I'm so sorry I haven't updated this story in a while. For some reason I thought I had it completely updated. I only have a few more chapters left to post then that is this story finished.
Chapter 53 – The Morning After
Hermione woke up in a set of strong arms. She laid frozen, wondering who on earth she had ended up in bed with. Hermione closed her eyes tight in a bid to remember what exactly had happened the previous evening. Then it hit her, a flash of ginger hair, those sparkling blue eyes and a fit body to boot, it was only Fred Weasley. She left out a sigh of relief knowing that it was Fred and not some random guy. Hermione wasn't even drunk but the events leading up to her ending up in bed with Fred were fuzzy. Hermione lifted up the quilt, peering under but noticed she still had her underwear on. That was a good sign right? Hermione closed her eyes again as her head began to throb. Maybe she had been drunker than she thought she was.
Fred stirred in his sleep, startling Hermione from her thoughts. She turned on to her side to look at her company for the first time. Fred's ginger hair was sticking up and the scar on his chest was visible as the quilt came up to Fred's waist. Fred's skin was paler than Hermione's with a splatter of freckles and a small dusting of ginger hair. Hermione made a mental note of how handsome Fred looked when he slept, or in general actual. Hermione put her small hand on Fred's shoulder, gently shaking it. Fred's eyes fluttered open, instantly noticing Hermione staring at him. A grin spread across his face as he placed his hands behind his head confidently.
"Morning Mione." Fred said in a cheery tone.
"Good morning." Hermione replied.
"Yes, it is a very good morning indeed." Fred grinned.
"Did we, you know, last night?" Hermione asked.
"No, we didn't. We nearly did though." Fred replied.
"Was I really that drunk?" Hermione asked.
"I don't think you were drunk at all. Maybe a little tipsy. In saying that you were very eager to get me into bed." Fred answered.
"Why are my memories of last night all fuzzy then?" Hermione wondered.
"I have no idea, mine are perfectly fine." Fred answered.
"And why didn't we sleep together?" Hermione then asked.
"Are you gutted we didn't?" Fred asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"I'm just wondering that's all." Hermione said.
"You were very keen for us to sleep together but as much as I wanted too, I thought it would be best that we didn't, in case there was some regret this morning. I somehow managed to talk some sense into you." Fred replied.
"Wow, Fred Weasley had to talk some sense into me? Wait until the others hear about that." Hermione scoffed.
"Are you mad at me for stopping our little night of passion?" Fred asked.
"No I'm not actually. Thank you for that." Hermione said.
"Do you remember anything I said to you last night?" Fred asked.
"I really wish I could remember but everything is a blur." Hermione answered, feeling annoyed at herself.
"How about I make us some breakfast and see if that jogs your memory?" Fred offered.
"Yes that would be a good idea then we can discuss what happened last night better once I have a clearer head." Hermione replied.
****
Fred had made Hermione some coffee and a plate of toast for them to share. He wasn't annoyed at Hermione for not remembering anything from the night before. He did want her to remember though as he ended up admitting his feelings for her and he did ask her out too. Hermione was silent as she ate her breakfast as though trying in vain to remember something. She'd sometimes close her eyes or screw up her face in concentration.
"So tell me exactly what happened last night." Hermione urged.
"Well, you asked me to bring you back here, we snogged several times then you started to undress me, I got you out of your dress, we kissed some more and you tried to seduce me." Fred explained.
"And?" Hermione urged.
"I managed to talk you out of it before we did." Fred answered.
"Was that it?" Hermione asked.
"Ideally I'd like you to remember our little conversation." Fred said.
"Was it important?" Hermione asked.
"I would say it was quite important as I told you some stuff and asked you something important." Fred replied being cryptic.
Hermione dropped her head into her hands, feeling frustrated with herself. If Fred had asked her something important, she wanted to remember it.
"Look, go and have a nice bath or a shower, whatever you fancy then we'll talk." Fred said.
"We'll need to go back to the burrow soon or Molly will be wondering where we are." Hermione said.
"Ginny and George will cover for the both of us." Fred said.
"Just answer me one thing, I wasn't being too crazy last night?" Hermione wondered.
"No not at all. You had a few drinks, you danced with Ginny quite a bit and we even slow danced. Then we went outside and kissed before you asked me to bring you here." Fred answered.
"How much did I drink?" Hermione then asked.
"Only a couple of glasses of wine and a cocktail I think. I don't think you had any more than that." Fred replied.
"Right well, I'll go and mull things over in a bath for a bit and hope the caffeine kicks in soon." Hermione said.
"Right you are, Mione." Fred said as he watched her disappear up the stairs.
Fred stood up and washed their breakfast dishes the muggle way. He went over the events of the previous night time and time again. He just didn't understand why Hermione couldn't remember what happened. It did mean he'd have to admit how to felt about her all over again and this time around, it might not have the same reaction from Hermione. One thing was for sure, Fred was very thankful he didn't give into temptation and sleep with Hermione. Fred did wonder if Hermione was lying about not remembering the previous night's events, just because she was in denial about everything.
Meanwhile
Hermione had ran herself a hot bubble bath, filling the tub up hot water and adding some lavender smelling bubble bath. She then lit some candles which she had set around the bathroom and set a record player to play some relaxing music that belonged to Fleur. She undressed then stepped into the water. The hot water seemed to sooth any aches and pains that she had. She closed her eyes and savoured the relaxing atmosphere while mulling things over in her head. She mind seemed to became less foggy and the events of the previous night began to become clearer.
She remembered kissing Fred then asking him to come back to Shell Cottage with her. She found herself smiling when she remembered kissing Fred and how he made her feel. Then the events after that came flooding back, hitting her like Hogwarts Express. Hermione sat up in the tub and let out a gasp as she remembered practically begging Fred to sleep with her. However all the memories of that night were not bad, she finally remembered Fred admitting how he really felt about her. Fred Weasley liked Hermione Granger, Fred Weasley had asked Hermione out on a date. What amazed Hermione the most was that Fred Weasley had managed to talk her out of making a huge mistake and that mistake being sleeping with him while under the influence of alcohol.
Once she had established what exactly had happened, she then began to wonder about how she felt about Fred. Yes, Fred was a lovely man who had been an amazing friend to Hermione over the past few weeks. Actually he had been her rock, the one she felt safest with and felt that she trusted the most. Hermione also thought that Fred was a very handsome young man, who was a great kisser and had a great body. He always knew how to put a smile on her face which is exactly what Hermione needed her life. Ron was so good at removing her happy feelings whereas Fred was the opposite.
It was clear to Hermione that she had been hiding her actual feelings for Fred and it was all because of what had happened with Ron. Ron had called her a slut many a time and accused her of seeing his brothers behind his back. Hermione knew that Fred would never ever treat a lady how Ron had treated her. It was official Hermione Granger liked and had feelings for Fred Weasley. She was not going to let Ron's abuse stop her from being happy and following her heart.
