AN: Hello. So, if you came here wondering about my HP fanfics and why you can't find them anywhere, it is because I have deleted them.
I know! A lot of you were invested and were genuinely enjoying the stories. I appreciate all the support, but it was getting to a point where I dreaded having to write chapters for those.
As stated before, I began writing them when I was 16 and some of the writing reflected that. So, I'm starting out fresh.
First, some one shots to get myself back in the groove, then we'll see where it goes.
I will be do scene re-writes for this fic from the sixth book, so that it is why much of the dialogue will sound familiar. I will be adding a few minor changes to the dialogue, but nothing drastic. If you see asterisks (*) around a number, that means it's a scene re-write. The original chapters will be listed at the end.
*1*
"'Patented Daydream Charms'," Hermione read aloud, holding up a colorful box with a picture of a handsome young man and a swooning girl in his arms standing on a pirate ship. She then continued to read the label. "'One simple incantation and you will enter a top-quality, highly realistic, thirty-minute daydream, easy to fit into an average school lesson and virtually undetectable (side effects include vacant expressions and minor drooling). Not for sale to under-sixteens.'" She stopped reading and looked up at Harry with a smile. "You know, that really is extraordinary magic!"
"For that, Hermione," a voice from behind them suddenly sounded, causing the pair of them to jump, "you can have one for free."
Hermione turned to see that it was none other than Fred Weasley, his usual devil-may-care smile adorning his lips. He was also dressed in a rather ugly set of magenta robes that clashed horribly with his shocking head of hair.
He had just finished greeting Harry and shaking his hand when he turned to Hermione and took in the state of her. "What happened to your eye, Hermione?" he asked, genuinely sounding concerned.
"Your punching telescope," she said shortly, not expecting much sympathy once she revealed that her black eye was caused by one of his products. In fact, she was expecting him to laugh. That wasn't the case, however.
"Oh, blimey," he said sheepishly. He had the gall to look ashamed. "I forgot about those. Here -- "
To her surprise, he removed a jar from his pocket and offered it to her. Hesitantly, she unscrewed the lid to reveal a thick yellow paste.
"Just dab it on, that bruise'll be gone within the hour," he told her. "George and I had to find a decent bruise remover since we test most of our products on ourselves."
Hermione gave him an uneasy look. "It is safe, isn't it?" she asked.
"Course it is!" Fred exclaimed, and before she could react, he scooped up a small dollop of the paste on his finger and began to gently dab her bruised eye.
Hermione froze.
In the six years of knowing Fred Weasley, she had never known him to show such concern when it came to one's feelings or state at the expense of his pranks. But, then again, he and George had never attempted to prank her before.
She had always assumed that that was due to the fact that she was friends with his brother. Or maybe because she had been made a prefect last year and they knew she would not hesitate to rat them out to their mother.
What was even more odd, was his new found docility towards her.
Of course, she was more than capable of applying the paste herself and it wasn't like he was untrustworthy. Not really. It would have taken very little convincing for her to decide that the bruise remover was safe.
It was just strange how intimate his actions felt. Even more strange was that she didn't find herself minding.
"There you go," Fred said in voice that sounded much quieter than Hermione would have expected. "All set."
She attempted to hand him back the jar, but he waved her off. "No, you keep it. George and I got plenty of that stuff all around the shop." He gave her a little smirk. "Perhaps you should go get some air, though. You're looking a little flushed." And with that, he walked away to join George in giving Harry a tour.
*2*
Hermione had began to think of Fred, perhaps, more often than she shoud have.
In fact, on the first day of potions, there had been a batch of freshly brewed Amortentia. She had been describing what it was and what it did to her peers when it had happened.
"It's supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us," she supplied for the class. "I smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and -- "
And there it was: the smell of cloves and cinnamon and wood smoke. A mixture of scents that had recently captured her fancy. It was a scent that had drunkenly intoxicated her on that day in Diagon Alley mere weeks ago.
She felt herself blush slightly and did not continue. Instead, acting as if nothing had happened at all.
Later that night, when she was tucked away safely in her bed and left to her own thoughts, her mind began to wander. A certain ginger prankster playing a prominent role in these imaginings.
