To Love is to Live

Hogwarts 4th year.

Hermione beamed at Ron and Harry as she finished explaining S.P.E.W. She felt proud and excited- this was something that was worth fighting for. She noticed the boys exchange exasperated looks with each other, as they often did when she was passionate about something. This evening though she couldn't just let it slide. "well I think its about time someone stood up for them and that wizards started treating them with a bit more respect! And I expected more from you two." She stood up and stalked away from them to her dormitory. Parvati and lavender were sitting together on Lavenders bed reading Witch Weekly. Hermione saw Krum's sullen face staring at her from the front cover. "what's up?" asked Parvati as Hermione threw herself onto her bed "I just cant stand Ron and Harry sometimes" she muttered and then sighed heavily as Parvati and Lavender started giggling together and Parvati said "oh we don't mind them so much do we" as she nudged Lavender. Hermione rolled her eyes at the girls and they both burst out laughing and told Hermione to lighten up and that she expected too much from them.

The next morning at breakfast Hermione was telling anyone who would listen about S.P.E.W and trying her hardest to rally support. Most people seemed interested in her views but few were willing to take any action. Neville who had just spent the past ten minutes with Hermione talking at him had taken his chance to escape as Hermione rifled through her back looking for her box of badges. She called after him "do you think its fair that they have to wash your underwear and they don't even get paid!"

"who's washing Neville's underwear?" asked Fred Weasley as he dropped into Neville's vacated seat.

"And why are you so concerned about it?" asked George sitting next to Fred.

"Poor Longbottom's long johns are under Grangers scrutiny George" said Fred in horror.

"So long as she doesn't start on my pants Fred" said George.

"Oh shut up" snapped Hermione, but she couldn't help smiling as Fred held up his hands in mock surrender.

"It's the house elves" Hermione sighed, "They are treated like slaves, forced to cook, clean and do everything for their masters- its disgusting. And NO-ONE is doing anything about it!"

George grabbed a stack of toast and stood up abruptly saying he had forgotten a book and hurried out of the hall.

"And what does Nevilles pants have to do with elf rights?" asked Fred in an amused tone. Hermione rolled her eyes at him, "It's the principle. It's the fact that everyone seem to thinks its okay that these poor elves are used for wizards own selfish gains. They are awfully underrepresented in the department of magical creatures at the Ministry and honestly its just disgusting- the way they have to do whatever their masters say"

"Oh yeah?" Said Fred

"Yes." Said Hermione, and she launched into S.P.E.W.

Fred watched Hermione as she talked about Elf rights. She was so animated as she went into her future goals for the society that she had set up, her whole face lit up and there was a fire in her eyes he had never noticed before. She had this endearing way of flicking her hair out of the eyes impatiently with her long fingers. He studied her face, she had hazel eyes with flecks of green that only showed when the light caught them at certain angles, there was a tiny freckle at the corner of her mouth… her mouth was moving rapidly forming the words rushing out, her lips looked full and soft…

"Fred?"

His eyes jerked up from her mouth.

"You weren't listening" she said looking resigned. Fred felt a twinge of disappointment when he saw her face fall. Frowning slightly he said "look, have you ever been down to the kitchens and actually met the elves?"

"No of course not. Students aren't allowed"

"Well, I have" said Fred "and they are happy Hermione"

"they just don't know any better" she retorted. Fred smiled at her stubbornness and he noticed a small crease between her eyebrows as she glared at him. He held her gaze for a few more moments, confused at his thoughts, then shaking himself slightly he said "Ill show you. Meet me tonight at midnight in the common room" He grabbed some more toast, winked at her and jumped up to head out of the hall. He glanced back to see her looking confused and apprehensive, a slight blush creeping over her cheeks.

Hermione fretted all day about meeting Fred and sneaking around after hours. She was terrified at the thought of getting caught and almost asked Harry if she could use his invisibility cloak, but didn't want to tell him or Ron what she was up to. She was also nervous about meeting Fred. That parting mischievous wink had her thinking about the twin in a different light. She found herself analysing their conversation and remembering details of his face she had never noticed before, like the way his mouth curled up on the left when he was trying to not smile- or the startlingly blue of his eyes. She found herself wondering if he would bring George along tonight and hoped that he didn't. By the time the evening came round Hermione was so wound up with nerves that she snapped at Ron when he asked her for some ink as his had run out and stood up suddenly saying she was tired and was going to bed. As she crossed the common room she looked over to where the Weasley twins were sat with Lee Jordan. Fred's eyes met hers, his expression unreadable. She gave him an imperceptible nod and went up to the girls dormitory.

At 11.50 Fred silently got up and slipped his shoes on. He paused at the door and looked over at his twin, snoring lightly. It felt strange to be sneaking out at night without him and he couldn't quite explain to himself why he hadn't told George what he was up to, when he usually told him everything. Frowning again, he slipped out and went down to the common room.

