AU! Set in Order of the Phoenix when the twins were still at school.

WRITTEN FOR THC, YEAR 7

Standard

Gryffindor, DADA

Prompt:

(object) shoelaces

Word Count: 1876/3000

Fred hesitated as he gazed at Hermione sitting on the couch in the Gryffindor common room. A small smile played on her lips as she read her book, and the sight never failed to make Fred's heart skip a beat.

He'd had a crush on her ever since he'd met her back in his third year, and his feelings hadn't waned over the years. In fact, they had just increased as time went by, and Fred made sure to hide them from everyone. Unfortunately for him, George was not only his best friend but also his twin brother; he immediately understood Fred's feelings for the brunette witch, and he never failed to tease him about it any chance he got.

Now that the twins were in their last year at Hogwarts and planning on escaping the hellhole Umbridge had turned the castle into, George had forced him to come to terms with his feelings and say something to Hermione. It was the reason the two boys were currently hiding in the small alcove beside the stairs and creepily watching Hermione.

Fred bit his lower lip, wondering if he could really go up to her and ask her out. His heart thrummed like a hummingbird in his chest, his stomach did repeated backflips, and an uncomfortable lump formed in his throat at the thought of facing her.

Behind him, George groaned. "Fred, just do it already. If she rejects you, play it off as a prank. If she accepts, great! At least you'll stop ranting to me about how gorgeous she looks."

Fred's ears turned red, and he elbowed George's ribs. "She'll hear you! Be quiet," he hissed, shooting Hermione a terrified look. Fortunately, she was still absorbed by the riveting book.

George rolled his eyes and elbowed him back just because he could. "Just go up to her already! She's not going to hex you… I think."

Fred paled at the thought of Hermione whipping out her wand to hex him, and he began to lose his courage. "I can't do this." He swallowed and shook his head, taking a small step back right onto George's foot.

George squawked in pain and shoved Fred forward, who almost tripped over his untied shoelaces. "You're doing this, or else I'll go and tell her you peed the bed until you were twelve!"

Fred scowled and glared at his twin, but he knew George would do it. He sighed and said, "Fine, I'll go ask her out. And by the way, that was you, not me."

"She doesn't know that, so who will she believe?" George shoved him towards Hermione again.

Fred took a deep breath in to calm himself as he tried to saunter towards Hermione. But his shoelaces had other plans for him.

The moment Fred reached her, he tripped over his untied laces and went flying over the couch, sprawling straight onto Hermione's lap. George burst into peals of laughter and leaned back against the wall to watch the scene unfold in front of him.

Hermione squealed and dropped her book on his head, surprised by what had happened. "Oh, Merlin, are you alright, Fred?" she asked, gently helping him up to a seated position.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Fred muttered, embarrassed by his less-than-smooth entrance. But then again, he was a Gryffindor and a Weasley; he realised he could just use the situation to his advantage! He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled down at Hermione. "Could you tie my shoelaces?"

Hermione frowned, confusion visible in her eyes. "Why? Are you hurt?"

"No, I just don't want to fall for anyone else," Fred said, his tone deep and confident.

Hermione stared at him for a few moments before she pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. "Are you okay, Fred? Did you hurt your head?"

Fred's confidence deflated. If she didn't understand what he meant, then there was no way she could reciprocate his feelings, could she? His shoulders slumped, but he tried to keep his demeanour cheerful. He decided to try another line on her. "No, but I'm sure you're hurt."

"Why would I be hurt? Oh, you mean when you fell on me? No, I'm fine," Hermione said, smiling at him.

Even though Fred couldn't see George, he was sure his twin was laughing at him somewhere hidden in the alcove. Hermione had just ruined his pick-up line without any hesitation.

Still, he said, "No, I mean when you fell from heaven."

There was absolute silence. Hermione stared at him, and Fred thought she was probably wondering what was wrong with him.

"Are you… trying to flirt with me?" Hermione asked, squinting at him. She frowned and said, "Fred, what's going on? Are you trying to pull my leg?"

Fred groaned and dropped his head into his hands. Nothing was going right, and he wished he had a way of going back in time so that he could stop himself from tripping over his shoelaces. Those damned things had ruined everything for him.

"No, he's just trying—and failing, might I add?—to ask you out," George said, suddenly popping up from behind the couch where he had been hiding, unbeknownst to both Fred and Hermione.

Hermione almost jumped off the couch when she heard George. "What?" She turned to look at Fred. "You're… asking me out?"

"Yes, is that so hard to believe?" Fred asked, secretly disappointed in himself.

"Yes…" Hermione murmured, rubbing the back of her neck. She nibbled on her lower lip before she asked, "Why would you want to ask me out? You were dating Angelina, weren't you?"

