So what have Fred and Hermione been getting up too while Laura and George are enjoying their romantic date? Has Hermione locked herself away in her room while Fred watches footie on tv?
Chapter 50 – Fred and Hermione
Hermione was sat on one of the comfortable armchairs in the living room engrossed in a muggle book called PS I love you. She was quite happy and content as she lost herself in the story, forgetting about everything in the real world. Fred on the other hand was rushing around the kitchen like a mad man preparing dinner for the two of them, the muggle way without the aid of magic. He was making lasagne, chips and salad while humming along to a happy song that was playing on the radio. He was desperate to make a good impression on Hermione and make the most of their night alone together.
Once he'd made sure everything was cooking nicely he peered in at Hermione and smiled, she really was beautiful to him and naturally at that, none of this fake nonsense. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail and she was dressed in grey ¾ length jogging bottoms and a deep red tee. A small smile appeared on her lips, clearly happy about something she had just read. Fred hoped he'd be able to make her properly smile one day. He leaned against the door frame watching her until the oven pinged meaning the food was ready.
"Foods ready!" he shouted setting everything on the table.
"Something smells good." Hermione commented entering the kitchen and taking a seat at the table.
"Let's hope it tastes as good as it smells." Fred answered sitting down across from Hermione.
The two of them ate in silence for a few moments as they enjoyed their food.
"I wonder how George and Laura are getting on?" Hermione wondered.
"I was just wondering the exact same thing. I think he's taken her to the beach hut" Fred answered.
He wanted to take Hermione there some time if they ever got together.
"He must be pretty serious about her then." Hermione commented.
"He is. I've never seen him like this over a girl before. He really, really likes her." Fred replied.
"Laura really likes him too though she's worried about jumping straight into another relationship so soon." Hermione said.
"What would you do?" Fred wondered.
"Well I could meet the man I'll end up marrying tomorrow, so if I met someone who I really, really liked then I'd go for it." she replied looking down at her empty plate.
Fred let out a small sigh of relief at that comment, it made him feel a little happier. He still doubted Hermione liked him in the same way he liked her.
"What about you Fred? Have you got your eye on anyone?" Hermione asked taking a sip of her juice.
"Well there is someone, someone who I've liked for a while but I don't think she likes me as more than a friend." Fred answered
"Anyone I know?" Hermione pushed.
"You might, you might not." was all Fred answered.
"Any girl would be lucky to have a guy like you Fred." Hermione said smiling.
Once they had finished eating, Hermione began washing the dishes. Fred couldn't resist flicking water at Hermione. Hermione dipped her hands into the soapy water and flicked some back in Fred's direction. This started a full blown water fight between the two. Water and bubbles were being thrown in every direction. The floor was soaked, as were the benches and Hermione and Fred both looked like drowned rats. Fred had soap suds sticking to his red hair.
Hermione burst into a fit of giggles but slipped on a wet patch on the floor, Fred grabbed her but she fell pulling Fred down with her, both landing on their bottoms on the wet kitchen floor.
"Thank you Fred." Hermione said.
"For what?" Fred wondered slightly confused.
"Oh for everything. For being a great friend to me, always cheering me up and making me smile." Hermione answered her face blushing.
"oh Hermione it's no problem at all. That's what friends are for right? And I'll always be here if you need someone to chat too, a shoulder to cry on or someone to cheer you up." Fred answered a serious tone in his voice.
Hermione smiled and pulled Fred into a hug, resting her head on his chest. Her heart was pounding loudly and she could hear Fred's too as he hugged her back, cherishing the moment between them.
"I'll always be here for you Mione." Fred said quietly.
At that moment all Hermione wanted to do was to kiss Fred but she was too scared to make the first move. Fred had the exact same idea and the exact same worries.
"I think we best get this place tidied up." Hermione stated attempting to stand up but she slipped again, nearly landing on Fred's knee.
"Mione I think you've fallen for me." Fred joked.
Hermione looked into Fred's sparkling blue eyes, her heart racing.
This was now or never. They both leaned in and kissed, neither of them pulled away, both of them actually enjoyed it. Hermione was first to pull away.
"We best get his all cleared up in case Laura and George come back. She jumped up grabbing the bench for support then with a swipe of her wand dried up all the water on the floor and benches then cast drying spells on herself and a startled Fred who seemed to have lost all power of speech. With another swipe of Hermione's wand the dishes flew into the dishwasher. She then darted from the kitchen and up the stairs, slamming the door of her room behind her leaving Fred wondering what the hell had just happened.
Hermione flopped onto her bed.
"What the hell have I just done?" she kept asking herself over and over again.
"Why did I have to go and kiss Fred?" she also asked herself.
Part of her and she didn't know how dominate that part was wanted Fred to come running after her and kiss her again but the sensible side of her was telling her it shouldn't have happened and that she regretted it. But the thing was she didn't actually regret kissing Fred, quite the opposite, she really enjoyed it. There was a spark between them that there wasn't between her and Ron. Maybe it was just lust, she didn't actually know. She kept going over the kiss in her head and every time she thought of it her stomach flipped.
She turned onto her stomach burying her head in her hands and kicking her legs like a toddler having a tantrum.
