Chapter Seven.
Weeks passed and Hermione and Fred were once again on speaking terms. They'd both gotten out of whatever slump they'd been in and now were extremely close. They spent a great deal of the days just talking or reading together.
Hermione found that every day she thought less and less about her wedding and Ron. It got to the point where she was surprised when Fred mentioned him, or when George dropped by with news of the family. Hermione just couldn't figure out what it was that made her forget about Ron. It had been bugging her for weeks.
One night at dinner, she was sitting across from Fred at the small table in the kitchen when it hit her. She looked at Fred and he was no longer just Ron's brother. He was Fred. And she loved him. Her eyes widened at that realization.
"Hermione?" Fred questioned, looking at her curiously. "Is something wrong?"
"Um…" Hermione stammered. "No. Nothing's wrong," she forced herself to smile. "Just a headache."
"Why don't you take a potion for it?" Fred suggested brightly. Hermione couldn't help but smile at him.
"I think I will. I'll see you later," she remarked and then headed up the stairs. Fred watched her walk away, a wistful smile on his face. Then he shook his head, as if clearing it. He shouldn't be thinking of Hermione in a romantic fashion. But he was. Sighing, he pushed his thoughts aside and told himself to remember his brother. Her fiancé.
The week went on in a similar fashion- the two spending a great deal of time around each other, both of their feelings hidden from the other. Finally, the end of the week came. Fred and Hermione were sitting in front of the fire, their backs leaning against the couch, reading a book together, laughing and smiling all the while. Neither noticed when Ron apparated into the room behind them. This was normal for them. But for some reason, both had feelings that were electrifying the room.
"Mione," Fred said softly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. Then he frowned. Someone was there. He turned around and his face fell before he forced a smile. "Your love awaits," he announced, pushing himself to his feet and apparating out of the room.
Hermione slowly stood and smiled sadly as Ron walked across the room, a broad smile on his face. He'd matured so much since their days at Hogwarts. He was taller, broader, more muscular. And there had been a time when she'd thought that Ron was a perfect specimen of male. Now, however, she wasn't so sure. When Ron took her in his arms in a tight hug, Hermione forced herself to hug him back. When he went to kiss her, Hermione hoped that it was normal, because it wasn't effecting her in any way. The only person she could think of wasn't Ron, but Fred.
"I have good news," Ron smiled at her, backing up a little to sit on the couch.
"Oh?" Hermione wondered. "What?"
"We've won," he grinned. "You can come back now. We can be married," he kissed her softly.
"Oh," Hermione hoped she didn't sound disappointed. "Wonderful." She looked toward the door to see Fred walk in, smile sadly and pick up a book before leaving without saying a word.
Fred's heart hurt. Hermione had said 'wonderful' to the information about the wedding. What was I thinking? That she'd miraculously fall in love with me? When she has Ron? He shook his head in self-disgust as he slowly trudged up the steps. Weeks had passed since Ron had fetched Hermione. They hadn't left though. Ron had decided that Fred's spectacular yard and home were the perfect place for the wedding. Fred hadn't had the heart to tell his little brother differently. So instead, he was forced to stand at the sidelines and watch as his parents and siblings rushed around preparing.
On the day of the wedding, he was more upset than ever. He truly loved Hermione, but was going to watch her marry his brother.
"Fred!" Molly Weasley called. "We'll all be going now. Will you stay here until Ginny and Hermione's parents get here?"
"Yes, Mum," Fred nodded. "You stay here with Hermione, then. We'll see you soon," she smiled, kissing her son's cheek. Fred trudged up the stairs and was on his way to his room when he heard Hermione call out to him.
"Fred?"
"Hmm?" he backed up a few steps until he stood in the doorway to her room, her door open. She stood in front of the mirror, her wedding dress on. She looked beautiful.
"Can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, what?" Fred asked, stepping into the room.
"Button me up?" she turned her back toward him. After a moment of hesitation, Fred nodded slowly, crossing the room. He carefully pulled the two sides of fabric together and started to button the incredibly small pearl buttons. When his fingers brushed against the smooth skin of her back, they both froze. Fred looked up and saw Hermione staring back at him in the mirror. Slowly, she turned around and simply looked at him. Fred reached into his pocket and slowly brought out a small velvet box.
"I was going to wait to give you this," he smiled, "but I figured why not just give it to you now," he held it out to her.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"Open it," Fred remarked softly. They were standing so close she could feel his breath on her face. Hermione slowly opened the box and gasped when she saw a small heart-shaped locket resting inside.
"Fred, it's beautiful," she grinned, looking at it.
"Your wedding present," he shrugged. "Well, I'm gonna go get ready for the big event," he smiled softly.
Hermione held the locket in her hand for what was probably half an hour, just staring at it. She turned it over and saw that it had the word Always engraved on it in elegant scripture. Curious, she opened it and gasped. On one side was a picture of the two of them- of her and Fred. On the opposite side were three words engraved in the same font as on the back.
"Hermione?" Hermione heard her mother and quickly put the necklace behind her back, smiling at her mother as she walked in, followed closely by her father.