It was then that she finally admitted to herself that she was completely enraptured with Fred Weasley. She couldn't very well deny it any longer. Especially after what happened earlier that day in potions.
The real issue was whether or not she would make her feelings known to he who inspired them.
She had always known that he was fond of her. He had stood up to individuals who had spoken ill about her and slighted her for her blood-status. But she had always believed that that was simply because they were friends. Friends of association, of course, but friends nonetheless.
She then decided that it would be best to wait before she revealed her feelings, not just to Fred, but to anyone else. She had to be sure that these feelings of hers weren't fleeting and a brief infatuation.
It was with this decision fresh in her mind that Hermione finally fell asleep.
3
Hermione's feelings came to light when the winter holidays had ended and school was back in session. She had been reading in the library when Ginny came in and made a beeline towards her, a wicked a grin spread across her face.
"You'll never believe it," the young witch said as she took the seat across the table from Hermione. "Fred asked about you."
"Did he really?" Hermione asked, trying to keep her voice calm and casual. "What did he say?"
"He asked why you didn't spend the holiday with us, and I told him that you and Ron weren't speaking."
This was true. Hermione and Ron weren't speaking, but it was not for the reason many thought it was. Many believed it was because Hermione was secretly pining after him, but he had gone and started dating Lavender Brown, causing her to be jealous. That was not the case.
The two of them weren't speaking because Ron was being nasty towards Hermione. Apparently, having gotten a girlfriend had gone to his head and had grotesquely inflated his ego. Also, Lavender could not accept that Ron and Hermione were simply friends. Nothing more. So, they took to ignoring one another.
"Did you tell him why we weren't speaking?" asked Hermione. She was worried that Ginny had been one of the many to fall victim to the rumors that had been traded casually around the Gryffindor common room. It certainly would have been embarrassing had Ginny reported to Fred that Hermione and Ron were giving each other the silent treatment because she secretly fancied him.
Ginny gave her another wide grin. "Yeah, I told him that Ron was being a git." She laughed, then said, "He nodded and said, 'Checks out.'"
Hermione nodded then pretended to go back to her reading.
In truth, she felt that his inquiry after her wasn't anything deeper than general curiosity, but that did not stop the rapid beat of her heart. The secret recesses of her mind also could not help but chant, He asked about me. He really asked about me!
She did not have to pretend to read for long, though, because Ginny said something that had absolutely stunned her. "He likes you, too, y'know."
Hermione all but dropped her book onto the table. "W-what?"
"Fred likes you, too," Ginny repeated slowly.
Hermione could not help the surprised bark of laughter that escaped her lips. "No he does not," she said matter-of-factly. It was ridiculous to even consider. They had never been close, and he surely only saw her as another kid sister to keep track of.
"Besides," she continued, "what makes you think I like him?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Merlin, Hermione! Do I look like fucking Harry Potter or my git brother? I'm not oblivious!"
Hermione pondered this for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Okay, fair enough, but how did you find out?"
"Come on, Hermione," said Ginny with a sigh. "You don't think I haven't noticed those lost-puppy-dog looks you gave him over the summer, or the way you're suddenly all ears when his name is mentioned?" She gave Hermione a sad smile. "That's exactly how I acted with Harry."
Hermione gave her a sad smile of her own.
Ginny and Dean Thomas had been dating for quite a while now, and their's was a relationship that was far from perfect. The pair of them quarreled more often than not, and Hermione could not help but feel a bit guilty. After all, she had been the one to suggest to Ginny, the year prior, to forget about Harry and to go for someone who expressed a mutual interest.
It was really too bad that Ginny and Dean were having problems. They were both rather lovely individuals, but their strong personalities rivaled one another and brought out the worst in them. This made the couple less than pleasant to be around.
Hermione sighed in defeat. "Fine," she said softly, "you've caught me, but you can't really think that Fred likes me like that." She said this last part as if it was a completely absurd notion. "Honestly, Gin, he probably sees me as a sister, at the most."
She moved to pick up her book to continue reading, believing that the conversation had come to an end, when Ginny swiped it from the table.
"Not so fast," Ginny said, fixing the other girl with a look identical to that of her mother's. "Why are you unwilling to accept that Fred likes you back? Is it really so impossible to believe?"
