"We should have a bonfire tonight." Ginny announced tossing down the Daily Prophet she had just been reading. It was Sunday, April 30th, and everyone had gathered around the Burrow for the weekly Weasley lunch. Lunch was over now and since Hermione was the only one that was still living at the Burrow, nearly everyone else had already gone.
"Why?" Ron asked, not taking his eyes off of the chess board. Harry shook his head as Ron captured another of his pieces.
"Because I'm bored, and I want to." She replied. "We can have some marshmallows and go for a swim."
"If you get some bangers too, I'm in." Ron told her.
"Ugh. Fine. Harry?"
"Sounds good." He shrugged.
"'Mione?" Ginny asked, looking over at her. Hermione had been curled up in the window seat for hours reading and Ginny was getting annoyed. "Hermione?" She repeated when she didn't get an answer. Ron and Harry chuckled at Hermione's obliviousness.
"HERMIONE!" Ron yelled, throwing a piece of Harry's knight at her, smiling when it landed on top of the book.
"What?!" She snapped, glaring at him. He stuck his tongue out at her and pointed to Ginny before turning his attention back to their chess game.
"I was asking if you wanted to join us for a bonfire tonight?"
"Did someone say fire?" Fred interjected loudly, hopping off the stairs. "Sounds like a job for the Weasley twins, eh, Forge?"
George jumped off the bottom two stairs and came to a stop next to him. "Right you are, Gred. I reckon we've got a couple extra cases of fireworks at the shop we can use."
"Good. Now, can it. I'm trying to see if 'Mione wants to join us." Ginny told them, turning back to Hermione who had already buried her nose in her book once more. Ginny groaned and threw herself backwards on the sofa while Ron began throwing more broken chess pieces at Hermione.
Fred watched her in fascination. He had always been amused by how she could tune out everything around her when she read. Her eyebrows were knitted together in confusion, but she also looked sad. Like she'd burst into tears at any minute. Something about that, combined with the way she was being bathed in golden sunlight made his heart squeeze. He'd had a crush on her for years, but after everything with the battle two years ago, he nearly forgot. Times like this reminded him.
George nudged him out of his trance with a raised eyebrow. Fred shook his head, meeting George's eyes. They had a silent conversation, staring at each other. Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a yelp from Hermione. When they turned to look at her, she had her hands covering her face and Ron's eyes were wide.
"I'm sorry, 'Mione!" He exclaimed.
"Oi! What'd you do to her, you git?" Fred asked, making his way across the room to Hermione, George on his heels.
"It was an accident. I was trying to get her attention but she- "
"So, you threw chess pieces at her?" Fred snapped at Ron, as George tried to pull Hermione's hands off her face.
"Hey! I said it was an accident. What's wrong with you?" Ron yelled back, standing up. Harry quickly stood up and grabbed Ron's arm.
"Ron, why don't you go ahead and get Luna? Let her know about the bonfire." Harry suggested. After staring at Fred a moment longer, Ron scoffed before getting into the fireplace and flooing to Luna's. Fred and Harry turned to where George was still trying to pry Hermione's hand from her face, Ginny talking to her quietly.
"Come on, 'Mione. You've got to let him see." Ginny told her.
"Thank you, George, but I'm fine. I'll just go fix myself up." She said as he helped her stand. She pushed past Harry and Fred and they watched as she went up the stairs.
Harry shook his head before turning to Ginny. "Well, I guess we'll just get the food ready?"
"May as well." Ginny sighed. "Will you two meet us with the fireworks at Shell Cottage?"
After the war, Bill and Fleur moved from Shell Cottage in favor of a larger home, closer to the Burrow. Now it was used for gatherings that they wanted to keep from Mrs. Weasley.
George cast a quick glance at Fred. Usually, he was the one to speak first, but he was still looking towards the stairs.
"At your service, little sister." George told her with a wink when Fred failed to respond.
"Thanks." Ginny grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him with her through the floo.
As soon as they left, George turned to Fred and pushed him slightly. Fred's head snapped to him.
"Oi, what was that for?" He asked.
"For being an idiot." George replied.
"Hey, I'm not the one that hit her in the face with a chess piece."
"No, but you are the one who lied to your twin and best mate."
"What? I never lied to you."
George's face fell slightly as Fred stared at him.
"You did lie. You told me that you were over it and it wasn't anything major. But the way you just looked at her said otherwise."
