Hermione was stretched on the couch when Fred finally went up to the flat. Dinner had been cooked; he could smell it on the air. Likely if he went into the kitchen, a plate with a warming spell was there. Fred hadn't planned on talking to George as long as he did, but he needed his more empathetic twin to talk him through it.
Hermione had fallen asleep with a book in her hand. He felt a small ping of guilt that he kept her waiting. She had two plates sitting on the coffee table with cake slices. Fred knew she wanted to apologize, and his father always told him never to go to bed fighting.
He sat down and gingerly lifted her feet into his lap, kneading at her arches.
"Freddy," she grumbled.
"Yes, I'm sorry I kept you waiting."
Hermione jerked and sat up. "What time is it?"
"Quarter to one," he sighed.
Hermione pulled her feet from him and took his hand between hers. "Fred, please, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, and I'm sorry I kept this from you."
He breathed and nodded. "I know."
Her eyes searched his, and her lower lip quivered. "Talk to me? Tell me what's wrong?"
Fred licked his lips and turned to face her. "Hermione, what you did was wrong. What you hid from me hurt, and I'm trying my hardest to figure out why."
"Because I didn't want you touched by it, Fred. I wanted it to stay away from you, so there wouldn't be this," She huffed and squeezed his fingers.
Fred cautiously peeled her fingers from his, and he cleared his throat. "What you did was horrible for us, Hermione. You lied to me, and you hid something dire from me. I can understand the logic, but we're a team. We are in this together."
Her face scrunched as she chewed the inside of her cheek. "I know."
"You made me feel very insecure about my place at your side," Fred said.
"I'm sorry," she breathed. "Fred," she stopped when he held up his finger.
"Let me finish," he stated. "Not only did it create insecurities. I don't know if you're capable of respecting that line. I told you, honesty was my most important value for a relationship. I ruined my last one with not being honest about my feelings for you."
Hermione's face skewed as she attempted to swallow down tears.
"I'm not asking anymore. I'm telling you. If you want to marry me, if I'm your partner till death do us part, you will have to be completely honest with me," He said with a firm brow.
"Of course," she breathed.
Fred took her right hand and slid the ring off. Hermione feared the worst at this point, and tears slid down her cheeks freely. He lifted it in front of her with his two fingers. "This isn't a request. This is a promise. I'm not asking you to marry me. I promise you that I will love you forever. Even through the ballocks and grim. If you can't trust me with your complete truth, one-hundred percent Hermione, then you should determine if you really want to wear this."
She didn't move. Fred took it to her hand and set it down, closing her fingers over it. "You didn't let me protect you. That's my fault for not being adamant about my desire to do so. I take the blame for what befell you at work. That doesn't make you any less desirable or damaged. I would kill someone for you, Hermione. You need to respect that line."
How? How on the surface of the planet did he understand her so well? Did she really deserve a man so willing to fall on his sword for her? Here he was taking the blame for something he didn't have to. It was her decisions that caused such seedy experiences. Hermione was the cause.
"Freddy," she croaked.
He glanced at her eyes and nodded. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry that I didn't give you my vulnerability and respect," Hermione murmured before sniffling her nose.
"I know. I'm sorry that I didn't clarify that it was needed. Hermione, I know this is new for you. I know that we're in this with you trying to figure out how to love and be loved more than romance novels that you hoard and read when you think I'm busy with my own books. It's new, it's frightening, but you have to trust me completely if this is going to work. You have to make that your mission with us, Hermione. I don't ask for much," he smiled and skated his fingers along her wet cheeks.
"No, you don't," Hermione agreed with a smile.
"I need you to make me more important than your work sometimes," Fred stated. "Ideally all the time, but that's a stretch for a future minister," he chuckled.
Hermione hemmed and reached back toward the side table. "Then, if you want, I would like to share with you," she declared as she held out the chocolate bar. "Kingsley said it would help if I didn't know where to start."
Fred smirked and scratched his chin. "He did, hm? Where did he get that idea from?"
"From the wizard who helped him secure several indictments today. It seems someone left a red box of chocolates with his assistant today as he reviewed the head's reports one on one. She was so happy to see them she offered each a chocolate unknowing what befell them," Hermione smirked.
"Slithery Minister," Fred snickered.
"Oh, it was quite interesting," Hermione beamed. "It can't be considered a slight if his assistant unknowingly handed them their confessions," she laughed.
Fred took the bar of chocolate and halved it. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Hermione nodded. "I am. Fred, you have given me all of you. It's time I learn how to give you myself back."
Fred set his half aside and reached for the cake. "I'll let you have the floor. My confessions might be a little ridiculous." He laughed.