"You look beautiful, dear," her father smiled.
"Thanks Daddy," Hermione forced a smile on her face. Inside, her emotions were in turmoil. Fred loved her? Hermione's thoughts were chased away as the final touches and preparations were brought to the front burner.
Fred sat on the terrace, just staring off into the distance. He had less than an hour. And then Hermione would be his sister-in-law. The one thing he wanted least. The only good part about that he'd get to be around her. The thought saddened him, though. Hermione would be with Ron, not him.
"Mum, can you...go get Fred for me?" she asked. "I need to ask him something...about the ceremony," Hermione made an excuse.
"Sure, honey," her mom smiled. After a moment both her parents left and she sat on the edge of the bed. She was so...confused. At the same time, she knew exactly what she wanted. And it wasn't Ron.
Fred was walking into the house when Hermione's mother walked over to him and told him that she wanted to see him. Surprised, Fred made his way through the crowded house, stopping to say a few words to family members he'd never met or rarely saw. When he reached the landing at the top of the stairs, he leaned against the wall for a moment, taking in deep breaths.
After a moment, the courage he knew he had kicked in and he made his way down the rest of the hall to her room. He knocked softly and his breath disappeared when he saw her. She was standing with her gloved hand on the doorknob, a small smile on her face.
"Hey," she smiled. "Come in, please," she said softly, opening the door further to allow him access to the room.
Her brown hair was swept up into an elegant twist, soft curls at the top. Her makeup was minimal and she looked gorgeous.
"You look beautiful," Fred smiled, turning away from her and looking out the window.
"Thank you," Hermione blushed, stepping closer to Fred. She held out her hand and curious, Fred held his out, accepting whatever she was about to hand him. She dropped the locket in his hand.
"This is-"
"Do you mean it?" Hermione asked softly, not looking at him. "Because if you don't-"
"I do," Fred nodded.
"You do what?" Harry's voice drifted from the doorway. "Hermione, the ceremony's about to start," he smiled warmly at her.
"Thanks, Harry," Hermione remarked, looking at him before looking back at Fred.
"I guess I better get downstairs," Fred looked at Hermione before following Harry. Hermione frowned. She knew she had feelings for Fred. She just didn't know what to do. She had to decide if she wanted Ron or Fred. The way it was going, it was leaning toward Fred.
Authors Note: My muse suddenly returned. I'm not sure if it's any good, but if you like it, please let me know! I plan on finishing this soon, if you couldn't tell. Just to be safe in case my muse leaves again. Either way, feedback would be good!
Thanks!
Jen~
Weeks passed and Hermione and Fred were once again on speaking terms. They'd both gotten out of whatever slump they'd been in and now were extremely close. They spent a great deal of the days just talking or reading together.
Hermione found that every day she thought less and less about her wedding and Ron. It got to the point where she was surprised when Fred mentioned him, or when George dropped by with news of the family. Hermione just couldn't figure out what it was that made her forget about Ron. It had been bugging her for weeks.
One night at dinner, she was sitting across from Fred at the small table in the kitchen when it hit her. She looked at Fred and he was no longer just Ron's brother. He was Fred. And she loved him. Her eyes widened at that realization.
"Hermione?" Fred questioned, looking at her curiously. "Is something wrong?"
"Um…" Hermione stammered. "No. Nothing's wrong," she forced herself to smile. "Just a headache."
"Why don't you take a potion for it?" Fred suggested brightly. Hermione couldn't help but smile at him.
"I think I will. I'll see you later," she remarked and then headed up the stairs. Fred watched her walk away, a wistful smile on his face. Then he shook his head, as if clearing it. He shouldn't be thinking of Hermione in a romantic fashion. But he was. Sighing, he pushed his thoughts aside and told himself to remember his brother. Her fiancé.
The week went on in a similar fashion- the two spending a great deal of time around each other, both of their feelings hidden from the other. Finally, the end of the week came. Fred and Hermione were sitting in front of the fire, their backs leaning against the couch, reading a book together, laughing and smiling all the while. Neither noticed when Ron apparated into the room behind them. This was normal for them. But for some reason, both had feelings that were electrifying the room.
"Mione," Fred said softly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. Then he frowned. Someone was there. He turned around and his face fell before he forced a smile. "Your love awaits," he announced, pushing himself to his feet and apparating out of the room.
Hermione slowly stood and smiled sadly as Ron walked across the room, a broad smile on his face. He'd matured so much since their days at Hogwarts. He was taller, broader, more muscular. And there had been a time when she'd thought that Ron was a perfect specimen of male. Now, however, she wasn't so sure. When Ron took her in his arms in a tight hug, Hermione forced herself to hug him back. When he went to kiss her, Hermione hoped that it was normal, because it wasn't effecting her in any way. The only person she could think of wasn't Ron, but Fred.
"I have good news," Ron smiled at her, backing up a little to sit on the couch.
"Oh?" Hermione wondered. "What?"
"We've won," he grinned. "You can come back now. We can be married," he kissed her softly.
