WRITTEN FOR QLFC, RESERVE LEAGUE
SEASON 1, ROUND 12
Captain: Write about a first for your OTP
WC: 1721
"Hakuna Matata, what a wonderful phrase," Fred sang as he threw the wreath up into the air and caught it. He tossed it at the tree, and it got stuck on a branch. "Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze!"
"It means no worries for the rest of your days," George sang just as loud, stringing up the fairy lights around the tree. He hopped around the tree, excitement pouring off him in waves. "It's our problem-free…"
"Philosophy," Fred chimed in, throwing an arm around George's shoulders.
Hermione gritted her teeth and glared at the gingerbread house she was making. The icing wasn't the right consistency, and the twins' obnoxious voices were grating on her nerves. Since she had arrived at the Burrow a few hours ago, the twins had been singing different songs over and over again. And, no matter how many times she had intentionally shot glares at them over her shoulder, they'd ignored her, and it didn't look like they were going to stop any time soon. Hermione almost regretted introducing them to Disney movies, but truth be told, it had been a wonderful bonding experience for the Weasleys, Harry, and her.
"Could you two stop singing for just a minute? Give us all some much-needed rest," Hermione snapped, and Fred grinned over at her.
"Why, my darling little princess? It's Christmas. Live a little," Fred said cheekily. He pulled out his wand and flicked it at Hermione. Instantly, a tiny hat that sprayed silly string into her hair perched itself on her head.
Hermione groaned and muttered, "This will take forever to get out, Fred."
"Nice going, Fred," George said, smacking Fred's head. "Now, she'll have to spend more time in the shower than usual."
"Oh, this reminds me! Let's sing Shower Your Love!" Fred said. He burst into song and George joined him.
"Please, Mione, make them stop," Ginny whimpered, sprawled on the floor near Hermione's feet. She covered her ears with her hands and snapped, "If I have to hear them sing one more time, I swear I'm going to hex them so badly."
Hermione bit her lower lip as she glanced over her shoulder at the twins, who were still singing at the top of their lungs.
This was the first Christmas after Fred had come out of his two-year-long coma and was able to walk again. Hermione was happy for him, really. It was just the twins' terrible singing that was putting her on edge. Molly had tried to Silence them, but the sound of their screeching voices was so loud that it had burst through the spell (which Hermione didn't even know was possible); it was as if the spell was nothing but a piece of flimsy parchment. And, because there was a snowstorm on the horizon, none of them could go out to the garden either to escape the torture. They were all stuck inside with the twins and their singing. Oh, the horror!
"Mione, please…" Harry sobbed, lying in a fetal position beside Ginny. "Do something. Save us."
"You're the only one who can," Ron added, batting his eyelashes at her. He sat on the couch eating a handful of the mince pies Molly had baked that morning. Beside him sat Luna, his fiancee. She looked unperturbed by the terrifying dying cat sounds the twins were making; Hermione could not lie, she admired Luna's resilience.
Hermione was amused that they all thought that she could do something about the noisy shrieks when no one else, not even Mrs Weasley, had been able to save them from the torture yet. She rolled her eyes but said, "Fine, I'll think of something."
The sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs echoed through the room, and Hermione turned to look. Charlie burst into the living room, his face as red as his hair. "Hermione," he barked, pointing an accusing finger at her, "I need to talk to you. Now. It's urgent. A matter of life and death."
Confusion filled Hermione, but she got to her feet and walked towards Charlie. "What's wrong?"
Charlie grabbed her arm and yanked her closer. He hissed in her ear, "Okay, I need you to go up to Fred, grab him by his collar, and snog him senseless."
Hermione's face reddened. "What? Why? What are you—"
"Please, it's the only way we can all live through Christmas," Charlie whispered. He clutched onto her arm rather tightly. "You're the only one who can save us."
Hermione stammered, "I can't just kiss him. What if he pulls away? That would be embarrassing—"
"It would be a cold day in Hell if Fred pulls away," Bill said, suddenly appearing behind Charlie and startling them both. He placed his hands on Hermione's shoulders, similar to a Captain sending their troops to a battlefield, and pushed her towards the living room. "Go on. Kiss him. Please."
Hermione nibbled on her lower lip before nodding shakily. She trudged towards Fred, who was still singing, his voice sounding like someone was trying to strangle him with a piece of frayed rope.