Hermione agreed and took a decent size bite of the chocolate. When she chewed it down, she sighed. "Okay, where do we start?"
The green mist developed, and she gnawed at her lower lip. 'I found my wedding dress.'
Fred smirked and shook his finger. "I knew it, and we'll go back to that."
"Damnit," Hermione swore.
'I don't deserve you.'
Fred forked at his cake and sighed. "Yes, you do."
"I truly don't, Fred," Hermione sniffled.
'I'm worried that I don't know how to juggle our relationship with my work.'
"We'll figure that out. I'll be more proactive about saying when things are important for us to do. I know it's hard, but I'll make an effort to make myself more of a priority when needed," Fred said before taking the bite of cake.
Hermione winced and exhaled. "This is hard, but I don't want to disappoint you."
Before he could answer, the mist formed into loopy letters. 'I cried in the bathroom when Dimas touched me.'
Fred inhaled and pressed a finger to his mouth. "Don't say anything. I need to get this out."
Hermione nodded as she recoiled in the slightest.
"If a man ever touches you again, I might chance going to Azkaban, do you understand?" He breathed and closed his eyes. "You're my girl, G., and you will always be my girl. You need to tell me these things so I can take care of you, alright?"
Fred opened his eyes and glanced over at the witch. Hermione thinned her lips and wiped her eyes on her sweater. Her curls bobbed as she agreed, and he stared at her. There was this sadness about her that made him exhale.
"You're too beautiful to believe someone else wouldn't want you. You're tops, I've told you that on top of being probably the smartest witch alive. You have to believe that people will want to exploit that or conquer it. Trust me, I will take care of you if you let me, but you have to let me."
Hermione grimaced as tears skated down her cheek. She rocked her head, and Fred relaxed his posture.
Fred breathed once more and forked his cake. "Go ahead, continue."
"Fred, I'm so sorry," she murmured.
No mist came out, and she took another bite. "I truly am," she said after swallowing.
'My biggest regret is not telling you about the bill and all things that came with it.'
"I know," he murmured before eating more cake.
"I love you, Freddy," she voiced.
'I wonder what we'll name our children during my free time at work.'
Hermione clasped her hand to her mouth as her eyes shot open.
Fred laughed and raised a hand in the air before whooping. "I knew it!"
"That was truly personal!" Hermione hissed.
The mist slid out, and she was tempted to bat at it after the last confession.
'I pray that your mum doesn't force us to have a big wedding.'
Hermione closed her eyes and exhaled before looking at him.
Fred was grinning like an idiot through the cake. "Oh? Not a big wedding? A small wedding, maybe in summer. Though you have always liked fall a bit more."
She narrowed her eyes and huffed. Fred set down the cake and maneuvered over to her. "Maybe just our families, playing with the autumn leaves by the pond? Victoire tossing them about instead of flower petals while you walk down the aisle and stop everyone's heart?"
"Fred," she breathed as he grew closer to her.
'I've never loved anyone more than you, Fred Weasley.' wisped around their heads.
He smiled and touched her cheek. "I know. Me either, G.," he murmured.
Hermione sneered and leaned away from him. Fred was scowling as he hunted for a kiss, only to be met with a handful of chocolate cake. Fred shuddered away from her and groaned, wiping his face. "You're gonna get it," he snarled.
Hermione screeched and leaped off the sofa. "No, don't, I just washed my hair!" She cried through a broad grin.
He snatched up his plate and chased her around the sofa.
"Not so fast, Fred, please!" She giggled and attempted to escape his grasp.
He snagged her and tossed her to the couch before pinning her with his giant form. "Here, have some cake," he snickered and scooped some off the plate.
She wormed away from his offered fingers, and he smeared her face around her chin and cheeks. Hermione didn't have time to argue. He kissed her deeply after. The plate clattered to the floor as his fingers traced her cheeks. Their faces were covered in quite possibly the best chocolate cake she ever had.
It was this instantaneous motion, and she knew him well enough to know he needed it. His gooey fingers traveled under the sweater and caressed her skin as he moaned and pressed her further into the sofa. She arched under his touch, all the while stroking his ego. In more ways than one, it would seem. Fred grumbled through their snogging and yanked at her sweats.
Hermione whimpered as she maneuvered, and soon they were gone. Pressing him away, she climbed from the cushion and forced him to sit. Hermione climbed on his lap and stroked his chocolate-covered beard with a smile. "You're better than chocolate, Freddy."
The zipper sounded, and soon their once strained night became much more accessible. He would never forget her wearing just his old jumper either. It was a milestone; he could definitely say that she was thinking very much the same things he wondered.