'Why do boys mess with your head and why do they have to be Weasley boys and brothers?' Hermione wondered.
Fred had finally pulled himself together, finding power in his legs since he was somehow frozen to the spot after his encounter with Hermione.
'What the hell just happened?' he wondered to himself, running a hand through his now dry hair.
There was no doubt about it; he enjoyed his kiss with Hermione. He had been dreaming about it for years. However he knew he was trending on unsafe waters, Hermione was his younger brother's ex-girlfriend but he loved Hermione and he loved her more than a sister. He had real feelings for her, he wanted to grow old with her and have children with her.
He walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs to outside Hermione's room. However as soon as he stopped outside the room he froze. He could hear sobs coming from the room and his heart shattered. He began pacing quietly along the landing, thinking of what he was going to say to Hermione. He took a deep breath, mustered all the Gryffindor courage he could and knocked on the door.
"Go away." The voice on the other end shouted.
"Please let me in Hermione. I need to talk to you." Fred pleaded.
He heard footsteps and then the door opened to reveal a red eyed Hermione.
"What do you want?" she snapped wiping away the last of the tears.
"Look Hermione just let me speak to you." Fred answered.
Hermione let him inside and he sat himself down on Laura's bed.
"I shouldn't have kissed you Fred." Hermione stated but inside she knew she enjoyed it and wanted too.
Fred knew she was being stubborn and putting on a front and he wasn't fooled. Hermione sat down on her own bed crossing her arms across her chest in a protective manor.
"Oh come on Hermione, we both know you enjoyed it. Stop putting on this defensive front." Fred spoke.
Hermione went to speak but just closed her mouth – goldfish style.
"Look Mione I'm not here to have a go at you, I'm here to be honest with you." Fred said moving onto the bed beside Hermione, she edged away slightly.
"Look I happen to care about you a lot, a lot more than I've been letting on or you've realised. Actually I've always felt very protective towards you. For example when Malfoy called you a mudblood in your 2nd year, I wanted to hex the little git into the middle of next week. In the beginning I saw you as a little sister."
"Why are you telling me all of this Fred?" Hermione wondered.
"Then in your fourth year I saw you grow from a little girl into a beautiful young woman. I was crushed when you went to the ball with Krum. I was the one who made sure George and Lee didn't prank you and told them not to test our products while you were around but I knew you were in love with Ron. I guess I had a bit of a crush on you back then." Fred trailed off.
"Fred you could have had any girl you wanted, you weren't exactly unpopular with the ladies." Hermione answered.
"Yeah but I wasn't interested in any of them. Yeah I dated Ange for a while but we weren't serious. One of the best moments of my life was when we first opened the shop and you said how good it was, that was the first time you'd acknowledged that we weren't just these jokesters." Fred said.
"Fred I always knew you and George were exceptionally smart and brilliant wizards. I watched you both in Dumbledore's Army. I think it was because you didn't show much respect for rules or your school work but after seeing how much hard work you put into the shop my opinion on you both changed as you've grown up so much." Said Hermione.
"The hardest part was when you went off with Ron and Harry and not knowing whether you all were dead or alive. It was horrible. I just wanted you all to be safe. I was so scared Mione, the same during the battle, not that I can remember much of it but seeing you at my bedside when I woke up meant the world to me. Of course then I found out you and Ron were dating and my heart broke a little. What I am trying to say is that I've always liked you Mione." Fred admitted running his hand through his ginger hair.
Hermione who usually had an answer for everything was speechless for once.
"What I'm trying to tell you Mione is that I love you and not just as a sister." Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I know you've just broken up with my brother and I'm here for you if you ever need someone to talk too, I'll always be there for you."
Hermione felt fresh tears prick the back of her eyes. Fred stood up and gave Hermione a weak smile.
"I'll be downstairs. I'm sorry if I've scared you or said something I shouldn't have." Fred said standing up and making his way to the door.
He didn't get far however as Hermione had jumped off the bed and dashed over to him wrapping her arms around his neck and planting her lips onto his tugging on his ginger hair. She eventually pulled away her face blushing a bright pink. She didn't know what made her do it but she enjoyed it, it felt right. Fred looked quite shocked.
"Look Fred I do really like you, you've been an amazing friend to me over the years and I appreciate everything you've done for me, I really do but I'm just not ready for another relationship right now. I don't even know what I want. I think I just wanted to see if there was actually something there between us when we kissed." Hermione answered.
The two of them began to talk about everything. Fred was a great listener to her and didn't once try and butt in. Hermione spoke about her relationship with Ron and her friendship with Fred.
"I felt really guilty about not going to the ball with you." She admitted. "And I've never really thought of you as being annoying."
"So there's not going to be any awkwardness between the two of us then?" Fred wondered lying down on the double bed and making himself comfortable.
"No of course not Fred. I honestly can't imagine not having you in my life." Hermione admitted.
Fred's grin seemed to grow wider.
"Look Mione I know you've just broken up with Ron but I'm not going anywhere. Whether it'll be two months or two years, I'll be waiting for you. I promise that I'll not treat you the way Ron did; I'll look after you but for time being I just happy with us staying friends." Fred said.
"And I really appreciate that Fred, I really do. I need some time to heal, to clear my head and just be me again." Hermione spoke.
