Chapter 21: Fred's Feelings

Fuck he knew he was hurting her by avoiding her, but now that she knew it was like nothing was holding him back from expressing his true feelings for her. Every time he saw her gorgeous face, or saw her bite her lip when she was deep in thought, he just wanted to pull her across the table to him and snog her senseless. At the same time Fred also knew that she would probably end up punching him if he even dared to act on his thoughts. So he was taking the only type of action he could. Avoiding her until he was able to get his feelings under his control again. Making him feel like a complete prat. He could see the hurt in Hermione's eyes every time he dodged her. Saw the confusion in everyone else's eyes, after all since last year they hadn't really been apart often to the eyes of Hogwarts. He had heard the rumors and bets of people making of when they would become betrothed, wondered how they would take it to know they already were.

He loved her, but he couldn't tell her. He had known when he had told Auror Tonks why Hermione and his betrothal was a secret that was how she felt. At the same time he also knew there was something more in Hermione's eyes, something she didn't want to admit to yet. She was falling in love with him. It was just taking her longer then it had taken him.

"You are a complete and utter prat twin o'mine. If I didn't want to make people know which of us was which I would break your bloody nose and make sure no one could fix it with magic," George growled at him. Rage on his face and Hermione wondered why Fred thought she and his twin had something going on. George was more protective of her then Ginny. This was the first time his brother had ever threatened him over a witch.

"I know."

"If you know bloody fix it. Your lady had reasons for keeping Alexis secret, as I'm sure you know. We've been on the verge of war for a while, especially after the Quidditch cup. Can you blame her for keeping her sister out of this?"

Fred's eyes went wide at that. Did even his twin think this had to do with Hermione's sister? He didn't care she had kept the little mite a secret. It was obvious to Fred why she had done it. England was no place for a little girl masquerading as a muggleborn, especially not one related to the brightest witch of the age who just happened to be Harry Potter's best friend.

Damn it what was he supposed to do? He couldn't very well tell Hermione he was avoiding her because he wanted to snog her senseless it would make her run and ruin all the progress Fred had made between the two of them. Yet at the same time he couldn't just allow her to think he was mad at her. That just couldn't do, so what could he do?!

"This has nothing to do with Alexis. Merlin's pants Georgie, I'm avoiding her because I want to snog her and make it clear to everyone in this bloody castle that she's mine. Have you seen how the males from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons stare at her? It's driving me mad! But if I act on those feelings she'll punch me and then I'll never win her heart!"

There he admitted it. He finally made sure his twin knew how he felt. Something he hadn't done before because he had been so worried that his twin was in love with Hermione. Carefully watching George's eyes Fred was relieved that there was no pain within them. Instead his bloody twin was laughing at him. Sure it was better then him wanting to maim him in some way, but only just and he didn't like the feeling of George laughing at him over his heart. Was it that ridiculous for Georgie to think that Hermione might ever love him? Was it just a lost cause?

"Sorry Freddie, that's why you're avoiding her. It's just hilarious. Hermione doesn't give a bloody fig about those other guys. Even if she doesn't want to admit it her heart's belonged to you for ages, she's just stubborn about it. But you can't keep avoiding her. Now you are going to find my lovely sister, who will one day be my twin-in-law, and apologize. Do it with chocolate and flower's, purple hyacinths and Iris's will make sure no one mistakes it for a romantic gesture, only because she's not quite ready for that yet. Then make sure she knows it had nothing to do with little Alexis and come up with a valid explanation for her that won't cause her to hex you into oblivion."

What would he do without his twin? Georgie always knew what to do. "Thanks Georgie," he called running off to place his order immediately. Sure he still didn't know how to tell Hermione or rather what to tell Hermione so that he didn't make her run, but he now had a start to make sure she didn't think he hated her. Sometimes he forgot how much that witch tended to doubt people, he'd have to make sure his Lady never doubted him like this again.

Hermione was shocked when Fred got down on one knee in front of her in the great hall, a bouquet of purple hyacinths mixed with Iris's in one hand and a mixed box of her favorite chocolate's from Honeydukes in the other. "My fair lady it has come to this poor knight's attention that I have made you feel like I am angry at you, but there is nothing farther from the truth. Rather I was afraid you were angry with me and was dodging the punishment I was sure I richly deserved. This knight was a coward and begs his Lady's forgiveness for his actions."

He wasn't angry at her. Not even caring how it would look Hermione launched herself into his arms, not paying attention to how the flower's tickled the back of her neck as he hugged her back, only knowing that she had missed him. Tears came down her face knowing she hadn't lost Fred just unleashed the dam.
Clearly he had thought she would be angry that he had revealed their betrothal, or that she was angry he hadn't told her he knew which would have been hypocritical of her, instead she was now happy. Ecstatic even that Fred had done such a gesture in front of everyone.

Fred was stiffening under her and Hermione pulled back thinking she had hurt him somehow, but instead she just saw fire in his eyes. Molten fire that showed a much different response towards her then his flower's dictated. His eyes flickered down to her lips and scared that he might kiss her in front of everyone Hermione scrambled off of him, blushing at the knowing looks she received from several witches including both Fleur and surprisingly McGonagall. It actually shocked her that none of the teachers had even stopped Fred's apology. Instead they seemed to be cooing at them behind their smirks. She could practically hear them talking about young love even if no one spoke.

"I appreciate the apology Fred, sorry if I ruined the flowers." There that should be significantly cool enough. That no one thought anything else. Although from the looks she was receiving no one was suddenly buying her collected act.

"It's fine lov... my lady."

She blushed again knowing he had almost called her love. Later once everything died down she would need to talk to him about their betrothal. She couldn't give him false hope. Despite the attraction between them she just couldn't act on it, not until this damned war was over. Not when she knew she couldn't survive losing him again if they were more then friends, although a small voice in the back of her head said it might already be too late.

Severus was happy that his eldest daughter and her betrothed seemed to work things out. He had probably been the only one in the castle who knew the real reason that boy had been avoiding her before his twin had sorted him out. It was clear Fredrick's feelings had started to become even deeper, especially once he had admitted to Nymphadora that he was Hermione's betrothed. Even just admitting it to one person had probably made him want to deepen their relationship and start a proper courtship. It was just too bad for the young man that his daughter was so closed off. Oh it was clear she was in love with Fredrick, but it seemed she had inherited his bristly nature when it came to romantic feelings.

If it had been anyone else he would probably be glad his daughter wasn't giving them the time of day at all, but with this young man he knew he was the only one who could put that bright smile on his daughter's face. She needed some sort of happiness in the next few years. Especially with war on the horizon and if Fredrick Weasley could give that to her he wouldn't stand in the way.

The last few days had just been misunderstandings. It was clear the young man would never purposely hurt Hermione. He was just a bit clueless like most males his age. Eventually he would realize how to navigate the tricky nature of young woman. And he wished him luck for no one else would ever be worthy of his eldest daughter.

AN: Very short chapter, but it's also quite important as a look into feelings. It just didn't seem to fit in with the next chapter, which is going to be the first task. Hope you enjoyed it.