Fred opened his mouth to speak but George continued.
"You may be able to hide it from everyone else, but you can't lie to me, so I'd appreciate it if you'd stop trying to." George told him sternly. Fred looked away, refusing to meet George's gaze.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I've got to go get changed for the bonfire. I'll see you there." Fred answered, quickly making his way up the stairs away from George.
George shook his head before going back to their shop to gather the pyrotechnics they would need for the evening.
Fred knocked lightly on the bedroom door before opening it slowly.
Hermione was standing in front of the mirror with her back to him, gently poking around her left eye. When the door opened, she made eye contact with him through the mirror, and he gasped. Her left eye was blood-shot and there was a cut just underneath it.
"It's fine, Fred. It'll get better in a few minutes. The healing just takes a bit."
Fred ignored her excuse and stepped in front of her, taking her face in his hands. As soon as their skin made contact, a spark ignited, making them both grimace. Assuming it was static shock, they ignored it. Hermione felt a tingle under his hand as he gently turned her head, checking her eye.
Hermione took the time to study his face. It was oddly unnerving for him to have such a serious look on his face compared to his usual jovial one. Even after his near-death experience at the final battle, he woke with a smile on his face.
She noted the large number of freckles that trailed over his cheeks and across his nose. Her eyes followed the freckles as they went underneath his strong chin, and she could no longer see them. When she realized what she was doing, her eyes snapped back up to his. She watched his blue-grey eyes as they trailed over her face and she realized how close they were. She only needed to stand on her tip toes and their lips would connect. A blush spread across her face as she caught herself thinking of kissing Fred.
Fred watched the blush flourish onto her cheeks, captivated by the pink tint. She appeared to be glowing, and her eyes were shining. He noted the flecks of gold in them and laughed inwardly at how fitting it was for the 'Golden Girl' to have gold in her eyes. Suddenly, the temperature around them rose and Fred could feel his heart speed up.
The intensity in Fred's eyes made Hermione's stomach lurch. She knew what would happen if she closed her eyes. Hermione had been in love with Fred for years. It started as a crush but when she found him dead, she knew it was more. That's what spurred her on to save him. She didn't care what she had to do, as long as he lived.
Although she wanted to close her eyes and give into the kiss, there was something telling her to wait. She wanted to ignore it and just as she made the decision to close her eyes, Fred spoke.
"That'll bruise tomorrow." He told her quietly, breaking the trance. He watched as her brows knitted in confusion.
"What?" She questioned.
"Your eye." He answered, dropping his hands from her face and stepping back. "It'll bruise tomorrow. Come by the shop and I'll give you some bruise paste."
"Oh. Thanks." She replied, her voice laced in disappointment.
"You're welcome." He responded. Fred looked at her for a moment longer before turning on his heel and quickly leaving her room.
Hermione took a deep breath and sat on the edge of her bed trying to calm herself. Just as she sat down, Fred appeared in the doorway again. She looked up at him questioningly.
"How did you know it was me?" He asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Oh. I-Well, I don't honestly know. I've just always known." She explained with a shrug. "I imagine it has to do with the fact that I've practically lived with you all since I was eleven."
"No. Even mum and dad have trouble telling us apart." He replied, shaking his head and stepping into the room.
"Well, what do you want from me, Fred?" She asked sharply, pushing herself up off the bed. "There's no answer. You both look exactly the same! I told you. I don't know how, but I know."
"If you don't want to tell me, fine. Just don't lie." He snapped as he turned and left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Hermione groaned in frustration. How could it be that only ten minutes ago, everything was absolutely normal? Now, she had almost kissed Fred, and a minute later he accused her of lying to him. She went over to the mirror where she checked her eye. It was almost completely healed now, and she was just about to head downstairs when the door opened again.
This time, it was Ginny, dressed in a small black bikini with gold buckles on the front of the top and sides of the bottoms. She had a black cover-up on that was see-through and was wearing gold sandals.
"You aren't dressed?!" She asked Hermione incredulously.
"I don't need to wear something completely different just to sit in the sand all evening." Hermione told her, rolling her eyes. Ginny huffed and went to the closet, sorting through Hermione's clothes.
"It's not just sitting in the sand, 'Mione. We're also going swimming. Plus, there will be others joining us. It's a party and a chance to have fun. Maybe we'll find someone for you to leave with." Ginny said smirking at Hermione briefly before continuing her hunt.
