It all started with DA. Really, Hermione should have expected it with the likes of Lavender Brown, resident gossip, always snooping around. The rumor wasn't exactly breaking news. Hermione had supposedly been rumored to fancy one of her two best friends for over a year now, and apparently, fifth year was simply Ron's turn. Whispers of secret rendezvous in broom closets circulated the common room usually after DA meetings. By the third week of these rumors, Hermione realized they weren't entirely off base. But the gossip runners had the wrong brother in mind, an easy mistake to make. With matching red hair and a gangly height none of them had quite grown into, the mix-up happened all the time. Even Ginny was tossed into the mix of names teachers ran through when they were trying to call upon a Weasley brother. The rumors didn't bother her too much though. Another more interesting bit of gossip would go around, and everyone would soon forget this supposed grand romance. Or so she thought. With the rush of the battle in the Department of Mysteries and consequently losing Sirius, none of them had time for nonsense like rumors.

But that one didn't end with fifth year. Not two weeks into sixth year, Hermione heard the whispers again. Whispers of a redhead pulling a certain prefect into broom closets during rounds. Rumors that she couldn't exactly deny when there definitely was a redhead doing exactly that.

"Fred," she hissed, but the admonishment had no bite when she couldn't stop smiling at seeing him.

"You know you shouldn't be roaming the halls alone, Miss Granger," he teased, kissing his way up her throat. "Never know who's lurking the halls these days."

"Yes, there are plenty of rumors flying around because of a certain someone lurking the halls." A laugh bubbled from her lips when his fingers grazed a ticklish spot at her side. She slid her own arms around his neck pulling his lips to hers. Their meet-ups had become a regular, and routinely the best, part of her week since Dumbledore's Army. Fred nearly always found a way to end up partnered with her as they left, typically resulting in the sordid affair every girl in Gryffindor tower had rumored about. Just not with the Weasley they thought.

"You know," she sighed between kisses. "Everyone now thinks I fancy Ron and that we're a thing thanks to you."

Fred pulled away to look at her with curiosity. "Me? I don't even go here anymore."

"Exactly. Every time a certain redhead pulls me into a corridor or secret passageway." She tried pulling him closer again but the laughter stopped her.

"They think I'm Ron?" he laughed in disbelief, tears already seeping from the corners of his crinkled eyes. "Oh, that- that's too good!"

She shoved him, his back hitting the opposite wall with a smack.

"You aren't the one dealing with it daily," she huffed cross at his complete disregard. "Ron's been a right pain over it. Whining about how anyone could believe something so stupid."

"You could just tell them, you know," he teased, crossing back to her, hands resting on her waist. "What, are you ashamed of me, Granger?" The joke was half-hearted, but he did wonder. For months, she refused to tell anyone of their change in relations, and he didn't understand why.

"No!" she rushed, cupping his checks. "That's not it at all."

"Then what is it, Hermione? It's been months."

Her expression turned pensive as she ran her hands down his arms. He recognized the worry in her eyes almost instantly. It was an expression he was accustomed to seeing when it came to Hermione Granger. She was a worrier, and he loved her for it.

"Your family is one of the most vocal and active supporters of Harry. And with the posters in the shop too, I just- I don't want to put another target on you. You have enough of those." Her gaze dropped to his chest, refusing to meet his eyes.

"A target?" he asked incredulously. "What are you talking about?"

"By dating me," she huffed, finally looking him resolutely in the eye. "Being so close to me. Are you really gonna make me say it?"

"Clearly you'll have to because I don't understand-"

"Blood traitor," she whispered. Fred did his best to remain neutral. Plenty of people had called him that. Threw the slur at him and George as they walked through Diagon Alley. But to hear the words from her was especially stinging. "I don't want to put the target of blood traitor on you too."

"Love, you don't have to worry about-"

"I do though." Tears pricked her eyes as her lip started to quiver. "Every day I worry about you. Everything is coming so fast, and I just worry. I can't be the reason you get hurt. I just-"

His lips cut her off, searing her with a kiss. Merlin, he loved this girl. If he did nothing else with his day, he intended to make sure she knew exactly how much. When she pulled back panting, he pressed a long kiss to her cheek.

"I love the way you care for everyone."

His lips moved to her forehead.

"I love the way you're unbothered by rumors."

Another kiss to the tip of her nose.

"I love how your eyes fly over the page as you read."

As he moved again to find another part of her to kiss, she laughed and tilted his head back to look at her.

"Are you gonna spend all night telling me sweet nothings?"

"Oi," he snorted, stepping closer and pinning her between the wall and his own body. "Those were not nothings. Those were well thought out and-"

Hermione pulled his lips to hers, having discovered it the most effective way to shut him up. It was a temptation he simply couldn't resist. His hand moved to her hair, fingers running and knotting through her wild curls. Tilting her head back, he deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue between her parting lips. Wrapped in his embrace, the background noise faded to nothing. All her worries and concerns faded until her senses were flooded by him. His touch, his scent, him. Thoughts of war and blood traitors were replaced with his laughter and piercing blue eyes that sparked with mischief. With moments like that, who cared about a rumor or two.