"Yes."
"But why?"
"Look at me!" Hermione exclaimed, causing several other students to look in her direction and Madam Pince to give her a glare of warning. "Look at me," she said again, much quieter. "I've never been pretty. Not really. Plus, I'm bossy and annoying. How could he like me?"
Ginny gave her a sad look. "What are you talking about? You're not bossy or annoying. Did Ron tell you that?"
Hermione didn't reply, but that was answer enough for Ginny. "Oh, don't take him too seriously, Hermione. Ron says that about everyone who has more than two brain cells. And what do you mean you're not pretty? Of course you are!"
Hermione looked at her unconvinced. "Whatever. Can I have my book back, please?"
Ginny ignored her request and continued on as if Hermione hadn't spoken at all. "You seriously don't think you're pretty? What about Krum? I'm sure he wouldn't have asked you to the Yule Ball had he not thought you pretty."
Hermione laughed dryly. "I think that him asking me had more to do with the fact that I was the only person who wasn't drooling over him and falling at his feet."
"Okay, but what about the second task? He had to save you because you were what he valued most."
"What else would you have them use for that task? His broomstick, perhaps?"
"But you exchange letters, don't you?"
"So? You can never have too many friends."
Ginny gave an exasperated sigh and leaned back into her chair. She directed her eyes to the ceiling and shook her head, as if she were speaking with some higher power and saying, And she's supposed to be the brightest witch of her age.
It was then that Hermione began to gather her things and stowe them in her bag. "Look, Gin, I have to go. I promised Harry I'd help him with his Transfiguration homework." She stood and reached out her hand for the book Ginny still held within her grasp.
Ginny reluctantly returned the book to her friend and shouted, "Can we at least talk about this later?!" to Hermione's retreating form, disrupting the other occupants of the library yet again.
Hermione did not respond as she exited the library, but she did hear Madam Pince say, "I'm going to have to ask you to leave, Miss Weasley," in a cross tone just as she walked out the door.
*4*
Over the next several months, Ginny tried to talk to Hermione about Fred, but it was all in vain. The minute their conversations strayed in his direction, Hermione would make up an excuse and leave. Eventually, Ginny learned to drop it.
In fact, Hermione had been so busy lately, that she hardly had time to think about Fred. Along with her school work, she was determined to discover who this Half-Blood Prince was. Not mention, she often had to listen to Harry prattling on about his newfound obsession: Draco Malfoy and his Death Eater status. No matter how many times she asked him to drop it, Harry always found a way to bring it up.
Despite these things, Hermione's subconscious wasn't so easily distracted.
She often found herself dreaming of the same person she had been trying rid her thoughts of the last few months. This mad it harder for her to write them off as a fleeting crush.
Her routine, of sorts, came crashing down on the night that Ron was sent to the hospital wing.
Ron and Hermione were still not on the best of terms. They both acknowledged one another's existence when need be, but they were still rather sore with one another. But that didn't mean that they didn't care about each other.
When Hermione heard that Ron had been poisoned--on his birthday, no less‐‐she had become very distraught. When she had arrived at the hospital wing the next morning and saw his pale face, she began to cry. Yes, he was a git and a numbskull sometimes, but she didn't want him dead.
Thankfully, Madam Pomfrey assured her, Ginny, and Harry that he would be all right. He just needed rest and a few doses of essence of rue to bring up his strength.
So, the three of them sat around Ron's bed in awkward silence for quite some time. Occasionally, there was a sniffle from one of the girls, or a cough from Harry, but nothing more. That was until Fred and George arrived ten minutes later.
They greeted Harry with handshakes and claps to the shoulder. Then, each took turns giving Ginny tight hugs.
Hermione wasn't expecting much of a greeting, but was pleasantly surprised when both boys walked up to her, identical smiles on their faces.
"All right, Granger?" George asked, ruffling her hair affectionately.
Hermione offered him a weak smile and nodded.
Meanwhile, Fred dragged a chair over and plopped down next to her. He smiled at her and wiped a stray tear from her cheek without thinking much about his actions.
"So, all in all, not one of Ron's better birthdays?" He addressed the room.
