"What do you miss most about the muggle world?" I started at that one. It wasn't the type of question I expected him to ask me. There were several things I missed about that world, but one thing in particular.
"Movies. I loved going to movies. When I was younger I used to save half of my allowance just to go to the theatre. I always had a great time watching them on the big screen. It was like magic to me then. Some of my favorite Muggle memories were in theatres." He raised his eyebrows and looked surprised.
"Really?" he asked. "I've never actually seen a film."
"I'll have to fix that." I said with a slightly evil grin.
"I'm sure you will. Next question, what's your favorite book genre?"
Oh, that caught me off guard. I loved nonfiction, because I liked learning while I read. But I also really enjoyed fantasy.
"Umm, fantasy. I loved fantasy as a kid. I like how I could pick up a book and slip into a completely magical world, one where anything could happen. That's why I love reading; it's a kind of escape for me. It lets me be anything I want, do anything. It's one way I can be truly free." My grin faltered as I finished. "It's the one place no one thinks of me as a boring, strict, bookwormish, stick-in-the-mud, Know it all."
Fred raised his eyebrows at me before shaking his head. "Is that how you see yourself Hermione?" I nodded my head, lowering my eyes. "You're nothing like that, okay, maybe you are a little of a book worm. But if you get so much joy out of it why shouldn't you be? I mean, I'm a prankster, and I would never change that. You are most certainly not boring-aren't you the one who came up with the idea of the DA? Very anti-boring if you ask me.
'Strict? Aren't you the one who let George and me off the hook twenty eight times in our last year? Stick in the mud, really? Fifth year should disprove that. Not to mention your 3rd floor escapade in first year; your illegal brewing of polyjuice in second year; your secret time-turner antic with Harry and Sirius in third year; your undying support of Harry in Forth year, paired with the fact that you went with Victor Krum, international quidditch star, to the Yule ball; and, possibly the best, in sixth year you sent a flock of magical birds at my prat of a brother. You Hermione Granger are not a stick in the mud."
My mouth was hanging open in shock at this point. Had I really done all that? It sounded so much cooler when he said it. I'd always been told I was all of those things, that I'd just sort of accepted it as the truth.
Fred noticed my gaping expression and smiled. "But you are a bit of a know it all." I chucked my pillow at him and he just laughed.
"Oi! That hurt Hermione!" He laughed for a moment but managed to regain control fairly fast.
"Okay, next question. What's your favorite food?" I grinned at the question and answered immediately.
"Easy, chocolate. I love chocolate. Any kind really, it doesn't matter so long as it's chocolate."
"Favorite accessory?" He fired off quickly. That one surprised me and I had to think for a second.
"A good sturdy hair scrunchie for daily use. For more fun, whimsical occasions I like necklaces-but they pull at my hair awfully." He nodded and looked like he hadn't thought about the whole hair thing. I wasn't surprised, few guys did.
"Favorite product of ours?" He had a wicked grin on his face and looked like he thought he'd stumped me.
"That's easy. Your Whiz-bangs are my favorite. I'm not sure if it's because they're really great magic. Or if it's just that they came at a time when I really, really needed a good smile." He grinned proudly and puffed up a little at that.
"Wow, Hermione Granger just complimented me on purpose, that has to be a first!"
I laughed and shoved him. "It really was brilliant. Umbridge was ticked for days! That bit of swamp is still roped off by Professor Flitwick." I paused for a moment before continuing. If I was being honest I might as well go all the way with it. "I cried the night you both left. It was brilliantly done, and I was glad you both got out. But I felt like I had lost the best part of Hogwarts that year. Harry was always angsty, Ron was awkward, and Ginny was always with some guy. I got to know you both a lot better, and honestly, your pranks were all that made some days bearable. Especially near the end. It wasn't the same without the two greatest pranksters Hogwarts had ever known."
He was looking at me with genuine surprise by the end of my spill. The tips of his ears had even gone slightly pink. I felt slightly embarrassed but I'd meant every word of it. I'd hated how they would test on first years, but I loved the actual pranks.
"Okay, I know that was technically the last question, but I have one more for you." Fred spoke quietly and really was blushing a little. I smiled amusedly and nodded my head.
"Go on."
He took a deep breath before continuing. "Would you mind if I kissed you?"
It's amazing how so few words can so change your life. One second I was a calm, cool, collected, teenage witch just talking with a friend. The next second my pulse tripled, my breathing quickened and I realized I was sitting with someone who was really cute, funny, and that I really like.
Yes, I Hermione Jean Granger, like Fred Gideon Weasley. I am woman enough to admit it. I liked him and honestly had for years. He was actually my first ever crush. Yes, I had a huge crush on him for my first three years at Hogwarts. Then I noticed Ron paying attention to me in fourth and decided to give up my silly childish crush on Fred. Judging by the way my body was reacting now; I hadn't done such a good job on that last bit.
I stared into his deep blue eyes and had to stop myself from losing myself in their beautiful depths. "Kiss me?" I asked, my mind simply refusing to accept he had asked it. He nodded his head slowly, looking at me with wide, serious eyes.
"I wouldn't mind at all." I said quietly, my heart beating even faster, which I hadn't thought possible. He smiled slightly, and I bit my lip unsurely as he leaned towards me. He raised his hand and cupped my chin, awakening nerves I never knew I had, and sending delightful chills down my spine. He inched forward until he was just a breath away from me and stopped. I knew what he wanted; I would have to go the rest of the way. I closed my eyes and gathered what little I could find of that legendary Gryffindor courage and I leaned forward to touch his lips with mine.
CRACK!
