When third year Gryffindor beater and amazing prankster Fred Weasley befriended Hermione Granger, first year Gryffindor bookworm many of the students of Hogwarts thought it strange. It was a strange sight to behold; the often boisterous and crude red head with the quiet and reserved curly haired witch but somehow, they had become the best of friends.
By the time Christmas of Hermione's first year had passed they were inseparable; Fred would make Hermione laugh uncontrollably, tears rolling down her face as she used his body to stop herself falling to the floor, likewise, Hermione would bring out a more serious side in the Weasley twin as she encouraged him to do his best and to be an individual; unlike most people she saw Fred as his own person rather than an extension of George. It was a strange friendship to be sure, but the students of Hogwarts quickly got used to it and realised that the pair brought out the best in each other. Nobody not even George was quite sure how the friendship had started but somehow the pair's relationship worked.
The pair could often be found snuggled up in corners of the castle discussing everything and anything together from class work to the latest pranks Fred was planning and even lengthy debates on the rights of House Elves.
Many a time over the years the pair would fall asleep in front of the Gryffindor fire, snuggled up on one of the squishy sofas in the common room, the other Gryffindor students would smile at the pair and cover them in blankets, wondering when the pair would realise that they were perfect for one another.
Fred Weasley had been heading to the kitchens to get snack; it was close to midnight, but he had awoken to his stomach rumbling, try as he might he could not get back to sleep, so he had grabbed the Marauders Map and set off towards the kitchens.
It wasn't until he reached the third floor that he saw a tiny dot in one of the classrooms; Hermione Granger, the little first year his brother Ron often complained about was apparently not tucked up safely in Gryffindor tower with all the other first year lions. There was no reason why the girl should be out of bed and Fred felt an unease in his stomach at the thought of leaving her there to continue his journey to the kitchens. With a sigh he approached the classroom door and quietly slipped into the room, observing the curly-haired girl.
The young bushy-haired girl was sat in the corner of the room, bathed in moonlight from a nearby window. Fred could see that she was still in her school uniform, her knees were drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs, her body hunched forward as she let out gut-wrenching sobs. Fred winced at the sound and gently walked over to the girl, settling on his knees beside her.
"Hermione, what's happened," he asked gently, lightly stroking her back the way Ginny liked when she was upset. The girl before him had tensed briefly at the contact and then blurted out a whole confession of how she hates Hogwarts because the emotionally and mentally inept stupid boys who were mean to her, and all the girls were boy crazy fools who cared for little more than gossip and make up. She had told him that she loved classes but strived for intellectually stimulating conversations. Fred had found himself laughing; and Hermione's nose had scrunched up with hurt. Fred had explained to the witch that he wasn't laughing at her but at the thought of any of the first-year boys offering intellectually stimulating conversation. Fred had then cracked a joke at Ron's expense causing Hermione to snort, her hands over her mouth, eyes wide. Fred had found himself laughing once more, the young girl chuckling alongside him. He'd helped Hermione to her feet and taken her to the kitchen with him; where he was able to keep up with the young witch's intellect. Hermione and Fred had sat in the kitchens for over an hour that night; eating snacks and talking about Athermancy and House Elves; Fred liked the passion the little witch had and the way she laughed at his jokes, he also discovered that she had a wonderful dry sense of humour that had him laughing constantly. Hermione liked that Fred understood what she was talking about and that he treated her like an equal, she was pleasantly surprised that he understood her jokes that usually went over people's head. Thus, over a plate of cakes in the dead of night a friendship was formed; the following morning Fred would sit down at breakfast with Hermione and continue the discussion they had started in the kitchens; neither of the pair caring what the students of Hogwarts thought of their friendship.
You'd have thought Hermione becoming friends with Harry and Ron would have put distance between her and Fred but if anything, it made the pair closer. Hermione would seek Fred out to complain about her new friends and Fred would calm the girl and help her prank the duo in retaliation. He taught Hermione the subtle art of pranking. Fred loved when Hermione became mischievous; many of his and George's successes like their famous Canary Creams were because of Hermione's genius and wicked sense of humour. It also helped that Fred was able to prank his younger brother Ron, who's reactions to Fred and Hermione's pranks were always hilarious. Fred loved to watch Hermione when she was up to no good; she got a twinkle in her eyes and a deviously mischievous smile on her face. Hermione would always try to supress her smile, but it would always appear usually with a melodic laugh and if she were truly amused an undignified snort that would make her blush while giggling harder, Fred's booming laugh would join hers as he'd smiled tenderly at his petite comrade.
As the years progressed Fred and Hermione only grew closer; each of them knowing the other like the back of their own hand. Both Fred and Hermione could finish each other's sentences and relied on each other for everything. When Harry was in danger, Hermione would run her plans by Fred before carrying them out and Fred likewise would run his and George's schemes by her before going through with them. It was no surprise that everyone they met thought that they were a couple and everyone who knew them knew they were perfect for one another. Both Fred and Hermione vehemently denied that they were more than friends when questioned on the status of their relationship over the years.