"I'm not leaving with anyone, Gin. And I don't plan on going swimming."
"Well, you're not going to sit around with your nose buried in that book all night. All you've done for the past year is read. It's time to have some fun." Ginny told her, throwing a small piece of green fabric at her.
"Reading is fun." Hermione replied quietly, changing into the swimsuit, and pulling on her wand wrist holster. "This is way too revealing, Ginny. I can't wear this."
Ginny turned and her eyes went wide. It was a one-piece forest green swimsuit with ruffled sleeves and a neckline that nearly went down to her belly button. Her cleavage was showing, but in a way that still kept her covered.
"Wow, 'Mione. You look amazing. It's not too revealing at all." She turned back to the closet and found a cover for her to wear over it.
Hermione pulled on a long white cover-up that tied in the front. A fat lot of good the tie does, Hermione thought dryly. Although it tied in the middle, it fell open at the top and bottom so everyone could still see her swimsuit.
"Am I presentable now?" Hermione asked Ginny irritably. Ginny eyed her before nodding and grabbing Hermione's hand to pull her down the stairs. Hermione noted that it was already dark outside and wondered if she'd be able to sneak out early.
When they arrived at Shell Cottage, Ginny still hadn't stopped talking about who all was coming to the bonfire. Hermione had tuned her out and she was now going over various magical theories in her head as Ginny pulled her to the beach.
Hermione saw that the bonfire was already lit and there were about twenty people on the beach. Once they hit the sand, Ginny went running towards Harry. Hermione smiled as she heard Harry's laugh. She was so happy for him and felt a swell of love for the man she considered a brother. Ron waved sheepishly at her from his spot on the sand next to Luna. They had been dating for about 7 months now and it seemed like a good match. Luna always seemed to know how to calm him. She smiled at Ron to let him know that everything was fine. Neville and Hannah were walking through the tide holding hands and they waved at her as she passed. A table had been set up, a few yards from the fire, with drinks on it. Seamus and Parvati were pouring drinks for everyone while Padma and Dean were handing them out. Hermione took one from Dean as she passed and continued walking barefoot through the sand.
When Hermione saw that Cormac was making out with Romilda Vane in the dunes to her left, she made a disgusted face and quickly moved past them. George and Angelina were in the water already and splashing each other. The only single people there were Ernie, Justin, Katie, and Lavender and it appeared that they were about to change that. How could Ginny invite all these couples knowing how utterly single Hermione was?
Grumbling that Ginny didn't let her bring a book, Hermione gulped down her drink and watched as it magically refilled. She made her way to a quieter spot on the beach, away from the fire. As she took a seat, she realized that Fred was nowhere in sight. She drank from her cup as her eyes roamed over the beach looking for him. Her heart sank when she saw he wasn't there, and she laid back on the sand. Now that she was feeling a pleasant buzz, Hermione wanted to enjoy the sound of the waves as she let her mind wander. Somehow, her mind wandered to Fred and the look in his eyes as he held her face in his hands.
Hermione sat up slowly as she realized just how much she liked him. She had always known on some level that there was a feeling, but she had never admitted it to anyone, least of all herself.
The sound of Ginny giggling interrupted her thoughts and she watched as Ginny made her way over.
"'Mione, come swim!" Ginny whined, grabbing Hermione's arm and helping her up. Hermione wanted to argue but she was feeling a bit freer tonight and decided to have a bit of fun.
Hermione followed Ginny into the water, not bothering to remove the cover-up. They waded a bit before Harry came and they all joined George and Angelina in their splash war. What felt like hours later, someone announced that the food was ready to eat, and the two couples made their way out of the water, leaving Hermione behind. Hermione had her back to the bonfire and was watching the horizon. Something about being in the water made her feel comfortable. It was a bit chilly as it was only the last day of April, but Hermione didn't care. The stars glittered and the moon was full and shone down on her. She could almost feel the magic in the air tonight. Finally, she turned and headed back to the shore.
Fred watched as Hermione began making her way out of the water. His breath caught in his chest and his throat immediately went dry. She looked like Gaea herself as the water that dripped off of her sparkled in the moonlight. Her cover-up trailed behind her and Fred nearly fell to his knees. She was the water. She was the moon. She was a goddess, and she was glorious. She waved her hand, and her hair and cover-up were dry. Fred felt frozen in his spot as she walked up to the fire with a serene look on her face.