Hermione's heart clenched at the thought of kissing Fred. It wasn't that she didn't want to—only her private (and extremely well-warded) journal knew how much she wanted to—but she hadn't thought it would be for such a frivolous cause.
What if Fred pushes me away when I try to kiss him?
What if he laughs or mocks me?
What if everyone starts wondering what on earth is wrong with me?
What if I ruin everything with this?
She stopped in her tracks and glanced over her shoulder at Bill and Charlie. They waved her on, giving her a thumbs-up as encouragement. If things went sideways, Hermione decided she could always pin the blame on Bill and Charlie.
When she reached Fred's side, he looked down and beamed at her, his eyes twinkling with delight. He grabbed her limp hand and twirled her under his arm as he sang, "One word, that's all was said. Something in your voice called me, caused me to turn my head."
Hermione's lips twitched as he twirled her again. He placed his hand on her hip and pulled her closer, still belting out the lyrics like he was the next big thing.
Hermione grabbed his collar and yanked him down. Then, smoothly, she pushed herself against him, leaving him no choice but to hold her close in fear of them both falling over. Hermione's mouth moved fiercely against Fred's before he finally followed her lead. When they parted, Hermione's lungs burned, and she clutched onto his collar, breathless.
It could have been two minutes or an hour. It didn't matter, not to them anyway.
Hermione slowly looked up at Fred and found him gaping at her. Her face warmed, and she tried to step away from him, but Fred tightened his hold on her waist. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He attempted to speak but to no avail.
"Cat got your tongue, Fred?" Bill teased, leaning against the door.
Hermione mumbled, "I'll just..." She tried to pull away from him again, but Fred gripped her harder.
"No," he choked out, his voice low and husky. He cleared his throat and said in a firmer tone, "No."
"No, what?" Hermione asked, bewildered.
"You're not running away from me. Not when I've finally managed to get you to kiss me," Fred stated, his eyes glinting with delight.
"What?"
"Sorry, Hermione," Charlie said, walking over to the couch and sitting down on it. "Fred made us swear not to say anything."
"This was a prank?" Hermione demanded. She pushed away from Fred, her face reddening as humiliation crept in at the thought of being pranked by the boys.
"What? No! This wasn't a prank," Fred stammered, reaching out to her, but she stepped out of reach.
"Then what—"
"I meant that George told me to annoy you into kissing me, and Charlie and Bill thought it would work, too, but you weren't doing anything, and I thought you just needed a little push so I started singing louder and—"
"You were singing all these songs because you...wanted to annoy me?" Hermione's tone came out just as incredulous as she was. "Couldn't you have just asked me out like a normal person?"
Dead silence.
Fred whirled around and stalked over to George. He smacked his twin's head and cried, "I could have just asked her out like a normal person!"
"You're not normal, though," George said, raising his arm defensively over his head. "Stop hitting me, or I'll tell Mum!"
Fred scowled and turned back to Hermione. He walked over and took her hand in his. "I am so sorry you thought this was all a prank. I just...listened to George when I really shouldn't have."
"You're the one who asked for my help in getting her to notice you," George whined.
"This didn't go as planned," Fred said to Hermione, ignoring George. He raised her hand to his lips and dropped a soft kiss on her knuckles. "Hermione, will you go out with me on a date this weekend? I promise I won't sing."
Hermione glanced around the room. They all stared at her pointedly, and Harry was even making lewd gestures with his hands. Hermione's whole body went warm at the sight, and she quickly looked away. She bit her lower lip as she tried to control her delight.
"You promise you won't sing?" she asked.
"I promise. Well...I promise I won't sing using our latest Screeching Song Sours," he hedged, grinning at her sheepishly. "My voice is actually quite good."
Hermione groaned. She should have known they'd been using some of their prank products. Relief filled her at the thought of his singing voice being better than what he had exhibited.
She looked up at Fred and said, "Okay, I'll go out with you. But I have a request."
"Yes?"
"You're going to sing in your normal voice for me on our date," Hermione stated, and Fred beamed.
He shook her hand and pulled her flush against his chest. He stroked her cheek with his fingers and murmured, "Deal."
George called out, "You're going to regret asking him to sing!"
But Hermione didn't think so. Still, she really hoped George wasn't right.