"They remind me so much of Molly and Arthur when they were teenagers," Madam Rosmerta commented gesturing to the teenagers in a darkened booth across her bar, Fred had one long arm loosely across the back of Hermione's chair and both were laughing at something George had said to them from where he sat on the other side of the table.
"Molly and Arthur were always condoling at their age, Fred and Hermione haven't even realised they are attracted to one another," Pomona Sprout replied smiling fondly at the Gryffindor couple.
"If anything, they remind me of James and Lily, they danced around one another for years before they finally got together," Minerva McGonigal told the pair before downing her brandy.
"James was aware of his feelings though wasn't he, asked out Lily every chance he got," Rosmerta chuckled, pouring more brandy into her friend's glass.
"If rumours are to be believed more than one young man plans to ask Miss Granger to the Yule Ball, perhaps Fred will finally realise that they are more than friends and ask her out," Pomona whispered conspiringly to her comrades, each of them watching as Fred helped the brunette fourth year out of the booth and into her cloak.
"Who would be dumb enough to ask her out, everyone knows she's Fred's, theirs a high stakes betting pool across all four houses for goodness sakes," Minerva muttered.
"Don't forget the staff pool as well, Pomona told her friend happily as the young friends exited the pub into the snowy village.
"Blaise you cannot be serious," Draco Malfoy questioned his Italian friend for what felt to be the dozenth time since he'd first mentioned his plan to ask Hermione Granger to the Yule Ball.
"Hermione is lovely, we've been paired in Runes for over a year and get on well, why wouldn't I ask her to the ball, she's a lot nicer and prettier than many of the girls in our house.
"What about the Weasley twins," Theo drawled from where he lay reading on his bed.
"What about them, Hermione isn't dating either of them and she isn't betrothed either, she's single and the twin that pines after her has had years to ask her out. As far as I'm concerned, she is fair game, even if his twin has threatened guy's away from her. I'm not scared of a poor redhead," Blaise responded confidently as he straightened his tie a final time.
"You're funeral," Theo chuckled as the dark haired Slytherin exited the dorm, a box of Honeydukes Finest Chocolates in hand.
"He's an idiot," Draco muttered.
"That he is," Theo responded.
"Want to follow him," Draco asked.
"You know I do; he plans to do this in front of the whole school," Theo laughed as he stood up, marking his place in his book with a leather bookmark before following his blonde-haired friend out of the room.
Draco and Theo arrived at the doors of the silent Great Hall, just as their friend was approaching the Gryffindor Table, all eyes were on the Slytherin as he strode confidently towards the Gryffindor Princess whose chocolate eyes were wide and nervous.
"Hermione Granger will you go to the Yule Ball with me," Blaise asked confidently, holding the box of chocolates out to the girl.
"I'm sorry Blaise, I already have a date to the ball," the girl whispered, her voice carrying throughout the room.
"Save me a dance then, whoever you're going with is a lucky bloke you're the perfect girl Hermione," Blaise smiled at the brunette before turning to walk away from the Gryffindor table, his shoulders slumped with disappointment.
"He's right, I am a lucky man, your perfect princess," though quiet and intended only for the girl next to him to hear, Fred Weasley's voice carried throughout the room, all eyes were on the pair as he lifted their conjoined hands from underneath the table and kissed the back of hers softly, smiling lovingly at his best friend.
"I think I'm pretty lucky too," she whispered leaning her head against his shoulder with a secretive smile.
"WHEN," Ginny shouted gesturing from her brother to her best friend with erratic hands.
"Officially, we got together on Hermione's birthday, unofficially we've been together for years," Fred told her happily.
"Were perfect together," Hermione whispered.
"There's plenty more witches out there," Draco whispered patting his friend consolingly on the back as they left the hall.
"Not like Hermione," Blaise told him sadly.
"Drink some Firewhiskey and forget all about her, you knew she was smitten with the twin, it is no surprise they are going together," Theo told him as they descended into the dungeons.
"Stupid Weasley twin been perfect for the girl of my dreams," Blaise muttered angrily
As it turned out they were perfect together It may have taken the pair longer to realise than those around them but once they new the truth nothing could ruin their relationship. The pair fought through hardships, wars and dealt with loss, they attended Yule Balls, funerals, and Ministry functions together. With their best friend by the side, they overcame every hardship and grew old together, eventually having a family of their own who would tell stories of their love to future generations long after Fred and Hermione had passed on into the ever after.
As for Blaise Zabini he too found love, it took him a while and many nameless one night stands to get over his feelings for Hermione. However one day Blaise left a book shop in Paris knocking over a pretty French witch in his hurry, the moment his eye's locked with hers he knew that freshly graduated Gabrielle Delacour was the girl for him but that is a completely different story.