Whispers in the dark
Chapter 25: Leap of faith
A/N: I own nothing except my mistakes. Also, a little time jump back to Hogwarts
Hermione was thoroughly enjoying her dinner, mainly because Fred and George had Quidditch try-outs and they were, for once, quiet for a while, so she could eat her dinner in peace whilst getting a chance to chat up with Neville.
That peace, however, was quickly ruined when halfway through dinner the boys came barging in again, their hair wet from just having taken a shower. George easily slipped on the bench between Angelina and Jordan, but Fred kept on strutting until he arrived at her spot, squeezing himself in between her and some third year, even though there really wasn't any room at all.
"How very nice of you to join me, Fred," Hermione spoke sarcastically, purposely not looking at him. She didn't need to, though. She knew he was smirking. "What can I say, I just wanted to share you that my dear brother and I made it onto the team this year around again."
Hermione had to bite back from smiling, quite enjoying it whenever she teased him. "How very delightful indeed," she said, trying very hard to sound unimpressed and not interested.
"You know," Fred spoke, and as he reached past her plate to grab some bread out of the basket on the left of her for his soup, he made a point of it to press his entire body into her, his face just inches away from hers as he turned it slightly to shoot her a grin. "I figured you'd be a little bit more excited to see your favourite person join the team again."
Fred lingered a bit longer, and Hermione had to try really hard to act natural, as if she didn't mind at all, very aware of several eyes on her. By now most of them had gotten used to the interaction between her and the twins, but not so much yet to this renewed physical contact. "You're right, Fred. I couldn't be more proud indeed," Hermione said sweetly, to which he shot her a cheeky grin before pulling back and casually buttering his bread.
"So where have our Sour Queen and Harry gone to, anyway?" Fred asked, dipping his bread into the soup and making a humming sound in approval, clearly liking the taste of it. "Harry is in detention with Umbridge," Hermione spoke bitterly, then added: "And Ron left as soon as I arrived for dinner," and at the latter she rolled her eyes.
Fred shot a sideway glance, a curious look on his face as he looked her over before propping a lopsided smile. "Umbridge, real nice woman, isn't she?" He asked before attending to his food again. Hermione snorted in disagreement, earning her a laugh from George. Clearly the sound had travelled far enough for him to hear. "Real charming, 'Mione," he spoke with a grin, to which Hermione merely squinted her eyes.
"Stop harassing my lady, George," Fred joked as he called back to George, having to lean back to spot his brother. "Wouldn't dare touch her, Freddie," George called back, shooting him a fat wink.
Feeling the burning of stares on her now, she almost had the tendency to scowl at those prying eyes of first and second years. Honestly, why was everyone always up in someone's business.
"It is utterly outrageous what that woman does, Fred," Hermione growled, gripping onto her spoon a bit tighter. She had long finished her dinner, but the minute Umbridge was discussed she had subconsciously reached for it. Perhaps she hoped that by crushing the spoon she could crush that woman as well.
"Why's that?" He prompted, then tried to catch Seamus' attention. "Oi, d'you mind passing me that rice?" He got his attention all right, or well, as much as was necessary as he passed it to Fred without barely giving him a glance, continuing in a heavy debate that he was having with Dean and Neville. "Thanks, mate," Fred said, then focused his attention back on her.
"She's a nightmare, honestly," Hermione began. "Insists on teaching us everything out of the book instead of putting it into practice," she went on, explaining the situation. Not that she had to, because Fred had classes from her too, but still. It helped her feel a little better if she could rant it all out. "Truly, how are we supposed to learn how to survive if we can't bloody learn how to defend ourselves? It's absolutely outrageous."
Fred turned to look at her and she willed herself to not look as mad as she was feeling. It wasn't anything personal to him, that woman just riled her up too much. He looked like he was about to say something very meaningful, and she bated her breath as to what he had to say. Truth is, her hopes were a little too far up.
"You can say many things about that woman, but at least she knows how to rock the colour pink." Fred spoke, earning him a scowl and a beating to his arm from her spoon.
A bit further down the table she heard some laughter erupt, and saw Fred lean back again as he sought contact with his twin brother. "Nice one, Freddie," George laughed and this time it was Fred's turn to wink at him.
"This isn't funny, Fred!" Hermione exclaimed, but Fred just laughed harder, though took a precautionary scooting to the right to get away from her a little bit, before he would be hit again. "You're right, Hermione, not funny at all." He said, but then broke out laughing again.
