him and I nodded. He leaned a bit closer to me, and I was suddenly aware that we were in front of a lot of people.
"Can we..." I faltered and looked up at him nervously, but he seemed to catch on immedietely.
"Want to come up to my room?" He backtracked instantly, looking worried.
"Not like that, I just meant that there's nobody in there, and.." He stared at me, seemingly panicking that I'd been upset. I laughed.
"That'd be great." I said calmly, putting my hand in his. He raised his eyebrow, clearly needing further confirmation that I hadn't doubted his motives.
"Fred, I know you'd never make me do something I didn't want to." I said quietly, flushing slightly.
"I trust you. And yeah, I'd like some privacy too." I blushed furiously at my last statement, and he chuckled, lifting a hand to stroke my cheek.
"'Mione, can I have a word?" The voice i'd wanted to hear for the last day or two suddenly surfaced behind my shoulder, yet I groaned inwardly. I looked up at Fred.
"I'll meet you up there?" Fred simply nodded, gave his younger brother a mock half salute and tightened his jacket around me before explaining to his brother what his plan was, and sauntering up the stairs. I watched all this occur before turning to Ron.
"Of course." I responded to his earlier question, and he smiled nervously.
"I didn't mean to offend you. I'm so sorry that I did. I just mean.." He shrugged awkwardly.
"You're my best friend and I care so much about what happens to you. I was wrong to question your judgement and I'll be as supportive as I can manage if.." He got all this out in one breath and looked a little flustered. I gave him an encouraging smile which he returned nervously before continuing.
"Can we be friends again?" I nodded, a smile on my face as I reached out my arms towards him.
"We're best friends, Ron." I said into his shoulder, and he stepped back, a funny look on his face.
"That's right." He managed, then pointed up his own stairs, then to the ones Fred had recently ascended.
"See you tomorrow?" I questioned, and he nodded with a grin.
"I'm going to bed. Night, 'Mione." He backed away, then stopped, chuckling.
"But you are my best friend and he is my brother, and keep the PDA to a minimum, yeah?" I laughed, and then gave him a quick nod.
"Night Ron." As soon as he'd headed upstairs I turned up towards the ones I was going to and rushed up them, two at a time, until I reached the door. What did I want to happen? Going in here was something I should definitely think through, and... I hadn't been in his room before... I reached up my hand, then put it down. Should I knock?
"'Mione?" Fred had heard me. I giggled nervously.
"Can I come in?" I questioned, and took his deep chuckle as my reply. I walked in, and my lip curled at the instant mess that I noticed.
"You don't exactly have company much, do you?" I questioned, and he shrugged.
"Quite a bit. The girls head up here because we've got an empty dorm and there's lots of room." I registered the fact that only three beds were in the room.
"Why so empty?" I questioned, realising I was still standing in the doorway. He seemed to notice this too and held out his arms mockingly. I started to pick through the stray socks and butterbeer bottles towards him on his bed as I motioned for him to answer me.
"We had two others, Jim and Roy, but they dropped out." He shrugged.
"We like it like this." I reached him, and wondered what I was supposed to do. Sit on his bed? Stand beside it? Sit on his lap? He settled this by pulling me beside him and putting an arm around me, waving his wand to close the curtains and keep them closed, and then again, causing me to be confused.
"What was that?" I asked. He smiled.
"A silencing spell." He explained.
"I wish I could do wordless magic..." I burrowed into his shoulder enviously as he chuckled.
"You'll be able to pretty quickly, I reckon." He said, reaching across to peck a kiss on the end of my nose.
"You're the cleverest witch in the tower." I smiled, but didn't nod, instead choosing to just grin. Rejecting this view would be churlish.
"So you sorted things out with Ron?" Fred said, and I nodded.
"He's supportive."
"He says.." I shushed Fred, leaning across him and feeling bold, sitting cross leggged before him and putting my hands on his shoulders.
"Hey." I said, stopping him, and he looked at me, a grin on his face.
"Be nice. I love you." I said with a smile, and he leaned forward, pulling me closer to him and his lips to mine. Millimetres from me, he grinned, showing all his white teeth.
"I will never get tired of hearing you say that."