"Oh," Hermione hoped she didn't sound disappointed. "Wonderful." She looked toward the door to see Fred walk in, smile sadly and pick up a book before leaving without saying a word.
Fred's heart hurt. Hermione had said 'wonderful' to the information about the wedding. What was I thinking? That she'd miraculously fall in love with me? When she has Ron? He shook his head in self-disgust as he slowly trudged up the steps. Weeks had passed since Ron had fetched Hermione. They hadn't left though. Ron had decided that Fred's spectacular yard and home were the perfect place for the wedding. Fred hadn't had the heart to tell his little brother differently. So instead, he was forced to stand at the sidelines and watch as his parents and siblings rushed around preparing.
On the day of the wedding, he was more upset than ever. He truly loved Hermione, but was going to watch her marry his brother.
"Fred!" Molly Weasley called. "We'll all be going now. Will you stay here until Ginny and Hermione's parents get here?"
"Yes, Mum," Fred nodded. "You stay here with Hermione, then. We'll see you soon," she smiled, kissing her son's cheek. Fred trudged up the stairs and was on his way to his room when he heard Hermione call out to him.
"Fred?"
"Hmm?" he backed up a few steps until he stood in the doorway to her room, her door open. She stood in front of the mirror, her wedding dress on. She looked beautiful.
"Can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, what?" Fred asked, stepping into the room.
"Button me up?" she turned her back toward him. After a moment of hesitation, Fred nodded slowly, crossing the room. He carefully pulled the two sides of fabric together and started to button the incredibly small pearl buttons. When his fingers brushed against the smooth skin of her back, they both froze. Fred looked up and saw Hermione staring back at him in the mirror. Slowly, she turned around and simply looked at him. Fred reached into his pocket and slowly brought out a small velvet box.
"I was going to wait to give you this," he smiled, "but I figured why not just give it to you now," he held it out to her.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"Open it," Fred remarked softly. They were standing so close she could feel his breath on her face. Hermione slowly opened the box and gasped when she saw a small heart-shaped locket resting inside.
"Fred, it's beautiful," she grinned, looking at it.
"Your wedding present," he shrugged. "Well, I'm gonna go get ready for the big event," he smiled softly.
Hermione held the locket in her hand for what was probably half an hour, just staring at it. She turned it over and saw that it had the word Always engraved on it in elegant scripture. Curious, she opened it and gasped. On one side was a picture of the two of them- of her and Fred. On the opposite side were three words engraved in the same font as on the back.
"Hermione?" Hermione heard her mother and quickly put the necklace behind her back, smiling at her mother as she walked in, followed closely by her father.
"You look beautiful, dear," her father smiled.
"Thanks Daddy," Hermione forced a smile on her face. Inside, her emotions were in turmoil. Fred loved her? Hermione's thoughts were chased away as the final touches and preparations were brought to the front burner.
Fred sat on the terrace, just staring off into the distance. He had less than an hour. And then Hermione would be his sister-in-law. The one thing he wanted least. The only good part about that he'd get to be around her. The thought saddened him, though. Hermione would be with Ron, not him.
"Mum, can you...go get Fred for me?" she asked. "I need to ask him something...about the ceremony," Hermione made an excuse.
"Sure, honey," her mom smiled. After a moment both her parents left and she sat on the edge of the bed. She was so...confused. At the same time, she knew exactly what she wanted. And it wasn't Ron.
Fred was walking into the house when Hermione's mother walked over to him and told him that she wanted to see him. Surprised, Fred made his way through the crowded house, stopping to say a few words to family members he'd never met or rarely saw. When he reached the landing at the top of the stairs, he leaned against the wall for a moment, taking in deep breaths.
After a moment, the courage he knew he had kicked in and he made his way down the rest of the hall to her room. He knocked softly and his breath disappeared when he saw her. She was standing with her gloved hand on the doorknob, a small smile on her face.
"Hey," she smiled. "Come in, please," she said softly, opening the door further to allow him access to the room.
Her brown hair was swept up into an elegant twist, soft curls at the top. Her makeup was minimal and she looked gorgeous.
"You look beautiful," Fred smiled, turning away from her and looking out the window.
"Thank you," Hermione blushed, stepping closer to Fred. She held out her hand and curious, Fred held his out, accepting whatever she was about to hand him. She dropped the locket in his hand.
"This is-"
"Do you mean it?" Hermione asked softly, not looking at him. "Because if you don't-"
"I do," Fred nodded.
"You do what?" Harry's voice drifted from the doorway. "Hermione, the ceremony's about to start," he smiled warmly at her.
"Thanks, Harry," Hermione remarked, looking at him before looking back at Fred.
"I guess I better get downstairs," Fred looked at Hermione before following Harry. Hermione frowned. She knew she had feelings for Fred. She just didn't know what to do. She had to decide if she wanted Ron or Fred. The way it was going, it was leaning toward Fred.
Authors Note: My muse suddenly returned. I'm not sure if it's any good, but if you like it, please let me know! I plan on finishing this soon, if you couldn't tell. Just to be safe in case my muse leaves again. Either way, feedback would be good!
Thanks!
Jen~