For the second time that day, he was broken out of his trance by a shove from George.
"What is the matter with you?" George snapped at Fred.
"Nothing is the matter with me. What's the matter with you?" Fred snapped back.
"You! You're lying to me and I can't stand it. You told me you were over it- "
"I am! I'm not lying." Fred interrupted him.
"You forget that we're twins. I know you better than anyone. I don't understand why you can't just admit it."
"Because there's nothing to admit!"
"If you're not serious about her, you need to stay away from her. She's family and I won't have you treating her like you do all those other conquests of yours. Especially not after she saved your life." George demanded.
At the final battle, when the wall fell on Fred, Hermione, Percy, and George were able to get the rubble off of Fred. When they did, they discovered he had no pulse, and George thought he had just lost his twin. Hermione began strangely kissing Fred and pushing on his chest. Percy and George watched in confusion but moments later, Fred took a deep, gasping breath. George had ever felt such relief and since then, he had been extremely protective over her.
"Don't tell me what to do, George." Fred warned, pointing a finger at him before stomping away towards the drink table.
"It shouldn't be an issue if you're telling the truth!" George hollered after him. Fred flipped him off without looking back and George shook his head.
Hermione was now on her sixth drink and was feeling amazing. She felt fluid and free. Like she could do anything. She sat on a chair she had conjured before the full effects of the alcohol hit and leaned back, allowing the fire to warm her. Everyone else had left or fallen asleep.
She watched as the flames danced higher and higher. A movement across the fire caught her eye. She focused her vision and saw Fred staring at her from the other side of the flames. They locked eyes and Hermione's stomach tightened. A wave of lust ran through her and suddenly the heat on her body wasn't coming from the flames. She realized he was looking at her in the same way. She wanted him to work for it though, so she slowly stood. He stood with her, never breaking eye contact.
Then she was off running from him, giggles trailing behind her. She could hear him close by, chasing after her and she heard his laughter which only fueled hers more. They were both barefoot as they ran. Dirt and mud covered the feet, but it also spurred them on. Every time their foot hit the ground; a surge of magic coursed through them.
She ran through the patch of trees lining the beach, still laughing as Fred chased her. Finally, she broke through the trees and into a clearing that could only be described as magical. There was a small waterfall that fell into a beautiful clear lake. Soft green grass covered the ground, and trees and flowers surrounded the area. It was only a second after she came into the clearing that she heard Fred coming behind her. She turned to call for him but there was no need. He had already made his way into the clearing. Breathing heavy, he stalked over to her quickly, taking her face in his hands once more.
Before Hermione could think, his lips crashed down on hers, once again creating a spark. As she let out a gasp, Fred took advantage of her parted lips and trailed his tongue along them. Hermione moaned and returned the kiss with new fervor. Her arms circled around his neck and they both melted into the kiss. They were overcome with a wave of lust so strong that they both let out a shot of accidental magic. There were suddenly stars glittering down around them. Fred reached down and untied Hermione's cover-up as she looked up, watching the stars fall.
After he slid the cover-up off of her, he trailed kisses down her neck. She let out a soft moan as he pulled the straps to her swimsuit down. He knelt as he pushed it further down her body. She gripped his shoulders as she stepped out of it and she quickly waved her wand casting a contraception charm before dropping her holster to the side. As he stood, he ran his hand up her sides, relishing in the soft feel of her skin. He brought his lips to hers once more and felt another burst of magic as she ran her hands over his bare chest. She left a trail of tingles wherever she moved her hands, and he could hardly stand it.
Hermione reached down and pushed his deep green swim trunks down his hips. Fred kicked them over to the side and claimed her lips once more. They were grasping for each other as if they couldn't be close enough. Without breaking the kiss, they managed to lower themselves to the ground. Hermione was on her back and Fred lay on his left side, his body covering half of hers. Her leg was thrown over his and pulled him closer each time his tongue made contact with hers. When she ground against him, he groaned and let their urges lead them.
She spread her legs and Fred settled between them, hesitating only for a moment.
"Please, Fred." She moaned, waiting for him to enter her. He didn't hesitate after that and slowly slid himself inside her. He cursed as he felt her wet walls tighten around him.
"Hermione." He whispered as he kissed her neck. "You're a goddess."