I yelped, and yes, I whipped out my wand and swirled off the couch and in front of Fred again. I screamed 'Protego' and a shield charm stronger than any I had cast in a long time extended around us, protecting us from a very surprised looking George.
Not again.
"Wow Granger, nice!" George said laughing as he sat down on the couch opposite of us. My cheeks had grown quite red and I knew I was blushing a red to rival both their flaming head of hair. Fred gently grasped me around my waist and pulled me down on to the couch, right next to him. I mean right next to him, I couldn't have gotten closer if I'd wanted to. I looked up, my body tense from the surprise of being pulled down, and next to Fred Weasley, and caught his eyes. He was looking at me with a slight smile, probably trying to decide if I was going to get mad. I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding and relaxed against his side. He smiled happily and looped his arm around me, squeezing me too him.
I turned my head to look back at George, who had taken our brief moment to relax. He'd kicked his shoes off and reclined back on the couch, his hands behind his head and his legs bent to fit.
"Comfortable?" I asked with my best attempt at a coy grin.
"Yep!" George answered chipperly as he whipped his head around and looked at us raising his eyebrows.
"How about you two?" He said humor evident in his tone as he waggled his eyebrows. Fred laughed while I blushed.
"Rather." Was all he said. I fought the urge to hide my head in my hands and forced myself to maintain eye contact with George despite my still rising blush.
"Mind my asking what you're doing back her? I mean, I know it's your apartment and all, but I thought we'd have an hour at least before anyone came back." George sat up as I spoke, stretching his hands out and then setting them on his knees before responding.
"It's Mum. She wants you two back at the house pronto. Someone blabbed about the spell."
"Who?" Fred and I asked at the same time. George raised his eyebrows in surprise but promptly responded.
"No idea, but I promise to hex them for you when we find out." He then stood up and gave a full cat like stretch before continuing. "Best go over there now, she threatened to pop over here herself, and I doubt she'd be pleased to see you two so, comfy." He grinned one last mischievous smile before he promptly disappeared with a resounding crack.
"Merlin, what will it take to get some real alone time?" Fred mumbled quietly. I started in surprise and turned to look at him. He was glaring at the wall as though it was the reason we had to leave.
"Fred?" I said unsurely he started for a moment and then looked down at me. His eyes confused.
"Yes?'
I took a breath and turned my to face the wall, the same one Fred had been glaring at. I let the air out of my lungs slowly before I found my voice again. "Thanks for everything, for being so understanding, for being nice. I know you probably didn't want to get stuck with me, but I appreciate your not making a big deal about it." I took another breath and started to fidget as I confessed what was honestly bothering me, and had been ever since I first found out Fred was going to have to marry me.
"I'm sorry I cast that spell. If I'd have thought harder I know I could have come up with another way and you wouldn't have been stuck in such a dangerous situation with me." Tears filled my eyes as I rushed to finish. "I promise that I'll try very hard to make you happy, I've never done much romantically, and I know I'm not all that pretty, but I promise to try and be all of that for you. I promise to try very hard not to boss you, and I'll try not to be as strict." I would have gone on for much longer probably but I was cut off by Fred's arm's, he had pulled me into a strong hug and was holding me so tightly against him that I was struggling to breathe. For a moment, I was strangely reminded of Hagrid's often back breaking hugs, and then he released me.
"What was that for?" I finally questioned. He just stared at me with sad eyes, his normally happy smile small and sad.
"Don't ever, ever say any of that stuff again. It was not your fault we got into this mess. You saved my life Hermione, not George, not Harry, not Percy, you. You are the one who didn't give up. Way I heard it everyone else had already given me up for dead, they didn't even check for a pulse. George said he was trying to get over there to save me before I passed on but that he never would have made it in time." He reached up and brushed a lock of my bushy hair behind my ear, smiling softly as he fingered it.
'I'm not mad were paired Hermione, quite the opposite actually. You don't need to try and make me happy, you already do. You're funny, refreshing, and honest. Despite what you think you are pretty, and cute. Everything I told you earlier was true. You're all of that and much more. Don't underestimate, or value yourself, please?" He finished with a pleading expression, as though I had hurt him with myself depreciating talk. It warmed me to my core and sent a flurry of butterflies loose in my stomach as I slowly nodded my head. I grabbed that courage that made my house famous and did something that would have made Godric Gryffindor himself proud. I leaned up and kissed Fred firmly on the mouth.
Our lips met slowly, mine unsure what to do and his spread in an obvious grin. He moved gently against my lips with his soft warm ones and I loved the feeling of them. It was an amazing first kiss and I was more than a little disappointed when he pulled away. I blinked up at him, feeling dazed and warm. He was smiling broadly and looked like he had just won the quidditch world cup. I felt an odd longing in my stomach and I had to resist the urge to grab him and claim his lips with mine again.
It wasn't like that had been my first kiss. I had kissed Krum several times, but his had always been rushed, and slightly too wet. Ron's kiss had been pleasant enough, but it lacked the spark that Fred's kiss had ignited.
Fred was still grinning and looking happy, so I took it to mean that he had enjoyed the kiss. Good, because I quite intended to have several more. He reached up and placed his hand gently in my hair before leaning towards me again. I smiled widely and leaned towards him, looping my arms around his neck as he neared me. I turned my head at the last moment and whispered in his ear.
"I'll see you later." I then hopped of the couch quickly and apparated to the Burrow, knowing if I didn't leave then I probably never would.
A/N: Here's the next chapter, I hope you like the questions! Let me know if there are any you would like me to ask when they play the game again in the future. Please leave a review, they make me really happy and give me great ideas!