Biting her lip, she merely stared at him as he served himself some rice that Seamus had passed him earlier on, and took a big bite out of it, casually enjoying his dinner. "I could get you in trouble for insulting a Prefect, you know," Hermione spoke calmly as she averted her eyes, taking a bit of bread and taking a bite out of it.
She wasn't hungry anymore, though. It was simply to not burst out laughing as Fred's head whipped at her, riddled in surprise before he popped a lopsided smirk. "Oh yeah, is that so?" He challenged, and Hermione took her sweet time to swallow that piece of bread before replying, allowing herself to stay calm.
"Yeah, that's right," Hermione stated, but Fred wasn't intimidated in the slightest. In fact, he was enjoying this very much so as a devilish grin appeared on his lips. "What a pity that would be, Hermione," he spoke, scooting back to her as he leaned closer, nearly whispering under his breath, but loud enough for others to hear, "if it turned out I would insult the brightest witch of our age."
Darn him. Her comment was supposed to put him on the spot, but he had so easily turned it back around.
"Y'know," Fred began, a taunting hint clinging to his words. Hermione embraced for the worst, she knew that she had awoken something in Fred now. "If you wanted me alone, you could have just said so." Fred smirked, then took the last spoonful of his rice, finishing his dinner.
Hermione spluttered, not really knowing what to say to that. At the same time, she was very grateful that Ginny, nor Ron or Harry were here to hear their little conversation. Merlin knows what they were meant to think about this. It was bad enough with other Gryffindors – and some Hufflepuffs – listening in.
At her being in loss for words he let out a hearty chuckle before standing up.
Thinking he was about to leave for his brother or even leave the Great Hall completely she almost let out a sigh of relief, until she felt two hands resting themselves on her shoulders, giving it a light squeeze.
Before she had any chance to process what was going on she had to refrain herself from jumping in shock as Fred leaned down so his head was now next to hers as he stood behind her. "C'mon then, I'll grant you your wishes."
Knowing it was best to leave as she felt herself becoming very red indeed, and they still had a show to put on, she opted for a sweet smile as she hurried out of her seat. She almost began to feel giddy because of all this silliness, until she saw Ron coming into the Great Hall, having been halted in his steps as he clearly had been watching the ordeal between her and Fred.
As soon as she laid eyes on him he turned back around on his heel and disappeared as soon as he had come in.
Feeling a light pressure against her back two hands made their way to rest on each of her arms as his voice whispered under his breath – only for her to hear – "don't mind him," and felt a gentle squeeze as he pushed her forward a bit, indicating that she should go ahead and walk.
Wordlessly following his hint, they left out of the Great Hall, Fred giving her back some personal space as they were out of eyesight. "I honestly don't understand what has gotten into him," Hermione sighed, leaning against one of the walls, not really feeling like walking back to the Gryffindor common room yet, being certain that Ron would be there.
Fred joined her in her desperation, propping a foot to the wall as he casually stared out in front of him. "I'm just saying, it's not any of his business what I do." She defended, then let out a breath. "I mean, for all we care we decide to go ahead and start snogging here. What is it to him, huh?" Hermione prompted, shaking her head in annoyance. If only she knew why Ron made such a deal out of it.
At that Fred snapped his head to her, an amused smirk playing on his lips as a mischievous twinkle reached his eyes. "Is that an invitation, Hermione?" He teased, to which Hermione realised what kind of example she had used and felt her cheeks redden.
Fred let out a laugh as he simply pushed himself away from the wall with his foot. "Y'know what I think?" He asked, and stretched out his hand to her.
Hermione was hesitant to take it, but decided against better judgement regardless, taking a grip on his hand and letting him pull her away from the wall. "I think you should start caring less about my dear brother." And at this he dragged her along with him, still holding onto her hand as they almost made a run for the stairs.
She didn't understand why they were running, until the stairs began to move a bit. Nonetheless, he didn't slow down. In fact, he made them speed up. "And start caring more about having a bit of fun." Was all he said before they made a last sprint for it, him dragging her along with him as they made a jump to get from the moving staircase to the platform that was almost out of reach, landing on it just in time before the staircase had completely turned to the other side.
For a moment Hermione was in complete shock of what they just did, but then felt the adrenaline kick in and let out a bubbling laugh in amazement of what they had just done. Willingly letting him drag her around staircases and corridors, twirling her around sometimes just to get a laugh out of her as they made their way to the Gryffindor tower, him purposely taking some detours to catch her off-guard.
Perhaps he had been right after all. She could do with a bit more laughter than books sometimes. Or jealous friends for that matter. Sometimes it was indeed better to not think so much, but to just be, and have fun with that.