He set about thrusting into her at a slow pace, trying to make the moment last for as long as possible. Hermione wrapped her arms around him, lightly trailing her nails down his back.
Fred shuddered and leaned down to take her left nipple into his mouth. Hermione let out a loud moan and he switched to the other one. As he switched back and forth, lavishing each nipple, Hermione's moans grew louder. He thrust into her harder and faster, pulling away from her breast. He looked down at her and wound his fingers through her hair. Hermione's magic sparked on every part of her body that was in contact with the earth below them. Each time her magic sparked, it sent a wave of pleasure through her and her walls tightened around Fred.
Fred leaned forward to kiss her again. As their lips touched, multiple things happened simultaneously. They both came moaning each other's name as a golden light encircled them. Hermione lost the ability to do anything but shudder as Fred carried them through their orgasms. It felt like they came for hours by the time their bodies had stopped trembling. Fred gently slipped out of her and transfigured his trunks into a thin blanket. He then moved behind her and pulled her up in his arms, covering them up with it.
"What is that?" Fred asked as they felt the spark again.
"Maybe it's a kind of magic."
"A kind of magic, huh? A kind of magic that makes you bloody irresistible?" He murmured, kissing Hermione's neck.
"Maybe. You're pretty irresistible too, you know." She answered with a smile.
"I know." He said cheekily, kissing the top of her head.
They laid in silence, enjoying the comfort of each other. Fred's hand rested against Hermione's stomach and he softly stroked it with his thumb. The magic still sparked between them with their touches but neither noticed it now. They were much too content. Just as Hermione allowed her eyes to close, Fred spoke.
"Why were you sad today?" He softly wondered.
"When do you mean?" She asked, confusion coloring her face.
"When you were reading. Before Ron hit you with the chess piece. You looked like you were about to cry."
"Oh, that. Well, I- I suppose I tend to get attached to stories and when I read a sad one, I cry."
"Will you tell me about it?"
"The story?"
"Please."
"Sure. It's about a man who fell so deeply in love with a girl that he dedicated his life to trying to win her over. He goes through a lot of obstacles to do it. He throws lavish parties for her and even buys a house directly across the bay from hers."
"Does it work? Did he win her over?"
"Do you want me to tell you, or do you want to read it?"
Fred paused for a moment, thinking.
"I'll read it later." He answered finally, with a sigh as he rolled onto his back. Hermione smiled and rolled over to face him.
"You really just know when it's me?" He asked softly.
"I really just know when it's you." She responded.
"I'm sorry for saying you were lying."
"That's okay, Fred. I think you've made up for that now."
He looked over at her and smiled. Holding his eyes, Hermione stood. She winked at him before turning away and heading towards the small lake. Fred propped himself up on his elbow and watched as Hermione slowly walked into the lake. She ducked herself under the water and came back up, pushing the hair from her face and grinned at him.
The sight of her made him hard again, and his body moved of its own accord. Hermione watched as he stood and slowly walked over to the lake. He was tall and pale but toned. He was absolutely radiant under the glow of the moon. Hermione felt again the surge of magic between them. It was as if there was a magnet in her stomach that pulled them to each other. There was no other way to explain it.
Fred slid into the water, never taking his eyes off of her. He came to a stop in front of her and slid his hands up her arms, their damp skin mingling together. As his hands slid up her shoulders, she trailed hers up his chest. He stared at her face and she watched her hands in fascination. As she moved them, barely noticeable gold sparks trailed after her touch.
"You're magic." She whispered in awe.
"No. We're magic." He corrected before tilting her head up and capturing her lips.
The water seemed to vibrate around them throughout their kiss, yet neither noticed. They made love again, surrounded by the warm water. When they were done, Fred carried an exhausted Hermione back to the clearing and laid her down. She was asleep within minutes. He laid down next to her and pulled the covers over them, encircling her in his arms. Soon, they were both sleeping soundly curled up in each other and bathed in the moonlight.
The next morning, Hermione was awoken by a throbbing pain in her forehead and her left eye. She attempted to open her heavy eyelids and groaned when she saw the bright sunlight. Her movements woke Fred and she jumped when she heard him groan.
She looked over at him in confusion. What was she doing with Fred? Hermione took in her surroundings and suddenly, last night's events came rushing back. She bolted upright, a wave of nausea and dizziness hitting her. Her eyes closed for a moment as she tried to steady herself.
