"Just come on!"
"You're holding something behind your back. I told you not to get me anything!"
"When have I ever listened to you?"
"Apparently, never."
"Ah, but I stopped testing on first years," Fred said, turning the lock manually on the door behind him. He wasn't sure if Hermione was angry, incensed, and furious, or was pretending to be. He cupped her chin with one hand and kissed her.
"Only because I threatened to tell your mother," Hermione mumbled, though she looked considerably happier.
"Except you wouldn't dare tell her about us because blah-blah-blah you're Muggleborn and a target, whatever," Fred rolled his eyes and brought forth her first gift. "To start; knitting needles."
Hermione took the metal devices carefully. Then she threw her arms around Fred, beaming, her mood completely recovered. "Oh, Fred! That's so thoughtful!"
"Ron was complaining about your knitting when you could be helping the boys with homework," Fred shrugged. "We never had a house-elf, and I love the ones in the kitchens. Their ears probably get cold."
"Yes, perhaps they do," Hermione said.
"Besides, all Weasley women knit," Fred said, kissing her cheek. Hermione blushed, and Fred knew he might've said a bit too much. He hastily continued, "Now, for the second course!"
"How many courses are there?"
"Wait and see," Fred smiled. He wondered what she'd think of dessert. He gave her a small jewelry box and watched her smile flicker.
"Was this expensive?"
"Just open it," Fred urged. She did, though not without giving Fred a look. She removed a thin golden bracelet, with a lion bead and a book bead. Her mouth hung open slightly. "Dumbledore has this thing called a Pensieve in his office. It allows wizards to see their memories in extreme detail. It was a bit tricky and we had to go to this place, I don't think you've ever heard of it, they call in the library, to figure out all the charms, and then I had to mail it to Bill, and he had to mail it back but you can put memories into the charms -er, the beads- and then watch them back."
Hermione was silent, her eyes flitting from Fred to the bracelet, and back again and again. She covered her mouth with one hand, holding the box with the bracelet in the other. Fred held his breath for a very long moment.
"Merlin, Fred," Hermione whispered. "What if I break it?"
"I'll make you a new one," Fred answered quietly. "Do you-"
"Fred, I love it- do I like it- and you said you got three whole O.W.L.s," Hermione was grinning, her eyes shining. Fred kissed her nose. "What memories should I use- how do I-"
"Uh-uh-uh," Fred smiled wider than she was, "Third course."
"Fred, you've already-"
"I solemnly swear that you will get free products at our store as long as I am alive," Fred said, then grinned wider still, "Especially once we open up the adult line of toys-"
"Fred!" Hermione turned bright pink and swatted at him.
"Which, innocent thing that you are, I'll probably have to show you how to use," Fred took the bracelet and the knitting needles away from her and set them on the floor. "Now, how do you feel about dessert?"
"Did you get me chocolate?" Hermione asked. He took her hands and pulled himself closer to her.
"Mmm, nope."
"How about strawberries?"
"Not even close," Fred chuckled, releasing one of her hands to touch her face softly. "I like your freckles."
"I like your freckles too," Hermione whispered. She stood on her tip toes and kissed him. Fred was a big, very supportive fan of kissing Hermione. She pulled on his robes until they fell to the ground. He very carefully unclasped hers. This was the Hermione he liked best; the one who would very shortly be wearing less clothes.
"I love you," Fred whispered. The words sent shivers up his back. He took Hermione's grey jumper off, revealing her white blouse and tie. He wondered if he could take the tie off with his teeth, then decided that was probably one of those things that needed practice. Still, that got him to thinking about Hermione's smooth neck. His kisses followed his thoughts quickly. "Happy Birthday, 'Mione."
"You, too," Hermione muttered. Fred stifled a smile. She ran her small hands over Fred's shirt, undoing the buttons to his shirt with nimble fingers. He supposed that knitting was good for something. He almost thought about his mother but stopped himself midway through. Hermione's hands were warm, and he wasn't nearly so sore. Fred pulled off Hermione's tie and cast it aside. Then he just watched Hermione for a moment. She had that light in her eyes, like it was the first time she'd been awake in an age. Fred liked Hermione's eyes. They weren't exactly brown; they were more a dark honey. The sun slanting in from the window made them look especially light. Her halo of curly hair seemed to have tamed itself slightly, seeing as the humidity of summer was no longer present in the air. She was shorter than he, but not uncomfortably so. He wished suddenly that they were not holed up in an abandonned classroom full of dust.
"We should have snuck out to Hogsmeade," Fred murmured. Hermione smiled and pulled his shirt off, letting her fingers trail lightly over his skin.
"I'm here, you're here," Hermione whispered. "It doesn't matter where here is."
"And here I thought you weren't going to get all mushy on me," Fred smirked and took his time, slowly unbuttoning her blouse. He liked that Hermione didn't wear a bra covered with lace. That isn't to say there wasn't any, but it wasn't distracting. No, neither the lace nor the bra was very distracting. Fred wondered idly how Muggle bras had been introduced to Wizarding society. Then Hermione took of her bra.
"You make the best faces," said Hermione.
"Nothing I haven't seen before," Fred smiled and kissed her again. Hermione was soft, every inch of her. He liked that. She had soft skin, soft breasts, soft hair, soft lips, soft moans. Her skirt wasn't quite so soft, so it had to be eliminated.
"Fred," Hermione gasped. "Do you know what you're doing to me?"
"I could take a guess," Fred murmured against her skin. "Does it start with 'corrupting?'"
"I'm starting to think Sirius may have had a point," Hermione smiled, pulling him closer so that her bare chest melded into his.
"Fuck Sirius," Fred breathed, kissing her again.
Seeing as it was one of the best days of Fred's life, he could only guess that it was Hermione's favorite birthday she'd had.
It was the first memory she added to her bracelet.
.o0O0o.
I think the counter is broken because it says I have 218 followers for this fic. 218! I don't think I know 218 people! So to each and every one of you, thank you. Every time I get an e-mail I go 'Oh, I should probably update, shouldn't I?'
BTW: I said soft so many times in my head and on paper that I had to check twice to make sure I was spelling it right because it started to look weird. Soft. Soft. Soft.
Crossy70: You are the first person to straight up ask me to kill Ron. I like it, but Ron is too big an opportunity... Or is he?
Fandomqueen104: Next up is Angelina, I promise. I just realized that I had no idea when Hermione's birthday was two weeks ago and decided I should figure that out and then it was the week after they all got back to school so...
Guest: Thank you very much!
Electrocorrosive: Did you say... n-no internet? *runs away screaming* ;)
animelover5107: Writing everyone's reactions is actually tricky if it's to be believable. Would Ron be pissed or furious? Would Harry be confused, angry, or have an 'oh' moment? Would Mrs. Weasley be happy or feel bad because they didn't tell/trust her? I've written at least five different versions for each person (though most of the time Harry just kinda goes 'well, shit, I'm blind').