Hermione crept into the common room to find Fred waiting for her. She gave him a nervous smile and followed him out of the portrait hole into the dark castle. They crept along deserted corridors and down hidden stairwells, Fred leading, they stayed away from the Grand Staircase and paused at every corner before continuing. Hermione's heart was hammering in her chest but she couldn't help return Fred's grin when he looked back at her. Then Fred froze suddenly, Hermione gasped as she heard what Fred had- shuffling footsteps in the next corridor and a gruff quiet voice "there there my sweet". Fred turned back to her a smile still in place and gestured for her to retreat back the way they had come. Terrified Hermione took a few hurried steps back and tripped over the hem of her robes. She gasped as she started to fall but Fred's arm shot out of nowhere and caught her. Together they went still, listening to the deafening silence. Then, a soft hiss from their feet- they looked down into the yellow lamp like eyes of Mrs Norris who started yowling for her master. "RUN" yelled Fred grabbing Hermione's hand and pulling her round and sprinted away as fast as they could. Filch's cries of "students out of bed! Students in the corridor!" followed them as they whipped round the corner at the end of the corridor. Fred pulled her along secret passageways and down hidden stairs until, at last, he slipped behind a tapestry into a small space that was hardly big enough for them both. Hermione clutched at a stitch in her side her eyes wild. She looked up at Fred and was shocked to see him silently laughing at her. "what?" she gasped as she too felt a smile tugging at her lips, giving in she started to laugh as well, making her wince in pain as her silent heaves stabbed at her stitch. Fred noticed and gestured for her to sit down. She did so gratefully, still laughing softly. Fred slid down the opposite wall , the alcove was so narrow they had to sit with their legs bent. Fred rested his right knee against Hermione's left. Hermione stopped laughing as she glanced at his face. It was dark behind the tapestry and Hermione couldn't see his expression. He held her look and didn't say anything for a long while. "That was close" she whispered to break the silence. "That? Nah that was nothing. I remember once George and I were busy setting a prank up for the Slytherins when Filch and Snape almost caught us…" Hermione settled back and listened to Fred talk about his adventures each tale causing her to laugh a little more until eventually she had tears pouring down her face as she tried to keep her voice down. "And then he goes and falls of his broom in shock, but this great pair of feathery wings snap out at the last second.." Fred was laughing too as he told Hermione about the prank on Wood, their former quidditch captain. Hermine dried her eyes and said "you do seem to have a lot of fun" she sounded almost wistful. "I am the master of fun and games" joked Fred and noticing she didn't smile he nudged her leg with his own "hey, what's up?" Hermione sighed "Its just that I feel like I'm wasting my school years studying. And I know how absurd that sounds- school is all about studying and getting good grades, but, I don't know, I feel like… like…" "like you haven't really lived yet?" supplied Fred in a murmur "yes" whispered Hermione as her eyes locked on his.

Her eyes trapped him. He couldn't have look away even if he had wanted too. Her face was mostly in shadow but her eyes seemed to have a light of their own. He felt himself being drawn into them, being pulled forward towards her, his hand came to rest on her right calf, he heard her draw in a sharp breath, and sill her eyes held him. If they hadn't been in such an uncompromising position Fred felt certain he would have closed the distance between them without even knowing it. But he wrenched his eyes away from hers and cleared his throat "I, uh, I think the coast will be clear. Filch doesn't usually look for too long" his voice was husky and he noticed Hermione too seemed flustered and slightly dazed and was blinking rapidly in the gloom.

"Right. Yes. Well, lets head back to Gryffindor tower."

Fred grinned at her "Gryffindor Tower? But my dear, I thought you want to meet the elves? Or am I mistaken?"

"What about Filch? We could be caught for real this time!"

Fred flashed her his most mischievous smile as he struggled to his feet and said "come on Hermione, lets live a little" and he reached out his hand to her. She stared at him and he watched a slow smile spread across her lips as she reached up and took his hand.

The moment their skin touched she felt an electric current shoot between them. Fred pulled her up so they were standing very close in the tiny space. He didn't release her hand. They stood in the shadows, as Hermione looked up at Fred's face. At his eyes that were difficult to see in the dim light… at the outline of his lips.. she could feel the heat from his body and smell the faint trace of mint on his breath. Her eyes flicked from his eyes to his lips and back up to his eyes again. Fred was studying her with an intensity that made her blush.

"Lets go" said Fred in a hoarse voice.

Fred reached out a hand and tickled the pear that was the secret entrance to the kitchens. He had chosen night to bring Hermione as this corridor was usually full of Hufflepuffs on their way to their common room, but it was deserted now. The pear started to giggle before it transformed into a little door. He stood back and gestured Hermione in first. His heart was still racing from what had just happened.. or almost happened in the little alcove. He had wanted to kiss Hermione Granger. There had been this irresistible pull that had taken all the strength to fight. He wasn't even sure why he was fighting it. She was intelligent, gorgeous, passionate… but she was Ron's. That was it. His little brother felt like he had some sort of claim on her- everyone knew about it except Ron it seemed. But what did Hermione want?

"Fred! Oh my! Fred this is wonderful!"

He snapped his thoughts back to the Hermione who was standing just inside the kitchen a look of pure joy lighting up her face. He grinned and moved forward to introduce her to the elves that were hurrying forward to greet them.