"Oh, Merlin." She moaned, holding her head. Hermione clutched the thin blanket to her chest and slowly looked over at Fred. He was pushing himself upright and holding his head as well. He propped himself up on his left elbow facing her, his eyes unfocused. He swiped at his eyes before opening them again and looking right at Hermione. She watched him sheepishly and waited for him to remember. At first, he appeared confused, then it hit him.
"Fuck." He mumbled under his breath, falling backwards so he was laying on his back again. Fred was visibly upset. Although he thoroughly enjoyed the time they had spent together, he knew she deserved better than a shag in the woods. George would be furious and there was nothing Fred could say. He had lost all self-control last night and taken advantage of her.
Hermione watched him, unsure of what to say or do. She looked at her surroundings and wondered how they found such a magical place.
When she looked back towards Fred, she found him watching her with a strange expression on his face.
"I'm going to ask you a question, and I need you to promise that you'll answer me honestly." The sternness of his voice almost frightened her. She quickly nodded at him.
"Did I... Did you want that?" He asked, his jaw clenched. Hermione's eyes went wide at what he meant.
"Oh, Fred. Of course, I did. That was one hundred percent mutual."
Fred breathed out a heavy sigh of relief and pulled her to him in a crushing hug. They expected the spark this time and allowed it to wash over them.
"Thank Merlin. I'm so sorry, Hermione. I don't know what came over me."
"It wasn't just you, Fred." She whispered, pulling back to look at him. "I felt it too."
"Do you know what it was?"
"Maybe it's a kind of magic."
"A kind of magic, huh? I wonder what kind of magic could make us feel like that." He pondered.
"I don't know. I can research how to make it go away...if you want." She answered, avoiding his eyes.
"I don't. I think I like it." He murmured, sliding his hand up her arm. Hermione watched his hand move up her arm before meeting his eyes.
Fred reached up, gently turning her head so he could get a better look at her eye.
"After we...get cleaned up, meet me at the shop and I'll put some bruise paste on that for you."
"Thank you. I'll pay you for it." She told him. He dropped his hand from her face and laughed.
"Hermione, after the night you gave me, you're never paying for another thing in that store." Hermione blushed as Fred grinned at her.
"It was good for you?" She questioned sheepishly.
"Good? No. Absolutely bloody mind-blowing? Yes." Fred promised enthusiastically. "Wasn't it good for you?" He asked, doubts pinging at his mind.
"Of course! I just…. I've never…" Hermione trailed off and looked away, her face burning with embarrassment.
When Fred realized what she had been trying to say, a pang of guilt hit him in his chest. Hermione watched as his face fell.
"Is that not okay?" She asked softly.
"Of course, it's okay. It's not you. It's just that your first time shouldn't have been a quick shag in the dirt with me." He explained, looking down. Hermione thought for a moment before responding.
"Who would you have preferred then?"
He snapped his head up at her unexpected question.
"Who would you have preferred my first time be with? Ron? Krum? And where? A broom closet like the rest of Hogwarts? A quickie behind a portrait? Trust me when I say, Fred, this was incredibly special, and I'll never forget it. Don't ever doubt how much last night meant to me." Hermione told him, leaning forward and gently kissing his lips. Fred kissed her back, placing a hand on her bare back to pull her chest flush against his. When Hermione let out a soft moan, he pulled away.
"I'm sorry but if we start this again, I don't think we'll ever leave. Unfortunately, I've got the shop today."
"You're right." Hermione said, biting back a smile.
"What're you smiling at?" Fred asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"I was just thinking of the ways I could make you stay." She replied, grazing her hand over his already-hard cock.
"George is gonna kill me." Fred whispered, before he leaned forward and captured her lips with his.
Several hours later, Hermione was walking back along the beach towards Shell Cottage with a smile on her face. The wind came and lifted her hair, and she was enjoying the feeling of the water washing over her feet. She was distracted by her thoughts, that she didn't notice Harry and Ron as they hurried over to her until they were only a few feet away. She smiled at them until she realized they looked angry.
"What's wrong?" She asked as they came to stop in front of her.
"Where have you been?" Harry huffed with his arms crossed in what Hermione called his 'Auror stance.'
"Why?"
"What do you mean why? You've been missing for hours." Ron interjected, taking up the same stance.
