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Fred's POV
The twins watched from the other side of the hall as Harry's face flushed furiously.
"Right… well… that's settled then," the younger wizard gazed around for a second in disbelief as Cho Chang walked away. She was almost as crimson as Harry was. The Boy-who-lived smiled briefly before turning around and setting off in the opposite direction.
"... Seems a bit off, doesn't he?" George mumbled as he and Fred turned down the corridor to the left to make their way to Transfiguration.
"Poor bloke. Harry's not as quick with social interaction as he is on a broom," Fred shook his head as he pulled his twin a bit more quickly around the corner, "Better get moving or McGonagall will turn us into toads. It's only our second class this term; we can't be late already."
George chuckled as he pulled his arm free, "Is that you in there Fred? Or has your girlfriend taken over completely now?"
"Sod off," Fred rolled his eyes, "You know, as well as I do, that keeping in McGonagall's good graces would be in our best interest."
"My Hermione, you've gotten tall!"
Fred couldn't help but chuckle at his brother's teasing remarks. He had to admit that his younger witch had influenced how he saw a few things. But Fred knew that he was right about Minerva. She wasn't just their Head of House or the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts... McGonagall was among the few that Dumbledore trusted most. She was a high ranking member of the Order, and the older witch was simply a force to be reckoned with.
"Tell me one reason why having McGonagall on our side, when we leave Hogwarts, would be a bad thing?" Fred whispered as a knowing smirk pulled at his mouth.
"That's not…" George scrunched his eyebrows together and then pouted, "... I ... I cannot talk to you while you're being so reasonable..."
Fred found it difficult to control his chuckling, "Well, you deserve it for having a laugh at my and Hermione's expense."
"Valentine's Day?" Hermione looked a bit shocked, and it took everything Fred had not to laugh at her reaction. "Oh, I had completely forgotten about that." The couple sat on one of the red velvet sofas by the window of the common room. Most of the other students had gone to bed since it was growing late, but Hermione was waiting up for Harry to see how his special lessons with Snape were carrying on.
The twin held his smirk at bay the best he could, "Really? I thought girls were obsessed with the holiday. Haven't your dorm mates been chattering on about it? I'm in the boy's tower and I've heard plenty from that lot already… mostly complaining or boasting, but still."
The witch rolled her eyes, "Well, I might be in the midst of training my mind to tune out the incessant ramblings of Parvati and Lavender. So I must have missed those conversations."
"That's my girl," Fred couldn't suppress the proud smile he now wore as he leaned forward to kiss Hermione on the cheek, "Still haven't answered my question though."
A little bit of color dusted her cheeks, "Well, of course I will go to Hogsmeade with you. But…"
Fred felt his forehead furrow.
"... Just, don't… don't make a fuss," Hermione bowed her head down over the thick book that laid in her lap, "With everything going on at Hogwarts right now… and our extra review sessions, we don't necessarily want to draw attention..."
His lips pulled up to one side as Hermione attempted to find the words to explain herself.
"I know you like making a spectacle sometimes, and normally I would be fully supportive of whatever you plan; but right now, I think we need to keep our heads down," the witch had trouble looking up at Fred.
He took Hermione's hand and tugged her a little closer. Fred knew what she was so concerned over.
With the mass breakout from Azkaban and Minister Fudge laying the blame on Sirius, Hermione had grown even more worried about Harry and his Godfather. She had even offered Harry the Polypens, but the dark haired wizard had declined saying that Sirius had a better option that he promised was completely safe. Then there was the Ministry worker they had all met over the holiday break who turned up dead from a supposed Christmas gift that turned out to be devil's snare, which Hermione felt guilty over not recognizing immediately while they had all been at St. Mungo's. And of course, Professor Umbridge was having a very pleasant time ordering decrees whenever she liked to further restrict the students…
Hermione had begun to worry more and more about the DA. She hadn't voiced her concerns out load as of yet, but Fred could tell that she was uneasy about it every time someone walked inot the Room of Requirment. Funny enough though, the witch's anxiety over Dumbledore's Army being discovered also seemed to make her more determined to learn everything she could about Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hermione worked so hard at perfecting the spells that she was almost as proficient as Harry.
"I won't do anything too mad, I swear," Fred ducked his head down in an attempt to catch her eye.
The witch met his gaze and smiled, "Thank you."
"But… this is our first Valentine's together, and I won't be around constantly next year to ward off other blokes. So I won't be able to stay completely quiet, you know," the twin waggled his eyebrows and gave his best feigning innocence smile.
Hermione snorted, "What are you on about? Other blokes?" She looked at him with such disbelief, it honestly made Fred a little sad.
"If only you knew," Fred winked as he pushed the subject to the back of his mind for some future conversation. "But are you sure? You don't want me to post a banner on the announcement board, spell a little cupid to follow you around singing love songs to you? Or should I take an ad out in the Prophet proclaiming our relationship to all the Wizarding World?"
"Merlin, no," Hermione burst out laughing, "It's not like they would actually print it anyway. They don't seem to like reporting on the truth anymore."
Her laughter grew hollow.
But suddenly, Hermione's laughter halted all together. She looked at Fred with wide eyes as a strange grin began to spread across her face.
Fred was momentarily confused until he realized that the smile on her face was the exact expression that he and George used when they were planning schemes, "What are you plotting, Granger?"
"I… I'm not completely certain about it yet… I'll tell you as soon as I've put everything in order, though." Hermione wrapped her arms around Fred's neck and turned her body to face him, "Now that I've thought on it though; I can't wait for Valentine's day. And I do like chocolates and maybe a silly card. I'm sure you could charm something extraordinary if you have some spare time, but I don't need anything extravagant."
The twin nodded his head as he chuckled, "As you wish, Hermione."
Eek, so Hogsmeade date... anticipated schemes... and much more awaits!
Hope you all enjoyed that. Wanted some teasing between the twins. And of course some banter between Fred and Hermione.
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***Reviews... because they make me happy...
Always,
Misha
Ps. Check out the other stories by me: 'Begin Again' (which is now complete!), 'Thrown Back' and 'Penelope Jackson: The Lightning Thief.'