"Yeah," began George, taking a seat next to Ginny and placing a package on Ron's bedside table. "This isn't how we pictured handing over our present."
Fred nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we thought he'd be conscious!"
"There we were in Hogsmeade, waiting for him--" started George, but was cut off by Ginny.
"You were in Hogsmeade?" she asked.
They then went on to explain how they were thinking of buying Zonko's, so that they had a Hogsmeade branch. However, they ultimately decided against it.
"A fat lot of good that's going to do us if you lot aren't allowed to go out on weekends to buy stuff from us anymore," said Fred. "But never mind that now. How exactly did it happen, Harry?"
Harry then began to explain how Ron had gotten into some chocolates laced with Amortentia that had been intended for him. Then how they went to Slughorn for the antidote. To celebrate Ron's birthday, they all decided to have a drink, but the mead had been poisoned. With a bit of luck and quick thinking, Harry was able to force a bezoar down Ron's throat, and Slughorn immediately went and found Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey.
They all joined in on the conversation, dissecting every detail and trying to draw up some sort of explanation.
When Hagrid entered, Madam Pomfrey yelled at them and told them that there could only be six visitors at a time.
"Hagrid makes six," George told her, saying it as if she were a dimwit.
The conversation continued. Hagrid suggested that someone could be trying to pick off the Gryffindor Quidditch team, especially after what had happened to Katie Bell. Fred and George were hesitant to agree, but didn't rule it out as a possibility.
"I don't think it's Quidditch, but I do think that there's a connection between the attacks," Hermione spoke up.
"How d'you work that out?" Fred asked, quirking a brow at her.
"Well, for one thing, they were supposed to have been fatal, but weren't, luckily. And for another, the necklace and the poison were both intended for Dumbledore, but they never reached him." She gave him a concerned look before continuing, "That makes the person behind the attacks more dangerous because they don't care how many people have to die before they reach their intended victim."
It was then that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley entered the hospital wing. Mrs. Weasley immediately made a beeline to Harry and began hugging him and thanking him for saving Ron. "Oh, Harry, what can we say? You've saved Ginny...you've saved Arthur...now you've saved Ron," she gushed.
Harry looked rather uncomfortable with all Mrs. Weasley's praises, and began to protest when Madam Pomfrey entered the room and again reminded everyone of the allowed number of visitors.
Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid agreed to leave. Just as the three of them rose to their feet, Fred interrupted.
"Actually, could I talk to you for a minute, Hermione?" he asked, getting to his own feet.
Hermione nodded, and the four of them walked out the door. Fred and Hermione stood just outside the door while Harry and Hagrid walked on ahead after Hermione promised she would see Harry later in the common room.
"What did you want to talk about, Fred?" she asked once the others were out of sight.
"Look," began Fred, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I know you and I've never been close, but I do hope you know that I do care about you."
"I know," she replied quietly. On the inside, though, she was panicking. She was afraid that he had somehow found out that she liked him and this was his way of letting her down easily.
He gave a frustrated huff. "I guess what I'm trying to say is be careful. Please? I'd hate if something happened to you, too."
Hermione stared at him wide-eyed, disbelief flooding her mind. Was he seriously worried about her safety? Seriously?
"I can take care of myself, you know," she said definitely.
Fred laughed lightly. "Oh, I've no doubt," he said with a grin. "I'm just asking you to be a little more cautious. You're a girl after my own heart, Hermione Granger. Trouble follows you wherever you go."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but give into the small smile that graced her lips.
"Well, I better let you go," he said.
She nodded. "Bye, Fred," she said as she began walking away.
"Don't be a stranger," he called to her.
She laughed. "I'll write to you," she called jokingly over shoulder.
"I'm going to hold you to that, Granger."
She laughed again, but did not say anything else to him as she continued her journey to the common room.
AN: So I think I'm going to end this here. I like the idea of leaving the ending open up for more possibilities and interpretation. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed. Thanks for reading.
*1: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter Six: Draco's Detour, Pg(s). 117-118
*2* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter Nine: The Half-Blood Prince, Pg(s). 185
*4: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter Ninete: Elf Tales, Pg(s). 399-404