"I haven't been missing for hours. I've been out for hours. In case either of you aren't aware, I'm allowed to go out." She told them sarcastically, walking around them. As she started walking again, they hurried to stand in front of her.
"What?" She snapped, crossing her arms.
"It's just, you usually tell us when you're going to be out." Harry tried to reason.
"You both seem to be forgetting that I am an adult. You both regularly disappear without telling anyone and I'm not allowed to do the same?"
"That's different. When we disappear, we're going on missions. You're not." Ron pointed out.
"I repeat, I still don't have to tell you where I was."
"Hermione, look at it from our point of view: you almost never go anywhere without telling us, yet last night you disappeared around ten and don't tell anyone where you're going. Now you show up fourteen hours later, your clothes covered in mud, but you don't want to tell us where you were." Harry explained.
Hermione sighed before responding.
"I apologize for scaring you, but I was safe. That's all you need to know." She moved around them, walking once more to the cottage.
"Who were you with?" Ron called after her.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" She responded without turning around. When she reached the house, she flooed back to the Burrow where she had been living since the end of the war.
After many many questions from nearly everyone else, Hermione finally escaped to the shower where she daydreamed about the previous night's events.
Fred bounded down the stairs of his flat and into the shop around one in the afternoon. He looked around for George, finding him ringing up some customers at the till.
He caught George's eye, where a small conversation took place, then he turned and began stocking the shelves while George continued ringing up customers. Just before closing, the bell over the door rang and Hermione stepped into the shop. Fred's face lit up and he quickly set down the products he had been holding.
"Well, if it isn't the brightest witch of her age." Fred announced as he made his way over. As soon as he got to her, he leaned down and kissed her passionately, one hand on the side of her face, the other pulling her closer by her waist. The longer they kissed, the stronger the spark. Soon, they forgot where they were. The sound of the clock chiming quickly reminded them.
"I had a great time last night." Hermione said after he pulled away.
"Just last night?" He asked cheekily, causing a blush to form on Hermione's face.
"And this morning." She responded with a grin. As soon as the words left her mouth, a loud noise came from the other side of the store. They both turned to see George stopping down the hallway and into the work room, slamming the door behind him.
They both jumped at the sound and Hermione looked at Fred questioningly.
"Just having a bad day, is all. He'll be fine in a bit." He explained dismissively before changing the subject. "Now, I know I'm a fantastic kisser, but I assume you're here for another reason?"
Hermione's face brightened and she began shuffling through her beaded bag before producing a thin book.
"I brought this for you. The Great Gatsby." She told him excitedly. "It's that book I was telling you about. I want you to hurry up and read it so we can talk about it." Fred knew he wouldn't be able to tell her no, especially watching how her eyes lit up at the thought of having someone to talk to about a book.
"Alright then." He responded before taking the book from her and sitting down on the floor. Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes as he opened the book and started reading.
"I didn't mean now, Fred." She said, reaching down and trying to pull him up by his arm. He stood up and smiled at her.
"Ah. Okay. I must have misunderstood when you said you wanted me to hurry."
"You're such an arse."
"Yet, I attract you." He murmured, leaning down to kiss her again. Just when she started to feel a heat in her stomach, he pulled away, smiling at her.
"I also wanted to see about that bruise paste." She explained, motioning to her eye. The bruise was starting to become more visible, and her eye was starting to hurt. Fred nodded and looked nervously towards the workroom.
"Well, it's in the work room with George. Why don't you go ahead back to the Burrow and I'll bring it by after we finish closing up?"
"Sure. I'll see you there." Hermione replied, placing a light kiss to his lips and walking out the door. Fred watched as she walked back towards the Leaky Cauldron and out of view before he waved his wand, closing down the shop. With a sigh, he turned and headed towards the work room.
When he opened the door, George was sitting on a stool facing the door, his arms crossed.
Fred closed the door and leaned against it. He felt horrible for being so late and he hated fighting with his siblings, but George especially. He sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Listen, George. I- "
"What did you do to her?" George interrupted.
"What? I didn't do anything." He said, confused.
George's head snapped up. "I heard what she said. You spent the night together. After everything I told you yesterday, you still go and shag her?!" He demanded, standing up.
Fred raised his hands in surrender. "It wasn't like that, Georgie. I- "
"I don't know who you are anymore, Fred. The way you've been treating women, spending ridiculous amounts of time on pointless projects, now this? You realize that you've shagged Ron's ex, right? Used her and thrown her away just like you did Katie, and Lena, and Marie- "
"I didn't use her! It just happened. I can't explain it."