Before Fred could answer her, George butted in, "Are you kidding me? Hermione, this idiot's been half in love with you since he met you! All he talks about is how pretty and brilliant and amazing you are, how you'd never look at him twice, how your brown hair looks like it's woven with strands of gold when you study by the lake, how your deep brown eyes are his kind of heaven, how he'd love to—"

"Okay, we get it," Fred cried, slapping his hand over George's mouth to shut him up. All the blood had left Fred's face as George had complained about him, and he couldn't bear to face Hermione for fear of what she'd say.

Just then, Hermione placed her hand on Fred's shoulder, and he almost fainted at the soft sensation. She whispered, "You really said those things to him?"

"Yerrff!" George's voice was muffled behind Fred's hand, but Hermione heard him loud and clear.

Her eyes were trained on Fred's as she repeated her question. Fred swallowed but shakily nodded. "Yes… please don't hurt me!" He raised his hands to cover his face, trembling in fear.

Hermione reached out to take his hands in hers. And then, to Fred's hope and delight, she offered him a shy smile, her cheeks tinging pink as she looked up at him from under her lashes. She murmured, "I think it's cute…"

"Okay, let's get to the point already," George demanded. He placed his hands on their shoulders and said, "Do you, Fred Gideon Weasley, wish to take this lady, Hermione Jean Granger, out on a date? Where you'll charm the pants off of her and live happily ever after."

Fred blushed deep red at George's directness, but when George stared at him pointedly, he stammered a weak, "Yes."

"You're supposed to say I do—not 'yes'." George rolled his eyes and smacked the back of Fred's head.

"Okay, fine, I do," Fred grumbled, trying not to meet Hermione's eyes.

George hummed appreciatively and turned to Hermione. "And do you, Hermione Jean Granger, accept this idiot's request to date you? Even though it's a terribly strange way of asking you out?"

Hermione threw her head back and laughed, the sound echoing through the empty common room. "You're asking me out for him," she said pointedly, still chuckling at the situation.

"Just go with the flow," George said, waving his hand off-handedly at her.

"Okay, then…" Hermione trailed off as she looked straight into Fred's eyes. His heart raced furiously in his chest as he waited for her to answer George's question.

Hermione's smile widened as she said, "I do."

Fred almost fainted at her reply. His shoulders sagged as he let out a long sigh of utter relief.

George laughed at Fred's reaction and clapped him on his back.

"Wait, hold on!" he cried suddenly.

Fred frowned, bewildered, as George leapt over the couch and landed smoothly on the ground. He crouched down and began yanking on Fred's shoelaces.

"What are you doing?" Hermione and Fred asked in unison and shared a small smile.

"You'll see," George said with a grin. He got to his feet and looked down at the couple on the couch. He cleared his throat before he said dramatically, "Give me your hands."

Fred barely suppressed his groan when he understood what George was up to, but still, he extended his hand. Hermione looked suspicious but followed suit.

George beamed as he handed a shoelace to Fred and the other to Hermione. "With these unique rings, you two are bound to go on an amazing date to Hogsmeade this weekend. Now, both of you, repeat after me—"

"Is this really necessary?" Hermione asked, her eyes shining with amusement.

"Yes! How else will Fred know that he's not dreaming this all up?" George asked, attempting to sound serious but failing.

"I've dreamt of asking her out many, many times, but I've never dreamt you'd be here with us," Fred deadpanned, causing Hermione to burst into peals of laughter.

"You both are mean," George grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh, fine, we'll use the shoelaces," Hermione said, her shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter. She straightened the lace and turned to Fred. "Give me your hand."

Fred almost whacked her in the face in his excitement. "Sorry," he said sheepishly.

Hermione simply grinned as she carefully wound the shoelace around Fred's ring finger a few times. Her fingers grazed his hand a few times, and it took everything in Fred not to squeal.

Fred sniffled when she finally tied the ends together in a perfect little bow. He held his hand up to inspect his finger and whispered, "I love it!" He beamed at her and grabbed her hand, trying not to show how his own hands shook at the contact.

Hermione smiled gently as Fred looped the other shoelace around her finger and tied it in an awkward bow. He tugged on the ends to make them the same size but failed. Hermione reached out to stop him.

"It's perfect," she whispered. Her eyes were soft and warm and filled with all shades of brown that Fred couldn't name but he'd be more than happy to learn about.

"Just like you," Fred murmured. His insides were almost goo as he gazed into her beautiful eyes.

"And now," George said as loudly and dramatically as possible, "it is time for me to leave before I throw up."

Fred couldn't take his eyes off Hermione even as George made loud stomping sounds while retreating to the stairs. There was nothing in the world that could ruin his mood—not even Umbridge.