"Are you going to ask her out? Have lunch with her? Talk to her about what she wants?"
Fred hesitated. He had no idea what Hermione wanted. What if she didn't expect anything to come from it? George took his silence for a no.
"THEN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SHAGGED HER!" George yelled.
"Why are you so bent out of shape about this?! I didn't do anything to her!"
"You're the one who said you can't stay away from her, but you also say you don't have feelings for her. I'm just saying you should make up your mind and stop acting like she's just another girl. You and I both know she's not. Even if you don't love her, she's family. We're all she has, and you can't be chasing her away because you want something else to put your prick in." George paused. "She saved your life, Fred. And you're going to hurt her."
"I'm not going to hurt her, Georgie. I-I really like her. It's different. This is...different." Fred responded, remembering how their first kiss felt. George watched Fred's face and immediately knew he was speaking the truth.
"It is?" He questioned, leaning back against the workbench.
"It really is. I can't explain it. It was like...like someone took all the magic in the world and covered us up with it." Fred replied, sitting down on the stool.
"I'm happy for you, Fred. If this is what you want. I'm just worried about what will happen to everyone if this doesn't end well." George explained honestly.
"I know. But I know it will." Fred answered with a smile.
Fred and George came through the floo about an hour later. Harry and Ron were sitting on the floor playing chess while Arthur dozed off on the sofa behind Ron. Ginny and Luna sat on the sofa behind Harry as they flipped through a bridal magazine. Hermione was curled up in the window seat asleep with a book in her lap, her head resting against the glass. Fred smiled adoringly and went to sit next to her. His movements woke her, and she immediately smiled at seeing him.
"Sorry I woke you, love. I brought the bruise paste." He told her, holding up the small jar.
"Thank you." She replied, reaching for the jar. As she did, he pulled it back slightly.
"I'll do it." He assured her, unscrewing the lid. George watched as Fred gently applied the bruise paste to Hermione's eye. He noticed a tiny spark where his fingers touched her cheek. It was a shock to George because he had always been the compassionate one, not Fred. Fred tended to overlook the small things and go for big. To see him caring for someone the way he was, George knew Fred had been telling the truth and that this was it for him.
Luna caught George's strange expression and turned to see what he was looking at. She saw Fred and Hermione softly speaking as Fred applied the bruise paste to her eye. Luna tapped Ginny's arm once and looked back at Fred and Hermione.
Ginny raised her eyebrows at how close they were and reached forward, shaking Harry's shoulder. He looked back at her and she motioned towards the window seat where he was surprised to see Hermione and Fred laughing at something together.
Although he was usually oblivious, it was very clear to him where it was heading. He nudged Ron with his foot and nodded in their direction.
Ron followed Harry's eyes and his eyebrows rose. He reached to his left and hit his father's leg to wake him. When Arthur woke up, he looked at Ron who pointed to Fred and Hermione.
Fred had pulled The Great Gatsby out of his back pocket and began reading beside her.
Molly entered the room and as she did, Arthur motioned for her to be quiet and then waved his hand towards Fred and Hermione.
Fred looked up as he turned the page on his book and saw everyone staring.
"What?" He asked, gaining Hermione's attention. When she looked up and saw everyone staring, she blushed and slowly closed her book.
Ginny and Luna were the first to recover. Ginny shrugged and Luna went back to flipping through the magazine. Arthur stood up and moved towards Molly.
"Why don't I help with dinner, dear?" He suggested, leading her out of the room. She reluctantly allowed it, keeping her eyes on Fred and Hermione until she was out of view. Harry and Ron went back to their game.
"I best be getting home to Ang. Have fun, lovebirds." George told them, ruffling Fred's hair. He waved before stepping into the floo and disappearing in green flames.
Hermione took Fred's hand and stood, leading him outside to the garden.
"Well, that was certainly easier than I thought." Fred admitted once they had gotten outside. "Although, I don't think we're lucky enough to have escaped mum. I reckon she'll have her say at dinner."
"That's okay. We can handle it together." Hermione assured him, pulling him into a hidden spot at the back of the garden.
"Together, huh?" He asked, pinning her against the garden wall. "I like the sound of that." Fred leaned his head down and captured Hermione's lips in his.